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January 25, 2013
It was a fun time with Megan on “Carolina Now”
December 29, 2012
Add a Little Sparkle to Your New Year!
Well, here we are at the end of another year and a new one about to begin. I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by. Funny, my mom warned me when I was a little girl that the older I got, the faster time would seem to pass!
So, what will you be doing on New Year’s Eve? I’m usually not too jazzed on the idea of attending big parties,but I’ve been invited to a great one in the Hollywood Hills this year that sound a little too good to miss! I’m sure it will be one of those events where everyone there will look absolutely amazing!
Personally, before heading out to a fabulous event like this, I like to make a trip to my favorite spa for a little extra pampering. A great massage, manicure, and pedicure are always on my list of “musts” before a special event. But, if you really want to “glow” on New Year’s Eve or any other special occasion, you’ve got to got to go for the gold….24 Karat gold, that is!
On my last trip to Raya European Day Spa, my wonderful esthetician Suzanne convinced me to try a their 24K pure gold facial . Yes, real gold! I was a little skeptical, but I figured “why not?”.
After doing a little research I found out that gold has actually been used in beauty treatments for thousands of years, back to the days of Cleopatra. Apparently gold is filled with antioxidants and so it’s great in any anti-aging skin care regime. Basically, antioxidants prevent skin damage and also help to heal previous damage to your skin by shedding damaged skin cells and promoting healthy, new skin cell growth. According to many experts and Suzanne, who has been in the beauty business for more than 30 years, there are more antioxidants in gold than in any other beauty product ingredient.
So, this was the process: After my regular facial, she applied several 24K gold leaf sheets to my face, applied a little steam and then massaged my face until the gold was absorbed into my skin.
At first it was a little weird, but I have to admit I did feel “sparkly” afterwards and will definitely be getting one of these again!
Now, if your favorite spa doesn’t offer this treatment, another great option is to use Prana Spaceuticals AU 24K GOLD Serum, which contains 24 K gold flakes. I featured it on a recent beauty segment for “Your Carolina with Jack and Kimberly” and have been using it as part of my nightly beauty ritual for the past two weeks. It does a fantastic job of smoothing and plumping the skin especially around the eyes, lips and neck area and seems to get rid of redness too.
Hope you all have a wonderful New Year!
December 13, 2012
Today on “Your Carolina” – His & Hers Holiday Gifts
Check out my recommendations for great holiday gifts for any budget!
November 27, 2012
Keeping Oily Skin Under Control
Question: Does your makeup ever seem to match your skin perfectly in the morning and look several shades darker by the end of the day? Mine has. This has puzzled and frustrated me for years, especially since, like a lot of women of color, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time searching for the perfect foundation. It always looks great in the store! So what happens?
Did you know that oil is the main cause of color change in makeup? Luckily, I’ve never had too much of a problem with oily skin, but after being out in the sun all day or under hot set lights, it’s hard to keep anyone’s face from getting shiny. So, I’m so happy that I was recently introduced to two oil control products from THE SKIN CARE MAKEUP line by jane iredale.
“Shine is notable by its absence!”
Absence® Oil Control Primer promises to control the oil produced by skin without affecting its moisture. I’ve been using it under my foundation to control shine for about a week now and I love it! It doesn’t make your skin feel dry and is really sheer and color-free. In fact, you’ll hardly know it’s there. You can use a makeup brush or the sponge that’s included to apply it under makeup on the parts of your face that tend to get oily (like I do) or on your entire face as a primer. It’s good for oily, normal or combination skin and can also be used alone or under any mineral base.
Absence® is available at shop.janeiredale.com and retails for $37.00.
jane iredale Facial Blotting Papers control shine on-the-go!
To keep shine under control while you’re on-the-go, I suggest trying jane iredale’s Facial Bloting Papers. It’s amazing how much excess oil these tiny little sheets can soak up! You get 100 blotting papers in a super cute little gold metal compact that you might want to use for business cards later:) I’ve always just used face powder for touch-ups throughout the day, but these soft, all-natural papers made from organic flax seed are really absorbent and give you a more natural flawless finish. Great for tucking into your purse to use anytime!
