Makeup Mondays With Mario: Skin Care Superstars!

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Mario,

This is so exciting being able to ask you a question. I am a regular visitor to your blog and have learned so much about makeup from you. But my question isn't about makeup. It's about skincare. I'd love to know what your favorite skincare products (cleanser, moisturizer, scrub, makeup remover and lip balm) are and why.

Thanks and keep up the awesome work,
Jessica

Hi Jessica,

I have tons of favorites when it comes to skincare products. For cleansing, I love La Mer The Cleansing Foam; it feels amazing, smells good and spreads nicely. A less expensive and comparable cleanser (and one of my all time faves) is Olay Deep Cleansing Face Wash with Witch Hazel. A great, basic and cheap scrub is St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I try not to exfoliate every day though - it can be too harsh on your skin. Once or twice a week I use DDF's Glycolic 5% Exfoliating Wash. To remove your makeup, I recommend Josie Maran's Bear Naked Wipes. I love everything about them and I'm sure you will too. Wipe away makeup and then follow with your normal skincare routine.

When it comes to moisturizing, I tend to use products that are not too thick or oily. I love La Mer The Moisturizing Lotion. It comes in a pump and is more lightweight than the popular creme. Cetaphil is still a favorite of mine also and works well on a lot of skin types. Sara Happ's The Lip Slip is a very nice lip balm and you should try out her lip exfoliators that come in lots of great flavors. I also love MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioner w/ SPF 15. I saved the best for last - The Eye Balm by La Mer. It's a new eye cream and it's the creme de la creme! I use it like three times a day and I LOVE IT!

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,
Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

E! News-worthy Interview: Giuliana Rancic Q&A

As you probably know, I follow celebrities like it's my J-O-B. As such, E! News is must see TV in my house; Mr. Spoiled Pretty and I have an understanding that he is not allowed to touch the television remote between 7 and 7:30pm. So you can imagine how thrilled I when I recently got the chance to chat up Giuliana Rancic!

Giuliana has been anchor and managing editor of E! News since January 2005; and since that time, viewership has risen over 50 percent! In addition to her news anchoring duties, she often hosts red carpet events like the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. The award-winning journalist also stars in the Style Network's real-life romantic comedy Giuliana & Bill, which follows Giuliana and her husband Bill as they juggle high-profile careers and marriage while living apart on opposite coasts.

Giuliana, quite literally, lives in makeup and designer duds - which makes her the perfect candidate for a Spoiled Pretty profile. Read on for her favorite fashion finds and how she always manages to always look so cute and camera ready...

SP: When did your fascination with fashion and beauty begin?
GR: I have loved makeup since I was a little girl. I come from a stylish Italian family so we were allowed to wear makeup at a very young age. I would say I started wearing makeup in 7th grade and I have loved fashion since I was about 10 years old.

SP: What is your everyday beauty routine?
GR: I shoot every day, all year round, so I wear makeup from 8am to 10 pm at night. 14 hours straight!!! So my cleansing regimen is super important to me. In the morning, I wash my face with Patricia Wexler, MD Universal Cleansing Lotion. It is very mild and perfect for the morning. I use her moisturizer as well. It gives my skin a dewy and fresh look. At night I use DDF Blemish Cleansing Foam to wash off my makeup and keep my skin clear thanks to it's small dose of salicylic acid. I moisturize with Patricia Wexler's PM cream and use her eye cream as well. Then I put on ChapStick Fresh Effects before I go to bed to moisturize my lips. I am obsessed with Patricia Wexler's products and I do not endorse her in any way. In fact, I have never met or spoken to her in my life but I would love to so I can thank her for making my skin look so darn great!

As for makeup, I start with L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I use Lorac Blush/Bronzer in Hot & Spicy for a great glow. Then I line my lips with MAC liner and use ChapStick Fresh Effects Green Tea Mint before my lipgloss as the perfect base. It tingles while it moisturizes so I love using it.

