If you want to look effortlessly beautiful like Gabrielle [Union], you should think seriously about incorporating one or all three of these worthwhile, multi-purpose beauty products into your no-makeup, makeup beauty regimen. It’s a promise, you won’t regret it.

Wanna wear a barely-there foundation? Laura Mercier presents Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer ($42, sephora.com) a moisturizer that gives you a soft veil of color and without question evens your skin tone, controls oil, hydrates and provides the always necessary sunscreen protection of SPF 20. This  product makes my heart sing.  Read more.

Hue Knew It?  I did.

Calling all BEAUTY JUNKIE’S & FASHIONISTAS! Submit a full-length image of yourself to beautymuse@hueknewit.com to become a “Hue Knew It Beauty Muse of the Week.”  Congrats to first BM, Whitney…she looks fab!  Become a FaceBook Fan, Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways & Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter to get your weekly beauty fix.

Shanda Says: Try This Beauty Find…

Want Really Shiny Hair? Follow These Tips

Kudos to you if you’re holding steadfast to your resolution 32 days into 2012, but let’s be real, my focus isn’t on your gym goals, but on the stylish essentials every woman must have in her gym bag before she steps foot out of her house.

REFRESH YOURSELF AFTER A WORKOUT…

Let’s say you just worked out mid-workday & didn’t break a sweat and aren’t emitting a strong aroma, a great product to use to feel refreshed before you return to work sans the shower is Nature’s Beauty Works All-Purpose Cleansing Wipes, Peppermint. This mini, super totable container has single hypo-allergenic sheets you can use to wipe down your face, body and hands. Also comes in fragrance-free & grapefruit scents. Love the size of this little cutie.

Read about two more must-haves for your gym bag

Hue Knew It?  I did.

Calling all Beauty Junkie’s & Fashionistas! Submit a full-length image of yourself to beautymuse@hueknewit.com to become a “Hue Knew It Beauty Muse of the Week.” Become a FaceBook Fan, Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways & Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter to get your weekly beauty fix.

5 Bold Winter Lipsticks Under $25 [PHOTOS]

10 Metallic Make-Up Items For Under $50

For those of you looking to emulate RiRi’s red, don’t do it on the cheap! Leave hydrogen peroxide – a bleaching agent that preps your strands for your new hair color – to the professionals who know how to use it or you may end up bleaching yourself bald. Why? Because peroxide weakens the hair shaft and could result in significant hair breakage. Not on my watch, ladies!

Let’s make a deal…you leave the bottle of hair peroxide to the salon professionals and HKI will clue you in on 100% reliable, at-home hair color products that won’t damage your hair and are peroxide-free…

Bigen Permanent Hair Color ($6.49, beauty supply stores) is an affordable permanent hair color line created with no ammonia and requires no hydrogen peroxide to deliver incredibly rich and natural color in spades, especially if you’re trying to cover up your grays. So how long does the color last? The color lasts for what seems like forever, but you should plan on reapplying… read more.

Hue Knew It?  I did.

Calling all Beauty Junkie’s & Fashionistas! Submit a full-length image of yourself to beautymuse@hueknewit.com to become a “Hue Knew It Beauty Muse of the Week.” Become a FaceBook Fan, Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways & Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter to get your weekly beauty fix.

5 Must-Have Headbands To Jazz Up Your Hair

3 Things To Consider Before Getting Ombre Hair Color

7 Stylish Ways To Keep Your Head Warm This Winter

Sunday night brought out the best between the usually-hated paparazzi and Hollywood’s A-List community because they captured some of the best images and standout features of some of our favorite actresses, Paula Patton & Viola Davis, and television correspondent Shaun Robinson.

Paula’s strapless, bright yellow Monique Lhuillier dress was accessorized with an arresting smile that did not go unnoticed! To get your chops ready for your red carpet moment, try Dentisse’s Natural Reflection Toothpaste ($16.99, dentisse.com), a fluoride-free, natural solution to smoothing and polishing your teeth and after using this for two weeks, you’ll notice how much whiter your teeth are. But inquiring minds want to know…where’s her cute hubby Robin Thicke?

Stop the presses, because Viola Davis killed it on Sunday night!  Read more.

Hue Knew It? I  did.

Calling all Beauty Junkie’s & Fashionistas! Submit a full-length image of yourself to beautymuse@hueknewit.com to become a “Hue Knew It Beauty Muse of the Week.” Become a FaceBook Fan, Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways & Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter to get your weekly beauty fix.

How To Transition Your Skin Care From Fall To Winter

3 Curly Hair Types & The Products You’ll Need To Perfect Them

Do you understand what your pore size is telling you about your skin type?

The larger the pore, the more sebaceous glands you have which secretes oil to soften and protect your skin. And when your glands secrete too much oil, you have ‘oily’ skin.

When your pores are barely visible, you have dry skin which means it’s in desperate need of lubrication.

But when you have both skin types (oily forehead, nose and chin; dry & flaky outer areas) you are considered to have combination skin.

The goal of treating combination skin is to keep the oil and water levels in both skin types balanced. In other words, your ’T-Zone’ should never be overly-lubricated and your dry skin should feel hydrated and not uncomfortably tight.