Facial Blotting Papers with Compact are available at shop.janeiredale.com and retail for $11.00.
November 23, 2012
The Beauty of Giving
School kids help distribute food to the needy for Thanksgiving
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving yesterday, filled with love, family, friends and lots of great food! There were about 16 at our table, but as always, there are plenty of leftovers to last the rest of the week.
It’s always such a treat to get the chance to catch up with family that I haven’t seen for a while. But as much fun as that was, what I’ll remember most about this Thanksgiving is what I did the day before the holiday. The Loaves and Fishes program is a non-profit organization that collects and supplies food and groceries to people in crisis over the holidays and throughout the year through local area churches. Through that organization, I had the opprtunity to help distribute food to more than 40 families in the area on Wednesday. The experience absolutely made my Thanksgiving! The gratitude that I saw from those receiving AND giving out food was overwhelming.
If you ever need of a reminder of how lucky you are, I highly suggest volunteering with one of these organizations. Giving is a beautiful thing!
October 30, 2012
Say Goodbye to Stress with Sebamed
There are few things I love more than spending a few hours at my favorite LA day spa. I firmly believe that it’s every woman’s duty to give herself a well-deserved pampering at one of these fabulous places at least once a month. But, if you’re looking for a great do-it-yourself spa experience, I suggest trying Sebamed Spa Shower.
Sebamed lets you bring a little spa treatment to the privacy of your shower at home with a brand new product from this popular dermatologist-recommmended skincare brand.
You’ll start to feel yourself relax from the first time you open the bottle. Formulated with water lily extract, the clean and calming botanical scent even smells like a spa.
Aside from smelling great, Sebamed Spa Shower also maintains your skin’s natural moisture balance while you’re showering. Since it’s completely soap-free, your skin won’t be left feeling dry and tight as with some other products. It leaves your skin feeling hydrated and smooth all day long.
Give it a try and put a little “ahhhh” into your shower!
It retails for $14.95 and can be found online at www.SebamedUSA.com
Visit www.sebamedusa.com for more information
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September 14, 2012
Lines! What lines? Oh, Say it Isn’t So!
Whew! Yet another long week of auditions, meetings and social obligations. Looking into the mirror, I fear it’s “Confession Time”: I’m starting to see them. You know what I’m talking about. Dark circles and those pesky little lines are starting to show up around my eyes….darn it!
In general, summer isn’t the best time for eyes anyway. When the sun is out, you just instinctively squint. But get this, I recently read that squinting at the sun can actually create deeper lines around your eyes…..I don’t usually make a habit of this, but, it’s still good to know! And on top of that, as we all know, the sun ages your skin.
So, for the past few days, I’ve been trying Own Lifting Eye Cream. It’s clinically proven to help lift, smooth and replenish sensitive skin using CLA technology. The idea is that CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) boosts cell metabolism to repair and nourish the skin around your eyes and give you a more alert and rested look.
Some Key Benefits/Formula Facts:
*Triple action plant technology through Own’s propriety CLA compound (derived from the safflower plant) penetrates all three layers of the skin to aid in moisture retention, activate cell renewal and repair collagen structure
*Brightens sallow skin
*Lifts and smooths fine lines
So far, I really like it! It has a nice light feel, absorbs quickly and works well under makeup. And I do think the skin around my eyes seems a bit more supple and hydrated. Apparently, this CLA stuff even has better results than retinol in clinical tests. Sounds good to me, so I think I’ll keep using it and see!
Own Lifting Eye Cream retails for $24 and is available at Duane Reade and Whole Foods and at www.ownproducts.com.
September 5, 2012
Chic and Sensible USA Style
I’m so thrilled to be in my hometown, Charlotte, NC this week for the Democratic National Convention! I’ll admit, I’ve always been especially fascinated by politics. And apparetly, I’m not the only one! There are celebrities everywhere…Jessica Alba, Common, Hill Harper, Dave Navarro, Ashley Judd, Eva Longoria and Brad Pitt to name just a few.
