CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops - Sunlight and Candlelight Highlighters Overview + Swatches On A Woman of Color

CoverFX is back at it again but this time they have released 6 new custom enhancer drops that are universal shades to illuminate and bronze with to boost your glow. You can apply these straight to your face or mix them with your skincare/base (just like the coverfx foundation drops).

Over the weekend, I received two of the new shades - Sunlight and Candlelight to review - you know we need us some more swatches on women of color!

Sunlight is on the bottom and Candlelight is on the top. The photo on the bottom left is the drops straight out of the bottle and the photo on the bottom right is the drops lightly blended out on my skin (the above photos were taken with a daylight ring light and NO flash on the camera).

Photo taken with flash and daylight ring light

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I will have a more in-depth review on these and additional footage of me applying and wearing them on my face soon but I wanted to get up initial swatches so you could get a better sense of how these look on my skin tone. In the CoverFx drops, I wear the color N90.

Sunlight with flash

Sunlight no flash

Candlelight with flash

Candlelight no flash

All of the photos below were taken with the flash on:

- Affiliate Links -

A Purple Rain Makeup Tutorial with the OPV Gorgeous Eyeshadow Palette

✨ About last night! ✨ Saturday night called for a run look so I grabbed the Gorgeous Eyeshadow Palette from OPV and went to work.

Here are swatches of the 4 main colors that I used. I used all 4 colors all over my lid and crease and for the inner corner highlight, I used the Gold Digger highlighter.

Details on the rest of the products for my look:

Brows: Colourpop Cosmetics Bangin' Brunette Pencil ($5) Lips: OPV Liquid lipstick in Crush Eye Pencil: Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner in Aqua XL D-12 - diamond black ($21) Eyeshadow Primer: PÜR COSMETICS Cease Crease Eyeshadow Primer ($14) Liquid liner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($22) Lashes: Ardell Lashes Demi wispies in black natural ($3.99) Foundation: Tom Ford traceless perfecting foundation in Sienna Concealer: IT COSMETICS Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer in deep ($24) Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara ($23) Sigma Brushes: E25 - Blending Brush; E55 - Eye Shading Brush; E35 - Tapered Blending Brush; E30 - Pencil Brush; E45 - Small Tapered Blending Brush; E57 - Firm Shader Brush; E15 - Flat Definer Brush

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Too Faced Cosmetics Cocoa Contour Palette - Review & Swatches On A Woman of Color

Lift cheekbones, look instantly slimmer, or sculpt like a celebrity with Too Faced's Cocoa Contour Palette ($40).

This is the original set that first launched in 2014 and it includes the two essential sculpting shades, a matte highlighter and a luminous pop of light for a contoured look that never looks flat. The powders are infused with the antioxidant-rich Exclusive Cocoa Complex that blend together seamlessly and indulge you with a decadent chocolate scent. It also features a Contour Buki Brush for the most professional sculpting effect.

I'll be honest, I wasn't a big fan of this palette because it is way too light for my skin tone (see the pics below). However, Too Faced has recently released a darker version of this palette - one that is more designed with deeper complexions  in mind (I will post a separate review on that).

Left to right: Light Cocoa, Medium Cocoa, Dark Cocoa and Pop of Light. 

Overall, if this palette matches your skin tone, it is a good one to use to start learning how to contour and to use for light definition in the summer heat.

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Yves Saint Laurent Instagram Beauty Giveaway!

‼️GIVEAWAY ALERT‼️ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ It’s time to giveaway this Yves Saint Laurent prize pack to TWO of my followers! ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

1. You must follow @candycoatedclosets on Instagram.

2. In the comments on this Instagram photo, tag two friends who you think deserves to win this beauty prize pack.

That’s it!

Contest runs from Thursday, June 2, 2016 and ends Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 11:59pm est. Two winners will be randomly chosen from those who commented (not those tagged within the comments) and announced within 48 hours of the contest ending.

No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so we can ensure that you are following Candycoatedclosets. Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

GOOD LUCK! Also, keep an eye out because I will be launching a new NARS giveaway for my email subscribers only!

