Blaq Vixen Beauty

CoverGirl Queen Lip Colors Swatches in Cherry Bomb, Shiny Port Wine & Bordeaux

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

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...

The Vanity: New CoverGirl Queen Collection Lip Colors by Pat McGrath Debut in Jan 2011

BlaqVixenBeauty — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:48:05 AKST

Hopefully you remembered that today was Happy Black Girl Day, right? Right, and here's some news that will hopefully make this day a happy one for you, queen:

As Patti LaBelle sang, "It's a new day!" The COVERGIRL Queen Collection is getting an upgrade by Pat McGrath in the lipstick department in January 2011. First, CoverGirl launched the Natural Hue Concealer back in July (swatches were originally posted on the fan page but I'll post them here with a review very soon) and now this! As Krissy of Addicted to All Things Pretty pointed out, the new bronze packaging will probably remind you a bit of Fashion Fair but I prefer the bronze packaging because it gives it a more regal feel. I thought the purple packaging was fitting but I was definitely wrong. The bronze packaging is everything!

Rockin' my beautiful with rich, true color from Queen Collection! --Queen Latifah

Rip the Runway 2010: Tai Beauchamp Talks Body by Victoria, Alesha Renee for CoverGirl

BlaqVixenBeauty — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:50:24 AKDT

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) talk 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."

More Victoria's Secret...

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.

More Cover Girl...

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.

More Colle...

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.

Did you watch this portion of Rip the Runway? If so, what did you think?

Image via Beauty is Diverse

How to Get Rihanna's American Music Awards Makeup by Mylah Morales

BlaqVixenBeauty — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:00:00 AKST

Editor's note: The post will be updated with pictures soon. Thanks for understanding.

When I saw Rihanna at the 2009 American Music Awards last night, it was apparent that her makeup maven, celebrity makeup artist Mylah Morales, looked to the runway for inspiration.

If you followed New York Fashion Week, then you'll know that Pat McGrath, the P&G Global Creative Design DIrector, made up models' eyes in a similar fashion for Prada F/W '09 show. The star product? M.A.C. PRO Glitter in Reflects Rust, $20.

According to Style.com, the theme was female empowerment. "Prada's women, with their violently frizzed-up hair, certainly had a disconcerting look about them as they advanced, with red-rimmed, glitter-ringed eyes catching the light with a nearly malevolent glint."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I never envisioned female empowerment quite like this. Their description makes me think of demon-possessed prostitutes in the age of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper. Just saying. Can you even imagine?

Thanks to Who What Wear, I know Rihanna wore an electric, custom blend of two Make Up For Ever Pure Pigment Powders: No. 4 and No. 6. Morales applied the two-toned pigment with a damp skinny eyeliner brush. She then completed Rihanna's statement-making eyes with several coats of CoverGirl's LashBlast mascara.

What do you think? Are you feeling Rihanna's look?

The Beauty Closet: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara Review

BlaqVixenBeauty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:20:03 AKDT

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?