Antioxidant Power

         In India, the selection of produce is incredible, and super affordable. Pomegranates, which typically sell for 2/$5 in the US (if there is an amazing sale) are 3 for $1. Unfortunately, due to the nature of germs and the fact that I have never been exposed to many of them before, I have to be very careful about the raw fruits and vegetables I meet. Gone are the daily, fresh, raw salads, much to my dismay. However, vegetables and fruits with peels are certainly allowed, and this week at the market, I bought practically every one in sight. My choices are all considered “superfruits”, with major antioxidant power and health benefits.

Papaya – With 313% of your daily vitamin C in a serving, this buttery fruit is sure to please your tastebuds and your doctor. Also present are Vitamins A & E, as well as papain, an enzyme that helps digestive health. Papayas have anti-inflammatory effects, provide immune support, and preserve lung health. They are especially delicious when spritzed with a touch of fresh lime juice and eaten like a melon.

Pomegranate – While cutting and peeling pomegranates is quite a bit of work, I’d say that enjoying this ancient fruit is well worth a little intensive labor. The antioxidants in pomegranates include polyphenols, such as tannins and anthocyanins, in higher amounts than in green tea and cranberry juice. There are even studies the delicious fruit may help prevent heart disease. Although I can’t promise any immediate benefit, I can personally guarantee that when put on top of plain frozen yogurt (especially Yogurtland’s http://www.yogurt-land.com/), they make a yummy treat.

Oranges – Everyone knows that oranges are chock full of vitamin C, but what else can they do for your health? Low in calories (when eaten alone, avoid orange juice unless it is fresh-squeezed – there is too much added sugar!), they are fiber-rich, and provide complex-B vitamins such as thiamin, pyriodoxine, and folates, which the body needs from outside sources. Citrus fruits have been found to be helpful in the reduction of risk for cancers, arthritis, obesity, and coronary heart disease.

Carrots – Whenever I’m craving something sweet, I grab some carrots and go hog-wild. Especially delicious dipped in almond butter (which unfortunately, I have yet to find in India), these root vegetables contain, quite obviously, beta-carotene, known to improve eyesight. Another great pick for your daily dose of Vitamin-C, a recent study in the Netherlands found that orange vegetables help to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. So, make like a rabbit, grab a peeler, and get crunching!

Watermelon – Ah, the fruit that brings back the memories of warm summer days, childhood, and sunburns. Thirst-quenching and inflammation-lessening, the pink fruit from “down by the bay” (anyone remember that camp song?) contains a high amount of the antioxidant lycopene, which helps to neutralize free radicals in the body, lessening cell damage. While watermelons are most delicious in the summer season, they are available year-round in warmer clients, so I got very lucky studying here in India, as they are one of my favorite fruits!

Source: http://www.whfoods.org

Special Skincare Finds in Herbal Paradise

           So, how long do you think I can be in a new country before exploring what unique cosmetics they have to offer? Yes, if you guessed barely one day, you are correct. I can’t help it – I’m a makeup junkie.

          Thus far, I’ve only gotten as far as checking out the skincare – makeup will be next! I’m always searching for the “miracle product” to cure my acne-prone yet extremely dry skin, and with 10,000 years worth of knowledge of herbs, I figured the Indian lines may know a thing or two about what they are doing.

Chant Hydrating and Balancing Gel – I picked this up at The Rebirth Store, a franchise specializing in organic, natural bodycare products. Free of parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, and other harmful chemicals, the active ingredients in this unique clear gel moisturizer are Aloe Vera Juice, paprika, tumeric, and a host of essential oils – frankincense, lavendar, juniper berry, and cedar wood. For approximately $2, it is quite the steal! It is the ideal morning moisturizer, keeping oilies at bay while hydrating my skin. It would also be an ideal after-sun moisturizer. I can’t wait to put this in my makeup kit – it’s perfect to mix with foundation to create a tinted moisturizer.

Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash – Himalaya Herbals is the holistic Neutrogena of India – you can buy it almost anywhere, and their products are widely known to be non-irritating and highly effective. I saw that this product contained “Neem” and I was sold, as the best nail product I have ever used is Dr. Haushka’s Neem Nail Oil Pen, so I assumed the antibacterial tree leaf ingredient would cure it all. When combined with the anti-inflamatory Turmeric, it packs a major pimple-fighting punch. It sells for about $1, and it works better than other face washes that I’ve paid an arm and a leg for, removing all traces of makeup, including mascara, without stinging. The added bonus, of course, is that it has helped clear my skin dramatically, and it has only been about a week and a half.

