FACEing makeup classes, Cincinnati/Starter makeup for tweens

Today on Facebook, one of my friends asked me for help; her twelve year old daughter wants makeup for Christmas and she doesn't know where to turn. Her well meaning friends suggested lessons Sephora, Bare Minerals, and Clinique. Well, $50 or even $75 doesn't go very far at any of those stores, and as far as the lessons go, it's a bit of a crapshoot. You don't know if you're lucking out with a super knowledgable and talented artist, or a newbie without a clue.
I just so happen to have an eleven year old daughter, (who does not wear makeup at all.)
She reports that some girls are really dabbling in makeup. She and her twin brother are seeing LOTS of black rimmed eyes (yikes) and heavy foundation on a couple girls who are already seeing breakouts and are attempting to camouflage.
Now I know a lot of people will say that girls this age should not be wearing makeup at all and I can fully respect that opinion. I want Ella to stay a little girl as long as humanly possible, duh.
But when she is ready to wear it, I don't want her looking a fool. (Gotta represent,yo)
I am already teaching her proper skincare habits because no amount of makeup in the world will look good if your skin isn't on point. (If only I had known at her age what I know now) I have Ella using my Clarisonic (she has her own brush) to cleanse her face with my Peaches cleanser every night, and I do a mask with Milk of Magnesia on her before she goes to bed, probably about 2X a week. You will not believe what that will do for acnaic skin. Seriously amazing. A shoutout to my girls at Peaches for turning me on to it.
So I grabbed my girl, armed with a fistful of my drugstore faves, and gave her an age appropriate and fun makeover. I am of the mind that there is a relatively small window of opportunity to wear bright neon colors, and if you can't do it at eleven, then when?
before:

after:

I used a creamy eyeshadow stick all from lash to brow, just to give it a shimmery glow. Then i used the clear mascara to tame her brows a bit. A little bit of the neon purple liner and purple mascara made her green eyes pop like crazy without making her look too made up. (Maybelline makes this mascara in teal, burgundy, and cobalt as well)
I used a teeny dab of the Garnier concealer (my favorite product EVER for any age) under her eyes and on a little blemish near her brow. A little bronzer and blush to warm her up and my own branded lipgloss in TWSS (that's what she said)
You can grab all of this for right around 50 bucks.
We do teach FACEing junior classes to tweens and teens, getting them on the right track with their skincare regime and what is worth spending money on (and what isn't) We do mother/ tween daughter classes (which are $100) or groups of up to six tween friends for $35 each.

tween beauty by nannobanan featuring a creased eyeshadow

Garnier beauty product
target.com

Cheek bronzer
soap.com

Creased eyeshadow
neutrogena.com

COVERGIRL Professional Natural Lash No Color Mascara Clear Neutral 800...
pgestore.com

REVIEW:ROC Retinol Correction wrinkle resurfacing system

I have been hearing great buzz about ROC for quite some time now and saw this product very positively reviewed on the Today show, so I thought I would give it a go.
For anyone who has used the purest form of Retin A, you know that it is effective, but it is also A)expensive and B)highly irritating to the skin
Same goes for glycolic peels. They are around $100 a session and two-three days later you start molting. All your skin peels off in sheets and you usually also break out since your skin is "purging" itself. Not terribly attractive!
So what's a girl to do if she wants a more even skintone, more smoothness, fewer fine lines...but is on a budget and doesn't want to be unsightly in the process?

This two step night treatment claims to give the same effect that peels do, only more gradually and more gently. I have been using it about two weeks now and my initial reaction was to the high quality feel of the product. My years of high end retail have made me quite the texture snob, and generally when i use a drugstore moisturizer, I am very put off by the cheap scents and the formulations don't seem to absorb very readily into the skin. This product felt expensive to me right away. The first step is the retinol lotion and the second is billed as an "activator". It has a very silicone-y, primer type texture that gives you that instant gratification of a smother look to your skin. I found that a bit gimmicky for a night cream but at the same time I admit I liked it.

I am a pretty tough critic when it comes to skincare. I wasn't blessed with "good" skin and really have to work at it constantly to keep breakouts at bay, even now. But I can honestly say that after four days on this system I started getting compliments from girlfriends. I went to breakfast with no foundation on at all and one of my makeup artist friends demanded to know what I was using. This NEVER happens to me.
As I continued to use it I saw an increase in smoothness and just better clarity; less dullness.
I would HIGHLY recommend this to a bride who wants to improve her skin for the wedding but is afraid of anything drastic that could make her face look worse before it gets better. And the price point is right around $26 so you cannot beat the value, considering its effectiveness!
Let me know what you think if you purchase this; I would love to know!

