DIY Eye Treatments Test

Watch out Gwyneth Paltrow - we're coming after your World's Most Beautiful Woman title!  These DIY tips from beauty expert Dana Waldie of A Makeover Muse will have us looking like we just stepped off the red carpet in no time.  I didn't tell Dana I'd also be putting her ideas to the test!

Stop hiding puffy, red eyes behind sunglasses with Dana's DIY eye treatments. I tried each of her tips using:  1) cotton balls dipped in milk, 2) chilled spoons and 3) tea bags (find the tips here if you missed them).  I gave these remedies a 4 out of 5 blot rating.

Spring allergies had left my eyes irritated and red and these treatments provided fast, soothing relief.  In fact, I felt so serene with the cotton balls on my eyes and Dana's yogurt facial mask, I didn't hear my kitchen timer go off!  I especially liked that these tips were natural and cost nothing extra since I already had the products on hand.

Here's why these DIY eye treatments scored a four instead of five: making time to lie still may challenge multi-taskers, moms of young ones, etc.   Unlike the yogurt mask, which you just apply and leave on until it's time to wash off, these tips required down time.  And with the spoons, I had to hold them in place so that was less relaxing (First World problem!).

While these remedies provide quick, temporary relief, don't expect lines or dark circles to diminish with them alone. But for spa-like indulgence at home, you can't beat these effortless treatments.

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DIY for That Celeb Look - Eye Treatments

Allergies?  Work Stress?  Partied like Lindsay Lohan?  Here's some super simple DIY eye relief from my interview with celebrity beauty expert Dana Waldie of A Makeover Muse.

Shay:  Tired, puffy eyes - what can we do?

Dana:  Skin around the eyes is the most sensitive and thinnest so we have to be very selective with what we put around our eyeballs. I have three natural remedies using things we usually have in our refrigerator.

First is cold milk - it naturally helps restrict the blood vessels and reduces swelling and the fat in whole milk helps soothe dry, irritated skin.  Just place cotton balls in milk and put those right on your eyelids.

Shay:   So easy, something anyone can do!

Dana:  The second one's even easier.  Just take some spoons, put them in a bowl of chilled water and place the chilled spoons over your tired eyelids.

And third, choose chamomile, black or green tea - they all contain anti-oxidants - steep, take the tea bags and throw them in the fridge then put the cold tea bags on your eyes.  Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory and both green and black tea contain tannins and caffeine which helps shrink swollen tissue.

Try it at home!
Beauty dilemma?  Check out Dana's blog for more tips www.danawaldie.com.  To treat yourself to a DIY facial mask, see last Monday's makeover  post here.

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Yogurt Facial Mask Test

You may not look like a celebrity with this yogurt goop on your face but I promise your skin will feel like it after you try this super simple mask! 

For the next few weeks, I'll be sharing tips to look like a celebrity with beauty expert Dana Waldie of A Makeover Muse.  I didn't tell her I'd also be putting her ideas to the test.

Dana's first tip in our DIY series gets a five-out-of-five blot rating!

My skin felt much softer, looked brighter and more youthful right after washing off the blend.  This mask is so easy you probably already have the few ingredients in your kitchen or you can buy them at the grocery store for under $10.  

And a bonus, I'd never eaten Greek yogurt before and was hooked after tasting it.  Healthy face, healthy bod - thanks, Dana.

Try it at home!

Dana breaks down how to blend the ingredients so you can give your skin this A-list treatment.  Follow the easy steps by clicking here.

  

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DIY to Get That Celeb Look - Facial Mask

Thanks to 4k+ views in my '2 Broke Girls' beauty series, we're starting Monday makeover tips with celebrity beauty expert Dana Waldie of A Make Over Muse!

First up: super easy DIY treatments to get that celebrity look at home.

Shay:  Dana, what are we starting with?

Dana:  Do-it-yourself facial masks - think of it as a yogurt parfait for your face.  You'll use a few simple things:  yogurt, berries - either blueberries or blackberries - honey, and a little bit of lemon.

Shay:  What are those ingredients doing for our skin?

Dana:  The blackberries help to deliver antioxidants into the skin, which is great for anti-aging. Yogurt naturally has lactic acid which helps to exfoliate and helps with cell renewal by removing those dead skin cells.  A little squeeze of vitamin C in the lemon helps to lighten and brighten the skin.  If you have problems with pigmentation, that helps naturally.

Shay: What skin types will this work for?

Dana:  This mask can cover almost any skin type - dry skin or acne or pigmented skin - these ingredients will hone in on those problem areas.

Try it at home!
Dana breaks down how to blend the ingredients so you can make this simple mask - if you can resist eating it first! Follow the easy steps at www.danawaldie.com

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Fashion Giveaway Winner!

A million thanks to all who participated in my giveaway for the one-of-a-kind scarf Babette's designers created exclusively for Blot Your Lips! 

We had 3,000+ views on Facebook and the big winner was Jorge-Luis in Tampa who took home the scarf.

I capped off the fashion series with a visit to the set of E!'s Fashion Police at their Hollywood studio. Despite her reputation as the "queen of mean," Joan Rivers was a generous host and spent time between segments entertaining us with stories of the stars she loves and the ones she dislikes - passionately. 

