Burt's Bees BB Cream with Noni Extract SPF 15 - Review & Swatches

One thing that I want to talk about more on here is more affordable products whether it be fashion, skin care or beauty related. So I was thrilled when I received the new Burt's Bees BB Cream from Ricky's NYC to add to our foundation review series.Somewhere between a lightweight foundation and a moisturizing face lotion,  Burt's Bees has released a new BB Cream with Noni Extract and SPF 15 that is designed to simplify your morning routine into one easy step. It offers 9 clinically shown face care benefits that are available in 3 mineral-rich shades - Light, Light/Medium and Medium (shown more below).

The formula was designed with natural ingredients, like antioxidant-rich Noni extract to moisturize your face to leave it feeling soft and supple. It doesn't contain any parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS - basically all natural - about 98.9% natural. The SPF 15 will protect your skin from UV damage, while the mineral pigments provide sheer and lightweight coverage - basically making this perfect to wear in the Summer or in very humid climates.

Now onto the live swatches. I swatched and wore all three of the colors for this review.

The Light shade has a pale grey and pink undertone. The Light/Medium shade has an orange and yellow undertone. The Medium shade has more of an orange and red undertone.

Here is the video which shows how the product swatches and wears live.

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It does have a distinct citrusy aroma to it so if you're sensitive to smells than I would suggest looking for a different kind of tinted moisturizer or at least picking up a sample of this before making the full purchase. I really wish that Burt's Bees would have created and released a wider shade range when they developed this. If you're lucky enough to find a shade from these three that suits you then I definitely recommend giving it a go. Make sure that you apply the product lightly and build it up if you need to. Also, be sure to give the color a few minutes to warm up and settle into your skin.

Overall, I love the idea behind this product, however, I am a little bit dissapointed in the color range as there isn't an shade that has my undertone. Hopefully, there will be additional shades added to this product as the beauty portion of the brand develops.

You can get these from Ricky's NYC for $14.99.

-PR Sample-

MAC Cosmetics Soft Serve Collection

Available online May 26, 2016

Available in store June 2 through July 14, 2016

Feast on servings of new MAC Cosmetics Soft Serve Shadow featuring a unique, bouncy texture, and Dare Hue! Brow Pencil. Delectable Soft Serve shades each layer smoothly onto the lid with buildable colour that’s long-wearing, non-creasing and simple delicious.Feast on servings of new Soft Serve Shadow featuring a unique, creamy, bouncy texture. 12 delectable shades each layer smoothly onto the lid with buildable color that’s long-wearing, non-creasing and simply delicious. Apply with the new 248 small eye shader brush.

Soft Serve Shadow SRP $22.00 US/$26.00 CAD

Bounce Around light, cool taupey silver (pearl) Quite Yummy! light pink (satin) Cushy Life light warm golden beige (pearl) Put Me To Shame mid-tone dirty taupe (satin) So So Saucy mid-tone peach (satin) Plead Guilty vibrant sparking gold (pearl) Jealous Girl mint green (satin) Must Be Lust sparkling bronzey tan (pearl) Girls , Girls! soft pastel purple (satin) Best Make Up light golden highlighter (pearl) Big Bad Blue soft pastel blue (satin) Softened Up mid-tone warm brown (satin)

Dare Hue! Brow Pencil SRP $16.50 US/$19.50 CAD

Violet Infused soft lavender Blonde Not Bland pastel peach Pink Confetti pastel pink Frisky Fresh soft mint green What A Highlight soft white gold highlighter Clearly Groomed nudey beige

Brush 2 4 8 Small Eye Shader SRP $25.00 US/$30.00 CAD

-Press Release-

Sunday Funday Giveaway with Sephora!

Happy Sunday! I can't believe how fast this week has gone by. I have a lot of work to catch up on - especially after all of the excitement last week at The Makeup Show. We will catch up on everything this week and have tons of new reviews coming out for you but for now, let's jump into this weeks Sunday Funday episode!

After last week's high-end giveaway with Givenchy and Make Up For Ever, I asked you all what you wanted for this week giveaway. I head a lot of options from Anastasia Beverly Hills to TooFaced Cosmetics and even some Colourpop so I figured why not give you all something where you can truly get anything that you want...a Sephora gift card! So this week we’re giving away 2 $40 Sephora.com gift cards! One to you and one to your BFF!

Here’s how to enter: 1. You must follow @candycoatedclosets on Instagram. 2. Like and repost the main giveaway image on Instagram with #SundayFundayWithCCC. 3. Leave a comment on this post tagging your BFF that will win with you. 4. You can enter up to 5 times but only if you enter with a new friend each time you tag. 5. No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so I can see your posts.You both must be following me by the end of the contest in order to win.

Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

Contest runs from Sunday, May 8, 2016 at 11:59pm EST and ends Thursday, May 12th at 11:59pmest. Winners will be announced within 48 hours of the contest ending.

Good luck love bugs! And don’t worry if you don’t have an Instagram to enter this round. I’m already planning next week’s giveaway!

Sunday Funday Giveaway with Givenchy and Make Up For Ever

So I can finally announce the newest series on the blog and this one is all about giving back to you! Every Sunday, we will have the amazing opportunity to play Sunday Funday - a new giveaway series that celebrates you and all of your support. This week we're giving away the following two prize packs! One to you and one to your BFF!

Prize Pack 1: 1 Givenchy Prisme Libre 1 light pastel 1 Milani Cosmetics Rose Powder Blush in 05 Coral Cove 1 Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Lengthening Mascara in Black

Prize Pack 2: 1 Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo in color 2 1 Milani Cosmetics Rose Powder Blush in 01 Romantic Rose 1 Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Lengthening Mascara in Black

Prize Pack 1:

Prize Pack 2:

Here's how to enter:

1. You must follow @candycoatedclosets on Instagram. 2. Like and repost the main giveaway image on Instagram with #SundayFundayWithCCC. 3. Leave a comment on this post with the prize pack that you want to win and tag your BFF that will win the other. 4. You can enter up to 5 times but only if you enter with a new friend each time you tag. 5. No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so I can see your posts. You both must be following me by the end of the contest in order to win.

Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

Contest runs from Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 10:59pm EST and ends Thursday, May 5th at 11:59est. Winners will be announced within 48 hours of the contest ending.

Good luck love bugs! And don't worry if you don't have an Instagram to enter this round. I'm already planning next week's giveaway! 😘

The Makeup Show NYC 2016 Blogger Preview/Backstage and Beyond Workshop Recap

I can't even begin to tell you how long my day was. I've been on my feet running around for about 14 hours and I think all I ate today were pretzels. Pretzels, Ginger Ale and Twizzlers and now that I'm finally sitting down to give you the recap of the day all I can do is sit here and smile. I wouldn't have it any other way.  Today, was the start of The Makeup Show NYC 2016. If you're following me on my social media channels, then you've been able to keep up with some of the activities of the day. If not, let's jump right into this recap shall we?

I am an ambassador for The Makeup Show so today, I was assisting the amazing...no, no AMAZING James Vincent and Orlando Santiago in their workshop Backstage and Beyond: Understanding Fashion Week Makeup. It was an 8 hour seminar with both instructors that was very intimate, hands on and educational. We spoke with James about his background and experience in working Fashion Weeks across the world and he gave us the behind the scenes exclusives about what you need to become a successful fashion runway artist. Even though I am more on the editorial coverage side of Fashion Week, I was able to take a way major highlights that I am able to use in furthering my own career.

During the hands on workshop, the makeup artist were given a challenge to create the perfect bold red lip. If I had to pick one tip as my favorite tip to share with you, it would be the one product that both instructors would not stop raving about - the Make Up For Ever Aqua Seal ($21).

Aqua Seal is a liquid converter that instantly transforms your favorite makeup products into waterproof and smudge-proof formulas without changing the texture. They both literally took one drop of this product and mixed into a red lip tar from OCC and it did not budge once applied. And again, I watched as they mixed one drop into a foundation by Kevyn Aucoin and what is normally described as a "too heavy and too thick" foundation was now applying like butter. So needless to say, I will be picking this up from the MUFE booth tomorrow. If you're not going to The Makeup Show, you can order a bottle here.

Next, we have the press blogger preview where we get chance to see what's what at the show before it officially opens. James Vincent, the Director of Artistry for The Makeup Show, gave us the highlights on keynote speakers, educational seminars, the brands attending and some of the new products that are launching this weekend. Here is a sneak peek at the gift bag that I received - products from Kevyn Aucoin, Kat Von D, Smashbox, OCC, Tarte Cosmetics, Eve Pearl, Naked Cosmetics, The Body Shop, Make Up For Ever, MustaeV USA, Kett Cosmetics, Embryolisse and so much more!

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Of course, I'll dive in more over the next few days, but for now, stay tuned to all of the coverage on TMS here!

How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer

Are you applying your favorite fragrance in the right spot?

Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal

Many people don’t realize the full impact of a fragrance and how it speaks for you without having to say a word. Your scent follows you wherever you go and lingers with each breath; so much so that it should be making and leaving an impression on the people that you meet. So whether or not you have a signature scent or you switch fragrances depending on the season, it’s clear that you want that scent to last as long as it can.

