Camera Ready at Shear Ego

On Saturday I had the pleasure of going to Shear Ego Salon and Spa in Pittsford Plaza to test drive their special occasion hair and makeup services for Rochester A-List.

God knows I can use all the help I can get...

I walked in looking like this:

And walked out looking like this:

Necklace c/o Arwark

Isn't amazing what the right hair and makeup can do?

When I arrived, I was given the grand tour of the 18,000+ square foot salon, spa, and men's club.  I had no idea how big this place was.  This beautiful facility has a little something for everyone.  Whether you're a guys guy looking for a quick game of pool before a straight shave or a group of ladies looking for a mimosa-filled spa party with girlfriends, Shear Ego has got you covered.  I can't wait to go back and try out some of their spa services!  Don't worry, I'll be sure to write about that too, but for now let's get back to hair and makeup, shall we?

The first item on my agenda was an up-do with Valentina.  I left it up to her to do what she wanted with my hair.  I showed her a picture of the dress I was wearing that evening and made it clear that I didn't want to look like I was going to my 8th grade dance, but other than that she had free reign.  I wasn't disappointed with the side sweeping curls she had in mind.

She might be smiling back there, but I'm sure she was looking at the hair that I had slept on wet the night before thinking - this?  this is what I have to work with?  She never let on a bit though... what a doll!

Here I am getting my curl on:
 

What?  I don't have any makeup on yet!

This is what I really look like!
It takes A LOT of work to get this girl camera ready!

And the finished product:

After hair, it was time for makeup and lashes by Melissa.  Again, I pretty much gave her poetic license to do whatever she wanted aside from making me look like a drag queen.  Thankfully I was in very good hands.   Melissa used all Cargo products, was a complete sweetheart,  and I walked out looking every bit the lady.

I think one of the biggest wow factors of my makeup that night was the lashes.  Too many people are afraid of false lashes.  They really make your eyes pop.  Melissa used individual Ardell lashes with tinted glue to give me a seamless, natural look.  I absolutely love them.  While I definitely don't have the time to put on lashes for every day wear, I usually wear them for special occasions and events.   It was so nice to have someone else apply them for a change! 

Little, tiny miracles.

Can you believe the difference?!

You can't even compare the two!  The falsies look so natural, yet they really give that added oomph to my look, not to mention that they photograph really well.  Any time you want your eyes to stand out in pictures, lashes are the way to go.  And if you're too scared to apply them yourself, head on over to Shear Ego and have Melissa do them for you.  She is a lash master.

After two hours of being primped and pampered, I looked like this:

A far cry from this:

Yowzah!

After they indulged my need to take a few awkward #selfies in the mirror, they handed me my new client goodie bag (I love gifts!) and I was on my way home to get dressed for dinner.  

My new client welcome package included hair and skin care samples and
 a $25 gift card to use toward my next service!

You've heard the phrase "it takes a village?"  Well that applies to not only raising children, but also to getting a fashionista camera ready.  Don't get me wrong, I clean up pretty good on my own, but for a little extra pop on those special occasions, it definitely "takes a village" and Shear Ego is just the kind of village I need.  I would highly recommend having your hair styled and makeup done for the next special event in your life.  Updos and lashes aren't just for wedding and proms.  You only live once... why not look and feel your best?  And why not let Shear Ego help you do it?

Since I'm sure you're dying to know, here is the completed look for date night at 2Vine with my hubby:

Taylor Pink Bubble Dress c/o Lendperk
Sauvignon Blanc c/o 2 Vine
Hair and Makeup c/o Shear Ego
Best job ever c/o Rochester A-List

And for the rest of the month Shear Ego is offering some FABULOUS specials for A-List subscribers, but you have to get on The List to take advantage of these limited time offers.  Sign up for A-List and open up a world of fantastic spa deals here.

Love you like I love the red carpet treatment, 

xoxo

Jenny

Boutique Crawlin'

Last night was Fashion Week of Rochester's March Madness Boutique Crawl.  For $20, you got chauffeured around for five hours as you shopped the best boutiques in Rochester, where you were treated to fabulous sales, complimentary cocktails, hors d-hourves, and freebies all to benefit The Center for Youth.  I can't think of a better way to spend a Thursday night... can you?

Here's the nitty gritty on my evening...

What I wore:

Can you believe my whole outfit (minus the shoes) is from JC Penney?!
They are really stepping it up.  Love!  (And so affordable!)
Photo taken @ A Different Point of View (who had THE best goodie bags BTW)

Who I went with:

What a fantastic group of women!  We had THE best time!
And aside from me, none of these girls knew each other when the night started.
Nothing like bonding over shopping and champagne!
Photo taken @ Chandeliers in Pittsford.

