Brush Cleaning....You wash your face, right?

Makeup brushes are THE essential tool for your makeup collection.  Whether your makeup of choice is Dior, Cover Girl, or a little of it all, great makeup brushes are key for a perfect application.  I have a mixed collection of brands, Bobbi Brown, MAC, Benefit, E.L.F., etc.... but regardless of your brushes' price tag it is so important to regularly clean and maintain them.  I have heard lots of ways to clean and disinfect them, from brush cleansers to baby shampoo but the best way I have found to cleanse and condition them is a mixture of antibacterial dish soap and olive oil.  Yes, olive oil.  I place a 50/50 mixture of soap and oil on a plate, around a tablespoon of both, and swirl my brushes in the combo, coating the bristles but avoiding contact with the metal connector that attaches the bristles to the handle.  After soaking up the mixture I swirl the brush in the palm of my hand, rinsing under the flow of water in the sink.  It is amazing how much product comes out of the brush.  I keep swirling the brush around in my palm until the water runs clear.  After I have cleansed and conditioned the brush I shape them with my hand, back to their original shape and lay them on their side, on a towel to dry.  Try to avoid drying them in a cup, brush up, as the water can leak into the metal connector, loosening the glue that connects the bristles to the handle.  Try to cleanse your brushes once a week, especially those that are used to apply creamy textured products for not only a flawless brush but to keep that skin glowing.

Sun Damage, No Thank You!!

This is WHAT I AM LOVING right now.  It is fabulous!!  Run to buy Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad. 

I have spent years and years baking in the sun, looking for that high you get from a tan.  Only in my early 30's, with a face full of melasma, did I stop spending countless vacations seeking that sunkissed glow.  I have tried lots of sunless tanning products, but almost all of them have left me disappointed.  That is until now.  Not only does this product deliver a healthy, natural glow but it does so with no harsh or offensive smell and no stained fingertips.  Another big bonus in my mind is that it is Cruelty Free, Vegan and Paraben Free!  Great for your face and body, get that fabulous glow so you can glow year round.

Be lovely
xoxo
Suzanne

Mascaras, Worth the Price?

Mascara is one of my deserted island must haves.  I rarely leave the house without at least one coat and a touch of concealer.  I think that it makes all the difference in the world and without it, I feel totally undone.  Although I love cosmetics and find myself spending pretty pennies on fun, new products, I have a very hard time paying top department store prices for mascara. Is it worth the price?  After tubes and tubes of the stuff my answer is, sometimes.  Here are a list of my favorite drug store brands, that rivel most high end ones and a few that I think are not only worth the price, but are a must in my ever evolving kit.

$ Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara- Love the volumizing and legthening power of this mascara.  The brush is oversized and a bit clunky, maybe not the best if you have small eyes.  Don't bother with any color other than Very Black.

$ L'Oréal Paris True Match Naturale Mascara- A true natural look.  Doesn't clump or give you a scary spider look but does lengthen and volumize nicely. 

$ L'Oréal Paris Double Extend Waterproff Mascara- Best of the waterproof ( I would say water resistent) products that has a two step application with a base that creates volumized, all day wear amazing lashes.

$ Rimmel London Extra Super Lash Mascara- An inexpensive mascara that challenges any Dior mascara for depth of pigmentation and ability to layer for a dramatic and flirty look.

$$ Blinc Mascara (formally known as "Kiss Me")- the original mascara invented to form tiny water-resistant "tubes" around your lashes. The tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes. Easily removed with light pressure of your fingers or a wash cloth and warm water.  Worth every penny.  I picked it up at Sephora.

$$ Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara- My favorite new mascara that has pigment like none other.  The color is the blackest of black and delivers extreme volume.  Not for the natural girl look.

Play around, find what you like for the right occasion and wear MASCARA!

