Scrub-a-dub-dub

Have you ever noticed that there are some mundane and tedious tasks that when finished give you a great sense of accomplishment? For me it’s nerdy activities like paying the bills or going through all the mail (odd I realize) that gives this instant reward like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. When it comes to my beauty regimen there’s nothing quite like the gratification of exfoliating. Just imagine with each stroke discerning beads disrupt the dead cells masking your skin while opening your pores, reducing lines and discoloration for a overall healthy radiance. A 3 minute task makes your skin glow!

My all time favorite face exfoliator just got discontinued so I’ve been on a mad dash trying all the products my shower can fit and I’m happy to report that a winner has been identified! Freeze 24*7 IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep & Polish has captured my heart! From the moment you apply it onto your skin you can feel the deep cleansing action (think Spring cleaning for your face) compliments of the calibrated diamond crystals which safely exfoliate without tearing the skin (side note: I always look for uniform shaped exfoliating beads without jagged edges. Many exfoliators on the market use fruit seeds which I find can be a bit too harsh for facial skin). Skin is resurfaced and retexturized as spots, bumps and fine lines are essentially buffed out to help reveal newer, younger skin. Encapsulated active jojoba massage beads boost circulation to stimulate the production of elastin and collagen (skin’s foundation for plumpness and softness). And my favorite part? Basil oil detoxifies and cools skin (read: your skin tingles for a few minutes afterward with this sparkly clean feeling). But you don’t have to believe my word, just read the clinical results which show significant improvement in roughness, age spots and sebum. Now I know this polish is a bit pricey ($65) but I searched high and low for alternative and nothing came close! Your skin will be transformed from dull and lifeless to illuminating and sparkling!

Usage tip: Think about how much gunk gets on your skin daily…pollution, oil, makeup, etc. Cleansing is not a thorough enough action to keep skin breathing and clear, that’s why I always recommend exfoliating 2-3 times a week at night before applying your skin care products. Short on time? I always exfoliate in the shower. It takes literally no time and your skin will thank you!

The result: Vibrant skin that naturally glows from the inside out!

The 101's

There are certain basics any beauty buff must know so she/he can work the system to her/his advantage. These insider tips and know how make the difference between smart beauty (read you don't wait in line, afterall what's the VIP rope for anyway?) and playing by the rules beauty (another words you do everything by the book). So here are my top 5 tips and tricks to go from so-so to brainiac:

1. Do I need a lotion or cream?

Here's the difference between lotions and creams: the amount of water content and moisturizing agents. Lotions are made up over 50% water while creams have significantly less. Instead creams are highly concentrated in humectants like glycerin and shea butter to nourish and moisturize skin more deeply. So which should you use? Lotions are great for spring/summer when your skin tends to be a bit oilier versus the colder months when your skin is parched and needs more loven'. However if you have extremely dry skin or perhaps more mature skin then opt for a cream year around.

2. OMG!!! I noticed my first wrinkle maybe I should apply more product to prevent more lines!

Here's the deal more product does not under any circumstances = better. You can apply the entire bottle of face cream (I don't recommend trying it!) and frankly it's not going to make the lines disappear any faster. The reality is your skin can only absorb so much anything above that just sits on the surface, clogs pores and causes breakouts. So practice smart usage and use the right amount.

3. I'm out of my night lotion/cream can I use my daytime SPF instead?

The short answer is yes. You obviously don't need the UV protection at night and temporarily it's not harmful to use the daytime SPF until you're able to make it to store and purchase a new night treatment. The inherent difference between these 2 products besides the SPF is that night lotions/cream have a higher concentration of active ingredients (the little miracle workers that fight the lines, wrinkles, discoloration, etc). At night your skin is at a rested, repair state so it's smarter feed your skin with all the essential tools!

