I had a chat with Bridget about all things skin care and much, much more! I have to say, Bridget has one of the most sweet and contagious giggles that I’ve ever heard. She giggled a couple of times throughout our chat and it even made me smile as I reviewed our recorded chat a week later. I can’t share her sweet giggle with you, but I can share the rest.
Enjoy!

What are your favorite skin care products?

I have a few different ones that I love to use. For my face, I love to use Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. It has sunscreen in it already and I know how important sunscreen is but I’m really bad about putting that on every morning. So I like to get tinted moisturizers that already have that in it, so I don’t have to worry about it. I love Creme de la Mer. It feels so decadent on my face. And I get really dry skin so I love that it doesn’t all soak in right away and my face just feels really moist and I know that it’s going to sink in eventually. I really enjoy that. For a wash, I use SkinCeuticals but I also have Cetaphil on hand. I use Avaleen for makeup remover, especially for mascara. It’s in every drug store and it takes off makeup in a snap. When I’m in a pinch I also like to use the wet facials, the wipes. I have MAC ones and I have the Oil of Olay ones and I just switch off between the two

For my body, there’s a sugar scrub that I love. I got it at a gifting suite one time and I’ve been savoring it because I don’t know how to get more. It’s called Body Topic, and it’s “Pink Bikini”. What I love about it is….first of all, I love the smell and the texture of it. I love that it’s sugar and not salt because the salt makes me itchy and dry. But the sugar is great. It leaves my skin so smooth. And it leaves a lotion on your body afterwards. I’m a lotion-aholic. One of the lotions I’ve found that I love is the Epicuren After Bath. It’s so good. It leaves a nice moisture and sheen on your skin and I love that.

What are your makeup favorites?

I like to use a MAC Bronzer and the DiorShow Black Out Mascara. And I like pink or peachy shimmery lip gloss. That’s my favorite everyday look just to run errands or to go shopping. That, with the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

Do you have any favorite spas?

I have a very, very, very favorite spa. It’s in Costa Rica. It’s the Tabacon Resort and it’s one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been. It’s a whole retreat type of place and it’s at the bottom of a volcano, an active volcano. It’s in the rain forest and when you go there you’re completely engrossed in this whole rain forest environment, this jungle. And there are hot springs that come down in waterfalls, rushing down, and they’re all different temperatures and they’re all natural. The higher you go up, the hotter the water is, because it’s closer to the top of the volcano. You can get treatments right there by the hot springs, coming down, and they use volcanic mud on you and they do facials and massages. And if you get one of the mud treatments, you go and sit in one of the hot springs and let the mud wash off. They have private pools, so you don’t have to worry about robes and nudity. They have these bath tubs in the middle of all of this too, where they serve you champagne and you can get ready for your treatment. It’s the most incredible place. If you ever get a chance to go there…

After that description, I’m planning my trip already!

I traveled all over the world for a show I was doing and it was one of the most incredible places. And we did a lot of spa stuff, for the show, and it was definitely the most incredible spa I’ve ever been to. But here in LA, I go to Burke Williams. I have one that’s very close to where I live and I have my favorite people there and I go there for my routine massages and facials, which I love to get.

Does your sweetheart (Nicholas Carpenter) enjoy spa time?

He loves it! We plan whole vacations around spa treatments sometimes.

What’s your favorite spa treatment?

I like deep tissue massages. I like deep tissue on my neck, shoulders and part of my back. But I like a softer massage for my arms and legs. I love getting facials here and there but not as much as I love getting massages. I like to do it backwards from the way they recommend actually. They always want you to get the massage first and then the facial so you don’t rub the products off your face that they just put on. But I like to get the facial first and then the massage. I have trouble letting go and relaxing. So, sometimes if I get the facial first, that’s like an hour of spa time. Then by the time the massage comes I’m more relaxed and ready for it. I also prefer to have an eighty minute massage just because I feel like it takes me forty minutes or a half hour of that just to relax and let go and get my mind off of things. So I feel like I need to get a longer massage, to actually enjoy it.

What’s in your purse?

Just lip gloss. I hate having dry lips. It really bothers me so I always have about five different shades of lip gloss, all similar. They’re all either shimmery or really light colored peachy, pinks or clears in there. I always think “Oh, I don’t know if I have a lip gloss in my purse”. So I throw another one in and I end up with like five or six of them in there. I like the MAC glosses. It doesn’t have to be MAC but that’s what the majority of mine are. It’s all about the colors for me. It’s not necessarily that I think MAC is the best; it’s that MAC usually comes out with the colors. And they come out with a bunch of different colors all the time. I can be pretty sure that if I go to MAC, I can find a color.

What makes you feel especially sexy?

I love to be glamorous. So for me to feel really sexy I like having lashes! I have a kind of motto; “You can’t have too big of hair or too much lashes”. The more lashes the better! Not super long and clown like or anything but I like them very thick, full, wispy, feathery lashes. So, smoky eyes with big lashes, lots of hair and high heels; you don’t need much more than that.

Yeah, you can’t go wrong with high heels. And if you’re in your lashes, your hair and just your high heels…you really can’t go wrong.

Yeah…exactly!

Is there a lot of pressure that comes along with being considered a sex symbol?

It depends on the day. I feel like I’ve gotten lucky doing a reality show because sometimes we’re dressed up, sometimes we’re dressed down and I feel like people have seen us just normal/every day in our pajamas and t-shirt, no makeup on and hair pinned back and they know that we don’t look glamorous 24/7. So I think I got kind of lucky in that aspect, where people don’t necessarily expect it. They expect me to be casual at times. But it depends on the day. Sometimes I just feel like “I can’t go out like this! I just look awful today!” And I know everybody gets those days but on those days I feel like there is more pressure. But it depends on my mood. Some days it’s like “I don’t care, I’m just gonna throw my hair in a ball, no makeup on and my slippers and let’s go down to the grocery store and get what we need.” So it just kind of depends on the day and what my mood is. I really like the look of little to no makeup and hair just straight and normal and t-shirt and jean shorts. I really like that look and I want that to be part of my look as well. I’m not all just glamorous even though the Playboy mansion kind of says glamorous and sex symbol, I feel like I can pull off the casual/cute. I try to make that a little more of my look. And then I want to wow people when I pull off the sexy/glamorous look for a red carpet or something.

Do you have any tips for women who are struggling to feel and look sexy?

I think that’s a hard question to answer just because I think what makes a woman feel sexy is different for everyone. It’s about finding, in yourself, what makes you feel sexy. If it’s putting on your boyfriends button up shirt and walking around with that and just panties and high heels, that’s great. And if it’s putting on the lashes and doing up your hair and the smoky eyes and high heels…I think it’s about finding what it is for you that makes you feel sexy and using that. You don’t necessarily have to wear lingerie and fishnet stockings or anything like that to be sexy. It could be something simple. For everyone it’s something different. But try that! Try what you see makes other people look sexy or what you see on TV that you see other people doing that you think looks sexy. Well, if it’s sexy on them and you think it’s sexy, try it yourself. And try different things.

I went to one of Hef’s pajama parties at the Playboy mansion and I have to say, a party at the Playboy mansion is one of those events that doesn’t disappoint. Did you ever actually get used to living there or was it always a bit surreal to be in that environment, living like a princess? Is it possible to get used to that?

