Love at first sniff, this is a MUST for dry winter skin! #IColoniali #BBloggers #Beauty

At one of last year's BeautyPress Spotlight Days I got to meet the folks at I Coloniali and I fell head over heels with the brand, particularly with the Myrrh line of products and as promised after thorough testing I am giving I Coloniali their own day in the sun!

This is actually the best time of year to try them out. The cold winter winds are brutal to the skin and I am sure if you are anything like me when you get home with your dry winter skin and feeling cold to the bone, nothing is more soothing to the spirits than a nice warm bath. I have been adding the I Coloniali Softening Bath Oil with Karitè Extract to my bath and it's been a sensory delight in every sense of the word!

I Coloniali Softening Bath Oil with Karitè Extract

About the Softening Bath Oil with Karitè Extract:

It comes in a glass bottle (250 ml - 8.5 fl. oz) and it's cleansing and emollient, you can pour the oil under the hot water of your bath to obtain a rich foam, the foamy rich mousse that develops will envelop your skin and gently cleanse making it velvety smooth to the touch. But I actually double up. I use it in the bath, and then when I finish my bath I put a very small amount on my hands and rub it across my still damp skin and let it air dry and it makes my skin feel SO soft and SMELL so good it is literally a sensory delight overload. If you are going to double up on the oil like I do, you need only a very small of the oil to use on your damp skin, don't overdo it. It will go a long way on your already damp skin. When I don't take a bath but only a shower, I really love using this on my still damp skin, but it's when I get to use it double that I really love it most. I hate when it's time to wash my towels now because they retain the scent of this oil! :)

I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh

About the Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh:

OK so add to the super indulgent fun, before bed I apply the Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh which comes in a large White Glass jar (200 ml - 6.8 fl.oz or the 400 ml - 13.5 fl. oz). You apply directly to the skin and massage until the micro-granules are fully absorbed. It is while you are massaging it into your skin that the micro-granules get the chance to fully develop leaving your skin delicately scented and super soft to the touch.

I Coloniali products are enriched with original ingredients from around the world in order to re-establish harmony within the body and the spirit. It is where the luxury of spa meets the privacy of your own home!

My Take:

I am a huge fan of this line since discovering them at BeautyPress. I have always put some kind of oil on my skin while it's damp, and I am absolutely loving this one! I tend to lean toward 'warmer' and 'heavier' scents I'm just not a floral girl, I can only take very floral scents in super small doses. Myrrh is a longtime favorite of mine and this deep massage body cream leaves my skin delicately scented, well hydrated (never greasy or sticky), and helps me beat the winter dry skin blues! They consider their products to be a 'ritual of well being' and I couldn't agree more. Our bodies are a vessel that house something very precious, our spirit, and to me the body and mind are at one when you are caring for them BOTH equally. Scented products do tend to trigger a reaction. They trigger a memory that leaves you with a feeling, and using aromatic products that also nourish the skin are a great way to bring you to a place of outer and inner harmony.

As a butterfly on a budget I will say these fall under the 'splurge' category, but then again I don't mind doing so if the quality is there. Instead of using cheap lotions that you have to apply often just to keep your skin feeling hydrated, I'd rather purchase something that offers a more 'quality' hydration experience that I don't have to constantly reapply just to keep my skin feeling soft.

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Like" I Coloniali on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pin with them on Pinterest

And of course, don't forget to let them know you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly! (You may want to ask them to host a giveaway with Ascending Butterfly too, I can guarantee that if you try this once you'll be a fan for life!)

I can't think of a better way to celebrate YOU in 2014 than by pampering your skin and yourself!

What is your favorite scent? Do you use Massage Oils or Creams?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, however I was provided with the products referenced for editorial consideration free of charge. 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.

@Sniffapalooza @MoltonBrownUSA in #NewYorkCity! #Sniffapalooza #Skincare #Beauty #bbloggers

Molton Brown London, Midtown East Location in New York City

I got to attend my very first Sniffapalooza event in New York City and I definitely picked a great first one to attend! A special holidays edition of Sniffapalooza was hosted at the New Molton Brown store in New York City, there were tons of gift sets on display that were perfect for holidays and beyond, and it was truly a delight for my senses!

