"What's In Your Bag?" Beauty Contest Hosted by Amour Genesis

Attention Beauty Addicts! What's In Your Bag? Share pictures of your makeup bag and the fabulous items inside for a chance to win a 3-month subscription to Ipsy.com! Visit www.amourgenesis.com under "News and Events" for more details! All contest rules apply! Good Luck Ladies!

Aida Cosmetics Chooses Amour Genesis as Newest Spokesmodel to Represent Brand

Aida Cosmetics Chooses Amour Genesis as Newest Spokesmodel to Represent Brand | PRLog

Makeup & Martinis Chicago Holiday Beauty Extravaganza 2011

In today’s society, the necessity of being naturally beautiful or acquiring the tools needed to promote such a factor is considered prevalent. As popular as the saying “If it isn’t broke, than don’t fix it” is, going by such words may not be wise. Individual beauty isn’t necessarily defined by a certain standard or rule; however one should be willing to master their best “them”. When thinking of a sufficient but practical tactic in achieving the best “you”, I can’t help but imagine a place where a woman (or man) can go to become further educated on the lifestyle of beauty.

On December 3, 2011, I had the pleasure of attending the Makeup and Martinis Chicago event created by the beautiful mastermind, Angela Lee. I was personally invited to interview special guests: Reggie Wells, celebrity makeup artist to the likes of Oprah, Aretha Franklin and supermodel, Iman and Kai Morae, model and the daughter of actress, LisaRaye McCoy. While sipping on delicious martinis, guests were able to indulge in a little pre-holiday shopping with some of Chicago’s top beauty and fashion vendors and get pampered with manis/pedis and facials. I also had the privilege of chatting with the events’ host and radio/TV personality, Bioncé Foxx.


Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this event. Angela Lee definitely, without a shadow of any doubt, has her finger on the pulse. The concept, Makeup and Martinis should and will be shared with the world. I am anticipating the next one. Check out some of the pics (see below).


Being beautiful is always in fashion,
- RL Fox

Angela Lee and RL Fox



Bionce Foxx and Angela Lee

Reggie Wells

Kai Morae and RL Fox

Allure Beauty Lounge

We at iT Factor Agency are so happy that we are now representing a new client, Allure Beauty Lounge!! Fabulous makeup artist and esthetician, Arlana Andrews is the owner and has her own cosmetics line, ABL Cosmetics. Having worked for tons of notable television shows and news stations such as: The Jerry Springer Show, 190 North and ABC/Disney; Fashion Shows such as Macy's Glamorama, some print work and with seven years experience working at M.A.C., Arlana perfected her craft to the point of being able to branch out on her own and start ABL!

I was fortunate enough to experience Arlana's talent first hand, today! She really caters to the everyday woman in making them look and feel beautiful. She gave me a natural look with just a pretty pop of purple (my favorite color) on the eyes. I was even lucky enough to walk away with the perfect parting gift - a nice lip gloss in a light pink shade called "Calla Lily"! She takes her time to make sure that the job is perfected and is very knowledgeable about her products and the industry as a whole. She gives great tips that women can take home and apply when doing their own makeup.

All of the foundations are hypoallergenic, fragrance free, allergy tested, noncomedogenic (doesn't clog pores) and most of the products are paraben free which makes it safer to use. Parabens are a preservative found in several beauty products that have been linked to breast cancer and fertility issues. So it's very important to know that several of her products are free of them. ABL Cosmetics is a full line of cosmetics that caters to all skin-types and ethnicities.

For more information on Arlana Andews and Allure Beauty Lounge, please visit the website at: http://www.theallurebeautylounge.com and become a fan on Facebook. Don't forget to pick up some items while you're there and take a look at the services that she provides! Check out some of the pictures from my makeup session with Arlana!

XOXO,
Mik S'ville

Big Girl Cosmetics Makeup Bar & Spa

Hello Divas and Divos!!

I had the honor of interviewing Kiley Russell, CEO of Big Girl Cosmetics on my radio show about a month ago! Kiley has such a warm spirit and great personality. Her story of how she started Big Girl Cosmetics is amazing and genius. She just happened to be in the audience of the infamous Oprah Winfrey show where she gave away the cars five years ago. Well Kiley, being the business-minded person that she is, sold the car (she didn't need one at the time) and started Big Girl Cosmetics.

The grand opening of Big Girl Cosmetics Makeup Bar and Spa was this past Friday, September 17th in Hyde Park. The space is FABULOUS! It's the girlie girl's dream! There was pink everywhere! The "Big Girl" was painted on the wall along with inspiring quotes. A combination of food, drinks, makeup sessions, massages, manicures and pink and white balloons made this opening grand indeed!

I picked up a tube of Diva Gloss in "Berry Diva" and will definitely return for a spa mani-pedi. Big kudos to Kiley for making her dreams come true! She was as warm and beautiful in person as she was during our interview. If you live in Chicago or just visiting, please be sure to stop by and check out the wonderful space and get pampered. The location is at 5239 S. Harper, Chicago, IL 60615. www.biggirlcosmetics.com


Check out some pics from my visit and be sure to listen to our interview on The iT Factor Show at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/itfactoragency/2010/08/22/kiley-russell-ceo-of-big-girl-cosmetics

Listen to internet radio with The iT Factor Show on Blog Talk Radio

XOXO
iT Girl Forever


The "Big Girl"



Kiley and Rodney

Kiley and Mikeya

Essential Diva Survival Kit

My friends always laugh at me because I carry my life in my purse. Where this may be true, they don't laugh when they need something out of my "survival" kit! LOL!

