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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The New Issue 11 of Regard Magazine featuring Camille Grammer of RHOBH

The new issue 11 of Regard Magazine is here  featuring Camille Grammer, one of the stars of Bravo's, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Designer, Oday Shakar, brought some amazing designs as you can see by the stunning editorial. The amazing jewelry was provided by Black, Starr & Frost and I must say it was dazzling. We all had a fabulous time shooting on location and you can get to know more about Camille when you check out her interview. As always, I did Camille's hair and make-up and Dimitry did the photography.  Thanks to Oday Shakar, and Black, Star and Frost for a fantastic shoot!!




As always, this issue features a variety of movie and TV celebrities as well as some amazing designers.  Check out our latest style-packed issue and see for yourself.....
Camille Grammer (Star of Bravo's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills )
-Stronger than Ever
Tiffany Hines (Co-starred on CW's Nikita, currently working on 90210)
-Lover and Fighter
Rachel Boston (Co-starring on USA's In Plain Sight)
-In her Element
Get the Look: Beauty Tips
Robin Antin (Creator of Pussycat Dolls and Girlicious TV Show)
-Pussycat Doll Is Back
Man of Style: Chris Galya (Starring in Disney's Jessie)
Scottie Thompson (Starring in Skyline)
-Deck the Halls
Look Los Angeles: Holiday Gift Guide
Shaun Robinson (Anchor on Access Hollywood)
-Girl Power
Sarah Lancaster (Stars in NBC's Chuck)
-New Beginnings

Designers featured:
ABS by Allen Schwartz
Dina Bar-El
Donna Mizani
La Luna London
Margi Kent
Ocatvio Carlin
Oday Shakar

And please feel free to tell a friend about Regard Magazine....

We love and appreciate all of your support...  Cheers!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Make-up Tips featuring Gloria Govan from BBWLA

So, I love doing make-up for red carpets and events and I had the chance to do Gloria Govan's make-up for the BBWLA Reunion show.  I have been getting lots of feedback and inquires as to what make-up I used, so here is a breakdown.  Gloria went to rapper T.I.'s book signing event after 6 hours of shooting the reunion and as you can see by the red carpet pic below, she still looked amazing. (Thanks to the primer I used under her make-up).

This amazing look was achieved with mostly L'Oreal make-up... as drugstore brands are some of my favorites.

Thanks a million, Gloria for including me in the fun..... and Thanks to L'Oreal for the make-up gift basket for Gloria.....


                                                    Gloria Govan from VH-1's BBWLA



Monday, November 28, 2011

My L'Oreal Make-up Pics for Your Make-up bag

I have more make-up than I need but I cannot help myself.... especially when I find a good deal.  One of my favorite brands that I like to use on Celeb photoshoots is L'Oreal. Here are some new products that will work for you, as well, like the Voluminous False Fiber Lashes and their Studio Secrets Face Primer, True Match Foundation finishing with Visible Lift Under Eye Concealer. I love lip glosses and their le Gloss is a new favorite. (There are a great range of colors.) And don't forget to use a night moisturizer... I'm loving the Advanced Revitalift Night Cream, it absorbs into the skin and is non-greasy. Try these for yourself.....  Enjoy!!
                     Loreal Must Haves
                    Loreal Must Haves by missval14 on polyvore.com

        

                                                                          -Valerie

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Behind the Scenes at The Hollywood Reporter's Actress Rountable 2011

This has been a very busy few months for me since I've been working with Octavia Spencer..... So, last month she was one of the actresses along with Viola Davis, Glenn Close, Charlize Theron, Michelle Williams and Carey Mulligan, featured on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter for their Actress Roundtable. Check out the Hollywood Reporter site for the behind the scenes of the interviews.... and here is a peak at the photoshoot that followed and the gorgeous magazine cover.  Congratulations, to Octavia and all the ladies for a fabulous roundtable and shoot!!!


                        

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

My Ultimate European Restaurant Trip

So, last month I was able to do a 14-day European trip on a movie press tour. (Hint: It was the #1 movie this summer featuring 4 ladies)  As much as I love to travel, I hadn't been out of the country in 10 years.  But, I am always ready with a current passport, just in case.  So, I was really thrilled to be able to go on this 6-city trip... 5 of the cities were my first time visiting. One of the best parts of the trip was the incredible restaurants we tried.... including one of the oldest restaurants in the world, started in 1725, Restaurante Botin in Madrid.
Amazingly, with all the pastry, food and chocolate I ate, I didn't gain any weight...whew....

So Here is the rundown on my gastronomic fun...



London-
Gordon Ramsey's at Claridge's
A lavish high-end experience with amazing food and one of the best chocolate deserts I've ever had. 




Oxo Tower 
Fabulous lunch overlooking South Bank London ... Very tasty seasonal faire.




Madrid-
Botin 
Authentic Spanish food.... we sampled everything from anchovies with red peppers, croquettes, Iberian ham, roast chicken... and it was all delicious.





Dublin-
Crack Bird
Yes, this pop-up chicken joint was a delicious hoot.... very tasty chicken, including  buttermilk fried chicken and garlic chicken all washed down with a fabulous rhubarb lemonade.     





