The New LOVE of My Life: MAC Face and Body Foundation!!

I have been on the prowl for the perfect foundation. I recently went back to my original drugstore love, Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in cocoa dark 3. However, even though this foundation leaves a flawless look, it does look like you have on makeup. More often than not when you're wearing makeup, it will look like it....but it doesn't have to really LOOK like it (if you get what I'm trying to say). Anyway, it's the summer time and I wanted a foundation that would give me a natural dewy look with not so much coverage. Where I live it gets HOT in the summer months and I really didn't want to look like my foundation was sliding off my face!! Who wants that!?

So, without further adieu...I'd like to introduce you to MAC's Face and Body Foundation!!! I found this just looking on their website. I had heard of it before but I didn't pay it any attention because of the "body" in the title. But when in doubt, turn to youtube! I logged on and found some GREAT reviews on this product. So, I went ahead and purchased it. Best decision in my life!

Now, I must admit, I really didn't try it on in the store. I just asked what color I would be, they told me, I bought it! I knew what finish I was looking for (kind of a light-medium coverage) and they assured me that that was what I was going to get.

I already had on makeup for the day because I was going out with my husband. So, I waited until the next day to do a full face.....but when I did.....words cannot even describe the joy that overtook me!! It gave me such a natural look. It's almost like your face still looks like your face but a more polished version. BEAUTIFUL. Even my husband commented telling me my face looks so nice lol.

STATS:

• It's very watery when it first comes out. But with application it becomes almost gel-like so you need to work it in fast.
• The color match is not a big deal because the coverage is so light.
• It comes with 4oz. of product (unlike the other foundations by MAC which are 1oz.
• It's important to find the right brush to apply it with. Otherwise the product will just be absorbed.
• Must be shaken before use because it does separate.
• Beautiful dewy finish
• Does not feel like you have on make-up
• May or may not be set with powder
• $32. Just $7 more than MAC's other foundations with 3 more oz.!!

Overall, this is my favorite new foundation. I LOVE IT!!! I will be posting a tutorial soon on my channel!

I chose the ELF Flat top powder brush to apply. It worked the product in beautifully!

Kisses,

Rachel

Am I Getting Creative? I Think I Am......

It's about time I tried something new with this hair. I wanted to spruce up my little signature ponytail that I always do. So, I added bantu knots to the front and flat twists to each side.

Natural hair is so versatile. Exploring the different things you can do with it is the best part of my journey!  :)

Kisses,

Rachel

Bantu Knots, Oh How I Love Thee...

I wanted to try something different with my hair today. So I worked up the strength to wash, blow dry, and bantu knot my hair. I had already seen so many success stories on YouTube and I wanted to give it a go! It was a lot of work but I finally finished all of the knots (almost 20) and put on a satin bonnet and went to sleep. In the morning I took out all the knots to get this result:

I looked a mess! It was literally like 6am. Anyways, separating curls, bantu knots, and braid outs can be a HUGE fear for many naturals. The overwhelming feeling that beautiful, shiny waves and curls can easily become a big giant NAP can be discouraging. But I had faith and I separated.....very....very carefully. Below are a few pics along with the products I used. Take the leap! Do the knots and SEPARATE! Happy knotting!

Kisses,

Rachel

120 Neutral Palette :)

I was on a search for a neutral palette that I could use for more toned down looks and I found it!!! The 120 Neutral palette is considered to be the 4th edition of the 120 palettes. I found mine on ebay and surprisingly I had never heard of it. I purchased it for $21.99 and it took about 3 weeks for delivery. Overall I am very impressed with it. The palette is of the same quality of all of the other 120 palettes. The colors are very pigmented and blendable. I can't wait to do tons of looks with it!

Kisses,

Rachel

88 Tropical Shimmer Palette

I got a new palette in the mail today. It's called the "88 Tropical Shimmer Palette." I got it from ebay for $16.99 and I must say that I LOVE IT!! I had never heard of it before until I stumbled upon it online. The colors are just as pigmented as all of the other 88 palettes but the are more toned down with an "earthy" hue to all of them. This would be a great palette for beginners who don't want to venture into super bright colors! I also purchased the 88 Shimmer palette for $13.99 from the same seller and that came today as well. Below is a pic of the 88 Shimmer and 88 Tropical Shimmer side by side!

