Beauty 911: Your Face for under $75

I recently received this Beauty 911 message from a former bride of mine:

I have $75 to spend at Sephora. What do I need? It’s the simple life these days. Mascara, blush, eyeshadow, maybe liner if I feel fancy. Help!

Dear Fancy Face,

Spending only $75 at Sephora is no easy feat. That’s like trying to only buy two things at Target. Per your request to ‘keep things simple’, I suggest the following:

This 6-minute $75 easy breezy face consists of Beauty Balm, Blush, Bronzer, Liner, Mascara and Lip Balm.

Boscia Beauty Balm Cream—This is a 5-in-one-product that self-adjusts to complement your skin’s undertone. It will hydrate, prime, cover, firm and protect your skin. $18 for the 1 oz size.

NARS Blush and Bronzer Duo— my favorite bronzer, Laguna, is paired with the blush color of your choice. Use the bronzer as a contour shade (under the cheekbones, around the hairline, jawline and neck) or use it to give you a sunkissed glow (a little on the forehead, high cheekbones, tip of the nose, chin and neck). Apply the blush at the apples of your cheeks and sweep upward. Choose the pocket size for $24. Limited Edition.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Double Ended Eye Pencil —Use the lighter color at the lash line and flip over and use the darker color on your upper waterline (the fleshy skin under your lash line). This is called double lining and will give you the ultimate definition.

Tip: You can smudge the light color upwards to create more color on the lid in lieu of an eyeshadow, then go over it again with the same color at the lash line. $16.

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara— this really does what it says. It gives length, volume, lifts and curls your lashes all in one fell swoop. No smudging and no clumps. $10 for the .14 oz size.

Smith’s Rosebud Salve in a Tube— the cure-all for all things that need some TLC. Put it on your lips, your elbows, your butt… (it minimizes diaper rash). $6 for .5 oz.

Voila! $74.00!  Now you can’t come crying to me that you’ve spent too much money at Sephora and don’t have any thing to show for it.

Xoxoxo,

Julie

Birchbox: Better Than a Papa John’s Coupon

I discovered Birchbox 2 years ago. A friend of mine from Los Angeles posted beauty items on Facebook that she received in the mail in a pretty box with a bow. I looked up Birchbox’s website and learned about their concept and thought, how clever, deluxe beauty samples by mail (try before you buy). I purchased a yearly subscription ($120/yr. or $10/mo.) and was elated every time I saw the box  on my front doorstep. I didn’t even care what was in it, I was just thrilled to get something other than Papa John’s coupons in the mail. And I was always pleased with at least 2-3 items in the box (they give you a total of 5). I would get samples of products like BlowPro hair care, Color Club nail polishes,  and Jouer lip glosses. Sometimes I would get a square of chocolate, which always reminds me I need more chocolate in my diet.

I was excited to get a referral from a fellow makeup artist, Emily J, about an opportunity to work with Birchbox, Ann Taylor and Cate of Wild Ruffle Blog.  Hell yea I want to do hair/makeup on a fashion blogger with a box full of full sized Birchbox brands! Brittany from Birchbox sent me a big box of love. Some products I was familiar with like Dr. Jarts+ Beauty Balm (which I recommended to one Exec at FOX TV, Los Angeles, and apparently the whole 4th floor is using it now), and Benefit’s They’re Real mascara (ah-mazing) because it’s a cult classic loved by celebrities like Winona Ryder (who by the way I have helped pick out shampoo in my shampoo selling days and she did pay for it). Products that I hadn’t tried but was eager to was foundation by By Terry and Mereadesso Lip Treats. Both were as I expected– easy to apply and look fresh and clean on the skin/lips. And as always, not available via Birchbox (yet), I prepped the skin with Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Active Moisture Serum.

Cate, creator and writer of Wild Ruffle Blog, was a joy to work with. Her down-to-earth personality matched the look I gave her for the photo shoot- effortless and radiant. I used Birchbox’s Captain Blankenship’s Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray to give Cate’s hair some texture and grit (think 2nd or 3rd day dirty hair). I wanted her topknot and style to look disheveled sophisticate (yes, that’s a look, I made it up). And I used the Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm to even out the skin and make it glow.  Noemi Hedrick the photographer and the Ann Taylor team were also amazing to collaborate with.

