Give Yourself a "Merm."

I am STILL thinking about LOST's Evangeline Lilly (Kate)'s curls in the episode Something Nice Back Home last season. It was nearly impossible to find a good pic of them, but the one at left is the best I could do. How can you achieve curls like Kate's? Read on! (Though unfortunately, I have no advice for the achieving of the Dr. Jack Shephard she did especially well in this episode. Was he not especially spicy in that one? Sigh. Less than a month till Season 5 starts!) If your hair has any tendency to curl at all, you simply need to give yourself a "merm."

What's a merm? Well, get comfy, because a merm (natch) is a play on the word "perm," and you know I'm incredibly long-winded when it comes to hair. Just ask my gal Julia, whom I've recently welcomed to my hair-obsessed world (hi, doll!). Fun fact: in middle school, when people asked if I'd gotten a perm once I'd FINALLY learned to apply product and not BRUSH my curls, I lied and told them I did. Because in middle school in the early '90s... it was cooler to have a PERM than it was to have naturally curly hair. Oh, the '90s.

Anywho, I don't know if it's because my cellular make-up changes every seven years (you know about that right? That every seven years, your cells turn over entirely, making you, cellularly-speaking, a different person), but my hair does NOT curl the way it used to. Observe my curls circa 2001:

I'm in the middle, obv, with my friends Mitch and Marina in New York. This pic was taken in August 2001, right after I'd come home from studying abroad in Paris and thought I was just IT. But apparently, not too IT to drink PBR at Welcome to the Johnsons, thankfully. But behold my curls. They're phenom. And ALL I did was put in some gel and air-dry. Not even fancy French gel at that. If I tried that shit in 2008, I'd be left with a wavy-curly-nearly-straight-in-some-areas hybrid hair hell.

I've spent years bemoaning my curious curl condition. Was it years of flat irons and round brush blow-drying? Is it the aforementioned cellular situation? Is it New York water (my hair curled much better when I lived in Philadelphia and Boston)? I finally arrived at this conclusion: Who cares? Mama just needs to fix her wash-and-go hair situation, fast.

The cure is this: You must TWIRL your hair into individual coils and it will dry EXACTLY the way you set it. You simply must refrain from touching it. And, like all things hair-related, there's a method to the madness. Check it:

1. Blot hair with a regular towel. Forget your Aquis super-absorbant one for the nonce. It's fantastic for straight hair, but curly hair is a different beast indeed. It NEEDS a bit more moisture to form and hold a good curl.

2. Do NOT use a brush or comb to detangle hair post-shower. Use your fingers to rake through snarls.

3. Put more curl cream (or gel, if you're a gel gal) than you think you need in your hair. Start at the hairline, then add some cream to the bottom of hair at the nape, then add a third dollup to the length of hair/ends. Lately, I'm LOVING mixing Cutler Curling Creme ($17 - pictured, left) with NO FRIZZ Wave Shaping Curl Defining Styling Cream ($24 - pictured, below) to be sold in February 2009 at Sephora.com.

4. Start at the nape up and twirl 2-inch sections of hair individually by twisting it with your fingers into coils. Clip up the top part of your hair and remove from the clip to twirl it in 8 sections. When you get to the top, part your hair and twirl your hairline strands in slightly smaller pieces.

5. Once it's all twirled (for my fine-to-medium hair, it takes about 5-7 minutes), scrunch sections of the hair all the way up to the root gently ONCE. You'll look like a mermaid with long, flowing, Boticelli-esque coils. Hence the "merm" name. Then leave it alone until it air-dries at least 50%, after which you can scrunch a bit more if it needs some volume.

Let me know what you think post-merm!

Image credits: parachutingtrees.co.uk, beautybloggingjunkie.com

BBJ Interviews LOST's Head Makeup Artist, Emily Katz Part 1

Special treat, gals!

You know how I feel about LOST. Imagine my delight when the show's MakeUp Department Supervisor, Emily Katz, agreed to an interview about all things beauty on my fave show. From now until the week leading up to the January 21st season five premiere, I'll be posting the interview in installments.

Here's the first juicy tidbit!

Beauty Blogging Junkie: Spill: what eyeliner IS Eyeliner Richard, a.k.a. Richard Alpert who is played by Nestor Carbonell wearing?

