DIY Pro Brow Shaping Tutorial w/ Soul Lee, NYC Brow Guru

Tending to your brows is probably the easiest, most budget friendly, uplifting (no pun intended) way to take ten years off your face. This video tutorial I did with wonderful colleague Soul Lee, one of NYC's leading brow and lash specialists, is still one of my favorites. It is an in-depth tutorial on getting photo-shoot ready-, your very best-, BROWS ever. In this video Soul gently teaches and reveals her best-kept secrets, all for you to look better: What a gift!

Let me know your thoughts, and if you do end up looking ten years younger, please do share! I always feel a thousand times better when she helps me out!

To book an appointment with Soul Lee who is at the Kiehl's Spa in NYC call 888-SPA-1851 or visit kiehls.com

xoxo.


--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Trimming Facial Hair was Never Easier! Panasonic's New Precision Facial Hair Trimmer

I loved using Panasonic's new Precision Facial Hair Trimmer. I usually use Japanese mini scissors for the little straggler brow hairs, but this did the job way quicker. And who doesn't want to save time!

Brows are my thing. They supremely design your face. They can even make or break your look, I believe this wholeheartedly. I've always used a combo of my fav Rubis tweezers and little Japanese mini brow scissors to keep my brows neat and in check (see my video with Brow Guru Soul Lee for tips on how to get amazing brows at home) -- but then I found out about Panasonic's new Precision Facial Hair Trimmer ($30).

Needless to say, I LOVED it. The little hairs in between my lids and my brows I didn't have to meticulously pluck!!! And, hey those tiny embarrassing hairs around the corners of your mouth, in your nose (yes, gasp! I said it) -- all gone in seconds w/out any ouchy plucking or scissoring. No nicks! And it comes in a cute hot pink, handy pen-like casing. What's not to adore? And it's waterproof. Yay!

Love that it looks like a sophisticated pen in your bag. Always gotta look good -- even in your purse!

Go get yourself one and put it in your purse to be prepared for those days you find that funky hair poking out of your nostril. Haha! Mine is going in my purse STAT!

xoxo
--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

The Beauty Masters: Soul Lee for Your Best DIY Brows

Welcome back to the final chapter of the Beauty Masters, a four-part NuyBeauty.com exclusive interview series that combines the most useful tips on hair color, make-up and brows with step-by-step guidance from some of the industry’s top experts.

Thank you for being patient in waiting for this last piece. Here, tada! (as my daughter would proudly say) is the grand finale, an in-depth tutorial, covering one of my favorite and most definitive parts of the face: the brow! And to elucidate us on the ease of achieving our lovely arches is Soul Lee, a highly sought after New York City-based brow- and lash-specialist for Kiehl's. Come join Soul and I in our special video as she reveals several of her never-before-seen techniques and tricks. After watching this, you'll be your own brow pro -- in less than ten minutes!

Many thanks to Soul for letting us in on the nitty gritty of her brow prowess. If you want to find out more about her, and how to contact her, click here.

What makes a woman beautiful according to Soul? "Confidence. Find your own individual and personal style and make it work for you. If you feel comfortable in who you are, it makes you beautiful.

Product Picks from Your Best DIY Brows:

1) These tweezers are a must-have: Rubis Stainless Steel Slant Tweezers ($35).
2) For filling in the gaps: Yves Saint Laurent Dessin Des Sourcils Eyebrow Pencil ($28), with a handy groomer on the other end.
3) These types of reusable cold packs are great to have for when the little ones have their falls and bumps, or for Soul's pain-free tweezing tip! 

MORE THANKS:

A huge amount of gratitude to Malcolm Lam, a filmmaker and director, who filmed the masters videos and offered invaluable advice and support throughout. You can see some of his work at Wabisabifilms.com.

And big, big thanks to our beautiful model Bronwyn Barnes for volunteering her face, arches (of course!), and support.

-N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

The Beauty Masters: Jason Hoffman for Date Night Make-Up

Welcome back to the Beauty Masters, a four-part NuyBeauty.com exclusive interview series that combines the most useful tips on hair color, make-up and brows with step-by-step guidance from some of the industry’s top experts.

I'm thrilled to finally unveil the first of my two how-to videos. Join me, and make-up artist Jason Hoffman as we dive into genuinely relaxed and simple glamour -- for date night! You'll see that with Jason's approach, stepping up your look from basic to bold will take less time and energy than you ever imagined.

Many thanks again to Jason for his artistry and advice. And to find out more about him, click here.

What makes a woman beautiful according to Jason?
"When a woman feels good about herself she gets a certain twinkle in her eye, and to me to me that's what it's all about."

Product Picks from Your Best Date Night Video 1-2-3:

1) M.A.C. Cosmetics Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer ($17).
2) Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna, ($32).
3) Serge Lutens Refillable Lipstick in color 1- Mise a Mort ($75).

MORE THANKS:

A huge amount of gratitude to Malcolm Lam, a filmmaker and director, who filmed the masters videos and offered invaluable advice and support throughout. You can see some of his work at Wabisabifilms.com.

