Melissa's Beach Bag Must Haves for Summer 2011

During the summer this Pro travels a lot! I spend most of it in Europe and Canada, but I am never far from the water and when I finally take my holiday during the month of August, I live on my family's island surrounded by the St. Lawrence River. Besides a huge floppy hat and my iPad, my beach bag "must haves" consist of products that pull their weight during all types of summer weather!

I always start with skincare because this Pro doesn't want to feel like I have to put on a full-face of makeup to look great in the summer! My skin needs to feel clean, fresh, moisturized and protected.

I cleanse my face with the Clarisonic Pro when I am home, but when I travel I bring my Clarisonic Mia. It is more compact and the charger takes up less room in my "essentials" bag. I use it in combination with my Jan Marini Age Intervention Gentle Cleanser. These two products help my skin look and feel incredible during hot, dry summer months, which gives me the freedom to choose to wear less or more makeup depending on my mood and not my skin's condition.

Sunscreen is a staple in my bag all year and Jan Marini's Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant, SPF 30/Waterproof is my favorite. I mix this product with a little bit of my Purely Cosmetics Mineral Foundation in California Blonde and viola! Instant tinted moisturizer! Jan also makes an amazing Body Sunscreen, which is another product you will never catch me without!

I have also fallen head-over-flip flops in love with the same tinted moisturizer that Cathi wrote about in the previous post, Revision Skincare's Intellishade SPF45/Matte. Now, I didn't believe this when I was told about it, but both Cathi and I have put it to the Pro test! This product comes in one color shade...yes, you heard me right! No need to try to match your skin tone because this product does it for you through some mircale technology. So, if you are light, medium, tan, olive, dark or deep, we all use the same tube! Apply, wait for about 5-10 minutes and like magic the color is a perfect match without the worry of a line of demarcation at the jaw! All I have to say is...it's about time!

I really try not to use too much setting powder in the summer, but if you have oily skin or you happen to be....cough, cough...of a certain age and are creating oil due to changing hormone levels, Purley Cosmetics Oil Absorb Powder can help. I like to lightly dust a thin layer over my minimal summer makeup just to take down the shine and I find that it helps to minimize touch-ups during the day.

Speaking of touch-ups, you will always find Clean and Clear's Oil Absorbing Sheets in my beach bag! They are great for soaking up the oil around the nasal labial folds, chin and forehead eliminating the need to whip out a powder, which adds makeup on top of makeup. I don't know about you, but that makes me feel like my face is cracking in half, especially in the summer!

When I do decide to wear more makeup and I feel like I need a little more coverage to hide, in my case, a few broken capilliaries around my nose area, I turn to Vichy's NormaDerm Stick. It is a drying and concealing anti-imperfection makeup that makes your blemishes and other skin sins disappear by naturally camouflaging them. This product is also a treatment so using it on top of breakouts is recommended, however I do not approve of using makeup directly on top of any open sore, it will contaminate your makeup and can infect the wound. Instead, check out Pro MUA Kim Greene's Makeup Tips From The Set blog for a great idea on how to protect a healing "zit" before you conceal it with makeup!

Usually the only eye product I wear during the summer is a smudge of eyeliner very close to my lash line. I am loving Lise Watier's 24 Hour Glam Liquid Eyeliner in Brun, when I want a natural look or in Violet when I want something more colorful. When they say this liner is 24 hours...they mean it. It won't come off until you take it off. Totally waterproof, smudge proof and sweat proof. Other colors include: Noir, Vert and Bleu.

For those times when I want to wear all over color on my eyes, I love Make Up For Ever's Aqua Cream Shadow in Warm Beige, which is a very pretty champagne shimmer. This is another product that stays put all day and well into the night, plus it gives you a beautiful highlight, but won't make you feel overly made up.

When I go out in the evening I coat my lashes with waterproof mascara on both my upper and lower lashes. I always use my trusty, waterproof CoverGirl LashBlast in Black. It is my favorite because it doesn't run or smudge...ever!

I will use a cream bronzer for the cheeks in the summer and Chanel's Soleil Tan De Chanel is the best color for my skin tone. It gives me perfectly sculpted cheekbones and an overall, natural tan effect. Since I never tan my face, my neck and body are usually 1 to 2 shades darker, which means that I look strange if I don't use a bronzer. After many years of trying to find a great bronzer, this product gives me a gorgeous glow, blends evenly without streaking and doesn't look orange! Bravo! Worth every penny!

