Beauty. It's deeply personal, purely individual and surprisingly public. A woman's appearance is an outward reflection of who she really is. Jay Manuel Beauty is about self-sourcing your style and finding the path to you. So says the man himself. Jay Manuel is a name you might recognise and associate with America's Next Top Model and Fashion Police and now he has brought to the world his own cosmetics brand which he say is about empowering modern women to enhance their unique beauty and to do that, the range utilises the highest quality ingredients, sophisticated pigments and can we just add, some pretty amazing packaging which is sleek and just delightful.
I was lucky enough to fangirl, I mean meet Jay at a recent event where he took the time to speak to myself and a few others and talk through some of the products. Throughout his career, Jay has noted that most women fall into three broad categories: Classic, Avant-Garde and Iconic, sometimes not exclusively and sometime a mixture of all three. It is these three categories which are reflected across the Jay Manuel beauty brand.
- Classic: A look that is relevant always. opts for a fresh-faced, natural look that has an understated elegance. Prefering neutrals and classic colours without a lot of flourishes. Products will be easy to blend and build, ideal for a no muss, no fuss approach or simply the more subtle look.
- Iconic: A strong statement that is remembered through time. Makes a powerful and sophisticated impressed through the use of strong colour, smoky eye and plenty of drama. Wants the flexibility to define the look based on occasion, hot trend or mood. Products are more layered and create seductive, high-impact looks which command attention.
- Avant-Garde: Throwing away all the rules. Loves to experiment and isn't afraid to take risks. The look is cutting edge and often extreme, featuring highly eclectic and eccentric choices. Products will include a variety of intense colours and unusual finishes that are mixed and matched with wild abandon.
With products ranging from Foundation, lipstick, lipgloss, Mascara, eyeshadow quads, eyeliner, blusher, bronzer, powder and concealer to name just a few, there is plenty to get stuck into. I have been lucky enough to play with two of the Ultimate Lipsticks, all of which have very playful names, mine are Nudiest which as you can see is a beautiful nude shade and Siren which is a beautiful red shade that I am hoping I can pull off. I love the packaging, as I have said it is sleek, nothing too over the top and you can see what the product is and who it is by all in one look. Described as being "Bold, statement-making lipsticks saturate lips with high-intensity pigments and create long lasting definition with deep, luscious hydration" one thing for sure is that they glide onto the lips with ease and are just so super soft, they are a delight to wear. There are 15 different lipstick shades to choose from
The Soft Focus Powder Blush which comes inside a sleek compact and is adorned with the initials JM, I have shade Bella which is a slightly pinkier shade than I would usually choose, but it is a shade which gives a light dusting of colour to the cheekbones and can be built up to give as much colour as you are comfortable with. It is available in 5 other shades and in my opinion, well worth looking at because it is divine.
The Ultimate Lip Gloss in shade Wet. On the lips it glides on so quickly and effortlessly to give a really good shine and as it is clear there is no colour. Thankfully it is neither sticky or tacky which is a massive no for me when it comes to a gloss. It is formulated with luxurious pigments and extra fine crushed gemstones and uses Diamond dust which refracts light giving lips a soft focus and high shine. The wand has really flexiable silicone tip making it easier to complete the application.
The Everything Mascara in black features an adjustable and retractable wand which features two different lengths of bristles allowing you to twist and pull through your lashes to ensure each one is coated. Designed to maximise length and volume, I love that this mascara doesn't clump, it doesn't have a scent and you can reach those small little inner lashes easily without poking yourself in the eye.
The Jay Manuel Beauty collection is available now on QVC and if you are never sure what shades might be right for you, then you can download Jay's app and it gives customised make-up recommendations based on your style, identifies your skin tone to recommend your shades, and suggests shades for you based on products you already own.
*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise