Flawless Faces at the SAG Awards

The biggest and brightest stars of film and television rocked the red carpet last Sunday at the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Not only did their jewels, gowns and shoes sparkle for fans and cameras around the world, but their faces looked luminous as well.

You don't need to be a superstar to shine. However, you can't apply sleek shadows, blushes and glosses without the right foundation. Proper powder coverage can turn you from girly to glam in an instant.

To achieve a silky smooth complexion, we've assembled the latest compact powder foundations. They travel well for quick touch-ups, and their handy mirrors help you create the right amount of radiance.

Powdering your face will never be the same!

Photo © Rubenstein, Martyna Borkowski

SHINE: Julianna Margulies basked in the glow of her nomination for Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Drama Series ("The Good Wife").

BEAUTY: Babor Cosmetics Perfect Finish Foundation (Natural) offers an even matte finish and covers minor imperfections. Apply wet for thicker coverage. Also available in porcelain beige, almond beige, sunny beige and bronze beige. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Dolphin Aid. 

Photo by Georges Biard

SHINE: Angelina Jolie walked the red carpet with Brad Pitt, a nominee for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role (Moneyball). 

BEAUTY: GloMinerals GloPressed Base Powder Foundation (Honey Light) is designed to provide a matte complexion with long-lasting mineral coverage. Also available in golden (fair, light, medium, dark), beige (light, medium, dark), natural (fair, light, medium, dark), honey (medium, dark), chestnut (light, medium) and tawny (light, medium). BEACON: Non-comedogenic, and free of parabens, gluten-derived ingredients, perfumes and dyes.

SHINE: Stacy Keibler accompanied George Clooney, a nominee for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role (The Descendants).

BEAUTY: Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Pressed Mineral Powder SPF 20 (Natural) serves an all-in-one foundation, powder, concealer and sunscreen. Also available in ivory, satin, warm silk, golden glow, honey bronze, latte, coffee and terra. BEACON: Cruelty free. Contains no oil, talc, dyes or parabens.

Photo by Steve Rogers

SHINE: The Help's Emma Stone cheered on her winning costars Viola Davis (Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role) and Octavia Spencer (Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role).

BEAUTY: As a light, translucent powder, Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Pressed Powder (Natural) prevents excessive shine without making the skin feel tight or dry. BEACON: Vegan, cruelty free and recyclable. Contains no parabens, fragrances and petrochemicals. Supports Global Green USA.  

Photo by David Shankbone

SHINE: Tina Fey beamed as a nominee for Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Comedy Series ("30 Rock") and when her costar Alec Baldwin won Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series. 

 BEAUTY: La Bella Donna Compressed Mineral Foundation (Caterina) creates a sheer matte coverage. Also available in amber, topaz, mahogany, crema, nicoletta, marianna, sophia, honey, marta, umbria and caffe. BEACON: Free of FD&C dyes, oils, talc, alcohol and fragrance.

SHINE: The costars of The Help, including Jessica Chastain, took home Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture.

BEAUTY: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Believable Finish Wet/Dry Powder Foundation (Soft Ivory) allows you to apply complete coverage (wet) and then finish with a dusting of powder (dry). For sheer coverage, apply dry. Also available in natural buff, pure beige, blush beige, honey dusk, golden tan, beige suede and sun tone. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

 SHINE: Sofia Vergara and her "Modern Family" costars scored big with a win for Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series.

BEAUTY: Youngblood Mineral Radiance Créme Powder Foundation (Honey) provides a non-caking, cream-to-powder finish. Also available in neutral, barely beige, warm beige, tawnee, rose beige, toffee and coffee. BEACON: Cruelty free and no animal testing. Contains no artificial fragrances or dyes.

The Power of Pomegranate Skin Care

Photo by johannrela

Pomegranate seeds look like precious rubies. They possess a vibrant garnet color, glisten in the sunlight and, most of all, make us feel good. You could call them nature's bling bounty.

Known as the "jewel of winter," the pomegranate has served as a symbol of romance, longevity and fertility in some cultures. Today, the oil and extract from this succulent super fruit appear as key ingredients in many skincare formulations to minimize signs of aging and promote youthful radiance. Vitamins B and C, polyphenols and anthocyanins provide more antioxidants than red wine and green tea.

Discover the hidden treasures of this natural gem. The following formulations improve skin health by utilizing pomegranate as a prominent ingredient. 

SHINE: Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion. BEAUTY: Pomegranate and wild yam root extracts, and sunflower seed oil help fight free radicals responsible for the breakdown of collagen and elastin. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Cranberry Pomegranate Masque. BEAUTY: Pomegranate purée and juice, cranberry purée and juice, gooseberry extract and sesame oil assist with moisture retention. BEACON: Supports the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and The Cinderella Project.

