We laugh, sip, hug, dance, tease, pray, oh.. and cook! So fun to be back in Whit’s Kitch for another episode.
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Award season is in full swing and we’re leading up to the the 86th Academy Awards in just a few weeks. Do you watch for the CELEBration of the year’s most talented actors, directors, screenwriters and crew? OR just the glitz & glam of the red carpet? Do you wonder how the actresses prepare for the big night? It’s all very Cinderella-like. May I remind you, these stunning women prepare for weeks with personal trainers, nutritionists, estheticians, stylists and most of them make a trip to the medspa for botox, skin tightening and fillers. (Remember, I lived in Hollywood for 15 years! I was privy to the insider tips.) Thousands of dollars are spent for that one night! Once it’s all over, they are like everyone else and go back to running around with their kids in jeans and no makeup!
You may not be heading down the red carpet to be photographed by paparazzi, but perhaps you have a big event coming up like your wedding day or a high school reunion. For a fraction of the cost that the celebrities spend, you can achieve that red carpet look in no time.
Here’s a list of tips and ways I prepare at home for a big event. Make sure you have a low stress & light schedule the day prior to the event. I call it my BEAUTY DAY:
More than likely, you will be on your feet at the event and you’ll want to get a good leg and back stretch, plus a core strengthener to help your posture. It’s a great idea to amp up your workout program about 6 weeks prior to your big event. Not only will you look more svelte, but you will carry yourself with strength and grace.
This is a no brainer, but I must add it to the list. The grooming of a woman’s hands & feet says so much about her! Don’t you notice a woman’s nails as she’s holding that glass of wine at a party? AND there’s nothing worse than dry, scaly, calloused feet in a strappy heel.
It’s important to beautify your inside as well as your outside the day before an event. I love drinking a few big glasses of a super green juice of kale, celery, spinach, cucumber and STRAWBERRIES. They have numerous benefits which include aiding the release of serotonin, which improves mood and gives you a feeling of relaxation (super important before an event that may cause you anxiety!) and is a natural diuretic. Strawberries are high in potassium which helps detoxify the body.
If you’ve been following SOS for a while, you have heard me discuss the awesome benefits of an egg white mask. I always do one before an event or photoshoot! It gives your skin an instant glow, tighter pores and evens out your skintone. Apply in upward strokes for an instant “facelift” effect. Leave on longer than most masks! If I have time, I will work around the house with the mask on for up to 45 minutes.
Get your ‘glow on’ by exfoliating your skin from head to toe. You may be wearing a strapless cocktail dress so get your shoulders, arms and legs looking smooth. There are tons of DIY recipes online, but I keep it simple with sea salt and olive oil. This preps for skin for the next step.
I am a big believer in a good spray tan. Most of us look healthier with a bit of color! I highly recommend getting a professional airbrush tan, but in a pinch at home- I love the Neutrogena Micro-Mist in Deep. It sprays on evenly with a beautiful tan glow and no funky orange color. It’s best to do a spray tan after a good shower and exfoliation in the evening before bed. I sleep in a long sleeve cotton tee and loose cotton yoga pants to ensure the color stays on. You wake up with a perfect tan!
You want your smile to be photo worthy so it’s important to whiten your choppers before an event. I get the pro teeth whitener with the fitted tray from my dentist, but if I’m out- I am completely happy with Crest White Strips. Whiter teeth give you added sparkle and a more youthful appearance!
Beautiful, shiny hair is a woman’s crowning glory! My natural hair color is very dull so coloring it brunette actually adds a ton of shine to it. But, hair color also goes flat and dull after too many washes. In between colorings and/or before an event, I add a color glaze to freshen the color & shine. John Frieda’s Brilliant Brunette or Sheer Blonde Liquid Shine works great! Grab it at CVS for under $9.
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A few final tips for looking and feeling your best at your big event- make sure to carry altoids, a powder compact with mirror, a bolder lipgloss (helps you pop more in photos) and a clear band aid in your evening bag in case you get a blister from those new strappy shoes.
Also, never ever ever leave the house without your Spanx! I don’t care if you are a size 2 with no jiggle. Dresses lay better on the body and you just add more class to your look when your junk is loose. Ya hear!
Lastly, I’ve been wanting to try lash extensions for over a year and finally got them this week! Why did I wait so long? Honestly, I just didn’t want to add another thing to the beauty upkeep list and I’m not a fan of making appointments. That being said, as we age- we lose our lashes. Remember, when you were a little girl and you had those Bambi doe-eyed lashes? On top of that, I am constantly applying fake eyelashes with glue that pulls out the lashes I do have. Eyelash extensions are especially great if you have a week long event like an out of town wedding or special vacation. You wake up looking glamorous and save the time and frustration of applying falsies!
Because I work in front of the camera and have to look bright-eyed at a moments notice, I have found the following tips give me an instant well-rested look even after a night of little sleep, high sodium meals, sugary treats and one glass of wine too many! On top of that, I have hereditary dark circles and puffy eyes. The use of heaters and all the nasal issues we deal with during the winter can add to the puffy eye problem as well. The combination of the following tips will give you the appearance of being bright eyed and bushy tailed and as if you slept a full 8 hours, I promise!
1. HYDRATE: Drink a large glass of water with juice from half a lemon. This aids in relieving a puffy face and cleanses the body of toxins. Also, helps keep your belly flatter for that sassy cocktail dress. (I actually down a big glass of lemon water first thing EVERY a.m.)
2. NATURAL DIURETIC: Puffiness is due to a build up of fluid under the eye. Eat a bowl a strawberries to flush out water retention. They are loaded with calcium, potassium and arginine which have diuretic properties.
3. TEA BAGS: Chill used tea bags in the fridge and apply to eyes for 10 minutes to reduce swelling. Cold spoons work as well, but aren’t as comfortable.
4. UNDER EYE CREAM WITH CAFFEINE: Look for eye creams and serums with caffeine which shrinks fluid buildup under the eye. I use Garnier anti-dark circle rollerball with tint on days my eyes are extra dark and puffy. The caffeine plus the rollerball help de-puff the under eye area super quick.
5. EGG WHITE MASK: Using approximately 1 teaspoon of an egg white as a facial mask will tighten the skin and shrink swelling and pore size. Wakes up your skin and gives you an instant glow. Make sure to do this mask the day of an important event where lots of photos will be taken! Your skin will be glowing and smooth.
6. HIGHLIGHTER IN CORNER OF EYES: Adding a brightening white, beige or peach eyeshadow to the inner corner of the eye adds a youthful look and widens the appearance of the eyes giving a more rested look.
7. VISINE: A ‘must do’ to whitens the eyes.
9. ADD CUCUMBERS TO EVERY MEAL. (Great to do year round, not just the holidays!) Cucumbers contain silica, an ingredient which boosts moisture and elasticity to the skin. It’s awesome for hydrating dry skin and hair during winter. I’ve been eating a Persian cucumber before bed the past few months and can see a big difference in my skin when I wake up. Thanks to my sister, esthetician and wellness ambassador Natalie Bolton for the tip!
10. RAISE YOUR HEART RATE: Doing 50 jumping jacks or taking a brisk 15-20 minute walk instantly increases the circulation in the body which adds a flush to the cheeks helping you look and feel more awake.
Plus, if you can get in a few 15 minute power naps here and there during the holidays it will help you get through all the activities! Make sure to drink a protein shake or protein-rich snack like tuna fish before heading to a cocktail party. Protein digests slower giving you a “full” feeling longer and will keep you from lapping around the snack table one too many times.
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I posted this on the Facebook Page and wanted to share it here with the blog sistas too…
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SANCTUARY OF STYLE 