Hot Off the Press: Product News for African American Skin Tones

Dr. Susan Taylor's Rx for Brown Skin, a revolutionary skin care line for men and women of color

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Review: Curls Products - Curls Milkshake and Spiral Curls Cream

What They Say: (about the Curls Milk Shake) “The perfect 4-in-1 leave in for all curlies … especially for those with needy, dry curls. It is guaranteed to define, defrizz, revive, hydrate and soften dry, kinky curls. Derived from natural milks (coconut and sweet almond milk), this moisturizing cream will bring life back to your overworked tresses.” (about the Spiral Curls Cream) “For perfect curls with the hold you’ve been looking for! It performs like a gel, but with much more sheen and moisture. This miracle worker glides easily on the hair and dries without a producty feeling. Great for all hair types.”

Toya’s Take: I am always more than happy to try a new product for my naturally curly/kinky hair. I have to say that I really like the Curls products. They smell awesome and are made from natural, moisturizing ingredients that work great on curly hair of all kinds. The Curls Milkshake made my hair feel instantly soft and supple and really made it much easier to detangle after washing. And the soft coconut scent is quite pleasing. I like the Spiral Curls Cream, too, but I don’t think the product is heavy enough for my dry, thick hair. However, I think it would work quite well on someone with a more fine hair texture. At these prices and with such good results, I will be making the Curls Milkshake part of my regular hair routine and will be trying other Curls products, as well.

Retail Prices: $16 (Curls Milk Shake) and $15 (Spiral Curls Cream) (at curls.biz or go here to find a salon location that carries Curls products near you)

DeLush Ratings:
Curls Milk Shake -
Spiral Curls Cream -

jane iredale—The Skin Care Makeup® Introduces GLOBAL BEAUTY: A Shade for Everyone

jane iredale—The Skin Care Makeup® is pleased to announce the release of Global Beauty, an extension of jane iredale’s Global Shades color palette. For the first time in cosmetics history, a mineral cosmetics line will be available to women of all ethnicities as diverse as African American, Asian, Latina, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern.

jane iredale’s Amazing Base®, PurePressed® and Liquid Minerals™ are now available in the Global Shades palette with choices from deep gold to deep mahogany. With newly developed shades, Mink and Butternut, and an extension into loose and liquid formulas, Global Beauty allows more women to benefit from incredibly healing cosmetics made without harmful binders such as talc. By collaborating with celebrity makeup artists Soli Nichiyo Davis, Cheryl Williams-Barnes and Ashunta Sheriff, jane iredale was able to capture colors otherwise overlooked by mineral cosmetic companies. “This collection marries great color with products that also serve to improve and protect the skin,” says Nichiyo Davis.

In addition to the Global Shades palette, Global Beauty includes Absence®2, a lightly tinted version of jane iredale’s oil control primer and 24-karat infused Golden Apricot PurePressed® Blush.

(Find out more about the extended line available after October 19th by clicking the link below.)

Amazing Base® loose powder is made from micronized, water resistant minerals and provides instant, broad spectrum, chemical-free sun protection with an SPF of 20, while PurePressed® minerals have an SPF of 18. These mineral powders are a concealer, foundation, powder and sunscreen all in one. Formulated without oil, talc, FD&C dyes or synthetic preservatives, jane iredale products are concentrated pigment with healing benefits.

A benefit for all skin types and tones, Liquid Minerals™ contain colored microspheres that carry powerful, anti-aging liposomes and vitamins (CoQ10, vitamin K and magnesium) guaranteed to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, minimize pores, even out skin tone and smoothly adhere without clumping. The liposomes are suspended in an aloe vera, lavender flower and vegetable glycerin solution to moisturize and calm the skin. The liposome technology allows the product to encompass a large quantity of active ingredients while time-releasing the vitamins for long-lasting results. This controlled and sustained release increases delivery of the active ingredients into the epidermis by up to 40 percent providing, hydrating, soothing and protective benefits to the skin.

Like all of jane iredale’s mineral makeup, Amazing Base®, PurePressed® Base and Liquid Minerals™ are non-comedogenic and virtually allergy and sensitivity-free. The products are so gentle and healthy for the skin they recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists around the world.

Absence® 2 Oil Control Primer not only absorbs oil, but actually helps to control over-active sebaceous glands and regulate the pH balance of the skin. The aesthetic benefit of Absence®2, apart from oil control, is that it can be used as a primer for any type of skin as it literally fills in fine lines, making the skin smooth and ready to receive makeup.

