Effortless Beauty

The Secret Beauty of an American Teenager

2012-01-19T20:41:00.000-08:00

I first met Francia 2 years ago and had the pleasure to do her makeup for a series of interviews, red carpet appearances and photo shoots. She is a pleasure to work with, beautiful and energetic, always in a good mood, a huge Lakers fan, so what's not to love? We recently chatted about beauty and I had a few questions that her Romanian fans, and not only, wanted the answers to. Bellow is the interview we did for the Romanian magazine, UNICA. Enjoy!

What is your skin care routine?

I wash my face every morning and every night. I never fall asleep with makeup on and I get a facial once a month. I tend to wear a tinted moisturizer rather than a lot of foundation. I only wear foundation on special occasions like red carpet events, TV appearances and of course when I am shooting. I believe your skin needs to always be clean and be able to breathe.

What’s in your purse?

In my purse you find anything and everything. I have my wallet, makeup bag, lotion, eye drops, pens, gum, candy, and a bunch of receipts.

How do you pamper your skin?

I give myself facials once a month and I try and exfoliate my whole body at least once a week.

Which product is your current "must-have"?
Coco butter! I love the way it makes my skin feel. I think it's one of the best things you can nourish your skin with. It is loaded with vitamins and it forms a micro-thin barrier that seals in moisture while still allowing your skin to easily breathe.

Do you have a favorite spa?

I usually go to Burke Williams. I love their spa and the customer service. I love the spa it is a must for me. I believe every woman should take time for herself, pamper herself and enjoy a day of beauty once in a while.

What’s your favorite spa treatment?

Massages. I love massages. A guy knew that about me and when he was trying to get me to go out with him he set me up and appt. for a massage at the spa. Yup! That definitely won a place in my heart!

Do you have a favorite tip/advice for skin care?

Drink a lot of water. Wash your face at least twice a day and keep hair products away from your face because it will break you out. If you have bangs avoid putting product in it because it clogs your pores. Also keep your phone away from your face when your are talking on it.

Did you have a first makeup or skin care favorite when you were teenager?

I didn't wear makeup until I was 18 but I always made sure to take care of my face.

How important is hair/makeup to you when you’re creating a character?

Very important. Not only should you act the part but you should look it too. It helps the audience imagine the character as well.

Photography: Adam Hendershott

Makeup: Violeta Meyners

For more on Francia please visit: Francia Raisa

Beauty Talk with Autumn Reeser

2011-10-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've had the pleasure to meet the talented and beautiful Autumn Reeser over 4 years ago on a photoshoot with the amazing Hendershotts team! I was struck by her beauty, flawless skin but most importantly her positive energy and contagious laugh. We have been working together ever since and I couldn't be more happier that I have the privilege to witness all her recent accomplishments: her beautiful baby, her extensive work as an actress, not to mention her appereance in some of my favorite shows: The OC, Entourage, Royal Pains. Autumn also has a movie coming out this month, "So Undercover" and she is currently recurring as Scott Caan's love interest on "Hwaii Five-O", so stay tuned! I caught up with her between flights and asked her to share with her Romanian fans and not only, some of her cherished beauty secrets.

Bellow is our interview for the Romanian Magazine - UNICA.
Photography: Adam Hendershott

Makeup & Hair: Violeta Meyners

How do you balance work and motherhood?

It’s hard, I’m not gonna lie! We just flew in from a convention in Atlanta where I was signing autographs all weekend, tomorrow I work on a new show called ‘Jane By Design,’ then the next morning we fly to Northern California for my sister’s wedding. Finn just went down for a nap (he’ll be asleep for about an hour), and I’m frantically trying to do laundry, answer email, pack for the trip, answer interview questions, open mail, do dishes, and keep my dogs from barking! It’s chaos!

How do you stay in such fabulous shape?

How sweet! Yoga and breast-feeding. Currently if I can make it to yoga just once a week I’m thrilled! My ideal scenario is to work out three times a week: one day of hiking, one day of yoga, and one day of pilates or dance. But that rarely happens. :)

Would you consider yourself more of a natural girl or glamour girl?
Definitely a natural girl! I grew up camping and playing in the wilderness, so that feeling of being most beautiful when you are engaged in the world around you is what has stuck with me. In my day-to-day life, I prefer minimalist styles and clean makeup.

What is your red carpet must in terms of hair and makeup?
I’m not stuck to any one thing. I’ve worn red lips, fuschia lips, smoky eyes, purple liner, bare skin... It all depends on the dress and the statement you’re trying to make. Overall, I tend to prefer very feminine styles for the red carpet, so I tend to like some volume in my hair to go with it, whether I’m wearing it curly or straight. Individual fake lashes are a must to keep your eyes looking open and awake, though! I always wear these for red carpet events, curl my lashes, and wear lots of mascara.

