Blaq Vixen Beauty

In Retrospect: 11 Favorite Spokebeauties of 2011 Feat Joan Smalls, Paula Patton, Solange and More

BlaqVixenBeauty — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:07:54 AKST

In 2011, we rooted for our favorite spokesbeauties and welcomed new, exciting campaigns starring some of the world's most stunning faces. Behold, a look at some of the year's best hair and beauty ads:

JOURDAN DUNN for YVES SAINT LAURENT

Featuring Yves Saint Laurent's most iconic product, "magic wand" Touche Éclat, this elegant ad marked model mama Jourdan Dunn's first solo beauty campaign. It was also her first major partnership with a beauty brand.

GATE MAYA HAILE for FASHION FAIR

Gate Maya Haile may have intially studied nursing but now she's killing us with her flawless good looks and delicious bronze skin. Starring in Fashion Fair's stunning holiday ad with makeup by Creative Director and makeup master Sam Fine, there's no way we can resist her "Siren Call." [...]

The Vanity: CoverGirl Queen Collection Names Paula Patton as New Celebrity Spokesbeauty

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:18:21 AKDT

"Jumping the Broom" actress Paula Patton has a new leading role: CoverGirl Queen Collection spokesbeauty. This comes as no surprise as she and Queen Latifah not only starred in "Just Wright" together but it was kind of hard to miss the CoverGirl Queen Collection product placement in the movie! So a partnership between Queen Latifah and Paul Patton seemed likely in the future.

Patton will be promoting three CoverGirl Queen Collection products in January: Vivid Impact Eyeliner, Natural Hue Matte Pressed Powder and LashFanatic Mascara.

CoverGirl Queen Collection Lash Fanatic Waterproof Mascara, Very Black - $6.49	CoverGirl Queen Collection Vivid Impact Eyeliner, Midnight - $7.49
CoverGirl Queen Collection Lash Fanatic Mascara, Very Black - $6.49	CoverGirl Queen Collection Lash Fanatic Mascara, Very Black - $6.49
CoverGirl Queen Collection Lasting Matte Pressed Powder, Light - Sold Out	CoverGirl Queen Collection Lasting Matte Pressed Powder, Golden - $6.49
CoverGirl Queen Collection Lasting Matte Pressed Powder, Golden Medium - $6.49	CoverGirl Queen Collection Lash Fanatic Mascara, Black - $6.49

More Clothing...

You Can Get With This or You Can Get With That: The Beauty Preferences Edition

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:23:54 AKDT

I've forgotten how fun it is to participate in a beauty tag...even if I tend to overthink my answers! The stunning Khadine from Cosmetic Passion recently tagged me on her blog in a beauty preference meme in which I have to choose one beauty product in a series of questions:

[blush] or [bronzer]?

Sure, I love using bronzer as blush, eyeshadow and as a highlight, but nothing beats a gorgeous, ethereal glow you can get with a coral-, orange- or peach-hued blush. My favorites:

Blush - $27.00	MAC Mineralize Blush - $22.00
Milani Baked Powder Blush Red Vino - Sold Out	Black Radiance Artisan Color Baked Blush Warm Berry - Sold Out
IMAN Luxury Blushing Powder - Sold Out	Tarte Natural Beauty Cheek Stain - $30.00

Face Blush by Iman

[lipstick] or [lip gloss]?

Purple lipstick please! But I think I might be wearing a host of fun lip tattoos this fall just because I hear they stay on forever with minimal retouching. My favorites:

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick - Sold Out	Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - Sold Out
IMAN Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick - Sold Out	CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick - Sold Out
M·A·C 'Midnight Blue' Lipstick - Sold Out	Semi Matte Lipstick - $24.00

Lipstick by M·A·C

[eyeliner] or [mascara]?

I know winged eyeliner and its variations is hot right now but give me a great mascara to define my eyes. Too much work to get the perfect cat eye nowadays! My favorites:

Mascara at Target

[foundation] or [concealer]?

Hands down, I have to choose foundation---especially a cream foundation that can double as a concealer. My favorites: In progress.

[neutral eyeshadow] or [colored eyeshadow]?

I love a nice wash of a metallic, neutral eyeshadow just because I'm too lazy to blend colored eyeshadow and make it look presentable. Besides, metallic eyeshadow is a great Fall trend! See below!

