Jenn Falik, Style & Beauty Expert: Favorite Finds

MAC products always get me into the mood to experiment with my makeup- and hence, much of my weekend was spent trying out new looks courtesy of a package I received last week with a preview of the brand’s fall offerings.

My first favorite is the Greasepaint Stick. Just the name alone is enough to make me obsessed with it. I gave it a go on an especially humid day, and it didn’t melt at all- delivering 18 hours of intensely sexy, shimmering smudge. And while this may sound odd- bear with me…It is the perfect product to wear on a no-makeup day, when you want to look just a little rumpled- rumpled in that mysterious “I wonder where she was last night” way.

Running errands on Saturday, I quickly swiped a lil’ grease on my upper and lower lash lines, smudged it out with a Q-tip, and voila- all I needed was a giant Starbucks to have everyone fooled that my life was much more exciting and glamorous than it actually is.

I still can’t believe that there isn’t a typo on the price ($25?!) for these Mark Blue Jean Denim Leggings. So many denim leggings I have found lately have issues- either in their quest to still qualify as denim they are too thick and add bulk, or in their urgency to be leggings, they are too soft and don’t do anything to help your legs look lean.

I couldn’t get over how comfy they were when I put them on, and when Brian- my husband who is in private equity by day but by night serves as my personal style sounding board- commented that he liked them, I was sold.

These must be paired with the highest heels you can muster- preferably something chunky so as to create the illusion of a slim leg. As the weather transitions into fall I have been topping these off with a thin tee or tank and a long boyfriend blazer, but as the temperature drops, long, cozy sweaters with oversized cowl necks in shades of grey and beige will come into the picture.

(My apologies- I don’t have a JPEG to insert but just couldn’t wait any longer to share this must-have, so check it out here.)

Ever since we got our adorable dog Norman and early morning and late night walks became part of the routine, my husband Brian has harassed me about my terrible dog-walking wear. There really is an art to throwing on comfy clothes and looking chic in seconds, especially as Norm squirms around the apartment desperate to get outside.

Until I discovered this Old Navy hoodie, I was the style spectacle of Madison Square Park. Instead of my bright red, ragged, 2 sizes too big sweatpants and a mismatched vintage tee shirt, I throw on black leggings and this- which is long enough to cover what I want covered (read: my butt) but is slim fitting so it doesn’t swallow me whole.

I totally forgot when I got ready this morning that I was going to be filmed for a piece on backstage beauty trends. Thinking this was going to be a completely off-camera, chained to my desk day, I ignored makeup for the most part. A little Jouer Tinted Moisturzer, some Stila Bronzer, and a few coats of my go-to Stila Major Major Lash Mascara.

Then, I looked at my calendar. Oops.

Scavenging through my beauty drawer at work, I came upon a Stila Smudge Pot in 24K- a deep black flecked with gold. I quickly dipped a skinny brush into the lava-like ink and lined my upper and lower lids. A little smudging with my index finger, and voila- I am camera ready. I almost forgot how much I LOVE this product- it is so easy to apply, doesn’t smear, and gives a dramatic effect that reads so well on-air. Or at least I hope so.

Off to catch a cab and head up to Bryant Park…

My style is not necessarily what one would call edgy. I am pretty much a girly girl when it comes to my wardrobe, and that is not really a good thing this fall when fashion is all about a rock & roll influence, tough girl look. I envy the stylemakers I have been seeing out and about at Fashion Week who look totally at ease in grey, slightly torn jeans, an oversized Alexander Wang white tee and a perfectly worn in motorcycle jacket. Not to mention open toe booties complete with stud details. If I were to don that attire, I would look- admittedly- ridiculous.

I like to ease into trends, get my feet (or in this case, my nails) wet before jumping in full throttle. Hence, my first foray into the world of rocker chic is with this new Sally Hansen HD polish in Opulent Cloud, which was created with Tracy Reese for her Fall 2009 collection. It is a super shiny metallic, lasts forever, and glistens when the sun hits it in the most beautiful way. Every time I look down at nails furiously typing away, I feel just a little bit cooler.

Now, if only I could master the rest of the look…Stay tuned.

When I am rushing out the door in the morning, I have a tendency to throw on a somewhat simple outfit- we are talking borderline boring. But ever since I incorporated this necklace into my wardrobe- by the incredibly talented sisters behind Dannijo- people have been complementing me on the same outfits that often go unnoticed. There is something about the Gia necklace that transforms whatever you are wearing into something much cooler.

And, while it looks like it would be heavy- it isn’t.

I love it so much that I hammered an extra hook next to the full length mirror in my closet to hang it on. This way, every morning as I give myself the final once over, I am reminded that whatever I am wearing will look that much better with this puppy around my neck.

The other night I was on my way to dinner in Soho when I happened upon the Rachel Rachel Roy pop-up shop on Spring Street. I had been tearing pages out of magazines for the past few weeks of the same faux fur long vest that was part of the collection- and I couldn’t beleive my luck when they had ONE left in my size. I also picked up an amazing grey cropped motorcycle jacket, and still pine for many of the other pieces- so much so that I may venture down there in the rain today for round 2.

The vest is so perfect because it is long and drapey- covers what needs to be covered when I pair it with a white tee and chocolate brown leggings, and kind of elongates my 5’2″ frame instead of making me look like a wannabe eskimo. And the cropped jacket fits flawlessly, with darted seams along the back that draw the eye in and create the illusion of an ehnanced hourglass shape.

Macy’s is apparently carrying the entire line- but didn’t see my 2 favorites online there just yet. But if I were you, I would keep checking.