Something Old, Something New

Good Day to the Beautiful Color Elated!

     I am ashamed of my absence.  Between report cards, parent conferences, and the flu ( an occupational hazard of many a grade school teacher), I have had little desire or inclination to sit and compose.  SO GLAD to be back and I am back with a vengeance.  Since my last installment, I have found some products that I learned to love again and some new I have discovered and want to share.


Something Old

    I am doing something new:  sharing hair products!  Let me set the stage.  My current hair dilemma is dryness and split ends.  I am constantly looking for products that add softness, hydration and repair to my ends.  When the ends are happy, my style is happy!  I stumbled across Control Creme by Silky, Sexy Hair several months ago.  It is a "silk infused formula" that smooths coarse hair.  It is directed to be used on damp hair, but I must confess, I love it as a daily hydrating cream.  Whether I press or braid, a daily dose leaves my hair feeling so soft and smooth.  5.1 fl oz.
     I also reconnected with Urban Therapy Twisted Sista's Blow Drying Creme.  Just a pea sized amount on damp hair adds unbelievable silkiness when you  blow dry but the results intensify when you press!  A little goes a long way.  I purchased mine at Walgreens.  3.38 fl oz.
     I love a good dupe.  And this next product should qualify for "Something New' but I have used it for so long, it should stay here.  Let me back up.  I highly recommend MAC Mineralized Skin Finish.  It leaves a perfect velvety finish to your complexion.  But...it is around $25.00 a pop.  I found this version from L.A. Colors while shopping in L.A.'s garment district.  I get the same lovely finish for much less than $5.00 each.  Just try it and tell me what you think.
     I purchased a new lipstick (shared in "Something New") and I have been loving darker plum and black lip colors.  MAC Blush Ombree in Vintage Grape.  The camera may not pick up on how the blush goes from light to dark, but it is a cool, grape tone that perfectly compliments the darker lip colors I am loving.  This shade may be discontinued, but it is truly a keeper.  If you know of a dupe for this, please let me know.

Something New

     

      Ever the foundation  finder, I was very pleasantly surprised to find the Ready, Set, Gorgeous Foundation from Cover Girl  The color and coverage are very nice and it feels so easy and lightweight.  I love a plastic, portable container and its availability in grocery and drug stores. 
     So, one day, I am in a major department store cosmetics section, viewing the new Holiday 2014 colors in Chanel, and a representative of Smashbox is coming back and forth to the Chanel counter.  Come to find out, she is using a Chanel mascara on her Smashbox customer.  After making my Chanel purchase, I received a sample of this amazing mascara.  Imitable Intense is great stuff.  It lifts and separates and the brush reaches bottom lashes with ease.  It retails for $30.00 and comes in some amazing colors.  I am wearing #10 Noir.
     As mentioned, I am loving a dark boss lip.  When MAC sent notice to me of  their Nasty Gal collection, I had to have the lipstick in Gunner...the most intriguing matte prune.  I have glossed it in this pic, but it is gorgeous on dark skin ,but I LOVE the contrast on the lightest complexions.  $16.00 maccosmetics.com
     Lastly, I must share a product that is not new to many of you, but I have fallen head over heels for when I need a great highlighter.  MAC Prep and Prime in Bright Forecast is the perfect consistency:  creamy and blendable, but adds the perfect golden glow.  Love it under the eye especially.  Kinda gives the illusion of an eye lift.  Gotta love that!  Comes in a variety of tones for all skin tones .  $26.00
    Thanks so much for joining me!  Please leave a comment if you have loved any of these products.  Stay blessed and Color Elated, everyone!
    

For the Love of Glitter!

Hello to the glamorous Color Elated!

       I use this blog for many reasons.  First to share, also review, create, recommend and so on.  But I have to laugh, many times I use it as a cosmetic confessional.  Here is my latest profession of weakness...I LOVE GLITTER!  I did not worry much in my younger years, but when I turned 40 and up, it can be harder to maneuver.  Now, I do not mean I desire to slather myself in dazzling sparkle 24/7.  What I mean is my eye is so drawn to and delighted by the scintillating combination of color and sparkle.  I love how it creates light and can add instant glamor to a look.  Now, the interesting thing with glitter is the VERY fine line between glamor and cheap as glitter can also turn a look sour if applied the wrong way.  I tend to like my glitter color coordinated.  So, if I wear a gold eye shadow, I love a golden glitter on top.  I prefer finely milled glitter to the chunky stuff, but I have seen some remarkable looks with the larger cuts.  I prefer solid tones to duochromes which can add interesting pops of unexpected color.  I am a bit iffy with those as they can be brilliant in a look or if not applied or coordinated correctly, they can look misplaced.  But when they work...wow!
      Why am I in a glitter mood?  First, the holidays draweth nigh.  This is the best time to indulge in glitter looks.  I adore it for a Thanksgiving dinner look, Christmas parties, and to toast in the New Year.  Secondly, I want to introduce the lovely J.Cat Sparkling Cream Palettes available on my site colorelation.com.  Each palette contains five glitter creams of different intensities and finishes.  Some are opaque with larger cuts of sparkle.  They are richly pigmented and can stand as lid colors on their own.  Some are sheer and soft like a halo.  There are solids and duochromes.  My favorite duochrome is in the neutral palette, Jibiri.  In the middle pan, it looks white, but when swatched, it goes silver and purple.  So pretty!
     So here are some pics that I hope you will consider for your holiday looks.  And, stay posted on our Facebook page  for a future holiday sale where these palettes and specially selected holiday colors will be on sale.  https://www.facebook.com/ColorElation    
     Remember ALWAYS use caution when applying any glitter product around the eye and on the body.

