advice

E! News’ Catt Sadler Spills her Style, Fitness and Beauty Secrets

May 15, 2013 at 1:24 pm
By Molly Ritterbeck

Catt Sadler brings us the latest entertainment news every day as a co-anchor on E! News, but it’s her chic style that’s garnering headlines this time. She’s teamed up with Scotch-Brite (you know, the home cleaning products’ company) to give you the chance to win $5,000 toward a new wardrobe and a personal style consultation with Sadler through their First Impressions Photo Contest. Here, the working mom of two shares some of her styling secrets, the best ways to make a good impression, as well as, her favorite workouts and beauty tricks.

So tell us about the contest.
“It’s very cool. Essentially we’re encouraging people, fashionistas especially, to make their best first impression by uploading a photo of themselves to the Scotch Brite Facebook page with a couple lines below it as to why they are making the best first impression. The contest goes through May, and then in June, our judges will narrow the participants down to fifteen finalists. In mid-June, the public can go online and vote for their favorites until it’s narrowed down to three finalists. Then, I will pick the final winner, and they’ll get a $5,000 wardrobe makeover, which is pretty awesome, and an online style consultation with me. We’ll have an online chat situation where I can answer questions and give them tips or even look at their wardrobe and help them get rid of stuff.”

What’s your best advice for making a good first impression?
“Well, I have a couple of tips. Some of them are pretty traditional style advice like mixing highs and lows [prices]. I think everybody knows that’s a good way to go when you’re shopping. I don’t think you need to throw a lot of money into the really trendy things like floral blouses that are in. You can buy those for cheap, but then you’ve got those investment pieces like [points to her Chloé bag] this.  Yes, I did invest in this little puppy. But I will have this forever and if I have a little girl, I’ll pass it down. These are timeless pieces that certainly supplement any outfit nicely, so splurge on the pieces that are going to be around for a while. I do something called ‘last looks’ everyday before going on TV, which I think can be good advice for girls before they leave their house: smooth your flyalways or get the lipstick off your teeth. And that ties directly to the Scotch Brite Printed Lint Rollers ($4, staples.com) because you don’t want little fuzzies all over you. You have to do that ‘last look’ to make sure you’re crisp, chic, looking good before heading out the door. If I had to pick one other one it would have little to do with fashion and that’s just more about the energy and the spirit that you convey. I think that’s huge when you’re making a first impression. Whatever it is that you want to convey to whomever it is, your boss, or a hot guy at the bar, you want it to be the best representation of yourself.”

You mentioned doing DVDs but do you have any other favorite workouts?
“You know, those methods are pretty strict in that you do it six days a week for an hour at a time, and I certainly do not do that. I’m like most people; I go in waves. I work out really hard for six weeks and then I don’t do anything for a month. You know, I just think it’s the way we all realistically are in our daily lives. I try to move no matter what. My kids and I, we go hiking or I ride bikes with them, but other than really doing those videos, I will mostly just run. That’s my thing. When it’s gorgeous in L.A., like why am I in my living room doing DVDS? Get out the door! I always thought running was challenging. I don’t think I’ve ever gone more than three miles in my life, I’ve never done a marathon or anything, but the better you get at it and the more fit you are, the longer you want to go. So I was actually just interviewing a bunch of Olympic athletes that are hopefuls for the Sochi Olympics and this cross-country skier was telling me you just need to go to the ‘pain cave.’ And I was like, ‘what’s the pain cave?’ It’s about this whole mental place you have to go. If you can get yourself 30 seconds, then that turns into another minute and then that’s three more minutes. So I think of this now and I go to the ‘pain cave’ and then when I’m running I’m like, ‘You can do it! Don’t stop!’”

What are some go-to healthy meals or snacks that you make for yourself and your kids?
“I’m not a cook; I’m not going to make that up. We’ve gotten really into seaweed and kale. That has become our replacement for chips. They actually like it and that’s awesome, and it’s actually easy for me to do. I just put raw kale on a baking sheet and throw some olive oil and some salt and pepper and put it in the oven and then it becomes crispy and they’ll eat it for days.”

