Archive for the ‘hair&beauty’ Category

Smart Cover works some serious camo action

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Everyone likes to show off a little skin in the summertime. After all, we didn’t spend those months beforehand training to get that perfect beach bod for nothing! But for those still slightly anxious about any unwanted marks or imperfections nature’s dealt them, no need to sport that cover up over your new bikini 24/7 anymore. All you need is Smart Cover, a New Jersey-based cosmetics company that’s come up with the perfect secret weapon for camouflaging anything on your face and body, from acne and age spots to blotches and blemishes, with everything in between, like wrinkles, dark eye circles, and even tattoos!

Dermatologist and allergy-tested, waterproof, smudge-resistant and fragrance free, Smart Cover’s concealing crème goes on smoothly and blends easily for light touch-ups or complete opaque coverage in a range of natural skin tones to make sure you look just as flawless as the stars walking the red carpet. In fact, it’s a staple in many Hollywood makeup artists’ kits for use on the hottest celebs on and off screen (think tatted-up leading ladies like Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox or picture-perfect Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts). This revolutionary makeup is recommended by dermatologists and plastic surgeons around the world, and for just $29.75, it’s available in a ten-piece Smart Cover-Up Kit that includes several shades of light to dark concealing crème, color corrector to neutralize deep pigments first, moisture primer lotion, a vitamin beauty stick, a cover stick, blending sponges, a camouflage brush and a travel case, all to make it super-easy for all you on-the-go gals looking for a quick way to cover anything serious or small and have it last all day. So whether you’re looking to hide your new tattoo at a job interview or just want to flaunt clear, blotch-free skin for a fun day at the beach, Smart Cover’s got you, well, covered!

Quick and easy TRESemmé summer styles

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Models at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim looked stunningly sizzling as they showcased new collections from Mara Hoffman and CIA.MARITIMA in Miami this past weekend, and a lot of that credit goes to all those TRESemmé stylists backstage. Lucky for us, getting those hot hairstyles really isn’t so difficult to do yourself, thanks to TRESemmé’s Styling Team. So if you’re on the lookout for a cute summer hairstyle, here’s TRESemmé Lead Stylist Elsa Canedo’s quick DIY tutorial on how to create a hot-off-the-runway look perfect for a trip to the beach this summer!

To create a textured fishtail braid for the mesmerizing mermaid in you:

Step 1: Apply TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse to damp hair and blow dry to create a beachy texture at the base of the braid.

Step 2: Curl your hair with a ½ “ curling iron and pin it in place. Set the curls with TRESemmé Naturals Finishing Spray.

Step 3: Once your curls are cool, take out the pins. Flip your hair over and use your fingers to gently break up the curls for more texture.

Step 4: Beginning at the nape of your neck, fishtail braid your hair down the back. How do you create a fishtail braid? Simply start off by sectioning your hair into two. Take a skinny strand from the outside of the left side and add it to the right side. Then add a skinny strand from the right side to the left side. Pull tightly and repeat until you reach the end of the braid and secure with a hair tie.

Step 5: With a styling brush, brush the braid upwards, loosening up random bits of hair for a more natural, beach-inspired look.

Or, just follow three short steps if you’re just interested in a simple beach blow out:

Step 1: Apply TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray to damp hair and blow dry straight.

Step 2: Spray TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo lightly on your hair to absorb any excess oil.

Step 3: Add a small drop of TRESemmé Anti-Frizz Secret Smoothing Crème onto your palms and apply to the ends and roots to tame those tricky flyaways.

Now just grab your beach bag, lather on some sunscreen and head to the waters for some fun in the sun!

Fashion and Beauty Trends from the Twilight Eclipse Premiere

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Late yesterday afternoon I headed downtown to L.A. Live for the Twilight Saga: Eclipse premiere. While I didn’t wear earplugs, I easily could’ve and still heard the screaming fans, but then I couldn’t have interviewed Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Ron Artest very easily. That’s right, the Laker was there (as were non-Twilighters Alex Rodriguez, Evan Lysacek and Sarah’s favorite Greyson Chance).

