DreamDry- The premier destination for the ultimate blowout.

I have been meaning to write this post for weeks now after having a truly divine experience at Rachel Zoe’s new blowout bar, DreamDry.

DreamDry opened on Valentine’s Day and I found myself there two days later.  As a professional hair and makeup artist, I find I never really do things for myself.  I HATE having my makeup done and I’ve never been to any of the other dry bars in the city.  Occasionally I will take the time to do my hair but more often than not my hair goes up in a top knot.  My best products are put in my kit and used only on my clients.  I have a blow dryer but I try not to put heat on my hair if I can avoid it.  I love treating other people to all things beauty but rarely do treat myself.

I worked a boudoir session the morning of February 16th followed by makeup for a large wedding party.  Normally after a day this packed, I would drag my kit home and treat myself to an evening of wine, puppy cuddling, and relaxing with my fiance.  But my friend and colleague, Veronica Nunes, was in town assisting me with the big wedding party.  Veronica has thick, straight (or so I thought) hair.  Turns out Veronica actually has very curly hair and just straightens it a few times a week.  So when she mentioned going to Dry Bar or Blow I remembered an article I had just read about Rachel Zoe opening a new blowout salon.

I love all things Rachel Zoe.  Her style, her show, her passion, her line.  I admire her dedication to her business and I think she is brilliant.  I strive to have a career like hers in the beauty industry.  And that’s when I decided we should make a night of it.

We made an appointment for that evening.

We walked in and immediately I was greeted with the smell of Oribe products.  I felt right at home!  After I came down from that high, the ladies at the front desk welcomed us, checked us in, and brought us champagne.  It shouldn’t get better but it does.  After waiting a few moments we were brought back for our shampoo (heaven) and then lead to our styling chairs.  After looking through a few photos I settled on the “Veronica.”  I’m a sucker for a modern twist on an old classic.  Camille, my stylist, was eager to get started on my look.  Since they had only been open two days she hadn’t had the opportunity to create that look yet.  Camille was efficient, friendly, and professional.  And she had me out in 30 minutes.  The style was flawless.  I slept with my hair in Goody spin pins that night and brushed it out with my Mason Pearson the next morning.  Still flawless.  Maybe even better.  And the smell of Oribe hairspray lingered.  I reluctantly washed my hair the following morning but the experience has obviously stayed with me.

I just booked another appointment for next weekend.  Since DreamDry has been open for a few weeks now they are much, much busier.  I booked a week ahead of time and couldn’t get the appointment time I wanted.  So be sure to book early in advance if you need to look absolutely fabulous for an event or just need a pick me up.  At $40 for a blowout and a baby bottle of Moet I would absolutely say it is worth it!

Glam Team Takeover!

My favorite jobs are the gigs where I can put my talents to good use and give back.  There is nothing more fulfilling!  So when stylist George Brescia asked me to help with a makeover for a Hurricane Sandy survivor, I jumped at the opportunity.

I first met Damaris last Wednesday for her initial consultation.  You never would have guessed this beautiful, glowing woman had just moved back into her home after losing everything in October.  The more I spoke with Damaris the more I wanted to help her feel beautiful.  Damaris is one of those people who is just so happy to give and give and give.  Between three kids, fostering children, owning and running a daycare (which she also lost in the storm), and caring for her husband and high school sweetheart Pedro, Damaris certainly has her hands full.  I started by asking her what her beauty routine was only to find that she typically doesn’t spend anytime on herself.  I wanted to give Damaris something glamorous but accessible.

I arrived at the CBS studios at 6am this morning to begin the transformation.  Hairstylist Jenna Drudi, began with her hair and then she was all mine!  We started with Embryolisse and an oil-free Laura Mercier primer.  Damaris has great skin so a touch of Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer and a light veil of Kett Hydro Foundation went a long way.  A bit of NYX bronzer, a pop of blush, and a sweep of Kevin Aucoin’s highlighter had her glowing. Then we moved onto the eyes.  I primed her eyes with MAC painterly and gave her a simple, clean eye using one Too-Faced palette for the entire look.  Mascara and a few lashes for drama made Damaris feel glamourous.  A pink Bobbi Brown lip with a touch a gloss really tied the look together with her pink blazer.  She’s ready for her closeup!

Damaris told her story and revealed her new look on CBS’s The Couch this morning.  Check out our segment here!

