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Now through midnight Friday, January 25th, get an extra 35% off your Maven online order!  Use code JANSALE at checkout, and hit Apply.  But hurry — at these prices Maven’s inventory is moving quickly. Click here to shop now!

Park City, Utah attracts thousands of people for their annual Sundance Film Festival.  The Main Street is lined with small boutiques, cafes, and cinemas.  The roads are clear, but the snow has been plowed high along the curbs.  People rush along with their snowboards in arm, heading up to the slopes, waiting in line for tickets to the next show, or sneaking outside for a quick smoke.  Everything feels electric and alive.  I kept scanning people’s faces looking for Robert Redford!  Then suddenly, a woman passes by me with an MTV cameraperson along side her and microphone in hand.  Word on the street is that Jack Black, Colin Farrell, Josh Peck (from my kids favorite Nick show “Drake and Josh”), Paris Hilton and several other celebrities have been spotted. 

Alyson Hoag was gracious enough to invite me to visit her Authentic Beauty^® booth at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend.  Alyson has several years experience as a Master Makeup Artist for Lancome, Borghese, Revlon, Sebastian, and Aveda. A few years ago she read the book “Simple Abundance” by Sarah ban Breathnach, and it took her life and career in a different direction.  She was inspired to create her own business to assist individuals striving for their best selves, their most authentic selves.

“After a certain point in a woman’s life,” says Alyson, “she isn’t concerned about trends.  She wants to look great.  She wants to feel great.  She wants professional guidance not one more trip to the department store to be sold another bag of goods that may or may not be what she needs.”

I met Alyson in Park City at the Treasure Mountain Inn, home of the Slamdance Festival.  Slamdance is an offshoot of Sundance, and was created as a showcase for new and emerging talent and is dedicated to inspire new filmmakers.    At the Alive! Expo Green Pavilion Alyson’s booth was set up next to  Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap Booth and Alyson’s close friend who makes beautifully-bangly colored glass jewelry from recycled bottles.   Alyson had her lights and all her makeup set up; she was busy applying makeup on an Expo goer.  Although we had never met, she immediately recognized me and greeted me with a warm hug.  Alyson has a gorgeous head of yes, naturally curly hair!  What I had read about her is how she really is, the genuine article.  I quickly realized that Alyson has a wealth of information when it comes to makeup colors and the how to’s for great makeup technique.  She really has a lot to offer for any one trying to look their best.

At the end of an extremely busy day at Sundance, Alyson took the time to make me over!  As we began, Beth Stolarczyk from the original cast of MTV’s The Real World, came storming into the room in a panic.  She explained to Alyson that someone had just done her makeup and could not stand it!  Apparently, Alyson had done her face and eye makeup the day before and she loved it and received several compliments.   Alyson quickly remedied the situation by removing her existing eye makeup and starting over.  She created a custom dark neutral brown liner, placed a purplish gray shadow on the lid and neutral skin tone on her brow bone as a way to accentuate her eyes and not detract from their natural beauty.  Alyson said that women need to learn good makeup brush techniques and emphasized the importance of blending.   She also placed a beautiful gold shimmer liner underneath her eye, to really make her eyes light up and “pop.”   Beth was extremely relieved and happy with the end result.  Then her personal entourage came and whisked her off for the evening Sundance events and a photo shoot.  Crisis averted! 

“I truly believe that every woman is beautiful. When she looks in the mirror, she should recognize her inner-self shining through, rather than a face dominated by makeup.  I love guiding her through that journey.  Watching a woman fall in love with herself is the best job anybody could have.”

There is so much to say, and Alyson Hoag shared some great makeup advice and information with me.  All this week I will continue to share my experience with her, and encourage you to ask any questions.  She has been writing about her own experiences at Sundance at her Authenic Beauty blog, and had a hilarious run-in with Woody Harrelson in a public restroom (what a dork)!

We both agreed that we share the same vision.  That is, taking the time and effort to really get to know and appreciate yourself and discover the true authentic and beautiful person inside of you.

 

But we refuse to believe that the back of justice is bankrupt…
that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation…
And so let freedom ring…from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

–Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963

Eliseo Medina and Gerry Hudson: The Freedom We Seek – Politics on The Huffington Post 

A great article to read and reflect on today.  

