New Lipstick Loves / NARS, OCC Stained Gloss and Mehron B.L.A.M.E.

May 19, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Lips, Makeup No Comments Tags: body makeup, gloss, glow in the dark, lipstain, lipstick, Makeup Show NYC, matter, Mehron, nars, new products, Obssessive Compulsive Cosmetics, OCC, satin lipstick

I want to share some amazing new products I added to my arsenal of lipsticks this past month. These were discoveries from the Makeup Show in New York, and I am featuring them because I feel they are fantastic for your lipstick essentials. If you are going to spend money on a lipstick/ gloss, might as well do it on something that is quality and doesn’t need re-applying every hour.

NARS Satin Lip Pencils – Launched a few months ago, NARS Satin lip pencil is a mix of matte/ lipstick finish more the former, it is long lasting, strong pigment and glides on nicely. LOVE IT.

Obssessive Compulsive Stained Gloss – In stores May 23 in the USA at OCC and Sephora, think gloss merged with an OCC liptar/ regular stain, finish is shiny and color payoff is big (note I didn’t use any primer or pencil). For those who love gloss with color, great product.

Mehron B.L.A.M.E. Cream Makeup – Described as body makeup, this pencil in orange comes in a very watery consistency which can be used with a strong base of lip pencil or on its own, I would use with a lip pencil to ensure long lasting color. Good product by Mehron.

Back in the USA!

May 2, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Makeup, Personal No Comments Tags: instagram, Make Up Forever, Makeup Show NYC, nars, Norahlovesmakeup_mua, Singapore, Temptu, twitter

After six years in Singapore, time has come for me to return to the USA. Living in Singapore was wonderful, it opened a door to creativity, resourcefulness and understanding, so different from living in New York and London. I entered a world so foreign to my own, it taught me to learn and accept a new ideal of beauty and appreciate what I had familiarity with. While in Asia, I made the best lemonade I could with my career, personal life, travel opportunities, and also embraced a healthy lifestyle. If any of my peers, clients and editorial friends are reading this, I owe you the trust and opportunities I had and will be forever grateful, please come visit me and keep in touch. My last weeks in Singapore were so packed with endless to-do’s, packing and quietly reflecting, I didn’t have a proper going away with anyone, goodbye’s are awful.

This weekend I will be attending the New York Makeup Show, a NARS tweet up, a blogger preview event with James Vincent and workshops by Make Up Forever and Temptu Pro. Last year, I was lucky to be in Chicago for the same event and this year, so delighted to be a part of the NY show. What I love about the Makeup Show aside from all the workshops and shopping experience, is the opportunity to listen and meet renowned fellow artists and get inspired.

I have a shopping list and of course I will be sharing my thoughts post-show. If you want real-time updates, I will be Instagram-ing and on Twitter. For Instagram, I can be found at Norahlovesmakeup_mua and on norah_s on Twitter.

New Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream SPF 50/PA ++

Mar 11, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Anti-Ageing, Hydration, Hypoallergenic, Skincare, SPF No Comments Tags: BB cream, color correcting, coverage, fragrance free, Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream SPF 50/PA ++, mineral oil free, Paraben-Free, silicone free, spf 50++, UV filters, Vitamin C

Over the course of my blogging days, I’ve discussed and researched the BB Cream phenomenon which started here in Asia. Mystified by the various formulations, I didn’t quite find a particular brand I liked with the exception of one. As with most skincare trends, all major brands have come up with their own BB creams and I have tried a lot of the Western and Asian ones. With BB cream I think a lot comes down to formulation and the individual skin needs (some like high SPF, some don’t, some color correct, others cover and brighten).

When I received my complimentary Kiehls BB Cream in Natural, I decided to test drive it in the middle of day when it is balmy and very warm here in Singapore. First, I liked the consistency of it, the BB glides on much like a tinted moisturizer and visibly evened out my skin (most of my color correcting happens around the eyes, as for the rest of my face it is not much needed). Another very amazing plus for this formula is the SPF 50++ factor, I love the high factor protection. It didn’t burn or sting at all! This Kiehl’s formula is silicone free, mineral oil free, paraben free and fragrance free, good for sensitive skin types. As the day progressed, I didn’t feel too much oil or shine build up – good effort!

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream SPF 50/PA +++ retails for $52 (in SG) and is available in 3 shades – fair, light, natural. This new BB cream contains correction ingredients like Vitamin C and UV filters. I am not huge on BB creams as I am much more of a tinted moisturizer person but this particular one is VERY much worth it for medium coverage and color correcting.

