Pro Makeup Secrets from a NYC Set: 3 Tips & Tricks for Everyday

Caption: Zuzanna Bijoch in the Devi Kroell Spring/Summer 2013 campaign

Ever wondered what it’s like to be on-set as a makeup artist? It’s fun, exciting, hard work, and you may be faced with big waiting periods between takes while the photographer does his work during looks, but you’ve always got to be on your toes ready with the baby oil (to shine the legs) or the right brush or lip-liner to get right in there to fix something in a millisecond.

Being a professional makeup artist is terrifically artistic but it’s also about knowing how to take the right direction from the team and theme you’re working with (the stylist, the photographer, the inspiration) And it’s not just about  picking the correct eyeliner and mixing the right shade of lipstick. You’ve got to chip in sometimes and help when there’s a fire to be put out (trust me it happens on any set - sets are chaotic and full of running staff and moving parts and people, and Balenciaga halter’s and Gucci heels - diamond teardrop earrings and Prada gloves flying everywhere;-)!)

But it’s also about following your instinct. When I have my model in my chair and my tools and makeup laid out, I focus. I concentrate on what will reflect the clothes and fashion theme the best, and hone in on what’s been discussed with the creative team, and then the world and set melt away and I paint and smudge and work away. Of course, input comes in here and there, but in the end I trust myself let the art flow. Sometimes it’s messy, sometimes it’s about struggling to get it perfect, but in the end, it’s the process that makes the whole thing worth it. My motto? En Art n’est pas d’erreur.

Zuzanna Bijoch and I, mugging for our iPhones post-shoot

Pro makeup tricks/tips from the set:

I recently had the pleasure of working with model Zuzanna Bijoch, who has the most beautiful round eyes and lush lips for the Devi Kroell Spring/Summer 2013 campaign and it was great gabbing with her and working on her fairytale like face.

1- The makeup was kept natural and beautiful to showcase the accessories, with a browner smokey eye (hot for spring) and a nice matte nude lip, also trending this season. Matte lips are hard to pull off in a nude color so I recommend you exfoliate your lips with a hot wet washcloth by rubbing gently to get the dry skin off. You can alternate with the wash cloth by applying my favorite lip treatment by Qtica (Intense Lip Repair Balm $12) to help moisturize the lips and soften the dry skin for easier exfoliation. This balm is always in my kit to act as a hydrating base for lipstick. It's the absolute best. It's also a great gift for both men and women.

Zuzanna getting a Facial Treatment Paper mask to soothe her skin after a long day of shooting.

2- Another pro tip is to use disposable paper face masks to soothe stressed skin post lots of makeup or a long day. This is an Asian skin secret and SK-II makes the best ones ($90-125), in my opinion as they are treatment oriented. They are great for stressed out skin, and when I feel a model’s skin has been taxed during a long shoot, I will pull out a mask from my kit and apply it to quickly moisturize and rejuvenate her skin (usually for 15-20 minutes is the average time you leave them on). I recommend doing paper face masks once a week to maintain a great complexion. One of my budget faves are the Masque*ology Facial Masks - the Pore Minimizing ones with Mushroom Extract, only $24 for 3 at Sephora.

3- And lastly, always carry straws (I like the neon colored ones from Target, which I also buy for my daughter  :-)- the models and actors get a kick out of the colors), so that while your subjects are drinking their Perrier or having their lunch, they don’t ruin the lip color you so painstakingly applied. Same for you if you don’t want to ruin that perfect red lip on your night out! Haha!

For the nude lips I did on Zuzanna try CoverGirl's LipPerfection Lip Color in Kiss 275 ($7) YSL's Rouge Pur Couture Pure Color Lipstick in 24 Blond Ingenu ($24) 

 

-- N.C.

Enjoy Good Days by Unruly Heir: Repost of My Ultimate Grooming Guide for Men

Thank you to @EnjoyGoodDays for Reposting my @PGBeauty Men's Grooming Guide!

For the recent #NYFW, Good Days by Unruly Heir was gracious enough to repost a story I did for StyleUnited.com by P&G Beauty on ultimate men's grooming. Here's your one stop list for making yourself or your man to look his platinum best, whether it's body trimming or blemish treating, high or low end. I've got it covered it head-to-toe for the wood-chopping macho dude to the metrosexual George Clooney suavé. Check it out! Thank you! xoxo

And please *follow all of us at on twitter/instagram @PGBeauty, @EnjoyGoodDays and @NuyBeauty for the latest in fashion, style and beauty for women and men!  Good Days has got you covered for you and/or your man! And they've also got my friend, Jill Di Donato as their Editorial Director (who's also an author and a columnist for the Women's section/sexual politics section of the Huffington Post). ENJOY!

xoxo

--N.C.

