Jessica Alba for Vogue Italia

This past weekend at a production meeting I was referencing a cool hairstyle I'd seen a while back in a Vogue Italia spread. We pulled the issue, and were quite shocked to see that the edgy-sexy-cool girl in the images was none other than Jessica Alba!

I'd never seen her look so hot before, so even though its from a back issue, I figured it was well worth revisiting.
Shot by the amazing Michelangelo di Battista for Vogue Italia April 2011, looking nothing like the girl next door (unless you live in Fiercetown), here is Jessica Alba:

Makeup by Dotti for Streeters NY

How much hot can you handle??

Kristen Stewart W Magazine September Issue

I LOVE this!!

I adore Kristen Stewart anyway. I love that she's so ballsy and says what she wants.
She keeps rolling out these amazing photos too.

Kristen Stewart covers W Magazine's September Issue 2011

Looking like vintage Brooke Shields crossed with vintage Priscilla Presley.

Ridiculously, ridiculously hot.

Shot by Mert & Marcus
Hair by Luigi Murenu
Makeup by Lucia Pieroni

5 Steps To Luscious Lips

Want your lips to look ultra lush and kissable?

Angelina Jolie and her world famous lips

Here are 5 Steps To Luscious Lips

1.) Exfoliate - gently!
Before you do anything else, gently exfoliate the dead skin from the surface of your lips.
Use an organic lip scrub such as Lip Tea Scrub from H.Wood Beauty, a wash cloth or a soft bristled toothbrush.

2.) Lip Balm
Use lip balm every night before bed, and first thing in the morning to help protect and hydrate the lip.
Any time you exfoliate your lips follow up with lip balm, and let it soak in before going to the next step.

3.) Use A Lip Primer
Dab on either a silicone gel or a cream primer to help fill in the lines around the lip and to keep your lips looking smooth.

4.) Liner
With a pencil the same color as your natural lip color, trace your mouth, starting in the middle and working your way out to the corners, using a lighter hand as you work your way out. Next fill your lip in with the pencil, using it as your color base.

5.) Color
Avoid pale or frosty shades and nudes that match your skin or are paler than your skin. If going for a flesh tone opt for a shade that has a little pink to it, and a little more depth than your own skin tone.
Dark shades will may your lips look small, overly matte finishes will make your lips look dry. Instead choose lipcolors with a sheen to them. Grapes and raspberries always look luscious and have sufficient blue undertones to really make your teeth look white.
Orange based lip color tends to make teeth look yellow.
Feeling tired? A bold pink or fuchsia will add an instant pop of life to your complexion.

Nars Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner

Apparently I'm turning into a Nars junkie.
Lately everything they do, I love.

Now they have a new eyeliner arriving for fall.

 The new-for-Fall Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner takes eyeliner to the next level. Rich, creamy color glides on smoothly with a budgeproof finish is combined with incomparable 12-hour wear that doesn’t cake or smear. Available in nine deeply dramatic shades, from light almond to blackest black, the shades are named for the most iconic streets in the world.

To celebrate the launch of the new Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, NARS introduces a film created and directed by Fabien Baron, longtime partner and friend of the brand. To convey the product’s precision application and striking impact, the modern film shows two mechanical arms (tools commonly used in surgical and engineering practices) applying the shade Via Veneto to model Emily Baker, in an elegant, lifelike movement. The film is currently available on the NARS YouTube Channel.Enjoy.

Sleeping Beauty

When you're in your 20s you don't really think about it too much. But add in some babies or simply roll into your 30s, and what woman doesn't fantasize about getting more sleep?

Apart from feeling good, getting seven to nine hours sleep per night, which is the average number of hours an adult needs, helps prevent the following:

 Hyperpigmentation

I did not know this! It turns out that not getting enough sleep stresses the body, which triggers the activation of the proopiomelanocortin gene. (I hope I spelled that correctly - I'd never even heard of it before!)
This causes the body to produce excess pigment that can appear as light brown speckles and spots on the face.

