.eat.sleep.contour.
My second Halloween look is ready for your viewing pleasure.
My favorite part of this look is the shoulder scab.. It’s flawless :) Enjoy while i continue to navigate through the video/makeup world <3
Products used below:
Camera Ready Cosmetics 3rd degree burn silicone compound
Mehron Face Paint Palette: Red and Brown
Skin Illustrator Palette: Mao 2, Coral Adjuster, Rose adjuster
Mehron Fx Blood Gel
Ok I did it.
Kind of.
October is my favorite time of the year, my favorite time for YouTube, for The Food Network and for makeup.. Clearly..
I have always enjoyed Halloween makeup for its creativity and in my first attempt at recording makeup videos— I’ve decided to dip my toe in the process video pool. They’re so fun and I hope you enjoy the video!
Saturday, May 5, 2018
After years of working together, my cousin Adrianne and our best friend Maria are joining forces and starting our business! we are three makeup artists starting our own beauty business in the Bay Area. Collectively each individual makeup artist on our team has worked under beauty companies like MAC and Sephora and have provided makeup services for corporate events, corporate executive head shots, fashion shoots, weddings and special events. We have collectively dreamed about partnering together for YEARS and now our dreams are coming to fruition.
How should we celebrate you ask? With a Salon Pop-Up!
On Saturday, May 5, 2018 trib3beauty will be hosting out first salon in Oakland, CA.
Every service will be 50% OFF!
If you have a Prom, a Wedding, an event or if you just want an excuse to get glammed up, come down to our pop up!
Services provided:
Skin Consultation
Makeup application
Photo booth fun
Snacks
Refreshments
Date: Saturday May 5, 2018
Time: 2:00pm – 8:00pm, 45 minute appointments per person
Where: Maker’s Loft: 308 13th St, Oakland, CA 94612
Booking: http://bit.ly/POPUPSALON
ARTISTS:
Angelie Herreria
https://angeliemakeup.com/
Adrianne Maracha
www.adrianneartistry.com/
Maria Bordon
www.beautifulbymaria.com/
How do you sign up?
Feel free to sign up for a slot time below!
We can't wait to see you there!
Just like Christmas, every year my MUA friends and I wait patiently for the International Makeup Artist Trade Show in Pasadena. But unlike the other years, this time we were pro members-- going to pro night. This was so FUCKING exciting. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s like being invited to the adult’s table after years of sitting with the kids for Thanksgiving dinner. We were a part of the big kid crowd. And while big kids get the pleasure of “adult conversation”, our version of adulting was us covering our hands and arms in lipstick yelling, “YAAAAASSS QUEEEEN” (Judge us-- I dare you).
Our number one stops at IMATS are always the vendors with the longest lines: Anastasia Beverley Hills and Dose of Colors. To our surprise, there was barely a line for either of these brands-- so we took our sweeeeeet. ass. time. at each vendor to pick and choose the products we really wanted. No rushing, no forgetting, and no impulse buying.. Well, not a TON of impulse buying. Who am I kidding, impulse buying is instrumental in beauty businesses becoming successful. So fine, there was a lot of impulse buying, but we didn't feel rushed about it.
Anyway, Pro night was a dream-- the ease and simplicity of wandering around each vendor and talking to other professionals was incredible. If you have the chance to visit pro night, I would advise you to do it soon. All you need to do it go to IMATS.net and apply! 10/10, would definitely recommend.
DAY 2
One of the BEST things about attending IMATS, are the monsters. YES-- I said Monsters, the creations, the crazy silicone molds and the models walking around the floor taking selfies with fans. It is hands down one of my favorite things to do. I've always tried to convince my friends to stick around towards the end of the show to see all of the creations. The problem is that sticking around towards the end of the day meant buying more things-- because duh. I'm at a makeup show. But the quality time and talent that it takes to create these monsters is incredible! I've always admired the artwork and i'm always so excited to see the final products. Check out a few of my favorite monsters below!
A few months ago I had the honor of working with the non profit Sol Sisters to coordinate their first annual Woman of the Year Award event. Sol Sisters wanted to celebrate one phenomenal woman in our community, a woman who reflects what it means to have courage, strength, humility and a woman who is an overcomer of trials.
Sol Sisters was honored and SO excited to celebrate the one and only Ms. Chayla Gibson!
Photo Courtesy of Melissa De Mata
Chayla has been instrumental in the opening of two community based charter schools in her community. Among so many other selfless acts of kindness and generosity, Chayla attends hearings on behalf of these charter schools to fight for the student’s right to learn and grow despite their circumstances. Chayla’s mission to shift the experiences, expectations and outcomes for students in historically undeserved communities is a HUGE testament to her strength and determination to defend others in need.
Don’t you just want to give her a hug?
I know.. Us too. So we did! Plus a day of pampering and a full styling makeover, clothing from Taylor Jay in Oakland, a photo session, goodie bags and unbeknownst to her-- a scholarship from Sol Sisters Inc. To surprise Chayla with her scholarship, we invited all of her closest family and friends to surprise her and celebrate her upon her reveal. Want to see how it all went down? Check out the video below!
Videography by Khoi Ly
To Ms. Chayla Gibson, you are extraordinary. You are SO deserving of this honor and I cannot wait to witness what you conquer next.
If Fenty’s goal was to make all of us broke by the holidays, I’m positive they’ve succeeded— and I’m here for it. The first drop for Fenty beauty focused primarily on skin, with natural finishes and splashes of fun colors- it was a great way to introduce the consumers to Fenty's attention to detail and level of quality. However, we all asked— where’s the color? Where are the eyeshadows? Lipsticks? And like a tidal wave of glittery emotion, Fenty hit us with the Galaxy Collection. ALL OF THE COLORS. ALL OF THE TIME. And on top of that? Everything is made with/accented by glitter.
Well Fuck.
Just— take all my money please. Take it all, K thanks bye.
Everything we craved for Fenty’s first drop, is everything we get in the second drop— but with glitter. All the extraterrestrial, out of the this world, alien head-ass energy lives in this collection. Everything is superlit with shimmer and filled with vibrant colors! I snagged a few items from the collection, but from what I was able to pick up, I can tell you— this is a fun set. Let’s go:
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PACKAGING
I cannot get over the prismatic, jewel-like, chrome packaging for this entire collection. Every piece of this collection from the gloss tops, to the eyeshadow case is accented with this galaxy prism packaging. It’s Gorgeous!
