What I have been up to...

Oh my gosh...the holidays are flying by!  It feels like I have hardly been in the office to actually put my thoughts down on my recent experiences.  So here we go...

When the end of the year comes knocking...it means it is time for a photo shoot.  I finally get to set my plans over the past year in stone by photographing models for each collection.  It is such a stressful time because this is when you know whether you had a good idea or NOT!  Next year we are striving for more fashion-forward collections and to step out of our safe box a bit.  So several of my ideas could have been disasters!  Seriously.  But I am so happy to report that all of the collections are freaking AWESOME!  The photographs are STUNNING and I wish I could share them all now...but alas you will just have to wait.  One of the biggest changes we made this year was to invest in an editorial celebrity hairstylist named Adir Abergel.  He was AMAZING...truly inspiring as an artist.  He was as much a part of the shoot as the photographer...which was new for us.  Most of hairstylists we have used in the past have not participated on the actual set.  Adir was there every step of the way...even so much as using the wind machine to create extra texture in the hairstyles.  So aside from being so talented, he understood the personalities we were bringing to life and helped us achieve them.  For those of you that don't know, Adir usually only works with a celebrity clientele such as Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, Jessica Biel...just to name a few.  He took a big chance in spending the day with us and I couldn't be more grateful.  A enormous thank you to Jamie Richards whose talents in styling are un-paralled and who is always my right hand.  And last but not least, thank you to Jasmine Dashtizad for makeup.  Her talent never ceases to amaze me.  We had such a great team that produced truly inspiring images.  Here are couple of behind-the-scenes pics...

A big thank you to Renee Strauss of Beverly Hills for allowing us to use such gorgeous bridal gowns from her exclusive shop.  You are the best, Renee!

I am just so excited about these collections.  They are my best work yet:)!

Following the shoot, I had a wonderful visit with my family for Thanksgiving in Utah and then immediately headed out for an 8-day road trip.  My first stop was Toronto to launch Mirabella to the press in Canada.  We had a lovely event at The Spoke Club and it was fun to meet the press and local salon owners in that area.  Here are a few pics of the event...

Wow!  I needed more lipstick:).  Especially compared to Stephanie's beautiful pout...

Love this picture of Stephanie Sandoval (International Sales Manager)!  She is amazingly talented and Canada has exploded with Mirabella success due to her love and care.

Next stop was Dallas for a sales training with our Account Coordinators.  SO MUCH WORK!   But I loved every minute.  This event was supposed to be scheduled in February next year to present them with all of our new collections for 2013.  John moved it up last minute and I had only two weeks to plan it.  Talk about fast...but such is a day in the beauty life!  We got to stay at the beautiful Hotel Zaza in Dallas.  It was the perfect venue for 30 cosmetic loving girls.  Get this...the do not disturb door tag actually said "I'm busy putting on my makeup!"  LOVE.  I actually stole it...eek...don't tell anyone:).  I put on a fashion show of the new collections, so I was frantically teaching myself how to animate a powerpoint to music.  Now I can truly say that I am a master at Apple's Keynote.  Hahaa!  

Here are a few pics...

Thank you to Fresh Events Company who was in charge of making all things Mirabella!

Me with Cheri...a lovely Account Coordinator!

John thanking me for a great show.  Love this pic...hahaa!

The day after I got back from Dallas, Allure magazine invited me to Drybar in West Hollywood for a complimentary blow dry and a meet and great of other brands in LA.  They were playing "The Devil Wears Prada" on the TV during my blow dry.  This is seriously one of my favorite films.  Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep are awesome.  One of the editors shared some personal experiences of actually working for Conde Nast.  Did you know that Anna Wintour, Fashion Editor for Vogue, is the final interview to work for them?  She requires that everyone be made over before they come into her presence at the interview...clothes, makeup and shoes!  Wow...talk about intimidating:).  Apparently she hates all black outfits and insists that people wear color before they come to see her.  I loved hearing all of these stories.  So different from my daily life.  Another pic at the event...

