Take a Peek Inside My Beauty Bag

So tonight at the spa, Dr Noelle Sherber, Dr. Ariel Rad & yours truly will be talking in depth about what celebrities really do to stay looking so young & fabulous. While I will be explaining chemical peels, dishing make-up tips & tricks, as well as giving brow guidance -even I am excited to hear the break downs in terms of laser, injectables & other procedures Hollywood's elite turn to! As promised after showing you Dr. Sherber's make-up bag last week, here's a glimpse into mine(though it varies color wise.) I found it very interesting to see how different the contents are due to our skin types being at total opposite ends of the spectrum. Having oily skin that's prone to break outs, I try to touch my face the least amount possible throughout the day. That's why the majority of my products are lip related & hence the name of this blog!

From Bottom:
Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss in Naked Plum:
An impulse buy while strolling through Saks, this isn't so much plum- rather a pretty shimmery pink. The color of my lips, but better & with more sparkle.

Paul & Joe Limited Edition Lip Gloss 002:
No longer available(don't beat me) this gloss adds almost a soft veil of pixie dust to the lips- gorgeous alone or for adding extra dimension.

Paul & Joe Eye Gloss N 01:
Though Paul & Joe Eye Glosses currently only come in duo options, they are my favorite pick- me- up to place a little candlelight on my lid. I always reach for it when freshening up to go out to dinner straight from work.

Make-Up For Ever Aqua Lip 2C:
A great neutral color that I fill my entire lip with in the AM. It packs some serious staying power.

Cle De Peau Beaute Touche de Rouge 129:
Though the price tag of this line is hard to swallow, this balm like lip product gives a sheer wash of color that feels like butter on the lips!

Mally Liquid Lip Color in Mally's Look:
This color is the perfect semi opaque nude to go with an intense smokey eye. Normally that takes several different products to create- Mally nails it with just one!

Becca Glossy Lip Tint in Island Dream:
Soft & iridescent this shade is perfectly named. A little birdie told me it's soon to be discontinued- so scoop it up now if you're intrigued!

Lorac Couture Shine in Elite:
A surprise hit that came in a kit, this shade is a pinky nude that's semi opaque & full of high shine. Another great pairing for a strong eye.

Joey New York AntiOxidant Super E Lip Pencil:
Another tease, as this pencil is discontinued. This product was a best seller before the line went under. I bought as many as I could get my hands on, since it is the perfect nude lip pencil ever:(

Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss 19:
A die hard fan of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills & anything Bravo TV related, I had to have the same divinely smelling peach gloss Adrienne Maloof plumps her pucker with.

Guerlain Natural Shine 661:

I scooped this up after a spa day at The Breakers. This sheer pink tint is gorgeous on its own or as a building block.

Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre:
Another intense shimmering product that I use to add omphh to my eyes with a simple patting of my finger.

Paul & Joe Botting Papers:
I am never without my blotting papers! Gently pressed against my T zone, they are perfect for removing excess shine, while keeping my make-up intact.

Wow- no wonder my purse is so heavy! Full disclosure, I'm also never without a tube of Aquaphor. A lot of these products I've done posts about in the past- so try the search box for more info on a particular one.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Make-Up Must Have Monday: Paul & Joe Beaute Holiday Collection

One thing everybody seems to want more of during the holiday season is time! We're always rushing around like maniacs to get everything done. Paul & Joe Beaute's Limited Edition Ornamental Holiday Collection in Noel 002 gets you gorgeous in no time flat.

The limited edition gloss is full sized, whereas the glosses that are mainstays in the line are duos which are a little smaller. The lacquer in the tube looks like rich cranberry with gold shimmer. Both come in a limited edition green make-up bag that would be adorable to hang on the tree Christmas morning!

Whenever I hear the word gloss or cream when it regards to eye shadow- I think of a smeared mess. That's often the case with my oily skin. Not with the Paul & Joe eye glosses for some reason. They're pure sparkling goodness!

