Lipstick and Luxury • Nicole Dantzler

Nicole Dantzler

Nicole Dantzler is New York City beauty blogger, a lipstick lesbian and a fabulous mom. Nicole believes that beauty should be an inside job, meaning really great nutrition mixed with really good beauty products. Nicole likes to focus on natural, organic and cruelty free beauty options.

Hightlights from the Fitness Magazine Blogger Meet & Tweet: #FitBlogNYC

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 19, 2013

May 192013

Thanks to Fitness Magazine, myself and several other health and fitness bloggers were invited to their Meet and Tweet event. The event was held at the beautiful Mercedes Club in New York City. The event was sponsored by Athleta, Camelbak, Crystal Light, Marmot, Reebok, Saucony, Smart Balance, Tonalin and Vichy.

The day started off with an into by Fitness Magazine editor Betty Wong and it only got better from there. The first panel; was Insider Beauty Secret to Get You Glowing, hosted by Fitness Magazine Beauty Director, Heather Muir and Executive Director of Global Artistry at Stila Cosmetics, Sarah Lucerno. This was one of my favorite panels because Sarah not only shared some of her fabulous beauty tips but she also shared a personal story about her cancer recovery and how fitness helped her through it.

Sarah share one of her inside secrets that she uses on her clients lick wearing the same color tone on cheeks AND lips. She also suggested that we make sure that our makeup has a purpose: “don’t slap on random makeup”.

Some of the other panels included health tips from Dr. J Ashton and celebrity chef, Rocco Dispirito.

Rocco Dispirito is a celebrity check and author of “Now Eat This! Italian”. Rocco’s new cookbook recreates healthier versions of popular Italian dishes inspired by a trip to Italy where he learned many tips from Italian “mamas”. There’s even a few vegetarian recipes in there, so I’ll definitely have to pick it up!

For lunch there were many healthy options but not many vegetarian or vegan options, so I opted for the Kale salad and smoothie. Hale to Kale, yum!

And my tweets made it to the big screen. Hello!

We also received some lovely gifts from some of the sponsors and I took home two new pairs of sneakers from Saucony and Reebok, thanks guys! These new sneakers will certainly be put to good use. :)

I’d have to say that this was absolutely one of my favorite blogger events. The speakers were funny and insightful and I met several bloggers (and found new blogs to read)! At the end of the event I was inspired to continue my 30-day Fitness Challenge and to continue to eat better. I, like many women struggle with working out and eating healthy and this Meet & Tweet gave me the inspiration that I needed to continue to improve my health. Fitness and healthy eating does not have to be a struggle, it can be fun and exciting with the right tools, recipes and motivation. Thank you Fitness Magazine!

Review: Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 15, 2013

May 152013

My skin is normally oily but lately it’s been really dry. So I decided to adjust my skin care routine and try a natural skin care cleanser. I found Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser ($8.99) at CVS and decided to give it a try.

This cleanser is 100% natural and the very first ingredient listed on the tube is vegetable glycerin. Here are Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser ingredients: Vegetable glycerin, olive oil, orange oil, oat flour, lanolin, oat oil, aloe barbadenis leaf juice, tocopherol (vitamin E), quillaja extract, rosemary leaf oil.

The orange oil in the cleanser is used to cleanse and stimulate skin; the olive oil to moisturize and condition and the added aloe vera is used to soothe skin.

This cleanser has the consistency of A+D ointment but don’t let they keep you away from this lovely cleanser. Once the cleanser is applied to the facial and gently massaged on a little water will quickly emulsify it and quickly wash away. Burt’s Bees recommends that you use a wash cloth to remove all traces of the cleanser and I have to agree with that.

This facial cleanser has a clean orange scent to it that smells so refreshing; I appreciate that especially in the morning when I’m trying to wake up. It’s so different from many cleansers on the market which usually foam up but this one does not. You simply need to massage it into your skin and wash away with water. It surprisingly washes away very cleanly without leaving any traces of cleanser behind. The formula was gentle on my sensitive skin and left it balanced and not tight and dehydrated like many cleansers do.

This is not a cleanser that I would use daily since my skin in not normally dry. But I think that it’s great to use when your skin is feeling a bit dry or if you normally have dry skin. It’s not a deep cleanser so I would remove makeup prior to using this cleanser. If you wear makeup daily (and I don’t) you may need to wash your face twice to remove all traces of it. I use just a bit of liquid bronzer and I found some traces of makeup on the cotton ball when I used my toner afterwards. Overall I really liked this cleanser because it very gentle for sensitive skin and it cleanses well enough on my skin (when not wearing makeup). My skin felt balanced and I did not need to use moisturizer afterwards and that works for me because I’m trying to use as few skin care products on my skin until it returns to normal, balanced state.

