Category: Beauty

Subtle blush

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I hate obvious blush. The worst example was Lindsay Lohan at her court appearance for violating court orders (and I feel badly about her situation, as The Parent Trap remake is one of my favorite romcoms).

Perhaps it harkens back to the nude/naked makeup of the early 1990s, but I prefer subtle blushes, and Revlon fills the bill.  I alternate between the Revlon Powder Blush in Sandalwood Beigeicon (a perennial) and Revlon Colorstay Mineral Blush in Honeyicon.

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Revlon Powder Blush in Sandalwood Beige

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I use a dome-shaped blush brush and apply blush only to the apples of my cheeks.

Raiding the closet
I also use Revlon Naturally Glamorous Blush-on in Fleshtone, from a limited edition collection of neutrals that was released when Cindy Crawford was still the face of Revlon.  Perhaps it was a harbinger of things to come: Halle Berry replaced Veronica Webb in the ads for the limited edition collection. Sorry, I couldn’t find images of the ads for the collection.

The fine print: this post contains links for affiliate programs.

The Style Page interview with Kirsten Kjaer Weis

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Kirsten Kjaer (pronounced Ki-ar) Weis sought to marry organic cosmetics with glam packaging. To this end, she collaborated with designer Marc Atlan to create the packaging for her cosmetics line Kjaer Weis. The Kjaer Weis collection comprises crème blushes, lip tints, and eye shadows. The one of a kind packaging features red lacquered grain-textured boxes that encase refillable metal compacts that swing open and close with a click that sounds like “a classic Mercedes door closing,” as she says it.

Kirsten Kjaer Weis

The Style Page posed a few questions to Kirsten Kjaer Weis:

You grew up on a farm in Denmark, where the nearest “big city” had a population of 1,500. Since then, you’ve lived in Paris and California and now you’re settled in New York City. Did growing up in a relatively isolated location fuel your wanderlust?

Yes, I think it did, I have always known that I wanted to travel and eventually live abroad, it feels like it was in my blood, a desire for seeing the world, different cultures, ways of living, getting as much out of the “smorgasbord” of life as possible.

What brought you to New York City?

A great desire for working as a make-up artist in New York and it also fit my personal/relationship situation.

You wanted to marry organic cosmetics with glam packaging. Your packaging is one of a kind. What was the inspiration for the design? Denmark is famous for its modern design. Was Danish design an inspiration for the packaging?

For the design I give credit to Marc Atlan, hands down. When we first met I showed him my “mood board” of things that have meaning to me, everything from swaps of fabric to a beautiful hand writing I had seen to a painting ect, I explained my vision for a green product with a design/glamorous outside, yet sustainable. I also liked the idea of having a distinct color and left him with free hands and a feeling that we were very much on the same wavelength. He called me 2 month later and said he had come up with a great concept, he was right:)

Tell me about working with Marc Atlan and the prototyping and production of your packaging

Marc is fantastic, incredibly inspiring to work with and doesn’t cut corners in any shape or form. I had of course dreamt of having my own design/molds but also knew it might be impossible, due to costs. It became possible and I’m beyond pleased with the end result. Going through prototypes, back and forth, perfecting the compacts, was a lengthy process, but also very satisfying, seeing the line coming to fruition before my eyes.

What are the challenges in quality assurance/quality control for your product?

Working with organic ingredients is like working with a live material, they might change from harvest to harvest, so a lot of adjusting goes into maintaining the textures and colors from batch to batch. It’s also part of the fun and it’s the closest one comes to wearing a hand made piece of make-up. For me it’s a labor of love.

What are your plans for the Kjaer Weis cosmetics line? What might we expect in the upcoming year?

For 2012, I hope to have mascara, foundation and if everything goes well a compact powder in place. Eventually it will be a full range of organic make-up, that’s the vision.

You love traveling and exploring. What places are on your bucket list to visit?

Yes plenty, I have never been to Japan, that’s high on the list, New Zealand as well, Patagonia and a road trip across the US, still so much to see:)

Are there any parting thoughts about beauty that you would like to share with our readers?

I created KW as an alternative to what was on the market, make-up is fun, it’s such a great tool to enhance ones personality and beauty, and I think pretty much any woman from all walks of life, likes to look her best. Fun and harmless go hand in hand!

