My Best Beauty Picks

NYX Black Label Compact Powder, $25

Silky Powder with micro-titanium oxide provides a flawless finish. The formulation contains extracts of rosehip, green tea, camelia seed oil and SPF20. This powder is PERFECT!  I can’t believe I didn’t lock onto this line of cosmetics sooner. After putting on tinted moisturizer or foundation, I use my kabuki brush to lightly set the powder over my makeup. It’s so light. I put it to the test recently for a full day of being on TV. I barely needed to retouch during a long day of shooting six style segments in three locations.

NYXcosmetics.com

Makeup Forever Kabuki Brush, $39

This Kabuki brush is super soft to the touch and easily sets loose powder over tinted moisturizer or foundation. I bought this over a month ago and just started using it last week. I’m wondering, how I got along without it.

Sephora.com

Korres Zea Mays Powder Blush, $24

I love pink cheeks. I ran out of my favorite pink blush and unfortunately, the brand I had been using no longer makes the color. I spent about half an hour up and down the aisles of Sephora comparing the little crumbs of blush I had left to find this near perfect match from Korres.

Sephora.com

Arcona White Tea Purifying Cleanser, $42

This antioxidant facial cleanser has a permanent place in my shower. Cleans away the sweat and grime from a hike or dance class and removes all traces of makeup.

Arcona.com

St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub, $5.50

This gentle scrub with skin-soothing green tea keeps skin clear and works as a great exfoliant as well. It has become my husband’s favorite.

CVS.com

Have extroverted friends? Inform them you intend to have a talent show for your next party. Create the illusion of a stage by hanging a suspension rod between a door frame and hang curtains, a shower curtain, or even a sheet as a “stage curtain.” Rent a karaoke machine for those wishing to express themselves through song, but anything goes from telling a knock knock joke to dance or even wearing costumes.

Bra Fit Issues

Question: I just watched you on ABC talking about getting a great fit with your bras. I am having a difficult time finding anyone to help me. I am an older woman..74 this coming September. My husband passed away 5 1/2 years ago in a few months after his passing I lost 100pounds. My problem is bras. I was fitted not too long ago and was told I am a 36 C or B. I have size 38 and they feel snug. I just purchased three Bali bras size 38 C  and they too feel snug around my body and the cups too large with some puckering. I am going to try a 40 B. Any help would be great?
Sincerely,
Donna

Alison: First off, each bra style can fit differently. Are you trying the same style or are you trying different bra styles? Here are some of my thoughts on styles: If you’re concerned about the shape of your breasts, you should definitely try a light foam cup. A compressed foam bra will not add any size but will give you a nice even, rounded shape.

Have a question for Alison? Email ali@alionthego.com

To become a member on the totally fab sample sale site, Ruelala.com. Click on invited by a member. In the box, Your Friend’s Email, put in my email address, ali@alionthego.com.

And voila you’ll become a member for free.

For game night keep it casual. Don’t get hung up on the meal when the evening should be focused on the friends and the games. Whether it be sit down, buffet or get it from the kitchen and sit on the living room floor think about these ideas to serve: Chili and cornbread, mini dishes of mac and cheese, individual chicken pot pies, hearty panini sandwiches that you toast in your George Forman grill or likewise. Or order in pizza and salad or Chinese takeout—plenty of dishes and fortune cookies.

From the Poor House to the Pour House
by Marcello (our guest guy writer)

Q. So I’d love to date more often, but I work from home and don’t make a lot of money. I have to be frugal so going out several times a week to bars is not an option for meeting guys. Any suggestions?
- Victoria, New York City

A. Don’t make frugality a reason to stay home. You have to make yourself available. The good news is that you a lot of options and they’re not all bars. Bars are fine when you want to hang with your friends. But for meeting new people – with all the distractions, noise and competition – not so much. And remember, where there is alcohol there are beer goggles.

Real connections develop through shared interests and activities. Join a club. Take a class. Go to a few parties (even when you don’t want to go out). While you work from home, is there an option to go to an office every now and then, if only to reach out and touch other living beings? The point is to make the effort to get out of your habitual comfort zone, i.e. your home/office cave and prove to the world – and to yourself – that you exist.

All of these options, by the way, cost little money and can only benefit you whether you meet someone or not. Save your bar tab cash to spend on a hot dress or new haircut. When you do go out for drinks, he’ll be paying.

Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN
Nutrition/Diet expert for the TODAY Show—leader of NBC’s popular series, The Joy Fit Club, and New York Times bestselling author of YOUR INNER SKINNY.

1. For someone who is looking to get healthy and fit what is the single most important thing they need to do to take that first step? Get your head in the game. You absolutely must have the right mentality when it comes to eating well and exercising. Once you do, the rest is a piece of cake.

2. How do you keep your clients motivated and inspired to reach their goals? I focus on triumphs and troubleshoot on their setbacks. And although long term goals are great, I’m also a big believer in short term goals. In fact, I try to make weekly, tangible goals with all of my clients so they can continuously feel a sense of accomplishment. Nothing is more motivating than prevailing week after week!

3. How did you get involved with the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre? Growing up as a kid, I was a competitive gymnast. So I’ve always been interested in sports nutrition and have been working with professional athletes and dancers for more than a decade. About 4 years ago, Peter Martin decided to put together a wellness team for the New York City Ballet. He asked a group of their star principal-dancers to interview several nutritionists and make the final selection. I feel very lucky to have been chosen! At the same time, I began consulting for American Ballet Theatre, as well as working one-on-one with professional dancers from around the world. I am a HUGE fan of the ballet and I’m in awe of their talent!

4. What do you believe to be the top five foods that, if added to a person’s diet, would improve their lives?
Wild Salmon
Berries
Spinach
Red Bell
Peppers
Lentils

5. My most unexpected moment in media _When Meredith Vieira nailed me in the face with a pumpkin pie on The View!

6. My favorite thing in my closet at the moment is _A super-oversized white bathrobe that my kids bought me for Mother’s Day. It’s the BEST—cuddly, warm and sexy (NOT)!

7. Something most people don’t know about me _ I was in a rock band in high school and college. Yup–I was the keyboard player

Joy and me at the TODAY show

Joy Bauer MS, RD, is America’s favorite and most trusted nutrition expert. Joy’s mission is to improve the health of our nation. She believes that smart food choices combined with an active lifestyle are the keys to healthy living. As the nutrition and health expert for The TODAY Show, Joy shares reliable, practical, and straightforward advice that helps millions of Americans eat better and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. She also hosts the program’s popular weekly series called the “Joy Fit Club,” which celebrates determined people who have lost and kept off 100 pounds or more through diet and exercise alone.

The author of multiple New York Times best sellers, Joy has two upcoming books that will help Americans eat and live better. Published just in time for the ever-popular New Year’s weight loss resolutions, Your Inner Skinny is filled with tips on how to achieve permanent weight loss—and ongoing fringe benefits—through combining delicious, healthy food with a manageable exercise program. Joy takes dieters who have tried everything—low-fat, carb-free, pure-protein, and gimmicks galore—from desperation to success in four completely spelled-out, mistake-proof steps. (Collins Living, December 29) Joy’s must-have new cookbook, Slim & Scrumptious, will hit shelves this spring. Packed with more than 75 easy-to-make and family-friendly recipes, the book helps adults and kids eat healthier from morning ‘til night. Plus, Joy offers tips, tools, and techniques that save you time and money in the kitchen, so you can put together quick, affordable meals without compromising on taste or nutrition. Whether you’re looking to lose weight or just need help planning a more balanced diet for your family, this is an essential addition to any cookbook library. (Collins Living, April 6) Joy’s other New York Times bestseller titles include Joy’s LIFE Diet (Harper Collins, December 2008) and Joy Bauer’s Food Cures (Rodale, April 2007). In addition to authoring several books, Joy is the nutrition expert and contributing editor to PARADE & PARADE HealthyStyle magazines, as well as a contributing editor and monthly columnist to SELF magazine. As Yahoo’s nutrition expert, Joy provides the latest nutrition, health, food and diet-related information to millions of their online subscribers. Joy is the founder of one of the largest nutrition centers in the country, with offices in both Manhattan and Westchester, and is also the nutritionist for the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, as well as an associate faculty member at Columbia University. Joy received her Bachelor degree in Kinesiological Sciences from the University of Maryland and a master of science in nutrition from New York University. At the beginning of her career, Joy completed a five-year post as Director of Nutrition and Fitness for the “Heart-Smart Kids Program” – a program that she developed for the Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Pediatric Cardiology in New York City. Joy also served as nutrition consultant for the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, where she designed and supervised their ongoing research in eating disorders and weight management. Furthermore, Joy served as the clinical nutritionist with the neurosurgical team at Mount Sinai Medical Center and taught anatomy & physiology and sports nutrition at New York University’s School of Continuing Education. She was also the exclusive nutritionist for New York University’s faculty, students, and athletes. Joy lives in New York with her husband, Ian, her daughters Jesse and Ayden Jane, and her son Cole.

Joys Professional Affiliations:American Dietetic Association: Registered DietitianAssociate – Columbia UniversityNew York State Certified Dietitian–NutritionistAmerican Dietetic Association: Sports & Cardiovascular Nutritionist GroupAmerican Dietetic Association: Pediatric Practice Group

Once the menu has been decided, print a menu to be displayed on the table or have a small printed menu folded within the napkin on each guest’s plate. Or display in a frame lit from the back.

Haute Couture Designer

1. Biggest indulgence…was celebrating my birthday with an extra, extra large strawberry a la crème cake and enjoying it all by myself.

