Global Color Artist: Marcus Daniels

For the first time ever, I received a hair experience that would be hard to forget, not including the color.

Marcus Daniels does not mess around- or does he?

The L.A. local and Aspen, CO global coloring artist is one of a kind. He is not there to talk about life’s problems, your personal relationships, or to give you advice on what to wear out that evening- he is there to create, and explore passionately with the work he loves.

The easy-going, yet high strung full of contradictions artist, buzzed around comfortably in the Beverly Hills salon of Guiseppe Franco, known for the high quality experience and diversity in image. The salon is family, the staff jokes and does not take much besides hair seriously.

Marcus Daniels is a down-to-earth, fun hearted, ‘it isn’t work because it is something I love’ genius. One long, thoughtful look at my ends and my roots, and he was mixing together color like I was the pallet for the Sistine Chapel.

No foil needed, he is an artist, and prefers to paint and treat me as a masterpiece. My quest for the all-natural J Anniston look was easily fulfilled, added with a touch of what Marcus described as ‘Manhattan beach hottie’ flavor. On top of my base he ran his fingers through my hair and picked out random pieces to baliage, a technique truly as fascinating as the word itself.

For a color that defines no one other than you, and if you have an open personality for something more than a normal salon conversation or experience, contact Marcus Daniels. Don’t forget to ask for Leo and Angel to wash your hair, and Vanessa for a voluptuous, beautiful, blow- dry!

ThinkThruFashion Accessory Swap Soiree with Michael Stars

This Monday, ThinkThruFashion along with Michael Stars put on quite the event at Avalon’s hotel in Beverly Hills to help celebrate the first six months of the staple fashion line, ttF.

Everything was carefully planned from the venue, free make over’s by Youngblood beauty, a raffle with unbelievable give-a-ways, and the food and spirits- not to mention those mini cupcakes I could not keep my hands off of.

The Accessory Swap Soiree was a great way to bring together 100 of LA’s top fashion bloggers, beauty bloggers and editors to mingle and lounge in a chic environment where they felt most comfortable. Everyone was invited to bring a piece of jewelry to swap upon arrival at the event. I was seriously bummed I had left my sort of lame silver ball necklace in the car when another cute blonde walked by with a new L.A.M.B watch by my all time staple icon Gwenny-Gwen herself. Standard Bella, better luck next time!

I was most impressed by the charity both contributors chose to support, Mariska Hargitay’s The Joyful Heart Foundation, which works to help end sexual assault, and domestic violence. At the end of the night, the beauty and fashion fans of LA donated over $680 to the cause and ThinkThruFashion and Michael Stars matched it bringing the grand total to $2,000.

Congratulations to ThinkThru and Michael Stars for putting on a fabulous, innovative night that had all the nuts and bolts thought of to make a successful, enjoyable event for all.

Ladies Night On Caress

GRAZIE A MILLE to Caress Beauty for pampering six lovely ladies this last Friday night, we had a blast!

Caress treated six beautiful L.A. beauty lovers to a fun- filled night in Hollywood at Drais.

Ms. Nadine Jolie and I, pose in our lounge-tastic cabana at the club

My Beauty Video Debut

LiQWd Hair Care

Utterly, completely, effortlessly, speechless.

My new hair line staple to live and breathe by: LiQWd Hair Care.

LiQWD features exclusive Nano-Hydrasphere™ and ColorLife® Technology that penetrates the hair shaft, resulting in hydrated, more volumized hair.

BRING ON THE BIG. I always have had a craving to snag Big Sexy Hair products when walking down the beauty aisle because of the cut throat advertising: “Big, Sexy, Hair.” That particular hair line can give you what you are looking for with a fine pick comb and a lot of un-needed hairspray, but LiQWd Hair Care does it all and more in a 5 min shower.

The lovely Jolie let Bella take home some of the beloved hair products to try for herself and I may testify: I have never been oh- so- pleased.

