Michaela:  “With Christmas in 3 day away, you may be feeling the gift giving crunch!   If you’re out of ideas and need a dose of inspiration, help has arrived!  Beauty and lifestyle expert, Stacy Cox is in the house with a group of gifts that have a powerful twist…they lend a helping hand to those in need.  These are gifts that give back!”

Sue Devitt’s Hydrating Marine Mineral Eye Palettes Sunset on the Serengeti Collection

Price: $37.50

What is it?: Four shades of eye shadow  house in one compact. Special ingredient is Marula Oil commonly use throughout Africa for its remarkable anti-oxidant, hydrating and healing abilities.

Who it Benefits: 20% of the sales goes to the Africa Foundation is concentrated on bringing water and nutrition to the children of Africa.  Hippo Water Rollers are a remarkable tool designed to transport water more easily and efficiently throughout communities that have inadequate access to water; transporting 5 times the amount of traditional methods.  www.suedevittbeauty.com & www.bloomingdales.com

Sweet Grass Farm’s Faith Hope & Courage Scented Reed Diffusers

Price: $29.95

What it is: A gentle gift for those who have been affected by Breast Cancer. Our special Carnation & Pink Peppercorn Faith Hope & Courage fragrance sticks have been designed to impart a lovely, sweet & peppery fragrance. Developed in honor of Anna, our close family friend, who fought this disease with courage and heart..

Who it Benefits: We donate 10% from each sale to the National Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which not only works diligently to help find a cure, but also funds and publicizes the need for regular mammograms for early detection.   www.sweetgrassonline.com

Silver Plated Bracelet Raises Funds for Aids Awareness.

Price: $25

What it is: Stars Jessica Alba, Susan Sarandon Michael Phelps  Nate Berkus/Kristin Cavallari/CCH Pounder/Kim Kardashian /Kerri Walsh are all wearing “The Bracelet” to help raise funds for HIV/AIDS services, education and vaccine development.

Who it Benefits: The $25 silver bracelet is available at www.until.org and fund go to Until There’s A Cure® is a national organization dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness

Philosophy’sThe Recipe Box
Price: $18

What it is: Three bottles of Philosophy’s famous shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath formula, in melon smoothie, orchard pear, and raspberry sorbet flavors. The adorable package includes very cute and doable recipes.

Who it Benefits: All proceeds support PBS KIDS and PBS www.philosophy.com

TOMS  Slip-on Shoes
Price: Shoes start at $44

What it is: These easy-chic styles are available in an amazing array of shades — from brown suede to metallic silver

Who it Benefits: For every pair purchased, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need (any style).  Blake Mycoskie launched his company in 2006 when on a trip to Argentina, he realized how many kids the world over are shoeless, yet walking is their main source of transportation.  So Blake returned later that year to Argentina with 10,000 pairs of shoes and at the close of 2009 the company will have put shoes on 300,000 needy kids’ feet.  www.tomsshoes.com

Smashbox Wish For the Perfect Pout

Price: $29

What it is: limited-edition set of lip glosses that contains best sellers and exclusive holiday shades so you can create the perfect pout.  This six-pack of glossiness is all you need to get your lips primed to pucker perfection. And, for the first time ever, this set features two full-size lip glosses.

Who if Benefits: With every WISH purchase, $1 will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network*, a non-profit that grants the wish of life to millions of sick or injured kids by providing care and investing in life-saving research. Help Smashbox make miracles happen this holiday.. www.sephora.com

Feed 5 Bear

Price: $60

What it is: NBC “Hero’s” star, Ali Larter bought one of these cute stuffed animals.

Who it Benefits: Your donation helps buy food for malnourished children in Africa. These meals at school often act as the catalyst to get kids to attend school, it’s an incentive of sorts to children in developing countries.  And the lunch not only gives them nourishment, but necessary energy to study and learn. www.feedprojects.org

Envirosax

Price: $38

What it is: Jessica Biel and Cameron Diaz have this sack

Who it Benefits: $1 from each hip, reuseable bag pays for food and meds for ASPCA shelter animals.  www.envirosax.com Code is” SDL”

Section I: The Makeup Collection

Stacy:“Twilight Beauty, recently launched, it’s a new cosmetics brand themed around the movie with 2 distinctive collections: Luna Twilight and Volturi Twilight. The brand’s goal was to create two lines that women can fall in love with much as they did with the movie PLUS create a bevy of products true makeup consumers can’t live without.

