Merry Christmas: Here's a Day in My Life as Mother, Beauty Expert, Girlfriend, and Life Lover!

NuyBeauty: Christmas Rainbow Makeup - A Just for Laughs Video

Happy Friday! My daughter begs to play with my Pro makeup kit. Here's what
happens when I let it happen. So just for laughs...

I think my Shu Uemura master eye shadow palette endured some damage. Whoops ;-).

--N.C.

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

Glitz up Your Holiday Nails w/ the Zenith Collection by Zoya

The Winter/Holiday 2013 Zenith collection by Zoya Nail Polish.

I like shopping for the holidays, way before the crowds hit. Like I bought the little USB mini lights tree at Target for $5.99 (in the photo) early this morning right after I dropped off my daughter at kindie. It brightens up all the beauty products I work with.

Today's 'display' - haha - is Zoya's Zenith Nail collection. Perfect for the holidays with its glistening effect, but I particularly like the set because it's colors remind me of a winter's sunset -- there are dark blues, navies and silvers. It's feminine and distinctly bold and vivid at the same time. The darker shades will look amazing with your winter whites and the lighter shades with your pretty, sultry, dark suits or party dresses.

And, why I love Zoya? It's great for kids because it was the first company to remove toxic ingredients such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and DBP (dibutyl phthalate) from its formulations.

Have fun and paint up those nails!

xo.

--N.C.

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

NuyBeauty Daily Giveaway No. 2: 4 GIRLS, Zoya Ballet Babe Ltd Edition Nail Polish + 4 BOYS, Men's Skate / Surf T's

Limited Edition Zoya Nail Polishes from the Zang Toi Spring/Summer NY Fashion Show 2014 - a pretty set of pastel pink, baby blue and black, called Ballet Babe

NuyBeauty Daily Giveaway No. 2:

Yes! Another fun bunch of treats to give to my fans. Today for boys and girls!

I've got one set of limited edition Zoya Nail Polishes from the Zang Toi Spring/Summer NY Fashion Show 2014 - a pretty set of pastel pink, baby blue and black, called Ballet Babe. And for the boys: two awesome skater/surf t's - a Quintin one and a RAW one.

Two awesome skater/surf t's - a Quintin one and a RAW one.

Rules: Just comment below on this post and confirm you've followed me on either Instagram or Twitter. Whichever platform you prefer. My handle is @nuybeauty and either can be followed easily on the right sidebars on your screen. You get EXTRA CREDIT if you follow me on both! 

If you're already following me - then just post a comment below and you'll be entered to win.

Good luck!

Winner is Jennifer Dysart- Contact me at nuy@nuybeauty.com to get your goodies :-)!

-- N.C.

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

The DIY Lace & Sparkle Mask: A Makeup Masquerade

The DIY Lace & Sparkle Mask: A Makeup Masquerade, done by Jason Hoffman

One of my biggest joys is having to create something with very little time and whatever you've got on hand -- and if the final product turns out well, hey, then it's even better. But really, it's about the process of getting there. I get a ton of gratification out of this. It's challenging and super fun for me. And when I get to do it with other innovative people, or even watch someone in their creative process, it's truly thrilling.

Yesterday for New Year's Eve, I had to go to an event. The catch was that it required that I wear a mask, and I didn't know that until the last minute. My good friend and make-up artist Jason Hoffman was doing my makeup for the occasion and I was at his residence. I asked him if he had a mask I could borrow. He paused momentarily and stood still -- then said with a smile, "Wait. I have an idea. Hold on, while I go grab some things."

He then went to retrieve a couple of your standard, artistic pro make-up artist storage boxes. If you don't know what these are, I'll fill you in. They're magical because they're chock full of fake lashes, colored make-up face creams, paillettes, and powders galore. You name it, you want it, it's probably in there!

Makeup Artist Jason Hoffman cutting a lace glove for "Makeup Masquerade"

The next thing I knew, he had pulled out an arm's length kelly green lace glove (think Material Girl), which he promptly started cutting up. And I then I started grinning like a little girl who'd just found she was getting a huge unexpected present, quickly realizing what was going on:

"Hey, are you making me a 'mask' there Jason?" This was going to be my kind of excellent!

Jason cuts out individual flowers in the lace

"Exactly, Nuy! If I don't have a mask for you to take, we're going to make one up right on your face," he stated.

