Blaq Vixen Beauty

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:

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:

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:

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:

More Beautyblender...

Which ones would you choose?

Photo via WireImage

Forgive me - I just found out that this new inclusive palette from Iman Cosmetics is hitting stores January 15th! By the looks of it, the IMAN EYE-CON Collection, $35 seems to be a great item for someone who wants to step up their eye makeup game (like me). It has a built-in mirror, four trios of eyeshadow shades (Classic Smoky, Golden Romance, Edgy Emerald and Cool Violet), brow liner (Blackest Brown Eyebrow Pencil) and a jet black eye liner (Jet Black Perfect Eye Pencil). Of course, easy-to-follow instructions are included so that you can take your dazzling looks from classic to shimmering, smoldering or radiant.

Iconic is just a swipe away.

Iman Cosmetics have put together this mini guide to help you decide which foundation you need to use in order to put your best face forward. For reference, I am NW40/NC45 in MAC, Caramel in Revlon ColorStay and Clay 2-3 in Iman Cosmetics.

Read on to see which Iman foundation you should buy!

Excited as I was to finally review Paula Begoun's "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," 7th Edition, today I am even more excited because of two things. First, not only am I receiving the 8th Edition (which came out January 2010) but Ms. Begoun's office asked me if there were any specific lines that I think they should review.

My picks would be Steelo Cosmetics, Black Radiance, Black Opal, Iman Cosmetics, Flori Roberts, Fashion Fair, Interface, and the CoverGirl Queen Collection.

I'm extremely curious to know what WOC friendly brands you all would love to see in the book. Just leave a comment and I'll be sure to pass along the information!

The fashion inspiration behind Deola Sagoe was a "precise, no-nonsense, geometric, mixed media feel in military tones of black, pewter, grey and navy."

The concept behind the makeup was "emphasis on bold, dramatic brows with sheer, neutral contoured face, eyes and lips."

eyes. Blackest Brown Perfect Eyebrow Pencil. IMAN Luxury Eye Defining Powder in Bewitched. Perfect Mascara.

cheeks. IMAN Luxury Blushing Powder in Sable.

lips.IMAN Perfect Lip Pencil in Tan. Crystal Luxury Lip Shimmer.

Model Sessilee Lopez getting made up backstage. Model Sessilee Lopez with celebrity makeup artist Valente Frazier

The fashion inspiration behind Loincloth & Ashes was "a fusion of soft and architectural textures in putty, charcoal and black popped with touches of lapis blue."

The concept behind the makeup was "emphasis on bronzed skin and soft earth-toned eyes and lips."

[eyes] IMAN Luxury Duo Eyeshadow in Bronze Goddess. IMAN Perfect Eye Pencil in Jet Black. IMAN Perfect Mascara.

[cheeks] Clay Sheer Bronzing Powder.

[lips] IMAN Luxury Lip Shine Gloss in Expose

More Iman...

Editor's note: This post is under construction as I am taking better photos!

I can't even express how happy I am right now! This feels like homecoming to me! I never realized how much I loved face-of-the-days (actually, this was my face I did last night so it's actually a "face-of-the-night") until I took pictures. Believe me, I took so many pictures until I found one that I wouldn't mind showing on the blog. I used my beautyblender but I forgot to do the first step: Dampen your beautyblender with water and then towel dry to remove access water. I used mine dry and here's how everything turned out.

Want to know what I used in my first face-of-the-day (FOTD) of 2010? Want to see more photos? Peep the details!