This weekend was all sorts of emotional. That Badgers game. The series finale of How I Met Your Mother. I was able to avoid all spoilers this week but knew there was outrage. I get it now, though I’m still totally conflicted on how I feel about it. This interview helps. I chose this week’s pretty picks in part because pearls make me happy and because I can’t stop thinking about this necklace. Or this ring. Those two pieces are exactly how I want to wear pearl jewelry right now…with just a little bit of edge.
Here’s my other pearly picks!
The BaubleBar pearl collar is out of stock (sadly!) but this Anthropologie version is just as good. // I love the Jouer Lip Enhancer formula and this pearly nude hue is so perfect. Makes for very kissable lips! // Crushed pearl acts as a skin conditioner in Tatcha’s Rice Enzyme Powder. Water activates the formula and turns it into a super rich and exfoliating cleanser. // The highlighter of ALL highlighters…revealed to be the secret to the J.Crew model glow. // I went to a Clarins spring beauty event a few weeks ago and have been mixing this base in with my tinted moisturizer for a little glow since. // NARS does neutral eyeshadow so well and this opalescent pink is especially pretty and brightening.
For as fun as I think makeup is to apply and experiment with, I realize that for a lot of women, it’s a daunting routine that is sometimes anything but intuitive. Allow me to introduce you to the “lazy perfection makeup method,” coined by one of the best makeup artists in the biz, Jenny Patinkin, who also calls Chicago home. She’s built a reputation for creating simple and natural looks that are easy to do yourself. Jenny’s approach is very “real girl” and she’s all about breaking down the notion that in order to be flattering, makeup needs to be complicated or full of steps. She even designed a lazy perfection-inspired line of makeup brushes (coming soon to Space NK!) that practically apply makeup for you.
I’ve never used a brush in so many ways as the All-Over Face (third from left)
I asked Jenny to share some of her lazy perfection tips for winter beauty. This week has been a painful reminder of the havoc frigid cold can wreak. My eyes tear up the second I walk outdoors and pale becomes me. You feel me?
My eyes are like a leaky faucet when I’m outside in the cold. What should I be doing?
Eye shadow primer is an essential (I like Nars the best) and of course water-resistant eyeliner. For mascara, I’m actually not a big fan of waterproof formulas – they can dry out your lashes and make them brittle. I prefer a water resistant “tube” formula mascara like the ones from Kevyn Aucoin or Trish McEvoy because they stay on until you take them off, even if you have a few tears. And I would recommend a creamy concealer under the eyes that can be re-blended or blotted back into place after having tears run over it. Opaque concealers aren’t as malleable and are tougher to touch up.
How do you prevent lips from drying out?
Aquaphor! It’s a savior! I like to apply it to clients (and myself) before I put on any makeup so that by the time I’m ready to apply lipstick as the last step, lips are smooth and moisturized. Honestly, there are plenty of times in the winter when I personally skip lipstick altogether and just apply Aquaphor. I keep tubes of it everywhere – in my pockets, purses, my car and beside my bed, and I sleep with it on my lips every night.
Statement lip: yes or no?
As long as your lips are smooth and un-chapped, then why not! A satin finish is more comfortable to wear than drier matte or demi-matte finishes, though, and a little bit of sheen looks pretty against flat winter fabrics like wool or cashmere. It’s also helpful to warm up your complexion with a little bronzer so that the contrast between bold lips and pale skin doesn’t look harsh or too pronounced.
What is the trick to getting glowing skin, despite the dry air?
Look for products that have words like luminous, radiant, illuminating in the name or description. This generally means that there is micro-shimmer mixed in which will help any available light bounce off of your skin, adding dimension and glow. I like Burberry Beauty Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base mixed in with moisturizer or foundation, or Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector dotted along the tops of the cheeks.
Tips to wearing bronzer in the winter?
If your skin gets sallow in the winter – tinged with yellow, green or grey tones – then bronzer will be your best friend. I like to keep it mostly on the top part of the face – along the cheekbones, up the temples and lightly across the forehead with maybe a dash on the nose. By keeping the center of your face (orbital bones, chin/neck) in your natural tone, you’ll look “warm” without looking “tan.”