And in between all of that I have been trying to enjoy the holiday season.  I LOVE decorating, making Christmas fudge and treats, and of course shopping!  I really was proud of my Christmas tree and office decor.  Sometimes I surprise myself when something turns out nice.

We are having a contest to see who can decorate their office the best.  Since I was low on time, I decided to make all of my decor homemade from materials I had hanging around and was loving using ribbon and tinsel to dress up my dress form.  Note to self, homemade things are NOT quick!  My obsessive personality just couldn't make simple paper snowflakes, instead I had to make 3D snowflakes to hang from my ceiling that took several nights!  I always end up spending WAY more time than I ever imagine.  So that is about it!  I am off to visit my family again for the rest of the year next week.  I wish you all Happy Holidays!  To a fabulous 2013!

-Amber

What makes a great mascara?

Happy Halloween to beauty gurus everywhere!  

I told myself I was not dressing up for Halloween this year...but I decided to have some fun last minute.  First, I said I would just dress in a witch dress with some smoky eye makeup.  Then the perfectionist in me kicked in when my hair didn't fit with the dress...so I had 15 minutes to dig through my cupboards to find some black hair spray.   I was on my balcony spraying away and didn't even realize what I mess I made around my ears and neck until I got to work, hahaa!  So, I sat at my desk and some cream eyeliner pots were right in front of my face tempting the makeup artist in me to try something fun.

Not sure if you remember, but years back MAC Cosmetics would release Halloween face charts every year.  It was one of my favorite things, so I printed and saved them.  Now their Halloween is much more commercial with intense makeup artistry, which is cool, but I always think back to the days of the face charts.  Face charts really speak to me...LOVE them.  I always say that that is how I got my job.  Christy Thurston thought I could make great face charts, so I charted at her events when I was 18 yrs old and the rest is history.  So I pulled out a look called Dark Desire for MAC's 2006 Halloween collection.  I had about 15-20 mins to quickly mark up my face.  Thank you Magic Marker Eyeliner!  Here are a couple of pics...

Moving on to the purpose of this blog...What makes a great mascara?  A great question that most everyone has thought at one time or another.  Mascara is so personal to each individual person...some people will love a formula while others absolutely hate it.  So when it comes to evaluating mascaras I have three main rules...and believe me when I say that I have tried thousands of mascaras.  They can be soooo bad!  Trust me...if a mascara is actually sold in the store, there is at least  one redeeming quality to it.

Rule 1: A good mascara will adhere to your lashes well.  
     
       When I am sculpting my lashes, I make sure to roll the brush on the top of my lashes as well as working from the bottom.  The brush should kind of stick to your lash with tension and roll off smoothly.  If it doesn't, the mascara is likely too wet.

Rule 2:  A good mascara will dry quickly.

      Your mascara should dry quickly without leaving mascara dots on your eyelid.  However, you should be able to work with a couple of coats of mascara before it dries completely in order to build up your lashes.

Rule 3:  A good mascara will not dry too hard.

     Your mascara should not dry to a brittle stage.  It should be slightly tacky if you were to touch your lashes throughout the day.  If your mascara dries too hard, you will want to itch your eyes by the end of the night which will ultimately cause specs of mascara to fall out under your eyes and smear.

That is why I love Mirabella's Lash Essential Mascara!  It fits all three key points for me.  I count us lucky that we were able to create such a great everyday mascara without spending millions of dollars.  The truth is that mascaras are one of the most difficult cosmetic products to make next to foundations.  Why?  Well, the brush, wiper and width of component all need to be considered in conjunction with the formula.  For example, you may have what seems like a good formula, but the wiper allows too much product to come out of the vial...making a mess.  And the wiper is such a small part of the development process but can make such a big difference.