4. My skin is so dry. What can I do?

Did you know the best time to apply creams and lotions on your body, hands and face is right after washing? When your skin is exposed to water it soaks it in, rehydrating the cells. By applying a rich cream immediately after you "lock in" the moisture helping to reinforce skin's moisture barrier for suppler more hydrated skin.

5. What's the quickest way to banish winter scale-like skin for touchable softness?

This is easy...the answer is exfoliation and rehydration. Twice a week slough off the dead skin cells with a body exfoliator. Up the ante and use a body brush to enhance the exfoliating action to ensure proper softness and smoothness. Then do as specified in tip 4 and apply a rich cream directly after the shower.

Usage tip: Beauty is about improvising and customizing. Don't be afraid to experiment and be sure to share your tips and tricks!

The result: The savviness and know how that will make you the grand master of all things beauty!

Sneaky Habits

This is no secret…you, my readers, are my inspiration. Your beauty qualms, questions and insider tips are the source of each post. Each entry carries a piece of you, so today I want to tackle a common skin care problem that plagues many of us but in particular my special “cookie dough” partner. She is the light of my eyes and her battle with acne has been a source of great discomfort for her, but I know there is a way to cure this and like all things the best way to treat something is right at it’s source.

What a lot of people may not realize is that there are some pesky culprits in your day to day activities that cause this continual facial eruption. From small mundane things you never thought twice about to more “duh, I know” aggravators these sneaky habits can be the root of the pimple.

The Sneaky Things that Cause Breakouts:

1. Your phone: I know, I know living without your blackberry or iPhone is like living without air. God forbid you miss a Facebook status post of a pseudo friend from your highschool days. But your phone is a breeding ground for bacteria. Just think of all the places it is and each time you hold it to your ear all that gunk ends up on your face….ever notice breakouts around the chin or ear area? So clean your phone on a daily basis with a natural bacterial wipe, read no Clorox (this may be a no brainer but bleach won’t be good for the pores either).

2. Your man: Did your heart just skip a beat or did this solidify the reason you should dump that dead beat? Here’s the thing, all the snuggling, cuddling and spooning means your face is all over his body. True fact: men’s skin produces more oils so all that skin time equals oil and sweat transfer from his body to your face. Now before you quit this blog cold turkey because of my “unconventional advice” just take a moment to think about this. I’m not preaching abstinence but just make sure you wash your face properly in the AM or after your cuddle time.

3. Your food: Yes chocolate can cause breakouts….same goes for fries, mac & cheese and pizza. Refined carbs and sugary foods spike insulin levels resulting in increased oil production which translates to more clogged pores.

4. Your workout: We already covered this one but it is a good reminder.

5. Your smoking habit: Seriously you should just know better but in case you need another friendly reminder here it is. With each smoke-filled inhale you release millions of toxins into your body and skin. This wrecks havoc on your natural defense system, good bacteria is replaced by bad, acne causing ones all. So if you haven’t been inspired enough for all the other legitimate reasons then perhaps this will be it!

6. Your hands: I often find myself holding my head up during a boring meeting or just simply resting it on my fingers but each time you touch your face, the oils from your hand do what? Do you see the theme yet? Yes, they transfer to your face and clog the pores. So consciously remind yourself to leave your face alone you have a neck for a reason.

Usage tip: To treat existing breakouts look for treatments with 1-2% salicylic acid (it will be listed on the back of the package) and make sure to thoroughly clean every AM and PM and follow with a bacteria fighting toner.

The result: No breakouts. No pimples. No stress.

There are some things in life that define us. We are proud of them and with great appreciation we wear this badge of honor. For me this defining piece is my background and where my family is from. Our culture, rich history and love of food is what makes me me. In light of our New Year this Saturday (first day of Spring!) I thought it would be nice to do something different as homage to my ancestors past and present.

