Don’t Be a Makeup Chicken

Okay rant time.

As we have seen with photographic evidence I am a Black woman. I am a milk chocolatey shaded Black woman.

I am really annoyed today. I am annoyed because I have a love of supporting small business and whatnot but you know what, fuck you small mineral make up companies. Fuck you right in the ear.

I am saying that because I have been on the hunt for new things to try and 95% of the sites and shops I come across make products that are only appropriate for people up to a tan person and screw the rest of us.

And it’s always the same excuses. I have spent time (not recently because I don’t feel like it) emailing makers of fine sparkly bits asking why don’t they have foundations, primers, powders etc appropriate for brown people. The usual excuse is well I’m white so… Or the I don’t know anyone to help test.

I call double bullshit and shenanigans.

I would imagine if you are making make up than you probably understand that you could in all likelyhood purchase some foundations etc that are made for brown skin and figure out your own color combos.

Now my ire on this issue is not reserved for the little guys. But the big ones too and for them I’m naming names.

I have been wearing make up for a long time and once I had internet access about ten years ago I started writing letters to companies like Maybelline, Almay, etc. How was it that the cheap brand CoverGirl I’m looking at you, had figured out that women of color wanted access to decent cosmetics but the rest seem to not even think about it.

Not once did I get an answer from any of them. Just put on mailing lists and sent coupons I couldn’t use.

It’s frustrating and it makes me angry because I feel forgotten. I feel left out and there is no reason for it.

There is no reason I should have to search high and low to just find a product that’s darker than tan nevermind finding something quality. There is no reason that every drug store in my immediate neighborhood (there are five of them) carries every shade of products up until you get to the brown ones.

I can understand that huge corporations probably don’t care. They’ve done the market research and they probably just don’t care.

But the little companies stick in my craw because as we all know, once word gets out that so and so makes some awesome products people will flock there. I know that I personally have turned on other women of color to cosmetics that are affordable and beautiful.

It’s 2009 I think at this point in the game more people would be looking at these things and saying, hrm we are leaving out a potetentially huge and profitable market. In terms of that, do you then just say oh well I don’t know brown people/understand brown colors/am not brown myself and let it go?

I’m only going to say this once.

Grow some balls.

Okay now I’m done ranting under the jump I have some new reviews of stuff, things that make me feel fabulous.

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I know that some of you use DHC’s cleansing oil. I recommend to you M.A.C. Cleanse Off Oil.

Because it’s AWESOME. It rocks like a boat on the high seas, y’all. For serious.

The thing I like most about this cleansing oil is that it’s lighter and fresher than DHC’s. Also, unlike DHC’s, I don’t have to use another cleanser afterward–the oil turns into a light-milky wash when you finally add the water. I would still recommend that you see how your skin reacts; you still might need to use a follow-up cleanser. I have oily skin, however, and haven’t had a single problem with it. It isn’t breaking me out. It washes more clean than any other makeup removing agent I’ve experienced.

I’m not normally a huge fan of M.A.C. skincare products, but there are a few exceptions and this is one of them.

If the wipes don’t remove it all for you, or if you like rinsing with water, try this.

The M.A.C. Daddy. Of Cleansing Oils.

So I got a bonus at work and went a little (okay seriously) make up crazy.

My friends I paid full retail for Mac. Now, the fact is I hardly ever pay full retail for anything muchless full priced Mac. However they happened to have a free ship code and I took advantage.

And I have fallen in love with Studio Fix Fluid foundation in NW45.

Here is what I was looking for, medium to full buildable coverage, non oily/won’t make my skin go bitchnuts (yes that is the technical term for skin irritation), and matched my occasionally odd undertones.

Studio FIx Fluid fits the bill like WHOA.

Pics and comparisons under the jump.

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I got my Detrivore Cosmetics order in and, I have to say, these shadows ROCK.

Marianne has already reviewed Detrivore, but I just thought I’d add my two cents. First, I highly recommend Swine, a pink color that has some serious mileage possibilities. It’s a bright baby pink with a touch of salmon in the package, but the color payoff is much more baby-pink with a punch. Also? Today, I am wearing Swine with Weaponry, which I can only describe as lavendar with a punch.

The color payoff on these is pretty high quality. Do they replace M.A.C. pigments? Not at all. But I still suggest you try them.

Edit: This pic does no justice to this look–it’s a webcam and it has washed the pic out. Trust me: the shadows are HOT.

My eye this morning:

Detrivore Swine on the lid and Weaponry on the outside, blended with M.A.C. Digit on the top and lined with M.A.C. pigment in blue brown.

Wasn’t able to actually wear any makeup last night or yesterday - almost as soon as I posted about the Lime Crime stuff arriving, I ERUPTED with hives.

