Rebel 4 a Cause Series-July-September info

Good Morning my Lovelies!!!
Today I am introducing to you the collections that will be releasing in a couple weeks. This will be another Rebel 4 a Cause Series release for the months of July-September.

      July is special for me because not only is it my birthday month but I decided to do outreach for something that has been close to home for me for a long time. I personally was raised in this weird Buddhist/Hindu/Christian Church called Ananda, it means light in Sanskrit. It was relatively Unitarian but focused mainly on a Christ conscious philosophy. If anyone is familiar with Hinduism, they believe in a Krishna Conscious centric belief system. However many of the great teachings of Siddhartha and the great yogis like baba Gee, etc where examined. Anyway I digress and my hippy upbringing has little to do with July's cause other than the time I remember in my youth that my "Church" sponsored a bunch of Tibetan children to come to the US for a month and they put on a performance of the life of the Buddha for us, many of them barely able to recite their English lines. That and I have seen the majestic and beautiful mandala sand carvings by true Tibetan Buddhist monks several times in my life in Nevada City, CA. What dedication and devotion to spends days creating this amazing piece of art only to destroy it. Which is part of why I understand detachment from many things. Create and release it.

 July 2014 Collection- Free Tibet?!?
This collection will contain 5 items:

1- Red and dandelion yellow glitter bomb nail polish- "His Holiness the 14th  Dalai Lama"

1- Nude Holographic nail polish- "The middle way approach"

1-Nude shimmer eye pigment- "Om Mani Padme hum"
1-Red Semi Matte eye pigment- "Dharamshala"
1- Midnight Navy matte eye pigment- "Free Tibet"

July's collection's donations will go to fund Tibetan Refugees in Dharamshala and the benefit the exiled government in McleodGanj.

     August's collection is a matter of contention for many. Something everyone wants to pretend doesn't exist, but it does. In 8th grade, oh sooooo many years ago, my chemistry teacher went on a giant tirade about how global warming was a bs myth and not real... Well, not sure if my west coasters have noticed, but California didn't have a winter this year, it went from summer to spring and is now back in full swing summer. The ocean's temperatures and sea levels have risen steadily and dramatically over the last decade due to globally rising temperatures as well as melting glaciers and ice shelves. Now we may be technically entering into another ice age soon, however we are causing such irreversible damages with our carbon pollution that this "Ice age" is what will surely become a myth. No real life has ever survived or experienced the types of green house effects that ravaged Venus, but if we can take a que from our neighboring planet, let's just say that we need to get our asses in gear.

August 2014 Collection- It's getting HOT in herre... (Yes it really makes me think of this, lol)
This collection will contain 5 items:

1- Gold and hot pink Glitter bomb nail polish- "Sunkissed"

1- Coral holographic nail polish- "Global Hottie"

1- Coral shimmer eye pigment- "Endless Summers"
1- Metallic Gold eye pigment - "Exponentially Hotter"
1- Sheer shimmery pink Cheek and lip creme- "Melted"

     September's issue is another that I take seriously. I get really mad at people that just throw their trash where ever and having lived by the pacific ocean, I know first hand what marine debris is and what it does. ( I pick up trash all the time, cause no one else seems capable!) The problem of pollution goes much further than that, from our cars, to our mass consumerism to something as menial as balloons for a birthday party. This, like global warming, is a pan global issue that needs to be globally addressed and worked on. Island nations are taking a brunt of the trash that washes up on shore and suffocates their tourism, but not only that, our precious oceans take the true proverbial bullet for all our shiny plastic and the way we can't make it into the receptacles and from there into the landfills, DO YOUR PART, REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYLCE, UPCYCLE... Above all else, remember, you have a choice and the power to make an action that will reverberate throughout the world. No one needs your birthday balloons choking a sea turtle or fish, which could end up on your dinner table, or worse yet, will never be able to do anything as plastic kills in a slow, painful and excruciating sort of way... Watch out megaladon and mercury, our oceans have an even scarier killer on the loose... Your plastic grocery bags...

September 2014 Collection- Dirrrty
This collection will contain 5 items:

1- Grey Glitter bomb nail polish- "Beijing fog" (Click the link, Beijing isnt even the worst...)

