Get Alicia Vikander's Golden Globes Makeup Look

Even though it's been 10 days since the Golden Globes, (which makes them borderline ancient history) I keep coming back to the absolutely gorgeous look that superstar makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury did for nominee Alicia Vikander.

image source www.gq.com

This was easily my favorite look of the night.
It was timeless and elegant, yet totally modern. It evoked old Hollywood glamour, and yet was so fresh and new.

image source www.tlc.com

I kind of died a little over her Louis Vuitton dress too...

I think one of the things I love most about it is that it's a look that you and I can wear.  It is a sensational look for a bride, it's perfect for any event you're going to (can't you just imagine Amal Clooney rocking this look?), it looks beautiful with whatever you are wearing. If you are throwing on jeans and a biker jacket, if you are dressing for the Met Gala, or anything in between, this makeup look is perfect.

“I wanted to create a dreamy but modern look that highlighted Alicia’s naturally beautiful features. The metallic shades on her eyes complement the dewy, fresh skin in the look.” - Charlotte Tilbury

So here are some of the steps that Charlotte used (ad that you and I can copy!) to create this stunning look.

The Complexion

The key to a really fantastic looking makeup is not what you do with the eyes or the lips, its all about creating an amazing complexion. For more than 20 years now models and celebrities all around the world have been raving about Charlotte's legendary, secret Magic Cream

Everyone wanted to get their hands on it, but until recently it hasn't been available to anyone but the very tightest of her inner circle.
Now you can buy it on her website CharlotteTilbury.com

The next step to creating that lit from within glow was using Wonderglow Primer
before applying her foundation. Mini Miracle Eye Wand
added luminosity under the eyes. You can use it before or after concealer. (Personally I like to tap it on after.)

The Cheeks
To get this bronzey, luminous cheek Charlotte used Filmstar Bronze And Glow
in light/medium, a little Dreamy Glow Highlighter
along the upper cheekbone and her Beach Stick cream blush in Las Salinas

The Eyes

Charlotte created this gorgeous golden shimmer of an eye by using some of my favorite of her products. Eyes To Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Bette
and in Marie Antoinette, both on the lid and underneath, topped with a little Rock 'n' Kohl Liner in Bedroom Black
 and several coats of inky, glossy Full Fat Lashes

The Lips

The look was finished off with a matte lip, using Lip Cheat Liner in Pink Venus
and a combination of Matte Revolution lipsticks in Sexy Sienna
and Walk Of Shame


You can see more of the makeup looks that Charlotte Tilbury created for the Golden Globes here

As of today it doesn't look like I will be working the Oscars this year, but there is still a few weeks to go, so maybe I will be back again working my absolute favorite gig of the year. You absolutely cannot beat prepping a client for the biggest red carpet in the world!
Regardless of whether I am working it or not I'll be looking to see what magic Charlotte is creating. I call it research....

13 Things You Should Do At The Start Of Each Year

I'm a huge believer in working to a plan.
When I look back across my life to the times when things have been going really, really well, when I have been achieving big career success and life is just fantastic, to a fault each of these spells was during a time that I was working a plan, had goals written out, knew what I wanted next. It's like having a road map in hand and if you just follow the map you get to where you want to be.
Conversely the times when nothing much is going on, when I feel like I'm floundering around, trying to find my way, are always the times when I don't have a plan written out.
So as we kick off this brand new year here is a list of things that you should do every year

image source: Rebloggy.com

1. Make A List Of The Bad Things

Sounds counter productive right? But trust me, it isn't.
Look back at the year that just ended and make a list of the things that stressed you halfway out of your mind, the things that made you nervous, the things that scared or overwhelmed you. Then write down how you won the battle, what the outcome was, how you feel about it now.
We don't always realize at the front end just how incredibly strong, resilient and fierce we really are. Looking back you'll find things that terrified you are no longer scary, things you stressed over weren't worth the energy, and you will see that you have some major coping skills you never even knew you had!
It puts the new year into perspective and gives you a little ammunition to face the inevitable bumps in the road with.