2. What is your advice for a woman seeking to define her own individual style?
She has to identify WHO she is as a woman; what story she wants to tell with her second skin and who she is seducing because inevitably we are sending a message to the world with what we wear.

3. You’ve dressed countless celebrities like Hayden Panettiere, Paula Abdul, Natalie Cole, Katy Perry, Felicity Huffman, Gwen Stefani, if given the opportunity who would you like to design a dress for? And whom would you consider a muse?
I would love to dress Charlize Theron because she embodies femininity with strength, glamour with confidence, sophistication with discretion and most of all subtlety. I have several muses that represent the many goddesses that inspire me when I am designing. Strength of character and boldness in expression as a personal brand are what I am attracted to the most in a muse.

4. Elegance is…truly understanding that less is more.

5. What are your fashion obsessions? And what’s the last item you bought that truly makes you happy?
My last purchase was a dozen bespoke dress shirts from London with French cuffs to showcase my vintage cufflink collection. I am obsessed with those little touches that say so much about who you are and how you feel about yourself.

6. I’ve been told you are quite the gourmet cook. What is your favorite meal to prepare for guests and who receives an invite? And what restaurants in LA (and beyond) do you enjoy for fine food?
Anything with a touch of caviar. I love to experiment and add my personal touch to the food I prepare. My favorite hors d’oeuvre is Bouchees a la Reine, the favorite of Louis IVX – it’s very couture and a pleasure to see as well as taste. I enjoy making small bites for a group of 5 people including myself, anything more than this is too high maintenance. And when L’Orangerie closed last year I resigned myself to good sashimi bars like Ketana.

7. You design sophisticated, coveted couture dresses, ready to wear suits, knitwear, and accessories that include leather bags that surely last so long in one’s wardrobe that a granddaughter will end up wanting to carry it—so what’s next for the House of Lloyd Klein?
One of my dreams is to design Lloyd Klein Hotels de Luxe that would be found at the four corners of the world. Modern tributes to old world luxury with couture details that would make them destinations like my Castle in Los Angeles.

A few of the celebrities who love to wear Lloyd Klein:

Kate Beckinsale                                       Eva Longoria

Toni Collette                                               Marissa Miller

Initially trained in architecture, Lloyd Klein ventured into the world of fashion design after becoming mesmerized by a Givenchy haute couture runway show. Using his extreme interest and self-taught knowledge, Klein’s talent as a dormant designer erupted in 1994 when he presented his first runway collection in Paris. After just two seasons he became the appointed head designer for the legendary Maison Mme. Grès. Upon the successful completion of his contract with Grès, the designer went on to showcase his own signature label. In 1999, after his first of many New York Fashion Week runway appearances, Klein made a solid imprint in fashion by creating his base of couture operations in the United States.

Reflecting on his training in architectural detail; Lloyd Klein’s designs are unexpectedly classic and contemporary all at once. Each piece differs, but remains consistent with his technique as they preserve a bold balance of broad masculinity and edgy femininity. His mastery of drapery shows in many of his pieces as delicate fabrics flow on the female form, adhering to the most flattering curvaceous hot spots with meticulous precision. His mixing and matching of a variety of textural fabrics creates fine garments that foresee the direction of the industry. Constrictive, yet flattering corset-like bodices provide a modernized classical look while flowy gowns wisp through the air with elegance. Precision tailored suiting with waist flattering proportion, however, is his strength and is what his customer seeks.

The charismatic designer travels between his home in Paris and his business in Los Angeles. He has been featured on numerous popular television shows including appearances on America’s Next Top Model, the Ali G. Show, as well as cameo appearances on several other televised programs. In addition to developing an outstanding celebrity following, his collections have been featured on numerous films and television properties including the standout fashion hit “Ugly Betty”. A Documentary style reality series about the “House of Couture” is in the development that will offer a glimpse into what goes on in that beloved Fashion Castle that sits between the Hollywood sign and Rodeo Drive….stay tuned!

The Lloyd Klein Flagship

Lloyd Klein’s two-story Flagship located in one of LA’s most charming shopping neighborhoods, serves as a creative workshop and retail space for both his ready to wear and couture clientele. The historic landmark building, which locals refer to as, “the Castle”, is replete with a gothic turret. The 1928 “petit chateau” features a wildlife pond and wood planked “moat” entry-way leading into the mesmerizing 7,700 square foot space.

The interior, designed by Lloyd Klein, has an elegant ambience that reflects his overall lifestyle vision and has the feeling of a true old-world Parisian Salon. The layout includes a private VIP consultation lounge and fitting room for his couture clients; editorial and sales showroom; conference room; and chic retail space to showcase a full range of Lloyd Klein products including accessories, jewelry, handbags and ready-to-wear. The space also includes an archive library featuring over 4,000 runway sample garments that chronicle the history of his work.