Tag: featured

Blogmas Day 10| Do you trash your expired beauty products?

Published on by Kadi7 Comments

Hello Passionista!

Okay, Beauties! We have to talk about expired beauty products. If I’m being honest I just started paying attention the expiration icon on my beauty products, meaning skincare and makeup.

Have you ever since this icon on your beauty products before?

This icon meaning that your product is good for 12 months. Depending on the product the icon may read 6M, 12M, 18M,or 14M. Most cosmetic products should have a shelf life of at least 2 years before its considered no longer any good to use. Only products with active ingredients like acne meds in it have expiration dates with a specific date on it.

A few days ago I went through all of my products to check the expiration dates and this is what I have to get rid of.

I was slightly sad about the eye shadow palettes because as you can see from the picture I barely used them. I was really upset about my skincare products because I WANT THEM.

Here’s my issue? If I purchase a product in May for example and the label has a 12 month icon on it how am I suppose to keep up with the date for when I should throw the product out. Also, if I’m purchasing a product in May, how am I suppose to know how long that product has been on the shelf or in warehouse storage since manufacturing. THIS ICON IS ACTUALLY POINTLESS. It’s not telling me anything.

Here’s my dilemma? Some skincare products will start to look or feel different once the expiration date has passed. This may cause break outs on your skin, and no one wants breakout. Picture below is what the expired product from my collection looks like months after the advertised expiration date. None of the formula look watery or like they have started separating the oils from the soild ingredients, which is a good thing. But I still decided to trash them anyways.

As a beauty influencer, I have a lot of beauty products. I may use a product for a month or 2 then I’m on to trying something else for content purposes. So it rare that I finish an entire bottle of something before the expiration date. Should companies produce smaller packaging sizes? I would appreciate smaller packaging that I know I will use entirely rather than wasting perfect good product.

Let’s discuss… Tell me

Do you pay attention to the expiration date on beauty products?

Do you use your products completely or do they go to waste?

Have you experienced a break out due to a product being old?

Blogmas Day 8 | 2019 Favorite Podcast

Published on by Kadi1 Comment

Hello Passionista!

It’s no secret that I love podcasts. I listen to podcasts more than music now. I used to have the perfect schedule of podcasts. I literally had a different podcast of new episodes for everyday of the week (Monday- Friday). But “The Read” switched up days on me and I stopped listening to “Sword & Scales” so no my podcast schedule is all over the place right now.

I listen to podcast on the iPhone podcast app, its free and great quality. But if you don’t have a iPhone you can tune in via Sound Cloud, Pandora, and Stitcher.

Podcasts I MUST listen to weekly…

The Read

The Breakfast Club

WHOREible Decisions

Women Evolve

Deadass with Devalue and Khadeen

Podcasts I listen to based off the topic for the week…

Lip Service

Hood x Holistic

Fck Work But Ima Go

Mediocre to Masterful

Small Doses with Amanda Seales

Podcasts I listen to every now and then…

Jada and XD

Jesus and Jollof

Newly subscribed to…

The Boss Print

Tell me, How often do you listen to podcasts? And what’s your favorite Podcast?

Blogmas Day 7 | Product Empties & Shopping 4 Hair Products Online

Published on by KadiLeave a comment

Hello Passionista!

I’m back with another basket of empty products I have been collecting to share with you the good, the bad and the ugly.

Let’s start with…

The Shea Moisture sugarcane extract & meadowfoam seed silicone free miracle masque has been a game changer for me. I received this product in a SheaBassador box and before using this product I didn’t use a masque after every wash. Since using this product I see the difference in using a masque or deep conditioner vs when just conditioning the hair and using a leave in conditioner. My hair is a lot softer and not as tangled after the final rinsing. This is a product for all types of hair. If you’re looking for a hair masque to give your softer hydrated curls, I recommend you type this product.

Now, I’ve been using rice water for a year and never seen a product on shelf with rice water. The Shea Moisture purple rice water strength + color care conditioner (which I received in a SheaBassador Box) is the first hair product I’ve seen marketing on self with rice water as a ingredient. I don’t have any color in my hair, but I like how the conditioner nourishes hair with the ability to protect even colored hair. If you are a natural girl with color in your hair, I highly recommend you try this conditioner with the shampoo to nourish and balance your hair.

