corporette makeup.

i'm a guest star!

i was invited by the lovely ladies over at corporette.com to share some thoughts on how to take fall makeup trends and translate them into an office look. check it out here.

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final olay guest reviewer weighs in!

and now for our final guest reviewer of the olay regenerist 14 day skin intervention, the lovely sheena! here's what she has to say:

Hi :)

I just wanted to send you my final thoughts on the Olay Regenerist 14 Day Skin Intervention...

Phase 1: I loved how moisturizing this was! I was using Retin-A and had some major dryness that nothing was fixing, and I put this on one night, and poof! All flakes were gone :) The texture is very nice, smooth and dries to a matte finish. One thing I did notice, though, is that this is very similar to another Olay product, the Regenerist Night Recovery--texture, color, ingredients, etc.

Phase 2: This had a different texture than Phase 1--slightly grainy. To be quite honest, I liked Phase 1 more. I felt like this one didn't absorb as nicely into my skin. By the end of treatment, I noticed a slight decrease in the depth of my frown lines, but nothing much in terms of improvement of undereye wrinkles. Overall, there wasn't much visible difference in terms of wrinkles.

I think my major complaint with this product would be that yes, the packaging is nice and convenient because it gives you a "daily dose," but I really feel like a lot of product could get wasted in the little tubes.

Also, my skin was definitely getting moisturized, but I started to notice more and more breakouts. Maybe it's just me, or maybe this will be an issue for others with oily skin, I'm not sure...but since I'm already struggling with acne, this probably wouldn't be a product I'd use again.

Pros: excellent moisturizing, lovely texture for Phase 1
Cons: packaging, breakouts, didn't do much for me

Thanks so much for letting me test this product!!

Sheena :)

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second olay guest reviewer writes back!

olay's regenerist 14 day skin intervention guest reviewer nicole writes to mlm (i looove the creative, didactic, diary format she chose!):

This product comes in 14 little tubes. Each one contains an individual use. There are 7 for the first product, 7 for the 2^nd. I kept a little diary of my use:

Day 1: no noticeable result. Light scent, slippery texture. Did not sting.

Day 2: skin felt noticeably more smooth, noticed when washing face. Face continued to feel smooth throughout the day. Didn’t look any different, just felt different.

Day 4: Two breakouts! I don’t normally break out mid-month, so I wonder if it’s from the product. My skin is feeling smooth otherwise.

Day 7: My sister-in-law complimented my skin, saying “I can’t stop staring at your face!” She wanted to know my secret; I wouldn’t tell.

Day 8: My first day to try the 2^nd product. This one was a different color, and felt a little grainy when I applied it. I went to bed and my skin actually felt a little warm. !!!

Day 10: My skin is feeling very smooth, and… plump. Fine lines around my eyes seem to be a little bit less. My makeup is going on very smoothly.

Day 12: I can’t describe it any better than saying my skin feels plump! Not dry, not flaky, but smooth and moisturized.

Day 14: I’m sorry to see that I’m using my last vial today! Overall, I don't see all that much improvement, but my skin feels great and is very smooth.

I would definitely use this product again, and feel like it’s well worth the money it costs.

Thanks again!
~ Nicole

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amy says - part 3 (guest bloggist).

6. Any tips on which brushes to use, when and how?

Let's start from the base on up: most artists or counter salespeople worth their salt will probably recommend a liquid foundation brush. I also like these a lot, but more if I'm working on other people. I always frown on sponges because they suck up your product (handy in a pinch or for a touch-up but not for your morning makeup) and generally love fingers. They warm up the product, blend nicely and are easily washed. But if you're oily, do invest in a nice brush – Sephora Brand has great ones. Foundation brushes have a synthetic head (best for liquidy product) and should be cut with a nice taper. If you can get your hands on a Trish McEvoy foundation brush, do it. Hers are some of the very nicest brushes on the market. She painted long before she did makeup and was very meticulous about getting the right hairs and cuts for her brushes. But if you want to save, drugstores offer nice brushes too – you just want it to be cut right. The head is flat, the hairs are synthetic, they taper so they're longer in the center. Great for liquid and cream foundations.

