Fooling Mother Nature: April 2014

4.22.2014

Ashlee Wilson Hawn Guest Blog: Part 2

In case you missed Part 1 of my interview with Miss Ashlee, click here.

Ashlee's Favorite look from Big Rich Atlanta

-As someone who has experience in all things fashion, you had a wide variety of looks on Big Rich Atlanta. What were a few of your favorite outfits/looks from the show?

My favorite look was my throw back Dynasty look when the boss bitch went "shopping" for a new home with her real estate agent "Gubby" from Sotheby's. It was black and white skirt suit by local Atlanta designer, Nicci Hou. I loved the ruffles on the southern houndstooth jacket with the sexy cleavage, the skin tight black stingray skirt with sheer Wolford hose and Yves Saint Laurent platform point toe heels. Diamonds and pearl jewelry to top off the sexy southern ensemble! It was one of my favorite looks of the season!

-What are 3 things that you never leave the house with, besides sunscreen?

1. Water
2. Cell phone
3. EOS Chapstick

-Knowing that you have a pageant background and that you have been in the beauty industry for years, you must have many beauty secrets. Can you share at least one with us?

Wear sunscreen! That is my number one beauty secret! I never skip sunscreen!

-I think people often forget to wear sunscreen! Great tip! I'm sure you have tons of fabulous tips and favorite products. What is your "go to" makeup line or do you pick and choose from many makeup brands/counters?

I'm all over the board as I'm not dedicated to one brand as I don't think that one brand has mastered the entire face just yet :) but I do love Clinique's concealer, Chanel's bronzer, and cover girls mascara and I have not varied from those three in over a decade.

Screenshot from Big Rich Atlanta

-I am am all over the board too! I love different products from different makeup lines. You are so right - not one brand has really mastered the entire face! A few years ago, you were kind enough to share your favorite mascara with me - it is one of the best I have used! It was one of the very first beauty products featured as a Favorites Fridays post. What is your favorite product that you would want everyone to know about and why?

With out a doubt, Cover Girl mascara, it's just the best of the best!

-I know you must have tried hundreds of different mascaras in your life, what sets Cover Girl Mascara apart for you from other mascaras that make it your favorite?

It has the darkest hue of black for the sultry look I love and the wand is the best doing multiple layers to get the look you want.

-Where can we look forward to seeing you next? (Any media, pageants, tv etc)

Tons of cool projects to stay tuned for :)

Can't wait to see what you have in store for the future. We just love you and we are proud of you! Thank you for taking some of your precious time to be apart of my fabulous blog. XO

Read Part 1 of my interview with Miss Ashlee Wilson Hawn.

Athena Karsant was honored with Best of San Francisco & Best of Beverly Hills for 2013!
Athena also offers Complimentary Consultations. To learn more about Athena's work,
see before and after photos and read testimonials from both clients and doctors,
please visit her website FoolingMotherNature.com

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4.18.2014

Ashlee Wilson Hawn Guest Blog: Part 1

Let me first start by saying, I am so excited that you are doing this "interview style" guest blog for my blog. I am not sure if you know this but, the first blog we featured you in right before Big Rich Atlanta started is one of the most-read and searched for blogs that I have! We have readers from all over the world and from all walks of life. You still seem to be on everyone's mind and have a ton of fans (including me) from your show. It is exciting to see! I value your friendship and just can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

-First thing's first, What have you been up to since we last saw you on Big Rich Atlanta? Are you working on any special projects?

I have been super busy with my charity work and travel. Just enjoying a little "freedom" from the cameras to relax.

-The camera sure loves you! Is there anything you miss about filming?
Not too much for now :) I'm enjoying having my personal space to work on my charity work and business.

-What did you learn about yourself while on the show?

Well, the show is a docudrama so it was a scripted show that didn't depict my every day life, however, I did learn that not every one knew that while watching!

(photo taken earlier this month in Atlanta)

-Since you already have experience on a scripted show (albeit a scripted reality show), would you ever consider making the leap into acting? What experience from reality TV do you think would help you if you do decide to pursue acting?