I hadn't had the opportunity to experience Molton Brown Products personally so I greatly enjoyed trying out all the great body washes and lotions and thought I'd share my standouts and Photo Highlights:

Kusmi Tea Station at Molton Brown London Midtown East Location in New York City for holiday Sniffapalooza

The event was held right after the second of two snowstorms that battered New York City, it was in fact snowing when we all arrived, so the Kusmi Tea Station was a very welcome site as most of us were still freezing from our morning commute into the city in the snow! Thanks Kusmi!

The Bath and Body Treasures Collection from Molton Brown

Honestly this collection is fantastic year round, not just for holidays! Valentines Day is coming up, not to mention it's perfect for birthdays too! Thoughtful for Mother's Day or a teacher's gift for June! (As a former Special Ed teacher I can tell you that teacher's do NOT want apples! That's definitely a myth!) This collection features six Body Wash & Nourishing Body Lotions and picking a favorite scent isn't easy, this collection includes: Pink Pepperpod, Gingerlily, Ylang-Ylang, Templetree, Suma Ginseng and Japanese Orange. I think this thoughtful gift would be well-received by any recipient.

Molton Brown London Fine Fragrance Display at the Molton Brown US Midtown East location -New York City December 2013 Sniffapalooza Event

Now don't get me wrong, all the fine fragrance smells wonderful, but I do have an absolute stand out favorite from among the six and that's IUNU. The fine fragrance collection is called 'Navigations Through Scent' and Iunu which is 'Egypt' inspired offers a ginger oil and elemi oil top note, with Egyptian Jasmine Absolute, Ylang Ylang and Black Pepper Middle Notes and a base of Patchouli and Oakmoss. They describe it as 'Warm. Slightly Dark. Sublime' and I describe it as 'Yes, Please!'

Molton Brown Gift Bag Sniffapalooza Event December 2013 New York City Midtown East Retail Store

My Take:

My personal favorites (in no particular order) are:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Coco & Sandalwood (they offer a Body Wash, Nourishing Body Lotion and Replenishing Hand Cream. This scent is also included in The Exclusive Home Gift Collection.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Patchouli & Saffron (Body Wash, Nourishing Body Lotion and Replenishing Hand Cream or you can purchase it in a trio, they also offer a Single Wick Candle that you can purchase separately.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Frankincense & Allspice (Available in a Hand Wash, Hand Lotion and Candle)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Navigations Through Scent - Iunu

The team at the Midtown East Location at 515 Madison Avene in New York City are super helpful, and you can give them an idea about your particular favorite scents and they can easily match you up to the right Molton product, so don't hesitate to ask for help if you go in and feel a bit over-whelmed by the selection.

I'm glad Sniffapalooza introduced me to the brand and to the New York store, I will definitely be back and will of course visit them online too!

Get Social:

Why you don't tell Sniffapalooza and Molton Brown you saw them featured on Ascending Butterfly?

I'm sure they'd love to know! Give them some Social Media Love here:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @MoltonBrownUSA on Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @Sniffapalooza on Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Sniffapalaooza on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Molton Brown USA on Facebook

Butterfly have you tried Molton Brown? If so, what is your personal fave? If not, which product would you most like to try?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, I was provided press passes to this Sniffapalooza Event for editorial consideration. 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.

{#Review} @PerlierUSA Imperial Honey Body Butter #iFabboShop #PerlierOnHSN #bbloggers

#ad: While this is NOT a compensated post, Ascending Butterfly was provided with a product sample for editorial consideration courtesy of #PerlierOnHSN via iFabbo Shop. All opinions are my own:

Perlier Imperial Honey Body Butter

If you haven't been battered with snow yet, consider yourself lucky! The snow hasn't been cleared yet and we are expecting yet more snow this week! I'm a Mass Transit Commuter and take an Express Bus in and out of the City each day, which means standing at a bus shelter in all kinds of weather including winter winds. Then the heating indoors finishes totally drying out my skin. It's definitely NOT a pretty picture!

