Brow Essentials

I speak/write an awful lot about brows and cannot stress enough the value a well-groomed/shaped brow can add to your face; they frame and highlight the face. The face is the first thing people see; why distract them with an unruly/unkempt or misshaped brow?

Fear not! Here are some of my favorite tools to help keep your brows in order:

If you are trying to grow in sparse brows that have been waxed too much or tweezed to oblivion, try Ardell's Lash and Brow Growth Accelerator. Typically, I recommend an application twice a day (morning and evening) to help accelerate growth.

Admittedly, creating the perfect brow can sometimes be a task but with Ardell’s Brow Perfection Stencils it is much easier. They work well for those who need help shaping or recreating and those who don’t have much hair. Stencils come in Delicate, Elegant, Glamorous and Classic. Use the stencil that best matches your natural arch.
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To add precision and definition choose from either the Lorac Creamy Brow Pencil or the Benefit Brow Zings applied with MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush. The Lorac Creamy Brow Pencil is perfect multi-tasking tool. Brush and tame unruly hairs with one end and fill-in, shape and define your brows with the specially formulated textured pencil. The Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings allows you to custom blend the perfect shade to create a natural look. Available in light, medium and deep. You can use the angled brush included in the it. However, I prefer to apply the powder using the MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush. It is the perfect width so it allows a more natural application of the powder. (Note: the brush included in Brow Zings is a bit thicker than preferred. The thicker the brush, the thicker and less-refined the application will be)

For the girl-on-the-go, the Tarte Cosmetics Toolbox Brow Know-How Eyebrow Kit is the perfect all-in-one mini toolkit. Contains brow pencil, wax, powder, gel, tweezers, stencils, mini-angled brush and a mirror. Kits are available in three different shades (light, medium, dark) to match pencil and powder to your hair color.

Anastasia's Clear Brow Gel is a necessity in my kit and the finishing touch. For quick grooming or after you have created the perfect brow, use the brow gel to keep hairs in place.

Lash (and Brow) Tint

The inspiration for this post stems from an inquiry I received on twitter the other day: "I didn't know people dyed their eyelashes as an alternative to wearing mascara @Nicole_Alexis please educate me on this one."

It’s true! Eyelash (and brow) tinting is becoming more and more popular these days. I have been tinting lashes and brows for 4 years and have seen it catch on more within the last year or so.

Most people who have their lashes tinted do it to achieve the look of wearing mascara without the fuss of daily application, washing it off at night and smudging. Typically, those with naturally blonde or light brown lashes get them dyed to add drama and the illusion of thickness. Brow tinting is a great option for someone with fine, pale or sparse; adding dimension and depth. Both are great for those with active lifestyles that involve playing sports, swimming or chasing kids.

Lash/brow tinting is temporary. The most common tinting applications involve the application of vegetable-based dyes in order to minimize irritation to the eye and surrounding area.

Typically, the tinting process takes about ten to fifteen minutes and lasts approximately 3-5 weeks. Pricing typically ranges from as little as $15 to as much as $40.

I have performed both lash and brow tinting safely for years. However, neither is approved at this time by the FDA for obvious reasons. Tinting may cause itching, stinging and in rare cases temporary blindness.

My suggestion is to do your research. Ensure the salon is reputable and is not just introducing tinting as a service because that usually means the esthetician is new to the process.

Morticia's Nails

Bebe Neuwirth, who plays Morticia in The Addams Family musical, has teamed up with Essie to design a limited-edition nail polish set inspired by her character. Morticia’s Nails Kit includes three sinister hues — Bone Chilling White, Blood Curdling Red, and Midnight Tango — and all proceeds benefit the actress's favorite charity, The Actor’s Fund.

Retails for $30.00 at the Addams Family Musical Store

Jemma Kidd Pro Finish Moisture Tint SPF 20

Strolling through Targe' (Target), I was drawn to a new cosmetic display. It was Jemma Kidd's JK line exclusively for Target. It was one of those lines that made you want to try everything just because of the packaging!

So anyway, I was looking for a new tinted moisturizer to try out. I cannot say it enough...I loooove the packaging.

Moving on...JK Pro Finish Moisture Tint only comes in 3 shades (fair, mid and mid-dark). I wear 03 Mid-Dark, which was the darkest shade that seemed to be available. For those of you who know me, you know I am not dark at all so this is not the best product for darker skin tones.

It was a little heavier than any tinted moisturizer I've ever worn (my usual is Laura Mercier's) and provides a bit more coverage. It also contains some oil so it may not be the best choice for already oily or combination skin (like mine). I do, however love my final look, but I opt not to wear it on the hottest days. I am a huge advocate for using spf EVERYDAY, so I love the fact that is SPF 20. It does minimize your pores and provides a smooth application.

Would I spend another $28 bucks on it? Probably not. I believe it is a great product for someone with dry, fair skin. I will continue to use it as long as I have it in my makeup bag, but will most likely sue my $30 bucks elsewhere.

Nina Garcia's Look Book

Nina Garcia, Marie Claire fashion director Project Runway judge Nina Garcia brings her fashion expertise to the pages of her self-titled look book: Nina Garcia's Look Book. This book serves as a girl's guide on to what to wear for every occasion; provides advice for women of all ages on making the most of your wardrobe 365 days a year.




Also check out Nina's other great guides to living fashionably:
The Little Black Book of Style
The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own
The Style Strategy: A Less-Is-More Approach to Staying Chic & Shopping Smart

Happy Reading!

Lash Must-Haves from Tarte

One of my latest guilty pleasures is Gilte Groupe. On a few occasions, I have been able to take advantage of some great deals on clothes, shoes and even cosmetics. One of my great Gilte cosmetic finds was from Tarte. I purchased a Lash-Accessory Kit for 16 bucks , which included Rejuvalash, a natural declumping lash exhilarator & Bottoms Up lower lash mascara(retails for $16 each).

Rejuvelash

Have you ever gone to reapply mascara after a few hours and ended up breaking your lashes and/or creating a clumping mess? Rejuvelash is the remedy. It is better than a lash comb because it is a wet application.

Rejuvelash is a unique lash exhilarator that uses a blend of natural emulsifying agents in combination with our patented flexible bristle brush to gently eliminate clumps. Herbal hair restoratives are delivered with every application to improve the overall quality of your lashes. At the end of the day you can run a coat of rejuvelash over lashes to revive – you can even add a fresh coat of mascara without worrying about drying out or breaking your lashes!

Bottoms Up

Bottoms up is the perfect mascara to give you clump-free application to each and every lash. I also tried it out on my top lashes. Bottoms up does not provide a great deal of length, so I would recommend it solely for the bottom lashes (as designed) or if you are looking for that natural, I- have-makeup-on-but-I-don't. It works for me, because I am somewhat of a minimalist when it comes to my own look.

Bottoms Up is a flake-free formula with a precision tapered brush that allows you to target the tiniest of lashes and wide-set bristles that separate and evenly coat. The ergonomic component ensures easy application for perfectly defined bottom lashes.

I think both products are great buys, even at regular price.