Not only does Camille Rose have great hair products, they have amazing skin and body care products. I used the Camille Rose Orange Honey Bath Elixir during my self care bubble bath sessions. It foams up really easy and creates the perfect bubble bath experience for a long hot self care night or it can set the mood for a night romantic shared bath.

I’m not big on taking vitamins, I honestly need to better with taking vitamins. So when I had the opportunity to try the Camille Rose Super Foods vitamins, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get me started on a daily vitamin. One thing I wanted to achieve with the Super Food vitamin is stronger nails and of course thicker, longer hair. I can honestly share that I saw results with stronger nails (fingernails and toenails). I have a history of having my nails break really easy. Taking 2 pills a day really helped my nails grow out naturally longer than they have ever been before without acrylic. I plan to continue to take the Super Food vitamins.

I’m not a Clinique customers. I see a lot of YouTuber using Clinique products but I never had a need for any of their skincare products. Someone gifted me a perfume samples that included the Clinique Happy scent. I must admit I like the scent. It’s not something I would pick for myself on my own but now that I’ve tried it, it’s a scent I would love to have in my collection. To me it smells slightly sweet but very mature.

Village Naturals Therapy Aches + Pains Cold & Allergy Relief Mineral Bath Soak-Everytime I take a bath I use epsom salt. It helps keep the water hot longer and it soothing to the body’s natural aches and pains.

I normally don’t use gels on my hair because I alway experience flaking. But the Chasing Curlz Instacurls Defining Gelle worked really well with my hair. I used in it combination with a curl cream to do twist outs. The belle gave my curls a nice hold that help my twist outs last a day or two longer than normal. I would love to re-purchase this product but its a online only product and I’m not eagered to purchase one hair product online that I could buy in store.

The Emilia Pro- Therapy Keratin Hair Mask is another great product that works really well for my hair but can only be purchased online.

There are a lot of things that I will order online to be delivered to my front door. Hair products are just not one of those products yet. I would rather go in store to purchase my hair products so that I can use it right then. I miss the hype of some products cause I’m just not shopping online for hair products. TELL ME, do you shop online for hair products?

Blogmas Day 6 | Equipment I Use To Blog

Published on by KadiLeave a comment

Hello Passionista!

Blogging takes a lot of work. When you are a 1 women show you need equipment and tools to help make the process easier. Over the years, I have tried many different things, but I feel like I’m at a great space of creative resources now. If this world was mine and I had my way, I would have a photographer and videographer do all my images, videos, and editing. But, until I make it big and have the budget to have a fully staffed tech team for my blog and brand I do it all \AZmyself.

The main equipment I used for creating images for a blog or social media post is a tripod and ring light. I have 3 different types of tripods, they all work just about the same. I’ve just collected multiples over the years.

50 Inch Aluminum Tripod

12 Inch Flexible Tripod

50 Inch Universal Tripod

I use the 12 inch flexible tripod for hand held projects or when I’m sitting at my desk vlogging or taking pictures. Most of time I use the universal tripod for indoor and outdoor timers. These tripods make it easy to take pictures and video on your phone. I use the timer on the photo app or sometimes a bluetooth clicker.

The newest tool I’ve added to my inventory is a ring light. I was looking for a low cost solution, so I purchased this one from Facebook market for $15.00. It works perfect and has improved the quality of my photos.

Some of my digital resources are Canva, Abode Lightroom, Mojo, and Hootsuite. If you are thinking about starting a blog but concern about how you would do it. My advice to you is to just start. There are so many free tools and resources write at your fingertips with your smartphone. I have been blogging for 4 years and use my iPhone to take all pictures and record video. One day I’ll be able to add a professional camera to my inventory. But until then my iPhone 8 Plus is working perfectly. (Maybe Santa will bring me a iPhone 11 Pro, lol ).

To all my fellow blogger, TELL ME: What equipment and resources are you using to create content?

Blogmas Day 5 | Winter Bucket List

Published on by KadiLeave a comment

Hello Passionista!

It is day 5 of blogmas!!!! Ya girl is still hanging in there and still ahead of the game.

