RIP AJ Crimson

I am stunned and saddened to learn that makeup artist and brand founder AJ Crimson passed away. He was only 27 years old. The cause of death has not been revealed.

AJ Crimson

I had the pleasure of interviewing AJ Crimson for the Cold Cream ‘n’ Roses blog:

Part 1 – An interview with makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur A.J. Crimson, Part 1

Part 2 – An interview with makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur A.J. Crimson, Part 2

Your #makeup and #skincare questions answered

Here are some of my answers to questions posed by readers on the social question-and-answer website Quora, shared via Twitter.

Your makeup and skincare questions answered
Your makeup and skincare questions answered
Your makeup and skincare questions answered

Cold Cream ‘n’ Roses reviews Cinema Secrets makeup brush cleaner

I had run out of Sephora’s instant brush cleaner spray, and stopped at Sephora inside JCPenney at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, VA to buy another can. The saleswoman recommended Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner instead, but she didn’t have any in stock. She suggested that I visit the standalone Sephora store in Fair Oaks Mall. Once I made it to the standalone Sephora store, I discovered that crew members were equally enthused about Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner.

Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner

Here’s how to use Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner:

  1. Pour a little liquid into the aluminum cup that comes with the kit. 
  2. Don’t completely cover the bristles: Cinema Secrets website recommends filling the tin enough to dip 1/4 of the way up the brush bristles.
  3. Cinema Secrets recommends that users “Dip the tip of the brush into the liquid and remove immediately to avoid over saturation,” although I admit to swirling the brush in the liquid.
  4. Stroke the brush against the rim of the tin to remove any excess liquid.
  5. Wipe the brush clean on an absorbent paper towel or cloth, and repeat as necessary. I use a nubby cloth: microfiber cloths work well and wash beautifully.
  6. Either lay the brushes flat on the cloth or hang upside down in a makeup brush drying rack.
  7. Let any remaining cleaner evaporate in the cup: don’t dispose of it in the sink or toilet.

Now the drawbacks of Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner:

  • The cleaner is flammable: that’s why Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner is a Hazmat product. Cinema Secrets ships items containing flammable chemicals only via Standard Ground Shipping, not Air.
  • The liquid cleaner is not good for travel, not merely because it’s flammable, but it can get all over your clothes.
  • The bottle is not fitted with a squirt-type closure, which would make it less messy.
  • Some users might find the vanilla fragrance overwhelming.

Despite the negatives, I love Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner because it quickly dissolves products like concealer, cleans brushes so that they’re soon able to be used, and disinfects brushes.

Source:

Makeup Brush Cleaner Pro Starter Kit, 8 fl oz (with tin). cinemasecrets. (2021). Retrieved 27 June 2021, from https://cinemasecrets.com/collections/brush-cleaner/products/makeup-brush-cleaner-pro-starter-kit-8-fl-oz-with-tin

Lisa Eldridge expands her makeup line

Something to get excited about: MUA Lisa Eldridge, formerly creative director for Lancôme, has expanded her eponymous makeup line.

Lisa’s first launch comprised three LE velvet lipsticks in November 2018.

Nearly three years later, Lisa has expanded her makeup line to include highlighter, blush, lip gloss, and lipstick. She writes:

“The first one [YouTube video] ‘My Spring Summer Collection’ showcases all the new products in my Spring / Summer Collection. From my brand new ‘Seamless Skin’ Elevated Glow Highlighter and Enlivening Blush, to the new shades of my Gloss Embrace Lip Treatment and Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour.

Well, I don’t use highlighter or lip gloss. I have all the blush I want or need (and yes, at age 63, I more often than not use powder blush!). But I’m daft about lipstick. Sheers and cream lipsticks are my favorites. I probably have a collection of 100 lipsticks.

If I were to choose among Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour lipsticks, I’d choose Spirited Away, described as “a very modern rosewood which traverses the colour spectrum from brown to red to pink with a warm tone underscoring.”

Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour lipstick in Spirited Away

The Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour lipsticks may be pre-ordered at https://www.lisaeldridge.com/collections/luxuriously-lucent-lip-colour. The price for a single lipstick is £26.00, which works out to US $36.89, as of May 29, 2021. Shipping to the U.S. is free if you select delivery by USPS.

Zara makeup debuts on May 12

I subscribe to the Get The Gloss e-newsletter from the UK. Today’s e-newsletter featured an article on Zara’s new makeup line, which debuts May 12 (Wednesday!). Previously, Zara had launched a line matte lipsticks.

zara-makeup-1.jpg
Zara makeup

Zara’s makeup line was created in collaboration with UK makeup artist Diane Kendal. It features refillable packaging.

