What's In Her Bag?

Ponder that, my Color Elated Friends! ( And Good Day to you!)

     The products that make a home in your makeup bag, the ones you travel with everyday, and on occasion, you will turn the car around and risk being a few minutes late because you left them at home, are THE REAL products you cannot do without.  What is so amazing, is the bag is different for every woman.  My makeup bag has changed little in the past few years.  Now, the actual product brands may have altered a bit, but, overall these are my essential products and I would love to share them with you.  Now, I must make the disclaimer:  Pardon the frayed edges and worn labels.  These are my essentials, girl!  They are used!

Lancome Dual Finish Versatile Powder Makeup   $38.50

     I ALWAYS keep a powder compact with me to blot excess oil.  But, this product exceeds that.  It blots the oil and provides freshness.  But, it is also a foundation.  So, it gives my skin a lovely color and coverage boost, so essential for mid-day.  The texture is great, light and weightless.  The mirrored compact is well made and handles the bumps and bruises my makeup bag endures.  It is a pricy alternative to standard powder, but a little goes a long way and I love the result.  To view this product, visit lancome.com.

Clear Eyes Redness Relief   $6.99

     Redness relief drops or artificial tears (sometimes both) are always in my bag.  I really prefer the tears on most days as Southern Californian days and constant computer work, makes my eyes feel so strained.  A refreshing drop or two, feels so good!  The redness relief is usually used for close up pics, when needed.  As you know, these products are available in grocery, drug and discount stores.

Cettua Oil Control Tissue

     Cettua is a company  that creates several skin care products, including these oil removing tissues that sop us excess oil without disturbing makeup.  There are 50 tissues in a pack and it usually takes me one or two to complete the job, especially during summer when I tend to be oilier.  The website states, "It contains natural pulp with flax to feel luxuriously soft on your skin."  Visit cettua.com to learn more about this product and their complete line.

Sally Hansen  Salon Manicure Cuticle Eraser+Balm

     Sometimes, I feel like I am the Queen of Dry Cuticles!  I will invest in a gorgeous gel manicure, and because I wash my hands often, my cuticles get so visibly dry and flaky.  It is simply hideous!  So, I keep this product with me at all times.  Whether I am sitting at my desk, in a car, on a pew, I can pull it out and quickly rub this velvety balm around my nails for instant gratification.  It is so pleasant to use with its great feel and cucumber scent.  The price varies, but is is found where Sally Hansen products are sold.  sallyhansen.com

MAC Lip Pencil  $16.00-$20.00

     If you follow me on my You Tube channel, you have seen me pull out one brand of lip pencil over and over and over again!  My MAC lip pencils and I have endured a long and loving relationship.  Love the texture that stands up to the most emollient lipstick, the colors that stand bold against my darker complexion.  I adore the standard pencils in Currant (red)   and Nightmoth (plum) and the more expensive ProLongwear in Bittersweet (brown).  I have recently gotten into the habit of carrying them all.  I feel no shame. maccosmetics.com

Kiss Clear Strip Lash Adhesive  $3.99

     One day, at work, I was at the copying machine talking to a dear coworker and I notices she kept looking at me kinda strange.  You know, how when you sense that your mind starts racing:  Spinach in the teeth?  No, wait she is looking higher than that.  Is my lace front  off kilter?  No, she's looking lower!  What is she staring at?  Finally, she had the kindness and decency to let me know my eyelash had gone wonky and I needed to attend to it.  That was the last time I left the house without adhesive for my falsies.  I like this delivery system and formula even better than Duo, which says alot!  It is available at my local supermarket and the price is great.
  
Sephora Collection Candy Compact Mirror  $8.00

     This is an exclusive to Sephora.  It contans 2x magnification and regular magnification.  The size is great for pocket or purse...or makeup bag and fits nicely into the hand.  It is reasonably priced and comes in a delicious selection of yummy shades. sephora.com

Victoria Secret Beauty Rush Minty Shine $10.00

     Also known as Minty Kiss, this gloss is a true favorite!  When lipstick starts to fade, it is an instant pick me up, taking whatever remaining color you have and turning it into a pretty sheer shine.  And at times when I do not want color, it works well also.  It is clear with an amazing sparkle so it is pretty all by itself.  And, truthfully, I am addicted to the minty feel. Available in store or online, you save the more you purchase. Two for $15.00 or 4 for $20.00.  victoriassecret.com