Concealer brushes are also useful for tough places (like around the nose) and look similar to foundation brushes but are smaller and thinner, but here I will stand by fingers as your best tool. Next, you want a great powder brush, something fluffy that won't lay the powder on in slabs but will still build up coverage if you want it to: Dior, Lauder and Shiseido offer some of my favorites. For bronzer, I'm really stuck on this super-wide, huge, short-handled brush that Clinique recently put out. It's thick and its head has a sort of a fan shape. Amazing – you can start at the apples of your cheeks, work out to the temples, and dust the center of your forehead/nose/chin – perfect almost every time. I do NOT personally like the dense, full, fat brushes usually recommended for bronzer. That's an older technique and can distribute too much concentrated color, which makes you look muddy. It's 2007 and we tend to prefer a fresher, healthier face. I also have a clean, fluffy powder brush that I use solely to blend the complexion when I'm done.

Blush brushes are different: it depends on what you're going for. Again, Trish does it best – her brushes are super-soft and beautifully cut so you never get too much color. The right blush brush is important, and you can talk to a salesperson so you can feel a variety of brushes and try them see which one gives you the right look. For example, my friend Marie has heavy touch with her blush – she prefers a bold cheek – and buys something full like the slanted Lancome blush brush. My friend Lisa likes her cheeks super sheer, just a wash of rose on the apples, and is a Trish customer. I like something a little less delicate than the Trish brushes and a little more subtle than the full-headed Lauder brushes: I use a Sonia Kashuk brush I got at Target. A note on Sonia Kashuk brushes: they are fabulous and I love them. Great quality for not much moolah, and cut very similarly to their ritzier Chanel counterparts.

For eyes, I like these and also MAC – MAC is where you want to go if you are dying to really get into the finer points of shading and contouring. But for every-day eye ease, I recommend you have the following in your arsenal: a large eyeshadow brush, pretty standard, but get good quality, for allover color; a smudging brush for smoky eye precision, like the CARGO short-handled blue one, and the Laura Mercier ponytail brush or one that is similarly shaped. This last brush is one of the best out there and may be all you ever need. I use mine to dust dark color over my liner for smokiness and will probably buy another one soon for every-day neutral colors. Other accoutrements like lip and brown brushes, or flat liner brushes for cream liner, or the delightful finishing brush – looks just like a little fan and does wonders with shimmer, highlighter and cream products – you can add as you go, but you want to have your basics.

Cleaning your brushes: there's a wealth of cleaners out there, but you're good to go with some Johnson and Johnson's baby shampoo. Swirl your brush heads in your palm with that and warm water, then swirl again in your palm in clean warm water until it runs clear. Don't ever hold your brush heads directly under a running faucet – it loosens up the glue in that metal bit, called the ferrule. Let them dry with the heads dripping over a table edge. And don't freak if they start to shed after awhile – most of them will. Just take care of your brushes and they will last a long time.

Note: For those of you who are super conscious of the happiness of our animal friends, go with Urban Decay. I personally don't have a problem using goat and squirrel brushes, etc., and believe in the right hair giving a certain result, but Urban Decay has a line of synthetic brushes that do almost the exact same thing. You can always look up which of increasingly few brands do animal testing through PETA, as well.


7. I have always been curious about trying liquid eyeliner. Can you give some tips on how to do it without looking too severe?

Sure! I wear liquid liner almost every work day because it stays put and precise all day long. Angelina Jolie also rocks it on a regular basis; same with Posh. The key to wearing it casually is keeping it very, very close to the lashline, and nice and smooth. It also depends on your eyes. Mine are creaseless but the lashline also folds up when I look straight ahead, so I actually have to wear a fairly thick line for it to show. Since I usually rush too much to have coffee, I tend to cheat when applying liquid liner: I line lightly with a khol pencil (super smooth) line the ones by Stila or Chanel, just for a guideline, then use my liquid in a series of small strokes to go over the initial line. After you have the line, you can lean in real close and draw one smooth uninterrupted line. Let your eyes dry for at least a minute before you move on to mascara. For girls with a crease, you'll want to practice: hold the outer corner of your lid taut with your opposite hand as you use those small strokes first. Also, I'm not crazy about many of the liquid liners out there. Lauder's and Dior's, for example, are way too gloppy, the brushes are too thick, and they have an odd white-out smell that makes me uncomfortable with the fact that I have just painted my eyes with the product. So my picky arsenal contains Urban Decay liquid liner in Soot. It's got a longer handled brush which is surprisingly easier to work with: less chance of smudging your work with an errant palm. There are things I don't like Urban for, such as foundation, but they generally get the eyes right on the nose, as it were. Check out the assortment of amazing liquid liner colors they offer. My friend Jen, Italian-American with chestnut-brown hair, rocks nothing but mascara and Urban's liquid liner in Roach, a sort of coppery dark brown, and she always looks awake and put-together. My Soot only recently dried out and I've had it for a year! (They say to replace these products after 3 months, but as long as it's just you and there's no conjunctivitis, I vote for taking your dollar as far as it will go.) Liquid liners also segue into evening when you extend them into lovely cat-eyes. My ex-boyfriend loved it when I wore plain old powder and a super-exaggerated slash of black liquid liner, thin and seductively curved. It's absolutely a practice-makes-perfect look, and to this day I mess it up when I'm not concentrating, but if you get it right and it dries, you're good for the rest of your busy day. Also, don't forget one of makeup's tried and true tools: a Q-tip dipped in Clinique's take-the-day-off makeup remover. See what works for you – thin is probably best, but Jen wears hers thick – stopping it right where her lashline stops – and doesn't look severe. Good luck!