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ECLIPSE 2-In-1 GLITTER RELEASE EYELINER
$20.00/each
Alien Bae - blue-black metallic / smoky navy glitter
Later, Crater - nude metallic / nude gold glitter
Nepturnt - green-black metallic / smoky emerald glitter
Fenty released 3 eyeliners in this collection, at first glance these eyeliners are seemingly standard with a muted shimmer finish. The brushes on the liners are smooth and pen-like, making it easy to apply which is always a plus. However, while these eyeliners all have a metallic matte finish— once the eyeliner has dried, you can buff out the top coating of the liner to expose it's glittery base! This is the most fun you'll ever have with eyeliner, you can keep the liners matte, or you can accent your eyes with its illuminating shimmer. My personal fave? Later, Crater. Later, Crater is a nude metallic eyeliner, that buffs out as a gold glitter with hints of pink, the color is so unique and finishes beautifully. These eyeliners encourage the consumer to be more playful with color and glitter eyeliner, especially if you’re not comfortable with a lot of glitter, these liners are fun to try. 10/10! Check out my before and after swatches below.
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COSMIC LIP GLOSS
$19.00/each
Gal On The Moon - holographic pink orchid shade
Spacesuit - glittering peach
Plutonic Relationship - holographic hot pink
Astro-naughty - a glittering garnet
Fenty released 4 lip glosses int his collection, and while I didn’t pick up all 4 colors, I swatched a few in store and loved the holographic nature of each gloss. These glosses have a shimmery, pearl finish and look incredible! In comparison to the Gloss Bomb from the first drop, these glosses are thicker in consistency and feel just a tad stickier. Although after a minute or two the glosses settled into my lips and felt weightless. 9/10, check out my swatch attempt here:
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GALAXY EYESHADOW PALETTE
$59.00
Xtra Terrestrial - smoky moss with iridescent green
Lightyear - smoky charcoal with gold glitter
Planet Ex - smoky brown with iridescent glitter
Oh-Zone - sheer platinum glitter
Ultraviolit - smoky violet with iridescent glitter
Sublime - sheer mint and gold glitter
Milky Way - ivory with iridescent glitter
Cosmic Ocean - sheer aqua glitter
Meteor Crush - sheer pink and gold glitter
Jupiter Sand - smoky chocolate with iridescent purple
Mars On Fire - sheer copper rose glitter
Midnight Bolt - true blue with superfine glitter
Space Owt - smoky grape with holographic blue
Sunburst - amber with gold glitter)
The piece de resistance.. the Galaxy eyeshadow palette. There’s so much glitter up in this bitch, you don’t even know what to do with them all. Every color in this palette has a hyper reflective sparkle on top of 14 fun colors. There aren’t any transition colors, satins or Frosts, this palette is a Lisa Frank explosion for your face, all glitter, all the time. When I used this palette for a look, it took every being in my body not to put all the colors on my face at once (True Story).
Color payoff, AMAZING. Photos do not do these shadows justice because the sparkle on these glitters are literally out of this world. There are more colors that are pigmented enough that they can be worn on their own, and there are a few shadows that are more sheer and can be used as a glitter topper. Each shadow is meant to give off a 3-D effect and whether you want to go with a shiny smokey eye or a shimmery neutral, this color palette has everything you need. The MVP’s in this palette for me are Light Year, Jupiter Sand and Space Owt. You know a glitter eyeshadow is worth its weight in gold when the darker colors hold on to its shimmer after application. Most dark glitters fall out and leave the base color on your lid after an hour or so, these glitters stay put and shine for hours.
In terms of the performance of these shadows, you have to think about each shadow as a pressed pigment. Each color is lustrous with an extremely sparkly finish, that means there will be fall out. There will be lots and LOTS of fall out. When doing your makeup with this palette, I suggest applying eyes first, then skin last. The Galaxy palette is not for everyday use, this palette is not for 'no makeup' makeup days, or for subtle glam. This palette is for every opportunity when you want to stand out in the crowd and shine like the God/Goddess that you are. For this palette, I give it 9/10.
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OVERALL REVIEW
The Galaxy collection is purposefully colorful, playful and bright. This collection encourages the consumer to have more fun with their makeup, it presents itself with an all or nothing attitude, just like Madam Riri herself. The eyeliners are unique to the makeup market and thats hard to do now a days, so the liners (to me) are the highlight of the collection and are worth picking up. The glosses are beautiful and fun, but I’m not sure that they are a must have. The eyeshadows are FUN, and if you envision yourself using glitter eyeshadows all the time, you’ll never need buy any other glitter shadow for the rest of your life. For me, as a bridal makeup artist— this palette would not come in handy for most brides, but it would come in handy for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. For convenience sake, this is not a good palette to tote around as there is no variety in shadow finishes so it does have its down sides if you only want to use one or two colors out of the 14 shades.
In true Fenty fashion, the collection was created with all people of color in mind. For example, the eyeshadow palette does not include transition shades because transition shades vary per skin tone and that would limit who could purchase the product. The colors chosen in this collection are intentional and inclusive and true of Fenty Beauty’s mission statement, “Beauty for All”.
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GLAM SHOTS
PRODUCTS USED
Face
Foundation - Fenty Pro Filtr Foundation in 310
Concealer - Cover FX pro concealer in Medium
Contour - Fenty Match Stix in Truffle
Blush - Milani baked blush in Luminouso
Lips
Dose of Colors Lipstick - Poise
Fenty Cosmic Lipgloss - Spacesuit
Eyes (Left Photo)
Fenty Galaxy eyeshadows - Ultraviolet, Mars of Fire, Cosmic Ocean, Sublime
Inglot liquid eyeliner
Eyes (Right Photo)
MAC eyeshadows - Carbon, texture, soft brown
Fenty Eclipse Eyeliner - Later, Crater
Photo courtesy of: Fenty Beauty
A few years ago we all heard that Rihanna signed with a beauty agency to create her own line of beauty products. Knowing all things Rhianna, we all knew she wasn’t going to release anything less than excellence.
Ms. Robyn Rihanna Fenty snatched our scalps when she released “Fenty Beauty”, boasting 40 foundations shades, F-O-R-T-Y-F-U-C-K-I-N-G-S-H-A-D-E-S OF FOUNDATION. She thought of every undertone for every single person: fair, medium, warm, tan, deep, pink, red, yellow, green and blue! Along with the very INCLUSIVE range of foundations, Riri released a collection of Match Stix: stick concealer, contour shades, highlights and blushes. She also released powder highlights, mattifying blotting powders, blotting sheets, a lip gloss and brushes. UGH—this woman makes me sick, she’s so perfect.
I wasn’t able to purchase everything in the collection but I was able to snag a few things:
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Pro Filt’r Foundation
($34.00)
Shade in 310
The first thing that came to mind with this collection was that Rihanna really focused on skin. She wanted to set the foundation (no pun intended) for the rest of her line to flourish. However, even with 40 foundation shades, the journey to finding the ‘right’ shade is still a challenging one. The Pro Filt’r Foundations oxidize after your first application, this means that once the foundation formula is combined with oxygen, the color deepens a shade darker. So, to test out a color that “matches” your skin tone takes trial and error. I purchased: 310, 330 & 340 hoping to find a shade that matched my undertone, and after color testing-- 310 seemed to be the shade that settled into my skin the most naturally.
