Have you ever thought about getting colored contacts because you weren’t crazy about your eye color???  Well, I did back in the 80′s…what was I thinking!  Not only were they $300 dollars but every time they moved around my pupils got covered over with blue (ha, ha) and I couldn’t see.  One of life’s cruel jokes.  Born with off centered pupils…

After that fiasco I learned to love my eyes and you can too.  This July, Cover Girl is launching nationwide their latest Exact Eyelights Eyeshadow & Eyeliner Kits. There are so many choices in make-up today that you can literally be a “kid in a candy store”…oh, sorry…I mean “kid in a make-up store!”  Let me tell you how Cover Girl can help you.  Their team of beauty experts created a magnificent eyeshadow combination for each specific eye color.  Can you say brilliant…No more thinking about what color will look good on you.  Say good-bye to “buying an eye shadow color one day and returning it the next.” Those days are over girls!

Each eyeshadow kit contains four shades that blend beautifully together to make the eyes that you were born with look amazing.  You can also wear each one separately to enhance your eyes.  And it doesn’t stop there…Pair your eyeshadow with a high precision eyeliner that’s smudge proof for a more customized, eye popping look that will last all day into night.  Step by step application instructions are also included in every kit so you can create the look you want.

Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Eyeshadow include:  Majestic Hazels (palette’s customized with earth tones of browns & greens), Vibrant Browns (grey, black, & brown smokey shades), Vivid Greens (beautiful blends of burgundy), and Radiant Blues (a wonderful mix of rich greens, blues & earth tones).

Brightening Eyeliner colors include:  Majestic Jade (pair with Majestic Hazel Eyeshadow), Vibrant Pearl (pair with Vibrant Browns Eyeshadow), Vivid Ruby (pair with Vivid Greens Eyeshadow), and Radiant Sapphire (pair with Radiant Blues Eyeshadow).

Liners retail for $6.99 and Eyeshadows are $7.49 (prices may vary depending on the retailer)

So, girls…what are you waiting for…go get your eyes on with Cover Girl!

Te-see

image credit:  the make up divas

Well, it’s been 2 weeks today since The Bender Sisters had Pearl/Pearl Fractional and everyone has been commenting on how beautiful our skin looks.  My face is still slightly red around the eyes, nose and mouth area where the Pearl Fractional was done and the tiny bumps where the laser went deep into the dermis are still noticeable to both of us.  No one else seems to see them…I’ve only been wearing a little cover up on the redness only.  The 6th through the 12th day I had to wear heavier cover-up by CoverFx.  It really concealed the redness.

Te-see (2 weeks post treatment)

Beth (2 weeks post treatment)

We’ve been told that it can take up to 6 weeks for the redness to completely go away.  Not sure about the bumps.  Eventually, they should slough off like the Pearl Treatment. In the mean time I am wearing a big hat and SPF 50 everyday!

Peace Out…

Te-see

image credit:  Te-see

Why not add a hint of sexy to your look like Zoe Saldana with a subtle cat eye. Zoe has made this look her signature for many red carpet events, and with eyes as striking as these, you really don’t need much else. Our in-house makeup artist Beth Bender of Beth Bender Beauty suggests using an eyeliner stencil to create this look with ease.

“It’s the easiest and quickest way to do cat eyeliner, and the cat eye stencil fits any eye shape because it’s made from a soft PVC plastic.” Simply place the stencil over your eye and fill in with color. Once you’ve done both eyes you can run a gel liner in black along your lash line and over the cat eye to seal in the color.

Zoe Saldana is striking a pose with sexy cat eyes

Cat eyes continue to be a hot beauty trend on the red carpet this summer, and in everyday life. You may as well have the best tools to create them perfectly every time. To check out the eyeliner stencils and see how they work, go to bethbenderbeauty.com

Related: Get perfect Cat Eyeliner in Minutes!

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I have always been extremely picky when it comes to my hair. For as long as I can remember. My first real haircut was at the tender age of five, at a salon near home. I can still hear my mother saying “I never knew Vincent stuttered until he met Bethann”. That was my introduction to hair stylists, and me in a nutshell.

Needless to say my mother gave up and passed the hair cutting baton over to my Aunt Marion who dragged me into a barber shop where I was humiliated while having my hair chopped off. Years later while working in Japan I actually made a stylist so nervous while he was cutting my hair, he cut himself with his own scissors.

A little obsessed with my hair? You bet ya, and with good reason. I have had my share of good cuts, great cuts, and way too many “oh my God what was I thinking, and can someone please get me a scarf cuts”, but it’s the haircuts that had me loving my hair that led me to write this post on how to find a great hair stylist and when to run from the not so good ones.

