Its The Mighty Aphrodite!

So we're in that interesting spacewhere the cold weather is mostly over,

we're wearing lighter, more fun clothes,
but we don't yet have that lovely summer color to our skin.


In other words, time to bring out the bronzer.

Bronzer is one of the most divine, yet hideously misused makeup products ever invented.
So bad it makes you cringe.

So here are some tips for truly gorgeous bronzer.




1. Bronzer is for a quick summer overhaul. Its all about a lighter, fresher, sun-kissed look,
not a dark, "colored in" look.

2. Always be very light handed when applying bronzer. Its easy to add more, but trickly to take away if you've put on too much.

3. Bronzer should be lightly applied to the areas that the sun would naturally hit if you were outside all day. Your forehead, across the upper cheekbones and bridge of the nose,
and over the flat part of your chin.

4. Use a densely packed brush, like a kabuki brush, and after tapping the excess product off, use a swirling motion to apply, working from the outside of the face in toward the middle.

5. Your choice of product is as crucial as your application technique. The heavy yellows and browns that make up the average bronzer can really make the skin look dull, lifeless and aged. (especially if over-applied).


I just HAD to put in a pic of the beautiful Kim Kardashian!

My personal faves??


I have used Guerlain's Terracotta Powder in my kit since the beginning of time.
And for the past few months I've been loving all over the amazing Aphrodite by Julie Hewett.



This one is particularly fabulous because of the way it wears (beautifully, evenly and long lasting) the color, which is exquisite - not too heavy, not too brown, and also because of the faint shimmer it has. It's like a bronze shimmer of glamor and gold.
The shimmer is extra fab as it stops the skin from looking dulled, and instead makes it look fresh and alive.
And skin that looks alive, also looks youthful.

So bronze up beautifully ladies!

XO

C

I never seem to run out of things to want.
Well, more like things to pine for.

Look what I found on The Bag Snob :

Loewe Amazona Handbag, in many divine colors...

Loewe Amazona Bag

By Man Snob Jim on April 29, 2010

Under the direction of its creative director Stuart Vevers (of Mulberry fame), Spanish label Loewe (parent company: LVMH) is making a big push in the U.S.--and, in particular, New York. After an initial launch at Bergdorf's last November, this spring the brand will be carried at Jeffrey and Hirshleifer's as well. What's more, Loewe is touting its Amazona bag, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Twenty models of the bag will be sold exclusively at Bergdorf's, some lined in fabric ($1,800), others in leather ($1,950). "The silhouette is very classic," said Vevers Wednesday night at a dinner he hosted in Manhattan. "I wanted to go back to the essence of what makes this brand special."

For the anniversary, Vevers tapped artist and photographer Nigel Shafran to shoot the Amazona in six locations around Madrid; the resulting photos will be used for Loewe window and store visuals. One look at the bag and it's easy to see why it's become a beloved holdall. It takes 10 to 12 hours to make each one, first off, and the modern hardware is super chic. The Amazona, available in colors like lemon yellow and red, makes for a great day bag for the stylish working woman. The bag is in my favorite shape: one part-bowler, one-part briefcase--but all utility. The top zipper zips open both ways almost completely, ensuring the user full access and maximum use of the bag. A stylish gym bag? Why not?

Loewe

Is it not perfect?
Wouldn't life be extra super fab with one of these?
I.
Need.
One.
(or more...)

Its All About The Apron...

I have a big shoot today at the fabulous Hotel Valley Ho Ho Ho.
Its the 3rd shoot I've had there in three weeks
each with a different client.

Magazines and celebs love to shoot there because it is visually just so crazy sexy cool.

So anyway,
no time for a big blog post today.
Gotta make it short and snappy.

Check out this cool picture I found.
I think its Victoria's Secret
advertising something or other.
Who knows what.
Probably safe to say its not undies.

But what I am loving is the aprons.
I want one!

Paired with smokin high nude heels
and a killer hairdo
(Will would have done far better hair for a shot like this!
-maybe something more Mad Men?)

Anyway, the apron, a hairdo, heels and maybe a killer bullet bra
what else could a girl possibly need???

Happy Thursday!

XO

C

Six Fun Steps To Brighten Your Midweek

Feeling the mid-week blahs?

No longer basking in the Monday Tuesday afterglow of last weekend,

and not yet getting revved up for the next weekend a laThursday and Friday.

Here we sit,
on Wednesdayho hum.

But don't worry.
I've got a plan.

6 Fun Steps To Brighten Your Midweek!

Number 1: Put on one of the new season's bright lipsticks.
A fabulous hot pink will wake you up and make your teeth look whiter than white!

(sitting at your desk doing this with your mouth will no doubt liven things up too!)

Number 2: Dab a little highlighter along your upper cheekbone to liven up your skin.

If you're looking a little drab or tired, pat a tiny amount under your eyes for an instant wide awake, bright and sparkly look!

Number 3: The best wake-me-up, pick-me-up, brighten- my-day ever!
Drink some Yerba Mate tea.
Add a little flavored sweetener, like Raspberry Chocolate Stevia and you have a cup of perfection, with no caffeine jitters and no post energy drink crash.
I swear by it!

Number 4: Spritz on a little something fresh and floral.

We are so in tune with the smells around us, so make yours fresh, lively and pretty,
and you'll feel that way too!