Two-Minute Confessional with Makeup Artist Nick Barose

Nick Barose, Makeup Artist

I met Nick Barose back at my days at InStyle magazine and have always been a huge fan. He is warm, sincere and just a genuinely sweet person — not to mention a very talented makeup artist. I was lucky enough to sit down with him at Andrea’s Barber Shop in Long Island City, New York (many thanks to the warm staff for cooperating with our shoot!), to chat about makeup, beauty inspirations, and what to do when you realize you’re missing some key essentials from your pro makeup kit.

LOVE him! Follow him @NickBarose on Twitter!

Join us as we gab about his ride into the ultimate makeup world and artistry, and get in on his pro backstage/photo-shoot tips -- my latest for StyleUnited by P&G Beauty! Thank you dear Nick! xoxo

And a very special thanks to Susanne Dollnig, my videographer, who was such an amazing help with the shooting of this video.

xoxo

--N.C.

100% Organic Hair Salon Review: Mauricio Hair in NYC

Prepping for my cut and blow-out at Mauricio Hair in his sanctuary like setting

Preggers? Super Green? Combing the tri-state area for a salon that only carries formaldehyde-free, 100% natural, ammonia-free and hair and hair color products certified organic by the USDA? Well Mauricio Cifuentes's zen-like private salon in the Flat Iron district is your answer: Mauricio Hair.

Mauricio Hair Salon:  212.532.3030

When you walk in, the atmosphere is floors above the buzz and chaos of Manhattan's crazy and the calm quiet and Mauricio's calm and gentle attitude will take all your worries away. He only uses premium organic products like Rahua (an amazing haircare line made with an Amazonian, natural oil - my favorite :-)) and Organic, (ammonia-free hair color) and his salon is an excellent option for those of you who want to keep up your hair color while pregnant, as all his hair care is completely organic as well.

Soft, minimal and white, the ambiance is zen and natural.

You will be offered tea and peace and, most of all a truly natural and soothing experience, both to you and your hair. My haircut and blowout were wonderful. Go to Mauricio and be treated royally by him. You won't regret it!

Thanks for my beautiful cut & blow out Mauricio (follow him ;-)! xoxo

 For PR Inquiries contact Paola Velasquez at paola@douxandco.com

--N.C.

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

NYFW Inside-Out: Chadwick Bell F/W 2013 + Backstage Beauty

Chadwick Bell Fall/Winter 2013 at "Monterey Pop" Feb. 8, 2013. Photo via Style.com /InDigital/GoRunway -
see Chadwick Bell on Facebook and "LIKE" :-)

Jane Birkin and Francoise Hardy served as muses for the collection.
Photo via Style.com /InDigital/GoRunway

There's something always inexplicably refreshing and exciting about fashion shows. Yes, there are the annoying crowds and the pushing and shoving. But under the surface of all the supposed nonsense, the bottom line is designers, when it comes to the core, are seeking to relay their creative spirit through wardrobe. I appreciate that. Getting a piece of clothing to move and show off the best parts of the human body on a creature in motion is no easy feat.  I will always appreciate the love, the aspiration and the dedication to create original clothing.

Chadwick Bell, for his F/W 2013 collection dedicated his collection to the a rock festival film Monterey Rock from 1968. It conveyed non-conformity and self-discovery through expressionism. Bell's clothing was quite sophisticated for the premise (cotton jacquard suits, velvet dresses) but I appreciated the homage to my ever favorite decade the 60s with pops of orange, plums and kelly green. And I loved the simple pieces -- like the long, lean wearable pants and neoprene sweatshirts that were far from schlumpy, and quite beautiful. The gowns were also simple, slightly 60s rebel and striking.

Backstage Beauty:

Makeup
To prime the skin, Makeup Artist Daniel Martin worked with Intraceuticals, a treatment that uses oxygen under pressure to deliver a serum paired with low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, essential vitamins, botanicals, antioxidants and peptides on the skin leaving the skin visibly hydrated, firmer with reduced fine lines and wrinkles No other makeup was used other than for the lips, which was applied with the finger for a sultry and effortless look.

