beauty | Hold the Glamour

May 1, 2013

Best make-up products according to Kelley Quan

I approached my dear friend and hair/beauty expert Kelley Quan for this weeks post. I want to share with you some of her favourite products on the market. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed and it should give you an insider’s view of what the professionals are using, loving and why.

—————————————

ME (L): Kelley, let’s start at the beginning – what in your opinion is the best primer and why?

Kelley (K): The most AMAZING PRIMER EVER has to be Miracle Blur. It corrects the texture, hides flaws and is also a sunblock so it’s great for outside. It just works so well for everyone especially those with less than perfect complexions.

http://www.lorealparisusa.com/en/Offers/Samples/Miracle-Blur/Register.aspx

L: You put me onto this product and I love it! I use it most days I’m stepping outside. It’s a personal favourite of mine too and I can highly recommend it.

————————————–

L: Now, let’s talk about eyes and how to enhance them best.

K: For an eyeshadow I must have: Smashbox’s Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadows in Stone and Quartz. I love this formula for long wear and clean colour. The two colours are staples in my kit because I can use them on anyone with beautiful results. Really universal colours.

I use them alone for a sheer finish or as an under-base for eyeshadow if I need the shadow to really last like for a red carpet event etc.

http://www.smashbox.com/product/6025/21789/Eyes/LIMITLESS-15-HOUR-WEAR-CREAM-SHADOW/index.tmpl

——————————————–

L: What about lips Kelley? You have to have some great brands and colours in your kit.

K: I ADORE NARS Matte Velvet matte lip pencils. The finish is really soft and while matte they never look or feel dry. My favorite colours are: for an orangey red that looks amazing on almost everyone is Red Square and for a blush/nude I love Belle Du Jour and Bettina. The best fresh spring colour is Calliope – it’s the happiest colour for everyone!

http://www.narscosmetics.com/color/lips/~/velvet-matte-lip-pencil

——————————————–

L: I notice you love to use a cream on cheeks – who do you love?

K: I love this cheek cream: Kevyn Aucoin’s Creamy Moist Glow in Isadore. It’s a beautiful shade that goes on smoothly and yet has enough pigment to be worn alone or layered.

http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/p/Kevyn-Aucoin-Creamy-Moist-Glow-Isadore-Face/prod82310091_cat400803_cat399701_/?isEditorial=false&index=16&cmCat=cat000000cat000005cat000017cat10022cat399701cat400803

I am also a big fan of the Kevyn Aucoin Skin enhancers. These tiny pots are so concentrated you only need a teeny bit to do a lot. I mix mine with some lotion if I want a sheer finish or if I need some more coverage I can layer it right from the pot. Love the shades and it feels nice on the skin.

http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/p/Kevyn-Aucoin-Sensual-Skin-Enhancer-Face/prod82310065_cat400803_cat399701_/?isEditorial=false&index=1&cmCat=cat000000cat000005cat000017cat10022cat399701cat400803

———————————————

L: I have a serious thing for mascaras and I am always searching for a great one. I am lash obsessed!

K: I am not a beauty snob and sometimes, it is sheer practicality that dictates what products I use often. For example, because I need to throw my mascaras away about every two weeks or so because I just work so much and worry about contamination, even though I am super careful, you just can’t take the chance. I tend to use drug store/pharmacy mascaras on my models. Here are my top three:

1. Voluminous False Fiber Lashes™ Mascara. If I want that full lush lash look and need to bulk up the lashes, I use this mascara. It won’t flake and it’s a nice formula.

http://www.lorealparisusa.com/en/Products/Makeup/Eyes/Mascara/Voluminous-False-Fiber-Lashes-Mascara.aspx?shade=Black&cid=lorus_rm_Bing_Makeup+B+Eye+Makeup_Eye+Makeup&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Brand-Makeup

L: I too love this mascara! Thanks for reminding me of it – I need to buy a new one come to think of it.

2. Tried and true every time is Voluminous Carbon Black mascara. Works well every time. It’s my go to mascara.

http://www.lorealparisusa.com/en/Products/Makeup/Eyes/Mascara/Voluminous-Carbon-Black-Mascara.aspx?shade=Carbon-Black

3. If I am splurging I’ll go for TARTE cosmetics: Lights, Camera, Lashes. It’s a really great mascara and it has a great formula that stays put but comes off easy with remover.

http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-lights-camera-lashes-mascara

BEAUTY NOTE: With ALL my mascaras, I apply using my Patent pending (not released yet) Mascara Wand which will give an amazingly strong lash line and feathery lashes without bulk or making the lashes look unnatural. It’s my secret weapon for lush lashes!

