Mermaid-Chic; the look of 2008...LOVE it

Cindy has never looked more fabulous! I love this mermaid-chic look she has going on here. There is a decided contrast between the sassy dress and the long loose hair. Her makeup creates a perfect balance for this look. Its subtly smoky and decidedly fresh all at the same time. Well I've got good news for all you at home.....you too can embrace this look! Here follows the receipe for this endlessly glam, mermaid-chic Cindy Crawford look. By the way, she has a really cute website! Its www.cindy.com

Okay back to the makeup receipe....you'll want to start with a natural finish foundation. Choose one that isn't to shiny or too matte. I like Prescriptives Flawless Skin Total Protection Makeup SPF 15 ($39.50 at www.macys.com) and for the purposes of this look, I recommend that you mix it with your moisturizer and apply it with a foundation brush. Use a little concealer where needed-I'm liking the MAC Select Moisturecover ($15.50 at www.macys.com) and then follow with a translucent loose powder like Covergirl's TruBlend Naturally Luminous Loose Powder ($7.49 at Walgreens).

For the eyes, you'll need to start with a Cream Colour Base in Shell from MAC ($16 at www.maccosmetics.com) and use a clean finger or concealer brush to spread and sparing amount over your eyelid. Then take Napoleon Perdis' Loose Eye Dust in Purple Scream ($20 at Sephora) and using a small brush like Bobbi Brown's Touch Up brush ($25 at Nordstrom) you'll want to press and pat the shadow into the lower part of your eyelid and then also sweep it underneath along your lower lash line. Then take the Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier pencil in Zaire ($22 at www.sephora.com) and put it in the waterline and along the top lashline. Follow with a brow pencil and super lash magnifying mascara like  Diorshow mascara in Blackout ($23 at www.sephora.com). Now for this adorably fresh look that Cindy has, you'll need a softly bright blush color right on the apples of your cheeks. Try Smashbox blush in Aperture ($24 at www.nordstrom.com). You'll want to round out this look with a slightly bronze, nude colored lip. Try MAC lip liner in Stripdown ($12.50 at Macys), Nars lipstick in Hololulu Honey ($23 at Nordstrom) and of course Chanel Glossimer in Sunset Gold ($25 at Bloomingdales).

As always, let me know if you have questions by emailing me nicci@nicciknows.com! Watch out Cindy! We love you but we're gonna give you a run for your money!

The best gift you can give yourself

Hello friends! I just got home from the most relaxing weekend. There is something so theraputic about a steam, sauna and massage! I spent the weekend in Palm Springs, sleeping late, eating well and a legendary spa day. I've been told by many dermatologists that steam is one of the best things for your skin but I am definitely seeing it for myself today. I sat in the steam room after a deep tissue massage for about 7 minutes and my skin is glowing! It opens up your pores and leaves your skin looking and feeling fabulous!

My advice is to; during this, the season of giving; to put $100 aside for a delicious spa treatment...the best gift you could give yourself! Yummy.

Aging Gracefully (and staying glamourous!)

Dear nicciknows,

I will be turning 60 in a couple of weeks and am faced with new challenges regarding my beauty regime. I'm finding that I can no longer wear the products that I wore at 40. My skin has gotten nore crepe-y and doesn't hold powder products well. As a young woman, I had quite oily skin and it has gotten much more dry in the past few years. Despite what this may sound like, I don't mind getting older, I just want to look my best and wear products which are appropriate for a woman of my age. Can you please give me some suggestions of what I might want to look for?

Thank you!

Anita

Hello Anita!

Thanks for your letter, and for being so candid about your concerns. I have no doubt that there are many woman out there that can benefit from your questions. You are exactly right....as we grow older, our skin changes in many significant ways-it gets drier, fine lines (I love the ones that soften a woman's face and express wisdom and life experience) start to appear, skin texture changes as well. There are however, ways to change your routine and continue looking like your glamorous, fabulous self! For questions like these, I can give you more specific recommendations if you send me a picture!

However, here are are some suggestions for you. First, start using (if you aren't already) a great moisturizing cream at night and lotion with SPF during the day. For night I like Kiehl's Abyssine Cream ($40 Nordstrom) and for daytime, try Neutrogena Illuminating Whip Moisturizer ($14.99 Walgreens).

Beyond keeping your skin very hydrated and protecting it from the sun, you'll want to use emollient products such as Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge (Pink Truffle is a great shade, $22 at Saks Fifth Avenue) on your cheeks and lips. The only place you'll want to use powders is on the eyes...try soft matte shades-I have to say that Bobbi Brown makes the best matte eyeshadows on the market and there are great sets on sale right now. Try Bobbi's Neutral Eye Shadow Palette ($40 at Saks Fifth Avenue as pictured above). To use it, apply the Ivory shade all over as a base shadow and then Cement on the lower part of your eyelid and then Slate in your crease. Then take Mahogany, the darkest shade and line your eyes for a soft, everyday look. Finish the look off with a pop of color on the lips, and don't forget the lip liner to keep your lips looking youthfully defined! Hope this helps! xoxo

Julia Roberts....never better!

