11.19.2010

Girl Talk!

Girl Talk: An Interview With Bobbi Brown

Montclair resident Bobbi Brown talks about makeup for teens.


Bobbi Brown, the internationally renowned makeup artist, New York Times best-selling author, and founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, has sold her products in more than 900 stores around the world. Most recently, Brown, who lives with her husband and three sons in Montclair, has written "Beauty Rules." The go-to guide for all girls was published in August 2010.
Why did you write this book?
I wrote my first teen beauty book, Teenage Beauty, in 2000, and realized that so much has changed in the last 10 years. Teenage girls are constantly exposed to unrealistic standards of beauty that they see in magazines, movies, and on the Internet. I wrote Beauty Rules because I wanted to give teenage girls the tools and knowledge they need to be their most confident selves. This book also contains more step-by-step beauty tips, and more information about healthy living, as beauty is not only what you look like on the outside, it's what you put inside your body as well.
For the budget-conscious teen—which beauty and skincare products are worth splurging on?
These are the things worth splurging on: Concealer; it's the secret to the universe instantly making you look more refreshed; Blush, a pop of pink blush on the apples of your cheeks instantly lifts the face; Lip Gloss, a swipe of gloss will instantly polish off your look and, of course, a smile!
When purchasing makeup, department stores and drug stores are both great places to find products for different needs. Drug stores are a great place to get your basics such as cotton balls and q-tips. When going to the beauty counter at your local department store, you have access to makeup experts and are able to try on colors to ensure you're getting the best shade and product for your skin.
What about trends? Teens like to follow trends (Uggs, anyone?) but not all trends look good on everyone. In fact some trends may not be appropriate for high school students. What advice do you have for a teenage girl who can't pull off a blood red lip color?
Have fun and experiment with your looks. It's about doing what makes you feel confident and comfortable. Remember, though, you want makeup to enhance your features not hide them. Also, nails are a great way to experiment with color. The dark purples, muddy browns, and khakis that are out right now will always look good on your nails even though they may not be the best shade for your lips or face.
Know that it's OK to look different from everyone else; you don't have to look like a Barbie. When I was younger everyone had blond hair and blue eyes or tried to achieve that look. I was 5 feet tall with brown hair and brown eyes. It wasn't until I was older that I realized I too was beautiful. Confidence is key to looking and feeling your best. Any makeup, no matter the color/texture/etc., can look great if worn with the right attitude.
What makeup habits (practices) should teens (and their moms) avoid?
Not wearing the right color foundation. Foundation should blend seamlessly into the skin. Your neck should NEVER be a different color then the rest of your face.  Your foundation should be made up of yellow undertones (not pink) as all people, no matter what color their skin is, have yellow undertones. To find the best shade for you, swipe a line onto the side of your cheek and step into natural light. The color should disappear into the skin.
What are your go-to beauty products—in other words, say you're spending the night in a Manhattan hotel—what would I find inside your makeup kit?
Whether you're 15 or 40, I always suggest this quick 5-minute basic makeup routine:
1.       Even your skin tone with a tinted moisturizer with SPF all over your face.
2.       Cover problem spots with foundation and concealer as needed.
3.       Add color with blush on the apples of your cheeks.
4.       Add shine with a sheer color across your lips.
5.       (Optional) Define your eyes with a coat of black mascara.
If I want a more dramatic look, I play with darker colors on my lips and eyes or stronger makeup such as eyeliner to define the eyes. Just remember to keep your lips neutral if you're doing a strong eye and vice versa.

(This story originally ran in the Patch 11/19/2010)
http://montclair.patch.com/articles/girl-talk-an-interview-with-bobbi-brown

11.18.2010

Carmex

Not only is everyone's favorite lip balm company (Carmex) doing color, they are also making hand and body creams. I know a thing or two about hand cream. I have very dry skin and I keep hand cream nearby at all times. It seems the second the temperature drops, my finger crack and skin dries out.

At first I was skeptical about the Carmex hand cream. I mean, after all, this is a company that makes lip balm. What do they know about my hands and feet? Actually this is a company that makes amazing lip balm. And they also make amazing hand cream. Love it! Can you hear me shouting? It's light, absorbs quickly and smells like a mix of vanilla and mint or vanilla and something. I'm not quite sure. Anyway, you can find Carmex Healing Lotion and Healing Cream at Walgreens or drugstore.com.

So what are you waiting for? Get some Carmex Healing Cream today and start getting rid of your alligator skin.

10.03.2010

Carmex Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm + tint!

Just in time for that time of year when our lips feel parched and start to crack -- Carmex is introducing a tinted lip balm.