I, of course, am no one to turn down the opportunity to play with make-up! I had on a very neutral shadow that the gloss subtly enhanced on the lid.

What I love about the glosses is you can really top them on any shadow. Brianne was wearing
a soft bronze color, the gloss just added some additional dimension that catches the light.

A close up of the Noel lip lacquer- it's actually a sheer pop of color. Most of the Paul & Joe lacquers can look intimidating in the tubes, but are incredibly wearer friendly. This lacquer would really suit any skin tone.

Here our spa manager B is sporting both products, applied in about a minute flat- she was in a rush to go to a holiday happy hour after work. Her quick touch up looks festive & fabulous! Plus she's sporting the House of Harlow inspired earrings she got in our boutique- gorgeous!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

The Glammies

Happy New Years beauties! Can you believe how quickly this year flew bye? So many beauty products, so little time. Speaking of time, it's time for my annual Glammies Awards, where I pick out the products that have impressed me the most this year. While not a new launch, Paul & Joe Beaute's Eye Gloss is like Tinkerbell's Magic Wand to moi! Normally I would shy away from anything creamy on my lids since I have such oily skin. This product imparts the most angelic, Celestial(which is my favorite shade) glow when gently patted on the lid. Anyone I show it to falls in love with it & you can't beat its ease of use!

Revlon's PhotoReady Foundation is my new go to everyday foundation personally & professionally. I have every shade in my kit & always turn to it for brides. The light texture doesn't break me out, gives great coverage & is specially formulated with light reflecting pigments to ensure it photographs well. It's a steal at just under $14, but often you can find it on sale. I wear shade 003, with a dollop of 004 in it.

I use my foundation with the Beauty Blender Sponge. I'll be honest, I bought this once before & never read the instructions, so I wasn't that impressed for a $20 sponge. Yes there are instructions, you dampen the sponge with water and pat it on your face with your foundation and pure magic happens. A flawless, airbrush like quality can be achieved with any liquid foundation that makes it worth every penny.

Yes it looks borderline neon pink, but both the Powder Pink & Peony shades of blush from Bobbie Brown give the most lovely "just came in from the cold" flush. I turn to these shades so much when I'm doing cool toned looks, think smokey grey on the eyes, that I've hit pan.

Nothing will ever replace my beloved Joey Antioxidant Lip Pencil (RIP), but I have come to grips that I need to move on & start dating again. Who's the latest to woo me? Too Faced's Perfect Lips Lip Pencil. It has a beautiful soft natural lip tone color that's the perfect base for gloss & lipstick. If you are familiar with the Joey lip pencil, this one has more pink undertones.

Last year Make Up For Ever's HD Powder took the slot for finishing powder in the 2009 Glammies. This year it's Mally's Poreless Perfection Skin Finisher. It goes on like air & is the perfect finishing touch to set your make-up. The first day I wore it, literally 3 people commented on what gorgeous skin I had- score! Note: it does have silica in it, but it has not broken me out at all the way some primers with silicone have in the past.
So tell me girleens, what new product made you swoon this year? I'm dying to know, I might need it:) I hope everyone has an amazing 2011!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Holiday Happenings

It is a whirlwind of festivities all day today beauties, I will need my caffeine on an IV drip! First we'll be having an Injectable Event with our Diva of Dermatology, Dr. Noelle Sherber. She'll be getting every one gorgeous just in time for the holidays with specials on Botox, Juvederm & Radiesse. We're even treating our injectable patients to a complimentary glycolic Vivite Peel from Allergan to get their skin glowing!
Then we're heading straight into our annual holiday party tonight from 5:00-8:00! Cocktails, Confections & so much more will be in store!
A peek into some of the treats? All clients who spend over $30 in retail will receive a Thymes Frasier Fir votive as a gift with purchase! They are my absolute favorite scent of the season!