2. Stop Holding Onto Heartache

One of the most destructive things we do is to keep holding onto the relationships that failed. If your heart got broken last year, or if you were let down terribly by someone (it happens to everyone at some point in life), write yourself a letter either forgiving that person, or committing yourself to just letting it go. 
When you hold on to it, relive it, think about it, stay angry or hurt, the only person who suffers is you. That type of thinking is toxic and permeates into the rest of your life. Let it go and move on. If that person comes into your thoughts just send them love and light and close the door on it.
Once you have some distance from the relationship or the issue you will look back and see that holding onto it was a total waste of time anyway.
And if it still really hurts remember ~ This too shall pass ~

3. Set Goals

Whatever it is you want in life, write it down as a goal.
Make financial goals both for the short term and the long term.
Set career goals, relationship goals, travel goals, goals for your home, your car - you name it. The key to success and to achieving the things you want in life is to identify them, get specific, ad then start figuring out a plan to make them happen.
Not sure how to do it? Check out this post on How To Set Goals

4. Make A Budget

The key not just to financial security, but to just making it to the end of the month or the end of the year, is to make a budget that accounts for every dollar you earn and where it is going.
Want to travel? Buy a new car? Put in a swimming pool? Whatever it is that you want, add it to your budget and watch how quickly you can make it happen! 
Not sure how to create a budget? Read this post on How To Make A Budget.

5. Clear The Clutter.

Go through your home and your work-space and clear out all the clutter. You will be amazed at how clearly you can think, how much more relaxed you become when all the clutter is cleared away. According to the art of Feng Shui clutter has a negative effect on us emotionally, physically and mentally.
Read about the absolute magic in simplifying, organizing and clearing your space in Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo's  world famous book:

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

6. Clean Out Your Closet.

This ties in with number 5, but is also important on its own.
You will no doubt find great pieces you forgot you had, and in the process can streamline your wardrobe.
You already know what needs to go. Donate and consign everything you need to part with.

7. Clean Out Your Makeup Drawer.

image via www.avantderm.com

Take everything out, clean it, and decide what is still good and what needs to be trashed.
Not sure if your makeup has gone bad? Check out this post:
How To Tell If Your Makeup Has Gone Bad

8. Buy New Underwear.

Go through your lingerie drawer and toss anything that's no longer in tip top shape. Any undies that have bad elastic, saggy bottoms, frayed edges, have faded color, don't fit quite right, especially your every day items - get rid of them. I think it's a great idea to start the year with fresh, new, everyday underwear.
Try the beautiful Natori Bliss Bloom Thong

Natori's beautiful Bliss Bloom Thong is the perfect addition to your New Year Undies Collection 

9. Get Fitted For A Bra

At least once every year you should get refitted for a bra.
Sometimes you will find nothing has changed, other times, especially after weight loss or weight gain, changes in hormones, changes in exercise routines, you will find things really have changed.
Unless you want boobies that are saggy and limp and hang down to your belly button, you need to stay on top of how your bras fit.
(I can't stress this enough for full breasted / heavy breasted girls - we are fighting gravity more than all the other girls!)

10. Re -Evaluate Your Skincare Products

Its so easy to just stick with what you've been using for ages, and not realize that its no longer working any magic on your skin.
Your skin's needs changes with the climate, with your age, with your changing hormones. If you want luminous, glowing, healthy skin you need to change up the products you're using to meet your skin's needs.
I'm in love with Korean skin care and the way the Korean women with their world famous, exquisite skin, layer their products. You can read about it here: West Face East ~ How To Layer Your Skin Care Korean-Style
I buy all my Korean skin care products online through Memebox
, one of the world's largest skin care stores.

11. Rearrange Your Space

image via Adorable-Home.com

Changing the layout of the rooms you spend the most time in changes how you perceive that space. Sometimes it's all you need to feel refreshed and invigorated and inspired.
And if you don't like it, you can always change it back.
I just love white, Scandinavian style bedrooms.

12. Book A Trip.

You need to at least plan some travel for the year ahead. 
Maybe it's a big overseas trip, maybe it's a long weekend. Plan a beach vacation, a mountain retreat, or an escape to a new city. Whatever fits your style, just get it on the calendar. 
If you don't plan it out at the beginning of the year, chances are another year will roll by and you will have gone nowhere.

I book my travel both domestic and international, using Booking.com

13. Buy A Really Great Pair Of Shoes

Sometimes this means forecasting it to the season where you really need them, but try buying a pair of really good quality, timeless, walk-around-all-day-and-still-feel-great shoes. Shoes that go with everything, that look chic, and make you feel fabulous.
They will set you back a little (or a lot) more, but a really good shoe is a great investment in yourself.

