Friday, May 31, 2013

Beach Bonfire Makeup: Fancei Tutorial

Happy Friday to you all!

I'm very pleased to announce my first YouTube collaboration with Ava and Arlene Tai, otherwise known online as Fancei.  Ava and Arlene are two gorgeous actors/styling twins. Their web channel Beauty Consultants, is devoted to showcasing the latest trends in beauty and fashion.

Over the summer I'll be bringing you a variety of Fancei's easy, quick, how-to's as a guest collaborator. Tune in to see how Ava, Arlene and I rev up for this summer's hottest trends, beginning with this Friday's makeup and styling for a beach, bonfire party! Enjoy!
 

Make sure to check out other product reviews and exciting trends in beauty, skin care, and styling with Ava and Arlene at Beauty Consultants. And stay tuned for more webisodes next week, as we show you makeup for a night time party, styling for a summer concert, and much, much more!

Makeup:
Foundation: Ellis Faas Pen Foundation
Powder: Becca Loose Setting Powder
Shadows: NARS Duo Shadow in Kalahari
Blush: Obsessive Compulsive Creme Blush in Trick
Eyeliners: MAC Engraved and Costa Riche
Gloss: Chanel Glossimer Blizzard

With Love,

Noa B

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Maxi dress

Hi All,

I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend. While I didn't accomplish the majority of the things I'd set out to do, I was able to get out and enjoy the sunshine for a little while Saturday morning.
There's nothing like a simple maxi dress for unfussy, weekend dressing.
I found this one last season in Larchmont at an adorable boutique called Library. I've worn this dress with retro, 30's jewelry, as well as rocker style with lots of chains and cuffs. But I think the semi-tribal look is my favorite. This choker for example, was hand made by a north African designer. I matched it with a basic, cotton and wood beaded belt.
Dress: , Belt: Vintage, Heels: Nine West, Bracelets: Street fair, Necklace: Tres Jolie

With Love,

Noa B

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

My Favorite Drugstore Scores: (And a BB Cream Update)

Happy Post Memorial Day! I hope you all had a great weekend, and for those of you who played in the sun, this post is for you!

As a makeup artist I've always believed in testing all brands, from artistry and boutique lines, to department store behemoths, to drugstore staples. In the past I've brought you reviews of luxury brand foundations, high end skincare, and color from a variety of artistry lines. But today I'm letting you in on a few amazing scores, all under $15 at your local drug store! (Because looking pretty ain't cheap, but every now and again you can snag a deal)!

Let's begin with my favorite category, BB Creams. I'm still a huge fan of M Misha, Dr. Jart, Urban Decay, and a variety of others, but here's  one that won't break your bank and looks flawless! L'Oreal's BB Magic, selling for around $10 at your local drugstore. (I paid $12 but online it retails for as low as $7)!
This BB Cream is a hybrid. The BB's that have always ranked highest for me are extremely dewy, thick and emollient rich in texture, and possess a pearly or bronzing tone. This BB is different in two ways: first, it goes on like a very light, water based moisturizer. No thickness whatsoever, so if you're prone to oil, consider testing this one out. Second, it has no initial color. It comes in 4 shades, (fair, light, medium, and dark) and appears almost clear white when squeezed out of the tube. Once applied to the skin, it basically mimics your exact skin tone and dries like a "second skin". (When you remove it at night you'll notice it's peach). This product is, (in a word) FANTASTIC! It performs beautifully, goes on like oil free moisturizer, and dries to an almost fully matte finish.  A perfect, everyday product that you can apply with or without a setting powder.
Next, we have Burt's Bees SPF 15 Daytime lotion with all organic, zinc and titanium dioxide. Man, am I impressed! I cannot express how futile using those "spray on" sunscreens are, or how bad chemical sunscreen barriers are for your health. When looking for SPF, try for products whose active ingredients are Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide. These create a physical, rather than chemical barrier between your skin and harmful UVA/UVB. Products that list Avobenzone or Oxybenzone should be avoided in favor of organic barriers. These can be found in formulas for "sensitive skin" or "Babies". Believe it or not, using Burt's SPF 15 is actually much better in quality and in protecting your skin than say, a Banana Boat or Neutrogena SPF chemical 70. And the kicker? It's priced at around $15 and it smells like grapefruit!
Having said that, there's a Neutrogena item that has won my heart. Finally, (and my new favorite for down and dirty cheapies) Neutrogena facial pads for cleansing and makeup removal. These babies are just amazing. If you add one drop of water to them, they remove waterproof mascara and all base makeup, and they leave a really nice, slightly oily but hydrating finish which you can wash off or leave on to give your skin an extra bit of moisture.

