These Paul & Joe Limited Edition Lipstick C‘s  have got to be the most adorable lipsticks I’ve ever seen. What a concept! And I don’t even like cats. I would have to say that the most wearable color would have to either Moon Shadow or Over the Moon but I really like how Over the Moon has a light orange tint that makes it so easy to wear for a day look. The packaging on both lipsticks are equally chic, the graceful swans could make a perfect pattern for a scarf this fall. (hint to all my fellow product development friends!)

Paul & Joe Limited Edition Lipstick C is available at beautyhabit.com

Leina demonstrating how to do a day to night look

Raffle prize

Me with Leina

with Leina and Amy aka Shrinkle creator of Sugarpill

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending MakeupbyLeina’s private makeup event at the lovely Bare Escentuals boutique in Berkeley, CA. The Bare Escentuals store transformed from a cozy boutique to a beauty filled presentation party decked with balloons, gift bags, raffle prizes, and snacks. Bare Escentuals and Leina collaborated to hold the private makeup seminar. Leina’s Youtube loyal subscribers got the chance to meet and chat with Leina for expert tips and tricks.

Leina held a makeup seminar demonstrating live tutorials on everyday models to show the audience how to go from day to night easily using Bare Escentuals products. The talented apsiring makeup artist admits her love and specialty is the smoky eye because it’s so versatile and reflects her style.

I had so much fun, and being surrounded by my weakness, I gave into buying 3 eye shadows. I just had to, I’ve never used Bare Escentuals eye shadows before this. I love how they’re so sparkly.

It was surprising to say the least, when I was expecting contribute to the blog only to find I was being recognized for my efforts toward my own blog. Completely outright made my day, I was all smiles. Doing what you love is a great thing.

Meeting at Temptu Offices

Because Temptu is such an entrepreneurial company, it was interesting to hear about their visions to develop innovative products that have never before graced store shelves. Samantha talked to us about the successes and difficulties of their products and the ongoing research/development. Creative ideas are extremely encouraged throughout the company especially during the product development process. Samantha also left us a piece of advice to open up about our ideas and not be blocked in by the boundaries we’ve created for ourselves.   

Meeting at Avon offices

 Our next stop of the day was at Avon offices, and we met with Eileen, the VP of Global Product Innovation and several others from her team. They spoke to us on upcoming trends, how they transfer globally, and how they create products for a global market. People spoke from different departments and categories about how they developed their products. They also spoke to us about the product development process from concept to consumer and it was very similar to what we learned in class.   

I was surprised to find that they make a lot of different products and release them frequently. It’s amazing that a team can work and produce products so quickly, but it makes sense given the size of their team. The office was HUGE!   

Meeting at Space NK for Lime Crime

Me with Doe Deere, CEO and President of Lime Crime

 Our third appoint of the day was at Space NK and we met with Doe, CEO and President of Lime Crime. It was my first time visiting a Space NK, and we had some free time before Doe arrived so I had the joy of playing around with all the luxury brands. I wish we had one near San Francisco, but it’s probably a good thing that I’m keeping my money in my pocket.   

We met up with Doe shortly after, and she casually talked to us about how she got started with the brand and shared her vision. Her ambition and passionate outlook on life is enlightening and her brand is a direct product of her success. The bright, bold, and colorful makeup line has quickly attracted a loyal following of creative girls all over the internet. Did I mention she’s not even 30 yet?!   

A visit at the Dermalogica Academy

 Our last appoint of the day was at the Dermalogica Academy and we met with Steven as he gave us a tour of the academy. The academy was clean and modern throughout the entire office. We got to see where the students practice their treatments and the classrooms they learn in. Steven spoke to us about how the Academy works and how professionals work towards their credentials. This academy is the undergraduate program researched and developed by The International Dermal Institute, so it was nice to see what the students learn on a day-to-day basis.   

I had so much fun on this trip, it was such a learning experience and I’ve taken away such valuable insight. I am proud that I am following my passion and thankful I got to meet so many amazing successful people in the beauty industry. And the beautiful city of New York stole my heart, just as I thought it would. I wish I could do it all over again!

