New + Notable: Chic = NARS + Christopher Kane

What do you get when you cross the genius of NARS with the creativity of Christopher Kane? One of the best makeup collections ever.

 

These are my favorites out of the collection and I have to have one of everything - from the stunning color pop lip glosses (my favorite is Glow Pink - $26) to the fluorescent pink blush (Starscape - $30) to the Cheek Illuminator in Hot Sand ($30).

Genius!

Powerful Women and Perfect Makeup

Marissa Meyer, CEO of Yahoo and one of my idols has the perfect polished and professional makeup look on the cover of Fast Company this month. Marissa is taking a lot of heat - I love her calm strength in the face of pressure! I asked Emma, Bluemercury beauty expert "extraordinaire" and a leader herself, to tell us the steps and products to get Marissa's look:

EYES: 

Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials ($26) in Bare all over the lid.

Trish McEvoy 24-Hour Shadow and Liner ($64) in Smokey Quartz on lid and crease, and lightly swept along the lower lash line.

Trish McEvoy Eye Brightener Pencil ($22) in Shell, lightly swept under brow.

NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner ($24) in Bourbon Street, lined across top lash line. 

Laura Mercier Extra Lash Sculpting Mascara ($25) in Black Onyx or Trish McEvoy High Volume Mascara Jet Black ($31).



BROW:

Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil ($42) in Wheat or Blonde.



CHEEK:

NARS Dual Intensity Blush ($45) in Adoration - pop the brighter shade on the apple of the cheek and the lighter shade to highlight or mix together for a softer look.



LIP:

Bobbi Brown Sandwash Pink Lip Color ($26) with Laura Mercier Baby Doll Lip Glacé ($25) on top.

New + Notable: Mask Mania

Yes, masks are back. The truth is, they’ve been back for a while, but I have been slowly re-incorporating them into my routine. I use them for the emergency-I-have-no-idea what to do situations!

When my skin is excessively dry from a plane trip – I use La Mer The Intensive Revitalizing Mask (an 8 minute plumper) ($160).

When my skin is disgusting and dirty, I love Darphin’s SKIN MAT Purifying Aromatic Clay Mask ($50) or Kiehls Since 1851 Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque ($23).

When I’m having a bad day – I love Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque ($49) (we have carried this one forever – this is a stealth secret of the Bluemercury Georgetown team).

Two new and notable and GORGEOUS masks that have hit my desk – Tammy Fender Restorative Radiance Masque ($235) and her Purifying Luculent Masque ($215). The first – the Restorative Radiance Masque – is a heavenly pink color and is packed with healing ingredients – lotus, baobab, white hibiscus, jasmine, rose and chamomile. This is for hydration and plumping. The second – the Purifying Luculent Masque – is a deep cleansing wonder, with Burdock, Fo-Ti Clay, Aloe, Lavender and Rosemary.

The truth is, I could just sit and smell both of these masks – the scent is to die for. Tammy Fender is an esthetician from Palm Beach and makes THE most natural formulas I have ever seen. If you are a purist, Tammy Fender is perfect. 

I find masking to be a luxury – but just a little one!

New + Notable: Genius Products

Loving the innovation going on right now! These genius new products have just hit my desk and will soon be in store!

1. A Foam Conditioner. New and genius concept! R+Co just introduced a super light-as-air foam conditioner ($29). I just want to play with it. And I love the name. . . Analog.

2. A matte SPF 50 sunscreen. Most sunscreens make my skin look oily. The brand new SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 ($34) is matte and an SPF 50.

3. A one day tan. Loving the idea of St. Tropez overnight one day tan that rinses off! I am using St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse on my legs!

4. A self-tanning oil! How often do you put on a dress during spring and then look at your legs and think oh no, winter legs. I am loving St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil. You get dressed, put on your legs, and hop out the door!

5 Things I Love Right Now

1. RéVive Intensité Line Erasing Serum ($600). It really works around my eyes and on a deep line I have on my chin. I checked the ingredients again - it is all peptides - of course!

2. My March/April lip: Bobbi Brown Lip Color ($26) in Brown with Laura Mercier Defining Lip Pencil ($23) in Hazelnut Tea. The only thing getting me through this transitional weather.

3. The Sproutman protein power salad. Spring is coming and I am trying to detox. This sprout salad is packed with organic sprouted garbanzos, lentils, pea shoots, azuki sprouts and alfalfa. Great on top of kale with a green goddess dressing!

4. Capital Teas Organic Orange Grapefruit Wellness Tea. A loose tea filled with orange and tangerine pieces, blackberry leaves, apple bits, hibiscus flower and lemongrass. A treat without the calories!

5. The Macy's Board of Directors. 50% women and some of the most amazing women I have ever met! Most boards of Fortune 100s don't look like this!!!!

Travel Treasures: What I FORGOT to Bring to Aspen

This seems to be a trend for me lately - forgetting to bring beauty products that match the climate and weather. We went skiing in Aspen, Colorado for spring break. Although I stocked up on lip balms, face oils, and sunscreen, I definitely missed some things.

1. A great face mask.
   The only solution to soothe dehydrated, dry and irritated skin. I wish I had brought the Fresh Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask, Darphin's Youthful Radiance Camellia Mask ($70) or La Mer's The Lifting and Firming Mask ($230). I would have used this after skiing and a shower before going out for dinner.
   
   
2. An emergency treatment balm.
   Tammy Fender's Intensive Repair Balm ($130) is to die for, as is Darphin's Intral Redness Relief Recovery Balm ($72). I would have slathered these all over my face pre-bedtime.
   
   
3. A luxury skin revitalizer.
   Now I just need to fix my skin, and sometimes you just need to go all out. I now need ReVive's "Peau Magnifique" Youth Recruit Set ($1,500), La Mer The Concentrate ($325), or Fresh's Creme Ancienne for a full skin fix. A splurge admittedly, but the damage is done.

Travel Treasures: Spring Break Ski Trip

Stopped by Bluemercury Bethesda to stock up for our Aspen ski trip. I bought multiples of many things!

1. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy ($25) Perfect for chapped and cracking little lips. I bought one for each ski jacket pocket for my kids. If you are on the slopes and desperate, it works as a face balm, too! It has plum seed oil and cupucau butter with a heavenly soft orange scent.
2. Darphin Chamomile Aromatic Care ($70) The only thing that works for me post skiing. My skin is always raw and burning and wind chapped. A couple drops before bed and my skin is fixed by morning.
3. Sunscreen galore. Barry and the kids love the SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30 ($40) – creamy and absorbs easily. I love layering (no protection benefit from this, it is just what I do). For skiing I layer La Mer The Reparative Face Sun Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($125) and then the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($34) which has a hint of tint so my skin looks nice and even.

Buying in multiples is a testament to how much I love these products. I LOVE family ski trips, too!