@beautypress #HolidaySpotlightDay offers up some great holiday gift ideas for men and women! #bbloggers #beauty

I love discovering Beauty Brands that are completely new to me or new products from old favorites, making Beauty Press Spotlight Day one of my favorite Press Events to attend in New York City, it packs the wallop of a conference into a much more scaleable amount of time to take out of one day, but offers a wealth of knowledge and products and tons of one-to-one time directly with the brands!

Kaia Wine Bar

This year Beauty Press held it's first Holiday Spotlight Day event at Midtown Loft & Terrace where Beauty Enthusiasts, Editors, PR representatives, retail and 10 exhibiting Beauty Brands where able to mix and mingle in a relaxed atmosphere.

Palais de Thes

Palais de Thes was on hand with their latest holiday tea collection and a sneak peek of N•25 Black Tea! Kaia Wine Bar provided us with South African hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, while Baked by Melissa offered mini cupcakes for dessert!

Look Good Feel Better

Because of the way I worked the room, this is really the first company I interacted with, and with it being the time of year when people want to find ways to give back to show how grateful they are for all the ways they were blessed during the year, I was very happy to meet look good feel better who are helping women with cancer. There are tons of ways to partner with them to help, you can volunteer, donate and right now there is a super easy way to give back, the #PinItToGiveIt campaign! For every image that is re-pinned from the specially designed Elizabeth Arden Pinterest Board, one product will be donated to Look Good Feel Better! How simple is that? You can literally make someone's day by doing something that will take not even a second! I've already re-pinned and I hope my dearest butterflies that all of you reading this will to. 

You all know by now why any Cancer Charity gets my full attention, and what Look Good Feel Better is doing to assist those with cancer is amazing. I know first hand that the first thing it is does especially during treatment is make you un-reconizable to yourself, it makes you feel horrible on the inside and changes you on the outside as well. 

A boost to morale and self-esteem in a way that is empowering and not filled with Pity is critical. I am so glad I got to meet with Look Good Feel Better in person! I remember during my last hospital stay, family had brought over one of my favorite lipglosses and one of the many doctors I had to see each morning, looked at me and said 'well I see somebody is feeling better'. I actually wasn't, but I made it a point to make some sense of my hair and do something about my face that day, and perception is sometimes half the battle. We definitely got a good laugh, and I could hear the doctors and the shift nurses tease I must have been expecting a date. Did primping up change my situation? No. But doing a little something to feel more like myself again was a great motivator to keep fighting. I love that there is someone out there doing this for other women, and for all the makeup artists among my readers, if you have the time, please consider donating your services.

OK, so now I'll go in Alphabetical Brand Order to give you a taste of what else I discovered at Beauty Press Holiday Spotlight Day:

BioElixia

For guys who are tired of hearing 'Do these jeans make me look FAT?', consider slipping some of these fine products in her stocking (with jewelry of course!) and for the man in need of a creative 'push gift' for his 'baby mama' - BioElixia is where beauty meets science and with products like Cellulite Contour Cream, Stretch Mark Diminishing Cream, Firming Toning Body Lotion, Exfoliating Body Polish and Radiance Body Cleanser, she'll be back to her 'pre-baby body' in no time! This is also perfect for someone on your list who has lost a ton of weight, as their skin may need that extra boost. And in case Santa doesn't slip anything like this in your stocking and you are a new mom or have lost a bit of weight and want to get your skin to look as great as you feel, treat yourself, the prices definitely won't break the bank, and you can feel safe that with 14 years of research under their belts, they've got this down to a science! (I'll give you a more thorough report once I've had a chance to road test the products!)

Brocato

Brocato Hair Products were back at Beauty Press for the Holiday Spotlight, and I can tell you that you can never go wrong with any gift related to hair, taming of the tresses is always a perpetual battle and the gift of a happy hair day is priceless my friends! And what you might not know about the products is that there is a butterfly connection! the NANO SILK COMPLEX which is the active ingredient in Supersilk is rich in amino acids and the formula is derived from the cocoon of a butterfly AFTER they have flown away. It is also 100% formaldehyde free, nourishes strands from the inside out and is good for frizzy hair types! Needless to say the color caught my eye too, I'm going for a change for 2014 and cut and color is definitely on my agenda!

M. Asam

For those HSN and QVC fans among us you may already be familiar with M. Asam, but for those of you who are not, they are a luxury skin care line for all skin types and for all ages that uses a patent pending VINO GOLD complex based on the anti-aging ingredients that are extracted from Grapes combined with a range of herbal extracts and vitamins. The peptide complex offers high protection against free radicals and helps against the appearance of premature skin - ie less wrinkles and a much younger looking complexion.