-N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Make-Up ABCs

Here is a beauty framework I’ve built through trial and error with my daughter that is literally as simple as her ABCs. Sure, there are times when she tries to pull my leggings off while I’m standing at the vanity. And other times when she’s so happy fiddling with my laptop sleeve as a hat that I can indulge in doing my entire face. If she does pitch a fit, I’ve learned to involve her in the process -- like handing her my not-so-nice eyelash curler to play with, which, not to worry, she waves around proudly, putting it no where near her eyes -- and I’m rewarded with one of her awesome smiles. It’s the snap recognition that we’re a team: ever-improvising and adjusting to the sometimes melodic, sometimes chaotic interruptions in life, together.


Make-Up 1-2-3:

These are the ABCs of easy make-up, and all of these steps shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes each.

A = Attractive BROWS. B = Bright EYES. C = Clean LIPS. Listed in order of importance, they are the main elements that define and amplify your face. Even if you only have time to pay attention to one of them you will see a rewarding difference.

1) A is for Attractive Brows
If all else fails with time I make sure my brows are done. Brows shape your eyes and frame your face and expression. I won’t get into heavy shaping issues like tweezing or waxing because that takes more than a few minutes, but you can do a lot to shape your brows without actually removing any hair.

Take a brow brush (here’s one for $1 by e.l.f., or if you don’t have one just use your fingers) and brush or stroke upwards and outwards toward the temples starting from the inner brow. The closer you get toward the temples the more outward, rather than upward, you should brush or stroke. If your brows are sparse like mine, you can fill them softly with a brow pencil remembering to blend afterward, either with an eyebrow brush or your finger. Here are two options for brow pencils: Shu Uemura Hard Formula ($22), or Cover Girl Brow/Eye pencil ($3).

Tip: To set groomed brows, you can brush them with a brow gel. Try these: Christian Dior Brow Fix ($18) or Cover Girl Clear Eye Mascara ($5). And, using a brow gel eliminates the need to brush separately, because you’ll be setting the brow-hairs by brushing with the brow gel wand.

2) B is for Bright Eyes

The simple act of curling your lashes adds surprising width to your windows. For those who don’t know what to do with an eyelash curler, don’t worry, it’s easy. Just take the curler and press the curler up against your upper eyelids so that the lips surround the base of your lashes; then squeeze the scissor-like handles for a good ten seconds. Optionally, you can repeat, but this time place the curler's lips around the middle of the lash to round out the whole curl. The bottom lashes don't get curled. Take a look at the difference it makes:

Here are two great curler options: Shu Uemura ($25), my favorite,  or you can also try this one by Tweezerman ($11).

After curling comes a couple coats of mascara, which takes you from blah to awake in a matter of a few strokes. That little bit of brown or black on your lashes will open up and brighten your eyes. You can’t go wrong with Maybelline for a great drugstore mascara -- I'm currently enjoying the Stiletto ($8), or if you’re willing to spend a little more you can try Imju Fiberwig ($24) which is particularly smudge-proof.

You don’t have to do both steps if you don’t want to. Whatever you can manage will embolden your eyes. Just remember to curl before applying mascara or you could damage your lashes. 

3) C is for Clean Lips

All you need is a bit of tinted lip balm or a subtle lip gloss. Think peach, berry, or nude colors -- not vampy dark browns or overly glittery glosses. A hint of color on your lips can light up your entire face. It makes certain that if you’ve got blemishes, unlike an intensely colored lipstick, you won’t have multiple shades of reds, purples, or oranges clashing on your face, and you're allowed the freedom of a quick and blind application. Try this tinted lip conditioner by M.A.C. Cosmetics ($15) -- I always have it in my pocket.

-N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

The Art of Subtraction

I remember when putting on make-up used to be a relaxing, creative outlet for me. On any given day I could’ve approached my vanity thinking: today I’m wearing a canary yellow top, so let’s do an emerald green eye shadow for contrast – and maybe I’ll add a nice, nude lip. Now with a demanding toddler pinching at my thighs and tugging at my jeans, making my face is suddenly a battle of wills. Not that I still don’t negotiate color schemes as I simultaneously baby-wrangle and make breakfast. I’ve just learned to modify the beauty process.

As a morning ritual, just like an a.m. coffee, I need old-fashioned cosmetics to reassure myself that I am indeed a female who takes care of herself. That bit of make-up, even if it's just a dab of brow pencil, reminds me every day that despite being on my hands and knees scrubbing bits of avocado and cheerios off the dining room floor, I can still look polished.

My vanity used to be an elaborate entity lush with eye-popping products, spanning the entire length of my dresser. Black lipstick? Check. Heated eyelash curler from Japan? Check. The famous false lashes made of real mink that Madonna flaunted? Absolutely.

Now, what’s left in plain sight are the bare essentials. Don’t get me wrong, I still own eyeshadows in every color of Crayola’s 64-piece set. And my brush collection is not to be messed with. But the excess was tossed out – bags of it. Coco Chanel's famous quote about dressing well also applies to make-up: "All you have to do is subtract.”

Stressed about getting all those definers, concealers, and liners on your face? Pick one feature to highlight, whether it’s your lips, brows, cheeks, whatever. Throw out all the make-up you haven’t touched in over six months with the dirty diapers and I promise, it’ll be that much easier to walk out the door with your beauty intact and a few extra minutes in your day.


Subtract 1-2-3:

1) An Easy Red Lip (Allure.com)

2) Great Brows (Instyle.com)

3) Perfect Winter Blush (Stylehive.com)

 -N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.