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/video/8439008-glam-team-takeover-helps-woman-who-lost-business-to-sandy/

Get the Look- Miss New York USA Joanne Nosuchinsky

Love Your Facers- I am bursting with pride.  My beautiful friend, Joanne Nosuchinsky was crowned Miss New York USA on Sunday evening.  Joanne trained for the pageant diligently.  She worked out nearly every day, ate right, searched high and low for the perfect gown, and even consulted with me on her hair and makeup.   Here’s what Joanne and I did to create her winning look.

We started by ordering her extensions from www.proextensions.com.  I love this site.  They sell good quality human hair AND they ship overnight for free.  Ordering extensions without seeing how the color works with your hair can be tricky but Joanne has a pretty standard hair color.  Dark brown, 24 inch clip ins work perfect!  They add length and just enough bulk while still looking natural.

Joanne has always been a fan of big hair, lots of tease, and big barrel waves.  Perfect for pageant.  We curled the extensions before we put them in her hair.  When you’re ordering human hair it’s hard to tell what you’re going to get.  Just as some people’s hair don’t hold curl, some human hair extensions don’t hold curl.  So we started by spraying the hair with Matrix Biolage Thermal Active Setting Spray, curling the extensions with a large barrel, clipping them with pins, and letting them cool in the curled position. Then we curled her hair with a large barrel away from her face. We put a big tease in her hair for volume and to ensure her extension clips would stay put.  We placed two medium extensions at the nape of her neck, one large extension near the crown, and two small extensions right below her temple.

With hair looking gorgeous, we moved onto makeup.  We knew Joanne was going to be filmed and photographed a lot so HD makeup was essential.  High definition cameras and film expose everything.  Pores, blemishes, lines, wrinkles, EVERYTHING.  So when we made the switch a few years ago, makeup had to evolve with technology.  HD makeup blurs the imperfections and still manages to make skin look like skin.

We prepped Joanne’s skin with moisturizer and Laura Mercier’s oil free primer.  We used a primer to extend the life of her makeup and minimize shine.  Then I introduced Joanne to MAKE UP FOR EVER’s HD Foundation in 118 and we applied it with a damp Beauty Blender.  We used Bobbi Brown’s Concealer in Ivory under the eyes and set the face with a translucent powder.  We used MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Sculpting Kit in no. 2 for contour and highlight on the face. A pop of blush and the Smashbox Halo Wand on her cheekbones finished the face.

Joanne loves a smokey eye and what better place to rock a Kardashian inspired look than at a beauty pageant?  Joanne’s signature eye starts with a light base on the lid and a smoked out black liner on the top and bottom lash line.  Lots of mascara, some Ardell lashes, and our winning look is almost complete.

Finish it off with a red lip by MAC and a spritz of MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist and Fix and you’ve got the look!

Tee’z Products and Sundari Hair Treatment Review for Bloom.com!

This month we got a ton of goodies from bloom.com including some hair products.  I was super excited to get into the oil treatment and the volumizing products.  I should start by telling you a bit about my hair.  My hair is straight, long and fine but I have a ton of it.  I used to color it but I have recently stopped and everything changed.  After I stopped chemically treating it, my hair is much more manageable.  I can wash it every other day now rather than everyday, it’s softer, it isn’t as dry on the ends.  Pretty normal.

I started with the Sundari Neem and Coconut Hair Treatment Oil.  Here’s what the company has to say about their products.

Rejuvenate and protect your hair with this therapeutic treatment oil. Sundari Neem and Coconut Hair Treatment Oil strengthens hair shafts and protects hair from heat styling. Prevents hair loss and is great for sensitive scalps with its anti-inflammatory effect. Soothing and highly moisturizing, this hair treatment is wonderfully fragrant and great for all hair and skin types. Sundari products are formulated primarily with organic ingredients. All are dermatologist tested (never on animals), and use therapeutic grade essential oils.

Who It’s For: Suitable for all hair and skin types.

How It Works:

• Neem leaf extract contains sulfur, which is essential for building strong collagen layers. This strengthens skin and adds tone and volume to facial contours.
• Coconut oil is a natural moisturizing factor (NMFs). This means that it not only helps skin retain adequate moisture levels, it also binds with the skin’s natural lipid layer to improve its texture and feel.
• Rose oil and Lavadin oil combine for a light, pleasing fragrance.