This foundation is medium to buildable coverage and finishes demi matte which gives your skin a shine free finish without looking cakey. As per the product description, “The oil-free formula is made with climate-adaptive technology that’s resistant to sweat and humidity, and won’t clog pores so that wherever you are, it’s going to work on your skin.” For someone like me with oily/combination skin—a demi matte is a heaven send. After a full day of testing the foundation, my makeup didn't melt off and still felt comfortable on my skin without flaking (Hallelujah!). I’ve been wearing this foundation a few days in a row and it’s climbing to the top of my most used foundation list. 10/10 for everyday foundation.
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Match Stix
($25.00)
Fenty came out with 10 Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks and 20 Match Stix Matte Skinstix that all magnetize together so you can mix and match or purchase a trio without losing track of the product. The shimmer skinstix are meant to be used as highlight sticks and/or blush sticks. The matte matchstix are meant for concealing and contouring. Both Match Stix are a cream to powder finish, creamy, blendable and meant for all skin types. I purchased one of each Match stick: Chili Mango, Rum, Sand and Truffle. My favorite? Hands down, Chili Mango cream blush. This color is amazing on tan skin tones and is subtle while still giving off a beautiful bright finish. My vote: 10/10
Now for the contour and concealer sticks. So. Great color payoff, creamy and blendable. The concealer stick isn’t the smoothest under the eye area, when I tried to use the concealer stick under my waterline, it tug my skin a lot and that's a big no-no for me unfortunately. I still personally suggest using a liquid concealer for your under eye, but for your forehead, nose and chin, the stick works fine. The cream contour in “Truffle” was a great shade for me, the cream blended out fine while using a beauty blender and I can foresee using this stick for special occasions. If you’re a fan of cream contouring, the stick is easy to use. My vote: 7/10
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Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
($34.00)
Other than the 40 foundation shades, everyone talked about these highlighters! The most talked about highlight was Trophy Wife which is an electric gold highlight and is super editorial. While I thought Trophy Wife was incredible, I purchased the shimmer duo in Mean Money & Hu$tla Baby. Mean Money is a soft champagne sheen and Hu$tla Baby is supercharged champagne shimmer. A lot of people were underwhelmed with the light sheen on Mean Money but I actually love it. It’s more of a soft-focus powder vs a highlight, but I thoroughly enjoy Mean Money for a soft filtered glow. If you need a highlight that shines bright like a diamond (I’m killing it with the puns today) Hu$tla Baby is the color you want. It’s luminizing but at the same time provides you with a dewey glow. 9/10
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Gloss Bomb Universal Lip
($18.00)
I was surprised that Fenty only released one lip product. Although looking back on the entire collection, because every product was focused on skin—this gloss bomb was perfect. And as you can imagine with the word “Bomb” in it’s name, this gloss is ridiculously shimmery, glossy and soft with a rose nude tint. This gloss is not sticky, it glides on smooth and it smells like sweet tarts! The smell so sweet and sugary it’s almost like you have a pixie stick lip gloss, it’s the best! 10/10
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OVERALL REVIEW
My favorite items from the collection are hands down the foundation, the blush stick and the highlighters. If you have oily/combination skin like me, the journey to find the right foundation shade is worth the effort. The Killawatt highlighters are fun, bright and give you a natural glow without any chunky fall out. I was disappointed with the matte match stix, and I really really wanted to like them. I’ve never been a big fan of stick concealers or cream contouring (yes, i know i'm a hater) so I am aware that my rating is biased based on my own preferences.
Otherwise, I loved everything I picked up in the collection. The color range is noteworthy because beauty brands very rarely create collections with all people of color in mind. Fenty has a foundation with no pigment for people with albinism all the way to a set of foundations for deep shades for red, neutral and cool undertones. It’s incredible, inclusive and well intended for women to look and feel confident in their own skin. Well done Fenty.. Well done.
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GLAM SHOTS
Products Used
Foundation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Foundation in 310
Cream Contour: Fenty Matte Match Stix in Truffle
Cream Concealer: Fenty Matte Match stix in Sand
Cream Highlight: Fenty Shimmer Match Stix in Rum
Cream Blush: Fenty Shimmer Match Stix in Chili Mango
Powder Highlight: Fenty Killawatt highlighter in Hu$tla Baby
Eye Makeup:
Eyeshadow: Dose of Colors Turbosan
Lipstick: Dose of Colors Saváge
Hi, yes. Hello. I’m back..
And not only am I back. I have the Dose of Colors DesixKaty collaboration ready for you along with makeup looks.. See, I’m a good blogger right?
Don’t answer that.
If you’re an avid makeup junkie or beauty enthusiast, you’ve likely heard of this thing called YouTube. It’s an incredible platform where you can stream videos of almost ANYTHING. Want to learn how to contour? YouTube. Want to learn how to apply false lashes? YouTube. Want to watch a 10-minute video of kittens sleeping? YouTube.
Two of my favorite makeup guru’s on YouTube who happen to be besties are Desi Perkins and Katy Degroot (Lustrelux). I've been watching Katy on YouTube way back when she lived in Oakland YEARS ago. She (I think) is my twin soul, so when she befriended Desi Perkins (who is my skin tone twin) I was delighted by their constant interaction. But when they both collaborated with DOSE OF COLORS….
I lost my mind.
After locking myself in a room for their first drop, I was able to purchase most of the set. The only problem I had, was that DOC took almost a month to ship the entire collection to me. I get it—Mercury was in retrograde, orders were lost and items were back ordered, but it was frustrating. Either way, after a painful 3+ weeks of waiting I finally received my package.
Now here we are, ready to blog, review and swatch, just in time for their re-stock on Sunday, September 24th.. Ladies and gentlemen, The DesixKaty collaboration:
Everything about this collection is Fire. From the packaging all the way to the products themselves, this collection is incredible. So let’s get started:
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“THE GIRLS”
An eyeshadow quad with 4 luxuriously shimmery colors, all named after their dogs (Naturally). ($28.00)
SUZ- crisp bright champagne shade. A super creamy texture that is formulated to be used WET. One drop of water on your finger is all you need.
HARPOON- A cool tone green base with green and gold reflects. This unique shade is formulated to be used WET.
TURBOSAN- Start sparkling with this ultra-luxe shadow that is packed with shimmering reflects. For intense color payoff and a glistening finish, apply with finger.
NOLI- A sultry bronze shade thats infused with gold reflects. This perfect bronze shade is a powerfully pigmented formula that glides onto the lids for a silky-smooth finish.
L-R: Suz, Noli, Turbosan, Harpoon
REVIEW: The only thing that is inconvenient about this quad is that you’re going to get the best color payoff when using your finger to apply, wet or dry. There are a number of factors that will affect your eyeshadow application: long nails, little eyeshadow experience and Cheetos. Not everyone will have the experience to apply these shadows onto their eyelid correctly using just their fingers. So, there will be a learning curve involved for some users. Also, if you’re not careful, any eyeshadow left over on your finger can possibly interfere with the rest of your makeup application, so please be careful! Otherwise—these colors are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and perfect for a glamorous night out.
