Good Lord my skin is dry…….. I sit here in front of the computer typing away and itch, itch, itch….Luckily my pals at FutureNatural (my favorite online organic beauty source that happens to be based in Austin..) sent me over this little one-stick wonder…Deep Steep Moisture Stick ($5)..

Clean, Pure, Natural…the wonderfully moisturizing cocoa butter, echinacea and Vitamin E formula kind of liquefies once it hits skin… so it absorbs really well. I hit the entire neck then do my lips…and what I really love is that it gives my poor neck the love it needs without making me breakout (why god am I still fighting acne at 33?)……AND it’s “Good for you Beauty”…no scary ingredients and the not tested on the cute bunnies.

AND since it’s so CHEAP….($5 BUCKS!!!), Buy a bunch for your friends and fam for Xmas because when you spend $30 bucks at Futurenatural you get this darling 2.5 oz Peachy Clean Foaming Cleanser from Face Boutique FREE….Definitely counter top worthy!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll….

Have you always wanted a consultation with a dermatologist but are too cheap (or have bad insurance) to get one?

Well Dallas Beauties….Dr. Obagi is coming to town!! He’ll be at my favorite store THIS weekend….He’ll be at the Northpark Nordstrom, Sat. Nov 22  from 10am- 5pm. Dr. Obagi will be giving PERSONAL CONSULTATIONS  for $50 (normally they are $300..OUCH!)

Luckily that $50 will immediately go toward any purchase you make in the department……(hopefully on ZO Skin Health of course..)! Oh, and you’ll also receive a complementary mini Oclipse Primer + Sunscreen spf 30! I’ve heard tons of good things about this bad-boy and can’t wait to try it myself…..

Call 214.231.3900 ext.1417 to make YOUR appt. with the good doctor…and be sure to let me know because I’ll be there!!!!

And if you can’t pull yourself away from the computer (or the couch)…don’t forget to “Ask Dr. Obagi”!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll…..

Hey my beauties….So did ya’ll watch yesterday? I DID. Honestly, I was on pins and needles the entire TIME! As a makeup artist myself, to watch a show judging and rating my fellows artistry ability was oddly unsettling….. This must be how a clothing designer feels watching “Project Runway”……

But don’t get me wrong I loved the show…Very entertaining…I mean, we makeup artists aren’t exactly known for our “emotional stability” ( myself included..I’m a Gemini)…So there was plenty of entertaining drama on Lifetime TV’s BLUSH.… It was SO great to meet the cast….aren’t they cute? (of course I was looking at all their makeup…boys included).

I LOVED the first challenge….to create a look with FOOD (note to self: Don’t ever put curry around the eyes…lol!) and some of the results were stunning….My girl Jessica from Texas went home this round….but I gather she learned A LOT while staying  true to her personal aesthetic and “vision”….Once the show is over and done, I’ll be picking her brain here at The Daily Beauty Break….Can’t wait to learn her tips & tricks!

So if you are in love with the art of makeup, you gotta watch this show……I’d love to be a fly on that studio wall..(or just be able to nose through everyone’s kits..)

Watch Beautifully….

How to pay for Holiday gifts when your INFLOW of cash doesn’t quite meet your OUTFLOW of people to buy for? ME, TOO! Well, my Sephora Holiday Catalog came in the mail last week and I took it upon myself to scour it (and my favorite beauty blogs) for good Holiday Beauty Values…..

And guess what I found from my “Favorite Star-Plucker” and Brow Expert….Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini-Brow Kit ($25). Is this not the cutest little thing you’ve ever seen?

You KNOW I love anything my favorite Hollywood Brow Guru creates…the  Mini-Matte Highlighter is a brow-lift in a stick (apply to the tops of the brow bone and in the inner corners of the eyes for an INSTANT lift)…Anastasia Tweezers are the only ones I use on myself and my clients, AND the Clear Brow Gel always seals the deal beautifully…

And the best part? You get all three for the same price of one pair of Tweezerman Tweezers ($25 bucks)…NICE, REAL, NICE.

Anastasia’s Mini-Brow Kit is THE perfect gift for your plucking-obsessed pals….(you know who you are..lol!)

Be sure to check it out next time out at Sephora, Nordstrom or Ulta….

Give Beautifully Ya’ll!

So maybe it was the plastic surgery magazine that was placed on my doorstep  (hey, I am in Dallas ya’ll!) yesterday or just my own “adventures in aging”….But did you see Jennifer Aniston on 30 Rock Thursday night? BEAUTIFUL…I am just so proud of her (like I know her or something)….I mean, Jen looked fabulous of course but you know what I really loved? SHE LOOKED HER AGE….I mean, I am sure (like moi) she does everything in her means to keep what she’s got, but she hasn’t gone OVERBOARD….and by OVERBOARD I specifically mean FILLERS…(you know like, Juvederm, Restalyne,etc)…

Especially after looking at all the artificially inflated, tight and tucked faces in that plastic surgery mag….I mean, some of the photos that were supposed to be “afters” featured women who were SO gorgeous BEFORE…all thier NATURAL beauty was replaced and they looked more like bloated chipmunks than “young and refreshed”!

(sorry Joan, you know I mean no harm………)

I don’t know…I mean, I know I am “part of the industry” but just like you (dear readers) I fall prey to the “marketing machine” just as hard (maybe even harder actually)…. It was refreshing to see a star who I’ve followed through the aging process the last 20 years (okay, can you BELIEVE the 90’s was 20 years ago?)…maintain her natural beauty without messing it up with “procedures”.

I’m just SAYIN’.

Be Beautiful Ya’ll………

Hello my beauties…First off, I want to thank ya’ll so much for taking the time to leave all the great comments  personally sharing your amazing “skin transformations”   with Dr. Obagi’s new ZO Skin Health Products! I first posted my successful review of Dr. Obagi’s products MONTHS ago and am still receiving new feedback from happy clients everyday.,,,,,WOW!

Well, nobody is more thrilled to hear of your successes than Dr. Obagi himself….I first heard of Dr. Obagi from a photographer friend who used his prescription products to beat her hyper pigmentation and adult acne (and boy did SHE EVER….Dixie, you look fabulous darling)…..In fact, Dr. Obagi is so thrilled that he is treating us here at The Daily Beauty Break with our own little Q & A…..I’m calling it “Ask Dr. Obagi”!

Dr. Zein E. Obagi is an “internationally renowned dermatologist, educator and innovator, Dr. Obagi, M.D. is an expert in skin care. He is a Board-Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. As one of the best known skin health experts in the world, Dr. Obagi is esteemed for his work in correcting a wide range of skin conditions, including facial melasma, precancerous lesions, deep wrinkles, age spots, acne scars and sun-damaged skin.”

Just the kind of guy whose brain I’d like to pick!!! So bring on the questions beautiful people!!! What’s your skin care concern? Bring us your sunspots, your acne, your wrinkles……Let Dr. Obagi tell YOU PERSONALLY what path you need to take to look… (and most importantly), FEEL BETTER!

Feel free to leave your questions for Dr. Obagi below in the comments questions….or email me I will forward it on to Dr. Obagi personally….

So stay tuned.… Since you asked (and you know I’ll do anything for my readers..lol) I’ll be reviewing ZO Skin Health’s Olluminate Intense Eye Repair & the Oraser Anti-Aging Hand Care Program….( can’t wait to say goodbye to my grandma hands!)……

Be Beautiful…..

Retinoids, Glycolic Acids, Chemical Peels,MIcroderm, Photofacials….RESULTS=AMAZING, but waiting for those results SUCKS…IN BETWEEN=FLAKES & REDNESS….All these skin treatments have one thing in common, they all help the skin literally shed the old (”wrinkles, acne, sunspots, OH MY!”) before revealing smoother, younger-looking skin.

What to do in between? Try Kryolan’s High Definition MIcro Foundation Smoothing Fluid ($44). This soft, micronized liquid foundation melts right into the skin. I used it on a client last weekend who just started Tri-Luma and it covered her melasma beautifully, while keeping flakes at bay ALL NIGHT….Even better, it contains sunscreen for daytime protection.

Now, why should an average gal even consider believing the High Definition Hype? Because the new digital format is “what you see is what you get”….So when cosmetic companies do special formulations for the camera it means YOU get to reap the benefits and look great….IN REAL LIFE.  I highly recommend “High Definition” makeup for the average gal who needs a little extra help…(like moi).

KRYOLAN has specialized in producing makeup for professional makeup artists  in film/print and tv for over 60 years….Why should you care? If you don’t look good, we (the makeup artists) don’t look good. Thanks for that Vidal……..

Be Beautiful Ya’ll!

Golf balls and polo-T’s anyone? Maybe a handkerchief or a new wallet…SERIOUSLY, shopping for the men in my life is B-O-R-I-N-G. So this year I’ve decided to get gifts for the men in my life that get ME excited ( I know, I really need to get a life).

I’d never seen the vedaDUDE line before…..but if I like it, so will hubby…(and the packaging? Come On!….Too, cute!)….vedaPURE, vedaBABY, vedaMAMA and vedaDUDE products are all the creation of Dr. Natalie Geary. Dr. Geary initially developed the vedaBABY products  to fill the needs of her pediatric patients for more natural, honest skincare….free of all harsh chemicals, preservatives and additives….And it worked so well for the “wee-ones” that Dr. Geary was called to move on to formulate products for the rest of the family……Definitely “Good For You Beauty”!

Standouts from the line include: 1. vedaDUDE GLIDE ($20)….Organic Aloe Leaf Juice, Biilberry Extract and Organic Orange Fruit Extract all make for a very sensory-appealing close shave…GLIDE smells divine, but won’t irritate sensitive guys skin! BONUS,  GLIDE did NOT clog the razor one bit…..