Sure, it’s important to choose a scent with specific notes that appeal to you and mix well with your natural essence and body oils but when you’re picking out a fragrance to wear, we want you to keep these four things in mind: projection, silage, intensity and longevity.

Projection (Distance) The projection of a fragrance is how far a scent radiates off of your skin and how it is perceived by others in the same room as you – if they are standing in close proximity to you or 10 feet away.

Sillage (Linger) The sillage of a fragrance is the length of time that a scent hangs around in the air after you leave a room. You can consider this your fragrance afterglow and scent trail that lingers when you are no longer present.

Intensity (Strength) The intensity of a fragrance is the strength and concentration of the notes, oils and aromatic compounds used in the final product. A fragrance will be stronger and more intense depending on the concentration and intensity of the notes, oils and aromatic compounds involved. In other words, it’s how hard the fragrance slaps you in the face once you catch a sniff of it which varies from Eau De Paufum’s, Eau de Toilette’s and Eau de Cologne’s.

Longevity (Endurance) The longevity of a fragrance is the amount of time that a scent clings to your skin. Similarly to the intensity of a fragrance, the longevity of a scent will depend on the concentration of the notes, oils and aromatic compounds used in the final product.

These terms are intimately related. Some fragrances can have great projection, poor silage and an intense scent and long longevity. On the other hand, some fragrances can have poor projection and low longevity while having a high silage and intensity. Honestly, it all depends on what is in the final product. And while you can’t control what’s in the bottle, there are a few fragrance tricks that you can do to help the scent last a little bit longer.

For starters, make sure that you’re misting your favorite fragrances on your pulse points to intensify the scent. Pulse points are the areas on your body that have the most veins under the skin, which makes them your hot spots. The heat will intensify the fragrance, help it to diffuse and release the top, heart, and base notes as you warm up throughout the day.

Sure, familiar spots such as your wrist and side of your neck are great areas to apply a scent, but to really make your scent last, try adding a spritz or two to a few of these other pulse points:

Pulse Points: - The Back of The Legs (Behind Your Knees) - Behind The Ears - Small of Your Back - Nape of Your Neck - Cleavage - Inside of Your Elbow - The Area Right Above Your Hip Bones - Belly Button - Hair - Under Your Arms

Fragrance is an art and your skin is a canvas. Once you purchase a bottle, you become the artist from and each pulse point on your body will help you get the most out of your scent.

A Kiss of Rose Gold - Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal

I can almost hear the sarcasm in Miranda Priestly’s voice as I open the panoply of spring floral fragrances that recently hit my desk. “Florals? For spring? Revolutionary!”

I guess the same can be said for floral fragrances that are centered around rose notes. It’s been one of the biggest trends in perfumery this year - harvesting rose notes and predominately using them in the fragrance formula - but I’m always left thinking…how creative can a perfumer be when there are a countless number of debutante rose, wild rose or garden rose fragrances already available?

When I opened the box for Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal, the dewy and faint rose accords took me on a journey; a sensory refuge - somewhere that I haven't been since I was a little girl. You see, when I was younger, I was fascinated with hybrid tea roses. My mother used to take me on trips to the New York Botanical Garden so that I could learn more about the various textures and two-toned ombré color combinations - the same thing that made my heart flutter when I was first presented with the pink-blushed ombré packaging of Rose Pompon.

It also didn't help that two of my favorite childhood shows had roses as a major focal point in their storyline. Do you remember Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon? To this day, I still get butterflies in my stomach when I see his red rose fly across the screen - a symbol of love and justice - as he arrives to save the Sailor Scouts.

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And then one of my all-time favorite Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast, that showcased an enchanted, magical rose floating in a glass dome.

Rose Pompon Inspo

These flashbacks were held in the seat of my memory and was seemingly unlocked by a quick sniff and intense look at this lighthearted floral rose fragrance. These memories are why I came to associate Rose Pompon as a unique sensory and emotional eau de toilette that exudes passion, fun and love.

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Rose Pompon fuses together top notes of summertime raspberries and blackcurrant that mingle together with spicy pink pepper for a flirty opening punch. Its heart notes open up to the sweet natural smelling essences of bulgarian rose, peonies and taïf rose, which exudes a joyful and sweet smelling innocence within the fragrance. For its final trail, the fragrance settles into a warm and velvet cloud of cedar, patchouli and white musk that adds depth and warmth to the scent. 

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The first thing that you notice about Rose Pompon in comparison to other rose fragrances is the packaging. The ombré pink-blushed bottle stands out with a fine double cord wrapped around its neck with a rose pompon pendant. I adore this simple but chic twist to the bottle design because it is adding a little bit more magic to my vanity.

The sprayer is a standard spritzer that is very powerful. I normally like to wear about 4 sprays of a fragrance on my hot spots but with Rose Pompon, I am able to spray two on my wrists and it noticeably lasts for 8-10 hours on me.

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It is available in a 3.4oz bottle on Annick Goutal's website and I cannot recommend another fragrance that would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day or even for a young girl as an introduction to her first chic and flirty floral rose scent.

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xoxo1

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.

-Affiliate Links-

Tory Burch Eau de Parfum - A Tomboy Chic Scent

When you create a namesake perfume, you want it to be an androgynous gem - something that isn't easily defined by a tradition label. And that's exactly what we got when Tory Burch decided to create her first namesake Eau de Parfum - Tory Burch.Tory Burch is a tomboy chic citrus Eau de Parfum from Tory Burch with a soft floral edge. It has polished notes of floral peony and tuberose that is blended with citrus hints of grapefruit, neroli and the earthy tones of jasmine sambac, vetiver and sandalwood. The spray comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a signature fretwork top. I was initially captivated by the beautiful glass bottle with the signature Tory Burch fretwork as the top. As I wore the fragrance, I immediately noticed the sweet mandarin and neroli top notes that is accented with the floral blast of the roses and beautiful lush peony notes. Once it began to dry down (after about 1.5 hours on me), I began to notice the fresh grapefruit and creamy tuberose gardenia scent.

Discover the Mystery of Korean Beauty with Leaders for Half the Price!

Have you ever been interested in learning more about Korean beauty or better yet, letting it become your next skincare addiction? K-beauty has exploded onto the US beauty and skincare market and with good cause - we can't cover up blemishes and bad skin with makeup forever so why not work on creating healthy and beautiful skin from the inside out? Well at least I know that's what did it for me - hellooo sheet masks! A sheet mask is a cloth or paper that has been designed to be saturated with top of the line ingredients and formulated so that your face can absorb all of its moisturizing nutrients and sometimes there is a little bit leftover so that you can rub it into your neck and décolletage. All you have to do is take the mask and place it onto your face for 10-15 minutes. Occasionally,  you may want to lightly tap it all over your face just to ensure that your face is absorbing as much as it can be.

Sheet masks can costs anywhere from $2-$150 - yup $150! So it's best to know exactly what you're looking for or at least want to try before purchasing any. Lucky for us, Leaders Cosmetics have put their sheet masks on sale for a buy one get one sale right now at Ulta Beauty.Leaders has freestanding mask stores all over Seoul and was brought over to the US by Ulta beauty. The brand offers affordable masks in cotton, biocellulose, and coconut gel that will help calm, soothe and nourish the skin.

Now for the sale. First, I decided to purchase the 7 Wonders Mediterranean Olive Brightening Mask ($6) to help with my dark circles and hyperpigmentation. Olive Oil, which was used by ancient mediterranean people as a remedy to troubled skin, will help to brighten dull, tired skin and help to even out skin tone. This mask is rich in healthy fats and phenolic antioxidant Vitamin E, which will help to smooth and brighten the skin, while the olive oil will help to rid skin of free radicals and repair existing environmental damage.Next, I decided to try the 7 Wonders Tundra Cranberry Anti-Aging Mask ($6) to help improves fine lines and wrinkles and deeply hydrate my skin (kind of how I deep conditioner my hair for hours). Cranberry, which can be found in the arctic tundra, is a highly resilient superfood that contains the highest content of unsaturated oil. Its anti-aging properties will help to eliminate free radicals caused by oxidative stress to prevent premature aging. And because I'm obsessed with rejuvenating my skin, I ordered the Daily Wonders What Happened Last Night Revitalizing Mask ($4) to help refresh my skin and give it a dewy and radiant glow. Its Ginseng and artemisia extracts will soothe and refresh your skin and increase the production of collagen.Normally, all of these masks would have cost me $80 but I ended up getting them for $42 (plus 3% cashback from Ebates)! This sale is valid through April 23rd, 2016, so click here now and go order a few! I'll update you all in another post and on social after I use some of these.

 -Affiliate Links-

Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette – Review & Swatches On A Woman of Color

Look at it. No, no, scroll back up and look at the palette again. Isn't it so beautiful? This is the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette.

"Be sweet as a peach with these fresh-picked shades infused with the juicy scent and antioxidant-rich essence of peach. Create endless looks with 18 shades of peachy pinks, corals, bronzes, and pops of purples that will have you looking summer-fresh year-round."

