Alex's Creative Space from the 2010s-Now!
Glossier Stretch Concealer (Medium)
Bare Minerals Original Foundation (Medium Beige)
Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener (Stella)
Milk Eye Vinyl (Discontinued, similar here as I go panic!!)
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer (Sunkissed)
Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush (Dou Dou)
Westman Atelier (for the love of God, SPONSOR ME!!) Super Loaded Tinted Highlight (Peau de Peche)
Glossier Boy Brow (Brown)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (Medium Brown)
Color Wow Root Cover Up (Medium Brown)
Some might say I’m a little bit too obsessed with Michigan (despite it snowing in May, pothole PTSD and having to wear a turtleneck under my Halloween costume every year). But I spent nearly 20 years there, growing up and building an incredible community that I feel lucky to carry with me, even as we set up a home in a new state. Whenever we go home to visit family, I always have a flurry of appointments and places to stop by, visiting people and places that solidify that no matter where we go, Michigan is home.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have surrounded myself with a community of people and small businesses that I believe are truly the best of the best. I wanted to share with you all my own “Best of Detroit” (I worked at Hour Magazine for three years and I hope they don’t mind me using their famous tagline. Three years of working in a cubicle where duct tape held the carpet together-let’s call it even). Every couple of weeks, I’ll highlight a different category- stores, restaurants, cafes, etc. Today we’ll start with all the people who keep me looking presentable in public, the best of beauty!
I had just graduated from college when I met Kevin. I had never colored my hair, and went to him for “a few highlights!”. He was kind and gracious in my fear driven request, and convinced me to let him do balayage instead. It was love at first look. Kevin has a way of delicately hand-painting the hair, and knowing exactly where to put each strand to frame your face and make you glow. Kevin’s gift isn’t just being an incredible stylist, it’s that he makes you feel beautiful, fresh and confident. Every appointment is like a party, Kevin’s kindness and humor is unmatched. He somehow always nails (and doesn’t laugh at) my insane “vibe” requests like “Italian mob-wife brown”. We’ve gone from brunette to blonde, to “bronde”, back to brunette and so much more over the years, and every time I’m blown away by his craft and the kindness in which he does it.
Find Him: Beauty Collective Salon, @_kevingstyles
I kept seeing Ryan’s page pop-up on my Instagram, and I was always stopped in my tracks by his client’s perfectly messy, chic beach waves. I immediately wanted to be one of them. Ryan had recently opened his own salon in Detroit, “Village Parlor”, and I was itching to check it out. We exchanged a few messages, and weeks later I was sitting in his chair. He brought life back into my cut (I had been going somewhere else at this time, but was looking for a change)- taking the weight out of the bottom and giving it back its natural wave. I was a Parlor Girl and I was PROUD!! The salon is cozy and comfortable, and I can always trust his advice- whether that’s in hair or in life. He’s an integral part to Detroit, like a Coney Dog. But chicer (and without the heartburn).
Find him: Village Parlor Detroit, @ryancottonhair
I truly never liked getting my makeup done. I always ended up with ten layers of black eyeliner, foundation caked on like spackle, and bronzer I was still getting off three days later. That all changed when I met Katrina. She doesn’t do what I call “blanket makeup”. She treats each person like a true individual, finding a way to perfectly emphasize their best features- or, actually making you SEE what they are. She’s an absolute star, and always knows what’s fresh in beauty. When I tell her “I want people to see my highlight from the parking lot”, she get it and she DOES IT. I’ve never met someone who better celebrates, not covers, a woman’s beauty. Also, Sharon Stone trusts her with her face. That’s all you need to know.
Find her: Luigi Bruni Salon, @katrinamalota
Every manicure I had for the past ten years was done by Lisa Kim. She is fully responsible for the love affair I have with my nails (I may not be tall, but nails? Fingernails I’ve got. Let me have this). She created my signature “tapered almond” shape, and she didn’t call me crazy when I called her crying that I couldn’t find anyone in Vegas to recreate it (I eventually did, but only through Lisa sending me photos and proper verbiage of what to ask for). She is a complete perfectionist, which is exactly what you want from the woman doing your nails. I followed her from salon to salon, and now she finally has her own beautiful place, “Blush Nail Bar”. Lisa shapes nails like a superstar, and is a color connoisseur. I can show her a photo of any design or mix of colors, and she knows exactly what to do. It’s not a coincidence that when I moved and stopped seeing her, I broke my first nail in TEN YEARS. My thumb nail still hasn’t totally grown back and honestly, I get the protest. I miss Lisa too, okay?!
