Here's to 2009!!!!

All this talk of the ball dropping since it's New Year's Eve always makes me giggle(you would think I'm 12!) but then the very real concerns of being 32 bring the somber realization that father time is indeed stomping across each & every one of our faces! So here are some easy steps(resolve to do them!) for you my beauties that will make a difference in fighting the signs of aging.

1)Remove your make- up every night (yes even tonight!)

2)Exfoliate at least 1 x week (try something quick & easy like our bestselling Kate Somerville Exfolikate)

3)Hydrate!(&no your diet coke doesn't count)Look for a serum with hyaluronic acid like Skin Ceutical's Hydrating B5 Gel for a glow!

4) Use protection (SPF that is) I don't care if you're just running out for a second. I never leave the house without SPF 30 on face, hands & decollete. Try Jan Marini SPF 30 Antioxidant Lotion - it's my favorite & the only one that doesn't break me out!

These 4 steps will make a real difference in prevention- remember I always have your best beauty at heart! Cheers to a divine 2009!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Joyeux Noel!

Merry Christmas My Beauties! I hope you all had a blessed holiday! I'm sitting here blogging content as a clam while watching my favorite holiday movie, Love Actually, wearing my pjs and my new Tory Burch Reva black patent flats from Santa! They are perfection! I also just watched the finale of 'Blush- The Search for the Next Great Make-up Artist.' I'm thrilled with the fact that the reality series really showed what a challenge it is that we as make-up artists face(pun intended) while working on 3 D canvases (which is you!)Nolan, the winner, was also my pick- so talented and gracious and calm- and trust me it's hard to keep your cool when under time constraints. Check it out if you can and have a passion for make-up! So as the count down begins to the New Year may you all see your true beauty both inside and out! Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

PS-Stay tuned for my review on the No! No! hair remover(my treat to myself for the holidays!)...Even as an esthetician, my brunette self will never stop in my quest to be hair free!

You like Me, You really like Me!

Happy Holidays to All of my Beauties!

Today I actually had a new client who said she reads my blog! It was a special moment- I think it brings the tally to 3! To reward her, I gave her the best brows ever! There are so many beauty blogs out there- I actually have a friend who is an unofficial the blog queen( one of those so on top of everything girls you kind of want to hurt her-you know the type!). I'm not ashamed to say I have blog envy...But I will work on making mine more consistent I promise my sweets- then total world domination awaits! Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Thankful at Thanksgiving

We just had our Holiday Open House last nite at the boutique- for me it's as domestic as I get. It is the equivalent of the huge holiday feast- weeks of planning only to be over in 3 hours. All the thoughts of the holidays made me want to do a list of what I'm thankful for(mind you this is not the deep thoughts version- but gratitude on any level is always a good thing!)

Madeleine's Favorite Things

1)My new coral chair- I stare and wonder at its hipness and marvel at what a bargain it was!

2)Frasier Fir Candles by Thymes- The entire feel of the holidays somehow captured in a candle. I would snort it if I could( I jest- children do not try this at home!)

3)My limited edition Paul & Joe lipstick- the perfect pink in the most exquisite packaging...Sometimes it's a pain to be a woman, but things like this can make up for it!

4)OPI Midnight in Moscow polish- I paint my nails this burgundy black color and feel slightly evil & naughty( but in a good way!)

5)Lastly: The Hills- I used to be ashamed to admit this, I'm not any more! I wouldn't look away even if I could. Such pretty people, such petty problems- so riveting!

So savor the little things this Thursday with your families my beauties- I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving! Peace. love. Lipgloss. M

Better Get Maaco!

I just got back from NYC after taking my airbrush make-up course at the amazing Rouge Make-up Studio in the Flatiron district. There's something about that city that brings out your inner fashionista! In my never ending quest to be able to create the 'perfect face' for my clients I am bringing in Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics & their Airbrush Compressor to La Papillon. Those who know me will understand why I immediately gravitated to the moniker! So as I spent my weekend perfecting my airbrushing strokes, rest assured my little caterpillars that your inner butterfly will be be ready for its close up and just in time for the holidays! Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

3 Cheers for Charity!

Well I just got home after being the guest speaker for the Women's Wine and Dine event at Crush in Belvedere Square. Though I absolutely hate speaking in front of crowds and felt extremely nauseous beforehand ( I know those of you who know me are shocked to that fact since I never shut up...) I thought the evening was a raging success. Besides the food being amazing, it was an fantastic opportunity for me to talk about my passion for all things beauty, meet some great women, and have the proceeds from the evening benefit St. Joseph's Breast Center. It's tragic to count how many women I love and respect who have been affected by this disease. We need to do whatever we can to save second base!!!! So I thank all of you who came out and Monyka( WW&D's fearless leader) for such a fun evening! Don't forget to check our website- www.lapapillonspa.com for our Sonya Dakar launch event and Holiday Open House on Monday Nov 24th...you have to sign up for our blast to get the VIP invite- we'll be giving away over $500 in retail product! Until then~ Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

My SPF Summer Days come to a end...

I just spent the last week at the beach with no access to the internet...At first I literally did not know what to do with myself -I'm so used to running like a chicken with my head cut off. As an esthetician I often take the role of the nagging wife pleading with my clients to use protection-SPF that is. I do practice what I preach-I avoid the sun and when I am out in it I am that girl- the one who slathers SPF 75 over every inch of my body than tops it off with with a hat and my huge jackie o sunglasses while my friends flop down next to me with tanning oil and a cigarette. But something about this perfect summer weather let me be ok with just being. Just sitting in the sun and let it kiss my skin. I read 2 books(no self help or being a better business owner topics)- I can't remember the last time I did that. It was just simply simpler. And we all know how much better the sun makes us feel, both emotionally and physically. With my golden glow I'm out the door with just some mascara and a swipe of my buxom gloss- whereas usually my tan washes off in the shower. Now back in the real world I swear I will apply the calm I had down at the beach to my life up here so we'll see how that goes. We're headed into my truly favorite time of the year when you can start to smell a change in the air and everything starts to be a little crisper. And though the holiday season will soon come after that, when it's customary to start getting caught up in the frenzy- I vow to remember the soothing sounds of the ocean to help calm and ground me (even if it comes from my sound machine by my bed!)
Peace. Love. Lipgloss. Madeleine

Make-overs

So after an exhausting week of making the town of Baltimore more beautiful, I find myself still in my pj's at 4:00 this Sunday afternoon. Meeting my friend Jen for dinner, I dread having to put my 'face' on! In between letting the dog in and out, out and in, I have been surfing endless beauty sites and channels and am using all of my will power not to purchase that one lipgloss that might be the answer to all of my prayers! Maybe my thirst has slightly been quenched due to the fact that I purchased a delightful Smashbox limited edition Sweet lipgloss and have stumbled upon LORAC eyeshadows -namely 'Green Room' and 'Dreamy' earlier in the week. But amidst the channel surfing I have discovered and become quite obsessed with the HGTV channel. This, in addition to the fabulous www.apartmenttherapy.com website have me yearning to basically redo everything in my home! It's funny-often my clients will tell me how they don't know how to 'do' make-up or that they're 'afraid' of it. I sit here now scared of a make-over for the first time in my life- my house. But it's made me appreciate glosses, shadows,and blushes ever the more! You see my lovelies, the true beauty of make-up is that it's basically commitment free! If you paint your face the wrong color, a quick swipe of cleanser leaves you with a brand new canvas. So while I struggle with paint swatches, fearful of going with too pinky of a taupe in the kitchen- I encourage every girl to brazenly go forward in their quest for their perfect nude lip!
Peace. Love. Lipgloss. Madeleine