Makeup Treat in NYC

I had the great fortune last week to have two phenomenal Trish McEvoy makeup artists come to my hotel room in NYC at 7:30 am to do my makeup. I was taping a TV segment with Fox Business News and also had meetings scheduled with the beauty editors of InStyle, Vogue, and more. There is nothing like having your makeup done by a professional - They just know how to make you look your best.

I knew in order to look my best, I needed great skin. No matter how much makeup you put on, it doesn’t sit well if your skin is not exfoliated and moisturized. To prepare, the night before I pulled out my travel packets of MD Skincare’s 2-Step Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel and gave myself a quick, do-it-yourself peel. To follow the peel, I just put on a thin layer of Skinceuticals C E Ferulic and went to bed. In the morning, my skin was smooth and glowing. Even the Trish artists noticed!

The lead makeup artist, Geri (also head of product development for Trish McEvoy) applied Trish McEvoy’s new treatment foundation that is still under development. It was absolutely unbelievable. It’s not foundation; rather it’s skincare with color. I can’t believe it is not coming out until May – I can’t wait to start using it. Understanding the television medium, they also went heavy on concealer to hide any imperfections and dark circles from the camera.

It was a great treat and the perfect way to kick off my day with the press…

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Decorate in Minutes

It’s Saturday night and we have people coming over in 15 minutes for a last minute wine and cheese soiree before going out for dinner. It was so last minute, that I have nothing to decorate the house with. No flowers, no plants, no anything. I went through my candle cabinet (I keep a ton on hand for last minute hostess gifts) and found the Black Pepper Candle by Molton Brown. It is a chocolate brown candle in a huge gorgeous glass container – it is elegant in and of itself. I lit this in my kitchen, right next to the cheese display. It is striking and is a combination of black pepper, vetyver, and basil. It was so successful; I decided to put the stunning steel blue Molton Brown Wild Indigo Candle in my guest bathroom.

I love it when a plan comes together.

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Grimy Skin and Taking a Break

I took the train home from New York City to Washington DC last night. This was after a full day of meetings in New York City and no time to freshen up. My skin felt so grimy and dirty. I rustled through my cabinets and found the perfect fix.

After washing my face with a cleanser with light hydroxy acids, I took Caudalie Cleansing Water, put it on a cotton ball and swabbed my entire face to get the rest of the dirt and makeup off. It is soothing and oil-free - my skin felt clean after, but I wanted more.

I then used an Oxygen mask by Bliss for about 2 minutes. It foams up (almost like a shaving cream), deep cleans, and gets any bacteria off the skin. My skin felt refreshed and clean after.

Then I felt like a needed something balmy and moisturizing, but I did not want any intense treatment (no salicylic, glycolic, strong A, etc.) AT ALL. I pulled out Fresh's Mamaku Serum which smells like apricot and has a beautiful luxurious, balmy feel. It’s not a moisturizer, not a liquid serum, but something in between.

This morning my skin felt like I had had a mini-facial. I felt so good, I decided to slather on more Mamaku serum, a little eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick and go to work with a fresh face. Sometimes your skin just needs a break. So do you!

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Fall Cocktail

I am always looking for the perfect blend of products to get glowing, healthy skin. My concoctions change every couple months, when I decide they stop working, the weather changes, or I get bored.

I must say, I am in love with my latest nighttime cocktail. (I have morning ones too.) After I wash my face and make sure every bit of makeup and the day's grime is gone, I start with Phyto+ gel by Skinceuticals. This is a lightening, soothing gel with kojic acid. (I have an uneven, slightly freckled skin tone which seems to get worse as I get older). I wait about a minute, then put on Skinceuticals Vitamin C and E Ferulic (this, I call the glow serum, it is an unbelievable antioxidant).

The clincher, Darphin's brand new Aromatic Renewing Balm which smells like tangerine, and seems to lock in moisture, without being heavy.



I wake up in the morning and my skin looks unbelievably healthy, if I do say so myself. The greatest thing about this cocktail? No hangover.

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The Worst Traveler

Everyone is always asking me about what beauty products I travel with. They must think that if I travel with it, it must be wonderful, because you can only travel with a few products.

The truth is, I am the worst traveler. I have to check my bag because I insist on traveling with every possible permutation of beauty products I may want to use. Hardly any of them come in convenient travel sizes. My suitcase is usually 75% beauty items, 25% clothes. And I am unwilling to compromise.

