Sonia Kashuk's Blog

MOTHER’S DAY INSPIRATION

Sonia Kashuk — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:07:48 +0000

Here are just a few images that really represent Mother’s Day for me as well as gift ideas that I am loving this year.

1. Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista in 1990, This photo was taken the day my dear friend and photographer Arthur Elgort’s son was born. We were all celebrating, hence the cigars, and this picture has great sentimental value for the joy that comes with anybody becoming a new mom- plus the captivating shot is to die for!

2. Satin Luxe Lip Color SPF 16 $9.99, New for Spring, this line of 14 wearable, must-have shades are sensationally creamy with perfect pigmentation and a classic satin finish. Plus the skim-firming peptides and moisturizing seaweed extract add plumping power for kissable lips at any age!

3. This photo was taken on my wedding day back in 1992 with the important women in my life- my mom, my four sisters, and my sister-in-law; such amazing mothers and strong women!

4. Star Studded 7pc Brush Set $24.99, This fashionable clutch with stunning turquoise enamel brushes are as much eye-candy as they are functional. Includes a Powder/Blush Brush, Angled Eye Shadow Brush, Medium Eye Shadow Brush, Crease Brush, Smudge Brush, Spoolie, and Bent Eyeliner Brush to expertly achieve a flawless face.

5. Tkees Sandals $48, Described as “wearable cosmetics for your feet”, this line of celebrity favorite, comfortable flip-flop makes going casual super chic.

6. J.Crew High-Shine Wide Cuff $65, Something I am personally lusting for this year, this statement jewelry piece has heft and eye-catching personality. A stylish mother’s outfit wouldn’t be complete without it!

7. Lilies are one of my favorite flowers and always a beautiful gift- white bouquets are so crisp and fresh, perfect for the modern mom!

8. Tile Print Cosmetic Bags $4.99-39.99, My Spring 2012 collection of cosmetic bags features tons of fun prints but this colorful blue and green tile is playfully sophisticated, ideal for the world-traveller or any mom that’s always on-the-go!

9. Macaroons from Ladure $2.70 each, These tasty treats are divine and look gorgeous on display- with tons of intriguing flavors to choose from, no one will be able to stop at just one!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!

GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!

Sonia Kashuk — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:31:27 +0000

Congratulations to the following winners:

Ischalyn, winner of the Star Studded 7pc Brush Set

Aquaheart, winner of the Bright Idea 4pc Brush Set

Diana Devlin, winner of the Escape to Paradise Face Palette

@robynlyanne, winner of the Brilliantly Bold Hair Brush

Amber Blevins, winner of A Powerful Punch Mini Nail Set

all winners please email my team at info@soniakashuk.com with your contact information to receive your prize.

Thank you to everyone who participated, it was so great to hear everyone’s amazing ideas!! Some really good starting points for future development as well as some requests there are coincidentally already underway. I look forward to sharing all of our new products with you in the future.

SPRING 2012 GIVEAWAY!!!

Sonia Kashuk — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:36:19 +0000

With the start of May, spring is in full swing and what better way to celebrate than with a fabulous GIVEAWAY!! For those of you who have yet to get your hands on my new seasonal collection of bright colored accessories and beautiful wearable shades, here is your chance. My entire Spring 2012 Limited Edition Collection is up for grabs including:

Star Studded 7pc Brush Set, $24.99

Bright Idea 4pc Brush Set, $14.99

Escape to Paradise Face Palette, $19.99

Brilliantly Bold Hair Brush, $12.99

A Powerful Punch Mini Nail Set, $9.99

Each selected individual will receive one of the above items, totaling 5 winners. We are deep in development for next year’s Spring 2013 collection so to enter we want to know: What are you hoping to see from the Sonia Kashuk line in the future. It can be anything, from a unique brush handle or case design to a product you’ve always wished for. Maybe you have the perfect nail polish shade or a brush concept that fulfills an application need yet to be addressed. There is no right or wrong answer, just a chance for you to be heard plus an opportunity for us to share free product with 5 lucky participants!! I know you all have great ideas and I am so excited to hear them; and who knows, you may just see some of them come to life in future collections. You can enter until Friday May 4th at 5pm EST by leaving comments on this blog, tweeting me @soniakashuk with the hashtag #SKBEAUTY, or posting on our facebook page. The winners will be chose at random and announced on Monday May 7th.

Good Luck!

