HOW TO CHANNEL your inner CLEOPATRA or NEFERTITI – take your pick.
Photographed by Eilzabeth Brockway for Vogue
They were both beautiful, powerful women of their time. They used natural cosmetics made of malachite and naturally colored clay they would dry in the sun and then burnt to achieve the right red pigment perfect for cheeks and lips. Seems like a lot of work. I’m sure that both Cleo & Nef had help to attend to that part and then loaded it on with a heavy hand. But they were regal, glamorous, rich and desired. This is 2015 so where am I going with all this?
Photographed by Kevin Tachman. Makeup by Pat McGrath
Besides the fact that I stayed in a hotel across the street from The Egyptian Museum in Cairo for almost one month and was fascinated with the world’s most extensive collection of pharaonic antiquities and think I may have seen it all….and tried to imagine what life may have been like as a pharaoh (as the longest-reigning female pharaoh in a man’s world – coincidentally there’s a book called “The Woman who would be King”). I know it’s a long shot but I like to think we have something in common.
This is going somewhere I promise….
Kre-at Beauty 24-Karat Gold Lashes, $295; for information: barneys.com
The METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART has a brand new exhibition “Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom,”which highlights the cultural and political renaissance that flourished in the civilization over the span of nearly 400 years.
Among the pieces on display are canopic jars used for mummification, and ornate royal jewelry inlaid with precious stones and coated in gold. Ahh….gold! I left Egypt with some beautiful 22kt gold jewellery which included a ring that has an inlaid Pharaoh and a pair of good luck scarab earrings and matching pendant.
Tarte Stroke of Midnight Brush Set, $44; sephora.com
Even more than 3,000 years later, a dash of bright gold—prized by the Egyptians as a divine and indestructible element and associated with the sun god Ra—still makes our hearts flutter. Just ask the gilded aficionado Pat McGrath, who adorned Parisians last week with her forthcoming 24-karat inspired eyeshadow hue (in above photo).
Christian Louboutin Scarabée Nail Colour, $50 each; christianlouboutin.com
We are not suggesting you go full-scale Cleopatra, but a simple swipe of metallic eye gloss or a gold-handled makeup brush is enough to tap into the hue’s brilliant decorative effect. Maybe make you feel a little pharaohish.
Aerin Travel Gold Hairbrush, $75; aerin.com
Why not bring a little Egyptian-inspired glamour to your everyday beauty routine?
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask, $80; peterthomasroth.com
Once a week I have a strong urge to cover my face with a sheet. A thin, wet paper sheet that I pull out of a plastic container that fits snugly over my face with holes cut out so that I can still see and breathe. And if they’re good enough for the lady…
photo via Lady Gaga / Instagram
A friend brought a tub of them back for me from Japan (along with some oil absorbing rice paper tissues and a few paper thin umbrellas) and all I can tell you is that it has Coenzyme Q10 because all the rest of the writing is in Japanese. And I’m hooked!
Now we should talk about Korean sheet masks because South Korea has churned out countless sheet masks that are changing the beauty game in a big way. If Paris is known for perfume, South Korea might just be known for the fanatic devotion to skincare, with 10-step routines being just a matter of course. I’m only six steps behind. Sheet masks are a BIG, BIG DEAL!
You’ve seen a wall of them at Sephora. Of all the options, it’s hard to tell which one’s going to do exactly what, mostly because, well, they’re in Korean, so we picked five of the best out there, all locally sourced from NYC’s Koreatown, and broke it down for y’all. Sheet up, people. Don’t be scared.
The gimmick here is that the mask itself isn’t cotton or paper–it’s actual rice paper. The kind you delight to see stretched out over your late-night Seamless spring rolls. The kind you douse in peanut sauce. And, if you’ve ever bought them yourself (unlimited rolls 24/7!) you know that they undergo rapid change from pantry to plate — starting out crusty and brittle, then, after a few minutes in liquid, soft, jellyfish-like, rollable (but also, like using long stretches of tape), is liable to twist up and stick to itself. Unlike other masks, this one doesn’t come already marinated in essence–the liquid is in a separate pouch, which you dump onto the rice paper three minutes before impact with your face. It’s good, healthy, interactive, multi-step fun. The rice paper gels up and sticks to skin better than many of its cotton counterparts. The serum’s pretty strongly scented, making it hard to eat my quinoa-and-soy-sauce without also getting a cross-breeze of gardenia in there. But the effects were undeniable–a plumped-up deep nourishment that, even though I didn’t sleep in it, made my skin look better well into the next day. Five stars.
