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How to Get Real Dewy Skin (Not the Greasy Kind)
Dewy skin is trending hard right now. And for good reason: it makes you look younger, healthier, and more awake. But here's where people get confused: dewy doesn't mean greasy. Greasy skin looks oily and uncomfortable. Dewy skin looks nourished and radiant. One is a problem. The other is the goal. Step 1: Fix Your Skincare First You cannot achieve real dewy skin with bad skincare underneath. The glow has to come from within. Start with hydration Dewy skin is hydrated skin. Th

Shara Strand
6 days ago3 min read


Brow Lamination 101: Your Complete Guide to the Easiest Brow Service
If you've heard about brow lamination but aren't sure what it is, here's the short version: it's a 20-minute service that makes your eyebrows look fuller, more defined, and perfectly groomed for 6-8 weeks. No daily maintenance. No filling in. No fussing. Just waking up with perfect brows. Let me explain how, why it works, and whether it's right for you. What Is Brow Lamination? Brow lamination is a semi-permanent treatment that sets your brow hairs in an upright position, mak

Shara Strand
Oct 73 min read


Why Cream Products Are Better Than You Think: The Fall Beauty Switch
If you've been doing the same powder makeup routine for years, there's something you're missing. I'm not saying powder is bad. I'm saying cream products are better—especially in fall and winter when your skin is drier and you want makeup that actually lasts. Let me show you why. The Problem with Powder in Fall Here's what happens with powder in the fall and winter: Your skin is drier. Powder products can sit on top of that dryness and look chalky or patchy. They settle into f

Shara Strand
Sep 303 min read


Which Fall Skincare Treatment Is Right for You? A Professional's Guide
Every September, I get the same question over and over: "What treatment should I book?" People know they want to invest in their skin heading into fall. They know professional treatments work. But they're not sure which one is right for them. The honest answer? It depends on what your skin actually needs right now. Let me walk you through each treatment—what it does, who it's for, and how often you should get it—so you can pick what actually makes sense for your specific skin

Shara Strand
Sep 213 min read


Turn Your Skincare Into a Ritual, Not a Chore: The Self-Care Shift That Changes Everything
Here's something I've noticed after working with hundreds of clients: the ones who have the best skin aren't always the ones with the most expensive products. They're the ones who actually enjoy their skincare routine. Not tolerate it. Not rush through it. Actually enjoy it. Because when skincare becomes something you look forward to instead of something on your to-do list, everything changes. You're more consistent. You're more intentional. Your skin actually improves faster

Shara Strand
Sep 174 min read


Why Consistency Matters More Than the Perfect Products
I get asked constantly: "What's the best serum?" "Which moisturizer should I use?" "Is this foundation better than that one?" And here's the truth I've learned after 15+ years in this business: the product matters way less than you think. What actually transforms your skin isn't finding the perfect product. It's showing up, day after day, with something good enough. Consistency beats perfection every single time. The Perfect Product Trap Let me paint a picture because I know

Shara Strand
Sep 114 min read


The 5-Minute Morning Beauty Routine for Busy Moms: Look Polished Without the Fuss
If you're a mom, you know the morning rush. Kids need breakfast, backpacks need packing, and somehow you're supposed to look like you have it together before 8:30 AM. The problem? Most beauty routines take 15-20 minutes. Who has that kind of time when you're trying to get three people out the door? Here's what I tell my busy mom clients: you don't need a complicated routine. You need a smart routine - one that works with your life, not against it. After 15+ years of working w

Shara Strand
Aug 244 min read


Post-Summer Skincare Routine: The 5-Step Recovery Plan Your Skin Needs
Here's what I tell clients who come in with damaged summer skin: professional treatments are essential, but you can't skip the at-home work. A microneedling facial will jumpstart collagen production. A derma-planing will remove dead skin. A professional facial will hydrate and rebalance. But then you go home, and what? If your at-home routine isn't supporting that repair, you're wasting the professional treatments. After 15+ years of treating summer-damaged skin, I've figured

Shara Strand
Aug 173 min read


Summer Skin Damage Recovery: Professional Treatments That Actually Work
By late August, your skin is probably telling you something: it's tired. Two months of sun, heat, humidity, chlorine, saltwater, and air conditioning takes a toll. You might notice fine lines you didn't see in June. Dark spots. Texture changes. A dullness that no amount of hydrating serum seems to fix. Here's the thing that catches people off guard: you can't fix summer skin damage with at-home skincare alone. Don't get me wrong - good skincare is essential. But if you actual

Shara Strand
Aug 115 min read


How to Choose the Right Concealer for Your Skin Type: A Makeup Artist's Guide
Concealer is the most transformative product in your makeup bag. It can hide what you want hidden, brighten what needs brightening, and literally change how your entire face looks. But only if you're using the right one. The number one mistake I see? People using the wrong concealer for their skin type. A concealer that works beautifully on one person can look patchy, cakey, or greasy on another. It's not about the product being bad—it's about matching the formula to your ski

