Look Good. . . Feel Better

This past week has been a rejuvenating one for me. I spent it with my family in Chesapeake Bay, MD being able to relax and zone out and do some family bonding. I got back feeling refreshed and spent yesterday volunteering with the American Cancer Society. I lead sessions of their Look Good Feel Better program in which I meet with women undergoing cancer treatments and go over skin care and makeup tips for their sensitive skin and loss of hair. They receive makeup kits that are donated by the cosmetics industry and get to leave with all new products and even wigs and scarves if they find one that they like. Makeup can seem like a frivolous and superficial thing at times, but being able to use it to connect with these women and give them 2 hours of pampering plus practical information is something that I am very grateful to be able to be a part of. If you know of any women who are going through cancer treatment, they can find times and locations of Look Good Feel Better at www.cancer.org.

I worked with a woman yesterday named Judy who is halfway through her chemo treatments. She had lost all of her beautiful white hair and felt exhausted all the time, but was grateful for the fact that she wasn't experiencing much sickness. She lives alone and has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. When I asked her what makeup she normally wears, she said she wears blue eyeliner and purple lipstick. We had fun trying out different colors and figuring out new ways to tie her scarf. She ended up taking a red wig with her. It suited her perfectly. She was so open and joyful throughout the whole session. We talked about her husband who had passed away from lung cancer, her diagnosis, her family, and I talked about my own experiences and family history with cancer. But never once was it depressing because of her hopeful and independent spirit.

I just wanted to share these things because no matter what profession you are in, it is easy for it to start to feel monotonous and to forget what made you choose it in the first place. It is important to savor the moments that bring joy, appreciation, and enthusiasm in whatever you may be doing. It will give you a renewed sense of purpose and drive. It makes me proud of what I have been doing, and gives me the push to want to do better.

This made my day!!

I was surprised to open my email early this morning and have a Thank You card from one of my brides, Liz. Brides are always appreciative, but this personalized card (with my bio info and everything!) really made me smile and remember, again, how great my job is. Getting to be a part of such an important and happy day in people's lives is exciting, fun, and rewarding when you get to see how beautiful they FELT on that day.

Thank You Liz!!

Promo Card

The lovely and talented Patries made this promo card for me today.  I always love going in and chatting with my Option ladies!!  Such a fun, smart, and talented group of women to be able to be a part of.  Thank you dears!!

My Summer Beauty Bargains

                                  

Now that we're into the hot summer months, I wanted to share my favorite drug-store essentials for looking and feeling great without breaking the bank.  When the weather is warm and we're running around to barbecues, hikes, and street fairs, the last thing we want to think about is packing on a ton of makeup.  We want things that save us time and money and don't require much maintenance.  

1.  Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo

This is my secret weapon in the summer and all year long.  Psssssst removes excess oil and dirt from the hair and extends time in between washings.  I know that I don't like washing my hair every day and when we're sweating and reapplying sunscreen all day, our tresses can start to look a little less than fresh a lot more quickly.  A little spray of this and brush through, and your hair looks newly washed.  Now that I have bangs, this is a life saver.  My bangs get greasy so much faster than the rest of my hair, and I use this to revitalize them instantly.  The best part is that it runs about $6 a can and can be bought at your local drugstore.  I always get mine at Walgreens.  

2.  Face Secrets Blotting Papers

By now, we all know about blotting papers.  Those thin little sheets that soak up any excess shine.  A definite summer essential.  I don't like powdered blotting papers because of the mess they leave.  Constantly applying powder to absorb shine results in gunky build-up. These blotting papers from Face Secrets found at Sally Beauty are budget-friendly at $2.99 and such a good value.  They are a bigger size than most, so you use less and you get 150 per pack.  They also come in a convenient pouch that fits right in your purse or pocket.

3.  Aquaphor Healing Ointment

My lips get dry all year round, but they especially need extra moisture during the summer.  Aquaphor Healing Ointment keeps my lips soft and moisturized without leaving a greasy or waxy residue.  It absorbs quickly and comes in small travel tubes for less than $2.  If you don't see it in the travel size section of your drug store, it will be located by the lotions.  This is a must that I keep in my purse, pocket, and makeup kit at all times.  It is the first thing I apply to models when they sit in my chair.  It also serves triple duty since it is great for any dry patches of skin, and can also work on a Q-tip to remove any mascara run off when you get out of the pool.  Just be sure to also use a lip balm with SPF if you are out in the sun!

4.  Revlon ColorStay Mineral LipGlaze

This is a soft, highly pigmented gloss that really lasts without that drying or sticky feeling of other long-wearing lip products.  I swiped it on in Neverending Nude and I really liked that it gave enough color and shine without looking pasted on.  Unlimited Nectar is more a shimmery peach color that looks great on its own, and also works layered over another color.  For $8.99 it is a good deal, and remember to keep an eye out for sales on cosmetics at your local drugstore.  Especially on newer products like this, you can usually find it for cheaper than its regular price.

5.  Cover Girl Outlast Lipstains

If you want a lip color that is more matte than gloss, try these Lipstains.  They are felt-tip pens that impart a liquid stain of color that instantly absorbs onto your lip.  It feels like you're wearing nothing at all and looks like you've just finished eating a popsicle.  The color lasts and you can layer your favorite gloss over the top.  If you're not used to bright lips, try these out.  A beautiful look for Summer is to leave the eye clean other than a couple of coats of mascara and pop on a bright lip.  I love Wild Berry Wink for a bright berry pout, and Flirty Nude for more of subtle kiss of color.  I picked up both when they were buy one get one free.  Regularly they are $7.49-$7.99

6.  Cover Girl Eye Enhancer's Trio

Another fun look for Summer is to try out a brighter, bolder color on your lids and keep your lips more tame.  If you are trying out a new shade for the first time, I always suggest trying out the drugstore brand first.  The bright blues in Cover Girl's Eye Enhancers Trio in Blazing Blues look beautiful on brown, green and hazel eyes.  Since you may never wear the color again, you can feel better about trying it out if you're only spending $4.99 for three shades.  Any easy way to break into bold hues is to try it out as your liner first.  Use the darkest color blended into your lash line and soften the line.  It will give you a feel of how the shade looks with your coloring and you won't feel like a clown.  Then you can venture out to doing a soft wash of the lighter shade of blue across your lid.  Have fun and play around.  You will be surprised at how many bright colors will look great.  

