Interview with make-up and beauty expert Erika Valente
Interview with make-up and beauty expert Erika Valente Marta: Hello everyone, this is FaceFitnessCenter.com interview series and this is Martha and I am here with Erika Valente from makeupbag.net. Welcome, Erika. Erika: Thank you. Marta: Thank you so much for joining us. Erika is a mom of three plus a stepson, right? Erika: That's right. Marta: And she is the very busy, very, very busy founder and editor of makeupbag.net and she is in Nevada. How is the weather out there? Erika: It is hot today. Marta: Well, thank you so much for joining us. I want to let everybody know that makeupbag.net is a wonderful, wonderful beauty site that everybody should check out. For those of us who are wannabe beauty editors. This is the dream place to go. Makeupbag is a beauty website that features daily beauty product reviews and industry tips and trends and lots of advice for the beauty obsessed. Is that right, Erika? Erika: That's right. Marta: Anything else you want to add or you guys have been around for how long? Erika: We started in 2006. So it has been three years and it is a great creative out let for me. It's a part time thing for me so it's been a lot of fun _ researching products, testing products, getting my girls involved and making it a family affair. We all talk about the things we love and the things we things we don't love. It's a great place for us to share our thoughts because we really love beauty products and we use a lot of them so we make a lot of recommendations so other people know what is going to work and what is not going to work. Marta: That's great. If you have to say the kind of test products and the trial products, tell us what are the two favorite trends that you guys have been thinking about or talking about outright. Erika: I would definitely say my top beauty trends. I would definitely say it is smok ey eye. The trend about smoky eyes is you can do it in different colors and it does not have to be gray or black, there are a lot of hot colors for fall. So it a
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really simple, you just use the tips of your fingers even to create a smudgy line of color along your upper lashes. It does not have to be severe smoky eyes. It can be very simple that can look good in anyone and it is really easy to achieve. Marta: Is that a daytime and night time option do you think? Erika: It can be. You can use a green or purple smokey eye and then for evening just darken the line that is supposed to be lashes and even add a little color on your lower lash line as well. Marta: Wow, oh great. And is that something that you use shadow for, liner for. What do you recommend or what do you see working really well? Erika: To create a really easy simple one, you just use shadow. It works really great. You can wet a brush and dip it in your shadows just to make the color more intense. I like to use a pencil and then put a shadow over it and smudge it all together with a Q_tip. It's repetitive but it's up to the user on how comfortable they feel. If they are not used to wearing a lot of makeup or a lot of eye makeup, then just a little smoky purple along the upper lash line and two colors of a mascara will give them a look that is dramatic than they are used to. Marta: That's great. So what is the other trend? Erika: Well, I have to say that matte nails for fall is going to be really a hot trend. Soya has some great colors that came out, OPI, SE, I should say SE has a matte color topcoat that goes over any color that would create a matte finisher for you. Marta: So if we used to getting a wonderful manicure, and that tell- tell shiny look in our nails. How would it be different? What is the difference? Erika: It just looks so modern, and looks different. You don't really see or I haven't in the past seen a lot of matte finishes but it's different. Marta: Yeah. Erika: It'd different, yeah; it's different and kind of edgy. Marta: Yeah, neat, neat. So is this a daytime/nighttime universal kind of thing? Erika: Absolutely. Marta: And the colors that are coming out are the matte options, besides the topcoat, the colors are something are they any particular range of colors, neutrals? Erika: I have seen a lot of grays, lots of dark grays SE has a really pretty red.
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Marta: Red. Erika: Yeah. Marta: Red matte? Erika: Yeah. Marta: Neat, I guess it's going to be in because it's going to be Christmas. That's great I didn't notice on the, for everybody, you can quickly half run in and check out makeupbag.net and what you probably will find out is there are lots of daily updates. I was so excited when I looked at it this afternoon and scrolled down to one my favorite things which I seem to only find in the very exclusive high end department stores and that is colored mascara. Can you talk about that a little? Erika: Yeah, colored mascara- Este Lauder has a new one that is coming out that's really pigmented. It really shows a lot of color on your lashes. I have black eyelashes so in the past the colored mascara that I have tried has just been a little bit of a glimpse of the color and almost make my lashes not look as thick as I like them to look because the color is not as dark. Marta: Oh. Erika: Yeah but with the new colored mascara that is not the case. They are very vibrant and the formula is really good. Marta: That's great. OK that's an Este Lauder product. On the blog or on the website, what do you see people asking you about most often? What are the tips that you know, the most precious tip that you share based on what people want to know. Erika: That is really a hard question because I don't have just one answer to this one. There are so many things out here available to make you feel better about yourself but I do get a lot of questions about foundation, about how to pick the right foundation, what is going to be right for you. I think the most important thing when you pick a foundation is to really consider your skin and what you skin needs. Does your skin need moisture? Do you have a lot of blemishes that need coverage? Do you have excessive oil? Things like that before you consider what types of foundation to select. So I like a tinted moisturizer just because I feel like it gives a good coverage. It covers redness and a lot of times you can use that as a regular moisturizer and most of them now have sun block in them which is vital to your beauty routine. So I love tinted moisturizer because it is really quick and you kind of kill three birds with one stone [laughs].
