Blaq Vixen Beauty...."Because Every Woman of Color is a Vixen!"

11.15.2008

Total Beauty Weekly Web Tour

Viva Woman finds out if there is a limit to layering more skincare products on our face at any one time?

Beauty Anonymous is interested in checking out the MAC Hello Kitty Collection.

Alison of the Advice Sisters has been featuring holiday gift ideas, but she also blogged this week about the chocolate show , where 40% of the design had to be pure chocolate..delicious!

Beauty Junkies Unite hopes you win the Benefit 24K Sexy Gold GIVEAWAY!

Trisha over at Makeup Files shows you how to ask for makeup this holiday season.

Fabulous Over Forty is reviewing several 2008 Holiday Collections . See which ones are her favorites this season.

Neon Bible tells you what bra you need to buy today and reviews the new Heidi Klum collection lipstick from Victoria's Secret

Fashion designer Vera Wang talks about Look her new perfume-a video clip by Talking Makeup.

Frappelattes gives us a preview of new Essie nail polish colors for Winter 2008!

Beauty Tyrant is hosting her first beauty giveaway this week. She is giving away a Karmin Titanium Hair Straightener Iron for FREE! to one lucky winner all this week.

Makeup Bag visits the Clarins Spa in Neuilly, France

Julie at More than a Pretty Face loves the new formula and colors for Obsessive Compulsive Colour Lip Balms

The Makeup Divas reviews MAC Adoring Carmine 5 Basic Brush Bag.

The Home Spa Goddess shares her obsession with Revlon's Limited Edition Crushed Velvet Lip Creme.

Are you a recessionista? Chat with Beckie and Jamie of Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog about great drugstore alternatives.

Suzanne at RN Guide to Skin Care reviews Avon Skin So Soft Age-Defying+ Corrective Neck & Chest Treatment .

The Beauty Blog reviews Wen Hair Care.

Mineral Makeup Reviews discusses Serious Skin Care ProMinerals ProNano Brightening Powder.

Enter to win to a Karmin Titanium Hair Straightener Iron on A Mom in Red High Heels! Contest ends 11-17-08.

Boutique Flair talks about building your beauty with self esteem!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings has used an amazing kit that has given her clearer, fresher looking skin! Find out what it is!

Beauty411 takes a look at MAC's Passions of Red Holiday Collection!

Nur @ I Love Looking Good thinks this holiday is about All that Sparkles. Gorgeous makeup collection from The Body Shop.

Alison of the Advice Sisters will be blogging daily about holiday gift ideas, but she also reported this week on the chocolate show, where at least 40% of the fashions on the runway had to be made of pure chocolate and LUCKY SHOPS which brings the pages of this shopping magazine, to life.

Beauty Blogging Junkie shares how you can dazzle like Twilight's Edward in the meadow with these highlighters. Get gleamy!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life have 5 copies of celebrity makeup artist, Carmindy's latest book to giveaway. Click here to get all the info!

Glossypink tells you about the little makeup brush with big possibilities!

Indian Girl is bringing you yummy Beauty Secrets from a Food Blogger, in her new weekly feature !

CaliforniaCosmetics gives an in depth review of Purminerals Starter Kit and Brush Set and what's purfect about them!

Hot Beauty Health shows you how to prevent stretchmarks using help you spend $25 or less on holiday gift giving"

"Greige" manicures are all the rage. Click here to learn Spoiled Pretty's favorite polish for nailing the trend.

Daily Dose of Coffee takes a look at Clarins' entry into the makeup world by testing their Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

11.08.2008

Sinful Colors Sale at Cherry Culture

Stock up now if you're smitten with Sinful Colors Cosmetics!

11.07.2008

A $50 Beautyfix that Tia Williams Endorses!

If you could put a price tag on your monthly or even weekly beauty fix, how much would you say it would be worth? How about $50?

Beautyfix promises to have "the hottest collection of beauty products delivered to your door" for only $50 each season. You'll have insider access to the latest, best performing product which are hand selected by Beautyfix's panel of industry experts. You'll have to chance to test full-size products and deluxe samples. This means that not all of the products that you receive will be full-size. Based on feedback from current Beautyfix members, 4 out of the 9 products are trial-size. While this may be a turn off, remember that the total amount of all 9 producs is over $400. You're getting the chance to satisfy the makeup snob in you for fraction of the cost! The site is a beta launch, so you can expect functionality at 80%.