Have you tried Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser?

Glossybox: Work that beauty!

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 14, 2013

May 142013

It’s been a while since I’ve had a Glossybox and Oh how I’ve missed them!

This April, GLOSSYBOX has a thirst for beauty wellness and we are

quenching it with feel-good products! After a long winter, it’s time to be

good to your body, whether it’s an invigorating wash or an indulgent soak.

Feel the sun’s warmth and bring on beachy waves and sun-kissed cheeks.

Bare some skin and go the no makeup-makeup route. Work your natural

beauty and be your best you with GLOSSYBOX this month.

In the April Glossybox was a delicious body wash from Wash with Joe, a coffee mint shower gel that smells really great. The scent is a great morning pick me up to get the day going. I would have never thought that coffee and mint would mesh so well together but the combination of these two scents is perfection.

There was also a full sized Tigi Cosmetics Glow Blush in Brilliance. I’m more of a bronzer girl, I prefer an all over glow as opposed to rosey cheeks. But the blush is pretty

There were several samples like Bvlgari Tea Bag for Bath, which is an aromatic bath satchel that smells like perfume with a strong floral scent. Which can be a good or a bad thing depending on how much you like floral fragrances. I love them during the summer, especially when going out at night. They’re amazing when you can layer the scent with perfume after your bath.

Another one use sample included was the Le Metier de Beaute Replenishing Day Solution SPF 30 on a card that offers $75 towards the purchase of the Replenishing Daily Solution. The sunscreen was surprisingly light and blends very well without leaving white streaks behind. It easily absorbed into skin without feeling sticky, I love that.

A deluxe size of Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist was this Aprils Glossybox and it smells great but unfortunately I cannot used it. I have naturally curly hair and it’s not made for “beachy waves”.

And last but not least there was a full-sized lip balm from The Honest Company and it’s organic. Hurray! I like for natural and organic products. The lips balm was lavender mint and it tingled on my lips, which I love. As you know I’m a lip balm fanatic and this one hit the spot.This lip balm is made with Organic jojoba, olive, sunflower, and coconut oils to deeply hydrate and protect lips from moisture loss.

Overall I must say that Glossybox did not disappoint with their selection of products. Are you a Glossybox subscriber?

Disclosure: The products featured were provided for editorial consideration. Receipt of these products did not guarantee a review and all opinions are my own.

Review: Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 10, 2013

May 102013

Lately my skin has been super dry which is the opposite of how my skin usually is. I’ve always had oily skin so facial dryness is something totally new to me. Perhaps its the change in the weather but more likely its the testing of multiple facial products. My skin is tired and needs a break.

So I turned to Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion ($18) with Clary Sage. I needed to switch my day moisturizer to something a little richer to help combat this dryness. This day lotion is a bit thicker than I’m used to but then again its made for dry skin.

The lotion absorbs fairly quickly and did not leave my skin with a greasy feeling -which I was a bit worried about. The lotion has a light fragrance that dissipated within a half hour or so but I wish that it didn’t have any fragrance at all. I find fragrance to be a unnecessary additive that many cosmetics brands use, and you never know what exactly the “fragrance” is that they’re adding.

On the bright side, as always, Burt’s Bees is cruelty free and the lotion did what I needed it to do which was sooth my dehydrated skin. This moisturizer is also noncomedogenic, which is a huge plus because I occasionally get breakouts and I don’t need my skin care products to further aggravate my already sensitive skin. This lotion contains clary sage which is said to be helpful in treating acne, oily skin and wrinkles; only time will tell if there is enough in the lotion to make a noticeable difference. But overall I really liked the lotion, it left my skin feeling soft, hydrated and smooth – which is all that I can ask for.

Have you tried Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Day Lotion?

Get the look: Kerry Washington at the 2013 Met Gala

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 7, 2013

May 072013

Kerry Washington is such a beauty icon, she always has flawless skin and makeup. Celebrity makeup artist Carola Gonzalez created Kerry Washington’s look for the Met Gala using tarte cosmetics.