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Marta: That's great. Are there any new things happening with foundations? Erika: There's always new things happening. As far as trends, I definitely think that a better, like a more application and more precise application is going to be the trend this fall where you are going to see a better coverage. For me that means a little more powder on my face. I don't like to add a lot of foundation. But if you like foundation then a heavier more coverage foundation is the going to be the look for sure. Marta: Now I've seen in those wonderful makeup artists or make over shows that we watch and said "God, I wish it was me." People using spray foundation or like an aerosol can. Does that exist? I've never been able to find it. Erika: It does exist and I've tried a couple of brands. I think it's best to leave that to the professionals. Marta: [laughs] Erika: Just because it is hard to really in your own bathroom get the...The reason why it's a spray can is because you can spray it on and not touch it, but it just has to be applied perfectly. So in my experience it's best to leave that to the professionals. Marta: OK. Let's talk about beauty routines and what we all have to be doing every day and we all have those wonderful make up drawers that we open up and there is lots of things in there. If we touched it all we'd be there for hours. If somebody is looking to simplify their beauty routine, getting ready, they put on their face before they go out in the morning. What would you tell them to do or what would be the essentials? Or what would the essentials be? Erika: Definitely, the tinted moisturizer because like I said it has a sunscreen, the moisture and the tint all in one. And there are some really good double duty products like a lip and cheek tint. Stla makes a great one. Bobby Brown has a good one and you can use it as both a lip stain and a cheek stain. So those type of things and then if you use a bronzer, you can use your bronzer as your powder if you use a really light hand. Try to find those products that are useful for more than one thing. Marta: Great, Are there...moisturizer foundation that you like. Is there... you say that you use it. I assume that you have tried a lot of them? Erika: I have and you know the one that I always keep going back to is the Chanel one. And it's kind of expensive but it smells really great. It works for me and the tint is like the perfect shade for my skin. So for me that is what I like.
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Marta: Is it a particular, is it Hydramax tinted moisturizer? Erika: It is. It is the Hydramax. Marta: OK and I'm looking at your website. That's why I know that. How do you find the right color? That seems to be, we have all seen a tell tale line on peoples' face we thought it's not really the right color. How do you find it? Erika: Exactly, well that is the great thing about a tinted moisturizer. The color does not have to be exactly perfect and it's not going to create that line. But if you are looking to match your skin, it is really important to pass that color in daylight. So if you are buying your foundation from the drugstore, it is important to maybe use the tester. Most drug store now have testers available which is great and they are usually very good about their return policies, too. So if something doesn't work for you. I know CVS is great about that but test it on your skin. Don't test it on your hand. You need to test it on the areas like around your jaw line to make sure that is the right color and you want to make sure that you are not getting something that is too pink and makes your face look red. It's best, that's the great thing about going to the cosmetic counter is that sometimes you are able to get someone to help you that's behind the Clinique counter. Clinique has some amazing foundations and they are really helpful in selecting a color for you. And you know try it. Take home the tiny samples. They are always more happy to put a little sample in a vial for you. And use it for a couple of days before you send the $30 or the $15 to buy the foundation. Marta: Fantastic, great. All right so what would you say if somebody had come to a little bit of money and decided they are going to buy themselves a fabulous outfit and put a little aside for makeup or a beauty item. What would be the one thing that you'd tell them to buy? Erika: Right now, I would have to say that even though it is not very expensive, it is very affordable but Benefit has a new product called “One Hot Minute” and available only at Sephora. Marta: What is it? Erika: I am in love with this product. It looks like a bronzer in the container but it is really just sort of a luminizer where you brush it all over your face and then it just makes you kind of light up from within. It is an amazing product and it is kind of funny, there is only one in the house and every morning I have to go and search in the other bathrooms and in my kids make up bag to find who borrowed it that morning. So it is a hot item in our house, that's for sure.
