6 Steps To Flat Out Fabulous ( In 6 Minutes)

Have you ever had to pull it together in just a few minutes, and sail out the door looking fabulous?
It's happened to me twice in the past couple of weeks. I don't like to be hurried, but I also have absolutely no intention of showing up anywhere looking like something the cat dragged in.
So if you are in a hurry and need to look pulled together fast, here's how to do it.

6 Steps To Flat Out Fabulous (In 6 Minutes!)

1. Your Hair
A high pony takes less than a minute to create, yet looks totally put together.

I always want to do a pony that's back combed and full, but I seldom have the time.

Okay, now that the hair is out of the way it's time to get down to business.

2. Your Complexion
The most important part of your makeup is your complexion.
No matter how killer you are at a smoky eye, if your skin looks less than amazing, you have nothing.
I like to use a silicone based foundation like Makeup Forever Ultra HD Foundation, so that the skin has a healthy glow to it. Makeup Forever is so pigmented that you can get gorgeous coverage while still keeping the foundation super sheer. I apply it with a duo fiber brush so that I can make it disappear into the skin.
If the person standing next to you can see foundation on top of your skin, you have a makeup fail.
(If the person standing next to you can see your contour you have an epic makeup fail!)

3. Cream Blush
I am obsessed with cream blushes. I love the way you can maneuver them around the cheek and create a cheek with dimension that has a little glow to it. I use so many cream blushes in my pro make up kit, but right now every day I am wearing a MAC cream blush called Posey

4. Your Brows
Brows are always important, but if you are doing a high-speed, slightly bare faced look they are super important. Your brows frame your eyes, and with this look are going to balance your lip.
Stay away from those nonsensical Instagram eyebrows - they look too overblown and stupid. Instead create a well defined brow with your brow pencil or brow gel product, without going overboard.
Once you have the shape in it's time to create a little dimension. Left alone the brow at this point can look drawn on and one dimensional. Take a brow gel like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel with it's mascara style wand, and start off by moving it backwards against the direction of the hair, getting some product under the brow hair, which lifts it up a little, then reverse direction and smooth the hairs back down.

5. Skip Eyeshadow But Go All Out On Mascara
When you don't have a lot of time to get ready, skip the eye shadow (or keep it minimal) and go all out on the mascara. Coats and coats of glossy, lash building mascara. Tell the story with your lashes.
I love Charlotte Tilbury's Full Fat Lashes

6. Use A Bangin' Lip
Your complexion is looking gorgeous, your cheeks are all glowy, your eyebrows are on point, and your eyes are all about those big lashes.
Now it's time to bring it all home with an absolutely killer bold lip.
Try a true, classic, movie star red like Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet Red or maybe a vibrant fuchsia like Nars Schiap

When you pare down the rest of your look, a bold lipstick wakes up your face and makes you look totally put together!

Silver Story ~ The Coveted List April 2016

I'm crazy about everything silver right now.
It started with a pair of Shelly's London Emma Platform Oxfords that I found at Nordstrom. I lived all winter in a pair of black Prada platform oxfords, a silver pair will be great with summer skirts and dresses, and will just kill it with white jeans! 

Here is the coveted list for April and its all silver: 


1. Shelly's London Emma Platform Oxfords $119

2. Lilla P Tape Yarn Sweater in silver $158

3. Lagos Oval Rope Caviar Bracelet $395

4. Saint Laurent Small Metallic Crossbody Bag $1990

5.  Manduka Pro Lite Yoga Mat in Silver And Navy $124

6. Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eye Shadow Palette ~ The Rock Chick $52

7. Michael Kors Large Lexington Chronograph Watch $275

8. Nordstrom Home Cocktail Shaker $28

9. Jo Malone Peony And Blush Candle $65

Don't you want some silver now??

How To Beat Jet Lag

So you already know my main gig is being a makeup artist. That's been my career for years and years.
My second gig is blogging. I write around my insane makeup schedule. 
What you may not know is that I have a third business, which is taking small groups of women aged 35+ on private tours of Italy. They are called the Glam Italia Tours. Because frankly, they really are quite glam!

In June I have two Glam Italia tours, back to back. I'm so happy because Italy is my favorite place in the world to be.

With the combined total of both these tours I have no one who has ever flown internationally before. 
I'm thinking there are no doubt many of you reading this blogpost who have either never flown internationally, (or maybe never flown on a really long international flight before) or who are embarking on a big trip such as a trip to Europe, this summer.