My pilates instructor asked me just a week ago whether she needed to buy expensive mascaras from the department store or if she could purchase something equivalent at Target.  The answer is that you can get some really fabulous mascaras from Loreal, Maybelline, etc.  Same with the department store.  Many of these companies spend millions of dollars in mascara development.  And one is not the same as the other!  I once heard a makeup artist say that a black mascara was a black mascara.  I totally cringed!  Mascara developers would have just slapped her for that comment:).  Each is very unique, but can be great in its individuality.

The reason that Maybelline can make a better mascara than a smaller prestige brand for a fraction of the cost is that they sell millions of pieces of mascara.  Small companies can pick from stock mascara brushes and containers and hope that they can find a good formula to put in them.  But when you sell millions of pieces, you have the luxury of designing a special shaped brush that works perfectly with the formula.  When I checked in to custom mascara brushes, the minimum purchase was anywhere from 500,000 pcs to 1 million pieces per order.  Suffice it to say that many smaller companies cannot buy that many pieces.

Because it is my job to know what beauty products are being sold out on the market, I decided to test one mascara from Target and another from Sephora and give you a product review.

Givenchy Noir Couture
On my last trip to NYC, I was in the cab when a commercial for Givenchy Noir Couture with Liv Tyler came on.  I loved it because it really conveyed emotion and provided that inspirational pull that makes you feel like if you just bought this mascara, you would look like Liv Tyler.  That kind of inspiration is hard to pull off, and I thought Givenchy did a great job.  Here is the commercial...

I really thought I would love this mascara because it takes the brush design from Phenomenon Eyes by Givenchy a step further.  Phenomenon Eyes is the single spike ball applicator that was truly revolutionary and continues to be a favorite of mine.  By using three spheres, Givenchy has lengthened the wand for a more traditional application.  Unfortunately, I did not like this brush.  It is very visual, which is a plus, but product really builds up in between the spheres and globs onto your lashes in those areas.  It is quite difficult to comb out.  I think the formula is probably nice, but the brush applies too many clumps of mascara.  Once I spent quite awhile combing it out, my lashes were very black and sculpted nicely...but it was too much work for me.  And to put that into perspective, I usually spend at least 7-10 minutes on mascara...which would already be much longer than most girls out there.  I will say that the application would probably become easier the more that you used it, but I was turned off on the first go.  Givenchy's formulas are also hard to remove.  I have to use the super power Chanel eye makeup remover just to make it budge.  I must point out that the actual container is super special.  LOVE it!  It is a heavy zamac and feels so luxurious in my hand.  To me...that is a very important detail. $32 at Sephora.

Million Lashes by Loreal

Our National Trainer, Jasmine Dashtizad, asked me recently if I had tried Loreal's Million Lashes mascara.  She gave it a great review, so I immediately purchased it for myself.  She was right!  Million Lashes is a fabulous mascara.  It sports a moulded flexible brush...which I usually love.  This formula is unique in that it goes on quite wet but doesn't really dot all over your eyelids.  It is very controllable.  And it stays true to its name by defining every little single lash that you have.  Usually I like to work the rows of my lashes together to form the perfect sculpted arch, but Million Lashes is very interesting.  It is so fun to see all of the tiny lashes separate but defined and black.  Really cool.  You can layer and layer it to build your lashes even more.  My only complaint is that it does dry a little brittle, so by the end of the night it isn't so comfortable anymore.   Other than that, it is definitely a good buy.  Does it feel as expensive and exclusive as the Givenchy Noir Couture?  No, but it isn't supposed to.  $8-9 at various locations.

As you can see, I love talking about mascara!  It is so fun to hash it out with fellow beauties.  What do you think makes a great mascara?

-Amber

Bronzed Brilliant with Prismatech...The Most Innovative Powder Texture

What a whirlwind this week has been!  I found myself in Minnesota at the headquarters of Shop NBC for my first appearance as a brand specialist on a shopping channel.  Holy smokes!  That was sooo intimidating.  Since the network runs 24/7, they have a unique super last-minute culture that can make the toughest person nervous.  I jumped on the plane without knowing what models I would be working on to arrive at my hotel by 1 AM.  Little sleep and I was up and prepping myself to be on TV.  Thanks goes out to Jamie Nelson, one of my lovely models who works as a trainer at Shop NBC, for helping me learn the ropes.  When I returned to LA last night, I had to give myself a pep talk to actually watch the show.  You are your worst critic, but I made it through it:).  And that is really what is important...being flexible enough to try new things is imperative to survive a day in the beauty life!

With my life recap out of the way, let's talk about something super exciting!!!  For those of you that know Mirabella products, it would be common knowledge that we really care about good-for-you ingredients and that our products are mineral-based...meaning talc-free, paraben-free, etc.  What you wouldn't know is how difficult it is to achieve great color and super smooth textures without some of these ingredients.  And since I am all about functionality of a product, it is totally important to me that Mirabella products payoff and apply beautifully.  Therefore I reject a lot of formulations.  So when a brand-new technology called Prismatech was introduced two years back, I immediately fell in LOVE and watched and waited for it to pass stability.  It was first shown as eyeshadows and then last year it was presented in multiple forms...and that is when Bronzed Brilliant came to life in my mind!!

I have always been a huge fan of Bobbi Brown's Bricks.  I am such a blush girl that these bricks became staples in multiple shades in my cosmetic bag.  Back when, it took me awhile to find the technology, which is extruded and then baked, that gives such amazing highlight.  Since it was a double-process, it was super expensive and I just couldn't make it work for the brand.  Then Clinique, Laura Mercier, The Body Shop, etc., jumped on the extruded wagon...but nobody does it as well as Bobbi Brown.  It became a mission for me to find a technology that would be better than the Bobbi Brown bricks...and Prismatech is it!

Why is Prismatech the must-have powder technology?

1.  It is a revolutionary texture that combines the best features of baked, fluid and cream products.
2.  It provides brighter, purer color.
3.  It looks so natural on the skin.  Provides radiance without frosty looking shimmer.
4.  It is 100 times softer than the average powder!!  100 times!!  Touch it and you are in heaven:).
5.  The unique bouncy feel and transparent texture allow layering without feeling powdery.
6.  It provides long wear performance: color stays put all day.
7.  It perfects the look of your skin.
8.  It is talc-free and paraben-free.


INTRODUCING BRONZED BRILLIANT...

Bronzed Mineral Bronzer using Prismatech shimmer layers softly to truly kiss the skin with a touch of shimmering sun.  Tawny Warmth (left) is for Fitz levels 1-2, Baked Sand (middle) is for Fitz levels 2-3, and Burnt Copper (right) is for Fitz levels 4-5.  Fitz level 6 can use all shades for a beautiful highlight.  To get that Sunkissed Glow, watch this video currently on our YouTube channel.

Bronzed was featured in Harper's Bazaar in the September issue!!!  Right next to fabulous lines such as Chanel and Givenchy!  Keep in mind that we do not advertise yet, so to be mentioned without having advertisement is unheard of.  That means that the product really is to-die-for!! I was sooo incredibly excited!!!  Check it out.

Brilliant Mineral Highlighters with Prismatech shimmer feature two beautifully blended colors to give that extra dimension of shimmer.  We are the first to market two blended colors with Prismatech worldwide, which is an AMAZING accomplishment for our small brand.  This means that I now have gray hair from worrying whether production was actually going to happen for real.  To be first-to-market is awesome, but you never realize how many unknown problems can occur by taking such risk.  I cannot even tell you how many early morning phone conferences I participated in while I laid in bed trying to understand the issues.  But now that it is here, it has surpassed my expectations 100 fold!  So beautiful...

Brilliant is available in Shimmer Rose (left), Latte Swirl (middle, I LOVE this on my eyes), and Glowing Coral (right).  All shades are gorgeous and must-haves.  I mix and match them all.

My favorite comment came from Jamie just after she received her finished samples.  She said, "I LOVE them...they make my skin look so much better...I just put the bronzer over my entire face!"  LOL!  So true, Jamie:).  With that being said, I created a look that just uses Bronzed Brilliant in multiple shades and areas of the face.  Try it out...it looks so beautiful and natural.