1-Dark Brown Holographic nail polish- "DO YOUR PART!"

1- Matte Dark Brown eye pigment- "Dirt Clean"
1-Dark Silver shimmer eye pigment- " Marine Debris"

1- mid tone Almond brown lippie in a tube- "Tsunami Slide" ( This one was made as a nude for a Filipino friend, but natural disasters actual create a huge amount of trash and debris that sometimes is never cleaned up, keeping those areas in disaster zones for decades...)

    I just wanted to keep you all updated on the releases coming out soon, are you getting excited? I am. The amazing Kimber's Lacquer Korner   is receiving her PR box today and will have some amazing shots for us of these products before the preorder on the 28th of the June, may be pushed back just a little bit, but hoping not so that we can get these beauties out to you by the 4th. Not sure if you all noticed that July's eye pigments are rather patriotic!!! I will be doing full inspiration posts for each collection, but this way you all get the heads up before they come out! XOXO

***ALL Swatcher credit goes to Kim N.. and myself!

Rebel 4 A Cause Series April- Gaia Love Collection and inspirations

Hello Loves,
Since my Hiatus I have changed a few things around. I realized I was making myself bonkers thinking I can do monthly releases and keep up. So I decided to release three months at a time, this gives me time to formulate, package, plan and release the collections while giving myself time in between each collection release for other things like collaborations with other indies or releases that are more fun and not cause based. Don't get me wrong I love the cause collections but it has been a nightmare with logistics and quite frankly I'm not making any money off it. Which isn't even a profit issue so much as a make enough to keep going issue. SO I did try to resolve that with the Invader Zim releases. Anyway...

APRIL-GAIA LOVE COLLECTION

      Since April is Earth Month to me, or at least it has an Earth Day, I wanted a collection that not only made one think but also made one aware of themselves and this wonderful planet we live on. I am fortunate enough to live in a state where drought and fires are very prevalent. This is supposedly one of the worst droughts in 30 years on record. I say fortunate only because it makes me very aware of my water usage, my electricity usage and my own carbon footprint. Do you ever think about these things? As a whole global planet, we are abusing the crap out of our home. If you don't keep your own domicile clean and happy, what happens? I can't pretend to understand everyone else's mentalities, only to share my own.

   Our earth is a finite resource, this means, when we have used, abused and destroyed her, what then? We are very much on a solid path of destruction. Everything we do either contributes to one side or another. Who uses Dove? Did you know dove uses south east Asian rain forest for their supposedly sustainable palm farms. Did you also know that they give their farmers free range to murder ANY animal that enters the farm, whether it be our closest living genetic relative the Orangutan (My fave Great Ape, not Monkey, although we are all PRIMATES, and to prove their closeness, just watch a video of a baby orangutan crying, shave it and its just an ugly human infant) or any other endangered or protected species, such as Elephants, Tigers and Rhinos. 

   I'm not a huge Greenpeace fan, conceptually yes, action wise no, they have become as inflammatory as PETA, however this video sums up all I just said in about 1.5 minutes...Anti-Palm Farm campaign

Here is an article that explains in detail the info on the Deforestation of Borneo, Sumatra, Indonesia and elsewhere and what that actually means for us as a global community-Article, Click me

If you can't read, Click and watch me!

Here's another by product of the Palm oil deforestation-Slash and burn problem...

   I personally refuse to use palm oil or any unsustainable, conflict or inorganic oil in my products, the organization I hope to benefit from this month's collection feels that this is not the answer. There are ways to meet market and global demands of products that don't include killing the earth or her children- WWF solution

   This is only one example of deforestation and it's devastating ecological effects in the world, all over raw and pure, unexplored forests are cleared for man's greed and the production of cheap and unsustainable products for the global market. What can you do to help? 

   DO reduce, reuse and recycle and my new fave to upcycle items that can be, watch your carbon foot print, I guarantee you wont die walking less than a mile to the store or to run a few errands, and when you do chose to purchase products, know where they come from and what your purchase supports, if I do nothing else in this world, I want to create conscientious shoppers...