I would LOVE to pursue acting (maybe). I would enjoy getting in to character as that was my favorite part of Big Rich Atlanta was making "The Boss Bitch" come alive!

-Do you have any advice for people who strive to be on a reality tv show?

Run like hellllllllllll! Lol!

-Along with pageantry, beauty, modeling and reality TV, is there any chance you would write a tell-all book?

For sure! Or at least a "Boss Bitch Guide" I have had so many experiences and tips that I think so many women would enjoy reading! I hope to 100% get the time to do this very soon!

-What are the two top "Boss Bitch Guide" tips that you would like to share?

1. Make your own rules for YOUR life and don't break them! You have to master being the boss of your own life before you can be a leader for others.

2. A boss bitch never gets her hands dirty as she knows..... Living well is the best revenge!

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF MY INTERVIEW. IT WILL BE POSTED NEXT TUESDAY APRIL 22nd, 2014! Read my first blog about my dear friend Miss Ashlee Wilson Hawn here.

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4.14.2014

Let's Talk About Eyebrows!

Let's talk about eyebrows! They come in all sizes, colors and shapes. There are low arches, high arches and even no arches. Some eyebrows take 15 minutes to design, while others only take 15 seconds. To sum it up, everyone is unique and no two sets of eyebrows are alike.

I have tattooed thousands of eyebrows over the last 25 years. While some are obviously similar in color or shape, none have been alike, because I have never used an eyebrow stencil on a client. I know there are many stencils on the market right now that are supposed to make your morning makeup routine a heck of a lot easier. However, the problem that I have seen is that everyone ends up having the exact same eyebrow shape, no matter if it looks good on your face or not.

If your eyebrows are supposed to frame your face and if everyone's face has a different shape, brow bones, cheek bones etc, then your eyebrows should be different than your neighbor's eyebrows, right? My daughter and I attended The Makeup Show LA and watched a mini-eyebrow session that a certain makeup line presented (I will not say their name). I watched the cute makeup artist work on two different models. Both models had different hair colors, eye colors and skin tones. One had a very narrow face, while the other had an oval shaped face. The makeup artists drew the exact same eyebrows on both models! You might say that was a coincidence. However, the makeup artist also had the same exact eyebrows on her own face! We decided to pop over to the makeup booth that the makeup artist was representing, and we noticed that every single gal had the same thick, dramatic eyebrows... that is not right! It doesn't matter what is in style or what the latest trend in eyebrows is, you can always have a trendy eyebrow and still have it fit your face, your style and your personality.

The other thing that I saw was that it took about 15-20 minutes to perfectly draw the model's eyebrows. That isn't a long session for a conference at all, however, but imagine having to do that every single day.

What if you spent at least 15 minutes a day (a very low average) perfecting your eyebrows? Some of my clients have admitted to spending 30 minutes every morning just on their eyebrows! Here is a look at what 15 minutes per day looks like:

105 minutes per week (1 hour 45 minutes)

465 minutes per month (7 hours 45 minutes)

5,475 minutes per year (91 hours 15 minutes / 3 days 19 hours)

My daughter and I sat there with our jaws dropped at how long it was taking and how many steps were involved. The makeup artist easily had 3 different eyebrow brushes/tools and maybe 4 products (2 pencils, a powder, a gel etc). It just seems like a lot. Then my daughter whispered in my ear, "Wouldn't be much easier to just get them enhanced with permanent makeup?" That sounds cliché right? She really said that.

I am not saying that penciling in your eyebrows is a bad thing, by any means. Some of us over-tweezed as a teenager and some of us have lost eyebrow hair over the years and need to pencil in our eyebrows to compensate for the loss of eyebrow hair.

However, are you sick of penciling in your eyebrows every single day?

Here are two solutions:

1) Have a girly day! Take your best girlfriend or your mother, sister or daughter to your favorite makeup counter. Have them pencil in your eyebrows with their favorite eyebrow pencils. I highly recommend taking a before photo and an after photo. Print it out and stick it on your mirror so that you can recreate it each day.

