As a Lifestyle Blogger I am no stranger to conferences and larger than life events, but some give you a little more quality to match the quantity. That's what I call time well spent. It's not necessarily how much you spend to get in the door that is the true measure of an event's worth. And no butterflies, it's NOT the swag bag either. This world runs on "WHO" you know, the event that is worth it's weight in Gold is the one that makes MEANINGFUL connections happen.
They don't happen by magic, but by careful research, planning, implementation and a ton of hard work. And when you get there what you get out ultimately depends upon on what you put in, but BeautyPress Spotlight days set Beauty Editors up for success by providing a great venue, several sessions which allows each Editor to get in solid time with each brand, they keep you fed and hydrated, and most importantly curate a collection of amazing brands that address your beauty needs from head to toe! What's NOT to love?
Via
Beauty Press (both online and in person at their events), I have discovered a ton of 'new to me brands' through past Spotlight Days that I have attended (you can check out past coverage by clicking
HERE for May 2013 Beauty Press Spotlight Day,
HERE for the January 2013 Spotlight Day, and
HERE for the Fall/October 2012 Beauty Press Spotlight Day), and I always look forward to the next one because I know the experience will always be a valuable one for me!
I am going to present the Brands I met with in Alphabetical Order this time around, and happily the first brand is also the one that made it's debut and launch at this particular Beauty Press Spotlight Day which was super exciting!
Making it's debut at the Fall 2013 Beauty Press Spotlight Day was The Aloe Source who utilize a charcoal filtration process to remove aloin and aloe emodin from it's aloe vera WITHOUT destroying the integrity of it's nutrients. Better still they partnered with an aloe vera farm right here in North America to harvest, process and stabilize organic aloe vera exclusively for The Aloe Source. I do personally consume Organic Aloe so from first hand experience I know not all Aloe is created equal. I also actually add Aloe on my own to my skincare so I was super excited to meet the team behind The Aloe Source. They provided full size samples of their Jojoba Radiance Cleansing Polish, Luminosity Masque and Vitamin C Anti-oxidant Creme. I'm currently finishing up testing another system so as soon as I'm done I'll start on this one and report back to you! They were super friendly and approachable and their love of Aloe defintely did shine through, and since I really love Aloe already I am looking forward to trying this set out. (My Aloe Plant is the only one I've managed NOT to kill throughout all my years of traveling and neglecting my plants.)
Before there was a Beauty Industry, What did women do to keep their skin healthy?
That is the question that BeFine's homepage asks. The use of 'natural' ingredients really is just a return to the basics. The time and true home beauty treatments that have been passed down by the generations. BeFine uses nutritious super-foods like pomegranates, almonds and avocados combined with advanced technology and efficient and effective ingredients. It's a return to the basics my friends and I mean that in the best way possible! No Allergens, fragrance, parabens or preservatives! BeFine sent us home with samples of their Exfoliating Cleanser with Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Orange Oil and Oat Protein, their Night Cream with Cocoa, Millet and Rice Bran, their Gentle Cleanser with Peppermint Oil and Leaf Extract, Sugar Cane Extract, Oat Bran Extract and Rice Bran Proteins and their Firming Toner with Ginger and Willow Bark. Now when I tell you that Beauty Press truly provides a personalized experience with each brand, in my conversation with BeFine I mentioned that I have very dark circles, they are inherited as all my Father's side of the family have them, and I will admit my stressful fast-paced lifestyle doesn't help. Without a delay BeFine handed me their Eye Blossom Miracle Eye Serum with Cucumber and Flax Seed Oil.
 |
| Super foods within, and within your skincare as well! Photo Credit: Beauty Press |
I can't even begin to say how much this simple gesture filled my heart with gratitude. I left with a smile on my face and I can't wait to test out everything and report back on how well it worked for me. It's been a lot of late nights and go, go, go lately and I need a good at home spa day! Just me, a bathrobe, great products (and perhaps a glass of wine, I mean grapes are of the earth and all! Isn't the Resveratrol in wine good for you?)
In addition to The Aloe Source which made it's debut at Beauty Press Spotlight Day Fall 2013, Chef Roble and co who not only provided delicious bites and cocktails, he also offered attendees a sneak peek of his newest fragrance CLIQUE by Roble created in partnership with Brands With Purpose. The fragrance is slated for a Spring 2014 launch!
"I find the idea of exploring the synergy between capturing the aroma of some of my favorite dishes by creating the first 'Fragrance Recipe' intriguing" - Chef Roble
 |
| Photo Credit: Beauty Press |
Guests were treated to 'Blood Orange Cocktail' and 'French Toast Crunch' cocktails and desserts, notes that were also used in the fragrance, making it a total sensory experience! We also received sample vials of the fragrance to take home. Everything was delicious and we were advised to taste then smell the fragrance, and it was like sensory overload in a great way! That was unique and super fun!
