yumyumcherry

Follow this along the lines of a ’spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.’

NO, FOR GODS SAKE DON’T EAT THIS STUFF (although I have been known to eat the preservative packets of silicone in dried seaweed packages presuming they were salt…..that’s another story better followed by the New England Journal of Medicine….)

No, the idea behind these tubes is to add a bit of lube to airbrush makeup—uslu and all—which tends to be too dry to do much beyond a chalky spray coat. While a nice aerosol dusting of colour is nice if you’re twenty, you probably need a little help from your friends at 40. (Beyond that, I personally recommend spackle aisle 10, Home Depot.) Okay, seriously, a dab of this seems to do the trick.

It’s pro use for the most part and available primarily by online purchase, but it’s an industry standard and well worth the investment. Most people have a range of skin colours throughout the year and a little dab will do you…..

Most of the primers on the market today work on this concept. It will facilitate the glide of whatever you spray/brush or smear on your skin. Less tugging (good for the skin) better blending (good for the finish.)

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Gone are the days were Bendels was haven to the best of Private make up brands. Scarlett, Pixi, Wu….no more.

I imagine that a corporate decision (the same brilliant mind that closed down the fourth floor) or pending bankruptcy prompted a call to stick with more mainstream cosmetic names. Frankly–and sadly–Bendels is no longer much worth the stop. If your time is short in the city, skip it and do (God, am I really saying this??) Bergdorf Goodman instead.

BDG has renovated their basement level to house the staples (everything Estee owns) and a few of the lesser known names. Amore Pacific –a brand of Green Tea based skincare from Korea is there (while their signature spa awaits downtown). Having lived in Korea in the eighties, I would not necessarily have vouched for the quality of their product. I’d be wrong. You should try it. Now that Neimans and Bergdorf have for all intents and purposes (EXCEPT ADDING SALES TAX DOES NOT OCCUR AT BDG UNLESS YOU RESIDE IN NY, GIRLFRIENDS) become the same store, you can swoop this stuff up at NM or online through them. Their serum is excellent.

Ramy USED to be in BDG, but he has moved south to Jeffrey on 14th, so if you are truly looking for eyebrow enhancement, have your driver shoot south.

I still swear (and swear, and swear—but, forget about that) by the Serum de La Mer. Not the Cream, the foundation, the Eye Pack, the Cologne, nor anything else this guy has slapped his name upon, but the Serum works. It’s expensive–over $300 a bottle, but it works. Coincidentally, if you check the testers at the counters, they are all full EXCEPT THIS PRODUCT WHICH EVERYONE WHO WORKS THERE USES. Hummmmm? Coincidence?

Barneys.
I go to Barneys to visit Joan (I love you) and Faustin (the most excellent dancer I’ve met in a long time–I’ll tango with you on the second floor any day)–but, I digress. The basement features a specialty bar of products that seem to take an inordinate amount of time to determine…so I skip it. Maybe you won’t. Turn right as you exit the elevators.

I like their fragrance bar. They also carry ‘By Terry‘….which is much easier, although less gratifying, than a trip to Paris for a consult. I used to buy the USLU airbrush system make up there, but it is no more–Chloe Sevigny or no Chloe–and it’s a pity. Nice concept, but it never seemed to be stocked. I do get updates from them and SK-II (from the same company that produces Kose and Kanebo) is marketing their airbrush, single application –refillable– through SAKS. Too yellow based unless you truly have an oriental heritage.

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Okay, some gals like the geisha look. Nicely pink, powdered and pale. Unfortunately, I possess the fairest skin this side of a transfusion. What’s a Golden Girl wanna -be to do? Voilà:

Vani-T Cyclone (professional airbrush) and LIQUID SUN from Australia (Fair Dinkum, mate).

I’ve had this complexion complex for years (not helped by the fact that one of my business partners is a yummy cappuccino colour, one has flawless Asian skin, and the other has this infuriating glow that prompts people to think she’s twenty years or so younger than she is). Alas.

I’ve tried every spray on/slathe on product since I was ten. Remember Q-T? Not that I didn’t groove to having orange palms for a week. I tried Lancome (and, for what it’s worth, their self bronzer FOR LEGS is decent in a pinch), even Chanel ricocheted into the market–but, non!!

I finally bought a system by a company ‘Natural Bronze’ that promptly filed for Chapter 11….just when I decided that I should toss in the tan towels–I stumbled upon a system out of Australia that one of my Double Bay clients secretly confessed using: Voilà, the Cyclone.

The solution (I use dark) fades perfectly and wears evenly. It does help to exfoliate, have a sheet under your feet (the stuff can be safely and stainlessly wiped up–Just ask the Ritz Carlton TOKYO Midtown), and put vaseline on your eyebrows, ankles (unless you like looking like you’ve just loped through a tobacco field), and fingernails.

Seriously, I even travel with this sucker (I think some hotels think I’m bringing my own vacuum. Oh well, it helps in Japan.)

Debby and Kevin distribute the product and have even shipped me a replacement in the event of any problems, no worries–Aussie style.

Your new secret weapon.

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