A Fun Find Tech Toy or Just Way Too Much Connectivity? A Connected Mirror Analyzes Your Skin Condition

Ladies, start your charge cards – just when you thought you had smart-everything: from your phone, tv, thermostat, home speakers, smoke detectors, fridge, well, everything… now there’s a smart makeup mirror.

Read the full article below from USA Today, but here’s how I see it – in a nutshell:

Pro’s:

• This smart mirror features settings that allow you to simulate the lighting scenarios you’ll be in (office, evening, daytime, etc) for specific make up application needs. Love that!

• Skin analysis (fine lines, discoloration etc) keeps you aware so you can treat your skin proactively – and stat on top of your game.

• From my perspective, it seems like the storage of old photos and developments might help you recognize if a questionable spot is new or changing. Who knows, if you see something that wasn’t there before (for example), it might trigger you to call your dermatologist for expert analysis.

Cons:

• Is this good for the psyche? Plain old magnifying mirrors are notorious for causing the most beautiful women to freak out and run into their doctors’ offices for Botox, laser, you-name-it, to treat tiny ‘imperfections’ they see on the mag-setting at home. While Botox and laser of course have their benefits, it’s the freak-out state that could be caused by constant reminders and updates on your new age spot could cause insecurity like, on a daily basis. This would be a definite CON.

• Omg, why do we need YouTube DIY’s playing in our mirror?? Granted, there are a lot of jems and pearls of knowledge out there on good old YouTube. But it’s also very diluted and there is a whole lot of junk. The last thing I would want is for this to be playing at me in my bathroom while I’m getting ready. I can’t imagine my smart, well informed patients and clients doing the same, either.

Read all about it here:

From USA Today: A CES Innovation Award winner and available to test-drive at SXSW, HiMirror is the world’s first “smart mirror” that provides personalized beauty and health feedback by analyzing your face. Simply wave your hand in front of the mirror or use voice control, and thanks to the camera and cloud-based image processing algorithm, you’ll receive real-time skincare analysis – including comments on wrinkles and fine lines, complexion, dark circles, spots and pores.Based on your skin condition, HiMirror displays custom DIY YouTube tutorials on the mirror itself. Advice is also based on how your skin looks over time, with stored photos of you in its internal memory.

Along with the basic HiMirror model ($189), HiMirror Plus ($259) also adds LED makeup lighting that can simulate varying environmental settings – such as sunny outdoors, brightly-lit office, restaurant, and supermarket, to name a few – to help you properly apply makeup for the occasion. The Plus model also adds more local storage (for more photos or more users) and a faster Wi-Fi connection.

Is it a perfect new edition to the slew of tech products already on your home wifi network, or just way too much media? I’ll be interested to see what else we can ‘stay connected with’ as more new products make their way to the market.

And until next time, stay fabulous, my friends!

Drug Store Shout Out: A BB Cushion by a luxury brand …without the luxury price

Well, I’ve been pretty busy (who isn’t?!) and it’s been a tad since I’ve posted – but I have some fabulosity to share that may make up for my blogging inconsistency lately:

This luxury gem hails from Target!

Laniege BB cushion (Target) is my fave new drug store find. I had an opportunity to try this Budget-friendly-find a couple months back, and have been searching for it in-store since! Not all Target locations carry this line, but it is available online if you can’t find it at a store near you.

Laniege is a brand made and distributed by Amore Pacific,  one of the more expensive skin care lines out of Nieman Marcus, one of the factors that piqued my interest right off the bat. 

Pop this beauty open to reveal a comfy cushion of gloriousness

This super-light, sheer BB cream provides a barely-there coverage that evens the complexion just enough. Much lighter than my all time much-more-emollient fave, Intellishade, it’s a great alternative to add to your BB-cream/SPF wardrobe for when you want something with a bit less creaminess. 

It also cools the skin, perfect after a workout or when you’re in a warm climate, thanks to its ionized mineral water ingredients. The best part is it’s SPF 50 feature (but keep in mind that you must apply it evenly and with enough coverage to realize this benefit, as with all SPF makeup products).
Easy to apply, it comes with an antimicrobial puff (and also goes on beautifully with a texture brush, as I have found). It goes on evenly and dries enough to quickly follow with powder if more coverage is desired. 

Every girl needs a complete SPF wardrobe!