Last but not least, here are some drug store color products that are pretty spectacular when you want to try a new trend:
 
For a pop of turquoise liner designed to make you feel like a summer, flower child, try Rimmel Scandal Eyes in waterproof formula. For around $3.50 a pop, you can't go wrong testing new colors.
Want to go 60's boho on your gloss? Try NYX Xtreme Lip Creme in Dolly Girl. About 3-6$ depending on which drug store you shop at.
Want a little bronze love? I've blogged these before but they're becoming a hard core favorite! NYC's Sun'N'Bronze. Available in 4 great colors, my personal favorite is fire island. At $5 a pop, they're a summer must-have!
So head out to your local CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Walmart, and see what's happening in the beauty aisles!

With Love,

Noa B

Friday, May 24, 2013

Memorial Day Weekend Kick Off!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I hope you all have some great plans/ideas for kicking back and making the most of this long weekend! As for me, I'm going to fill it with movies and beach walks. And one thing I actually really like for lengthy walks on the sand are non-denim shorts.
There's something about denim that can feel a little sticky for beach hikes. I may not wear towering wedges tomorrow, but I'll probably go with some altered version of this concoction. (Like a softly washed Tee and some gladiator sandals)...
But for now it's easy day wear with an accent of color in the shoes.
 
Personally I think leather shorts can work pretty much year around, except for those exceptionally humid days. So far, so good. I'm still getting a lot of mileage out of this pair. If you dig the look, you can find some great "pleather" shorts at amazing prices. A few I like:

Leatherette shorts with embellishment, get them for $36 at: Thread Sence. 
All The Right Moves Leather Shorts
 Forever 21 leatherette shorts, $17.00! Available at: F21!
Here's an AMAZING pair on sale, down from over $100 to $49 in real leather from ASOS. Grab them before they're gone here.
While mine do happen to be leather, you can find deals in every "vegan" variety and save the "real" leather for fall. 
Tank: Thyme and Honey, Shorts: Tart, Wedges: MIA, Jacket: F21, Necklaces: Boutique and JewelMint

With Love,

Noa B

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Grey on Grey on Grey

This weekend I attended the 35th birthday of a very dear friend. I wanted to wear something I could actually move/dance/drink/play in. Thankfully I just found this awesome, fishtail dress last week with an embroidered, Ikat style bodice.
 
The party was in Marina Del Rey, and then Santa Monica near the pier. Which meant I needed a layering piece. This fuzzy, 60's era vest was just the thing.
 
The choker is a necklace strung twice. It's a vintage piece handmade in Israel that's a perpetual favorite of mine. Heavy silver, it was my mothers, (but I'll never give it back)!
 
The heels are from several seasons years ago, but I always end up pulling them out for something. The basket weave is so unique. I usually only see that pattern in raffia or wovens, but rarely in leather.
Dress: The Fashion Truck, Heels: Sigerson Morrison, Earrings: Gift, Necklace: Israel (Vintage), Vest: Polka Dots and Moonbeams

This dress made the evening so comfortable. That's the thing about clothing. It can sometimes make you feel fabulous, but occasionally a little constrained. This one manages to do one, without the other.