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“FUEGO” and “MIRAME”
‘My highlight brings all the boys to the yard - And my light is better than yours- and they’re like - It’s better than yours - I can teach you - but I have to charge’ ($28.00 per highlighter)
FUEGO – Light Champagne Gold
MIRAME – Rose Gold
L-R: Fuego, Mirame
REVIEW: These ladies brought some serious GLOW to this collection. I’ve layered these highlighters together and separately, and both colors are soft, gentle but with a nice BLINDING effect. With one layer, you can achieve a healthy glow without looking oily. Or you can layer the highlight over and over again for a wet look. 10/10 if you have to pick one product from the collection, I recommend the highlighters.
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“NO SHADE” and “MORE CREAMER PLEASE”
Lipsticks with a Creamy/Matte finish ($16.00 per lipstick)
NO SHADE – Light peachy nude
MORE CREAMER PLEASE – Deep nude with a brown/peach undertone
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“HOT FIRE”, “SAVAGE” LIQUID LIPSTICK & “OVER THE TOP” GLOSS
Liquid lipstick with a velvet matte finish that glides on smoothly and stays put throughout the day. ($18.00/liquid lipstick & $15.00/gloss)
HOT FIRE – Fiery Orange Red
SAVÁGE – Rich Black based Burgundy
OVER THE TOP – A mega-shine clear gloss infused with reflective gold reflects
Considering that Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks are my favorite formula, I knew from the bottom of my heart that these liquid lipsticks were going to be amazing.
L-R: No Shade, More Creamer Please, Hot Fire, Saváge
REVIEW:
Now, as a tanned lady myself—I have a hard time finding a few things: the right foundation color match, the right concealer color and the perfect nude lipstick. And then I met “More creamer please”.. I found my soul mate! Not only do these lipsticks feel creamy, they finish creamy. More Creamer Please is on the warm peachy side and is the truest nude I've ever worn. I’ve always had a hard time with nudes because I’ve always had to mix lip liners and lipsticks for the perfect color, until now. I’m so happy that this collection includes a deeper nude for the ladies blessed with melanin.
No Shade is a little bit too light for me, but I can see this being absolutely perfect for people with lighter skin tones. It's beautiful!
Hot Fire is just a bit too neon for my skin tone, so I do have to line my lips with a blue based red to keep my skin from looking too tan. But I do love the color, and I'm excited to add this color to my kit, it’s bright and playful for any night out.
Now Saváge is definitely not for the weak. If you want an ox blood, dramatic lip color, please.. Be a savage and go with Saváge for the night, you'll definitely turn some heads.
Over the Top is the most beautiful shimmery golden lip gloss. It looks really glittery in the tube but It’ll leave your lips looking juicy and fresh with a soft honey-like tint.
OVERALL REVIEW:
Buy this collection.. Or If you’re interested in one or two of the products in the set, I say just go for it. I promise, you will not be disappointed. The collection compliments a wide range of skin tones and use high quality ingredients. Almost all products in the collection are vegan and ALL products are cruelty free. But don't be a slacker and wait. Pick up the collection on the Dose of Colors website, or at Naimies online when they restock on Sunday, September 24th.
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GLAM SHOTS
PRODUCTS USED:
Eyes:
Noli, Suz, MAC: Soft Brown & Texture
Foundation:
Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation in 310
Lips:
More Creamer Please & Over the Top gloss
Highlight:
Mirame & Fuego layered on top of eachother
Contour:
ABH – Tan contour kit
Lashes:
House of Lashes – Boudoir
Every year I look forward to attending the International Makeup Artists Trade Show in Pasadena. This is an amazing opportunity for beauty enthusiasts and makeup artists to bond over contour, highlight and all things beauty related.
Other than the beauty sales, I love walking around and watching students from the makeup schools create monsters and show off their AMAZING skills. I have an obsession with these monsters, every year I try to take pictures of the creations. Mainly because I admire the skill set and when I first started out in the makeup business I wanted to focus on special effects makeup. So I truly love and appreciate the hard work and talent that these students bring to every show. Below are a few photos from the trade show.
Also—Do you people know about Sir John? Sir John is Beyonce’s makeup artist… Need I say more? On top of the shopping and creations, IMATS provides classes and seminars to members who want to learn more about the industry or about makeup tricks in general. I picked up a few things from Sir John that I will take with me and to all my clients in the future. I CAN’T WAIT!
Below is a picture of me and my cousin (and fellow makeup artist) Adrianne whom I attend IMATS with each year. For a product breakdown of my makeup, I've listed it below.
Product Breakdown:
Foundation: NARS All day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Syracuse
Concealer: NARS radiant creamy concealer in Ginger mixed with Cover FX cream concealer in N-Medium
Spot Concealer: MAC Studio Finish concealer in NC42
Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent loose setting powder mixed with little Ben Nye Banana powder
Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Radiant Light
Contour: Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour palette in Medium to Tan, The Balm - Bahama Mama Bronzer
Blush: Milani Luminoso blush mixed with NYX Foreplay baked blush
Highlight: Anastasia Beverly Hills, Peach Nectar mixed with Becca Prosecco Pop
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay: Burnout, Buzz and Dust, MAC: Soft Brown, Brun and Samoa Silk
Liner: Tarte Tartist liquid eyeliner
Lashes: House of Lashes – Featherette
Mascara: Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir
Brows: Benefit Brows in #4, Colourpop brow pencil in Dope Taupe
Lips: Dose of Colors: a mix of Poise and Soft Touch with MAC Springbean lipgloss (Oldie but goodie)
Ok so onto the Haul. I bought a lot of refills for my kit so a lot of my purchases are for my kit—and as exciting as those are, I still had a handful of things that I am currently obsessed with.
LASHES:
Don’t let the small set of lashes in the photo fool you, I purchased maybe 20 pairs of lashes from House of Lashes, 15 pairs from Koko Lashes and another 10-15 from Frends Lashes. With as many weddings that I’ve been working on, these lashes will last me until July lol.
BRUSHES:
SMITH BRUSHES.. Ladies, can we get into formation real quick? Can WE?! I deem these brushes my 2017 pick for #newbae. I purchased the 230, 232, 235 & 253 brushes. And Oh My Goodness these brushes feel and deposit pigment like room temperature BUTTER. Don’t sleep on it pls.
Beauty Blender: I have 2 beauty blenders in my kit—and what’s odd is that I realized that I needed 2-3 more beauty blenders because eventually these beauty blenders lose their density and sometimes when you’re working with 2+ people on a tight timeline, you need more than 2 beauty blenders. Also, Beauty Blender came out with a blender cleanser solid PRO in 5.3 oz. This. Is. Everything. It’s an extra-large solid that will last me all year, because if I have 6 beauty blenders—I will need a cleanser 6x the original size (Thank you Beauty Blender—you really know your audience).
Silicone foundation blender: On social media people have been loving this silicone foundation blender—I haven’t used it yet, but I will let you all know how it works haha.