This is definitely perfect for those hard to shop for's on your holiday gift list! And for those of you with Sensitive Skin or those who prefer fragrance free products you may want to check out their Aqua Intense line! For those of you with someone who already has beautiful skin on your list, you can bet they are probably particular and very discerning, you can't go wrong with slipping some M. Asam into their holiday stocking!

Mani Diaries

Ever forget that nail polish color you got at a salon? Loved it, but it wasn't a spot you typically frequent or got it while traveling. Did you a visit a salon you don't normally visit and want to remember who your manicurist was? Mani Diaries is a free app for your iPhone that lets you track, manage and share your mani or pedi, you can show off yours or admire those posted by other users. Seeing all that beautiful nail art and colors are bound to give you ideas to refresh your look! So give your iPhone a gift and download the free app and open up a world of fun ideas for yourself. (Bet you won't be able to resist using the app when you are in a waiting room!)

Menaji Skincare

Who said when it comes to Beauty we have to leave out the Men?

Menaji - is Skincare for the Confident Man! Men have skin concerns too, Acne, Chapped Lips, Dark Under-Eye Circles, Dull Skin Tone, Razor Burn and more. For instance did you know that Men typically have larger pores than we do? While we envy those thick beautiful lashes most men seem to have, I certainly don't envy their larger pores.

It's not just men in television that are using Makeup, high powered sales and ad men have been using Makeup for awhile now, so if you have a rockstar man in your life who needs to always be camera ready and wants a 'no muss' solution, Menaji's CAMO concealer is made for him with it's lip balm sized applicator and 3 shades to match light, medium and bronze skin tones, he can reduce dark circles, hide scars, bumps and blemishes. If he really does have to be camera ready, like HD camera ready, then you might want to get him Menaji's HDPV Anti-Shine Powder that is designed for the unforgiving clarity of high definition television!

I love the cigar box packaging and can definitely think of a ton of guys on my list who this would be perfect for! And the guy you gift this to will be in great company because apparently a wide variety of celebrity men in the know are using this brand, check out the who's who on their page of celebs who use MENAJI products!

Orlane Paris

I am sure my 'price is no object' girls are probably already quite familiar with Orlane, I definitely am and was happy to see them represented at The Beauty Press First Annual Holiday Spotlight Day! The House of Orlane definitely has something for everyone, Make Up, Fragrances, Skin Care and you can shop by category or skin care concern making it easier to find the Orlane system that is best suited to your needs and your individual skin type. While their products are pricey, their newest baby B21 EXTRAORDINAIRE is on Pre-Order and is already out of stock, so that definitely should tell you just how in demand their products are!

Pour le Monde

You know just how much Ascending Butterfly loves Brands that Give Back. I live in Gratitude every day. And every day I'm in awe just to get another day, for me giving back is the best way to show the Universe my gratitude for the blessings that are bestowed to me daily, and apparently Pour le Monde feels the exact same way!

I love that their perfumes are 100% natural and are NPA certified! (NPA = National Products Association), made with ingredients harvested from around the world.

Some of the charities they support include: Cancer Support Community, Guiding Eyes For the Blind, and The National Multiple Sclerosis Society! 10% of the net sale of each fragrance supports a specific charity, EMPOWER benefits Guiding Eyes for the Blind, ENVISION benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and lastly TOGETHER benefits the Cancer Support Community. If you have special ladies in your life that you tend to buy fragrance for as a holiday gift, please consider supporting Pour le Monde, and let the recipient know which charity their fragrance supports so that when they spray it on they know that they are helping others by supporting Pour le Monde! Needless to say the next time I am about to make a scent purchase they will be top on my list!

Savane

Savane Natural and Organic Skincare, Ethical Sourcing

Savane Organic Skincare is a bit 'old meets new', they use the ethnobotany of Southern African Plants combined with modern Green Science to protect skin against premature aging and restore its natural balance.

I have to admit I loved the way they decorated their table! It was the eye-catching display that lured me in, but I stayed for the great advice!

I was able to describe my skin concerns and got an 'on-the-spot' remedy to take home in the form of Savane's Anti-Aging Lift Serum which contains: Kigelia, Baobab and Buchu and helps to feed skin with a potent blend of natural antioxidants. The Kigelia has skin tightening and firming properties which reduce wrinkles, Baobab, Rooibos and Buchu fight free radical damage, soothe skin and help even out skin tone. I am a serum fan and I love trying out new serums, I experience less reaction and my pores don't clog as much testing serums as they do with testing creams, so I am always up for a serum test and I recommend this one! And an extra thumbs up for the 'Beauty without Cruely' to animals seal! They also are certified organic by Ecocert which is an independent certification agency. I definitely look forward to trying out more items from their line and reporting back to you!

