Fall Color Series: Spotlight on Acai

As we gear up to say farewell to fall we decided to put the spotlight on a classic darker color: Acai. This color, inspired by the superfood acai berry, is a rich and mysterious shade of purple that makes for a great fall staple.

Acai is bold and dark and works great as a statement color. It compliments lighter shades (think Pantone’s Linden Green and Vivacious) and accent shades (Pantone’s Koi). Here are a few suggestions on how to use Acai in your fall lifestyle:

Home Decor: Try reupholstering an old dining room chair (check out this guide) with a deep purple fabric for a fun pop of color. For smaller accents, color block a shelf with Acai colored vases, books and other knick knacks.

Fashion: Acai is easy to pull off, especially as a top or blouse. If you want to switch it up, try a pair of dark purple skinnies with a clean white top and black blazer for a chic but classic look. Acai goes so well with gold so definitely layer on your favorite gold jewelry. We love this easy DIY bracelet tutorial that combines both Acai and gold!

Makeup: A dark berry lipstick paired with a neutral blush (we recommend our Pink Chocolate blush!) will help to give you a classic fall look. Worried about wearing a darker lipstick? Check out this guide on how to wear dark lipstick like a pro!

This deep purple is such a fun color to play with, especially as we transition into winter (8 days to go!). As we approach the New Year, keep your eyes peeled for our color report on Pantone's color of the year for 2014!

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Be Amazing Holiday Contest

 

Tis the season! The Holidays are all about giving and we are thrilled to announce our Be Amazing Holiday Contest! The contest will be run through our Pinterest account, but we will be announcing the item to repin on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Each day we will be announcing a specific AmazingCosmetics product that you must find and repin. The product you must find will have a pink gift box in the lower right-hand corner and will be hidden on one of our many Pinterest boards. In order to officially enter to win the product, you must find the item and repin it on the day announced (no skirting the rules by repinning products before they’re announced!).

WEEK 1 (Dec. 3-7)

There will be one winner per day who will win the AmazingCosmetics product specified for that day (Make sure you check our Twitter and Facebook daily for what to pin). Pin that product on to one of your boards and you're automatically entered to win! 

 

Weeks 2-3 (Dec. 9-20)

There will be one grand prize winner announced at the end of Week 3 who will win the 10 repinned AmazingCosmetics products! To be eligible to win all 10 products, you simply have to pin the correct 10 products on the specific day we say to pin them (Same rules as above - make sure you check our Twitter and Facebook daily for the product to pin)! 

Still a little confused? Here’s an example of how a contest day will work: At 9am there will be a post on both our Facebook and Twitter accounts that will say something like “Are you ready to win? Find our Amazing Anti-Aging Primer and pin it to win it!”. Now, it is your job to head on over to our Pinterest and search through our boards (the product could be hidden in any of them!) in order to find the Amazing Anti-Aging Primer that will have a small pink gift box in the pin image (as you see pictured above). Once you have found the product simply pin it! During Week 1, we will announce the winner at noon the following day on both our Facebook and Twitter accounts and the winner will receive the item they pinned for that day! For Weeks 2-3 we will announce the grand prize winner of 10 AmazingCosmetics products on December 21st.

We will be updating this calendar every day so you can make sure you pin the right product! 

 

 

*The winners will be announced on our Facebook page and in the comment section of the item pinned on Pinterest. Winners will have 24 hours to message us on Facebook with contact information in order to receive the prize. If no message is received within 24 hours of the winner announcement, a new winner will be chosen. Contest is international. You must be age 13 or older to participate. There will be 5 winners in week one who receive the product they pinned and only one lucky winner in weeks 2-3 who receives all 10 products they pinned. Winner will need to submit shade and address for delivery of their winnings. 

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AmazingCosmetics "Pink" Friday and Cyber Monday Offer!

The season of giving is upon us! The holidays bring the joy of spending time with family, overeating (guilty!) and much needed relaxation. Some like to spend Thanksgiving night digging into those delicious desserts or even going in for a second helping and some spend it in line at the nearest superstore waiting for those great savings. We, on the other hand, prefer to take a different approach.

This year we will be hosting 'Pink’ Friday for AmazingCosmetics. It is the same idea as Black Friday but with less standing outdoors at 11pm in the negative 10 degree weather. Curious as to why we chose pink? We have a whole blog on it! This year we are excited to announce that for Pink Friday we will be giving away a FREE Anti-Aging Face Primer with the purchase of ANY VelvetMineral Powder Foundation*! After all, who doesn’t want their foundation to last all day?

What's even better than offering a FREE Anti-Aging Face Primer with the purchase of ANY VelvetMineral Powder Foundation all day Friday? Extending it through Cyber Monday! That's right, now you can shop until you drop on "Pink" Friday AND Cyber Monday! 

We hope you enjoy your Holiday weekend! To those of you spending the time relaxing inside with family and friends: have fun, and to those of you racing for those Amazing deals: HAPPY SHOPPING! 

*One free primer per order. Offer begins 12:01am Friday, November 29th and expires that evening at 11:59pm. On Monday, December 2nd the offer beings again at 12:01am and expires at 11:59pm. Valid online or in the AmazingCosmetics studio. Online orders: write the words "Free Primer" in the Special Instructions box during the checkout phase. 

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Fall Color Series: Spotlight on Mykonos Blue

As fall rolls on and we're looking to add a bit more color to our wardrobe we have decided to put our Fall Color Series spotlight on Mykonos Blue. This color, inspired by the rich tones and oceans around Greece, is a great way to add a bold and classic pop of color if light and bright accents aren't your thing.

Mykonos Blue works well as a stand-alone color but also compliments darker grays (such as Pantone's Turbulence) and brighter colors (think Pantone's Emerald and Samba). Here are some fun ways to add Mykonos blue to your fall lifestyle:

Home Decor: If you want a big color accent, try painting an old bookshelf or dresser blue (find out how to paint wood here). For a smaller change, spray paint a few picture frames blue or add golden Dahlias to a Mykonos Blue vase (check out this easy vase DIY!)
Fashion: Mykonos Blue is a great color to play with in your wardrobe because it is a great color for all seasons. Our favorite ways to wear it are as a piece of statement jewelry or on a fun, patterned dress.
Makeup: Add a dark blue matte eyeshadow to the crease with a matte nude eyeshadow all over the lid. Pair it with a rosy cheek and nude lip (we recommend our Cinnamon Spice blush and Sandy lip gloss!) for a fun fall look.

Since blue is always a staple in our wardrobe, it's fun to mix it up and pair it with brighter colors. Stay tuned for more from our Fall Color Series!
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Our Top Six Tips for Healthy Skin

 

Not only does keeping your skin healthy pave way for a flawless makeup look, it also keeps you (as a whole) healthy. Skin is the largest human organ and is usually the first line of defense when it comes to protecting your body. Small cuts and breaks in the skin can lead to viral infection and the growth of bacteria, and to be frank, unhealthy skin doesn’t make us feel too good both physically and mentally. Listing the benefits of healthy skin would take all day, but aside from keeping you feeling good and looking beautiful, the best benefit is that of good health.

 

I’m sure you know the basics (moisturize, don’t smoke, get enough sleep and drink lots of water!) but here are our tried and true favorites:

• Wash your hands first, and your face second. Pretty simple to remember, do you really want whatever last touched your hands to touch our face?

• Smile! Toned muscles always look better than flabby muscles (and believe us, your face has a lot of muscles - 43 to be exact).

• Eat colorfully. Brightly colored foods (think bell peppers, raspberries and blueberries) contain antioxidants which help fight against wrinkles.

• Turn down your shower temp! Hot water feels great (especially in the colder weather!) but prolonged exposure to hot temperatures can strip your skin of moisture

• Oil away! Try adding a few drops of olive oil to your bath for extra skin moisturizing

• Clean those makeup brushes! We suggest cleaning at least every 2-4 weeks to help stop bacteria and dirt from accumulating

That snow may look pretty, but that cold weather is harsh! Remember that protecting your skin not only makes you look good, but keeps your skin healthy!

 

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AmazingCosmetics On Set with PAWS Chicago

Talk about a lot of pups! Our AmazingCosmetics makeup artist, Sarah, was on set for the SPLASH Cover Shoot with PAWS Chicago founder, Paula Fasseas, helping her get primed and fabulous. Check out the video to see Paula looking flawless while handling 5 adorable pooches at once!