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Marta: OK, So One Hot Minute at Sephora. That is great I have never heard of it. OK. What would you say is something to stay away from when we see things changing constantly in the beauty aisle or the makeup aisles? What would you steer clear of? Erika: I would steer clear of severe brown definitely. They don't really look good in anyone. And French manicure, as much as I hate to say it, but French manicure looks so dated and there's so many great colors and things that are going to look more fresh and more modern than a French manicure especially on your toes but that is a whole other subject. Yeah I think French manicure is a trend that is over, over, over. Marta: So if you had to pick one color, that you were going to get the next time you go or what next color are you planning to put on your nails next? Erika: Well, right now, there is this light green is definitely a lot what I was seeing at Fashion Week for sure. I think people are going to seeing a lot of light green but also for fall, purple. I think purple is going to be the hot color for fall. Marta: Oh neat, OK. And when you say light green, are we talking Kermit the Frog green or are we talking more day glow green? Erika: No, it is actually more of like a sherbert kind of green. Marta: Oh, interesting. OK. Erika: And Chanel has a new color out, a limited edition called Jade. A lot of brands are mimicking that shade but the Chanel Jade color is sort of the color kiss, the gold standard, I guess. Marta: Interesting, yeah, they do seem to have a way of doing it, don't they? [laughs] Erika: Definitely. Marta: Yeah. I just see some ads appearing with one of my favorite models from my youth, Brooke Shields. She is recently doing a commercial for mascara or some kind of eye lash treatment that helps you grow thicker, longer eyelashes. What's the scoop on that? Erika: OK, so this is called “Latisse” and it's by prescription only so you need to go dermatologist and get a prescription for it. And basically, it's a topical treatment that you use like a liquid eyeliner. You apply it to your lashes and there is a special ingredient that causes your lashes to grow. And I have actually tried this and I have been using it because I'm part Asian so I have very short, straight eyelashes. It actually works for me.
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The only problem is that it is a $120 for the tiniest, little, minute vial so basically it's going to... I was able to stretch it and use one for a two months period but it's an additional $60 per month and it is recommended $120 per month because each vial will last one month. So I'm kind of distraught right now, My lashes are longer and fuller and thicker and it really has worked for me but at the same time, I'm kind of toying with do I really need to spend that extra money for something that I wonder if anybody even notice. So the great thing is I found this amazing new mascara by Lancome and it is called Hypnose Drama. Marta: Hypnose. Erika: Yeah, it is amazing. For somebody who has, who wants the thicker, longer, lashes, I mean this is like, I can use it every day because my lashes are normally so short, but it might be for you, it might just be a night time mascara to give extra drama because it is really that amazing. Marta: Really? Erika: Yeah, and if you don't want to spend the money on the Lancome Hypnose Drama then CoverGirl has a great mascara called LashBlast. I have been obsessed with LashBlast for the last year. And not the drugstore mascara and it is great. In fact, Bree just told me this morning that she wanted me to pick her up some more because she had run out so she loves that one, too. Bree is my daughter. Marta: Oh that is great. Bree is your 17 year old? Erika: My 17 year old, yeah. Marta: So now I have to ask if you dabbled in the false eyelashes thing. Erika: I have and my favorite false eyelashes is by Shu Uemura. Marta: Yeah? Erika: But the weirdest thing is that I think I kind of developed an allergy to the glue because lately when I use them my eyes get itchy. So I'm trying to find the perfect latex free glue but I have not found it yet. The only one I found is in the Vincent Longo lash - but you have to buy the lashes and they give you a one use only trial size of the glue so, but I prefer to use a different type of lash. If anybody has suggestions I would love to hear it. Marta: [laughs]
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Erika: Yeah, it's latex free glue. Marta: Is it doable? Can you do it yourself? Erika: Absolutely. The great thing about it is that you can...an easy way to use them is to snip them to shorter pieces like half piece that you use on the other corner of your eye. It adds a lot of drama without making it harder to... or having a strip in your eyes that you are afraid that it will fall off or whatever. Marta: Right, right. Erika: Snip it into four pieces and apply a piece one at a time and that also makes it very easy to apply because sometimes trying to get that whole band on your eye perfectly is really tricky. So if you do it in little pieces it looks the same but it is much easier to apply. Marta: All right. Now the all important question. We talked a lot about some of the things that you have in your make up bag right now, is there anything else? We didn't talk about lip color at all. Erika: We didn't and you know I have a big container of lipsticks, and lip color is just one thing that I...it just depends on my mood in the morning. I've been wanting plum shades. I love