We weren't allowed to bring our own cameras into the studio but to get a look at how designs are brought to life, check out my 'Design a Dream' fashion series with Babette creative director, Josephine Tchang here.

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Designing a Dream - Fashion Series pt. 2

Ever wonder how fabrics are hand-stitched and pleated into clothes we wear?  Babette's designers share this fascinating look at how it's done at their Oakland, CA workshop. (video by One Hundred Seconds) 

In Part 2 of my fashion series, designer Josephine Tchang shares why she's so passionate about Babette's signature textured garments PLUS an exclusive giveaway!

Shay:  Babette has been making fashion news since the 1960's - what's the secret to your success?

Josephine:  We produce clothing nobody else does. Our garments are not mass-produced - every piece has a story.  We also use very unique textiles.  We look for the best fabrics all over the world to find what works for our brand. 

We always try to improve our designs.  I have to ask, "How am I going to give my customer a fresh take and give her a fresh color story?"  We might be able to sell a pink color this season but next season it might be a mint color or it might be colors and textures combined in new ways. 

Josephine (l) and Babette buy fabrics in Paris

Shay:  What are some of your favorite pieces? 

Josephine:  I love the pleated pieces.  We actually buy the fabrics flat and create the pleats and textures ourselves.  I'll wear one of our pleated dresses as a tunic with skinny jeans for work, then at night take off my jeans, add heels and a handbag and I'm ready for dinner.

Babette's Santa Monica, CA store

Shay:  How has opening more stores affected the brand?

Josephine:  Opening stores in warmer climates like Santa Monica (California) and Santa Fe (New Mexico) definitely plays a role in the direction of our line.  Designing for Los Angeles is different than designing for New York.  As a general trend, clothes are more form-fitted, more colorful and playful.  As a designer, you have to listen to your customer so our line has diversified.
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Fasion designers work a year in advance so Josephine is already creating clothes we'll see on the runways soon.  Find out what inspires her designs in part 1 of 'Designing a Dream'  here.

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY!
Babette has designed a one-of-a-kind scarf for a lucky fan!  To enter, simply like my new Facebook page and share today's post.  Sorry, this drawing is closed.

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Designing a Dream - Fashion Series

Fashion lovers!  I'm thrilled to give you a front row seat to one of Hollywood's emerging design hot spots.  Never dreamed of gracing the red carpet in a designer dress? Or, like me, live in yoga pants and flip flops?  No problem - anyone can appreciate this art.

The LA Times recently named Babette's newest store one of the LA's best places to shop.  The brand is known for its novelty fabrics and pleats.

Part 1 Babette's creative director, Josephine Tchang, tells how she went from working with IV needles to sewing needles.

Babette (2nd from left rear) and Josephine (2nd from rt rear) and the team

Shay:  How did you get started in fashion?

Josephine:  Before I went into design, my dream was to be a nurse.  My mom had a fashion school so I started helping her teach when I was 12 or 13 but I never wanted to get into the fashion world.

I went to nursing school and realized it wasn't my cup of tea.  A graphic artist friend said, "You have a good eye for putting things together. Why don't you try fashion design?" So I took some classes and absolutely loved it.

I got a job as Babette's assistant 21 years ago.  We had 3-4 employees so I got to do everything - from designing to learning the technical aspects of making a garment fit. I moved to go to New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and after I graduated, Babette called and said, "Come back." I've been designing ever since.

Shay:  I'm sure you get asked all the time where your inspiration comes from.

Josephine:  I'm very sensitive to textures and colors.  Babette and I travel to Paris twice a year and we're also art lovers. Inspiration comes from paintings, structures, architecture. Looking at the water or a sunset can give me ideas for a color story.  Fabric is an inspiration - I have to envision how to transform it into a garment.

One time I saw a roll of paper on the floor that had been stepped on and was folded in an origami way. I thought, "this is great texture for a new pleat." I tried it and it worked so inspiration can come from anywhere.

where it all starts - the pleating pattern

Shay:  What's your biggest design challenge?

Josephine:  Knowing when to stop.  When you design something, it's just like a painting - sometimes you over paint.  I try to make every collection different for my customer who already has a closet full of Babette. I need to pay attention to trends but I also have to ask, "Where is my customer going to wear this?"  All that can be challenging.

Shay:  How do you keep your designs fresh?

Josephine:  I try not to design for myself but for my customer. She doesn't want to buy just anything at the mall - she wants something unique.  She has a busy lifestyle, she travels. We capture that niche and design for that woman.  

When women try on Babette clothes for the first time, they fall in love. You don't have to work hard to look fabulous in our clothes; you feel beautiful and comfortable at the same time.  A lot of labor and love goes into each garment and every piece is made in the U.S. so that all adds up to create a great product.

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To read part 2 of 'Designing a Dream', click here.

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY!

Josephine has designed a one-of-a kind Babette scarf for a lucky fan!  To enter, simply like my new Facebook page and share that day's post.  Sorry this drawing is closed.

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