While ticking through my 30’s, much too rapidly may I add, I noticed big changes in my skin. The biggest changes have been pigmentation and resiliency issues. In younger years, if I tanned, I might have gotten a few freckles. How I used to love that gorgeous glow from a suntan. In the summer, my golden face went so well with some Sparkly Blue Eye Liner and a little Opalescent Pink Lip Stick! (I used to religiously use L’Oreal’s shade called Pale)

Now, I still have those freckles and other additional brownish blotches, some strange raised pores, fine lines, some loss of pigmentation, and mild scarring to boot!  My body has been through a lot

getting to adulthood. Having five children, several moves, and a husband that is a ball of fire has contributed to aging. (Evan is a very sweet husband and devoted Father to the girls. I love him to pieces!)

These changes really started bothering me. I guess those “brownish blotches” are what Skincare marketer’s cleverly label, “Age Spots.” What a horrible term, age spots! To further investigate, I went to look this up on Wikipedia, my favorite source for up to date information on everything imaginable:

Liver spots are blemishes on the skin associated with ageing and exposure to ultra-violet radiation from the sun. They are also known as age spots, sun spots, lentigos, or senile/solar lentigines. They range in color from light brown to black and are located in areas most often exposed to the sun, particularly the hands, face, shoulders, arms and forehead. In spite of their name, liver spots are not related to the liver.

From the age of 40 onwards, the skin is less able to regenerate from sun exposure and liver spots are very common in this older age group, particularly in those who enjoy being out in the sunshine. They have been known to proliferate in some individuals under emotional distress. In the vast majority of cases, liver spots pose no threat and no treatment is necessary. In a very small number of cases, they have been known to obscure the detection of skin cancer. Some people consider these spots unsightly and wish to have them removed for cosmetic reasons.

Liver Spots! What the heck is going on here?! Yes, I abused the sun, and yes, I have a stressful life. But hold on here, I am only 38!

I had no alternative but to fight back. There had to be something I could do. I simply could not accept that I was powerless over the premature aging of my skin!
There are several directions I can go with this topic, and you and I don’t have enough time to address them all in one post. So I thought I would start off with the subject of prevention. You’ve probably heard this quote a zillion times, but as Ben Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
It is never too early nor too late to benefit from using sunscreen. I am always alarmed when I see people tanning at the pool or going to the sun bed salons. Aren’t they freaking out about their skin as well? Aren’t they a little paranoid about skin cancer? Well, in my humble opinion, they really should be.

Here is my take on sunscreens. There are a lot of choices out there; and here are a few to consider:

• My mom swears by Lubriderm’s Lotion with SPF 15, very moisturizing all over sunscreen, but might be too heavy for some, esp. on your face if you worry about breakouts.

• Joesoef’s Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30:  This light moisturizer softens and smooths with SPF 30.  Developed by renowned Indonesian dermatologist Dr. Joesoef.  Dr. Joesoef’s line aims to deliver skin care remedies that are uniquely designed to provide a professional grade, affordable, non-prescription skincare product.
  

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX, an oil-free moisturizer with the newly FDA approved UVA/UVB protection, avobenzone and their trademark Mezoryl SX. This product is ideal for oily and otherwise blemish prone skin.

• Juice Beauty, Green Apple Moisturizer SPF 15, an oil-free organic moisturizer that smells fresh and feels wonderful.

• Many foundation primers now include SPF, such as Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Spa 15 With Dermaxylâ„¢ Complex. Kind of nice to get your primer and sunscreen in one step. I have tried their regular primer and it really makes your skin feel silky and helps your foundation glide on effortlessly.*

• Many foundations have SPF. Most mineral makeup, like Bare Escentuals have SPF 15 or greater. My favorite 2 foundations, Tarte’s Smooth Operator and Model Co 3 in 1 both have SPF 20.*

• Sunless Tanning Products. There are 100’s of them, I like Jergen’s Natural Glow Moisturizer, esp. for my dry, pale legs.