Gatsby
 |
| Photo Credit: Beauty Press |
Sadly no one from this brand seemed interested in speaking with me so I can only give them back what they gave me, nothing. I'll just say they were there and I'm not bothering to link to them either so if you want more info feel free to google them. Why brands do events and only speak to some people and not others still baffles my mind. God Speed Gatsby, Really. But if I want to deal with high brow snobbery I'll visit a Department Store on Fifth or Madison Avenue here in New York City wearing jeans and sneakers.....
I am probably the only person who also blogs about Beauty that has never put an eyelash curler to my eyes! Those things quite frankly frighten me, so if my mascara can't give me thick lashes, then I'm in trouble because I'm not sticking anything metal anywhere near my eyeballs! Thankfully I got to meet the folks at GrandeLash-MD, which bring us Natural Long Lashes with NO side effects in just six weeks! I have also never put falsies on either, the idea of glue near my eyes also gives me pause.
 |
| Photo Credit: GrandeLash-MD Facebook Page |
We received the super cute bundle as pictured above to take home (um sans the roses!) and as soon as I complete a full six weeks using both I'll report back with how it worked for me. The kit contained the
GrandeLash-MD Eyebrow and Eyelash enhancing formula as well as the
GrandeLash-MD Mascara. If this works well for my eyelashes then I'd love to try the haircare products as I've battled with thinning hair and now since my hospitalization last year some hair loss. I am definitely looking forward to trying this system out! And you know how much I love packaging I thought the super pink cute girly packaging was a great touch. That kit would make fantastic stocking stuffers for any ladies on your list for holidays! (I know you are thinking but butterfly I haven't even bought my Halloween Costume yet, but seriously, the earlier you start your shopping, the earlier you work your way through the list and the less stress you deal with when the holidays roll around, and they will come quicker than you think, trust me!)
 |
| LipSense lasts up to 18 hours with just ONE application! |
I wear a custom signature red daily. I have since my teens. It's a mix of a few different brands and a favorite gloss, I can't find a color like it, so I make it. I don't consider reds just for evening. Usually when I visit a cosmetic brand they will never change my lip color, even if I ask. So I was excited when Lip Sense was willing to do so. They got my enthusiasm for red and thought I'd like a color that Christina Aguilera uses from their line. Her preferred shade is a mix of Blu-Red and Cranberry LipSense topped off with their gloss which keeps lip moist and plump! I let them know that part of my 'signature' color that I blend for myself usually includes a small touch of Gold, and they custom blended a color on me that was PERFECT! This is my first time trying them out but it won't be my last. I have to reach out to them because my gift bag contained a mauve/pink, and I don't wear pink at all, so hopefully I can kill two birds with one stone and swap out for a red and work out something fun for Ascending Butterfly readers as well because I have a strong feeling you guys will LOVE them as much as I do. Their color is super long lasting, and I literally needed to use remover to get it off and was impressed that it didn't stain my teeth, transfer or wear off like most lipsticks do on me. Re-application wasn't necessary even after nibbling on delicious desserts! Put them on your radar butterflies! This is definitely another great stocking stuffer idea or gift for someone hard to buy for!
 |
| Photo Credit: Beauty Press |
The LipSense team pictured above, left me with the perfect pout and definitely all smiles! I've tried really great lipsticks from a wide variety of brands, but so far none have had the transfer-proof staying power that I experienced with LipSense. (I have a feeling if they are looking for a Blogger Brand Ambassador to wear their shades everywhere, it should most definitely be me!) By the way you know just how much I love featuring brands that give back (and celebrities are only featured here when we have met them in person or they are participating in a give back initiative), Senegence makers of LipSense also founded The Make Sense Foundation in 2002 and the list of organizations they support are listed
HERE.
 |
| Needless to say as I wear a signature red lip everyday, that I fell in love with Jamie's red lipstick! |
If that name sounds familiar I give you a pat on the back for your great memory! I met them originally at Elements NYC and you can check out my full
recap of my first experience them. They consistently deliver and I was happy to see them at Beauty Press Spotlight Day! I got the chance to custom blend my own fragrance with them during Elements, and I use it super sparingly! I love that they demystify the art of perfumery by allowing people to custom create their own unique scents. Haven't you always found yourself saying if I could combine the top notes from this scent with the middle notes of that one and the base notes of the other it would be perfect? Well with them you can! I haven't failed to get stopped when I am wearing the scent that I custom blended with them. You should also be sure to check out the Memoire Liquide Reserve Edition which is a collection of five ready to wear eau de parfums that are exclusively sold at spalook, Nordstrom, Murale, Beauty Habit, SkinStore and Parfum1. I definitely love what they are doing, and you should have already had them on your radar from the Elements Showcase recap, but if you missed that one, and are just reading about them for the first time here, you definitely want to check them out. I would also say Memoire Liquide would be a lovely holidays gift and a fantastic Valentine's Day experience! From the reserve collection 'Encens Liquide' is my personal favorite!