This cooling, light and quick-to-apply product lasts all day, doesn’t get muddy in oily areas, and gives the skin a soft airbrush-like glow. It’s fantastic quality for a drug store find, and at $34 (which includes a refill and extra puff!) it’s worth a try if you’re looking for a new BB cream.

Enjoy, and until next time, stay fabulous my friends! 

Wedding Makeup: My Top 3 Go-To Products

I recently had the opportunity to BOTH work and participate in a wedding! This has never happened to me before… Let’s just say it was a LOT of stress for me but very rewarding!

Because the schedule was tight with getting myself done too, I was only able to grab one of the girls for photos right after I made her up, but thought I would share anyway:

A shout out of a few of my favorite wedding day stand-by’s to use when I’m working are:

The Bride’s lip color:  MAC Russian Red

The Bride’s Lashes: MAC #7

Foundations on all the girls: Temptu Airbrush

Until Next time, stay fabulous, My friends!

MEOW! My favorite eyeliners for a Cat Eye

I’ll admit it, I can be fickle when it comes to eyeliners. I am always on the lookout for the best – liquid, cream, space-age material, whatever! But if you’re going for a cat-eye or even just a sleek, lash-defining line, it’s got to go on perfectly.

 

Cat Eye Liner can inhibit ones soical life. Don’t let this be you!

…Oh, and also stay there once it’s on.

Here are my favorites of this moment for staying power, quality of color and usability:

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They’re Real! Push-Up Liner: $24

PRO’s:

-This soft and flexible rubbery tip makes a precise line (thick or thin!) with a bevel at the end… purrfect for a cat-eye.

-This liner goes NO. WHERE. once it’s on. Ever feel like spontaneously running through a sprinkler or hanging by the pool in your perfectly placed cat-eye liner? This one is for you.

CONS:

-Once it sets, this creamy, stay-put formula doesn’t have the most color saturation I’ve seen. It would be A+ in a very very dark blackest Black kind of shade.

-Once the product has lived in your makeup bag for a while, it can dry out.

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These liners are crushing it

ELF Essential Expert Liquid Liner: $1

PRO’s:

-Super budget-friendly buy (no… you didn’t hallucinate. This is $1)

-It’s staying power outweighs many more expensive versions

-The applicator brush is user-friendly for most ‘A-typer’s’ (not too too long or floppy), but take your time to prevent wayward brush action.

CONS: It dries very quickly, so fix any botched spots ASAP or you’re stuck with a look you likely weren’t going for. :/.

-If you’re used to a foam applicator or a shorter brush, this may not be a good fit.

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NYX The Curve Liner: $15

PRO’s:

-The handle’s ergonomic design (hence the name) makes this liner easy to hold and guide while applying. The shape also makes for an easy application on someone else, if you happen to be helping a friend. **

– This formula is less wet going on than the ELF, but delivers almost the same depth of black. LOVE the saturation.

-The foam tip seems to hold the right amount of product, perfect for a thick OR skinny line.

CON:

-Well, I can’t think of one. There it is.

MAC Fluidline $16.50

PRO’s:

-Is it a gel? Is it a cream? NO! It’s Fluidline!! This awesome foolproof, waterproof winner is SUPER easy to use if you’re comfortable with using a brush.

-Doesn’t flake, crumble, or smudge. If it HAS to be perfect, this is your liner.

CON:

-You must be comfy with using a brush. Sometimes (especially if you get stuck doing your makeup in rush hour on the grid-locked Eisenhower like I do sometimes…) you just need convenience, too. A brush might be a home- application-only thing. In case you are in the market, however, This is the brush I suggest and personally use. (welcome to your next fave brush if you’ve never tried!)

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I don’t always review makeup… but eyeliner advice may prevent others from showing up late to dinners, events, and dates. It’s almost a public service, right?? Until next time, stay fabulous, my friends!

**Product Credit: They’re Real and The Curve were both donated by my best friend Kel, so I could experiment and yes: help the greater good (Those who need eyeliner reviews). Thanks, Kelly! xoxox

Mad About Mac Retro Matte

I’ve been rocking a couple of Mac Retro Matte Lip Colors lately. It occurred to me that I haven’t accepted so many compliments or ‘where-did-you-get-that?’s on my lip color in… I don’t know, a long time. This collection is not that new (Sept 13, I believe) but I’m having some fun and thought I’d share!

