Archive March 2011
Earth Hour: The Earth Needs Some Beauty Sleep
Let’s face it, she’s suffering from some serious dark circles!
Sleep is one of the only activities every human being on Earth has in common. Whether you strive for only 4 hours a night, or 8, we all need it and it’s imperative to our health and well-being. Harvard Medical School states that sleep deprivation can alter our immune system and make us more susceptible to disease, cardiovascular problems, irritability, moodiness, and weight gain. In our houses, we dedicate entire rooms to our beds, and spend thousands of dollars on pillows, bedding and mattresses in order to assure we are as comfortable as comfortable as possible when we lay our heads down at night.
Tonight marks the annual Earth Hour, a national movement to save energy and send a clear message that we can work together to preserve our planet. Since we place such extreme importance on sleep in our own lives, we already understand how essential it is to give our Earth some much needed beauty sleep.
..Last year, over 1.3 billion people turned out the light! Here are some iconic landmarks that will be participating:
- Empire State Building
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Broadway Theater Marquees
- Las Vegas Strip
- United Nations Headquarters
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Seattle’s Space Needle
- Church of Latter-Day Saints Temple
- Gateway Arch in St. Louis
- Great Pyramids of Giza
- Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens
- Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro
- St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City
- Big Ben and Houses of Parliament in London
- Elysee Palace and Eiffel Tower in Paris
- Beijing’s Birds Nest and Water Cube
- Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong
- Sydney’s Opera House
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that the average adult needs between 7-9 hours a night. The Earth is only asking for one hour!!!
Tonight, March 26th at 8:30pm, turn off all of your lights for 1 hour!
Inglot Finally Launches Their Online Store
Inglot is one of my favorite new (new to me, not the market) brands! I was introduced to them last year at The Makeup Show and have been dying to add more of their products to my kit. Unfortunately, they are only available in select locations which pretty much limited my ability to try more stuff…. until now!
Inglot has finally launched their highly anticipated USA Online Store! Now you can purchase any of their products from the comfort of your own home (I highly recommend the Lip Paints and creme blushes) 
Check out the brand HERE
Elizabeth Taylor – The Passing of a Beauty Icon
I remember when I was little my grandma told me that Elizabeth Taylor had “violet eyes” and two rows of eyelashes. My fascination started that day.
Rest in peace Elizabeth Taylor.
Paris Fashion Week A/W 2011 Beauty Roundup
Fashion Week (month) is over!! Check out the looks you may have missed in Paris..
Alexander McQueen
Chanel
Key Makeup Artist: Peter Philips
Chloe
OMGGG *I.Want.To.Look.Like.This.Everyday* GORGEOUS!!
Key Makeup Artist: Charlotte Tilbury
Lanvin
Key Makeup Artist: Pat McGrath
Louis Vuitton
Viktor & Rolf
Key Makeup Artist: Pat McGrath
Vivienne Westwood
Key Makeup Artist: Val Garland
Yves Saint Laurent
Key makeup artist Pat McGrath had originally designed YSL’s makeup look with vivid purple lips but that’s not what the models appeared on the runway in. Last minute, McGrath changed her mind saying “the face needs to be more open and sexy” and makeup artists scrambled to replace the purple pouts with a creamy peach lipstick.
Key Makeup Artist: Pat McGrath
Review: Reviva Labs
When Reviva Labs contacted me to review several of their products, I was a bit hesitant since I am very picky about what goes on my face in terms of skincare. However, when I discovered their products were all natural, AND they earned the seal of approval from my grandma (who looks 15 years younger than she really is), I decided to try them out!
The Glycolic Acid Cream
It’s impossible for me to actually pick a favorite product out of the three I tested, but the Glycolic Acid Cream is definitely a strong contender for the title! I’ve been interested in Glycolic Acid creams for awhile and since Revia Labs is a leader in the glycolic acid field, I was excited to try out the best of the best!
What is it?
Glycolic Acid is derived from sugar cane and is used as a natural exfoliant. It loosens any dead skin cells and whisks them away, increasing the rate at which younger cells reach the surface. It is clinically acclaimed to help diminish visible wrinkles, discoloration and age spots. As an added bonus, using Glycolic Acid allows your other skincare products to penetrate deeper. Sign me up.
Review:
Even though I wanted to jump in with the heavy duty 10% Glycolic Acid Cream, I decided to start with 5% since I read that you should allow time for your skin to get used to the product (or you risk irritation). They warn you that there may be stinging when you apply the cream, but I felt none. Since I don’t have sensitive skin at all, I made my boyfriend try it (haha) and he reported no stinging either.
I applied the cream at night, before bed, and I woke up with the smoothest skin ever; it literally felt like a brand new layer had emerged! Getting these amazing results so quickly encouraged me to keep going with the product. After about a month, my skin looked incredibly clear and bright (I even received compliments!) and I have noticed I am breaking out much less. Since I am 23, I can’t vouch on it’s ability to fade lines and wrinkles, but I have noticed that it has started to fade some mild acne scars on my chin! I am in love with this product and will definitely be purchasing a jar of the 10% very soon.
