Girls With Curls: Motions Straight Finish Collection Review

Having natural hair can sometimes be a real struggle, especially when you live in a city plagued with bipolar weather like Atlanta. I'm always rotating my style between naturally curly and straight hair. Every girl with natural hair knows that the right routine and products can make a world of difference when it comes to straightening. Motions has created a brand new line infused with Keratin that was formulated to smooth your curls without damaging your hair along the way.

The Motions "Straight Finish" line consists of a 3 step system. First is the Cleanser which gently cleans, conditions and softens the hair while helping to ease detangling as well as elongating curls. The second step includes the Leave-In Conditioner that adds a layer of moisture to protect the hair. The final step is the Sealer, it seals the shaft of the hair which gives a luminous shine and minimizes wiry ends.

Below are photos of my hair from curly to blown out to straight using Motions Straight Finish products.

Glow: Let me start by saying that I absolutely love products with a step-by-step process, for me it takes the guess work out of how I should apply them and it also gives me a chance to see how each product works with the other for final results. What I liked about the shampoo/cleanser is that it was nice and creamy, it lathered really well and cleansed my hair without drying it out. I had no issues detangling my curls with the conditioner and I used just about a nickel sized amount of the serum on my damp hair just before blow drying. After drying, my hair was noticeably smooth and way less frizzy than usual (It's usually super thick and puffy when I blow dry it.)

Glare: The only thing that I was sort of hesitant about using is the Leave-In Conditioner, and that's mainly because I have oily hair and from years of experience in doing my own hair I usually can tell right off what works with it and what won't. The conditioner is formulated to create a layer of moisture which I'm sure contributed to minimizing frizz. However, what I didn't like about it is that it almost felt like a layer of film or a heavy coating on my hair. While my hair was still soft and smooth it wasn't light and bouncy which is what I'm accustomed to. I didn't really like the way my hair felt to the touch, though it looked nice. Also, while applying it I could tell that it was going to be heavy which is why I washed the majority of it out instead of leaving it in per the directions. Although I did not like the way the conditioner seemed to weigh my hair down I will say that my hair never got frizzy even with the rain and humid temperatures. 

Would I Recommend It? Ehh.. While I can't say that it'll really be a staple in my hair routine I will say that everyone's hair is different and reacts differently. My issue with having a finer texture and oily hair is something that I have always dealt with and products that provide a lot of moisture don't always work to my advantage. So honestly it's just one of those you have to try it for yourself type of things, while it may work wonders for some it may not for others. I would recommend to use the conditioner sparingly the first time around just to see what works for you. 

Where To Buy:  Motions Straight Finish hair line is super affordable (about $6 each) and is also currently available at various retailers nationwide. To learn more visit Motions.com.

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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Zoya Zenith Collection "Payton & Dream" Review

Ugh, can Zoya not be so dag on perfect?! It's like they keep releasing a bunch of irresistible prettiness that is bound to keep my pockets on empty! Their newest Winter/Holiday collection is called Zenith and it consists of six polishes that range from shimmers, metallic's and glittery goodness! While each color from the collection are stunners within their own right, there were only two that were must haves for me this go round. Payton and Dream are holographic glitters with lots of sparkle! Both of these shades and formulas are very reminiscent of last years Ornate Collection. Check out swatches and my full review below.

Zoya Zenith Nail Polish in Payton

a cranberry holographic glitter 

 Zoya Zenith Nail Polish in Dream

a deep space blue holographic glitter

Glow: These shades are amazingggg! There's so much I could say but I honestly believe that the swatches speak for me. The formula is awesome, it goes on full coverage wit only 2 coats. Dream is by far my current favorite. It reminds me of a galaxy of midnight stars and blue is my fave color. What I love most about these polishes is that they are holographic glitters, which means they go on smooth and come off smooth unlike regular glitters which require a bit of work to remove.

Glare: Absolutely none! I wish Zoya would do an entire holographic glitter collection! Holographic glitter is honestly the only type of glitter that I will wear with zero hesitation because they're gorgeous and not a pain to take off. 

Would I Recommend It? Yes, Yes, and YES! How could you not love these? 

Where To Buy: The Zenith Collection is currently available on http://www.zoya.com and each polish retails for $8. The full collection is also available for $48.

Product(s) in this post were purchased by me. 

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FOTD: Dark & Smokey Vixen

I don't normally do Face of the Day's and I can't promise that I'll start incorporating them (because I'm lazy) but a couple weeks ago I went to an event at my local MAC counter in Nordstrom and got my makeup done. I initially went to pick up products that I had pre-ordered from Rihanna's Fall collection and boy was that experience a mess!! Long story short I left with a made up face, none of the items I ordered and a wasted $50 all because the honest employees at MAC Nordstrom decided to steal customers products. Oh yes, you read that correctly, STOLEN by employees which is what I was told straight from the managers mouth. I mean I knew the RiRi collection was in high demand but damn....guess I just didn't think it was that serious.

Anyway, I ended up being able to buy the things I wanted from Belk.com and eBay. The post for the collection is coming next week. The artist at MAC gave me a deep sultry look for Fall and I was pleased with it for the most part. The only thing I was on the fence about was that she used a foundation color that's a shade darker than what I normally wear. I'm normally a NW47 but she used NW48 and I don't know but I definitely can tell the difference between the two. I'm not really feeling it so I will definitely be sticking to my normal shade. Check out a few more pics of the look below and I listed all the products that I can remember that were used.

