err... months since I posted.
I actually have a LOT to say here, so get ready for it. First, I have to eat and then go do a client and then hang out with the BEST MAKEUP ARTIST EVER.
Sheesh, my life is, like, so totally hectic.
=P
12.30.2008
6.01.2008
It's a sad day in the world of fashion
Today, Sunday the 1st of June 2008, Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, known generally as the foreshortened Yves St Laurent, passed away in Paris at the age of 71.
Yves stood alone as the single most influential designer in fashion in the last 50 years--first as design assistant and head designer of Christian Dior, and then in his own line.
His influence will live on in fashion forever.
source
5.29.2008
The Beauty Essentials According to Alexander pt 3 :: FACE ::
Hey kids!
I'm back for the final installment of my current favorite Beauty Essentials posts. What's the subject du jour? Your face! Americans are totally obsessed with beating their mugs, and I've gathered what I believe to be the best and easiest-to-use products on the market right now.
You always want to start off with a clean palette, so let's start with cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.
I've just recently started using this new M Lab Anti-aging Cleanser, and I have to say, it's changed my life. Very rarely do you find a product that changes your skin immediately, but this stuff really does! M Lab's claim to fame is it's unprecedentedly high percentage of active ingredients. The cleanser packs a whopping 45% active ingredients, which means you have to use very little for every wash--the instructions say a dab 2mm in diameter. That's a ridiculously small amount of product, considering the bottle is a full 6 ounces. Should you be interested, the science of this wonder in a bottle can be found here.
Large pores are the devil, followed closely by oil shine. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. So let's do something about it. This Nars Balancing Toning Lotion gently balances and moisturizes your skin, controls oil, and actually visibly reduces your pores. Hot.
Typically, I wouldn't go to Dior for skincare, but this moisturizer really works quite well for me. Since I've moved to the city, My skin gets extremely dry, and if I use this every time I cleanse, I don't have to worry about it anymore!
Now, admittedly, I don't have a very intensive makeup routine, but I do have two products that will provide you with a quick way to sharpen up your look with absolutely minimal effort.
This stuff saves my life. I absolutely hate getting up early, and when I'm forced to, I come up looking as pale as an albino dropped in white paint. For those instances, I find myself struggling through sleep-crusted eyes and the stupor of an interrupted REM cycle to apply Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. It gives just that little bit of color I need to really glow and, um, not look like a corpse. So that's nice. Also, there's one with oil, but I don't really know what the point of that is.
So I loooove me some eyeliner, and I've gone through my share of them, but this tops them all. I love the Stila Smudge Pot because you can apply it as lightly or as heavily as you like with the sponge tip applicator. I also find that this just lasts longer than your typical stick liner.
This is the black dress of lip balms. Kiehl's Lip Balm goes on smooth and sheer and you can actually feel it soak into your lips in about a minute or two. Plus there's an SPF of 15, and you can't go wrong there.
So, those are my recommendations for now, but check back often, because you know this is one of the fastest cycling industries in the world, and fabulous new things come every day!
Until then,
Alexander
I'm back for the final installment of my current favorite Beauty Essentials posts. What's the subject du jour? Your face! Americans are totally obsessed with beating their mugs, and I've gathered what I believe to be the best and easiest-to-use products on the market right now.
You always want to start off with a clean palette, so let's start with cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.
I've just recently started using this new M Lab Anti-aging Cleanser, and I have to say, it's changed my life. Very rarely do you find a product that changes your skin immediately, but this stuff really does! M Lab's claim to fame is it's unprecedentedly high percentage of active ingredients. The cleanser packs a whopping 45% active ingredients, which means you have to use very little for every wash--the instructions say a dab 2mm in diameter. That's a ridiculously small amount of product, considering the bottle is a full 6 ounces. Should you be interested, the science of this wonder in a bottle can be found here.
Large pores are the devil, followed closely by oil shine. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. So let's do something about it. This Nars Balancing Toning Lotion gently balances and moisturizes your skin, controls oil, and actually visibly reduces your pores. Hot.
Typically, I wouldn't go to Dior for skincare, but this moisturizer really works quite well for me. Since I've moved to the city, My skin gets extremely dry, and if I use this every time I cleanse, I don't have to worry about it anymore!
Now, admittedly, I don't have a very intensive makeup routine, but I do have two products that will provide you with a quick way to sharpen up your look with absolutely minimal effort.