LIPSTICKS:
Jeffree Star: So there being a Jeffree Star booth with Beautylish was a surprise to me. And when I found out—I almost cried because Jeffree Star and Dose of Colors are my two favorite foundation formulas. This meant that all my liquid lipstick dreams would come true J I picked up: Leo, Deceased & Pussy Whipped.. EEEE!!!!
Dose of Colors: This booth was the first booth I stayed in line for and I replenished a lot of my colors, but the BEST nude on me, is Dose Poise. And I have maybe—3 of them? I purchased one more because I would DIE if they ever discontinued that color. DIE. And then I purchased Supernatural, Bellini and Undressed as new colors. As a side note, I purchased the Gold is the new Black highlighter and it’s beautiful for my skin tone! It’s now one of my personal favies
Z Palettes:
I purchased two z-palettes mainly for my bronzers and blushes—now I can organize more of my palettes and shadows.
Face Masks:
Now this was new—but I’ve never seen more sheet masks for sale at IMATS. I know that this is a new trend, but I am very happy that they were available. For my brides I like to put a hydrating or brightening sheet mask on their skin before I apply their makeup. #Clutchtastic
BROWS:
Chella Brows – I purchased 2 colors of the Chella brow pencils—their formula seems less waxy and pigmented enough where I can get that perfect gray shade to my brows.
INGLOT:
Inglot has (in my opinion) hands down the best liquid eyeliners in the game. So I replenished 2 of my liquid liners and I can rest assured that I will won’t be out of product by the end of the summer.
Moisturizer & Setting Spray:
2 staples I have in my makeup kit: Embryolisse Lait Crème and Cinema Secrets setting spray. My two favorite things that I cannot live without.
LIGHTING:
So now—THIS is why I came to IMATS. I needed a portable lighting system that was easy to carry, high quality and came with warm and cool lights. In walks GLAMCOR. The Glamcor lighting system provides you with both warm and cool LED lights to support all your lighting needs. I’ve used this in a few of my gigs—and Holy Hell has it changed the world I live in. Lighting is better, makeup application is better and my clients feel special and SLAYED when taking selfies. This purchase was definitely my most expensive, but also worth Every. Single. GATDAMN penny.
End Note:
I truly enjoy attending IMATS every year. I'm surrounded by my peers who love and admire all things beauty related. Every year I go, I fall deeper and deeper in love with the industry and cannot wait for the next 12 months to pass by so I can do it all over again.
Photo from my trip to Bora Bora when my skin was clear and my metabolism was fast ;)
It’s been such a long time since I’ve made a post, and I figured I should start the new year with something that’s been top of mind for the past few months: SKIN!
As some of you know, I’ve had psoriasis since I was 8 years old and I feel as though I’ve been on a roller coaster ride with my skin for a majority of my life, especially the past few years. For those of you who don’t know what psoriasis is, it’s a persistent autoimmune disease where your skin cells multiply 10x faster and causes new cell growth that produces raised scales on your skin.
Sexy right?
I know, it’s a real buzzkill when crop tops are in style but the only thing you can wear is a turtle neck..
With this most recent outbreak, my typical routine of oatmeal soap, Clobetasol, Cetaphil and phototherapy wasn’t working. This HAD to happen during the winter time so my skin was already dry from the weather. To prep you, this blog is about healing and MOISTURIZING! There will be a ton of steps listed below, and they've all worked for me. So basically yes, I baste myself in creams and oils to the point where I look like a glazed donut before I go to bed. #Moisture
So now onto the blog, below I’ve listed a few of the steps I made to help heal and calm my skin from the inside out.
Meditation:
For me, a lot of my psoriasis stems from an accumulation of stress so meditating has helped me to block out the drama and pressure from my everyday life. Because I know stress is a trigger, I have to do the work within myself and my mind first before any of the below steps can take an effect on my skin.
Diet:
90% Plant based diet – Avoiding carbs and sugars is good for your (body, mind and) skin, so incorporating more greens into your diet will help to decrease inflammation.
*As an advocate for burgers and lemon pepper wings, this was the hardest change I had to make.
Fish oil pills/Coconut oil Pills – Fish oils contain Omega 3 Fatty Acids that help reduce inflammation, anxiety and stress. Coconut oils provide moisture to your hair, skin and nails, which is really good as dry skin irritates psoriasis.
Cleansers/Soaps:
African Black Bar Soap (Major Key)
Important Ingredients:
Aloe Vera - moisturizes and calms dry sensitive skin
Lemon Balm - cleanses skin while preventing moisture loss. (And is a good source of antioxidants)
Sea Wrack - a mineral-rich soothing ingredient. Improves skin conditions like psoriasis.
Gotu Kola - helps promotes skin repair and renewal
*I purchased the black bar soap from the local beauty store for $3.99. But for more convenience I purchased the Shea Moisture liquid body wash, and while I don’t think it’s as strong as the bar of soap, it still provides healing and soothing to my skin.
Because I underwent a month and a half of phototherapy, I have a significant amount of dead skin from all the burning. So to help heal and refresh my skin, I purchased the Shea Moisture Hand and Body Scrub with Coconut Oil and Hibiscus. Below are ingredients that help the skin's surface:
Coconut Oil - Nourishes and helps firm skin with Vitamins E and K, iron and fatty acids
Hibiscus Flower - This natural emollient treats dry, rough skin and helps improve skin tone
Vitamin E - A powerful antioxidant highly effective in protecting skin from free radical damage
Moisturizer:
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream – When you have sensitive skin, you have to avoid moisturizers that contain perfumes, fragrances, alcohol & lanolin. The Cetaphil cream is ideal for the dry patches of skin or psoriasis spots to keep the moisture in.
Medicine:
So yes, I do take a pill to supplement my daily routine. I am currently on a low dose of Methotrexate and while it is a very strong medicine-- it HAS to be prescribed to you by a dermatologist who has diagnosed you with severe psoriasis. And I can tell you first hand, that It SUCKS. You're nauseous, you're tired and you crave meat and carbs (See: Diet portion). but I know it's beneficial for my skin-- so until I find a better alternative, I will continue to crave tacos while scarfing down carrots.
So to summarize: moisture, Moisture, Meditation & MOISTURE! Everyone's skin is different, so everyone's trigger for this disease is different, but to better your skin you have to make a lifestyle change. You can adjust the routine based on the severity, but this routine has helped me cope in a world filled with backless bodysuits and crop tops.
I have been WAITING for this palette. Like ~ W A I T I N G G G G ~ for this palette to come out. Makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic is famously known for his work with Kim Kardashian and the Kardashian family, but he’s also worked with classic beauties like Chanel Iman, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Bosworth, Gabrielle Union, Kelly Ripa and Jourdan Dunn to name a few. With his undeniable talent and ability to SLAYYYYY, it was obvious that Mario’s next steps would be to build his own brand with a beauty product. And if you follow Mario on his social media channels (Like I do) you know that he has a longstanding personal and professional relationship with Anastasia Soare, so when Mario hinted at a collaboration, it was only natural that Anastasia Beverly Hills be the brand platform.