nudes and usually whatever I put on the morning is not what I have on at the end of the day. Because once I leave my bathroom in the morning, then it's like my standard lips gloss throughout the day so. Marta: So. Erika: Sorry I was going to say I do have one thing in my make up bag that we did not talk about and it is a new Max eye shadow and it is called Fashion Groupies. Marta: What's that? Erika: It a really fun shade of purple that can be worn alone and layered to be a bright pop of purple or you can mix it with browns or grays for a more subtle purple but its going to be a great color. Marta: Great, good, good. What else do you think that people should know? Anything else that we should be thinking about? We heard purple. We heard the... I love the tinted moisturizer foundation tips, the nail scoop. What else? Is there anything else that we should be talking about that is hot and current? Erika: No, there is going to be a lot of fun holiday collections coming out pretty soon and I think we are going to see a lot of shimmery stuff for the holidays which is always fun and in fact, my favorite time of the year to visit make up counter.
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But you know just find that one special thing that you want to highlight on your face, whether it is your lips or your eyes or your skin and focus on that. Don't try and overdo it or try everything just right. I think also that as long as you feel comfortable with your look like definitely don't do a smokey eye, super smokey eye if you are not used to it and you walk out of the house and you are going to be self conscious for the rest of the day. So make sure that you feel good about what you are putting on your skin and what you are using on your face. I mean it is not rocket science, you can wash it off if it is not working for you. That is the beauty of beauty. Marta: That's great. And actually speaking of washing it off…You have said or I think I read on the website that you get to test products and people say things all the time. Anything secret wonderful thing on the skin care front that you want to pass along? Erika: There's a ton of stuff the most impressive one for me are the sun blocks or moisturizers with UVA and UVB protection. La Roche-Posay makes good ones as well as She and Neutrogena, so these are really important and I can't stress enough how important it is to wear sun block before you go out of the house. Just everyday whether rain or shine you have to put that on your skin. Marta: Good, great. Anything else you get a lot of questions on all the time? Erika: I think we covered everything, But... Marta: Yeah. Erika: [laughs] Marta: I think that's great, that's great. Marta: Thank you so much for your time. Well hear more about Erika, I'm sorry. Erika: I said thank you for having me. Marta: Oh, it was our pleasure, it was our pleasure. We'll be sure to share with you, the listeners more information about the Makeupbag with Erika online. And if you have any questions feel free to reach out her website that is www. makeupbag.net and check it out there's a lot of great information. Erika, thank you again for your time. Erika: Thank you Martha. It was fun. Marta: thank, take care. Have a good one. Erika: OK. Bye.
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Marta: Bye.
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really simple, you just use the tips of your fingers even to create a smudgy line of color along your upper lashes. It does not have to be severe smoky eyes. It can be very simple that can look good in anyone and it is really easy to achieve. Marta: Is that a daytime and night time option do you think? Erika: It can be. You can use a green or purple smokey eye and then for evening just darken the line that is supposed to be lashes and even add a little color on your lower lash line as well. Marta: Wow, oh great. And is that something that you use shadow for, liner for. What do you recommend or what do you see working really well? Erika: To create a really easy simple one, you just use shadow. It works really great. You can wet a brush and dip it in your shadows just to make the color more intense. I like to use a pencil and then put a shadow over it and smudge it all together with a Q_tip. It's repetitive but it's up to the user on how comfortable they feel. If they are not used to wearing a lot of makeup or a lot of eye makeup, then just a little smoky purple along the upper lash line and two colors of a mascara will give them a look that is dramatic than they are used to. Marta: That's great. So what is the other trend? Erika: Well, I have to say that matte nails for fall is going to be really a hot trend. Soya has some great colors that came out, OPI, SE, I should say SE has a matte color topcoat that goes over any color that would create a matte finisher for you. Marta: So if we used to getting a wonderful manicure, and that tell- tell shiny look in our nails. How would it be different? What is the difference? Erika: It just looks so modern, and looks different. You don't really see or I haven't in the past seen a lot of matte finishes but it's different. Marta: Yeah. Erika: It'd different, yeah; it's different and kind of edgy. Marta: Yeah, neat, neat. So is this a daytime/nighttime universal kind of thing? Erika: Absolutely. Marta: And the colors that are coming out are the matte options, besides the topcoat, the colors are something are they any particular range of colors, neutrals? Erika: I have seen a lot of grays, lots of dark grays SE has a really pretty red.