Lancome Retractable Lip Brush  $26.00

     This was admittedly, an impulse buy.  But one I do not regret.  This brush is small and stylish.  The brush works well and is easy to clean.  It is sturdy and still looks like new.  If I do not lose it, it will last for a good while and I enjoy using it.  lancome.com 
     So, there you have it.  I have bared my makeup soul and revealed what I carry each day.  I would love to know what is in your bag.  What product(s) can you not do without?  Leave me a response.  And stay blessed and Color Elated!

 

     



        

Shadow Singles on Sale at colorelation.com

Hello My Color Elated Friends,

    This is a quick blog post.  If you follow my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/colorelation, then you know of our sale on all Shadow Singles for 50% off September 7-13.  Please visit and browse the colors you prefer, but I would love to share some of my favorites with you.

Splendor

     This is the perfect taupe shimmer.  Because it is neutral, it looks great with warm and cool colors.  In the pic above, it is worn on the lid with another of my favorites...

...Indigo Black.  I blended this to be like a jewel toned blue.  It is a smoky blue black that makes a perfect smoky eye like Marla wears below.

    Another I cannot do without, is perhaps the one I wear the most.  Henna is matte red brown that I LOVE as a bridge color is most of my looks for everyday wear.

     Raspberry Jam is one of the most fun colors.  Potent, pretty pink.  Don't let it scare you.  You can wear it full strength or buff it to rosy warmth.  It is beautiful on all skins.  Here, I used it with Amethyst and White Satin for an Arabic makeup inspired look I did months ago.

     So, please join me at colorelation.com.  We have added some new products and more are on their way.  And please follow my little store on Facebook.  Until next time, stay blessed and Color Elated!
 

Review: Maybelline Dream Wonder Foundation

Hello To The Color Elated World!

    Very quickly, I wanted to share a recent review of Maybelline's Dream Wonder Foundation.  I recently posted this on my You Tube channel.  If you ever considered this foundation, please watch this review.  I hope my impressions will be helpful to you.  Personally, I think this is a great product.  I love the coverage and the lightweight feel.  I hope you enjoy!  Stay blessed, everyone!
    

Fabulous Find: Femme Lipsticks by Kleancolor

Welcome Again To The Color Elated!

     It is so good to have a moment to blog.  I am back at work now and have the most wonderful class this year.  Before I get to grading these math pretests, I wanted to share a new find with you.  Now let me set the stage...
     I was cruising television stations and I came across this really pretty lady whose makeup just captured me.  Come to find out it was Rasheeda on Love Hip Hop Atlanta.  For those of you familiar with the show, this was a while ago.  Remember the episode where she goes to New Orleans with her girlfriends?  Remember her makeup?  She sported a simple gold eye with a "Pow!' teal lip.  I was intrigued!  So much so, I did two things:  First, I used the basic concept as a springboard for a recent YouTube video on my channel, Color Elated.  The video is entitled, "Get Ready With Me- Sunday Anniversary Brunch" (http://youtu.be/v9jjJF6Z_Aw).  On this video, I replicated the eye and used Lime Crime Carousel Gloss in Holly Gram, a deep forest green on the lip.  Secondly, I searched for the perfect and inexpensive teal lip.  I eventually found just what I was looking for in Kleancolor Cosmetics through their Femme Lipstick line.

      I am sure these lipsticks are available in many places.  Two that I know of are MissA.com (www.shopmissa.com) where you can find fantastic items for just a dollar, shipping is wonderfully low, and the selection is off the chain.  My YouTube friend, MrsFabBeautyBlog turned my on to this site and I have been shopping since.  (  Please visit my friend.  Here is one of her most recent videos where she reviews the new Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara from L'Oreal. http://youtu.be/Dw7SPUtsaJo?list=UUJTgEnuwsPBAfRX_I0YJ_kw.  And please sub to her channel!) 
But on Miss A, I could not find all of the colors available, especially the teal so...I went to Ebay where I found these lovely colors in one auction for roughly shy of $12.00, shipping included.

