Because You're Worth It!

Eve Lom's Ultimate Cleanse Facial and the Rose Body Cocoon at Spa NK Westbourne Grove. London, England.

(Eve Lom logo courtesy of evelom.co.uk)
(Spa NK photo courtesy of spacenk.co.uk)

Mischo Beauty Side Note: Sex and the City The Movie

I just couldn't resist! May isn't coming fast enough!!

Who's going to see it?

(SATC Movie Poster courtesy of newline.com/sexandthecity)
(SATC Movie Trailer courtesy of hbo.com & youtube.com)

Mischo Beauty Reader Favorite

So it's Thursday and it's time for my weekly "Mischo Beauty Reader Favorite" post. I received a lovely e-mail from my reader Shalon asking me to share her favorite blush with you, which is Black Radiance's Sheer Finish Blush in Soft Honey. She says its an inexpensive drugstore brand, and she receives more compliments on this blush more than any other blush she's ever used, including her NARS blush. For a drugstore brand, she's surprised that the pigment is so strong and because the texture is so soft, it blends well and actually lasts without needing to reapply. It's perfect for her combination skin type and at a price of $3.99- it's a staple in her makeup kit!

I love it! Thanks for sharing Shalon!

If you'd like to share your favorite beauty products simply send an e-mail to: mischobeauty@gmail.com with "Mischo Beauty Reader Favorite" in the subject line and tell me all about it!

Have you tried this product? Any thoughts?

(Black Radiance's Sheer Finish Blush in Soft Honey photo courtesy of blackradiancebeauty.com)

Mischo Beauty Pick

I was recently given a Bloomingdales’ gift card (thanks to my sister Nikhel) and perfect for me I knew exactly what I was going to use it on. I’ve wanted to try Chanel’s Levres Scintillantes Glossimer lip gloss for some time now and at $26 (I’m used to buying two lip glosses for this price!) this was my opportunity.

So I purchased Bronze Crystal (limited edition) and Twinkle, and I must say - they definitely deliver the intense shimmer, shine and sparkle as promised! And the packaging- well, very chic and sophisticated. I love them and will tell you that they’re at the top of my list for lip glosses! The formula includes vitamins C and E for protection, and they’re water resistant to guarantee longer wear. While they’re a little more than I’d wear to the office (my co-workers are easily distracted!), I’ve been wearing them everywhere else!

Chanel’s “Levres Scintillantes Glossimer” gets my "Sexy, Healthy, Beautiful" stamp of approval!

What do you think?

(Chanel’s Levres Scintillantes Glossimer photo courtesy of chanel.com)

Mischo Beauty Hearts Saks Fifth Avenue

Let’s face it, who doesn’t like getting something for free- especially when it comes to beauty products! Well, for all of you with a beauty wish-list of splurges- now might be the time to go for it. Saks Fifth Avenue is inviting you to stop in and “get educated, glamorous and gifted” with their “Ageless Beauty 101” event from February 28th to March 8th. With any cosmetics or fragrance purchase of $100, you’ll receive a terry cosmetics bag filled with deluxe samples. I say go for it- I know I am!

(photos courtesy of saksfifthavenue.com)

Mischo Beauty + Tyra's Best of Beauty

I was just reading Beauty 365’s “Win It: Tyra's Best of Beauty” post and I had to jump on the bandwagon with this one! If there was ever a contest to enter- it’s this one! Tyra’s giving away products from Clarisonic, NARS, Bliss, Kerastase, M.A.C, Sephora, Benefit, Dior, Prescriptives- and the list goes on and on! Click here to enter!

(photos courtesy of Tyra Show/Warner Bros.)

Mischo Beauty School: Certification Standard for Beauty

It's called Biodynamic and it's a beauty certification used to certify products above the "natural" and "organic" certifications. Biodynamic is a system of natural farming dating back to the 1920's, and like certified organic farming, Biodynamic farming is free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. But unlike the "natural" and "organic" certifications, in order to receive the Biodynamic certification a product must meet the following conditions:

- Ingredients must come from chemical-free biodynamic farms

- Processing guidelines must focus on manipulating the ingredients and materials as little as possible

If the biodynamic certification interests you, then check out Lavender Fields, Ceago Vinegarden and Harms Vineyard, Flower Essence Services and Dr. Hauschka. These are the only brands in the U.S. which produce certified biodynamic products.

Love your skin.

Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions!

