Blaq Vixen Beauty

Rip the Runway 2010: Tai Beauchamp + Body by Victoria + CoverGirl

BlaqVixenBeauty — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:50:24 -0500

Let's talk about makeup and bras. Honestly, the only other reason why I tuned in was for the beauty tips. I wasn't expecting to see Tai Beauchamp (@taibeau) talking about Body by Victoria but I'm glad that she did. It was one of the highlights of the show. She reminds us why Body of Victoria should be a staple in our wardrobe:

"The perfect outfit needs an even better base and the wireless by Victoria is just that - the perfect fit. It's lightweight, it's supportive, there's no wires, there's no tugging, and no embarrassing lines. Smooth, sleek and sexy but better yet, doesn't even feel like it's there. From the catwalk to your closet, Body by Victoria has got you covered." Click the picture of Chanel Iman in the Body by Victoria Demi Bra for more information.

Then of course, Alesha Renee talked about the products from the CoverGirl Beauty Bar, like the LashBlast Length Mascara, Smoky Shadow Blast Shadow Stick in Onyx Smoke, Shine Blast Lipgloss, and Queen Collection Compact Foundation.

Speaking of CoverGirl, they have a new LashBlast mascara titled LashBlast Fusion. Instead of delivering just length (like CoverGirl LashBlast Length) or just volume (like CoverGirl LashBlast), it delivers both. CoverGirl Global Creative Design Director Pat McGrath previewed LashBlast Fusion backstage at the Anna Sui show at F/W 2010 NYFW.

LashBlast Fusion isn't scheduled to hit the stores until April but of course, CoverGirl is having an exclusive online presale. Take advantage of free shipping with any of the e-tailers listed on the CoverGirl FB page from March 12th to April 5th.

*Edit:* I just received my sample of LashBlast Fusion in the mail a few minutes ago. Review coming up!

The Beauty Closet: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara

BlaqVixenBeauty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:20:03 -0500

Editor's Note: The product reviewed in this article has been sent by CoverGirl.

It seems like Pat McGrath, the P&G Global Creative Design DIrector, has worked her mojo again by creating another collection that is both affordable and fashion-forward! I want you to do two things: first, bookmark this link and secondly, circle November 2nd on your calendar. You can be one of the few to try out some of the products from the Blast collection. Check out the gallery to see which products you might be interested in! The new collection will be available on Drugstore.com as well as CVS (get free shipping!). If you visit Drugstore.com, you save $5 and earn free shipping when you buy all three products - the Smoky ShadowBlast, ShineBlast Lip Gloss and the LashBlast Length Mascara.

My first impression of LashBlast is that is smells exactly like Maybelline Lash Stiletto. This came as a bit of a shock to me at first. However, both mascaras are advertised to lengthen lashes so of course their formulas would be similar.

Unlike the original LashBlast, the LashBlast Length brush is slender and has more bristles - 450 in all. While I've never poked myself in the eye with the bulky, medium-length brush that is the trademark of LashBlast, I favor the ultra-long, skinny brush that LashBlast Length has. I have yet to experience clumpy, spidery lashes (like L'Oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara!) with this one. No clumping, no flaking, no smudging and no wilting after a busy day.

Recently, Daily Makeover did a segment with CoverGirl celebrity makeup artist Molly Stern on how to maximize your eyes with three of CoverGirl's star players - LashBlast Length, Original LashBlast and LashBlast Luxe.

Did you know there is a certain way that you should apply your mascara in order to make your eyes appear more open? "Wherever you first place the brush, that's where you're going to get the most definition," Stern revealed.

I placed the tip of the brush on the outer corners of my lashes first. I always do this trick so that I can extend the corner lashes and my eyes will pop. She also shared a complimentary eye makeup technique as well: To accentuate that mile-long lash look, contour your crease with a colorful shadow and drawing a thin, angular line with liquid liner along the top lash line. "I tend to very little shadow or line with long lashes because it's such an innocent look -- it's nice to keep it subtle," she says. To read the rest of Stern's insider tips, click here.

While it defines, separates and lengthens nicely, LashBlast Length does have it faults. I've noticed that some of the product dried in the tube but it has not affected the performance of the mascara, surprisingly. I hope to get more uses out of LashBlast Length as it is one of the three mascaras that I reach for daily.

