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This year's Met Ball was all about the models (the theme was "Model as Muse"),  and we got the low-down on how to get the look of two of the big-name models that attended this year's star-studded affair -- Vanessa Traina and Michelle Aalves. Celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin did supermodel Michelle Alves' pretty, natural makeup. He accentuated her eyes with Lancôme Color Design Eyeshadow Quad in Haute Sunset, a palette of neutral, peachy and beige shades. To create definition, he lined Alves' eyes with Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl in Noir and added a few coats of Lancôme Ôscillation Mascara in Black. A dusting of Lancôme Blush Subtil in Miel Glace was applied to the apples of her cheeks and Daniel used Color Design Lipstick in Love It and Color Fever Gloss in Rose Jolie to create her high-shine, pink pout. Jump for what went into Vanessa Traina's look! 

This is one of those things that when you see it you just have to try it. This Cleansing Balm looks like black mud but it is not a mask, it dissolves into an oil that thoroughly cleans your skin and leaves your skin moisturized and enriched with minerals and vitamins. It is made of Hungarian thermal mud and Hungarian healing water, which are both rich in minerals and allows a deep pore cleanse, drawing out all the gunk and impurities. And it takes off makeup like you would not believe. You start on the cheeks and work in a circular motion to break down the balm, once it is oily, you work it up to your eyes and it will remove anything you have on, including stubborn waterproof mascara. This is meant as a one step process, you clean your face with this and wipe, not wash, it off leaving all the oils and minerals behind as a treatment for the skin. The instructions says to wash with water but the SA told me to leave it on. I don't like the idea of makeup traces left behind, so I am opting for the wash with water route. Everything about this is really incredible and I highly recommend it, except, it is really pricey, a jar of this stuff is $102 and if you wear makeup everyday, or even if you don't and just want to use this daily, you can go through this in a month. Exclusively at Neiman Marcus.

* A round face looks best with a stronger, straighter eyebrow which can add needed angles to a round face.

* An oval face looks best with a medium fullness and classic arch.

* A long face looks best with a stronger, higher arch.

* A square face looks best with a slightly rounder arch to add needed softness.

The above are just guidelines, however, as you have to take into account not just your facial shape, but also how thick or thin your "virgin" eyebrows are to begin with, how dense or sparse your brow hairs are, the size and shape of your eyes, how close set or far apart your eyes are, your age and finally, what look you are trying to achieve. More after the jump!

I saw this roller thing at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills and without thinking I touched the roller not knowing it was full of really tiny and really sharp pins! It didn't hurt or anything when I got pricked but I was startled. Of course I had to ask what it was for. The Leaf & Rusher line is developed by a plastic surgeon and nurse from a Beverly Hills practice, their clintele is a long list of A-lister celebrities who do the advertising for them because they do not. Their Active Serum
($118) contains Retinol and Vitamin C to improve the surface of the skin but when used with the Derma Roller ($118), it penetrates the skin 4000% more than with just a topical application. Makes sense to me. So you apply the serum first, then lightly roll the Derma Roller over the entire face avoiding the eye area. The 90 surgical grade pins pushes the serum into the skin but because our skin is super thin, the pins are actually very very short so it will not hurt or cause bleeding. I was rolling it all over my hand and although it did not feel good, it also did not hurt and I imagine with regular use it will no longer bother me. Very interesting, right? I am pretty sure I can benefit from this roller with any type of serum or even a glycolic peel, although don't take my word for it, I am no doctor. Just telling you what I plan on doing =)

Everyone wants flawless skin, right? But sometimes putting on too much make up in an attempt to achieve flawlessness leaves you looking cakey and overdone. I always use foundation to make my skin even and looking like porcelain (or so I believe) but it is hard to strike that perfect balance between getting enough coverage and looking perfectly natural. I have a closet full of foundation that I've tried, some are great, some have failed but nothing compares to the new Freeze 24/7 Mineral makeup system! A very light coverage completely transforms my skin to looking like porcelain - I no longer need to deceive myself, I actually have perfect milky skin. And even better is the bronzer that gives the most natural hint of sun. It has just a touch of highlighting shine to pick up the light but it is not at all sparkly, and it doesn't actually make you darker and tanned, it just gives you healthy color. There is also a blush to add rosiness to the cheeks. The system comes with 2 makeup shades to blend for a customized tone, a bronzer and the blush. The lighter of the makeup shades can be used to highlight under the eyes, brows, nose and chin. I am so in love with this and wake up in anticipation of putting on make up! The mineral has anti-aging qualities and it has SFP 18 so you are literally covered on all fronts! It comes with brushes so it is convenient and easy on top of achieving the natural beauty that you were meant to have! Freeze 24/7 Mineral Make Up, $85, comes in fair, medium and tan.

