Ciara is a hot chick.  That young woman is blessed with great genes.  I’m a makeup artist so I truly appreciate a beautifully structured face like Ciara’s.  I was excited to see her top beauty picks in my July Elle magazine. Ciara’s picks were not all the over-the-top, over priced, chi chi 0cosmetics that one would think a successful recording artist would choose. But instead she chose smart, affordable beauty items that WORK!

Ciara Photo courtesy of LA Face/Jive

MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation

1. Foundation

 The Grammy winner says she relies on M.A.C Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation to keep her look “fade-free.”

A creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. Hydrating, instantly revitalizes the skin while keeping it looking smooth, soft and plush. Long-wearing, water-resistant.

40 ml / 1.3 US FL OZ US $28.00 

Fashion Fair Concealer

2.  Concealer

Ciara covers up blemishes with Fashion Fair Concealer; it’s “fast” and “so affordable,” she says.

This oil-free concealer covers unwanted facial flaws and dark undereye circles without settling into fine lines. The portable slim-stick format makes it perfect for direct on-the-spot application.  $16.50

Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara

3.  Mascara

“Big lashes are a must—they go with everything,” says Ciara, who prefers Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara. “I love the way it shines.”  $16.50

• Mineral pigments add natural, rich color
• Acacia Senegal thickens for length and volume
• Paraben-free, clump-free, fragrance-free
• Tug-free brush is ultra-soft to the touch
• Opthamalogist tested and allergy tested
• Safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers

Cetaphil Moisturizer SPF 15

4. Moisturizer

 Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 has kept this R&B diva’s skin “fresh feeling” for the past five years. $10.99

Cetaphil^® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15   is specially formulated to be effective, light and silky-smooth—ideal for facial use. In addition to providing gentle moisturization for all skin types, Cetaphil^® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 gives you moderate protection against damaging UVA and UVB rays that are responsible for premature lines and wrinkles. This moisturizer is lightweight, fragrance-free and suitable for use under makeup or after shaving

Biosilk Silk Therapy

5.  Hair Treatment

 

For video vixen hair, she smooths a dime-size amount of Biosilk Silk Therapy onto just-washed locks for “a healthy-looking gloss.”

BioSilk Silk Therapy is the perfect, lightweight, replenishing treatment to protect and maintain hair and skin and keep it in optimum condition.  $24.95

 I love the choices Ciara has made in basic beauty products.  Affordable and smart!  I think I will have to induct Ciara into the Blinging Babes category!  Plus I still love 1,2 Step, it’s one of my favorite workout tunes.

So  challenge you  to to get peachy with it.  Go ahead, try on some coral blush.  Imagine you are on shores of South Beach Ibiza with tangerine  polish on your toes and the sand between them.  Set your eyelids ablaze with a hot salmon eyeshadow that is hot enough for July.  Paint your pucker with peachy lipgloss that turns pink green.

Kerry Washington Photo from Frappalattes

So here are my favorite peachy picks.

NARS Multiple

1.  Blush

It’s summer, so try on a cream blush to change up your blush options.  Cream blush looks soft and like it emanates from within.  Apply on freshly moisturized skin.  Just dab on cheeks and blend out and up.  Very easy.  My favorite peach blush, NARS multiple in Mustique.  This iridescent peach cream color comes in stick form that works on eyes, lips and cheeks.  Just put a dot of clear gloss on lips and add mascara to eyes and you are beach beauty hot!

2. Nails

Unless you have hideous feet that need to be hidden year round, spice up your toenail polish routine.  French nails are sophisticated and professional, nude pinks are safe so step out of your boring office pumps and bling up your nails with a burst of color.  I love OPI Atomic Orange.  This color begs to worn with sexy mile high Jimmy Choo sandals. 

Urban Decay Cream Shadow

3.  Eyes

 Check out Urban Decay cream eyeshadow in Whipped a golden peach with subtle gold microsparkle.  Just use your fingertips and blend this creamy shadow over your eyelids.  It dries quickly and doesn’t crease while giving you subtle yet noticeable color.  Do your eyelashes with a few coats of mascara and BAM! 

