Well another show has come and gone and I have to say I was a little disappointed with the hair and makeup this year. Many of the women attending played it safe with hairstyles that were either pulled back in a loose bun or off the face and held back with lots of bobby pins and hairspray. Maybe due to the weather or just wanting to try something different, but for me it just didn’t work.

I arrived home just in time to grab my pad and pen but after the fourth strapless dress and pulled back do I decided to enjoy the group of friends watching with us and run into the bedroom to make notes. Diane Lane was one of the first celebrities to make her way down the RC. I would have liked her with a little more color on her cheeks to balance her strong lips. Something to warm her complexion a bit, but I did love her eyelashes and perfectly tight eyeliner. A few individual lash clusters were added in just the right places.

First of all I just want to say finally!! Thank God Kate Winslet has such an amazing sense of humor and is so gracious. Watching her win was the high light of the evening. I wonder whether the decision to pull Kate’s hair back was due to the ever changing weather here in Los Angeles. Who knows, and although I adore her, I was  not a big fan of this do. I just didn’t think it was the most flattering style. Her skin looked gorgeous, my only request would have been more color on the cheeks since the look was so soft.

I have to agree with Designer Randolph Duke who was commenting on everyone as they walked the Red Carpet. Many of the women chose colors or styles that didn’t suit them at all. Where were the publicists when this was going on? I actually think Meryl Streep looked beautiful, and her makeup was soft, but not too soft for this dress. I love the earrings and the fact that she wore nothing on her neck. She was totally on point.

Reese Witherspoon arriving at the Vanity Fair Party

I can’t quite figure out if Reese was in a rush and just threw her hair back herself or if this was actually meant to look like this. Somehow I don’t picture her requesting a style that looks messy and in need of a wash. Since her face and she are tiny I would have done a smoky eye in softer colors and forgone the eyeliner on the bottom rim. Because the color of her eyeshadow is so dark it makes her eyes look even smaller and not the best look for her.

Penelope Cruz who won for her performance in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ kissing Oscar

I always love and look forward to seeing Penelope Cruz on the red carpet. Her style is her own and her beauty is skin deep. I was surprised to see her in a shimmery smoky eye but thought the colors in rich bronze and golds looked gorgeous with her coloring. Her eyebrows were perfectly groomed and her lashes were drenched in rich black mascara with a few lash clusters added for extra glam appeal.

Until the next Oscars live from the Red Carpet. In the meantime we hope you continue to join us for the latest in beauty. Thank you to everyone for keeping Aging Fabulous on your beauty radar.

xx

image credits: newscom.com, beth bender

Post from: Aging Fabulous

So here we are after a season of many award ceremonies paying homage to some of Hollywood’s best in film, and on Sunday evening the grand finale Oscars 2009. Celebrating some of this years best films viewed by millions all over the world.

The Oscars are as you know a big to do here in Hollywood. Streets have been shut down, blocked off and traffic has been nothing short of a nightmare. With that being said it is also a very exciting time especially for us beauty and fashion bloggers who are lucky enough get the inside scoop on how many celebrities attending this years Oscars will be getting ready for the big night.

Weeks in advance publicists and their assistants are on the phone making sure that each celebrity they are responsible for is booked when it comes to any treatments they will need to get them red carpet ready. One of the most popular treatments that celebrities make sure they take care of days before are their Botox injections. Many do it for the frown lines between the eyes, and just as many for an instant brow lift with no surgical downtime.

Celebrity Dermatologist Dr Celia Brown, and a true artist when it comes to injecting the face, is an expert on anything you desire to know about Botox, and other procedures for looking great Most celebrities who aren’t afraid to admit they’ve had it will tell you, Botox can easily become your BFF for life, and with all of the snapping going on this Sunday as each celebrity makes their way down the glorious Red Carpet, a wrinkled forehead or sagging brows will just not do.

A fabulous facial to improve the look of your skin, and give your complexion a gorgeous glow is next on the list of “To Do’s” to prepare for this Sunday’s Oscar night. We have a very close beauty source who tells us that Jennifer Aniston is mad about her facials and  keeping her skin looking beautiful. By the looks of her radiant skin in this picture it seems that this is so.

