Skincare for blemished / oily skin | 12.2.06

Clever Skin Savers [Part 2 of 4]

Cleanser

The first important step in skincare. The key here is to choose gentle [as in very, very mild - avoid harsh, drying products] oil-free and non-comedogenic formulas - you don't want your skin to over-compensate by becoming too dry and producing more oil, nor do you want to aggrivate your blemishes and clog pores further.

There are more and more options available for blemished or oily skin - from soaps, to foamy cleansers to mild lotions, try: Clinique Facial Soap - Oily Skin Formula; or to combat oiliness, soothe and purify, and care for blemished skin Dermalogica Anti-Bac Skin Wash is designed to deal with acne, blemishes and oily skin.

Toner

Toners used to be oil stripping alcohol based formulas that were harsh on skin, nowdays, toners are much gentler, try Elizabeth Arden Oil Control Clarifying Toner. Used after cleansing, and before moisturizer, as either a spot treatment - zit zapper [dab onto your spot/s with a cotton tip] or all over (avoiding your eye area) with a pre-dampened cotton pad.
To help maintain a radiant complexion, Cle De Peau Refreshing Balancing Lotion combats oil while hydrating your epidermis.

Moisturizer

The misconception of moisturizer is that with all that oil, why do you want to add more?? If your skin is very sensitive, then wait a few minutes before applying moisturizer after you have cleansed to let your skin settle a bit. Oil-free moisturizers (think lotion not heavy cream here...) with medicated ingredients (eg. like salicylic acid which helps to fight acne) help your skin to feel like it is clean and clear and not dry and tight, as this usually means your skin pumps out more oil to adjust to feeling like there is no oil to lubricate your skins surface.
Cellex-C Enhancers Sea Silk Oil-Free Moisturizer hydrates skin and is oil free, or Shiseido Pureness Matifying Moisturizer Oil-Free is a lightweight moisturizer that helps to keep skin matte by reducing surface shine.

Moisturize in the evening with [our featured product, pictured above] La Prairie Cellular Purifying Systeme Hydra Repair, which repairs and rebalances while minimizing oil.

Zit zappers

Clarins Blemish Control (Stop), and N.V. Perricone M.D. Outpatient Therapy Acne Treatment Gel Cream are specific spot treatments for acne and blemished skin.

Sun protection

Keep skin protected from the harsh (and ageing...) rays of the sun with oil-free sunscreen especially formulated for oily skins: Lancome Soleil Sunscreen Oil-Free Sun Protection Face Cream SPF15.

Skin fixes for oily skin prone to breakouts | 11.30.06

Clever Skin Savers [Part 1 of 4]

Whether you are disguising a lone blemish or need to bring out the big guns for a party of spots, or like stunning beach babe Cameron Diaz, suffer from oily skin prone to breakouts, BeautySteals has a few little tricks for some simple and effective skin fixes.

These Clever Skin Savers products are for mild acne or pimply / oily / congested skin. If you have moderate or severe acne, you will need to see a qualified skin specialist before choosing a treatment - our recommendation is always to see someone who has a good reputation - and in our experience, word of mouth is the best recommendation!

Hygiene is extremely important - changing your face wash cloth regularly, (even your pillowslip helps too), not picking and scratching (fingernails can spread germs and cause scarring) and using disposible tools (cotton tips, cotton swabs, etc). Keep hair clean and away from your face, and refrain from touching your face (which can become a self-conscious habit).

Minimal makeup can cleverly cover where needed with medicated, oil-free formulations; then bring out your best feature, like your eyes (a couple of coats of your fav mascara to frame your peepers) or lips (load up on your fav gloss to plump up your pout) to draw focus away from blemishes, and to boost your confidence :).

Keep a travel kit handy not just for holidaying, it is always convenient to pop one in your makeup bag for those last minute weekends away, sleepovers or as a thoughtful gift for someone who needs a clever skin saver :) Look for Dr. Hauschka Daily Face Care Kit (Oily Skin).