As always, I applied these swatches with the Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eye Shadow Primer Potion as a base for the shadows to really make the colors pop.

 -Affiliate Links-

MAC Cosmetics Chris Chang Collection

 China’s most outlandish fashion designer, Chris Chang, puts an acid-soaked twist on her modern MAC Cosmetics collection, featuring a vivid kaleidoscope of cutting-edge colour, inspired by the ancient Chinese art form Kunqu. Surreal hues of Lipstick, Cream Colour Base and Eye Shadow, and specially designed packaging, are saturated in her signature dramatic flair.

Available online May 5, 2016

Available in store May 12, 2016 through June 9, 2016

Available International June 2016 at select MAC locations

Lipstick GOLD XIXI pastel lemony yellow (lustre) CLOUD GAIT pastel turquoise (lustre) PLUM PRINCESS pastel plummy lavender (matte) DDDEVILISH pastel hotel pink (matte) VERMILLION VEE clean, true red (matte) SRP: $20.00 US/$25.00 CAD

  

Fluidline BLACKTRACK solid, flat black SRP: $17.50 US/$21.00 CAD

Eye Shadow ROYAL WOO pastel lemony yellow (matte) PALE PIPA pastel turquoise (matte) ELECTRIC MANDARIN neon mandarin orange (matte) MU MU BLOOM hot pink (matte) SRP: $17.00 US/$20.50 CAD

Cream Colour Base PEONY PAVILION hot pink RICH CORAL orange SOCK-IT XIQU dirty lavender SRP: $23.00 US/$27.50 CAD

Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed white/transparent SRP: $29.50 USD/$35.00 CAD

-Press Release-

AJ Crimson Beyond Beauty, Building Your Beauty Business - a Multicultural Beauty Event Recap

Last Thursday, you followed me to the AJ Crimson Beyond Beauty, Building Your Beauty Business Event at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Joined by special guests Dascha Polanco, Actress from the hit show Orange Is the New Black, Ricky Kenig, the founder of Ricky's NYC, Angel "Mac Daddyy" Merino, Celebrity MUA & Founder of Artist Couture, and Nykhor Paul, the Model/Activist who penned an open letter to address the fashion world's inability and ignorance in working with models who have darker complexions, Crimson led a round discussion to examine the business of building a multicultural beauty brand. 

This was a great time for AJ to hold this panel because it is time to benefit from diversity and bring all of the dimensions of universal beauty to the forefront. Nielsen examined the spending power of black super consumers and reported, "As the numbers of multicultural consumers continue to grow, so too will their purchasing power. Already, U.S. multicultural buying power is growing at an exponential rate compared to the total U.S., increasing from $661 billion in 1990 to $3.4 trillion in 2014. This is more than double the growth of total U.S. buying power." In addition, a recent Euromonitor video outlined five reasons as to why multicultural beauty should be at the forefront of beauty and personal care companies:

1. The fastest-growing beauty markets are Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
2. The United States, the largest beauty market (comprising some 20% of the global total), is experiencing a demographic shift toward non-Caucasian populations that have growing income power.
3. Tourism to the United States from non-Caucasian countries is expanding.
4. Six of the top 10 beauty markets of 2020 will be non-Caucasian.
5. Rising urbanization in non-Caucasian markets is creating new income and beauty needs for work and social activities. These consumers will increasingly indulge in premium brands and demand personalized solutions.

Watch and listen below to hear insights from the panel:

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ABOUT AJ CRIMSON: A self-taught makeup artist, AJ fell in love with giving women the tools and permission to fall in love with themselves again by helping them find their true beauty both outwardly and from within.  Through those experiences, AJ learned several invaluable lessons and built his brand on the concept of, “it’s not about restructuring your face, but enhancing what you already have. As an Entrepreneur, Makeup Artist and Beauty & Lifestyle Expert, and one of the most trusted names and leading authorities in the beauty industry.  AJ’s established reputation as an innovative beauty solutionist has made him and his products first choice for artists and celebrities including Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas, Hilary Duff, Adrienne Bailon of The REAL, Seryah of Fox’s Empire, Christina Milian, Brandy, Raven-Symone, Estelle, Regina King, Angela Bassett, Ameriie, Letoya Luckett, Keyshia Cole, Missy Elliot and more.  His products are also used on the television series American Horror Story, Empire, Scandal, Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, The View, VH1’s Hit the Floor, The Real, and the box office smash The Hunger Games and in countless runway shows. AJ’s work has been featured in fashion, beauty and music magazines worldwide including Vogue, Glamour, Marie Claire, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, Essence and leading Japanese Entertainment magazines Blenda and Luire.  He has also had the opportunity to work alongside some of the best in the business including Pat McGrath for Paris Fashion Week and was delighted to have a hand in creating cutting edge beauty techniques under the masterful instruction and eyes of makeup impresarios Joann Gair and Mathu Anderson.

