5 Essential Beauty Items For Winter ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week #35

My friends over at Glossier.com recently asked me about my essential beauty products for winter.
Like me, the girls at Glossier prefer to see a really gorgeous complexion rather than a face masked in makeup. 
So with winter's cold winds, ice and snow, the drying effects of central heating and the general havoc the season wrecks on your skin, here are my essential items for winter beauty.

image source Glossier.com

 

Oil Cleanser

Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil

Oil cleansers are amazing. They dissolve makeup, clean your skin and leave it with a silky soft finish. They are incredibly soothing to sensitive or irritated skin, luscious on dry skin, and even fabulous for oily skin, because oil lifts away oil.

Try Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil

Soothing Face Mist

Glossier Soothing Face Mist

After cleansing, or whenever your skin feels tight or dry try spritzing a little soothing face mist. You can even lightly spritz it over makeup that looks dehydrated to breathe some new life into it.

Face mists are wonderful to have with you when you travel and are a lovely pick me up for your skin.

Try Glossier's Soothing Face Mist, made with roses and aloe.

Eye Gels

Diaforce Gold and Diamond Hydrogels

When the skin around your eyes needs some extra lovin' try spending 10 to 15 minutes with a pair of eye gels. They soothe tired or dehydrated under-eyes, take away puffiness, diminish fine lines and wrinkles and make you look and feel revitalized.

Try Diaforce Gold and Diamond Hydrogels available online at Memebox.com

A Really Good Lip Balm

When the weather gets cold your lips get dried and chapped, which as best is unsightly and at worst is very painful, especially when they crack open. To stay ahead of lip chapping or to help it heal if its already happening your lips need a super sonic lip balm.

Try Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic. It contains bee propolis and argan oil and also works as a fabulous lipstick base.

Add In A Hair Oil

Bumble And Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil

Your hair is also in need of some extra help in the winter months. Like your skin it gets dry, add in hats and scarves creating extra frizz and your formerly smooth hair starts to look totally frazzled.

A lightweight hair oil helps it stay nourished, healthy and shiny.

Try Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil. You can find it online at SpaceNK

The Gift List For The Girl Who Loves Skin Care ~ Tatcha

Have you started making your holiday gift lists yet? 
Both to give and to receive?

Today's post is perfect for anyone who loves skin care products.
These gift sets make gorgeous business gifts, if you are getting married they are perfect bridesmaids gifts, they are ideal for the traveler - both business travelers and recreational travelers (I buy them for myself, these are actually the products that I travel around the country and around the  world with), and they are just wonderful for any beauty maven to open under the tree. 
You just can't go wrong!

Japanese luxury skin care brand Tatcha makes the most beautiful gift sets. The products are incredible and the packaging is lovely. You always feel special when you are opening their gift boxes, even when you are gifting them to yourself!

All the gift sets in this post can be ordered online at Tatcha.com

The Tatcha Hakken Set $95 contains trial sizes of their world famous beauty ritual, their eye cream and their SPF.

The Hakken Set

Get products details here.

At only $25 the Yuki / Pure As Snow Set makes a fabulous stocking stuffer!

Yuki / Pure As Snow Gift Set

Yuki contains a travel sized Camellia Cleansing Oil and a Polished Rice Enzyme Powder. These two products give you skin as smooth as freshly fallen snow.
Check out the products in the Yuki Set Here.

Did you know that Indigo has healing properties? Ancient Samurai used to wear a layer of indigo cotton under their war uniforms, so that if they found themselves on the wrong end of an opponent's sword the indigo could start the healing process immediately.
Tatcha has an entire line of Indigo skin care products. In fact the first time I ever used Tatcha I used the Indigo line to heal and sooth my winter-stung skin. I was hooked from day one and have since become their biggest fan (along with every celebrity I ever work with!)

Aiiro / Soothing Blue Gift Set

The Tatcha Aiiro / Soothing Blue Gift Set $79 is a fabulous winter gift, with it's Indigo Handcream and luxe Indigo Body Butter.
Read about the Aiiro / Soothing Blue gift set here.
Find out about the healing Indigo product line here.

In the mood for something super-luxe? 
The  Tabi / Ultimate Journey Gift Set features a hand-finished calfskin suitcase which was crafted by artisans in Kyoto, with genuine kimono fabric woven in a pattern reserved for the Japanese Imperial Family. The case is filled with full size Tatcha skin care treasures.

Tabi / Ultimate Journey Gift Set

See the details on the Tabi Gift Set here


All Tatcha gift sets come with free shipping, samples and gift wrapping.

