South Africa: Inspiration, Vineyards, and Honey Badgers

Scott Catto, Managing Director, Three Custom Color Specialists, treats us to an inside look at the Co-Founders' recent trip to South Africa...

South Africa. I can’t tell you what’s more exhausting - the safari tours (we saw a real-live Honey Badger!) or the wine tastings!

Drinking wine at 10AM isn't exactly how we like to start our day but our guide didn't have to twist our arms too hard to get us to partake! Heck, how often do you get to the wine country in South Africa?

Each winery treats you to between 5 and 12 different tastings. After 3 wineries, then lunch (with, of course, another bottle of amazing local wine!) nap time comes around quickly. Yes, I know at wine tastings you are just supposed to taste and spit the rest out, but we didn't want to waste one drop. Plus, we weren’t driving!

All kidding aside, our trip and guide was fantastic. We hit beautiful vineyard after vineyard with delicious food and chocolate pairings. It was heavenly!

Here’s a round up of the vineyards we toured:

• Dieu Donne Guest Farm http://www.dieudonne.co.za/
• Tokara http://www.tokara.co.za/
• La Petite Ferme http://www.lapetiteferme.co
• Lanzerac http://www.lanzerac.co.za/

Lanzerac was particularly memorable. This vineyard has won numerous international awards and most notably produced the world’s first Pinotage. After a tasting, they also treated us to a special Honey Liquor that only 2 people at the estate know how to make. (after some online searching, we’ve found a link for you if you want to have a tasting of your own - http://sawine2europe.webnode.com/products/lourensford-honey-liqueur/)

So, what did we take away from our trip? Color inspiration of course! Be on the lookout for our South African Vineyard-inspired shades launching this fall on www.threecustom.com

In the meantime, try our new favorite drink: The Honey Badger Cocktail! Oh, and as they say, please drink responsibly.

The Honey Badger Cocktail
- Juice of one Lemon
- Sprig of Lavender
- Honey Liquor
- Vodka
- Soda

Looking for a South African safari of your own? For a seamless and unforgettable South African travel experience contact our friend Mia. Her vast experience and incredible patience earn her a gold star in our book! http://mia-schoeman.africansafaritravelexpert.com/

Cheers and Safe Travels!

Scott

The CAUS Beauty/Cosmetics Forecast Launches!

The Color Association of the United States (CAUS) recently launched its first-ever Beauty/Cosmetics Forecast for Spring 2013 (that’s right, 2013!) which reports the major trends and influences for the color palettes of the season.

Chad Hayduk, Co-Founder of Three Custom Color Specialists, served on the committee to develop the forecast with other notable industry leaders from the color, beauty, and fragrance world.

To celebrate, CAUS held a launch party at the colorful Glassbaby shop in NYC and Three Custom Color Specialists makeup artist Marisa Fazzina and Julianne Carlucci were there to enjoy the fun!

Check out these fun pics from the event! For more about the report and the CAUS mission - check out www.colorassociation.com

Lavender cupcakes and cocktails by Hpnotiq!

Face charts by Three Custom Color Specialists and an array of color inspiration from the forecast

A closer look at the color inspirations and beautiful Glassbaby candleholders.

Top Bridal Beauty Picks from the Color Studio!

Julianne Carlucci, Makeup Artist for Three Custom Color Specialists

As a makeup artist, Julianne specializes in Bridal Makeup Artistry and serves clients in New York City and Long Island. She has a talent for personalizing the perfect makeup shades to create a style that best suits each bride on her wedding day!

Curious about her Bridal Must-Haves this season? Here are the products by Three Custom Color Specialists that Julianne can’t live without:














Crème Concealer Foundation- Talk about a multi-tasker! I love this product as a spot Concealer (it’s concentrated and can cover any blemish!) or sheered out with moisturizer to create a smooth, flawless canvas. I also use this product as an eye lid primer before applying eye shadow for extra staying power. The Concealer Palette gives me all ten shades so I can really customize the perfect shade for brides of all skin tones.

Opaline Crème Eye Definer- This liner stays put throughout the entire wedding day; from morning pictures to evening toasts. It is also great for those emotional, teary eyed brides because it is water resistant. Whereas liquid liner is very defined and sometimes too harsh, I use this crème liner for softer definition on the upper eye lid. And, when smudged a bit, you can really see the opalescent sheen which gives the eye a pretty gleam.

Santorini- Packed with color, this rich raspberry shade flatters almost every skin tone and it’s one of my favorite shades in the Three Custom Color collection! This season, many brides are loving a bold lip while keeping the rest of the face natural, but polished.The vibrant color looks beautiful in pictures, and is long-wearing and moisturizing (very important for brides!).