I actually did get used to it. I mean, I was there for seven and a half years. That being said, I was always appreciative and grateful for where I was and I realized that this isn’t how everybody lives and this isn’t how I will live when I’m out of here. This is a very special opportunity. But you do get used to it. You get used to the people that are around and the events and the parties, and it becomes routine. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. It just becomes part of your lifestyle and who you are. It does become your reality and your life, even though I was very aware that it’s not like this outside of here.

And you’re still close with Holly and Kendra?

Yeah, I talk to Holly almost every single day, text messaging and stuff. And Kendra and I just talked a couple of days ago. We probably talk a couple times a month. And I’m still close with Hef. I still go to the Mansion. Half of my mail still goes there. So I go there and I grab my mail and I always say hi to everyone. I miss a lot of the staff that are there because being there as long as I was you get really close and they become part of your extended family.

I didn’t realize you were there for seven years. That’s a long time.

Yeah, Holly and I were there long before we started shooting the show.

Our chat about Bridget’s new watch line!

Pascal Mouad, celebrity jewelry designer, on Bridget’s new watch line:
“The watch will serve as the perfect accessory for Bridget’s fans”, says Mouawad. “With her passionate, fresh, and feminine personality encompassed in the watch, they too can attain her glamour.”


 
The limited edition Bridget watch will capture the very essence of her fresh, sensitive, sweet, and feminine personality while reflecting her personal style. The stainless steel showcases Bridget’s glamorous side. The face, adorned with stones, also contains a pink dial with Bridget’s full signature in the background. This limited edition timepiece also includes three interchangeable leather straps in pink, white and black.

Are you excited about your new watch line?

Very excited about it. It’s so fun. I’ve created a bunch of stuff in the past, for myself. Costumes or clothing or adorned shoes or corsets. But this is the first time I got a chance to do it for sale, for other people to enjoy as well.

I like the interchangeable bands.

Me too, it makes it so much more functional.

I’m thinking of getting one to help me channel my inner-bunny!

Yes!

Thanks Bridget!

Related reviews:

1. Celebrity Skin: Melora Hardin
2. Celebrity Skin: Wendy Davis
3. Celebrity Skin: Fay Masterson

What are your skin care favorites?

I have a Kate Somerville obsession. I’ve been going there forever and I love their products. I’ve used Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel to wash my face at night, probably since the eighth grade. I really think that’s the best for getting off makeup. But Kate Somerville makes a cleanser called The Purify Exfoliating Cleanser that I use if I have a lot of makeup on or if I’ve just worked out. In the morning I use Kate Somerville’s Goats Milk Cream because it’s lighter and then at night I use the Deep Tissue Repair and I put Kate Somerville’s Quench on top of it. The Quench is amazing because I have super dry skin. Right now I’m using an eye cream by 100% Pure. It’s an awesome line. They make really great body scrubs and body washes and it’s all natural. I love their eye cream for the morning. It’s called Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream.

Makeup faves?

I LOVE Prescriptives! And I’m devastated that they are no longer. I love their Camouflage Cream. It’s the best stuff I’ve ever used. It covers everything, it doesn’t make you break out, it’s the best. So I use that and I use Cle de Peau Undereye Concealer. And that last’s forever. I’ve been using this powder by Benefit called Hello Flawless. It’s a really great powder and you can control the amount of coverage you want. Since high school, I’ve been using Cargo Blush in “Catalina”.

Do you have a makeup “must have”?

The only thing that’s my makeup “must have” is Maybelline XxL Pro Mascara. I love it. I wouldn’t really go out of the house without it. At least three times a week someone will ask me what kind of mascara I use and I’ve tried every fancy kind and I always go back to Maybelline. That’s pretty much my makeup routine on a daily basis. For night, I mix it up a bit more. I’m a big fan of Benefit. All of their eye makeup is awesome.

Do you have a skin care “must have”?

My real beauty must have is Epicuren After Bath Moisturizer. It’s the most insane moisturizer. I get the Kakui Coconut scent.

What are your favorite spas?

I get facials at Kate Somerville in West Hollywood as well as KLS Skincare in Toluca Lake. Both are so fantastic and great for different reasons. I love Kate Somerville for the lights and oxygen treatments. I have a tendency to break out if I’m stressed and KLS is great for antibacterial treatments and calming the skin down. Kristy (KLS owner) has a holistic approach to skin care and won’t use products with harsh chemicals or parabens. She gives a mean massage to boot. As a chain I’m a big fan of Bliss. I did a movie last year in Scottsdale and there was a Bliss there and then I also went to Bliss in New York. It’s always everywhere and it’s a good go-to spa where you know you’re gonna get awesome products and such great service.

What do you keep in your purse?

Jao Hand Refresher. Love it! I just read this really scary article the other day about how hand sanitizers are causing hormonal issues in women, so it’s good to use a natural one like Jao. And it’s smells insane. I have Buxom Lip Gloss from Bare Escentuals. It’s minty and makes your lips feel fuller. And they have really awesome colors. So, I always have at least two or three of those in my bag because I need an array of color. And I always have a Burt’s Beeswax Lip Balm in my purse. It’s an old favorite of mine. And I carry dental floss.

Any tip or advice for skin care that you’d like to share?

My new thing is that I’m just really trying to keep my hands off of my face because I’ve done some pretty masterful pieces of artwork by picking at my face and I have noticed such a huge difference. Obviously the main thing for skin care is water intake. Whenever I drink a lot of water I always notice a big difference. And Clarisonic! I think that’s another thing that’s really changed my skin. I have the Clarisonic Plus. I always notice a difference when I don’t use it. Alcohol wipe your cell phone and home phone. I got that tip from a makeup artist because I was breaking out a little bit over in that area and I had no idea why. My makeup artist asked me if it was from my phone and suggested that I always wipe down my cell phone and my home phone with alcohol wipes and now I always do it every single day. And you can get the alcohol wipes at any drug store. They’re super cheap.

How important is hair/makeup to you when you’re creating a character?

I think it’s hugely important. It’s one of the first things I always think about. Hair, makeup and wardrobe are always things that come into mind for me. The last movie I did, “Maneater”, they really wanted all of the actresses to work on their look. They wanted me to chop off my hair and I just remember feeling so devastated because I was about to get married and I really didn’t want to cut my hair, but the second I did, I instantly felt more like that character and it totally worked and it reminded me that all of those things are really important. You kind of have to keep your “real life” away from your professional life when it comes to making those decisions because it really helps.

I love Marla’s tip about alcohol wiping your phones. I haven’t been doing that and I’m definitely going to start.

Thanks Marla!

Related reviews:

1. Celebrity Skin: Kate Walsh
2. Celebrity Skin Interview: Christine Lakin
3. Kate Somerville: The Clinic and My “Must Have” Kate Somerville Products

Melora most recently starred in back-to-back #1 weekend theatrical box-office features as the adult female lead and love-interest to Billy Ray Cyrus in the big-screen, “Hannah Montana: The Movie” alongside Miley Cyrus as well as the film “17 Again,” opposite Zac Efron in April 2009. Melora was given the opportunity to perform in New York City starring on Broadway as Roxie Hart in “Chicago” from late December 2008 – mid February 2009. Prior to this she had played the lead part of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl rendition of “Les Miserables in Concert” for a one-weekend performance to sold-out audiences in August 2008.

