Butter LA - Spreading the Word on All Things Beautiful.

Perhaps I should begin with a little background.

My name is Kat.  I’m 23 years old and work within the “beauty” industry

I hope you enjoy my posts.

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Winter doesn’t quite affect Southern California like it does elsewhere around the globe.  My fellow Angelenos and I are quite the weather babies.  Should the temperature dip below 67 degrees, our veins turn a jade green and our oscillating Valley accents become interfered by teeth chattering.  We don’t have the sense to bundle up in parkas and winter coats, either.  I am quite guilty of this.  But in my 23 years.. it wasn’t until my 22nd that I sought out other alternatives.  I’ve vowed to not be that girl who ends long, romantic walks at night due her better lack of judgment (and  excessively, unattractive shivering). No longer will I approach Winter with meaningless layers.. here’s to bringing some soul into your fashion.

December 1st, 2009 | Tags: About, Fashion, Winter | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“Be daring. Be different. Be impractical. Be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” - Elsa Schiaparelli

Hello.

November 25th, 2009 | Tags: quotes | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

On Grammy night, we caught up with visionary hair care guru Philip B in Hollywood.  Philip takes us on a tour of his collection and teaches us a ton about hair.  Thoughts?

February 13th, 2009 | Tags: beauty, celebrity, chai, grammys, hair care, shampoo | Category: Butter Beauty, Fashion, How to, Uncategorized | Comments (1)

We’re thrilled today at Butter to have the opportunity to learn how it’s done from a beauty industry titan. Gang, we present  Too Faced Cosmetics CEO,  creative genius and all around great guy  Jerrod Blandino.

Jerrod, tell us how you got your start in makeup?
I got a job behind the counter for Estee Lauder. It was the first and last company I’d work for before creating Too Faced.

Who were your major inspirations growing up? Have they changed throughout the years?

Madonna, H.R. Puffenstuff, Gaultier, Strawberry Shortcake, Coco Chanel,  My Grandmother, and Tootie from “The Facts of Life”

What did you do prior to working in makeup?

I was an art teacher for kids, preschool to 6th grade.

Photo by: Scott Nathan

http://www.scottnathan.com

What steps did you take toward the creation of Too Faced Cosmetics?

I had quickly become obsessed with all things makeup. I began to destroy every tester in the cosmetics department at Saks where I worked and created some amazing signature products which I would sell to my clients. Jeremy my partner and the business brains saw an opportunity and together we sought out labs and made our dreams come true!

If not cosmetics, what alternative careers could you see yourself working in?
Television. For sure! I think I would be Kelly Rippa, with a penis of course!

One of the most asked questions we receive is “Why TOO and not TWO Faced?”  Can you explain the inspiration behind your company’s name?
Too Faced is a term we coined working behind the counter for those makeup junkies who would completely melt down if we were out of their favorite lipstick or if their one of their signature products was discontinued. They were just too obsessed with their looks, ya know; “TOO” faced?! It’s beyond vain, and I loved them for it!

I know it’s like picking a favorite child, but what is your absolute favorite product from the Too Faced line?
It’s gotta be Lash Injection mascara. Not only did it completely turn the cosmetics industry on it’s ear with it’s 3D polymer that builds tubes around each lash that expand and stretch; but it’s the best selling product in our entire 10 plus years in business. I’m quite proud of that. And it’s just fucking AMAZING!

What are your best beauty tips for the “On-the-Go” girl who is super busy?  What products are essential for completing a look?
You must have a great bronzer that works with your skin tone (we have 7 now I believe, it keeps growing because I’m obsessed with the various tones, textures, and nuances of a great tan for every occasion and skin-tone), The perfect mascara (Lash Injection of course), a pinky-nude lip color ( Totally Nude lipstick), and a second-skin of a foundation to even out blotchy or problem areas (my Magic Wand foundation is based in sea water and marine minerals so it helps to keep skin clear and healthy and it’s finish is almost cashmere like, the perfect skin texture you had when you were like 7 or 8 years old!)

