New Favs!

I'm sad, my peeps. My FAV product, after years of use, has started to burn my sensitive facey-poo. WAAAAAHHHH!!! Yes, those amazing Dr. Gross AHA/BHA Daily Peel Pads that I didn't use daily…burnt the shit out of my face. The under part of my nose looks like I've had a terrible cold and is sensitive to the touch. I've straight up been slathering on my fav salve, Waxelene, to make it better! 

What's a girl to do? I'm still obsessed with peel pads! So I headed over to Space NK @ Short Hills Bloomies and those girls hooked me up!

They suggested Radical Skincare's Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads. This line is super cool because (from what I'm told), the founder was uber-sensitive, acneic and concerned about aging. She went to her chemist daddy and had the lab create a line specifically for her concerns. Basically, she's my skin twin and I really want to meet her!

One of the main ingredients in these bad boys is ALOE. HOLLA! It still comes with yummy delicious AHAs and BHAs to keep exfoliating my skin and get rid of the nasty bacteria that builds up on my acne-prone skin (have I mentioned how hot I am lately?). Best part? They no burn! $95 for 100. I'm starting out slow - only once or twice a week. So far, so good. FYI - You can also try them out at Barney's (and sometimes there's a GWP. While you're there, check out their eye cream. Smells like cucumbers!)

The other product that they introduced me to is Tata Harper's Resurfacing Mask. This shit is ALL natural! It goes on really thin and watery so there's no awkward tightness, and the Pink French Clay deeply cleanses and moisturizes the skin. It removes dead skin cells and absorbs dirt and toxins. There's White Willow that gentle exfoliates and controls sebum levels. It for real does what it says it should do - leaves your skin "look[ing] fresh, smooth and radiant." There IS an instant glow - so amazing! Rave rave rave! $55 for 1 oz (and if you think that's a lot…you should see the rest of the line! Ha!)

Thanks ladies for fixin' up my skin!

Until next time - xoxo

A Sentimental Blog

Sorry I haven't written in a while, peeps - my man came to visit, I'm singing again (whoop whoop), and life's just been leading me down a different path. Don't fret though, I've still been dabbling with products, seeing what makes me break out, freaking out over my break outs, scolding myself for picking, asking every single person I meet which products I should try, etc. etc. I still unabashedly LOVE make up, skincare, haircare and all that jazz. I'm just taking it easy in the cosmetics department (literally!) :) 

With that said, today's blog isn't a sassy review of the newest, bestest, fiercest products. Instead, today I was inspired to write to you because, as you can not ignore, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I was invited by Sephora at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ to take part of a very special event. I didn't know what to expect - my usual role there involves either education or sales. But today, my friends, was something truly different. I had the privilege of doing fabulous makeovers (NO sales pressure involved) with some extraordinary women who happen to be breast cancer survivors. I spent a few hours making women feel gorgeous and you know what? It made me feel pretty damn skippy too. There were hugs, tears, admiration and inspiration. I normally say in the world of cosmetics (when trying to keep it real…) "it's make up; we're not curing cancer." Yet today…it sort of was. I am not a doctor. I am not a social worker. I occasionally think of myself as a good samaritan. But today I had the opportunity to give back and, in turn, lifted the spirits of several amazing women. A spirit that has kept them alive, regardless of the shitty big C. So, my peeps, the moral of the story is, make up ain't just painting yo face. There is a whole lot of heart underneath those false lashes. There is a whole lot of life behind that pink pout. And if you're in Jersey, go shop at Sephora Willowbrook - their team rocks! Thanks team for the awesome opportunity! THIS is why we do it. <3

Skin Lust (Inked Bodies)

These sexy, edgy goddesses give me severe skin lust. The following inked celebs (other than Angelina Jolie - couldn't be THAT obvious, could I?!) keep their skin flawless and their bodies like artwork - I just had to share!