—————————————

L: What about other fabulous products that deserve a Kelley Quan mention?

K: My Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics are –

Lip Tar: I love this super pigmented lip colour because it is vegan and paraben free. No bad stuff in these products. Some of my favorite colours are Pale Tangerine, Narcissus and Annika.

L: I love the vegan and paraben free stuff. I try and use as many of the organic/natural products personally, as I can. With work, I don’t have much of say unfortunately.

http://www.occmakeup.com/lips.html

MAC Cosmetics Paints: I love these little pots of colour. I use them alone or under shadow. I love the shades Bare Canvas, Still Life and Sublime Nature.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/154/344/Products/Eyes/Shadow/Paints/index.tmpl

L: I have to agree with these little pots of colour. I love them and they last forever.

—————————————–

Do you have any great make-up products to share?

To ask Kelley or myself about?

Next time, I’ll ask Kelley about hair products that you should know about.

http://kelleyquan.com

2 Comments

April 16, 2013

Hair, glorious hair!

Lucky for me, my parents gave me good hair. I have thin hair however, a lot of it. It really helps in my industry. My hair is worked on most days of the week so it’s important to have a lot of it and for it to be healthy and strong.

NYC – A hair piece

Many models and actors don’t have the same amount of hair as I do so they resort to hair extensions or hair pieces. I knew nothing of this until I moved to New York 11 years ago. It wasn’t something I had to deal with.

On occasion, when a client likes to use the wind machine and they love good hair, the hair and make-up artist will add some additional hair pieces to my own hair to fill in the gaps or the holes that the wind machine can create.

NYC – Bill Westmoreland taking my hair pieces out

I love working with Bill Westmoreland. He is old-school and has been in the industry a long a time. He knows how to handle hair and make you look your best with the face and hair you were blessed with. Bill is an artist.

NYC – Bill Westmoreland and I

The hair pieces clip into your own hair after it has been back-combed a bit. It adds some tension for the clips to hold on to (not fun combing/brushing it out at the end of the day though). Then you are good to go.

I don’t feel the hair pieces in my hair until the end of the day when they start to get heavy and my head gets a little sore. I really don’t know how the girls who rely on their hair pieces or weaves can handle it after so long. Thank goodness it’s an added bonus for my look, not a necessity. I am one of the fortunate ones I have come to realise.

NYC - Liz Polden, me and Bill Westmoreland

NYC – Liz Polden (stylist), me and Bill Westmoreland (h&m)

My team of Liz and Bill are bar none! They are fabulous and make my day so easy and fun. I had a great day at work. Lucky me…

I’ll find out some of the best brands to buy to make life easier for you. In the meantime…

Have you ever worn hair pieces or hair extensions?

What did it feel like?

Do you know of any good places to have these hair pieces/extensions made up for you?

Leave a comment

January 8, 2013

42 degrees and still shooting

I’m currently in Australia and today I finished my first shoot of the new year. We were shooting the autumn/fall collection for Sara by Ezibuy. It means layers, coats and boots for the cooler months ahead.

It’s hard to imagine however, the fashion industry is always at least six months ahead of the game with design, sourcing the fabric, manufacture to shooting the samples and getting the images ready for advertising. It’s a long lead time.

The weather has been hot, hot, hot and today we battled beauty and fashion in 42 degree celsius heat in Sydney like true professionals (107.6 degrees fahrenheit). The heat wave we are experiencing throughout Australia did not stop us from making and creating fashion magic. We started at 5.30am this morning to ensure we weren’t shooting during the hottest time of the day.

Sydney – call time is at sunrise

Sydney – Juli Balla and the Sara crew hard at work

Sydney – smiling and shooting whilst the temperatures soar

Yesterday we spent on the Northern Beaches shooting in one of my favourite location homes. The property looks like something straight out of Palm Springs, U.S.A. I love it. Unfortunately, jumping in the pool and cooling off after work was not an option for me or the crew. What an incredible view!

Sydney – my dream house on the Northern Beaches

The first couple of days of our shoot, we spent inside the studio. It is certainly easier for all without the elements and humidity wreaking havoc on hair, make-up, equipment and clothes. We turn the air conditioning up, the music goes on and we get down to business. It is calm, controlled and smooth.

Sydney – Annette McKenzie & I (my amazing hair & make-up artist)

Sydney – in studio

Sydney – kisses from the hair & make-up table

Since I started writing this post this afternoon, over a hundred and forty fires have broken out in N.S.W. alone. Other states in Australia are also battling fires in hot, dry and windy conditions that have proven to be devastating and uncontrollable. My best wishes and thoughts go out to all those affected and threatened by the catastrophic temperatures and erratic fire patterns that lie ahead of this evening. I wish you all, well.