BB Creams; What is the hype about?-Richmond VA Makeup Artist Aaron

So BB creams have been getting a lot of press lately. With that press seems to come a lot of confusion from the consumer. So let's take a minute to find out what a BB cream is about and if it is worth all the hype.

First, BB stands for "Beauty Balm" or "Blemish Balm". It really became popular in East and Southeast Asia during the 80's but was originally formulated in the 1950's to be used after surgery or laser procedures. The reason for their popularity in Asia was the fact that the product was a great multi-tasker. There are tons of formulas on the market, many touting anti-inflamatory or soothing properties. The ones that you will find in US stores generally combine the following benefits: a skin prep (think primer), light weight coverage (think tinted moisturizer), hydration (think light weight skincare), and anti-ageing protection (think SPF and antioxidants). Now some of the formulas are heavier on one benefit and lighter on the other, so you need to do a little research to find out which is best for you.

Even though BB creams have not been available in the US for many years, they have flooded the market and have people flocking to stores like drag queens to a foam padding sale! Clinique, Smashbox, Stila, Dr. Jart, Garnier, Maybelline, Too Faced, Estee Lauder, and Boscia are just a few of the ones out there now. The price range on these is anywhere from $12 to $40.

Now Dr. Oz raves about the Boscia one and it has a good amount of skin care properties to it. However, it is only one shade, but can read the skin to mimic your tone. I think if you have some olive tone you are OK but otherwise this one is better as a skincare product. Many makeup artists like ones from lines like Smashbox and Too Faced as they have more coverage to them and more shades to choose from. This is why you have to pay attention to ingredients and color options. Do you want one that offers a lot of hydration, or do you want one to give you nice coverage. The best way to find the one that works for you is to try one out. If you love it great! If not, pass it on to a friend or family member and try another one.

In my experience (but note, I have not tried all of them) I really like the products but do think they have some limitations. If you are on the dry side, or it is in the Winter months, I don't think they offer enough moisture and you probably would still need a moisturizer under the BB cream. But, right now (in these crazy warm Summer months) if you are normal or oily, you can probably get by using it without a separate moisturizer.

Secondly, be aware of ones that have an SPF of 50 or more. Most doctors and dermatologists agree that once you get that high of a number, the product is really no more effective (30-45 are great numbers to look for).

Thirdly, many of the BB creams will have ingredients to help make the tone and texture of the skin more even and smooth. This is often done with light reflecting agents. That may translate to "shimmer" or "sparkle". So, if you are putting a bronzer on top, you might want to try a matte bronzer instead of one with more shimmer. Remember "disco balls" are fun but can date you too!

If you are someone who requires a heavier coverage, this may not be the one and only product for you. However, it is a great way to "refresh" your SPF as most BB creams can go on over traditional foundation if you desire.

So in closing, my opinion is I like BB creams, but for the right person and the right time of year. I think they are worth the hype, as long as you are realistic about they payoff. When you need to lighten up a bit, this is a perfect product, but I don't think I would use it alone as we head into late Fall or Winter. I do think you should check one out, especially now as Summer is beating down on us. With this new phenomenon I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave me or Nancy a message on our Facebook pages (BRIDEface Richmond or BRIDEface) if you have tried one. Share your experience so others can benefit!!

BRIDEface makeup artists/Pore Pitiful Me

I put out a plea on Facebook the other day to have my friends give me their most pressing makeup questions. At least three people complained about large pores and minimizing their appearance.
Firstly, large pores can appear larger when they are clogged, so this issue begins with skincare. Regular facials will keep pores clear, as will cleansing daily with a Clarisonic. Pores also can appear larger as we age; due to diminishing collagen the pores appear "stretched".
I swear by primers to fill in any textural irregularities; think of it as your spackle. The primer prevents your foundation from sitting in those crevices, and instead it will glide over the top.
My favorites are Laura Mercier (try her oil free since large pores can go hand in hand with oily skin), Avon Majix,  Hard Candy, and Porefessional by Benefit.
On the areas of my face that have large pores and/or acne scarring, I use more of a "stippling" or "pouncing" technique with my sponge to apply my foundation.  I then follow with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage with a small brush to fill any imperfections still visible. Lastly, I use a powder puff with translucent powder-this will set the makeup, and make the texture appear smoother. When I am going for even more perfection, I dust Laura Mercier invisible powder on top; it blurs imperfections like you wouldn't believe.

pore perfectors by nannobanan on polyvore.com

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage SC-2
$28 - sephora.com

Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder
$34 - bloomingdales.com

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
$30 - bergdorfgoodman.com

Walmart.com: Search Results for "hard candy"
$8 - walmart.com

Sponges & Puffs | Laura Mercier
$12 - lauramercier.com

Powder | Laura Mercier
$34 - lauramercier.com

the porefessional : Benefit Cosmetics
£24 - benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Cold weather skin tips from Rachel!

