Author Archives: Noire Tropical Beauty

About Noire Tropical Beauty

Noire Tropical Beauty is the creation of Nerissa Alleyne. She hails from the twin island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago but currently resides in the beauty/fashion capital of the world, New York City (Harlem to be exact!). She is a lover of makeup, colour, a Product Junkie, freelance makeup artist, eternally devoted to M.A.C. but just getting into other brands like MUFE and NARS. As a graduate of Princeton University and using her background in Chemical Engineering, she is interested in the science behind the product and the balance between beauty and function. She also began her natural hair journey years ago and enjoys discovering and supporting companies that cater to natural, kinky, curly, coily beautiful hair! Huge fan of Oyin Handmade, Qhemet Biologics, Karen’s Body Beautiful and Anita Grant! Mini mixologist. Anything purple. Period. For reference, Nerissa has dark skin (M.A.C. NW 45, Bobbi Brown # 8 Walnut, MUFE HD Foundation in #178). She loves exploring makeup lines, beauty traditions and customs from all over the world, especially for women of colour (African, Latina/Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian and anyone else not mentioned!). There are a lot more products available now, but sometimes women still feel limited in their options. Nerissa hopes to showcase beauty from all over. In her spare time, she is an avid listener of great international music and is currently working on increasing her repertoire of international dance such as Middle Eastern (Raqs Sharqi), West African, Samba and Salsa. Thinks that futbol is the game of gods!!!!!!!!Yankees fanatic!! Dream: to own my own makeup company! Questions, comments, preguntas??? Email me at noiretropicalbeauty[at]gmail.com Follow Noire Tropical Beauty on: Facebook Twitter YouTube

New York Fashion Week AW’12: Cocktails & Couture, Look # 3

New York Fashion Week AW’12: Cocktails & Couture, Look # 3

I was really excited to go to this event, created and hosted by beauty and lifestyle blogger Lianne Farbes of The Makeup Girl.  Cocktails & Couture brings together some amazing bloggers, fashionistas, PR gurus, photographers and brands.  Some of these brands include Lierac, Proactiv, Aveeno, Clairsonic, tarte cosmetics, Hpnotiq, Atopalm and PopChips.   I loved the idea that this event was held at the Caravan Stylist Studio in Midtown Manhattan.  The place was packed, vibes were flowing and I was able to meet some amazing people!

Including Ms. Lianne Farbes…

Me, with Ms. Lianne Farbes

More pictures here!

New York Fashion Week – Blogger’s Night Out – Look # 2

New York Fashion Week – Blogger’s Night Out – Look # 2

Day 2, actually night 2, found me attending Blogger’s Night Out at The Caulfield.  Blogger’s Night Out was created by bloggers for bloggers and it’s a great way to meet and network with other fashion/beauty bloggers from all over the country.  People came dressed to the nines and de place was jam packed!! I definitely picked up some new style ideas!  The event also featured booths hosted by various sponsors showing the latest trends for spring and summer.

This booth was hosted by Plastics Make It Possible

Colour of the year, Tangerine

More…

New York Fashion Week – Look 1, Bloggers of Colour Mixer

New York Fashion Week – Look 1, Bloggers of Colour Mixer

Hey!!

So New York is in the throws of New York Fashion Week – Autumn/Winter’12.  There are models, designers, makeup artists, bloggers, photographers running all over the city!

So last Thursday, Mattie from Mattielogie hosted a mixer for fashion bloggers of colour.   I loved the idea of meeting other bloggers of colour especially in an industry like fashion.  Since fashion and beauty go hand in hand, I found myself at Pranna.   Pranna is a SouthEast Asian restaurant that is beautiful and huge!  I definitely need to return for full dinner.

Pranna

Click here for more the mixer!

NOTD – the Valentine’s Day edition: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics NSFW

NOTD – the Valentine’s Day edition: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics NSFW

Hey guys!

This is what I am currently wearing – OCC’s NSFW.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics NSFW

NSFW you ask?  Not Safe For Work in web speak!! But this classic red creme polish is absolutely suitable for work and play!  I also rocked this for various New York Fashion Week events (NYFW)!