Here are a few pics of me with this look...

So that is the story of Prismatech...it is so versatile that you can create any color for eyes or face in any shape you can dream of.  Whenever I go the manufacturer presentations, they have a wall of hundreds of shapes and colors of Prismatech.  I find myself standing in front of the wall just dreaming about how much I love cosmetics.   You will see other brands using Prismatech on the market, and I like it so much that I am collecting it in all shapes and sizes.  Here are a couple available now...

Estee Lauder Pure Color Gelee Eyeshadow

Sephora + Pantone Tangerine Tango

Notes from NYC

There just never seems to be enough time to be everywhere and into everything.  Being a relatively small brand, you have to jump 90 times faster and higher just to play in this game.  I feel like everyone at Mirabella is constantly speeding through life really trying to make something special...and it is very special to me!  We have had so many fun successes in the past couple of months...from our new Pinterest boards, my 15 secs with Mario Lopez on Extra TV, getting a new PR firm, watching the Mirabella Bride vision come to life at our bridal runway show, our rooftop press event featuring the amazing Holiday Escape mini film, the launch of www.mirabellabride.com, expansion into 2 new territories in Canada, NYFW backstage with Ivana Helsinki, lunch with Women's Wear Daily...not to mention the SUPER Exciting launch of BRONZED BRILLIANT!!!...and you can see why my summer has flown by!  But it is all part of a day in the beauty life...blink and you will be left behind:).

This week I find myself in NYC for the Makeup in New York show.  An interesting show...not sure how I feel about it...but I started pounding the pavement on Wednesday in my new blue Toms (love Toms..my feet are still functioning after 3 days on foot) running from one appointment to the next.  September in New York is the best time of year.  Perfect temp and nice sunny weather.  I am staying in Times Square at The Hilton and there is so much energy in this city!

Luckily my usual jet lag was nonexistent (that never happens), so I really hit the road running.  This month I am really focusing on product development.  It has been hard to find the time to really decide what is next for 2013-2014...but I think I got it down. Oh my gosh...everything is going to be AMAZING...I just can't wait!  I find myself really positioning the brand steeped in luxury.  I just can't help it...I LOVE luxury.  The more details the better:).

We got a new PR firm that I am super excited about because they are supporting my dreams of creating unique luxury products that are first to market.  So you will see a lot of innovation coming your way next year.  Super fun, hot colors and textures that are truly transformative.  If you can keep a secret...I will tell you that the lineup may include colored Magic Markers, BB Creme and a ton of new lip products.  And btw...I was just testing a fabulous new lip stain that was simply to die for.  I have been sporting hot pink lips ever since Wednesday morning because I can't get enough of this formula.  It is in the last stability test...so cross you fingers that it will pass and I will bring it to you ASAP!  Hahaa!  I love my job:).

Back to LA tomorrow, but I will have fond memories of this trip.  Working with my favorite people, laughing over lunch at Bar Americain with John and Ally, feeling inspired after talking with Ursula (she has the best taste and can always streamline my ideas and really make them amazingly beautiful), finally getting my favorite dishes 1/2 off from Anthropology after stalking them for 2 years, new Kate Spade pumps 60% off at Nordstrom Rack, catching up with my friend Aimee over milkshakes at Shake Shack, and more.  Now I am only 1-1/2 weeks away from my 1/2 hr segment on Shop NBC!!!  Oh my gosh...so nervous.  Not sure how I ended being nominated for tv, but it really scares me.  Wish me luck.  It is live on September 26th!

--Amber

Trendwatch - Tangerine

I was so excited to see Pantone's 2012 color of the year - Tangerine Tango! 


Tangerine, orange and coral shades are so on trend for summer and perfect for waking up the face. A pop of an orange makes you look instantly fresh-faced and ready for fun, this fashion-forward look isn't going anywhere. Check out these inspiration images. 

