Favorite Find Friday: Redken Chromatics Beyond Cover

Luckily, I haven’t spotted any grays just yet. Though there is this one wiry, white strand that pops up at the crown of my head when I get really stressed out, but I immediately pluck it out—no color correction needed (for now!). But I know many women who struggle with covering gray, especially because those hairs become brittle and less manageable when they lose their color. So when I heard about the new Redken Chromatics Beyond Cover (redken.com for salons), I brought in a special tester (my mom!) to try it out. The color gets delivered to the hair via nourishing Argan oil, so not only did my mom’s highlights look more vibrant and multi-dimensional, her hair was smoother and felt stronger than before coloring. Plus, the process covered all of her gray and stayed true-to-tone. Pretty amazing!


The Voice’s Makeup Artist—Darcy Gilmore—Shares the Show’s Behind-the-Scenes Beauty Secrets

 

Viewers of season four of The Voice have seen some major changes in front of the camera: Shakira and Usher have taken over for Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green. But one thing that’s remained the same is behind the camera—Darcy Gilmore is still holding it down in the makeup department. As the head of makeup, Gilmore’s in charge of directing her team of artists and working with each contestant to achieve their star-worthy looks. Here, she lets us in on what it’s like to work on the hit show plus shares insider tips that you can use for yourself (no singing required).

What’s the atmosphere like backstage on The Voice? Do you get a lot of time to sit down with each contestant and figure out his or her look? 
“Well, actually, we begin prepping long before they come back once the coaches have selected their teams. So, we already have an idea in advance of what we want to do as far as changing their looks and updating their looks. And we’re coming back now this week and shooting what’s called ‘the battles.’  So at this point, it’s a pretty big push into a new look. At least 50% into a more polished, artist look. So we’ve already done a lot of the footwork before they even walk in the door. And then as far as backstage goes, it’s pretty hectic but scheduled. It’s very calculated. There are no accidents when they actually get on TV completely camera ready. It’s completely organized.”

So does each contestant have a strong opinion of what they want their vibe to be based on their music style or do they kind of give you room for creativity to help them create their look? 
“I think it’s 50/50, actually, because a lot of these artists already have been A&R’d [Artist & Repertoire] from other companies and a lot of these artists have had an image created for them. Once you start speaking to someone, it’s very clear how much is their own image and how much has been created for them so we’re very sensitive to that, and to where they want to go. I think people who are the most versatile with their looks benefit from our team, from the makeup, hair and wardrobe.”

Do you have any special insider tricks for making up their faces under such bright lights? Is their any highlighting or contouring? 
“We have a laundry list of tricks that we won’t tell. But we will say that every inch of the skin gets covered with makeup including their hands and eyes and ears. They are polished and primed. It’s a very elaborate makeup application and we use several different companies, which we are blessed to be supported by. It’s super interactive. I’m really lucky because my team and I have such a good friendship on top of the work relationship so we’re always sharing secrets. And if somebody really likes a product then they buy seven of them and we pass them out to each one of the girls. It’s like a community. It’s almost like a sisterhood. It’s really great.”

Can you share any tricks for the average person who just wants to look great in pictures?
“Well, all of the products that we use, anybody can buy. We use a combination for body. We use Carlene K Cosmetics. She works for my team and she has her own body bronzer. It’s super simple to use. And if you want to break it down, you can use a moisturizer with it to cut it in half and then apply it. I would also suggest layering. Layering is a big thing we do so use a concealer and then face makeup, and then a matte powder all the way down the neckline. The number one makeup mistake is the face not matching the body. So you really have to marry the two. And I find that makeup transfers onto the wardrobe so I like to set it with powder. Get a big fluffy brush and bring that all the way down the neckline. That way there is no demarcation. That way you also don’t see makeup; you see just a flawless skin.”

What’s your favorite product to use?
“I love powder. I’m just a powder fool even though people are really afraid of it. Nowadays, powders are not the same as they use to be. I don’t think you have to be afraid of it. In fact, you can do an entire makeup of powder on men, which I love. A lot of our guys just get that. And that’s something to talk about there because a lot of men are afraid to wear makeup but if they get the right powder you literally can’t see it. I love Girlactik, too. I’ve been using the Sparkle Sets ($20, girlactik.com) and their Eyeliner ($19, girlactik.com).”