This Months 25% will go to benefit one of my fave organizations ever- http://worldwildlife.org/

 Up First we have Gaia Love-

This gorgeous mid tone green shimmer shadow is the perfect mix of greens, golds and shimmer

Sunlit swatch

Shadow jar pic

Flash jar shot

This is Gaia Bruies on the left and Gaia Love on the right in natural light. top is raw, middle is wet and bottom is over NYX jumbo liner in Milk.

Next up is Gaia Bruises, a dark, almost brackish green with strong gold, teal and green shimmer in it, these two blend perfectly for a green based smokey eye. It almost reminds me of a deep bruise, initially I called it bruises heal, as in Bruises heal but extinction don't... Ruminate on that as I try to explain why Gaia- This whole collection is Gaia, it originally was inspired by my love of Bob Marley and his Song Kaia Love, for which I named my last dog. Here is what Senior Wiki says:

             "In Greek mythology, Gaia (/ˈɡeɪ.ə/ or /ˈɡaɪ.ə/; from Ancient Greek Γαῖα, a poetical form of Gē Γῆ, "land" or "earth";^[1] also Gaea, orGe) was the personification of the Earth,^[2] one of the Greek primordial deities. Gaia was the great mother of all: the primal Greek Mother Goddess; creator and giver of birth to the Earth and all the Universe; the heavenly gods, the Titans, and the Giants were born to her. The gods reigning over their classical pantheon were born from her union with Uranus (the sky), while the sea-gods were born from her union with Pontus (the sea). Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.^{[3]" Gaia-WIKI}

Gaia Bruises in Lightbox, top is raw, middle is wet and bottom is over NYX jumbo liner in Milk.

Shadow Swatch Credit to IG@AkroGirl 

She used the veil on the inside lid and that stunning shifting dark smokey green on the rest of the lid.

In this Collection we are offering a Blush called Gaia Blood, it is a very rusty, red blush with shimmer, it is a bit darker than our first blush, Addis Ababa. I thought of the rust reds we get from the iron core of our planet, the blood of our earth. This blush will give a healthy glow to any skin tone and is, as all our pigments are, always oil, paraben waxes and filler free.

In Sunlight

 With Flash

In Shade

The Beautiful Karin Using all three pigments from this collection

The Polish in this month's collection, if you could guess are green, go figure, my style lately has been to include one glitter bomb and one either grelly (Glitter Crelly) or a ConShimmer (Contrasting Shimmer)

I have one Glitter bomb and one Conshimmer for you, the Glitter bomb is proving to be a crowd fave.

Up First is Gaia Graffiti, a glitter bomb with black, white, and all shades and finishes and sizes of green glitters, I consider it the earth tagging us back...

 In shade

With Flash

My favorite!!! Macros: Swatcher Credit: Kim

IG@Tbergy97 

Her swatch shows Gaia Graffiti over Gaia Tears with some fun nail art added.

The second polish for April was Gaia Tears. It was a mossy army green with strong blue and turquoise shimmers. This would be the tears part of Gaia.

Swatcher Credit: Kim

IG@Millnpolish

***Also since the release of this collection I have added 5ML Mini bottles for press samples and also for purchase as I know that budget and desire sometimes do not equate 15ML, lol.

 I have decided I will not continue any of the polish from this collection, when gone, it's gone, get yours before that happens****
XOXO,
Ashes
I,A.M...CustomColor Cosmetics and Lacquer

The Veil Collection Inspiration... Nine parts of Desire.

Hello Custom Colorists!
This one promises to be an emotional doozy. And before I start, I just want to apologize to anyone it may offend. I, in no way blame religion, ethnicity, location, or indigenous culture for any of this, so much as just the thought that anyone person can tell any other person, animal or thing, what they can and cannot do. To just simply sit by and watch silently is just as bad of an atrocity. Isn't this what we are teaching the kids about bullying? That there are consequences and there are no bystanders...
     As I sit here and reflect on Martin Luther King Jr. Day about the not so distance racism and segregation that was the cause of civil rights riots, marches, and speeches. Oh the great speeches. The man himself said he dreamed that everyone could one day live in equality, not judged by the color of their skin, all his brother and sisters. All his brothers AND ALL HIS SISTERS. I wonder if even as a man back then, he truly meant that, all human beings, humans, every single one, equal. Despite the color of our skin, to hold any equal footing among the genders is still at this point an utter illusion, however hope is something they cannot kill. Even in America where we supposedly have this equality, I am still confronted everyday by racism, profiling, gender inequality and segregation. And yet all this, I still feel blessed compared to some of our fellow sisters elsewhere in the world.

