History of Beauty staring Estee Lauder

If you call your self a business person be sure to do your homework.  Know your industry.  It will inspire you. 

The name Estee Lauder is synonyms with beauty.  For me it holds a special place because when I entered into this wonderful world of fashion and beauty, Estee Launder was the first advertisement that I landed and was paid "lovely" for.  It changed my life.  So today as I sit here on set and I am shooting another campaign with the new forever growing empire that the Lauders have built, I am infused with excitement and passion for what I do.

Just so I can be up to date with what is out there in my world of beauty, I decided to look up the company again.  I am facinated, in awe of the powere of will and desire.

Estee Lauder and her husband Joseph Lauder began their company in 1946, with only four products, Super-Rich All Purpose Creme, Creme Pack, Cleansing Oil, and Skin Lotion.  Two years later they landed the products in Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. 
From there came the Harrods, in London which I am sure opened up the doors to the rest of the world.

Minx by Lisa Logan on my ring finger.

Companies coming from Estee Lauder are about 27 some including, M.A.C, Bumble and Bumble, Clinque, Tom Ford, Stilla,- (which was later sold), Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics, and in 2013 Tory Burch will introduce Fragrance under the Aramis and Designer Fragrances, a division of The Estee Lauder Companie, Inc.  Amazing!

Most recently I started using their skin care line as my daily face care routine, and eye care.  I am in love.  So now to be working on the ad again to try the new colors that will be releasing in August, I am so excited and honored.   You will definitely love this line.  The colors are rich in formula, modern, classic in color, and quick dry for the ladies on the run.  Happy shopping.

And The Medal Go's to Chanel

The name "Chanel" is synonyms to luxury.  The name, the history, the woman behind the brand and all those who had the honor of designing for the brand Chanel hold it in high esteem.
Better known for her women's suits, jacket , bell bottom pants and Chanel No. 5 perfume.

Coco Chanel, rose to the top of the fashion industry by not only being a creative designer but by being a smart business woman. Coco obtained that nick name while being a performer singing for a short time in cafe's and concerts.  She forged some brilliant relationships in her life time that would prove to be lucrative. 
This genius of a woman used her resources, relationships bestowed upon her to build an empire.  An empire that continues to grow and supercede her life span and probably her wildests dreams.

Today Chanel's legacy continues to keep it's position among the fashion royalties of the past, present and I suspect future.

As I fumble through my growing suitcase of a nail kit.  I notice on my station that black bag with the letters CHANEL and addressed to me.  Wow!  I quickly open the bag and six lovely boxes of nail polish are gifted to me.  Today is going to be another lovely day with Demarchelier on the set of Harpers Bazaar.  Yes fashion history is going to be made again, this special issue will now have my name attached to it, along side with another great brand CHANEL.
The colors maybe nutueral.  Although they have metal, shimmer and a pop to them.  They are still very classic.  With each stroke of the brush I can't help but be pleased because nothing worse then poor quality polish.  Its fustrating as a professional, because the goal is to have more then one use to a bottle. Aahhhh. PERFECT.

Again some gifts are truly gifts when they are useful.

Chanel the brand, the legacy, the luxury of it all gets the medal!  So beauties run, do not walk, collect 200 dollars worth of polish because that is a small price to pay for beauty. Your worth every cent.

Ford And Color

Tom Ford has forever forged his name on the fashion industry as a style icon and a fashion mavrick.
My first exposure to this genius was when he designed for Gucci and YSL  1995-2004. Absolutely brilliant.  In my humble opinion, he loved women, and was passionate about their appearance and it read with every garment that he put on the rack.  I wanted to own everyone of the pieces, some more then others. 
My first Tom Ford item started with his fragrance and then grew gradually grew into bigger ticketed items.

I wanted to savoir every piece I purchased.  I wanted it slowly, I wanted it all in perfect timing for the perfect occassion.

Although I grew up in a household where fashion was a given, recognizable designers was a topic of regular conversation.  My mom was the original style icon to me, lady Adrienne Leon.
Her beauty draw was filled with nail polish, lipstick, mascara, hair extensions, and perfumes.

So when I found out that Tom Ford added nail polish to his repertoire I had to have it.  Again, the obssession with this man may not be natural but it exist and I admit it.

So as I rush to the set of Harpers Bazaar this morning, I am even more excited because I must make a stop, to my agency and do a pick-up. A gift from non other then Tom Ford.  Maybe not him personally by from his office.  At the moment I will settle for that, because in due time I will meet him and thank him for loving women so much to create such beautiful garments, work of art, and now cosmetics.  More reason for us to meet.

As I slowly, open the bag with anticipation for what I know will be a gift from an angel, I am presently surprised, as I open first the nail polishes of course and begin to examine the colors.  Absolutely stunning.  Please don't get me wrong, the colors are not new, but the packaging is absolutely amazing.  The caps, the shape fo the rectangular bottles, the perfectly designed logo, his initials, TF. Perfect.  I open the bottle and the moment of truth...the brush, hmm.. well done.  I begin to stroke my nails with the brush of color and voila, yes!  It is perfectly mixed.  Not to thick, not to watery, I AM IN LOVE!  Tom Ford your remain a genius.

