Postcards from Santa? Yes, there's an app for that

Postcards from Santa? Yes, there's an app for that



Yes, Santa writes back...with a little help from mom and dad.
Kids always sent letters to Santa, so why not Santa write back once in a while. I know he is busy with getting last minute toys and making sure the elves are doing their job but at night when he has quiet time, he writes back. Santa loves postcards and he thinks it is really important to reply to letters. He doesn't get an opportunity to write to all kids every year but he makes sure to remember for next year.

Even Santa has an app to remind him which kid to write to. ;)
I love this app!

59 Perfect Party Dresses Under $100 Fashion: glamour.com

59 Perfect Party Dresses Under $100 Fashion: glamour.com


The Holiday season Is here once again and the big dilemma of what to wear is hitting us faster than a meteor.
I stumbled upon this post that has 60 dresses for the girl that wants to look good but also on a budget. Many dresses, in many affordable prizes and for all figures.
If you are anything like me, you want to dress accordingly to the theme of each party.
For example: when I go to my rockstar friends parties, I add a little edge to my dresses with an accent of leather. When I am invited to a family gathering I keep things simple including my color palette.
You got to make sure that you will not overwhelm the hosts or shock the grandparents and children. :)
Some of my favorite on a budget stores are H&M, Macys, Urban Outfitters, victories secret.com and Dillards (not in California :(...). If I want to splurge a little or if my husband is taking me shopping ;), I prefer Nordstroms, Chloe boutigue and Barneys New York.
Of to start my shopping.
Happy Holidays to all!!!

Beauty treasures, made in Hawaii.

Summertime is almost here and as we ease into the hot weather and start putting our coats away, I decided to jump start my summer by going to Hawaii.
Sweet breeze, beautiful sunsets and the ocean, the most relaxing place of all. The sound of the waves was like a whispering fairy in my ears. A sail boat ride deep into the blue and the fierce waves splashing against it. Where does that leave your skin?
Hhhhhmmm! thirsty and irritated. It is all fun and games till you get a sunburn. A “skin expert”, as I want to call myself, I have always been extra careful about the sun and the layers of protection.
Hawaii is a different place, the UV levels are higher than California especially mid day. If you choose to be out at that time you need serious protection beyond just sun block. Clothing with an SPF 50 is recommended in conjunction with a hat and an umbrella.
Years ago as I was growing up, we never thought that the sun was so dangerous. If we got burned we put yogurt on it for an hour till we stung like rotten milk and then it felt better. Why yogurt? the cooling effect of it and the soothing effect of the lactose and fat will take away discomfort.
Here is my skin secret from Hawaii. First of, Hawaii has it’s own great products and I love buying them because I feel that I am supporting the local economy and they take so much pride in making it. Their Plumeria fragrances and body lotions are delightful. My all time favorite is their, Oils of Hawaii “Kukui nut oil”. Great for sunburn, eczema and super hydrating, this oil is a natural way to nourish your skin without the guilt of “bad” ingredients.

A sun block of SPF30 to SPF70 is always in my bag. I lather the cream up at first but after an hour in the water I use the spray and go over it. I am not a fan of the spray only because i think breathing it is not good for you but I hold my breath, look the opposite site and walk away from others before I spray. The spray tends to cover better and wider areas.
Your lips are another sensitive area that needs a lot of attention while in the sun. In Hawaii I found a local made lip balm called Shaka Laka and it protected my lips from the rays. I know we tent to want to wear our fabulous gloss to the beach but since our lips are made with thinner skin than the rest of our body, something that reflective is probably a bad choice.

A wide brim hat is always on my head. Target has a great selection of really cute wide brim hats and reasonably priced.
Sun guard is another way of protection. It is a product that you use in the wash to add sun block to your clothes considering your clothes are not exactly a fully protective layer, especially the lighter colored ones.
Relax, enjoy and come back with a healthy tan, not a second degree burn.
ALOHA and MAHALO!!

10 things I love about L.A.

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1. Restaurants. I love Mastros in Beverly Hills. This place has a great atmosphere, it is quiet downstairs for a relaxed dinner and festive upstairs with a piano player that sings. The singer is an older distinct gentleman that sings new and old songs and gets you in the mood. With great cocktails and the best steak in town, I love going there for dinner with a group of friends or just me and my husband. Kid friendly too. Their new Vegas Mastros Ocean Club just opened at the new Aria resort.  My husband and I took our friends Perla and Slash there for Perlas birthday last October and we got busted, check out the paparazzi video below. My husband is talking with Slash and I am standing next to them. Go to http://www.mastrosrestaurants.com/ for location info and menu. I recommend the porterhouse but beware it is HUGE!