After much positive reinforcement on the color, along with a slow and passive realization that it does not smudge off during the day, I had to go grab some additional ‘flavors’

Here’s what I grabbed: Retro Matte Colors
(From Left)
Relentlessly Red
Ruby Woo
All Fired Up
Not pictured: Flat Out Fabulous

“All Fired Up” is my total fave… but Ruby Woo is the original crowd pleaser of this collection, known for it’s Vampy Hollywood True red with its (visually teeth-whitening) flattering blue undertones.

I was told by a Mac Pro that the Retro matte collection features some of the usual, pre-existing Mac Mattes, now made with the same formula that made Ruby Woo popular back in like,1999 or so.
Legend has it that these bad boys are made with kaolin clay, which undoubtedly provide its lasting, mattefying effect. My fave features here are how light it feels, it’s very vibrant colors, and it’s lasting effect without drying you out (like a stain)*

*That last part seems to vary slightly between formulas… Ruby Woo and All Fired Up seem the creamiest to me… While Flat Out Fabulous (Fuschia) and Fixed on Drama (wine) seem to go on drier.
For official info on the collection: http://www.maccosmetics.com/whats_new/11605/New-Collections/Retro-Matte/index.tmpl

and until next time- Stay Fabulous My Friends!

Better Than Easter Candy

Check out my new Limited Edition Eye and Cheek compact from the Neiman Marcus Tom Ford on Michigan Avenue. My girls Magdalena and Dominique set me up with this beauty, perfect for spring! Called ‘Unabashed’, this gold and white lacquer compact ($95) is just the thing any girl would want in her Easter basket.

Featuring a very easy to use, buildable neutral taupe, a navy powder liner, and a subtle shimmer highlight, this compact makes it easy to bring some springtime colors with you on the go. Be warned, however: if you ever apply your make up quickly, or in the car while sitting in traffic (like I do sometimes), you’ll want to make sure you aren’t touching your blush brush into your navy liner. Unless you happen to like the Navy as a cheek color, I’m not here to judge. =)

You’ll love the blush, a nice flattering shade for just about anyone. It almost reminds me of Nars “Orgasm” but happens to come with an awesome highlight, great for sculpting out a contour.

Try this look with Tom Ford’s ultra shine lipgloss ($45) “Tawny Pink” (a milky, slick light pink) for a look perfect for Easter!

If you’re in Chicago, give these girls a call:312-642-5900 to try on some awesome new colors- they are amazing!

Until next time, stay fabulous my friends!

Intellishade: Major Multitasker

So, I’m actually a little embarrassed that I have not yet written about some of my favorite product lines in this: the ‘Product Pro’ blog…Yeeesh.

In this category of neglected-yet-amazing products: one of my favorite sunscreens, Revision Skincare’s SPF/AntiAging Treatment/Moisturizer multitasker all in one, Intellishade SPF 45.

Kudos to Revision Skincare for coming out with a sunscreen that is actually enjoyable to wear. It’s not new, Intellishade has been one of Revision’s bestsellers for years. (Hence my embarrassment for not profiling this NewBeauty Best of Beauty Award winner sooner)

This tinted moisturizer is a broad spectrum SPF 45, featuring the ever-important octinoxate and zinc oxide, making this a great broad spectrum SPF for even the most sensitive types. The sheer-ish tint is just enough color to take the dreaded SPF-whiteness out of the equation, while neutralizing redness and minor imperfections. It almost magically matches most skin types, hence it’s intelligence, I suppose.

Loaded with 3 awesome peptides, antioxidants, humectants, coenzyme Q10 and a glorious dewey finish, this product is an obsession for our patients who have either mature, normal, or dry skin.

***By the way: If this all sounds up your alley, but you desire more of a matte/clean finish, Revision also offers Intellishade SPF 45 Matte. Historically the Matte has been a about half as popular (in my experiences), but I’ve always been glad to have it, especially for those clients who have oily skin.

Give this a mad multitasker a try if you’re in the mood for an awesome, hydrating, and dewey-looking all-in-one AM product.

And in the meantime, stay fabulous my friends!

Good Buys for the Beauty on a Budget: Coal Liner is Better than Coal

As a Beauty on a Budget myself, I know the value of a good Beauty Buy. When shopping at the Target in North Scottsdale, my mom and I noticed a number of cutie-pie ELF gift sets.

