Holiday Gorgeous Gift-Giving Guide, Day 1: Voluspa French Bourbon Vanille candle

Posted on December 4, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

You want to give them the perfect gift. But how can you guarantee that they’ll love it?

Well, that’s why the BF Holiday Gorgeous Gift-Giving Guide is back and more beautiful than ever! To guarantee a gorgeous gift every time.
So what have I got for ya today?

Well, how about the scrumptious-smelling Voluspa French Bourbon Vanille Candle ($24)?

BF Holiday Gorgeous Gift-Giving Guide: Voluspa French Bourbon Vanille Candle ($24)

Not only does it smell like pure vanilla bean with a hint of bourbon – and, if you ask me, a dash of New Orleans – but it also comes housed beautifully in this frosted, shimmering glass container. As soon as your recipient opens it up, it basically starts singing “Winter Wonderland.”

And for only $24, you get a 60-hour-burn-time, clean-burning apricot/coconut wax blend candle. So it’ll last throughout the entire holiday season!

Recommended recipients: Friends, teachers, peers, neighbors

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What candle do you like to burn during the holidays?

Fragrance Friday: Annual Birthday Trish Treasures

Posted on November 30, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Today is my birthday.

And every year, I wish for the same two things on my birthday:

A pony…

and a prince.

I’m kidding.
Kind of.

No, the 2 treasures that are always at the top of my list are Trish McEvoy Wild Blueberry Vanilla scented candle and Trish McEvoy No.9 Blackberry & Vanilla musk fragrance.

This year, I got both!

And I am one happy, happy, sweet-scented, smiling girl because of it.

Trish McEvoy Wild Blueberry Vanilla Scented Candle ($55)

The blueberry vanilla candle warms my heart and home with its freshly baked blueberry muffin scent. It literally smells like warm, freshly baked, homemade blueberry muffins. Don’t believe me? Try it. People will swear you’ve been baking.

Trish McEvoy No.9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk fragrance($85)

When I dab on the No.9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk fragrance, it hints at my personal sweetness with a dash of sass and sexiness. Can I say that about myself? Well, it’s my birthday. I just did. You can think the sassy, seductive blackberry for that.

Every year when I receive these precious gifts, I expect two things to happen: it prepares me for the holiday season and I know I will receive compliments with people asking how I smell so sweet. Literally, people think I smell like a cupcake most of the time. Maybe they should catch me after pilates but I don’t mind having that sweet-smelling “reputation”.

Well, the truth of my sweetness (at least by scent) is Trish McEvoy.
I fell in love with makeup because of this woman and her vision and her collections never cease to introduce me to new treasures.

My first job, at 20, was working for her and I am so grateful that I had the privilege to work for, and learn from, such a classic, intelligent, business-savvy, insightful woman. I consider myself very lucky to have fallen into the beauty department at Neiman Marcus Northpark at the age of 13. While most of my friends were playing soccer, I was playing with makeup at the ultimate beauty mecca.
Thanks Trish! And thanks mom for letting me play all those years ago and for my annual birthday gifts!

xoxo,

BF Asks: What’s always on your birthday wish list?

Makeup Monday: Tom Ford Noir Absolute for Eyes Eyeliner

Posted on November 19, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Well, helloooooo lover...

Oh, Tom Ford Noir Absolute for Eyes gel eyeliner ($35), how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways:

1) Your blue-black gel formula is the most gorgeous, flattering shade, for all skintones and eye colors, I’ve ever found.

The blue-black pigment is light-reflecting!

2) You last & last & last & last. For hours and hours. Oh, Tom! I could make a lewd joke here but I will refrain.

3) The blue-black pigment makes my eyes look whiter, brighter and – dare I say – younger!

Yes, please and thank you very much!

4) Easily applied, your gel liner glides on and can be applied as thin or thick as my heart desires for any occasion.

5) I can smudge, smudge, smudge to look sultry and bedhead sexy but…

6) Once applied, you won’t smudge a smudge! Love that!