So have you figured out my ethnicity? Well Chanel has spoken not only to me but my fellow Iranians with their new makeup look appropriately name “Teheran.” For those of you taking a hiatus from geography or Middle Eastern politics in general, Tehran is the capital of Iran. This look brilliantly created by makeup artist Peter Philips captures the essence of the modern Iranian woman. Televised and photographed a million times during the global Green Movement protests, the world saw the freshness, modernity and sophistication of the Iranian woman. What I love about this Chanel makeup look is that it many senses it is dead on. We are mysterious and enticing with our smoky yet sheer eyes that keep you guessing with the unexpected hint of peach. We embrace a rosy, healthy glow as a symbol of our energy and ambition. And our coral, peachy lips spell boldness, timelessness and tastemaking tendencies. Chanel must have aptly known these traits because they have rightly named this limited edition lipstick color, Teheran. Thank you Chanel for recognizing the beauty not only in Iranian but of all women.

Usage tip: Recreate this look at home. The lightly dusted smoky eyes transition from morning to evening (according to British Vogue smoky eyes are the AM look sported by all Brits) and the pop of controlled bright lip color is what spring/summer is all about.

The result: I wish my fellow Iranians a very happy Norouz, Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak!

Cause You Never Know

You never want to be caught unprepared. Let me explain what I mean. Have you ever showed up to work after a peaceful weekend only to find oops! there’s a 9am presentation that you’re not ready for, and oh it’s 9:10am! Or how about showing up at family holiday gathering only to find out that “gift giving for the kids” was code for bringing presents for everyone. Well this past weekend I made the journey that all women eagerly anticipate with a healthy dose of excitement and a hint of anxiety…I met the sisters. Probably not what you expected me to say but let me provide the finer details. My extra special someone, J, has four sisters. Meeting the family is always tough, but four sisters? Hmm, we are in a whole new ball game. So like a proper lady I planned on joining the family for an afternoon/evening celebration and then catching the train back to the city. What did the dating gods have in store for me instead? 90 mile per hour winds, torrential rains and trees uprooted and flung on streets. Another words: no way in or out equaling an impromptu sleepover party. Not the worst thing in the world but when you’re trying to make a good impression it helps to have a fresh pair of clothes, a brush to tame the bed head and oh yes a toothbrush! So today I dedicate this post to the beauty essentials you must always keep in your bag, cause you just never know.

The 5 Beauty Essentials (you never leave home without):

1. Mini hair brush- this one is self explanatory but you can find some collapsible tiny combs that take minimal space in your bag and do the trick.
2. Concealer- This magic stick will multi-task like there’s no tomorrow. Besides brightening up your under eye, you can use it over the lids to correct redness, discoloration or to just provide an all over uniform glow. Then help contour your face by applying a small amount along the bridge of your nose down to the tip, along your jaw line and above your brow bone. This will highlight and illuminate your face.
3. Pink/red lipstick- This is a must even if you never wear it on a normal basis. Apply a small amount to your cheeks to give you that healthy flush. Using your fingers dab some color onto lips to just bring liveliness to your face.
4. Mascara- Store a small sample size one that can be used to coat your lashes for added eye definition. Another fun trick is to wipe the wand on a tissue removing the mascara juice, then use the clean wand to comb and define your brows.
5. Perfume- Keep a small sample size in your bag, you won’t believe how handy this is.

With these handy tools, you can at least put yourself together for that naturally beautiful look.

Usage tip: Travel or sample sizes are your best friend! So the next time you’re at your favorite makeup counter or at Sephora (which has the best sample policy) ask for some samples of your go-to beauty essentials to stash in your bag.

The result: The unpredictable, unprepared moment actually ends feeling effortless and like it was meant to be. As for the sisters, each was thoughtful, articulate, warm and charming in their own right.

