Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...and those of us holding the mascara wand.

After two decades of covering the beauty industry, I've come to learn what makes it so alluring. Finding the perfect shade of makeup to match your skin tone, adding a swipe of eyeliner to give your tired eyes a lift, discovering an innovative new product line, or indulging in a totally luxurious spa treatment. My experiences have been documented in magazines, newspapers and websites worldwide. I've tested newly formulated products in the lab, explored hair removal options, shopped for lipstick, added shine to my hair and succumbed to massage marathons--all in the name of beauty. I've written press releases, hosted makeover events and co-authored a Do-It-Yourself Beauty book (Alloy). On this blog, I write about products and services that I come across every day as well as those that have been provided by publicists or the companies that make them. Either way, I write what I think. I hope to share some of my insights--and bring you the latest, greatest beauty news right here. Join me in the quest to find all things pretty.


Friday, August 6, 2010

expert advice: how to avoid a beauty meltdown, with tips from beauty insider Noreen Young


Don't want a beauty meltdown on your pretty face? Noreen Young, a beauty industry speaker, educator, author and makeup artist/esthetician, offers these expert tips to avoid sweating your makeup off this summer.

1 Blot your cares and oil away with Asian powder papers with rice powder. Ancient Chinese secret and my personal beauty secret!

2 Want longer lasting lipstick on a hot summer day? Stick with a lipstain instead of a full bodied lipstick for a sheer gorgeous glow.

3 Switch to a tease of a tinted moisturizer for a soft base look. Try Not Your Mother's Foundation by Irresistible Beauty Cosmetics. It's gonna be light and gorgeous--trust me.

4 Refresh yourself in a heat wave with Model in a Bottle ...all it takes is one spritz to set your makeup and it'll last for hours.

5 Freeze your lipsticks in the summer...it makes them last longer and is cool on the lips when hot outside.

The Irresistible Beauty collection features products that multi-task and show the wearer beauty shortcuts, as well as offer sun protection factors and ingredients for the health of your skin. Shea butter, Macadamia nut oil, safflower, Rose hip oil, Aloe Vera and anti-oxidant nutrients like vitamin E are just a few worth mentioning. Go to www.IRRESISTIBLEBEAUTYCOSMETICS.com (or follow them on twitter @ Beauty Concierge) to learn more about this great product line.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Try the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum Facial: Your Face Will Thank You

You can make an appointment for a facial...or you can try the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum, available at Bliss Spa. Is it worth the $180? If you want a luxurious skin salvaging treatment and you haven't given your skin the attention it deserves lately, you might say yes. If you can't fathom spending that kind of cash on any sort of beauty treatment, try it at home with the products listed below. Either way, it's a great way to smooth, refine and rejuvenate your skin.

The Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum is a clinically proven gentle facial resurfacing serum that has a non-abrasive peeling action that smoothes the skin's surface by up to 91%* (Independent Clinical Trials 2006). As natural cell renewal is stimulated, imperfections appear diminished and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are reduced.

I was fortunate enough to have it professionally administered by the expert staff at Bliss 49, tucked away in the W Hotel on Lexington Avenue. After slipping into a luxurious spa robe and unwinding in the relaxation room, an esthetician escorted me into a private room where my facial began. A medley of intoxicating essential oil treatments, soothing collagen serums, resurfacing peels, and moisturizing masks ensued while steaming hot towel applications and scalp, hand and foot massages were administered in between. Each Elemis product smelled better than the one before--if you like that aromatherapy/essential oil/ah-spa scent. The best part: When the facial was completed, I felt well-rested and looked it too. My skin felt smooth and rejuvenated, not raw or red like the end result of other resurfacing treatments.

To re-create the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial at home, try these Elemis products:
Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash (http://www.timetospa.com/anti-aging/cleansers-and-toners/elemis-tri-enzyme-resurfacing-facial-wash/?elemis=1&cid=pr0044)

Go to www.timetospa.com to purchase products or www.elemis.com for more info.