10. Avril Lavigne. The ultimate definition of soft and pretty but still a glam rocker chick! 

9. Singer/Songwriter, Mom to Jameson and new Covergirl, P!nk, has at least 22 tats!

8. I think Sienna Miller is super pretty - and so is her flying swallow!

 7. Jessica Alba never disappoints - this actress, mother and trend-setting fashionista is gorgeous and inked! Okay, that last one she was sporting was fake, but she does have 2 others!

 

6. Megan Fox - She looks like a doll - I'm not even sure she has pores. But flawless skin and super foxy with her ink!

5. As of now, RiRi has 14 tattoos. She's so tiny - where does she keep them all!?

4. Hayden Panettiere - Don't be fooled by the babydoll lipgloss - that tattoo is super tough!

3. Kelly Osbourne - a truly beautiful Daddy's Girl!

2. Un-desperate Eva Longoria - super pretty and surprisingly inked!

And my all-time, ultimate biggest inked skin lust goes to....

(drumroll please)...

1. David Beckham! (You're welcome, ladies - and gents!)

 

De-LISH!

New Products!

Friends,

Sorry it's been a while. I have been super busy trying a TON of new products (yup, I'm my own guinea pig) and I wanted to give you the updates. I am lucky enough to work in an industry where I am making friends all the time with people who rep different lines, and they spoil me with samples so that I can give YOU the deets. Truth be told, mostly everything I tried…meh. It doesn't mean that the products aren't amazing. But lesson learned: You have to know what is best for YOUR skin. With that said, I do want to report on one new eye cream and two new skin resurfacing peel/abrasion products.

First up was Kate Somerville's Glycolic Polisher. $90 for 1.7 oz. Huge amounts of lactic acid combined with Glycolic = MASSIVE FACE BURNING. I reacted so poorly to this and, may I add, it smelled rank! I tried it twice and promptly threw out the rest of my supply. The bottom of my jaw was itchy for days afterward! Sensitive peeps beware!!

However, I did find a new product that rivals my beloved Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads! If you want your skin to feel like a baby's ass - check this stuff out: DERMAdoctor physical CHEMISTRY.

Disclaimer: This shit is STRONG. My sensitive peeps - use with caution, make sure you haven't OD'd on glyco-lactic whatever for a few days before hand, but for reals - RUN (do not walk!) to Sephora and get yourself some samples!! So far, it hasn't reacted poorly with my rosacea (Hallelujah!) You know I've tried every peel, pad and mask known to man and I'm so surprised that I missed out on this one when it first launched. Better late than never! They say to follow up with their anti-redness cream, but I do it at night followed by my REN Omega 3 Serum. Sadly, it's not paraben free, but then again, that's when I say "...but this shit WORKS!" 

I love it! Right now I'm just hoping that switching to this once or twice a week will be enough to fight my acneic skin and clogged pores. Here's hoping!

And, lastly, I did want to give a huge shoutout to Sunday Riley's Start Over Active Eye Cream.

This eye cream is schlamazing for my puffy-eyed peeps! I used this on a client who had bags under her eyes and I promise you SR's natural eye cream uses Native American techniques and concoctions to literally drain the fluids from the under-eye region. At first, I was scared. Then I became fascinated and awed by its magical powers! On one eye, we tried Natura Bisse. EXPENSIVE shiz! Under the other, SR. I watched her left eye water for about a minute and the results were astounding. NO CONTEST. Pick up a sample at your local Space NK! 

Up next - super stoked to try Kate Somerville's CytoCell Oil-Free Anti-Wrinkle Serum. Mama's got a big crease across her forehead and she ain't happy. Cross your fingers for me, I hope it's better than Botox!

Red & Blotchy

Peeps.

Summer has taken its toll on my clients, and I've had an influx of people with two major issues the last several weeks: redness and dark spots. I even had a client with Melasma yesterday who requested a "fuller-coverage foundation" to cover up her dark spots. She told me not to worry, because she bleaches her skin year-round and usually by April/May it looks great again. I'm sorry - WHAT!? People. PEOPLE! We come from a generation of beauties who take pride in being pale. You don't have to be a sun worshipper anymore! Hasn't Snooki taught us not to be afraid of bronzer??

