Monday, April 04, 2011

When Pearls Ruin Your Passport Picture...





My first agent, Dennis Reed, used to call them 'pearls'. It was the first time I had heard the word alluding to those tiny spots full of white blood cells that lay on top of the skin causing beauty havoc. The public at large call them pimples and, these uninvited guests pop up the minute you say gala, personal appearance or passport picture. In case of the latter, consider you might be stuck with an image for twelve years that would probably set security alerts within TSA and Customs officials that deem your image unrecognizable; consequently sending you to secondary holding every time you travel.  Who knew a 'pearl' could be so offensive?

All right, let me not beat around the bush as your 'pearl' might be growing exponentially as we speak. This is the deal: You want to get rid of it ASAP! Right? Well, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Sampar's Prodigal Pen Blemish Corrector.

Sampar's Prodigal Pen is a mix of 100% natural ingredients, with oils of lavender, sage, savory thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, oregano and clove. This miracle mix has detoxifying, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and yet the light gel gets absorbed very quickly into the skin. 

My experience with Sampar's Pen? I love it! Effective. Practical. It's going right into my grooming cabinet and traveling bag. Roll it on the affected area at night and in the morning your 'pearls' are almost gone. Thank you Sampar.

Before I go, here's a link where to order this magical pen: Sampar Blemish Pen

pd.: I love the fact that there are no funky chemicals in this pen. You know, anything green or to save the world, I'm in. Oh! I also heard it helps with bites, those of mosquitoes and similar jungle insects of the Diptera order. (I'm so thankful for city life.)

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

A Handsome Newfound Love...*kyoku.





Happy one more time, as for the past who knows how many seasons, to be directing beauty at the Carlos Campos' Fall/Winter 2011-12 fashion presentation. As a makeup artist, you are always looking for the ideal makeup/skin care sponsor to go hand-in-hand with the designer's vision; for example, the minimalist designer paired with the minimalist makeup line, and so forth. Well, this season I have made a match in heaven, Carlos Campos and *kyoku for men, my newfound love!

*kyoku for men is man's man line. Founded by Asim Akhtar, the son of one of the founders of StriVectin, *kyoku was inspired by the healthy living of the people of Yuzuri Hara, a village just about two hours outside of Tokyo, Japan. In this village, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer's are simply non-existent. But, the added bonus of living in Yuzuri: flawless skin.

The skin care line is infused with amazing ingredients like bamboo extract to pump up your skin's hyaluronic acid (the stuff babies have abundantly in their skin, hence their soft derriere
) and volcanic ash for deep detoxification of the skin. It's like having a going-away-detox-program but at home, like Charlie Sheen sans lost episodes of "Two and a Half Men", twitching and texting.



Those who know me well are aware that I'm not a morning person, although I'll definitely wake up happy for some "sake infused shave cream." Oh yeah! One of my favorite products from *kyoku. You bet I'll follow up with some extra Mimosas and I'll be a happy morning-er.


The eye fuel? A double whammy. A winner! One pump bottle that divides into two separate chambers: one pumps the uplifting eye gel and the other the eye radiance creme. Voila! No tired glances at the show.

I hope you can join me this Saturday, February 12th, for the Carlos Campos' Fall/Winter 2011-12 fashion presentation at Exit Art (remember to RSVP). We'll be having fun, for sure, and the men will definitely be that man's man all women want and men want to emulate.

I have to say, I'm in love with *kyoku for men. I hope you fall in love too!

Oh! Soon to come exclusively at Barney's NY.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Dry Skin No More... Two Of My Favorite Products...

(Above: Artist Pepe Villegas)

Last night following my usual 'espiritista' Thursday meetings - as I lovingly call my spiritual posse gatherings, The Waking Circle - with some amazing guys, in Chelsea ;-), the subject of dry skin came up. And, of course, I gave my best advice for the Fall/Winter season already making our skin drier and itchy.


Organic Coconut Oil

RIGHT AFTER TAKING A SHOWER/BATH, while your skin is still damp, smother it with some *organic coconut oil. The coconut oil will sink into your skin right away unlike anything with artificial petroleum based oils. You neither be putting on any parabens or weird ingredients that may be absorbed through your skin making you more toxic.