I met Melora while we were shooting an episode of “Without A Trace” together for CBS. I had no idea, until we had the following chat, that she was a very impressive triple threat. And not only can Melora sing, dance and act… but she also has great taste in skin care and makeup products. I loved hearing all about Melora’s favorite products and her life-long love for performing. Enjoy!

I asked Melora about when she became a much bigger part of “The Office” after we worked together.

I had been recurring on “The Office” for about a year and half when we worked on “Without a Trace” together and consequently, I was unavailable to “The Office” for that week we worked together so they made me a regular because they were bummed that they lost me for that episode.

By the way, I didn’t know you were a singer.

A lot of people don’t know that. I’m a singer and songwriter. I starred on Broadway last year in “Chicago” as Roxie Hart.

That’s fantastic! How was it?

Oh my god, it was amazing! It was incredible. I’m also a dancer so for me to be able to be singing, dancing and acting all at once was like heaven. I think I should have probably been born in the musical era. That’s what I want next. I want to star in a musical movie.

Do you have a first love?

I don’t know. People ask me that all the time and I’m not sure how to really answer that because I feel like at this point in my life they are just things that I love and have continued to do all my life. I started acting professionally when I was six, and I started dancing when I was five and I’ve really been singing all my life. My mom said I wrote my first song when I was two. The point is that I would have told you as a kid that I was going to be a ballerina and that acting and singing were my hobbies but as I got older I realized that ballet was sort of limiting for all the different interests that I had and I guess in a way it ended up being kind of something that I would always do for my heart and my soul, and my body of course, to dance… but not a career that I ultimately wanted to pursue.

When did the acting really come in?

I’ve really been doing it all my life. I come from an acting family. Two actor parents and it seemed like the thing to do and I loved it and I worked all the time as a kid and kind of always worked all my life.

I rarely chat with actresses who truly do it all. My hat’s off to ya! Let’s talk skin care. What are your favorite skin care products?

I love La Mer at night. In the day time I’ve tried so many different things. I also love the Guinot Neck Cream. It’s a French line. I love that it’s specifically a neck cream. I’ve been using that for probably 20 years. I always use a hand cream at night. I love Tensolift by Natura Bisse. That’s an amazing hand cream which I love. And it’s also got an SPF in it, so you can wear it during the day too. Right now I’m into the Yves Saint Laurent Eye Cream. I wash my face at least twice a day, morning and night, and I like to use the Yves Saint Laurent Toner. That one I really love. I’ve tried so many different kinds of creams on my face for the day time but I have to say I continue to go back to Dermalogica. I really like their Intensive Moisture Balance. I let that soak in and then I put on the Barrier Repair. I have more Dermalogica products in my bathroom than anything else. I love their Skin Prep Scrub and if I’m even low on my Skin Prep Scrub I’ll buy two more of them so I have little lines of Dermalogica products on my shelves. (laughing) It’s ridiculous. I just think their products are amazing. I love the Special Cleansing Gel. I think I’ve been using Dermalogica for over 20 years. I continue to return to them. I’m willing to try other things but I do continue to come back to them. Their Intensive Moisture Mask, their scrubs…I just love everything about Dermalogica.

Let’s talk makeup!

My favorite, favorite thing that I cannot live without and have like 50 of them around the house is called Karite Lips. I like the Shea Butter Vanilla Lip Balm. And I literally have two in my purse, one next to the bed, one in the bathroom, one downstairs, one in the kids room, I literally have them all over the house. My husband uses it. The stuff is fabulous! So that is a real mainstay, have to have that. I have two powders that I like. I have the Chanel powder but I also really like Philosophy The Supernatural. What’s really cool about it is that it has sunscreen in it and it also has a little bit of pigment in it. It’s nice. Really loving the MAC Mineralize Foundation. It has SPF 15 in it and it’s small enough, it’s in a compact, so you can put in your makeup bag and it has a little sponge and it’s really nice. I love it. I am totally obsessed with Cargo blush. It’s got a little bit of gold in it and it just makes you look so healthy. I also love the Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencils. They’re in the most amazing colors and they small enough so you can stick them in your bag and I always keep a black one and a brown one. And you can just smear it around your eyes and just suddenly your eyes look fantastic. I’m still addicted to the “Spice” Lipliner from MAC and I will always be. It’s just a great thing. I do love the Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat. Totally awesome!

Do you have a “must have” product?

My must have product is definitely the Karite Lips. I have to have that all the time.

What are you favorite spas?

I love Dtox Day Spa in Glendale. I think it’s really charming. It’s really quiet. There’s never anyone there. I like it. They do a really nice hot stone massage. And I also have to say I really like Terranea Resort and Spa. It’s only 45 minutes from LA. It’s a really beautiful place. It’s brand new. It just opened last year, I think. And they have a beautiful spa there. It’s right on the bluff there. It’s just really cool. So, that I really love. I like the Beverly Hills Hotel Spa. They use only La Prairie products. I do like La Prairie products.

Do you have a favorite spa treatment?

I like getting massages. I like getting hot stone massages and deep tissue massages. But I like doing those packages where you get the facial and the massage. Those I love. The scrubs, the massage. And the other one I love is Beverly Hot Springs. That’s a real gem in Los Angeles. And they do the most incredible body scrubs. Your body will feel like a baby’s butt when you’re done. It’s unbelievable. And it’s kind of sensual, the whole experience. It’s really cool. I love it there.

Being a mom, do you have any products for your little one’s that you love?

I have two girls. One is eight and one if five. I love the Kiss My Face Sunscreen because it doesn’t have any of the bad chemicals in it. It’s a spray on. Jason makes a really nice shampoo and conditioner for kids that you can get at Whole Foods which doesn’t have a lot of chemicals in it. People don’t realize that your hair and your skin are drinking up all of these chemicals every time we wash out hair and wash our face.

What’s in your purse?

I always have my Karite Lips. I always have a MAC “Spice” Lipliner. I have a L’Occitane Hand Cream, a small one. I have a shea butter hand cream. I have a Stila Lip Glaze in “grapefruit” which just sort of goes with everything and is easy. And I usually have MAC Studio Fix and I usually have a brush. If I have that, I’m usually pretty set. And I’m carrying the Stella Eau de Parfum Roll-On by Stella McCartney.

Do you have any skin care or beauty tips that you’d like to share?

When you’re styling your hair, always put something in it that protects it from heat. Bumble and Bumble products have a protector in them so if you spray your hair with the Bumble and Bumble thickening spray, that has a little heat protector in it. I also just discovered the most amazing product for my hair. It’s the Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil. And it’s beautiful and you just use the tiniest bit but it keeps your hair so soft. It also keep your hair from not being frizzy. It’s really lovely.

Thanks Melora!

Related reviews:

1. Celebrity Skin: Marla Sokoloff
2. Celebrity Skin: Julie Benz
3. Celebrity Skin: Emily Procter

Jennifer resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children. I caught up with Jennifer to ask her about her work on “Two and a Half Men” and to chat about her skin care and makeup favorites. Enjoy!

What’s your experience been like so far on “Two and a Half Men”?

My experience there has been amazing. I love going there every day. The guys are great. It really is like a dream come true, this job.

How has it been working opposite Charlie Sheen?

He’s wonderful. He’s kind and gentlemanly. I enjoy working with him. He doesn’t bring his personal life to work.

