This Fall, I'm Head Over Heels!

I must admit, I can't wait to go shoe-shopping for the fall! This time last year, I was all about the ballet flats. But this year, its ALL ABOUT THE HEELS. From suede booties to peep-toe stilettos, animal print to studs, it seems like the designers finally got it right this time. Ah well, there goes my budget. Let the shopping begin!


Carmen, $89, Dillards.com





















Hurtgen, $130, Aldo's Shoes






















Lunnar, $100, Steve Madden




















Shearling bootie, $99, Colin Stuart for Victoria's Secret




















Skylar, $110, Guess




















Madden Girl Raleigh Ruffled Platform Bootie, $50, DSW


















Cut-out Mary Jane, $68, Colin Stuart for Victoria's Secret





















Torrance, $55, Michael Antonio for Piperlime

Beauty Booty How-To: Dry Twist Out for Natural/Curly Hair

My new favorite hair care guru goes by the name of NaturallyNike (on YouTube). I love the way her hair looks and all the great styles that she achieves. And since it was recently recommended that I try Miss Jessie's products for natural hair styling, I wanted to see if she had the chance to try it. It turns out that she has, and the results were impressive. Check out her tutorial below for a no-heat needed, twist out style using Miss Jessie's BabyButtercreme.








I also LOVED this updo she did (see below). Check out her tutorials for that also. Also, send us your comments and pictures. We'd love to see your variations on this style.

Twisted Updo - Part 1
Twisted Updo - Part 2

Jewelry That Says Bam!

There's an art to wearing jewelry, especially big, bold, colorful jewelry. Too many color, pattern, and texture combinations at once is sure to get you a "what the *!&$ is she doing?" look from me (just being honest, sorry) and whoever else might be personally offended by your lack of accessorizing-skills.

That said, I have always opted to keep it simple. One or two statement pieces at a time is all a woman needs to add that extra bit of fly to any outfit. So, I almost died when I saw the pieces from these next three designers.

Inspired by designs from the best place on Earth, Africa (wink wink), these pieces are bright, bold, and unique. They're all you'll ever need, ever again.


WHERE'S THE BOOTY?
These are from BeanPye ...
Bracelets start at $40. They also do earrings and necklaces. Plus, each piece is named after a famous songstress.




Visit the website and check out my personal favorites - the Ms. James (Etta) necklace, Ms. Stefani bracelet, and Ms. Braxton earrings (none pictured here).













I fell equally in love with Afrique Le Chic, which I came across on Etsy. In addition to necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, they also do body jewelry and hair accessories. I found these great earrings, $20, and this gorgeous ring, $15.







Last, but definitely not least, is Jypsea, which specializes in handmade leather goods. And if you've never had a pair of leather earrings, now's the time to get one. I loved these red kidskin leaf earrings, $20, the most, but they're all great. So, go find your own favorite.

Hot Pink Lipstick: A Privilege, Not A Right

A few months back, some friends and I went to MAC to restock our makeup supply and experiment with some new looks.

One friend decided that she was going to try this really, really bright pink lipstick. As skeptical as we were at first, I must admit, it looked great on her. It definitely wasn't an everyday color, but it worked.

Since then, I've been noticing a lot of people also attempt this trend. But not with the same success, unfortunately. I've seen super-hot pink lipstick on medium and dark brown-skinned girls. I've seen the Tinkerbell-inspired look: pink lipstick with baby blue eyeshadow and rosy blush (fellow tweeps, insert #FAIL here). I've seen it all. Hopefully, after this post, I'll never have to see it again.

Don't get me wrong - everybody can pull off pink lipstick. Yes, I said it. But go with the shade that works for you, not what you saw Beyonce wearing last week. (Beyonce is a celebrity, you're just a regular person who has to go to work everyday. And you can't go looking like that.)

But there are some celebrities who we can be inspired by. Take Sanaa Lathan (top), Alexis Bledel (middle), and Tichina Arnold (bottom).








WHERE'S THE BOOTY:
MAC has great pink lipstick options.



I really like Pink Nouveau, $14 (left) and Viva Glam IV, $14, (not pictured), a much rosier shade. Then there's their limited-edition Hello Kitty line - with two hot pink shades. (Again, not for everybody.)







L'Oreal has good dark and light shades. Here's Bella Donna Mauve, $9.











And don't forget brands like Wet & Wild, Black Opal, and NYX. Affordable and comes in a wide variety.



Other Options: Fellow blogger Brown Girl Gumbo has some great ones. Check them out here.

Beauty Booty How-to: A Queen of Blending Tutorial

Attention fellow makeup lovers!

When it comes to experimenting with truly unique looks, I am such a fan of Queen of Blending. Everything she does looks great. Unfortunately, they aren't all for everyday. Between work, happy hours, parties, weekend trips, etc, etc, wouldn't you love a look that's versatile enough to work in a lot of different settings (with minor adjustments, of course)? Well, I found one! For your viewing pleasure, here is a tutorial from the Queen of Blending herself. Enjoy!

For tons more looks, check out QueenofBlending MUA on YouTube.






