Aveda Phomollient - Bye bye baby hair, hello volume!

As I have already mentioned in several previous posts, I have fine, fragile and color-treated hair.  My hair also breaks easily, so I have a lot of little baby hair around my hairline that simply won't grow beyond a certain length.  These short little hairs have a life of their own and enjoy calling attention to themselves, especially in humid weather.  I, however, refuse to give up, and have formally declared war on these rebellious little beasts with the help of Aveda's phenomenal Phomollient Styling Foam.

As with all Aveda products, Phomollient is made from natural ingredients, in this case organic honey, burdock and marshmallow root, and is not animal tested.  This pleasantly herb-scented liquid transforms into a mousse that can be worked into wet (my personal preference), damp or even dry hair to aid styling, add volume and shine while detangling fine or medium hair types.  This product is truly weightless and leaves hair so clean that it feels product-free.  Great for both straight and curly hair.
I love applying 3-4 "pumps" of product to my roots and where I have the highest concentration of baby hairs before blowdrying, and can attest to the fact that even on rainy days the volume, control and anti-frizz effects are impressive.

Well worth €17 Euros per 200ml.  Also available in travel size.

Come ho già detto in qualche post precedente, i miei capelli sono fini, fragili e colorati.  Si spezzano facilmente, lasciandomi con una sorta di peluria intorno all'attaccatura che non cresce mai e ama farsi notare ostinatamente, soprattutto in presenza di umidità.  Io mi rifiuto di arrendermi e ufficialmente ho dichiarato guerra aperta contro questi capelli ribelli con l'aiuto del fenomenale Phomollient Styling Foam di Aveda.

Come tutti i prodotti di Aveda, Phomollient é fatto di ingredienti del tutto naturali, in questo caso miele biologico, altea e radice di arctium lappa e non é testato sugli animali.  Il profumo é piacevolmente erbaceo e il prodotto si trasforma dallo stato liquido in schiuma che si può applicare su capelli bagnati (la mia preferenza) umidi o asciutti, prima di fare la piega.  Regala volume e lucentezza a capelli fini e normali senza appesantirli, lasciandoli senza traccia palpabile del prodotto.  Ideale per capelli lisci e ricci.
Di solito applico 3-4 "pompate" di schiuma ai capelli bagnati, concentrandomi sulle radici e sulle zone dove ho più peluria ribelle, prima di farmi la piega.  Posso attestare che gli effetti volumizzanti e anti-crespo sono considerevoli anche in giornate piovose.

Circa €17 per 200ml, assolutamente da provare!  Disponibile in una boccetta-mini per i viaggi in aereo.

Pantone - Defining the Spring 2012 Color Palette

Let's start the spring 2012 season off with a little clarity.  What will this season's most fashionable colors be?  Nobody knows color better than Pantone.  This NJ based company has thoughtfully given us the international industry standard for every imaginable shade of color.  Perhaps you did not know that they issue their own color report each season that reveals the current trends.  

Spring 2012 will be bursting with Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, and Starfish; partying with Cabaret, Cockatoo, Margarita, and Sodalite Blue; and lazing about with Sweet Lilac, Bellflower and Driftwood.  If you lacked the proper name for the colors on the left, now you know.

But don't just take it from me or from Pantone.  Have a look at O.P.I. or Dior's new nail colors, or look at the runway picks below.  How's that for coordination?  We're up for a colorful change of season, and with today's trickling rain, I can't wait for spring's flowers to bloom.

From left to right: Vera Wang, Tibi, Rodarte, Tory Burch
Via www.fabsugar.com

Ballerina - Classic Chanel Nail Color

Photo Eric Cassini

Photo Via Allure.com

When you go to a modeling job, it is usually expected that you will go there put together and ready for hair and makeup.  That means (and this clearly isn't obvious to all, since they often remind us the night before jobs) with clean hair and no makeup.  It is also a good idea to go with your nails already painted with a delicate, neutral, clean nail color, since that is what is usually what is required for 90% of the jobs, unless the client decides to go with a statement color.  I've discovered that many makeup artists don't have a great basic color in their kits, so I prefer to go with my favorite color already on.

As it is with applying perfect "natural makeup", it is surprisingly difficult to find a nearly universal neutral color.  It took me a very long time to discover this beautiful color by Chanel, Ballerina.  I love it for my nails, and found that it works on most of my friends too.  It is a very delicate pink, with just the right balance between transparency, opacity, and color pigment.  One coat looks super natural and pretty, two coats show the petal pink more, but without getting heavy or candy-like.  The finish is nice and glossy, and resists chipping quite well.

One tip for long-lasting manicures: clean your nails off with nail polish remover prior to applying nail color, since any skin cream or oil on the nail before applying will make the bond with the nail polish weaker.

Beautifully Bushy Brows - S/S 2012

Derek Lam S/S 2012 - Estee Lauder Makeup Photo via http://fora.mtv.ca

 Donna Karan S/S 2012 - Photo via Allure.com

Beautifully full, bushy brows continue throughout this spring and summer.  These brows are maintained through careful, understated plucking, and defined with eyebrow pencils and shadows, and then brushed and set with eyebrow gel or hairspray.  While these brows look quite natural, it is a relatively high maintenance look.  Not everyone's brows grow out perfectly, especially after years of more aggressive plucking, so some care and make up will be necessary to get the best out of your new, fuller brows.