All images via Instyle.com

Here are a few ways to get that perfect Tangerine Tango lip:

• Try new Colour Luxe lip gloss in Blaze layered over Lip Lustre Liner in Charming
• For a more subtle take on Tangerine use Colour Sheers lipstick in Bittersweet
• Be bold! Fill in lips with Lip Lustre Liner in Coy, then apply Colour Shine lip gloss in Vibrant!

Tangerine looks amazing paired with golds and pinks. With your newly orange lips finish your look with the highlight shade of Merry Blush Colour Duo, or 

with a wash of Eye Colour in Gilded and a slight cat-eye with the Magic Marker, perfection. 

Cheeks are also an awesome place to add a little orange. Use the highlight shade of Radiant Blush Colour Duo with a neutral or slightly pink lip and eye for an amazingly flattering glow. 

It is also a great way to warm up your bronzer for a perfect sunkissed glow. 

One of my favorite bolder looks is wearing Radiant Blush Colour Duo on my cheeks and EYES!!!!! 

Make sure you pick the right shade of orange for your skin tone. 

We have two exciting tangerine promos going on right now - on our website if you buy new Colour Luxe gloss in Beam - you'll get Charming Lip Lustre Liner FREE!

We've also joined the ranks of Pinterest and are sponsoring a fun Tangerine Tango Pinterest Contest! See details in the image below. Contest runs through July 30th. Happy Pinning!

What I've Been Up To!

Obviously not blogging...There are so many exciting things happening at Mirabella I have really been neglecting this fun blog. We have so many new products and awesome launches coming up its been taking every second of my time.

 One of my favorite things to work on was the Mirabella mini-movie we have currently in production. It came together really quickly and we had 3 days to come up with full wardrobe for 2 straight days of filming! I have never worked on film wardrobe before and it is amazing how many things you have to consider. Body type of each model, skin tone, hair color, the scene, the lighting, coordinating but not matching with the other models or actors in the scene. Does the clothing match the feeling of the project? How about hair and makeup, accessories, shoes? Whew it was a lot of going into Anthropologie and Nordstrom and buying so many things and hoping they would work! In the end - I think everything will work out great, but I'd love to have a week next time :)

While they were filming the mini-movie back in California, Jamie Richards our Marketing Manager and I headed out for one of our trips to NYC. We head out to go to the fabulous packaging show Luxe Pack, to see the newest innovation in the packaging world. But its also our chance to meet with all of our vendors, see the latest technology and upcoming cosmetic formulas and get inspired for planning the next year or two for our brand. We accomplished all of that and in our spare time we ATE! Oh my goodness, we definitely ate our way through NYC. On our first day after a few meetings we went to eat at Fred's, the restaurant at Barney's department store with our PR Agency. While we were waiting we saw Joanna Coles! The Editor in Chief of Marie Claire and the mentor of Project Runway All Stars. This may not be a big deal to most people, but Jamie being the Project Runway aholic that she is - was pretty excited!

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Jamie's BFF  Joanna Coles (she doesn't know it!) 

This trip I also decided to do a little damage myself and get a few key spring pieces for my wardrobe. The J Crew at Rockefeller really did me in. It was one of those magic shopping days where everything fits and everything looks great. This NEVER happens to me so of course I had to buy it all. Be careful in there ladies, its dangerous. Of course we also made time to eat dessert at Max Brenner, one of our can't miss stops in the city. Talk about dangerous! Other than a few fabulous finds for Mirabella in 2013, the highlight of the trip might have been the bike taxi. We were going to be late to a dinner and the taxi line at our hotel was way too long.. We made the quick decision to jump on a bike taxi. Jamie was so scared, seriously having a heart attack.. And I just laughed at her. We made it to the dinner on time, and felt very New York. One of those things you have to do once right? 

J CREW! My budget buster! 

Max Brenner Dessert - my mouth is still watering!  

