Moshida Man Gets a Haircut

The intrepid Moshida Man goes local in search of his forgotten pompadour.
Success occurs amongst Korean gibberish and a gut feeling.
Impressed with the level of ease by which he went about the
resurrection, a video was necessary for the studio audience.
Here, he gives his two cents on Paul Mitchell Tea Tree products,
offers a strong smirk in the direction of those dropping fifty on
their cuts, and confesses that he drank too much coffee. Enjoy!



Hair Cut 100 from Justin Stone on Vimeo.

Whitney Port Loves Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Oil and Healthy Hair Butter

The City's Whitney Port is a fan of Carol’s Daughter Tui Hair Oil ($9), infused with lavender, rose, marigold and larkspur flowers, and Healthy Hair Butter ($11), infused with seven essential oils. Whitney adores the sexy scent of Carol's Daughter products and loved the natural texture it gave her hair.

Keeping you in the loop, dolls! Want to know what faux lashes Olivia Palermo digs? Find out here.

Image credit: newtotv.com

Bobbi Brown at Saks Fifth Avenue

Bobbi Brown will be making an appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue NYC on Thursday, March 5 to sign copies of her newest book, Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual. This book is it and then some, girls. I've read it cover to cover. It features tips and step-by-step instructions on everything from finding your perfect foundation to achieving a great smoky eye. Also? Bobbi's beauty team will be offering complimentary makeup lessons all day. Get there.

When:

Thursday, March 5th

Bobbi Brown Book Signing

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Meet Bobbi’s Beauty Team

11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Where:

Saks Fifth Avenue NYC

12 East 49^th Street

New York, NY 10017

Call 212-940-2194 to make an appointment!

Flu Friend: The Body Shop's Pure Detox Rejuvenating Bath Soak

The Body Shop's Pure Detox Rejuvenating Bath Soak ($20) is exactly what you need when you're so flu ravaged, you can barely handle pressing the "buy" button on your remote to order The House Bunny on demand.

It smells herbal and eucalyptus-y, though it's packed with made-up-sounding ingredients like bladderwrack seaweed. Wasabi will open up your sinuses and bring you back into the land of the living.

This stuff brought the score to Flu 0, Amber 1.

The Best "Every Day" Sunblocks for Layering Over Moisturizer

Girls, in a perfect world, all of your fave moisturizers would come packed with their own SPF a million. I find that the best ones are often lacking sunscreen, so I've looked far and wide to find some that are light enough to layer well with my moisturizer so I don't FEEL like I'm wearing two lotions on top of one another. Which is, in essence, what I'm doing. But I don't want a gloppy mess of creams on my FACIAL, you know? You do. Here are my recs:

Elemis Liquid Layer Sunblock SPF 30 ($39) The fantastic Larissa at the Elemis counter at Bergdorf Goodman recommended this little gem for me to try and I'm so glad she did. It's extremely light and gentle on my skin. It contains antioxidants AND is waterproof. Make it part of your daily routine.


La Mer The SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid ($65) This one's a little pricier, but the formula is so to die, I couldn't not bring it up. It includes Hollow Photonic Spheres to scatter light, creating an aura of luminosity. This lotion is also designed with The Smart Seaweed Ferment which attracts moisture to the skin to create a protective, emollient barrier. Use it and send dehydration the way of our former thriving economy.





CHANEL UV Essentiel SPF 30+ ($48) This one combines plant- and mineral-based extracts to effectively shield your grill from aggro UVA/UVB rays. The formula boasts Licorice Extract, which fades current dark spots. Best of all? CHANEL has thought of everything: mattifying agents abound, making it perf as a summer makeup partner.

Philosophy's A Diet You Can Live With

Dolls, I have a serious case of the Februaries.

I loathe the month to begin with, but this year I thought I was home free when it was February 26th and I'd managed to make it through the month without getting my annual February Flu. Wrong. Thursday night I was hit with the most vile stomach flu. I won't get into too much detail. Suffice it to say that yesterday, I could only eat a piece of toast and a bite of matzoh ball soup (my flu panacea) and lost a cool three pounds. In a day. That's not a diet I (or anyone) can live with, but Philosophy's got you covered on one that EVERYONE can.

The gift set is called A Diet You Can Live With (natch). The set includes three bottles of their famous shower gels in Pink Frosted Layer Cake, Creme Brulee, and Classic Fudge Cake. For $30, you get 6 ounce bottles of each. A perfect gift with which to butter up your pal with the Hamptons house early, n'est-ce pas?

Here's to the last day of February!

Learn about Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE at Bloomingdales in NYC

On Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14, Elizabeth Arden is inviting customers to Bloomingdales on 59^th Street in New York to learn about the latest anti-aging news and breakthroughs with renowned Manhattan Cosmetic Surgeon Bryan G. Forley, MD., F.A.C.S., and experience Elizabeth Arden’s PREVAGE® Anti-aging skincare with Idebenone.

Since its launch in 2005, PREVAGE® has become a global bestseller. Its key ingredient Idebenone has been proven as the most powerful antioxidant for addressing the effects of oxidation on the skin, a leading cause of visible signs of aging. I am personally a MAGE fan of EA PREVAGE Eye Anti-Aging Moisturizing Treatment ($98).