This isn’t the full-face horror show sheet mask you’re used to–this one’s actually (stand by to be totally shocked) got a little who-is-that-masked-stranger sex appeal. It’s an eye mask, set in the shape of a good masquerade-meets-Zorro–type mask, with little lacy designs festooning its little jellyfish-y body. Good for spot-treating your world-weary eyes that have seen too much banditry or world-saving the night before. If you don’t want to commit to the whole shebang of a sheet mask, slap one of these on and your eyebags deflate, puffiness is un-puffed, and the whole area is blessed and forgiven, so you never have to reveal your true identity as a Secretly Hungover Person living unknown amongst an unsuspecting office.
The Leaders brand is, as my K-beauty junkie friend describes it, “the Korean Clinique,” highly dermatologically trustworthy with like little icons of beakers on the back of packaging. This is the thickest of the masks here–not a strip of saturated cotton but a full-face-adhering slab of gel, like a Dr. Scholl’s sole insert for your face. It gloms on and really stays put–you can walk around, do chores (lol throwback–remember chores?!) and get a glass of water (one imagines coconut is suggested). No cruciferous odor detected, but healthy benefits were nonetheless conferred. This mask is so intensely nourishing that you get this fully saturated face, totally drunken with hydration. The next morning was the best–my forehead lines reduced (for the time being), general tone evener, skin texture firm and supple to the touch. Are you gellin’?
Clay masks do not, that I’ve seen, come in sheet form. So if you want pore-tightening and that sense of all manner of impurity being sucked out of your skin by precision-placed mini vortexes, this is the mask for you. In the (admittedly sort of adorable) container, the kaolin-based formula starts out as a fluffy mousse, smears on like a cream, and dries and tightens like a good clay mask should. It doesn’t flake off, but sort of balls up on your face when it can tighten no more. No Queen Helene like-the-deserts-miss-the-rain cracked earth face here. You’ll have skin that’s cleaned out and calmed down, not further reddened and parched. Give it a shot on oily, black- or white-heady spots. Out with the old, in with the.egg.
Arguably the Gold Standard of Korean sheet masks. It feels light, has no heavy fragrance, and is jam-packed with tiny-creature ingredients like snail secretion and bee venom, floating in a solvent of super-soothing camellia sinensis leaf extract (tea, sort of) and aloe juice. Peel it off in front of mirror and you can almost hear that chorus-of-angels note that happens in movies when a minor miracle occurs or John Stamos enters the frame (“Ahhhhhh!”). Count on this mask for instant skin-brightening and -soothing effects. If you’re planning on wearing anything red and don’t want your face to match, do this first. With the mask’s heavy load of skin-brightening arbutin, one could imagine one’s freckles lightening over time with continued use, although there’s also a strong argument to be made for being proud of your adorable freckles. Plus, it’s on the cheaper side too, even for sheet masks. Stock up–go crazy.
They’re really cheap, they do the trick but admittedly the above one makes me want to gaga!
Source: for 5 best By Trace Barnhill for Papermag.com
so why are we still so obsessed with outer beauty?
While we can always try to cover up our tiny flaws and imperfections with makeup correctors & concealers, and enhance our complexion with blush and bronzer, nothing beats a real lit from within healthy glow that comes from eating healthy foods, drinking lots of water and limiting alcohol intake.
It seems that our beauty routine lately is becoming a lot less traditional and a lot more ingestible. We don’t really need a lot of expensive night creams to do the trick if we live a relatively healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and lots of sleep. I believe in the arsenal of a common sense routine mixed with a few tried and true products.
I want to introduce you to five of the latest beauty products on the market meant to make you more beautiful from the inside out – picks that are sure to blur the line between your kitchen cabinet and your vanity.
Starting with..1)Drinkable Hyaluronic Acid
Spike your favorite drink with 2 teaspoons of this liquid hyaluronic acid to plump your complexion and keep skin hydrated. The Hyaluronic Molecule, Fountain $30
2) Powdered Collagen
Mix a sachet of this marine-based powder with smoothies, coffee, water (or any other beverage of choice) to naturally boost collagen production and maintain healthy hair, skin and nails. Gratitude Package, Vida Glow $50
3)Drinkable Free Radical-Fighter
Drinkable Free Radical-Fighter This cocktail of organic coconut water, aloe vera and lemon myrtle hydrate the body from the inside-out to combat dry, dull skin, fine lines and also fights free-radical damage caused by environmental stressors. Inner Beauty Boost, The Beauty Chef $40
4) Skin-Perfecting Pills For Oily Skin
2 antioxidant and omega-infused capsules per day repair skin, boost hydration and help regulate oil production. It’s also suitable for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. Vegan Omega 3-6-9 Supplements, Zelens $50
5) All-Around Beauty Booster
When mixed into a beverage, this powdered mix of raw vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, and seaweed increases collagen and silica production and hydrates and strengthens skin, hair and nails. Beauty Dust, Moon Juice $65
I’m not promoting these products as I haven’t tried any of them and don’t intend to – just that it’s interesting to find out how the market may be changing. With so many things out there it’s hard to decide what to choose – you have to be selective. I did come across a vegan chocolate bar that claims to slow the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin – hell, I’m all for that one!
