A close brush with Claudio
Makeup artist Claudio Riaz works his “brush” magic on Courtney Smith. Claudio will be at Balliet’s Wednesday and Thursday.
Cleaning all my makeup brushes isn’t enough.
I hoped it would be, but, alas, I still want new ones. I want those by makeup artist Claudio Riaz.
Tuesday afternoon, I breezed into Balliet’s in Oklahoma City to meet Claudio and listen as he explained exactly what makes his brushes different than – well, than mine.
He demonstrated and explained and the more I listened, and learned, the more I wanted those brushes.
“If a woman doesn’t know how to use a brush, she can buy all the product in the world and not duplicate the look,” he said.
With his Instant Smoke Brush, and in the blink of an eye, he created a smoky eye. Even I could do it. His Conceal Brush is patented for massage-like application. The diamond-shaped Powder Brush is designed to use each of the four sides to apply powder to different sections of the face. Load it once and that’s it.
The staff, me included, oohed over the Instant Arch Brush with a wide, flat edge that highlights the brow bone in a single motion, and the Instant Brow Brush that follows the natural brow line. In one swoop, brows are defined and beautiful.
The Instant Liner Brush with an extra-long brush makes it easy to apply liner. Just lay it flat on the lash line at the inner corner of the eye and sweep lengthwise toward the outer corner.
I interviewed Claudio by phone for my Fashion Matters column that ran in the Sunday Living section on April 13, so I wanted to meet him. Go to NewsOK.com/fashion to read the story. Trust me, ladies, he’s as knowledgeable and charming as I expected. He’ll be at Balliet’s Wednesday and Thursday. Call 848-7811 for an appointment or just go by anytime and check out the brushes.
The brushes were five years in development. He actually bought makeup brushes and cut and angled them until he was satisfied with the design. He measured women’s lids so he could create brushes that would perfectly fit over the lid or the curve of the lid.
Claudio went to six different manufacturers before one believed in his vision. Now women are clamoring for the brushes.
These brushes aren’t cheap, ranging in price from $35 for the Lip Contour to $115 for the Double Blush. Instant Brow and Instant Arch are $95 each. The Conceal Brush is $65.
After reading my story in the Living section, one of The Oklahoman’s copy editors asked if I would spend that much money on a makeup brush.
No, I said.
I’m probably going to eat my words.
Smell-good products
Something smells good at Target.
Probably it’s the new line of Boots Amazon Forest bath and body products with the intoxicating scents and soothing oils of the rainforest.
The scrubs, gels, creams and butters are available in three fragrances, and according to press info, here’s what you can expect:
Brazil Nut & Vanilla. Drenches your skin with moisturising sweet brazil nut oil and fragrant organic vanilla, leaving your skin thoroughly hydrated and softened and smelling irresistibly gorgeous.
Mango & Babassu. Exotic rich mango butter obtained from the seed of the tropical mango combined with the gently moisturising oil of the babassu palm will nourish and soften your skin without any greasiness, leaving you feeling distinctly exotic.
Passionflower & Cupuaçu. The refreshing, fruity oil pressed from the passionflower seeds will nourish your skin while organic cupuaçu butter will condition and protect the skin’s natural barrier leaving you with super soft skin, which will smell absolutely divine.
Amazon Forest products range in price from $6.99 to $9.99. No time or money for a vacation? Slather on a little body butter, then close your eyes. You’ll swear you’re in the tropics.
No slip-ups for Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus will co-host the CMT Music Awards with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. Check out the young star’s boots.
Straight from my inbox to you: Miley Cyrus’ spokeswoman confirms the young star will be wearing the trendiest boots by Frye and Miss Sixty when she co-hosts the 2008 CMT Music Awards on Monday evening.
And to make sure there are no slip-ups, Grippy Steps and Hug My Heels will be used on her boots.
Apara Grippy Steps are discrete black pads that attach firmly to the soles of your shoes to keep slippery heels from, well, slipping. They’re $7.99 online, but check for them locally.
Hug My Heels by Airplus for Her are a new generation of heel liners that prevent heels from slipping and relieve foot pain. The cost: $5.99 at Target.
The national television stage is no place for embarrassing slips or falls. Neither is the mall, the office or any place else you may be. Check out the picture below of a model on the runway in New York. If only the designer had sprung for a pair of Grippy Steps!!