SP: What are the five beauty products that you can't live without right now?
GR: I always have my Lorac bronzing blush for a nice glow and my ChapStick Fresh Effects. I love the tingle it gives me while it moisturizes my lips. I can't have chapped lips on the red carpet when I'm standing 6 inches from a celebs face so I love this product because it gives me an instant beauty boost and is an amazing base for lip gloss and lipstick. I love my Patricia Wexler, MD Universal Cleansing Lotion and Moisturizer to give me great skin. I am also loving fake lashes right now. I use Andrea or Ardell from the drugstore. I have learned how to put them on perfectly so now it only takes me a few minutes and gives me amazing eyes. Fake lashes are the secret to a gorgeous eye!

SP: What is your signature fragrance?
GR: My signature scent is Quelques Fleur. I've worn it since I was in high school. It's a classic scent that I have never gotten tired of. My fragrance philosophy is to look for scents that are clean. Guys don't like anything too floral or bold. They love a girl to smell like she just walked out of the shower- clean and fresh. I spray it all over as well as my hair to make it smell great when Bill comes in for a hug.

SP: What was your most embarrassing fashion or beauty moment?
GR: The zipper on my dress broke minutes before I was to walk out to the Oscar red carpet two years ago! Thankfully, my backup dress was in my stylist's car on the way back to the designer, so he grabbed it and I did a quick swap.

SP: How has your look evolved over the years?
GR: I constantly change my hair color...platinum blonde, dark brown, warm brown, honey blond...I love changing my hair color every year. It keeps things interesting.

SP: What fashion trends are you loving and embracing right now?
GR: I just bought a few men's blazers in black and navy blue. They are by MM Couture. Very affordable and super stylish. I've been wearing them with a simple neon or bright t-shirt over super tight LNA stretch pants and my new above the knee Balenciaga black leather boots. They are equestrian style with a four inch heel and are very fitted to the leg and tall. So hot!!! I just got two tight leather motorcycle jackets, one in black and one in turquoise from the clothing company Secret Circus out of London. Love!

SP: What tips do you have for women who want star style on a budget?
GR: Shop at H&M, Forever 21 and Express. There is no reason to spend a lot of money on trendy items.

SP: What are three fashion accessories every woman should own?
GR: Tall leather black boots, a great trench coat, and a big, long scarf.

SP: Current handbag obsession?
GR: I love my new gray woven leather Cole Haan bag. It just came out and it's the perfect size.

SP: If you could only use one brand of makeup for life, which would it be?
GR: MAC. Most of my makeup is from MAC. I wear makeup for up to 14 hours a day and MAC stays on my skin the longest.

SP: What’s the best beauty tip/secret you’ve ever heard?
GR: Moisturize! My mother is in her late 60s and looks 50! She has moisturized her entire body, especially her face, every day of her life and it shows!

Watch Giuliana Rancic on E! News, weeknights at 7 and 11:30pm. She's also very active on Twitter...follow her tweets at twitter.com/GiulianaRancic.

Thanks for such a fun and informative interview, Giuliana. See you at 7!

Who Is Jenn Falik?

If there was a Jeopardy-style game show with beauty categories, I’m pretty confident that I could go on a Ken Jennings-esque streak. But there’s one gal who might give me a run for my money.

Beauty savant Jenn Falik is the go-to resource for the media when it comes to learning the latest tips, trends and must-haves. From teaching her kindergarten classmates the merits of Bonne Bell Lip Balm, to spending her free time in college helping friend (and friends of friends) put together the perfect first date outfit, Jenn Falik has been a go-to for style advice pretty much since she started talking.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and taking a job on Wall Street, Jenn quickly realized that her talents were much better spent advising on clothing and makeup than consulting on credit card marketing. So she embarked on a career in fashion and beauty, as a publicist. In working with some of the most prestigious brands in the world, Jenn hones her skills at predicting and interpreting trends. It is a combination of her insider circle, her ability to dole out practical advice and her natural instinct to share everything she learns with everyone she knows, which led Jenn to become a style and beauty expert.

If you’re a product junkie who owns a television, you’ve likely seen Jenn sharing her tips on The View, The Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, E! News and The Tyra Banks Show.

I recently had an opportunity to pick Jenn’s beauty-filled brain…and the girl knows her stuff. So if your beauty routine's in jeopardy (baby), read on…

SP: When did you first fall in love with beauty?
JF: When I started working in Beauty PR about 8 years ago. I always liked buying new products and playing around with makeup, but I think it became a passion (borderline obsession) once I started really learning all that goes on behind the scenes in the beauty industry, and seeing what significant differences the right beauty routine can make in a woman’s self esteem.