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amy says - part 2 (guest bloggist).

3. I was wondering if you have any blending tips to avoid getting the "make-up line" across my jaw area. I don't usually notice it, which makes it even more embarrassing. Thanks for your help!

The most important part is finding your proper foundation color. Go to a counter at a not-too-busy time – like a weekday shortly after opening. (I once read in a magazine a recommendation that you go shopping for new makeup near closing-time, so you can get the artist's full attention – yeah, right. At that time they're only thinking about what they're going to eat as soon as they get home, and wishing you'd take off.) In the daytime artists in retail are much more likely to find you the right product, especially at the nicer department stores where they often want to build a relationship with you and your face. To take the pain out of brand selection, I'll give you some names I can really get behind. DIOR has sophisticated formulas and nice undertones – but unfortunately not the widest range of color selection. MAC is best if you have a tough-to-match skin tone, but I don't love the textures – for example, StudioFix is notoriously serious coverage but not the most skin-friendly. LAURA MERCIER really does do a nice tinted moisturizer. TRISH MCEVOY artists are great – a tad overbearing – and will match you well, but you then get roped into their cute but dopey, OCD-oriented packaging. I loooove a brand called MAKEUP FOREVER at Sephora. God, I love that stuff. Their liquids and powders give full coverage – which I adore – and blend well. VINCENT LONGO also does killer foundations, as does ESTEE LAUDER, both in a range of finishes. If you want to go baller-style, go with CHANEL or ARMANI – my favorites. (I tend to go against the popular grain and veto the ever-popular Bobbi Brown unless you're looking for yellow undertones, like if you have a lot of redness.) Once you have your shade, apply from the center of your face out with a brush or your fingers but please, please not a sponge – these suck up all your product and you invariably look uneven. I use my fingers; once I've applied, I take my index, middle and ring fingers, put them together, and use the pads of fingertips to briskly and lightly blend everything down from jaw to neck. Start at your ears and then make sure your throat looks smooth. Make this a daily habit or you will definitely get that line. If you use bronzer, dust a little over the jaw and throat.

A side note: I tend to favor Estee Lauder DoubleWear foundation - 13-hour coverage – in Softtan, a great color that's a bit dark for me. Wheat is my real color. But what can I say, Softtan gives me the look I like. Therefore I have to be extra careful to blend. Just keep a tiny compact on ya – and worst comes to worst, someone tells that you've got a line. You can either change your color, unoffended, or blend more carefully.


4. I have light blue eyes with an aqua tint and I am really interested in wearing blue eye makeup. Do you have any tips so that I don't look like a throw back to the 80's?

Three words – flawless bronzed skin! This balances out the jolt of a blue-on-blue eye and makes it standout sexy, not fashion-victim. If you're lucky enough to have such an eye color, why not show it off? You can play with navy, which I think is the best way to go, and pale blues. You could also do cobalt or royal-blue liner. Diorshow mascara also comes in an electric blue that my friends and I loved in college. If you want to go artistic with all-out aqua, just don't wear it too high. You just need a really smooth canvas – your complexion - and a neutral lip. Acne-prone fair skin, for example, with an aqua-lined eye and red lips – is basically an American flag on hallucinogens. I don't say this to be harsh but to emphasize the importance of balance. That being said, there's nothing wrong with full-coverage foundation to get your face even, and with an eye. you should brush the face with a golden bronzer, like Nars in Casino. Look at Cameron Diaz: if you've ever seen her without makeup, she actually has problem skin. Who the hell would ever guess? The girl wears plenty of well-blended foundation! Probably go easy on the blush too, unless you're doing a pinky or raspberry wash. Light blue eyes with an aqua tint, wearing lovely shades of blue, to me, scream for a lush caramel mouth, very modern, either matte or shiny. If it was me I'd go for full-tint shine. Try DiorKiss lipgloss in Praline. Or you can rock it retro with a true pink, candy or pale. Delicious!



