BH Cosmetics 120 eyeshadow Pallet 2nd edition

Hi everyone this blog is long over due. I was looking for affordable makeup and I seen reviews on BH cosmetics eye shadows so I decided to ordered the BH Cosmetics 120 eyeshadow 2nd edition.
Shipping was fast when it came in I was so excited I could not wait to open the product this product was well wrapped to make sure that the shadows stay in tack .
The pallet it self was wrapped in bubble rap the packaging was well wrapped and secured in which I loved once I open the shadows I was amazed and intrigued at all the colors they are bright easy to blend even the matte colors I love color I felt like a kid in the candy store once I seen all the colors looking back at me say touch me (LOL ) .
This pallet has two trays stacked on top of each other with a plastic sheet over the shadows each trap is wrapped in plastic for the security of the shadows in each pallet .The pigmentation is Amazing pallet is good for beginners as well as the experienced this pallet makes a great gift .
I'm extremely impressed with this pallet its affordable and worth every penny. If you are looking for something affordable well you will defiantly get your moneys worth ladies with BH Cosmetics . I cannot wait to get the 120 eyeshadow pallet 1st edition. So ladies and gents if you have been searching for affordable makeup look no further you can find this pallet at www.bhcosmetics.com
Pictures curtosey of BH cosmetics

Best Fall Beauty Buys

Best-selling Beauty Buys for Fall

By Qianna Smith

Unlike trendy seasonal fashions, good skin is always "in." Your skin deserves the best treatment, so start by protecting one of the most exposed features on your body during the colder months—your face. I've rounded up a few of the latest and greatest buzzworthy skin care products to hit the shelves this fall with expert tips from Ling Chan, creator of LING Skin Care products and Ling Spas in New York City, who's known for helping Hollywood's top leading ladies put their best face forward both on and off the screen. Get the skin you deserve with these tried and tested potions that are sure to help you achieve and maintain a healthy refreshing glow.

Make a Commitment

"Maintaining your skin is a lifelong commitment," says Chan. "Taking care of the skin is just like taking care of the body—it becomes part of a lifestyle. It is important to dedicate time to your customized plan to help achieve great skin."

Right to Left: AVEDA Enbrightenment^TM Brightening Cleanser, $25, aveda.com. Potion Power: A gentle facial cleanser that helps lift away impurities and dull surface cells to improve overall skin clarity; Carol's Daughter Bring in the Moisture Gentle Face Wash, $20, sephora.com. Potion Power: Dissolves dirt and grime without stripping away vital moisture.

Left to Right: Fresh Soy Face Cream, $38, sephora.com. Potion Power: It hydrates and renews the skin, creating supple, healthy, firm, radiant results; Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45, Untinted, $12.99, drugstore.com. Potion Power: Lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and keeps skin hydrated all day.

Know What You're Using

"Overuse of cleansers that contain glycolic acids, alpha hydroxy acids and irritating ingredients, along with exfoliating too frequently with very abrasive scrubs can eventually damage the skin and contribute to redness, sensitivity and inflammation," says Chan, who pampers the faces of celebrities like Naomi Campbell. "The long-term effects of these sometimes harsh ingredients may lead to the premature development of fine lines and surface dehydration. When the surface of the skin becomes dehydrated, the oil glands will overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of moisture which in turn can lead to large pores, blackheads and breakouts."

Right to Left: Givenchy Peel Me Perfectly, $45, sephora.com. Potion Power: A triple action scrub that smoothes, enhances radiance and purifies the skin; Simple Kind To Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub, $7.99, simpleskincare.com and Duane Reade drugstores. Potion Power: Vitamin E moisturizes and improves skin condition.

Best-selling Beauty Buys for Fall

Qianna Smith

H20 Forever

"Hydration is the root of anti-aging. When your skin is properly hydrated it is better able to function, heal, prevent, and renew," says Chan.

Left to Right: AVON ANEW REVERSALIST Night Renewal Cream, $27 (Originally $32), avon.com. Potion Power: Reactivate skin's repair process to help reverse the look of wrinkles; AHAVA TimeLine All Day Moisturizer, $52, ahavaus.com. Potion Power: It reduces wrinkle depth significantly, hydrates the skin for 12 hours and protects the skin from sun-related damage with SPF 15.

Left to Right: Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Renovage Cellular Eye Repair, $78, osmotic.com. Potion Power: Helps correct and prevent aging around the eyes; Talika Eye Detox Contour Gel, $45, talika.com. Potion Power: Minimizes the appearance of bags and dark rings around the eyes.

Qianna Smith

Facial Facts

"Get an expert monthly facial to clean the pores of impurities. Heavy makeup and our bodies natural 28-day cycle leads to clogged pores," shares Chan. "In order to maintain a healthy complexion and get the most benefits from your products, it is important to go in for a pore-cleaning every month to six weeks."

