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.

New Year New You ~ What Is Ultherapy?

So what exactly is Ultherapy?
The quick answer is simply the most amazing thing I have ever done!
Ultherapy is for anyone who wants pretty much any area from their decolletage to their hairline lifted, smoothed, reshaped.
It can lift brows (in doing so opening the eye area), chisel jawlines, reshape chins, smooth undereye areas and much, much more.
It is for both men and women, of any age group.
I had Ultherapy 6 months ago and the results were spectacular from the start, and only got better. My clinician, Sandra Caldwell and the Blume Skin Centre in Scottsdale AZ told me that it may not even have reached it's final point yet! 

I originally wrote the post below two weeks after the treatment, but wanted to re-post it now, as so many of us look to make big improvements at the beginning of a new year.

What Is Ultherapy?

It is the only non invasive treatment that is FDA cleared to lift skin on the neck, under the chin and on the eyebrow. It is also approved to improve lines and wrinkles on the decolletage.
You have no down time, no redness, no bruising - nothing. It is amazing!

Ultherapy before and after. Magic, no?

(By the way, none of these images are pictures of me.)

Before Ultherapy if you needed your neck tightened or lifted, if you maybe had a double chin or unattractive under-chin or jawline profile, or maybe your eyebrows needed lifting, the only option was to go under the knife. It was costly, there was a danger element involved - any time you have an elective surgery there is a risk, and on top of that we have all seen face-lifts gone wickedly wrong.

Ultherapy involves no cutting and stitching, no slicing out unwanted flesh, and no battered and bruised visage to wait out the healing process.
Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound energy to the same foundation layer typically addressed by surgeons during plastic surgery, without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin.
The energy initiates the body's natural response to stimulate the growth of fresh, new collagen and to strengthen weak collagen.
Some patients see an initial effect right after their treatment, but the real result happens over the coarse of 2 or 3 months as the new collagen builds, gradually lifting and tightening the skin on the face and neck, and smoothing the skin on the chest.

Unlike lasers and radio frequency therapies, Ultherapy bypasses the surface of the skin and delivers ultrasound energy at the optimal depth, temperature and precision. It also uses ultrasound imaging which allows your technician to see the layers of tissue they are treating, ensuring that energy is both delivered safely and to where it is most beneficial.
The technician draws a grid on the area she is working on and is able to direct the treatment to exactly where it is needed.

Unlike lasers and photo-facial treatments Ultherapy is a perfect treatment to have over the summer, because it is not photo-sensitive, the procedure does not affect the skin's surface and you have no down time.
Think of the treatment like the foundation of a house - it holds everything up and in place.

Ultherapy before and after chin and jaw

How Did I Discover Ultherapy?
As a makeup artist I am always looking into ways for my clients to achieve balance in their faces, and to capture youth without looking like they have had surgery. For years now I have been taking clients, both local Arizonians as well as clients from California and Texas, even as far away as Calgary to see the amazing Dr Blume at the Blume Skin Centre in Scottsdale Arizona. 
Dr Blume and his clinical manager Sandra Caldwell take care of my celebrity clientele and my brides, and everyone in between. 
During visits there I started noticing everyone looking younger, and looking revitalized, and I also started noticing double chins disappearing and necks becoming smoother. Whatever was going on with the staff and the customers in the waiting room, I wanted in on the action!
My clients started having Ultherapy and I would see jawlines becoming crisper, collapsing brows lifting back up, and everyone looking sensational. I watched the progression of people's results over the course of several months, and found the results to be universally sensational.

Ultherapy chin and neck before and after

How Long Does Ultherapy Last?
As with anything you do to your face, be it botox, fillers, lasers - any treatment, the result is 100% dependent on the skill of the technician performing the treatment. If your Ultherapy is performed by a master technician, like Sandra Caldwell of the 
Blume Skin Centre you can expect results to last up to 5 years if you are under 50, and 3 years if you are in your 50's

Ultherapy before and after chin lift

Who Is Ultherapy For?
Ultherapy is not necessarily age specific.
It will lift skin, and especially when combined with fillers can replace or stall the need for a face lift. 
But it is also for people who are not looking for a facelift alternative.
Ultherapy is a fantastic option for anyone who has a double chin or a chin/jaw/neck profile that needs trimming or lifting.

Ultherapy before and after under chin

Ultherapy is also an amazing option for anyone wanting a brow lift. That can be someone who as a part of the aging process has eyebrows that have dropped, or anyone who has a heavy brow that is creating excess skin folds in the upper eyelid. 

Ultherapy before and afteer brow lift

Can Young People Have Ultherapy?
Yes they can. Ultherapy is not age specific.
For brides Ultherapy is a wonderful way to correct or enhance the jawline (think of all those profile photos!) and also to waken and revitalize the eye with a brow lift.

Ultherapy before and after chin lift

How Do You Choose A Technician?
This is the single most important decision to make when choosing Ultherapy. 
Avoid Groupon deals (like the plague!) instead opting for a Certified Advanced Technician who can show you before and afters of numerous clients she has worked on. 
There are substantial costs involved for the office performing Ultherapy, so the only way to cut the price is to reduce the amount of energy the technician uses on a client, which in turn will give a marginal result.