2) You could get them tattooed on! That might seem scary to think about, but it really is an amazing option. Once your eyebrows are tattooed on, you will never have to stress and fuss with your eyebrows again! Schedule a complimentary consultation, and we can get you started. Right now we have a special that ends April 30th! Call to schedule a complimentary consultation or click here.

Watch my solution to thinning eyebrows that was featured on The Doctors TV Show!

From now until April 30th 2014, each client will receive a travel sized
starter kit with a new paid procedure (limit 1 per customer - $30 VALUE!).

Each kit will include the amazing Milky Cleanser, Cucumber Toner,

Ocean Organics Day Moisturizer and Monoi Oil. I want to make

sure that you are using products that will not harm

your permanent makeup or cosmetic tattooing.

One of my clients wrote a very sweet testimonial on Yelp. She calculated the hours spent penciling in her eyebrows, and that number was enough to convict her to call me and schedule a complimentary consultation. You can read her testimony here.

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Here are some before & after eyebrows.

4.09.2014

Favorites Fridays - Jouer Cosmetics

There are just so many amazing makeup brands out there, and I know everyone has a favorite "go-to" makeup line. I am not one of those people. I find that I use a little of several different makeup lines. I want to use products that I really like or love; I don't want to use a product just because I like something else in their line. Of course, I will try any product, but I don't feel the need to love a brand's foundation just because I love their blush. With that said, I bring to you a new and fabulous makeup brand … I have never written about them before: Jouer Cosmetics.

Jouer is new to me. I learned about them when my daughter and I attended The Makeup Show Los Angeles earlier this month. Funny thing - my daughter went to the same high school as the founder and creator, Christina Zilber (years apart). We were so grateful to meet Christina at the Makeup Show - she was very, very sweet to my daughter (and me). She also had a wonderful team of artists at Jouer's booth who were so helpful and so kind.

Back to Jouer Cosmetics… This week I wanted to highlight Jouer's Luminizing Moisture Tint and Anti-Aging Moisture Primer. Let's talk about the Luminizing Moisture Tint first: Let's be honest - it is hard to find a good tinted moisturizer. Well, I think I have found a fabulous tinted moisturizer and with summer and warmer weather coming up, I find that it is an essential item for every single woman.

Jouer's lightweight Luminizing Moisture Tint evens out imperfections and fixes the appearance of fine lines with its light-diffusing multi-mineral formula. It also has an SPF 20 to protect from UVA and UVB rays (Sunscreen is so important)! Their fabulous formula is oil free and has been awarded by Allure magazine Best of Beauty 2011. It is hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, fragrance-free and is perfect for all skin types. (Side note - my daughter bought the Matte Moisture Tint and loves it too!)

Let's talk about primer! My daughter and I both got different primers because we have different needs. She purchased the Anti-Blemish Matte Primer while I purchased the Anti-Aging Moisture Primer. We love them both; they serve different purposes. The Anti-Blemish Matte Primer is oil free and contains Salicylic Acid that penetrates into the skin to treat and heal existing blemishes, prevent new acne and minimize pores (AMAZING)! The Anti-Aging Moisture Primer is hydrating, contains ingredients that restore elasticity and that also diminish fine lines and wrinkles. Both contain Vitamin E, Ginseng & Gingko Biloba extract to calm redness and reduce inflammation.

Another neat tidbit is that all of their compacts, whether eyeshadow, blush or powder, connect to each other. You can customize your "perfect palate" with anything you need for the day or night. I could go on and on about their incredible makeup line and how genuine and warm the founder of Jouer Cosmetics was to us. Jouer (zhew-ey) means "to play" in French and that describes my daughter and me perfectly when it comes to makeup.

I urge you to search the Jouer website and see all of the wonderful products they have. Read about them, look at the different colors and play!

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With the founder and creator of JOUER Cosmetics - Christina Zilber

My daughter Krysten with Christina Zilber