What are some of your best beauty tricks that you picked up from being on television everyday?
“For starters, when it comes to hair, I think showing your face is always a really good thing to do. There was that period when it was really trendy to have your hair in a middle part and you’re all covered up. But I definitely don’t think that’s the way you want to go, especially when it comes to making a good first impression. I think people should show their face more. That helps. The other thing is, and it’s tricky these days with high-def television, but I think skin is really important. Of course they put a ton of makeup on me with being on TV and of course we all want to appear flawless with our foundation, but I think you want to look like you have skin.  You don’t want to look like you’re wearing a mask ever. The only other last trick, which applies to television and real life, and my obsession, is contouring. You don’t need the bone structure because it becomes your bone structure. I think it can make a night and day difference, but it’s about choosing the right product, whatever that is. Some makeup artists I work with use a dark stick foundation; I’m not as big a fan of that. I just like a dark bronzer, and the right brush, and just don’t overdue it because then you can look crazy leaving the house and that’s not the goal.”

15 Minutes With Celeb Chef + Clairol Natural Instincts Ambassador Giada De Laurentiis

June 25, 2012 at 11:13 am
By April Franzino

Our two favorite subjects— beauty and food!— collided when we sat down with celebrity chef and cookbook writer Giada De Laurentiis at a Manhattan hotel last week. Here’s what the new spokeswoman for Clairol Natural Instincts (and yes, she’s just as stunning, down-to-earth and sweet in person as she is on TV! Her shade? #12 Toasted Almond) had to say about…

