Beauty Tips

After a fun-filled week of Oscar events like the 7th Annual Global Green Pre-Oscar Party (attended by Jessica Alba, James Cameron, Benji and Joel Madden, Nicole Scherzinger, Serena Williams, and more celebs), I finally get to pick the brain of makeup artist to the stars Bruce Grayson, whose work we’ll be seeing all over our TV screens tomorrow at the Academy Awards.

As head makeup artist for the Oscars, Bruce is responsible for touching up every A-list mug in town before he or she goes onstage to present or backstage to accept an award. He has worked on Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Brooke Shields, Rosario Dawson, Kate Walsh, Denzel Washington, Sarah Silverman, Hayden Panettiere, Sarah Rue, the Clintons … the list goes on! (Fun fact: Bruce’s father, David Grayson, perfected the faces of Hollywood legends like Lauren Bacall and John Wayne.) Here, Bruce shares his red carpet predictions and his favorite get-glam-quick tips for special events:

The Daily Obsession: So, Bruce, what are the big trends we’ll be seeing on the red carpet this year?

Bruce Grayson: It’s always about picking the best feature, eyes or lips, and creating a glowing complexion, which makes up most of the face. Getting your skin in shape does the work for you. We’re going to see a more transparent smoky, sultry eye, not too much darkness around the eye, and more shades like slate gray, beige and brown … with a soft, pinky-coral lip, which makes lips look bigger. For red lips, we may see bright, matte, unique colors like the coral shade that January Jones wore to the Emmys.

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Over the weekend, yours truly had the fortune of visiting Make Up For Ever’s station at the 2010 Grammy Style Studio in Hollywood, where Kesha, Adam Lambert, Keri Hilson and Colbie Caillat all stopped by for a little celebrity pampering (see below). Make Up For Ever makeup artist and regional educator David Hernandez went to town on my bare face, going for a bold red lip with a bright poppy orange center (created with Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencils,$17 each). To compliment them, he did a clean eye with black Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes waterproof liner (also $17) on the bottom rim only. The finishing touch: false lashes, specifically Make Up For Ever Strip Lashes #14 ($15/pair), which were long and glamorous yet not too feathery or Cirque du Soleil-ish. (Tip: Snip off the outer edges for a wide-eyed look, and to save the “tips” for later use!)  I happily fluttered these babies all day long.

In other news, Make Up For Ever was busy promoting their bang-up makeup jobs on Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and the rest of “The Runaways” cast. Unbelievably gorgeous colors transformed both famous faces to the point where I could barely recognize them! Check out the trailer for a quick preview.

Photos above courtesy of Jana Williams and Make Up For Ever.

It’s awards season, and with the Grammys and the Oscars around the corner, you know what that means — skin treatment specials galore!

Now I must confess, I love spas but I’m not a plastic surgery & medi-spa guru … at least not through firsthand experience. I’m still trying to stomach the idea of injecting a filler into my slowly hollowing face. Thankfully, I’ve been able to live vicariously through others by tagging along on their Botox visits, post-surgery checkups and laser treatments. And after visiting beautiful medi-spas all over L.A., I can tell you — if this magical courage were to come — where I would go: Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery, Inc., featuring the talented and very personable Dr. Gabriel Chiu.

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Like it? I was in a hurry to get to the Farmer’s Market before they ran out of fish (so glamorous, I know) so I reached for these little gems. I was so pleased with the results I had to share. Follow the steps on the jump for product info, and stay tuned for a future post that uses green makeup alternatives to get the same look! (more…)

Gossip Girl is back – and we seriously couldn’t be happier! Aside from the entertaining drama, we’re always watching for the fashion and beauty, too! Last Monday, we couldn’t stop staring at Blake Lively’s gorgeous updo and decided that we needed to know how to get Serena’s look.

We turned to the fabulous stylist Ricardo Rojas, the founder of Ricardo Rajos Hair Studio, for advice. He’s worked with some of the most notable fashion brands, including: Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Dolce & Gabbana, and more. His list of celebrity clientele? Even more impressive since it includes Liv Tyler, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum, Amber Valetta, Gisele Bündchen, Natasha Bedingfield, and Carmen Kass — to name a few. (He was also Donatella Versace’s personal stylist before opening his own salon.) We thought he’d be the perfect stylist to tell us how to get Blake’s sophisticated, glam style.

