Photo Credit: Myra Vides

In this month’s “In the Hot Seat,” we’re introducing celebrity makeup artist and new BN contributor, Kerry Malouf. Kerry will be penning stories for us and offering an insider’s scoop on the beauty biz. The Los Angeles-based Malouf is highly sought after –and that’s why we’re glad we nabbed her as contributor- and she has worked with a host of A-listers like Ginnifer Goodwin, Audrey Tatou, Alicia Silverstone, Kiera Knightley and Emmy Rossum. Malouf’s core philosophy is that beauty comes from within and that a natural glow can be enhanced with color to create a natural, ‘no- makeup’ look. A committed vegetarian, Malouf’s a big believer in the cruelty-free ethos. She doesn’t use products tested on animals and relies on natural, organic and green products wherever and whenever possible.

Without further adieu, our intro to Miss Malouf.

Give us a little background info please!
I have been doing makeup for 20 years and am passionate about my craft. I am also passionate about skin. I believe that true beauty comes from the inside out, so what you put inside your body reflects on the outside, with makeup and clothing enhancing the outside with color and fabrics making daily life a little more fun. I look forward to sharing my favorite secrets with readers and believe that people, places and products are the very best from the inside out.

Cosmeceuticals guru Perricone MD is branching out of skincare into makeup in the form of their translucent, perfect-for-summer No Foundation Foundation, a delicately tinted moisturizer which boasts an SPF of 30. The dewy but lightweight formula is not your mother’s, or even your big sister’s, foundation. The veil of coverage allows you to forego heavier products so skin can breathe. Apply two drops via fingertips, blend in a circular motion and you’ll notice evened tone and imperfections will be erased.

Available at Sephora and http://www.sephora.com.

If you prefer nude lips during the summer swelter, slick on Edward Bess Lip Gloss for the sexiest shine fest your lips could hope for. The chicer-than-chic Desert Glow is a slightly sparkly gold and one swipe is all you need while sipping a tropical cocktail by the beach.

Available at Bergdorf Goodman or http://www.edwardbess.com.

Cat Cosmetics, created by actress Catherine Hickland, offers an ingenious product dubbed Smolder, a liner/shadow combo with a wet-look, bronze stick shadow on one end and a sexy black pencil eyeliner on the other. Both were designed specifically for maximum smudging and for summer-ready smoky eyes that aren’t as heavy as fall and winter versions.

Available at http://www.catcosmetics.com.

Freeze 24/7 Mineral Makeup takes the guess work out of the cosmetic industry’s hottest trend of the past few years. Why Freeze? The flawless, airbrush-like coverage doesn’t budge, even on the most humid of days. You’ll look ready to be photographed for the cover of any magazine 24/7.

Available at CO Bigelow locations.

Tan, sun-kissed and bronzed. These are all words used to describe that glow we look for when the warmer months roll around. But it’s 2009 and we know all-too-well about the harmful effects that the suns UV rays have on your skin, so what’s a glow-getter to do? Take the tanning sessions home and protect your skin with natural looking sunless tanners.

Now don’t get me wrong. There’s a fine line between a believable faux-tan and an oompa loompa; that’s why here at BN we’ve sifted through the good, the bad and the orange-y to bring you the best products for your tanning needs. Though most importantly, we’ve focused on tanning for specific skin tones to help determine which products work best for you.

PREP:

Always be sure your body is free of moisture so that you won’t end up splotchy and here’s a tip: for areas that can collect color (knees, ankles, elbows), lightly apply a regular daily moisturizer to these sections and allow a few minutes of drying time before applying tanner. It helps to create a more even surface for the color to spread. To ensure even application you always want to exfoliate, shave or wax before applying any self tanner.

We Recommend:

Weleda Birch Body Scrub: This natural exfoliator contains pearls of beeswax and sugar-based extracts from coconut plants to exfoliate and cleanse your skin, making it perfect for prep. It also smells like a pitcher of lemonade! Yum! Available at http://www.usa.weleda.com

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub: This is designed for those with overzealous, oil-producing skin. This exfoliator is gentle enough for your face and neck, thanks to aloe vera extracts, but gets the job done with finely granulated corn cob meal. Visit http://www.dermalogica.com for retail locations.

Korres Natural Products Organic Face Primer: This silicone-free primer is silky and fast-absorbing to ensure an even makeup application. Perfect before applying tinted moisturizers, self-tanners, and bronzers. Available at http://www.sephora.com

DARK SKIN:

Deena Campbell, Staff Writer, said, “I’m already a medium to dark brown shade so the goal for me is to get a sun-kissed look. I find that a good bronzer always achieves the summer glow I want.” Remember when using a bronzer that you always want to lightly dust your brush over the powder and tap off excess before applying; otherwise you’ll look like you spent the afternoon mud wrestling rather than sun-bathing.

We Recommend:

Guerlain Terracotta Moisturizing Bronzing Powder #2: This bronzer is super lightweight and is the perfect mix of glow and sparkle. You can use liberally on legs, arms and stomach as well, to ensure an even glow. Available at http://www.saksfifthavenue.com

Clinique Self Sun Body Daily Moisturizer in Medium/Deep: Switch out your daily moisturizer for this gradual tanner; it works with your specific skin tone to create a natural looking glow while moisturizing and evening out skin for those areas that haven’t seen the light of day since last August. Available at http://www.clinique.com

Givenchy Magic Kajal is aptly named. Magic is right. This chubby, Orient-inspired black eyeliner is a reinterpretation of a classic kohl liner from Givenchy’s Spring-Summer 2009 collection and is simple but special. It’s a carbon-black shade specifically designed for lining the inner rims of your eyelids. It doesn’t budge even on the waterline of the eye. However, the shape of the line will change throughout the day, based on the fact that you are lining a wet and fluid area, which is an added bonus. It’s an excellent ‘toss in your handbag’ liner poised for quick touch ups and summer minimalism. The good news is that it is not a limited edition item, either. Regardless, nab yours now!

Available at Givenchy counters at fine department stores, Sephora or http://www.sephora.com.

Nothing looks healthier and more vibrant than pretty pink lips in summer. Avon is well aware of this fact and its Pro 3-in-1 Lip Wand boasts a liner, lipstick and gloss in one tube, so your combinations are vast! The 3-in-1 is also ultra-efficient and self-contained, so you won’t be left with a lipstick landfill piling up at the bottom of your handbag. Despite its salacious name, Vamp is baby pink and kissably pretty.