Emily Katz: Nestor Carbonell who plays Richard Alpert has no makeup on his eyes! He is of Cuban descent and is naturally blessed with the thickest set of lashes I have ever seen in my career. Women should envy him. It's truly unbelievable; we have to try to diminish them ! And yet, he is the NICEST man as well.

Can you believe, gals? All this time, I've been referring to him as Eyeliner Richard - and dude's not even wearing a touch of liner.

Stay tuned for the next installment!

Image credit: IMDB

Change for America, Change for your Skin

I'm so looking forward to this country's new administration and was very impressed by Barack Obama's humble victory speech and John McCain's classy concession speech. I'm ready for change, and I'm ready to meet the First Puppy! Last night was historic and I'm so happy and proud for America.

But you know what else is historic? This vile acne scar which established residency on my right cheek for YEARS. I also have a new, irritating burn which is becoming a scar from last week when I burned my upper arm with a curling iron as I was Betty Drapering out for Halloween. But luckily for me, I recently found out about La Mer The Concentrate ($350), which was designed for fragile, post-trauma skin on the face and body.

The product is a favorite of Emily Katz, makeup artist for LOST. As she told me in a recent interview, "La Mer is one of the companies whose products I adore. The Concentrate has healed some scars that no one thought would disappear. It's truly fantastic." Says Emily, "We use the hand cream, eye balms and moisturizer as well." Stay tuned for the full interview! Emily is so generously (it's a Katz thing!) providing me answers to my extensive list of questions on-location from the set in Oahu, Hawaii! The hilarious Parisjasmal suggested that I ask whether dead sexy Matthew Fox has soft skin, because he does when she caresses him... in her dreams. P, I feel the SAME way.

Anywho, back to The Concentrate: after three weeks of nightly use, my acne scar has significantly faded. It's not gone, but it's on its way out. Even my newer curling iron injury is looking much better.

The secret is in the cocktail of the most precious and effective marine and plant extracts working in synergy with the Miracle Broth™. This blend helps damaged skin renew and rebuild its appearance. Special barrier repair ingredients act as lipid "cellular cement" to help strengthen vulnerable skin. The Miracle Broth™, Lime Tea, marine and plant extracts are suspended together within a breathable barrier to deliver their healing properties.

When used as a primer, this matte, silky serum allows my makeup to positively glide on beautifully, and also gives my skin a gorge, glowy radiance. The only bad news is that it IS egregiously expensive. And for that reason, I save it just for scars and burns. But if I had a sugar daddy, you'd best believe that making it my daily primer would be one of the MAJAH changes I'd make in my lifestyle.

Available at cremedelamer.com.

LOST Analysis: Your Buddy Out There with the Eyeliner!

So, listen. I know I'm probably an ego maniac (on the dance floor - and I'm dancing like I've never danced before), BUT. Just maybe Sawyer's hilarious joke about Eyeliner Richard Alpert's eyeliner was a shout-out to my interview with LOST's makeup artist Emily Katz? A gal can dream, right? Anywho, onto more thoughts on last night's LOST ep:

Welcome to LOST, Michelle Dessler! I'm loving that you're on this show! I miss you on 24.

Speaking of mirror faces, Elizabeth Mitchell is CONSTANTLY giving us hers on LOST and last night's ep was no exception. Oh, Juliet has Sawyer's back? That's reassuring. Also:

It's kind of nice that Sawyer and Juliet are together. That's a relashe I can stand behind. I don't know, it just WORKS for me. Sawyer and Kate made my stomach turn. Though I prefer Kate and Jack, I can't get over the fact that I still feel Kate is not good enough for Jack. But Juliet and Sawyer is kind of lovely. Juliet has been unlucky in love (Goodwin, Jack) and seems to have found an equal of sorts with Sawyer.

I love the 70s dance party at the Dharma station. Did you see that Rosie is wearing a Geronimo Jackson shirt?

A Mini-Charlotte cameo! Aww. One thing: Wasn't she born in 1979? So why is she like, four years old in 1977? Hmmm? Maybe when Ben asserted that she was born in 1979, he was actually off by a few years, making her younger than she is and she simply didn't want to correct him? If so, doll, I hear that. I've been there.

*****
A few thoughts on last week's episode (The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham):
The Tunisia scene was very "the Libyans" in Back to the Future.

Charles Widmore was the leader of the Others - interesting that he mentions they're not the "others" to him, they're his people. A reference to Calvin Horton Cooley's Looking Glass Self theory?

