Mischo Beauty

Mischo Beauty Alert: PHYTO Friends & Family Sale

You all know how much I love all things Phyto, right?! Remember this post - three years ago? Or, how about the blowout my beauty editor received here? Well Phyto is offering 30% - 40% off of your favorite products starting November 15th - November 17th. For access to the sale, you must use this link!

What are your favorite Phyto products?

Covergirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Concealer and Queen Latifah's U.N.I.T.Y. Reignited Web Series

While awaiting the premiere of the U.N.I.T.Y Reignited web series at the Tribeca Grand Hotel on Wednesday night, celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine worked his magic with a palette of new Natural Hue Concealers from the Covergirl Queen Collection and soon-to-be-released Lip Perfection Lipsticks (showcasing department store formulations and prestige packaging). The Covergirl collection at Walmart is a good place to find beauty products. He provided color matches along the spectrum of the four concealer shades available and shared that, if you use nothing else, a concealer is a must! Hmmmm, perhaps I should add a concealer to my complicated regimen of tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip color? Obviously, I have not perfected my canvas as a bona fide makeup artist would do, but, I am up for the challenge! After trying out the concealer, I found that it does dry to a powdery finish, as promised, and the coverage is quite sheer - just the way I like it. Sam's advice? Layer, layer, layer until you find the coverage that works for you. Two was my magic number.

The joy of the evening was the sneak peak at the U.N.I.T.Y. Reignited web series, in its entirety. The series is an introduction to the five finalists who were hand-picked by Latifah, as well as a short testament to the journey of some of the most important women in hip hop. The featured MCs are Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Yo Yo and Rage (and the crowd roared! Yo Yo? Rage?? Where the hell have you been? So great to see you!). Make sure you visit Covergirl's Facebook fan page and check out the installments as they are released weekly. Also check the site to score a free download of the updated "U.N.I.T.Y." -- can you believe it's been 15 years since the song's release?

After watching the series and meeting four of the five young ladies, I rode home with a refreshed and deepened faith in the commitment of our youngest generation of women to positive change for the whole of humanity. That young women are self-aware and community-minded is not a surprise (spoken like a true Spelman College graduate - LOL). I just love a good public reminder, especially given the negative images of us that abound in the media. These ladies (the youngest is 15) speak and rhyme thoughtfully and with their eyes on the prize. My favorite is Christel - that girl is nasty as she wants to be - in the very best of ways.

All hail the five finalists... and the Queen who brought them all together! -Zee

Mischo Beauty School: Nail Shape 101

I'll be the first to admit that while I loved the bright, neon and pastel nail colors for the spring/summer, I couldn't wait to start wearing chocolate, burgundy and deep blue & green nail shades for the fall/winter. With that said, let's discuss how to choose a nail shape before your manicure appointment.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. The shape of your hands
2. The length of your fingers
3. The shape of your cuticles
4. The type of work you do

I was always taught (well I learned this in cosmetology school, during the nail curriculum!) that the shape of your nail should mirror the shape of your cuticles. This will ensure the most natural look, which in turn compliments your hands. And believe it or not- here are the most requested shapes:

1. Square Nail
2. Round Nail
3. Oval Nail
4. Squoval Nail
5. Pointed Nail

Keep in mind that an unusual shape will definitely draw attention to your nails and hands. And, if you work with your hands, you should definitely choose a shape that will allow for a shorter nail length in order to avoid breakage.

Questions? What's your nail shape and why? Love your nails.

Mischo Beauty Extra: Sally Hansen's Fall 2010 Complete Salon Manicure Collection

I'll be the first to admit that while I do like Sally Hansen nail polish, I normally won't bother with trying to hunt down the newest collections. The reason being is that the displays (at least in the CVS stores near where I live) are always a mess! Yes, I said it. But, in the same breath, I will tell you that the new fall Complete Salon Manicure collection is definitely worth the hunt. The shades (left to right: Starry Starry Flight, Sequin Scandal, Golden Ticket, Downtown Rubies, Perfect Match, Feeling Saucy, Rockstar Candy & Trouble Maker) are all highly pigmented- and two coats will get the job done! My favorite - hands down- is Sequin Scandal which is a dark forest/army green mixed with gold. I tweeted this photo earlier today, and here are a few more.

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

Mischo Beauty: Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Collection

I spent this past weekend in sunny Sarasota, Florida attending my friend's lux wedding at the Ritz-Carlton. She'd given me the heads-up about the wedding being held outside on the hotel's lawn, and so I thought what better time to try Avon's new Advance Techniques Frizz Control collection - especially since Tippi Shorter, Avon Global Stylist Advisor, recommended it! I left 45/50 degree weather last Friday and landed in 85 degrees, plus humidity and I knew my type 4, texturized layers wouldn't make it through the weekend without help! Well, based on my hair's condition and needs, this collection didn't quite do the job. As you can see below, my hair was flat by the end of the wedding ceremony and we had a whole day left of festivities! Oh well, I guess you win some and the rest- you just go with the flow and enjoy....