When I want to add a "pop" of color to my cheeks I like to use Napoleon Perdis' Cheek to Chic Blush Duo in Coral. I am loving this product because the two colors that come in the component are the perfect summer coral shades that match any skin tone. It is a powder product, but it is incredibly pigmented and has amazing staying power!

When I want to feel glamorous for a night out on the town, I apply highlight to my orbital bone area (the crescent moon shape which begins at the end of your eyebrow and continues along the very top of your cheekbone). I only use the best highlighter product in the industry...Gleam by Melanie Mills! This product is a staple in my professional makeup kit and personally, I also use it all over my body and on my cupid's bow to create the illusion of a fuller lip line. This product will warm up your skin tone if you are pale, provides an incredible glow if you have a great tan and gives off a beautiful sheen that is perfect for showing off your amazing stems (legs)! It dries completely so it won't transfer onto your clothing and will help camouflage unwanted cellulite! If you plan on baring any skin this summer, make sure that you purchase a tube of Gleam so that you can look your best during all those summer parties!

I think I need a 12-step program for my addiction to lip products! My bag is jammed with a barrage of them! This summer I am switching up between Vaseline's Rosy Lips, Youngblood's Lipgloss in Coy, Clinique's Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Mega Melon and Clarion's Instant Light Natural Lip Protector in 01. "Hi, my name is Melissa and I am obsessed with having a juicy pucker!" There, I said it!

Fekkai's Summer Hair Sun Bandana is a leave in conditioner that I toss in my beach bag and use after swimming. It has a heat activated, invisible UV shield that protects your hair and scalp when exposed to the sun. This product is oil-free and water resistant. For best results you should use this product on wet hair and then let your hair dry naturally.

After sun skincare is very important too and I don't negelect the fact that my body is craving moisture after hours in the sun. Voture Vu's On Holiday Skincare line is the best. Not only is it packed with essential vitamins, the amazing scent will propel you into true vacation bliss! I like to use this product all year because the smell alone triggers my brain into an instant calm state during stressful times!

This Pro's list might night be as long as my blog partner's, but I like to travel "light," leaves more room for shoes! Oh and speaking of shoes...have you guys heard of the flip flops called Tkees? I am obsessed! Their company slogan is..."wearable cosmetics for your feet!" These "slaps" have been seen all over Malibu and they come in a wide variety of colors. My favorite is French Pedicure 01, but I also love Bubblegum and Limelight!

We hope that all of our readers are having a great summer and we want to take this opportunity to thank you all for subscribing to IMPO. We are celebrating our 2 1/2 year blog-a-versary and are very proud to have dedicated people following us on this blog, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Iconic Beauty!

In my career this Pro has worked with all types of beauty. I see beauty in areas that others would not and I believe that every person has the ability to be beautiful regardless of the “gifts” bestowed on them by genetics!

Iconic beauty is, to me, a woman that personifies time. Usually these women are exceptionally gorgeous like Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, etc. This blog post will concentrate on the iconic personas of today because these women are still out “there” on our televisions, on our movie screens and in our magazines.

The women highlighted today are Pro favorites! Ask me why and I will answer…"because they keep it real!" They don’t pretend to be something they are not. These ladies are just that…ladies, but with, and pardon the expression, a set of “balls” on them that make this Pro envy their determination.

They are magnetic, passionate, powerful, successful, talented and yes…gorgeous!  These women are also all over the age of 60 and there is no slowing them down. Whether they are performing, fundraising or fighting for a cause politically, these women are iconic beauties with a style that we should celebrate.

Since this is first and foremost a beauty blog, I thought it would be appropriate to write a beauty breakdown on how to “get their look.” As you read this post you will notice a pattern. All of these breakdowns will contain age appropriate makeup recommendations. These mega stars don’t allow or want their makeup artists to overly make them up, unless the magazine spread or movie character calls for it.

Please don’t be fooled, just because this post is focusing on more mature women doesn’t mean that you can’t use the products listed regardless of your age. Everyone can wear a matte eye shadow or those with a slight shimmer and a nude lip does not have an age requirement!

Let’s begin with a lady that I had the pleasure to work with long ago…Sigourney Weaver. Ms. Weaver is 61 years young and is best known for her role as Ellen Ripley in the Ailen film series.  Other notable roles include Ghostbusters, Gorillas in the Mist, Working Girl and the most recent Avatar.