Read more about Cate’s experience, her product reviews, and about her event tonight at Ann Taylor’s MOA location from 6-8pm here.

Thank you Cate, Ann Taylor, Birchbox and Emily J. for the chance to try new products and to spread the gospel of product sampling. It’s a very smart way to shop.

All photos courtesy of NoemiPhotography.

Tieks Ballet Flats: Ok Facebook, I’ll Buy Them

I remember owning a pair of Sam + Libby flats when I was in the 9th grade. I also owned a pair of clogs. When I had to choose between the two, the clogs would always win (with a school full of leggy Scandinavians, I needed the extra 1 1/2 inches). As a 14-year-old I chose fashion over function. But those days are over. Now I am all about comfort. And while I know that men prefer heels, I challenge them to stand and do hair for 5 hours, then walk the aisles of Target to pick up Nut Thins, then run up and down flights of stairs trying to locate car keys/cell phone/water bottle. I am positive men would do exactly what we do at the end of a day in heels- walk through the door, rip them off of our feet, and throw them across the room as if they were on fire or infected with an STD. If the shoes are designer, we pause for a minute after chucking them, gently pick them up, check for bruises, put them into their dust bag, pet the dust bag (nice Prada, pretty Prada), and close the closet door.

I started seeing advertisements for Tieks “Ballet Flats Reinvented” on Facebook a few years ago. I thought gross, what kind of designer shoe company markets on Facebook? But then I began noticing fashion bloggers rave about them and recently Oprah endorsed them (did she see them on Facebook too?). I have caved. I have just purchased my first pair of Tieks  and am patiently awaiting their arrival. Tieks claim to be “the most versatile ballet flats in the world, they are the only shoe that truly lives at the intersection of portability, comfort, durability and style”. Now mind you, I am very loyal to Prada scrunchie flats. I live in them to the point that one pair reads Pada because the R is my middle toe poking through. Tieks are half the price of Prada, but are they as comfortable? We shall see.

Italian Leather Tieks by Gavrieli in Ballerina Pink. $165

Photo Courtesy of Tieks. com

Must Reads: “10 Mindful Minutes” by Goldie Hawn

I’ve always loved Goldie Hawn. I remember growing up watching her movies, seeing glimpses of her real personality come through each character. If ever a celebrity that I wanted to emulate, it was Goldie and her effervescent free-spirited nature. It comes as no surprise that once again, I find myself drawn to her, but this time it’s not just her personality and spirit, it’s her quest to help children learn ‘mindfulness’- a proven way to strengthen social and emotional intelligence.

In her book, “10 Mindful Minutes”, Goldie explains the importance of helping our children develop stronger, more functional brains. This isn’t woo woo, patchouli smelling, hippie discourse. This book and her MindUP program (a ‘mindful’ curriculum being used in North American public schools)  is based on science, specifically neuroscience, the study of our nervous system, a.k.a our brain. She has collaborated with experts in disciplines such as Neuroscience, Human Development, Psychology and Education. Having been married to a Neuroscience undergrad/ Doctor of Clinical Psychology and having had brain surgery (to remove a benign tumor), I have a good foundation of how our brain functions. But this book blows my mind! (No pun intended.) Goldie covers how each part of our brain works in an easy to understand and approachable way. But enough about brains, how will this book change your life?

“‘10 Mindful Minutes‘ can change the direction in which society is moving today by strengthening the minds of the next generation. In these pages you find an educational (and entertaining) narrative that provides the scientific groundings as well as the practical strategies for developing your child’s- and your own– mindful awareness. You and your child can learn to live in this new way: being aware in the present moment, letting go of judgements and expectations, and being more fully available to others and yourselves.” – Excerpt from the Foreword, written by Daniel J. Siegel, MD

I bolded and your own, intentionally. We, as parents, also need to practice mindfulness. Studies show that children are only as happy as their parents. In other words, if we’re not happy, our kids won’t be happy. I believe myself to be a happy person, but my struggle is being a ‘present’ person. With a million things on my to do list, I am often scattered and overextended. My child often mirrors my behavior by acting restless, overly emotional, and suffers from separation anxiety (he gets upset when I leave him alone in a room.) Yikes. It takes a lot of my own mind strength to gather my thoughts into one brain command, JULIE, SLOW DOWN, BREATHE, BE PRESENT.