Click here for more details about the event.

MD Skincare Deal

MD Skincare partnered with Daily Candy this week to offer y'all a phenom deal. Enter the promo code MDCANDY09 when you shop on mdskincare.com and you get 20% off your order and a FREE Detox Duo set (retail value $55)! The code is valid through March 24.

Enjoy!

Kiehl's "Close Shaverettes" Contest

Kiehl's has partnered with a gal with very specific shaving needs. Svetlana Pankratova holds the world record for Woman with the Longest Legs. With 4 feet, 4 inch legs, Svetlana needs to take extra care when shaving, and she’s chosen Kiehl’s “Close Shaverettes” Simply Mahvelous Legs Shave Cream to smooth and nourish every inch of her legs. But imagine how long shaving takes with legs like that! No seriously. Kiehl's wants you guys to guess.

Through March 15, customers in free-standing Kiehl's stores and on Kiehls.com can guess exactly how long it takes Svetlana to shave her legs, down to the second. There will be one winner per store, and one winner from Kiehls.com. The customers who come closest to the exact answer, above or below, will win a full year of “Close Shaverettes” Simply Mahvelous Legs Shave Cream, and can nourish their legs with the soothing combination of Allantoin, Chamomile and Sesame Seed Oil.

No purchase is necessary; entries will be collected March 15 on Kiehls.com, and at Kiehl’s free-standing stores.

Click here to make your guess!

ParapherNAILia: Meet Ms. Manicure and Ms. Pedicure

In 2009, I'm all about the poor girl's spa day. The phrase was coined by my roommate and it entails a DIY mani/pedi, a deep conditioning treatment administered by YOU, a trip to the sauna at your gym, and a super thrifty massage at your neighborhood nail salon. To make your DIY mani/pedi more luxurious (and more professional), I suggest enlisting the help of my two new friends, Ms. Manicure and Ms. Pedicure.

New for Spring 2009, Ms. Manicure's Handy Dandy Mani includes all you need for a DIY mani on the cheap. It's even great if you haven't fully weaned yourself off of salon manis and want to tote your own nail paraphernailia so you don't have to use the manicurist's skeevy tools. For $10, you get:

-cuticle nippers
-nail clippers
-nail scissors
-wood cuticle sticks
-nail brush
-washable salon board
-4-way nail buffer
-slant-tip tweezers

An excellent value, all packaged in storable, delightfully girly pink bag.



The Ms. Pedicure Foot Spahh Set ($13) houses :
-Smooth Talker, a tool to stop calluses before they even start.
-Heeling Fine, an intensive cream that smoothes and softens heels.
-Smoothy Groovy, a foot brush and pumice stone combo
-Rock n' Sole, a pumice stone

This set is also new for Spring 2009.

Tell me: In what ways have you cut back? Tell me your most creative poor girl spa suggestions in the comments.

"Arch Madness" at Bliss!

Friday, March 13, the first 25 people at Bliss Spas will get a free brow wax! You can get $10 off brow waxes the following week. Call 877 TO BLISS to book an appointment. Enjoy!

Check out My "What's on Your Nails" Feature at All Lacquered Up!

Girls, the fabulous Michelle at All Lacquered Up recently interviewed me about my favorite nail products. Michelle is THE resource for all things talon-related. Marina even refers to her as "Michelle Nail Polish." If you're not reading her blog, I seriously don't know what you're DOING all the time.

Find out about my nail pet peeve and my polish of the moment. Click here to read the interview.

BBJ Interviews Bruce Grayson, Head Makeup Artist for the Oscars!

Gals, I recently chatted with the personable Bruce Grayson once again about all things Oscar beauty. To read my pre-Primetime Emmys interview with him, click here. And don't forget to check out the end of the post and enter to win a gift basket of Bruce's favorite products!

As Olay Celebrity Makeup Artist AND Head of the Oscars Makeup Department, Bruce's responsibilities are vast. They range from creating a look for the dancers' segments of the show, managing a staff of 22 makeup artists, and the looks for all the presenters. Bruce was even involved with the beard Ben Stiller rocked when he presented with Natalie Portman. Here's what Bruce had to say.

Beauty Blogging Junkie: What do you recommend makeup-wise to look good on TV--even in HD?
Bruce Grayson: Let your skin do the work. You want it to look glowing and healthy. To achieve this, I recommend using a good concealer to cover any redness or spots, but using a tinted moisturizer overall so that skin can shine through. Olay Definity Color Recapture ($21) is excellent for HD. I always marvel that luminizers and highlighters are so popular because all they do is mimic great skin! If your skin looks good, there's no need for anything else. Also, any hard lines will look harsh on-screen, so I recommend blending eye makeup more than usual.

BBJ: What are three must-haves for looking red carpet-ready?
BG: Great skin, a translucent blush [Bruce likes tarte Cheek Stains] and playing up one focal point--either eyes, lips, skin or brows.

BBJ: How do stars prepare pre-Oscar night?
BG: They do a sort of beauty boot camp. The regime includes a skin care plan three weeks out (sometimes even six weeks out, if they're really serious). You don't want to wait until the last second when there are a lot of things that can be done in advance. It's almost like a wedding. Stars see their facialist in advance, etc. Having a game plan is also key. Stars usually coordinate your makeup with their dresses a few days prior. Avoiding salt and drinking water will help stars look their best as well.