Ingredients:
My absolute favorite thing about this product is that it’s all natural! The ingredients consist of:
purified water, glycolic acid polymer (extracts of sugar and rhubarb), extracts of pumpkin, peach, sage, chamomile, witch hazel, Vitamins A, D, E safflower oil, and sunflower oil. No parabans, chemicals, dyes – nothing!! Amazing.
The Essential Fatty Acid Cream
What Is It?
Reviva Lab’s Essential Fatty Acid Cream is one of their newer products but it has already won an award for the 2010 Skin Care Innovator of the Year!
As we age, our skin begins to lose Essential Fatty Acids which results in the thinning and increased fragility of our skin. Reviva Labs EFAs cream was designed with 10 different Essential Fatty Acid oils (including sunflower, avocado, hemp, flaxseed, borage, black currant and pomegranate) to create a fuller, smoother look and feel.
Review:
Like I said before, I am only 23 therefore thin skin is not a problem for me at the present time. However, I am all about prevention and was super excited to see what this cream was all about.
I have had the hardest time finding a daytime moisturizer to go underneath my foundation without turning me into a greasy mess within hours. Before I tried this cream, I immediately dismissed it as a night cream when I saw how many oils are in the ingredients. I was so wrong!! This cream feels incredibly light and soaks into the skin so quickly, leaving a smooth surface that is not greasy at all! My foundation stays put all day and I have not notice any increased oilyness whatsoever. The first time I used it, my boyfriend commented that my skin “looked good!” Granted, he is dating a makeup artist and is much more in tune with these things than a normal guy, but still. The only thing I’m not crazy about is the smell. It smells kind of like tea, which is a good smell… just not for my face. It does go away very quickly though.
I love the immediate results I get from this product and I trust that I am preventing my skin from thinning just by using it
Ingredients:
Purified water, aloe vera gel, veg. glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, borage oil, rosehip oil, hemp oil, avocado oil, wheat germ oil, black currant seed oil, olive oil, sesame seed oil, polysorbate 60, stearic acid, glyceryl laurate, panthenol, pomegranate oil, mixed tocopherols, olive squalane, soy liposome, green tea extract, sweet almond oil, allantoin, cocoa butter, phenoxyethanol and ethyl hexyl glycerin and benzyl alcohol (preservatives).
Makeup Primer
What is it?
We all know what a primer is right? If not, primer is worn underneath your makeup to increase longevity, “fill in” lines and refine the texture of your skin for a smoother application of makeup.
Review:
To be honest, when I got this primer in the mail, I was pretty apathetic. “Reviva Labs is a skincare line .. what do they know about makeup? hmm whatever, I guess I’ll try it.” were my exact thoughts…I couldn’t have been more wrong, I LOVE THIS PRIMER!!!
I carry about 5 different primers in my makeup kit. I don’t really know why; probably because I haven’t found “the one” just yet. After testing Reviva Lab’s Makeup Primer, I have taken out 3 of my other primers and replaced them with this!! It’s that good. It makes your skin feel so incredibly soft and silky. Other primers in my kit had a more watery feel and oily appearance (*cough Smashbox cough* ). Reviva Lab’s primer has a thicker consistency without feeling or looking oily. Note: It’s important to let the product soak all the way into your skin! Upon application it will probably feel greasy and heavy (which threw me off at first) but once it soaks in, you are left with a smooth, perfect canvas to apply your makeup on.
I recently used this primer on an actress for a red carpet appearance because I knew her makeup had to last all night. Later, when I saw pictures, the makeup looked exactly the same as when I left her house. It also works amazingly on mature skin!! It fills in lines and wrinkles, hydrates the skin and makes makeup go on perfectly. I love this product so much that I steal it from my kit to use on myself (which I never do)! My only gripe is that it takes kind of a long time to soak into the skin, and when I’m on set, time is money.
Ingredients:
Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), olive oil, coenzyme Q10, squalane.
CONS
So, since I’ve raved on and on about these three products, I feel like I should think of some type of con, so you don’t think I’m being paid (which I am NOT!! Read my disclaimer at the bottom).. haha
The only thing I can think of (besides the smell of the EFAs Cream and the amount of time it takes for the primer to soak in) is the packaging. When I first checked out Reviva Labs, right away I judged the brand solely on their packaging. It looked outdated and I immediately wrote it off as a line for “mature” customers.
