Blaq Vixen Beauty

The Beauty Closet: Purple Lab Silk Sheets Luxe Foundation

BlaqVixenBeauty — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:06:54 -0600

Editor's Note: The product mentioned in this post was sent by Purple Lab NYC for an exclusive launch party in honor of Purple Lab NYC's debut on the Home Shopping Network (HSN).

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have read my tweets about Purple Lab Silk Sheets Luxe Foundation ($34.50). As it turns out, my experience with Silk Sheets have been mostly good - the formula itself is creamy, silky, blendable, and feels great on the skin. However, since I have to do quite a bit to correct the shade (as you can see on the left), I am hesitant to actually buy Silk Sheets. This is a shame because Karen Robinovitz (the creatrix of Purple Lab) included "coveted ingredients" in Silk Sheets to include algae, hyaluronic acid, silk, juniper, almond seed oil, Vitamin C, and nettle. It also firms the complexion, as you can hopefully see on the right.

Want to see how I made Silk Sheets really work for me? Keep reading for more information and photos!

Get Like Her: Mo'Nique at the 2010 Golden Globes

BlaqVixenBeauty — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:58:08 -0600

Editor's Note: This post will be updated as soon as find more information. I am so thankful that Mr. Sam Fine is sharing what he used on Mo'Nique via Twitter. I wish more celebrity makeup artists would do the same! You can also follow him @SamFineBeauty! All pictures taken from his Facebook account.

It all started with a question. Amber from Brown Bombshell Beauty asked Sam Fine on Twitter what type of lashes he used on Mo'Nique for the Golden Globes.

face. Sam Fine described Mo'Nique's Golden Globes look as "classic glamour." He sculpted her face with one of his favorite drugstore foundations for women of color, Black Opal True Color Creme Stick Foundation with SPF 8. Next, he dusted CARGO Bronzer and MAC Bronzing Powder on cheeks to achieve a glowing complexion.

eyes. Fine chose the #747 in long, a wispy style from the Image Exclusive store in Los Angeles. The #747 is Fine's favorite style and it also comes in small and medium. To make Mo'Nique's eyes pop, Fine reached for Shiseido The Makeup Eyeliner Pencil Duo in Desert Dusk. Instead of using white eyeliner, Fine recommends that for brown-skinned babes, we opt for a beige eyeliner since it is more wearable. He used the Shimmery Beige shade inside the inner rim of the eye to make it appear wider and whiter. For her eyebrows, first he bleached them and then he filled them in with Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil in Medium Brown.

lips. Fine topped of Mo'Nique's look with Yves Saint Laurent GOLDEN GLOSS Shimmering Lip Gloss. This gloss contains 0.2% 24k gold, which of course was perfect for our Golden Globe Goddess. :)

Mo'Nique's glam squad, from left: Stylist Pamela Macklin, hairstylist Lena Palm, and makeup artist Sam Fine.

Beauty and the Blog: The Lookbook Has a Beauty Directory + The Beauty Closet

BlaqVixenBeauty — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:14:49 -0600

The Beauty Director for the Lookbook, Shannon Levy, reached out to me today to announce that the Lookbook finally has a beauty directory. Now until Friday, you can access this section of the Lookbook for free. After Friday, it is $12.99 a month for access to the thousands of updated beauty contacts listed. Do you know I was able to find the PR contact for Maybelline through this invaluable resource?! Yes, it was valid!

You can also subscribe to the fashion directory but since that is a separate section, it requires a separate membership. This section is $12.99 as well. The Lookbook also has an OnSugar blog so maybe, if you're lucky, the information that you need might be posted there. All I have to say is: about time.

But before I go, did you know that Shannon Levy created The Beauty Closet? Featuring 19 brands, The Beauty Closet contains a "tightly-edited" selection of cosmetics, makeup bags, brushes and other accessories.

Tired of using off-brand beauty sponges? The Beauty Closet has the ever popular BeautyBlender sponge and cleanser in stock. I have to buy this. I can't afford the TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System yet so this will have to do.

Then there's the Scott Barnes Beauty line. I knew that Gabrielle Union was a fan of his Flossy Glossy in Pretty Penny ($22) and the Illumineye in Chocolate ($35) but I wasn't familiar with the line until now.

The Beauty Closet sells his famed Body Bling Platinum, which leaves a stunning, champagne shimmer on the skin. I'm starting to love champagne-hued shimmer for the face and body (like Susan Posnick COLORME in Champagne Shimmer) so I have to check this out. I'm also adding his original Body Bling to my list just in case I go through another J. LO phase.

Other brands include Kevyn Aucoin, Hourglass Cosmetics, Armour Beauty, Billy B Beauty, Kreat Beauty, RGB Cosmetics, Sara Happ, pur~lisse, Suresh Beauty, Shadow Shields, Paul & Joe Beauté and more.