4.  Lips

Stila 24kt gloss in Precious Coral is the perfect finish tool for your peachy look.  This gloss is infused with 24kt gold that just glistens.

Vera Wang Rock Princess

5.  Fragrance

 

 And if you choose to smell as sweet as a Georgia peach, check out Vera Wang’s Rock Star.  Her new fragrance has a top fruity note of white peach and ends of a sultry note of musk and coconut. 

There you have it.  5 ways to punch up your style with a dose of peach. 

 I’m sorry, of course if we are talking about peach, we can’t forget a yummy billini. 

Bellini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz peach juice or peach puree
• 4 oz Champagne

Preparation:

1. Pour the peach juice or peach puree into a Champagne flute.
2. Slowly add the Champagne.
3. Sip like a lady.

I am an eyeliner freak.  I have extolled the virtues of eyeliner more than once in this blog which is pretty new.   I mean, come on, eyeliner is the equivilant to veggies on the food chart.  There are no less than a gazillion eyeliners on the market now, and I am such a fan of cream eyeliners it is shameful.  My favorite is Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner because it has such great consistency, wearability and a gorgeous color selection.  I love the eyeliner in the MAC Style Warrior collection photo.  But you know if I showed up in some makeup like that, my friends would have me committed, and I would be stripped of my Beauty Guru status…

MAC Style Warrior Collection

However, I am not a makeup snob.  I shop for makeup anywhere makeup is sold.  Soooo, on a recent WalMart expedition, I was stocking up on my budget beauty buys and found this cream eyeliner from Black Radiance.  For $3.48 I figured if I hated it I could pawn it off on one of my daughters as a gift.  OMG!  I only bought black and I should have stocked up on every single color they sell.  How do I love thee… Let me count the ways…

1.  Price — under $4 with tax.  Less than a latte.

2.  Comes with the perfect little brush.  Most little tools are useless, but this one has perfect bristles and shape for easy lining.

3.  Truly Creamy!  Glides on.  No tugging.  A novice could apply this liner in a snap!

4.  Long wearing!  I would venture to say it is actually water resistant.  They don’t make that claim, but I do.

I give Black Radiance Cream Eyeliner 5 Blings!

Give up the goods!  Do you wear eyeliner?  What’s your favorite?  Share!!

Dear beauty diary:
I wanted to figure out how many beauty products I use each day, so I started my ticker counting when I turned on the shower. Hmmm, Can I count that cup of coffee? It is a diuretic after all, definitely helps with the belly bloat.

Getting into the shower and starting count.
1. Cleanse face with Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid Cleanser. Let that stay on while I wash my hair. 2. Rene Furterer Okara Protective Radiance Shampoo (for my dyed, highlighted, and bleached hair). Rinse off the cleanser because it’s dripping in my eyes and stinging. 3. Condition with Rene Furterer Okara Protective Radiance Conditioner. Wash up with 4. Tocca Cleopatra Bar soap. 5. Apply Jack Black Beard Conditioning Lube to lower legs. 6. Shave lower legs with Gilette Mach 3 razor. 7. Exfoliate facial skin with Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion. 8. Exfoliate Body Skin with Fresh Brown Sugar Scrub. (not the lower legs though, ouch) All done, rinse everything from head to toe.

Get out and gently pat my freshly scrubbed skin dry. Apply 9. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion with SPF 15 almost everywhere on my body. Especially feet, knees, elbows, backs of thighs and butt. 10. Go over that with my luxury Tocca Body cream on decolette and arms. (Subtle scent for my allegies) 11. Apply Caudalie Eye Contour Cream. Read my profile, no lines for this girl. Not even waiting in lines. 12. Apply Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Gel. Get undies on while that’s drying.

