The Power of Pigments

Ready to be bold?! Get ready to advance your glam game because this is not your average day at the office eyeshadow. Allow me to introduce MAC’s Pigment: a loose powder product with a high concentration of color that produces brilliant results (it’s color like woa). Pigments have been on the cosmetic circuit for quite some time now as a favorite of make-up artists, but have remained relatively low on the mainstream make-up market radar. In fact, you’ve probably already seen the pigments at your fav MAC location, but you may have passed it by, thinking it’s a "super advanced, not for me" type product. Well ladies after reading this, there will be no more doubting yourself, or your ability to find the power of pigments.

For a super dramatic blast of color, start by applying one of MAC’s Paint Pots to your eyelid. Think of the paint as the glue that will hold your powder in place, so apply it to wherever you want the pigment to stick. Additionally, paint pots can be used to intensify the pigment color. For example, if you were going for a gorgeous gold goddess look (hint: glowy gold is all the rage for Fall 09), you could start with MAC’s Indianwood paint pot (apply with a flat eyeshadow brush or a concealor brush) and then top it off with MAC’s Old Gold pigment. However, you could also use a flatter base color like Groundwork if you just want to highlight the color of the pigment. Both are equally fabulous.

Pour a pinch of the loose pigment powder onto a tissue - the powder is a bit more manageable this way, as opposed to working directly out of the pigment pot. Using an eyeshadow brush, dip the brush into your pinch of pigment and then hit the brush against your wrist or flick it with your fingers to shake off the excess powder. Place the pigment over the paint, dipping for more pigment when necessary (remember – a little of this stuff goes a long way) and blend as you go, applying just as you would your typical eyeshadow. For a less intense look, you may forgo the paint pots and use a brush that covers a larger surface area like a contouring brush (just think: the less concentrated the bristles of the brush, the more sheer the look). The pigments may also be used as a blush or a stunning highlight over your blush – just add a light layer with your blush brush directly on your cheekbones. BTW, Melon is OUT OF CONTROL beautiful when used as a highlight, plus it’s the perfect way to epitomize the “weekend at the beach” sunkissed look – and who doesn’t love that?!

In addition to the multiple ways in which pigments may be applied, MAC also offers an incredibly diverse collection of colors from which to choose. Deep Blue Green and Golden Olive will give you a BURST of intense color, perfect for a trendy summer date night or evening out with the ladies when you feel like making a statement. Then on the flip side, Tan, Copper Sparkle, and/or Naked are just what the summer shorts and halter top ordered to complete your effortless yet sensational summer look.

So next time you’re at the mall, pop into MAC confidently, with the knowledge of this blog in your back pocket. No longer will you need to pass this product by or put it in the “too hard to do” make-up box. Seriously, this stuff is easy to use and addictively fabulous. Set aside a little pigment playtime – and bring the AmEx – because like so many fine things in life, you certainly can’t have just one.

Pigment
Available at MAC retailers and www.maccosmetics.com
$19.50 USD


Images from www.maccosmetics.com

Book Your Bliss!

For those of you spa-goers fortunate enough to set foot in New York’s Bliss 49 Spa, I know you’ll agree when I say that it’s complete and total Heaven on Earth (or technically Lexington Ave., but you get my point)! The soothing and sleek décor, the eternally calming cerulean blue, teal, and white color scheme, the wonderfully witty product names (Hello – Slim City Set?!?!), and we haven’t even gotten to the incredible effectiveness of the Bliss products and services yet!

Well ladies, you can cancel your train ticket to the Big Apple, because Bliss has come to DC! The W Hotel has found a new home in the nation’s capital and settled in the old Hotel Washington building just off 15th Street, NW and the Bliss Spa (all three floors of it) has come with!

The spa offers those bliss-seekers looking to be trimmed, toned, waxed, or relaxed a lavish laundry list of services to include a nail lounge, massage and facial treatments, and please let’s not forget some of the signature Bliss services like the Best of Skintentions facial or perhaps the Hangover Herbie. Now tell me you haven’t thought about the need for such after a Thursday night in Adams Morgan. Furthermore, while being pampered, you’ll also be wined and dined as you choose from your selection of Bliss spa snacks – they have brownies. As if you weren’t already sold....