2. Now that our stomachs are full lets move on to desert. When it comes to frozen yogurt Pinkberries used to be but Red Mango is my new favorite flavor for the moment. Go to www.redmangousa.com/ for locations. Love it!!!
3. We are in California people, so that means sun kissed skin and healthy tanned people walking around. I recently met Ashley Blair and she has a company called Mobile tans L.A..  You can check out her website at http://www.mobilespraytansla.com/ to book your appointment. She comes to my home and tans me the safe way with 95% organic solution. What I love about it is that it does not smell bad like most and the color is not orange but actually brown gold. It takes minutes and you are transformed into a golden Goddess (or God).
4. Before you cover up that beautiful skin of yours with a tan you got to make sure it is clean and clear with no sunspots or unevenness. You got to find a good dermatologist and that is hard. Los Angeles and Beverly Hills have a great amount of what I call “beauty doctors” those are the dermatologists and plastic surgeons.  They can make you or break you if you are not careful and do your research. A great team of plastic surgeons are Dr. Stephen Svehlak  and Dr. Yamini. Go to http://www.sunsetcosmeticsurgery.com/ to find out more about the doctors.

5. After getting your consultation about a new jaw, you need a pick me up. Java time. Sunset plaza is always an elegant L.A.ish way to eat, hang out and shop. It has been a regular hang out of mine for a few years now. It is small and you can seat outside, enjoy the fresh air and people watch. Few celebrity sightings for your out of town friends,too. I like to go to El Primo cafe. Real Italian coffee, gelato, Panini's and crepes. Great hang out! It has an outside patio area. It is between H&M and Ketchup restaurant, which are both also my favorites.
6. Now that you got some extra energy, it’s time for a new outfit. Beverly center is down the street and it has a great variety of shops for whatever your heart desires. It is a luxurious but simplistic mall that hosts stores like Bloomingdales, Macy’s, H&M and many more brand names for a variety of budgets. Go to www.beverlycenter.com/ for more details. Located on Beverly Blvd. and La cienega.
7. I don’t know about you but all that shopping made me a bit thirsty and I am not talking Evian from the French Alps. FALCON on sunset has a great atmosphere for an appetizer and drinks. Young, hip crowd and dressed very European. Exotic drinks that will satisfy your curious and adventurous palette and very interesting dishes. FALCON is located at 7213 Sunset Blvd. (Alta Vista Blvd.). We suggest you call for reservations 323-850-5350.

8. Now, I love the real Hollywood and by that I mean Hollywood Boulevard. The Pantages Theater always provides two hours of great performances that can leave your artistic taste buds fully satisfied. Check out what is playing at www.pantages-theater.com . Take a stroll on the boulevard after the show and get a yummy hot dog at “Scooby’s” (I like it better than PINKS). Check out the wax museum, Ripley's believe it or not and have a cookie at the Nestle store next to Sephora at the fabulous Hollywood&Highland outdoor mall. I know it sounds touristy but if we do not love and appreciate our own city, who will?
9. Ooh! a day well spent and full of excitement. Time to relax. A massage is the ultimate in relaxation for me. Burke Williams has two locations in Hollywood and the Valley (which i prefer) but honestly it is the Korean spa by my house that stole my heart. The Olympic (Korean) spa has been around for a while and people like it because it is very inexpensive but I am taking it one step up. The Korean culture and techniques with the luxury of a clean beautiful relaxing environment in a very reasonable price. So, i am combining the best of both worlds at the Renaissance Spa. Click on http://www.whrenaissance.com/ and enjoy the music.
10. Now that you are all relaxed, lets keep it that way. The best way for me to stay in nirvana is to go to the beach. I love Leo Cabrillo beach, it is located north on beautiful PCH right after you pass Zuma  beach. It is quiet and not overcrowded. If you like camping  there is campgrounds across the street from the beach. Lots of fun and still staying cool and calm. Make sure you reserve your spot if you camp. http://leocarrillo.com/.com/
There is so much more our city and state have to offer that I don’t feel that 10 is doing any justice to it but I am sure it will get you started. Enjoy our sun kissed land. We are so lucky!