Six Simple Steps To Sensational Skin For Fall ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week # 31

image by Kelly Cappelli, makeup by Corinna Cooke, hair by Will Zecco

I hold on to summer until the last possible minute. I live in sunshine drenched Phoenix, which definitely makes it easier, but even out here eventually fall arrives.

Wherever it is that you are living, the transition from summer to fall to winter can be really taxing on your skin.
Your skin dries out, gets sensitive (and sometimes raw and red), it loses it's glow and become lifeless and dull as well as pale and almost grey.
Before you get crazy trying to infuse vibrancy back into your complexion with highlighters and bronzers, before you smother your skin in heavy foundation, check out these six simple steps to sensational skin for fall.

1. Change Your Cleanser.

If you use a foaming or lathering "face wash" style cleanser try changing it to a gentle cleansing milk, or even better try my personal favorite, an oil cleanser.

Try Malin and Goetz Facial Cleansing Oil from SpaceNK

Malin and Goetz Facial Cleansing Oil

2. Exfoliate

With the hot months well behind us it's time for a gentle exfoliation to get rid of all of the debris summer left on the surface of your skin, and to clear away the lingering dead cells.
Personally I am not a fan of scrub type products. I always think they create a cycle of scratched, rough skin, so instead I use enzyme peels to exfoliate and give my skin an absolutely unbelievable glow. One of my favorites is Philosophy's incredibly affordable The Microdelivery one minute purifying enzyme peel.

The Microdelivery by Philosophy

3. Add A Serum

Serums are a super important step in the road to glorious, youthful, radiant skin. You apply serum after cleansing and before moisturizing. They tend to be very concentrated so you only need a very small amount.
Think of serum as being a super sonic skin booster that goes extra deep and works at the ultimate performance level. 
My favorite serum, the absolute Holy Grail of serums, is Japanese luxury brand Tatcha's amazing Radiant Brightening Serum. My movie star clients' eyes light up the moment they see it on my makeup table because they know their skin is going to look like magic.

Tatcha's magnificent Radiant Deep Brightening Serum

 

4. Add Daytime Protection

At night we replenish and rejuvenate the skin, but during the day we need to focus on protecting the skin both from dehydration and from the ravages of exposure to environmental pollutants. One of the ways to do this is by adding an ampoule.
Ampoules can be used at night in conjunction with your serum, and they can be used during the day underneath your moisturizer. 
The Cosrx Propolis Light Ampule contains bee propolis which super hydrates and protects your skin. It also acts like a natural antibiotic, clearing up skin irritation. 

Cosrx Propolis Light Ampule

5. Layer Your Hydration Products

I love the K Beauty concept of layering multiple skin care products, especially hydration products. If your skin is starting to feel the drying effects of winter weather try the Korean skin care routine of layering your first night time moisturizer, an emulsion, over your serum and then sealing it all in with a sleeping pack.
I have been using the Holika Holika Black Caviar Emulsion as my moisturizer and then layer over top the SNP Gold Collagen Sleeping Pack  (both available online at Memebox), which seals all the skin care products in.
Sounds like a lot? Check out my post about How To Layer Your Skin Care Korean Style. Sleeping packs don't feel heavy. They just feel like a regular night cream.

Holika Holika Black Caviar Emulsion

SNP Gold Collagen Sleeping Pack

6. Add In A Brightening Mask

Sheet masks are a quick an effective way to brighten dull skin.
Every week or two use a sheet mask like the Elisha Coy Natural pearl Mask available online at Memebox

Elisha Coy Natural Pearl Mask

3 Makeup Tips For A Blusher Veil ~ Bridal Beauty Tip #25

I have a wedding coming up where the bride is wearing a floor length blusher veil. That is, a veil that will cover her face and drape down to the floor as she walks down the aisle.
Doesn't that just sound fabulous??

I love the idea of that frisson of mystery that everyone will feel the moment the cathedral doors open and she is standing there, all back-lit and enigmatic. I love that she will float down the aisle in a diaphanous mist of glamour, and no one will know quite how she looks until the veil is lifted.

Bridal perfection at Oscar de la Renta

Ah - the drama!