First Impressions
     For inexpensive lipsticks, the packaging is quite nice. I love how the lipstick itself is visible to the eye for comparison and how the packaging color is similar.  There is even a color coded top which is very handy if you collect all of the colors.  For example, the gray and the silver are so similar but readily distinguishable by their cases.  The cases are plastic yet sturdy and attractive.
     These are not the most moisturizing lipsticks.  I would feel the need to add a clear gloss to give them more shine and body.  If you live in a hot, dry area, I can see these feeling dry in a short while.  The pigmentation is interesting.  Some colors were more sheer, while some went on too strong.  The gold, silver, and one of the plum colors had lots of sparkle that remained even when the lip color was removed.  These lipsticks are very scented and if you are sensitive to scent, you may not enjoy using them.

The Colors
      Remember, these are only a few of the colors available in the line.  Let's look at each.  Starting with the top row, then  bottom row.  I applied most with no liner and the same neutral eye.

#15  Victorian Era

In the tube, this is the most lovely wheat beige.  I must admit, I was not a fan of it on me.  It went on a bit patchy and took a little building to make it even.  The color was too light for my taste, but I bet this would be just right for a fairer skin.

#17 French Garden

This is the softest nude blush. A truly pretty color.  It went on nicely, but again, the color is too light for my taste.  I could incorporate this shade with another darker pink or plum for an ombree effect or blot and use it with a liner.  This color is not a total waste, I just would not wear it straight out of the tube like this.

#16 Golden Rule

     I adore this shade!  This is golden beyond belief with the most dazzling sparkle.  The yellowness (new word) may be a bit alarming to some.  Lovely alone and fabulous over or with another lip color.

#20 Cruise Line

     Talk about a fun lip color!  This is a dreamy ocean blue that works.  Blues and purples are hard to find especially when you have a golden skin undertone, as they can make you look asphyxiated.  This blue is perfect and the photo does not do it justice.  I lined my lips with a blue lip pencil (below) for added color and definition.

#19 Teal Attraction

      The reason we came in the first place.  I was not disappointed with this color at all.  It is so pretty!  The first picture shows it full strength from the tube.  In the bottom pic, it is the way I would wear it, blotted and lined with a blue lip pencil.

#21 Ocean Streak

      This is a concord grape shade with lots of sparkle.  To me, it went on more sheer and took a little building.  But that worked to my advantage in that the resulting color is soft and quite wearable. Just know, the sparkle with be everywhere, even after you remove the color.

#13 Snow Flakes

 

     Please forgive the lack of focus on the top pic.  This lipstick is matte dove gray.  A real statement color.  Like the colors at the beginning, I would probably not wear this except with other colors like black or plum.  But on someone out there, this color would look amazing!

#14 Lady Glory

    

     I like this silver shade.  Like the gold, it has great pigmentation and lots of sparkle.  Worn alone or with another shade, it would add a neutral shimmer to any look.

#18 Sealed Secret

     Similar to Ocean Streak, this shade is a rich prune shimmer.  More dramatic but just as sparkly.  Would love to line this with MAC Nightmoth, my favorite liner.

In Closing...

     I am happy I found these colors and may be tempted to try the more conservative shades.  But I really wanted to rev up my fun color collection and these lipsticks were just the ticket!  Fun colors, decent pigmentation, some dramatic pigmentation, attractive packaging, and a great price, all made these lipsticks, products I would recommend.
     Let me also give a "shout out" to the products I used for my neutral eye:

     I applied MAC Shadow in Mythology on the mobile lid.  Taking the Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette, I used Sin on the inner corners, Buck as a transition color in the crease and smoked it with Creep.  Black liner on the bottom waterline matched Wet 'N' Wild Gel Liner in Black on the top for a dramatic cat eye.  L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga was applied before and after falsies.  Maybelline New York Super Stay Foundation in Caramel and L.A. Girl Pro Concealer in Warm Honey served as a base.  Some lips were lined with Zona Eye and Lip Pencil in #29 Ocean Blue.
    Thank you so much for joining me!  Please feel free to share your fun colors and inspiration with me!  Stay blessed and Color Elated!  Now... back to grading math papers.
 

    

 

   

Color Elation Destination: New York City!

Hello To My Color Elated Friends!

