Wanna know how I spent my weekend — glad you asked!

Playing in swatches, trying on fabulous shiny glosses, painting my nails with bright neon hues, and talking beauty with the best artists, bloggers, and editors to ever do this. Yea, that kinda sums up The Makeup Show 2012.

TMS was held on Sunday May 13th & Monday May 14th, 2012. They kicked off their weekend event with an exclusive tweet-up at NARS, a Blogger Preview, and a party — yes, this was my Saturday. I met up with a few beauty bloggers to attend the NARS event. You know we travel in 3′s and 4′s.

Me, Nichole, Merli, & Christen -- Beauty Blogger LOVE!

I had a blast at the tweet up. I even got to meet the Global Director of Artistry, James. Who happens to have grey hair too! (sidebar – is there a cool nickname for us with grey?!) He chatted a bit about the new nail collection from Thakoon, and you know this nailista brought a bottle. I think this makes bottle 75, le sigh. 

James, Global Director of Artistry for NARS Cosmetics

After we left NARS, we headed to brunch. Sorry no pics. Our meals came with 2 cocktails — nuff said. After a long walk, a few stumbles along the way, and a crazy story of how not to catch a cab that I will share at a later date, we made it over to the Metropolitan Pavillion and inside the Blogger Preview. There, makeup artist James Vincent, give us insight to all the goodies in the swag bag.

WOWSERS, and swag it was. Check out my I-can’t-wait-play-with-these products.

I don't think I need another Pink Lip but it's SMASHBOX

I am a little on the fence about orange -- but I will give it a good beauty who-rah!

YES! More shadows. I swear to do videos now.

The ultimate pimple zapper

Guess who will be washing her face this week!? - Review to come!

I was so in need of a new brush. Glad its eco-friendly.

something to put all my random/fav shadows & blushes in.

The after party was filled with ah-maze-ing art from Andy Warhol & tons of cocktails, smiles, and chatter with my blogger boo’s. Check out all the pics from the NARS event, to the Blogger Preview, to the after party below.

the makeup show photo diary

James, Global Director of Artistry for NARS Cosmetics

Tweet Tweet

Me, Nichole, Merli, & Christen -- Beauty Blogger LOVE!

Beauty that ROCKS!

Christen from DivasAndDorks.com getting her orange on.

Me at the NARS Tweet-Up

I hear this old fabulous lady is an icon of sorts. Didn't get her name? Look familiar to you?

NARS Thakoon nail swatch

another to add to my collection

I don't think I need another Pink Lip but it SMASHBOX

YES! More shadows. I swear to do videos now.

Guess who will be washing her face this week!?

The ultimate goodbye pimple zapper

I was so in need of a new brush. Glad its eco-friendly.

something to put all my random/fav shadows & blushes in.

I am a little on the fence about orange -- but I will give it a good beauty who-rah!

NARS shadow

I'm glossy

I can now fit my brows

WIPES! & fancy too

I promise to clean my brushes more now

Vitamin for your face

I will have long lashes! (repeat 3 times)

more shadow

I wish my friends (IRL) gave me gift cards.

OCC

If I ever learn to swim, this will come in handy.

No sure what this does -- giveaway?

more shadow -- giveaway is your future

ummm...

YES... finally got a Zuca case!

And a Glamcor case too

BIRCH BOX

inside the birch box!

inside the birch box!

me at the Andy Warhol TMS After Party -- loved this idea of beauty and art together

Andy Warhol art

Andy Warhol art

Andy Warhol art

Andy Warhol art

Andy Warhol art

Andy Warhol art

Andy Warhol art

Andy Warhol art

there was a showcase of makeup artistry at the after party

beauty bloggers!! (Hey Fran!)

beauty bloggers!! (Merli & Tyra's Lil Sis)

How much do you love Santara's hair!

besties!

<3

Marilyn over the booty!

Agreed

Chasity Saunders, plus size model and Jones Magazine corespondent

The artists (Bethany, James Vincent, Ahbi)

Gimme!

The post My photo diary from @TheMakeupShow NYC 2012 + my Swag Bag Favs appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

In case you aren’t aware — I’m addicted to EVERYTHING. But especially my phone. I have it in my hand or sitting on my lap at all times. And don’t judge me because I know I am not the only one, lmao.

Of course I am still excited about Instagram. I post at least a picture a day, on most days many more. It’s the best invention since swedish fish candies (could & have eatten an entire bag). And I am thrilled to post that my enthusiasm for the new photo app has not gone unnoticed.

XOXO to Julee from HuffPost Black Voices for including me in her list of Favorite Fashion and Beauty Insiders on Instagram. 

Click here to read the entire  article.

The post GorgeousInGrey featured as HuffPost Favorite Fashion and Beauty Insiders on Instagram appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

Hey Readies,

I took a few weeks of from doing my manicures and boy oh boy did my nails suffer. The chips and cracks that once lived on my nail beds have been repaired and I am back to doing my #POTW (polish of the week — in case you’ve forgotten or a new click) posts.