Well it's actually the same lip balm, just with a touch of sheer color. I've been using mine a lot. The color is dark enough to see, but light enough that you can apply it without looking in a mirror.

Great product to keep in your purse, book bag, or pocket. Available in pink or peach. Made with vitamin E, aloe , shea butter and avocado butter and SPF 15.

Let me know what you think.

$2.99 @Walgreens


9.15.2010

Perla on the lips

Ahh ... Borghese. The luxurious makeup company is launching a new lipstick come November, It's one of those two-in-one lipsticks that have a moisturizer in the middle of it.
The lipstick delivers rich, opaque color with a high pearl finish. Think lots of shimmer. It's made with vitamins A, E & C to condition lips and help provide anti-oxidant protection, and Chamomile and Aloe to soothe and smooth. Pick your color.

Perla Nudo
Perla Café
Perla Fiamma
Perla Pesca
Perla Vino
Perla Rosa

$24.50
Available:  November 2010

8.26.2010

More Beauty Deals

Last week I wrote about beauty deals at CVS/360 Beauty. I want to make you aware of some additional beauty bargains at CVS/pharmacy with exclusive discounts just for Web purchases. Time to stock up on staples.

Shoppers will receive:
·     25% off all beauty August 30th – September 5th
·     20% off all beauty September 6th – September 26th


Also, during the month of September CVS customers can get big rewards on these brands.
  • Maybelline Lip and Eye – Spend $10 Get $3 Extra Care Bucks
  • Nivea and Eucerin – Spend $15 Get $5 Extra Care Bucks
  • Acne Free and Wrinkle Free – Spend $20 Get $10 Extra Care Bucks
And don't forget about CVS/pharmacy’s 100% money back Beauty Guarantee!  If you don’t love it, bring it back (opened or unopened) along with a receipt for a full refund.

8.17.2010

Beauty that Sizzles!

Hey kids aren't the only ones who get back to school deals. But I'm not talking pens and pencils or paperclips.

Beauty 360 is offering a great promotion -- 20%

Beauty 360 is CVS' site for prestige makeup brands like Laura Geller, Paula Dorf and Vincent Longo.


Code: Sizzle

7.10.2010

If you're looking to tan without the sun's rays, try Neutrogena MicroMist Sunless Tanning Spray. I like this in medium. It is a no-rub formula, doesn't streak and doesn't turn your skin orange. A very good product for a good price!
Under $10.
I would ask a friend for help in getting those hard to reach areas.
p.s. The product dries quickly -- almost instantaneously so it won't stain clothes.

6.26.2010

When sunscreen rules become confusing & outdated

Here's a link to an article in the NYTimes about sunscreen regulations. I suggest reading it. It is informative. You may want to rethink your sunscreen regime after reading this article.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/fashion/24Skin.html?ref=fashion

6.19.2010

Spritz! Tone!

Sorry for the delay in posting but I've been busy. My family moved. So makeup has had to take a backseat to unpacking and cleaning and dealing with the electrician et al.

Here's a quick beauty idea:

During the summer months when the temperature soars, keep a spray bottle handle to spritz your face. In fact, pop your favorite toner in the fridge (I like anything from Mario Badescu) and sweep over face for a refreshing and cleansing pick me up.

6.08.2010

Tarte!

I'm really enjoying some new Tarte products.
Tarte's rise and shine lip stain and lip gloss duo is a great look for the summer. I like it in pink. You can apply the stain first and then the gloss. But the gloss is pretty on its own too.

rise & shine; $21

5.20.2010

Sunny Days

May is skin cancer awareness month. I know I've been slow to post this month, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't wear your sunscreen. By the way, Kiehl's has a great new non-greasy every day sun product. It's so lightweight and it feels like you're wearing nothing. Buy it. Use it. Let's protect ourselves from cancer NOW.

4.28.2010

I Feel Pretty

Just a reminder ... if you have beauty questions or want to know if a product is in stock ... you can always call Bloomingdale's to be connected to the beauty counter of your choice.

212.705.2000

4.19.2010

Sephora @97th and Columbus Ave.

The new Sephora at 97th and Columbus Ave. finally opened. I tried to go a few times Friday, but I had the baby and the store was too busy to navigate with a stroller. But I finally made it deep inside the store Sunday afternoon and had some fun. I had a coupon so I treated myself to a new concealer brush, cleanser, moisturizer and a few other goodies. From the looks of all the small black and white shopping bags on the Upper West Side, this Sephora is going to do some serious business.

4.13.2010

Moving time!

