THIS GIRL'S GOT IT!

I thought I would take time to mention someone who hasn't been mentioned lately but who in my opinion epitomizes my "Simple Beaute" philosophy.  This woman, who is 43 and looking gorgeous, has grace, confidence and is incredibly beautiful just on her own-her natural beauty shines through and she knows it! It's Jennifer Aniston.  She is a beauty icon in my opinion-her hairstyles for years have made news and set trends.  Her makeup is always soft and natural and she never strays from her true self and that is something I admire most.  She recently was shot at the Rock of Ages after party looking true to her beautiful style.  Soft makeup complimenting her gorgeous skin. Try NARS multi purpose body oil with Tahitian oil to achieve this look. Then two days ago she was photographed leaving Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris wearing an outfit that some called weird. I thought she looked tres chic.  As my husband knows, I love harem pants, and denim ones-Wow!  What I'm saying is that we all need to honor ourselves and pick something about our appearance to play up.  Like Jen does. So simply and beautifully!

5 minute Natural Makeup Routine

ANNE HATHAWAYS NEW DO!

Anne Hathaway showed up at Stella McCartneys Resort Collection party two days ago looking super cute with her short do for her Les Miz role.  I love this look on Anne.  I think summer is a great time to go short. Especially if your kids are home from school and you have like zero time to get ready in the morning.  I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about.  This look is so chic yet simple. My favorite!! With barely any effort you look hip and modern.  For day, apply a lip stain like Just Bitten by Revlon which I mentioned a week ago and for night take a thin brush wet it and apply a thin line of dark shadow just above the lash line to really pop the eye. A very cute look that suits just about anyone.
Simply and Beautifully.  Let me know what you think.

ILLUMINATE YOUR EYES!!

L'oreal Paris is one of my favorite drugstore lines.  I find many of their products innovative and the quality is excellent.  You all know I love Voluminous mascara.  In fact, they have a new one in a gold package called Voluminous Million Lashes that is my new fav. But today I'm mentioning another new fav of mine, Double Extend Eye Illuminator.  What's great is that it takes the tricks us makeup artists have learned and gives them to you in one little pencil. One end is a smudge proof eyeliner that goes on silky smooth in four great colors corresponding to your own eye color and the other end is an illuminating pencil to use in the water line of the eye to great larger, sparkling eyes.  What you do is take the colored end and just sweep from the inside corner of the eye to the outside to pull out the eye color. Then with the illuminating end press gently on the lower lash line to pop out the inside rim of the eye "the water line." Sweep the illuminating color there.  You'll see instant brightened eyes. Simply and beautifully!!

LASH LOVE!!

So I love working with false lashes because the actually make my job easier in a sense.  They pop the eye without having to use tons of makeup.  Most recently I have discovered a beautiful lash line called Lash Republic.  Their lashes are all handmade and work for every type of eye and every occasion. Their natural feeling because they are lightweight and flexible.  They don't have a thick band connecting the lashes so they look really natural as well which makes them easy to apply.  I find the trick to putting on lashes is to let the glue dry just a bit before placing the lashes against the lashline of the eye.  Also,  if you start the lashes a little further from the inside corner of the eye and trim the end  it will look and feel more natural.  Use your fingers to place lash onto the eye and press gently with the handle of a makeup brush for 10 seconds. If you mess up a little use liquid black liner to seal the line.   Apply a light shadow and mascara and that's it. Beautiful eyes. Simply and easily!!

SIMPLE BEAUTE BY DEDRA (LITERALLY)!!

I wanted to show you my natural makeup application. This is my daily taking care of kids, even working (when I'm not on camera,) makeup application. I think a natural look, accentuating features, is more beautiful than anything. And we all have that so let's play it up!! I am actually giving you a sneaky peak of two of my own makeup products from my new "SimpleBeauteByDedra" makeup line that I'm developing. Just to let you know I really walk the walk! I believe wholeheartedly in my philosophy of "Simple" beauty that I'm creating a whole line of products around it! Ok on to the application. First take a foundation/ concealer stick like mine here. It is two products in one so it conceals like concealer but blends like a foundation and it also has spf 18! Ha! Starting in the center of the face and under your eyes apply the product like so, where you need it the most, and blend out using a BEAUTY BLENDER(which I love) so by the time you get to the outside of your face the product is featheredto nothing. Even skin tone=natural finish. Then take a cream blush like mine from SimpleBeauteByDedra and smile to apply. Right in the apple of your cheeks. It adds a nice pop of color without creating an unnatural appearance. Then just apply mascara. I love Voluminous by Loreal and your done! Simple and Beautiful! Natural and easy!

step 1 apply foundation

step 2 blend out

step 3 apply cream blush

Finished!