     This has been for me, an exciting summer.  I have had the opportunity to do a few things I really wanted to do and one was to visit New York City.  Now, I have been before...several times.  In fact, one of the last times my husband and I were enjoying a pastrami at Carnegie Deli on 7th and sat besides a lovely older couple, both native New Yorkers.  We laughed as they told us they enjoy vacationing in California and we, as Los Angelinos shared that we love to vacation in New York.
     My big reason for wanting to visit was to attend the Macy's Fourth of July Show and it was spectacular!  Better than the last one I attended.  It was a great thrill to see the Brooklyn Bridge, meet wonderful people from all over the country, and , of coarse, see a gorgeous fireworks show!

      A day with family provided us the opportunity to visit Coney Island.  I cannot tell you how excited I was!  Just days after the famous hot dog eating contest, I had my first scrumptious hot dog at Nathans and walked the boardwalk.  Talk about fun!  The view of the Atlantic and the throngs of beach goers was as interesting as a day at Venice Beach.
     In no time, my husband and I navigated the subway system like pros!  Well...almost.  But I grew to greatly appreciate and grow in awe of the miles of railway that make up this system.  It truly is a city underneath a city.

    I had to spend a day in Harlem!  Walking along 125th, I found the best beauty supplies places since I had every intention of doing my hair when I got back to the hotel. The variety of products blew me away.  But we also enjoyed the sidewalk vendors, the African boutiques, posing for pics in front of The Apollo, and a soul food lunch at Sylvia's.
    We spent most of our time around home base, the Grand Hyatt on 42nd and Lexington.  Trust me, there was PLENTY to do and a few things we just could not get to see.  A good reason to come again soon.
    Now, on to the inspired makeup look.  The main inspiration came from architecture.  Interesting shapes caught my eye. The rows of multiple designs coming together to create and architectural rhythm that resonated with me so much. The overall color palette was cool and neutral with alarming pops of warms and brights.    Varied cool tones of blacks, gray, blues and violets.  Where I found an elegance, I also found edge and energy.

     I knew I wanted work solely with cool tones.  I adored the cool edge of Maybelline New York's Expert Wear Eyeshadow in Electric Blue. I was also intrigued by the new bold, angled eyeliner I see in the press and on commercials. I envisioned a look where liner was taken beyond its normal course, extended around the crease.  I wanted the total look to capture the feel I received from this amazing city.

    To begin the look, I applied tape from the outer corners to the outer tip of my brows to create defined lines.  I laid a base of Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in #20 Painted Purple by Maybelline New York on the mobile lid.  I topped that with the vibrant blue pressed shadow, taking that to the crease and just above.  I took a blending brush and applied the lavender just above that to slightly blur that line because the real drama for me came with the liquid liner.  I applied that normally on the lid, but extended it up to and around the crease  like you would to create a cut crease.  I went over that with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Perversion, lightly smudging where needed.  In the outer "V" of the liner, I wanted to smoke it with the black shadow, tediously blending it into the blue to create as close to an ombree effect as possible in that space.

     I took a touch of the white shadow and used it as a highlight for the brow bone.  The lashes I used are so unique...just like New York!  They are bold and full with the most interesting frayed edges.  To complete the look, Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara from L'Oreal did an AMAZING job of picking up my natural lashes and then blending them into the falsies.  MAC Sheertone Blush in Hushabye blushed the apples of my cheeks and Maybelline New York Color Elixir in #25, Mauve Mystique complimented the blush adding to the cool toned color palette. 

     I wanted a simple black tee and my favorite earrings by Guess.  After gelling and slicking back my hair, I used two packs of braiding hair to create a super long ponytail with a blunt cut bottom.
    As with all of my destination inspired blog posts, I had loads of fun completing the look.  But, trust me, there were many looks I would love to do for New York.  So, do not be surprised to see another in the future.  Thanks for joining me.  Please comment and subscribe.  Always stay blessed and Color Elated!

Earth & Smoke

Four Fabulous Foundations

A Warm Welcome to the Color Elated!