How do you prevent the cakey look?
I tend to avoid powder products in the winter, or use them very sparingly. Something like Jouer Essential Matte Touch is almost like a putty texture that you can apply under your makeup or on top of it as a touch up over the course of the day – love that stuff. I sometimes also send clients out with sponges in their evening bags to blot away shine instead of covering it with powder.
I’m over on The Garmenteurthis week talking about red lips. Can we all agree that a killer red is a must in your lipstick wardrobe? I think the hardest part of wearing a red lip is finding the right shade. So many different options but not all are universally flattering. (except for this one– I’m convinced it may be everyone’s power red!) I tend to get lost in the process of determining skin undertones by checking out the color of your veins. Rather than running all sorts of diagnostics on yourself to figure out if you’re warm or cool or pink or yellow, take a look in your closet. That’s exactly the concept behind the Jouer Perfect Red collection. Two simple questions: what colors dominate your wardrobe and what color is your hair? According to this, my perfect shade is Sophia, a creamy rose red. This is so my type of red! What’s yours?
For my 312 ladies, Jouer Founder Christina Zilber will be at the downtown Nordstrom helping you find your perfect red. Remember when she admitted right here on this blog that she’s always been “red-lip shy”? CZ has got our back! If you happen to swing by Nordstrom, make sure to stop by and say hi to team Jouer. Trend show is going on, so the madness starts bright and early at 7am.
I’m still all about a pink lip for spring. Especially now that spring is real! Finally, I tucked my wool coat in the closet until next season. Since we last discussed, I’ve weaved in a few more shades of pink to the lip color rotation. A mix of gloss and lipstick, and lots of layering of the two. Here’s the line-up, tucked in my Stephanie Johnson Malibu lemon pouch!
Discovering a new brand is always fun, and I’ve been enjoying the getting to know Manna Kadar Cosmetics. Especially MKC’s Lipstick in Savoir Faire, a neutral rose that goes with all. This color is exactly what I wanted the famed NARS Dolce Vita to be on my lips, but that turned brown on me. I need a pink undertone otherwise my lips translate rose shades into an unflattering muddy color. MKC’s formula is extra creamy and a swipe saturates my lips for hours.
MAC launched a new Mineralize Lipstick, with a fancy new bullet and packaging. There are a handful of pretty neutral colors, but my favorite is Grande Dame. It’s classic rosy pink — not too bright and not too subtle. The kind of color that brightens everything up instantly. It has just the right amount of shine for a lipstick. These are totally worth a visit to the MAC counter.
Tarte Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss wins for most spring-like packaging. There’s something that just feels right when clicking a floral-adorned tube of gloss onto lips in May. The shade Amused is extra bubblegum in the tube but a little less so on the lips. The cool blast of peppermint you feel on lips is a bonus.
The original Jouer Lip Enhancer is a nightstand staple, and the Tinted version in Cosmo is the daytime equiv. Just like the original, it’s intensely hydrating, plumping and smells slightly of roses. The soft cool pink doesn’t impart too much color on its own but can be easily amped up by layering over a lipstick. I reapply this constantly throughout the day for extra moisture!
My nightstand just got a whole lot prettier, thanks to this adorable vanity tray from Life’s a Journal. I really appreciate the crafting skills (of others!) and when this grey ombre striped tray appeared in her Etsy shop, I couldn’t resist. I’m pretty meticulous about keeping the top of my nightstand organized, with just my phone, coaster (can’t go to bed without water!), alarm clock, glasses and lip balm on display. I’m not ready for bed until I’ve slathered hand cream on and a thick layer of balm. But the thing about that is it gets OOC fast. At one point, there was nearly a dozen tubes and pots piled up in a corner. Clutter on the nightstand leads to stress-y dreams. I’m sure there’s a connection somewhere, right?
With this cute vanity tray, I feel an open invite to display my lip wares. As many as it will fit, which as it turns out is plenty. There’s totally room for more, but I’m doing this whole spring cleaning thing, ya know. Editing my life and all that jazz.