How to keep your makeup safe part deoux

Continued from my last article.
Foundations: what is their shelf life and how to keep them clean and germ free.
Foundations in a tube or bottle are the safest. You pump them out to your hand and apply, germs do not have a way of entering so you can keep them around for a while. Usually you will be done with them before they expire or start smelling. Keep them in a cool dry place, preferably not the bathroom where you shower because the steam is obviously not cool and dry. Also the car is another no no, especially here in California where the weather is mostly warm. The car generates a lot of heat even if it is not 105 degrees outside.

Cream foundations in a jar or thick foundations in a pan are great for coverage if you need something heavier but be careful when you deep those fingers in it and apply. I am sure like most of us you wash your hands before application but fingers and nails somehow keep a good dose of germs around that are transferred to the product. Also the oils from your face will transfer through your hands and find a new home in your cream foundation. With time this will alter the quality of the product same way it alters it when it is applied on your face over the course of the day. The color and consistency changes over time and that is because the oils from your skin and the ingredients of the product have their own chemical reaction.

The best way to use cream foundations is to take a portion out and put it on the back side of your hand or on a clean surface such as a palette (paper, glass or stainless steel). You can use a little plastic knife or a spatula to transfer the product to it’s new home. Make-up artists do that all the time since we use it on different people but I strongly suggest you do the same for your own personal foundation at home.

Now, although I am a germ phobe I have to say that applying foundation with your fingers tips from palette to face is fine. This way you save some of the product that sponges usually tent to “suck up”. If you do choose to use sponges- which you can find at any beauty store- make sure to use disposables and toss them after each use. If that seems as too much waste and I am with you on that, for your own personal use I would suggest you wash your used sponge with water and regular hand soap and let dry before your next use. (However a little dump sponge makes for a great application. I spay mine with some Evian water before use.)

As long as you follow all of the above your foundations can have a shelf life up to five years as long as they do not smell and the consistency has not changed, for example the oils have separated.

All other products, skincare and all have expiration dates on them now. I would follow those dates only because that is how long the product can retain it’s active ingredients and benefit your skin.

Sun blocks are the ones that I would toss after they been opened for a year. So if you bought a sun block this summer and did not completely emptied it so next summer you decide you will finish it up before buying a new one, beware! Sun block tents to be in a warm environment which with time it sacrifices it’s quality. This is not one to take a chance with! Especially with your child’s sun block. There is a big variety of sun blocks at any price range out there so please do not risk a burn, which will end up costing you way more in the future.

Now, one of the most important part of applying make-up is BRUSHES.

Some use brushes even for foundation application which I am a big supporter of. Less trash for starters and heavier application, for the ones that like that. This is a great way of applying anything to your face since they are easy to clean and you can control the application to your liking. However, a lot of germs can build up in the brushes, so please clean them after every use. You can use a professional brush cleaner, alcohol or just plain soap and water and let them dry on a cup overnight. The powder and blush brush you can use a couple of times if you need to take with you in your purse.

HAPPY AND CLEAN MAKEOVERS LADIES!!!

How to keep your make-up safe

Springtime is here and I am on a break from work, which means only one thing: CHANGE!
Change can be about anything. I started with the garage and my beauty make-up kit. I threw out old worn out things and make-up. I donated things that can be useful to others. Boy! do I have a lot of make-up?
Remember: Make-up can collect bacteria while you use it and especially if you are a professional and that is your job, you use make-up on more than one person. I am very meticulous about hygiene and keeping my kit super clean. It is one of the most important responsibilities I carry as a make-up artist, to not contaminate make-up and to not transfer bacteria from one to another person. With that said, you understand that I do throw out a good amount of make-up  that I feel is unsafe. Anything for the eyes is my first priority. Good old mascaras, are not good, they are just old and they got to go. It is a bacteria playground on the bristles as it is on peoples eyelids and lashes. I usually use disposable mascara brushes at work, you can find them in any beauty store however I do not keep mascaras longer than three months.
Eyeliners are another one, always use a disposable brush and do not double dip. Eyeliners are kind of sensitive, they will dry out most of the time if they are old. If you keep them clean and tightly sealed they can last up to a year.
(Tip: sponges are great for smoothing out make-up without using your fingers especially around the eyes)
Eye shadows on the other hand is a tricky business since there is really no way to  not double dip. Although bacteria does not survive long enough in dry dust, your chances for contaminating are slim, I still managed to find something to put me at ease, more than anything else. Did I say that I am a germphobe, maybe you already figured that one out. I spray 99% alcohol on my shadows and wipe them down (you can find it at pro stores). It is safe, it evaporates fast and does not harm the product. Please make sure you do not use the shadows on anyone for at least an hour after you sprayed and you also do not need to saturate them. To take my germ phobia a step further I purchased a UVB and UVC portable light wand, that I actually turn on and run over my shadows, blushes and anything that you can’t wash.
I keep shadows for about three years if they are not used much.
Same as shadows, I do with blushes and powders, anything of that consistency is pretty safe especially if you keep them clean and at the right temperature. Too much heat can create breeding grounds for bacteria when the product starts to “sweat”.

