Let’s talk about color, shall we? I love color… bright and bold, soft and muted, deep and burning. Color is the new black! Maybe it’s just me, but I’m in the mood to mix it up with some color. I want to paint walls, line eyes and stain lips. I want to douse myself in color… maybe as a way to stave off the winter drearies, but mostly I feel the need to ignite the passion of living in such a rich climate. There are so many ways to add color to our lives, our faces, our fingernails.

Here we go, here we go, here we go….

Lip Stain and Pout Gloss by Terra Firma Cosmetics: You asked for it and we found it! Thanks to our mighty (insert muscles here) team of professionals who ran around the internet to bring you what you want. It’s natural, it’s pretty, it sparkles and it lasts for hours. Dear me, how will I ever choose between Cayenne and Pomegrante? Bloom and Sedona?? Scandalous and Au Naturalle??? I tell you what, that is my kinda problem Sista…that is my kinda problem!

Question…how many lip products do you carry with you every day? I currently count seven in my handbag. Whew… not too many. They all have a purpose and can be layered one on top of another. Some have a slight shimmer, some have a bit of shine, some are pure moisture. Like Pangea’s Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom Lipbalm. Calming, antioxidant and not as perfumy as one might think. Bursting with fantastic oils like Tamanu, Hemp Seed, and Sunflower, plus Shea Butter… and all of it is organic. Praise Joshua!! (He owns Pangea.) So, you see, they all play an important role, don’t judge! I asked a friend today and she showed me eight in her bag, with a slight giggle of excess. Honestly, we love it and it’s fun and the men in our lives don’t need to understand, they simply like the way we smile.

Another miraculous find is Eyebrow Mousse from Blinc. This is a product I will not live without, dammit!! I have looked for many years to find anything natural for eyebrows that both shades and shapes. It’s tricky…and important.You see, the brows are like a frame for a beautiful piece of art. Without the frame, one can still see and appreciate the beauty of the art, but if you frame the art, as with the eyes, IT POPS!!!

Blinc Eyebrow Mousse comed in 6 shades from Light Blonde to Black. One to match every skintone and haircolor, plus, it contains hexapeptide-14 which is an anti-aging ingredient found in high-end skin care. Hallelujah!!! I feel a little more polished and put together and like my face isn’t fading into the background. Dark Brunette is my shade…in case you were wondering.

As we age, we lose the color in our hair, lips and cheeks, and adding a little brightness back into the skin keeps us vibrant and feeling good. It is important to me. Many women are afraid of color cosmetics, of looking “made up” with too much or the wrong color. Somehow…well, actually,I do know how…make-up got a bad rap. Heavy-handed and uninformed with regards to technique and customer preference, the usual cosmetic counter experience can be disappointing. I don’t believe in using cosmetics as a mask, although many women have shared this view with me as the reason they have avoided using make-up. I have always thought of make-up as a way to enhance the features we inherently possess.

Next, let’s add some shine and color to those lovely tresses. Short or long, straight, curly or just plain unruly, all hair types can benefit from the right product. Covering gray? No problem. Change your mind about getting in to your stylist for another weave? We’ve got the answer. Permanent or Semi- Permanent? Got ‘em. Yes, you can do it and we can help.

Surya Henna Cream is a beautiful option for some sassy, shiny color! It is plant-based with henna playing the role of the conditioner more than the actual color. Without the use of peroxide, ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, heavy metals, parabens, or synthetic fragrance, even sensitive individuals can safely use Surya Henna Cream. I love it because it works like regular color, and guess what…? No stink. Amazing!! It washes out in 7-10 washings, so if you want to change it up with a new shade and you are like me, only washing your hair a couple times a week, it can last 4-6 weeks. Remember, there is no going lighter with Surya or any other henna/plant based color.

If you need a bit more shine without a color change, I invite you to play around with John Masters Organics Shine On. Containing Carrot Seed Oil and Sea Kelp and high in vitamn A, it adds lots of shine (hence the clever name) without any weight or stickiness. Plus,if you are looking for a product with some “green power” John Masters Organics is the leader, truly.

I leave you with two thoughts…

The first is a quote from my old friend Charlie “All I ever wanted to do in life was color.”

And the second may take a little more contemplation: How would it feel if you loved everyone?

♥ from Cathy, Personal Care Manager