Here’s a very soft, sensual bridal look….

Laurie’s getting married in June and today we did her trial run through for hair and makeup. Laurie doesn’t really wear a lot of makeup and wants a light, soft, yet sexy look.  So, here’s what I did. It’s a very champagne, sheer sensual makeup look. Look at the picture of her eyes closed. I layered on lots of no color colors. If you want the exact techniques or colors used – just ask… My pleasure, as always!!!

I’m an American Idol Fan, but I adore Jennifer Lopez…!

In Style April 2011 Magazine and this week’s People Magazine both vote Jennifer Lopez as the most beautiful woman in the world!!! I totally agree, but what took them so long to acknowledge this? I remember absolutely falling in love with J Lo in her movie “The Wedding Planner”. And the look that Ralph Fiennes gave her in “Maid in Manhattan” was exactly how I felt the first time and every time I see Jennifer Lopez – sheer adoration. 

Jennifer Lopez is beautiful in every aspect of being a woman. She is a fabulously talented singer and dancer, an acclaimed box office Hollywood star (probably one of the highest paid female actresses and certainly the highest paid Hispanic actress), the owner of a television and movie production company, an entrepreneur of clothing lines, jewelry, accessories, perfumes and so much more….! And in her spare time she is an active philanthropist for children’s causes and animal rights. And, she is the proud mama of boy-girl twins. Which coincidently, so am I. So, maybe that’s the only trait I share with J Lo? But, I try to emulate her. How can I not? She is so awesome in all that she does. I do love watching American Idol more then ever now, just to see what makeup and hair looks she and her stylists come up with every week.

Jennifer Lopez is a true inspiration to beauty – all beauty inside and out. 

Jennifer Lopez Does It Again

Jennifer Lopez, of course, would be featured in this months New Beauty Magazine. She is simply gorgeous!! Seeing her every week on America Idol gives all of us a chance every week to see just how versatile she can be in her hair, clothing, jewelry and makeup choices.  I absolutely wait with baited breath each week to see how she's going to appear. My favorite fav of J Lo's is the Scott Barnes Body Bling. It's the best way to be bronze and beautiful. Her upcoming reality show will be most definitely also be a fashion show. :P

Marie Claire Lists Can Add this to her List of Serums

“Q” is for quench

In March Marie Claire provides their list of serums, cool gels and granular scrubs all designed for moisturizing your skin to its most sensual finish. Their list missed two key products.

For me the best exfoliating scrub is the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion in a Jar $75

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/product_p/663963007143.htm

And, the best hydrating serum is our Faces Beautiful Peptide Serum $80

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/FACES_Beautiful_Peptide_Serum_p/851036001244.htm

These two products together keep the dead skin cells off and the young, fresh ones plumped up and sexy.

Here’s Marie Claire’s List (Add my two recommendations to this and you’ll be set.)

1.     Zensation Rose Hydrating Water Gel Cleanser $35

2.     Kiel’s Rosa Artica Rehydrating Crème $60

3.     Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum $30

4.     L’Occitane One Minute Hand Scrub $22

5.     Shiseido Replenishing Body Cream $72

6.     Aveeno Positively Nourishing Refreshing 23 Hour Body Lotion $9

7.     Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lip Color SPF18 in Rose Cocoon $7

8.     Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Crème $150

9.     Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion in a Jar $75

10.   Faces Beautiful Peptide Serum $80

Celebrity Sleek Hair Do's

What’s In for Spring? Sleek Do’s! It’s the new Chic Look.  In” Marie Claire” March 2011 Issue, page 266, you can get the inside take from Eugene Souleiman, Wella’s Creative Director and Redken Stylist Guido Palau. Souleiman likes to pull the hair back taut and make it super slick with plenty of hairspray, to give off almost a “wet” look.  Palau prefers to take away the “severity” of the look, by pulling pieces out to frame the face.

To get this look, they recommend:

Motions Shine Enhancing Pomade, $4

L’Oreal Paris Ever Sleek Frizz Taming Crème Serum, $9

Redken Pure Force 16 Fixing Spray, $16

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/product_p/743877049870.htm

Now, that I’ve cut off my long locks, I’m not quite sure how I will slick back my hair for my sleek do. I need a little warm weather and an hour or two in front of a mirror with a bunch of new products to explore. I’ll be back to you on my sleek do…

Also check my New Quips page..

Tips and 'Fashion for a Cause" Fashion Show Pictures! More Coming soon!!!!!

I taught everyone a few tips while I did Maureen Ducey's makeup for the
Lucy's "Fashion For a Cause" show.  I showed Maureen how to do a lip to
last. "Press on the lipstick into her lips. Press it in, then lightly, line
on the outside of lips lightly and then just a touch of gloss on the pouty
bottom lip. Remember put on your lipstick, then put on your liner on the
edges so it makes it crisp!
Gloss last ...adding a shimmer in pouty part. Maureen never had such full
lips. She loved it.

Diana Naughton is so awesome. You know I already shape her eyebrows. So,
yes she does have absolutely awesome brows. But today I did her makeup for
the Lucy's Fashion for a Cause show. I showed Diana a very cool trick to
make the apple of her cheek pop. Guess what the trick is not to place the
blush on the apple, but to place it wa...ay above it. That's right ladies,
you want more apple and more flush? Then, go above the apple. She looks
awesome!!