BBJ: What are your tips for applying faux lashes?
BG: I think they sort of get lost on a dark smoky eye. Lots of mascara works better in that situation. To get the most out of faux lashes, I'd cut a strip in half and apply them when you're wearing a lighter shadow.

BBJ: Whose looks were you most into on the red carpet on Sunday night?
BG: I thought Jennifer Aniston looked fanastic - she was glowing. Kate Winslet's look was elegant simplicity, which is always the goal at the Oscars. Penelope Cruz was so impressive close up that my hands actually shook when I did her touch-up! I thought Tina Fey took it to a another level of glamour. So did Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson. Lastly, I thought Reese Witherspoon's flat lid color was stunning. There was no shimmer, just definition.

BBJ: What products are the absolute staples of your makeup bag?
BG: Elizabeth Arden makes a fantastic eye blue/black eye pencil called Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Midnight ($16). MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder ($15) on the inner rim always looks great. Dior Shadows are so blendable and easy to apply. I always have a bunch of "in between" lip gloss shades--beige-pinks and peach-pinks are always necessary. I've been using Lancome Maquiriche La Duette Duo Eye Shadow in Soiree Noel ($10) a lot lately. Rosebud Salve ($6) is also a staple. I use it on men and women!

Guess what? I've partnered with Olay to offer you guys a chance to win a basket of Bruce's favorite products! The entire Olay Definity product line, Pantene, Crest and other favorites of Bruce will be included. The basket is valued at $100. You have until Friday, March 7 at 5pm to enter. Good luck!


Thanks to Bruce for his insight!

Last Empty Tossed: CHANEL Rinse-Off Foaming Mousse Cleanser

Hey, dolls! My posts may be a bit fewer and farther between of late. I just got confirmation that my roommate is moving out so I've been spending my blogging time looking for and at studio apartments for a really cool (read: really SOON) April 1 move-in. I've decided the roommate portion of my life is officially over. I've lived with eleven other people throughout my lifestyle (that doesn't include my family members), and I've decided to say "when." Craigslist surfing offers much in the way of comic relief, but little when it comes to actually finding a place to live. I.e., a posting today referred to Roosevelt Island as MIDTOWN. Okay?

I'm most looking forward to hanging my own GD art and not having to confine my non-bathroom essential products to my bedroom. I can't even imagine a world where I can apply MAKEUP in a BATHROOM. Or wherever. Naturally, I'm not looking forward to packing up everything I own including my massive beauty collection for the second time in a year. But I am congratulating myself on finishing an entire container of CHANEL Rinse-Off Foaming Mousse Cleanser ($45). It's been a long time since I've finished a skin care item (it seems my product promiscuity is at its peak when it comes to skin care), but this cleanser is SUCH a gem. It leaves no residue, no dry tightness, rinses clean and lathers like a dream. At my recent facial at the Elemis Spa Pod at Bergdorf Goodman, aesthetician Larissa even pointed out that my facial cleanser (CHANEL, natch) is perfect for my skin during my Facial Mapping Analysis (aka a Visia Skin Analysis). It maps out various elements of your skin through a special camera/computer combo.

If that doesn't warrant a rebuy, I don't know what does.

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Jessica Biel

Celebrity makeup artist Pati Dubroff created a "soft and romantic" look for
presenter Jessica Biel. "Jessica wore a very structured white gown with a '40s vibe so I wanted the makeup to not be hard or structured," said Dubroff.

Eyes: were super soft--no liner at all and only one coat of mascara.
Benefit Creaseless Shadow in Gossip, Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Petal Shine
#809
Lips: Dior Addict Lipcolor in Infamous Pink #623
Cheeks: Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Moist Glow in Nuelle.
Skin: The skin on face and body is glowing with the help of Sensai
Brightening Creme

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Amanda Seyfried

Celebrity makeup artist Monika Blunder created a "classic Hollywood glamour" look for Mamma Mia actress Amanda Seyfried. "This is not the
time to experiment or create trends, it's the time to enhance natural
beauty," says Blunder. "Amanda is part of Hollywood's elite youth, so we
wanted to make her natural, fresh, and modern."

Skin: Prep with Dior Capture Totale and Hydraction eye cream, DiorSkin Nude
liquid foundation in #021, Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen in #001,
Dior Pressed Powder 002
Eyes: Dior Crayon Eyeliner in Deep Brown, Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow #705
Beige Massai, DiorShow Mascara in Black, Dior Show Brow in Transparent
Blush: DiorBlush #553
Lips: Dior Lip Pencil in Glossy Brown and Rouge Dior Lipstick in Chestnut
Actress #632

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Alicia Keys

For Alicia Keys, celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff was inspired by
Veronica Lake, Lena Horne and "the women in Hollywood in the '40s and
'50s." Alicia's was one of my fave beauty looks of the night. Here's what Ashunta used:

Eyes: Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow in Tropical Mist, Dior Crayon Eyeliner in
Trinidad Black, Dior Brow Pencil and DiorShow Brow in Shiny Blonde
Lips: Mary Kay lip pencil in Raspberry and Mary Kay Fleur De Polynesie
lipstick which is a gorgeous pink.
Cheeks: DiorBlish in Fruit de Mar
Skin: Skin was refreshed with Dior Refreshing
Cleansing Water. It also locks makeup in and makes it last.