13. Apply Olay Microsculpting cream.  Yes, I said Olay.  It’s one of the best drug store budget beauty finds I have found in years.  14. Apply Bliss Thinny Thin Chin to my neck and wanna be jowels.  I refuse to have the turkey neck!15.  Follow with Laura Geller Spackle.  I love this primer, it seals in moisturizer and treatments.  16. Follow with Stila Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 mixed with Smashbox High Definition Foundation.  17. Hide my dark undereye circles  with LORAC Double Impact concealer. Make note — cut back on my therapeutic red wine before bed.  18.  Light dusting of Stila Illuminting Powder Foundation 60 Watts. 19. Nars Lovejoy blush on the apples of my cheeks. 20. Fill in eyebrows with $.99 pencil from the beauty supply. 21 Quick Sweep from the opposite end of LORAC Double Impact highlighter under my brow bone.  22. Bobbi Brown Liner in Ivy Shimmer Ink. 23. Loreal Voluminous Blackest Black Mascara, two coats 24. Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Lipgloss in Ginger.

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You have seen her. She is really cute and sassy, and she is probably your grandmother or great grandmother. And she has got those rouged up cheeks.  I mean you can see those pink cheeks coming from a mile away.  She has just gotten carried away with the blush.  Let’s just blame her eyesight on her over application.  Now granny isn’t the only one I see making blush blunders.  Oh nooooo.  Ladies who should know better are applying enough blush to  look  like kewpie dolls.  Or they look like they are stuck in the disco days.  So let’s review what blush to wear for your skin tone, type and where to place it.

Let’s start with powder blush today.   Pick brands that have a higher saturation of color for longer wearability.  Powder blushes with a hint of shimmer are beautiful because the shimmer acts as a light reflector, making the skin look luminous.  Women over40 definitely need to use blush with a hint of shimmer.  NARS knew this long ago when he created the best selling blush of all time, Orgasm.  Be sure to use a fluffy brush to apply your powder blush. 

Laura Geller Baked Blush Golden Apricot

Powder blush works well for all skin types.

Fair skins do best with rosy or pink tones.  Try Fresh FreshFace Blush Powder in Petal Pink. $28 I love the flush this gives the cheeks and often use it on my fairest brides.  Don’t be deceived by the pale pink color, this blush is loaded with pigment. 

 Tanned skin , olive skin  and light golden deep tones look beautiful whth coral blushes  or neutral blushes flecked with shimmer. Just look how Alicia Keys glows with her blushing cheeks.   Two blushes that are hands down gorgeous on this skin are NARS Orgasm and Laura Geller Baked Blush in Golden Apricot.  $29.50

Alicia Keys BET Awards June 28, 2009

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Beyonce’ has an alter ego — Sasha Fierce.  It’s her performance character, it’s Beyonce’s transition from everyday Beyonce’ to uber Beyonce, to fierce Beyonce’.  I’m sure every woman and girl must have something that she believes gives her “super” powers if you will.  Something you can pull out of a hat that makes you fierce.  It can be tangible — that little black dress that makes your hubby pounce.

Or maybe your fierceness comes from something intangible — and experience in life that has strengthened you beyond words.  Maybe it’s the glow in your children’s eyes when they tell you they love you.  Only you know that when you hit the pavement in the morning, that THING, that particular experience is what fuels you, it’s what keeps you going another day.  It’s what makes you FIERCE!

Beyonce' Oracle Arena Oakland, CA July 10, 2009

So not only are we in our summer season, I happen to be of the age where I am having my own personal summers.  It’s just not fun.  It’s not cute.  At the most akward times I find sweat pouring profusely from my face.  Or I am fanning myself with whatever is at hand, and that can be dangerous if I am in the middle of chopping veggies for dinner. 

Another sweaty situation…

Have you ever had the displeasure of shaking hands with someone who had sweaty palms?  It’s like shaking hands with a pervert.  It just feels totally gross.  I can’t wait to disinfect with Purell.

And yet another sweaty sticky mess…

Do you ever go out dancing?  I don’t mean that Arthur Murray stuff, I’m talking about the club.  I like to get my two-step on now and then, but there goes that sweating stuff again. After getting through Flo Rida and Black Eyed Peas, my hair is approaching afro status, and I am a candidate for a wet t-shirt contest.

So the skinny on a simple solution for Excessive Sweating…Drumroll please!

