Oscar Night Beauty: Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson captivated my attention not only with an absolutely fabulous strapless white Cavalli gown (and that amazing statement necklace-- love!), but i cannot get over how great her hair looked-- her hairstylist, Dante Blandshaw, gave her an amazing variation of her bob for Oscar night. with high shine and just the right amount of volume, this is s great style to try if you have a similar cut yourself.

to get her look: prep hair with Aveda Brilliant Damage Control to protect from breakage and thermal damage. blowdry hair straight with a paddle brush, then add a dime-size amount of Universal Styling Creme for added shine. flat iron first, then use 1.5" inch and 2" barrel irons to give volume at the roots and bend at the ends- but don't over curl!- to accentuate the layers. slightly curl the front to create a soft, side-swept bang for added height and fullness, then finish by combing with a wide-tooth comb and lock in the style with a lightweight hairspray (try Aveda Air Control Hair Spray).

xo
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2009 Indie Spirit Awards

last night, the Film Independent's Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie films. this award show is very casual compared to the sag awards and the oscars; many stars went with loose waves and curls and makeup that was fresh and pretty.



Lucy Liu looked ready for spring in a strapless pink Lanvin spring 2009 dress. she paired the dress with nude platform sandals and pink satin clutch. i love her hair-- soft waves-- and makeup-- her trademark top-lined eye, dewy skin and a nude lip.




Claire Danes, also in Lanvin, wore a two-tone dress from the spring 2009 collection. i love the necklace, which is also from that same collection. Claire wore her hair very casual and her makeup looked elegant and flattering-- lined eyes, soft peachy cheeks, and rose lipcolor-- love!




Kerry Washington wore a gorgeous bright blue dress with a bejeweled neckline. paired with classic black pumps, she finished the look off with loose waves, a soft smokey eye, fresh-looking skin and a frosty pink lip.




Andie MacDowell wore a great green dress with gold strappy heels. with loose curls and fresh makeup, i think she looks gorgeous, as usual.



Cameron Diaz wore a black and red striped dress with black Christian Louboutin pumps. her hair and makeup look is simple, and not overdone. she is a natural beauty and doesn't need much.



Taraji P. Henson looked amazing in her LBD and accessorized it with a Burberry Prorsum statement necklace and black strappy heels. her hair is super shiny and soft pinks and browns really give her face a beautiful glow.

xo
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2009 SAG Awards Red Carpet Looks

while not truly mind-blowing, the SAG Awards did bring me to say amazing a few times throughout the night. the ladies on the red carpet this past sunday wowed me with colorful gowns and fabulous hair and makeup.

here are my favorite looks:



Taraji P. Henson wore a fabulous white Herve Leroux halter gown and accessorized with a great bracelet in gold tones. her hair shined as usual and fresh, glowing skin complimented a light berry lip.




Anne Hathaway also wore white, but her gown, by Azzaro, had a silver jeweled waistband and neckline. her look was all about lashes and a stained, glossy lip which looked gorgeous with her tousled waves.




Kate Winslet chose to wear a Narciso Rodriguez creation again and looked absolutely amazing! her hair was styled in a side-swept updo and to pull it all together, makeup artist Jillian Dempsey kept Kate's makeup look fresh with a soft metallic eyeshadow paired with a soft neutral palette on her lips and cheeks.





Amy Adams is fast becoming one of my red carpet favorites. in a regal purple gown designed by Giambattista Valli, the Doubt star wore a simple updo and chandelier earrings. red lips and nails gave her look a more glamorous touch, making her one of the night's standouts.




Viola Davis was nothing less than radiant in her yellow asymmetric David Meister gown. i can't get over how fabulous her skin is-- a bronze-peach blush and defined eyes complimented it well. her hair, a great bob styled in loose curls, only flattered the overall look.



Evan Rachel Wood complimented her teal asymmetric Monique Lhuillier gown with fabulous purple strappy Sergio Rossi heels and matching clutch. and while i'm not fond of her haircolor, i think she looked great with softly defined eyes and pink lips.



with hair in a classic updo and wearing an uber-flattering red lip, Christina Applegate chose an Emanuel Ungaro gown. silver-toned jewelery and accessories really popped next to green color of the gown.

xo

Kate Somerville Gives Stars Their Glow for the Golden Globes

happy award season! the Golden Globes were this past weekend, kicking it all off, and let me tell you, i'm loving it! this time of year is a fun time for me time to see my favorite celebs get dressed in their glamorous gowns, hair and makeup looks, and i am just wowed (and sometimes not) by it all.

but it's not just about the makeup, hair or the gown for celebs when they are getting ready for an award event. oh no, there is so much more that goes into it. prepping the skin, for example, is always on the list, and who better than Kate Somerville to to give them the glow that lasts?

