Blog | Page 35 of 225 | Makeup By Kim Porter

Event Recap: May 2014 BeautyPress Spotlight Day {Guest Post}

May 14, 2014 by Kim S. / blog, Reviews / 27 Comments

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the BeautyPress Spotlight Day event held at the Midtown Loft. During the BeautyPress Spotlight Day, BeautyPress connects up and coming and popular beauty brands with editors, bloggers, and other beauty press for a day of learning, networking and pampering. At the Spotlight Day not only do you get to sample new products, you get to meet the faces behind some these beauty brands and have in-depth conversations about the products and company in general.

Some of the brands that were represented included:

Armour Beauty
We LOVE Armour Beauty (post)! Grounded and founded in 2009 in Brooklyn, NY, Armour Beauty is the brainchild of rocker, model, and mom Theo Kogan. She wanted to create a lip gloss that was long lasting and would stay during a performance.

ARTDECO

ARTEDECO is the #1 beauty brand in the selective market of Germany. ARTDECO specializes in high-quality cosmetics worldwide. The secret of ARTDECO’s success in becoming the market lead in Germany’s selective market is its constant focus on the individual wishes and needs of all women combined with uncompromising quality and very reasonable pricing.

Lindi Skin

Another brand showcased at the BeautyPress Spotlight Day event was Lindi Skin. This company revolutionized the beauty world with the only skincare collection to soothe the skin side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Its superior anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties also revitalize, restore and replenish skin at all ages.

Monthly Express

As a luxury monthly membership service, Monthly Express offers luxurious collections of soul-nourishing, full-size boutique products delivered to your door monthly. Monthly Express makes sure you set aside some ME Time to relax and get rejuvenated.

My Amazing Blow Dry Secret

My Amazing Blow Dry Secret assembled a team of hair care specialists to solve your hair styling problems. During the BeautyPress Spotlight Day event, My Amazing Blow Dry Secret showcased three products that will get you the hair you crave in just half the time.

Tat2u Make Up

Tat2u Make Up is an extremely unique and colorful line of makeup. Tat2U Extreme color stands out in the crowd and marketplace. It is extremely pigmented and formulated with high quality ingredients. Take your look from fun to flirty with the stroke of a brush.

Food Sponsors included

Le Pain Quotidien– Founded in Brussels in 1990, Le Pain Quotidien is a bakery and restaurant that serves simple, wholesome and sustainable food, made with organic and local ingredients whenever possible.

Other Brands and Sponsors included:
Arts & Scents
CoTZ Skincare
ICMAD
Indigena
M. Asam Beauty
Stylinity
Framesi
Wink Natural
Eppa
Filicori Zecchini
Schofferhoffer
[ Yellow Tail ]
Vitamin Chick

I’m super excited to learn more about these brands and test their products!

Have you heard of or tried any of these brands featured at the BeautyPress Spotlight Day event?

Disclaimer: I was provided press/media access the Spotlight Dia via BeautyPress

Bronzers for Brown Skinned Women

May 9, 2014 by Kim S. / Beauty / 51 Comments

Bronzers are perfect for a minimalist makeup look, especially when the weather heats up because who wants to wear foundation in the sweltering heat?

First, I want to point out what a bronzer is and its purpose.

Bronzer’s are either powder, gel, liquid or cream products that are used to give the impression of a bronzed/golden color of a suntan. Powder bronzers are most effective for individuals with oily skin, whereas, liquids and creams are best for people with dry skin. Bronzer is usually applied to the face on the chin, cheeks, center of the nose, cheek bones, and if you’re wearing a low-cut shirt add bronzer to your décolletage to enhance it.

There are very few companies that have bronzers specifically for women of color who have darker skintones. Iman Cosmetics, Milani, Black Opal, and now Shea Moisture are brands for women of color that carry bronzers for women like us. Some high-end brands like Bobbi Brown and Guerlain have bronzers for brown skinned women, too!

Iman Sheer Finish Bronzing Powders:

“Capture the brilliant glow of the sun with naturally shimmering sheer powders that bring a touched by the tropics to every complexion.”