Prada Wingtip Oxford Loafer

I bought myself this Prada Wingtip Platform Loafer
 (in black though) for my birthday. I will wear them forever. You can find them at Nordstrom

7 Simple Things That Help Your Skin Look Fabulous

There is no better time than now to refresh your skin and get it looking gorgeous. I always think that mid-winter is when our skin looks its absolute worst, so lets have a look at 7 simple things you can do to help your skin look fabulous.

7 Simple things That Make Your Skin Look Fabulous.

Get More Sleep

I so envy JLo. Not for the career or the money or the clothes. I envy her because she gets 8 to 10 hours sleep per night. 
How do you even do that?? As a single mom I get 5, which is really bad on so many levels. 

One of the best things you can do for your skin is get ample sleep each night. Ample being a good 8 hours.

Additional sleep (like JLo apparently gets) makes your skin look even lovelier.

Drink More Water

We all already know about drinking more water, but plenty of us still don't drink enough. You need to drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day just for good health. Doing just that will make a difference to your skin, adding a couple more glasses will improve your skin's clarity and texture hugely.

Be Pillowcase Pretty

There are 2 significant things you can do in pillowcase-land to significantly benefit your skin.

The first is to invest in a silk pillowcase. 

Sleeping on silk stops (or at least reduces) waking up with creases pressed into your skin. (Sleep creases have been likened to ironing wrinkles into your skin.) Irritated skin feels soothed after a night on silk, possibly due to the lack of friction associated with regular cotton pillow cases. 

You'll see noticeably less puffiness when you wake up, and after a few days your skin will feel softer too.

The other thing you need to do is change your pillowcase out every few days. Sleeping on dirty pillowcases can contribute to acne and skin irritation, and can prolong the healing process.

Clean The Right Way

Make sure you are using the right cleanser for your skin type, and be gentle with your skin. Don't rub and scrub it, instead massage cleanser into your skin and gently rinse it away with a warm washcloth.

Typically foaming/wash style cleansers are better for oiler skins while cleansing milks are lovely for a drier complexion. 
I love oil cleansers for all skins. Try Malin and Goetz Facial Cleansing Oil, suitable for all akin types.

Only Exfoliate Gently

Try an enzyme mask instead of a scrub exfoliator. Scrubs tend to rough up the baby skin underneath, keeping you in the cycle of irritated or roughed up skin.

If you do go the scrub route, use one with super fine grains and use it gently.

Add An Oil

Adding a facial oil into your skin care regime will keep your skin soft and supple and give it the most gorgeous glow. Look for an oil with a dry finish if you are worried about looking shiny.

I've been using Tatcha Camellia Beauty Oil for a while now. This dry finish oil gives your skin luscious nourishment and makes your skin both look and feel amazing.
It is also a fantastic skin rescue product, if you are feeling any dryness or irritation from the cold weather. 

Clean Your Phone (And Your Glasses!)

Keeping your cell phone and your glasses clean is nearly as important and cleansing your skin. 

New Year, New You ~ 10 Phrases You Should Drop From Your Vocabulary

Like it or not, verbal mistakes will undermine your credibility.
You are starting out the new year with resolve to get fit, lose weight, save money, so why not add this to your list?

image via Success,com

Researchers believe that the earliest spoken language was Mayan, which was around 7,000 years ago. Imagine, in 70 centuries, we've progressed to "..... and I was like really???"

You want to be taken seriously, right? You want people to stop and listen when you speak, you want them to consider your opinion and value your input. If you want to have integrity and influence, consider dropping these 10 phrases from your vocabulary.

The following is excerpted from an article written by Lou Solomon for Success.com

10 Phrases You Should Drop From Your Vocabulary

1. “I’m confused,” or “I don’t get it.”

Instead of putting all the responsibility on the other person, take co-ownership. Say, “Help me understand your position,” and remain open.

2. “You know what I mean?” and “Does that make sense?”

Asking for constant validation chips away at your command.

3. “I was like...” or “She was like...”

The word “like” is an unsophisticated setup that gets in the way of your clarity and credibility.

4. “Um, ah, uh, you know.”

Watch out for overuse of filler words and practice pausing to counteract the clutter.

5. “I’ve been too busy” or “I started writing an email and forgot to send it.”

Excuses are unattractive. Say, “I apologize for the inconvenience. You will have it by tomorrow.”

6. “Out-of-the-box thinking”

… should be retired. We can’t escape all the buzzword phrases, but ones like this have become boring.

7. “You always...”

Sweeping generalizations lack insight and get in the way of healthy dialogue. Be specific and avoid using vague blame tactics.

8. “I think we should kind of do it this way.”

