BellaSugar -- You're beautiful.

Paris and Her Fairy Dust Won't Be Underestimated

bellasugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:15:21 -0800

Paris Hilton was at Macy's San Francisco today, meeting an enormous throng of feverish fans to talk about her latest fragrance, Fairy Dust. Paris came up with the concept for the scent on her own. "I just always loved fairy tales," she explained. "I just wanted to make a fragrance that was magical and special." Consensus at Sugar HQ is that the fruity floral scent is more sophisticated than her last one, Can Can (which did fairly well in a blind sniff test).

Before heading down to meet fans, Paris took a few minutes to talk about her fragrance empire, her skin care routine (seriously, her complexion is flawless) and what it's like to be talked about. For the scoop,

Color It Like Beckham: An Interview With Posh's Colorist

bellasugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:11 -0700

Last year, upon the Beckham's much-anticipated arrival to the States, Celebrity colorist Johnny Ramirez welcomed Posh to her new home by "Californizing" that famous graduated bob to platinum blond levels.

Just this past weekend, Ramirez, who works at the Chris McMillan Salon in Beverly Hills, gave the petite trendsetter's chic pixie some extra zip, and I've got the exclusive details on what went down. Check out my interview below, and look out for some more of Johnny's hair-color advice to come:

Is Victoria just as funny in person as she is on TV?
"Victoria is the most generous, warm person. She's considerate, and super nice — not just to me — but to anybody."

Can you tell me a little about what you did do enhance Victoria's chestnut-brown hair?
"After discussing what she wanted, we decided to keep her a brunette. Victoria's ends were faded to a reddish warm color — this happens to most brunettes. To keep her a soft, natural medium brown, I started with her roots by applying a permanent hair color. Once the color was done processing, I combed it through the ends to break up the line at the shampoo bowl. Then . . . two different types of toners were used to tone the warm ends. I always finish my hair color with a gloss to lock in the color and seal it with shine. That's what makes color look healthy, natural, and beautiful."

To learn more about what products Victoria took home with her to maintain her look,

Bella Interview: Leslie Blodgett, Part Two

bellasugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:00:11 -0700

In Part One of my interview with Leslie Blodgett, the founder of Bare Escentuals, we talked about her clients, but in this part, I wanted to know what are her current loves. Read on for her desert island products and to hear about the forthcoming Bare Escentuals skincare products. (This is the first time she's mentioned that an eye cream is on the way. Scoop!).

What are your skin and hair care product staples?

Leslie Blodgett: I started using Pureology on my hair, for color treated hair. We're launching more skincare products, so I'm using an eye cream that's coming out next Fall, and the moisturizer is launching in January. We have a mist coming out next month, it has the Resurrection Plant from South Africa in it, which comes back to life when it's dead. It can reactivate makeup, hydrate you, refresh your makeup. Also you can spray it onto your face when you're cleansing.

To read more of the interview,

Bella Interview: Leslie Blodgett, Part One

bellasugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:00:11 -0700

As promised last week, here's more of my interview with Leslie Blodgett, the founder of Bare Escentuals. In this installment, she imparts her wisdom about what she sees way too much of, how to update your makeup for Fall, and shares her best beauty advice.

What do people ask the most about on your tours?
Leslie Blodgett: The master class is mostly about eye looks. The smokey eye is the number one thing people are so intimidated by, how to make it smoke out without looking like too much. We just launched The Rocker Eye, it's a fun look, too. Even for day, you can do a soft-rock look. Go over the whole lid with a very dark shade. We like a little metallic in there. Then take the pointy part of the brush and go under the eye, as close to the lash line as possible. You could also do the light shade and the contour, but it's easier to just do the lid and blend it out under the eye.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever heard or given?

To see her response,

What Is Hair Glaze?

bellasugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:00:22 -0700

Shiny hair is kind of an enigma. Everyone wants it, yet no one really thinks they have it. At-home glazes sometimes have color specifications, but most companies make a clear version as well. Confused about what glazes are and how they should be used, I turned to Paul Cucinello, who is the Creative Director of Chris Chase Salon in New York City.

How do at-home hair glazes work?
Paul Cucinello: If you do a glaze at home, it has more peroxide than the kind we do at the salon. Anything you buy at home has to be stronger. They make it so no matter which color you choose you'll see a result, whatever your hair type. Even a clear gloss can lift your natural color a little bit. If you are blond, it might be ok if you want to lighten it, but it would be more of a brightener. At the salon, we can do something more gentle.

What can too much peroxide do to your hair?
Paul Cucinello: Too much peroxide can dry out your hair. After the glossy part wears off, it will be drier [than before]. The salon kind will leave your hair in the same position as before you did it. We use Goldwell, which is an acid color, so it closes the cuticle and makes the hair really shiny.

To learn more glaze tips from Chris,

The Solution's Founder Dishes on Skin Care

bellasugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:36 -0700

So, I had heard the buzz about a major multitasking face cream called, The Solution ($74). Forget your day and night creams, they said. Eye creams, serums, and makeup primers? Toss those out, too. You could say I was intrigued.

The lightweight cream is formulated from natural ingredients and contains antioxidants to lift, firm, hydrate, and promote radiant skin. In fact, the product is so pure, only natural preservatives are used, and the pump blocks out contaminants and oxygen, both of which can render ingredients less effective. Like all things, it takes weeks to see results. I'm still waiting for my wrinkles to go away (ha!), but I like how it adds a glow to my skin, especially under the eyes.

