Beauty411

BEAUTY BYLINES Interview: Confessions of a Beauty Addict author Nadine Haobsh

This month's BEAUTY BYLINES features one of my favorite authors, bloggers and beauty authorities, Nadine Haobsh.  I had been a reader and fan of Nadine's first blog, "Jolie in NYC" from the beginning.  That blog has morphed into "Jolie Nadine", which is full of beauty news and Nadine's forays--only now she's based in LA.  When I had the opportunity to meet her last May, I was charmed. Nadine has recently published her second book, "Confessions of a Beauty Addict". 

I'm so thrilled and proud to introduce my Beauty411 readers to Nadine Haobsh:

Beauty411:  You've been in the news, you've done infomercials, you've done book tours--how do you feel about being in the fishbowl?  Has being a celebrity changed your lifestyle?  For better or worse?

Nadine:  I don’t think of myself as a celebrity in the slightest, and I’m always taken aback when somebody recognizes me – it happens really infrequently and is so jarring.  “Me?  You are talking to ME?”  I’ve had one or two famous types recognize me, from the Bare Minerals commercials I did, and it’s a trip.  My life is completely the same, though; it’s hardly like I’m Lindsay Lohan!  The one thing that is bizarre about living in the fishbowl, however, is in regard to dating.  I’ve asked some guys I’ve dated if it bothers them that I put most of my life online, and they don’t seem to mind—in fact, it seems to attract some of them in the beginning—but then I end up feeling a pressure to always be “on”. 

My online persona is sometimes very different from me in real life; I’m much more free and open on paper/on screen, and really have to push myself to open up in some real-life scenarios.  I’ll document my entire life exhaustively, yet can barely carry on a three-minute small-talk conversation with somebody I’ve been dating for a month!

Beauty411:  You've lived a little of everywhere--what's been your favorite place to live and why?

Nadine:  I miss London like a crazy person – I have a lot of friends and family there, so I feel very comfortable and surrounded by love and fun, but it’s also such a vibrant, buzzing city!  (Or, at least, it was before the markets collapsed and the pound declined!)  Plus, London has the royals, it has polo, enjoys some of the best restaurants, clubs and hotels in the world, and you can hop on a plane or train and be anywhere in Europe in just a few short hours!  I dream of a day when I can live in the Sussex or Gloucestershire countryside with my dogs, Wellies and Land Rover, writing all day and having wine and brandies with friends in the study all night.  (My personal England doesn’t traffic in clichés at all, no siree.) 

Beauty411:  If you weren't involved in the beauty business, what would you be doing?

Nadine:  If I weren’t involved with beauty, I think I’d still be doing something creative that involved writing: perhaps working for a PR firm or an advertising agency as a copywriter.  When I was younger, I wanted to be a CIA operative, so, you know, there’s always that…

Best of NY Fashion Week: Rachel Roy

The Rachel Roy show at New York's Fall 2009 Fashion Week featured clean, monochromatic and architectural lines.  Besides the clothes, much planning goes into the creation of the 'look' that you see on the runways.

Bobbi Brown talks about creating the makeup for the Rachel Roy show in this video:

The Blackberry Lip Color used in the show is amazing and available at bobbibrowncosmetics.com.  It's on my must-have list!

Hair was done by Andre Rodman, lead stylist for Frédéric Fekkai, who channels Linda Evangelista’s signature style with his throwback to nineties mod bob. The look of Rachel Roy is more austere than previous years so he wanted to compliment her collection with a sleek and serious hairstyle. Rodman created smooth bob-cut wigs, with a severe side part and chose stark hair colors of either platinum blonde or black – nothing in-between.

Products included Fekkai Sheer Hold Spray, Fekkai Glossing Sheer Shine Mist and Fekkai Coiff Controle Ironless Straightening Balm.

Nails were by Zoya.  In order to contrast and compliment the neutral palette of the fashions, the nail color of choice was Zoya's Tasha, often called "the perfect nude nail polish" by editorial manicurist Jackie Saulsbury.  The neutral nail provided the perfect balance to the clothes and hair.

Estee Lauder Summer Makeup 2009: Vivid Garden Collection

  

 

Estée Lauder introduces Vivid Garden for Summer 2009- a fairytale-like limited edition makeup collection. With pops of floral bright colors for a look of youthful vibrancy, graphic elements and shades of teal, lime, and aquamarine complement vivid pinks and playful purples for eyes, while cheeks blush with a luminous sheer glow and lips tantalize with saturated pigments in creamy textures and sheer glazes.

The highlight of the collection is Estée Lauder’s new, limited edition Vivid Garden Illuminating Powder. An enchanting vivid garden in a powder compact, the tablet features three luminous, floral-inspired shades lightly dusted with gold in a charming floral pattern that blend easily and perfectly together for a naturally warm summer glow.  $32.

Each new limited edition, Signature Eyeshadow Quad features a charming floral print oversprayed in a gold design for a luminous vivid garden effect.  There are two palettes to choose from:  Jasmine Garden (available at Bloomingdales, Saks and Neiman Marcus) or Orchid Garden (Nordstrom exclusive).  $35.

C. O. Bigelow Derma Remedy Body Lotion

C. O. Bigelow Derma Remedy is a therapeutic body lotion that cures the signs of severely dry skin in just three days.  How does it do that?  The formula contains Lactic Acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, that promotes shedding of dead skin and helps to stimulate rapid replenishment of new, healthy skin cells.  Other soothing ingredients include Vitamin E and Borage Oil.

I've been using the Derma Remedy Body Lotion and I'm so hooked.  This thick lotion provides more than 24 hours of protection, working to break the cycle of chronic dryness, rough texture, reducing scaliness and dry patches.  Derma Remedy Body Lotion has earned a spot in my "go-to" product rotation; I'm using it every morning after showering.  If you have dry, winter skin, you need to get this product.

C. O. Bigelow Derma Remedy Body Lotion is available at Bath & Body Works and online at C. O. Bigelow Apothecaries website.

You may also be interested in:

Top 5 Winter Skin Care Tips from Renee Rouleau

Best Winter Lip Treatments

Ojon Tunu Elastik Hair Smoothing Cleanser and Conditioner

Ojon Tunu Elastik Hair Smoothing Cleanser and Conditioner is formulated with Tunu Rubber Elastik, which helps to smooth the hair cuticle while adding flexible bounce. 

Found deep in the Central American rainforest, Tunu is a rare elastic fiber extracted from the bark of the Tunu rubber tree.  Combined with Ojon oil and other oils, Tunu Elastik Cleanser and Conditioner helps hydrate, strengthen and restore dry winter hair.

I've been using the Ojon Tunu Elastik Hair Smoothing Cleanser and Conditioner and have really found them to be effective at keeping my hair moisturized and controlling static.  I appreciate the fact that this shampoo and conditioner are environmentally-friendly; there are no sulphates in the formula.  That takes a little getting used to, but I prefer to use hair products without sulphates. Both products have a slightly "organic" fragrance to them, like most in the Ojon line.

Ojon Tunu Elastik Hair Smoothing Cleanser and Conditioner are available at Sephora (store and website) and QVC.

You may also be interested in:

Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanse

Aveda Dry Remedy Hair Care Collection