It is not every day that you meet a policewoman turned model and considering the amount of fashion happenings that border on questionably legal, perhaps that is a good thing. Still when the stunning Tamara Weijenberg (Elite New York) crossed my path I was absolutely floored. The steely gaze, the Brooke Shields brows and the type of presence that girls years older dream about having – she screamed 80s fashion vixen, so naturally it was time to bust out the red lipstick & hot pink blush.

Polish line Inglot Cosmetics is known for their richly pigmented colors and bold shades. If you haven’t heard of them yet, don’t worry you will. The brand is plotting the kind of in every mall expansion that will have them coming to a store near you within the next year or so. New Yorkers can get a head start since there are already two bustling Inglot stores (Times Square and Chelsea Market – run, don’t walk) filled with incredible colors for you to explore.

Inglot’s famous Freedom System Palette, plus Slim Gel lipstick in color No. 46 and AMC Face Blush in color No. 62

What a stunner!!! Her strong features made for the perfect canvas.

A variation on the look, with just a hint of that shocking pink blush on the eyes.

The Incredible Oils: Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil, Sponge Ladi Avocanto, Clarins Lotus Facial Treatment Oil, Josie Maran Argan Oil & Sunday Riley Juno Transformative Lipid Serum

As temperatures raise and the atmosphere gets distressingly humid, my skin likes to play a little trick on me. While my t-zone is freaking out and creating enough perspiration to create a glossy halo effect, my cheeks and neck are drier than ever. As a consumate over-cleanser (we all have our beauty sins) the only way to survive the summer months is to replenish my skin with oils. Oils can solve a variety of problems easily; everything from chronic dryness, to dull skin or even an itchy scalp can be treated with the right oil.

I know what you’re thinking – my skin is already producing way too much oil, why on earth would I add more into the mix? There is a logic here. While we’re busy sweating and washing our faces multiple times a day to stay clean (guilty as charged) we’re losing valuable moisture. A facial oil is a great way to replenish, even if you consider your skin oily. If you’re worried about over doing it using the right oil at night after you’ve removed your makeup and are ready to sleep is a nice way to put moisture back into the skin. Added bonus, you wake up with that “I just rolled out of bed looking this fabulous” glow. The Clarins Lotus Facial Treatment Oil and Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil are perfect for that, three drops patted into the skin and you wake up revitalized.

When I’m looking to get that look during the day I turn to the incredible, Sunday Riley Juno Transformative Lipid Serum. On a purely shallow note, I heard Blake Lively uses Juno and I had to try it. If the patron saint of tanned perfection uses a moisturizer it makes lemmings like me curious. If good enough for her… Thankfully Blake (and Vogue editors, and beauty guru Sunday Riley herself) knows where its at and a dab or two of Juno gives you a lit from within look worthy of a Hollywood starlet.

Speaking of staggeringly beautiful ladies, model turned mogul Josie Maran‘s eponymous beauty line’s 100% Argan Oil, is a multi-tasker’s dream. Use it to soften cuticles, condition the scalp and keep skin looking radiant.

Makeup & Pictures by Janelle Okwodu for Sans Artifice

Nothing beats a girl with a personality to match her killer good looks. When Robyn Lawley walked into the office sporting a badass hat from ADEEN, I knew the look had to be beautiful and bold, just like Robyn. As one of the first plus size models to grace cover of Vogue Italia, Robyn is a bonafide gamechanger and one of those rare girls who can pull off any look imaginable. Add to this the fact that she knows her beauty goodies – we talked Tom Ford eyeshadows and the dangers of entering a Sephora without a game plan – it was clear to me that we had to go for something a little different.

Japanese beauty brand Koh Gen Do has attained an almost cult-like status among makeup artists for its incredible lightweight foundations and water based makeup remover, but the line’s color cosmetics are simply gorgeous. Sheer lipsticks and soft cheek colors are the hallmarks of the KGD look and we went for that here, but with the added allure of a bright purple eye – just the right amount of edge to keep things fun.

A look at the items we used : Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lip Gloss in Champagne, Maifanshi Lipstick in Pink Red and Fresh Face in Coral Pink. The purple eyes are Lancome’s Ombre Magnetique in Ultra Lavande.

A look at that wild hat by ADEEN!