Never mind the saying “you are what you eat” – I’m changing it to “you are what you live” – it’s much broader and more forgiving.
Does it mean fair skin, blond hair and blue eyes? Pale skin, green eyes and freckles? Or an olive complexion with almond shaped brown eyes? What exactly is your perception?It started when I read an article from a beauty writer who grew up in a multi-cultural household. It got me thinking about the true meaning of beauty, which we all know starts from within.
Of course having good genes helps, but if we’re being truthful we want it to show from the outside because that’s what we see right off the bat. When people get to know you then your personality and spirit shine through to make you appear even prettier or at least interesting. I always find pretty without personality just plain boring. I always find a great personality on a plain face more beautiful. And different cultures have their different ideas of beauty too and that’s always interesting. It deserves a blog post of its own (coming soon). I will say this: I was considered too skinny in the Middle East for most of the men and secretly pleased by that, ha ha.
For instance, said writer claimed her dad would include wakame seaweed in miso soup to strengthen her hair because marine extracts are for real (domo arigato). Loading up on green tea and grilled fish is also a good idea. That’s why I now start my morning with a tea made from freshly squeezed lemon, slices of ginger, a little cayenne pepper, 1 tsp. of virgin coconut oil (that one is a new addition) and a tsp. of seriously pure honey. The honey is a gift from a friend’s apiary in Nakusp and tastes amazing. Followed by miso soup, grilled fish and red wine.
And then I pile on the makeup. No I don’t. I think less makeup or even absolutely none at times (very rarely though with absolutely nothing – it must be summer) is a good idea. Give your face a break. I’m appreciating natural a lot more now even though I do love makeup – especially for eyes and lips (okay, cheeks too) and don’t forget the bronzer.
It’s still fun to experiment and unless I wear horse blinders I’m like a kid at Sephora looking through the aisles of makeup/skincare that we okay I think will make you look so much better (but then you get home, try the stuff on and you still end up looking the same). Still it’s fun… I’ll never tire of looking at beautiful girly things.
And I think I’m as good a judge as any, with complete honesty on what products actually work.
So, what’s it like to be a writer in the beauty space blogosphere (or at least a reviewer of beauty products)?
Sure, the industry runs on lipstick and fragrance sales, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about redefining “pretty”; sharing the things that make people feel their best (red lipstick, cat-eye liner, or a good moisturizer); and giving a shout-out to people of all shapes, forms, and walks of life who are truly beautiful.
And feeling your best is what I think really defines beauty. And a few good products!
I started spritzing Evian water (the equivalent of Perrier but for your face) in the spray bottle on my skin in my late teens and have been using a facial spray ever since. It was not fashionable then but it just felt natural to do so – wish I was the one who started the trend. Now I make my own with a combination of pure spring, exotic rose & orange blossom water and essential oils of frankincense, lavender, geranium, eucalyptus and a key natural secret ingredient (there always must be one and we can’t give away all our secrets). Then I found this out:
It’s the One Product Allure Editors Always Have on Their Desks
A collection of face mists might seem gratuitous, but if you take a look at any Allure (the beauty magazine – I’m using this as an example since they know everything there is to know about beauty) editor’s desk you’re bound to see a mist—or five. So why are they so obsessed?
Not only will a midday spritz wake you up faster than a 3 p.m. coffee break but, depending on the formula, it can also instantly calm irritated skin and brighten a dull, dry complexion. It leaves your skin really soft and feeling fresh and hydrated.
Some good ones to try:
La Roche-Posay
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water.
It may feel like you’re just spraying expensive water on your face, but this one tops multiple editors’ lists—and for good reason. “The mineral-rich water is immediately soothing to the skin,” says dermatologist Jason Emer.
Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water
Another…water? Yep. But this 100 percent natural mineral water is so soothing, it’s associate beauty editor Lexi Novak’s pick for her finicky skin. Emer calls it the gold standard for redness-prone, sensitive skin.
AmorePacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System
Shelling out $60 for a face mist sounds cuckoo. And OK, maybe it is. But there’s no getting around the fact that, on a scale of one to dewy, this mist (with minerals and glycerin) makes skin Miranda Kerr–level glow-y.
Amore Pacific
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist
Tatcha – nice packaging
Some editors spritz this on a dozen times a day. It’s packed with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and royal jelly extract—that make dry skin feel crazy soft (again and again and again).
Skin so Divine – naturally
Skin so Divine Hydrating Facial Mist
This divine smelling essence in an apothecary style bottle has exotic Frankincense oil to promote healthy cell regeneration, Lavender & Geranium to calm irritated skin, rose water to hydrate even the most sensitive skin and Eucalyptus oil to keep your skin soft and blemish free.
Spritz a little on a cotton round to help remove your last trace of makeup too. Also comes as part of a jet set travel package to Refreshwhile travelling.
For all: use right after cleansing but before moisturizing.
I first found out about this strange fruit called maracuja when I lived in Brazil and found it sitting at the bottom of my favourite cocktail at the time – a caipirinha with a twist…of passion. It was divine.
Passions Fruit (Passiflora edulis) Maracuja
Now I put it on my face. Well not just that alone, it’s part of my nighttime ritual “cocktail for the face” that I mix along with other essential oils in the “Skin so Divine” Facial Oil.
Maracuja oil (pronounced mah-rick-oo-jah and is portuguese for passionflower) is derived from the passion fruit in the amazon and only one crop is harvested each year by the amazonian women.
The vitamin C content in Maracuja Oil can help to make your skin look brighter, while calcium and phosphorus work to nourish and enhance skin’s healthy appearance.
Maracuja Oil is very rich in essential fatty acids and has a high antioxidant activity. It contains nearly 80% linoleic acid together with oleic, palmitic and stearic acids. These essential fatty acids not only work as a great moisturizer but they also have anti-inflammatory properties helping to alleviate inflammatory skin concerns such as rosacea and acne. By calming inflammation in skin, less sebum or oil is released and thus the likelihood of blocked pores in acne is greatly diminished. Because of its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, Maracuja Oil has a balancing effect being suitable for all skin types including sensitive, dry and oily skin. What it does:
rebuilds and repairs
soothes and heals redness and irritation
hydrates and brightens
reduces lines and wrinkles
improves elasticity, tone and texture
boosts collagen production thanks to the vitamin c
Coconut oil has had way more than the allotted 15 minutes of fame and now we’re hearing about the skin care benefits of yet another fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) – that of Avocado. In the oil game I think there’s still room for everyone and even better if they can learn to work together.
Of course now every major cosmetics company makes one. Combine this newfound fascination with oil and consumers’ desire for all things “natural,” and you can understand why people are now shopping the grocery store for beauty products.
Photo: Elle.com
It’s kind of crazy to me because I’ve been mixing oils for years, way before it became fashionable for the face or body. Oh, and let’s not forget hair. Apparently Lupita Nyong’o uses it on her hair and skin – enough said.
Celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau explains“It has a high amount of vitamin E in it, which is an antioxidant. And it does hydrate deeper and better than coconut oil.” Avocado oil also contains fatty acids, phytosterols, and a substance called sterolin. There’ some evidences that phytosterols can help repair skin, although, as with most things on the internet, the claims far outweigh the proof. But still, avocado oil seems to be at least as legitimate, if not more so, as coconut oil for hydration and moisturization.
FYI: Avocado oil is one of the few oils not derived from seeds, but is extracted from the pulp of the avocado fruit.
Avocado Oil Skin Benefits
In addition to providing the skin with moisture, the antioxidants found in avocado oil — particularly vitamins A and E — can help soothe sunburned skin. Avocado oil also contains sterolins, which are natural steroids. They may be effective in boosting collagen production and in treating age spots. With its high level of vitamin E, avocado oil may reduce itching and inflammation of the skin and is also beneficial in softening rough and cracked skin.
Aside from adding it as an ingredient for two of my skin care products (facial oil & makeup remover) I love to add avocado to salads, spread it on toast and of course to eat in guacamole. Now my favourite salad dressing oil is very simple – it’s a bottle I bought at a California Farmers Market, hand-crafted on a family grove in San Diego (non GMO) extra virgin, cold pressed Avocado Oil with lime. It’s so superb on fish too that I’ll have to make a special trip back just to buy more bottles even though I can order it online.