Review Vichy Bi-White Med

Mar 6, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Anti-Ageing, Beauty, Skincare No Comments Tags: asian skin, Bi-White Med, Brightener, french, hypoallergenic, luminous, pharmacie, sensitive skin, Vichy, whitening

Last week I had the chance to attend a session led by Vichy and it was all about their brightening range called Bi-White Med. This range is formulated to help skin that has darkness due to pigmentation, irregular texture, dryness, redness and general dull complexion. From my time living in Europe, I have always known of Vichy as a very reputable skincare from France, offering products for sensitive skin, suncare and general anti-aging all done with extensive research and using excellent ingredients.

The research and formulation was impressive for the Bio-White Med range. I had a chance to try the consistency and strength of this formula, which is good for sensitive skin types (I applied to my chin area and the creams were absorbed without a hitch). Bi-White Med is geared to the Asian skin market as a whitener (ie. Brightener for those not Asian and readers from Europe/ Americas/ Australia). Brightening the skin is huge these days, a luminous, even and plump texture is what most women desire with or without the use of makeup, skin is in!

If you are looking for a formula that’ll help your skin keep hydrated and appear brighter, this is for you. As with any skincare product, consistency and discipline is everything, this isn’t an overnight cure, you must use it for at least a month AND on a daily basis alongside a proper cleanser/ toner. Prices per product Bi-White Med Essence $82, Bi-White Med Day Cream $59, Bi-White Med Night Cream $69 (Singapore Dollars).
This as an investment in your skincare regimen I recommend, you can’t really go wrong with French pharmacie products.

**In Singapore Vichy is available at Watsons, Guardian & Unity plus there is a Vichy flag-ship at Ngee Ann City Watsons and Paragon Guardian, first in Asia.

Norah Recommends These Books

Mar 5, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Fashion, Photography No Comments Tags: books, diana vreeland, film, grace coddington, harpers bazaar, isabella blow, London, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, photos, reading, styling, The September Issue, UK, USA, vogue

One of the advantages of going away and long flights is READING, lots of it. I have a few book recommendations to give, based on content, writing and interests, this in my case, is pretty much fashion and beauty.

Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington – The creative director of US Vogue gives the reader a glimpse into her most interesting and extraordinary life and career, dating back to modelling in the 1960s, working in London and her years as the woman behind the scenes at US Vogue. I loved her aloof, focused and determined personality from the film The September Issue so when this book came out, I was so ready for more. It is beautifully written, candid and unpretentious, Miss Grace Coddington can do no wrong.

Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion – I first learned about socialite and fashion editor/ stylist British born Isabella Blow through the work of Alexander Mcqueen and a documentary about his career. Curious and most intrigued by her unique sense of style, life as a socialite and struggle with depression, I bought this book and read it with gusto. What a life and career. Good reading and anecdotes of a life cut too short.

Empress of Fashion: A Life of Diana Vreeland – Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel is a documentary film that’s just been released and I was most intrigued by how highly regarded this American lady was in the world of fashion. From working at Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, to her consulting for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Diana Vreeland was the hardest working woman in fashion back in the 1950′s til almost her death at the age of 86. I was struck by her fortitude, vision and strength of character, this book is entertaining and most insightful.

I’ve Been Away

Mar 3, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Personal, Tips No Comments Tags: karl lagerfeld, Makeup Boards, Makeup How-To, pinterest

Sometimes we need to take time out from the stress and I did exactly just that. January was pretty busy with work then I embarked on a break and two journeys which were much needed but fret not, I have new skincare reviews coming up! BTW, my Pinterest boards have been en fuego – I have been very active on them, please check them out. I have a super popular Karl Lagerfeld board, plus my other hugely followed Makeup How-To where I’ve assembled advice and guides on how to apply your makeup and skincare, infographs and useful information for all types.

New Make Up Forever Technicolor Spring 2013 Palette

Jan 21, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Eyes, Eyeshadow, Makeup No Comments Tags: dany sanz, eyeshadow, Make Up Forever, mufe, Pigment, Spring 2013, Technicolor palette

Two words come to mind, BOLD colors and major pigment. When I received the new Make Up Forever Technicolor Spring 2013 Palette, those were my first thoughts. This new palette is loaded with fantastic basics such as brown, beige, white and lilac and your bright tones of yellow, lime green and ski blue – two complementing accents for your makeup stash. Mostly made out of matte tones, an iridescent yellow beige and satiny yellow (limited edition), this is a fantastic array for the makeup lover and everyday woman.

From the Creator and Artistic Director of MUFE, Dany Sanz:

“I wanted to create an electrifying beauty, the kind that emanates from certain women who leave behind a craving for their radiant, magnetic appeal long after they walk out of the room. I imagined a women who could draw every eye and stop short any conversation just by walking by. This Spring, I am paying tribute to color; for me, the undeniable radiance of yellow expresses the overwhelming pull that can create such irresistible attraction and spectacular sensuality.”