My favorite product out of the hair care line is the LiQWd Professional Volumizing Catalyst. I was blessed to be born with angel-fine locks that split at the sight of a curling iron, and set flat at the sight of sun. With a few 10-20 spritz of LiQWd Catalyst all over my roots and penetrated through to my ends, I was born a voluptuous Marilyn Monroe, effortlessly. 

Check out LiQWd hair care on face book to find out more great deals and give-a-ways on the oh-so-bellisima line Bella cannot put down.

Bella’s Beauty Favorita’s

M-A-C Zoom Lash: Continual self talks involving pure amazement. I always find myself experiencing internal reactions while applying M-A-C’s Zoom lash mascara. This product is great for adding length without the clump or the mess- and did I mention it sets on quick?

M-A-C Opulash Mascara: For all of you Dior lovers that cannot afford to buy the $30 tube each month, try M-A-C Opulash. Same volume results, easier on the pocketbook, and will last a lot longer than Dior without the clump.

Bare Minerals: Along with my boss Jolie, I am obsessed. Bare Minerals applies lightweight and is healthy for your skin. I always forget I am wearing face make up when applied. Did I mention SPF included, cancer gurus? There is no way I could be swayed to pressed powder again; I am branded Bare for eternity.

M-A-C Lipstick & Lip Glass: You name a look you wish to achieve, add a touch of creativity and M-A-C can no doubt provide it. Lip glass and lip sticks in pink, coral tangerine, light lavender, and my all time staple- bright Russian red are all fun to try and can add spunk to any style. After all, Gwen Stefani and her bright red lipstick is more than ‘Just a Girl’ look, but a sophisticated style icon, my Libra vice, and is one of my favorites.

BE Inspired Serum for Hair by Beverly Hills: Leaves my hair with the ultimate silky sensation and even better endless reactions to my natural looking shine. Yeah for Argan Oil!

Kai products: Another Bella staple I cannot live without. I love you Kai, enough said. The smooth cream-colored lotion smells of natural oils and scents geared to bring out emotion. I always feel like I should immediately wrap into yoga’s child’s pose and lay calmly after applying.

OPI: I want to meet the creative director of OPI. You are one smart, innovative cookie. Thank you for continually creating timeless and trendy colors for all to express their personal style. Bella’s favorites: Lincoln Park in the Dark, Bare foot in Barcelona, Privacy Please, Modern Girl, and my recent favorite I cannot put down, You Don’t Know Jacques.

(Side note I find hilarious: You know you intern for a beauty writer and should pursue the beauty industry when you can scare random members checking in at Equinox, by calling the nail polish color out they are wearing just by glance).

Hempz Products: If the logo does not sell you, the effects will. Hemps exfoliations and moisturizers are great for dry skin, and are one bang for their buck. I always feel extra hydrated and clean after applying.

Victoria’s Secret: Hello Bombshell, you had me, Bella, at “hello”, hence half of my wardrobe consists of you. Whether it is a new fixating sensual scent to try, or a new coral pair of panties, consider me already sold.

Chocolate Sun

Two things women seem to be addicted to. Truth be told Chocolate Sun isn’t a drink (unfortunately), or retail therapy that generously provides sweet tasting calories (again, unfortunate), but only the best spray tan I have ever experienced.

Yes, we are going to talk about SPRAY tanning. Disregard the streaks running down your leg and listen up LA fair skinned!

Located in Manhattan Beach (Bella’s favorite niche town in LA), Santa Monica, and West Hollywood, the tanning salon is known for their high quality and organic spray tans.

At first I was expecting my usual spray tan that I would have to grudgingly bring out my exfoliate brush 8 hours later and work at my skin just to achieve the perfect- not too orange, fake but subtle-glow. High quality and organic spray advertising meant nothing to a transplant sprayer- it only reminded me of how everything else in LA is advertised, including Whole Foods.

Regardless, I didn’t need advertising to convince me to spend my money in a tanning salon. We were leaving for a co-ed adventure to Catalina and I was desperate for any chance to look like I wasn’t from Antarctica- or Idaho.