Skin care routine? Every time I see you to do your makeup you are looking radiant, with a clean, fresh skin. What’s your secret?

Again, I’m very minimalist here! I use a cleansing cloth, typically from Neutragena or Boots, then I use Neutragena oil-free eye makeup remover. Then it’s night lotion from Aveda, and whatever eye cream happens to be around (currently I think it’s Clarins). That’s it! In the mornings I rinse my face & wear Eucerin day cream with SPF. Now that I’m in my thirties, it’s time to start being a little more serious, but with a new baby it’s hard to think about what to change about the routine. I do try to get facials a few times a year, too, but I haven’t had time since spring. I need one!

What has been your biggest beauty blunder?
My eyelids are very spacious, so it’s been difficult for me to figure out how to apply eye shadow here! Makeup artists love this space, because it’s like a blank canvas to them, but for a girl in a hurry in the morning, it’s frustrating. Also, when I’ve tried to do my own makeup for events in the past, this is the area that I’m always least satisfied with when I see the pictures. I’m constantly trying to learn from makeup artists like Vio when they’re working on my eyes!

What’s the best quick makeup tip you've picked up from makeup artists that’s perfect for a new mom with no time?

Red lipstick, red lipstick, red lipstick! It immediately makes you look like you care about your appearance. Once you find your perfect shade, buy as many tubes of it as you can find, because they are often discontinued! Mine is Auburn by Mac, actually a lip pencil. I paint it all over my lips, blot it so it looks like a stain, and then apply gloss. It’s fabulous. Lately I’ve also been liking a brighter shade, ‘Maneater’ by Nars, which I apply the same way.

Favorite drugstore beauty products? Favorite high end beauty products?
I love Maybelline mascara, Laura Mercier foundation & powder, Chantacaille glimmer stick for cheekbones, Cle de Peau concealer, Nars orgasm blush, and Tarte lipglosses.

Any last words of beauty wisdom you would like to share?
Laughter is what makes a woman most beautiful, so surround yourself with people who make you happy, and you will always look your best. Choose to spend time doing the things in life that will bring you joy. That’s why I decided to have a baby, and I’ve never felt more beautiful!

By Violeta Meyners.

One on One with Anastasia - Hollywood Eyebrow Guru and Owner of Anastasia Beverly Hills

2011-09-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago when I first started my journey within the beauty industry, I could not have chosen a better role model than Anastasia.
I was in make-up school when I first wrote her a letter asking for advice and trying to pick her brain on the ups and downs of this industry.
I never sent the letter. I needed to be ready. I had plans and dreams I wanted to accomplish before I would sit across the table from the woman whom in my eyes was the perfect example of the American dream, the woman who had the drive and the vision to turn everything into reality.

Photo: Courtesy of Anastasia Soare/Anastasia Beverly Hills INC.

Little did I know we had quite a few things in common: We both left the Black Sea Coast for the Hollywood Hills armed with strength and courage to pursue a better life.
As I walked into her high end salon, I instantly stepped into an inviting, bright, luxurious space, with gorgeous fresh hydrangeas and peonies on every surface.
Although the atmosphere was calm and comfortable, the well manicured, fresh faced staff was clearly on a mission to beautify the world one person at a time.
Anastasia’s exquisite taste was apparent in every detail, from the silk covered walls and crystal chandeliers, to the perfect presentation of her famed beauty products, and of course Anastasia’s own impeccably stylish appearance.

Anastasia working her magic on my eyebrows!
As Anastasia and I sat down in her exclusive meeting room, she eased our way into the interview by sharing with me secrets on how Heidi Klum and Jennifer Lopez so effortlessly balance motherhood and their Hollywood careers, which as a mom I was excited to hear about.
She warmly smiled at me and said: “let’s talk beauty!”

V: Beautiful shaped eyebrows act as a frame to set off your eyes. It’s no exaggeration to say that brow shape can make or break your look. What is the main concern women come in with in your salon?

A: Most of the time women over tweeze their eyebrows, in between and overall hoping to get a higher arch, thinking the higher arch will give them that sexy, dramatic look, which is not always the case, so they end up with very thin, high eyebrows that don’t suit their features.

V: We live in a city obsessed with celebrity looks. Women go into a plastic surgeon’s office asking for Angelina’s lips, Heidi Klum’s nose and so on. Do women come in here with a picture in their hand asking to have their eyebrows shaped like their favorite movie star?

A: Absolutely! Every day! What I try to explain my clients is that we need to shape our eyebrows according to their bone structure. Just because Jenifer Lopez has amazing eyebrows that doesn’t mean they will look great on you. When you shape eyebrows according to the bone structure, you emphasize all your beautiful features and you balance the face.

