See What’s Possible…with Neutrogena

“Because ‘beautiful’ is the ability to look in the mirror and BELIEVE that anything is possible.”

I love everything that Neutrogena's #SeeWhatsPossible campaign is about

I love everything that Neutrogena’s #SeeWhatsPossible campaign is about

I love the Oscars. I always have and I always will.

Because, to me, the Academy Awards are all about dreams coming true and memories being made.

When I watch them, I dream a bit bigger and have a bit more hope that my dreams will come true.

So, when I heard about Neutrogena’s new, powerful Neutrogena See What’s Possible” campaign, that will be making its broadcast debut at the 88th Academy Awards tomorrow, Sunday Feb. 28 (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC) I knew I had to be a part of it.

See, I know it’s my job on this planet to encourage people to live lives they love, to empower people to realize that their unique differences are what will make their dreams come true, and to help women feel their most beautiful, simply by being their most authentic selves.

Through thousands of hours meeting with women around the world, Neutrogena uncovered a universal truth – women are stepping back to examine what’s possible in their lives so they can pursue their dreams.

Always on a mission to create, innovate, and rethink what’s possible in skincare, Neutrogena identified this shared value and was inspired to launch its first-ever global campaign: “Neutrogena See What’s Possible.”

 

Voiced by Brand Ambassador and creative consultant Kerry Washington, the inspiring ad features real women following their passions and finding their purpose.

The empowering video brings to life the brand’s point of view on beauty, namely what really makes a woman beautiful is the ability to look in the mirror and know that anything is possible.

Neutrogena Brand Ambassadors including Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner and Julie Bowen, and beauty vloggers from seven countries will share words of encouragement in the brand’s first global digital video series.

Here in the United States, the brand has forged a partnership with Girls Inc. – an organization I’m a big fan of – whose mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Find your inspiration by viewing the campaign on the brand’s “Neutrogena See What’s Possible” website and Neutrogena YouTube channel, and discover inspirational content on the brand’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels.

You can also join the conversation by sharing your own personal stories and words of encouragement, and use those to empower other women across social media by using the hashtag #SeeWhatsPossible.

I also don’t think it’s an accident at all that I’m posting this video right before I go speak to 100 teen girls about living a life they love. Not an accident, at all.

We need more of this in the world, please.

For more information, visit here.

*This is a sponsored post by Neutrogena. While products or compensation were provided, the words and opinions are all my own. I never post about something I don’t believe in 100%. That’s just not who I am. Thank you, Neutrogena, for letting me be a partner in this powerful campaign.

On My Doorstep: A Beauty Bash Bundle From Nordstrom

A carefully curated surprise from Nordstrom, celebrating this Friday's Nordstrom Beauty Bash!

A carefully curated surprise from Nordstrom, celebrating this Friday’s Nordstrom Beauty Bash!

Oh, how I love surprises! And, carefully curated surprises? Well, they really float my boat. Consider my boat floated with this delivery from Nordstrom today, in celebration of their upcoming #BeautyBash this Friday, October 9th from 8-10 am.

The first 1000 customers will receive this oh-so-cute tote bag.  And, might I suggest a visit to the new Nordstrom Del Amo location in Torrance? It is GORGEOUS!! Visit Nordstrom.com/DelAmo for more details.

I’m loving that the Nordstrom Del Amo Beauty & Fragrance Director, Loredana Grama, personally selected these goodies for me – all of which are right up my alley – from Philosophy, Chantecaille, The Drybar, Laura Mercier, Supergoop, Glam Glow, Clarisonic, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Estee Lauder, Molton Brown, BKR & more.

You can get some of your very own VIP service by heading to Nordstrom and chatting with their Beauty Concierge or your very own Beauty Stylist. Now, it looks I have some playing to do…

xoxo,
Dawn

Be Our Guest: Getting #InstaGlam with Cover Girl at the VMAs 2014

I always wanted to be a Cover Girl. So when Cover Girl invited me to be their guest to get #InstaGlam for the VMAs and a day of primping, I felt like a long-held dream had come true.

But who knew that award show prepping and primping for a Cover Girl started so early? Even though the awards were to start at 6pm, my day started with an 8:30 am pickup from my delightful driver, Sam, who pumped the old school R&B while eating a homemade cupcake I had brought him from home.

Ready for a day of primping and VMAs fun with Cover Girl!

 

Next, I arrived at the W Hotel Westwood for a full day of primping with Cover Girl. I grabbed a cup of coffee and nibbled on a bit of breakfast as I showed my Adriana Papell gown to my celeb hairstylist for the day, Derek Peter (a coif god whose clients have included Chrissy Teigen, Katie Lowes and Kristen Bell) and told him of “my vision.” What was my vision exactly? Well, while most people opt for short and hip for the VMAs, I wanted to go old school glam to match my powder blue, floor-length Adrianna Papell gown. Think 60s-era Elizabeth Taylor meets 90s-era Catherine Zeta Jones. Derek knew JUST what to do. So he was off and running, giving me a slightly messier Veronica Lake wave. While my hair was pinned to set the waves, I grabbed a mimosa and headed over to sit in celeb makeup artist, Sage Maitri’s chair (an uber-talented makeup artist whose clients include Judy Greer, Hillary Kerr and Busy Phillips). After seeing my dress and Derek’s hair, Sage had a vision as well – sexy retro glam with a pop of blue-violet on the eye and a deeper mauvey-berry lip.

Being primped as a Cover Girl in my Adrianna Papell by makeup artist, Sage Maitri, as my Derek Peter waves set

 

Here are just a few of the delicious Cover Girl products she used on me to make me oh-so-glamorous. Not only were the colors rich, highly-pigmented and true but boy-oh-boy, did they last! They lasted from 12 pm til 11 pm that night. I kid you not.
Next up was a quick photo session before my fellow editors and beauty experts and I hopped on the most retrolicious, luxe party bus you’ve ever seen!

Feeling glamorous and confident while bringing old school glam to the VMAs, thanks to Cover Girl * dress: Adrianna Papell/ styling by Cirquelde/jewelry by AV Max NYC

 

With my friends/dates, Ning Chao and Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth at the VMAs at The Forum

Then it was showtime! And what a show it was!! Who were some of my faves? Well, naturally, Cover Girl Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 and Beyonce.

Cover Girl seriously thought of everything. We watched the show from the best seats in the house while noshing on popcorn and sipping some vino.

Thanks for the best seats in the house, Cover Girl!

And when I say Cover Girl thought of everything, I mean they thought of everything. Even late night! Yep. We arrived back at the hotel around 10:30 to platters of tortilla chips and frnech fries. No funnier sight I’ve ever seen than a bunch of gown-clad beauty editors chowing down a plate of french fries like they’d never seen food before!

Cover Girl seriously thought of EVERYTHING.

Thank you, Cover Girl, for a day I will never forget!
And wanna know a secret? I still dream of being a Cover Girl. Shhh…don’t tell.

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Which would have been your favorite part of this Day as a Cover Girl at the VMAs? The limo, the hair, the makeup, the party bus, the show or, um, the french fries?

Reality Born of A Dream: My Jouer Spring Sirens/ Troy Jensen Iconic Muses Shoot

Dear Jouer Cosmetics & Troy Jensen,
This is my love letter to you. Thank you for an amazing day on which I felt that my inner beauty was embraced just as much as the outer – and for making me feel truly, truly like an icon. It was a reality born of a dream and this dream-come-true has changed me forever. How? It’s made me believe that dreams do indeed come true and to never doubt the power of the dreams of your childhood. They are more potent than we know.

xoxo,
Dawn 

Yours truly as one of Troy Jensen's Iconic Muses for the Jouer Cosmetics Spring Sirens Shoot - makeup & photography by Troy Jensen, hair by Nikki Lee of 901 Salon, makeup products by Jouer Cosmetics (** Specific product details coming up next week)

Dear Readers,

When one of my all-time fave makeup lines, Jouer Cosmetics – invited me to be one of Troy Jensen‘s  Iconic Muses for their Jouer Spring Sirens shoot, I replied with an enthusiastic “YES!” faster than I’ve ever replied to anything in my life.

Cosmetics AND cookies? My fave!! Jouer-branded treats by Sweet E's BakeShop

I mean, I knew the genius of Troy’s work (his bevy of celeb clients include Miranda Kerr, Elle Macpherson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jewel and more) but never dreamed that I’d be one of his subjects.

Actually. That’s not true. I have always dreamed of a day like the one I had last Wednesday. See, as a 14-year-old girl in Dallas, Texas, I thought I looked like a boy – like my dad to be specific – and was obsessed with beauty and transformation and how it could make me become anybody else instead of the uncomfortable, insecure, cheesy 14-year-old that I was.

Allure magazine was my bible and Troy’s dear friend, Kevyn Aucoin was my god. I learned so much about beauty, women’s insecurities & strengths – and about myself – in those pages that I could have never learned in school. As professors, my parents wondered how on earth this useless knowledge would ever be helpful – but they continued to pay for the annual subscription because they saw my passion and they encouraged anything I was passionate about. Well, they needn’t wonder anymore if it was useless.

Back to last Wednesday. Shooting with Troy – as one of his Iconic Muses – for the Jouer Spring Sirens campaign was one of the most magical days of my life. Take Cinderella and Carrie Bradshaw, add in a double dose of my 14-year-old dream self and that’s what it was.

Before the transformation in my favorite new Hello Apparel tank!

Nikki Lee of 901 Salon took my yesterday-washed hair and added curls, volume and va-va-va-voom.

Nikki Lee's gorgeous work - curls for days & va-va-va-voom volume (and a few flowers in my hair courtesy of Troy)

After playing dress-up – and getting to try on a slew of gowns, I was dressed in a gorgeous gown from For The Stars Fashion House.

Playing dress-up with For The Stars Fashion House at the Jouer Spring Sirens / Troy Jensen Iconic Muses Shoot

 

Troy – the most amazing makeup artist, visionary and photographer dynamo – took one look at me and said he was inspired by Linda Evangelista, circa 1992.

Troy was inspired by Linda Evangelista circa 1992 for my supermodel siren look. Thank you, Inspiration. Thank you.

He ended up transforming me into his vision of Linda meets Cindy Crawford meets Monica Bellucci meets Sophia Loren – or as Troy said, “Linda Cindy Sophia Monica Evangelista.”

You want a supermodel? Well, I'm not one. But I can TRY to give you that supermodel pout!

 

They also said I looked like Demi Moore so um, thanks for including all of my icons from every decade. I’ll take it. Actually, I’ll take all of it. Because it’s not just the kind words and the magic you offered me that made this the most memorable day but the fact that I truly got to live out a lifelong fantasy.

Being adorned with roses by the inimitable Troy Jensen

Thank you for making my inner 14-year-old’s dream come true. I couldn’t have dreamed a dream this delicious. And I cannot thank Troy JensenChristina ZilberMeg Young and Jouer enough. I am so honored.

Selfie time! With the Founder & Creative Director of Jouer Cosmetics, Christina Zilber - whose external beauty is only matched by her internal beauty

Selfie time continues with the amazing Troy Jensen!

To your dreams coming true…

xoxo,
BF

A Note From BF: The image with Jouer on it has some Photoshop magic but all of the other images are raw. I think it’s important that you know this so you can discern between the dream and reality. Remember, no one is perfect. No one. But you are perfect just the way you are.