Want to see more of AmazingCosmetics on set? Check us out on set with the hunky Blackhawks player, Patrick Sharp! 

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Living it "old school"

 

These days it seems we’ve become obsessed with everyone else’s beauty routine but our own.

I think we’re all hoping that we’ll find out some deep hidden secret as to why “that” girl looks so fantastic. Well sorry to disappoint but that rarely, if ever, happens.

Being in the beauty biz for…well long enough, I’ve learned that new is where it’s at! Products with new names and new ingredients that make new promises are all the rage. Everyone wants the latest and greatest because “new” will surely help us on our quest for smaller pores or firmer skin…or shinier hair…or…..well you get where I’m going with this. But time and time again I’m reminded that “old school” trumps the “newbie.” I’m not saying that there haven’t been breakthrough product innovations over the years in skincare or color cosmetics that have proven themselves winners. What I am saying is the older I get the more I believe that time honored traditions and steadfast beauty rituals are the real deal.

I just read this great article on Refinery 29 How (Exactly) To Look Like A French Girl and just as I suspected it’s not about buying “hope in a jar” but rather finding hope inside of us. Changing our attitude about beauty can literally change the way we look and the way others see us. So listen to your mother and your mother’s mother when you’re searching for beauty rituals that truly work and then… focus on your attitude because what you think is beautiful is.

And if you’re looking to try something “new” * wink wink * try some of my faves…most of which I learned from my European born Mum J.

1 - Oil for your skin and hair - Slather some on and you’ll see what everyone is talking about. Try Caudalie Vinosource Nourishing Concentrate, $44 or Josie Maran Argan Oil, $48

2 - Facial Massage - All those sweet smelling creams, lotions and mists are not the only reason your skin looks radiant after a facial silly! The massaging techniques of a great aesthetician gets the blood pumping on your face, neck and décolletage’ helping to create that “just had a facial” glow.

3 - Don’t wash your hair every day - When I was younger I thought, ”how gross” when my Mom would tell me to skip a day…well not anymore. It helps keep the shine and also prevents breakage. And doesn’t hurt to cut down on getting ready time either!

4 - Petroleum jelly - Dry lips? Dry skin? Dry heels? Dry hands? Should I keep going? Dry anything….good ole Vaseline® not only hydrates the dryness but locks in the moisture too. A good friend of mine who has beautiful skin literally coats her face in it before cold weather outdoor activities like skiing or hiking and I can tell you...it works.

5 - Masks - My mom made one for our hair from mayo and olive oil…and it worked! Masks for the face are gaining ground big time and I just purchased GlamGlow’s exfoliating Mud Mask and after one use I liked what I saw!

~Sandy 

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Before and After Blog Series #1: Chemical Peel

AmazingCosmetics B&A Blog Series! 

We are super excited to introduce our new Before and After blog series! Over the next few weeks we will be posting great examples of how AmazingCosmetics has helped enhance natural beauty and create flawless looks. Our first example shows how AmazingCosmetics came to the rescue after a chemical peel. We know that chemical peels probably aren't a part of your daily routine but we all have problems with rosacea, dry skin and redness! Here's what Sherri had to say about her experience:

The Day After 

Yesterday I went for my very first chemical peel. OUCH! I am not one for pain, but hey, I’ll do anything in the name of beauty.

As you can see from my before photo, the peel left me more than “a little” red. What’s a girl to do?  Well, luckily I have in my bag of tricks Hollywood’s go-to brand for the “flawless face,” AmazingConcealer. What a difference it made!

The AmazingConcealer has always been my favorite and today it did not disappoint! I love my little black tube because no matter what the challenge it always delivers.

 …so after a few aspirin, drinking lots of water and slathering on the aloe I can’t wait to see my new skin revealed!

Sherri

Products used: AmazingCosmetics Anti-Aging Face Primer to moisturize and calm skin, AmazingCosmetics VelvetMineral Liquid Foundation in Medium Golden, AmazingCosmetics AmazingConcealer in Dark Beige, AmazingCosmetics VelvetMineral Pressed Powder Foundation in Medium Golden, and AmazingCosmetics Powderset to finish off the look.