I woke up early AF to put in my order for 2 palettes. Thank goodness because (as I predicted) the palette sold out in a matter of hours. And on the glorious day when that blessed package came to my office, my heart was beating with excitement as I jumped up and down screaming “It’s here!! ITS HEEEEEERRRE!!". My male colleagues who do NOT understand my infatuation with makeup were concerned for my health and mental state due to the box of “powders” at my desk….. *eyeroll* boys smh…
Ugh, Its just SO pretty! Isn’t is pretty??? Just look at it! I was too scared to touch it— does that happen to anyone else? When I buy makeup, sometimes I have this fear that I’m going to ruin it by touching it. I’ll sit on my bed and stare at my makeup for an eternity hoping it will tell me its secrets…Is that not okay?
Alright so here goes my review:
PACKAGING:
Like most Anastasia palettes I own, the eyeshadows are in a cardboard case with a mirrored cover that flips all the way around so the palette can sit flat on the table. As a makeup artist and lover of organization, can I tell you how MF CLUTCH this is? The only time I take out a palette that doesn’t sit flat is if it includes a powder that is detrimental to the process, and/or if the case is too hard to break apart. Otherwise, I depot you and put you in a Z-Palette with the rest of my friends.
COLOR:
This palette comes with 12 neutral shades combined with a range of jewel tones in both matte and metallic finishes:
Hollywood (metallic wheat gold with a satin finish)
NYC (rich chocolate brown with a satin finish)
Kim (tan with a satin finish)
Muse (rose gold with a satin finish)
Marina (champagne with a metallic finish)
Claudia (slate with a velvet finish)
Lula (soft taupe with an ultra-matte finish)
Isabel (burnt orange with an ultra-matte finish)
Violeta (dark chocolate with an ultra-matte finish)
5th Ave (gold leaf with a metallic finish)
Bronx (metallic olive with a satin finish)
Paris (gilded brown with a satin finish)
SWATCHES:
FORMULA:
Soft, pigmented and SO pretty! Most ABH eyeshadows are soft and pigmented so this palette has the same quality in powders. But because the powders are so soft and luxurious, you have to be careful of fallout during the application process (Press, press, press and tap tap if you know what I'm sayin'). Otherwise, you can apply these eyeshadows dry or wet and still get the same quality pigment.
LONGEVITY:
When prepped and primed well, the eyeshadows last a strong 6-8 hours without fading. Especially when foiling your shadows with the shimmers and Metallics, the pigment stays pretty true to color for hours. Check out this glowy look I did on my friend and fellow MUA Maria using: Hollywood, Lula, Isabel, Violeta & Kim.
OVERALL REVIEW:
I am a FAN.. The colors in his palette work well with most skin tones— there's so much variety in terms of color and texture and it’s just PRETTY! It’s so GATDAMN pretty! And at $45.00 a palette, sold at AnastasiaBeverlyHills.com, Sephora and Ulta— this palette is a must have and will be a staple for your kit.
Photo courtesy of: Hourglass.com
There's something so satisfying about purchasing a new foundation, especially when you’ve found a color that matches well and provides amazing coverage. Hourglass released their new Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation sticks, and while there are a ton of new foundation sticks on the market, I was particularly interested in the Hourglass foundation stick because:
As a naturally tanned goddess, I have a hard time finding colors that match my skin tone perfectly. With 28 shades to choose from I was excited to pick out my new best friend. I want to commend companies like Hourglass and Cover FX (another classic fave) for catering to multiple skin tones while still providing maximum quality.
PACKAGING:
Can we say sleek? This chocolate brown casing is sturdy, sleek and built in a triangle tube to provide a comfortable grip and easy application. The foundation itself was also in a triangular formation, and while that’s different compared to the other foundation sticks in the market, it made the application process precise, fairly simple and hassle free. Plus it’s easy to throw in your bag and good when you need to apply foundation on the go.
COLOR:
I matched with Golden Amber.. I know I’m a tan goddess, but HOT DAMN did I get dark over the summer. Golden Amber is a bit darker than I usually go, but the medium deep color with a neutral undertone fit my skin tone perfectly so I was juiced.
SWATCH:
Not my best swatch, but with a slight hand (and in one swipe) I was able to produce full coverage. So. Much. Pigment. sooooo. muuuuuuuch. PIGMENNNTTT!!!
FORMULA:
Don’t say I didn’t warn you :) The foundation is FULL COVERAGE! You can dilute the product with a face oil or moisturizer, but stick to skin, this foundation is THICKY THICK. This stick is meant to be a foundation and concealer all in one, so the formula is infused with double the pigment for instant coverage.
LONGEVITY:
This product is long-wearing and waterproof, it provides 12 hour lasting power for special occasions where you need all day full coverage. The innovative formula adjusts to your body temperature to blend into the skin effortlessly. I wore this foundation to the Beyonce concert (I danced HARD ya'll) and an outdoor wedding in 80 degree heat and it didn’t smudge, or melt off. Can we say Impressive?
OVERALL REVIEW:
Will I buy more? Yes. Will I buy again? Yes. While pricey at a smooth $46.00 a stick, you could purchase multiple colors and use the sticks for contour and highlight. Otherwise, buying this foundation for full coverage is well worth the price tag.
As a freelancer, when you work in the beauty industry, a lot of your off time is spent perfecting your craft, learning new makeup techniques and adding to your skill set as an artist. We all know that our role with our clients is to enhance their natural beauty and not mask it. But we also all know that the concept of, "beauty" is subjective to each individual person. What we think is beautiful and glamorous, might not be the same for our clients. In this context, it is important to remember as a makeup artist that communication and concept accept are two aspects you should be VERY clear about when working with your client.
For the first time in all my years as a makeup artist, I had to break up with a client. This may be second nature to some, but for me I had a heart wrenching time communicating to this, amazing woman that our styles and vision were not the same. And while I made sure to do everything in my artistic ability to provide maximum glam while sticking to her vision, it was very clear that the love connection was simply not there. And as much as we both worked to make this relationship work, sometimes you can’t force something that wasn’t meant to be.
Did this experience make me feel inadequate? Yes. Did this experience make me feel as though I was not a talented? Yes. Were any of those doubts true? No. Absolutely not! But in the world of artistry and expression, your heart sinks a little when no one catches the punch line.
The artist/client relationship needs to be a transparent and honest partnership, and while you are building your brand as an artist, it is important you are also, committed to making your client happy. But you have to be Okay when it doesn’t work out.
The same can be said in the reverse. You’re not going to book all the gigs you trial in for, sometimes you are going to make mistakes and sometimes you’re not on your A game. But accepting the feedback and working on your craft is important to building your skill set.
