What I won't travel without - Lauren Sanchez from Extra

I was working with Lauren Sanchez at Extra the other day and we got to talking about products we won't leave home without, you know the favorite products you have that you can't be without when you travel. I have so many I have to check a bag for just them! Lauren narrowed that list down though to her absolute essentials and here they are:

• Clarisonic Mia Brush - to keep her skin in tip top condition and really deep cleanse after a long day traveling or working she must have her Mia travel brush with her. http://www.clarisonic.com/
• Murad skincare - this is her preferred range of skincare products, the face washes work particularly well with the Clarisonic brush and she loves the Nightly Hydro Lock night cream to replenish the moisture that traveling has taken out. http://www.murad.com/
• Easy Eye Solutions Illuminating Care - to help look refreshed after a long flight, this is her go to eye product. http://www.easyeyesolutions.com/
• Skinceuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30 - to protect her skin from the harsh effects of the sun, this is Lauren's favorite sunscreen. http://www.skinceuticals.com/
• Dior Lip Glow - this is great for on Holiday to give Lauren's lips some natural color and protection woth SPF 30. http://www.diorbeauty.com/
• Moroccan Oil Treatment Oil - is what she uses to keep her hair so gorgeously shiny and in great condition. http://www.moroccanoil.com/
• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - gives a light natural finish which is all Lauren's skin needs to look perfect under the harsh studio lights or when she's doing outside shoots. http://www.giorgioarmanicosmetics.com/
• Cle De Peau Beauty Concealer - helps even out an imperfections that may occur suddenly and the small tube is ideal for putting in your purse and is airplane friendly. http://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/
• Lorac Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner - is all that's needed to do a dramatic cat eye in an instant for when you have to rush off the plane to interview an A lister! http://www.loraccosmetics.com/
• Benefit Bad Gal Mascara - one coat of this thickening mascara is enough to enhance Lauren's lashes . http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/
• Mac Individual Eyelashes - further enhance the cat eye in an instant, a few on the outer corners are a quick and easy way to take makeup from day to night. http://www.maccosmetics.com/
• Chanel Lipgloss in 104 - Lauren's favorite shade for everything from her TV appearances to dinner out with friends, it goes with any look. http://www.chanel.com/
• The two other essentials she won't go ANYWHERE without are her iPad http://www.apple.com/  and Fiji Water http://www.fijiwater.com/  !!

For more information about Extra go to http://www.extratv.com/

The set (above) and the makeup room (below) at Extra

My latest TV

Here is the segment yesterday in Las Vegas on KTNV:



The products are:

Timeless Eye Contour by http://www.pevonia.com/

Instantly Ageless by http://www.instantlyageless.com/

Alpha Derma CE by http://www.janson-beckett.com/

NuFace by http://www.mynuface.com/

Clarisonic Opal by http://www.clarisonic.com/

Countdown to Christmas....and beyond

Starting today, I'm going to give you a beauty advent calendar. There will be a different tip or beauty regime to follow to make sure you look and feel your best by Christmas day and for the New Year's celebrations.

Today, December 1st, is the day to start a skincare regime that should yield full results by New Years Eve (skin usually takes 28 days for cell turnover, so starting today should mean that by NYE you will see a marked improvement).

This means that you cleanse, treat and moisturize twice a day from today! Even if you are soooo tired before bed, at least keep a packet of cleansing wipes by the bed and take off the day's makeup....it's better than nothing!

For oily/acne prone skins I recommend Murad http://www.murad.com/ I wash with the Clarifying wash every day using my Clarisonic brush http://www.clarisonic.com/ this gets my skin super clean but doesn't dry it out.

For sensitive skin I recommend the Liz Earle range http://www.lizearle.com/ this range is so gentle but really makes skin look smooth and glowing.

For dry skin, try Amala http://www.amalabeauty.com/ this is a completely organic range and has great products to treat dryness.

For hyperpigmention I suggest JolieMD this is specially formulated to lighten dark spots gently.

For slightly more mature skins in need of a little extra help with lines, you can't go wrong with Janson Beckett Alpha Derma CE http://www.janson-beckett.com/ I love how this cream sinks in but doesn't feel greasy and has UV protection, making it ideal for daytime.

For skin that has deep lines and wrinkles StriVectin http://www.strivectin.com/ is a great choice. The Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum and the Instant Facial Sculpting Cream work in conjunction to smooth, tone and tighten skin whilst alleviating deep set wrinkles.

For normal/combination skin, you are the lucky ones. You can use practically anything -Jurlique http://www.jurlique.com/ is a beautiful brand that makes a wide variety of products that get skin sparkling with health, and is a good choice for normal/combination skin.

