Tommy’s Corner: Beauty Sleep

Tommy, our makeup guru, is back in our Beauty corner! This season, he’s filling us in on how to manage beauty and beaut rest. Sweet dreams indeed.
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New York truly is the city that never sleeps, but who wants to live like that?  One week I am definitely am running empty is New York’s Fashion Week. It’s me and my kit in tow, running from one show to the next.  So at the end of the day, there’s nothing I love more than to indulge in every moment of beauty sleep.  I wake up rested and ready to do it all again.  Here’s how I do it and you can too.

1) A PRACTICE IN HUMIDITY: Hydrating is a lifestyle, and for me, a humidifier is no exception.  I fill it as soon as I’m home.  This way, my train of thought becomes setting up for a successful evening, sleep, and next day.  Coming home becomes a pattern of centering and bettering myself.

2) LAVENDER: On my pillows. On my sheets. In my humidifier.  I use organic lavender drops for aromatherapy everywhere and anywhere I can.  I’ll purchase pure lavender oil, even this aroma therapy spray, but more often than not I make my own home-and-linen sprays by mixing essential or fragrance oils with alcohol in a  spray bottle.

3) SILK PILLOWCASES: According to aesthetician/blogger Caroline Hirons, you have two  beauty lives, the one “before silk pillowcases, and the one after”. If ever there was an investment for your beauty sleep, it’s this.  I love waking up to my skincare on my skin and not in my pillowcase.  More skincare on your skin means it’s working where it needs to be.

4) BONE BROTH: If you don’t believe that bone broth is an ancient youth elixir for replenishing the collagen in your skin and joints, then you might want to know the glycine in bone broth can help to induce sleep.  It’s almost like a cup of warm milk, minus the inflammatory risks.  Bone broth makes for a guiltless nighttime treat, all year long.

5) SKINCARE OVERNIGHT MASKS: Sleep masks are shortcuts to bedtime for me when time is of the essence (pun intended).  I’ll incorporate a sleep mask three to four times a week: they’ll seal in any skincare below and improve their performance, attracting moisture like a water-loving comfort blanket

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Read his full article here!

Tommy Napoli is back at the Beauty Corner to share his recommendations for simply beautiful winter skin. Tommy, a New York City makeup artist and consultant, has been creating beauty his entire life. If you didn’t get introduced already in my last blog post, take a peek here.

KQ: Welcome back Tommy! I’m trying to streamline life right now, to that end – what are your winter beauty tips?
TN: When we move into winter, our skin can turn dull and chapped from central heat and wind. So I’d put down your foaming face wash, get a humidifier–– and keep exfoliating.  Exfoliation is an important cornerstone to any skincare routine, and I rely on liquid exfoliants in particular when helping to get clients’ skin (and my own) in top shape.

KQ: My humidifier is constantly going! But my skin can still get parched in winter and also I don’t like wearing makeup because I’m all bundled up.
TN: Exactly. Incorporating a brightening liquid exfoliant, like one from the Biologique Recherche’s line, can help your skin hydrate and look better with less makeup, and help your skin get top effectiveness from your existing skincare. I’ve seen clients go from foundation to tinted moisturizer in just a few weeks.

KQ: Yes, I’ve been using their P50V for a while – though not routinely. How do you recommend using?
TN: You can use this with your routine 2-3 nights a week. No need to overdo it. Did you know Biologique Recherche has a new addition to their holy-grail range?  P50 PIGM 400, is a skin hero that brings your facials to your busy schedule at home, turns over new cells, and is a godsend for erasing pigmentation.

KQ: I did NOT know this! Fascinating.
TN: Yes, I am always looking for skincare with fast results for both my clients and myself and this line is one of my secret weapons. Bride Heather and I, pictured above, relied on P50 to help get her face even and glowing for her big day.

KQ: Gorgeous, of course!

New York City makeup artist and consultant, Tommy Napoli, has been creating beauty his entire life. Artistically-inclined since the first crayon, he has training in over 200 brands.  Tommy is a former east coast Lead Artist and member of traveling Team Tilbury for high-fashion makeup artist, Charlotte Tilbury.  In addition to being an expert makeup artist, he is an artistry and development educator, and independent product expert and consultant. His clients include Edun, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany Masterson, Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece, Kate Capshaw Spielberg, and me. 🙂

Tommy and I met at Bergdorf Goodman before he left to start his own company, but he’s popped over to our Beauty Corner to provide his tips for keeping your look fresh this fall.

KQ: How is fashion translating to makeup right now?
TN: From velvet to high-shine to corduroy, texture is big this fall season–– and it’s certainly no exception when it comes to the world of beauty. Don’t overlook the fun and versatility of incorporating various textures and shine to your facial wardrobe.  
KQ: How can someone achieve this when they are getting ready?
TN: High-impact eyes are in and Charlotte Tilbury has decoded how to dress your eyes for any occasion, any skillset, and any age. The number-coded eyeshadows (from one to four–– cleverly, “desk, dusk, to disco” eyes) make it easy for makeup wearers of all levels to style their eyes.  
KQ: You know I love a multi-tasker. Is there one that is particularly great for fall?
TN: Totally. The Dolce Vita Luxury Eyeshadow Palette incorporates four of this season’s latest colors, and is a fantastic way to bring out your natural high-shine element – your eyes. Champagne pearl, russet red, smokey brown, and molten copper: these colors leave no eye color unamazing (it’s seriously magic), and the textures are universally flattering and give lids a younger, smoother appearance. 
KQ: Sign me up!  Anything else we should be thinking about?
TN: This weather is a great opportunity to incorporate some of your summery hues with fall-time colors: peachy-pinkie blush and lipsticks pair beautifully with sultry warm burgundies and coppers. Play around!
KQ: I shall. Thanks for your tips Tommy!

I’m three weeks into a cleanse and while slightly annoying, I figure detoxing every once in awhile is the least I can do to make up for the fact that I live in a concrete jungle and travel quite a bit. To that end, I’m always excited to try products that are natural, chemical-free, and earth friendly. I always appreciated Josie Maran’s product focus on Argan oil, but on my trip to Morocco I saw first hand from a women’s co-op how the precious oil is produced by hand and finally understood its price. I came across Josie Maran’s Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer via a free sample and after my usual due diligence learned that Josie started her company to find a way to contribute in changing the world and empower women in impoverished countries. The company favors fair trade practices, sustainably harvested ingredients, and eco-friendly packaging and partners with a multitude of different charities to support your skin and your earth- including, Moroccan women’s’ co-ops, Argan Forest preservation, and the Polar Bear SOS initiative.

But back to the products, I love the way her Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer makes my skin dewy and bright. I can put some above my cheeks to highlight, mix it with my lotion, or put it on after my sunscreen. It is so good, that often I just add mascara and feel ready to go. Another product I love is Josie’s Allure Award winning Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 Protect and Perfect Tinted Warm Glow is an Argan oil based moisturizer that also gives a little tint my skin. And with this summer already proving to be extremely hot, we will need all the sun protection we can get. Josie Maran believes in luxury with a conscious. Me too.