Cle de Peau beauty backstage at Vera Wang Fall 2012.
Every week our Beauty Live chatline on NeimanMarcus.com hosts a different expert to answer your beauty questions. It brings one of the benefits of visiting the beauty counter to your computer. Ah, modern convenience.
But this week we’re going big! To celebrate the launch of Neiman Marcus’ Fall face (cherry lips, everyone!) we have lined up a roster of talented industry professionals to tackle your cosmetic queries – each day of the week.
NM assistant buyer Summer Larson's cosmetic bag.
Before beauty products make it on the pages of NeimanMarcus.com, the beauty buying team scouts, sees, sniffs and samples every product on the market. We stopped by NM assistant beauty buyer Summer Larson’s very pink office at NeimanMarcus.com HQ, where she had just finished up a morning mani – testing a brand new gel nail kit deskside. Completely work-related, of course! She then unzipped her Prada cosmetic case.
...what's inside.
Bobbi Brown Desert Twilight Collection
There is something about the light in the Desert Southwest that is just a little more vibrant than anywhere else. Blues look bluer, pinks look pinker and everything is bolder. Bobbi Brown’s latest collection Desert Twilight transports us to an evening in the desert for Fall.
The gem of the collection is the eyeshadow palette that reminds me of a rose-colored sunset. The shades are neutral, but with a pink/blush undertone that looks especially great on hazel eyes. Her powders, as usual, are finely milled and a dream to blend. And I appreciate the inclusion of beautiful matte taupes, along with a chocolate that, when wet, makes a great eyeliner. The sleek metal packaging is worthy of the most fabulous of purses.
Desert Twilight eye palette
Orange nails on the Spring/Summer runway at Nanette Lepore.
I’m shouting it from the (social media) rooftops. Orange is THE color for nails right now. And leave it to Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing to come up with two shades that perfectly embody the trend. In a partnership with Le Métier de Beauté, Ken created the Indian Summer collection. We might be in the thick of summer right now, but those nostalgic last days of the season aren’t far away.
You may recall that for Resort, Ken created an intense orange called Not So Safe Orange. These new shades represent a gradual mellowing of that intensity.
Le Metier de Beaute Nail Lacquer in Wild Ginger and Penny Lane.
Sara Baker applies mascara at NM's flagship.
The beauty buying team scouts, sees, sniffs and samples every product on the market. After assessing it all, what are the industry experts wearing themselves every day? We asked NM assistant beauty buyer Sara Baker to show us the contents of her cosmetic bag, and here they are…
Sara Baker's beauty bag.
What's inside NM assistant beauty buyer Sara Baker's makeup bag.
1. Giorgio Armani Beauty Gloss d’Armani in beige 102
2. Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzer
3. Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Concealer SPF 18 in shade 2
4. Drugstore bobby pins
5. Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full-Body Volume Mascara in excessive black
6. Tweezerman point tweezer in black
7. Tom Ford Beauty lip color in bruised plum
8. Le Metier de Beaute Precision Liquid Eye Liner in noir
11. Lancome Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base
12. Le Metier de Beaute Visage de Soie Finishing Powder in #2
Glosses by Clinique, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown and Edward Bess
In summertime you want to hydrate your lips and rock a bold color simultaneously. These new lip colors all feature the simplicity of balms and glosses, with the pigment of a lipstick. Skip lip liners and even a mirror. Just swipe on a color and go. Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balms contain mango and shea butters, and have the sheen of a gloss, in my opinion. Clinique just added 8 colors to the popular range. Bobbi Brown’s new Sheer Lip Gloss looks ultra-vibrant in the tube, but go on with a sheer wash of color—Citrus, Cosmic Pink or Ultra Violet. They are a perfect way to incorporate the neon/bright trend. Edward Bess Deep Shine Lip Gloss features an exclusive treatment to ensure fullness. Estee Lauder Pure Color High Gloss has surprising staying power and the shiniest finish. Mwah!
These are my go-to pieces for this summer’s parties, weddings and my upcoming trip to Spain!
1. Valentino studded low heel jelly sandal. What could be more fun than a couture-like Jelly? This Valentino flat takes beachwear to another level!
2. Balenciaga pocket tote, Coral/Noir. Balenciaga’s chic carry-all tote is the perfect way to add a pop of color to your summer wardrobe.