What are your skin care favorites?

Oh god, I’m all over the place. I’ll try anything that works. I really, really like Philosophy. I have their Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash and Purity. I like their Microdelivery Peel. I use Philosophy Hope in a Jar for a moisturizer. And I have a bunch of glycolic stuff from Jan Marini. I got it from Peggy Nichols, my makeup artist on “Two and a Half Men”. She turned me on to it. All of their products have glycolic acid in it, so it’s really nice. I have a couple of their cleansers. Their Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub is awesome. I use that and I feel smooth and twenty again.

What are your makeup favorites?

Again, I’ll try everything. I have Laura Mercier concealer, their little Camouflage pot. That’s really cool. I like gadgets too. I also use I.D. Minerals makeup for everyday. And Benefit Erase Paste for under eye concealer is awesome. I like Physicians Formula Plump Potion, Lip Pluming Cocktail. I’ll try anything once.

Do you have a “must have” product?

Yes, the Shu Uemura eyelash curler. I have really long lashes but without the curler they’re straight. So I can use that and not even wear mascara. I’ve tried every lash curler. This one just feels really secure and gets them the perfect shape.

What’s your favorite spa treatment?

A massage. It has to be a really good, hard massage. Because somebody just poking at my back is just a waste of time.

What’s in your purse?

I have a love/hate relationship with makeup. I love it when I have it on but when I don’t have to wear it, I don’t. When I leave the house, if I have makeup on, that’s it. If it comes off during the day, I’m SOL because I don’t carry any makeup with me. But I’ve always carried, even before I had kids, baby wipes. They are so handy! If you spill something on your clothes, which I do daily…obviously for the kids or if you’re just feeling hot and sweaty, you’ve got baby wipes. That’s all I have in there. I might have some Chapstick in there that my daughter likes to eat. (we both laugh). My daughter is 21 months and she’ll see me putting on makeup and she says “makeup” so I let her hold some Chapstick or lip balm and she puts some on, but then winds up eating it and I have to take it away.

Do you have any skin care favorites for your little one’s?

There’s only one thing, because I love the smell of it, is Johnson’s Baby Lotion. And actually my little girl is getting the short end of the stick because I actually love it for me for a body lotion. It just works really well and smells good. And I’ve tried other one’s and the smell just doesn’t compare, so I always go back to that.

Do you have any good tips or advice for skin care?

You know what’s really helpful is if you use a washcloth. A really cheap, rough washcloth. After you use your cleanser, just really scrubbing with a washcloth exfoliates a little bit more. My skin always feels cleaner after I use a washcloth. And I get a bunch of them so that I’m not reusing the same washcloth each day and I don’t have to do laundry every single day.

Thanks Jennifer!

Related reviews:

1. Celebrity Skin Interview: Christine Lakin
2. Celebrity Skin: Emily Procter
3. Celebrity Interview: Deborah Gibson - Murad’s New Spokeswoman

I happen to be a huge fan of “Dexter” and I loved Julie in the role of Rita. She was perfectly cast as the title character’s, Michael C. Hall, beloved wife. (Spoiler Alert: You might want to skip ahead to my chat about skin care with Julie if you’re not caught up on all episodes of “Dexter”.) Every “Dexter” fan, myself included, was shocked by the death of Julie’s character last season. I was very disappointed to see her departure from the show. Before we started chatting about skin care, I had to ask Julie about “Dexter”. I told her how shocked I was by Rita’s death. As Julie responded, I could hear some disappointment in her voice…

“It was shocking for me as well. By no means was I asking to get off the show. But I’m also a fan of the show and I know there’s nobody else they could have killed that would have had that impact. Nobody saw it coming. Especially me. I found out only a couple days before I filmed it. It was very surreal. I did have that moment of defending Rita’s life. A lot of people think it’s not real. It is real! When fans see me, they want a hug. They need me to tell them it’s okay.”

Julie’s performance on “Dexter” was fantastic and I truly enjoyed her work in every episode.

How was the jump from “Dexter” to “Desperate Housewives”?

It’s been amazing. I’m a huge fan of “Desperate Housewives”. So, for me to be able to work with these women who have inspired my work for years is great.

Julie Benz is the absolute perfect example of the kind of woman that I LOVE to talk skin care with. She’s a total skin care princess and I absolutely adore that. I was in heaven through our entire chat. Her list of skin care and makeup favorites is miles long and I love her picks. She has amazing taste and being as beautiful as she is… I was all ears.

What are your skin care favorites?

What aren’t mine?! It’s my obsession (she laughs). It’s a very long list! I love Revive Cellular Repair Cream SPF 15 during the day and at night I use Revive Moisturizing Renewal Cream. I love Leaf & Rusher Active Serum. And I also have the Leaf & Rusher Tx Roller you roll over your face.

I had to stop Julie mid-list to have a quick chat about Leaf & Rusher and tell her how excited I am that she’s a fan, being a huge Leaf & Rusher fan myself.

Other skin care faves?

Sonya Dekar Omega-3 Repair Complex. Also, I have a tendency to break out and Herbal Compound from Arcona really helps with that. It’s organic. For eye cream I use Shu Uemura Phyto-Black Lift Anti-Wrinkle Eye and Lip Contour Cream. I also love Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Creme and Flawless Skin Eye Creme. And I love M Lab. My skin is very reactive. I’m allergic to lavender so I have to be careful of skin care products that have a lot of floral essences in them because my skin has a tendency to get irritated and break out.

I’m addicted to gadgets and tools. I love the blue light and red light treatments. While my hair is getting done in the hair/makeup trailer…I use a light treatment on my face. I get great results! I love the DermaWand and I also like NuFace and Clarisonic. I’m obsessed with gadgets!

You have such great taste! What are your makeup favorites?

I have every Buxom lip loss. I love them! I also love Christian Dior Addict Lip Glow. It enhances your natural lip color. I throw that on with some mascara and I’m good to go. I love makeup. I would probably be a makeup artist if I wasn’t an actress. I love Urban Decay Eye Pencils. I have every color. I love playing with different colors a lot. For foundations I use Shu Uemura Face Architect Remodeling Cream Foundation SPF 10 for coverage. I love that for a heavier coverage. I use Urban Decay Surreal Skin Cream To Powder Foundation for daytime. It gives a natural coverage. I love La Mer The Radiant Concealer SPF 25 for under eyes. And, of course, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat. As far as powder, I use MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. I love playing with makeup. I also like Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder and Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey”. And I like Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer.

Do you have a favorite spa?

I love Ole Henriksen for microdermabrasion. They have an amazing spa in West Hollywood. I really stick to Ole Henriksen for facials. Over the holidays I went to the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa and to Bacara in Santa Barbara. They’re both exquisite. I needed a spa vacation. So we went up to Ojai for two days and then spent three days at Bacara. At Bacara you don’t ever want to leave. And now you can take your dogs there. That’s the best thing.

What’s your favorite spa treatment?

I always try to get the longest massage possible that they offer. Two hour deep tissue massage! I work out very hard and I get a lot of tension and I find that deep tissue is the only thing that works.

I’m sure this question is going be difficult for you because you have so many favorites…but if you had to pick a “must have” product what would it be?

Revive Moisturizing Renewal Cream at night. That really helps with my breakouts. It has glycolic acid in it which is really helpful. It helps keep my skin fresh and new. It’s also very moisturizing and soothing.