[loose eyeshadow] or [pressed eyeshadow]?

I hate loose shadow (too messy) but it doesn't stop me from using the loose eyeshadows that I have. I love pressed eyeshadows in palettes though...granted that I don't break them! [laughs] My favorites:

M·A·C Eyeshadow - $15.00	L'Oreal-HiP Metallic Eyeshadow Duo - $8.49
Revlon 12 Hour Eyeshadow Quad - Sold Out	IMAN Luxury Eyeshadow - Sold Out
Urban Decay Naked Palette - $50.00

More Ulta...

[brushes] or [sponges]?

Believe it or not, I prefer using my BeautyBlender over my makeup brushes. I know there are people out there who think the BeautyBlender is nothing special but I have to disagree. First off, you're supposed to use it to stipple foundation, blush, etc. on the skin. If you use it like a regular sponge, you'll be disappointed. I love it because the technique is so artistic to me. My favorites:

Beautyblender Beautyblender® - $19.95	Beautyblender Beautyblender® Set - $34.95
Beautyblender Beautyblender® Duo Set - $39.95

More Beautyblender...

Which ones would you choose?

Photo via WireImage

The Vanity: Trendsetter Tracee Ellis Ross Spills Her Beauty, Health & Fashion Confessions in the Jet October 17th Issue

BlaqVixenBeauty — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:15:52 AKDT

Ebony Magazine said it best when they said "addictions come in many forms." No one knows this better than Tracee Ellis Ross aka the "single girl's bestie" from TV's Girlfriends turned hot, happily married therapist in BET's new sitcom Reed Between the Lines.

Additionally to Ross's Trendsetter Spotlight feature in the October issue of Ebony, she is the cover girl for JET Magazine October issue. In "Style Spotlight on Tracee Ellis Ross" and "Our Girlfriend in Back," Ross brings us up to speed about her favorite beauty products, fashion brands and how she maintains her killer figure:

[Ebony & JET] Dream product/Tracee's hair essentials: Kerastase Serum Oleo-Relax. "I love Kerastase products, especially [Oleo-Relax], It's expensive, but it lasts a long time. There's something about this serum that coats my hair and smoothes the cuticle." She tells JET, "It's the key to getting a glossy, smooth blowout with out being bone-straight so there's still some volume to it."

[JET] Best Curly hair tip: "Brush your hair when it's soaking wet and filled with conditioner. Once you have completed brushing your hair and getting the tangles out, do not put a brush back into your hair."

[Ebony & JET] Cheap thrill/Favorite places to shop: "I freaking love Zara. Zara, Zara, Zara. My closet is filled with Zara." In addition, Ross shops at American Apparel. "All of my favorite summer dresses were $15.99 from Urban Outfitters. You can find great shoes there, too."

[JET] Workouts she swears by: The Tracy Anderson method (available on DVD). Or online ballet classes at balletbeautiful.com. "While doing the exercises, I feel sexy, I feel beautiful, I am laughing my ass off and I have a ball," she says.

COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Mascara Collection - Sold Out	Kerastase Nutritive Oleo - Relax - Sold Out
Sheswai Lacquer Nail Polish - $16.00	MAC Lipstick - $14.50

Lipstick by M·A·C

Cassie Wears CoverGirl, Melody Ehsani and Minx in Wiz Khalifa's Roll Up Video

BlaqVixenBeauty — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:28:45 AKST

Editor's note: Thanks to Blaq Vixen Beauty reader Liliana B, this post has been updated with the correct information. Very sorry for the confusion!

Update: Get Cassie's Dimepiece Designs La Mode Crop Top at Karmaloop.com Save 10% (returning customers) or 20% when you use rep code BLAQVIXEN at checkout.

Another beauty mystery solved! This time, I finally learned what shade of lipstick Cassie was wearing in Wiz Khalifa's "Roll Up" video. I asked celebrity makeup artists Mylah Morales about the shade on Tumblr but she couldn't recall the brand. Then I received an email from one of my awesome contacts at CoverGirl. That pretty pink pucker is courtesy of CoverGirl Lip Perfection in Enchantress. I'm picking this up ASAP!!

Now get her jewelry and nails!

