Elizabeth Taylor Eyes

The world not only lost a beauty icon and film legend when Elizabeth Taylor passed away last week, but a true humanitarian. As a tireless AIDS activist, the two-time Academy Award-winning actress raised millions for The Foundation for AIDS Research and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Taylor's flawless beauty also endures. She possessed a nearly perfect complexion, along with dramatic brows and one-of-a-kind violet eyes. A genetic mutation gave her two rows of lashes, which only enhanced the mesmerizing effect of her eyes. 


With a nostalgic nod to Taylor's best beauty asset, the following products help to maximize the look of eyes, lashes and brows: 

BEAUTY: glo.minerals gloEye Shadow and glo.therapeutics Vital Eye Cream. BEACON: Mineral formulations are talc-free, non-comedogenic and free of perfumes and chemical dyes. Also contains no parabens or gluten-derived ingredients.

BEAUTY: Bioelements All Things Pure Eye Oil. BEACON: Natural Products Association Certified. Contains no artificial colorants or synthetic fragrances, and no animal testing. Also packaged in glass for maximum freshness and recyclability. 

BEAUTY: RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum. BEACON: Paraben and fragrance free.

BEAUTY: iS Clinical Eye Youth Complex. BEACON: Supports Stars For Stripes, a group that provides celebrity entertainment tours for military personnel.

BEAUTY: RevitaLash Volumizing Mascara and RevitaBrow Eyebrow Conditioner. BEACON: Supports Relay For Life and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

BEAUTY: Jane Iredale Professional Faux Lashes and Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner/Highlighter (Citrine and Aquamarine). BEACON: Supports Living Beyond Breast Cancer and platinum sponsor of Teens For Safe Cosmetics Green Spa events.

BEAUTY: Refineé Anti-Puff Brightening Eye Gel. BEACON: Works with the Noreen Fraser Foundation. Also supports Look Good... Feel Better.

BEAUTY: B. Kamins Laboratories Eyelash Fortifier. BEACON: Contributes to Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and PJs For the Cure, which raises money for juvenile diabetes research.

BEAUTY: Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Pen. BEACON: Cruelty free and vegan certification. Also supports Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Gilda’s Club.

Strawberry Fields Forever Manicure

Today is California Strawberry Day. We'd like to take a moment to give props to the fruit for its characteristic aroma, luscious texture and bright red color.

To celebrate this special day, SHINE Beauty Beacon has created the Strawberry Fields Forever Manicure using red, green and gold nail lacquers. We call it sweet chic!

STEP 1: Apply a base coat and then place two layers of red lacquer on each nail.

STEP 2: Place the green "leaves" on the tips of each nail. Gently paint a large leaf down the middle and two small ones on the side to minic the uneven textures on the fruit.

STEP 3: To create the seeds, dip the head of a sewing pin in the brush of the gold lacquer. Using the side of the pin's head (not the tip), place small dots on each nail (see video below). Finish with a top coat on each nail.

BEAUTY: The Strawberry Fields Forever Manicure uses nail lacquers from OPI Products: Jade is the New Black (left), Bling Dynasty (middle) and Comet Loves Cupid (right). BEACON: OPI supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Marathon Love

Organizers of today's Honda L.A. Marathon hope to raise $4 million for a variety of charities--twice as much as last year's race brought in.

To accomplish this goal, more than 25,000 participants from all over the world plan to run or speed walk for 26.2 miles from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica, Calif. SHINE Beauty Beacon would like to offer the sponsored racers a collective kiss for their fundraising efforts and extraordinary athleticism.

Before we pucker up, we need to put on our best lipsticks, glosses and plumpers. 

BEAUTY: HydroPeptide Lip Plumper Fuller Smoother. BEACON: Parent company April Rain Skin Science founded the Beauty for Pure Water Foundation, which donates a percentage of proceeds to charity: water. 

BEAUTY: Jane Iredale Lip Fixation Desire Lip Stain/Gloss. BEACON: Member of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and supporter of the Berkshire Humane Society--a private, nonprofit, open-admission animal organization.

BEAUTY: Lotus Pure Organics Candy Lipgloss. BEACON: USDA certified organic, and contains no synthetic preservatives, petrochemicals, parabens, fragrances or dyes.

BEAUTY: Palladio Beauty Group Flame Lipstick. BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: Sormé Cosmetics Cherish Lipstick. BEACON: Works with the Noreen Fraser Foundation. Also supports Look Good...Feel Better.

BEAUTY: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Champagne Ice Lipgloss. BEACON: No animal testing, and products contain no oils, chemicals, alcohol, artificial fragrances or dyes.