What’s in your purse?

I carry a very tiny purse. I don’t carry a lot of things. I have a Buxom Lip Gloss in there. I have Christian Dior Lip Glow, and I have Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in “Rock Star”. I have the Cle de Peau concealer and I also have the Make Up For Ever face powder in my purse.

Do you have any good makeup tips that you can share with us?

I have a tip I use to diminish under-eye bags that I learned from a makeup artist. You want to use an eye shadow color that’s almost skin tone for this. I use the Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in “Teddy Bear”. It’s my favorite palette. Swipe the eye shadow under your eyes, just under the eye lashes. Put it a little bit lower than where your eyeliner goes so that the eye shadow just barely creeps a little bit below your eyeliner. It really helps with the way light hits your face and helps to hide those under-eye bags. It’s a great trick. Especially in photos!

Julie was a true delight to chat with…

Thanks Julie!

Related reviews:

1. Leaf & Rusher Rapid Resurface
2. Celebrity Skin: Marla Sokoloff
3. Men Skin: Leaf & Rusher Green Tea Wash

Tell me about your skin care favorites.

I’ve been using Dermalogica since I was sixteen. I love the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel. My new favorite thing they make is called Power Rich. Love those little tubes. Little tubes of joy! And I love Barrier Repair. I’ve used their sunscreen. I’ve used almost every product in the whole Dermalogica line. They have this great scrub that I love. It’s the Daily Microfoliant. That stuff is awesome. The Dermal Clay Cleanser is really nice. My other favorite line is Ole Henriksen. It’s great stuff. The African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser is fantastic. They make an herbal day cream with an SPF that’s great. And I just got their Pick Me Up Tonic face mist which is nice. You can put it on during the day and it’s great to use as a toner at night. I use Kiehl’s Cryste Marine Firming Eye Treatment and Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion. Its awesome! And I’m a fan of good old fashioned Vaseline and Baby Oil. You can’t go wrong. In a pinch, I always have a less expensive version.

Very smart. I’m a big fan of having a less expensive version of a product that you love. What about makeup?

For the most part I use Laura Mercier. Forever! I use their foundations. I just discovered their Mineral Powder and it’s fantastic for every day. It’s really fresh and light. I cannot live without my Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner’s. They never smudge. I have it in brown, black and violet. They’re fantastic. My new favorite thing is by Jemma Kidd. You can find it at Target. She’s got this thing called Show Stopper. It’s a year round body glow that is so gorgeous. It’s great to use as a highlighter on your cheeks, your chest, or on your shoulders. It’s not glittery or too bronzy. It’s a perfect glow. It’s an awesome product and it’s not that expensive. My favorite mascara is Clinique High Lengths. And my other favorite mascara is Loreal Voluminous. If you’re looking for good brushes and don’t want to break your bank there’s this line, also at Target, called Sonya Kashuk. She makes awesome brushes.

What’s your “must have” product?

Auric Blend perfume oil. The scent I like is Egyptian Goddess. I get it at Whole Foods. I swear to god, this is like a beacon for men. I keep it in my purse. Every time I put it on men are like…“What are you wearing?” It’s fantastic. It’s so delicious. Whole Foods, baby!

Sounds fantastic. I’ll have to check it out. So tell me…what’s in your purse?

I have a retractable brush from Sephora. Great little tool! MAC Studio Fix and Smashbox Doubletake Lip Color in Cranberry. It’s fantastic. I have Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. It looks good on everyone. I love Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lip Butter. That stuff is great. I always keep nail clippers in my purse. MAC Tinted Lipglass in Pink Poodle. I love that color. So bright! I keep a lot of things in my car, too.

We went on to discuss the importance of having a pair of tweezers in your car because there is no better light to pluck in.

Let’s talk about spas. Do you have any favorites?

I get facials at Ole Henriksen. Their facials are great. I love Burke Williams for all around body treatments or a good day at the spa. I go to this place down the street from me called Massage Envy for a deep tissue, no frills sports massage. It’s inexpensive and there’s a woman there that will beat you up. It’s great. When I go to Vegas, I stay at the Venetian and the Canyon Ranch Spa there is great.

Do you have any good skin care tips or advice that you can share?

You have to be diligent about skin care. I’ve washed me face religiously every single night since I was fifteen. It doesn’t matter if I fall asleep on the couch and wake up at four in the morning. I will go wash my face before I drag myself to bed. My mom gave me a Clarisonic, which is awesome. It’s such a great tool. It kind of does the work for you. My other big tip is, don’t pick your face. Even if you want to!

Thanks Christine!

Related reviews:

1. Celebrity Skin Interview: Jennifer Taylor
2. Celebrity Skin: Marla Sokoloff
3. Celebrity Skin: Melora Hardin

I met Kate while we were shooting a pilot together for ABC in 2005. At the time, she had only shot a handful of episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” and there was talk of her becoming a bigger part of the show if our pilot didn’t get picked up as a series. Consequently, when our pilot didn’t become a series, Kate was available for “Grey’s Anatomy” and from there…Kate Walsh quickly became a household name. Knowing Kate personally and professionally I can say that not only do you get the gorgeous face, striking locks of that fiery red hair and beautiful long legs…but Kate is also just the kind of gal that’s great to have a laugh with over a drink. After seeing her shoot to stardom and showing off her acting chops week after week on two hit hour drama’s, I would like to remind Kate’s fans that, while we see Kate commanding the screen in the world of dramatic television, Kate Walsh is not only a great dramatic actress but she’s a first-rate comedienne as well. The pilot I shot with Kate was a sitcom and I saw firsthand that Kate’s comedic timing is absolutely impeccable and she is truly one of the funny one’s. Beautiful and funny…killer combo! By the way, I just checked out a video on the ABC site that Kate made about taking her cats to work. It’s hilarious! Check it out.

I knew a bunch about Kate before we had our chat about skin care. I knew all about her talent, how funny she is, I know she’s a super cool chick that’s easy to talk to and work with and I know that she’s a fellow animal lover. But, I had no idea how knowledgeable Kate was about skin care and how passionate she is about it. So, chatting with Kate about skin care was a blast. By the way, have you noticed Kate’s flawless complexion? It’s obvious that she knows what she’s doing with her skin care routine. Kate’s a true skin care enthusiast. She has a lot to share. Enjoy!

Photo by Roberto D’Este

Prior to our conversation, Kate had told me that she is a huge fan of Kate Somerville’s products and services. So, I wanted to start there…

I noticed Clarisonic on the Kate Somerville site. Are you a fan?

Love Clarisonic! I have one for the face and body. It makes a huge difference. It’s not only good for cleansing but it’s great for circulation.

Why Kate Somerville?

Her products and services are great. It’s two for one…you go to her spa and she’s got the best services in terms of facials, muscle rejuvenation, lasers (red light, blue light, white light) all of these great things. Because I’m a big believer, I’ve not done anything, like I’ve never done Botox, I don’t have any fillers…nothing. And (she laughs) I’m not saying that I never will, but I don’t. So, everybody has their line in the sand and mine is I’ll do everything else other than put any needles in my face, you know…unless I cut myself and need stitches. (laughs) So, what I love about Kate Somerville products and her services there…it’s very natural. It’s great, beautiful skin, fresh, glowing, gorgeous…but very natural. But there’s also the lasers that I love. For example there’s the Titan laser that works on a deep dermal level and helps to stimulate collagen growth. But, I don’t do anything where I can’t go to work the next day. I love the lasers that she has there, and I love the facial.

