The Oscars are one of my favorite TV events of the year. An avid lover of quality films, I enjoy supporting the achievements of great actors and…oh, who am I kidding? I love to get together with my friends and talk about what people are wearing. It is so much fun to see the ladies in their elegant dresses and jewels. It’s even more fun to see the people who look ridiculous and have way too much makeup on. I say this even as I sympathize with the stylists who work incredibly hard on Oscar day.
As a makeup artist, I get to see how much primping that goes into making an actress Oscar-ready. Last year I arrived at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills six hours before the Oscars. My Oscar-nominated client was already visited by her clothing stylist and jeweler. After getting her prepped and ready, I crowded into the elevator and ran into a few other stylists that I know. We all looked at eachother and giggled at the thousands of dollars and hours involved to create the image of a “perfect” woman. However, what most people fail to realize is that these women are often just as insecure as the rest of us. It’s enlightening for me to see that even the most physically beautiful woman can find something negative to say about her looks.
What makes me a good makeup artist is that I see beauty very easily. I meet with clients and am able to point out their best features and how to accentuate them. I tell my clients all the things that I think are beautiful about them, and if I do my job correctly then they will feel better about themselves by the end of the session. I do this with every client, whether or not they are nominated for an Oscar.
If I can offer any advice to you, it would be to see your own beauty. Look in the mirror and see the things that you like about yourself. Most people look in the mirror and do the exact opposite. So when you watch the Oscars on Sunday night, feel good about yourself and rest assured that those women did not wake up looking like that.
What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without washing your hair? A week? A month? If you’re a makeup brush, the likelihood is that you’ve never been washed at all. I often do private makeup applications for people, and they love to get my advice about their makeup bags. It is always shocking to me when people will tell me that they’ve never washed their brushes before. Your brushes are likely made out of natural animal hair. And just like your hair, your brushes will get really dirty and nasty if you never wash them. Makeup, oils from your face, and dirt from your bag collect on your brushes and can make you break out.
The good news is that washing your brushes is incredibly quick and easy to do. It takes a couple of minutes, and there are many benefits. First, your skin will appreciate the clean brush and reward you with fewer breakouts. Your makeup will look better when you apply it; more like I did it for you! Your brushes will feel brand new and luxurious against your skin, and who doesn’t like that? And finally, it will extend the life of your brushes, which is usually the most expensive part of a makeup bag.
So go ahead and give it a try! Then put on some makeup, and go show off your hot self at happy hour.
So I have to admit, I’m kind of a lip balm junkie. Ever since I was a kid and tried cherry Chap Stick, I loved the way that it made my lips feel smooth and slippery.
Picture it: I was in upstate New York with my family, where we had gone for a New Year’s skiing trip. Since I am a native Floridian, I had no idea that snow and cold weather can dry and burn your skin. I mentioned to my sister that my lips felt super dry, so she started fishing around in her puffy pastel ski jacket (it was the 80’s after all). She finally produced what looked like a piece of candy; a cherry Chap Stick, in a bright red tube with a plastic white cap. I was enamored, my lips were rescued, and the love affair with lip balm began.
As an adult, my tastes in lip balm have evolved. After many tests, these are three of my favorite lip balms right now:
This stuff is amazing. Made with grapeseed oil and many other antioxidants, it feels so good that I kind of want to make out with it. It has a creamy-velvety texture that I find intoxicating. At $12, it’s the priciest of my choices, but it feels like a luxurious treat for your lips.
This was a really nice surprise when I discovered it at my local beauty supply store. Made with shea butter and vanilla, it has a heavenly scent and makes my lips feel delicious. This stuff makes for a very tasty kiss, and it’s five bucks!
Can you say chocolate? This stick has a really yummy cocoa scent and makes your lips super soft. I actually discovered this by accident, through a pregnant friend who was using it to prevent stretch marks. It can be used all over your body to relieve dry skin, and it’s $3.49 at the drugstore. Just make sure that you buy the swivel stick and not their lip balm, which I don’t like nearly as much.
If you try one of these out, tell me what you think. Just remember; your lips don’t produce any moisture of their own, so help them out!
Posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago at 1:08 pm. Add a comment
Hey guys, I hope you all had a wonderful New Year’s Eve! My husband and I cooked a great meal, had a nice bottle of wine, and worked on our vision boards. Alright fine, we bought most of it ready-made at Whole Foods and drank more than one bottle of wine. Nonetheless, it was really fun! It’s become a tradition for us, because I don’t like driving on NYE. That, and it feels like there’s huge pressure to make New Year’s Eve the best night of the year.
So it’s 2010, a new year and a new decade. This is a great time to start positive habits. May I suggest using SPF? It’s such an easy way to care for your skin, and will prevent wrinkles! It’s never too late to start, even if you grew up doing that whole baby-oil-as-sunblock-thing. My favorite sunblock lately is Alba Green Tea SPF 30 Sunscreen. It can be purchased at many drugstores, and at under $10, is pretty affordable. I am not a fan of expensive sunscreens, because I think it makes me use less of it (in an effort to make it last longer). Use it every morning, and let it set in for a few minutes before applying makeup. Then blot with a tissue to absorb any excess shine.
I think 2010 is going to be a great year, I can just feel it! 2009 was a difficult year for many people, but I think some important lessons came out of it. The main lesson for me is to focus on what’s really important; love. My main resolution is simply to love myself and feel gratitude as much as possible. I wish the same for you, to love and be more kind to yourself. Just be happy and know that you are beautiful, with or without makeup!
Winter is upon us! I love this season because of the cold weather and holidays. It must be the Miami native in me, because I never had a real winter growing up. Hot chocolate, a warm sweater, and good moisturizer are all very comforting to me.
I took the photo above when I was in New York for Thanksgiving. I find the leaves so peaceful and elegant. Rich coppers, tawny golds, and chocolate browns have even inspired the makeup I use on clients!
My favorite product this season is definitely MAC Lustreglass in Ornamental. A bronzey-coppery red, it is really flattering on almost all skin tones. It is a sheer formula, which means that it gives the impression of a warm-red lip without being too intense. I highly recommend this product paired with MAC blush in Gingerly. This is a soft bronze blush that manages to make you look both flushed and tan, which I think is a really sexy combination.
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago at 3:56 pm. Add a comment
On the topic of weddings, it is the makeup artist’s job to make sure that the bride looks flawless all day long. Since this can mean up to twelve hours of perfect skin, I need to work with products that will go the distance. For my last wedding, I decided to use MAC longwear lustre lipcolour. This liquid lipstick goes on like a stain, which means that it dries and leaves nothing but the color. For the rest of the day you only apply the attached gloss, no need to reapply the color!
The fun part about this product is that it doubles as a cheek stain as well! Just blend it out on bare skin, and your blush will last as long as your lipstick. Some of my favorite colors are Lishious (a peachy gold) and Boss Brown (a neutral bronze). Even though this is a perfect bridal product, it is also perfect for a day at the beach.
Make sure that your lips are completely dry when using the lipcolour, otherwise the product will not dry properly and end up peeling off (not pretty). Also, blend fast when using this as blush!
Posted 8 months, 1 week ago at 8:52 am. Add a comment
I am so glad to be back home in Los Angeles! I was in NYC over the weekend to do makeup for a wedding, which I love to do. It’s gratifying for me to be part of such an important time in people’s lives. It can also be stressful for the bride, which is why I’m glad that I’m a pretty relaxed person. I usually get to be with the bride in the last moments before she walks down the aisle, and keeping her calm is a priority of mine. Well, that and making her look gorgeous.
An important step in flawless bridal makeup is using a makeup primer. A primer is important because it fills in any lines or “textures” in the skin that you would like to cover with makeup. Primer also creates an invisible barrier between your skin and the makeup, so that it lasts longer.
My favorite primer nowadays is the Temptu Primer, which is what I used on my last bride. It is a very light lotion that I apply to the skin after using moisturizer (let the moisturizer sink in for 5 minutes first). It is silicone-based, which helps smooth out the skin and “primes” it for whatever you put on next (concealer, foundation). I find this product highly effective, and at $11, much more cost effective than comparable primers. Note: If you have acne, a silicone-based product may aggravate your skin. Otherwise you’re good to go.
Posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago at 3:43 pm. Add a comment
Ever since we got back from Israel I’ve been thinking about the Dead Sea and its effects. After just one visit my skin felt clearer and softer than ever. It got me thinking: how come I don’t use salt more often? I decided to experiment with making a skin scrub. After using it for a few days, I am completely hooked! It’s ridiculously easy, and I highly recommend trying this out for yourself.