 I feel that every woman needs to have the Essential Diva Survival Kit (EDSK) at all times. In order to maintain your fabulousness and never be caught off guard, this is a must have. I will break down what I feel should go in it and I am definitely open to all suggestions. Enjoy Dolls!!

Cosmetic Bag
First you need a cute cosmetic bag to keep all of your essentials in. Here's one that I love:

Cris Notti Cosmetic Bag - Beauty Encounter

Compact Mirror
This is a must have! To touch up make-up, check your hair, make sure there's nothing in your teeth, etc. It doesn't hurt if you can find one that is cute and decorative too! Mine is in the shape of Hello Kitty! Here's some that are Tres Chic:

Calypso Soul Compact Mirror - Sephora

Poppy Compact Mirror - Sephora

Nail File

You never want to be caught with a ragged or chipped nail do you? Try the Zebra file from Sally Beauty: Zebra Nail File - Sally Beauty 

Travel Size / Rollerball Fragrance or Body Spray

Travel sized or rollerball fragrances and body mists are great to carry in your kit. When you need a refresher or if you have a last minute date, you can spritz and tuck it right back in your bag. Most designer fragrances have a smaller version available for travel. A really cool one is the DKNY Delicious Dual Rollerball. It offers two fragrances in one.

DKNY Delicious Duo Rollerball - Sephora

Tide to Go Stain Remover

I swear by the Tide to Go Stain Remover Pen. It has saved me from many embarrassing moments of spilling coffee or food on my blouse. And they make it in a mini so it will fit perfectly into your cosmetic bag: Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover

Bobby Pins and Safety Pins

Think back to a situation where your life would have been easier if only you had a safety pin or a bobby pin. Perhaps for a wardrobe malfunction or on a really hot day where you need your hair pinned up. These tiny tools can come in handy. Keep some in your kit at all times!

Hand Sanitizer

Ever been in a public restroom and there's no soap to wash your hands?? This is where that hand sanitizer comes to the rescue. Ladies we must stay sanitary at all times! I actually keep a bottle in my car, purse and desk at work.

Colgate Wisp

I Love this product! You can always have minty breath...even after that onion bagel. Imagine having to go on a last minute date or party and can't go all the way home to "freshen up". Colgate Wisps are like little, disposable toothbrushes with built-in toothpaste...and no water is needed. Genius!  Colgate Wisp

Lip Gloss

I don't think this needs an explanation! It should be a staple in every girl's bag.

So let's recap: In our EDSK, we have things to assure that we look and feel top-notch at all times, have smooth nails, stain-free clothing, have fresh breath, smell good, clean hands, and "just in case" pins. I think we've covered most fashion emergencies that can occur on any given day. So go on, create your Essential Diva Survival Kit and be FIERCE on the go!!

Smooches,

It Girl Forever 

Beauty is Pain...but it's worth it...sometimes!

I know we've all heard the term, "Beauty is pain". I want to explore and discuss why women feel that it's necessary to sacrifice comfort for what looks good.

I'm guilty of this myself. I mean what girl hasn't worn 5 and 6 inch stilettos because they were FIERCE, just to have sore feet by the end of the night? The thing is, the pain is only short lived so it's worth it...right? My shoe philosophy is "The higher the heel, the better the shoe looks"!

But it's not just shoes that we go through pain for the sake of beauty. There's all types of crazy surgical procedures: breast augmentations and reductions, face lifts, brow lifts (all types of lifts), nips and tucks, liposuction, etc. Hey, men do it too...can we say, Gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts). At the end of the day, these things make people feel better about themselves and more beautiful. My concern is for some of the bad things that can happen during surgery and the health issues that one can have later. I'm not going to preach about the risks that are taken but I do want to say, please if you are considering getting plastic surgery, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Or else, you'll end up looking like this:

The issue of going through some form of pain or discomfort goes all the way back to the 16th Century when Elizabethan women wore uncomfortable corsets and undergarments to look thin and more shapely.

"The iron corset must have been exceptionally uncomfortable and heavy to wear and could only have been worn by Elizabethan ladies not doing any form of heavy work. Their only benefit seems to be that they produced the incredibly small waisted, elongated flat chested smooth line torso. "

Early Corsetry: Fashion History By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com

In the past, women went through more extreme measures of portraying what was considered beautiful at that time. Crazy, horrible things such as: elongating and flattening the head, stretching the lips with metal rings, induced large eyes with deadly plants and binding feet as stated in Beauty is Shape  by Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com.

I'm very happy and grateful to be living in a much more open and free era. If women choose to alter their appearance, it's their choice and not a requirement. I think I'll just stick to the 5 inch stilettos!

"The pain passes, but the beauty remains."
-  Pierre Auguste Renoir