Who would believe that clothes giant H&M is launching a beauty and makeup line, which will hit some 900 stores worldwide this fall. H&M is branding the new products — in sleek, gold-tinted packaging — as “fashion for the face.” The 700-item line will include makeup, hair care and skin care products, with prices ranging from $2.99 to $24.99.
“This is an opportunity to be inventive, creative and have fun with fashion and colors,” H&M Beauty’s concept designer Sara Wallander said in a statement.
A premium line and sustainable products certified by Ecocert will also be available, as will seasonal products.
There will be dedicated store areas for customers to try out different products, and the new line will also be available online.
When the Swedishbrand came to America in 2000, opening its first store in Manhattan, it brought fast-fashion into the spotlight. H&M has mixed high- and low-fashion by featuring collaborations with Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, and more recently, Alexander Wang, among other designers. Balmain Is H&M’s Latest Designer Collaborator.
It might require taking a break from Sephora to check it out.
The word Frankincense comes from the word “franc encens” which means quality incense in old French.
Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia frereana) is a tree or shrub that produces a gum or resin that can be steam distilled into an essential oil with HUGE health benefits. Although frankincense trees can be grown anywhere, they are most popular in the middle east and the region of Oman is known for producing the best, highest quality oils today.
The Tree
Frankincense has long been esteemed as being holy in the Middle East. Remember the old bible story about the three wise guys who came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh? Once three of the most prized items in the world, two now mostly forgotten and overlooked. Frankincense has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda medicine and for the first time is being taken seriously by medical science. Thanks to some scientists, Frankincense may again be worth its weight in gold.
Frankincense is known to have emotional and spiritual affects because of its high vibrational aroma which is why it is commonly used in prayer and meditation. But aside from all that, basically I just love the scent. It is one of the oils used in the “Divine Hydrating Facial Mist.”It is believed that the oil will transmit messages to the limbic system of the brain which is known to influence the nervous system. A little bit of oil goes a long way. Frankincense oil is known to improve skin tone, heal cuts and grazes and infected skin. When combined with the other oils used and the floral waters (especially rose) it is extremely beneficial as a treatment for dry, mature or wrinkled skin. It also helps to lessen the appearance of scarring.
Most people have heard of this essential oil, many have tried it but sometimes it’s nice to know a little more about the overall benefits:Frankincense has many uses. Traditionally it was burned as incense, and also charred and ground into a powder to produce the heavy kohl eyeliner used by Egyptian women.
Now used in skin care products, it is known for its ability to prevent and reduce wrinkling.
To use the oil in meditation, add four drops to a vaporizer. As you inhale the oil, it helps to slow down and deepen the breath which in turn brings a sense of peace, restores balance and opens the mind, increasing awareness and spiritual understanding. It is also thought to help the release of past traumas, helping someone coping with grief to ‘let go’ and come to terms.
On a totally different note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYBELLINE. Going strong & still looking good at 100 years old!
Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline!
Remember that slogan? To this day the company’s pink+green Great Lash Mascara is still a top seller. The company has released a 100 year Milestone limited edition “commemoration collection” available in stores today. Prices range from $4.49 to $9.99. So if you’re not born with it….go out and buy it. Isn’t that what they want us to do?
Shea Butter: the multi-purpose all natural Vitamin A, E & F skin cream (with SPF 6) is derived from the seed of the Shea (Karite) tree which is found in the dry arid regions of Central Africa. The pits are collected to sun dry and then roasted to get it ready for the difficult work of extracting the creamy, rich solid oil by hand. This butter has an amazing amount of healing properties and softening capability. Shea butter has been used in Africa and other countries for years as it provides the skin with essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production. It’s one of the ingredients used to make the “Divine Balm” for “Skin so Divine“. On it’s own it is very rich but splendid when mixed with the other healing oils which make up this amazing balm.
Here are 21 uses of Shea Butter
Dry skin
Skin rash
Skin peeling, after tanning
Blemishes and wrinkles
Itchy skin
Sunburn
Shaving cream for a smooth silky shave
Small skin wounds
Skin cracks
Tough or rough skin (on feet)
Cold weather
Frost bites
Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy
Insect bites
Healthy skin
Muscle fatigue, aches and tension
Use before and after strenuous exercise
Skin allergies such as poison ivy or poison oak
Eczema
Dermatitis
Skin damage from heat (hot grease while cooking, radiation treatment for certain medical problems, etc.)
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