A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

How To Manage Makeup When You Have a Cold

When you’re sick you almost don’t want to wear any makeup but there are ways to manage makeup when you have a cold. Statistically there’s no increased risk of contracting a cold during the change of seasons, anecdotally, people often complain of getting sick this time of year. If the fatigue, aches, sore throat and generally yucky feeling are not enough to deal with when you’re sick, looking presentable becomes infinitely more challenging.

Just when you really need to look a bit perky and less tired, managing makeup becomes a Sisyphean task- and cold-ravaged skin often feels a lot better clean and makeup free. In a perfect world, you could camp out in bed with some romance novels and apple cinnamon tea until you feel totally healthy- but chances are you’ll need to go to work, or to an event, or even to the store to stock up on NyQuil. Doing makeup when you’re sick or have a cold is a bit more difficult, but not impossible- try these tips while you heal.

La Prairie Skincare Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream SPF 20Moisturize like crazy. Nothing is as soothing when you’re sick as a nice, hot bath or shower. It clears your head and mitigates the schlumpy, groggy feeling. Try to moisturize as soon as possible after you towel off. A thick, soothing moisturizer like Dermologica’s Intensive Moisture Balance or La Prairie Skincare Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream found at Beautique UK will help maintain skin hydration, but you might want to add a stick-style moisturizer, particularly around irritated areas like your nose. Trish McEvoy’s Luxe Moisture Balm is a good spot-soother.

 

 

Fight flakes. During a cold, blotchiness and uneven skin are part of the territory, and frustratingly, foundation often rubs off or settles into dry or chapped areas. Even if you’re a mineral makeup queen, you might want to stick to a tinted moisturizer and a super-light dusting of setting powder until you’re better. Tarte’s Smooth Operator is a well-liked option, and Jemma Kidd’s Gossamer Finish Ultra Sheer Translucent Skin is finely milled enough to handle frequent touch-ups.

Be conservative. Even something as routine as mascara can be a recipe for disaster when you’re under the weather. Consider forgoing intense eyes, although curling lashes always wakes up your face. Liner and pigmented shadows also not only migrate, but can irritate already itchy, watery eyes.

Fake a healthy glow. After smoothing out skin tone, a bit of sheer blush and some soothing lip color will go a long way to minimize the overall washed-out look that comes along with being ill. Urban Decay’s Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint is sheer but pigmented. For lips, a tinted balm or sheer lipstick will add color without settling into flakes or cracks. Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is a cult favorite because it’s sheer and flatters everyone, and Lucy B. Cosmetics Stung Lips Tinted Balm comes in a nice range of rich hues.

These tips will help you to look good when you have a cold. What’s your plan of attack for looking your best when you’ve got a cold? Do you have any go-to pick-me-ups?

Mascara Melee: Five Top Formulas, Road Tested

Even at their best, mascaras are a bit difficult to gauge. Very, very rarely do you find one that just “wows” you. If it doesn’t run and it doesn’t clump, it’s basically an awesome mascara, right? Even a really impactful mascara can be difficult to commit to, because you always want to find that really amazing curling, lifting, separating mascara.

Mascara also uniquely has the downside of degrading more quickly than any cosmetic. So sometimes a fantastic mascara will be amazing for ten days, before it turns into a flaky, goopy mess- which is such a shame, because when mascara is great, it can make your whole look feel exceptionally polished.

There are a few biggies in the mascara realm- some better than others and all with slightly different attributes. Let’s break down some of the best mascaras…

MAC Zoom Lash: Zoom Lash holds a special place in my MUA heart, because it was introduced when I was just starting out as a MAC freelancer. It was one of my first coveted “big girl” products, and a lot of my affection for it is based in that memory.

Bear in mind this is a controversial mascara, in as much as a mascara can be controversial. But even though the staying power isn’t the best on the market, it solidly darkens and thickens lashes and holds a curl well.

Lancome Hypnose: Earlier in the week, we discussed Lancome’s Dual Finish Pressed Powder Foundation. In the GWP that came along with it, I received a sample of this formulation. A moderate Definicils fan, I thought Hypnose would be a nice twist on Lancome’s mostly solid mascara line. I was definitely underwhelmed by the flaky formula, which called to mind Halloween costumes from when I was a kid. This formula gets some decent reviews around the web, but there are far better options at the Lancome counter.

Maybelline Full n’ Soft: I love high-end makeup, but mascara has far less of a gulf between fancy and mass-market than color products like lipstick or eyeshadow. If you’re at the supermarket or drugstore and need a mascara option stat, Maybelline’s Full n’ Soft is far better an option than the much lauded Great Lash. It defines and separates lashes without clumping, and has a lengthy makeup bag life. Definitely a diamond in the rough.

Clinique Naturally Glossy: Not one of the more dominant mascaras, Clinique’s Naturally Glossy is often overlooked and certainly underrated. This formula is great for work because it goes on thinly, but separates and darkens lashes really well. It doesn’t flake, stays put, and washes off with a minimum of fuss.

Dior DiorShow: DiorShow is another divisive mascara- one of the higher-end options on the market, and very loved by some. The formula defines and separates, without getting too thick or intense – good for day and night.

Everyone has a standard mascara they come back to time and again- what’s yours?

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?

Get The Look: Kate Middleton’s DIY Wedding Makeup!

Last week we eagerly anticipated, as did many beauty junkies, the unveiling (hee hee) of Kate Middleton’s wedding makeup at the biggest nuptials in recent memory. Prince William’s new bride has been much emulated in her understated and elegant yet youthful style, and speculation about her makeup and dress on perhaps the most photographed day of her life was rife on the internet.

It’s said that Middleton took the brave step of doing her own makeup for the event, a choice that paid off in a graceful and flawless look:

“She’s had about three or four lessons with Kate at her private flat in Chelsea and has also gone, very privately to Clarence House. Arabella was [supposed] to be coming on the day as well but now she isn’t, because Kate’s comfortable and confident in doing it herself.”

Many commoner brides fear the prospect of doing bridal makeup without professional assistance, despite the lack of paparazzi at most weddings. But if you’d like to get a look like Kate’s, here are some key pointers:

1.) Eyes: If there’s one area Kate’s look is really bold, it’s her daytime smoky eyes. Relatively heavy liner was a huge component- Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner stays put but gives eyes dramatic definition. A slate-y violet like Mac Eyeshadow in Crystal is similar to Kate’s choice. Definitely curl lashes to get this look, and a mascara like Lancôme’s Définicils will define and hold a curl without smudging.

2.) Cheeks and Base: Kate’s matte skin finish didn’t rely heavily on bronzer or tanner, and just looked fresh. Clinique’s Superfit is both dewy and long-lasting, and Clinique Blushwear in Rosy Blush lends the same pinky, petal-bright finish. Blend mainly on apples of the cheeks without contouring for a similar healthy glow.

3.) Lips: The lip component is probably the most subtle of all in Kate’s wedding day look, with no reliance on super-pigmented color or thick gloss. The royal bride selected a pale pink (rumored to be Bobbi Brown Sandwashed Pink lip colour) that allowed her eyes to take center stage without washing out the rest of her face- a difficult balance to strike. Choose a creamy yet long wearing creme formulation to get this look, like Yves Saint Laurent Pur Couture in Beige Tribute. For longevity, line lips and fill in the entire lip area with a nude-pink liner like Chanel’s Aqua Colour Lip Crayon in Spice.

Did you get out of bed early to watch the wedding live? Were you impressed by Kate’s look?

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?