For the past week all I have been talking about is my Oscar’s party with Makeda from the Glamazon Diaries. We took over the Four Seasons in Washington DC this week, tweeting cute pictures along the way from our room with all the pictures of the products that would be in our gift bag (Pssst! We’re giving on of the bags away HERE). We hosted the event at the Four Season’s ENO Wine Rooms. The theme of the event was how to get red carpet ready and guests which included Top DC bloggers and press, makeup artists, Carl Ray, Real Housewives of DC Cast Member, Mary Amons, and author Lauren Rothman were all in attendance. We took guests through our product picks which were displayed throughout the room (and in the gift bag!). Here’s what made our list — ahem, bag and why! 
Lets start with how to prep your skin the night before a big event. Mario Badescu Glycolic Foam Cleanser gets it all off! It gently exfoliates to remove dirt, makeup and oil, and reviving dull skin. Once you have a clear foundation, apply a mud mask. Our pick, Borghese Fango Mud Mask. You know you’re mom used it, and there’s a good reason why, its mineral-enriched italian mud helps get rid of skin impurities and improve skin tone. It’s also features Avocado and Sweet Almond Oils to moisturize and soften skin. 
Now that skin is fully clean apply SkinPro Elite Serum RX, or DNA Serum. Both are a powerful eye serum that helps prevent/improve wrinkles, crows feet, fine lines and wrinkles. It’s basically botox in a bottle (and studies have shown it’s as effective). Remember the who snake venom trend because of it’s anti-aging benefits? This has the highest concentration of Temple Viper venom (which is the lab created version — no snakes will be lost to your face). It goes on clear and absorbs right into skin making it the top selling eye gel on Amazon! Time to brush your teeth! We’re obsessed with the new Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Whitening Tooth Paste and Spinbrush Truly Radiant toothbrush. It combines fluoride cavity protection, enamel strengthening, with the whitening power of Arm & Hammer. And the spinbrush works it all in leaving your mouth minty fresh! Finish off the night with some Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy so your lips are smooth and soft in the AM (cracked lips are never cute, people!). Our picks also included Neosporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment and Cynthia Rowley BAND-AID‘s since those are must haves in your medicine cabinet for any just in case scrapes or cuts. Plus, we can’t think of a cuter Band-Aid then the limited edition ones fashion designer, Cynthia Rowley designed! We also gave everyone the LeSportsac makeup bag since many of us travel for events and it’s the perfect size bag to hold all of your toiletries and is waterproof in case of product explosion. Plus we love the cute patterns and prints that’s infamously LeSportsac, so how could we resist? 
When it comes to the day of an event, lets face it, we need coffee! Lavazza Coffee Grand Aroma Medium Roast is a delicious Italian brew, that will get you through anything from a day in the office to a late night award show. If you even remotely look tired or otherwise, Skyn Iceland’s Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels are a MUST! Apply the cooling gels under your eye and within 10 minutes you look rested and radiant! We also included Skyn Iceland’s Glacial Cleansing Cloths which are our go-to face wipes. We all know there are a lot of good makeup remover wipes on the market but what makes this a red carpet favorite is it feels like a face wash in addition taking care of all the makeup and dirt off your face. So for all of those nap times and late nights where you can’t quite make it to the restroom, leave these wipes next to your bed and they will have you covered. Shower time! Get silky smooth skin with Olay Sensitive Body Wash. It has all the moisture (if not more) then your regular body wash, without any irritants or dyes — because irritated skin is next sexy (especially on the red carpet). For any travelers in the room, Gillette Venus and Olay hydrating razor is a must! No additional shaving cream required, this two in one offers a clean shave that leaves legs smooth and stubble free. Give your hair a little TLC by eradicating heat damage and split ends with Natural Hair Inc The Juice Green Tea Detangling Rinse and Hair Crack Conditioning Mask. This two step hair aid strengthens and restores your hair’s natural shine. Start with the The Juice Green Tea Detangling Rinse, made of green tea, aloe vera juice, organic apple cider vinegar, spring water, fresh organic rosemary or lavender, acts like a steroid for building strong hair. Follow up with the Hair Crack Conditioning Mask, made of raw shea butter, organic raw honey, cinnamon, organic coconut oil, Jamaican Black Castor Oil and aloe vera gel, this product works as good as it smells. It smothers your hair with moisture resulting in an offensively soft texture. Once you’re out of the shower, and skin is clean apply Egyptian Magic all purpose skin cream. A celebrity favorite, its loved by Madonna, Kate Hudson and Brooke Shields, this skin cream has pure, hyper-moisturizing ingredients—honey, beeswax, olive oil, royal jelly, bee pollen, and bee propolis—that can ease eczema and psoriasis without clogging pores. The Vaseline-like moisturizing balm, claims to be “a secret of the great sages, mystics, magicians, and healers.”