   What got me really going about the Veil and all that it represents, disguises, hides, and diminishes, was this book by Geraldine Brooks- Nine Parts of Desire Book-(Click), Which truly opened my eyes to the very different and very limited world of other women and girls. Her book covers quite a few of the issues that many International Women's Rights Organizations focus on as some of the more heinous acts of human rights violations. She writes first hand reports as a "western" woman traveling as a journalist in countries, where purely being an unaccompanied female is a crime. Where women need permission to work, drive, travel, and must cover their hair, faces, and bodies in the name of religious posterity.

   She goes to an Ethiopian hospital where they help to reconstruct the damage done to young women whom suffer horribly due to childbirth from having previously undergone a procedure known as  FGM (Click), or Female Genital Mutilation or Female circumcision (Link), which an antiquated rights of passage ritual that causes far more pain and complications than it is even worth. Not to mention to just read the description of what is actually done is sickening, it is maiming and a complete and total attack on what it is to be organically female. To call it a circumcision is a misnomer. It is absolutely mutilation and a violation of human rights.
    This picture doesn't even really show the actual destruction that this procedure really does. Click here to see actual photos(Warning, GRAPHIC). There is one of keloid scarring that is beyond belief. Ever have a scar be bumpy, tight and itchy? Imagine that in place of your genitals. Let alone urinating, menstruating, and birthing from that? Absolute mutilation and destruction, all justified under a religion that truly has nothing at it's core to do with any of the atrocities carried out in its name.

If you want to help- Click Here for- www.stop-fgm-now.com/

    

    Some of things caused by this horrible procedure are called fistulas. This happens when the baby sits in the birth canal too long because the vaginal opening is so badly scarred and mutilated that it can't pass through. Eventually, the tissue starts to die and rot and holes are formed in the rectum and bladder and vaginal walls causing urine and feces to leak uncontrollably through the vaginal opening. This causes infection, sepsis, and for some death, that is if 10 days in labor and finally birthing a stillborn didn't do it first. 

   For some women surgery can help and or completely fix this problem. For some the problem is so bad they will be left essentially using a plug forever to keep from leaking all the time and becoming a social pariah... All of this is explained, along with the truly touching personla stories and experiences of young Ethiopian women can be seen on the documentary A Walk to Beautiful which you can watch, firsthand, Here.

    Here is a link to a site that host many of the wonderful International Women's Rights Organizations that you can help, volunteer and donate to and will help you better understand the human rights violations that happen all around the world, every day to women and children, a Click Link and Here

  One of the organizations to keep an eye on is www.aiwr.org/, not only do they perform outreach to people to help donate to do good, but the good they do is even better than giving money and goods. They work to, in their own words, "Connect, Educate, and Empower" and I couldn't agree more. Not only give her the means to better her life and that of her children but her community as a productive member. I wish I could remember the name, but basically this German organization does outreach in India to those that are considered the untouchable and of lower castes, (What, you say the castes system has been abolished for 70-ish years! To this I say, just wait a couple months and we will definitely be investigating that!) and they do outreach about infanticide that is predominant in poor and rural peoples where a girl baby, especially a second one is not worth their weight in gold. They not only educate the communities to put an end to these killing but also to give palm trees that will fruit so that they can sustain a meager income and food! You can't just feed the poor, you need to help them find sustainability and longevity. 

   Another couple of organizations to watch are- www.globalfundforwomen.org/, UN- Women, and Amnesty.