Do you have a favorite facial you get at the Kate Somerville Clinic?

There’s the Quench Facial, which I love. They’ll do a regular cleansing and do extractions, but anybody can do that. And I’m not a huge fan of doing major extractions anyway. Mostly I take good care of my skin to where, unless it’s hormonal, I don’t have a lot of extractions to do. Luckily, I mean part of that’s genetic, my mom had really great skin and so I’m blessed in that way. But, Kate Somerville does this facial called Quench, that’s like an airbrush that they use to put this Quench serum into your face, pressuring it in with the airbrush. And it’s so super moisturizing and you can see your skin plum up and it’s great to do before an event or a big night or a photo shoot.

So you really notice the results?

Yeah, you notice.

How long do the results last?

That just depends, a few days. But, the lasers are more long term. Their salon services are just fantastic. All of the different lasers! And then they have the muscle rejuvenation that stimulates the facial muscles to give it a little lift. And if you do that consistently you really see a big difference. You see it right away too. It gives your skin a little lift. And the other one’s (treatments) are long term. You just go in as regularly as you can, once every couple of weeks or once a month to do the laser stuff. You know, Botox is faster I think, but it’s weird. I mean, I just think we’re on the edge of an epidemic of weird facial stuff happening.

And people just look strange!

They look weird. I’ve seen some actresses that I haven’t seen in a while and (laughing) you’re like “Whoa, okay! You look really different”. And I think it’s really difficult to be objective about your own face. Because we are all aging and our faces change and our bodies change so I think it’s kind of impossible to remain objective. So when you start doing things to actually alter how you look, really alter, it’s a slippery slope.

It is, you’re right. And there’s so much that you can do to avoid that or at least prolong having to do something like that if that’s what you want.

It’s like working out. I mean, I feel like it’s just like going to the gym. You can’t just go on a crash diet and expect to be in great shape. You have to consistently take care of your body and you have to consistently take care of your skin. Inside and out, too! That’s another thing, in terms of skin care for me. I’m 42 now and your body chemistry changes, hormones change. It’s funny, in your twenties and early thirties you’re like “Yeah, I can do whatever I want”. Now, I have to take supplements and vitamins and eat well because it is the inside out. I make sure I’m taking fish oil to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized and vitamin E. I like Reservatrol. I love that stuff. It’s a supplement. It’s a natural substance that helps promote skin growth and cell growth and renewal.

And you notice a difference?

Yeah, I do. But that’s another thing. You can’t just go in and have lasers washed over your face, or the same thing with a filler or Botox or something. You see these people with the frozen face and then their necks look terrible or the rest of their body is going and it’s like, you have to go from the inside out.

Yeah, it’s like seeing people who get liposuction and then don’t change their diets.

Yeah!

So what are your favorite Kate Somerville products?

The products are just ridiculous. They’re all natural, they’re very clean smelling. I love all of them. One of my all time favorites is ExfoliKate. It’s an exfoliating scrub for the face and you can also use it on your body. But I use it on my face and neck and decollete. And it’s got a little tingle to it. I’ll use the Clarisonic to cleanse first. Kate Somerville has a great gentle skin cleanser too, her Gentle Daily Wash. I use that. I put that right on the Clarisonic and go to town. And then I put the ExfoliKate on and I wash it off or use the Clarisonic to scrub it off. It’s a great exfoliator and you see a difference right away. And you can use the Kate Somerville Micro Glycolic Polisher in conjunction with the ExfoliKate. I love mixing that with the ExfoliKate. It’s a combination of glycolic and lactic acid and it’s a good exfoliator. It really minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. The other thing she has which is fantastic is her Mineral Mud Mask which doesn’t really need to dry. I do this in the shower in the morning because I don’t have the time to hang out…you know. It’s plumping and it also extracts. And, again, you feel a little tingle. It’s a Mineral Mud Mask and it’s genius. It’s a newer product of hers. It doesn’t get dry and tight like a traditional mud mask. It’s gives you a nice plump. So, you feel a little tingle in your face as it’s extracting and you feel a little plump in your face. I don’t have big, full, “bee stung” lips and you feel a little plump in your lips after the mask. I love it. And any of these products, you can finish with a Clarisonic too. One of the things that I love about Kate Somerville is that there are four basic things to use. It’s not crazy, complex…having to use six or eight different things. You can use as little or as much as you want of her products. And I love that all of her products sink right in. You can put makeup right over it. I love that. She also has a Quench mask that’s very hydrating as well. And I love the Quench Face Serum. It’s very hydrating. Also, I love the Kate Somerville Line Release. And then there’s just the basic stuff, like drink tons of water. Hydrating is a big thing for me. I get really dry skin.

My favorite, favorite thing, that’s not Kate Somerville is Emu oil. And that is sort of the best thing. It’s from the Emu bird. If you’re a vegan, I’d say jojoba oil is great. Emu oil has healing properties. It’s incredible. My makeup artist introduced me to it. It’s helpful if you have a scar or a scab or if you’ve picked at your face or if you have a burn. It heals scars and burns really well. A friend of mine burned herself badly with a curling iron and put Emu oil on it and it really heals. My boyfriend uses it for a moisturizer. I put it on in the morning before I go to work. After I get out of the shower, I put that on all over my face and neck. It doesn’t make you break out. And then as I’m in the hair and makeup trailer (on set), I let that set in. Your face just drinks it up. You can also put it on at night before you go to bed. Incredible!

Good to know! Is there a specific line of Emu oil that you love?

The kind that I get that I love is Laid in Montana by Montana Emu Ranch. I put it all over my face. It’s incredible. Honestly, it’s one of the best kept secrets. It’s awesome. It not only moisturizes, but it’s got healing properties.

So, it would be great for people who have acne scaring?

Totally! And, going back to Kate Somerville, she’s got great lasers for acne scaring as well. And, by the way, Kate’s products are not a fortune. They’re really reasonable and it’s very accessible. I’ve been using her line for about five years. Also, there’s an old one too that I do at night sometimes which is Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. It’s been around forever. It doesn’t make you break out and it seals in the moisture at night to give your skin a break. I’ll put on the Emu oil and then the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream over it before I go to bed and wake up in the morning and have baby skin. It’s incredible.

So it sounds like your “must have” product is Emu oil?

Yeah. I’m a big fan. And again, if you’re vegan, you can use jojoba oil instead. I did a movie in New Mexico and it was so dry and windy and the makeup artist there suggested jojoba oil. And you can get it at the grocery store and it’s super cheap. It’s so good for your skin and healing as well.

Do you have any body skin care favorites?

I’m obsessed with Pure Figi Coconut Sugar Rub. It’s the bomb! I use it in the tub, in the shower…and it’s awesome. The other thing I’ll say for a cheaper option, that’s super hydrating, is Cetaphil Ultra Hydrating Lotion.

Yay, Cetaphil! I’m a big fan of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It’s really affordable and really great.