Click here for a mini review!!!!

Banishing dry, flaky skin with SheaMoisture Body Scrub!

Banishing dry, flaky skin with SheaMoisture Body Scrub!

What’s going on???

One of the things that I love doing on the weekends (besides eating) is using an all-over body scrub.  My skin gets super dry, itchy and flaky especially during the colder months. The wintery air and the dry heat of the radiator leaves my scaly.  I sometimes even get dry patches that makes it look like I am moulting! So once a week, I exfoliate using a body scrub.

Exfoliation is vital to any skincare routine.  The body generates new skin cells in the dermis (the innermost layer of skin) roughly every 28 days.  As these new skin cells get older, they get pushed to the outermost surface of the skin (the epidermis), eventually die and gets filled with keratin (a protein).  This keratin helps protect the skin from outside world.  The epidermis then naturally gets eroded (or falls off) and so the cycle continues.  As we get older, this constant process becomes less efficient and that leads to patches of flaky, dead skin cells that makes the skin less smooth.  Also, when you apply moisturizers, serums, treatments etc., this flaky skin prevents these nutrients from getting to the deeper layers of skin.  This is where exfoliation is important.  When you remove this outer layer, you reveal fresher, healthier, younger looking skin and all your treatments are more effective.  You want glowy skin? Start with exfoliation!

Recently I have been using the SheaMoisture Organic Argan Oil & Raw Shea Body Scrub with Frankincense & Myrrh.

SheaMoisture Organic Shea & Argan Oil Body Scrub

Click here for more!

Iris Apfel for M.A.C. – a few swatches!

Iris Apfel for M.A.C. – a few swatches!

Hi,

So the Iris Apfel for M.A.C. collection came out a few weeks ago and this was a bright collection in the middle of winter doldrums.    This collection was inspired by rare and exotic birds, and is just in line with fashion and beauty trends for 2012.  Here are the details.

Image courtesy of M.A.C.

Anyway, here is a quick swatch of 4 of the lipsticks.

Click here for swatches!

Q&A with Francois Nars: A little more on new tinted moisturizers!

Q&A with Francois Nars: A little more on new tinted moisturizers!

Here is a quick interview with Francois Nars about the new tinted moisturizers.  Find more information here.

1. How did you incorporate French Polynesia into the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30/PA+++?

I love being at my home in French Polynesia, so I wanted to bring as much of the islands into this product as I could. The Galaxaura, for instance, is a mineral-rich, deep sea algae that grows in the warm tropical waters of the Polynesian islands’ tidal zones.

Click here for more…

These NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizers remind me of warmer days!

These NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizers remind me of warmer days!

Hey!

So NARS is releasing their new line of tinted moisturizers for Spring 2012.  I think these were first seen at NY Fashion week last autumn.

From NARS:

NARS founder and creative director François Nars is famous for his no-rules approach to makeup application. But when it comes to what lies beneath, his philosophy is clear:  Skin should shine through makeup.  To that end, NARS Cosmetics went about creating a tinted moisturizer unlike any other — a complexion-perfecting fluid with anti-aging and skin-brightening benefits.

Introducing Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30/PA+++.

Click here for more!

New product alert! Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural lipsticks

New product alert! Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural lipsticks

Recently I attended the launch of Make Up For Ever’s new lipstick line, Rouge Artist Natural.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural lipsticks

A few years ago, they brought out Rouge Artist Intense, a 50+ collection of amazing, heavily pigmented lipsticks.  This time around, for Spring 2012, they are releasing another 50 lipsticks, which are supposed to provide a softer effect on the lips.   These lipsticks are more moisturizing, and have a glossy sheen to them, as if they were mixed with a little lip gloss.

So I decided to pick up one colour for starters, N28.

Click here for pictures and swatches!!

LOTD: Quick twistout updo!

LOTD: Quick twistout updo!

So I tried this quick updo after I took down my 2-strand twists.

Updo from 2 strand twist out

Click here for more>>>