Flower power
It only takes a quick look around a clothing store or a flip through the pages of a fashion magazine to know that floral is a big trend this spring.
Now comes word from eBay that sales of floral-inspired items blossomed in the past three months in these categories:
· Flower dresses, up 135 percent.
· Floral shoes, 119 percent.
· Floral hair accessories, 86 percent.
· Floral handbags, 18 percent.
“Flowers are beautiful and feminine and even though they are always in style, it seems this spring they are more popular than ever,” said eBay Style Director Constance White. “For spring, try pairing a floral blouse with black pants for work, or just add a feminine floral hair band.”
This dress is from Nanette Lepore’s spring collection. Do you think it’s already on eBay?
I think I would benefit from this product
I just love Benefit Cosmetics’ product names.
Consider this one – Erase Paste. I’m all for whatever it erases. Lines, dark circles, age spots. You name it, I’ve got it and want it erased.
Actually, Benefit describes Erase Paste as a concentrated concealer that instantly brightens and camouflages all in one. A two-fer. I love that.
But what about lines, wrinkles and age spots? No mention of making those vanish, but Benefit says Erase Paste makes sure signs of stress and fatigue are properly hidden.
Available at Sephora or www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/home.html, the concealer comes in three shades and costs $26. I’m thinking that’s a small price to pay for hiding all my signs of stress and fatigue!
Biodegradable beauty
Next time you need (or want) a new lipstick, do something good for the Earth and buy one of Cargo’s PlantLove Botanical lipsticks.
The lipstick tube itself is made of corn, not plastic. The corn polymer resembles plastic yet biodegrades in less than 50 days vs. a traditional lipstick tube which takes millions of years. What’s more, the outer paper packaging is embedded with flower seeds, so just plant it and wait for wildflowers to sprout.
The collection includes 20 sheer and glossy lipsticks. Many of the shades were designed by celebrities who want to give back to the Earth. Check out Faith and Grace, inspired by actress Angie Harmon’s children. Faith is a muted mauve cream and Grace is a sheer iced strawberry.
The cost: $20. Check out PlantLove at Sephora.
Two for one
How’s this for a novel idea? The Gap has a T-shirt that’s reversible — front to back, not inside out. That means one day you can wear it as a scoop-neck, and the next as a crew neck. The cotton T-shirt sells for $16.50 and is available in 13 colors.
Tim Gunn makes it work
Leslie Spears, communications manager for the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, poses with Tim Gunn at the Oklahoma City event.
If the crowd at Dillard’s in Quail Springs Mall is an example — and it is — women love Tim Gunn.
Young and old, petite and plus size, they came to see everyone’s favorite fashion mentor, who comes into our living rooms via television’s “Project Runway” and “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.”
Gunn, chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne, was in Oklahoma City for the “Your Perfect Style” event and fashion show. Instead of 6-foot, size 2 runway models, this event featured more real-size women — women who might actually be out there buying Liz Claiborne clothes.
“You don’t have to be a size 4 to wear our clothes, guys,” said Leah Caruso, marketing director for Liz Claiborne.
Gunn and Caruso talked about each outfit, explaining and showing the audience how to make a splash with colorful accessories, the many ways to wear a classic white shirt and that a shawl collar exaggerates shoulders and can mitigate a larger hip.
“These are real clothes on real women, and it’s still fashion,” Gunn said.
Then Gunn took questions from the audience, who asked everything from personal fit isues to how many pinstripe suits he owns to whether “Guide to Style” will return this season. It will, but without the underwear drawer segment. Applause, applause.
Tim Gunn fans know he’s not a fan of crop pants, so, of course, the question came up. He explains them as “dicey.” They can make short legs look even shorter, he said. While it’s clear he’s still not sold on crops, most women are.
Gunn’s mantra is silhouette, proportion and fit. He maintains that without those elements, no outfit is going to look good.
He suggests women look carefully and critically in a mirror and ask, “Is this outfit helping me or hurting me?”
He and Caruso also advocate having clothes tailored. Most people can’t wear clothes right off the rack and have them fit perfectly, he said.
And don’t even think about buying one pair of jeans to wear with both flats and heels. When you find a style you like, buy two pairs. Alter one for flats and leave the other long to wear with your favorite heels.
So, ladies, in Tim Gunn’s words: Make it work.