Taraji Henson, Kristen Scott Thomas and Debra Messing all went to Kate for their big night, and it definitely paid off! their skin looked amazing, dewy and fresh.

here's a list of treatments these celebs indulge in:

Kate Somerville Signature Facial
designed to deliver healthier, radiant skin, the signature facial is customized to each individual’s needs. the treatment begins with enzymatic exfoliation, necessary extractions and a customized treatment mask follows. the facial finishes with an acupressure massage. skin is left smoother, clearer and healthier than before.

DermalQuench Oxygen Treatment
for unparalleled hydration and that signature glow, DermalQuench is a Kate Somerville favorite. the skin is drenched in a hyaluronic serum and vitamins. oxygen is then applied as the serum soaks into cells for further hydration, healing and conditioning. watch dryness and fine lines disappear and discover a softer, supple complexion.

Kate Somerville "Lift & Glow"
designed to deliver healthier, younger skin, the "Lift & Glow" works on several dimensions/levels of the skin to give it a younger, lifted glow. the muscles of the skin are then stimulated using Microcurrent, to strengthen and lift tired muscles back into their youthful position. this part feels tingly-- but there is a noticeable lift after the treatment is performed. clients witness a lift in the brow, the apples of the cheeks and around the jawline. they are then placed under a white LED light to reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin. the light stimulates cellular renewal, causing the production of collagen and elastin. the skin looks glowing from the inside out and the outside in.



all of these treatments sound amazing and i've always wanted to try the Dermal Quench Oxygen Treatment since learning about it last year.

to keep the benefits of their treatments going, stars use the Kate Somerville "Glow Kit" that includes:

ExfoliKate-- an intensive exfoliant made with papaya and pineapple enzymes for incredibly smooth skin.

Quench Hydrating Serum- the incredibly silky serum that locks in moisture for an utra-hydrated glow.

Deep Tissue Repair Cream– this anti-aging wonder cream reduces redness and minimized fine lines.

you can find this amazing Glow Kit at katesomerville.com

xo

2009 Golden Globe Awards Red Carpet Looks

the Golden Globes red carpet was full of amazing glamorous gowns, beautiful hairstyles and gorgeous makeup. i was so excited to see the looks as i watched from home, and these are a few of my favorite looks of the night...



January Jones stepped out of the 60's and into the 40's with her Golden Globes look. inspired by her dress, her hair was done in fabulous soft waves and her makeup was created to keep the focus on her lips, a pretty tangerine-red.



America Ferrera was nothing close to Ugly in her Oscar De La Renta dress (love...). her makeup was fresh and pretty, showing off her gorgeous skin. loose curls complimented this sweet style.



Kate Beckinsale showed off an amazing figure in this body-hugging gown by J. Mendel. with her hair in a sleek updo, her makeup was kept fresh and glowing. i love her big, bold chandelier earrings that are a huge trend right now.



Tarji P. Henson, also in J.Mendel, took a risk with this gown, and in my humble opinion, looked great! the GG's are a bit less serious than the Oscar's, so it worked. her skin was given a glowing look with soft, skin-complimenting hues and rose-toned lips.




Eva Mendes dazzled in her white Dior gown, loose updo and classic makeup.



Olivia Wilde, in a Reem Acra gown, looked stunning in more of a bold eye makeup look and simple, parted hair that she left down.



Evan Rachel Wood wore a gown by Elie Saab. i love the classic red nails and soft, old hollywood look of her makeup.



Anne Hathaway is already a fashion powerhouse, and she kept her place in my style book with this look. in a gown by Armani Prive, Anne looked ever the part of glamorous movie star, from her Grace Kelly-inspired updo to her elegant and classic makeup.



Jennifer Morrison in Oscar De La Renta was one of the best looks of the night. just look at that amazing dress in that amazing color! nothing about her makeup and hair is overwhelming or trying to compete with her dress, it only compliments it.



Amy Adams also wore Oscar De La Renta and couldn't have looked better. she opted to wear her hair a bit more loose and down her back.


xo