In its article Zara Makeup: What’s The New Beauty Collection Actually Like?, Get The Gloss shows press photos of the makeup. It admits that it hasn’t got its hands on the makeup collection: however, MUA Lisa Potter-Dixon gave a run-down on her Instagram feed and she’s super-excited:

Read More »

My K-beauty haul

H Mart in Fairfax, Virginia recently moved to its new location on 11200 Fairfax Blvd.

I was concerned that the beauty counter tenants from its previous location would move as well. Here’s what HJ said on Nextdoor:

Yes, the beauty counters moved to the new location. Also a small pharmacy, Asian food court, kiddie play corner, a seafood section (follow your nose for that dept), and some parking in the shade are in the new location. Customers are leaving carts all over the parking lot and in precious empty parking spaces instead of pushing them back to the cart corrals, so watch out — or your or your car could hit a cart that’s out of place or rolling around.

Relieved! Naturally, I had to check out the beauty counters. It was gratifying that the beauty advisors remembered me from the old location. Here’s my haul:

K Beauty haul
K Beauty haul

  • Black Pearl and Gold Hydrogel Eye Patch from Petitfée: cool and refreshing. I like to put these on before I do my eye makeup.
  • VDL foundation brush: the saleswoman said that she used this brush to blend concealer.  You might be surprised that VDL is an LG brand.  That’s right: the same LG that makes flat-screen TVs, washing machines and dryers, and refrigerators also has a skin care and makeup division.
  • Skincare samples from The History of 후 (Whoo) and Su:m37, also LG brands.  This store is great for handing out freebies!
  • Five-ply cotton facial pads: you can peel off layers on these pads.

FYI H Mart has a stand for lower-priced cosmetics, including Tony Moly, Bbi@, and Missha.  Please note that the beauty counters are tenants, not part of H Mart.

Want more pics?  See my Instagram account:Read More »

Your burning #beauty questions answered

Apologies for the irrelevant images.  This seems to happen when I don’t post a picture of my own on Quora.  WordPress.com doesn’t allow embeds from Quora.  I had to share the answer on Quora via Twitter.

https://twitter.com/thestylepage/status/1072647949514104832
https://twitter.com/thestylepage/status/1072647640431685633
https://twitter.com/thestylepage/status/1072643331287597056
https://twitter.com/thestylepage/status/1072651509492535299
https://twitter.com/thestylepage/status/1072651742024736768

Famed MUA Lisa Eldridge to launch three limited edition red lipsticks

Lisa Eldridge is a British makeup artist who had served as creative director for Lancôme. As you can see from the photo below, she’s her own best model.

MUA Lisa Eldridge applying lipstick
Lisa Eldridge – Image: Mateusz Sitek

Now comes the exciting news that she’s launching three velvet lipsticks on November 19.  The lipsticks are various shades of red.  According to Get The Gloss:

There’s Velvet Morning, a Berocca orange-red that’ll wake you up in every sense, Velvet Jazz, a brick red, and Velvet Ribbon, a filmstarry blue-red.

 

ECOM_FINALS_2_0009_SET_OF_3_1024x1024
The Ultimate True Velvet Collection

The lipsticks cost £26 (around USD 33.43) each.   The three lipstick set (including velvet bag) costs £75.00(around USD 96.43).  Pre-orders will start shipping on November 22.

Sources:
Hunter, A. (2018, November 14). Lisa Eldridge’s first ever beauty product is landing. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.getthegloss.com/news/lisa-eldridge-s-first-ever-beauty-product-is-landing

Lisa Eldridge. (2018, November 19). Retrieved November 19, 2018, from https://www.lisaeldridge.com/shop/beauty/#.W_MfbehKhPY Plush Velvet lipsticks

#wunder2 Caviar Illuminator

Wunder2
Wunder2 Caviar Illuminator

Deets aka Details:

  • Little beads of pigment
  • Mesh screen prevents spillage, but also makes it somewhat difficult to build color
  • Comes in 3 shades: Mother of Pearl, Coral Shimmer, and Golden Sand
  • Coral Shimmer works as blush, while Mother of Pearl works as a highlighter
  • $30 apiece: available through wunder2.com or CVS stores
  • Cruelty free
  • Press sample
  • Ingredients

 Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Agar, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Potassium Olivate, Polysorbate 80, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Polysorbate 60, Fragrance (Parfum), Glycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Source:
CAVIAR ILLUMINATOR | WUNDER2. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2018, from https://www.wunder2.com/product/caviar-illuminator/