Kerastase Bain Miroir Shampoo
Chances are, you colour your hair. Chances are, you spend good money on it. Chances are, you’ve cursed when your colour fades too soon or damages your hair. What to do? Get a good shampoo made for coloured and sensitised hair.
Working on sets in LA I noticed this in a lot of dressing rooms and, at one of the best salons in the city, this product is used exclusively and for good reason. It really does keep your colour from fading, it really does put moisture into your hair, it really does keep your scalp nice and it really does make your hair colour seem like it’s your own.
I used to use the Bain Satin for dry hair until this came out last year and now this is my shampoo of choice for every day washing. A little goes a long way because it’s so concentrated which is good because it ain’t cheap. But it’s worth it because it keeps your hair looking wonderful!
BUY AT: Fred Segal Beauty
SkinCeuticals Daily Sun Defense SPF 20
Best anti-aging weapon? Sunscreen! I wear it every day, rain or shine, inside or out. SPF 20 for regular days, SPF 30 for long periods spent outside. The problem with wearing so much sunscreen, however, is that most of them are just too hard on your skin, making you break out or leave you with a whitish cast.
Not this.
After many, many different sunscreens I’ve been faithful to this for over a year. My skin loves it; keeps it hydrated, matte, break-out free and with no whitish film over it. A little goes a long way so this can last you for awhile. And if you wear makeup you’ll have no problem putting it on over this.
So keep your skin looking young and at it’s best by keeping it out of the sun with a little daily SPF from Skinceuticals.
BUY AT: Skinstore
Decleor Skincare
I was staying at the Four Seasons Henri V in Paris for my birthday when my skin began to react badly. The cold, harsh weather combined with a cold and stress of travel had left my skin red, irritated and reactive. Nothing was working and with a party coming up, I had to do something.
I went down to the hotel’s spa and asked them for advice. An aesthetician looked at my skin and recommended several Decleor products: Aromessence Rose d’Orient Soothing Concentrate, Aromessence Essential Balm and Herbal Clay Mask. Within moments of application, I knew my skin would be better because it instantly felt less tight, less irritated and hydrated.
After just a few days my skin had returned to normal and I’ve been hooked on these products ever since although I don’t use them every day. When I’m sick, flying or need a pick-me-up, these are the products I turn to. Don’t be afraid to use the oils - even if you have oily skin (try their Ylang Ylang!). Trust me when I tell you that it works like nothing else. And the smell? Naturally amazing!
There’s a reason why the French always seem to have such lovely skin - they created Decleor!
BUY AT: Sephora
“Simply Mahvelous Legs” Shave Cream
Waxing? Too painful and messy. Laser? Too expensive and sci-fi. Shaving? Knick knack paddy whack unless you use this cream!
I’ve tried different brands to help with shaving and they’ve either been too thick, too runny, too smelly or too drying. This luxurious rich cream, however, is the Goldilocks of creams, trust me. It’s been my favourite for years. Just rub a very small amount onto your legs, shave, rinse, voila - smooth, hydrated, perfectly shaven legs.
And don’t be tempted to try anything else. I swayed from this product when I thought I’d try a less expensive brand and I paid a higher price with a rash and bumpy skin. You know what I’m talking about. So get your legs all pretty with some Kiehls instead. There’s a reason they’ve been around since 1852 without advertising.
While you’re picking up yours, pick up Kiehls Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream for the man in your life. You’ll both be glad you did.
BUY AT: Kiehls
Mi Amore Skincare
It was a stressful time when I first moved to Los Angeles and it showed on my face; it was blotchy, red, terribly dry with not so nice pimples here and there. So I booked myself a spa package at the Ole Henriksen Spa for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. I knew that a massage and scrub would help but had my suspicions about the facial since most facials always made my sensitive skin worse, not better.
But other spas did not have Maki.
In one hour she literally transformed my skin from blah to wow. Not only did she make my skin wonderful from the outside, but gave me so many tips about how to keep myself and skin healthy from the inside with vitamins and relaxation ideas. With her help, my skin has never looked better and that’s why I’ve been a devoted client for over two years.
So when she told me she was working on her own organic skincare line, I was thrilled; her passion for natural, organic, simple skincare was finally coming to fruition. And for me, it came at the perfect time.