*Please note that due to summer heat, the lipstick may end up "sweating" - the heat may cause condensation on the lipstick and it may arrived shipped to you with sweat beads on it. The lipstick will still be sanitary and usable. I recommend putting it in the freezer to cool off to remove some of the condensation.*

Play! By Sephora May 2016 Subscription Box Review

Oh Sephora. Why must you torture us? Last month, I was finally able to sign up for the Play! By Sephora Beauty Subscription box. The May 2016 “Forces of Nature” box includes:

• Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine (sample size)
• Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi
• Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram
• Origins Maskimizer, Drink Up, and Clear Improvement Masks
• Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial
• Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

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How to Get Naturally Glowing Skin

Naturally Glowing Skin: It's one of those phrases that gets thrown around so much in the beauty industry but do you know that the easiest way to get the most natural looking glow is to take care of your skin? As easy as that sounds, taking proper care of your skin requires a little bit of effort on your part. Yesterday, I was talking to my boyfriend about his lack of using lotion. It baffles me that he can moisturize his hands and feet but neglects the middle part of his torso. His response to me: "when shorts season comes around, I'll make sure to lotion my legs". After preaching about the need for daily moisture, my face went to  and I left it alone. He would learn one day.

Later that night, we were at a Game of Thrones premiere party and [SPOILER ALERT] the final scene with Melisandre aging with her skin sagging really threw him for a loop. "That can't be her, she looks like she belongs with Smeagol."

Clip of Game of Thrones scene

I laughed and immediately looked over to him and said, "well take that as your warning because that is what happens when you don't moisturize." The look on his face was priceless but I wasn't the only one who took note of that hidden message from GoT. A few hours  later, Clarins' Instagram page won the internet and posted this meme.I almost fell to the floor when I saw it pop up in my timeline but you know what, they're right. I spend at least 15 minutes every morning and night on my skincare routine. If I'm in the mood for a full spa treatment, it can take at least an hour. It sounds like a lot of work but by maintaining a proper skincare routine, you won't have to rely on using foundations and concealers everyday. Another bonus is that by taking preventative measures early on and establishing a healthy skincare routine, it will help to ward off wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and sagging.  Sounds worth it right? Here's what you want to do.

Start off by finding a skincare line that interests you. If you can, try heading into the department store or your local Sephora or Ulta for a quick consultation. Their skin care specialists can give you the background behind what's new and can advise you on the best products for your particular skin care concerns.I start with the One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser because it washes away all of the dirt and dead skin without irritating my skin. The orange extract will soften your skin while the gentle silica microbeads will help to clear your pores, and the moringa seed extract purifies and refines your skin leaving it feeling refreshed. I absolutely recommend this is you have acne prone skin.  Next, I use the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. You can use any toner that fits into your routine to even out your skin tone, however, I would stay away from alcohol-based toners or toners that have heavy fragrant extracts which can irritate the skin. You should try to find a toner that is full of antioxidants, skin-repairing substances and cell awakening ingredients such as niacinamide.

I prefer to use the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner because it brightens, smoothes, and balances my skin while helping to prevent the build-up of pore-clogging debris which can lead to acne. Also, I use this as an added step in caring for my hyperpigmentation. The Tamarind extract rids the skin of dry, flaky surface cells, while the White Nettle extract refines enlarged pores.

When applying your toner, remember that you want to dab or press the toner into your skin with a soft cotton ball or face pad. Do not make the mistake of swiping and dragging it across your face. After letting the toner dry down for about a minute, I apply the Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate. I love using this as it has a high antioxidant-rich formula and contains a much higher concentration of active ingredients which helps to heal and smooth my skin. With this product, a little bit goes a long way so try using two pumps of it to start. Remember to apply this before your sunscreen and before your daytime or nighttime moisturizer.For my day moisturizer, I use the Multi-Active Day Cream. Even though I'm not 30...yet...I like to be pro-active about my skin care so any steps that I can take to ward off wrinkles is good for me! The multi-active day cream contains active plant ingredients that are combined to restore elasticity to the skin .And lastly, for my night moisturizer I use the Multi-Active Night Cream. Paired with my daytime moisturizer, this encourages skin renewal with the kiwi extract and helps to reduce the signs of wrinkles with the natural carb extract.  Don't forget about your lips - yes they need moisture too! I literally swear by the Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. It took me forever to find a lip moisturizer that I could put on a night, sleep for 8 hours, and wake up with my lips still feeling soft and not chapped. This one contains essential rose wax to calm and protect your lips while Ceramide 3 hydrates and replenishes them. I know this may seem like a lot to do but remember that the better condition that your skin is in, the better your makeup will apply and look throughout the day.

