Attention Fashionistas!

As you know, Purple Lab is extremely inspired by fashion, hence our creme blush, Cheek Implants in Six Inch Heels and our Huge Lips Skinny Hips lip gloss in Red Sole!

To celebrate the launch of our new foundation, Silk Sheets, we partnered with Chictopia, the ultimate destination for style-obsessed clothes horses (me being one of them) to launch the “Foundation of Style” contest.

We know that every girl has those key items that make up their Foundation of Style, be it your go to shoes that are impossible to walk in (walking is so overrated!) or a fedora, made chic by adding a broach, feather, or a crystal necklace around the base.

Between now and Oct.27, enter the Foundation of Style Contest for a chance to win the latest beauty must-haves from Purple Lab and a chic Balenciaga clutch makeup bag. Plus, we will be featuring our winners on Purple Blab as the guest beauty blogger for the month of November!

For details on how to enter, check out the contest on Chictopia and a few of our favorite looks!

Slicari

Maryvannotes

Red Lipstick

To celebrate our contest you can receive 20% on Purple Lab products using the code “chictopia” at checkout, now through Oct 27!

Cant wait to see your looks!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

I have a pile of WWDs stacked up to my knees. I can’t quite find the time to go through them all but yesterday, I stopped dead in my work-tracks when I noticed the cover of Monday’s issue.

The makeup! I die! It was calling my name!

It was an image from Dior’s resort 2011 collection and the eye, which may be hard to really tell in the photo, was deeee-vine! A gray winged cat eye just below a pink liner that started at the corner of the eye by the nose.

I had Sharon drop whatever she was doing so we could recreate the look.

There’s something about her that’s so 60s to me! I always tell her she looks like she stepped off the set of Mad Men (counting the days until it’s back on air). Here we are in the “makeup lounge,” a.k.a. my closet.

Here’s how to get the look:

1. Using Lashionista Modelista’s liquid liner portion, line the top lid. This should be very thin.

2. To get the wing shape in a soft gray, create another line using the same product, right above the first line, but not touching it.

3. Smudge it out with a short bristled brush. As you smudge, it tones the shade from black to gray. The more you smudge, the lighter the shade becomes.

4. With a small eye liner brush, swipe Cheek Implants in Six Inch Heels (a soft pink hue) right above the gray smudged cat eye, like a stripe that extends from the tip of the wing to the corner of the eye by the nose.

5. Curl the lashes and use two coats of mascara for an extra thick lash

6. Using Luxury Squared’s highlighter, add a touch of shimmer under the brow to enhance the brow bone.

7. Add a nude lip. The nude is key because you want the eyes to stand out – a dark shade would be too much at once. I used Luvah in Mama’s Boy.

The final creation:

We recently did a cute segment for Better TV in the Purple Lab apartment (a.k.a. my home/office/warehouse). They shot here once before and I have to say, it’s always fun to have a film crew come over!

The producer, Marianne, is heaven to work with and – I love this about her! – she writes vampire young adult novels (check her out). This was one of her last shoots for the network before she left to write full time (we’ll miss you, Marianne).

The premise of the shoot: Mother’s Day. We had three moms, each a different age group, and I gave them make overs (I have been taking makeup artist lessons).

One quick thing – I wore these super cute harem shorts (right to the knee). Bad idea. Now that I see the pix, well, it looks like I’m wearing Pampers. (Not showing you!)

Anyway, mom in her 30s, was Deena, a friend of a friend. The problem with moms in their 30s? They need quick beauty tips because they’re busy with small kids.

The solution: double duty products save time (and $$$); neutral colors are a must because you don’t have to spend too much time applying, blending out each shade, especially with kids running all over the place.

This was the look I gave her.

All I needed: Four products.

1. Silk Sheets foundation to even her skin tone

2. Cheek Implants cream blush in the shade Backstage Pass. The trick is to use it as a full on eye shadow, the whole lid from the lash line to the crease. It brightens the whole face.

3. Lashionista Modelista, just the mascara. One coat on the top lashes.

4. Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Goji Berry Smoothie (the soft berry shade is out at the end of the month)

Five minutes. Done!

Now on to mom in her 40s (my friend Sally, who I hadn’t seen in far too long). In your 40s, you have a little more time. Your kids are likely in school. You have your days back! So you can play with your makeup.

Don’t be afraid to bring on the glamour with a serious smokey eye – it’s not just for 20somethings. It’s fun to flirt with new looks as you hit your forties, especially when you work with products that have sophisticated formulas but a playfulness to make you feel young and fun.

