e.l.f Haul/Product Review

Posted on August 21, 2015 by queennzingha

Written by NZINGHA for TheGlamSquadFiles™

I love useful beauty products!! I love products that simply work and especially love affordable products that work!!! Now with that said in walks e.l.f Cosmetics. A brand that I had long penned as my go to “recession brand”. Why do I pen the brand this way?

The e.l.f brand came about during the roughest time in the midst of Americas millennial recession and still did surprisingly well. Why are they doing so well, well enough to open two new NY Boutiques? I’m no financial or marketing anaylist but I believe it’s because the brand simply delivers and its strategy seems simple…they are everywhere, even in the most unlikely stores and shops. e.l.f just delivers the goods to the general public! No fluff no puff or dancing eyelashes in a sleek commercial found on every network on your TV.

I first remembered being introduced to elf in a Target store and couldn’t believe I could get 120 eyeshadows that actually go on well for $10!!! I thought…”This is crazy! What am I doing actually buying this stuff? I mean will it really work?” The answer is an unequivocal YES!!

Well, some years and several purchases in between I actually finally made my way down to the Financial District in NY (Fulton Street & Nassau) to actually check out their boutique and boy was I pleasantly surprised!

It was a sleek moder well stocked clean boutique. With items I’d seen before and others I’d never seen before. e.l.f is truly magical and unbelievably affordable. So here’s my actual haul and review.

elf SLAYS in the portable lotion department!! NOBODY DOES IT LIKE elf!!! They’re Lotion Wipes are a staple found in my kit…why? Because

No messy leaking and spilling out of product all over my kit!!
Hygienically sound for multiple talent on set. Each person can have their own and easily toss away when they’re done.
Environmentally friendly.
Smells good and leaves the skin hydrated, moisturized and soft.

And yes I bought several dozens of each scent for the new TV show I’m currently working on. LOVE THESE!!!

I am also a big fan of their Makeup Remover Wipes, the Exfoliating Makeup Remover Wipes and the Eye Makeup Remover Wipes! All are genius for when I’m on set and need to do quick non-negotiable clean ups while on set!! As you well know you can get caught out there on set and have NO TIME to do quick changes but are always expected to do them with little correcting time on the clock WELL…these babies are my answer to that and my talents skin is NEVER IRRITATED by these products.

I can’t believe how awesome these portable palm sized kits are so good at delivering color deposit and a variety of colors that I can actually use. I use this kit for my day playing BG Actors. And most of all I just pop them in my kit without taking up all this room!!!

Oh and let me be clear about something else while we’re here…YES I use elf makeup brushes! I think they’re awesome! Here are the ones I picked up in my haul and yes I got doubles of each!!! The Giant Kabuki is great for all over body powder and shimmer powders, the flat contour feels like butter on the skin and applies and blends incredibly. The glitter applicator is genius and so is the shadow sheild!!

Well here I come to the end of my haul. Just as I was up at the register I happened to see this lil number…Lip Tint. Another one is love. Just a hint of color, not too much but just a slight blush of color. It almost has the effect of a mood lipstick but much lighter and transparent. It also leaves the lips soft and smooth.

Overall my jaunt to elf on Fulton Street was a fun experience and a great haul! You can never have enough products in you Pro Kit and with elf you get great brand items minus the financial guilt!

Curl On, Paint On ViZionaire,

NZINGHA

black|Up! Cosmetics | Review

Posted on October 8, 2014 by queennzingha

black|Up! Cosmetics | Review
Written by NZINGHA for TheGlamSquadFiles™

I have been wanting to review this product since it was first introduced in the mid 90’s!!! black|Up Cosmetics Paris. Yes, I have been an avid follower of this product line. They were first released overseas in Paris in the mid 90’s and were doing what seemed to be well then suddenly disappeared!!! I was mortified because before I could even give them shout outs they had gone AWAL!!

