Honored To Attend: The 6th Annual Beauty Bus Drive

Posted on June 29, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

What’s better than playing with beauty products?

Always love supporting the beautiful Beauty Bus Foundation at the Beauty Bus Drive2015, esp when the honoree is my friend, Shawn Stavakoli, CEO of Beauty Collection Stores, being honored. Tank & Skirt: Anthropologie, as styled by Rachel Fox *Photo by Terry Hoard of Crown Pictures

How about a beautiful non-profit that brings beauty, dignity, hope and respite to the chronically or terminally ill, and their caretakers? Now, THAT is what I call beautiful.

And, that’s why I was beyond honored to attend the the 6^th Annual Beauty Bus Beauty Drive, benefitting the Beauty Bus Foundation, at the Skirball Cultural Center a few Sundays ago. As the inaugural Beauty Collection Celebrity Beauty Curator, I was delighted to be a guest of Beauty Collection, so I could cheer on my friend – the CEO of Beauty Collection and a BIG Beauty Bus supporter, Shawn Tavakoli, as he was honored with the Beauty Bus Lifetime Achievement Award.

Shawn accepting the 2015 Beauty Bus Lifetime Achievement Award.

To date, Shawn has raised over $50,000 and done so much more to help enrich the beautiful organization that is Beauty Bus.

One of the highlights of the day was when Shawn’s little daughter crashed her dad’s acceptance speech – a sweet day made even sweeter!

Fun events at this family-friendly, pampering afternoon included complimentary beauty stations for men and women, a kid’s corner, opportunity drawing, a fabulous silent auction, and plenty of opportunities to hang out with my friends!

Loved getting to sip some vino and bid for a good cause at the auction with my girls, Amy Davidson and Ashley Jones!

It was a beautiful afternoon, celebrating a beautiful organization, and honoring a beautiful man. And, I even picked up a cute date while I was there!

I had the cutest date there. He might be a “little” found for me, but my-oh-my, is he charming!!

Oh, it’s not THAT scandalous. Blake is the sweet (and sassy) son of my dear friend, pr maven, Yvette Masterson of Y PR. Boy’s got game!!

*All photos by credit Terry Hoard from Crown Pictures.

Celeb Beauty Collection Curator Corner: Classic BeautyFrosting Faves Sure To Make Any Woman Feel More Feminine

Posted on March 10, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Look what I've got in store for you! My Classic Product Picks at Beauty Collection this month!

Beauty Collection asked me to pick my favorites as their first Celebrity Beauty Curator. But how did I decide?

Pick my beauty FAVORITES, Beauty Collection? How's a girl to decide?

It was no easy feat. After all, I have a slew of favorite beauty products I’ve accrued over the years, as a former makeup artist, celeb shopper, entertainer and beauty junkie. I decided to choose my crop of “Classic Favorites” by narrowing the scope down to the shades that correspond to my BeautyFrosting signature colors: candy pink and mint green.

Classic Faves. Pink and green. Feminine and Serene

These products are among my faves already for the sheer product quality and efficacy, but add in the beautiful packaging, and they’ve earned a lifelong favorite status in my heart, on my face…and on my vanity.

1) Darphin 8-Flower Nectar Elixir ($150): No time for a facial? Keep this guy around. I know, I know. It’s not cheap. But an oil this luxurious just can’t be cheap! From one of my favorite French beauty companies – Darphin – who never does me wrong, this oil is worth every cent. A rich elixir that revitalizes dull skin, while smoothing, firming and renewing it – it does it all while imparting a deep natural glow. For my dry skin, I like to put a few drops on every night, prior to applying my eye cream and a rich night cream.

2) Fusion Beauty – Lip Fusion Infatuation – La Lip Jolie ($29): My favorite lipgloss of all time. Yes, seriously. This gloss plumps, fattens and moisturizes lips, all while leaving you with a sexy, supple, Victoria’s Secret model-like, baby pink-meets-nude pout. As for that dreadful tingle that most plumping glosses torture us with? Not this pretty thing. All you’re left with is a mild pepperminty tingle, that goes right along with the peppermint taste. Don’t wanna get kissed? Don’t wear this gloss, then. I’m afraid that your guy will want to kiss you, guaranteed. This is the only gloss you ever need. Oh, you might want other ones, but this one? You need.

3) Creed – Spring Flower ($175-$290): Romance in a bottle. Rumor has it, that this fragrance was created for the enchanting Audrey Hepburn. So, it’s no surprise I love it! I have a pink-on-pink, Warhol-style painting of her hanging on my foyer wall at home. But let’s talk about that scent. This little lady is unapologetically feminine. Celebrating all that is fun about being a girl, the prominent notes of peach, melon, apple and jasmine, let you leave the house feeling like a strong and beautiful woman, as you prepare to take on the world. On the days I spray it on my pulse points, I always hear Peggy Lee’s “I’m A Woman” play in my head as I walk down the street. Coincidence? I think not.

4) Philosophy Pink Frosted Animal Cracker 3-in-1 Bath Gel ($18): Remember those pink-frosted animal cookies from your preschool years? I sure do. They had a spicy molasses shortbread with sweet, candied frosting on top. As much as I love them – and the nostalgia they elicit – alas, my 37-year-old figure doesn’t love them, quite as much. So thank goodness for Philosophy for bringing my taboo treats to tubtime! This 3-in-1 product gives you shampoo, body wash and bubble bath, all in one. So why not splurge a little? A “Dawn Do?” This makes an EXCELLENT choice for wedding or baby shower favors, without breaking the bank.

5) Voluspa – Maison Blanc 2 wick Candle in Pink Citron ($16): I love this candle because it smells like my favorite brunch cocktail – the pamplemosa. What’s a “pamplemosa?” Well, it’s my recipe for equal parts fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice and champagne. And it’s exactly the scent you get here, housed in this beautiful tin. Another “Dawn Do?” I love gifting this oh-so-chic, pink and gold-packaged candle to my friends, as housewarming and birthday gifts. It’s a sweet steal at only $16 as it has a burn time of over 50 hours! It’s the ultimate luxe gift for less.

6. Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($18-$49): This has long been a celebrity makeup artist favorite! I’m not a big fan of toners, but I love using this in lieu of a toner. It wakes up the skin, while tightening pores and giving a spritz of radiance and glow to the complexion. With its star ingredients of rosemary & peppermint, I love using it when I’m not quite awake in the morning, or after I’ve been writing all day and need to pep up for a busy social night ahead of hosting or entertaining. A “Dawn Do?” Apply it after applying makeup to set makeup, keep skin perfectly dewy, stay fresh and keep you revitalized!

Hope y’all have a great week! And I’ll be back next week with my trendy product picks!

What-oh-what will my favorite trending Beauty Collection products be next week?

Xoxo,
Dawn

BF Asks: What are your top 5 all-time classic beauty favorites?

From Dallas To Day Jobs To Doing It My Way To Dreams Coming True

Posted on March 2, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

*This post was originally written by Dawn McCoy and published on the Beauty Collection blog on Sunday, March 1st, 2015.

Hey there, Beauty Collection beauties!

I am BEYOND honored to be the inaugural Beauty Collection Celebrity Beauty Curator this March! What is a Celebrity Beauty Curator, exactly? Well, each month, Beauty Collection will choose a Celebrity Beauty Curator who will then choose their favorite beauty products at Beauty Collection to be featured online and in stores. What does this mean to you? You get to find out what us beauty influencers are really loving at the moment. And what does the honor of being selected as the first #CelebBeautyCurator mean to me? So, SO much. And for you to understand just how much, I need you to go with me on a little time traveling expedition.

I loved makeup from an early age. A very early age.

At age 3

Picture it: Dallas, 1981. I asked Santa for a vanity. Yes, that’s right. A lighted vanity, so I could apply my makeup like my mommy did. And guess what? Santa delivered.

Santa delivered a box of vanity. Kidding.

Picture it: Dallas, 1989. My mom took me to the Clinique counter and I learned their classic, 3-step skincare regimen. My skincare regimen was born. While, I don’t use Clinique exclusively anymore, this simple forward thinking on my mom’s part set me up with a lifelong skincare regimen, where I wash my face every night and always apply moisturizer before my head hits the pillow. Thanks, Mom.

Oh, my hair hurts just looking a this. And, why yes, that is a Coca-Cola shirt!

Picture it: Dallas, 1991. I was 13 years old, I was insecure, and I wished I was anyone but myself. Someone prettier. Someone thinner. Someone cooler. Someone quieter. Someone with straight hair. All of this led me to becoming obsessed with Allure Magazine and the transformative work of the amazing makeup artist, Kevyn Aucoin on its pages. Makeup can transform you? Sign me up. When I should have been riding my bike or studying, I was perfecting the perfect cat eye liner, by studying Kevyn’s work on the pages of Allure. Later, I would realize that the things that made me different would be the very things that made me who I am today.

About to turn 13. I might have looked confident in my black velvet and lace Jessica McClintock dress, but I was anything but.

Picture it: Dallas, 2001. I had been obsessed with makeup since those fateful days back in 1991, and had become a regular in the makeup department of Neiman Marcus Northpark, getting my makeup done for high school events and learning about the hundreds of lines. In 1995, I was introduced to Trish McEvoy cosmetics. For the next 6 years, they were my favorite. And then in the fall of 2001, at a beauty event, Trish herself asked me (ME!!) to be her youngest makeup artist to date. My life – and love of makeup – would never be the same.

Picture it: Nashville, 2006: I found myself in Nashville, pursuing a singing and songwriting career, singing at The Grand Ole Opry, making a record, and making lifelong friends. I also found myself in need of a day job, like stat. In 2002, I had begun working for Barbra Streisand in Malibu. You may have heard of her. There in Nashville, I had foolishly expected it to be easier to get a job than in L.A. I was wrong. I found my happy home of a dayjob at Woo Skincare and Cosmetics, a place that reminded me of my beloved Beauty Collection, where I would shop for Barbra back in Malibu. I spent two years learning about some of my now-favorite products, such as Darphin,Caudalie, Natura Bissé, Fusion Beauty, Creed, Voluspa, and more, while I was a counter manager/makeup artist for Bobbi Brown and Giorgio Armani. I had no idea how important this little day job – and all that I learned there – would be in my life in the coming years. The most important lesson I learned? I loved helping others not only look, but feel their best. Makeup can do a lot, but heart matters more.

Picture it: Los Angeles, 2009. My job from 2002-2005 was shopping and running errands for Barbra. When I left Nashville and returned to Los Angeles, with my renewed love of beauty in tow, I brought that back to Barbra, when I went back to work for her, from 2009-2011. She would simply ask me to find her the perfect pinky-nude lipstick, and there I was at Beauty Collection, creating complex custom color face charts with her, placing glossy scotch tape on top to preserve the colors for her eye. To say I went above and beyond the call of duty would be an understatement. But I’m so thankful for the license I had to be creative and get that experience under my belt.

Picture it: My house in LA, March 2011. I hosted a Cupcakes and Cocktails launch party of my new blog, BeautyFrosting. Though I had never read a blog myself, I just knew I had something to share out there with the world. Thus, BeautyFrosting was born from my love of beauty, baking, lifestyle and all things pastel. What started out as a blog about makeup, cupcakes and life moments has remained that. It’s just gotten a little bigger. I love sharing it with you, and I’m still utterly humbled that you guys want to read it and hear about all of my goings-on on social media!

Being primped and not taking this precious moment for granted for a second.

Picture it: February 18, 2015. I sat in the hairstylist’s chair at Beauty Collection in West Hollywood, getting my hair coiffed into a Brigitte Bardot-style for the Celebrity Beauty Curator launch party I would be hosting that night, with all of my blogger, entertainer and tastemaker friends in attendance. I had been running around all day, between voiceover sessions for Marshall’s, getting my dress for the evening and picking up jewels to wear for the U4G Awards red carpet, that I would be hosting the following night. In the midst of the hustle-and-bustle, with a salad in my lap and the Beauty Collection skilled hairstylist’s hands in my hair, I took a moment. I realized that so many of my dreams had come true. I was a host, a voiceover actor, and a beauty and lifestyle tastemaker that gets to share my passion with – and inspire – others. As I looked in the mirror, I saw that same young 13-year-old girl in Dallas, who just wanted to be someone different and used her babysitting money to buy her first Allure magazine subscription to find the magic of makeup to help her do just that. I sat in silence and gratitude, as I just took it all in and appreciated the sheer beauty of that moment. I’m so glad I did, and decided that I will always take that moment in each “pinch-me” moment that comes my way.

Plumb giddy at the #CelebBeautyCurator Cupcakes & Cocktails Launch Party at Beauty Collection West Hollywood

Picture this: Beauty Collection, TODAY, March 1st, 2015: Needless to say, my story has led me right here to this moment. And now, I get to use all of those years of experience – and memories – with you. I am so incredibly proud to be Beauty Collection’s first Celebrity Beauty Curator, and am thrilled for the month we have ahead together! I’ll be back next week with my all-time favorite classic beauty picks, available at Beauty Collection…and you’re not gonna wanna miss ‘em! And be sure to head over to the WeHo location to see my product picks in the front window display all this March. The 14-year-old me is plumb giddy, y’all. Plumb giddy.

Xoxo,
Dawn

Meet Beauty Collection’s Inaugural Celebrity Beauty Curator…ME!

Posted on March 1, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

As we kick off a new month today with March, I kick off a new – and very exciting – chapter in my life. I am proud to announce that I have been asked to be Beauty Collection’s first-ever Celebrity Beauty Curator.

At the #CelebBeautyCurator Launch Party at Beauty Collection WeHo on February 18th

Yippee!!

Jumping for joy! So thankful for the opportunity to be Beauty Collection's Inaugural Celebrity Beauty Curator this month!

For the entire month of March, you’ll see my face in the window display of their West Hollywood store on Santa Monica Boulevard, along with my Classic and Trending product picks for the month.

Picking my favorite Beauty Collection product picks was no easy feat!

And, all month long, I’ll be Beauty Collection’s guest blogger each week, detailing my product picks, and giving y’all a little bit more intel on me and how I got to this place I’m in and the world of BeautyFrosting I’ve created.

So happy to live in the world that BeautyFrosting has created for me

I’m so thankful that scores of friends in the entertainment, beauty and blogger world came out to help me celebrate the launch at Beauty Collection WeHo, on Wednesday, February 18th.

With Shawn - who is the CEO of Beauty Collection - and so much fun!

With the girls of Gorgeous Cosmetics

Friends galore: Lindsey Vaerst, Leslie Durso, Lynn Chen, Dana Wald, Amy Davidson, Yvette Masterson, Chrissy Kling and Ashley Jones

With Kristen Conahan and Stacie Standifer

With Jenn Chan & Dana Wald

And we toasted with cupcakes and cocktails, naturally.

Cupcakes, of course, of course!

A good cocktail is just what a girl needs after a long, busy day!

Thanks to everyone who came out to toast the launch! And thank you, Beauty Collection, for choosing me to kick off this exciting series! Stay tuned as I share my story, product picks (& tips & suggestions) and more!

xoxo,

Dawn

BF Asks: What are some of your favorite classic beauty products?

Dear Dawn: Dry & Red Skin & Another Birthday on the Horizon – Help!

Posted on July 30, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Dear Dawn,

I am about to turn another year older and I am tired of my skin care regimen. I have lots of red in my skin and it seems to be so dry. Any suggestions, BF?

Shelby P & her little beauty

Dear Shelby P,

Yes! Well, judging from the precious pic above, it looks like you have your hands full with that little beauty of yours! Which, I imagine, makes your own beauty routine take a backseat many a night.

DD to the rescue! Maybe that’s a little dramatic. I’m no superhero but I think, in this case, I can be of some help. The first thing you need to know, and have faith in, is that there is a solution. We just have to find the perfect recipe that works for your skin.

I have both clients and friends who have had this EXACT concern. They are affected by weather changes, climate changes, foods, wines, stress – by a lot.

My first suggestion is a biggie: try sleeping with your head elevated on 2 pillows. This is a must for skin conditions such as redness, rosacea and puffiness.

My second suggestion is to limit alcohol, excessive caffeine, highly acidic fruits and chocolate.

My third suggestion is to take supplements. Many people, including yours truly find them super helpful. I would suggest Krill oil and an mega-acidophilus supplement, such as Natren Healthy Trinity. Many times taking these produce almost immediate results!

Now that that’s out of the way, on to the fun stuff. THE PRODUCTS!!!!

Many people have found relief with Clinique Redness Solutions. If you haven’t tried that yet, start there. You can get a Clinique Redness Solutions kit, to try it all in one fell swoop (the soothing cleanser, relief cream and SPF 15 protective base), for only $39.50 at Sephora. Click this link to buy: Clinique Redness Solutions Kit.

Clinique Redness Solutions Kit $39.50

Clinique still reigns supreme as head redness fighter in the beauty world simply because it works for so many people and sells for such a reasonable price point.

If you have already tried that, here are some ingredients that I would use to bake up your perfect skincare recipe:

Skincare Recipe for Shelby P:

Morning:
Do not wash face.
If you shower, splash with lukewarm or cool water. No scrubbing. Pat dry.

Apply oil ( try Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil – buy it for $10.34 by clicking on this link).

Sibu Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil

Apply serum (Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology MMPi.20 Skin Regenerating Serum – buy for $55 by clicking on this link). Bonus? This doubles as a beautiful slip of a makeup/sunscreen primer!

Wexler MMPI.20 Skin Regenerating Serum

Apply SPF cream (Clinique Protective Base SPF 15 or Avene Redness SPF 25 $33)

Night:

Wash face with gentle cleanser like Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser, Eucerin Soothing Cleanser Redness Relief (which is $7.55 on this Amazon link) or Avene Gentle Cleanser for Intolerant Skin (buy it for $22 and receive samples by clicking on this link to Beauty Collection).

Avene Gentle Cleanser for Intolerant Skin at Beauty Collection

Apply oil (again, Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil)

Apply anti-aging serum (like Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology MMPi.20 Skin Regenerating Serum) which is amazing for sensitive skin like yours and mine. And it feels deeeeeluxe and deeeeelish!

Apply eye cream of choice (if you don’t have one, ask me!).

Apply rich moisturizer like: Clinique Repair Cream, Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Night Cream ($11.94 on this Amazon link) or Avene Cream for Intolerant Skin.

*Note:

I’ve also been a big fan of Creme de La Mer for 16 years. So if you are needing a solution, try a sample and see if it’s an option for your skin type.

DDF Redness Relief is another treatment clients have loved.

DDF Redness Relief

Think of the oil and serum as your anti-aging ingredients and the moisturizers and cleansers as your soothing treatments for redness.

In terms of concealing the redness, this is my philosophy: don’t try to cover up all the time. Leave your skin plenty of time to breathe, be treated with the above ingredients and heal.
So while you’re trying this new skincare recipe, I would recommend using concealing makeup only when totally necessary. When you do, try the Allure 2011 Best of Beauty Winner, Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder $32.50.

The pale yellow powder neutralizes the redness rather than just covering it up. I am not a big fan of mineral makeup all the time – quite the contrary, actually- but when it comes to dependable concealing, it is hard to beat.

Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder $32.50

Shelby P, please let me know what ingredients work as we try these products to find your perfect skincare recipe! I can’t wait to hear back in a week or so!

Cheers to beautiful, younger-looking, less pink skin and a more PINK LIFE!!

xoxo,
Dawn/BF

BF Asks: What is your skincare concern?

*Originally published 3/19/12

In My Tub Tuesday: Darphin Cleansing Milky Emulsion – A BF-Approved Cleanser

Posted on March 20, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

In My Tub Tuesday 3/20

It may not look glamorous but it is my favorite spot in my house. My haven. My heaven. My reading room. My beauty lab.

I change up my nightly bath ritual fairly often.

Whether it be a new cleanser to try, a new mask, body wash, exfoliant, oil or bubble bath (yay!), there is always some shifting products around as room has to be made for the new kid on the beauty block. But there are some favorites that remain in there, with me, week after week. We’ll get to those.

In the pic above, you can see my Andrea EyeQs eye moisturizing eye makeup remover pads, Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask, Creme de La Mer The Refining Facial, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser Lotion, Darphin Cleansy Milky Emulsion and GlamGlow.

Each of these beloved products will be discussed at one point in the near future. So no fears there!

But today, I want to rave about Darphin’s Cleansing Milky Emulsion cleanser ($40).

Darphin Cleansing Milky Emulsion

Is it good, you ask? $40 good?

Oh, it’s good. Reallllly good.

Especially for those with redness and sensitivity issues like yours truly.

So good that I give it my “BeautyFrosting-approved Cleanser for Sensitive Skin” seal.

It’s one of those superhero-type cleansers where it both addresses concerns such as sensitivity, irritations and redness AND removes face & lip makeup completely.

It feels rich going on yet rinses off completely leaving me silkily moisturized.

Ahhh, the best of both worlds.

The verbena & other natural ingredients, like Babassu oil and tomato extracts, always make me feel like I’m giving my face a mini spa treatment. Thus, I insist on gently massaging my tense facial muscles while using this little gem.

And the soothing effect is just the cherry on top.

Darphin makes some of my favorite beauty products out there. If you don’t know Darphin, consider this your introduction to a new level of beauty product enjoyment. I call products, like those from Darphin, “Spaducts”. These products turn your nightly beauty ritual into a spa ritual.

BF Asks: What do you look for in a cleanser?

xoxo,
BF

In My Tub Tuesday: The glamorous…

Posted on March 13, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

We should all be so lucky to have that gorgeous “GLAMGLOW” ($24)… wait…

We all can!

One of my favorite beauty products to launch in 2011 was GLAMGLOW exfoliating mud mask (www.GLAMGLOWMUD.com). It’s rare to find a product that you rave on and on about AND one that works for every skin type. Even more so, a product that you sample and then feel the immediate need to go out and buy!

