Thursday Miscellany: Makeup And More

a few of my favorites from Makeover Workshop

Beauty Bits…

A few weeks ago, Sandra Sallin (Apart From My Art) and I volunteered to be models for a series of makeup videos for Makeover Workshop. We spent about four hours “under the lights” while Brian and his crew filmed. It was my first experience being part of a professional video shoot; it was a lot work and a lot of fun. Brian’s been feverishly editing the raw footage (we were only one segment of many) and here’s the first installment including yours truly…

Above are some of my favorite Makeover Workshop products:

  • Moisture Glow moisturizer. This adds a bit of radiance to the skin as well as moisture. Hint: you can use a dab of this over makeup to refresh, and on neck, décolleté, hands and arms for a smoother look for photos.
  • Tinted primer. I use this now instead of foundation. It evens out my skin tone, and smooths texture. Doesn’t settle into lines or pores! But if you need more coverage, it works well under foundation.
  • Brow pencil in Blondi. Goes on easily and stays put. Fills in and enhances brows for a soft, natural effect. Doesn’t need a sharpener either, so great for travel.
  • Re-creation Lip Treatment. I’ve raved about this product before, and still love it. With regular use, it smooths lips and reduces flakiness.
  • Creme blush in Blooming. Natural color, little bit of glow.

Brian is also offering a specially priced Beauty Box which includes all of the prepping products mentioned in the video. And you can save an additional $25 on one Beauty Box with code susansandy25 at checkout. Save 15% on individual items from the video with code susan15 (excluded: creme blush and Liquid Mineral Tint).

It feels as though Spring is getting a foothold here. We’re enjoying a nice warm spell, and I can begin to see leaf buds on my elm and Liquidambar trees. I’ve been breaking out the sandals and peep-toe shoes.

Last week before we left on our trip, I tried a posh new nail salon that had just opened in town, and went with this color (Gitane) on my toes…

Chanel vernis GitaneIt’s a bright, orange-red, very fun. Chanel polishes aren’t inexpensive, but after they reformulated early last year, I find they hold up very well. (They also are free of formaldehyde and some other noxious ingredients.) I’ve used the Le Gel Coat topcoat over other polishes too, and find it really does extend the polish life.

In cooler months, I love wearing Serge Lutens “Chergui” fragrance. But once the weather warms up it can feel a bit heavy, so I’ll probably begin rotating in the Annick Goutal Rose Pompon that I picked up in Paris. On a recommendation, I tried a spritz of Serge Lutens “La vierge de fer” and really like that one as well. It’s a white floral and has some peach blossom that adds a little fruit and warmth. Very nice, and lasts a long time for a white floral.

Around la maison…

Jeune homme has started another session of Special Olympics. This time he’s doing Track (running) so we have to get him some running shoes this week.

We still are no closer to starting our kitchen remodel. Still trying to find an architect or designer who can offer some footprint ideas and give us an idea of costs. At this point, we’ll probably tackle in the second half of the year once we’re back from Italy.

Do you switch your fragrance with the season, or stick to one or two year-round?

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22 Comments

  1. I live in mosquito land and I am like bait to them 🙁 so I wear Chanel Mademoiselle in fall and winter and no fragrance in the summer. Seems to make a big difference in my ability to be out in the evening without bites! I used to love Jlo Glow in summer tho when I was still in California.

  2. I tend to like citrus scents…Carthusia from Capri, Aqua di Parma, Dolce Gabanna Light Blue and rotate thru them in the winter, people often tell me I “smell good”, so I guess it’s not too much. In the summer, I love the smell of Ban de Solei gelee and original Coppertone…I rub them close to my face and relish the smell of days gone by, basking in the sun…without a care in the world!!

  3. I enjoyed this so much. Thank you! We are also going to Italy and getting some remodel work done on the kitchen. I can’t wait!~~Dee

  4. Thanks for the video. Good to see that I’m doing the prep work right. (A few months ago, I was no — primer is such a good thing!)