Be lovely
xoxo
Suzanne

Eyebrows Abound

It is pretty tough and really overwhelming to decipher the mixed messages telling us how to keep our brows lovely, soft and perfectly shaped.  We hear first waxing is best, then threading or wait, maybe tweezing. Maintaining those lovely eye-frames can be not only confusing but quite costly.  Waxing maybe the most widely available form of shaping your brows. It is quick, rather painless and cost effective.  Keep in mind that you do have many options to keep your eyebrows looking lovely, manicured and expressive.  Try one or or them all, lord knows I have.  Please just don't go on your own. Those eyebrow stencils that you can use to create a shaped brow only spell DISASTER. Put your brows in the eyes of a professional. My new favorite are brow bars that are popping up in cities and suburbs. I make a regular trip to Benefit's Brow Bar at Bloomingdale's.  They wax and tweeze to give a natural, shaped and elegant frame perfected just for your face.

After you have achieved that perfect shape it's time to talk products that will give a flawless finish to your snazzy and newly shaped brows.

I adore Makeup Forever's Waterproof Brow Corrector.  It's a waterproof eyebrow defining cream in a tube that fills, defines, and intensifies brows with natural-looking, stay-put color.  You must use a slanted brush to apply.  Trust me, you put this product on and you will be flawless all day and night.

Another must is Anastasia's Brow Wiz.  I am absolutely ga-ga over this product.  It delivers a precise application with its ultra-fine pencil tip, mimicking the appearance of tiny hairs.  This product is ideal for a natural look or use it to freshen up your shape when it seems as though your girls are unruly. Anastasia also makes another product that I covet for ladies with very sparse brows.  It is her Brow Pen. Not only does it fill in the brows with a true natural whispy hair look, it also can be used as a base for your other brow products for double duty long lasting wear. 

If you love a penciled brow look and can't seem to part from your method of brow filling check out Clinique's Instant Lift for Brows.  This two-in-one automatic brow pencil and pearlized highlighter duo creates a contrast and definition that give eyes a virtual lift. First, fill in and shape brows with long-wearing natural-looking pencil. Then optically 'boost' brow arches with universal highlighter shade just below brow hairs. A fantastic and portable manner of making your brow look amazing and your eyes open and bright anytime.

Be lovely
xoxo
Suzanne

Girlfriend or guru, maybe a little of both

Lisa Eldridge is a London based makeup artist with 20 years of experience. Her talents have taken her around the world working for top fashion magazines, celebrities and fashion houses.  Her signature look is fresh, flawless skin with a modern approach to beauty.  Despite her amazing success as an internationally respected artist, Lisa's expertise is quite accessible to us gals who love trying new looks.  Lisa posts how-to videos on her website,You Tube and most recently Chanel Confidential, a monthly digital magazine for the Chanel Beauty Division with topics ranging from what are her fav product picks from the drug store to how to create a perfect first date look.  Here a few videos and if you are anything like me, just after one, you'll be addicted.

I hope you have as much fun and find these as informative as I do.  Between Lisa Eldridge and Gwyneth Paltrow I think I have a competition for my "best friend in my head."

Be lovely

xoxo

Suzanne

Everything Illuminated....not on your wedding day

A make-up trial is an essential step in your bridal beauty planning.  It is so important to meet with the make-up artist to not only discuss, but to see how you are going to look when walking down the aisle. Every bride should feel beautiful on their special day. 
The word shimmer is just so pretty and hey, who doesn't want to glow, but let's leave that shine to come from within on your big day.  Keep the shimmer out of any concealer, foundation or blush. Any product that light reflects, illuminates, highlights, sparkles or shimmers has a place in your makeup bag and even part of your daily routine, but NOT only your special day.  As lovely as these products are, they are not flattering in photographs.

Here are a few products that I think rock and will leave you flawless on your wedding day.

For us girls with combination/oily skin, Clinique's Acne Solution Foundation is fabulous.  It leaves your skin with a gorgeous, velvety matte finish.

Another foundation that will leave you not only radiant but also looking like you have perfect, I mean perfect skin is the Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation.  This miracle foundation formula leaves your skin flawless, both to your groom's and the camera's eye. 

Blushing brides should be that, blushing with a natural flush.  Depending on your skin tone you will have to adjust the color, but I love Nars Blush, my favorite Amour.  A gorgeous pinky peach that leaves a sheer hint of natural color made with transparent pigments.  Another good option is MAC Powder Blush in Mocha.  MAC's high concentration of pigment should have you blushing all day or night. 