     Beautiful skin has been an obsession with me for a good deal of my life.  Like many teens, I had acne...bad acne.  But I told myself that it would get better in my twenties.  Well, it decided to torment me during that decade as well.  But I told myself my thirties would get better.  It did, but I kept some amount of acne into my early forties.  And, truth be told, I practiced great skin care habits because of this chronic problem.  I attribute that as a big reason why my skin looks so much nicer today.  But the reason I learned to embrace a great foundation, was not so much the acne, but the resulting spots of annoying hyper pigmentation (very common to women of color)  that lasted so much longer than the pimple and dotted my face like a road map.  No amount of gorgeous eye makeup or lip color could compete with those spots.  So I learned a thing or two about which foundations worked well for me over the years and because of the resulting technology of these products, I also learned which ones lasted longer, gave amazing coverage, and possess illuminating effects.  Let me reiterate, I have tried TONS of foundations.  These are four I adore.

     So let me tell you about each in detail and provide a pic...

Marc Jacobs Genius Gel - Supercharged Foundation $48.00
     I fell in love with this foundation when I swatched in at Sephora.  It is a super smooth gel, highly pigmented and it settles to a velvety finish.  In fact, the company describes this as a "buildable gel" and this is so true so that extra application can be given to areas that need it.  It hydrates with coconut water extract but this is far from greasy or heavy. The color selection is only adequate for women of color.  I personally would love to see more darker shades in this line.  My color is #84 Cocoa Medium and it is perfect.  The finish is a lovely balance of matte and luminous.  Perfect for day or evening.  1 fluid ounce  marcjacobs.com   sephora.com 

Fashion Fair Perfect Finish Souffle Makeup  $28.00
     This is hands down my favorite foundation!  In all honesty, this is the first time I have been photographed in other foundations.  EVERY pic you have ever seen me in, I am wearing this one.   I have worn this foundation longer than any other.  My color, Tender, is perfect.  And because Fashion Fair specializes in makeup for women of color, the color selection is great, catering to the darkest of tones.   It blends like a dream.  It is oil free and contains oil absorbing ingredients so skin looks fresh all day. The finish is matte.  1.68 ounces  (fashionfair.com)

  Lancome Teint Miracle Lit-From-Within Makeup  $42.50
     I love a matte finish, but I find a little luminosity can be a girl's best friend.  These makeups make skin look more natural, and for lack of a better word, youthful.  At my age, skin loses its natural radiance and it is nice to know there are foundations that can bring it back.  If you look at the bottle up close, you see the most beautiful golden sparkle.  This light reflecting blurs minor flaws and mimics candlelight.  I adore this foundation for evening and during the day for winter when days are drab and gray.  It provides 18 hours of hydration, is nonirritating, and provides SPF 15 sunscreen. My color is Suede 2 (W)  1.0 fluid ounce (lancome.com)

Maybelline Super Stay Makeup 24 Hour Wear   Price Varies
     Oh, Super Stay!  How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways!  It is oil free and feels great on the skin. It provides 24 hour wear.  I travel in this makeup and depend on it when I know I will be in makeup for a few good hours.  It never fails me and looks flawless.  The finish is matte.  It is transfer resistant.  It never stains my pillow or my husband's collar.  It withstands heat and the most humid conditions.  And when allergies hit and I blow my nose every 10 minutes, this stays looking great as I go through hundreds of tissues.  It is widely available where ever Maybelline is sold.  I have even purchased it in lots of three or four on Ebay.  The highest price I have ever seen is around $11.00 per bottle, but I have found it for as little as $7.00 on sale. My color is Caramel.  For women of color, the shade selection is a bit dismal for darker tones online, and not much better in the stores. 1.0 fluid ounce (maybelline.com)

        Before I close out, let me share the products that remained constant in each of these pics.

  Lancome Bienfait Teinte in Caramel #6 served as a moisturizer with Phillip's Milk of Magnesia (not shown)  as my primer.  Sleek Makeup Contour Kit in Dark (not shown) sculpts and highlights.  Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre #3 and a yellow powder under the eyes sets the foundations.  MAC Pro Longwear Concealor in NC 35 also highlights the "T" zone and under the eyes.  For color, NYX Love In Florence Eyeshadow Palette in #5 Sunsets With Sophia and Bite Lipshine in Champagne Pearl add earthy color.
   Thank you so much for joining me!  Please let me know your favorite foundations and any recommendations you would love to share.  As always, stay blessed and Color Elated!