The AJ Crimson Beauty cosmetic line, like most great inventions, was borne out of necessity. “I felt like there was an absolute need to bring products to women that actually worked and didn’t oxidize or change,” explains Crimson. “I wanted to create a product inclusive of women of all ethnicities, a product all women could find ownership in and believe in. So often, makeup has been designed with a one size fits all mentality, and with black women and women of color my cosmetic line contains shades for women of every ethnic background."

AJ Crimson...we give you a slow clap.

MAC Cosmetics Good Luck Trolls Collection

Hair we go! The wild-haired dolls of your youth bring their rainbow tufts, bejeweled bellies and lucky charms to M·A·C Good Luck Trolls — a crazy-hued collection as silly as the characters themselves. Being a troll has never been so glamorous!

M∙A∙C COSMETICS ANNOUNCES

M∙A∙C Good Luck Trolls

#MACGoodLuckTrolls

Coming online July 28, 2016, in stores August 4, 2016

LIPSTICK

Can’t be Tamed sheer lime yellow (cremesheen)

Sushi Kiss mid-tone coral cream (satin)

Dance Off Pants Off frosted hot pink (frost)

Midnight Troll rich blue (matte)

Suggested Retail Price $18.00 US/$21.50 CAD

LIPGLASS

Bubble Butt magenta w/ fine pink and blue glitter

Twerkquoise transparent sky blue w/ fine pink reflect

Saint Germain light cool pink

Glitter Grunge sheer berry w/ extra fine silver sparkle

Suggested Retail Price $16.00 US/$19.50 CAD

EYE SHADOW

Paradisco bright pinky-coral w/ pearl (frost)

Black Tied black w/ silver sparkle (velvet)

Silly Vanilly white w/ very fine silver glitter (satin)

Suns Out, Buns Out mustard yellow w/ pearl (veluxe pearl)

Atlantic Blue cobalt blue (matte)

Suggested Retail Price $17.00 US/$20.50 CAD

PIGMENT

Chartreuse frosted chartreuse green

Suggested Retail Price $23.00 US/ $27.50 CAD

GLITTER

Fuschia fine fuschia glitter

Suggested Retail Price $23.00 US/ $27.50 CAD

REFLECTS GLITTER

Reflects Transparent Teal very fine reflective teal glitter

Reflects Purple Duo very fine reflective violet glitter

Suggested Retail Price $23.00 US/ $27.50 CAD

BEAUTY POWDER

Glow Rida iridescent powder matched in Beauty Powder, Beige

Play it Proper pastel soft pink w/ sparkles

Suggested Retail Price $27.00 US/ $32.50 CAD

CHROMA CRAZE

Tease and Thank You bright cobalt blue

Good Luck Locks bubblegum pink

Suggested Retail Price $20.00 US/ $24.00 CAD

BRUSH

187SH Duo Fibre Face Brush

Suggested Retail Price $43.00 US/$52.00 CAD

-Press Release-

Get Full & Soft Bouncy Curls With Your Natural Hair

My natural curls didn't always look like this. Heck who am I kidding? There are still times when my natural curls are my worst nightmare. However, the past few months, they have been a breeze to work with and have really made me begin to question why I was flat ironing my hair for so many years.

So here is an easy way to get full and soft bouncy curls (without any heat) with your natural hair.

(The styling products that I use for my curls)

First, make sure that you cleanse your hair with a Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser. For the past few months, I've been using the Coconut & Hibiscus Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser from SheaMoisture which helps to remove any build up and gives my hair the satisfaction of a shampoo wash without stripping my hair of its natural oils and still moisturizes my curls.

After cleansing my hair, I normally let it air dry and depending on how much time I have I may let it air dry for an hour to overnight before installing my styling tools. Now for my styling tools, I love using my flexi rods to give me defined curls without using any heat. I use the Diane By Fromm 42-pack Twist-flex Rods pack because it has a variety of rod sizes which I use throughout my hair for volume and definition. 

Now you're ready to begin! You want to start off by sectioning off your hair which will make it easier to apply your styling products and flexi rods. Next, you may want to lightly spritz your hair with some water before adding in your oil and leave-in conditioner depending on how moisturized your hair is. I lightly mist my hair before applying anything just to help smooth out my hair and I also find that it helps to hold the curl longer (it does make the drying time a little bit longer though).