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Pop of Color by Kristen Taekman Liquid Matte Lipsticks Review and Swatches

"Bright and bold. A comfortable liquid matte lipstick. Vegan and cruelty free." These are the three things that drew me into the Pop of Color by Kristen Taekman Liquid Matte Lipstick line.

Last year, you followed me on Instagram as we visited Ricky's NYC for a special preview of the Kristen Taekman nail polish line so it's no surprise that the launch of these colorful liquid lipsticks would be next on their radar.  Colors from left to right: Change of Habit, Reconsider Baby, A Little Less Conversation, Rags to Riches, Kiss Me Quick, It's Now or Never!

Inspired by the greatest city in the world, each Pop of Color liquid lipstick applies a bit glossy and then dries to a rich and velvety finish that leaves your lips with a vibrant lip color that is way too comfortable to really be calling it a matte liquid lipstick. 

Change of Habit

Reconsider Baby

A Little Less Conversation

Rags to Riches

Kiss Me Quick

It's Now or Never 

All of these applied onto my lips with such a breeze. I was able to layer these liquid lipsticks and I had to do so with the brighter neon colors (the bright pink and orange) for true color payoff and coverage. Please keep in mind that the doe foot applicator was a little bit smaller than most brands so I had to dip it back into the tube a few times in order to get enough to cover my lips.

You can buy these in-store at Rickys NYC or online here for $14.99 each.

-PR Sample-

NARS Cosmetics Summer 2016 Collection

Oh well hello NARS Summer collection 2016. I'll have one of each and a back up please! AVAILABILITY: Available April 15, 2016 at NARS Boutiques and Narscosmetics.com. Available May 1, 2016 at Sephora, department, and specialty stores.

For Summer 2016, NARS makes a getaway with this limited-edition collection—high-fashion moments steeped in exclusivity and ease. New, rich Lip Covers saturate lips with coastal color, while Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows transform sheer tones and glistening shades for eyes. Dual-Intensity Blush completes the look with a touch of the sun – an insatiable rush of blush.

François Nars’ love of the lens meets the glamorous glare of the French Riviera. Inspired by the sensational whirl of an editorial photo shoot, each lush vignette captures the wit and wonder of his behind-the-scenes world. Original illustrations by contemporary artist Konstantin Kakanias bring each moment to life on covetable, limited-edition packaging. A total departure in every aperture.

LIP COVER: $28

Overheated Deep Dusty Rose

Do Not Disturb Vivid Orange-Red

Get Dirty Desert Rose

Members Only Crimson (Members Only is available exclusively at NARS boutiques and on Narscosmetics.com)

DUAL-INTENSITY EYESHADOW, $29

Deep End Shimmering Teal-Green

Tan Lines Rich Hazelnut

Topless Seashell Pink

Pool Shark Iridescent Periwinkle

Liberation Left: Shimmering Light Pink Right: Caramel Rose

Sexual Content Left: Sandy Peach Right: Soft Raspberry

-Press Release-

I Adore Lipstick Collection Review and Swatches

The beauty industry has always favored innovative lines that are bold enough to push past the current trends to make their mark in the business. In an effort to keep myself on my toes, I'm always keeping my eye out for new brands that are trying to forge a new path whether it be in product development or color options. So in keeping with that theme, today I want to introduce you to the I Adore Collection. The I Adore Collection features six matte lip shades ($15.99 each) in the colors Vintage Love, Lovesick, Adore, Fancy, XoXo and Classy. They are made with antioxidant vitamin E - which helps the lipstick to go on smooth and creamy - and they have a hint of a vanilla scent to them.

