Make Up Forever

Time to talk about more of the products I love!


Back in the mid 90's Make Up Forever sent me an assortment of products to play with and use on the various celebs who's make up I was doing for the Oscars, Independent Spirit Awards, DGAs etc. From that moment forward I fell in love with the line.


Make Up Forever is a professional make up line that isn't available in too many places. It was one of the first lines to be designed by an artist for artists to use. The products have vastly more pigment than regular department store products, which translates into make up with staying power.

It photographs beautifully, and wears amazingly. I not only use it in my kit, but also have many of the products in my personal make up collection too.

Today I want to introduce you to a couple of indispensables that my kit would not be complete without.





First up, the Sculpting Kit.


This comes in a variety of shades, but I mostly use shade 2. The paler color is used to highlight, I mostly use it on the upper cheekbone, and the darker shade is to contour. It doesn't go on heavily and it has a beautiful texture, so you can really blend and work it and not see it sitting on the surface of the skin.



In the 80's contouring was a big deal, and was hideously overdone to the point where we shied away from it for a long time.



Now with this product you can safely go back to contouring, really bring up the bone structure and fabulous features, without anyone knowing.



I use this product on virtually everyone who gets in my make up chair. I love it on photoshoots as it lights like a dream, but I also use it for events and appearances where the client will be interacting with other people - you cant see it, just the gorgeous results.





Next up, I swear by Sens Eyes.



Both at home and in my kit this one is a must. It will dissolve and remove any make up, including really stubborn waterproof eye make up, and it doesn't leave a slimy film on the skin, so you can reapply make up straight over it.
I use it on a Q tip to lift off stained red lipstick, or do any mini repairs that are needed.
As the label suggests, its super gentle, so even the most sensitive eyes and skin do brilliantly with it.
If you're doing waterproof mascara this summer while you're having fun in the sun/surf/pool etc, this is what you want to be removing it with.

If you want to get all the technical jargon, ingredients etc on these products (and some of it is really quite fascinating) check them out at http://www.makeupforever.com/

You can buy Make Up Forever at Sephora.
In NYC its worth making the trip to their studio store, where you'll find a far more extensive range of products, especially on the pro side.
In LA I make my pilgramage to the incredible Nigel Emporium in North Hollywood, where movies and TV shows stock up on the good stuff, and check out their selection of Make Up Forever pro products.
In the Phoenix area the Skin & Make Up Institute carries Make Up Forever too.

Keep following this blog, and I will introduce you to many more products from this very fabulous line!

Have a gorgeous day...

Attention Race Fans.... Prelude to the Dream

Its funny how life works. A couple of years ago I booked a last minute make up job that I nearly didn't take, but that dropped me into one of the great love affairs of my life. (racing!)

It was a photoshoot at a race track, with a couple of race car drivers. Being that I'm all about high heels, a killer hairdo and some wicked lipgloss, I had approximately zero interest in it, had never heard of any of the people I met that day, had never been around racing and had no plans to ever be around racing. So I was not prepared for the crazy excitement that would follow!

All I can say is if you've never been to actually see a race live, there is just nothing like it!I've always loved huge rock concerts, and the closest parallel I can give you is that moment at a concert when the lights go down, the crowd goes wild, the drums start pounding, the guitars come peeling out, and your heart is beating so hard it might burst. Thats just the beginning when its a day at the races.

Since then I've been many times, and to several different types of motor racing. You could say I've become bit of an addict...

Anyway, last year a racer that I've done photoshoots with invited me to a super cool event in Rossdale Ohio at the Eldora race track. The track is owned by a guy called Tony Stewart who drives in Nascar, and is supposed to be quite a character.

Tony holds a charity event each year at his track, and the part I got to go to was called The Prelude to The Dream. Basically a bunch of Nascar drivers and a couple of NHRA drivers racing cars called Dirt Late Models.

When we arrived Tony was driving this big earthmover thing around the track, getting it ready for the race. I thought it was quite charming really, as he could easily have had someone else do it for him.

Thousands of fans show up to cheer on their favorite drivers. I'd never watched Nascar, so had no clue who any of these dudes were, apart from Jeff Gordon.

I was told that day that hanging out with Jeff Gordon is as huge as hanging out with Elvis. All day I kept wondering if that would be fat Elvis or Blue Hawaii?

(Actually I'd heard of Earnhardt too, but as far as I know he wasn't there). You could say it was a great introduction to Late Model racing. This event was dirty and dusty, loud as hell, wild, crazy, terrifying and exciting all in one! Before I knew it I was completely hooked.

Jeff Gordon in his pit Prelude to the Dream 2008

Kasey Kahne in his pit Prelude to the Dream 2008



Ryan Newman was a really cool guy

I think this guy is Matt Kenseth?

One of the car owners had a daughter there that day who wanted to tool around with my camera. Consequently I have all these photos of her favorite drivers. There were lots of other pictures too, but I couldn't post them all.

Prelude to the Dream is on again this year on June 3rd, and you can watch it on HBO pay per view. Check it out at www.HBO.com/events/prelude

I am just dying that I wont be there!