Kisses,

Rachel

Take the kinks out of your mind, not your hair! -Marcus Garvey

Being natural has brought many joys....and frustrations to me. I find that some days my hair is ON POINT....and other days it is beyond terrible. Of course I like the freedom that comes with it. It doesn't matter if the wind blows or if a few curls are out of place because to me, being natural is not about perfection. I think my frustrations stem from seeing other natural beauties and my desire to get their look. It's all about the mind! Being free in my natural hair began with a mindset that it was ok to be free! I have been wearing my hair in it's curly state for about 3 months now. Before then I was on and off with it. Sometimes I would flat iron and sometimes I wouldn't. But within the last 3 months I have fully come to love and accept MY hair. All natural hair is beautiful. Not only is it beautiful....but it's beautiful because it doesn't look like anyone else's. We all have our own distinct natural texture. Wavy, curly, and kinky are all beautiful! Embrace your hair! Love it! I guarantee when you do this....a whole new world will be within your reach.


Here are a few of my inspirations

Kisses,

Rachel

The Wedding.....

So, I know I'm super late...almost by a year! But I just had to show you at least a few pictures from my wedding because I know you wanted to see! These are just a couple of "unofficial" pics. Reason being is because I wanted you to see my husband in a natural state. LOL you know how guys are when they take pics! They either need someone to make them smile, they are forcing a smile, or they are not smiling at all and they have a real menacing look to them in the photo! Well, that's kind of what went on in my professional photos. They're beautiful but these were just "him being him."

Our wedding was amazing. I had always had my mind set on having a candlelight wedding and that's exactly what we had. It began around 8:30p.m June 5th of 2010. There were candles all around us and our guests. Our reception began at 11:00p.m (late I know) and was held at a historical museum in our downtown area. The reception venue was my favorite part of our entire wedding. The museum was closed to the public and to be used only for my wedding party and guests. All of our guests were free to roam the museum and enjoy the exhibits during the cocktail hour. Dinner was held in the lower level of the museum where it was designed like our city back in the day. The floor was all cobblestone as if you were walking along the streets and there were make shift shops, and lamp posts and all sorts of stuff. It was so nostalgic.

But anyway I don't want to ramble too much. I will have to do a deep search to find which professional pics I like the best and I'll post them here! But as for now, this is my hubby! I love him so much. He's such a strong man full of character, integrity, and faith. I thank God for him daily and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with him!

Kisses,

Rachel

ELF Primer Review

So, I went on a shopping spree yesterday in Target and I found an entire new line of ELF products. This line is so great. Not only are the products actually quality products, but everything in their line is either $1 or $3. On their website (eyeslipsface.com) they have various things such as primers and a studio line that goes up to $8...but still! When you compare to many other companies, you cannot beat the prices. Well, on my shopping spree I purchased the ELF Eyeshadow Primer for $1 and surprisingly, it is very comparable to UDPP. My shadows lasted all day with the same intensity that I had when I first applied them. I would definitely recommend it and again, you can't beat the price! The video above is right after I applied the shadows and the photos below are of the results of my use with the primer. The top one was taken directly after I applied the shadows and the bottom one is at the end of the day (about 9 hours later). So, decide for yourself!

Kisses,

Rachel

Look is From Green Fields Eyes ELF Mineral Eyeshadow set. The lid color is "Earthy" and crease color is "Outdoorsy."
                              
                                First Applied (9:00am)

                                 End of the day (6:00pm)

Welcome to My New Blog!!!!

This is my first official post on my beauty blog!! Hopefully you all don't get annoyed by hearing about my husband all of the time lol....but he really encouraged me to start this blog and even helped me come up with the name! So, special shout out to him! Anywho, Kiss and Make-Up Allure is where you will be able to come in addition to my youtube channel to find photos, exciting news, and additional information about products or whatever I feature on my channel. I am so looking forward to getting to know a lot of my subscribers better and being so dedicated to my blog! AHHHH the excitement is killing me! Thank you all so much for being such great subscribers to my channel and making me feel so welcome to the wonderful world of youtube! :)

Kisses,

Rachel