Once that is done, I take my Coconut Oil by OGX and mix it together with the Curling Gel Souffle from SheaMoisture and rake that through my hair. I follow this up by adding in the Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner because it works as a sealant to close the hair cuticle and locks in all of the moisture that I just added.

Now, you can take your flexi rods and start placing them in your hair. There are many different techniques to applying your flexi rods so try playing around with them to find out which works with your hair. I like to install them by starting at the end of my hair and then rolling them up to the roots. Once I reach the top of my head, I secure the rods by bending them in a comfortable position that will hold the curls.

And that's it! Normally, I will let these dry in my hair overnight or if I need a quick curl touch up in the morning, I will repeat all of these steps and let it sit for about 30 minutes to an hour. Just to make it a little bit easier, I put together this quick pictorial to show you how I achieved these curls with no heat.

 And the final outcome...Now we want to be able to preserve these curls for about 4 to 7 days. So before getting ready for bed, pull your hair up into a Pineapple on the top of your head with a hair tie wrapped around the hair once to lightly hold it in place. Then, wrap a satin scarf around your hair to help preserve the curls and keep them from frizzing. In the morning, all you have to do is unwrap your hair, remove your hair tie and shake out your curls. Oh and here's a tip! Once you get the hang of this, your second and third day curls will look even better than your first day of curls. The photos from this post (of me in the blazer and blue shirt as well as the pineapple picture) are of me rocking my curls on Day 4. Yeah...let that set in for a second.

Products used: Coconut & Hibiscus Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser from SheaMoisture Diane By Fromm 42-pack Twist-flex Rods Coconut Oil by OGX Curling Gel Souffle from SheaMoisture Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner

-Affiliate Links-

Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Is Set to Debut Fall 2017

Rihanna's upcoming cosmetics collection is a "beauty rocket ship", according to Kendo businessman David Suliteanu.

MAC Cosmetics Riri Hearts MAC Collection

Rihanna is set to launch her own make-up collection called Fenty Beauty under LVMH Moët Hennesy Louis Vuitton - the company that is also responsible for the development of Kat Von D Beauty and Marc Jacobs Beauty.

Rihanna has previously collaborated with MAC Cosmetics on its Viva Glam lipstick campaign, as well as the Riri Hearts MAC collection which broke the internet in 2013. Her other notable collaborations include her collection with Manolo Blahnik, her ongoing partnership with Puma. In addition to this, she also has seven fragrances that were produced with Parlux Ltd.

As of now, it is reported that the Fenty Beauty line will be launched at Sephora where Sephora is available, and it is expected to be distributed at other suitable retailers where there are no Sephora stores available.

City Color Highlight Trio in Collection #2 Review and Swatches

The City Color Highlight Trio in collection 2 features three stunning highlight shades that is stored together in one convenient palette and the best part about this is that it's only $8.99!

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I love everything about this palette. The price point;the silky formula; how easy it is to travel with - this is a must have palette for every woman of color that wants an every day glow.

MAC Cosmetics Selena Collection - The First Look

Excuse me as I go and press play on the entire Selena album on my itunes playlist just for this news! MAC Cosmetics has finally announced a date for the #MACSelena collection and given us a sneak peek! (Available October 2016 in select markets!)

From MAC Cosmetics Instagram account @MACCosmetics "A preview of Como La Flor Lipstick, one of the products from the upcoming #MACSelena collection!@SelenaQOfficial’s vivacious music and style lives on through the passion of her fans and her impact on Latin beauty and culture. #MACSelena is a makeup collaboration inspired by the devotion of all those who continue to be touched by the young legend, tenderly curated with Selena’s own sister, Suzette Quintanilla. “I wanted the colours to be about her personally, what she wore on and offstage,” says Suzette. “She has been gone for 21 years already, and for this collaboration to happen, it’s pretty much incredible. It just shows the love her fan base has even though she’s gone; that her music still lives on and her legacy has grown tremendously since she’s passed. It’s a great honour to have M·A·C collaborate with Selena’s name and her fans — FOR her fans.” Available October 2016 in select markets!

Este es un vistazo del Lipstick Como La Flor, ¡uno de los productos de la próxima colección #MACSelena! La música vivaz y el estilo de @SelenaQOfficial vive a través de la pasión de sus fans y de su impacto en la belleza y la cultura latina.#MACSelena es una colaboración de maquillaje inspirada por la devoción de todos aquellos que siguen siendo tocados por la joven leyenda, curada con ternura por la propia hermana de Selena, Suzette Quintanilla: "Quería que los colores representaran su personalidad, lo que usaba dentro y fuera del escenario", dice Suzette. “Ya han pasado 21 años desde que ella se ha ido, y que esta colaboración sucediera, es casi increíble. Esto sólo demuestra el amor que sus verdaderos fans le tienen a pesar de que dejó de estar con nosotros; que su música sigue viva y su legado ha crecido enormemente desde que ella se fue. Es un gran honor que M·A·C colabore con el nombre de Selena y sus fans – PARA sus fans.” ¡Disponible en octubre 2016 en ciertos mercados!"