I went to Sandra Caldwell, Clinical Manager at the 
Blume Skin Centre in Scottsdale Arizona. Not only is Sandra a Certified Advanced Therapist, but she has performed hundreds of treatments (including treatments on my clients) and her results are consistently amazing.

What Should You Watch Out For?
Watch out for cheap deals. This applies to anything you are having done to your face. I never see fabulous "bargain" botox or filler jobs, in fact discount facial injecting invariably makes up some of the very worst I see. Allowing for the fact that your results will last up to 5 years or more you want to make sure you are going to someone brilliant with a sharp eye for balance and aesthetic beauty.

How Many Treatments Do I Need?
This is a one time treatment. Depending on the area or areas you are having worked on the average treatment will be in the vicinity of an hour. If you are just having a brow lift you will need less time, a full face,neck and decolletage will take a little longer.

Ultherapy before and after brow lift

What Does Ultherapy Cost?
The cost of Ultherapy depends on which areas you are having worked on.
A brow lift runs around $500, which means you will save a huge amount of money versus Botox brow lifting when you consider it will last you around 5 years!
A neck treatment should be around $1500, a full  face costs around $5000

Ultherapy before and after chin and jawline

My Story

I didn't like the way my neck and jawline were looking. My jawline had lost it's crispness, and I felt that my neck was starting to look lined and fleshy. I was also noticing that my brow was dropping, causing the skin on my upper eyelid to look heavy. Which are both signs of having left our 30s.
It was made worse when a local Cosmetic Surgeon cornered me at a social event, telling me I absolutely had to have a brow lift done.
I was horrified!  
I talked to Sandra and Dr. Blume about it for months, going over the best options for me. We looked at the before and after pictures of other Blume Skin Centre clients who had had Ultherapy, but not being one to race into anything I still took my time to make the decision.
I saw a difference within a couple of days of the treatment. 
My neck immediately started looking firmer, smoother and tighter. My jawline is already starting to resemble it's former sharp self and although I never had a double chin, nor was I aware of excess flesh under my chin, the smoothing and firming of that area is sensational!
Everywhere I go people who know me are telling me I look revitalized. I am asked if I have been on vacation, if I have had extra sleep, if I am using a new eye cream. The subtle lifting of the brow area is taking away the heavier upper eyelid, making my eyes look bright and awakened. It's fabulous!
And I only had my Ulthrapy less than a month ago.

Ultherapy before and after chin and neck (with awful lipliner)

Ultherapy before and after chin and neck

Ultherapy before and after brow lift

Ultherapy before and after chin and neck

If you are thinking about having Ultherapy, and are either in Arizona, near Arizona or willing to travel to Arizona (well worthwhile - this is your face afterall!) call or go see the experts at the Blume Skin Centre. 

Blume Skin Centre
(480) 699-7999
8575 East Princess Drive, 
Suite 123
Scottsdale Arizona

15 Celebrities With Long Bobs

The long bob ( or LOB) was easily the hottest haircut in 2015.

Ashley Olson looking gorgeous with her long bob

Versatile, modern and fresh, it can feel like long hair while keeping the ease of a short cut.

Fashion forward yet quintessentially feminine the LOB flatters any face shape. 

Adele never looked more beautiful

As we move into 2016 the LOB is still one of the biggest trends in hair, and from the look of things it's going to be around for a while!

If you are thinking about making the cut and getting a new hairstyle for 2016,  get a little inspiration by checking out these 16 Celebrities absolutely rocking their long bobs:

Rosie Huntington Whiteley 

Taylor Swift

Jennifer Lawrence

Jessica Alba

Rose Byrne

Heidi Klum

Khloe Kardashian

Kate Mara

Jennifer Connelly

Karlie Kloss

Kristen Bell

Reese Witherspoon

Kate-Bosworth

How To Tell If Your Makeup Has Gone Bad

I seem to start every new year by going through everything I own and throwing away the things that no longer work for me. 
I love the idea of starting a new year with a clean slate.
Maybe everyone does it?
Every year I get bombarded by friends and acquaintances asking me if they need to throw out their makeup, so this year I'm getting ahead of the curve by writing a post about it.

How Do I Know If My Makeup Has Gone Bad? 

Have you ever noticed that the loudest voices telling you to throw away makeup come from those with a vested interest in selling you more?

I always think that makeup is so full of preservatives that it lasts a super long time. However, I spend a small fortune and endless time taking care of my skin, so I am about the last person on earth who would ever risk getting a breakout from using product that has turned bad. Also I can hardly turn up to a shoot with an eye infection, so I just won't take the chance. My advice to you comes not from any scientific background, but instead solely from a place of vanity.

It Starts With Cleanliness...

Before we go any further you should know that the mileage you get out of any makeup product is largely dependent on your personal hygiene and how you handle your makeup.