With Love,

Noa B

Monday, May 20, 2013

Hip'tique Event, (A Night out with my GF)!

Thursday night I had an opportunity to attend a little art opening at one of my "all time favorite" boutiques, Hip'tique, on Main Street in Venice. This particular event was created for mixed media painter Kelcey Fisher, and when I walked in I fell in love with his paintings. (I'm now scheming about which organ to sell off so I can buy one)!
Supporting art and fashion is always a blast, but getting to do it with a friend you haven't seen in a while is even better! This is Tanya Dempsey-Margaritov, of novembergrey. She's a decade long bestie, a fantastic actress, host and blogger, and a mother of two! (Look at her in this dress, can you believe that)??
And, as a mother of two children under 3, Tanya and I cherish the times we can meet because between her family and work and my shooting schedule, coming together means the planets have aligned. And that's what made this night so incredibly special. Seeing Tanya felt like no time had passed at all!
Pictured above my head is the piece that if we each had the cash, we'd be clawing one another over who would get to take it home. My house in Santa Barbara is full-on, 60's MOD, so I crave the color scheme and circles. But my home in LA is chock full of references to Fritz Lang's Metropolis, so I want this image which reminds me so distinctly of the iconic, "Maria"still.
There certainly was a piece for every taste. This particular series incorporated pieces of typed paper taken from various books. You can't see it from afar, but it's underneath all the paint and adds layers upon layers of texture and subtextual reference. Uber cool.
In addition to the art, Hip'tique carries such an amazing variety of clothing from a lot of local, LA designers. I died for the printed, silk and poly pants which I MUST have for this summer's trip to Hawaii.
 
Neons and retro prints! Yes, yes, yes!
 Beaded Shell: Hazel, Heels: Vince Camuto, Pants: LF, Earrings: Gift, Bracelets: Ross

After meeting the artist and enjoying the event, Tanya and I decided to cap off our evening at Chinois on Main, where we made the acquaintance of actor Seymour Cassell, (he decided to sit down and join us for dinner after chatting at the bar). Clearly a favorite of the restaurant staff everyone knew him as a neighborhood fixture. By the end of the night, so did we.

And that's the beauty of LA. Fashion, art, actors, all mish-moshed in a three hour bracket. You can't beat it!

With Love,

Noa B

Friday, May 17, 2013

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday All,

I hope you've had a wonderful week. Mine has been packed with work, creativity, and travel, starting with this past Tuesday. I worked with a favorite client on her TV show, (which I'll be traveling to Texas next month to shoot again). Last night I attended a really lovely art/fashion event at my favorite Venice boutique, H'iptique. (Pictures to follow this weekend)...
Overall work is becoming so constant that I wonder sometimes how we all manage to work in such an upsidown industry. I feel as though I'm constantly packing, unpacking, and re-packing. But my friend Tanya came up with a great idea for heading off this problem. She mentioned that she always over-packs, so on her next trip she'll lay out every day's clothing by full outfit, and pack it complete with accessories so that there's no excess. I'm in!
As I'll be traveling out of state three times in June, this idea seems like genius. To save time if I really like a clothing combo I've blogged about, I'll pull it aside, fold it up with accessories, and pack it in advance!
Like this skirt I haven't worn in months and months. It's so pretty! What is it doing in the back of the closet? 
I know it appears from my posts that I'm getting a little slap happy on the emerald items, but honestly they just fell into my lap more by chance than contrived shopping. But moving from emerald and jade into the pastel greens for the approaching summer is always fresh. There's a very "island-y" feel to teal that screams "summer'!
 Some brass colored bling adds a little warmth to cool toned clothing.
Top: Grand and Green, Skirt: Zara, Wedges: MIA, Necklaces: JewelMint and Boutique, Bracelets: Boutique

Yup, let's just pack this one off! Happy weekend and enjoy whatever your Saturday brings you!

With Love!

Noa B