If you only had two minutes to do one thing to a contestant or client, what’s the one thing you would add to their look? 
“If they have good skin, I’d probably use Stila Convertible Color ($25, stilacosmetics.com) because you can use that on the lips and cheeks. You have to have multipurpose products.”


Debra Messing on Battling Allergies, Embarrassing Moments and Her Favorite Beauty Products

As our favorite funny girl from Will & Grace and most recently, a Broadway writer on the hit series Smash, Debra Messing has been entertaining us for years. And though she always looks flawless on screen, she’s been covering up a not-so-pretty little secret: she’s a severe allergy sufferer. Turns out, she’s one of many—96% of women suffer from allergies and the beauty woes that accompany them (watery eyes, a red nose and a puffy face). So Messing is teaming up with Zyrtec, the number one allergist recommended brand, to help fellow sufferers look and feel their best by sharing her own personal story and beauty secrets. Here, she explains just how embarrassing allergies can be and how she manages to conceal the dreaded “allergy face.”

With spring comes warm weather and pretty flowers, but it’s also the start of allergy season. Can you explain what it means to have “allergy face?” 
“I’ve been an allergy sufferer since I was really little. I grew up in New England, and anytime allergy season would come along, I would have these reactions. It would include my eyes watering constantly and my eyelids puffing up and my face getting blotchy and red, just to name a few things. So for me, that’s what allergy face means. It’s so great to be working with a company that is addressing the beauty needs of women during allergy season because in the past, it has prevented me from doing the things that I’ve really wanted to do. Like you said, taking advantage of the warm weather and going out to Central Park for a walk with my son or worrying about looking good if I have a press event outside. I partnered up with Zyrtec because it’s the first thing that actually works for me. It’s something that I can depend on and I know that if I take it in the morning I’m going to be ok. It really does prevent those reactions from happening to me.”

What’s your most embarrassing allergy attack story? 
“I was shooting a movie called The Wedding Date in England, and we were out in the British countryside. Beautiful rolling hills, flowers everywhere, grass and everyone was so excited because we were going to be shooting outside for days. I went in to have my makeup done in the trailer and they brought in a new makeup artist to help out and she was doused in perfume, an all floral essences. By the time my hair was fixed, my entire face blew up and my throat closed. My eyelids were so swollen that my eyes looked like slits. I turned and said ‘uh oh’ and everyone turned and looked and said ‘Oh my God!’ The director came in and said we couldn’t shoot. We had to shut down production and wait until my allergy attack subsided—embarrassing! Everyone was literally just sitting around looking at my puffy face and waiting for it to get better.”

That sounds terrible! You mentioned being in the makeup chair, what are your go-to beauty products to conceal allergy symptoms? 
“Because my eyes get itchy, I like to carry portable saline drops just to wash out my eyes so that any allergens in the air won’t stick around too long. In the morning, I get a bowl full of ice and add in aloe juice, which is inexpensive from the health food store, and I make the aloe juice really freezing and put in a washcloth and put it on my face for a minute or two. It takes all the puffiness out and it’s really soothing. My skin gets red and rashy so the aloe soothes that, too.”

Beside the products you use to hide your “allergy face,” do you have any other favorite beauty products?
“You know, my allergies are so severe that I really have to use fragrance-free products so there’s a makeup by Lorac called Natural Performance Foundation ($36, loraccosmetics.com) that I use everyday. It’s fragrance-free and doesn’t have anything in it that can exacerbate my sensitivity.”

So we know you’re a busy mom and working on the set of a hit TV show, so how do you find the time to stay fit? 
“You know what, it’s all about my son. He is now turning nine. When he was about four, I was so amazed by how active he was and I thought there was no way he could get more active then he is. He is like the Tasmanian devil now. He is constantly running around and he wants me to play with him. He loves sports. So when the weather is nice, we go across the street to Central Park and we’ll take the soccer ball and play soccer. He likes football and tennis, too. He just really loves sports so that’s what keeps me healthy; I wouldn’t say fit.”

