For personal beauty, Mix is hard to match

By the time we’re in our twenties and thirties we know what suits us and what doesn’t. We’ve had makeovers and we take from those experiences little tricks of the trade that enhance our “natural” beauty and conceal our flaws. Often the experience came with strong-arm sales tactics to buy products that provide vaguely recognizable benefits.   

 

However, as the clock struck 45, it came time to breathe a little new life into my look or risk sliding into outdated image denial. My look needed a lift.

 

Walking into Mix Makeup Studio, at the Shops of Hockessin Corner, was a breath of fresh air. The open studio doesn’t overwhelm you with products and decisions. Bright lighting provides the perfect atmosphere for examining and experimenting with new colors. 

 

Owner and Creative Director Natalie Ruelle believes that customer service and personalized treatment set Mix apart from the rest.  The store aim is to offer quality products that compare with big league cosmetics, at a fair price.

 

Although Mix is a new business venture, opening in October of 2008, the beauty industry isn’t new to Natalie. Over the last twenty years in the business, Natalie has turned her passion into a career. Working on both the East and West coasts as a makeup artist, buyer, and account manager for major players like Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, Chanel, and Lancôme, Natalie clearly knows her craft. 

 

Welcoming me as she would a friend, Natalie instantly put me at ease. 

 

After a brief conversation, it felt safe enough to disclose the other reason it had been so long since my last make-over -- fear of the cooties that lurk in communal samples. Many of my friends share the same concerns. They liken testers to unwashed petri dishes and the use of them equivalent to hygienic Russian roulette.

 

Before applying a single sample, the strict protocol adhered to at Mix was explained. By personally assisting each client and using disposable applicators, there’s no absolutely double dipping. Customers are welcome to try products after some quick instructions on how to maintain a safe and clean environment for themselves and others.  

 

The majority of Mix products belong to a custom line created for the store by a Chicago manufacturer. Eye shadows, blushes, and mineral powder come in deep and beautiful colors that make you want to experiment. Products and experience prepare Mix to meet the needs of all ethnic groups.  Natalie explained that a color can look very dissimilar on different individuals because of varying undertones in our skin. So, all are encouraged to experiment to find a new look.

 

During the makeover, Natalie listened to my preferences, made suggestions, and deftly began to work her magic. I fought my natural inclination to control the situation and request various shades of beige. Before applying any mascara, she handed over a mirror to check my comfort level with the amount and types of color.  

 

Her experience shows. Who would have guessed that burgundy eyeliner would make my eyes greener? The application technique used on my eyelids, completely differed from what I’d learned, actually made my deep-set eyes “open” non-surgically.  The results really were surprising, and we hadn’t even finished.

Natalie’s exclusive product is lipstick -- custom made while you wait. 

 

The process starts by selecting a color to complement your complexion using a chart of warm, cool, and neutral colors. (The Color Me Beautiful generation is familiar with this lingo.) Then you decide how deep or pale the color will be. Specifications like cream, matte, frosted, or gloss finishes can be requested. As the color evolves, you try it on. Questions such as, “Would you like the color to be deeper?” and “Is the color warm enough?” help to identify the right shade. Moisturizer, SPF of up to 15, and flavor can be added to complete the custom process. The pièce de résistance is creating a name for your signature color. Mine is Spiced Crème Brulee giving a nod to the taste of the luscious brick shade created before my eyes. 

 

Lipsticks are not limited to new creations -- Mix can reproduce any lipstick color, so, don’t give up on your favorite discontinued shade. Just bring it to Mix for the perfect match.   

 

Mix offers compacts for a multitude of color combinations. Powders are in the $20 - $25 range.

 

As an organizer who leans toward minimalism, I loved the idea of one compact to contain all my makeup. A spillover benefit is that this environmentally friendly compact allows you to pop out an old color and add a replacement, magnetically, minimizing waste and cost. 

 

Natalie often referred to keeping our skin “happy” in order to keep it youthful. By happy, she means keep it clean and properly moisturized. That’s why Mix will be launching a new range of skin care, bath and body products later this month. 

 

The final test of my new look came during lunch with my husband. Without prompting, I caught him staring at me -- in a good way. 

 

When I asked what was different, he said, “Your eyes look different. You’re lips are red. You look really nice.” Just the lift I needed.