James Carameta of the Prive Salon in Los Angeles is one of the very, very, good ones. An east coaster who landed in LA years ago, he has the insight to listen to each of his clients needs before clipping a lock, and creating a custom look that is perfectly suitable based on their lifestyle. I had the pleasure of having James cut my hair, and of all the cuts I have had since moving here, it was hands down the best one yet. My hair finally responded back, didn’t fight me, and did what I wanted.

The very talented James Carameta & me after my hair cut

James began his career studying at the Carsten Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He was hired at the Carsten Wilms’ flagship professional salon in 1994 and hence began his long and successful career. While at the Carsten Salon he honed his skill in the Dessange cutting technique, a French cutting technique that he continues to incorporate into many of his clients today. Consultation before cutting is the key to James’ approach and philosophy of hair design. This is extremely important, especially when having your hair cut with a new stylist.

The worst hair cuts I remember were the ones where I just let the stylist do what they insisted would be a great look. Big mistake! Even the best hair stylists don’t always get it right, and if they don’t you’re stuck with a cut that can takes months to grow out. So, with all of this being said, participate and be vocal about your likes and dislikes. If you see someone with a hair style you like, don’t be shy, ask them who cut it. Flattery could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship between you and your hair.

If you live in or near Los Angeles and would like to make an appointment to meet with James, you can call the Prive Salon at: (323) 931-5559.

If you are a curly haired gal who wishes she had straight hair or you’ve got the frizzies and are ready to chop off your hair…DON’T!  There is another way to survive your hair blues and it takes one phone call to turn your frustration into total bliss.

It’s called The Silky Smooth Treatment Relaxer and the fabulous Begonia De La Vega at Prive Salon in Hollywood worked her magic on my curly hair and transformed it into silky, smooth hair that will last for up to 3 months.  This process is not permanent and will not damage the hair like a Japanese Straightening Treatment will plus it’s much more affordable in today’s economy.  It will improve the condition of your hair and you will no longer have to worry about the effects of rain or humidity.

First Begona washed my hair thoroughly to remove all chemicals.  Then she applied the conditioning solution from my roots to my tips.  Begona then took a hot blow dryer to my hair to set the solution.  The fumes smelled like coco which I quite enjoyed.  A flat iron was used section by section to seal the hair cuticle which traps moisture, hydrates the hair and creates a glossy finish.  Once this was accomplished my hair was rinsed thoroughly and a nourishing mask was applied.  OMG!  Begona gently massaged my scalp during all of the rinsing and washing which felt euphoric.  I was in heaven…(but my heaven here on earth, that is…)  The final touch was a remarkable blow dry that left my hair looking absolutely beautiful and feeling like silk weeds.

Begona De La Vega was born in Brussels, but is a native of Spain.  At age 14 she started her professional career which took her to Paris, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, and many other international countries.  When she arrived in California she began to work at Jose Eber in Beverly Hills then moved to Prive Salon, Hollywood where she has now been for 4 years.  This beautiful lady knows hair and was very meticulous on her application and procedure of this relaxing treatment.

This Silky Smooth Treatment Relaxer is Keratine based and the primary protein of the skin, hair, & nails.  This type of Brazilian Blow Out will give your hair the ability to return to it’s original healthy shine & smooth conditioned state.  A film of protein is created around the hair shaft which then improves the condition of the hair.  It can be applied to any type of hair.  Maintaining your hair after an SST is so easy!  Just make sure that the shampoo & conditioner contains no sulfates because they break down this treatment much quicker.  You can now go about your summer carefree with no special instructions needed.

I absolutely LOVE my straight, silky, smooth hair and look forward to a frizz free summer!!!

Good~Bye To Frizz…

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Begona call:  323-931-5559

Te-see

image credit:  Te-see

What if I told you, you could have sexy summer sun-kissed hair that was within your budget, didn’t require a lot of maintenance, and took half the time you usually spend having your hair done, would you do it?

Well I did, and I am loving, loving, loving my hair! I have never been one for sitting in a salon for hours to have my hair done so I was thrilled when Prive Salon in Los Angeles invited me to try this newest technique called Sun Brushing. Sun Brushing for those who don’t know, is a coloring technique that creates a subtle-sun-kissed effect. It is especially great for those who are just beginning to color their hair since the change is so natural. It is also perfect for all hair types and colors adding depth, texture, and a unique, subtle sun-brightening look that will have you looking fabulous all summer long.