Now that your skin looks incredible, let's have it go all night.  Have someone in your bridal party carry the essential touch-up products like lipstick and powder.  Make sure you have blotting powder to take away any shine from your T-Zone without depositing noticeable color or texture to your skin.  MAC's Blot Powder Pressed is probably the most widely used and recommended by tons of experts.  Also, Bobbi Brown makes  Blotting Papers which will absorb shine and perspiration from the skin without leaving any trace powder behind to dull your makeup.

I hope your wedding is incredibly memorable and you feel like the beautiful bride you are.  You soooo got this.

Be lovely

xoxo

Suzanne



My Favorite Things

This is just a short entry to tell you about a product I recently picked up at Bloomingdales.  Benefit has a beautiful new counter there, so feminine and intimate.  I popped in to see what was new and went for the Stay don't Stray primer for concealers and eyeshadows $24.  It does exactly what it says, primes so beautifully, almost acting as a thin concealer with beautiful tone and texture.  I even use it alone when I just want to run out and give the skin underneath my eye and lid an even, lovely, soft look.

  

Be careful when you pump the product.  You will get way too much if you press down all the way.  Only push the pump half way to get a more controlled amount of product that won't be wasted.  Half a pump is more than you will need for a day worth of priming. Kudos to Benefit Cosmetics for reformulating their eyeshadow primer into a fabulous double duty primer for both concealer and shadow.

Be lovely
xoxo
Suzanne

Make it your own

Everywhere you turn, whether browsing in a book store, or watching daytime television, there are beauty experts who tell you exactly how to look your best. We follow the latest celebrity makeup artist to the letter, hoping to look like their celebrity client du jour. But what happens when that expert advice is the exact opposite of what you just read or heard from another beauty guru? With all of those mixed messages, how you do know what to do?  We are very used to contradicting messages when it comes to health and beauty, especially when it comes to dieting.  First we were told, 3 square meals a day, then we bought into the 5 mini meals to keep that metabolism going, then it was Atkins and then, whole grains and low fat!  Aggghhh.....what to do?  I think the key is, just like figuring out what works best for your figure, is to figure out your personal best through experimentation and having fun with different tones, textures, colors and methods of application.  We are all different, thank God for that, so let's celebrate by making our makeup style our own.

Here are some examples of debatable methods of application- try 'em all and see what looks best on YOU!

Concealer- I have heard from experts like Bobbi Brown that corrector and concealer is the "secret of the universe" and to apply it generously, around the eye and up into the inner socket framing the tear duct.  Others, like Carmindy, prefer to use concealer only for spot concealing and to use a brightener under the eye.  No matter which method you choose, pick that one that makes you feel bright and well-rested. 

Powder- Most experts that I have either spoken with, observed and worked with have chosen to use either a translucent or yellow toned loose/pressed powder to set foundation and concealer.  To many this is a crucial step that gives your makeup staying power however, I recently met with an Armani makeup artist who says that powder not only ages a woman, settling into her fine lines and wrinkles, but it stops her natural glow from shining. He perfers to skip the powder, allowing a woman to naturally glow. 

Bronzer- So, there exists a point of contention with the application of bronzer.  When I first started experimenting with makeup and watching some major experts in action, I always thought that bronzer had to hit the highest points of your face, giving you a naturally sun kissed glow.  Later I learned that bronzer, as with any matte darker powder, can be used as a contouring agent.  Experts like Bobbi Brown place the bronzer on the bridge of the nose, sweeping across the cheeks, giving you that fresh off the beach look while my new fav video blogger, Wayne Goss of the UK, chooses to use the bronzer on the perimeter of the face, starting with the temples and using a C like formation, filling in the face, under the cheekbones down to the jaw line and blending.  Whatever method you choose, own it and enjoy that bronzy glow. 

Highlighter- Lastly I will mention a method of application that I constantly am debating, to highlight the planes of the face, especially under the brow bone or not.  I have seen many artists highlight in three important places, under the brow bone, in the inner corner of the eye, framing the tear duct and along the upper cheekbone.  Carmindy even named this method, "Carmindizing."  I personally love this method and use it when I feel as though I need a pick me up.  Others feel very differently about the use of highlighter.  Stephen Moleski, celebrity makeup artist and Kim K's fav, believes that shimmer has no place above the crease and that it should be applied, "a little here, a little there" but never underneath the brow bone.  Whew!  What is a girl to do?