There are so many home use peels, I've used a lot of them and most have some effectiveness but I really have not noticed much differences among them. Until I tried the MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Peel. This is the first acid peel that has a 2 step process, first the acid (this is a blend of salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid) and then a neutralizer to stop the acid from continuing to penetrate the skin. This is the type of process you would get at a doctor's office. But let me back up. When you get a peel at a doctor's office, they need to use a neutralizer because the acid they use is super strong. But this neutralizer is still useful because it stops that annoying itching and stinging and calms the skin down. So it does serve a purpose but the acid itself is not strong enough to actually reverse aging, for that kind of result, you need to go to a doctor. What this will do is, it will remove the superficial layer of dead skin to reveal the nicer new skin below. You get super smooth skin and a youthful glow. For me, that's all I am asking for with a product like this. I have to say, my skin looks pretty damn good right now!!! If you use this daily, as it is intended, it might penetrate deep enough to have some effect on wrinkles but it would be subtle. After the first few uses, I didn't notice much of anything, but after more uses, I felt the acid intensify which means it took off the dead layers of skin and is getting deeper in the skin. Most doctors will tell you that daily use of this type of peel is effective but if nothing else it will prevent aging. And how do I know that? I just interviewed an Oculoplastic Surgeon and Liposculpture specialist and got the whole scoop on peels and other procedures. I will be posting that next week so make sure you check back for the very interesting and informative interview. MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, 30 Day supply for $78, 60 day is $128. For convenience, the 30 Day Supply Travel Packs is $80 and are individually wrapped like the wet wipes you get after you eat ribs.

This is one of those few all in one products that really stands up to "all" that it is promising, including incredible convenience. This loose powder in a leak-proof brush dispenser is a lightweight mineral powder that has SPF 30 and is anti-aging. I love love love mineral make up, it looks flawless without caking down your face to give you that flawlessness. The Micronized Titanium Dioxide mineral physically shields against UVA/UVB rays so you can enjoy the sun without worry. One quick pass around the face in the morning and you can head out the door. Throw this in your bag for quick easy reapplication with no mess. Bare Escentuals is all green with no harmful additives. Can something be this amazing? Yes, it can =) Comes in 3 tones for light, medium and tan skin. At Sephora for $28. Enter the code NATURALBAG at checkout and get 8 free samples.

In the interest of preventing aging, I have been using various creams and moisturizers to make sure my skin gets all the advantages it can get. I use heavy creams in the winter and lighter ones in the summer because it is either too heavy or not moisturizing enough so I have to play this balancing act. What I needed was something that my skin was thirsting for and now that I have switched to Darphin essential oils, my skin is thanking me profusely by acting calm and smooth and looking radiant! My skin sucks the oils right up like it has been needing it all its life. I have no problems putting oil on my skin, I love oils and don't have the notion that oils will clog my pores or give me pimples. And this certainly does none of that. The Darphin essential oils are light and the molecules are super small so it penetrates to the source. I used this for a week and I was hooked, no more trying to guess what I need, this is it! It also smells so incredible! Dr. Darphin was the first plastic surgeon to develop his own line in the 50' to prevent the need of surgery, it prevents aging by fighting free radicals, which is what damages the skin and causes wrinkles. There are different oils depending on what your skin type is. The Rose Aromatic Care is for normal skin. You should follow up with your regular moisturizer for full spectrum care. At Darphin for $80.

   

My boyfriend is originally from Cali and I'm already dreading him going back to visit his family next week because most every time he goes (even if it's to go skiing in Tahoe), he comes back with a tan and then we stand together and I feel even more self-conscious about my paleness! That said while I don't think I'll ever get over my self-consciousness about my pale skin, I've come to terms with the fact that you can have a healthy summer glow without having a tan -- rosy checks and glossy lips are sometimes all it takes! I'm loving Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess line -- Beauty Snob Tina gave a great run down of the products that anyone interested in the line should check-out! They've got some nice colors to complement lighter skin tones (despite being called Bronze Goddess:)!) -- love the browns in the eyeshadow palette and they blend well together (just a slight hint of sparkle and the palette is also a relatively good deal at $38). I'm not a huge fan of the fragrance because it's very coconuty, but it does have that beachy smell that will make you feel like it's summer even on a cool spring day. To complement the brown shades I mixed some luminizing foundation in with my regular one (though LORAC makes a great Luminizing Powder that could also work), added a hint of powder blush (Prescriptives has some great ones), and finished-off with a clear gloss (though a creamy lipstick could do as well and I actually remember reading that Jennifer Anniston sometimes dabs a bit of Chanel Hydrabase Lipstick in Coco Red on the apples of her cheeks!). What do you use to achieve a sexy summer glow?