Last week, I chatted with the creator of this product, Kimberly Snyder, yoga teacher and living-food expert, who took two years to develop The Solution. Here's what she had to say:

Throughout all of your world travels, what common ground did you see amongst women?
The commonality of all women is the desire to seek luminous, beautiful skin. I saw a lot of [use of] local herbs, berries, plants . . . and crushing it and applying it to the skin. I took the best of those ingredients and put them in The Solution, as well.

To see what Kimberly has to say about taking care of your skin,

Eva Mendes Speaks Her Naked Truth in an Exclusive Q&A!

bellasugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:00:20 -0700

Get ready to see a lot of Eva Mendes this year. The 34-year-old actress is in The Women, and in a couple of months, she'll star in The Spirit. And of course, she's baring all in a banned ad for Calvin Klein's latest scent, Secret Obsession. In an exclusive Q&A, Eva answers the questions you submitted — although she's being coy about what her own secret obsession is.

Eva, what's your secret obsession?
We all have secret obsessions. I don’t care who you are, where you come from, how old you are, how discreet you are and how shy you may be — we all have secret obsessions. I have many secret obsessions. Trust me, I’ve got plenty — but I'm not telling.

To find out how she prepared for her naked photo shoot, plus her secret to healthy skin,

Deborah Lippmann Talks Nail Trends, Part Three

bellasugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:00:51 -0700

Deborah Lippmann, founder of Lippmann Collection, had a busy New York Fashion Week. After giving Mariah Carey not one but two manicures during Fashion Rocks (she wore Fashion during the Stand Up To Cancer performance and then Rhapsody in White for her solo) she did the nails at Rodarte, Zac Posen and Zegna (which, if you read my post on nail techs at FW, you know is no small feat). Still, she took a minute to talk to me backstage about a multitude of nail topics, the first being trends and the second, neutrals.

For today's installation of my interview with Lippmann, where I get the scoop on how to paint your nails like a pro,

Makeup Artist Bruce Grayson Gives Us an Emmys Preview

bellasugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:07:11 -0700

As head of the makeup department for the Primetime Emmy Awards and Academy Awards telecasts, Bruce Grayson knows a thing or two about covering breakouts, adhering eyelashes, and keeping lipstick off teeth. "TV makeup is different because they are getting you from all angles and you are at the mercy of the lighting, as opposed to a still photo shoot where you control all that," he says. "[For television] they aren't lighting for you, they're lighting for the show."

Not only will he be working his magic on some of his celeb clients, who include Katie Holmes and Hayden Panettiere, Grayson oversees the team that takes care of the casts of the production numbers, the trophy girls, and some presenters. I got the chance to talk to him in the midst of his preparation for Sunday's show.

What do you think we'll see at this year's Emmys?
I think you’re going to see a lot of skin showing because it's September. I think sheerer lipsticks are taking the lead ahead of glosses; on HD, glosses can look too glossy. I think you’re going to see a lot of bronzers, a lot of false eyelashes, and really defined brows.

For the full interview,

Deborah Lippmann Talks Nail Trends, Part Two

bellasugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:00:22 -0700

For today's installation of my interview with Lippmann, I got a genius tip for choosing a neutral nail polish and I discovered a secret from her past,

Deborah Lippmann Talks Nail Trends

bellasugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:00:53 -0700

Deborah Lippmann, founder of Lippmann Collection, had a busy New York Fashion Week. After giving Mariah Carey not one but two manicures during Fashion Rocks (Mimi wore Fashion during the Stand Up To Cancer performance and then for Rhapsody in White for her solo), she did the nails at Rodarte, Zac Posen and Zegna (which, if you read my post on nail techs during FW, you know is no small feat). Still, she took a minute to talk to me backstage about a multitude of nail topics, the first being trends. To find out the fate of the French pedicure and whether you can stop asking for "squoval" nails

Vivica A. Fox Shares Her Best Beauty Advice

bellasugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:00:43 -0700

There was plenty of pretty to go around at Fashion Rocks, but Vivica A. Fox had one of my favorite looks of the night. It was retro without being costumey, elegant without pretense, and polished without being piled-on. This is how glamour is done!

Strolling with her buddy, fashion stylist Phillip Bloch, she stopped to chat about her look. "I wanted to do a little throwback to Hollywood," she said. "Phillip did my hair; I usually do the pullback with a bun, like classic Elizabeth Taylor, but he said, 'No, let’s have some fun and do a little Dita Von Teese.'"

To find out how Vivica's skin stays so gorgeous (seriously, it was practically poreless!),

Behind-the-Scenes Beauty Secrets of Mad Men

bellasugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Love Mad Men? You're not the only one — practically everyone at Sugar HQ is obsessed with this brilliant show due to its tight writing, great acting, and amazing style. Seriously, who wouldn't love to look like Joan Holloway? As the makeup department head of the show, Debbie Zoller is responsible for creating these sexy '60s looks, and she's been kind enough to share a few secrets from the set. Soon, I'll share her tips for recreating Joan's sex-kitten look, but to read about the world of Mad Men now,

Margaret Cho Talks Beauty, Body Image, and Tattoos

bellasugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:00:31 -0700

Wanna know Margaret Cho? You're in luck, because the hilarious comedian is getting her own reality series. The Cho Show premieres tomorrow at 11:00 p.m. on VH1 (check the trailer here) and it's a hilarious look into her smart, funny, raunchy, and endearing world.

Cho is known for her riffs on race, sexuality, and saucy topics that most other comics won't touch. And she's not shy about talking about her long journey to self-acceptance — as you'll see here. Read on!

