Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Last time my @angelodavidhair haircut was for @pantene #beautifullengths but this time it was just for ME! #TressesTuesday #Hair


When an invite to 'Get Gorgeous During NYFW (New York Fashion Week)' hits my inbox and it's from my favorite New York City Salon, I am definitely ALL over it. My love for Angelo David Salon and my Fave Stylist Ivy runs deep, I met them at Getting Gorgeous 2014, and a few months later I went to the salon for a very special haircut - I donated over 13 inches of hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths (PBL) for women with Cancer. Check out the current PBL #8or8 campaign - where you can either donate 8 inches of hair or donate $8 dollars to help the cause!

You know just how seriously this butterfly takes all cancer related charities! Stay tuned on a Special Luncheon I will be attending later this week.

I hit the Angelo David Salon in between Fashion Week Shows this year and while oddly my hair was super long (almost near my waist), I didn't have enough to donate because I was leaving it a bit longer than last time. The top two photos of the Photo Collage above are the current cut (with bangs), the two on the bottom are from 2014.

This naturally wavy with super thin hair knows better than to cut bangs in summer, so when I want bangs I do them for Fall and this year I decided it was time to re-visit bangs. I did Bangs and long graduated layers to give my hair a bit more volume.

Here is a compilation video of my hair cuts at Angelo David Salon:




MY TAKE:

I definitely trust Ivy completely and it's super nice to be able to just sit back and relax at a Salon and not have to worry in any way. I love the bangs and graduated layers, I definitely needed the refresh, and wanted to break away from always copping out with ponytails, this will force me to do something with it everyday, and I am definitely all about that right now.

I am ready to toy with color and that will be focus of my next visit!

Readers Sound Off: How do you like wearing YOUR hair? Short? Long? Somewhere in Between? Have you tried the Angelo David Salon before? Are you 'hair adventurous' or do you stick to the same style each visit?

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙
FTC Disclosure: While this is NOT a Compensated Post, Angelo David Salon did provide my cut to facilitate my review for editorial purposes. All thoughts and opinions are 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. I can easily be lured out of my bat cave for 'pretty' time and bubbly! :)

Monday, April 6, 2015

Mix up your Spring #Haircare Routine and join in the #TwitterParty FUN too! #NewNexxus #Spon



As a Lifestyle Blogger I get the opportunity to test out a lot of different products, let's face it, it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it! While I don't mind it being me, I do know that in between products I take a few days and go back to old favorites whether it's skincare or hair-care.

My first 'salon' hair product was Nexxus, that is what my hairdresser at my favorite hair salon used on me during each visit so that is what I would buy to use at home as well. When I'm not testing new products this is still the brand I tend to return to so when I find ways to nab it a discount I definitely take advantage.



So when I a little birdie dropped some interesting news in my inbox I knew I just couldn't keep it all to myself! From April 5th through April 11th hit the Beauty Counter at your local Duane Reade or Walgreens (or both, tee-hee!) during the 'Beauty Must-Haves' Event and meet with a Beauty Advisor to score a $2 off coupon on all your Nexxus New York Salon Care Faves! Coupons are only available while supplies last, so RUN not walk! The coupons may be used from 4/1 - 6/24/15 on any one product. (Like I said hit more than one counter, you will want a coupon for each product right?)

Turns out my old favorite has actually been re-formulated, and now offers a new Encapsulate Serum that has been enriched with 100% Elastin Protein and Caviar Complex to help re-balance, restore and replenish hair, I don't know about you, but Spring always puts a new bounce in my step, why not put some bounce in my hair too? Feeding my hair Caviar? So FANCY!



A little birdie also told me that Walgreen's is hosting a Twitter Party! Here are the deets:

Walgreens #NewNexxus Twitter Party

What: Walgreens #NewNexxus Twitter Party
When: Wednesday, April 8th from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET
Follow: Host @ResourcefulMom and tweet with party hashtag #NewNexxus

NOTE: I am NOT the moderator, nor am I co-host, please direct all questions to the party hostess @Resourcefulmom

MY TAKE:

I stayed with my favorite hairdresser until he retired from the industry and the smell of Nexxus will always remind me of him, I am looking forward to trying out the newly re-formulated Therappe Shampoo, Humectress Conditioner and the Encapsulate Serum, I say just like we re-vamp our makeup routines come Spring, we should mix things up with our hair too!

What is YOUR Favorite Haircare Brand?

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however 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.