Caramel Rose Lip and Cheek Stain- This earthy rose shade is universal and adds a dewy, fresh and natural flush on every bride. I love it! The pigmented and balmy stain really locks into the skin and stays on all day and it can be worn sheer or built up on for a dramatic look. My best way of applying it: Using your fingers or sponge, apply it to the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion making sure to apply it evenly from apples of cheeks toward your hairline.

To book an appointment with Julianne call (212) 730-8828 or visit http://www.makeupbyjulianne.com/

Color + Highlighter = Spring's Pretty Dewy Cheeks

Dewy, flushed-from-within cheeks are the perfect beauty pick-me-up as we say goodbye to this dreary winter weather and welcome Spring sunshine! NYC Makeup Artist Marisa Fazzina says dew-ing it right is easy, no matter your skin type or age. Achieve the look of healthy, youthful cheeks with two key products: all it takes is Color + Highlighter to get glowing!



First, smile and apply one of our sheer and long-wearing lip & cheek stains to the apples of your cheeks: try our award-winning Lollipop shade if you’re cool and Poppy if you’re warm (Not sure if you're Warm or Cool? Click here to find out!), then blend the color softly outward towards the temple.

To highlight, lightly tap Afterglow Shimmer Creme on the upper cheek bone and you’ve got a fool-proof natural glow! Marisa says, “Afterglow is subtle, not super sparkly - you can wear it to work and look like you’ve got the secret to healthy, dewy skin!”

At our Color Studio in New York City, Marisa often consults with women on how to achieve this look. Here are her key tips to dew-ing it right:

• Use your fingers! The warmth from your hand will soften our our balmy lip & cheek stain. This formula is beautiful - the texture looks natural and really marries to the skin. The look is reflective and natural, as if it’s coming from within!
• Smile! Everyone’s face shape is different. To find your best flush, smile and then blend outward. This Spring look is about keeping it soft and flushed, not stark or chiseled.
• Get your glow on! Afterglow Shimmer Creme is beautifully light reflective, not sparkly. Aside from the upper cheekbone, try it on the inner corners of the eye or down the nose to brighten the complexion.
• Ready to bump up the look for a night on the town? A trick we use at the Color Studio is to apply Champagne Eye Shadow as a shimmer powder on top of Afterglow - it’s not just for the eyes!

Amped Eye Shadow Wins a Spring Beauty O-Ward in O, The Oprah Magazine

O, The Oprah Magazine, has awarded Amped Eye Shadow by Three Custom Color Specialists a Spring Beauty O-Ward in the April issue (on newsstands now!) The editors have dubbed the shade the "Juiciest Color For Spring" and we couldn't be more thrilled! Click here for more on Amped and our newest High Wattage Eye Shadows!

Bora Bora + Majorca Mashup in the April Issue of In Style Magazine!

This Spring, try a Pro-Makeup Artist's favorite mash-up: Three Custom Color Specialists Bora Bora and Majorca Lipstick, together, create a "...Stunning flourescent combo" according to Fiona Stiles in the April issue of In Style Magazine (p. 366).

For more about Fiona and her work, visit www.fionastiles.com or follow her on twitter @fionastiles.

Amped: How to Wear O Magazine's "Juiciest Shade for Spring"

We at Three Custom Color Specialists are thrilled to have won a Spring Beauty O-Ward in the latest issue of O, The Oprah Magazine! They've dubbed AMPED, our new orange eye shadow, the "Juiciest Shade for Spring" and we think you'll agree - it's fresh, modern, and surprisingly wearable!


Curious about how to get the look? Check out these step-by-step tips from Chad Hayduk, Co-Founder of Three Custom Color Specialists.






FACE: Chad prepped our model by applying a sheer layer of Three Custom Color Specialists Crème Concealer Foundation with a damp sponge and concealed blemishes using our Concealer Brush (Jarusha is wearing Creme Concealer/Foundation #5)


EYES: Chad chose Amped, our new orange eye shadow, to showcase Jarusha’s green eyes. Using a dampened contour brush, Chad applied Amped first to the upper eyelid on the upper eyelid. Then, he applied it along the lower lashline.


CHEEKS: To remain polished, yet keep the emphasis on the eyes, Chad applied Coral Waterlily Watercolours to the cheeks using a sponge, blending the color on the apple of the cheek and cheekbone.


LIPS: Using a lip brush, Chad applied Coral Waterlily to the lips for a sheer, moisturizing lip tint.

Check out the gorgeous finished look!