Number 5: Pull your hair back off your face into a chic, modern pony tail.

Jessica Alba looking fresh and happy

You'll instantly feel fun and vibrant!

Anne Hathaway rocking the white teeth, clean brows, modern pony and fab earrings. Evidently not wallowing in mid week doldrums.

Number 6: With your hair pulled back, and your ears, jawline and throat
all sexily exposedadorn your lobes with something fabulous like these chandelier earrings
that I found on the Katie M Designs website.


Actually, she's a friend of mine who designs jewels for the Hollywood elite,
but you can wear them too!

Feeling a little more chipper now?
And you'll be sooo ready for next Wednesday too!

XO

C

A Little Spring Love For Your Fingers & Toes!

Oooooh yeah!!!

How fun and bright and flirty and perfect for spring!

Nars Nail Polish in Schiap.

Looove it!

Spring Cleaning

Its spring. Time to ease back a little on the makeup, and get that skin absolutely glowing.
You see, nothing says gorgeous quite like radiant, lovely skin.

So, in pursuit of such skinI decided we should chat about exfoliation
and look at a few of a girls options.

Now we all know about facial scrubs. They typically use rough, sharp edged particles
to scrape off the dead skin sitting on the surface of your lovely face.
I love the concept, but am not a fan.
I always think they scratch the baby skin underneath.

Here's what I do love:
Daily

I'm addicted to my Clarisonic.

Face, throat, decollete, every single day.

Weekly

I'm all about in home treatments. Two of my absolute favorites are

Kate Sommerville (facialist to the stars) amazing ExfoliKate.
This is an enzyme treatment - my absolute favorite type of exfoliation.
The enzymes literally digest all the dead skin, and leave your visage smooth, firm and beautiful.


This next one has been around for a long time,
and has stayed around because it is so incredibly effective.
Especially brilliant on troubled skin, Philosophy's Oxygen Peel is a two step process that
clears out and relieves congested pores, then smooths and hydrates,
leaving you absolutely radiant.
Unlike salon or medical peels, you don't really see peeling skin, and you have no downtime.


Monthly

In the day spa there are all kinds of fabulous treatments.
I get enzyme treatments at the facialist all the time,
there's a big range of peels you can choose from
in fact that's an entire blog post of its own.
I find them a little scary...
But here is an oldie but a goodie
Gommage.



Gommage uses a cream that dries to a paste on the skin.
The facialist then uses her fingers to rub away the dead skin.
Its a tad messy, but if you want seriously firmed skin, pores that look tighter and smaller,
and smooth, smooth, youthful skin,
you'll absolutely love it.

Another fabulous option at the salon/spa
is microdermabrasion.


A machine is used to spray high grade micro-crystals onto the skin, then vacuum suck them, and the accompanying dead skin back up.
Super effective, you'll get amazingly smooth skin.
Those with super sensitive skin don't always love microdermabrasion,
and you leave with a ring of grit in the hair line, nostrils and ears.
Sometimes you get a residual peeling or redness, but its so worth it!

My personal favorite is DermaSweep.
This is in the same family as microdermabrasion, but this one uses a special brush head instead of crystals, and is fabulous for even the most sensitive of skins.
The treatment is in two parts. First the exfoliation, then an infusion of a skin care solution specific to your skins needs is pumped into your skin.
The treatment is quick, and you walk out the door looking amazing.
I did a post on DermaSweep a few months ago.
Click Here.

Seven Simple Steps To A Sexy Summer Smile

image from LA2dayhealth&beauty

Nothing says sexy quite like a luscious mouth,
so here are some quick steps
to a sizzling summer smile!

1. Keep it clean!
There's nothing even remotely sexy about unclean teeth. Keep a toothbrush at work, and clean them after lunch.
Keep plaquers in your handbag so that any food caught between your teeth can be quickly removed. (picking at your teeth with your fingernails = totally not sexy!)
2. Keep your teeth white.
Whether you opt for an in office dentist treatment, or over the counter remedies like Listerine Whitestrips, white teeth are crucial.

3. Exfoliate your lips
Dead flaky skin on the surface of the lips has to go. Use a gentle exfoliant, a wash cloth, or even (gently!) use a toothbrush to remove rough patches from the surface of the lip.

4. Always wear a lip balm.
If you don't have a lipstick or lipgloss on, make sure you have lip balm on. Keeping your lips hydrated at all times is crucial! Wear lip balm to bed at night too. Your lips wont look luscious if they're all dried out.

5. Use a pre-lipstick base
My favorite new product is Lip Putty by Face Atelier It hydrates the lip, but also fills in all those little lines and creases in the lip, and stops lipstick from feathering outside the lipline. Your lipstick will hold better with this on, or you can wear it alone.

6. Wear a fabulous lipstick or lip gloss.
Watch out for lipsticks and glosses that bubble or get piecey on the lip. If your lipstick has bubbled up, remove it with a tissue and reapply.
Use a lip liner and a lipbush when you apply - it will go on better and last longer.
This spring/summer there are lots of fun, bright colors to choose from, and the formulations are light and easy to wear too. So put away your heavy or matte lipsticks, and look for something light and bright.
The bright pinks have a lot of blue in them, so will make your teeth look extra white.
Be careful when choosing peach and orange shades, as they can make teeth look yellow.

7. Smile!
A bright, happy, pretty smile is super alluring, sexy and fun!