Eyes:

RiRi Hearts MAC Smoked Cocoa Palette 

RiRi Hearts MAC Liquid Last Liner

RiRi Hearts MAC Extended Play Mascara

RiRi Hearts MAC 36 Lashes 

MAC Fuid Line Gel Liner in Blacktrack

Face:

Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

Powder Blush in Fever

Lips:

Lipstick in Dark Side

Lip Liner in Currant

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OPI San Francisco Collection For Fall Review + Swatches

I honestly can't believe that Fall is actually here. This year went by sooo fast! Fall & Winter are definitely two of my favorite seasons and what I look forward to the most are the sultry colors that go along with it. OPI has geared up a new collection inspired by the season and the city of San Francisco. The Fall/Winter collection consists of 15 limited edition nail lacquers with a palette ranging from sky and sea-colored hues of blues and gray to reds, burgundies and browns all inspired by some of the city's most iconic elements. The collection also includes 3 liquid sand textured colors with matte finishes. Check out swatches of the entire collection and my full thoughts below. 

A-Piers to Be Tan

I shore do like this chocolaty tan.

Dining al Frisco

Just feast your eyes on this fresh-air blue!

Haven’t the Foggiest

Can’t tell you why I love this misty gray...I just do!

Peace & Love & OPI

This holographic sage and eggplant is far out!

Keeping Suzi at Bay

There’s no holding back this assertive navy blue.

Incognito in Sausalito

You better keep this almost-black blue under wraps.

Lost on Lombard

Oh garn-et! I’m all turned around!

I Knead Sour-Dough

Are you bready to wear this toasty warm brown?

Muir Muir on the Wall

This trailblazing plum is the fairest of all.

In the Cable Car-Pool Lane

Good golly, Miss Trolley, this rich burgundy takes me away!

Embarca-Dare Ya!

Betcha can’t pass up this marvelous magenta.

First Date at the Golden Gate

You and me and this shimmery ruby make three.

It’s All San Andreas’s Fault

I’d move mountains to get this textured earthy taupe!

Wharf! Wharf! Wharf!

Dog-gone it...fetch me that textured matte blue!

Alcatraz...Rocks

There’s no escaping this arresting textured gray.

Glow: Although I do feel like a few of these shades are dupable from some of OPI's previous collections, I must say that as a whole I am pleasantly surprised. I love the subtle array of deep color, especially with the plums and reds.

Glare: I'm still on the fence of how I truly feel about the liquid sand textures. While I am a fan of the more glittered ones, the plain ones like the ones in this collection are a bit underwhelming. 

Would I Recommend It? I like it, and I think the overall collection works. I think colors like Incognito in Sausalito and In the Cable Car-Pool Lane are definite must haves in any Fall arsenal. 

Where To Buy: The entire San Francisco collection is currently available in various retailers nationwide. To purchase or to learn more please visit http://www.opi.com/.

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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RiRi Hearts MAC Lipstick Swatches + Review

Just gonna go ahead and point out the white elephant in the room....we ALL know that I'm a procrastinator. lol...a very intense one!  With that said I've been meaning to post this a couple months ago but hey that's the ongoing story of an emo-blogger ^_^ Anyhoo...Yesterday I finally buckled down and swatched the Rihanna lipsticks from her first two RiRi Hearts MAC releases. If you've been keeping up then you know by now that her final Holiday Collection was released at all MAC counters yesterday. Unfortunately I haven't got my hands on anything from that collection just yet because I was lured into "pre-ordering" from my local Nordstrom *clears throat*  I have yet to receive anything but they ensured me that it has indeed shipped...and my GOD I am praying it has. Had I known pre-ordering would mean being the actual last person to get it then I probably would've taken my chances with going to the store but what's done is done. When they do arrive (oh and they better!) of course I will do a follow up post with swatches! In the meantime checkout my current thoughts on the lippies below. 

RiRi Hearts MAC lipstick

(l-r) RiRi-Woo, RiRi Boy, Heaux

Swatches

(l-r) RiRi-Woo, RiRi Boy, Heaux

RiRi Woo

a retro matte cool red

 RiRi Boy

a retro matte vivid lavender 

Sorry for so many pics! I couldn't really find the perfect lighting for this color but hey close enough ^_^

 Heaux

a retro matte berry

Glow: Alright, so with most highly anticipated MAC collections the biggest question I always end up asking myself is if it all was really worth the hype?  Lets start with the positives shall we? My fave out of the 3 is definitely RiRi Woo, I love that it's a play on Ruby Woo but there is a slight difference. RiRi Woo seems to be a tone brighter which I love. I paired RiRi Boy with Heroine lip liner and I think I like it better that way versus wearing it alone. Heaux is described as a "berry" shade, it seems more subtle than the others but I do like it against my skin-tone. The formula is ok and I do love the fact that I got pretty good wear out of them throughout the day (about 8 hrs) with only 1 reapplication.

Glare: The thing with retro mattes is that they are supposed to be a bit more drying than regular MAC matte finishes and that's because they have a one of a kind texture (says MAC) I suppose the easiest way to describe is that they are more matte than the traditional matte lipsticks yet still hold vivid color. Some people have issues with mattes and I've read a few complaints about the retro matte textures but for me they really weren't anymore drying than the regular ones. Although I will say that RiRi Boy in particular seems a bit dryer than the others, the texture was sort of crumbly while applying. I always dab my lips with chapstick periodically if the lipstick feels too dry. 

Would I Recommend It? I definitely recommend trying the matte formulas. Everyone's preferences are different but hey I like them. 

Where To Buy: As these were limited edition colors, unfortunately I believe the ship has sailed on at least two of these. But the most popular RiRi Woo is still currently available at various online retailers. If you're interested in seeing what's left then I suggest you act soon! Check all online retailers that carry MAC such as Nordstrom, Dillards, Macys etc. Good Luck!

Product(s) in this post were purchased by me. 

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