Left to Right: Ling Skincare Moisturizing Facial Masque, $12 (.5 oz), lingskincare.com. Potion Power: This masque nourishes and moisturizes the skin as it deep cleans the pores; Michael Marcus Purify Pumpkin & Papaya Mask, $58, michaelmarcus.com. Potion Power: crème base masque to retexture and smooth the surface of the skin.

You can find this article in the Essence Magazine.

See photos from Sam Fine’s star-studded DVD launch party event »

Sam Fine, legendary makeup artist to Vanessa Williams, Queen Latifah, Tyra Banks and Iman, launched his debut instructional DVD with the help of close friends and longtime clients at the Warren-Tricomi Salon at the Plaza. ESSENCE.com attended this star-studded event. Get the scoop on how one man is empowering women of color through makeup artistry.

ESSENCE.COM: Your DVD is called "Basics of Beauty." How would you define your ABC's of beauty?

SAM FINE: The ABC's of beauty are simple: groomed eyebrows/removing any unwanted facial hair, foundation or powder to perfect the canvas, bronzer to add luminosity, mascara to bring definition to the eyes and lip liner and
lipstick or gloss to add a supple texture and color to the lips. These products are the basics in which to build a simple, glamorous look.

Look More Than Just 'Fine'

Qianna Smith

ESSENCE.COM: What three things should every woman strive to achieve when it comes to enhancing one's own natural beauty?

FINE: The three most important things every woman should strive to achieve are...

1) A Groomed Brow—Most women are concerned with elaborate eye shadow application, but a simple, groomed brow not only opens and lifts the eye, but clears the way for any eye shadow application to follow.
2) A Flawless Canvas—Choosing a foundation to suit your specific needs helps to unite varied tones. If you don't use foundation, then powder is a must! Using a pressed or loose powder helps to alleviate shine and makes the complexion appear more consistent in color and texture!
3) A Glowing Complexion—This is very different than creating a "flawless canvas." Using a dusting of bronzer on the outer perimeter of the face - forehead, nearest the hairline—and onto cheeks, adds warmth and richness to the complexion. After applying bronzer, simply use a peach shade of blush on cheeks for a subtle "pop" of color.

ESSENCE.COM: What do you hope women will gain from watching your DVD?

FINE: I hope women gain a greater understanding of cosmetic product, formula and application...and the endless possibilities that makeup can provide! I also hope that it will change the perception that makeup will make you look fake! There are various techniques that I demonstrate in the DVD that help to create a beautiful, natural look.

ESSENCE.COM: The DVD provides step by step tips on makeup application techniques. What makeup tools should be in every woman's beauty bag to help them with the application process?

FINE: The products you use will dictate what tools you need, however...
1) Tweezers are important to own (slanted tips are my favorite), whether you're grooming your own brows or removing a few stray hairs between visits to your beauty professional.
2) Latex sponges or a synthetic hair foundation brush help foundation glide across the skin... but don't be afraid to use your fingers, especially in those hard-to-reach areas such as underneath eyes and around the nose.
3) When applying loose or pressed powder, use a large powder brush for a soft, diffused application.
4) A large powder brush is also perfect to apply bronzer (but you'll need a separate brush from you're loose powder brush, because you don't want to mix the two).
5) Instead of using those tiny blush brushes that come with the product, invest in a blush brush! A blush brush is simply a smaller version of the large powder brush. This small fluffy brush ensures that you won't have a streaky application of color on cheeks.
6) I know it's easier to apply lipstick from the tube, but a lip brush is key to achieving flawless coverage and layering gloss beautifully.

ESSENCE.COM: How does your DVD encourage women who feel they don't have the time or know-how to properly apply makeup to want to experiment with their own beauty?

FINE: Writing about makeup, products and proper application is one thing, but watching it being applied step-by-step is another! Watching "The Basics of Beauty" DVD encourages women to realize how a simple a dab of concealer can change the shape of the eye... to understand how a well-defined brow opens and lifts the eye... to grasp why lip liner and lipstick blend to make an effortless-looking, sexy lip statement. The DVD makes you want to pick up a product (or two, or three) and learn, play and enjoy makeup!

To purchase the "FINE: The Basics of Beauty DVD," $24, visit Samfine.com and Amazon.com.

Keep Black froom Cracking .....

Keep Black from Cracking

We asked Rolanda Johnson, Ph.D, senior scientist at Proctor & Gamble (home of brands such as Olay and Pantene) to tell us what three things Black women need to know about keeping our skin hydrating.

1. You need to moisturize even if you have oily skin.
"When we moisturize our skin, we are typically adding humectants like glycerin to help draw water in and hold it in the outer most cellular layers of our skin. In oily skin, the glands are producing excess sebum or oil. [So] in this case, we would recommend a moisturizer that also has oil-controlling benefits to help maintain the balance of hydration and perceived oiliness. Mattifying moisturizers are ideal."