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Freida Pinto

For Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, celebrity makeup artist
Jeffrey Paul incorporated the colors of a "morning sunrise." "Tonight's
look was about elegance," says Paul. "It's about the youthful radiance of a
young woman."

Eyes: Dior 1-Colour Eyeshadow in Blooming Pink, Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in
Beige Messai (soft brown shade), Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Night Dust
(deep brown shade) and DiorShow Mascara in Brown
Lips: Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick in Sheer Rose
Skin: DiorSkin Nude Powder in Deep
Cheeks: Dior Amber Diamond

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Natalie Portman

For Natalie Portman, Kevin Mancuso, Creative Director for Nexxus Salon Hair Care, created her modern and romantic updo. With a sweeping side part and soft curl pinned into a beautiful knot at the nape of her neck, the look was deceptively easy to create. Here's how you can do it at home.

Step 1

· Apply a volumizing styler to the roots, like Nexxus Root Exxtend, to add body into the hair.

· Distribute a medium-hold mousse, such as Nexxus Mousse Plus, throughout hair to and maintain and support the structure of the style. More modern updos employ product instead of teasing to build body, for a softer, healthier look.

· Blow dry hair with a large round brush, concentrating on the ends to smooth the hair.

Step 2

· After drying, use a medium sized curling iron throughout the hair to create uneven waves and set the shape around the face.

· Once curled, create side part and pull hair back and away from the face.

· Then, take various sized sections of the curled hair and twist and pin back to create the updo.

· Insert an elegant, decorative pin above the updo to draw attention to the intricate details of the style.

Step 3

· Finish with a light-weight hairspray, like Nexxus Comb Thru, to help secure the style throughout the evening.

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Amy Adams

Makeup artist Molly Stern created Amy Adams' look, inspired by a cross between Talouse Latrec's dancing girls and the watercolor feeling of a Gustav Klimt painting. Here's the how-to:

Molly started by prepping her face with Jurlique Citrus Spray to give the face a healthy lift then she gave Amy a light facial massage with La Mer’s The Moisturizing Lotion.

Next she based her face with YSL Perfect Touch #2. Then, Molly blushed her cheeks with Chantecaille Aqua Blush in Frivolous as a peachy base with Chantecaille Sesame peach eyeshadow over top.

Her eyes were based with NARS cream eyeshadow in Maracaibo. Over that, Molly blended Shu Uemura shadow in Gray 960 mixed with Shu Uemura shadow in Purple 700 all over the lid up into the crease. With a flat shadow brush she added a touch of NARS shadow in Ondine on the inside corner of her lid. Then she lined the top and underneath of her eye with Trish McEvoy's Arabian nights definer. To soften the line underneath Molly added a soft smudge of Suqqu lavender shadow in #27. On her lashes Molly applied a soft coat of CoverGirl's exacts eyelights in Black Ruby.

Molly based Amy's lips with La Mer The Lip Balm then applied a thin coat of Outlast Lipstain by CoverGirl in 410. Then a sheer layer of Shu Uemura wine lip color in 265 with a dot of CoverGirl's Plum Crazy Wetslicks at the center of her lip for a little extra pout. Amy took that along in her bag for touch ups.

New From Benefit: Hello Flawless!

I know it's rare that I recommend a powder to you gals, but this one is special. Hello Flawless! ($34) is a powder cover-up (so it does much more than just mask shine) with SPF 15. How's that for multitasking? It glides on super easily and is perfect for camouflaging blemishes. I like to mix it with a bit of Benefit Erase Paste for spackle-like consistency that doesn't look too thick or fake. My color is a most apropos Me, Vain? Champagne, but it comes in six shades. You're bound to find the one that suits your needs best.

Buy it at Benefitcosmetics.com.

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie looked stunning in a black strapless Elie Saab gown paired with emerald jewels that I actually can't live without. Celebrity makeup artist Mary Burton created Angelina’s gorge makeup look. Mary applied Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony to the upper and lower lash lines. She emphasized the shape of Angelina’s eyes by applying more liner to the outer corners of the eye. Several coats of Ôscillation Mascara were applied to the upper lashes for added volume and length. Mary put a touch of pink to the cheeks using Shu Uemura Blush in M Pink 31 and applied it to her cheekbones near the temple. To create ultra-shiny and luminous lips, Mary used Juicy Tubes in Spring Fling. Gorge!

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway rocked the red carpet in a sparkling jewel encrusted Armani Privé gown. Her makeup look was sophisticated and elegant. Anne’s perfect brows framed her face and her long, lush lashes really made her eyes pop. She donned a deep berry-toned lip to complete her look. To get Anne’s look, try Lancôme Le Crayon Poudre in Sable to fill in and shape the brows. Lightly dust Lancôme Color Design Eye Shadow in Ciel du Soir over the entire eyelid followed by Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony applied to the upper lash line. Lightly smudge so there are no harsh lines. Apply several coats of Lancôme Ôscillation Mascara for a faux-lash effect. For just a hint of color, dust Lancôme Blush Subtil in Sheer Amourose on the apples of the cheeks. To create her berry stained pout, apply Lancôme Color Fever Lipstick in Brickhouse.