Keeping my skin hydrated is not always so easy! My skin ends up very dry in winter whether I'm indoors or outdoors. During the day I'll re-apply lotion after washing my hands, but I like using something a bit thicker at night. Especially on hands, elbows, knees and feet. With feet I like to put on something really hydrating and then put on sleep socks so it can really penetrate, and one of the products I am using right now is one I thought I should put on your radar.

About Perlier Imperial Honey Body Butter:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Formulated with the honey of Black Bees and Royal Jelly (Think super nourishing!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Scented with notes of honey and oriental woods (Think perfect year round)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Honey is one of the foundations of the Perlier line and this product has been re-formulated to improve hydration!

My Take:

I love that this is not actually super thick so it smooths on easily and is super hydrating, with ingredients like Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed Butter, Avocado Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, as well as honey and royal jelly you can literally feel your skin just drink this in! And with this being the time of year where ticking off folks on your Holiday Shopping list on a budget gets more challenging each year, purchasing this on HSN insures you will get it a great price, here: http://bit.ly/GT2CdC

So Butterfly, what is your go-to skin hydrator for winter?

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FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the iFabbo Shop Network. This is NOT a compensated post, I was provided product for editorial consideration. 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.

My Not So #WordlessWednesday - The get 'new' skin edition! #PerlierOnHSN (+Nab $5 off!)

I'll keep it brief butterflies as it's Wordless Wednesday and all (although if you've been here more than a minute, you know full well I can rarely keep it wordless!).

Perlier Volcanic Thermo Renewing Scrub

Volcanic Rocks + Thermal Water and micronutrients that are essential and vital to the cells in the skin combine in this scrub, that does more than just exfoliate, it rejuvenates and smooths the skin in a way that truly leaves it soft and feeling brand 'new'! It's like at an home spa treatment - you know without the wait time, having a stranger scrubbing you up, and high prices! (I'll just say that the only part of the iFabbo experience I don't like is that postcard proclaiming 'Aren't you Spoiled', reviewing skincare is hard work!) :-)

Nab it for a discount: Do you want to have the most fabulous time you can possibly have in the shower? Sure you do! Score $5 off Perlier's Volcanic Thermo Renewing Scrub by entering iFabbo5 on HSN! (UM, you're totally welcome!)

My Take:

It's the quality of Perlier's ingredients that never fails me, and because I test a lot of beauty products, my skin can sometimes react and get sensitive or even break out more and with Perlier's skincare products I get no bad reactions or breakouts and I will admit I'm a total sucker for body exfoliating products but the biggest standout perk for me with this one is that it doesn't leave my bathtub all sticky, slippery and gross like many body exfoliators tend to do because those mostly rely on the oils to counter-balance the exfoliation process. My skin truly feels renewed after using this, it's not slippery or oily, just super smooth and I ADORE the scent on this one so much! If they are reading this, I think I now need the Perlier Volcanic Thermal Spa 3-piece Collection in my life!

What is your favorite body scrub? (Please share, I'm always game for trying new ones!) And Bloggers please post the link to your Wordless Wednesday Post or WW Linky Hops as a comment here so we can visit you too! (Just play nice, no giveaway links for Wordless Wednesday OK?)

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FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the iFabbo Shop Program and I received the Review Item above for Editorial Consideration. This is not a compensated 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.

Taking care of your #skin summer & beyond + @ask_drgraf #DermDL Soiree! @Glytoneusa @Aveneusa @KOandAssociates #skincare #beauty

Dr. Jeannette Graf

During my visit to the fun Coney Island event that I shared with you guys, I got my first ever sunburn. I mean first ever in my life. All things considered that may not sound bad to you, but it was actually so bad it was pretty much Sun Poisoning. I alternated between fever and chills, pain, tingling, redness, blistering, nausea, dizziness, headache, upset stomach and dehydration Not a pretty picture! The sad part is that I did use sunscreen before leaving the house, but what I neglected to do was re-apply and I was out in the sun all day.