Available in three color selections: Afterglow, clay (medium-dark complexion) & sand (medium-light complexion).

Black Opal Color Fusion Mosaic:

“Highlight the natural beauty of your skin with this multi-toned mosaic bronzing powder. Formulated with Vitamins that work to condition and protect your skin as well as oil blotters to help control shine, this ultra-fine, jet milled powder also ensures smooth application and long lasting streak-free color. For all skin types.”

Available in five different shades: 1. Bronzer, 2. Shimmer Bronzer, 3. Pressed Powder, 4. Raspberry Bronzer Blush, 5. Golden Bronzer

Covergirl Queen Natural Hue Bronzer

Affordable drugstore brand bronzer that was made especially for us brown girls. Makeup Artist Sam Fine recommends this bronzer.

Available in three shades: Light Bronze, Brown Bronze, Ebony Bronze

Guerlain Terracota Bronzer

This is a splurge, at $52. If you like Covergirl Queen’s Natural Hue Bronzer in Ebony, you will probably like this one, and it has less shimmer, and is more wearable for people suffering with oily skin. Shades 05 and 07 work best for my skin tone; however, darker complexions can get away with 08. I’ll post swatches of this soon.

Available in seven shades: 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07,08

NYX Matte Bronzer

(see my swatches and review here)

Deep Tan would be perfect for darker complexions, and at $9.00 it is a great price.

Available in five shades: Light, Deep, Medium, Dark Tan, Deep Tan

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder :

This soft matte, silky-smooth bronzer instantly gives skin the look of a natural tan.

Available in six shades: Golden Light, Medium, Natural, Rich Cocoa, Dark, Deep

NARS Casino Bronzer:

This has become a favorite of mine. It is the darkest shade of bronzer offered by NARS, and is the top selling bronzer, next to the famed Laguna Bronzer. It has shimmer. It is great to use as a blush or as a shadow.

Personally, I use the following:

1. MAC Format blush

2. MAC Raizin Blush

3. MAC Sweet As Cocoa Blush

4. MAC Weekend Bronzer

5. NARS Casino Bronzer

6. MAC Minieralize Skinfinish Deep Dark

7. NYX Matte Bronzer

Tips:

1. Oily skin should avoid bronzers with loads of shimmer.

2. Apply a little powder before the bronzer to prevent streaking.

3. Choose a bronzer two shades deeper than your complexion (too light and it’ll appear ashy; too dark and it’ll look muddy).

4. Mix Liquid bronzers like Inglot’s Liquid Illuminators with body oil/baby oil to create a bronzing oil for your body.

5. Mix your liquid bronzer with a tinted moisturizer to get an all-over face golden glow.

Do you currently use a bronzer? If so, which?

If not, why?

Review: Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum was Heaven Sent #PerlieronHSN

May 8, 2014 by Kim S. / Reviews, Skincare / 27 Comments

I’ll be hitting 30 in just a few months; therefore, I’ve been taking my skincare extremely seriously, and it shows. At least the compliments I receive tell me so. When iFabbo selected me to test out the Italian made Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum, I obliged.

What is the Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum?

Exclusive and innovative Youth Elixir with fresh Royal Jelly and other key ingredients
Helps aged skin appear renewed and more youthful-looking
Non-irritating complex of ingredients may be used around the eye area
Formula in which all water has been replaced by rose distillate
Rose distillate has been shown to have moisturizing and toning properties
Formula contains approximately 70% functional key ingredients

Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Comparison

My thoughts on the Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum

From the packaging I knew my skin was in for a treat, and I was right. The Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum worked wonders for my combination skin. Thanks to the royal jelly from African Bees, which is known to stimulate collagen production, has anti-aging properties, and antioxidants, the Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum truly gave my skin the royal treatment. The Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum instantly leaves skin soft, supple and smooth. The micro light reflecting particles gives my skin a healthy glow, and since using it I’ve been comfortable enough to go out without applying foundation.

The Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum has a consistency different from any other serum I’ve used – it’s rich and creamy, but absorbs almost instantaneously. It’s also very moisturizing. I like that the formula isn’t greasy, and that along with the silicone’s make it a good product to use under makeup.