Green Margarita Manicure

Leaping leprechauns! If you want to get your green on this St. Patrick's Day, SHINE Beauty Beacon has created the Green Margarita Manicure. It comes complete with a real salt rim.

Here's how to get started: Apply a base coat and two layers of green nail lacquer.

Next, paint a thin line along the length of each nail tip with a light-colored lacquer. 

Before the tips dry, dip each nail in a salt bath and tap off the access morsels. OPTIONAL: Apply a top coat to set the salt and polish. With a generous amount on your brush, stroke from the bottom of the nail to the top. Dab away any salt bits collected on the brush on a paper towel before proceeding to the next nail. 


The following video illustrates the salt step of the protocol:

BEAUTY: The Green Margarita Manicure uses SpaRitual Eye of the Beholder (from the new Truth collection) and Driftwood lacquers. BEACON: SpaRitual uses vegan ingredients and no synthetic dyes. It also supports TreePeople and Cancer Schmancer.

Last, but not least, here's the recipe for a Green Margarita:
INGREDIENTS
1.5 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce orange liqueur
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce melon liqueur, such as Midori
Salt
DIRECTIONS
Moisten the rim of the cocktail glass with lime juice and dip it in salt. Blend liquid ingredients and then pour the mixture into a glass filled with crushed ice. Cheers!

Spun Day at the Spa

In these economically challenging times, R&R appears to stand for recession and recovery rather than rest and relaxation. However, this new reality takes a toll on the aging process--causing more crow's feet and frown lines.


The Spun Glass Facial (60 min./$220) at Ciel Spa at SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., addresses these skincare concerns. It utilizes exfoliation, masks and serum by Ling Skincare to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. "What makes this facial so special is the immediate results, according to the feedback that I receive from the guests," says Mark Bodnar, spa director. "The skin has a younger, healthy glow."

An application of Spotlight Papaya Resurface Peel begins the exfoliation process. Papain, an enzyme derived from papaya, removes dead skin cells without causing trauma or scratching.

The next step of this facial includes the application of the Ginseng Therapy Mask (pictured above). It reduces redness, sensitivity and irritation, while also improving elasticity and tone. To cool and refresh the skin, an Instant Oxygen Recovery Mask is then applied. It helps improve suppleness and contains high levels of Vitamin C, which strengthen the skin’s natural ability to protect itself from environmental damage.

Freeze and Uncrease serum is then applied. It's formulated with advanced hexapeptides to firm the skin and reduce the depth of lines. Finally, to refresh and calm the dermis, the face is smoothed over with a chilled Spun Glass Globe (pictured above). It also helps to close the pores.

The soothing setting at Ciel Spa enhances and maximizes treatment results. The white-on-white décor of the relaxation lounge makes you feel like you're floating on a cloud with its billowing drapes and large sofas. Luscious treats created by acclaimed chef José Andrés offer a pick-me-up before or after a variety of services, which include manis and pedis, men's and body treatments, massages, and nail and hair care.

BEAUTY: Guests who purchase this facial receive Freeze & Uncrease by Ling Skincare as a complimentary gift. The serum has been shown to reduce wrinkle depth by almost 30% after 30 days, according to the manufacturer. BEACON: Ling Skincare supports CitiHabitats Outreach and Habitat for Humanity.

Pretty in Purple

Luckily for Hollywood's biggest superstars at the Academy Awards, the weather held up and it didn't rain. However, purple reign showered the red carpet, as many celebs sizzled in every shade of the color with lovely lilac, lavender, plum and amethyst gowns.

Best Actress winner Natalie Portman wore a regal purple Rodarte silk chiffon dress, which elegantly draped her baby bump. The trim of the off-the-shoulder V-neck sparkled in Swarovski crystals. It inspired SHINE Beauty Beacon to create the Natalie Portman Pretty in Purple Oscar Manicure, which features shimmering tips.

The Natalie Portman Pretty in Purple Oscar Manicure Protocol:


Step 1: Apply a base coat to each nail and one layer of muted purple polish, such as mauve (pictured below; center).


Step 2: Paint a thin line along the length of each nail tip with a shimmery dark violet lacquer (pictured below; right) to mimic the trim of the neckline.


Step 3: Dot over the thin line of shimmery dark violet polish with a glittery raspberry lacquer (pictured below; left) to create a sparkle similar to the Swarovski crystals.


Step 4: Layer each nail with a top coat.

BEAUTY: The Natalie Portman Pretty in Purple Oscar Manicure uses Zoya nail lacquers--Nova (raspberry glitter), Demi (mauve) and Valerie (dark violet shimmer). BEACON: The polishes are made without toluene, formaldehyde, camphor or DBP (dibutyl phthalate).