I firmly believe Anne broker her personal beauty record tonight!

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet looked beautiful in a multi-toned one shoulder YSL dress. Celebrity makeup artist Jillian Dempsey wanted to create a classic, natural look. First, she prepped Kate’s skin with Lancôme La Base Pro primer to create a smooth canvas for a polished complexion. She lightly brushed Lancôme Brow Expert in Naturel on the brows to play up their natural shape. Jillian Dempsey for Avon Pro Eyeshadow Trio in Ice Shimmer was applied to the eyes and the lashes were coated with Jillian Dempsey for Avon Pro Mascara in Black. To create a sheer, neutral colored lip, Lancôme Color Fever Lipstick in Old Flame was applied for a soft, matte finish. Her makeup looks PHENOM!

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Heidi Klum

Celebrity make-up artist Linda Hay creates a fresh, modern look for Heidi Klum. The inspiration behind the look began with her red Roland Mouret gown that she wore to raise awareness for Diet Coke's Heart Truth Campaign. The graphic silhouette and bold red color of the dress required a softer, natural face to compliment the design rather than compete with it.

Linda wanted to bring out on Heidi’s dramatic eyes and also incorporate the powder pink color of the coral and diamond Lorraine Schwartz jewelry on the lips and cheeks. Linda sought to create a look that was light and dewy while still modern and sexy.

EYES

Linda began by lining the top and bottom lashes with Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy Eyeliner in Dark Chocolate and highlighting the inside triangle of the eye with a shimmering nude eye shadow in Champagne. She then used the Victoria Secret Spring Look Eye Shadow Quad to highlight the eyes and make them pop. Using a large shadow brush, Hay applied Rich to the crease, Devoted to the eyelid and Champagne again as a highlighter under the brow and the inside corner of the eye. Using a smaller point shadow brush she blended a soft line under the eye from the outside corner to the tear duct. To finish, Linda applied three coats of Victoria’s Secret High Definition Mascara in Blackest Black.

CHEEKS

On the cheeks, Linda used the new Victoria’s Secret Highlighter/Blush Duo in Fresh to the apple of the cheek to create the allusion of more defined bone structure.

LIPS

Linda lined the lips with the Perfect Lipstick in Whisper followed by Victoria’s Secret Lip Gloss in Blush for subtle pink finish.

Oscars 2009 Beauty: Kate Winslet, Marisa Tomei, and Jessica Biel

Frederic Fekkai’s Renato Campora tended to the tresses of Best Actress Nominee, Kate Winslet

The inspiration was a modern day Grace Kelly look that compliments her silhouette. A wavy texture with a dynamic shape. Start by applying FEKKAI MORE ALL DAY DENSITY STYLING WHIP on wet hair. Blow-dry smooth with the FEKKAI EXTRA LARGE ROUND BRUSH to create some volume. Then use a one inch curling iron and let it set for 20 minutes. Brush it through and use the FEKKAI COIFF MAGNIFIQUE ULTRA LIGHT FINISHING CRÈME at the ends to help roll hair under. Finish with FEKKAI SHEER HOLD HAIRSPRAY.

Fekkai More All Day Density Styling Whip ($25), Fekkai Extra Large Round Brush ($65), Fekkai Coiff Magnifique Ultra Light Finishing Crème ($23), Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray ($23)

Frederic Fekkai's Adir Abergel styled Best Supporting Actress, Marisa Tomei’s locks

The inspiration was cascades of soft movement mirroring the twists and turns of the dress. Start by applying FEKKAI MORE ALL DAY DENSITY STYLING WHIP to roots and FEKKAI COIFF PERFECTOR ANTI-FRIZZ SILKENING CRÈME from roots to ends. Blow dry hair with a round brush and pin it in place as it cools down. Next, take the hair and pin it loosely with hair clips in desired twist and turns. Make sure that the bangs are on an angle and look soft with some loose hair falling naturally. Using hair pins and bobby pins place them to hold the shape and remove the hairclips.
Finish with FEKKAI SHEER HOLD HAIRSPRAY.

Fekkai More All Day Density Styling Mousse ($25), Fekkai Coiff Perfector Anti-Frizz Silkening Crème ($25), Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray ($23)

Frederic Fekkai's Adir Abergel styled presenter, Jessica Biel’s locks

The inspiration was a very romantic almost victorian look, sexy and feminine. Start out by applying FEKKAI COIFF BOUFFANT LIFTING & TEXTURIZING SPRAY GEL at the roots combined with some FEKKAI ALL DAY HAIR PLUMP on ends. After applying the products take the blow drier and hand dry the hair completely getting all of the natural texture to come out. Follow this by taking a 1" curling iron and curling random pieces. Once finished, pull up half of the hair allowing a few pieces to fall down and frame the face. Braid two small braids on either side of the temples and pull them back.
To finish the look spray hair with FEKKAI GLOSSING SHEER MISTand FEKKAI SHEER HOLD HAIRSPRAY.

Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel ($23), All Day Hair Plump ($95), Glossing Sheer Shine Mist ($23), Sheer Hold Hairspray ($23)

Oscars 2009 Beauty and Fashion: Liveblogging!

