Color Me Beautiful

Face Paint for the non-makeup wearer!

If you are anything like me, I consider makeup war paint. Either it is overly done or not done up enough.

For women of color it becomes a greater challenge to find shades that compliment our skin tones, skin types and lifestyle. So how does one go about getting your needs met? Hire a makeup artist and have them at your beckon call. Unless you are Beyonce, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Angelina Jolie that's not even an option. And with this economy very few of us can afford to go that direction. But on your wedding day, you can't afford not to be without a makeup artist and hair stylist. So please don't use the economy as an excuse not to hire a professional. You will regret it when you look back at your pictures and wonder what the... was I thinking?

But what you can do is your research on the experts in the industry and see what they have to say and product tips they have to offer. Now days most celebrity artists from hair to makeup have websites, product lines or are endorsing products from everything one can buy. Take the time to research the product, try them out until you find what you want and what works best for your skin.

I have the pleasure of working with some of the greatest artists in the industry and some of their advice really work. When you work behind the scenes like I do, you see the "real deal". Not the finished product on the pages of the magazines, but what the artist truly uses to accomplish the look.

For our first behind the scene profile I want to truly recommend the one and only Carmindy. Yes this beauty not only has the personality that sucks you in to her circle, but truly brings new life to a room. Humble in spirit, fun, outgoing and colorful. All the things that would make you heed the advice that is being given, at least for me.

Carmindy's work can be seen on the editorial pages of leading magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, InStyle, O, Essence, Self, Lucky, Seventeen, Marie Claire, and Glamour. Her commercial clients include Maybelline, Sephora, Clairol, Avon, Aveeno, CoverGirl, Almay, Bath and Body Works, Sally Hansen, Crest Whitestrips, and Q-tips. She is the author of two fabulous beauty books titled The 5 Minute Face and Get Positively Beautiful. She has co-created a natural line of cosmetics called Sally Hansen Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy available in drugstores nationwide.

This lovely creature looked at my skin and picked out some of the most amazing products for me to try from her collection Sally Hansen Natural Beauty. I took them willing but really had no real desire to use them because like some people I don't particularly care for makeup, probably because I don't know what I'm doing. But this time I was drawn to the pretty packaging, and plus I really need foundation. It was perfect. Perfect! It looked amazing, to the point that my teenage boys were like "mom you lot Hot! Are you going out on a date?" That is the biggest compliment you can hear from teenagers. The rest of the day got even better. Skin glowing, colors enhanced my skin tone. I felt Hot! I dressed up for the next three days and wore my best frock and strut down Brooklyn streets like John Travolta did on Stayin Alive.....I even heard the music. Carmindy you earned every bit of your stripes, you rock.

So to all our readers please run, do not walk to your closest beauty store and demand Sally Hansen Natural Beauty- Your Skin Makeup. Foundation is amazing, Natural Shine Lip Gloss-Desert Sand, gorgeous. Sheerest Cream Blush, Sunset-lovely for my brown skin. Mascara-Lift & Define Jet Black, with a dab of Forever Stay Eye Pencil. Chocolate Cherry Lipstick for delicious kissable lips with a touch of Ultra Soothing Lip Tint. The Ocean Eye Palette is my favorite eye compact now. These are probably going to be my summer emergency carry along kit.

Carmindy is always looking for the next great way to communicate with her fans. She writes a monthly e-newsletter featuring answers to questions submitted through her Web site www.carmindy.com please visit her site for great tips and product updates.

Beauty Team.