I'm moving! If you know of someone who wants to buy a sunny 1-bedroom Upper West Side condo, let us know.
http://www.flatironre.com/property_detail.php?primaryKey=1760

4.09.2010

' Steel Grey'

I recently attended a Rimmel event at the Coty HQ in NYC. Very cool event. Even cooler products.
You can't *beat* Rimmel's attention to color and quality and their amazing prices.
This 'steel grey' nail polish is gorgeous and five (5!) times cheaper than the lookalike from Chanel. The Rimmel version is great because the brush is fat and slightly rounded, which makes it easy to apply. And the polish dries super quickly! It's hard to tell from this photograph, but the grey has a hint of purple. Fresh! Feminine!


I'm also excited about the company's sun shimmer. The bronzing powder comes in three shades. Mostly I'm thrilled with its generous size. A big compact for a big sweeping brush. Try putting it on the bridge of your nose and your eyelids. Speaking of eyelids, even though I'm not a huge eye shadow person, I have to hand it to Rimmel. Their shadows were highly pigmented and ultra smooth. They really had the feel of a more sophisticated (and expensive) product.

3.30.2010

One Sexy Seder!

Last night at our annual Bedrin family seder, three women wore Makeup Forever's Smoky Lash Mascara.

It was a sexy seder!

Here's how it happened. My SIL bought a tube of the stuff to replace her Dior Show. "I like Show," she said, her big brown eyes explaining to me as if she had to apologize for switching mascaras. " But I have big lids and I wanted something with a smaller brush because I am always getting product on my lids."

I noticed the change immediately. My SIL's eyes have always popped, but the new mascara was amazing. Her lashes were intense and attention getting. Later in the week her friend Lina was wearing the new mascara. It also looked great on her. The next day I bought two tubes -- one for me and one for my momma.

Gotta love a great mascara, especially one that delivers on length and pigment.

$22 @ Sephora

3.22.2010

I haven't had the chance to run to Bergdorf to try out that crazy looking lip gloss from London. But I did make it to Bloomingdale's where I purchased a M.A.C. beauty powder. It's part blush, part highlighter. Very nice.
The blush is part of a Liberty of London collection. So there. I did make the British connection after all.

3.18.2010

Alex King loves lip product too!

One of my journalism students just turned me on to a new lip product from a company called Ellis. Actually I asked Alex about her very pretty lip color and she was so excited to tell me about it.
I had never heard of this lipstick/stain/gloss. It comes in a silver tube ... kind of like a bullet.

Alex just told me she had a friend ship it to her from the U.K. Love how the Brits talk about their home country. In New York City you can buy Ellis at Bergdorf Goodman.

3.15.2010

Whip It!

So I'm watching this movie Whip it by Drew Barrymore. Cute film about a girl (Ellen Page) who wants to join a roller derby team. Anyway, there's this moment when a character (Kristin Wiig) is talking about eyeliner and mascara -- specifically Lash blast mascara. I had to laugh because Drew Barrymore is a CoverGirl (Lash blast) spokeswoman. Nice one, Drew!

3.13.2010

Sandra at the Oscars!

I saw this post on Beauty in real life and wanted to share it with you...

Quick beauty survey

Dear friends,
I'm conducting a quick survey. What was the last beauty product you bought? Was it mascara? Cheek tint or concealer?

Let me know. I'm curious.

Beauty Babe

2.17.2010

Good recovery!

Fashion Week is almost over and I only attended one event, at Kiehl's, of course. I drove there, oddly enough.
I can't wait to try out my sample of the newly launched Midnight Recovery Concentrate.
I'll try it out and report back to you.

2.10.2010

Looking toward spring at Sephora

The sephora spring look-book arrived. A few things caught my attention. Many of them are on page 16.

1. The Balm The Stains Lip Palette
You're supposed to add a srop of water to the powder to create a lip stain.
Very curious about this product.

2. Benefit Sugar Bomb blush/bronzer
Rose, pink, soft plum and peach packed into one small box

2.09.2010

Discounts! From Rite-Aid!

Thursday, Friday and Saturday only (February 11-13), all regularly priced cosmetics at Rite Aid stores nationwide will be 25 percent off.


(No minimum purchase required; while supplies last; no rainchecks)

2.08.2010

Dear readers,
Are you staying warm? While we didn't have ANY snow in New York City (expect for Staten Island) we are getting super cold weather. My skin is so dry. My legs are scaly and the folds around my nose are peeling. Yuck! I find myself reaching for my water bottle all the time. The air is so dry.

This past weekend I gave about Kiehl's Acai collection. My dad is using the serum and moisturizer. The product line has its origins in the açaĂ­ berry. Scientists have found the acai berry to be a super antioxidant. This collection helps skin repair the visible effects of both physical and environmental damage, and aids in the stimulation of skin’s natural renewal process.

If you haven't tried the collection, it could be a good time to stop by a Kiehl's free standing store -- and don't forget your samples.