Khadi Natural Rose Water - I’ve heard for quite some time that Rose Water makes the best toner, but never had the chance to try it. I wish I had started sooner! I picked up this Khadi product at a natural foods store near where I live, drawn to the fact that the ingredients were only rose petals, and, obviously, water. After washing my makeup off, I applied it all over my face and neck with a cotton pad. The intoxicating scent would be enough to keep me hooked, but I think it has tightened my pores and added a bit of moisture to my skin. I also soaked cotton balls and used them as compresses on my eyes for about ten minutes, which was supremely relaxing. For $2.50 (in India), this is a must-buy.

Kama Ayurveda Les Jardins D’Inde Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15 – I never thought I would be able to love another sunscreen as much as Josie Maran’s, which I stocked up on before coming to India.  I despise the typical “Banana Boat” coconut-chemical scent, and many mineral sunscreens leave a strange white cast and weird texture, and Josie’s Argan Oil sunblocks were the only ones I have been able to find that are void of these properties. Well, I think I just found a much cheaper, and even more wonderfully-scented alternative. Besides the lime, ginger, and nutmeg scent that is reminiscent of my favorite Jo Malone cologne, this lotion doesn’t break out my sensitive skin or lose effectiveness when applied under makeup. So far, I’ve only tested it walking around during the day in Mumbai, I can’t truly prove it’s effectiveness until I head to Goa for a holiday in the sun.

Kama Ayurveda Kumkumadi Miraculous Beauty Fluid – I saved the best for last. I’m fairly certain that this is a gift from the Hindu gods to give women perfect skin. When applied after toning with Rose Water, to the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin, this blend of oils and herbs makes skin glow, without an oily texture. In ayurveda, saffron oil is used to help illuminate skin color, while sandalwood, vetiver and lotus clear blemishes. This is an incredible product that is supposed to work on all ages, and I am certainly hooked. Unfortunately, it costs about 3 times as much in the United States as it does here in India, but I think it’s worth it.

Bombay Dreams

          I can safely venture to say that in the past week, I’ve learned more than I have in 20 years. India has been incredible, and this is just the beginning.

View of the Arabian Sea from a coffee shop in Bandra

         Last night, on a terrace atop a sixteen-story building with an uncompromised view of the Arabian Sea, I contemplated how blessed I was to be somewhere as incredible as Bombay. lt’s a city of contrast, change, dreams, opportunity, devastation, poverty, wealth, and above all – an enchanting magic.

         Because my courses have yet to begin, I’ve had a little time to explore, but I’ve only scratched the surface. From the Gateway of India to Marine Drive to the fabulous seaside enclave of Bandra, there are numerous hotspots in Mumbai that I have already fallen in love with.

         My day isn’t complete without a fresh coconut water, and the colors of the city have inspired my dress and makeup style tremendously. The weather thus far has been a dream: about 80 degrees during the day, and a breezy 65 degrees at night. This means that all of the spring/summer trends I’ve been dying to try out since I saw them in September are wearable without potentially contracting frostbite, as they would have been at this time in New York.

Very chic girls wearing stunning saris

My finds so far: an embroidered pillow, jewelry

An Indian-style arm party

These earrings reminded me a bit of Chanel pre-fall: Paris Bombay

         I’ll end this post with pictures, because I think they express far more than my words could. Tomorrow I am doing makeup for a photoshoot, so a post about that should soon follow!

Oddities Abound at the Alameda Antiques Faire

Strange, strange troll

           New Years Day is typically spent comfortably in bed, soaking up the last bit of holiday relaxation and nursing a hangover. Instead of rising at 12:00PM or later this year, however, I was up bright and early and 4:00AM and in a car heading towards the tiny, naval base island near San Francisco called Alameda. Every first Sunday of the month (which just so happened to be New Years Day) a gigantic antiques fair with over 500 dealers is held on a large lot on the island, and diehard antiquers (and giddy newcomers, like my mom and I) arrive before 6:00AM to get first access to the best goods.

The scene, Oakland docks visible

         We ended up arriving around 5:30 AM – which allowed us primo-parking and a few minutes to apply a tiny bit of makeup before getting on line. A word of advice – don’t forget your flashlight! We ended up walking around looking at antiques in complete darkness until 7:00AM hit, which can be a little difficult. However, since I have properly trained myself to apply makeup in complete darkness, I was able to get a feel for the “good stuff” and scooped up a bunch of vintage rhinestone necklaces – which I’m planning to paint electric colors a la Tom Binns – bright and early.

