AM to PM with Sara from High Fashion 4 Less

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“When it comes to beauty I’m no expert but I know what works best for my skin (after years and years of trial and error of course). I like to keep my beauty routine fairly simple and quick, especially since I have such a busy schedule. As a full time real estate specialist, part-time grad student, and blogger I try to simplify every aspect of my life– including my beauty routine.

My beauty mantra has always been less is more. When it comes to day-time make-up I try to keep it light and simple and for a night out with the girls I love a good smokey eye (using Urban Decay’s Naked Palette of course). Most importantly always take care of your skin by investing in the right products and services. Rather than buying that trendy piece of clothing that you might get sick of in a few weeks, make an appointment for a facial or a good hair protein treatment instead.

My routine pretty much consists of washing my face with Mario Badescu’s Glycolic Foaming Cleanser. It helps keep your skin looking radiant and alive. It rejuvenates skin and gets rid of dead skin cells. Moisturizing with Decleor Hydra Floral Hydrating Fresh Emulsion. I live by this face cream. It’s a little on the expensive side but worth every penny. It reduces my pore size and makes my skin feel SO smooth and soft. Not to mention, I love the way it smells. Using eye cream in the morning, also by Decleor. This one my by far my favorite and helps reduce the appearance of dark circles. It also has a cooling effect when you apply, so I love that it can wake me up a little in the morning too. Mixing Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer with a highlighter (Nars Illuminator Orgasm). After, I apply under-eye concealer, which is my SECRET weapon for hiding those dark under eye circles. I finish and seal the look with powder (I have been using Smashbox’s Halo Powder for years). It doesn’t make my skin oily and best of all it reduces the appearance of wrinkles. My go-to blush is Maybelline’s Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Frosting. It’s super affordable and the pinky/flushed glow it gives is just too cute to pass up. A little Revlon Liquid Eye Liner Pen and Tart mascara and I’m good to go. At night, I use Simple Cleansing Facial Swipes (they are the best and also take off eye make up so easily!!!), and yes I get lazy at night and hate washing my face.

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In Hairstylists We Trust: Q&A with Drybar Founder Alli Webb

For the past last couple of years, I’ve been facing a constant hair dilemma before every business meeting, date night or special event. Trying to choose between trekking in to the city for an expensive blowout or scheduling an appointment with an unknown stylist at a never-been-to cheap hair salon nearby, in hopes they can accomplish the style that I’m looking for. Needless to say those options left me broke with a botched dry style. Lucky for me (and the entire Metropolitan area), my hairstyle fears and wallet problems have subsided thanks to the newly opened Drybar in Bethesda. Before I embarked on my first (and definitely not last) blowdry, I had a chance to chat with Alli Webb, the genius behind the cool new hair salon concept.

Tell us about how you came up with the concept behind Drybar.
Alli Webb: “Well first and foremost, I’ve always been a blowout junkie. I’ve been a stylist for 15 years and not long after, I got married and had kids and thought I was going to be a stay-at-home mom. As much as I love my kids, I missed being out there. So I started a mobile blow dry business. My husband helped me with the website and created a page and that’s where I started posting on this little “Mommy blog,” which led me to getting all this business. What I was learning from my clients was they struggled with the same situation, when I couldn’t come to their house—like go to their salon and pay $70 or $80 for a blowout or go to a discount chain salon and you don’t know what you’re getting and experience is off. There wasn’t a place to go for a great blowout for a great price. I just had a vision in my head with an atmosphere that was fun and social.”

Why was DC next on your list?
AW: “Well we started in L.A. and we’re all throughout northern California, then naturally NYC was next. And what started happening as our presence started to grow, we were getting so many requests to come to D.C. on Twitter and social media. This was our most requested city, hands down. It’s a cool metropolitan city.”

What are some tips for maintaining a great blowout after visiting the Drybar?
AW: “Make sure you don’t go to the gym [laughs]. The Drybar has a Shower Cap for the morning after ($15). Dry shampoo is great. If it’s three or four days in and your hair looks dirty, try blow drying just the front part to help refresh your look.”

Any beauty products you’re loving right now?
“It’s always changing! Right now I’m obsessed with MAC glitter. I like anything that’s sparkly and shimmery. As far as hair products, the Style Winder, a modern version of a curling iron to help achieve that messy, beachy waves look.”

Drybar, 4840 Bethesda Ave., 240-483-4277; 1825 Wisconsin Ave., NW 202-609-8644; thedrybar.com

TINte Cosmetics & Giveaway!

One of my favorite things about covering backstage beauty at New York Fashion Week is hands down, meeting the heavy hitters of beauty: the people behind the makeup. One of those heavy hitters was TINte Cosmetics Creator Stacy Reid. I was first introduced to her makeup line backstage at the W118 by Walter Baker presentation and I’ve been in love with her brand ever since. Here, the TINTe founder reminisces about her favorite beauty memories, the inspiration for the sweet cosmetics line and what she’ll never leave home without. Plus, read on to find out how you can win some TINte beauty products!

For those who aren’t familiar with TINte, tell us about the line.
TINte Cosmetics is a vintage inspired color cosmetics line based on simpler times and sweet memories. The inspiration behind the line was my very first lip gloss I had when I was about 7 years old. This amazing flavored lip gloss came in a little slider tin, just like what we offer now. I collected all these fun, delicious flavors like bubble gum, root beer, peach, and Dr. Pepper. It was these sweet memories that gave me the inspiration to create a nostalgic line that’s fun yet sophisticated for the woman of today.

