Makeup Saviour #1

Darlings - its been too long!!  Today, Im going to share one of my special secrets, it has saved me time and time again and I hope it will save you too :) - Now, accidents happen, things get dropped and broken- and by things I mean pressed powder products - this could be a sparkly eyeshadow, a cheeky blush or the go-to pressed powder you keep in your purse - the more shimmer a product has and/or the more it promises to decrease shine the 'dryer' and more prone to breaking into a million tiny pieces it is - however in my experience it is possible to break anything that is breakable!!

Fear Not, dear reader, all is not lost - its time for The Makeup Saviour!!  In these times of shrinking pay checks and rising costs we all try to make our products last til they really are finished!! 

To repair this kind of damage, you will need......

99% alcohol

Paper Towels

Q-tips

access to direct sunlight or a radiator

Lay out a paper towel - this could get a little messy!! Carefully open the container - you want to save as much of the crumbled product as possible - scoop all the pieces back into the pan, now carefully drown with as much 99% alcohol as you can get in there - snip the cotton bud off one end of the Q-tip and use it as your mixer, - your result should be a paste - as lump free as possible (especially if it is a shimmer product).

Now take another paper towel and fold until you have a small pad - maybe 5 or 6 times, press this pad onto the pan hence soaking up as much of the 99% alcohol as possible, reshape so all the product is back in its container (there could be some oozing :)) and dry in the sun or on top of a medium heat radiator.

For a shimmer product I re-brake and repeat the above steps 2-3 times just to make sure its mixed correctly, for matte powders - definitely twice - be careful not to over-dry on the radiator or it could possibly crack again - but really - Who cares - you now know how to fix it :) 

This technique works with all PRESSED POWDERED shadows, blushes and pressed face powders - I have done it on Mac Studio Fix too and it works well - though it has a tendency to re-brake a lot after  - regardless its a better option than throwing it out and buying a new one before time - just keep it still and in one place after you fix it - and try not to break the new one!!

The 4 Laws of Bright Lippy!!!

I embrace the new spring trends of Bright Lips! While I understand that a neutral gloss is an easier maintenance, The Firehouse Red, The Fuchsia Pink, The Crazy Coral make such an incredible statement - on your face and to your overall look!

However, there are some laws that should be followed if you are going to rock this Trend!!

1.  

Become a Master of the AIR KISS - to leave a mark on each cheek you embrace is a little trampy, also awkward for the owner of said cheek (please see Colin Firth at the Golden Globes - he ended up looking like a commercial for an aftershave that has some kind of pheromone which rendered  women helpless to his charms) The Air Kiss is the only way to go unless you want to brand your man 'kept' and 'hands off'!!

2.

KEEP IT CLEAN!! - best to use a lip-liner in a matching colour and spend time getting it right - you can afford it as you will not be spending as much time on your eye make up unless you are a porn star!! Then fill in with the colour of your choice - I'm loving the Tarte "Lipsurgence' Matte Pencils right now because they are soooooooooooo Matte and have a great menthol aroma - you will still need a lip-liner as they are a fat little twist up pencil  - I love 'Fiery' a spicy red and 'Lively' a sexy pink

But your favourite Matte Lipstick will do!! - fold a Kleenex and blot, then take a 1ply Kleenex and place over the lip and with a matte powder and small brush, powder over the Kleenex - this will set the lipstick.

I love to highlight around the mouth for that extra kick - so you could use a YSL 'touche eclait' in your chosen shade (for me its a 2 - save the 3 for under your eyes - too apricot!!) or any powder/cream highligther - use only a tiny amount and be sure to BLEND the C**P out of it or you could look a little crazed!!

If you find it a little drying on the lip - there are a few options - I love a teeny tiny dot of roses lip balm, Korres Lip Butter or Tarte 'Lipsurgence' natural lip stain in a corresponding colour.

3.

USE A STRAW - While Ms Emily Post has given the OK to re-apply lipstick in public, I'm afraid there is nothing more common or plebeian than leaving a lipstick mark on your starbucks lid - it really is the new tramp stamp - straws are available everywhere - don't be afraid to use them - if you are at a fancy restaurant and leaving marks on your stemware is going to be an issue, revert to the 1950's and blot before you drink! be delicate - less here is definitely more :)

4.