This stuff saves my life. I absolutely hate getting up early, and when I'm forced to, I come up looking as pale as an albino dropped in white paint. For those instances, I find myself struggling through sleep-crusted eyes and the stupor of an interrupted REM cycle to apply Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. It gives just that little bit of color I need to really glow and, um, not look like a corpse. So that's nice. Also, there's one with oil, but I don't really know what the point of that is.
So I loooove me some eyeliner, and I've gone through my share of them, but this tops them all. I love the Stila Smudge Pot because you can apply it as lightly or as heavily as you like with the sponge tip applicator. I also find that this just lasts longer than your typical stick liner.
This is the black dress of lip balms. Kiehl's Lip Balm goes on smooth and sheer and you can actually feel it soak into your lips in about a minute or two. Plus there's an SPF of 15, and you can't go wrong there.
So, those are my recommendations for now, but check back often, because you know this is one of the fastest cycling industries in the world, and fabulous new things come every day!
Until then,
Alexander
The Beauty Essentials According to Alexander pt 2 :: BODY ::
Hey guys!
I'm back with part two of my Beauty Essentials series--Body! Here I'll show you my favorite products for all your 2000 parts.
Exfoliant:
Sabon's Body Scrub is fantastic for those days when you get home feeling like soap just won't do the trick. This sea salt scrub is loaded with almond and macadamia oil to leave your skin refreshed, moisturized and glowing. Now, this scrub comes in five delicious scents, but i favor the lavender apple, because I love the soothing scent of lavender (perfect for relaxing shower time), which is delightfully accented with the fresh sweet scent of apple. The overall impression is of a wild country garden coming to blossom.
Cleanse and Condition:
Ted Gibson Prosperity Body Shampoo and Conditioner just smells like money. Infused with ginger root and rose extracts, this combo is a finely tuned formula aimed at combating free radicals in your environment--which if you live in the city, are EVERYWHERE. While you do have to leave the conditioner on your skin for about 30 seconds to get good nourishment, the moments out from beneath the waterfall are well repaid with silky soft skin all day!
Lotion:
I have to say, I am positively addicted to this stuff, especially during summer. Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter is a lifesaver for people who spend a lot of time in the sun, and I always make sure I have some for after I've spent all day on location for a shoot, or out tanning in the park after brunch. We all know the sun dries you out like a Pilsbury cookie left in the oven 20 minutes too long, but this ultra creamy lotion with bounce you back to full saturation in not time. There are several scents (original, vanilla+bergamot, lemon+sage), but I stick with lemon+sage because I like how fresh it is, and lemon is probably one of my favorite scents in the world.
In fact, speaking of, I have to go reapply. My sunburn is crying.
Toodaloo!
Alexander
I'm back with part two of my Beauty Essentials series--Body! Here I'll show you my favorite products for all your 2000 parts.
Exfoliant:
Sabon's Body Scrub is fantastic for those days when you get home feeling like soap just won't do the trick. This sea salt scrub is loaded with almond and macadamia oil to leave your skin refreshed, moisturized and glowing. Now, this scrub comes in five delicious scents, but i favor the lavender apple, because I love the soothing scent of lavender (perfect for relaxing shower time), which is delightfully accented with the fresh sweet scent of apple. The overall impression is of a wild country garden coming to blossom.
Cleanse and Condition:
Ted Gibson Prosperity Body Shampoo and Conditioner just smells like money. Infused with ginger root and rose extracts, this combo is a finely tuned formula aimed at combating free radicals in your environment--which if you live in the city, are EVERYWHERE. While you do have to leave the conditioner on your skin for about 30 seconds to get good nourishment, the moments out from beneath the waterfall are well repaid with silky soft skin all day!
Lotion:
I have to say, I am positively addicted to this stuff, especially during summer. Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter is a lifesaver for people who spend a lot of time in the sun, and I always make sure I have some for after I've spent all day on location for a shoot, or out tanning in the park after brunch. We all know the sun dries you out like a Pilsbury cookie left in the oven 20 minutes too long, but this ultra creamy lotion with bounce you back to full saturation in not time. There are several scents (original, vanilla+bergamot, lemon+sage), but I stick with lemon+sage because I like how fresh it is, and lemon is probably one of my favorite scents in the world.
In fact, speaking of, I have to go reapply. My sunburn is crying.
Toodaloo!
Alexander
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