I spent most the day at a TV shoot hanging out with Lorit Simon, co-creator (with Lindsay Lohan!) of the new self-tanning spray Sevin Nyne.  Sevin Nyne has received a ton of press recently–no doubt initially because of the Lindsay connection–but the big shocker here is that the spray not only works, but is fabulous!  If you’re like me, your biggest complaint about self-tanner is that is smells disgusting.  As a self-proclaimed self-tanning expert, I’ve managed to bypass streaks and orange palms (okay, most of the time!), but the gross-smell thing really trips me up.  Sure, I like to be bronzey as much as the next girl, but Eau de Sour Milk is so not my thing, and that’s what you get with pretty much everything on the market.  Sevin Nyne gets the full Jolie treatment because, hey, it’s 2009, and it’s high-time we had a caramel-scented tanner that won’t go rancid after two hours and–oh, yeah!–actually works.

I used to be skeptical about the spray concept–surely a lotion or cream works better, no?–but I’d long been converted to that, too.  The beauty of a spray is that you don’t have to rub it in.  So, after your first one or two inevitably messy sessions (steep learning curve here, people!), you’ll be speedily spritzing like a pro and can also get those hard-to-reach places on your back.  Of course, for some people, nothing less than Jergens Natural Glow or a light-as-air mousse will do–and that’s perfectly acceptable when you want light, barely-there color.  For a true summery-yet-still-natural-looking bronze, however, I seriously recommend Sevin Nyne.

Oh.  And did I mention that it smells amazing?  Because it smells amazing.  Check out my interview with Lorit Simon here!

Basic self-tanning tips:
- Always tan on clean, dry skin
- Moisture after tanning, not before
- Tan your hands and feet last, so you can control amount and strength
- Exfoliation will fade your tan, so keep that in mind while shaving or using body scrubs!
- Pay special attention to knees, elbows, ankles, feet and hands; all can be tell-tale areas of self-tanning

Before heading to a party in Santa Monica last night, I made a quick video as I was freshening up my makeup.  (Blotting sheets are key!  Right now, I’m using Allison Raffaele’s powder-free Blotting Tissues, which I highly recommend and have been very impressed with, as they sop oil without leaving the residue that other sheets can.)

I always feel such excitement coming back to New York City!  California may be where my spirit can run free, but New York unlocks my mind and my heart–it’s the city of my birth, the city of my education (in more ways than one!), a place I know intimately and feel so comfortable and welcomed in.  Even while I lived here, if I happened to leave briefly, nothing could beat the thrill upon returning of flying parallel to the city, the sights unfurling in the airplane window: the Statue of Liberty, the gaping psychic hole where the Towers once stood, the Empire State Building, the Dakota, the Reservoir, Riverside Church.  I pick them all out one by one, marveling at the fact that such a grand and majestic city can whiz by in mere seconds as the plane turns and veers toward LaGuardia to redeposit me home.

After dropping off my bags in the hotel, I took a stroll down memory lane, quite literally, walking up Lexington Avenue and revisiting some of my old haunts.  While outside the new Bloomberg building, a wave of sadness washed over me–I was gripped by nostalgia so icy cold that my heart dropped and I nearly wept.  And then, the moment passed and I walked on.  I’ll come back to you soon, New York–when we’re ready for each other.

Back in the hotel room, I got bored watching the Superbowl and decided to make some YouTube videos instead.  The fruits of my silly labor, below!

Talking about some of my favorite beauty products:

Jolie “naked” — with no makeup on:

Okay, my loves, I know that my YouTube videos are the height of crap—we’re talking epic bad lighting, camera angles, and posting/editing skills, not to mention the fact that I apparently have the worst lisp in the history of the world—but be gentle.  Jolie is learning!

This weekend, I went to the Nelson J. salon to have highlights done by Nelson Chan, who also does celebrities including Heather Graham.  He’s well-known for the care he puts into his blondes, and was recently named one of the Best in LA 2008 by Los Angeles magazine.  I was not disappointed: my strands are the perfect buttery shade of California blonde, with extra light face-framing pieces.  I highly, highly recommend his work.

So, to see the results, check out my pointless little video below (my camera is broken, alas, otherwise I would have just taken pictures) — haircut pics/vids to follow soon!

Jolie’s new highlights…

Et voila!  You asked for my Vi Peel photos, and here they are.  On the left is the “before” photo, taken six weeks ago.  On the right is the “after” photo, taken this afternoon.  I’m wearing mascara and a little eye shadow in today’s picture, but am not wearing any other makeup; both photos are WYSIWYG.  For a larger, in-your-face (or, rather, in-my-face) version, check out this link. 

Now that I’ve had a chance to compare the side-by-side shots, the difference is actually pretty remarkable and leads me to say that I would enthusiastically recommend the Vi Peel to those with pigmentation problems.  (My doctors at Profiles Beverly Hills performed mine.)  And, by the way, if the scary “Nadine without her makeup!” photo on the left isn’t the world’s greatest advertisement for Bare Minerals foundation (I told you all I had ruddy, messy skin!), I don’t know what the hell is.

Finally, visit my new Jolie page on You Tube for two laughable videos I took of myself the day and night following my Vi Peel with my new Flip camera.  Seriously.  No making fun.  (Um, and maybe you shouldn’t look at the videos while you’re eating.  Day two of the peel is absolutely disgusting.)  Loving my Flip, however!  I’ll start uploading some fun how-to videos for your enjoyment.

xo, J!