PEARLY WHITES should be just that!! (quick tip - 30 second mouth rinse with hydrogen peroxide 3 times a week after Flossing, Brushing and Listerine - ensures gum health and is the cheapest teeth whitener on the market - THIS REALLY WORKS!!) so once you have perfectly applied your lippy - stick your index finger in your mouth, close your lips around it and pull it out (please don't google this - God alone knows what will come up!!) this removes any excess lipstick on the mucus membrane of the lip, hence preventing transference onto your teeth........

OK Darlings - now you know the 4 Laws of Lipstick - Go Forth and POUT!!

thanx to www.totalbeauty.com

All Doll'd up!!

I know, I know - I'm a make up artist who spends most of her time blogging about Nail Polish BUT - Just you wait till you read about this! I have discovered the MOTHER LODE when it comes to Nail Art from the home!!!

Ladies and, well, Ladies (and the occasional Gent :)) I give you the Digital Nail Printer!!  This is going to revolutionise nail art - Now I love an afternoon of Mani/Pedi/Airbrush design down at CT Nails 3 - I love Peter and his gang but what if I could do this at home, in the middle of the night?! - I may never sleep again :)

There are a few options but the most affordable is the Barbie All Doll'd Up Nail Printer - it does one nail at at time, (compared to the professional printers that do it by the hand) and I have read reviews that say the software is not compatible with MAC - only windows 7.....

Anyhoo - a promotional video is always a good way to show off what I'm talking about....... ----->

Look out for 'Nail Printing' at your local salon - and gets your 'Claws' decorated!! - the nails in this video are SCARY!! I'm a proponent of the natural nail but I have done the acrylic thing, the gel thing - for me the constant maintenance took the fun out of a Mani/Pedi and the $$$ out of my wallet!! But this is kinda fun to watch!!

So when you get bored with your French Tips, have a fun event or theme party - this could be the icing on your cupcake!!

Happy Sunday Lovers

Dull,Lifeless Hair?? Dammit!! - Just Dust it!!

This is a quickie!
Shiny, sleek hair can be a giant pain in the Arse!! I cant hold a style for love nor money and Im always looking for some height and root lift because my fabulously healthy hair just wants to be flat as a pancake  -now I could blow dry the c**p out of it with 1/2 a can of volumizing mousse but that takes time, effort and the like - what if there was a magic powder that you could just sprinkle on that would give you BIG HAIR?!

Well my lovers guess what - THERE IS! its called Dust It and its by OSIS (Schwartzkopf).....

Its so easy a moron could use it - you simply sprinkle the powder (which comes in a salt shaker type container) onto your hair - it feels kind of cold and leaves a funny/wierd texture which I could care less about because what it does is nothing short of miraculous!! - I have height! I have hair that does what I tell it, it sort of mattifys too so you get this great texture!! 

As always someone had to introduce me to this so Big Up to Gail O'Grady (because she's my lady)

And so you know Im not full of 'it' when I gave it to the gorgeous Jennie Garth she dusted everyone in the trailer with it!!

  

This is a picture of Jess Lindolm doing Jennie's hair while Jennie is doing my lovely assistant Jenna Garagliola's Hair = Hair Train!!

High Def - This is your life!!! Back to 'Base'-ics (Part one)

As a working professional, the last 10 years in this business has transformed how we do make up - no longer can we Spackle wrinkles and dark circles with Joe Blasco poly-filler (I don't know the American for this!! - whatever it is you use to fill holes in the wall before you paint!!) - its all about getting back to basics and getting your skin into the best condition it can possibly be before applying a foundation/base that has been specially formulated for High Definition Cameras (or God Forbid - the Red Camera (cold shiver goes through my body - ewwwwwwww!))
However, all is not lost, in the last few years some fantastic makeups have been produced by a few make up companies who, having found this niche, have embraced our dilemma with open arms - Yes!!  Koh Gen Do, Make up Forever and Cargo 'Blu Ray' - They are clever peeps, because, here is the thing - pretty much every day life is Hi-Def - there is nothing worse than being face to face with someone who has caked on their makeup and set it with half a tonne of pigmented powder that has now lodged itself into every crease and cranny accentuating every wrinkle, line and imperfection you are trying to hide!!  I'm lucky enough to have a type of base for every discernable occasion but for those of you who are trying to juggle a job, family life, daily exercise and the like, need products that do what they are supposed to!!

