During the most recent holiday weekend I finally caved and purchased some more items from Danessa Myricks Beauty. I've had an eye on them ever since picking up those pieces from last year's Makeup Show, but her brand has so many options it's intimidating, which is why I'm so thankful for the melanated YouTubers who have been reviewing it lately, lol. This time around I actually picked up some complexion products in addition to color, and while I don't have firm opinions yet, I'm always of the opinion that more pictures and more swatches are good for the reviewing community as a whole. I hate Googling for what feels like hours and never finding a real life swatch outside of a product page (which are usually photoshopped in weird ways ANYway).

First up are three of the Vision Flushes, which the website describes as "a highly pigmented, smoothing, multipurpose liquid color product with a satin/semi matte finish that can be used on the eyes, lips, and cheeks. " After ultimately deciding that last year's purchase, the Illuminating Veil in Attraction, was too dark to work as a good highlighter for my skin tone, I went with two blushes and one highlight in this new-to-me formula.

And that's pretty much it! About as exciting as any of my first impressions are, but like I said - I'm super motivated when I can't find what I'm looking for on the internet, so here's hoping some of this eventually helps out a person in the near or distant future (if we still have a distant future in the United States, hehe... he... he....).

I want you to know that it took everything in me to stop this post from having so many pictures in it that it became obnoxious. I'm always very conscious of what I wish I was able to find online when I'm doing my pre-purchase research, but in the end I decided we didn't need up close and personal glamour shots of each crème tint pro individually LOL (but also DM if you want one/some, cause I may have taken them anyway...).

Salt New York popped up on my radar last year, almost entirely due to Kackie Reviews Beauty (review video linked here), who was in the middle of her "Clean Beauty 2019" push. And since I admit to being just as susceptible to marketing as anyone else,  I watched along while she tried out a bunch of different products at varying price points.

I decided after her video that I really wanted to try the brand, but what I couldn't find were enough reviews to really inform my purchase. Brand founder Kiki G (Katelyn Galloway) is a working makeup artist, and while the products were created out of her own desire for a more well-rounded and inclusive offering from cream products, when it comes to makeup I depend on "real people" to make a decision. Online swatches and models are all well and good - I'm not saying the website doesn't do it's best - but I just couldn't get a feel for how it would work for me. Plus, everything was back-ordered even before the pandemic hit.

But we're all here right? Clearly I threw caution to the wind and bought some stuff, or this post would be spectacularly useless. In the end I just decided that even if I hated everything, at 50% off the bundle I was at least supporting a woman owned, made in the US brand and that's never a bad way to spend some (very reasonable) dollars.


And speaking of dollars, here's how the Crème Tint Pro stacks up against some of my other cream blushes:

Really the only other product you're maybe getting a better deal on is the Kosas blush/highlighter duo, and that's if you're ok with the pre-made palettes. I picked up two of their high intensity duos and while I love the blushes, the highlighters in both are a bit deep for me so their usability is arguable. The Kjaer Weis formula is one of my favorites ever, but $32 for JUST the refill is steep - you're really looking at investing $40 or $56 if you don't already have a case to put it in. I'm not so over the edge that it doesn't occur to me how expensive that is - if you're better than I am at moderation maybe it doesn't hurt so much, but I am aware. But I digress.

Keeping in mind my collection and what I like/tend towards using most often, I picked up 2 highlighters, a blush, and a bronzer. While I would typically not open everything due to what I currently have in rotation, each product has a 24 month shelf life so I figured it wouldn't be too bad. All four products are housed in the Palette Mini, a sturdy faux leather case with gold colored zipper, which firmly holds each product via magnets.


