Beauty Must-Haves

Darcy Manning of DarcyMMMakeup Artistry and Brittney Robbins of Gramercy Hair Studio.

Darcy & Brittney’s Favorite Tools, Products, Services

The beauty industry is much like the tech industry with rapid changes and new products or upgrades launched almost daily. What should you actually invest in? Where do you get the most bang for your buck? What is hype and what will truly help you achieve your beauty goals? Layer in social media influencers and our spending decisions are even more clouded.

Fighting through the cluttered beauty marketplace can sometimes be overwhelming, so we are sharing some of our favorite things. Beauty tools, products, and services that have made our hearts sing and our wallets happy because we are no longer throwing away our money on things that just do not work.

Here is what is on our radar at the moment:

Darcy’s Picks

(Lash curler, photo by DarcyMM Makeup Artistry)

Tool: The lash curler is such an overlooked tool. Anyone that uses mascara should start by first curling their lashes. The DARCYMM #curlpower Lash Curler ($20) will curl even the most stubborn lashes in seconds. This tool is the most inexpensive way to make lashes look instantly longer. Eyes will look more feminine, awake, and open when lashes are curled. Lash curlers are especially great for tweens just getting into makeup because those with dark lashes can often skip the mascara altogether when using this tool.

Pro tip: Always use the curler before mascara so you don’t accidentally pull out those precious lashes!

(Photo by Sahara Rose Skincare)

Product: I love the look and feel of a high-quality face oil. It gives the skin such a healthy, luminous, luxurious glow. Sahara Rose Divine Beauty Serum ($56) is my favorite, especially on dry or mature skin. It is formulated here in Brevard County by a local esthetician focused on offering natural skincare packed with nourishing antioxidant ingredients derived from the earth such as pomegranate, prickly pear, argan oil, and jojoba oil.

Pro tip: If you have super dry skin try adding a couple drops of face oil to your foundation for extra spreadability. 

(Emi Grissom of Japanese Aesthetics. Photo by Japanese Aesthetics)

Service: Facial asymmetry is more common than you might think. Most of my clients, myself included, have one eyebrow that sits higher on the face, a nose slightly askew, or one eye slightly smaller. If you have a favorite side when being photographed or one side of the face you like more than the other, this service is for you!

A non-surgical realignment facial by Emi Grissom of Japanese Aesthetics ($150) is your answer to looking more beautiful and balanced. Emi combines her more than 20 years of Eastern aesthetics training with Western practices to offer a facial experience like no other. Faces are sculpted, lifted, and balanced through her skilled hands; no surgery, needles, or harsh chemicals needed.

Pro tip: Before you head to your injector or go under the knife, give this a try!

(Japanese Aesthetics before/after showing symmetrical alignment)

Brittney’s Picks

Tool: A long barrel curling iron can transform your hair from drab to fab! There is more versatility than meets the eye with the  Bio Ionic 1.25” Long Barrel Curling Iron ($149). This tool gives hair long lasting smooth curls or waves. Adjustable temperature settings for all hair types and a longer barrel makes it super easy to work with.

(BioIonic Curl Iron)

With nearly 2” of extra length on this iron, it is easy to wrap subsections of hair around the outer barrel for a softer wave, or open the  spring load at the handle to roll your strands within the barrel for stronger tighter ringlets.

Pro Tip: Allow the freshly curled hair to completely cool, then comb through with a wide tooth comb to break up ringlets and reveal bouncy soft textured hair. Spray with a finishing texture spray for added hold. 

Product: My go-to hair product for all hair types and textures is the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil ($30). This alcohol free vegan lightweight oil is worth its weight in gold! Hair is repaired and protected from blow dryers and hot tools up to 450°. There is  absolutely no residue or frizz left behind! My favorite thing about this hair product is just how user friendly it is. Simply apply a few droplets into the palm of your hand and work through the mids length and ends of your hair. Comb or brush through to evenly distribute.

This magical oil can be used on wet hair before styling, as well as applied to dry hair for added shine and control over flyaways. This is by far the most loved and purchased product by guests at Gramercy Hair Studio.

Pro Tip: Apply Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil throughout hair on beach days to protect  hair from UV sun rays. YES, just like our skin, hair can get sunburned, too.

(Elisha Luther, photo by AR Aesthetics)

Service: Aging is inevitable, however I will continue to do everything I can to prevent that from showing up on my face. Along with a good skin care regimen and SPF, I am a huge fan of quarterly facial rejuvenation with non surgical injections. Elisia Luther (@injector_elisia) is a board certified physicians assistant who specializes in aesthetic medicine at AR Aesthetics in Melbourne, FL.

There is more to injectables than the aesthetic benefit. While muscle relaxing injectables such as Botox and Dysport help relax muscles to prevent wrinkles, they can also be used to treat muscle pain, reduce excess sweating and help with migraine relief. Dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane work by boosting your skin’s supply of hyaluronic acid, thus restoring volume, smoothing out lines, and softening the appearance of scars. Subtle enhancements make the biggest impact to make you look and feel your best.

Pro Tip: Schedule a consultation first to discuss concerns and construct a customizable treatment plan to achieve individual beauty goals.  

Give these must-have items a try and let us know what you think. Post your favorite beauty product or tool and tag us on Instagram at @makeupbydarcymm and @Brittneyrobbinshair. Support local business because there are so many hidden gems within our own community.

Meet Our Thought Leaders

Brittney Robbins relocated to Brevard County in 2021 after spending the last 18 years in New York City. Her expertise in hair color led her to an expansive career in education for Estee Lauder. She is published for styling and has participated in multiple shows for New York Fashion Week. 

GRAMERCY HAIR STUDIO
Instagram: @Brittneyrobbinshair
Facebook: /Brittneyrobbinshair
917-524-6909
brittneyrobbinshair.com

Darcy Manning enjoyed a nearly 20-year career in public relations in California and Hawaii before becoming a professional makeup artist in 2016. Makeup artistry is a childhood dream come true for Darcy, whose primary services focus on the bridal industry and private makeup lessons. 

DARCYMM MAKEUP ARTISTRY

Instagram: @makeupbydarcymm   
Facebook: /makeupbydarcymm
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