The devil in long-haul travel is the dreaded jet lag.
Jet lag can steal the first few days of your trip if you're not lucky.
It can leave you in a brain fog, swollen, tired and irritated, and have you waking at 2 am and leave you barely able to put one foot in front of the other by 8pm.

Flying from Australia or New Zealand back to the USA gets me every time. The adjustment is always hard, partly because I get a heavy duty dose of homesick to pair with it, and partly because I break most of my rules to beat jet lag.

For my Glam Tour ladies and for anyone else doing some major travel this year, here is How To Beat Jet Lag

Before You Leave Home

So much of the key to beating jet lag happens prior to leaving home.

1. Get Extra Sleep

For as many nights as you possibly can, go to bed earlier than usual. An extra hour or more of sleep per night for a few nights can make a major difference. One of the worst things you can do is board an international flight sleep deprived.

Even if you do sleep on planes it's not deeply relaxing, restorative sleep. Unless you're up in first class.

For those of you who take a sleeping pill, know that that isn't proper sleep either. (and, oh lord! be careful taking Ambien - hello naked person running amok on the plane!)

Check out the Top Ten reasons why people buy Travel Insurance and see if it is right for you.

2. Get Extra Exercise

I love to do extra yoga in the days leading up to a long flight, and especially that morning if I can. I have friends who like to run (I hate to run) who add in an extra mile or two in the days leading up to their trip. Something you will never, ever catch me doing.

Whatever your exercise of choice is, go for it. Cardio and stretching/yoga/pilates types of workouts are generally the best. Bulky, heavy lifting not so much.

3. Super-Hydrate

For every hour you are up there you are going to lose an additional
8oz of water. You need to drink tons of water during your flight, but also drink extra in the days leading up to it.

4. Avoid Alcohol

Don't party-hearty before you leave. The effects of alcohol stay with you for a few days, so having a bunch of drinks in the days immediately prior to flying can add to the dehydration - feeling like hell syndrome that goes with jet lag.

5. Watch What You Eat.

Whether it's in the terminal before your flight or whether its at home, avoid high sodium, salty foods, processed foods and cruciferous vegetables  ( like broccoli). They will bloat you and make you gassy. 

image via Fresh Tart

During The Flight

1. Set Your Watch

Set your watch to your new time zone when your plane takes off.
You have to do your best to trick your brain into believing it's 2am not 4pm. If it's sleep time in the place you will be landing, try to sleep. If it's waking up time there, stay awake. Do whatever it takes to make your mind believe it's already on the new time.

2. Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol will super-dehydrate you and make you feel like hell when you land.
In saying that, I always have a glass of wine with my meal and a glass of champagne prior to take off when I'm flying first class. 
If you are going to have a drink with dinner, keep it to one drink and have an extra glass of water after, to try and offset it.

3. Wear Compression Socks

Absolutely the un-sexiest things ever, compression socks keep the blood flow moving and stop your feet and ankles from swelling. They also help reduce the chances of you getting DVT. I wouldn't fly without them.
Compression Socks At Nordstrom

If your seat doesn't have an ottoman or a foot rest put a bag under the seat in front of you and elevate your feet even just a few inches.

Read more about preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis on long flights

4. Sleep

If you can, sleep during the flight. 
Ear plugs, an eye mask, neck pillows can all help.
If you can't sleep on planes try using noise cancelling headphones to eliminate the buzz, and listen to yoga nidra. They say an hour of yoga nidra is equal to 4 hours of high quality sleep. I download yoga nidra programs onto my iPad, and if the airline doesn't have it on offer on their entertainment system I just plug into my own.
The one I use has some Aussie bloke chatting away on it. It's brilliant.

Bose noise cancelling headphones

Read About Why You Have Trouble Sleeping On A Plane

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When You Land

1. Get On Local Time
No matter how tired you are, get onto local time.
If it's lunch time, go eat lunch. If it's evening, go for a stroll and then go to bed. If it's early morning, have breakfast - even if you're not hungry.

2. Walk. And Walk, And Walk.

One of the best things you can do after you've checked in to your hotel or wherever you are staying, is go for a long walk. 
It gets your circulation moving again, helps your body after its been cooped up in a small chair for hours on end, and it clears your mind.
I swear by it.

3. Don't Nap.

No matter how tired you are, keep moving and don't nap. You have to get on to local time, and that nap is going to mess you up and put you back to your previous time zone.

4. Hydrate

Drink as much water as you can to help offset what you just lost in-flight. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel!