A lot of the content I have prepared and created for blogmas is a repeat of the topics I’ve blogged about in past blogmas posts. But I noticed that I haven’t made a holiday or winter bucket list since 2016. So here is my winter bucket list:

This year I decided to keep my list short and sweet, because I have plans to do every single thing on this list. Since winter is my favorite time of year, there are lots of activities that I want to do with my family and friends. I’m like the lifestyle coordinator. So I’ll make a plan and let everyone know the plan and have some fun. Most of the time my family and friends are down for my little creative plans, it makes for the best quality time.

What I’m looking forward to the most is a movie day in PJs. I want to lay in bed with snacks and hot coco all day and do nothing but watch all the movies I’ve added to my Amazon Prime watch list. What’s on your winter bucket list?

Blogmas Day 4 | Gift Guide

Published on by KadiLeave a comment

Hello Passionistas!

The holidays are my favorite time of year to shop for the people in my life I love the most. Although, there are so many department stores that I have been custom to shopping at I now like to support black owned businesses. As a fellow entrepreneur I find it important to support small businesses. I’ve put together a small gift guide of suggestions for gifts for your loved ones.

Make It Classy delivers plant-based ingredients and step-by-step instructions needed to craft your own chemical-free DIY beauty creations.It’s like a dinner kit, but for beauty. These kits make the perfect gift for that special lady in your life, your mother, or sisters and friends.

Holiday Offering (Sale, Bundle Deal or Gift Set) Dec. 9-19: Save 20% with code CHEER and receive a free lip balm gift with purchase at makeitclassydiy.com

Kaeess Nail Polish offers 10% off when subscribing to email list as well as free shipping for orders over $40. Orion Collection available for purchase at  www.kaeessnailpolish.com. These polishes are the prefect stocking stuffers for any lady of glamour in your life.

IWI Fresh Garden Day Spa not only offers farm to skin spa service, they offer raw skincare products as well. Products are made from fresh veggies and fruit locally sourced from the garden and perfectly blended by the owner, The Skincare Chef, herself. Products like body oil, body scrubs, and the 14 carrot glow face cream can be purchased at iwifresh.com. IWI Fresh products are perfect for the entire family.

This holiday season, Children’s book author Celina Monique is not only accepting donations for the R.O.Q. scholarship fund, she is also offering a Bundle Deal that offers BOTH children’s books (signed) for ONLY $30 (plus shipping). In addition, the first 5 orders will receive the “Note to Self” coloring book for FREE. To take advantage of this deal, please inquire via email to celina@celinamonique.com while the official website (www.celinamonique.com) is being updated. The books are also available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.

CEO apparel is a great gift for the entrepreneurs and hustlers in your life. Sweatsuits, hoodie and sweat pants can be purchased online at http://www.experienceelegancenow.com/shop

Blogmas Day 3| Updated Wash Day Routine

Published on by KadiLeave a comment

Hello Passionistas!

Many of you know I have been using rice water in my hair wash routine for the past year. Jazz Mary on YouTube actually inspired me to try rice water. I have seen growth in my hair over the past 11 months but the growth did not come as quick as I thought it would with using the rice water. One thing I can say rice water is good for is shedding. My hair sheds a lot but when I use rice water I notice that I have less shedding during the wash and detangling process. For months now I have continued to use the rice water for that reason alone. But I think I have gotten to the point where I am over the rice water trend. LOL! Don’t get me wrong, I am not discouraging anyone from using or trying rice water, it’s just not for me anymore.

Check out my previous rice water blogs:

How I apply my rice water?

Rice Water for Natural Hair Update

Winter Hair Wash Routine + Rice Water

Here is my hair when I first started using rice water (left picture) and currently (right):

I often switch up my hair wash routine based on the growth of my hair. As my hair gets longer and thicker I have to switch up how I treat and style my curls. Here is how I currently wash my hair without rice water:

First, wet hair and apply shampoo focusing on cleanse my scalp. Then rinse with warm water.

Second, apply conditioner and use a wide tooth comb to detangle my curls. Then rinse with warm water.

Third, apply deep conditioner and part hair in four sections of twist. Place a shower cap over hair and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cold water.

Lastly, apply leave in conditioner and style accordingly.