I was sent "Blue" but as you can see, the mascara looks more like regular black. Based on the ads starring Drew Barrymore, I expected LashBlast Length to produce fantastical length and a pitch of volume, but it's almost like a teaser. You would probably need a mascara primer to increase the benefits of LashBlast Length.

I also found out that it's a little difficult to remove but it's not such a hassle that I want to stop using it. I just have to be a little more patient with this one, since it does have nylon fibers in the mascara. I love that I don't see the actual nylon tubes on my cotton balls like I would if I used L'Oreal Double Extend with Beauty Tubes Technology Mascara.

My next goal is to buy this mascara in "Very Black." That's the shade I prefer whenever I buy or test a new mascara. What's yours?

Fundamentals of Fierce: Punchy and Pretty Pouts for Spring 2010

BlaqVixenBeauty — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:54:00 -0500

In the latest Essence issue, creative director Pat McGrath for CoverGirl and Max Factor, laid down the ground rules for sporting bright, cool candy-coated shades: "Since the colors for Spring are much more intense and dramatic than the usual warm-weather array of soft, bronzed hues, the key to working electric color is to keep the look chic and simple."

Opt for smoky neutral eyes and bronzed skin if you're going bold school with your lip picks is the bottom line.

Remember Rosario's version at the Met's Costume Institute Gala? Not only did she kept her look relatively simple - bright lips and pretty-in-pink, flushed cheeks - but she also displayed red lipstick done right. So pretty! Of course, Ashunta Sheriff have already let the cap off the stick - lipstick is steadily making a comeback. Not too long ago, I pulled a Rihanna - bold fuchsia lips with blue eyeliner.

As for textures, mattes followed by stains and glosses, are the most popular now. But I'm seriously considering working Max Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor into my everyday makeup look. This lipstick isn't really matte depending on which shade you buy - it's creamy and conditioning - but I think during the Spring and Summer, it would be in your best interest to experiment with lipwear that you wouldn't normally purchase. You know, switch it up a bit. I normally wouldn't purchase a lipstick nor a lip stain.

However, if I wanted to recruit more shades in my lipstick army, I'd round up a few more colors from Max Factor's Vivid Impact crew! It's a well-priced product that proves why lipstick should make a comeback in your makeup bag if you're usually popping lip gloss. So, have you taken the plunge and traded in your "Gloss Gal" pass for a swipe of lipstick? Or is this one product that you aren't embracing, trend or no trend?

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The Beauty Closet: Max Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor Review

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:02:00 -0500

Editor's Note: The products mentioned in this article were provided for editorial consideration.

Remember the mini-tutorial I did back in March - How to Rock the Classic Red Lip? And do you happen to remember the sexy, glamorous lipcolor that I was rocking? A conditioner-rich formulated, creamy, bright-pigmented lipstick, the Max Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor ($7.98) has shea butter and comes in 20 designer-inspired shades. P&G Global Creative Design Director Pat McGrath custom designed the fashion-forward shade palette. This lipcolor acts like a lip balm to help seal in moisture. I was lucky to snatch up Ablaze, Ms. Right Now, Romp, and Minx.

Romp, Ablaze, Rose Rage, Ms. Right Now, and Minx

I found that if you want more vivid color, fill in your lips with the matching lipliner and then apply the lipstick. I kid you not; you could probably go to the buffet and not worry about retouching your lipcolor because the colors are not watered-down, sheer or greyed-out - each shade is long-wearing and leaves an intense imprint of color behind. Honestly, it'll take a few toner-soaked cotton balls to remove but I didn't mind because I didn't have to constantly reapply like I had to with other lipsticks.

Now, normally, I would have gravitated towards the mauves and nudes but this time, I thought about how it wouldn't hurt to diversify my lipwear. Out of the five shades, Romp is very much a runway-inspired color -gorgeous but risky! Somehow, I think celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff would approve, since she feels that women of color can wear more tones of the rainbow. So, with Ablaze, Ms. Right Now, and Romp, I'm starting to embrace more colors. Also, in the webinar I attended, Sheriff spilled that lipstick was making a comeback, which was no surprise, since we are in a recession!

Have you tried this lipstick from Max Factor? What are your thoughts?