Coastal scents Palette: Updated

I maybe jumping on the bandwagon a little late but i have been hearing nothing but great things about coastal scents palette i have order two for myself for Christmas (the neutral palette and the 26 eye and blush palette) for 22 dollars a pop you can't beat it!!!! When i get them i will post an update as well as any looks i come up with using only the palettes.

www.coastalscents.com for more info


Update: OK i got my palettes on Tuesday, the shipping was quite fast i live in NJ and these were shipped from FL, it took about 3 days!!!! I was very please with the packaging these palettes are very sleek and slender perfect for traveling.I only tried the neutral palette, sorry didn't take any pics!!!! But i love the way it came out, i would highly suggest both of this palette for working women who need a little more of a conservative look for work. I do have one word of advice, please use a good base with these shadows ( L'oreal cream shadows work great as well as and MAC paints you may have) or the could appear a little chalky. Other than that I really like these palette a great budget buy ladies!!!!!!

here are some pics of the palletes:


this is the 26 shadow and blush combo





the neutral

I'm slowly becoming a MAC Addict (a rave of Loverush and Raizin)

OK, last week after months of searching for a drug store brand that will give me the color "payoff" I was looking for I decided to go to MAC. I went to my local stand and picked two WOC faves Loverush & Raizin. I took them home and tried them out, and WOOOOW! This is what i have been searching for, a beautiful natural "flush" to my cheeks. Now these blushes, are 18 dollars a piece and come in a variety of colors and finishes. They are are a little pricey, definately a "splurge" item. but totally worth it. I've made a wish list of about 7 or 8 blushes (including one for hightlighting and one for contour) that i will be sloly adding to my collection. No doubt about I'm slowly becoming a MAC addict!!!!! I will keep you updated

How to do a facial at home

With the holidays coming I know you divas want you skin to look as radiant as possible for all those holiday pics, heres some easy to follow steps for your own facial at home:


Step 1:
Wash your face using your normal daily cleanser

Step 2
Using a scrub gently exfoliate and buff your skin, do this for 1 to 5 minutes

Step 3
Press a warm wash cloth on your face for a few minutes, then gently pat dry

Step 4
Use a store brought mask ( gel or cream mask for dry skin mud or clay mask for oily skin) let set on you skin for 10-20 mintues, rinse clean

Step 5 (optional)

If you have a lot of white or black heads use one of those Biore strips to get rid of them

Step 6
rinse face pat dry and use a nice gentle moisturize (please avoid using anything with acids or retinols in such as anit-aging products right after the facial)


and your done this is a really fun thing to do with your friends!!!! Your could also included these instructions along with every things need for the facial for really nice inexpensive gift for the holidays!!!

Rave: triple threat!!!!!!!!!

My first Rave: My Triple Threat: MAC Studio Fix Fluid, Select Cover, & Blot Powder





Now most of my focus of Diva on a Dime is cheap solutions to beauty & fashion. However sometimes you just have to treat yourself or sometimes there is just no replacing a product. A diva knows how to mix to low & luxe, knowing her limits and living within her means. I said all that this: some products are worth the money some are not. IMO, my triple threat is worth the money.



Studio Fix Fluid is the only foundation that I have re-purchased. It's the liquid version of MAC's Studi Fix Powder, it works best with oily skin ( such as mines) beacause it's oil-free, has a buildable natural matte finish, and comes in various skin colors and tones. SFF ($26) is anywhere 10 to 18 dollars more than most drugstore brands, that does seem like a lot!!! However if you are buying two foundation from the drugstore or buying online and paying shipping and handling it migth be worth it to take a trip to you local MAC stand/store and have an MUA match you.

Now even though SFF coverage is buildable you might need a concealer. I have hperpigamention and need the extra coverage!!!! Thats where Select Cover (15.50) comes in. This is the best concealer IMO and I've brought 40 concealers as well as drug store concealers. It last all day and can be worn alone or over/under foundation. It is truly worth the money!!!!

Last but not least is the Blot Powder($21). If you have oily skin blot powder will be your best friend. Seriously it soak up very drop of oil slick. I love it!!!! It comes in loose or pressed ( note: Loose is now/ will be a Pro item and only available online).