Kjaer Weis is available through select Space NK boutiques and spacenk.com.

The Style Page was privileged to work directly with Kirsten Kjaer Weis on this feature.

Laura Geller Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation

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Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation is yet another addition to Laura Geller’s collection of baked collection of products. It is marbleized with shades of tan, yellow, and white to correct redness and balance the complexion.

Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baker Color Correcting Foundation

The QVC site says that you can use Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation instead of or top of your regular foundation. I use it alone, and find that applying it on top of my regular foundation to be overkill. I apply a face primer before applying Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation: for application, I use Mineral Optics by Beauty Strokes® Optic Allover 75 Brush, which diffuses the powder.

I was surprised by the matte finish of Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation, particularly since the main ingredient is mica. You can build up coverage by applying several layers, and it has a fair amount of opacity with repeated application.

I am always looking for solutions to neutralize a red spot on my cheek (although I have recently come to the conclusion that I’ve developed an unhealthy obsession about it). I’ve used Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation as a spot treatment using a flat lay-down brush, and it does the job satisfactorily.

You may buy Laura Geller Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation for $31.00 from QVC and QVC.com. Currently, only Tan is available. Mine came in Regular.

The Style Page wishes to acknowledge blue sky communications for sending me a sample of Laura Geller Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation for review.

The Style Page interview with Michael Marcus

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Michael Marcus is the founder and CEO of an eponymous line michaelmarcus (yes, that’s all lower case). As with several makeup artists I’ve interviewed, he has a background in art, having studied art history and interior at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.  He started his career as a makeup artist at the Prescriptives counter at Neiman Marcus in Dallas and became national makeup artist for Estée Lauder. Through his travels, he learned that women, particularly those over age 35, were clamoring for brighter, clearer colors than those offered from brown-based makeup lines.

He founded michaelmarcus to fill that void in the cosmetics market. His largest account is Dillard’s, although his line is also carried by a number of boutiques. In addition, his line was picked up by Takashimaya New York (since closed), the U.S. outpost of the Japanese department store, where he had the distinction of being the only U.S. brand that its beauty department carried.

Michael Marcus

The Style Page posed a few questions to Michael Marcus:

Why a relaunch of michaelmarcus?

We are relaunching a fragrance I created originally for Takashimaya New York. It was called Takashimaya “t”. Since Takashimaya closed we have been inundated with upset people looking for the fragrance. It was their top-selling fragrance after all.

How are you promoting the relaunch? What is your near-term itinerary?

Interestingly, we have not done a lot of promotion on the relaunch. We posted on Facebook and sent out an e-mail blast. Even before the official release date we had over 50% of our production sold.

Your biggest account is with Dillard’s, which has a presence in most U.S. states. How did you land the account with Dillard’s?

Dillard’s was looking for new brands to energize their cosmetic department. There had been several big articles about me so the buyer contacted us.

Now that Takashimaya NY is closed, what are your plans to re-enter the NYC market?

We are exploring options. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of New York retailers that want unique independent brands.

You say that you got the same complaint, especially women over 35, about brown-based cosmetics lines and the lack of clear color. Yet I also wonder if the desire for color is driven by regional differences, for example, between Dallas and NYC. I also wonder if your older customers are still influenced by the seasonal color typing (Color Me Beautiful) of the 1980s. Could you comment on this?

Many of my bolder shades were first wildly successful in New York. Mainly because I have offered colors no one else does. As the baby boomers are aging they are finding that nudes and neutrals are no longer working, they simply wash a woman out.
I interviewed Robert Jones, another Dallas-based makeup artist, and asked him if there were still significant differences in beauty ideals between Dallas and NYC. My motivation in asking him this question was that consolidation among department stores may have led to homogenization in beauty ideals. Stores that I knew when I lived in Texas in the 1980s, such as Joske’s and Foley’s, have been absorbed by larger chains. Sakowitz and Frost Bros. are gone. To get back to Robert Jones’s response, he said that the difference was that women in Dallas glam up, even to go the grocery store. What’s your take on differences in beauty ideals between Dallas and NYC?