5. I used store brand eyelash glue and had a very hard time removing it when I took off my lashes. Any tips on how to get eyelash glue off easier?

That's what I use too, I'm all about Ardell. You know how nail techs press the acetone-soaked pad and sort of rock them back and forth on your nails before stroking off the color? This is the best way to go, and use something heavy-duty like Lancome's BiFacil or Shiseido's instant eye-and-lip makeup removers – something a little oily. Press the cotton pad against your lid and sort of wiggle and press before you pull the lashes off – they should slide off easily with this step. As for the leftover curls of glue that tend to gather near the lashes, I find that Laura Mercier's cleansing oil works wonders. Fantastic product. After that, keep rinsing and use a cleanser like Philosophy's Purity or Cetaphil to gently remove remainders. Another tip is to use very little glue on the lashes when putting them on, which is actually what pros usually do. Gotta love fake lashes!

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amy says - part 1 (guest bloggist).

1. I am fair skinned and have really dark under eye circles. The problem is my skin gets very sensitive, especially during the winter and concealers usually irritate me under my eyes. I am only in my early 20's and don't want to use something too intense to cover my circles up. Do you have any suggestions?

This is one of the most common questions I get asked at the counter. If you are fair-skinned with chronic dark circles, the best products to use are soothing eye gel with cream followed by a lightweight concealer, and the best practice is a little ritual involving a cold compress. In the morning, give yourself an extra 15 minutes in which you can lie in an almost upright position (pile pillows) with something cold on your eyes, ideally chilled cucumber slices. I know it sounds old-fashioned but the antioxidants in these treats are just a benefit to the coldness, and the fruit acids in cukes can help to smooth dryness, irritation and milia (little bumps) in this delicate area.

Next apply your eye GEL, which should contain antioxidants as well. The very best I have come across in the industry are Mario Badescu's ceramide eye gel (a bright kiwi-green delight) and Estee Lauder's Eyezone (has a cool vitamin helix in the middle, with preventative grape-seed extract). Eyezone is probably a better bang for your buck although it costs a bit more. You should keep your eye-gel in the fridge to make it most effective. Your eye CREAM however should be kept at room temp, and since you are young and looking to fight darkness (not wrinkles), go for something *lightweight* and mostly for hydration, especially if you have sensitive skin. Stay away from anything fragranced - again I'd recommend Mario Badescu, but if you can handle a dab of fragrance, my all-time fave for your age-range is Shiseido The Skincare Eye Revitalizer. Check it out - shouldn't be discontinued and is lovely. For your purposes, EYE GEL should be applied with ring finger - your weakest finger - in quick, rapid (stimulating!) dabs ONLY in the under-eye area, going back and forth. EYE CREAM, same finger, more in the upper cheekbone area near corners of eyes and the outer upper corners - and not the under-eye area, where too much heavy moisture can add to puffiness. Your final weapon: Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat concealer. Usually I don't like falling prey to "this is the greatest ___ ever!" syndrome, but truly - after working both at Sephora and the high-end counters - this could definitely be considered the ultimate sheer, natural concealer for fair-skinned gals. Twist product into self-contained brush, you control the coverage. Brush it on lightly under eyes and FINGER-DAB to blend. If you wear foundation or powder for coverage, it's great to layer both under or over. If you're fair you're probably either a shade 1 or 2.

Let us know how it goes! A final tip: if you want to spring for the $99 wonderproduct Hylexin, it helped my gorgeous friend Hina with the dark purple circles under her eyes. Hina is Pakistani and was doubtful of the claims on this little yellow box, found at Sephora, but in a month of usage we definitely all saw a difference. Enjoy!

2. Could you explain how to do some great conservative eye make up looks? I am just entering the job market and would like to have a good look to go on interviews. Not too over the top or flashy. Also could you explain a smoky eye and the proper technique for doing one. Thanks.

Conservative eyes looks are all about two things: the right matte shadows, and your lashes! Depending on your coloring, you can usually get away with warm taupes and grays for fair skin, and light tans and
cocoas for darker skin. The first thing you want to do for any job-oriented makeup look is simple: CURL – YOUR – LASHES! This even helps my lashes out – I am Asian and my teeny little lashes invariably point straight due south, but the right curler opens up EVERYONE'S eyes. I wouldn't go near a bare-faced bride without first applying a curler, ideally the Shu Uemura or Trish McEvoy. Don't get sucked into all the current hoopla over gimmicks like the lower-lash curler: curled upper lashes are what you need to look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. If the skin tone on your eyelids is uneven (sallowness, veins), smear a little thick (not too creamy, a bit on the drier side) stick foundation on your finger and pat it over the lid. Iman makes one that is perfect for this, as does Bobbi Brown. Try to get something as close as you can to your natural shade. (If you're a super oily gal, look into lid primers – Urban Decay makes one of the best, comes in a wand.) Next, stick to two shadows – this is all you need for the corporate world – one lighter, one darker. If you can get your hands on Laura Mercier's pony-tail brush, you will find makeup application much quicker and more painless in the a.m. This is perfect for sweeping on your day look. Let's say you're fair: try a matte eggshell from lashes to brow-bone, then a very light taupe for the crease. Warmer complexions can do the same with a light-light tan and a conservative cocoa. Both can tap a bit of VERY pale matte gray into the outer third of the eyelid for a little depth. If you, like me, feel naked without liner, just work a smooth one into the lashline just for definition. Stick to brown, navy, gray, eggplant or, if you have black hair, BLACK! (You can't imagine how many artists have tried to get me to wear brown liner. Listen girls, the hair that comes out of my head and eyebrows is black. Why would I have a walnut-brown lashline? Make sure the look you sport for interviews makes you feel your very best.) Finally, sweep on mascara – something separating and volumizing is best, as opposed to dramatic allover maximizing products like Christian Dior's Diorshow. I like Lauder's new Projectionist mascara – very weightless but gives oomph. My oldest friend, Lisa, and I have been seeking the right eye look for her since we were eight, and the light-gray/taupe/mascaraed eye with a very soft rose blush saw her through her med school interviews.

As for a smoky eye, it's generally defined as one that emphasizes color and shading (especially in the crease) and exaggerates the shape of your eyes, resulting in a smoldering gaze that doesn't fade until you take it off. You can play around with the colors you use, but the following is a fail-safe technique in a natural palette that looks great at parties and won't make you look clowny. If you're going from the day job to cocktails, here's an easy formula: build on the eggshell or tan with a pale, shimmery gold, like LORAC Serenity – one of my all-time favorite colors that I use every day. Darken the crease color (a great pick: Estee Lauder's Mocha Cup) with that ponytail brush. Then work the darkest shadow you can do (I do black; you can also do espresso, plum, navy, charcoal, violet…) into that outer third, where you originally put the darker of your two day colors. You'll notice as you experiment that the higher you go towards the brow bone) and the more you add dark color to your crease, the more dramatic the eye. My friend Pavo holds a business card at a 60 degree angle against the sides of girls' eyes when he adds color to the outer crease for a perfect outline – a bit advanced, very effective. For girls like me with no crease, keep the dark color concentrated on that outer corner or you'll look raccoony, an unfortunate and consistent mistake of my later high school career. Then thicken up the lashes, DARKEN THAT LINER and even bring it up a tiny bit at the corners for instant Hepburn cat-eye! Don't be afraid to line underneath your eyes, unless they are very deep-set. To avoid looking death metal, unless that's your aim, keep the lower-lid liner thinner than the upper. But don't start in the very inside corners unless drama is on the menu. And for the final touch, one of the loves of my cosmetic life: Urban Decay eyeshadow in Baked. A touch of this crème-de-la-crème color, a flawless bronze, a true gold, can be placed in the dead center of your eyelid, just above the liner. Blend, bat your eyes and look like the lead Pussycat Doll in the Buttons video. Top with a slinky black shirt, bronzer, and a moist, pale lip. Grrrr.

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guest bloggist, amy ma.

amy was absolutely amazing. she loved all of your questions and wrote thorough well-thought out responses, which i think you are going to love! because of the elaborate nature of her answers it will have to be a few different posts. so if you don't see the answer to your question posted today, check back, because she had an answer for everyone. thanks, beauties!

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august's guest bloggist.

next friday, amy ma, makeup artist with estee lauder, will be answering your questions. i will be interviewing amy as the august guest blog slot. the focus will be how women can choose the right product, for their coloring, problem areas, image, etc. all of your questions are welcome! either leave them in the comments or email them to me (makeuplovesme@gmail.com) by next wednesday!

