When Pale Is Too Pale

There's pale and then there's see through. Some celebs relish in a winter white complexion year-round while others can't seem to stay away from the tanning salon (you know who you are) resulting in orange skin. While either color is enviable, as we are in the midst of colder temps and award season, finding a balance is key.

Anne Hathaway (pictured) and Nicole Kidman can rock a porcelain complexion without looking transluscent. But others, like myself, should really consider a tan before posing for pics. Yes, I said it. There is such a thing as too pale, especially when said tone doesn't work with your actual God-given coloring. I look green when I don't have SOME color!

Rule of thumb: If your skin contains yellow undertones, you'll look sickly without some sort of golden glow. Even in winter, fake it up, ladies.

Here are 4 picks for natural faux bronze products that will work wonders in winter and still keep you wrinkle free:

Scott Barnes Body Bling - If diamonds are a girl's best friend than body bling is the skin's b.f.f. It's like a veil of deliciously golden, shimmery sheen part oil, part cream that drenches the skin in the most fabulous bronze hue. Washes off with soap and water. J.Lo is a fan of Mr. Barnes.

St. Tropez Bronzing Rocks, Bronzing Powder and Radiance Mousse - These three products highlight, sculpt and define key areas and can be used to shade, define and contour areas like the shoulder blades, décolletage and cleavage. Jamie Lynn Sigler is a fan of the line.

Cargo Multi-Mix Bronzer - Designed for the face but can be used on the body, this gel bronzer is genius (and a personal favorite) for customizing a natural glow. Made sans parabens, sulfates and synthetic fragrances, the bronzer can be mixed in with your favorite lotion and washed off with soap and water. Evangelline Lily is a fan of the eco-friendly brand.

Jergens Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer - It's a lotion with buildable color (use daily until you achieve your desired hue). Comes in light to medium and medium to dark formulas. One of the best out there as it doesn't streak and the color is extrememly natural.

tarte hearts valentine's day

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and whether you plan to spend it one on one with someone special or out celebrating with a group of friends, tarte has created a foolproof eco-fabulous way to get ready for the day. In addition to some great products (and a V-Day deal for your lips) there’s a great video tutorial from tarte’s own Angela Civale to help you put it all together!

For kiss-proof lips and a perfect pout try Natural Lip Stain with LipSurgence™ Technology. It’s like they’ve taken their iconic cheek tints and formulated them to all the benefits of a nourishing, moisturizing lip color (they increase lip moisture up to 6000%, yes you read right…talk about kissable). These mint infused gel pens are exclusive to Sephora stores and Sephora.com and come in four new shades for spring: lust, enchanted, amused and charmed ($24).

Just for Valentines Day, tarte.com is putting their double-ended lipglosses on sale for $10 (normally $19). Named for famous couples, like fred & ginger, ferris & sloane and my personal favorite John Hughes homage, jake & samantha. Buy now at tarte.com.

To fake a perfect flushed cheek, try their fabulous cheek stain in true love ($30), and to get lashes that will leave him a flutter multiplEYE™ natural lash enhancing primer ($22) and mascara ($24) that does double duty to add volume, length and plenty of drama.

For sexy, smoky eyes, the eye couture day-to-night palette (a $182 value for just $44) has everything you need with ten shadows and a double-sided black/brown liner. The quilted case features a built-in mirror and v-day perfect heart-shaped lock and key. This item is sold out at tarte.com but you can find it at Sephora and beauty.com.

Here’s Angela’s video how-to to get the look:





Find the tarte Valentine’s Day shop online here, or visit Sephora for the whole line plus the limited edition Natural Lip Stains. And whatever your Valentine’s plans, have a ball! xo alex.

Bathing Beauty: Jen Brill

Jen Brill has been my friend ever since we were both uptown girls working at midtown PR firms. We (briefly) spent time in LA together, but Jen returned to NYC within months while I stayed for a few extra years. Alas, we are back together once again in the same city.


Jen has ALWAYS been beautiful. Even way back in the day when we'd meet for coffee and a smoke (yuck, I know!) on 35th street and Jen would strut up with her long raven locks, olive complexion (thanks to her Australian and Asian background) and perfectly proportioned pout. Change out her Jimmy Choo stilettos for Proenza Schouler booties, publicist for artist's agent and everything else has pretty much remained the same. Long raven mane: check. Gorgeous olive complexion: check. Perfectly proportioned pout: check, although now you'll be hard pressed not to find it painted her favorite shade of red.


Here, the downtown girl of the hour and Chanel Beauty Ambassadress, answers our 7 favorite beauty questions -- and demands that I add a question about hair care!