Happy Birthday to Christina Lake. Have fun tonight!! You are stunning and I love what we did to your eyebrows. I made them a bit more angular and I trimmed them much shorter. You know for some ladies having shorter brows gives them a fuller look. Yours are full and fab!! Have fun tonight!!

I loved doing Nicole Lombardo's makeup. Her coloring is really wonderful -
copper hair, hazel eyes... One trick I taught Nicole is how to really
enhance her cheek and jaw bones. I used the Brush on Liquid Mineral makeup
in a shade deeper then her face to darken her neck line and then I contoured
her using a sponge for precision. I never used a brush on her face. The
crisp contour was achieved using a sponge to draw and shade each angel. She
is gorgeous.

All the models were fabulous. And, what a great cause! They all are modeling
for Lisa and for CT Challenge, empowering cancer survivors. And, I feel the
same way. I'm glad to be able to donate our hair and makeup services for
such a great and worthy cause. Ladies, have fun tonight!!!

My House is Silver :)

Can you believe I painted my ceiling SILVER?

Decorate your home so it enhances your beauty. I think a woman should always look her best, especially in her own home. Choose colors for your rooms that make you look good. I chose a warm, simple neutral palette of beige, taupe, chocolate and white throughout my home. But, check out what I did with my ceiling…. I hand brush painted it a silver foil. I did this so when the lights are low in the evening that it produces a glow. Like most women, I look prettier when my cheeks glow just a bit. The right blush or highlighter can do this, and so will a silver foil ceiling, even ‘sin” makeup.

Btw, if you love this look… It can be yours. I just listed my house for sale. I’m ready for my next adventure. 

The perfect nude Lip for a Smokey Eye

You’ll never guess how I spent my morning…  I spent it playing with lots of lipsticks, lip glosses and lip liners. I experimented on Erica, one of our makeup artists and estheticians. She is a very beautiful, blonde who wears that sexy, smokey eye quite well. Erica and I got to talking about the perfect nude lip to wear with a really dark, exotic smokey eye. After we mutually agreed that soft and plump was the way to go, we delicately pushed up our cashmere sleeves and got to creating that lip.

The first issue that bothered us was once you get this lip, whatever that lip is…. Well, it wears off so soon. Nude? Right – never lasts long. Erica complained, “I love an intense smokey eye, but it always seems to be a challenge to find that perfect nude lip color that will actually stay on without the inconvenience of always having to worry if there’s a mirror close by so you can ‘check yourself out’ every 5 minutes.” 

Step 1.

So here’s where you start for that perfect long lasting lip. “Vincent Longo Fresh Water Rose Pearlessence Lip/Cheek Gel Stain.” Wow! That’s a mouthful. Yes and this stain is pale, shimmery, sexy and LASTS.

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/product_p/vl-pearlessencelip.htm

Step 2. Next, to create the plump. You need to use a lip liner that is a warm pale chocolate. We used the Vincent Longo Lavender Light/Coco Fudge Lip Liner.  The Whirl Liner from Mac Cosmetics works well too. With just a light touch gently line the rim of your lips with the Coco side of the VL liner and then line again and blend in with the Lavender Light. Leave the center of your bottom lip empty.

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/product_p/vl-duolippencil.htm

Step 3. Now, for the gloss… You’ll want to fill the center of your bottom lip and a fill just a little bit on the upper lip with Vincent’s Starlet Pink Diamond Lip Gloss. Nars makes the Lipgloss/Lipstain in color Stolen Kisses/Pampa that works great too!

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/product_p/vl-diamondlipgloss.htm

And, that’s one gorgeous nude, pouty, sexy lip!!!

Here is the Perfect Smokey Eye to Go With It

Celebrity Gorgeous Curl: By Elle Magazine and Gail Sagel

Must Haves for Gorgeous Curls:

There’s nothing as sexy as great curly hair. This month in the April Elle Magazine they had the 2011 Genius Awards www.elle.com and gave their picks for the “Must Haves for Gorgeous Curls”. They listed four products:

1.    FEKKAI Full Blown Volume Mousse

A Dollop is all that’s needed to give strands that “swingy” look. I agree this is an awesome mousse to make those curls bounce.

2.    Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

For Repairing Over Processed Hair. I like this for a quick fix.

3.    Pantene Curly Hair Heat Protection and Shine Spray

             A good choice.

But, I prefer Pureology Colour Max. Colour Max will fortify and help repair your hair while giving extra color protection and a very radiant shine. Can be used daily and is made with organic botanicals - Chamomile and Olive Oil

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/product_p/812595004710.htm

4.    Sebastian Professional Shaper Hairspray

A good soft choice for soft curls.

I would have added one more product to this list.

Redken Fresh Curls Shampoo. This shampoo has a technology formulated to keep curls fresh and structured and looking great.

http://www.facesbeautiful.com/product_p/743877010153.htm

My Video Series

This series clip is of Gail Sagel's "first time". It was a memorable and exciting which brings us here today. Here she is taking through the moment! Wonderful story! Inspiring moment for me! Hopefully, will lead to something for you.  Also check out her video series with more coming soon!!!