Start off your skin care regimen with a cleanser that hydrates…

You might like Pangea Organics Facial Cleanser ($27.95, saffronrouge.com) because it’s a hydrating milky gel with herbal extracts that washes away dirt and makeup and leaves your skin feeling balanced. The ingredient arnica reduces inflammation while nutrient-rich blood orange cleanses and removes oil.  Environmental note: this cleanser is packaged in a plantable carton imbedded with organic seeds.

Click here to find out about a product that treats just your T-Zone and more.

Hue Knew It? I did.

What’s New In Cosmetics? Jabot’s Crushed Diamond Exfoliator!

Runway To Real Life: How To Do Makeup Like A ‘Fashion Week’ Model

Fragrances are fun because they accommodate our different moods (hopefully there aren’t too many to choose from) and gives everyone standing within a few feet of you a sneak peek into your mindset – take for instance…

Bottega Veneta

(2.5 oz/$130 Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus) is an eau de parfum that evokes suppleness and sensuality which is reminiscent of the house’s renowned leather goods. BV is a sensual scent so consider wearing this when you’re feeling sexy and want the world to know it but don’t want to slap us in the face with it.

FRAGRANCE NOTES
Top: pink peppercorn, bergamot, lily of the valley
Mid: jasmine, leather, patchouli
Base: oak moss

If you want to emote a strong and powerful attitude then consider Balenciaga Paris L’Essence (2.5 oz $130, neimanmarcus.com) your soul mate. The high-quality fashion jewels of Balenciaga…

Click here to read more.

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways and so much more.

3 Things To Consider Before Getting Ombre Hair Color

How To Transition Your Skin Care From Fall To Winter

Yours truly spent the end of 2011 fielding product pitches and feverishly attending press events in search of products that approach beauty from an inside-out perspective. And look what came of that tireless search…

The condition of our bodies on the inside is directly reflected on the outside. According to the Canfo Natural Products team, when our reproductive systems are deprived of nutrients, our hair usually appears dull and less vibrant, our nails are brittle and have bumps and ridges and our skin becomes drier and more prone to inflammation. As a result of these discoveries, the Canfo team developed BeautifyMe ($33.99, canfo.com), a vegan gluten-free natural herbal supplement that helps to improve the look of our skin, nails & hair because it enhances the reproductive system’s ability to absorb and maintain nutrients. Uh, where’s my bottle?

Following the same vein as BeautifyMe, Phytophanere Dietary Supplement for Hair & Nails ($50, ulta.com) is a supplement option rich in fatty acids and antioxidants that promotes healthy hair growth, strengthens eyelashes, brightens your skin and fortifies your nails. Phytophanere is made with natural ingredients like borage seed oil to increase hair shine & carrot oil to help boost skin’s radiance. With a little patience…read more.

Hue Knew It? I  did.

Calling all Beauty Junkie’s & Fashionistas! Submit a full-length image of yourself to beautymuse@hueknewit.com to become a “Hue Knew It Beauty Muse of the Week.” Become a FaceBook Fan, Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways & Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter to get your weekly beauty fix.

13 Winter Skincare Mistakes

5 Tips To Protect Relaxed Hair During The Winter Months [VIDEO]

When Your Scrubs, Creams & Other Skin Care Products Expire

Despite what you thought before now, transitional skin care applies to you and me. And since I’m in a giving mood, allow me to lovingly suggest a few products me that will help your dry skin survive the Fall & Winter seasons with ease.

The one area of our face that gets paid little attention to during skin care talks are our lips. Lypsyl Intense Protection Lip Balm LypMoisturizer Honeyberry ($2.99, walgreens.com) is a product that can be used any time of the year, but it becomes especially useful to you as the weather cools. Never mind the yummy honeyberry fragrance, this pure Swedish beeswax lip balm is infused with avocado butter to moisturize, Vitamins A & E to soften & heal and shea butter to heal & protect.

The toughest fact to accept as truth is that we’re aging. But rather than ignore this truth, embrace what is and use products like Sadick Dermatology Group’s AM Protection Cream ($36, sadickdermatology.com & sephora stores) – a highly moisturizing protective day cream with SPF 20 to address environmental factors like harsh weather and UV radiation that contributes to the visible signs of aging. Sadick’s cream is an oil-free formula that instantly smoothes your skin’s texture and tone and creates a perfect canvas for makeup.

You can’t escape from it. During the day, everyday, it’s your responsibility to wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 or more like DNA Defense’s SPF 30+ ($45, dnaegfrenewal.com). This is a fast-absorbing, non-greasy formula that also protects skin against photo-aging (damage brought on by extreme exposure to sunlight) and cellular damage.

Click here to read about the only line of skin care products made specifically  for multi-hued skin tones and more.

Hue Knew It? I did.

What Does “Eco-Friendly Beauty” Mean?

3 Curly Hair Types & The Products You’ll Need To Perfect Them

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways and so much more. I feel another giveaway coming so stay tuned!

Lipstick has long been the barometer of our country’s economy according to Leonard Lauder of the Estee Lauder Companies.

Why Do Black Women Have a Better Body Image?

Coined by Leonard 10 years ago, the “Lipstick Index,” explores what beauty products female consumers buy when money’s tight or when tragedy hits – until now it’s been lipsticks – translation: we buy affordable products that make us feel good in the short term and doesn’t involve an expensive procedure like a full face lift to shift our moods in a positive way.