Pour a tablespoon of regular salt into a small bowl, then squeeze the juice of a lemon on top of it. Mix the salt to dissolve it into the lemon juice. That’s it! I took mine into the shower (it’s neater) and scooped some into the palm of my hand. Without any pressure, I massaged the mixture onto my face for a minute and rinsed it off. After moisturizing, my skin glowed! This scrub can be tailored for your whole body by adding some olive oil to the salt and lemon juice.
In this economy, many people cut back on luxuries like skincare. This is an extremely easy way to pamper your skin with items you already have in your kitchen!
Posted 9 months, 1 week ago at 10:05 am. Add a comment
On Friday I did some makeup for a charity event called Friends of the Family, which was a lot of fun! It’s organized by TV therapist Stacy Kaiser, and benefits families who are in trouble both financially and emotionally. Some of the kids in the program were performing, and I was putting glitter and lip gloss on them beforehand. They were so excited about their makeup, it was really sweet!
On the topic of glitter, one of my absolute favorites is called Reflects Antique Gold by MAC. The glitter is very finely ground, and looks flattering on adults (not just teens). It comes in a loose tub, and when applied on the skin it catches so much light and looks really glamorous. It’s like you have built-in paparazzi!
Of course glitter is not for every day. But if you’re in the mood to sparkle, here are few ways to apply this gorgeous product:
1. Apply a bit to your eyelids over cream eyeshadow or clear mascara. You can also just put a small amount of eye cream onto your lids before applying. The idea is to make your lids moist so the glitter sticks.
2. Mix a small amount of the glitter into your lipgloss before applying.
3. Squeeze some body cream into your hand, and mix a bit of glitter into it before applying to your body.
Makeup Artist Trick: Make sure you have some scotch tape nearby, as it will help you remove any glitter that will inevitably go astray. I know this sounds odd, but it is extremely effective! Just take a few inches of tape and lightly press onto the areas that need to be cleaned up (usually under the eyes). It will look more polished and less like you are headed to a rave.
Posted 9 months, 1 week ago at 4:51 pm. Add a comment
I just got back from an amazing trip to Israel! While I am jet lagged to the point of feeling narcoleptic, I had to tell you about my experience at the Dead Sea. My partner and I joined my parents for a one night stay at a hotel, and we spent most of our time floating in the mineral-rich water. It is nothing like swimming in a regular ocean. First of all, it is bathwater temperature and feels incredibly oily. Second, the salt content of the water is so high that I floated like a styrofoam cup. It feels kind of goofy and incredibly relaxing at the same time.
It is recommended to take a break after floating for 15 minutes (which is not hard to remember; let’s just say that several body parts start stinging noticeably). After a quick rinse and sea mud application (thus the photo; that’s me on the right!), the mud dries and draws out impurities in the skin. It get so tight, it feels really nice to wash it off in the water and float again. Just one day of “salting” myself left my skin feeling amazing! Not only was it smooth and moisturized, but the flakiness on my knees and elbows disappeared. It’s no wonder that people from all over the world visit the Dead Sea to correct many skin ailments (seborrhea, psoriasis, dandruff).
The experience reminded me of a job that I worked on not long ago. I had been hired to do makeup for a major motion picture’s press junket. The actor I groomed is a well-known movie star, and when I showed up to do his makeup I was shocked to see the state of his skin. He had gotten sunburned while golfing a few days earlier, and his whole face was peeling. I was annoyed that he neglected his skin the week before such an important appearance (sunblock people!). My regular exfoliant was not working on him, so I politely excused myself and ran over to the studio caterer to grab a packet of sea salt. After mixing some salt with a dollop of rich moisturizer, I applied it to his face and tissued it off. Bingo! The dissolved salt immediately sloughed off the remains of his dead skin, and the cream helped replenish the moisture he had lost.
So just in case you can’t make it to the Dead Sea anytime soon, you can still reap the benefits by using the same technique I described above. Make sure that you dissolve the salt really well with plenty of moisturizer before applying, and use almost no pressure (otherwise it could scratch and irritate your skin).
Posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago at 6:28 pm. Add a comment
