Julia DiNardo

June 23, 2015

New Foundations You Can’t Help But Love

I know that there’s been a lot of distraction in the past few years that has led consumers away from a classic foundation (CC Creams, BB Creams, and the like), but the hiatus is now over, as some forward-thinking brands have taken this time to create a much enhanced formula, reflecting the needs and wants of the modern woman.

More light weight, less thick and tacky, and overall gliding on to work with the skin, rather than mask its traits, seems to be the prevalent mode in these new takes on foundation. Once you find that base layer that you can’t live without (and I have a feeling that it will be one of those listed below), I can’t stress enough the importance of a controlled application, which generally helps when using a brush. Marc Jacobs Beauty thought that it was so important that the brand created one specifically to go along with its new foundation (available in August)!

Here’s a few of my favorites that I can personally vet as transforming the notion of wearing a foundation, taking us into the modern age with products built for the new way we think about, and wear makeup. Plus, it wouldn’t be a truly succinct product roundup without a great mix of price points; you’ll be able to find a foundationat all price points, ranging from $12-$70.

Lancome Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact, $46.50

Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Coverage Concealer Concentrate (available in August 2015 at Sephora, ephora.com & Marcjacobsbeauty.com), $55

NARS All Day Luminous, Weightless Foundation, $48

Orlane Teint Absolu Treatment Foundation, $70

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation, (available in July), $11.99

Almay Smart Shade Skin Tone Matching Makeup Foundation, $13.99

June 22, 2015

Making New Friends

by Julia DiNardo

“Make new friends, but keep the old…one is silver and the other is gold.” We used to sing that over and over in my Brownies troop in the late’80s, and in the case of new friends mingling with old…in this look, some literally are silver, and others gold! I’ve found some new brands and pieces that I absolutely adore, that compliment my existing aesthetic, while nicely building upon it with styles that may reflect a trend or two, but most importantly, reflect…me!

New to my accessories game is Shoes of Prey, an innovative concept in which you can design your own pair, down to the smallest of details. You can of course order online, but the really exciting news is that you can create a pair right inside of Nordstrom! The Shoes of Prey Design Studio at Nordstrom is found in six locations, equipped with iPads and sample shoes to try on to get a feel for the the heel height, comfort, and sizing. There’s a dizzying array of fabric swatches to pick through so that you can ensure the perfect color and texture, and the shoes will be made-to-order, arriving at your doorstep in 4-5 weeks. I modeled my Shoes of Prey after a very much loved, but very worn pair in my closet that I didn’t want to say goodbye to, but were literally falling apart. Talk about a combo of the old meets the new! My beloved shoes were reincarnated into a Shoes of Prey style that featured a similar low heel and rounded toe, but with a pop of embossed exotic snakeskin added.

Speaking of, it’s apparently my new thing, as this Isharya wire cuff features something of the serpentine persuasion, artfully wrapped around an agate stone as the center piece. I’ve been a big fan of blue agate for some time now, and snakes — well, I like looking at the imitation of life iteration of them.

If you can’t combine old and new, then what’s the point of holding onto stuff? Especially clothing; if it’s not meant for the mix, then it should go, but when a piece works, surely hold onto it (unless it goes by way of my old beloved shoes, and in that case…reincarnate them!).

In This Look:

Pimkie Dress (no longer available)
Shoes of Prey Self-Designed Wedges (c/o)
Isharya Blue Serpent Druzy Wire Cuff (c/o)
Pandora Light as a Feather Ring (c/o)
Avon Ring (c/o)
Hermès Petit H Leather Bracelet (c/0)
Wink & Win Custom Duffel Bag (c/o)

June 17, 2015

5 Brushes & 7 Easy Steps to a Great Summer Makeup Look

by Julia DiNardo

There’s so much to love about summer, and updating your makeup look with some new colors in the mix is fast, AND easy — as long as you have the right tools! They truly can make a world of difference in perfectly mixing, distributing, and blending your favorite makeup products! I’ve used five AWESOME brushes from EcoTools, listed above in the order of use, to create the ultimate subtle summer glow makeup look. Read along for my step-by-step guide, which will surely answer any questions you may have had about layering blush and bronzer, and how to use a kabuki and stippling brush!

Step 1: Take a lightweight tinted moisturizer, foundation, CC or BB Cream (I’m using a CC cream here); just make sure it has SPF in it to protect your precious assets! I like to apply the product to my hand and then dab the EcoTools Stippling Brush into it, to insure I don’t pick up too much product.

Apply the product on the Stippling Blush in a circular motion, dabbing on concealer where needed, and blending it together with your base layer via the brush.

Step 2: Now it’s bronzer time! Grab that super soft, EcoTools Angled Kabuki Brush, and lightly swirl it in your bronzer.

It’s important to start out with just a swipe of product on the brush, and gradually dip back into your bronzer and build up to the amount of product that best suits you.

The goal is to apply bronzer where the light/sun would naturally hit you, so lightly apply to temples and along the hairline, cheekbones,and with what’s left over, a light all-over swipe on your neck will do.

Keep the fattest part of the brush facing up and outward from your face for control, precision, and a natural, softly-angled application.

Step 3: Pick a summer-worthy blush shade — a brighter pink, peach, or coral (my favorite!), to lighten and brighten up your summer time makeup look.

June 15, 2015

Happy Happy, Joy Joy!

by Julia DiNardo

The summer is here! I couldn’t be more thrilled for warm weather-appropriate clothing and accessories, and relishing in the splendor of unexpected adventures that being outdoors more often brings. For example, the hubby and I took a detour from our normal route through Brooklyn, and drove right by this fabulous Ren and Stimpy adorned wall. We stopped for an impromptu photo shoot, unable to resist the cool ’90s throwback and the vibrant colors in the art that were, coincidentally, a great match for what I was wearing.

Plus, talk about happy, joyful surprises: as you can see, I went with my stylist’s vision (Anderson of Sassoon Salon) and lost almost five inches of hair in order to produce this lob (long bob), which will most likely serve me quite well in the summer heat. I can still pull it back into an itty bitty ponytail for when I’m working out and/or the humidity becomes unbearable. The decision wasn’t a calculated one, and as much as a control freak as I am, it’s nice sometimes to let things happen without too much planning involved.

Speaking of things happening organically, I recently found out about the brand IX Style, whose mission is to provide clean drinking water for children and communities, specifically in Guatemala. The sale of each pair of shoes, and updated huarache sandal style (pictured), provides clean drinking water to children by funding water filtration systems, rain collection units, and wells, so that children are safe from disease, and also don’t have to travel and spend time patiently collecting water from potentially contaminated sources, for survival.

IX, the Mayan word for water, sees to the hiring of several hundred artisans, mainly women, to construct the shoes, bags, and accessories, and thus, provides another stream of revenue into the community. In addition, a tree is planted for each item sold, which correlates with clean water, as it can improve soil quality and prevent soil erosion and mudslides, which in turn effect the water sources.

Some of my favorite brands and retailers have already gotten on board wit IX Style, such as J.Crew, Gap, Anthropologie, and Shopbop.com, and overall, I love the comfort that the shoes provide, which in turn, leaves a constant reminder of its charitable nature.