Lovely fair skinned women of LA and around the globe- find Chocolate Sun. High quality and organic is not just another standard LA logo, but now has a whole new meaning for me, I am addicted.

The spray went on even, not a streak to be found, and a very *chocolate color. My date even complimented me later that evening how ‘not fake’ my tan looked. Take it from the breed of California men, ladies, (what a compliment)!

You will receive a discount on your first experience with Chocolate Sun, and the price for the quality of the long lasting chocolate glaze you will receive, I say forcefully with enthusiasm and faith, “Spray on Raggazzi”.

STORM of London Press Event

Each year, excuse me, each month- the tech brains of the world (shout out to Apple), bring us a fun updated device the sophisticated 12 year old and enthusiastic 60 year old can both enjoy. The smart phones of the world continually get more innovative, and… smarter?

What about other consumer goods? STORM of London, a UK company available in 53 countries, and now based strong out of SF, brings jewelry and fashion to whole new level of innovative and smart (watch out Apple).

These last few weeks Bella has been given the opportunity to cover Jolie’s schedule while she plays in Europe, including attending press events (tough life, I know).

One of which was held last night at the Lady Liberty Building downtown LA, viewing STORM’s new line of jewelry- most to be available by the end of June. Pick a personality, and STORM has found a way to showcase it. All the way from ‘Jenny on the block’s’ glitz and glam bossy style to the sophisticated Audrey Hepburn cuff- and all that comes in between. Prices range for the women’s pieces from $120-$500.

Make way Nordstrom Anniversary sale, unusual ceramic and sapphire pieces that create instant reaction over your standard Michael Kors is here, for half the price.

Ladies with a power male, or someone you know with a boss style other than HUGO- check out the male collection of watches, (Hero, Omni, and Vulcan) just to name a few. STORM left nothing behind and took it one step further than other brands with mirrored reflection watches and tricks for your average pyro- the torch flame.

Bella’s picks:

Mia: Go big or go home- jewelry is all about making a statement, and this piece does nothing less; textured polished gold steel, sophisticated, classy and chick.

Kanti: Comes in a variety of coral colors (yes I said corals, only Bella’s favorite)! The watch also looks stunning in white and gold- perfect for summer, only $120. Yes please?

Ladies Hero: Models the male version of the watch which instantly gives you the in charge, ‘excuse me’, rolex feel. I don’t know about you all- but Bella weighs all of about… well, nothing. Jewelry should be a happy hour discussion: the bigger, the more obnoxious, the better.

STORM of London left us with a watch from their new collection that already had people stopping me street side in Manhattan Beach. STORM- you nailed conversation, make Apple jealous and keep ticking for us fashionistas, will you?

Keep an eye out for the new STORM London collection in Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, American Rag, and on their website at http://www.stormwatches.com

My Beauty Debut at the Covergirl Event

Internship. There are many definitions. Some include coffee runs, making copies, getting yelled at for absolutely nothing. My internship however, is one of the better ends of the deal. I love my boss. She is a constant reminder of what I want to be- not just with her profession, but how she carries herself in her every day life encounters and situations. Working for someone you look up to and admire is ten times more motivating then working for someone who doesn’t respect you and could care less if you were standing in the room.

As a result of this kind of relationship, an intern for Nadine Jolie, I was lucky enough to tag along on my first beauty debut at Byron  & Tracy salon in Beverly Hills. The best of the beauty bloggists (lovely meeting you ladies) of LA were in attendance to watch make up artist Molly Stern prepare Rashida Jones for the red carpet. Jones, I absolutely adore her gladiator sandals with the messy hair all the way to her sophisticated and intelligent remarks.

Covergirl left us with an adorable handbag by Matt and Natt, which already has received a plethora of comments, along with some fun new make-up products to try.

My favorite product sample from the event is the Simply Ageless Serum Primer by Covergirl & Olay. This is a perfect product for a long night out with the girls, or that other somebody. The thick base provides you with the feeling that your make up will last on for each event you encounter that night, and ironically- it is great for healing and repairing your skin. Who knew?