Tips to perfecting makeup application: Eyeliner | 11.22.06

Applying eyeliner

To add to your tricks of the trade makeup wardrobe, here are a few tools + techniques you may like to play with when applying eyeliner:

• Pencils like CHANEL'S Le Crayon Kohl, are the most versatile eye defining tool. Begin the line softly, blending each layer back if it starts looking too heavy. Pencil can be lightly smudged for a muted look, add depth under an eyeshadow, or used alone for strongly defined eyes.
  
  
• Liquid eyeliner is much more dramatic, and can be applied over top of your eye pencil for added intensity, or used under eyeshadow to enhance your eye shape. Both of these techniques ensure long wearing eye liner.
  If you like a splash of color for the party season, checkout T. LeClerc Liquid Eyeliner (Limited Edition) Jolie Pink [our featured eyeliner pictured above], or Anna Sui Liquid Eye Liner #100 for a hint of blue!
  
  A fine line of color drawn right along your lashline looks fabulous if you don't wear much makeup and want to sharpen your look up, or for adding "a little something" a bit different without taking you too far out of your comfort zone.
  
  
• If you love the look of liquid liner but don't feel confident or steady handed enough for a perfect application, then the liquid eyeliner pencil gives a pro line application with the ease of a khol pencil! Chanel Ecriture De CHANEL Automatic Liquid Eyeliner - 40 Cuivre Copper - the copper works wonders with all eye colors!!
  
  
• Another easy way to apply eyeliner is with a very fine brush. This is one of the most natural ways to line your eyes (start softly and build up if you need more depth). Dampen a small, pointed, firm brush and dip into your powder eyeshadow, apply as you would liquid liner. Laura Mercier Eye Colour - Coffee Ground ( Matte ) pigment rich eyeshadows are particularly good for this method of eyeliner application.
  

Eyeliner Application Tips to make eyes look bigger | 11.11.06

There are a few tricks that can create the illusion of having bigger eyes :) It is all in your technical know-how of shading and shaping - dark to recede and light to bring forth. Shading and highlighting work to enhance your eye shape, by balancing the use of light and dark colors you wear with the rest of your makeup, you can give the illusion of having bigger eyes! The main trick for small eyes is to focus on keeping your eye open ? so not too much eye makeup, and go easy on colors that are too dark, as both of these will close the eye, making it look smaller. Once you know the basics of how to enhance your small eyes, you can really play. Start with a few of the makeup tricks below to help your eyes look bigger, and go from there!


Eyeliner application and techniques:

• Always draw with a freshly sharpened eyeliner pencil, trace the contour of your eye, start your eyeliner above your iris and extend just past the outer corner of your eye, making sure the line is straight across or slightly upward - blend upward and outward; smudge to soften line.
  
• Be aware that eyeliner can be friend or foe - avoid "closing" in the eye and making it look even smaller, by only applying a fine line when outlining the entire eye, and assist this by using a light to medium shade of eyeliner - very dark, heavy liner will make your eyes look smaller.
  
• Application of liner needs to be as close to your lashes as possible, hence the need for a sharp pencil! Use a very fine line when using eyeliner (liquid or pencil), and keep the liner even on both top and bottom.
  

To apply eyeliner on yourself, close your eyes and gently place your pointer finger (of your non-drawing hand) along your lashes of the eye you are lining, open your other eye and carefully draw the line along your lashbed of your closed eye, repeat on the other side.

It takes practice to apply eyeliner on yourself, and once your hand becomes steadier, and your eyes get used to closing one at a time, you may not have to hold your lashes anymore.

Sharpen your pencil. A blunt pencil gives you less control of the line, and tends to be messy. When you use a nicely sharpened pencil, the results are precision lining

TIP: if you do smudge your eyeliner or mascara, then spot fix. The fine tip end of cotton tips are perfect for spot removal. Dab the cotton tip into your eye makeup remover, and carefully wipe away the smudge, rather than taking all your eye makeup off and starting over.

Using eyeliner alone adds definition; while the most up to date look is one sheer shimmery eyeshadow (used all over) in combination with a softly smudged liner for a more sophisticated look.

• For a simple small eye makeover, apply a lighter shadow all over your lid, really add oomph by using a shimmery pale eye shadow in the very center of the lid, right above your iris. To shape and define your eye, take your darker shade (or your contour color) on the very outer edge of your lid, extend your eyeliner outward from your iris.
  