Aside from chatting with the actors and actresses, I wanted to see the fashion and the beauty–because you don’t get a carpet (this one was black rather than red) full of such pretty young things this often! Here were the major fashion and beauty trends from the Eclipse black carpet:

SHORT. And I mean short. Elizabeth Reaser’s Zuhair Murad dress barely fell below her toosh. Kristen Stewart also went short in one-sleeve Elie Saab (and looked fantastic). Model Marissa Miller showed some leg in a custom-made Anna Sui dress, and it was all about short Marchesa for Julia Jones, Nikki Reed and Anna Kendrick.

BEST DRESSED It was a toss up between Julia Jones (in Marchesa) and Bryce Dallas Howard (in Dior). Julia said, “I chose the dress for the color and the cut. It’s like wearing art.” And Bryce explained her choice, “It’s summer and I wanted to wear something that was like lemonade.”

LIPS Bryce also made a statement with her bright fuchsia lips that looked amazing with her pale skin and red hair and made her eyes pop that much more. Jennie Garth went for a bold orange-y red lip. But the rest were very neutral: Nikki Reed wore a soft pink, Anna Kendrick, Lilly Collins, Ashley Greene and AnnaLynne McCord all went with nude lips.

BLACK Between the Kardashians all in black, Elizabeth Reaser, Christian Serratos (who plays Angela) in one-of-a-kind Dolce & Gabbana, it was black on the black carpet. Who wasn’t in black? Robert Pattinson, who said he wanted to mix it up by wearing a rust colored suit.

PLATFORMS Everyone was in closed-toe platforms, usually in the form of Christian Louboutins. Kristen Stewart told me hers were killing her and she wasn’t sure how long she could make it in them.

FAUX PAS. My two “what were they thinking” awards go to Evan Lysacek, who wore WAY too much bling for one man (watch, diamond ring, lapel, necklace) and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who wore rainbow-colored strands in her hair. J-Love: you are 31 years old. Enough.

See the images here.

Sebastian “Shaper” Celebrates 25 years

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

So Wednesday night I walked the streets of New York City… in the middle of Los Angeles. That’s right, I attended a chic, exuberant event staged on the NYC set on the Paramount Studios Lot that was held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Shaper Hairspray by Sebastian. A fierce, ultra-firm finishing hairspray, this is the hairspray that achieves the impossible updos seen on the likes of Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

Walking down the lit streets of New York apartments, I suddenly realized I was dressed like the quintesential Californian girl: a bright blue tank, Paige Premium jeans and messy surfer hair. Everyone else was in black with slick hairstyles. Models with sculpted, futuristic tresses walked the lot chatting and posing in seriously killer boots.  And yet, I didn’t feel out of place. Maybe that was due to the veggie burgers and the complete lack of smoking (or maybe it was the black martini I was handed immediately upon entering…). Either way, much mingling was happening. A large stage was set up with several stations where you could literally watch these stunning hair creations come to life on the models. Stunned, I watched a skilled stylist de-frizz and disentangle one model only to recreate another gravity-defying coiffure. But that wasn’t all there was to see, there was Johnne Perez (a sculptor) and Food One (aka Jim Mahfood, a muralist and live art rocker,) as well as acrobats, projections, a live modeling shoot and music.

As I sat on a stoop, my black martini on the step next to me with all the sugar licked off its rim, I really got the vibe of Sebastian: chic, upbeat and social. And then that wonderful salon-smell of hairspray hit me. You know that smell which makes you loathe to wash your hair after a professional cut? And then, I really started to wish it was my hair being twisted, teased and braided into a bouffant Marge Simpson would approve of.

All in all, the Paramount water tower looming in the background only served to remind us what a fabulous and elaborate production this was. Appropriate for a fabulous and elaborate hairstyle that would call for a product like Shaper, made by a man like Sebastian. To quote Johnne Perez, this was “quite the surprise, quite the party.”