What modern day person do you believe encompasses the Too Faced girl? Why?
Gwen Stefani, she bold, sexy, feminine, fabulous, confident, and self assured!

Too Faced is no stranger to helping a cause.  You created the Betsy Baby duo-shadow in honor of Sephora’s Senior VP, who is a breast cancer survivor.  Your sister Lisa, who was battling skin cancer, was also your inspiration for the Love Lisa beauty kit.  We’d like to know how your sister is doing, and how can Too Faced fans can contribute to the cause?
Lisa is still battling melanoma, that type of skin cancer never goes into remission but rather, in simple terms goes to sleep. I am thrilled to say she is doing great! Thank God! She is a survivor and has been clean for over six years. We just returned from NY where we were given the humanitarian award from the Melanoma Research Foundation, an amazing group that is feverishly in pursuit of finding a cure for this horrible disease. Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer among 18 to 35 year olds today. It’s an epidemic! You can help by donating time and or money to the MRF and staying out of the sun. Fake your bake! With all of the fabulous self tanners and bronzers out there, (Too Faced has the best of course) there’s no reason to risk your health for a sexy glow.

Congrats with the 10 year anniversary of Too Faced!  Where do you see yourself and Too Faced Cosmetics 10 years from now?

We’re going to take over the world! Too Faced will become a lifestyle brand. I plan on doing handbags, shoes, accessories, wallpaper, EVERYTHING!

What advice can you give aspiring makeup artists toward reaching the successes that you have accomplished?
If you have a dream, one that you feel in your gut. Not a wish; there’s a difference. But if you have that gut wrenching ambition that you just know is real, go for it! Don’t take no for an answer, and most importantly NEVER GIVE UP! You will fall and fail more times than you will want to remember, but learn from those hard times. Learn from your successes and keep moving toward the light!

Too Faced Cosmetics can be purchased at retailers like Sephora, Ulta and of course, http://www.toofaced.com

January 9th, 2009 | Tags: cosmetics, Jerrod Blandino, lash injection, lip injection, makeup, Too Faced | Category: Butter Beauty, How to | Leave a comment

by Ole Henriksen

It was my own encounter with cystic acne as a young man residing in Indonesia, that awakened my interest in skin care When my own skin responded favorably to the lifestyle changes I made, and the treatments I received by my Esthetician in Jakarta, I quickly en roiled at The Christine Shaw College of Beauty in London. Skin care became my passion, and especially helping people conquer acne. As a matter of fact it was an article in the LA Times Sunday Magazine featuring my approach to treating acne, with impressive before and after photos, that over-nite made me a much in demand skin care expert early on in my career in Hollywood.

Facts are that acne is strictly lifestyle inflicted, including adult onset acne, which has become more of a problem than ever before for many people, based on poor eating habits. Japan is such a great example of a country where extreme dietary changes suddenly impacted the populations skin for the worse   Prior to the Second World War the Japanese diet consisted strictly of sea food, various vegetables, roots and unprocessed rice. Step by step, after the end of the war, fast foods filled with saturated and hydrogenated fats, and refined sugar became commonplace in all the big cities in Japan and in its aftermath acne began flourishing. When stress is blamed for acne, especially by the medical profession, I firmly disagree. Stress however causes people to look for comfort foods that have no nutritional value that are loaded with sugar and salt. To much food is ingested in a rush in today’s world, which make people grab for the wrong foods. Fast foods are quick and easy to obtain, and brilliant advertisement have brainwashed us to believe that these foods actually have nutritional value.

