by Illyse Lane | Mar 2, 2016 | March 2016, Polish, Stuff
If you’ve got dark circles or bags under your eyes, you probably don’t care if it’s due to
genetics, lack of sleep or dehydrated skin. You probably just want them to go away. While the old spoons-in-the-freezer trick can help minimize both temporarily, applying concealer correctly can also make a big difference.
The trick is in the technique:
For dark circles:
1. Begin with an eye cream, gel or primer to even out the texture.
2. Choose a lightweight concealer in shades of peach or orange, which neutralizes blues, browns and purples.
3. Apply using a brush in the shape of a downward facing triangle instead of dotting across the bottom lid.
4. Consider a white or nude liner to add brightness to your eye area.
For bags:
1. Apply concealer slightly lighter than your skin tone right below your bags in the shadows using a small angled brush.
2. Dust translucent powder above the shadows.
3. Don’t use a dark liner on your lower lids.
Try these:
Cover up with:
Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer For Eyes
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, $34; Saks
Givenchy Mister Light Instant Light Corrective Pen, $35; Sephora
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, $70; Nordstrom
Moisturize with:
L’Oréal Paris Visible Lift Serum Absolute Concealer, $12.99; Walgreens
Clinique All About Eyes Serum’ De-Puffing Eye Massage, $30; Belk
Olay ProX Eye Restoration Complex, $44.99; Ulta
La Mer Illuminating Eye Gel, $145; Saks
by Illyse Lane | Nov 30, 2015 | December 2015 / January 2016, Polish, Stuff
When local celebrity Mimi Wheeler, mid-day music director for country music station B93.9, marries her fiancé, Foster Nichols, on December 12, Nichols, his groomsmen, his father and Wheeler’s father will join the ranks of many A-list celebrities who have been spotted wearing Brackish Bow Ties.
These handcrafted feather bow ties debuted in Charleston in 2007 and have been worn by the likes of Andy Samberg, Don Cheadle and Bill Murray, who donned one for George and Amal Clooney’s wedding.
Made one feather at a time, each feather is hand-selected and chosen for its unique pattern, resulting in a work of art around the collar.
“I noticed them even before Foster asked me to marry him,” says Wheeler. “I thought they were so cool, original and classy. Once he proposed, I knew they were one way I could make my wedding be memorable and magical.”
In addition to the beauty of the bow tie itself, each is presented in a handmade wooden box. It was so appealing to both Wheeler and Foster that they decided to present the bow ties as gifts to all the men in the wedding party.
“It’s such a meaningful way to say thank you for being my best friend and for being here on my big day and supporting me,” says Wheeler.
Due to their delicate nature, Brackish bow ties are not self-tie, which may be music to the ears of many men. Prices range from $165 – $225 and are sold exclusively at Bailey’s Fine Jewelry in Raleigh.
by Illyse Lane | Oct 28, 2015 | November 2015, Polish, Stuff
Lash primers promise to give mascara a boost, helping lashes look longer and thicker, while also conditioning and nourishing. Other claims: clump-free application and all-day wear. Our staff put three popular brands to the test.
L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Superstar Primer & Mascara Combination: $9.99
The product comes in a two- sided tube, one side marked as step 1 (the primer) and the other as step 2 (the mascara). The primer went on easily, coating my lashes in visible white. The mascara went on clump-free, covering the primer. My lashes weren’t any thicker, but they did separate well and had added curl. Illyse Lane
Clinque Lash Building Primer $15.50
I had never used lash primer before, but now I will! The Clinique product works great if you want longer and curlier lashes but it doesn’t make them thicker. For best results, take off any old mascara before applying the primer. This primer doesn’t work well if you haven’t completely removed your mascara from the day before. Gina Stephens
Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer $20
I let the primer dry a little before putting on my mascara. It gave me more length but not any extra volume, which I would have liked. It did help me use fewer coats of mascara, and it also seemed easier to remove my make-up at the end of the day. I really liked this product, and I will definitely keep using primer. Caitlin Harrison
Raleigh Mag’s Decree: Lash Primer is worth it. The ease of a clump-free mascara application that results in lashes with added curl makes primer a good addition to your beauty routine. And since they all performed similarly, go for the drugstore, L’Oreal version. For the cost of almost two grande lattes, you can have better-looking lashes for months.