On The Cho Show, you mention that you didn’t feel glamorous as a girl, but now you do. How did you start accepting—and loving—your looks?
It was a process, and it is still a struggle, but I try to compliment myself as much as I can. I try to be as loving as I can toward myself, but it is hard. Growing up and being told that you are ugly and fat — and then going into show business, where when I first came on the scene, all people could talk about was how ugly and fat I was. I realize now that had a lot to do with racism. People had never seen an Asian-American face on TV, so they panicked and said I was ugly because they were so racist they didn't know what else to do. So now I just don't value those opinions. I am beautiful; that is all anyone needs to know about me.

For Cho's take on plastic surgery, plus a few words on her beauty "obsession,"

Bella Interview: Chad Hayduk, Co-Founder of Three Custom Color Specialists

bellasugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:00:01 -0700

Now that you've taken my quiz to determine if your undertones are warm or cool, I thought it would be, er, cool to delve into the topic a bit deeper. In my three-part series, I'll be featuring tips and tricks from Chad Hayduk, co-founder of Three Custom Color Specialists.

Perhaps one of the best services offered by this nifty cosmetics company (see a tour!) is its adeptness in customizing blends — whether to help you recreate a beloved discontinued shade, or whip up a batch of your own perfect hue.

Another one of its specialties? Taking the guesswork out of the oft-posed question, "Am I a warm or a cool?" Look for more color-specific lip, cheek, and eyeshadow choices from Chad later this week. In the meantime, check out some helpful tips from Hayduk below.

Psst! More ProjRun Gossip From TRÉSemme's Lead Stylist

bellasugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:00:37 -0700

Will you be watching Project Runway tonight? You know I will be. Last week, Jeanie Syfu, lead stylist for the TRÉSemme team, talked about what it's like to work on the show, and this week we're back with some pretty juicy details about a few designers who shall remain nameless. Read on!

What’s the craziest thing that has happened while you have been doing hair with Project Runway?
I would say consulting with the designers. Some of them are really difficult. Some of them had a really strong point of view: “I want the hair to do this and I want a bun on the side with texture.” But others were just very uninspired, and it was the same thing every time. And that’s not fun. You want to be creative, and you want to get excited about that garment.

Can you name names?
[Laughs]. I can't! But sometimes they would say things, and you would be like, What are they talking about? They’d use these crazy references, and you’re stressed out because you don’t have that much time. Of course, I want the hair to look as good as possible, but sometimes it was so difficult to understand what they wanted. And sometimes the models would go upstairs, put their garments on, and then come back down and they would have changed the hair! That was the most difficult. A few times the models had gone out on the runway without me even being able to fix it — or it was beyond fixable.

For the rest of the interview, including the identity of one designer who you might want to watch closely,

A Few Words With Project Runway's Lead Stylist, Jeanie Syfu

bellasugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:45:18 -0700

Despite what some people might say, Project Runway isn't just about the clothes. It's about the models, makeup, and hair, too. Jeanie Syfu, lead stylist for the TRÉSemme team, has to whip up runway-ready styles in a tiny sliver of time. In between writing her ProjRun blog and styling models for future episodes, she made time to dish on what it's like at the behind-the-scenes "salon."

How do you work with the contestants to devise the looks for their runway challenges?
They come down with a sketch, a swatch of fabric, or a reference, depending on what the challenge was. Because we only have 30 minutes to get everything done, we try to make the consultation as quick as possible. We just start having a conversation about ideas what we can do with the model’s hair — if the model’s hair would be able to do the style and if the time allows it. It’s really fun.

You should see how quickly they’re able to make these garments, because so much drama goes on upstairs that we have no idea what’s going on. So, sometimes [the designers] come down, sometimes they don’t, and sometimes we just try to do the guessing game and figure out what it’s actually going to look like. We just do what we can in the time that we have.

To find out which hairstyles are the go-to choices when time's running out,

Bella Interview: Johnny Wright, Hairstylist

bellasugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:00:11 -0700

Get ready to know the name Johnny Wright. A stylist at Frederic Fekkai, he's worked with famous beauties such as Anita Baker, Vivica A. Fox, Vanessa Williams, Selita Ebanks — and one very high-profile client, Michelle Obama. I'll share some of his easy hair tips later this week, but for now, read on to find out what's behind Michelle's style.

How did you start working with Michelle Obama?
It kind of happened on a whim, and I’ve been doing her hair now for a year. My agent out in New York booked me for her Ebony magazine shoot, and she liked it so much that she had her people book me. I actually just got a call today from her saying I’m booked with her for August a whole week — I’m going to do her hair in Denver.

Denver! Denver is important.
You know, I was very nervous with that particular booking. I was highly screened before I was even allowed to walk into her room — and I totally understand that. Whatever it took for me to be booked with her, she is a very normal person. She has two young children, and I think that her staying normal keeps them normal too. It’s just great working with her. She’s never picky; she never asks me for things I probably can’t do. She’s very understanding.

For the rest of the interview, plus a few tips on recreating Michelle's hairstyle at home,

Lauren Conrad Reveals Her Cringe-iest Beauty Look: "We Burned All of the Pictures!"

bellasugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:00:57 -0700

After compiling over 20 million of your votes, the 2nd annual PopSugar 100 is finally here! To help celebrate tomorrow's announcement of the PopSugar 100, and her debut on the list, we're bringing you this exclusive interview with Lauren Conrad!

