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Archive for the ‘Beauty’ Category

Beauty Game Changer: Perfect Curls for Dummies

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

 

While I spend my life talking about tips and tricks to get certain looks, in reality, there are many that I can’t master myself. At the top of that list has been bouncy, beautiful curls. Believe me, I have tried. But I have failed. Often.

Then, at the Redbook MVP Awards (I was a judge, so much fun) a few weeks ago, I came across the Sultra Bombshell Rod Curling Iron. It won the award for best hair tool, and happened to be in the gigundous gift bag that we were each treated to upon leaving the event. Before I knew I was going to be getting such a treat, however, I was fully prepared to buy it after my friend Rose, who I sat next to at the breakfast, could not stop raving about the damn thing.  She swore the second day waves were even better than the first day curls, which weren’t too shabby themselves.

Nervously (and somewhat pessimistically), I gave the Sultra Bombshell a try. It took a little getting used to- the whole glove thing was new to me (but crucial- I tried to do one curl without wearing the protective glove and have a burn on my thumb to prove it) but now, 3 tries later, I am a total pro.

Here is my routine- so so easy that anyone- and I can confidently say anyone because I am that bad at doing my own hair- can do it:

  • Let hair air dry- I don’t put any product in it but I supposed if you have very fine hair that doesn’t hold curl well you could put in a texturizer at this point
  • Part hair in middle and divide into 2 sections on either side- top and bottom
  • Before curling, spray each section with either Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray or Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray (I love both equally)
  • Holding wand so the tip faces away from your head, wrap varying amounts of hair around rod to get a nice mix of curls (I defer to the instructions that come with iron for technique here, there are helpful graphics that will do far more to explain the methodology than I can do)
  • Let the curls cool for as long as you can- I typically do my makeup at this point so they get a good 15 minutes of chill time
  • Spray excessively (better safe than sorry) with L’Oreal Elnett
  • Brush out with fingers

The semi-fuzzy self-portrait above was taken with pride Saturday before heading to the annual day drinking extravaganza that is the Eleven Madison Kentucky Derby party. In the photo below, I am striking a pose with my friend Ophira in front of the step-and-repeat (give me enough bourbon and I guess I am that girl who takes a picture in front of the step-and-repeat), a shot which I think nicely shows the fruits of my follicular labor.

How great is my Satya Twena fascinator, by the way? Kind of want to wear it every day. If only I had the occasions. Alas, it doesn’t quite go with my daily work-from-home Lululemon uniform.

Oh- and the reason I don’t have a product shot in this post is because when your last name is Falik, it is not wise to have an image of a clamp-free rod curling iron front and center on your blog.  But go here to see it for yourself and get all the details. Because you really should own this. Really.

 

 

 

Your Face. In a Dove Ad. In Times Square.

Friday, April 20th, 2012

 

When Spring rolls around, we all make a bit more of an effort to take care of our skin. Inevitably, we are going to be bearing it- in sleeveless tops, sundresses, shorts, skirts, even (gasp!) swimsuits.

So, as long as we are making the effort, may as well let everyone see, right?

Thanks to the Dove “Show Us Your Skin” campaign, we can. In a really big way.

When Dove told me about their largest campaign ever featuring real women, I was insanely impressed. When they invited me to be a part of it, I was insanely excited. To be honest, it has resulted in many a “pinch myself” moment over the past few weeks. Such an iconic brand, such a huge campaign- I had a  Sally Field acceptance speech inner monologue- the voice in my head said “You like me?! You really like me?!”

Show Us Your Skin” encourages every woman to have the confidence to show off her beautiful skin in a national Dove ad- which happens to include an appearance on an interactive billboard in Times Square. Yep, your face smiling down on one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Not an opportunity many of us ever expected to have, right?

It is as simple as uploading a photo- which can be done via the Dove website and Facebook page, or with a free iPhone app (to get it, just call **Dove). If you happen to be in NYC, pop by the Real Beauty Photo Studio today or tomorrow (located at 44th and Broadway, just under the giant Dove billboard, you can’t miss it) and get your picture snapped by a pro.

Oh, and if your friends don’t believe you when you tell them you were featured in a Dove ad, we have you covered. A snapshot of your moment of fame will be emailed to you.

