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November 2, 2016

Nothing To Disclose

So…..

I have been in a little bit of a mascara rut. I have been absolutely uninspired by the new mascaras coming out in the drugstores. They kinda look like repackaged versions of themselves. I have not been inclined to buy for months! Of course I have my go-to favourites, but I always want to try something new. I typically use my drugstore mascaras for everyday use. I keep my pricier mascaras for weekends or going out. Therefore…I decided to pick up one of the products on my wishlist. Enter the Ardency Inn Best of Eyes Kit.

Ardency Inn Best of Eyes Holiday 2016 Kit

I initially was going to the Modster Big Instant Lash Enhancing Mascara, which is US$25, but while browsing the ardencyinn.com website, I noticed that they were selling a kit with four FULL sized products that included their newest mascara for US$39. I did not stutter. Straight to my shopping cart. I also added a second Manuka Honey Pigment. This kit is supposed easy to use and longwearing with two waterproof eye liners. All of the products are in their permanent collection and can be purchased individually (but why would you do that with this deal?) This is a great way to dip your toe into the brand.

Here are some closeup pictures of what’s inside.

Inside…

NEW: OCC Alchemically Altered Fall 2016 Collection

September 26, 2016 / Noire Tropical Beauty / 0 Comments

Image via OCC

From PR:

Delve into a decadent world of color this Fall with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics’ all-new Lip Tar collection! Paint lips in rich, nuanced mattes and gild them in bold, Baroque metallics.

Lip Tars – USD$16 each

ALCHEMY – True champagne shimmer
DASH – Muted rose-toned beige
FLESHWORLD – Plum-toned rust
LUSH – Deep red-violet
LUXE – Deep red-violet with magenta pearl
BLACKBOARD – Dark, dusty blackened green

Bronze Skin Tutorial: From summer to fall & beyond

September 21, 2016 / Noire Tropical Beauty / 0 Comments

My last makeup look for the summer! Browsing through Instagram and the first makeup artist that I ever started paying attention to, Sam Fine, posted this look that he had done on Queen Latifah.

Image via Sam Fine Beauty/IG

Sam Fine’s book was the first one that I bought years ago, even before I bought Kevyn Aucoin’s book. Who is this black guy doing beautiful makeup? Sam has been working with Queen Latifah for years, on numerous campaigns and photoshoots and I just love the Queen. A true, true pioneer in the rap game and I love that she can go hard in the ring with any dude and in the next step, be very feminine.

Anyway, Sam posted this photo of the Queen that was shot by Annie Liebowitz and I was in love! Super bronzed and sunkissed. In this video tutorial, I will show you how I achieved this look, that is really just about the skin and giving it that glow. This would be great all year round even when it is cold. As a dark skinned woman, colder weather leaves me looking dull and ashy. So some extra glow is no problem for me. If you have oilier skin, you can tone down the amount of glow by putting it in select places, like the top of the cheekbones.

So here is the look and the tutorial that will take you from summer right through to the end of the year!

Porto head wrap by The Wrap Life

Bronze SkinTutorial Details + VIDEO

NEW: NARS Velvet Lip Glide Collection

September 12, 2016 / Noire Tropical Beauty / 0 Comments

From PR:

GLIDE. VIBE.

This season, NARS takes lips to a whole new level with the new Velvet Lip Glide.

The new lip color strikes the perfect balance between softness and strength, coverage and comfort in a full range of colors. Laced with NARS’ Oil Infusion Complex, this hybrid lip color combines the fluidity and effortlessness of a gloss with the coverage and comfort of a lipstick. Oil Infusion Complex allows for a smooth-glide effect, instantly delivering saturated color with sensorial comfort. The new doe foot applicator offers a plush application delivering effortlessly nourished lips and intense color.

Named after the iconic venues and new attitude that emerged from the sexual revolution of the ‘70s, Velvet Lip Glide shade names capture the freedom of personal power and play.

NARS Velvet Lip Glide Stylized Collection Image with Mineshaft Swipe

NARS Velvet Lip Glide Stylized Mineshaft Image with Swipe

NARS Velvet Lip Glide DETAILS:

STRIPPED – Beige pink

UNLACED – Nude pink

PLAYPEN – Pink coral

BOUND – Rose pink

DANCETERIA – Fuchsia

LA MAIN BLEUE – Rich berry

MINESHAFT – Poppy red

NO. 54 – Raspberry red

LE PALACE – Deep cherry red

UNSPEAKABLE – Garnet

TOY – Deep aubergine

AREA – Rich chestnut

DEVIANT* – Deep burgundy *Exclusive to NARS Boutiques and narscosmetics.com

PRICE: USD $26 each

AVAILABLE:

September 15, 2016 at NARS boutiques and narscosmetics.com

October 1, 2016 at Sephora, department, and specialty stores

Black Owned Makeup Brands tutorial #BOMB

August 29, 2016 / Noire Tropical Beauty / 5 Comments

Nothing to Disclose

Hey! So I have had this on my mind for months, years, now. I have always wondered why retail stores separated products specifically geared towards black consumers. Yes, black owned makeup brands. Why have an ‘ethnic’ aisle? I think this separation has made non-black people think that they could not use these products. People of colour have been using not-black specific brands for decades, even as companies still don’t produce foundation shade in the darker end of the spectrum. Certainly many people, who are non-black, have curly hair in need of moisture. Coincidentally, Jackie Aina, who I follow on YouTube issued a challenge to non-black makeup lovers to step outside of their comfort zone and try makeup brands that are black-owned.

There are many amazing black-owned makeup brands out there! Don't be afraid to try something new! After all, it's just makeup! Share on X

There are even more makeup brands that have extended colour ranges that cater to medium to dark skin as well as lighter skintones, that are not black owned like blackUp Cosmetics, Sacha Cosmetics and Black Opal. Get out there, as a makeup lover, and look beyond the M.A.C. and the Covergirl and discover the makeup that we chocolate ladies and gents have been loving! You might be surprised!

In this tutorial, I mostly used black-owned brands and I tried to used products from companies that I did not think that were on the lips of every beauty blogger or magazine editor. There are more out there as well. Let me know, in the comments below, other brands that did not make my list.

Check out my video below and links to all the products mentioned are also listed.