28
May 2012

Event Recap: The Makeup Show NYC and Blogger Preview with James Vincent

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A few weeks ago, I attended the Makeup Show and Blogger Preview with Kim of Makeup By Kim Porter. As usual we were in for a treat. Makeup Artist and Director of Education for the Makeup Show James Vincent was on hand dishing about his latest must haves and favorite products.

With James on stage and a room full of bloggers you are bound to have a great time. James dished on products like Auraline Beauty, Menaji Beauty, Embryolisse, Graftobian Makeup Co., Glamcor, Birchbox, Bdellium, and more. He talked about the importance of great skincare, which should be a given. Many people neglect to tackle the real problem when it comes to skin care.

He also talked about the importance of supporting independent brands like Ofra, which I am now a huge fan of because of the palette I purchased at the Makeup Show that following Monday. Brands like M.A.C., Stila, and Makeup Forever have gained great notoriety, but we should also support smaller brands with great products as well.

One thing that I purchased multiple packs of was Dead Sea Elements makeup remover cloths. James talked about how great these are for the skin because of the dead sea salts and minerals infused in the cloths. This goes back to great skin care. Not only are you removing your makeup, you are also enriching your skin with great minerals. I have been using them for two weeks now and a review will be coming soon.

We also had a surprise visit from Danessa Myricks. James Vincent, Danessa Myricks, Jon Hennessey, Esterique Aidan, and Orlando Santiago have created a makeup brush line. Each of their collections feature three of their must have brushes. She explained why she chose her brushes and even shared some of her tips on how she uses them.

Take a look at more photos.

Next up The Makeup Show Chicago June 17-18, 2012

Categories: Beauty Bubble, Makeup, Nails, Skin Care Tags: , ,
25
May 2012

Things We Love Summer Sail Event with Hawaiian Tropic

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On Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend the “Things We Love” Summer Sail event hosted by The Glam Network and sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic. We started the day by boarding the Atlantica at Chelsea Piers and sailed across the Hudson River enjoying great cocktails, food, and conversation. This was the perfect way to spend the afternoon on a Wednesday. We were able to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday and take in the gorgeous view of the Statue of Liberty and the New York City sky line.  I was also in great company with Melissa and Melanie of O So Chic, John Simon from Haute Diary, Makeda from Glamazon Diaries, Shanequa from Temple of Glam, Kitty from KittyBradshaw.com, Christine from Tineey.com and a host of other bloggers.

On the ship we were able to speak to representatives from Hawaiian Tropic and also hear a short presentation. Hawaiian Tropic has a few new products that you definitely want to pick up for the summer.

The newest product is the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen. This new and improved formula will give you up to 12 hours of protection and moisturization because of the hydrating ribbons. “The sunscreen papers your skin like no ordinary sunscreen! The breakthrough dual ribbon formula combines superior protection with luxurious, hydrating silk protein to wrap your skin in continuous moisture and help you maintain luminous skin in the sun. Plus, its light, tropical fragrance stimulates your senses for a completely captivating in-sun experience.”

Product Details

  • New Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration™ lotion sunscreen is the only sun protection with extra luxurious hydrating ribbons to pamper your skin with 12 hour moisturization.
  • With hydrating ribbons infused with luxurious silk protein and rich shea butter, Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration™ sunscreen pampers and protects skin.
  • Available in SPF 12, 30 and 50, Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration™ lotion sunscreen provides safe and effective broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection that won’t break down in the sun, along with nourishing antioxidants, exotic island botanicals, a warm tropical fragrance and a lightweight, non-greasy feel.

What I love most about this product is that it is light and non-greasy. Most sunscreens are extremely thick and greasy and this is the total opposite. The hydrating ribbons are also a plus. Within the first application, you feel the major difference in your skin. The fragrance is also wonderful. Other sunscreens tend to have a horrible scent, but you will definitely enjoy the smell of this new product.

Cool Haus Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwich with Red Velvet and Sugar Cookies and Edible Glam Paper

Other Hawaiian Tropic products that we received were the Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect in coconut papaya. If you want that J. Lo or Beyonce glow, this product is amazing. It is not a bronzer but it does highlight your skin tone. We also received the new Hawaiian Tropic Aloha Kiss moisturizing lip gloss with SPF 20. My flavor is island berry and it will definitely be a staple in my cosmetic bag come this summer.

All of the guests were given amazing gift bags as well. The canvas tote bags were sponsored by Land’s End and filled with products from Starbucks, tarte cosmetics, O.P.I nail polish, Sonia Kashuk, Dove and more.