To accentuate the poppy colors, skin was kept dewy and minimal.

Daniel Martin served as lead make-up artist; Beauty's focus was relaxed beauty with a focus on flawless skin (Martin is on far right). 

Hair

Bumble & Bumble's Rolando Beauchamp overseeing the hair styling, which was kept stylishly undone and pretty.

The hair's inspiration was just a girl you see walking around in Paris - clean, fresh and natural. It was placed underneath jackets - to accentuate the casualness of it all. Using a braid took the fullness away from the hair with a low ponytail took the volume away to achieve a nice rounded shape at the base of the head.

Nails

Zoya Nail Polish's Erin nails helped bolster the minimalist makeup and hair.

Nails were done by Zoya, one of my favorite brands as it has no formaldehyde. The color was a sheer translucent neutral called Erin with a hint of iridescence. It had a clean polished look with a rounded shaped.

N.C. with additional reporting and photography by Aaron Rosa.
Special thanks to Aaron for being of amazing assistance while I was out of commission for a bit at the show! Hooray for my intern/assistant! 

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

Spring Fashion Preview 2013: Zoya's New LOVELY Polishes + Get 3 Free!

Keep your eye out for bright and vibrant colors, they'll be popping up in jades, purples and peonies.

I know, it's cold. The sun is setting way too soon. But fear not, spring is going to be here before you know it. And what makes me happy is to wear cheerful colors like a turquoise Chanel headband or a kelly green skinny belt to just remind me of that more color is coming soon weather-wise.

Color is therapy -- in Fashion and Life. Check out these new gorgeous shades "LOVELY" by one of my favorite nail color companies Zoya. They seamlessly play with the runway trends for spring 2013, as you can see in my trendcasting piece for StyleUnited.com.

So splash a little color on (maybe a Zoya hue! ;-) and see what a tiny bit of bright can do to bring a smile to your face on a bitter and brrrrrrrrr day!

Zoya's Spring LOVELY Collection ($48/set, $8 each)

AND BONUS TREAT/SWAG! Unitl 1/17, You can get 3 FREE Zoya Polishes - No kidding!

Get 3 Free Zoya Polishes w/ code ZOYA 2013, details below!

Rules :-)

Offer Valid Monday, January 7th (10AM EST) through 11:59 PM EST January 13th ONLY Pick 3 bottles of Zoya Nail Polish for FREE* ** just pay shipping & processing charges of $10. 

Use Code: ZOYA2013
Want more?...
Receive FREE Shipping*** with any Zoya or Qtica purchase of $25 or more (same code)!
Here's How...

1. Create an account on Zoya.com if you do not already have one.. Add at least (3) Zoya Nail Polish shades to your shopping cart, along with any additional items you wish to purchase.
2. Enter Code ZOYA2013 into the coupon code field in cart and press "Apply Code".
3. Complete Check-Out, Review & Submit Order.

xoxo

--N.C.

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

Your WINNING Smile! Holiday Colgate Optic White Contest!

Make your smiler brighter in just 5 days with Colgate Optic White

Who doesn't want whiter teeth? A bright white smile is your lottery ticket (!) to a better day (sometimes that's all you need), maybe that dream job, a big grin right back from your kid or your who knows what could come your way? Everyone wants whiter teeth. I mean, c'mon - a big, white winning smile grants and gets you the kind of sparkle and charm you just can't explain.  PLUS, I've got a New Year's contest for you that's so easy to do, you'll be smiling so hard your cheeks will hurt!

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Manual Toothbrush

So, here it is! Want to win a YEAR's SUPPLY of COLGATE OPTIC WHITE TOOTHPASTE which is clinically proven to get you a flashier, brighter, more beautiful smile in just five short days? And, think about not having to buy toothpaste for 12 whole months! Super! Rules are simple: Just follow me on twitter @nuybeauty in the next week, and let me know you've done it by commenting on this post, and you'll be entered to win a one year's supply of Colgate's Optic White toothpaste.

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste: A one year's supply could be yours if you follow me @nuybeauty on twitter in the next week!

I can assure you - I test out a LOT of toothpastes, and this one IS fantastic and feels like a superb mouthwash/whitening toothpaste all-in-one. It's gentle on your teeth, as I have very sensitive teeth, and Optic White® Toothpaste contains is clinically proven to whiten your teeth three or more shades brighter with daily use if you use it consistently for a month.

So follow me, and smile!

Happy New Year :-)!

xoxo

--N.C.

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