Products!

SO SMITTEN WITH JUST BITTEN!

I am loving these new lip stain/gloss/pencils from Revlon called Just Bitten.  I literally put one on at 11:30 in the morning and it said on all day. Wow! Now that's a stain!  They glide on so smoothly too and have nice sheen.  So simple.  This is what I'm talking about folks.  Finding products that are easy to use, that enhance your  look and  are low maintenance.  Products that are fool proof, that work for every woman and create a sense of empowerment.  What's so great is that the price is nice too. Only about $7  as compared to the $25 for the Clinique. They come in 12 different shades. I like the berry hue of "Smitten." Great for day with no other makeup or night to create a bit of drama.  Either way it's beauty created simply!

MY SIMPLE BEAUTY!!

Today was my day to purify and correct my skin.  The weather is becoming increasingly hotter here in So Cal and I always get little, lets call them, "slight imperfections," as the temp increases.  I am loving on my Jurlique products these days.  The thing about them is that they are so pure and really pack a punch.  You feel like you're walking into a meadow or by a brook when you use them. The smells are intoxicating. Whether it's a hint of rose or lavender, or more intense like oat bran or almonds, each product is all natural only including what's need to heal and balance your skin.  I used my Purifying mask today that is dense with clay and almonds.  It lifts the impurities right out of my face, leaving only clean bright skin.  After that I used my Calendula Cream to restore moisture, heal and protect. It's lightweight but works like a fuller density cream.  Full of Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera  it is also great after being in the sun all day which we do here alot.  I can now proceed with the day feeling refreshed and restored.  So simply and beautifully!

REAL MATURE BEAUTY!!

One of my favorite mature beauties, Lauren Hutton, has such great style.  I had the pleasure of working with her several years ago and her beauty style was simple-less is definitely more. One thing that she had figured out is that on mature skin such as hers, hydration is the key. A fabulous moisturizer and illuminator like PRAIbeauty Radiant Day Caviar Flawless Finish corrects and replenishes age-related skin while imparting a smooth, flawless finish.  Use it alone or under a nice creamy concealer like Bobbi Browns award winning Creamy Concealer Kit.  I like the texture of this so much because it blends out nicely in a feathered fashion, you don't even need to wear foundation. It will set you skin for a nice cream blush and eyeshadow to pop the features.  Try Stila Covertible Color for lips and cheeks and for eyes as well. The warm hue will pop the eye and tie the whole face together. The creamy texture is great for mature eyes especially. Many of my older clients complain of smudged liner. I always steer clear of liner with these gals.  I like to use a dark shadow to pop the eye by wetting a flat brush.  By pressing into the lashline the eyes get accentuated without looking like you got socked in the eye. It's super simple to do. Especially with Laura Mercier's flat eyeliner brush.  It's literally foolproof.  Great for sensitive eyes too!

So there it is. Simple beauty for simply gorgeous mature women!!

CAMILLE'S GORGEOUS GLOW!

Recently I did Camille Grammer's makeup for Andy Cohen's book signing. We wanted to create a beautiful bronzy glow and I think we achieved it. I used Luminous Silk By Armani Cosmetics to get her soft, dewy skin. For the bronzy sheen, try Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess.  And for that pop of color on her lips, we used NARS Cosmetics lip Gloss in Wonder.  

Simple Beaute at its very best!

PRAY FOR PRAI!!