7) I only have to buy you but once a year. And that is unheard of for liner! You don’t dry out, flake out or leave me but stay smooth, steady, strong and good lookin’.

Just like I like my men!

Now, pardon me as I head off to read Fifty Shades of Grey, Book 2: Fifty Shades Darker in the tub.

xoxo,

BF Asks: How do you like YOUR men, um, I mean liner? Oh, let’s be honest! I wanna know how you like ’em both!

Once a Trish girl, always a Trish girl…

Posted on August 23, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Once a Trish girl, always a Trish girl.

That’s what I always say.

Once a Trish girl, always a Trish girl... (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)

One of my friends, Kristin, even prides herself on the fact that she buys nothing but Trish save for one beloved lip balm. She is a true Trish devotee. Thanks to me.

So who is this “Trish”?

Trish McEvoy, don’t you know?

I started out with Trish and, it seems only proper, that I have come full-circle with BeautyFrosting.

Here’s my Trish story interlaced with my latest Trish find/fetish!

When I was 17, I was introduced to the Trish McEvoy line, by Lori Nelson, at Neiman Marcus and it was love at first sight.

Trish was all about lining with powder (Wow!!), like my makeup god Kevyn Aucoin‘s style, and her super-simple “press & wiggle” technique made me a comely convert.

As an 18-year-old dedicated Trish devotee, my Mom scheduled an appointment for me for the Trish McEvoy fall cocktail makeup event at the Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus Northpark (I refer to it as The Mothership).

I got to meet Trish McEvoy, in the flesh, and you would have thought I was meeting God.

I gushed to her about how amazing her products were and how brilliant the techniques were. I. Couldn’t. Stop. Talking.

She asked me, on the spot, if I wanted to work for her as a makeup artist.

OHMYGOODNESS!!!!! OHMYGOODNESS!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

It was as if God asked me to be an angel.

YES!!!YES!!!YES!!!!

So that’s how my professional story started.

From there, I went on to become a Trish McEvoy freelance makeup artist in Dallas (during my summer and winter breaks in college) and then in Los Angeles to supplement (oh, who are we kidding, support) my fledgling acting career. From there, I became a celebrity personal beauty shopper and then BeautyFrosting was born in March! Trish made quite an impact.

In May, I found myself at home in Dallas for my friend Jenny’s wedding. At her bridal shower, I couldn’t stop raving about her gorgeous lashes, flawless skin and subtly polished makeup look. When I asked who did it, the Bride-to-be said, “Well, you know who it is! You introduced me to her! TRISH, of course!!! Linda at Trish McEvoy”!

Before the wedding the following weekend, I had to hightail it to the nearest Trish counter with my favorite shopping buddy, Mom, by my side. My old friend, and former boss, Linda Nunez, was there! A Trish reunion!! It felt like home!

She introduced me to the Ultimate Beauty Organizer and it is, in one product, every reason I fell in love with Trish to begin with:

Gorgeous!!

: Trish McEvoy Ultimate Beauty Organizer (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)

Superb brushes!

Superb Brushes! (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)

Beautiful, travel-friendly & dressing table-friendly!

Travel-friendly & Dressing Table-friendly! (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)

Gorgeous color, smooth skin & expert application!

The Coral Bow Petite Makeup Planner! (Photo by Amy Opoka Photography)

And, as with any Limited Edition Trish McEvoy Ultimate Beauty Organizer, I found a treasure trove of beauty essentials in her Nude Quilted Ultimate Beauty Organizer. Included here ( $495, USD retail price):

• Brush Collection including Nude quilted brush clutch with nude interior, Brush Mistake Proof Sheer Application, Brush 37 Bronzer,

Brush 65 Angled Contour, Brush 29 Tapered Blending, Brush 40 Medium Laydown, Brush 50 Angled Eye Lining

• Coral Bow Petite Makeup Planner including Petite Page, Translucent Finishing Powder, NEW Golden Glow Face Color, Small

Refillable Double Decker Compact, Glaze Eye Shadow White Peach, NEW Luminous Eye Shadow Rose Gold, Glaze Eye Shadow

