Beauty Icon of the Week

This week's Beauty Icon is the gorgeous Debi Mazar! She is an actress in films like Goodfellas and shows like HBO's Entourage. She also has a cooking show Extra Virgin with her Italian husband on the Cooking Channel and hosts a similar web series on youtube called Under the Tuscan Gun. The unique beauty started out her career as a makeup artist and most notably did her good friend Madonna's makeup for a Broadway play in 1988. In addition to her busy schedule she has also recently formulated her own line of natural body creams and scrubs made from the olive trees on her property in Fiesole, Italy.
With her remarkable features, its no wonder she is often compared to the vintage face of Barbie.

Mazar, 46, attributes her good looks to following simple rules such as drinking plenty of water to smooth out lines, red wine for its antioxidant power, taking vitamins, doing cardio for circulation, and getting proper sleep (she was once an insomniac). Also, she claims to have been using Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products for almost 30 years and is a loyal devotee of the moon manicure (or half-moon manicure), a retro look which leaves the "moons" (or the 1/8 inch portion of nail closest to the nailbed and cuticle) nude or white in contrast to the color of the rest of the nail.

 

 Get Debi's makeup look after the jump!

Beauty Steal of the Week

This week's steal comes in the form of a hair product with Frizz-Ease's Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Créme. Its a miracle for those of us who blowdry, curl, iron, or just have naturally unruly hair. It restores moisture to your parched locks and smooths down any fly-aways you might have. The pretty smell and healthy looking shine don't hurt either. At just under $6 and available at most drugstores, its a go-to that saves you from looking frazzled for pennies per day. Highly recommended!

Review: OPI Shatter Nail Lacquer

I just picked up OPI's Shatter Nail Lacquer in Black Shatter today. After rushing home to try it I settled on Ruby Kisses' Lime Green with Envy as a base color. The instructions tell you to let it dry completely before applying the shatter coat. After 10 minutes, I lightly brushed on the thick formula (one thinly brushed coat is enough). It almost instantly begins to shrink up and crack. Its kind of like watching a science experiment. After about 30 seconds or so it should look fully "shattered" and the base color will show through the cracks. Pretty cool, huh? OPI recommends following with a top coat to seal & add shine. It seems that is this is also best because the shattered effect definitely has a raised texture. All in all, its a pretty cool product when you're feeling a little sassy and want unusual looking nails. Depending on what you use underneath the possibilities are endless. I would suggest something bold & purposeful-looking as to avoid looking like you just have a really trashed manicure. Next time I think I might play with a colorful glitter polish showing through the cracks.

My finished nails. Sorry for the poor quality cell phone pic!

Here is a link to a good youtube tutorial.

Beauty Buzz: MAC's new face, Johnny Weir!

It was announced today that champion figure skater Johnny Weir will be the face of MAC's 2011 holiday makeup collection, Glitter and Ice. He will be the 3rd male to ever have the distinction of being the face for the cosmetics giant, following in the footsteps of 2 other gay icons Elton John and RuPaul.

Shoots for Glitter and Ice line took place in Miami earlier this month and the products will be available later this fall. Previously, Weir has said his favorite MAC products are:

• MAC Blot Powder 
• MAC Bronzing Powder 
• MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Soothing Beige.

Treat Yourself To...

Diorshow Blackout mascara is a great high-end mascara. Its intensely pigmented kohl-black formula coats and defines every lash for a dramatic effect that flatters and frames your peepers whether you're wearing minimal or maximum eye makeup. It never flakes, feels dry or heavy, and requires no touch-ups throughout the day.  If you're tired of experimenting with drugstore brands that don't live up to expectations, you've got a sure bet in Diorshow Blackout. At $24.50, its definitely a splurge...but one that you will feel great about.

Beauty Icon of the Week

That's right! Its none other than Christina Hendricks! Its no surprise that this buxom bombshell was named Esquire's Best Looking American Woman in 2010. The Mad Men star has caused mouths to drop all over the country due to her hourglass shape and confident, come-hither gaze. Her character, Joan Holloway has everyone at the Sterling Cooper offices wrapped around her well-manicured finger.
Hendricks herself is also confident with her curvacious body. She is 5'8" and wears a size 14 dress but says she felt more beautiful when she was 15 pounds heavier a few years back, modelling in Italy. "I was having cappuccinos every day! I would take my clothes off in front of the mirror and be like, 'Oh, I look like a woman.' And I felt beautiful, and I never tried to lose it, 'cause I loved it." She still says she breaks all diet rules by eating salty and creamy foods, but now exercises to balance her indulgences.