Sagging Skin
Because your blood pressure is higher when you're awake, fluids from your blood vessels leach into your skin and stretch it slightly. When you sleep, these fluids get reabsorbed, but if you don't get sufficient sleep the fluids don't get completely reabsorbed, and the skin stays stretched.
This of course is especially noticeable around the eye area, where the skin is thinner.

Permanent dark circles.

The same fluids that cause puffiness also deposit red blood cells in the skin. These then stay there and show through the skin as dark circles.



Wow.

I read not so long ago that mother of 2 toddlers, Jennifer Lopez gets on average 10 hours sleep per night.
No wonder she looks so young!
I probably average 5....

Sweet dreams ~

Vogue Deutschland August 2011

Deutschland, Deutschland Uber Alles!!

How totally hot is this???

Canadian model Anais Pouliot photographed by Horst Diekgerdes  for Vogue Deutschland August 2011 issue.

2011 trifft auf die 40er Jahre - eine Liebesaffaere!

Its 2011 in a tryst with the 1940s...

dramatische Augenbrauen und ein ausdrucksvoller Mund

strong, dramatic brows and a strong mouth

ein Pelzmantel gepaart mit schwarzen Seidenstruempfen

a fur coat paired with black stockings

and the perfect bottom

Ein kanadisches Fotomodell gepaart mit einem brillianten deutschen Fotografen und aufregenden Dessous: Das Ergebnis ist ein erotisches  Feuerwerk!!
When you combine a beautiful Canadian model, a brilliant German photographer and exciting lingerie, the result is pure magic!!


... bis zum nachsten mal, tschuss!! xoxo...

Top 4 Makeup Mistakes That Make You Look Older

Want to look a little more youthful?

Here are 4 major makeup mistakes that age you like crazy!!

1. Wearing dark, matte shades.
As a rule dark colors on your eyes, cheeks and/or lips make everything look sunken in and smaller. Avoid using anything too matte. Flat, matte shadows make eyes look tired, and unless your lips are well hydrated, matte lipsticks can leave your lips looking withered and pursed.

image source anorak.co.uk

Opt for lighter colors with a sheen to them.

2. Too Much Powder

image source infobarrel.com

Translucent powder is great for setting foundation, but worn alone or overdone it sits in your fine lines and wrinkles and makes you look washed out, tired and a bit ashen. It has no warmth to it, and is the absolute devil when you are trying to look young(er) and fresh faced.
Ideally you want your skin to look a little dewy and luminous.

3.Straight Lines

Charlize Theron looking luscious

Harsh, straight lines and edges are sooo unflattering and aging! Hard lines drawn around eyes and lips just make the features look smaller, and leave you looking angry. Smudge out your eyeliner a little, and blend your lipliner inward for a much softer, prettier effect.

4. Too Bronze!
Remember Magda in "Something About Mary"??
As you age you lose some of the peachy pink skin tone, and your complexion gets a little yellower, a little sallower. Be careful of completely flat bronzers, and bronzers that are too yellow, or too dark. Look for bronzers with a champagne-rose or peachy-apricot undertone, and a very slight (read very slight) shimmer to them. They will liven your complexion back up and infuse some warmth.

Kim Kardashian tends to get the bronzer issue just right.

The Brows Have It

Its all about the eyebrows.
Really.

Fabulous Arizona Muse is known for her beyond fabulous brows

I have this conversation all the time.
When girls find out what I do for a living, they invariably ask me what I would change about their makeup.
My attention is always drawn immediately to their brows. Maybe the shape is a bit wacky, maybe they are too overdone, or maybe they are too understated.

So here are the rules on brows.

1. They are the most crucial element in shaping the face, and therefore, in flattering the face.

2. Brows that are too thin make your face look angry, or freaked out.
Thin brows amplify your features, they make your nose look bigger, your chin pointier, your face wider. They actually make your features look sharper and more severe, are incredibly aging, and are not at all flattering.
Got that?

