Category Archives: General Informtion

Want to get inked?? Try Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eye Shadows

Want to get inked?? Try Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eye Shadows

So there has always been a desire to have long-wearing makeup and now pretty much every major cosmetic line brings out makeup that promises to last and last.  No one wants to work on a look only for it to crease an hour later.

Just in time for this season and NYFW, Maybelline brought out 10 new shades for their new Color Tattoo By EyeStudio 24hr Eye Shadow.  These come in glass pots with black screw caps that look very similar to M.A.C.’s Paint Pots.  Speaking of Paint Pots, they contain 5 gms of product while the Maybelline product contains 4 gms.  The thick-walled glass makes the containers durable and I had no problems with the seal on the cap.  I really liked that Maybelline chose to release a good mix of really bright, bold colours, with some neutrals as well as both shimmer and non-shimmer textures.  They are described as a cream/gel and again the texture is very similar to the Paint Pots. Very creamy and smooth, although the shimmer shade that I tried was slightly less creamy than the matte shade.  They also have really good pigmentation and they can be applied lightly for a sheer wash or more heavily for and opaque finish.  Dry time is pretty quick so that you have to work quickly to apply product to the eye.  Typically for a creamy product that comes out of a pot, I use a stainless steel palette knife but you could also use a synthetic brush or your fingers to scoop out the product!  Maybelline has marketed this new product as just a cream eye shadow, without use a base or in combination of other shadows.  I tested this new item on my upper eyelid, without the aid of a primer or setting with a powder eyeshadow.  I got about 5 hours of wear before I saw the first signs of creasing and it was minimal.  While my eye shadow looked fine for the rest of the day, I don’t think that this will last for 24 hrs.  Which is not a bad thing anyway. Who really needs all that?

Now to the colours!

The first is #35 Tough as Taupe.

Maybelline's Tough as Taupe

Click for more photos and swatches!!

Sale time!! Urban Decay Spring Friends & Family Sale 2012

Sale time!! Urban Decay Spring Friends & Family Sale 2012

Image courtesy of Urban Decay

Sale alert!!

Urban Decay is having their Friends & Family Sale!!!

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!!

Recent M.A.C. swatch: Vintage Grape Blush Ombre from Daphne Guinness

Recent M.A.C. swatch: Vintage Grape Blush Ombre from Daphne Guinness

So the Daphne Guinness collection from M.A.C. came out right after Christmas and there was only one item that I wanted from this limited edition collection –  the Vintage Grape Blush Ombre.  The Blush Ombres were first introduced about 2 years ago with the Spring Colour Forcast collection.  I missed out on this and all everyone spoke about were these blush ombres; how versatile, how amazing, how cute etc.   These things sold like hot bread and I showed up after de bakery closed!

So I promised myself to pick up Vintage Grape if it was ever repromoted.  And here it is!

M.A.C. Vintage Grape Blush Ombre

Click here for more swatches!

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is giving my skin new life!

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is giving my skin new life!

It has gotten really cold and windy here in the Big Apple and my usually dry skin, is super tight and there is some flakiness.  Truth be told, I don’t have a complete, regular skincare regime.  I cleanse and exfoliate but with respect to moisturizers, I kinda just try whatever moves me, or use coconut oil or nothing at all.  Crazy, right?

So, one day I took part in a Twitter chat hosted by one of my favourite bloggers and fellow Trini, Afrobella and Kiehl’s and they were answering questions on one of Kiehl’s newer products, the Midnight Recovery Concentrate (MRC).  Now, before I launch into the virtues of this product, here’s a little information about Kiehl’s.  This is a real, old school apothecary located in the East Village in NYC.  Apothecaries have been around for centuries and are the precursors to the modern-day pharmacy.  The medical professionals created medicinal concoctions and dispensed medical advice.  I am in love with Kiehl’s original location!  The wood  lab-like benches, apothecary jars and beakers, the porcelain mortar and pestles.  It reminds me of my early days in Chemistry lab!

But, I digress…

Anyway, the chat included a giveaway and I won one the MRC sets!!! I was super excited! I had been investigating these products for a few weeks and it was a great way to dip my toe in.

The Midnight Recovery Concentrate comes in a prussian blue glass bottle with a glass dropper.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Click here for more MRC from Kiehl’s….

Tribe Called Curl & Karen’s Body Beautiful Holiday meetup!

Tribe Called Curl & Karen’s Body Beautiful Holiday meetup!

Just before jetting off for the Christmas holidays, I attended the holiday meetup/conversation/get-together hosted by Tribe Called Curl and Karen’s Body Beautiful.  Tribe Called Curl is an up-and-coming online community dedicated to natural hair.  Imani (the founder) and Karen (from KBB) started the discussion, provided advice and shared experiences on living with natural hair.  There was lots of information, camaraderie and bonding with other naturals!  Of course the product junkie in me had to do a little holiday shopping and picked up some Sweet Ambrosia!! Have you guys tried this?? I had a wonderful time at the event and even had dinner at a really good Egyptian restaurant, Black Iris.

Shout out to Dasheeda!!

So here are a few pics!  Did anyone attend??

Karen (right)

Click for more pics!

NARS Spring 2012 Collection: An explosion of colour!

NARS Spring 2012 Collection: An explosion of colour!

I love when companies start bringing out their spring collections, it’s sort of like a rebirth for me! Colours start getting brighter, clothing becomes more lightweight and soon enough I’ll be living in shorts and slippers!

So NARS is bringing out their Spring 2012 Colour Collection, which will be available from January 15 at narscosmetics.com.

From NARS:

The Spring 2012 Collection is a study in contrasts: Bold color underscored by
sophisticated shimmer. Eyes glisten in muted tones of lavender and pink, or
shimmer in bronze shades accented with rich navy. Cheeks are flushed with
candy pink. Lips gleam in topaz or pop with berry. Metallic violet nails add the
finishing touch to a collection that’s bright, strong and iconic.

Click here for more NARS Spring 2012