Happy New Year| 2020

Happy New Year to everyone! Sending positive energy, love and light your way always.

- Creatively Coiled

Pick 6 - Spring

It has been such a long time since I last posted (actually since the last Pick 6 for Winter). Summer is here and it is time to share my...

So... Lets jump right in!!!



Hair: Entwine Couture Exotique Butter-Creme Hydrator - For whatever reason, I was sleeping on this product for a few months and I honestly do not know why. What made me revisit it?: a frustrating moment of running and hands through my DRY hair trying to figure out what I already owned that could help other than using shea butter to seal in moisture. I can apply the butter-creme hydrator to my hair WITHOUT spritzing with water and my hair feels soft and rejuvenated.

>>Click here to to see my review on this is other Entwine products<<

Fashion: Palazzo Pants - being comfortable is the name of the game and I am personally tired of wearing slacks to work. I am so glad and palazzo pants are still a trend and can be found almost everywhere. I am stocking up on them now and my stores of choice are Target (check out the Ava and Viv collection) and Cato...Which by the way, was something else I was sleeping on. Side Note: I hadn't stepped foot in Cato in well over 2 years and honestly forgot about it but a friend reintroduced me to the store and I am impressed.

Beauty: Eyebrow pencils - meh! I really don't have much to say about this except that... I have limited hair above the eye and therefore choose to enhance it by filling them in. My favorite brow pencils are by e.l.f. and NYX.

>>Click here to see my eyebrow demo<<

Skin: Dermasil - If you have read any of the past Pick 6, you may be aware that I have troubling skin (ie: sometimes dry, oily, hyper pigmented....blah, blah, blah). Now I am dealing with my eczema breaking out on my wrist and ring finger...My left ring finger to be exact. Dermasil combats the dryness of my eczema and keeps it from itching. I using the formula for extra dry skin.






Accessories: Crocs flat shoes - OK, so don't judge me and don't take me off you "Cool" list...If I was ever on it but. I am LOVING them. I hated Crocs when they 1st came out because they are hideous however, knowing that they have different styles have helped a lot of people (including myself) accept them. These things are so comfy. I will certainly be purchasing more to wear to work

Random *Wish List Item*: Fujifilm Instax mini 8 - I have seen this camera circulating on line and it is adorable. It takes me back to the old school Polaroid instant camera that my parents owned. I though it was so cool sitting there shaking my the picture anticipating the image. It may seem like overload because I have a digital camera and my phone but I don't care... I want one. They run about $70.00 and I am considering it (no time soon but I am interested).

What items were you loving on this Spring?

Pick 6 - Summer

As much as I've enjoyed the sitting pool side, wearing sundresses, sun glasses, and digging my feet in the sand, we must soon say farewell to Summer (boooooo!). BUT before we do, I want to come to you all with some of my favorites this season. So...

                                                       L E T S   G E T   S T A R T E D !

Accessories - Viva La Juicy and Viva La Juicy Gold rollerball perfume. I've been leaning hard with this duo. Two fragrances in one and I'm able to slip it in my bag to take with me in case I'm in a rush. I am certainly a fan of the original Juicy Couture but I've enjoyed the Juicy Couture Gold for more of a "stepping out on the town" fragrance. The two smell very similar but the Gold has a hint of what may be vanilla (***does a quick Google search to verify my assumption***) YES! vanilla. which gives me a more grown and sexy vibe when applying.






Fashion - Old Navy T-Strap Flip Flops. Let me just say...I have worn these flips flops just about everyday this summer. Lately, I've had trouble finding a all black flip flop with straps (a lot of flip flops that are out now have black straps but the base/bottom is a different color...I'm plain). I like the quality of these because they're made with a heavier rubber (unlike the foam flip flops that are always on sale at Old Navy).




Beauty - Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes. Summer means sweat and I am not in the mood for wiping makeup off my face, and clothes. To still jazz up my look, I draw/fill in my eyebrows (click >>> HERE <<< to see my technique) and apply mascara. Great Lash is the best mascara I have used so far. It really defines my lashes. Also, I am "multiple application" gal (meaning I'll apply at least 3 coats to make my lashes pop). Now, it clumps a little but not nearly as bad as other mascaras I have used.




Hair - Afro Puff. Need I say more??? This Summer was not nearly as hot as I anticipated but, for those days
when I did not want to deal with my hair brushing my neck and/or sweating my hair out. I would simply wear a puff. When I first discovered I could achieve the afro puff with my own hair, I would only wear it when it was getting close to wash day BUT CHILE... I love it now! Bad hair day, good hair day, just not in the mood to deal with my hair, the puff is in full effect.