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Marta: Red. Erika: Yeah. Marta: Red matte? Erika: Yeah. Marta: Neat, I guess it's going to be in because it's going to be Christmas. That's great I didn't notice on the, for everybody, you can quickly half run in and check out makeupbag.net and what you probably will find out is there are lots of daily updates. I was so excited when I looked at it this afternoon and scrolled down to one my favorite things which I seem to only find in the very exclusive high end department stores and that is colored mascara. Can you talk about that a little? Erika: Yeah, colored mascara- Este Lauder has a new one that is coming out that's really pigmented. It really shows a lot of color on your lashes. I have black eyelashes so in the past the colored mascara that I have tried has just been a little bit of a glimpse of the color and almost make my lashes not look as thick as I like them to look because the color is not as dark. Marta: Oh. Erika: Yeah but with the new colored mascara that is not the case. They are very vibrant and the formula is really good. Marta: That's great. OK that's an Este Lauder product. On the blog or on the website, what do you see people asking you about most often? What are the tips that you know, the most precious tip that you share based on what people want to know. Erika: That is really a hard question because I don't have just one answer to this one. There are so many things out here available to make you feel better about yourself but I do get a lot of questions about foundation, about how to pick the right foundation, what is going to be right for you. I think the most important thing when you pick a foundation is to really consider your skin and what you skin needs. Does your skin need moisture? Do you have a lot of blemishes that need coverage? Do you have excessive oil? Things like that before you consider what types of foundation to select. So I like a tinted moisturizer just because I feel like it gives a good coverage. It covers redness and a lot of times you can use that as a regular moisturizer and most of them now have sun block in them which is vital to your beauty routine. So I love tinted moisturizer because it is really quick and you kind of kill three birds with one stone [laughs].
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Marta: That's great. Are there any new things happening with foundations? Erika: There's always new things happening. As far as trends, I definitely think that a better, like a more application and more precise application is going to be the trend this fall where you are going to see a better coverage. For me that means a little more powder on my face. I don't like to add a lot of foundation. But if you like foundation then a heavier more coverage foundation is the going to be the look for sure. Marta: Now I've seen in those wonderful makeup artists or make over shows that we watch and said "God, I wish it was me." People using spray foundation or like an aerosol can. Does that exist? I've never been able to find it. Erika: It does exist and I've tried a couple of brands. I think it's best to leave that to the professionals. Marta: [laughs] Erika: Just because it is hard to really in your own bathroom get the...The reason why it's a spray can is because you can spray it on and not touch it, but it just has to be applied perfectly. So in my experience it's best to leave that to the professionals. Marta: OK. Let's talk about beauty routines and what we all have to be doing every day and we all have those wonderful make up drawers that we open up and there is lots of things in there. If we touched it all we'd be there for hours. If somebody is looking to simplify their beauty routine, getting ready, they put on their face before they go out in the morning. What would you tell them to do or what would be the essentials? Or what would the essentials be? Erika: Definitely, the tinted moisturizer because like I said it has a sunscreen, the moisture and the tint all in one. And there are some really good double duty products like a lip and cheek tint. Stla makes a great one. Bobby Brown has a good one and you can use it as both a lip stain and a cheek stain. So those type of things and then if you use a bronzer, you can use your bronzer as your powder if you use a really light hand. Try to find those products that are useful for more than one thing. Marta: Great, Are there...moisturizer foundation that you like. Is there... you say that you use it. I assume that you have tried a lot of them? Erika: I have and you know the one that I always keep going back to is the Chanel one. And it's kind of expensive but it smells really great. It works for me and the tint is like the perfect shade for my skin. So for me that is what I like.
