The Insider’s Guide to Holiday Beauty

We’re Celebrating the End of the Decade with Our
Insider’s Guide to Beauty & NOLA Shop Local List!

Kismet Perky Argerline Spray / Jason Kruppa Photography / Mandy Nadeau / Midori Makeup Artistry

If you’re ready for a holiday glow-up, start with your skin!

Winter in New Orleans is a challenge when its cold one day and warm the next, so your skin never knows how to protect itself.

If you add indoor heating, holiday eating and late night parties the result is dry, irritated skin and breakouts.

We asked our expert, Skin Therapist, Michelle Bryant at Embodyment Salon & Spa, for advice on moisturizing in the winter.

“Oily skin benefits from a hydrator too”. In addition to helping heal your skin, she says, “It acts as a barrier between your skin and environmental pollutants”.

Nolaskinsentials: The Real You Jelly Cleanser and Ultra Glow and Protect Serum

We look to local, woman-owned products to keep skin hydrated, and we love facial mists like Mid-City based Rosalie Botanicals’ Organic Rose Flower Hydrosol and Lavender water , to add moisture, or our latest pick from local, Northshore based Kismet Cosmetics, Perky Argeriline Spray.

It contains non-toxic proteins derived from Botox, Matrixyl, which stimulates collagen, and Hyaluronic acid.

Combined, they help relax away wrinkles and add radiance and moisture! Just what you need to reverse the Holiday stress that shows up on your skin!

Elektra Cosmetics / Helena Kolcanes / Midori Makeup Artistry / Tiffany Bailey - Lush Boudoir Photography, Magnolia Makeup / Cami Byrd / Midori Makeup Artistry / Greg Miles Photography

Skin Therapist, Michelle Bryant also advises getting regular professional skin treatments, like her custom facials, to “provide gentle, effective exfoliation to remove dull skin that dry heat causes followed by nourishing treatment masks to keep skin glowing”!

For deep cleansing and gentle exfoliation at home, we love silicone devices like the PMD Clean .

Try it with Nolaskinsentials’ The Real You Jelly Cleanser , and follow up with their Ultra Glow and Protect Serum , which uses natural brighteners and marula oil to give you a glow that will make the holiday lights jealous! The local brand is BPOC woman owned and offers vegan products for all skin types produced by hand in New Orleans!

Southern Swings Nail Salon / Artists Nita and Charlotte, Native Polish in Picayune

Now that your skin is ready to sparkle, you’ll see that all the major magazines are reporting shimmery trends. From frosty Fenty eyeshadows to monochromatic glitter lips and chunky glitter nails with matte French tips at Cosmopolitan.com to pearly “halo eyes” at Elle.com.

We’ve recreated these runway looks for you with our favorite local, woman-owned local beauty brands using Elektra Cosmetics microfine cosmetic glitter and Glitter Lip Kits , Magnolia Makeup Illuminators Highlighters and Gilded Individual Pigment eyeshadow , Native Polish 10-free Nail Polish in metallic silver Picayune.

If you’re feeling extra, head over to Southern Swings Nail Bar and get an acrylic set by Nita and custom nail art by Charlotte! Drool over my galaxy nails they created for me in the photos!

Drink Beauty Interior, Drink Beauty Purple Rain Latte, Midori Tajiri / Midori Makeup Artistry / Hair by Gary Scorce and Skin by Michelle Bryant at Embodyment Salon/ nails by Southern Swings / Nutrition by Drink Beauty

When you’re ready to recharge after all the parties, stop by our fav beauty café Drink Beauty.

We love the signature Drink Beauty latte with rose powder, beet powder and rose syrup, but you can try any number of add-ons or opt for fancy coffee or matcha drinks too.

And if that’s not enough, while you are lounging in the literal pink cloud filled mural interiors, you can purchase some new makeup products or even get a makeover.

-Midori Tajiri, Beauty Contributor, New Orleans Fashion Week

WHERE TO SHOP:

SKINCARE
Kismet Cosmetics: Perky Argeriline Spray $36
Nolaskinsentials: Nolaskinsentials’ The Real You Jelly Cleanser $7, and  Ultra Glow and Protect Serum $10
Rosalie Botanicals: Rosalie Botanicals’ Organic Rose Flower Hydrosol $7.00 and Lavender Water $3.50
PMD Clean $99
Rodan & Fields: Lash Boost, Eyelash and Brow Serum: Local Rep Julie Morse $139.00 - $155.00

MAKEUP
Elektra Cosmetics
Magnolia Makeup Illuminators Highlighters $15 and Gilded Individual Pigment $12
Native Polish 10-free Nail Polish $11-$68
Kismet Cosmetics: Velvet Semi-Matte Lipstick in Burnout $12

Salons and Services Featured
Embodyment Salon
Southern Swings Nail Salon
Drink Beauty

Elektra Cosmetics / Tara Misoux, Native Polish / Picayune, Greg Miles / Cammi Byrd / Midori Makeup Artistry / Magnolia Makeup, Elektra Cosmetics / Midori Makeup Artistry / Mandy Nadeau / Tiffany Bailey - Lush Boudoir Photography, Elektra Cosmetics / Piper Marie Sitzman / Lush Boudoir Photography