I use the Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum both day and night after cleansing my face, and for added moisture I mix in a drop of hyaluronic acid serum, which turns out to be an amazing combination my skin loves. I’ve honestly skipped applying moisturizer on top of it because I’ve found that the Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum provides just enough moisture. My skin feels baby smooth after using it. One time, my sister caught me running my fingers across my chin. She asked me if I had chin hairs. I responded, “No, I’m just feeling how soft my skin is.” She responded by rolling her eyes. Such a hater!

If you’re looking for a serum that works well in improving the overall appearance of your skin, as well as keep it moisturized, glowing and healthy, then the Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum is a product you should check out. Although at $99.00/ 1.6 oz, the Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum is a bit pricey, but worth it. Sometimes great skincare and beauty, whether it’s time or money, comes with a price. It’s definitely been a great addition to my skincare regimen.

The Perlier Honey Miel Royal Elixir Face Serum can be purchased on HSN/HSN.com.

Ingredients: Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aqua (Water), Propylheptyl Caprylate, Olus Oil (Vegetable Oil), Mel (Honey), Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone, Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Royal Jelly, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Chondrus Crispus Extract (Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan)), Glucose, Dimethiconol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Mica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Parfum, Polysorbate 20, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hexyl Cinnamal, Anise Alcohol, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide).

Disclosure: Product provided for review consideration through my membership with iFabbo. All opinions are my own and are honest.

Mother’s Day Wish List – Items Every Mom Needs

May 6, 2014 by Kim S. / blog, Miscellaneous / 30 Comments

Mother’s Day is just days away. There are a few items I’ve wanted that I think would improve my blogging, along with some pampering items that I think every mom needs in order to wind down after a long workday/week.

Momma needs a new camera!

I really want a new DSLR camera. My Sony a35 takes good pictures, but, I’d like to be able to view myself while recording or taking photos while the phone is sitting on a tripod. Since the Sony a35’s viewer only shifts up and down, side to side, and not outward, I’m unable to see myself while recording videos or taking photos.

My dream camera is the Canon T4i, but I will settle for the Canon T3 18MP.

… And a New Camera Case

If I do not get a new camera, I need a small camera bag for my Sony a35. I like the Camson Quality Compact Holster Camera Case I found on Amazon. I often travel with my camera to events, and lately, I’ve either opted to use just my iPhone or took the risk of not putting the camera in its bag because the bag is just bulky, and unattractive. I think the Camson Quality Compact Holster Camera Case would be perfect for me because it will allow me to safely transport my camera in my bag without it getting damaged. After a little mishap I had over the weekend that happened because I had water and the camera in my purse, I know I definitely need something like this!

I also need a zoom lens, too!

Momma needs to be pampered

Of course, I’d love a spa day, but I’d settle for a few of my favorite items or gift sets from the following brands:

LUSH Cosmetics

Some of my favorite products from LUSH are Sultana of Soap, Sandstone soap, Dark Angels Fresh Face Cleanser, Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner and more. There are items I still want to try, and LUSH has some great new gift sets created with mom in mind to keep us energized and relaxed.

My picks are…

– Wonder Woohoo Bubble Bar ($6.95)

–Hello Sweetie Gift ($16.95)

– Mum Gift if you’re splurging ($54.95)

L’Occitane

L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil is my favorite from the brand. I also love their fragrances (Magnolia & Mure is my favorite), and hand creams. L’Occitane has some great sets that include these items. Check them out here: Loccitane.com

Momma needs a nice Summer Glow

If you read my other blog, you’ll know how badly I need a vacation. We are planning one for around my 30th birthday, but, it would be nice to get away for one weekend in the sun. I mean, I do need to boost my Vitamin D levels. If not, I will settle for the bronzing powder I’ve been lemming over for what seems like forever, which is the Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder. At least that way I can pretend like I went away.

Guerlain Terracotta Moisturising Bronzing Powder

That’s about all of the things I would like to receive as a Mother’s Day present. It’s called a wish list for a reason, it doesn’t mean I will get them.

And if you’re stuck on Mother’s Day Gift ideas visit Beauty and the Bump for some gifting options.