2. Your skin loses water at night.
"At night, the skin is in its restorative mode working to replenish all the essential things that were damaged or lost during the day. Water is essential to those biological functions, so the skin is drawing on its own resources of water more than in the daytime." Nighttime is an ideal time to treat skin with a hydrating moisturizer. Try Olay Definity Night Restorative Sleep Cream ($30, CVS.com)

3. Hydration actually can get better as we age.
"It is generally assumed that skin dryness increases with age. However, data shows that as we age, hydration can increase on the face in areas such as the cheeks and forehead. On the other hand, sebum secretion goes down in your 30s or 40s."

Skin Care By the Book ..

When it comes to darker skin tones, there has been a shortage of reliable information to tell us which products and procedures are best suited to our needs. Until now. Dermatologists Jeanine Downie, M.D., and Fran Cook-Bolden, M.D., with Emmy Award–winning reporter Barbara Nevins Taylor, have filled the void with their new book, Beautiful Skin of Color: A Comprehensive Guide to Asian, Olive, and Dark Skin (Regan Books). Written as an A-to-Z manual, it covers topics from acne and eczema to sun protection and vitiligo. The book also features letters from everyday women with their questions about skin care, as well as straightforward explanations, advice and product recommendations to help you attain healthy, beautiful skin. Here we take a sneak peek at what the good doctors have to say about skin discoloration.


Joint Darkness “I have a light-brown complexion, but my knees and elbows are black,” Tanika writes. “It’s been like this since I was little. I never wear skirts and always wear long sleeves. Is there anything I can do?”

It’s not unusual for people to have severe discoloration that they want to cover up. Skin of color, ranging from the palest Asian tone to olive and the darkest of dark skin, is prone to darkening in certain areas. But people are often too embarrassed to talk about it. Over-the-counter creams and lotions aren’t likely to work if the problem is severe or genetic. But in many cases there are remedies.


Why It Happens Some people are born with darker skin on their joints. If this is a genetic problem, it may be impossible to make a significant difference. But the darkness may be caused by friction and the way your skin has responded to it. You started banging your elbows and knees when you were very young. We’re all born with extra skin at the joints so that we can bend and stretch. If you have skin of color, that extra skin darkens easily.

Melanocytes, the cells that give our skin color, are very active in Asian, olive and dark skin. The slightest bump, bruise, scrape or trauma of any kind activates the melanocytes. In the joint areas the extra color cells get trapped in the extra skin. So if you’re doing housework or anything that involves repeated pressure on your knees and elbows for long periods of time, it’s likely that the skin over those joints will darken. Similarly if you’re doing work or playing a game or sport that’s rough on the hands, your knuckles will likely be darker than the rest of your skin. The same is true for your toes. If you squeeze your feet into great-looking shoes that hurt and scrunch the toes, your toe joints are likely to darken.

Doctor’s Guidance A dermatologist will use a combination of therapies to even the skin tone. Hydroquinone, which blocks the enzyme that produces color in the melanocytes, is most effective when combined with retinoids like Retin-A Micro. This full-strength retinoid evens skin tone as it speeds the shedding of dead-skin cells. It also stimulates natural collagen production and gives the skin good texture.

Some prescription medications, such as EpiQuin Micro, Glyquin XM and Alustra, contain all these ingredients and others, including vitamins C and E—antioxidants that fight the oxygen compounds known as free radicals, which cause aging.

If the skin is very thick and very dark, the doctor may prescribe Tri-Luma Cream, a medication combining a hydroquinone, a retinoid and a steroid. Use the cream for a limited time only, and be sure its use is monitored carefully by a doctor.

Makeover Magic: The African-American Woman's Ultimate Virtual Beauty Tool

Let's get pretty! ESSENCE.com introduces an exciting new virtual online makeover tool, Makeover Magic. Try on celebrity hairstyles, hair color, bright eye colors and bold accessories. Putting your best face forward is only a click away.
Launch Makeover Magic »

Say Goodbye To Estee Lauder's Prescriptives

So many people are going to be upset when they can't pick up any more custom color matches over at Prescriptives after January 2010. The makeup parent company Estee Lauder told WWD that the economy is the reason that they have reevaluated the line. . . bye-bye, Custom Blend!

"After a thorough analysis of the Prescriptives brand, management concluded that the brand's long-term business model is no longer viable, given the current market environment," Estee Lauder released.

While the makeup will continue to be sold online while supplies last, there's no news whether or not a comparable line will be released to at least absorb some of the customers (like us!) who adore putting on a "colorprinted" foundation. For now, we're considering picking up a farewell bottle or two of our favorites, because this is one beauty brand that will be sorely missed.

What specific brand of makeup would you miss terribly if it disappeared?