You’ve worked in the fashion and beauty industry for over 20 years, what inspired you to create this cosmetics line?
I use to suffer from extremely chapped lips. I could never find a lip gloss that could moisturize and heal my lips, and taste good. I would find an amazing color that looked great but had a waxy or perfumed taste. From this need TINte’s Flavored lip glosses enriched with Shea Butter were created. They heal, soothe and nourish dry chapped lips, restoring them to back to soft kissable lips.

What are some other favorite beauty products of yours?
One item you’ll always find in my handbag is L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. (I am obsessed with Shea Butter, as you may have noticed). Another product I can’t live without is YSL’s Faux Cils Mascara. This mascara gives your lashes a huge boost and yet still looks very natural.

Any makeup tips and tricks you can share with us?
1. I love to play up my top and bottom lashes. When applying mascara, I not only coat the front of my lashes but the back as well. This helps to make them look longer, thicker and really stand out!
2. I love to highlight the top of my cheekbones to add a soft glow to the skin. You can use a shimmer powder like one of our Shimmering Face Pearls to achieve this look. Start at the end of your brow bone and create a little “V” shape to the top of your cheekbone.

Thanks to TINte Cosmetics, we’re giving away TINte’s Natural Beauty Match Book Kit, Shimmering Face Pearl and Mynt flavored lip gloss (all used backstage at New York Fashion Week) to three lucky readers. Contest ends next Wednesday at 12:01 EST.

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Interested in being a Beauty Insider for TINte Cosmetics? TINte’s Beauty Insider opportunity allows women to become independent beauty consultants by starting their own TINte beauty business! Insiders simply share and sell our products to friends and family through in-home parties and events. TINte’s $99 starter kit includes everything you need to get your business up and running. Once you become an exclusive Beauty Insider you will receive special discounts, sneak peaks and even have input on new product launches. For more information and videos you can go to www.tintecosmetics.com/beautyinsider.

AM to PM with A Bar Manager Sophie Penichet

“With a schedule that includes a 5:30am breakfast opening one day and 12am bar closing the next, my morning routine varies as often as my work.

Early mornings are kept to a minimum: shower, tousled hair with TRESemmé Curl Care Mousse, a touch of Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche (not Eau de Cologne!) and Cover Girl Black Oynx Eyeliner applied to my lower inner lids. I consistently break the female beauty tenant and leave the house without mascara.

With night events that require a day to evening look, I focus on dressing up the eyes. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is essential to avoid creases and smudges. I’m a big fan of Urban Decay palettes (I own Volume III and Volume IV) but now that I used all neutrals in each set will make my next makeup purchase Urban Decay Naked palette. I’ve never owned foundation or blush but regularly invest in Guerlain Terracotta bronzer.

Though I never (ever) color my hair, I often alternate from curly to straight with the use of CHI Ceramic flat iron and a heat protector. Currently, Kiehl’s Heat Protective Straightening Cream is my favorite in tandem with its Olive Fruit Oil Shampoo and Conditioner.

Adrian at Nectar Skin Bar has done my eyebrows since his time at Erwin. I have (and will) followed him all over the city! For big events he’ll squeeze me in for makeup too. Getting my nails done is my biggest indulgence. I swear by the Essie collection at Aqua Nail Salon in Georgetown. Secretly, when I’m indecisive between colors I’ll choose between which of their names I like better.

No matter the difference in my morning routine, time spent or layers applied, my bedtime routine never changes. Take it all off every time, no excuses! It’s the most important beauty advice I follow, naturally, given by my mom.”

Bronzer/ Palette/ Shampoo & Conditioner/ Fragrance/ Primer

Sophie Penichet is the manager of A Bar Lounge in DC.

AM to PM: Lisa Cleary of LivingSocial

“I commute from Baltimore to DC every day. Suffice to say, once you commute for around three hours a day—well, that means I’m an expert at a streamlined morning beauty routine: primer, concealer, bronzer, and blush. Then, a quick blending of eyeshadow. Total time? Probably five minutes.

I start out with Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer. This primer is a magic potion that somehow preps my face with a smooth, even finish. Next, I use Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer in Medium. I’ve toyed around with a lot of concealers, but I’m sticking with this brand for the long run. I dust my cheeks with Too Faced bronzer in Beach Bunny to help set the concealer and add a healthy glow. Then, I top off my cheekbones with Nars blush in Luster.

For my eyes, I use the Too Faced Natural Eye Shadow Collection. It features nine shades in a fool-proof, portable box that’s easy to tote. I’ll actually apply my liner on the top lid twice with the Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx once before blending a smoky base and then after the base is blended. For my lips, I swear by the C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve. I apply that first, then a matte color by Maybelline in Coral Crush for a bright look. If I want to go glossy, I’ll top it all off with Smashbox Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss in Watermelon.

For a night out, I always just reapply—a little more contouring, a little smokier for the eye. Back to my beloved Smashbox—I use the Natural At Night palette this time to emphasize a darker eye. Hair products… this is where I cut corners. I use Dove products and a curling iron to style my hair for a bit of volume. I use Big Sexy Hair Spray if I add a curl.

In the evening, I’m really adamant about having clean skin. Washing my face takes the longest out of everything—even longer than getting ready. I also use Proactiv and swear by it. Each night, I scrub my face with a hot, wet washcloth, usually with Johnson’s Baby Wash. If my face feels dry, then I’ll use baby lotion in the morning. I have really sensitive skin and am a huge fan of baby products for the face.”

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