DIY Lash Curl
Don’t skip curling your eyelashes! It can make your eyes look larger and more awake, and it only takes a few seconds. If you forget or don’t have your lash curler, here are five do-it-yourself things to try.
Work your mascara. Use your mascara wand to curl your lashes. While you’re moving across lashes in a zigzag motion, curl in at the tips and count to ten, holding them in place.
Warm hands. Just a small amount of gentle pressure and warmth will also curl your lashes. Use your breath to heat fingertips and then press on lashes, curling them into themselves. Hold for ten seconds, then repeat as needed.
Spooning. Heat a spoon in a mug of warm water, then press the curved side over your lid and gently press lashes against the curved edge of the spoon for ten seconds.
Hold it. After applying mascara, hold lashes in a curled position by gently lifting them at the base of the lid with the length of a cotton swab. When the mascara dries, your lashes will stay in place.
A hot toothbrush. Run a clean toothbrush under hot water and then dry it lightly by pressing it into a clean towel. Brush through lashes starting at the base of the lid, holding at the tips to create the curl.
by Illyse Lane | Oct 28, 2015 | November 2015, Polish, Stuff
Like so many women, Dr. Danielle Tart is busy, juggling the roles of mother, wife and dentist (she’s a partner in Triangle Dentistry). Like so many women pushed for time, shopping became a drudgery.
Online personal stylists are coming to the rescue.
Companies such as MM.LaFleur, Stitch Fix and Keaton Row are carving out a niche in the fashion world, appealing to women who want a wardrobe with stylish, quality clothing but have no time to shop for it.
The concept is simple. Complete a style profile and, based on your preferences, an online stylist shops for you. Keep and pay for what you like, and return what you don’t, letting your stylist know why a particular item didn’t work.
These companies are betting that you’ll like a few things enough to order again—at least core pieces; that’s how Dr. Tart use it. With the help of that feedback you gave, your stylist will be able to make even better choices the next time you order.
“I get many of my foundation pieces, such as skirts, dresses and blazers, from MM.LaFleur,” says Dr. Tart. “Then, I can pick up a few mix and match pieces at local boutiques when I have time.”
Want to give it a try? Raleigh Mag looked at three of the more popular sites. Here’s what you need to know:
Style: Professional
You Get: A Bento box with 4 -6 wardrobe staples (dresses, a top, a skirt or knit, and accessories).
Brands: MM.LaFleur’s label
Price Point: Majority range from $140-$290
Days to Decide: Four (from day of delivery)
Styling Fee: $25 per box, waived for first-time order and, after, waived if you keep one item from your box on future orders.
Care: Mix of dry clean only and machine washable
Style: Professional and casual
You Get: Package with 5 items
Brands: Over 250 labels.
Price Point: Average price $55 per item, with a wide variety.
Days to Decide: Three (from day of delivery)
Styling Fee: $20 per box, charged when stylists select items and then applied toward the cost of final order. Buy all 5 items, 25% off entire purchase.
Care: Mix of dry clean only and machine washable
Style: Professional and casual
You Get: A “look-book” assembled just for you that you can shop from for 90 days. If you buy, more looks are added.
Brands: Combination of smaller and larger brands, such as Theory, Diane von Furstenberg, BB Dakota, Thylo, & Cooper and Ella.
Price Point: Contemporary range $75-$399, Premium range $250-$400 plus.
Days to Decide: 30 days for items shipped by Keaton Row; others depend on retailer.
Styling Fee: n/a
Care: Mix of dry clean only and machine washable
by Illyse Lane | Oct 28, 2015 | November 2015, Polish, Stuff
Plaid is everywhere and on everything. Want to get in on the fun? Just add one item to your look. Our faves:
Scout BJ Bag, $64, Monogram included, Monograms Inc.
Leighton Dress, $265, J. McLaughlin
Joie Roni River, $698, Monkee’s of Raleigh
Double-notch Houndstooth Mini Skirt, $110, J. Crew
Tarten Blanket Scarf, $34, Madison
Manolo Blahnik Mistery Plaid Cutout Mary Jane Pumps, $865, Saks Fifth Avenue
