The Beauty Manifesto

I’m currently on the road doing a few more rounds of SYTYCD auditions with Cat and crew.   We were in Dallas for a couple of days, and landed in Nashville today, staying at the most bizarro massive hotel I have been at in awhile.

I wish I could say it’s the weirdest place I have ever stayed, but having slept in more than 75 hotels in the last few years, that’s a hard title to give.  It definitely makes the Top 5.

Also, we’d be dying without this. It was so windy and drying in Texas. Blech.

It’s a funny thing, how life works sometimes.  I attacked my closets this weekend which meant finally deciding what stays vs. what goes to make room for the new.  I came across my softcover copy of Kevyn Aucoin’s “Making Faces” and was just about to put a note up on facebook for someone to come grab it since I already have a hardcover edition, when I realized, wait…I have a trip coming up.  What perfect reading material to take with me for a refresher.   (I am currently in a personal education phase in life right now, but we’ll get more into that later.)

Anyway, I went to Sephora today to grab some random bits before this next round of Dance travel. Of course the YSL blush and Lancome mascara I needed (for myself) were both out, so I grabbed the other things on the list and then did my usual cruise around to see what was what. I picked up Stila’s Yumberry Crush lipstain since everyone was in such a tizzy about it when it came out, and their new liquid liner pen because I am back on that mission again…picked up another YSL Touche Eclat in 2 since mines been dry since forever, got some little puffs with the straps on them so I can lock them around my pinky when I work, some Sephora brush shampoo (first time trying this) and then I turned a corner, lo and behold….Kevyn Aucoin makeup, on sale.

It’s been so long since I’ve been in a Sephora (ducking and covering, but hey, I keep it real and spend a majority of my money at my industry supplier, Nigel’s) that I didn’t even know they carried Kevyn’s line.  Of course everything was totally picked over, which I am actually glad for, who knows how much more I would’ve purchased. I did however walk away with 2 eyeshadow palettes, 3 individual shadows, 3 liquid lipsticks, 1 lipliner, and a cream blush. All neutral or red shades.  All 75% off.

And instead of holding out for that urban legend of a 20,000 point Beauty Insider prize, I spent 500 of my points and got the Tarte high-performance naturals collection (for free) which I can’t wait to play with.

The Powder Groups “The Makeup Show” hits LA tomorrow for its second annual event.  Generally I end up missing out on most of these types of things due to travel or work, but this year I am actually speaking at it!! (Ahhhh!!) I will be on a panel discussing makeup for Reality TV, which should be interesting because although technically So You Think You Can Dance falls into the “Reality TV” genre, it really doesn’t follow the typical format of most shows I think of when I hear that catagory.  I wish they would start a genre called “Variety TV” or even “Talent TV,” it seems to make more sense to me.  Anyway, I digress.

So not only will I be on this panel, but I will also be speaking on behalf of one of the sponsors, Temptu. Though I am very new to airbrushing, and only employ it at certain times, I really like this company and I think they have their finger on the pulse of what is to come in the consumer industry.  With technology changing so quickly around us, I think it serves an artist well to know how to use all tools available to us, and that includes the airbrush.

Here’s a link to the Powder Groups blog where they talk about products and vendors, and feature several makeup artists involved with the program (including myself).  I am really excited/nervous/mostly excited to be a part of this and am looking forward to all the amazing brands I will get to see first hand tomorrow!!!

Last year was a pretty stressful/intense/awesome year for me, as I think it was for most people.  Somewhere in between tons of travel, 2 apt moves, work, and getting to know my boyfriend Colin and his little girl, my body held on to more stress than it could handle. My hair definitely suffered for it.  Some fell out, most lost its luster, and the texture was so frail, even my colorist was afraid to run his fingers through it.

My trainer, friend, and ayurvedic inspiration Sheetal (who you will hear more about later) recommended I start using this hair oil called Vatika. I swear to you this stuff has changed my life. I use it once a week, massage it into my scalp and pull it through my hair and leave it on overnight. The sleeping on top of a towel part isn’t the best feeling, but what it has done for my hair is unreal. Within a month its elasticity came back, regrowth began, and it feels thicker and fuller, especially the days following the treatment.

Not everyone loves the smell, but I actually like it.  You have to give it a good thorough washing the next morning, and I still use a conditioner if it feels clean enough after the wash.

The turn around in the quality of my hair actually inspired me to grow it out and see if my old natural curl is still in there.  Sure, I probably have another year of scarves, headbands, and hats, but eventually I think I’ll be really excited to have long hair again….

Thanks Sheetal.

Is when you have only had a glass and a half of wine, but somehow you still manage to fall UP your stairs, in flip flops, with a new pedicure.  The toe color of choice (that looked lovely not even an hour ago and now looks slightly pathetic) is Barefoot In Barcelona by OPI.  It’s a lovely brownish nude that looks fantastic on either fingers or toes.

Go check out OPIs site with their cool “Try on This Color” link.  Obviously not perfect since they are virtual hands and digital swatches, but still easily a fun time spender/waster thing to do. You’ll find this color under the Browns category.