A natural blonde, Christina says she started dyeing her hair red at the age of 10. She experimented with her style in earlier years saying: "I was a goth girl in high school. Perhaps the powdered white face and the black lipstick were not the most attractive. I felt fabulous at the time". In 1999 she stared in a commercial for Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets and now says her beauty routine isn't so different than that of  her iconic character. "Joan is a classic beauty, and my everyday makeup look isn't much different from hers: coral lips, neutral eyeshadow, liquid black eyeliner. It's the hair that makes us so different."

See Christina's favorite products and get her makeup look after the jump!

Beauty Steal of the Week

If you're like me, you might find lipstick a little bit of a chore to keep on. Covergirl's Outlast Lipstain could be the cheap solution to your problem. At around $6 and available in almost any drugstore/supermarket this new line of lipstain is like a marker. The light formula goes on wet and dries in seconds for a stain that lasts for hours. Its available in 10 colors. Covergirls colors are a little tricky to figure out, as they aren't always true to the package coloring but I can tell you that I love and recommend Everbloom Kiss (pictured above) which translates to a natural pink flush on the lips. In short, I love these lipstains. They look natural and last a reasonable amount of time. I have never had them bleed, feel dry, or rub off on anything. They perform very well for the price.

Homespun Hottie: Under Eye Circle Lightener

Before piling on loads of under eye concealer you may want to reach for the nearest spud. Did you know that potatoes contain high levels of an enzyme called catecholase, which is one of the most common skin lighteneing ingredients in luxury brand eye creams? It helps naturally protect everyone's favorite tuber from damage but has also been a secret weapon of wise women for generations. Why pay $$ for the same thing you can get for ¢ ?
To make a homemade under eye circle lightener:

• Use a box grater or food processor to finely shred 1 small potato.
• Wrap the potato pulp in cheesecloth or a breathable piece of clean fabric.
• Apply to undereye area, being careful not to get juice in your eyes. Leave on for around 15 minutes while watching TV or relaxing.

While the above method is more effective, a quicker fix is to slice the potato and apply to the eyes as you would cucumber slices.

Treat Yourself To...

Nars Blush!

A good choice for a splurge that you will get a lot of use out of is this upscale powder blush which currently retails for $27. Why is it worth it? Nars' special formula is made with extremely high quality, transparent pigments that allow it to be layered without looking heavy or unnatural. At the same time, a little bit of product goes a long way and buys you a lot of mileage. It is available in 27 shades that vary from natural to glowing, trendy to bold. They last all day and beyond.

A hands-down favorite shade is Orgasm (shown above). It has been the winner of countless beauty awards across the board (Allure Best of Beauty and Readers Choice for the past 5 years in a row!) and has the internet buzzing with makeup enthusiasts' praise. It boasts a universally flattering flush of "peachy pink with shimmer" that mimics its namesakes effect on the skin. You simply cannot find a more beloved blush on the market today. I personally prefer Desire, a "cotton candy pink" shade in the case that creates a natural looking pop of healthy color to the apples of the cheeks.

When it comes down to it, I've tried many brands of blush and don't shy away from using cheaper products if they perform well. Nothing compares to the quality of Nars Blush!

Beauty Icon of the Week

This weeks beauty icon is none other than Nigella Lawson! This British food writer and TV host has it all - brains, beauty, and kitchen skills. Much to her dismay, her sarcastically titled book How to Be a Domestic Goddess has permanently earned her the title's nickname. She, however, considers herself a home cook and loathes being incorrectly labeled a chef or professional. Her biggest drive is her passion for food, saying "I think what ages a face most is disappointment and a lack of enjoyment. So I try to do what I love"
In terms of beauty, Nigella radiates a sexiness that is mostly natural and partly clever enhancement. Her look is that of the low-key sex kitten. She claims to have not changed her makeup routine since the age of 17, choosing to play up her eyes and play down her lips. She has hair that falls in fat curls around her shoulders and to call her hourglass figure "curvy" seems an understatement.
To get her look, Nigella uses a variety of products. One of her favorite staples is Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer in Fawn, calling it "the best stuff in the business" for making her look "natural but improved". She washes her hair only once a week with $4 Thicker Fuller Hair by Schwarzkopf. "I don't go along with this modern fad to wash it, if not every day, then every other day." she says. Nigella claims to not keep much in her handbag except Estee Lauder eyeliner pencil, Max Factor's Masterpiece Max Mascara, and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant Stick. For nails she turns to a vampy shade by Butter London, called Come to Bed Red. Her favorite fragrance is Coco by Chanel.