Hamburg-
Cox
A delicious french-German-Italian fusion restaurant..... my fish entree and chocolate mousse desert were outstanding....






While we were in London, we had the chance to get a bird's-eye view of the city with a ride on the famous London Eye. I used to like roller coasters but somehow, I'm getting a little afraid of heights...so it was a funny but beautiful ride.















I didn't take too many pictures but I did capture this view outside of my room in Ghent, Belgium! There is just nothing like this in America....




















I am anxiously awaiting my next opportunity to travel... I hope it will be soon....

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

My favorite Website for Fashion Inspiration...

One of my favorite blogs I like to visit regularly for inspiration is Stlyelikeu.  This site along with Advanced Style is brilliant for checking out how other people relate to style and life and everything in between.  So I was checking out Stylikeu and watched this video with Preston Davis.  I love when style and philosophy merge and after watching his video I must agree with him that:

1. We are all connected.

2. We are only with competition with ourselves.
3. We always have a choice.
4. We direct our reality by our thoughts.
5. There's no need to be attached to things, because you can always get another one.


Preston Davis is an actor, model, and surf instructor based in Los Angeles. Ladd Denim jeans, jacket from Rose Bowl Flea Market, vintage hat.
                      


I also loved the wordly style and fashion of DJ Rashida Robinson. And her message to remember to be Grateful!!

                     
                          Rashida Robinson For Stylelikeu.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

3 Gorgeous Make-up Looks featuring NYX Cosmetics

I love make-up and with so many brands to choose from, I usually mix and match.  I recently started using a lot of the NYX Cosmetics line and I did a few of the editorials for our current issue of Regard Magazine featuring this fabulous make-up line. This line is really luxurious and the variety of colors gives me endless creative choices. Here are 3 different looks you can try at home.

Plus don't forget the importance of removing your make-up at the end of the day, ..... Check out their extra gentle but effective Eye and Lip make-up Remover.

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Erica Cerra's smokey eye look....
HD Photogenic Studio Foundation in Natural
Powder Blush in Espress
10-Shadow Palette in Haute Model

                                             Erica Cerra for RegardMag.com Issue 9

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Caity Lotz' 60s-inspired look.......
Trio Shadow in Honey Comb
Powder Blush in Terra Cotta
Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Sweet Heart


Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Sandra Vergara's beauty-inspired look.......
Eyelashes: Dreamcatcher
Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Juicy Pink


                                    Sandra Vergara for RegardMag.com Issue 9



Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Fashion Inspiration from Advanced Style.....

So, in a past life I prided myself in being a creatively, stylish fashionista.  I loved shopping and dressing to chic perfection.  But, alas, in recent years my penchant for shopping and stylish dressing has greatly diminished.  In fact, my current style is rather utilitarian and drab... (as you may have noticed in a few behind the scenes videos.)

But this is all going to change!  Thanks to a fabulous blog from Ari Seth Cohen, Advanced Style, which showcases seasoned fashionistas, I am newly inspired to bring back the fashion and style of my past! Check out the following video and you'll see what I mean.  You'll also notice  Ilona Royce Smithkin from one of my past posts among the lovely ladies....  

                        


So I'm going to start with some tips from Debra ( below).....Wish me luck!  Thanks a million, Ari, for such a great blog!!  Advanced Style

                        

Thursday, August 11, 2011

New hit Show and Movie

So this has been a very busy summer....While I was working on Tia and Tamera Mowry's hot new doc-drama on Style Network doing hair and make-up for the ladies, my friend, Octavia Spencer, has been crisscrossing the country doing press for the hot new movie "The Help," which she co-stars in along with Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas-Howard.  I had the chance to do her hair and makeup for the movie's premiere and I think she looks absolutely gorgeous.  Dimitry styled her in custom Ivonne Dome cocktail dress with dazzling Report Signature shoes and a killer clutch by Ambrosi Abrianna.  Check her out below and then check out Tia and Tamera on Monday nights on Style.....
ps.s You can catch a peak of me doing my thing on the premiere episode.....

Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"


Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"






Monday, July 18, 2011

A few of my Summer Favorites

I love surfing the web and discovering cool items, recipes, fashion, make-up, etc.  This weekend for LA's Carmageddon (The 405 freeway was closed for the weekend) I had a chance to stay home and do some surfing. There are some really great bloggers out there sharing fabulous tips and surprises.  Here are my summer picks....

I am counting the days until the opening of the movie "The Help," co-starring my friend, Octavia Spencer as Minny.  I met Octavia over 5 years ago when we were both working on a Comedy Central show that she co-starred in called "Halfway Home."  Now, years later, it is so exiting to see Octavia in a hot new film and her picture on the poster and books!  I am so proud of Octavia and can't wait to see the film. P.S. I had a chance and was thrilled to meet co-star Viola Davis and Kathryn Stockett (writer) at the press junket....  Be sure to check out "The Help," opening on August, 10th. 




