Get Your Glow On True Glow Spray Tan Comes to Authentic Beauty

Get your glow on

Julie McGee of True Glow

Now the holidays are getting into full swing and not only is Authentic Beauty offering make-up applications and brow shaping for those big soirees you’ve been invited to, but we are also offering natural looking spray tans. Julie McGee, the owner of True Glow Mobile Spray Tanning (www.yourtrueglow.com) is coming into the studio every Thursday from 12 to 7 to spray. I have been sprayed a few times now & I love it!

This spray is not at all orange & won’t leave you looking like an Oompah Loompah. Julie has been working with a chemist to create the most natural looking shades. Her spray is organic & comes in light, medium & dark. The fine mist is personally airbrushed on each person and the process takes less than five minutes. Julie has worked as a model and actress for the past 15 years and knows a lot about the various spray tan brands out there. “Being a part of the modeling industry has given me an opportunity to learn what some of the best spray solutions and techniques are out there,” she says. “We can provide a perfect kissed glow to make that holiday dress look amazing….you’ll be looking in the mirror at any chance you get!”

We welcome groups of girls to come into Authentic Beauty to get pampered & sprayed before an event or just for fun! Additionally, True Glow is donating a percentage of proceeds to the Skin Cancer Foundation. A single spray tan is $40 and if you purchase a package, they are reduced to $35 each. So just say no to the sun, like I tell you anyway! Get sprayed and stay sun safe with Authentic Beauty & True Glow. Visit True Glow on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Atlanta-GA/True-Glow-Mobile-Spray-Tanning/256705335482?ref=ts and on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/TRUEGLOWtan. Authentic Beauty also was on CBS Better Mornings Ambush Makeover with True Glow. See: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/21625952/index.html. Hope to see you in soon for a tan, make-up application, brow shaping or just to visit!

INTRODUCTORY OFFER: YOUR FIRST SPRAY TAN IS $35!!!!!!!!!!

OH THE PLACES AUTHENTIC BEAUTY GOES

LOTS AND LOTS OF AMAZING FANTASTIC  STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW

As I mentioned last week, there are sure a lot of events & things going on this time of year, and Authentic Beauty tries to be at everything! Of course we will do your make-up for all the events you are going to, so keep us on your rolodex. ($50 application special FYI)

Beginning with Tuesday, Nov. 10, I was involved with the Environmental Working Group “Enlightenment Luncheon”. The Biltmore was sold out with 250 seats filled. The “official” info on the EWG is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. EWG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Ken Cooks and Richard Wiles. I’m passionate about the organization because they really were the first ones to compile information about what is toxic in cosmetics and beauty products. This is important to me because of my stance in using non-toxic, environmentally-friendly, sustainable products. For those of you who don’t know, when I started my career in the makeup industry I was informed that cosmetic manufacturing was the 2^nd cause of pollution on the planet. EWG put together the website www.skindeep.org. You put in a chemical name in a beauty product or cosmetic, and it rates the toxicity of that chemical or product.

This brings me to digress for a minute as I want to discuss my friend and valued client-Laura Turner-Seydel who hosted the Enlightenment Luncheon. She is co-chairing the 15^th annual Xmas Party (http://xmasparty.org) on December 11th. They will be raising money for the Captain Planet Foundation to fund and support hands-on, environmental projects for children and youths. Look for our involvement in that event as we are doing the make-up for not only Laura, but all the models in the fashion show at the event. This event is the BEST party the month of December and NOT to be missed!