I have attached a photo of what I am currently traveling with. I am usually on the road 2 – 3 nights per week, visiting bluemercury stores and spas, finding new locations where clients are dying for a bluemercury, and meeting with vendors or other creative resources in NYC. Someone in the office asked why there is a remote control in the picture. This is literally a photo I took in a hotel room in New York City. The bathroom happened to have a TV with a remote and I happened to not notice that it made it into the picture.

Here is a list of everything in the picture:

* I cannot live without my Trish McEvoy makeup planner. This holds all of my makeup. I can just grab it and get out the door in 2 seconds. As you can see, mine is filled with a ton of eyeshadows - Deluxe Shaper in Shell, Definer in Charcoal, Definer in Deep Amethyst, Glaze in Palm Beach, Glaze in Raisin, Glaze in White Peach, Glaze in Lilac, Glaze in Sugar Plum, Shaper in Pewter, Shaper in Cashmere. I can accomplish anything with this mix.

* Makeup brushes. Trish #11 (flat eyeliner), Paula Dorf crease brush, Paula Dorf contour brush, Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner brush. There are a ton of other brushes in my planner, including my eyeshadow favorite, #40 by Trish McEvoy.

* Foundations for anything. Remede Oil-Free Tint SPF30 in Medium. This is all I use on the weekends. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF20 in Nude for everyday. Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation in Beige Ivory for evening events.

* More Eyes. Paula Dorf eye primer – perfect first step to doing eyes. If you put this all over your lid, your shadow sticks much better. Bobbi Brown shadow in White, a great highlighter for right below eyebrow and in corner of eyes. Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Black Plum. I just started experimenting with this.

* Skincare – my morning combination. Darphin Hydraskin Serum + Laura Mercier Foundation primer + Darphin Dark Circles and Depuff Eye Serum.

* Skincare – my mix so I can treat my skin wherever I may be. MD Skincare Antioxidant Firming Serum, Darphin Arovita C, Therapy Systems Retinol/Glycolic, Dr. Sebagh eye cream, Darphin Lifting and Firming eye serum, Lola Kelly Peau Seche super dry skin moisturizer.

* Fragrance – I love citrus. Acqua di Parma Colonia Body Cream, Colonia Fragrance (my signature). Fresh LemonSugarbath shower gel.

* Hair. Frederic Fekkai’s new Coiff Straightening Balm and UV Thermal Spray. I can’t live without these. Use spray first on wet hair, then balm on wet hair for perfect straight blowout. Bumble and Bumble’s Shine Spray for post blow-out.

* NARS Multiples. I usually travel with 3. They are perfect for cheeks and lips. I mix them like cocktails to get the perfect color. Right now I am traveling with Antibes, Cannes, and Maui.

* Lips. I keep most of my lipsticks and liners in my purse. Here I have T. Leclerc lip pencil in Divin, which goes with all of my lipsticks. Also Trish McEvoy lipstick in pink rose. I love this combo for the non-nude nude lip this fall. Too nude is too boring.

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My Sunscreen Buffet

Summer '07
I am somewhat fair, have a tendency to freckle, and spend every weekend at the beach with my family. Thus, my sunscreen obsession. The counter near our back door has a myriad of suncreens all lined up neatly in a row. I find that if I put the right texture on the right body part, my family and I are more likely to use sunscreen, and use is half the battle. Our current buffet has the following:

Best Face Block for Beach -
Skinceuticals SPF 45 – I won’t go to the beach or bike riding without this on my face. The titanium dioxide content is one of the highest around, making this one of the best physical sunblocks out there. It’s a little pricier than others – so I make everyone use this on their face and not their body. Plus, for some reason, it is less likely to irritate my children’s eyes if it should wander close. $35

Best for Touch Up During the Day -
Dermalogica Waterproof Solar Spray SPF 30 — A spray oil with a hint of lemon scent that glides right on arms and legs, it is so easy to get on, and perfect for touch ups while you are at the beach. Whoever thought an oil would have such a high SPF? Extra bonus – it makes your skin look shiny and hydrated. $30

All Over Body Favorite –
Kiehl’s Water-Resistant SPF 40 for Children – Our whole family uses this on their body. With a 40 SPF and an easy lotion-like texture, this is the favorite pre-beach body sunscreen. $18.50


Most Gentle for Kids –
Skinceuticals Physical Defense 30 - My 2 year old daughter has very sensitive skin. This block has no chemical sunscreens at all (the chemical ones are effective, but in some people, may cause a little irritation) and is easy to put on. $35

For Mom Only –
Remede SPF 30 Firming and Contouring Lotion – This one is in my secret stash. Pure heaven, I love putting this on my entire body. It is super hydrating, contains caffeine and seaweed extracts for firming, and has a faint mandarin orange scent. $52

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