I have some serious hair envy when it comes to the style savvy blogger behind Miss Lyle Style, Cheralee Lyle. Every time I see her out and about in the city, her makeup and hair looks flawless. From quick makeup application tips to can’t-live-without drugstore buys, the South African beauty shares with us her summer beauty routine.
Cheralee’s beauty mantra: “Beauty is being the best possible version of yourself”
Her AM and PM routine: “I love the simplicity Kiehl’s products. I use the Ultra Facial Cleanser and Ultra Facial Cream first, followed by Neutrogena Oil Free Face Sunscreen (very important!).”
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dominque Vu invades my GMail inbox, dishing on the latest shopping, deals, style and beauty tips in the District. She actually invades many Washingtonian’s inboxes, except you wouldn’t know it. That’s because she’s the editor and producer of DC Scout, The Washington Post’s twice-weekly newsletter. I first met Dominique at a beauty event at Neiman Marcus (go figure) and needless to say, it didn’t take but a quick introduction at the Jo Malone counter before we bonded over our love for high-end beauty products.
Today, Dominique chats about her fab morning skincare routine, why she’s been wearing the same nail color for a whole month and her love for Le Metier de Beaute.
Dominique’s AM routine: “I start by washing my face with Shiseido The Skincare Purifying Cleansing Foam. Once my face is clean, I gently place my face in an ice water bath for 30 seconds. Then I apply Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-Nourishing Softener followed by Shiseido The Skincare Day Moisture Protection. I don’t wear any foundation or primer unless I’m going out. In that case, I’ll use Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment. I finish my morning routine with Rhoto eye drops and Kiehl’s Eye-puffer to wake me up. The combo of the two saves my life every morning.”
Skincare essentials: “GlamGlow Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask. It makes my face feel soft and adds a healthy glow. Also, my Clarisonic Mia for weekly exfoliation.”
Currently in her makeup bag: “In my makeup bag is Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Pink Chocolate, Clinique True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer and DiorShow Mascara. My current makeup bag is Trina Turk for Clinique from a few years back.”
Dominique’s hair routine: “Since I have a short angled bob, I must do a straight blowout every morning to give my hair volume and shape. As the weather heats up, I’ll just pop a mini-poof and tie my hair in a ponytail.”
Her beauty mantra: “Makeup should enhance your natural look not overpower it. Also, just because it’s a beauty trend, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Stay true to what looks good for you.”
Favorite go-to salons in the area: “Drybar for Mai Tai blowouts. I haven’t yet mastered curling my own hair.”
Your PM routine: “I remove the day’s make up with Le Metier De Beaute Duel-Action Makeup Remover. Then like my AM routine, I wash my face with Shiseido The Skincare Purifying Cleansing Foam followed by applying Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-Nourishing Softener. I finish with Shiseido The Skincare Night Moisture Recharge and Natura Bisse NB Ceautical Eye Recovery Balm.”
I have been extremely lucky to have some pretty cool bosses in my career so far (except for one, who was evil…but we’ll save that for another blog post). Meet Rebecca Bredholt, marketing consultant, manager at Vocus, a cloud marketing and PR software company in Beltsville, who also happens to be my current boss. I never have to worry about Rebecca catching me browsing websites like Sephora and Refinery29, because chances are she is too (now let’s hope her boss isn’t reading this). Today, Rebecca dishes on her spring beauty routine, her extreme obsession with lip gloss and her love for shellacking.
Her AM routine: “Skinceuticals Simply Clean Face Wash, Body Shop Tea Tree Toner, Skinceuticals B5, Bliss anti-aging moisture lotion, SPF 30, and Clarins Self Tanner.”
Currently in her makeup bag: “Maybelline Modern Metallics eyeshadow, Dior Foundation, Clinique lipstick, and Lancôme mascara.”
Mani or Pedi? “My toenails are always painted red or a fun pink in summer, and no polish in winter to give them a break. It’s the opposite for my nails. No color in summer. However, ever since giving birth I’ve lost the strong, hard nail bed I’ve always had so last week a manicurist talked me into this shellacking business, which has been great so far if you can afford it and find a color you can live with for two or three weeks before you have to get them maintained again. Great time saver for those of us who don’t have time to think about nails and want them perfect all the time.
Skincare essentials: “Moisturizer, deep mud masks and SPF.”
Current obsession: “I’ve always been obsessed with lip gloss. My favorites were from Victoria’s Secret, but they’ve discontinued them so I’m in search again. Plus now that my hair is light (blonde highlights) it washes me out and I need color on my lips to bring my face back into the picture.”
Spring hair routine: “Cut it or let it grow. I use Redken Buttercream once a week or Ojai treatments.”
Favorite on-the-go products: “Bronzers, because if I don’t look dead I don’t look half bad. And lip gloss. Must always have lip gloss. I had it in the delivery room with me when my son was born… that and a diet coke.
Favorite go-to salons in the area: “There is only Yana! She’s at Smitten and you can’t have her.”
Her PM routine: “Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes, Skinceuticals, Body Shop Tea Tree Toner, Alpha hydrox Aha Soufflé, Skinceuticals night cream and retinol 1.0 percent around eyes.”