My Take:

As always Beauty Press delivered a great mix of brands I already know and trust and brands that were new to me in an environment that is always conducive to not only networking but getting in those questions and one to one time that is truly invaluable in a very relaxed atmosphere. While I still very much have to attend tradeshows, I find that Spotlight Days feel less like 'work' and more like a discovery zone which I very much appreciate.

Butterflies which brand resonates most with you? Which one would you most like to try? Let them know you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly so we can hopefully come back with something fun for YOU too!

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FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the Beauty Press Network. This is NOT a compensated post, it is an event recap. This is NOT a sponsored post and all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Highlights from May 2013 @beautypress #SpotlightDay in New York City! Hot #Beauty Products all in one place!

I don't think it's ever taken me this long to post a Beauty Press Spotlight Day recap, but I cannot begin to explain how insane my schedule really is lately. As usual, Beauty Press delivered a ton of great brands directly to us, which is great. Editors/Bloggers get a ton of event invites, and it's just not possible to attend them all, so going to an event where multiple brands come to you is just a no-brainer to begin with. It saves me a ton of time to meet 10 brands at once, and so far I've discovered a ton of new favorites this way as well.

Just some atmosphere at the venue Midtown Loft in New York City

I will present them all to you in Alphabetical Order:

Balanced Guru's Sign at Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft in New York City

Balanced Guru - Unfortunately this is the one brand I got the least amount of time with and despite being in the morning session they were out of samples when I got to them so I can't really say too much about them, but I was impressed that they offer Certified Organic Choices! We will definitely invite them to come back and work with us so I can give you an actual product *review* :-)

BeingTrue Cosmetics Display at Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft in New York City

Being True - I love this tagline, it sums them up (and me up) in a nutshell 'Explore the difference between simply being and BeingTRUE.' Isn't that the balance we all try to strike each and every single day? I love cosmetics and skincare that do something good for your skin while helping you to put your best face forward. I really liked the folks at Being True and they have sent me a Cosmetics Bundle of Love to play with, so stay tuned for full product features, and who knows, maybe we can finagle something great for YOU too butterflies! What we tested while we were there and they also provided samples in the gift bags was the 'finishing touch perfecting pen'. With this beauty 'pen' you can write fine lines off, immediately erase signs of fatigue, and brighten the skin, I definitely loved this product! It combines Instalift Goji derived from the Goji Berry (provides skin lifting and firming benefits), with Pomegranate and Malakite to help protect the skin against premature aging. If you don't get nearly enough sleep at night (like me), this pen is something you are going to want to keep in your purse, in your desk at work and in your vanity at home!

Sam Brocato at Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft and Terrace May 2013

Brocato - Sam Brocato's core philosophy is that beautiful hair design starts with the right cut and ends with the use of the right liquid styling tools and quite frankly I share that philosophy, without the right cut, even the most expensive styling products are of no use! You guys know I don't always win the battle of the frizz, in fact the event was held on a rainy, humid day and I wasn't quite having the best hair day that day, so I'm looking forward to trying out the great products that were in our gift bags including: supersilk Pure Indulgence Leave-In Treatment, swell volume Full Body Styling Clay (my hair type is fine so I like trying out products that add body and reduce that 'limp' appearance), supersilk Pure Indulgence Shampoo, actives Restorative Hair Infusion (I love that this one is equally effective for curly girls as it is for naturally straight hair, and can be used on wet hair before blow drying as a conditioning booster, and on dry hair before flat ironing to boost and seal in shine), and last but not least Back to the Beach Texturizing Mist. I have been testing another system so I haven't started on these yet, but I am definitely looking forward to it!

Columbia Antiseptic Powder and Columbia Healing Cream on display at Beauty Press Spotlight Day May 2013 at Midtown Loft and Terrace in New York City

Columbia - One of America's oldest family owned skincare product companies that has been developing medicinal treatments used by dermatologists, surgeons, estheticians, podiatrists and veterinaarians since 1871 presented their Antiseptic Powder and Healing Cream. Over the weekend I got my first ever sunburn and I can tell you that these products have come in handy! These definitely get my butterfly stamp of approval!

Left: Eve Pearl at work! Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly

Eve Pearl - is a 5-time Emmy Award winning celebrity Makeup Professional with over 18 years of experience in television, film, theatre and print. She also has the patience of a Saint. As I mentioned the event was held on a rainy and super humid day. Most everyone was mentioning how they were feeling sort of blah and while no one seemed to want to take pictures of themselves getting worked on, they were taking pictures of others instead which did NOT make me happy, it's a huge blogger pet peeve of mine in fact. In my opinion while at an event you shouldn't just take pictures of other bloggers and use them on your site. Granted sometimes you can't help it, you are trying to get a shot of a speaker and get people's heads, but that's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about purposely snapping a direct on photo of someone who isn't purposely posing for it for you. We have no choice about the venue and event sponsor using our image, but the least we can do is respect one another!

You would think I was the celebrity because when I sat with Eve the amount of flashbulbs going off in my face was totally taking the fun out of the experience for me. And she picked up on that and asked people to stop taking pictures which I can't tell you how much I appreciate that she cared about me feeling comfortable. You can't quite feel 'beautiful' when you are feeling gawked at and super un-comfortable. And while I'm aware I'm probably the weirdest blogger on the planet in that I don't actually enjoy taking tons of pictures of myself or having my picture taken at all really, it really was taking away from the experience having everyone yelling which way to stare while trying to take in the invaluable tips and tricks she was giving me! The makeover she gave me was truly phenomenal, I actually hadn't experienced one that 'transformative' since my last one by Jane Iredale. Eve Pearl gave me a very subtle look that I really liked, it was transformative but in a way that didn't look put on, it was very natural and she was so nice that she really turned my day around! One of the products she used on me that day was the Dual Salmon Concealer Treatment (I am a 'Light/Medium'). I definitely LOVE this concealer. I rarely find one that is as effective as I'd like it to be with acne scarring and this one was fantastic! In fact here is my after picture with Eve:

Left: Eve Pearl, Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly - As you can see by the after, my acne scarring is very well concealed and she left my lip color (as you guys know I custom blend my own lip color and I find it quite flattering that most makeup artists tend to leave my lips alone) and she did a light, natural look on my eyes as well.

Eve was just all around awesome and I would definitely love to have her back on Ascending Butterfly!

I Coloniali - I Coloniali products are designed to offer an experience of beauty that embraces the body, the senses, and the emotions. They feature natural ingredients for the perfect balance for body and mind. They are where Spa Treatments meet the privacy of your own home. and while it was hard to pick a favorite from what I sampled on the spot, I fell in total ♥ with the Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh, it was a standout favorite and I will give it it's own day in the sun on these pages soon! While I requested the full size of this product because I'm totally obsessed with the scent, in our gift bags were also trial sizes of this product as well ast the Relaxing Bath Cream with Bamboo Extract, and the Velveting Hand Cream with Rice Bran Oil.

Juliet Stewart stands by her display at The Beauty Press Spotlight Day at Midtown Loft in New York City

Juliet Stewart - is the CEO of Juliet Stewart, a beauty and wellness company dedicated to teaching women about the power of their inner beauty. 

Left: Our very own 'Mama Butterfly' and Right: Juliet Stewart giving  an eyebrow shaping  to our editor

Juliet gave mama butterfly an eyebrow shaping and we also got to sample her parfum Juliet! Much like Eve Pearl, Juliet was warm, engaging, and super down to the earth, you can tell that she loves helping people bring their inner beauty to the light!

Left: Mama Butterfly Right: Andi from Mistura applies the 6-in1 Beauty Solution Pressed Powder

Mistura - Launched in 2008 and featured on National Television soon after, Mistura's 6-in-1 Beauty Solution multi-functioning pressed powder became an instant best-seller and I can see why! Mama Butterfly and I are very different in skin tone and this product worked equally well for both of us! Here is the after:

Andi from Mistura (left) applied the 6-in1 Beauty Solution Pressed Powder  on Mama Butterfly (right) during Beauty Press Spotlight Day at the Midtown Loft in New York City

Here is a shot of Andi proudly holding up her award winning product:

I was amazed how well this worked for a wide variety of skin tones, and I am not going to be happy when I run out of this that's for sure!

Osense Fragrant Sticks Incense on display at Beauty Press Spotlight Day May 2013 at Midtown Loft in New York City

Osense - You all know by now how much I love meditation (in fact this site started with daily breathing affirmational meditations in 2009), and one of the things that can help enhance meditation is incense, which is why I gravitated to this table as soon as I saw their display! Their 'Fragrant Sticks' are delightful and by far my favorite is the one they call 'Ipanema'. I will definitely be adding these to my meditation, in fact for those in the incense know, I hadn't found one I liked this much since I hit on Nag Champa!

PretendTan - DK Luxury Beauty's newest retail product is derived from their professional spa system for at home use. We all know that the only safe tan 'is tan in a can', and if you are going to do it you want one that is streak-free, oil free, odor free, paraben free, easy to apply and lasts for days!

Want to see what other brands I have been introduced to during past Beauty Press Spotlight Days? Check out previous coverage of past Beauty Press Spotlight Days HERE and HERE.

Butterflies, tell us which brand you are most excited about seeing a giveaway for (and don't forget to visit them on their social media pages and tell them you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly)!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored or compensated post, I am under no obligation to share my event recap coverage and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.