Hydrated silica, an active ingredient, acts like a liposome made with time-released seaweed compounds to reduce hypersecretion and help balance pH levels. Because hydrated silica can hold seven times its molecular weight, the now empty shell can absorb excess sebum without affecting moisture on the skin. By encapsulating the oil, it forms a barrier between it and the makeup so that the wearer can stay matte all day. Made with UV titanium and micronized zinc, Absence®2 offers a broad spectrum SPF 15.

jane iredale’s Golden Apricot PurePressed® Blush provides color that lasts with ingredients that are good for your skin, such as pomegranate and pine bark extracts to fight against free radicals. A universally flattering shade, Golden Apricot PurePressed® Blush is made with genuine 24-Karat gold for a faint peachy glow to flatter a variety of skin tones.

Global Shades Palette: Autumn, Butternut, Caramel, Chestnut, Coffee, Fawn, Latte, Maple, Mink, Riviera, Teakwood and Terra.

Retail Prices:
Amazing Base® $42.00
PurePressed® $48.00
Liquid Minerals™ $46.00
Absence® 2 Oil Control Primer $35.50
Golden Apricot PurePressed® Blush $26.00

jane iredale—The Skin Care Makeup® is carried in fine spas, cosmetic apothecaries, at janeiredaledirect.com and in retail locations worldwide. Consumers may call toll free at 800.762.1132 for a jane iredale location nearest them.

Review: Inky Loves Nature Magical Melanin Moisturizer

Hey Guys! Meet our new reviewer at DeLush, Toya! Check out her quicklook info in the sidebar and her bio here.

I am so excited to be reviewing my first product here on DeLush. Thank you so much to Melissa and Jen for giving me this opportunity! Here we go!

Leesah B. launched Inky Loves Nature in June 2005, as a means of presenting products that “affirmed her values as a woman of color, vegan, environmentalist and animal lover.” Her collection of products include ingredients that are “community traded and traditionally extracted exotic butters and oils, biodynamic herbs, and minimally processed plant based ingredients.” The products are certified vegan and free from parabens and formaldehyde. Each product contains at least 70% organic ingredients. The packaging is also eco-friendly and recyclable. Inky Loves Nature products are marketed toward urban women of color, who are interested in living a holistic lifestyle or just interested in patronizing eco-friendly businesses. Most of the Inky Loves Nature products are available in two different aromas: Ginger Sweet Coconut and Peppermint Dark Chocolate. I tried the Magical Melanin Moisturizer in Peppermint Dark Chocolate.

What They Say: “Magical Melanin Moisturizer: 83% Organic (8 oz. SRP $22) A natural sun protectant, melanin is so magical; and we all have it. Indulge your melanin in this luxurious, super moisturizing, super organic skin nourishing treat. It has the super powers of a body butter, and sinks right in. Select ingredients magically feed, pamper, and nourish your soon to be healthier sexy skin. You can say thanks to all the natural fruit extracts, organic and fairly traded African butters and oils like wild-crafted raw shea butter and organic Moroccan Argan oil. Naturally loaded with a magical dose of super antioxidant vitamins A, E, & D.”

Toya's Experience: I’m pretty disappointed that I’m so unimpressed with the very first product I’m reviewing for DeLush. The first thing I noticed was the overwhelming scent. I actually gagged just a bit – it smells exactly like a York Peppermint Patty. I hate York Peppermint Patties. I knew that made me biased against the product, from the start, so I asked my husband, who likes peppermint patties – he hated the smell, too. It was just way too overpowering – I applied the moisturizer after my shower and right before going to bed and the next morning the chocolatey peppermint smell was just as strong. Not good. I had to take another shower in the morning so that the smell of the moisturizer didn’t conflict with my perfume.

The moisturizer comes out of the bottle thick like shea butter, which I like because I have dry skin and like to apply thicker creams at night. The problem is, when the moisturizer is emulsified, it becomes greasy. It doesn’t sink into your skin at all, contrary to the blurb sent along with the product. I looked like I’d fallen into an oil slick. It took quite a while before my feet weren’t extra shiny from it.

Retail Price: $22.00 (at inkylovesnature.com as well as some Whole Foods markets)

Toya's Rating: – the scent is cloying, the product is heavy and greasy and doesn’t sink in well at all. I can’t recommend it, but maybe some of you will like the scent and appreciate the extra heavy moisturization.