Lipsticks and glosses, these are  my favorite subjects because they are as sensitive and dangerous as the eyeliners and mascaras.  We use them on the  mouth which is a sure thing that they will be ingested and any bacteria on them will enter our system. I use a lip brush, I cut a little bit of the lipstick and I put it on a palette and use it on one person only. When I work on the same client and I know what she likes, I can use it from the tube but reserve it for that client only.

 I do the same with gloss, sometimes when I am on set and in a hurry to touch up i put it on the back of my hand and use the brush to pick it up. Lipstick is more savable than gloss is and here is why. The consistency of the lipstick is so thick that the bacteria stay on the surface or the top part of it where you used it, you can cut that part of with a knife or take a hard paper towel and “shave” the lipstick down (Tip: I still spray the whole tube with alcohol to be safe). The glosses however are harder to save since the moment the brush enters the tube, everything enters with it and stays and breeds. Glosses go bad faster but likely they also start to smell unpleasant when they do which is an indication to toss it.

Spraying the lip-gloss brush with alcohol and wiping it before you dip again is smart but time consuming and might not taste so good for your client.
 

Out with the old and IN with the new my dear friends. Sometimes, you have to start with a  clean slate and make room for something new to come in.
To be continued…

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

BEAUTY IS HOW YOU FEEL AND HOW CONFIDENT YOU ARE. PEOPLE FEEL WHAT YOU FEEL AND IF YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF, IT IS CONTAGIOUS.

THERE IS NO WOMAN OUT THERE THAT DOES NOT WANT TO BE BEAUTIFUL AND ADMIRED.

STRENGHT COMES FROM KNOWING HOW TO USE YOUR INNER AND OUTER BEAUTY TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING IN LIFE.

SOMETIMES LOOKING AT PICTURES OF BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WITH PRETTY HAIR AND MAKEUP MAKES ME HAPPY AND HOPEFUL.

LOOKING GOOD MAKES YOU AND EVERYONE AROUND FEEL GOOD.

PUTTING ON MAKEUP IS MORE THAN JUST PAINTING, IT IS AN ATTITUDE, A MOOD, A CELEBRATION OF BEAUTY.

FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK IS AN IMPORTAND STEP IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE, IT SETS THE PACE FOR HOW MUCH FUN YOU ARE GONNA HAVE AND HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE YOU.

 

HOUSE MD new air dates

Are you one of the people watching the # 1 show in the world? Here is some new air dates of the last few episodes of HOUSE MD with an amazing surprise season finale directed by the multi talented Greg Yaitanes.

Keep watching friends. This is by far one of the best shows out there.

GRAMMY'S 2010

It is Grammy weekend friends and we are all wondering how everyone is gonna look, perform and who is gonna win. Taylor Swift and Beyonce Knowles head to head. We know who Kanye supports and that is his prerogative but Taylor for being twenty years old she has managed to hang up on top with the big boys and girls.

Go Taylor, keep doing what you are doing.

Record of the year, we got Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Black eyed peas and Kings of Leon.

I am between Kings of Leon and Lady Gaga.

Album of the year is between Lady Gaga, Dave Mathews Band, Black eyed peas, Beyonce and Taylor Swift. I vote Beyonce on this one.

Best Female Pop artist: Adele, Beyonce, Pink, Taylor Swift, katy Perry. I vote Katy all the way.

Best male pop vocal performance: John Legend, Maxwell, Jason Mraz, Seal, Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder has my vote.

You get the point. It is gonna be exciting, glamorous, colorful and entertaining.

For tonight though all the beautiful glittery celebrities are gonna celebrate at Clive Davis party like every year. Enjoy!

Look good in the rain

It was raining in Los Angeles last week and it was raining hard.

Most of us put on our hats and coats and run out with an umbrella knowing that as soon as we get to our destination and remove our weather gear we will have to face the hat head and melted make-up look. Well, that doesn't work well for a job interview or a date.

Not to worry ladies, Glam Reporter to the rescue.

Make-up first.

You think waterproof is only for summer? you are wrong.

Waterproof mascara is vital in rainy weather considering it is humid and wet and things tent to wanna run down your cheeks. Cream shadow and blush followed by the powder versions is also a little trick of the trade. Try it! Stily Style is a waterproof line of make-up with great eyeliners and lip liners.