It's been a huge year for LC; between her friendships, fashion line, and hit TV show, this starlet is bigger and better than ever. We had a chance to catch up with her and talk about love, happiness, food, fitness and just about everything else. Check out our interview across the network (and don't miss this earlier one). And be sure to be back tomorrow to see where she lands and see the rest of the list!

PopSugar: Do you have any interest in doing your own perfume?
Not really. I think it’s kind of weird to want to smell like someone, but I don’t know — it could be fun to do like a line of them, not just a personal scent.

To find out which past beauty look makes LC cringe,

Bella Interview: Shane Paish, Dior Global Makeup Advisor

bellasugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:00:15 -0700

When Charlize Theron travels the world for red-carpet events, Shane Paish is not far away. As the global makeup advisor for Dior, he comes up with beautiful makeup looks — often while preparing Charlize for the camera.

In between creating these varied makeup looks for her Hancock premieres, he had time for a quick e-mail interview. Along with letting us know that Charlize is "addicted" to L'Or de Vie skin care, he's revealed his inspiration for these looks.

To find out what kinds of makeup looks best on women with Charlize's coloring,

Heidi Klum Shares Her Best Beauty Advice

bellasugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:00:05 -0700

Life is good for Heidi Klum — or at least she makes it seem as though she spends most of her time hanging out on cloud nine. She has three active, gorgeous kids and a hottie hubby who totally gets my Seal of approval!

I've been lucky enough to get exclusive insight into the many aspects of this entrepreneurial supermodel's life. To find out what she has to say about her In An Instant skin-care line, her personal beauty routine, some of the best beauty advice she's ever heard, and how a woman of her stature handles days when she wakes up feeling unattractive (yep, it even happens to Heidi Klum),

Lauren Conrad Has a Heart, and Beauty Tips Too

bellasugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:00:52 -0700

The Hills are alive... with the sound of charity. This week, I had the chance to chat with Lauren Conrad in New York. You might know that she's a spokesperson for Mark cosmetics, but her partnership with the brand is growing in big ways. Mark has announced a new initiative, m.Powerment, which aims to raise awareness and stop relationship abuse. As part of the program, LC has designed the "Have a Heart" necklace ($22), and all proceeds will go to the cause.

Until the necklace goes on sale in September, though, LC is staying busy with her clothing line and — of course — the next season of The Hills. Since she's got the pretty SoCal girl thing down pat, I asked her to share some of her beauty tips. To find out how she gets her eyeliner just so,

Emmanuelle Chriqui Talks Inner and Outer Beauty

bellasugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:00:48 -0700

You may know Emmanuelle Chriqui from her role in Entourage or in her new movie, You Don't Mess With the Zohan. To say she's a beauty would be an understatement, especially because I love what she has to say about Hollywood's focus on appearance. Fab talked with her about fashion, and I've got the scoop on everything from her skin-care secrets to her thoughts on feeling confident. Read on!

Do you wear makeup every day?
Not when I go to the gym. When I know I have things to do later that night, I know I’m not going to take a shower until later. So I just wash my face and put on deodorant. Other than that, I am super-casual: I walk around LA in flip flops and sweatpants all the time, with my hair on top of my head. I don’t think about it very much until it’s time for me to get ready. If I have meetings or auditions, I am pretty natural, but I do wear makeup. I always wear foundation — I just like the smoothness of it — but it’s always natural. I don’t like to look made-up.

What is the best beauty advice you have ever received?
I used to have crazy skin problems. Everyone always tells you to wear moisturizer, but my biggest beauty secret was that I stopped wearing moisturizer. I had such oily skin that I didn’t need more moisture; it was contributing to my breakouts. So I swear by anti-bacterial soap, under-eye cream, and at night a glycolic layer over my face. And stay away from moisturizer if you have oily skin.

To find out what she does to keep her hair looking so thick and full,

Bella Interview: Cristophe, Hair Stylist

bellasugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:39 -0700

The only thing I love more than a famous hairstylist is a famous hairstylist who makes his hair-care products affordable. Such is the case with Cristophe, who creates some of Hollywood's most famous hairstyles in his Beverly Hills salon. While a cut with him costs hundreds of dollars, his unscented, sulfate- and paraben-free hair-care collection (glowing review here) is well priced and available at CVS. I recently talked with him about his philosophy behind his line, so read on.

Why was it important to you to do a line that doesn’t have any dyes or sulfates or fragrances?
My goal was always to make products that are performance oriented. Obviously the primary objective is to have a product that is good for you; we have these reports now that say things like sulfates are maybe not good for you. So this is really an initial move to see how the consumer reacts to this, if they would rather switch to a more natural product or not.

To find out why the man who commands $500 for a haircut decided to make his products affordable,

Bella Interview: Amy Keller, Allure Beauty Director

bellasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:25:38 -0700

And so we come to the conclusion of my interview with Amy Keller, the beauty director of Allure. If you missed any of the previous posts, be sure to catch up on them for her advice on beauty and the magazine biz. We'll finish things up today with a few thoughts on antiaging products. If you've been a faithful user of sunblock, you will be very happy to see what Amy has to say!

I’m totally obsessed with sunblock. I’m like a crazy lady who always has to wear it. Is everyone at Allure obsessed, too?
Yes, everyone here is totally obsessed with sunblock. I absolutely wear sunscreen every day. When I even get daytime moisturizer sent to me without sunscreen, I just don’t even understand why people are launching them — because what’s the point? It simplifies sunscreen by having it in your face cream. Also, I’m kind of obsessed with the new face washes that have sunscreen ingredients that actually don’t totally go down the drain. St. Ives has a new one, so you can get it in the drugstores; Freeze 24/7 had the first one that came out last year. So that just makes things even easier. Not that that’s the only thing you should use for sunscreen, but it's good to put it on. We are really into Helioplex here, which is in Neutrogena and Aveeno products.