    My favorite year-round fragrance is Hermes’s Un Jardin apres la Mousson. It reminds me of one part of the world I love — India.

  5. Wow! Great video and you two look gorgeous. Brian’s products really are all that, from the looks of things – so many promise what he delivered in that video.

  6. Love the Chanel orange red polish for toes!

    With the extreme heat in the south, it is best to change fragrances with the season for me.

    I wear Gin Fizz for warmer months, Acqua Di Parma Colonia or Chanel Coco in fall and winter.

  7. Wow, Susan! You have no fear. I am in awe of you. It did look like fun, edited to a couple of minutes, but I know it must have been arduous. You look gorgeous. What a great idea to do it with a friend. xo

  8. Hi Buddy, Loved doing the video with you. I adore his Primer and use it as my makeup. It works perfectly and gives a light coverage.I also love his lipstick and blush. I would like to buy more of his products. Very pleased with ebverything he used on us. Thanks for inviting me.

    1. Sandy, so glad you enjoyed the video production evening and love hearing you use the Tinted Primer as your daily coverage. Thanks for the being apart of it!

  9. I love Guerlain Vetiver and wear it year round. I know it’s marketed as a “man’s fragrance,” but it is wonderful for both men and women. Light, soft, subtle, sexy and mysterious. Lots of compliments.

  10. Susan, I’m in the process of updating & modifying my look, searching for something better than department store items, so this was a great post to receive today.

    I went to Brian’s website to look at the product details for some of the liquid & cream items, but couldn’t find the ingredient lists for them (ie moisturizer, eye treatments, primers, etc ). My skin doesn’t always react well to certain ingredients or combinations, so I have to look at the ingredients before I buy.

    Two questions:
    Would you mind taking photos of the ingredient list labels for the liquid/cream/primer products you use?
    Have you tried his self-sharpening eyeliner pencil and if so, is it easy to use?

    Thanks.

    1. Hi Pam, let me see if I can find ingredient lists for you. I don’t have a way to post photos in the comments section. I have tried the eyeliner and it’s easy to use. It’s softer than an eyeliner pencil that requires a sharpener.

      1. Susan, per Brian’s comment below, I sent my questions to him via his website “contact” feature. (I should have thought of that before, Duh….)

    2. Pam feel free to ask questions about the cosmetics using the Contact button on the bottom of the makeoverworkshop.com home page.
      We can answer all questions for you.
      Glad you enjoyed the video!
      Brian

  11. So glad you like his primer also, Which lipstick did you get? When I’m better i want to g to his studio and pick up some of his eye primer and shadow.

  12. You look wonderful in that video! Inspiring–I went to the website and bought a few of the goodies you and Sandra used. 🙂

    In terms of fragrance, I definitely wear different things in winter than summer. Lighter, brighter things for summer, like Eau d’Hadrien and Cologne de Chanel and Hermes Jardin de Monsier Li and and and…you get the idea. In winter, I wear richer perfumes (and Chergui is certainly in the mix!). But something that’s very fun to do is switch it up. Someone mentioned above that they wear traditionally “summery” (lighter/more citrusy) fragrances in winter, which is great: refreshing and helpful for the mood in the darkest months, I find. The opposite is also fun: wearing a rich or spicy fragrance, like Chergui, in summer and discovering how the fragrance changes with the heat. It can be such an eye-opening pleasure!

  13. Wow! Your skin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s so amazing!! I’m envious! That little video gave me a great, great tip. To apply moisturizer with a brush–whoda thunk????

    I have three go-to fragrances. Guerlain’s L’Instant for the winter and fall. Guerlain’s Le Petit Robe Noire for Spring into Summer and Fragonard’s Fleur d’Oranger for Summer. Although I did come across a great line of inexpensive fragrances in France last summer : Parfum Adopt. All the fragrances are made in France (naturally) and come in little spray tubes–they are perfect to throw into a purse and a perfect gift to bring back from travels!