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Archive for the ‘Notes From My Vanity’ Category

Notes From My Vanity: It’s Raining BB Creams

Friday, January 27th, 2012

If you caught my spot on Today Show this morning, you are already aware of the BB Cream trend that is not-so-slowly but very surely sweeping into makeup bags all over the world. Currently, there are three sitting on my vanity, and I absolutely swear by them. So much so that in my most recent massive clean out (where duplicate products were tossed or gifted), all three of these held their marble-topped ground.

Why do I love them so? First and foremost, they make my skin look pretty. And even with all the other benefits (SPF, treatment ingredients, yada yada yada), one major requirement for any beauty product is that it makes us look, well, beautiful- right?

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30 is very creamy- closest to a classic tinted moisturizer in terms of feel and coverage- shade 2 is my pick, really warms up the complexion.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream has a nice glowy finish- plus it is easy to pick up at the drugstore, and convenience is often key. But heads up- it is going to be in the skincare section- so don’t get all flustered searching the makeup aisle.

And lastly, the product that kicked off the BB Cream bonanza (at least in my personal experience) is from Dr. Jart- one of Asia’s leading skincare brands. This has real deal SPF 45 and pretty substantial coverage. If you are fair skinned like I am, this is a really wonderful choice. I have even worn it for on-air stuff before- the matte finish works nicely under the lights. And for travel, it is perfect.

Sure, there are occasions when only full on foundation will do- but if you are in the market for a multi-tasking way to get an extra dose of hydration, skincare and SPF, I highly recommend you give BB Creams a try.

If you are already bananas for BB Cream (I know, I get a little carried away with alliteration sometimes), would love to hear which one is your favorite. So spill it, ladies…

 

 

 

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Notes From My Vanity: Marilyn-esque Morning Boost

Friday, January 13th, 2012

I so want to be that girl who wakes up with that fresh-faced, lit-from-within glow.  And often times, when I have the time to do my makeup accordingly, I can kinda fake it.  But doing my makeup in the morning has become a less-regular event- but that no longer means I have to go through the first few hours of my day looking exhausted.

The sparkling rose-hued glistening gel that you see pictured above caught my eye the other night at an Erno Laszlo event I attended- and I knew that no matter what it was, did or contained, I had to have it. And, lucky me, now I do.

Here is the deal- the light-as-air whipped gel is called Morning Beauty Rescue and it is inspired by Marilyn Monroe, created to capture her effervescent glow using a blend of semi-precious gems and liquid pearls.  It is amazing as a primer, and if you haven’t gotten a great night of sleep (yes, Marilyn’s lifestyle also played into the product benefits- she was actually a devoted client of Erno Laszlo back in the day so the brand is quite familiar with the unique demands of an, um, festive social schedule) the subtle sparkle works wonders to hide the evidence.

I am madly in love with it- and think you just may be too.

 

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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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Notes From My Vanity: 3 Good-to-the-Last-Drop Products

Friday, October 28th, 2011

I rarely finish products. So when I do use something down to the very last drop, it is a big deal. At least, to me it is. This week, I had to say goodbye to three sink-side staples, may their blissfully empty containers rest in peace:

1- Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant: Even I think it is funny that someone as sweat-obsessed as myself chooses this fancy schmancy deo over a hard core clinical version every time. And you can trust that if it didn’t work, I wouldn’t use it.

2- Vichy Aqualia Thermal Cream: Vichy has been a skincare favorite of mine for years- and when I was given the opportunity to showcase it on HSN, I was treated to an in-depth look at everything that makes the brand so special.  I could go on for paragraphs- but in the interest of short and sweet, I will save it for another time. This cream is so insanely hydrating- and this time of year, my skin is so insanely dry- that I don’t think I could put my makeup on in the morning without it. In seconds, that uncomfortable tightness (you know, where your face feels like it is going to crack every time you smile?) is gone and I am left with refreshed, soft skin.

3- Korres Vanilla Guava Shower Gel: I know, I know- I agree, spending more than $5 on a shower gel is pretty silly. But this one really is divine. Love the warm vanilla scent, it gives the best lather (justify the purchase by reminding yourself it can also be used as a shave gel, perhaps?) and, well, there is just something about Korres…

 

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Notes from My Vanity: Four Products in Regular Rotation This Week

Friday, October 21st, 2011

 

 

Every day my beauty routine changes- but every so often I notice that a few choice products have somehow managed to claim permanent space on my vanity. And those are products that I think are worthy of sharing- so here you go:

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