Now the "Triple Threat" looks good on it own, but apply SFF with a brush (esp a stippling brush, more on that later) and oh my goodness flawless!!!! Also using a primer help control oil and allows a smooth finish. And getting the foundation pump ($4) will save you alot of product which in turn will allow you yo use less and save more money.

These three product will run you about $61.50 before taxes at your local MAC stand/store that is alot but these are great products that do last a while!!!!! However you can even mix and match with these if you have DS products that alreay work for you!!!!

Prouducts I love

I am the first to admit that I am a little high maintaince!!!! I don't walk out of my house unless I'm looking exactly how I want to look. Hair on point clothes right and make up flawless. How ever that doesn't mean I'm speneding tons of money every month to look great most of the things i love can be found at your local Target, Wal-mart, or BSS (beauty supply store).



I love love love Neutrogena Oil-frre Acne wash and Oil eliminating astringent!!! My skin is cray oily and these two products kept it in check and the break outs away. I also love my St Ives Apicot scrub, its a staple. Ambi has an good sunscreen with spf 30. And my all time old school fave is Queen Helene Mint mask its is the ish!!!!! It can be use as an all over mask or a spot treatment. Its cheap and can be found anywhere from Wal-mart to drug stores to the BSS.

As far as make-up go Covergirl queen collecction is good, one of the only drug store brands for us!!! But I ain't gonna lie to you ladies I use MAC studio fix fluid which is 26 dollars, i know that a lot on the pricey side but it works I swear by it!!!! Along with the MAC Select cover (15.50) and the Blot powder (20, I think) my face is flawless. I spend money on my foundation but everything eles is drug store brands ( that how i justify it lol) . L'Oreal HIP and Milani are the bomb!!!! There eyeshadow are comparable to MAC in my opinion. NYX also has great eye shadows as well as lipglosses. Maybelline and Covergirl are it when it comes to mascaras (CG Lash blast the best out there and MB Great Lash is an old-school fav). But my best make up find is Monistat Chaffing gel!!!! I know you guys are like what?????? But it is the bomb primer!!!! If you are using Smash box this is just as good ( has the same major ingredients).

Last but not least are the hair products. I love Sally's beauty supply, the carry generics of Nexxus, Paul Mitchell, and such for less then a thrid of the cost for more then twice the product. They even have a flat iron which is comparable to CHI for 60 bucks. I also love Elast QP, their Anit-breakage serum is comparable to Nexxus Emegrence. You can find Elasta Qp most at the BSS and select products at Sally's. Oh and let's not forget the Patene Relaxed and Natural line, I got 2 conditioner & a shampoo for 12 dollars at Target , they are always on sale!!!

And those are the products I use on a daily basis! Every product i mentioned ( esp the SFF & Saly flat iron) are under 25 bucks! Most are under 15! So find what works for you! And save where ya can!

Skin 101: what's yout type

Okay Ladies now that we got the hair looking fly its now time for the face/skin. The key to taking care of your on skin is prevention and consistency. By taking care of you skin properly now (i.e washing, using the correct type products, sunscreen) you will save a ton of money!! Prevenation is better the cure. Before I can suggest any products for you we will need to adress your skin type so we can properly address your skin needs.





Skin mostly fall under oily, dry, combination, sensitive & normal. A lot of people have a mixture of skin type or type may adjust throughout the year, so I suggest you asses your skin twice a year ( in winter and summer)





Here's the breakdown:





Oily: skin appear "oily" even after washing, has frequent breakouts, foundation wears off after a few hours, large pores



Oily skin should look for products with the words: Foaming, gel ,oil free, mattifying, water-based or oil controlling.



Dry: feels tight, flakey, itchy after washing, rough patches rarely breaks out, "dull" complexion



Dry skin should look for products with the words like moisturizing, cream, non alcohol, refresher.



combination: oily in t-zone (forehead, nose & chin) but dry on cheeks



Combination skin should look for words like skin-balancing.



Sensitive: easily, irritate, red blotchy, allergic reactions to products, sunburn easily



Sensitive skin should look for words like fragrance free hypoallergenic



Normal: few break outs can use almost anything on the skin with no irritation, even tone



Normal should look for any thing that works for them,LOL.



