Lali Lali Salon Summer Makeover: Success!

Last blog or so, I announced Susan Shan as the winner for a Summer Makeover giveaway with Lali Lali Salon, a highly esteemed Manhattan salon located in SoHo.  It’s of no secret as to why Ms. Shan would win; as a sports writer with a big following, she was able to tweet the most.

“I have been wanting to try a new salon for quite a while,” said Susan Shan.  ”But, doing so takes time and research, and I had been focusing on my writing.  When I happened upon this contest, I figured it was a great opportunity.”

While Susan is a sports writer, she has a deep appreciation for beauty.  She was happy to experience a full consultation at Lali Lali - discussing hair color and tones and cuts to best complement her.  The staff at Lali Lali provided input and then skillfully achieved exactly what she was looking for.  

“When you look into the mirror each day, it’s hard to be creative with new looks and styles.  You’re restricted by your tastes and what you know.  I wanted a different variation and a fresh perspective, which is what I got at Lali Lali,” said Shan.

Check out Susan’s before and after photos.  You’ll see a big improvement in hair color, shape, texture, and cut.  Her makeup is also by Lali Lali, providing a timeless, soft, natural look.  I had the pleasure of meeting with Susan just after her makeover, and we would both recommend this salon to anyone in search of a salon with a talented staff of true beauty consultants.

For more information, visit the Lali Lali website:  http://lalilalisalon.com.  Special thanks to Lali Lali Salon for this summer giveaway.

Before

After

Winner! Summer Makeover + Custom Perfume Giveaway in NYC

In a prior post, I announced a summer makeover and perfume giveaway by Lali Lali Salon and Olfactia perfumes.  Today, I would like to announce the winner: Susan Shan of SusanShan.com.  Susan has a lot of support by fans and friends on Twitter, so it was my pleasure to award the giveaway to her based on number of tweets and email.

I will be posting Susan’s before and after pictures here as well as some details about her experience at Lali Lali salon.  The official salon for the TV Network NY-1, Lali Lali specializes in a full set of services (makeup, waxing, hair, and hair color, nail color) with a unique atmosphere of luxury and visual installations.  

Giorgio Armani - Eyes To Kill Mascara Review

Already a huge fan of Armani Maestro Mascara, I decided to check out Eyes To Kill Waterproof.  I was a bit skeptical because Eyes To Kill has a thicker brush, and I adore Maestro’s thin, polymer brush for the ability to define each lash without excess mascara.  But, I was pleasantly surprised because Eyes To Kill (ETK) provided a whole new mascara experience.

Let’s stop for a minute here to point out there are two ETK versions out there: ETK and ETK Excess.  I was tempted to go with Eyes To Kill Excess (the latest mascara advertised with Megan Fox), but I don’t believe it’s available in waterproof.  Plus, ETK Excess has an even larger, patented brush, and I am just not a fan of big brushes.  

The ETK packaging is quite brilliant - it’s sleek metal, like a lethal weapon!  Armani cosmetics never fail to provide seriously cutting edge packaging. At $30 each, the colors available are steel black, brown copper, and black brown (Hey, that should have been named something metallic, no?)  I shamelessly bought 2 for a buy-two-get-one Memorial Day promo at Nordstrom.  Yes, that means I now have 3, so I have officially committed to several months of ETK mascara.

And now for the experience: ETK provides impressive eyelash lengthening, but the most memorable property is the added volume to each lash; the lash volume is above and beyond anything I’ve seen before.  After my usual 2 coats or so, each lash becomes, for lack of a better term, fat.  My lashes show up in photos almost as well as false eyelashes.  I have read on the Armani Cosmetics website that this is due to their new Wax (TM) Complex that contains hard and soft waxes that coat the each lash homogeneously and build up for volume.  Plus, the mascara contains heavy pigmentation, which add to the dramatic appearance of volume. 

I then put this waterproof mascara to the test - a shower test.  (Actually, I forgot I had it on and performed my face wash routine without using a makeup remover.)  The result: The mascara stayed on perfectly; I couldn’t believe when I looked in the mirror that I still had dramatic eyelashes with not a drop of other makeup.  Killer magic trick… (pun intended).  I can only guess that this is also due to the waxy formula as wax greatly repels water.  I therefore dub Georgio Armani Eyes To Kill Waterproof Mascara THE mascara for a beach or pool party. 

A few negatives: After very long wear, this mascara can get flaky - think wax flakes.  I’m talking 16+ hours, though - from morning to late evening rendezvous.  Plus, I am not 100% happy with the large brush as I’m convinced it’ll cause ETK to run out faster than my beloved Maestro.   

