• Climate proof your skin

    I love fall, bittersweet, pumpkins, changing trees, acorns falling, the cool, crisp air, it’s my favorite time of year. It’s also the most challenging time of year for my skin because I have genetically dry skin. Dry, crisp air means I have to try harder to lubricate my skin from the inside out, and so should you.

    In this part of the world most people have combination skin or dry skin. However many people mistakenly believe their skin is oily. To that end, they do everything they can to dry up the imaginary, excess oil. This is totally wrong. Moisture is the best way to combat fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps create a healthy epidermis which protects our skin from disease and the elements.

    Here are my tips for lubricating, aka moisturizing, your skin without creating breakout.
    Most of them you’ve heard before. If you’ve heard it before think about it…it must work!
    1. Drink plenty of clean, filtered water. 2. Get your essential fatty acids. 3. Avoid washing your face with soap and water. Use a lotion cleanser. 4. Apply a light hydrating lotion after cleansing. A few I like are Kinerase – Hydraboost, Kate Sommerville – Quench, Complex 15, an oil free lotion.

    Your skin will thank you for it.

  • Correcting Summer Sun Damage

    Long before I was a professional makeup artist I had a passionate and innate interest in skin care.
    Thanks to my mother, I developed a regular skin care routine as a teenager.

    When I began to study makeup artistry one of the most important things I learned was how to correct uneven skin tones and skin imperfections. One of the top 10 questions I’m asked is how to perfect the skin.

    We now know that avoiding long term, direct sun especially without any SPF or other protection is one of the best ways to keep your skin smooth and damage free. For those of us who already have sun damage, and that’s most of us, please watch the next DFW Closeup. Reporter Vanessa Brown and I will talk about what causes sun damage and how to minimize it. I’ll have info on the latest and greatest products to help lighten, brighten and tighten your summer skin.

    DFW Closeup – CW33
    Sunday, September 13, 2009
    7:00 am, CST

    Please watch it here and feel free to post your comments.

  • Chris Botti


    World class trumpeter and composer Chris Botti, in the makeup room at Channel 13. Chris made an appearance to help raise for funds for PBS and promote his upcoming concert in Dallas, April 2010.
    His most recent studio album Italia, featuring songs with Andrea Boccelli, Dean Martin and Paula Cole will soon reach gold status.
    How could I not like him? He’s talented, he’s handsome and he’s Italian! Thanks for the foto Chris.

  • Rome 2009




    Rome is a visual feast. It’s ancient and it’s modern. And can anyone ever say enough about the famous Roman light? The city positively glows. It’s almost impossible to take a bad photo there.

    Life is lived in the streets and piazzas and you never know what will happen. What great people watching! I love the faces of the Italian people. The skin! Those eyebrows! sharp, angular and strong. Anyone who knows me as a makeup artist knows weak brows are one of my pet peeves. The brows define the face. Whenever a makeup look changes significantly you will see the brows change. Think Greta Garbo, Betty Davis, Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Brooke Shields. What would they look like with different eyebrows? Can you imagine it?

    What did I see in the streets…purple everywhere…loved the purple suede platforms. Did I say platforms? In every possible heel height and color. Beautiful Italian fabric in prints and florals, tunics, leggings(still?) dresses over everything, oversize belts, lots of bling, makes Dallas look plain; fishnet stockings, boots, ankle boots, motorcycle boots, gladiator sandals. And black – even in the heat the Italian girls look cool, hip and elegant in black. How do they do it?

  • Gigi Levangie Grazer

    NY Times bestselling author Gigi Levangie Grazer at Barnes and Noble book signing, Dallas, Texas, June 2009. Gigi is a ball of fire, funny, intelligent, beautiful…thanks for providing me with such a perfect canvas Gigi. And thanks for the advice.

  • Roma la cita eterna


    Ciao miei amici. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos uploaded yet but look for them soon. I am in Roma taking in the sights, surviving the heat and getting inspiration to share with you.
    Stay tuned…

  • Southwest Airlines Commercials


    The first three days of a seven day commercial shoot were completed in Dallas today. Working around these massive machines I’m still awed by the wonders of air travel. That something so huge can actually hang in the sky and take me to Roma or California or just about anyplace my heart desires. Wow! After 3 days in a row, up at 5:30 am, home at 9:00 pm I”m ready to fly away somwhere… I think this man can help me…

  • Flawless Skin is in fashion

    Many of you know that I was treated for a basal cell carcinoma in February this year. If you didn’t know you can check out the news segment under the “reel” tab on my website. Then look under ” in front of the camera.” The segment, titled, Skin Cancer Takes Friends was really important to me. My experience taught me a lot and the main thing was this, most people have no idea what the signs of skin cancer are or an understanding of the cause or prevention. I talked about my experience in an effort to raise awareness and understanding.

    I’ve also had the opportunity to try many new products that contain SPF, sun protection factors. I learned a lot about the ingredients in these products and how they work. Most sunscreens now contain a chemical block like oxybenzone and octocrylene. These work by absorbing the suns damaging rays. Avobenzone is a new ingredient that is very popular. However, it breaks down when exposed to sunlight so you must constantly reapply.
    Then there are mineral blocks like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These actually block the suns rays, in other words, they do not allow the sun to penetrate the skin at all. They do not break down in sunlight. Zinc has gotten a bad rap because it’s white and everyone thinks, ” lifeguard.” But newer formulations are micronized and blend much better on the skin so you don’t have that white face look.
    A combination of the chemical and the block to me seems the best way to go.
    Natures Gate and Origins both make products that fit this category.

    La Roche-Posay has come out with a new product which contains anthelios. I tried this product when I was in Rome where the sun is brutal in the summer, much like Texas.
    This product is far superior to anything I’ve tried so far when it comes to blocking the sun and it stays put, even when sweating and wearing hats. My scar is on my forehead so it was challenging to keep my head covered 100% of the time. With this sunscreen I was able to protect my skin and keep my scar from hyperpigmenting.
    In the USA the strongest you can get is 40. Many dermatologists are now carrying it and you can also purchase it on line. In Dallas, you can get it thru Park Cities Dermatology.

  • Brooke Shields


    I got to work with Brooke Shields last fall. She made an appearance in Dallas as part of the Brinker Lecture Series which raises money for The Dallas Center for Performing Arts. No pressure putting makeup on an ex-model and face that is recognized worldwide. A face that I grew up with from childhood. Brooke is still just as beautiful today and one of the few women I have seen who looks equally good in person or in front of the camera. And she’s a sweetheart. Basically she just said keep in light and fresh and let me do my thing. Only the real pros do that. Thank you Brooke. And thank you Gary Cogill for asking for makeup.

  • Barbara Corcoran

    Yesterday I went to the Hyatt Reunion to do makeup for real estate wizard Barbara Corcoran. I have to say the NY Times said it exactly right, “Her manner is frank and energetic, but for all her drive,she has no airs.” That was my experience of Barbara Corcoran. How can you not like a woman who writes a book titled, If You Don’t Have Big Breasts Put Ribbons On Your Pigtails? I hope I will cross paths with her again. Working with people like Barbara is one of the reasons I love my job.