bluemercury

Flashback: It was about three months ago and I was walking down Connecticut Ave. with a friend in heavy conversation, stressing about our professional lives. It just so happened, I noticed this glow coming from a store that literally lit up the street. Turns out, it was bluemercury2 (a skin focused boutique and sister store to bluemercury). Needless to say it was the answer to our career woes. No, it didn’t really solve our work anxiety, but it was definitely some well-deserved office time spent shopping for cosmetics. Consider bluemercury my beauty sanctuary.

When I found out that DC native and founder of bluemercury, Marla Malcolm Beck, recently launched the first green cosmeceutical skincare line, I was in a bluemercury state of mind [think flashback]. “It marries dermatologist loved and prescribed ingredients with powerful, researched naturals and strips out all of the synthetic ingredients our clients want to avoid,” explains Beck. Instead of the usual Q&A, I asked the savvy businesswoman and CEO of bluemercury to chat beauty and politics. Here, Beck plays political makeup and skin consultant to powerful DC politicos.

If you’re a Nancy: “Nancy Pelosi has really taken care of her skin. We would love to see her brighten and soften her makeup. She could use a hydrating foundation such as Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Foundation or Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 in #3. We would also recommend the Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials in Bare, the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Amethyst, Bobbi Brown’s Ultra Nude Eye Palette, and Trish McEvoy’s New Thickening Mascara. A soft color on her cheeks would be beautiful with NARS The Multiple in Maui or Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Fresh Melon. For a soft lip, we love Bobbi Brown’s Lip Shine in Pink Seashell.”

If you’re a Michelle: “The First Lady has the most beautiful skin ever. We would use the Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer to accentuate her flawless skin, paired with Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in tan or NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Seychelles. We love NARS blush in liberte. We would finish off her look with Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15 in Warm Bronze. Our team of makeup artists has recommended Dermalogica’s Oil Control lotion for her forehead, which sometimes starts to look a little oily after a long day. We also love the NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base for a long lasting, creaseless eyeshadow. We would use the NARS Ramatuelle Eyeshadow Trio with the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye stick in Smoke. We adore her full, vibrant lips. Our favorite addition to her lipstick wardrobe would be Laura Mercier’s Gel Lip Colour in Poppy or Bobbi Brown Peach Sorbet lip shine.”

If you’re a Hillary: “Hillary’s skin tends to look dry with all of the global travel she does. We would love to see her exfoliate 3 times a week with a peel ((M-61 Power Pro Peel) or a mask (M-61 Fast Blast) and then use a vitamin C Serum at Night (M-61 Vitablast C) and a plumping serum in the morning, such as Revive’s Intensite Volumizing Serum. We’d love to see her use super hydrating eye cream, such as La Mer’s The Eye Balm Intense. She could then use Laura Mercier’s Silk Crème Foundation in Warm Ivory, Laura Mercier’s Cheek Colour in Rose Petal, Trish McEvoy’s Eye Base Essentialsin Demure, and Bobbi Brown’s Long Wear Cream Eyeshadow in Heather. She has such beautiful eyes that could be brought out with the Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil in Antique Jade and Trish McEvoy’s High Volume Mascara. NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Tonkin with Laura Mercier’s Lip Glacé in Violet would finish her look.”