This creative lip palette is my latest want. The Japonesque Lip Palette Kit gives you a reason to happily break your lipsticks off their tubes. The palette comes with a microwave safe silicone bowl with a mini spatula and a lip brush. You can create your own lip colors by mixing, matching, and melting lip colors of your choice to create the most personalized lip palette. The whole DIY idea takes me back to my childhood days when I used to want to make my own anything and everything. I even made bubblegum once! Now I can make my own bubble gum colored lipstick. Unleash your inner artist and check the Japonesque Lip Palette Kit to create your own.

meeting in the conference room at Fusion Brands

me with Caroline Pieper-Vogt, CEO of Fusion Brands

On the third day of FIDM’s New York Beauty Study Tour, our first appointment was with Fusion Brands, most known for their award winning lip plumper, Lip Fusion. We met with Caroline, the CEO of Fusion Brands, and she explained to us her role in the company. She spoke to us about her background, difficulties and successes with the brand, and what we will be seeing on store shelves in the upcoming months. She also gave us the background story of the Colorceuticals collection that Kim Kardashian is the face of.

Hearing Caroline’s role for the brand gave us a different perspective from what we were used to hearing because her responsibilities are of a much larger scale.  She was incredibly inspiring and motivating when she spoke to us about becoming a professional in the industry and general outlook on success. One thing she mentioned really stuck with me, and that’s listening to and following the ‘redirect’. Life is like a series of staircases, you don’t always know where you’re going to go, but if you follow the signs and redirects, you’ll get to where you want to be. She’s sensational, simply put.

Intercos trend and product display

Intercos cosmetic trend display

Meeting at Intercos offices

Our second stop of the day was at Intercos, an Italian cosmetic and skincare manufacturer that supplies some of the most recognized brands in the world. We met with Silvia and Jacqueline from the marketing department and they told us about what they do for the company. They dedicate much time to looking at upcoming trends in cosmetics and skin care. They’re always on the lookout for the next biggest thing. They meet with cosmetic and skin care companies and give presentations on what’s up and coming in the industry. They also spend time in the lab creating new formulas for cosmetics and skin care, many of which we got to see on display.

The office didn’t feel much like an ordinary office, it felt like a fantasy makeup land with all the creative and colorful trend inspirations displayed throughout the room. On these trend boards were makeup with new formula technologies and packaging inspirations giving us the ultimate makeup visual. Who knew cosmetic manufacturing would be so glamorous?!

CEW event with Bobbi Brown

me with Bobbi Brown

Our last event for the day was the Cosmetic Executive Women Event with Bobbi Brown. The first hour we spent networking with the CEW members whom are industry professionals. I got to meet some really interesting individuals from all different parts of the industry. I really like how CEW brings industry professionals who share the same passion into one place where they can network with one another and inspire each other.

We sat down in the audience and watched the interview with Bobbi Brown. Her best friend who is also her business partner was on stage with her. Bobbi Brown was so down to earth, and I loved how she was so honest and real. She spoke about what life is like for her now that she’s so successful, and she’s nothing but thankful. It was such an honor to meet her, she was so nice!

It was a fun-filled day with interesting experiences and much to learn from. Hearing from people from different parts of the industry opened my mind up to thinking about the many options and routes I have to work in the industry. I was a bit bummed that it was already day 3 and the trip was almost over.

We ended up taking a trip to Sephora. Yeah, word of advice, never take beauty junkies to Sephora. If they’re anything like us, they’ll ending up spending hours in there, and that’s not an exaggeration.

I was trying to go overboard, so I ended up getting a Blue Sephora eyeliner.

I also took a peek into Pure Beauty and scored these babies from their summer sale! Where can you find Redken and Paul Mitchell for $5.99 and $4.00?!

If you haven’t already, check out Sheleina’s makeup tutorials on Youtube. She’s THE guru you should be watching! Find her at http://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupByLeinaBaaaby.

Givaudan Offices

Fantastic Fantasy - a trend board

Our meeting in the conference room at Givaudan

On the second day FIDM’s New York Beauty Study Tour, our first stop was at Givaudan, the world’s largest company in the flavor and fragrance industry. We met with Kate and Melissa who both work in the marketing department. They discussed their focuses in fine perfume, personal care, and finding new scent molecules. Innovation and trends are very important to the business; they are always looking for the next best thing whether it is a new smell, or a new trend. The company puts a lot of time and focus on researching and discovering new scents never been used in perfumery. They have a team that goes on ScentTrek’s, which allow Fragrance Research scientists to travel on expeditions to try to capture rare scents from plants and flowers. Givaudan also spends time doing consumer research. I’ve always found a great deal of interest in consumer research so I really enjoyed the presentation.