But bringing it back to now, on Tuesday night, we stopped by the fabulous Muse Salon & Spa event. Muse’s owner, Daniel Jones, is phenomenal with color and I am proud to say he is my stylist. Hopefully in 2010, we will have a Champagne & Shadows event with Muse and possibly some more collaboration. Wednesday night, Nov. 11, was also a lot of fun. First, we celebrated the birthday of my fabulous friend and Fashionado (www.fashionado.com) extraordinaire –E. Vincent Martinez, at Steel. All of our good friends like Ellen Harden, Leslie Koredt and Jeff Glasheen were there to ring in the great day. Then we headed on over to the 10 Degrees South anniversary party to drink a few drinks and mingle with some our favorite media like Holly Firfer and Corinna Allen who featured Authentic Beauty on Better Mornings’ Ambush Makeover (http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/21625952/index.html). Thursday’s events were fantastic. We went to the grand opening of Genki Sandy Springs, located in The Prado. We feasted on some delicious sushi and made our rounds where we saw Justin Gray from Fox 5, Jana Hicks from Metromix and a few guys from Sneaky Sunday. And last Friday was incredible as I helped celebrate another good friend’s birthday; PR guru Meg Reggie. She had a fantastic soiree. That was the place to be as I danced to Disco in Meg’s garage with Robanne Schulman, Michelle Caplinger, and watched moves from Veronica Best, Tom Sullivan and Leslie Koerdt.

THIS WEEK promises to bring even more incredible times with incredible people! My new friend Julie McGee of True Glow Mobile Spray Tanning came into the studio today to spray some of my clients, and will be coming EVERY THURSDAY from 12-7. So listen up, Authentic Beauty clients! We now offer spray tanning at Authentic Beauty for $35. This is an awesome service and the color is natural and the formula has NO SMELL.

Authentic Beauty is also doing makeup and is part of  a SAMPLE SALE at Taste Boutique at Atlantic Station hosted by Jessica Dauler of Q-100’s Jessica Shops (www.jessicashops.com) tomorrow-Wednesday, Nov. 18 6:30-8:30. NOTHING OVER $150!!! We will be selling certain Profaces productsat a discount and EYEBROWS at a reduced rate. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!

And on Thursday, we will be doing the make-up for the Celebrity Dance Challenge (http://www.dancingforselfesteem.org/) benefiting EDIN, the Eating Disorders Information Network (http://www.myedin.org/). Founded in 1998, EDIN is the only non-profit organization in Georgia committed to the prevention of disordered eating and promotion of positive body esteem through education, outreach and action.  EDIN exists to provide all those in need, regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic status and/or age with free educational resources regarding eating disorders, their contributors, effects and available treatment options. EDIN is such a great organization and I am honored to be a part of the Celebrity Dance Challenge! To buy tickets to the event on Thursday, visit http://www.dancingforselfesteem.org. Go to the site and vote for your favorite dancer!

Thanksgiving is coming up! What are you thankful for? I’ll tell you what I am thankful for next blog.

PS If  you didn’t see it, the download is still available from the interview with the Bert Show on the blog below.

Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby

Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby

About two weeks ago I was asked to be on the Bert Show. As many of you know I am a friend of the Show. I take care of Jenn Hobby’s makeup for her E Buzz, I do Jenn, Jessica Dauler and Stacey Weiss’ eyebrows and makeup whenever they need me.

As you can imagine, when you spend time in people’s personal space lots of personal conversation takes place. Well, every now and again I would share with Jenn about some of the conversations I was having with my 14 year old daughter about sex and about the things she was asking me. We both were dumbfounded at the way she was able to talk to me. Neither one of us had the kind of relationship where we could ask ANYTHING…and I mean anything with our mothers. After a few weeks of sharing Jenn handed me a tape recorder and said, “ I shared with Bert about you and your daughter’s conversations and we think it will make a good segment. Can you record a conversation?”

I asked my daughter if she was willing. At first she was “OH MOM!” and then she agreed.

We spent about 20 minutes on the recorder. The first question- THE FIRST was about female orgasm. “So let me get this straight, girls can have LOTS of orgasms and guys can have only one? That’s not fair!” It goes on from there.

I handed the recorder over to Jenn and a date was set for me to be on the show. I was incredibly concerned about revealing my name because I wasn’t sure I wanted the world to know my daughter knows about all this mature stuff. Was I comfortable knowing that other kids her age would find out she knew as much as she did about sex?  This child of mine looked me in the eye and said,” MOM! I am fine. I don’t care”. This girl has the best self-esteem.

