Heart-broken

I was traveling last week and my NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder broke into a million pieces. I didn’t realize how attached I was to this glorious bronzer, until this happened. I discovered bronzer when I was a teen – I used to use the Guerlain orange-looking one. (If you look at my pictures – I definitely have an orange tint!) There is nothing like a bronzer to give you that quick sun-kissed look. NARS Laguna is my absolute go to – the perfect hint of sun, a little glimmer, no orange. I often put it over a pinkish or coral blush. Right now – I am layering it over NARS Penny Lane Cream Blush. I already ran to bluemercury to pick up another. It is now back in my life and I am no longer broken-hearted (or broken-bronzered).

My Travel Must-Haves

I am traveling almost the entire month of February. Tonight, I organized all of my cosmetics so I could pack efficiently and zip in and out of the airport without checking my bags. I thought I would list out 10 things I can't live without and will be traveling with:

1. Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum. Hydrating treatment I am currently using every morning under primer.
2. Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer. A must use every day before foundation.


3. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji and/or Bobbi Brown Skin SPF 15 Foundation. NARS has fuller coverage than Bobbi, but love both. During the dead of winter I am a little more addicted to NARS.


4. Penny Lane Cream Blush by NARS. Almost had a panic attack when I couldn't find it tonight.
5. Bobbi Brown Bone Eye Shadow. The perfect all over lid color.



6. Trish High Volume Mascara. My all-time favorite.
7. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. They just sent me two travel size ones. Generally, for face cleansers I alternate between whatever I have in travel size.


8. MD Skincare All-in-One Facial Cleanser with Toner. Use as a toner/slash peel. Stronger than a cleanser, lighter than a peel. Gets the day's travel off my skin.
9. Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum. My one stop night treatment for an overnight trip. This really does it all for me. The best glow ever.

10. Sample moisturizers and eye creams. Sounds awful, but I generally only pack a moisturizer and eye cream for an emergency and when I do, it's only what I have in travel size. Right now, I am travel with a lab sample Bobbi Brown's new Brightening Moisturize Cream coming out this March or April. I love the texture and it is fine for day or night. If I go on a longer trip, I always pack a moisturizer and eye cream. Anything to not have to check a bag!

Currently also toting: "Caesar" by Colleen McCollough, WWD Dailies to catch up on, and debating whether I am ready for a kindle!

Generation L

Can we create Generation L? We have Generation X, Generation Y, the Millennials, Baby Boomers, and more. My current obsession (besides beauty products and building a great company) is creating Generation L. I have three little kids age 2, 4, and 6 all born in the first decade of the 21st century. My job, in my opinion, is to create Little Leaders - the future of the 21st century. Between problems of the environment, Middle East destabilization, the U.S. deficit, the end of Social Security as we know it and countless other crises that will emerge (e.g. Haiti), our kids will be up against some huge challenges. They will need the skills and values to take on these challenges head-on. I don’t have the perfect recipe for this – but for me, half the battle is planning for where you want to end up.

So all I ask is that moms unite: let’s see if we can create Generation L, a generation of caring, resourceful, peace-loving, thoughtful leaders.


Two side notes:
1. If anyone has recipes for how to accomplish creating little leaders, please post!

2. I am turning 40 this year – you can see I am reflecting on other things besides the beauty business – so I apologize to those who are only looking for beauty biz stuff right now.

Palm Beach 4: Makeup Oldies But Goodies

None of my typical makeup was really "working" for me in Palm Beach. My brown eyeshadows for fall were too dull. My pink matte blushes (think Nars Penny Lane) too flat. My lipsticks (Laura Mercier Rose or Bobbi Brown Tulle) too wrong. So I had to dig into my bag (I brought 5, gallon-size ziploc bags of makeup and skincare) and reset my makeup. I went back to a shadow I started wearing 8 years ago - Trish McEvoy Cashmere (although discontinued Trish Matte Eye Shadow in Heather and Glaze Eye Shadow in Rose Quartz are good equivalents). Bobbi Brown Bone Eyeshadow all over my lid, Trish McEvoy Cashmere in my crease, and a deep purple eyeliner (Trish McEvoy Arabian Nights) became my old but new Palm Beach look. For blush - I used NARS South Beach Multiple (South Beach, Palm Beach it is all Florida). Lips - Laura Mercier Blush Lip Glace - another color I have worn for years and years. The purple hue on the eyes worked much better then my typical brown eyeshadows and blue eyeliners. Voila - oldies but goodies. Everyone has them!

Palm Beach 3: New Years 2010 with Fekkai, Woody Allen and Trump

Marla Malcolm Beck with Woody Allen


Marla Malcolm Beck with Donald Trump


Marla Malcolm Beck with Regis PhilbinLucky me. Invited to Trump's again for new years. To get ready, the Fekkai team invited me into their Palm Beach salon. Denise blew out and flat ironed my hair (using Fekkai products, of course!) Elle did my makeup - a dramatic smokey eye that I could never have done myself. She used deep browns and blues and dark liners. She even applied a couple of individual false lashes. It is always a treat to be pampered like this!
Trump's was the usual tasteful, luxe party. Glorious appetizers outside under the stars and festive dinner and dancing in the ballroom he built for his and Melania's wedding. His close friends, Woody Allen and Regis Philbin were there, as usual. I enjoyed ringing in 2010 with my fun, supportive husband. This is the year I am turning 40 and I am ready!!

Palm Beach 2: New Go-To Sunscreen

ReVive Skincare sent me the new SPF 45 launching this March. This is my new go to warm weather outdoor sunscreen. I put this on every morning in Palm Beach and zipped out the door to play tennis. Easy application and I felt like I had nothing on. I also loved the firming and hydrating properties. Am addicted.

Palm Beach 1: Pre-vacation

Went to bluemercury to stock up before our Palm Beach trip. Clearly I am a product addict. I bought the following:
1. Five Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45. I use nothing else on the kid’s faces. They never burn with this on.

2. Two MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion. Easy to apply to little arms and legs.

3. Two MD Moms Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes SPF30+. Easy for re-application at camp. Kids put this on themselves. The only physical sunscreen in wipes that I have ever seen.

4. Four Peter Thomas Roth Continuous Sunscreen Mist SPF 30. So easy for reapplication for kids on backs. Great for lazy husbands also!

5. Two Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Hydrating. I ran out.

6. Two Phyto Phytomist Hydrating Conditioner spray. Use on my daughters hair as spray conditioner on wet hair.

7. Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care Shampoo and two Fekkai Salon Glaze. My favorite hot weather shampoo and conditioner.

8. Trish McEvoy Planner Page. Needed a new, fresh one.

9. Rubis tweezers and Tweezerman tweezers. Another case of the disappearing tweezers. Not sure why I always lose them!

Ready to go!