SP: What is your beauty philosophy?
JF: Look at your beauty routine as an extension of your personality - and stock your makeup bag with products that you love. It isn’t about the trend of the moment, it is about your interpretation of the trend of the moment that fits with your style and as such, every product you own becomes a timeless beauty staple.

SP: Any celebrity girl crushes, in terms of beauty?
JF: Kate Hudson. I love her natural California girl beauty- the beachy hair, the glowing skin.

SP: What are the five products that you can't live without right now?
JF: Stila Kitten Eyeshadow: I have been using every single day since I was in high school and don’t plan on stopping- ever.

Pond’s Clean Sweep Original Clean Wet Cleansing Towelettes: They remove every ounce of makeup - even waterproof mascara. Love waking up and not seeing makeup smeared all over my pillow!

Lipstick Queen Shine Red Sinner Gloss: Just looking at that giant tub of delicious cherry colored gloss makes me smile. It is the ultimate lip indulgence for a true beauty junkie.

Lancome PowerBoost Lash Primer: This is the perfect first step to full lashes. People always ask me if I have false lashes on- I don’t. It is a combo of this topped off with Stila MAJOR Major lash. I am not coordinated enough to put lashes on!

Priori Advanced AHA Hand & Body Revitalizing Lotion: A great daily moisturizer for this time of year to refresh and brighten skin for short summer dresses and beach days.

SP: What’s the best beauty tip/secret you’ve ever heard?
JF: I once read a tip from a celebrity makeup artist about always applying your bronzer in the shape of a 3 on each side of your face. So, you hit your forehead, cheeks and jawline evenly for a super natural looking all-over glow.

SP: What was your most embarrassing beauty moment?
JF: There were a few really bad perms in middle school, and on more than one occasion in the early 90’s I overdid the Sun In. All of my beauty mistakes have been hair-related, come to think of it. Oh, wait - I did go through a phase where I was obsessed with dewy skin and used to put way too much shimmer balm on every single day. Now I look at photos and realize I actually looked really sweaty, not gorgeously glow-ey.

SP: Which beauty trend(s) do you wish would die?
JF: Sparkly body lotion - the kind with glitter in it. Come to think of it - anything with glitter in it.

SP: What products are must-haves for summer?
JF: MISSION Skincare Fast-Drying Sunscreen SPF 30+ Spray is perfect for me because it is effortless, and I can get lazy on hot summer days. The spray is light and gives you full coverage, and it isn’t sticky at all. Plus, even when I get kinda sweaty, this stays on.

HissyFit Saving Face SPF 50. This new brand from Australia boasts an amazing tinted moisturizer with high SPF and anti-aging benefits. It is a little thicker than my usually tinted moisturizer, but I feel like that is what gives it such staying power.

DDF Pedi Cream has become part of my nightly beauty ritual- I slather it on before bed and throw on socks in an effort to have somewhat smooth heels for summer sandals.

Essie Polish in Lovie Dovie is going to be by go-to shade this summer because it goes seamlessly from the beach to a black tie wedding- just bright enough to be exciting, but not too bright so as to be distracting.

June Jacobs After Sun Hydrator is the perfect post-sun product, and even though I don’t lay out, I use it after being outside too long at the never ending series of outdoor summer weddings I seem to be attending. It refreshes my skin, hydrates and, best part, helps prolong the life of your tan.

GO SMiLE Touch Ups are my secret weapon against pigging out this summer. I have somewhat of an insatiable appetite, and that is a killer when it comes to swimsuit season. So, after eating, I use one of these and my mouth feels so clean and minty, I have no interest in going back for seconds. Plus, it polishes my teeth so they make my itty-bitty hint of bronze look that much more tawny.

SP: If you could only patronize one beauty brand for life, which would it be?
JF: Stila. I love everything about it. The products, the packaging, everything. I always say if I was re-incarnated as a makeup brand, I would be Stila. My daily routine would be Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF15, Convertible Color in Poppy, Sun SPF15 bronzer, 24K Smudge Pot, Kitten Eyeshadow and MAJOR Major lash mascara. Top it off with a touch of the Hair Refresher in Crème Bouquet for both style and scent. Perfectly pretty.

For more beauty words of wisdom, be sure to visit Jenn's blog and check out her media clips!