Blusher veils and especially floor length blusher veils require a little extra thought and planning on the part of your beauty team.
Your hairstylist has to factor in the weight of the veil and how it will pull or weigh down the front of your hairstyle. He also has to think about the products he is using. They can't be even slightly sticky in case they grab or adhere to the veil, and shine products can't be too oily or have any residue that can attach to it.

image via DHGate.com

For makeup (my department) there are several considerations to keep in mind as well. Here are 3 of them:

1. Accentuate The Positive.

A blusher veil puts a soft focus diffusion on the face, so the facial features need to be a little more accentuated to make sure they don't completely disappear. This doesn't mean makeup overkill, or even big, dark makeup, instead have your makeup artist gently bring out your eyebrows, shape your cheekbones, and fill out your mouth.

image via veiltrends.blogspot.com

2. Set The Shine.

You want you skin to look luminous and glowing, but you have to stay on top of any excess sheen on your forehead and nose that can come in contact with the veil, leaving a foundation colored smudge to precede you down the aisle. Be sure to use a mattifying primer underneath your foundation through your T Zone, and apply an extra layer of translucent setting powder to your forehead and nose before heading to the church.
If you tend to get oily/shiny across your forehead and nose, use blotting papers before you get out of the car.
I give my brides Tatcha Aburatorigami blotting papers. They are beautiful and luxurious and work brilliantly.

3. Be Aware Of The Lip.

You can glossy-up your lip after the ceremony, but for the time the veil will be over your face stay away from a high sheen lip. Opt instead for something in a matte or soft satin finish that won't grab onto the veil and make a mess both on the veil, and as a consequence, on your mouth. If you've ever dealt with wind whipping strands of your hair onto your lip and then onto your face you will know what I'm talking about! 
As you walk your veil will move and flutter a little, so you need to make sure you wont have a problem if it does touch your mouth as you move.
One lip trick that I love when my bride is wearing a blusher veil is to use a deeper toned stain on the lip. It makes a beautiful statement and looks looks stunning though the veil, and it's safe for him to kiss without worrying that he will end up wearing it.

5 Must Have Beauty Products To Take To Australia

Today I am blogging from Australia, not in my favorite city in the world, Sydney, but up in beautiful Queensland by the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland Australia

God I love Australia!

Every time I come here I am blown away by the giant, wide open skies, the beauty of these unspoiled beaches, the truth in the colors, and just how completely and utterly amazing this place really is!!

Oh - and the people?? Just the most wonderful, friendly, fun folks on earth!

I should also be given some kind of award for having the balls to get on the beach here after nearly three weeks of food and wine in Italy. But meh - life's too short to let a few extra curves get in the way of a good time!

I was asked recently which are my 5 beauty products to take to Australia. I am really paring down my travel beauty stash, especially after Italy, where I really only wore 5 things each day.

So, heading to the land down under?

Here are 5 Must Have Beauty Products To Take To Australia

1. The Best Skin Serum Ever

Tatcha Radiant Deep Brightening Serum

My normal skin care routine involves layering as many heavy, deep moisturizing products as possible. But that doesn't work quite so well when you are traveling, and when you are traveling to a beach area where in all likelihood things will get a little steamier and more humid.

Tatcha's Radiant Deep Brightening Serum keeps your skin hydrated and makes it look luminous, as if lit from within. It is the absolute holy grail of serums, a celebrity favorite, and if I am scaling back my skin care to just one item, this is the one!

2. An On-Going Sunscreen Plan

 Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen

I've used ColoreScience Mineral Sunscreen for years, and at home I always have one stashed in my handbag.
The sun in Australia is really fierce, so sun protection is extra important. 
I still start the day by slathering a broad spectrum 
SPF 85 all over my face and throat, but lets face it, once we have our makeup on, or are on the beach we are less likely to keep reapplying more sunscreen. We don't want to jack up whatever makeup we are already wearing, or if we are on the beach we don't want to be grinding sand into our skin.
This mineral powder sunscreen with it's own built in brush does double duty by knocking down excess shine (super benefit in humid climes) and letting you re-protect your skin every couple of hours without getting any cakey build up. 

After having Ultherapy (the greatest thing I ever did!) my entire makeup routine has changed. Ultherapy gives your skin lift and firmness, which means you no longer need to use makeup to create that illusion.
Thanks to Ultherapy, the entire time I was in Italy leading the Corinna B's World Glam Italia II Tour I only wore 3 makeup products each day. I'm rolling out the same game for Australia.

Read about Ultherapy here

If you are streamlining your makeup look you need to pay attention to 3 main things. Your brows, your lashes and your lips.

3. Serious Brow Game

Anastasia Brow Wiz
This mechanical brow pencil is perfect on many levels. The colors are spot on - not too ashy and not too red, so you can build a really nice brow, either sculpted or full, and not look artificial. It lasts all day too.

