When most people think of shape-wear the image of these horrific medieval torture devices often flash through our minds. Contraptions made of thick, unforgiving material that require power tools to get in (and out) of and most of all, as the most unflattering thing we can put onto our bodies. I have to say I fell into that category until recently. I wrote a comparison and review of my experiences with several brands (click here for that article: https://clarityreviewed.com/2019/02/21/i-tried-it-shapewear/ ) and HoneyLove (a brand covered) reached out to me to try even more of their selection.

I jumped at the chance because in my first review, I had no relationship with the brand and they were the clear winner so what else did they have to offer and was it any good? If you follow me, you will know I put items through the ringer. I wear and test for up to 30 days including how items wash because that’s what real life is and I was taken aback. The items sent to me were the Power Brief and the Queen Brief and they were sexy!

For once, I did not feel like I was wearing some awful and shameful garment. The sheer appearance around the bum area gave the illusion of a high cut panty and was more like lingerie than shapewear on the bottom. The waistband held true to their claim, it did not budge, roll down or even fold once. I have worn them both now to work under dresses, under rompers for events and even under a jeans and t-shirt combo for a more flattering silhouette.

The kicker though is what HoneyLove does for me personally. It’s not about trying to look skinny, it’s not about fooling anyone into thinking I don’t have rolls somewhere. It’s about giving me a sense of confidence and putting a little strut in my step when I leave the house. It’s about making me feel like my clothes look good because I am not constantly tugging or adjusting the little spots that we all have that make us self conscious.

The overall experience was empowering and comfortable. Strange bedfellows I know but that’s my feedback. I was gifted these products but as always my readers are more to me than any brand so this is 100% my own opinion and not sponsored. I look forward to the brand bringing out even more options in the future and have to say that I’m all in with HoneyLove .

Clarity R

Some links are affiliated and I will receive a small commission if you purchase through them which I will use to buy stocks in magazines and have them fire all the photo retouchers.

Orange You Glad? NEW Monochromatic Palette!

For those who don’t know I happen to be from a small island in the Caribbean called Trinidad, which also happens to be a tiny hop away from Barbados so this has some particular impact for me. When I first started getting into makeup, I was already a big fan of Rihanna and her music but I never envisioned the impact she would have as a mega mogul in beauty, fashion and more.

I was lucky enough to purchase some Fenty products upon initial launch and even more so when I was sent a variety of products by the Fenty team. It has taken me a while to write this because PR or no, I stand firmly by my 30 day test protocol to really know how a product works for me in different environments so here we go. I know I have to say this, so none of these pics are FaceTuned mostly because I have no clue how to use it.

Foundation: This was a struggle at first for me because having dry skin, I found that I got a little flaking around my nose and forehead but then I figured it out, Fenty plays well with others and the Cover FX Gripping Primer has been an amazing combo. the foundation stayed true and that means at least 8 hours of wear in tropical conditions and ac work environment.

Concealer: These are incredible to blend with a thin and flexible applicator that makes it easy to get under the eyes, I actually like these most as my “no makeup” days touch up for a flawless finish.

Matchstix: As I am sure we know my now, beauty enthusiast does not equal beauty expert and I think I was using these incorrectly. Once I applied the reverse foundation technique (applying bronzer, blush and contour under the foundation) this was a dream but to be honest I much prefer the powder bronzers for shaping my face.

Powder: I think this is where I was most hesitant and most pleasantly surprised. My Sahara worthy face avoids powder like the plague and the only one I have ever used with any success is the lightest dusting of the hourglass veil powder, but this changed my mind. Both shades Butter and Lavender has improved my technique and finish remarkably. They both really do blur pores and allow for a flawless finish.

Bronzer: Here is where Fenty shines. The undertones of these bronzers are spectacular and have really allowed me to use them as contour as well. I have a very round face and using the Fenty bronzer brush was an incredible upgrade in my technique and application. I have used this as a travel staple, putting a light dusting over my eyes with a touch of highlighter for pop and I’m done!

Does this sound a little too good to be true? Maybe but I test everything relentlessly and if it’s not that great I say so because I value my reader more than any brand relationship. That being said, RiRi hit this out of the park. As a Caribbean woman of mixed ethnicity, I appreciate and applaud her efforts to create the line to be as comprehensive and inclusive as possible without sacrificing quality.

Cross your fingers for me that they send me more treats to test but even without it, I stand by my Fenty face.

Clarity R

All photos are my own, taken with my incredibly fancy phone on my dining room table. Lighting in my personal photos provided by Mother Nature.

Lately I have been scrolling through Instagram with more purpose, since I found the incredible Forever Radiant spa and had such a wonderful treatment (see The Oxygen Facial from my I Tried It series) who else could be hiding?

One thing I have always been very curious about is lash lifts and lash extensions. I really rarely wear falsies though I love how they make a look pop. After some costing research and details on how often I would have to attend to both options, I chose a lash lift. The cost was not as overwhelming as lash extensions (due to the need for fills) and lasted longer (up to 8 weeks with proper care) so I jumped in head first.

After extension research and call, I decided on Polish as my choice and booked. The owner was polite and professional with great directions and answered all my concerns right away. In addition she was having a special that included a pedi which I sorely needed. The next day I was booked and ready.