Elizabeth Arden and Catherine Zeta-Jones at the Tony Awards!

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

At last Sunday’s Tony Awards, Catherine Zeta-Jones looked exactly as a Best Leading Actress in a Musical should: truly show-stopping. It’s no surprise, since she had all that’s needed for a stunning red carpet look: a beautiful Versace gown and makeup done by celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips.

Mary’s makeup of choice? Elizabeth Arden products, of course! After  all, Catherine is the beauty brand’s leading spokesperson.

To create that smoky eye effect, Mary applied Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Eyeshadow Duo in Black Currant and Color Intrigue Eyeshadow Duo in Peacock from lid to brow. Then, for a pink glow on Catherine’s cheeks, Mary used Ceramide Cream Blush in Pink.

As Catherine finished her thank you speech, all eyes were on her lips, which looked soft and natural, thanks to her Ceramide Plump Perfect Lipstick in Perfect Blossom. And to top off the look with a dramatic touch, Mary coated Catherine’s lashes with Double Density Maximum Volume Mascara in Black.

Those other nominees didn’t stand a chance!

Kate Bosworth in CHANEL Beauté

Monday, June 14th, 2010

As a surfer in Blue Crush (I know, flashback to ‘02), Kate Bosworth had the perfect, sun-kissed glow all of us ladies wish for, especially in the summer months. But that look isn’t just created by movie magic. Here’s how CHANEL celebrity makeup artist Kate Lee gave Ms. Bosworth that same radiance at the season premiere of True Blood last Tuesday.

“The base was minimal, Kate was tanned and so I prepped the skin with CHANEL Hydramax + Active Serum to make sure she was very hydrated, and a tiny wisp of CHANEL Vitalumiere Fluid Makeup was enough to bring the skin tone to match the chest and body,” said Kate Lee. “Across the bridge of the nose, top of the cheek bones, and around the hairline, I used CHANEL Soleil Tan de Chanel in Terre Ambre to bring the focus to the center of the face.”

And for a truly eye-catching red carpet photo? “On the lids I used matte peach shadow to pop the colors of Kate’s amazing eyes,” Lee said. “We decided to give a gentle nod to the 60’s influenced hair by drawing a very thin sharp black line next to the lashes with CHANEL Automatic Liquid Eyeliner in Noir, extending out past the end of the lash line to open the outer corners of the eye. Lashes were coated twice with CHANEL Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir (available in September), and bottom lashes were left naked. To open the eye further, I swept the new nude CHANEL Intense Eye Pencil in Clair (available in July) inside the lower eyelid. I worked to elongate and define the brows with a liquid brow pen by Anastasia.”

To complete the look, Lee used CHANEL Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Secret for Bosworth’s lips and CHANEL Powder Blush in Rose Temptation, out in July, on her cheeks.

So go on and invest in some of those CHANEL beauty products to recreate Kate’s leading lady look!

New Anti-Aging Treatment: Carboxytherapy

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Recently I heard about Carboxytherapy, a new beauty treatment that’s designed to make you look younger. It’s been popular overseas for years, so I wanted to find out more about it and went to Dr. Fardad Forouzanpour to find out more. He’s a Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon and is the founder of Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgical Group. Here’s more about this treatment.

Can you briefly tell us how Carboxytherapy works and the benefits of it?

Carboxytherapy is a procedure whereby an extremely small needle containing carbon dioxide is injected into the skin and the fat layer beneath the skin.  The presence of carbon dioxide in the tissue stimulates a number of cellular and chemical reactions.  These include increased vasodilation (dilation of the blood vessels), which causes more blood flow and more oxygen flow to the area.  The increased blood flow stimulates collagen production and breaks up fat cells which results in skin tightening and skin color improvement.

(more…)

Glee star Lea Michele wears Reese Robert lashes

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

When she’s not busy dazzling audiences with her amazing voice, Glee star Lea Michele is turning heads with her flawless beauty, and she owes a lot of that to celebrity makeup artist Melanie Inglessis.