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Halloween Tutorials

Halloween is approaching fast, have you found your costume? For those of you who need a little more inspiration, we found a few amazing videos to share:

Michelle Phan, known for her extensive beauty tutorials and transformations, shows you how to transform into a Barbie in this video for Halloween. In the tutorial she uses her “favorite” and “must have in my makeup bag” concealer - AmazingConcealer!  If transforming into a Barbie isn’t your style, she also does a (slightly easier) Snow White makeup tutorial in which she says AmazingConcealer is “The only concealer I use, I swear by this tiny tube. It's a miracle in a tube.”

Promise Phan (Michelle Phan’s sister-in-law) is also a makeup maven but is known more for her amazing makeup transformations. In this tutorial she turns into Angelina Jolie and uses our Powder Foundation:

 

 

For those of you who want to see our color products in action, check out this video where Promise uses our Peach blush and transforms into princess Jasmine from the Disney classic Aladdin.

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Fall 2013 Colors - Spotlight on Linden Green

It’s official, Fall is here, but are you? Pantone recently released their Fall 2013 Color Report, derived from trends amongst fashion designers. Their selections are a surefire way to add some color and flare to your Fall wardrobe and lifestyle. Amongst the array of Autumn hues is the slightly muted lime-green shade called Linden Green. This unusual shade is the perfect way to lighten and brighten your Fall look whether it be with complimentary colors or wearing it exactly how it is.

Linden Green is a wonderful compliment to neutral shades (think browns and tans) and makes for a great accent piece. For home decor, try tossing in an accent pillow on your cream colored couch or adding a few linden green pumpkins (yes, you can paint them instead of carve them) to your mantel. To add some spice to your wardrobe, try a linden green scarf against your favorite black top or coat for a bold pop of color. If bold isn’t your look, a linden green scarf also looks great with camel colored boots. If you’re looking to incorporate this color into your everyday makeup look, add a thin line of a muted yellow eyeshadow (our favorite is from our Zang Toi Eyeshadow palette) over your black eyeliner for an added eye pop. If color eyeliner isn’t your style, any brown or neutral shade will do. Be sure to complete your makeup look with a shimmery nude lip.

We’re excited to incorporate these new colors into our lifestyle. Stay tuned for more Fall 2013 color reports!

Amazing Takes On South East Asia

What a busy month! The first week of October we did a little bit of traveling…. to South East Asia! We had the wonderful opportunity to attend a few of the Sephora Holiday 2013 press days in these new markets and what fun it proved to be. These press days are a great way to promote your brand to new markets and to offer samples and sneak-peeks of what’s coming next.

Our first stop was Singapore, followed by Malaysia and ending with Thailand. Each of these events were host to a multitude of makeup brands, fashion leaders, and lifestyle publications (Elle, Cosmopolitan, Wedding & Travel, Shape). There were also a slew of professional makeup artists and beauty and skincare bloggers. Talk about a makeup lover’s dream event!

We had an absolute blast attending these events and showing the attendees what AmazingCosmetics is all about! We are so excited for these new Sephora locations to open up in South East Asia so we have an excuse to go back!

Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2013 Holiday set!

Lipstick Lounge 2013

We were super excited to attend the 2013 Lipstick Lounge, an event showcasing the latest trends in beauty and fashion. The event was hosted by Glam-A-THON, a charity started 7 years ago by Tammy Gail, a breast cancer survivor, to raise money for breast cancer research and treatment. She, along with 20 board members, formed this non-profit organization that brings public awareness to the multitude of women dealing with breast cancer. Each year the events have grown bigger and bigger along with the supporters, sponsors, and attendees. Last year Glam raised $100,000 for breast cancer that benefited the Broward Health Foundation. Events like the Lipstick Lounge, which features confections, cosmetics, fashions, jewelry, and many other treats, have become the trademark of Glam. 

As a proud supporter of Glam-A-THON, we were thrilled to participate. One of our fabulous beauty ambassadors, E. Pierre Pope, gave some of the women in attendance stunning makeovers. We were thrilled when we had people coming up to us again and again say how AmazingCosmetics is a wonderful product that helped enhance their beauty! We had a great time with the glamazons at the Lipstick Lounge as we strutted down the pink carpet and posed for photos. 

