What's In My Make-up Bag (WIMMB)

This is the first post for What's In My Make-up Bag (WIMMB), I thought we can share what we all carry around with us daily to keep us looking fab! I don't carry a lot of stuff with me but rotate every few weeks, these though are some of my staples that I use daily or have with me at all times.

L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Blackest Black, luv It! I started using this when I was 18 years old and haven't stopped.

Iman Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Sand. I actually use this alone, I get a luminous glow that last all day.

MAC Viva Glam V Lipglass, I've been using this for years and it is my everyday and everywhere gloss. whether I'm dressed up or just casual it always works with my caramel complexion!

Tweezerman Slanted Tweezers, anything less will not do! I love Tweezerman, their tools are superior and are considered the gold standard within the beauty industry.

Ebene Naturals

Ebene Naturals is a natural skin and hair care company based in Miami, FL that is 100% natural, cruelty free and does not contain synthetic oils, mineral oils, petrochemicals, artificial bi-products, alcohol or artificial colors. Fayola Nicaisse-Hethorn, the founder is dedicated to using the finest ingredients.

I have been following this company for about three years and have yet to try any of her products. It's great to see another company help us embrace our hair as it is with nourishing organic ingredients such shea butter, kokum butter, coconut oil, amla oil, tamanu oil, borage oil, avocado, jojoba, olive oil along with essential oils, herbs, minerals and vitamins. Ebene Naturals has been featured in Honey Magazine, Heart and Soul and Essence, visit Ebene Naturals to view their complete line of products.

Ambrosia (xGOLDn): Chocolate Strawberries

I thought this video was too cute! Ambrosia decided to embrace her natural tresses and is transitioning right now but as you can see by the title this video is all about chocolate strawberries, enjoy!

Product Review: Hairobics All-Natural Hair & Scalp Leave-In Conditioner

I have been trying the Hairobics All Natural Hair & Scalp Leave-In Conditioner and I love the results. I use it a little differently than the pomade. After I cleanse, oil my scalp, moisturize and style, I finish by spritzing this on my scalp and hair. This conditioner is protein based and my hair only needs this once a week, more than that the product may start to cause my hair to become dry. This product is targeted to consumers that have sensitive scalps and want a stimulate to assist in hair growth. It has a minty-herbal scent that dissipates after you apply it to your hair and the pump that spritzes the conditioner evenly distributes the formula so you don't have to worry about it running down your forehead or neck, this is a great quality product!

Performance: You go through trial and error when starting to use the product, but give it a chance it is protein based so you may need to use it once a week or a few times a week depending on your needs. Once you have that you are good to go, great results my hair has luster and is manageable. 2/2

Price: An 8oz bottle is 22.00 CAD, again worth every penny. I only use it once a week and the quality is amazing. 2/2

Ingredients: Purified Water, Parsley, Nettle, Aloe Vera, Wheat Germ oil, Jojoba oil, Avocado oil, Rose Hip, Alfalfa, Maidenhair, Horsetail, Oat Straw, Grapefruit, Neroli, Marjoram, Southernwood, Lime Flowers, Ginseng, Kelp, Coltsfoot, Dulse, Thyme, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang, Cayenne, Apricot Kernel oil, Olive oil, Witch Hazel, Yucca, Castor oil, Rosemary Oil, Irish Moss, Chamomile, Sage Vinegar, Methyparaben (food grade), Propylparaben (food grade)*Amazing ingredients and very nourishing and healing to the hair and scalp. 1/1

Hairobics All Natural Hair & Scalp Leave-In Conditioner 5/5

Model Moment: Wakeema Hollis

Wakeema Hollis is a natural beauty that started her modelling career at the age of 16. She is a native of Tennessee and at the age of 25 she has worked with just about every name in the fashion industry including clients such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Kenneth Cole, Target, Kohl’s, Sears, Macy’s, Nordstrom and ELLE Magazine. Her features are mesmerizing and seeing another natural beauty is a plus that represents what true beauty is.

Our Hair and Scalp

We don't need a lot of products to maintain healthy hair. If you have just decided to embrace your natural tresses than co-washing (conditioner washes) may be new to you. Simply it means you wash your hair with a conditioner, concentrating on the scalp. This helps us maintain as much moisture as possible when cleansing our hair. My favourite conditioner right now is Nature's Gate Herbal Conditioning Conditioner and Herbal Essences (old packaging).