Abbadon died in another car accident in keeping with the car accident theme.

Fate vs. probability - Jack mentions that it's probability that Locke was taken to his hospital. Yet another Man of Science vs. Man of Faith argument.

Talk to me about this: Wasn't Locke's near-suicide an EXACT parallel of Brooks Hatlen's sad demise in the epic Shawshank Redemption? Think about it: Brooks couldn't function as a free man. He couldn't handle living beyond the confines of his "nirvana," i.e., the prison. It's all he knew for years and years. Similarly, Locke is lost (ha) when he has the advantages of population and technology at his disposal. He feels lonely and unused to living in that world. Consider this: he'll choose knives over guns every time. He's a no frills kind of dude. On-island, he's a natural hero. He has the use of his legs. He's the leader of The Others. Off-island, even the Oceanic Six have no time for him and scorn him as a "lonely old man." Discuss!

Ben killed John the same way Sawyer killed John's dad. Also: Ben has now "killed" John twice. But he always comes back to life...

See you next week, LOST fans!

Image credit: Lostpedia.org

LOST Analysis: Random, Late Thoughts in No Particular Order

It's late, but I managed to write a few quick thoughts on this week's LOST episode, "This Place is Death":

Jin's finding the music box that Robert gave Danielle is reminiscent of the glass ballerina Sun breaks in... uh, "The Glass Ballerina."

Wow, confirmation that DANIELLE has simply been cra this whole time?!!

Charlotte pointing out that she also speaks Klingon a shout-out to the most sci fi show there IS, Star Trek.

Fictional band Geronimo Jackson is referenced for the millionth time

The fact that Charlotte's mother tells Charlotte that the island wasn't real and was made it up like Oz. In Return to Oz, Aunt Em tried to convince Dorothy she'd made up her trip to Oz.

I'm so glad there was a meat cleaver conveniently located near the well for Jin's convenience when he threatens Locke not to bring back Sun.

Canton-Ranier truck - Canton-Ranier is an anagram for "reincarnation"

What's up with the way Daniel dresses? Seriously. He's so hipster with that skinny tie, it's hard to believe he's on the island and not in Williamsburg.

I don't believe Locke is dead. Like Tony Almeida on 24, I'll believe it when I see his BONES.

LOST Analysis: Can I Get a Black Guy?

The title of this post is courtesy of my friend Sally who hilariously pointed out that Abbadon and Walt are TOTES MIA and have been for the entire season thus far. Also, men of color don't seem to have a good track record on the island. See exhibits A-D: Eko, Yemi, Michael and Bea Klugh, who's obv not a guy, but still, WTF?

The Little Prince

The episode's title is The Little Prince, obv, a nod to the eponymous book read the world over by young French language students (myself included, obv). In The Little Prince, French aviator Antoine Saint-Exupéry (the author) begins with a pilot being marooned in the desert in a damaged aircraft. Saint Exupéry himself was marooned in the Sahara (although at the time, his location was not known to him) for four days until he was rescued by a Bedouin. Let's discuss also: Aaron resembles the Little Prince looks-wise. Check out Doc Jensen's far more in-depth coverage of The Little Prince parallels in his February 4 column. This excerpt is especially interesting:

Consider the broad strokes of The Little Prince's plot. Spoiler alert! After a series of stops on other meteorites, the Little Prince is marooned on Earth. He is full of regret. He now realizes he should never have left his meteorite and his complicated little flower. At one point, the Little Prince learns from a wise fox that ''you become responsible for what you've tamed.'' The fox explains that these tamed ''things'' are your friends — the people who've come to trust you, love you, and depend on you because of the amount of time you've invested in their lives. In the final chapters, you get the sense that the immense distance from the place where he truly belongs is literally killing the Little Prince. As the troubled hero's wisdom and maturity grow and his existential/physical crisis intensifies, I get a strong whiff of Jack — especially when you reach the part where the Little Prince makes a risky pact with a deadly, duplicitous snake (read: Ben) that will resolve, once and for all, his homesick alien blues. Might this conclusion foreshadow — thematically or literally — Jack's (or someone's) ''Return to the Island'' story line? Something to consider over the next few episodes. Do you love it? I do.