(Source: WWD Beauty Biz)

(photos courtesy of drhauschka.com)

Mischo Beauty Award

The Mischo Beauty Award, for the 2008 Oscars, goes to Heidi Klum! Her makeup was perfectly contoured, her updo styled to perfection, and I loved her lashes! Not to mention her gorgeous red silk taffeta John Galliano gown! And even better- her gown will be auctioned off online to support The Heart Truth. I love it!

Who was your favorite?

(Heidi Klum photos courtesy of instyle.com)

Beautiful hair needs an expert.

I love Cassie's hair in this photo- it looks so soft and chic! But what I love most is that this look can be achieved by anyone (and of course her extensions add additional length). After shampooing and throughly conditioning the hair, blow-dry using your favorite blow-drying serum and section off for curling using at least a 2-inch curling iron. Apply a thermal protector to the hair before curling. As each section is curled, form a pin curl and secure with a clip. Once all of the hair has been pin curled, allow to set before removing clips and finger styling. Finish by applying a few drops of a glossing serum and hairspray for hold. Above I've included the products and tools to achieve her look.

Has anyone used Terax products? If so, what are your thoughts?

(Cassie photo courtesy of lovecassie.com)

Mischo Beauty Closet

I recently discovered a new line of nail polish by a brand called "butter London". The line is called "3 Free Nail Lacquer" and what's so great is that it doesn't contain formaldehyde, toluene or dibutyl phthalate, which are chemicals found in most nail polish. I'm also loving this line because of it's wide range in colors, chic packaging and cute names. My pick for this shoe would be "Fash Pack" which is the second from the right in the photo above. I love the fact that it's not quite brown and not quite beige- but somewhere in between- and it's edgy and still soft enough for this shoe.

butter London's "3 Free Nail Lacquer" gets my "Sexy, Healthy, Beautiful" stamp of approval!

What do you think?

(3 Free Nail Lacquer photo courtesy of butterlondon.com & Chloe photo courtesy of chloe.com)

Because You're Worth It!

Rose Renew Complete Face and Body and the Deluxe Manicure & Pedicure at the Agua Spa at the Sanderson Hotel. London, England.

(photos courtesy of sandersonlondon.com)

Mischo Beauty Reader Favorite

My reader Andrea wrote in to tell me how much she loves L'Oreal's Voluminous Custom Curved Brush Volume Building Mascara. She loves this mascara because it's a great building mascara and it gives perfect volume and length. Not only does it separate lashes well, but it lasts all day - absolutely no crumbling! When she wears it, she always receives compliments on her lashes, and says her eyelashes are the only accessory she can rely on when she wants to keep it simple with only face powder, blush and lip gloss. She loves this mascara so much so, that if it's out of stock when she goes to purchase it, she'll purchase the regular version and curve the brush herself!

I love it! Thanks for sharing Andrea!

After reading Andrea's e-mail, I thought it would be great to do a weekly "reader favorite". So here goes- if there's a beauty product you love and can't live without, then I'd like to know about it and feature it! Simply send an e-mail to: mischobeauty@gmail.com with "Mischo Beauty Reader Favorite" in the subject line and tell me all about it!

Have you tried this product? Any thoughts?

Mischo Beauty + Mally Beauty

I feel like I’ve been living under a rock because I have yet to try celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal’s “Shimmer, Shape & Glow”! I was talking to someone recently and told them I'd visited Henri Bendel’s beauty department during fashion week and the first thing I was asked was if I’d checked out the Mally Beauty makeup counter. I was then told that the “Shimmer, Shape & Glow” was a must-have!. Well I didn't get over to the Mally Beauty counter due to having to rush back to the tents at Bryant Park, but since then it's been on my mind so I ordered it from QVC and can't wait to try it!

The "Shimmer, Shape and Glow" face-defining system is a three-powder compact with a powder to add "shimmer" or a highlight, a powder to "shape" or contour, and a powder to add a "glow". It comes in four pallettes:

- Life is Lighter (light/medium)

- Love is Deeper (tan/dark)
- In the Pink Lighter

- In the Pink Deeper

Her products are available on QVC, Amazon.com and at Henri Bendel. I'll post pictures and let you know how this works for me once I receive it. I'm hoping it'll give me that "Beyonce" or "Jennifer Lopez" glow that Mally's so famous for creating!

Is anyone currently using this? If so, what are your thoughts?

