Now Shipping International!!!

I know I may be late but hey I've been busy lol but I just discovered Flat Rate Boxes... well not really.. I knew they existed but I didn't realized how beneficial they were.

So we are now shipping priority mail to:

* Canada & Mexico starting at $11.75

* APO/FPO addresses starting at $12.50

* United Kingdom, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Iceland, Philippines, Dominican Republic, France, Bahamas, Switzerland, Greece, Ireland, India, Fiji, Spain, Japan, Jamaica, Brazil, Sweden, Ecuador, Hungary, Austria starting at $13.45

Let me know if I should add anymore countries :) 

Why we changed our Sponsorship requirements

I feel a little bad that I have to be so blunt but this is getting out of hand..

We have reached out and sponsored a lot of 'Gurus,' Bloggers, Makeup artists and even photographers... out of the 42 people that we have sponsored (bartered with) over the last year, only 12 have actually did what they were supposed to do. :-/ I have sent about over $2,590 in product for promotion with sponsorees and honestly... I'm over it... I'm tired of people scamming, lying and just plainly talking advantage of our program.

1. We will no longer be sponsoring or bartering with an individuals that have not been customers in the past. If you wouldn't spend your own money on your products, how could you advise others to try and buy it?

2. Anyone we do choose to enter a bartering agreement with (product for advertisement) will be required to pay a discounted price and/or shipping

3. If people do not follow up with the written or verbal agreement (ie. review, giveaway, look, tutorial, company write up, etc.) they will be charged full retail price for the product that was sent to them, will receive a demand letter from our newly hired lawyers and if necessary reported to Internet Crime Complaint Center  for fraud. (and if you didnt know... they don't play around when it comes to scams and fraud)

This may seem extreme to some that are reading it but honestly... I just don't care.... I am running business and am taking it upon myself to reach out to others that work in the beauty industry to work together and I am the one that gets left holding the bill... I have a company that I am trying to support awareness for great cause (Autism) and more money has been lost on dishonest people and scams. We just can't do it anymore.

Transform You HAUL Contest (YT)

"TRANSFORM YOU" HAUL CONTEST!
ENDS APRIL 18TH 2010  
(Enough time to do your look, edit and think of your custom color for the end of your video)


RULES: Transform yourself using makeup 
{We are giving a lot of room for creativity with very loose rules because its our first Haul giveaway AND we don't want to but restrictions on anyones art, so have fun with it} 
RULES TO BE ENTER THE CONTEST 
1. MUST SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL 
2. MUST show Before and After (look can be speed up in the middle) 
3. One entry per person 
4. You must talk about or write about your desired customize color AND its name somewhere in your video (see detail for custom blending --> http://www.sp3ctrum.com/custom_blending/ ) 
5. Must post your videos as a response to THIS video so I know you are participating in this contest
6. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE POSTED BY APRIL 16TH 11:59PM PST to be valid {ENDS APRIL 18TH 2010}

FIRST PLACE PRIZE:  
Sp3ctrum Cosmetics  
http://www.SP3CTRUM.com  
Filthy Raven Pigment $8.99 each  
Easter Bunny Pigment $8.99 each  
Neptune Shines Pigment $8.99 each  
Plastic Jade Pigment $8.99  
Sugar Lips Pigment $8.99  
Panda Pigment $8.99  
Pink Collared Groupie {Includes: Japanese Cherry Blossom Pigment Pink Smoothie Ultrafine Luster! Circus Cookie Pigment Pinkilicious Ultrafine Luster!} $32.00  
Guava - Ambrosia Lip Color $11.00 each 
Dear Strawberry Cupcake - Lip Liqueur $15.00 each 
Crystal Ultrafine Luster! $6.50 each 
Sherbet Microfine Luster! $8.75  
Custom Designed Shade {10 GRAM} $21.00  


From Overall Beauty {GIFT SET $146.87}: 
www.OverallBeauty.com Magic Lash with Black Magic Mascara $32.99  
Handcrafted Makeup Bags by LittleWorm.etsy.com $7.00 each  
8 Overall Beauty Minerals in your choice of color 5 gram jars $7.99 each  
BB Couture nail polishes in: For Women Pink Champagne & Union Square $9.00 each OR For Men Blue Steel & Universal Joint $9.00 each  


Second Prize Prize: TBA (VERY SOON)

Broken Rainbow

Okay... sooooo...since I only did a the St. Patrick's Day look on one eye, I had one eye left and since I'm bored I decided to try something new.