For Sally, it was all about subtle shine on the lips and rosy cheeks. Here’s her before and after:

Here’s what I used:

1. Cheek Implants in Six Inch Heels. You will feel like a super model while enhancing cheekbones with a pale shade of pink.

2. Lashionista Modelista in After Dark: Just smudge liner with a small angled brush to create a soft yet smokey cat eye. The diamond dust is subtle, giving the eye just the right amount of shine.

3. Luvah in Mama’s Boy. Made to bring out your inner vixen, it’s infused with aphrodisiacs and natural libido stimulants to remind you to feel sensual and beautiful.

For Mom in 60s, we actually played Joan Hirsch, none other than Sharon’s mother! She’s a doll and looks 20 years younger than her age. The issue moms have in their sixties? They want to look younger without going under the knife (well, some don’t mind the knife, not naming names).

The solution? Use beauty products that have anti-aging benefits so you are treating skin all day and definitely do NOT be afraid of color. A pop of color will brighten your whole face and give you a youthful appeal. Lastly, love that highlighter.

Highlighter should be your best friend, especially as you age. It’s the best way to add soft shimmer and draw attention to your best features. Chic tip: A dab in the corner of the eyes by the nose will draw the light away from crow’s feet.

Meet Sharon’s maker – before and after:

Here’s what I used:

1. Silk Sheets foundation equipped with anti aging benefits, thanks to silk, algae, seaweed, juniper, almond seed extract, and more!

2. Luvah in Rich Jerk: Use a bright lip color so lips pop. The double plumping ingredient, “Complex OO,” provides long-term lip enhancing benefits while Vitamin B3 provides immediate plumping, erasing fine lines.

3. Luxury Squared, which is equipped with both an under eye color corrective concealer AND highligher. Both offer skin care ingredients like silk, Vitamin E, carrot oil, antioxidants, algae. And the highlighter’s got my favorite additive – diamond dust!

Happy early Mother’s Day!

Will share the clip when it’s live.

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

The spring runway – and even many fall runways – were stalked by glamazons sporting a fresh-faced, natural, no-makeup-makeup look. Have you noticed? So we put Ashley, one of our multi-tasking mavens, to the test and create the look herself.

Meet Ash:

She is an all-natural kind of girl to begin with (not to mention the most amazing singer ever – full on jazz vocals a la Norah Jones).

Armed with Silk Sheets luxe foundation infused with silk, Luxury Squared under-eye concealer and highlighter, collagen-packed Cheek Implants in Backstage Pass (ripe, delicious peach with golden undertones), Lashionista Modelista and Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Worship Kate, she turned herself into an exact replica of what Stella McCartney’s models looked like on the catwalk. (Love Stella, BTW.)

Here’s how to get that youthful, clean, natural look.

More how-tos to come! And do let us know what you want to see us create!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Friday noon was an amazing show. I felt like I was getting my groove except for the ear piece (my Jack Bower), which was bothering me so much that the inside of my ear canal started to swell. Luckily, the adrenalin rush of being on air is nature’s natural healer. 

I donned a green Lanvin party dress with a big bow at the bum along with purple patent leather six-inch heels.

How I love Alber!

Some fun insider intel.

See the products on stands in front of me? As we move from product to product, while the camera is focusing on the models, someone rushes in and switches them out.

And this is so funny. Amy Morrison, the host I was with (Love her!), was doing a show right before ours. The second that show ended, she hops in a wheel chair and someone rushes her over to our studio, which is on the end of the building (probably one to two city blocks long).

As the shows went on, we realized that the pre-produced before/after shots could be better. The reason – the models were pretty close to perfect before.

But apparently, I’m far from perfect!

After a good look at me in the morning without makeup, the producers asked if I’d be willing to be the before/after girl. My dark circles and bags (more like luggage) under my eyes were THAT BAD! 

Here it is – not so good before, but thank you Luxury Squared, Silk Sheets, and Cheek Implants (I’m wearing the shade Backstage Pass) for this after!

This is the pre-produced before and after. There is definitely a difference under her eyes. Before, they look kind of tired, closed, and the bags are tehre. But my “problemed area” is clearly worse!

She is also wearing Lashionista Modelista in the after. It rocks on her, I have to say!

On to the 7p.m. show!

It was hosted by Colleen Lopez, who my mother lovingly deems the “Oprah of HSN” (she even has her own show of her favorite things – the woman has a way with words like no one else).

I wore a textured, shimmery, flirty black and green Rodarte dress with a bow belt (J. Lo wore a similar one in copper). My brother said I looked like I was on Star Trek.