Its super important to start by 'priming' the skin - A Makeup Primer will probably contain waxes, polymers and silicones - substances that form a bond with other cosmetics causing said cosmetics to have more longevity than they would otherwise - when applying foundation, it often then takes less foundation to achieve the same effect if you have first applied a make up primer - What a joy, then to combine both primer with an SPF which is exactly what Colore Science have done (they are bloody GENIUSES!!) - any one of their primers are effective - my personal fav is Line Tamer and they are priced between $40-50.00

www.colorescience.com

Make Up Forever do a line of tinted primers, so if you are trying to neutralise a certain colour eg - high colour in the cheeks - you would choose the '1 green' - these are super light primers and dry quickly so you can immediately apply your foundation - I like these but no SPF, I usually use the '0

neutral'  - priced at about $32.00

www.makeupforever.com

Koh Gen Do is a makeup line that only deals in HD make- up - there are 3 coloured  primers to choose from in the Maifanshi range - a green, a yellow and a pearl white - I favour the yellow, as it helps with high colour, neutralising blemishes and skin has brightening and anti shine properties - they all have SPF!! -   priced around $44.00

kohgendocosmetics.com

I Know that we are spending some serious $$$ here, once you add up the primer, foundation, concealers and powder - BUT if you are going to spend money - these 4 products are where you want it to go!! And really Ladies - a flawless skin is PRICELESS!!! 

In my next post we will cover foundations/bases - I know you all await with baited breath!! 

Peace out beauties! xoxox

Bella Bamba!!

I have to admit - Im a Blush Whore - I love it, I dont think you wear enough of it, Im a total proponent of the 4 steps of blush for the perfect cheek so imagine my delight in meeting two adorable lovelys  (Sarah and Tarra) at the Benefit Counter this evening - we had great chit-chats about nail polish and they introduced me to Bella Bamba - a new cheek colour by Benefit Cosmetics - Just when I thought I could never love a product the way I love my Georga Peach, I feel competition for the top spot.....

As you know its important to contour with your colour - so apply your Bella Bamba to the apples of your cheeks and sweep out to the hair line - I like to shade with a little Hoola just under the cheek bone by the ear and BLEND people - so important!! next dot a smidge of High Beam hi-lite above the Bella Bamba you have applied and blend with finger tips - Voila - the perfect cheek for the new season!! - the gold sparkle in Bella Bamba is very Spring 2011, keep your eyes simple and try a super-bright lip for that Uber Fashionista look!!

Go Forth and Mulitply!!

Shattered!

Oh the TRAGEDY! I popped into one of my favourite places  (ULTA) today to check on the release of a product I covet - the elusive Katy Perry for OPI Shatter Glaze - Imagine my heartbreak to find it sold out within 1 day (probably 5 mins)  - and I have missed it, just incase you too dear reader, missed it also I have done some research and discovered the following.... China Glaze Crackle - in  not one but 6 colours!! I can bearly contain the excitment - I just wonder if I can wait until its release date in February!!
Sorry OPI but I think Im about to be unfaithful to you - and believe me - it hurts me more than it hurts you!!
So on with China Glaze Crackle - here are some pictures of what we can expect (and dream about :))

China Glaze Black Mesh over China Glaze Medallion - the Black Mesh would be comparable to OPI Shatter Glaze - Looks pretty good methinks - Im Happy :)

So - with 6 - count 'em - 6 colours to choose from - Black Mesh (black crackle), Broken Hearted (pink crackle), Crushed Candy (teal crackle), Lightning Bolt (white crackle), Cracked Concrete (grey crackle) and Fault Line (purple crackle)  and a crackle top coat- I believe you can buy these at Sally Beauty Supply from February onwards - solo and in 3 packs - I cant wait to try all of them!!

For those of you who are playing catch up to my nail polish obsession - here is the OPI instructional video so you can get up to speed!!

OK my peeps - go forth and prosper - and may your nails shatter and crackle for Spring 2011!!

Going Greek........

Sometimes I love something so much I just have to share it - For those of you unfamiliar with Korres may I suggest an introduction.......

My sister Lulu lent me to their wild rose collection about 10 years ago and I never gave it back -  it has been a staple in my make-up kit - I use it like the Dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding uses Windex - it is my heal all, moisturise, 'oh - I look flushed' and 'what the hell is that' goto potions of the decade.

