Tip of the Day: Primping Problems Solved!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

There's no shortage of festive parties to attend this holiday season and getting gussied up is always half the fun. Agreed?

When else is it totally socially acceptable to be decked out in head to toe sparkles and gaudy jewelry? Ok Halloween doesn't count!

There are so many ways to look and feel special on the party circuit so don't let a few getting ready glitches take up your precious time and joyous spirit.

Here are a few tips to make life a little easier so you can enjoy your fabulousness:

Perfume Overkill?

There's nothing worse than spritzing way too much fragrance on yourself. The delightful smells of flowers, musky patchouli and vanilla become overwhelming and awful if sprayed in excess. Plus if you haven't given yourself a headache after a few minutes, I guarantee you've given someone else one. Dilute the smell by taking a warm, soapy washcloth and pressing it on your pulse points. And remember never apply any scent to your clothes, just stick to your skin.

Mound of Makeup On?

Take a spray bottle of water and lightly spritz your face. Take a makeup sponge ($1.99 for a pack at drugstores) and lightly dab off the excess powder, foundation or blush. If you don't have a spray bottle, I highly recommend Evian Mineral Water Spray ($10.00, sephora.com). It keeps your skin hydrated and is a miracle to use after a plane ride or being in a confined dry air space. It also helps revive your makeup during the day.


Eye Makeup Overload?

Use baby wipes and q-tips to take off some of the excess shadow. If you've applied your eyeliner with too heavy a hand, soften the look by applying eye shadow in a coordinating color over the liner (neutrals always look good too), then blend together with a cotton swab.

Greasy Hair?


There are plenty of great hair powders available on the market right now. My favorite is Hair Powder by Bumble and bumble ($19.00, bumbleandbumble.com). It give your hair volume, touches up your root color and takes away a lot of the oiliness and slickness of unwashed strands so you can confidently let your hair down in public. A cheaper option is to dust baby powder or cornstarch on comb and brush through.







Sleepy Eyes?





Use a navy colored mascara instead of black. If you don't have blue mascara (which most of us don't), rub any mascara brush into a blue eyeshadow (cream or powder both work). A dark blue shade is flattering on most people anyway, so be sure to stock up on that. Also use blue eyeliner and apply it along the rim of your bottom lid. The color will make the whites of your eyes appear brighter and you'll look more alert. Try Sephora Cream Eyeliner Palette in Blues ($15.00, sephora.com) or Benefit BADgal Blue, ($19.00, sephora.com).

Polish Problems?

If your nail polish has turned your nails yellow apply white vinegar to the nail. If your nail polish has become dull, coat your nails with a drop of olive oil and rub into your cuticles as well.

Hopefully this prevents some unnecessary melt downs and primping anxieties and lets you get to all the merry occasions you'll be attending on time and looking like the best possible version of you!

A big thanks to Diane Irons and her fab. book The World's Best-Kept Beauty Secrets. It's my not-so secret weapon and treasure trove of beauty facts.

Look and Feel Posh-Spice Airport-Ready No Matter Where You Are

Out of Office Reply up? You're in Vacation-Mode!

Gain your world traveler wings with this season’s most skin suitable and smart to use products on-the-go.

Pack the tools that optimize space, time and effectiveness.

Summer has finally arrived! Shielding yourself from the bitter temperatures in your faux-fur parka and face wrap was mildly amusing, but now you're more than ready for warm weather and sunny beach days. You may not have the means to fund a Tahitian vacation-extraordinaire right now but wherever you decide to journey, (surf and sand at the Jersey Shore or poolside in Miami) you'll need the right accoutrement to make you're travels easy and skin effortlessly glowing. The fun of vacations is their sometimes unexpected nature. While spontaneity might work for your itinerary, it won't for your skincare routine. Packing products that are either multi-purpose or compact is a great start, but too often people compromise quality for travel ready. There's nothing worse than being in your dream location, ready to drink in the culture and night life but instead stressing over an inopportune zit or frizzy hair day (since your without your favorite products).

Carry-on in style!

Dress your liquids up in packaging as stylish as your airport outfit.

Conveniently varied in style and size, Japonesque's Gotta Go Weekend Travel Bag ($20, amazon.com) comes with identification labels so you don't confuse your toner for mouthwash. This bag is perfect for all those obscure but necessary fluids that you must journey with.


Identifying adhesive labels make storing liquids easy.

Skin Solutions for Every Surface

“Hand-ie” for your face.

While this bottle may not appear travel-friendly, it is! Satin Soaps by Jason Natural Products ($6.75, jason-natural.com) is all natural and so gentle on your skin you can use it on your hands and face. We love the one infused with Herbal Extracts. It has avocado oil to moisturize and aloe vera to soothe the skin. Use this multi-faceted wash to cleanse your exterior and enjoy the satin smooth hydration you’ll experience. Throw some in one of your newly acquired airport-ready bottles.

The foaming solution will keep your hands and face soft to the touch.


It's summer so wearing thongs (sandals that is) is a given.

Outdoor activities can be rough on your feet. Having dry, calloused and cracked feet takes away from the beauty of your tanned, freshly manicured (in neon pink of course) toes. Tips 'N Toes Hands & Feet Kit by Burt's Bees ($8.50, burtsbees.com) includes a pumice stone, miniature peppermint lotion and creams in coconut and lemon butter. The concoctions smell delicious and are enriched with ultra moisturizing cocoa butter.



I Can See Clearly Now

Topical treats that allow your summer skin to be as clean and makeup free as possible. Don’t waste time on vacation doing prep-work when you can be squeezing in back to back activities. Sometimes, that means jumping from beach to bar without much time for touch-ups. Unfortunately, heat and humidity increases the activity in your oil glands causing pores to clog and creating breakouts. Try AcneRecovery's System Kit ($99, acnerecovery.com). These powerful treatments contain benzoyl-peroxide and salicylic-acid and come in convenient packaging. Additionally, their special "dial-in" technology allows you to adjust the amount of active ingredients you use depending on your needs. The clearer your skin, the less time you’ll spend applying makeup and the more confident you’ll feel in your new locale.



Other Travel Favorites Include: Solid perfume roll on sticks by Crazylibellule and the Poppies ($18, Poule de Luxe Vanilla Lemon Pie is my favorite), Yu-be Moisturizing Skin Cream To Go ($15), Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer To Go SPF 15 Dermaxyl Complex ($17) -all available sephora.com- and Oscar Blandi’s Proteine di Jasmine Protein Mist for Restyling Hair To Go ($8, drugstore.com)







Tip: Use the spray bottle for rosewater if you're on a plane. Spritz on your face after you land to rehydrate your moisture-thirsty skin. Try Pure Persian Rose Water by Julie Hewett ($24, thebeautymark.com)