I Think I'm in Love

Beauty comes in the smallest packages and funniest faces. Lately, I'm finding people a little disconcerting. I find beauty wherever I can. Ten years with a pooch, yup that's been my longest and most rewarding relationship. She always makes me feel beautiful. She doesn't care if I've put on a few pounds or have new lines on my face. She doesn't see that. They say dogs only see in black and white. I don't believe it. Her life has added so much color to mine. A walk in the park, a swim in the pool, shared toast in the morning, simply lying in the grass looking up at the sky. Beautifully unconditional. She makes me feel pretty, special and well-loved. Cool.

Adopt a pet, it'll beautify your life.

www.petfinder.com

Make Me a Cover Girl

This week in New York, I got to sit down with 15 other esteemed makeup artists, along with the super sweet, and uber talented Molly Stern and chat about makeup at a Cover Girl event. As soon as the first question was asked, "what's your favorite product and why?" the ideas & questions flowed. It was like being a kid in a candy store, we couldn't get enough information. Cover Girl may be my new favorite brand. The Lashblast Volume Blasting Mascara with it's super wand and 360 bristles is the # 1 top selling mascara, and after wearing it all day yesterday I get why. Easy application, and a magic wand that coats every lash without missing a beat. Simply Ageless Foundation with Olay Regenrist Serum and SPF22, in a convenient pot (great for travel!) with it's own sponge is creamy and weightless. It actually stays suspended above the skin and won't settle in wrinkles. It's available in 15 fabulous shades. Hey, if it's good enough for Ellen, it's great for me. Go ahead, become your own best CoverGirl!

www.covergirl.com

One Black Eye Pencil is All You Need

Stephane Marais is a genius in the art of make-up. His talent is unmatched and his understanding of light and depth and color unprecedented. I was fortunate enough to assist him on a shoot for W magazine. He arrived with four suitcases filled with product, ranging from lace to sequins to shimmers. In the end, all he really needed was one black pencil. With two strokes strategically placed on the eye, he blends and creates shadows I didn't think possible. When Stephane finds a product that works, he'll buy twenty of them. He likes Prescriptives Softlining Pencil. It's the perfect black, smooth creamy texture. E voila and merci Stephane, tres jolie.

www.prescriptives.com

www.stephanemarais.com

Enough is Enough

How young is too young? I just wrapped a shoot assisting Stephane Marais for W magazine. 13 "it girls of the moment", four make-up & hair assistants and endless rows of product and racks of couture clothes and accessories. 16 year old girls dressed in $30,000 couture gowns posing as grown ups? How can a woman over 30 relate to babies playing dress up? After all, she's the one buying the clothes. I get it. It's pure fantasy, braids, heat, curls, modern death make-up, under-eye bags that become mysterious, fashion forward & cool. But, in these uncertain times, when is it time to say enough is enough?