Is your hair breaking off at the ends? Do you have little white lines on your fingernails? Are you lips chapped? Does your foundation go on blotchy? Do you have more mascara on your eyelids than on your lashes by mid day? Does your lipstick travel outside of your lip line and look fuzzy in a few hours?
Darling if you are plagued by any of these problems, or by any others, all you have to do is ask me how to fix them. I am here for you girl. You know I live to serve. ;) ox
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Hi StacIe,
My nails have ridges – starting from the tip in they break – I do live in NYC but it happens all year round!! Help!
Hi Alexandra! Vertical ridges in your nails are perfectly normal. They tend to become more pronounced as we age. I buff mine out. Horizontal ridges, on the other hand, could be nothing or the result of an illness. Check with your doctor. Nails breaking from the tip in are probably just dry. You’ve ruled out dry air in the winter as it’s happening year round. Nail polish remover can be brutal on the nails, especially acetone based removers. Lastly, I’d take a look at my diet. A diet that’s deficient in B-vitamins and calcium could be the culprit. Butter London has great products for the nails. I reviewed one of their polishes here. http://www.stacyconde.com/2011/12/15/its-like-buttah/ I hope that helped! ox
My foundation goes on blotchy?
Melissa, there could be several reasons for this. Here are a few possibilities:
1. Your skin needs a little exfoliation. Try using a glycolic face wash like Mario Badescu’s Glycolic Foaming Cleanser a couple times a week.
2. You’re not using moisturizer before applying your foundation. Always moisturize first. It’s best for your skin, and makeup not only goes on better, but also looks better on moisturized skin.
3. Your foundation is the wrong formulation for your skin type. If your skin is dry as a rule you shouldn’t be using an oil free or powder foundation.
If none of that applies to you, consider using a foundation primer. Apply it over your moisturizer and under your foundation for smooth looking skin. An added benefit is that it helps your makeup last longer.
Let me know if any of this helped!
Thanks, I think i’ll try the foundation primer. I’ve neverused it before.
Are there really any differences between different types of mascara? Ie: lengthening vs thickening…And just how important is an eyelash curler?
Actually yes, there are. The differences are in the formulation of the products and in the brush / mode of application. Regarding eyelash curlers, I am not a fan. I think in most cases, all but the straightest of eyelashes can be “curled” by simply pushing the lashes up from underneath and holding them there with the mascara brush while the mascara you just applied dries. Bending the lashes over and over with a curler will almost certainly result in broken lashes. However, there are quality curlers on the market, and I know lots of people who swear by them.
My hair is dull and I would like to find a way to get some nice shine – its also fine so too much product (or the wrong product) makes it lay too flat on my head. Have you used the light version of Moroccan Oil? I’m wondering if that would well.
Hi Kristy! Actually no, I haven’t used it yet. Sophia did and was not impressed, but then it’s not really for her hair type. Meanwhile a simple and inexpensive way to add weightless shine to your hair is to rinse with cold water, then with white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar closes the cuticle making your hair very shiny. The smell dissipates quickly. (DON’T use this method if your hair is super dry or damaged, it will tangle you hair like crazy.) Also consider doing weekly treatments with Huile D’Ales. The lightweight water soluble oil won’t weigh your hair down and will add shine.
I am having a problem with thinning hair as I get older and it lacks body. Is there anything you can recommend to slow down the hair loss process?
Hi Wanda! As a matter of fact, there are a few products I can wholeheartedly recommend, but first you need to figure out if you’re experiencing hereditary hair loss or temporary hair loss. If there are other women in your family whose hair began to thin as they aged, you should have a look at Phytoaxil. It’s marketed as a treatment for men, but in actuality it’s for people experiencing genetic hair loss. If the hair loss coincides with you being very stressed out, a drastic change in diet or the introduction of a new medication, you’re probably dealing with temporary hair loss. If that’s the case, you should check out Phytocyane. I swear by those lovely glass ampoules! Also Phytophanere, vitamins for hair, skin and nails are amazing. I hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes!
Help! By noon my eyeshadow has pooled into the creases on my eyelids making one dark, unattractive line above my peepers. How can I avoid this? Thanks!
I know exactly what you’re talking about Lauren, that line makes me crazy. Luckily for all of us there are several eye shadow primers on the market that will put an end to the evil noontime eye shadow migration. Three primers that come to mind immediately are Eye Spackle by Laura Geller, Eye Basics by Laura Mercier, and Urban Decay’s Eye Shadow Primer Potion. All three work well, however my favorite is Eye Basics by Laura Mercier. I love the range of colors and the quality of the product. In fact, I often skip the eye shadow completely and just work the Eye Basics. Start with Linen at the brow bone and pull it down toward the crease, work Peach up from the lash line into the crease for a perfectly clean and crisp looking eye. Hit that with a killer black winged liner and you’ve created a classic.
I’m interested to know which you prefer. Let me know!
What product(s) do you recommend to help cover up unsightly dark sun spots?
Hi Jamie! Let me start by saying that “unsightly” is in the eye of the beholder. I prefer to think of them as warm reminders of glorious beach days past. Now, if you’d rather forget those days, or at least the damage done, I’d recommend some serious exfoliation followed by a heavy duty camouflage to cover the spots in the meantime.
MedPeel (check out Skin-Peel.com) makes a wide range of chemical peels in varying strengths. Research them well and tread carefully. I use the line myself and have been thrilled with the results of the Alpha Beta Peel.
Dermablend is a tried and true waterproof camouflage that works well enough to conceal tattoos. Your spots don’t stand a chance. If you find Dermablend a bit too heavy, try my favorite product in the universe, Secret Camouflage by Laura Mercier. Whichever you decide don’t make the rookie mistake of going too light. The light color will just highlight your spots and make them look ashy. Your best bet is to go a hair darker than your normal skin color.
Good luck!
I’d like to try a taupe shadow because I’ve heard it’s a good option for green eyes. Still, I wonder if the purple undertones will make me look tired or bruised. Do you like taupe shadow for green eyes (and if you do, do you have a brand recommendation?) Thanks!
I love taupe on green eyes! Try Topaz by Laura Mercier. If you’re worried about looking bruised use the Topaz with browns or blacks instead of plums, though it does look lovely with the plums…