CELEBRATE EARTH DAY & Get a FREE Klorane Eco-Friendly Essentials Earth Day Kit!

Happy Earth Day: Let's Be Green & Keep Our Earth Beautiful!

In celebration of Earth Day 2013, one of my favorite French beauty companies, KLORANE is offering the NEW and elegant Eco-Friendly Essentials Earth Day Kit. Inside the soft reusable canvas bag (perfect for your purse, and surprisingly roomy!) is an awesome duo of environmentally conscious beauty swag. First off is the award winning ALLURE Best of Beauty winner non-aerosol eco-friendly KLORANE Gentle dry shampoo with oat milk, which is perhaps to date the best dry shampoo I've used. It doesn't leave white patches in your hair and leaves your hair exceptionally easy to style; I love the squeezy bottle that spays the powder exceedingly evenly. Then comes the next 100% Biodegradable Soothing make-up remover wipes with cornflower water, which I use on my pro makeup shoots and my incredibly sensitive skinned daughter loves.

 

#hashtag #ECONUY & Follow @nuybeauty & @Klorane on Twitter & tell us something about your green beauty to win

Contest Rules: A $29.00 value, the Earth Day Kit is yours if you simply hashtag #ECONUY on Twitter, follow me @nuybeauty and @Klorane and just tell me how you're planning to make your beauty routine more eco-friendly.

For example, a sample tweet: "@nuybeauty I want to use only biodegradable wipes on my face and kid :-) #ECONUY". 

Then you're entered to win! Go Green and be beautiful!

Winner will be announced next week Monday. Good Luck!

  

And for every kit purchased, $1.00 will go to MillionTrees NYC, a PLANYC initiative with NYC Parks and New York Restoration Project, to plant a tree in New York City. “By supporting this important initiative, we are achieving perfect synergy between the legacy and continuing goals of Klorane and MillionTreesNYC,” says Jacqueline Flam Stokes, Vice President, Retail Marketing and Sales for Avène and Klorane.

*CONGRATS to NATASHA RAO of @Fashionalities for her great #ECONUY green resolution, and for winning the KLORANE Twitter contest! xo

--N.C.

Create a Logo Chanel Accent Nail w/ Zoya's Pixie Dust Nail Polish

My Chanel Accent Nails with Zoya Nail Polish Pixie Collection

I love the fourth finger accent nail. It's a subtle way to have a design and it's both delicate and edgy without being too in your face. It's also something you can do fast at home, but impress in a big way - and why not go with a designer logo that you adore or, if not that you can pick a simple nail decal of your choosing. I went with the classic Chanel camellia flower, which actually came in a Hello Kitty nail design set purchased at a Sanrio store in Honolulu for about $7, but here's one available online. It may not be authentic Chanel, but with a design so tiny, I hardly think it matters!

Zoya Nail Polish, one of my absolute favorite companies for nail color, b/c it's toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate free (so I feel safer applying it on my almost five year old daughter and friends -- not to mention that they've always got the edge on hues and texture) just came out with their Pixie Dust collection. The sparkle on this polish is sensational and superbly saturated. It's great for lifting your spirits for spring.

So do a Chanel Accent nail, or a logo accent nail -- just pick two contrasting colors from the Pixie set, and some decals. EASY! ;-)

THE HOW-TO:

At HOME MANI BASICS:

Have your logo decal ready on hand for the fourth finger. You can even do the index finger if you want. Have an extra decal handy just in case you lose or mess up the nail. Also have tweezers on hand to apply the tiny decals as they are miniature.

1) Start as you would a normal home mani. The basics being that you would soak your hands in warm water, wash them, and moisturize with your favorite lotion. Then hydrate your cuticles with the best balm ever -- Qtica's Intense Cuticle Repair Balm ($18)

The best editorial manicurists use this on set when I'm doing makeup for actors and models on shoots. Trust me, it's amazing.

2) Push or cut your cuticles. Cut, trim, file and smooth your nails -- whatever you need and desire to do.

3) Apply a base coat.

The Accent Nail with Logo

4) Apply two coats of one color to finger 1, 2 ,3, and 5. In my case I used a periwinkle, Zoya's NYX.

Tip: It's good to have a hand towel underneath, and all your tools w/in hands reach so that you can fix a mistake w/ remover -- and be mess-free. My handy, travel-ready, cute nail kit w/ buffer, file and zip case was found at H&M for $3.

5) Apply two coats of the accent color to finger 4. I used a red, Zoya's CHYNA.

My Chanel camellia decals ready to go with my Rubis Tweezers

6) Apply a coat of base coat to finger 4. Quickly grab your logo decal with your tweezers (my favorites are Rubis Slant), applying on an area of your choice (I picked the upper middle section) and press down evenly on your nail all over the decal so that it adheres well. Here's my quickie video on how to do it:

7) Apply a top coat quickly and press down again with the tweezer to seal the layers.

8) Apply a top coat to all nails. Allow ample time to dry -- 20-30 minutes.

Have a blast! And let me know how it goes - I'm sure you'll have plenty of ideas yourselves! xo

-- N.C.

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.