I found out about Beautyfix by reading Shake Your Beauty. Tia said, "I couldn't wait to call your attention to the launch of a totally unique and thrilling new site for the rabid product junkie, BeautyFix. Here's how it works: Every quarter, a panel of industry experts (yep, I happen to be one of them) picks out the hottest products in the land...and if you're a subscriber, you get the entire, full-size collection of faves sent to you in a darling makeup kit. It's already gotten tons of attention--WWD just covered the launch in glowing tones--so get your subscription on, today!"

She's not the only industry expert you might be familiar with. There's Christina Jones (the former editor of the Beauty and Style channel at b5media and the Community Director for Blush Media LLC), Julia Conley (beauty editor of All About the Pretty), Tia Williams (beauty editor of Shake Your Beauty), Lianne Farbes (the beauty editor of The Makeup Girl), Teri Cosenzi (beauty editor of Aging Beautiful and Beautiful Makeup Search), Elke von Freudenberg (beauty editor of The Beauty Blog Network, creator of The Beauty Digg and Beauty Urls), and Christine Mielke (the beauty editor of Temptalia).

Christina said, "One of the really special differences between the Beautyfix program, and other similar programs that have been out there in the past, is that each product in the Beautyfix is carefully chosen by democratic process by our panel of beauty experts, including some of my bestest beauty blogging friends along with other prestigious beauty professionals. We aren't going to give you a bunch of junk here, this I promise you. These brands DO NOT PAY to be included in the Beautyfix - products are nominated , then tested and chosen by our panel. Good stuff."

Looking at all of the products, I was worried that the first installment wasn't very blaq vixen friendly but Christina assured me that all except the Redpoint NOC-Out Coverup Compact would great for my complexion. She even mentioned that Tia really loves the Kronos Phyx Overnight Repair Mask. And if you follow my hair blog, then you know that I perked up at this product. It is an overnight hair treatment that repairs damaged, dull hair in your sleep. Supposedly, no matter how much I toss and turn, it won't stain or leave residue on my satin pillowcase. After three applications, this hair mask leaves hair super soft and bouncy. According to Tia, the Kronos Phyx Overnight Repair Mask left her hair "glossier than ever." I can't wait to try this product!

The first installment consists of: Amarte Aqua Veil Pure Hydration Serum, Amarte Natural Wonder Cream, Jane Iredale 24K Gold Dust Powder, Kronos Phyx Overnight Repair Mask, M Lab Anti-Aging Treatment Cream, PCA pHaze 9 Purifying Mask, Perricone MD Firming Neck Therapy, and Sensa Weight Loss Program.

If this interests you, click here to sign up! And if you're a fellow beauty blogger, contact Christina and she'll hook you up!

11.06.2008

Pearls by Carol's Daughter

As I said before, I love buying fragrances - perfumes and body sprays are my preference - and so it was only fitting that I would be intrigued by Carol's Daughter newest scent, Pearls. This fragrance had me at first sight - the design of the bottle is truly the epitome of feminity and elegance. The packaging is an artwork of pearl necklaces, which not only signifies a gift of nature but a woman's gift of love, beauty, and true femininity. It almost reminds me of our future first lady, Michelle Obama. I can see her wearing this fragrance...doesn't the above scene looks as if it could be from the White House?

The Birth of Pearls

"When I first created Pearls it started out as all Carol's Daughter products do, with fragrance. I wanted this scent to be a departure from where we were currently. I did not want it to be a gourmand, but I wanted it to be sweet. It had to possess what Carol's Daughter scents have always been about: the smell of food, flowers, flavors and spices, but smell like a perfume. A pretty perfume. A sophisticated scent, " says Carol's Daughter creator Lisa Price.

"For me, pearls carry with them such beauty and versatility, as does the scent. Our customer ranges from the Polished Professional, chic woman to the crunchy granola woman and everyone in between. She is Jada Pinkett-Smith and she is Erykah Badu. She is Angelina Jolie and she is Beyonce. All of these women wear pearls in one form or another. Cultured, Majoirca, Tahitian, black fresh water, etc. Pearls are handled from loved one to loved one. They have history and heritage. They have a story to tell, " she adds.

Pearls has a fragrance pyramid that consists of three tiers:

*Anise, Bergamot, Lemon, Verbena, Apricot and Peach (Top)
*Jasmine, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Fresh Aldehydes, Violet Leaves (Mild)
*Musks, Caramel, Vanilla (Dry)

At first breath, Pearls embrace the feminine sparkle of bergamot, lemon and the vibrant impression of anise and verbena, along with the luscious aspect of apricot and peach. The fragrance evolves into a voluptuous floral heart of intoxicating jasmine, rose and violet leaves, smoothly blending the fresh sensation of clean aldehydes. The drydown radiates warmth with notes of musks and vanilla, wrapped around the sensuality of caramel, further enhancing its allure.