Because I lost my Aunt/Godmother to skin cancer, I'm normally hyper-vigilant and super careful when it comes to being out in the sun. Too bad this event wasn't held BEFORE that fateful day out in the sun!

Our view from the outdoor terrace on a perfect summer evening in New York City!

I got to attend a lovely evening summer soiree on a beautiful outdoor terrace where Dr. Jeannette Graf - who you may know from either her skincare line via HSN, her popular book 'stop aging, start living The Revolutionary 2-Week pH Diet That Erases Wrinkles, Beautifies Skin, and Makes You Feel Fantastic' or you may have had a consultation with her as she is also the Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. (Yes the same hospital where I spent my third long term hospitalization last year!). She is a board-certified clinical and research dermatologist who has been recognized for excellence in education with the 2011 Mount Sinai Medical Center Teacher of the Year Award. In addition she received an award for Outstanding Achievement from the National Institutes of Health and obtained an NIH patent for her research on peptides, which is how she was fondly dubbed "Doctor Peptide".

It was a perfect summer evening in New York City, it wasn't too hot or too cold, the weather held out and we started out with the chance to put our face into a device that would assess our sun damage, if you haven't done this, you really should, it definitely opens your eyes to making you want to take better care of your skin.  And I don't just mean that in the superficial way with cosmetics, I mean down deep quality skincare that takes care of your skin from within so you can can radiate your inner beauty naturally!

We all know diet plays a major role in beauty, so I had to take a moment to snap a picture of these great eats:

A beautiful buffet spread was accompanied by a lovely rosé or white wine of choice!

I don't know about you, but I personally could live on Seafood alone, those Shrimps were delish!

Starting with Circadian Rhythms (learning how to take proper care of our skin day and night) I learned that Day time is Protective Mode, our skin has a higher pH level and experiences Increased Sebum Production . Daytime Essentials include: Broad-spectrum protection, UVA & UVB, SPF 50+ in the summer and Antioxidants. 

Your sunscreen should be thing you apply daily before your makeup, even if the makeup contains an SPF! According to Total Beauty Media Group, one in five women between the ages of 18 to 24 does not apply sunscreen regularly or understand the severity of melanoma.

Night Time is Renewal Mode, our skin has a lower pH level, it is experiencing increased microcirculation and increased transepidermal water loss. Dr. Graf also reminded us that there is real power in 'Beauty Sleep' getting enough rest helps regulate your weight and offers anti-aging benefits. This is definitely one area where I know I need to improve, I don't get nearly enough sleep! One of the evening essentials that was recommended to us was Retinol/Vitamin A, as it regulates skin repair on a molecular level. Retinol targets Acne, Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Hyperpigmentation, as well as loss of Collagen and Elasticity. Retinol based products should be applied at night while the skin is in renewal mode since sunlight can destabilize the effectiveness of retinol. Apply retinol on DRY SKIN as applying it to damp skin increases the risk of sensitivity. Let it sink in before applying any other moisturizer or serum on top of it and be sure to apply sunscreen during the day, especially when using products with retinol at night.

One of things that resonated greatly with all the attendees was a Myth vs Facts quiz, I can tell you that not one person got every question right, which means we all have a lot to learn when it comes to better overall skincare and wellness!

"Darker Skin is more Vitamin D3 Deficient, Get your D3 levels checked! UVB is what aids in D3 production, but since it causes skin cancer, we don't want people to get Vitamin D3 from UVB exposure." ~ Dr. Graf

MYTH vs. FACT:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - All skin types require sunscreen - FACT

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dark skin does NOT require sunscreen since it doesn't burn - MYTH (I learned this one the hard way!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dark skin is not susceptible to sun damage or skin cancer - MYTH

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Melanoma rates are increasing in Hispanic and African American Women - FACT (We need to face that reality and if you spot something suspicious ladies get your primary to give you a referral for a Dermatologist appointment.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Stats: In a skincancer.org survey, respondents reported that they had experienced greater than 4 sunburns in the preceding year and this is how the percentages were broken down by demographic:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - American Indian/Alaskan Natives, 19.6%,
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Asian/Pacific Islander, 15.5%,
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hispanics, 19.1% (YIKES, I wasn't expecting that!)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - African Americans at 12.3%.

