Backstage beauty at Gottex during Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2010. Black rimmed liner, glowing skin, and pale lips dominated the runway and complimented the elegant swimwear design. M.A.C. Cosmetics used exclusively for the makeup look.

Check out this behind-the-scenes video:

Sample, blend, brush, pat, spritz, swatch, critique, and photograph – our beauty blogging friends do it every week to bring you fab features! Here’s this week’s recommended reading.

Gaia shared her current – and eclectic – perfume lists at The Non-Blonde: Most Recently Worn, Top of Her Wishlist, and more. Find out what’s on her mind – and body.

Kari showed us that even gorgeous celebrities can have “bad look days.” Some of the photos are a hoot! Once you read Celebrity Makeup Gone Bad at Fab over Forty, you won’t feel so klutzy when you have a less-than-perfect day.

Be sure to check out my tips for melt-proofing your makeup with Anne at Beauty Xpose. I also recommended products for budge-proof glamour. It’s a must-read as the weather heats up.

Kelly found the holy grail for lashes, and she spilled her secret at Gouldylox Reviews. Enough said – go read!

Charlestongirl is smitten with Perricone MD’s new Cold Plasma Eye. Find out why she loves it (and why you may need it too) at Best Things in Beauty.

Marcia from Beauty Info Zone wrote a guest post at Prime Beauty. Cindy calls Marcia the “foundation queen,” so you’ll want to know why Marcia loves AeroMinerale Makeup Mist.

All week, Product Girl has been giving us a look at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale beauty specials. If you haven’t been to the store to see and pre-order these amazing value sets, you need to check them out now before they sell out. Nordstrom’s limited editions are always hot tickets.

Bobbi Brown’s Sheer Color Cheek Tint is a beauty blogger favorite. Jennifer reminded us all why we love it. Head over to Beauty in Real Life to find out why you need at least one of these portable perk-me-up sticks.

We hope you can kick back and enjoy your weekend with us!

Please don’t forget to enter my fabulous Sigma Brush giveaway contest underway at Makeup Artist Backstage. In the world of makeup artistry, brushes are the center of the galaxy! Wouldn’t you like to enter to win two amazing sets of brushes? They come with my stamp of approval!

Searching for a simple one-step skin treatment that gently removes impurities and unclogs pores? Look no further, check out Jeune d’age Organic Skin Care’s 5% Glycolic Pumpkin Peel.  As you may know, Washington DC had a terrible winter. With that came dry, dehydrated skin for moi and we all know how makeup appears on dry skin, not cute!

In a pinch, before an event, I grabbed a dab of the Pumpkin Peel to try out. I gently applied the fresh scented product to my face, avoiding, eye and lip area. My skin started to tingle just a few moments after I applied the product. I rinsed with warm water and gently pressed a clean towel on my face to dry. After just one use of the Pumpkin Peel, my skin appeared vibrant and refreshed, even my friends noticed at the event I attended that evening! “Your skin is glowing!” and “Your skin looks flawless”, are some of the comments I received that night. If only they had seen my skin earlier that day! I had dreaded applying makeup to my face in fear that it would cake! Now, it was clean, hydrated, and renewed.

The Pumpkin Peel is rich with Beta Carotene, Vitamins B, C, E and antioxidants. It is also high in potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper and contains exfoliating enzymes.

Pumpkin Peel Performance Ingredients

1. Pumpkin contains many vitamins, minerals and exfoliating enzymes that mimic AHAs.
2. Bilberry for powerful astringent, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
3. Organic Sugar Cane for smoother more supple skin.

For more information on this product and the entire line of organic products, please visit: ToBetterSkin.com

Skin care is the basis for every makeup application.  It is important to properly prep skin before applying any sort of cosmetics, particularly foundation.  If the skin is not hydrated prior to blending foundation throughout your face, the makeup can grab on to dry patches and loose skin resulting in a not-so-flawless finish.

Embryolisse 24 Hour Miracle Cream and Embryolisse Eye Contour Treatment are both staples in my Zuca.

The Embryolisse 24 Hour Miracle Cream can act as a foundation primer or even a makeup remover. The 24 Hour Miracle Cream is a rich moisturizer that is not greasy, leaving skin soft and hydrated.

Embryolisse Eye Contour Treatment is a non-greasy eye treatment that has been specially formulated for the fragile area around the eyes. This multi-purpose product acts to improve skin tone, firm skin, and reduce the appearance of small wrinkles and crow’s feet.

These products can be purchased from www.PaintandPowderStore.com

If dry winter weather is not harsh enough on hands, try washing your hands multiple times per day and sanitizing in between clients!  My hands are the first thing my clients see.  If they are dry, chapped, or even cracked, it can be a turn-off for the people whose faces I apply makeup to!

Infectiguard™, www.infectiguard.com, a new line of skin-friendly lotion-formula hand sanitizers, offers these tips for beautiful hands year-round, even in the harshest of winters and the scariest of flu seasons.   Experts say it’s all about moisture, maintenance and protection.

