New Year...New hair: Vanessa Express Weave Wig (La Mijung) 1B

Happy New Year my beautiful queens,

As some of you probably already know I have been M.I.A. due to what was probably the most hectic   semester of college I had ever experienced. I found myself running around campus all day, taking baby Aiiden to day care (available at my college), then getting to class on time, and after three daily classes come home and take care of mommy and housewife duties. Sounds like a lot right? Well it was and that's what kept me away from blogging. On another note during this time that I have been away I have come across a few products to review which I am sure you will all enjoy. Which brings me to informing you all that this year I will be adding two new categories on here. The first one is all about the "Hair." I am constantly being asked what is my hair care regimen since it has grown so long after my famous Halle Berry chop. So I have decided to review the products that have actually worked on my hair and those that just look better on a shelf. The second category that I am adding is "Outfit of the day." This category will allow me to show you all my personal style and hopefully introduce new clothing and accessory web sites.

Any who, like every year 2013 symbolizes new changes for me. So far I have changed my wardrobe and my hair styles. I am allowing my hair to grow to its longest potential so I have decided to wear wigs when ever I want to switch up my look without having to cause any harm to my natural hair. My new hair hunt lead me to YouTube where I typed up: curly afro hair wig and the Vanessa Express Weave (La Mijung) popped up. It was exactly what I was searching for so I went ahead and goggled hair supply websites and came across Super Beauty Depot. Despite the bad reputation this company has built I decided to purchase my wig from them only because it was actually in stock and all the other sites I had come across didn't have it at the moment. And so on 12/24/2012 I placed my order after calling the company and making sure my unit was indeed in stock. Two weeks passed since I had placed my order and to my surprise when my box arrived I only received one of the two wigs I had ordered. immediately I contacted the company and again to my surprise the representative tells me that both units had been shipped out and that it was impossible for me to have only received one of the items. I went on to explaining to this person that something had to be done because I knew exactly what I had received and my order was not complete. And so after another week of investigation and hours of being placed on hold the other item that was missing was delivered to me SEPARATELY! Super Beauty Depot is not in any way shape or form organized with their inventory, nor any of their representatives know what's actually going on in their warehouse. I will never repurchase  anything from them again.  Anyways, happy that I finally had the wig I wanted I put my wig cap on followed by the actual wig. La Mijung is a HALF WIG but it can be used as a full wig and that's exactly how I wear mine. She is 100% Kanekalon and or Toyokalon fiber and honestly very realistic looking. Initially when I removed the unit out of the packaging the hair was extremely curly and somewhat shine. Although the original curls looked amazing I finger combed the hair to the point where the wig now looks a bit afro (PERFECT FOR MY 2013 look.) 

***I will be cutting my wig only because I am 5'3 and I don't want to look like I'm drowning within my hair.)

My "Oops I did it again" face!

Description from: Super Beauty Depot Retail price $56.99 I got mine on sale for $19.99

Caring Instructions

From left to right: 1.Vanessa Express Tag. 2.unit has 2 medium size combs (Front and back.) 3.Adjustable straps for a perfect fit.)

Update: I have been wearing this unit continuously throughout the week and I love it and so does my husband. Every where I go I am constantly getting compliments on my hair and people don't have the slightest idea that it's actually a wig! I would recommend this unit to any one who wants the big hair look without having to damage their hair with any chemicals to achieve the volume. Also, the more I wear this unit the better it looks! I am in love with my new hair.

I hope you ladies enjoyed this review and my latest "where I have been" update. Feel free to comment below and let me know what you think of my new hair did jajaja. 

Until next time,

Empire State Beauty Queen-xo

P.S. I am now on Instagram :) @empirestate24 

                                             

Catara Carrell Photography 12/12/12 Giveaway

I'M BACK MY QUEENS!!!!

Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Thursday. Today I took my last final and I am so ecstatic. Any who as usual I always come across awesome giveaways and the one I just came across is no exception! Catara Carrell Photography is hosting her 12/12/12 Giveaway and the winner takes home this awesome prize:

 I am offering a COMPLIMENTARY mini session(30 minutes), full makeup application by Makeup By Kstylez and $100 print credit.

Giveaway ends December 13th at midnight EST. Giveaway offer is valid from February 1, 2013 thru May 30, 2013.

*Photo belongs to: http://www.cataracarrellphotography.com/blog/*

Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to meet both Catara and Youtube Guru: Kstylez :)

'Till next time,

Empire State Beauty Queen

Open Casting Call for the next XSRE Girl (Palisades Center, NY)

So you think you have what it takes to be an XSRE model? If so I have all the information you need for a chance to score a six month modeling contract and become the face of the XSRE Store in the Palisades Center located in West Nyack, NY.

 First things first:

Walking into a XSRE is like walking into the ultimate girl's closet. They carry everything you need to look fabulous from head to toe (literally.)

 Here are a few of the things you will find in their store:

Latest Fashion Jewelry

Apparel

Shoes

Hand Bags and so much more...

I love this one!!!

And this one...

Ohh and did I mention that they have MAKEUP?!!!

***These photos were taken directly from their Facebook Fan Page.

Now on to the casting details:

During this event release forms will be handed out to all you beautiful ladies interested in becoming the Palisades Center XSRE girl. Photos will be taken of you by their professional photographer, which will then be sent to the company's owner for selection. It's that simple! But wait there's another fabulous perk for those of you who attend. The photos taken will also be posted on their XSRE Facebook Fan Page  where the girl with the most "Likes" gets a $500 gift card. So make sure you tag your photo and invite your family and friends to hit the "Like" button and show their support! And it gets even better I will be attending this fashionista event. So make sure that if your in the area you stop by so we can mingle and maybe even shop together :)

Hope to see some of you there, until then...

xo-Empire State Beauty Queen

P.S. Don't miss out! Make sure you follow XSRE for updates and fabulous discount perks.

XSRE Facebook

XSRE Twitter

XSRE Instagram

Disclaimer: This post was compensated by the The Blogger Connection. All photos were taken directly from their Facebook Fan page ( I do not own them.) Descriptions/Opinions mentioned on this post are my own.

Review: September's Starlooks Starbox

HELLO MY GORGEOUS BEAUTY QUEENS :)

I want to start this post of by thanking you all for baring with me and the lack of postings on here. Within the past 3 months we moved into a new place, I started college,  got a new job, and as of today I'm getting ready for midterms! Seems like a lot right? Well I'm going to add blogging to that list, promising a minimum of at least 1 post per week.

So jumping right into it, as many of you know I ♥ beauty subscriptions. Throughout this past Spring and Summer I was subscribed to about 4 or 5 of them, receiving the same exact samples repeatedly. So I made a huge cut and decided to only keep MyGlam only because they were the only company that was kinda sorta sending makeup that were decent enough to test out. But during the time that I have been away from here I've been on the hunt for something new and fresh in the makeup world and I came across quite a few reviews for Starlooks so as usual I just couldn't contain myself to give them a try.

Here's what caught my attention: 

1. Every month for only $15 you will receive in your Starbox 3-4 full size products ranging anywhere from makeup to the actual brushes you will need to create your desire look. So unlike most of the beauty subscriptions out there you actually get MAKEUP! 
2. For those of you like myself who try and get our money's worth, 1 of these items sold individually costs more than the actual box itself. Now that's a bargain!!!
3. Starlooks helps you out by posting up photos of their models actually wearing the products you received in your box. This is a great feature for those who are amateurs like myself in the makeup world. 
4. And lastly you can actually purchase previous month's boxes if you so happened to miss out on any. To the best of my knowledge there is no other beauty subscription that allows such purchase. (If  there is please feel free to let me know by commenting below =D ) 

What I received:

NOT 3, NOT 4, NOT EVEN 5 full size products in the September Starbox but 6 FULL SIZE PRODUCTS!!! 

• Monographic 5 Shade Shadow Pallet. ***Please note that this pallet is is one of their Signature Eye Shadow Palettes.
• Clear Eye Shadow Primer.
• Champagne colored Swarovski, flat-back eye crystals.
• Mystic quartz crystal.

Box theme: Running with Wolves.

Swatches of the eye shadows.

And here's look you can create using the products:

(Photo Credit: Starlooks Facebook Fan Page)

Overall I am very pleased with Starlooks and their unique approach to the beauty subscription world. As for the products I received I want to let you all know that the eye shadows are very pigmented and the primer has become one of my favorites. I have yet to use the "Eye Jewelry" but the crystal is safe and sound in my makeup bag.

