On My Desk Now: Summer Love Preview

Summer is around the corner, and tons of goodies are popping up on my desk to try. It makes me yearn for the beach now!

Bare Legs and Sandaled Feet
I love the Perfect Heels Rescue Balm by This Works for my feet, NARS Monoi Body Glow Bronzing Body Oil for hydrated and temporarily bronzed legs, and Chanel’s metallic nail polish in Canter - a fabulous 70’s gold - for toes (available in select stores only). 

Warm Nights Out

Chanel’s new cream Stylo Eyeshadows in Bleu Nuit and Vert Grisé are to die for, and are perfect for creating a smokey eye (available in select stores only). Bumble and bumble’s new Surf Foam Spray is perfect for that textured, salty hair look.

Weekend Sheer SPF 

I am in love with the new La Roche-Pose Anthelios SPF 60 that is oil-free!!! Light, sheer and heavenly, it’s my new soccer field go-to!

Sometimes You Just Need a Pro

Last Saturday was my 40th birthday party. I honestly usually do my makeup myself for all events, but decided that I would go to bluemercury and have it professionally done. I know it sounds funny since I own bluemercury, but honestly, I usually do not have time to have someone do it.

I must say, there is nothing like having a great makeup artist do your makeup. I wanted a heavy smoky eye and nice, clear, even skin that lasted all night. I raced into our Bethesda location at 4:30 and Kate went to work. I was out in 30 minutes with a dramatic eye and even skin – it was perfect. Here is what she used:







Trish McEvoy Eye Base in Demure over the entire lid. Trish McEvoy Midnight Diamond Eye Powder Definer in the crease with Trish McEvoy Arabian Nights Eye Powder Definer blended all over the lid and in the crease with a heavy hand on the corners. Eyes were finished off with Trish McEvoy Lash Curling Mascara.















Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base as a face primer, followed by Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Foundation Compact in beige and Laura Mercier Secret Concealer #2. This was set with Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder. This was finished off with Laura Mercier Bronzing Pressed Powder in Golden Bronze and Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Maui as a blush.

The Trish McEvoy Essential Pencil was used all over the lip with Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss in Pretty Pink.


My makeup lasted all night, looked great in photos, and I felt great. A pro is a pro is a pro, no substitute.

The High Risk Smokey Eye

Wolf Blitzer of the Situation Room on CNN

Bret Baier of Special Report on Fox News


Was getting ready for White House Correspondent's dinner parties when I decided I was going to experiment and innovate with a smokey eye. Usually I use a Laura Mercier's Coffee Ground, a deep matte brown, all over my lid and in the crease for the 2-minute smokey eye. But for some reason on Saturday night I was feeling extra daring. So I pulled out my brand new NARS 15x15 palette and used 4 colors for a smokey eye. This could have easily been a disaster, but I was LUCKY!. Used eyeshadow base, then Edie (shimmery bone) over entire lid, then used Underworld 1, a shimmery silver in crease and on lid, blended Underworld II, a deep midnight shimmer blue all over lid and in crease, with a heavy hand on the corners. Lined top and bottom of eyes with Night Breed, a black shimmery NARS classic, and voila - a midnight blue smokey eye. This could have completely backfired. But taking a risk at home in your bathroom with makeup is really not so risky when you think about it!

Capitol File after party was a blast - Wolf Blitzer, Ewan McGregor, Ashley Judd, Kim Kardashian, etc. Washington meets Hollywood - par for the course these days!

Party Circuit

Hibernation over, spring party circuit starting. Our calendar is booking up with after-work and weekend events. I have a bunch of quick pre-party tricks that I wanted to share:

1. For the glow: Cleanse face completely and use exfoliating peel pads (Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta or Trish McEvoy Beta Hydroxy Pads) before applying makeup. Your skin will look years younger. It is my trick, I do this before every event, WITHOUT FAIL. And, if I am racing from office, back home/or to hotel room and then to party, I wash my whole face, leave my eye-makeup on, and still use the pads. I then touch up my eye shadow, reapply foundation and blush and lips.

2. For drama: I have learned how to do an easy smokey eye: pick one color and use on entire lid and crease. I use an eye base (sometimes I just use a light concealer on my lid) put Bobbi Brown bone all over my lid and then go over the entire lid and crease with a dark shadow. You need to find the perfect one for you, but, once you find it – this is a 2 minute step. I have been attached to Laura Mercier Coffee Ground, a deep chocolate brown, recently.


3. For great skin: My most up to date go to is the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji. Great coverage, lasts all night, great glow. A little heavier than my normal Bobbi Brown Skin SPF, but this is really working for me right now. I am even able to skip concealer with this one, goes right up under my eyes fine. I do use this over Laura Mercier’s Hydrating Primer so my skin looks nice and moist.

These are my pre-going-out tips and I am sticking to them.