So what gives? The up tick in nail polish sales could be that borderline schizophrenic chicks like us like cool nail polishes and don’t want to feel guilty for indulging in what appears to be the trend explosion of the year. You could easily buy two or three nail polishes for the price of one quality lipstick – you do the math. Or maybe that buying a nail polish doesn’t require a ton of thought because you see it, you like it, you buy it. Or the reason could be that a nail shade could turn your frown into a smile – that’s powerful stuff ladies.

But enough analyzing why nail polish is the new “It” product and let’s get on with exploring some of the nail shades I think you should consider for your next shopping trip…

Although jewel tone nails are all the rage which is acknowledged by including the very rich, shimmery shade of Dr.’s REMEDY Enriched Nail Polish, Brilliant Blue ($17, remedynails.com) in this entry, this polish had more going for it than just being a polish.

Click to read more.

Hue Knew It? I did.

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways and so much more. I feel another giveaway coming so stay tuned!

Top 5 Lipsticks Under $15 [PHOTOS]

How To Choose The Right Fragrance For Your Personality

How To Transition Your Skin Care From Fall To Winter

- Chi went all out this season with their Limited Edition Holiday Iron Collection. This sleek chromatic silver iron comes with a red metallic fabric wristlet with sparkling CHI rhinestone dials. Iron also comes in red with silver pouch. This is hot ladies…I’ve got mine! ($160, stores only)

- Travel in style with prestige brand Clé de Peau Beauté’s Synactif Coffret Set. This is the first brand that focuses squarely on strengthening your skin’s lymphatic channel. In other words, unwanted waste and buildup is removed from your skin, much like cleaning out a drain pipe (learn more). And once clean, your skin has renewed vitality and should be kept up with this simple skin care regimen. This set includes soap, softening lotion (replenishes moisture), daytime & night time moisturizers, intensive cream (reduces wrinkles, sagging and dullness, restores clarity) and 32 pieces of cotton. This price tag on this isn’t for the faint of heart.If money isn’t an object, I say go for it. ($350, bergdorfgoodman.com)

- Is it possible to associate ‘luxe’ with a product that only costs $42? Of course! GloProfessional’s Star Dust 24K Kit is a fabulous limited-edition gunmetal ferrul duster brush that gives you an enchanting gloDust 24k application to your face and body to make you look irrestible beyond belief at all of your upcoming holiday parties. What’s always great about Glo’s products are that they treat your skin while simultaneously enhancing it’s appearance because they’re all formulated with Vitamins A,C, E & green tea. 24K Dust comes in gold, silver or bronze. (gloprofessional.com) Read more

Hue Knew It? I did. Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways. Don’t miss out on your chance to win! Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter and get your weekly beauty fix.

HBTV: How To Use The Sam Villa Sleekr Flat Iron [VIDEO]

Celeb Stylist Tonia B. Answers Burning Questions About Weaves & Offers Holiday Giveaway!

A Change In Economy: Why Is Nail Polish The New Lipstick?

Whatever the meaning behind Maya’s poignant words, they perfectly frame this entry because if you don’t know or understand what your type of natural hair is, then it’s impossible to know what products to use to improve the overall look and feel of your precious mane.

If you’re the woman who turned her back on the affectionately-named ’creamy crack’ (also known as relaxer) in favor of virgin hair then this was written for you.

If you’re the mother of a biracial child who has absolutely no clue how to work with (what appears to be) unmanageable hair then this was written for you.

If you’re the woman who’s forever worn natural hair, but wants to elevate her average, dull-looking curls to enviable, defined ones then this was written for you.

So let’s define your curly personality! (Inspired by the best marketing materials HKI’s ever seen from the natural hair care brand Uncle Funky’s Daughter)

FRIZZY = best described as hair that looks like actress & comedienne Maya Rudolph‘s. Hair is usually straight at the crown and as it gets longer becomes wavy. The wave pattern stretches into ”S” shaped curls that are medium-to-less defined and hair doesn’t bounce. To bring definition to frizzy hair, try Uncle Funky’s Daughter SuperCurl Miracle ($29, unclefunkysdaughter.com) which detangles, stretches and defines curls while it adds all-too-necessary moisture.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE CURLY PERSONALITIES. Hue Knew It? I did.

“Beauty For Breast Cancer Awareness”: Top 3 Products

Your Guide To Wearing Nude Makeup

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways and so much more!

Story Product Correction: Christina’s Pure Moist Lipstick is no longer available as mentioned in ”Beauty For Breast Cancer Awareness,” however, this year Jane Iredale launched a new lip duo, Roses & Lollipops, which includes PureMoist Lip Colour in Roses and PureGloss for Lips in Lollipops. One hundred percent of the profits that come from this product will be donated to the Living Beyond Breast Cancer organization.

“Weaves” used to be considered a dirty little secret, but that secret’s long been out of the closet and without question is one of the largest money-earners in beauty supply stores across the nation and around the world. Since the word on the street was that Tonia is an authority on weaves, it was only fitting that we ask her to answer some burning questions the weave-challenged & the weave-curious  have about this forever interesting topic.

What makes your weaving technique so special?
The Indian Technique is a procedure that was especially created for [women of color] in Hollywood’s entertainment industry. [I] often witness the separation factor (natural hair separated from the weave).  In hair theory, there’s a natural growth pattern and it’s wise to follow the grain of the growth pattern especially when laying the foundation (the braiding).  This procedure is done with the proclivity of real hair growth [which] allows you to manipulate the weave [that can be worn] in many directions while keeping the natural look of the weave and gives you a lot of versatility: gym, day executive, evening, play, & sexy, etc).

