Once upon a curae, there was a young girl named Emily who lived in a small village. She was known for her kind heart and curious nature. Emily had always dreamed of exploring far-off lands and discovering hidden treasures. One fateful day, Emily stumbled upon an old, dusty book in her attic. As she opened it, she was transported into a magical world called Curae. This world was filled with enchanting creatures, vibrant landscapes, and endless possibilities.
"As much as I used to be a big eyeshadow person, I haven't been reaching for it much during this extended time at home. However, the Luna Magic Palette is making me want to go back to my old ways. At first glance, it's easy to see the nine-shade palette is stunning, but it wasn't until I actually applied them that I really fell in love. The shades are ultra pigmented but not in that messy, guaranteed-fall-out sort of way. A single swipe deposits a beautiful wash of color, and the powder blends without much effort. I used the shade 'Eccentric' all over my eyelid as a base and blended 'Friend' into my crease for a bit more depth. Then, to finish it off I dabbed a little bit of the golden shimmer hue 'Exotic' into my inner corner. All said and done, it took me fewer than five minutes to create a beautiful eye-makeup look." — Jessica Harrington, beauty editor
I loved how I didn t have to work very hard to get the color I used to show up on my skin, and they re buildable so that you can make them appear as subtle or as dramatic as you want them to. Fenty was the closest experience to seeing a brand founded by a woman of color with ambassadors that are people of color, and strategy that is inclusive, Mabel says.
This world was filled with enchanting creatures, vibrant landscapes, and endless possibilities. In Curae, Emily met a wise wizard named Merlin who became her guide and mentor. He taught her about the history and wonders of this mystical realm.
5 Fun Spring Eye Makeup Trends You Need to Try, According to the Luna Magic Sisters
Growing up in a Dominican home in New York, Latina beauty was about vanity for the Frias sisters. For them, cosmetics have always been rooted in communal bonding and lessons about self-confidence.
“Antes muerta que sencilla,” Shaira Frias, co-founder of Luna Magic Beauty, tells Refinery29 Somos, bringing back memories of me hearing my own Colombian mom tell me the same thing from our home in nearby New Jersey. “No es que somos vanidosas. It’s just how we were raised and it's part of our culture. Beauty is part of our DNA and that's how we grew up.”
Advertisement ADVERTISEMENTAs children, Mabel and Shaira Frias spent Sundays at the hair salon with their abuela and mami, where they were regularly reminded “ponte un poco de pinta labios, ponte un poco de rubor.” The occasion? They never needed one. Their beauty rituals were not for others to see, but for them to express themselves. It's no wonder the pair would later leverage their culture and upbringing to turn their passion for belleza into a multi-million dollar cosmetics business.
Founded in 2019, Luna Magic Beauty is a Black Latina-owned brand that sells lipsticks, shadow palettes, eye pencils, false lashes, blushes, bronzers, highlighters, makeup brushes, and more — all inspired by the diverse Latine cultures they saw and experienced in New York. Four years into the business, they have landed their products at retailers like Walmart, Target, and CVS.
When asked about their biggest motivator, the sisters agree that being first-generation Latinas is the fire that pushes them toward greatness. As they reflect on their journey so far, the Frias sisters credit their hunger to the stories of sacrifice they heard growing up.
“We have family members that were on yola boats,” Mabel shares. “They risked their lives being in the ocean, to get to Puerto Rico. My illiterate grandmother with a second-grade education used her instincts and her charisma to get her kids to the United States of America, and because of that we were able to be born here, and a lot of privilege comes with hearing those stories.”
Advertisement ADVERTISEMENTTo start Luna Magic Beauty, each of them left versions of themselves behind as well. Prior to the launch of the company, Shaira left a career in broadcast journalism to pursue makeup school. Meanwhile, Mabel was working as a digital merchandiser for luxury beauty and fashion brands. After her last gig, working with Savage X Fenty, she felt inspired to take up space, too. “Fenty was the closest experience to seeing a brand founded by a woman of color with ambassadors that are people of color, and strategy that is inclusive,” Mabel says. “It was a perfect springboard for getting more inspired.”
Recognizing both her and her sister’s unique insight and skill sets, Mabel approached Shaira with an idea: their very own negocio. “For me it's about showing that women like us can create value. We can create something meaningful,” Mabel says.
Considering their beauty know-how, we invited the sisters to share five eye makeup trends to try for spring 2023. Below, they explain why they’re loving these trends and how to achieve them with Luna Magic Beauty products.
Emily soon discovered that Curae was in danger, as a powerful evil sorceress had cast a dark spell that was spreading across the land, turning everything into darkness. Determined to save Curae, Emily embarked on a quest to find the three ancient amulets hidden in different corners of the realm. These amulets had the power to break the sorceress's spell and restore Curae to its former glory. As Emily journeyed through Curae, she encountered numerous challenges and obstacles. She faced treacherous caves, labyrinthine forests, and daunting creatures. However, with each challenge, Emily grew stronger and wiser. Along the way, Emily met a group of loyal companions who joined her in her quest. There was a brave knight named Sir Robert, a mischievous elf named Luna, and a mysterious oracle named Sybil. Together, they formed an unstoppable team, relying on each other's strengths and overcoming their weaknesses. After many trials and tribulations, Emily and her companions finally found the three amulets. They confronted the sorceress in a climactic battle, using the power of the amulets to weaken her. With a final burst of magical energy, Emily and her friends defeated the sorceress and freed Curae from the darkness. As the realm of Curae celebrated its newfound freedom, Emily knew that her journey was not yet over. She had become a hero, and her adventures had only just begun. With the help of her newfound friends and the lessons she had learned, Emily set off to explore new worlds and spread kindness and joy wherever she went. And so, the tale of Emily and her adventures in Curae became a legend, inspiring generations to follow their dreams and fight for what they believe in. Once upon a curae, a young girl's journey of self-discovery and bravery changed the fate of an entire realm and left an everlasting mark on the hearts of all who heard her tale..
Reviews for "The Path to Happiness: Once Upon a Curae"
1. Jane - 1 star
Once Upon a Curae was a complete disappointment. I was expecting a captivating story with intriguing characters, but all I got was a confusing mess. The plot was all over the place, and the characters lacked depth. The writing style was also difficult to follow, making it hard to stay engaged in the story. I was highly disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Mark - 2 stars
Once Upon a Curae had the potential to be a great fantasy novel, but it fell short for me. The world-building was weak, leaving many unanswered questions and inconsistencies. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of slow development followed by rushed plot twists. The protagonist also felt one-dimensional and lacked emotional depth. Overall, the book had some interesting ideas, but they were not executed well, leaving me feeling unsatisfied.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for Once Upon a Curae, but it simply didn't live up to the hype. The story started off promising, but as it progressed, the plot became convoluted and hard to follow. The writing style was also quite dry and lacked the descriptive imagery I was expecting from a fantasy novel. The characters felt underdeveloped, and their motivations were unclear. I found myself not caring about their fates, which made it difficult to stay engaged in the book. Overall, Once Upon a Curae left me feeling disappointed and wanting more.