N2 on Beauty

We are all different but the same, separated by our features and our inner makeup.- N2

The Runway creates trends and as artists we re-interpret them for our clients to wear on a daily basis. My approach to applying makeup on my clients is and has always been consultative. I teach the technique and tools while encouraging them to ask questions so they feel the most confident when on their own.
We look at our face in the mirror and discover ourselves, we try to notice what we are portraying to others. Beauty is about discovery, find a signature feature to highlight that you love. Your eyes, lips or complexion and define that look to portray the image you want others to see.Don't always apply the same colors or looks you wind up dating yourself.  Fix what you can and focus on your best features and you know what...God bless what we cannot change and love it anyway!
Don't fall prey to being trendy- follow the trend only if it looks good on you ( be truthful). Your look comes together with your hairstyle so take heed to the cut, style and color of your hair. . Educate yourself on info about cosmetic products and new tips and tricks. Take note of what you can apply to your image. Remember, beauty is as beauty does so Be beautiful and smile it captures your soul.
Happy Autumn!

New York Fashion Week

Hello Beautiful,

Kids are back to school and we are entering the fall season. So it may have you thinking of the warmer days of Spring...    If that is the case, New York Fashion Week is here! 

The trendy, classic, chic and outrageous designers will debut their latest Spring 2011 collection. This year Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has moved to a new location where only the best of the best will have the privilege to showcase and unveil their spring line...Lincoln Center.  Ooh la la Fashion week has moved on up my darlings lol.

All of us beauty mavens are anxious to see the predictions of Spring's Color palette, for all of you  makeup trend-setters. What will be the new hot lip color? or How bold will the eyeshadow go? What shape will define Spring's Eyebrow? Are we going with a dewy glow or a matte finish for the face?  Stay tuned beautiful ones and I will tell you the forecast after I see what the over 90 designers are presenting. I know Autumn is 2 weeks away but the fashion and beauty industry always stays 2 seasons ahead. We will get back to the season at hand after this fabulous week.

BE Beautiful

What's In Your Makeup Bag?

Hello Beautiful,

What’s in your Makeup Bag? I always get asked as a makeup artist how long is too long to keep your cosmetics. Well ladies including Tenah whose makeup draw I recently dumped. Let’s take inventory of our makeup bags, bathroom counters and vanity’s. Whatever the reason we cannot seem to part with makeup after we make the purchase, even if it was a bad purchase! It was either too trendy, the color didn’t work once you got home or made you break out. It could be the total opposite, we love it so much that even when it crumbles or falls apart we still keep and try to use it. I give you the rules in this article below.

If you bought makeup and have had it over 2years even if you did not use it- time to toss!
Open and smell foundations, mascara’s, lipsticks, blushes and skincare products. If they smell funny or the formula is separated or dried out - time to toss!
Be very careful with products used near the eyes because this is a sensitive and delicate area. If you react to a product that you’ve used faithfully there’s probably,
a) bacteria in the product or b) your makeup brush/tool is carrying bacteria and causing the reaction.

For skincare products in jars i.e. creams/moisturizers use a disposable spatula instead of fingers, or those wooden Popsicle sticks we used as kids (remember those? you can find them in craft or 99cent Stores). Your makeup brushes should be cleaned once a week with a mild shampoo (like baby shampoo).
N2Beauty tip-For quick cleaning in between washes use a baby wipe or seventh generations disinfecting wipes.
Here are the rules for purging through those cosmetics products.
Makeup does not last forever beauties:
Foundation = 1yr- 18mos.
Powder = 2yrs (face and powder blush)
Concealer= 1yr
Eye Shadow= 1yr
Mascara= 3-6mos (you all are so guilty of this one)
Lip/Eye Pencil= 1yr
Liquid/Gel Liner= 3mos (Unless you do not tighten cap and it dries out first!)
Lipstick= 1yr-18mos (Guilty-you can start tossing now, good reason to hit the mall)
Cream Blush= 6mos-1yr
Eye Cream= 1yr
Sunscreen Lotion= 1yr

There you have it, tape this in your medicine cabinet for future reference. Keep your makeup in a cool place like a drawer or one of those little 3 drawer totes organizer. I personally keep my makeup in a caboodle case. Have fun shopping for your new fall makeup now that you have made room.
Oh and for that crumbled eye shadow that you love, dump it inside a snack size Ziploc if it’s too early to toss and you don’t want to spend on another.

Be Beautiful,
Nicole
This blog article has been published in the September 2-9, 2010 weekly edition of the
 Freeport/Roosevelt Times newspaper. Under the new beauty column "N2 Beauty Corner" by yours truly.