For the first fifteen minutes after application your olfactory receptors will take you to some exotic Caribbean destination. Not a bad idea for a body lotion that works as aroma-visualizing-therapy in the dread of winter. It won't interfere with any other colonias or fragrance that you might like to apply afterwards. You know I wouldn't let anything interfere with my Acqua Di Parma's 'Colonia', it works perfectly.

Advice:

1. Place the coconut oil in an area that's room temperature so it won't harden. Keep it away from the heat/sun.

2. For the bathroom, buy a squirt/pump bottle for easy dispense. It also keeps your fingers from touching the main jar, thus avoiding any bacteria and other junk from transferring to the main container. It also looks prettier ;-)

I know you will love this oil/lotion for your skin, it feels delicious. Give me your feedback.



Bigelow's Mentha Lip Balm

For my lips? I would not trade my *'Bigelow's Mentha Lip Balm Stick (No Shine Formula)' for anything. It doesn't feel heavy on the lips. It's not shinny. It smells good!. It's kissable too.

For those that don't have a Bigelow's nearby, *Bath and Bodyworks also carries it.

Little beautiful things.


*follow the product links above in blue.


Saturday, October 24, 2009

Of Fashion, Socialites and Channeling Oscar...


(Oscar de la Renta's spring/summer 2010 look)

Have you ever asked yourself what or who support$ a fashion designer's empire? Well, its basically the goddesses of sales, and they come in all shapes and sizes including, the Socialite. Also, have you ever wondered how two people can come up with the same concept at the same time in different parts of the world, even in the same city? Keep reading.

On September 16, 2009 Oscar de la Renta showed the world his vision, his interpretation of wearable art for the 2010 spring/summer collection. For this event at The Tents in Bryant Park, New York City, birds of a feather flocked together to pay homage to De La Renta; kings and queens of the press, front-row bloggers, buyers, groupies, family, friends and the perennial decked out socialite including Maria Chevere de Levis.

Maria Chevere de Levis has been an avid follower of Mr. de la Renta. Consequently, Oscar's sketches made reality have embellished many of Maria's benefit galas, tasty celebrations of life or simple casual gatherings of the 'socialité' in Puerto Rico. Maria seems to embody a designer's dream come true; the perfect reverent customer.

All things considered, every season Mrs. Levis gets invited, personally, by Mr. de la Renta to his fashion shows at The Tents in New York City. Every season I usually get a call from Maria; she wants to look flawless before the claws of every vulture present at the fashion show. Her best is always accentuated using the magic of color, chiaroscuro, wands of mascara... de la Renta's and a few pounds of diamonds in case she needs to use a weapon of mass destruction. The usual breakfast imbued with Champagne, gossip, laughter, funny stories by Mr. Levis and Maria's update on her new entrepreneurial projects always precede the 'transformation' prior to the show.

The 'production' usually starts with the setting of my tungsten lights to fill the hotel room with a thousand watts, ALL is illuminated... and here is what I need to say in regards to Light and the channeling of Oscar.

This time around I sensed that Maria was, lets say, uneasy. She was experiencing the perfect discomfort a boa needs in order to shed her old skin off and come anew, at least that was my perception. "I need to look ravishing..." Maria mentioned to Oscar's crew, "I want my makeup to look different... loaded..." she addressed. It was at THAT moment that I felt the sky opening up and a torrent of information and direction started to flow upon myself. The only words I uttered were "Trust me, I know what I'm going to do."

It's not the first time I experience a Shirley McLaine moment, it's the story of my life when it comes to creativeness. Wether it's 'Yemaya', 'Chango' or 'Santa Barbara bendita', who knows, but it happens, and I go into a trance not even Whoopi (as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost) can top it off.

I finished Maria's makeup and she looked 'ravishing'. The look went perfectly with the Oscar ensemble. Diva. Star. Prima Donna. Definitely vixen. But as soon as she looked in the mirror an "Oh my god, I look like Cat Woman..." was gasped in despair. Between the Oscar team and myself she was comforted and assured. And, off she went with her favorite man, Mr. Levis, to see one of her favorite men, Mr. Oscar de la Renta, only to find out she was an imprint of the Oscar de la Renta look for spring/summer 2010. No' inside' information.