Suggested Use: Before bathing, apply a generous amount to hair and scalp. Leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing. For maximum benefit, leave on overnight.

Beauty Benefits

• Strengthens hair shaft by preventing protein loss.
• Protects hair against UV damage.
• Fights dandruff and scalp irritation.
• Nourishes hair and adds volume to lackluster hair.

Haircare Key Features

No Animal Testing

Haircare Product Type

Oil

Haircare Concern

Dry and Brittle

I put the treatment in before bed and left it in overnight.  Like an oil should it left me hair greasy so I threw it up and slept on a towel.  The smell.  Oh, the smell.  So good.  Like a really fantastic smelling sunscreen.  I love coconut so yes, I love it.  I rinsed the oil out in the morning and thought my hair felt squeaky, super clean.  Then I blew it out.  Hair looks good, feels nice but no noticeable difference.  Or so I thought.  Every since I stopped dying my hair I’ve developed dandruff.  I have never had a problem with flakes!  I’ve always had a healthy scalp and although it wasn’t a bad case of dandruff it was enough to make me a bit self conscious.  This hair treatment contains sulfur.  Sulfur treats dandruff.  I haven’t had an issue with dandruff in about a week and a half and only one treatment.  Coincidence?  I think not.  I also have an issue with an insane amount of hair loss.  I haven’t seen any improvement as far as that goes but I’ve only treated my hair once so I can’t judge that yet.

I would absolutely recommend this product.  I’ve just started using it and I have already seen results.  I am confident that with continued use of this product I won’t have anymore scalp issues and hopefully I stop losing so much hair.  I will purchase this product again and again and again.  And for $34.00 for a 3.4oz bottle it’s worth the splurge.

Next up, T’eez Bounce Me Styling Cream.  Here is the info.

Beauty Benefits

• Adds texture, shine, and body to all hair types.
• Boosts volume at the roots and controls frizz at the ends.
• Great for long or short hair styles.
• Both men and women love Bounce Me!

Haircare Key Features

Color Protection, Contains Antioxidants, Dry Hold, Flexible Hold, Leave-In, Light Hold, Medium Hold, No Animal Testing, Sulfate Free, Wet Hold

Haircare Product Type

Cream

Haircare Concern

Chemically Straightened Hair, Color-Treated, Dandruff, Dry and Brittle, Frizzy

Beauty Benefits

• Adds texture, shine, and body to all hair types.
• Boosts volume at the roots and controls frizz at the ends.
• Great for long or short hair styles.
• Both men and women love Bounce Me!

Haircare Key Features

Color Protection, Contains Antioxidants, Dry Hold, Flexible Hold, Leave-In, Light Hold, Medium Hold, No Animal Testing, Sulfate Free, Wet Hold

Haircare Product Type

Cream

Haircare Concern

Chemically Straightened Hair, Color-Treated, Dandruff, Dry and Brittle, Frizzy

I have pin straight hair and I don’t often curl it or blow it out.  I try to keep heat off my hair as often as possible.  After examining the bottle I got the impression that this product was for curly girls but I gave it a shot anyway.  I put a small amount from root to ends.  It smells lovely and feels light.  Then I blew out my hair, nothing fancy.  The instant volume was amazing and my hair looked shiny and bouncy.  Check it out.

I had also just used to Sundari treatment.

Looks great right?  It looked great for maybe 10 minutes then fell back to its flat lifeless ways.

I would not recommend this product to people with my hair texture.  It just doesn’t hold.

Next up, another product from T’eez, but this time their build me volume spray.

Build a strong foundation of volume and control with T’eez Build Me Volume Spray. Designed to build incredible volume at the roots and keep your hair looking salon-fresh all day, this lightweight, non-tacky spray is great for all hair types and contains natural plant extracts to keep your hair healthy, beautiful, and in control.

Who It’s For: Ideal for all hair types. For anyone who needs control and volume.

How It Works:

• Kelp softens the hair shaft, which gives hair a smooth appearance and a natural shine.
• Rosemary encourages the growth of hair and adds volume and glossiness to hair.
• Hops condition scalp and hair and have mild astringent properties.
• Honey contains amino acids, peptides, and vitamins that calm and heal scalp itchiness. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to reduce irritation.

Suggested Use: Spray liberally on damp hair at the roots. Do not rinse. Style as desired.

Beauty Benefits

• Builds sexy volume and holds hair for hours.
• Delightful cucumber fragrance leaves hair smelling fresh.
• Gives hair massive body and unbeatable control.
• Invisible, lightweight, and never sticky.