Awarded “The 2012 Neiman Marcus Beauty Award for Best Quick Fix & Formula”, GLAMGLOW makes us all feel glamorous & pampered by exfoliating, tightening and deep cleaning our skin. Ideal for pre-event primping, or, as a beauty ritual during your weekly exfoliation, you simply cannot go wrong with GLAMGLOW! I promise.

I received GG as a sample in January and I fell in love, I tell you. I applied it to my cleansed face, neck and décolletage, while soaking in my tub. I left it on about 10 minutes (conveniently, just enough time to read a chapter of Hunger Games and have a glass of wine) and sat back with my mudded face, reading, relaxing and letting it do its glamorous work.

How? I applied an even layer of the fresh, herbal-smelling mud, and felt a light tingling sensation, followed by a tightening effect as it dried. Just a warning, beauties: You WON’T look like a beauty during the process. But it’s only 10 minutes so lock the door!

BOO!

When 10 minutes passed, I washed GG off with water in gentle cirular motions, stimulating greater exfoliation. Easy.

What were the results?

Tickled Pink!!!

And glamorously gloooowing!

I was tickled pink by the tingling mask! My skin has rarely felt so deeply cleansed. I had tighter, super-clean skin with fewer apparent lines, pores and wrinkles. Small lines had seemed to vanish (!) and I felt that it was the perfect complement to my skincare regimen. To be honest, it felt kind of magical to get such dramatic results from a new product. I only wished I ‘d had a party to go that night. Alas, I went to bed. But the very next day, I went out and bought a jar at Beauty Collection.

Now, GlamGlow is a must in my beauty kitchen and it’s one of my fave treats to apply before a big night.

Buy your jar now by clicking on this BeautyFrosting link to BeautyCollection:

BeautyCollection.com

Type in GlamGlow in the search line and in a few moments, it will be yours!

Xoxo, BF

p.s. Celebs love it, too. Here are some thoughts about GG by a few:

“Love the smell and love the mud mask!” (Natalie Portman)

“My skin looks amazing! GLAMGLOW is my new best friend!” (The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev)

*Photographs are real and untouched. Hide your children. It’s for the greater good of beauty product discovery.

BF asks: What skincare concerns would you like to see addressed on BeautyFrosting?

Goldilocks & The 3 Fragrances: A Kai Fragrance Giveaway

Posted on March 11, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

You want to smell like a lady. A lovely lady.

Well, lovely, but not like your great grandmother, either.

You want a fragrance that’s not pretentious, overpowering, too sweet nor too musky.

You’re kind of like Goldilocks when it comes to perfume/fragrance.

I get it.

You have tried them all and found that “This one smells too big and musky”,

“This one smells too fragile and sweet, like a jolly rancher.”

You tell me, “I just want to smell fresh and pretty. Is that too much to ask?”

No, no it isn’t, my golden friend.

So Goldilocks, here is your “Juuuuuust right!” moment!

Continue reading →

I love them, and I know you will too!

Posted on March 10, 2012 by admin

Shindig Shoppe
Love the design of my site? My logo? My face chart? My invites?
This is where you need to go.
The brilliant, always-stylish, Vanessa York’s Shindig Shoppe.
She is my design fairy godmother for all of your beautiful graphic needs.

Amy Opoka Photography
“Who did your photos?”
I get this. A LOT.
Amy Opoka did them and she has done lots more where that comes from.
Music, fashion, editorial, headshots, live performances: she’s your girl.

Bonjour+Hola

I heart this blog. It has taught me so much. Like, to eat a bowl of corn the night before a photo shoot to make your skin glow.
And its creator, Elizabeth Baker, is one of my favorite ladies. I’ve known her since she was in high school and she has always been an icon waiting to happen.

Neiman Marcus
I grew up at Neiman Marcus Northpark. I jokingly refer to it as The Mothership. My first job was here, working for Trish McEvoy. I always visit when I’m home and, during a shopping job at the Beverly Hills location, I love grabbing lunch at their cozy restaurant.

Beauty Collection
Lots of shopping for my clients takes place here, both in-store and online. They’re accommodating, kind and super-informed.

Woo Skincare & Cosmetics
I worked at Woo, years ago, as a Bobbi Brown counter manager and helped introduce the Armani Beauty line to Nashville, as Armani’s Counter Manager.
More importantly, you can find almost everything I write about at Woo!

Uptown Country Home
Can’t get enough of the darling home decor that Jenny offers at her adorable store. If you like shabby chic, you will be in heaven here.