(photos courtesy of mallyroncal.com & mallybeauty.com)

Mischo Beauty: Scarlett Johansson Beauty File

(photos courtesy of style.com)

Mischo Beauty Hearts Neiman Marcus

If there was any time to get to Neimans- the time is now! The Beauty Event started February 17th (through March 2nd), and if you spend $100 or more on fragrances or cosmetics, you receive a pink tote and six deluxe "treats" of the following: Orlane Repairing Night Cream, Chatecaille Rice & Geranium Foaming Cleanser, Fresh Sugar Acai Body Cream, Prada Scented Towlette, YSL Elle Fragrance and Lancome Courbe Virtouse Mascara in Black.

Even BETTER yet, if you spend a certain amount on a particular line of products (Kiehl's, Jo Malone, Chanel, La Prairie, NARS, Bliss and La Mer to name a few) the product line also has a complimentary gift with purchase. So you have the potential to receive TWO gift sets, depending on your purchase. Run, run, run!

(photos courtesy of neimanmarcus.com)

Mischo Beauty Pick

I've been writing so much about exfoliation lately, that I'm sure you all are well aware of it's benefits (smile). I can't stress enough the need to incorporate it into your skincare regimen because it's one of the best ways to keep your skin looking young, refreshed and vibrant! You can probably guess my age- or close to it- if you've been following my blog, but most people think I'm at least 10 years younger than I actually am! I attribute most of that to my genes and the rest to a consistent skincare regimen. This leads me to sharing with you my absolute favorite exfoliant for the face, and it's Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant. This product is AMAZING and my skin is always unbelievably soft and smooth after each use.

Here's how it works- it's a rice-based enzyme powder that activates once you mix it with water. It contains rice bran and rice startch which exfoliate surface skin cells. Papain enzyme and salicylic acid dissolve skin cells, and green tea, ginkgo and colloidal oatmeal all calm the skin, leaving it smooth and vibrant. The combination of all the ingredients helps to even skin tone.

It's gentle enough to use daily, but my preference is to use it 2 -3 times a week after double-cleansing and before I apply my mask. This is definitely a winner and worth the investment! I highly recommend it.

(photos courtesy of dermalogica.com)

Mischo Beauty School: Microdermabrasion 101

I've been writing about the benefits of exfoliation and how important it is to incorporate it into your skincare regimen for the past few months. This post is in response to a few of my readers who have e-mailed me inquiring about microdermabrasion. They wanted to know what the procedure entailed and who would be the best candidate for it. Well, microdermabrasion is a mechanical form of exfoliation that uses a vacuum to spray microcrystals across the skin. It is a noninvasive procedure that works to resurface the outermost layer of skin. The benefits include improved skin texture, moisture retention, elastin and collagen production, and reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation issues. You might be a candidate for this procedure if you've experienced the following:

- Sun Damage
- Coarse textured skin
- Enlarged pores
- Fine lines
- Wrinkles
- Pigmentation problems

The service would include a professional cleansing, massage, microdermabrasion, a soothing mask and the application of a moisturizer with a sunscreen. In order to achieve the best results, you really need to commit to a series (with each procedure 7-10 days apart) and be consistent with your home skincare regimen.

I've had this procedure performed on me because I was required to while completing my esthetics program, but I'm not a candidate for it because I have easily sensitized skin. It is not recommended if you have sensitive skin or scar easily. The procedure can be uncomfortable and you might experience some sensitivity which usually goes away shortly thereafter. If you're considering it, I would highly suggest having a thorough consultation with your esthetician. Based on a discussion about your lifestyle and medical history, it would be determined if it was appropriate for you. If improperly performed, it might cause hypopigmentation/hyperpigmentation (light/dark discoloration of the skin). The results from this procedure are amazing and those who've experienced the benefits from it recommend it without reservation.

Have you experienced this procedure? If so, what were the results for you? Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions! Love your skin.

Mischo Beauty Hearts M.A.C Fafi

In response to the many e-mails I've received regarding the M.A.C Fafi launch, I'm excited to share with you what I purchased from the M.A.C store in Georgetown:

- All 3 Fafi Dolls
- Eye Shadow Palette in "Fafi Eyes 1"
- Iridescent Pressed Powder in "Verve-Acious"
- Lipstick in "Fun "N" Sexy"
- Lipstick in "Not So Innocent"
- Lipglass in "Sugar Trance"

I also picked up the new Slimshine lipstick in "Rock Out". My favorites from the Fafi line are "Fun "N" Sexy" lipstick, which is a blue pink with blue peal glaze and "Not So Innocent" lipstick, which is a sheer tan with pink and peach pearl glaze. Both lipsticks give you a nice sheer coat of color, with a pearlized finish. I love the "Verve-Acious" pressed powder which is an intense yellow gold with gold pearl, because it gives you a nice hint of a golden highlight. The "Rock Out" lipstick is a bright blue pink with a gold pearl and it did not disappoint either, as I love the way it goes on so smooth! I've definitely found the cure for my spring fever!