“Without a doubt, from the hair to the dress, the entire look is Grecian Goddess with a modern twist,” says Rojas. “Serena’s hair looks very done and polished, yet fun and effortless at the same time.” He’s kindly provided step-by-step instructions and product recommendations, so you can re-create this look at home…just in time for tonight’s new episode! (more…)

Gossip Girl star Blake Lively looked every inch the glowing beauty at the recent Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 premiere. I especially adored how her trademark long blonde locks were done in loose waves with little braids tucked in here and there. To recreate her look, I turned to expert hairstylist Jet Rhys. Jet is the owner of Jet Rhys Salon in San Diego and was more than happy to take some time out of her busy day to share her tips with us. “Blake has stepped out of the box with this fun, flirty look,” she says. “And it’s so easy to do!” Read on for her step-by-step instructions and product recommendations…

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Self tanning is hard enough as is- so why even bother trying unless you’re armed with the best possible products to do so? For the past couple of months, a couple of us here at TDO have been testing out various self tanners available on the market and have narrowed down some of our favorites. So whether you are a tanning newbie or just want to upgrade your product for your next tan, keep reading for what we thought were the best!

1. Clarins Delicious Self Tanner: I have always associated Clarins with some of the finest sun care/self tanners on the market and their newest product does not disappoint. First of all, if you’re going to be smearing something all over your entire body, it might as well smell delicious. And this product with its peach bellini fragrance definitely tops the list. What I also like is that the product is colored and instantly goes on your body in a subtle bronze shimmer. Not only will you truly not miss a spot- but you’ll look tan instantly- and hours before the product actually does its job.

2. Clinique Touch of Bronze Moisturizing Body Lotion is perfect for those who prefer their tanning process to be slow and steady. It takes a few days to build up a light tan but you won’t be surprised with a too-dark color right off the bat. Since the product builds, it is more forgiving of mistakes each individual time you apply. Since this is almost more of a body moisturizer than a self tanner, it’s appropriate to use on a daily basis. In fact some of my friends have replaced their after shower moisturizer with this Clinique product and have loved the glow in their skin. (more…)

Bobbi Brown’s new Limited Edition Bridal Kit ($75) has the absolute essentials that a bride will need on her big day. “On your wedding day, you should look like yourself at your most beautiful,” she says, and this kit works with all skin tones to create a natural look that accentuates your natural beauty. The kit comes in a sleek white case with a mirror and interior pockets, and includes:

• Ivory Eye Shadow
• Black Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
• Black No Smudge Mascara
• Pink Sugar Shimmer Lip Gloss
• Short Handle Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush

Step-by-step instructions included with the kit will help any bride, bridesmaid, or mother of the bride achieve the beautiful look above. Check out bobbibrowncosmetics.com for more information, and be sure to view the video of Bobbi creating her bridal looks. Keep reading for Bobbi’s top wedding day beauty tips! (more…)

Even though I live in Los Angeles, I’m secretly convinced that I belong in London, circa the early 1900’s. It’s my favorite time period and my favorite city, so of course I’m dying to see the new movie that takes place there, “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.” Hopefully I’ll be able to see it this weekend, but until I find myself in the theater holding my popcorn and Diet Coke, I’ll have to content myself with recreating Amy Adams’ romantic look in the film in the privacy of my own apartment.

For those of you who’d like to do the same (come on, I know you’re out there!), here are the products from Stila that can be used to mimic the idea of British beauty in 1939. First, smooth on their Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, to give your skin a glowy, shimmering sheer coverage. Then apply the new Cherry Crush to both your lips and cheeks – the stain will adjust to your specific skin chemistry and create your ideal shade. (And it smells exactly like freshly picked cherries). Finish off your lips with their Apricot Lip Glaze to give them shine and moisture. On your eyes, use the Original Smoky Eye Palette to make them stand out with a combination of dark colors and a package that actually talks you through the application process – a genius idea. Top off your lashes with MAJOR Major Lash Mascara in black. To fully finish the look, apply the Brow Set to your eyebrows. Voila! You’re a British movie heroine.

And for all of you who love London as much as I do, if you go to Stila Cosmetics right now, you can enter a contest for the chance to win a trip there yourself, complete with afternoon tea and spa treatments. I’m not usually one for contests, but if it involves scones and facials? Sign me up!

Want to look like Angelina Jolie? Don’t we all! I usually think she looks beautiful (and I always covet her Louboutins), but I was especially enamored with her neutral makeup look at the Spirit Awards last week. So much that we consulted our friend and celebrity makeup artist Emily Kate Warren for tips on how to re-create the look. (Many thanks for the wonderful tips!) Then I tapped into my arsenal of makeup products to try to recreate the natural glow effect. (Sadly, no amount of makeup I ever put on will have me looking like Angie).

I think it’s tricky making this look work because you essentially have to put your face out there with very little color, but a lot of polish. When working with nudes and neutrals, it is also tricky to find shades that don’t wash you out, so I recommend testing out a bunch of products to get the ones that work for you. Below, I’ve listed the tools and tricks that did it for me. (more…)