Beauty Bets » mascara

Elizabeth Varghese, Picky Girl

Beauty Bets — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:55:25 +0000

Elizabeth Varghese (with little Harry!) is the proprietress of Picky Girl, one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved boutiques. She’s perky, petite, and has the most impeccable taste. As you can imagine, Elizabeth is also rather particular about beauty products—one of the many things I adore about her! Here are the ones that passed the test:

Coco Chanel ($95) – What can I say, this scent is lovely! It’s sexy, woodsy, and amber-filled. I try to save it for special occasions, but it makes it into the rotation quite a bit.

Clinique Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift ($53) – I used to wake up with ugly lines on my chest/décolleté (I sleep on my side), but since using the creme, I barely notice them! It is great for your neck and face too, and I also dab it around my eyes. Totally worth the price.

DuWop Venom Gloss ($18) – LOVE this gloss! I have used it for years and can’t live with out. It has skin-softening ingredients, plus green tea for soothing. On the rare occasion that I wear lipstick, I dab a bit this on top and it makes such a difference. My favorite shades are Lantana and Coral Tree.

Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo ($24) – If you know me, you know I have a TON of hair. It’s hard to maintain so I was so thankful when I was introduced to the Phyto line—it has saved my hair and my wallet! A small amount goes a long way. I can’t begin to tell you the difference this had made to my hair. It’s SO shiny and soft . . .people always ask me if my hair is real!

OPI Bubble Bath ($6) – You will rarely find color on my nails (although right now they are bright red, a little experiment) so this is my staple. It’s the PERFECT nude—not too pink, not too peachy. And best of all, they color stays true until you take it off.

Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine ($20) -”Brilliantine is unique and hard to define. It gives hair polish and a sort of languid, slept-in, sexy look.” This is what the bottle say’s and this is exactly what it does! I apply it to my hair (which is wavy) when it’s wet and let it air dry. When it is completely dry, I put a touch more in to tame and add shine. This is the only styling product I use in my hair and will use it until they stop making it!

Nature’s Gate Colloidal Oatmeal Lotion ($7) – I have tried a variety of body lotions and this by FAR is my go-to. It’s extra-gentle and leaves my skin so soft. It NEVER gets dry!

Aveda Mosscara ($16) – A few years ago I noticed that my eye lashes were getting thinner. I assumed it was from using mascara all the time so I switched to Aveda’a Mosscara for a year and they became nice and full again!

Bare Minerals All-Over Face Color in Warmth ($18) – I must admit, when I first tried out the product I did not care for it. But I kept hearing such great things about it! So I went back and asked the “pros” how it should be applied. I am now hooked! A little poof on my cheeks and across my forehead and I am good to go! It gives me a great sun-kissed glow all year round.

Kristin Wiley, Retail Architect

Beauty Bets — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:52:46 +0000

Meet Kristin Wiley, the brilliant architect behind the exquisite Cartier jewelry stores we all wistfully window-shop. Kirstin and I have two things in common: white lab puppies (this is baby Luna!) and our dear friend, Christina, who Kristin credits with her Lancome obsession.

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(clockwise) Aveeno Nourish and Moisturize Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave-In Treatment ($7) – I’ve used some expensive hair products, and these are just as good (if not better!)—and available at drug stores. My hair is always really tangled after showering, but I can comb through it with no problem when I use these products. Origins Checks & Balances Frothy Face Wash ($18.50) – The minty smell and foaminess of this face wash makes it my favorite—and a little goes a long way so the bottle lasts for a while! Trind Natural Nail Repair ($16) – The miracle nail repair! If you use this every day for two weeks, your nails will be super strong. You do have to take it off and put it back on every day, but it works! Lancome Hypnose Mascara in Black ($24.50) – If I were stranded on a desert island and I could only bring one beauty product, this would be it. Hands-down the best mascara I’ve ever used. Benefit Brow Zings in Light ($30) – My eyebrows are pretty skimpy, and filling them in helps so much! I only use the powder side as the wax is a little too dark for me. Lancome Juicy Tube Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss in Daiquiri ($18) – This has the perfect combination of shine without stickiness and the light pink color looks natural. MAC Eye Shadow in All That Glitters ($14.50) – The perfect everyday eye shadow shade.

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Geri Brin, Fab Over Fifty

Beauty Bets — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:41:27 +0000

This is Geri Brin, the founder of Fab Over Fifty, a fantastic website that celebrates women of substance and style. This week Geri turned 63. Isn’t she fabulous? And wise. I’m taking notes on her beauty picks, which come from years of trial and error. Happy Birthday, Geri!

