Tuesday's Tip of the Day: Perfect that Winter Self-Tanner Application

Everyone wants that summer glow all year long, but the price of fake tanning just keeps going up, literally and figuratively. So how can you get that glow you want without going under those harmful fake rays?

When purchasing your self-tanner, do your research. Check out what your friends use, see what the reviews are online, knowing the product will help you figure out whats best for you.

Once you have the product, use the tips below as guidelines on how to apply it so that it looks as real as possible. Remember, don't go overboard when applying, you don't want to be 50 shades darker than your natural color in December. After too many applications in a row, it will end up looking orange and fake, no matter how amazing the product you purchased is.


1. DON'T RUSH! Just like a dentist appointment, mark it on your calendar. You want to apply slowly and make sure you cover all the skin – no one likes a blotchy tan!

2. Make sure to shower & shave well before tanning. Doing this will make sure your skin is smooth and ready for the application.

3.  After showering, moisturize skin extremely well. Tanner doesn't blend or set well on flaky or dry skin.

 

4. Don't forget your back! Especially if you wear low back dresses, or tops that are see-through or have slits. Use a long handled sponge applicator or ask a friend or beau to do it!


5. Make sure you have the adequate drying time for the product you purchased. Some say 20 minutes, some say a couple of hours. If it says wear loose clothing afterwards, don't put on spandex and run to the store. Following the directions incorrectly will give you different results from what the package states. Then you can't be angry when your tan doesn't look great once your done.

My Current Obsession: Jiffy Esteam*

Who hates ironing? Me!
Whose not a fan of using clothing dryers because they shrink and fade clothes? Me!


I was flipping through my November 2012 issue of InStyle Magazine about how to make your wardrobe last longer – something that definitely caught my eye!

#5 on their list was the Jiffy Esteam Travel Steamer. For under $60, you can own this amazing product that safely takes out wrinkles on any fabric. This particular one is for traveling (but I'd use it for everyday!) warms up faster and is smaller than a full sized clothes steamer.

 

 

 

"No ironing board needed" is probably one of the best phrases EVER!

Tuesday's Tip of the Day: Making Costume Jewelry Last

Not everyone can afford the high end jewelry, especially if it's for a trend that probably won't be in style longer than two months.
When you purchase costume jewelry, especially cheaper, or less expensive jewelry, you want it to look like a million bucks each time you wear it!

For fake gold, usually as you wear it, it starts to turn to a bronzey tone before it almost turns black or green. To keep this jewelry looking its best, you want to make sure you don't wear it in the shower, and to store it in air tight bags when you are not wearing it. This will slow down the turning process of your jewelry, getting the most you can out of it! (Same with Tiffany's, their silver always turns, if you keep it in air tight packaging while not wearing it, it will stay shiny much longer!)

I don't know about you, but for me, cheap earrings don't mix well with my pierced ears. They either hurt after a while, or can cause an infection after extended wear.  I always apply Neosporin on the posts or hooks of the cheap earrings before inserting them in my pierced ears. This always helps with the pain - I don't have any - and I try not to wear cheap earrings numerous days in a row, but if I have to, Neosporin definitely helps not to cause an infection.

That time of year again! Makeup for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Every year, at the beginning of October, I receive my letter notifying me that Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner!

I immediately call in and register for the first meeting. This isn't any meeting, it's the meeting that allows me to be one of the Emmy Nominated Makeup Artists for the Clown Makeup in the Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

 

The meeting is held at Macy's on 34th Street in Manhattan, right where it all began!

Floats from the first years of the parade...

 

 

A float from recent  years....

 

 

 

 

 

And what would a parade be without clowns? There around approx 1000 clowns in the Macy's parade, and I get to be one of the makeup artists working on those clowns, starting at 5am Thanksgiving Morning! So as you are just getting up to prepare your turkey's to go in the oven, I am up and already in NYC for no later than 445am to make sure each clown is accounted for and ready by 815am - that's when the last bus for the clowns leaves the New Yorker hotel (where we get them ready) to get to the beginning of the parade route.

 





                                         

 

 

Even though the parade may seem as if it is just a bunch of people waving and walking a route, it is sooooo much more than that. As soon as the holiday season is over, Macy's parade committee starts to think about the following years parade.

 

And in recent years, the Thanksgiving Day Parade was nominated for an Emmy for the makeup artistry of the clowns! Love that I was, and still am, part of that group!

 

Hope that you all watch this year - if it's just for the background noise - it really is a great show to see! Starts at 9am Thanksgiving Morning!

 



My Current Obsession: Laura Mercier & MAC Brush Sets

Like my most previous blog post said, your brushes are the key to great makeup!

I mainly use MAC brushes, however there are many other brushes that do the job just as well.

If you want to start stocking up on great brushes, but don't have the funds (because they can be pretty pricey), now is the time to do it! Most of the brands bring out great brush sets during the fall/winter seasons because they make great gifts.

MAC has amazing brush kits that come out only for the Holiday Season. The $49.50 sets includes the essentials that will help you execute that perfect look!

What I love about these sets is that the brushes are short handled, which lets them fit into makeup bags much easier, and then they are fun colors - what other great brushes are fun colors? Right, I couldn't think of any either!


If you are looking for a little more extensive brush set, that includes more brushes in one set, Laura Mercier Deluxe Travel Brush Collection is the way to go! It's a special set out now, for $95 you can create a flawless look with the 9 amazing brushes that are included in this kit. This kit may not look as "fun" but it definitely very practical.

The double-sided brushes make it great for travel, and the case that they come in includes a mesh-zippered pouch that can stash some of your makeup goodies, as well as other slots for other brushes you may own! This is a great gift for the makeup junkie - you can never have too many brushes, especially when they are great ones!

Taping at Dr. Oz Today with Jene Luciani!

Hope everyone has heat/power, or is at least in a safe, warm place, while preparing for the Nor'easter that has already started to occur! Eek!



This morning, while most of you were still sleeping, my alarm went off at 5:50am to get up, get ready and get out to meet with Celebrity Stylist and author of The Bra Book, Jene Luciani. She had a 10am camera-ready call time at 30 Rock, which means 6:45am car pickup.

Yay! =)

(can you tell I took it myself? LOL)

Dr. Oz was taping one of their upcoming episodes about female body issues they wish they could change; one of the topics being "saggy breasts", was the calling for Jene, leading me to be on time and ready to make her ready for her appearance.

 

 

While in the elevator up to the 6th floor, Richard Blais from Top Chef, Top Chef: All-Stars and Life After Top Chef, was happy to help carry some of Jene's larger bags - such a great guy! (He was also a guest of Dr. Oz on the taping today, it was a great show!)

While Jene was going through her notes with one of the producers, I styled her hair, then her makeup, to make sure that she looked her absolute best on TV.

Hair & Makeup - Done!

(don't worry, we didn't leave the dressing room looking like this!)

Watching Jene's Taping from the Dressing Room - She looks fab as always!

Always hectic, but always fun - onto the next adventure!



**I will keep you poseted on when the episode will air**

Tuesday's Tip of the Day: Keeping Up with Skin Hydration!

Now that the cold weather is starting to set in, it's truly beginning to feel like fall/winter outside.

Dry skin is no fun! It's itchy, can create flakes, yuck! No reason to be uncomfortable - nip it in the bud and you'll be good to go for the upcoming season!


1. When showering, try to keep water temperature warm rather than hot. Water that is too hot tends to dry the skin out quicker. You won't have to load up on as much lotion afterwards if you listen to this simple step!

2. Use a hydrating body wash, rather than a soap that will dry you out. Aveeno and Dove both have great moisturizing body washes available at great prices.

3. Always moisturize within a couple of minutes of showering, when the pores are still open. You want the lotion to go under the skin and hydrate from inside-out, not just lay on top. Also, don't forget to moisturize your neck as well as your shoulders and face. Many people forget the neck - it's very important to remember it, once of the places that ages quickly!

4. If you feel like your living environment is part of the problem, invest in a humidifier. You can get one fairly cheap at CVS, or your local drugstore. Sometimes lack of moisture in the air will be the direct cause of dry skin.

5. Your lips are one of your most important assets to keep hydrated! Every time you speak people look at them! Use, chap stick, Vaseline, gloss, lipstick - anything that will help keep them moist!