The Crème Tint Pro pans are "organized" (quotes because obviously they're just recommendations, buy what you want) into undertones and skin depth. Kiki G's video does a great job of describing how each pan varies as warm or cool, and what depth of skin tone (light, medium, deep) it is intended to suit. I kept that in mind for blushes and bronzer (I freakishly don't have a coral blush) but when it comes to highlighter I just couldn't make up my mind. Over the course of a normal year the depth of my skin tone can actually vary a lot, and after having been burned by the Kosas duos I picked up both Beige and Warm Tan and have NO regrets. I can tailor the highlight to my skin and mood on any given day which is excellent :D.

And there's more! You can head over to my Instagram right now for an IGTV dedicated to these products (don't hate me for the lack of editing, one step at a time, lol).

I realize this is a bit of a random post, or random for the times at least, but I really wanted to share for two reasons:

1) Chantecaille is a brand I've been intrigued by for a while, and
2) I want to support and encourage the work that Creators like Kinkysweat, aka Alicia, are doing.

Back on June 5th she used one of her Friday Night Lives to do a Q&A with Angela Barthel, a Team Lead from Chantecaille. Both Black women, the conversation flowed between the two of them about their experiences in the industry and also incorporated questions from viewers - and they weren't all softballs. I wouldn't say that all of Angela's answers were 100% to my liking, but I have to give props where props are due, and she stuck it out even while sometimes visibly uncomfortable. Black and other people of color (BIPOC) want to spend money on luxury makeup, and are no longer satisfied with waiting for the next round to find a color that's appropriate for them. We no longer want to be after thoughts. So yes, I benefit from this purchase because I wanted these products and the exclusive GWP was/is nice, but I also wanted to communicate to Kinkysweat and Chantecaille that people are watching. We will put our money where our mouths are, but excuses about formula to explain a lack of diversity in your shade range? That's not gonna cut it long term.

But you're probably here for the products huh? ON TO TOO MANY PICTURES!


First up are the two things I paid for, the Perfect Blur Finishing Powder and the Radiance Cheek and Highlight Duo. I've been chatting with a couple friends lately about the fact that I consider myself a try-er. I want to (for the most part) get use of the things I buy, I'm not super into the idea of collecting for the sake of having it, but I love trying things in case something new could be better, and these seem to be good products to try. Neither have any overt fragrance, but are super soft with the gelée texture that you'll see in some Tom Ford bronzers. Since is this just a first impressions I can't say too much about either, but the blur powder upon application does seem to set without mattifying, which I like but may be too little for the summer heat. It also doesn't leave any sort of white cast, which is great. The highlighter in the duo is AMAZING, and the blush is nice but I applied it with a pointed, natural haired brush and I'm not sure that was the best choice.


And swatches!


Next up is the Gift With Purchase (GWP) that Angela Barthel secured for viewers with a $150 purchase (down from what would usually be $300, so I am thankful cause without being able to see things in person I am much less likely to spend that kind of cash). It came in a super cute little green makeup bag, which hey, if I'm ever allowed to travel again I would 100% use.


As you can see the kit came with 3 super sized samples of skincare, and one full size lip product. If I was being *super* picky (which I can be) I'd be a bit disgruntled that some of the skincare products were switched out - the Bio Lifting Cream for the Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask (which I got way back when in the SpaceNK Advent Calendar and love for winter), and the Rice and Geranium Foaming Cleanser for the Nano Gold Energizing Eye Serum  (I've tried samples of this cleanser before and it's fine? Just not mind blowing). BUT, the Stress Repair Concentrate is already an eye related product, and at this price point trying one of them is fine. But on to the fun product - the lipstick!


I fell in love with the glossy swatch Angela did on the live and it lives up to that hype in person. It applies like a lip balm but gives this beautiful glossy affect that if I wasn't wearing a mask every time I leave the house, I would be even more excited about.