Inspiration: “Kerry represents classic beauty with an edge and the Vera Wang dress she chose is classic with a punk twist. The stunning violets and blacks in the dress inspired me to create Kerry’s bold, smoky eye.” ~Carola Gonzalez

Here’s how you can get her glamorous punk look:

Complexion:

To begin, Carola prepped Kerry’s skin with tarte’s clean slate™ poreless 12-hr perfecting primer
Then she applied tarte’s Amazonian clay waterproof concealer in tan followed by tarte’s maracuja miracle 12-hour foundation in deep to even out Kerry’s complexion

Cheeks:

For the perfect pop of rosy color, Carola dusted tarte’s Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in natural beauty on the apples of her cheeks

Eyes:

To create a dramatic smoky eye, Carola used the purple and silver shadows from tarte’s beauty & the box Amazonian clay eyeshadow quad in envoke the smoke
Then she lined Kerry’s top and bottom lashlines with Aqualillies for tarte Amazonian clay waterproof liner in black to give her a punk edge
She finished by lining the lower inner rims with tarte’s lights, camera, lashes™ waterproof inner rim liner (out in July)
For extra definition she applied five coats of tarte’s lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara

Lips:

To complete her look, she swiped tarte’s glamazon™ pure performance 12-hour lipstick in pure over her lips

Get the Look: Ann Hathaway at the 2013 Met Gala

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 7, 2013

May 072013

Adam Breuchaud for Laura Mercier created this beautiful modern “punk” look for Ann Hathaway. Breuchaud gave a subtle nod to the event’s punk theme by creating a bold, “electric blue” smoky eye to complement Anne Hathaway’s flawless, porcelain skin. Here’s how you can get the look:

FLAWLESS FACE: A flawless, “clean” face was the perfect canvas for the look

Breuchaud first applied Laura Mercier Foundation Primer ($32), to give Hathaway’s skin an “even, lasting finish.”
Then, he used a damp sponge to apply Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Porcelain ($43) to even out her skin tone and give the skin an “amazingly sheer veil of color.”
Lastly, he lightly dusted on Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($22) to set the Tinted Moisturizer and ensure the skin kept its “dewy finish” throughout the night.

EYES: Breuchaud went with a “bold smoky” eye to pay homage to the “punk” theme

First, Breuchaud mixed Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Orchid ($24) with Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in Deep Night ($23).
In order to deepen the look, he applied Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner in Noir ($22) to her lash line and blended the eye liner throughout the corner of her eye using the Laura Mercier Corner Eye Colour Brush ($25).
Breuchaud added the final touch of glamour by applying multiple coats of Laura Mercier Faux Lash Mascara in Black ($24) to the top and bottom lashes.

LIPS: Fresh, natural lips complemented the dramatic eye

Breuchaud applied Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Pink Blush ($26), which he described as a “beautiful soft pink” to Hathaway’s lips.

Get the Look: Emmy Rossum at the 2013 Met Gala

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 7, 2013

May 072013

Last night was the illustrious Met Gala and this years theme was PUNK: Chaos to Couture. And Emmy Rossum got it right, showing a bit of glamour meets Goth. Her makeup was flawless thanks to NYX Cosmetics. Emmy wore a gorgeous one-of-a-kind Donna Karan Atelier gown and rocked a “luxurious rebel” makeup look. Celebrity Makeup Artist Jo Baker used NYX Cosmetics, here’s how you can get her look:

Complexion:

To create a dewy look with medium coverage, Baker started with NYX HD Studio Photogenic Foundation in Nude. She paired the liquid foundation with NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation in Creamy Natural to bring out Emmy’s beautiful skin and natural complexion. Baker then applied the NYX Green Tea Blotting Papers to ensure the durability of Emmy’s makeup.

Cheeks:

To create the perfect sculpted cheek, Baker swept NYX Highlight & Contour Powder on the sides of Emmy’s cheekbones and down her nose. To add a healthy glow to Emmy’s skin, Baker then blended the contouring powder with NYX Powder Blush in Natural on the apples of Emmy’s cheeks up to her hairline. She then applied NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator in Sunbeam along Emmy’s collarbone and shoulders for a shimmery highlighter that would reflect perfectly off the bright lights of the Met Ball cameras.

Eyes:

To create a strong canvas for Emmy’s dramatic eye makeup, Baker started with NYX Eye Shadow Base in White. Baker then applied NYX Cream Shadow in Chocolate to create the overall shape and dimension of the eye and eyebrow. She added extra definition by pressing the NYX Roll On Eye Shimmer in Onyx with her finger onto the outside of the eyes and then blending with a flat brush. She then softened the shimmer of the shadows with NYX Nude Matte Shadow in Tryst to make the smoky eye makeup look more sophisticated and wearable. NYX Kohl Kajal Black Liner was used to create a winged liner that extended to the outside of Emmy’s eyes and blended up to the eyebrows. To complete the look, Baker applied NYX Propel My Eyes Mascara heavily on her top lashes.