 Korres was established out of the oldest homeopathc pharmacy in Greece and uses naturally derived, top quality active ingredients in their products.  I love their website - so informative - if you interested in what ingredients go into the products that go on your body this is the place for you.......

www.korres.com

So - on to a quick list of my favourites things

Pomegranate Scrub - honestly, Im addicted to anything pomegranate, somewhere in my head it has been programmed that it is a 'superfood', I like to eat it, smell it and it makes perfect sense to scrub with it as well - good for oily skins, it is a scrub that you can actually feel working - if you are super sensitive probably not for you, but for troublesome  T-zones and most of the men I know this is an excellent product :)



Wild Rose Brightning Kit

I love the 'starter kit' its a great way to try a new regime at minimal costs - in a previous post I mentioned hyperpigmentation - which I why I love the skin brighening properties of this kit and if you are old enough for hyperpigmentation you are probably old enough for the odd wrinkle...... Et Voila - we just hit a home run........ Try this - you can thank me later  :)



Lip Butter

Everyone who tries this - loves it - I can honestly say that it makes an appearance on every lead actress in EVERY SINGLE MOVIE I MAKE!! This is the product that gives that no-make-up look WORK!! Its gently pigmented in the most perfect colours - my favs are Pomegranate (of course) and Quince - great for the purse as I sometimes use it as cheek colour too - great for that healthy glow!!

While you can buy anything on-line you can visit the Korres counter at Fred Segals in Santa Monica for that personal touch

Also - can I just add - These are 3 of my favourite things - however I would line my shower with korres products too!  Their showergels  are DIVINE!!

Stiff Upper Lip.....

Having just caught up with the recent fall-out from Ricky Gervais hosting a certain awards show
 I must confess Im at a loss - Why the surprise? Why all the hurt feelings? Did you not catch the show last year?? Are you unfamiliar with His work?
Lets face it Hollywood - If you are going to get upset over a few sharp, witty comments you are going to need a bigger pair of Golden Globes........

Stop Kissing My Husband!!

Once upon a time, long,long ago - well actually about 2 years ago I had the pleasure of catching a show called 'Nurse Jackie'.   God I love her, esp her advice about crushing your percocets and putting the powder in your packets of sweet n low, but I digress, I became aware of an actor, namely a Mr Peter Facinelli - devistatingly handsome and, in my opinion, a pretty awesome actor with a pretty awesome character to play 'Coop', again though, I digress - I would sit on set while filming "Three Gifts' and discuss this show with Todd Bridges and Lori Arms the Prop Mistress - Imagine my surprise when as a gift Lori got me a signed picture of the aforementioned Mr Facinelli which I pinned up in my trailer and kissed goodnight like any normal girl with a crush would do.......

Its a little worrying that I have all this photographic evidence :) However, Imagine my surprise/glee on finding out that Mr F has written a script for a delightful movie "Mulligan" which has been picked up by the Hallmark Channel - What's that I hear you say? - Zee - dont you sometimes make movies that get aired on the Hallmark Channel? Well, yes, yes I do *gigantic smile* it took absolutley no orchestrating, crying and/or pouting - it was fate - I got the movie - How excited? about this excited (holds hands as far apart as they will go)

Which leads to the casting of the delightful Ms Jennie Garth in the lead role (that would be Mrs Facinelli.......) and can I just say - words cannot describe how much fun we had on set and in the trailer - it was a dream movie come true!! That was until I showed Jennie the pictures of me kissing a signed picture of her husband........... Which she told him all about :) Im mortified, I have not had a crush on anyone since my school days and that was on Rupert Everett, and I obviously made him gay, so that was the end of schoolgirl crushes.......

Anyhooo - I love Jennie, and quite honestly now I love her more, because one day in the trailer while Peter was hanging out with us she insisted on taking pictures and for that Im eternally grateful, because now I have photographic proof!!! - not only do I have excellent taste in Crushes, my Crushes have excellent taste in wives...... - well the straight one did :)

So, all in all not a bad day in Hollywood land, but the best is yet to come..........
Jennie left me this
----->

Yeah - I love my life.......

blah blah - make up emergency - blah (part 1)

Even I, in my infinite wisdom, have make up emergencies! lack of sleep induces dark circles under my eyes and general puffiness, I'm so pale I have hyper-pigmentation on the left side of my face (driving with my window down and not enough sunscreen!!) and the occasional mount Vesuvius of a zit that appears to have grown horns - While at the time, these little problems life throws at us at the most inopportune of moments seem insurmountable this is not the case!!!