The colors are not only perfect in selection, consistency, but they dry rather quick.  After two strokes and by the time I finish polishing two layers of the colors, before I can put on the top coat its almost dry. This is a manicurists dream.

Today I introduce you to my four new favorite colors: (Index to pinky finger)

Fever Pink
Carnaval Red
Coral Blame
Bitter Bitch

Until the next time my beauties... run do not walk to your closest laptop and place your order.  Go to your Iphone and click.  It is a must have for the summer toes and fingers.  www.tomford.com

The Stroke of Art

It continues to amaze me as I think of how many amazing people I have had the pleasure of working with because I am a manicurist.

Bill Murray!!! The one and only legendary funny man Bill Murray. When I got the call sheet for Harpers Bazaar from Simone my agent from Factory Downtown, I thought nothing of it. Just another work day. Location, time, and how many models my usual concern. The suit case would remain the same. But never did I imagine the initial, BM stood for Bill Murray. It was amazing. As he entered the elevator shaft of the studio, I was in awe. As we waited for him I took the liberty to have some girl time and manicured the fashion editors nails whom I truly loved as she was also going to be an extra in the shot. I froze as he walked through and said "Hi there, have we met before?" I love that pick up line.... (in my head).

"No, but I will be rubbing your hands" I replied. I am your manicurist. "Oh great, what color do I get?". Wow.

My day didn't begin there for me, as earlier I ran into my dear friend whom I have not seen in a while, the director at Chanel; as I was running to the brunch at the Opia Restaurant hosted by Beverly Johnson another amazing client, for the release of her TV show on the Own Network, Beverly's Full House.

I mention these things, these experiences, not to say how great my life is, but to say that the simple service of a manicure is what brought me to these wonderful experiences.

So I will continue to pick up my brush with pride and handle with care.

Desert Beauty Tips-Doha Tribeca Film Festival

Forget what you think you know about the Middle East and its women. You haven't seen nothing yet. Working Doha Tribeca Film Festival in Qatar was truly educational.

Although some of them may wear a burka, underneath those fancy gowns of black, are the most fashion forward women. Items that have ripped the runway. Things that that are limited addition.

Their makeup is put on to perfection. From eyes to lips, nothing is off beauty. The finger nails are no exception.

Both men and women are not hesitant about grooming and looking well kept.

I had the pleasure of not only working on the Middle Easts prized stars, but some of our western stars such as the lovely Robin Wright.

Aside from the great company of Alex Fox, Publisher of Scratch Magazine, I was accompanied by triple threat makeup artist, hairstylist, manicurist Michelle Cameau, contributing editor to Brink Magazine.

No greater pleasure then associating with fellow artists such as Kirsten McLachlan, Lead artist for Nails Qatar, the leading nail experts of Qatar.

Beauty is beyond your finger tips, it starts internally according to Layla Neal, who has healing hands that teaches on how to use natural resources to get healthy. From skin care to nail care.

I was tickled, but not surprised when celebrity makeup artist Jewel told me how often she had to do nails because there was non on set. Love to hear there is a need for our service and room for growth.

What a wonderful learning experience and to think it is all made possible because I do nails.

Marry Me

Bridal market week proved to be haute this year. Amsale kept it clean for us with the nail color choice. But definitely nails were done. From Christos and Kenneth Pool, the various shades of nude were very reflective a well manicured nail.

Simone Cavalli, did a mother of pearl look that shimmered just a little to capture the light and the sparkle in the eye of the bride.

But Yumi Katsura brought it hard with "Black". Rocking down the aisle like the confident woman that would dare wear her collection of edgy fashion. The nails were bold and definitely an attention capturing item coming down the runway.

So brides, whatever your look, just make sure you get those hands manicured.

Raise your glasses....with a proud manicured hand.

Ancient Art of Beauty

"Cosmetic Items were an important part of the burial equipment necessary to ensure fertility in theh afterlife and thus guarantee eternal rebirth."..Egyptian fact information placed on the items stored in the Imhotep Museum in Ciaro Egypt.

These words are bound to make any company a fortune if everyone knew this bit of information.

If you thought beauty was just pure vanity then you know nothing about history and Egyptian history at that. In my opininon Egypt has got to have been the birth place of the beauty industry. From the wigs that both men and women wore, the eyeliner, again both men and women. To their henna manicured hands and feet.

As I walk down this magnificent road, looking at the architecture, viewing the pedestrians with their fashion forward garbs, the women, layering their modern westernized clothing. With their head dressing caressing their coiffed hair. The redish stained nails caused me to ask the housekeeper where can I go get my henna manicure. She quickly finishes the house work and out the door we were on our way ...

The history of henna tattoo go back some 5000 years when Egyptian Pharohs used it to stain their fingers and toes before mummification.

From cultures such as the Arabs, Indians, Native -Americans, Africans, and South Americans, this ancient form of hand painting is truly an art.

Once used for healing purposes for headaches, liver disorders, skin diseases. Then became used as a beauty regime from wedding decorations to hair coloring.

To be able to go to visit the ancient city of Egypt and actually experience this there was amazing. A new found appreciation I have formed for this amazing art form.