Working with Clairol “Being a chef and a cook, a long time ago I was told that beauty deals don’t really come for people like myself. I always try to bring glamour and beauty and sensuality into the kitchen and into Italian food, so I thought it wouldn’t be that crazy of an idea, but it’s very competitive. I was so honored when they actually to a leap of faith and picked me. We have the same philosophy: I believe in a balanced lifestyle, and Natural Instincts makes you feel good about your hair. It makes it shiny, silky and smooth. And I’m a working mom, so I don’t have three hours to spend in a salon: This masks and blends in grays and brings out the golden hues in 10 to 15 minutes, which is what every woman wants.”
The best thing about boxed color “I had never used their boxed color before, and I fell madly in love with the included conditioner. That conditioner rocks. I use it once a week on the last two to three inches of my hair, where it gets dry because of all the blow-drying. It gives that extra bounce, as if I just got a trim.”
Her biggest hair color mishap  “I lived in Paris when I was younger at cooking school and I was inspired by the Parisian women who have jet black hair and white, white skin. So, I decided to dye my hair jet black—a big, fat mistake. And it took me a long time to get that color out.”
The product that never leaves her bag “CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara. I carry a little mascara, some sunscreen with a tint, a little bit of blush and just balm. I use that Rosebud Salve in Strawberry because my daughter is four and she’ll kiss my lips even more because she loves that flavor and it just smells good. That and I can just go with my regular life—to go to school, go to the grocery store, run errands, whatever.
The secret to her amazing hair “I get a blowout once a week and make it last the full week. I have curly, dry hair, and if I washed it more than that, it would break. And my blow-dry looks better as it sits— the second, third, fourth day. The dirtier it gets, the better! In the morning, I don’t brush my hair: I just flip it over, back up and go. I don’t pull out a curling iron or any of that—I don’t have the time nor the patience.
And skin (hint: It’s in your pantry) “I don’t go to bed with makeup on, and I exfoliate every single night with a mix of olive oil and baking soda. The olive oil gives moisture and baking soda takes out any other stuff on my skin. I don’t leave it on—I just scrub and rinse. It gives my face this wonderful glow, and I don’t have to wear as much makeup during the day.”
Five things always in her kitchen “Olive oil, different shapes of pasta made from different flours like brown rice, lentil, etc., jarred tomato sauce (disclosure: I sell my own pastas and tomato sauces at Target), frozen peas, jarred artichokes and frozen shrimp. You can whip up a meal with that.”
Advice for novice cooks “You don’t need to cook, you can just assemble. Let’s say you want to bring something to someone’s house: You can make a beautiful caprese salad that’s colorful, especially now in summertime. Take lots of different colored tomatoes, heirloom, vine-ripened, whatever, then slice with fresh mozzarella and layer with basil on a platter. Top it with a little extra virgin olive oil and some smoked salt, which enhances all of the flavors and tingles your tastebuds. And you’re done—you haven’t “cooked” a thing. Number two: Have a great knife. A sharp, really nice knife that feels good in your hand will help build your confidence in the kitchen.”
One food she’d never give up “Chocolate. When I was shooting Everyday Italian, I would keep paper cups of Ghirardelli chocolate chips in the freezer for a little chocolate fix in the afternoon. When they’re cold, they take longer to melt in your mouth, so a little bit goes a longer way. Right now, I love my iced Americanos with agave—that’s my treat.“
Her hubby’s favorite dish “Penne with spicy sausage, mushrooms and peas. It’s a sauce-less pasta: I sauté them all together with olive oil and Parmesan cheese. That’s it, my friends, that’s it! It can be very, very easy. Another one of my favorites is lemon spaghetti, which is just lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper, tossed with spaghetti. That’s a staple—you can add any protein to it.”
How she stays so slim “I eat a little bit of everything and not a lot of anything. I taste a lot, but I don’t really eat full plates of food, ever. I do yoga four days a week, usually at 5:30AM before work. And I paddle board with my husband. It’s great core exercise and very Zen because you get away from land for a bit, which is quiet and peaceful.”
Staying fresh-faced on the go “When I’m shooting, it gets hot. So I use Evian water mist on my face constantly to rehydrate, rather than sticking on more and more powder. My skin just soaks it up. And I always wear sunscreen—day or night, rain or shine. When I paddle surf, I wear a full wetsuit and a hat. I look like the biggest loser on the planet, but I don’t care. My husband’s always like, ‘I can’t see you! Where are you? Where’s your face?’”
Her guilty pleasure “Lately it’s been croutons. I love making them. I’m talking good ones with cheese and lots of olive oil. Earlier this year, I’d carry little baggies of croutons to snack on when I got sick of almonds!”
She doesn’t mind splurging on “Travel—we just went to Rome. But, I’m not going to lie, I love shoes and jewelry. But a splurge doesn’t necessarily have to have an expensive price tag. It’s just taking a little extra time and doing something that makes you feel good about yourself.”

Spot On

June 2, 2011 at 1:14 pm
By April Franzino

If anyone knows the truth about acne, it’s Katie Rodan, M.D., and Kathy Fields, M.D., the dermatologist founders of billion-dollar blemish brand Proactiv. To kick off June National Acne Awareness Month, we’re sharing some surprising acne facts from their book, The Doctors’ Secrets to a Lifetime of Clear Skin:

• Acne is the #1 skin disease in the world—in the U.S., 85 percent of people have it sometime in their lives.
• They might do a number on your waistline, but sweets like chocolate and soda, and greasy foods like French fries don’t cause acne.
• It may seem like the sun dries up your pimples, but sun exposure actually makes acne worse over time: Your skin sheds the UV-damaged cells, which clog pores and can trigger breakouts.
• The dark spots that appear on skin after a blemish are called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: Unlike acne scars, they’re not permanent but can take weeks to heal.
• Don’t spot treat: The red pimple that erupts on your skin is actually the last stage of a blemish’s life. Always treat your whole face to attack acne at every stage (even when it’s not yet visible).
• Keep products with the zit-fighting ingredient benzoyl peroxide away from clothes and fabrics; it’s oxidizing action will bleach them.
• Avoid facial scrubs with ground fruit or nut bits, like apricot pits or walnut, when trying to deep-clean skin: Their sharp edges can make micro-tears in your skin, causing further inflammation and irritation.
• Don’t wash your face more than twice a day: Stripping your skin of oil prompts your body to produce more, exacerbating acne and oiliness.