Getting Reacquainted: Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

It's not exactly a new product, but it's new-ish to me  (I think it's been around since Giorgio Armani Beauty launched). Someone gave me Fluid Sheer a couple years ago and I didn’t think much of it because I didn’t understand what it was. Was it a bronzer? A shimmer? A foundation? It stayed in my closet in its elegantly black Armani packaging.

Recently I became reacquainted with it. I still thought it might  look like your standard bronzer. Or maybe it’d look like a trendy shimmery foundation. Then someone showed me how to properly use it and I decided to give it a go. The next shoot I did was with a skin care company, and skin care companies – naturally - want everything to be healthy and glowing. It has to look good, but the makeup can’t be apparent because it’s all about skin.

Fluid Sheer Model

For this model, I lightly applied it to her hairline and blended it on her cheekbones with blush. It made her skin glow in a way that a bronzer doesn’t. As Armani Beauty is all about glowing skin, Fluid Sheer is clearly its essence. 

Maybe it won't make us look like this, but we all deserve to glow!

Fluid Sheer Glow Tip: As its name says, it is quite sheer so you can use more than you think without it looking like too much. Apply around hairline, right under or on cheekbones. Under cheekbones makes them more prominent; on cheekbones will highlight or brighten – it all depends on what you want and need. Blend with fingertips. Then watch yourself glow.

My Favorite Multiple-Use, Fussy-Free Products

I love things that are compact and clever in a practical way. For example, I love those compact umbrellas you can throw in your purse and carry as an every day staple so you never get caught in the rain (if this sounds strange to you, this is a NYC thing, walking around and suddenly getting caught in the rain). And I love products that are multi-purpose and fussy-free but don't compromise quality. In my purse, as well as my giant makeup kit, less is more. Here is a collection of the recently discovered as well as some beloved favorites that are cleverly compact.

Lorac Pro-Cream Eye Liner If you like a gel eyeliner, this one has brush that screws right in the handle. You don’t have to buy a separate brush and you never have to worry you'll lose it. If you carry it anywhere, you also don’t have to worry that the brush will get product in your purse or cosmetic bag. Just throw it in worry-free!

NARS the Multiple

NARS The MultipleThis is a cream stick that can be used on eyes, cheeks and lips. I just use my fingertip to apply and blend—application takes less than a minute. I know it probably benefits a company to have you buy a separate lipstick, eye shadow & blush, but I'm always still surprised that more brands don't have products like this one.

La Prairie Foundation

LaPrairie Skin Caviar Concealer and FoundationThis product(s) is cleverly designed with a foundation in the bottle, two shades of concealer in the cap and a mirror inside the lid. It also comes with a concealer brush that sits in a stand. And it’s a good foundation that lasts a long time. It is definitely not inexpensive (it is very expensive), although I guess any product with “caviar” in its name would not imply it's a deal.

Aquaphor

Aquaphor Healing Ointment I have always liked this product but not thought about it in a long time. Recently a most gorgeous celebrity told me it was one of her favorites and brought it out as I did her makeup, showing me the ways she likes to use it. It’s great as nighttime lip moisturizer, under a lip pencil, on your cuticles and as a body moisturizer if your skin is especially dry. It can also be used on most anything that's chapped - and even minor cuts, burns and skin irritation (although I'd say go to the doctor if you have anything less than very minor.)

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20A tinted moisturizer saves time by combining moisturizer, foundation, and SPF in one application. It’s also sheerer so you don’t have to worry about perfect application. Laura Mercier provides several options, including an oil-free one (for those with oily or acne-prone skin), as well as one with shimmer (for those who want to glow...I mean, everyone wants to glow but shimmery can look shiny on some people so find the one that's right for you). (There is a new cream compact but I have yet to try it). For shoots, if someone needs more even skin tone but I don't want to slather on foundation, I use this product first and then foundation or concealer where it's most needed.

So there they are. I'm a little obsessed clever and practical products, so if you have a favorite, please share it with me because I'm always looking for them!

Makeup Your Lifestyle: Get Back That Glow!

I’m a first-time mom. When I was pregnant, I was so tired and bloated, my feet and back hurt…but apparently I did have that glow! (Whatever that is...I wasn't feeling glowy at all.) These days I have to work little harder for it (but less tired and bloated so I'll take the trade-off). No matter what the reason, if you feel you've lost your glow here are some simple ways to get it back: Add Warmth

Dust bronzer on your cheekbones, forehead and under your jaw line. Blend well to ensure you look glow-y, not makeup-y. Most bronzers will work, but if you’re worried about turning orange, try tarte’s Mineral Powder Bronzer…it actually looks bronze, not copper. Not orange. Not red. Bronze.

Illuminate

Try a tinted moisturizer with a little shimmer. Apply as you would a moisturizer. Then use the bit that’s left in your hands under chin and on your neck (make sure it’s very little or you’ll end up with shimmer on your collar). I love Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20.

Exfoliate Regularly

Gently buff skin with a scrubby cloth or facial scrub to remove that top dead layer of skin. Unlike skin care products that can sometimes take weeks to see a difference, this will immediately give you softer, smoother skin.

If you’re wondering if you have a dead layer of skin, you do. Everyone does. When you’re young, dead skin sloughs itself off on its own. As you get older it wants to hang around. Completely normal and natural - but you don't have to  be robbed of your your natural glow. It's already there, just waiting to be revealed.

This is a picture of my friend Pamela, who always looks so glowy. Plus this picture is from her wedding so everyone must have been telling her she was a "glowing bride." Which she actually was.