Category — Sonia Kashuk

Dear Bionic Beauty,
So many liquid foundations and face lotions claim to be oil free these days. Yet, when I’m shopping and read the ingredients it seems like there *are* oils in there. Is there a way to really tell if I’m getting something that is oil free?
I appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
Olive Oil

Well, Olive Oil, you are smart to pick up on the labeling that has become such a fad in the cosmetics industry. See, the real problem is that the labeling on cosmetics (makeup, hair care, skincare, etc) is not regulated. Companies can spin all sorts of misinformation on their labels and containers. You really have to be an educated consumer in order to know what is a good buy and what isn’t.

In regards to the “oil-free” claims specifically… there’s a pretty simple test to check if something you have in your stash is truly oil-free. Place a pea-size dollop of the product on a sheet of plain white copy, typing or writing paper (medium to light weight is perfect). Then wait. Let it sit overnight preferably, but you should start to see a change within a few hours.
If a ring forms around the product, it most definitely contains oil.

Here are some experiments I did with a few of my fave makeup and skincare products. Read on for the SHOCKING results…
[Read more →]

I’m kicking off a brand new Wednesday series here at Bionic Beauty called “Bionic Asks”. Basically this is YOUR chance to shine! I’ll ask a question and you get to answer.

To start things off… “What makeup are you wearing today?”
And since it wouldn’t be fair unless I contributed, here’s my “look” for today:

• Physician’s Formula Organic Wear tinted moisturizer
• Sonia Kashuk’s pressed powder (translucent)
• Eyeshadows: Clinique’s Stay Matte shadow in Martini (a khaki brown) for the base, Lancome’s Positive for brow highlight (matte cream), and Designer (metallic khaki green) for outer corners and along eyelashes.
• Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear mascara in Ultra Black
• Bobbi Brown’s lip tint in Black Cherry (but it had worn off by this point…oops!)

My hair was a bit of a mess, since I took this photo after a long trip to Lowe’s and then working outside in the garden.

You turn! What makeup are you sporting today?
Check back each Wednesday for the next “Bionic Asks”.

Ok, so I confess, I’m one of those crazy Twilight fans. I adore the books, I’ve read them all several times, I’m anxiously awaiting the movie, and I even have a Team Edward t-shirt. Combine that with my love of Halloween and it’s a costume idea meant-to-be!

I got myself all done up a day early to share my costume-look with my BB readers. It’s really very easy, and you probably have everything you need around your house already.

Some costume ideas and makeup tips…

• Coat your body with sparkly lotion or shimmery powder. I used Spell’s Body Gloss EVERYWHERE! Twilight vamps sparkle in the sun.
• Since I was going for an Alice Cullen-esque look, I flat-ironed my hair and flipped the ends out. I also added a strip of velvet ribbon for a choker (along with a spider brooch for spooky goodness).
• For Rosalie, curl your hair into loose waves.
• For Bella, you could add a faux leg cast and wear a prom dress.
• Twilight vamps are always well-dressed. You could take a que from me and sport a formal dress… this is my old prom dress and pretend you’re heading to the Forks High School prom. Or just some nice jeans and a pretty blouse. Don’t forget good shoes!
• Blood red nail polish on your fingers and toes! Alice Cullen loved this color. (I still have to do my manicure, that’s on this afternoons schedule.)
• Please remember…no fangs!



• For your face…

1. Start with super light foundation to make yourself pale.
2. Dust overtop with shimmery face powder. I used Ferro Cosmetics Rose Crystal Mineral Veil (a light pink powder with silver shimmer).
3. Put bronzer or cream blush underneath your cheekbones, in your cheek’s hollows to enhance them.
4. For my upper eyelids I did a normal makeup look with a brown eyeshadow. I used Milani’s Java Bean shadow across my entire lid and then lined my upper lid in the same color.
5. Underneath eyes, give yourself some “bruise-like” shadows by dusting lightly with a matte purple eyeshadow. It’s okay if it’s a bit uneven. You want to look a bit like a hungry vamp.
6. Line lower lash line with a sparkly purple eyeshadow and coat lashes with mascara.
7. Coat your lips with several applications of red lip stain (I suggest Sonia Kashuk’s or Revlon’s Just Bitten). Or use a red lip pencil and blend it in. You want to look “stained”, er, with blood; not like you’ve applied lipstick or lipgloss.