Follow them all on Twitter: @ScottBarnes68, @beautycloset, @TheLookBook, @PandJBeaute, @sarahappinc, @RGBCosmetics, @MrBillyB, @ArmourBeauty, @purlisse, @beautyblenderUS, and @ShadowShields.

BeautySchooled: The 10-Minute Face

BlaqVixenBeauty — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:07:10 -0500

Instead of doing a 5-minute face or even a 15-minute face, I did a 10-minute one. Here's what I'm wearing in this photo:

facial wash. SensiClear kit, which I was supposed to review this past Sunday. I'll have to start scheduling my Skincare Sunday posts just in case I'm too tired to blog.

moisturizer. Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Corrector and Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20. I used both products twice today. I plan to use them again right before I go to bed.

foundation + powder. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation in Dark 2, which I think looks a little too light in this photo...or maybe it's the M·A·C Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark that did the trick. Earlier, when I first applied it, it was too dark. This was even with Black Opal Invisible Oil Blocking Powder. However, it could just be the camera that I'm using...miss my Canon PowerShot!

primer. Clear Prep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment

eyeshadow. Love My Eyes Roll on Eyeshadow in Copper Mist. Surprisingly, this eyeshadow is pigmented. It also takes care of the metallic lid trend that I wanted to try. Maybe if I feel motivated, I'll smoke it out.

mascara. The review for CoverGirl LashBlast Lash mascara is in draft. I love that this mascara doesn't leave my lashes stiff and flaky.

lipgloss. Korres Jasmine Lip Butter with Lancome Color Fever Plumper in City Mauve over it. I hate that my mom's camera washes out the color. It's a mauve nude shade.

hair. I threw it up in a messy (and I do mean messy) ballerina bun earlier but since I wanted to make sleek down my edges and make it look perfect, I took it down. Then I twisted it up in the back and clipped it. I'm running low on my Soft and Beautiful StyleProtect Sculpting Gel and I'm trying to preserve the little that I have left. That's why my edges are sticking up! My swoop bang is nonexistent since I kept brushing my hair back. No, I didn't go to school like this. It was only after I got home that I decided to fix my hair.

What do you use for your 10-minute face?

BeautySchooled: Eyeshadow and Lip Gloss

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:40:06 -0500

Today was the first day of classes. I didn't even have time for my 5 minute face this morning. Bummer! But I did have time to apply eyeshadow and lip gloss. :)

All is not lost though. I don't have any on-campus classes tomorrow but I decided to tag along with my mom. I'll be spending my time blogging...and buying books for my classes. This semester I have Government (state), Art Appreciation, Speech, and History, for a total of 12 credits. The last two semesters, I took 17 credits. While I still want to get my degree as soon as possible, I'm trying not to take on more than I can handle at this time. God-willing, I'll have the energy to create my 5-minute face tomorrow. Here is what I'm thinking about using for each of the following:

eyeshadow. Love My Eyes Roll On Eyeshadow in Copper Mist or Tarte Cosmetics hEYE Impact Waterproof Creaseless Shadow/Liner Duo in Bronze. Didn't used a base but if I remembered to, I'd grab It Cosmetics Eye Base.

lip gloss. Used Korres Jasmine Lip Butter as a base. Applied Illusions Cosmetics Lustre Lip Gloss in Carmen (from the Cinematic Faves collection) over it. However, just now, I applied Lancome Color Fever Plumper in City Mauve over the Jasmine Lip Butter and I loved how it turned out! Normally, I'd be turned off by the fact that I'd have to dip my finger in a lip product. However, this time, I either just sanitized my hands or applied the lip butter with a lip brush. I'll have to buy a retractable lip brush to retouch my look on the go.

I have mentally prepared a list of products that I'll be using tomorrow. I already know this will take me more than 5 minute so I might be able to do it in 15! First, I'll use the SensiClear kit, which consists of the Purifying Cleanser, Balancing Toner, Blemish-Free Acne Treament Lotion and the Acne Spot Treatment Cream. To moisturize my face, I'm whipping out the Bright and Clear Moisturizer for Acne Prone Skin from Dr. Susan Taylor's line, RX for Brown Skin. Korres Silicone Free 99% Natural Face Primer is next. It's one of my new favorite primers. If I want matte skin, Cover FX has their Clear Prep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment. For my foundation, I'll choose Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation SPF 30 in B25. I'll apply it with Cover FX #160 Cream Foundation Brush. Even if I change my mind and use my Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation in Dark 2 (Caramel), I'll be using this brush. I love that I can apply my foundation without worrying about streaking. The finishing touch will be MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Dark. You notice that I didn't mention concealer? Well, with these foundations, I can build natural coverage without applying a concealer! My choices for mascara and lip gloss are CoverGirl LashBlast Length and Korres Jasmine Lip Butter (base) and Lancome Color Fever Plumper in City Mauve. That's it!

What do you use for your 5-minute (or 15-minute) face?