In addition to the saunas, steam rooms, and a Bliss product sampling sink, the spa gurus at Bliss have incorporated little touches of DC throughout, as service rooms are decked out with texturized cherry blossom wall coverings or you can head to the W’s all-the-rage rooftop bar pre or post Bliss to scope out the DC skyline. And make a note to stop by the retail salon where you can pick up your favorite Bliss must haves.

May I highly recommend the Fabulous Foaming Face Wash?! It’s hands down the best and most versatile face wash I’ve ever used. The ever-so-soft exfoliating beads do just the trick in scruffing off the dead skin cells without the harshness of many exfoliants and the chamomile, rose hips, and passion flower leave your skin feeling uber-invigorated. Scared of commitment? Try their Bliss Tried + Blue Travel Kit. $10 says you go back for the big bottle before the end of the month. I’ve recommended this face wash (appropriately named “Fabulous”) to two of my good friends, both of which have vastly different skin needs than me, and we’re all still raving.

So if you’re looking for a spa day with the girls or perhaps a stay-cation in DC, check out the Bliss Spa at the W Hotel. Because really, who’s not looking for Bliss?

Bliss Spa
515 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Book your Bliss: 877 - to - Bliss

For more fabulousness on the new W Hotel, check out Kate's review at Culture Me, DC.

Inspired to Share the Love! Now it's your turn!

OMGosh. Last night I was fortunate to have, what may very well have been, the best massage of my life. Somewhere around noon, I was knee deep in excel spreadsheets and my iphone dinged. It was a message from Circe, my hair salon of choice, promoting their last minute massage specials. PERFECT. This was exactly what I needed to relax the mind and commence the holiday weekend.

Now I’ve been around the massage block a time or two. As a spa diva since the ripe old age of 16, I would scrounge up tip money I made waiting tables the night before to cover the cost of massages, pedis, and hair treatments. And now that I have my grown up gig, I still make the “beauty/relaxation” column a priority in our family budget! Throughout my massage tenure, I have frequented a number of spas, salons, and even chiropractic care establishments – testing out various massage experiences (I know, rough life, right?!).

I’ve left massages energized, I’ve left massages essentially asleep (perhaps you’re familiar with the massage-induced coma), and I’ve left massages beyond sore, like Billy Blanks and I had just gone 10 rounds in Tae Bo. But last night, after my experience at Circe, I felt perfect. I was in that fabulously wondrous state of calm, yet ready to take on the world and the bliss has lasted well into this morning!

The ambiance of the massage room was similar to that of the many massage rooms that came before it – dimly lit lights, the sound of ocean waves crashing in the background which was complimented by this great almost tribal sounding CD (I should have asked the name!). There were two massage tables, one with layers of crisp white sheets and a light throw blanket and the other was decorated with this great crocheted blanket and whimsical toss pillows, which left you feeling like you were having a massage in your trendy SOHO loft, as opposed to a salon. It was home-y and warm. The aroma of Aveda’s chakra products filled the room in a slightly understated aromatherapy kind of way. I was given the option to choose from the following oil scents; floral, vanilla, citrus…and I don’t know what else, because after I hear “citrus,” I need not hear anything further. Chakra 5’s grapefruit-y and rosemary scent invigorates the communication and creativity vibes and leaves your skin with this incredibly light, but oh-so-indulgent scent.

The pressure was perfect. I’m a “mild to firm” girl when it comes to massage pressure preferences and Melissa, the masseuse (or as she is now noted in my contacts list -“The Magician”) did not disappoint. It was relaxing, yet intense at times, as she worked out the knots in my neck (story of my life – I carry ALL my stress in my neck and shoulders) and it was just so perfectly therapeutic.

Circe won over my massage heart with Melissa the Magician last night. My awesome experience inspired me to share this with you all, so the next time you feel the need to decompress or just center yourself, I would highly recommend giving Circe a shout.

So now it’s your turn! Who do you love? What salon services are you crazy about!? Do you have a brow guy or a nail girl that rocks your beauty world? Perhaps you have a stylist who does the blow out of all blow outs. There’s so much talent in the DC area and so many untapped beauty hotspots. So let’s take this opportunity to share those stylists, services, and beauty professionals that are nearest and dearest to our hearts!

Circe Day Spa
123 North Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.519.8528
www.circedayspa.com