Goldie offers practical strategies on breathing, mindful sensing, optimism, happiness, gratitude, empathy, kindness and living a more mindful life. She also addresses anger, sadness, and fear. Her goal is to help parents and children “find 10 mindful minutes every day to reduce stress, renew your mind for clearer thinking, and create greater focus and connectivity with your children”. My goal is to get you to read the book so we can discuss it (who wants to go out for a glass of wine and talk about the stress hormone cortisol?).

“By sitting and mindfully breathing for 10 minutes a day, in as little as eight weeks you strengthen the part of the prefrontal cortex involved in generating positive feelings and diminish the part that generates negative ones.”

-Richard Davidson, PhD

Available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com

Photos courtesy of Berry.com and Barnes and Noble.com

Finance: The App That Will Keep You (Somewhat) Sane

I used to be so organized when it came to paying my bills. I had a physical filing cabinet that I would religiously file each bill after I paid for it. That was 5 years ago. Now my bills are scattered about my house, in my car, and in my purse. I’d be out at a restaurant, digging for lipgloss in my purse, and pull out my electricity bill. Apparently that’s not classy. Maybe it’s because I am now a mother and business owner, or maybe it’s because I became overwhelmed with life, that I needed to find a better way to keep track of it all.

Introducing Manilla, a fiance app that keep you (somewhat) sane.

“The idea behind Manilla is to empower you to stay on top of your bills and consolidate your financial accounts under one password. There are automatic reminders to ensure that you don’t forget to pay bills and the app offers an organized digital filing cabinet of bills, statements, notices, and offers. That means you can forget about keeping paper copies for your records and just access them via the app whenever you need them. It also handles reward programs and loyalty cards, on top of your standard bank accounts and credit cards.

It’s completely free and the streamlined interface makes it very easy to use. Manilla is effectively a calendar of your bills, so you can always see what’s due to come out of your account and when. It’s also completely secure, as verified by various agencies including VeriSign and McAfee.”

-Manilla website

Photo courtesy of Manilla.com

Self-Adjusting Makeup: Real or Hype?

Kind of both. It’s real because there is a science behind it.

The makeup reacts to your body temperature and/or pH level and adjusts to a just-for-you shade. However, it doesn’t mean that that just-for-you shade will look good, especially when it comes to a foundation match.

Several foundation brands will claim to be self-adjusting, but there’s no way one or 2 tubes can find adjust to the perfect tone of the 3 billion women in the world.

You’re better of getting your foundation matched by a professional makeup artist and going with a self-adjusting blush and lip color. Just remember, less is more when it comes to self-adjusting makeup.

Upon my research, consumer reviews and experience, I discovered your best bets for self-adjusting products are:

1. Stila Custom Color Blush $20 (Ulta)
This perceptive one-shade-fits-all powder blush by Stila reacts with your skin’s pH to create a one-of-a-kind, customized shade perfect for you!

2. VBeatu Lip Spread $28 (Cosbar)
Formulated with self-adjusting vBotanical that react with your lip chemistry to create your very own afterglow.

3. Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek $26 (Nordstrom)
Reacts with body chemistry to the shade you’d blush naturally.

4. Smashbox O-GLOW Intuitive Lip Gloss $23 (Nordstrom)
Reacts with body chemistry into a custom shade of pink.

5. Physician’s Formula pH Matchmaker pH Powered Lipgloss $9.99 (Target)
Intuitive ingredients sense the pH of your skin & adjusts to create your perfect lip color.

6. Physician’s Formula pH Matchmaker pH Powered Blush $12.95 (Target)
Same technology as their lip color, the blush senses your pH and changes to a flattering hue.

Living Proof Hair Care Products

What you do get when a bunch of scientists, venture capitalists and hairstylists kick around some ideas?  A revolutionary hair care product line.