Haircare Key Features

Color Protection, Leave-In, No Animal Testing, Sulfate Free, Weightless

Haircare Product Type

Spray (Non-aerosol)

Haircare Concern

Chemically Straightened Hair, Color-Treated, Dandruff

Not a fan of the smell.  I HATE rosemary so that probably has something to do with it.  That aside this product worked great… for 10 minutes.

I literally took the second picture a few minutes later.  And it didn’t make my hair shiny like the cream.  I am not a fan.  I would not recommend this product for someone with my hair texture.

All of these products are available at bloom.com.

Bloom.com and My Amazing June Ambassador Box!

June certainly has been a delicious smelling treat thanks to bloom.com.  Check out all the goodies I received this month!

Gorgeous!

I was immediately draw to the beautifully packaged gold box.  Tied in a pretty bow and it even comes with a card courtesy of Pacifica!

You know I love that!

The packaging is absolutely a plus but let’s get to the products.  Here’s what they have to say about their products.

“Pacifica skin care is formulated with ingredients your skin wants and full of natural ingredients your skin craves.

Pacifica skin care is made without: Animal testing, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, GMOs, mineral oil, peanut oil, and triclosan (and other ingredients you do not want!)

Pacifica is made with: Love. Dedication. Time. Knowledge. Quality. Beneficial ingredients. Skin loving naturals.”

First I pulled out the Color Quench Lip Tints.  I am a sucker for coconut so I immediately put on the coconut nectar.  Bad idea.  Hate it!  It smells wonderful and it feels nice on my lips but the shimmer in it is chunky and frosty.  We didn’t leave the frosty lip trend in the 90s for nothing.  Bummer!  Next the Blood Orange lip tint.  Amazing.  Smells fantastic, looks gorgeous.  It’s just the right amount of color!  But here’s my issue.  These lip tints are all about moisture and healthy oils and blah blah good for you.  Great, but there’s no SPF in it.  If you wear this out in the sun too long no amount of essential fatty acids are going to prevent your lips from burning.  Goodbye moisture, hello crispy lips.  Seems so silly not to put SPF in these!  Oh well, I’ll wear them inside.

I’m wearing the Coconut Lip Tint here.

I’m wearing the Blood Orange Lip Tint above.

Next the body butters.  Indian Coconut Nectar is up first!  Amazing.  Can’t I eat this?!  No?  Ok I’ll just put it on my moisture starving body.  It’s not overly greasy and not so light I need to reapply every few minutes.  Then the Blood Orange.  Just as amazing.  A bit stronger on the scent but still just amazing.  Then the Coconut and Pearls Bronzing Body Butter.  Feels great, smells fantastic and give my skin a nice shimmer.  I am the Queen of leg makeup and body bronzers and this one was ok.  It didn’t add much color, despite my pale, pale skin, but it added a sexy sheen.

I have struggled all my life with wicked razor burn.  If I moisturize after shaving it hurts and gets red and irritated.  I have tried EVERYTHING.  These body butters felt great.  Hardly any irritation or pain.  Amazing.

We also got the Pacifica Island Vanilla Purfume Roll-On.  I typically don’t like Vanilla scents as they remind me of bathing in overpowering Victoria’s Secret scents in high school.  But this was nice and light, not to mention convenient.  Throw it in your bag and go.

I have never used Pacifica products until now.  I’m so happy I found them!  Run, don’t walk, to bloom.com now and pick yourself up some!

Next up, two eye shadow palettes by Stila!

Above is the In the Garden Palette.

“The new In the Garden Eye Shadow Palette is a stunning collection of Stila’s award-winning eye shadows in wearable, botanical-inspired shades for every skin tone. The palette also includes an exclusive Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Starfish (black with gold and green pearl), and an 8-page look book with detailed how-to tips and tricks. A gorgeous, palette with 10 shades of Stila’s award-winning eye shadow formula that can be worn wet or dry. Shades include:

• Chinois – matte creamy white
• Breeze – shimmery beige
• Bark – shimmery taupe
• Freesia – shimmery violet blue
• Rosette – metallic pink violet
• Nectar – matte creamy beige
• Honey – metallic bronze gold
• Sage – shimmery translucent green
• Moss – dark olive green with shimmer
• Juniper – deep shimmery forest green

Palette also includes an exclusive Smudge Stick shade in Starfish (black with gold and green pearl sparkle).”