The final look, glossy pink lips, bright purple shadow and just a hint of shimmer.

The newly launched skincare line centers around 4 key products; a 1-step Camellia Cleansing Oil, Rice Enzyme Powder, Brightening Serum and the Moisture Rich Silk Cream. Rather than load you down with unnecessary products, these are essentials perfect for every day use. The Camellia cleansing oil is lightweight, yet loaded with camellia and rice bran – ingredients filled with skin healing anti-oxidants. As a former devotee of Shu Uemura’s facial oils, the Tatcha oil is just as good, if not better. There is no residue left behind, no need for a second round of washing and it removes every last trace of makeup.

My favorite part of the line has to be the Rice Enzyme Powders, if you’re at all familiar with the foaming powder cleansers popular in Asia (think Amore Pacific and Komenuka Bijin) you’re sure to enjoy these. Tatcha offers three different powders for each skin type, which is a change from the usual “one exfoliating powder fits all” mindset. I found the Gentle Rice Enzyme powder to be just right for my sensitive skin.

Last but certainly not the least the brightening serum and moisturizer provide a suitably luxurious finish to an already appealing experience. The brightening serum isn’t one of those harsh bleaching agents, it just leaves your skin looking more luminous and takes away any dullness or redness – perfect for those of us who don’t get nearly enough sleep. True to form the Moisture Rich Silk cream does feel like rubbing your face into an Yves Saint Laurent silk blouse – which is obviously a very good thing. Added bonus, it smells just divine and leaves your skin as soft as one would expect from a geisha in training.

WHY I’M OBSESSED : Of all the varying textures you can wear on your lips, stains are by far the most natural. At their best they give the kind of “I just ate a handful of berries” tint that looks completely authentic and gorgeous. Perfect for that no-makeup look that stars like Sofia Coppola and Thandie Newton seem to have perfected. When you pick up a lip stain you want that kind of chic look, unfortunately most stains feel like rubbing a magic marker on your mouth – aside from misguided 1st grade color experiments, no one wants that.

Which leads us to Revlon’s incredible Just Bitten Lip Stains, not only do they feel great (bonus points for soft applicator and long lasting formula) but they come with a conditioning lip balm. Considering how drying some lip stains can be we can’t believe this is the first time a brand put two and two together. The addition of a balm is not just a pleasant add-on, it provides a nice buffer that keeps lips feeling good throughout the day. During a trial run the Just Bitten Stains gave about 8 – 10 hours worth of wear, exactly enough time to keep you looking good all through they day – or late into the evening.

Gucci Westman of REVLON on the Preen Look: “Its supposed to feel quite sporty, the skin is kind of sweaty looking and flushed. I’m using all cream textures and the placement of the blush is just on the apple of the cheek. That’s where it becomes challenging because you want it to feel sporty as opposed to being about conturing. ”

There are still about a million beauty moments to enjoy and analyze. Long after the collections wrap I find myself going back and inspecting the beauty goodies used backstage, especially when they give you a preview of what is to come in the stores. During Preen’s gorgeous runway show, the Revlon team lead by Gucci Westman showcased a host of items that aren’t yet on the the shelves, but will be soon. If the rosy cheeks and bold brows on the models backstage were any indication we have a lot to look forward to come Spring.

The Aveda hairstylists work hard on Alana Zimmer.

A peek at the brand new goodies from Revlon - the Just Kissable sticks (launching in May) in Crush & Adore were used on all the models.

Ava Smith getting dolled up by Gucci Westman backstage. Westman said she added the strong brows to make the look “less sweet” and more modern.

The final look, flushed checks, bold brows and glowing skin all on Ava.

Pictures & Makeup – Janelle Okwodu for Sans Artifice

Some girls love their lipstick. When Marihenny Pasible breezed into the our office and saw the array of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics waiting for her, she gravitated to the aptly named, Neon Pink and Cosmic Raspberry, saying the duo “makes a big statement – that’s what I like.”

That’s what we like too: nothing says spring better than a fresh pop of color on the lips, and the vibrant shades were the perfect compliment to Marihenny’s bubbly personality. When she’s not appearing in the pages of mega-glossies like i-D, Teen Vogue and Love Magazine, the Dominican beauty spends her time playing volleyball and chatting up a storm. Naturally when we spoke, the topic shifted towards all things lipstick, “when I shot for Topshop they used this incredible purple color,” Marihenny told us ” it was almost black and I absolutely loved it. When I do something I want to do it all the way!”