What is your diet like with such a crazy schedule?
“I also have a lot of food allergies, so for me, it’s about staying away from the foods that I’m allergic to. I try to eat very clean. I try and stay away from dairy and sugar. I try and eat a lot of fish and fresh fruits and vegetables, basically all of the things that your mom tries to teach you in kindergarten.”

When you splurge, what do you splurge on?
“I love pizza and I love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!”


Superstar Athletes Lolo Jones and Alex Morgan Push Their Limits for Degree’s Do:More Campaign

You probably know Lolo Jones and Alex Morgan from the 2012 Summer Olympics—Jones is a track & field star in the 100 meter hurdles and Morgan, an Olympic gold medalist in soccer. If those accolades aren’t enough, these women are pushing their boundaries and challenging themselves for Degree’s Do:More Campaign. Hoping to inspire people everywhere to pursue their passions, Jones is going after one of her own by training to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in bobsledding and Morgan is taking a (temporary) break from the soccer field and indulging in one of her favorite hobbies—stand up paddleboarding. I chatted with them about their crazy training schedules, diet and makeup faves.

So tell me why you wanted to get involved with the Do:More Campaign.
AM: “I got involved because I love soccer but I found a new passion in paddle boarding, and I think both of us want to inspire other people to do more of what they love.”

LJ: “Yea, never in my life would I have imaged that I’d be jumping in a sled going 90 miles per hour and doing something so adrenaline-seeking. So I just wanted to get out of the comfort zone I had with track. I feel like sometimes when you pursue a goal for so long, it can become repetitive and you want to know how you can get stronger for that but at the same time, not give up on the goal you had. So I felt like getting into bobsledding would refresh me and just give me a new outlook and that’s what is has done.”

How did you get interested in bobsledding?
LJ: “Just watching a lot of Cool Runnings. (laughs) No, actually I met one of the drivers a few years ago at a charity event and she just said, ‘I think you’d be good at it.’ And it kind of stuck in my brain and after the Olympics, I just felt like it was a good time to try something new.”

And Alex, how did you get interested in stand up paddleboarding?
AM: “Paddleboarding is just a hobby of mine that I picked up when I was vacationing in Hawaii. I hung up the cleats for two weeks after the Olympics because I haven’t had a break in over two years.  And of course as a professional athlete you feel like you always have to be doing something. You can never be content with just relaxing, so I just rented a paddleboard one time and went out there and loved it right away. It’s more of a release and get away from soccer. It’s nice to have something completely different that you love and can get your mind off of everything.”

Do you always look for different activities that you can do to complement how you train? 
AM: “Yeah! I think there’s always something that I’m looking for and I’m never a 50% type of person—it’s either all or nothing. So with paddleboarding, once I started, I loved it. I got a paddleboard. I live at the beach in LA so I went out all the time. I taught my sisters and my mom how to do it. A year ago, I got really into Spin classes, so I think you just find something that you love and for me, getting away from soccer is what I need sometimes because it is mentally and physically straining so it’s nice to switch it up on your body and mind and get a fresh outlook.”

How active are you guys on a daily basis? Are you working out all the time? 
AM: “For me, it’s training six days a week at least and at least one to two sessions so whether that’s in the gym or the field, on the track and in the pool. The sessions are about four to five hours, but that includes getting ready. It really depends on the type of day it is. You have to have a couple of hard days so on those hard days you have to mentally prepare yourself.”

LJ: “I’m training six days, not everyday because I’m doing two sports. With track, it’s such a mundane sport; it’s not like a team sport so sometimes it gets very repetitive. So piggy backing on what Alex said, I have to find other ways to get out there. She said she got involved in Spin one year; I was the same way. One year it was yoga; one year was Pilates. I think the main challenge people have when working out is they get tired of doing the same thing over and over again. And so for me, this whole campaign of Do More is perfect because you have to step outside of your comfort zone every now and then. And sometimes, doing that will refresh you for your original goal. Doing bobsledding has refreshed and renewed me to go back to track and running. I’m just amped up to return. I definitely just want to encourage people to get out there and try new things.”

