Two things always make a Twin Cities Live segment more fun: viewer input and a game. We've got both in my latest appearance, which is all about busting beauty myths. Many of you shared myths you've heard (or believed) with me on Instagram, and I incorporated as many as possible in a little game with Elizabeth and Steve.  ​Were any of these myths something you've believe in? What other beauty rules have you picked up along the way? Let me know in the comments below!

Makeup trends are constantly shifting, though a pandemic as the catalyst is definitely a new one to me (and the rest of the beauty industry). Lipstick sales are dramatically down as masks usage is up. In this Twin Cities Live segment, I share my top tips for making your eyes pop. There are as many ways to do that as there are eyeballs in this world, so I focused on just a few of my favorites:

• Use an eyeshadow primer to make your shadow last longer and to help the colors you apply appear as vibrant as possible. 
• Have fun with color, even if you're not into intricate eyeshadow looks. My go-go lately has been to use pink, purple, blue or green shadow as liner. Shadow as liner is a softer, more diffused application which especially suits those of us over 40. 
• Curl your lashes - an obvious but super effective suggestion.
• Strike the perfect balance between long lasting but easy-to-remove mascara by choosing a water-resistant (different than waterproof) formula. 

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This sunscreen segment was the little segment that almost couldn't make it on-air. It was initially scheduled for earlier in July, but because Twin Cities Live is, as the name suggests, a live show we're subject to breaking news. Which is exactly what happened the first time we tried to make this happen. Governor Walz here in MN held a press conference that overlapped with my air time. No big deal - especially since I was joining the show live from my home.  

On the reschedule date, it happened again. Only this time, it was the President's press conference that broke in while I was mid-sentence. That was pretty funny. After realizing the conference was going to go on for a while, we decided to scrap the live segment completely and record it. So, I sat down with Twin Cities Live reporter Kelli Hanson to talk sunscreen over Skype. *Please note Gravy's fluffy butt in the background. He snoozed - once again - through the entire interview. 

Those are a few of my best sunscreen tips - especially the fact that relying on the SPF in your foundation probably isn't enough.  I'd love to hear your top sunscreen tips. Is there a product you swear by? And do you remember to reapply (I am...not great at that. I admit it).

I test a lot of products, and only a small selection of them make the cut for a Twin Cities Live segment or earn a spot in my makeup drawer. At this point, I have a good idea about what products I'm going to like and will work for me. But every once in a while, my initial judgement proves wrong. I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong. 

I should say, I don't mind admitting now when I'm wrong. When I was in my 20s and 30s, I wasn't always great about it. Especially in professional settings, I was afraid that being wrong meant I was stupid, or incompetent or (God forbid) imperfect. I've experienced a massive shift in how I perceive being wrong - there's no shame in admitting you don't know something, or in changing your mind once you get new information - and I'm a better wife, friend, employee, and all-around person for it. 

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer, price varies by retailer
I'm not sure I would have purchased this moisturizer if not for the pandemic. I'd run out of face moisturizer during the early days of Minnesota's Stay at Home order, which meant I needed to find a replacement at one of the two businesses I was making infrequent trips to: the drugstore or the grocery store.

There's something about the Olay brand...I know they have good products, backed by proven ingredients and science. BUT. I just don't get excited about their line. I don't know why! They have good stuff, but I rarely consider them for purchase. Plus, they're a drugstore brand sold at high end prices. That always trips me up.  In any case - I was getting desperate and needed to buy a moisturizer at the drugstore, so here we are. 

I chose the Micro-Sculpting cream from the Regenerist line because I liked the claims (hydrates, improves elasticity and firmness) and the ingredients ( Vitamin B3, Amino-Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid and Antioxidants). I bought a 0.5oz sample size for $11.99 to ensure the cream wouldn't inflame my reactive skin or cause any other issues before investing in a full size (1.7 oz) jar.  

I feel so petty typing this out, but the first few times I used the cream I just felt like, "Whaaaah - I don't want this!" It seemed so basic, so boring, so whatever. But that little red jar won me over. So much so that I wound up buying a full size of the fragrance-free formula. I can't say I really minded the original, fragranced version all that much (aside from the fact that I try to avoid unnecessary ingredients like fragrance in my skincare, in general) - the scent is a light fresh/floral that's kind of nice.  I really appreciate having a fragrance-free option, though. 

What won me over?

• It's a true workhorse formula - I wear it day and night
• It leaves a pleasant, velvety feeling to the skin and layers well under makeup
• It works well with the marula oil I frequently layer over moisturizers at night when my cheeks are extra dry
• My skin feels smooth and hydrated, 24/7

Glossier Stretch Concealer, $18
I bought the Stretch Concealer at the Glossier store during a work trip to New York in February, and it was the one product I knew I wanted and was going to love before I set foot in the store. I'd read tons of reviews and watched a lot of fellow beauty enthusiasts on YouTube rave about it. So that was a no-brainer purchase. 

