Pat McGrath to Debut New Concealer Line- 02.21.20

Pat McGrath released her highly coveted foundation to ravashing reviews and success. Now, Pat McGrath Labs will be releasing its new and highly-anticipated Sublime Perfection Concealer line on Friday, February 21, 2020. The line boasts 36 shades and has a price point of $32. In line with making her brand inclusive and easy-to-use, consumers can also purchase a concealer brush (also priced at $32), designed by McGrath to mimic the finger, or use the doe-foot applicator provided. She is known for using her fingers and hands to apply makeup the brush design falls right in line with approach to beauty.

Known for versatility and thinking outside the box, McGrath says that you can use the concealer in lieu of foundation, for example, making this perfect for summer.

Pat McGrath Labs will also be releasing other products on Friday, so be sure to check out her website for more goodies. The products will also be available at Sephora and at select Sephora locations.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT: Pat McGrath

This Black History Month, I celebrate the legendary and iconic makeup artist and entreprenuer Pat McGrath.

From Great Britian, McGrath always had a knack for beauty and art. She knew she wanted to pursue a creative role when the time came. Her success is legendary.

Pat McGrath is known for her creative and artistic ability and can be seen on the runways of major fashion powerhouses season after season and year after year. McGrath’s vision and influence are far reaching-influencing beauty trends for the masses. Her talents have taken her career to heights that many only dream of.

I can recall her saying that she always wanted her own makeup line and in 2015, the world was introduced to Pat McGrath Labs. It is only right (and natural) for her to have a beauty line. If anyone knows makeup, this woman does! She has used her expertise and knowledge to help launch and grow other famous big-name brands. This experience only prepared her for her own line. I love how this worked for her!

Besides having a stellar artistic career, I chose to highlight this icon because she answered a desperate need in the beauty industry-inclusivity. Her foundation, for instance has a ton of shades, guaranteeing that there is something for everyone. Foundation tends to be the most difficult find for woman of color and to see a brand such as this one answer that definitely deserves recognition.

I also respect this fellow artist’s drive to get things right and do things right. For instance, did you know that her foundation took 6 years of research and preparation before doing to market? That’s pretty amazing! The work that was put into making this a success is not to be taken lightly.

I’m looking forward to hearing and seeing more from this billion-dollar brand in the near future. As a matter of fact, the brand is scheduled to release several new products-in the coming days including concealer, eye shadows and powders.

Thank you Pat McGrath for all of your amazing contributions to beauty!

Celebrate YOUR Lashes!

It’s National Lash Day!

So many beauty brands are celebrating this day with special pricing on mascara. Be sure to check your email and go on websites of some of your fave brands and stores for specials. Ulta has some great deals too-up to 50% off on lashes, mascara and all things lashes. It’s worth a look! In honor of National Lash Day, now would also be a great time to check out a new mascara or even purchase a new pair of lashes.

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez

Today, Selena Gomez announced her new makeup line that will be coming out in the US this summer. Gomez, 27, made her announcement by way of social media (including Instagram and Twitter), that she is teaming up with Sephora for distribution.

The products will be available exclusively through Sephora and Sephora J.C. Penney. As Gomez joins the growing list of celebs coming out with beauty lines, I am looking forward to seeing what the brand has to offer when it officially launches this summer.

For more information, you can follow the brand using the IG handle @rarebeauty.

Black History Month 2020

Happy Black History Month!

This month, we’ll explore some amazing movers and shakers, world influencers, and beauty moguls who are heavily impacting the world. I want to share some of my favorite beauty industry leaders who are opening doors for a shift in thought patterns and approaching beauty through an innovative lens.

Here’s to an amazing month!

2020 Grammys in Review

The 2020 Grammys have come and gone. Sunday, January 27, 2020, there was lots of beauty, glitz and glam.

For this post, I’m focusing on two beauties to discuss some trends that are easy to incorporate this upcoming bridal season.n The award shows always give us some great takeaways.

Let’s talk about Demi Lovato first. Demi looked absolutely ethereal in her stunning white gown. The complimentary combination of white with silver shimmer was perfect for television. Her hair and makeup styling was perfect.

