No Makeup on Set, Please

I have yet to see "Precious", the raw, gritty film about a poor teen single mother, staring new actress Gabourey Sidibe along with Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey. But I'm hearing it's garnering Oscar buzz. One of the things everyone is talking about, besides the amazing performance by the lead actor (who was a receptionist before being cast in Precious), is how "hard and tired" everyone looks in this film.

I've got to give a serious shout out to all of the actors who signed on to this project with the understanding that there would be no beautifying going on. No eyelash curling, no cute pink lipstick, no butt-sweeping fake hair.

If anything, as Mariah Carey was sure to point out, some of the stars were made to look worse. I can't tell you how good it does my heart to see an American film that is about something intense and meaningful (I know the story line). And the women aren't dolled up like sex kittens.

As a big fan of independent and international films, I'm always awed by how much is required of female actors in other countries. And how little they are allowed to skate on their good looks (Bollywood excluded from this discussion).

Could "Precious" signal a turning point in Hollywood? I hope so. I leave for film school in Hollywood next summer. And my dream is to be a part of films that have something to say about life.

Do you think you'd have the courage to star in a film in the nude (face, that is)?

Have any of you seen the film yet? What did you think?

Checking Out Thevi Cosmetics

I imagine some of you thought I was kidnapped. My 3Xs a week posts dropped to once a month - if I could muster the mental energy for that. After a major life shift, a new home and a lot of sadness, I am finally in a better space. I appreciate the kind emails I received from many of you during my absence. They meant a lot to me.

Now let's talk fun things...like Thevi Cosmetics. Back in the summer, the publicity department for Thevi Cosmetics sent me a few of their products to try. They are a relatively new brand on the scene with a vibrant color palette and gorgeous tones for women of color - not just African-American women, but Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Mediterranean and any interesting blend of the above.

Deep pigments, beautiful shades and an eye for what looks good on tan, caramel and brown skin tones set this line up for success. It also doesn't hurt that the company is courting the new ethnic faces in Hollywood, like their spokes model, Indian American actress, Kavi Ladnier.

When my two lipsticks and an eye shadow trio arrived, the first thing that caught my eye was the sleek packaging. I love the slim, sexy, gunmetal cases for their High Impact Lipstick. They've got great style. The eye shadow trio came in a similar gunmetal casing with a clear window so you can see the color inside. Smart move.

Swiping the eye shadows (Bistro is the combo I received) across my hand, I really liked how they adhered immediately and gave off just the right amount of shimmer. The lipsticks were equally impressive. The shades were beautiful and the texture was perfectly balanced between a lip stain and a lipstick. Not too glossy. Not too thick on the color.

I have to interject here that the line does not meet my desired standard of healthy/natural AT ALL. There are parabens in this line along with bismuth, which for many women is an irritant.

But if you aren't inclined to seek out natural cosmetics, then you'll be happy with Thevi's shades and the way they wear throughout the day. I must admit, I've gotten addicted to their lip color in Godiva. I fight with the "organic voice" inside my head every time I reach for it. I wore it at my friend's wedding a few weeks ago and got so many compliments (photo above).

You can check out Thevi's New Hollywood video here:

No Miss Natural Nail Polish

Apologies for the hiatus. I've had family issues to resolve. I've moved. I'm still working on some decisions that have to be made. Haven't had much time for focusing on makeup related stuff.

Life crashes down quickly sometimes.

But today I have the energy to write something. I'm slowly coming out of the slump.

While checking out a new health food store several miles from my home I discovered a brand of nail polish I'd never heard of - No Miss. It's supposedly better for nails than traditional drug store brands.

I immediately snatched up a bottle (at $7.99) and brought it home. The color I chose is a dark bronze/purple color named Braden Blackberry.

Now being as skeptical as I am about brands labeling their products natural when there's nothing natural about them, I immediately pulled out my trusty Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. I checked the ingredients to see if anything was thought of as dangerous or cautionary. Nope, not a single ingredient (when used properly and not inhaled for prolonged periods) was labeled unsafe.

Cool.

Now I have to comment here that the polish does smell just as bad as traditional polish. I expected something, I don't know, fruity smelling. No such luck. But the colors are beautiful and mine lasted just as long as OPI colors. And No Miss polishes contain UV inhibitors that supposedly protect the nails from sun damage. I didn't even know nails could get sun damage. I learned something new.

Next I'd like to try their coconut based lip glosses. The little store I visited didn't carry the full line. Just the nail polishes. I'll keep looking for other products from No Miss.