Now that the basic characteristics out the way there's some things that every skin type can do to improve there skin. Number one is the easy and cheap thing to do, drink plenty of, if you think water is too bland there's those 5 calorie flavor packets now so no excuses!!!!! Number two baby your skin, never sleep in make and remember to cleanse ( removes impurities) tone ( restores pH) and moisturizer ( to lock in moisture even if you are oily) every day twice a day. Add a weekly regime like a facial or at home peel to deep cleanse your skin and remove top dead layers of skin. And last but not least wear sunscreen everyday!!!!!!!! Even us sistas can get skin cancer!!!! Ambi has a nice one that has 30spf and can double as your moisturizer. If you follw these simple tips I'm sure you can whip your skin in to shape in no time!!!!!!

Hair care on a dime: How much is the salon costing you?

Okay Ladies how much do you spend on your hair a month? Let's say you get a relaxer (65) two doobies wraps (35-40 each) a trim (15) a deep conditioner or two (10 each) and a color ( 40, thats being cheap) you're looking at a least 210 dollar a month!!! that adds up to a little over 2500 dollars a year. Imagine how much of that could have gone into a "rainy day account" or toward a new home, or in a retirement fund ( it's never to late to start, ladies). maybe your a student or mother, or between jobs/careers and on a limited income, can you really afford that??? What is a flyy sista to do??? Go out with you hair looking like a birds nest? Not an options for most ladies Here are a couple of money saving ideas!!!!

The number one thing you can do is visit the salon less!!! Learn to do your hair yourself! Many variations of this options exist. maybe you will only go in for a relaxer or color or special occasion and perform daily and weekly maintaince your self (ie washing and styling as well as properly wrapping styles up at night). Now to get started you will need to know your hair type and hair a low maintence style that is easy to kept up at home. There ar many shampoos, conditioners, treatment, styling aids, under 20 dollars that will get the job done ( more about this in a later blog). Okay, so you have decided to take on care of your hair. Youn must decide hom much you are willing to do your self. If you just get a relaxer every 8 weeks , six times a year that adds up to 390 dollars ( that 84% saving, not including any hair products and tools you may have brought). Over time you may even become good enough to self relaxer at home or may decide to go natural total self style.

Don't know where to start or what products to use to self maintain your hair? You're already usine one source: the Internet!!!! You must be careful though there are alot od useless sites out the but alot of good one such as Diaspora Hair Care, Black Hair Media, and Long Hair Care Forum. Now some of these sites have a smal fee to post in all the forum but you can usually view the hair section for free (BHM is totally free). Youtube is another great source of info. The good thing about Youtube is that you can exactly watch people doing their hair, like a roller set or how the flat iron their hair for example. Just type in black hair styling how to.

Books and magazines are also a great place to gain knowledge on hair. One of my personal favors is Shamboosie's book Beautiful Black Hair: Real Solutions to Real Problems. It has all the info you need to get started taking care of your hair.

Now if all else fails ladies and you simply can't find the time or get the hang of it check out your local beauty school!!! They often have number of services available to the public for half the price (at least) then the beauty salon. Don't worry ladies the student are "seniors" working to get enough credits to graduate and there is all a licensed hair dresser on staff. The only bad things is they are usuallu only open on school days during normal school hours.

Well ladies I hoped my tips helped! Stay tuned for the next part of hair care on a dime" hair products that work under 20 dollars!!!!

What is diva on a dime?

Hello all! This is my first post on my blog diva on a dime. I've decide d to jump on the blogging band wagon & talk about one of my passions:Beauty!!!! By beauty I mean the outside such as fashion, make-up, & hair as well as inner beauty such as self esteem and health. I will also be throwing a little be of books/magazines, current events, and celeb gossip. I'm a young black female, so most of my blogs and reviews will be geared to my peers but i will try to have some think for everyone. The main purpose for diva on a dime is to show you how to be fabulous with out breaking the bank. I lot of of us are mothers, in school, saving for that dream house, or just need t o curve our spending; however when still want to keep up with the Jones which can often leave us in debt. This blog is for every one with champagne taste and a beer budget!!!! so enjoy and feel free to comment!!!!