4. A Killer Mascara

Diorshow Blackout Mascara
I am loyal to the very end. I have used Diorshow Blackout Mascara ever since it first came out, and for me it is still just the greatest mascara out there. The color payoff is fantastic, and you can build thick, luscious, glossy lashes that stay looking fab until you take your makeup off at night.
When I'm beaching I use the waterproof formula, any other time I use regular.

5. Two Great Lip Options

When you are doing a bare faced look you need a strong brow balanced with a strong lip. When you are on vacation you really don't want to be messing with lipstick touch ups every 5 minutes, so I like to use a really saturated lip with a strong color payoff.
I'm in love with Temptu Color True Lipstick in Pink Hype

It's a nice blue based pink that packs some power while making your teeth and the whites of your eyes look sparkly and white.

On the days I don't want such a big lip game I've been wearing Nars Lipstick in Roman Holiday. 
This was actually a gift from a client and I wore it non stop in Italy when I wanted a softer, glossier mouth. Between the two I had all the bases covered. 

Keep Your In-Flight Beauty Game - Strong! beauty Tip Of The Week #25

Have you ever watched an international flight deplaning? Especially a good, long flight?
It's like watching a real live episode of The Walking Dead, without the bloody bits.
Passengers tend to look a uniform shade of ashen grey, their hair is all over the place - in general they look like hell.

When my plane lands I'm always either bouncing straight into work or into some fun social engagement, so I need to have my game face on. Or at least not look like a vampire. for me it's all about which beauty products I take on board with me. This morning I'm packing for the Glam Italia 2 Tour which takes off tomorrow, so today we are looking at some Cabin Baggage Beauty.

Here is what is coming on board with me:

Beauty products going in my cabin baggage

Starting with skin care. I always fly with no makeup on. Makeup looks ghastly at the end of a long flight, so I work my skin care game throughout the flight and then either put on makeup an hour before landing, or in the restroom after we de-plane.

Read my post about beating Jet Lag here

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist is a lifesaver. I spritz this on before the flight and then as needed during the flight for extra hydration and nourishment.

I give my skin a liberal coating of both Tatcha Ageless Revitalizing Cream and Tatcha Ageless Revitalizing Eyecream to bind in the moisture. I either buy them in travel size, or get them in sampler boxes from the Tatcha website. These items are from the Mother's Day Gift Set I received this year.

Tatcha Gold Camellia Lip Balm keeps lips from drying out and cracking and also feels incredibly luxe.

Don't forget your hands - they suffer from the lack of water in the air too. Keep your hands looking lovely with Tatcha Indigo Handcream (also available in travel size).

Instead of looking ghostly when you land, apply a sheer coat of Makeup Forever Skin Equalizer primer to give your skin an even surface, followed by Makeup Forever Lift Concealer (if you have dark rings under your eyes) and a little MAC BB cream to bring back some color into your complexion and get rid of the long flight pallor.
I love Inglot AMC Liquid Blush. If you don't have access to Inglot grab a Nars Multiple Stick in a warm tone like Portofino.

A full face of makeup isn't necessary, just focus on your brows, cheeks, lashes and lips. Givenchy makes a good brow pencil, I've used the Shu Uemura lash curler for years, and I'm a die-hard fan of Diorshow Blackout Mascara. I use a flesh toned pencil from Philosophy in the water line to brighten my eyes

When you are looking washed out your best friend is a pair of dark sunglasses and a bright lip.
Reds can be a little too fierce so I always go for the vibrant pop of color you get from bold pinks and fuchsias. Try MAC lipstick in Impassioned after shaping your pout with MAC lip liner in Vino.

Everyone smells awful after 8 hours+ in a cabin with recirculating air. More importantly your hair smells stale. 
Oribe Cote D'Azur Hair Refresher Spray smells like heaven and totally refreshes your locks. (you can buy it in travel size too)

All these items fit easily into my see thru Miami Blue cosmetics pouch from Stephanie Johnson.

Can you believe Katy Perry got the Carine Roitfeld treatment? I'm going to read all about it in the September issue of Harpers Bazaar during my flight.

How To Repair Summer Skin Damage ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week #23

With summer winding down it's time to take stock of the damage we've done to our skin during the warm and sunny months, and come up with a plan to both protect our skin and heal it.

Here are a selection of skin care products to fight environmental damage, erase dark spots, super hydrate and heal, and turn back the clock on summer to give you radiant, gorgeous, glowing skin.