What are you going to do to stay cool during these hot summer months? What tips do you have?

What are you looking forward to come autumn/fall as far as fashion goes?

What trends are you noticing and excited about?

Leave a comment

October 25, 2012

An illusion of fantasy & perfection – retouching a VS angel

I’ve just received the Victoria’s Secret ‘Christmas dreams & fantasies’ catalogue in the mail and as I flick the 175 page goliath, I am reminded of how beautiful, sexy and picture perfect the models are on every page. Oh my!

I also recall these last few days, there has been much talk and chit-chat all over the place regarding retouching of images and the famous and gorgeous Victoria’s Secret model, Doutzen Kroes whose ‘raw & real’ images came to the media surface accidentally (not what anyone wants really). It’s one thing to reveal it yourself and it’s another when it’s secretly leaked and the world finds out when you do.

Jezebel claims that some pictures leaked on the forum The Fashion Spot – where one could plainly see the difference with images that had post-production work and those that had not. The world gets to see – once again, what remarkable work goes in to creating an illusion of fantasy and perfection. The true-to-life moments and aspects of photography that capture bad backgrounds, lighting discrepancies, stray hairs, wrinkled garments, bruises, skin imperfections and discoloration, samples that need to be colour corrected etc. are an everyday occurrence for retouchers in the media and fashion industry.

Are we youth obsessed and still trying to attain perfection? Clearly so. Is everyone supposed to look like they are forever 18? Please people!

Some celebrities and stars have put their hand up to pose without the use of Photoshop or make-up to show the world what they are truly, naturally like for charity or cause, or to simply raise media awareness. Some notable celebs include Jessica Simpson, Sarah Murdoch and Brad Pitt.

Everyone I know retouches, even though clients (especially for web or internet shots) are very particular about keeping retouching to a minimum because it becomes a cost and time thing. That is, clothes need to be smooth with minimal wrinkles, no bras or bra straps showing, no VPL (visible panty line), hair pushed back for half the shots so they don’t have to spend time and money retouching ‘unnecessarily’. They are quite firm about it. They have an idea of what they want to present to the world at large and they stick to it.

So what would you rather see – the unattainable or the real? Or is somewhere in the middle OK?

What are your thoughts on retouching and Photoshop?

Leave a comment

October 6, 2012

Leaving the ‘macho’ behind

This morning I went to have a manicure & pedicure at my usual nail place when I walked in and was greeted by Linda’s husband (both of them own the business). Linda was busy with their two children this morning and was due into work within the next hour or so I was told. So until she arrived, two of their employees and Linda’s husband kept themselves busy with me and one other woman who had arrived beforehand.

I always ask for a mani/pedi at the same time if possible. It just means I can get out the door faster when you add another 10-15 minutes of drying time and longer than that in the winter months (you can’t be walking out the door in thongs or flip-flops although, I have been known to do just that). I feel like I’m always racing out the door in a hurry to get home or somewhere else I have to be. Isn’t that crazy and insane?

Anyway, my pedi starts and immediately, I’m feeling better. Linda’s husband starts my mani and he proceeds to work on me and the other woman, going from chair to chair. He was removing her Shellac polish and for those of us who have had it and done it, it’s a process to say the least. I’ve done it once and it was last year some time. I personally try to avoid all unnecessary chemicals wherever and whenever possible in my life (I am surrounded by make-up and hair chemicals most days of my life and simply can’t avoid it). I love the idea of Shellac however, I have a hard time soaking my nails in God-knows-what for 15 minutes, melting and eating away at the polish on my nails! Let alone how your hands and skin feel after the soak.

So I’m sitting in my chair thinking how this man and at least two others I know about, do manicures. In fact, the woman who waxes me in Sydney mentioned during my last visit that her husband was doing a nail course so they can open their own business in nails & waxing. Times have changed – men doing nails and leaving the macho behind.

So whilst this is going on in my head, a man in his thirties walks in and asks to have his eyebrows waxed. Then ten minutes later, a guy in his forties who looked like he was in the mob walks in asking for a manicure. There was no one to work on him right away so they asked if he could wait five minutes that he would be next. Every time I looked over at him, I thought to myself how at any minute he would pull out a weapon and demand his mani ‘now’. He looked like his was getting impatient waiting. This guy didn’t seem like he waited for too many things. He even kept his sunglasses on the entire time (too much of the Sopranos for me I think).