”Luna Twilight: Collection no. 1

• Reflects the power of Edward’s love for Bella despite the obstacles that stand between them.
• Haunting trees wrap the componentry to recreate the forest backdrop featured in the movie’s numerous romantic moments.
• Avail Dillards, Nordstroms & online www.twlightbeauty.com
  1. Twilight Venom $16 from Duwop the creators of the popular ‘Lip Venom’ is a shimmering crimson lip stain suspended in a venom-laced lip conditioner with an intensely potent bite. It’s formula plumps and hydrates with argan oil, avocado oil, olive oil and vitamin E.
  2. First Light Body Glow $34 this gorgeous body illuminator contains just enough subtle eye-catching sheen to give your skin an otherworldly beauty and glow. Apply just above your check bones.
  3. Immortal Glow $22 A breakthrough blend of mousse and cream blush that glides on effortlessly and finishes satiny smooth. Each blush hand blends three distinct colors to create a “mélange” that forms a pattern unique to each individual blush.

The Volturi Twilight is the 2nd collection and represents the largest and most powerful reigning coven in the acclaimed novel’s vampire world. The crest of the powerful Volturi family is the centerpiece and logo of the brand. The line has a sharp clear prismatic quality halved with a solid timeless black, symbolizing the never ending struggle between good and evil, right and wrong, love and lust. 3 Standouts include…

1. Enrapture Lip Gloss $12 Super sheer, vitamin e laced glosses in two shades with just enough gold shimmer to bring out your inner sinner. Obsess – The hottest magenta with gold shimmer and a just picked raspberry scent. Arsenic – Sheerest back that goes on clear and leaves a trace of gold shimmer with a delicate licorice scent.
2. Labyrinth Loose Shadows $12 Seven seductive shades of decadent shimmer shadows in gorgeous stackable components.
3. Reign Scented Body Mist in “Wicked” $18 beautifully colored shimmering scents to awaken your senses and those around you. 4 scents

Section II: Behind-The-Scenes…

Ashley Green who portrays vampire “Alice Cullen” clued us into her beauty products essentials being…

1. Band-Aid Blister Block for protecting her feet from blisters while wearing stilettos
2. BORBA Micro Diamond Cleanser
3. Dermalogica SPF
4. Rose bud lip gloss
5. Shiseido tinted moisturizer is great.
6. Becca cosmetics PLUS…

Robin Matthews Key Makeup Artist on the New Moon Set Offers a List of Products she used on the actors…

1. Shiseido moisturizers; they sink completely into the skin and don’t interrupt the foundation process.
2. Stila Convertible Colors
3. Laura Mercier Products
4. Anastasia’s line for brows
5. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Section III: Do It Yourself & Fangs

D.I.Y: Make Yourself Up a la Alice Cullen, Rosalie Hale or Victoria How Did We Achieve This Look w/ Jess? …

1. Primp/Prep skin, especially sensitive skin, with a protective serum. On Jess I used Olay’s Regenerist DNA Superstructure UV Cream
2. Use your liquid shimmer as you would foundation and blend an even application to your face and neck.
3. Laura Mercier “ Secret Brightening Powder” dust across your skin
4. Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in “Angel Noir” smoked out around the eye orbitals
5. Dust Paula Dorff charcoal eye shadow in “Slinky” lightly across the hallows of your check bones using a eye shadow fluff brush
6. Cherry Chapstick, Smith’s Rosebud Lip Balm or the Twilight Venom for the “bitten lip” look.
7. Finish by taking a powder brush and dusting Twilight’s First Light Body Glow since all Twilight Vampires sparkle in the sunlight
8. AND for the final touch, to be the envy of all, check out Jess’s new set of “choppers” compliments of Extreme Makeover Dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman www.billdorfmandds.com

EAT YOUR WRINKLES AWAY & DON’T PACK ALL YOUR LOTIONS AND POTIONS…Borba and DeLuscious Vitamin Enhanced Cookies Reese Witherspoon has started eating anti-ageing cookies. The ‘Legally Blonde’ star is reportedly a huge fan of beauty giant BORBA’s DeLuscious Vitamin Enhanced Cookies which contain acai, an ingredient which claims to combat fine lines and wrinkles. The tasty treats come in different flavors including Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Toffee White Chocolate, and boast more than nine minerals and vitamins.

Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit $44.99

Garnier Nutritioniste created the Ultra Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Roller $16. It’s a wide body roller ball loaded with an eco friendly, “green chemistry” serum that massages a dose of hydration into your face and gets the circulation going in your sinuses, neck and shoulder blades.

