This Saturday, the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis will be hosting Beauty Buzz at Neiman Marcus with KSDK reporter Leisa Zigman and 18-year-old daughter Micaila Edlin. An event focused on benefitting media scholarships, what better way to give back to your community while looking your best? Featuring multiple beauty bars, attendees will learn the latest and great beauty secrets from Neiman Marcus beauty experts. I recently caught up with the mother-daughter duo and chatted about this weekend's special event and on- and off-camera beauty secrets. When it comes to beauty, sometimes mother really does know best.
Tell me about your beauty routines. Leisa, how does your on-camera beauty routine differ from your regular routine?
LZ: When I’m not on camera, I wear very little makeup. But it still takes a few steps to get that “natural” look. Armani makes a very light foundation, and it is my go-to product. It has a natural and smooth texture and consistently wins InStyle’s Best Beauty Buy Award. So a little base, a little mascara, concealer (of course) some clear gloss, and I’m out the door.
On-camera is a different animal. Remember, we are now HD, and a high-definition fine line or blemish isn’t pretty. It takes more makeup to be HD camera-ready. Fortunately, the beauty industry makes HD-specific products. When it comes to on-air, more is the rule. If you have a photo shoot or ever need to be on camera, spend the extra money and get a good HD base and natural powder. You can use your regular blush, eye shadow, and lipstick.
What are some of your best beauty tips? As women on the go, what are some easy ways to get a fresh face without spending too much time in the bathroom?
LZ: All you really need is a great bronzer and mascara. And for mascara there is just one word: Chantecaille. KSDK has a beauty consultant who flies in on her broomstick every few months. ( I really love her!) One year she insisted all of us wear false eyelashes. I got tired of dealing with them every day, so I had extensions put on. This lasted a few months but as the extentions fell out, so did my lashes! That is when I found Chantecaille. It is the best mascara ever! It doesn’t clump, it lengthens, adds volume, and best of all it helped my lashes grow back.
How have your beauty routines evolved over the years? Are there any brands you've been loyal to since starting your career?
LZ: The older I get, the less makeup I wear. As far as brand loyalty goes, I am fickle. I love trying new products and experimenting with new trends. I also think changing products is important for your skin, your hair, and your overall appearance. Some products use certain botanicals which might be great for one skin type, but another product may provide a little something different. It’s fun to mix it up.
Micaila, are there any beauty tips or advice you've learned from your mother?
ME: Mom has had a lot of experience because of her work. Although I don’t need the product, my mom is known for saying, “You can never have too much concealer.” She says, for night life, blush and lip liners are a must. Her best advice: “If you go heavy make-up on your eyes, go light on your lips. But if you have a bright red on your lips, go light on your eyes.”
What advice do you have for mothers who have young daughters wanting to wear makeup? What's the best way to approach the subject while avoiding possible preteen angst?
ME: Try to lean your daughter towards the beauty of the more natural look. If they resist, go for more nude and subtle makeup shades. They can wear some of the natural eyeshadows and bronzers without looking like clowns. Never let a preteen wear dark underliner—it’s just wrong. No one under 18 can pull it off.
What are you most looking forward to for the Beauty Buzz event?
LZ: This event is not only going to be fun, but our hope is that each person will take a way a new beauty nugget that they can use everyday. There are subtle tricks that can take me from dusk to diva and Neiman Marcus’s experts are going to share all of the latest trade secrets. Besides that, I’m excited to see moms and daughters together, but you don’t have to come with a relative. You can come with a friend, come alone, just come!
ME: I’m excited to be representing my work, Chill Frozen Yogurt, my school, and my generation who will one day be the next group of young people to take the lead raising money for great causes.