I used the following for this look:

Eye Brow:
Dark Brown EyeBrow Fix

Directly under Eyebrow:

Cosmic Latte

Brow Bone (From RIGHT to LEFT)

Earth Day (green)

Caribbean Reef (bluish-green)

Lavender Marriage (lavender)

Cut Crease:
Acid Green Eyeliner {NYX}

Covered the whole lid and inside corner of lid with Milk Jumbo Pencil {NYX}

Lower Lid (RIGHT to LEFT):

Cosmic Latte

School Bus

Pineapple Soda

Ripe Persimmon

Inner corner:
Cherry Moon

Lower Lid Waterline:
Lilac {Wet 'n Wild}
Pink Azalea Ultrafine Luster! Glitter

Lashes: Black liquid eyeliner {E.L.F}

Black Lash Blash Length {Covergirl}

St. Patrick's Look

I was bored and wanted to play in some makeup so I thought why not play in the St. Patrick's Day colors.

Please excuse the pictures... I can't find my camera battery charger so all I can do I take pictures with my iPhone until I get a new one. I'm going to try to get one from Best Buy this week.

I used the following for this look:

Eye Brow:
Dark Brown EyeBrow Fix

Under Brow:
Irish Rainbow

Brow bone to Crease:

Shamrockin'

Cut Crease:
Moss {Ulta Waterproof eyeliner}

Lower Lid:

Pitcher-O-Beer

Fort Knox Me

Inner corner:
Irish Rainbow

Lower Lid Waterline:
Moss {Ulta Waterproof eyeliner}
Grasshoppa Microfine Luster! Glitter

Lashes: Black eyeliner in lash line

Black Lash Blash Length {Covergirl}

I LOVE Erika (Inspired Look)

I normally don't do looks because I can never find my camera charger and I really don't like how the lighting in my room is without a good flash BUT I was sooooooo excited about the new member of my jeweled family that I had to do an inspired look.

::I LOVE ERIKA::

Erika Out Of The Blue Pendant - Swarovski

I loved the pale blue, zircon blue and clear crystals in this piece. I guess I'm a little bias though, I've always loved the Erika pieces by Swarovski, so needless to say I was very excited when I got my new Erika in the mail today!

Like I said, the iPhone doesn't take the best pictures with my yellow lighting in my room but this came out okay... not the but good enough until I figure out how to edit the YouTube video I made.

I used the following for this look:

Eye Brow:
Dark Brown EyeBrow Fix

Under Brow and Brow Bone:
Movie Popcorn & Cosmo Latte Pigment

Crease and "V":
Breakup Tears & Astronut Pigment

Lower Lid:
Angel Food Pigment blended with a small amount of Movie Popcorn Pigment

Inner corner:
Martini Ultrafine Luster! Glitter

Lower Lid Waterline:
Navy Eyeliner {ULTA}
Chesapeake Ultrafine Luster! Glitter

Lashes: Ardell False 116 Black

ɐ spectrum

"One in 150 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For all the children and families affected by this disorder - and all those who will be - the time to act is now. More children will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder this year than with AIDS, Diabetes & Cancer combined!
Autism is a spectrum of psychological conditions characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication, as well as severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior.

My family knows first hand the frustration of Autism's mystery, knowing too well there is no medical detection or cure for Autism. My son Alijah, now 9 years old, is a child with Autism. I started this brand for him, my 6 year old daughter Aliyah, and all the children that are affected by this mysterious disorder.

I created ɐ spectrum to give back to all those that feel the same frustration as I do.

The ɐ (an upside down a) stands for the puzzle of Autism, along with the impact it personally has on my family and others like us. The a also relates to my family personally because all of our names start with the letter A. You will also notices Spectrum spelled with a 3 for the E, also a symbol that this is our fight together, the three of us. This brand will reflect our love, strength and our hope for the future of our family and families like ours.

With the purchase of any ɐ spectrum branded Spectrum Cosmetics products ALL the proceeds with go directly to Autism Research and Education."