                                 

This 'Pretty Woman' (sorry, I had to) has never looked more stunning! Shown here at the premiere for the new film "Charlie Wilsons' War," this mother of THREE children under 6 years old (!!!!), looks like the picture of glamour and elegance. I'm loving the soft curls around her face (for those who know me, you know its my favorite personal hairstyle) and her makeup is perfect for the dress and the occasion. How to get the look? Use a soft matte foundation such as Chanel's Pro Lumiere Professional Finish makeup with SPF 15 ($52 at Bloomingdales). Use a transluscent loose powder such as Cover FX's Setting FX Loose Mineral Powder ($32 at Nordstrom) to set the foundation. Then take a neutral blush color such as MAC Cosmetics' Buff ($17.50 at MAC's website.) and apply to the apples of your cheeks. Fill in your eyebrows with a soft powder such as Smashbox's Brow Tech ($24 at Sephora). Keep your eyeshadow velvety and neutral, using a shade like Chinois from Stila ($16 at Sephora). Finish off the stunning look with a black liquid liner such as Lancome Artliner ($27 at Macy's) and a soft glimmering lipcolor such as Chanel Rouge Allure in Emotion ($30 at Macy's). Voila....red carpet (or holiday party)ready!

Bobbi Brown Best of Chocolate Palette-$55

This palette is great for a gift and great for a gift for yourself! In my (humble) opinion Bobbi Brown does the best Matte Eyeshadows out there. For those of you who don't know, Matte means flat colors without shimmer. Wearing Matte eyeshadows is a great to enhance your eye color and shape without drawing a lot of attention to the makeup itself. It creates natural looking contour and looks very professional for a day at the office! Here's my suggestion on the best way to wear these particular colors; take the lightest eyeshadow called Bone and apply all over the eye lid with a larger brush. Next, take Frappe shadow and apply all over the lower part of your eyelid, right above your eyelashes. Then take your blending brush and use a little bit of the darker shade, called Chocolate, in the outside corners of your eye, to create a natural and flawless look. For a little pizazz, take the Cacao Shimmer Wash on the inside corners of your eye. The lip colors that come in the palette are also fabulous and wearable for all skin tones and ages! You can pick this product up at Nordstrom.

Fun holiday makeup sets!

This is a really cute set for anyone on your gift list. It's a $65 value that you get for $46. Eye Bright pencil is great as a highlighter under your brow and around your eye. Dallas is a very wearable bronzer/blush for all skin tones and ages and Bad Gal Lash mascara has been a Sephora best-selling mascara for ages! Happy gifting! Pick this set up at Sephora. Free shipping if you buy online at Sephora.com...pretty cool!

The Man-ual

So I think its kinda hard to talk about beauty and looking beautiful and not think about who we're looking bea-yoo-eeful for! My friend told me about this hilarious book which lends some interesting insight. This guy makes a great point about how many women have the bad habit of dressing more for other women then for men. He explains that by saying that often trendy clothes aren't sexy, they don't show a woman's curves or emphasize the feminine shape. He says that when we get dressed, to think of wearing what a man might think is beautiful as well.....if that is who we want to attract. Men are visual creatures, after all.  You can buy this book at Amazon.

Vincent Longo Pearlessence Gel Stains-$22.50

I love this unique pearlized cheek and lip stain.It looks 100% natural on the skin and gives the most delicate, feminine glow to the skin. The best way to use stains in my experience, is on bare skin or under makeup. One of my clients shared a great secret with me; she said that she puts a little of this stain on her cheeks and lips at night before she meets her husband in bed. She thinks its not fair to our men that we make ourselves look beautiful every day and every night we take it all off...they don't get to enjoy it!  This product is a great all natural makeup alternative for any time of the day or night. You can purchase it at Sephora.

Guerlain Golden Lash Mascara $30

This is one of the coolest, products I’ve seen in a long time. The perfect festive accessory, apply this gold mascara over your black mascara, just on the tips of your lashes. It’s subtle, yet adds to that gorgeous glint in the eye! I promise, it’s a fun and very understated little spice for your look and age appropriate for anyone!

All about Nicciknows.com

I got my start in the wonderful world of cosmetics when I was a sophomore in college and needed a part-time job. I had always been a girl that loved makeup so I figured…why not. I got hired by a brand new small company….which is now not-so small and known as Benefit Cosmetics. I worked part-time for the, all through college and to my surprise, really enjoyed it. I then got the opportunity to work for Benefit while studying abroad in London as they were launching. After college I moved home to Orange County and got a job working for MAC Cosmetics. Looking back, that was truly my training ground as an artist, I learned and honed my skill and really fell in love with cosmetics. I still however felt like I had a Communications degree and that I needed to get a “real job” so I moved up to Los Angeles, armed with stars in my eyes. While I looked for jobs and interned at a talent publicity firm, I accepted a position with Nordstrom, managing a MAC counter. With a few breaks between to do try out the whole “real job” thing, I  gained some great experience in PR, marketing and event planning but always knew that my heart was in the cosmetic industry. I went back to MAC and Nordstrom and spent the next few years managing a MAC counter. I had a thriving freelance career doing weddings, photo shoots, makeup parties, seminars and some commercial work when Nordstrom asked me to pilot a brand new program for the company. I became a Personal Shopper for cosmetics! I had a private makeup studio and trained with every cosmetic line. Once I was an expert on everything out there, I began doing private consulting for customers.

Then I decided it was time for a new adventure and made plans to head down under to live in Australia for a year! I had my plane ticket, a job lined up and my plans were made….then fate stepped in. I was approached about an opportunity to launch a brand new cosmetic line, develop the education program and be the face for the brand in North America! The rest, as they say, is history!  Who knows what the future holds my friends!