It's good to hear you say that. I'm starting to see the payoff of wearing sunblock.
It’s very true! We are obsessed with antioxidants here, like coffeeberry, which is in those Revale skin products we have done several stories on. I feel like every dermatologist I have talked to says that if you combine antioxidants and sunscreen, it makes such a difference. One dermatologist said that if you look at women who are age 25, you might not be able to tell who is wearing antioxidants. But if you look at women who are age 35, you will totally be able to tell who has been wearing antioxidants and sunscreen because their skin looks so much younger.

Bella Interview: Amy Keller, Allure Beauty Director

bellasugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:00:55 -0700

I hope you've enjoyed this series profiling Amy Keller, the beauty director of Allure. Today, she's sharing her best makeup tip and her thoughts on beauty blogging. Read on!

What is the best beauty advice you've ever received?
I always resisted using makeup brushes for some reason. I thought it was an extra step that wasn’t necessary and I was using instead cotton swabs, or the little applicators that come in the packages, but I finally listened to makeup artists. It does make such a difference if you are using a shadow brush or a powder brush or a blush brush. You know when you always read in magazines, “You need to blend this, you need to soften the lines”? That’s what these brushes do, and I have had so much success since [using them].

For her thoughts on beauty blogs,

Bella Interview: Amy Keller, Allure Beauty Director

bellasugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:00:41 -0700

In yesterday's segment of my interview with Allure beauty director, Amy Keller, many of you were intrigued and impressed by her dream job. But if you think the day-to-day lifestyle of a beauty editor involves slapping on as much makeup as possible, think again. As you'll find out from today's installment, that's not necessarily the case. Read on!

A while ago, we posted a photo of [Allure editor in chief] Linda Wells at an event, and she looked great. But it seems that beauty editors don’t wear tons of makeup.
That is true. If you go to any beauty event and look around, you see that there is a little mascara and some lip gloss.

So for you, why is that?
I think a lot of beauty editors put a lot of attention on taking care of their skin. When you are working at a busy job, you just don’t have a lot of time to be really made-up. It’s not that people are not wearing any makeup, it’s just that they are wearing, like, mascara and powder — sort of the essentials. So they look pulled together without having to spend a lot of time in the morning.

I will say I am a person who likes to try out different things. I will come in occasionally wearing a bronze eye look, or smoky eyes. Or when red lipstick returned to the scene last Summer, I was totally into red lipstick and wearing that around. I think people think just because you’re a beauty editor, you’re going to be this makeup artist who is applying loads and loads of fake lashes and lipsticks. But really, you’re a reporter who is finding out about the new trend.

Come back tomorrow to find out what Amy has to say about beauty blogs.

Bella Interview: Amy Keller, Allure Beauty Director

bellasugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:00:06 -0700

If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to work at Allure, you're in luck. I recently talked with Amy Keller, the magazine's beauty director, about all aspects of her work at the foremost beauty publication. As you can imagine, there was much to discuss, so I'll bring you a new topic from our talk every day this week. Today, it's all about how to break into the beauty-editing business, with Amy sharing a glimpse into her day-to-day work at Allure.

If someone wants to become a beauty editor, what's the best way to get started?
I have a journalism degree, as do many people who work in magazines. But that isn’t as necessary as trying to get an internship at a magazine is. Our last intern who worked here at Allure went on to become the beauty assistant at Real Simple. We are always looking to place people who we have had as interns and who we liked and who showed great promise.

Being a beauty editor is one of those things people don’t even know exist. I moved to New York from Missouri and I didn’t really even know there were beauty editors; I just knew I wanted to do something fashion-related. I started as a copy editor and was always asking around the magazine if I could do extra items, and the beauty editor told me she liked the comments I made as a copy editor. So I guess what that boils down to is this: Even if you’re working at a magazine in another department, sending an idea to the beauty editor or just doing anything you can ever do to help out in that department, that will be remembered.

To see what a typical workday is like for Amy,

Bella Interview: Trae Bodge of Three Custom Color

bellasugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:08 -0700

If you're a bride-to-be, chances are you're already thinking about your perfect wedding-day look. A Summer bride has to take a few things into consideration for her big day: the heat, the sun, time of day, formality of the occasion, and what products you'll need to reapply throughout the day.

To find out how to get this easy, warm-weather bridal look, I spoke with Trae Bodge, creative director and co-founder of Three Custom Color. To see what she has to say,

Bella Interview: Gina Brooke

bellasugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:00:27 -0700

I think pretty much everyone can agree that Madonna looks amazing in the May issue of Elle. Her gorgeous makeup look is the work of Gina Brooke, the artistic director of Shu Uemura. As Madonna's personal makeup artist, she's also responsible for those legendary mink-and-diamond lashes from a couple of years ago. Last week, I was lucky enough to chat with her right before she headed off to do Madonna's makeup. Read on.

How do you work with Madonna to come up with makeup looks?
It's definitely a collaboration. She has an idea; I have ideas. Then we combined the two along with hair and styling. It's a collaboration between the hair stylist and makeup artist — and Madonna, of course. She always has an idea of which direction she wants to go in. Usually on certain jobs you walk in and go, "OK, this is my idea." She's like, "No, this is my idea, and then you guys give me what you've got."