Here are 12 of the Current Abuses of Women's Rights that should be considered:

1) Gender Specific Infanticide

2) "Honor" Killings

3) Female Genital Mutilation

4) Forced Prostitution, Abortion, or Marriage

5) Harassment and imprisonment by "morality" squads

6) Slavery

7) Restricted Freedom of Movement
8) Sexual Assault, but especially during War
9) Denial of basic health care
10) Child Marriage
11) Maritally Justified Violence/beatings
12) Self-Immolation


     I feel like human right's and women's rights are all such a huge subject that it is hard to really try and get it all under one tent, whether it is a circus tent or not. It isn't all just this horrible brutality. There are those that stand up to these injustices, even if it is just in the form of a forbidden book club like in Azar Nafisi's Reading Lolita in Tehran or in the very saucy, but very enlightening The Almond, which explores one Muslim woman's sexual awakening and exploration of pleasure, you know, the things considered naughty and wrong. A voice found where none exists.
   If we truly cannot imagine or work toward a world where true equality exists, shoot me now. I don't anticipate it happening in my lifetime but a girl can hope, right?!? If not, what is the point of striving higher to be told you wont ever make the same salary or allowed the same basic freedoms and rights. When will be have a woman president in the US? If it follows how rights were given in the past, then we still have like 80 years. Oh well. What ever you do, DON'T give up, DON'T give in and NEVER stay silent!!!

The Veil Pigment 

Obviously named after the collection and the hypocrisy that the forcible covering of beautiful creatures represents. Everyone is to lack identity and all look the same, this nude can help you do that, but deep down we know, there is a quiet rebellion going on under that veil.

2nd Class

Named for the many ways, many women are treated around the world. The objectification, inequality and mistreatment of women all over the world, like an object to be owned, many women become, Second class citizens. However they treat you, they won't be able to put you down as you can't help but shine in this gorgeous sultry and mysterious pigment.

   

What's FGM?

I think we have thoroughly established what FGM is, now what are you going to do about it? Educate anyone who you think may not know. That is the problem with most of these issues, either people just don't know, or purposefully ignore it, I really hope not. Not only do I hope this has opened your eyes, but this shadow will do it's fair share of eye opening too!
 One more Documentary about this awful tradition...

Addis Ababa

This beautiful shimmering blush reminds me of a desert rose, tough and strong and yet still ever delicate. I tried to capture the renewed vive that I can only imagine the better cases in A Walk to Beautiful experience. It was almost named Ms. Hamlin, but who the heck would understand that? This Amazing lady, along with her husband traveled to Addis Ababa Ethiopia in 1974 and never left. They started the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital for prenatal and OB/GYN Care. You can learn more about her and her work here. Young, renewed and full of hope is the look you will give when wearing this blush. Shown very opaque here.

Chador

This color inspired me because of the practice of veiling in Iran. Most of the younger generation will quite literally have this cumbersome, usually black shawl that covers their hair, neck, shoulders, and ears. Under this will be designer jeans, shoes and accessories. This juxtaposition reminds me of something like a classic nude bedazzled in gold glitter, again, that quiet rebellion. I am wearing this color as we speak and it is so much fun! A quick favorite.

A Valentine's practice mani.

 CEDAW in Syria

This crazy black crelly was named after the UN's Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women. Which can be seen Here. I added Syria because of all the horrible acts of civil war that are going on over there currently and also the inherently violated rights of all peoples during times like this. The idea was no matter what kind of media, social, and networking black outs you place on us, someone, somewhere is going to be noticed and heard. Just like this rainbow crelly, don't be afraid to be you, just you, the way you are, speak out, stand up and shine on exactly the way you want to be!

Don't forget to mark your Calenders For International Women's Day March 8th, 2014!

    This collection doesn't even begin to express how much I appreciate woman and the creative, divine force we all have. We exude raw love, sex and power. While this can be absolutely abused, it shouldn't be abused for us. Our bodies, our choice, our rights! Rights that many are denied. Just because forced covering is justified by saying, "God created 10 parts of desire and gave nine of them to women." makes it no more correct than saying anyone is better than anyone because of the color of their skin. I hope in the future that all women, all peoples, around the world are given the same rights and freedoms as everyone else and that peace, if it can truly be accomplished, can thrive! I thank you all for lending me your ears! Take the time to tell a special lady or two what they mean to you and how much you appreciate them! I know this was rough and it wont always be easy to hear, but these are the one's that don't have their own voices and for them and myself, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving an ish!!!

XOXO

***KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR RELATED UPCOMING COLLECTIONS ABOUT THE CASTE SYSTEM AND CHILD BRIDES/PROSTITUTION.***

Also, ALL comments are welcome, whether you agree or not, please keep it clean and friendly. Outright slander, bullying, ignorance and threats will be deleted! Thank you for understanding and complying!!!