I would recommend getting a partner for this DIY nail post. Maybe have a slumber party or something because it took me SIX tries before I got it right. What normally is a relaxing evening of nail polish and Gossip Girl turned into a complete disaster — almost. You’re gonna need a steady hand, a focused eye, and perhaps even some Anita Baker playing in the background to “get cha mind” right. 

Inspiration Photo Credit (left): Krissy from AddictedToAllThingsPretty.com

:: DIY DEETS ::

After I painted my nails with OPI A Roll in the Hague and ZOYA Dove, I let my nails fully dry. I’m talking a good 20 minutes later. I then used Sinful Nail Art polish in black to create the lines. You can use any nail art polish, just be sure the brush is long and skinny somewhat similar to your liquid eyeliner brush. You don’t have to be perfect by any means, I mean it is a DIY project. But I would recommend playing around with the polish a bit on a piece of paper first before using it on your nails. The biggest challenge is painting my nails with the hand I don’t write with so imagine trying to draw lines. But I managed..

(Check out the original post from which I was inspired by http://addictedtoallthingspretty.com/2011/11/simple-tribal-nail-art-using-opi-a-french-quarter-for-your-thoughts/)

Q: What colors are you rocking this week? Any creative DIY nail art? Comment below and if you’ve got some cool posts too, leave me the link! 

The post #POTW // A Tangerine Task appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

I am forever indebted to the fabulous folks at The Makeup Show. It was at TMS in New York last May where I had the opportunity to meet and chat with celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine. The interview was refreshing to say the least and Sam totally inspired me to want to perfect my interview skills and do more. For this year’s event they have added a contest geared towards the vlogger in you!

HOW YOU CAN BE A WINNER.

Simply create a 3 min video about either your favorite The Makeup Show memories, what you are looking forward to at The Makeup Show LA/NY, your favorite products/product haul from this show or past, OR a mixture of the three. And then post the video to your personal YouTube Channel and send the direct link to TMS. More deets here.

me @ The Makeup Show May 2011

If you’re free on May 13th or 14th, you have to attend The Makeup Show. Aside from all the great products, seminars, and celebrity makeup artists it’s a great networking event for all beauty enthusiasts. Check out how much fun at had last year!

See you there.

The post THE MAKEUP SHOW LA & NYC VLOGGER CONTEST appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

I’ve been obsessed with polishing my nails since I sadly cut manicures out of my budget. My nail polish collection has grown from just 5 to a whopping 59 polishes in the last year. Partly from all the events I attend and more because every time I visit a Duane Reade or a Walgreens I score an amazing new color. One would think I would have every color by now, but it’s soooo many to try.

The season the beauty trends at NYFW were a little different. Designers are using more racy colors in their collections, trying out wild and crazy hair looks, and even a slew of eye catching nail trends.

I spotted a few on the runway that I must try. Some I may have to get the salon to do. My hands aren’t that steady. Check out 5 must try manicures you should try.

5 Must Try Manicures Inspired by NYFW

Deborah Lippman created this electrifying polka dot manicure for Kate Spade

Wanda Ruiz for CND created this kaleidoscopic nail look for Nicole Miller

Gorgeous neutral brown hue with tips of rich ruby red at Jeremy Laing

A neon orange from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics for VPL by Victoria Barlett

I've been doing this for a while. Mix Match nails by Elisa Ferri for Zoya at Cynthia Rowley

Q. I think I may try polka dots soon for a nail DIY, what nail trends have you been rocking lately?

(photos: style bistro)

The post 5 Must Try Manicures Inspired by NYFW appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

I’ve been swooning over bright colors since the first time I saw a pic of Kerry Washington rocking bright red on her voluptuous lips. That was last year. And what do you know — bright lips are still trending in the beauty world as we head into 2012.

I will admit that it can be difficult to find the perfect bright lip. Your skin tone, the shape of your lips, and your eye color all play a big part. Not to mention what you might be wearing that evening. I cringe at the site of red lips, red dress, red nails, red shoes — too much!

I’m no makeup artist but as a consumer and makeup enthusiast, I’ve learned a bit about this trend. Follow my 3 handy tips and trust me you will fall completely in love with bright lips too …

1. Know what you want before you get to the counter & Don’t give up. — It’s quite possible that you will find the right bright lip color on the first trip. I spent about 20 minutes in Walgreens searching for a red. I took the top off of 2 sticks and realized one had an orange tone and another a burgundy. I didn’t want the orange, I was thinking it looked more like Halloween makeup. I also knew I wanted matte and not gloss. I had this vision of a hooker with bright red glossy lips trying to ruin my adventure. So you see, I went in with expectations. Red. Matte. Cheap. I’ve get the fancy YSL another day.

Color #1: Red Revival by Revlon

2. Think outside of the box. — When a beauty blogger first mentioned pink for my lips I thought she was bonkers. But she said ‘trust me this will look great on you’. And she was right. My pink is one of my favorite fun and flirty colors. If you are still unsure about trying a different color, be sure to ask for a samples so that you can play around with the color before you purchase.

Color #2: Spellbound by COVERGIRL

3. Less is more. — There’s no need to paint your entire face with color. Keep it simple with heavy liner on your eyes. For a more edgy look, try smudging the liner with a q-tip. Wear your red with black and white for the ultimate chic look.

Color #3: INGLOT #65

The post On Trend: Bright Lips, How do I look? appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

If you’ve been following me on Twitter then you already know my love for mani’s. However, with the holidays coming and trips to LA in my future, I’ve decided to snatch this luxury from my budget. But that certainly doesn’t mean my nails will suffer. I’ve purchased a mani kit and I have managed to keep my nails cute and clean for the past few weeks (I’m still gonna have to make a trip for a pedi). Thus creating a new read for you — #POTW (polish of the week). 

I never realized how extensive my nail polish collection was. Mostly from swag bags. This week’s color of choice is BLUE. I am not much for color blocking my wardrobe, but I will mix and match nail colors. I used a cobalt blue color from SpaRitual ‘Circle of Life’. This bottle was in my swag bag from my recent visit to the SpaWeek media event. I used OPI’s ‘No Room for the Blues’ as an accent color on my index finger.

Check out it and let me know how I did!

So tell me gorgies, what color are you rocking this week.

The post #POTW Feeling Fabulous in Blue appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

After seeing the Rachel Roy Spring 2012 collection last month I became an instant fan. She’s amazingly great at using different colors and fabrics to create edgy yet feminine pieces. It’s only right that now the fab designer (& former Dame Dash wifey) tries her creative eye in the makeup world.

“Beauty is something that I have always been interested in, and I had a great time developing this day-to-night palette of colors. I think I tried it on every girl in the office to make sure it was right”, Rachel tells Lolo Magazine.

Rachel’s makeup line will be perfect for us … on the go trend setters who do daily face in 5 minutes or less. The eye palette will be available at Macy’s on November 1st and retails for $32. There are also Macys coupons available for makeup.

[source: styleblazer.com]

Q: Much like other designers who venture into different creative areas, Do you think Rachel’s makeup collection will be a success or a flop? She gets my vote!

The post [glam alert] RACHEL ROY TO DEBUT HER MAKEUP COLLECTION AT MACYs THIS NOVEMBER appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

In case you didn’t know (& I am working on a ’35 things you don’t know about me’ post) I use to be a makeup artist. For like 6 months, LOL. It was only because in the beginning as a photographer I didn’t know any artists who didn’t charge a Prada shoe to do makeup. This is before I made friends with my besties and I now trade services. But I’ve always loved makeup. I love getting dolled up even more than I love fashionable clothes (I’d rather just write about them, kinda). But anyways …

I was recently asked to try Laura Mercier’s Flawless Face products which comes with 4 easy steps. I was pretty geeked because Number 1 – I get to add more goodies to my little baby makeup kit and Number 2 – I wanted this brand to work for me. A few of my MUA friends really love this brand for the brown girls but when I tried the tinted moisturizer, which I later determined just doesn’t make sense to me at all, it was very orange in color.

Inside the box were 4 items and instructions. This was extremely cute although I am familiar with what each product does. I used them for 3 days straight and here’s what I thought…
 

Laura believes there are four steps to create a flawless face—primer, foundation, concealer, and setting powder. Each product has been specifically developed to allow every woman to achieve an incredibly even, smooth, yet natural-looking complexion. Here’s my before and after.. My skin is pretty clear to begin with but my issue is finding a foundation that blends all my browns. I think we have a winner!

I am totally in love with how even my skin appears after using this product. And more importantly it took maybe 7 minutes to apply. GOTTA LOVE THAT! 

For more information on Laura’s flawless philosophy and tips on how to use each product within each step is located here: http://bit.ly/qEdysD If you are telling others, they can get their perfect products to create their ultimate flawless face using our flawless face finder: http://bit.ly/eOvLjf.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Laura Mercier via Glam Media. I received a sample to review as part of the program. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Laura Mercier.

The post [product review] 4 Steps to a Flawless Face with Laura Mercier appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

Every so often I am moved by a photograph. Whether it’s the composition, the clothes, the makeup it could be a host of things that inspire me. But this morning when I saw Ebony’s Magazine November issue with a very preggers and nude Nia Long I was literally floored. I immediately ran to my laptop to share these photos with you guys.

But I had first asked the question, how in the “sam hell” are these 40 + women like Nia, Halle, Jada, and many others looking more fab than they did in their 20′s. Good genes, no excessive drugs/alcohol, lots of spa visits, maybe? I mean it’s just amazing. Nia covers Ebony in her last trimester, hair flowing, and the perfect shade of brown.

Does it not make you proud to be a woman!

[SOURCE THEYBF.COM]

The post [photos] NIA LONG COVERS EBONY MAGAZINE’S NOVEMBER ISSUE IN THE NUDE appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.