Givaudan has created some of the most recognized classics to the hottest new fragrances on the market. Some of their work includes classics such as L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci, Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, Obsession by Calvin Klein, and best sellers like J’Dore by Christian Dior, Armani Code by Georgio Armani, and 2010 FiFi award winner Lola by Marc Jacobs.

FIDM's Beauty Majors at Marina Maher Communications Offices

Our next stop of the day was at Marina Maher Communications, a PR agency that works with various beauty brands. We met with Kate, Jessie, and Marissa who told us a bit about the kind of work they do. MMC has hosted many special events and promotions for brands like CoverGirl, Aussie, and Herbal Essences just to name a few. How’d you like to say you host events as your day job?

They shared with us some of their most recent and successful collaborations. MMC just worked with Pat McGrath and CoverGirl for LeSportsac. They also worked with  CoverGirl’s Lash Blast Length and Nylon Magazine a few months back for a design contest (Congrats to winner Lauren Okura for her cutesy tube design!). Last year, MMC worked with Bebe and did a special promotion for CoverGirl’s Outlast Lipstain and gave them out free as a gift with purchase.

Visiting both companies was a both a fun and a learning experience. There’s so much more to the beauty industry than just what you see on the store shelves. On a side note, it’s really interesting to see how different offices run from one company to another. It’s like stepping into a different world every time, no two are exactly alike.

DAY 1: Bumble & Bumble, L’Oreal, and Arcade Marketing

Bumble and Bumble offices

The first stop on the FIDM’s New York Beauty Study Tour, was at Bumble & Bumble offices. We got to meet with Suzanne Machesky, a fellow FIDM aluma. She was on this very same tour and got hired at Bumble & Bumble because of it! She gave us plenty of tips on being successful in the industry and shared with us what she does on a day-to-day basis. And yes, it’s fun.

A person from each department came down to speak with us about how their department collaborated on a product line they recently launched called BB Wear and Care (Fabulous line btw, love their Quenching Masque). I was quick to notice that how  each department worked together in the same exact fashion that I learned at FIDM. To be more specific, group work, group work, group work. It made me so happy to see that what we were learning in the classroom translates smoothly into the work environment.

A visit to the L'Oreal office - my notes and gifts

Our next appointment was with L’Oreal, we met with two women from the Designer Fragrance Division. They spoke to us about two new projects they were working on. One was on their upcoming release of Aqua Di Gioa Georgio Armani, a new women’s fragrance to complement best-selling counterpart Aqua Di Gio. It smells very clean and fresh, look out for it this summer. The next project they are working on in is the release of a new fragrance collection for Ralph Lauren. They explained to us what it’s like to work with a living designer for the creative design process. Ralph Lauren is very much involved. It was nice to see how a large company works when creating a new product. It is a bit different compared to smaller companies because there are more people involved.

The view from Arcade Marketing's office

Our last stop for the day was at Arcade Marketing, they call themselves specialty printing marketers. We met with Laura who told us about what she does for the company. They were one of the first in the industry to create scent sampling for fragrances. When you open your magazine to get a whiff of the latest Juicy Couture or Dior fragrance, you can thank them. Arcade talked to us about how they work on marketing campaigns that samples for their clients in fragrances, color cosmetics, and skin care. It’s important to note that they mentioned a revolutionary idea or concept is all about timing. Something that isn’t hot right now could be or will be in 5 years.

(P.S.) We totally saw Jay-Z and Eminem performing on the rooftop of David Letterman which was right across the street from Arcade Marketing. I got a picture from the office!

The Late Show with David Letterman in New York

Jay-Z and Eminem perform on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater, home of The Late Show with David Letterman

Just after the first day of the FIDM’s New York Beauty Study Tour  I was having so much fun and felt inspired, there’s so much to learn and so much to see I wish we had more time!

This past month has been filled with festivities as I have just graduated last week on June 19 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. All the hard work at FIDM was definitely worth it and it was nice to see all my fellow classmates again. The very next day I was on a plane ride to New York with for FIDM‘s Beauty Study Tour. I spent a week in the beautiful city running to and from appointments with the most successful companies in the industry. Like a sponge, I was trying to soak up any piece of info or advice I was given. Some of the companies I had the pleasure of visiting include L’Oreal, Temptu, Bumble and Bumble,  Avon, Lime Crime, and many others. I’ve taken so much away from the trip and I’m very thankful that I’ve had the chance to experience New York and everything it has to offer in the beauty industry. All I can say is, “Can I move already?”