What are your diets like when you’re training this hard? What kinds of things are you eating?
AM: “I think for me, it’s not a strict diet. But it’s knowing the time to have something and getting enough in because when you’re training so vigorously, you’re eating a lot, at least 4 meals a day for me. Obviously, you want to get in protein and greens and enough carbs but I feel like for desert, I’m fine with having something after dinner because I know I’ve worked hard enough and my body actually craves it.”

LJ: “With bobsledding, I can eat whatever because the weight is good [the heavier the sled is, the faster it goes] but for track, I have to eat very strict. So it’s hard, but I think everything with balance. Even when I have super strict days, I allow myself to have a cheat day because I work for that cheat day. So I think when people are trying to lose weight they shouldn’t just go über strict to the point you’re not allowing yourself to enjoy life because at the end of the day, that’s what you’re trying to do. You’re tying to work out, but at the same time you want to do it in a good way and find balance.”

What’s your favorite thing to cheat with?
LJ: “Well, since I live in Louisiana, I’d have to say anything down there. It’s like the worst place for a professional athlete to live. I don’t think any athletes train there.”

AM: “I love that type of food but since I’m from California, Mexican food is my go-to. Burritos with sour cream and guac—so good. Even the Cali burrito, it has French fries in it.”

You both travel a lot for your sports, so how do you stick to your diet on the road? 
AM: “It’s honestly really hard because I’ll go into a training camp and we’ll have our nutritionist set out our meals for two weeks. We have food in front of us three times a day. It’s very healthy. And then you go home, you don’t have food in the fridge. You’re only home for five days; you’re not going to go out grocery shopping. So, it’s difficult but I find that just trying to eat two out of three healthy meals a day is good enough for me.”

LJ: “I’d say packing protein is my number one key for traveling because that can always hold you off from the cravings of airport food. You can smell it, you see people scarfing it down. Actually, when people travel nowadays it’s like a movie experience. They get their snack and they’re crunching away. So I always make sure I have protein powder with me which will help curb my appetite for a little bit and then that will give me time to make the proper decision. There are always options; it’s just really hard to find those options in an airport.”

Do you have any favorite beauty products that you love to have in your bag when traveling?
AM: “I love Degree Motion Sense Deodorant ($8, drugstore.com). On top of that, I need mascara. And I’m in the sun sometimes six hours a day so definitely sunscreen all the time.”

LJ: “I like YSL Touche Èclat ($40, sephora.com). I use it for dark circles, as an eye shadow base, I’ve used it to clean up my eye brows—it’s like a miracle pen.”

Do you wear makeup when you’re practicing or competing?  
LJ: “A warm up takes quite a bit, so we just have to have something that will last for a warm up but look fresh when we go out there in front of the camera for 12 seconds so I like a cream-based eye shadow and a good waterproof mascara.”

AM: “Yeah, I will say it depends on if you have a televised game or a closed-door practice where no one is going to see you. Mostly all the time, at a closed practice, I’ll wear absolutely nothing but then during a game, I might wear a tinted moisturizer.”

LJ: “Even if I’m going to a gym I’m not trying to look all rough. The chances of meeting a hot guy at a gym are increased!”


Favorite Find Friday: Chapstick Cupcake Creations

I have a serious sweet tooth but try to curb my cravings and only indulge once in a while (chocolate is my weakness!). Lucky for me, I recently stumbled upon Chapstick limited-edition Cupcake Creations ($2, drugstores) available in decadent Cake Batter and Velvet Cupcake flavors. They glide on lips like butter and instantly make any flakes disappear. But the best part, of course, is that they’re 100 percent guilt-free. And though they aren’t quite as satisfying as a cupcake, I’ll be reaching for these balms as a treat numerous times a day.

 

—Jessica Carter, beauty intern


Flywheel Sports and Lauren Moshi’s Hot New Clothing Collab

One of my favorite ways to get motivated to workout is by wearing a cool outfit (hey, whatever floats your boat, right?). So I was thrilled to learn that my favorite Spin class—Flywheel Sports—recently partnered with one of my favorite celebrity designers—Lauren Moshi (a sister-brother duo that uses amazing fabrics and hand draws all of their designs)—on a rocker-esque line of pieces that are perfect for killing it at the gym (or your favorite Spin class, just saying) or hanging out on the weekends. I’m most excited to slip on the white tank pictured above but the collection also offers comfy black and white sweatshirts and sweatpants, all stamped with Flywheel’s tagline, “You So Fly” and Moshi’s signature diamond lips’ print. When you’re mustering up energy for that last mile, hill or rep, seeing one of these sassy pieces in the mirror might be just the boost you need. You can get your hands on the clothes at Flywheel studios in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and more. For more info, go to flywheelsports.com.