• For a real eye opener, and a more dramatic finish, sweep a thin line of a shimmery light eye shadow just above your eyeliner. Smudge a soft line under your eye (along the outer third), extend this line upward and outward and join with your contour color, blend to soften any edges.
  
• Finish your eye makeup by sweeping a coat or 2 of mascara on top lashes only (especially for day or more natural makeup looks), with a few strokes extra on your upper and lower outer lashes for added impact.
  
• Your eyes will appear larger when brows are thinner, but be careful not to take them too thin if your brow bone is prominent - just a good tidy and trim, and brush them into shape.
  
• Always curl your lashes to open eyes up.
  

On the cover | 10.3.06

::: Vanity Fair ::: The Style Issue :::

Big, Bouncy Blowout - pro tips + tricks | 8.30.06

How to for our featured big blow-outs, for two hair types: curly / frizzy hair + fine / thin hair

Curly / frizzy hair

Shampoo + condition with Creme de coco shampoo to moisturize and defrizz all-in-one, and Creme de coco conditioner.


Staying power, an absolute must for the big + bouncy do. Spritz your towel dried hair with detangling and lubricating prep to lengthen and strengthen the longevity of your blowout, use a wide tooth comb to detangle and smooth before you go any further.


Work a little Straight through damp hair with your fingers. Arm yourself with a good paddle brush or large round brush, and some blowdry muscles - to smooth your tresses into a curtain of luscious, glowing locks, a strong / high tension blow-dry is the way all the pros work to tame the beast (so to speak...)


Shimmer, glisten and gleam, polish and shine, glint and glimmer - however you envisage your finished silky textured sheen of hair, spray this on your freshly blow-dried locks and let it do its thing.


Finish with a light hold spray if needed, as long as it gives you some natural movement and a little control.

Fine / limp hair

Money no object? | 8.15.06

Skincare

For the ultimate pampering, try this deluxe beauty treatment La Mer Creme de La Mer a superior beauty elixir to replenish skin $1200

Reduce fine lines and combat wrinkles with this million dollar baby Kanebo Sensai Premier The Cream, your skin will feel silky smooth $620

If a complex combination of neuropeptides, antioxidants and nutrients doesn't make your head spin with delight, your skin will feel incredible N.V. Perricone M.D. Neuropeptide Facial Conformer $555

Bedazzle with that Hollywood glow, with La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Body Cream - this shimmering body cream will leave your looking + feeling glamorous all over $280

Makeup

Experience the luxury of Cle De Peau Teint Naturel Poudre Powdery Foundation with SPF18, this Deluxe Metal Case (+ Refill) is a treat $280

Guerlain Meteorites Voyage Deluxe adds more than a little glamour to your complexion and your handbag $120

You've got mail Christian Dior Dior Beauty Confidential ( Limited Edition ) powder and lipgloss $62

Revive your lips with Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm $52

Hair

Keep your tresses in gorgeously glossy tip top shape, Loreal Kerastase Specifique Intervention Antichute Massage Treatment (6 weeks of treatment) beauty addicts even indulge their hair $297.50

Nothing is worth 100 strokes more than Mason Pearson Boar Bristle - Large Extra Pure Bristle Hair Brush the large head is especially good for long hair, and the pure boar bristles work best for fine to normal (long) hair $210

Bling for Homme

Be decadent with the man in your life - treat him to a handcrafted shaving brush The Art Of Shaving Decorative Shaving Brush made of Fine Badger bristles with a Thuja Wood handle $171

Give your guy a close shave with The Art Of Shaving 3 Blade Razor this Mach 3 gives a luxurious shave with a Classic Black & Nickel-Plated handle looks cool in any state of the art bathroom $190

Uber-luxe Scents

Nina Ricci L'Air Du Temps Perfum choose Amber or Yellow in color, it's about the exquisite bottle $250

Splash out every day with another iconic fragrance from Chanel Allure Parfume $250

20 BeautySteals for under $20 | 8.2.06

Pick-me-up Instant Makeover | 8.1.06

Colored Mascara | 7.30.06