Hard Candy Mod Quad Baked Eye Shadow has four colors in each compact to create a multidimensional look for the night. Top off with Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss or the Carl Ray Lip Gloss. For nails we love Knock Out, the original flatte matte nail polish. White and nude nails we’re big on the red carpet and also great spring colors. Knock Out offers both shades (Plaster and Powder) and a plethora of more. Best part (besides the finish) is how fast it dries! Matte is hot for spring but if you prefer a shine, add their Glass top coat or the shiny top coat of your choice. We also choose Be Delectable Hand Cream, which comes in a variety of yummy smells. Filled with Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera it offers great and lasting hydration so hands are smooth and supple. At any point of the day when you need a moment to your self to take a breather and relax (I had many moments like that yesterday). Aveda Stress Fix Concentrate is an in-purse must have! The rollerball exudes a relaxing lavender based mix of essential oils that eases the mind and soul. Last steps! Right before you leave don’t forget your Secret Clinical Strength deodorant. It will keep you fresh and dry, and void of any unwanted odor. And be sure to spray your feet with Still Standing, a first – because it helps prevent stiletto suffering before it starts – WITHOUT NUMBING the feet. It’s all natural. Also apply BAND AID Friction Block Stick to your heel and along the sides of your feet. It will help prevent blisters and abrasions. This is also a great item pick for any athletes pre-work out.
Celebrity makeup artist, Carl Ray, whose clients include First Lady Michelle Obama, Kerry Washington and Claire Danes, showed up how to get red carpet ready. What’s the hottest spring trend: bold eyebrows. What’s the most natural way to fill in eye brows — a powder. What’s the biggest mistake women make with makeup? Wearing too much. How do you know if a foundation is the right shade? Go outside in natural light and apply to your inner wrist to see if it matches. A big thank you to Carl for joining us and his beautiful demonstration and to Lux Hair Extensions founder Joycelyne Thompson for being the model for our event. We also owe a huge thank you to Calypso St. Barth for outfitting us and giving guests a personalized tote and discount card. From lounging on the beach to hitting a cocktail party, Calypso’s effortlessly chic and feminine for all occasion. Lastly, guests enjoyed Sterling Wine, which was also the official wine sponsor for the Oscars! We enjoyed four varietals, which included the Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonay. According to the brand, t 1.9 million grapes were crushed for the Oscars and as guests arrived, they had a choice of Sterling Vineyards Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Cabernet. This included Lupita, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt and more. So lets put it this way, we were drinking the same wine as Jared Leto last night. Sigh! So there you have it! For everyone that joined us and tweeted with us, thank you so much. And to everyone reading this now, I hope you enjoyed our tips! Here’s a complete list of the products we talked about:
- Mario Badescu Glycolic Foam Cleanser
- LeSportSac makeup bag
- Hard Candy Mod Quad Baked Eye Shadow, Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss, and Nail Color
- Knock Out matte nail polish
- Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths and Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
- SkinPro Elite Serum RX or DNASerum
- Catwalk by TIGI Session Series Salt Spray
- Lavazza Coffee Gran Aroma Medium Roast
- Still Standing High Heel Spray
- be Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream from Cake Beauty
- Calypso St. Barth tote bag
- Carl Ray lip gloss
- Egyptian Magic all purpose skin cream
- Natural Hair The Juice Green Tea Detangling Rinse and Hair Crack Conditioning Mask
- House of European Hair Clip On Bangs
- Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Whitening Tooth Paste and Spinbrush Truly Radiant toothbrush
- Aveda Stress Fix Concentrate
- Olay Sensitive Body Wash
- Borghese Fango Mud Mask and Perfecting Makeup
- Gillette Venus and Olay hydrating razor
- Secret Clinical Strength deodorant
- Cynthia Rowley BAND-AID and BAND AID Friction Block Stick
- Neosporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment and Overnight Renewal Therapy