This is an excerpt from my website. I tried to explain why I choose Spectrum and Autism but I didn't want to be to long winded. Well since this is my blog, I can do what I want :)

So many people know, my son Alijah is a child with Autism. And we all know or have heard a lot about Autism in the last couple of years because of Jenny McCarthy, Toni Braxton, Halle Robinson Pete, etc. But what be don't realize is there are HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND of families that are not famous that have brothers, sister, cousin, grandchildren etc that suffer from Autism.

Its become an pandemic! When I was 7 years old 1 in 11,000 children when diagnosed with Autism. Movies like Rain Man were made and no one knew what Autism is or knew anyone with it. Now I'm 28, now its 1 in 150 and some places are reporting 1 in 90. That is INSANE when you think of the numbers of children that are suffering. These days everyone knows at least one child or adult that is Autistic. Some not being able to talk, feed themselves, relate to family members, socialize or focus on anything and all of it without a true cause. 

Autism has NO cause and NO cure.

Spectrum Cosmetics is just starting out, only a year in the industry but I will donate all that I can though ɐ spectrum so that that one day I can say I helped hundreds of thousands of families find HOPE.

Wet & Set Mixing Medium!

Let me say first off.. I'm HORRIBLE at using primers... I always feel like they are dulling my color with the the color of the primer and clear or no color primers don't ever do the job... maybe I'm wrong... whatever (lol)


My concerns when designing:
Sanitation - I wanted to make a mixing medium that can be used in the most sterile way possible. No pouring in caps or spilling.
Staying power - make a primer that will help eyeshadows, pigments, and even glitters stay longer
Preservation - The mixing medium is water based and that can cause bacteria to grow within and cause the product to go back within two months or so without the right preservatives.

I also wanted to design a water based mixing medium that can be as natural as possible. So I researched for a few weeks and I tried a few formulas. Finally I decided on a great formula and started to test it.

The final formula contents:

Distilled Water

Glycerol {Glycerin} - Effective humectant & moisturizer that attracts water to the intercellular space of the skin

Tocopheryl Acetate {Vitamin E} - potent antioxidant, increases SPF, moisturizing & antiaging effect (improves skin surface relief), enzyme activity (faster wound healing), soothing & anti-inflammatory properties & promotes epithelisation.

Anyhemis nobilis {Chamomile} - antiseptic, antibiotic, disinfectant, bactericidal & vermifuge

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice - Potent moisturizer, regenerating & healing agent, anti-inflammatory effects & anti-aging effects.

Tetrasodium EDTA - an organic compound used as an preservative
..



I tried two colors with and without the mixing medium.





Top to Bottom: FAMOUS without Mixing Medium; FAMOUS with Mixing Medium; HI DEF without Mixing Medium & HI DEF with Mixing Medium

Then...

I did a 8 hour test on my hand and I took a few pictures. I figured a hand test was better than full makeup. If it could withstand being on my hand while I'm rubbing against things and holding hands with my kids from time to time it would do AWESOME on eyes that have less contact.

I chose to use the Spectrum Cosmetics pigment FAMOUS because its a larger particle pigment AND metallic. I did not use any primer or anything on my fans. They were freshly washed with no lotion. You will notice some redness on my hand. I dyed it with coloring while making Ambrosia.

I started at 11:30am before I left the house to run errands.
11:30am - Left side FAMOUS with Mixing Medium; Right side FAMOUS without Mixing Medium



2:17pm - Left side FAMOUS with Mixing Medium; Right side FAMOUS without Mixing Medium
I went to several stores and even put groceries in the car and as you can see both sides are still sticking very well.

5:45pm - Left side FAMOUS with Mixing Medium; Right side FAMOUS without Mixing Medium
I took this in the car on the way home. As you can see the FAMOUS pigment without the Mixing Medium has rubbed off a little but is still sticking to my bare hand pretty well.



8:29pm - Left side FAMOUS with Mixing Medium; Right side FAMOUS without Mixing Medium
I took this right after I washed the dishes.. I honestly forgot I was doing the test by then. As you can see the FAMOUS without is completely gone but the the FAMOUS pigment with the Mixing Medium still there a little even after being in and out of water.

I was very happy with this test, and surprised with the results. I picked aluminum spray bottles so that the mixing medium can be sprayed directly on the your brushes. Its cleaner and it prevents the waste of product. We will start production of the Wet & Set Mixing Medium and will have available on the site very soon.

The Wet & Set Mixing Medium next to the Blue Eyed Girl Groupie

It's Not Easy Being Green

..

I LOVE THE COLOR GREEN!!

..

Don't really know why but... My room is green, my bathrooms are green, I just LOVE Green!

SO... its obviously that I will love ST. PATRICKS'S DAY

I wanted to do something special because I have been in love with this color since I was a little girl.. I was never a pink lover like normal little girls I wanted GREEN

So I picked a few swatches from my Pantone program and I started designing colors. I wanted to make colors that can be worn together but that would also be in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day

..

I may change the name.. who knows.. but Trinity is a very emerald green with large flecks of 24 K gold mica within it.

Pitcher-O-Beer is a very very bright gold. I wanted to make a mix between Irish Gold and fresh beer so this is what I got

Irish Rainbow is a soft mint green with a frost and green reflecting rainbow glitter. I used actually eye safe glitter in this color instead of mica

Shamrockin' is a moss like green. Has a greenish-yellow iridescence that blends very well with Trinity.

I also made two new lip liqueur shades in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day AND a new Lip Glaze.. but you'll have to wait until I have time to take better pictures of those. I customized and order 4 new green and gold eye safe Luster! glitters BUT they were delayed by weather so who knows when they will arrive :eye roll:

**This post may be edited in the future to add more information**

AMBROSIA!!!

We have received A LOT of requests for a more opaque lip color that can be mixed and/or worn under other lip colors. So I decided to try a few formulas. I want something that would not be too runny and that wouldn't feather. Not too oily and not too sticky. Just enough too glide over your lip. So this is what I came up with.






After posting the pics up we received over a hundred inquires for swatches in the first hour. I took a few of the ones I had made for myself and ran and did a quick swatch of those




Bottom left to top: Strawberry; Blood Orange; Kumquat; Gooseberry. Bottom right to top: Mango; Fig; Blueberry; HoneyBerry.

About four days later, we recieved and order for colors I hadn't swatched so I made a few for me and I swatched those as well.




Left to right: Apricot; Banana; *NEW* Guava; Pear

... Needless to say we sold out 300 in two weeks. Unfortunately when I went back to the manufacture to purchases more lip gloss tubes the ones that they sold us originally we now discounted (yea like they didn't know that was going to happen when I ordered them)

I finally found a company that could make them for me but in a different design. So now we have new packaging for the Ambrosia Lip Colors. There isn't a big difference. The new tube is rounded at the bottom and holds more 2 ml of color but I decided not to change the prices (yay)


I took this picture about 1 minute ago... its an iphone picture with low lighting so deal with it. I just wanted to show the new packaging :)





**This post may be edited in the future to add more information**

Sweetheart Box Collection

I was trying to think of some new color ideas for Valentine's Day and a friend of mine suggested that I used my myPANTONE and Color Expert software that we use for graphic design & photography processing. I was so surprised that I didn't think of that before. For those that are unfamiliar with Pantone its a standard color-matching system used by graphic designers, painters, interior designers etc for inks, paints, fabrics, papers etc. If you have an iPhone (yay) there are two applications I would recommend, myPANTONE & Color Expert. I own them both and use them daily. The differences are how you can interact with the color wheel. I like them both and use them together most of the time. They are $9.99 each and both very worth it. (Good Pantone color wheel software for the PC or MAC can start at $150 and up) Soooo... anyway... I found a 2 pink color that I liked and I had the color wheel produce 4 Complementary colors.

I picked 4 colors from each swatch and got to work. It took me about 3 hours to match all 8 colors and I made an additional

color to go with them.

I am VERY excited about the colors and love how the Complementary colors came out. I decided to offer them in 2 quad sets and name them after conversation heart sayings. They are called Sweetheart Beauty Boxes ;D

^^ I did make a mistake in the palette placement when I took the picture Dream Love & Tickle Monster should be switched. Using the color wheel software I was able to go from just one color idea to completing my whole Valentine's Day Collection

And it begins...

I decided to start this blog to kind of work out ideas and put my thoughts on. I think of new products EVERYDAY.. I work out formulas and colors and packaging all day everyday. I love this!

I'm going to start by adding some older entries that I wrote on other sites or on a cosmetics manufacture forum board that I visit every now and then.