How to achieve the Hourglass Holiday 2009 Look

The Hourglass Holiday 2009 look is up now in Sephoras nationwide and on both the Hourglass and Sephora websites. As I created the look for the campaign I thought I'd let you in on how I created it:

Start by priming your skin with Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer to give a smooth base and give it a few seconds to absorb. Then apply a light base of Hourglass Fluid Veil Foundation and blend thoroughly with a wedge shaped sponge. Apply Hidden Concealer under the eyes and over any blemishes and pat gently to cover without removing the base underneath. Now take a little of the cream highlighter from the Illume compact and highlight your cheekbones, down the center of your nose, your cupid's bow and your browbones. The trick here is to be subtle, so don't use too much and blend well! Next apply a very light dusting of Invisible Veil powder all over to set the base but still leave a bit of glowiness showing through.

Now on to the eyes...using a medium size blender brush, pick up a little of the light cream shade from the Suede Visionaire Eyeshadow Duo and blend over the entire lid, in the inner corners and up to the crease. With a smaller crease brush put a little of the darker goldy shade from the duo in an arc in the crease and yes - blend throughly! Line the upper lid with Calligraphy Liner in Ebony and flick up slightly at the outer corners for a sultry effect. Define your eyebrows if necessary with a powder eyeshadow in a shade closest to your natural color. Two coats of Superficial Mascara in Carbon complete the eyes. Leave under the lower lashes bare, the main focus of this look is the lips.

Leave the cheeks bare apart from the glow from the shimmer cream and concentrate on your lips. Line them with Trace Lipliner in Bare to keep the gloss in place. Blend the line with a cotton swab so it isn't harsh and then apply the metallic red Extreme Sheen lipgloss in Siren for a showstopping look!

All cosmetics available at http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ and http://www.sephora.com/ or instore at Sephora and Barneys.

Working out

I have just begun working out again so that I can be in shape for the holidays and have some room to eat and drink! That's what holidays are about right??

Anyway, I went to a class tonight run by a celebrity personal trainer - Missy B (she trains the casts of Greys Anatomy and Nip/Tuck). It's only for half an hour and the results are remarkable. It tones, burns fat and builds strength in a short amount of time. The last time I did it regularly I lost 5% body fat in 2 months and didn't have to change my diet at all. I haven't been for a while as I couldn't get there because of work commitments, but having been tonight I am fired up all over again! I will either go to class or do Missy's DVD at home from now on. You can find out further information at http://www.misfitla.com/ BTW that is her in the above picture....see what I mean!!

It works!

Recent products I have tried that work!

I have been testing out a few products recently and here is my round up of the ones that actually work!

Triple Berry Smoothing Peel by Renee Rouleau http://www.reneerouleau.com/ this little miracle gives unbelievably smooth skin in 10 minutes. I like to use this before putting my base on before I go out in the evening.

Pure Hyaluronic Acid by Hylunia http://www.hylunia.com/ I was given this by the people at NuFace to try after using the NuFace machine. This serum totally tightens and smooths the skin instantly and doesn't leave an oily film. Perfect for putting makeup on straight after.

Superskin Eye and Lip Treatment by http://www.lizearle.com/ This is amazing! as soon as you put it on it seems to disappear fine lines from around your eyes and on the lips gives a baby like softness. I am using it every day now.

Superskin Body Cream by http://www.lizearle.com/ Another goodie from the Superskin range. It has already transformed the skin on my body. It looks youthful and healthy again.

Argan oil by http://www.arganoils.com/ I've been using this as a night treatment. This is too oily for me for the daytime but I've found that if I use it at night I wake up glowing.

Mineral Matte Mousse Foundation by Bourjois http://www.bourjois.com/ I got this on a recent trip to London and when it is applied with the little brush that comes with it, it gives an airbrushed but very natural finish. I love it!

Revlon Double Twist Mascara http://www.revlon.com/ I saw this recently in CVS and had to buy it. I am always trying new mascaras and am not keen on plastic brushes but this intrigued me, as it was a combination of a regular brush for volume and a plastic one for definition. Well....it works! My friends thought I had false eyelashes on!

Hercut Long Layers Catalyst by http://www.hercut.com/ I've never seen my hair look so shiny and have such swingy movement as I did after blowdrying with this product. I also love the shampoo and conditioner that were specifically for my hair type. All the products worked in perfect conjuntion with one another.

