A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

The Makeup Show NYC 2011

The booths at The Makeup Show NYC

The Makeup Show NYC descended upon the Big Apple for it’s 6th consecutive year bringing beauty professionals two days of lectures, workshops and the opportunity to stock their kits with some of the best products on the market. Some of the pro-focused brands present were Make Up For Ever, Stila, Face Atelier, Smashbox, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Kevyn Aucoin, Yves Saint Laurent, Becca Cosmetics and many, many others. The Makeup Show is more than just a trade show, it provides inspiration, community and necessary education to the artists that attend.

In addition to the pro workshops there are live demos where you can get up close, ask questions and even buy the products used. One of the most popular booths was Xotic Eyes Body Art, they had lots of models and they were VERY creative with their designs. Check out one of their models below (left).

Body art at The Makeup Show 2011

Another benefit of the Makeup Show is checking out the new products. One of my favorite discoveries is actually a something that I was looking for anyway, a summer lotion. I sampled the new Summer Shine Body Lotion by Mario Badescu and I was sold immediately. The lotion gives a subtle (not glittery) shimmer that just illuminates the skin.

Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion at the Makeup Show

This is my second year attending The Makeup Show and needless to say it did not disappoint,  you can check out the 2010 makeup show here and here. Have you attended The Makeup Show before, what was your experience like?

Gift Guide: Is Your Mom a Beauty Junkie, Too?

Mothers Day gift guide

Nearly every Mothers’ Day, I find myself reaching for a beauty-related gift for my mom even though it usually feels like she has everything. Perhaps it’s more a reflection on me and my predilections that I always select for her something beauty related- a service, a bottle of her favorite perfume or something that has a GWP. Cosmetics, fragrance and spa gifts seem like an easy choice, until you realize you’ve selected similar for every previous incarnation of the holiday, as well as birthdays and Christmas.

If you’re stuck this year, don’t panic. New and limited-edition options are introduced often, so there’s always something you can find that will probably delight the pickiest of moms. Here are five ideas for Mothers’ Day gifts for the beauty-junkie mommy:

1.) Eve Lom Travel Set: While women of all skin types are known to favor Eve Lom products, the rich and luxurious feel of the products resonate particularly well with women of a certain age. Eve Lom Cleanser is one of my desert island all time favorites, and this little kit includes a 15ml version with a muslin cloth, 15ml of Rescue Mask, 15ml of Moisturizer SPF 15, 15ml of TLC Cream and 15ml of Hand Cream- with a cute little white leather travel bag, too.

2.) A Spa Service: Location, preference and your mom’s skin type (for instance, you don’t want to gift your uber-sensitive skin having mom with a full-body salt scrub) will influence what spa service fits her best. Mani-pedis generally always work, unless your mom is really ticklish. An established and classic but still innovative spa like the Mandarin Oriental in NYC is an excellent choice for mom and daughter spa days.

3.) A Treatment Product: A spa day can be glorious, but a treatment product is pampering every day- a particularly nice gift if your momma lives far away and you want her to think about you. Philosophy’s Miracle Worker A.M. Duo has antioxidant infused pads and a serum to clear away dull, dead cells and renew skin. A gift like this is nice because it’s luxurious but also has a nice cumulative effect.

4.) Custom Fragrance/Sets: I shall acknowledge the caveat that most moms already have a signature fragrance, and it’s probably one you know well and associate with your mom. However, some women are adventurous with their favorite perfumes and some never settle down with one particular scent. For those moms, a custom blended Jo Malone fragrance set might be a thoughtful and one-of-a-kind gift that fits very well- or she could use the scents individually.

5.) A pretty, feminine makeup kit: Makeup as a gift is a bit tricky unless you know the recipient is really in love with a particular product, and then in that case, it kind of takes out a tiny bit of the fun because they aren’t being delighted by something new. A kit composed of popular products kind of has the best of both worlds, because it contains old favorites and often a new twist- like this adorable pink makeup kit from Yves Saint Laurent. Eye makeup remover, cult-favorite Touche Éclat and Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils come with a logo-ed little bag, and all items are usable whether your mom’s style is natural or a bit more vampy.

Have you selected a Mothers’ Day gift yet? Do you have a stock standard you know pleases your mom?

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?