Lovato’s emotional performance was touching, to say the least. I commend her for being able to push through and sing the way she did. It was not an easy task. She later recalled memories of the moment and how she reflected on how far she’d come. Emotions were high for many.

Sunday was a shocking day for many of us. We were all processing the news of the untimely passing of (former) Laker and history maker Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gia and seven other amazing people who are no longer with us, sending shockwaves that could be felt around the world. What is typically a celebratory occasion had a somberness that I don’t recall experiencing since the passing of Whitney Houston. This is a tragic and major loss for the world. They will all be sorely missed.

The loss was reflected in speeches of the night’s winners, like Lizzo. In contrast to Demi, Lizzo wore black when she received her Grammy for Best Solo Performance Winner. It was her first Grammy win. She looked great in her sparkly black gown. It had just the right touch of sparkle. I also liked her makeup and hair as well. They really complemented her gown.

The two ladies had similarities in that while these gowns both contrasted, they were similar in that they had sparkle and showed the perfect amount of skin. The makeup complemented vs. competed with the hair and gowns. This combo is a great takeaway for brides for the upcoming season.

Threading vs. Waxing

So, if you read the last 2 posts in my threading and waxing series, it is my hope that they have been helpful in guarding you with information. 

Now, I want to briefly discuss some diference between the two. 

Threading is the removal of hair using thread. It is excellent for removing hair on the face. It does remove EACH hair hair by hair vs. in one fail swoop. While this can be painful, the result is that you have a clean look without removing the top layer of skin. 

Waxing is the removal of hair using wax. The wax is applied to the skin and then quickly removed resulting in unwanted hair being removed along with a layer of skin. Though the visual may be a little rough, it is a safe method. For me, however, I found it to be too much for my facial skin which resulted in me finding another method-which was threading. 

Waxing is great for quick hair removal of larger areas on the body. Threading is great for smaller areas and if you are allergic to wax. Most was, as discussed in a previous post, are beeswax. There are some soy products but most salons tend to use beeswax. Ask around before going to salons to see if they provide any type of alternative to beewax if you allergic. If you are allergic to beeswax, threading is definitely a great alternative.  

Waxing and threading usually takes anywhere from 10-15 minutes, depending on procedure and expertise of your salon. Depending on the growth and thickness of your hair, your appointments may be something like every 2-4 weeks. I fall right in the middle, going every 3 weeks. These aren't time consuming but so necessary. Brows shape the face and make a dramatic difference in your appearance. 

Whichever method you choose, it is my hope that these posts have enlightened you. Until next time, be beautiful!

Threading

In this post, I am going to talk about threading. I'm pretty sure you guessed that by the title but anyway, I digress. 

So, what is threading? 

Threading is the removal of unwanted hair using, you guessed it, thread. Threading has been around for centuries. It started growing in popularity in the United States within the last 15 years or so. 

The thread is the same thread that can be found in craft and fabric stores around the country. The hair removal specialist 'shapes' the thread in her hand and between her fingers in a unique way that creates a 'catch' for the hair. The hairs are removed one by one, row by row until the desired shape is achieved. 

In doing so, the hair is removed without removing any skin. I have found this method to be pretty amazing! The shape is different from waxing. It's fuller (in my experience) and it lasts about 3 weeks. 

In this post, as with the last one, I'm speaking more of the brow vs. other areas of the body. 

So, I'm sure one wants to know if this hurts. Um, yes! So, here's the deal, the first time was the most painful. It also depends on how skilled your technician is because the more she is comfortable with this method, the better your experience will be. I have been going to the same awesome person for years. She is amazing! 

The pain is definitely something that you get used to and it doesn't hurt every time. You do want to be consistent with your appointments because going without for a length of time will cause more pain. The longer the hair (or more hair), the greater potential for pain. So, keep your appointments consistent. 

Another tip is to use ice on the brow before going. This can help to numb the pain. In order for this method to be effective, however you have to use the ice to numb as close to your appointment as possible. So, like 5-10 minutes before your appointment, ice would be great. You would place it on the brow and let it numb the area. Beware of the 'frostbite effect' because too much ice for too long is not good for the skin either. 

Anyway, this method is effective for me and I have found it to be the best for long-term use in brow hair removal.