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!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
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
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| 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!
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.
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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.
