The Last Virgin by Elena Kuznetsova

How cool is this??

The Last Virgin by Elena Kuznetsova

 

This first image was a Fashgasm on Fashionising.com.

I adore the imagery.

 

Shot by Elena Kuznetsova

makeup by Ngoan Nguyen

model Hoang Oanh

The Last Virgin by Elena Kuznetsova

The Last Virgin by Elena Kuznetsova

The Last Virgin by Elena Kuznetsova

The Last Virgin, Elena Kuznetsova

Nude Pro Genius Treatment Oil

Ever wonder how models get just gorgeous, dewy, glowing skin?
Do you covet a delicious, vibrant complexion?

NUDE Pro Genius Treatment Oil is a makeup artist must-have and a beauty aficionado's secret weapon.

It smooths and corrects, hydrates and nourishes and creates the most beautiful complexion.
NUDE Pro Genius Treatment Oil is a 100% pure and active treatment oil that gives a perfect balance of vital nutrients, creating luminous and healthy looking skin.
A blend of 10 precious oils ( black cumin, camelia, camelina, borage, sea buckthorn, macadamia, sweet almond, crambe abyssinica, jojoba and apricot) rich in Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 absorb instantly and give long lasting deep cell nourishment.

Omega 3 reduces redness and irritation (and helps enormously after too much sun, wind or dry air)
Omega 6 works on deep hydration and moisturizing (keeping your skin hydrated slows the aging process)
Omega 7 works on renewal and repair
Omega 9 both protects the skin and nourishes it.

Its super easy to use too. You only need 2 drops, and can use them either alone or mixed in with your moisturizer. The beauty of it is that it absorbs deep deep into your skin, so there is no slimy, oily feel, or residue on the surface.
You can also use it as a treatment at night.

Beautiful Taormina, Sicily

Here on the beautiful island of Sicily, NUDE Pro Genius Treatment Oil is keeping my skin looking dewy, even though the weather is roasting hot, and I'm alternating between the drying effects of ocean water and the dehydrating effects of the wind from riding around the island on scooters and days spent sailing.
And all that lusty Sicilian wine....

How To Find Your Perfect Shade Of Red Lipstick

Ever notice how some girls can just own it in red lipstick, and others really don't?

image via I'm Not A Barbie

Red can be overwhelming, but there are a few tricks to mastering it.

First up, if you don't normally wear red, ease into it. Sometimes a red gloss can be a good stepping stone to get you used to such a strong color - you don't need to launch straight into red in its boldest form.

Next, know which undertone is right for your skin.

image courtesy of en.paperblog.com

If you are fair skinned, try a blue based red.
If you have an olive complexion you will look better in an orange based fire engine red or a brick red.
If you are dark complected a deeper more burgundy based red will look amazing.

A true, movie star red (like Julie Hewett Rouge Noir) looks amazing on pretty much everyone.

The key to owning it in a red lip is to keep everything else simple.
Keep your foundation clean, accent your brows and keep your eye almost bare.

Be a little bit more specific with your application - red needs more definition. A messily applied beige is neither here nor there, but a messily applied red lust looks awful.

Cameron Diaz, jeans, white shirt and red lips

A final note: don't save red lipstick for when you're dressing up. It looks killer with jeans or cutoffs and a white shirt.

image from blondeambition07

 

How To Cool A Heat Rash

Its wedding season again!

image by Sarah Hagerty

Recently I worked on a wedding where one of the (out of town) bridesmaids came down with a seething dose of heat rash.
Of course it had to be across her throat, chest and upper arms, and of course  the bridesmaids were wearing strapless dresses, leaving her nowhere to hide the telltale red blotches.
 

image by Holly Schumacher for Phoenix Bride and Groom Magazine

That got me thinking that throughout the summer girls everywhere will be getting married/being in bridal parties, and should this happen to them, they may need a quick fix.

Now in this case our bridesmaid had already been through hair and makeup, so the first course of action - a cold shower- wasn't an option, so we soaked towels in icy cold water, wrung them out so that they weren't dripping wet, and laid them over the areas covered in rash.
(Obviously she didn't have her bridesmaid dress on at the time)
If cold showers/cold compresses don't have a medicinal benefit, they at least cool down some of the firey redness, and reduce some of the blotchiness.
If you do shower, be super careful when towel drying. Rubbing the skin can just agitate it.

Next up, a staple in my makeup kit is Hylunia Colloidal Silver Spray. I use this on any and all skin irritations, and it miraculously seems to heal all. 
I've used it on models who have had the worst wax burns you have ever seen, sun burn, wind burn, everything you can imagine.
The stuff is magic.

there I am working away on a Phoenix Bride and Groom Magazine shoot

Normally I will do 3 or 4 applications of colloidal silver spray, allowing it to air dry in between. 