For more ideas for your Twilight costumes… or just some fun reading… visit the Twilight Vampire lens on Squidoo. Be sure you check out the polls on there, they crack me up!

And here’s me dancing to Monster Mash cause I’m just SO DARN HAPPY it’s Halloween! What are you dressing up as for Halloween? Share your costume in the comments below!!

Want some more last minute costume and makeup ideas? Check out Bionic Beauty’s series on Halloween!

I was asked to contribute to October’s edition of  The Beauty Ideal. The “theme” for this month’s magazine was makeup and skincare that works for every woman, skin tone, color, etc. So I pulled up all my favorite products that will enhance your natural beauty no matter what type of gal you are.

I’d appreciate you reading the article… feel free to leave any comments on the article itself or here.

Do you have any secret products that would work for any skin tone, ethnicity, color?

Today I decided to amp up my standard natural makeup application with a bit more drama. Still suited for daytime, but with a little extra jazz.
The products I used:

Read on for details and the final look.

Cosmetics Used:

• Face: Everyday Minerals in Intensive Medium
• Blush: Sonia Kashuk in Shimmering Posy
• Brushes: by Sonia Kashuk (as pictured)
• Lips: L’Oreal Color Juice Stick in Mango Tango
• Eyes: Physician’s Formula eyeshadow quad in Metallic Canyon, Jane eyeshadow duo in Browny Points and Hazlenut.
• Eyeliner: Physician’s Formula Eye Definer in Ultra Black
• Lashes: Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear Mascara in Ultra Black

Applied my normal mineral makeup foundation, followed by a light peachy blush on the front circles of cheeks.
Swept the light taupe color from the Physician’s Formula shadow quad onto my lid, into the crease, and slightly above the crease.
Applied the light shimmery color (Jane’s Hazlenut) across brow bone.
Then applied the dark matte Browny Points (by Jane) into the outer corner of my lid (I *love* this color by the way!).
BLEND WELL!

Then I lined my upper lash line with the Eye Definer in Black. It’s a standard pencil but twists up to keep the point semi-sharp. It’s a very smooth product and doesn’t pull your lids. Smudge the line very *slightly* by using a teeny brush and lightly swishing over the eyeliner.

Apply one coat of the Mineral Wear mascara.

Lips get one coat of Mango Tango and good to go. Mango Tango smells delicious and is nicely moisturizing.

Final look:

Estimated time: 10 minutes.
Everything is available at Target or your local drugstore with the exception of the Everyday Minerals.

Suggested reading: Bionic’s Smoky Eye Tutorial, and Going Green eyeshadow tutorial.

Are you make-up challenged? With a few of theses great products from Benefit Cosmetics you will look your best all the time.

I have started using mineral makeup concealers and it looks okay except under my eyes. For instance, I look tired already. I’ve tried concealers but it looks worse and any kind of powder looks awful. What do you suggest?
Read on for Bionic’s answer…

I have had excellent luck with Sonia Kashuk’s Hidden Agenda concealer palette (available at Target stores). It doesn’t settle into lines and is very gentle.

Also some tips:

• Be sure you moisturize your eye area daily!
• Try an eye serum (like one from Boots- also available from Target) to help protect and repair the skin in your eye area.
  
• If you have puffiness- you can try using Preparation H to firm up the eye area.
  
• To quiet skin in the eye area- cotton balls dipped in Witch Hazel and placed on eyes for a few minutes helps to refresh skin.
  
• When you apply concealer, try using a small concealer brush, then use your ring finger (less pressure) to pat out any lines & BLEND before adding powder over top to set.

The famous UK skincare line: Boots, is now available at Target stores nationwide (as well as Target.com). Their No7 Restore and Renew has been selling out like mad. A CVS in New York reported selling 500 tubes by noon in one day! What makes it so special??…

The price for one thing. $21.99 gets you a tube at Target. However, studies have shown that this anti-wrinkle, anti-aging serum compares and BEATS those such as La Pair and Le Mer. Guess I’ll be headed to Target this weekend to pick up a tube.

Also available at Target stores is the full line including cosmetics, the Mediterranean collection, vitamins & supplements, Botanics, and Time Dimension lines.

And while you’re there, don’t forget to pick up some of Sonia Kashuk’s excellent collection!