A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

Mother’s Healthy Day of Beauty At Bleu Sur Bleu Salon To Benefit Gilda’s Club

Mother’s Healthy Day of Beauty At Bleu Sur Bleu Salon To Benefit Gilda’s Club

Hosted By Love Your Color PPD-Free Hair Color

Gilda’s Club New York City is hosting a Mother’s Healthy Day of Beauty At Bleu Sur Bleu Salon on Monday, May 6, 2013, 4-8pm.

This event features a day of beauty to benefit the members of Gilda’s Club NYC (GCNYC) and their moms, who will be treated to complimentary hair-coloring and styling by Love Your Color non-permanent hair color, which works gently to color hair without containing harsh chemicals, such as PPD.

Enjoy complimentary refreshments, goodie bags (and a complimentary color and blowout for media requesting product review). This wonderful event is open to the public: walk-ins for coloring and styling based on availability, with 100% of fee going to GCNYC.

 

WHERE

Bleu Sur Bleu Hair Salon in the Flatiron District

4 E. 23rd St, & Broadway

Manhattan

212-375-0270

N, R, F, M, 6 trains to 23rd St.

This is a fabulous event for a good cause, so please support if you can!

About Gilda’s Club New York City

Gilda’s Club New York City creates welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer – men, women, teens and children – along with their families and friends. Our innovative program is an essential complement to medical care, providing networking and support groups, workshops, educational lectures and social activities, all free of charge. We provide our program in a beautiful, non-residential homelike setting: our clubhouse is in a four-story brownstone on West Houston Street in Manhattan. Gilda Comes to You, our satellite program, is currently in six locations around New York City. Visit www.GildasClubNYC.org for more information.

Get the Look: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

It seems everyone on Earth, teen or adult, has read the Hunger Games series and is eagerly anticipating the upcoming film adaptation. The series seems to be following Twilight in generational crossover, and will undoubtedly a box-office hit.

The selection of Winter’s Bone actress Jennifer Lawrence was a shock to fans, and it was said the 20-year-old was too blonde and fair-skinned to convincingly play the weathered teenage heroine Katniss Everdeen. But opinion shifted today when EW revealed the first official pics of Jennifer-as-Katniss, in a stripped down, almost beachy, newly brunette look.

Lawrence’s makeup, while very natural, is actually a perfect summer style. A loose braid and sideswept bangs frame a dewy tan, pink-neutral lips and almost bare eye. Want to emulate it? Here are some products that will work well.

1.) Face: A creamy, light foundation like Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation will even skin out, and a light dusting of a subtly shimmer bronzer powder lacking orange tones will create this realistic tan-tone. Benefit’s Hoola or Sephora Collection Bronzer in Bora Bora are both excellent choices.

Shortcut: Bare Escentuals Original Foundation will also give skin an even, glowy tone. Mineral makeup isn’t for everyone, but this formula has a lot of brand-loyal followers.

2.) Cheeks: Blush is actually a pretty big part of this look, concentrated mainly in a contour fashion to accentuate the cheekbones. Clinique’s Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Plum Poppy is a nice, dusty pink match. Laura Mercier’s angled kabuki would be ideal for this application.

3.) Eyes: Shadow and liner take a backseat here, featuring a nude shadow and a quick swipe of mascara. MAC Ricepaper is similar to bare skin with a tiny bit of shimmer, and Laura Geller’s Line and Define in Charcoal has an ultra-fine brush and lighter mascara formulation for less-intense definition, top and bottom.

4.) Lips: Lips are also almost-nude here, and MAC’s Stripdown was made for this look. Use a tiny bit of balm to ensure even application, and then simply line and fill in lips. (No gloss.)

Have you tried the Katniss Everdeen makeup look? Are you ready for beachy makeup yet?

Bandaid Beauty: Five Fix-it Potions for Makeup Perfection

Imperfections is a pretty loaded beauty word- Kevyn Aucoin’s work has remained inspirational due to his focus of embracing and enhancing natural variation. However, there are a few things it’s pretty much impossible to work with- larger pores, flaky uneven skin or dark circles can create a challenge when you just want a dewy, au naturel look. Luckily, there are a few potions that target those cosmetic roadblocks without necessitating a pan-cake makeup spackled face. Here are five beauty fixes to unobtrusively correct minor skin issues:

1.) Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum: This won’t spot-cover your skin, but it’s a treatment product that will overall improve the way your makeup goes on. Containing something called a “Pore Resurfacing Complex,” Clinique’s Pore Refining Solution Correcting Serum chemically exfoliates skin and claims to empty pores of debris. Users report pretty instantaneous results, and regular use will lead to an overall smoother complexion.

2.) Benefit Dr. Feelgood: Need a more instant solution? Benefit’s Dr. Feelgood is described as a “velvety complexion balm.” Applying it before makeup will not only keep your base in place, but also prevents concealer and foundation from settling into pores, fine lines, or areas of dryness. The cute little tin is portable for touch ups, too.

3.) bareMinerals Prime Time Brightening Foundation Primer: Mineral makeup has a devoted and evangelistic fan base, something you probably know if you’ve ever a) used it or b) complimented a mineral makeup user on their flawless complexion. Mineral makeup is good for skin and offers superior sun protection, but doesn’t always go on as easily and evenly as its cream and liquid cousins. bareMinerals foundation primer makes mineral application more smoothly, keeps the finely-milled powders from settling in fine lines and increases time in between touch-ups.

4.) By Terry Or De Rose Elixir Supreme, Pink Gold: My first introduction to By Terry was the fantastic and well loved Baume De Rose, but was quickly seduced by the amazing, cult favorite Light Expert as well. Or De Rose is another fantastic By Terry option for skin perfection, plumping and mattifying skin with a slight, warm neutral tint.

