This week's beauty segment is special as I had the chance to not only interview Karen Robinovitz, Creatrix of Purple Lab , but we have a recent video of her on an appearance at CW11 earlier this week AND I actually hung out with her and some amazing people from her team at a recent beauty/yoga event! So everything you may have wanted to know about her, the brand and Huge Lips Skinny Hips, can be found right here! Not a bad way to spend this Thursday. The interview is below and of course the video is above.

For the past few years, we have heard of a lot of products that have hit shelves that plump your lips. Although I was a fan of Too Faced, I didn't like the tingling (read - burn) that I felt when I used it and I felt that it made my lips feel dry and a bit sticky which is not what I was going for. When I used products that had the plump "solution" and color in it, once again the sensation wasn't pleasant and my lips felt tight. Somehow there didn't seem to be a balance. Then as I was reading Twitter, I happened to see that one of my friends Jeannine of Beauty Sweet Spot @beautysweetspot, was talking to @PurpleLabNYC and that various members of their team was online. I was definitely intrigued, much like the founder I love purple and I wanted to know about the lab. I found out that this was a beauty line and one that empowered women (more below in the interview) and I loved the collection and the names. Of course after reaching out to their PR and talking with the Creatrix, I found myself accepting an invite to a Yoga Beauty party and got the opportunity to try the gloss and I have to say, I'm a fan! Being someone that has recently embraced wearing lip gloss that has a tint, it's definitely something that I will continue to grab when I head out the door.

The event was an AMAZING night with an intense yoga session that was desparately needed as many times, I'm so busy that I never take a second. In addition to the yoga, bonding and just enjoying one another's company, we had a session that was so intimate and revealing that I won't go into detail but it was amazing that everyone in the room seemed to be pushing or going into a direction and they needed an affirmation of sorts. It was such an honor to be in the room and here these revelations. As I left the amazing home of Libby the yoga instructor, I realized that the Purple Lab family (which will be making some amazing moves) is a tight family and definitely one of those companies that are truly holistic. It's not just about making an amazing product but the very events that they create nourish the body, mind and soul. If there was ever a company that I wanted to continue working with or for, this would be on the top of my list! Karen, the Creatix was such a profound presence that I'm excited to present the following interview that I had with her. Although this was done a day or so prior to meeting her, I can truly say that the person that I met is every bit of what you're about to read in her own words!

Interview with Karen Robinovitz of Purple Lab

Where do you see Purple Lab in terms of future product extensions?

We are in development with six new products right now and it will eventually be a line that covers all beauty needs - full face, creams, cleansers, hair, maybe even shoes one day! Everything will be double duty with a lot of flair and personality. I believe you can be sophisticated in formulation, chic and whimsical and fun at once. While the products are serious, my approach is more cheeky and that will always be a part of Purple Lab's DNA.

As far as specifics, I can't share just yet but I can share what we're doing for Breast Cancer Awareness month - a lip gloss called SWAC (Sealed with a Cure) in partnership with the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. I had never heard of triple negative breast cancer but when I met a group of amazing women who lost a good friend to this subtype of the disease, I thought it was important to do something. So this gloss is infused with Ecchinachea for the immune system, mangosteens which is a tropical fruit that is full of antioxidants, vanilla which is a natural anti-depressant and Vitamins C and E for moisture and nourishment. If you're going through chemo, the lips get very dry.

For a dose of glamour - and I believe all women should feel beautiful, especially when they are fighting an illness that, in essence, impacts their femininity - there is real gold flakes, adding sparkle.

The color is named Nancy, who inspired the foundation's creation when she passed away. Her friends created it in her honor. The gloss comes with her story.

It's a beautiful product, inside and out.

What can we expect to see for the Holiday Season?

Two fabulous new shades of Huge Lips Skinny Hips: Limo to Lobby, a lovely pink named after the fashion pieces made for fashion's sake, not for standing or sitting... literally, going from the limo to the lobby; Goji Berry Smoothie, a soft berry gloss after my favorite breakfast treat. It comes with my recipe.

A lot of new products will launch in January and you'll see soon! Still under wraps!

How did you come up with the name of the gloss line - were there other names that you thought about?

Well, the brand name, Purple Lab, is because my favorite color is purple - it's strong, playful, fun, and chic, everything the brand is. And Lab is two-fold - there is a mad scientist in my brain, constantly thinking of mixing things in an unexpected way, and also because I was applying to med school when I was in college (and I majored for biology). When I decided to move to New York to pursue a different career - one in fashion and beauty - my dad joked that I was turning in my lab coat for a "fab coat."

Huge Lips Skinny Hips was the ONLY name for this gloss - how could it be anything else? It came to me when I was at a cocktail party and plowed through so many carbs that I had to go home - I had ring around the waist and my pants felt one size too small. I joked to my husband, "if my lip gloss would plump my lips and not my hips, I wouldn't be in this mess." And that's when it hit me: lip gloss that has plumper and Hoodia! Huge Lips Skinny Hips!

The point of the gloss is to be a beautiful way of reminding yourself to be healthy. Appetite is mind over matter so this helps my mind!

How long has Purple Lab been around?

Launched in May - but it took two years of incubation and figuring things out to get here.

Where can we find Purple Lab and what celebs are loving it right now?

Right now, it's available at b-glowing.com, Scoop, C.O. Bigelow in NYC, Fred Segal Melrose, Ocean Beauty in Santa Monica, Bliss, Kitson in Los Angeles, and Bliss.

We're expanding in a big way very soon - announcements to come!

And our own e-commerce will be up by November.

Celeb fans include:

Lisa Rinna, Jennifer Love Hewitt, the cast of Gossip Girl (it's used on the show!), Nicky Hilton, Brittany Snow, Bridget Moynahan, and more!

If there was a goodie bag or gifting suite that you would love to have your product in - what would it be?

Oscars!

What has been the most unexpected part of this experience in creating this line?

Everything! I cannot believe how much goes into manufacturing, production, testing, warehousing, shipping - more than I ever imagined. I blog and vlog about it on my site so that it can be a road map for anyone looking to start her own thing.

How do you choose the colors that will be apart of the line and which one is your favorite?

I don't have a favorite - that is like asking a mother which child she loves the most. These are my babies. I think about the classic, go-to shades women need - I poll them, ask on Twitter and Facebook, and then I test them on women of all shades and complexions to make sure that each shade is universally flattering. I want the red to look good on a fair skin, dark skin, olive skin, etc. And same with all of the colors. It will be different with foundation and concealer, but for lips, it's about having the shades you can rely on no matter what!

I too love pole dancing classes and go to S Factor. I think it has such an empowering message and is a nice way to step outside of what I normally do to relax and yet have fun. What about that philosophy carries over to the line?

S-Factor and I have very similar mantras. We believe women should love their bodies, which is why there is a color on the line called "Love Your Thighs" (Just because I named the gloss Huge Lips Skinny Hips doesn't mean I define skinny nor does it mean we have to be skinny or that is the ideal - it's all cheeky and fun). We believe that women should feel their best, sexiest, and own every room she walks in. We believe women should be inspired and go after every single dream they have. Each product comes with a love note about its inspiration so that the woman using it can have that sense of glamour with them where ever they go.

Will you ever name the products after celebrities?

Well, we do have Worship Kate, a pinkish/mauve gloss with a hint of glitter. That was inspired by Kate Moss. We'll see where the rest of the line takes me.