Tag Archives: skin

Beauty Beat on The Moll Anderson Show: Sunscreen Superheroes

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Well, I know you’ve heard it time and time again. But sunscreen is a MUST!
With skin cancer affecting every 1 out of 5 americans, not using sunscreen is a risk you can’t afford to take.

That’s why I was happy to share my Sunscreen Superheroes on my Beauty Beat on The Moll Anderson Show a few weeks ago.

Sunscreen Superheroes on Beauty Beat on The Moll Anderson Show on SiriusXM

 

Take a listen below to my latest Beauty Beat on The Moll Anderson Show on SiriusXM to hear my skin-saving sunscreen tips and favorites!

Beauty Beat 6-10-13 Sunscreens for Summer

*And be sure to catch my Beauty Beat on The Moll Anderson Show on SiriusXM Channel 246 every Saturday at 2pm EST/5 pm PST!

 

xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What product is your sunscreen superhero? 

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask

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I have always been the mini makeup guru for my friends. As far back as 8th grade, I was always doing their makeup, giving beauty advice and entertaining them with my passion for products.

So, imagine my giddy delight when my college roomie, Holly, sent me an email about a line of products she had fallen in love with! Who is this love affair with?

Rodan + Fields and she loved the line so much that she started working for them! Now, that’s love!!

So when she mailed me the Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask, I was crossing my fingers that I would love it as much as she would. And I did!

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask

Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask is a creamy, kaolin clay-based cleansing mask that dries in no time (two minutes flat), draws impurities from pores while retaining skin’s moisture levels. Fine dimethicone micro-beads gently promote cell turnover, smoothing skin and strengthening the skin’s barrier (4.2 oz for $41.00).

I applied it to my dry, dirty skin, left it on for about a minute, then rinsed with warm water.

Beauties, it did the job!!

I was left with clean pores, thoroughly cleansed skin and a nice little glow with no irritation to my sensitive skin, whatsoever.

Love that!

While it is gentle enough to use daily, you guys know my policy on that, right?

A few times a week max unless you’ve got some serious skin concerns.

So try it for yourself and see if you love R+F as much as Holly and I do.

And Holly, I want some more R+F results! Can’t wait to place my order!!

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What skincare line do you have a love affair with? 

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Guest post by NamiMScott.com – Taking Care of your skin

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Happy Tuesday, BeautyFrosting beauties!
For In-My-Tub-Tuesday today, I’m thrilled today to share my favorite new blog with you:
NamiMScott.com

You may recognize Nami as my most-featured Whatcha’ Wearin’ Wednesday girl. While being one of the most stylish people I know (she’s a big style icon for me), she is also a ridiculously gifted writer, a talented illustrator & art designer, an amazing photographer, a beauty & hair expert and a good friend to boot. She’s also an amazing shoe shopping fairy godmother who helped me pick out some new shoes yesterday!

You might also recognize her from the interview she did with me for her blog, LAdies. Her sage advice has led me to referring to her as “Naminy Cricket”.

And now you can receive some of her sage advice too. Well, actually, this particular advice is courtesy of her mom, Mama Matsuo.

Enjoy! And then head on over to NamiMScott.com to see other musings this muse has going on! I love her to bits.

***

Mama Matsuo Musing #2: The Skin You’re In

It’s time for another installment of “Mama Matsuo’s Musings” where I get to tell you about my chic Japanese mother’s sage advice. So, here we go…

I know what you’re thinking. “Duh.”It’s something we’re told to do all the time. Fashion magazines, health magazines, beauty blogs. Everyone is talking about skin. It’s our biggest organ and the one people see right away. What kind of idiot wouldn’t take a minute to give it a little TLC? No one’s an idiot. Life is crazy enough as is, so it’s understandable that doing all this extra self-care is the last thing on your list of priorities. (It’s probably somewhere between getting your tweezers sharpened & going through that stack of mail you’ve been meaning to organize – guilty as charged.)
But, seriously, skincare can take up precious hours of your day and you have to be diligent. None of that “I’m too tired to take my make-up off. I need to just sleep.” or the famous express washing of the face that’s basically you scrubbing at your face like it’s a washboard for 30 seconds and rinsing it off with the foolish assumption that you’ve rid your pores of all those youth-killing offenders.
I learned very early on, by watching my mother, that taking care of your skin is a process and one that, when you get into it, you can really enjoy and luxuriate in. And I’m not just talking about your face, folks. You need to take care of all the skin on your body. I mean, having a youthful face and a leathery beef-jerky-esque body would be a little disturbing, no? Yes. Yes, it would be disturbing. Don’t be that person who disturbs other people.
So, let’s start with the steps:
For your body:  