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Marta: Is it a particular, is it Hydramax tinted moisturizer? Erika: It is. It is the Hydramax. Marta: OK and I'm looking at your website. That's why I know that. How do you find the right color? That seems to be, we have all seen a tell tale line on peoples' face we thought it's not really the right color. How do you find it? Erika: Exactly, well that is the great thing about a tinted moisturizer. The color does not have to be exactly perfect and it's not going to create that line. But if you are looking to match your skin, it is really important to pass that color in daylight. So if you are buying your foundation from the drugstore, it is important to maybe use the tester. Most drug store now have testers available which is great and they are usually very good about their return policies, too. So if something doesn't work for you. I know CVS is great about that but test it on your skin. Don't test it on your hand. You need to test it on the areas like around your jaw line to make sure that is the right color and you want to make sure that you are not getting something that is too pink and makes your face look red. It's best, that's the great thing about going to the cosmetic counter is that sometimes you are able to get someone to help you that's behind the Clinique counter. Clinique has some amazing foundations and they are really helpful in selecting a color for you. And you know try it. Take home the tiny samples. They are always more happy to put a little sample in a vial for you. And use it for a couple of days before you send the $30 or the $15 to buy the foundation. Marta: Fantastic, great. All right so what would you say if somebody had come to a little bit of money and decided they are going to buy themselves a fabulous outfit and put a little aside for makeup or a beauty item. What would be the one thing that you'd tell them to buy? Erika: Right now, I would have to say that even though it is not very expensive, it is very affordable but Benefit has a new product called “One Hot Minute” and available only at Sephora. Marta: What is it? Erika: I am in love with this product. It looks like a bronzer in the container but it is really just sort of a luminizer where you brush it all over your face and then it just makes you kind of light up from within. It is an amazing product and it is kind of funny, there is only one in the house and every morning I have to go and search in the other bathrooms and in my kids make up bag to find who borrowed it that morning. So it is a hot item in our house, that's for sure.
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Marta: OK, So One Hot Minute at Sephora. That is great I have never heard of it. OK. What would you say is something to stay away from when we see things changing constantly in the beauty aisle or the makeup aisles? What would you steer clear of? Erika: I would steer clear of severe brown definitely. They don't really look good in anyone. And French manicure, as much as I hate to say it, but French manicure looks so dated and there's so many great colors and things that are going to look more fresh and more modern than a French manicure especially on your toes but that is a whole other subject. Yeah I think French manicure is a trend that is over, over, over. Marta: So if you had to pick one color, that you were going to get the next time you go or what next color are you planning to put on your nails next? Erika: Well, right now, there is this light green is definitely a lot what I was seeing at Fashion Week for sure. I think people are going to seeing a lot of light green but also for fall, purple. I think purple is going to be the hot color for fall. Marta: Oh neat, OK. And when you say light green, are we talking Kermit the Frog green or are we talking more day glow green? Erika: No, it is actually more of like a sherbert kind of green. Marta: Oh, interesting. OK. Erika: And Chanel has a new color out, a limited edition called Jade. A lot of brands are mimicking that shade but the Chanel Jade color is sort of the color kiss, the gold standard, I guess. Marta: Interesting, yeah, they do seem to have a way of doing it, don't they? [laughs] Erika: Definitely. Marta: Yeah. I just see some ads appearing with one of my favorite models from my youth, Brooke Shields. She is recently doing a commercial for mascara or some kind of eye lash treatment that helps you grow thicker, longer eyelashes. What's the scoop on that? Erika: OK, so this is called “Latisse” and it's by prescription only so you need to go dermatologist and get a prescription for it. And basically, it's a topical treatment that you use like a liquid eyeliner. You apply it to your lashes and there is a special ingredient that causes your lashes to grow. And I have actually tried this and I have been using it because I'm part Asian so I have very short, straight eyelashes. It actually works for me.