Do The Dew: DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew SPF 15

I was very excited to try DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew SPF 15, considering it was recently named a finalist in the CEW 2009 Beauty Awards. And after testing the moisturizer, I agreed with CEW's assessment, as I found that the product did - indeed - deliver on all of its promises.

The ultra-lightweight formula absorbs quickly and doesn’t clog pores. It protects skin from UVA and UVB rays without that telltale white finish that many SPF-infused products leave behind. Since it’s oil-free and fragrance free, Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew SPF 15 is ideal for those with sensitive skin and acne. It’s man-friendly too. And with warmer weather just around the bend, I’ll definitely be using this product when I move my heavier winter formula to the back of my bathroom cabinet for its summer hibernation.

But despite this ringing endorsement, there is one minor caveat. With a name like Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew SPF 15, you might expect that the moisturizer would give your skin a dewy effect. At least, that’s what I assumed. It doesn’t. This moisturizer is going to quench your skin’s thirst, but the finish is definitely matte...which is great for shiny sistas like me.

DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew SPF 15 is $38-$40 and is available at Beauty.com, BlueMercury, DermStore, Sephora, Ulta and ddfskincare.com.

Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Three years ago, Bath & Body Works abandoned its single brand, single price point strategy when it started carrying popular lines like C.O. Bigelow, Frederic Fekkai, and Wexler. Neil Fiske, then CEO, said of the change, "This represents another step in the transformation of Bath & Body Works from raspberry shower gel to a modern apothecary of beauty and well-being."

Now, Bath & Body Works is reinventing itself, once again, by cutting its outside vendor list by 50%. Upscale brands that have left, or are slated to leave flagships by the end of the year include DDF, Peter Thomas Roth, Korres, Juvena, and The Savannah Bee Company. "We still feel very strongly about third-party brands and continue to carry them. We continue to look for not only new items within the brands we carry, but also additional brands," current CEO Diane Neal said. "I personally think we over-assorted ourselves,” she added.

So if your favorite brand is getting the ax, visit your nearest Bath and Body Works store now and adopt a few soon-to-be homeless beauty products.

Laying It On Thick

A few weeks ago, I was in C.O. Bigelow - zipping through the aisles like a Whirling Dervish. A helpful salesgirl, seeing I was overwhelmed by the plethora of products, approached me and asked if I needed help finding anything in particular. Usually I coyly answer, "Just looking" - hoping that the salesperson backs up and leaves me to my own devices (eg- testing 20+ shades of lipgloss on the back of my hand).

But this time, I actually needed some assistance. I explained that I turn into an oil slick during the summer and I'm sick of looking shiny all of the time. So she patiently guided me around the store, suggesting cleansers, toners, and other oil-obsorbing products. I purchased a few, and when she rang me up, she threw a good amount of samples in my bag as well. Now that's what I call customer service (shout out to my local C.O. Bigelow store in the King of Prussia Mall)!

When I returned home, I ripped open my bag to see what beauty booty this girl had bestowed upon me. I was excited to see that she had included DDF's Daily Matte SPF 15, which I had heard such wonderful things about. Sephora describes the product as, "Ideal daily care for oil and combination skin, this lightweight, shine reducing fluid is oil-free and boasts a powerful SPF 15." Well, when Sephora says it's powerful - they ain't just whistlin' dixie.

I applied the Daily Matte immediately after washing my face, and I had planned to follow with a lightweight foundation. As I started smoothing the product onto my face, I couldn't help but be a bit turned off my how thick it felt. I then became more annoyed that it kind of sat on top of my skin, rather than melting into it - the way I thought it would. In fact, to be perfectly honest, it was like slathering sunblock onto my face. Now I realize that the product contains sunscreen, but so do plenty of other facial mositurizers and treatments...and they don't leave me with a Coppertone complexion.

My skin hated this product so much that I couldn't bear it on my face for more than 5 minutes. I had to wash it off and start all over. Don't you just hate when that happens?

Hence, I'm going to have to give Daily Matte SPF 15 two (manicured and Essie-polished) thumbs down. But don't think I'm hating on DDF products...I absolutely love their Sulfur Therapeutic Mask, which helps to clear blemishes, clogged pores, acne, and seborrhea.