The Met's 'Model as Muse Gala' was last night. The celebs were out in full force, although the models presence lacked the heavy hitters. Christy, Naomi and Stephanie Seymour were all decidedly absent. 
I had the pleasure of doing make up for Magareta van den Bosch.
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.
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!
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.
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?
As women age, full on foundation becomes an unnecessary habit. It tends to settle in the lines and look heavy on your skin. Calling all women over 30. Swap out your foundation & switch to a tinted moisturizer. Go for a shade that is slightly darker than your skin. Your skin will look healthy and your wrinkles will be less obvious. Tinted moisturizer helps to hide age spots too, it's an instant face-lift. I like Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. It gives skin a pretty glow, has antioxidant vitamins and an SPF to boot. Add a smile to your face and presto, your wrinkles suddenly disappear. Laughter and happiness magically take off years, and age becomes just a number.
Dolce & Gabbana debuted their makeup line during Milan fashion week, with Scarlett Johansson as the face of the brand. Master makeup creator, Pat McGrath worked with D & G to create a line filled with bold colors reminiscent of the Mediterranean. The packaging is gold of course, with rich hues - think deep blues and reds that can be changed depending on your mood. Much like their clothing philosophy. " Change your makeup to suit your mood," Gabbana told WWD. Feeling rich, vixen, sophisticated, and yet uncomplicated? Can't quite get to Sardegna on a yacht, but want to live like the jet-set? Dolce & Gabbana Cosmetics just might be the hot ticket for Spring. 
I've said it before & I'll say it again. " Every great makeup artist knows that makeup is only as good as the hair that frames the face." Greg Bitterman is hair royality. Fifteen years in the business, working with everyone from Sylvie Vartan to Bjork to Chloe Sevigny, he's seen hair styles come & go. Yet, he's remained a constant force. His approach? "Simplicity. Uncomplicated & never overdone hair. It's all about inner -self confidence. You know when you see someone who feels good about themselves? That is infectious. And it starts with a great hair style." Two of his can't live without hair products? L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray. " It seals in style and combs out without looking laquered." Leonor Greyl Mouse, "I love all their products, but the Mousse is genius. It creates body without being sticky."
If you get the chance, take a tour of the fab new Andre Balazs Standard Hotel NY in the Meatpacking District. It rises majestically over the High Line, the old elevated railway system that's being turned into a lush green garden. The rooms are crisp & clean, with wall-to-wall-floor-to-ceiling windows that boast spectacular views of the Hudson. Exposed showers and tubs give them a modern, slightly decadent, romantic vibe. The staff was young, hip, pretty and accommodating. With the hotel still under construction the next few months, preview room rates start at $195.00. Treat yourself, or tell a visiting friend to book a room. Sometimes all it takes to feel beautiful is a scrub & a soak. Recharge & indulge while watching the sunset over the Hudson.
Pick up a copy of April's W magazine. Italian countess Marina Cicogna's life in photographs is profiled. She was born into a world filled with celebrities and allowed to capture them in their most intimate moments. Maybe it the was the times, but glancing at the pics, the celebs look relaxed and at ease. Cicogna says, "Today we have some glamorous people in the world, but the thing that made them different then, mainly, was the freedom celebrities had. That era is dead. Today, of course they are hounded by the press. "
Yesterday the octo-mom was quoted as saying, " I wouldn't spend more then $15.00 dollars on make-up." In this crappy economy, at least she got that right. The next few posts are dedicated to all the moms and working gals out there, who still want a lift without breaking the bank. I have one word for you, "Target." I can spend hours in the cosmetics department.
Happy Saint Patty's! When I was a little girl, I got a green carnation every St. Patrick's day to wear on my wrist. It fit perfectly with the Catholic school uniform & freckled face. How can you wear green makeup without looking like a leprechaun? Armani's Smooth Silky Eye Pencil #6 is a deep shade of forest green. Use the smudger to create a smokey look or line in between the lashes for an eye opening effect. You'll look Irish, stylish and fierce.
Lately I've been into Lipglass by Mac Cosmetics. It's just the right amount of gloss & color without being goopy or heavy on the lips. Chai is the 'greige effect' for the lip. Bare Truth, Revealing & Ample Pink are subtle matte shades for a sexy neutral lip. For a pop of color try Warning! mixed with Sheer Lipglass. Blot it a bit with a sponge for the perfect flesh lip. 
I asked actress Kristin Minter which products she absolutely couldn't live without, her first response was immediate, "La Mer." Creme de la Mer, the skin cream to the stars, costs an arm & a leg. But, hey if it can make you look & feel ten years younger, it's worth the investment! Over time skin becomes firmer, softer & crease less. Maybe that's why it's been dubbed the 'miracle cream?' Or as Minter would say, "look at my pics, they're not even airbrushed!"
With ER coming to a close, I don't know what I'll do on Thursday nights...
