Polish Pic{k}s

So when I spotted Layla's Hologram Effect nail polish in Ulta I was intrigued. Though I usually favor dark color on my hands, I'm a glutton for special effects. Hologram is an avenue I haven't experienced before so I scooped it up- at a rather pricey $15.50 for a small bottle.  I normally draw the line at @$9 for my OPI & Essie polishes, unless I have to have a particular Chanel shade.   

As much as I wanted to fall in love with this polish, it just didn't cooperate. I buffed my nails (recommended) then used a ridge filler.  The first coat was very sheer and oddly matte.  The polish also had little globs in it that made it difficult to maneuver

 Usually the second coat hides all sins for me, but it was a bit streaky & then dried down to the same weird matte finish.  I topped with a clear top coat & thought I managed to salvage the manicure - not scrap it & have to start over with a different polish.  

 However upon inspection the next day, the polish looked so streaky that I ended up topping it with my trusty OPI for Sephora shimmery champagne color.  My only thought was that the chemical make-up of the polish was doing something odd with my topcoat, since it was already starting to turn matte again.  I then had chipping rather early on, too! I'm sad to report this polish was a total bust for moi in terms of performance! Has any one else tried it?

Peace. Love. Polish. M

5 Things

What a delightfully lazy weekend I've spent with friends.  What have I reached for time & again over the last few days? Always, my trusty Tory Burch sunglasses.  I'm also 'that' girl obsessively protecting her skin while out on friends' decks. What can I say? I'm an esthetician, plus just last week I had the Clear & Brilliant laser treatment. Though I would like to be wearing a full bee keeper's uniform, reaching for Physicians Formula's Healthy Wear SPF 50 Powder Foundation & L'Oreal's Colour Riche Balm SPF 15 helps me feel protected.

A little Patron Silver on the rocks with a lot of lime wedges = crisp, refreshing heaven.

I totally fibbed & passed off pasta salad I brought to a cookout yesterday as my own. "Sure I made it from scratch."  As in, yes I opened the box, cooked the pasta & added mayo. Done & delicious. How have you spent the holiday weekend Beauties? 

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Senna Cosmetics

So I did a fair amount of damage while up in NYC for The Make-Up Show. I showed  *ummm* let's say a little restraint when it came reigning in my purchases. First up Senna Cosmetics.  Though I've never tried their line before, it was created by make-up artist Eugenia Weston & has been around since 1976. 

I know you'll be shocked that I picked up more nude lip treats. The never ending quest continues. I had read in Lucky Magazine a celebrity rave about their lipliners, so of course I had to scoop up one. I went for the lip liner in Heather {t} & a gloss in Flaunt{b.}

Here's the Smooth Lip Pencil {$18} in Heather. It's a nice classic nude, with pink undertones. A great basic.

I'm loving the Lip Lacquer {$20} in Flaunt & the packaging's gorgeous, too! Doe foot applicator, but the wand still dispenses a nice amount of gloss.   It's rather opaque in coverage- it reminds me a bit of Lorac's Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick, which I love.  Together this duo offers a look that ranks high in my book, though they're solid enough on their own to get plenty of use.  Just what I need- another make-up line to love!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

I purchased these products.

Clear + Brilliant Laser

The morning after. No- nothing sordid Beauties, this is what my skin looked like the morning after having the Clear + Brilliant Laser performed on my skin.  After having an evening of what equated to hot flashes on my face immediately following the laser, I woke up with practically no redness or swelling on my face. I was surprised since my skin is rather sensitive. I had a tiny bit of redness on my upper cheekbone, but Dr. Sherber had made several passes on that area to address stubborn clusters of hyperpigmentation there. The only indicator that I had had a laser treatment was that my skin felt like fine grit sandpaper. Not visible to the eye, but somewhat odd feeling to the touch.  My make-up still applied normally, though my skin continued to feel a bit like a basketball for close to a week.  I've been a good girl & laid off strong AHA's products (torture for moi!) the entire time! People have commented on my skin looking luminous, but I'm excited to see what new skin is revealed after the sand paper feeling goes away & after I can start exfoliating again!

I'm so excited for my next treatment & the fact that tomorrow launches our Clear + Brilliant 30 day Challenge at La Papillon!  I love having the privilege & opportunity to help change people's skin.  I love having clients refer to themselves as "Afters" because they've seen such a difference since 'before' they came to the spa.  If you're in the Baltimore area, we'd love for you to experience this cutting edge treatment & are proud that we're one of the very few places you can find this low downtime/high tech treatment!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Clear + Brilliant Laser

I am always on the look out for the latest technology to fight the signs of aging & improve the quality of my skin. Why? Because I'm vain- there I said it.  I also always joke that I've given up below the neck, so I put a lot of effort into maintaining from the neck up! Having our Diva of Dermatology, Dr. Noelle Sherber treating patients at La Papillon has its perks. She's just as obsessed with the latest & greatest advances as I am! We recently brought in the Clear + Brilliant Laser for an event.  The high tech/ low downtime laser is all the buzz amongst celebrities.

So of course, I wanted to experience it & give you Beauties a behinds the scenes peek! I started off by applying a topical numbing ointment on my face for 20 minutes prior to the treatment to minimize any discomfort. Don't I look gorgeous?

Don't be fooled by the cute, MAC like appearance of the Clear + Brilliant Laser- it packs a lot of punch.  Made by the manufacturers of the Fraxel Laser, the Clear + Brilliant Laser was created for us impatient gals & guys who want results with little to no downtime. The laser helps reduce the appearance of fine lines & pore size, while evening out skin tone & stimulating collagen!