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

{#TryItTuesday} Thinking about a new #hair color for Spring? I tried @eSalon and here are my results! #eSalon #bLinkBiz

I am a Spring Baby and if the season of Spring represents anything it's renewal, a perfect time for change in my book. I started the changes last year actually by donating over 13 inches of hair to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths, an organization that uses the hair to make wigs for women battling cancer, if you missed that post, click HERE. That was serious change for me as I had my hair super long for a very long time!

This year I knew I wanted to try color, and not just a 'wash out' over time color, but something that would last longer and bring me into summer. And that's where esalon comes in.

Here is the 'lo-down' on my experience:

Ordering Process:

You complete a questionnaire that asks questions about your hair's length, texture, current color, level of grey (if any) and you are also asked to include a current photo to help make it easier for the colorist who will be working on your order to get the right color for your hair. I personally had trouble completing my order and had to try a different browser than the one I normally use to finally get my order to go through, I still don't know why that happened (and no, I wasn't on a mobile device or tablet I was on my desktop!). Despite attaching a photo I was asked to re-send via email another photo. The order took quite awhile to arrive, and arrived via US Postal Mail (which I had to pick up, it wasn't brought to me directly - apartments and their super small mailboxes!).

This is what arrives:

Packaging/Contents:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Two Bottles of Developer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Two bottles of hair dye - one for roots, the second for ends

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Gloves

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dye Brush

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Stain Remover

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Stain Guard (much akin to Vaseline to protect your scalp and ears from the color)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - One Packet of Shampoo

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - One Packet of Conditioner

Application:

I don't have grey hair so I don't color my hair and had no real idea of what to expect, but the fact that this comes with one hair color for roots and another one for the ends, seemed strange to me, but you start with mixing the color for your roots and then applying it and leaving it on for what seems like a very long time before mixing and applying the color that gets put on the ends. The final step is to add water to the leftover dye used on the ends to create a rinse that can be used in the shower BEFORE Shampooing or Conditioning your hair.

It took a LONG time to rinse this stuff off I will tell you that. and you will definitely want to jump into the shower and not try to crouch over a sink as it's a bit difficult and time consuming to get the rinse to go clear before you start to shampoo.

TIP: The 'personalized instructions' don't mention the gloves are in the box in the center, so if you open your kit and can't figure out why there are no gloves, they are there, just in that box where the stain guard, stain remover and shampoo and conditioner packets are.

RESULTS:

So here is the big reveal, the before and after:

Top Photo is my hair BEFORE. The Bottom is my hair AFTER on the same day the color was applied. The only difference is in the top picture, the before photo, my hair is slightly shorter.

Price:

Each kit totals $24.95 and they offer an auto renew pricing which is slightly cheaper at about $19.95

My Take:

The color I selected was "Light Brown Golden Copper" - I find my hair looks more red than 'golden' and I don't like the different color at the roots and different color for the ends. Thankfully it is not totally 'ombre' probably because of the rinse but the rinsing didn't 'blend/marry' the color cohesively in my opinion. Overall this is NOT the color I expected and I am not thrilled with my results. 

Perhaps if I did have grey in my hair to cover, I would have been happier with the results, this is way redder and way darker than I expected and the results I wanted to achieve was to go LIGHTER and I wanted to see more of the Golden Brown shade that was shown to me on their website when I finished my survey/questionnaire.

And also as I don't color my hair regularly I think I would have preferred just leaving this to the pros and putting that $20 towards an actual salon experience which feels a bit more 'pampering' in my opinion. I guess I'm just not a DIY type of girl.

Do you currently color your hair butterfly? If so, what is your favorite shade and favorite brand? Have you tried esalon yet, if so, what do YOU think? Sound off and let us know!

˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is 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. I participated in the eSalon hair color campaign as a member of The bLink Marketing Network. I was provided a free hair color to review but all opinions are my own.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Great Haircut by @angelodavidhair – I cut off 13 inches to donate to @pantene #beautifullengths for women battling #Cancer

I recently met an amazing Stylist from Angelo David Salon in New York City at a recent Getting Gorgeous Event. They were offering Hair Touch Ups and my stylist Ivy listened to me about me wanting to make a real change to my hair and my style. She made a few recommendations, the first being cutting a bit of length to bring back the bounce to my hair. (You can check out a recap of Getting Gorgeous HERE in case you missed it).

I finally made the summer chop! It was LONG overdue and quite frankly it felt symbolically like I shed a ton of dead weight as she cut!