Price consulted with fragrance house Firmenich to create Pearls. It is Carol's Daughter first fine fragrance. I remember the first time that I smelled this fragrance, all I think was, "Wow, this smell is so unique!" It's very intoxicating and sensual; I was very happy that I had it in my possession. Whenever I want to get my "elegant, grown lady" on, I spray Pearls on my pulse points. It's truly a beautiful scent!

Pearls, launched November 1st, is available for $45 at Carol's Daughter retail stores, Dillard's, Macy's and Sephora. It is 2.5 oz. If you buy it online from Carol's Daughter, you get free shipping and a complementary sample of Tui Hair Smoothie sample.

Get the Sephora Look: Sugar Plums

I love purple eyeshadow looks! Till this day, one of my favorite looks that I have done is the smokey purple inspired look that I did back in August. Although some of you might say that the lip gloss competes with the eyeshadow, I actually like the complete look. Luckily there are plenty of drugstore dupes to create your own Sugar Plums look.

What Sephora used for the FACE: Create a radiant canvas with Laura Geller Spackle® Tinted Under Makeup Primer, accentuated with NARS Blush— Super Orgasm on cheekbones.

What you can use: Unfortunately, there isn't a tinted makeup primer for women of color a so all the previous makeup brands that I mentioned in the Golden Goddess post will do just fine. Based on my research, NARS Super Orgasm is the same peachy-pink as the original cult fave NARS Orgasm. However, Super Orgasm has gold flecks and is a bit more pigmented. If you want something similar, try any of these substitutes: Rimmel Blush in Santa Rose or Pink, CoverGirl Blush in Pretty Peach, or Wet 'n' Wild Silk Finish Blush in Naive. To my knowledge, none of these have gold flecks. Milani Blush in Mai Tai looks awfully similar to Super Orgasm but is less pink.

What Sephora used for the EYES: For eyes, start by dabbing Prime Time from Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Extreme Glimmers onto clean lids to make sure shadow stays put. Then layer on the sparkly hues. First sweep on the silver, followed by plum on the inner corners, and finally brush the deepest purple on outer corners and the lower lash line. Then fill brows in with Anastasia Brow Pen. Finish by coating upper lashes with Benefit BADGal Plum Mascara.

What you can use: Lumene Eye Makeup Base can be used in place of Bare Escentuals Prime Time. For the silver, bronze and purple eyeshadow, you just need to find highly pigmented and sparkly dupes such as Milani's Wet to Dry Runway Eyeshadows in Silver Charm and Bronze Doll, HIP Pigment in Unashamed and Progressive (can be used together). Milani's Shock and Storm can be mixed together to achieve the dark violet eyeshadow. Basically any dark purple/violet that you find at the drugstore can be used. If the eyeshadow that you choose isn't dark enough, try adding Milani's Storm to add both intensity and sparkles. Styli-Style, Amuse, Sinful Colors, NYX, and LA Girl all have purple mascara. These brands are available on Cherry Culture and I recommend that you use a mascara that leaves your lashes soft (like Maybelline's Full and Soft Mascara) and then apply the purple mascara. For your eyebrows, I like the Ardell Brow Perfection Stencils and the Brow Finishing Powder.

What Sephora used for the LIPS: Give lips a pop of pink shine with Tarte Vitamin-Infused Lipgloss in Apple-A-Day.

What you can use: CoverGirl's AmazeMint Lip Gloss in Plum Crazy is similar to Apple A Day but is blue-based for a brighter smile. CoverGirl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers Lip Gloss in Raspberry Splash is also similar.

11.05.2008

Get the Sephora Look: Golden Goddess

I adore this "Golden Goddess" look that Sephora has managed to create. The model is just positively gorgeous and radiant...maybe because Obama is the 44th president?! Wondering what was used to create this look and how to capture it on a budget? BVB has a few products recommendations to bring out the vibrant vixen in you!

What Sephora used for the FACE: Give skin silky, hydrated coverage with Cover FX Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation SPF 30. Sweep PlantLove™ by CARGO Baked Illuminator onto cheekbones.

What you can use: You don't have to necessarily use a cream foundation so brands like CoverGirl Queen Collection, Black Opal, and the L'Oreal HIP Collection are worth checking out. As for illuminators, there's Milani's Luminous Blush (wonder when Milani will make a dupe for NARS Super Orgasm blush!) or Wet 'n Wild MegaGlo Face Illuminators. Kathryn from The Budget Fashionista loves this illuminator! Then there's N.Y.C. Sun to Sun Bronzing Powder. Toya from Life of a Ladybug loves it!