Her husband, Chris Perez, is also reporting that Como La Flor is an exact shade that Selena used to wear!

From MAC Cosmetics snapchat: 

Pictured here (clockwise from top): Eye Shadow in Selena, Lipstick in Como La Flor, Lipstick in Amor Prohibido, Eye Shadow in Fotos y Recuerdos, Lipstick in Dreaming of You, and Techno Cumbia Blush Duo in Ven Conmigo and Blunt. Info from @maccosmetics

We finally got a sneak peek at the full #MACSelena collection that is dropping in October 2016!

Lipsticks · Como La Fluer – beautiful red · Dreaming of You - A deeper tone brick red/berry · Amor Privido Nude tone 5 eyeshadows – all named after her songs · Black “Is it the Beat” – she tended to wear it in the corner of her eyes · Purple – Selena · No te quiero mas

There is also a Blush brush, Contour compact and Eyeliner and mascara to go along with everything. And there is an online Exclusive Selena - Bidi Bidi Bom Bom. It looks like it’s a lipglass. (Bottom right corner pic) Please note that this is what I could grab off of Periscope so the names could be wrong. Make sure that you head to @maccosmetics periscope now to view the full story from @selenaqofficial's sister now!

MAC Cosmetics Brooke Candy Collection

Just when I thought we had a break from shopping...

INTRODUCING: 

M∙A∙C Brooke Candy

Available online April 28, 2016

Available in store May 5, 2016 through June 16, 2016

#MACBrookeCandy

Independent digital sensation Brooke Candy is back to M·A·C with a transformative colour collection that unites the past, present and future of her creative spirit. Illusions melt away with brazen shades for eyes, lips and nails that dare you to stand up and stand out.

LIPSTICK Mind Control bright cherry red ( amplified) Witching Hour rich purple (matte) Doo-Wop pink pop (matte) Whirl dirty rose (matte) SRP $18.00 U S/$22.50 CAD

LIP PENCIL Night Crawler deep plum Whirl dirty rose SRP $17.50 U S/$21.50 CAD

VAMPLIFY Till Death Do Us Part intense dark purple Pamela dirty rose SRP $ 21.00 US/$25.50 CAD

BRONZING POWDER Golden muted golden-tan beige w /shimmer SRP $27.00 U S/$32.50 CAD

M·A· C STUDIO EYE GLOSS White-Yin shimmer white w/multi-coloured pearl Black-Yang black w /red a nd blue pearl SRP $23.00 US/$27.50 CAD

LIQUID EYE LINER Boot Black intense black SRP $ 22.00 US/$25.50 CAD

HAUTE & NAUGHTY LASH Haute & Naughty Black black SRP $23.00 US/$28.50 CAD

M·A·C STUDIO NAIL LACQUER Madame Candy nude cream (cream) Black Stallion midnight purple (cream) SRP $13.00 U S/$15.50 CAD

-Press Release-

Tarte Rainforest of The Sea Water Foundation Review and Swatches

If you're looking for a new full coverage and lightweight foundation for summer that has SPF sunscreen built into it then you may want to check out the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation Review

The Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation comes in 12 shades. It is infused with Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea complex and includes a non-chemical SPF 15 sunscreen. It is designed with 20 percent water to quench dry skin, soften the look of pores and fine lines, and will cover and mask any redness, dark spots, and uneven skin tone. It's hypoallergenic formula will also help to restore, brighten, and defend skin from free radical damage.

There are 12 shades and I have 4 of them to show you for our foundation review series:  Light neutral, Light-medium honey, Medium honey and Tan sand.

Unfortunately, there isn't a shade that is deep enough that matches my skin and under tones so I won't be able to give you a thorough photo review of it on me. However, I wore Tan Sand for about 3 hours around the house as I did some spring cleaning. It is in-fact a very light weight and thin foundation, that kind of reminded me of the NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation just without the luminous glow. The coverage is sheer to medium and can be built up upon for a fuller coverage but I recommend using this like you would a BB cream.

Again, this is going to be great for the hot summer months when you don't want to wear a heavy foundation and it has SPF sunscreen built into it already. Tarte Cosmetics is running their 30% off friends & family sale from April 12-15 so this is the perfect time to check it out.