Archive for November, 2009
The Fairest Interview: Jemma Kidd
Beauty mogul Jemma Kidd wears many hats: she’s a celebrity makeup artist, author of Jemma Kidd Makeup Master Class, creator of 3 cosmetics lines (Jemma Kidd Makeup School, professional line Jemma Kidd Makeup School Pro, and JK Jemma Kidd for Target), founder of the Jemma Kidd Makeup Academy in London, soon-to-be ‘yummy mummy’, and also happens to be Countess of Mornington and the future Duchess of Wellington.
I find Jemma hugely inspiring, so in advance of Jemma Kidd Makeup School going on sale at The Fairest tomorrow, we chatted about her business, beauty tips, and the difference between English and American women.
Q: You have three extremely successful cosmetics lines, run a makeup school in London, and have just published a beauty guide, so you’re obviously a cosmetics expert. Did you always dream of becoming an entrepreneur, or is it something that you fell into?
A: I have always loved make-up and, starting my career as a model, I was always more interested in what the make-up artists were applying backstage than what was happening on the catwalk. (more…)
On Sale at The Fairest
Three niche, but much-beloved, lines are currently on sale at our big sister The Fairest. Check them out before they’re gone!
Cake Beauty: Shower gel, and hand cream, and body mousse–oh, my! Cake Beauty gives new meaning to the phrase “good enough to eat.” If you like your body products decadent and delicious, you’ll love. Check out their paraben-free Satin Sugar Hair and Body Powder ($12.60), which smells like (you guessed it) sugar, and sops up oil to keep you fresh and sweet.
butter LONDON nail polish: butter’s polishes are tops with nail aficionados, thanks to innovative colors and formulas that are non-toxic and free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. (Bad stuff. Very baaad!) The Perfect Party Duo gives you two gorgeous colors in one set: Big Smoke, for a dark, of-the-moment shade, and Hen Party, a classic, muted pink ($12).
mojo cosmetics: Selling out fast, this is an up-and-coming makeup line featuring brilliant lipsticks, concealers, nail polishes and shimmer highlighters. All of the colors are intensely pigmented, and the packaging, seriously, is awesome. If you’re not yet familiar with mojo, take a peek and see it for yourself. Personally, I’ve been having a red moment (my lips, my nails, my clothes–everything!), so I can’t stop staring at the Titan Lipstick Bullet in Conviction ($9). Want.
Davies Gate: When I worked at Lucky, this was one of the favorite lines in the beauty department. I’ve never figured out why it’s not more popular and well-known, since the products are of the highest quality, everything is indescribably yummy, and the body lotions, bath salts, and butters are simultaneously glamorous, youthful, and sophisticated. My pick? The Garden Made Walnut Scrub ($9.50).
Juara: Juara’s products, inspired by Balinese treatments and ingredients, make me want to give it all up, hop on the next flight to Indonesia, and live in the jungle (the woods? The forest? On the beach? I don’t even know! I must fly over there and learn immediately!), communing with nature while still being totally glamorous. Cannot…get…enough…Juara. Check out the Coffee and Cream Set ($54).
Peacekeeper: Truly cause-based cosmetics, this entire line is full of the highest-quality ingredients, loaded with organics, never tests on animals, and contributes a portion of proceeds to charity. You’ll love this set featuring Eco-Easy Nail Polish Remover and 2 bestselling streak-free, bad-stuff-free polishes in Paint Me Tranquil and Paint Me Stunning ($13).
The Indian Gooseberry oil does Cabo San Lucas
So what’s a girl to do? I have two kids and a villa full of people who seem to want me every five minutes…not enough time for doing great hair, yet at the beach club one must look decent while mingling with all the “fabulous” people!
Here was my day with my fave creation: Indian Gooseberry treatment oil.
Had roughly ten minutes to get showered and down to the car this morning, so washed hair, put oil in, blew out bangs and framed my face, then put my hair in a cute side pony and left. Surprisingly, looked good.
Was trying to get to gym before anyone noticed (so my hair would stay decent), but everyone disappeared on me and I had no choice. Had kiddie duty in the pool and promptly got soaked by splashing kids! By the time I 
was rescued, it was too late. I rushed off to the gym, looked in the mirror…and it wasn’t pretty. So, I put oil in my hair, twisted it into a clip and got on the treadmill for 30 minutes.
After I finished working out, I changed back into my bikini, undid my hair, and it looked wavy and beachy–not bad–so I put more oil into the ends and voila!!! Gisele hair!! I re-entered the “zone” of beach beauties (a necessary place for a hairstylist and “expert”!)…what a relief.
So far my oil has rescued me twice and it’s only noon….did I mention that my hair smells divine?? (Okay, I’m obviously biased!)
I am anticipating a great vacation with my secret weapon, and am considering leaving it poolside for everyone to use!
xo, Amanda
Amanda George is co-owner of Neil George Salon in Beverly Hills
American Music Awards’ Beauty Looks
Like the MTV VMA‘s, the American Music Awards are feister and flashier than their more staid cousin, the Grammy Awards. That’s why we were surprised by the mostly safe hair and makeup (not to mention clothing) choices at last night’s show. With a few notable exceptions (is Rihanna auditioning for a Blade Runner sequel? And how many sticks of eyeliner and cans of hairspray had to die for Adam Lambert?), we were underwhelmed. Hey, you’ve seen one red carpet (or five hundred), you’ve seen ‘em all! Regardless, here are the looks–some pretty, some pretty crazy–that turned our heads:
Kristen Bell
Rihanna
Adam Lambert
Makeup For Everyone!
“Where will I find the perfect foundation to match my skin tone now?“, many of my readers wondered aloud.
Well I’m here to let you know — the days of black skin finding limited matches in the drugstore or department stores are SO over. Sure, there are some brands that still stubbornly offer six shades of foundation, but there are others who go above and beyond to satisfy consumers of all skin tones. Here are some of my favorites.
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Michelle Mismas
Amanda George
Amber Katz
Amy Denoon
Beau Nelson
Carolyn Hsu
Carla Maganinho
Patrice Yursik
Jamie Stone
Julia Coney
Lianne Farbes
Marta Walsh
Neil Weisberg
Shannon Nelson
Sonya Dakar
Nadine Jolie
