Healing the Adult Boo with Halloween: Pt. 1

A Pre-Halloween explosion atop my vanity: The kid(s) probably already have costumes, but how about you, why not dress up too? It doesn't have to be complicated. I'm doing a pink painted half-mask I found at my local 99 cent store (above left) with the addition of some lashes and make-up I'll write about next week.

I'm late on my post this week, ahhhh!

I got sick, my daughter got sick, and then it was a snowball effect of other life-frustrations getting entirely out of control. You know ... one of those weeks were you look in the mirror and it takes you a second to, um, unearth your eyes behind the pillows of puffiness and sofa cushions of swelling.

So I did two things to cheer myself and my daughter up. For me, and me only, when I did have to leave the house, I put on a dark, wine-hued lipstick and mascara to offset my swollen eyes (the dramatic lipstick averting attention from the tired eyes). For the both of us I did a mini Halloween shopping spree to prepare for the holiday itself -- evidenced in the opening photo -- as well as to ready us for a costume party we've been invited to next week. Because, dressing up? Well, that's just the best mood lifter ever!

I got a mask for the little one too. It helped cheer us up during our not-so-great days. We pretended to be jungle cats and growled.

Wine for Halloween, the Rouge Kind 1-2-3:

A couple of brooding, deep and purple-reds for you.

1) Revlon Matte Lipstick in Wine Not, $8.

2) Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in Gilded Wine, $25.

3) Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour in Fatale, $30.

My mix of the day: Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in BR785M and M.A.C. Cosmetics Lipstick in Up the Amp

Don't feel like buying anything new? No need! Mix any red or brownish-red lip color with a violet or fuchsia one.


-N.C.


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

Conceal Me Pretty!

My daughter shows me her eye patch.

I wonder how handy a face patch would be for this Mommy
those days I feel like giant pimples are taking over my life.

 Upside down, on the nose, lopsided: eye patches make for lots of giggles.
Thanks to our good friend L. for the party favor!

Oh, the woe of adult acne. Not to mention the appetizer plate of blemishes, scars, et cetera, one would like to cover up so they look somewhat fresh off the shelf when walking out the door. Some days I wake up and there are so many monstrosities on my face, I feel like I can't bear to leave the house. But of course I can't do that. Duty calls.

My daughter was playing with a pirate's eye patch the other day, and it occurred to me that sometimes that I wish I could just cover up those teen-aged red-dotted parts on my face with a big old piece of curtain and call it a day. But of course there's a better way that's not so Halloween. I mean spooky is good when you're doing it on purpose. But for everyday, let's show off the pretty and hide the pimply.


Concealer 1-2-3:

1) When you're dealing with light scarring and/or blemishes, try any of these of these concealers (from budget to splurge): Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector Concealer ($5), M.A.C. Cosmetics Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer ($17) , and Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer ($70). You can't go wrong with any of one of these. The Maybelline is a great, overall buy and product; the M.A.C. has the added benefit of sun protection and a slightly heavier finish, and therefore coverage; and the Cle de Peau is the Rolls-Royce of concealers -- its finish is superb.

2) It is okay to use concealer on top of pimples, just use ones that won't clog pores. None of the above recommended ones should. Also, I like to apply a little treatment on the area before the concealer goes on, e.g. something with benzoyl peroxide like Clearasil. This way, I know the pimple is being treated while being covered.

3) Make sure the concealer is blended well with your skin or foundation. Use disposable sponge wedges or rounds so that you don't transfer any unnecessary bacteria from your fingers to your face and/or affected areas.

-N.C.

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

Fresh Flowers, For You and For Me

This rose reminded me of the flower in Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince.
It was big, beautiful, and a little contemplative.

This week, my daughter has been saying the phrases "for you" and "for me" over and over, like a catchy refrain from a song that's stuck in your head. And she's been very generous of late -- treating me to oodles of imaginary chocolates and foods as she plays. I thought I'd return the favor to all of you with this pretty, pale, pink rose I found at The New York Botanical Garden at a recent visit. The color really struck me because it was so quiet, yet moving.

