Review: Tropical Paradise by Free Spirits Cosmetics

Tropical Sunrise by Free Spirits

I promised I'd do a review once I found the perfect orange lipstick and now that I have, here it is!

Some background: Free Spirits Cosmetics is a new but expanding make up line created by Leandra Goodridge, a Barbadian entrepreneur who is also a make up artist.

Now to the review!

BB Cream and the Problem of Foundation in the Caribbean

Foundation was not created with tropical climates in mind. I have Black Opal's Foundation stick and let me tell you, it all starts out just peachy in the morning when it is not so hot yet. Plus I usually wake and get ready super early, so by 7:30 I'm finished my make-up and my face looks so polished, settled and happy. By nine o'clock you start sweating because of the heat but at first it looks really healthy and dewy under the foundation. You just look a little shiny but that's ok. By 11 you can feel it sinking into your pores. The worst case scenario is that you can feel it slowly sliding down your face. This has never happened to me, but I have heard horror stories. What always happens though is that by noon its practically non-existent. I might as well have never put it on. By the time I get home, usually around 7 pm (yes, I'm out all day from 8 am till nightfall), it literally looks like I never put on any make up at all. And it does not matter if I set it with powder or used primer. I just look super shiny and greasy and like I ran a marathon. This is why I rarely wear foundation. Nowadays I've just been using concealer, then setting it with powder, and calling it a day. Plus foundation looks really cakey to me and to be honest its not that great a product in general. I finally understand why so many make up gurus just go without it.

However, lately I've been having some trouble with hyper-pigmentation (this tropical sun can be cruel to black skin, let me tell you), and I've also been having some unexpected pimples (early 20's adult acne has been mainly confined to my back and shoulders though, thank you Jesus). Plus some freckles because of the summer sun. All those things means that I really need a product to even out my complexion. I just need something that will blur out the imperfections. But won't be cakey or sink into my pores halfway through the day. I also wanted something that wouldn't make me feel like I have make-up on.

Enter BB cream.

Passion Fruit from Trinidad and Tobago

It gives me great pleasure and happiness to introduce to you -- if you have not discovered her blog as yet -- artist Brianna McCarthy who hails from the lovely region of the West Indies, and more specifically from Trinidad and Tobago.
She is an amazing artist who appears to focus on portraits of women, and what is so remarkable about her work is that instantly you know these are West Indian women, even without being told. I think it is fascinating that she achieves this as she does not produce West Indian women in the typical way. She presents them more ethereal, thoughtful and pensive than I have ever seen them before. But I'll just shut up now and show you some of her artwork, for I think it speaks for itself.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these images. They are all the property of Brianna McCarthy.

So that's the blog I've been really feeling lately. Its nice to see us West Indian women depicted so sensitively and delicately. If you are also impressed with this young talent make sure to check out her blog here.

Shopping landscape of the Caribbean

 Fashion landscape of the Caribbean, and how different shopping is on a whole.

Source

I live in the Caribbean, and understandably, everything here is quite different to other more metropolitan countries such as the U.S.A and England, which have huge cities such as New York City and London. That is not to say that my region is not developed. It is, very much so. I hasten to make this point as I have been told stories of well- meaning tourists who were surprised to find we have wi-fi, multi-lane highways, and a very highly-rated educational system. However, in some aspects, the Caribbean is a wee bit behind. I mean, of course, in terms of fashion shopping. (You didn’t think I would tackle a serious topic, did you? I am the fashion-obsessed Misnomer after all. J )