Sailing the Hudson River

Make sure you stock up on your Hawaiian Tropic products today. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Crazy moments with the ladies!
 Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Hawaiian Tropic® Sun Care via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Hawaiian Tropic.
Categories: Beauty Bubble, Skin Care Tags: , ,
15
May 2012

Product Review: AMBI Even & Clear Facial Kit

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One thing that we all should strive to achieve is healthy skin. For the past few months I have been struggling with this. I’ve tried numerous cleansers, toners, exfoliating scrubs, and a host of other products. Because I have combination skin (normal to oily) I can’t use only one product. I have also been struggling with annoying breakouts and an uneven skin tone.

When I was asked to try AMBI’s Even & Clear Facial Care Kit I was excited. I used to use the fade cream and was pleased with the results but I never tried the foaming cleanser or the moisturizer so I jumped on the opportunity to see if these products could combat my new found skin problems.

AMBI Even & Clear Foaming Cleanser

AMBI Even & Clear Foaming Cleanser Source

This self-foaming cleanser gently cleanses skin to help clear and prevent pimples and breakouts while visibly reducing the appearance of dark marks. It’s specially formulated with EvenBlend, which combins soy extract and vitamins C & E, along with salicylic acid to keep skin clear and even toned.

Product Details

  • 6 oz.
  • Cleanses to remove surface impurities
  • Helps clear and prevent pimples
  • Gentle enough for sensitive skin
  • Rinses easily
  • Hypoallergenic and oil free

My Thoughts

I wanted to love this product, but I just simply couldn’t. I do like that my skin was left soft and it did help minimize my dark spots and even my skin tone. It seems like I have a tri-colored complexion. My forehead, cheeks, and chin are all different shades of brown. It isn’t terribly noticeable, but I notice it and I hate it. So the cleanser has really started to even out my complexion. In regards to the breakouts, I still suffered from a few around my cheek area. I did not have any breakouts around my forehead and chin, which are a few of my problem areas. I also didn’t get the clean/fresh feeling after using the foaming cleanser. My skin felt clean, but not fresh if that makes sense.

Rating 3/5

 

AMBI Even & Clear Fade Cream

 

AMBI Even & Clear Fade Cream for Normal Skin Source

New and improved AMBI Fade Cream for Normal Skin effectively and safely fades unwanted dark marks without changing your natural skin tone. When used as directed, results may be seen in as little as 2 weeks. Once your natural skin tone is restored, you may discontinue use of the product. To help keep skin even toned, it is important to use a sunscreen (SPF 30) with the use of AMBI Fade Creams.

My Thoughts

I am no stranger to the fade cream. It is simply amazing. I had dark spots on my feet and used it a while back and everything was great. Now I use it for the dark spots on my forehead. I have noticed a change within the short time that I have been using the product. It isn’t drastic, but it does take some time to get an even complexion. The only con about this product is the smell. It is not pleasant at all, but it isn’t so bad that I can’t use it.

Rating 4.5/5

AMBI Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer

AMBI Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer Source

This advanced moisturizer goes beyond nourishing skin to help even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of skin discolorations. This lightweight moisturizer is enriched with EvenBlend, a combination of natural soy and vitamins C & E. It also contains advanced sun protection to help protect your skin from damaging UVA and UVB Rays.

Product Details

  • 3 oz.
  • Evens skin tone and texture
  • Makes skin feel softer and smoother
  • Noncomedogenic, oil-free formula
  • Gentle enough for sensitive skin
  • Doesn’t leave any residue or shine behind

My thoughts

I LOVE this moisturizer. Other moisturizers that I have used have either been to watery and left my face feeling dry or too oily and greasy leaving my face shiny and sticky. This moisturizer is light weight and does not add any extra shine. My face feels moisturized and soft throughout the day, even after I have taken off my makeup. It also helps with the evening of my skin tone. My t-zone is always extremely oily but I have great oil control with this moisturizer.

Rating 5/5

Overall I was pleased with AMBI Facial Care Kit. The fade cream and moisturizer override how I feel about the foaming cleanser. That may be the only product I wouldn’t purchase again, but I will continue to use the product to see if my mind changes. I will however continue to use the fade cream and moisturizer because I was pleased with the results from both.

Brand Statement

The experts in skin of color, brings you a skin care regimen to help you achieve flawless skin. Use AMBI®’s Even and Clear Foaming Cleanser to help clear breakouts and reduce dark marks. Follow with Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer, so skin will look even and smooth. And AMBI®’s #1rated Fade Cream, diminishes dark spots and discoloration, for a beautiful and natural skin tone.

 Disclosure of compensation: Compensation was provided by AMBI® via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AMBI®.

 

Categories: Beauty Bubble, Skin Care Tags: , , , ,
14
May 2012

Event Recap: QVC Beauty Event

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A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the QVC Beauty Event which was held at Cedar Lake Studios. This was my first time at a QVC Beauty event and it was simply amazing. I remember bloggers last year tweeting about an event similar to this so when I saw this opportunity I just knew I couldn’t miss it. Very rarely do you have brands like Bliss, Makeup Forever, Tarte, Wen, Philosophy, Algenist, and more all in the same room talking about their best selling products and what will be new to QVC. It was also great to have the owners and creators of the company there to give you first hand information about the products as well.