Okay, the first problem is at is that I thought the red carpet segment started at 8, not 6. Epic OOPS.

I'll try to catch up, I promise.

Amy Adams looks STUNNING. I plan to rock red with a multi-colored epic necklace immediately. WHAT lipstick is she wearing. It's plum plum.

Heidi Klum's hair isn't doing it for me and it SO usually does. Her dress is pretty. Her shoulders are even shinier than Kim Cattrall's.

Phoebe Cates is also rocking red. Clearly, red is the color of the night.

I want to WEAR that black Marchesa dress with flair that Vanessa Hudgens is rocking. It's so very Baudelaire's Flowers of Evil. In a good way. If you know what I mean and I think you do.

Anthony Hopkins cleans up well.

Emile Hirsch is looking pretty spicy.

I think I missed Robert Pattinson on the red carpet and it's making me want to cry a little bit.

Freida Pinto is officially the most gorge girl in the world. But she could have done better than that dress. It's Ish Don't Think So Mermaidy.

I'm into Virginia Madsen's structured red dress. She could use more dramatic eye makeups.

Taraji P. Henson looks great. Her smoky eye is flawless and she has some of the best brows I've seen. Um, she just showed AMERICA her Spanx.

John Legend's date needs to lock it up with that cleave. It's the Oscars, doll.

Angelina's hair looks AMAZING. AMAZING. I've never seen it look better. She's wearing a black dress per ush. But those earrings are fantastic. I must get some knockoffs. The brand is Lorraine Schwartz, I just found out.

Diane Lane has looked better. But her highlights haven't. They're TO DIE.

Once again, Amanda Seyfried rocks an awesome lip color. She is ALSO wearing red. But damn is that an aggressive bow.

SJP looks super pretts. That color is the color her hair is SUPPOSED to be. I love her "barely mint" dress.

Anne Hathaway has set a personal beauty record.

Okay, Robert Pattinson has DEFINITELY looked better. I'm not into his Oscar scruff. I'm so disappointed.

Natalie Portman's dress is so Pepto in a GOOD way.

One shoulder is so over, it needs a new word for over. EVERYONE is rocking it. I just think most people look better in a more symmetrical cut.

I love that the Oscars is the one time when PricewaterhouseCoopers is remotely exciting. I should know. I used to work there.

I'm into Meryl's taupey grey dress.

My roommate threw Tilda a "feh" again. I appreciate that she's wearing some makeup (for the LOVE!) but why is she wearing a sack?

Is Angelica Houston still relevant? I hate what she's wearing.

Goldie Hawn is channeling the trashy character she played in The Banger Sisters. There's a woman in desperate need of a good bra. Feh.

Wow. Jennifer Aniston isn't boring me to death tonight! I adore her "The City" frontal fishtail. I need to practice doing one tonight. Do they HAVE to pan to Angelina and Brad whilst she's talking? For the love. That is SO rude.

You know Amanda Seyfried is DYING that she's next to RPatz. You know it.

Jessica Biel's dress. Worst dress of the Oscars. What was her stylist thinking? Erika thinks she's preg. I agree.

Check out my Oscar liveblogging from 2008 and 2007.

Foot Petals = Foot SAVIOR

Fashion Week is my fave time of year, but it wreaks unbelievable havoc on my tootsies. My friends know this about me: I LOVE to sit. And I hate to stand. I love to walk. But I hate to be stationary, standing up at a party. I knew my FW sched was going to include a lot of lines, parties, and long hours on my feet. This time, I came prepared by reinforcing all of my shoes I wore with Foot Petals. They're PHENOM. The brand offers a wide range of solutions to your stiletto situations, but my favorites are their Amazing Arches (2 pairs for $13, for arch support) and Heavenly Heelz ($5, for pinchy heel collars). Their Stiletto Survival Kit is $50 and contains all you need to end foot pain situations.

You'll have to come up with another reason to stop talking to that loser at the bar.

#NYFW

Handbag Heaven: 25% Off at Lodis

Lodis, in case you don't know about it, is my new fave handbag brand. I fell madly in lurve with it after purchasing one of the brand's wallets a few months ago and checked out the rest of the gems Lodis has to offer on their website.

Mine is the Krush Lola Tote in Apricot (shown at left in lemon) ($450). It has so many pockets for storing my beauty stash on the go and the leather is truly delectable. Plus, it's big enough to carry all of my essentials. In New York, you need an enormous purse as your purse is like your car.



This is a kind of hilarious picture. I'm carrying my enormous, gorgeous new Lodis bag talking to Casey from last season's Make Me A Supermodel at a party thrown by VOGUE and BMW last week.


Just for BBJ readers, Lodis has provided a discount code for 25% off a purchase at Lodis.com with the discount code LodisJunkie from now until March 15. Enjoy!

P.S. I'm liveblogging the Oscars Red Carpet (as is my tradition!) tonight so come visit!

September Fashion Week Video

Last Fashion Week, Daneen, Marina and I hit up a local bar in the West Village after getting unceremoniously kicked out of Socialista when Nicole Miller decided she needed the entire place for her afterparty. Daneen decided to film this little gem whilst we got our drink on. Enjoy!