Regardless of whether Im working or not I try TRY try to drink at least 4 mini bottles (500 ml) of water a day (I have a strict rule - I have to drink 2 before I can have a diet coke, by which stage I no longer want the diet coke! - genius!!). A hydrated body is a happy body and a happy body has good skin.

I do not go anywhere without my Color Science 'Sunforgettable' ($60.00 for spf 50 brush)  @ www.colorescience.com - I covet the entire Sunforgettable range!! Its AMAZING!! but really the beauty is, if you use their line tamer primer (and this is a story for another day...) under your make up, you can top up your sun protection with a POWDER sunscreen that goes over the top of your make up - its light, its invisible and IT WORKS!!

For Puffiness I use Clarins Beauty Flash which is my goto beauty booster - its kinda like coffee for the skin!!

www.us.clarins.com $38

I have an emergency make-up removal kit by my bed for those days I just cannot be bothered to deal with my night time skin care routine of boots No 7 (available at Target in US and Boots in the UK!) 4 in 1 make up removal wipes $6.99

followed by Mario Badescu Camomile night cream $18 @ www.mariobadescu.com

 Keihls creamy eye treatment with avocado ($25/.5oz at www.keihls.com melts into the skin and disappears without a trace

And for those pesky problem areas I dot on Dr Temt's corrective treatment toner (23.99) 

@ www.skin-spa.com - I really cannot live without this product - Its like a magicwand in a teenytiny bottle - simply dot on the offending zit before bed and when you wake up its gone!! it also comes in a few shades so can be worn under make up if you feel something coming on during the day too!

WWW.ZEEGRAHAM.COM

I'd like to thank the Academy......

You see, these days, its all about Shameless Self-promotion.........  And I, in my fortieth year, have decided to leap on this band wagon with wild aplomb, which is, I hope, my general approach to life.

So it is with great pleasure I give you my new 2011 website!!


www.ZEEGRAHAM.com

It is brought to you by Alis Casson (web design)
www.alisoncasson.com

Cheerleading courtesy of Rosa Tyaji
www.soundsready.com

Glitter me timbers!!

Finally! Fashion is dictating glitter nail polish is 'de rigeur' I personally became an addict when my delicious friend Mandi-Ann gifted me a set of glitter gels at Marie Nails (on Harper at Melrose Ave) - Oh how I basked in the refltective mini disco lights dancing on my finger-tips - It is with joy that this kind of fun is now available over the counter - a girl could quite literally be blinded by choice - and quite honestly - you can just never have GLITTER NAIL POLISH - its my new crack.......

My recent obsession has been the OPI line exclusively at Sephora - they have a chunky gold polish ('Only gold for me') and a chunky silver polish ('Flurry up') that are my go to FAVS!! - I love them over a ballet pink or cream.

'flurry up'

The Burlesque range by OPI is great too. I wore Sparkalicious to Meghan and Jeffs wedding - was divine with my black  fringed bridesmaid dress!! Im addicted to 'Let me entertain you' - it has a cadillac car paint quality to it.......

On the downside -  you need to sit still for a good hour while waiting for the 3-4 coats of glitter polish it takes to acheive the look I desire to dry.....      Good luck in getting your glitter nail polish off - be sure to use a base coat and a top coat - this not only will make your nails really strong but will give you the utmost pleasure when it comes to removal - it should - with a little help - just chip of in flakes, and you with only have to use NPR for the residue - otherwise you will need a gallon of acetone, a pound of cotton wool and a pneumatic drill to get this s**t off!!

www.sephora.com

www.marienails.com

Congratulations to Vivica Fox

CONGRATULATIONS VIV!!! You're getting married!!

Welcome to my world of Glitter

It's with a certain amount of trepidation, that I have decided to blog - mainly the 'Who cares what you think' thoughts and of course the fact that I have not written anything longer than my signature on a cheque since I was at school.  But here is the thing - I see you, I see all of you out and about in the community, scaring the shit out of the locals with your attempts at high fashion glamour make up which in all honesty should be left to those under the age of 18 and/or in the 1980s.....
I plan to let you in on some trade secrets, share some stories about what actually goes on in a make up trailerand on the set of my shows (there may be photographic evidence!!) and answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability so you may go forward in life knowing you look your very best, therefore inviting the very best into your lives.....
Enjoy.....