Well ladies, it's that time of year again...the leaves are changing, it's getting colder out, and most of you may be noticing a change in your skin. Cincinnati weather is notorious for drying out even the most glowing of faces. Not only can this be uncomfortable, but it also highlights more wrinkles and imperfections (egads!). Time to shake up your skincare routine!

First and foremost, make sure you are exfoliating on a daily basis. This will allow any product you use to get more fully absorbed, and you'll truly get more bang for your buck out of your skincare routine. I, along with many a dermatologist, recommend the Clarisonic, an electronic brush that will do all of the heavy lifting for you. When choosing one for their huge selection, go for the Mia...it's a little bit smaller than the original, but has the same purpose as the original, and is much cheaper. You can find a huge array of colors at www.sephora.com. , and they have free shipping on any order over $50.

Next, consider a serum. This is great for anyone who has concerns about aging (and that's almost everyone I know). Using a serum before you moisturize will allow you to use less of your precious moisturizer with the same results. Imagine this: your skin is a sponge. If you try to use a dry sponge to soak up water, it won't grab nearly as much as an already moist sponge. Plus, a good serum will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and who doesn't like that? I have been using and LOVE the Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector with amazing results. It has literally staved me off from Botox, it's that good, and they actually guarantee it. It's not your teenage daughter's skincare anymore, ladies, they have really stepped up their game. It retails for $44.50, which is a steal considering how long a bottle will last you, and what comparable products cost. Available anywhere Clinique is sold.

For your moisturizer, thing get a little trickier, depending on your skin type and your budget. If you have dry/very dry skin, my favorite moisturizer in the universe is Creme de La Mer. It is thick, creamy and soothing, full of all-natural ingredients, and Jennifer Lopez is rumored to use it as a full body moisturizer to give her skin that glow that seems to come from within. If I had her money, I would,too! Once you use it, you'll be sold, but all of this yummy goodness comes at a price- LaMer reatails for $135, available at Nordstrom. For a more wallet-friendly option, try L'oreal's Golden Balm, available at drugstores everywhere, for around $20. It's fortified with calcium and 10 different oils to nourish dryer, more mature skin.

For normal skin, I have a few options that I love to use on my makeup clients. I personally love the Embryolisse 23000 Lait-Creme Concentrate. This is a great medium-weight moisturizer that also pulls double duty as a makeup primer, and makeup artists everywhere swear by it for almost all skin types. It is also frangrance-free, which I like. Who wants a face that smells like flowers,especially when added fragrances can actually be drying to the skin. Your face will drink it in! Find it at www.camerareadycosmetics.com, prices vary by size. My second pick is Old Faithful, Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. There's really nothing dramatic or different about it, but it does exactly what it says. It moisturizes and plumps up skin without leaving a greasy feel or residue and the price is great! $13 for a good moisturizer? I'm sold!

Now, if you have oily skin, don't think you're off the hook here. Did you know that neglecting to moisturize oily skin can actually cause you skin to freak out and over-produce MORE oil? Probably the last thing you want. Try the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer for combination skin. It's lightweight formula will give you good oil-control, while moisturizing normal to dry areas. $10 at drugstores everywhere.

Lastly, and possibly the most important component of all- Sunscreen! Just because it may seem dark and dreary, don't ever leave your house without it, unless you're just dying for some dark spots and wrinkles to compliment your new winter wardrobe. I like the Murad Oil-Free Sunblock SPF 30 for all skin types..it's oil free and fragrance free, and from the masters of great skincare. $31 at sephora.com. Also if you want a product that will pull double duty, try the MAC Prep and Prime SPF 50. It blocks out the sun's nasty rays while filling in fine lines and wrinkles to make your skin a smooth canvas before applying any makeup. $30 wherever you find MAC cosmetics.

There you are, your winter skincare breakdown....remember, your face is the first thing that people will notice about you, so make the effort and investment that it deserves. As your makeup artists, we beg you, please take care of your skin- after all, we can only cover color, not texture!