The next big project on my plate has been preparing for our bi-annual regional manager meetings. This is where we introduce our regional managers to the upcoming products, plans and do artistry training to show them the best way to use the newest formulations. I love showcasing everything that we've worked so hard to put together, and am always holding my breath and hoping they love it as much as I do. It's our time to get together and discuss what is the best for Mirabella and how we can improve. I always leave refreshed and excited to keep moving on making our line better than ever.

 -- Amber

A Sneak Peak at Colour Luxe lip gloss...

Are you ready to experience the most beautiful, most luxurious lip gloss EVER! I really hope so...because Colour Luxe lip gloss is debuting in a few days nationwide:). Oh my gosh, this project has been a labor of love for over two years!!! Big sigh.

I remember being in a meeting over two years ago with my packaging vendor and telling them that it was time that they AMAZE me with a beautiful lip gloss package. So many lip gloss tubes look the same. Lip gloss is a tricky product because there are so many great options at the drugstore ranging between $5-10. So, how do you go about selling a lip gloss for $36 retail when your packaging options look just the same as mass market brands? In my mind, it just doesn't work. So I had to have the hard conversation with John Maly (owner at Mirabella) explaining just that. On a side note...do you know how uncomfortable it is to ask for a lot of money:)? Especially to a man who is a man through and through...who only thinks in $$$! It was super tough...I had to demonstrate walking past our display and stopping in my tracks to gasp over the lovely new lip gloss...and then I had to get down on my knees and beg! I swear...the things I do for you guys! You all really need to thank me:). Hahaa!!! Totally kidding!

Back to being serious...custom packaging is really not for the faint of heart. Surprisingly, John reached deep into his pockets to make it possible when I showed him in $$ how much you were all going to LOVE it! So the customization process began. Now two years later, Colour Luxe is sporting a custom matte silver cap and shiny silver collar designed to reflect light when opening. The two-tone silver really helps to convey a luxury feeling. We tooled an ALL NEW applicator that is a mix between a brush and doe foot (flocked sponge). It takes the best from both worlds...it is flexible and paints on like a brush, but it is also a flocked paddle that helps control how much lip gloss is actually deposited on the lips. And now the important part...the colors!

Colour Luxe lip gloss is all about maximum shine with three-dimensional, light-reflecting shimmer. I know I say it every blog, but I LOVE shiny things:). The combination of iridescent and pearlescent pearls create a star-like effect on the lips. It seriously sparkles in the sunlight! Big sigh and smile:). This gloss really reaches a new level of color purity, brightness and dimensionality.

I have a complete arsenal of Chanel lip gloss which has been my go to for awhile. But now, I can honestly say that I like Colour Luxe better. I mean, of course I designed it to actually like it. But I didn't know if it would really appeal to me more than Chanel. It does! The reason is that it gives the high shine sparkle like Chanel, but it isn't as thick on my lips. Sometimes I feel like I need to scrub my lips after a couple of applications of Chanel. Colour Luxe wears off nicely and is so comfortable. Yay! I exceeded my own expectations...which is pretty hard to do:). I am my worst critic! My personal favorite is Wink Colour Luxe. It has a blue pearl in it that lasts for hours. Totally LOVE! A couple of ingredient highlights...

* Contains a custom vitamin complex of A, C and E that provides the ultimate in antioxidant properties

* Patented antiaging peptide restores lip tissue, boosts collagen, keeps lips moisturized and increases volume

* Pomegranate Extract contains antioxidants that protect from free radical damage

* Jojoba Oil leaves lips smooth and conditioned

* Monoi de Tahiti is a rich and emollient oil that penetrates skin quickly and acts as a natural barrier against dehydration

* Paraben-free, Propylene Glycol-free, Gluten-free

Check out our fabulous model, Nina, sporting Blaze Colour Luxe lip gloss!

Nina is wearing Gilded, Bitter Honey and Decor Eye Colour, Twig Eye Definer, Merry Blush Colour Duo and Blaze Colour Luxe lip gloss.

So now that you suffered through this mile long blog...go try Colour Luxe! You will love it:).