One of my favorite sites is Stylelikeu, a style blog that celebrates the individuality of one's personal style.  You get to see a variety of people and check out their closets and find out their feelings on why they wear what they wear.  I love the inspirational stories of people who dare to be different regardless of age, size, gender...... Check out this video of one of my favorite inspirations Ilona Royce Smithkin ....


                       
                                       Ilona Royce Smithkin for Stylelikeu.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.


I have known for a while that I have a gluten intolerance (which for me also includes rice and pasta).  So, I am always looking for ways to get a rice or pasta alternative.  I have discovered Quinoa and have started to experiment with it.  The bloggers at OurBestBites.com have a great recipe for cooking Quinoa....check it out

                                            Courtesy OurBestBites.com


For the last year and a half, photographer, Dimitry Loiseau and I have been publishing our own magazine (Regard Magazine).  It started as a way to give fashion designers some visibility but has now turned into a fashion and celebrity editorial book.  My hat goes off to the extreme talent that is Dimitry, as he photographs and often styles all of our editorials.  I, of course, do all the hair and make-up and we have been lucky enough to work with some fabulous celebs along the way.

Check out our current issue, with Karina Smirnoff (This season's winner of Dancing with the Stars) on the cover. The issues are always available to view anytime on-line (don't forget to look at the past issues) and can be ordered as a coffee table magazine.  And be sure to check out the blog for current fashion trend reports and behind the scenes videos of all of our photoshoots.



Monday, June 20, 2011

Miss USA... Alyssa Campanella

As you know, I am the beauty editor and co-founder of REGARD Magazine. It is a fabulous job because I get to work with so many cool, talented and stylish people including the other co-founder and my partner in crime, Dimitry Loieasu. So, last night the current Miss California, Alyssa Campanella, took the title of Miss USA.  We had a chance to work with her (she is featured in RegardMag.com issue 6) shortly after she won the Miss California title. As you can see, she was stunning in our photoshoot and we are not surprised that she took the Miss USA title.  Congratulations, Alyssa, on a job well done.... Here's to the Miss Universe win!!


                                                     Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella former Miss Ca  (Photo:AP)

                                                        Alyssa Campanella for RegardMag.com Issue 6

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Make-up Essentials....My favorite picks....

So, I've been really busy the past few months, working on the new issue of Regard Magazine and doing hair and make-up for an up-coming reality series (with a few Red Carpets sprinkled in). This has been a great few months, though, because I love to be busy!  The next issue of Regard Magazine Issue 8 (available onliine on June 15) is on fire so here are a few behind the scenes from the shoots we did with Blogger, Fashionista and YouTube sensation  Dulce Candy and Actress Claire Coffee (who is in the new TNT show, "Franklin and Bash.")


                                             Val and Dulce Candy for RegardMag.com Issue 8

                                                Val and Dulce Candy for RegardMag.com Issue 8


                                         Val and Claire Coffee for RegardMag.com Issue 8


Since I've been doing so much make-up, I wanted to share some of my favorite go-to products that I love to use. Many are drug store brands (I'm a big fan of many of them) but all are essentials in my kit.

For Face: I've never really liked primers until I tried this one by Celestine Signature Color Cosmetics... It leaves the skin soft and silky and makes foundation application a breeze.

Celestine Signature Color Cosmetics

Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder is a great a great finishing powder that can be worn over foundation or alone as a light base.  I love the texture of this powder and the colors include colors for golden toned skin.


P.S. I found out about Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder from the fabulous Ms. Loretta Devine when I did her for the May cover shoot for Ebony.  She wanted to know if the powder that she just bought was a good choice and when I tried it, I loved it. Thanks, Ms. Loretta....



My favorite trick for creating amazing cheek bones is to use a highlighter at the top of the cheek bone.  This one by The Balm is amazing because it has a fine gold shimmer that works on any skin tone. You can also use it to highlight under the eyebrow or as a shadow base.  


                                                  Hot Mama highlighter by The Balm

Eyes: 
I almost always use fake eyelashes when I do make-up so I don't know which mascara works the best on natural lashes.  But my favorite mascara for my kit is Maybelline's Volum Express Classic.  It really plumps up the added lashes and makes them look really fabulous. 

                                                  Maybelline's Volum Express Classic Mascara

I usually use gel liner because it stays put when it dries but lately I've been mixing in a little liquid liner (Thanks to a tip from Dulce Candy) from Wet n Wild for a more dramatic look. 

                                                              Wet n Wild Liquid Eyeliner

Lips: 
I am really a fan of using a lip liner, filling in the lips with the color and then using a gloss on top.  Most pencils are thin but I love the jumbo lip pencils that are sort of a lipstick and pencil in one.  One of my favorites is the Elf Studio Matte Lip Color. They are a great for lining and as a base under any lip gloss color.

                                                               Elf Studio Matte Lip Color

I love mixing lip glosses to get unusual colors and I love color with lots of shine.  So some of my favorite glosses are the Diamond Sparkle Lip Glosses from NYX Cosmetics. They have  a smooth moisturizing texture and lots of shine.

                                                              Diamond Sparkle Lip Gloss

I also love the Celestine Signature Lip Gloss Trio.  Great color and shine without being sticky.

                                                    Celestine Lip Gloss Trio