On sunny days or days where you plan to be outside for a while : 

Wear a hat, take cover at the swimming pool, and wear sunscreen on at least your face, neck, and back of your hands! Remember girls, LIVER SPOTS!* There is some controversy with including SPF with foundations. The reason being, we don’t always apply foundations evenly on our face and neck areas. They can also tend to wear off quickly. Maybe the best bet is to apply a sunscreen and allow drying before applying your regular makeup.

In the meantime, surely we can think of a better alternative word to describe our skin spots, how about “Wisdom Marks,” or something sexy like, “Face Kisses?”

And most importantly, if you are ever concerned about some spot or rash that has appeared on your skin anywhere, please schedule an appointment with your Dermatologist. Better safe than sorry. A great reference website for good skin smarts is: http://www.askaamc.org/, that’s where I got my picture from!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,  TGIF!

If you are like me, the mid-winter months bring on a lack of color to my skin and a shade of pale that would startle the living dead.  January is the time when I am in need of some subtle brightening up.  This week Tarte released their “Ready, Set, Glow Kit.”  I have been eyeing their “glistening powder” for a while now and that “brightening wand” intrigues me as well.  Here is a chance to try some brand new and tried and true Tarte cosmetic products, and for a deal. 

ready, set, glow kit ($45)
limited-edition makeup set
($94 value)

From lids to lips, cheekbones to collarbones, this scintillating set offers everything you need to get ready for a big night out. This sephora.com-exclusive set includes:

• mini cheek stain in tipsy (sheer shimmery peach)
  –skinvigoratingâ„¢ ingredients: oil free, alcohol free, paraben free, preservative free, phthalate free, dermatologist tested

Tarte’s cheek stains are really what put Tarte Cosmetics on the map.  This was the first product Maureen Kelly created.  I love their cheek stains; they feel light and add a sheer, natural color to your cheeks.

• double-ended lipgloss in elle & emmett (sparkly pink and lilac) (I would love to know the reason behind why they chose these adorable gloss shade names!)
  –skinvigoratingâ„¢ ingredients: jojoba seed oil, mineral pigments, paraben free, mineral oil free, phthalate free, dermatologist tested
• rest assured brightening wand
  –skinvigoratingâ„¢ ingredients: cocoa seed butter, shea butter, mineral pigments, water, beeswax, phthalate free, dermatologist tested
• mineral powder bronzer in park avenue princess (light bronze)
  –skinvigoratingâ„¢ ingredients: vitamin A, C & E, mineral pigments, mineral oil free, phthalate free, dermatologist tested
• mini glistening powder in sugar daddy (sparkly champagne)
  –skinvigoratingâ„¢ ingredients: mineral pigments and silk powder

Available exclusively at www.sephora.com

Wednesday’s are now “Green Madness day” at Mythbuster Beauty.  Mo is joining me in the pursuit of fabulous beauty finds.  This is her account of a recent trip to the Lancôme beauty counter.

The other day I went shopping to look for a new face tinted moisturizer, but the new Spring collection from Lancôme stopped me in my tracks.

The L.U.C.I collection is all about luminescence. These colors are, to quote the Lancôme web site,

“like that found on a butterfly’s wing or a bubble, is the result of an optical phenomenon where hues of an object change color based on light interference and viewing angels.”

It was all gorgeous and would all have been a great addition to my own hoard of cosmetics, but I was able to summon the strength and say no. Until I saw the ‘Luminous’ lip color.  At first glance it appears to be a plain white tube of lipstick, but as you twist and turn it in the light you see flecks of color dancing on its surface. There are bits of glitter in this, but glitter isn’t even the best descriptor. They’re more like little spots of hyper reflective color.

I wanted to say no, I really did, but when one of the girls at the counter showed it to me on her lips I was helpless to resist. I didn’t even make it out of the parking garage before I ripped it open and tried it on. True to the blurb on the web site it has a wonderful reflective lilac effect when applied.

I was wearing a vibrant purple eye shadow today and the lip color seemed manufactured just to match. The color shifts and turns in the light and it was easy to imagine it being used as a companion to pink, blue, silver or gold eye shadow, or even a nude eye with just a touch of liner and mascara. A light, summery, pink blush or just a touch of bronzer placed lightly on the apples of your cheeks would finish the look perfectly. Perfect to be worn with a messy bun and a big wool sweater when you need to make that last minute grocery store run, and just let the winter chill add that natural rosiness to your cheeks.