3. Charlotte Olympia Carmen Leopard Print Espadrille. Get the old summer Hollywood look with these Glamourpuss wedges from Charlotte Olympia!
4. Eddie Borgo Tinsel Drop Earrings. You will be the life of the party with these fabulous fringe earrings from Eddie Borgo.
5. Alexis Bittar Gold Sputnik Cuff. Double up these Alexis Bittar gold & turquoise power cuffs because one is just not enough!
6. 10 Crosby Derek Lam Striped Halter Maxi Dress. 10 Crosby banded stripes will take you from day to night this summer!
7. Chantecaille Dragonfruit Lip Gloss SPF 15. For a fresh glossy lip I always go for Chantecaille’s Dragonfruit. The added SPF is always a plus.
8. Lisa Marie Fernandez Jasmine Zip-up One-Piece Swimsuit. Zip up and plunge in with Lisa Marie Fernandez ultimate fashion scuba swim!
9. Maslin Zebra Beach Towel. Relax on this playful zebra beach towel or snatch one as the perfect hostess gift!
Find your own Summer essentials at NeimanMarcus.com and Neiman Marcus stores.
Blues from Laura Mercier, Armani and YSL
Summer makeup calls for a simple routine incorporating bold color. A dash of blue on the eyes, hydrating gloss on the lips and a golden bronze comprise an ideal summer look. So don’t be afraid of an unexpected color on your eyes. Blue can look more playful and lighter than jet black. And the shade conjures thoughts of a day on the beach. Laura Mercier Belle Nouveau Long Lash Mascara in Bleu adds a subtle blue accent to lashes. Yves Saint Laurent Waterproof Eye pencil in Ultramarine can accent both brown and hazel eyes beautifully. And it is waterproof, making it ideal for a summer day. Armani Beauty Limited-Edition Eye Palette in Ecailles Black Pearl offers a whole oceanic range with lighter hues like Sea Froth and Blue Lagoon plus bold blues Deep Blue Sea and Dark Seaweed.
Bronzers from Armani, YSL and Guerlain
Substitute a bronzer for the sun’s harmful rays and safely get the sun-kissed glow you want. Use them on face, shoulders, neck, and décolleté to enhance your natural color for the season. Yves Saint Laurent’s summer makeup collection features a Terre Saharienne bronzer with Sun Radiance pigments and SPF 12. The Armani Beauty Limited-Edition Bronze Color Face Palette has a highlighter that’s perfect for contouring. And you can never go wrong with Guerlain, which continues to create beautiful bronzers. The limited edition Terra Soleia Bronzer is embossed with a radiant sun; the universal shade is mixed with iridescent golden particles.
NM assistant beauty buyer Emily Wisniewski
The NM beauty buying team scouts, sniffs and samples every “prestige” beauty product on the market. So what are the industry experts wearing every day? We asked NM assistant beauty buyer Emily Wisniewski, who confesses to a pretty extensive daily regimen, to show us the essentials she brings to the office for those sometimes necessary touch-ups.
Emily carries these essentials to the office.
1. I like keeping my La Mer regenerating serum with me in case my skin needs repairing. It’s great to use if I have any irritated skin on my face or even papercuts on my fingers from the office!
2. Kiehl’s lip balm #1 in cranberry keeps my lips nice and soft with a slight hint of color.
3. I use Bobbi Brown bronzer (natural #1) because it gives my skin some natural-looking color. I’ve used bronzers that make my skin look orange, but Bobbi Brown’s makes it look like I have a really great summer tan.
4. Yves Saint Laurent glossy stain (#7) is the easiest lip color for a working lady. The color stays all day, without reapplying.
5. I always carry my Cle de Peau concealer. It is my instant fix if I have any kind of beauty malfunction.
6. My favorite product of the moment would have to be the Kate Somerville Dermal Quench Liquid Lift. I can’t get over how clear and bright my skin has become after using this.
7. While this Lancome Color Fever lipgloss in heartstroke may look a little bright and loud, it’s actually very sheer, almost nude with a hint of color. Perfect for summer.
8. I keep my Le Metier Visage de Soie powder with me in case my skin starts to get oily.
Contents of Emily Wisniewski's cosmetic bag.