Our favorite Skin Care Guru and owner of Wildflower, Pamela Ford-Stevens is an expert when it comes to beautiful, healthy skin, and has been creating quite the facial buzz here in Hollywood. Her facials are done in a peaceful oasis for any woman who needs and deserves a little pampering.

My sister and I both got to experience her unbelievable facials first hand and are now her newest fans.  “All facials are customized for each person and their unique skin type and needs using the highest quality ingredients.  There are no add-on’s or extra charges. You get exactly what you need each and every visit.” This is Pamela’s Mantra and If you love your skin the way so many of us do, then you’ll definitely want to make an appointment and see Pamela ASAP.  Don’t blame us if you fall in love with her facials:-) She is a gem!

Mani’s and Pedi’s are an absolute must have for this Sunday’s event. There is nothing worse then finger nails spotted on the red carpet that haven’t been groomed. Even worse, those with dirt underneath them. A big no no! Why bother with the gown if the nails haven’t been done. Think of all of the stylists and publicists who will be sending all calls straight to voice mail.

Nettie Davis a celebrity manicurist here in Los Angeles, and creator of NettieScrub will be working around the clock to make sure Hollywood’s Glamour Gals have star-stopping beautiful nails.

Nettiescrub contains the best elements of natural ingredients including vitamins, minerals, and oils with delicious fruit extracts, and all made by Nettie herself.  Her fabulous collection of products include exfoliants, body balms, soaps, and soy candles. The body balms leave your hands looking and feeling beautiful.

Another popular treatment that many men and women will be indulging in is the latest treatment to lock in shine and color. CJ Cassaday of the Gavert-Atelier Salon in Beverly Hills says the best way to achieve this is by doing Ionic Hair Treatments. He says this will ensure that your color and style look best under the camera lights and for all photo opps. Applied with a flat iron it takes about 30 minutes after your color is done. This treatment consists of releasing moisture, protein & silicone to the hair, and bonding it to the hair shaft with the right temperature of the flat iron.”

According to CJ this treatment will increase the thickness of your hair without losing body, and make your color & hair look and feel its very best. Sounds like a treatment for me:-)

Of course we can’t forget all of the men that will be making their way down the Red Carpet too! George Clooney will probably be one of them. Our girl on the scene, sister from another mister and Celebrity Men’s Groomer Diana Schmidtke says “guys please put down the gel” and she is not kidding. “There is nothing worse than a head full of sticky, stiff hair” says Diana, and she should know since the majority of her celebrity clients are men.

The list is endless and includes Mr Clooney who looks very dashing in this photo, as do all of the men when Diana gets finished with them. They may look like they just rolled out of bed, but believe me they’ve been pampered too. Diana is also the spokesperson for Axe Hair Products for men, the best products for getting “Girl Approved Hair”.

And what Oscar night would be complete without an array of ladies who look beautiful and who are showing off their sexy eyes. Never a shortage of smoky eyes and cat eyes making their way down the Red Carpet. Eva Mendes & Penelope Cruz just love their cat eyes and we never get tired of seeing the most striking, and cringe at the ones that fall a little short.

Oops…many of the celebrities presenting and nominated will make sure that their eyes look great but when all makeup artist have gone home, Red Carpet Ready and Lights, Camera, Action will be joining them for quick touch ups throughout the evening to keep all eyes looking gorgeous.

So there you have it. Our 2009 beauty countdown to how Hollywood’s glamourista’s will be getting ready for this Sunday’s Oscars.

I hope to see you there!

xx,

image credits: Newscom.com, Diana Schmidke, beth bender

Post from: Aging Fabulous

My BFF Lebec is doing a little beauty contest at her fabulous beauty blog the art of makeup by lebec.Check out these gorgeous pictures. Oh my gosh this makeup is outstanding!

She is asking everyone to “GLAM IT UP” for the holidays! And I agree that this is the perfect time to do it. Regardless of your shape, size, skin tone and age. Take time and celebrate you!

Post from: Aging Fabulous