-Rachel Lisa

--image, Steph Carson

stymied by eye cream choices?

http://tinyurl.com/df5bh9

I thought this review of eye creams was very comprehensive.

A friend bought Youthology and swears by it; says it makes her look 12 years old. I plan to try hers first before I shell out for it. Will let you know!

quick skincare rec

I have been seeing an awful lot of dehydrated, dull skin on my clients lately so I thought I would dash off a quick endorsement for St Ives microderm scrub. It is inexpensive and has fine little granules that won't scratch you skin, unlike the chunky stuff they have in their apricot scrub; too harsh.
Throw this in your shower and use it every other day. You will find your moisturizer will work much more effectively and the glow will come back to your skin. (If you are actively breaking out though, steer clear; exfoliating can aggravate that and spread the bacteria even further.)
I know an amazing esthetician who advocates mixing sugar with olive oil for a great exfoliant. It is wonderful but makes a heck of a mess in your shower and sink!

Product rave; Patricia Wexler Skincare

I commiserate with so many clients regarding adult acne and I have suffered from breakouts for so many years now that the zits and wrinkles have been pretty much duking it out. I worked for Saks for nearly ten years and saw many high end skincare lines come out with pricey products targeted to oily and combination skintypes, but in general they were either extremely overdrying and geared to teenage skin, or they simply didn't have enough active ingredients to effect much of a change. I spent my whole tenure in retail being frustrated at the lack of understanding of breakout prone adult skin. Tried the whole Pro-Activ thing, watched it basically tear my face up, and remained jealous of all those millions of people whose lives were apparently altered by it.

Since I have been studying esthetics, I am a bit more educated on cosmetic chemistry, ingredients, and basic anatomy. Big cosmetic companies spend a lot of money on trainers,but they don't always tell the whole truth when it comes to ingredients.

For those of you not familiar with Patricia Wexler, she has been THE dermatologist to the stars for about two decades. She is frequently quoted in skincare articles in all the major mags and is generally regarded as a Guru of Skin.

She now has a product line which is carried by Bath and Body Works (Don't you love the trend of these superstars slumming at "real" retailers?Alert:that was NOT sarcasm)so I took a chance on her introductory anti-acne kit after researching it online. Unlike most popular anti-acne lines(Pro-Activ) this line is adamant about anti-aging as well. Wexler points out that at any age, our skin is "aging"and harsh products only hasten that. The active ingredients boost cell turnover, which of course slows down increasingly as we age; and has technology (MMPi) that combats that slowdown of repair (think about how quickly a little kid's booboo heals as opposed to an elderly person's)

Okay, getting long winded here!

So, the first thing is, this is a very luxurious *feeling* product to be "anti-acne". I am extremely turned off any medicinal smelling lotions, as am I equally repulsed by overly scented ones. With this, I don't *feel* as if I'm using an anti-acne product-the oil free hydrator has fabulous glide over the skin, the serum glides on; the packaging is magnificent,

But best of all-? Wait for it-two girlfriends-BOTH makeup artists, so, unusually observant-asked-"What are you using? Your skin looks great!". And really? Isn't that all that really matters?

most recommended product

The majority of my clients are in their twenties and are coasting along on their pretty much problem-free skin, not stressing too much about skincare routines or facials. And none of them ever are using eye creams; most women wait until they see their first line and freak out and purchase every anti-wrinkle product they can find.
But I do see a very large percentage of young brides with pretty signifigant darkness under the eyes, and this is often caused by dehydration. To avoid having to use too much concealer under the eye to cover this, I always urge them to buy a good basic eye cream. Kiehls makes some great mid-priced ones, I also love Clinique All About Eyes and Philosophy Hope In a Tube.If dark circles are really pronounced(either hereditary, you smoke, you don't get enough sleep, or you suffer from allergies) look for vitamin K in the eye moisturizer you choose. Also be sure to drink enough water; that should help your circles well.
Try to get on some type of skincare regimen a few months before the wedding. I had a bride a couple weeks ago who was investing in regular facials and her skin was so radiant and glowy, she hardly even needed foundation at all. (And how nice would it be to totally forgo makeup on the honeymoon?) If you are on a budget, check out a beauty school near you-you wouldn't believe how inexpensively you can get facial treatments. A series of eight glycolic peels(very good for acne, sun damage, acne scarring, and just improved clarity) or microdermabrasion is about $180 at the school I attend, and most spas charge about $100 per service.