What was the idea for the Elle shoot?
For years I've been obsessed with a photographer named Sam Haskins. Every time we have a photo shoot or something big coming up, I always break out my Sam Haskins and I'm like, "Here, what about this?" She's always turned me down. And then finally we actually did a Sam Haskins-inspired shoot for the cover of Elle.

To find out which lipstick color and foundation Gina used for the cover,

Bella Interview: Chandler Burr, Perfume Critic

bellasugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:15:41 -0700

So, it's official: I am smitten with Chandler Burr's latest book, The Perfect Scent. Read it; you won't regret it. Burr, the perfume critic of The New York Times, was gracious enough to talk with me about perfume last week. Be sure to read his opinions on why a celebrity scent succeeds or fails, and read on to find out why a perfume can seem so great on paper, but can smell different when you wear it.

In your book, you mention that perfumes are now created to smell good on paper when you're in the store, rather than being formulated only for the skin.
It's the new construction because of the way people buy perfume. The way that people buy perfumes today has a huge impact in how a scent is constructed. It used to be that one would go into the atelier at Guerlain or Coty in Paris, and put the perfume on, and the assistant would bring cakes and tea. You'd smell the perfume and it would stay on your skin past an hour or two hours — for an entire afternoon. Today, you're trying to grab 10 minutes between the movie or the next business appointment, and you're not putting perfumes on skin because you're already dressed. It's like buying clothes without trying them on.

For Chandler's advice on shopping for perfume,

Bella Interview: Christine Symonds, Stylist

bellasugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:00:34 -0700

The next time you're in Los Angeles and you're looking for a cute cropped cut, make an appointment with Christine Symonds. She's a stylist at the Warren-Tricomi salon, and she's a big proponent of short hair this season.

What's more, this up-and-coming stylist just finished two shows at Los Angeles Fashion Week: Maggie Barry and Lauren Conrad. (Check out the looks below.) This busy lass took a few moments to talk with me about hair trends and her work on America's Next Top Model makeovers, so read on!

What are some of the spring trends this year?
I'm seeing a lot of cropped pixie cuts — really short cuts. We saw it entering the style world in 2007 with the funky Agyness Deyn cut. I get at least one a day of someone wanting to chop their hair off. With longer hair, I'm seeing a lot heavy fringes, and something that's a little more daring is a short baby fringe. It takes a little more confidence to work, but it definitely makes for a stunning outcome.

For the full interview,

Bella Interview: Paris Luna, On-Tour Beauty

bellasugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:00:41 -0700

Paris Luna is a Georgia-based indie band whose music reminds me a little of a poppier, more shimmering version of The Sundays. Not so coincidentally, the band's namesake is a lovely singer/songwriter named Paris Luna, who plays guitar and piano along with singing. Since she's in a tour van almost nonstop, I was curious about how she keeps looking so polished. In between stops, Paris took a minute to dish on her on-the-road beauty habits.

So you're a full-time musician, then? Not many people get to that point.
Yep! For the past two years, we have probably been on the road every single month for at least four days out of each week. We're pretty much doing it all the time.

And yet you seem to clean up pretty well on the road. What are your must-haves when you're touring?
I'm so off-the-wall with my fashion and beauty stuff. Of course I love the expensive things that celebrities use, but being an indie band, you can't really afford those things all of the time. I love Lancome makeup, and if I'm on the road and I've forgotten an eyeliner or something like that, I love Rimmel.

To find out how Paris gets the smoke smell out of her hair, and for a video,

Bella Interview: Lan Nguyen, Makeup Artist

bellasugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:00:53 -0800

Lan Nguyen is a London-based self-taught professional makeup artist most famous for creating edgy looks on the runways. I was lucky enough to interview her backstage before the Inbar Spector show during London Fashion Week.

I watched her in action and we gabbed about our shared love of makeup, her experience working with Michael Jackson and Madonna, and makeup tips for Asian women. For all the details,

Bella Interview: James Vincent, Makeup Artist

bellasugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:00:22 -0800

If you're in Florida this weekend, you might want to check out The Makeup Show Miami, a two-day event featuring all the makeup know-how you could imagine. I recently talked with lead makeup artist James Vincent, who created a beautiful face for the event. He has worked with celebrities including Liv Tyler and Jordin Sparks (pictured), he's created looks for designers such as Christopher Deane, and he even created his own makeup line, Pretty Pretty. (Also, he has some bad-ass tattoos.) Read on to find out about the weekend ahead and his unusual path to becoming a makeup artist.

What inspired you to create this makeup look for the show?
It was Miami's art-deco history and love for color and texture. And definitely the weather and the influence of so many different cultures on Miami. From the beginning of US history, Florida has always had a rich influence from Latin cultures, and I think Miami still has that today.

Who can wear the show's look?
Anybody! Everything that I do and everything we do at [event planner] The Powder Group is for all races, and it's important to me personally because so many of my clients are women of color. Regardless of your skin tone, you should be able to wear the look that you're seeing.

To find out about James's unusual path to makeup artistry, and to get details for re-creating the Miami at home,

Heidi Klum Spills Her Red-Carpet Beauty Secrets

bellasugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:24:09 -0800

Even though you and I won't be at the Oscars this weekend, it never hurts to know how to look red-carpet ready. I recently had the chance to chat with the gorgeous Heidi Klum and her team of professionals, including Victoria’s Secret makeup artist Linda Hay, and was able to pick up some great tips and tricks for looking your best at a glamorous event. Heidi also dished about what's in her handbag on the big night and how to photograph like a supermodel, so read on.