Defabulous Clipless Curling Iron (The Heat Series) by http://www.defabulous.com/ My friend Sean Duncan, the hairdresser at Extra got me these after I'd been coveting the ones he uses on Terri Seymour. They give that Boho beachy type curl that looks really natural and you can achieve it really fast as they heat up in 3 seconds!

Steps to an easy smoky eye makeup

Most girls like to do a smoky eye for nights out but there is a fine line between a sexy look and a heavy drag queen makeup! Here are the steps to a brownish taupe smoky eye makeup instead of the regulatory black, that never looks too heavy and suits all skin tones....I start by blending a cream eyeshadow/liner all over as a base to keep the rest of the makeup in place and add depth, Smashbox (http://www.smashbox.com/) do a great range for this and I particularly like the shade Putty for this look, they have good metallic ones that would work too.Next Line the top of the lashes with a darker cream liner and blend out, I use Caviar or Midnight Brown for this by Smashbox too. The key to this look is no hard lines. Everything should blend and look feathery. I then go over the shadow base with a shimmery taupe shadow Jouer's (http://www.jouercosmetics.com/ )Amaretto eye shadow is a favorite of mine. Go over the lash line with a fine brush dipped in a dark brown or black eyeshadow and feather it out. Line the lower lashes inside and out with Sephora's (http://www.sephora.com/) chunky eyepencil in 502. You can use this pencil heavily and it looks smoky or lightly during the day for a baby like glisten. Finish with a few coats of black mascara - Fresh (http://www.fresh.com/) Firebird Mascara works perfectly for this look and groom your eyebrows for a polished look.A perfect smoky eye in 5 minutes or less!!

The perfect fake tan

I'm about to go on a cruise and as I don't really sunbathe, even though I live near the beach in LA, I'm still a little pasty and a bit embarrassed to expose my white flesh on board for all to see. The answer lies in self tan, nowadays they give a really believable golden glow and with a few tricks can be applied easily.

I start with a good exfoliation all over, for this I prefer to use exfoliating gloves rather than a scrub as I think this does the job better for this and doesn't leave any grains behind to mess up application. I combine the gloves with a moisturising body wash like Dove and pay special attention to feet, elbows and knees. After your shower dry yourself thoroughly and lightly moisturise your feet, elbows and knees and give it a few minutes to sink in.

I now apply the tan using latex gloves to protect my palms from going orange, make sure you get tight fitting ones so you don't streak your tan. I start at my feet and blend upwards and outwards. If you don't have anyone to do your back I find the best way is to fold one hand up behind your back with the back of your hand against it and one over your shoulder palm down and do a kind of windshield wiper motion. Check in the mirror to see if you've missed any spots and then go back over them. I finish by doing my arms last and then after removing the gloves use a makeup sponge to do the backs of your hands. After applying to your hands, take a little body lotion and rub it in as hands tend to absorb more, then this way they won't end up too dark.

Use a separate tan for your face, one that has been especially formulated so it won't clog pores or cause breakouts and apply this with a makeup sponge too. I like to self tan last thing at night so that it can develop while I sleep and won't get streaky.

I have recently tried several tans and these are my favorites:

Mystic Tan http://www.mystictan.com/ is a 3 step process and has a daily moisturiser to maintain it. It takes a little while to do but is worth it for the lasting deep natural tan it gives.

Xen-Tan http://www.xen-tan.com/ is another great one, this has a gorgeous smell, not like the usual giveaway burnt cookie smell of most of them and is tinted for easy application.

Bronze Goddess Tinted Self Tan by http://www.esteelauder.com/ is my choice for an evening out. You can apply this transfer resistant gelee before going out for an instant golden glow that develops more within a few hours.

For the face I love Solar Tan by http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ this is also a makeup primer so again you can apply it before going out under your makeup.

If you'd like to have your tan applied for you and combine it with an amazing body scrub treatment try St. Tropez Self Tanning treatment at http://www.kinaraspa.com/ I had this treatment and not only is it relaxing but the tan was so good people asked me where I'd been!!

To maintain your tan mositurise regularly. I use Body Firming Creme by Estee Lauder, it sinks in immediately and you get the added benefit of the firming action.

I'm off to do my own now in preparation for my weekend at sea!

Janson Beckett

Watch Shop NBC tonight at 9pm PST or 11pm Eastern to see one of my favorite skincare brands launch on television. Their moisturizer Alpha Derma CE is truly amazing! www.janson-beckett.com

Sorry....

it's been a while since I posted anything. I've been in London with Terri Seymour working on shoots and events. I will post as soon as I get over my jetlag!