What Sephora used for the EYES: For the eyes, sweep your lids with Stila Eye Shadow Duo in Terracotta— goldish brown on lids, red-orange blended up to the brow bone— using Urban Decay Primer Potion as a base to ensure budge-proof color. Then coat Fresh Firebird Mascara on your upper and lower lashes. Cover lids with Make Up Forever Glitter in Gold.

What you can use: Gold and red never looked so hot! L'Oreal Metallic Duo in Gilded works well with NYX Cherry. Rust or Nectar eyeshadows. Jessie Girl's Flamboyant eyeshadow is also good too. However, you can also used a red blush as eyeshadow if you find that these red eyeshadows aren't vibrant enough for you. For glitter, Black Radiance has their Glitter Dust in 18K. For a cheaper alternative to Urban Decay Potion Primer there is Lumene Eye Makeup Base. Then for voluminous lashes, I recommend Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara, L'Oreal Voluminous mascara and any of the Maybelline XXL mascaras. Or you can just bust out the false eyelashes from Ardell or your local beauty store supply.

What Sephora used for the LIPS: Finish with touches of gold— shimmery lipstick from Benefit 24K Sexy Gold Set on the lips and Fekkai Spray On Hair Crystals on the tresses!

What you can use: If you like the lips but don't think that you could pull off the color, go with a sheer gold lipstick like IMAN Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick in Sheer Gold ($8.99) or if you want the intensity, try Milani Color Perfect Lipstick in Strike A Gold ($3.79), Black Radiance Indelibly Radiant Lipstick in Gold Digger ($2.99), or L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Golden Splendor ($8.99). If you love the hair crystals but don't want to pay $18.50 for a can of Fekkai Spray, Jerome Russell has B-Wild! Hair & Body Glitter Spray in three colors: Gold (11), Silver (12) and Multi (13). It is available for $5.49 at Walgreens.

11.04.2008

Safe Cosmetics: The Letter O

Oberon Cosmetics
Signed: May 2007
Products: Skin Care, Make-up, Men

OC Organic Care
Signed: March 2008
Products: Skin Care, Hair Care, Baby

Ocean Mist Cosmetics
Signed: December 2006
Products: Make-up

Of the Goddess, Ltd.
Signed: May 2005
Products: Skin Care

Old Mill Handcrafted Soap and Natural Body Care
Signed: August 2006
Products: Skin Care

Om Aroma & Co.
Signed: August 2007
Products: Skin Care

One With Nature
Signed: May 2007
Products: Skin Care

Only Bare Minerals
Signed: July 2008
Products: Makeup

Oracle Organics
Signed: April 2006
Products: Skin Care

Organic and Natural Enterprise Group (ONE Group - MiEssence)
Signed: March 2005
Products: Make-up, Skin Care, Hair Care

Organic Apoteke
Signed: April 2007
Products: Skin Care, Perfume
Organic Blessings
Signed: May 2006
Products: Skin Care, Hair Care, Baby

Organic Complexion
Signed: October 2006
Products: Skin Care

Organic Essence
Signed: October 2006
Products: Skin Care

Organic Excellence
Signed: April 2008
Products: Skin Care, Hair Care, Household
Organic Healing
Signed: May 2008
Products: Skin Care

Organic Rosehip Skincare
Signed: October 2007
Products: Skin Care, Hair Care, Make-up, Perfume
Organic Skin Repair
Signed: February 2008
Products: Skin Care

Organix South/TheraNeem
Signed: September 2005
Products: Skin Care, Hair Care, Nail Care, Dental

Oregon Organic Cosmetics
Signed: November 2007
Products: Make-up

Origin Earth Products
Signed: April 2008
Products: Skin Care

Original Earth Mother Products
Signed: May 2008
Products: Skin Care, Lip Balm

The Original Little Sprout
Signed: August 2006
Products: Skin Care, Hair Care, Baby
Orogeny Pty Ltd
Signed: May 2008
Products: Makeup, Skin Care, Teen

Osea Skin Care
Signed: January 2004
Products: Skin Care

Osmosis Skincare
Signed: November 2007
Products: Skin Care

Our Rock Minerals
Signed: April 2008
Products: Makeup

Out of Eden
Signed: August 2004
Products: Make-up, Skin Care, Baby

Outside/In Cosmetics
Signed: May 2008
Products: Makeup, Skin Care