Any of our gorgeous girls who spend over $75 in Paul & Joe Beaute Products will receive these gorgeous cosmetic pouches. They are stunning enough to carry as a clutch & perfect for travel. We will also have specials on gift cards, service plans & our Skin Medica Peels! Offers are good while supplies last so get there early! We'll be Making Spirits Bright!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Behold the Power of Make-Up

Unfortunately Halloween came a little early for my friend, client & trusty dog walker last week! She literally had a run in with a dog, colliding head to head with a pooch while catching a frisbee that resulted in 7 stitches! Murphy's Law would have it that there was a wedding she wwould be reading in that she was so looking forward to!

While I wanted to leave the stiches alone to keep them clean in order to promote optimal healing, I was able to neutralize the discoloration using just 2 different concealers. I used Paul & Joe's Under Eye Concealer 03 which has pink undertones applied softly with a concealer brush to cancel out the blue in the bruise, while I turned to Clinique's All About Eyes in shade 02(it was a winner in my Glammies last year- you can see why!) That shade had yellow undertones which helped cancel out the red in the bruise. I often joke that I'm a beautician- not a magician(my sister even gave me a tank top with that saying on it) but short of a magic wand I think my poor friend B's eye looked great without looking too cakey!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Make-Up Must Have Monday

I mean come on, is this not the most adorable lipstick you've ever seen?

Leave it to Paul & Joe Beaute to come up with this limited edition launch- dare I say they're the cat's meow! Sorry I had to go there girleens!

As with pretty much all of Paul & Joe Beaute's lipsticks- the moisturizing colors are very sheer & wearable. Top 068, Middle 067, Bottom 066. Don't be afraid of the shades in the tube or the unusual shape. You can actually use the cat ears to give lip liner like definition to the lip!

Moi wearing Clair de Lune 066

Moon Shadow 068

Over the Moon 067

These lipsticks are sold out across the country, but we just got them in at the boutique- so grab them while you can!
Peace. Love. Lipstick. M

The Grand Finale of Giveaway Week!

Da Dun Dah Dahhhhh! The grand finale is here girleens! This week has flown by, just like the past two years! Thank the Lord I'm not aging one bit - ha ha! I will do my best to get winners picked & posted early next week. Then the sooner I can get everyone's information, the sooner I will get their treats packed up & sent on their merry way! I want to thank all of my girls out there for reading this little blog of mine on a regular basis. New features will continue to be added as it grows, including Ask The Derm Day- where reader's questions will be answered by the newest addition to La Papillon's Beauty Team, Dermatologist Dr. Noelle Sherber. As always fan faves like Files from the Brow Whisperer will remain! So in true grand finale fashion- I saved the best for last! I picked products from our best selling lines at the boutique so there's something for everyone! Hopefully you feel that my blog is a little gem, so I had to give away something with a little sparkle! These delicate floral studs(above) are simple, beautiful & timeless.

To help you stretch your summer glow for as long as possible, I'm giving away our best selling sunless tanner towelette. Kate Somerville's Somer 360 towelettes are so easy to use- they dry in under 2 minutes(so you can get dressed in a snap!), give amazing color in just one use, can be used on the face & even have antioxidants in the formula!

You gals ask me all the time what I do with my lashes & besides some great mascara tricks, I've been using Marini Lash for years now as an eyelash conditioner! Now a two month supply is up for grabs! Be consistent with using it & you'll see results.

I know it's hard to believe as we're melting in this heat, but Fall is only a month away! This trio allows you to create beautiful bronzed looks for summer, but will take you right in to autumn with the deepest rust shade. The collection is limited edition & the artwork on the compact itself is exquisite, as well!

So by now you should know the drill, but here are all the ways you can be entered in the drawing- contests from earlier in the week are still open, too! The contest will close Sunday at 5PM) Please be a doll & tally your totals for moi!

1. Comment on your best make-up tip or trick

2. Follow the blog {2 entries}

3. Subscribe to my blog {2 entries}

4. Follow me on Facebook {1 entry}

5. Follow the spa on Facebook {1 entry}

6. Follow me on Twitter {1 entry}

7. Follow the spa on Twitter {1 entry}

8.Tweet about our giveaway {4 entries}

9. Blog about my giveaway {3 entries}

10. Grab the giveaway button {6 entries}

I wish I could give something to each & everyone of you gorgeous gals, at least with so much up for grabs- everyone will have a good chance! xo.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Day 4 of my Blogaversary Celebration!