V: What is the most coveted eyebrow shape? (High arch, natural, etc)

A: High arch! Women just LOVE the high arch, but as I mentioned before, they tweeze so much trying to achieve that arch that they end up with very thin and short eyebrows. To me, it’s a science and it looks that I found the key to creating a perfect eyebrow for each and one of my clients.

V: Talk to me about this key! I know you are using the Golden Ratio principle. Can you explain our beautiful fashionstas this concept?

A: Golden Ratio Technique involves establishing three precise points (on the brow): one that lies on an imaginary line running vertically through the middle of the nostril; the High Point on the eyebrow arch, which can be found on a line connecting the tip of the nose to the center of the iris; and finally, the point that lies on a line running through the edge of the corresponding nostril through the outer edge of the eye. The High Point divides the eyebrow arch in precisely the Golden Ratio.

When I first started shaping brows in Beverly Hills in the early nineties, you couldn’t get this information – and the tools to do what I do didn’t exist. So of course, I created them!

V: Years of tweezing and waxing cause follicle damage which causes hair to grow finer, thinner, and eventually not grow at all. There are a handful of hair restorers on the market right now, some of which contain Minoxidil, an ingredient proven to come to the rescue. It’s showing success in growing eyebrow hair even in damaged follicles. Have you come across successful cases like that with your clients? Or do you have to make do with what you have?

A: My line caries a serum that stimulate the hair growth, but it only stimulates the dormant follicles, if your follicle is already destroyed you could use the best of the best and nothing will help. One of the best products right now on the market that stimulates the growth is Latisse. Latisse solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker.
Eyelash hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough eyelashes.

V: Do you believe in trends when it comes to eyebrows?

A: No! The shape of your eyebrows should always be the same, according to your natural bone structure. The only trend I love when it comes to eyebrows is that you could lighten, darken, and color your eyebrows according to the color you are choosing for your hair. You can use different powders and pencils to color your eyebrows according to your hair color so they are in harmony.

V: Quick tip for our ladies on how to create a mistake proof eyebrow every time.

A: Follow the Golden ratio rule! Women should know where their eyebrows are supposed to be placed according to their face structure. That’s the key. And if you do make a mistake, we have over 50 products to help you correct your eyebrows. Each kit packs the necessities to re-create classically-arched, beautiful brows. From brushes, tweezers and powders to pencils and brow growth serum, a palette of select brow products helps anyone divinely define and accentuate your arches. Applications become a fast daily ritual for perfect brows that stay in place all day long.

V: Tell me about the beauty products you have developed: your skin care line and the amazing makeup that works like skin care fighting aging and wrinkles!

A: I have long been developing breakthrough techniques to enhance and define your personal beauty. For the longest time I have been dissatisfied with the current ingredients on the market, so I returned to Romania to discover healthy products that naturally improve the texture, tone and appearance of skin. I developed Balkan Botanical Infusion, a blend of rare plant and herb extracts found only in the rich soils of Romania. A few of these ingredients are Marshmallow Leaf, Lemon Balm Leaf, Bilberry, and Green Tea, which combine to soothe and restore the skin’s natural radiance. My line includes: Sheer Moisture Cream SPF 30, Line Erasing Serum, Hydrating oil, Line Erasing Cream and Eye Cream.

I have also introduced Youthful Synergy™, a unique combination of products designed to lift the appearance of skin while soothing, softening, and hydrating. My line “Illumin8 with Youthful Synergy™ Complex” features shadows that are clinically proven to lift and firm the appearance of skin, while helping skin maintain its elasticity. Clinical studies show that one hour after application, clients noticed reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. After four weeks, 100% of clients saw overall improvement in the appearance of their eye area.

V: What inspires you the most when creating such amazing products for women?

A: Everything and everybody! Every woman that walks into my salon, every runway collection, nature. Every day is a new experience and I try to make the best of it, and create products that I trust and love to use.

V: Any exciting news you would like to share with our readers:

A: I do but it is still under wraps! I am working on a book but you will have to stay tuned to find out more soon!

V: It’s no news to you that you have been my idol in the beauty industry since I have emerged myself in the world of makeup. Any words of advice for me?

A: Practice and cultivate your talent every single day! Become so good at what you do that no one else can do it the way you do!

In a world obsessed with the perfect eyebrows and lush lashes, there is nobody else who shapes and grooms like Anastasia. She has it down to an art.

This talented, well respected artist is not just the name behind her brand! She is still in the trenches shaping the perfect eyebrow for her clients.

Her impeccable work ethic, talent, drive, love, and passion created what she has become today: the perfect recipe for success!

Violeta Meyners