Dear Chaz Dean, I Love You…

Anyone who is close to me knows that I am a product junkie. My medicine cabinet, 2 vanities and 3 closets are filled to the brim with cosmetics, hair and skincare products that I either love, hate or can’t be bothered to try. The products I love I keep for myself and since I hate waste the others are given to friends and clients who will put them to good use.

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Wen Hair Care & Body Care products. One of my best girlfriend’s raves about them but she tends to like very perfumey bath, body and hair care products so typically I’m suspect of her suggestions. I’m also currently using Ojon products, which has made a world of difference for my dry, processed hair and so I was in no hurry to take the leap and try something new. Lucky for me, I ran into the charming and uber talented Chaz Dean at The 14^th Annual Design Care an event hosted by the HollyRod Foundation (See my HollyRod…post for more about the event). After meeting Chaz and his lovely sister Joanne and finding out that Wen Cleansing Conditioner in Summer Mango Coconut was in my event gift bag, I knew I would have to try it immediately.

Upon doing a little research about the product, I was fascinated by the very concept of how the Cleansing Conditioner works.  It’s a unique formula containing no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is the chemical used to make shampoos foam. This particular ingredient is actually a poison that can’t be metabolized by the liver, which can result in negative long-term effects on the body. Manufacturers use it simply because its cheap! Wen Haircare products only contain the highest quality ingredients which is a big plus for me. The cleansing conditioner’s active ingredients are Glycerine, a humectant that naturally binds moisture to the hair shaft, Chamomile Extract to add sheen to the hair, Cherry Bark to bring out color and manageability, Rosemary Extract to tone and strengthen hair, Panthenol to smooth split ends and seal in moisture and Sweet Almond Oil to soften the hair. All great natural ingredients.

When I tried the Cleansing Conditioner the very next night, I was first taken by the delicious scent of coconut and mango. I’m originally from Central America so I’m a sucker for scents that remind me of home. I also loved how rich and thick the formula was. There was no dripping as I shaved my legs and washed up to let the product do its conditioning magic. To my surprise, I could already see a difference after I rinsed.

I was blown away at how soft and silky my hair felt which is no small feat with my dry, processed Afro Caribbean hair. I couldn’t stop touching it! I also noticed that my hair was straighter and looked much healthy than it usually does after a blow out and flat ironing. I’m sold! Chaz took me to church! I will be singing Wen Haircare’s praises to all of my clients!

HollyRod...

Holly Robinson Peete and
Rodney Peete

Last weekend I had the privilege of working again as part of the incredibly talented Nars Elite Artistry Team doing makeup for a great cause. I packed up my makeup kit and headed to Malibu for The 14^th Annual Design Care 2012, a fashion, music and philanthropy event hosted by Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete in support of families living with Autism and Parkinson’s disease.  Our makeup team, headed by the extraordinary Nars Global Artist Uzo, worked side by side with legendary Celeb Hair Stylist Chaz Dean and his team to create a dramatic look for the models in the Sue Wong Fashion show.

There was so much excitement and even a bit of tension in the air as our teams used our miniscule time limit of an hour and forty five minutes to execute the intricate look Sue Wong chose on 20 models. Sue Wong’s assistant was “kind enough” to stroll into the hair and makeup tent to provide a countdown to show time every twenty minutes, which kept us on our toes. The final twenty minutes were the most intense as we all hurriedly completed the look on our last models and sent them to wardrobe. Final touches of powder and lips were done backstage with minutes to go and then the lead model was on her way down the runway to wow a star studded audience in Sue Wong’s 2012 Fall Collection.

Backstage before the Sue Wong Fashion Show

I spied Paula Abdul, Arsenio Hall, Regina King, Melanie Brown and Brooke Burke among many other celebs sitting front and center for the Fashion Show and musical performances by Natalie Cole and Jeffrey Osborne, led by music director Rickey Minor. The fabulous event was a great success raising money and awareness for a worthy cause! Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete were gracious hosts to all who came out to show their support by also generously giving away incredible gift bags with incredible swag from event sponsors like NARS, Target, WEN Hair & Body Care by Chaz Dean, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and CDs from Natalie Cole, Lillo Thomas. I can’t wait to do it all again next year!

To find out how you can donate and or raise awareness through the HollyRod Foundation check out www.hollyrod.org.

Saving Face

Samantha, wearing Nars Multiple in Orgasm

There are those days or nights when we have to present our best face to the world when we would rather crawl into bed and sleep off the night before. But strong independent women like us are used to sucking it up and making it happen. That was the scenario for my good friend Samantha and I the night after the 4^th of July. We had dinner plans at a chic restaurant in LA and wanted to put our best faces forward.