How to Get Dania Ramirez's 2011 People's Choice Awards Makeup Look

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:35:00 AKST

According to celebrity makeup artist Matthew VanLeeuwen, Dania’s makeup was inspired by her dress. "She called me earlier that day to tell me how in love she was [with her dress] and thought that she wanted a red lip. I totally agreed with [her] once I saw her outfit. Her beauty look was classic with a twist. We stuck with a fairly clean, pale lid and sculpted brows, but I also wanted to add a little gold to the eyes in honor of COVERGIRL’s 50th Anniversary."

Classic with a twist...does this appeal to you?

Weekly Roundup: What Chilli Wants 2 + Secret Kisses by Keyshia Dior + CVS Beauty Club

BlaqVixenBeauty — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:53:31 AKST

We officially survived the first week of January! We have some more beauty posts coming up that will be on the site later on today but for now, we wanted to do a quick link roundup. Here are the posts for the first week of January just in case you missed them:

In regards to the blog, we have some great news: Earlier this week, Chenelle of Women of Change expressed a desire to add a weekly beauty feature to her blog. Every week, she'll link to her favorite posts here on Blaq Vixen Beauty. For example, this week it was the IMAN Eye-Con collection and the China Glaze Anchors Away collection.

Next, my Pink Friday 4 lipstick finally came and I need you to help me decide what to do - is a giveaway in order or would a how to wear it post with dupes be more beneficial? Vote in the poll! It's live for three more weeks but right now it's a tie, surprisingly.

Also, are you need in some free software geared toward women? If so, then enter our ChicaPC-fix Software giveaway. 20 winners will each receive a 1-year license key by email. This giveaway will end on January 29, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST

Anything new in your world?

Promotions: Did You Remember to Order Your CoverGirl Lip Perfection Shades Yet?

BlaqVixenBeauty — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:46:13 AKST

CoverGirl Lip Perfection

The online exclusive preview for CoverGirl's Lip Perfection shades ends on December 5th...did you remember to order your shades? Just like the new CoverGirl Queen Collection lipsticks debuting in January 2011, these Lip Perfection Lipsticks are also enhanced with silk therapy moisturizers to help your transform your lips to their most luscious potential in just 7 days!

Now where to order online? Your best best is Walgreens, Soap.com, eStore, CVS, or Amazon. However, Drugstore.com have all 44 shades in stock.

Update: I bought CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks in Divine and Spellbound!

Join the Red Revival with CoverGirl Queen Lip Colors Swatches in Cherry Bomb. Shiny Port Wine & Bordeaux

BlaqVixenBeauty — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:21:06 AKST

Photo courtesy of For the Love of Free.

I had to take a break from buying more lipstick from Maybelline and Revlon to shop my stash. I discovered that I had three red shades from the CoverGirl Queen Collection Vibrant Hue Lipstick range in Cherry Bomb, Shiny Port Wine and Bordeaux (disclosure). Let's take a look at them, shall we?

Say you love me in my red lipstick...

Promotions: Win a CoverGirl Queen Collection Goody Bag from Urban Beauty Collective

BlaqVixenBeauty — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:57:32 AKDT

Celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine uses various CoverGirl Queen Collection products on Queen Latifah for the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards back in 2009.

Ending in three days on April 16th, enter to win a CoverGirl Queen Collection Goody Bag from Urban Beauty Collective. They've already revealed some of the items included in the package to include the CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Minerals Bronzer (proper review coming soon!), CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara (review) and the CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast (review).

All you have to do is send UBC your profile picture (I assume you must be a member) and tell why you love the CoverGirl Queen Collection to earn an entry in the giveaway. Email your response to urbanbeautycollective at gmail dot com.

The winner will be announced on Monday, April 19th so make sure you check back to see if you won.

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara - $6.94	Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara Ultra Black Organics - $10.99
Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies - Sold Out	Maybelline XXL Pro Mascara - Sold Out
Covergirl NatureLuxe Water Resistant Mousse Mascara Very Black 520 - Sold Out	L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara - Sold Out
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara Carbon Black - $8.99	Lancome - Sold Out
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara - $7.39	Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara - Sold Out
CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara - Sold Out	L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara Blackest Black - $11.99