Get Nigella's makeup look after the jump!

Beauty Steal of the Week

Image: http://www.celebritylooksforless.com

This weeks beauty steal is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Petal Pusher. It is the perfect pinky nude shade for everyday. It sets in 60 seconds. One coat delivers a sheer, natural but polished effect while 2 coats (shown above) gives you a really chic, manicured look. At around $4 in drugstores and online, this nail polish delivers big bang for every buck.

Walk Like An Egyptian: Cosmetics in the Shadows of the Pyramids

Just for my own entertainment, I like to read about the history of makeup and its roles in different eras. I thought I'd share a few of the sexy, fun facts I learned with you. Before there was Sephora, there were all kinds of homemade recipes that societies had for making themselves beautiful. From the simple crushed berry to the complex process of mining ore and extensively treating it, the people of yesteryear knew how to "rock" their own looks with what they had.
Ancient Egypt was one of the first civilizations from which we have recorded proof of the use of cosmetics. From as early as 4000BC both men and women, rich or poor were applying different concoctions to their skin to protect it and to decorate it.

 Find out more after the jump!

Beauty Icon of the Week

Its only fitting that the first Beauty Icon of the Week is Ms. Lana Turner. She graces the background of this webpage in a still from the film noir classic, The Postman Always Rings Twice. The ultimate femme fatale, she radiated attitude onscreen and glamour off.

Some Lana Turner beauty tidbits:

• Her hair was naturally auburn until, when auditioning for a role in 1939's Idiots Delight she dyed it platinum. She didn't get the role but she kept the hair color. 
• Early in her career she shaved off her eyebrows for a role as a harem girl and they never properly grew back. She had to draw or paste them on for the rest of her life.
• When Eva Peron changed her image upon entering the political spotlight she modeled her new look after Lana Turner.
• Lana was rumored to have owned almost 700 pairs of shoes in a room where they lined the walls floor to ceiling and were accessed by a library ladder!
• According to legend, when a fire broke out in her apartment she grabbed only what she thought essential: lipstick, eyebrow pencil, and a hairdryer. 
• She exfoliated her skin with Boraxo Powdered Hand Soap once a week and followed with Nivea Cream.
• Her favorite fragrance was L'Air du Temps.

 Get Lana's makeup look after the jump!

Beauty Steal of the Week

A favorite product of mine that is cheap and worth its weight in gold is Smith's Rosebud Salve. Its was created in 1892 and is still a top selling product 119 years later. That says a little something right there! First and foremost, I use this as a lip balm/gloss. It has a very subtle, natural tint and a light, rosy scent. My favorite thing about it is that it sinks into the lips over the course of a few hours and really moisturizes and heals while adding the shine of a gloss. Unlike with most glosses however, there is no build up in the nooks and crannies of your lips and it is never sticky or waxy.
It doubles as a great moisturizer for all areas of the body - elbows, heels, cuticles, you name it!

Also available in a tube and in several flavors which all retail for around $6. Available at most drugstores and the impulse lane at Sephora.

Sarah

No Makeup

Simple & Pretty

 

Dramatic

Products Used:
Simple & Pretty: Nars Blush in Desire, CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Everbloom Kiss, Diorshow Black Out Mascara in Kohl Black 099,
Dramatic: MAC Eyeshadows in Shadowy Lady, Carbon, & Forgery, Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in Mat Black 0L, MAC Powder Blush in Mocha, CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Foundation in Ivory on lips with MAC Clear Lipglass

Chrissy

No Makeup

Simple & Pretty

Dramatic

Products Used:
Simple & Pretty: MAC Lipstick in Pink Nouveau, Nars Blush in Desire
Dramatic: MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon (used as liner), Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Graffiti, Makeup Forever Glitter in Gold 1

Wedding Expo

I'm really excited to be taking part in a Wedding Expo that will take place July 17th at The Winery on Treasure Island. Its from 11am-5pm. Stop by my booth for a free makeup consultation and information on makeup for your special events!


Treasure Island Wedding Expo
Sunday, July 17th
11am-5pm
The Winery SF
Free Admission
For more information, please visit the Event Page on Facebook.

Map of The Winery SF
 

A little about me...

Hey! My name is Joel. I live and work out of the Bay Area and I am just starting out as a professional makeup artist! I'm hoping this blog can be a place where I can connect with you and share my work and passion about makeup. There will be photos and info on what I'm doing, details about new products that I'm excited about, and of course, information on how to contact me for your makeup wants & needs. I hope you stop by to check it out from time to time! Thanks for reading.

backstage at a show in Oakland, CA 5/7/11