What advice would you give a woman who wants to maintain the health of her own hair while she wears a weave?
You can maintain the health of natural hair by shampooing and conditioning it every 10-14 days. A deep penetrating conditioner (meaning heat is required) – sit under dryer for at least 20 minutes) and then follow with a moisturizing conditioner if needed [at all] since it depends on the state of your hair.  [Note that a moisturizing conditioner may not always be needed], but your scalp may require [some] attention. [Also beware that] some conditioners can coat the hair and cause weightiness and non-flexibility.

What question(s) should someone ask a stylist when they’re researching people to do their weaves for the first time or maybe even just their own hair?
You should ask…
1. How do I protect my hair from the weave?
2. How long can I wear it?
3. Will the hair look natural with my hair?
4. How do I protect my hair from the heat?
5. How important is texture matching? REALLY IMPORTANT TO ASK.

Read more weave maintenance tips, wigs & comments about Lauryn Hill’s hair!

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Tonia B. wants to give one lucky person her Favorite Things Gift Pack Worth $500 which includes:
Philthy Ragz Boutique – One tailored cocktail dress (in pink, white or black). One size fits all.
She’Luxe Couture – Women’s accessories, including jewelry and gift cards.
Smashbox Cosmetics – Lip-enhancing, vitamin-infused gloss, Vitamin Infused.
Godi Gyrl - Inspirational T-shirts/tanks tops.
Heavenly Hands Mobile Massage & Spa – two gifts cards each redeemable for a 60-minute massage (exclusive to Southern California winner)

ENTER TO WIN by being the first 10 people to post a comment or question for Tonia here! Winner will be announced on the same HueKnewIt Comment page Monday, December 12.  Make sure to visit my Facebook Fan Page where the winner’s name will also be posted.  Good luck! Hue Knew It? I did.

The Ultimate Beauty Gifts For The Oh-So-Fabulous Women In Your Life

A Change In Economy: Why Is Nail Polish The New Lipstick?

We all know at least one person (maybe yourself) who thinks of themselves as the most fabulous thing walking the earth. This same “fabulous” friend is probably even bold enough to walk through an airport sporting a belly-bearing half top like British singer Rochelle Wiseman. Talk about being unique! Would you do the same? Let’s be real, some of us would.

But how do you decide on a gift during this holiday season that makes a woman such as this stand up and take notice and won’t rip your pocketbook to shreds? It’s none other than this stunning, crystal-encrusted nail polish from Nails Inc. shade seen here is London Prochester Square ($19.50, sephora stores).

And remember, nail polishes have become the number one go-to beauty item as written about in TREND WATCH: Hot Nail Hues, so it only makes sense to capitalize on its popularity and cleverly package it to put even more of a spotlight on this beauty category. Your oh-so-fabulous friend will love it! And she’ll want to keep it as a collector’s item because it’s that special. Read more…

Hue Knew It? I did. Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways. Don’t miss out on your chance to win! Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter and get your weekly beauty fix.

A Change In Economy: Why Is Nail Polish The New Lipstick?

Solange Speaks On Her Most Stylish Looks For Lucky Mag [PHOTOS]

Some of the statistics that spawned the creation of Hairdressers Against AIDS -  were these facts: HIV/AIDS is the number one killer of black women ages 18-34, 20% of the U.S. population is infected with the disease, but are living in ignorant bliss because they’ve never been tested and 1.2 million America are infected today.

Your first thought might be so how does a hairdresser make any sort of impact on a disease that’s ravaged the African-American community for years? The answer is simple. Stylists are unofficial therapists for the many clients they service in salons and on movie sets. Stylists have the unique opportunity to maximize on client relationships by becoming a resource and educator on preventing the spread of HIV. Just think…a passing conversation about this very topic could unwittingly pass the baton to you so you then spread this message and so on and so on.

Established hairdressers & colorists took quickly to this initiative when they were first approached, however, it was evident that more voices were needed to spread the prevention message, so beauty schools across the nation were also enlisted to advance this cause.

Don’t become a statistic. Get tested regularly.

Pictured left to right: Celebrity Hairdresser Kimmi Hendrix, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, AIDS Activist Maria Davis, Council Member Inez Dickens-District 9 (Harlem), Hair on Madison Salon Owner Rochelle Walters, US Chair of Hairdressers Against AIDS Christine Schuster, Director of Education at MIZANI Veronique Morrison.

‘Use Your Voice, Use Your Power For A Beautiful World Without Aids‘ by visiting www.HairdressersAgainstAIDS.com.

Hue Knew It? I did. Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways. Don’t miss out on your chance to win! Subscribe to receive my Hue Knew It Newsletter and get your weekly beauty fix.

A Change In Economy: Why Is Nail Polish The New Lipstick?

Budget-Friendly Christmas Gifts Under $20!

“Beauty For Breast Cancer Awareness”: Top 3 Products

Need a “pretty pick-me-up”? Listen to this:

Commander in Chic: Every Woman’s Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady (Atria Books; $26.99) comes at a time when women – black, white and everything in between – are looking to define their personal style, which many of us struggle with. Mikki is considered a lifestyle & beauty expert (among other well-earned titles) so she is more than qualified to give us her take on how to become the chicest lady in the room while having a style that’s all your own.