And so for the next hour, he literally "masked" me by painting me (with eyeshadow), applying lace pieces (with spirit gum), sequins (with lash glue) -- the final touch being false eyelashes. For the application of the sequins, he had me lie down Kevyn Aucoin-style (he famously had his models lie down for their makeup), since the pieces were so tiny and required such precision.

The "Makeup Masquerade" ingredients: Luxe lashes by Shu Uemura, cut lace, sequins.

The great thing about this "mask," was that during the New Year's event, I never had to slide it off and on because it wasn't impairing my vision, it didn't make me hot and sweaty -- it was just a part of my face! And it was full of color, sparkle, and lace. What kind of gal can't glory in that, new year's eve or not?

Thanks Jason!

DIY Make-up Lace / Sparkle Mask 

Made up and masked, and sparkling! You can do it too!

You can create a similar mask at home with big paillettes and/or sequins and some lace. The trick is to keep the general shape of the mask simple. You can even start by drawing an outline of what you want to do with a light colored eyeliner. And you can do just one side of your face, like Jason did. He essentially cut out the flowers in the lace and then arranged them around my right eye, filling the space in between with sequins, and some make-up.


Supplies needed:

1) Lace -- you can go to your local fabric or craft store and buy lace ribbon, or look in your drawers or closet to see if there is an old slip or piece of clothing with lace trim that you can use.

2) Sequins or paillettes. The bigger the pieces, the easier it will be to get them on your face.

Bronze paillettes, M&J Trimming ($6/250)

3) Spirit gum for the lace. Tip: apply the gum directly onto your face first, then apply the lace.
4) Eyelash glue for the paillettes.
5) False lashes if you'd like.

--N.C.

Holiday Glimmer Beauty Bag Giveaway

A giveaway with sparkly items from Nars, MAC, Orly, C.O. Bigelow, CoverGirl, and more!

Hi there! Sorry it's been awhile everyone! This busy mama has been having a whirlwind of a month (I moved houses/home offices among other things), but I'm back and the holiday giveaways are happening strong -- no worries. Here's one full of sparkle and glimmer, and there's even a little scent in there to please you. Have fun with this! Just comment below and tell me how you feel about make-up with shimmer, and you'll be entered to win! Have a great day.

The lucky winner will be announced next week.

-- N.C.

*And the winner is Danielle: thanks for the fabulous and funny comment!

Halloween Beauty Giveaway

NuyBeauty.com Halloween Beauty Giveaway: Comment on this post to have a chance at the fun, products that could be yours!

Halloween is a time when our kids get to go buck wild in pure sugar-highs and smile in their cool costumes while we admire, gush, and snap away with our cameras and smartphones. And, I thought on this day, when we mothers pour our energies and hearts into our children, their festivities and costuming -- that I should give away a special treat bag full of beauty and pampering items just for us Mamas.

Because we deserve it! Just comment on this post to have a chance at winning the surprise giveaway bag. The winner will be announced next week. Have a great Halloween!

THE LUCKY WINNER IS MARY! YAY! xxxxxx - NUY


-N.C.

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

NuyBeauty's Holiday Gift Picks

Beauty treats are the perfect, last-minute gift.

While the finishing touches are being applied to the expert how-to videos  of the Beauty Masters series (hint, hint!), I thought I'd share a last-minute holiday gift guide. Beauty treats are perfect as stocking-stuffers or presents for special teachers, mothers, childcare providers, and really anyone who appreciates pampering and grooming. Here are some of my favorites for receiving as well as giving:

Who wouldn't like aromatic holiday gifts nestled in pretty, glistening packages?

NuyBeauty's Holiday Gift Picks 1-2-3:

1) I love all things coriander, and Kiehl's Bath and Shower Liquid Body Cleanser "Coriander," ($16 for 8.4 oz.) is one of the most spa-sensational ways to get up in the morning. The scent is just the right balance of crisp and smooth.

2) I've always been a huge fan of Diptyque candles. Their aroma is never obtrusive, but soft and inviting. And they are quite nice to look at, with their understated and minimalist packaging. Try Diptyque Paris's Baies "Noire"/ Berries Candle ($80 for a 300 gram candle), which has a bouquet of roses and blackcurrant.

3) My daughter and I have been enjoying a lot of clementines of late, as they're in season and delicious right now! And so I've been a l'orange, which brings me to my final recommendation: Annick Goutal's Néroli Eau de Toilette ($115 for 3.4 oz.). This fragrance is all about the orange flower blossom and its elegant earthly essence.

-N.C.

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

Away We Were!

We went away for a few ... now we're back!

Oh, summer, summer, beautiful summer ...

-N.C.

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