We're only one day away from the grand finale of Glambassador Giveaway Week! Today's celebratory loot that is up for grabs is all about pampering the body! We love Paul & Joe's hand cream- it's delicate retro inspired tin is the perfect size to keep in your hand bag.

Another great option for portable touch ups, are these Melissa Flagg solid perfumes. Mily features notes of Hawaiian plumeria & pikake, while my beloved & best selling Clementine bursts with fresh orange blossom.
Our customers can't get enough of our Pomegranate Whish body products- they smell good enough to eat & being all natural- you probably can! This great trio contains their best selling body butter, body wash & shave cream to help your skin glow! So here are the ways you can enter to win these goodies {you don’t have to leave a separate comment if something is worth more than 1 entry, please tally for moi!}:

1. Comment on your favorite go to hair accessory
2. Become a Follower of my blog {2 entries}
3. Subscribe to my blog {2 entries}
4. Follow me on Facebook {1 entry}
5. Follow the spa on Facebook {1 entry}
6. Follow me on Twitter {1 entry}
7. Follow the spa on Twitter {1 entry}
8.Tweet about our giveaway {2 entries}
9. Blog about my giveaway {3 entries}
10. Grab the giveaway button {6 entries}

Please spread the word about Peace. Love Lipgloss.

Glossy Kisses, M

Sweat Proof Summer Make-Up

What made the cut for my news segment on sweat proof summer make-up? I have such oily skin, finding products that really have staying power is actually a year long struggle for me. Any one of these items is a great choice if you know you'll be outside for several hours, but you still want to look polished. What to start with? I tend to cut down on the amount of products I use if I know I'll be out in the heat, since I don't want them sliding down my face! This great multi purpose product from Paul & Joe Beaute hydrates, primes the skin to hold onto your make-up and has an SPF 30+.
Mineral Make-up is a smart summer choice since it's a powder foundation & it helps cut down on shine. I love that it also offers a physical sunblock- so you can dust it over your eyes (an often neglected area for SPF), the tops of your ears, as well as into the hairline & onto your part. This is great for outdoor athletes- if you've ever burned the part in your hair(like moi), you'll never do it again! I love Being True Mineral Make-up since it's infused with Idebenone, the antioxidant with the highest proven EPA factor.

I tend not to be a fan of most of long wearing lip products since they tend to feel 'grainy' on my lips after a while. I know stains can be an intimidating product, but there are tons of new user friendly versions out in the market. The trick with stain is that you have to work quickly. My pick? The Balm's Stainiac is gel like in texture since it's more forgiving to work with, yet still has serious staying power on lips & cheeks. I use this on brides all the time, and it leaves a beautiful flush on the cheeks & the just eaten cherry popsicle hue on the lips. Stains tend to be vibrant, so you can tone them down with a nude gloss if you prefer.


Any time I'm teaching a make-up lesson, I send the client home with a fine angled liner brush. Just wetting the brush with water can turn any eyeshadow you have into a eyeliner. I honestly think once you get the hang of it, that it's easier to line with a brush then a eye pencil(& it tugs less on that delicate skin.) A sealer liquid, like this one from Make-Up For Ever, turns any shadow or cake liner into a waterproof version - love it! Make-Up For Ever also gets an honorable mention for their new Aqua Creams, a cream pigment that comes in over 15 shades for eyes( lips & cheeks too) that when applied just won't budge!

Tired of looking look a football player when it comes to mascara? Lash tinting (& brow tinting) at the spa is incredibly popular during the summer. If you're going on vacation and will be getting in & out of the pool a lot, this might be perfect for you. A vegetable dye safe for the eyes is applied to the lashes for about 10 minutes & voila deep black lashes are revealed. It's painless (even relaxing!) and is perfect for those with fair hair.