WAIT: Are you kinda wondering why ELF made my blog post, AGAIN? Because there are plenty of Just-Okay-Grocery-Store-Cosmetics out there, but they all cost a heck of a lot more. In fact, if I am buying a lip gloss from a display at Walgreens (without being able to see it outside of the package via a tester, or hear a firsthand description of the product from an attentive sales person) I feel like it needs to cost like, I dunno, $5 or less? Am I the only one who feels this way? I have seen OTC products and grocery store cosmetics exceed $39 (and higher!). Come on, guys. We are buying this item from a shelf-talker in a neon-lit convenience store. Make the price convenient, too! ELF cosmetics offer some pretty-okay cosmetic products at the price-point I feel they SHOULD be offered for. So that’s why ELF, in case you were wondering. Sorry, I digress….

Okay, here are the two winners (In my opinion) that are especially good values in the ELF Holiday Department:

Full Disclosure: At the time I am writing this, I haven’t tried the Brightening Eyeliner Pencil OR the Shimmer Eyeliner. But I HAVE tried the waterproof eyeliner pen and it’s actually pretty good! $3 good? Sure! So I figured the other two items are simply a bonus and hey, they could be good!Here’s another good one, $3 for 3 pairs of lashes. I haven’t tried the glue, so I can’t speak for it yet, but I figured this: Ardell (our usual drug-store-Go-To lashes) are getting up there in price these days! For $1 a set, I figured we can’t lose here… so once again, the extra item here is kind of a bonus. And at the VERY least, these cutie little kits make great stocking stuffers. So, if you’re plum out of ideas (especially if you happen to be a Beauty on a Budget) I think ELF gift sets could be a good risk! (Coal eyeliner= better than coal!) =)

Fun Find: Every Drop Beauty Spatula

Have you ever resented the fact that you can’t reach the bottom of the bottle to get the last drop of really-great-and/or-expensive-fill-in-the-blank product to get the last bit? I have heard anecdotes over the years of women prying open a container of TNS Recovery Complex (and many others) with a pair of pliers. This is probably hazardous… (at the very least you at risk breaking a nail) and is likely not the experience you desire when using a fabulous, cosmetically elegant, and likely expensive-as-heck product.

Don’t be angry at the bottle. It IS just a bottle, after all.  Just get this “Every Drop” Beauty Spatula!

 

Don’t get angry, get Spatula!

I came across this miniature silicone spatula with when I opened my new ‘the Container Store’ Stocking-Stuffer catalog that came in the mail today. Genius!

The unique shape is designed to reach under the lip of a jar to get every last drop.  It’s washable (reusable) and has a long handle to reach into really skinny/tall bottles or jars. The cherry on top: It’s only $4.99, and is made in the USA. And really, what else do you possibly want from a spatula?!

Happy Shopping! Stay Fabulous, My Friends!

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! (Makeup)

I had the pleasure of doing makeup for a Halloween-themed wedding recently. The Bride and Groom (Laura and Jay) wanted to be Lydia and Beetlejuice, which was a fun challenge for me to plan out.

With Halloween only a couple days away, I thought it would be fun to share some of the pictures of the Bride and Groom. The cutie-pie couple was thrilled, and tells me they had lasting makeup and an AMAZING time!

It was fun creating the hair with Liquid Latex and Crepe Hair, which I steamed straight… no wigs were used in the making of Beetlejuice!

Lydia decided that GOTH was a no-go for her bridal look (and I don’t blame her!) so we tied in her GLAM look with a Temptu S/B foundation that was about half a shade lighter than reality, and some MAC ‘Orange’ and ‘Signed, Sealed’ colors. She’s got Mac Cosmetics Russian Red on her lips for a classic vamp look.

Enjoy!

Liquid Latex and Artex mixed with Cornmeal set the scene for Beetlejuice’s weird Mossy hairline

Uhhh… sir? You have something in your hair….

You look GREAT! High Five!!
…Uhhh… Errr, AIR FIVE!

Watched Latex never Dries…

Lydia Goes Glam, which is much better than Goth when you’re the Bride

Yes, the shadow coordinates with the bouquet…. You are right to be impressed.

As Beetlejuice says: It’s SHOWTIME!!!

Lydia and Beetlejuice (Laura and Jay): The Happy Couple! **Sniff** I love happy endings…