Ladies, I hope that whatever methods you choose to use, or not, you feel happy, glowing and lovely.  Have fun with your makeup, remember it washes off and can always be reapplied.  Be you, be confident, nothing wears better than a smile.

Be lovely
xoxo
Suzanne

In Vino Veritas

My passion for wine is one that I have explored joyfully for the past three years.  I have had the amazing blessing to have traveled to many of the world's finest wine producing regions and have had some life- changing wines that have warmed my soul, heart and belly.  Returning from a recent weekend in Sonoma, I was inspired to explore the benefits of the grape, not only for one's spirit, but for one's appearance.

Vinotherapie, pioneered by Mathilde Cathiard-Thomas and her husband, Bertrand Thomas of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte discovered that grape seeds discarded at the end of the grape harvest contained powerful anti-aging properties and have priceless benefits for the skin. The anti-oxidants contained in the grape seed polyphenols have an incredible capacity to fight free radicals, and therefore fight aging. The free-radical protection from grape seed polyphenols is unequalled in the plant world. With the experience of wine making behind them and a patented, stabilized grape-seed polyphenol, Caudalie was born.  (Source: The Caudalie Story).

Although there are many lines that now offer the benefits of the vine, I believe Caudalie is the finest.  Its patented formulas will make you feel luminous, awash in loveliness.  Here are a few of my absolute favorites from the Caudalie.

Premier Cru La Crème- An exceptional anti-aging treatment leaves skin velvety-soft. It regenerates and redensifies skin, filling wrinkles, firming and lifting, and minimizing dark spots for an evenly luminous look.

Pulpe Vitaminée Eye and Lip Cream- I love double duty products and this gel/cream for the eyes and lips instantly reduces the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles, lightens dark circles, decongests puffiness, and protects from free radicals.

Gentle Buffing Cream- A gentle, exfoliating face scrub that eliminates impurities, dead skin cells, and excess oil. 

What I love about all of these above products (inspired research for Michelle and Laura) is that they are free of parabens, sulfite, synthetic fragrance and dyes, and phthalates (lots of yucky but frequently used additives).

Ladies, one more thing....if you are craving a bit of vino indulgence, head to Caudalie's Vinotherapie Spa located at the Plaza Hotel in NYC.  Not only will you have an intoxicating beauty experience, but you will also get treated to a glass of one of Bordeaux's Premier Crus, Smith Haut Lafitte, in an incredibly luxurious setting.....what a magical pairing.

Be lovely

xoxo

Suzanne

Inspiring Women- Carmindy

I had the wonderful privilege of spending some one-on-one time with makeup artist, author and beauty expert of TLC's What Not to Wear this past Saturday morning.  She is a true beauty, both inside and out, who has dedicated her talents to make the everyday women feel beautiful.  The time I spent with her not only broadened my artistic ambitions but also left me with a profound appreciation for Carmindy's warmth, sincerity and style. 
Here are a few tips I learned and wanted to share with you all.....

- Find something about yourself that you love and play it up.  For me, it's my once hated big brown eyes.  She showed me how to showcase them without looking overdone or unnatural.

- Foundation, applied with a non-latex sponge, before concealer.  If you pile on the concealer and then follow it up with foundation, you are bound to wipe off all that coverage.  You want to start your makeup application, achieving a beautiful canvas, with foundation and then just spot concealing where necessary. Who wants to look like a scared raccoon.  I love Carmindy's Fast Fix Concealer, All Over Brightener.  It can be used in lieu of concealer and gives a wonderful brightness and glow, an instant pick me up.

-A step that will not only make you glow, but will give the appearance of luminating from within is the Carmindy highlighting trick, also known as "Carmendizing."  Simply take a nice shimmering highlighter and apply in three places, on top of the cheekbone, underneath the eyebrow and on the inside corner of the eyes, framing the tear ducts. She used the highlighter  in the Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette in Quartz to illuminate and wake up my tired Saturday complexion. 