Lips:

Keeping the focus on Emmy’s strong eyes and brows, Baker finished her look with a soft peach lip color using NYX Round Lipstick in Fortune Cookie. “This rock ‘n’ roll girl may stay out all night at the punk show- but she’s coming home, taking off her makeup and putting on a face mask- keeping it classy!” said Baker.

Get the Look: Solange Knowles at the 2013 Met Gala

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 6, 2013

May 062013

One of my favorite beauty moments at the Met Gala for me was Solange Knowles. The smokey eyes an the neutral lip are not quite punk but so pretty nonetheless. NARS worked with celebrity makeup artist Benjamin Puckey to create the beauty look for Solange Knowles.

Beauty Inspiration: “I really focused on a strong eye with punk influences for Solange’s look. The smoky eye gave an edge to the whole look, which is very much what she’s into right now – a smoky eye with lots of lash. We felt it complemented the dress so well because of the black and blue print and chose a nude lip to keep the focus on the eye.” ~Benjamin Puckey

Solange Knowles MET Gala Red carpet, get the look

Key NARS products used:

Ubangi Eye Paint (NEW for Fall 2013: Available September 1; for now try Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil) | Brumes Duo Eyeshadow

Het Loo Satin Lip Pencil

NEW from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics!

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 4, 2013

May 042013

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of OCC, they’re lippies are vegan and made with natural ingredients AND they work really well. The colors are highly pigmented and they’re super moisturizing. My favorite is NSFW which is my favorite shade of red ever. Well they’ve added some new products to their insanely popular lip line, so let’s take a look!

LIP TAR: STAINED GLOSS – is an exciting new texture option from the LIP TAR range, STAINED GLOSS combines the pigment potency of LIP TAR with a casual glossy finish that’s ready-to-wear from its first slick application to the high impact stain it leaves behind. LIP TAR: STAINED GLOSS can be worn alone or layered over your favorite existing shades for added depth, dimension and a glossy finish that lasts! This new lippy from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics will be launching until May 23, 2013.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lip tar: stained lip gloss

Androgyne

Jealous

Join the GridIron Workout 30 Day Fitness Challenge!

Posted by Nicole Dantzler on May 3, 2013

May 032013

Are you trying to get fit for summer? Well I have the PERFECT fitness solution for you! The GridIron 30 Day Fitness Challenge - free online program that challenges hundreds around the nation to live happier, healthier lives. The GridIron Specialists have developed a challenging program to help you kick-start, tone-up, or fine tune your SUMMER BODY. Regardless of your fitness level (Rookie, Starter, or All Star) make it a goal to FINISH everyday. The Purpose is to help you become the best you: physically, mentally and emotionally. If you want results, you’re in the right place.

We kickoff on Monday, May 13th. Here’s some important information that will help you prepare.

Do You Want The Best Results?

I’m sure that may sound like a rhetorical question, but it’s valid, nonetheless. If you want the best results, you must follow the rules. Print (or save) this email for future reference.

This isn’t a fad diet or a quick weight loss scheme, this is the GridIron Workout 30 Day Fitness Challenge. The operative word here is Challenge. This Challenge will help you become the best you, physically, mentally and emotionally, if you make a commitment to stay on the right path. That means you need commit to:

*Completing each work out,

*Finishing the whole 30 DAYS and

*Holding yourself accountable to following the rules.

8 Rules to Getting the Most Out of Your 30 Day Fitness Challenge

1. No Alcohol. Liquor. Beer. Adult beverages. Whatever you want to call it. You must abstain.

2. No fried foods. Yes, that includes Chik-Fil-A, waffle fries and BK onion rings.

3. No fast food. NONE.

4. Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water daily.

5. Keep a daily food journal of everything that you eat.

6. Commit to eating clean. Planning your meals and workouts in advance are vital to your success.

7. Salads are OK, but we prefer you plan your meals and don’t make last-minute decisions! And absolutely no crispy chicken on top!

8. We are all one team that is in this together, so take weekly pictures post them on our FACEBOOK PAGE and support your teammates!

For some people, that may be a lot to ask. While we won’t give you a pass, we will give you a little leeway. You get 4 cheat days for the entire Challenge (Don’t be that guy or girl that takes all 4 cheats at once!).

Help spread the word to your friends/family. Make sure they SIGN UP so we can grow this movement from hundreds to thousands worldwide!

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