Seasoned hair stylist from the UK Lana Grand, and also new to Prive, is the Sun Brushing pro. Before we got started, Lana explained in great detail exactly how this effect would look on my hair, and her excitement alone was all I needed to go from my usual brown to the perfect shade of rich brown with lots of texture and sun-kissed color in all the right places.

Whether you choose a color gloss or clear gloss the color is applied to the roots and mid-length sections of hair creating rich, glossy, shiny and healthy looking roots and crown. The gloss creates a gradual bleeding effect from the mid-length section of hair to the ends so the roots are darker and the ends are lighter for a sun-touched glow. Since the gloss fades gradually and the color does not start at the roots, it is a great way for someone who has never colored their hair to get their feet wet and ease into it slowly.

According to Lana, the lighter color can be as strong or as subtle as the client and her hair will allow. It’s an extremely natural, yet sexy and understated look, that’s easy to maintain and compliments any hair cut. It is unique in not only its color, but also adds depth to a hairstyle, and is a great technique for thinning hair.
It is perfect for everyone from bold and trend-setting fashionistas, to the busy stay- at-home mums with little time on their hands. At $150 compared to hair color that can cost as much as a months rent on Park Ave, it is definitely a great option, and a “must-do” for summer color.

You can book your Sun Brushing Gloss Treatment or have a consult with color expert Lana Grand by calling Prive Salon at 323-931-5559. You can also stop by Prive located at 7373 Beverly Blvd in Los Angeles.

image credit: Te-see Rouhier-BeautyStyleWatch

Want to have luxurious eyes?  Then you gotta pamper them with caviar! Pevonia Botanica has a “timeless eye contour” cream that not only bathes your delicate eye area with caviar but actually fights the signs of aging.

I’ve been using it for several months now and have noticed that my eye area is smoother and the fine lines have lessened.  Pevonia’s “Ligne, Myoxy-Caviar” eye cream rules!  All you do is gently tap a small amount of cream around the contour of your eye in the morning and night.  Make sure the area is clean.

This powerfully formulated eye cream will minimize wrinkles, decrease crepiness, ease puffiness and alleviate dark circles while firming the delicate eye zone.

For more information or to purchase visit:  Pevonia Botanica

Rock on…

Te-see

image credit:  pevonia

Did you know that Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth?  When they fail, less and less energy is generated within the cell causing cell injury and possibly cell death.  The life of the person this is happening to will be extremely compromised if this process is repeated throughout the body since their entire system will begin to fail.

Mitochondrial Disease most commonly attacks children.  However, more and more adults are also being affected.  Most damage occurs to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and the endocrine and respiratory systems.   But you can help!  On June 27, 2009 at 6:30pm Pure Indulgence Skin will be hosting an event to raise money to continue support of the research needed to find more effective treatments and ultimately a cure.

Gigi Goddard is honoring her nephew Kyle Avila who has sustained life beyond his expectancy.  100% of all ticket & auction proceeds will benefit United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

The evening will be filled with music, hor’ dourves and entertainment…not to mention a great cause!  So, please mark your calendars ladies & gents!  Beth and I will be there to greet all of our subscribers…

Ticket Prices are:  Couples  $75     Single  $45

Attire is Cocktail Casual

To purchase tickets please call Pure Indulgence Skin at:  949-582-7873

For more info on Mitochondrial Disease please visit:  www.umdf.org

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this

Te-see

Julia, Julia, Julia, how do you do it? Your red carpet hair and makeup always looks beautiful and you make it look so effortless. Everyone is always asking me how you get your eyes that are already so big, look even bigger. Well, eyeliner is a definite must, but it’s how you apply it that can take your eyes from 0 to 360, and major glam appeal in a matter of minutes.

The trick to creating Julia’s dreamy eyes, is to line as close to the lashline as possible. Starting at the center of eye begin lining and make it slightly thicker as you get to the end of eye. If your eyes are bigger you can line slightly closer to the inner corner of eye. I like to use my eyeliner stencils for an easy application and usually have my clients do the same when I am not available to do their makeup. They are easy to use, and in seconds you can create perfect eyeliner, and that uber-popular cat eye everyone loves.

You can add a soft shadow a shade deeper then your skin tone in the crease to create a deep set look. This is key because it creates a shadowy effect that makes your peepers and Julia’s look a bit deeper set, giving them that dreamy-eyed thing she does so well.

Of course no eyes would be complete without mascara, and if you feel so inclined a few lashes added to the ends of each eye. Especially for a look like this you want to acccent the outer lashes and we love MAX factor’s 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper Mascara for getting the job done.

Any questions on creating this look? Feel free to email me personally.