Colleen did something brilliant during this show.

As she was showing the foundation, which, by the way, she used on her arms, she slathered it on her hands and showed how it smoothed out the appearance of her skin. No veins showing. No fine lines. No dryness.

The minute it happened, I saw Todd jumping up and down in the back of the set, throwing his arm in the air like he just won the marathon.

Apparently, the phones were ringing like the symphony and the foundation was selling like mad. This is what the screen I’m not supposed to look at shows. Note: I didn’t look. Todd snapped this pic.

OMG!

It was a hit!

I wanted to crash but the 2a.m. show was six hours away.

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

I haven’t had the time to really delve into things the way I want to but I plan to dish this weekend.

Until then, I thought I’d pick up where I left off… training!

The day before the show, I met with Bob and Chelsea of Bob Circosta Communications,  who are not only billion dollar HSN on air guests and brands themselves but also school newbies like moi.

Chelsea literally played host, filmed me, and then we critiqued. This was in front of Temptalia, who was there to report on it all. No pressure!

This is us with Bob himself. He was the first person to ever do the whole “sellivision” thing (speaking of which, I have to read that Augusten Burroughs novel).

Bob can literally make me want to buy anything! I mean – have you heard him talk about a 16″ diamond-cut 18-k gold rope necklace with a lobster clasp or a 30,000 gallon water filter? If you did, you’d give your credit card immediately.

His formula? State the problem we can all relate to. Help with your solution, making sure to touch on all the features and benefits of the product.

i.e.  Cheek Implants

The problem we can all relate to? Powder blushes settle in fine lines and wrinkles, which makes you look old. And they fade by the end of the day.

Features are things that never change about the product. In this case, it’s a cream blush with collagen, hyaluronic acid and nylon.

The benefits? Cream blush lasts and this formula is moisturizing, hydrating your skin all day long. Wtih collagen and nylon, it has a plumping effect so you don’t see the lines and wrinkles. The cheeks really pop and the cheek bones are accentuated, modelesque.

Who doesn’t want that?

It makes you look fresh, young, modern. It’s blush that’s working for you and on you as you wear it!

But the trick with live TV presentations is not just knowing your product, but being able to talk about them in front of millions without freezing up in front of the camera.

Luckily, I’m somewhat of a ham.

And then there are the live models.

I wasn’t going to be stationed next to them so my role was to get up from my perch with the host and make my way to the models as much as possible to show how easy the products are to use.

There’s time to be mindful of – only a certain amount is allotted per product. I have to take note of multiple screens while I’m on air – one shows what’s on the camera now (i.e. if it’s a before/after, I need to talk to it); another shows what’s coming next; a third shows actual sales which I decided to ignore lest I get totally distracted.

My head was exploding!

The day before the debut ended at around 9:30p.m. My only goal, at that point, was a good night’s sleep before the big day (and steam the wardrobe).

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

I am just coming up for air now. Friday’s speed dating event is still kind of a blur and before I can recuperate, I am on the HSN bandwagon, putting together all of the initiatives behind the launch.

Before I go there, let’s get to the day of… the manic circus mayhem!

Sharon and crew spent about 18 hours assembling gift bags, making signage (and by making signage, I literally mean printing, cutting, and pasting on posterboard – the things you do when you’re on a budget) and arranging the room so that the chairs were in horizontal rows and each dater would have pen and paper for note-taking and Dentyne for fresh date breath.   

Todd’s morning required last minute product assembly (that’s him in the <— kitchen).  Oh and delivery of boxes to and from the W Hoboken.

We also set up stations for our sponsors: got2b hair touch up girls were on hand, armed with gel and Michael Todd Cosmetics brought in spritz girls to give everyone a little love with Swingle, pheremone enhanced fragrance.

There were guest lists to organize alphabetically, registration areas to prep, security guards to debrief, a bar to set up.

 While all this was going on, I was stationed in Room 1702 with the most amazing producers, George and Jen, from HSN, filming promos for both TV and dotcom.

HSN does something called “Behind the Label,” where they give you an inside look at what goes on… (drum roll)… behind the label.  Normally, these are done in a studio but we had such a sick background to work with, it was hard to resist cramming the equivalent of an entire film studio into a 300 square-foot room!

They asked me fun, personal questions like what did I think I wanted to be when I grew up, how the brand even started, and what my secret talent is (for the record: break dancing – I took lessons in sixth grade and hooked up with a group, performing at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs!).

I had a small food break – and became immediatley concerned with what I’d do for dinner – before the next round of filming: testimonials.