Rouge d'Armani 402 - How To Perfect Red Lipstick

Photo by Sandro Brant

Red lips are always a statement: sensual, attention-grabbing, and classic all at once.  However, not all red lipsticks are alike, and poorly chosen, poorly applied, and poorly maintained red lipstick can achieve the opposite of what was desired, that is to say, it can become a smeared, gaudy disaster.

The first thing to consider when choosing a red lipstick is the color.  I strongly recommend Rouge d'Armani's 402 lipstick.  It is a very long-lasting, lovely nuanced, velvety red.  Although it has some shine to it, it is not glossy, and the color has some deeper, cool blue hues that make it fantastic for the winter, when our skin has less warm tones.  Armani makes lipstick that stays put, even when eating and drinking...no bleeding or smearing here.  Throughout the evening it tends to lighten in color, but uniformly, so you won't be left with that horrid red outer circle and bare lips in the center!

Perfect lips require proper application:
1.  Use a lipliner under red lipstick, since it adds longevity, prevents bleeding, and can help you to modify the tone of your lipstick if you wish to make it darker, warmer or more intense.
2. Apply a bit of transparent loose powder on top of lipliner to set it, being careful to put some on the area immediately surrounding your lips as well.
3. Apply lipstick slowly and carefully (either directly with the lipstick tube or ideally with a lip brush), being careful to keep the shape balanced and avoid going outside of your natural lip line to create elegant lips.
4. If you wish to increase shine, now apply some lipgloss to the center of the lips, keeping in mind that gloss tends to make lipstick smear, bleed and come off more rapidly.
5. Bring a mirror and lipstick for periodic touch ups and have fun!!

Shiny Manageable Hair - Orofluido by Biopoint

As I've already mentioned in another post, my hair is fine, fragile and color treated.  It's tough to find shine-enhancing products that don't dirty my hair.  At a recent photo shoot I did, the hairstylist used and gave me a little sample of Orofluido by Biopoint.  This golden colored serum contains a mixture of Argan, Cyprus and Linseed oils, and the exotic fragrance has notes of citrus flowers, vanilla, wood, and spices.  Add a small amount to damp or wet hair and proceed to dry and style.  You will see that it leaves hair noticeably shiny, smooth, and slightly thicker in texture, while not dirtying or weighing it down.

The box set shown here comes with several of the fantastic samples that make great gifts for friends and the are perfect size for traveling.

Exfoliate For Glowing Skin - YSL Gommage Action Biologique

YSL Gommage Action Biologique

One of the most important tricks to getting great skin is to exfoliate regularly.  Skin cells naturally rejuvenate themselves throughout our lives, but the cell turnover starts to slow as we age.  Using a great exfoliant helps to remove the dead skin on the surface to reveal the smooth, glowing new cells that are hidden beneath.  Exfoliation also helps to remove makeup buildup and roughness due to dryness, preparing the skin to absorb all the nutrients in our skin cream, and creating a smooth base for our foundation and powder.  I cannot express how important regular exfoliation is.

There are many types of exfoliants on the market, from granular ones that use mechanical abrasion techniques, to alpha hydroxy acids and do-it-yourself dermabrasion products.  I have very sensitive, dry skin and granular exfoliants tend to irritate my skin, so I prefer to use non-abrasive fruit-based chemical peels.  The best I've found is the superb YSL Gommage Action Biologique.  It has a wonderful honey-like consistency that transforms to an oily-smooth texture once it has competed the exfoliation phase.  It is very gentle, and I suggest using it twice a week, as using it more often can cause dryness.  It leaves my skin feeling thoroughly cleansed and remarkably smooth.  It does have a rather strong (pleasant) fragrance, but since it does not stay on the skin for long it doesn't bother my sensitive skin.

Eyebrows - Frame Your Eyes

Eyebrows frame our face and give expression to our eyes.  Finding the right arch for your eyes is essential, and mistakes can lead to irregularities, patchiness, or worse, like having a clown-like surprised look on you face all day, a disaster that happened to my mother once.

If you don't feel up to shaping your own, "brow bars" are popping up all over the place, inside of Sephora, at some specialized make up counters, or at your trusted esthetician's.  It is now easy to find someone to help you define the initial shape.  At that point, maintenance becomes key, and no great brow can keep its form without a little help.
In my experience, Tweezerman makes the best tweezers on the market.  They are super fine and accurate, making it easy to pluck even the finest, tiniest and most stubborn of hairs.  Great for shaping and maintenance, they stay sharp for ages and can be sent to the manufacturer for free sharpening.

To minimize irregularities or fill in areas with less hair growth, a good natural-colored eyebrow pencil is key.  I love Shiseido's light brown eyebrow pencil, because it is a very neutral, cool brown that doesn't draw attention to itself, but really gives my brows more definition.  If you really want to perfect your look, I suggest an eyebrow gel such as MAC's Brow Set.  Although they make it in several tones, the clear gel is the easiest to use and most versatile.