FDH SECRET BEAUTY FAVES

You can be at the top of the fashion & beauty game without burning your wallet and it is perfectly fine to stand alone and set your own beauty trends. As I flip through the pages of Vogue, Elle, and Mademoiselle, I reflect on the experiencing remarkable photography, traditional beauty, and the art of it all at astronomical prices. In spite of the messages and the prevalent images which the leaders of the industry promote to express their affinity and public displays of affection for, you must celebrate your own pretty. Beauty can be found everywhere (just like products, too)… Stroll down the beauty aisles at Walgreens and WalMart and get hip on scrolling online for brands on Amazon and eBay, as well as hitting up the counters in Nordstrom (they have the best seasonal fashion trend shows)… Check out these beauty finds of mine…

ILNP Polish in Maiden Lane (the quintessential charcoal grey) over opaque black polish (I used Maybelline Color Show Onyx Flush)  makes a fab fall/winter manicure. Subtle, yet powerful, and mysterious; this holographic treatment brings all kinds of gorgeousness in one sweep… This fine, sophisticated glittery polish has everything to do with a Fashion Goddess (no fairy dust here)…#ILNP  

I’m addicted to P2 Techno Chrome polish in Galaxy.  It’s mesmerizing because you’ll never know what color it will appear to be! It has to be from another realm.  This nail color has multiple metallic tones based on perspective…from one angle, your nails are emerald green, from another, they’re gunmetal and then they are also a deep bluish purple. 

THE BEST ever “lipwear“? is Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant; perfect for year-round fabulousness with minimal to no effort; you can even skip lip liner. The semi-gloss colors are pure and sheer; your lips are always moisturized and kissable with these botanical-infused beauty products. #Clarins

Seasonal lips require a fashionista to go bold red,  deep dark or nude  (or you might as well stay home)… I’m beyond elated that dark lip color is in vogue. Due to a penchant for wearing black and showcasing lipsticks on the deep spectrum (even when they were not in style), some observors assumed I was Goth… I especially obsessed over Flori Roberts’ Teak (a dark black-brown color with an almost patent finish). To me, it was the outlier of a beauty lineup for women of color, and it made one look like an African queen. The brand is extinct, so I digress. 

On another hue, a girl like me has always lusted after is a  gunmetal deep grey lipstick…In a sea of products, I managed to unearth Rimmel’s rich lip color in the lovely Glam Rock and I’m still looking for one in a metallic, pewter grey. 

The last one didn’t stop me from being mesmerized by the depths of blue darkness found in Covergirl’s Melting Pout Matte, featuring SUPER MODEL. The name exudes perfection.  Baby, this fashion-forward midnight navy is unforgettable. It is literally flying off the shelves at this very moment… I highlight it with a shimmering light blue gloss for a holographic effect that gives more of a SuperWoman vibe… #supermodel

What are your favorite brands of nail polish and “lipwear”?