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fall fashion preview! (guest bloggist)

Hello friends! I'm here to offer some tips for getting ahead of the curve as we wind down summer and head into fall. While it may seem a bit early, just remember, fashion never sleeps. What's hot today will end up hidden in your closet with your capri pants tomorrow. With a little bit of foresight you can stay stunning as the weather cools and never worry about appearing on Ugly Outfits NYC, a website of unfortunate fashion choices, taken from the streets of New York. Fall is always an interesting season for fashion, motivated partly by the reality of the weather as it is by looking fabulous. But fear not! Keeping these tips in mind you'll be turning heads in no time.

1. Sleek Silhouettes

A change from the bubble skirts and flowing lines of summer, fall will be emphasizing a much narrower shape. While bulkier clothing becomes somewhat unavoidable, there are lots of options for the fashion forward. Belted coats and tailored dresses will keep you warm and stylish. The ever popular Marc Jacobs show us how it's done:

2. Hats are where it's at!
This fall you'll be covering your head in style as hats are going to be a must have accessory for the fashionable. Designers have been exhibiting a wide range of styles, but make no doubt about it, hats are where it's at. I won't predict which style will flourish, as different outfits work with different things. Some designers, like Vera Wang, opt for a simple look with nothing more than a head scarf. Fur is always going to be on the runways, but for a simpler look, I turn to the elegant, low pulled style shown at Proenza Schouler:

3. Chunky sweaters

While dresses are slimming down, sweaters will be doing just the opposite. Chunky knits will be everywhere, in both sleek profile and looser, more comfortable cuts. These choices pose a potential pitfall when choosing an outfit, however. They work best with slim lines because without everything looks baggy, something that's rarely a good look. (Apologies to all the gangsta rappers I just offended.) Calvin Klein offers a great example of the slim dress, chunky sweater look:

4. 80's revival - zippers

It seems like every season these days something from the 80's gets brought back into vogue and fall is no exception. Exposed zippers will be de rigueur, whether highlighted in bright colors or simple black. The 80's colors that have become more popular of late will remain, but only in the form of accessories. I predict, however, that they will be less ubiquitous in New York than in Europe. This Derek Lam number uses the exposed zipper to add some much needed flair to a vast expanse of gray:

5. Colors

Colors are always more restrained in the fall and this year is no exception. The dominant color combination on the runways was a classic, navy blue and black. This can be something as simple as adding a black belt to a blue ensemble or putting a blue cardigan on top of a black dress. Creating color combinations that stand out is difficult when you're starting with such muted colors, so make sure you create a contrast between colors in your outfit. Use lighter blues when adding color to a black base and darker blues as a base when adding black. Restraint is important, however, as even muted colors can look garish if matched improperly. Anna Sui uses a light blue pattern to on top of black to make both colors stand out:

So there you have it, a quick look at the styles you'll be seeing more of come fall. Hope these gave you some ideas to keep your clothes looking hip!

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a nod for my bostonian beauties! (guest bloggist)

Hello from boston, beauties-

Today I am a guest blogger for lovely marina. Yesterday evening, with my office mate and boston bestie Kavita, I attended a "grand re-opening party" at Spa Newbury on Newbury Street in Boston. Though there had been no noticeable change in the spa since my visit in April, the friendly and hot staff threw a very delightful party with lots of (cheap but wonderful) champagne, mini cupcakes and hot hors d'oeuvres. There were twelve stations where one could get mini-treatments, including lip plumping or exfoliating treatment, jojoba arm and hand scrub, massages and, oddly, temporary tattoos. For me, the highlight was the foot soak, where one sat in a sensuous massage chair and enjoyed a hot, bubbly foot bath of shifting rainbow colors enjoyed with the requisite champagne.

A perk of the evening was a free spa manicure with any appointment worth more than $50, thus Kavita and I booked spa pedicures in order to experience the luscious chair/foot bath for a more extended amount of time (I hope it is byob, I <3 champagne with spa!). We also at the last minute signed up for "girls night out", an evening at the spa in which one is given the materials and instruction for a DIY facial in a group party setting for only $20. great deal I say. Their reopening is marked by deals all month, so check their site if you are a boston beauty or will be in the area!

All in all a most wonderful, spa-licious evening. Well done by spa newbury.

thanks for reading!
-eqo

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