A Christmas Wish

 

Well it’s only befitting that the company that started around a kitchen table celebrated around one for the annual Amazing Christmas party. 13 years ago the kitchen table at co-founder Sue Katz’s house was the spot in which the early AmazingCosmetics products were created on.

The AmazingConcealer was the first-born - aren’t they always the favorite? ;)

First 5 shades, then 7, then 10 and now 20 shades later – the iconic AmazingConcealer has risen to “Rock Star” status getting woman flawless in 6 countries!

Who’d have thought that 2 women from Chicago armed with the idea that not a good, but an amazing concealer, could change the way you feel about yourself when you looked into the mirror.

We are fortunate to get a nice share of beauty editor praise as well as praise from beauty influencers, celebrities and professional makeup artists and we could not be more grateful. But, it’s the personal phone calls and emails that you won’t read about in Allure or InStyle that have truly touched me since I started my career with Amazing. We receive so many thank you calls and emails from women that have skin imperfections (don’t we all!). From dark circles and blemishes to blotchy skin-tone and broken capillaries. No matter who they come from the message is always the same, “Thank you AmazingCosmetics for making products that truly work!”. I had a woman once tell me that she was so plagued by her dark circles she wore tinted glasses all the time and didn’t even need to wear glasses! Another story I’ll never forget - I ran into a women in LA at an in-store beauty event - she was attractive, successful and literally piled on layers of her foundation to erase her dark circles and uneven skin tone. After we removed all of her makeup I simply dotted on some AmazingConcealer, blended it and handed her a mirror. She kept saying, “Where’s the redness?” and, “Where are my circles?”

I have to say, in a competitive industry like the beauty biz, I’m so happy to be a part of an independent cosmetic company devoted to bringing out products that truly work.

With so many out there searching for “hope in a jar”, I’m ecstatic we’ve got “magic in a tube”!

Cheers to an amazing 2014!



~Sandy

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2014 Makeup Resolutions

Have you been keeping up with your New Years Resolutions so far? According to most studies the majority of resolutions will be abandoned within two weeks after the New Year begins. So in order to keep you on track (and keep ourselves on track!) we’ve decided to share a few of our 2014 Makeup Resolutions and tips and tricks on how to keep them. 

1. Clean all (yes, all) of our makeup brushes every 2-3 weeks. It seems like a daunting task, but when you remember that dirty brushes contain old makeup, oil, dirt, bacteria and dead skin, can cause you to break out and won’t apply makeup to their best ability it’s easier to remember. There are many brush shampoos (such as Sephora’s Daily Brush cleaner) that you can purchase in store but you can also use various household items such as bar soap, baby shampoo and liquid dish soap (check out this nifty video guide). If part of your resolution is to refine your brush-washing technique, check out this easy tutorial - we prefer the swirl, soak and rinse method. For those of you who prefer to spot clean, here’s a great tutorial. 

2. Vow to remove all makeup every single night before bed. This one should be kept with no exception as leaving makeup on overnight is horrible for your skin (we even wrote a blog on keeping your skin healthy - we’re serious!). Running out of makeup remover is no excuse: coconut oil and olive oil work great as substitutes. If you’re the DIY type we found a few recipes so you can make a big batch using natural ingredients.

3. Use up makeup before buying more. Ok, this one is a ‘looser’ resolution (who can resist new makeup?!) but we’re still working hard to keep it. Multi-purpose products will be your best friend. Our Cinnamon Spice blush can be used in 3 different ways: as eyeshadow, a lip color and blush. You can also use your lipstick as blush, use your concealer as highlighter and your mascara as an eyeliner.

4. Throw away old and expired makeup. Using makeup past its prime is an invitation for a breakout. Know when your makeup expires but always be on the lookout for not-so-nice smells or a change in texture or color at all times. Also throw out eye makeup (mascara and eyeliner) after an eye infection. 

5. Improve our eyeliner game. Winged eyeliner is going to be huge this year so we might as well start practicing now! There are many guides for winged liner but here are a few tips: apply your winged liner from the outside in, use tape for a clean wing and be sure to follow the natural shape of your eye. If you’re looking for other ways to experiment with eyeliner check out this fun list from BuzzFeed. 

We hope you’ve been inspired to keep up your 2014 makeup resolutions! To help you even more, we’ve created a 2014 Makeup Resolutions board on Pinterest so we can keep you (and ourselves) reminded not to quit! We’re excited to see the benefits of these new habits and wish you a makeup-filled and glamorous 2014!

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Pantone Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchid

As 2014 begins we decided to start the New Year with a little color inspiration! Pantone recently announced that the 2014 color of the year is Radiant Orchid. Described as an “enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones”, Radiant Orchid is a rich and vibrant shade that inspires joy, love and health.

Radiant Orchid is unique because of its combination of colors. It goes well with dark shades of purple but also provides great color blocking opportunities with vibrant shades of red. Here are a few suggestions for incorporating Radiant Orchid into your 2014 lifestyle.

Home: If your living space is already decked out for a winter wonderland add a pop of color with Allium flowers in your centerpiece vase. For a more shimmery accents, make a few of these GIY (Glam-It-Yourself) makeup brush holders (we recommend mixing white, silver, purple and a small amount of pink glitter for a shade closer to Radiant Orchid) and put them on display!

Fashion: Bright colors are usually pushed to the back of the closet at this time of year but there are definitely ways to add Radiant Orchid to your winter fashion wardrobe. Try color blocking an orchid top with dark purple pants or a dark purple skirt and adding a simple jewelry piece (good thing this color pairs nicely with both silver AND gold!). If you’re in the mood for a little fashion DIY, we suggest creating your very own braided rope belt using hand-dyed twine and pairing it with a simple white top and jeans to make the color really pop. Since Radiant Orchid looks great with other vibrant colors, make sure to wear a bright red nail polish when wearing this shade of purple for an amazing color pair!

Makeup: Radiant Orchid can be used in so many different ways in makeup. If you like experimenting with eyeliner, try using this purple in a gradient eyeliner - check out this Amazing tutorial! (Bonus challenge: try the tutorial with gold, blue and green in addition to orchid for a multi-color eye pop!) If you prefer a more subtle eye look, use a matte neutral shade all over the lid, add in your orchid in the outer third of your eyelid and finish with a dark purple in an outer V shape on your crease for a beautiful purple smokey eye. Don’t know what the ‘outer V’ is? Don’t worry, here’s a nifty guide! Don’t forget to blend blend blend for a smooth color transition!

If you prefer to play up your cheeks, mix a bright pink and plum blush together for the orchid effect. To complete the look, dust on a very light layer of shimmery gold eyeshadow with a nude lip - we suggest Ginger!

Radiant Orchid was recently featured on an episode of Project Runway All Stars where the remaining designers were tasked to incorporate it into their designs along with predicting a fashion trend for the year to come. Check out the finished looks for some color inspiration!

We're so excited to ring in the New Year with this bright and fun color. Stay tuned for more color reports!
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The Perfect Christmas Gift!

By mid-November it begins... "What on earth will I find for my husband for Christmas this year?” He doesn't mean to be difficult - but he is.

He has a great sense of style but hates to shop for and try on clothes. So that means after I venture out searching for the perfect sweater or the perfect sport coat and buy them, it takes begging and sheer bribery just to get him to try them on - sigh. When the clothes don't fit... ya guessed it... I venture back to the stores and do the returning too, or there they hang on the lowest rung in his closet- tags on forever. So, I'd rather not buy clothes at Christmas time.

And the obvious gifts ALL guys (are supposed to) love… like a wallet? Nope - he doesn't carry one. That’s a conversation in itself. Shoes? Gorgeous, leather and useful...maybe a little too useful. Akin to buying me a blender or a new pan for Christmas - can you hear the “huh” from there?

Us gals on the other hand are the opposite. Try and stop us from telling anyone who will listen what we’d love to find under the Christmas tree this year.

At least with all the hustle and bustle that goes along with the Holidays I know I can count on a few health and beauty rituals to help get me through looking confident, well rested and ready for anything. Drink lots and lots of water…trust me, it’s critical to your glowing complexion. Get a facial - ’Hello’ radiant skin! Keep to your workout schedule. I know it gets harder to do this time of year but trust me, you’ll feel stronger and healthier… (That reminds me: Yoga class at 5:00). Masks for face and hair…they work great at restoring moisture. I love Glam Glow for face and Beth Minardi for hair…what a difference masks make! And last but certainly not least- my AMAZINGCONCEALER. There are a few shortcuts I can make to my beauty routine but I can’t imagine not using my concealer. It fakes a good night’s sleep, erases last night and no matter how late the evening takes me, I know my concealer will last as long as I do!!

To help ease your holiday shopping this year, we want spread some of our own Amazing holiday cheer! From today, Monday December 16^th, to next Monday, December 23^rd, ALL of our products will be 30% off! So act fast, this deal ends before Santa boards his sleigh! Enter code Holiday30 at checkout to receive the discount.

Have an Amazing Christmas everyone!


 ~ Sandy




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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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