Dry skin has always plagued me and, when I began to spend a lot of time in air conditioning, I couldn’t find anything that would help. Most body moisturisers were thick, goopy and greasy. They always seemed to have harsh, fake scents added that I just didn’t like. However, her Moisture Me After Shower Body Oil, with it’s amazing smell of orange and lavender, quickly absorbed into my skin leaving it super soft without being greasy or shiny looking. Just natural and hydrated.
The same was to be said of her Natural Glow face complex; my dehydrated skin lacked that little “oomph” and this product put it back in. With sensitive reactive skin, I was nervous to try this but had no cause. It plumped up my skin, calmed it down, and made it glow. No breakouts, no redness, just healthy looking skin.
I love that her line is natural and works with the skin and not against it. I also like supporting a woman-owned business especially when she makes great products. Her Orange Blossom soy candle is even natural; nothing worse than lighting a candle that pollutes the air and ruins the whole purpose of trying to create a feeling of well-being.
If you can’t visit Maki in person in LA these products are the next best thing. Her passion for helping people to feel and look better really comes through in this line. She glows and, with a few little products, so can you.
PS: Her “Mommy Care Packs” are the perfect Holiday present for a pregnant woman because they include the Oh Baby! Belly Butter which, not being pregnant, I didn’t try but did give to a pregnant girlfriend who is swearing by it.
BUY AT: Mi Amore
Tarte Cheek Stain in Dollface
I could no longer take the “are you OK?” questions due to the lack of colour on my naturally pale face and decided to do something about it. The only problem was that blush in the past always made me look like I had really red skin, blotchy skin, too made up or made my skin react.
I’d read so many good things about this cheek stain over the years that I decided to go for the pink one, Dollface. A quick little swipe of this gel based blush on each cheek and voila - colour! But not just colour, colour that seemed to come from within. Colour that seemed to belong to me! Who knew one could look healthy with a little glow?
And it is a little glow; there is no shimmer, there’s no shiny just plain, perfect colour. No skin reactions, no fake blobs. Just pretty. Just well… a dollface!
BUY AT: Sephora
Urban Decay Primer Potion
BUY AT: Sephora
I’m not a huge makeup girl so touch up’s are totally not my thing. That’s why I adore this eyelid primer so much. A swipe on the eyelid and I swear, at the end of the day, my shadow is still there, not creased and perfectly pretty!
I’ve tried other primers in the past from Benefit to Chanel and none work like this one. It was recommended to me by a top makeup artist here in LA and I can see why she loves it. Working under hot lights or in humid temperatures, this makes things stay put. It also makes shadow colours stay true.
And what I also love is the price; not too expensive for something that’ll last you awhile. A definite beauty must have!
Pureology Purify Shampoo
BUY AT: Pureology Amazon
I have naturally curly, tangly dry hair and use moisturising shampoos and conditioners to make it soft and manageable. But after awhile, these products build up in my hair and that squeaky clean feeling just can’t be found.
But if I used a purifying shampoo the results were always disastrous: drier hair, tanglier hair and the colour would be stripped out. What’s a girl to do?
Buy this shampoo from Purology. A bit on the expensive side you’ll find it’s worth it (especially if you’re like me and just use it once a week) because it keeps colour from fading with it’s wonderful, vegan formula, has a wonderful, pick me up minty scent that’s in no way overbearing and most of all it leaves your hair soft, silky and clean! I suspect this would be a wonderful everyday shampoo for someone with oiler hair or for men. I’m loving it as a treatment once a week. Actually, my hair is loving it!
Kerastase Masquintense Fine
BUY AT: Fred Segal Beauty
I have naturally curly, fine hair but lots of it that tends to be on the drier side and knots like nobodies business. I’ve tried so many conditioners from around the world with little luck.
I kept hearing about this masque and how it transformed everyone’s hair so I decided to plunk down an ungodly amount for a hair masque and give it a go. Nothing - I repeat nothing - makes my hair as soft, shiny and as manageable as this.
After shampooing I put a good amount on my hair, wrap some plastic wrap around my head and let it sit for a few minutes whilst finishing up in the shower (or up to an hour if I have the time), put a little water on it, use a comb to detangle then rinse. My hair is shiny, silky, soft and conditioned! Using it about once a week makes this economical for me - especially in the winter when everything gets dry.
Venus Razor
Ladies, stop using those pink disposables or your boys Mach 3 and grab this razor - your legs will thank you. Really, they will.
I was skeptic that a female razor could make such a difference but it does. Smooth, silky, knick free legs from a razor that’s ergonomic (no slipping!) and does a brilliant job! Who doesn’t want that?