If there is no Colloidal Silver spray on hand I reach for hydrocortisone cream. 

The last part of the equation, which may have verity, or may just be a placebo, is to drink icy cold water or sweet tea. Something about cooling you down from the inside and the outside at the same time seems to help enormously. I'm convinced that soda just makes anything worse, so avoid the colas and other soft drinks.

Phoenix Bride and Groom magazine

One last note on summer weddings: if you are getting married on a warm day, or if you are in a mid-summer wedding, pack a small bottle of either baby powder or Gold Bond powder. 
Thighs chafing together under those dresses can be misery. I can't even tell you how many travel sized bottles of baby powder/Gold Bond have exited my kit to stay with the bridal party over the years!

To see more from the bridal shoots in this blogpost, and to find out more wedding related info, check out the Phoenix Bride and Groom blog 

Folk Dandy ~ Vogue Germany

I so love this makeup!

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Makeup artist Jessica Nedza paints absolute magic

on the exquisite face of  20 year old

Latvian model Karlina Caune.

Karlina Caune, Vogue Germany

And I just cannot get over Karlina's amazing face.

Shot by Giampaolo Sgura for Vogue Germany

Folk Dandy

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Karlina Caune, Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Karlina Caune, Vogue Germany

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Karlina Caune, Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

Folk Dandy, Vogue Germany

How To Hide Your Roots

If your roots are showing and you're still a couple of weeks from seeing your colorist, or you're far from home and either too loyal or too scared to have anyone else get anywhere near your colored tresses, here are some quick tips on how to disguise those telltale roots!

Mary Kate Olson, gorgeous with roots

1. Work Your Part.
Wearing your hair down with a part is the biggest giveaway that the roots are overdue for a little lovin'.
Instead of keeping a neat, straight part, break it up. Go for a zigzag part, or tip your head forward, shake your hair out, then let it fall as it will. An uneven part will hide your roots, or at least make them look a little more diffused.

Cameron Diaz in a soft messy pony tail with a broken up part

2. Pump Up The Volume.
The closer your hair is worn to the scalp the more noticeable your roots are. Instead of pulling your hair back tight and smooth, tease your roots and add texture and volume. A soft, messy pony with some height will help to disguise your roots.

3. Wear A Braid or Fishtail
The very nature of braids and fishtails break up color throughout the hair. A braid or fishtail that is soft and worn to the side will soften the look of your roots, and they will appear a little more like lowlights than harsh roots.

4. Touch It Up
Grab a root touch up kit and mask the problem a little. Technique is everything with these, so make sure you hold up sections of the hair, and paint product in an upward motion, blending it into the body of the hair shaft to help offset getting "color bands".

Anti-aging - How To Keep Your Neck Looking Young

Neck beauty

image by Kelly Cappelli

In my early 20's I developed a manic fear

of getting a Warren Beatty-esque "turkey neck".

After endless dollars spent on skincare products

an hours of fruitful discussions with my equally

neck conscious dermatologist,

here is the game plan we came up with,

and that I've used for years.

 Starting with the cleanse

Ever a huge fan of Clarisonic, I am a great believer in extending the nightly cleansing ritual beyond the face, and actually encompassing the throat and chest.

The Clarisonic not only gives a 6 x deeper cleanse, removing impurities and product build-up, but it also removes debris from the surface of the skin, keeping it smooth and fresh. With the surface debris removed, products can be better absorbed.

Serums

I couldn't live without my serums! Whether I'm using simple or complex oils, firming, lightening or brightening serums, I always extend them beyond the jawline to the throat and chest. When applying products to the throat always work from the base of the throat upwards toward the jawline.

NYC based dermatologist Patricia Wexler recommends in Allure magazine that you use products containing tetrapeptides (such a s Strivectin TL) below the jawline, as they help make new collagen and elastic tissue, which help make the skin look firmer and younger.

Wexler also recommends Niacin, a B vitamin that penetrates the skin barrier and strengthens it, dramatically improving the texture of the throat and neck.

Sun Protection

Don't stop at the jawline - every day, come rain or shine, use a facial SPF product with a broad spectrum protection of 50+ on all exposed areas of the throat and chest. Regardless of how much youth you have injected, lasered, peeled into your face, if the accompanying throat and chest look ruddy and worn, you look old. Nothing does more skin damage or ages you faster than sun damage.

 

Lotions and Potions

Neck and throat creams are typically heavier/more powerful/more concentrated than face creams.

Use products designed to protect and repair.