I believe that it is IMPERATIVE that you talk to your kids about sex. If they are not coming to you, they are going to their friends and worse than that, the internet. What if the first exposure to sex your kid had was to internet porn? Imagine the damage. I promised myself I would educate my kids and be as open as possible. The “nuts and bolts” conversation is not enough. There is too much misinformation and you put your children at risk if they are not informed.

I am giving you all the link to the segment. Enjoy!  Make sure you comment and share this with other parents.

I will be on the Bert Show with new material next month. We have already started taping.

The resources I talk about on the segment are from Oprah.com- Dr. Laura Berman “How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex”.

Pure Romance, “Tickle Your Fancy”

Project Authentic Beauty which is Authentic Beauty’s initiative to provide workshops and education in order for girls and women to find their inner beauty in order to express their outer beauty. It all begins with self-esteem.

You want to be the one who influences your childs’ decisions. Make sure you, yourself are educated.

My Favorite saying however, INFORMATION IS NOT PERMISSION.  You want to be the one who influences your child’s decisions. Make sure you, yourself are educated.

DOWNLOAD THE INTERVIEW BELOW

http://www.myimagejourney.com/cms/uploads/File/Birds and Bees – Mom and Daughter Part 1.mp3

http://www.myimagejourney.com/cms/uploads/File/Birds and Bees – Mom and Daughter Part 2.mp3

Jenn Hobby of the Bert Show as Alice

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We here at Authentic Beauty are so thrilled the holiday season is upon us! That means parties, events and all around fun! Even though the full-on party season hasn’t started right yet, we’ve had a blast at recent events. Q-100’s Bert’s Big Wicked was on Halloween, and I went with Bert and Stacy Weiss, and Bert Show host Jenn Hobby. Leslie Hines, one of my incredibly talented artists got to do Stacy & Jenn’s make-up. They looked fantastic, if I do say so myself. Jenn was Alice in Wonderland and Stacy was a vampiress. ( Make sure you pre-book Leslie way ahead of time for next year) Bert was Max from “Where The Wild Things Are,”. Speaking of the Bert Show, I was actually on Q100 on Wednesday, Nov. 4 talking about a lot of “interesting” things that will be a whole other blog!

But we had a blast at Compound at Bert’s annual bash & I look forward to it next year.

Bert as Max and Stacey as the Vampiress

We also went to the Ladies Who Launch Live Event last Thursday, Nov. 5 at the DeFoor Centre. At the event, Leslie,was fortunate enough to do Victoria Culligan’s make-up; she is the Ladies Who Launch co-founder and I did the VP and former Atlanta leader Traci Long and the current Atlanta Leader Angela Stalcup.. Also MaryLouise Fitzgibbon, a dear friend of mine & the general manager of the W Buckhead spoke at Ladies Who Launch on designing your brand. She explained that there are different aspects of branding and YOU are your brand, and that Authentic Beauty & I assisted her with developing her own personal brand. I felt very honored that MaryLouise mentioned me.

MaryLouise Fitzgibbons General Manager of W Buckhead and Traci Long w Ladies Who Lauch

 

Keep Georgia Safe’s “Shake It Up” event was also last Thursday, Nov. 5, at Urban Flats in Buckhead. Not only is this a great cause, but there were so many fantastic people at the event. Some of the celebrity bartenders were: Corinna Allen of CBS Atlanta, Vicki Locke of B98.5 (we do Vicki’s brows), Evelyn Mimms of 11 Alive & Mychael Knight from Project Runway. I always love seeing all of my great friends who were at the event as well such as, Ellen Harden, Leslie Koerdt, Vincent Martinez and Meg Reggie.

Alyson from Authentic Beauty and Leslie Koerdt at Shake It Up!

This Wednesday, Nov. 11, I am speaking at the Concierge Association’s holiday meeting. I’ll be in front of about 50 concierges from 50 major hotels to promote Authentic Beauty & share with them information about our services and most importantly, the Image Journey. Obviously, we want visitors to Atlanta to see the great services we provide to women!

