May17

Battle of the Retro Mattes! M.A.C.’s Ruby Woo vs. RiRi Woo

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So……I’m not a fan of Rihanna…at all, BUT when I heard that she agreed to a multi collection deal with M.A.C. that started with the creation of a customized shade of lipstick in the Retro Matte finish, ah went bazodee!

The Retro Matte finish is the SINGLE BEST FINISH FOR A LIPSTICK EVA!  Ruby Woo is my favourite lipstick and is my go-to with a high bun. So this shade is supposed to be what Rihanna wears on tour, a blue-based red, that’s universal on all skintones.  Last week, M.A.C. released it online and it sold out in 3 hours…..yup, I was one of those waiting on that virtual line! There is no special packaging  (I thought at least the box would have something on it), but engraved on the lipstick, was RiRi’s signature.

MAC RiRi Woo (retro matte)

More under the cut!

May10

What I’m loving for spring and summer! Bright cheeks courtesy of Sleek MakeUP!

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So I got this blush BY 3 palette for Christmas.  Let’s just say…..this is amazing!!!! I usually dip my toe in instead of diving in when it comes to blush.  Not because I am afraid, but many brands don’t pack that punch that I need for it to show up.

This British drugstore brand really impressed me.  Talk about pigmentation!  I got the colour 366 Pink Sprint, which contains 3 shades of pink.

The texture is amazing, as a matter of fact; I think this is a good dupe for NARS blushes, with respect to quality.  Highly pigmented, very smooth, finely milled texture that’s not chalky or too stiff.  And they are all matte!  The packaging is great for travel as it comes in a sleek black case with a large mirror.

More pics under the cut!

May4

New OCC Lip Tars, in a new finish and some summer-inspired Crème Colour Concentrates! First peak at TMS!

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From PR:

OCC Lip Tar: Stained Gloss

Launching on May 23rd, LIP TAR: STAINED GLOSS is an exciting new texture option from the LIP TAR range, STAINED GLOSS combines the pigment potency of LIP TAR with a casual glossy finish that’s ready-to-wear from its first slick application to the high impact stain it leaves behind. LIP TAR: STAINED GLOSS can be worn alone or layered over your favorite existing shades for added depth, dimension and a glossy finish that lasts!  These will be available at The Makeup Show this weekend!

Voyeur

Click here for more photos!

May4

Getting in gear for The Makeup Show NYC!!

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My 2nd favourite time of year is back (the first of course is summer)!  This weekend is TMS NYC and it’s my one must attend event for the year.  I just love taking all those seminars, all those beauty products and meeting all my blogging buddies! : )

And what’s great is that this is the biggest TMS and they have released an app for iPhone/iPad/Android, which is pretty damn great.  It can get pretty chaotic, especially now they have expanded.  I’ve already downloaded it and have my seminars all lined up.

So check out the info on the event and the app!!!

I’m heading there on Sunday.  Who’s going??? Hail mih out!

Laters!

From PR:

Click for details!

May3

Quick swatch: MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Shape The Future

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Extra Dimension SF in Shape The Future

I have been loving this right now.  A sort of in-between pre-summer skin enhancer.  Really nice, smooth texture, not too glittery.  One part is a cool-toned champagne colour, that I have also used as an eye shadow.  The other side is a brick/coral colour with a silver sheen. Really pretty as a blush for medium to dark skin. But works for everyone…:)

If you can still find it, I would check it out!

Laters!

FTC Disclosure: This product was purchase by me, Noire Tropical Beauty.  All opinions expressed are 100% hones, and my own.  For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.
Apr29

NOTD: Playing with grays…

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Did an alternating manicure using a crème and PixieDust.