     Madison has a variety of girlie pinks and plums.  Cruzada is an array of ocean blues.

     Halay reminds me of Carnivale.  Bright and playful.  Suzie is the most popular palette we sell.  Women love these earthy tones that flatter so many complexions.  Jibiri is a collection of gorgeous neutrals.  Silver in varied intensities.

Swatched:  Halay, Suzie and Jibiri. 

    Thanks for joining me!  If you are a glitter lover also, stop by colorelation.com and join us on Facebook.  Have a great week, stay blessed, and Color Elated.

Neutral Eyes, BAM! Lips

How's It Going, Color Elated?

     For a long time, I resisted buying an eyeshadow anything...duo, trio, quad, palette...because I had so many!  Now, I admit, I have not been as consistent as I ought.  I have managed to slip up a couple of times.  But the horrid thing is that now my lip color collection is slowly creeping up to my eyeshadow collection.  My latest crime spree occurred when I went to Sephora.com's sale page and reintroduced myself to OCC Lip Tars.  To add insult to cosmetic injury, I very recently went to my local Sephora to purchase two more Lip Tars, this time from their luscious Fall 2014 Collection Unknown Pleasures.  So, I created a look using a neutral eye to showcase this BAM! lip.

   
    

     To create the neutral eye, I used my Maybelline New York The Nudes Palette.  I took a frosty taupe (bottom row, next to the last) in the inner corner and around the tear duct.  The remainder of the lid took a slightly darker taupe (top row, second shadow) and applied it generously.  In the lid, I layered.  I began with the dark brown (last one, top row), and over that another dark brown warmed it up (bottom row, fourth shadow), and for smoke, I took the black (bottom row, last shadow) to the outer corners.  On the top lid, Wet 'n' Wild gel liner was smudged  and my favorite 747 M lashes were applied.  Black kohl liner was used on the lower waterline and Lancome Liner Design gel liner in  Emerald Seductive gave a pop of color.

    

     For the lips, I lined with a black shadow pencil and filled my lips with OCC lip Tar in Pagan, a gloriously deep eggplant purple.  Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Minty Kiss added glossy shine.

  
     I am LOVING new Urban Decay Naked Illuminated highlighter in Luminous!  It is a champagne colored powder with an amazing sparkle.  Just gorgeous for face and eyes.

 
     Thanks for joining me!  I adore this look for day and it was so easy to do!  I hope you like it.   Leave me a comment and don't forget to share some of your favorite potent lip colors.  Would love to hear your faves.  Stay blessed and Color Elated.

Special Effect Lips for Day

Good Day My Color Elated Friends!

       For those of you who follow me on You Tube, this is deja vu.  But for others, I wanted to share a recent installment of four daytime looks for lips that I adore using when I need to escape my day to day lipstick doldrums.  These looks celebrate color, textures, and finishes that I normally reserve for evening, but I tweaked them to wear for work.  Remember, I am a teacher/makeup fan who loves color, but has to keep it wearable.  So trust me, you can get away with one or more of these looks.  I hope to also introduce you to some wonderful products that I have linked in the Description Box on my channel.  Check them out!   I hope you enjoy and leave me a comment.  Stay Color Elated!
http://youtu.be/d_-_i7nBunA

Body Moisturizers Supreme

Greetings to the Color Elated!

     Many years ago, as a young  mother, there were few luxuries I could afford myself.  My time, effort, mind, and dollars were devoted to my growing family of two children, an husband, and a chihuahua named Toby.  I resolved to reward myself in two ways:  finer lingerie (which translated into bras and panties that match...not an easy feat when you have to get kids ready for school) and a special bubble bath just for me each evening (when possible, or if the kids and the chihuahua would let me have 15 minutes to myself).  During this time, I collected products that would lather, smooth, moisturize and soothe with aroma therapy to boot.  To this day, I still love to try new products because there is nothing like enveloping your body into a warm bath or shower to cleanse and refresh and then slather on a lavish body moisturizer before you slip into your favorite night attire that feels so luscious on your skin.  I am getting sleepy just thinking about it.  So...
     ...I want to share some products I adore for quenching thirsty skin.  These products have formulations and textures that I think are yummy.  Some do double duty, functioning as body moisturizers, cuticle soothers and even lip conditioners.  Many are available in local stores and the ones that are not, are worth the shipping and handling.