As girls arrived, I pulled random people aside and asked if they’d be willing to try Purple Lab products and give a testimonial on camera (if they liked it, of course).  We turned a conference room into our sound stage and made a quick jaunt to the local deli to find an orchid for the background!

Gina, below, was nice enough to do one (I couldn’t not ask when I saw that dress! So PL!).

She tried Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Red Sole  and Cheek Implants in Backstage Pass, which she totally, utterly, completely loved (Yay, Gina!)

A few weeks ago, we found cheapo hand mirrors and had a vinyl of our logo made at Staples for this very moment.

I kept pinching myself… it was happening… it was happening… I was at a world record event… with HSN… getting testimonials to be used on air… national television! And Steve Ward was just about to make his first appearance.

More on that later!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Rome wasn’t build in a day.

But the earth took a week (wtih one day of rest).

Jack Donaghy predicted a 9 year ascent to VP when he was relegated to the mail room (30 Rock reference – new obsession).

I spent 26 years in the dating scene until I got hitched (this is if I go back to age 8, the date of my first “real” boyfriend, Jonathan, who said he liked my hair in pig tails and than broke up with me after I reported him to the principal for pulling my pants down on the monkey bars).

And it was two years from time of idea for Huge Lips Skinny Hips to hit shelves.

My point: all good things take TIME!

And if Todd and I were still the sole directors of Purple Lab, I’m sure the next five products we’re now doing would take about five years.  With our new partners behind us, it took us a mere five months. Five!

If you haven’t been on the site of late, we’re launching five – yes FIVE! – makeup products in February for our HSN debut.

First, the products, all of my key essentials for the makeup bag. Then, the production and how they’re made.

Cheek Implants is all about supermodel cheek bones. Think cream blush with collagen, nylon, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Beauty treatment in makeup that seeps into your pores to take effect. What I never liked about powder blush is that it wears off after a few hours. Ever notice that? This is long lasting and dee-vine!

Complete with felt tip pen for precise application

There’s tubing, growth enhancing, conditioning mascara (Lashionista) and  liquid liner (Modelista) with DIAMOND DUST (a duo, so you treat the lashes from the follicle to the tip and at 360-degrees). Love tubing for its smudge-proofness – no end-of-day raccoon eyes.

Mascara + Curved Brush = Runway Ready Lashes ---> Lashionista

Next: Luvah (said like Will Ferrell). It’s the ultimate dating tool, an aphrodesiac-infused double-plumper (called “Complex OO”), scented with vanilla-mint for fresh kissing breath.

Each shade is named after the archetypes of guys I dated to find “the one” true Luvah in my life, my husband/Purple Lab partner, Todd. They come with the story of my experience – and I’m sure you had them too. (Rich Jerk! Mama’s Boy!)

On to Luxury Squared, a concealer/highlighter in one chic square compact. Both are equipped fine silk particles, which lock moisture in the skin, and Vitamin E, an antioxidant that brightens and protects against free radicals in the atmosphere.

The concealer is a color corrector for under the eyes and it has  beta glucan to treat inflimmation and algea which firms and detoxes. Are you getting this? Mega treatment! Like a mini facial with one swipe.

The highlighter, the most under rated product out there, is laced with silica to smooth the skin and firming agents as well. Use a dab at the corner of the eyes at the bridge of the nose to take years off and a smear under the outer brow to open your eyes. Red carpet trick: use at the bow of the lips for an extra delicious pout.

Lastly, Silk Sheets, the most luxurious foundation that has ever graced myface. It glides on the skin as smoothly as the sumptuous feeling of sleeping in regal – yes! – silk sheets. The idea behind it came from the fact that I have a long, laborous process of post-shower-face-treatment. Toner. Three serums. Cream. Elastin spray.

Frustrated, I once dumped them all in my foundation to cut down my steps. Of course, it killed the consistency (and $$$$) but it hit me, I need this foundation to ALL of these things. Who has the time for such a long face wash procedure?

Built with real silk to lock in moisture, Hyaluronic Acid to plump and rejuvenate, aloe to soothe… the list goes on. Algae, rice protein and seaweed firm, green tea and Vitamin C act as antioxidants, and juniper berries cleanse.

LUV the packaging, I must say! Double walled lucite with matte silver. Tres chic!

After a few trials with the lab, they got it so right that I said “Do you hear this? It’s the sound of me throwing away a brand new $60 foundation because I won’t use anythign else.”

As a former beauty writer, I am SO discerning. I refuse to make anything unless it’s better than what I already love – and I love good things!

The process of R&D and manufacturing – well… this is getting long. So I’ll save it for next time!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix