The poolside cabanas

Last night I popped over to the Regent Beverly Wilshire (of Pretty Woman fame) for an evening of beauty, pre-Oscar pampering and champagne, natch. I headed out to the pool cabanas, Moet in hand, to learn about the brands that are available at the hotel spa and salon. First I met with Lea Journo, the famed celebrity hairstylist, to check out her product line. (Actress Anna Kendrick was also there scoping the fabulous products. The hair mask is to die for!) Then it was on to meet makeup artist Christopher Drummond, who has a line of mineral makeup products (they are titanium dioxide and zinc free) and 100% synthetic brushes. (He found out that he was allergic to animal hair brushes, so made ones that don’t aggravate the skin.)  Then I popped next door to the Kate Somerville cabana to learn about her new book – she’s a celebrity skincare guru, so I’m excited to check it out. Next was DayNa Decker fragrance. Yum Yum and Yum. The candles have wooden wicks, which I love because they crackle like a fireplace and I like the wide flame they create. Last but not last was a whirl with NuFace – this is a device that you smooth over your face; it sends positive and negative charges to the muscle, which keeps it active and gives the appearance of a lift. I don’t think I need to splurge on the device (yet), but I did notice a bit of lift around my eyebrows. Finally, I indulged in a chair massage—so glorious. Then I met a lovely friend at The Blvd for a glass of wine and to soak up the buzz that’s filling the town in anticipation of the Oscars.

by Sarah

Just recently, I discovered the evolutionary skincare  Suki. As my friends know, when I find a line or product I love, I am a total pusher. And so now, I’m pushing Suki on you. Because…. it’s one of those skin care lines that is just honestly trying to make the world a better place, while making your face a better face. Really.

Totally appealing to my hippy-dippy side, the creator, Suki Kramer, consults with cosmetic chemists  in addition to traditional herbalists, and her line makes 100% pure, organic products with the purest of ingredients and environmentally responsible packaging.

You know when you get a really good hair cut, and it suddenly seems like your hair looks the way it was always supposed to look, and so then you pity the old you with the old hair and don’t know how you ever walked around looking like that? That’s how I felt when I tried this line. I couldn’t understand how I hadn’t used these products before.

Toner

After using the concentrated balancing toner, my skin feels clean, refreshed, and I feel relaxed, even optimistic. Financially, it’s  as I can get to a spa -feeling these days. This citrusy spray toner is now one of the rituals I look forward to the most in my skin care routine. Maybe I’m just lazy, but I always got so bored by the idea of using toner, although now I realize I was missing out. A couple of sprays of this in the morning and you’re a new woman.

exfoliant

I wasn’t big on exfoliating either (again, lazy), but now exfoliating is another divine indulgence. The exfoliate foaming cleanser feels just like rubbing fresh lemon peels and crushed sugar all over my face– it’s that refreshing. It sloughs off dead skin, accelerates collagen turnover to prevent early signs of aging, and it uses organic chamomile extract which is a natural anti-inflammatory, sedative healer. My skin definitely looks younger since I started using it.  I also tried a few more products (the day lotion, the sensitive cleansing bar) and they were all gentle, refreshing, and effective. OK, that’s enough pushing for one night — I just love this line.Trust me, Suki doesn’t suk.

By Brett Freedman

It’s November and you may be noticing a change in your skin. Faded is your summer glow and it’s looking a bit parched. I tell the actresses I work with, “As soon as you turn on the heat for the fall, it’s time to nudge your skin care routine.” If you think about it, it makes sense. The air will be drier and so will your skin. While you’re sleeping, heated air is doing a number on your face and body. Here are my tips to incorporate moisture-saving techniques to have a smooth, supple autumn .

1. Fuller creams for face and body

It’s not full on winter yet so no need to amp it up too much. Just a little thicker formula. If you’re using a lotion in the spring/summer, I’d advise switching to a more dense cream for fall/winter. For the face I’d suggest starting with your night cream in a fuller formula. For oily skin this may mean using an oil free lotion over a gel moisturizer you’ve been using in the spring/summer.

For face I love Clinique’s Moisture Surge.

For body I love Keri’s Advanced Therapy body lotion.

2. Body wash 101

It’s all about consistency. You’re looking for thick, opaque creamy body washes. If you’ve been using clear or milky formulations for spring/summer it’s time to switch up. You wants a product that will cleanse gently yet leave the skin hydrated. It’s tempting to take very hot showers when the air is cold, but resist. Hot showers rob skin of moisture. Get yourself accustomed to very warm showers. It’s great for the environment, too!

I love Dove’s creamy body wash. Fresh scent and leaves skin dewy! (more…)