Find out more about what Amazing is doing to help the fight against breast cancer and how you can receive either our Hot Pink Lisa Lip Gloss or our Hot Pink Blush: http://amazingcosmetics.com/blogs/industry/9369205-why-pink

International Day of the Girl

This past Friday we had the opportunity to be a part of the Unite for Girls Tour in Chicago, IL. The event was in celebration of International Day of the Girl hosted by Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation whose mission is to empower girls throughout the world. More specifically, Girl Up provides American girls the opportunity to become global leaders and to raise awareness and funds for United Nations programs that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls. 

During the event itself there was discussion of global connection with experiential activities, a film screening ofGirl Rising with guest speakers, mini-spa services (where AmazingCosmetics came in handy!), dinner with mentors and a performance by Megan and Liz. We applied blush and lipgloss to a large number of high school girls (some a little younger, some a little older). It never ceases to amaze us how a little bit of makeup can result in such sheer pleasure from the recipient! We also met Lisa Parker from NBC who had been invited to be the guest host. She came right up to the booth and literally high fived us and said, “I’ve got AmazingCosmetics in my purse right now!”. 

We had so much fun at the event and loved being able to take part of this amazing opportunity for girls. Girl power!

Check out more about Girl Up and International Day of the Girl here: http://dayofthegirl.org/

After Earth

We love that our products were used in this action-packed science fiction film! 

Why Pink?

Why do I love pink so much? Let me count the ways. First of all it’s just so darn pretty. I mean, come on. How can you not feel a little twinge of happiness when you’re in the pink? Ever since I was a little girl I loved, loved pink! Ballerinas with beautiful pink tutu’s graced my bedroom walls. Hand painted with love by my father. Since I grew up with three brothers and was surrounded by a bunch of boy gear I had to have a little girl place to escape to! Okay yes, I did own a baseball bat, a hockey stick and softball because if you can’t beat them you’ve got to join them, and all that….  But I’m still a girlie girl at heart!

And my love for fashion? That started young. Check out a couple of these ensembles. I guess my love affair with purses started about then to which has morphed into shoes, clothes and lest I forget, Makeup! My most recent pink purchase? Check it out, this fabulous pink PVC skirt from Topshop. Sorry for the poor pic, it looks much better on. The best part besides the great color and that it’s on trend? If you’re a spiller like me you can just wipe it down and you’re good to go! Another pink score? This Elie Tahari Fuchsia blouse. Love it! And the tiny tot in the pink Chanel-like suit with matching shoes? My best friends niece. Take that Suri you know who! Finally soak in the sheer beauty of this stunning pink number from our good friend Zang Toi. Really, let it wash over you. Believe me no one does high fashion like Zang. It’s not only an honor to call him a friend but it’s a real gift to be able to get up close and personal to his collections. Genius!

What else do I love in pink? Peonies in the spring. Between the smell and sheer beauty you better believe there’s a higher power at work. And how much do you love the little touch of pink on a baby’s cheek? Perfection!

So bringing it around to cosmetics, my love for pink convinced me to insist it be one of my company colors back when the idea to start this brand was just percolating at my kitchen table. Yep, that’s the truth. At the proverbial kitchen table. The color pink also brings me to the month of October, which is of course Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There’s an absolutely lovely woman I know who founded an amazing organization named Bright Pink (there’s that word again) that’s devoted to bringing attention to the disease to younger women. Kindly spend $100 during the month of October on our website or in our Studio and receive either our Amazing Hot Pink Blush or our Amazing, sexy, sheer-pink Lisa Hot Pink Lip-gloss as our gift then we’ll donate $10 to “Bright Pink.”

Pink = Perfect.

The Butler

Thrilled our products were used on this Amazing film!

The Mindy Project

 AmazingCosmetics keeping the cast of The Mindy Project looking great!

The Inner Princess In All Of Us

I think every woman at one time or another had a stint in her youth playing dress-up and becoming a princess. You know-walking around in our mother’s high heels and carrying a scepter aka… a ruler.