But the two events I am so excited about coming up this month are: the Taste Boutique clearance shopping event with Jessica Dauler from Q-100’s Jessica Shops on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and the Celebrity Dance Challenge on Thursday, Nov. 19. Authentic Beauty will be doing the make-up for the Celebrity Dance Challenge: Dancing for Self Esteem. The competition is fashioned after hit shows like `So You Think You Can Dance` and `Dancing with the Stars.’ The event will benefit the Atlanta non-profit, EDIN- the Eating Disorder Information Network and GOAL . My friends & Atlanta celebrities like, Corinna Allen of CBS Atlanta, E. Vincent Martinez of Fashionado, Suchita Vadlamani of Good Day Atlanta, and model, Veronica Best are some of the contestants. The Taste Boutique event should bring together some of Atlanta’s most fashionable & fun, and the night should be a great time!

Also as I may have mentioned before, I’m so happy that the media in Atlanta have embraced Authentic Beauty & our philosophy. We were featured in the October issue of Best Self Magazine, in The Sunday Paper twice-in their “Best Of” issue as well as the Nov. 1 issue and my new Piedmont Review column on holiday make-up is out. If you haven’t seen Jessica Dauler gracing the cover of Points North Magazine pick one up-we did her makeup for that shoot. Also I will be featured on CBS Atlanta’s Better Mornings Ambush Makeover on Monday, Nov. 16. And lastly, we are so happy to be involved with Jezebel’s Most Beautiful issue in which we did all the make-up for all of the “Most Beautiful” Atlantans. Look for Amber Salway “the face of Authentic Beauty” !! The party celebrating them and Jezebel’s anniversary party will be on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at the W Buckhead, so look for a blog on that! Until then, enjoy the chilly weather & the Starbucks holiday cups! Cheers!

PS Schedule your appointments NOW! Brow appointments are on a two week waiting list and holiday appointments are going fast! Holiday Makeup Applications are $50!!!!!!!!

Phenomena Palette

Phenomena Palette

As we are starting to shift into the holiday party season, I wanted to focus on how to do the fourth & final Authentic Beauty signature fall look-Phenomena. This is a fun and frisky look that goes great with any party dress. Phenomena is/are (help me out here) also an awesome date night look for anytime of the year.

The focus of the look is the mossy green or sage green lid. This bright, but not neon green flatters any eye color, yet especially brown. We rim the lower lashline with purple liner to enhance the shades of green. Remember to use a light hand on the purple because if you apply both colors too heavily, it will overwhelm and look messy. And as with any other look, we advise to load up on the black mascara to add drama and length to lashes.

With the eyes being the central focus of this look, we keep the cheeks and the lips neutral. Create a flawless canvas by buffing skin with an exfoliating scrub, dabbing on foundation and concealer to even skin tone and sweep a peach blush on your cheeks. Add a swipe of matte nude lipstick to complete this look. I like the nude rosy beige lipstick by Pro Faces. It’s called Nudity, appropriately. There is always the option of adding a clear gloss here as well, however the lip looks good with or without shine. So it’s up to you. Pair your look with a sassy dress or mini, and you’re good to go!

Gravity Palette

Gravity Palette

The third Authentic Beauty signature look for fall is the Gravity Palette. The look is a very neutral and natural, which really is in line with this fall’s fashion trends. You can wear this look everyday to work & deepen a few of the elements to translate it seamlessly into a date night look.

The main color used on the lips, eyes and cheeks is terracotta. The terracotta look is softly blended and has an almost watercolor-like feel. When we say terracotta, we are referring to a color that is the shade of a clay pot. This color really has an earthy feel to it. We suggest putting terracotta eyeshadow on the lid and lining the top & bottom with a gray pencil or powder eyeliner. This really enhances the eye and makes it pop. Of course, don’t forget to load up on the mascara; either black or brown works with this palette.