The biggest change I see in my client’s skin is when they, on my recommendation, stop eating junk foods and all forms of sugar. Studies have shown that when insulin levels in the blood peak, a series of hormonal events increase the production of testosterone several growth factors. Testosterone stimulates sebum, or oil, production in the pores. The growth factors cause and overproduction of cells lining the pores, which creates a plug keeping the oil in. It is like a balloon with no outlet that then becomes infected, resulting in blemishes. High glycemic foods that affect the skin negatively include white sugar, honey molasses, and concentrated fructose found in energy bars, protein bars, sodas and juices. In metabolizing sugar, combined with other dietary imbalances, is also the cause of modern day skin disease like rosacea, and skin rashes in general. So the message is loud and clear, if you suffer from erupted skin and rashes, cut out all fast and refined foods, including sugar. So it is obvious that correcting problematic skin is an inside-out job. With a balanced diet in place, skin responds faster and permanently to the topical advise I am about to share.

Cleansing AM - PM

A gentle touch is top priority when cleansing enflamed and erupted skin. Emotional skin readily flairs up and turns red from the slightest wrong doing. When choosing a cleanser for blemished skin, I recommend a foaming gel filled with calming and anti-septic botanicals like chamomile, aloe vera, comfrey and eucalyptus. My aloe vera deep cleanser fits that description, and it should strictly be messaged into the skin with the hands, no sponges etc..

Hydration AM:

In treating erupted skin, including acne, the aim is to calm, sooth and purify with an oil free moisturizer. For acne I recommend my blemish attack daily defense gel because of the antiseptic, calming and cell renewing ingredients. Oily skin with minor eruptions’ should use a moisturizer with antiseptic and cell renewing ingredients like my sheer transformation crème containing sugar cain extract, sugar maple extract, orange and lemon fruit extracts.

Special care at night:

After cleansing at night, skin tonic is not necessary. I recommend the application of a warm facial compress, just as we do it at my spa, when treating erupted and acneic skin. Additionally, I recommend the use of my blemish attack mask two to three times a week however, please note that you should avoid even gentle scrubs on acne or severe eruptions.

At my spa we blend warm water with my skin inhalation therapy formulation, based on eucalyptus, tangerine and peppermint essential oils. Next, we drench a small towel with an aromatic blend, and place it over the face. The essential oils have anti-inflammatory and purifying benefits on the skin. As a part of home care I recommend that my clients fill their sink1/3 with warm water, and blend a teaspoon full of my skin inhalation therapy into the water, another choice maybe pure eucalyptus essential oil. Drench a terry face cloth with this refreshing blend and firmly press the cloth against the face and hold in place for a moment. Repeat this ten times. For each time the process is repeated, there may be a slight sting in the skin, which merely indicates that the anti-bacterial benefits of the essential oils are going to work below the skins surface. Do this faithfully every night. Results are amazing.

Clients like Halle Berry have raved about my roll on blemish attack on her website, which I recommend to be applied across all erupted areas, after the warm facial compress. Key ingredients include tea tree oil, bentonite and salicyclic acid.

Acneic skin, or excessively oil skin with eruptions, should avoid any crèmes at night, and strictly stick to gel based formulations’. Algae an lactic acid is very soothing and calming on the skin type, while glycolic acid provides rapid cell proliferating benefits and greatet tissue oxygenation. Glycolic also helps with eliminating inflammation in the pores, while simataniously constricting them. I recommend that my clients make my invigorating night gel the last step after my roll on blemish attack.

I recommend professional complexion treatments for acne or erupted akin twice a month. And yes, the correct complexion treatment approach can make a huge difference in fine tuning this kind of problematic skin. During the treatments we keep an ongoing dialogue with our clients about their life style, with a focus on motivating them to live clean and healthy.

For more information on Ole Henriksen products, please visit

http://www.olehenriksen.com/

To visit the Ole Henriksen Face & Body Spa

8601 W Sunset Blvd

West Hollywood, CA

(310) 854-7700‎

October 24th, 2008 | Tags: Butter Beauty, Ole Henriksen, skincare | Category: Butter Beauty, How to | Leave a comment

Soft Seductive Smokey Eyes

As far back as the Bronze Age, from Salome to Scheherazade,
the Seductress has transcended time with the allure of a striking gaze.

