Makeup, playing with colors and undivided attention are three of my favorite things. So naturally, I was in heaven the second I walked up to the GIELLA custom blend cosmetics counter at Henri Bendel in New York City. At first glance, the GIELLA cosmetics counter didn’t seem much different than any other run of the mill department store counter. But slowly, clues, such as beakers and test tubes, hinted at just how unique GIELLA cosmetics really is.

GIELLA also offers an array of pre-made products

A custom blend cosmetics company, GIELLA cosmetics was founded seven years ago by Giella Poblocki on the belief that “each of us should be able to optimize our appearance using our natural features and colors. Skin, eyes and hair combine to create a basic palette on which we can create the image we desire.” Not only does GIELLA offer custom makeup (for face, cheeks, eyes, lips), skin care, and match discontinued colors, but they are the only company that creates custom nail polish and (eye and lip) pencils while you wait.

Giella herself makes makeup magic  

Anne and I were fortunate enough to talk with Giella and experience the one-of-a-kind process. Giella expertly mixed, concocted and developed a custom lip-gloss and eyeliner for me and a custom nail polish and foundation for Anne. By simply looking at our faces and listening to our sad attempts to describe what we like/dislike (“I like things that are brown, but not too brown, maybe a little less silver, but not so much brown”), Giella was able to create the perfect shades for us.

So how does it work?

Each product starts out in a test tube with a base. The test tube is put in a heater and then three different kinds of ingredients are added:

• Nose (essential oils)
• Garnish (gold, white, red, bronze shimmer)
• Mixers (kukui, grapeseed, vitamin E oil, soy butter, etc.)

Once mixed properly, the newly-created makeup is poured into its appropriate container and voila! Your own custom color makeup to make all the other girls green with envy.

Kristin admires her one-of-a-kind lip gloss  

By the end of our visit, Anne and I were giddy with the fact that we had special makeup that NO ONE else would own. Who wouldn’t want their own custom blended makeup…right? Glad you all agree!

And to those of you who can’t make it to Bendel’s in NYC, no need to fear. GIELLA offers an online process to make the perfect custom blend just for you.  Learn more about GIELLA custom blend cosmetics and buy products at http://www.giella.com/.

Stay tuned for a contest giveaway beginning June 22. You can win the chance to create you own custom color makeup from GIELLA!

Photos courtesy of www.BeautyXpose.com