Stila In the Moment Palette

“The In the Moment eye shadow palette is a stunning collection of Stila’s award-winning eye shadows, featuring a mix of pretty purples and ultra-wearable, neutral shades that flatter every skin tone and can be worn wet or dry. The palette also includes an exclusive Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Tetra, a deep shimmery purple, plus an eight-page look book with comprehensive application tips and tricks.

Shades include:

• Instinct – light baby pink with pink & white shimmer
• Desire – soft, creamy mid-tone pink
• Impulse – pale lavender with lavender shimmer
• Wonder – mid-tone flesh pink with shimmer
• Glance – intense violet with shimmer
• Spontaneous – soft beige-gold with shimmer
• Improvise – deep plum with pink sparkle
• Whim – soft warm reddish-brown with shimmer
• Catalyst – black with pink sparkle
• Captivate – mid-tone purple-brown with golden pearl”

Love this look from the In the Garden Palette.  In the crease and under the eye- Bark  On the lid- Breeze On the inside corner and on the ball of the eye- Chinois

Simple and stunning.  These colors blend seamlessly.  They are so soft and crazy pigmented.

I created this look from the in the moment palette for a night out.  In the crease and under the eye- Catalyst On the lid- Improvise  In the inner corner and under the brow bone- instinct On the ball of the eye- Wonder

I had a bit of trouble with this look.  The black Catalyst color was messy and too soft.  It created a ton of fall out and slipped down my face even when I put a primer on first.  All the other colors were lovely and blendable.

I created this look from the in the moment palette.  I used moss, sage and nectar.  Simple, young, fresh.  So blendable!

Simple, easy, shiny, and interesting.  I used the in the moment palette for this look.  Instinct, wonder, and I lined my eyes with glance.

I really liked these palettes.  The colors are beautiful and the possibilities are endless.  I used these colors wet and dry for different effects.  These would only be better if there were matte shades in them.  Stila describes some of the shades as matte but, I promise, they are not.  Every shade is shimmery or glittery.  I like matte shades for contour and shimmer for highlight so a little variety would be appreciated.  All in all, I like the palettes but there is room for improvement!

The palette retail for $39.00 a pop on bloom.com.

My next assignment was Booty Parlour Flirty Little Secret Firming Bronzer with Phermones!  Sounds fun, right?!  Yep!

“Booty Parlor Flirty Little Secret Bronze Edition is a stunning multi-tasking formula that creates a golden glow on your skin, attracts the fun crowd, and firms your skin all over. Formulated with a proprietary pheromone blend, this flirty favorite will inspire body-to-body chemistry and make you even more irresistible that you already are. Plus, wheat proteins and skin polishers smooth and perfect your outer beauty. (Please note: Not a sunless tanner.)

Who It’s For: Recommended for all skin types.

How It Works:

• Tritisol XM firms and tightens skin for a youthful appearance.
• UGL Complex increases firmness and tone in skin.
• Pheromones enhance the libido and create a romantic mood.

Suggested Use: Smooth on skin all over body for a sexy glow.”

I have used every body bronzer under the sun!  I love them!  They make me feel sexy.  I was a loyal user of Sally Hansen Leg Makeup for the longest time, then I moved to Inglot Body Makeup, and then my FAVORITE Red Carper Kolour.  RCK is amazing because it’s waterproof.  Needless to say, I was super excited to try this product.

Off the bat, I wasn’t too fond of the smell.  Not good, not terrible.  But once I rubbed it on my legs it won me over!  It’s a great color for my skin and has a beautiful shimmer.  It was a hot night in NYC the evening I wore it and it didn’t come off or move around.  Did the pheromones get me more attention?  I don’t buy it.  I got attention because I felt great and sexy and confident.  And that’s more attractive than any smelly stuff you put in a lotion.

The lotion retails for $32.00 on bloom.com.

Bloom.com review- Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths

Having beautiful, young, healthy skin has always been an obsession of mine.  I have been using anti-aging creams since high school.  I wash my face every night before bed.  You will never catch me with a tan and I rarely leave the house without SPF on all exposed areas of my skin.  Obsessed may actually be an understatement.  But my skin is fantastic.

That being said I was super excited about trying this product.  I don’t often use facial wipes because cleansers or makeup removers are so much gentler on my skin but I came into this project open minded.