I think it’s amazing that people still think of Dallas as big hair and a lot of makeup….The biggest difference I have found in all of my travels is that Texas women and southern women in general have a tendency to be more willing to try something different. New Yorkers easily get stuck in a rut! You are absolutely right in one respect and that is stores have been homogenized in their selection of beauty brands. As an independent and niche brand we try to compete with the big players. Unfortunately, buyers find it “safe” to buy a brand that is owned by a Lauder, Coty, or L’Oreal for example. A small brand is a risk and no one can afford a risk. To me, so many of the brands out there all resemble each other, especially when a company controls a dozen brands. They all start looking and feeling alike.

Your Facebook profile says that your activities and interests are travel and art. Does your work pre-empt opportunities for travel? What are your favorite places for travel? What places would you like to visit that you haven’t seen?

Work is always first. When you own the company it’s seven days a week, even when you try to take a vacation. Italy is my most favorite place in the world. There is something magical about it. I am dying to travel to Egypt, Petra, and Angkor Wat. I could keep going. There are so many I still have not been. I love exploring, especially ruins.

Are there any parting thoughts about beauty that you would like to share with our readers?

Don’t be afraid to try something new. EXPERIMENT. It’s only makeup and it will wash off!!! When you lose the spirit of trying new and different things, you’re OLD!!

The Style Page appreciates the opportunity to work directly with Michael Marcus on this feature.

Meaningful Beauty Cindy Crawford Crème de Serum

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Meaningful Beauty Creme de Serum

Meaningful Beauty Crème de Serum is a combination cream and gel with a double helix delivery system. According to the Meaningful Beauty FAQs,

The white portion contains anti-aging peptides, which help protect skin from wrinkles and fine lines. The clear layer of hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge on your skin, helping it grab and hold moisture. The melon shade is the [superoxide dismutase] SOD [anti-oxidant] complex, designed to protect skin from free radicals and harsh environmental elements.

I am not loyal to any brand or skin care regimen. I like to mix things up, and have been alternating use of the Meaningful Beauty Crème de Serum as a nighttime moisturizer with The Solution by Envision Beauty. It makes all the difference to apply moisturizer to skin that’s not yet dry.  I found that Meaningful Beauty Crème de Serum had a slightly unpleasant smell upon dispensing and felt tacky, not silky.

Meaningful Beauty Crème de Serum cannot be purchased separately: it must be purchased as part of the kit. You may purchase the Meaningful Beauty Cindy Crawford skin care kit through its web site or infomercial.

The fine print: Guthy-Renker sent The Style Page a sample of Meaningful Beauty Cindy Crawford Crème de Serum for review. It also sent me the Sheer Cover Sophisticate Face Palette: as with Meaningful Beauty Crème de Serum, it is not sold separately and must be purchased as part of the kit through the Sheer Cover website or infomercial.

Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender

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Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Face Defender – from  Gouldylox Reviews

Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender feels like a silicone-based face primer, but it isn’t advertised as such. QVC.com says that it can be worn under foundation, but “the magic comes after your makeup is on and you gently, with your fingertips, dab the product all over your face on top of your makeup! This product will not move your makeup, it will not cause it to disappear or look funky.”

I tried Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender both under and over my usual foundation. I did not see any “magic” when I applied the product over my usual foundation; besides, I like a little “makeup melt” to soften hard edges.
I like Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender best worn alone, instead of my usual foundation. It helps even out the complexion and gives the skin a nice radiance. It is also soothing upon application, probably because tocopherol (related to Vitamin E) is one of the chief ingredients.
Because Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender goes on sheer, I need extra help in minimizing spots of redness. I spot apply mineral foundation with a lay-down brush over Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender to minimize the appearance of red spots. It might be overkill, but sometimes I spot apply LaurEss Neutralize Mineral Corrector before I apply skin-toned mineral foundation.
Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender is expensive for what you get ($40 for 1 fl. oz.), as with some of Mally’s other products. While I would like to find a less expensive option, I am not aware of any similar product on the market.
You may shop Mally at qvc.com, mallybeauty.com, and Beauty.com. Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender is available only on QVC.com.

The Style Page wishes to thank Tractenberg & Co. for providing me the sample of Mally Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender for review.