Brilliant Beauty of the month- Lisa Zure

Hello Beautiful,

We are excited to come to you this month with our newest feature. Highlighting our talented N2Beauty Clients who express their inner beauty brilliantly.
Our Brilliant Beauty for the month of September is our songstress Lisa Zure.
Lisa is a spa client who loves our Forever Young Skincare system and swears by our All day moisture lotion w/ Copper. I wanted to feature Lisa because she is a dynamic woman who has a beautiful spirit and really exemplifies our motto, "Beauty is as beauty does...Be Beautiful." She always has encouraging words or sends beautiful blessings in her emails when she is not in town. The clients in the spa love her CD and we thought it was time to allow you all to hear it too. Take a listen to what our clients are soothing their souls to.
                                                      http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lisazure  

LisaZure.com

BIO
Singer/songwriter/producer Lisa Zuré (pronounced Zoo-ray) is enjoying much deserved and long-awaited worldwide recognition as music lovers everywhere discover her distinctive and soulful sound. You can hear her music on a wide variety of radio shows, including the UK's Solar Radio, Colourful Radio, KISS FM in Sweden, and many others. The musical stylings of this uniquely creative singer fuse elements of R&B, Soul, NuJazz and Hiphop in such an intoxicating way, it can't be compared to anything you've heard before. This for me is an example of what timeless soulful music is about, a breath of fresh air... Tongue Tide also appears on the Best Undiscovered R&B Soul compilation released in January 2010 by Singapore/Malaysian record label EQ Music.



A native Californian, Lisa Zuré has also sung, written and co-produced for other very talented artists. Her 4 years in BedStuy, Brooklyn gave birth to her solo venture. Sweet Fruit, (2008, 1st Mind Entertainment) its guaranteed to quench your thirst for something sweet, sensual, mind-catching, seductive, head boppin' and possibly addictive. Each song on the EP reveals another aspect of the signature sound that has evolved from her collaboration with ingenious producer Mr.Diz (aka The Original K-Swift).
Lisa Zuré's sound is always evolving. Her next album, Music To Save My Life, promises to engage her listeners on every level... Stay tuned, for the journey has just begun.

N2 Beauty Fans support this talented artist, she gets charted everywhere in the UK!  I think she needs to be on "The B Side" with Mike Baisden because I can't believe she is not in rotation here. They are loving her up overseas. Buy the album at the link provided or purchase a single.I will say Track #3 & #4 are personal favorites.
Be Beautiful

Happy Anniversary N2 Cosmetics!

Hello Beautiful,

I have to take a moment after the "Inspiration" piece to pay homage to the Icon, Coco Chanel. Her style and the Chanel line of cosmetics is one of the many inspirations of N2 Cosmetics. The double N logo to the classic black packaging of quality cosmetics. I designed my line to be able to sit on the shelf next to a Coco Chanel line &  with her in mind. I consider our products to be of the same calibur, where quality and function meets understated glam. The intensity of our development process and classic colors with seasonal jolts of pop. Always staying true to our basic elements of beauty.  Happy anniversary N2Cosmetics

N2 Cosmetics is celebrating it's 7th year as a private cosmetics & skincare company.

Makeup and Skincare for the Bold, Alluring, Sexy, Intelligent and Chic Woman. Sold exclusively on the web, through mail order and at the N2Beauty Day Spa. This year we will break out to the masses and go beyond boutique status. Look for our "N2 Vintage" Collection this coming year.

"A girl should be two things: Classy and Fabulous."-Coco Chanel

Inspiration...

Hello Beautiful,

As you know we are undergoing a makeover on our website. We have been having photo shoots and incorporating all the new products into the new store. One day I was sitting with my camera and decided to see what I can shoot. This is what happened and I call it the inspiration of N2 Beauty. Hope you like it.

N2 shopping bag, amongst Fine Things!

traces of my lipstick!

The eyes have it.

Beautiful hues of Fab foundation with Vit E, Shea Butter & Spf18!

pot lip glosses.

Be Spoiled, come and get pampered!

New York City Girl!

etch a sketch. lol

my heart and soul in all I do!

all of these pics are actually done with makeup! The tree is a silky violet eyeshadow, the moon is silverfox shadow,
the grass is eyeliner in olive branch and the "heart" sun is a bronzing blush!

Be Beautiful!

What drives the African American Beauty Market?- Essence magazine takes a look

Hello Beauties,
As some of you are aware Essence Magazine gained a new beauty director a few months ago. Congratulations to Corynne L. Corbett former executive editor of Real Simple magazine.
I am excited and looking forward to an new perspective on all things beauty.
For all my Beauty Professionals this article by Nancy Jeffries a correspondent for the household and personal products industry (Happi) should be very insightful. Enjoy


Essence magazine takes a closer look at the issues surrounding the segment.
By Nancy Jeffries
Correspondent


Corynne L. Corbett, the new beauty director at Essence magazine, provided a timely overview of what is new, what is next, and what you need to know about the unique attitudes of the African American market. In an Essence Smart Beauty Insiders Breakfast, held last month at New York’s Time Warner Center, Corbett provided an upbeat look at what drives the market, from spending and investing in skin care, hair, and makeup, to fragrance and cosmetic procedures.