On the go Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Touch Up Pen No time to squeeze in a salon visit before a trip out of town – no problem! This Instant Hair Color Pen is a fast, convenient, and easy to use touch-up pen for unwanted grey hair and roots. The unique pen applicator allows the color to glide onto strands for a natural finish. The Colore Pen, unlike anything currently on the market is also commitment-free, as it washes out after each shampooing. Price: $23.00, Available at Sephora

CVS Soft Skin Spray, travel size $2.99 1. Use w/ cotton pad to remove makeup 2.Use in bath to soften/treat the water 3. Spray on body for an immediate “I didn’t just get off the plane” glow 4. Spray on dry heel, cuticles, elbows, hair (great right out of the pool/ocean) 5. Mix with liquid foundation, powder shadows to change the consistency

Are you sore and “puffy” from the flight? Jet Lag Legs kit which includes Stimulating Soak, Anti-Fluid Gel and Firming Body Therapy (all 2 Fl. oz so they are airplane friendly)

These are great for after flying as they relieve muscle soreness, swelling and fluid retention that usually occurs from a long flight

Michael Marcus Cosmetics’ signature sable brushes are housed in a sleek compact case that holds 9 brushes upright for easy identification. A perfect travel kit companion, it’s only slightly thicker than a passport, and is also a great every day go-to for purses. So unique, it’s been featured in Time Magazine. Price: $98 Availability: www.michaelmarcus.com

A brighter smile and fresh breath instantly and on the go SMiLE Touch Ups On the beach, at a picnic, on a long plane ride or road trip – GO SMiLE Touch Up® ampoules are a great way to keep your smile brilliant, anytime, anywhere – and they taste great, too! They use a patented Ampoule Technology™ Delivery System, with a milr daily-use level of hydrogen peroxide, and a burst of minty or fruity flavor. Throw them in your bag and Flip Pop and Touch Up whenever you need a whitening boost or to freshen up your breath! They will keep surface stains from setting in to help you keep that new, super-bright smile. Price: $8, available at www.gosmile.com and Sephora
Copyright © 2009, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles

 Mikala: “It’s Monday April 13th and Beauty Expert Stacy Cox is in the HOUSE which only means one thing!  It’s Dodger Season! Wait, whoa… did I read the teleprompter correctly? Our beauty expert is talking baseball?  Stacy what beauty tips can you possibly have conjured up related to our national pastime????”

 Stacy: “Well Mikala…Jess…great news! The days of wearing our husband’s and boyfriend’s oversized team jersey’s is a thing of the past because the “MLB” (Ladies that stands for Major League Baseball) has come into the 21 century going “LBD” (Men, that stands for Little Black Dress).  If you’re heading to Dodger Stadium for tonight’s game, I brought along some affordable beauty and fashion tips to add flair to your look!”

Beauty Tips…

1. Mission Skincare…teamed up with world-class, professional athletes to engineer a groundbreaking line of skincare products. Serena William, Mia Hamm and Amanda Beard are 3 athletes involved in developing sweat proof & fast drying sunscreen, soothing after sun revive gel and a foot synergy gel.
2. DIY…Bring an empty zip lock baggie to the ball park & fill it with
   • Peanut shells… @ home you can use your coffee grinder to make a body scrub with the ground peanut shells
   • Mayonnaise packets use the mayo for a quick hydrating hair mask treatment
   • Coffee stirrers to push cuticles back ~ Then recycle your…
   • Altoid tins…use empty tins for mini emergency kits! Fill them w/ aspirin, safety pins, band aid, perfume sample
3. New Colgate Wisps will fit perfectly into the Altoid tins helping you have a just brushed clean feeling anytime, anywhere… After meals, at work, in a car, at the gym, on a plane or before a date.  They are Sugar Free, freshening bead dissolves in use and are discreet and portable.   No water or rinsing necessary.
4. Living Proof “No Frizz” Is your hair wilting in the humidity? Two Tips…One you need to use Living Proof’s “No Frizz” ($24). Spray it on your hair, blow it dry and you get over 16 hours of straight hair with no frizz.  You can also purchase a Dodger terry wrist band and fashion it into a ponytail holder to get your hair off your face.
5. Tide To GO Minis! $2.99 Kelly Ripa is a fan and I know if you get some mustard or ketchup on your cute shirt you will be too. Great quick fix tool to stash in your purse on the way of the door to the game!
6. MBT Anti Cellulite Tennis Shoe…Did you already purchase a pair of tennis shoe that simulates walking on sand to tone your legs and combat cellulite? But like me, do you forget to wear them?  What better place to wear them out then to Dodger Stadium?  The walk from the parking lot into the stadium has MBT’s written all over them.  And then if you see stairs and an escalator…take the stairs! Makes eating that hotdog and fries more justifiable.
7. Catch a fly ball…In case you want to try to catch a fly ball…do it with a pink mitt from Rawlings! $19.95 the “web” lights up every time you make a catch, FUN!
8. Legos for Adults…Jouer Cosmetics the casing/container of all the Jouer cosmetics are meant to be snapped together into one clump so you don’t have random pieces floating around your purse and disappearing!  Easy to take with you to the game for touchups!  Approx $20 per piece.