For all the highlight obsessed makeup junkies out there, you must have known about the Jaclyn Hill & Becca Champagne Collection. I hopped on the website a few weeks ago and I am SO happy that I scooped a palette, because the Champagne Collection Face Palette sold out FAST.
On the heels of Jaclyn Hill's Champagne Pop highlighter in collaboration with Becca Cosmetics, Jaclyn Hill's next product was not only a new highlighter (because we were all expecting one new highlighter) but a FACE PALETTE, including Champagne Pop, her new highlighter Prosecco Pop and 3 mineral and luminous blushes! This b*tch came prepared to slay the makeup game.. And I'm not mad ;)
PACKAGING:
The packaging came in a sturdy gold and white plastic case, that seemed to protect the powders well. The top half of the palette is a large mirror which is perfect for when you travel and/or are applying your makeup on the go. The palette is a bit thick, but OH so pretty!!
COLORS:
Highlighters:
Champagne POP - Soft white gold with pink/peachy luminous shimmer
Prosecco POP - Wark golden luminous shimmer
Blushes:
Rose Spritz - Luminous blush, Soft peachy pink with pale gold shimmer
Amaretto - Mineral blush, Matte toasted almond blush/bronzer
Pamplemousse - Mineral blush, Matte warm coral pink
LONGEVITY:
I've used this palette on myself as well as my clients, and I will tell you that this GLEAM that radiates from your face lasts hours and all throughout the night. I've used Prosecco pop on a bride who had a candle lit wedding and her highlight was on display from miles away. Well, maybe not miles, but from the back of the room :)
SWATCHES:
L-R: Champagne pop, Prosecco pop, Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse
OVERALL:
Overall, how can you NOT love this palette?! All the blushes and highlighters are high quality and extremely luminous! You can mix and match with all the colors to create something fun for all skin types. Hop on it and I promise you won't regret it.
I had the honor of working with Jenny and the shelovesdresses.com team to provide makeup for their beautiful Magic and Mischief collection. The Shelovesdresses philosophy is to embrace fashion for all women of color. The dresses are beautifully designed and super fun and flirty!
I was able to work with 4 beautiful models for this shoot. Every single woman I worked with was amazing and filled with positive spirit, so I was happy to be a part of the process :)
Model 1: Hannah @theroadtohannah
Model 2: Anisa @bbyhurricane
Model 3: Michelle @MichelleZaw
Model 4: Sitalbanat @smuktari
Check out www.shelovesdresses.com for more dresses and looks!
Its that time of the year again, Weddings, Proms, (Insert life event here) Showers, Fundraising events, etc.. Basically anytime you'll need a full face of glam, and a bottle full of wine at your fingertips. DOSE of colors recently released an eyeshadow palette called 'Hidden Treasures'. Where you can find natural jewel toned eyeshadow colors for your everyday glamour session.
PACKAGING:
Look at that Beaut! The packaging is designed to look as though you've opened up a treasure chest and found 10 metallic and matte gems to cover your eye sockets for a night out on the town.
LONGEVITY:
I recently used a few colors from this palette on a bride and
1- the colors are PIGMENTED AF!
2- With a primer or concealer to lock the color onto your skin, the colors stay on for a really long time. My Bride had her makeup on starting at noon and had a full face of makeup for a good 8 hours before fading.
COLORS:
Pearl – Off white Shimmer
Coin – Golden Metallic
Key – Brown Matte
Crown – Burnt copper – Metallic
Ruby – Deep red – Metallic
Gemstone – Chamapagne – Metallic
ONYX – Black – Matte
Map – Mauve Matte
Locket – Tan/Beige Matte
Diamond – Nude/Pink Metallic
Check out my close ups so you can enjoy the colors in all its shimmery glory:
SWATCHES:
Jesus GAWD have you seen these swatches? HAVE YOU??? Check out my swatches below :) When I said these eyeshadows were pigmented, I was SO serious. These eyeshadows come off almost like a foil without having to use a wet brush. It's beautiful! After I swatched these shadows in the light, I turned up the Drake album, faked a few salsa moves and WAS. KILLIN EM!
TMI? Oh well, the colors are beautiful and made me a happy girl :)
PRICE:
$50.00. For 10 eyeshadows, that breaks down to $5.00/eyeshadow. And for colors this pigmented, the Hidden Treasures palette is a STEAL ON THE REAL.
OVERALL:
I have always been a fan of DOSE of colors, so I jumped at the chance to purchase this palette. The only Con that I have is the placement of the eyeshadows within the palette. I understand it's purpose and design, however-- because I am a freelance makeup artist, the placement gives my OCD a little kick in the ass. Most of my palettes are organized in a way that it's easier for me to look and pull a color for my client. With this palette it forces me to search for a color (in my head) in an unorganized way. AGAIN, I am aware that my makeup problems are different from the average makeup enthusiast, but I thought I would voice my opinion here.
Overall if you like Metallics and need a little shimmer in your life, check this palette out, it's one not to miss!
Many women (like me) love the look of a good highlight, and many women (like me) love the look of radiant skin. Elcie Cosmetics, owned by the glamour goddess Lilit Caradanian created the Glow Enhancer dry oil right on the heels of their best selling Micro Silque Foundation (which I'm waiting for my new bottle to arrive). To satisfy the needs of women (like me) obsessed with glowing skin.
The Glow Enhancer is a lightweight dry face oil with a mixture of meadow foam, Jojoba and Rose Hip oils to lock in moisture, control excess oils from producing onto your skin and helps to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. To help with the glow, there's finely milled mica particles mixed into the oil to help provide a light reflecting base for your foundation.
I tried my best to capture the amount of shimmer that the oil leaves on your skin, you can literally see all the glitter specs in one drop. The oil is lightweight and while the mica particles are finely milled, when spreading the product onto your skin, you can somewhat feel the glitter specs. Nothing rough, but just enough so you know that it's present in the product.
Here I am trying to look casual and #deep while staring at a wall. Thank God for my colleague Anny whom i lured outside the building and forced to snap my photo in exchange for pack of gummy bears. Well worth it I'm sure :)
I personally saw a difference in my skin's appearance after applying the Glow Enhancer. My skin looked softer, my pores looked smaller and I exuded a glow so hard MF's want to fine me. Now onto the rest of my review.
Color
The oil has a champagne shimmer that is so hypnotizing I started at the bottle for a good 5 minutes before even trying it on. When you apply the drops of oil to your skin, the shimmer distributes onto your skin evenly and doesn't feel chunky.
Longevity
I wore the oil under my Giorgio Armani Maestro foundation for 10 hours. This is an enhancing product, so it helped to make my skin look radiant and smooth. I do have an oily t-zone, so by the end of the day my skin looked a little bit more shiny than usual, but my cheeks (which are usually dry) continued to look radiant and filled with glow.
Cons
I wore the glow oil with a tinted moisturizer the day before and for some reason I could see the glitter particles on my skin. I'm not sure if this was because I used more than two drops, or if it was because I did not use a medium to full coverage foundation. The shimmer was present through my tinted moisturizer and it did look a bit odd, but using a foundation with better coverage helped to really bring out the radiance.