SHINE: Pomega5 Or de Nuit Illuminating Lifting Serum. BEAUTY: Pomegranate seed oil, aloe vera leaf juice, colloidal gold and blue green algae extract promote cell renewal and collagen production. BEACON: Cruelty free. Also contains no parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances or dyes.

SHINE: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum. BEAUTY: Organic pomegranate juice and millet seed extract help strengthen and support skin regeneration. BEACON: Free of synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives and raw materials derived from mineral oils. Also supports Conservation International. 

Red Carpet Lips & Nails

Charlize Theron

Red alert! Red carpet season officially arrived last Sunday at the Golden Globe Awards. Veteran performers such as Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams and Madonna emerged as the evening's big winners. They'll have even more opportunities to make acceptance speeches at the SAG Awards later this month, and the Grammys and Oscars in February.

Crimson couture also made a comeback on the red carpet. Angelina Jolie looked stunning in a white Atelier Versace gown with red folded neckline, and matching clutch and lipstick. Reese Witherspoon posed in ruby nails and a strapless Zac Posen dress. Dianna Agron glided by the paparazzi in bright red lips and a Giles Deacon gown with laser-cut swans. 

The redder the better when creating your own red carpet look. The color signifies star-studded style, sizzle and sass. Take a look-see at the latest bold and beautiful trends in red lips and nails.  

© Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com

Selena Gomez

SHINE: Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lipgloss (Kiss Kiss Kiss). BEAUTY: Creamy texture with no sticky residue. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Carmen. BEAUTY: Classic red with a glossy cream finish. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate.

Heidi Klum

SHINE: Milani Lip Flash Shimmer Gloss Pencil (Hot Flash 05). BEAUTY: Moisturizing formulation also provides anti-feathering and nontacky benefits. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Jade. BEAUTY: Bright red glitter metallic. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate.

Photo by Rachel Sklar

Kristen Wiig

SHINE: Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss (Siren). BEAUTY: Velour wand is designed to contour lips with pearlescent shine. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Kristi. BEAUTY: Medium red cream. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate. 

Amber Heard

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Lipstick (Glamour Red). BEAUTY: Contains vitamin E to help smooth, moisturize and minimize signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Noreen Fraser Foundation.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Sooki. BEAUTY: Cherry red cream with a subtle jelly finish. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate.

Dita Von Teese

SHINE: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Lipstick (Vixen). BEAUTY: A blend of natural oils, minerals and candelilla wax is formulated to moisturize lips and provide lasting wear. BEACON: No animal testing and cruelty free. Also contains no alcohol, artificial fragrances or dyes. 

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish Dita. BEAUTY: Medium berry-red cream. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate.

Winter Sun Protection

Brrrrr... it's chilly in many parts of the country. However, the debate over our ability to follow through on our New Year's resolutions heats up. A whopping 80 percent of people who vow to change or improve some aspect of their lives on January 1 typically fall off the wagon by Valentine’s Day, say researchers.


I've decided I'm going to make good on my promise, which is to wear sunscreen year-round. After considering the bad news/good news, who wouldn't? It doesn't matter if it's winter, spring, summer or fall, ultraviolet radiation damage often leads to skin cancer, hyperpigmentation and/or premature aging. On the upside, daily use of sunscreen helps shield the skin and important proteins, such as collagen, elastin and keratin, which keep it smooth and firm. 


I'm loving the idea of applying sunscreen year-round--by Valentine's Day and beyond. Check out the latest SPF formulations for your face and décolleté.

SHINE: Bioelements SPF 50 FaceScreen. BEAUTY: Formulated as a moisturizer to help safeguard against wrinkles, loss of elasticity and pigmented brown spots with titanium dioxide, aloe leaf juice, chamomile flower extract and Chinese herbs (including dong quai root extract). BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of synthetic colorants and fragrances, and packaged in glass for maximum freshness and recyclability.  

SHINE: DermaQuest Skin Therapy ZinClear SPF 30 Tinted. BEAUTY: This sunscreen soothes and heals using zinc oxide, and vitamins C and E with tinted coverage that warms lighter skin tones and compliments darker ones. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no parabens.

SHINE: iS Clinical by Innovative Skincare SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen (Translucent). BEAUTY: This formulation contains micronized zinc oxide and transparent titanium dioxide to provide UVA/UVB protection, and uses a self-dispensing brush applicator. BEACON: Supports National Breast Cancer Coalition and Stars For Stripes.

SHINE: Luzern Laboratories La Défense SPF 30. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, and aloe and green tea extracts protect skin from damaging UV rays, as well as minimize premature aging, reduced elasticity and dark spots. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Also free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, dyes, glycols and petrochemicals.

SHINE: Smart Girls Who Surf SPF 30+ Organic Sunscreen Face Stick. BEAUTY: Provides UVA/UVB protection with sunflower, aloe and avocado oils, vitamin E, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and green tea and rosemary extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no parabens or synthetic fragrances.