The Higher The Heel, The Closer To...A Big Ol Spill?

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It's no secret here at Haute Mom's Life that we have a slight, unhealthy healthy obsession with SHOES!!!  I mean it's just something that gets our hearts racing, our blood pumping, our adrenaline rocketing through the roof!  There's got to be something downright physiological here.  On a more literal level, there's really nothing that offers an instantaneous boost to a woman's stature, bootaaay and overall confidence quite like a pair of sky-high heels.  BUTTTT.....and there is a BUT, those days of rocking triple-platform, 160mm  Louboutins dayside, are long gone.  That's not to say, we don't whip out those bad boys every date night but pushing a stroller, or worse yet, carrying a tot in heels over 4(ish) inches just seems a little silly, and even perhaps, irresponsible??  Could you imagine taking a big ol spill??  There's nothin cute about that. After much deliberation with our Haute Mommy friends, we've all come to the bitter-sweet conclusion that we've had to make some mayjah changes in the shoe department introducing (cringing as we write this) shorter, comfier, more sturdy heels, wedges, booties to the mix to match this new phase in life.

Caution: Exploring this new world of flatter-shoes can lead to...Fit Flops.  They may feel like you're walking on clouds but this is a slippery slope....your next stop is Mephistos and Aerosoles.  Dear Gawd, there's nothing chic about that.  So, our advice, hold off as long as you possibly can.  And with that, we introduce our Haute Mom's Life latest shoe collection...as they say, kid tested, haute mom approved. √

Isabel Marant - Etoile Rawson Black Suede Ankle Boot - On Sale, 40% off $550 from $900

http://www.denimandsupply.com

Gap Ankle-Wrap Wedges Sale $48 from $69

www.gap.com 

Top Shop - Both around $100

www.topshop.com 

Stuart Weitzman - Demiswoon Boots $645

www.bloomingdales.com

Joie - Lena Wedges

Haute Mommy Makeup...In 12 Minutes

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With a packed schedule, it seems certain things take a major hit.  Our daily makeup routine is one of them. Personally, I went from wearing makeup often to almost never  WTF!?  It dawned on me, I'd have to figure out a way to beautify, simplified.  Now, lemme make one thing clear; fresh-faced to me is often more beautiful than a face glammed with makeup but it's also fun to play, enhance your look and change it up from day to day.  I mean, who doesn't love sunkissed cheeks, a glossy pout, a little contour here and there, and even a defined cat eye!?  Achieving all that on a tight schedule can be tough but NOT impossible.  With a little practice, I've managed to nail it down in 12-minutes flat and promise you'll transform from Haute to Va-Va-Voooooom.  Here are some products you may want to snag to help...Note: Match to your skin tone and desired effect and apply in this order. 1. BOBBY BROWN - Skin Foundation Stick

**Apply straight to face like war paint and use a brush to blend it in, all over face and neck.

2. MAC - Eye Primer

**Brush onto eyelid to maintain maximum shadow wear throughout the day

3. LISE WATIER - Undercover/Creme Concealer

**Use the pen to apply directly under your eye.  Covers dark circles and adds brightness

4. MAC - Studio Fix

**Use blush brush and apply to face, setting makeup.  Light and not overly powdery

5. MAC -Shadow

**Choose 1 natural color as your all-over base and 1 medium brown shadow in the crease to add color and enhance the shape of your eye

6. LORAC - Front of the Line Pro (black or brown)

**Wonderful liquid eye liner.  You really need a steady hand to apply and drag out to create a sexy cat-eye.  Back-up option is a pencil liner where accuracy isn't as important

7. NARS - Bronzing Powder

**I use the color Laguna for olive skin tone.  Apply with blush brush directly under the cheekbones, lower portion of your chin and jawbone, your forehead and a quick final brush around your entire face so the contour isn't too obvious.  I think my nose looks broad so I contour down the sides and tip with bronzer and highlight the center which brings me to #8

8. LAURA MERCIER - Translucent Pressed Setting Powder

**This is the ISH Mommies!  It's used as a reflector.  After my nose contour (see #7) I use this highlighter down the center line to create greater definition.  Also, ideal to use under your eyes.  Caution:  Don't use too much or you could end up like this...

9. CLARINS - EyeBrow Kit

**I use this brow shadow to fill in and thicken up my brows.  L O V E it esp since thick brows are all the rage...a trend I hope NEVER goes out of style

10. LOREAL - Voluminous Mascara

**Any makeup artist will tell you there's nothing better on the market.  I get black noir.  It is long-lasting, super glam and easy on, easy off.

11. MAC - Peony Petal Blush

**When I worked On The Lot, my fave makeup artist introduced me to this product and I've been in love ever since.  Ya know that look when you, eh hem, just finished getting down and dirrrrtay w your man??  Your cheeks have a beautiful pink glow?  Well, this color from MAC re-creates it to a T

12. SMASHBOX - Lip Enhancing Gloss

**Natural, glossy, plump and beautiful!

 

Putting On The Fringe

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Are you guys obsessing over fringe as hard as we are these days?!  The trend reappeared several months ago and now it seems everywhere we turn, fringe is front and center; adorning boots, bags, bathing suits, and anything considered "boho chic"  Typically something like this might annoy us but ohhhh no, not fringe...Fringe can do no wrong in our eyes, it's sort of like Johnny Depp, Rose or Paris in the springtime; classic, chic, simply irresistible. fringe 4 fringe 2Perhaps the journey back in time the storied tassel takes us on evokes such a strong response.  Originally, Native American tribes of the Plains had created garments with fringe, which served as a type of gutter repelling rainwater from the wearer.