For the lipcolor in this look, we advise leaning toward a more matte lip, so stay away from the gloss ladies!  Try a nutmeg, espresso, or dark clay shade, but use a sand colored lip liner rather than a liner that exactly matches this darker lip. The light shade will create a boundary around the lip to prevent this dramatic color from bleeding.

Skin should be flawless and a light foundation or concealer where you need it, can be applied with a slightly damp sponge to even skin out. Use terracotta shade of blush, which is not too pink and not too bronzy, but just the right amount of flush.

And remember this neutral look is very important as you can wear it into other seasons as well. To get more info on this, check out Jezebel’s Sept. issue (even though we are now almost into Nov.). You may have seen this look on the runways of New York if you saw any of the coverage of Fashion Week. But Authentic Beauty’s interpretation of Gravity is a more wearable version of those deeper clay shades featured.

The Fire Palette

The Fire Palette

The fire palette is another Authentic Beauty signature fall 2009 look. We wanted it to look ethereal yet polished. According to Authentic Beauty’s Creative Director, Leslie Hines, the fire look is the one with the deep berry lip and a simple eye with light neutral shimmers. A thin liquid line is drawn above the lashes and we suggest putting on LOTS of mascara add drama. The drama of this look is perfect for night and can be worn with a sultry top or dress in any color.

The skin should look fresh and flawless with a gently flushed cheek. It’s important to note that there will be no bronzer applied, just a hint of blush to warm up the face. In order to achieve flawless skin, blend a thin layer of foundation with a sponge over the face, then cover up all blemishes with a light touch of concealer.

When doing the dramatic berry lip, it is important to incorporate a wine colored lip pencil. It layers the color and sharpens the edges of the lips. You can achieve variations of this look with almost any texture lipstick depending on your personal taste of how dramatic you want to go. Top the lipstick with a shiny gloss to add polish. While we said, this look works well for night, it can also be worn during the day, yet if that is the case, just use a lighter hand when applying each cosmetic. And if you’re planning on wearing the Fire palette for day, be sure to don a sweater or something a little less sexy.

So throw that bronzer and self tanner to the side and embrace your natural skin with the chillier weather approaching! We love fall here at Authentic Beauty!

We’re the Best!

We’re the Best!

Obviously we think we’re the best make-up & brow gals around & hopefully, if you’re reading this blog, you agree! But just wanted to toot Authentic Beauty’s own horn for a little bit & throw it out there that lots of Atlanta media outlets love us too! First & foremost, the fabulous Jessica Dauler of Q-100’s Jessica Shops touted me as the Brow Guru of Atlanta & my eyebrow shaping techniques were voted the best in town. I felt incredibly honored to be named this & to this day work on Jessica’s brows. I thank her so much for giving me that title! As I mentioned in my last blog, we shared Tova Gelfond’s birthday with her. Tova is the editor of Blush Magazine and former assistant editor at Atlanta’s premiere publication-Jezebel Magazine. And speaking of Jez, we are in the middle of doing everyone’s make-up for the Most Beautiful issue and we did a spread on the Urban Forest fall looks in the Sept. issue. Additionally, we were also voted the “best of what’s new” in the February or March 2009 issue (I don’t remember which. Sorry guys). The Sunday Paper also voted us as the Best of Health & Beauty last week. Kirsten Pallidino, we want you to come see us and thanks for the shout out!

And with our Image Journeys taking place at the studio, we have also been asked by various media outlets to help with their make-overs, or as we like to call them-Image Journeys. Recently in the Oct. issue, Best Self Atlanta Magazine used us in the make-over of Ms. Nancy Hodgson. We shaped her brows, evened out her skin & enhanced her eyes. She came out of the chair looking like a new woman! Next week, we’ll be appearing on CBS Atlanta Better Mornings along with ColorBar Salon, True Glow Mobile Spray Tanning & Taste Boutique to do an Ambush Make-over with CBS anchor, Corinna Allen. We’re so excited to be a part of another woman’s transformation! I’ve also been writing a column in The Piedmont Review for a few months now & love being able to impart my advice on so many readers. Thanks Miles Neiman for allowing me to write the column! This month: Fall Trends. Next month: Holiday Makeup.