            As the sun rose, we realized what a wonderful event we’d discovered. From the picturesque view of San Francisco to the unbelievable deals ($50 for a full set of stunning antique silverware, complete with box! Still kicking myself for not picking that one up), it’s an event to remember, regardless of whether you buy anything. This sheer oddities of the place are enough to make your mind begin to wonder the stories of the people who once owned such strange little things…

I ended up finding some fun little items:

•        -  Two vintage pictures of the Virgin Mary in hand-decorated frames – I love the sparkly, handmade quality and I’m always attracted to art featuring Mary. Blame Catholic School.
•           A lipstick holder in the shape of a girl – as a makeup artist, I’m always looking for new storage ideas. My grandmother gave me several mirrored trays that hold lipstick and perfume beautifully in a bathroom or on a vanity, and I think that this fun, sixties girl will compliment them well in the eerily-cute sort of way
•        A bunch of vintage rhinestone jewelry – Love vintage rhinestone necklaces! I own a ton in weird colors and shapes and I love to layer them. The clear ones in this batch I want to paint with neon nail polish for even more of a Tom Binns look, as I mentioned before. The poodle and rabbit pins were just too cute (and cheap - $4 for both!) to pass up, and the snowflake pin would make a great pendant on a necklace once painted. The green and crystal earrings reminded me a lot of the over-exagerated, toy-like jewelry Miu Miu has for spring. 

          The biggest find of the day was this vintage MCM men’s leather overnight tote. MCM has recently had a bit of a revival, and I adore how this bag is worn in and it’s size and shape (which you can’t tell in this photo). I think it will be great to take with me to India.

It was a unbelievable steal at $40!

If you live in the Bay Area or are visiting San Francisco on vacation, I recommend checking the Antiques Faire out.

Alameda Point Antiques Faire, operates the first Sunday of every month. Located at 2900 Navy Way, Alameda, CA, 94501. 

For the Love of Dry Shampoo

Oh, dry shampoo, how I love thee? Let me count the ways…

My current favorite hair products: Pureology Perfect4Platinum Miracle Filler, Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray, Macadamia Healing Oil Spray, and Kerastase Elixir Ultime. 

      My entire life, I’ve had very thin, unruly, and wavy hair (as well as two cowlicks towards the crown of my head, but I’m not a devil, I swear…). While some can barely fit their hand around their ponytail, I could probably fit mine between two fingers. It does have it’s advantages; as straightening, blow-drying, and curling take mere minutes. But fine hair is also very prone to oiliness, and despite what almost every hair care professional recommends, I just can’t go without washing daily. After a 24-hour period, unlike thicker hair, that becomes much easier to style with fantastic curling ability, my hair sticks to my scalp, and quite frankly, looks absolutely horrible. So, as soon as I first read about Psssssst in Allure Magazine when I was probably eleven years old, I discovered the wonders of dry shampoo. When Bumble & Bumble released Hair Powder, I think I searched every retailer of their products until the shipments came in. At this point in time, almost every hair care company makes dry shampoo, and I think I use it almost daily. That being said, here are my favorites and how I use them:

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Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray 

The gold standard. Don’t let the $39 price tag scare you, this is a miracle product. Besides the fact that it an addicting scent similar to that of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue that lingers subtly all day, it is an incredible product, unlike anything else. It is not a dry shampoo, per se, but its own entity. I use this on freshly blow out hair for volume and texture that is unattainable for folks of my hair type otherwise. It gives a matte, sexy finish that is modern. It’s particularly wonderful for creating messy braids and updos, and helps hair stay in place.

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Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

One of the first, and still one of the best in my book. I love the To Go Size for my gym bag, it’s so refreshing after a work out when you are in a rush. This one has a clean, lemony scent that isn’t overpowering. I’ve used it in a pinch for volumizing and texturizing. My only tip? Keep the bottle in a separate plastic Ziplock, as it is bound to leak, and you don’t want the white powder all over your bag!

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 Keratin Complex Volumizing Dry Shampoo Lift Powder 

I don’t have a keratin treatment, nor will I ever get one because I think it is practically impossible to flatten my hair further. Regardless, you don’t need one to use this product, which is totally genius. With other dry shampoos, if you miss your roots with the spray, your skin gets a strange, powdery cast for the remainder of the day. Not with Keratin Complex. The pod of powder attaches to what looks like a large blush brush, and you can open or close the nozzle to release the desired amount so that you simply brush it directly on the roots. So brilliant – and the formula is excellent, scented subtly like a grape popsicle, but not sickeningly sweet. The powder comes in various colors, which makes it work overtime to disguise roots in addition to imparting mega-volume.