A smoldering smudge of black, rimming the eyes made for a brilliant contrast.
This bold move held a variety of intentions from the practical to the spiritual.

We can even take a current cue from the unlikely close ups of  “guy Liner” on Johnny Depp’s version of Captain Jack Sparrow, proving that smudging doesn’t have to be perfect.

Make up Artist, Kerry Malouf loves romance, and gives us an entirely new interpretation of something a little sweeter, to stroll down the aisle on the most special of all days.

Give your own seductive glance, by taking the time to play with Jouer.
Place a finger tip of the velvety Creme Shadow in Cashmere, and guide it from lash line to crease. Glide the Eye Definer pencil in Noir, retracing the lash line for deeper definition, top and bottom. Curl lashes and then apply the Conditioning Mascara in Brun to finish, along with Jouer’s Bronzer which is always essential for that kiss of sunshine.
A dramatic eye needs no distractions. Keep it refined and understated with a plump, naked pink lip with help of the Essential Lip Enhancer.

Every man loves a pair of eyes deep enough to get lost in, and lips soft enough to save him.

All make-up: Jouer Cosmetics  www.jouercosmetics.com
Make-up Artist: Kerry Malouf    www.kerrymalouf.com
Photographer: Lauren Stratton www.Laurenstratton.com
Model: Toree Arntz, Contact: Maria @ M Model Management @ 323-658-8382
Writen by: KERRY + TERI = Kerry Malouf and Teri Rees Wang

October 6th, 2008 | Tags: eye shadow, eyes, KERRY + TERI, make up, make up artist, smokey eyes, Smudge | Category: Butter Beauty | Comments (1)

Diamonds may have been Marilyn’s best friend, but hairstylist John Blaine (left) is definitely a Hollywood starlet’s dream come true. Don’t know his name? Well, ever wonder who’s responsible for keeping burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese’s hair so perfect? Or creating that ideal bombshell hair on Pamela Anderson? Or working a curling iron while sharing laughs with cheeky comedienne Margaret Cho? Know who I’m talking about now? Yeah, I thought so…

Butter: Most of us know you from your recent appearances on VH1’s The Cho Show and Pamela Anderson’s Girl on the Loose as the celebrity IT hair stylist.  How did you get your start as a celebrity hairstylist?

John Blaine: I’ve been in this industry for about 20 odd years now. I graduated from a vocational college and then trained with Vidal Sassoon to cut and color hair. I wanted to know all the ins and outs of the fashion world so I could do it the proper way.  Can you say top ramen for days?!. Ha!
I knew I didn’t want to be constrained to working in a salon so I interviewed with various agencies that repped freelance artists. I ended up signing with Oribe, which would later become the Rex Agency. I started work almost immediately.  I began traveling the world, doing all the Fashion Week shows in NYC, Paris, Milan.   I worked closely with the original “Super 6″: Linda, Christy, Naomi, Claudia, Cindy, and Kate. It was so amazing to see these girls live and be blown away by how beautiful they were, are…

Being based in Los Angeles, it was only natural for my career to progress into working with celebrities, especially now with so much of Hollywood controlling every aspect of fashion.

Butter: You work with some of the biggest celebrities, all ranging from a variety of styles.  Your clients include Dita Von Teese, Margaret Cho, and Paris Hilton, just to name a few.  Now dish it!  Who is your favorite to work with?  Who’s the most willing to experiment?

John Blaine: Pam Anderson walked onto a set and I looked at her and was floored by how beautiful this chick was without a stitch of makeup on. Love her!
I’ve also worked with Paris Hilton. A lot of people don’t know how sweet she really is.  What a big heart, too! Most of my clients are already super-vixens who want BIG everything and I’m known for my over the top glamorous looks… so luckily all of my clients have been easy breezy.  They know what they’re all getting into.