The Bottom Line:
Obviously, we know not to “judge a book by it’s cover” but with so many products on the market today, it’s honestly hard not to. I am SO glad I tried these products because they have all become regular staples in my beauty routine and I am most definitely looking forward to trying out many of their other products (hello Hyaluronic Acid Serum!). Not only are Reviva Labs’ prices incredibly affordable, they contain all natural ingredients and the quality of the product is truley amazing. A+!!
www.RevivaLabs.com
Disclaimer: From time to time, companies will send me products to review. I pride myself in providing my readers with honest feedback of the products I am testing. I will not recommend something I would not use personally or professionally. Sending me product does not guarantee a review and I accept no monetary compensation for in exchange for reviews.
The Makeup Show LA 2011 Recap
Last weekend, The Makeup Show LA took over the California Market Center, as over 4,000 attendees showed up to shop insane deals, rub elbows with their favorite artists and learn a few new tricks. I attended on Saturday and I definitely feel like this was The Makeup Show LA’s best year yet!
One of my favorite things about this show in particular, was that the retailers were pretty much the “cream of the crop.” It was as if The Makeup Show selectively handpicked the companies that attended, rather giving anyone with glitter decals a booth 
Another thing that struck me, was that the crowd actually seemed to consist of working professionals (for the most part). I didn’t find myself elbowing through a sea of 18 year olds wearing blue and green eyeshadow up to their brow bones, in order to check out the new Lip Tars.. I even saw Billy B walking around doing a little bit of shopping, while being mobbed by fans lol.
The Keynote Speakers were the highlight of my day! The artists that spoke this year are some of my favorite makeup artists, Being able to listen to their stories and watch them demo a look was a really cool experience.
Kristopher Buckle
Being a huge Kristofer Buckle fan, I made sure to get there early for his talk. He was extremely engaging, funny and so generous with the information he gave us. He showed an impressive slideshow and video reel of his work and even recreated a look from Christina Aguilera’s Not Myself Tonight music video! He shared several of his tips, favorite products and gave us the scoop on what he used to create Christina’s custom lashes not only in the Not Myself music video, but for Burlesque as well!
Three Tips From Kristofer:
1. Kristofer uses LipSense lip colors because they “do not budge.” He used them on tour with Mariah Carey and regularly with Christina Aguilera.
2. The red lip in Christina Aguilera’s Candy Man video is MAC’s Ruby Woo lipstick.
3. Several of the products he used on Christina in Not Myself Tonight include Dermacolor foundation, black La Femme eyeshadow, Maybelline Great Lash mascara, MAC’s cherry lipliner. The eye spikes are cardboard with Swarovski crystals glued on!
Follow Kristofer on Twitter @heavyglam
Pati Dubroff
After Kristofer Buckle, Pati Dubroff spoke before running off to prep some clients for the Academy Awards! Pati was extremely inspirational, she was so humble and down to earth. Pati’s style is very natural, and it was interesting to contrast her work with Kristofer’s. Their styles are so different, yet they both are among the top celebrity artists working today.
Three Tips From Pati:
1. Pati prefers to use natural products when she can. She loves Clark’s Botanicals for skincare.
2. Her go-to loose powder is Sensai-Kanebo. (Which she uses very sparingly!)
3. Pati loves using a Duo Fibre (or skunk brush) for foundation. She loves the airflow through the brush and says it “whips” the foundation onto the skin.
Follow Pati on Twitter @PatiPREMA
Be Sure to Check Out:
The Makeup Show New York
The Makeup Show Chicago
The Makeup Show Europe
Red Carpet Hair Tips from a Celebrity Hairstylist
Paul Gooch is a celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist whose clients include Reese Witherspoon, Emily Blunt and Liv Tyler. Last month, he was the recipient of a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award for his fantastic work on Tim Burton’s, Alice and Wonderland! On the heels of award season, Paul is here to give us some hair tips so that you too can look red carpet ready, everyday!
1. Elegant High Chignon
“To achieve an elegant high chignon, brush towel dried hair with your head tipped upside down, then secure it into a high ponytail with an elastic band. Smooth over any stray hairs with Umberto Gianni’s Sleek and Chic Seriously Straight Gloss Serum to catch any stray, flyaway hairs. Next, twist the remaining ponytail around the covered elastic to create the stylish chignon. Pin into place.”
2. Classic Waves
“Create classic waves using a medium sized curling tong taking hair section by section (Umberto Gianni’s Smoothy Curling Tong is a favorite of Paul’s). Push the tonged hair into soft waves and smooth any stray hairs with Curl Friends Silky Curls Smoothing Balm. Loosely gather the ends of your hair into a nape chignon and secure with pins or a hair decoration. Once you have the desired effect, spray with hairspray to keep it in shape.”
3. Beautifully Blonde
“Enhance and maintain your pure blonde hair by using Umberto Gianni’s Beautifully Blonde Enhancing Shampoo. This color enhancing formula gently cleanses away the dullness of the day to reveal blonde tones and highlight so you will dazzle as if you were on the red carpet.”
All product recommendations are personal preference of the artist, they do not reflect the views of Last Looks, nor has Last Looks received compensation of any kind to mention these products.