(Mazel tov on the baby, btw!)

I then had a client who was in her early-mid twenties and feared that her freckles were becoming "dark spots." I tried not to roll my eyes as we came up with a solution:

My favorite skincare product, Dr. Dennis Gross' Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel now comes in a trial size! Now all of you can experience the magic!

Caudalie's Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum is also amazing (super hydrating, soothing and makes your skin luminous!)

Lastly, although I didn't think she had dark spots, she picked up a bottle of Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. While I myself haven't tried it, I have heard rave reviews from my clients and colleagues. If you're suffering from Hyperpigmentation, give it a whirl! 

Next up is for my sensitive peeps. So it turns out, sun exposure, hot weather and humidity can trigger Rosacea (amongst other things! - rosacea.org) Needless to say, summer is probably the worst season for us, and people are starting to notice with the change in seasons that it's time to undo some of the damage. What helps us sensitive-skinned gals from the past few months in the sun!?

Try using products with the following:

Lavender - It's been used for centuries to treat rashes, blemishes and rosacea. Erin's Faces has a Clarifying Serum that contains Essential Oil. It's great for sensitive skin (and congested) and is Organic! She also carries an Organic Lavender Body Wash that contains both Lavender and Chamomile (see below.) It's gentle enough for babies and is sulfate & paraben free. 

Chamomile. It reduces inflammation and is soothing. You can also steep chamomile tea bags in warm water and place them on the affected areas.

Honey - Sorry vegans, this one's awesome. I've been straight up putting honey on my skin and it's nothing short of amazing. It's antibacterial, healing and soothing. Booya!

Green Tea - it's anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. It can also help reduce the skin's reaction to ultraviolet light. AmorePacific farms their own Green Tea for use in all of their products!

And, lastly, try Oatmeal - It soothes itchiness and dryness. It also promotes the skin's natural ability to protect itself from inflammatory attacks. (tiphero.com) I really like Ole Henriksen's Vitamin Plus moisturizer - it contains oatmeal and doesn't break me out. Woop woop!

Also be sure to check out products from Avene, which is a line dedicated to using thermal spring water from the South of France to treat sensitive skin. Sounds amazing, right? And it is! I was fortunate enough to pick up some of their goodies while I was in Paris. They're also sold in the U.S. (and not ridiculously priced, might I add.) Click here for more info!

HEADS UP: If you're red & blotchy, proceed with caution when getting color matched for a new foundation. Make sure you cancel the redness before you try on! Certain artists often go darker or more yellow to try and hide the red patches. You look into the fluorescent-lit mirrors and don't realize what trap you've set yourself up into until you step outside or get your ass home and look at your face. So, my red & blotchy peeps, heed my advice. Don't go yellow. Correct that shiz!

I'm not really into full-on green primers like MUFE's, Smashbox's or Fusion Beauty's. I feel like they leave your face with an unpleasant film. What I do love is a good corrector that's meant to be used sparingly underneath the foundation on those difficult areas, and this one I'd like to add to my list of SHIT THAT WORKS. It's Lorac's Oil-Free Neutralizer.

Ladies, this is not a foundation. It simply neutralizes the skin! It's safe for sensitive skin (although - eep - it does have parabens. Lo ciento!). $30 gets you 1 ounce which will last you forever and a day. Use a tiny bit - dab it in with your finger (warm it up into the skin) and pat it to blend only on the necessary areas. It can be a little drying sometimes so if you're already a bit parched then make sure to hydrate that area prior to or hell, mix that shit in with your moisturizer. I love it! It's a staple in my kit and I've been recommending it a lot to my clients over the years. More importantly, this sort of product allows you to really get a truer shade match for tinted moisturizer, powder, BB cream, foundation, or whatever the heck you use. (And then you're less likely to have that nasty jawline your-foundation-doesn't-match-your-skin crap going on!)