M.A.C. Hello Kitty Nail Polish in On The Prowl (light gray crème)

Zoya PixieDust in London (a light gray textured matte)

Apr24

Hair haul: My recent Chagrin Valley purchase

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Back in the day, before I even decided to go back to natural hair, I did a lot of research on new products that I could use.  I was a member of a number of natural hair discussion boards, as there were not that many blogs available at that time.  This is how I discovered that I could cleanse my hair without sulphates and they (the sulphates)  were probably the cause of the intense itching and dryness that I felt while shampooing.  One of the most widely mentioned brands for cleansers was from Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Company.  Chagrin Valley makes a variety of handmade soaps for hair and body as well as body balms made with shea butter and herbal rinses.  I definitely wanted to explore the world of sulphate-free, natural shampoos, so I filed this name in my memory bank.

Fast forward to earlier this year and I wanted to try some new products.  I have been loving my SheaMoisture but, you know, the product junkie in me.  Browsing the site, there are a lot to choose from, depending on what you are looking for, the ingredients that you like, scents etc.  They sell their full sized bars as well as sample sizes, which is great!  I ended up choosing 2 full sized bars; the Babassu Marsh Mallow Shampoo Bar and the Butter Bar Conditioner Shampoo Bar.  I’ve always wanted to try hair teas to make detangling easier so I picked up the trial size of the Hair Tea Detangler Blend.

I ordered my items on a Monday night and I had a box waiting for me on Thursday! And this was the cheapest shipping option!  Here’s my haul.

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Co. haul!

Click here for the rest!

Apr22

FOTD: Inspired by Beyonce’s US Vogue March 2013 cover

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We are accustomed to seeing Beyonce with big, wavy, blonde hair, so I was glad to see her looking really elegant, featuring monochromatic makeup and an updo!  The photos were shot by Patrick Demarchelier and were amazing!  This was my favourite look!

Photo via Vogue magazine

Yaaaaassss Bey!

So I decided to recreate the look.

via Vogue magazine

She is wearing a double winged liner, accented with white.  Her hair is a soft, slightly messy, high bun with swooped bangs.   I had a twistout but you can certainly still get a similar effect on natural hair!

Here’s the look!

Click for the details….

Apr19

Want to do something good for the Earth? Well get rid of your old polishes for some spanking new Big 5 Free ones from Zoya!

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The 2013 Zoya Nail Polish Exchange is here!

I’ve written a lot about Zoya polishes, I think they are really good quality vegan-friendly varnishes.  Well,  here’s an opportunity to try this brand out.   The exchange starts today, April 19th and ends on April 26th.

The details on how to make the deal….

Now’s the perfect time to make the switch to an eco-chic beauty routine! From April 19, 2013 – April 26, 2013 (11:59PM EST), exchange your old, unwanted nail color for toxin-free ZOYA Nail Polish for only $4 per bottle plus shipping and handling fees. Rest assured – ZOYA will properly dispose of your old polish. 

Here’s all you need to do!

1.  Go to www.zoya.com and pick out the polishes you would like (excludes all Zoya PixieDust™ Collection shades) and add them to your cart. You must select at least 6 bottles and no more than 24 bottles of polish (Salon accounts minimum 12 maximum 48 bottles.)

2. Apply the code (copy and paste for best results): 
ZOYAEARTH2013

3. Your order value will be adjusted to reflect a 50% discount (we use these funds to properly dispose of the old nail polish).

4. SUBMIT your order!

Then Zoya will ship out your NEW polish! HOORAY!

Click here for the rest of the details!

Apr15

Designer collab: The Pierre Hardy for NARS Collection

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The Pierre Hardy for NARS Collection

Remember last summer NARS paired up with designer Thakoon?  Well NARS has a new collaboration with famed shoe designer Pierre Hardy.

From PR:

In a bold new collection for NARS, designer Pierre Hardy brings his fresh color palette to the iconic beauty brand. Inspired by his Summer 2013 shoe collection, Hardy’s offering includes six color-forward nail polish pairings and two richly-hued blushes. Nail polish duos come housed in a small shoebox with dust bag (a nod to Hardy’s own footwear packaging), while the high voltage blush palettes go graphic with shimmering gold overspray of the designer’s signature cubic print.

The Collection:

Click here for collection details….