I first found out about them when I was on tour with Mary J. Blige as her Makeup Artist. We had a brief stop over performance and promotion in Paris. I met a few young ladies there who introduced me to the line and told me where I could get it! And I indeed found it and purchased some foundations in the line and bought them back to the US! In fact I had used it for my own personal use and also for a few of my clients and I loved it!! Until I ran out and could no longer access the product!!!

The black|Up Cosmetics Pro Catalogue. Full Color product selections with high gloss pages. 75 pages of beauty!! Magnifique’!!

PANIC MODE 101!!! Client loves the colors you’re using…wants you to buy the product for them for their personal use…me…PRO MAKEUP ARTIST…BLANK STARE!!! WTH!!!! I can’t find them anywhere!!!! WHAT DO I TELL MY CLIENT…until now…close to 10years later! Revamped, repackaged, reformulated and rebranded…ready for action! IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT HONEY!!! YASSSSSS!!! Don’t miss this opportunity guys! I say stock up on this amazing brand designed unapologetically for Women of Color!!

Here I am in full black|Up makeup I used all the colors in one shot to get this makeup look. I use the CC Cream Foundation #04 daily(this is my Summer Tanned Skin color, my Winter color is #03,this is my normal skin toned color)

While on tour in Europe numerous times going to the best makeup shops I could barely find beautiful colors for Women of Color!!! I was highly offended!!! Then I thought really??? I mean for real people of Color are truly a minority in Europe…but not in the rest of the world so what can you expect from this market! And imagine a line for Women of Color over here would fly off the shelves simply because their beauty needs are being met!

I’m not here to apologize for my blackness or for any comments I make regarding any brand that is not inclusive of Women of Color. As far as I’m concerned I want to solely deal with brands that speak to my complexion without having to worry if I’m going to look grey, green or just chalky. I want a brand that suits my complexion and yes, there needs to be more brands worldwide for Women of Colors choosing!! NO APOLOGIES!!

Here are the colors that were sent to me and I am thrilled to say …I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS LINE!! Everything about this line I LOVE!!

Here are the eyeliners (liquid gold and orchid colored gel pencil eyeliner) and concealer

I am in absolute awe of this liquid eyeliner!! I can’t believe I’ve never had anything to compare to it EVER in my Pro Kit!!! And honey I’ve had my kit full of products that have come and gone in my 27year career!! I’ve got to order like 4 more of these!!! Long wear and waterproof for real waterproof (even with dish soap I couldn’t take it off!)

Here are the blushes in the colors 01(Fuschia Pink) and 11(Shimmery Coral).

http://www.blackupcosmetics.com/makeup/face/blush/new-blush.html

PRICE | $25.50

Here’s the black|Up CC Cream Foundation in #03 and on my hand 04

http://www.blackupcosmetics.com/cc-cream-multi-action-complexion-correcting-foundation.html
PRICE | $39.50

Here we have the glorious Complexion Enhancer/ Embellisseur de Teint (EMB03)

Here’s the black|Up Poudre Sublime (PS04)

http://www.blackupcosmetics.com/makeup/face/bronzer-1/sublime-powder-1446.html
PRICE | $36.50

Here is the Creme Poudre’ (NFC03)

http://www.blackupcosmetics.com/makeup/face/foundation/cream-to-powder-foundation-new-formula.html
PRICE | $41.00

Rich Moisturising Lipsticks

http://www.blackupcosmetics.com/makeup/lips/lipstick/new-lipstick.html
PRICE | $22.50

BONUS
So ok, listen if you are not sure of how the colors of the foundations will work on you, you can always test it out with these blister packs that have a range of 4 shades to test! Shads #04-#09 uhh and there are 16 shades to choose from that selection were just the colors they chose for me based on knowing my skin tone. AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! What more could you ask for.

black|Up! Video Reviews

Dirty Work…SPFX Dirt Kits

Posted on September 5, 2014 by queennzingha

Written by NZINGHA for ZFACEINC,nyc

Dirty work, but somebody’s got to do it! Well, guess what not all makeup is pretty makeup!