Overall
If you love glowing skin, and want to exude radiance, this product is right for you. I think it's a great skin care product on its own for hair and body. I wouldn't necessarily leave it on my face without applying foundation, but I would leave it on my neck, shoulders or arms if I wanted a little bit more 'body glow'. I suggest using a medium to buildable coverage foundation to help the oils illuminate your skin.
Release Date
The Glow Enhancer launches on April 19th at 12:00pm on www.ElcieCosmectics.com for $48.00 per bottle.
Don't sleep on it.
For my annual girls trip, we decided to visit Spain and stop off in Morocco. While, i've been to Spain before (and Spain is ALWAYS a good time) I was UBER excited to visit Morocco. What some people don't know, is that I have a small obsession with the movie Aladdin and I took this opportunity to experience Arabian nights and Arabian days, where more often than not, are hotter than hot, in a lot of good waaaaaayyyyyssss!! :D I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in as much of the Moroccan culture that i possibly could in 6 days. My friends and I visited Casablanca, Marrakech and Essouira and i can officially say that I am in LOOOVE with Morocco <3
While in the souk in Marrakech, one of the Berber vendors offered my group a traditional Moroccan clay lipstick/lip tint. I. Was. Intrigued. The lipstick looked like the top of a clay pot, and when the vendor applied water to the base of the clay, the mixture of the clay and water produced lipstick. I thought this was fucking fascinating! So of course, the makeup nerd in me went ahead and researched Moroccan clay lipstick and heres what I found:
The red clay is made of red ochre terra-cotta mixed with a red vegetable dye. Some of the clay is blended with powdered poppy or rose petals mixed with a little wax, and can also contain henna. The Berber vendor called it “Aker" and it can be used as a lipstick, with the color varying between deep red and a dark fuchsia.
When touching the clay, the color does not bleed directly onto your hand, in order to release the color, you have to moisten the clay with Rose water or fix plus. The type of solution you use to release the color, correlates to the consistency of the lipstick. i tried vaseline for a lip tint and rose water for a lipstick. You can also use the clay pot as a blush, for a natural flush.
The one other beauty purchase I made was a Kohl Kajal eyeliner! Anyone who watched Sex and the City 2 the movie saw when Carri Bradshaw went to the souk and purchased shoes and a Kohl eyeliner. When i saw this i had to try it! This eyeliner is composed of Vegetable oil, beeswax, minerals and Ghee (all natural purified butter).
Although if i'm going to be honest, when i looked at the kohl eyeliner i thought 2 things:
1) How in the HECK do I apply this eyeliner without looking like i got into a fight with a bottle of charcoal?
2) Why does the product say "France" if its Moroccan?
Here are my answers:
1) After kicking it with my girl Google, i learned that you're supposed to swipe the liner flat on its side onto your eyelids, however i personally used the tip of the eyeliner and it worked fine. I imagine when the sharp tip rounds out, i can take an eyeliner brush and pull product directly from the Kohl.
2) Morocco was colonized by France in the early 1900's and explains why most Berber's speak French and Arabic. I relied heavily on Google translate to help me with my french during this trip :)
Overall, i am happy i purchased these products from the souk and i cant wait to continue putting these products to good use.
Ok so can we discuss these highlighter palettes by Anastasia Beverly Hills? I had no intention of purchasing these highlighters at IMATS and then bam! I am now the proud owner of the Gleam Glow Kit. Naturally I hovered over the “That Glow” palette for a while but for some reason the soft highlight and rosy tones in the Gleam kit called my name. These colors are meant to complement all skin tones so I had no doubt that the Gleam kit would suit my tan exterior.
COLORS:
Hard Candy – A rosey pink highlight
Mimosa – Golden peach color
Starburst – Silvery pink highlight
Crushed Pearl – Light champagne color
Often times I’ll mix and match a ton of colors for a highlight that can be seen from space :) For a more intense highlight, just apply water to your makeup brush before swiping the highlight color, this will help make the colors pop. Or you can cover your face in highlight and go running in the dark, the highlight serves as reflective running gear so cars and deer can see you from afar. I’m joking.. But that would be funny if it worked that way :)
I bought my first Jeffree Star liquid lipstick!!!!!!!!! I’ve been a fan girl of Jeffree Star (Makeup artist, musician, model, fashion designer) for a while now and I’m excited to playyyyy. Unfortunately every time I’ve been online to purchase their liquid lipsticks, every color I want is sold out or my computer gets a virus and crashes as soon as I whip out my credit card. It's almost like my laptop knows I’m going to buy another lipstick :/
Fast forwarding to now, I always thought Androgyny was a gorgeous mauve color and the coveting spirit comes over me when i see a product I absolutely love. Low and behold (Thanks to my boo thang Erika) Androgyny basically fell into my lap! I wore my new lipstick that same night and I am one happy customer :) Check out my review below.
Packaging
Hot pink, Stars and Lipstick. If I were a rock star/makeup artist/all around Glamour Diva, I’d choose bold packaging too. The lipstick itself is cased in a clear tube with hot pink and gold stars. The packaging definitely stands out in my lipstick collection and I’m not mad at it.
Formula
Applying the product onto my lips, it felt very runny. Immediately after application some of the product ended up on my teeth, not the most convenient experience for my first try. After I cleaned the residue, the lipstick dried smooth and set beautifully on my lips. The formula feels like butter, dries matte but doesn’t feel drying on my lips. Compared to the Colourpop/Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks, Jeffree Star’s formula is silky and (while runny) dries comfortably on the lips.
Color
Jeffree Star’s collection of lipstick colors are very different than your average lipstick collection. The colors are vibrant and unique, Androgyny being one of the more tame colors in the bunch. I haven’t had the chance to purchase more colors, but I definitely will try it out.
Dupes
While Androgyny is a very beautiful color, it looks a lot like Colourpop’s Stingraye and Chilly Chili. The formula is clearly different, but the color is very similar. If you don’t want to shell out 18 big one's for Jeffree Star but love the color, Stingraye or ChilliChili are more affordable lipsticks with similar colors.
Longevity
I tried had the lipstick on at around 8:00pm for an art show and past midnight (a hotdog and a few drinks later) the color did not feather, fade (with the exception of the hot dog, and even then I barely had to reapply) nor did it flake. I haven’t tried wearing the colors for more than 8 hours, but based on other reviews, Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks have amazing staying power.
Cons
Aside from the ultra runny formula, the products can only be ordered online. You cannot visit your local Namies of Nigel’s to pick up a few colors, so you’d have to rely on the swatches online to help you decide which colors to purchase. IF the colors are available. These lipsticks are always selling out! (which technically isn’t really a con but you know.. Whatevs)
Overall
Jeffree Star's formula is different from what I’ve tried in the market, so I’m happy I had the chance to purchase this product. The staying power, color pigment and non drying formula makes this liquid lipstick a winner.