Gwyneth Paltrow’s Latest Beauty and Fitness Venture

Tracy Anderson’s clients will soon have the opportunity to get a hot new hairstyle to match their hot new body. Friend and business partner Gwyneth Paltrow is teaming up with Anderson, as well as, celebrity hairstylist David Babaii (Paltrow’s go-to stylist) to open David Babaii Blow Dry Bar in Anderson’s Brentwood, California studio.

The cool thing about this collaboration is the collision of fitness and beauty (a match made in heaven, we think!). This idea of overall wellness has significant meaning to Babaii who, with the help of Anderson, lost an impressive 100 pounds! “I am so excited and honored to join the team as we all share the same devotion to women’s fitness, health and beauty,” says Babaii regarding the partnership. He understands the importance of regaining your confidence while transforming your body, and, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to reward themselves with a little post-workout pampering?

The beauty bar is set to open its doors Thursday, April 4th, exclusively for Anderson’s Brentwood studio members. Services will range from a yoga-mat worthy ponytail to a glamorous, red carpet style, plus, all of the stylists will be trained by Babaii himself.

For more information, email brentwood@tracyandersonmethod.com.


Favorite Find Friday: Aveda Light The Way Candle

April 1st marks the start of Earth month and each year when I turn the page of my calendar, it’s a subtle reminder to be a little friendlier to our planet and the world around us.  For me, there’s no easier way to do that than with a sweet-smelling candle (I’m somewhat of a hoarder!) so when I heard about the Aveda Light The Way Candle ($12, aveda.com) it was a no brainer. Not only is it made with 100% reclaimed glass but the carton (which is 70% PCR paperboard) is decorated with artwork by students of the Association School in Ampasimanjeva, Madagascar, a village that has received two Global Greengrants Fund grants for water projects. The children, who previously drank from a dirty, crocodile-infested river, created drawings to show how their lives changed after the community built a safe water source close to home. Every time I light the candle, the Madagascar-inspired blend of vanilla, cinnamon, and ylang-ylang reminds me that I (along with Aveda) am helping those little kids and their community. Aveda will donate 100% of the purchase price to the Global Greengrants Fund, a non-profit organization that channels high-impact grants to grassroots groups working to solve pressing environmental problems.  You can get yours starting March 24th or find out more information on the clean-water projects on aveda.com.


Elite Paddler Jenny Kalmbach Shares Her Sun Protection Picks and Paddling Tips

To most, paddleboarding is an up-and-coming sport, gaining popularity each year, but for Jenny Kalmbach, it’s been her focus for a long time. After paddling for six years, she’s established herself as one of the sport’s high profile racers, even being honored with SUP Awards’ 2011 Female Paddler of the Year. As an athlete who is passionate about both her demanding sport, and her love for the environment, she teamed up with Morgan Hoesterey in 2010 for Destination 3 Degrees, a standup paddle journey across the channels of Hawaii, to raise awareness for the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and to fight against plastic contamination in the ocean. That kind of eco-conciousness is what brought the suncare brand Coola to her attention. She’s teaming up with the luxury organic company, and here, dishes about her love for paddling and their products.

What sparked your interest in stand up paddling?
“I moved to Hawaii in 2005 and I got a job shortly after working at a beach and golf club. It was back when stand up was just starting out, you didn’t see it anywhere. We had a couple of standup boards at work, and a few of the guys would go out and paddle. So after some time, I started paddling and also surfing. A few years later, I entered my first paddling race. This was back in 2007, so it was still really new. It’s just so much fun and I love doing it. In 2008, a friend called to tell me about a race that was taking place in California and it was the Battle of the Paddle and they suggested I try to do it. I wasn’t really sure because I hadn’t raced against 70 other people before, but I took a chance, flew out and ended up winning the women’s division.  So I think that kind of set off this whole thing in motion where I was like ‘Wow, I can compete and I love this and it’s really fun.’ I haven’t looked back since.”