Skin - ***2-for-1***Neutrogena Astringent and Toner. So, for my Pick 6 for Spring I talked about how I use the Neutrogena Wave Sonic. I've gotten better with the routine but I'm only using it 2 days out of the week (as I noticed that using it everyday was drying my skin). My daily facial regimen after washing my face is to apply the Neutrogena Astringent on my problem spots (which clears me up in about 3 days). Then after that dries, I use the Alcohol Free Toner to close my pores, and to hopefully help keep my skin tight (as it is). This is really helping out my problem areas and my skin doesn't feel tight (like some medication make it feel) or dry after applying.

Image pulled from Crane website

Random - Crane Pop-up Sun Shelter. The husband and I made 2 trips to the beach. The 1st trip was a bit
of a hassle because it rained most of the day. Along with the rain came wind which ruined 2 beach umbrellas that we purchased when we arrived (very upset at the waste of money). Before we took our 2nd trip to the coast I lucked on this Pop-up Sun Shelter while shopping in Aldi. This thing is awesome!: Just like the name says, it is a pop-up shelter so no assembly required. It is large enough for both of us to sit out beach chairs in, easy to put away, AND it comes with a carrying bag. This made our day at the beach even more care-free because we were able to setup, and pack up quickly.

I'm tagging Ms.Naturally Random and anyone else that would like to participate.

What are some items that made your Summer???

-Creatively Coiled

Living the Lie - Eyebrows

If you took a look at my previous blog post you are aware that I draw on/ fill in my eyebrows. Now this goes without saying that I am aware of the fact that people are not seeing how I truly look at all times ( as I am sure all women who do this are aware of ). And I am OK with that.

I have had the conversation with my fiancee a few times as he has expressed his concern with my drawing my brows. Especially considering the fact that when we began talking (over 8 years ago) I did not wear makeup...Let alone draw on my eyebrows. He is still not a fan of "the brows" but is getting a bit more comfortable with it since I do it on regular now. He states that he does not like it simply because "it's fake".
I feel that as long as they look realistic/natural it is OK... Just like makeup: you can wear makeup and still have a natural look. I do draw my brows on however I try to avoid making them look too dramatic.

There is a YouTube video entitled RNP #1: YOUR EYEBROWS which is the a spoken word video where a guy is expressing his concern with the fact that a female woke up next to him the following morning with her face [makeup...including eyebrows] left on the pillow. I found this video to HILARIOUS because it is so true. On the few nights that I was to too lazy/tired to clean my face, I find that I've rubbed [my] eyebrows off.

What are your views on filling in eyebrows?
Do you draw or fill yours in?
How what are you spouses views on this?


-CreativelyCoiled

[My] Eyebrows

I am always surprised at the compliments that people give me on my eyebrows... Honestly, because I FILL THEM IN . My eyebrows are very sparse: the hairs are thin, and are very spaced out so it is as if I do not have any. Over the past 2 or 3 years I have started filling them in and giving them shape. [In my personal opinion] I have perfected the process. Since I have received so many compliments, why not show how I achieve my "Just shaped" looked:


What you will need:

• Spooly brush (Beauty Supply Brush)
• Eyebrow pencil (NYX in Black)
• Brow brush (Beauty Supply Brush)
• Concealer (L.A. Girl Pro.Conceal)
• Small angled makeup brush (e.l.f.)
• Setting powder (e.l.f.)

I- I make sure my face is clean (of course) and I gently brush my brows with the spooly to ensure the hairs are laying in the same direction.

II - Some people stray from using a black pencil because it is so prominent but it works just fine for me (maybe because of my complexion). I make sure my eyebrow pencil is as sharp as possible to outline my brow. at the most narrow part of the outline I color it in just a bit but leave the rest open.

Taken with flash to show my actual brow and the traced brow

 III  - With my brow brush, I brush from the most outer corner (where I colored it in) inward towards the center of my face. Brushing in this direction helps to fade out the pencil and give the brow a more natural look. 

IV-At this point I have eyebrows (yay!) BUT, I need to give them a clean shape. This is where the concealer and angle brush come in to play. With the concealer on the brush, I play clean up: concealing any unwanted pencil and hairs that are not in line with what I have drawn. 

Last step is taking setting powder and applying to the brows (so I forget they are fake and wipe them off). 

BAM! There you have it. I feel like I look very different (in a good way) with eyebrows however, the biggest thing now is committing to them because if they aren't drawn on...People notice (lol), but I'm OK with that. 

Do you draw on or fill in your brows? If so, what technique do you use?

-CreativelyCoiled