Moshida Man Says: Gentlemen, Remove your Hats.

It may come as a surprise to some women, but men do take their hair seriously. At the risk during some point in our brief turn as desirable mates of losing our locks to our genes’ predisposition, the hair on our heads becomes a matter of fact, a barometer of our masculinity. Beyond our waistlines, crow’s feet, and accumulating body hair, the demise of our scalp’s foliage is by no means a laughing matter. Medicine states that 50% of men will suffer from pattern baldness during their lifetime, some as early as age twenty. An industry has grown upon great sums to prevent the loss of our head’s hair, mostly to the lengths of fraud. It is the opinion of those in the house of Moshida that men should take the old phrase “smoke ‘em if you got ‘em” and turn it towards their head. Put down the clippers in your bathroom and head down the street to a place where hair isn’t considered something you put under a hat.

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Two and a half years running, I’ve visited a small, local salon around the corner from my apartment in Korea. My Korean language skills are top-notch first grade, and likewise, the ladies in the salon do not speak a lick of English. This would constitute fear in the hearts of most women, for communicating with the person who’s going to change your image is something of sanctity. Men, well, we mostly don’t give a shit. Find me a man who can tell the difference between scissors and shears and I’ll give you a cookie. You can sit in the local barbershop all day and not hear one iota of conversation that leans towards the specifics of hair styling and maintenance. We’ve had bigger fish to fry, I guess.

I’m not on the median when it comes to hair styling. For many years now I’ve sported what many consider to be a remnant of the days when a hot-rod or GTO wasn’t the name of a software application or party drug. Granted the greasers remain in their cadres throughout the western world, but my hairstyle represents a singular act of identity – it works, it’s interesting. I carry sideburns to a point. I visit the salon every two weeks or so to get things adjusted. Here, in Korea, this costs me around nine dollars. Cheap. The women who so gracefully undertake the trimming are brave souls and patient saints. It could be that their lack of clientele asking for this sort of styling leaves them to offer their ignorance as some sort of benefit, meaning, bliss.

As I mentioned, I’ve taken my styling to the same place since arriving on the peninsula in 2006. I cycled through four different stylists and finally trained, yes, trained the owner to cut my hair. A little patience and simple instruction goes a long way. Only recently did I take a colleague’s advice and visit an English speaking Korean stylist at a salon in Seoul. The price tripled, naturally, and the judgment came down. My very particular pompadour was labeled strange and unusual. Here come the tears.

I am no stranger to dropping fifty on a cut, having taken my twenties on Newbury Street in Boston, the seat of the city’s salon culture. I was also just as comfortable in the barbershop chair flanked by local police, including my brother, a firm believer in the “high and tight” school of clipper culture. I’ve had straight razors taken to my sideburns and neck by old Italians, and had one stylist tell me that using clippers on hair is considered “cheating”. I sought a balance between the forces. Who knew that a forty-something woman in a semi-caftan with bad makeup, God bless her, could rock such a complicated styling job?

Three months ago I got tired of spending my mornings propping my hair up like a drunk buddy early Sunday morning. To make matters worse, I’ve not purchased a hair dryer since moving here, complicating the necessary pompadour maneuvers further. Towel drying is for the birds; buy a dryer. I took a trip to Seoul with two female colleagues as my peanut gallery with the intention of going Samson and Delilah on my coif. An hour later, there I was, eight ball headed, like a freshman crew candidate in college. Gone was the pompadour, and what was left was just the foundation, a grave.

I spent the next few months toying with something more mod, think Meet the Beatles or Paul Weller in some circumstances. I don’t have the melon for a mop, or so I discovered after weeks of back and forth with some Aveda product. Too many ingrained waves in the front and likewise around the ears. I was patient, visiting the Seoul salon a few more times, making friends, referring people. It’s a great joint, and the fact that the stylist speaks English is a comfort to many. However, my head demands a certain style. Its shape is that of the cartoon Bruce Wayne from Batman: The Animated Series, rectangular. No matter how much effort I put into keeping the Seoul styling, the mop look didn’t fit, and I was paying for it. I missed the trappings of my salon kitsch, replete with its Korean pop radio and local candor.

As this weekend approached I debated making another appointment in Seoul, going back to see if maybe she’d give the pompadour a go. Saturday morning came and I was running late, Seoul’s almost an hour away. I caved and walked back down the street to the local joint. I had also just seen one of the stylists on the street a few nights previous, telling her in Korean that I’d been in America all this time; some guilt lingered that I hadn’t been back in months. Putting what was a mop into my best pomp I headed out ready for that hum of the clipper, a tool not dutifully used in the Seoul salon, much to my chagrin.

The women at the local joint and the women in Seoul are two different species. Asia has a heavy hand with its welcoming hospitality and takes no time telling you sit down. Although both salons offered the same welcome, I love the local ladies’ touch when I enter, a bell rings, everyone bows and says hello. I ask for a shampoo first, and I get one. They use Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Shampoo and Lemon Sage Conditioner, two products I love. Their head massages have varied through the passing of different stylists, but I’m getting what I pay for.