I also use an ACV rinse with Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar to bring the ph-balance back to normal which promotes healthy scalp. I usually mix 8 oz of half water and half apple cider vinegar in an applicator bottle. As I pour the ACV mixture over my head I message it into my scalp for a few minutes than rinse. Cleansing our hair and scalp gently is so important, our hair loves water and gentle loving care. If you haven't already tried co-washing and an ACV rinse as a natural its your duty to indulge in pampering your hair and scalp.

To Karen's Body Beautiful Lovers

Karen's Body Beautiful is having the Buy 2 get 1 Free Sale which applies to 8 oz size bottles, the sale ends Monday March 3rd. Visit Karen's Body Beautiful to stock up.

Hannan Saleh: Our Beauty

The images captured by Hannan Saleh represent our beauty with fierce femininity dominating her photography. She is a communicator delving deeply into her roots of Ethiopia to produce beauty like no other. Her expressions of beauty stimulates, lacking inhibition and full of brilliance. I love the forms against the backdrop of life that course through each piece of work, her artistry is relevant, and symptomatic of change - beauty, love, and simply humanity.

Her length as an artist includes painting which she studied along with Photography. In 2001 She was awarded the Arts and Culture Award for Emerging Artist by the Coalition of 100 Black Women. In 2005 she was first place in the Beauty Competition for Fashion Photography and recently in the Turning Silver Competition one of her photos was chosen to be published.

She has worked with Ursula Rucker, The Roots, King Britt, Natalie Walker, Kindred, Xande Cruz and Jneiro Jarrel and has been featured in Trace Magazine. To visit her and view her work please click here.

Product Review: Hairobics All Natural Hair & Scalp Booster

This product is a joy to use, my scalp is healthier and the product is all natural! I was eyeing the Hairobics All Natural Hair and Scalp Booster for about a year and when I went to HoneyFig I couldn't pass on trying it out. After I cleanse and condition I part my hair while its still damp and place the pomade directly on my scalp. I am very thorough in how I oil my scalp by doing section by section until my whole scalp is oiled and than I message for about 3 minutes. Their slogan is "when you feel the tingle ... Hairobics is working" is true, the tingling is so relaxing, than I moisturize my hair and style.

Once a week has been enough for me, even in the cold weather my scalp doesn't itch and their is no build up like what I got with the Strengthener by Taliah Waajid. Hairobics does not use petrochemicals or mineral oil so this is a winner! For more info on Hairobics All Natural visit them here.

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Performance: Consistent and the results last all week or in between cleansing. 2/2

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Price: 4oz jar for 15.00 CAD, worth every penny. Great quality and you don't need a lot for each use. 2/2

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Ingredients: Vegetable jelly, Coconut oil, Wheat Germ oil, Almond oil, Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Aloe Vera oil, Walnut oil, Jojoba oil, Sage oil, Vitamin E oil, Peppermint oil, Ginger oil, Apricot Kernel oil, Rosemary oil, Lavender oil.

* The ingredients are top quality and no build up on my scalp! 1/1

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Hairobics All Natural Hair & Scalp Booster 5/5

Karen's Body Beautiful is holding another 25% off sale until Monday February 23rd and all of us are invited. Spend $50.00 and receive 25% off your purchase just enter the coupon code "25off" and also the Fantabulous Freebie Fridays is also back. Visit Karen's Body Beautiful here for more details.

Goodies: Handbags By Janelle

Phantom Cluth in Blue Navy Alligator

Kenzi Shoulder Bag in Purple Exotic Ostrich Leather with Purple Python Mix

The Celebrity Satchel Design in Full Aniline Nappa Leather

Ostrich Leather Bracelet, chocolate ostrich graced with a solid brass hammered closure. Very bohemian

Janelle Ford's designs are fierce, spectacular and artistic in every sense of the word. The detail is exquisite and her creations are well worth owning since each piece is unique with flamboyant colours and textures rarely seen in handbags. The individuality of her styles definitely places her as one to watch. The Phantom Clutch is just SICK, and the Kenzi Shoulder Bag is fashion forward with summer written all over it. The Celebrity Sachel is timeless and conservative, a must for every woman, a bag that will take you every where, and the Ostrich Leather Bracelet is on my must have list, its definitely a piece of jewelry everyone will be asking you where did you get it. Her designs are completely handmade and she has a much anticipated forthcoming line of bags for men entitled Gordon Mann, visit her here for more info.