That is a sentiment we can get behind. The Neons & Nude collection is one of our favorites of the year and we’re not the only ones who feel that way – the aforementioned Neon Pink is sold out everywhere. Bobbi Brown’s line is known for their incredible nudes and neutrals, but when they go for color they REALLY go for it. Of course when you’re wearing a lip color that bold you don’t need much more – a touch of champagne eyeshadow on the lids and a dot of Ultra Violet shimmer wash used as blush and a swipe of Sheer Color Lipgloss in Cosmic Pink and she was ready to go. Polished, pretty and done in five minutes.

A look at the bold selection of Bobbi colors we had out that day – the incredible Bronzing Powder is the best in the biz. 

With her unique take on perfumery and collection of exquisitely crafted scents, MCMC Fragrance‘s Anne McClain is among the rising stars of the fragrance industry. You can’t open up a mens fashion glossy without seeing the infamous Dude No. 1 Beard oil, or peer through an indie fragrances rec list without seeing MCMC pop up. Without a million dollar ad budget and innocuous ads the line has garnered the kind of cool cachet marketers dream about and all because the products are amazing. I caught up with Anne to talk shop and hear about her influences, inspirations and find out just how a chic American girl finds herself at the famous Grasse Institute of Perfumery.

What is your first scent memory?
ANNE: In 2003 I lived in Nepal for 4 months. I bought a candle there that I later learned was jasmine (to this day one of my favorite scents). I was so obsessed with the smell of the candle that after it burned down, I saved the little end of it and kept it in a closet for months.

When did you first consider perfumery as a career?
ANNE: I had been living and working in NYC for a few years when I realized that people here are totally unafraid when it comes to following their dreams. I was swept up in that creative entrepreneurial energy and I think as my love for perfumery developed, from the start I imagined it would also be my career.

I know you studied perfumery at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery – what was that experience like? I know it is rare for an American to attend the institute. Did you go there knowing French?

ANNE: I applied to the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in November of 2008 and was accepted as one of twelve students to attend the one year intensive training program. After I was accepted, I had just six weeks to move – which meant leaving my job as a project manager at the apartment creative agency, leaving my beloved apartment, and a new boyfriend! But becoming a perfumer was a real dream of mine, and I knew there was no better place for me to study than the traditional center for perfume in southern France.

In some ways, I think the highlight on my time there was all of the solo time. I was really able to concentrate on this new art that I was learning. In New York, life is very hectic and in Grasse, my life was very meditative. I attended school 8 hours a day, and spent the evenings and weekends brainstorming about what has since become MCMC Fragrances. I got a lot done and that was a certainly a highlight!

I was blown away by the realization that my nose could be “trained.” We spent the first three months intensively memorizing individual ingredients and during the course of that time, my nose actually became stronger, and I was able to recognize nuances within scents that I couldn’t detect before.

I didn’t go to France knowing French (nor did I learn too much while I was there!) but perfume is a language all it’s own.

So many of the fragrances on the market rely heavily on synthetic materials, but you utilize a lot of natural ingredients in your perfumes – why do you feel that is important?

ANNE: I feel actually that it’s important to use both. Obviously there is a beauty in natural ingredients, and there purity makes them precious. When I begin brainstorming a new fragrance idea, I’m always inspired first by the naturals. But synthetics can really help to enhance and round out a fragrance. There are also notes you can’t create naturally, like aquatic notes. It’s a delicate blend.

When you create a new scent what is your process like?
ANNE: I actually let the idea for a new scent sort of marinate in my mind for a long time before I physically make anything. I like to have the whole picture flushed out – the feelings, the memories, any color associations, certain ingredients. Once I feel like I have a very strong image of the scent, I pull the main “backbone” ingredients and create the structure for the fragrance. Then I spend quite a bit of time using accessory notes and testing it until it becomes both the vision of what I wanted, and something wearable.