Beautiful Liu Wen. Perfect brows, in perfect balance

3. Go for slightly thicker, more natural brows.
They make the face look younger and fresher.
A slightly thicker brow enhances your eyes, cheeks, and lips, making your face looked balanced, with everything working in harmony.

















4. Shape and tint your brows every 4 weeks.
Ideally have them tinted a shade or 2 darker than your natural hair color.
Maintain the shape as best you can in between visits to the salon by tweezing strays.

Lane Crawford Uses An All Asian Cast For Its Fall 2011Ad Campaign

Can you even handle the hotness???
I mean, really??

Lane Crawford Fall 2011 has just rolled out the hottest, fiercest ad campaign.

Do you LOVE???

1. 
   

My favorite asian models are front and center in these amazing shots by the uber talented Mert and Marcus.
Check out Liu Wen, Fei Fei Sun, Ming Xi, Shu Pei and Xiao Wen Ju
styled by Marie-Amelie Sauve
hair by Anthony Turner
Makeup by Lucia Pieroni

Breathtaking.

Gwyneth Paltrow Covers Elle September 2011

Gwyneth Paltrow photographed by Carter Smith for Elle Magazine September 2011

Oscar winning actress, rock star wife, cookbook author and blogger Gwyneth Paltrow covers the September 2011 issue of Elle Magazine.

Inside she discusses taking on smaller roles so that she can be with her children, getting advice and support from close friend Beyonce, and keeping her marriage out of the spotlight.

To read  the interview and see more images, check out this link ELLE.com

Sunscreen Skin Smart

Nothing ages your skin more quickly, or damages it more than uncensored exposure to the sun. But in the world of Facial SPF's there are 4 key rules to getting it right:
 
Watch Out For Windows
UVA rays go straight through the glass in your car, your office, your home.

According to Clinical Interventions In Aging a recent study showed that people exposed to sunlight through a window for at least 2 hours per day had facial wrinkles up to 26% larger on the side of the face that was closer to the window.
Even airplane windows offer potential damage (think brown spots and wrinkles) due to the altitude intensified exposure to UVA rays.
Protect your assets by wearing facial SPF every single day, even if you will be in the office all day. Also applying sunscreen to the backs of your hands when driving will help prevent premature age spots from showing up and giving your age away...



Take Sunscreen With You

Applying facial SPF first thing in the morning before you do your makeup is essential, but it won't last all day.
Keep a spare bottle in your desk at work to touch up with, or if you have makeup on keep a mineral powder SPF  such as ColoreScience SPF50 either in your desk or in your handbag, and make sure you use it!





Are You Applying Enough?
To actually achieve the SPF rating on the label you have to use the right amount, and most people don't.
Smearing a fingerfull on over your moisturizer won't cut it. For facial SPF you need to use a teaspoon of product, which should cover your face,ears and throat.

A swimsuit clad body needs 5 full tablespoons of sunscreen, which must be frequently reapplied. The only exception is if you are using a mineral sunblock with micronized titanium or zinc, in which case you would use half that amount.

Reapply!
Lets go over that one more time....
You MUST reapply Facial SPF during the day. We all know about rebooting our coverage when we're at the beach or by the pool, but you need to get into the habit of reapplying your sunprotection to your face and to your hands during the day.

10 Things A Girl's Gotta Have For Summer

For the northern hemisphere girls summer is halfway over. You've no doubt got a little color to your skin, you've got that fresh faced glow happening, maybe you're coming home from a vacation, maybe you're getting ready to go on one.

Here are 10 Things A Girl's Gotta Have For Summer

Facial SPF
Don't use your regular sunscreen - it will break your skin out.
Instead select a non greasy, non pore clogging Facial SPF with
a protection factor of at least 30. I use 85 and 100.