Generations later, fringe became a hit with the likes of Gatsby and his "friends" during the roaring 20's.  Elvis loved it and other music legends like Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin accessorized with fringe on jackets regularly in the 60's.  Today, fashion forward stars like K-Hud and model Alyssa Miller can't be seen without it.  It's so Ralph Lauren, so Americana, 100% Cowboy (or girl) and just so damn sexy.  So here's to a trend that will live on forever reaching many subcultures until the end of time, and of course, here's some inspiration on how to rock it today, haute mommies!

fringe 8

#LoveYourSkin With Dr. Obagi

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obagi 1 Last night we celebrated the Grand Opening of ZO Skin Center at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Cali.  In a nutshell, what's totally incredible about this new flagship store (fingers crossed it's the first of MANY) is that Dr. Obagi's ultra-exclusive product line the Stars L O V E is now totally available to everyone...you, me, anyone walking through the mall, EVERYONE.  Icing on the cake - the store also has several private rooms where the Obagi team of Master Estheticians is on hand to examine your skin, match you with the appropriate product and even slather you up with a customized facial.  I cant think of anything more delightful than a day of shopping at FI topped off with a rejuvenating world class ZO facial. Back to last night, the place was packed with the who's who of Newport Beach.  For starters, Dr. Obagi and his partner Dr. Kosins made the rounds..hip magazine editors, and even a few celeb friends, Kelly Nishimoto, Carly Steele and Natalie Walker to name a few.

We got decked out at the Dry Bar and Blushington, sipped champagne, devoured sweet treats by Valenza Chocolatier and stayed wide awake with Nespresso...I even gave the ol prize wheel a spin for the chance to win facials, consultations and get this, even Botox, which sadly I didn't land on.  Let's face it, after sleepless nights as a new haute mommy, I need all the extra help I can get. To say the night was a success is an understatement - lets just hope next time around I have a better spin. ;)

4 Steps To Glowing Skin

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I was one of those; Six months deep into my pregnancy still waiting for some miraculous burst of collagen to plump my skin, that drop of dew to glisten my cheekbones, a kiss from the Maternity Gawds that so many refer to as "pregnancy glow".   Ummmm did someone forget this girl over here??  Hello?!!!  Still waiting...Certainly I wasn't skipped over when it came to that dreadful morning sickness...endless trips to the toilet hurling up breakfast.  But my complexion, the one thing they promised would transform beautifully, leaving me young and dewy like Brooke Shields in "The Blue Lagoon" was definitely reminiscent of my younger skin BUT at the height of puberty...bumpy, zitty, discolored, just overall nastayyyyyy.  I mean, it's not like I was some Noxema girl to begin with, but this was an all new low.  I tried facials, masks, microderm...the list goes on.  Good news is, we now have the answers we've been looking for!  We hit up Dr. Aaron Kosins aaronkosinsmd.com board certified Plastic Surgeon and co-partner ZO Skin Centre, Fashion Island Newport Beach to help us in 4 Steps understand our pregnancy skin better ultimately leading to that glow every Haute Mommy hopes for...Here goes, ladies (you can thank me later :)

zo 4

AC: We notice major changes in our skin during pregnancy -- what is that from?

Doctor K: In 1 word: Hormones. Hormones play a huge factor in a number of things during pregnancy, one of which is the skin. The blood vessels in our face dilate and constrict, and patients can go through cycles being both oily and dry as testosterone and estrogen levels fluctuate. Can we control the hormones? No. But we can control their effect on the skin.

AC:  In your professional opinion, what's the best way to get rid of those the dark spots and other blemishes that seem to pop up?

Dr. K: Melasma is a chronic disease that usually pops up with hormonal fluctuations…specifically, pregnancy, menopause, and use of birth control pills. The melanocytes, cells in your skin that make pigment, go crazy and start making “color” in an uneven and unregulated fashion. The best way to control these outbreaks is prevention, by having strong skin with cells that are regulated. Once the disease process begins, pigment settles throughout the layers skin. Treatment includes control of oil (which both potentiates pigment and causes acne), exfoliation, bleaching, and most importantly retinol, which works at a cellular level to strengthen skin and to regulate melanocytes and the distribution of melanin (pigment). Unfortunately, we do not recommend that pregnant mothers use retinol or hydroquinone (bleaching) during pregnancy. Therefore, ZO Skin Health has created products such as C Bright and Brightalive, which are safe during pregnancy/breastfeeding and help to stabilize pigment and brighten skin. These can be used as a bridge until after pregnancy/breastfeeding when other treatments can be used.

AC: Are there other products you swear by to help even out skin tone?

Dr. K: Even skin tone comes from an even distribution of melanin (pigment) in the skin. My favorite products include Melamin and Melamix to get rid of brown spots and Brightenex, which works to prevent pigmentation and even skin tone. Depending on the pigmentation, whether it is from sun damage or a disease of skin, ZO Skin Health or ZO Medical products can be used at different strengths to brighten skin and to even tone.

AC: Sleepless nights as a new parent can also majorly throw your skin off balance. Anything your recommend?

Dr. K: The cornerstones of a good skin care program include getting skin ready (cleansing, exfoliation and oil control), anti-oxidants in combination, and sun protection. These products work to protect and to strengthen the skin by enhancing natural exfoliation and repairing the barrier function of the skin. Once breastfeeding is discontinued, retinol should be added in to work at the cellular level to repair and to strengthen skin. Retinol does this by stimulating skin, enhancing exfoliation, repairing DNA damage, and rebuilding collagen and elastin.

For more on how to get your hands on some of the goodies Dr. Kosins refers to, check out http://zoskincentre.com