I have been traveling non stop and not only have I not had time for my regular facials, my skin is in serious need of reviving. I finally got time to pamper myself at home with this Glycolactic Peel from REN. The people behind REN reminds me of Ben & Jerry, they love what they do and they want to make the world greener by doing things better. It is a totally green line using only renewable ingredients that are 100% natural and organic. This Glycolactic Peel has fruit enzyme and acids that is very gentle but totally powerful for a major pore cleanse and dead skin cell removal. I hate that part of the facial when they squeeze your face to death, I stopped doing facials like that and it is totally unnecessary when you use fruit acids and enzymes to remove that stuff. This will clean your pores completely, including any blackhead you may have. The morning after the peel, my skin looks peachy and flush. For the best results, I use a scrub the day after the peel to help with the skin renewal by removing any access dead skin that is on the surface. You will be amazed by the fresh skin that is yours!! The only caveat is, this peel does make you itchy and tingly while it's on and it needs to stay on for a full 10 minutes to have its full effect, but trust me, it is worth 10 minutes of a very slight discomfort. I walk around the house with it on and check emails or whatever to distract me. It is a peach color so you won't scare anyone with it on! REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask at Sephora for $55.

Kick start your summer with a healthy glow from Estee Lauder's summer Vivid Garden illuminating powder. I am now officially in summer mode now that we're in daylight savings time. I get a bit of color during the summer no matter how much sunblock I use so I put away from bronzer and use a light and subtle blush like this beautiful new combination for a brightening glow. This swirly flower pattern gives you lots of options, you can use the lighter shades as highlights for brow bones and under the eyes (it makes you look fresh and alert!) and use more pink on the cheeks if you want more color. The slight smidge of gold will warm your natural tone for added radiance. Plus, the flowers are so pretty you just want to have it with you all summer long to remind you how beautiful life is =) I am in a gooshy mood today, can you tell? At Estee Lauder for $32.

For those special occasions, I put on way too much make up but it is so much fun! The un-fun part is taking it off and worrying that I am rubbing too much and pulling too hard on my skin. I have make up remover and oils and all that but it still takes some time to work things out. Balms Away is a blend of oils like vitamins A, C, and E that hydrate and restore the skin while is melts away the make up. It breaks up even water proof mascara easily so you don't have to rub and rub and rub and all the ingredients are made to be good for your skin so you get the benefits of that while it's working. I tested this out by putting on the most massive amounts of black eyeshadow, water proof mascara, stage make up and red lipstick. I used a liberal amount but I think I over did it because this stuff is powerful, within a minute I was able to wipe off everything entirely clean! Mind you, I did this at a makeup counter and not at home so it was a huge risk because I could have ended up walking around all day with make up stains and looking like a crazy woman. I would have used water to get this off so I can avoid the rubbing altogether. There are no harmful or synthetic ingredients, just goodness to make you fresh again. At Balms Away at Sephora for $20.

For Fashion Week in New York, I got my makeup done by Cheri at the Fashion Suite at Waldorf Astoria, she did a great job but that is not what I was most impressed with. We were chatting and she mentioned that she is 50 years old and I almost fell off my chair! She looks 35, at most 38, I am not kidding. She is fair with delicate skin that usually ages prematurely. She then told me her secret and I immediately bought some. It is the Guerlain Super Aqua Serum for day and night moisturizing. It is made with extracts from a dessert rose and if you think about it, it makes total sense, the flower is able to thrive in dryness so there must be something to its DNA that I can definitely use! I mean, I live in LA and it is dry dry dry all year round. It shields the skin from the harmful environment so the hydration is allowed to stay in. She has been using this for 15 years and I am telling you, she has not aged since she first started using it because like I said, she looks 35! This thing is like a vampire's secret. I must and will stay my age forever =) At Sakes Fifth Avenue for $162.