Butter: Is there anyone you haven’t worked with (Living or dead) that you’d love to have the opportunity to?

John Blaine: OF COURSE!!!  Miss Tina Turner, Cher, Helen Mirren, just to name a few. There are so many fantastic ladies, but oh I just love David Beckham!!! But don’t all gays… David call me!!! Ha!

Butter: I’m not a gay man.. but I agree, David Beckham is quite the tight-end… strictly football talk.  Onto a more useful note, although we could probably talk about the football star for hours…what are some of your favorite products to work with?

John Blaine: As far as products go, Bed Head has the greatest hairsprays!! “Hard Head” is my favorite!  ”American Crew” has the best pomades and gels… all men should use this stuff!! Amazing!! And as far as shampoo’s and conditioners go, well “Redken” takes it for me!!

Butter: What’s the biggest hair NO-NO for you?

John Blaine: CRUNCHY, rolled out of bed HAIR!!!! Ewwww!! I don’t know why any girl would ask for it… And a big peeve is when women wait too long to color their hair and their roots being to grow in… TRAGIC!

Butter: Where do you draw most of your inspiration?

John Blaine: History books! Historic art. Historic women. I never ever look at fashion magazines before I start a job! Its the worst for me, because you tend to replicate something you see and you lose a lot of originality.

Butter: I like it. Anything to promote education… So what are some tips that you can give all of us on maintaining healthy hair?

John Blaine: Ask your stylist to show you how to blow dry, curl, style your hair. Condition a lot! Hairstyles today have to defy gravity, that means a lot of products, but it’s important to educate yourself on these products and how to use them correctly!

Butter: Any possibility of creating your own product line?

John Blaine: The product line is coming soon, also a tool line too.

Butter: What salons can us fans track you down at for a fabulous hairdo?

John Blaine: I’m a believer that everyone should be able to get their hair done without having to mortgage your house to do it.  So I don’t have specific rates, I tend to work with my client and their restrictions.  It’s really important for me to have a client’s happiness, not his or her money.  I have a private salon that is not advertised. So many of my clients are all through word of mouth, but you can contact me on my site for more details johnblainehair.com or rougeartists.com

Tune into VH1 on Thursdays at 11:00PM to check John out on the Cho Show

Have a question that we didn’t ask? Want the spread on something beautiful? Let Butter know by leaving us comments and questions…

September 11th, 2008 | Tags: Dita Von Teese, Hair, Hairstylists, Interview, John Blaine, Kat, Pamela Anderson | Category: Butter Beauty | Comments (2)

A behind the scenes look at “Smoke & Mirrors”, the Too Faced cosmetics photo shoot in Los Angeles, CA.

Too Faced CEO/Creative director Jerrod Blandino

Photographer: Scott Nathan

August 23rd, 2008 | Tags: cosmetics, HSN, Jerrod Blandino, makeup, Scott Nathan, Sephora, Too Faced | Category: Butter Beauty | Comments (3)

Written by Kat

Always dreamed of living a double life? Highlighting your days as an international starlet, moonlighting as a crime fighter? Well, super talent Friedia Niimura (pictured on the right) is just that. Niimura is Japan’s sweetheart and has been seen across numerous magazine covers and television screens across the world. More recently, she’s been taking on the fashion world and putting a halt to many fashion crimes through her royally awesome line, Monn’Amur.

I was lucky enough to speak with Friedia about her fashion line, her inspirations and aspirations…

Friedia: Hello Miz Kat

Kat: Hi Hi! So lets start from the beginning… I know you’ve been an actress and singer in Japan for a while now… but how long have you been designing?

Friedia: I have always had the passion for fashion. When I moved to Japan at 13, I couldn’t understand the teachers or the class material, so I would sketch outfits in my notebook… Then when I started working as an actress, with my first check, I bought myself a sewing machine. So while I was acting ,singing, etc, I did do a small line with my best friend and the line did ok, but we didn’t know anything about anything, except what we liked, so…it got stuck and we just called it quits. After that, I decided to move to LA to be able to learn about the clothing industry without being distracted.