The Style Page interview with Jemma Kidd

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Jemma Kidd

1. Your book Jemma Kidd Make-up Masterclass: Beauty Bible of Professional Techniques and Wearable Looks discusses the founding of the Jemma Kidd Make-up School and your three make-up lines: The Jemma Kidd Make-up School, Jemma Kidd PRO, and most recently, JK Jemma Kidd for Target Beauty. What your book doesn’t tell us is how and why you became a make-up artist. What inspired you?

I grew up around modeling and had always been creative and found myself watching the make-up artists behind the scenes wanting to know their secrets. I felt at home backstage – the vibe, the buzz, the people – I just loved it!

2. How did you learn your craft?

I started out in the industry as a model, but I was never really comfortable in the limelight – unlike my little sister Jodie! When I discovered what it was like being on the other end of the make-up brush, I knew I’d found the right career. I was lucky to work as an assistant to make-up supremo Mary Greenwell for five years and was then spotted by Premier Hair and Make Up Agency and taken on their books in 1999. Since then I’ve worked with leading fashion designers, photographers and a host of prestigious magazines, including American and British Vogue, Vanity Fair and Elle. In 2003 I founded an academy in London to train professional make-up artists and to offer a range of make-up workshops for women of all ages. I have also created three distinctive make-up ranges – Jemma Kidd Make Up School (launched 2005), Jemma Kidd PRO (launched 2008) and JK Jemma Kidd (launched 2008) – which are sold throughout the UK and US as well as in Australia and Hong Kong .

3. Target has carried your JK Jemma Kidd line (along with Petra Strand’s Pixi and Napoleon Perdis’s NP Set) for over three years now. That is a testament to its popularity and longevity. How were you approached to start your JK Jemma Kidd line for Target Beauty in the first place?

My signature Jemma Kidd Make Up School range was retailing in Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus stores when I was first approached by Target to design an exciting new line for them. Target’s concept for the make-up line was “Design for All”; high quality make-up at affordable prices. The JK Jemma Kidd line was inspired by my love of fashion, runway style and colour. The collection fuses hi-fashion, statement colour and runway glamour with professional performance, bringing the catwalk to the sidewalk without breaking the bank. I loved the idea of creating designer products at high street prices and making on-trend beauty accessible to all. Having my brand stocked by a retail giant like Target is a dream come true.

4. JK Jemma Kidd is a departure from your two other make-up lines. It is characterized by “high fashion, statement color, and runway glamour.” How does JK Jemma Kidd complement Pixi and NP Set?

The JK Jemma Kidd line lets women experiment with color. There are always a lot of on-trend colors in the collection, such as Hi-Design Eye Color in Trend and Stylized; vibrant blues and greens are huge trends for fall 2011. We’re constantly adding new colors to the line.

JK Jemma Kidd Hi Design Eye Color for Target Beauty


4. You are the mother of twins – a boy and a girl – who were born in January 2010. How has becoming a mother changed your involvement with the Jemma Kidd Make-up School and your three make-up lines?

I love my career and am lucky to have a great team of people around me who help make it possible to combine such a busy work and family life – and keep them both running smoothly! However for me, family comes first. Ever since my twins were born I’ve slowed down in terms of career commitments and have started working part time. At Jemma Kidd we promote flexible working hours which is ideal for people with young families.

5. What is your beauty routine? What products do you use to achieve your look?

Good skincare and make-up can improve the appearance of your complexion and help mask any problems, but healthy habits will make your skin glow naturally. I always try to eat well, drink lots of fresh fruit/veg juices, sleep for at least eight hours per night (which is incredibly difficult with twin toddlers!), get plenty of exercise and party in moderation. I’m a firm believer that beauty really does come from within so nutrition is key. I use my JK Jemma Kidd Ultra Plush Mascara and Mannequin Skin Complexion Enhancer are my ‘can’t live without’ beauty essentials. I also always have a couple of prototypes of new products I’m trying out in my make-up bag too.

6. What might we expect next from Jemma Kidd?

My head is constantly buzzing with ideas and projects; my team and I are already dreaming up new products for 2012 and beyond. I’m really excited about visiting Scottsdale in Phoenix in October to promote Target’s redesigned beauty department there. I’ll be providing make-up tips, touch-ups, and showcasing new products so make sure you pop along and say hello!