What are your top 5, can't-live-without products?
1 -chanel Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Gabrielle - its the perfect shade of red. I carry one in all of my bags.
2 - exceptionne de chanel mascara - it has has the best brush ever.
3 -jurlique rose water balancing mist - I use it after I've put my blush on so I don't look too powdery or matte.
4 -amore pacific treatment enzyme peel - my girlfriend, Jeanine Lobell, put me onto this one... It's an exfolliant that leaves your skin completely smooth. I use it a couple of times per week.
5 -chanel dragon nail colour - i wear it year round on fingers and toes and it doesn't chip.

What is your all-time favorite product?
Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. It leaves my skin perfectly dewy and even.

What is your favorite hair product?
I love Rene Furterer, JF Lazertigue and Leonor Greyl shampoos and conditioners. Lately, I'm obsessed with Leonor Greyl Eclat Naturel Leave In Conditioner. It makes brushing my hair so much easier.

What product do you buy in bulk?
Trillium organics body polish. I use it every other day- nothing makes your skin softer.

You moisturize your face with...
Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Vitalizing Creme when my skin is dry or Skinceuticals Emollience for everyday.

Favorite body product?
Biotherm body milk but its not sold in the US anymore so I'll pick it up in duty free. I've also been using Alaffia body lotion. It has arnica and neem in it and smells incredible.

Favorite beauty secret you've picked up along the way?
Facials at christine chin! Ingrid and Christine are the best in show business. Their motto is "no pain, no gain".

Beauty icon you admire?
Ill always love the woman in David Lynch films: Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini, etc but lately I've been obsessed with Faye Dunaway in "puzzle of a downfall child." She is so gorgeous and charming in that film.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE GREEN: tarte's smooth operator

If you opened up my makeup drawer you’d find that most everything there is free of the worst offenders, the petrochemicals, parabens, synthetics and sulfates. A few products are still not quite eco-fabulous, but it’s only because try as I might I have yet to find something to take their place. One such product is tinted moisturizer. I tried a number of green alternatives but none could rival a particular brand I had been a longtime fan of.

Tinted moisturizer is one of my favorite beauty products. Lighter than foundation which I find too heavy, especially with freckles, it gives my skin a dewy finish as opposed to pressed powders that can cake. Tinted moisturizer gives me just enough color to balance and brighten skin tone, cover a blemish and all the while nourish skin. But nothing on the eco-front had really thrilled me. I wanted an oil-free, SPF formulation that was free of parabens (at the least) and also worked with my skin tone (I’m fair, very fair, but I actually do tan so I have yellow undertones). Leave it to tarte to create just what I was looking for.

smooth operator™ ($36) is oil-free with an SPF20, and without a single paraben, petro-chem, phthalate, sulfate or synthetic to be found. On store shelves this month, smooth operator™ now comes in nine shades (NINE!) and Agent 04 for “light complexions with beige undertones” is perfect for my winter skin. I’m recycling those other not-so-green tubes and replacing them with this immediately. Great for day, I also prefer using a tinted cream to foundation at night.

TIP: I put on primer first and find I get flawless coverage that doesn’t look makeup-y (if you prefer full coverage, check out smooth operator™ foundation).

The tinted cream is formulated with the tarte signature skinvigorating™ blend that includes rosemary, natural fruit antioxidants, ginseng root, gingko Biloba, vits A, C and E and natural minerals to soothe, soften and fight free radicals. You can find smooth operator™ online at tarte.com, or visit your local Sephora to test the shades in person.

Are there products you're having trouble finding eco-alternatives for? Leave us a note in the comments! xo alex.

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE: Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil

I love me a product that gives my skin a hint of bling while keeping it smooth, silky and smelling delish, especially in these brutally cold and dreary winter months.

Josie Maran's cult favorite, Argan Oil, is also available in a bronzing formula and I am totally gushing over the goods.

The universally appealing hue is great for all skin tones and types, adding a hint of golden color and a whole lot of hydration. Great for giving pizazz to an otherwise simple summer night. Body oil actually makes the legs appear leaner and everyone knows that a tan automatically sheds pounds - combine the two and you'll be strutting the runway of life like a haut supermodel. Or maybe just a skinnier version of you. Either way, you can't go wrong.

The bronzed glow of the argan oil is far less drastic than self-tanner and way less of a commitment (washes off with water). The color is like summer in a bottle with shimmering flecks of sunshine to keep you golden sans the sun. And you can use it everywhere you want to add some dazzle: arms, chest, legs, even face. A perfectly healthy and organic alternative to a little faux color.

Argan oil is also known for it's moisturizing properties. So, really, you're getting a multipurpose product in this one convenient bottle: hydration, slimming and color. Score!

PRICE TAG: $52.00

Eminence Organics

The green beauty movement has certainly found its place at cosmetic counters, on health food store shelves and even the aisles of big chain stores. But it’s hardly a new concept. At the “Hollywood Helping Haiti” Golden Globes Celebrity & Charity Gift Lounge last month, I was introduced to half century old Eminence Organic Skin Care. Since 1958, this Hungarian brand has used the science of flowers, fruits and herbs to treat and nourish the skin. And they take their commitment to environment to every level of production.