Shara Strand
Aug 46 min read


How to Wear Makeup in Humidity: Summer Makeup Tips That Actually Stay Put
If you've ever spent five minutes getting your makeup perfect only to have it melting off your face by the time you step outside in NYC summer heat, you're not alone. Humidity is makeup's worst enemy, and as someone who's been doing makeup in Manhattan for over 15 years, I've learned every trick to keep it from falling apart. The good news? It's not about finding better willpower or staying inside. It's about working with humidity instead of against it.Let me walk you through

Shara Strand
Jul 275 min read


Permanent Eyeliner in NYC: Everything You Need to Know Before You Book
If you’ve been curious about permanent eyeliner but aren’t sure where to start, this post is for you. I get questions about it constantly — at the studio, in DMs, from clients who have been thinking about it for years but haven’t pulled the trigger. So today I’m walking through everything: what permanent eyeliner actually is, who it’s best suited for, what the process looks like, and how to know if you’re ready. Spoiler: if you wear eyeliner every single day, you’re probably

Shara Strand
Jul 204 min read


So You Want to Be a Makeup Artist in New York City? Here’s How to Actually Get There.
Fall is almost here — and with it comes that familiar feeling of wanting to start something new. If you’ve been thinking about turning your passion for beauty into a real career, or you’re already working as a makeup artist and want to seriously level up, I want to talk to you today. I’ve spent 15+ years building my career as a makeup artist in New York City. I’ve worked with celebrities, brides, editorial clients, and everyone in between. I’ve made every mistake you can make

Shara Strand
Jul 143 min read


Effortless Summer Beauty: The Brow Shortcut (and the Habits That Actually Matter)
Summer doesn’t need to mean more steps in your routine. It needs fewer — just the right ones. Here are the two things I tell every client to prioritize this season: handling your brows once, and getting back to the basics that actually move the needle on your skin. Your Brows: The Ultimate Summer Shortcut Imagine waking up every single day this summer with brows that are already shaped, tinted, and ready to go. No pencil, no gel, no five-minute routine before you walk out the

Shara Strand
Jul 72 min read


The One Summer Facial Worth Booking: Microneedling at Shara Makeup Studio
If your summer calendar looks anything like mine — weddings, vacations, events, barely a free weekend in sight — you don’t have time to fuss over an elaborate beauty routine. You need your skin to do the heavy lifting for you. That’s exactly why I’m so excited to introduce a new service at the studio: the Microneedling Facial. What Microneedling Actually Does Microneedling triggers your skin’s natural healing response. Tiny, controlled punctures stimulate collagen production,

Shara Strand
Jul 22 min read


Glow Up: The Summer Skin Treatments Worth Booking Before Your Big Plans
Here’s something I tell every client who books with me before a summer event: the work you do on your skin in the weeks leading up to it matters more than any product you apply on the day. Your makeup can only look as good as the skin underneath it. Summer is full of moments worth showing up for — weddings, rooftop parties, weekend trips, family photos. This is your sign to book the treatments, do the routine, and arrive glowing. Start with Exfoliation Dull, flaky skin is a w

Shara Strand
Jun 253 min read


The Minimalist Summer Makeup Bag: What a NYC Makeup Artist Actually Packs
Summer is my favorite time to edit. Not just your wardrobe — your makeup bag. The heat means heavy products work against you, and the lifestyle of summer — travel, outdoor events, long days that turn into late nights — means you need things that are versatile, portable, and actually reliable. After 15+ years as a makeup artist in New York City, summer is when I see clients really benefit from stripping back to what matters. Here’s what I’d put in the ideal minimalist summer b

Shara Strand
Jun 82 min read


Beat the Heat: How to Make Your Makeup Last All Day in NYC Summer Humidity
If you’ve ever left your apartment looking flawless and arrived at work looking like you’ve been outside for three hours — welcome to a New York City summer. The combination of heat, humidity, and a subway commute is genuinely challenging for your makeup. But it’s not unbeatable. This is one of the most common topics that comes up in makeup lessons in New York at our Manhattan studio. My clients want to know how to actually keep their makeup on, not just look good for the fir

Shara Strand
Jun 13 min read


Wedding Season Survival Guide: Bridal Makeup Tips from a NYC Makeup Artist
May and June are the busiest months at our Manhattan studio — and it’s no coincidence. Wedding season is here, and as one of New York City’s most trusted bridal makeup artists, I want to make sure every bride (and every member of her wedding party) walks into that ceremony feeling completely prepared. Whether you’re getting married in a candlelit ballroom or a sun-drenched rooftop garden, summer weddings come with their own set of beauty challenges. Heat, humidity, hours on y

Shara Strand
May 283 min read


The One Product You Can’t Skip This Summer, According to a NYC Makeup Artist
Every summer, the number one skin mistake I see — after 15+ years as a makeup artist in New York City — is the same one: skipping SPF. And not just on beach days. Every single day. I get it. SPF has a reputation for being greasy, pore-clogging, or impossible to layer under makeup without looking like a ghost. But that was the old formula. Mineral sunscreen has come a long way, and if you’re not wearing it this summer, you’re skipping the most important step in your whole rout

Shara Strand
May 182 min read
The Studio Edit Blog
By Shara Strand
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