I received the color Adore to review. 

Adore is a beautiful red (creamy) matte lipstick. The application glides on easily and doesn't tug at your lips like other matte lipsticks that dry down to a complete matte do.

Just so you can get a better idea of the true color, Sophia from LipstickJunkieForever and I swatched this lipstick on both of our skin tones for Love Your Shade. As a reminder, she is NW20 and I am NC50 in MAC Cosmetics foundation.I really enjoyed testing this lipstick line out and having a chance to play with it. It was so comfortable to wear all day that I decided to create some lip art with it as my base color.I used the e.l.f. eye liner in black #6551 ($3) to line the outer corners of my lips and blended it in with the Sephora Pro Angled Lip brush in #84 and then added a touch of Stila Patina in the center of my lips just to brighten it up.

-PR Sample-

Creed Royal Princess Oud Fragrance Review

Creed has described Royal Princess Oud as "a statement of modern elegance and sophistication in a bottle." If there was one fragrance in my collection that could truly boast about this, then Royal Princess Oud would have to be it.Creed really lived up to its name and created this one with luxury in mind. It's a perfect romantic scent that is geared more towards their younger feminine audience which is why I gravitated to it. The notes include top notes of Bitter Sicilian bergamot, rose and sweet violet; middle notes of Jasmin, vanilla, patchouli and iris from Tuscany and base notes of Benjoin Siam, a sweet gum resin from Thailand, Mysore Sandalwood and Styrax, an ancient resin extracted from bark of shrubs in Asia. Personally, I've worn it well over 10 hours and at first, it started off as an intense floral scent but as the day went on, it dried down into a subtle powder and vanilla woody scent.The bottle has a clear to red gradient color design with an embossed logo in the middle of it to showcase the passion of the scent. The cap is gold with the embellished red logo etched into it as well. The nozzle is a standard creed nozzle with a powerful "spritzer" so you really only need to spray this 3 to 4 times on your pulse points. Ladies, think high fashion and couture when you think about this scent. It is a bit pricey but this is one of those times that I can really say that you get what you pay for. And hey, all you really need to do is throw on a bold lipstick and this fragrance and you're good to go for date night.It's available at the Creed Boutique and Nordstorm's in a 1.0 oz and 2.5 oz.

Artist Couture Broadway Diamond Glow Powder Highlighter Review and Swatches On A Woman of Color

"I know when that highlight bling, that can only mean one thing. Yeah, I know when that highlight bling, that can only mean one thing." Ah, Drake really hit this one on the head when he made this song and no, I didn't make a mistake by singing when that highlight bling! Only my true highlighter girls will understand this one. ;-) Last week, I was shopping on RickysNYC.com and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to use my $100 gift certificate on (remember the one that we ordered from Gilt - it was $60 for a $100 gift card). Of course, I picked out a few new items for my hair and a few new setting powders but the major purpose for my order was to get the new Artist Couture Broadway Diamond Glow Powder Highlighter. I saw the light pink iridescence glow in full force at a press event but for those of you who aren't able to visit a Ricky's to swatch it in person anytime soon, I wanted you guys to be able to at least see quality swatches of it on a woman of color. Click play...

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Essence January Beauty Box Review: Soulful. Colorful. Beautiful.

So it's a brand New Year which means we all have these fabulous resolutions that we need to try to stick to. I don't know about you, but every year I try to tell myself to relax, and just continue doing what I'm doing - working as hard as I can everyday. Realistically, it's just another day that ends with a new number right? Since I'm always working, I hardly have time to go out and pamper myself, so I was excited to hear that the January Essence Beauty Box was a Pamper Party Box.

If you guys remember from my other posts, the Essence Beauty Box is a beauty subscription box that was designed for women of color by the experts from Essence magazine. Each box will contain 5 deluxe samples and you can sign up for $15 a month, however, they have been running sales for $10 a month.

As for the January box, it contains 5 deluxe samples that was curated together to create the ultimate pamper party box. First, there is a deluxe sample of SheaTerra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Facial Wash. This is designed to gently exfoliate your skin and remove dead layers without any harsh ingredients - which is great if you have sensitive skin.

Next, there is a fat lip pencil by Laqa & Co. There are three different shades that are floating around online that people have received in their box and I received this orange shade that has subtle hints of red in it. It's a cute color and I love the thickness of the pencil itself, however, I did not like this shade for my skin tone. Personally, I do not favor lipsticks that have an orange shade or undertone to it. I mostly go for lipsticks with more of a blue based undertone just because I find that it suits my complexion better. I would love to be able to include these personal preferences to the subscription box.

The next sample is from tgin - Thank God It's Natural Green Tea super moist leave in conditioner. Now this is my favorite product in this month's box because I love trying new leave in conditioners to moisturize my curls and this is one of the quickest and most affordable ways that I've been able to test out new products that may or may not work for my hair.

A pamper party box wouldn't be complete without a nail polish for a manicure. This box included the Julep Jess nail polish. It's kind of like a brown color with hints of red in it. I've tried a lot of the Julep nail polishes before so I know that they have a great formula, however, I wasn't a big fan of this color. Lately, I've been more into the bright and holographic colors so I'm not going to get much use out of this product in the box. It is a great color though if you're looking for something a bit more subtle.

Lastly, the box included a Baby Soft Foot Mask by Leaders Insolution. This is a rejuvenating foot mask that has aloe vera extract and bees wax in it and I'll be honest, in the winter time, I tend to neglect my feet -  I know I'm not the only one! This is going to rejuvenate the skin and leave your feet feeling as smooth as butter!

Did you guys get the January box? What did you think about it? Don't forget that if you sign up, please use my referral code 992-4D8B-00F2.

MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick Comparison Video Review

Hi lovebugs!

I wanted to stop and do this really quick video review for you guys to compare the new MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam Ariana Grande lipstick to a few other MAC lipsticks that I own - Riri Hearts MAC Talk That Talk and Instigator. Turn your volume up, press play and get the details!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu9gk8TE0Qk

MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick & Lipglass - First Review

Hi loves!

So last year, we all heard the news that MAC Cosmetics chose Ariana Grande as the new VIVA GLAM spokeperson.* The news spread like wide fire on social media - not only because of the support of the cause - but because of the trendy story behind the colors. 

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a "matte plum." It's a deep, dark plum with a satin finish.

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipglass ($15.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is described as a “shimmering pink.” It’s a sheer, pink-tinted lipgloss with gold and pink sparkles.

When I first saw the promotional pictures, it immediately reminded me of Riri Hearts MAC Talk That Talk lipstick and the Clear Water Lipgloss from the Alluring Aqua collection. So I wanted to do a few comparisons to help you...

(L) Riri Hearts MAC Talk That Talk (R) MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipstick (L) MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Lipgloss (R) MAC Alluring Aqua Clear Water Lipgloss

I'll admit that I said "Wow" when I swatched them. It's a beautiful color alone and with paired with the lipgloss. However, it is a bit patchy, so make sure that you grab a matching lipliner - try it with Vino perhaps? It will be in-stores and at-counters on January 21st, 2016.

*The VIVA GLAM Lipstick was originally created in 1994 to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS at a time when the pandemic was dramatically affecting fashion and beauty communities in particular as well as the wider world. What makes this so historic is that 100% of the purchase price of any VIVA GLAM product goes towards the M·A·C AIDS Fund which is committed to addressing the link between poverty and HIV/AIDS by supporting diverse organizations around the world that provide a wide range of services to people living with HIV/AIDS.

*Purchased. All opinions are my own*

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipsticks Review and Swatches On A Woman of Color

Hi Loves! So I wanted to try a little something different for these swatches of the new Urban Decay Gwen Stefani lipsticks. Mind you, I will be making a switch into more videos for these reviews as soon as my glam room is done but you know what's going on. Anyway, back to the collection.

There are eight shades in this collection. Here are a few swatches on a woman of color so you can get a better idea of what they may look like on your skin tone. 

714, is a bright red mega matte lipstick. Surprise, surprise that the first one that we talk about is a mega matte :-P. This one kind of pulled orange/red on me which I don't mind but in comparison to the other reds in this collection...well let's just say I have a few other favorites. 

Ex-Girlfriend, is a sheer nude-rose with a pink shimmer. Legit, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one. I was expecting a typical "nude" lipstick which as women of color we all know how that goes. However, this one is a brownish-pink and surprisingly, I reallllly love it! In this picture, I am wearing it with the matching UD Gwen Stefani 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil. 

Firebird, is a deep fuchsia cream lipstick but on me it pulls more of a bright magenta color. It's a great shade to wear all year round. I especially like to wear bright colors like this during the Winter because it gives me an instant pick me up. 

Phone Call, is a sheer bright coral cream lipstick (exclusive to the Urban Decay website). This is a great lipstick for the Spring and Summer, especially because it's so light weight and comfortable, I just didn't get a lot of payoff from it so I recommend using the matching lipliner before applying the lipstick.

Plaid, is a sheer deep berry lipstick (exclusive to the Urban Decay website). I like the light pop of color that it gives me - kind of similar to a gloss without the stickiness.

Rock Steady, is a deep red wine cream lipstick. This is fall packaged into a tube of lipstick. Literally, the perfect merlot shade.

Spiderweb, is a satin red cream. Can we say this is the perfect red shade for Valentine's Day ladies?

Wonderland, is a dark pink-red cream lipstick. On me, it does off a bit more rosey pink on me. 

Now that we've seen half/full face swatches (I said I was trying a different style) which one is your favorite? My top 3 in order are Ex-Girlfriend, Spiderweb, and Firebird - cue the gasps that the nude lipstick topped them all for me.

You can pick up these lipsticks ($18 USD) and the rest of the Gwen Stefani collection on UrbanDecay.com. If they are sold out, you can pick up some of the collection from Sephora.com. Let me know what you end up getting!

Introducing "Love Your Shade" The Social Movement For Color Variation In The Beauty Industry

I wanted to take a minute to talk about the new project that I’ve been working on with @lipstickjunkieforever. For the past few months, you guys have seen us swatch various makeup products from lipsticks, blushes, highlighters, eyeshadows etc. on different skin tones. (Her MAC Cosmetics foundation shade is NW20 and mines is NC50.) We wanted to find a space that would really bring awareness to the fact that there is a lack of variety in color cosmetics industry and work towards filling the void. I’ve remained pretty quiet over the past few weeks over the issue because of this…As a woman of color – especially as a woman of color in the industry – it’s seriously disheartening to me that this is still an issue that is seemingly being ignored and brushed under the rug. When new collections are released, essentially the only swatches that showcase the color or shade of the product are normally done on one skin tone; which is great, but I’m left wondering what the color is going to really look like on me. There have been too many times that I’ve falling in love with a lipstick only to have purchased it to find out that it’s a completely different color on me because of my skin tone and undertone. I have completely skipped by new releases of products because it was only showcased on one skin tone and not marketed with any other “color model” in mind.

I’m not saying this as a black and white thing. I’m saying this as an all beauty thing. I want to see the products showcased on all skin tones: pale, fair, medium olive, brown, dark brown, ebony, chocolate. Everyone from Asians, Hispanics, Caucasians, Native Hawaiians, African Americans, Indians, Pacific Islander, Women, Men…Everyone needs to be represented and marketed to in the industry. We all have money to spend. Give us a reason to.