(Maria Chevere de Levis, ready for the Oscar de la Renta spring/summer 2010 show)



ps.:
As to the readers that would like another explanation other than the one from 'Oda Mae Brown' (Whoopi) in regards to the channelling and connection to the Universe, here is what I have to say from the book, Science of Mind, chapter 3, page 39:

"There is a KNOWER within us.
All man's inventions and discoveries are at this moment in that River (meaning God {or whatever you want to call it}, the intelligence of God running through us). As it flows through the brains of men whose habitual thought tends toward some particular idea and concept, those men catch and register new ideas in line with their concepts. That is why men on opposite sides of the earth who have never known each other sometimes come forth simultaneously with the same invention, the same discovery, the same story theme. Each one believes that he, personally, originated the idea; but no human being ever originates. He merely tunes in on ideas carried in the One Great Originating Mind."




Saturday, September 26, 2009

Shoe Fetish Baldinini...


Click on images to enlarge


And so once again I land the Baldinini, super sexy, shoe campaign for the Fall-Winter 09/10!
Shot in New York City under extreme heat. Yes, one has to suffer to look beautiful and we suffer double the amount for always photographing the advertising campaigns 6 months in advance. The winter campaigns shot during the summer and vice versa.

'Uhum', while I was in my 'square cuts', topless and in sandals (SPF 70), they were in leather and fur being blown away by a wind machine held by my flexing biceps. Sexy right? I DON'T THINK SO! But the final product is... and who cares if we passed out, had a heat stroke and the makeup melted incessantly, the shoe campaign looks great and hopefully someone is having great sex because of us, with shoes on, lol.




Keep an eye on the pages of Italian Vogue, we are there too, of course.


Ah! Did you see us in Vogue Pelle too?

Thanks for reading. Hope you had a great Summer!



Thursday, September 17, 2009

Fashion Night Out...

Ruben Toledo, Isabel Toledo + Karlo.
(Remember, 'click' on any photo to enlarge.)


Fashion Night Out was a success! Although it went unpredicted it was lots of fun. We were supposed to map it like this: Barney's, Bergdorf, Louis Vuitton, and then see my friend Olivier at Longchamp. But the Universe intended us to do something else, just Barney's... surrounded by glory; Ken Greene & Douglas Muller of the Hudson Valley Seed Library, Yaz Hernandez of El Museo del Barrio, Valerie & Jean of 'Ideiosyncraticfashionistas', Rod Keenan, millinery master, Cator Sparks, writter du jour, and Ruben & Isabel Toledo who graced us with their passion, style and wonderful sketches.

Side note: For the record, I think Isabel Toledo and Ruben are the hottest couple right now in the contemporary art world. Talent, passion, style, vision, 'cultura'... what else can you ask for? Woof!


Ken Greene, Douglas Muller, Maria LaBoy & Karlo.


Jean & Valerie from 'Idiosyncratic Fashionistas'


Ruben Toledo, his art, his magic, his wife's book 'Isabel Toledo, Fashion from the Inside Out'.





Thank you Vogue!


Thursday, March 12, 2009

The "Walk of Shame" look at Carlos Campos...


"There is no doubt there is something sexy about a person in uniform. For the Fall 2009 collection, Carlos Campos explores the darkness that comes from desire. It's the secrets that a uniform hides that Carlos is so interested in.

Whether it's a priest, a nun or a sadist, this season Carlos Campos explores the sensuality behind the man that makes the suit."
-Carlos Campos

All images copyrighted. For usage contact Ivonne Carlo Sellés at ivonnecarlo@gmail.com

"Carlos Campo's inspiration this season parlays into a pair of Pandora's eyes, and lips might as well be the ones of Harpokrates, mute. The glances are dark, ardent; possibly full of desperation from life's struggle between the unimpeachable and the human condition. The lips reflect the unspoken secret that if ever enunciated would inevitably deconstruct the rigidity of the uniform's code."
-Karlo


All Makeup, Emani Minerals. Skincare, Orlane.


Above + below in-the-making makeup...













Above + below, hair guru Ted Gibson who created magic, simply magic.


























Above, Megan McIntyre for Daily Makeover Dot Com "Walk of Shame" interview, click it!

AOL feature beauty link, click it!



ssshhh!
Behind every great man there are 5 amazing women...

...award winning PR team, (L to R) Maria Laboy-Perez of LalaBoy PR, Claudette Martinez, Raquel Berrios, Erin Moore...

...and photographer du-jour, Ivonne Carlo Sellés

Thank you, thank you, thank you!