Dead Skin Demolition:

I didn’t pick this up from my mother, but she would approve. Dry brushing is basically a way to slough off dead skin pre-shower while your skin is still…dry. (Yes, it’s not a misnomer.) Using a brush, you gently brush the skin (see? really not a misnomer) in small strokes from toes to chest and fingers to chest. You want the brushing to always go towards the heart. Don’t know if this is an old wives tale, but I’m willing to keep with tradition. Think of it this way, scabs come off easier when they’re dry. Dead skin is the same. 

Here’s the Scrub:

I use a good ol’ exfoliating towel in the shower. The same kind of towel I’ve been using since I was about 5. They have them at Japanese markets. Just textured enough to catch any remaining dead skin, but not so textured that you come out of your shower looking like a burn victim. You want to get the dead skin off…NOT the live skin. That can stay. 

Hot & Steamy…and Moisturized:

Wait! Do not open the bathroom door just yet! Dry yourself off and let the steam hang out for a little while so you can properly moisturize your body. The minute you open that door, that loving steamy air is gone and in its place, mean, drying, cold, relentlessly harsh air that will steal your body’s moisture and NEVER GIVE IT BACK. Protect yourself from that situation by slathering on the moisturizer and locking that water into your skin before opening the door. Also, invest in a good body moisturizer. “Good” doesn’t mean expensive. “Good” means “works for my skin type.” I use LIERAC Hydrofilian Anti-Dessechement.

Something’s Afoot:

Oh, puns! How I love puns. I just want to say, don’t forget about your feet. We’re so busy standing on them that we forget to take care of them. Get a pumice rock and give your footsies a good exfoliating at least once a week. They’ll thank you. Trust me.

For your face: 
Remove the Excess:
Before you start getting into washing your face, remove all the extra gunk GENTLY. No using semi-decent make-up remover and then staring at your eyelashes a centimenter away from the mirror to neurotically pick off bits of waterproof mascara. I’m actually a big fan of straight-up jojoba oil (you can get it at your local natural foods shop). A tiny little puddle in your palm and a dip of your finger tip will melt through any type of make-up. So, use it to remove all the excess stuff first.  
No Express Lanes:
Remember that thing I was telling you about earlier? About scrubbing your face for 30 seconds and then calling it a wash? (MORE PUNS!) Don’t do it. First, get yourself a facewash that you love. (And not because it smells good, but because it works well for your skin.) If you have dry skin, consider a cleansing milk or cleansing oil. For oilier skin, consider a lathering kind. I use Shiseido’s White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam. I lather it up really well in my palm and then gently apply it to my face, keeping away from my eyes and massaging in small circles. I concentrate on my nose area because, girl, I’ve got some serious blackhead issues there. Do that for about a minute. Trust me. You want a real cleaning. Then I take a gentle swipe at my eye area (no heavy rubbing here, please) and rinse with lukewarm water. Soda Scrub (a Dub Dub):
So, I’m a wimp and chemical peels scare me. I don’t like melting things off my face and microdermabrasion always leave me looking like I stood in a windy desert for two hours (complete with particles lodged in my teeth & eyebrows.) So, I go the old fashion way with a little secret. I use baking soda as a facial scrub. Once a week, I gently rub it on my face before I wash it. Just put some in your palm, add a tiny bit of water to make it pasty (I know, it sounds lovely) and then start rubbing…just not too hard. The skin on your face is already a little thin, so don’t go having a massage party. It’s still abrasive. Then rinse and wash as usual. Trust me, your face will be porcelain smooth.It’s All or Nothin’:When it’s time to moisturize your face, don’t skimp. The worst is being all, “oh, this moisturizer is so expensive, I should just use half the amount I need. It’ll last longer that way.” Yeah, great. Your moisturizer will last twice as long, but will be half as effective. I, personally, need to slather it on at night. Partly because my face gets dry naturally and because I live in Los Angeles where there’s no such thing as humidity. I become, in essence, slightly shriveled.. Constant fans & air conditioning don’t help the cause, but further my downward spiral into dehydration, rendering me a more wrinkled, slim-jimmy version of myself. Not good. If you’re going to use moisturizer…use it. F’real. I’m a fan of Shiseido’s White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion for night & Lierac Intiatic Fluid for day. (No giving me flack on not using SPF. That’ll come later down the list!)Eye Creams:If you’re prone to a crow’s foot or ten, consider an eye cream. I actually like crows feet. I feel like it’s a dignified and honest sign that someone has smiled a great deal in their lifetime. I probably need to use eye cream, but haven’t invested in one yet. If someone has a recommendation, I’m all ears. My mother is probably shaking her head right now. Yes, yes. I know. I need to get eye cream. Geez. OK!