Update: Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade

This review is so hard to do because I really wanted to like this product and still do. At this time I wont rate the product only list the ingredients. I will revisit it in a few weeks but I wanted all of you to know my experience with the Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade ... Yum, I just opened the jar to take a whiff of the scent.

"This pomade acts as a humectant and protectant for hair, increasing shine to a high glossy sheen and locking in moisture" (taken from the description on the jar). The Burnt Sugar does act as a humectant, which when I tried it was a little too much for my hair texture. I don't have coarse thick hair, its more fine to medium with a kinky curl pattern (4a/some 3c in the back). I did a test by placing the Burnt Sugar on a section of my hair, at the back where my edges are and went about my day to see how my hair would react. Okay, so my hair became thicker because of the oils and it also got knotted and refused to smooth down like the rest of edges, it was getting annoying but the whiffs of its scent kept me wanting it to work.

A few days later I pulled out the Burnt Sugar again and the Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey and did a comparison test. I platted two braids at the front of my head and smoothed each one with a product. The Burnt Sugar braid began to get frizzy while the Mimosa Hair Honey caused that braid to become even more smooth. I let both products sit on my hair for a few hours and than I undid both braids. The Burnt Sugar braid was frizzy, especially the ends and the braid out was not well defined. The Mimosa Hair Honey braid out was well defined, smoother and lacking frizz. I than slightly wet each braid and redid them for bed. The Burnt Sugar braid began to curl (no lie) and the Mimosa Hair Honey braid lay straight. I am going to try this product again, my only reservation is that it will make my entire head a tangled frizzy mess.

It is my opinion that the Burnt Sugar pomade is more suited for a coarser and thicker hair texture that absorbs oils like nobodies business and needs shrinkage to define curls, I was thinking more of a 4b to 4c or a mixture of all the 4 hair sub-categories. I also think the culprit ingredients causing all of the frizz is the unrefined hempseed oil and the mango seed oil because all of the other oils do well in my hair either when in a product or by themselves. Hempseed oil is heavy and so is mango ... We'll see.

Ingredients: Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Mango Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Unrefined Hempseed Oil, Cocoa Butter, Broccoli Seed Oil, Fragrance & Love!

NappyChronicles: 15 Things I Dont Miss Since I've Been Natural

I found this video on You Tube and thought it would be great to share, NappyChronicles is so on point with all the things we no longer have to worry about when our hair is natural, love it!

Thank You

Hi,
I wanted to take the time to thank all of you for supporting Nu Kynk and following all the posts, it is truly appreciated. Enjoy your weekend!

Fabness: Nia Long

This past week Nia Long wore a Tracy Reese dress for the Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2009. Fierce!

Duro Olowu Spring 2009 Collection

Duro Olowu Spring 2009 Collection is electric and colourful, a striking difference from the big name designers that have already shown their collections. African influences dominate with a feminine fit that compliments curves. He is definitely a designer I am watching and pairing one of his pieces for an outfit is a fearless way to make a statement.

Hair Rules Valentine's Sale

Hair Rules Love Is In the Hair Sale celebrates Valentine's Day for the month of February. Purchase an 8 oz or 16 oz Daily Cleansing Cream and receive a free travel size Aloe Grapefruit Purifying Shampoo, the sale is until February 28th!

HoneyFig Retail Store: The Revolution Has Begun

WOW, I am so impressed with the selection of products that the HoneyFig retail store has in stock. Over the weekend I went down to HoneyFig which is in the Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave. area at 4967 Yonge Street just north of Spring Garden Ave . When I walked in the ambiance of the store was on point, I loved the colour co-ordination and the warm lighting that made me feel welcomed. I was greeted by Courtney along with the owner Marlene Robinson! I was so blessed to meet her and took every opportunity to ask her questions about HoneyFig and how her dream became a reality. I am always impressed by tenacity and I know opening HoneyFig was a great feat.