I don’t explain. She says something to me in Korean and I know that she knows that I know. Strange, how that works. I believe that my insistence on showing them exactly what I wanted from the beginning made all the difference. Most men just jump in, mumble “a trim”, and open the paper. You can’t do that in my world. Being specific is important – why shouldn’t it be? You like your steak cooked a certain way, correct? I watch carefully just to make sure that she’s getting the moves right. It’s a simple cut up to the temples, just having at it with some steady clipper work, but the top takes care, as it transitions into something altogether different than the lower hemisphere.

The feeling is wonderful, seeing the months of growth fall onto the cape and floor. I miss the buzz of the clippers at the back of my head. Yes, I’m just that sentimental. The radio is still terrible, belting some awful pop pulled straight from the cotton candy stand at a carnival. She remembers the comb that works the sideburns close – I don’t feel as if there’s any performance going on. This is work, it feels like work, and I gather that my preference is such. I sigh, occasionally, glad that I shaved before coming. Call me crazy, but when I saw Elvis get his Army haircut I thought, “not bad”. A second shampoo follows, and I call for some weight to be taken off of one of the high sides. It’s good to trust your stylist, but you’ve got to do the diligence in the mirror – returning to the salon the next day to get something changed is an embarrassment.

Following a second shampoo, I’m allowed to dry my own hair, something my mother also does. I don’t know, maybe it’s genetic. The local salon women rather have me do it the way I want to. They also like to watch, for there can’t be a Korean man in a kilometer who dries and styles his own hair. Although the rate of perms I see for men is disturbing. The hair goes up with some Wax Works by Paul Mitchell, a touch of spray to keep the points, and someone applauds – this happened the first time as well. Not a bad feeling, and totally odd as well. Two Korean boys looking at a pop fashion mag to my right laugh as I stand up. I tell them in Korean that I look like a rooster, but I say chicken because I don’t know the word for rooster. I get laughs. Things smell good around me. I purchase a bottle of the same shampoo and conditioner and head back into the street. The air is cool but not enough to warrant the hat I brought with me. I don’t think of going back to Seoul, I think about going home and making lunch.

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The message here, gentlemen: Pay for what works if you feel good. Stick with it. Take a chance here and there. Don’t pay to play with the ladies. Women won’t flock to your paunchy salon stories in sympathy; they care about how you wear it.

MM

ClarinsMen at the Hisham Oumlil Fall 2009 Show

Celebrity artist D’angelo Thompson (pictured above with model) used ClarinsMen products at the Hisham Oumlil 2009 Fall Fashion show on February 18^th at the Audi Showroom to create a clean, flawless and matte face.

D'angleo used ClarinsMen Lip Guard, ClarinsMen Shine-Free Gel and ClarinsMen Moisture Gel to provide a fresh, natural and modernized look that complimented Hisham’s fall collection of utilitarian tweed overcoats and authoritarian suites, inspired by Daniel Plainview, protagonist of the film There will Be Blood.

To obtain the look, D’angelo Thompson applied ClarinsMen Moisture Gel on clean and perfectly scrubbed skin. ClarinsMen Lip Guard was used to condition and revitalize lips. For the final touch, D'angelo used ClarinsMen Shine Free Gel to refresh and mattify the skin. Clarins matte Bronzing Duo was applied as needed to warm up the face.

Looking good, boys!

Fashion Week: Vivienne Tam Recognizes the Importance of Bloggers!

Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the Vivienne Tam Fall 2009 presentation on Wednesday night, but I just got the deets and obv, need to share them.

Based on the concept of “nothingness”, a space in which anything can happen, Vivienne Tam’s Fall 2009 collection spotlighted rich jewel tones (think the designer’s signature red, deep purple and teal) and neutrals, along with a keen mixing of textures and layering of fabrics. The Chinese character for “nothingness” - “wu” - was a theme featured in several collection pieces and when repeated as a sound, it becomes an effective mantra.

Tam again collaborated with HP, this season incorporating a live blogging station that featured their innovative new TouchSmarts. Leading bloggers and online media were invited to instantly share their opinions and experiences via the stations. Tam is the first designer to extend a hand to online media in this way. In doing so, she demonstrated a fundamental understanding in the role online media plays in the changing landscape of fashion.We bloggers salute you, Vivienne!

The hairstyles for the show were created by lead stylist Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso. He offered a fresh take on the classic French Twist. With an unstructured crown and a sleek upsweep, the look was both modern and elegant.

How to get the look

Step 1:
Distribute a medium-hold mousse, such as Nexxus Mousse Plus, throughout hair to add body and maintain/support the structure of the style.
Separate the front section of hair and leave aside.

Step 2:
Sweep loose hair to one side and secure in place with bobby pins. Spray hair with a lightweight hairspray, like Nexxus Comb Thru, for hold with movement.
Twist the hair back over the bobby pins and tuck in, creating the twist.
Secure twist with bobby pins. Spray again with Nexxus Comb Thru to secure the style.

Step 3:
Take front part of hair and blow dry with a medium-sized round brush for added body.
Pull hair back and secure into the top of the twist with bobby pins. This will help add volume to front.

Step 4:
Finish look with a strong-hold hairspray, like Nexxus Maxximum, to keep style looking runway-ready all day long.

Click to see my coverage backstage at Vivienne Tam's Fall 2008 collection and her Spring 2009 collection.