Let’s continue to destroy the standards of beauty. Join the movement on @loveyourshade. #LoveYourShade [wpvideo cCwuVho2]

Coloured Raine Liquid Lipsticks - Kylie Jenner Lip Kit Alternative

I hope you beauties had an amazing Friday. So I've been off and on all week trying to edit videos and create new social images/animations for work. Have you tried doing that while keeping up on all of the beauty news simultaneously? Yeah, it's time for some wine. So the biggest news to hit the market this week was the release of the lipkitbykylie.com for $29. Each kit includes a lip liner and a matte liquid lipstick. Now I understand that liquid lipsticks are life right now - I mean have you been following me on Instagram? - but the hype around this launch was insane! The colors are cute, but to me, they just didn't stand out enough for me to say "Oh ok, here you go Kylie Jenner." Needless to say, this woman of color did not purchase any of the kits but instead, I took to glam room and found a few liquid lipsticks in my stash that could compare.

Here are swatches of three liquid lipsticks by Coloured Raine which remind me of the colors from Kylie's lip kit! And guess what? Each of these liquid lipsticks only costs $17 and are in stock right now!

So what do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Paint vs Coloured Raine Rockstar

I didn't realize how much I would grow to love blue lipstick but as all things beauty...I got sucked in and now I'm obsessed. I initially posted swatches of the new Rockstar liquid lipstick by Coloured Raine ($17) and I immediately received requests to compare it to Paint by Anastasia Beverly Hills ($20). So while we work through the rest of the lip swatches, here's a comparison of both blues.               Paint by Anastasia Beverly Hills                  Rockstar liquid lipstick by Coloured Raine

As you can see, ABH Paint is a more true blue based metallic lipstick whereas CR Rockstar is a purple blue metallic lipstick with glitter. I'm sure there are those are of you that are wondering what the heck I just :-) The easiest way to think about is to look at the undertone. CR Rockstar has more of a vibrant shine to it since it's mixed with purple and blue as opposed the ABH's Paint.

                                                                      CR Rockstar

                                                                     ABH Paint

My favorite of the two? Definitely CR Rockstar. I absolutely love the purple blue based toe to it! What do you guys think?

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Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick Holiday Collection 2015

*Update: July 22, 2016 - This blog and I do not support Jeffree Star and/or Jeffree Star Cosmetics. This is my personal choice as I choose to feature and support brands that I believe in. I encourage you to search google for any relevant information on his brand if you would like to research his cosmetic line. Xoxo. - Cynira* Be warned before you look at this post. The new Jeffree Star Cosmetics liquid lipstick Holiday Collection might become your new obsession.

Swatches in direct sunlight from left to right: Hoe Hoe Hoe, Mistletoe, Drug Lord, Doll Parts, Androgyny

First, let's take a closer look at the coveted Androgyny:

This is the best picture that I could get to capture the true color of Androgyny on my lips. The color is beautiful! It is an amazing mauve shade that's not too pink or too nude for women of color. It wears incredible well and is very soft on the lips. Now when I say it took me a while to capture the true color on my lips I say that because it's a very natural color on me and it's hard to pick up the mauve undertones in the picture.

Next, let's look at Hoe Hoe Hoe:

This liquid lipstick is a deep red with hints of metallic red and purple in it. In the pic on the bottom left, I tried to leave the focus from being straight on my lips and a different angle of lighting so you can get a better look at the sparkle from this lipstick. It's going to be great for holidays!

Next is Doll Parts. This is a soft cool toned pink, more like a baby pink on my skin tone. I tried to shift the focus and lighting so you can see how it performs in the images to show the true color.

Here, we have Mistletoe:

Last, is Drug Lord:

The Beautiful Kiss of Death: Happy Halloween

Now I know that I made the title of this piece overly dramatic but come on...it's Halloween! The thing that I love about Halloween is that the make up gods come out to play! This is truly one of the few times of the year that you can stun everyone with your make up artistry skills and hey, if you're like me and just want to have fun, it's the perfect time to try out some new looks without looking crazy. So I decided to do some fun lip art! I tried my best to capture it for you guys by my lighting wanted to suck!

[embed]https://youtu.be/s91J30bXhBs[/embed]

To do this look, I used MakeupForever's black lipstick rouge artist intense in 50 and Violet Voss's glitter in Paige for the purple topcoat.

What fun make up looks did you guys try for Halloween?

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