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First, let me say the retail store has a broader range of products than honeyfig.com they carry Carol's Daughter, Oyin Handmade and Dr. Hauschka Skin Care! I had to literally pick my jaw off the floor and gather words to speak. I was so excited I could have spent hours just sampling all the products but I kept focused. Courtney was so sweet, she showed me all the latest products and was open to feedback to make my experience more enjoyable. The Sakile line of skin care products smelled scrumptious and are vegan and all natural. They also carry Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics and Sevi Cosmetics and Skin Care which are eco vegan, I cant wait to try these products, natural equals better. HoneyFig also had in stock selected skin care products from Inky Loves Nature, I will be going back to check on that also.

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My experience was more educational based than sales based. It was very important for Marlene and Courtney to educate the customers that visited the store about these wonderful products and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was free to look and sample and if I had any questions they were ready and willing to help.

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I picked up a Kutra Spa Cloth which was recommended by Courtney and I love it! It is a cotton and nylon blend cloth that is great for exfoliating, I was glowing. I also got the Hairobics Hair & Scalp Booster and Hairobics Hair and Scalp Leave-In Conditioner, these are great treatments to reinforce the hair and scalp and to alleviate scalp conditioners, they are already a part of my hair care routine. Of course, I could not leave without picking up Oyin's Burnt Sugar Pomade which I've been hearing rave reviews about for over two years, and yes the smell is to die for, yum! I also got sample sizes of Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding and Curly Meringue, I will be reviewing these soon.

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With all the excitement I thought it couldn't get any better until Courtney recommended I try the Hair Therapy Wrap Microwaveable Thermal Spa Hair Wrap. I told Courtney about my less than stellar experience with my Mastex Conditioning Cap and she knew HoneyFig could do better.

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HoneyFig will also ship selected products not found online when requested so when you are out of the city you still have access to their selection of exclusive retail products.

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I will be reviewing all the products and tools over the coming weeks. This is bad, real bad ... I may have to rearrange my priorities, this is the new spot for trendy, natural and eco friendly products, the revolution has just begun.

Valentine's Day: Gifts for Him

Buy him something he will love, try:

Visiting the Sunglass Hut retail store for a frame that he will love ... sexy!
L

The Art of Shaving The 4 Elements of The Perfect Shave in Sandalwood includes 2 oz Pre- Shave Oil, 5 oz Shaving Cream, Shaving Brush and 3.4 oz after Shave Balm, available at Sephora or online at sephora .com

Tom Ford - For Men Gift Set includes a 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray and a 2.5 oz After Shave Balm, available at Sephora or online at sephora.com

Valenticious Sensualities

This Valentine's Day treat yourself and the one you love, keep love alive with some sensual heavenly satisfaction with these gift ideas:

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Karma Sutra products $16 to $20 CAD

Karma Sutra Love Liquid in Vanilla Creme, a silky smooth, lightly textured water based lubricant, available at HoneyFig retail or by request at honeyfig.com

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Karma Sutra Intensifying Gel in Warming and Arousing, enhances sensual pleasure, available at HoneyFig retail or by request at honeyfig.com

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Karma Sutra Honey Dust in Sweet Honeysuckle, this edible dust will be a treat for the both of you, available at HoneyFig retail or by request at honeyfig.com

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Karma Sutra The Weekender includes a bit of everything for both of your pleasure, available at HoneyFig retail or by request at honeyfig.com

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Lady Lust products $17 to $28 CAD

Lady Lust Liquid Lust Arousal Mist, spray one to two pumps and the both of you will be in pleasure paradise, available at HoneyFig Retail or by request at honeyfig.com

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Lady Lust Double O Multiple Pleasure Potion, the name says it all, available at HoneyFig retail or by request at honeyfig.com

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Lady Lust Edible Message Oil in Hot Caramel Craving, Creamsicle, Cherried Treasure, and Wanton Watermelon, available at HoneyFig retail or by request at honeyfig.com

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Philosophy's Classic Fudge Cake Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath will make the both of you come clean after hours of play, for $16 US, available at Sephora or online at sephora.com

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Laura Mercier Chocolate Truffle Bath and Body Collection relaxes the senses with its warm intoxicating scents, prices range from $36 to $42 US, available at Sephora or online at sephora.com