 I hope you all enjoyed my review until next time...

 xo-Chelise

Don't miss out

 "Like" Starlooks on Facebook

"SUBSCRIBE" to their YOUTUBE 

Follow them on Twitter

*Product(s) mentioned were received for trial and review; these are my honest opinions.

Tokidoki "Love From London Palette" Giveaway

Hello  BEAUTY QUEENS!!!!

I know that I've been away for a while and things around here, well let's just say it's just to quiet for me (jajajaja). So since I love interacting with you all I'm giving away the amazing Tokidoki "Love From London" Palette to one of you lucky readers. Initially I purchased this palette as the prize for my Facebook "Match the photo" Makeup Contest but no one submitted any photos so I canceled that contest. Which leads me to writting the following: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not become a facebook fan if you do not intend to interact via fb. This giveaway is not for me to get more followers or fans is just to lift the spirits around here and get back on track with what I love doing which is blogging and interacting with you all.

And so with that being established...Good luck to all of you :D The Terms & Conditions are both on the bottom of the Rafflecopter widget but most importantly this giveaway is open to U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY! To all my international readers I am planning an amazing giveaway for you guys as well, so please do not be dissapointed.

This giveaway begings tomorrow August 26, 2012 and wil end a few days after my birthday YAYYYY Septermeber 26, 2012 @ 12:01 am EST

P.S. Sephora no longer carries Tokidoki so it wont be easy to find this palette.

xoxo-Chelise

Photo credit: Goggle

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

"Match the photo" Makeup Contest

Hello all my beauty queens,

As announced previously I am hosting my very first makeup contest via Facebook and you are all invited to participate. Be sure to stop on by and become a fan for all the details ♥FB FAN PAGE♥.

Good Luck ladies =D

xo-Chelise

Review: Exuviance Sheer Refining Fluid SPF 15

Retails at:

$35 at neostrata.com / 1.75 fl oz

Patented Ingredient: 

NeoGlucosamine™

What is NeoGlucosamine?

***"NeoGlucosamine is a non-acid exfoliant that helps to stimulate cell renewal without irritating the skin and also can help reduce pigment abnormalities. As a building block of hyaluronic acid, it helps to fortify the skin's support matrix." -Dr. Julie K. Karen, a board certified dermatologist who specializes in dermatologic and laser surgery, cosmetic dermatology, and Mohs micrographic surgery and currently practices at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York.

Sheer Refining Fluid SPF 15:

Help oily skin find its balance while reducing the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles with Exuviance Sheer Refining Fluid SPF 15. This lightweight day fluid absorbs quickly into the skin and contains an innovative patented ingredient, NeoGlucosamine™. This potent powerhouse is clinically proven to help reduce the look of discolorations and dark spots from acne and aging, while smoothing and evening out the skin's texture and tone. Cellular turnover is increased, improving skin clarity and firmness gently, without irritation. Phytotal® a botanical blend helps control oily skin, reducing excess oil production over time. Enhanced with a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 15), Exuviance Sheer Refining Fluid also helps prevent against future damage by protecting the skin from the sun's harmful rays. If you have oily skin with signs of aging and are looking for the perfect daily base, this product is for you. Non-comedogenic/non-acnegenic.

Uses:

• Control Oiliness

• Evens Skin tone

• Firms and smoothes fine lines

• oil-free, non-comedogenic 

Directions:

Gently smooth over cleansed face and neck in the morning.

Overall impression after using this product:

So I've been using this product for almost 2 months and again Exuviance scores top points for they're products. This product in specific does exactly what it promises to do and I have noticed that the 2 dark spots that I have, well use to have are nearly on the verge of disappearing!!! I did mention on my first Exuviance review for they're Facial Cleanser (Exuviance Moisturizing Antibacterial Facial Cleanser) that you may need a good moisturizer afterwards and this product is the perfect match. I put this moisturizer up for the challenge this month since it's been extremely hot here in NYC making my face extremely greasy, but as soon as I apply this product I get the matte look, which I'm a fan of :) My face is now more firm and has an overall clear look. I've received so many compliments after using my two products that I will never look elsewhere for facial products. The Sheer Refining Fluid with an SPF 15 is one of my summer beauty products favorite!

Overall Rating: 

11 out of 10!---This is a must have product(seriously)

Are you an Exuviance user? If so leave a comment below stating your favorite product & why. Hope you all enjoyed this review...

xo-Chelise

*Product(s) mentioned were received for trial and review; these are my honest opinions