It’s impossible for me to go anywhere without wearing a fragrance. Even if I am just running errands around town you can find me wearing my favorite scent (Amor Amor by Cacharel). Needless to say my Sephora Fragrance Atomizer is such a lifesaver for me when I travel. Glass bottles of perfume aren’t always ‘travel friendly’ and it can be a hassle trying to wrap it up in tissue and clothes hoping it doesn’t break open.

This cute little travel sized aluminum atomizer is incredibly handy and fits nicely in clutches handbags. Absolutely positively no spillage. It’s really easy to use too. In the package comes a funnel to drain the fragrance nicely. Just place the funnel on the top of the tube and spray your fragrance directly into the funnel.

This Fragrance Atomizer is 10$ at Sephora.

I love natural and organic products especially for my skin because I am acne prone and my skin can get irritated easily. I think I might have just found my new favorite store, Nature’s Basin.It’s an online store dedicated to providing the best brands in natural and organic beauty care.

They’ve got face, bath and body care, hair care, and aromatherapy products. They have make up too – mineral makeup from foundations to lipsticks. Nature’s Basin carries some of my favorite brands including Inara Organics, Pangea Organics, and Weleda. They also have great value sets that make good gifts.

Nature’s Basin strives to provide safe and high quality natural brands. It’s known that synthetic chemicals can cause harm to the skin and body and Nature’s Basin provides natural and organic alternatives. On their website you can view Organic Beauty Care & Organic Body Care Certifications.

There were a couple brands that they sold that I was unfamiliar with, one being Suki Skin Care. I really liked the Suki Organic Butter Cream Healing Salve because my legs and elbows get really dry so I am patiently waiting for it to come in the mail.

If you haven’t checked out Nature’s Basin yet, you should give it a try.

Follow Nature’s Basin on Twitter

Become a fan on Facebook.

Just joined Bloglovin today, if you want to keep up on what’s going on at beautyforthought.com, please subscribe!

In the name of beauty for a cause.

The Beauty Bus Foundation is a non-profit organization that gives the terminally or chronically ill a reason to smile by offering beauty services to them and their caregivers. They really help enrich patients days by giving back and making others feel special. Essentially what they do is offer free hair and makeup services for patients to help them through the difficult time in there lives.

Beauty Bus Foundation serves chronically and terminally ill clients with the following diseases or conditions:

• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Cancer
• Stroke

…AND their primary caregivers.

They believe their primary caregivers should receive free makeover services as well especially since they devote their life to caring for someone else. This was they can enjoy the pampering experience together.

Most of the time that a patient is touched and care for is through medical doctors, nurses, and caregivers and usually for their medical treatments. Beauty Bus wanted to offer patients to be cared for in a way that is unrelated to their medical treatments.

They offer shampoo/blowdry/styling manicures, pedicures, facial treatments, and makeup services within the Los Angeles Area.

Know anyone with the illnesses listed above? They can become a client.

Give back and volunteer to be a beauty professional if you’re a Cosmetologist, Hair Dresser, Nail Technician, or Makeup Artist offer your services to the Beauty Bus Foundation.

You can still volunteer and support the Beauty Bus Foundation by becoming a beauty buddy and helping out with patients and beauty professionals.

For more information visit beautybus.org

Beauty Collection in West Hollywood

me with Wendy and Alicia from The Beauty Bus Foundation

I got a chance to talk with representatives of The Beauty Bus Foundation. They offer beauty and grooming treatments for the chronically and terminally ill. This is such a wonderful and thoughtful idea for those in difficult times of their lives. 50% of the proceeds went to support and benefit The Beauty Bus Foundation.

The hair and makeup tent and celebrity photographer Jim Steinfeldt

The male Go Go Dancers from Abbey

me with a makeup artist and owner of Nailtini Michelle Olson

The Nailtini and Liptini product line is so adorable. I love that it allows you to be creative and make your own combinations to create something unique – kinda like cocktails! I am wearing the Liptini Topper Lip Gloss in Bellini

me and Caroline Alexander from Leaf and Rusher