From Philosophy, The  Microdelivery Overnight Anti Aging Peel $82 combines the skin smoothing, micro exfoliation of a peel with the soothing, calming, restorative benefits of an overnight sleep mask. You wake up with gorgeous, glowing skin!

Rodial's Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel $98 is magic in a bottle! It masks redness, plumps and smooths skin to reduce wrinkles, and leaves your skin looking firm and renewed.

Protect your skin from environmental pollutants and damaging free radicals by adding vitamin C to your skin care routine. Ciracle Vitamin Source C-20 not only protects your skin, but also makes it look brighter and more vital. Vitamin Source C-20's incredible delivery system gets the nutrients deep into your skin to lighten dark spots, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and helps your skin to create healthy new cells.

It's Skin Power 10 Formula CO Effector $11 is a super affordable example of how staggeringly effective Korean skin care products really are. This highly potent collagen serum needs only a couple of drops to be massaged into the skin to super hydrate from the inside out, making the skin look instantly resilient and moisturized.
You can read more about the Korean skin care revolution here

Tatcha's Radiant Deep Brightening Serum is the Holy Grail of serums, and as such is the secret currency of celebrities. The instant it hits your skin you begin to see absolute magic happening. No matter what your skin type you see your complexion become radiant, firm, glowing. Although the company makes no claims about this serum healing anything, I have seen dreadful facial eczema disappear overnight, scaly, alligator like skin smooth in front of my eyes and red, irritated skin calm down in minutes. This is easily one of the greatest skin care products ever created.

SNP's Gold Collagen Sleeping Pack $30 is another brilliant piece of Korean skin technology, and is the final step in your night time skin care routine. After layering on your serums, essences and ampoules you apply an even layer of sleeping pack across the face and neck at least 10 minutes before bed. When you wake up you gently remove any residue with luke warm water. Your skin will be absolutely shimmering! This product is super nourishing, moisturizing and healing, and an incredible ally in damage control and the fight against aging.
And did I mention it has gold in it??

The Coveted List August ~

I'm getting ready for a month of international travel that includes a couple of 36 hour + travel days involving multiple flights and trains.
The tricky thing about super long travel days, especially the ones that involve more than one international flight, is finding a way to be comfortable and still look good, even when you are stepping off a 10 hour flight 24 hours after leaving home.
So I am shopping the wardrobe that makes it all work.
Or at least coveting it...

I love traveling with a chic backpack instead of a handbag. Backpacks are much easier to maneuver around with. You can fit whatever you need in there, and get perfect weight balance across both shoulders rather than dragging weight on one shoulder.
And they look stylish! 

Check out this Tory Burch Amanda Backpack  at Nordstrom.

The Nic And Zoe Feel Good Pant travels well and is super comfortable - even when you are trapped in an uncomfortable airplane seat. 

The great thing about this pair of pants is that they don't look trashed when you get off the plane, instead the fabric moves as you do, and looks fresh when you change into sandals and a clean T.

The Splendid V Neck High/Low Sweater from Nordstrom is a fine knit cashmere blend that wards off airplane chill while looking good.

Wrap up in the Alexander McQueen Reversible Hibiscus and Skull Scarf  to keep your neck and chest warm in flight, or pair it with a white tank or T when you land.

Prada's Leather Espadrille combines comfort and ease with a little panache. You can run through airport terminals in them, and you can walk all over Rome in them, as comfortable as can be, and they never look anything but chic. The leather uppers breathe well and hold their shape.

Tory Burch Miller Sandals are a great alternative to slip on when you land. They look perfect with the Nic and Zoe pants.

Cartier Love Bracelet in pink gold and Cartier Love rings in pink gold. Because I love Cartier. And I love love.

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist is fabulous for everyday use, but is also a life saving revitalizing facial mist to keep your skin hydrated and glowing during your flight. When you are away from home and your skin starts freaking out, this dewy skin mist is the ultimate travel hack skin saver - it's soothing and calming and relaxes your skin back into happy mode.

Tatcha Brightening Serum is the holy grail of serums. 

It heals and soothes, hydrates and deep treats any skin type. You can use it alone as a light but super effective moisturizer on extra hot or humid days, or on long flights, or layer it with your moisturizer on normal days. It makes your skin glow as if lit from within. Wear it just one time and you will never want to go without it again.

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg. The satiny finish on these lip pencils make your lips look lush and hydrated after a long flight. Most people look washed out and drained when they deplane. A little pop of color on your lip makes you look rejuvenated and refreshed.