What is on display is special to me. I’ve gone through many tubes of the AHAVA Dermud and love how soft it is on my hands. The smell is soothing to me and it’s so engrained in my nightly routine that I pretty much exclusively associate the aroma with sleepytime now! One of my most treasured splurges is the By Terry Baume de Rose. I use it sparingly because it was definitely an indulgent treat. I bought the NUXE Reve de Miel on a trip to Paris with my husband, and the texture of that is wildly different than any other balm, in a good and interesting way. The little tub of MOX Botanicals Lip Butter is so weighty and fancy — a Birchbox discovery I made (the Pomegranate + Fig scent is exclusive to their shop!) The two I usually take off of my nightstand and in my purse are the Jouer Lip Enhancer and Vapour Organic Lux Lip Conditioner — they are both daily staples for me.
What’s on your nightstand? A fellow hoarder of moisturizer?
It’s time to get serious about spring beauty. Forget that it’s still winter and we just got our biggest snow of the season last week, spring is practically here. My allergies have already started (wtf?) so really it’s just a technicality at this point. I’m ready for fresh pink cheeks and lips, worn in tandem of course. It differs from the super bright cool pinks I love to wear in winter (like this one on cheeks) in that it’s slightly rosier. When rosy pinks are paired on lips and cheeks, the effect is fresh and youthful. The kind of makeup that looks good with everything.
Allison Williams wore this look on the red carpet last week and of course looked amazing. She is such a beauty! I love how she paired rosy pink lips and cheeks with major lashes. And her brows are nothing short of perfection. To recreate this look, try Jouer Hydrating Lipstick in Whitney, new this spring, on lips. It’s a demi-matte finish, so it leaves a slight sheen on the lips. Another formula I am loving is the Maybelline Color Whisper. They are slightly more sheer, but the shade Rose of Attraction has just the right amount of color. On cheeks, try Benefit Posietint or Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused. Both look majorly bright at a glance but take on a more subdued pink on skin. They also have insane lasting power so your fresh, Allison-inspired look lasts all day. And if you’re looking for more on Allison’s eye makeup look, allow me to direct you to Glamour’s Girls in the Beauty Department!
I’m rolling out a new feature here, fittingly called 312 Beauties. I’ll be tapping some of Chicago’s most fabulous women to tell me of all of their beauty secrets and dish on makeup must-haves. I’m excited to kick off the series with Rachel Gillman, a PR Specialist and Freelance Writer for NBC, Michigan Avenue and Serious Eats. Rachel is the ultimate media pro and knows all when it comes to BYOB and gluten-free dining in Chicago. She also has the most enviable lashes you’ll ever see. Lucky for us, she tells all.
How do you start your mornings?
I’ve learned that I do better working out in the a.m. Two mornings a week at 6am, I’ll do the elliptical or an Insanity or P90X video in the living room. On those mornings, I’ll wash my hair. I usually aim to wash my hair every other day. A trick — which you taught me! — is to go to sleep with my hair twisted on top of my head in a clip. It’s a game-changer! It makes two-day hair full and fresh looking. It’s a major time saver in the morning.
You have flawless skin. What is your skin care routine?
I use Cetaphil cleanser, though if I get something in a Birchbox, I always try it out. I use Lancome Bi-Facil to remove my eye makeup. I stock up on it when I buy mascara, whenever there’s a free gift at the counter. I was really hooked on Chanel skin care, the Hydra Beauty Crème, but I haven’t made the effort to splurge all over again on a new tub. Occasionally, I rotate Retin- A into my routine. I recently got a facial at Cellular Intelligence spa and bought the Lumiere Bio Restorative Eye Cream on a recommendation. It’s very light, and I use it every morning. I use Neutrogena SPF 50 as well, especially if I know I’ll be out in the sun. I’m more concerned about protecting my skin lately.
How about your everyday face?