What I bought:

Necklace from Red Tiger Boutique in Pittsford

Shoes, Necklace, and Earrings from Shop Peppermint 
My inner geek couldn't resist the map print on those ballet flats!

MM Couture Dress from Dado

What I wish I bought:

Abigail Riggs ~ Miss Annie bag in Mud
This bag is made from the softest, to-die-for, leather and suede and features an authentic turquoise pendant.
You would think Gail designed it just for me...

With the beautiful, talented, and philanthropic Gail Riggs, Ph.D.
Founder and CEO of Abigail Riggs
"A Purse with a Purpose."

Last night was a perfect reminder of why I do what I do:  promote local boutique owners, businesses, beauty personnel, and designers.  There is so much talent and beauty in this little city of ours and it's filled with so many wonderful and inspiring people.  Somebody needs to spread the word!  It might as well be me.  :)

Have a fantastic weekend Rochester!

xoxo

Jenny

* Expect more on Abigail Riggs in the near future.  I'm officially OBSESSED.  :)

March Madness Boutique Crawl

Attention Fashionistas:

You do not want to miss Fashion Week of Rochester's March Madness Boutique Crawl.  For $20 you and your girlfriends will be chauffeured around in a limo (with booze) stopping at all the best boutiques in Rochester for five hours of uninterrupted (read: no kids) shopping.  Oh, and its all for charity.  This is a no-brainer ladies.  Get your tickets ASAP.

Here are all the details:

NEW EVENT FOR FASHION WEEK OF ROCHESTER

CENTER FOR YOUTH FUNDRAISER

MARCH MADNESS BOUTIQUE CRAWL

Thursday, March 21, 2013

5:00pm-10:00pm

SHOP YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL FASHION BOUTIQUES

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 

Tickets on sale at:

Panache Vintage & Finer Consignment

1855 Monroe Avenue

Rochester, NY 14534

Suzanne's Distinctive Fashons

40 State Street

Rochester, NY 14534

Arena's Florist

260 East Avenue #100

Rochester, NY 14604

A Step Apart

235 Park Avenue

Rochester, NY 14607

GENERAL TICKETS-$20

SELF DRIVE-$10

CASH OR CHECK ONLY TO THE CENTER FOR YOUTH

TRANSPORTATION BEGINS AT

THE MEMORIAL ART GALLERY

Can't wait to see you there!  Let me know if you want in on my limo ;)  Comment below with your RSVP.  First come, first served.

xoxo

Jenny

Ae Anti-Aging Facial by Amy Riposo

In January,  Rochester A-List Fashion & Beauty Blogger Jennifer Sanzo (aka The Flower City Fashionista) and I were lucky enough to visit AE Spa in Brighton for facials customized for us and recommended for women in their thirties and forties.  Jennifer is sharing her experience in her own words here, but you forty somethings are stuck with me. This is my first and highly anticipated (by me at least) blog. Who am I? Amy Riposo, owner and creator of Rochester A-List, and now you all know, forty something.  :/

When I heard AE Spa offered the best anti-aging facial in the spa industry I was um, more than interested in trying it out. Let’s face it, aging is cruel. Something to reduce the signs of aging? I was in! There’s nothing better to break up your routine in the cold of winter than to schedule a beauty treatment to unwind, de-stress, and bonus if it promises to make you look younger, and improve the health of your skin. My anticipation was growing all week. Finally, appointment day arrived!

Here are a few shots of the Spa as I stepped inside awaiting my fountain of youth:

Andrea Sands, my esthetitian has been in the business for 22 years. I couldn’t wait to get her expert advice on skincare and to see what this facial was all about.

Let the pampering begin!
 

First, Andrea analyzed my skin to customize the facial for me.  Normal skin status: extremely dry

Next it was warm towels and steam to open my pores and prep my skin.

I'm in there somewhere!  Relaxed and ready for what's next.

I got to experience the Microcurrent with Microdermabrasion Facial (voted best anti-aging facial in the industry)!  “This is an ultimate service with ultimate results! The microdermabrasion to the face and neck will resurface the skin. The Microcurrent will lift, plump and re-educate the muscle at a cellular level.”

This facial was an amazingly relaxing experience. A significant portion of the time I received an incredible massage- face, neck, hands, and feet! A hot stone massage during a facial? Yes! Complete with warm mitts for my hands, while Andrea tended to my skin needs. Carefully selected products were massaged onto my skin after the clarisonic brush prepped and cleaned my skin. Heavenly.

I love a good massage, and this one was heavenly.

The Good Stuff:

Microdermabrasion:  This didn’t hurt at all. It wasn’t even uncomfortable. Microderm strips off layers of dead cells from the epidermis to reduce fine lines and blotchy pigmentation while improving skin texture. The brush uses airflow and sterilized crystals. It sounds harsh, but wasn’t at all.