On another note, the fall wedding season is about to get in full swing & we are gearing up for that with lots of weddings booked over the next few weeks! As you may recall, we are www.getmarried.com’s official make-up studio & we hope to be getting involved with weddings all over town. And in the midst of all this wedding hoopla, we will also be working with the W Buckhead on a Girl’s Night In. This will be Saturday, Nov. 21 & will include a special room rate, Champagne and Shadows & a grand ol’ time at Whiskey Blue, the W Buckhead’s rooftop bar. Stay tuned for details on that. We hope you’ll be able to join us!

The Fog Palette

The Fog Palette

             Ok so now fall is in full swing. The crisp and sometimes chilly days are occurring more often & the looks of summer are in one word, over. With the change of the seasons comes a change in your make-up look. And we here at Authentic Beauty have become the go to girls for advice & information on the latest make-up trends of the season, so listen up!

            Authentic Beauty has four signature looks for fall-Fog, Fire, Gravity & Phenomena. I am planning on going over each look in future blogs, but today I want to focus on the Fog Palette. Check out our spread in the Sept. issue of Jezebel to see the look more closely, but Fog is a smoky, romantic eye that really is the main focus of the face. And while it’s smoky, it’s not your typical smoky eye. It really is more of a misty yet shimmery gray that plays up your sex appeal. We like it with lots of mascara. We even suggest a subtle fake lash to up the drama at night, especially if you want to look a little sexy and somewhat mysterious. Try it for a date night or even a night out with the girls.

            To round out the dramatic Fog eye, we advise you stick with neutral black or brown toned clothing and a well groomed brow. Also try a matte pale pink lip; it won’t overwhelm your look, but complement the shimmer in the misty gray eye. The models at the Ucce fashion show at the St. Regis looked fabulous with the Fog palette. So try it out, it will look just as great on you as it did on the models!

Authentic Beauty’s Social Goings On

Authentic Beauty’s Social Goings On

             We have had a flurry of events lately here at Authentic Beauty & we have just now settled down to take a breath to write about them. First off we attended the fall fashion show at Tootsies that benefitted the Chelko Foundation on Thursday, Sept. 24. We had so much fun & had some fun at Whiskey Blue at W afterwards. Actually, we may have had a little too much fun! Oops.

            The next night, we also made an appearance at Whiskey Blue at the W Buckhead again for Tova Gelfond’s birthday. Tova is one of my favorite people! She was the go-to associate editor at Jezebel and now is working at www.getmarried.com with Stephanie Davis, the former editor of Skirt! Magazine. Tova is also the Editor at Blush Magazine. See: www.blushmag.net. Speaking of www.getmarried.com, Authentic Beauty is proud to announce that we are the exclusive make-up team for the website! We look forward to working with everyone there & can’t wait until Stephanie gets married, and we do her make-up!

            Before we enjoyed Tova’s birthday with her, we hosted another Champagne & Shadows event. It was so much fun & there was such a great showing! Everyone had a great time! Then there was the rain….Ugh. Well let me tell you, I was so sad because my third anniversary with Charlton was during the downpour that hit Atlanta & we were planning on celebrating at Canoe where we got married. As most of you probably know, Canoe flooded & is closed. We were very sad that Canoe was literally underwater.

            But on a brighter note, we also faced the rain head on to go see the preview of Cavalia put on by 360 Media. The equestrian show is best described as Cirque du Soliel on horses. It was so magical & beautiful!  As a matter of fact, one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soliel is the brains behind Cavalia. Check out: www.cavalia.net for more information on the event.

And lastly, this past Sunday we started doing the make-up for each person who was chosen to be the in Jezebel Magazine’s Most Beautiful issue. We are thrilled to be a part of this magazine’s issue which comes out in November or December.