Ready For Your Close-up: Starlet Beauty Tips

If your life is a movie, that means you should always be ready for your close-up.  Starlets have a very French way of looking at beauty.  In America, we just cover up our flaws.  The French way, and now your way, is to take good care of yourself and your skin, so that cover up is a last resort.  Now if you are already getting your exercise, and eating right, you are already ahead of the game.  You skin will have a natural healthy glow.  And I’m sure we all know that getting enough sleep and avoiding smoking are extremely important to a great complexion.   But a great skin care routine is essential.  Finding the proper routine is (like exercise or diet) a very personal thing.  I have been to dermatologists and they are usually not all that helpful with basic skin care (although definitely seek then out if you have a serious skin condition).  I find that good old trial and error is the best method.  Yes, it can be time consuming, but once you have a plan that suits your needs, it should only take a few minutes out of your day to maintain.

I should first emphasize the importance of avoiding the sun.  While some Old Hollywood Starlets did suntan, they didn’t really know the dangers back then.  If you really need some color, I suggest a spray tanning booth, although those can eat up your time and money. I emphasize that you learn to love the skin you’re in.  Wear sunscreen, avoid the sun when possible and embrace your own beautiful skin tone.  Marilyn did….

“I don’t think sun-tanned skin is any more attractive than white skin, or any healthier, for that matter. I’m personally opposed to a deep tan because I like to feel blond all over.”-Marilyn Monroe

I should also note that a Starlet’s skin care products need not be the most expensive.  In fact, many of her products may be from a drugstore.  And I recommend starting there first for your trials.  Make sure you read labels and find one that suits your skin type.  The bare minimum you will need is:

Cleanser– I use a basic drugstore brand.

Daytime moisturizer with sunscreen

Night cream– there are hundreds, so be sure to read labels.  Sephora has a great search feature so, for example, if you have oily/acne prone skin you can search for skin care that is oil free.  If you have wrinkles, you can search anti-aging….. etc.  Since this product will be on your skin all night, I suggest spending a little more money on it to get the best product.

Eye Cream– pretty much same guidelines for finding a night cream.  You can get a separate one for daytime if you’d like.  Or get an eye cream for day and night use.

Lips– I swear my Elizabeth Arden 8 hour,,, I mostly use it on my lips (it doesn’t taste great but it will moisturize and plump lips like no other).  I also use it anywhere that is extra dry and needs more than a regular moisturizer (like my nose during allergy season).

Makeup Remover– I cannot emphasize how important it is to remove your makeup before going to bed.  Always remove it, no matter how tired you are.  There are so many choices for makeup wipes to choose from and they are the easiest method, and I have some extra strong makeup remover pads from Almay for stubborn waterproof eye makeup.  I know some women say that if they are going to bed with a man they don’t want to take off there makeup.  I say, a true Starlet would not go to bed with a man who didn’t love her with or without makeup.

Tweezers– You must keep those eyebrows in check.  There are many options like waxing.  I have skin that is too sensitive to wax, so I just try to keep up my brow shape with good old fashioned tweezing a few days a week.  That way they never get bad enough to be overwhelming.  Either way, you should have a good tweezer on hand for any stray hairs.

Extras

These are optional, but still good to consider.

Face mask– If you have the time/money for a spa facial then go for it (but be careful and check their qualifications, I’ve seen some very bad results, so be cautious and ask a lot of questions to make sure they know what they are doing).  You can also buy a make mask and/or scrub and do a home facial.  One of my favorites is to use full-fat sour cream, it gives similar results to the more common yogurt mask, but I find its thinker so it doesn’t drip as much.

Bleach

Marilyn used to bleach EVERYTHING.  She wanted no evidence that she was not naturally a blonde.  I wouldn’t say you have to go THAT far.  But if you have thin dark hairs that you would like to lighten, then go for it.  If you have a dark complexion thought, I would stick to waxing or another method.

Body

Now that the skin on your face is taken care of, lest not forget the body.  You can use your face routine on your neck and even your chest and back, but these are essentials for the rest of your lovely figure:

Body Wash– Similar to your face wash.  Just find one that suits your skin type (which may be different on your body than on your face).  Moisturizing for dry skin… Oil free for oily skin… etc.

Body lotion– No matter what your skin type, your body needs a moisturizer.  But how heavy a moisturizer depends on skin type, lifestyle, climate, etc.  And rubbing on body lotion after a shower is a great time to give yourself a nice massage and really appreciate the great body you have… no matter what your shape or size.

Sunscreen– if you’re out in the sun and your skin is exposed (even if it’s just in the car on your commute to work, and even on a cloudy day), make sure you use protection.  Starlet’s always practice safe sun.

Extras

Body scrubs– these are optional but they feel great.  I use scrubby gloves every time I shower because my skin does well with daily exfoliation.  But if yours doesn’t then you can use then a few times a week, or get a body scrub and use it when you feel your skin needs it.

Massages– these are time consuming and expensive (and you should make sure you go to a reputable place) but they are so luxurious, I challenge you to get one and not feel like a movie star.

Baths– these are a personal preference and dependent on a lot of things, but when you think Starlet, you think bubble bath.  If you have access to a tub, give it a try.  Pick a time, ignore the phone, turn on some music, light some candles and find your favorite bath product.  Bubble bath is an option, but so are bath salts, Epsom salts, or even some whole milk.

Hair Removal

How you remove unwanted have is very personal… as personal as the hair that you decide is “unwanted.”  There are so many hair removal techniques to choose from but there are two options that have stood the test of time:

Shaving:  Yes shaving can be time consuming and it doesn’t last long, but it’s the simplest option, and you can do it every day if you’d like… and we all know that a Starlet may have to be smooth on a moment’s notice.  And with such a busy life and social schedule, who has time to make a waxing appointment.  A good razor and a great shaving lotion are essential.  I have been using Paul Mitchell Super-Charged Moisturizer for over a decade.  Yes, it’s a hair conditioner but since I started using it to shave I have never had a razor bump.  Starlet’s love using beauty products in unique ways.

Waxing: this option lasts longer and will get you smoother, and may be a good option for an area like the bikini line that can get awkward to shave.  Just make sure you keep up with your appointments because you never know when the movie of your life will have a love scene.

Extra

It’s always good to have a product on have to control shaving bumps.  I like one from Bliss or Tend Skin.

Teeth

No film close-up would be complete without a gorgeous smile.  If your teeth are bad, then a good dentist is worth their weight in gold.  If your teeth are in good condition but just need a little brightening, then pick up a whitening toothpaste (just be careful if you have sensitive teeth, don’t overdo it, and choose a sensitive teeth formula).

Hands and Feet

Pedis– if you want to pay for a pedi then go for it.  But you can buy a rough, inexpensive scrub and a pumice stone and do one yourself.  Make sure you take care of your tootsies.  And absolutely nothing will make you feel more glamorous than red polished toenails.. even if you are the only one who sees them.

Manis– take care of your hands.  Like with your feet, you can get them professionally done or do it yourself.  Shape your nails, push back cuticles, and definitely use hand cream and a nail oil (can be just as simple as almond oil) every night before bed

Nail Color– a Starlet cannot resist a red painted toe, but finger nails are less important.  You can match them to your toes, go all out with a half-moon manicure like Dita Von Teese, go with a neutral pink, or just go with a clean, well-cared for bare nail.  It’s up to you.  If you do go with color, I recommend the new gel polish.  It lasts so much longer than traditional polish.  And no Starlet has time to be constantly doing her nails.  Once a week is ideal for hands.  Feet you can usually get away with every other week.

Misc

I would also note that every Starlet has a few emergency extras on hand in her vanity and/or medicine cabinet.  Band-Aids are essential for obvious reasons.  You never know when you may nick yourself or get a bister breaking in new shoes.  Also, Visine is a miracle product.  It can sooth red eyes, but it also can be dabbed on a pimple or red spot, or blotted on a red sunburned face (because maybe you decided not to listen to my sun advice, it’s okay, every Starlet has an inner rebel).  I always have Visine on hand.

This is just the tip of the beauty iceberg, but like every movie, we need to start somewhere.  Stay tuned for a makeup lesson!

Kisses

Sarah

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