Though it might seem a little bold, it was soft enough to be used by even the color shy. It could easily be placed over your standard lip shade or blended with a liner for a more subdued look. The lipstick itself was actually a surprising texture. Smooth and lightweight, it felt wonderfully hydrating without being thick, waxy, or gooey. I expected to feel the glitter pieces, but they are just as smooth as the rest of the formula, no grittiness or edges to be found here. Just gorgeous, luxurious color.

It’s been a while since I got really excited about a collection from Lancôme. This color made me feel ethereal and fairy princess-y, and was a nice step in the right direction.  The sales associate filled me in on all the changes coming to the brand and I’m very hopeful.  New packaging, new formulas, and a turn back toward the more youthful colors and collections I fell in love with so long ago.

So start saving your pennies and keep your eyes open for more great Lancôme products in 2008!

 

If you are a fan of the Philosophy line, QVC ran a special yesterday on “The Perfect Canvas 5-Piece Collection“ for $59.94.

What is it?   The perfect canvas is a five-piece collection that includes:

• supernatural airbrushed color corrector concealer palette
• poreless, flawless tinted SPF
• split-pan blush
• a supernatural lip pencil
• and supernatural pink melon-flavored lip gelato.
• Philosophy’s Poreless, is the item I have my eye on.  A tinted primer that contains an SPF.  Poreless claims to even your skin tone and smooths your fine lines and wrinkles and is tinted in a universally flattering shade.  Sounds good to me! 

In the coming weeks Tarte will be featured on QVC.  Tune in to watch Tarte’s CEO and founder Maureen Kelly who created my favorite Tinted Moisturizer “Smooth Operator” and her absolutely fabulous Cheek Stains.

You can watch Maureen on these dates:

January 17, 2008 at 7pm EST
February 3, 2008 at 5pm EST (my birthday, how fitting!)

 

Many of you are going to visit my site today and are probably saying to yourself, “What is going on here?”

No need to panic, it is the same blog just at Wordpress (and with a slightly different format)!

No need to type in www.mythbusterbeauty.blogspot.com, or www.mythbusterbeauty.wordpress.com, just www.mythbusterbeauty.com!  Mythbuster Beauty is quite a mouthful. Try to say it three times fast.  Not an easy feat.

I have some fun new features to add, including a weekly review from another enthusiastic beauty blogger.  She contributes faithfully, but now I will be able to give her the credit she deserves!

2008 will be filled with many surprises, even surprising for myself.  Monthly contests, beauty reviews, interviews, and new found friends. 

As always I appreciate your support and friendship.

Jen

What would be the most fantastic way to beat the winter blues? 

Mine would be an all expenses-paid seven day trip for two to Bali!

Unfortunately, I cannot offer you this trip.  But I can let you enter January’s Jessicurl “How to Beat the Winter Blues” Contest!

To enter simply comment on something that would help you survive the rest of the winter.  I will randomly select one winner who will receive a Body Care Combo from none other than Jessicurl!

Like many of you, my skin has been itching, chapped and cracked, and calling for relief and moisture.  This past year, I have become a huge fan of Jessicurl’s haircare line, and have discovered that she carries a fabulous body care line as well! 

Jesscurl’s Shea Butter Body Mousse absorbs quickly and without leaving my skin greasy and slippery.  Your skin will drink it in and Jess’ Island Fantasy Scent will make you feel like you are sipping a frozen daiquiri (virgin for me) while sun bathing on a tropical beach!  

Jessicurl’s Body Care Combo includes:

• a jar of Shea Butter Body Mousse
• a jar of Body Buffer and
• a bottle of Room and Body Fragrance Spray

These body care items come in three different scents: Island Fantasy, Citrus Lavender, and Vanilla Grapefruit (which has become my personal favorite)!

Just submit your comment about how to beat those winter blues at this post.  Please include your email if you are not a registered user, and all comments must be received before January 31, 2008. 

Mo from Fried Green Madness  sent a picture of her eye art, inspired by Amanda and my bright “Parrot” knock-off look yesterday.

What a beautiful eye!  Many thanks for sharing Mo.

   

Fill us in on all the details of how you created this look.  Really fabulous!