A special thank you to Stefan (M.A.C makeup artist) who explained all the products as I tested them out!

Mischo Beauty Closet

Essie's "Hi Maintenance" + Paule KA Peep-Toe Platform with gold heel = WINNER!

What do you think?

(photos courtesy of essie.com & elleuk.com)

Beautiful hair needs an expert.

I'm not a Katie Holmes fan and I never really even paid her any attention until I saw Tom jumping up and down on Oprah's couch professing his love for her. Now you can't help but notice her new chic bob haircut - I love it! Her styling team completely reinvented her look and I must say it's fabulous! Here are the products and tools to maintain her look.

(Katie Holmes photo courtesy of vogue.come.au)

Because You're Worth It!

Sublime Deluxe at L'Institut de Guerlain. Paris, France.

Mischo Beauty Hearts Barneys

Today is love day- as every day should be, but why not treat yourself to something extra special! I received an e-mail blast from Barneys New York, that I couldn't resist sharing! Starting today through February 16th, spend $175 on cosmetics and fragrances and receive a cosmetic bag filled with an assortment of products. I've had the Natura Bisse Diamond Cream on my "wish list" for a while now. It's one of the best anti-aging creams because it specifically works to stimulate cell renewal, therefore keeping your skin young and vibrant. It's a "must-have" for my beauty sleep because that's the time when cells renew themselves most!

What's on your beauty "wish list"?

Mischo Beauty Announcement

Save the date because Billy B. , Sam Fine and Valente Frazier are coming to DC for the 4th Annual Celebrity Makeup Symposium which will be held May 3-5 at the Bennett Career Institute. I attended last year and it was amazing! For more information please call 202.526.1400, ext. 18. If you attended last year, what did you think?

Mischo Beauty Hearts Kissable Couture

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I had to post about my love for A. J. Crimson and his new collection of lip glosses called the “Fist Kiss Collection”. You see, I had the opportunity to attend a celebrity makeup symposium last year and A.J. was one of the featured artists. He hinted that he had some “things” in the works, but couldn’t tell us about them just yet. I hadn’t even heard of him prior to, and after attending his workshop, I felt inspired and better educated about career opportunities, as well as the business of makeup. He’s worked with celebrities such as Fergie, Amerie, and Mya and even had the opportunity to work with the legendary Pat McGrath for Paris Fashion Week.

So apparently the “things” in the works was the launch of the Kissable Couture brand, which is a collaboration between himself and Keisha Whitaker (wife of Forest Whitaker). The “First Kiss Collection” includes seven luscious lip glosses named after the “first kisses” ( “Chris, David, Dylan, Eric, Forest, Johnny, Tyler”) that really mattered for Keisha and her friends. I also love the fact that each individual lip gloss comes in a little black case with a ribbon. My absolute favorites are “Dylan”, “Eric” and “Tyler”! Check out his website.

If you’ve tried them, please let me know your favorites!

Mischo Beauty + Sunsilk Contest

Those of you who know me personally know how passionate I am about setting goals and going after your dreams. So when I saw Bionic Beauty’s most recent post- I had to spread the word! Sunsilk is sponsoring a contest called “The Sunsilk Life Can't Wait Contest”. It’s your chance to share how you’ve put in countless hours to achieve your dreams- whatever they might be!

To enter the contest you submit a story and photo for a chance to win a trip to New York City, an audition for the new Sunsilk campaign and to have your hair styled by celebrity stylist Andy LeCompte. I’ve never tried these products, but I love, love, love the idea of this contest. Please visit the Sunsilk MySpace page for contest details and to request product samples.

Please let me know if you enter the contest!

Mischo Beauty: Sienna Miller Beauty File

Mischo Beauty News

For all the Smashbox lovers out there- I just received an e-mail announcing the launch of the new Bionic Mascara. From what I've read, its ionic formula contains aloe, wheat protein, silk and olive oil which all work together to strengthen the lashes, while giving you the length you need without clumping. It's brush is specially designed for a soft application and it only comes in jet black for maximum definition. Sounds like the perfect mascara to me. I’ve added it to my list!