The Dude No. 1 beard oil has become something of a cult favorite, how did you get the idea for a beard oil in the first place?
ANNE: It’s entirely a labor of love! My husband really isn’t one to wear spray fragrances, so I was creating something special for him. He has a beard and I thought it might be nice to create an oil that conditioned it, but also had a light, manly scent. The Dude No. 1 beard oil is 100% natural and 90% organic. I called it Dude No. 1 and thought it was humorous. Friends started requesting it, and finally I just made it part of the MCMC Fragrances line.

Tell us a bit about your work with Trust Art and the creation of the Humanity fragrances.
ANNE: Trust Art approached me about creating a work of art that had an element of social good. Since I so often create fragrances which are inspired by travel memories, I thought why not create a fragrance based on a volunteer trip, and try to create a fragrance that evoked a sense of compassion. Six of us traveled to San Miguel de Allende and volunteered at the Casa de los Angeles, a day care for orphans and children of single working mothers. From that, I created a fragrance with notes of sustainable sandalwood, white lotus, and tea.

Describe the essence of MCMC in your own words.
ANNE: Ethereal.

When Calvin Klein does something, they do it in a big way and there is no ignoring the newly launched, ck one color cosmetics. Back in 1994 when the original ck one perfume hit the market, it represented a change in the way we thought about fragrance. Instead of dividing things along gender lines, the brand translated the idea of modern cool into a statement making scent everyone could get into. The ck one color collection is equally ambitious; with a full range of minimalist chic products, users are encouraged to express their individuality.

Granted, just about every piece of cosmetics copy uses buzzwords like “original” and “unique” but among the expansive ck one offerings there are actually a few game changers. Products are divided into three categories that echo the line’s mantras – “Look Real” is all about the sheer foundations and skin correctors, “Define Yourself” features extra touches like the cream / powder blush combos and dual sided eye pencils and the final (and most fun) category “Add Intensity” bursts with bright, eye popping pigment. I’m always the first to reach for anything with bold color and texture, so the very first thing I wanted to try were the candy colored Gloss Eyecolor Pencils, each shade creates a futuristic sheen on the eyelid. If you want impact break out the aptly named Vivid a glossy blue, subtlety seekers can give the sheer white Ultra a try on the eyes or even used all over the face as highlighter.

Personal eyeliner addiction aside, the products that stood out for me in the ck one lineup were the ones that offered something different from the fray. The mousse concealer boasts a texture like whipped butter and is as good for covering an under eye circle as it is for hiding a blemish. A twist of the adjustable ck one mascara wand takes you from lengthening to thickening in under a second and nails the fact that half good mascara battle is getting the right brush to do the job. The Color & Treat Lip Kit that offers a lip scrub built in and thereby acknowledges the fact that sometimes our mouths need a little R&R before they’re ready for that hit of ruby red*.

These are all smart and savvy ideas that are sure to prove useful. Ultimately no matter how cool a product looks (and it doesn’t get cooler than stark white Fabien Baron designed packaging) the most important things are functionality & quality. The ck one collection hits the mark on both points, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reached for that gloss pencil…

*Oh and if you want a great ruby red, give the Pure Color lipstick in Must Do a try.

A peek at the hair & makeup boards backstage | All pictures Janelle Okwodu for Sans Artifice

Not to play favorites when it comes to beauty, but the look created by Pat McGrath backstage at Anna Sui was one of my personal faves of fashion month. The bright blue winged liner punctuated with a little dot beneath the eye was downright gorgeous. Anna Sui’s clothing is all about the right blend of cute and chic and the makeup really captured the feel of that – especially when paired with those retro bouffants by Garren.

The beautiful Anais Pouliot shows off that electric eyeliner – CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Eyeliner in Blue Boom

A peek at some of the other tools used backstage by makeup artists – It isn’t fashion week unless you spot a highlighter stick.

A closer look on the liner – notice how it matches exactly with Saskia de Brauw‘s sweater – happy accident!

The final touches on Frida Gustavsson‘s hair, courtesy of a touch of Elnett.

Cover Girl’s Eye Enhancer in Indigo Impact was also used backstage, along with their Lash Perfection Mascara. It was all finished off with a tiny circular dot sticker beneath the eyes.

You can see the dot here on Frida, it is amazing how such a simple add on makes such a big difference.

Coordinating polish, #103 from Anna Sui’s own line, was used to match up with the eyeliner.

The larger than life hair was inspired by who else – Adele.

The final look on the radiant Lily Donaldson. Perfection.