I promise to do a full face for y'all in the future, but so far so good and I don't really have any regrets about anything. It's funny though, because the only thing I've been making any headway into finishing is skincare, but makeup is still the thing I can fall head first into buying so easily. If you have a question about anything in particular, make sure to leave a comment or send me a DM or on Insta and I'll answer what I can!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quick update on some of the links in my posts. As you see in the sidebar disclaimer, some of the links in my posts are now going to be affiliate links. If you choose to use them, affiliate links allow blogs like mine to make a small commission off your purchase with no additional cost to you. It's a great way to support the content you love and I really appreciate y'all sticking around in the fast paced world of the internet. Got a question about the links? Feel free to send me a DM or drop me a comment!

Here's the deal y'all - I'm not sure this post is gonna be for everyone. The Makeup Show was a primarily professional focused event that brought a lot of brands and educational opportunities to the makeup artists and aestheticians of the DC area. I'm all about that, but I feel like I'm both a connoisseur and a baby professional (I let my cream/liquid stuff expire and disposed of it, but I still do special events for friends upon request). SO. All that said, if you choose to skip this and come back later for the haul post I won't blame you.


Unsurprisingly, even with all the brands, the education is where I feel like the event shined. Could the Demo Area have used some amplified sound? Yes. Should the Seminar Stage have had a TV or two? Absolutely. But even *despite* those annoyances, it was an incredible two days of seeing industry professionals to their stuff up close and personal. Outside of YouTube it's almost impossible to see people work like this, which is why I think it's the most important. Watching how an artist applies products, the shapes of their brushes, how they face different challenges, hearing them talk through their thought processes - it's all kind of irreplaceable. I still remember in the baby days of Internet Beauty and YouTube, watching Eve Pearl and learning how to apply makeup to other people. And that's still rare to find online, and even harder to be in a position to ask multiple questions while it's all happening


There were a few specific "big name" artists I especially wanted to see, and on Saturday it was Jordan Liberty. I can't say I've been following him since the actual beginning of his career, but for years now on Instagram (and sometimes YouTube) I've watched and respected both his artistry and his integrity (and of course, dedication to cleanliness). At this particular show he came as a guest of Stilazzi and was presenting/using his recently released Darkroom palette, and I still feel like watching how much he can do while being super judicious about the number of products he uses is the best part of his work.

Some additional bits and pieces I picked up from his panel:
-Keep an eye out for brushes from him sometime in February 2020 (in the meantime the Stilazzi S203 is his go to for natural brows, especially when combined with their gel liner in Smokey Quartz)
-Mix colors. The more you mix colors, the more your end result will be unique and irreplaceable, and you'll book more work.
-Work fast. The faster you work the more money you make.
-He approaches complexion work like a retoucher
-He's most proud when he puts something there (perfect skin, brows) that you don't think he was ever in the room for/had a hand in


Now as you can see from the collages I'm including here, The Makeup Show was so much more than one or two singular big names (or big names for me). Every demo/seminar included a brand owner, artist, or both, that taught something new to the crowd. I was impressed with how each one interacted and took questions while also sharing something new. Plus, each person was incredible encouraging of new makeup artists - no question was treated as beneath them or stupid, and I thought that resulted in an even more welcoming atmosphere.

(Also, on an entirely different note, I picked up and appreciated how presenters really highlighted and sold the products from brands on site. I don't think anyone was actually being sponsored, it was just a "these brands are here, I love these products" type of natural showmanship that I thought was well done but clearly focused on the brands who took the time to be there in person.)

In addition to Julia Dalton-Brush (of B3), A.J. Crimson (A.J. Crimson Beauty), Jake Aebly, Frederick Sanders, and more, one of the best attended seminars belonged to Kevin James Bennett. Definitely the most "Oprah-Like" moment of the whole show, not only did he have a handout highlighting some of his personal favorite products/techniques/recommendations, he spent the entire 90min giving away the stuff he was talking about to attendees. For being excited, for asking question, just for existing when it came to stuff he threw into the crowd - I'm not gonna lie, it was kind of hilariously and strongly reminded me of the Nordstrom Beauty Trends Show I attended years ago. I wasn't initially as familiar with Kevin, but it was clear that both his artistry and his personality were crowd favorites.

A few bits and pieces from the notes I took:
-Buy the bags and brushes that work for you (his kit was demonstrated in the MyKitCo Essential Buddy Bag)
-Brush sets are for newbies - buy multiples of the brushes you USE (use it on a model, discard it for cleaning later, pick up a new brush for a new face)
-Prefers to use a wax palette paper vs steel (two people mentioned that TSA hates the steel palettes so...)
-Skincare prep is SO IMPORTANT, but he never uses expensive skincare in his kit. In his words, "I don't care what you look like in 6-8 weeks, I care about what you look like now".
-Foundation colors in your kit should really be mandated by your market - don't feel pressure to have everything all the time
-He did a cream foundation palette with RCMA which I didn't know but I thought was cool. He included the 5 pigments that makeup up every foundation so you could customize to your heart's content.
-To set areas where makeup starts to settle (like under the eyes on more mature clients), instead of powder he'd spray a sponge with setting spray (he likes Skindinavia, original formula) and press and roll over the area
-Final tidbit: "I don't shop expensive, I don't shop cheap, I shop smart."


And on Sunday, the day belonged to Danessa Myricks. Even though she'd had a sold out hands on workshop earlier in the day, Danessa did not come to play and in 90min pulled off a full "fashion" face of makeup with - with accessories - while also talking about her history, her start in the business, how she got interested in photography, and answering crowd questions. This seminar was so well attended that not only were the seats full, people stood in the back, along the sides, AND some brave souls sat at the feet of the people in the front row.

Now I spent a lot of time just watching and listening in this seminar so I don't have as many notes to reference. I will say that I appreciated that she flat out said that she didn't always understand her camera settings, that she would just futz with things until the end result looked like her vision, and that she had a holistic vision to creating her luminous final look. It was less about concealing and more about accentuating. Working with her products in super thin layers, usually sheered out with highlighter, and buffing them in so that with the smallest amount of highly pigmented product you got an all over radiance base. Would it be that one that works in real life? No idea to be honest, though I'd like to try it (not on me. Oh no no no - not on this super oily skinned woman. On someone else).

Since I didn't take notes per se, instead I've included a few different things I remember about the look:
-Likes the Simple sheet masks for prep because they don't leave a residue
-color corrected with the Illuminating Veil in a peach shade
-highlighted using the same formula (just in different colors) under "foundation"
-mixed different Illuminating Veil shades into the Vision Cream Cover in 3 different Warm Shades (I think W4, W5, and W7) and buffed those over the skin to provide radiant coverage without any separate concealing
-likes the 0.22 brush from MyKitCo (Used it to apply moisturizer and a few other steps - she described it as a brush you could do anything with)

I reached out for questions on Facebook and Instagram, and got one from @belching_matilda -
"What was a new product you were introduced to that you hadn't heard of before but really liked?"

Answer: I think there were a few things, though I'm still forming opinions about their performance. First up were the setting powders from Kett Cosmetics. Kevin James Bennett mentioned them as being more transparent than translucent, and didn't leave a white case on the skin. Since I haven't always had the best luck with translucent powders (and the loose powder felt like silk) I'm excited to try them on me and others. Also, I think the Danessa Myricks Enlight Halo Powders are amazing. They look like glitter but feel like powder, and are also in a transparent/uncolored base, so when applied they make the skin look wet (it's amazing!). Also haven't applied to myself in full yet, but wow are they impressive to swatch.

So how do I feel about The Makeup Show in the end? I thought it was 100% worth the $40 ticket for two days, and I can't WAIT to see where it grows from here. I still feel a little stupid saying it, but I feel like this weekend reinvigorated my love for makeup in a way I haven't felt in a while. I'm really excited about what I bought, about diving in to it and experimenting with new textures and finishes. So if you're near me geographically, don't be surprised if I ask to borrow your face and thanks in advance!