Ouch Winter skin

I live in Southern California and we have been unusually cold with 40 mph gusts from the Santa Anas all of which means my skin is dry itchy and flaky!!!Not a good look. My first thought was ex foliate the heck out of myself but that is just about the worst thing you could do because it just further  irritates already irritated skin. During the Winter it is important to change your beauty routine, switch to Dermatologist recommended  cleanser for sensitive skin  like Cetaphil  which has no perfumes or dyes in it. Also you will probably need to apply moisturizer more often through out the day. I mix my moisturizer  in with my foundation it just makes it go on more smoothly. If you can live without powder do it! Powder sits on dry skin making it look really lifeless. If you can not live without powder try a cream powder foundation like 29 vintage brand it has cream in it , Your skin will glow.

perfect fabric for the holiday season

Between Thanks Giving ,Holiday parties , and New Years we are officially in the party season. Figuring out what to wear can be a real pain, unlike Spring or Summer Sun dresses and Camis are not a go to option, give velvet a try. Velvet is usually inexpensive but looks rich you can wear velvet in a variety of ways,jackets, dresses, pants.Velvet is hands down one of the sexiest fabrics because it feels so lush.
Black velvet is very dramatic so make sure you go minimal on the jewelry and makeup you don't want to look like Elvira. I love burgundy velvet it is very romantic in the way red is to wear but less in your face. Forrest green and Navy are both look amazing in velvet. Lace is a great complement to velvet, in a blouse under a velvet jacket or a lace legging under a velvet dress.

Not your Grandmothers Thanksgiving

 I am going to my In laws for Thanksgiving and it is a potluck style Thanksgiving which got me thinking about tried and true recipes and some easy ways to re tool them.
Corn bread is a great traditional side but in terms of show stopping dish it is a little lack luster. Keeping nearly identical ingredients you can have a Corn Souffle..sounds glamorous right? The recipe could not be simpler

Ingredients

• 2 (15.25 ounce) cans whole kernel corn
• 2 (15 ounce) cans creamed corn
• 4 tablespoons white sugar
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 4 eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Combine the corn, creamed corn, sugar, flour, milk and eggs. Mix well. Pour the mixture into a souffle dish.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

No tears haircut

So I have had long hair since I was in the 8th grade. When I was in the 6th grade I got a bob and cried for no less than two weeks. Once my hair grew long again I was so scared to touch it that I have had the same hairstyle for over a decade.Even though my job was to give people Make Overs I refused to give one to myself. Until Yesterday!!! I recently quit smoking which I thought was a pretty big deal so in the spirit of life changing events I cut 5 inches of my mid back length hair bringing it up to my shoulders.
After talking to a friend who is a celebrity hair stylist in Beverly Hills I figured out a great way to preview a haircut. Find a celebrity, model or whom ever that you favor, ie face shape distance eyes to forehead and nose. Find a hair cut that person has that you want. It takes bringing in a picture to the next level. Most times when you hate your haircut it is because it was not right for your face shape. Like my childhood bob , I have a round face and chin length hair only accentuated it. Next time you get a haircut do a little research it will make all the difference.

Denim Denim Everywhere!!!!

Everyone loves a good pair of Jeans but they are far from the only way to wear denim. Bring a little spice into your wardrobe by incorporating these fun ways to denim.
Denim button down other wise known as a chambray shirt. Wear with black leggings and heels for a great date night look.
Denim purses are great because the instantly add a little funky element to whatever you are wearing.
Another must try is the denim blazer it is great for the office and can be transformed instantly into the perfect girls night out jacket.

5 minute or less make up touch up

Going out after work for dinner or drinks can be the highlight of a work day. If you only have a few minutes to touch up before you go out I have some helpful hints. The easiest tip is to put all the makeup you used in the morning onto your brushes so you don't have to lug your makeup bag around , you can just whip out your brushes and touch up anywhere. If your hair tends to get oily towards the end of the day bring along a dryer sheet from home rub it on the roots of your hair and watch the oil disappear, bonus your hair will smell great!

Got an extra 50 bucks? Treat yourself like a celebrity

Working in television and writing for magazines I  have had the oppurtunity to  test tons of beauty  products and treatments  and these are the best out there for under 50 bucks!!!

Gel Nails are a celebrity favorite whether you get a classic manicure like Lauren Conrad or opt for crazy glitter and patterns like  Rhianna.Starlettes love to have fun with their nails and now so can you.Gel nails are a monomer and polymer mix, which basically means they are hard like an acrylic nail but with no fake tip. Gel nails last up to a month and cost around 50 bucks and are a great way to give yourself a celebrity treatment.
Red carpet hair is always shiny and now your hair can be too. Glaze hair treatment penetrates the hairs shaft and makes it look glossy for up to two weeks. You can use it on color treated hair or virgin and the best part is you can do it at home yourself. There are great hair  glazes on the market from 10 dollars to 50 dollars some of my favorites are John Frieda's Lumina Color Glaze,which you can get at CVS Target, and other drugstores for around 10 dollars and Frederic Fekkai which is under 30 and is available at Sephora.
The last treatment for a diva on a budget is to get your eyebrows professionally shaped. The cost varies from 15 dollars to about 50. The greatest part of this treatment is after you get it done you can maintain it easily at home, so it is like the gift that keeps on giving.
These treatments are easy and relatively cheap ways to treat  yourself. Have fun, experiment!