*Photo courtesy of Mark Von Holden/Getty Images*

 

Actually Worth It: Shiseido Foundation Brush

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Being in the beauty industry for 10 years means that I have seen a lot. A lot of good and a lot of, well, unnecessary.  Until recently, I put foundation brushes in the “unnecessary” column. I mean, yes, for makeup artists they made sense- not wanting to touch faces, mixing product by hand, sanitary reasons, and just the fact that they are makeup artists and the assumption is (by me, at least) that they have superpowers which sometimes require tools that mere morals wouldn’t know how to use correctly anyway.

I few months ago, I was introduced to the Shiseido Foundation Brush. So I decided to try it out. And subsequently kicked myself for not doing so sooner.

With this in hand, I use about 50% less liquid foundation (I switch between Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in Shade 118 and Dr. Jart BB Cream these days) and get 100% better coverage. Blending is seamless- the brush somehow picks up the perfect amount of product each time, and the angled slant of the bristles makes covering up those spots which always seem so be a little red (like the corners and center of the nose and the middle of the chin) effortless.

The brush is $30 and will pay for itself in no time. (By the way, in addition to excess product saved, I am including a penny for each compliment you will get on your skin as part of the cost equation.)

 

 

Notes From My Vanity: A Quick Spruce

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Lately, it seems that I need to turn my daytime face (comprised of the basics- BB cream, cream blush, champagne-y shadow and mascara) into something a little more glamorous in a matter of minutes. This is completely my own fault- since having a baby and working from home my time management skills have gone down the tubes.  In an attempt to be more positive (new thing I am doing- one therapy session and I am all of the sudden an optimist), I look at it as a beauty challenge- and let me introduce you to the two products that make victory mine every time.

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Smoldering Liner: In general, the shorter the pencil, the easier the application. This chubby little guy has the perfect point to apply with precision in a hurry, and the kajal formula deposits rich pigment that has a softness to it which makes smudging (in the good way) simple. It glides right along the inner eye- no tugging and no need to go over it twice (a good thing since touching anything so close to my eyeball makes me want to throw up).

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer: I dab this on the apples of my cheeks, down the bridge of my nose,  just under my brows, above the center of my upper lip and over my lipstick.  Yes, I know this is a lot of places in a relatively small surface area, but the formula is not greasy, glittery or sticky so you can dab without abandon.

Within seconds, I tell you, I am a new person.

Not To Be The Girl Who Tells You To Buy $60 Lipstick, But…

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

You really should strongly consider going out and treating yourself to a $60 lipstick.

Specifically, this one (in Plum Pudding, although it is actually more of a deep raspberry) from Clé de Peau Beauté because it is the most perfect color ever, has a glossy finish while still being a substantially creamy formula, and, it has a fancy name that describes it to a T- Enriched Lip Luminizer.

For the faint of lipstick heart, the glisten-y quality makes it really easy to wear.  Since I got a hold of it, it has been the only lipstick I carry, which significantly lightens my load, another check in the “buy this” column. When I wear it for day, it is beautifully natural. When I go out at night, it lets me have a little fun creating a dramatic smokey eye because it anchors the look in normalcy.

And here is a helpful way to rationalize the purchase: If you have a tendency to buy a new lipstick/gloss/balm every other time you walk into a drugstore, and the average price of said impulse buy is $6, and you just may do this 10 times a year , then you have spent the same amount. And your lips probably don’t look half as gorgeous as they would coated in this lovely (and yes, luxurious) formula. So there.

**Note: There was some confusion over the price, so here is the deal- the lipstick itself is $35, and the refillable case is $25. Hence, $60.

 

Now I Get It: Yellow Lip Gloss

Monday, February 27th, 2012

 

When I unearthed this yellow lip gloss in a recent delivery of Spring launches from Estee Lauder, I didn’t get it.  In a sea of beautiful pink, berry and red shades, where did this fit in?

Then I went on vacation, and wanted to make the most of my beachy (faux) glow. My makeup strategy for the week was all about beige and bronze tones- almost a monochromatic face, framed by semi-crazy (but in a good way, or at least I thought so) wavy hair. And this lip gloss- called Citron Kiss, part of their Pure Color collection, became the most necessary and transformative step in my routine.