After removing the numbing, Dr. Sherber passed the laser over my entire face (avoiding my eyes) a few times. The first pass felt fine- almost like those micro needle rollers, but charged with a little static electricity. Unlike IPL treatments which pulse, this is more of a continuous motion across the face.  Not painful, I would say it was more annoying.  Dr. Sherber then did a few more passes on problem areas, such as where I have excessive pigmentation on my upper cheeks.

Initially following the treatment, my face was incredibly flushed & warm.  I immediately applied my favorite anti-inflammatory serum, Skin Ceutical's Phyto Corrective Gel, then topped it with ice packs.  For the next few hours, I wasn't uncomfortable- but did feel like I could fry an egg on my face it was so warm.  Be sure to check back for the next post in the series to see how my skin progresses!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M
The event was such a success, we're bringing in the laser to La Papillon May 23rd for a whole month! I will be getting treated a few more times during the Clear + Brilliant 30 Day Challenge, since for optimal results they recommend a series of 3 sessions.  Of course, I'll be taking you girls along with me for the journey!

Hair Must Have Monday

So today while I'm at The Make Up Show in NYC I thought I'd talk about one of my new must have hair products. I have super long hair- think Kardashian length. It's in good shape, but at that length I struggle with breakage. I try to keep styling with heat tools to a minimum & when I do I apply protective products.

Matrix's Total Results Break Fix is a great multi- use product. The leave in 'elixir' has a hybrid texture between that of a gel & lotion. I love that it's not very heavy for my hair which tends to be oily. It also smells like fruity Skittles- in a good way. I usually apply about 5 pumps from the middle of my hair to the ends & comb through. Just with the product & drying my hair with my fingers- I have been loving the super sleek results I get!
Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Files From the Brow Whisperer

We've all lost a beloved technician at one point in our lives- we move, they retire, babies enter the equation... What do you do when that happens? Word of mouth has been my best champion.  Put it out there on Facebook or Twitter. Better yet, if you see someone with a great haircut or fantastic brows- ask them where they go!!!

This new client had been trying out new people since her esthetician moved to California. She had some horror stories & was quite apprehensive. She ended up reaching out to her old esthetician on Facebook, who recommended moi. We're actually friends who used to work together! It's a small world! Luckily this client had let her brows grow back in after her previous experiences to give me a lot to work with.  If you looking to start fresh- you have to be willing to do that.  I trimmed & streamlined her shape, which 'ta da' - she loved!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Skin's Secret Weapon

I don't know if your parents are anything like mine & I don't know if there's an actual term for having this affliction.  But let's just say that they are chronic email forwarders.  Is it wrong to want to list your Mom as a spammer?!? I get so many emails from them it's slightly ridiculous. However I skimmed over one article the other day they sent & found it quite fascinating.  I would say of the clients I treat that easily 85% of them have dehydrated facial skin.  Hydration & moisturization are often confusing terms to my clients.  In simple terms I explain hydration= water & moisture=oils.  Not all moisturizers have oils, but I say this in order to separate the two. The fact is that every skin type needs water- whether you are the Saharas of dry or the oiliest of acne sufferers.   Water brings everything into balance- it's especially important if you're using aggressive AHAs or retinols. I always say you wouldn't fertilize a plant that hadn't been watered in a week would you?  It would irritate & burn it. I use Skin Ceutical's Hydrating B5 Gel like it's going out of business to help hydrate, it's like a drink of water for my skin.  But in terms of whole body health, listen to these facts:

*37% of Americans mistake thirst for hunger due to a weak thirst mechanism

*Even Mild dehydration will slow down metabolism (that must be it!)

*Lack of water is the #1 cause of daytime fatigue

*Research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water can ease back & joint pain in up to 80% of sufferers!

*One glass of water can resolve late night hunger pains in 100% of dieters in a University Of Washington Study

*Just a 2% drop in body water can cause mental fogginess

*Drinking just 5 glasses of water a day can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 79% & bladder cancer by 50%

So it looks like it's not milk, but water that does a body good. Drink up Beauties!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Finds Friday: Nyx

NYX is a cosmetics line that is slowly, but surely gaining a spot in my heart.  In my neck of the woods, I can only find it in Ulta & they don't even carry the entire line.  However, what I've been able to get my hands on has been prestige quality pigment at a mass price point.

So I did a little happy dance when Movie Girl got me this Nyx collection for my birthday.  The Nude on Nude collection boasts 20 neutral shadows that easily give Urban Decay's Naked Palettes a run for their money. 10 shades of lip cremes round out this extensive collection for $25. Yes, half the cost of the Naked Palettes.

This collection houses an entire wardrobe of color at your fingertips.  One end of the spectrum is covered with neutrals & the other end offers intense smokey options.  The lip cremes are great soft colors to match whatever eye look you come up with. This collection is a fabulous basic to have if you're just starting out building your kit, but it has the power to make a seasoned artist like myself swoon.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Your Best Friend Cosmetics

Coming off the high that was my adoration of the YBF Baby Lips kit, I wanted to fall just as much in love with their mascara duo. I admit, what drew me to it was its 007 like packaging. Ironically that's what ended up making it not work for me.

This kit included a bejeweled {swoon- super cute!} eyelash curler, as well as a mascara unit containing both a primer & mascara.  Don't be shocked, but even as a professional make-up artist I rarely use lash curlers. I worry about lash breakage.

You slide the unit apart in order to be able to use the products. Besides being a rather awkward, additional step in the morning {which who has time for?} the wand wasn't incredibly comfortable in my hand.  I like to apply a lot of layers of mascara & flip my wand every which way- the handle just didn't want to work with me.

 In fact, no one with arthritis would be able to maneuver this device at all. The actual mascara & primer formulas were fine, but there were no angels singing.  There was nothing to write home about.  What it boils down to with make-up & every thing else important in life is that yes, pretty on the outside is usually a plus- but it's what's on the inside that counts.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M