The end of summer signals the start of Global Fashion Week, beginning with the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week! And so far the weather has been really good, so there are no limits to what people can wear! I love people watching at this time of year!
Yesterday, I went backstage at the fashion designer Harbison’s show. The makeup was sponsored by AJ Crimson Beauty, Beauty Blender and the hair was by Federic Fekkai. Key makeup artist was Edward Cruz! The location was gorgeous! Milk Studios with the Hudson River, New Jersey and the Meatpacking District as the backdrop!
So two of AJ Crimson’s products were featured here, his Dual Skin Crème Foundation, which is a buildable, HD compliant, waterproof foundation and his brand new Banana Crème in the Pro Pan form.
Look at that colour range! Especially the deepest shade!
Think the famous Banana Powder without the starkness, dryness and settling, especially on deeper skintones. The product is very creamy and similar in texture with his Dual Skin Foundation.
Banana Creme on the left in pan form
I was pleased to see such a diverse array of skintones and AJ’s line worked quite well from the palest to the deepest.
Key makeup artist was Edward Cruz and he was kind enough to chat with me after he demoed the look. Talk about being so genuine and nice!
I recreated it and the featured product is the lipstick! This bright, bold matte orange is by blackUp Cosmetics, a cosmetic line based in Paris, specially made for women colour. Now making its entry into the US with a store in NYC. The shade is RGE34M. I added some bronze cream and pigment shadow on the lid with some falsies!
The end of August/beginning of September is often a marked time of year for me. There is always a lot going on at that time. A lot of change. For one it is Independence Day on August 31 for my beloved twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago. It’s Labour Day in the US, the beginning of Fashion Week in NY and other major cities and it is the unofficial end of summer! I know, heartbreaking!
As you may know, this year, I dedicated to brows and gorgeous skin. I still love a colourful, somewhat complex eye look (that I WILL wear to the gym), but I wanted to see what else I could do, how else I could challenge myself and not just rely on eyeshadows to give me a beautiful look. I have been enjoying glowy skin, minimal eye makeup and bold lips! A clean look with minimal product.
So here are the products that I have reached for over the past few months.
My summer favourites!
Facial oil – my number 1 for glowy skin! I have been experimenting with different brands and also with making my own! Packed with nutrients that help lock in moisture. Great for ALL skin types, including oily ones. Just need to get those that are thin and similar to natural sebum.
Cream eye shadow sticks – There are a lot of them out there. I like the ones from tarte especially this one in rose gold that is shimmery and not glittery and looks natural on my skin. Makeup done in a few seconds.
Modster Eyeliner by Ardency Inn in Cream – a yellow liner that I use on my lower lashline to brighten up my eyes. Better than using a white pencil
Milani Powder Gel Eye Shadow in 04 Bella Caffé – beautiful texture! Almost matte and it is a few shades lighter that my skin color. Looks barely there and it is a great way to get a clean even look on my eye lids when wearing graphic eyeliner and/or bold lips. I recently did a review here.
Senna Eye Color Glow in Cordovan – One of my favourites! Butter smooth shimmer and great for when I want something chocolate on my lid.
NARS Eye Paint in Black Valley – matte black gel liner. A must for hot weather. Does not budge! I use it with an angled brush to create a winged liner or on my lower waterline.
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black – recently rediscovered this and I can see why this is a classic. Great formula, actual volume and intense black colour. A great drugstore find!
Cozzette Tapered Vegan brush in S175 – One of the BEST brushes that I have used. I love a beautiful, well designed handle (love the lacquered purple!). And get this, it is vegan i.e. made with synthetic fibres and is super super soft! I will do a review on this soon. Great for laying a wash of colour on the lids or for definition in the crease.
Becca Beach Tint in Papaya – Holy grail product for years. Cream blush that is water resisitant. Can be subtle or bold if you like. I have written about it lots of times. I need to get the liquid version of this!
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in Dekadent – Don’t let the tube fool you. This gives a glossy shine with a hint of colour.
Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Stiletto – a reddish orange. LOVE THIS! Gorgeous colour! I have posted it on Instagram many times. Must have for women of colour. Very bold!
Magnolia Makeup Illuminating Powder in Soul Glo – Makeup brand from some fabulous women in New Orleans and this is one of their signature products! I use this a subtle hightlight on the high points of my cheekbones. Always get compliments when using this. Not chunky or glittery. Perfect for dark and very dark skin, but they also have lighter colours.
Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Topaz – lots of hype on this product and it is well deserved! Easy to apply and it just lights up my face. I keep saying, don’t sleep on Becca. They are fantastic and very women of colour friendly. Silky soft and smooth. Finely milled. Gorgeous on the skin. Lots of compliments on that one too!
Ardency Inn is quickly adding new items to their product line. Folks out there know that I live for a pigmented eye shadow that is velvety smooth.
From PR:
MODSTER Mānuka Honey Enriched Pigments come in a beautiful assortment of everyday and editorial shades with finishes ranging from matte to metallic. Mānuka Honey, a mono floral honey produced in New Zealand and Australia from the nectar of the Mānuka tree, was used for the first time in a color cosmetic formulation to provide unparalleled creaminess and staying power. Superior color payoff is achieved through sky-high levels of pigments reaching up to 78%. High-grade silicon waxes provide ultra long lasting wear, even without an eye primer.
Check out the shades below!
Copper
Disco
Heaven
These pigments are now available at select Sephora stores, Urban Outfitters Herald Square, sephora.com, urbanoutfitters.com and ardencyinn.com and they retail for USD$21 each for 0.06oz. I can’t wait to check them out!!
For the second night in a row, celebrities came out for the Primetime Emmys and we had a red carpet to ogle over! I kinda watched a little bit. I wanted Luther to win! You know that show on BBC America staring Idris Elba? Yeah….watch that! I also need to watch Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and OITNB on Netflix.
So of course I had to pick out my favourite looks of the night and here they are!
Angela Bassett in Elisabetta Franchi, turning back the hands of time….Image via E!
Uzo Aduba looking gorgeous in red and that makeup is amazing! Dress by Christian Siriano.Image via Zap2it. Congrats on her win!
Teyonah Parris. In love with the bright colors!! Dress by Christian Siriano. And the makeup was beautiful!