I love this idea of bringing basic colors and marrying them to bold spring-like tones. A litle background on Technicolor and the name behind it

Technicolor is a film color process, which saw the light of day in 1910, and has been developed through several decades. It became the most famous process in Hollywood from 1920 -1960. Some classics like Wizard of Oz, Singing in the Rain… partly owe their success to this technique. Due to the color on the film stock that was overloaded, it was never seen before in a movie.

This palette is available in Singapore at Sephora and the Make Up Forever pro-store. For more info, please go to MUFE on Facebook.

Eye Makeup Using Maybelline Studio® Color Tattoo® 24HR Cream Gel Shadow

Jan 8, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Eyes, Eyeshadow, Makeup No Comments Tags: Audacious Asphalt, cream shadow, Gel Shadow, Maybelline Studio® Color Tattoo® 24HR Cream, waterproof

I am a huge fan of cream eyeshadow and pigments. Whenever I do makeup either on myself or a client and want a waterproof, no crease result, I will always use a product that is cream and buildable. For this gorgeous model’s makeup, the brief was no exception, she was going on a fashion show and needed to look perfect for outdoors/ sweating/ flash photography.

On her eyes, I used Maybelline Color Tattoo in Audacious Asphalt, which is like a pewter/ metal. I like this shade lots because not only does it offer subtle shimmer, you can manipulate the pigment into a deep black or even a navy blue using a powder, you just have to blend to build that color and it will work. I blended the rest of this deep smokey eye using some browns in.

Highly recommend the Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadows, good price point and excellent product. Can’t wait for a complete rainbow of colors!

(Hair was by Mark Cheng).

OCC Skin Concealers

Jan 5, 2013 By Norah Salazar in Concealer, Makeup No Comments Tags: concealer, coverage, cruelty free, Obssessive Compulsive Cosmetics, OCC, Paraben-Free, Petroleum and Fragrance freence, pink undertones, Silicone, vegan, yellow undertones

Finally! The wait is over, the new OCC Skin Conceal concealers are in my kit. After months of waiting I got the precious five concealers sent over to me – thanks to my sister in California who always acts as my makeup keeper stateside.

In the summer of 2012 while at the Makeup Show Chicago, I tested and swatched these awesome concealers, OCC sells all vegan and cruelty-free products (not tested on animals). What I liked the most is the consistency, cream-like, hydrating, subtle and buildable quality of this product, all supremely important when you are working in types of climates/ scenarios. I didn’t get the complete set (I will eventually), instead I went for the medium yellow concealers Y2, Y3, Y4 and the reds (pink) R1 and R2 most colors which are hard to find here in Asia. I kind of regret not getting the R0 and Y0 which would have been the lightest of the concealers, good for highlighting and covering fair skin types but like stated earlier, I know I will sooner or later.

I swatched using natural light and my (hairy) forearm which is quite fair with a hint of yellow undertone, the chart on the OCC website is more a guide as you can see from the swatch. OCC concealers are availble only through the OCC website and their boutique in the Lower East Side NYC.

Stress Over Holiday Shopping? Go For A Massage!

Dec 20, 2012 By Norah Salazar in Beauty, Spa No Comments Tags: aromatherapy, asterspring, Dermalogica, Dermalogica's Stress Relief Oil, massage, relaxation, Singapore, stress

A few weeks ago, I had the worst neck pain and was completely overwhelmed with all the holiday season to-do’s plus my job is a very physical one that involves standing, bending, pressure. In an effort to sort my muscles out and have an hour of bliss, I booked a massage at AsterSpring in Centre Point.

The first order of business was to let my therapist know where I felt pain and tightness, for me it is the shoulders and lower legs. As soon as I was done with the questionnaire, I was brought into the room for my Anti Stress Body Balancing massage session. To start, I had a lovely dry brush all over to help activate the circulation followed by a warm towel to soothe pre-massage. As the therapist worked into my muscles, she used Dermalogica’s Stress Relief Oil an essential oils blend of Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange and Clary Sage, naturally-purifying extracts of Tea Tree, Lemon, and Ylang-Ylang. The feeling is very non-greasy and unlike other massage therapy spas, the effect is gentle on the skin and will leave a subtle hydration. All my point pressures were done from my ankles, legs, shoulders, wrists and plus an amazing head massage! The therapist did various kinds of massage strokes like kneading, pulling, wringing and gliding on various parts of the body, all aimed to be gentle enough, this is not a painful type of treatment. Excellent bedside manners, super clean and professional, that’s how I’d describe my massage experience at AsterSpring.

After my one hour was up, I noticed I had fallen asleep, a good sign that the massage had done wonders. A post massage consultation followed and I was adviced to drink lukewarm water and keep hydrated. This treatment is aimed to help relax, relieve muscle tension and help circulation. Thank you AsterSpring!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »

Norah Loves Makeup

Makeup and Beauty Musings