Here’s what Kaia has to say about their product.

“ONE CLOTH…..three different products: cleanser, toner and makeup remover. with wholesome ingredients, this all-in-one cloth melts away dirt and purges your pores, leaving the skin feeling squeaky clean. juicy bamboo facial cleansing cloths are made with 99% natural ingredients, including organic honey that makes your skin feel soft, instead of stripped and tight… did we mention they even remove waterproof mascara? yup, they take off everything, and we mean e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g

 

With one unbleached bamboo cloth you will find:

 

• 8 pure essential oils…real essential oils, not faux fragrance

 

• a special blend of citrus oils, spearmint and tangerine…
   that help keep the skin fresh and balanced

 

• sunflower oil… helps lift impurities leaving your skin fresh and clean

 

• certified organic honey… to keep skin hydrated

 

• oat amino acids… to deep cleanse and get rid of the dirty day

 

created with care in the U.S. but designed and developed in Canada by a team of highly trained and truly skilled cosmetic formulators. our North American collaboration was tested under the supervision of dermatologists who can vouch that, “they don’t irritate the skin and they are safe for sensitive eyes too.” this is probably why they actually work without the use of nasty chemicals.

 

Oh, and they were tested on humans…not bunnies”

 

Sounds great, right?  I opened the package and was surprised to see that the wipe was almost dry.  I used the wipe on one side of my face and my Neutrogena Naturals face cleansing/makeup remover on the other side of my face.  My normal cleanser took everything right off with little effort and no pulling.  The Kaia wipe took off my foundation just fine but then I flipped it over and got to my eyes.  I refuse to pull on or rub around my eyes.  The skin around your eyes is thin and sensitive and if we pull on that skin too much the result will be wrinkles and sagging.  When using wipes I like to press them into the makeup on my eye, not rub.  So I did that.  Hardly anything came off.  It was a battle just to get my eye shadow off and I had to wash my face to get my makeup off afterwards.  I’m not sure if I got a dried out sample of it or if this product just isn’t for me.  I do like the smell and the way the wipe left my skin feeling but at 17.99 for 30 wipes I certainly won’t be purchasing this product in the future. 

Marianna’s wedding.

I feel compelled to write about a wedding I worked last Sunday June 10th.  

Being a makeup artist/hair stylist for someone’s wedding is high stress.  Not because I doubt my gift for beauty but because someone hired me to make them look their most beautiful on their most important day.  The amount of prep work and emails and thought I put into one day far exceeds the few hours I spend with a bride on her wedding day.  And Marianna was no exception.

Usually I get brides that have a general idea of what they want and can give me words and colors and tones that help me decide what they want to look like for their big day.  Marianna was more specific.  She’s a makeup guru!  She knew every part of her face.  She knew what angle she wanted her liner at, she knew what colors to use, she knew how to bring out every feature on her already stunning face.  Our trial went well but there was a lot we had to change so going into the wedding I was a little nervous.  Also, she hired me to do her hair even though we never did a hair trial.  PRESSURE! 

On the day of Marianna’s wedding we started with hair.  We used this picture of Emmy Rossum for inspiration.

This style is right up my alley!  Soft, romantic, and just a little undone.  Perfection in my eyes.  I used a 5/8 iron and a one inch to curl her hair to start and built the updo from the nape of the neck up.  It really came out just perfect.  Her chignon came out a bit bigger and more voluminous because she has more hair than Emmy.  Then we added a beautiful comb to finish the look.

Next makeup.  We used my Mad Men makeup tutorial for eye inspiration.

Classic, clean, perfect.  I took at least an hour and a half with Marianna’s makeup.  Just perfecting it.  She pushed me to a level I don’t normally get to go to and made me realize the important of checking my work and fixing every part.  Usually I am on a time crunch.  Brides don’t always want to take that much time to get ready.  But if you want to reach perfection, it’s important to take as much time as necessary.  And what better time than on your wedding day?  I cut strip lashes to make sure they were the perfect size for each eye, I perfected the liner, I filled in her brows, curled her lashes individually to get them perfect on both sides.  Then I moved on to her face.  I airbrushed her with Kett Hydro Proof.  Sunday was a scorcher here in NYC.  Hot and humid.  Yuck.  Usually I used the waterproof formula when my brides think they are going to get emotional but Sunday we used it because she was taking pictures outside.  No sweat or tears are going to ruin this look!  After I airbrushed her I contoured her face just a bit and gave her a bright pink cheek, gorgeous highlight, and a bright pink lip using 3 different Inglot lipstains.  It looked beautiful with the muted colors on her eyes.  Just the right amount of punch.  Then I sent her off to her photo shoot with the AMAZING Schneur Menaker Photography.  (He deserves a blog post all to himself so I will get into that at a later date).