Friendly tip: skin lesions of any sort and makeup do not mix. If your skin is irritated, don’t put makeup on it. Especially if it’s your eyes. The last thing you want is an eye infection. Those are srs biznes. Wearing mascara isn’t worth THAT much.

Prima Donna, Lime Criminal, and Vixen with UDPP

I ordered three colors to sample. Lime Criminal, the signature color, is a vivid lime green chartruese-ish color with shimmer. Prima Donna is an interesting warm but hot pink, also with shimmer. Vixen is a limited edition purple that is very, very matte.

First of all, the packaging is very cute. But it’s also kind of a pain in the ass. I can’t open the little five gram jars without pigment getting all over the place. This seemed like less of a problem with the Vixen. I understand that Xenia is going to start using little caps under the lids at some point but right now it’s a frustration. And, yeah, there is always going to be a certain amount of mess with pigments and loose powders, so I’m allowing for that.

Once the jars are open, the colors do tend to make the mess less of a bother. *grin* So vivid! And, over the Urban Decay Primer Potion, very very true to color when applied. None of this ridiculousness where it looks like a gorgeous shade in the container (I’m looking directly at YOU, NARS) but then applies all chalky and pale and invisible. It doesn’t take a lot of product to achieve very intense results, either. I tried layering color and didn’t really see much of a difference. I think layering will help ease blending but for regular use? A little goes a very long way. Which is very pleasing because you’re only getting a gram of product for your US$12 which makes Lime Crime Makeup a bit pricey.

Certainly pricier than the Detrivore stuff that I ordered at $5 a color (which I ordered the same day but which hasn’t arrived yet - not that I’m waiting by the mail box or anything except I totally am!) but I can’t compare color payoff yet so we’ll see.

Color swatches on my hand.

Sorry the photo is a little dark. I was sitting on my bed and I didn’t realize the dark purple sheets would have such an impact!

As you can see, these colors really ARE bright. Lime Crime outshines my four or five chartruese shades from MAC (Bitter, Sharp, Eyepopping, Sour Lemon, etc) and has a much greener tone than the chartruese pigment they sell. Though, if you aren’t in a gotta have this precise color frame of mind and we’re comparing pure amounts, the MAC is SO the better deal, price-wise. I like it a lot, and I’ll be wearing it with thick black eyeliner that swooshes out on the sides and loads of mascara. I’m sure I’ll work it into some other looks as well but a single VERY bold color is still my go-to makeup of the day.

Prima Donna surprised me with its warmth. The obvious comparison is Sushi Flower. In fact, the colors are very close to being dupes. The difference is that one pass with an eyeshadow brush loaded with Prima Donna  gives you the color intensity of several layers of Sushi Flower.

Note that this is not to say Prima Donna is BETTER than Sushi Flower - it’s all in what you’re after. One of the strengths of Sushi Flower is that you can wear it as a sheer wash of color or as a bright highlight. The strength of Prima Donna is that you don’t have to screw around with reapplying a hundred times to get BRIGHT FREAKING PINK as the dominant color in your eye makeup. *grin* It’s more reflective, too - higher shimmer quality.

Vixen…. Vixen is INTERESTING. As I said, it’s extremely matte and this does make it a little harder to rock on first application. Matte colors have to be applied evenly or it shows - areas will fade out and it will look patchy. That said, this might just be the purple eye shadow of my dreams. I love matte shades and I’ve been looking for a bluer purple. This isn’t a true violet by any means (man, if I could find a truly blue-based violet purple eye shadow I would SO be all over that) but it’s closer than I’ve found anywhere else. THIS is going to be a joy to pair with MAC’s Electric Eel (not always an easy color to wear). Oh, man, I’m excited just thinking about it!

I use the MAC wipes to remove my makeup and these eyeshadows came off my hand without any scrubbing at all. Lime Crime was the most stubborn.

All in all, I’m very pleased. The price point is a little hurty but as long as Xenia keeps coming up with colors to die for….

Oh, my chickens, excitement is getting a brand new product in the mail and loving it loving it loving it.

I’ll have swatches and photos and hopefully a very extra-bright look for you (fingers crossed I can do all of this tonight), but I just have to say two thumbs up to the Lime Crime Magic Eye Dust when it comes to color pay-off and quick delivery.

Wouldn’t you know that as soon as I break down and order, she would start stocking glitters? The review for those might have to wait (though maybe not for too long because *swoon*) but I have to say, the Eye Dust is just as bright as promised. The loose powder is easy to apply and very smooth. I’ll test durability tomorrow but, frankly, I can put just about anything over the Urban Decay Primer Potion and have it last for days.

And first can I just say I am a Wordpress noob? Maybe I got it right this time.

Take two.

