Start Your Makeup With the Best Skin Surface Possible

I get so many questions about how to get that magazine glow and what makeup technique works best. Well, my advice is to start before the makeup. What is just as important as the makeup, is the condition of the skin the makeup is applied to.

Most skin, even if you are in your 20's, has a residual of dead skin cells which contribute to microscopic or even larger wrinkles. You need to eliminate and then control the recurrence of these dead cells and the easiest, least expensive and least painful way to achieve this is by using a moisturizer with 10% AHA (glycolic acid). I prefer 10% because I have seen sensitive skin get irritated at 15% to 20%. Even though glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane or sugar beets, or made synthetically, it is the same substance that dermatoligists use for chemical peels, although at a much higher concentration.

I'm not a big fan of chemical peels because I have seen extraordinary results from a 10% concentration with no pain and or that temporary redness of chemical peels. The results of daily use of a 10% AHA cream are a smoothing of fine lines, diminishment of acne, elimination of discoloration, softening of blackheads and a brightening of the skin surface. It also accelerates collegen synthesis which combats aging.

Our Renouveau cream, also known as our Green Tea Cream, has 10% AHA and SPF. And it has a very loyal following. http://www.giella.com/

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You Are What You Eat

When it comes to makeup ingredients, what you put on your lips is perhaps most important. After all, lipstick will come off on a glass or even a fork or spoon. Some tiny amount may even be ingested. That is why I have always been a fanatic with what is in my lipstick base. I don't want to eat bad stuff!

We have now refined the ingredients in GIELLA lipstick base to the point where it is 100% vegetable, plant or otherwise natural ingredients. And those ingredients are the highest quality from the best suppliers in the U.S. I personally source and select each ingredient just as I would shop for dinner for my family. I want the best and safest ingredients money can buy.

I test lipstick formulations for look, feel, durability, suitability and safety. I don't know what the big companies do. I do know that GIELLA lipstick may just be good enough to eat.

Keep It Clean!

How do you put on foundation? Sponge, brush or fingers? If you use a sponge, throw it away after each day's use, or thoroughly wash it in anti-bacterial soap. Do not try to save it for another day. It is a haven for bacteria as moisture easily collects and stays in a sponge. It can also cause breakouts if it the slightest bit dirty.

If you use a brush, you must clean the brush by washing DAILY in anti-bacterial soap for the same reasons. And it goes without saying, always wash you hands before touching your face while applying makeup. Facial skin is very sensitive to bacteria and impurities and will breakout from the slightest contamination.

I have seen so many clients and makeup artists try to use sponges and brushes for days and even weeks without washing them. The little effort required to keep it clean is more than worth it.

Spring 2011 Fashion Trend: the 70's look

The hottest trend on the runways during Spring Fashion Week 2011 is a dual 70's inspired look: 70's Bohemian and 70's sophisticated glamor. At GIELLA custom blend cosmetics we designed a Spring 2011 makeup look to capture the essence of both. This is what is happening in clothing, accessories, hair and makeup.

Clothing - There are many new high-waisted, wide-leg styles offered for Spring. We're feeling longer and leaner already. Because exaggerated flares don't look great on smaller women, we suggest anyone under 5 foot-4 stick to the look that is narrow at the waist but with a clean, straight leg.

Try a smartly belted jump suit but make sure the cut is flattering to your body type. Spending a few more dollars will get you a style that you can wear more often, so it may not be more expensive at all. And good news: last year's maxi dress is still in. Wear it in bright Bohemian colors for daytime and in sophisticated solids for glamorous evening wear.

Accessories - Put away that chunky necklace and make way for statement earrings like rhinestone clip-ons or big, gold hoops for glamor with polished stone or graphic art for the Bohemian look. Also, ditch those wayfarers. Huge sunglasses are everywhere! Try to create a look somewhere between Jackie O and J Lo. Try to pair your sunglasses with a big floppy hat which you can find done perfectly in Charlie 5.0's Spring Lookbook.

Hair - A change of pace from last year's top knot, the low bun is back. Start with a middle part, make a low ponytail that covers your ears. Then tie your hair in a knot and secure with pins that match your hair color. Allow your bun to look a bit unfinished. When hair was worn loose in the 70's, it was styled but not overdone. Try loose bed head waves for the modern version of Farrah Fawcett.

Makeup - Fashion makeup in the 70's was natural, fresh-faced and barely there. There was more of a focus on taking care of your skin than in earlier decades. This is when women began elaborate skincare regimens that aided the look of a healthy, dewey face. The heavy, caked foundations of the 50's and 60's gave way to light-feeling foundations and tinted moisturizers.