Glamorous, Eye Definer Arabian Nights, Eye Base Essentials Bare*, Instant Eye Lift*, Intense Gel Liner Arabian Nights*, High

Volume Mascara, Treatment Foundation SPF 15 Beige*, Lip Liner Barely There, NEW Flawless Lip Color Perfect Coral, Beauty

Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss Sexy Petal*, Classic Lip Color Natural, Pocketable Fragrance Trish

• Skincare Essentials including Advanced Protective Shield Moisturizer SPF 40 (full size), and deluxe travel sizes of Gentle Cleansing

Wash and Beauty Booster® Serum, Trish signature headband

• Professional Cotton Swabs

• Professional Powder Puff

• Professional Sponge

And the finished look!

The finished look! (Photo by Amy Opoka Photography)

Over the years, my tastes may have broadened, but my passion for Trish never fades.

I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us this Fall!! CANNOT WAIT!!!

* NOTE: The Nude Ultimate Beauty Organizer is no longer available but the products prettily housed inside it are ripe for your picking at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Woo or online.

xoxo,

BF Asks: Are you a Trish girl?

For more of Amy’s fabulous photos, please visit http://amyopoka.com/

Saturday Social Hour: Hometown Dallas Visit, Part 1

Posted on June 2, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

I always have the best time when I go back to my hometown of Dallas.

Besides my family, friends and the fabulous FOOD (!!), it’s where my whole story began. The place where I fell in love with makeup, skincare, baking and antiques; in other words, all things BeautyFrosting!

In my multi-part Saturday Social Hour, I am detailing my visits, tastes and experiences while visiting my beloved hometown. It’ll also clue you in to some Dallas-based posts that I have coming up for you. Yeehaw!

The week started out with a fun weekend with my family and my brother’s friends & families from college:

BF, Mom, brother David, old friends and some new little friends. Notice we're all smiling after eating Mom's delish Fruit Pizza (see Mom's Fruit Pizza recipe here)

Next up was one of the main reasons for my trip – my dear friend, Jenny’s bridal shower (more details on that later):

BF, Bride-to-Be, Jenny & Allison: High School Best Friends *In the spirit of things, I wore green and pink because I wanted to honor her wedding colors!

Next, I drove out to Lancaster, Texas where my favorite bakery & baker, in the world, is – THE LOVIN’ OVEN! Stay tuned to a post about it coming up soon!

BF's Favorite Bakery since age 3: The Lovin' Oven in Lancaster, Texas

Lovin' Oven decadent delights!

BF & one of her baking fairy godmothers, Suzanne, owner of The Lovin' Oven

Next, I stopped by Neiman Marcus Northpark to see my first & favorite salesperson/beauty guru/friend/former coworker, Lori Nelson:

A Dallas institution: Lori Nelson at Neiman Marcus Northpark

Lori introduced me to my lifelong beauty love affair with Creme de La Mer. I am forever in her debt!

Next, I stopped by Snider Plaza to visit my favorite home deco shop, Uptown Country Home

Uptown Country Home in Snider Plaza (Dallas)

Owner/resident style expert/artist extraordinaire, Jenny Grumbles, always has the best finds! I always end up shipping my finds back to California because I can’t bear to be without them. My mom and I bought a coffee table but look at this super chic & snazzy custom headboard we saw there:

Super chic & fun custom headboard at Uptown County Home

Next, I headed back to Northpark Mall to Nordstrom to visit with Tres Brown – a renowned makeup artist for Burberry, Tom Ford and Christian Dior:

BF and Tres Brown - renowned makeup artist with Burberry, Tom Ford and Christian Dior

And no trip to Dallas would be complete without MULTIPLE visits to my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant and home-away-from-home, Mi Cocina:

BF & my big brother at Mi Cocina

Along with the best margaritas in all the land:

Mi Cocina Margarita

Okay, beauties, that concludes Hometown Dallas Visit, Part 1. Hope you enjoyed it!

Let me know if you have any suggestions for places I should visit on my next trip home!

And tune in next week for Part 2 and see what delicious discoveries I had in Dallas.

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Have you ever been to Dallas?

Thirsty Thursday: The Mothership’s Spiced Tea (Neiman Marcus Spiced Tea) Recipe

Posted on March 22, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Neiman Marcus Spiced Tea

Growing up, Neiman Marcus was my 2nd home. I even call it “The Mothership” to this day, hence the name of the recipe. My mother and I would often lunch at The Mermaid Bar at Neiman Marcus Northpark and split the Mermaid Sampler.

I have so many lovely memories of open-hearted conversations taking place over their signature spiced tea. And later, when I worked at Neiman Marcus at the Trish McEvoy counter in college, I had one every day!

Sure, the recipe might not be a secret.

But it will always be this magical Texan tea cocktail to me.
And nothing goes better with my Texan tuna salad (it’s all about the pecans, beauties!)!!

To this day, I have to have a spiced tea whenever I am shopping at Neiman’s.

Here’s the recipe, as I understand it, for us all to enjoy while conversing with loved ones:

Neiman Marcus Spiced Tea

6 1/2 c. Water

3 sticks Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. Nutmeg

3 Cloves (whole)

4 English Breakfast Tea Bags

1/4 c. Tang (powdered orange drink mix)

1/4 tsp. Almond Extract

Place the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in a large saucepan, filled with the 6 1/2 c. water.

Bring mixture to boil, then reduce to low heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove the pan from the stove and add teabags.

Steep teabags for 3-5 minutes.

Strain the mixture into a clean saucepan and stir in Almond Extract and Tang.

Cool to room temperature and then place in fridge.

When serving, be like Neiman’s and garnish the glass with an orange slice.

Or pull a BeautyFrosting and add a sprig of mint to that orange slice.

Mmmmm….Refreeeeeeshing!

Lipstick Queen for a Day!

Posted on March 16, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

I had to write about Lipstick Queen today because I am getting ready to go to Barneys today to meet Lipstick Queen’s founder, Poppy King!

Not only do I get to meet Poppy, lip guru and founder of Lipstick Queen, but I’ll also get to learn what my lips reveal about me and shades that will best express my personality in a complimentary lip reading from Poppy herself. Yay, yay, yay!!!

I am a total cheeseball and get really excited about things like this.

So, who is Poppy King?

Well, here’s who she is to me.

My first experience, with Poppy’s products, was at Barneys New York Northpark in Dallas. It was right by Neiman Marcus and, while our family were more Neiman’s than Barneys, I would venture in as a pre-teen to peruse all the pretty colors in the makeup department, while my Mom shopped at Williams Sonoma.

Shine lip gloss always caught my attention. Especially the cherry-popsicle-red-lacquer-looking one. It was in this lovely vintage-inspired acrylic pot with this font I loved that said “Shine”. Well, sugar, I wanted to shine!!!

I think it made me feel kind of fancy and shiny just holding it.

At some point, a makeup artist would kindly ask me if I needed anything and 14-year-old gawky me would say “No thank you” with stars in my eyes and a lust in my heart for Poppy’s brilliant colors.

Now, Poppy has Lipstick Queen and I looooove their glosses and lipsticks.

One of my favorites in my beauty kitchen is the natural, 1970s/1980s-reminiscent Jean Queen ($18). Oh, Pam on Dallas would have just LOVED this!

Its nonstick formula is a sheer neutral berry hue that works for every skin tone and looks extremely natural on the lip. Best of all, beauties? It’s not sticky.
And, you knooooow, how I love that!

Here, I am wearing it with Hourglass Trace Lip Pencil in Secret ($28).

No doubt, I will let you know how it goes!

Happy weekend!

xoxo,

In My Tub Tuesday: The glamorous…

Posted on March 13, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

We should all be so lucky to have that gorgeous “GLAMGLOW” ($24)… wait…

We all can!

One of my favorite beauty products to launch in 2011 was GLAMGLOW exfoliating mud mask (www.GLAMGLOWMUD.com). It’s rare to find a product that you rave on and on about AND one that works for every skin type. Even more so, a product that you sample and then feel the immediate need to go out and buy!

Awarded “The 2012 Neiman Marcus Beauty Award for Best Quick Fix & Formula”, GLAMGLOW makes us all feel glamorous & pampered by exfoliating, tightening and deep cleaning our skin. Ideal for pre-event primping, or, as a beauty ritual during your weekly exfoliation, you simply cannot go wrong with GLAMGLOW! I promise.

I received GG as a sample in January and I fell in love, I tell you. I applied it to my cleansed face, neck and décolletage, while soaking in my tub. I left it on about 10 minutes (conveniently, just enough time to read a chapter of Hunger Games and have a glass of wine) and sat back with my mudded face, reading, relaxing and letting it do its glamorous work.

How? I applied an even layer of the fresh, herbal-smelling mud, and felt a light tingling sensation, followed by a tightening effect as it dried. Just a warning, beauties: You WON’T look like a beauty during the process. But it’s only 10 minutes so lock the door!

BOO!

When 10 minutes passed, I washed GG off with water in gentle cirular motions, stimulating greater exfoliation. Easy.

What were the results?

Tickled Pink!!!

And glamorously gloooowing!

I was tickled pink by the tingling mask! My skin has rarely felt so deeply cleansed. I had tighter, super-clean skin with fewer apparent lines, pores and wrinkles. Small lines had seemed to vanish (!) and I felt that it was the perfect complement to my skincare regimen. To be honest, it felt kind of magical to get such dramatic results from a new product. I only wished I ‘d had a party to go that night. Alas, I went to bed. But the very next day, I went out and bought a jar at Beauty Collection.

Now, GlamGlow is a must in my beauty kitchen and it’s one of my fave treats to apply before a big night.

Buy your jar now by clicking on this BeautyFrosting link to BeautyCollection:

BeautyCollection.com

Type in GlamGlow in the search line and in a few moments, it will be yours!

Xoxo, BF

p.s. Celebs love it, too. Here are some thoughts about GG by a few:

“Love the smell and love the mud mask!” (Natalie Portman)

“My skin looks amazing! GLAMGLOW is my new best friend!” (The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev)

*Photographs are real and untouched. Hide your children. It’s for the greater good of beauty product discovery.

BF asks: What skincare concerns would you like to see addressed on BeautyFrosting?

I love them, and I know you will too!

Posted on March 10, 2012 by admin

Shindig Shoppe
Love the design of my site? My logo? My face chart? My invites?
This is where you need to go.
The brilliant, always-stylish, Vanessa York’s Shindig Shoppe.
She is my design fairy godmother for all of your beautiful graphic needs.

Amy Opoka Photography
“Who did your photos?”
I get this. A LOT.
Amy Opoka did them and she has done lots more where that comes from.
Music, fashion, editorial, headshots, live performances: she’s your girl.

Bonjour+Hola

I heart this blog. It has taught me so much. Like, to eat a bowl of corn the night before a photo shoot to make your skin glow.
And its creator, Elizabeth Baker, is one of my favorite ladies. I’ve known her since she was in high school and she has always been an icon waiting to happen.

Neiman Marcus
I grew up at Neiman Marcus Northpark. I jokingly refer to it as The Mothership. My first job was here, working for Trish McEvoy. I always visit when I’m home and, during a shopping job at the Beverly Hills location, I love grabbing lunch at their cozy restaurant.

Beauty Collection
Lots of shopping for my clients takes place here, both in-store and online. They’re accommodating, kind and super-informed.

Woo Skincare & Cosmetics
I worked at Woo, years ago, as a Bobbi Brown counter manager and helped introduce the Armani Beauty line to Nashville, as Armani’s Counter Manager.
More importantly, you can find almost everything I write about at Woo!

Uptown Country Home
Can’t get enough of the darling home decor that Jenny offers at her adorable store. If you like shabby chic, you will be in heaven here.