• For the love of gloves: Let your hands live a sheltered life.  In winter, wear warm gloves when stepping out into the chilly air.  Always use rubber gloves for housework and dishwashing to protect against drying hot water, chemicals and detergents.   And at the gym, don a pair of training gloves.  These not only wick away sweat, but they cushion your palms and help prevent getting callouses from repeated use of the equipment.

• Washing: Especially during flu season, washing with soap and water is a necessary evil.   But not all soaps are created equal. Public restroom soaps – including those at your office – are the worst offenders in terms of chemical ingredients.  Consider bringing your own kinder, gentler supply.  An idea to try:  Apartment 5 “Soaps on the Go” soap sheets.

• Kill germs, not your hands: Hand sanitizers may be de rigueur, but traditional gel formulas don’t do your fingers any favors.  Try Infectiguard’s innovative lotion version.  Moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E make Infectiguard as soft on the skin as it is hard on germs.  You’d never know from the smooth results that the formula contains 62% alcohol – mandated by the Centers for Disease Control to kill bacteria.Cuticles: Perfectly groomed cuticles make your hands the picture of health.  But don’t try cutting yours at home – leave that to experts at the salon.  Instead, try mild manual exfoliation with a washcloth, or with a microexfoliant powder.  Then massage in plenty of cuticle oil.

• Moisturize and pamper: You simply can’t moisturize your hands too much, especially in winter.   Rub in a rich, shea butter-infused cream a few times a day.  And give your hard-working, computer-weary hands a delightful massage at the same time.  Place a dollop of cream on one palm, lace your fingers together and rub it in with the opposite thumb.   Repeat on the other side, and then massage cream onto the backs of the hands, working it up each individual finger.

• Manicures: Keep your nails pretty with a salon or at home manicure.  When your nails look good, you’ll have greater incentive to treat them right.

It’s been a fabulous year of beauty!  I’ve attended, and presented at, The Artist Summit Miami and Chicago, attended The Makeup Show NYC, worked and interviewed backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York and shared product recommendations with national magazines such as Real Simple Magazine and Women’s Health Magazine.

Through these experiences, I’ve come across a variety of beauty products (as you can imagine!).  This was a tough job but I’ve compiled a list of my 4 top beauty product must-have picks of 2009!

Drum roll, please…..

#4: Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Balm in Blush - A beautiful and natural flushed color perfect on any skin tone. Apply anywhere on the face and blend with fingers, a sponge, or foundation brush for a healthy glow.

#3: Lisa Hoffman Spa Facial Lip Moisturizer 8 – My obsession and now a kit staple, this lip moisturizer does it all by smoothing lips and finishing with a semi-gloss shine, not sticky.

#2: Reversital 3-in-1 MicrodermaStick - There’s nothing better than Microdermabrasion at your fingertips! This is another staple in my kit for on-the-go exfoliation for clients before a makeup application. Quick and easy to use! The product comes in stick form, twist the product up and out of the tube, gently rub face, neck, and chest in a circular motion with the product and rinse! Simple as that!

AND THE #1 SPOT GOES TO……

#1 OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS LIP TAR - A tiny dab of this lipstick/liquid product can coat your lips within seconds. Highly pigmented and long lasting. The finish is demi-matte but you can coat with a clear gloss. Perfect for an event, photo shoot, or just to wear everyday. Comes in a variety of beautiful shades!

For my beauty fanatics out there who are also New Moon groupies, this one is for you!

Dermalogica is VERY excited to be a favorite brand from the New Moon cast. On the set of the latest filming, Twilight: New Moon Makeup Designer Norma Hill-Patton (at THEY Representation – www.THEYrep.com) routinely used the products to create the best canvas for dressing up the vampires and werewolves. Long days on set can take a toll on actor’s skin so Hill-Patton turned to Dermalogica products to prep skin before makeup.

“All of the Actors required a LOT of make up and it was on their faces for long periods of time, so we needed to take particular care of their skins. Vampires don’t perspire, don’t grow facial hair, don’t get lines and certainly don’t get BLEMISHES” explains Norma Hill-Patton, Makeup Designer for Twilight: New Moon. “We loved Dermalogica’s Active Moist which we used on most of the Cast as it is quite universal and suits most types of skin. The Pre Cleanse was invaluable for cleansing off the body make up, especially because we had to apply a make up fixative and it was difficult to remove. But we didn’t want anything that was harsh or might induce a reaction. The Intensive Eye Cream was great for keeping the fine lines around the eyes at bay. A TINY amount patted under the eye for final checks (on top of the make up) did wonders to diminish the lines for close ups.” Hill-Patton concludes, “The Shaving Regime was used on all of the guys with great success! Again, it was really important to be sympathetic to their skins as they had to have a REALLY CLOSE shave. I’m a great fan of the shaving oil and it can be used for ‘wet’ shaves or electric shaves! We even had to shave some of them in the middle of the day to maintain the smooth look to their skin! I also loved the Renewal Lip Complex to keep their lips smooth during the cold, windy days during exterior filming.”

Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster

During New York Fashion Week in September of 2008, I met with representatives from Dermalogica who shared with me information about television stations and film crews turning to their products in the hi-definition world. Gone are the days of heavy pancake makeup as skin care is where its at! As a professional makeup artist, I can relate. A clean look starts with clean skin.

“My daily regimen includes Dermalogica sunscreen. They also have a really great “special clearing booster” for spot treatment on blemishes” says Ashley Greene, “Alice Cullen”. I was given a sample of the Special Clearing Booster during my visit with reps from Dermalogica and I agree, this stuff is good! “It’s a little more involved on set with hot towel treatments and Dermalogica pre-cleanse to get all that white makeup off” explains Greene.

For more information on Dermalogica products, visit their site: Dermalogica.com

Victoria Stiles Makeup Artist

UPDATE 12-16-2009:  I spoke with Robin Mathews who is the personal make-up artist for Kristen Stewart– Bela in New Moon.  She informed me that Dermalogica products were not used on Kristen Stewart.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  To promote awareness, Makeup Artist Backstage has gone pink for the remainder of the month!

Paul Baranda, Eveyln Lauder, Jennifer Long, Victoria Stiles

In September, I met with Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of The Estee Lauder Companies and a co-creator of the Pink Ribbon– a symbol recognized worldwide for its association with Breast Cancer Awareness.  She is passionate about Estee Lauder’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign which benefits the Breast Cancer Reasearch Foundation.  The BCRF is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research.  In October 2008, $34.5 million was awarded to 166 scientists across the United States and in Australia, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe.  Last year, I wrote this article which explains a little bit about Estee Lauder’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation along with the products which benefited the BCRF.  Check out that article on Beyond Beauty Basics for more information on the campaign and fund along with their website www.BCRFCURE.org.

I would like to take a moment to highlight some fabulous products which donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This year the Estee Lauder Companies have put together a long list of products which donate to this wonderful cause. Here are a few of my absolute favorite-must-have items!

Clinique Lipgloss Key Chain

Clinique supports BCA Month with an adorable limited-edition Lipgloss Key Chain featuring a signature pink ribbon charm, Clinique “C” charm and three mini Long Last Gloswear SPF 15 in Air Kiss, Kissyfit and Whisper.  Each of these pink shades were chosen in honor of BCA signature color.

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection

In support of BCA Month, Bobbi has created a beautiful limited-edition lip set featuring an exclusive new shade of Creamy Lip Color and a limited-edition Glitter Lip Balm.  To create added awareness of this special cause, the pink ribbon logo has been screened on the Glitter Lip Balm package.  Set comes in a pink photographic carton.

Darphin Arovita C Energic Firming Cream

This invigorating, vitamin-enriched Darphin facial cream helps firm skin and fortify its natural resiliency to visibly correct first loss of elasticity of the face and neck.  Key ingredients include:  Artemia salina, Carrot Protein, Noni Extract, Vitamins C and E.

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

Lighthearted and intensely feminine, this scent is a mix of luscious fruit and delectable flowers.  A scent so innocent, so fresh and playful, it lives up to the Apple Blossom itself, a symbol of love, youth beauty and happiness.

Estee Lauder Elizabeth Hurley Lip Set

The lip collection shades were hand-picked by Hurley and include a lipstick, lip gloss and pencil.  The lipstick is housed in a smooth pink anodized case that will remind you that you’ve helped support the cause.  The lip collection is packaged in a pink fabric covered, mirrored lipstick holder case.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Evelyn Lauder herself told me personally that she uses this product nightly on her face, neck, arms and legs– especially on elbows and knees!  Exclusive Chronolux Technology supports the natural synchronization of skin’s repair and protection processes to help skin look younger.  Over time, you will see a dramatic reduction in visible signs of aging, including lines, dehydration and discoloration.

La Mer Creme de la Mer

This product saved my face on my recent trip to Chicago.  Going from an event in Miami, where it was warm and humid, to and event in Chicago, a dry cold windy city, left my skin dry and flaky.  One night with this cream on my face saved my skin!  Going into the winter months, this cream is a must-have!  A special pink box has been created especially for BCA Month.

After a long two weeks in NYC for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, upon entering my home, I dropped my bags and immediately grabbed my Imperial Body Balm from Kiehl’s.  During my stay, I visited their flagship store, opened in 1851 and located on Third Avenue between 13th and 14th.  The location still had many of its original decor– love vintage!

Their Imperial Body Balm is a rich formula and gives your body the royal treatment it deserves!

Key Ingredients:

• Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil
• Honey and Fruit Based Glycolic Acids
• Shea Butter
• Squalane

Benefits:

• Deeply hydrates and comforts very dry, lackluster skin with Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil, Shea Butter, and Squalane.

• Accelerates cell turnover with Honey and Fruit Glycolic Acids to reveal a new skin softness and radiance.

Shop Kiehl’s www.Kiehls.com