For Your Skin Overall
You’ve Heard It All Before:
Ready for the obvious stuff now? Hey, eat healthy & keep hydrated! (Duh. Yes, I know, but it’s part of Mama Matsuo’s list, so I’m putting it in here.) Your skin is your body’s health billboard. Eat well, take your vitamins, and drink tons of water and you’ll become the Vegas of health in no time. Ok, you knew this already, so I can move on.
Enough of the Puff:
Don’t smoke. (Insert a long sigh here.) I’m guilty of this. I know, I know. Horrible. Dastardly. How could I? I actually quit for a year, but one trip to Paris did me in and I was sprinting to the Gare de Lyon by the evening of my first night, so badly did I was to have a cigarette with my cafe creme. I can beat myself up over it all day long, but the bottom line is that I know I need to quit and if you haven’t picked up the habit, then awesome. If you are smoking, make like me and promise yourself you’ll quit soon for the sake of yourself & everyone around you. Mama Matsuo is very displeased about this one.
(Don’t) Burn, Baby, Burn:
Sunscreen. Yes, you know that already too. I’m a big believer in BB cream. Coverage, extra moisture, and SPF (plus some other antioxidants & fun stuff depending on which one you try – I love Dr. Jart+’s Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++) in one product. Perfect. Slap that on and you’ve evened your skintone, blocked out the sun’s rays, and given yourself a little extra protection from dryness. And I’m a fan of Aveeno’s Continuous Protection, SPF 70 sunblock for the rest of me (as much as I want that beef jerky body – that was a joke.)
Hot, Hot, Horrible:
Hey, I love a hot shower as much as the next person, but it turns out that that’s a baaaad move for anyone who wants to have hydrated skin. Hot water just strips away all the essential oils and leaves you parched. So, do yourself a favor and shower with lukewarm water. It’s just as good at rinsing away the soap, but it won’t rinse away your youth! (Yes, I know that was a bit dramatic, but I’m trying to make a point here.)
Aaaaaand I think that covers it. With enough practice, you’ll be able to do all of these things in your sleep. Or, at least, I hope you learn to because I still think that showering is such a waste of time. Why can’t I just have an auto-clean button and do other stuff in the meantime? (Are you getting a better idea of how neurotic I am yet?)
Anyway, why do I feel like this is such important advice? Because my mother, despite being in her mid-60’s, still looks like she has the skin of a 30 year old. I have to concentrate really hard on pointing out any wrinkles…even when she smiles! (Ok, ok, her Asian genetics help, but still…and, NO, she hasn’t had any work done.) So, for all of you out there who haven’t taken the time to take care of your skin, it’s ok. I’m not going to chide you, but I highly suggest you start as soon as you can.
I can’t promise that every time you take care of your skin you’ll feel like you’re in some sort of beauty advertisement (cue the background music & British female voice-over talking about the newest skin technology) and I definitely won’t promise that you’ll love every minute of it. (Between an extra few minutes of sleep & properly washing my face, I still would love to choose the former.)
In the end, however, you’ll be thankful you took the time when you’re 90 & people are cooing about how you don’t look a day over 70. Now, go forth & pamper yourself like you mean it!
***
Thanks Nami!!
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What sage beauty advice did your mom pass on to you that you have never forgotten? 

Once a Trish girl, always a Trish girl…

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Once a Trish girl, always a Trish girl.

That’s what I always say.

Once a Trish girl, always a Trish girl... (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)

One of my friends, Kristin, even prides herself on the fact that she buys nothing but Trish save for one beloved lip balm. She is a true Trish devotee. Thanks to me.

So who is this “Trish”?

Trish McEvoy, don’t you know?

I started out with Trish and, it seems only proper, that I have come full-circle with BeautyFrosting.