How can we cover up blemishes or undereye circles without it looking mask-like?
Linda Hay: My secret to a subtle cover-up starts with a sheer concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin. Apply it directly to the spot and blend with a concealer brush. Add a light sweep of powder to the area and the entire face, but don't pile on too much directly on the spot—otherwise it will look chalky and draw more attention.

To see what Heidi has to say about looking your best on the red carpet,

Bella Interview: Roxanne Valinoti, CND Nail Stylist

bellasugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:30:01 -0800

Just in time for Fashion Week, I have a preview of what we'll be seeing on the runways—well, manicure-wise, at least. I recently talked with Roxanne Valinoti, a lead nail stylist with CND. She's in charge of CND's nail team for Fashion Week, which means that she knows what will hit the runways before most other people. Read on to find out how her team works with designers, how fashionable nails are about to shift their size and shape.

Tell me about the process of working with designers.
We’ve established great relationships with designers. Our artist team collaborates with the designers on what their story is, what their fabrics are, what their colors they chooes to use. Then we collaborate with our artists and they come up with some really cool nail styles and we do sample nails. We go back and forth and decide what the designer feels complements their work the best, and then we go into full production.

How far ahead of the show do you start?
The lead time could be a month out or it could be three days out. It depends on the designer. Some are more prepared and have more advance notice than others. Unfortunately for us, we’re not a hair and makeup team where we can just come in and do makeup or hair. If we’re doing certain designs or they want length and tips, that’s something we have to have prepared well in advance. We need a little more lead time when it comes to actually doing specific designs. Although if it’s just polish, our leads show up to a show and they’re fully equipped with every polish that we make. They have big bottles, so if a designer decides they want a custom color, the girls can mix it right on the spot.

For the rest of the interview,

Bella Interview: Stuart Hirsch, Owner of Stuart Hirsch Salon

bellasugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:00:36 -0800

New York City has a new salon, and its future looks bright and colorful. Owner Stuart Hirsch is famous for the sun-kissed hair color on models such as Noemie Leonor, Julie Orden, Riley Keough and May Andersen. He's decided to venture out on his own after more than 25 years in the biz, opening the the Stuart Hirsch Salon on the outskirts of Soho.

The minimalistic and industrial looking space has 16 stations at which you can get haircuts, color, mani's, pedi's and massages. The vibe of the salon is young, hip, and edgy—yet upscale—and many of the stylists hail from Warren-Tricomi (an ex employer of Hirsch's).

I was fortunate enough to sit down and speak with Stuart about the salon, his proudest career moments, and the latest color craze. To find out all of this and more,

Bella Interview: Kristin Ess, Part III

bellasugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:17:44 -0800

Let's finish Friday with the last installment of my interview with celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess. I really enjoyed talking with her because she not only knows her hair stuff, she also has the kind of attitude that would make her fun to work with. In the first part of our interview, we talked about how she began working in a salon at the age of 16. Yesterday, she shared some hair trends, and today she talks about where you should scrimp and where you should spend on hair products.

What kinds of hair products are worth splurging on, and which can you get at a drugstore?
It depends on the hair. If you have long hair and highlights and you need moisture, spend the money on shampoo. It's different for everyone. As far as hairsprays go, there are definitely hairsprays that are more of an aid in styling than others. If I'm in a pinch in another city or country, and I have to run to the store in the middle of the night because I lost my bag or something, I can buy any hairspray at the grocery store. I know which ones on the market are doable. Rather than using Pantene, I'd rather use Aqua Net because I know it's going to hold for a photo shoot. It's horrendous and it's disgusting, but it works.

You should definitely splurge on a blow dryer. It makes all of the difference. If there's one thing I tell my clients, I always tell them to get a good blow dryer. But you don't need to splurge on a curling iron. My favorite curling iron is Hot Tools. It's the most amazing curling iron ever. They're so cheap and so amazing.

For the rest of the interview,

Bella Interview: Kristin Ess, Part II

bellasugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:00:42 -0800

I recently had the chance to talk with Kristin Ess, a stylist at Warren-Tricomi salon in Los Angeles. (That's her in black, with models whose hair she styled.) Yesterday, I posted the first part of the interview, in which she talks about how she got started. Today, find out what she thinks about the lifespan of the bob, working on top fashion shows, and how she'd make over Britney's hair.

I know bobs have been big, but is there any hairstyle that you think is fresh — something that regular women can wear?
Some people think the Posh bob is fabulous, but a lot of people are growing it out right now. So it's a matter of customizing that cut to each person. Two people, even if they look completely different, can look great with that bob, but the grow-out period is very different. We're doing a lot of customizing with the grow-out process right now. Some people are styling it wavy, some people want to keep it short. That is definitely the haircut of the moment right now. There are still people coming in to get it.

Really? That surprises me.
They were too scared to do it in the beginning. This is definitely one of those "Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama" haircuts that's going to stick around for two years. We haven't had anything that exciting for a while. Everything has just been long hair, really pretty hair — which is exciting in its own way. But this is the first in a while to be a haircut phenomenon. That's definitely one that sticks out to me right now.