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Clé de Peau Beaute Extra Rich Lipstick ($60) – I like the way this creamy lipstick glides over my lips and gives them just the right amount of moisture and color. Its extra richness comes from Vitamin A Acetate, according to the company. Biologique Recherche P50 Toner ($50) - The moment I dab P50 balancing lotion on my face, my skin feels tighter, fresher, and smoother. The smell is slightly medicinal—ingredients include lactic acid, witch hazel, onion, and sage extract—and it’s pretty pricey, but now that I’ve found P50, I’m not letting it out of my sight! Kerastase Age Premium Bain Substantif Rejuvenating Shampoo ($34) - My hair definitely feels thicker and looks shinier after I’ve shampooed with this new formula for “mature” locks. It’s supposed to add essential minerals to Fab Over Fifty hair. Olay Professional Pro-X Age Repair Lotion with SPF 30 ($40) - This lotion has a smooth and light consistency and never feels the least bit greasy. A high SPF also protects against the sun’s damaging rays. I started seeing results, such as fewer fine lines and less pronounced deeper wrinkles, after using Pro-X for about a month. (Bets says: This is one of my favorite lotions, too!). Cover Girl LashBlast ($7) - This mascara really does transform thin lashes into fat and fab masterpieces. The brush easily separates the lashes and evenly coats them. I also love seeing the cool-looking orange tube on my vanity.

Sara Glassman, Lifestyle Writer

Beauty Bets — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:51:33 +0000

Meet Sara Glassman, a lifestyle writer and girl-about-town who seems to know everyone and everything that’s happening in the world of retail, food, and fashion. You can always get the scoop from her at Pop Fizz Daily, but we’ve got her beauty picks right here!

(clockwise) Chanel Nail Colour in Black Satin and Shanghai Red ($23) – While I don’t like to go bold on my face, I do love a statement nail color. Chanel’s go on super smoothly and dry quicker than most polishes. Aveda Be Curly Curl Control ($18) – I’ve tried a million different curly hair products, but I like to twist a dollop of this into my wet hair and let it air dry. Yes, that means I always run around with damp hair. But blow-drying creates way too much frizz. Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($23) – Once you try this lip balm, you can’t live without it. The subtle color glides on smoothly and doesn’t clump in the corners of my mouth. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat ($40) – From the moment a makeup artist used this on me in 2001, I’ve been hooked. It’s a light-deflecting formula that provides coverage, but doesn’t go on thick. I usually use this under my eyes and often don’t use any other makeup, though I sometimes use a touch of Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer ($32). Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 30 ($40) – My skin loves this cream and I adore the SPF 30. I’ve tried her other formulas, but this one works the best for me. Tarte Cheek Stain in Tickled ($30) – This stain gives you rosy cheeks with a very natural dewy sheen, and it has a nice, light fragrance. Origins Full Story Mascara ($14) – Eye shadow really makes me look like a clown, but I love to go crazy on the eyelashes. This formula pumps up my lashes and doesn’t run.

Just Look at My Eyelash Extensions!

Beauty Bets — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:24:11 +0000

You aren’t going to believe this (I write a beauty blog for petesake), but I’m actually a fairly low-maintenance girl. I don’t color my hair. I don’t get regular manicures. I would rather sleep than spend that time primping. Now I realize that this very relative, especially if you’re the type who air-dries her hair, slaps on a little lipstick, and is out the door in 15 minutes flat (but then why would you be reading this blog?). My point is that I now find myself in uncharted territory. I recently “researched” eyelash extensions for this article in Minnesota Monthly. They took about three hours to apply. They cost $250. They are, in a word, FABULOUS. Just look at the before and after pics:

I thought I had pretty great lashes before, but the extensions! They look like falsies, but feel completely natural. You don’t have to curl them or coat them with mascara. I hardly need a stitch of makeup because the extensions do all the work. I’ve never looked better. In fact, NUMEROUS people have said to me: “You look amazing. What’s different?” UGH! It’s like my worst nightmare. Now I have to keep these bad boys up (re: have them filled in every month, which takes about an hour and costs $100). Or, I can return to my low-maintenance life of lash growth serums and Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara. Oh to be a man.

NOTE: Amy Presson of Jett Makeup gave me my gorgeous extensions, but there are certified Lavish Lashes professionals everywhere.

Maybe it’s Maybelline

Beauty Bets — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:05:37 +0000

You know how everyone says that you don’t need to spend $20 on mascara? That the $5 version works just as well? I am not really one of those people. I mean, I am at first, when Max FActor’s 2000 Calorie mascara is doing a bang-up job of plumping up my lashes, or Rimmel’s Glam Eyes is separating them nicely with this little pink comb that’s on the wand. But then, after only a week or so, the jig is up and the formula is clumpy and flaking off half-way through the day. At this point I usually give up and go back to Fiberwig. Not so with my latest cheapie mascara, Maybelline Lash Stiletto. This is a keeper (and no, it’s not like Great Lash, which I hate). The brush is tiny and spiky so really gets in there to separate lashes and instantly clean up clumps. The formula is incredibly slick and lightweight so layering is a breeze. And the lengthening powers? Incredible. I wore it to an event last week and my friend Laura asked if I had falsies on again. Need you more proof?