black Up Paris Cosmetics Redefines Beauty for Women of Color.

[button link=”#” target=”_blank” color=”default” shape=”rounded” size=”small” align=”Right]Product Sent For  Review[/button]

 A little while back I shared with you all a picture of a gorgeous red orange lipstick from black Up Paris Cosmetics. After trying out that lipstick and receiving so many compliments I knew that I couldn’t just stop there.  Black Up Paris Cosmetics was founded in 1999 by an African American makeup artist who saw there was a need for a high end product made specifically with women of color in mind. black Up is the first dedicated upscale beauty brand to magnify black and mixed beauties.  Their products range from Primers all the way to Brushes. I was sent a couple of products for review and I must admit I was awestruck at the quality of each individual product. Each product went well beyond its supposed purpose. With perfect coverage, velvety effects, matt and powdery finishes, ultra vibrant colors and 100% non ashy finishes I know that black Up Paris is a brand that I will hold near and dear to my makeup loving heart.  When it comes to price point these products are up there with Make Up For Ever and MAC Cosmetics. To some they may be a little bit pricy but you definitely won’t be disappointed. I’ve split this write up into two separate  articles. This first one will feature all the face products with a little color and the second write up will feature the lipsticks. 

I was sent nine products to really get all intimate with and woe. I’ve had these products for a month now and I’ve been putting them through the ringer to make sure I could give you guys a serious review on how I felt about them. Since there was so many products I’ve split this post up into two. Stay tuned for the second write up featuring the lipsticks and more eye products.

First lets start off with the one of their newer products for 2014., The  black Up Matifying Fluid Foundation $40.50. This foundation proved to be a God send during the super unnecessarily hot summer days we were plagued with last month.  On first use I used wayy to much and so I learned that you literally only needed a pea size amount to cover your entire face.  This foundation is medium coverage and has a face life of about 6-8 hours give or take. Its Oil free, Paraban Free and Fragrance free. What’s great is that this foundation comes in 18, yes 18 shades for WOC. I am shade 08.

The Full Coverage Cream Foundation $42.50 is perfect for a woman who needs a little bit of extra coverage. Like the Matifying Fluid Foundation you literally only need a pea size. Please don’t make the mistake I did because there is no way you can blend in this foundation if you use more than that. It conceals dark flaw,s dark spots, scars and dark or light areas. IT EVEN CONCEALED MY SKIN DISORDER! This is huge as I’m usually having to use a corrector or super thick concealer to cover up that bad boy.  This foundation has micronised pigments that are extremely fine and provide a perfectly even finish. I was able to get over 8 hours of wear out of this Foundation. What I really enjoyed is that my skin didn’t become super oily as the day went on. There are 15 shades of the Full Coverage Cream Foundation. I am a shade HC07.

I’m not a huge person when on using concealer to highlight but I decided to give it a try with this product. I highlighted the basic areas like under the eyes, nose, chin and forehead using the brand new for 2014 Radiance Concealer $28.50. This is a push up pen with a brush on the end, exactly like some of the lip products we’ve seen. This product brights the shadowy areas of the face. It has a luminous texture that lights up ashy complexions. I did notice that with this product you have to move fast. You can’t apply it all the areas you want to conceal or highlight at once. To me this product dried kinda quick so I would work on one spot at a time. The overall result was a gorgeous subtle highlight that I loved.  There are five shades and I am a shade  NCOS 02.

Moving right along! The next product is the Sublime Powder $35.50. It’s a silky pressed powder enriched with golden pearly particles. It provide an all over shimmering effect on the face. What I loved is that it gave me a soft bronze glow and not a whole lot of excessive shimmer.  This product comes in six shades and I used PS03

In the picture above I used the Intense Radiance Eyeshadow $22.50, to highlight my brow bone and to add a little shimmer to my eyes. This eyeshadow is a mix between a cream and a powder and comes in metallic hues that are cold and warmed toned. There are eight shades and I am wearing number 04.

The  WaterProof Smokey Kohls $18.50 will probably be my absolute favorite eyeliners. I’m bummed that there are only ten shades because these things are super duper creamy and soft. They can be used as eyeliners as well as shadows. In the picture above I’m wearing the shade  KS04.  

To show how I am using the products I created this face chart. On one side I am wearing the Matifying Foundation and on the other I am wearing the Full Coverage foundation. If you really look you’ll notice that my pores are a bit more visible on the Matifying side than on the Full Coverage Side. 

Have you tried any products from the black Up Cosmetics brand?  Which one is your favorite? If not, what are you waiting on??