Makeup in any communication medium is used to help tell and sell the story. I mean think about it, if everyone looked handsome or pretty all the time in an action film, horror film or just everyday occurrence films we’d say “Hey!! That’s not realistic!”or we’d simply be confused about what happened in the film.

In vintage black and white films a lot was left to the imagination but in today’s modern world people want to see the what only a generation before imagined! We now have high tech special effects and all kinds of scenarios that require a special type of makeup.

Now let me be clear here, I’m not touting my ability to do high end extensive Special Effects Makeup but, I sure do appreciate it! I’m what you’d call a LIGHT SPFX Makeup Artist. The bigger guns I just call the SPFX Specialists.

Okay now on this post I’m here to talk about light SPFX makeup….DIRT, Grime, Soot and the like. In my Day Play kit I usually carry around some of everything because you never know what you’ll be asked to do with the makeup.

In my Dirt Kit I carry the following:

1) 3-4 types of dirt POWDER(black, dark brown, tan and sometimes desert (a brick brownish red powder) LIQUID SPRAY, DIRT BAG or CREAM DIRT.

2) 3 spray pouf units (to dispense powder in layers for a more real effect and less dirt on my hands so I can continue working)

3) Glycerine (I use this for sweat and tears effects, you can always substitute it with another element i.e. sunscreen, Vaseline, baby oil, etc.)

4) Blood (liquid (light, regular and dark dried thickened), fresh scarring blood, scab blood and blood capsules.

5) Tear Maker Vaporizer (use this item with caution cause it really makes people cry because the menthol is concentrated)

6) Stippling Sponge (I use this to add layers and visual texture)

7) A makeup protector cape ( to protect your actors clothes until they are dressed in full wardrobe from the wardrobe department. We don’t want to get anyone’s day clothes dirty! Lolol)

Here’s my mini “Dirt Kit”I take this one with me when I’m Day Playing, if more is needed the department head and department key will have full sized supplies.

While I was working on Boardwalk Empire we had to prepare for a big explosion scene. This explosion was to occur on the Boardwalk with several stores, buildings and part of the actual Boardwalk being blown up. Thank goodness the professionals were there NYFD and NYPD and explosive experts.

Here I’ve applied soot & grime makeup to 2 Actors for the upcoming explosion scene for the HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire. My gentleman is in stage 1 of makeup. My lady is in complete makeup stage 1 & stage 2 of the process.

Here I’m applying soot & grime makeup to my Actress for the upcoming explosion scene for the HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire.

Here my Actress is showing off the first stages of her soot & grime hands. The second step is more dirt/soot under the nails and some blood and cuts (imagining broken glass flying and brusing of some sort)

Ve Neil on Blood and Dirt Effects

Green + Street on working Dirt Effects

Love Manhattan Wardrobe Supply, it’s usually where I get specialty items like my dirt and other hard to find supplies.

http://www.wardrobesupplies.com/categories/make-up-and-hair/blood-and-effects/fleet-street-dirt-works

Overall, every MUA has their own technique in creating the look. No two techniques are the same but you can learn from different artists and create your own. When you’re creating a dirt look you have to really think about the context of the scene and what would actually happen in that scene. Ask yourself these questions:

1) What’s the action going on in that scene?

2) What does the script call for?

3) What does the set look like?

4) What is the wardrobe doing?

5) What level of dirt does the scene call for?

6) What type of dirt? Wet, dry, lumpy, oily, black, brown, red, tan?

7) What type of blood would be needed to complete the look or if blood is needed at all?

Okay, I’m done…hope this was useful to you. Signing out!

Paint On viZionaire!
NZINGHA

The Glam Squad Files…

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Category Archives: Packing Your Makeup Kit

e.l.f Haul/Product Review

black|Up! Cosmetics | Review

Dirty Work…SPFX Dirt Kits