7. Are there any parting thoughts about make-up and beauty that you would like to share with our readers?

Beauty comes in many different forms – innocence, porcelain skin, babies bottoms! I think imperfections can be very beautiful too.

The Style Page would like to thank Stephanie of LaForce + Stevens, which represents Target Beauty, for arranging this interview with Jemma Kidd.

Postscript:  Jemma Kidd has become Beauty Ambassador for Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend. She has also established the Jemma Kidd VISIONfund to help prevent and eliminate trachoma, a bacterial infection that can lead to blindness.  For updates, follow Jemma Kidd Make Up School on Facebook.

It works … it really works!

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Toppik hair building fibers

Last year, I lost WADS of hair. I chalked it up to severe stress in my life, which also caused me to abandon this blog.

It was difficult to style my hair in such a way to cover the excessively thin spots on my head. I recall having read in Allure that Toppik works to cover thin or balding spots.

You might have seen Toppik advertised in the SkyMall catalogue that you find in airplane seat pockets. Given the dubious claims for other personal care products that are advertised in SkyMall, it’s easy to doubt the claims for Toppik.

Toppik consists of keratin fibers that bond with natural hair. It is as easy to use as it says – just shake it on. I find that only a light touch is necessary. I use a rattail comb to lift my hair, section by section, and shake Toppik on the thin spots on my head. It really masks the thin spots on my head and makes it look that I still have a full head of hair. I no longer feel self-conscious about my hair.  Now I take Toppik to the salon when I get my hair styled.

Toppik comes in nine shades. I chose dark brown – it blends perfectly with my colored hair. You may buy Toppik through its web site, SkyMall, and Sally Beauty Supply (where I got mine).  The regular size costs $20-25, and for me, it’s worth every penny.

Article first published as It works … it really works! on Technorati.

TouchBack – Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner

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TouchBack by ColorMark

TouchBack by ColorMark received a Best of Beauty award from Allure. It is a marker that deposits temporary hair color to cover white roots.

I got my first gray hairs at 16. By the time I was 30, most of my hair was gray, but I was reluctant to take the plunge and completely cover my gray. I actually had reverse highlighting, in which strands of my hair were pulled through a perforated cap and dyed brown. Finally, my hairdresser persuaded me to get all over color.

My white roots become obvious 4 weeks after I get my hair colored. I decided to try out TouchBack to see how well it works. I color my hair dark brown. As the hair for the models with dark brown hair on the web site looked darker than mine, I tried TouchBack in Medium Brown. The web site recommends that if you are between colors, choose the lighter color. Maybe Dark Brown would have been the better choice: the changeover from TouchBack in Medium Brown to my permanent hair color was not seamless.

TouchBack comes with a fine-tooth comb that can be used as a skin shield at the temples and hairline; however, to make it work, you need to have significant regrowth. Given the small amount of regrowth (between 1/4″ and 1/2″) I had, it was difficult to cover the white hairs at the hairline without smudging. I used a rattail comb to lift a section of my hair (on the part) and apply TouchBack just shy of the scalp to prevent smudging. It minimized the appearance of white roots, and is a temporary fix until you apply permanent color.

TouchBack is easier to use than Joan Rivers Beauty Great Hair Day™, which I reviewed in 2009. A makeup artist at Soft Surroundings in St. Louis did an excellent job of applying Joan Rivers Beauty Great Hair Day™ to mask the white roots and thin spots on my head, but it is too much effort to do at home.

You may purchase TouchBack through its website, Sally Beauty Supply, or Beauty.com.

The fine print: The PR firm representing TouchBack provided me with a sample of  TouchBack in Medium Brown.

Lipstick tips

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I have a couple of MAC lipsticks – Plum and Bourbon from the limited edition Beauty Icon 3 collection – Catherine Deneuve.  These lipsticks are demi-matte in their finish and have a tendency to “grab” and not apply smoothly.  I remedied this problem by applying face primer to my lips – it gives “glide” to the application.

When applying lipstick, I finish by swiping lipstick inside my lower lip for a polished look.  It also makes lips look fuller.