Old World Meets New World

Sonia Kashuk — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:42:29 +0000

I apologize for the lack of posts lately but I promise there is good reason behind it; my family and I took an adventurous trip to Morocco! I’ve heard so many great things about Morocco over the years and it had been on my list of places to visit for a long time so I was happy to finally explore the country for myself. My favorite thing about traveling is the education and knowledge you gain from experiencing the unknown; I was not so familiar with the government or people, I didn’t know what to expect or what I was getting my family into. And after my travels this is what I found: Morocco is a world of two extremes. The luxuriously opulent hotels, exquisite handcrafted artifacts, awe-inspiring architecture, and picturesque scenery. Yet 50% of the population is illiterate and the streets are in severe need of a garbage collection system. But the hard juxtaposition of the good and bad is what makes this place so intriguing and unique. One minute you feel like you are in the land of plenty and in a moment you can feel as if you are in the “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. Morocco is old, centuries and centuries old, and it is pretty incredible how the intrgrity of the beauty has survived, what the people of Morocco have done, and how they have been able to maintain who they are. As we walked through the town we would see donkeys pulling carts and as I glanced around I really felt like I was in a time capsule, no indication of what year we were in. My kids were able to visit the town square and see snake charmers, trained monkeys preforming; things that at one time to me seemed more fiction than fact. Everything was sensorial: the visual beauty of the tile and wood work, the aroma of spices in the souk. My favorite time was the light at the end of the day, the magnificent orange and yellow light was just absolutely breathtaking. The people were warm, welcoming, and utterly hospitable. It was truly an experience of a lifetime and something worth sharing with all of you. Enjoy

my son Jonah, my husband Daniel, my daughter Sadye, and I in Fez

overlooking the town of Fez

our tour guide through Fez

my family outside our hotel in Marrakech

breathtaking architectural work

interesting tile patterns

artisans handcrafting tiles

each tile is painted by hand

then tiles are painstakingly placed into an intricate design

more stunning tile inspiration

two of the carpets I purchased, the colors are so fun and cosmetic!

how the exquisite carpets are made

how amazing are these bread baskets!!

my family visiting the souk in Marrakech

spices, nuts, and dried fruit in the souk

incredible handcrafted pottery in the souk

beautiful henna hands

the town "taxi station"

my family in the seaside town of Essaouria

street vendors in Essaouria selling fresh fish

how funny- the goats hang out in the argon trees!

Brow Beautification

Sonia Kashuk — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:49:46 +0000

As crazy as it sounds, I can still be pleasantly surprised by products in my line. There is so much constant new innovation and product development that old favorites can easily fall to the wayside. And thus was the case with my Arch Alert Brow Kit.

Arch Alert Brow Kit $12.99

I have a pretty standard beauty regemine that I follow in the morning, my most impportant step being my eyebrows because as many of you may know, I feel they are somewhat sparse. I usually turn to my Brow Definer pencil in Tauped to fill in some color and give a frame to my face but the other day I decided to switch it up and give the brow kit a try. Wow did I forget what an amazing product this is! The four creamy, gel colors seamlessly mix and glide to create a natural looking brow completely customized to my specific eyebrow color. I like to apply with my Brow Brush in short, hairlike motions, following along the natural arch and shape of my eyebrows. Then I take my Spoolie and comb through the brows; since the color is a cream, the spoolie will grab it and blur the lines for a natural look. And of course I always finish by setting with my Brow Gel.

How do you beautify your brows? Have you tried any of these products?

50 and Fabulous!!

Sonia Kashuk — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:24:24 +0000

This past weekend my husband turned the big 5-0! We celebrated with friends, family, and lots of great food up in the country at our house in Connecticut. It was a fantastic time, I flew in Daniel’s family as a surprise and further shocked him with not 1 but 2 surprise dinners with all of his close friends; such an intimate, special weekend for all of us. I decorated the party with tons of old pictures of Daniel throughout the years; pictures dating all the way back to his grade school days, memories from when we first started dating, even pictures from his twenties which were interesting to say the least! And I had this images everywhere, from the walls, to the place cards, to the cake; I even had t-shirt made up with large 50 on the front and Daniel posing on the back. Here are a few pictures from this weekend I thought would be fun to share.

Three generations of Kaner men

Me, my daughter Sadye, and my sister-in-law Amy

pictures of Daniel throughout the years

It's so crazy how much my husband and son look alike!

Daniel and I at dinner

Daniel and our dog Jezebel

Happy 50th Birthday Daniel!

Step Into Spring!!

Sonia Kashuk — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:18:45 +0000

Last Sunday was the launch of my NEW Spring 2012 Collection in Target stores! This year we really outdid ourselves, creating so many fun, colorful accessories, incredible new makeup formulas, and innovative new brush designs. Recently, I held an event at my studio to celebrate the new assortment and introduce the collection to the media. So when it came time to share these new products with all of you, I thought what better way than with an exclusive look inside at all the fun things we’ve been doing!

All of the stunningly vibrant Spring 2012 Collection out for display in my studio

My LUXE Collection available exclusively at Target.com

some bright color inspiration courtesy of spring nail shades, LE mini nail set, bronzer, LE hairbrush, and new bag patterns!

inject some fun into your makeup routine with these turquoise lacquered brushes and show-stopping palette of the season

my signature Synthetic Flat Top Brush is now available in a kabuki, the wonders you can do when you pair this tool with my amazing new illuminating bronzer!

some fabulous brush options this season complete with cutting edge shapes and picturesque couture handles

Peonies are my favorite flower, the beauty of nature is so inspiring to me!