If you put your fingers in your makeup, blow on it, don't keep your brushes clean, leave lids off of products, you are fast tracking their use by date.

Keep your fingers out of your makeup and use clean brushes and sponges and your products will last longer.

Don't tip out foundation then scoop what you don't use back into the bottle - you are adding bacteria and lord only knows what else back into the bottle.

Make a priority out of keeping your brushes clean and cared for.

Store Them Properly

Don't leave your makeup products in direct sunlight, or in warm, humid environments. Don't leave makeup on the bathroom counter (especially with the lid off!) and then have hot, steamy showers running. Instead store it in dark cupboards, cabinets and drawers, away from heat.

So Has it Gone Bad?

My general rule for gauging if makeup has gone bad is if it meets any of the three following criteria.

* Does it look different?

Has it started separating, does the color look odd, does it have a white film on the surface, is there anything growing on it, does it just look funky? Some products are designed to separate, but other than that if it looks wrong I'm not going to put it on my skin.

If pencils have a white film on them you can try sharpening them down a centimeter or so and see if they look normal, but I personally wouldn't use a pencil I was unsure of around my eyes. To me it's not worth the risk. If you are regularly sharpening your pencils and maintaining them hygienically they are not likely to go bad.

*Has the texture changed?

If any cream or liquid products change their texture I throw them out. (I don't think I've ever seen a powder change, but who knows? Maybe it could.)

I normally find that cream eye shadows and cream/gel liners start drying out half way through the jar. Because by nature they are supposed to be glossy and rich I tend to replace them when start looking dry. Some products you can rejuvenate with mixing mediums (more on the pro end though), but in general always put the lid back on immediately to prevent them drying out prematurely, and toss them when they start getting dry.

When mascara starts to dry out it's time to replace it. 

*Does it smell wrong?

If a product smells different, especially if it smells funky, it can be an indication that it has turned.

How To Create A Budget

The most important part of being financially successful is creating (and living by!) a budget.

I can't tell you how many people I know who make oodles of money but have nothing to show for it, no great savings or investments. By contrast I know many folks who earn very average incomes but have set themselves up brilliantly and have savings and investments working away for them, are able to do wonderful things every year, while never making a late payment or finding themselves in financial strife.

It's all in the perspective. And a good budget.

When I talk to my pro-makeup artistry students about running a business budget, and only spending the allocated percentage of their income on new eye shadow palettes, most of them look at me blankly, or with an embarrassed confusion because no one has talked to them before about making a budget.

So let's look at how to do it:

How To Make A Budget

List Your Income

Whether you go old school and use a big yellow legal pad, or maybe you do a spreadsheet or even an online budget tool, you need to start by making a list of all your income from it's various sources.

Don't forget to factor in extras such as child support, residual income and side jobs.

List Your Expenses

This one is always a bit uncomfortable to do because most of us spend more than we should, often more than we earn.

Start with your fixed expenses. Those are the ones that are the same every month, such as rent/mortgage payment, car payment, insurance, utilitites, phone, cable, internet.

Next list your non fixed expenses that pop up during the year. For example you know your car registration is due every September, you will need x number of oil changes each year, annual subscriptions, membership dues - you get the picture.

This is really important because not planning for these expenses can derail you and get you into a place where you can't pay bills that month.

Perhaps the biggest money pit is the amount you spend on food, entertainment and transport (gas for your car, taxi/uber etc)

Factor in a realistic amount for what you think you are spending in this category each month. I guarantee you you are spending more than you realize!

Create a category for random things such as clothes, shoes, homegoods, social events, birthday parties, child expenses - you get the picture.

A budget has to run to a zero game. By that I mean it has to round out to zero dollars at the end of each month, so every dollar you earn has to fall into a category or have a name.

Plan Your Savings

Savings fall into several categories.

Emergency Fund

You need to have at least $1000 in an emergency fund. This can be for unexpected medical expenses, unexpected car expenses, unexpected home expenses etc. There will always be crazy emergencies that pop up in life, and you have to be ready for them when they do arrive.

When you do have to dip into the emergency fund you then have to replace the money you took from it, which means you have to figure out where that money is going to come from.

Six Months Of Bills

You need to build a savings fund to cover 6 months of bills in the event that you lose your job, get sick or injured and can't work.

Mid-Term Savings

This is the fund for travel, for saving for a new car or a new couch, upgrades to your home, anything that you are working towards aquiring or achieving.

Long Term Savings

Your retirement, investments, college funds for kids.

Once you have your savings and expenses lists made you can look at how they shape up against your income list. You may find that your grocery, entertainment and clothing expenses need to be trimmed down!

Break It Down Monthly.

Your budget changes from month to month, so once you have your year's overview in place you create a budget for each month, ideally a few days before the month begins.

Pay Yourself First.

The first item to be fed each month is the savings accounts. 

Feed the pig.

You have figured out the percentage of income that has to go to savings, so that amount goes from each paycheck into savings as soon as you get paid. If you don't pay your savings first you will never get the right amount saved - there will always be extra expenses that will steal that money if you don't take care of it first!