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Facing the mirror
CELEBRITIES look good because they focus treat their bodies well. Start with good skin care. Z. Bigatti's Inception Total Face Masque (2) is unique from every other masque on the market. It's literally a masque with cut-out eyes and mouth. It revives and rejuvenates tired, congested, dull skin while it minimizes fine lines and clears puffiness. It was a clear winner in the Oscar suites at the Pacific Design Center.
   If you are seeing dark circles, use what stars received at the Oscar Monkey in Pants suites at the Hilton: NeutralEyes Eye Complex (3). This eye cream works on the surface and cellular level to eliminate puffiness, lines, and dark circles as well as improve skin function. A number of celebrities picked up several jars and one male celeb stated that he saw a difference overnight! For faster therapy, try the NeutralEyes Eye Complex Emergency Youth Facials for a quick fix that will have you happy with the reflection in the mirror. (Call 1 877 252-SKIN [7546].)
   If one too many parties and events has made you puffy, try the Lift 6 Facial (4), a non-surgical "facelift facial" at M Æsthetic Spa. This little device doesn't hurt and it de-puffs, and revitalizes the colour and firmness of the skin in just about an hour. This amazing facial accomplishes more in one massage than a boatload of creams and potions. Get a series and it's like a facelift without a knife. Celebrities were treated to an amazing Lift Six mini-facial along with a heavenly reflexology massage at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. It made you look great after the facial but even better the next day! (M Æsthetic Spa 9201 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, 1 310 859-4939.)
   Also at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, the Estée Lauder spa was open to nominees only for a variety of their luxe treatments. Paul Starr (5) was on hand to work his make-up magic on Hilary Swank as well as others. Stars were treated to manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, hair styling, make-up application by the best that Estée Lauder had to offer.
   The coolest part was that Lauder took over one of the largest suites in the hotel and re-did the entire look of the suite with new furniture, carpeting and even brought in a new crystal chandelier (1). The gift bags for nominees were typically amazing: Manolo Blahnik did a special edition shoe for men and women plus there was a selection of great Lauder products for him and her.
   If perspiration gets you down, Dr Jessica Wu (Brentwood Dermatologist) may have the perfect solution: Botox. According to Dr Wu, ‘My busiest time is two weeks before the Oscars. Everyone wants to look great on the red carpet, but with all the cameras flashing, and the world looking at you, it's enough to make anyone break out in a sweat. And you definitely don't want to stain your couture gown.
   ‘Botox was recently FDA approved to treat excessive perspiration. It blocks sweat production in the treated areas. It's safe because you have sweat glands all over your body, so temporarily blocking the ones in your underarms will not affect your body's ability to regulate temperature or get rid of toxins. Luckily the underarms don't have many nerve endings, so it's very easily tolerated. Treatment takes about 15 minutes, and within a week you're sweat-free. Go deodorant or antiperspirant-free for six months or longer!’
   In case the name sounds familiar to you, Dr Wu has created her own ‘Eastern tradition meets Western scientific methods’ skin care line that will bring out the radiance of your skin. We like the Anti-aging Brightening Complex and the matching Eye Contour cream. (Find Dr Jessica Wu Cosmeceuticals at www.drjessicawu.com; call 1 310 473-5878, above right.)
   If plastic surgery is not on your calendar, but beating Father Time is, then check out Gloria Martel's SkinLift Light (6). Based on research done by NASA scientists, studies have shown that certain light frequencies would affect the skin in a positive manner. The use of light to treat skin was featured in a recent national fashion magazine and it's becoming quite popular in NYC to get a mini-face lift with these treatments. This small hand-held light device will lift, firm, fade dark spots, and reduce lines when used for 20–30 minutes per day with consistent use. (Call 1 866 411-0033.)
   For those who want to wave a magic wand and turn back time, try Facial Magic (7) for fast results! It's a "hands-on" exercise regimen that slowly trains your facial muscles to lift and will banish lines, bags and sags. Work with this system consistently with attention to form, and you will shave years off your face (if not your age). People won't know what it is you did but you will look rested, firmer and yes-younger! Couple it with the Facial Magic skin care system and you will look amazing. (Call 1 800 592-3366.)
