MAC Haul - LUSH Samples and Surprize Meeting with a YouTuber

Today was theee best day ever!
After having celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary last week, my husband & I decided to commit to going on dates more often. We set today to visit the city.

1st stop the book store, 2nd stop MAC (freestanding).
It was my first ever visit to a freestanding MAC store.
Previously, I acquired my MAC products from Macy's, MAC Online, or the CCO.

I was excited! I happend to bump into Marsha of BrownFaceTV on YouTube.
(check her out. Love her MAC hauls & her natural hair care talk!)
She was very friendly. I think I probably scared her because I recognized her but she totally didn't know who I was. Completely understandable. My husband said we were busting it up like we were old friends. I explained the concept of the UNIVERSAL Language of Makeup! We had a good laugh over that one. It was a pleasure to have met Marsha. I am sure I will probably see her again at a MAC event in the future. Check out her BrownFaceNews
BrownFaceBeeblogs.



On to the haul.



I picked up
a MAC empty 15 Eyeshadow Palette. I have two of the Coastal Scents palettes , but I wanted to upgrade/transition to MAC. The Coastal Scents ones are adequate, however they have a foam type substance surrounding each e/s well. It is difficult to keep this clean when shadow spills over onto it. I also watched an organizational video from EnKore on YouTube this morning.
In it he featured a $10 DVD holder which he purchased from The Container Store. It fit the MAC palettes perfectly.

I finally was matched correctly re: my foundation. Previously I had been wearing NC43. Matched at Macy's MAC counter. Waaaaay too light for me. My daughter is very light skinned & this is actually a better match for her. I used to mix it with darker colors to achieve the look I wanted. It just wasn't cutting it. How about I'm NC50. A big difference. The formula is Select SPF. I will be doing a tutorial per Vixxan's request at some point to show how I apply it. It dries really quickly.

from Liberty of London Collection, I purchased Perennial High Style lipglass and Ever Hip lipstick (Creamsheen).

After my husband took our photo outside of the MAC store, I gasped because to my delight there was a LUSH store directly across the street.



I was thrilled! The sales person was uber helpful. I generated a wish list for future purchases. He was kind enough to share their catalog with me as well as couple of samples. YAY!

African Black Soap REVIEW

"There’s Nothing Basic About Africa ’s Black Soap

We’ve all been there before; you walk into a department store and head for the health and beauty section. You examine a wide variety of ‘cleansing bars’ and you choose one that seems to match your needs. It usually takes a few tries before you find that one soap that really works for you.


Have you ever stopped to look at the ingredients of this soap? You are likely to find triclosan, which can disrupt the thyroid hormone and increased exposure can contribute to the development of breast cancer. You will find fragrance, which is usually a safe word for pthalates, a chemical which can cause birth defects and liver damage.


There are so many chemicals that are used in nearly all ‘cleansing bars’ sold in stores today. One rule of thumb is that anything you put on your face you should be able to eat. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin! Whatever soap you use will be absorbed into your bloodstream through your skin. This is why African black soap and other natural soaps are suddenly getting more recognition today.

African black soap is an all-natural soap hand-crafted in Western Africa . There are more than 100 different varieties of African black soap. The production and recipe for the soap varies depending on the region of Africa that it is made. Most black soap is made with a blend of plantain skin, cocoa pod powder, tropical honey, and virgin coconut oil. African black soap is most commonly hand-crafted by village women in Africa who make the soap for themselves and to support their families.

The same women who make black soap choose to use only black soap on their babies, as its purity makes it gentle and non-drying for babies’ sensitive skin. In fact, black soap is generally the only soap used in most Western African countries.


What Makes Black Soap Different:

- Black soap is made with rare tropical honeys that are known for softening the skin and creating a smooth surface.


- Black soap is also a natural source of vitamins A & E and iron. This helps to strengthen the skin and hair.


- Black soap contains a high amount of glycerin, which absorbs moisture from the air and literally deposits it into the skin, making the skin soft and supple.

- For centuries, Ghanaians and Nigerians have used black soap to help relieve acne, oily skin, clear blemishes and various other skin issues. Many swear by it for skin irritations and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.


- Women in Africa will use black soap during pregnancy and afterwards to keep them from getting stretch marks and to protect them from dry skin that is often accompanied by pregnancy.

- Black soap can also be used as a hair shampoo. The shea butter in the soap softens the hair, while the vitamins give it strength.


- Men can use black soap in shaving. The high shea butter content leaves the skin smooth and protected.

- African black soap is unique in that it contains no preservatives, color enhancers, or fragrances. African black soap creates a soft lather without the animal fat additives that are commonly used in soaps made in the US."

For More Information & Source Material Click HERE

I purchased mine from Coastal Scents.

It isn't the prettiest soap in the world, but it gets the job done!
It reminds me of meatloaf.

It is quite malleable.
I keep mine stored in plastic. Otherwise it would attract dust.
I suffer from eczema as well as very dry skin.
This soap has improved my condition very much. I love this stuff.
It has a clean smell. No fancy fragrances.
It lathers very well.
I cut off small pieces & form them into a ball for use.



Everyone in my home uses this stuff.
Don't get it in your eyes because it really stings terribly.

4 out of 5 stars. (because of the appearance & the stinging of eyes)

Check Out BlackOnyx77's Tutorial

Cute Cabinet

A friend of mine had an online party via Celebrating Home
(formerly Home Interiors)
I was eyeing this little bargain for a couple of months.
It coordinates perfectly with my shore themed bathroom.
The beach is my favorite place. I decorated the family bathroom with this theme.

It is constructed of wood.
The exterior dimensions are 11 1/4" x 4" x 15 1/2".

Scale Photos







Initially I purchased this to house some luxury handmade soaps for myself.

Lavender Cloud



Eucalyptus Chamomile



DeShawn Marie's Vegan Handcrafted Soaps

Check Out DeShawn Marie's Blog

DeShawn Marie's soaps are too pretty to be hidden in a cabinet.
I plan to put them in a glass jar once we move & I have my private bath.
Right now, the glass in the family bathroom is too scary an thought to even consider!

Buy the cabinet

Beauty Gumbo Blog DeShawn Marie Review