Corynne L. Corbett, beauty director, Essence Magazine (left), with Angela Burt-Murray, editor in chief, Smart Beauty Insiders Breakfast, presented by Essence Magazine.

Ultimately, this audience is looking for products that work, observed Corbett who cited statistics gleaned from recent research, which revealed that 85% of African American women believe looking good is part of life.
According to Corbett, this consumer is passionate about well being, while remaining practical and thirsty for additional information. She noted that 41% of African American women will pay more for a product consistent with her image. Moreover, 53% of Essence readers surveyed try a variety of ways to style their hair, yet, that same reader has no desire to conform to any other’s ideal. In fact, 74% believe her style is unique.

New Title...Columnist

Hello Beauties,
We just wanted to spread some you go girl! news about our Chief Makeup Artist and President Nicole Hammond. She has just received the news that she will be the weekly Beauty Columnist in not one but two newspapers.
                                                           (clap clap clap clap)
At last a voice about beauty and wellness as it relates to us the everyday consumer. We get to share with the Nassau community what Nicole shares with her clients on a regular basis in her chair, "Beauty pearls of wisdom" as we say in the makeup studio.  Her column the "The N2 Beauty Corner" will be seen in
"The Long Island Dispatch" and  "The Freeport/Roosevelt Times" both community newspapers.

Congratulations to our fearless leader Nicole Hammond as she takes her company vision to new heights in this 7th year. We love you Boss Lady.

Be Beautiful,
The N2 Beauty Glam Squad!

T.G.I.F De-Stress!! Pampering After Dark w/Cory

Friday Night July 23rd, 2010


Come and experience our "Twilight Spa Nightcap". Relax and Unwind while enjoying our N2Beauty Spa Services. Let us:

Tease your body with our N2U Deluxe Massage f/Cory

&

Rejuvenate your face with our Clarifying Facial f/Nicole

Doors open at 7:30pm for De-Stress Fridays Relax and Unwind with a Glass of Fine Wine @ N2Beauty Day Spa located at

80 Guy Lombardo Avenue The Pink Bldg! Freeport, NY 11520

Call to Reserve your Session- 516.442.1553 Walk ins accepted, reservations preferred.

Bittersweet memories

Hello Beautiful,
June was a bittersweet month. We had celeb makeovers and photo shoots with LaTonya Blige new gospel recording artist and sister of Mary J. Blige. We received great exposure with our commercial runs and gearing up for a fabulous new and improved website. We hosted a rockin' Spa Party for a dozen 8yr old girls. We launched the N2 Beauty Girls division  headed by my daughter Natalie Nicole. What a great harvest from seeds planted so many months ago.
At the same time suddenly we were hit with the untimely death of a phenomenal man and my Uncle Mr. Frank Crooms Jr. better known as Uncle Buddy who just had a great visit to the spa for an art show we showcased May 1st. He left us on June 9th and we celebrated his home going on June 16th. My Uncle was extremely special because he was the only Uncle on my Mom's side and has been at every highlight of my personal and professional life. He was fond of his camera and photography.At 13 when I wanted to start modeling he was the one who did  and set the shoot for my 1st portfolio. He will be missed.
My cousin Philip was married on June 21 in a lovely affair at the Inn at New Hyde Park and in memory on every table was a camera with a tribute to Uncle Buddy for us all to capture the moments as he would on every occasion. Bittersweet indeed and truly memorable.

Commercial Air Times

Wednesday June 2nd:
LIFE 4:20am & 4:50am CONSUMER ADV

E!TV 3:15pm KEEPING UP w/KARDASHIANS

BET 11:15pm The MO'NIQUE Show & 12:15am WENDY WILLIAMS

BRAVO 1:15am 9 BY DESIGN & 3:45am KATHY GRIFFIN

Thursday June 3rd:

BET 4:59am BET INSPIRATION

BRAVO 4:29am PAID PROGRAM

N2COSMETICS COMMERCIAL

Hello N2Beauties,

 The N2Cosmetics Commercial Campaign starts on Cablevision!! We are so excited about this accomplishment.
 Our commercials will air at different times daily and we will keep you posted via our fan page on Facebook so if you are not a Fan become one.
For all you Cablevision subscribers we air Tonight 5/26/10:
 @ 5:15pm on E!TV, E!Special
@8:15pm on STYLE- Clean House,
@11:15pm on BET/MO'NIQUE Show, 12:45am WENDY WILLIAMS , 3:45am Tiny & Toya
@2:20am LIFETIME - Medium
@3:45am BRAVO- Loser, 4:59am Paid Program
I thank you for your support and welcome your comments as you view the spots.
Be Beautiful