The point of this post is this, even though all three men didn’t look entirely comfortable being in a nail salon giving a manicure, getting eyebrows waxed and getting a manicure in a traditionally woman’s world of vanity, they still did all of the above (even if one of them was doing it for money). They benefit from the experience, procedure or treatment in some way otherwise they wouldn’t do it would they? They feel better for it. They look better for it. Times have changed and isn’t it wonderful that men can do things to improve themselves and the way they look? Beauty opportunities and possibilities are open to one and all and to both sexes, now more than ever.

What do you do as far as beauty treatments are concerned?

Is there something you are doing that no-one knows about?

What beauty treatment recommendations do you have? What is a must in your opinion?

Leave a comment

May 16, 2012

Face Time in the Pacific

NYC – Shopping down Fifth Ave

NYC – The Flatiron Building

NYC – My facial at Pacific Touch NYC with a Vitamin C mask on my face

As most of you know with my job and career now, I am required to ‘maintain’ myself. To present myself professionally with hair cut and colour up-to-date, lingerie/swimsuit ready and nude or neutral manicure/pedicure to every job. This is work and a part of my job.

In addition to the above, I like to exercise when I can (with two small kids in the picture, there isn’t always the time I’d like unfortunately), get body massages and facials for a better me. Last week I exercised and had a delicious facial. I felt great.

I went shopping in the Flatiron District with a girlfriend and then went and had a 90 minute ‘Pacific Touch Facial’ at Pacific Touch NYC. I was in heaven and as usual, fell asleep.

I try to live my life as holistically as possible and that’s how Nichola Weir approaches her skin care treatments and massage. I love this woman. Believe it or not, I have super-sensitive skin and I can’t use a lot of products and product ranges because my face turns red. It’s a sign that it’s not happy.

Nichola and I discuss what I’m eating, drinking and using on my face to try to pin-point the reason for such sensitivity. I know since falling pregnant the first time, nursing, falling pregnant again and nursing some more, my skin has changed. It is a slow process however, I’m using a lot less product these days and it certainly helps.

What doesn’t help every week is that most days I have a whole range of products and make-up put on my face that I can’t control. I have the make-up artist’s use my own personal Armani liquid foundation that I take on every shoot with me and my own mascara of course… the rest is from their kit. As long as they sterilize their brushes properly and use new sponges (and they all pretty much do), I’m generally O.K.

So if you are after a bit of glamour in your life or day and in New York, you must go see Nichola for some yummy pampering. You won’t be disappointed and will most likely fall asleep as I do, under the spell of her healing hands. Go the glamour!

www.pacifictouchnyc.com

Leave a comment

May 8, 2012

Vogue, airports and Film noir

New York – final touches before I get on set

Canada – I love shoes and these were HOT!

Canada – self-portrait after hair & make-up

Congratulations to Vogue magazine! Last week they banned models who are too-skinny and under the age of 16 from its beautiful pages. According to Conde Nast International, “the 19 editors of Vogue magazines around the world made a pact to project the image of healthy models.”

Well done indeed! I certainly applaud the changes and welcome a healthy beauty being promoted, regardless of one’s size (as long as it fits in to a healthy range). This is an industry first and hopefully others will follow suit sooner rather than later.

Also last week, I worked away in New York City. Had fun and laughs with some wonderful people in the industry who I’ve become friends with. We made fashion magic happen.

Towards the end of the week, I flew to Canada for a few days. I finished up on one of my days in the city and headed straight to La Guardia airport only to discover there were only two flights that afternoon/evening on American Airlines. One of the flights left as I was approaching the check-in counter, the other was departing in four-and-a-half hours. OMG!!! Not happy.

I sat in the club lounge making calls, emailing etc. then thought I’d ask if the newly remodeled lounge had a shower. It did. So I washed my hair and had a shower at La Guardia airport in the Admirals Club Lounge. I never would have thought that I’d be one of ‘those’ people however, you got to do what you got to do and secondly, the shower was clean and new. I readied myself for work the next day (thanks goodness I had my Havaianas with me)! It was going to save me 45 minutes once I checked in to my hotel at 11.30pm. It was late enough and a long day of work and travel.

The shoot was amazing and terribly exciting. I spent my day’s shooting for catalogue that looked like it was an editorial out of a magazine. Film noir move over. I cannot wait to see the Fall catalogue come out. I love it when I can play and act out a theme… play a part if you will. It is refreshing and it certainly looked very glamourous.

After my busy week of work, I spent a further two hours at the airport waiting for my flight home to New York. Thank goodness for my Ipad that not only kept me busy but entertained.

I came home late on Saturday night to my wonderful husband, a glass of red wine and a delicious meal that he had prepared for us. A perfect finish indeed.

4 Comments

Tag: beauty