April 2008
Beauty+Fashion
I LOVE BEAUTY! I will spend a day roaming the streets or searching the internet for the latest beauty products that cater to us or whatever is new an innovative (check for the BrownFace Beauty Bazarre coming April 2009). Here are a few things I came across on my beauty field trips.
Smashbox O-Glow: Talk about innovative!! This product is a clear blush that gives the perfect hue for your skintone. Yeah right, you say. Yours truly got a sample to try on my Almond colored skin. This product was on point!! It gave me the perfect, but oh so natural cheek color. It’s definitely a great day product when you want to look soft and pretty, but look like you’re not trying that hard. You can find this product at Smashbox.com or at any Sephora.
Qhemet Biologics: I’ve heard so much about this line from my napptural boards on how great this line works for those of us who have gone the natural route. I love being natural, but the dryness of my hair is RI-DIC-U-LOUS! Rihanna’s short, sleek, do was looking really good to me a couple of months ago, until I ordered a sample pack from Qhemet’s. In the sample pack, came the Amla & Olive Heavy Cream, the Karkady Tea Mist, the Olive Cream Detangler and the Olive and Honey Hydrating Balm. I’m officially in love! My tight, kinky hair has never felt so soft?! I mean straight out the womb soft. I couldn’t believe it. My two favorite products from the sample pack were the Amla & Olive Heavy Cream and the Karkady Tea Mist. The heavy cream is great on damp hair before twisting and the mist is great for moisturizing twists, braids, puffs or afros. I had to run out and get the full size jar of the heavy cream and the mist is on my shopping list for this week. I am not sure how well these products will work for relaxed beauties (the heavy cream is a bit on the heavy side), but there are other products that are lighter. I think if you are really craving moisture, especially us nappies on who suffer from dry hair, this is the line to try. Get your sample pack today!
Bobbi Brown Foundations: I have been faithful to MAC for over 10 years, but decided to research some other lines for foundations that are more accepting of our skin tones. I found Bobbi Brown a few years ago, when me and a friend of mine were on a shopping spree (in our heads) at Bloomingdales. I still remember when the sales woman tried on one color on both of us, but it matched both our skins so perfectly. We didn’t purchase due to the price tag, but I believe now that their foundations are worth it. I recently picked up their oil free compact foundation for a bridal showcase earlier this year and my skin never looked so perfect and the oil free liquid foundation with spf 15, is perfect for a natural day look. Although I ABSOLUTELY adore MAC, I don’t think they have the best foundations for our various skin tones. If you want a close to perfect match, I would suggest swinging by Bloomys, Barneys, Henri Bendel or Saks.
E.L.F. – where can you get a full make-up brush set for $12 and eyeshadows for $1? ELF Cosmetics of course. I don’t even remember how I got to this site, but my jaw dropped open when I saw the prices for makeup. Who knew that you didn’t have to spend $15 on one lip gloss?? With all things online, you’ll still have to pay shipping and handling costs, but to pay $5 for foundation is the best deal ever!
Education
Dealing With Infertility
Today my good friend called to tell me what was some good news. She was a little aprehensive about telling me, knowing that my husband and I have been dealing with infertility for a number of years. She’s pregnant. Please don’t get me wrong…I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY FOR HER, but I just couldn’t help but feel so very sad for myself. It’s quite frustrating when you want something so bad, but you have no control over whether it happens or not. It’s even more frustrating hearing your friends and family announce their pregnancy/pregnancies God made me woman, God gave me a womb, why doesn’t it work, I always seem to ask myself . This is where faith and praying friends come in. I felt like crap after hearing her good news. I felt like crap because my journey to motherhood has not been easy. I needed to do something, so I asked some of my friends for prayer. Sometimes you can’t or don’t even know what to do or say for yourself and the prayers that were sent back were right on target and helped me get thru the day. I don’t think I have or will ever know how to really deal with infertility. I take it day by day. I’ve tried things to take my mind off of it, but there is still that empty feeling in my soul that not even shopping will fix. Again, this is where faith, prayer and friends come in. My faith has kept me going this long, prayer gets me thru day by day and my friends know how to say or send that perfect word. Another thing that helps me is finding blogs or joining internet groups of women going thru the same thing. It helps to know that I am not alone. My doctor has warned me to stay away due to my constant question asking.. Sometimes they think I studied medicine (one doctor did ask me this) due to my now vast knowledge of everything that can go wrong with the female reproductive system. I can’t seem to help myself sometimes. I do believe I will be a mother one day. I visualize how it will be when we hold our child for the first time. And although it’s only a daydream, this gets me thru most of all.
If you are dealing with or have dealt with infertility, I would love to hear how you have made it thru. What keeps you going? What keeps you optimistic?
Entertainment
The Make-up Show
We are less than one month away from the Makeup Show. This event showcases some of the hottest and well known beauty vendors in the industry. If you love all things beauty, in the make-up industry or just want something exciting to do, you need not miss this event! Buy Your Tickets
Check out Scandalous Beauty’s Video for the make-up show.
MAC Event
Join MAC Cosmetics for fun and refreshments on April 27. They will be giving previews of their new line, Naughy Nauticals which hits stores on May 1. To say that I am too excited is an understatement. You must rsvp for this event! Hope to see you there. You must rsvp by April 23.
MAC Columbus – 212.769.0725
Mojito Bridal Showcase
Last month, I had the pleasure of helping one of my good friends debut her first ever Mojito Bride Showcase. The event was a SMASH!!! She is one of the best Wedding Planners and Decor Specialists that I know. She designed and produced the gift baskets for my wedding even before she became a wedding planner. The other great thing about this showcase was that it was the first time I got to recruit models and produce my very first fashion show!!! It was so much fun. Check out clips and interviews from the show on BrownFace TV.
BROWNFACE BEAUTY BAZARRE COMING APRIL 2009!!! Stay Tuned…
BrownFace Beauty of The Month
Lisa Richardson
I had the pleasure of meeting this Amsterdam beauty at my show, Soul Sessions. She was so energetic, down to earth and oh, so talented!
Lisa Richardson (26), the daughter of an Aruban father and a Dutch mother was born and raised in Amsterdam. Lisa is a typical autodidact when it comes to fashion. After completing a four-year make-up course at Studio Bessells (Hilversum) she worked for film and television for two years doing everything from special effects to theatre make-up, from fashion editorials to commercials.
In Richardson’s family, making your own clothes is normal. In 2007, she created her first designs because retailers were not providing what she was looking for. She then cooperated with Danaë (www.danae.info) which translated Lisa’s ideas into patterns and actually manufactured the garments.
Richardson made her début as a designer in October 2007 with a fashion show during the reopening of de Suite in Amsterdam. The name Gyasuda is her own first name. A name she changed to Lisa when she was fifteen (because Gyasuda was far too complex) and which has now made a comeback as the name of her label.
Find out more about Lisa and Gyasuda.
I’m always looking for BrownFace Beauties for our monthly spotlight. Please contact me if you’re interested or interested in submitting for someone else.
Meditate
I can do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens me – Phillipians 4:13