We presided over the kingdom aka… the basement or backyard if this fairytale played out on a warmer day. It was fun to dream about castles, jewels, Prince’s, servants..ah hem. Anyway, but could you imagine “princess” as your occupation in real life? Prince William registered his royal off spring last week and for Dad and Mum’s occupation he wrote… Prince and Princess.

Well at least for us girls with no royal lineage makeup allows us to play “dress-up” well beyond childhood. Whether we’re channeling Mad Men’s Betty Draper or Ginger from Gilligan’s Island- I think I just dated myself- with just a strategic sweep of eye liner and a sultry red lip color you can quite easily turn into someone else for the day…or night. And the best part? And when all is said and done we get to wash it all away and dream of castles and Prince’s once more.

Plastic surgery- does it really turn the clock back enough?

Like for many of us, mornings are a crazy time. Over the past 12 years I've helped 4 children get ready and out the door on time for school (well most of the time) And there is zero time to sit down and casually read through a newspaper..unless you're my husband- but we won't go there.

So enter The TODAY show. National news, local news breaks, what's trending today, what celebrity named their son a direction (really?)...they have it all, AND I can get myself ready for work while taking it all in. And my constantly referencing and even sometimes quoting Dr. Nancy...well, all I can say is- I'm working on it.

So this past week...on said show, they did a story on plastic surgery and how according to a new study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery the average amount of “years saved” is only three. Of course some Plastic Surgeons strongly disagreed with the results saying removing 3 years is more in the territory of a spa treatment and not plastic surgery.

What ever the case or study may be, today more then ever- women are looking at all the options. From firming treatments and laser resurfacing to botox and fillers. Less invasive options are also gaining popularity - extreme facials, peels, expensive skincare routines and now even hybrid color cosmetics that help even out your complexion while they boost collagen production long term. Wow, we've coma along way baby.

Truth be told...whether someone else thinks you look younger by 3,4 or maybe even 7 years really doesn't matter if you feel better about the way you look.

Like the old saying goes- Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

LA Confidential July 2012

Check out our Advertisement in LA Confidential of the before and after shot of Velvet Mineral Liquid foundation application!

The advertisement says “translucent mineral base cushion skin while AmazingConcealer Technology builds coverage seamlessly. So you can create sheer to full coverage and everything in between. For skin that looks and feels amazing.”

Make sure you add Velvet Mineral Liquid foundation to your Amazing makeup application! You’ll be glad you did!

Modelina July 2013

Celebrity Make-up Artist Terri Apanasewicz gives tips on recreating the Gillette and Mercedes-Benz SuperBowl commercial's supermodel look she was credited for producing.  Using AmazingConcealer and Powderset as some of the finishing touches of makeup application!

"After I have evened out the skin tone, I apply concealer under the eyes for extra pop and anywhere else I might need extra coverage or want to create highlight. I love Amazing Concealer from Amazing Cosmetics.  

Set the skin with Powderset from Amazing Cosmetics." 

R.I.P.D: Rest in Peace Department

We're glad our Amazing products were used on this hilarious supernatural comedy! 

White House Down

So excited AmazingCosmetics products were used on the set of this thrilling action movie!

Sephora Glossy Blog

Check out the AmazingConcealer feature on the Sephora Glossy blog. Get the insider scoop on AmazingCosmetics by reading this awesome article. Thanks for featuring us Sephora and of course carrying out product in your store!

PNMAG.com June 2013

In a Pregnancy & Newborn magazine spread, artist Michelle Tabor Ramos used AmazingCosmetics makeup in June’s issue. Shea, Fashion & Styles editor of Pregnancy & Newborn, you look absolutely radiant!

Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum Picks AmazingCosmetics!

One of our favorite country singer’s Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum had some nice things to say about AmazingConcealer in People Country.

“I can’t live without AmazingConcealer. I use it for everything. They have a handful of colors that you can blend to match your skin tone!” Hillary Scott – Lady Antebellum

Splash June 2013

Artist Jenny Patinkin used AmazingCosmetics makeup in Splash’s June edition. Your make up looks flawless Katie!

Splash June 2013

Check out our advertisement in Splash’s June edition! It introduces our 20 AMAZING shades!