Karen Robinovitz may be the busiest woman I know. Besides being a writer by trade who knows everyone who’s anyone in NYC, she’s the creatrix of Purple Lab NYC, an indie cosmetic brand that’s about to hit the big time. She just hosted an insanely successful event — the “Find Your Luvah” speed dating party in Hoboken is being reported as the world’s largest speed dating event in history! AND she’s about to launch some super sexy new beauty products on the Home Shopping Network — her debut will air February 18th and 19th, and they’re doing FIVE different live shows. As I said to her on the phone yesterday, “OMG, Karen that’s HUGE!”

As stressed out as she must have been, Karen remained upbeat and excited.

“OMG, Patrice – these are my CHILDREN. Our cream blush, Cheek Implants? Patrice. You. Are. Going. To. DIE. It’s got all of the treatments I use on my skin, in a blush. It is SO good. There’s elastin and collagen in it…it’s so velvety and perfect. And I chose the names for a special reason — I think every woman should feel like they’ve got a Backstage Pass, and are wearing Six Inch Heels, even if they’re just going to the grocery store!”

Karen is a fashionista for the ages, I tell you. I’m extra super duper excited for Lashionista Modelista, a mascara infused with diamond dust for that over-the-top touch of glam. And I also love Purple Lab’s most popular product, Huge Lips Skinny Hips. This Hoodia-infused gloss is paraben free and gently plumps your lips after application. As a woman with a pair of naturally full lips I wasn’t really concerned about the plumping action so much, but my friends with thinner lips or with lines that can detract from their lips looking smooth and kissable would LOVE that effect. On me, it just makes my lips look full and smooth. Just the way I like em!

My favorite color is Worship Kate — a deep rose/mauve with a touch of glitter to it – very sheer, very layerable, perfect on any shade of skin. That was a big concern for Karen.

“My group of friends is like the United Nations. So I made sure these colors would work on EVERYONE!”

For a special giveaway just for Afrobella readers, Karen and Purple Lab are offering the ultimate gloss that will work on everyone.
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Two weeks or so ago, Bobbi Brown and I were chit-chatting back and forth via Twitter. I said Hey Bobbi —

What are your beauty predictions for 2010? What will be the hot new look (esp for brown skinned beauties) in this year?

And she said Bella, you should Look for pops of color in corals, apricots and oranges (which look great on deep skin).

And then we made plans to do lunch and go shopping next week.

Well, alright – that last part didn’t happen. But legendary makeup artist Bobbi Brown IS on Twitter — follow her @askbobbibrown . Today kicks off her Pretty Powerful social media campaign. If you tweet @AskBobbiBrown every Tuesday and tell her why you love her makeup, using the hashtag #PrettyPowerful — you can be entered to win one of four Bobbi gift sets each week!

Click here for all the details, and click here to follow Bobbi Brown on Twitter. Oh, and while you’re at it you might as well follow me, too!

How cute is Mally Roncal? Seriously — she’s the living embodiment of adorable. Always impeccably turned out, always smiling, always encouraging regular women like you and me to believe in our own beauty. I think she’s the bees knees.

The celebrity makeup artist earned her stripes by beating the faces of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Mariah, Mary J. Blige, and Iman. Now her Mally Beauty brand makes big bucks on QVC, because she brings her expert aesthetic and enthusiasm for everyday beauty to life with her products.

Recently she debuted her fragrance, Mally. If you’re looking for a unique, upbeat, fresh, youthful and sexy scent — you need to get a whiff of this. Citrusy, and scented with the Phillipines’ national flower the Sampaguita – Mally is delicious on your pulse points. I had a chance to review the scent and ask Mally some questions about it, via e mail.
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Regal. Elegant. Sensual and — judging from the cover for her latest single — apparently ageless. Since the Eighties, Sade has been schooling us all on ways to be a timeless beauty icon. Look at that makeup, that jewelry. Absolutely flawless, effortlessly gorgeous. Love me some Sade!

She makes her fans yearn for the jewels and can take years to release her songs, but when she releases new material it’s always worth the wait.

Case in point her brand new single, Soldier of Love.

This is the first glimmer of sound we’ve heard from the Nigerian born musical goddess since 2000’s Lovers Rock. I’m loving it. It’s modern and fresh, while still capturing that classic, stirring Sade sound.

This is just the single — the album drops February 8, 2010 — just in time for Valentine’s Day. I see you, Sade — you know what the fans want! You can click here to pre-order Soldier of Love. And tell me — are you feeling this as much as I am? I’ve been hungry for new music that actually moves me, and this is giving me what I need!

Sometimes, randomly I’ll wonder what she’s up to. Is she in good health? Is she still lucid? Is she surrounded by people who love her and care for her? I hope and pray she is.

Lena Horne is a living legend who has retreated completely from the spotlight. She turned 92 on June 30, and her last public appearance was in 1999 at an event in her honor in New York. Her final televised singing appearance was in 1998 on the Rosie O’Donnell show.

I wasn’t of the Stormy Weather generation of Lena Horne fans, not old enough to remember her appearances on The Judy Garland Show, or her TV specials. My connection to Lena is directly connected to my childhood.

Her appearances on Sesame Street and the Muppet Show made a huge impact on me at a tender age, when Trinidad and Tobago Television showed endless repeats of Seventies and early Eighties era episodes. Even then, there was something about Lena that just struck a chord with me. Her gentle spirit. The way she carried herself. Her classy demeanor. She reminded me of the women in my family, who held themselves with a certain elegance and dignity even when in less than dignified company.

Lena didn’t teach me the alphabet (I’m pretty sure my mother, my aunty Opal, and my sister Petal were directly responsible for that), but Lena’s funky version sure helped to reinforce the lesson.

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I get frequent e mails from ladies asking me questions about makeup. What’s the best brand? What will last the longest? Where can I find the brightest colors?

I know what works best for me, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to turn to some true divas who know makeup from makeup. Beauties who use makeup to transform their look completely from day to night. I reached out to my amigas in gorgeousness — three of Miami’s most fabulous drag queens.

My last post on drag queen makeup was forever and a day ago, so I’m long overdue for a fresh update.

Who better to ask than three of my favorite divas who live, love and entertain in the 305? As a special bonus, I’m gonna throw in my two cents with a special makeup recommendation for each of these faboosh ladies.

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