most of us can remember going to prom – a major part of growing up.  picking out the perfect dress was an important part of that experience.  then you needed jewelry, makeup, and hair to complete the experience.  last thursday, our stila team was able to relive this experience and participate in a great cause.

we were at CHOC hospital where dakota fanning helped 35 cancer patients and cancer survivors pick out dresses and jewelry (provided by bcbg and forever 21) for the hospitals upcoming annual prom. 

after the girls chose a dress, the stila team taught the girls how to apply their makeup and frederic fekkai stylists provided hair consultations.  every girl was so beautiful and inspiring.  we felt honored to be a part of this incredible day and hope all of the girls have so much fun at their prom.

a special thanks to dakota fanning who took time out of her busy schedule to work one on one with each girl.  she was a delight to be with and we are anxious to see her upcoming movie “now is good” where she plays a leukemia sufferer.  

hey stila fans!  check out this amazing article in "women’s enterprise usa" magazine about lynn tilton, stila owner and CEO of patriarch partners.  we are honored to work for such a talented and inspiring woman.

i always say “great makeup begins with great skin.”  we may not have perfect skin naturally, but makeup can help.  i believe that women want to look like the best version of themselves.  a healthy fresh face is a great place to start, and often heavy makeup can be unflattering or unnecessary.

3 simple things.  moisturize.  use sunscreen.  and please, do not sleep in your makeup!

a little bit of shimmer is your best friend.  i use a luminizing serum daily and top it off with stila’s illuminating tinted moisturizer to make my skin look smooth.  also, I love blush!  whenever I am feeling down or tired, i put more blush on – it’s an instant pick-me-up. 

first, love your face!  it’s the only one you are going to have.  every woman has imperfections.  that’s what makes us unique and special.  and when the unexpected blemish pops up before a first date – that’s what concealer is for!  i like to stipple perfecting concealer on blemishes and then set with pressed powder.  it’s a great trick that works like a charm!

i am a big believer in selecting great skin care products that work for you.  the prep work is half the battle when it comes to great skin.  invest in a good moisturizer, eye cream, and sunscreen. and try exfoliating if you don’t already – it will help your makeup go on smoother.

do you remember the days when you walked up to the beauty counter and were categorized as a winter, spring, summer, or fall?  there was definitely something nice about those rules.  in a way, the knowledge it provided was empowering.  however, it was also limiting, keeping us in a box, when the beauty world had unlimited possibilities.  today, how do you blend the two concepts?  we have an idea.  focus on balanced beauty.  you will always feel confident but not unnecessarily restricted.  and achieving balanced beauty is simple.  read below for more information.

balanced beauty is all about harmony with your makeup.  when you look at someone whose makeup is balanced, everything makes sense – sort of like a great outfit.

do not confuse balance with neutral/natural.  colors are great.  just make sure they do not clash! 

sticking to a warm, cool, or neutral look is a great way to maintain balance with your makeup.  this is why we love our convertible colors.  they encourage harmony in your makeup, allowing you to use the same color on your lips and cheeks. 

keep in mind that you are not restricted to warm, cool, or neutral.  change it up.  wear a warm look one day and a cool look the next.  have fun.  this is what we love about makeup!

always remember that neutrals go with everything!

lastly, do not over think.  if it doesn’t look right, you will know.  that’s what being an artist is all about J

have you seen hbo’s new show “femme fatales”?  if not, you are missing out.  it’s a great new tv show.  we love everything about it, especially the makeup.  in fact, regan livingston, the show’s makeup artist has been using stila on set.  she just sent us these stunning photos for you to see.  aren’t they amazing?!!  we think so.