Maybe the moral of this silly little story is to always be open to opportunities that come your way - you never know what fun and exciting things are right around the corner!

Sometimes the new things that you dont think you'll like are the best things ever...

Adam Lambert Necklace, American Idol

Everybody out there in internet-land has been buzzing about the killer necklace that Adam Lambert wore in the finals on American Idol last week. The world at large wants to know who designed it and where you can get them.


Well guess what??? It is a handmade piece, designed and made by one of my very best friends!!!


The Adam Lambert necklace was designed and made by Michelle Mirkovich of Divinity Jewelry





Michelle designs custom pieces for musicians all over the world, and we regulare folk can get out hands on them too! Lets check out the Adam piece again...







If you would like to check out Michelle's cool rock n roll pieces, go to http://www.divinityjewelry.com

I'm going to do a little feature on Michelle in the next couple of weeks, so keep checking in!

I hope you're all having a fabulous Memorial Weekend!

The Greatest Love.....

I am always being asked by clients, friends and everyone else, what my favorite product is.

When it comes to skin care I am in love beyond love with the amazing Cream de La Mer.

When the product first hit the market I could tell when a client sat in the make up chair if they were using it. La Mer gave results like nothing else, skin radiated such a glowing beauty, and every celeb had her fingers in it!

These days you dont hear about it quite as much, but the product still packs the most fabulicious punch. Its magic in a jar when dealing with a tricky or troubled skin, especially when skin is dehydrated or looking a little dull.

On photoshoots when we need a little help, it gives me instant results and breathes such life into the skin, which then makes make up look fantastic.

Personally I use it as my rescue product. I never fly anywhere without it. On longhaul international flights its the only thing on my skin, and I may reapply a couple of times throughout the flight. Even after 14 hours in the air from LA to Sydney my skin arrives looking radiant and immaculate!

Any time my skin needs some extra lovin, any time I'm looking tired, any time my world needs a boost, I turn to my Cream de La mer. Its divine, its perfection, its true love, and when you open the jar you get bathed in magic white light, and the angels sing.....

Protect That Beautiful Face From The Sun!

Have you ever had one of those hideous photo-aging pics done, and seen the crazy sun damage thats lurking under the surface of your skin, ready to bust out and steal your flawless glory?

Quite frankly, its ghastly! (BTW thats not me)

For years I thought I was doing the right thing by only using moisturizers and foundations that have SPFs in them (usually SPF15). Then the sun damage started peeking thru....

You see the SPF in those products doesn't quite cut it. Its a fabulous accessory, a wonderful and clever addition to your SPF wardrobe, but its not enough on its own.

If you think about how much sunscreen you put on at the beach, its literally tablespoons full. Your moisturizer tends to be just a quick wipe.

I have found over the years that most free standing facial SPFs tend to be either too slimy on the surface of the skin, so make up doesn't adhere well, or otherwise after a few days the skin starts breaking out.

After years of searching I have found the purrfect solution!

Everyday (even in the winter months) after my moisturizer has had a couple of minutes to soak in, I then apply one of my favorite products, Rhonda Allison SPF 30. This one soaks into your skin, and after a couple of minutes you can apply your make up over it.

I've used this product for two years now, and swear by it!

Most of your facial sun damage happens while you're going about your day, moving back and forward from your car to the office/store/wherever you're going. Thats why a super-duper facial SPF is vital!

Now if I'm going to the beach, lying by the pool, on a boat, hiking, biking or on an outdoor location shoot (you get the picture) I change things up a bit. For that kind of powerhouse exposure you need to break out the big guns!

One of my faves is La Posay Athenios SPF 50 .
I use this on models, celebs etc when we're working outdoors. They understand the importance of a hardcore SPF more than most!

I also love the Neutrogena Helioplex SPFs and have several including SPF 55 and SPF 75 etc.

They dry to a nice finish and make up goes straight over them beautifully. If you're out having fun in the sun with no make up on you won't have that slimy, shiny look to your skin either.

Lastly, don't forget to apply SPF to your throat and chest. Sun damaged necks and decolletes are so unsexy and sooo aging! I swear by big hats and big glasses too.

Stay beautiful!

Desert Mountain with Victoria Canada

Thats me on the left in the Cruz tequila shirt, (courtesy of Connie Eskelson) and Victoria is on the right

Today I worked with one of my favorite event planners in the world, Victoria Canada. I say "in the world" because Vic literally does plan events anywhere and everywhere! And lucky old me gets to go along for the make up portion of the fun ride. I love to travel and I love to do make up, so it works out perfectly!

I work with Vic in many exciting locales, and todays was wickedly beautiful. We were at Chiricahua up at Desert Mountain in Arizona. The views are ridiculously beautiful and breathtaking.

Victoria is known nationwide for her stylish, chic and unique events. She owns two event companies that work in harmony with each other. You can check her out at http://www.weddingsandevents.net/ and also at her event gallery in Scottsdale Arizona, Bright Event Gallery. If you are not in the greater Phoenix/Scottsdale area you can check out the gallery at http://www.abrightevent.com/