-To give your lips a kissable pout, highlight the outside of you lips with a highlighting lip pencil or use the same shimmering highlighter from you instant definition eye shadow palette to frame the cupid's bow. Use a shimmer gloss in the center of your bottom and top lip, over a creamy lipstick to get that glow without gooping.

It was really a true pleasure to spend my Saturday morning with Carmindy and I wish her all of the success and beauty in the world.  She is sunshine....

Be lovely
xoxo
Suzanne

Jennifer's Smile

I for one have always been rather neutral regarding team Jen or Angie.  They are both wildly successful, talented and beautiful women.  They are both the envy of many and the ideal in which many women compare and despair, but no matter how extraordinary Angelina's beauty is......there is just something about Jennifer.  I think it is because Jennifer's beauty is approachable and her style, effortless.  Jennifer recently opened up and shared with Telegraph of UK what she keeps in her makeup bag.......... 

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint: "This cream blush give my face a lovely, rosy glow.  I prefer a natural look during the day."

Chanel Levres Scintillantes lip gloss: “This is conditioning, long-lasting and has a great sheen. I use Chanel eye shadows, too.” 

Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream: “This natural skincare range really suits my skin. It’s very soothing and smells exquisite.”

Jennifer Aniston Eau de Parfum (I never would have guessed): “I don’t like overpowering perfumes. I designed this fragrance to be light yet sensual with a hint of the ocean, which reminds me of home.”

L’Oreal Smooth Intense Nutrileum Serum: “I have wavy hair so a serum really helps to smooth it out. After years of working with amazing hairdressers I can blow dry it pretty well myself now.”

PS- Make your makeup bag your own, have fun and play with both color and texture. It's only makeup and it does wash off.

Be lovely

xoxo
Suzanne

35,000 Feet Up and Fabulous

Airplane travel can be invigorating and thrilling or fear-evoking and frustrating and more often than not, a mix bag of it all. You are cramped into a flying tube with recycled stale air and fluctuating temperatures. This causes havoc on our skin, hair, nails and quite often challenges the strength of our deodorant. I have some basic rules that I follow on a travel day that help me feel lovely, whether on a short flight down to Miami or an across the pond overnighter to see Big Ben.

1) Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. People often drink lots of water before and on the plane to keep hydrated but your skin also needs moisture to fight off the harsh, pressurized recycled air. I often stop at makeup counters at department stores and ask for samples. I keep a Ziploc bag of samples and pop a few in my purse to make sure I always have a disposable tube or two with me for the flight.

2) Don't neglect your lips. Aquaphor, purchased at most drug stores, locks in moisture and your lips will thank you for it. Use some for your cuticles to keep them from drying and cracking and a bit on those unruly eyebrows.

3) Wear as little makeup as possible on the plane so you can apply the first and freshest application before landing. It is virtually impossible to re-apply mascara and still have that natural, no clump lash, so save it for when it counts. If you feel you need a little something on your face besides moisturizer before take off, try using a little bit of corrector/concealer only wear you need it, on the inner corners and underneath your eye to conceal darkness and gently apply a bit of yellow based powder on top to seal and set. Try a pop of color with pink or coral blush on the apples of your cheeks and a gloss to brighten up your face. My secret weapon to combat a dull complexion or sleep deprived eyes is to take a shimmer highlighting shadow and apply a dab to the inner corners of your eyes, with that same finger or smudge brush glide a bit on the highest point of your cheekbone, the bridge of the nose, and in the V shape framing your upper lip. Touche Eclat by YSL is another highlighter that will make you look as if you have slept for hours and are fresh and awake. (Big black glasses are always a good idea, especially if you feel your eyes look set in without makeup.)

4) Lastly, you want to arrive to your destination smelling as fresh as you look.  I recommend dabbing a bit of apple cider vinegar under you arms pre-flight before layering on deodorant. This will kill the odor causing bacteria rather than just masking it. Secondly, take a sample of a fresh, clean, citrusy fragrance to apply in the bathroom.  It is a wise idea to apply any fragranced product in the bathroom, not to offend your fellow travelers.  

Have a fabulous flight…..

Be lovely

xoxo

Suzanne