I am currently working with an actress that reminds me very much of Ms. Weaver. Her name is Reamy Hall and I always think of how Ms. Weaver’s natural bone structure, which Reamy has too, is perfect and that the need for a ton of makeup is totally unnecessary.

To get a natural, daytime appropriate look like the photo above, try the following products:

Skincare/Prep: Every good makeup starts with great skincare and prep.  Don’t make the mistake of investing in cosmetics without making certain that your skin is ready.  This means purchasing products that are right for your skin type.  If you are not sure what you need then visit a professional or even a cosmetic counter and test products before you buy.

Foundation: depending on your skin’s texture and tone you may want to invest in a more expensive foundation and purchase one that contains SPF protection.  I recommend the following from Chanel: Lift Lumiere, which visibly diminishes the look of wrinkles and fine lines and it controls shine without chalkiness. Vitalumiere if your skin suffers from fatigue and dehydration. If you are oily then try Mat Lumiere or if you have normal skin try Pro Lumiere. These foundations are best because of their blend-ability, wear-ability, coverage and they will not settle into lines or wrinkles.

Concealer: you will want to use a concealer that is also a treatment because you do not want that product settling into any fine lines around your eyes! This Pro recommends purchasing a concealer that is also an “eye brightener,” which will help disguise the appearance of wrinkles and deep creases. Try Jan Iredale’s Active Light Under Eye Concealer, which contains ingredients that will calm tired eyes and reduce puffiness while lightening up any dark areas.

Face Powder: set your makeup with a light dusting of face powder, but be careful not to over do it! Powder tends to settle into creases and can have a very flat effect on the face. Try Purely Cosmetics Diamond Perfect Finish Powder, this product contains real diamonds, which have a subtle reflective quality, but is free of shimmer. A very light dusting is recommended and gently buff into the skin using a soft buffer brush.

Contour: bronzer is used to sculpt cheekbones and to contour the jaw line. Using Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, which is a light cream-gel bronzer with a small, tapered blush brush, lightly apply toward the back of the cheekbone near the ear and blend down toward the nose, but stop before the nasal labial folds. Tip: you are trying to “lift” the face, not drag it down and the closer your bronzer or blush gets to your nose, can cause the appearance of “droopiness.” Blend and buff the bronzer into the skin diminishing any demarcation lines. You can also blend up onto the temples and into the hairline.

Cheeks: blush should be a light, peachy/pink tone either matte or with a slight shimmer. Eve Pearl’s Blush Trio in Sweet Cheeks is a perfect palette. Sweep a fan brush over all three colors and apply lightly on the cheekbone avoiding the apples of the cheeks. Remember the tip listed above, you do not want to bring your blush down near your nose. Keep the blush higher to create the appearance of a “lift.”

Highlighter: this product can be your BFF because Highlighters create a natural glow and bring a sheer, reflective light to the skin. Eve Pearl’s Bronzing Highlighter Trio (Classic) can be lightly swept along the orbital bone, down the nose and across the chin.

Eyes: Jane Iredale’s Perfectly Nude Eye Shadow Kit contains 5 shades of beautiful, age appropriate color for the lid, crease and brow bone area. The darker colors in this range can also be used as a soft bottom liner. Use Cream as an all over wash from lid to brow, blend Cappuccino into the crease and create a slight “V” shape in the outer corner and blend to erase any harsh lines. Use Antique Gold or Cream at the brow bone. Tip: line the lower inside waterline with a matte white or flesh-tone eye pencil. This is a great trick for opening the eyes and help to whiten the eyes when they are tired.

Eyebrows: make sure to fill in your brows! Choosing a color close to your hair color is best or have your brows tinted. Tattooing is a harsh look for more mature women and is not endorsed by this Pro! Try Laura Mercier’s Brow Definer, which is an innovative wax/gel formula that coats the hair lightly and because this product is a gel formula, it has a longer wear-ability factor. Apply with an angle brush.

Eyeliner: as we age our natural, dark lash line begins to fade leaving the appearance of sparse, light lashes that can instantly age our eyes. You will want to use a powder, pencil or gel liner and smudge into the upper lash line.

Mascara: plenty of black mascara, waterproof or not, will also help to bring out your eyes. Some women are embracing false lashes or even opting for eyelash extensions. All of which can be a benefit.