The yellow hue counteracts the natural pink tone of the lips, giving the effect of a nude gloss but in a much more effective way.  I can pretty much commit now to wearing Citron Kiss every single day this summer- which means it is time to stockpile since this is a limited edition shade. Go figure.

Notes From My Vanity: Under $5 Hair Helpers

Friday, December 30th, 2011

When I was going out , I used to always do the same thing with my hair- get it blown out, straight and smooth but full. Same instructions every time. Then I discovered that playing around with my hair could actually be kind of fun and it could even look, gasp!, just as good as if there was professional help involved.  But since I rarely have the time to run to a salon anymore- and with my Flywheel obsession blowouts rarely can last more than a day- I am quite grateful to these three little hair helpers (all of which happen to be under $5- look at me, all thrifty):

Goody DoubleWear Elastics: Genius, genius, genius. I hate when I catch myself all dressed up with a ragged ponytail holder around my wrist- but being sans one when you need it is even more painful. These drape loosely around the wrist just like a bangle, and come in gold and silver options so you can match to the rest of your accessories. And in the hair, the metal accent dresses a 2-second updo up just enough to make it look like you put some effort into it.

Studio 35 Beauty Small Polybands Hair Ties: Clear elastics need not be pricey, and they must be plentiful (since every time I take them out, they tend to disappear). For fastening the ends of braids that will later be tied up into a bun of some sort, they are perfect. Also for a sleek ponytail, these puppies will wrap around twice, just enough to secure without snagging.

Conair Bobby Pins With Travel Case: The clincher here is the travel case- for the most part, bobby pins are bobby pins. But to be able to keep them all together like this so when you need one (or 10) you can actually find it? Priceless.

 

Notes from My Vanity: Travel Edition

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

I generously stock my mom with amazing beauty products regularly- mostly out of the kindness of my heart, but also because it means that when I go to Boca to visit, I can pack light(ish). However there are a few products that I just couldn’t bear to leave behind for three weeks- these are the highlights:

Dr. Jart+ BB Cream: Regardless of the intensity of my faux-glow, the shade in the bottle always blends. This Korean import moisturizes, has a significant SPF level of 45, and purports to brighten the skin although this is one of those things that I always have a hard time measuring so who really knows. What I do know is that it does a lot, travels well and for everyday use just feels good on my skin and doesn’t look makeup-y.  Like a tinted moisturizer, but better.

Sephora Collection Color Wand: I’m a sucker for efficiency, and this tower of mini glosses is quite efficient. Plus, since I tend to leave my handbag at home most of the time down here (one of the many perks of vacation at mom’s) I can break these up and easily slip them in a back pocket. The formula is hydrating, not even a little sticky, and has more color intensity than I expected, which is a good thing.

It Cosmetics No-Tug Heavenly Luxe Dual Eyeshadow Brush: This is the best brush I own and really is the only one I need to create eyeshadow looks from the super simple swipe to the more complex smokey.  And since I am currently obsessed with the fact that I am rapidly aging, especially around the eye area, the whole “No-Tug” thing is major.

Vichy 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser: One of the perks of having worked with Vichy (I represented them on HSN) a few months back? Access to endless deluxe samples. Sure, I still love a good towelette when traveling, but for spot-removing eye makeup or when my skin is super dry post-flight and I want to cleanse in the most moisturizing way possible, their One Step Cleanser is everything.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad: Confession- I haven’t tried this yet. But I am dying to. And for me to bring an untested product on the road, when makeup bag real estate is valued at an all-time high, means that the hype surrounding it is something special. So here’s to hoping.

What products always make their way onto your travel vanity? Leave a comment below and share- I  assume if you lug it through security, it must be good.

Notes From My Vanity: ‘Twas Quite The Week

Friday, November 11th, 2011

 

Oh my, am I happy it is Friday. This week was a DOOZY. (Is the word doozy hokey? It doesn’t sound that way to me when I say it, but for some reason when I type it…)

This time, right before the holiday season kicks into full gear, is always a super crazy one for me. I feel insanely fortunate to have a bunch of amazing projects happening right now- you all may have seen the program I am doing with Shutterfly (if not, check it out- fun style tips for taking the perfect family photo) plus several national segments in the works (the hours of prep that go into 3 minutes of television is mind-boggling) and then some- but for some reason, when it rains, it pours- and things can go from fun to frenetic in a matter of hours.