Find her: Blush Nail Bar. @blush.nailbar
I know beauty services can be written off as “vanity” or self-obsessive. But each one of these people have brought such joy into my life, it’s much more than hair or nails. Their kindness, friendship and expertise over the years has made them each a big factor in feeling at home, even when I’m living 2000 miles away. Which also, may break the record for miles willing to travel for balayage (It is THAT good).
I can’t count how many times I’ve thought I’ve found my “miracle skincare product”. The one that after a single use, I’m willing to name a child after it (it would be pretty hard to convince Michael to name a kid “Tata”). My skin is clear and glowing, the grass looks greener and I don’t even mind when someone spells my last name wrong in an email for the 10th time this week –IT’S IN THE SIGNATURE! I beam with pride as I think I’ve finally found my skincare ~flow~ and I look for a rooftop to shout it from.
But then after a few weeks, my temperamental skin returns, and despite my new allegiance to the “perfect” product, it never goes back to being calm and clear. The product goes under the sink and the quest continues.
Like a child let loose in a Costco on sample Saturday, I have tried everything. My linen closet is a graveyard of products past. Don’t get me wrong! I’ve found some great skincare products along the way. But I had yet to consistently hit a skincare stride. Of course there will always be outside factors like hormones, stress, poor eating, and my favorite pastime- nervous picking. I wasn’t looking for perfection, but I longed for my skin to look and feel healthy, even when I had a breakout (or 10).
This past summer I was in Paris for work and had a free day. I was researching places I could get a facial post-flight, when I saw that Biologique Recherche had opened an institute. Biologique Recherche is a French skincare brand with a cult-following. I had tried their P50 exfoliant a few years ago, but didn’t stick with it. Everyone I knew that used it, loved it, so I called my credit card company to let them know that the giant expense they were about to see in France wasn’t fraud! Just a girl let loose in Paris with a credit card, running on two hours of sleep and a double espresso (and some plane-wine. There was for sure a plane Pinot).
I walked in the doors to the institute and immediately took notice of the immaculate, calming space. It was like walking into a dream, but without my night sweating and teeth grinding. I opted to do a skin analysis to start my appointment, where my skin needs were determined. We found out that my skin was over producing sebum, which would explain the colony of whiteheads that I woke up with every day. I also had more oil than an O’Reilly’s Auto Parts. After getting my results, my aesthetician tailored my facial and product plan to my needs.
After the best facial I have ever had (my skin was glowing for WEEKS), she went over the top-three products that would benefit me. Something about her crisp white lab coat and chic ballet flats, she could have told me to buy her a timeshare in the Bahamas and I would have done it. I bought up all her recommendations, and thus began a religious routine over the next six months.
Going into the Institute, a new cleanser was the top product on my list. I hadn’t used anything that had blown me away, I was trying new cleansers constantly. Lait U is a gentle cleansing milk that takes off makeup and dirt, without dehydrating skin. My face always feels squeaky clean, plump and hydrated afterwards. My only issue with the product is that Michael keeps trying to use it, and he needs to learn to stay in his lane. Go back to your 3-in-one shampoo/body soap/face wash and leave the $100 cleanser* to me, sweetie!!!
*Worth noting that Biologique products are WAY less expensive in France. It’s a pricey brand, but it costs me much less than trying new products every few weeks!
I have extremely sensitive skin. It’s like a teenager during the last 30 minutes of “The Notebook”. Because of this, I’ve always been nervous about chemical exfoliants or acids. They always left my skin irritated and raw. P50 is the cult classic product for Biologique Recherche, so I was thrilled when I was told there was a version for extremely sensitive skin-P50W. P50 is a do-all product. It exfoliates, hydrates, and balances skin. I use it 2-3 times a week, swiping a cotton pad from my forehead to my chest. The texture of my skin has completely changed, and even when I have a breakout, my skin still looks healthy. It’s a miracle- just like me being able to survive in France for 10 days only knowing 4 words in French (one of which, is croissant).
My skin after 6 months. Heinous photo taken on PORTRAIT MODE SELFIE, so you know it shows everything. Pores looking CUTE!!!
