LOVE AFFAIRS
SHU UEMURA, SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS
APRIL 27.2012
by AIMEE BLAUT
In 2010 L’Oreal announced that Shu Uemura would close its US operations leaving ladies in the States with the option of ordering favorites like eyelash curlers, falsies, and makeup remover online. As somewhat Shu Uemura obsessed, I always make sure to hit up their Paris store in Saint-Germain for a proper tactile experience. Nothing beats dabbing some lipstick on your hand and smelling a new cream! Last time I was in town I headed over with makeup artist Michelle Rainer for a little tour of the best products that everyone can use.
“M Light Peach is the most amazing blush that suits everybody. On lighter skin it gives a natural hint of color and on darker toned skin it works great as a highlighter.”
“And the black eyshadows [Matte Pure Black/Metallic Black] are very pigmented so if you put on your normal eyeshadow on the inside of the lid and in the corner of your eye add a touch of darkness it deepens the color slightly. It makes your look much more intense. So it’s easy to use to go from day to night very quickly.”
“They do the best concealers for yellowish skin tones. The texture is really nice and the pencils are practical to just throw in your handbag. The application is very simple and it blends well. In the spring and summer you don’t need a lot of makeup and just a little concealer in the right places can go far.”
“The famous Instant-Glow cream is essential. It has a mattifying effect with a little shine that’s metallic, so it gives you perfect looking skin if you put it under your makeup everyday. It’s amazing as a base cream and anyone can use it.”
Photos by: Aimee Blaut
Tags: Instant-Glow, Michelle Rainer, Paris, Saint-Germain-des Prés, Shue Uemura
YOU ARE A BABE
MARIEKE STERLING, MODEL / DIGITAL STRATEGIST
APRIL 25.2012
by AIMEE BLAUT
"I am a digital strategist, copywriter, freelance journalist, occasional model and amateur chef. When I was growing up I wanted to be a ballerina and a book publisher."
“When I wake up in the morning coffee comes first. I wash my face with Neutrogena and then use a Dermalogica toner and a Kiehl’s moisturizer. I have a Greek yoghurt and then I brush my teeth. With my makeup routine I keep it simple and natural with a couple of basic products: Diorskin Nude Concealer, a matte Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Slate for contour, some mascara (currently YSL Faux Cils) and the Anastasia brow pencil. I use a Dior eye shadow compact and Stila liquid eyeliner if I want to look a little more polished.”
“My most beautiful memory is of playing games of flashlight tag on hot summer nights in Maine.”
“My favorite salon is Ion Studio for a cut and color, Mauricio is awesome!”
“Before I go to bed I brush my teeth with Crest 3-D! Then I wash my face with Neutrogena, moisturize with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream.”
Photos by: Aimee Blaut
Tags: Anastasia Beverly Hills, Bobbi Brown, Cattier, Dermalogica, Dior, Kiehl's, Marieke Sterling, Miss Jessie's, Model, nars, Neutrogena, Yves Saint Laurent
YOU ARE A BABE
LINDSAY ELLINGSON, VICTORIA’S SECRET ANGEL
APRIL 20.2012
by AIMEE BLAUT
"I’m from California and was going to college at UC San Diego and studying biology -- I’m a complete nerd [laughs] -- and then I got scouted on the street. I had a test shoot and the next thing I knew, I was in Paris for fashion week. My agent told me that Christian Dior and Prada wanted to meet me, but at the time I had no idea who those designers were. I had never really looked at fashion magazines growing up. So I moved to Paris and the day I landed, I met John Galliano and he basically started my career."
“Working for Victoria’s Secret has been a dream of mine for a very long time. I started modeling seven years ago and I immediately wanted to do the VS fashion show, so I tried out three years in a row. The first two times I didn’t get it but the third time I got the show… It was the most exciting experience, and I’ve done the show now for five years. Through that exposure, Victoria’s Secret started working with me for print and campaigns and then I became an Angel.”
“Recently I started using all natural products. I read a book called The Truth About Beauty by Kat James and it’s totally changed my whole outlook. I wake up in the morning and I wash my face with the Amazon Rain cleanser; the Amazon products are all natural and a lot of their ingredients come from the rainforest. I believe that serums work amazingly so afterwards I always use a Vitamin C serum from Amazon, called Camu-C Serum. Then I apply sunscreen. I love the derma e eye cream with hyaluronic acid, its very moisturizing. It’s great for preventative wrinkles”
“I have a vanity at home with makeup and beauty products everywhere. I try everything [laughs]. As far as makeup goes, I mix it up. I love the Cle de Peu concelear. It goes on smooth and provides perfect coverage. On a daily basis, I don’t leave my house without mascara and I like my eyebrows to be shaped perfectly. I don’t like eyeliner, which is funny. I think most makeup artists go straight for the eyeliner. I feel like my eyes are so big, it doesn’t look good. I love a big eyelash look and shading around my eyes, though. The VS Triple Volume Mascara is wonderful. I love a retro Twiggy look. I always use my Shu Uemera eyelash curler and if I want a waterproof mascara, I use one by Tarte. I prefer lip gloss more than lipstick. The VS lip liner in Ginger Spice matches everyone’s lips really perfectly. It just adds volume to your lips. There is also a lip scrub and balm that exfoliates well and is paired with a minty balm.”
“I always have a lot of makeup on for events so I make sure to really cleanse my skin well at night so it can breathe. I use all natural baby wipes to take off my makeup and my Amazon cleanser and exfoliator by Derma E, I think it’s called Microdermabrasion. I use a vitamin A serum by MyChelle, which is all natural and helps keep my skin clear. In the winter, I use the Dr Alkaitis Night Cream.”
“I’m really passionate about jewelry. It’s a dangerous thing, but it’s the one thing that I love shopping for. I like very intricate pieces and I wasn’t finding what I liked, so I decided to start making jewelry on my own. My line is called Goldie Knots. I learned how to do micro-macrome on YouTube and bought my materials: fourteen karat gold and silk. It’s very simple. Right now I am selling pieces at Albertine in the West Village but I am launching my website soon! I donate my proceeds to the Humane Society. I am a big dog lover and have two dogs back home in California, so that’s something that is really important to me.”
Photos by: Aimee Blaut
Tags: Albertine, Cle de Peu, Dr. Alkaitis, Kat James, MyChelle, Shu Uemura, Tarte, Twiggy, Victoria's Secret, Victoria's Secret Angel, VS
I can’t live without my Shu Uemura eyelash curler. And this is one item you can order online but nothing beats the experience of actually testing beauty products ‘on the spot”.