We’ll first start off with Sephora

Sephora by OPI for QVC

Sephora will be launching quite a few new products with QVC. One of my favorites would have to be the Sephora by OPI 15-piece nail colour collection which will retail for approximately $44. The signature color for this collection would have to be “QVC What I Mean,” which is a rich mauve tone.

Bliss

Next I headed over to Bliss and was introduced to an interesting product called Incredi-‘peel.’ These are convenient, no-rinse peel pads that create an overnight facial effect in a single step which will retail for approximately $74. They also have these no heat waxing strips as well.

Wen Hair Care by Chaz Dean

One of my favorite stations had to be Wen Hair and Body Care by Chaz Dean. Chaz really changed my life that day and I am not exaggerating. I have been so indecisive about what I wanted to do with my hair for the past few months now. When I attended the event my hair was combed back and I rocked a head band. Well when I left the Wen station, I felt like a new woman. I’ve heard great reviews about the products, but never purchased any. Chaz introduced the ne Six Thirteen Replenishing Treatment Mist. He sprayed the mist on one side of my hair so I can see the difference. On the side that he sprayed my hair was softer, had more shine, and it had body. The Six Thirteen Replenishing Treatment Mist has a unique blend of amino acids, restorative extracts, and botanicals to give instant rejuvenation to the hair, face, and body. It will retail for approximately $26 and I highly recommend this product along with the Summer Mango Coconut Cleansing Conditioner.

Lipstick Queen

Lipstick Queen by Poppy King is a very innovative brand. Her newest creation is called “Liptropolis” which is a lipstick collection based off of the Metropolis New York City. I have to say I was in love with the packaging. There are three lipsticks that come in a little book with information about each lipstick. For this collection she chose to focus on three New York City neighborhoods. Soho is a fashionable red hue, Central Park is a refined peach hue, and last but not least Upper East is an elegant nude hue.

Laura Geller

I was also in love with Laura Geller’s Dream Creams Concealer and Highlighter. It includes four customizable pigments. The highlighter enhances your skin tone and creates a luminous look. It is available in two shades porcelain/fair and regular/tan and retails for $30

There were also companies there like Go Smile, Perricone MD, Fresh and Algenist that focused on achieving a bright smile and healthy skin.

tarte Cosmetics

With the summer right around the corner tarte cosmetics has introduced the Rainforest Glow Full Coverage Liquid Body Bronzer. It is not a self-tanning lotion so you do not have to worry about turning orange. The nourishing body bronzer gives a healthy looking faux glow and it moisturizes the skin at the same time. The Rainforest glow uses pure maracuja oil which is a staple in many of tarte’s products. It is used to help nourish and hydrate the skin.

philosophy

Philosophy was there with fragrances that were to die for. My favorites would have to be all of them. One fragrance that is exclusively for QVC is amazing grace.

Other brands in attendance included Make Up For Ever, Sarah Potempa, Josie Maran, Mally, Nuface, Alterna, Clarisonic, Hairdo by Ken Paves, Hairmax, PaloVia, Space NK, IT Cosmetics, LightStim and Tria Beauty.

Sarah Potempa Beach Waver, Mally Beauty, Josie Maran, IT Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, and more

Make sure you visit QVC Beauty for all of these great products and more.

Categories: Beauty Bubble, Hair Chronicles, Makeup, Nails, Skin Care Tags: , , , , ,
11
May 2012

Men’s Style: Birchbox Man

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While trekking through my Instagram recently there was a photo putting me on to something that should be a coup no longer for just the ladies. The famed Birchbox, which streamlines a way to discover high-end beauty, grooming, and lifestyle products now is available for us guys.

They basically sort through the clutter to send you what works and what’s worth the upgrade. To fully explain no one says it better than the company themselves:

Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.

Co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp met at Harvard Business School. They created Birchbox to help consumers cut through the clutter of the retail world to find products that really work for them.

Based in New York City, Birchbox launched in September 2010 and extended into men’s products in April 2012. Birchbox has been featured by Time, Bloomberg Businessweek, InStyle and Marie Claire, among others.

Each month when you subscribe you’ll receive a selection of samples that have been tried (and retried) from both well-known brands and emerging gems. The men’s subscription delivers top-tier grooming products in addition to lifestyle accessories ranging from hip socks to tech accessories.

Now obviously style isn’t just about what you wear but a full on presentation. Men like women have to make sure the skin and body is up to par. Here is a way to find out whats best without having to climb thru the clutter. The work is done for you and for just $20 a month (more is spent once you step foot in a club let alone by the end of the night) you can go wrong in testing out the latest & greatest in skin care, style & tech. Click the link and see if Birchbox is for you.

Categories: Men's Style, Skin Care Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,