DERMAdoctor

MED e TATE

DermaDoctor Med e Tate $48

What the heck is hyperhydrosis?  According to DERMAdoctor, “Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition described as excessive sweating despite being inactive. Medical hyperhidrosis affects 3% of Americans. The face, underarms, palms, soles, areas under the breast, cleavage and groin areas are most commonly affected.” 

Med e Tate Packs

These handy wipes come individually packaged and you don’t have to have hyperhidrosis to need MED e TATE. Sweaty hands due to anxiety from dates, job interviews, and the curves that life throws you are embarrassing. MED e TATE helps prevent this. Also keeps make-up from melting on a hot day; prevents fashion emergency wet spots under breasts, underarms and inner thighs.

So I just placed my order for personal use, and for use on my clients to keep their makeup from running under hot lights, incredible pressure (brides and grooms).  Check back to see my formal review. 

You don’t have to take my word for it though.  Med e Tate has been positively reviewed by InStyle staffers who had the pleasant experience of remaining sweat-free all day! 

 Check out the Today Show’s review of Med e Tate.

So let me know if you try Med e Tate.  I would love your feedback!  And I happen to think that less sweat is definitely Blinging Beauty!

So much controversy surrounds Michael Jackson and his skin color.  Did he or didn’t he?  Did he bleach his skin or didn’t he?  I don’t really care, I grew up with Michael Jackson and just knew that I would marry Jermaine.  So I was a delusional 13 year old at that time. 

Michael claims to have vitiligo.  Much has been written on the subject of Michael’’s skin condition, but only a select few really know the truth.  Even fewer know what vitiligo is.  Many who suffer from vitiligo choose to even depigment all of their skin to appear “even”.  Many speculate that  Michael Jackson chose to depigment his skin  acheive his white appearance.  Michael also relied heavily on makeup.  

 According to the Mayo Clinic:

 Vitiligo (vit-ih-LI-go) is a condition in which your skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes. Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or no longer form melanin, causing slowly enlarging white patches of irregular shapes to appear on your skin.

Vitiligo affects all races, but may be more noticeable and disfiguring in people with darker skin. Vitiligo usually starts as small areas of pigment loss that spread with time. These changes in your skin can result in stress and worries about your appearance.

There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of treatment is to stop or slow the progression of pigment loss and, if you desire, attempt to return some color to your skin. 

Symptoms of Vitiligo

Causes of Vitiligo

 ABC news did a great job chronicling the ever changing face of Michael.   My favorite look of Michael’s however was this one:

Michael Jackson 1971 Got to be There

If you are suffering from vitiligo, there are options in the way of makeup.  I took lessons from Linda Siedel years ago and learned the art of corrective makeup.  Her Natural Cover is one of the best available for not only evening  the skin pigmentation, but covering tattoos, birth marks and scars.

Monday’s are now dedicated to Makeup 101.  Makeup 101 is all about making the right choices with your makeup, how-to and product recommendations.  Today let’s start with foundation.  I see so many women abusing foundation that it’s downright shameful.  If you are going to wear foundation, please, get it right.  There are two main considerations to keep in mind when choosing your foundation – 1.  Formulation and 2. Age.

Foundation Formulas

There are so many foundation formulas on the market now that it’s downright mind-boggling.  How do you distinguish what’s right for you?  First, take into consideration your skin type.  If you are oily, obviously you don’t want a thick, creamy foundation that screams dry/mature skin.  And of course the converse is true.  As we age, we lose that natural moisture factor on the surface on the skin, so as a rule,mature skins need to avoid matte formulas.  Dry, matte formulas on women over 40 or 50 just add years on and emphasize every line and wrinkle.

Here is a quick rundown on skin types, age groups and types of foundation that work best.