Many of my friends have expressed to me that on the dreaded morning after, when they look at their visibly tired faces in the mirror and fumble through their makeup bags, they don’t even know where to begin to try to pull it together and face the world.  Well, what is a girl to do when she has to look bright eyed and bushy tailed when she feels lack luster?

There are a few items that should be staples in your makeup arsenal that will help you razzle dazzle ‘em under the grimmest of circumstances.  Mascara  and concealer goes without saying so if you don’t have a good one RUN, don’t walk to a cosmetic counter and ask the Beauty Technician to set you up with the right shade and formula.  We’ll discuss mascara and concealer later but for now lets focus on the super star product that saved our tired asses on that night.

Nars Multiple Stick in Orgasm

First of all, the number one culprit of visibly tired skin is dehydration. If you aren't drinking eight glasses of water a day, smoke, or are facing the aftermath of a long night drinking, it’s inevitable that your skin will show it. Dehydrated skin is no match for Nars Multiple Sticks! They're called Multiples because they can be used on eyes, cheeks and lips. These magical crème blushes/highlighters can be layered onto bare skin or on top of foundation and powder to add life to tired skin.

I gave Samantha a Multiple Orgasm (Nars best selling shade) in more ways than one when I popped the glowing flush on the apples of her cheeks and high on her cheek bones. I opted for the more "sista" friendly version for my skin tone and reached into my makeup bag and found my G-Spot Multiple (New Shade from the 2012 Summer Collection) and applied it the same way.

Now who isn't ready to conquer the world after you've found your G-Spot and had a Multiple Orgasm? Go out and get one!

Bess Belleau Byers

Our two worlds collided with one click of the heel. Seriously! We first met clicking our heels on the streets of Venice Beach. It's a friendship that was meant to be. We soon learned that our visions of fashion were the same and thus evolved one of many collaborations with the very talented and stylish Bess Belleau Byers.

Now for you ladies who'd like a night with Edie Sedwick inspired eyes like Bess read on. Notably, this is an intermediate level look so take your time with it and read the instructions all the way through before you begin. You'll need:

• Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
• Nars cream eyeshadow Cosmic Girl (Pale Gold with Shimmer)
• Inglot Matte Collection AMC Gel Eyeliner #77 (Black)
• Nars Duo Eyeshadow Pandora (Matte Black on one side and
• Nars Larger Than Life Eye Pencil Santa Monica (White)
• YSL Faux Cils Mascara Noir Radical
• False Eyelashes
• Pointed Eyeliner Brush
• Fine Smudge Brush

This look is a perfect example of why I start application on the eyes before applying any base is on the skin. It's much easier to maintain the balance between both eyes which is key to pulling it off yourself. Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is a must to begin. Apply a small dot on each lid and spread with your ring finger all over the lid from the lash line to the brow bone. This will keep the intricate liner in place. 

Now your lid is prepped and you are ready to start your liner. Using Inglot's Matte Collection AMC Gel Eyeliner, draw a cat eye with a pointed eyeliner brush (Refer to the March 19th Eyes that Roar post for how to create the perfect cat eye and brush references). Exaggerate the wing tip by dragging the liner out as far as the tail of your eyebrow but without connecting the two. After adding more product to your eyeliner brush, evenly distribute it by making short strokes back and forth in the lid of the eyeliner. How the product lays on the brush will make a big difference in this look. 

Use this brush to begin drawing a medium sized line in a half moon shape that connects with the wingtip. Start the half moon with a fine point at the inside corner of your eye and use a heavier hand as you draw the arch and connect the wingtip. 

Next, use the Fine Smudge Brush to apply the matte black side of NARS Pandora Duo Eyeshadow to the lower lash line. The shadow should look more dense than smokey when you are done. 

Use NARS Larger Than Life Santa Monica in the water line of the lower lash line. You may need to swab the water line with a q-tip and a touch of eye makeup remover to clear any residue of black shadow otherwise you will end up with a gray line instead of a white one. 

Finally apply upto three coats of YSL's Faux Cils mascara to the bottom and top lashes. I popped on a pair of false eye lashes for extra drama. Cleaning up the under eye area with a cotton ball soaked in eye makeup remover is alway recommended before applying concealer or foundation when creating a dramatic look. Don't forget to touch up your concealer when you are done! 

Epic good times and perfect photo opps followed that night. Edie would have been proud. Stay tuned for our next collaboration.

Bess is also wearing Nars Penny Lane Cream Blush on her cheeks and Nars Schiap on her lips.  Follow Bess on Twitter @BessByers. 

Photographs by Bess Byers