   

Next Fashion w/ Models…

Me, Jess & Mikala

The Dodger Stadium Gift Shop…7th inning stretch??? Head to the gift shop!  I have scoped out all the must-haves bringing you the highlights. From pink rebooks to designer jeans to charm bracelets this is a must stop and shop situation!

Stacy: “Just like having an emergency exit plan at work in the event of a disaster, we need our own exit plan to get us out of our afternoon beauty slump! So I’ve come up with a kit! Here’s what you need…”

Beauty Office 911 Survival Kit

• Febreze & Fabric Dryer Sheets
• Paper Towels
• Vaseline
• Pink Highlighter
• Black Sharpie
• Paper clips & Rubber Bands
• Travel Size Hairspray
• Nail File or Pack of Matches
• Stain Removal Stick
• Stapler
• Olive Oil, Salad Dressing, Banana Peel (yes a banana peel)

And here’s what you can do with the kit…

Anchor…”With 4th of July 2 days away, we are all getting ready to celebrate, picnic and barbeque at local beaches, lakes and pools! This morning Beauty Expert, Stacy Cox is back with the hottest beauty essentials to keep you, AND EVEN YOUR PETS!!!!??? Feeling pampered and sun savvy! Wow Stacy, your pets too??”

Stacy…”Yep I even did some beauty research for our dogs, and I will cover that base in just a sec! But let’s take a look at the latest innovations in Sunblock…”

FACE & BODY…
Freeze 24 7 Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15
The FIRST-EVER Wash-On Sunscreen with SPF 15 and UVA/UVB Protection in a Facial Cleanser $48

Bethesda Sunscreen Soap
Multi-Vitamin SPF 10 – 4.5 oz – $8.00 Introducing the World’s First All-Natural Sunscreen Body Bar with Multi-Vitamins that Nourishes the Body. Bethesda Sunscreen Soap contains a combination of healing and therapeutic properties that moisturizes as it protects the body from the harmful rays of the sun. The soap leaves behind an unnoticeable protective layer that provides daily sun protection. Talk about getting it all done in the shower!

Arcona’s Sunsations Sienna Mineral Makeup $45
Aronca is a Los Angeles based spa that’s help give celebrities like Katherine Heigl, Diane Lane, Mandy Moore, Sarah Michelle Gellar & Regina King their glow! With this mineral makeup they developed a breathable foundation with SPF 25 sun protection that brushes on powder-light, yet it offers good coverage. Protect skin from sun damage and premature aging with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide plus antioxidant vitamins C and E. Seven shades, in easy to use brush-on tube.

HAIR…

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
Salt-infused styling for fullness, hold and a cool, matte finish. $21.00 Rekindles summer with that sexy, wild, wind-styled texture you get after an ocean swim (which always seems a shame to rinse away)

Or try this Homemade Version…the recipe is eight ounces of water, two tablespoons of sea salt and a dab of hair gel. Put it all into a spray bottle and shake until dissolved. Spray onto hair and scrunch to bring out your natural waves.

Pets Need Sun Protection too…
Doggles Pet Sunscreen about $8
Fun in the sun is not complete without sunscreen for your dog! Prevent sunburn on your light colored dog and reduce the amount of sun bleaching on dark colored dogs.

And for the Grand Finale…
Inflatable Shower Cabana gets rid of chemicals and pool chlorine fast so your hair and skin don’t take a beating!

Available at Bed Bath and Beyond for $19.99, this unique inflatable poolside shower and cabana features the classic cabana stripe tent top and roll-up privacy curtain with tie backs. It easily connects to a standard garden hose and is complete with a built-in shower head and on/off water valve.

On KTLA Morning News, I finally got to turn the gender table, so to speak, and feature the best skin products for MEN!  Plus I demo’ed a couple easy do-it-yourself aftershaves and shoe deodorizing powder you can craft at home!   In the health and beauty market, one of the fastest growing segments happens to be one of the most difficult to reach–MEN. Last year, men spent more than $16 billion worldwide for personal care products, reflecting greater than a 7% increase worldwide.” 

Here’s what we covered during the segment…
Billy Jealousy’s Six Pack $40

• • Six Pack ensures that your silhouette appears chiseled and not chunky
• • Great to use daily and to apply before hitting the gym for a workout

6 Pack stimulates the body’s lymphatic system through a delivery system of caffeine which enables bioflavinoids to breakdown and liquefy the fat! 

