For nearly 25 years, Westchester women have enjoyed the expertise of one of the world’s most renowned makeup artists, Patricia Margro, at her staple beauty boutique, Maison Rouge in Bronxville. Having traveled the globe representing the Laura Mercier brand and knowing the ins and outs of beauty industry trends, she prides herself on “developing a precise color sense in adapting makeup onto the skin for a natural glow.” Margro is especially known for taking a woman’s best features and natural look and enhancing her appearance so that it exudes a sexy and flawless yet natural sensuality.
While Margro has loved working on icons like Sarah Jessica Parker, Miranda Kerr, and Serena and Venus Williams in the past, this beauty aficionado and brow guru says, “I started Maison Rouge for the sanity of the everyday woman. I knew that women were going into certain stores and being sold products they didn’t need simply because the salesperson was hoping to make a higher commission.” Margro shares that it’s always been imperative to ”figure out what works for each specific client, and I knew opening my own stores where I could truly focus on each individual would create an elevated beauty experience for anyone and everyone who walked through the door. Plus, I’ve always had a special talent for bringing out natural beauty and ensuring women aren’t layered in makeup when they walk out of my doors, which is something most women truly appreciate.”
When visitors come to her store, Margro conducts an assessment oftentimes starting with the eyebrows, followed by the quality of the skin, and then she takes it from there! “I love to do eyebrow planning where I take a small razor and remove all of the fine little hairs around the brow and face to make skin smooth. Some clients are hesitant because they’re afraid the hair will grow back thicker, but that’s a myth,” she says. Then, they move on to beauty products of the highest quality with offerings from luxury brands including Kevin Aucoin, Surratt Beauty, BY TERRY, and Le Métier de Beaute alongside gorgeous accessories from rare-to-find lines from Italy, France, and other European countries.
Looking ahead to 2025, Margro says that hi-glow, heavy contouring, and shine are out, and a natural glow is in. “Forget the heavy eyebrows, and overall, go with a look that is soft and natural with a lot of blush for a sophisticated, clean finish,” she suggests. “A makeup booking with me can run up to $200, and a bit less with one of my on-site artists,” she adds.
If an at-home facelift is more your speed, Megan O’Brien says to consider shapewear for your face – no needles required. The Founder and CEO of RingMyBelle.com says it’s very possible right at home in Westchester – at least a temporary one, that is. “Our certified face-taping pros will take a minimum of 15 years off the face by applying medical-grade tape near the hairline and jawlines. The tapes are attached to bands that wrap around the back of the head. The skin is pulled taut and fine lines and creases are seemingly erased. This miraculous 30-minute technique has been a Hollywood secret for decades and is now available in the privacy of your own home,” says O’Brien. “We do a lot of mothers of the brides who are seeking that Hollywood-glam look. Every star is doing the tape facelift – Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, and others because they want to lift any sagging and erase jowls, and it gives you the face of a teenager. It’s like walking around with an Instagram filter on your face,” she adds.
In addition, her company offers hair, makeup, and tanning at clients’ homes. She decided to create the popular on-demand beauty company because she felt like “on-demand services exist in big cities like New York and Los Angeles and who wouldn’t love to have someone come to their home to make them feel their best? Every woman in every city and every town has a red-carpet moment whether it’s a hot date or bar mitzvah, or doesn’t feel like doing her hair. I wanted to make this experience that is typically reserved for celebrities available to everyone, especially here in Westchester,” she says. Unfortunately for the industry, during the Hollywood strike of 2023, many big-time makeup artists were finding it hard to book work even though some had Emmys and Oscars under their belts. To help pass the time and pay the bills, many of them connected with RingMyBelle.com which was a win-win for them and Westchester residents who could enjoy the services and skills of artists who have helped household names like Kelly Clarkson, Bravo Housewives Luann de Lesseps, Cynthia Bailey, and Meredith Marks, as well as Billy Porter, turn heads at more affordable rates than are paid by the A-list actors and actresses we see on TV and film.
“What’s really exciting for Westchester women is that a lot of our talent is coming from Manhattan, so you’re getting high-level expertise without the day-rate fees which can cost hundreds of dollars,” O’Brien says. She adds that all of RingMyBelle.com’s stylists are background-checked and have to audition their talents to sign on board with the company. If you’re looking to get pretty, all you have to do is go to the website or download the app, and everything is included in the price – what you see is what you get, minus any parking fees the stylist has to pay, based on where you live or send them for the job. Clients can expect to pay $89 for a blowout and up to $149 for makeup. “Just show up with a fresh, clean face and damp hair with a towel, and you’ll be good to go,” says O’Brien.