The Cetaphil Lotion is awesome. I’m obsessed with finding stuff that works and that’s not scented, so I can put my perfume on and not have conflicting scents. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter for feet, elbows, and knees. I love that stuff! By the way, a good tip…while you’re in the shower, put an oil your skin while you’re still wet and then when you go to put your bathrobe on or your towel, you just have that little moisture in there and then you can put your lotion over it. That’s particularly great for people with dry skin. And I love L’annine Hand Cream.

Let’s talk makeup!

I don’t wear it when I don’t have to. If I can get away with it, I wear none. My guy at work (“Private Practice”) uses Armani foundations. I love them. My favorite mascara on the planet, other than Maybelline Great Lash that everyone loves…is Make Up For Ever mascara. I love it. It never clumps and it looks super natural. I don’t like to put a lot of foundation on, but I still use a little bit of Chanel foundation. I use their Lumiere Fluid.

What do you keep in your purse?

I love Jao Hand Refresher. (previously reviewed on My Skin Affair) It smells great. Love that! For under eye (dark circles), other than the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat pen that everybody has, I love the Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer. I’m obsessed with Cle de Peau. I use the Cle de Peau Concealer in “Ocher”. I use that in combination with the YSL Touche Eclat. If I’m going out and going to do my own makeup I just do a little bit of that under my eyes, super moisture, and maybe mix a little Chanel foundation with a moisturizer and just rub it on almost like a lotion. And then I have a Stila Sheer Pressed Powder. But I try not to even use a lot of that because I try not to have any creasing. I always carry a lip gloss. Right now, I have the Face Lip Gloss that I love in my bag.

How important is hair and makeup to you when you’re creating a character?

Very! For me, it’s starting with an image. It’s really big for me. And, what they wear as well.

Are there any spas or resorts that you love, out of town?

I like Montage Laguna Beach. And Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is always good.

By the way, very exciting news, Kate mentioned to me that she will be coming out with a fragrance and body care line of her own that she’s very excited about. I can’t wait to check out her products. With Kate’s enthusiasm and knowledge about skin care, I’m sure she will come out with something great. Stay tuned! I’ll be all over her products as soon as they’re available and I’ll definitely feature them on My Skin Affair.

Photo by Tim Calver

So, I have to ask…when we worked together I think you had only done a few episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy”. What was it like when all of that blew up and then turned into a spin-off for your character on “Private Practice”?

It didn’t happen over night. I had a really great time shooting “Grey’s”. I shot the pilot with you and when the pilot didn’t go I came back to “Grey’s” and it just became huge. It’s something you can’t ever anticipate. It was a crazy ride. I could have never anticipated that.

Kate is a very proud supporter of Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation.

What Kate shared with me about Oceana:

”I’ve been working with Oceana for a couple of years. I’m working to preserve the ocean. It’s a food source for a billion people on this planet. We have to help maintain that. Since I can remember, the ocean has been a part of my life. I’ve always been by the ocean. I even thought I’d be a marine biologist at one point…(she laughs) or play one on tv one day”. Kate is thrilled to be working with Oceana. She will be featured in a number of PSA’s for Oceana. Check out this beautiful picture of Kate swimming with a sea turtle.

Photo by Tim Calver

On a final note: I love all of Kate’s product choices and suggestions. With her skin looking as fabulous as it does, I’m definitely going to do some research on Kate Somerville and check out Kate’s favorite products. For me personally, it’s been truly great watching Kate Walsh dominate ABC for the past few years. Well done, lady!

Thanks Kate!

Photo by Brian Bowen Smith

Related reviews:

1. Kate Somerville: The Clinic and My “Must Have” Kate Somerville Products
2. Celebrity Skin: Marla Sokoloff
3. Celebrity Skin: Fay Masterson

Though investigating crimes scenes may not be as cutthroat an environment as the White House, audiences also know Emily as attorney Ainsley Hayes who she portrayed on the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning “The West Wing” for two seasons.

Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Emily was no stranger to television before moving to Los Angeles. While completing her degree in Journalism and Dance at East Carolina University, she worked as weather anchor at WNCT in Greenville.

Emily’s earlier big screen credits including the likes of “Leaving Las Vegas” with Nicolas Cage and “Jerry Maguire” with Tom Cruise. In 1998, Emily landed her first starring role in the critically acclaimed HBO telefilm “Breast Men” opposite Chris Cooper and David Schwimmer with whom she later worked on “Friends”. She has since co-starred in the New Line drama “Body Shots”, which reunited her with “Jerry Maguire” co-star Jerry O’Connell, and more recently opposite Martin Lawrence in FOX’s blockbuster sequel to the comedy “Big Momma’s House”. Emily also filmed a cameo role opposite Patrick Wilson in the comedy “Barry Munday”.

When not filming, Emily enjoys interior decorating, performing with her new band, playing poker, and working with various charities for the homeless. My Skin Affair asked Emily to share with us how she keeps her skin looking so radiant. She has some great product choices. Enjoy!

What is your skin care routine?

In the morning I wash my face with Neutrogena then follow-up with Skinceuticals Renew Overnight Oily (even though it’s a night cream, it works great under makeup because it’s light, moisturizing and won’t break you out).  At night I use a combination of Murad products; I love the firming Age Diffusing Serum, Lightening Gel and Age Balancing Night Cream.  I alternate with Skinceuticals, CE Ferulic, Phyto+ and again Renew Overnight Oily cream.
 

What are your favorite products?

I love the California Baby line! Even though it says baby on it, their products are gentle for sensitive skin.  I use the sunscreen (the one in the pump bottle) as hand lotion during the day. It’s a great way to protect your hands.  Burt’s Bees Apricot Baby Oil has a delicious scent, really delightful.  Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Tinted Moisturizer is a winner and I also love Kai & Jo Malone lotions.
 

What’s in your purse?

In my bag I always carry Buddha Balm Lip Balm in Mandarin Orange Ginger and Shea Body Butter by Sun Flare Maui (Tuberose is my favorite).  I cannot say enough about this cream, I leave it in my bag because it’s a great pick-me-up.
 

How do you pamper your skin?

I take a bubble bath every night.  I use EO Bath Salts. And as far as bubbles go, I like EO Bubble Bath, Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Bubble Bath is wonderful, Cote Bastide Bain de Roses and California Baby too.  Ten minutes in the bath goes a long way!  Afterwards I cover my feet with Ahava Foot Cream – excellent!
 

Do you have a favorite spa?

I absolutely love Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs, California!  It is a very low-key place with a natural hot springs and great therapists.  It also doesn’t hurt that it’s about two hours from L.A. and reasonably priced.  Catherine in the restaurant makes a splendid raspberry martini!  After all, fruit is good for the skin!
 

Favorite spa treatment?

The hour and a half hot stone massage or the hour-long reflexology massage.
 

Favorite tip/advice for skin care?

Moisturize!!! Moisture is the key to young looking skin.  I will also wear makeup to protect my skin.  I use the Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Tinted Moisturizer and take the sheen down with a little mineral makeup powder. I like sheer cover.  It is a natural polished look with good coverage and great sun protection.

Thanks Emily!

Related reviews:

1. Baby Skin: Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Bubble Bath
2. Baby Skin: California Baby Calendula Everyday Lotion
3. Celebrity Skin: Wendy Davis

After conquering the pop world, she set her sights on the theater. Gibson took a star turn in the Broadway production of “Les Miserables” as Eponine. She broke box office records in the London West End production of “Grease” as Sandy, and then took the stage in the U.S. Broadway tours of “Grease” and “Funny Girl” playing Rizzo and Fanny Brice. Gibson also wowed critics as Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Gypsy Rose Lee in “Gypsy,”, Cinderella in the national production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”, Velma Kelly in “Chicago,” and Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of “Cabaret.” Gibson recently returned to her Broadway roots for a successful run of “The King and I.”  