Microcurrent:  You don’t actually feel the current so there is no discomfort. It just felt like another part of the facial. A micro-current is sent to muscles that are slacking, drooping. The low current electricity contracts the muscles, firming, and toning the skin. 

The end result: My skin was moist, supple and felt like someone else’s skin, but it WAS mine! It felt like there was more collagen in my skin. I was impressed. My forehead lines were noticeably reduced, if not gone!

I would highly recommend making a trip to AE Spa for a customized facial and if you are over 40, get the microcurrent, you’ll love the results. The harshness of upstate NY winters takes a toll on your skin, and Andrea will bring your skin health back to where it should be: beautiful. Put AE Spa on your speed dial! Andrea recommends getting a facial every 6 weeks.

I have it on good authority that AE Spa will be offering an exclusive deal for A-Listers on this facial (Micro Derm and Micro Current) and on the Signature Facial Jennifer received during the month of March. These two beauty treatments just got even more amazing!

xoxo

Amy

Owner and Creator of Rochester A-List

www.Rochesteralist.com

www.ae-spa.com

 

 

 

  

Ae Spa

In January, Rochester A-List's Amy Riposo and I were lucky enough to visit Ae Spa in Brighton to find out what we should be doing for our skin as women in our thirties and forties, which is weird since we are both 29 ;).  Amy will be sharing her experience in her own words, and well, you thirty somethings are stuck with my snarky writing for this piece.  Sorry kids.  Better luck next time.

Waiting Area

I was frozen solid when I arrived.  I'm pretty sure it was about nine degrees outside, and I'm the kind of girl who wears a sweater when it's 70.  My husband calls me "nana" because I'm always cold.  So instead of easing into a pair of slippers and taking my coat off to relax, I sat in the waiting area in my parka and snow boots, sipping my complimentary peppermint tea in an effort to warm myself up.  Upon seeing my near-hypothermic state, Andrea got me a warmed wrap for my shoulders.  Before I knew it I was starting to thaw out and beginning to relax.

I wasn't kidding!

Let the pampering begin!

The Hallway to the Fountain of Youth

 I got to experience their signature facial.  Oh. Baby...  It. Was. Soooo. Good.  

First Andrea analyzed my skin so she could customize my facial for my specific skin needs.  In my case, I'm a little dehydrated, a little oily, a little sensitive, and an overall hot mess.  I promised to drink more water and stop using products with salycilic acid.  She let me relax while warm steam opened my pores and then deep cleaned my skin with a Clarisonic brush.  

Ae Signature Facial Time

Then it was time for microdermabrasion.  This procedure is really important for women in their thrities. It helps resurface the texture of the skin by removing dead skin cells, reduces the appearance of fine lines and blotchy pigmentation, and relieves the skin of excess gunk.   This allows the products you use to actually seep in and do their job.  It was my first time getting microderm done, and while I expected it to feel like my face was being sandblasted, the procedure was not uncomfrotable in the least.  It didn't hurt one bit: a proverbial piece of cake. 

Bring on the Microdermabrasion

After microderm is was back to my facial:  glycolic peel and mask.  Yay!  This facial also included a heavenly hot stone massage of the face, neck, hands, feet, and decollete.  Had I known Andrea would venture below my Mason Dixon line, I would have shaved my legs for her.  I was going for a facial...it was winter... the thought never crossed my mind!  What was a girl to do?  Before I knew it, I was getting a foot and leg massage - with a little exfoliating to boot!  And there I was in all my wooly mammoth glory.  How embarrassing.  I was mortified, but Andrea was a great sport about the whole thing.  She didn't cringe or dry heave even once!

Hot Stone Massage = Pure Heaven
I might look like a cadaver, but I assure I am very much alive.
Just relaxed.  Very, very relaxed.

The final step included a rich moisturizer.  Andrea uses the BT to help product penetrate deeper into the skin.

Before I knew it my luxurious 90 minutes of heaven were over.  I got dressed and prepared to re-enter the real world.  Bummer.  After every facial, Andrea recommends products and treatments to best suit your individualized skin care needs.  She recommends that women in their thirties get a facial with microdermabrasion every six weeks and to use a good at home skin care regime.

Here's what I went home with:

Dermalogica pre-cleanse  to help break down surface sebum
(read: greasy Italian skin) before cleansing.
Exfoliating Bath Gloves - to keep my whole body as soft as a baby's bottom.

I would highly recommend making a trip to Ae spa for a customized facial with Andrea.  Skin care is so important.  You only get one face - and preventative care is the best way to quell the signs of aging.  It's much better to prevent than to fix later.  So wear sunscreen, exfoliate regularly, and book your facial with Andrea today!

xoxo

Jenny

PS- Want to read about Amy's experience and the inside scoop on a special offer coming your way from A-List and Ae Spa?  Click here.