How is it possible that after all these years of shopping at Bloomingdales I never knew about Space NK Apothecary?  Are you familiar with it?  Allow me to share…

At the far end of the cosmetics department in Chestnut Hill, just outside of the cafe, are more cosmetics.  Ok. What’s the big deal?  This space is not Bloomingdales!  It is contracted out by Space NK, a British company that offers a unique collection of luxury makeup, hair care, skin care, and fragrances.  I like that the brands are not mainstream, and as you browse and ask for assistance it is like shopping in a small boutique instead of a large department store.  As I was perusing through the makeup one recent day, without a focus, I could not help but comment on the beautiful skin of a sales associate…”What do you use on your face?” I asked, and she was glad to show me…

Rodial ‘Skin Tint’.  What I have been using on my face for the past few years is a tinted moisturizer by Laura Mercier.  It is light while providing a subtle ‘tan’, but quite sheer.  This skin tint is not a heavy foundation, but definitely provides more coverage than my tinted moisturizer – they call it ‘moderate coverage’.  I decided to give it a try. The verdict?  I love it! It evens out your skin tone beautifully without being too heavy or mask-like.  You can use a sheer powder to set it, and/or a highlighting powder which I prefer.  Do I look different? Maybe not drastically, but my sister and daughter both commented on how nice my makeup looked after I started using it. 🙂 Space NK was a fun discovery! In addition to the Rodial makeup I bought some Oribe hair products and an under eye cover stick by Kevin Aucoin (it’s also great).

But wait!  I must head back out to the ‘real’ Bloomies, there is something I need to try from Chanel:  a friend of mine swears by this lip color that you put on in the am, and it stays on all day!  The lower half is the color, the top half is a sheer gloss to apply over it.  I can see why my friend likes it – it really does stay on ALL DAY!  You can KISS freely and leave no lipstick on your sweetie (or grandchildren!).  You can drink coffee or wine without leaving a trace of color on the cup or glass.  Pretty amazing and it was fun testing it out.  The verdict?  I like the look and the staying power, but don’t like how it feels – it’s quite dry because of the nature of the formula. If you reapply the gloss regularly, not so bad.  Definitely worth a try. 🙂

Here I am up close and personal wearing the Rodial Skin Tint, a touch of Laura Mercier bronzing powder, and Becca highlighter on the upper cheeks.  On the lips: Chanel lip stain and gloss (Orange Blood).

While it’s obviously my preference to wear noticeable eye makeup and bold lip color, that is not everyone’s style, a many may prefer a more natural look.  Whatever your style is, I recommend three ‘makeup musts’ to look your best every day, especially if you are over 30…

1. A tinted moisturizer or light foundation; your skin is what people notice!
2. Mascara (defines your eyes without looking made up)
3. Lip gloss or a sheer lipstick (creates a balanced, finished look)

Glad to answer questions about other products and would also love to hear about your favorites!