WHERE'S THE BOOTY:
Click on each item for more

Eyes
MAC Penny Shadestick
NYX Milk Jumbo Pencil
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Auric
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Copperwire
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Luster
MAC Corduroy eyeshadow
MAC Rice Paper eyeshadow
Make Up For Ever Eye Seal
Optional: MAC Carbon eyeshadow
Optional: L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara
Optional: Styli-Style eyeliner
Optional: Ardell false lashes

Lips
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Balm, Melange
MAC Wildly Lush plush glass

Face
MAC Gleeful blush
NYX Terra Cotta blush

TOOLS
Sonia Kashuk Brush set

What The Pretty Girls Use: Best In Skin Care

Ever wonder what gives Kerry Washington that 24/7 glow? Or what Gabrielle Union uses to maintain her flawless complexion? Well, I do. And now that fall is here, a new and improved skin care regimen is definitely in order. Looks like I may have to add a few of these to my arsenal ...




Kerry Washington's daily regimen includes both Epicuren Hydro-Plus moisturizer , $52, and Dr. Hauschka Rejuvenating Mask, £28.98. She also uses Dermalogica Gentle Cream exfoliant, $35.50, twice a week to remove dead skin cells and get that trademark glow.









Amerie swears by MD Forte's Replenish Hydrating Cleanser, $30, which she says is "basically soap-free, oil-free, glycolic acid-free". And for sunscreen, she's all about Dr. Susan Taylor's RX for Brown Skin, $26. "It's the best sunscreen because it doesn't turn white on your skin and it doesn't make your skin oily or anything...that's the best one I've ever found."






A mainstay in Kelly Rowland's beauty bag are Natura Bissé skin-care products. She's especially fond of the Sun Defense Oil-Free SPF 30. She's also a fan on Yves Saint Laurent's Anti-Cernes Multi-Action Concealer , $34, and Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation Bio-Protection UVA, $55. And don't forget good ol' Palmer's Cocoa Butter Cream.





Rosario Dawson can't get enough of Jurlique's organic skin care products. She also loves Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, $28, and Kiehl's glycerine soap and Satin Soft body oil, $20.











What gets top marks from Gabrielle Union? Crème de La Mer moisturizing cream, $130,
Kiehl's Calendula Toner, $20, and Avocado eye cream, $24.50, and Clarins Eye Contour Gel, $48.

Aphogee: My Hair Miracle

Hey all! I'm Ms_She and am dying to talk to you about everything hair! First things first, let's figure out what’s going on up there. What most women don't realize is that hair is like a person. It has a personality. It knows what it loves and what it hates, regardless of what you love and hate.

Is Your Hair Damaged?
Some signs of damage are obvious, like if you have a head full of split ends or the white crunchy-looking ends. If this is you, no matter how famous your stylist is or how expensive your hair products are, you're hair will never look good until you get a trim. Your hair will appreciate it, trust me. I know - I used to be scared of trims, too. But your hair is going to look long, stringy, and dull without one.

For those of you reading this saying,” I don’t have split ends, my hair looks fine”, understand that looks can be deceiving. Porous hair isn't obvious, but it is deadly (I know, a little dramatic, but you get the point). Porous hair means the cuticles of the hair shaft are raised, so hair doesn’t hold moisture, it absorbs color unevenly, and any relaxers you may use will cause severe dryness. Signs that your hair is porous:

* Does it dry extremely fast after you wash it?
* Is it dry no matter how much moisturizing conditioner you use?
* When you run your finger down a single strand of hair, doesn’t it feel uneven and bumpy?

Then there's the water test: Fill a medium-size bowl with room temperature water, take a few strands of hair out of a comb or brush (for my extension-wearing friends, please make sure the hair is yours. I'm just sayin ...) and place them in the bowl. Wait two minutes. If you hair starts to sink, its porous. The longer it takes to sink, the less porous it is.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
If your hair is extremely porous:
I recommend a hard protein treatment. My fave is Aphogee two-step protein treatment.


I love this product because it makes you hair instantly stronger. Plus, it comes in single packets, so you don’t have to buy a whole bottle just to try it. Always use a clarifying shampoo first and use the moisturizing conditioner that comes with it (or your own) after. Use this 2-step process every 6 weeks.











If your hair is semi-porous:
Grab some Aphogee 2-minute reconstructor.



This product is a must-have! Not as strong as the two-step treatment, but it still packs a punch. After you use it as instructed on the back of the bottle, follow up with an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse. That's one part apple cider vinegar and three parts room temperature water. Use it after your final conditioner to help seal your hair cuticles and give it a shine! Do this every other week for about 2 months. Then retry your water test again. I promise you'll be happy with your progress.

If your hair is healthy:
Don’t think you’re off the hook. Make sure you do what it takes to maintain that head of hair. Buy the Aphogee 2-minute treatment, and use it once a month. Do an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse 2 times a month. Also, a clear rinse (like the color ones you buy for a tint of color, except these ones are clear), or the ones with the tint, are great ways to smooth the cuticles of your hair down, retain moisture, and shiny instantly. I highly recommend them.