Author: Nicole Beckley

For years I have battled acne-prone skin.  I have tried so many products it’s ridiculous.  Finally, after trial and error I’ve found a regimen that helps keep my skin acne-free and keeps casual breakouts to a minimum.

I designate three days a week as “treatment days.”  For my morning routine of each treatment day, I wash my face with (1) First Crush 3-in-1 Blemish/Acne Treatment.  It gives me everything I need to help not only prevent my acne, but also treat occasional blemishes that may appear.  I mean who really has time to deal with three different products?  I use the (2) Merlot Anti-Wrinkle Cream as my daily moisturizer.  (I love this moisturizer so much that I even use it in my nightly routine as well.)  Then I apply my makeup.  For foundation, I use (3) Sonia Kashuk tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 in Tan.  I love the coverage it gives without that “cakey” look.  I hit my cheeks with (4) Mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Glow.  When I feel I need a bit more fabulous in my life, I use (5) L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Carbon Black on my lashes and (6) Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Shiny Natural Look on my lips.

In the evening, before hitting the sheets for some much needed beauty sleep, I wash my face with the (7) Merlot Cleanser and treat my face with (8) Merlot Exfoliating Scrub.  Since I develop white heads from having oily skin, the scrub helps keep them at bay.  The scrub also leaves my face feeling rejuvenated and supple – rather than irritated and dry as a desert like other scrubs I have used in the past.  Finally, I apply a dab of my daily moisturizer to keep my skin hydrated while I sleep.

As a bakery owner and improvisational actor, any given day consists of wildly varying roles.  One minute I’m darting around town to meet with clients, the next I’m perfecting my handmade pies, and the next I’m performing under bright lights in a theater.  Different roles require different looks, and I enjoy making the transition from one look to another throughout my day.

At home and work, my look is totally natural.  I wake up early and get straight to work sans makeup, but not before washing my face with (1) Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser.  My skin is prone to breakouts, so it works great with my skin.

To keep my lips moisturized throughout the day, I apply (2) Merlot’s lip moisturizer.  It is by far my favorite lip moisturizer because it’s fragrance free and doesn’t interfere with the flavor of my early morning coffee, my mid-morning coffee, my afternoon coffee… you get the idea.

Before stepping out into the world, I like to put my best face forward by starting with my favorite foundation, (3) Studio Gear studio matte foundation.  This stuff is great.  It smoothes out unevenness in my skin tone, blends easily, and lasts all day and all night.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of heavy fragrances so I enjoy the light, natural scent of (4) Ginger by Origins.  One spray is all I need for a little midday pick-me-up.

By the time I arrive at the theater in the evening, it’s time to bump up the drama in my look once again.  To prevent the bright lights from washing out my features and to add some eye-catching sparkle, I apply heavy doses of (5) bareMinerals blush in warm pink and (6) NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in smokey topaz.  I finish off my eyes with a thick line of (7) Almay black liquid liner and (8) L’oreal’s Voluminous mascara in carbon black.  I’ve used this mascara exclusively for a decade now because it gives major volume without flaking or smudging.

Before falling into bed after a long day, I wash my face again and apply (9) Merlot Moisturizer.  It leaves my skin feeling smooth and ready for my favorite role of all: sleeping beauty.

– Karen Jane DeWitt, Owner and Flavor Enthusiast, Scissortail Savories and Sweets

After years of neglecting my skin (remember baby oil and iodine?), I have a number of issues I try to target in my current skin care regimen.  To help fade the spots on my hands, acquired through hours and hours spent outside without sunscreen, I use (1) Merlot Hand Cream Plus Sanitizer.  It has an SPF, so I can use it throughout the day, and I apply once again before bed.

In the evening I wash away the day – specifically my (2) L’Oreal Visible Lift foundation with SPF17 and (3) Lancome Blush Papier Nacre – by applying (4) Merlot Cleanser all over my face, and wiping it off with a warm washcloth.  My face feels refreshed and ready to soak in (5) Merlot Moonlight Radiance Night Cream.  I also use (6) Merlot Eye Cream around my eyes and lips, to help fight against fine lines.

I’ve most recently started to use (7) Merlot Chin Up, which I smooth onto my neck and chin as the last step in my nighttime routine.  Then I’m ready to sleep, knowing my skin will stay hydrated through the night.

As the Marketing Director for Merlot Skin Care, I have the opportunity to see and use a lot of beauty products.  My personal look is pretty natural, so I try to keep my daily routine fairly simple.

I typically wash my face in the shower with (1) Merlot Cleanser.  It does a great job of washing out the impurities, but doesn’t make my skin feel dry.

Before I apply foundation, I use (2) Merlot Moisturizer as a primer.  It makes my skin feel nice and smooth and adds a protective, hydrated layer.  I have combination skin, so I use (3) Lancome’s Teint Miracle in Buff 5.  It’s not a matte foundation, so it doesn’t make my skin look or feel overly dry.

During the day I don’t typically wear eyeliner, but I will highlight my eyes by using a small brush to apply (4) Bobbi Brown mahogany eye shadow along the edge of my top lashes.  I have hazel eyes, so the darker brown shade helps set off the green and orange in my eyes without looking too heavy.

Most days I’ll wear (5) Lancome’s Hypnose Doll Lashes mascara, or, if I’m going for a more dramatic look, I’ll wear (6) Benefit’s They’re Real mascara.  It’s lengthening without being clumpy.

On my lips I apply (7) Revlon ColorStay lipliner in Blush.  It’s a nice light pink color that has a more natural look, and it helps my lips retain some color all day.  I like to use a darker rosy pink lipstick, usually (8) Clinque High Impact in After Party, and then top that with a little gloss.  (9) Lancome Juicy Tubes in Dreamsicle provides a perfect dreamy pearlescent pink color and a good amount of hydration.

Before I leave the house, I’ll spray on a bit of (10) Michael Kors’ Very Hollywood.  It’s a refreshing scent that feels just a little bit luxurious.