While Marianna was out giving amazing face to Schneur and his camera I styled her sister in law and mother’s hair. About an hour and a half later Marianna came back from the hazy, heavy, humidity still looking flawless.

She sent me this email on Monday morning.

“Hi Amanda!

Thanks so much for working with us yesterday.  My make up stayed on forever!  Even after all the crazy dancing!

You were amazing and patient with everyone, and definitely made an impression on many of my guests!

Much continued success to you!

 

Best,

Marianna”

 

There is no better reward than a happy bride.

 

This has been my most rewarding experience in bridal work yet.  Marianna was a joy.  She thinks she was difficult but really she just pushed me as an artist.  I can’t wait to use what I learned from her in my work from here on out.  I am so grateful to have met her.  Here are a few unretouched photos I took on my iPhone.  I will be SURE to post the professional photos when they are ready.

Alchimie Forever brightening moisture mask and bloom.com

My latest assignment from bloom.com was a facial mask by Alchimie Forever.

Here is their description of the product.

This luscious, creamy mask is packed with natural botanicals to soothe, protect, and brighten dull skin. Oats, known for their softening properties, are combined with wild pansies to speed the recovery of distressed skin and calm irritation. Antioxidants from grape extracts protect the skin from environmental stress, while the powerful blueberry reduces facial redness.

100% made in Switzerland. Dermatologist-formulated and tested.

3.3 Fl. Oz.

ALCHIMIE ANTIOXIDANT TECHNOLOGIES
blueberries (anthocyans. quercetin. resveratrol). wild pansies (quercetin. vitamin E). oats (coumarins). grapes (anthocyanidins. catechin. resveratrol). vitamin E

KEY BENEFITS
Soothes and calms irritation. Reduces redness. Immediately brightens the skin. Nourishes deeply. Prevents and repairs free radical damage. Anti-aging effects

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Once to twice weekly, apply generously to cleansed face and neck. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water after 15-20 minutes. This moisturizing mask will not harden. Follow with your favorite Alchimie Forever cream for optimal results. Suitable for all skin types, in particular dry skin. Ideal for sensitive or sensitized skin, including after cosmetic treatments. Reduces redness and is recommended for rosacea prone skin. Non comedogenic.

Beautiful without parabens. animal byproducts. dyes. phthalates. sulfates. gluten. mineral oil. propylene glycol. formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers.

I was extremely skeptical of this product when I first received it.  Any product that claims immediate results raises my eyebrow.  But it’s dreary in NYC today and I needed a bit of brightening!  I started this morning by exfoliating and cleansing my face.  May as well give this product a chance to work with a clean slate.

The packaging is clean and typical.  But after opening the lid this beautiful pink, brown creamy mask was revealed.  The smell is pleasant and mild and the texture is soothing.  It felt great as I massaged it into my skin.  I took a few minutes to really get the mask worked in all over my face and neck.  The product felt light on my face and I almost forgot it was there a few times while I enjoyed breakfast.  After a half an hour or so I washed the mask off with warm water.  This mask doesn’t harden!  So if you’re waiting for it to stiffen up, you’ll be waiting a while.

My skin feels good, soft.  The redness around my nose and mouth has come down quite a bit.  And my face is a little brighter.  I am interested in seeing what results I see in feel with this product in the coming weeks.

The first picture is the product, to the right is me fresh faced before the product.  Lower left is me with the product on and lower right is me after the product.  Amazing, right?!

Now the business.  A 3.3 fl. oz. of this product will run you $60. Seems a bit steep.  However, this mask is going to last you forever.  I didn’t need to use much at all to achieve these results.  I would argue that this product is totally worth the price.  I love it!

Lashfood liquid liner and mascara and bloom.com

A few days ago I reviewed Lashfood Conditioner.  It’s a wonderful, all natural product.  Today I am reviewing their mascara and liquid liner.  Does it grow your lashes?  I’m sure it does.  I haven’t been using it long enough to say so for sure but if it has the same ingredients as the conditioner then it works.  I’m sure all three products combined would grow your lashes in no time.  