At first glance, the products on display looked good enough to eat. And they smelled incredible. The Raspberry Pore Refining Masque ($48) was wine red with plump seeds, like homemade preserves. The Coconut Crème Masque ($52) looked like whipped crème fraiche and was great for hydrating skin. Feeling the effects of winter weather (yes, even in LA we get our own version of cold), I brought home the coconut mask to try. I’m pretty picky about scent but this coconut smelled amazing because it was exactly that. No synthetic fragrance or cloying suntan lotion smell. The coconut oil, coconut milk and shea butter left my skin soft and plumped. The mask also contains Biocomplex,™ an antioxidant cocktail of Vitamin A, Vitamin C Ester, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, Alpha Lipoic Acid. An hour later my skin still felt great and there was no oiliness (something that worries me about products that are meant to hydrate dry skin).

Eminence Organics has worked diligently to produce unbelievably luxurious products while leaving the smallest of carbon footprints. All farming is organic, planting and harvesting is done by hand, and their offices are wind and solar powered. From organic soil to the recycled-paper and veggie-ink printed packaging, it’s green beauty from beginning to end. You can find Eminence products at spas throughout the country, from the famed Golden Door Spa and the Grand Wailea to the certified Green Spas highlighted here. Or purchase them for yourself here at Dermstore.com.

To learn more about Eminence Organic Skin Care, visit their website here, and join their Facebook page to learn more about new products and promotions. xo alex.

Best Of... High End Body Creams

Last week we brought you our picks for best of budget-friendly body lotions (for a recap, click here), this week it's all about the high end creme.

The biggest difference between high end and low end lotions is NOT the way the work, but rather the ingredients (and price). Many of my picks for high end creams come with alcohol much lower down on the list and a lot more natural ingredients loaded in the lotions.


Alas, here are my picks for best of high end body creams:

1. Jurlique Lavender Body Care Lotion - Lavender, calendula and marshmallow hydrate while this light-weight lotion absorbs quickly and effectively. The calming scent of lavender lingers all day.
application: PUMP
consistency: light
moisture: 8 out of 10
price: $38.00

2. Lancome Absolue Body Premium Bx - It has a fresh citrusy scent and is thick enough to work on really dry skin while still feeling refreshing. Pro-Xylane™, a patented scientific breakthrough: an exceptional and precise molecule, restores essential moisture deep in the structure of skin’s surface while ßio-Network™ – wild yam, soy, sea algae and barley – helps enhance performance for visible rejuvenation.
application: JAR
consistency: medium to heavy
moisture: 9 out of 10
price: $125.00

3. Mario Badescu Walnut Body Lotion - Walnut oil hydrates, softens and soothes dry, itchy skin. Ideal after sun or bath. Super rich but absorbs quickly.
application: PUMP
consistency: medium
moisture: 8.5 out of 10
price: $22.00

4. Kiehl's Imperial Body Balm - A favorite, this super thick cream is inspired by Old World Russian herbal remedies. Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil replenishes dry,tired skin. Has a faint scent if vanilla meets bourbon? This cream is not for the oily skin types as it is incredibly hydrating and tends to be slightly greasy.
application: JAR
consistency: thick
moisture: 10 out of 10
price: $42.00

5. Korres Body Butter in Guava - Most certainly, the best thing to come out of Greece, this shea butter body balm has a tropical scent, the thickness of an actual body butter but the ease of a pump. Shea Butter and quince extract moisturize while sunflower, almond and avocado oils nourish and smooth. All-natural.
application: PUMP
consistency: medium to thick
moisture: 9.5 out of 10
price: $29.00

6. Amore Pacific Time Response Skin Renewal Body Creme - A fresh smelling, delicate moisturizer for even the most sensitive of skin. "A treatment blended with nature’s most potent anti-oxidant, EGCG, a green tea polyphenol and healing Asian botanicals to provide a healthy anti-aging solution for comprehensive and special body skin needs." Contains Bamboo Sap to enhance skin vitality, theanine to hydrate, sunflower seed, olive and coconut oils to soften and sooth and Matsutake Mushroom Extract to calm.
application: JAR
consistency: thick
moisture: 10 out of 10
price: $220.00

How To: Rihanna's Pompadour

Ursula Stephen, Motions Celebrity Stylist, created Rihanna’s amazing 'do for last night's Grammy awards... for under $20!


Follow these simple steps to achieve Rihanna’s stunning style:

1. Create a good foundation by relaxing hair with Motions Silkening Shine Relaxer System
2. Apply Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion to the longer hair at the crown, mold hair upwards and towards the right side of the head. Sit under a hooded dryer to set the style
3. Apply Motions Original Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion throughout hair
4. Use a flat iron on small sections of hair in an upward motion
5. Finish with Motions Shine Enhancing Pomade