I would say I’m a pretty loyal person- except when it comes to moisturizers. I jump from one to another like an 8th grade boy does crushes on the class trip to Washington D.C. (I haven’t forgotten, Stefan!!!). I’ve found ones that hydrate, but break me out, ones that clog my pores, yet somehow make my skin drier. Creme Dermopurifiante is ideal for acne-prone skin like mine. It helps purify skin and get rid of excess oil, which has made a significant difference in the amount of whiteheads I get. It makes my skin look clear and balanced. It definitely smells like something died and then came back to life as a smelly water mammal, but it’s worth it. That’s how you know it’s good. I’m willing to physically repel my husband for this product. Five stars.
When I was leaving, my Biologique Recherche guardian angel loaded me up on samples of their Masque Vivant face mask. She told me if I used it twice a week, I would never age. It brightens, tones and refreshes skin like no mask I’ve ever used. Sure, it smells like I’m a one-woman-Benihana that’s on fire, but I might look 25 when I’m 50. Beauty is pain and turns out it also smells like garbage!
I’ve been on this routine for about 8 months now, and I can truly say I’ve never felt better about my skin. Of course I still have days during my period or times of stress when I look in the mirror and debate even going outside. But the consistency in the brightness, clarity and hydration in my skin is something I’ve never had before. I was taking French lessons, but I think my fully French routine solidifies me as a French woman. Vive la France (and my skin)!!
It was a wise, wise man who once said “Get a hobby!!!!!”- it was my husband, and I think he said it to me when I finished all re-runs of "The O.C." in one week. Little did he know, my hobby would become skincare & masking, and I could do it all while re-watching the Chrismukkah episode. Take that!
I’ve tried many masks, some good, some bad, some smelly, some making me look like a straight-up serial killer in the night. But I found myself coming back to the same five masks every time, keeping them on rotation for my skin-needs at that moment. I thought I would share with you all today my holy grail of face masks, which is not to be taken lightly! I’ve tried a ton, and somehow these five have survived the test of time, which is more than I can say for my violin hobby, my drawing hobby, and even my horseback riding hobby (didn’t end well, don’t want to talk about it).
This has been my ride-or-die mask for a few years now. I do it at least once a week, preferably before an event or on a lazy morning. I am addicted to how this mask makes my skin look. I call it “Botox in a bottle” (NOT IN A BOTTLE BUT I MAKE MY OWN RULES), because it tightens, firms up and moisturizes all in 20 minutes. It also just feels incredible on your face. When I fly long distances, I put it on mid-flight and let it soak in like moisturizer.
Hot Tip! Put it in the fridge for the ultimate masking-experience.
Sometimes my skin goes into a meltdown more epic than a 6th grader at Hollister trying to cop a pair of jeans from their mom (me, that 6th grader was me). It needs serious work, but I don’t have time for or can’t afford a professional facial. This Tata Harper mask gives me almost the same results. It’s like a refresh button for your face. It helps me to get rid of little bumps, calm acne, and get my skin glowing again. Expensive price tag, but you’ll spend just as much on a new candle! No? That’s just me? Got it.
This is it ladies and gentlemen- a mask so good- that it got my husband into the masking game. Refreshing, purifying and effective. 86% of my summers are spent in this mask, because after .2 second of being outside and getting sweaty, this mask makes me feel clean again. On occasion, I do get a small breakout after using, because it’s bringing things to the surface. But for the most part, it helps balance my skin and unclog my pores.
The first time I did a sheet mask, I hid behind a door and waited to scare Michael (here’s those serial killer vibes!!). He ended up working late so I sat behind that door for a long time, but on the upside my skin looked UNREAL after. This mask has become my post-travel ritual. It restores all moisture to your face, leaving it plump and glowy.
Another hot tip- save the packaging to use the leftover serum as night cream the next day!
Sometimes I come home from work and have so much to do (or just need to take a nap, it’s usually the nap), there is simply no time to sit down with a 20-minute mask. This is just as powerful, in less than half the amount of time. The directions say to leave it on for 2 minutes, but I leave it on for about 5 minutes- rules are made to be broken, baby. This stuff is a miracle. I wake up in the morning with bright, even skin. I really can’t believe the difference it makes overnight, it feels like it breathes new life in to your face. Major pay off with minimal work- the ideal face mask and also my resume objective!
So here’s to starting off 2018 with your best face forward! Unless you go out and drink your weight in $6 bottles of champagne this weekend. You get a pass for a few days.