OLAY DEFINITY ILLUMINATING EYE TREATMENT $25.99
Just launched this past July, the Illuminating eye treatment diminishes the look of darkness and wrinkles for highly defined luminosity around the eyes.  Small in size, it sits on night stands discretely, will make it through airport check points and make men’s eye wrinkles less obvious.

VOLCANIC MUD SOAP $18
Can’t get your partner to part w/ soap?  Here’s the best one for face & body.

• • Contains ground oatmeal to scruff-off dead skin
• • Defends against breakouts on face and body
• • Supercharged with detoxifying volcanic mud

Active Ingredients
GINSENG, SUMAC, GOTU KOLA, DONG QUAI, WATERCRESS – Bioelements Adaptogens – Support and strengthen the skin, helping it withstand stress
VOLCANIC MUD EXTRACT – Stimulating, detoxifying
OATMEAL – Soothing, abrasive
OLIVE OIL – Healing, soothing

NXT Hot new men’s line from CVS!
Pricing out at about $4.99 per product, this simple 4 step line from CVS has packaging that literally lights up alluding to the fact that the ingredients are light, great for sensitive skin with natural essential oils and a minty scent! You won’t need your Snoopy night light anymore!  Yay!

Do-It-Yourself…

Transformer Foot Powder…

• • ¼ cup cornstarch or rice flour
•  • tablespoons of baking soda
• • 1 tablespoon finely ground, dried calendula petals
• • 1 to 2 drops essential oil of geranium

Place all the ingredients in a jar or resealable plastic bag and shake well to mix.  Sprinkle powder on feet or directly in shoes overnight to deodorize them.   Another fun one… 

007 Skin Bracer…

• • ¼ cup pure vodka
• • ¼ cup witch hazel
• • ½ tablespoon lemon zest
• • 1 teaspoon camphor spirit

Want a “shaken not stirred” attitude?  Mix together all the ingredients and let the mixture sit for a few days to allow the ingredients to mix & strengthen.  Store in bottle w/ a tight lid and splash on skin after shaving!

1. MAC cosmetics
2. Mary Kay cosmetics
3. Bare Minerals makeup
4. Bobbi Brown cosmetics
5. Face cosmetics
6. Smashbox cosmetics
7. Chanel cosmetics
8. Benefit cosmetics
9. E.L.F cosmetics
10. Merle Norman cosmetics

I am surprised to see Face made the list and Stila did not. I am shocked to see Merle Norman cosmetics is in the top ten, but my Grandmother would be pleased! I think it’s a generational thing here. Oh and Benefit didn’t show up either which is kinda lame! Their messaging, branding and packaging are so innovative and cleaver!

Star sightings this week … Wed. Comedian Sinbad in Studio City at Aroma Cafe and Thurs. James Spader shopping on Larchmont with his “merse” and fluffy white puppy. He was my favorite in “Less Then Zero” but the dog, the purse, the chili peppers on his “dad shirt” made my gay-dar almost leave me blind and deaf. Oh and on Dec. 20th at Katsuya my mom and sat next to Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson and Mary Louise Parker. That place is such a scene it’s over my head really.

1. 24/7 Skincare the pricy national brand products & the creators of the face wash/sunblock in-one (which I think is brilliant) have developed a line exclusively for CVS. It arrived in stores last month! Prices cap around $49.99 which isn’t cheap but loaded with Gaba a key wrinkle buster your face is sure to perk up pretty quickly.

2. Skin Effects By Dr. Jeffrey Dover I love the Instant Deep Wrinkle Eraser for $21.99 loaded with Hyaluronic Acid, the line is exclusive to CVS. It’s their first Dermatologist-developed anti-aging available at mass.

3. Lumene Skincare this is a Finnish Brand that incorporates pure, indigenous, ingredients from Artic Nature such as cloudberries, Arctic white peat and pure Finnish spring water and there’s no testing on animals.

4. NXT Men’s Skincare (okay get this, at this Access Hollywood Party I am supposed to give men a shave with these products, I am assuming it’s just like shaving your legs right? Someone chime in here. Can’t you just see me shaving Academy Award Winner Russell Crow and I “Sweeny Todd” him. Oy Vey. At any rate, this new men’s line debuts in March and it’s going to be off the hook. Why you ask? Because the packaging lights up. No kidding it glows when you walk past it. No need for our Snoopy night lights any longer. The products are Paraban free (added chemicals you don’t need) and are fab. for sensitive skin!

HAPPY SHOPPING