2.07.2010

In Love with Kiehl's!

I'm really excited about Kiehl's new MIDNIGHT RECOVERY CONCENTRATE.
My sources tell me it's amazing for helping to repair stressed out skin overnight. And who doesn't have stressed out skin? Like many of Kiehl's products, this one was designed for men and women. It is 99% natural and paraben-free and loaded with essential and botanical oils like lavender and coriander and rose seed oils. It is also enriched with a blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids.

On a personal note, we are such a Kiehl's family. My mom uses several face creams, my dad is using the new acai damage repairing serum and moisturizer and swears by the hand salve and we bathe our son Henry using the foaming hair and body was.

How to Use it:
  • Put 2-3 drops of product onto the top of clean hand, tap fingertips into oil lightly
  • Press fingertips gently on the cheeks, forehead and chin to evenly distribute – pat, do not rub

don't forget, Kiehl's loves to give out samples. When you order online, you get to choose 3 samples.
Retail Price:  $42.00 for 1.0 oz/30mL / Available on Counter:  Now    


1.30.2010

Sally Hansen

After days of searching all the local drugstores and Target, I finally found the Sally Hansen Carmindy-inspired line. For those of you who aren't familiar with Carmindy, she's the makeup artist on What Not to Wear. Anyway, I found her products at Duane Reade at 98th and b'way. Haven't tried the lipstick just yet. We will see if it is worth the mention in Parenting Mag.

1.27.2010

Where in the World Sally Hansen?

A few days ago I wrote about a Sally Hansen lip gloss I admired. I went looking for it, naturally. I found it at one Duane Reade drugstore. If you are reading this blog and you don't know about D.R., it's a big drugstore chain in NYC. I also found the lip gloss at Walgreens. At the same time that I was looking for this product, I was also looking for another Sally Hansen lip product, that I read about in a parenting magazine. It was incognito. Why are some products impossible to find? You read about them in a magazine, but they are sold nowhere.

Arrgh!

1.25.2010

Laundry Genius!



I know I don't typically write about laundry detergents, but as a new mom,there are times doing laundry seems to dominate my life. Especially when my son has a stomach bug. Get the picture. We don't have a washer/dryer in our apartment, (there's a laundry room in our building) so I usually lug the laundry and detergent downstairs. Sometimes I take Henry too. Anyway, you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered soak. As you can see from this picture, soak comes in many sizes, including travel-friendly packets. Makes doing laundry a little bit easier.  Soak was originally conceived as a no-rinse laundry aid. It's gentle enough for fine wools, swimwear and baby clothes. But I used it in my washing machine with great results. Try the delicate cycle.
Soak is non-toxic,biodegradable and phosphate-free. It's also free of perfumes and irritating dyes.

Buy soak at soakwash and freshpair.com.

1.22.2010

Drugstore lip glosses

Today I met a young woman sporting a pretty, sheer pink lip gloss.  From where I was sitting (next table over) it looked just like my expensive Lipfusion lip gloss. If I had to name the color I'd call it 'hint of pink.' This gloss is from Sally Hansen's plumping line. Dahlia told me she decided to stop plunking down a ton of cash for lip gloss and reached for the drugstore brand.
In this case, the results were fantastic.


$9 at drugstores

1.20.2010

Fun!Free!Facials! ... Tomorrow!

Hi Readers ... Free mini-facials tomorrow!



WHO:          The Plaza Beauty by Warren-Tricomi
WHAT:         Sjal Facials and BECCA touchups
WHEN:         Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
    12:00pm – 4:00pm
WHERE:                
          The Shops at The Plaza
One West 58th Street, Grand Concourse Level
NYC
214 223 4694



Please note: Facials are on a 1st come, 1st serve basis.

UnBliss Worthy

Dear Bliss Spas.

Yesterday I went to your Soho location looking for a face cream. You didn't have it. No big deal. I was prepared to leave the spa store and move on with my day. But the esthetician approached me and told me I needed a facial to help get rid of some dry spots on my face. Thanks, but no thanks. I really didn't like being told I needed a facial. Next time try a new approach.

JB
Product Perfect

1.15.2010

CVS' Beauty360 Launches Web site

CVS' Beauty360 site has officially launched. But it is more a site within a site than anything else. Not too exciting if you ask me. Lots of brand names and several prestige names, but the site is kind of messy.

1.12.2010

Loving Dove

Happy New Year!  Here's a picture of my baby ringing in 2010.


I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. It's been a busy start to the decade.
One quick beauty note ... gotta give it to Dove.

I tried their unscented body wash at my mom's house. This stuff is so thick and creamy. Wonderful. And it really is unscented. Will definitely try it again. Thanks Dove.