 



Add Some Shine To Your Hair
Chlorine, salt water, dry air can all leave your locks looking less than lusterous.
Spritzing on a little Bumble and Bumble Shine On
will not only give you some glossiness, but will tame the frizz
and let you have a little definition to the ends.

 

Skin Rescue Spray
Hot weather can add extra stress to your skin, whether its sunburn (gasp!)
windburn, dry air, humid air, travel - you name it.
Keep a rescue spray on hand, such as skynICELAND's amazing Arctic Mist Spray.
It gives your skin instant relief while fortifying it with nutrients.





Bright Nails

Liven things up a little with a bold, bright nail color.
Leave the nudes and the dark shades behind - they'll be back in the fall!
Bright, vibrant nails look fantastic with a summer tan.


Raspberry Lipgloss

You've got a gorgeous summer golden complexion (hopefully from a bottle)
now compliment it with a raspberry popsicle kiss.
The blue undertones in raspberry will make your teeth look super white
and your lips look super ripe!
(shown here, Smashbox Lipgloss in 24/7)


 

Add A Gold Accent
And I do mean accent.
A soft gold shadow, or a little gold pressed into the inner corner of the eye
can wake the eye up and compliment your tan.
When adding gold to your look choose one area and stick to it.


Big Sunglasses
Big, dark glasses not only look uber chic, but the protect the skin around your eyes
from the sun's harmful, damaging, aging rays too....

Makeup Forever Aqualiners

Searing hot temperatures, a dip in the pool, diving into the ocean -
regardless of what you're doing, these waterproof, sweatproof, tearproof liners
can stand up to anything, and keep you looking vibrant, chic and glam!

Illuminate!
Give your skin a sexy glow with Nars Illuminate in Orgasm.
And frankly, who can ever get enough?
Mix into your foundation or moisturizer, or maybe just add a little to your cheeks.
It looks straight up gorgeous along your collar bones, over your bare shoulders and down your bare shins too!








A Fabulous Big Hat
Take fabulous to a whole new level with a super stylish big hat!
Protect your hair, your haircolor, your ears and your skin and rock a little glamor while you're at it.

image source Naperville Magazine, photographer Michael Dar

Fabulous Flawless Skin with Vespera Bionic Serum

If you've been following this blog you will know that I have absolutely no time whatsoever for skin care products that don't give you a high speed, discernible result.
If I'm going to use your product you need to wow me very quickly, then keep my skin looking amazing. Otherwise I'm leaving you and moving on.

In my product junkie opinion, most brands don't live up to their hype. They're all talk and no action. They lure you in with glossy marketing campaigns and slick packaging, then don't deliver on their promises.
So when something comes along that really, truly does magic, I tell everyone!

Such is my experience with the amazing Exuviance Vespera Bionic Serum.
Vespera Bionic Serum is a concentrated intensive treatment serum that works wonders on stressed skin, tired skin, pretty much everyone's skin.

This one was developed by Dermatologists, has alpha hydroxy and poly-hydroxy acids, pro vitamins A, C and E and powerful antioxidants to protect the skin from environmental oxidative damage. (think pollution, harsh climate etc).
It visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves texture and has been clinically proven to improve clarity by 212% in just 6 weeks.
 You can use it daily under your moisturizer to boost its performance, and it is also complementary to glycolic peels, microdermabrasion, non ablative laser treatments. Formulated with marine botanicals it is ideal for all skin types, even the most sensitive.

Normally I shut down when they start throwing out percentages, but I can honestly say the difference in my skin has been astounding. And I have pretty good skin to start with.
What I saw  in the first week with my own skin was a drastic change in the texture and clarity. My skin firmed up, looked smoother, and just glowed. It looks super healthy. To the point where I have scarcely worn any foundation for the past few weeks. (even with good skin I love wearing foundation, so this has been a big change for me).

In my product obsessed mind this is the next generation of skin care.
Its fabulous.

Vespera Bionic Serum, 1 oz, is available for $60.00

at www.exuviance.com, ULTA stores, or by calling 1-800-225-9411