What was your goal in writing this book?
Simply put, I want every woman to be the “Commander in Chic” of her life. I want to see us all own our lives and master style with distinction. I used Mrs. Obama as a muse to empower women everywhere to do so – from mastering great style from within to establishing a wardrobe of bankable pieces and a signature look. It is my goal to see women utilize the book like a personal style diary – one where they’ll find the kind of guidance that takes the guess work out of what works on a multiplicity of subjects, among them:
- Where and when to shop and what to buy.
- Must-have accessories with timeless appeal.
- Great makeup finds and savvy application how-to’s.
- Targeted hair care, performance-driven tools and styling aids.
- Prime hand and nail care.
- Physical wellness and core fitness practices at every age.
- Mental and spiritual empowerment.

What advice would you give a woman who struggles to define her personal style?
Know that it’s about coining a look that works for you based on who you are and how you live your life. Remember style is a form of self-expression and so it really comes down to what you want to communicate. To understand your personal style code, ask yourself, what predominant style sensibility am I comfortable with? How would you define it? Classic? Elegant? Boho? Edgy? Once you establish your style-persona, shop accordingly and above all, remain true to yourself.

How do you define your own personal style?
I define my style as “classic with a twist.” I’m clear about what works for me and what doesn’t. My look is based on a modern, chic and effortless sensibility that keeps pace with my busy, always-on-the-go lifestyle. 90% of my wardrobe consists of great dresses, which make getting dressed an effortless affair. The balance is composed of smart separates that allow me to work them to new perfection just by a change of accessories.

Click here to get even more amazing advice from Mikki Taylor and learn what your fashion & beauty do’s & don’ts should be!

Hue Knew It? I did. Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways – just had two giveaways on my fan page last week so don’t miss out on your chance to win!

Find more Style & Decor on our TUMBLR blog! Follow Us!

More in Fashion:

5 Fun Alternatives To Your Average Winter Coat For Under $100

Get The Look: Solange Goes For The Gol…Orange

FALL TREND: Ponchos & Capes

Even though Michelle Obama is blessed to have access to just about anything including designer outfits galore by default of being married to the most powerful man in the free world or access to uber-expensive knick knacks, she prefers to spend her clothing budget on mid-priced brands like J Crew and keeps it real by shopping in big box retailers (albeit in disguise). Gotta love her.

Are you traveling this holiday season? Need a passport? Check out this app!

Christmas – the most anticipated holiday of the year is rearing it’s head once again in exactly 39 days and one question lingers… how does one embrace a holiday that comes with the expectation of multiple gift exchanges with family, friends and maybe even your boss if you’re bucking for a good raise come review time when your money’s short? The answer is you’ve got faith in your ability to turn $5 into $100 (otherwise known as creative financing) to buy some of the special people in your life a few of these cool gifts that cost less than $20.

Just check these out…

There’s not much to say about Duri’s Gift Set – Summer Romance ($15, duricosmetics.com) – just buy it because of the ultra-cute packaging and whoever you give it to will fall in love at first sight. So So cute.

Maybe gift someone the new limited-edition Alba Botanica Natural Shower Gel & Body Lotion Gift Set, Cranberry Mimosa ($9.95 each). This is the perfect gift to cure the winter blues. This set includes a fragrant Body Wash and a rich, moisturizing Body Lotion to soothe dry skin during the cold, dry winter season. These limited edition gift sets are available nationwide through the end November at Whole Foods Markets, CVS, Target, Walmart and natural food stores as well as at www.AlbaBotanica.com so hurry!

Read more…

7 Thanksgiving Day Dresses All Under $100

Hue Knew It? I did.

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways – just had two giveaways on my fan page last week so don’t miss out on your chance to win!

It was only after witnessing the legions of New York fans & celebs like actresses Janet Huber & Karyn Parsons who filled the venue did it become crystal clear that this event was more about a meeting of the minds then promoting a brand – although there’s much to celebrate when it comes to Mizani’s True Texture Collection, but I digress.

PepperSoup Cafe Brings the Taste of Africa to Houston

A few overheard conversations made it apparent that the Meet Up gave natural hair-wearin’ women the opportunity to share their transitioning stories and how that decision impacted their lives positively or negatively, and to swap tips and tricks on daily maintenance techniques. The evening was full of learnings to be had like the latest styles for various hair textures via the Mizani styling stations that littered the upstairs and down…inspiring to say the least.

Mizani, the authority on hair care that’s designed to restore every hair type to it’s ultimate state of balance, has just added two more products to their True Textures Collection made specifically for naturally curly hair: Curl Soft, a weightless leave-in conditioner and Curl Set, a moisturizing high-hold jelly.

What bonded these women was their belief in living a relaxer-free existence. Are you ready to take the plunge? Click here to read about maintaining your brand of curly hair.

It’s’ not easy to wrap this story up with a bow and move on to the next because it’s one that still evolving.  “Our” hair remains the focus of so many discussions in Corporate America and beyond, welcomed or not and will forever affect how we really see and feel about ourselves. Until next time…

Hue Knew It? I did.

AND A GIFT FOR FANS OF MY HUEKNEWIT BLOG & HELLOBEAUTIFUL readers! Use the code hue20 to receive an additional 20% off purchases from Stock ‘N Go - the one-stop online retailer for all of your beauty, personal and household needs. It carry’s the hair styling products you & I love and are ready to be delivered to your door at the lowest available prices. Code is good until November 30.