You’re always outside and in the water paddling and surfing. I know you’ve teamed up with Coola Suncare as their spokesperson—how has the brand aligned with your SPF and skin needs? 
“Just spending so much time in the sun and being fair-skinned, it’s really important for me to cover-up. So when I’m outside, I’m generally with a hat or sunglasses or long-sleeves and I always try to wear my sunscreen. But the problem before was I was always really nervous about what was in the sunscreen so I tended to stay away from using too much sunscreen and I tried to just cover up as much as I could. And then about a year ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Coola and I really loved that it was made with natural and organic ingredients so I felt really comfortable putting it on my skin. I wear it all the time now. I’ve just absolutely fallen in love with it; it’s an incredible brand.”

What’s your favorite product?
“I’d have to say the Mineral Sport SPF 35 Citrus Mimosa ($36, coolasuncare.com) is my favorite. That’s what I tend to use the most when I’m paddling. I also love their ER line, they have a good face wash, Environmental Repair Plus Clear Recovery Foam Wash ($24, coolasuncare.com). They smell so good. And the Liplux is good, too ($12, coolasuncare.com).”

So switching gears to your workout routine, how do you stay fit outside of the water? 
“I go to the gym 2-3 times a week and I have a program that changes every 3 weeks. I do spring training in the gym and then on top of that I do a triathlon once a year. I run, swim and bike as a side thing to stay in shape. I really enjoy biking because it’s really good for building power and endurance. So in the gym it’s spring training and then sprints on the treadmill and then outside it’s biking or swimming.”

So cool! I did my first triathlon last summer and am itching to do another this year.  
“Yeah! It’s so fun. I’ve done a few as relays. Two years ago, I did my first solo and I really liked it. It’s fun because it’s three different sports so you don’t feel that you’re constantly doing the same thing. You can kind of mix it up through your training so it’s really exciting. I have a Tuesday training tip I put on my blog and I talk about different exercises you can do in the gym for paddling or last week, I did a sprint workout that I like to do for running.”

I’ll definitely check that out. Do you have any favorite snacks that give you tons of energy for these intense workouts? 
“When I’m racing and training, I really like Honey Stinger products. They make these waffles and chews and they’re all honey-based, and organic. So I’m a really big fan of that brand. I’ve also used Bonk Breaker bars in the past, which are really delicious and they’re gluten-free so they tend to be a big hit with people.”

Any advice for someone who wants to break into paddling or try it out this summer? 
“Yeah! Depending on where you live, it is so accessible now anywhere that has a body of water; it can even be a pond. The best thing to do is go with somebody or find somebody who can give you a few pointers, just because the first time you do it, it’s kind of nice to have an idea of what you’re doing. But it’s a really easy sport to pick up; anybody can do it, all ages. And it’s really fun. First just try it; some people are hesitant to try it because they don’t think they can do it but anybody can do it. Just get out there and try it and just enjoy being out there.”


Favorite Find Friday: Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Deep Nourishing Treatment Mask

After spending a few days in the heat during a work trip in Palm Beach followed by a few days in the freezing temps in NYC, my skin was confused to say the least, going from oily to dry. But my facial skin wasn’t the only place that suffered from the quick climate change. During my weekly blowout, I noticed my scalp (yes, it’s skin, too) was freaking out (and by freaking out, I mean flaking—gross, I know), too. So I reached for Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Deep Nourishing Treatment Mask ($6, drugstore.com) in hopes of nipping the flakes in the bud. I also called up the brand’s celebrity dermatologist, Francesca Fusco, for tips on fighting and preventing flakes. She said that when applying shampoo and conditioner, to lightly massage the product in with my fingertips—not nails, a mistake some women and stylists make. She also said that instead of skipping conditioner at my roots to increase volume (a trick I always do!), to slather it on my roots directly, assuring me that my scalp was craving moisture and that the conditioners were light enough that they wouldn’t weigh down my blowout. Guess what? A few days after taking the advice, my flakes were gone (such a relief) and my hair was bouncy despite applying the mask from roots to ends.