   There's a reason that you call it a "bad hair day" and you can visit the same salons as the celebs for great treatments at Frédéric Fekkai's blue and yellow spa atmosphere. Celebrity and regular clients pony up to get precious minutes with master stylist, Fekkai. It's not unusual to walk out with a bag full of Fekkai's signature hair products (8).
   While at the Fekkai salon on Rodeo drive, stop by and check out the Chanel counter. Should you come during Oscar week, it's likely you would see Susan Sterling (right), Chanel's national make-up artist. Visit a Chanel counter to get the tips and tricks of Chanel's top make-up artist.
   While you might not have thought it was a party place, the Bobbi Brown suite was at the same hotel a couple of floors down and around the corner. Walk into this suite and it was female party central. Leading the team of make-up artists was Cynde Watson who pulled off feats of make-up magic with lashes and the latest from the Bobbi Brown collection. With the rock-and-roll vibe going and every chair filled, it was definitely a happening place. The key pieces for getting glam for this season include Rose Shimmer Brick (9); Pink Gold Lipgloss; and Gel Ink eyeliners (10) .
   If it's soothing space and quiet attention that you want, check out the Chaz Dean Salon in West Hollywood. Along with Chaz's soft-spoken style, he will educate you and pamper your hair with his natural products’ hair care line, Wen (11), that will have you singing his praises along with all the "desperate housewives"! This natural product line will have you leaving almost every product in the dust while you find yourself freed from slavery to hair and just have gorgeous, glorious locks.
   Barry Reitman (left) of Juan Juan Center has caught the attention of celebs like Gwyneth and Hilary Swank with a new technique called colour blocking that creates a three-dimensional colour look that looks like nature. With colours like Coffee Caramel (mocha with caramel highlights); Vanilla Smoothie (ice cream blonde tones) and Exotic Chocolate (mocha and dark chocolate), the process is a bit pricey but definitely gets you "star" attention. (At Juan Juan Center, 9675 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, 1 310 246-0808.)
   Allen Edwards Salon (12) is synonymous with fabulous styling, cuts and superb colour. One trip to any of the four studios (three in LA; one in the OC) and you will be hooked. While Allen Edwards worked his magic at the Brentwood salon during Oscar week, Amy Edwards worked miracles at Soho House's exclusive Oscar retreat. Book an appointment with Edwards (either one) and you will get a consultation and the perfect hair colour for you and your lifestyle that will have you gorgeous for week.
   If finding celebrity stylist products is your goal but your wallet groans, shuttle on down to your local drugstore or Ulta store for the Marc Anthony True Professional Hair Care products (13). Celebrity tested and approved at the Pacific Design Center Oscar suites, people were walking away with great looking hair and a bag full of products including the very cool Moisture Gloss colour extender.
   Nothing would be the same at Oscar week without the make-up artists who make the celebrities gorgeous. The easiest way to approximate a celebrity red carpet look is with cosmetics. Stephen Sollitto (right), a freelance make-up artist who works on Christina Aguilera and a slew of other celebrities, models and even regular people (and featured in Lucire’s print edition), suggests taking a close look at make-up worn by a celebrity and take in a photo from a magazine to your favourite counter to see how you can adapt that look to your features and skin tone.
   If you are more the "do it by the numbers" type of person, Bourjois can help you out. Star artist Joanna Schlip did Laura Linney's make-up for several events including the Oscars. For the Independent Spirit Awards, Schlip applied copper and gold shadows from the Suivez Mon Regard loose powder shadow collection in Or Scintillant and Ambre and finished with Black Pump Up the Volume Mascara (14). Lips were glossed with Effet 3D in Miel Acrobatic #10, a lovely honey colour.
   For the Oscars, Schlip upped the glamour quotient a notch. Eyes were done with Argent (silver) and Bleu Mysterieux (navy blue) shadows. Cheeks were pinked with a golden tinged Lilas D'Or. Lips were done with a rosy pink lip gloss in Effet 3D in Rose Emblematic #44 (left). •

Stevie Wilson is editor-at-large of Lucire.

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