Rebecca’s beauty mantra: “Inside out. Eat healthy, drink lots of water, take care of your teeth and eyes, and try to forget about your oily T-zone that no product will fix.”
Before I started blogging about beauty, my Google Reader (RIP) was infiltrated with a bevy of blogs that I read on a daily basis (and ultimately what inspired me to create my own), including The Glossarie, a long-time running beauty blog penned by Lara Ramos. Lara and I bonded over our love for testing beauty products (go figure) over the course of many coffee dates at Starbucks, not to mention she was so supportive and a great friend I could vent to when I was unemployed (::tear:: I will never forget that).
Today, my beauty blog twin dishes on her daily beauty routine, how she manages her gorgeous natural curls and her favorite salons in the DMV.
Lara’s AM routine: “Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser followed by Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer- simple simple! Since it’s spring, I normally skip primer and opt for a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. Then I just spot conceal any acne marks to keep coverage light and natural.”
Lara’s skincare essentials: “I mix and match and change things up fairly often, but the brands that never let me down are Simple, Mario Badescu, Kiehl’s and Somme Institute. My skin is fair, sensitive and acne-prone so anything that offers gentle chemical exfoliation, oil-free hydration or SPF is probably in my medicine cabinet.”
Her spring hair routine: “I have natural curls that I blow dry straight every other day. I cycle through several spray volumizers from Living Proof, Rusk, and Verb. I really only need something to protect my hair from heat since my curls kind of gave up long ago! If I do wear it curly, I go for a salt spray like Bumble and Bumble Surf or Davines No. 14.”
Currently in her makeup bag: “Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer, Make Blush in Vegas, NYX Are You DeprEYEved of… Mascara, Benefit Eye Bright, YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in Succulent Pomegranate.”
Favorite salons in the District: “I go to Kevin at Progressions in Rockville for my cuts—he is a genius. People are constantly asking me if I’ve just had my hair cut, even when I’m desperately due for one! He cuts my hair in a way so that it grows out really nicely.
The Sephora in Reston Town Center sees my face more times a week than I would like to admit. I also love Bluemercury in Bethesda and Bellacara in Old Town.
For manicures and pedicures, I have a go-to hole in the wall in Herndon called LA Nails. Their non-gel manicures last for two weeks and their $10 eyebrow waxes are magical.
For the occasional blowout, I like Flow in Reston. The team is so upbeat and happy, you can’t help but leave there smiling and looking like a million bucks.”
Lara’s PM routine: “Mario Badescu Orange Cleansing Soap followed by Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner (a must for keeping my acne-prone skin in check). If I’m feeling dry (or if I’m traveling), I smooth on Simple’s Vital Vitamin Night Cream. To treat pimples, I have actually been using Neosporin! It’s the only thing that doesn’t seem to make them angrier and actually reduces them by morning, making them much easier to cover. I finish up with L’Occitane Precious Eye Balm and Aquaphor on lips.”
Beauty mantra: “Less is more.”
Current obsession: “My brows! I’m working on growing them out so I have locked my tweezers away and I haven’t waxed them in way too long. It’s torture! The combination of Anastasia’s Brow Enhancing Serum and Brow Wiz are keeping me sane.”
Belle of Capitol Hill Style isn’t your typical style blogger. She’s brutally honest, fashionably practical and snarky. Her blog revolves around fashion and beauty for professional women, and simply put, she knows her stuff! Whether I’m on the hunt for outfit ideas or in the mood for a good laugh (her series “Faux Pas” speaks the truth), Belle’s blog is my go-to. This week, the DC sophisticate dishes on her favorite beauty products, tips on covering blemishes and why you should skip the French manicure.
Belle’s AM routine: “When I wake up, I give my face a quick swipe with Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion 2. Then, I layer on Skinceuticals Blemish and Age Defense, Ole Henriksen Blemish Attack Defense Gel and Ole Henriksen Express the Truth moisturizer.”
In Belle’s makeup bag: “I use Clinique’s BB cream, Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage and Mineral Powder, Bobbi Brown blush in pale pink and ybf Eyebrow Pencil. I also like Stila’s Oasis eye shadow.”
Belle’s beauty tip: “When covering acne, it’s all about the brush you use to apply concealer. The Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage brush is like an acne covering lazer.”
Belle’s PM routine: “In the evening, I remove my makeup with Say Yes to Blueberries wipes and wash my face with my Clarisonic and their clarifying face wash for acne prone skin. I use iS Clinical Active Serum, Renee Rouleau cystic acne gel, Ole Henriksen See the Difference Serum and Ole Henriksen Express the Truth moisturizer. I also use Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye.”
Local salon favorites: “Eden at Bang in Chinatown trims my hair, she does a solid job. I go to Drybar for blowouts on occasion. But I’m a big believer in doing my own nails and spa treatments to save money.”
Belle’s beauty mantra: “Natural-looking and subtle is usually best. Don’t over-pluck your eyebrows. Don’t overdo the spray tan. Don’t push the hair color into unnatural territory. Skip the French manicure.”
Tweet