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The only problem is that it is a $120 for the tiniest, little, minute vial so basically it's going to... I was able to stretch it and use one for a two months period but it's an additional $60 per month and it is recommended $120 per month because each vial will last one month. So I'm kind of distraught right now, My lashes are longer and fuller and thicker and it really has worked for me but at the same time, I'm kind of toying with do I really need to spend that extra money for something that I wonder if anybody even notice. So the great thing is I found this amazing new mascara by Lancome and it is called Hypnose Drama. Marta: Hypnose. Erika: Yeah, it is amazing. For somebody who has, who wants the thicker, longer, lashes, I mean this is like, I can use it every day because my lashes are normally so short, but it might be for you, it might just be a night time mascara to give extra drama because it is really that amazing. Marta: Really? Erika: Yeah, and if you don't want to spend the money on the Lancome Hypnose Drama then CoverGirl has a great mascara called LashBlast. I have been obsessed with LashBlast for the last year. And not the drugstore mascara and it is great. In fact, Bree just told me this morning that she wanted me to pick her up some more because she had run out so she loves that one, too. Bree is my daughter. Marta: Oh that is great. Bree is your 17 year old? Erika: My 17 year old, yeah. Marta: So now I have to ask if you dabbled in the false eyelashes thing. Erika: I have and my favorite false eyelashes is by Shu Uemura. Marta: Yeah? Erika: But the weirdest thing is that I think I kind of developed an allergy to the glue because lately when I use them my eyes get itchy. So I'm trying to find the perfect latex free glue but I have not found it yet. The only one I found is in the Vincent Longo lash - but you have to buy the lashes and they give you a one use only trial size of the glue so, but I prefer to use a different type of lash. If anybody has suggestions I would love to hear it. Marta: [laughs]
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Erika: Yeah, it's latex free glue. Marta: Is it doable? Can you do it yourself? Erika: Absolutely. The great thing about it is that you can...an easy way to use them is to snip them to shorter pieces like half piece that you use on the other corner of your eye. It adds a lot of drama without making it harder to... or having a strip in your eyes that you are afraid that it will fall off or whatever. Marta: Right, right. Erika: Snip it into four pieces and apply a piece one at a time and that also makes it very easy to apply because sometimes trying to get that whole band on your eye perfectly is really tricky. So if you do it in little pieces it looks the same but it is much easier to apply. Marta: All right. Now the all important question. We talked a lot about some of the things that you have in your make up bag right now, is there anything else? We didn't talk about lip color at all. Erika: We didn't and you know I have a big container of lipsticks, and lip color is just one thing that I...it just depends on my mood in the morning. I've been wanting plum shades. I love nudes and usually whatever I put on the morning is not what I have on at the end of the day. Because once I leave my bathroom in the morning, then it's like my standard lips gloss throughout the day so. Marta: So. Erika: Sorry I was going to say I do have one thing in my make up bag that we did not talk about and it is a new Max eye shadow and it is called Fashion Groupies. Marta: What's that? Erika: It a really fun shade of purple that can be worn alone and layered to be a bright pop of purple or you can mix it with browns or grays for a more subtle purple but its going to be a great color. Marta: Great, good, good. What else do you think that people should know? Anything else that we should be thinking about? We heard purple. We heard the... I love the tinted moisturizer foundation tips, the nail scoop. What else? Is there anything else that we should be talking about that is hot and current? Erika: No, there is going to be a lot of fun holiday collections coming out pretty soon and I think we are going to see a lot of shimmery stuff for the holidays which is always fun and in fact, my favorite time of the year to visit make up counter.
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But you know just find that one special thing that you want to highlight on your face, whether it is your lips or your eyes or your skin and focus on that. Don't try and overdo it or try everything just right. I think also that as long as you feel comfortable with your look like definitely don't do a smokey eye, super smokey eye if you are not used to it and you walk out of the house and you are going to be self conscious for the rest of the day. So make sure that you feel good about what you are putting on your skin and what you are using on your face. I mean it is not rocket science, you can wash it off if it is not working for you. That is the beauty of beauty. Marta: That's great. And actually speaking of washing it off…You have said or I think I read on the website that you get to test products and people say things all the time. Anything secret wonderful thing on the skin care front that you want to pass along? Erika: There's a ton of stuff the most impressive one for me are the sun blocks or moisturizers with UVA and UVB protection. La Roche-Posay makes good ones as well as She and Neutrogena, so these are really important and I can't stress enough how important it is to wear sun block before you go out of the house. Just everyday whether rain or shine you have to put that on your skin. Marta: Good, great. Anything else you get a lot of questions on all the time? Erika: I think we covered everything, But... Marta: Yeah. Erika: [laughs] Marta: I think that's great, that's great. Marta: Thank you so much for your time. Well hear more about Erika, I'm sorry. Erika: I said thank you for having me. Marta: Oh, it was our pleasure, it was our pleasure. We'll be sure to share with you, the listeners more information about the Makeupbag with Erika online. And if you have any questions feel free to reach out her website that is www. makeupbag.net and check it out there's a lot of great information. Erika, thank you again for your time. Erika: Thank you Martha. It was fun. Marta: thank, take care. Have a good one. Erika: OK. Bye.
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Marta: Bye.
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