I predicted when we saw the light in the forest that it was from the hatch and that the screams were Claire giving birth. All of this gives credence to Doc Jensen's prediction that whispers are indeed the losties running into their former selves and speaking amongst themselves trying not to disturb them. I was unimpressed with Locke's "knowledge" that he knew "when" they were to the day simply because he saw the hatch light. Wasn't it implied that Desmond used that sunlight-simulating lamp on a regular? Just because Locke saw it on that one night (which happened to be when Aaron was born) doesn't mean that that was a one-time experience. I'm under the impression that happened any time Desmond was up and about, which very well could have been deep into the night. Any time the dude turned on a lamp, that beam of light would occur. What do you think about that? I think it's a rare instance of sloppy LOST writing/incontinuity.

Every time Dan Norton was being chased by Jack and Kate, I envisioned them cornering him and instead of asking him who he was working for, I pictured them asking him how we as a people in a world could possibly get ABC to put My So-Called Life back on air. BT dubs, I think the name Norton (and we know names always mean something on this show) is a nod to the Norton Anthology, with which any college lit major should be familiar. The tome includes a cluster of texts which an overview of prose, poetry, essays, and drama. Much like LOST's references themselves, n'est-ce pas? Claire's mother emerged as per ush from the shadows as she opened the door once again in the rain.

The French scientist brigade crashing on the island 16 years ago scene was GENIUS. GENIUS. I like that they didn't cast the actress who plays Alex as Danielle Rousseau, but I don't love whom they chose. She seems too young to be playing a 16 years younger Rousseau, right? I mean, granted, girlfriend's been exposed to some SERIOUS elements (the perils of not packing your CHANEL Sublimage, right?) but she must be about 37 AT LEAST right now. And so, she must be about 21 at the youngest when she arrived on-island. The girl they have playing her looks about 17 and just doesn't look like Rousseau. I have to give the casting director a feh on that one. They could have done better.

YAY FOR JIN, he of two walking cheekbones fame! I was wrong about my prediction (which normally I'd HATE, by the way... but if Jin being dead is wrong, I don't want to be right.) Was the final scene not SO reminiscent of Sixteen Candles' Long Duck Dong's confusion post high school party bender when his foster parents find him "sleeping it off" outside on the yard? Poor Jin. Also, I was pretty relieved that the French group spoke English. I mean, the dude goes to such trouble to learn a foreign language and suddenly he's marooned (in space and time) with a gaggle of French scientists?

I'm also loving the Ajira Airways little gem of a subplot.

Lastly, I think Kate looks THE BEST SHE'S EVER LOOKED in this episode. Her eye makeup and hair are flawless. Even Sun's suit fit her perfectly. I'm going to try to figure out EXACTLY what her hair procedure/concept entailed. I'll keep you posted, obv.

See you next week, LOST fans! And don't forget to tell me what you think in the comments.

Image credit: ew.com

LOST Analysis: Latin. Time Travel. Matthew Fox. If I could marry a show, I'd marry LOST.

Ellie (pictured, left) rocks Whitney Port twists on the island circa 1954! She's so on-trend!

Guys, I've KIND OF failed you. Last night, I had far too many glasses of Sauvignon Blanc with my friend Amber and made friends with some Brits only to arrive home not very prepared to watch LOST at 10pm. I did watch, but I was a bit tipsy AND didn't have a chance to watch it twice, as I usually like to do. I plan to rewatch it tonight. That said, however, I did notice a few things:

Eyeliner Richard returns! Is Richard a VAMPIRE? That's the only way this show could get better. When Juliette responds that Richard is simply "old," when asked how old he IS, I found it to be very Twilight, specifically Edward's scene in the meadow, n'est-ce pas?
Bella: "How long have you been 17?"
Edward: "A while."

I think Ellie is a younger Ms. Hawking and I think (and I'm surely not alone here) that she marries Widmore and has Daniel Faraday with him.

WIDMORE is Daniel's benefactor Great Expectations style. It's also pretty wild that he's an Other.

Charlie is the name of Desmond's baby. Interesting that it's the name of Charles Widmore (the man who went to great lengths to keep star-crossed lovers Penny and Des apart) and Charlie Pace (the man who died so that they could be together).

Says Richard, "We have a very specific process for selecting our leaders." Like that of the Dalai Lama. Also, I am glad to see that Locke is a fellow Gemini (born May 30, 1956).