I know, this sounds like what you had with last night's dinner but this mask is so natural you could probably eat it! I love the Naturopathica line, it is holistic and effective. If you don't have time or on a budget, using the right products could replace your monthly facials. I have been running around, traveling like crazy so my facial schedule is totally off. I have all these events to go to so I have to make sure I look good. This mask works miracles. It is anti aging and renews your skin cells with raw wasabi and green tea extracts. It will make your skin soft and smooth so I have been using it the day before a big event to make sure my makeup goes on evenly. So the big question is, does that wasabi sting? Yes, it does a little, I love the feeling of products working on my skin so I don't mind but this isn't as strong as come acid or enzyme masks I've used. It also is not green, it kind of looks like chocolate chip coffee ice cream, the raw wasabi are little dark specks. I am starting to try more from this line that I have come to love!! At Naturopathica for $56.

You have to admit, you want everything to be organic these days especially for your face! But you don't want to compromise the effectiveness because it's not like any of us is getting any younger (I am feeling the stress of age because my birthday is next week!!). Elemental Herbology has a really great line of organic products but it is the Cell Plumping moisturizer that has made it into my daily routine. It has SPF 8 which isn't enough to get you to the beach but for everyday wear, it is all you need. The light cream goes on easily but it keeps your face nice and hydrated all day without any grease or weight. But it is the smell that really has me going back for more. It is like getting an aromatherapy treatment every time you use it, the scents are distinctly floral like lavender with hints of the ocean. I don't know how to describe it really it, I'm not saying it smells fishy but it has this beachy goodness that is so divine, it changes my outlook on life immediately after applying. Yes, it is seriously that awesome!! Available at Space NK for $88.50.

What Demi Moore was to this year's Golden Globes, Sheryl Crow was to this year's Grammys -- I mean how amazing does she look for 46! Her dress was by Toni Maticevski, though it was her Lorraine Schwartz jewels and her glowing skin that caught my attention! She just plays that carefree girl on the beach so well that every time I see a photo of her I think of her song "Soak Up The Sun"! A great product to achieve glowing skin is LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder Radiant. It has a wonderful shine without all that over-glitter-ness you often find in products meant to impart shine. Also Prescriptives has just come-out with their Spring color collection and they have some wonderful new LipShine shades. The best part is if you do your Colorprint at a Prescriptives counter they can let you know which shade is the best fit for your specific skin palette!

I gotta thank Beauty Snob Tina for giving so much praise to Kanebo Sensai in the past and thus turning my attention to their wonderful line of products! This month, just in time for Valentine's Day, the Japanese prestige skincare company is expanding into color! Their new treatment makeup line consists of 22 eye, lip, and cheek buys. Of note is their 38˚C Mascara ($25, haven't tried it but it supposedly only comes-off in water above 38˚C). They've also got Eye Shadow Palettes ($50) with four sheer, layerable shades and a Cheek Blush palette ($45), that are worth checking-out. Best of all, to fete their new line, Bergdorf Goodman is offering complimentary 45 minute customized purifying facials, featuring the Kanebo Saho skincare technique of double cleansing, double moisturizing and double application to help bring-out your skin's natural glow! The only catch - you'll have to indulge yourself by buying $200 worth of Kanebo product.

How many products claim to make your skin healthy as well as prevent common signs of aging? Yeah, can't be helped but I'm a bit of a skeptic. Seems like a lot to ask from a few products, but I am impressed by the Freeze 24/7 Daily Essentials Skincare System. I am hooked, I must admit, after using this for a week. There are three steps to this skincare system: Cleanse, Exfoliate, and Hydrate. You begin by using the Skin Glace Daily Detoxifying Cleanser and Mask. You would not think that this gentle and thin cleanser would be so powerful in actually removing your every day make up so thoroughly, but it does. You then go on to the IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polish, which I absolutely LOVE! This exfoliate has tiny crystals that you massage over your face that instantly give you the tingling sensation that let's you know things are working. Once you rinse and dry your face you will instantly notice the deep cleaning that leaves your face so soft and pure. The IceCream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer completes this mini facial experience by rejuvenating the cells. You will go to sleep a very happy girl knowing that a lot was accomplished! After only a week, I have noticed my skin healthier, brighter and smoother. Freeze 24/7 Daily Essentials Skincare System, $150, also available at Henri Bendel, Fred Segal and Saks Fifth Avenue (in store only).