Keke Palmer at 2009 BET Awards

1.  Teens with oily skin

Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana Premier Madrid April 2009

 If you are a teen blessed with blemish-free skin, there is no need to cover it up with lots of foundation.  To control oil,just a sweepof oil-absorbing powder will work.  Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder is perfect.  $19   If you are plagued with blemishes, try a foundation with anti-bacterial properties.  Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil-Free Foundation has a patent pending formula that helps clear up blemishes. $12

Scarlett Johansson

3.  20’s with nomal to dry skin

Normal skin, if there is such a thing, appears almost poreless.  The girl with this nearly perfect skin we love to hate.  An ideal choice is a lightweight foundation with moisturizing properties or a tinted moisturizer.  Tinted moisturizers work equally well for dry skins.  They are triple duty products that give beautiful coverage along with keeping the skin moist and supple and provide SPF.  Try Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 which provides just enough color and coverage to even skin tone. $34  For liquid foundation, try CoverGirl Smoothers All Day Hydrating Makeup, which hyderates skin for up to 11 hours. Around $8 at drugstores.

Twenty somethings Scarlett Johansson and Rhianna both have skin that appears flawless, but both have been cover girls for major makeup manufacturers.  Scarlett Johansson with Dolce & Gabbana makeup, and Rihanna with CoverGirl.

 4.  30’s combination skin

Korres Wild Rose Foundation

Once you hit your 30’s, it’s a good idea to think about incorporating some anti-aging properties into your foundation.  The point here is to prevent now rather than have to correct later.  You may be oily, combination or have dryer skin, but all can benefit from foundation with ingredients that fight the hands of time.  Try KORRES Wild Rose Foundation  a natural, antiaging foundation formulated with Wild Rose extract, a potent source of vitamin C.  This foundation is works for all skin types, providing hydration, natural color and a velvety finish.  $28

 5.  40’s with fine lines, dehydration 

 Our skin  can start playing some horrible tricks on us once we get into our 40’s.   All of a sudden fine lines crop up out of nowhere.  Patches of dry skin appear.  Hyperpigmentation may be an issue.  Well, don’t fret.  Foundation even addresses skin care isues of women in their 40’s.  Try Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation SPF 15 an oil-free, weightless formula packed with anti-aging, revitalizing and firming ingredients. $38

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation

5.  50’s,  lines and dehydration

 You may be one of those women who has taken care of her skin and can get away with a tinted moisturizer.  Good for you!  If that’s the case, try Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer that  hydrates skin, softening  and easing fine, dry lines.  SPF 20 protects skin from sun damage while the wash of color provides a beautiful natural finish.  Skin looks youthful and radiant. I love this tinted moisturizer by Laura Mercier which is a perennial favorite of beauty editors. $42

For 50’s skin that needs some help, try Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation.  It works to correct skin undertones and offers all-day moisture, providing an even, dewy finish. A dose of specially treated pigments, blended with light diffusing mica, instantly soften the look of lines, wrinkles, and pores, creating a flawlessly radiant look. $50

There you have it, your Makeup 101 lesson on how to choose an age appropriate, formula appropriate foundation. 

 

Short and sexy hair! So the new trend with so many African American women, celebrities included, is to lose the locks!  Freedom from the weave, the wig, and fear of swimming.  Just look at Halle Berry.  I LOVE her with short hair.  I’m a 50+ woman and I think Halle is the bomb. In my book she’s the sexiest woman in Hollywood, hands down. Her body is perfection, her skin is flawless and she is a NATURAL beauty. She definitely hit the jackpot on the gene pool. Halle hit Hollywood with a cute face, slamming body and short hair. Halle went through a what I will call a mid-life crisis and caved into the “Hollywood” look. 

 However, her short hair evolved into a signature look that we all grew to love. Her face matured and her cheek bones became even more prominent. Those beautiful eyes and bright smile are what makes Halle the ideal candidate for short hair. That short pixie hair was at it’s shining best when she won her Oscar in 2002. (She was also married to Eric Benet at the time. Enough said. )  Okay, Halle just can’t look bad, but you have to admit that she is the bomb with shorter hair.  I’m glad she finally came to her senses and realized that her facial beauty is just brought to the fore with her sexy short hair cuts.  Halle Berry has sealed her fate as a Beauty Icon for the ages with her signature short hair!

Halle Berry 2002 Oscar Win

Halle as Bond Girl Jinx

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