Thank you, LOST, for reaffirming that Latin is the "language of the enlightened." As a Latin scholar, I've always thought as much.

My brother pointed out a painting of a polar bear that said "Namaste" hanging in Widmore's office when Desmond went to speak with him. It doesn't get more Dharma Inish than that, does it?

What did you think? Share in the comments!

LOST Analysis: Let's Do The Time Warp Dance.

Doc Jensen (who I want to BE when I grow up) pointed out that the show's title "Because You Left" refers to non sci-fi embracing (fairweather, in my opinion) LOST fans dropping off either last season or the season prior. I.e., because you left, we've now made it a full-on sci-fi SITUATION. And I'm totally into it. And obv, you, my geequals, are too. So on with the analysis. Here's what I've got.

A clock showing the time 8:15AM (two of the NUMBERS! HA! These people think we're amateurs) opens the premiere. The Dr. Pierre Chang/Marvin Candle/Mark Wickman/Edgar Halliwax opening scene is highly reminiscent of Desmond's opening scene of the season 2 premiere in the hatch. Except, you know, that was totes novel at the time, and this somehow felt a bit like the writers were calling it in. Least riveting season opener yet, guys. I have high hopes for this season (there's nothing I adore more than time travel) but compared to the other season openers... this one fell a bit flat. I mean, Desmond in the hatch, followed by the tailies, followed by Otherville, etc. Faraday as one of the Dharma Initiative-ers was kind of impressive. But overall, I wasn't as jazzed about the opening scene as I usually am. But then again, LOST is like pizza, isn't it? Even when it's bad... it's still good.

I did, however, enjoy that Pierre/Marvin/Mark/Edgar's record (which plays Willie Nelson's Shotgun Willie) starts skipping foreshadowing the skipping through time the castaways are in for. It's all very Quantum Leap, n'est-ce pas?

Some things I noticed in the two episodes in no particular order:

Did Sawyer gain a little baby bit of weight? Is he eating his feelings due to separation anxiety from Kate?

The dad from My So-Called Life is one of the lawyers who comes to get blood samples from Aaron and Kate. BT dubs, his name is Dan Norton (on the show). Some googling tells me that Dan Norton is a comic book artist who broke through with Dark Horse. "Make sure to pack your True Religions, Kate," my friend Lauren remarked as Kate threw stuff in a suitcase. Hilar.

Did you catch the references to Weekend at Bernie's (unconscious Sayid rocking shades in Hurley's car) and Garden State (when Sayid kills the dude on the open dishwasher)?

Thank the Lawd the Faux Steve Buscemi/Neil was killed right off. I have no time for that dude's annoying personality all season long.

I believe off-island John Locke took something to make him appear dead, Romeo and Juliet-style. Perhaps something to make his heart stop temporarily. Tale as old as time...

Eyeliner Richard ISN'T wearing eyeliner. It's just so hard to accept. P.S. Emily told me that Nestor appreciated her dispelling the rumor that he rocks guyliner. And she told me HE READ THIS BLOG. Eyeliner Richard (sorry, Nestor - I can't stop calling you that) READ BBJ. In the words of Rachel Zoe, I die. But anyway, is it not wild that Eyeliner Richard gave Locke his compass, one of the items he showed Locke in his Dalai Lama test from back in the day?

I think that at some point in time (ha!) during these flashes, the losties are GOING to run into their counterparts in an earlier timeline just as Marty McFly did in Back to the Future II.

Hurley's shih tzu shirt was pure comic GENIUS.

Desmond needs to go back to Oxford University to find Faraday's mother, who is clearly Ms. Hawking.

Some questions:

Nice bonded teeth, Ana Lucia. What dentist are you seeing in the afterlife?

Who is Jill, the butcher?

Why does Sun show Kate a pic of a baby Ji-Yeon, who should be about 3 by this point?

If the castaways are toggling through time, does that mean that Locke will at some point lose the use of his legs (unless that's already happened thanks to Ethan) and Rose will again be sick thanks to course correcting?

And the REAL question: Why is that sexy Jack driving that fachachta chocolate mousse jeep? Can't that dude get a better car? He's a doctor AND a millionaire. For the love.

See you next week, LOST fans! Until then, it's hairspray and lipgloss.