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook Fan & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways and so much more. I feel another giveaway coming so stay tuned!

Although it may seem that you’re placing the focus squarely on you, you’d only be half right because there are many beauty brands that are quite adept at fulfilling our beauty needs, but whose philosophies incorporates the needs of the environment as well. In other words, you benefit from purchasing a pretty lipgloss that comes in a container that’s 100% recyclable. It’s a win-win ladies! And by the way, did someone say ‘vanity’ is an ugly word?

It’s only in recent times that the term ‘eco-friendly’ became a buzz word that’s sometimes added to product descriptions to gain an advantage over the competition. But which companies are really walking the walk?

Nature’s Gate Body Wash ($7.49, shopnatures-gate.com) is walking the walk because every bottle this brand uses is fully recyclable. Just think for a moment, with every push of the nozzle you’ll be reminded of your role as an advocate for sustainability. The stand out feature of this product is how hydrated your body feels afterwards because of the aloe vera, so much so that you almost don’t need to use a body lotion or butter afterwards, however, with the ever present threat of ashiness, this product benefit might as well be a mute point. The truth can’t be helped.

Click here to read more.

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways and so much more!

Hue Knew It? I did.

Hot Makeup Trends For Fall 2011

3 Curly Hair Types & The Products You’ll Need To Perfect Them

Rather than apply the metallic eyeshadow over the entire eye, the makeup experts from Christian Dior and Nars suggest first to rim your eyes with a dark eyeliner pencil to bring emphasis to them and then to apply eyeshadow to top and bottom lash lines along with a touch of shadow to your inner eye - see Ciara.

But the trend that really got the buzz going in the room between the beauty bloggers and the panel of experts was the talk about the classic red trend for nails and lips.

And the question that inevitably comes up about red lipstick is how does someone find the right shade for themselves? A panelist answered “whatever looks good,” – an answer that I didn’t then (or now) entirely agree with because it oversimplifies the process. While the search for the perfect red isn’t performing plastic surgery, there’s more that needs to be considered when choosing the shade that works for your skin tone – for instance if you’re Rihanna’s complexion (medium or fair/beige skin tone) try reds that have blues or brown undertones. Click here to find your right shade.

As put by one of the panelists, “fall nails are all about color.” Remember to think of your nails as an accessory.  I have two favorite brands that I vacillate between – UK brands Nails Inc. & Butter London. Nails Inc. offers unconventional nail colors & off-the-wall special effects polishes, while Butter London is all about high fashion yet the palette is quite sophisticated. I can attest to the durability of both lines, so don’t wait, buy a new polish today!

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Enter for your chance to win over $400 in beauty products in the Hue Knew It Ultimate Beauty Junkie’s Giveaway! 4 people will win. Click here for rules. Contest ends September 14th.

Hue Knew It? I did.

Hair, Makeup & Nails: The 8 Best Beauty Combos From The Fall Runways [PHOTOS]

Your Guide To Wearing Nude Makeup

How To Get FAT Eyebrows [PRODUCT REVIEW]

Given the history of breast cancer that runs on Wanda’s mother’s side of the family, she made the difficult decision to have a bilateral mastectomy. She said on the Ellen Degeneres Show: “I had both breasts removed…because now I have zero chance of having breast cancer, so I was very lucky.” A dramatic decision yes, but one that was made with her 2-1/2 year old twins and wife Alex in mind. And now, onto living…

This year, HKI puts it’s stamp of approval on three beauty products (for third product click here) that first are committed to finding a cure for breast cancer and secondly, offer benefits that you care about.

shade ($19, drugstore.com) was created in honor of actress and breast cancer survivor Christina Applegate. For every “Christina” that’s sold, Jane Iredale will donate $2 to Living Beyond Breast Cancer with a minimum of $25K in the coming year.

is a luxury anti-aging hair care line that uses innovative ingredients like caviar, hemp seed oil & Italian white truffle oil to bring thinning hair back to life and prevent color wash-out among other benefits. A supporter of breast cancer awareness for many years with products that give back, Alterna has created a special-edition Caviar Overnight Hair Rescue ($15, beauty.com) in a 1oz travel size bottle. Caviar is ideal…click here to read more and to read a personal note from me regarding the importance of mammograms and how it touched my life.

Become a HueKnewIt.com FaceBook & Follow me on Twitter: @hueknewit for product giveaways and so much more!

Hue Knew It? I did.

A Black Woman’s Guide To Breast Cancer Awareness

Your Guide To Wearing Nude Makeup

But while we’ve come to appreciate what the little black dress has represented to us over the years, the anything “nude” trend has jetted to the forefront of everyone’s consciousness as a must-have color to be injected into your wardrobes as an anchor to bold prints and into the contents of your makeup bags to bring out the princess in you.

The role of nude makeup is to expose the “beautiful natural you” as these ladies’ makeup artists have so artfully demonstrated on each of them, but you can achieve these elegant looks sans the makeup artist by  trying some of these products…

Serena’s cheeks are adorned with the slightest hint of peach blush similar to Dr. Hauschka’s Rouge Powder #01 ($28.90, saffronrouge.com) which has three great selling points: it’s organic, absorbs excess oil because it contains Kaolin (a China clay) & works on all types of skin. To get the simple, highlighted effect of Shanika’s lips, try Lorac’s Sheer Lipstick ($19, ulta.com) and to help bring your eyes alive…read more

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Enter for your chance to win over $400 in beauty products in the Hue Knew It Ultimate Beauty Junkie’s Giveaway! 4 people will win. Click here for rules.