In the morning wash or cleanse your face, tone if you like or splash with cool water, then put on a serum or spot treatment. Allow to sink in and then use a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15, YES even in Winter!

In the evening before you go to bed, cleanse throughly, exfoliate with a gentle scrub two evenings a week, then apply eye cream (I love Mario Badescu glycolic eye cream http://www.mariobadescu.com/ which is formulated for overnight use). Follow with a treatment product for your particular needs, or a night cream. When you are asleep is when your skin repairs itself and when these products really get a chance to work so make the most of those zzz's!

Getting ready for Summer

If you're anything like me, you've spent the Winter months cocooned in layers of warm clothing (yes even in Southern California!) and need a little help before you shed some of them in public. I like to prepare for this with the help of a few beauty rituals....
First of all you need to start getting your skin into shape by smoothing it with a good scrub a few times a week, I like Coconut Sugar Rub by www.purefiji.com as it softens and gets rid of the dead skin all at once and smells like a tropical vacation, something I could do with right now! Next shave your legs with a good quality shaving cream (or foam if your prefer) unless you have them waxed and then you can concentrate on your face. I exfoliate it with my Clarisonic Brush and my favorite face wash Clarifying Cleanser by www.murad.com which is great if you have oily skin like me, you can use a wash specifically for your skin type which there are many of by Murad. I now wash my hair and get out of the shower and put on a hair mask like 3 minute mask by Fekkai and cover it with a shower cap. Run a bath and add a creamy bath milk like the ones from www.purefiji.com and apply a gentle face mask like Rose Petal Mask by www.fresh.com. I like to have a candle burning to help me relax and to read but if you prefer to just relax now is a good time to put on cotton wool pads that have been soaked in Eyebright lotion by www.lizearle.com to brighten and refresh tired eyes. Soak for at least 15 minutes to let all the products take effect and then get back in the shower and rinse off. After drying yourself with a soft fluffy towel, massage in a cellulite lotion that has self tan in it - Cellufight by www.tarte.com is amazing and apply a self tanner to your face, Solartan by Hourglass is my choice as the color is so believable but subtle. It is a primer but I also like to use it at night so that I wake up glowing! Moisturize and plump your lips with Beautifull Lips by www.janson-beckett.com and that completes your skin's beautifying routine. Leave your hair to dry naturally so it gets the full benefit of the treatment and get a good night's rest, Murad sleep reform supplement can help if you have trouble sleeping but consult your Doctor before taking it. You should wake up looking and feeling ready to wear that sundress that has been hiding in the back of your closet!!
Now you've done the prep work and are feeling smooth, fresh and glowing you can get ready for your day with a few simple steps. After your shower smooth Body Firming Cream by www.murad.com all over to keep up the body firming treatment from the night before, if you are going to be out in the sun let it sink in, then apply suntan lotion as usual. Towel dry your hair and then put a little Marine Styling Balm by www.ecrunewyork.com in for hold, softness and body that won't flake or become gummy in the heat. It also protects the hair and soothes the scalp. Finish your style by spraying with Sunlight Finishing Spray by www.ecrunewyork.com which keeps it in shape and protects from the any harmful rays. For a fast simple sunny makeup look I start with Highnoon Face Glow by www.fresh.com which is a golden tinted moisturizer which gives a really great glow. Then I add some more color with the bronze cream shade from the Illume palette by www.hourglasscosmetics.com I put this across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose, on the forehead and chin and a little blended well on the eyelids. Use the highlighter shade in the palette on your cheekbones and the inner corner of the eyes for a little shimmer. If you need powder, dust a little on now, I love Translucent Finishing powder by www.alisonraffaele.com which is so light and sheer you won't feel like you're wearing any at all! Emphasize your eyes by filling in your brows with Brow Pen by www.anastasia.net which is a liquid pen that stays put all day and a couple of coats of 4 Day Lash Stain by www.tarte.com. Finish your look with a easy to use gloss pencil in a sheer but bright shade (I like Chinatown Crime) by www.lipstickqueen.com and your summer glow should last as long as you do!

Beauty night!

I stayed at home tonight after a few hectic nights out with my friend from London, he works for British Elle and is here for a shoot . As he has to get up early tomorrow I thought it would be a good time to treat myself to a night of beauty to repair the ravages of the last few days!

I started by thoroughly cleansing my skin using my Clarisonic Brush and Clarifying Cleanser by Murad. After drying my face gently with a soft towel I put a layer of Fresh Sugar Face Polish on and left it to work it's magic for 10 minutes. After rinsing and drying again, I sat watching TV whilst giving myself an at home facelift with my NuFace machine! Time for a layer of my favorite moisturiser Alpha Derma CE by Janson Beckett and I'm ready to face the world again!