Last but not least, moisturize because even with humidity the winter cold weather still leaves skin dehydrated. If you must have foundation on, try a tinted moisturizer (my fave is Laura Mercier) or mix your foundation with equal parts of your moisturizer and evenly apply to your beautiful face. keep it all dewy by taking it easy with the powder but do set your make-up with a translucent preferably loose powder which does not tent to cake up (My favorite is Koh Gen Do or Laura Mercier). For oily skin, keep some blotting papers handy (I love the mac ones).

Let's move on to the Hair.

This is the real challenge in the winter rainy days.

How do you control it?

If your hair is frizzy and curly by nature I found a fabulous product that I can't live without and I use religiously.

Moroccan Oil. The shampoos are amazing, other than soft, healthy and full of body hair, the Moroccan Oil products are leaving our hair pleasantly fragrant for days.

Moroccan Oil curl cream on damp hair or the classic Moroccan Oil itself will do the trick before blow drying or In Styling it.

In Styling it?

The In Styler has countless infomercials that I am sure you have caught while channel surfing.

I saw one a long time ago and I thought to myself that this was another overpriced gimmicky product that will end up in my garage sale.

Over the holidays I run into a friend that claims she uses it and she has long curly hair, only I have never seen it curly. It always looks smooth, straight and shinny.

That was my first In Styler encounter. She claimed the In Styler was her secret to smooth straight hair.

I was tempted but not enough.

A week ago when all that rain came down to cleanse L.A, another friend at work talked about her In Styler gadget. She brought it to work.

We were all gathered around it in a circle looking at it like it was some kind of meteorite that hit the make-up trailer. The hairstylist of the show was determined to test it on all hair types and she did. I offered my frizzy wavy unmanageable hair to her too, in hopes of some kind of a miracle.

Well, it worked darlings and boy did it work.

In less than 15 minutes my hair was smooth, shinny and just how I like it, straight as a nail but with body. I also just cut my bangs short, think Lady GaGa like, so I really need something that will straighten the bangs fast and easy since I have no other choice but to wear it that way. Day two of crazy rain and hail in L.A, I went to work with stick straight hair as fabulous as the day before. I bought one and I am thrilled because it is easy to use on your own and you don't need to pay the $40 to your stylist.

The In Styler can be purchased online at their official website www.getinstyler.com or at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Price tag: $99 (but if you have a 20% off coupon at Bed Bath and Beyond, it's less)

FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE

Koh Gen Do make-up.

For the make-up artists that have worked with this product, there is really nothing else to say. This article may come really handy to those of you that want to try a new kind of make-up.

So, you are not sure your foundation is the right color. If I had a penny for every time I have heard women ask that. It comes easy to me since it is my job but that is why I am here. Look no further.

Maifanshi Moisture Foundation

This small tube of foundation comes in a vast variety of colors to match anyones skin tone.I love the mixture between 02 and 03. Why? With just those two tubes I can match pretty much any light to medium skin tone. One has pink undertone and the other more yellow.

For an added effect I also mix in the Pearl white primer which makes the skin look smoother and even. Lastly not only is it a Primer but it acts as sun block too. Fabulous!

Price tag: $55.00 each. Not something you are going to regret or not use. I am on my second round and it has lasted me six months.

For make-up artists I recommend that they join the Beauty artists club, where we get a discount directly from the website. Very convenient, since most of the time we have to call the company directly.

SPA cleansing water

I am in love.

This magic bottle contains one of the best and most pure cleansers. It removes even waterproof mascara...wow!!!!

It feels great on your skin and you don't have to rinse with water. So, the nights that I am coming home late from work or from fun (work is fun, too!) and I am too tired to do my three step cleansing, I do the spa water. One step, all done. Ready for bed.

Price tag: $46.00 for the limited edition 450 ml bottle. Yes you will use it but you can try the smaller version 300 ml for $35.00.

The secret ingredient to the spa water experience is the organic cotton pads, made without the use of fertilizers, bleaches and pigments. You have never felt anything like that before.

Price tag: $9.00 for a box of 60 or $21.00 for the limited edition 180 pads box.

As far as lipsticks go, they rock too. My favorite color, nude beige. A great new version of the old nude. I used it on Olivia Wilde (House MD) when she was going to an event and I never saw it again. It looked amazing on her and I love her, so I forgive her.

Price tag: $35.00 each, these lipsticks feel like satin on your lips.