7.  Banana Boat Sun Wear Faces Oil-Free daily sunscreen lotion with SPF 30

8.  Mario Badescu Suncare                     

Of course, sunscreen is an essential for maintaining a beautiful face now, and 20 years from now.  I'm always looking for high SPF face sunscreens that don't make me feel like I'm going to break out in five minutes.  This summer I have been using Banana Boat's Sun Wear Faces Oil-Free daily sunscreen lotion with SPF 30.  It is lightweight and absorbs quickly.  I reapply it every couple of hours on a regular day.  If I'm out in direct sun, I reapply it every 30-60 minutes or whenever I get out of the water.  This one runs about $8.  If you want to invest a little more into a wonderful sunscreen moisturizer, try out Mario Badescu's Suncare which is $22, but it provides both UVA and UVB protection and contains aloe vera gel and eucalyptus oil for their soothing properties.  Mario Badescu products can be found at http://mariobadescu.com or locally at Dolce Vita in the Pearl District or Blush Beauty Bar on NW 23rd.

9.  Paula Dorf Special Camouflage

This is my absolutely favorite must-have not only for summertime, but all year.  I won't leave the house without it tucked in my purse, and it works on just about anyone who has very fair to a darker medium skin tone.  I would only not recommend it for the darkest skin tones.  It does so many different jobs and you could easily just use this one product and look refreshed and bright-eyed.  The salmon color cancels out the dark blue and green tones that cause darkness around the eyes.  Instead of using a lighter concealer which can end up looking gray, I mix a little of the yellow and the salmon together and place it right at the inside corner of the eye against the nose and just into the darkest area under the eye.  It is a thick formula, so only use a tiny bit and blend it with the warmth of your finger.  The yellow alone can be used to brighten and highlight.  The two colors can also be blended to create the perfect shade for spot covering as well.  At $23, this is definitely the highest tagged item on the list, but it will be your new favorite product and will really last since you don't need much.  When we're saving money on all of our other products, this would be the one place to splurge.  It can be purchased at http://www.pauladorf.com/p-52-special-camouflage.aspx or locally at Dolce Vita in the Pearl District. 

Ok, so these are my must-have items to keep you fresh and flirty all Summer.  Enjoy!

Oily Models

The first part of my day yesterday was spent working on a shoot with Ryan James Hunt.  We were working on a spread for Styleology magazine's "Red Book" issue which celebrates everything red and comes out in October.  I had the pleasure of getting to work with Kira.  I feel like we haven't done a shoot together in a long time.  She did amazing hair on the three ladies, including her newly coined "flow hawk".  My favorite "do" was her mohawk of 4 large netted balls of hair on Hannah.  I think we all enjoyed the many references we were able to make to Hannah's Balls.  

The models were Trevor Cross, Hannah Gale, and Amy Holt of Option Model Management as well as the lovely Andrina.  They were such a fun group to work with and were definitely good sports hanging out in swimsuits all day despite intermittent rain and the ever-present onlookers.  They all ended up looking like they were prepped for the deep fryer having so much canola oil on them.  After sitting on the pavement, all of the models left grease stains on the ground!  

We all had an early start getting to the prep area at Oaks Park at 8:30.  Andrina and Ryan had much earlier starts having to drive from Eugene and Olympia respectively.  Once we started shooting at Oaks Park, we were shuffled away and moved down to the parking lot at Sellwood Park.  People driving by definitely looked a little confused, and a lot jealous, when they saw the three ladies draped all over Trevor wearing the lovely suits of Heidi Fish.

The rain eventually got to the point where we needed to take a break, so we moved camp again over to Vaughn in NW.  After stopping at Jack in the Box for a quick snack and hair and makeup changes, the models posed on a small overpass going over 405.  Lots of stares and honking ensued as Hannah waved to all of the passing cars in her nautical striped bikini and neon stilettos.  After one more background change, we finally called it a wrap around 5.  

This was the first shot taken of Trevor all greased up and ready to go.  I can't wait to see the color shots of the girls.  I'll post them as they come in.

Beauty Review: The Best Concealers

I am sharing this review because my most used and favorite product during summertime is concealer. It seems so simple and everyday, but during the summer I hate adding a full face of makeup. I want to be able to do the bare minimum and run out the door. During the warmer months, our skin naturally has a healthy glow that needs less coverage than in our paler, colder months. Often, most women don't need to bother with a full face of foundation. Just dot on your favorite concealer where needed: under the eyes, on blemishes and maybe around the nose. So, at a time when concealer is the star of the show, I thought it only fitting to share a few that are tried and true. If you have any others to add to the list, please share.

Beauty Review: The Best Concealers

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Such lovely pipe fittings you have

Here is the first image from a shoot I did with Erik Freeman and Jennifer Falcon.  She makes those pipe fittings look pretty sexy.  I bet those old men who hassled them at Home Depot feel pretty stupid now!!  It was my first shoot with Erik and I had a great time working with Jennifer again.  My kind of shoot; laid back and fun.  Always love those, especially when the result is awesome pictures!  Looking forward to seeing more.