So I prayed for PRAI and guess what? I got it! PRAI Beauty Skincare is the most luxurious skincare I have ever used and I got a beautiful box of it over the weekend.  Their products are made with PRAI Root Essence which is a historical botanical ingredient, native to the jungles of Thailand and used by Thai Royalty!  When I use it I do feel royal!  I love the Golden Caviar Age Defying Concentrate.  It contains hibiscus seed and Fibroblast Growth Factors that regenerate skin turnover and peptides to promote collagen regrowth.  It has 24 karat gold flecks that gives the skin a beautiful glow as well.  I also love the Silk Creme Restorative Moisturizer because it gives my skin the feel of butter, that's shea butter I mean.  It also contains peptides and Hyaluronic Acid to ease my dehydrated parched skin.  The packaging is gorgeous as well.  With all of this royal treatment, my days at the spa are surely numbered!! Try PRAI Beauty for all of your skin care needs.  You can feel like a Thai princess too!

SIMPLE PREGNANCY!

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Being that Mother's Day was yesterday I thought it would be fitting to focus on that time when you're almost a mom, pregnancy.  While most women have that glow about them when they're pregnant some women feel the baby "steals" the beauty away from them.  With extra weight gain and hormonal changes that create acneic skin.   This is the best time to follow the "Simple Beaute" rules.  Less is definitely more.  Taking prenatal vitamins, getting loads of rest and eating healthy are definitely key.  But using alpha hydroxy's and your clarisonic brush can also keep the skin looking great too.  I love using  lavender oil right after the shower when my skin is still wet to hydrate it and when you're pregnant keeping the skin hydrated will help with stretch marks too.  I like the idea of letting the natural glow of pregnancy shine through so keeping the makeup application to a minimum is key. Use a foundation/concealer duo, like Global Goddess to even out skintones and wear a nice cream blush to highlight cheeks. That with mascara and gloss, like YSL's new Rouge Pur Couture, which has the staying power of a stain but the sheen of a gloss and your true beauty cannot help to shine, simply and beautifully!

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THESE!!?!

One of my secret tools in my bag of makeup tricks is pointy Q-tips. I use them everyday on every job.  They can change or manipulate eye liner to the desired thickness or shape and they are totally excellent for cleaning up dark or red lips. Both the looks shown here couldn't have been achieved without the help of these crafty little things and they can be purchased at any drugstore or Target.  Simply take the pointy end of the q-tip and dip it into liquid makeup remover. Then dab off any excess liquid and run the q-tip along any line or shape you want to change.  Thats it! Some of the q-tips have a flat end as well which works great for shadow fall off.  Who knew you could achieve so much with something so little?

ANTI-AGING FROM THE INSIDE

I talk a lot about anti-aging products but I always feel that it's more important what is going on on the inside.  No duh, right? But seriously, getting into the grove of  better lifestyle choices is far more important and has longer term advantages than any skin cream you can use. The best way to feel better about things is getting into nature.  Start by taking a walk a day.  Even if its a short one. Around the block. Feel the air on your face and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and imagine the stress and anxiety rolling off your skin like water off a ducks back.  For those more adventurous, taking 5 minutes every morning and sitting on the floor or somewhere comfortable, and closing your eyes and meditating or deep breathing even will start to allow the stressful moments in your life not to feel as stressful.  I love listening to Pandora and putting on the Deepak Chopra channel as I'm preparing breakfast in the morning for my family. He has wonderful affirmations for one to set an intention for the day.  Remember thoughts play an important part of who we are. And how we look. Relaxing your mind will relax your appearance. Simply and beautifully.

UNDER EYE HELP!!

So many women I know and work with have issue with their under eye area.  Whether it be dark circles, puffiness or fine lines and wrinkles, this area is a touchy one.  Because the skin is so thin around your eyes it is more sensitive to irregularities in our diet and our lifestyle.  Just the mere fact of going to bed at the same time every night can change the amount of puffiness you have. And the amount of discoloration too.  Obviously that is not the most realistic notion-going to bed at the same time nightly, but it sure is something to strive for!  When that possibility just isn't a possibility and you just had to have that last piece of sushi dipped in soy sauce, you need some additional support.  I love the idea of taking 20 minutes or even 10 minutes out of the day and placing cool cucumber slices on my eyes. It is meditative and relaxing and it truly does diminish the puffiness. Another choice is black tea bags steeped then cooled. The caffeine will constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling.  If 20 minutes truly is a luxury you just can't afford try splashing cold water over your face several times.  It will help swelling and wake you up! For dark circles liver detoxification needs to happen. Take the juice of one lemon and mix it with 8 oz glass of water and drink daily to detox. In two weeks you'll see dramatic changes in the under eye area.  For everyday maintenance I love Jurlique's Herbal Recovery Eye Cream. It  has arnica, eyebright and cucumber to help reduce puffiness and brighten dark circles. Safflower Oleosomes technology delivers long-term hydration to soften fine lines and wrinkles. Chamomile helps soothe and reduce redness around the delicate eye area.  All that in one little tube! Between that and the home remedies your undereye will never look so good!