Toodles,
Amber

Image credit: lostpedia.org

LOST Makeup Artist Emily Katz Answers BBJ's Burning Beauty Questions

I am SO excited to share with you the rest of my interview with LOST Makeup Department Supervisor, Emily Katz! Emily is truly one of the sweetest, most genuine people I've dealt with in the industry and she provided me (and you!) with some fantastic information about how she gets the ladies (and men!) of LOST ready for their respective close-ups. How does she deal with creating natural-looking makeup that doesn't run in the hot Hawaii clime? What products does she use when shooting in HD? Read on and find out!

Beauty Blogging Junkie: Can you tell me a bit about your background and how you ended up working as a makeup artist for LOST?

Emily Katz: My work began as a fine artist, and I am a watercolorist to this day. I also sculpt. To encapsulate a very long tale: I modeled in the haute couture world of runway, and was recognized in that realm as I was executing makeup. Fashion led to movies and television, and ultimately to LOST. I've been doing movie/television makeup for over 20 years! I also have my esthetician and esthetician instructor licenses. I am medical level although I do not practice actively in that field; I just get to invoke my expertise in skin onto the makeup world that I inhabit.

BBJ: I read that you love Benefit's She Laq ($30, pictured, left), and I do, too! What other products do you recommend for natural looks that still look gorgeous onscreen?

EK: SheLaq is a absolute must have. It just rocks. Period! Benefit also makes a terrific sheer foundation called Some Kind-A Gorgeous ($28) that comes in Deep and Light, which I use on a couple of the lead women solely. And on a lot of guest stars. It is ever-so-natural and light as a feather.

BBJ: What are your top tips for applying natural-looking makeup?

EK: Funnily enough, we use a lot of Chapstick ($2) on set: the Vanilla Mint, the Moisturizing, the Cherry, the Strawberry... everyone has a different favorite! There are a couple other lip balms we throw in the mix: Neutrogena ($7) and Blistex Complete Moisture. The balms we use provide the right amount of mattification without looking ridiculous. We also use Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 ($7), Smith's Rosebud Salve ($6), B. Kamins Lip SPF 20 ($19), and Shiseido Protective Lip Conditioner. The cardinal rule: if it's shiny, it's not used for the "island look," as we call it.

BBJ: How do you do a nude/natural lip that still doesn't look washed-out on-screen?

EK: We use A LOT of the aforementioned Chapstick. That's pretty much it unless one of the ladies is freezing and I balance her lipcolor with CHANEL Precision Lip Definer in Natural ($28), which is about as nude as it gets! Stila also has a great pencil that reads as very natural.

BBJ: What new products have you added to your arsenal to accommodate for blu_ray/high definition TVs?

EK: We don't shoot in HD, so I address our work as filmic. HD essentially magnifies four times more than our eyes naturally see and the reflective sheen under the skin is enhanced. I found a couple of products that translate well into real life from that experience. Frankly, it was requiring a much heavy hand in some areas than I gravitate toward. But when I do work with HD, I like to use Make Up For Ever HD Powder ($30). It's fantastic, sheer, can you build on it without it getting cakey. One thing about HD, makeup and powder build-up looks really awful. I also like Jurlique Rose Silk Powder ($36) for setting the makeup for most of the women on the show. I use RCMA No Color Powder ($8) to set the actresses who have allergies to scent, (Jurlique's fragrances are all natural, it is a gorgeous product, and, as all their products are, green!) and for the guys that I do.

Another trick is to use blotting papers before touch-up powder. I do this on LOST for the clean glow that I favor. It works for real life too, as it diminishes shine and reduces amount of powder needed. If you want a velvety matte finish, the powder after the blot.

For on-set touch-ups, I use CHANEL Pressed Powder ($43) or MAC Blot Powders ($21). I found in true HD, however, the CHANEL and MAC weren't dense enough. CARGO makes a great HD Blush/Highlighter ($27). It can be too light for many as just blush, but it offers a beautiful color on top of a cream blush.

BBJ: What is the greatest challenge you've faced thus far working on the show?

EK: One of the greatest challenges I've faced on the show is the actual environment we work in. We sometimes have to sit in the jungle in the rain or damp humidity for several hours and all the cast have to keep their "look" consistent throughout some rather long shooting days. In addition, most of the women are actually quite pale, and it's a challenge to "keep their levels up," as we say on the show, so as not to break the consistency and 'reality' we've created so there's no false note to any viewer's eye. With the heat, humidity, bug spray, sweat spray (water) and sunscreens repeatedly sprayed on top of and under the makeup, it's been challenging to find something to stay on with durability throughout the day, look great, and not send the actresses' skin to the moon with irritation.That's one of the reasons SheLaq has become one of my best friends and is now an ABSOLUTE! I no longer deal with running mascara.