Lastly, blotting papers are a must have in my purse at all times. Sweating is inevitable during the summer, since it's our body's natural cooling mechanism. Instead of caking on more powders throughout the day & clogging my pores, I just blot my t zone. So there you have it my beauties, these are my picks for staying gorgeous in the sweltering heat. What are your favorite long wearing products?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Files from the Brow Whisperer

Behold the power of brow powder when in a transition period with your brows, my beauties!

My pick? Paul & Joe Beaute's brow powder duo with brush.

One of our newer clients came in from a referral. The delightful new mom had avoided getting her brows waxed for several years due to a bad experience where too much was taken off.

I assured her I would be very conservative & focus on establishing her shape & balancing her brows since they were uneven.

I was very cautious to leave extra hair at the ends of the brow to see what we could grow back. It was an area that was not consistent with the strength of the rest of her brow.

I then showed her how to fill in her brows to make them look more uniform. I always use brow powder to help clients resist the urge to tweeze & help see the big picture of where we want to get the brows to be. The difference was night & day!

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer. M

Paul & Joe Beaute Summer 2010 Launch

Seeing as how it will be 90 degrees over the weekend- I get's it's officially summer time! That means it's also time for Paul & Joe Beaute's Summer 2010 launch! Paul & Joe actually is also a fashion line with talented designer Sophie Albou at the helm. Just like when their clothing collections launch each season, the beaute division creates a limited edition collection to go with it. My pick of this season? Their lipsticks! Gorgeous, fresh, soft and very wearable! From left 001, 002, 003

These translucent setting powders are perfect for holding your make-up in place during hot summer days. Their containers remind me of vintage Coty make-up from the 1950's a bit.

Moracco and the desert was an inspiration for this collection & I can't help but imagine all the girls from Sex And The City using the products in the desert scene from the movie preview! Corals 004, Bronzes 005 and a flash of crisp Blue 006 round out the polish shades. Everything about Paul & Joe Beaute pieces are a work of art- with their limited edition pieces truly becoming collectable items. What's your favorite?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Paul & Joe Prom Beauties

With Leah being in last weekend for Paul & Joe, I thought I would post my own glam-over using their products! One of our fabulous clients, the naturally gorgeous Blake, popped into the spa for prom make-up this weekend. See how I got her glam below!

How to achieve Blake's look? First I applied Paul & Joe's UV primer all over since I knew her make-up needed to last close to 12 hours(it was going to be a long night of dancing!). Then I evened her china doll like complexion out with Paul & Joe's Light Cream Foundation 10 focusing on neutralizing the redness in her cheeks. To fake naturally flawless skin- apply foundation only where needed & not all over the face, it gives a less 'made' up look. Further concealing around her nose & under her eyes with Paul & Joe's Stick concealer in 02 was then set with their pressed powder in 02. For her eyes, I applied Paul & Joe Eye Primer 02 over the lid, then layered with the shimmering peach of Palette 001. In the crease I applied the medium brown shade from that same Palette 001 in a windshield wiper motion. I used my favorite dual liner from Being True to line the upper & lower lash line eyes(the black side), then used the light side to brighten around the inner corner of the eyes. Limited Edition Bronzer 01 was lightly dusted over cheeks, with lip laquer in 03 finishing off her flawless look! She looked & felt like Cinderella and I hope she had an amazing time at the ball!(ahem prom)

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Paul & Joe Beauties

Fellow beauty blogger Gouldylox also came in to have her make-up done with Leah. If you're a reader of her blog, you know we've been working extremely hard at La Papillon to treat her hyperpigmentation with a series of chemical peels. I must say, without a shred of make-up on, her skin looks amazing!

Again Leah spends time priming the face before applying Paul & Joe's new launch for summer-Protective Fluid Foundation with an SPF 25 to the face.

Voila! A beautiful natural complexion with softly smoked eyes & nude glossy lips completed the look. Perfectly sun kissed, just in time for summer.

Peace. Love. Paul & Joe Beaute. M