Melanie knows one beauty misstep can determine her clients’ fates on the Hot or Not list, which is why she relies on Reese Robert’s collection of high-quality Korean eyelashes when putting together the perfect red carpet look. She chose Reese Robert’s “One Hot Mama” faux lashes for Lea’s appearance at the Time 100 Gala.

$9 at reeserobertbeauty.com

“The Reese Robert lashes were the perfect final touch to Lea’s rock’n'roll eyes for the Time 100. It added lushness to her own eyelashes and helped create the perfect smoky eyes to match her classic gown,” said Melanie.

And now, you can transform your eyes for a glamorous, paparazzi-ready look by visiting www.reeserobertbeauty.com to choose among 50 of these affordable and easy-to-apply lashes.

Where to Beautify in L.A.

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

At least once a week, someone will ask me for a recommendation for a spa, salon, waxer or brow shaper. Here’s a list of the my beauty outposts in Los Angeles:

Dry Bar

Hair: I get my hair cut and colored by Malcolm at the Beverly Hills Color Bar. My friends who get extensions see Stevy there and swear by her faux locks.  A slew of my friends also go there because they get great cuts and color for a very reasonable price. For blow-outs, I love Dry Bar in Brentwood—it’s $35 for a blowout and that’s all they do there. The last time I had a blow out there, someone asked me if I was wearing extensions because my hair looked so perfect. That’s reason enough for me to go back.

Hair Removal: I’m all about the sugaring, so I head to Studio Alexandria, also in Brentwood, to get myself de-fuzzed.

Brows: Anastasia in Brentwood. If Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Garner get them done there, it has to be good, right?

Spray Tan: I have tried a bunch and love Infinity Sun (I’m obsessed, I tell you!)—you can use their machines at Sunset Tan.

Recess

Nails: Well, it’s hard to beat my local place that’s $20 for mani/pedi (and it’s clean!), but if you want to go somewhere a little more upscale AND eco-conscious, try Recess in West Hollywood.

Massage: I go to Carino in West Hollywood (Johnny’s phenomenal and affordable—my two favorite words) as my regular place. But recently I’ve had amazing massages at Carasoin in West Hollywood and Murad in Manhattan Beach.

Naturopath Beauty: The Organic Pharmacy in Beverly Hills. They do amazing readings of your body and recommend homeopathic remedies, including a detox to cleanse your body of toxic build-up.

Facials: Thibiant is pretty luxurious—it’s a medi-spa as well, so you can get injectables there as well (but I can’t speak of that first hand). Murad in Manhattan Beach also does an amazing job.

Makeup Application: Stevi Christine at Kate Somerville—she uses airbrush foundation and always has a knack for making people look amazing without overdoing it. She’s also amazing with brows.

New L.A. Spa to Check Out

Friday, May 28th, 2010

I’m always on the lookout for new spas to recommend and I found one this weekend! It’s called Carasoin and it’s owned by the two most charming imports I’ve met in a long time! The couple, Lena and Tom  (from Switzerland and the UK, respectively) relocated to L.A. from London and brought an eye for detail that I love. Upon entering the space on Robertson Blvd., behind the Newsroom Café and across from the Ivy, I immediately loved the design. It felt one part French and feminine, one part sophisticated and one part serene. And that’s even before I stepped foot in the treatment room. Tom and Lena meticulously chose beds that gently contour to a woman’s body; beautifully luscious linens; and products from Elemis, including blends to add to your massage oil that can target stretch marks or help detoxify.  After spending the weekend moving, I was VERY excited to have a signature massage. The massage therapist informed me that I would feel sound reverberations in the bed from the music (which she could turn off or up if I preferred). She started by dry brushing my body (which helps circulation) and then proceeded with the utterly divine and relaxing massage. They really have managed to create an urban oasis with this spa, the only one of its kind on the busy stretch of boutiques that line Robertson.  Stop in while you can still nab an appointment.

Carasoin

120 N. Robertson Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90048

310-855-0105

Carasoin.com