The location itself was not ideal, tucked away behind a major building, it seemed a bit odd and I had a little trouble finding the entrance but once inside uptempo music was in order and the space was clean and tidy if a little dated. (The proprietor mentioned she would be moving to a more modern space shortly).

After laying down she placed caps over my eye lids and I felt the liquid being applied and lashes pulled back. It felt so strange, not painful, just odd. I kept thinking I felt something in my eye but it was mind over matter knowing all these liquids were being so close the eye area. To be honest, I lost track of time a little as I fell asleep for a short while. Soon enough it was over and she removed the pads and cleaned up with instructions to keep them dry for 24 hours, not to use waterproof mascara or rub at them too hard and a little spoolie for brushing.

Surprise, this morning my lashes were curled right back and made a huge difference in the appearance of my makeup. If I had know about this I would have done it years ago. Here are my before and after pictures with the proof and after I added my Milk Makeup Kush Mascara, I looked invincible. (Photos are just after the lift).

Would I do it again? Hell yeah. Now I want to try the extensions! Find the lash tech @polish_tt if you are this way.

As always, all opinions are my own, I paid for this service and this post is not sponsored.

Clarity R

Hourglass has always been a stunner for me when it comes to the beauty industry. With stellar packaging, incredible marketing campaigns and a luxe approach I was in love from day one. Their Veil setting powder changed my life, as a person with very dry skin, I thought I would never be able to really achieve that flawless under eye since most powders made my skin look like the Sahara but this one was divine.

Then my heart broke, I tried both the stick and liquid foundations and they simply did not work for my skin type. It broke my heart as a watched video after video rave about these products but knew they just were not for me. Enter the ambient palettes. These were so stunning but with some hefty price tags that made me think twice, so when the minis launched on Sephora I jumped at the chance and it was totally worth it.

The Ambient bronzer is stunning, it gives my medium olive complexion a subtle contour with just a touch of glow and makes me seem more bronzed and glowy than I thought possible. How good is it? I’m about to drop serious coin and purchase all the full size palettes as now I am hooked.

Hourglass remain the gold standard for me since they do not launch products lightly, time and consideration goes into each launch and it shows. So have you tried any Hourglass goodies? Tell me your thoughts in the comments.

As always, not sponsored but these are just that good!

Clarity R

Some people think primers are a waste but I have dry skin and I adore them. They give me that one extra layer of potential success for a flush, smooth finish and I often spend more on primers than I do foundations! My current go to combo is the Too Faced Hangover Primer all over and the ELF Poreless Putty Primer around the T Zone.

So of course after a major shopping binge I decided to try the Cover FX gripping primer and although it is pricey for a primer when there are so many great options at the drugstore I have to tell you, it’s a game changer!

The primer itself is very tacky, it has a gel like consistency and is very thick coming out of the tube. I almost felt like I was applying a thick honey to my face so I used it very sparingly the first time (about the size of a pea) but happy to see a little goes a long way. The amount not only covered my entire face but the results were mind boggling. I tried the primer over the course of several days with Colourpop No Filter Foundation, Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Jouer High Coverage Creme Foundation for varying levels of coverage and wear time and every single time I was wowed.

This primer not only gives you a flush base to work with making you skin appear smoother, the gripping aspect of the primer acts like super glue for all the foundations I tried with them all becoming budge proof and giving me a flawless finish for at least eight hour wear. Although I am a little camera shy, here’s a picture so you can see the finish on my skin.

Interested in this? Click on the link below to take a look. This review is not sponsored I bought all products with my own money and I think it’s the second coming. If you click on the link and buy I do receive a small commission but come on I have to subsidize my shoe habit somehow.

https://bit.ly/2O7kdCE

We all know that many of us struggle with weight but even those who don’t understand the power of great shapewear. With the advent of Spanx many years ago, we all expect women to have a flat and seamless appearance under the tightest dresses and with not an ounce of extra showing.

Although I don’t hold myself to that impossible standard, I do appreciate the help of great shapewear to give me an added boost of confidence by making me feel that rolls have been firmly tucked away. A good shapewear piece can actually make clothes fit a little better and give you a confidence booster. So I tried 3 of the biggest at all price ranges.

Spanx of course being the absolute innovator in the industry was my first choice. For the purpose of the experiment, I bought a similar style in all pieces tested, a short type piece which pulls up just to under the rib line and extends mid thigh. Next I went with HoneyLove, a new player in the game that promises to not rolls down (a big claim) and last, Maidenform, a brand readily available at most shopping malls and at a significant lower price point than the others.

Spanx – does is exactly as it says, it is Tight! Pulls in all those little ripples and rolls to provide a seamless and smooth finish under clothes. Can be pricey but made me feel great. One con is is rolls down on the tummy after time and I found myself heading to the bathroom to pull and yank the waistband back into place.

HoneyLove – More expensive that I anticipated but kept those tummy and back rolls firmly in check, and get this…It Never Rolled Down! I thought that was quite the claim to make but it has proven me wrong. This was a shocking experience as I never tugged, yanked or anything else all day. It kept me in without strangling me and I couldn’t believe how well it stayed up.

Maidenform – By far the most affordable and had the softest material, a cotton and spandex combo that felt soft against the skin. These were the closest to real underwear and felt gentle against the skin. It didn’t have the level of control the others did. It did roll down a little but not as much as the Spanx and really were the most comfy all day.

My vote? HoneyLove for the win. This was a game changer for me and I foresee myself using this far more often.