To recreate the 70's face with healthy, smooth skin, start by moisturizing with the GIELLA Ginseng + Vitamin C serum. This will hydrate your skin and create a silky-smooth, fresh look. Add a touch of our Super Red (mica) or Super Gold (mica) for just the right tint and glow. This will bring your skin to life with the lightest, barely there look of the 70's.

Apply either a tinted moisturizer or liquid foundation all over the face with clean fingers. Avoid using a foundation brush here because you want a very sheer, light coverage.

Using a concealer brush apply GIELLA Magnetic Eye from your lash line to your brow bone. Then lightly dust GIELLA Bunny, a neutral eyeshadow, over the Magnetic Eye.

Next, lightly apply GIELLA Twinkle Eye Shadow, a champagne shimmer, on your eyelids, disappearing into the crease. This will attract light to your eyes. With our slanted eyeliner brush #4, take GIELLA Cher Eyeliner and fill in the spaces between your eyelashes, gradually making the line thicker towards the outer eye. If you want to add drama to this look, do it with the eyeliner. Its a natural way to make your lashes look a lot fuller. Soften the line by smudging with the same brush. Then carefully line your lower outer lash with what remains on the brush. Use GIELLA Lively to brighten the inner rims of your lower lash line.

Wiggle a black mascara on your upper and lower lashes. Finish your eyes with the right color brow gel. This is a more natural look than a penciled-in eyebrow.

GIELLA Farrah bronzer has a little glow that will add to this "Earth Angel" look. Apply it in the hollows of your cheeks with a dusting on your forehead and chin. Use a circular motion while applying GIELLA Scooby blush (a vibrant warm pink) on the apples of your cheeks. Highlight your cheek bones with GIELLA Foxy.

Line your lips with neutral pink lip liner, GIELLA Skinny. Fill in with GIELLA Edie, a sheer pink with shimmer or Ava, a soft pink that stains the lips for longer wear. Top the lips with GIELLA Earth Angels, a white lip gloss that will make your lips sparkle.

Darling, you look marvelous with a 70's look that will never be out of style!

Check our website for locations and product. http://www.giella.com/

Nail Polish Ingredients Can Be Safe

GIELLA custom blend cosmetics nail enamel is phthalates, toluene and formaldehyde free. Not all nail polish is free from these toxic ingredients. Phthalates has been linked to testicular problems in humans and lab animals.. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and can cause allergic reactions. Toluene is petroleum based and has also been linked to cancer. Some of these chemicals have found their way into breast milk.

Some nail polishes still contain these ingredients so check with your brand to make sure what you are wearing is safe. There is a good article on Wikipedia on Nail Polish. Try this link.
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Nail_polish

The Story Behind How We Got Highlighted on the Today Show

So we matched a favorite nail polish color for Kathie Lee Gifford on the Today Show and she loved it. In the Bobbie's Buzz segment of the show, GIELLA custom blend cosmetics was highlighted for matching discontinued nail polish colors. There is a story behind how we got to match this color for Kathie Lee on the show.

Kathie Lee was upset that her Chanel nail polish color, Khaki Rose, was no longer available. She mentioned it a couple of weeks ago. Francis of Francis for GIELLA, our retail location in Houma, LA, caught the Today Show that day and called us here in New York, frantic that we should get on this mission and custom blend the favorite nail polish for Kathie Lee. So we got on it.

We went to the Kathie Lee and Hoda website and facebook page and searched for contacts. We sent messages to contacts there. We went to Bobbie Thomas' website and facebook page and sent an email to Bobbie and Bobbie's agent. Bobbie is the Today Show Stylist. We then reached out to one of our new clients, Melissa Francis, a financial news anchor on CNBC and co-anchor on MSNBC Live. Melissa is one of the nicest people in the business and offered to contact Kathie Lee on our behalf.

And then we waited. We got the call early last week that Bobbie Thomas wanted us to match the color and would have an assistant come by our Henri Bendel location in New York with the old Chanel bottle plus an additional bottle to match for Bobbie. We blended the colors on the spot for a perfect match in just a few minutes. Friday morning on the Today Show Bobbie presented the GIELLA custom blend nail polish, which we named Happy Hour, to Kathie Lee (she loved the name) and showed the second color match which we named Bobbie's Buzz.

The reaction indicates that Kathie Lee and Hoda, as well as Bobbie Thomas, have quite a following! Thanks to everyone for making this a fun story!

The photo is of the two colors matched. The darker is Happy Hour and the lighter is Bobbie's Buzz. Photo credit: Susan G. Baraban.