The Science of Getting out the Door

My husband and I work together and when we travel, he is already rushing me out the door in the morning. The other morning, I set a record. Blow dried hair and full make-up in 20 minutes flat. The key: sticking to a regular routine and not trying anything new.

1. Wet hair in shower.(I always wash hair night before.)

2. Spray Phytovolume Mist and comb through.
3. Wrap hair in towel and start makeup.
4. Put Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer all over face with fingers. Gives it time to absorb in while I start with eyes.
4. Used Trish concealer in ivory on lid to hold on eyeshadow. Put on with finger.
5. Used Nars Edie, a slightly shimmery bone eye shadow all over lid and up to brow bone. Put on Trish McEvoy brush #48.
6. Used Bobbi Brown Beige Shimmer Wash eye shadow (from old Chocolate palette - Bobbi palettes are the best) in crease with Nars brush small dome brush.
7. Lined eyes with Trish Eye Definer in Arabian Nights deep navy blue (any dark shadow works). I dip my Laura Mercier fine point eyeliner brush into water and then dip into shadow and then line eyes. Lasts all day and gives the tightest line.
8. Applied Trish McEvoy lash curling mascara.
9. Dried hair
10. Applied MD Skincare Tint in SPF 15 with fingers.
11. Dotted NARS multiples Malaysia and Orgasm on apple of cheek. Layered and spread with fingers.

12. Lined lips with Nars Tonga, almost nude. I always apply lipstick after I drink my morning coffee. Why waste time before. Done and ready!

Sun-kissed Cheeks

Richard, our Lincoln Park, Chicago makeup guru gave me the best trick for summer time sun-kissed skin. Use the NARS The Multiple in Orgasm on the cheeks, and then put a dash of the NARS Multiple Bronzer in Malaysia on top. This, with a light, light lip gloss – like Bobbi Brown Confetti Shimmer Lip Gloss, makes me look like I just stepped off a yacht in St. Tropez. (Not quite!)

Change, Protect, Walk

I have been eating out every night the last two weeks. All of us are trying to squeeze in those end of summer dinners with friends before the frenzy of back to school starts. The result: I am feeling bloated. So I have been taking walks early evening while the sun is still out. My walk routine – change fast, slather Skinceuticals SPF 45 (the best protection ever) all over face and spray Peter Thomas Roth Continuous SPF 30 on arms and legs (nothing like drugstore sprays – clear and oil-free and feels like you have nothing on.) Skin protected - I am ready to power walk.

Removes SPF and Grime

Almost 2 years ago I asked the Darphin team to design a cleansing balm. Cleansing balms are oil based cleansers that come in a jar. I love them because oil cuts oil and cleansing balms remove all the deep down grime and makeup. I couldn’t find one I loved to use in our spa. The result: pure luxury. Finally out – their heavenly Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood is exactly what I wanted. I have been using it this summer to get off my SPF 45 and all of the heavy grime that comes with hot weather and travel.

The One Skincare Product

So I went to NY for a quick trip last night. The hot weather is making me lazy. I only brought one skincare product, if you can believe it - Skinceuticals C and E Ferulic.If I were on a desert island and someone said you can bring one product with you (Ok, hopefully the island has shade, because I am an SPF addict.) I would bring this product. It is my secret weapon for healthy, glowing skin. I notice when I do not use it.The Vitamin C builds collagen and gives skin a glow. The Vitamin E is hydrating.A quick dash of the liquid, easy serum at night, and that is all I do sometimes. Even works around eyes – although they do not recommend it. Pure glow – in one step. (If you’re wondering how I washed my face, I did it in the shower with a wash cloth. Not recommended, but as I said, I am getting lazy.)

An Oldie But Goodie

I am often on the road touring stores, looking at new store sites and meeting with manufacturers. As I move rapidly from place to place, I am limited as to how many beauty products I can stuff in one ziploc. I often forgo body products in exchange for at least four skincare products, tinted moisturizer and my must have--Acqua Di Parma Colonia fragrance.

What a delight it was when I showed up to my hotel tonight and they had Molton Brown products in the bathroom. I embarked on a heavenly shower with Molton Brown Energizing Seamoss shower gel. We have carried this product in our stores since I started bluemercury almost 10 years ago.

This rich, thick moisturizing shower gel has a scent which takes you away to the beach. Fresh, clean and green, I had forgotten how wonderful it is. It is always a treat to rediscover something that was wonderful 10 years ago and is still wonderful today. How often does that happen?

Skin Emergency – A Cold and A Festering Pimple

After picking up my 4th cold this year from one of my germ carrying school children, my skin was a wreck. This, combined with the comfort food required given the never-ending freezing spring we’re having (read: French fries) gave me a big, obvious pimple to the left of my lips on my lower cheek. This was so obvious, my 3 year old daughter said, “What is on your face?” I finally figured out the perfect solution. Two nights ago, I grabbed my Remede Intensive Double Serum - a dual chamber oxygen and vitamin c serum - and used the oxygen side (you can choose or use both together) and put this antibacterial dream serum on my pimple and the vitamin c side all over my face. The pimple was dried up over night and I felt as if I had just infused vitamins back into my sick-with-a-cold looking skin. The next night I used my MD Skincare 2 step peel pads (my go-to at home deep cleansing facial) and rubbed the vitamin c serum on again after. The next morning all was clear. I am way too old to be getting big, giant pimples.