Living Proof’s team of scientists have invented and patented new molecules that changes the way your hair behaves.  In other words, each product does what it says it will do.  But they are not just creating your run of the mill hair products, they are inventing entirely new, never been done before, products like a primer for your hair.

Prime Style Extender, $20, contains Living Proof’s “miracle molecule” OFPMA that protects and extends the life of your style twice as long. Its weightless formula smooths strands while correcting hair texture. It can be worn alone or layered under your favorite styling product. No need to touch up in your cubicle or in the car on the way to happy hour, your style will stay all day long!

Disclaimer: Your style will not stay through a nap, in a hot tub, or on a bike going down a steep hill.

“Peel and Stick” Wallpaper by Swag Paper

Swag Paper‘s modular tear away wallpaper is a for the interior design impaired (me!). It offers both a simple,  yet sophisticated way to give your walls a fresh new style. Just peel and stick and voila! a stunning wall has been created.  Nate Berkus would be so proud.

Photo courtesy of swag paper

I am very fond of their damask collection (photo), but they also have retro, vintage and contemporary designs.  Swag Paper is great for the nursery! You can continue to update the walls as your child grows.

Check out their website and blog at http://www.swagpaper.com

To customize your wallpaper with your own uploaded images try http://www.ixxidesign.com

Summer Sunscreen Suggestions

Some helpful tips and product recommendations for practicing safe sun this summer.

SUN PROTECTION FACTOR (SPF)

Use sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 and a maximum of SPF 50. Any number over 50 is only providing an incremental amount of additional protection.

FULL SPECTRUM PROTECTION

Make sure labels list UVA and UVB protection (also known as broad spectrum protection).

INGREDIENTS

If you’re concerned with chemicals that can absorb into the skin, avoid products containing oxybenzone and retinyl palminate. Instead try formulas made with chemicals avobenzone (3%) or Mexoryl SX or safer yet titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide which are minerals that physically block rays.

APPLICATION/AMOUNT

Remember to apply at least 2 ounces of lotion (about a shot glass full) or a generous sweep of powder and reapply every two hours.

EXPIRATION DATE

While most products have a 2 year shelf life(when opened). I suggest to dispose of your sunscreen after 1 year.

PRODUCTS

Based on my research and consumer reviews I  recommend the following products:

SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 $34  -Chemical-free, transparent, full spectrum protection for all skin types, even sensitive.

La Bella Donna Minerals on the Go $65  – All natural, pure mineral translucent sunblock powder. Full-day wear, full-sprectrum protection.

MyChelle Sun Shield SPF 28 $20 – Chemical free, unscented, with full-spectrum protection. Safe for children.

 

Boudoir Photo Session: A Gift That Keeps on Giving

When we think of photo shoots involving lingerie and heels, we immediately think of Playboy, Fredrick’s of Hollywood, and xxx videos. But modern boudoir photo shoots have little to do with T & A, and more to do with the body’s silhouette and natural beauty of a woman.

I started doing hair and makeup for boudoir photos shoots in 2006. At that time it was still very new and very intimidating for brides. There weren’t many resources to research what  to wear, how to pose or even what photographers to hire. Now boudoir photo sessions are amongst the most popular gift to give the groom on the wedding night. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Things to keep in mind before you book your Boudoir Photo Session-

Make sure your photographer agrees to your privacy, both during the session and after. Discuss the amount of retouching that you want done on your photos. Ask how many wardrobe changes you can do and how much total time your session is. Discuss the location(s) of the shoot. Search the internet, specifically Pinterest for ideas for hair, makeup, attire and posing. Think about any accessories and/or props that might personalize the photo. Do not crash diet before you session, this will reek havoc on your skin and under your eyes. Your photographer should know what poses, angles and lighting will complement your curves. Do a full body exfoliation, this will help your skin glow. Spray tan at least 3 days before your sessions to avoid streaking, blotchiness or a funky skin tone. Drink water and stretch before your session. Being beautiful (modeling) can be quite exhausting! And finally, clean up ‘down there’. While your photographer can retouch the area, spare him/her the task of doing so.

I did this boudoir photo shoot with the lovely Megan McCarty and the talented Sally Butler of La Vie Photography.