Murad, Inc. has announced the addition of Deborah Gibson to its roster of Resurgence spokeswomen. Joining Joan Lunden, former host of ABC’s Good Morning America and Josie Bissett, Melrose Place alum, Gibson will be seen on Murad’s new infomercial launching this year. The new infomercial will also feature a song from Gibson’s forthcoming album. In line with the Murad Inclusive Health Philosophy, the song suggests finding and celebrating radiance both inside and out at any age.

If you had told me in the seventh grade, after seeing her in concert, that one day I’d be interviewing “Debbie” Gibson, I never would have believed it. I was one of those pre-teens, at the height of Gibson’s career, singing as loud as I possibly could along with all of her songs. And, furthermore, I had and loved her Electric Youth perfume.

Deborah and I recently had a chat about Murad, makeup, and a few other fun topics. Enjoy!

Well, let’s start with Murad. What are your favorite Murad products?

I love the Resurgence Renewing Cleansing Cream . I used to be pretty lax about about my skin care routine. I never had a real regime. But, I love this. It leaves your face feeling like is has silk on it and it takes off makeup really well. I love the Energizing Pomegranate Lip Protector and the Resurgence Renewing Eye Cream is great. It absorbs really well. The Resurgence Age-Balancing Night Cream is super rich and really moisturizing. And a little goes a long way. The Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30 is great! Everybody in my family got Murad for Christmas this year. My boyfriend loves it too. He loves the Cleansing Shave.

What are your favorite makeup lines?

Mineral Essence, blush and eye shadow. Mac! I’m a huge Mac fan. Always have been. Too Faced Magic Wand Illuminating Foundation is great. It has a built in brush. And I love the Anastasia Eyebrow Kit.

Let’s talk about spa’s. What are your favorite spas?

I love the Murad Spa. I’m addicted. I love their Vitamin C Infusion Facial and the Vitamin C Infusion Manicure. It’s so decadent! I travel a lot and the Atlanta Airport Express Spa is great during a layover. They are so great and professional and they get you to your connecting flight on time. The Eclipse Spa in Chattanooga, TN. They pampered me all day long. It was like being in “Steel Magnolias”. I spent Christmas in Ecuador at Casa Ceibo. It’s a resort and spa. We had massages on Christmas day. Also, Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs is great. My boyfriend took me there after running my summer camp for the first time.

Deborah’s passion to mentor and foster young performers and songwriters led her to create “Deborah Gibson’s Electric Youth,” a series of performing arts camps and songwriting/recording boot camps. In addition, she formed the “Gibson Girl Foundation” that awards scholarships to those who desire to attend an entertainment camp, but are unable to afford tuition.

Taking a bit of a turn in our chat…Deborah appeared in the March 2005 issue of Playboy magazine and I had to ask her about it.

What was that experience like?

It was amazing! It’s fun when you get to break your own rules. If you would have asked me at sixteen if I would have done it, I would have said no. It seemed to have a stigma then. But, Playboy is so iconic. The nudity was secondary. Playboy is the standard for classy and sexy. It was one of the most professional experiences I’ve ever had. You walk in feeling completely protected and taken care of. I felt total freedom.

What’s in your purse?

Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Protector, Listerine Pocket Mist, my gym membership card, DuWop lip gloss, Christian Dior lip gloss, Too Faced lipstick, Bare Escentuals lip gloss. A lot of lip gloss!

What’s your best advice/tip for skin care?

It sounds so cliche, but sleep and feeling comfortable in your own skin. There’s nothing better. Murad is all about all inclusive health and I love that. Taking care of yourself from the inside out.

Thanks Deborah!

Related reviews:

1. Dr. Howard Murad: An Interview And An Experience at Murad
2. Celebrity Skin Interview: Christine Lakin
3. Celebrity Skin Interview: Jennifer Taylor

Born in London and raised in New York, Mischa went from humble beginnings in New York Theater to working side by side with modern day screen icons including Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, “Notting Hill“, Bruce Willis and Toni Collette in “The Sixth Sense“, and Sam Rockwell in her Sundance critically lauded feature film debut “Lawn Dogs” in 1998.

Following the CW Network drama “A Beautiful Life” for producer Ashton Kutcher, Mischa is currently working on Law & Order: SVU in New York. You can now see the unaired episodes of “A Beautiful Life” on Youtube.

Mischa has also made a major impression in the fashion and beauty world. She has already graced the covers of countless international magazines and has become the face of numerous advertising campaigns.
Mischa’s commercial and theatrical successes have given her an opportunity to take an extremely influential role in the global community. She is currently the spokesperson for Climate Star, an organization that fights Global Warming through social and legislative activism. She also serves as an Entertainment Industry Foundation Ambassador teaming up with QVC to spread awareness and raise funds for women’s cancer research through the Fashion Footwear Association of New York Shoes on Sale Initiative and is also campaigning for skin cancer awareness.

My Skin Affair caught up with Mischa and had a chat about her skin care routine. Enjoy!

What is your skin care routine?

I live by the Clinique 3-step Skin Care System. In the morning I start off with the Mild Facial Soap bar, then the Clarifying Lotion #2 followed by the amazing Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.  The best part about this program is that you can alter it to match your skin’s needs. I follow that up with the Neocutis Lumiere Eye Cream, it’s super light so you can wear it throughout the day.  At night, I love to add in the Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask as a treat after a long day on set. It has a great citrus scent and foams and leaves your skin so clean and soft!  And Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair is a miracle worker if I ever have a dry patch or any skin problems, it literally works overnight!
 

What are your favorite skin care products?

You can’t beat Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream when you want your skin to be well moisturized, silky, smooth and soft!  I fit this into my routine 3-4 times a week just to give my skin that certain je ne sais quoi!  I also couldn’t live without the Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover, it’s so easy, fast and gentle on my skin.
 

What’s in your purse?

I always have the Terry Rose Lip Balm – gives your lips great moisture with just the slightest hint of color.  I also carry the small bottles of Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream with me everywhere, I must have one in every bag!
 

How do you pamper your skin?

I LOVE the L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream. I put it on before bed with socks and it leaves my feet so smooth!

Which product is your current “must have”?

I just discovered the Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish and love how it leaves my skin incredibly soft, even after the first time!
 

Do you have a favorite spa?

I really enjoy the Silk Day Spa in Manhattan. It’s so serene and provides for the best escape from the busy city.
 

What’s your favorite spa treatment?

I love the Silk Melt Away massage, it completely makes all the stresses in my life disappear, if only for an hour.
 

Do you have a favorite tip/advice for skin care?

Protect your skin!  You absolutely have to protect your skin from the sun, the higher the SPF the better!  I like to use Clinique Sun SPF 50 Face Cream when I’m outside, or Stila’s Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer on a day-to-day basis.  It gives an incredibly even tone to my skin and has a great 30 SPF to protect my face!

Thanks Mischa!

Related reviews:

1. Celebrity Skin: Julie Benz
2. Celebrity Skin: Melora Hardin
3. Celebrity Skin: Emily Procter