No Excuses

It’s sort of a running joke with my family and the select few (really it’s just one but why not be a bit coy?) who are (err…” is” since we are talking in singular tense) privy to being with me during the night time hours and witness to how long it takes me to get ready for bed. Now let me clarify before your imagination runs wild and you think that getting ready for “bed” involves a Victoria Secret commercial reenactment. No instead this beauty ritual, which takes longer than getting ready in the morning, is about properly washing the day’s gunk off of my face, toning and applying the necessary specialized products- ie. serums, spot treatments and night creams/lotions. Now to some this list may seem short but each step needs to be thoughtfully executed with proper absorption time to allow for adequate penetration. Layering multiple products requires a 30 second to 1 minute “break” between each application otherwise everything becomes a mumble, jumble (as my sis in her toddler years would say). But here’s the reality, there are some nights that you are too exhausted, too tired and too bleary eyed to even fathom washing your face and doing all these steps.

Well before you hit the sack at the very least wash your face! There’s nothing that spells breakouts, loss of radiance and scary morning after than sleeping with your makeup on and thanks to the advent of towelettes this last ditch event can quickly be accomplished in mere seconds. These genius pre-soaked wipes gently remove makeup (including waterproof eye makeup), dirt and oil in one seamless swipe. Skin is refreshed and rebalanced. Better yet this water-free cleansing system, actually nourishes the skin (not like a moisturizer but better than your traditional cream/gel cleanser). Most towelettes are formulated with a hydrating ingredient like glycerin but leave skin fresh and residue-free (no oils to be found in these wipes). My top 3 favorites are Garnier Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Towelettes (with antioxidants and skin soothing ingredients), Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes (packaged in a convenient air-tight box to avoid drying) and Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes (a UK favorite now available stateside).

Usage tip: Another non-negotiable time you should be washing your face? Directly after a workout! But if you’re in a rush or just need the added convenience, use these towelettes to cleanse your face of pore-clogging sweat and oils. It’s almost too easy!

The result: Freshly cleansed skin despite the fatigue or in my case no more “can you hurry up so I don’t fall asleep?”

Pin It

There are times in life when certain things stop being "cute" and "endearing" and start becoming inappropriate and untimely. Take for example the age old damsel in distress act. When it was once acceptable and perhaps charming (to the lesser, more insecure gentlemen of course!) to play "not so smart" by answering questions with a shirll, high pitch "I don't know!" (are you imagining the accompanying head tilt and finger twirl of the hair?), it is now perceived as foolishly belittling. So when it comes to beauty and its respective accessories there are times and milestones that require you to retire the "cute" for the "polished." Say the plastic hair clip or scrunchie (responsible for the beginning of the the end in Carrie's relationship to Berger), it's perfectly fine to wear while running errands or just hanging out on the couch (scratch that scrunchies are no longer ok, even if you're at home in the bathroom by yourself). But when it comes to more ladylike or professional occasions its wise to trade in the old standby for the more souped up, elegant equivalent.

I discovered the U Shaped Pin while modeling at a photo shoot with one of Britain's hottest and most desirable stylists (I never kiss and tell so you're just going to have to guess who). He used 3 or 4 to artfully hold my hair in the most rocking chignon...no millions of bobby pins or cans of hair spray needed. Those couple of pins held my hair up through the entire shoot and I ended up taking them home with me I was so enamoured! Think of them as the next generation to the bobby pin. Same idea just superior function. The large U shape discreetly secures small and large sections of hair in the desired place without the bobby pin induced pain. Buns, french twists or haphazard updo's are elegantly sculpted without the tell tale signs of visible pins. Hair looks sleek, polished and refined. So convenient and ladylike that I'm never without this pin. With one simple twist hair goes from wild child to stately Madame President!

Usage tip: Always twist hair to the desired look and shape before pinning, the twist gives something for the pin to hold onto. For maximum holdability always insert the pin at a diagonal angle to your head. If you have extra fine hair look for a rubberized version of the U pin (available at Ricky stores in nyc). The double coated textured provides a non-slip grip while protecting hair from tears and snags.

The result: Hair that's ready for the boardroom to the bedroom and elegantly sophisticated the whole way!