I’m thrilled to be a contributor to NadineJolie—one of the smartest beauty blogs around. I’ve been a huge fan of Nadine’s for years and almost have to pinch myself about working with her. If you’re not familiar with her site, you must check it out. She is a true beauty expert, so much fun to read and incredibly honest. I’ve discovered some of my favorite products through her and I have a feeling you will, too.
For my first piece on beauty and motherhood, I wrote about the most significant ways being a mom has impacted my beauty routine. Here’s a snippet:
I’ve given up my bathroom, my former oasis.
Prior to having children, I had a beautiful set-up of makeup brushes standing i n pretty glasses and cosmetics organized in a lovely little cabinet. I’d sit in front of my lighted mirror, play some old jazz (or Duran Duran or Madonna or The Beatles—whatever I wanted. I was alone) and I was in my happy place. Now, since bathrooms might as well be a water park and my little monkey thinks the marble bathtub is a fancy jungle gym, I’ve relegated my beauty necessities to a basket that I can transport around the house so I’m able to set up shop in any room. And it’s often the kitchen. Lots of natural light, pots and pans to bang on—and snacks to bribe the children.
You can read the full article here.
Here’s Uma Thurman on Today responding to the wrath she’s been under since her appearance on the red carpet for premier of her new mini-series, The Slap.
Looking much more like herself, Thurman says it was makeup, not surgery, that changed her appearance.
I’m inclined to believe her.
In a stark departure from her typical neutral makeup, Thurman went with a bold red lip, darker, thicker brows—and no mascara! Her makeup artist, the inimitable Troy Surratt, said he got tired of the heavy lashes-and-liner look and was going for “effortless Parisienne chic.”
I suppose even the best of the best have their fails.
Then again, if I left the house with no mascara, no one would recognize me either.
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As much as I like to gear up to watch celebrities walk red carpets, this article in the New York Times yesterday really got me thinking. I don’t blame Julianne Moore and Jennifer Aniston (among others) for shunning the “Mani Cam.” I’d feel a little ridiculous, too. Is it over-thinking it all to say that the red carpet marginalizes women actors? Maybe, a little…but I’m thinking twice about making sport of watching it with my girls.
Still processing…what do you think?
I am so happy to introduce a new BeautyMama series called Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous with the extraordinary nutritionist Esther Blum. Because, as we all know, beauty is hardly skin-deep. What we eat, the supplements we choose and the habits we set have so much to do with how we look and feel. As a busy working mom with a focus on women’s health, in particular, Esther truly understands how we think and what we need to look and feel our best.
Esther is a clinical and holistic dietitian with 20+ years of experience, and bestselling author of Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous, Secrets of Gorgeous, The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project, and Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat.
Plus, she’s hilarious, makes a mean martini and eats chocolate. The ultimate BeautyMama.
To launch the series, I asked Esther to talk about dry skin. So many of my friends are asking me how to amp up their winter skincare. I keep hearing how even the heaviest of creams are doing little to keep skin hydrated. Turns out, it’s way more effective to moisturize from the inside out. Beyond winter dryness, though, keeping skin supple year-round is an important anti-aging weapon.
Here’s Esther’s dry skin Rx:
Eat: Cod Liver Oil
Drink: Water- and lots of it.
Gorgeous Benefits
Cod liver oil contains Vitamin A & D to support respiratory health and immune function. A great rule of thumb is to think about having omega-3s during the warmer months when exposure to the sun (and vitamin D) is greater, and cod liver oil during the months you spend more time indoors. Omega-3s are a panacea for pretty much everything from high blood pressure and cholesterol to fighting inflammation, menstrual cramps and joint aches, to treating depression, autoimmune conditions, and dry, wrinkled skin. To optimize your intake of these lovely fats, steer clear of trans fats and hydrogenated oils, fried foods, corn, safflower, sunflower, and canola oils—these are deal breakers when it comes to inflammation and hydration. You may not actually need more hydration, but you may just need an oil change.
Dosage: One teaspoon per 50 pounds of body weight, taken with food.
Eat: Evening Primrose Oil capsules
Drink: Water- and lots of it
Gorgeous Benefits
Primrose oil seeds are a rich source of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). This miracle oil restores regular menstrual cycles, fights menstrual cramps and inflammation, tackles tough eczema and acne, controls excess sebum production, and hydrates you from the inside out. So I’m a big fan, natch.
Dosage: One 240mg capsule per day for dry skin; 2 capsules per day for eczema and irregular periods.
Eat: Coconut Oil
Drink: Coconut Water- it’s the perfect post-workout sports drink
Gorgeous Benefits
Coconut is without a doubt the healthiest saturated fat on the planet. It stands up well to high cooking temps, tastes incredibly delicious (I actually eat it straight to kill cravings), and is rich in medium chain triglycerides, which are rapidly burned off for energy and help the body burn fat. Coconut oil is also a great source of lauric acid, which is a natural anti-viral fatty acid. This means a better functioning immune system for you! Not only can you cook with coconut oil, but you can keep an extra jar in the bathroom and slather it on your skin after a shower for a cheap but totally effective moisturizer and lip balm.
Check out more from Esther on her Living Gorgeous website, EstherBlum.com
Philosophy and Natasha Bedingfield have joined forces to benefit Hope and Grace, the beauty company’s nonprofit that benefits mental health organizations across the United States.
It’s so nice to see one of the world’s greatest beauty brands extending their reach to raise money and awareness for such an important cause. The company actually donates 1% of their sales to their charity. And how amazing and beautiful is Natasha Bendingfield? I saw her perform this song on television this week and was mesmerized.
20% of proceeds from the song on iTunes will go to Hope and Grace.
This week, Dove launched a new ad campaign celebrating more “real beauty,” aimed at women and young girls with curly hair. The brand claims that only 4 out 10 curly haired girls actually like their hair. The other 6? Frustrated—with fractured self-esteem.
The campaign is already getting some slack. Some critics say it’s dramatic; that Dove conveniently conducted their own research to support their new hair care line. I say, ok, maybe that’s all true to an extent. But I believe Dove is striking a very real chord.
A few years ago, my daughter’s really curly-haired friend showed up with a blow-out. She was not yet 4. Her mother told me she hated her curly hair and begged her to straighten it. There was something so unsettling and sad about the whole thing. The thought of that little girl feeling bad about her hair killed me. Clearly she’s not the only one so I really support this campaign. I love how it demonstrates the powerful influence of mothers. It’s a reminder that, to a certain extent, self-esteem can be learned by example.
I also think Dove proves that what we undo is just as significant as anything else we do in our beauty routines.
What do you think?