2. vedaDUDE CHILL Face Moisturizer ($20). This Organic Coconut and Jojoba Balm also contains Neem oil and Rosemary Leaf Extract..This light, hydrating lotion was IMMEDIATELY absorbed by my skin…perfect for your “manly-man”…It smells boyish enough for him, but delicious enough for moi!!!

So what do you have planned for men in your lives for the Holidays?….If it incorporates anything beauty, Do Tell!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll…

Honesty really IS the best policy. That’s why I love the girls over at Product Fiend….they dish on all the latest and greatest in the skincare world (and all the trials and tribulations regarding it…..wrinkles AND zits, anyone?). Seriously though, I’ve always followed the “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” policy here at TDBB.  Mainly, if I try a beauty product and it’s a real STINKER….it’s won’t get a mention here either way…I try my best to “keep it real”….bottom line, I want to help YOU the dear reader look and feel her best….and if a product doesn’t fit the bill then I won’t write about it.

But after reading Wendy’s review of Bare Essentials Bare Essentials Bisque Concealer today (I swear it almost sounds like she got a bad batch or something..), I just had to make a little list of my own favorite concealors….I mean, talk about being worked into a corner….Zits just suck all the way around….and if you are like moi, when it comes to hiding the little buggers price can be no object ( nothing like returning a concealor to a counter girl becuase it won’t cover your zits…GOOD TIMES)  So I thought I’d do a quick list of my ALL-TIME favorites…

1. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($20)…(with ya on this one Wendy!) This little duo has the perfect constistency for covering zits….super pigmented and thick, it won’t budge!!! Bonus, you can mix the two shades as your skin changes with the seasons so you will always get a perfect color match!

2. PUR Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation ($24.50). I slap this bad-boy on in the am when I have to take the kiddos to school but just can’t bear to go out of the house with the “chaos that is my face” showing….bonus, you don’t need to set it with powder and there’s no icky sheen like some other mineral makeup! TOTAL COVERAGE = TOTAL RELIEF, I say!

3. Illuminare Extra Coverage Foundation/Concealor ($27). This is my “go-to” foundation and concealor when I am really in a skin pickle and have to go do makeup for a photoshoot…(nothing like being a makeup artist w/ acne)! A cult fav among us makeup artists…Illuminare probably has the most pigment of any pre-mixed foundation I have ever tried…..I always get compliments on my “skin” when I wear it…If they only knew….

TIP: When it comes to covering your zits…A. make sure your skin is prepped…flakes are toned or scrubbed away (go easy) and you have a good oil-free foundation primer on to help “even out the topography”..if you know what I mean! After foundation, set with a good translucent powder…then move on the concealer…apply in layers my dears….think concealer/powder/concealer/powder until the madness is GONE, BABY, GONE!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll…..

Hello beautiful people!!! Getting invitations to Holiday Parties yet? Well I am (I’m sooo popular..lol)….I thought what better way to help than to give you some quick tips to “Amp up your Holiday Beauty Routine”….I’ve already reviewed several items from Bobbi Brown’s New Copper Diamond Collection because it is the IDEAL Holiday makeup. Here are a few ways to “Amp it Up..”

1. Add shimmer…..I’m in love with Bobbi’s latest Limited Edition Shimmer Brick Compact ($40). These universally-appealing bronze/pearly/coppery shades are  perfect for everyone and easily provide “all-over glamour…(yes, I used your spelling Jayne..lol).

Taking a big fan brush, lightly dust the tops of your cheekbones, brow bone and even your decollete with this lovely powder….take it one step further and dust the tops of your shoulders (if you dare to bare) and the front of your shins…..It’s catches the evening light perfectly (and I use it for day on my eyes….)

Plus, checkout out the packaging! You can bet my best girlfriends will be receiving this little lovely as a present from moi for Xmas……(cosmetics ship beautifully….)

2. Amp up your day look to night by adding Metallic eye shadows($20) and go one shade deeper with Bobbi’s Limited Edition Glitter lip glosses $19)……

Take one of these gorgeous jewel-toned shadows and apply from the lash line to the crease…..if you have blue eyes try a deep chocolate mauve shade and brown-eyed beauties try a navy shade…I’ve been doing navy lately and you would be amazed at how it picks up the flicks of gold in your eyes and lights up your entire face!!!

3. Then top it off with the gloss (over your usual liner if you need the extra definition like moi) and you are good to go…..OH! And don’t worry about getting the goo everywhere….Bobbi really does listen to our beauty gripes….Glitter Lip Glosses are packaged now with this cool little acrylic flap inside the compact that protects the gloss (and your purse)….that way your compact (and your purse) stay goo-free…NICE!

So how do YOU “Amp Up YOUR Holiday Beauty Routine”?…..Do tell!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll…..