5.) Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base: First things first, this is one of those products that would look totally cute on a vanity. But the packaging alone is not the only selling point to Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base. Vitamin C and E protect against environmental damage, and Vitamin A exfoliates skin over time, facilitating smooth application of makeup and product.

Tips and tricks for skin correction abound throughout the internet- do you have a favorite secret weapon for amazing skin?

Spring Cleaning: What to Makeup Keep and What to Toss

The sun is staying out longer, snowdrops are sprouting and as night falls, you can sometimes catch the scent of spring finally shoving winter out of the way. “Spring cleaning” is a bit of a cliche, but is there really a better time to overhaul, pare down and polish everything than the start of spring? (After all, you don’t want to be stuck doing boring household chores when it gets really nice out.)

While you’re in a home-maintenance frenzy, it’s not a bad time to re-evaluate your vanity or makeup bag and (sob!) part with some products that may be slightly past their prime. It’s never fun to say goodbye items that have served you well, but even the prettiest shades can harbor icky bacteria invisible to the naked eye. (The same bacteria that can cause infections in your naked eye.) Here are a few guidelines for making sure your beauty arsenal is up to scratch when summer hits.

1.) Wash your brushes. We recently covered the process of proper brush cleaning, but if you’re getting in there. you might as well give your tools a bath. It’s also a good time to wipe out your cases and bags with antibacterial wipes. If your applicators are looking a bit tired, it could be time to invest in a new set.

Sephora’s makeup brush sets never fail to delight, and there’s even a nice anti-bacterial brush roll set if brush cleanliness is a concern. (My personal favorite is the low-key, purse friendly Slim Essential Brush Set.)

2.) Pare indiscriminately. If you haven’t used a product in six months or more, it’s probably safe to say it will never earn a prominent place in your favorites. Chucking barely used makeup always feels wasteful, but your collection will feel lighter and more usable if you cut down on the less-used stuff.

3.) How long does makeup last? Maybe you got a fantastic new mascara for Christmas and you’re totally in love with it. Or there’s a beloved blush or eyeshadow for which you’re not even close to hitting pan. Still, makeup doesn’t have an indefinite shelf life. Mascara is the most perishable, and should be replaced every three months.

Foundation, concealer and other creams or liquids last about a year, but keep an eye out for product that has separated or smells differently than it once did- a sure sign it might be past its prime. Lipstick lasts for a year to two years, and liners can last up to three- just sharpen them regularly. Eyeshadows can last up to three years, but if they change texture, you might want to be on the safe side and toss them.

4.) Reward yourself. Replace some of the things you’ve put out to pasture with a few new singles- or if you’ve been particularly heavy handed, sets. Benefit’s Confessions of a Concealaholic will take the place of a few base products, and Bite’s Luminous Crème Lipstick Trio has a nude, a pink-brown and a red, which will basically cover every lipcolor need known to man. (Gloss-addicted girls might prefer the gorgeous Les Delices kit by Chantecaille.) Bobbi Brown’s Pretty Face Palette has a selection of shades that create a varied healthy glow for day wear, and NARS’s Fashion Forward Set has a few more intense options for night.

So dish- what did you pink slip from your train case, and what are you bringing in in its place?

Six Super-Wearable Bright Makeup Shades for Spring 2011

One of the biggest cosmetic trends for Spring 2011 is vivid, colorful makeup. You know, intense shades you fall in love with when they’re in the pan- the ones that often become intimidating when they land on your vanity table. Quite often, even the most shocking hues can be wearable even for work or to brunch with a light hand and some balance. Here are six gorgeous, vibrant shades for Spring 2011.

1.) Benefit Bella Bamba: I’ve been a fan of this Benefit mini-line since it hit shelves (gasp!) over eight years ago in Dandelion. The generous size, the adorable mini brush, the mirror- these little powders are always so much fun to open. 70s glam packaging encases a vibrant shade described as “watermelon” and interlaced with gold shimmer. This blush would pair beautifully with bronzer or work well alone on fairer skin tones.

2.) Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush: If you’re not feeling powders for an intense cheek shade, or you’re trying to cultivate a dewier complexion, Hourglass has these saturated, sheer stains for cheeks. Described as providing a “subtle lit-from-within glow,” Aura Sheer Cheek Stain clicks up to dispense product, and is buildable for more color.

3.) MAC Eye Shadow in Zingy: Although it seems eyes are an area in which you can be a bit more creative with color, bright eye shadows can make even the deftest shadow users apprehensive. Zingy is a pure, matte sea blue, and there’s a trick that makes a shade like this eminently wearable. Brush a neutral shimmer shade over lids, and at the outer corner, touch in three dots of your selected bright shade very close together with a medium, flat-ish brush. Tap the brush in to diffuse the shadow- the small, unadulterated pop of color at the edges looks a little edgy without too much intensity. Finish with a coat of mascara, and an optional super-thin application of black kohl at the lashline only.

4.) Sephora by OPI Glee Collection in Slushied: An opaque, true turquoise- all the shades are springy, but this is a very bold option for a clean and bright nail look.

5.) Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Classic Red: Red popsicle stains are a bit of a perennial, and though a matte red lip is always chic, a sheerer gloss feels somewhat more appropriate as warmer weather rolls in. This glossy, balmy red stain adjusts to most skin tones and is longer lasting than a simple gloss.

6.) Givenchy Printed Lips Tinted Look Lip Stainer: Felt tip products can be hit or miss- some go on watery and meek, leaving too little color that settles awkwardly. This “richly pigmented” formulation in Rose Impression is both realistic and enduring. The color goes on matte, and you can finish with a thin coat of moisturizing balm to set off the color.

Do you have any super-colorful secret weapons? What’s your most vibrant go-to shade?