A rose, my late maternal grandmother's most loved flower, to share on this fall-tickled Friday.

My daughter takes notice of a small bunny who was loving the Edible Garden exhibit at the NYBG.

-N.C.

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

Fabulous in a Few for a High School Reunion

Everyone wants to look amazing at their high school reunion. Years may have passed, but inside we always essentially feel somewhat the same. We may have kids and responsibilities now, but those teen-scented memories never do quite go away. We remember all the crazy things we did, the goofy things -- the things you only do when you're that young, and of that mind.

My friend Jessica called me for some beauty help in preparation for an upcoming reunion. I thought it'd be fun for you to see how it all came together (and all the make-up we used was what she had at home). And when you're done, you can find the links to the products below.

Jessica before, with a clean face and just moisturizer

Jessica after, reunion ready.

Fabulous in a Few 1-2-3:

1) Eyes: M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Honesty ($15)

2) Cheeks: Nars Blush in Dolce Vita ($26)

3) Lips: Sephora Collection Lip Attitude-Glamour Lipstick in Rosy Frivol 06, ($12)


-N.C.

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

Rock a Runway Look with a Drugstore Haul

 
Runway at Home 1-2-3: The Lips

1) Pick your look,

Jil Sander Spring 2011
Photo: Gianni Pucci / GoRunway.com via www.style.com

OR

Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2011
 Model: Julija Stepanaviciute Photo: Luca Cannonieri / GoRunway.com via www.style.com

2) For the Jil Sander look (on top) go with Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstain in Bitten Berry ($7). Make sure your lips are moisturized before applying, as stains tend to be drying.

3) For the Dolce & Gabbana look, try e.l.f.'s Lip Stain in Heartbreaker, Mysterious, or Fashionista ($3).

-N.C.

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

Love for Red-Orange Lips

My daughter sees the lips shining and asks, "What's that Mommy?"

I was low-energy this morning so I thought I'd shoot up the statement on my lips to try and boost some spirit into my day. Color always helps! And, bold reddish-oranges are a surprisingly good match for many skin tones while being totally hot to trot. Just keep the rest of the face clean, and you'll be good to go. I think red-orange is the perfect lip hue for September.

All about red-orange lips for September

Red-Orange Lips 1-2-3:

1) Apply lipstick on well-moisturized lips, starting at the peaks/middle and working your way out. For everyday application I use the stick itself -- no brush. You can adjust the lines and color saturation by blending and cleaning up with your index finger. Blot if necessary with a tissue.

2) Add clear lip gloss for extra shine. For extra pop try a gold-colored gloss.

3) And lastly, here are some riveting red-orange rouges: Milani Color Perfect Lipstick in Mandarina ($5) and Nars Semi-Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave, ($24).

-N.C.

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

The Brilliance of Braids

I love braids. I was the girl in the room that begged to braid your hair back in the day, and I'm the woman in the boutique who loves the single braided detail on a long, jersey dress. Braids are brilliant and ultimately romantic. They're the one thing that keep me from chopping my hair off when my daughter playfully but painfully tugs on my loose strands, or when I accidentally zip my ponytail into the over-sized zipper on my purse. Yes, ow! But the long, interwoven "works of art" you can achieve make it worth your while.

The Savvy Sideways Plait 1-2-3:

I braid when I feel like my hair isn't lying properly, and I want a quick up-do. Yesterday I did a sideways-three, meaning:

1) I took my hair to one side and did three separate braids, tying them off with small elastic bands.
2) Next, I braided the three individual braids into one big braid.
3) The effect was something I was quite happy with. Have a look, try it if you will, and tell me what you think!

The three-on-one braid

A close-up of the braid that took me five minutes to do.
I used one of my favorite hair-ties to finish (you can get a similar one here).

-N.C.

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