Add to that a nanny with the stomach flu, and, well, frenetic quickly turned to frantic.

Here are the three beauty products that saved me on a daily basis:

1- Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo: As a dry shampoo devotee for many years, I am not easy to impress. This one, however, is impressive. It isn’t a dry shampoo you use to make your hair feel clean- rather, it is a dry shampoo you use to strip any appearance of oil from your roots and subsequently achieve the most voluminous, sexy hair you have ever had in your entire life. The texture it gives to each and every strand is unparalleled. I spray it almost like hair spray all over, then brush furiously with a paddle brush, and from there, wing it. One day I did a messy bun with a black elastic headband near the hair line, another day I flipped my head back and forth a few times, used my fingers to create a middle part, and decided to go bold with a pretty crazy person ‘do. (Note- I mean pretty as in attractive. Or so I like to think. My husband, after dealing with me all week, may beg to differ.)

2- Yes To Cucumbers Facial Towelettes: First thing in the morning, when a shower just isn’t in the cards, these are the most refreshing way to start the day with a clean (but not too clean so as to be all dry and uncomfortable) face.

3-Korres Lip Butter (Wild Rose): It’s lip balm, yes. But this week it also served as a cream blush on several occasions when, upon seeing my reflection in the rearview mirror of a cab, I realized how incredibly pallid I look this time of year on 4 hours of sleep.

Notes From My Vanity: It Takes a (Makeup) Village

Friday, November 4th, 2011

This week presented an opportunity to get all gussied up- and since I had some pre-event time to spare, I decided to line up my latest makeup obsessions and have some fun.

While the over-sharing beauty fanatic in me wants to tell you every little thing about every product pictured above, my more practical former publicist self knows better than to do that. Attention spans are short, and I can be wordy. So I will cut to the chase and simply highlight three…Okay, maybe four. But promise, that will be it.

1- Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation (Shade 118):  Yeah, I could give the whole “life is hi-def” spiel that I have used in many a pitch and numerous tv segments over the years, but I will spare you the generic jargon and just say this: It blends beautifully and gives thorough coverage without looking heavy or flat on the skin. It mattifies, but because it is so hydrating, it still leaves your skin with a luminous finish. If I am going somewhere and I know pictures are being taken, or I am simply forcing my poor husband or Alexa’s nanny to snap some shots of me for my blog (always awkward!), this is what I am using.

2- Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Cyber Pink:  While I thought that Stila Kitten eyeshadow would never be replaced as my go-to rose gold, this arrived on my desk I am  smitten. It is limited edition (which sort of freaks me out, may have to stockpile), and my product background check on the Lauder website explained to me just why it is so good- the formula is a tri-blend that is a gel, powder and liquid in one. I use it dry and the intensity is amazing- but apparently used wet (which I will have to try this weekend) it will be even more so. Very flattering, perfect for every day but also quite glamourous for evening. Well-laquered lashes stand out big time against the vibrant shine- a makeup special effect that I will take any day.

3- La Prairie Radiance Cream Blush in Mauve Glow: Already covered here in a softer hue as part of a black-tie ballet-inspired look, the mauve is a bit brighter and I just adore it. Especially over a spray tan, it gives the perfect pop of color and I swear this compact will last me forever. So if you balk at spending $70 on a blush, when it comes to this one in particular, you may want to reconsider.

4- Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Glisten: So teeny, you may miss it if you don’t look closely- in the far right of the photo. This is a sample mini and perfectly sized to fit in my new going-out pint sized purse (side note: the purse is a little something I am dying to share with you guys soon, a gift from my husband for our anniversary, will get to that next week I hope). The gloss has a subtle sparkle and in my opinion finishes off the look in a way that doesn’t feel overdone.  Because after spending 40 minutes self-indulgently experimenting with my makeup, that last thing I wanted was for it to look like I actually did. Oh, the irony of beauty.

What is your number one makeup product for a polished night-out-on-the-town look?

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