Hue Knew It? I did.

Enter The “Ultimate Beauty Junkie” Giveaway!

Beauty 911: More Ways To Treat Dark Spots

The safest way to outwardly express the naughty in you and to avoid the always-probing eyes of the police and the exacting, bewildered expressions of men and women if you don’t wear this trend the “right” way, is to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch or ease into this trend for the first time by following these simple rules:

1. Wear one single print like this Blush ‘Muse’ Teddy pictured here ($68, nowthatslingerie.com) and pair it with basic wide-legged High-Waist Pleated Pants like these from Alice + Olivia ($297, shopbop.com). Top the look off with a matching cropped blazer and solid-colored heels. Just remember that a dash of print is all you need to strike the right balance.

2. Never wear animal prints from head-to-the – and that includes your accessories!

3. Mixing prints is an absolute no-no!

Amerie got it right in this zebra print dress at an Escada event, while Miss Kelly Rowland braves the red carpet at John Varvatos’s fashion show during New York Fashion Week Spring ’12 in a matching leopard sheer blouse and pencil skirt paired with suede burgundy kitten heels. Does she ever ever get it wrong? Not lately as evidenced through her numerous mentions in all of media.

Click here to see 3 animal print-inspired beauty products!

ALSO: Congratulations to Nicole Wilt, Ijeoma Eboh & Karen Madison who are 3 of the 4 winners of the Ultimate Beauty Junkie Giveaway! 4th winner is still pending verification.

Hue Knew It? I did.

The Top 3 Nail Color Trends From New York Fashion Week’s Runways

Runway To Real Life: How To Do Makeup Like A ‘Fashion Week’ Model

Click here to check out some past Fashion Week beauty trends – from bright coral lips to bronzed cheeks that ‘real’ women can wear.

Could the imagined popularity surrounding the faux Jabot Cosmetics company on the soap opera Young & The Restless be the reason why an actual line with the same name was created? Possibly. Whoever thought to mix fantasy converge with reality in this way is a genius because now the show’s millions of fans have even more reasons to love their daily soap obsession.

One of the notable offerings from the new product line is Jabot’s Red Carpet Crushed Diamond Facial Resurfacer ($29.50, hsn.com). Everything from how the line came to be to the diamond-shaped crystals makes this product extra-special. Use this when you want a little something more from an exfoliator which swaps dry, dingy skin for smooth, polished skin. Note: Use only a dime-size of product and lightly massage into face and neck.

Click here to read about what else is going in hair care & affordable teeth whitening.

Hue Knew It? I did.

GIVEAWAY UPDATE: The Hue Knew It Ultimate Beauty Junkie’s Giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks for all of your entries! 4 Winners will be chosen on or about September 21st and will be announced on here, HueKnewIt.com, HKI Fan Page & Twitter (@hueknewit).

Solange, Selita & More Dish On Style Icons & Fave Products At Fashion Week [EXCLUSIVE]

Runway To Real Life: How To Do Makeup Like A ‘Fashion Week’ Model

While the Liberian-born Korto isn’t a household name yet, based on the reactions of the audience as her Kimono-inspired, bold-printed high-fashion pieces cascaded down the runway, it’s only a matter of time before everyone knows who this talented women’s designer is.

Korto describes her customer this season as “a sophisticated, chic woman with heightened everyday elegance.” But as we all know, an outfit alone doesn’t complete a look - the addition of the right accessories and makeup pulls an entire look together which further solidifies the statement ’beauty and fashion are not mutually exclusive.’

Lead makeup artist for IMAN Cosmetics, Valente Frazier, was charged with creating the distinct look you see here and lucky for us, he shares with HB the products (all Iman Cosmetics, available at drugstore.com) he used on the models so you can recreate this on yourself:

Foundation: Apply Cream-to-Powder Foundation
Brow: Use Iman Cosmetics Perfect Eyebrow to achieve a soft brow in either Black or Brown, finish by brushing brows with Clear Gel Finish
Eye: Use Iman Cosmetics Perfect Eye Pencil in Ebony & Eye Con Kit (Golden Romance Trio) and Eye Defining Powders Black Magic, Vixen, Wicked, Bewitched
Cheeks: Apply Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Afterglow
Lips: Apply Iman Cosmetics Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick in Paprika

If you think that wearing a smoky eye and bold lip simultanoeusly is overkill, Valente is of a different mindest. He believes that ”limiting bright red lips for Fall or smoky eye only for Winter is a thing of the past.”

Hue Knew It? I did.

GIVEAWAY UPDATE: The Hue Knew It Ultimate Beauty Junkie’s Giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks for all of your entries! 4 Winners will be chosen on or about September 21st and will be announced on here, HueKnewIt.com, HKI Fan Page & Twitter (@hueknewit).

Dump My Makeup? Why?!