5. Stretch

A few sun salutations go a long way after a long flight. If you're not a yogi, still take the time to do some stretches. Your body needs it and you will feel so much better for it!

The Nude Sandal - Spring And Summer's Perfect Shoe

Back when I first moved to Los Angeles, hanging out in her dressing room at CBS one day, Vanna White gave me one of the most important fashion pointers ever.
She told me to always buy nude heels - sandals and pumps, because a nude high heeled shoe will always elongate and slim the leg.

I've never forgotten it. To this day when I'm buying nude heels I always think of her. And right now I'm in the market for the perfect nude heel for spring, because a nude heel goes with everything.
Dress up jeans and a t-shirt, take the vamp out of a black dress, feel chic with a sundress, give more leg to your jeans shorts - there are endless fabulous ways to wear nude sandals.

I don't have time to go to the store, so I've been cruising Nordstrom.com looking for the perfect nude sandals for spring.

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Steve Madden Lavii Platform $99.95

Frye Sara Harness Strap Sandal $277.95

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Jimmy Choo Holly Sandal $925.00

Stuart Weitzman Elixir Sandal $455

Jessica Simpson Barrow Sandal $89.00

Prada Strappy Wedge Sandal $790

Everybody Wants Some Press Tour

I don't normally say too much about the totally cool jobs I go out on, largely because I'm old school. I started my career at a time when the goings on behind the scenes remained behind the scenes.

But today I'm going to tell you about a super fun gig I was on last week, because I want you to go see the movie.

Last week I was on a press tour for Richard Linklater's new movie
Everybody Wants Some!! which opens April 8th.

Basically I spent my time grooming the totally gorgeous and hilarious cast members Tayler Hoechlin, Blake Jenner, Glen Powell, Wyatt Russell, Juston Street, Will Brittain, J Quinton Johnson, and Forrest Vickery.
It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen this hair and makeup team selfie, taken at one of the Fox affiliates.

There are 8 ridiculously handsome men on set behind us, but we are dealing with the serious business of taking selfies

In the middle there's the statuesque Allison, flanked on the left by Colleen and me on the right.
If you don't follow me on Instagram yet, you should! There is all kinds of different content on my insta that you won't find here on the blog.

Anyway, The film is hysterically funny. It's set in Texas in 1980 and follows college freshman (Blake Jenner), his new baseball teammates and their disco dancing, girl chasing party crowd. It has a killer soundtrack, to which I know every single word, except for Rapper's Delight, (which the boys can drop and rap on a dime).
And have I mentioned it's hilarious??

A press tour basically involves a bunch of days doing media interviews. 

Behind the scenes at an NBC affiliate interview. I'm standing behind the cooking segment set

Early morning, breakfast TV interview

We had some at TV stations, and loads more with national media at a baseball stadium. These are the 2 minute interviews you see on TV promoting a new movie. sometimes they are pre-tapes that will air closer to the opening date, others are live interviews.

Blake, Will and Tara on the interview set

Blake, Glen and Will 

These last 2 images I lifted from TV personality Tara Hitchcock's
Twitter (@TaraTV1)

Tara, Tayler, Wyatt and Juston

Blake Jenner and Will Brittain with Tara Hitchcock

Check out the trailer for Everybody Wants Some

Us and them

Make sure you go see Everybody Wants Some, opening April 8th!

The Best Braids Of Spring 2016

Don't you just love braids? I think they are fantastic.

The spring 2016 runways were full of braids.
You can wear them messy, you can wear them sleek, you can wear them chic.

wrap around braids at Herve Leger

Images by Frazer Harrison/Getty images

Make a braid the focus of your look, or use it to keep your hair out of your face when its hot outside.

Versatile and fabulous here are the braids of spring 2016, courtesy of The Outfit.com. You can see more of these braids here

sexy, messy braids at Alexander McQueen

image by Fracois Durand / Getty Images

braids at Celine Spring 2016

 Images Bertrand Guay / Getty images

braids at celine spring 2016

sexy, messy high pony braid at Alice and Olivia

 Image by Andrew Toth / Getty Images

messy braids at Lauren Conrad Spring 2016

In the mood for more braids?

The Barefoot Blonde Amber Fillerup-Clark is easily the reigning queen of braids.
I love checking out her Instagram just to see what she is doing with her hair, and what type of braid she's sporting today. If you search "braids" on pinterest your feed becomes the Amber Fillerup show.

Which type of braid would you like to wear??
Happy braiding!