Butterflies the numbers DON'T lie, and the report also broke down the percentages by male and female respondents! Both of us (both men AND women) need to get real and get serious about our skincare!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vitamin D3 Facts: Vitamin D3 levels are often LOWER in darker-skinned people, causing a Vitamin D3 deficiency, while it is known as the 'Sunshine Vitamin' Sun exposure is NOT recommended as a source of Vitamin D3. (Needless to say during my next visit to my primary I will be specifically asking to have my D3 level checked!). It is readily available in food (like one of my personal faves Salmon) and is easily supplemented.

Sunscreen in the Summer:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - UVA - While it's considered Low Energy, it has a Long Wavelength and causes Sun-induced Skin Aging that is the same all year round

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - UVB - Is High Energy with a Medium Wavelength, it causes sunburn with higher levels in the summer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Use a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Product with at least an SPF of 50, DAILY! (and yes even in winter, your skin still needs UVA/UVB protection and if you are using retinol products at night, you must remember to apply sunscreen during the day to protect your skin against increased irritation and sensitivity.) And remember to RE-APPLY it throughout the day.

My Take:

This event was not only fun, it was informative, getting an assessment of where my skin stands now and how best to protect it was a great post sunburn reminder to make sure I NEVER let that happen again! I appreciate Dr. Graf taking the time out of her super busy schedule to educate us on the importance of keeping our skin protected. We were able to ask her everything and anything about skincare, and the part where common myths were addressed was an eye opener for us all that's for sure, but as a Latina it made me especially sad to know that the myth that darker skin can't burn is still so prevalent.

Gift Bags on Display at Ask Dr. Graf #DermDL Skincare Event in New York City

What's in the Bags?

We were sent home with great products to add to our Beauty and Skincare arsenal including:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Rétrinal EYES - by Eau Thermale Avène which reduces the appearance of deep lines, puffiness and dark circles. It also contains "soft focus" powders which camouflage irregularities and reduce shine.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Thermal Spring Water - by Eau Thermale Avène has a pH of 7.5 is bacteriologically pure, preservative free, Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic and has been used since 1743 in the Hydrotherapy Center to treat serious dermatological conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - High Protection Tinted Compact - by Eau Thermale Avène is a Broad Spectrum 50 SPF Tinted Compact 100% Mineral Sunscreen with powerful antioxidant protection that is formulated with Avenè Thermal Spring Water.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sunscreen Ltion SPF 30 - by Glytone Skincare. A PABA-free, mineral based lotion that provides UVA/UVB protection to guard against sunburn and premature aging.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - enhance night renewal cream - by Glytone Skincare. A nighttime cream formulated with Free Glycolic Acid and Retinaldeyde to help clarify, smooth and firm skin.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - stop aging, start living - Dr. Graf gave us a copy of her book 'stop aging, start living The Revolutionary 2-Week pH Diet' which I can't wait to dive into!

Left: Tracy from Ascending Butterfly, Right: Dr. Jeannette Graf

Get Social With it:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @ask_drgraf on twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Ask Dr Graf on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Glytoneusa on twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Glytone on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @Aveneusa on twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Avène USA on Facebook

Left: Maria Gutierrez of Glytone, Center: Dr. Jeannette Graf, Right: Laurent Saffré of Pierre Fabre USA

So tell us Butterfly, how do you keep your skin safe from the sun's harmful rays? What is your favorite sun skincare product or products?

*Bottom two photos are courtesy of Karen Oliver and Associates who provided us with permission to use these photos.

**Style Shout Out: The Black Suit I am wearing is by IGIGI.

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received to share our event recap coverage and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. Gift Bags were provided to attendees. I really do take Skin Cancer prevention VERY seriously!

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.