Beauty 911: More Ways To Treat Dark Spots

While choosing to let the hair on your legs grow so long that the hairs can be braided isn’t against the law, it does little to display a truly pulled-together look – unless the offending areas are hidden from the world’s view or are whisked away with one of these very qualified shaving product options…

Veet hit the nail on the head with it’s spray-on delivery system in Veet’s Spray on Cream Hair Remover ($8.59, Walmart, Target). There are several pros to using this remover: it’s ergonomic can design fits perfectly into the contours of your hands, it’s hands-free hair removal, works in a little as three minutes with the results lasting almost twice as long as shaving and instead of a razor you use the attached Perfect Touch Tool so no more nicks! Uh, where’s my can?

Click here to read about other cool shaving products.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Enter for your chance to win over $400 in beauty products in the Hue Knew It Ultimate Beauty Junkie’s Giveaway! 4 people will win. Click here for rules. Contest ends September 14th.

Hue Knew It? I did.

Hot Makeup Trends For Fall 2011

Beauty 911: More Ways To Treat Dark Spots

Foot Care: Dr. Teal’s
Hair Care: Smooth ‘N Shine, Goody, Got2B, Motions
Accessories: Trina
Skin Care: GloTherapeutics
Makeup:  Mehron,  GloMinerals

Increase your chances of winning by…

A) Becoming an HKI fan on Facebook
B) Following me on Twitter: @hueknewit.

Make sure to click here for rules & product details.

You have until September 14, 2011 @ 11:59pm PST to enter. Four winners will be chosen!

NOTE: Makeup products will be shade-matched to winners.

Hue Knew It? I did!

Help, My Hair Won’t Grow!

Beauty 911: More Ways To Treat Dark Spots

I’m sure that the mere thought of parting with that last smidgen of face powder that makes your face look absolutely flawless is terrifying because it was discontinued (a practice that isn’t so surprising) and you can’t find a similar shade anywhere. But however sad your plight is to seek out an equally-fabulous face powder, Simon says “chuck it” because when you first bought it, it was light brown but now it’s turned two shades darker – red alert!

Unfortunately, there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” solution to determine when you should dump your color cosmetics because that’s decided in large part  by the product’s formulation and the method in which you store them which should always be in a cool, dry place. Because cosmetics manufacturers aren’t under a U.S. mandate to display expiry dates on their packaging, you’re then left with the task of adhering to loose guidelines doled out to us by these same manufacturers concerning the toss schedule of your products.

Liquid Liner & Mascara: Up to 3 months unless they begin to smell sooner. With all of the opening and closing of the tube and repeated usage of the wand itself, there’s a higher risk of bacteria being introduced, therefore increasing your chances of developing an eye infection or at the very least mild irritation so be cautious.
Cream Eyeshadow: 3-4 months
Powder Blush, Face Powder, Powder Eyeshadow, Eye Pencils: 6 months to 1 year – sharpen pencils regularly.
Foundations (Cream & Liquid): 1 year
Concealer: 1.5 years
Lipstick: 1-2 years
Lipgloss: 1 year

Note: Dirty makeup brushes carry bacteria so clean them regularly to extend the life of your makeup; also refer to my entry TOOLS OF THE TRADE to learn how to care for your brushes.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Enter for your chance to win over $400 in beauty products in the Hue Knew It Ultimate Beauty Junkie’s Giveaway! 4 people will win. Click here for rules.

Hue Knew It? I did.

Beauty 911: More Ways To Treat Dark Spots

12 Sexiest New Makeup Trends For Fall [PHOTOS]

As Dr. Jones explains, because “Our skin tends to produce more inflammatory cells which produce more persistent and difficult-to-treat hyperpigmentation,” you should consider other types of treatments that deliver good results when done under the supervision of a doctor. Treatments like…

Glycolic Peels: Also treats acne. This peel is an Alpha hydroxy acid and derived from sugar cane. It keeps pores unblocked and stimulates cell renewal.

Microdermabrasion: This is a mechanical exfoliation treatment that sprays microcrystals onto the skin through a stainless steel pressurized wand.

Retin A: This is a topical Vitamin A which is primarily used to treat sun damaged skin, but also speeds up the growth of new skin cells thereby reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

Non-ablative Fraxel Laser: a non-invasive laser-resurfacing therapy treatment of acne scars.

Click here to find out about skin lightening products that contain 4% & 6%.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Enter for your chance to win over $400 in beauty products in the Hue Knew It Ultimate Beauty Junkie’s Giveaway! 4 people will win. Click here for rules.

Hue Knew It? I did.

Help, My Hair Won’t Grow!

How To Improve Your Body’s Skin Tone

“My hair won’t grow! There isn’t a stylist on earth who hasn’t heard these very words from a client or two. You might’ve even been the client who uttered these words not just to your stylist but to your bathroom mirror with an audible whimper nonetheless because your six-inch length hair in January is still just six inches in June. WTF!

Side-stepping the hair plug option, celebrity stylist Sophia Alston offers her insight into how to get to your hair into the best possible condition so you can manage slow growing hair. But, first some trivia – how long does hair grow in a month? The answer is half an inch!

According to Sophia there a few things you can do to maintain the health of your hair, one of them being to use proper shampoos and conditioners; her favorites are Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo & Moisture Recovery Conditioner (drugstore.com) because these products combine many ingredients like jojoba oil which provides the ultimate in moisture replenishment for hair that “becomes dry because of chemicals like relaxers and the [mere] harshness of the environment.”

For tips from Sophia and more click here!

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Hue Knew It? I did.