I use a concealer from Benefit and then follow up with this Pür Minerals powder I got from Birchbox — it’s more matte and it helps even my skin out. A makeup artist at the Chanel at Bloomingdales, Ana Oveido, sold me two of the Quadra Eyeshadows in Mystic Eyes and Prelude and taught me how to use all four shadows together or take it down with just one or two. She is fantastic. I’m pretty particular when it comes to my makeup being done because you know what looks like you and what you’re comfortable wearing. She takes everything I do and improves upon it. I use those eyeshadows pretty much every day. And when I feel like I’ve done a good job and I’m near the Bloomingdale’s building, I’ll go and visit her and she’ll tell me how I did!
I also use Chanel eyeliner, in the shade Cassis. You twist it up, so it’s not a true pencil. It’s precise, lasts and really lets you get in between your lashes. My blush is Laura Mercier Pink Lotus and I use NARS Risky Business Lip Gloss. I also carry around a CO Bigelow tint with me always. A great makeup artist Jenny Patinkin (of Dollface Beauty) coached and shopped with me for makeup. I trust her judgment. She helps you create a better version of yourself. I fill in my brows with an Anastasia Powder. Jenny helped me pick that out as well. I just use a little bit.
Now about those lashes…
I am obsessed with Lancome mascara – completely loyal to the Hypnose Drama. I buy it two tubes at a time because I never want to be without. I’ve used something from Tarte and another from Sephora but I always go back to Lancome. The amount of time I spend on my lashes could be considered comical. I curl them to start and put on a coat. Not a wimpy one, either, but from the base and I coat every lash. I let it dry, do some other makeup and then come back. I’ll curl my lashes again, use a lash comb to separate and then apply one more coat. It never clumps. The Lancome brush is magic.
Rachel’s lip wardrobe
I love Birchbox, too. What are some of your favorite discoveries?
Let me tell you, this $10 a month service fuels my beauty routine. Some of my favorite items have come from Birchbox. I love the Jouer Lip Enhancer – I need to buy a big tube! Also, I love this chubby Tarte lip pencil in a coral shade. I also got the Benefit primer, POREfessional, and I’m pretty hooked. It helps smooth my skin before makeup. I love anything skin-related they send.
What is your beauty splurge?
I really have no problem spending money on my hair, but for some reason I do on my skin. I should probably reverse that! I love my hair stylist. I get my hair cut about every three months by Ingrid Trevino at Nancy Angelair on Rush Street. I’ve followed Ingrid around to three salons. Her blowouts are second to none and she cuts wavy hair so well. I can’t go much longer than three months because my ends get so damaged from heat and styling.
I’ve been using this donut lately to create the perfect bun. It requires a little effort but is so worth it. I was a bridesmaid in a wedding recently and they styled my hair with it so I just held onto it after the wedding. I don’t like too sleek of a look. Just a little bit messy when I wear my hair up.
Where have you been eating lately?
I probably eat out about five nights a week (research!) My favorite sushi restaurant right now is Kai Zan. It’s BYOB, which is one of my favorite ways to dine. Yuzu has really good maki rolls. I’m on a whiskey kick at the moment, and am enjoying cocktails in a new way with darker spirits. I had this drink called Cocktail at Billy Sunday – potent but very drinkable.
Grange Hall Burger Bar has a gluten-free bun. When I want a true burger experience, that’s my go-to. Bountiful Eatery in Lakeview is a great, healthy gluten-free cafe. They have these pita wraps with portabella mushrooms or bison burgers inside. It’s affordable and tasty. Prasino is my favorite brunch right now. They have a hippie omelet that is worth looking forward to all week!
Jouer Founder Christina Zilber gives a “chic peek” of Jouer Fall on Instagram. I will definitely paint the town red with this adorable makeup bag! (@czjouer)
Lancôme announced they will partner with Jason Wu on a makeup collection later this year. (Fashionista)
Birchbox revealed a sneak peek of their February “red carpet” theme box. I always look forward to seeing these each month! (Birchbox TV)
Chi City Fashion makes it her 2013 mission to introduce Chicago’s most stylish, starting with blogger and pastry chef Eva Daiberl. (Chi City Fashion)
BB Cream for your hair? Coming soon from Pantene. (Refinery29)
