I first met Lauren Friedman of My Closet in Sketches at LuckyFABB last fall in New York and we immediately bonded when we discovered we’re both from the District. Lauren has been on my AM to PM hit list for a while so I was thrilled when she agreed to let me snoop through her beauty routine. Lauren has been sketching clothes in the margins of her notebooks since she could hold a pencil so instead of your typical makeup snapshot, Lauren offered to sketch her favorite makeup products. Talk about bringing beauty to life! Her work is just phenomenal (you may have seen her work in the pages of Lucky) and now you can shop her growing assortment of postcards and art. The talented sketch artist and blogger dishes on why using three mascaras are better than one (totally agree!), her top-notch beauty tips and tricks and her sincere appreciation for her own beauty guru.
I’ve always enjoyed keeping up with new online businesses and entrepreneurs in the District. Case in point: Stephanie Olvey, a former Living Social employee that left the corporate world to launch her own business, Fortique. Stephanie came up with a stellar idea: an online marketplace for creative entrepreneurs to sell services (think personal styling, photography, interior design, event planning, among other like jobs). How cool is that?
When Stephanie reached out to me proclaiming her love for all things beauty and my blog, I was supremely flattered and impressed with her growing knowledge of makeup (she has a Birchbox subscription to prove it!). The drugstore beauty junkie says she likes to splurge on select products but she’s dedicated her life to “discovering affordable beauty treasures.” From frequent salon visits to her simple skincare routine, Stephanie divulges about her daily beauty regimen.
Her AM routine: “I start my routine by washing my face and lightly exfoliating (2-3 times a week) while in the shower (the steam makes it feel like a facial!). I avoid drying my face to keep it moisturized and add a dollop of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. I have dry skin, and it worked for my Grandmother! I follow that up with some eye serum and a light SPF 15 moisturizer.”
Skincare essentials: “Cetaphil, Cetaphil, Cetaphil! I use it for cleansing and light or heavy moisturizing. I also use Garnier 3 in 1 Wash, Scrub, and Mask, and VMV Hypoallergenics Re-Everything Eye Serum.”
Currently in your makeup bag: “Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, Wet-n-Wild Eyeshadow from CVS, Maybelline One by One Volum’ Express Mascara, and theBalm Hot Mama Blush. All of this lives in my Vera Bradley Travel Cosmetic bag.”
Current obsession: “SensatioNail home shellac kit! I used to pay to keep my nails shiny and polished, but now I do it myself. If you have a steady hand and the patience to remove the polish yourself, it’s totally worth it. Now I have friends and family asking me to do their nails.”
Her beauty mantra: “Listen to your mother. When she tells you to drink water and wear sunscreen, it’s probably because she wishes she did when she was your age.”
Favorite go-to salons in the area: “I’m a hair nut. I see my hair stylist Dan at Silk Salon & Spa in Clarendon every five weeks to make sure my color and cut is just right. Perhaps that’s why I had to start doing my own nails.”
Her PM routine: ”I don’t do well with nighttime routines, so I keep it simple with generic-brand makeup remover wipes. I foIlow that with another dollop of Cetaphil, and I’m ready for bed!
Summer hair routine: “I have thick and frizzy hair that can’t decide if it wants to be curly or straight. Growing up in humid Florida, though, I learned a few secrets. During the spring/summer, I like to curl my hair with my Sedu straightening iron in fairly tight curls, spray them with anti-humidity spray, and let them drop into loose curls and eventually beachy waves. The ceramic iron keeps the hair smooth, and the curls keep my hair from doubling in size from the humidity.”
Best makeup application secret: “Beautyblender sponges! I love the contours for applying foundation around the eyes and nose, and it makes makeup look airbrushed.”
I feel naked when I’m not wearing… ”MASCARA! I have blonde/invisible eyelashes.”
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.”
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