But with all the environmental/situational challenges, I really enjoy the cast, who have got to be collectively, some of the most wonderful people I've worked with thus far in my career, particularly as a unit. The work is an adventure too, as I get to execute beauty and distressed looks which all have to be totally believable and seamless. There is no opportunity for our work to look false at any moment. I work hand-in-hand with my colleagues who help create some of the most fantastically brilliant work on television.

Though the climate presents challenges, I do love being in Hawaii. Even if the day is seeming crummy, one look out at the ocean at the turtles and whales, and well, it becomes a grand day after all! The people of Hawaii have been the most gracious hosts to us, and it is an experience I will treasure my entire life.

BBJ: Can you give me a run-down of your most-used products on-set other than any you've already mentioned?

EK: Here's a list of my favorite items to use on-set:

LaMer the Concentrate ($350)

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara Waterproof ($7)

Estee Lauder Illusionist Waterproof Mascara: it's discontinued, but I love it!

Clarins Eye Balm ($48): We call it 'the de-poufer' cause it REALLY works and doesn't irritate eyes, nor is it blue or tinted! I carry it in my purse always.

Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer ($14, pictured above)

Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30+ ($58)

Jan Marini Sunscreen ($50)

Stila Rouge Pots ($20)

MAC Moistureblend SPF 15 ($29)

Make Up For Ever Face and Body Makeup ($38)

Pevonia Evolution Eyecream ($60)

La Roche-Posay Eye Gel ($27)

Anthelios Sunscreens ($30)

Julie Hewett Lipsticks: especially in Nude Noir- Julie Hewett's reds are to die for as well.

Actifirm's Hot Stop After Sun Flame Quencher ($38): This stuff has mitigated sunburns that were furious. Their product line is pretty incredible and the After Sun is more than anything I ever expected. It rocks.

THANK you to Emily for providing such thorough, thoughtful answers to my questions! Check out her work when you watch the LOST season 5 premiere TOMORROW, January 21st at 8pm. The phenom Jeff Jensen has alluded in EW to the fact that there will be much time travel involved in this season. I couldn't be more into it if I TRIED.

Product Polygamy Week: Bath & Body

Happy Friday, dolls! Are you as over this week as I am? I hope you have fantast MLK weekend plans. Mine include a fam party in central New Jersey to which I'm going to somehow figure out some transportation, a LOT of laundry, some movies (I saw Revolutionary Road last night - depressing, but the flick featured some awesome retro hair and makeup), and some blog writing. I'll be posting my full interview with LOST makeup artist Emily Katz on Monday, so check back in then!

Yay for THAT AND for the season premiere on Wednesday, which I will be taking in with my friend Lauren at our favorite LOST bar. This bar shows new LOST episodes in an enormous room with couches and provides shots every time someone says "The Others" and free drinks anytime someone gets killed. It's AMAZING.

Anywho, I digress. Product Polygamy Week concludes with the Bath & Body category! Oh, and thanks to the hilarious Beth Shapouri who writes for the Glamour Girls in the Beauty Department Blog for giving Daneen and me a shout-out yesterday!

Here are the B & B products I've decided deserve Barb, Nicki, and Margene status:

PERFUME

The Barb: Burberry Classic

The Nicki: Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne

The Margene: Fresh Mangosteen Eau de Parfum


SHOWER GEL/SOAP

The Barb: Organic Apoteke Body Cleanse Gel in Sicilian Orange & Mandarin

The Nicki: Kings & Queens George III Lime Shower Gel

The Margene: Philosophy Falling in Love Perfumed Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath


LOTION/MOISTURIZER

The Barb: Kai Body Butter

The Nicki: BODY by Sonya Dakar Nourishing Body Oil in Verbena Cypress

The Margene: Biotherm Baume Ultra Riche


HAIR REMOVAL

The Barb: Whish Shave Crave

The Nicki: Venus Embrace

The Margene: Eos Evolution of Smooth Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream

Don't forget to head over to Spoiled Pretty to check out Daneen's Bath & Body Polygamy Week final feature!