Spring is right around the corner and the ’80s trend has moved to makeup, with a palette of icy blues, purples, and other sorbet shadows for spring. Derek Lam along with a number of designers were all doing the 80′s retro look for their spring collections, from rocker eyes, to bright pink lips.

For a more toned down version of this look, our in-house ‘smoky eye’ expert Beth Bender, and the only makeup artist I trust to touch my face suggests layering your eye shadows until you get the desired intensity. Start with a lighter shade like a pale blue, lavender, or pale pink, and then add your darker pastel colors like turquoise, hot pink, and bright lavender.

Shimmers work best, or a combination of matte and shimmer shadows. You can use a blender brush to apply color to the crease if you are doing a smoky eye, or just use your fingers and apply directly to the eyelid. Either look is really beautiful. To create a smoky eye with ease, Beth recommends a Smoky Eyeliner Stencil. It fits any eye shape, and saves you a lot of time and mess.

Check out You So Pwetty Smoky Eye Kit and The OMG! Smoky Eye Palette for spring

After writing my post on The 15 Minute Nose Job, I was curious about the doctor behind this miracle transformation.  Who was he, what else was he known for and can he do my face???? LOL…Dr. Alexander Rivkin had just returned from Russia where he spoke at a medical seminar on the new techniques in cosmetic enhancements.

I walked into a beautiful brick building on Gayle Street in Westwood, California (near the UCLA campus) and into a very serene office.  The latest products were displayed on beautiful shelves as well as literature on all the procedures available at Westside Aesthetics.

Westside Aesthetics

At first glance, Dr. Rivkin resembles the actor Ed Norton…he was younger than I expected and I also discovered that he was trained surgically as an ENT (ear/nose/throat)…this is what inspired his 15 minute nose job, especially after doing so many surgical ones.  Dr. Rivkin has fixed many nose jobs gone bad with fillers.  He has been doing aesthetics for 6 years when all the fillers started becoming very popular and as an alternative to surgery.

Dr. Rivkin works with most fillers such as  juvederm, artefill, radiesse, restylane, & sculptra.  According to Dr. Rivkin’s philosophy on fillers, he prefers to use a filler depending on the individuals face and the area being injected.  For deeper areas he uses radiesse and for areas that are not as deep, juvederm (which is a hyaluronic acid).  He also uses juvederm for under the eyes (tear troughs) and can last for up to 3 years.

before & after juvederm under the eyes

Most of his patients literally come in saying, “their face has dropped.” So, Dr. Rivkin proceeds to fill in the tear troughs and cheek area with juvederm.  He does not recommend ever filling the under eye area with artefill since it is permanent & this area is very sensitive and moves a lot.  With juvederm you can always fix it if it doesn’t look right.

before & after non-surgical cheek implants

Regarding fuller lips, “it is an art form,” says Dr. Rivkin.  He does it in smaller increments and then sculpts it into your lips for a more natural lip shape.  His filler of choice for lip enhancement it restylane also a hyaluronic acid that is long lasting, doesn’t form lumps and holds it’s shape.

I could have talked to him for hours since I find cosmetic enhancements so fascinating…as of now Dr. Rivkin is busy fixing noses, faces, and experimenting with permanent fillers.  He has been doing a study on fixing noses with artefill for 4 months and will continue for a full year.  His new miracle procedure is fixing “grinding teeth” with botox.  Patients who grind their teeth are losing the shape to their faces.  Using botox injections, Dr. Rivkin can reshape the face and stop the grinding…it’s amazing what you can do today!

Te-see and Dr. Alexander Rivkin

I felt extremely at ease with Dr. Rivkin and was impressed with his answers and knowledge about facial enhancement.  This Beauty Style Watch Editor would definitely refer him to any guy or gal needing facial & body improvements.

A special thanks to Dr. Rivkin for taking time out of his busy schedule to chat with me & to Roz May at RMPR!

For more info on any of the procedures or to schedule an appointment please visit West Aesthetics.

te-see:)

image credit:  te-see, west side aesthetics