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Psssssst Dry Shampoo 

An oldie, but a goodie. Pssst was originally created for those who were unable to shower due to illness, or people on camping trips. I’ve never been a big camper, but Pssst should be a bathroom staple. Available almost everywhere, the classic white powder spray does exactly what it intends to. While too much of this can leave an ashy caste on dark hair, a small amount is enough to extend a blowout an extra day. Another tip I’ve used it to spray Pssst on a synthetic-bristle paddle brush or fine-tooth comb and brush immediately into roots and voila – mega-volume.

Disclaimer: Even though your hair can potentially look wonderful for days on end with the use of a good dry shampoo, please do us all a favor and continue to shower. Invest in an adorable shower cap – these from Urban Outfitters are pretty irresistible (and utterly ridiculous).  

Hello There

View of the Brooklyn Bridge from Jay Street, Brooklyn; November 2011

“The future destiny of a child is always the work of the mother.”

- Napolean

          As cliché as it is to begin my first blog entry with a quote, the quote is something I find to be quite necessary: it’s the reason I have embarked on this little journey. I am quite the stubborn dreamer, and had I not been raised in the environment I was, I’m not quite sure if my dreams would have come true in the manner that they have.

My grandmother in the McCaller, May 1967

         Add grand to Napolean's quote. I owe my infatuation with the world of beauty to my grandmother, Marie Irvine.  An only-child of the Great Depression, she attended a one room schoolhouse in the tiny country town of Pawling, New York, enchanted with the beautiful surrounding Berkshire Mountains. With her parents unable to afford the tuition at Vassar, Marie had felt as if she had one choice after graduating from high school: New York City. The glistening “Big Apple”: a city where one could go from virtual unknown to celebrity overnight. Marie, a sensible, wise young lady did not, however, have aspirations to be a starlet. She longed for a comfortable life, and this was her motivator for entry into Katharine Gibbs Secretary School. Unfortunately, long hours of typing were much more tedious than she had initially thought. Feeling isolated and disheartened, Marie decided to take a job as a “treatment girl” at Elizabeth Arden’s famed Fifth Avenue Red Door Salon. Quickly rising the ranks at Arden with her natural talent and charm, she soon was applying makeup to dozens of New York City socialites and helping to formulate the makeup and skincare collection that has grown to be unanimous with the American idea of beauty. By the time she was thirty-five, Marie had limos taking her into Manhattan from her home in Queens to the sets of world-renowned photographers such as Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, creating looks for the likes of Marilyn Monroe and supermodel Verushka.

Two of the hundreds of magazine covers my grandmother did makeup for.
Left - Richard Avedon, January 1961. Right - Bill King,  November 1969.
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          To say that glitter runs in my veins would certainly be a fair assessment. From the time I was five years old, the portrait of my mother as a toddler sitting on Marilyn Monroe’s lap inspired me. As perhaps one of the clumsiest children my dance studio had ever seen, my only motivation to keep dancing was the hope that in the next recital, I would get to wear more mascara. In the fifth grade, I declared in the yearbook that my role model was Bobbi Brown. No, not Whitney Houston’s dysfunctional ex-husband, but the makeup artist who so successfully created an ubiquitous international brand.

My makeup work on the cover of Graphis Photography Annual 2009.
Photo by Kevin Reed
Styling by Ope
Hair by Linh Nguyen

          Fate has been quite kind to me. I began working as a freelance makeup artist in New York City when I was just shy of sixteen years old. In the past four and a half years, I have built up my portfolio with the help of many incredibly talented individuals I have met along the way. I also spent my sophomore year interning in the beauty department of Glamour Magazine, and I’m fortunate enough to have just completed a beauty & health internship at Teen Vogue. Sometimes, I need someone to pinch me and wake me up from these dreams, ideas I’ve had since I was awkwardly dancing in my sequin tutu, that are actually my reality.

My first published writing credit in Teen Vogue, December/January 2012

           I would love for you to join me on my journey wearing coats upon coats of mascara and fabulously fuchsia lipstick. Not only through my tests of the latest and greatest cosmetics available (although I’m delighted to share my findings), but also through what has created our modern idea of beauty, explored through photos, observations, and small anecdotes. Beyond the powder, paint, and rouge of my vivid imagination is a world that I’m dying to explore. Follow me on Twitter @cbentleymakeup and check out what inspires me on Pinterest. 

For the Love of Lipstick,

Charlotte