I was especially excited to have the chance to be in the convention arena last night when Michelle Obama spoke. The first lady looked absolutely stunning in her pink floral dress by American designer Tracy Reese paired with matching J. Crew pumps. Chic and sensible. She definitely gets my vote for great style!
August 7, 2012
Safe & Sexy Summer Skin & Lips
Ask anybody what makes living in LA so great and nine times out of ten, the answer will be: “Well, you can’t beat the weather”! It’s true. Looking outside today, I see that once again, it’s a beautiful sunny day and so it won’t be long until I’m out enjoying it! But if you’re like me, you want to enjoy the summer sun without doing damage to your skin.
The Healthy Sun Screen SPF 40 Face Cream by Lavanila Laboratories lets you do just that! Unlike a lot of other well-known sun screens out there, it’s 100% natural, super sheer (even on darker skin tones) and has a nice light feel. It’s infused with antioxidants, botanicals and amino acids that not only protect but also nourish your sexy summer skin.
And for luscious summer lips? Try The Healthy Lip Screen by Lavanila. Just apply a generous amount before going out into the sun and reapply as needed for high SPF 30 protection. Both help you enjoy the sun the safe way!
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July 25, 2012
Get Glam FAST!
Wow, it’s been a busy summer! I’ve had a ton of great auditions lately. Traditionally, summer has always been the slower time for actors who work in television because most productions go on hiatus during this time of the year. But over the past 5 years or so a lot of that has changed. TV shows along with films, commercials, industrials and webisodes, are in production throughout the year now. So (thankfully) I always seem to be studying lines and running off to a casting.
Here’s a little tip from “Acting 101”: When you go in for an audition you should always try to “look the part”. So if you’ re reading for the part of a lawyer, you shouldn’t show up in jeans and a tee shirt, unless the script specifically says that’s what the character is wearing. And, of course your makeup should match the part as well.
My "Tough Lawyer" look!
The thing is, I rarely have lots of time to sit in front of a mirror to get ready. While some roles might just call for a little mascara and lip gloss, most of the time I’m reading for parts that require full “glam” makeup. And casting directors do expect you to come in “camera ready”. Luckily, over the years, I’ve been able to get my entire full-makeup routine down to about 12 minutes. Pretty good, huh?
The Glam look!
Well, I should say it’s 12 minutes if I’m using mascara. But, whenever I’ve tried to use false eyelashes, it’s more like 20-25 minutes, if I’m lucky. I’ll admit it: I’ve always been a faux lash challenged. But I love them! They just really give your eyes that extra little pop that really shows up on camera or stage. But with having to wait around for the glue to dry and then the challenge of putting them on straight, wearing them has never really fit well into my fast routine…..until now! I’ve just started wearing Andrea® Redi-Lash Self-Adhesive Lashes and they are fantastic!
If you’re looking for maximum “glamness” with minimal effort, you’ll definitely want to try these. They’re lightweight, comfortable and come in several popular styles. And they even come with an extra adhesive strip that allows you to use them multiple times if you’re careful cleaning and storing them. I really like #53S for daytime or #33S for nighttime special occasions.
Andrea® Redi-Lash Self-Adhesive Lashes Styles 53S and 33S
Of course, for lash pros who’d rather go with the tried and true method, I’d say go for the Andrea® ModLash line. They’re made of sterilized, 100% human hair and there are more styles available. Models, celebrities and makeup artists everywhere love these.
Andrea® ModLash 100% human hair Lashes - Styles 21 and 13
But, just like body types, eyes come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. When it comes to false eyelashes, one size doesn’t fit all. Certain lash styles suit some eye shapes better than others. Take a look at the the Andrea® Lashes website for a helpful Eyelash Selector to take the guesswork out of choosing the perfect lash for you!