Kat: Sounds intense! Seems like all that hard work has definitely paid off with your current line! How did you arrive at the name Monn’Amur?

Friedia: It is actually my middle name, but I spell it Monn’Amur for the line. It is kinda like mon amour = my love in French. So I thought, “I really love clothes and my line,” so I named it that.

Kat: Man… I wish I were lucky enough to have such a pretty, deep middle name

Friedia: Well, the story behind it is that my dad and mom were walking across a bridge on the Monnamur River in France, and he wanted my life to flow like a river, so he added it in the middle. My dad is a romantic scientist.

Kat: So tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind your line.

Friedia: It is Tokyo meets LA. I wanted to have a fun line that has a niche! Girly, but a little boyish and vice versa. All very wearable!

Kat: What is most important to your designs?

Friedia: I love color! So there is always color somewhere… My line is about fun, cute clothes with a twist

Kat: I have to say, it’s definitely comforting to see a line that doesn’t make you feel like you necessarily have to expose so much skin to be sexy…

Friedia: Yes! That was another thing! I know in the U.S everyone wants to look sexy, but dang! some girls barely wear anything!

Kat: I’m surprised there isn’t a warning on some pieces with “Warning: Will Catch Cold”.

Friedia: Haha! I am targeting the girls who LOVE fashion and want to look unique in their own way, and have fun with looking cute!

Kat: So fashion means comfort as well…

Friedia: yeah comfort is a big thing, you can’t feel beautiful if your feet hurt or you think the shirt is too revealing… But you shouldn’t have too many sweatpants and matching sweatshirts. I believe you only live once, so don’t you want to look good doing it? And your first impression is your last, you never know when you will meet someone special, let it be work or a lover…

Kat: Besides sporting your own designs, what stores do you like shopping at?

Friedia: I like shopping in Japan the most, they have the coolest of the coolest. I like Opening Ceremony. I want to Monn’Amur to be in there one day. As for online shopping, I like to check out net-a-porter.com and yoox.com

Friedia: I also can’t wait to go to the Chanel outlet in NY!!! Have you been??

Kat: Chanel has an outlet…? I feel sick… I need to fly to NY ASAP.

Friedia: Haha… that’s what I said!

Kat: What’s your take on people comparing Monn’Amur to Pharrell’s Ice Cream line?

Friedia: Really?? I think it is very different, but in a way it is a compliment. I do love his stuff; His team is the Bathing Ape, those are my friends.

Kat : I noticed on your blog, you said you aspire to be like Diane Von Furstenberg… but her style is quite different from yours…

Friedia: Yes, I do so love DVF’s stuff. She is such an inspiration to me. She is such a creative human being; I mean she invented the wrap dress!! I want/wish to be a line like DVF: successful, beautiful, and unstoppable.

Kat: Who would you love to see yourself working with?

Friedia: Maybe working with or designing for Luella, or Margiela or Under Cover, Alexander Herchovitch

Kat: thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule! I’d like to end by asking you who is Friedia Niimura?

Friedia: day dreamer

—

For all of you who are interested in Friedia Niimura, please check out

http://www.monnamur.com/

If you are interested in purchasing her pieces, check out

www.raw-girls.com

and if you are in the neighborhood, her pieces are available at

Fred Segal Fun

500 Broadway

Santa Monica, CA 90401

310-458-2406

http://www.fredsegalfun.com/

Em&Co.

7940 3rd St.

Los Angeles, CA 90048

323-782-8155

http://www.emandco.com/

Qio

11614 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064

(310) 478-3650

August 22nd, 2008 | Tags: Designers, Friedia Niimura, Kat, Monn'Amur | Category: Fashion | Comments (5)