Bright pink walls make my studio ready for a beautiful Spring

For more information on all of the wonderful new products check out this video and stay tuned for more posts!

Red Lips vs the Golden Girls: Oscars Beauty 2012!!

Sonia Kashuk — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:45:57 +0000

The Academy Awards last night were glamourous and gorgeous as always. And as all of the starlets made their way down the iconic red carpet, there were definitely two trends that began to emerge: statement lips & bronzed beauties!!

the Golden Girls: Gwyneth Paltrow & Stacy Keibler

I love the way these ladies let their natural beauty take center stage and gave their face a golden glow; bronzed eyes and nude lips are always a go-to look for me!

Jessica Chastain, Best Supporting Actress nominee for "The Help"

Jessica Chastain wore this look the best in my opinion. Her tonal makeup perfectly complemented her skin tone, hair color, and showstopping Alexander McQueen dress. She looks stunningly flawless!

Pretty Red Pouts: Angelina Jolie, Michelle Williams, Emma Stone, & Milla Jovovich

Many of the hottest stars rocked a classic red lip, one of my favorite awards show looks of all time. So reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour!

Rooney Mara, Best Actress nominee for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

Absolutely my favorite look of the night, Rooney looks pretty, edgy, sophisticated, and young all at the same time. The dark brows, clean fair skin, and soft eyes balanced out the bold red lip and by keeping her chest bare, opting for no accessories with her white Givenchy dress, Mara’s overall look is refreshingly modern against the decked out in diamonds style we are so used to seeing on the red carpet.

THINGS I’M LOVING THIS VALENTINE’S DAY!!

Sonia Kashuk — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:21:16 +0000

Nothing like a little red and pink to get me in the Valentine’s Day mood! This day of love I thought it would be fun to share a little valentine inspiration with you of some things I adore!

a few of my favorite things...

1. Armand Diradourian Fringe Shawl $295, This beautiful cashmere scarf is super soft and stunning in a vibrant red!

2. J. Crew No. 2 Pencil Sequin Skirt $695, This pretty pink skirt adds flair and fun for a chic twist on a classic!

3. Peonies are one of my favorite flowers, they instantly add a bright pop of color to any room!

4. Fair & Square Eye Shadow Quad $12.99, Create a subtle smokey eye with this neutral pink palette. Take your Valentine’s Day look from day to night by applying a swipe of the sparkling shimmer shade!

5. Coraline Luxury Lip Color $8.99, Get a perfect pink pout with this gorgeous coral lipstick and instantly brighten up to the drab days of winter!

6. Peony Super Sheer Liquid Tint $9.99, This lightweight liquid blush has beautiful adherency to skin and will leave cheeks with that just pinched flush!

7. Rosey Nude Velvety Matte Lip Crayon $7.99, This matte lip crayon is as creamy as it is long-wearing, apply this universally flattering red before a big date for completely kissable lips!

8. Christy Turlington in Vogue April 1990 shot by Arthur Elgot, This photo of Christy not only exudes Valentine’s Day charm but it reminds of so many fond memories of my early career as a make-up artist. Throughout the late 80′s and 90′s Arthur and I worked on countless shots with the biggest supermodels of the time, Christy Turlington, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and of course my dear friend Cindy Crawford. That is a time in my life I will never forget!

9. Flamingo Beautifying Blush $7.99, The bright pink hue of this powder blush may look intimidating but it actually gives the skin the most natural pink flush, perfect a sweet cheeked Valentine’s Day look!

10. “Cyclone” by Marilyn Minter 2006, I have a print from this photograph series hanging in my dinning room. I love all of the color, sparkle, and the cosmetic influence!

11. Christian Louboutin Patent Leather Pump $775, A classic black pump from my favorite shoe designer, who doesn’t love a pair of red soled shoes!

I’ve Got You Covered!!

Sonia Kashuk — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:24:12 +0000

Flawless skin is the foundation to any beautiful face, but unfortunately for most of us blemishes, dark spots, and under-eye circles are all too common. Concealment of these little problem areas have alway been a popular inquiry that I get from women of all ages so to help make the process a little simpler, I created an all-in-one skin perfecter product, my Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette!

Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette, $9.99

Everyone from beauty editors, to celebrities, to real women are shocked at how well this miracle palette works and quickly become die-hard fans. Most recently I did an online video shoot for More Magazine and nobody could believe how flawlessly this palette concealed dark under eyes and redness on our model!

After winning a Best of Beauty Award in 2008, this palette has remained an industry favorite!

The February 2012 issue of Seventeen Magazine illustrates how to properly use the palette to conceal a breakout.

Seventeen Magazine, February 2012

I personally use this palette every day and even at 53 years old, it never settles into my fine lines or creases!

Click on this picture to watch my tutorial featuring the Hidden Agenda Palette!

Have you used this palette yet?