 |
| Photo Credit: Beauty Press |
I also met Pampadour originally at Elements New York, and recently shared about their Votre Vu Sponsored Twitter Party, they are a social media website created for beauty enthusiasts, think of them as a sort of pinterest dedicated entirely to beauty, if you are already a member, please be sure to
follow me there as well! I haven't had time to go and 'Pamp' everything I love, but I'm slowly but surely adding more stuff on! Roy Hakimian is one of the co-founders and he is absolutely the sweetest person you'll ever meet! If you can't get enough Beauty than you should definitely become a member of both Beauty Press AND Pampadour! They sent us home with a Votre Vu lipstick! :)
Liquor Sponsor for the Fall 2013 Beauty Press Spotlight Day was SX Latin Brands! Makers of SX Cha Cha Cha a Reposado Tequila with a hint of lemon and honey (pictured above very first bottle to the left), SX Cafe Doble a Reposado Tequila with Coffee and a Hint of Honey and Cloves, SX Blanco a Distilled from Cane 86 Proof Vodka (second bottle from the very right), SX Negro which is a Vodka Infused in Anejo Casks and is 96 proof (pictured to the very right above), SX Azul a Vodka with a hint of Berry, Vanilla and Rosemary; SX Rosa a Vodka with a hint of Coconut, Watermelon and Cilantro, SX Verde a Vodka with a hint of Apple, Lemon and Basil, SX Calypso an Aged Rum with a hint of lemon and mint (picutred above second bottle to the left with green label), and last but not lease SX Samba which is a Rum with a hint of sweet lime and vanilla! These would definitely look beautiful on your bar for upcoming Halloween or Holiday Parties!
Thankfully for every rude person you find a nice one, and so for the haircare brand that chose not to speak me, there was another one in attendance that seemed way more interested in being there and making connections. Uberliss is the world's most advanced smoothing system that elimates unwanted frizz and tames unruly hair with a blend of Keratin, Cysteine and Buriti Extracts! Frizz is the bane of my existence and I have to do a combo of blow out and flat iron to my hair daily if I want to to wear it straight, so I definitely can't wait to try this out! It is compatible with other chemical processes and their products are forumlated WITHOUT Formaldehyde or aldehydes, so if you were hesitant about trying products with keratin in the past for fear of Formaldehydes than Uberliss is perfect for you! They sent us home with Full Sized
Hydrating Shampoo and
Conditioner, as well as the
Uberliss RituOil which is an Orchid and Argan Oil Complex that seals cuticles to create softness and shine and protect against thermal damage (you know like blow dryers and flat irons!). I can't wait to test out this system and report back to you. I would also love to visit an Uberliss Salon and I will definitely post my before and after on Ascending Butterfly when I do. I'm actually ready for a hair change so this sounds like a perfect excuse to try something new, you know for the sake of JOURNALISM! (yeah that's the ticket!) :-)
Despite the distance from this event, I still have to admit this story from meeting this brand still makes me laugh, they are an Australian company that when they met ME told me they couldn't understand me because of my 'super heavy accent' and where was I from. The only thing that anyone can say that is 'discernible' about the way I speak is that it's distinctly 'New York' as I was born and raised here, my mother was born and raised in Manhattan and my Grand-mother was also. But I have never been told it's hard to understand me before. So this was a bit of a strange experience for me, but I do give them credit for managing what had to be crazy jet lag from the time difference and travel so well! Vitaman developed Australia's first comprehensive natural male skin and hair care range that contains natural and highly active ingredients sourced from Australian Indigenous Native Plant, Fruit and Herbal Extracts. They launched in 1999 and their co-founders had been living in the same building directly opposite each other for six months and met randomly in the elevator (which they call 'the lift'). They launched with 9 products and the line has expanded exponentially ever since.
We were sent home with a sampler pack that included trial sizes of their
Face Scrub,
Face Moisturiser,
Shave Creme and
After Shave Balm.
My Take:
As always Beauty Press curated a great variety of brands and provided an interactive, fun and dynamic experience that allowed Editors and Beauty Bloggers to network with the brands as well as each other! As I begin testing the products I took home with me I will post more comprehensive reviews but thought I would start with an overview that gave you an idea of the brands that were in attendance. I will definitely reach out to many to see if we can offer reader giveaways in the future but until then it doesn't hurt to visit each brand on their social media pages and let them know you saw them featured here!
Butterflies, which amazing product most caught your eye, which would YOU like to try first?
˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙
FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the Beauty Press Network. This is not a compensated post. 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.