     
     If you follow my blog, you may remember my post for Influenster on Freeman Beauty products.  In researching the body scrub I was honored to review, I learned about freemanbeauty.com.  I recently went on to purchase a mask that is AMAZING (more on that later) and came across many reasonably priced body moisturizers.  So I picked up the Coconut and Guava Body Toning Lotion. For less than $4.00, you receive 13.5 fluid ounces of deliciously rich lotion that quickly absorbs and leaves a super smooth finish with a fruity aroma.  It claims it is specially formulated to "improve the skin's texture and appearance."  I love it for the feel and extended moisture it provides.  When you purchase $30.00 on the site, you qualify for free shipping.
     I am a long time cocoa butter fan.  But, when it comes to beauty products, I can also be fickle.  So, when I needed another bottle of lotion, I left my cocoa butter on the shelf and decided to try Ogx Hydrating Argan Oil of Morocco Lotion.  Available in grocery, drug, and discount stored, this product is 13 ounces of lavish oil lotion infused with Argan oil to "restore skin's elasticity" and "give a radiant glow".  Sugar cane, willow bark, rice milk, and bamboo extract are also specialty ingredients.  You feel the creaminess as you apply it, but it is not greasy.  I purchased mine for less than $7.00 at the grocery store.
     On the department/specialty boutique level, I am a huge fan of anything Carol's Daughter.  The boutique near 125th and Lennox was a "must visit" on my recent trip to Harlem.  Her products can be purchased on carolsdaughter.com or hsn.com.  You have not experienced body moisture heaven until you slather on one of her Shea Souffle products or her heavenly Love Butter.  Love Butter is made for extremely dry skin and works as a "healing balm".  There is Sweet Almond , Jojoba, and Soybean oil and they combine to create the ultimate smoothing and pampering experience. The container holds 4 ounces.  A little goes such a long way.  This is what I love to reach for on those drying winter days and it is perfect for cracking feet.  It retails for a reasonable $12.00.
     Hollywood Beauty specializes in a variety of wonderful oils.  You may have seen their tiny bottles (2 fluid ounces)  in grocery, drug, and discount stores, filled with carrot, tea tree, olive, Vitamin E oils, to name a few.  They have such a variety!  These oils can be used for face and body,  I adore the Vitamin E oil to heal and soothe  cracked cuticles.  Olive Oil is wonderful for the hair.  When I did not have a clear lip gloss, I have used their oils to heal my chapped lips or add gloss to lip color.  They are so multifunctional that once you find a favorite (or favorites) you may not want to do without it.  I purchased mine for less than $8.00 each and prices vary depending on where you shop.  Available on hollywoodbeautyproducts.com or your local store, they carry other products besides these fabulous oils.  I hope you can check them out.
    

     As you gear up for fall and winter skin care, consider these products and if you do, please drop me a comment on your experiences with them.  Or, share your favorite body moisturizers and treatments with us.  I would love to hear your experiences.  If you have not, please join my blog and become part of my little community!  Stay blessed and Color Elated, everyone!
                                                                                                         -Tamera

Color Elation Sale: October 5-11

A Quick Message To The Color Elated!

    Tomorrow we celebrate the coming of fall with a Welcome Fall sale on colorelation.com.  All four color, loose mineral eye shadow collections and Abracadabra Waterproof Mascaras from S.he Cosmetics are 15% off October 5-11.  Use coupon code:  WELCOMEFALL at checkout.  Whether you are looking for bright and colorful or subdued and natural, there is a collection for you.

    
  So come by and visit our site to view these and other ways to get Color Elated!  Hope to see you soon!

                                                                                             -Tamera

Collection Leopard from Color Elation Cosmetics

Hello again to the Color Elated!

     Over a year ago, I debuted Color Elation Cosmetics on You Tube.  I did not have the equipment I do now and though I am no edition genius, those earlier videos were in fact just slide shows with me demonstrating a look step by step.  I a still proud of those videos.  They were part of an  humble beginning and showcased the color collections I created and still love.  One of them is Collection Leopard.  I have completed a few looks with this collection.  It remains one of my favorites.  It is versatile and flattering on all skins.  It goes nude, smoky, dramatic, and sexy.  All in one.  So, I wanted to share a "blast from the past" video and the most current from Color Elation highlighting Collection Leopard.  I hope you enjoy.

The Original Video

http://youtu.be/c5h0AzjbFDc?list=UU-2sPEmzuNAbtXLt3p9DMEw


Most Current

http://youtu.be/kk92_80ovUs

    Visit me at colorelation.com to view this collection and other products.  Four color collections come in 5 gram jars each and sell for $15.50.  Color Collections will soon go on sale for our "Welcome Fall" Sale so please visit often.  More details soon.  Stay blessed and Color Elated!  Any questions? Contact me here or on  colorelation@hotmail.com.