Okay my darlings.

I had a big hair tutorial planned but, my pictures (which are essential) did not come out well at all and doing this tutorial is going to requre some help from my resident man unit.

So in lieu of that I bring you my favorite super easy, super versatile, I-have-no-goddamn-time look.

And a bonus quick shot review of a my new favorite eye shadows.

If you are just starting out with color and make up this is my favorite look to teach people.

See here.

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It’s not just for texts–it’s for everything, really, including your face. Not that your face isn’t a text, something that is read.

As you may have noticed from my photos, I am very pale..and blonde….with blue eyes. So, yeah. Pale. What this means for me, living in Ye Olde Florida, is that sun damage is a very real issue. I was never a sun worshipper, but I spent my fair share of days in the surf, hunting for shells, musing over life with my friends as I walk down the beach, getting drunk in the McDonald’s bathroom. Things most people do on the beach, right?

Consequently, I have hyperpigmentation all over my face. It sucks. It makes me look older and it complicates my foundation color choices…and so on. I’ve had it for about 6 years now.

So, when my esthetician suggested this, I figured: Why the hell not? It was not cheap–$160 for the system of 3 products. It was worth every little penny that cried as it left the warm confines of my wallet and was handed over slavishly to the receptionist.

Why? Because it is radically revising my face. Honestly, I’ve never seen results like this. I first noticed it when I looked in the mirror for my morning ritual a few days ago. My face was, indeed, brighter and then…..BAM….I noticed these two extremely pinky-healthy-pale areas on the sides of my nose, sitting there amongst the age spots. I stared at it for a moment.

It was a revelation. Seriously. I’m not overstating the issue!

I’ll write more as my face changes, but here’s a start for you, if you’re interested: http://www.resultsrx.com/

One of the things I try to do for myself on a regular basis is to take a hot bath, for as long as I want (even if I have to add more hot water). Most of the time, I have a book and my laptop (and I know, I know, what if I drop it? But I haven’t so far) and a bottle of water or a glass of wine or SOMETHING.

And also most of the time, I have something that smells awesome and is made by LUSH.

If you aren’t familiar with LUSH’s products, the most important thing to know is this: there is something in the awesome smells that is totally addictive.

While LUSH makes a great and broad assortment of products, my favorite ones are the bath ones: bubble bars, bath ballistics, and bath melts. They each do different things to the water but they all leave my skin moisturized and my brain pleasantly mellowed. Aromatherapy works, dudes.

I made a trip to one of the local LUSH store’s today, solely to check out the holiday products. Let’s just say, I’ve stocked up.

So many bath products, so little hot water.

The Art of Bathing is a box set of 12 bath products, every single one of which kicks ass. It’s also a good thing to get if you want to give smaller, bath-related gifts to various people. And I love the packaging this year. The polka dot hatbox makes me smile.

Right now, until, I think, the 23rd of November, LUSH is running a promotion. If you spend $50 and part of your purchase is a gift set, you’ll get $20 to spend on a holiday gift set. The promotion stacks so if you spend $100, you will get $40.  The holiday gift sets are lovely and easy gifts to give if you know someone who likes baths, showers, lotions, or otherwise smelling good and taking a bit of time in the bath.

If you can’t make this sale, but you still want to stock up on LUSH, I’d actually suggest waiting until the Clean Sweep sale that comes after the holidays. I hit that one hard this past year and while I stopped in to get face stuff every now and then (because the face products have shorter shelf lives), for the most part my bath needs for the year were met (I don’t take LUSH baths anywhere near every day, more like once a week or so). Your results may vary, of course, depending on how much lounging in the tub you do!

My favorite LUSH products are Coalface, for cleansing, the glittery red bubble bar they come out with every holiday season under different names, Hot Milk, which is another bubble bar that smells delicious and is just as relaxing as a mug of warm milk, and pretty much whatever I’m bathing in at the moment. *grin*

Do you have any LUSH faves?

How did I resist this shade for so long?

The Emerald Sparkle lasted a good long while but it was totally time for a polish change. I was in my local Sally Beauty Supply looking for something else when I, as I have every single other time since the Rodeo Diva collection came out, started eyeing Cowgirl Up. And, yeah, I signed up for the Sally Beauty Card ($5 but you get a $5 coupon to use in the next month) so I could buy it at a discount.

This is my manicure before cleanup. It’s a fantastic and rich purple. I’m in love.

I’m also more and more in love with my base coat and top coat. I’ll do a better review of those later. A good base and top coat will MAKE your manicure.

You can also see that my nails are shorter. Had a little thumbnail accident and wound up trimming them all down. I can’t handle it if one nail is significantly shorter than the others, for all my nails never wind up that long any way. If they get too long, I can’t zip my pants!