As far as how the products look, I’m not a fan.  The liner is difficult to use and dries shiny.  I hate shiny liner.  No thank you.  The applicator dries quickly making it drag on your lids.  Liquid liner should go on smooth and easy.  The mascara is fine.   I put the lashfood mascara on one eye and my regular mascara on the other and the difference in real life was drastic.  My regular mascara made my lashes look thick and long.  The lashfood mascara made my lashes look sparse and thin.  Both products are hard to get off and get all goopy when I wash my makeup off.

It’s hard to see the difference in this picture.  But you can see the eye on the right looks fuller!  That is the eye I put my mascara on.  Lashfood mascara is on the other side.  

All in all, I love lashfood.  The conditioner is fantastic.  The liner and mascara aren’t my favorite but I am confident that they work and will help grow your lashes.

If you want to purchase any of these products they are available at bloom.com.

Lashfood Conditioner and bloom.com

My latest assignment from bloom.com was a blast!  I love lashes.  I have always had long lashes.  For years strangers have been asking me if my lashes were real.  YES.  They have always been long but not really thick and not crazy long.  I’ve always wanted to try Latisse or RenuLash but I was always nervous of the side effects.  I shouldn’t need a prescription to grow my lashes.  If I was ever going to do it, it was going to be naturally and organically.  Who knows what they put in the prescription lash treatments.  No thank you.  Enter bloom.com and Lashfood Eyelash Conditioner.

For fast results. Nourish lashes with this revolutionary, natural eyelash conditioner featuring Nano-Peptide Technology. Created by a team of cosmetic scientists, this breakthrough, powerful formula is clinically demonstrated to provide the appearance of longer, thicker, lashes and to transform frail and brittle lashes to become healthy and strong. Enjoy visibly different, stunning lashes in 3-6 weeks!

Infused with Nano-Peptide Technology, the LashFood Eyelash Conditioning System delivers at the cellular level to feed lashes with nature’s most powerful ingredients.

Nano-Peptide ComplexRevolutionary, natural peptide blend clinically demonstrated to provide the appearance of longer, thicker, stronger lashes.

BiotinNatural B Vitamin necessary for promoting hair growth and reduce hair loss.

Soy ProteinNatural protein to strengthen, condition, and sooth lashes.

Performance Herb ExtractsNatural plant extracts to nourish lashes and ultimately counteract lash breakage and lash loss.

ArginineAn essential amino acid for hair growth.

Active Natural Eyebrow StimulantsPowerful natural ingredient to thicken, strengthen, and prevent breakage of brows.

Gingko Biloba Natural leaf extract to stimulate formation of fibroblast and collagen to rejuvenate and revitalize skin.

• Clinically Proven Effectiveness
• Completely Natural Formulation
• Prostaglandin Free
• Paraben Free
• Gluten Free
• Synthetic Fragrance Free
• Cruelty Free
• Dermatologist Tested & Approved
• Passed – Consumer Skin Sensitization Patch Study

Apply this clear serum every night onto clean skin. For best results, use with Conditioning Drama Mascara & Conditioning Liquid Eyeliner every morning.

What all that stuff says is that this is a natural product with no harsh chemicals and crazy side effects.  But does it work?!  YES.  Oh my goodness, yes.  I have been using this product for a month now and after 3 days I started to notice a difference.  Don’t believe me.  The proof is in the pictures my friends.

This is me before I started lashfood.  Long lashes, not so thick.

One week later.  Getting thicker and a bit fuller.

Two weeks later.  Longer, fuller!

Three weeks in.  Longer, fuller lashes.

I took these yesterday.  Longer, fuller lashes.  I get asked everyday if my lashes are real.  Strangers comment on my lashes.

There were no side effects whatsoever.  The formula was gentle on my skin, the treatment was easy and took no time.  The application was simple.

Now, the business.  One tube of lashfood is a 4-5 months supply and retails on bloom.com for $80.  That’s about $20 a month.  Would I buy this product on my own?  No.  But I have naturally long lashes.  Do I recommend this for people with short, scarce lashes.  Absolutely.  If this is something your self conscious about get this product now.  Since this product is natural it is also great for cancer patients who may have lost their lashes after treatment or people who suffer from alopecia.  It’s a wonderful product.  I love it!  Thanks Bloom!!