Want more information on why your skin might be so red? Click here.

Just because it's end of summer doesn't mean it's the end of your SPF! Protect your skin and above all, love yourselves!

Happy Labor Day, Lovelies! xo

NiniLuvsMakeup

Hey guys! I've got something super special for you today: an interview with YouTube Celeb NiniLuvsMakeup!

Not only is she my friend, but she's also a fierce makeup artist who happens to be gorgeous on the inside and out. For some amazing tutorials, check her out on YouTube, and read below!

A: Hey Nini! How long have you been a makeup artist?

N:  I've been a Makeup Artist for about 5 years

A: How did you get started in makeup?

N: One day while browsing through the 99-cent store, I came across four products that became an obsession. An electric blue liquid eye liner, a baby blue eyeshadow, brown lip liner and a pressed powder. After wearing these products for a while, I started buying more and more makeup, found YouTube tutorials on makeup and the rest was history. 

A: When did you know you wanted to do this professionally?

N: I knew I wanted to do makeup professionally four years ago... I would create different looks on myself and soon I became confident in applying makeup to family and friends. What makes me want to continue is how it ends up making my clients feel inside.

A: Who was the most influential person in your career? 

N:  The most influential person in my career is my mother. She is my number 1 supporter. My mom is constantly giving me new ideas and if I ever need her advice, I can trust her opinion. 

A: Do you have a beauty icon?

N: I don't really have a favorite beauty icon. However, my favorite style of makeup would have to be Indian Bridal. 

A: You always look amazing! How do you keep your skin looking so fresh?

N: Thank you so much! I am loving Purity cleaner by Philosophy - I love that it takes off all of my makeup and doesn't dry out my skin. For my moisturizers, I use Shiseido Urban Eviroment UV protection cream SPF 35 and Origins Starting Over. 

A: What is the best piece of makeup and/or skincare advice you've ever received?

N: The best skin care advice/product I've received has to be from my older sisters.. Caldesene powder on a pimple over night shrinks it by half a size by morning... 

A: What's the one thing you can't live without?

N: One thing I cant live with out... An eyebrow pencil!

A: If you were trapped on a desert island and could only bring 10 beauty products with you, what would they be?

N: 1- Purity Cleanser
2- Shiseido Moisturizer
3- Urban decay Primer Potion
4- 120 Palette (Is that cheating? lol) 
5- Maybelline Define a Brow pencil in Brown
6- Silicon Mix Condition 
7- Silicon Mix Shampoo
8- Smashbox BB Cream
9- Tarte Gel eye liner
10- Blending Brush

A: What is your favorite feature?

N: My favorite feature would have to be brows. I feel like well-groomed, filled-in brows complete a look. 

A: What do you love most about your job?

N: What I love most about my job is my clients and their overall reaction when I'm done doing their makeup.. Most of the time I don't even feel like I'm working, I love that I get to be creative and express myself. 

A: Now, you're pretty famous on Youtube. How many followers do you have? 

N: I have over 19,700 followers that I love and appreciate so much! I'm so thankful for all of the love and support...I have the best viewers in the world. 

A: What are you most proud of?

N: I'm most proud when I post tutorials on my channel and I get a comment of someone saying how helpful the video was to them or pictures/video responses of some of my looks.. 

A: About how much $$ worth of makeup do you own? 

N: A LOT! lol

(I nabbed this cover photo from Facebook!)

A: What is your favorite video that you've posted? Why?

N: My personal favorite video I've posted to date would have to be my IMATS (International Make-up Artist Trade Show) Haul video. The reason why I love this video so much is because It doesn't only feature me...I show pictures of my viewers which is most important to me. I love meeting my viewers in person..IMATS was such an amazing experience... I will never forget this day. (You can view the video here!)

A: Any words of wisdom to aspiring makeup artists out there?

N:  My advice to aspiring makeup artists... Be you 100%, practice different techniques, Don't be afraid to try something new and have fun with it!

Thanks, Nini! Can't wait to see you again! xo