WHAT'S HOT?

All over the internet the other day were images of the other nights Met Gala. As I glanced, well who am I kidding, studied each image, I was surprised by how many women chose to wear dark lips.  I know it's really in for fall but what if it doesn't suit your face or it's to harsh for your features? Well NARS has created a lipstick and gloss called 413 Blkr which has just the right amount of the pigmentation, warm rose brown, that is so popular for fall but it is light enough for just about everyone to wear.  The lipstick is great because it's matte which can be easily blotted away for a more natural finish and the gloss is great over a nude pencil for more pop.  Remember, fads in makeup are like fads in clothing, you need to consider what works well for you and make accommodation's for that. By taking your own style and needs into consideration you create beauty simply!

BALMS ARE BETTER!!

I'm really into "Balms" nowadays.  So convenient and simple to use and packed with nutrients and vitamins.  The other day I spoke about a new line "Squid Balm" which I found at my local farmers market.  Their products, including their original Squid Balm for dry skin and eczema, is all natural and super potent.  I also love the coveted Koh Gen Do Moisture Veil Balm.  It's full of anti-oxidents and 36 botanical extracts.  It turns dull lack-luster skin into butter with literally just one use!  A little goes a long way too so you get more bang for your buck!  Another convenient factor of the balms is they travel so well.  So no explosions in your suitcase and no hassle from our friends at TSA. So you get beauty and simplicity all in one.

WRINKLES! OH MY!!

I recently got an inquiry about wrinkles.  How to avoid them. How to deal with them. How to get rid of them.  Unfortunately the best way to prevent wrinkles is by not going out in the sun.  If you absolutely have to then wear a hat to protect your face and use lots of spf.  I also recommend using anti aging products that protect your skin.  Products that contain antioxidants like Vitamin C and E. If you already have those nasty little buggers and prefer not to get botox and fillers, there are some fabulous peels that aren't super expensive that work really well.  Also, I love products that have peptides and hyalauranic acid  in them.  They plump up the skin and fill in the wrinkles because they actually help the skin hold water. I love Youth Code Intense Serum by L'oreal because it can be used with your existing regime and it justs boosts it's effectiveness with it's GenActiv Technology.  Skin looks rested, smoother and youthfully luminous!  In one little bottle?  Sounds good to me!

BEACH BABY!

I don't talk hair very often but with summer coming it's only fitting to talk about beach hair.  Like shown here on Kate.  My ultimate favorite!  Me loves sexy, wavy beachy hair. And my favorite way to bring the beach to you if you can't get to it is with Frederick Fekkai Beach Waves.  It has Sea Kelp extract for hydrating hair.  Marine peptides for repairing damaged hair and sea water to help sustain long term moisture.  Spray a few pumps all over your hair and section the hair in four parts. Twist each part into a soft braid and allow to dry.  If that doesn't provide enough curl take small sections and twirl it around your finger.  It's so simple and the effect is so beautiful and sexy!!

CONVERTIBLE COVERAGE!

In my constant quest for simple products I certainly have found it in Guerlain. I love, love, love concealer/foundation duos.  They totally embody my philosophy on creating beauty simply. Guerlain's is so moisturizng it's like a tall drink of water!  The two colors fuse together so well and it  covers so fantastically yet you don't even feel as if you're wearing makeup at all.  It's soft coverage also provides a spf of 20 so you can be sure that your protected as well as looking beautiful.  Use the lighter color under your eyes and around your nose and blend into the darker shade as needed.  Simple truly has never looked so beautiful.

If you want to experience this amazing product you can find it here:
http://www.guerlain.com