To find out who Kristin would love to work with,

Bella Interview: Kristin Ess

bellasugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:00:13 -0800

Talk about overachievers. In high school, Kristin Ess was working at a posh Beverly Hills salon, paving the way for her current stylist spot at Warren-Tricomi salon in Los Angeles. At the young age of 20, she began working on runway shows, eventually creating hair for designers including Marc Jacobs, Diesel, St. John, Rami Kashou, and Thom Browne. She's also worked with Rachel McAdams, Amber Valetta, Rachael Leigh Cook, and the Hills ladies.

A few weeks ago, I got to talk with Kristin about her career, hair trends, and the best drugstore steals. Since we had a lot to talk about, I'm splitting the interview into a few parts. Be sure to come back tomorrow for more insights and advice from Kristin!

You started working in a Beverly Hills salon when you were in high school. How did you know at such a young age that you wanted to work with hair?
I have nine brothers and sisters—I'm number 10. Most of them were younger than me, so I was always doing someone's hair. It was always my thing. Everybody knew that's what I was going to do. I did a report on it in the fourth grade for my career report, and my mom still has that and it's framed. It's like, "I want to move to Beverly Hills and do hair for One Life to Live" or something. I just always knew I wanted to style hair.

For more,

Bella Interview: Jerome Hillion, Hair Master

bellasugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:00:59 -0800

Longtime readers may know Jerome Hillion, the London stylist known for his artistic, creative, and unusual hairstyles. After being named Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year in 2005, he's continued to create out-of-the-ordinary looks that beg to be looked at. I've been wondering about his inspiration, and fortunately for us, he was happy to answer a few questions from his London salon:

How and when did you know you wanted to create avant-garde hairstyles?
Since the age of 5, I was creating hairstyles on dolls and used to imagine catwalks and choreographies. That was the way I used to play.

Some of your styles seem like they involve a lot of product, heat, and potentially stressful treatments. How do you recommend keeping hair healthy?
My hairstyles don't involve many products. I use techniques to dry the hair in the texture or shape, using serums, then flexible heat protection hairspray. To keep hair healthy, simply apply a mask at least once a week, and use shampoo and conditioner specific to your hair type. Serums or styling creams can also provide heat protection. Don't over-process your hair with chemicals.

For the complete interview, plus a gallery of some of his work, just

Bella Interview: Nadine Haobsh, The Conclusion

bellasugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:30:53 -0700

Welcome to the final part of my interview with Nadine Haobsh, the beauty blogger whose book Beauty Confidential just hit bookstores. We've already chatted about the growth of beauty blogs and the secrets of magazine editors. Now we're talking about the best drugstore products and that ever-controversial injection, Botox. Read on:

Are there any drugstore brands that you think do things well?
Yes! I am in love with anything and everything Neutrogena and actively choose their skincare products over things you can find at Saks and Barneys. The only cleanser I love in the world more than Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash is the Shu Uemura High Performance Cleansing Wash, and that's mostly because it's just fun to use. I will probably be using Oil-Free Acne Wash for the next three decades. I have some new Armani, Lancome, Avon, Kiehl's and Origins sitting unused in my cabinet right now because I can't give up my Neutrogena. Olay Regenerist is the best anti-aging product you can find without heading to your dermatologist, and that includes the $300 creams you'll find at Neiman Marcus. Oh, and Clean & Clear Persagel and Oil-Absorbing Sheets are worth their weight in gold; better than anything ten times the price.

For Nadine's opinion on Botox, and on whether caring about beauty is shallow,

Bella Interview: More with Nadine Haobsh

bellasugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:00:46 -0700

Yesterday, I shared part of my interview with Nadine Haobsh, whose book Beauty Confidential is out this week. In the first part, we talked about the growth of beauty blogging, and today's installment covers products that are worth their price—and which ones are a waste. Here we go...

Can you tell us three products that are absolutely worth the money, and three that aren't?
Not worth the money: Creme de la Mer, Chanel nail polish, any cleanser over $10. Completely worth the money: Solano or Chi hair tools (flatirons or blowdryers), Bare Escentuals mineral foundation, any fragrance from Bond no. 9 (I am obsessed with Chinatown!) Nail polish, no matter how expensive or cheap, will be on your nails three days at best. Why spend $40 when you can spend $4? It's just not worth it. And you can't skimp on your hair; an expensive cut, expensive tools and moderately priced products will truly make a difference.

To find out a dirty little secret about beauty editors,

Bella Interview: Nadine Haobsh, Author of Beauty Confidential

bellasugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:00:17 -0700

If you've been reading blogs for a few years, you've probably heard of Nadine Haobsh. A former beauty staffer at Lucky and Ladies' Home Journal, she anonymously wrote the blog Jolie in NYC. A few posts about the perks that beauty editors enjoy (Marc Jacobs wallets, plane tickets, spa vacations, and so on) didn't go over so well in the industry, and when her identity became known, Seventeen rescinded a job offer.

But that's all in the past. This week, Haobsh releases her first book, Beauty Confidential. It's a breezy, easy-to-read guide to makeup, hair and skin care—complete with honest opinions about which products are worth the cash, and which are a waste of time and money. Nadine and I chatted over the weekend; here's the first part of our interview.

How do you think readers perceive beauty bloggers as opposed to beauty editors for magazines? Is there any difference?
Absolutely. I think that readers think (and rightly so) that you can trust beauty bloggers a bit more. There's less of an agenda, it's direct blogger-to-reader contact, and you're going to hear a tell-it-like-it-is review of products and trends. There's always going to be a certain amount of spin, no matter whether you're reading on a blog or in a magazine, but in general I find blogs to be so much more honest in their coverage

For Nadine's thoughts on whether magazine editors worry about the growth of blogs,