Everything about this concealer sounded perfect to me. The claims were that the product was a buildable concealer that could handle everything on your face - dark circles, blemishes, redness - and do it with a natural, glowy finish.  Also, there was an interesting claim that said it was formulated with "elastic micro waxes" that move with the skin instead of caking on top of it. My dry, 40-year old face thought,"Uhm, yep. That's what I'm looking for!"

When I actually put the concealer on, initially, it was a total bust. I'm pretty sure cursing was involved. Under my eyes, the luminous formula accentuated my puffiness and the slid all over the place. I couldn't bring myself to powder under the eyes, so that was a loss.  I tapped the concealer into the skin with my fingers to tone down redness on my chin, cheeks and nose, then set it all with a setting powder. My face was greasy as hell within minutes. I could feel the product just sitting there. It was baffling. I chucked the jar in the back of my makeup drawer and silently seethed every time I dug past it for something else. Until...well, until I got tired of moving it around the drawer and decided, "ONE more time. I will try this thing ONE more time and then it's finding a new home." And suddenly, I really freaking liked it. 

What was different?

• I still didn't use it under my eyes, but switched up how I applied it to my face 
• I patted the product onto my red spots, then blended with a small face brush (rather than tapping in with my fingers)
• I set it with powder foundation instead of basic setting powder
• Suddenly, it wore well and my skin looked glowy and natural and nice

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Face Mask, $3.49
This one is going to surprise anyone who's watched a recent TCL segment or stood behind me in line at the drugstore, because I have very publicly proclaimed my love for this sheet mask. It's wonderful in so many ways: comes in two pieces to ensure a great fit, feels cooling the second it hits the skin, leaves my face feeling hydrated and plump and amazing. I love this mask. Except,I'm not really into sheet masks right now. 

Between the environmental factor (so.much.packaging) and just a general shift in preference away from the sheet application, I'm setting this one aside in favor of the Hydro Boost Overnight Gel Mask. It provides the same benefits with way less packaging. And I just prefer the feeling of a light gel on my face rather than trying to keep a sheet mask from sliding around. Call me fickle, that's OK. But for now, I'm trading the sheet for the gel. 

There you have it: three products I've changed my mind about. What have you changed your mind about, lately? Let me know in the comments. 

​Oh, you might also like Products I've Used Up.

As we're all adjusting to wearing masks, there are a few considerations I've found myself up against.

• One: Did I remember to grab my mask?? (I now have a car mask and a purse mask, so I'm never without).
  
• Two: How the hell can I keep makeup on my face instead of on the back of my mask?? (Ew). 

I did some Internet research and some product testing to figure out which formulas and application methods will do the trick, then took it all to Twin Cities Live to share.  See if you catch me waving a pen around in the segment. Why am I doing that?  Not sure. Presumably it's a hazard of shooting the show from my guest room/office area. Next time, I'll be sure to keep all pens and other office supplies out of reach. 

How have you adapted your makeup routine to work well under a mask? I'd love to hear your favorite products and tips!

I was scheduled to appear live in-studio on Twin Cities Live, but the TV station wisely made the decision to not allow guests in the building right now.  So the TCL team and guests are getting creative to find ways to bring viewers fresh, fun, relevant content in a way that honors what we collectively are doing to flatten the Coronavirus curve with social distancing and self-isolation.  Here's what we came up with!

I shot three short clips in my home, offering up my personal picks for a hand cream that will soothe dry, chapped hands after all the extra washing/sanitizing we're doing; an at-home hand mask that you probably did back in 6th grade but whatever, we're going for entertainment here; and an affordable, accessible bubble bath that has become part of my own daily self-care ritual. 

In today's Twin Cities Live segment, we're talking all things beauty masks. We go into everything from the dark side of masking (ahem, the environment) and discuss what to look for on the ingredients list to determine whether a mask is actually worthwhile. I share a few of my favorites, Steve tries to pocket one of the stranger masks...there's a lot going on!  I'd love to know what you think about masking - is it a regular part of your beauty routine? Something you do on special occasions or a complete pass? 

Chances are pretty good that if you have a beauty question, someone else has the same one, too. That's why I pulled together a collection of the most common questions I'm asked about beauty issues and shared them in today's Twin Cities Live segment. We cover everything from whyyyyy are you lips still chapped after constantly applying lip balm (including my absolute, holy grail lip treatment), how to add life to dull hair in just 8 seconds, and how to keep a curl in stubbornly straight lashes. 

One of my absolute favorite segments to put together for Twin Cities Live viewers are "get it or forget it" roundups. It's fun to give my take on products with the hopes of you saving money on something not great or snapping up something fantastic. It's also fun to get a little opinionated! I also love hearing what Steve and Elizabeth think of the products we're talking about. This was a particularly festive take on the topic, with my picks for beauty sets to Gift or Forget. 

One of my favorite part of creating beauty segments for Twin Cities Live is coming up with easy solutions to common beauty problems, and sharing them with viewers. This week, we tackle everything from how to transition into a retinol product (no peeling and redness!) to creating a DYI cuticle oil pen to combat dry nails; we talk about my favorite product for covering roots between salon visits, and the brightening power of honey. It was a fun segment that included (of all things!) hugging a bear.