I tend to cut my hair shorter in summer, and this summer I decided to make a super huge cut, way shorter than I would normally cut my hair (my motto is 'always leave enough for a ponytail'), and I did it for a good cause!

The Big 'C' has definitely hit my family hard so Cancer Charities have always held a very special place in my heart and with my own recent Hospital Nightmare even more so. So I asked my stylist to measure my ponytail to see if I had enough to donate and I was pleasantly surprised that I had more than I even needed!

So my hair was cut in a ponytail which is the way it needs to be cut if you are going to donate it.

Hair Donation to Pantene Beautiful Lengths







Above: Check with where you plan to donate, but I am donating mine to Pantene's Great Lengths and they ask for 8 inches, as you can see mine is about 13 inches!

About Angelo David Salon:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Over 20 years and located in the heart of midtown Manhattan

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - They offer Manhattan's Couture Hair Extensions and Hair Color customized to enhance your skin tone and eye color, hair texture and hair type. (I am thinking of opting for Hair Color next, I told you I'm ready for a change!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - They also offer full custom human-hair wigs




Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - They also sell Angelo David Brushes, Combs, Hair Care and Hair Detox (doctor-formulated herbal supplements for both men and women that promotes hair growth and healthy skin) as well.


About Pantene Beautiful Lengths Donation Requirements:



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - They require at minimum 8 inches


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hair needs to be free of dyes, bleaches or chemicals


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The hair needs to be no more than 5% grey

My Before and After:


Hair Stylist Ivy of the Angelo David Salon in New York City styles Ascending Butterfly Editor Tracy Iglesias, hair, haircut



Above: BEFORE: Ivy from the Angelo David Salon giving me a hair styling touch up during Getting Gorgeous


Hair Stylist Ivy of the Angelo David Salon in New York City styles Ascending Butterfly Editor Tracy Iglesias, hair, haircut


Above: This is still the before, this is after the style touch up during Getting Gorgeous, but this is the length my hair was before she cut it. (and remember, in this photo she curled it, so it's actually longer than it appears!)


@angelodavidhair salon, Hair Stylist Ivy of the Angelo David Salon in New York City styles Ascending Butterfly Editor Tracy Iglesias, hair, haircut

Above: Here is the AFTER! This is shortest than I've ever gone but I can't begin to tell you just how liberating going shorter has made me feel, and being able to put the hair to such a good cause was very much the icing on the cake for me.

My Take:

Finding a stylist I am comfortable with is hard enough for me, nevertheless actually uttering the words "Do whatever you want", but Ivy really made me feel at ease during my hairstyling session and impromptu consultation during Getting Gorgeous. I feel super blessed to have met her there and have had the opportunity to have her transform me at the Angelo David Salon. I highly recommend both Ivy and the Angelo David Salon.

Even though they are in the heart of midtown, once you arrive at the Salon you instantly feel at ease, they offer you a warm greeting and a moment to just settle before your appointment which is great. They are right off Grand Central which can be a hectic area so I definitely appreciated just sitting for a moment and having something to drink.

It's super fun attending local blogger events and having some people not recognize me since my signature long ponytail is now gone! I'm thinking it may just stay gone for awhile as I am totally digging the new me!
icon icon icon
Butterflies, do you have a favorite stylist or salon, If so, which one? 

Do something for yourself today butterfly that will keep you in high spirits for the rest of the week. 


Happy Motivation Monday!


˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: While this is NOT a Sponsored or Compensated Post, Angelo David Salon did provide my cut to facilitate my review for editorial purposes. All thoughts and opinions are 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.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

{Recap} @ElementsShow NYC - Brand Highlights - It's #Beauty, #Makeup, #Perfume #Nails #Cosmetics GALORE!



Elements Showcase is the definitive marketplace for established and emerging visionaries in the world of Beauty and Fragrance Design. They are the most innovative curated fragrance tradeshow in the industry, linking the best in fragrance and apothecary with top tier press and buyers from boutiques, major retailers and key independent storefronts. The aesthethic of Elements Showcase is unlike any other tradeshow, featuring an open floor plan, special projects, and intriguing art installations at an incredible location in the heart of New York City.

And while it's meant for Press to experience it across multiple days, I can normally only attend one day (more like a few hours of that day too boot), so I have to maximize my time, sit down with a list of exhibitors and figure out my plan of attack very early on.

Here are the amazing products and brands I met with during Elements Showcase in mostly alphabetical order:

Adornia Jewelry
Adornia Jewelry



I loved their creative display and had to stop and take a few extra pictures to get better close up details:

Adornia Jewelry
Adornia Jewelry













Adornia Jewelry
Adornia Jewelry


Ulrich Lang New York fifth fragrance, Aperture
Ulrich Lang New York presented his fifth fragrance, Aperture














“Introspective and intoxicating Aperture Ulrich Lang New York is a wood-spicy fragrance for the new age,” 

Introspective and heady is the best way to describe Ulrich Lang's Fifth Fragrance, Aperture, it's a bit woody/spicy with top notes of pink, black and white pepper, Mid Notes of Tobacco, Jasmin, Cedarwood a hint of Muguet (another name for day lily - nothing to do with Lord of the Rings I promise) and Dry Notes of Musk, Vevier, Ambergris, Animalic Notes and Amber.


Arts&Scents - as the packaging indicates, these are young, fresh and different perfumes.



I can never have too many make up brushes!
Unhinged by Bliss Lau

More Unhinged by Bliss Lau Jewelry
Unhinged Jewelry Creative Directed by Bliss Lau




Calming Park Candles
Calming Park Candles come in scents including: Fig-Bamboo, Sequoia, Cashmere (which includes precious balms like incense and myrrh making it my personal favorite), cactus and spa de provence.
Calming Park No 7 Music CD and Calming Park Various Candle Scents


As you can see there is also a CD! The CD shown above is Calming Park No 7, and you can hit HERE for the full Track Listing.

Common Good Products
Common Good featured at Elements Showcase in New York City, February 2014
Common Good Products are safe to use around kids and pets! I would definitely love to test all of these as I am asthmatic and do have allergies!

Condense Paris by Nathalie Lamande offers a wide range of Natural Skin Care Products
Condense Paris by Nathalie Lamande offers a wide range of Natural Skin Care Products!


Condense Paris by Nathalie Lamande offers a wide range of Natural Skin Care Products
The range is structured by skin type so you can get  truly targeted care that fits your unique skin and skincare needs.
Detaille 1905 Paris offers Skin Care, Perfumes, Essentials Oils, Powders, Room Fragrances
Detaille 1905 Paris offers Skin Care, Perfumes, Essentials Oils, Powders, Room Fragrances and you can order samples sizes to try them all out before you commit to a full size product purchase!
Dude Wipes, HairBond haircare products
Dude Wipes - who feels if you are still wiping with just toilet paper, you're a chump and your ass hates you for it. Any red-blooded American knows Dude Wipes are something you never leave the crib without. (They are *Also sweet for your face, hands, pits, and of course dude regions.) And for those of you who need some grooming aids for areas up North (C'mon folks I mean your HAIR) try HairBond haircare products.
With makeup only tested on SuperModels, Ellis Faas offers a wide range of lips, eyes, skin, and one of the most unique holders I've seen to house your skincare treasure trove . The Ellis Holder and Ellis Clips make your makeup arsenal something to akin to a bullet! Stylish with a dash of Urban Cool!
OK so my hand played supermodel for a day testing out some of Ellis Faas range of colors, I really liked this one!
Magnolia Flower, Grandiflora, Fragrances, Scents, Perfumes
I love when approaching an exhibitor booth gives you a sense of anticipation!
Grandiflora, Magnolia Grandiflora Sandrine, Magnolia Grandiflora Sandrine, Magnolia Flower, Grandiflora, Fragrances, Scents, Perfumes
Sydney floral designer Saskia Havekes presented the Fragrances inspired by Magnolia and using the same name as her floral design business, Grandiflora. Two visions of Magnolia were created, Magnolia Grandiflora Michel and Magnolia Grandiflora Sandrine. A third Grandiflora fragrance will be based on Madagascan Jasmine and will be called Stephanotis Floribunda. I'm going to link you guys directly to the Stockists page on their site so you'll know exactly where to buy it.
ILLUMINUM Fragrance display signage at Elements Showcase Tradeshow
The Trade Show was sectioned by 'Elements' and as you can see ILLUMINUM was in the Gold Elements area of the showcase.
ILLUMINUM Fragrance testing area at Elements Showcase Tradeshow
Scent Testing area, it is super hard to pick a favorite!

I will say that I have worn the scent 'Bergamot Blossom' most often this spring and do not fail to receive various compliments when I am wearing it! Its notes include: Bergamot Calabria, Neroli Tunisia, Pimento Berry, Black Pepper and Thyme at it's heart and base notes of Labdanum, Musk and Oak Moss. Other standouts were Rajamusk, Arabian Amber, and of course Piper Leather (very masculine, but I tend to find 'leather' scents appealing).

Eco Beauty Brand Indie Lee
Eco Beauty Brand Indie Lee was in the Mercury Section of the Showcase!
Eco Beauty Brand Indie Lee Products Display at Elements Showcase New York City February 2014

Eco Beauty Brand Indie Lee Products Display at Elements Showcase New York City February 2014



I would love to try the Clear Complexion Kit as I hear such wonderful things about the Squalane Facial Oil that is included in that kit!

Isabelle Ariana Parfums Paris display at Elements Showcase
Isabelle Ariana Parfums Paris display at Elements Showcase. Their range includes: Magic Amber, Mystic Wood, Rose Sultance, Ombre Sublime, Ombre Coquine, Reine de Saba and Oriental Blossom.
I would definitely love to try the full sizes as it's hard to gauge on the test strips how it will smell against your own body chemistry.

Joya Studio Candles at Elements New York Showcase February 2014 signage display
We were happy to see Joya return, as we had featured them the last time they did Elements Showcase in New York City, in case you missed our original feature on them, press HERE

Joya Studio Candles at Elements New York Showcase February 2014

Joya Studio Candles at Elements New York Showcase February 2014

candle in honor of the Famous Katz's Delicatessen, a NYC institution since 1888
Couldn't resist getting a closeup of this candle in honor of the Famous Katz's Delicatessen, a NYC institution since 1888, 3 generations in my family got to enjoy their corned beef sandwiches that's for sure!
Kjaer Weis Eco Make Up was also on display at Elements Showcase in New York, their website is currently under construction, in the meantime you can connect to them via Facebook intead.
k/ller collection Jewelry on Display at Elements Showcase New York City February 2014
k/ller collection was back again. Last time we featured their Brass Engraved Nail Shield Sets, if you missed that post, check it out here.

k/ller collection Jewelry on Display at Elements Showcase New York City February 2014
I love bold statement necklaces and these definitely caught my eye!

k/ller collection Jewelry on Display at Elements Showcase New York City February 2014


Londontown's KUR: Nail Treatment System, Lakur Enhanced Nail Colors
Londontown's KUR: Nail Treatment System caught my eye as all the products in the system work in unison to repair, strengthen and hydrate the nail and cuticle! I also loved their lakur: enhanced nail colors as well.
MD Solar Sciences offer a wide array of  'ProVention-R' Skin Care and MDSolarSciences Sun Care Products
MD Solar Sciences offer a wide array of  'ProVention-R' Skin Care and MDSolarSciences Sun Care Products - offering sun damage prevention while diminishing many of the signs of photo-aging.

Meow Meow Tweet offers Vegan + Pure + Crafted by Hand small batch natural apothecary products based in Brooklyn, New York. And let's face it, anything that says 'tweet' catches my eye!

Meow Meow Tweet Tea Tree Rosemary Liquid Soap
Bellegance Perfumes premiere fragrance Midnight Promise, a beautiful Eau de Parfum, butterfly bottle
Bellegance Perfumes premiere fragrance Midnight Promise, a beautiful Eau de Parfum, gets five out of five butterflies for both the beautiful butterfly packaging and the beauty of the scent. It's Top Notes include: Sparkling Red Mandarin and a whisper of Tangy Cinnamon, a Heart Note of Red Moroccan Rose and Base Notes of Vanilla, Amber, Incense, Fresh Vetiver, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Musk. (Which as many of you might remember, when I got the opportunity to do a 'custom scent' my notes were strikingly similar to these. I have been alternating wearing this scent and the Bergamot Blossom by ILLUMINUM referenced above and get tons of compliments on both of these!) This is a perfect gift for any butterfly lover in your life! With Mother's Day Coming Up Soon, I urge you to keep this one in mind!

MINE Luxury Nail Lacquer
MINE Luxury Nail Lacquer is handmade using the finest raw minerals in the world! Each exclusive color is richly pigmented, hand-mixed and poured into a hand-crafted Austrian crystal bottle. They are fnished with a custom brush and application requires only one coat. These are designed by a jeweler and it certainly shows! 

MINE Luxury Nail Lacquer Manicure
I got the 24K Graphite Crystal Top Manicure ($325) using the GRAPHITE & GOLD Lacquer and a Crystal Top Coat. My mani brings all the boys to the yard.....LOL (This was definitely a five out of five butterflies rating, best manicure ever! Just wish my nails were longer!)


This is literally perfect for the mom that has it all, turning her nails into 24K works of art? I would say that will definitely bump you into favorite status!

Portland General Store Apothecary
Portland General Store is an apothecary with a little something for everyone!

Products on Display during Elements Showcase New York City February 2014 Portland General Store Apothecary
They have a ton of neat stuff for men and the TSA Compliant Dopp Kit on the upper right hand of the picture would make a wonderful Father's Day Gift!

Products on Display during Elements Showcase New York City February 2014 Portland General Store Apothecary


Cirque Colors hand-blended nail lacquers
Cirque Colors is a New York based beauty brand that specializes in hand-blended nail lacquers. The name 'Cirque', meaning ring or circle, represents the color wheel and endless color possibilities in the continuum. They also have a color called 'AU' made with real 23k gold leaf flake at a much more budget friendly price than MINE!
Ray Simons of Amsterdam RAYMAN Organic Skincare for Men
Ray Simons of Amsterdam big smile and welcoming display drew me in! RAYMAN is a 100% natural and organic Skincare line for men - Skull, Face and Shave Oil with NO chemicals, NO synthetics, only Botanicals!

Ray Simons of Amsterdam RAYMAN Organic Skincare for Men
I adore the packaging!


This is definitely another great choice if you are shopping for something unique for Dad for Father's Day, trust me, he'll appreciate THIS way more than a tie!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Make-Up, Skincare, Fragrances
It was also nice to see Rouge Bunny Rouge Back Again, we covered them the last Elements HERE

sans[ceuticals] - New Generation Beauty presented their products for skin and hair at Elements Showcase New York City, February 2014
sans[ceuticals] - New Generation Beauty presented their products for skin and hair at Elements Showcase New York City, February 2014

Suleko Perfumes
Suleko definitely gets my vote for most unique bottle packaging, even their website opens up to words by John Keats, and the scents are certainly as unique as their packaging. These are like mini works of art for your vanity, dresser, or night table! Enjoy!

tenoverten at Elements Showcase New York City February 2014
It was great to see tenoverten back at Elements Showcase New York City, I got a really great manicure from them the last time, here is a link to my past tenoverten mani and coverage of them.

tenoverten at Elements Showcase New York City February 2014
I spotted some great colors for Spring!

Thymes Natural-Smelling Fragrances
I was very happy to spot Thymes as I am quite familiar with their products!

Thymes Natural-Smelling Fragrances products
Thymes Natural-Smelling Fragrances have been a long time hit with me, the only hard decision is settling on just one, and they even offer a sample kit on their website to help you do just that!

Thymes Natural-Smelling Fragrances


Union Fine Fragrance Collection
Union Fine Fragrance Collection was developed by an eclectic group of friends to offer truly British fragrances that contained ingredients sourced from the shores of the UK.

uslu airlines is a Berlin based luxury cosmetics brand
uslu airlines is a Berlin based luxury cosmetics brand, (not an airline!)

uslu airlines is a Berlin based luxury cosmetics brand
You know I can't resist a display of lipsticks! How I love my red lippies!

vbeaute is a vegan, gluten free, paraben free, fragrance free, nut and oat free line made for all skin types
vbeaute is a vegan, gluten free, paraben free, fragrance free, nut and oat free line made for all skin types!

Verso Skincare offers the first non-prescription high dose Vitamin A derivative that can be used safely in the daytime
Verso Skincare offers the first non-prescription high dose Vitamin A derivative that can be used safely in the daytime.

w3ll people utilizes Organic Aloe infused makeup to help sooth, nourish, moisturize and heal the skin
w3ll people knows that our skin absorbs 60-80% of what we put on it, and that drives their mission to create innovative cosmetics of quality, integrity and purity to achieve not just external beauty but also healthy results on the inside!

w3ll people utilizes Organic Aloe infused makeup to help sooth, nourish, moisturize and heal the skin.

My Take:

Elements Showcase definitely delivered a great mix of brands. But I will say that Midnight Promise with that memorable and delightful scent AND in the perfect butterfly packaging and the MINE Luxury Nail Lacquer Manicure were definitely my top two highlights!

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!


˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•● Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, it is an event recap, I attended Elements as a member of the Digital Press. 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.