If you’re more Vogue than Ladies Home Journal, you’ll appreciate these fashion forward dresses for your Valentine’s Day plans. Check them out:

Don’t worry if this isn’t your style—more Valentine’s Day Outfit Ideas are on the way!

I do NOT like the winter. You would figure I’d get used to it since I’ve lived in NYC all my life, but I feel like every winter it gets worse. Everything on my dries out—my skin, my hair, my hands—and then I have to buy things like medicated lotions so that I don’t rip my skin off from itching. And don’t let me get into how I can’t run a block in cold weather without needing a puff on my inhaler. *sigh*

So while I finally got my dry skin in order it felt like no matter how much moisturizer I put in my hair, it looked like hay. Ay que fea. After hearing the praises of Moroccanoil being sung over the hills of the internet, I figured I’d give it a try. And boy am I glad I did! I took the Intense Hydrating Mask and Treatment Oil with me to the hair salon last weekend to be used with a simple wash and set. I sat under the dryer for about 15 minutes with the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask and then she towel dried my hair and applied a tiny bit of the Moroccanoil Treatment Oil to my hair. After setting my hair on rollers and then blowing out my roots, my hair looked so shiny, healthy, and smelled soooo good (I hate hair that smells like chemicals). It looked that way for a whole week, too.

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask

But I figured it came out so well because I got a blow out and since I normally do a wash and air dry on my hair, I had to test if it would work with my regular routine. So I washed my hair, deep conditioned with the Intense Hydrating Mask and applied some of the Treatment Oil along with a bit of setting lotion, wrapped my hair up and went to bed. In the morning my hair was sleek, smooth, shiny, and smelled divine.

I got a full container of the Intense Hydrating Mask for $30, but since my hair soaks up conditioner when I’m so many weeks post-relaxer, I need to use a lot of it which will end up being costly. I got a small $12 bottle of the Treatment Oil (the regular size is about $30), but since a little goes a long way, I’ll have it for a while. Next time I buy, I’m gonna splurge on the bigger containers.

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask is great for dry, damaged hair (relaxed, natural, and/or color-treated) while the Treatment Oil is great for all hair types (use it sparingly if you have oily or very fine hair).

Despite it being ridiculously cold this past weekend here in NYC, I spent most of my Saturday hanging with my big sis and a friend. We started off with brunch in the Village at a spot called Jane’s then I begged and pleaded for my sis to pass by MAC Pro (she drove…lol) so I could check out the Spring Colour Forecast collection. As a quick review, I wasn’t really impressed—not to say don’t get anything, but when you have a lot of makeup, there really aren’t any more unique shades in new collections. I thought I would die for a Blush Ombre, but the colors looked like products I already have. I also wanted to love the coral set, but felt that many of the colors weren’t pigmented enough for my NW47 skin. Oh well. Yay for saving money.

Then somehow I also managed to persuade my sis into stopping at Sephora in Flatiron and picked up Dior Addict Lipcolor in #819 (a gorgeous brownish pink that shows up like a nude on my lips) and Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter (this stuff smells sooo good and they have it for only $5 for a limited time–go get it!). I’m on a lipstick kick as of late after being pretty much a gloss girl. I figure lipstick makes me more of a lay-day *Shenehneh voice*…lol. After Sephora we went to the Angelika Theatre and took in Saint John of Los Vegas with Steve Buscemi, Romany Malco, and Sarah Silverman (go see it—it’s HILARIOUS). Then finished off the evening with some Korean food.

On Sunday I found my way back into my local Sephora and picked up Dior Addict High Shine lipstick in #714 (a shimmery, shiny pinkish-brown), Make Up For Ever Lipstick in #303 (a somewhat frosty fucshia), Lancome Hypnôse Drama (haven’t tried this yet), and Murad Evening Renewal Regimen (because my sister’s friend’s skin was glowing even in the dimly lit restaurant and told me she uses this stuff at night so you know I had to snag it…lol).

Happy Monday, folks! How was your weekend—what did you do?

I try to be as “in the know” about all things fashion and beauty as I can, but sometimes there’s just so much out there! Thankfully some of my favorite blogs have kept me in the loop. Check out some hot links from this week:

Makeup and Beauty Blog–Bobbi Brown Cabana Corals Collection (loved this since I’m on the lookout for some bright new corals for this spring)

Temptalia–MAC Spring Colour Forecast Review & Round-up (I haven’t been able to get to MAC yet to see the collection, but always enjoy her swatches as they help me to buy online when I don’t have time to get to a MAC store)

The Inner-Gourmet (okay, not fashion or beauty related, but try and scroll through her blog without drooling)

Legends Icons and Role Models–Jan Matzeliger – HAUTE Shoe LEGEND!!!! (read up on the story of an African American who paved a MAJOR way in how our shoes are made)

June Ambrose’s Twitter (if you’re in need of a daily dose of fashionable treats and a backstage peak into the life of your favorite hip-hop artists’ stylist, stay glued in)

Milan Rouge (check out how hot MAC Girl About Town and MAC Red look on my girl)

The Fashion Bomb–L.A. Reid’s Post Grammy Party (check out what celebs like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez wore at this hot shindig) and while you’re there check out my rundown of Grammy Makeup Looks.

Now you—share some links! If you have a blog or spotted something hot this week, leave a link in the comments.