Lips: choose a lipstick that is hydrating with a little bit of plumper. This Pro loves Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Ultra Lipstick in Ginger. Tip: coordinate your lip and cheek color. If you are using a peachy/pinky blush tone then either a pinky or peachy color for the lips will work. Rose color seems to be a favorite for mature women, but certainly not necessary and if you are going for a coral, choose a deeper color and unfrosted! Lip pencil is optional, but use if your lipstick tends to bleed.

Here are a few more photos from the past that depict Ms. Weaver’s ageless beauty:

Moving on, here is a woman who has the “Midas touch!” Everything she does turns to gold or platinum! Barbara Streisand was born in 1942, which makes her 69 years young. She has won 2 Academy Awards, 8 Grammy Awards, 4 Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award and she has sold over 140 million albums worldwide!

This Pros all-time favorite Streisand movie is Funny Girl! I could watch it a thousand times and “Hello Gorgeous” are words that every woman should say to herself (out loud) when they look in the mirror!

To get Ms. Streisand’s simple yet sophisticated look from the photo above, I suggest the following products:

The recommendations listed above for skincare/prep, foundation, concealer and powder are the same.

Eyes: Dior’s 5-Color Eyeshadow-030 Incognito - these colors are incredibly soft and glide onto the eyes without tugging or smudging. You can build the intensity for day to night looks and you can line under the eyes creating a natural looking definition. Sweep Matte Beige from lid to brow and under the bottom lash line. Use Taupe Shimmer lightly in the crease. Warm Brown Shimmer should be blended into the upper lash line as liner.

Brows and Mascara recommendations are the same as above.

Cheeks: sometimes highlight and bronzer is all you need. Try Smashbox’s Step-By-Step Contour Kit - it will help you cheat genetics and it comes with an easy-to-follow guide that will ensure you place your bronzer (contour) and highlighter properly, just like a Pro!

Lips: M.A.C.’s Cremesheen Glass in Fashion Whim is a light beige, perfectly nude lip gloss that isn’t sticky or goopy!

Here are a few more photos from the past that highlight Ms. Streisand’s timelessness:

Last, but certainly not least, is an actress, political activist and fitness guru…the incredible Jane Fonda. Ms. Fonda is 73 years young and rose to fame in the 1960’s with films such as Barbarella. She tirelessly protested the Vietnam War and she describes herself as a liberal and feminist. As controversial as Ms. Fonda was back in the day, there is no denying that she is a powerfully strong woman and an incredible beauty.

To achieve Ms. Fonda’s flawless look from the photo above, use the following products:

Again, following the skincare/prep, foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer, contour/highlighter, brow and mascara products mentioned above with one addition:

During skincare/prep add Embryolisse’s Anti-Aging Re-Densifying Eye and Lip Contour Cream to your regime. This product is specifically designed to erase fine lines and deep wrinkles. Eyes will appear brighter, lips redefined and the face will overall appear younger.

Cheeks: Guerlain’s Blush G Serie Norie for a pop of color (notice the placement in the inspiration photo above).

Eyes: using two palettes from Elizabeth Arden – Color Intrigue Quad in Neutral Cashmeres and Color Intrigue Duo in Autumn Leaves to get the look. Begin with the lightest shade from the quad palette as an all over wash of color from lid to brow. Switch to the duo palette and use the peachy tone on the lid blending up into the crease. Switching back to the quad palette and use a combination of the taupe shade and the medium brown tone to create a crease and blend being sure to erase any harsh lines. Keep the darker shading only in the crease and away from the lid and brow bone. Back to the lightest shade from the quad palette as a brow bone highlight. The darkest shade in the quad palette can be smudge along the top lash line and the bottom lash line for eyeliner. If you find that this shade is too dark then switch back to the duo palette and use the deep brown shade instead.

Lips: line the lips using a natural toned lip pencil. Eve Pearl’s Lip Pencil in Cosmo is a perfect shade. Apply Smashbox’s Photo Finish Lipstick in Beautiful. Complete the look with Youngblood’s Lip Gloss in Demure.

Here are a few more photos spotlighting Ms. Fonda’s iconic beauty:

Pro Tip and Tricks: 

If you feel that you need more concealer on your cheeks, chin and around your mouth and nose because of age spots, sun spots or rosacea, then try Eve Pearl’s Salmon Concealer and Treatment. This product will erase and hide any discolorations. Blot on with a damp sponge and blend or stipple on using a pointed brush. Also, if you find that you need to touch up your face during the day, but don’t like using a pressed powder, switch to blot papers. These genius cloths will remove shine without adding makeup and they are sold in every drugstore!