Here’s my Trish story interlaced with my latest Trish find/fetish!

When I was 17, I was introduced to the Trish McEvoy line, by Lori Nelson, at Neiman Marcus and it was love at first sight.
Trish was all about lining with powder (Wow!!), like my makeup god Kevyn Aucoin‘s style, and her super-simple “press & wiggle” technique made me a comely convert.
As an 18-year-old dedicated Trish devotee, my Mom scheduled an appointment for me for the Trish McEvoy fall cocktail makeup event at the Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus Northpark (I refer to it as The Mothership).
I got to meet Trish McEvoy, in the flesh, and you would have thought I was meeting God.
I gushed to her about how amazing her products were and how brilliant the techniques were. I. Couldn’t. Stop. Talking.
She asked me, on the spot, if I wanted to work for her as a makeup artist.
OHMYGOODNESS!!!!! OHMYGOODNESS!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!
It was as if God asked me to be an angel.
YES!!!YES!!!YES!!!!
So that’s how my professional story started.
From there, I went on to become a Trish McEvoy freelance makeup artist in Dallas (during my summer and winter breaks in college) and then in Los Angeles to supplement (oh, who are we kidding, support) my fledgling acting career. From there, I became a celebrity personal beauty shopper and then BeautyFrosting was born in March! Trish made quite an impact.
In May, I found myself at home in Dallas for my friend Jenny’s wedding. At her bridal shower, I couldn’t stop raving about her gorgeous lashes, flawless skin and subtly polished makeup look. When I asked who did it, the Bride-to-be said, “Well, you know who it is! You introduced me to her! TRISH, of course!!! Linda at Trish McEvoy”!
Before the wedding the following weekend, I had to hightail it to the nearest Trish counter with my favorite shopping buddy, Mom, by my side. My old friend, and former boss, Linda Nunez, was there! A Trish reunion!! It felt like home!
She introduced me to the Ultimate Beauty Organizer and it is, in one product, every reason I fell in love with Trish to begin with:
Gorgeous!!
Trish McEvoy Ultimate Beauty Organizer (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)
Superb brushes!

Superb Brushes! (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)

Beautiful, travel-friendly & dressing table-friendly!

Travel-friendly & Dressing Table-friendly! (Photograph by Amy Opoka Photography)

Gorgeous color, smooth skin & expert application!

The Coral Bow Petite Makeup Planner! (Photo by Amy Opoka Photography)

And, as with any Limited Edition Trish McEvoy Ultimate Beauty Organizer, I found a treasure trove of beauty essentials in her Nude Quilted Ultimate Beauty Organizer. Included here ( $495, USD retail price):

• Brush Collection including Nude quilted brush clutch with nude interior, Brush Mistake Proof Sheer Application, Brush 37 Bronzer,

Brush 65 Angled Contour, Brush 29 Tapered Blending, Brush 40 Medium Laydown, Brush 50 Angled Eye Lining

• Coral Bow Petite Makeup Planner including Petite Page, Translucent Finishing Powder, NEW Golden Glow Face Color, Small

Refillable Double Decker Compact, Glaze Eye Shadow White Peach, NEW Luminous Eye Shadow Rose Gold, Glaze Eye Shadow

Glamorous, Eye Definer Arabian Nights, Eye Base Essentials Bare*, Instant Eye Lift*, Intense Gel Liner Arabian Nights*, High

Volume Mascara, Treatment Foundation SPF 15 Beige*, Lip Liner Barely There, NEW Flawless Lip Color Perfect Coral, Beauty

Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss Sexy Petal*, Classic Lip Color Natural, Pocketable Fragrance Trish

• Skincare Essentials including Advanced Protective Shield Moisturizer SPF 40 (full size), and deluxe travel sizes of Gentle Cleansing

Wash and Beauty Booster® Serum, Trish signature headband

• Professional Cotton Swabs

• Professional Powder Puff

• Professional Sponge

And the finished look!

The finished look! (Photo by Amy Opoka Photography)

Over the years, my tastes may have broadened, but my passion for Trish never fades.

I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us this Fall!! CANNOT WAIT!!!

* NOTE: The Nude Ultimate Beauty Organizer is no longer available but the products prettily housed inside it are ripe for your picking at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Woo or online.

xoxo,

BF

 

BF Asks: Are you a Trish girl?

For more of Amy’s fabulous photos, please visit http://amyopoka.com/