Makeup Mondays With Mario: Long Lashes Undermining Your Mascara?

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hi Mario!

First and foremost, I'm an epic fan of your work! The advice you give is extremely helpful. So, I was hoping that you could help me out with one particular struggle I have with applying makeup. I have a problem with mascara. My makeup looks hot when I leave the house but 2 hours later I get mascara smudges right below my eyebrows! I don’t know what to do. I have tried every single brand of mascara you can possibly think of! When I go to MAC or any counter they say to use a good primer and this and that and they sell it to me. I use it and still get the smudges. What do you recommend? Or am I stuck with my super long eyelashes and carrying my 224 brush everywhere I go?

Thanks!
Amanda

Hi Amanda,

Thanks so much. The mascara smudges right below your brows are a result of oily eyelids. I’m sure there are a lot of women reading this and wishing they had your "issue," LOL.  As the day progresses, your eyelids begin to produce more oils and your lashes are smudging on the lid because oils break down and melt makeup. I say you stick with your preferred waterproof mascara and try applying a mattyfying cream to your T-zone and also to the area around the brows. I like Max Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel by Peter Thomas Roth.  Follow with a dab of oil-free concealer or foundation and then seal the deal with a translucent setting powder. Instead of using a brush to apply the powder, use a damp sponge and press it onto the skin. Sweep away the access powder with a clean blending brush. Try Luminous Translucent Loose Powder by Motives Cosmetics. This technique will help with creating a barrier between oily skin and mascara. If your skin and mascara are both dry to the touch, there will be no more mess!  

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,
Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Lips To Die For: Peter Thomas Roth Lip Facial Trio

I don’t know where you live. But it’s frigid in Philadelphia. For weeks, my lips have been jacked up. No matter how much I moisturized, they were snap, crackle, and poppin’. And not in a good way.

So this evening, while my hubby was away at poker night, I decided to pamper my pout. And in about 5 minutes, I had lips to die for, literally, thanks to Peter Thomas Roth’s Lip Facial Trio. It’s exactly what it sounds like.

First, I exfoliated my lips with the Heavenly Lemon Sugar Scrub. Then I applied the Super Smooth Lip Putty (in my opinion, the coolest part of part of the trio) – a clay-based masque that soothes and hydrates. Finally, I smeared on the Pink Bombshell Lip Balm, an iridescent lip conditioner.

I highly recommend the Lip Facial Trio, not only because it does what it promises – but because it’s a completely unique product. You’d be hard-pressed to find another lip treatment that does what this does, let alone one that does it better.

If your lips are looking a hot mess, invest in this product. Your lipstick/gloss will go on more smoothly. But more importantly, your lips will look and feel fabulous.

Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Three years ago, Bath & Body Works abandoned its single brand, single price point strategy when it started carrying popular lines like C.O. Bigelow, Frederic Fekkai, and Wexler. Neil Fiske, then CEO, said of the change, "This represents another step in the transformation of Bath & Body Works from raspberry shower gel to a modern apothecary of beauty and well-being."

Now, Bath & Body Works is reinventing itself, once again, by cutting its outside vendor list by 50%. Upscale brands that have left, or are slated to leave flagships by the end of the year include DDF, Peter Thomas Roth, Korres, Juvena, and The Savannah Bee Company. "We still feel very strongly about third-party brands and continue to carry them. We continue to look for not only new items within the brands we carry, but also additional brands," current CEO Diane Neal said. "I personally think we over-assorted ourselves,” she added.

So if your favorite brand is getting the ax, visit your nearest Bath and Body Works store now and adopt a few soon-to-be homeless beauty products.

Shine Shy

I love glossy lips…the glossier, the better. But I realize than not everyone embraces this look. So if you’re shopping for a lip balm but hate the shine (I don’t get it, but I’m not judging) – pick up a tube of Peter Thomas Roth’s Matte Lip Balm. It protects and moisturizes with green tea, ginger, and rosemary extracts. This also makes a great gift for your guy.

TJ Maxx Is My New BFF

You all know that I heart Sephora. I’m also a fan of department stores and specialty boutiques. But my new favorite places to shop for beauty products are retail chains like TJ Maxx and Marshalls. To me, there’s something so satisfying about rooting through shelves of crap and spotting the perfect product – as if it was put there especially for me to find.

This weekend, I went to TJ Maxx – and was amazed at what I found: GapBody body lotion for $5.99; a gift set of three Jaqua Shower Syrups for $9.99; and Lucky Chick Mandarin White Orchid Sugar Body Scrub for $4.99. I’ve also spied products from Peter Thomas Roth, Juice Beauty, Davies Gate, and N.V. Perricone on shelves at TJ Maxx. And you’d be amazed at the fragrance selection…not too long ago, my Mom bought a 1.7 ounce bottle of Hanae Mori Butterfly Eau de Parfum for $29.99 (retail value $85)!

Spoiled Pretty Tip: On your next trip to TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and similar retail chains – be on the lookout for products from CST (Commonwealth Soap and Toiletries) and Asquith & Somerset. These bath and body products are high-quality at a low price (most items are under $8). Right now, I’m loving CST’s Tangerine Vanilla Sugar Scrub…it gently polishes my skin, and smells just like an orange creamsicle!