NIO Rating: 9

Summer Makeover + Custom Perfume Giveaway in NYC! Easy Entry Here

Dear Readers,

I am excited to announce an exclusive Makeover and Custom Perfume Giveaway in NYC by Lali Lali, Soho’s Salon Gallery, and Olfactia Custom Perfumes.  

The official salon for the TV Network NY-1, Lali Lali specializes in a full set of services (makeup, waxing, hair, and hair color, nail color) with a unique atmosphere of luxury and visual installations.

Olfactia.com is a high end custom perfume site, offering fragrance kits for you to design your own signature scent.  Visitors can simply choose a fragrance kit to fit their personality and mix a perfume with a few simple steps used for hundreds of years by perfumers. 

Enter between 5/28 and 6/18 (extended!) to win a full blown makeover - including cut, color, style, and makeup from Lali Lali as well as a custom fragrance kit from Olfactia.com - just in time for the summer!  Worth over $400 in value, this giveaway is a great chance to pamper and reinvent yourself.  Note: Your before and after photo will be featured here. 

HOW TO ENTER

There are three ways you can enter to win:

1. Simply tweet @olfactia and @lalilalisalon with hashtag #SummerMakeover.  Have your friends RT for more votes!
2. Email hello@olfactia.com with Subject: Summer Makeover.  Give your name and why you want a summer makeover.  Before pictures help too!
3. Simply comment on this blog with your name and why you want a summer makeover.  Have your friends comment for more votes!

I will be choosing the winner based on best responses, number of responses, and great before pictures.  

Good luck!

Lali Lali Salon in Soho

How To Make A Perfume

Ever wondered how to make a perfume?  I have, and I am pretty obsessed with this site, olfactia.com. This site makes it incredibly easy to hone in on your perfume taste, choose a kit, and design your own perfume.  It’s such a great feeling when people ask, what are you wearing, and you can tell them its your own!  I am going to update this blog with my perfume ‘formula’ soon.  Click to make a perfume or just take their fragrance quiz (at the top) to find out how!

Help

I need makeup that wont cause me to break out. I am using lancome teint idole foundation and the lancome dual finish to set the makeup. I have extemely sensitive/acne prone/oily skin. please help me find makeup that will look good but not break me out 

I received this question from a reader, and I’d like to recommend that you use one makeup line - Clinique - for foundation, powder, and blush.  Clinique has been creating makeup with a focus on dermatological health for years!!  Check out Clinique.com and take their skin quiz, then purchase the few products that are recommended.  Most likely, this will be their Acne Solutions line.  Please note your skin may be agitated when you first switch up your makeup (it’s unfortunate), but if you stick with it, it is probably your best bet.  As a strategy, to tame your oily skin, try to go light on the liquid and heavier on the powder.  Good luck!

Beauty Tid Bits

Yes, it’s true I’ve been slacking on blogging, only because I’ve been busy with my day job and elsewhere in beauty…. Stay tuned for an announcement. In the mean time, here are a few updates:

1.  Regarding my prior post on best foundation for oily skin: Following a reader’s recommendation, I tried Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder.  For $20, it’s available online, in department stores, and on Sephora.com.  I give this an NIO rating of 8 - it’s the best I’ve found yet, but I would probably enjoy a bit more coverage.  

2. I was asked on Twitter recently about mascaras.  A Twitter buddy DM’d,

“What’s your fave mascara? I need a waterproof, lengthening, thickening, conditioning 1 that won’t end up transferred to my concealer. Help?”  

She had some clear cut-criteria for which I had one answer: Georgio Armani Maestro Mascara.  I discovered this mascara when working at L’Oreal [Georgio Armani fragrances and cosmetics are within the L’Oreal brand portfolio.]  It lasts surprisingly long, probably due to its patented thin, rubbery(?) brush, which is efficient.  According to the website,this mascara has “Patented volumizing and separating lash applicator… ”Enriched with Honeybee, Jojoba and Carnauba waxes…Coats evenly with one stroke.”  You can find online or at Bloomingdales.

3.  Also a request from a Twitter friend, I was asked to recommend products for what some might call “Jewish hair.”  My response can be found on Jewish-Hair.com.

4.  I’d like to point out the recent launch of a new site,  backed by Lauren Conrad as a part owner, with promise of bountiful hair and beauty tips:  TheBeautyDepartment.com. The jury is still out on content quantity and quality, but judging by the PR this week, this site will be sure to have some sponsorship and reach.