Tentative language waters down your presence as a confident communicator. Make a solid recommendation and own it.

9. “I hate to say this, but…” and “John is a good person, but...”

Don’t try to disguise criticism with a layer of caring or say things that offer zero value.

10. “Really?”

It’s an all-purpose complaint that sounds like whining. Try making an interesting observation instead.

If you want to have more credibility and influence, be uh, like, you know, more intentional in your communication. Replace negative tone and lackluster words with positive tone and authentic appreciative words. Each new day is an opportunity to inspire greatness, so say something real.

Best Of The Red Carpet, Golden Globes 2016

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior. I wish I knew who did her makeup - has she ever looked ore beautiful? Platinum hair and red lips with the most perfect cheeks ever.

image via Vogue.com

Viola Davis. Stunning. She wore Marchesa.

Julianne Moore in Tom Ford

image via Vanity Fair

Kate Bosworth looked skeletal yet gorgeous in Dolce and Gabbana

image via PopSugar

Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton

Add caption

Gina Rodriguez in Zac Posen

image via Glamour.com

Rooney Mara in Alexander McQueen

image via Hollywood Reporter

Brie Larson in Calvin Klein

Helen Mirren in Badgley Mishka

Heidi Klum wore Marchesa

Kirsten Dunst in Valentino

image via Hollywood Reporter

Zendaya in Marchesa

image via PopSugar

Laverne Cox in Elizabeth Kennedy

Emmy Rossum

5 Beauty Mistakes You Are Making In The Shower

When you get home after a 12 hour plus day on set and your back and shoulders are aching (makeup artist syndrome) almost nothing feels better than standing in a scalding hot shower and letting that torrent of water just beat down on you.
Multiply that by 100 when its freezing cold outside!

But did you know that taking hot showers is bad for you?
Chances are there are several mistakes you are making in the shower, here are 5 of them:

5 Beauty Mistakes Your Are Making In The Shower

1. The Water Is Too Hot

As much as super hot showers feel totally amazing, they are terrible for your skin. Hot showers dry your skin out (which makes your tan disappear extra fast), can make your scalp flake, and make your hair color dull quickly! 

2. Using A Loofah

You may love buffing away your dead skin with a loofah each day, but guess what? Loofahs really are not hygienic. All that dead skin, dirt, grime and bacteria that you have scrubbed away gets trapped inside the loofah, so each time you use it you are re-distributing germs and heaven-only-knows-what-else back all over your body.
Technically,  the bad stuff could make its way into any nicks or cracks in the skin and at some point set off a nasty infection.
If you need extra buffing try a good body exfoliator instead.
Try Ren's Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish

available on line at Space NK (they have some major online sales happening right now!)

3. Shaving Your Legs First

Shaving anywhere when you first get in the shower is not a good idea. Ideally wash everywhere first, then shave. This way the warm water and steam have time to soften the skin and the hairs so that you can get a smoother shave with less irritation and fewer ingrown hairs.

4. Conditioning Your Hair Last

Conditioner and hair masks need to be in your hair for several minutes before rinsing out.
Ideally shampoo when you first get in the shower, load your hair up with conditioner or deep treatment, and let it do it's thing while you wash and shave, then rinse it out last.
For silky smooth, glossy hair try R and Co Bel Air Conditioner

Beware - it smells heavenly!

5. Using Bubbly Products

We are trained to think that shampoos and soaps that suds up and get all foamy are the way to go when in fact they are stripping our skin and hair. The more bubbles there are, and the more product you are using, the more you are drying out your skin.
Stick to soaps that have moisturizers in them and that have a low lather factor.
Pamper yourself with Diptyque 34 Blvd Saint Germaine Soap

also available online at Space NK

Mornings In Florence

I love Florence.

Sunrise on Ponte Vecchio

I've loved her for years. She is one of the most magnificent cities in the world. 

Early morning Duomo

One of my absolute favorite things to do in Florence is to get up early and go walking.

Before the crowds descend, before the views get obstructed by the human masses, before the lines of tourists wrap around the buildings.

Ponte Vecchio before everyone arrives

Ponte Vecchio

The shops on Ponte Vecchio before they open for the day

Pitti Palace with the early morning sun

There is a magic hour in Florence after the sun is up and before the shops are open, when there is almost no one around. That is my favorite hour. This is when the city is my own, and I don't have to share her with anyone.

Piazza Della Signoria before the crowds arrive

Florence street in the early morning

Santa Maria Novella

All images taken on my iPhone while walking in Florence.