News You Can Use

I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit this, but I spent my Saturday night watching QVC.

Totally by accident, I stumbled on QVC while channel surfing…and was surprised by the addictive nature of their Beauty Newsmakers Face-to-Face, a special that gives viewers the inside scoop on beauty from the industry's leading experts.

The program showcased new and bestselling products from Bare Escentuals, Borba, Essie, Kate Somerville, Laura Geller, Mally Roncal, Ojon, Peter Thomas Roth, Smashbox, and Tarte – just to name a few. I was also surprised to learn that many of the show’s featured products are QVC exclusives. For example, RareMinerals Blemish Therapy with Brush won’t be available at Bare Escentuals stores, counters, or on their website until February 2008 - but you can buy it now at QVC.

I usually consider myself immune to home-shopping television, but this particular program was absolutely riveting. The hosts were selling the you-know-what out of those products. I had to restrain myself, several times, from pulling out my credit card and picking up the phone.

For more information about the products featured on QVC Beauty Newsmakers, click here.

Good Gourd

October is right around the corner. And when I think of the tenth month of the year, pumpkins always come to mind. Although the fruit (you thought it was a vegetable, didn’t ya?) is most commonly used in pies and bread, pumpkin’s health benefits make it a beneficial beauty product ingredient.

Pumpkin contains more than 100 nutrients, which may be used to help reverse signs of aging. Pumpkin enzymes have the highest source of beta carotene and vitamins to combat oxidation and free radical damage.

Fall is officially here…and to celebrate the change of season, here are my top picks of the pumpkin patch. Trust me - these products will leave you glowing and grinning like a jack-o-lantern.


Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel
A detoxifying peel for the face and neck. Utilizing pumpkin enzymes to easily and gently dissolve dead surface skin cells, this deep exfoliator stimulates cellular turnover, to reveal radiant skin that is supple and naturally hydrated. Age-fighting anti-oxidants and Vitamin A help protect, nourish, and repair skin. Plus it has a delicious, irresistible pumpkin scent.


Molton Brown Skinbalance Toning Lotion
Naturally exfoliate and brighten the complexion with this non-drying, rebalancing preparation. American pumpkin enzymes, pink grapefruit, lime and yeast extract combine to strengthen the skin and reduce moisture loss. Skin is revitalized, softened and smoothed. Gentle enough to use around the eye area, this is suitable for all skin types.


Bath & Body Works Pure Simplicity Pumpkin Purifying Mask
It's like putting holiday dessert right on your body! But this purifying mask does more than just smell great—it exfoliates and moisturizes, leaving your skin smooth as silk. Oprah touted this product as one of her 'favorite things' back in 2003. (Bath & Body Works recently discontinued their Pure Simplicity line, but you can still find this magnificent mask on eBay).


Burt's Bees Miracle Salve
Save yourself from dry hair and skin, miraculously. Moisturize and nourish hair, hands, and body with this super-enriched, emollient formula. Pumpkin seed oil, which is rich in fatty acids, combines with olive oil and wheat germ extract to hydrate and protect dry hair and skin. Meanwhile, protein-rich bee pollen nourishes and rejuvenates, while emollient beeswax holds in moisture.


Yes To Carrots C is for Hair Care - Hair and Scalp Mud Mask
Experience gorgeous hair like never before with C is for Hair Care. C is for Hair Care moisturizes, softens, detangles, shines, and volumizes...and contains extracts of carrot, pumpkin, orange & honey, rich with Beta-Carotene, Alpha-Carotene, Vitamin E and other enzymes that keep your locks in tip-top condition.


Bella Lucce Pumpkin Glow Body Scrub
The enzymes in pumpkin pulp combine with pumpkin seed oil to dissolve dull, dead cells, revealing the healthy radiant skin underneath. Pure cane sugar is enveloped in this creamy blend of nourishing oils and butters, spiked with warm, aromatic essential oils for a soothing treat. As with all Bella Luccè scrubs, their Pumpkin Glow emulsifies into a creamy lotion when applied, then rinses clean for delectably soft skin without oily residue. Bella Lucce also carries a Warming Pumpkin Masque.

PS (Pumpkin Secret) – In the late 90’s, the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago conducted a study that concluded one third of American men are turned on by the smell pumpkin pie. Intrigued? Click here to learn more.

Baby Got Back

While acne problems are most often associated with the face, back acne is as common as facial acne. Back acne results from tight-fitting clothes, which trap perspiration against your skin. Dealing with this embarrassing condition is often not an easy process, and the sheer number of acne relief preparations can make shopping for the right one a difficult and time-consuming process. This summer, I had banished skimpy tanks and sundresses to the back of my closet - until a recent trip to Sephora gave me a reason to show some skin.

Peter Thomas Roth's Blemish Buffing Beads Body Wash is formulated with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, to help clear up and prevent body blemishes without overdrying or irritation. It also contains innovative moisturizing beads that release nourishing vitamins A, C, and E and pro-vitamin B5 when massaged into the skin.

Blemish Buffing Beads Body Wash leaves skin clean and clear...so go on ladies - get buffed.