Hello lovlies:) I’m super excited to share with you today my interview with Hollywood actress and star of an American dramatic television series Mad Men Christina Hendricks. Last month Christina Hendricks kicked off the LATTISSE Wishes Challenge. About the same time I was given the chance to interview Miss Hendricks about LATTISSE, her role in Mad Men, beauty, inspirations, and future plans.

Christina Hendricks Interviews With Marta Walsh

Marta Walsh: Where do you call home?
Christina Hendricks: Home is in Los Angeles, where I live with my husband.

MW: How did you get into acting?
CH: I always wanted to be an actress. I started doing community theater in my home town when I was young, then moved to New York to pursue acting fulltime.

MW: How did your collaboration with LATTISSE come about?
CH: As an actress, I wear a lot of makeup and false lashes, which took a toll on my lashes. So when LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% was approved by the FDA as the first and only prescription treatment for inadequate or not enough lashes (eyelash hypotrichosis) that grows your own lashes longer, fuller and darker, I was very curious and interested to learn more.

My doctor determined LATISSE was right for me. I’m looking forward to seeing my full results after 16 weeks while helping to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® through the LATISSE® Wishes Challenge, a campaign inspired by the tradition of blowing on an eyelash to make wishes come true. Your readers can learn more at www.latissewisheschallenge.com.

MW: What do you love most about LATTISSE for your lashes?
CH: Of course, that it’s making them grow! I’ve just started to see a little bit of length and am excited to see more. I also like that it provides an option for women who may notice their lashes thinning over time. This is another reason why they may choose to see a doctor about LATISSE®. I might even book my mom an appointment!

MW: What did your role in Mad Men bring to you as actress?
CH: Working on mad men is such a joy. Every single person that works on that show is so talented and it’s an honor to go to work every day.

MW: What’s your philosophy about beauty?
CH: It’s important to have healthy, good-looking skin. I’m very fair so I take special care of my skin by applying sunscreen daily, not only on my face but also on my arms and chest.

MW: Who & what inspires you?
CH: My husband inspires me every day.

MW: Aside from LATTISEE for your lashes what are some of your other best kept beauty secrets or rituals?
CH: In the morning, when I feel I need a little pick-me-up, I sweep on my favorite cream-based blush and it instantly wakes up my face and I feel just the right amount of pretty! For the perfect shade of lips, I use Dolce and Gabbana classic cream lipstick in “cosmopolitan.” It’s a vibrant coral color – perfect for spring and summer.

MW: What one or two things some people may not know about Christian Hendricks?
CH: I love to sing and dance! I was a dancer for years. I recently got to go back to theatre while performing COMPANY with the NY Phil at Lincoln Center. It was so fun.

MW: What’s next for Christina Hendricks?
CH: I go back to work on “Mad Men” soon which I’m super excited about. I also have two movies coming out in September. A comedy called, I Don’t Know How She Does It and an action drama called Drive.

Hello loves:) Did you know that last week I was given a chance to interview superstar Fergie thanks to AVON. With Ourspoken by Fergie perfume being one of Avon’s most successful perfume launches it’s no surprise Fergie and Avon collaborated for a 2nd go. Meet the NEW Outspoken Intense by Fergie which is scheduled to launch this Summer.

Outspoken Intense by Fegie a new fabulous perfume by superstar Fergie for AVON

Outspoken Intense by Fergie is very much a scent inspired by these last few minutes before Fergie walks out to the stage where the attitude is intense, bold, confident, outspoken and ready to rock and roll. I’ve smelled both Outspoken by Fergie and the Intense version and the latter is less floral fruity and more warm, musky, and sweet. I would say the Intense for night and special occasions and the other for daytime. So I got to interview the fabulous Fergie and this is what she had to tell me.

Marta Walsh: Why should we try Outspoken Intense by Fergie?

Fergie: “Because when you smell it, you’ll know. Females like it, my husband likes it, it’s a great scent. Try it and let me know what you think!”

Marta Walsh: What are some of your best kept beauty secrets?

Fergie: “Hydrate hydrate hydrate…I use cocoa butter lotion which prevents stretch marks, and I uses it every day when out of the shower. I moisturize my hair with 3D rescue….. since for shows my hair is always being colored and styled. My tip: Hydrate the body, the hair, the face… and especially under the eyes.”

With Fergie insisting to be hands on with the creation of her Outspoken perfume for AVON as oppose to just putting her name on it just because she is a celebrity resulted in a meaningful perfume and a true reflection of Fergie’s spirit. Now if you are a Fergie fan Outspoken Intense by Fergie perfume might be the one for you.

I would like to thank Avon for the opportunity to sample Outspoken Intense by Fergie and for the interview with Fergie.

(Hollywood, CA – May 11th, 2011) – Actress Kali Hawk rocked metallic Nicole Miller during Maxim Hot 100 Party. Hawk looked sexy chic in a Nicole Miller silver and black sequin cocktail dress with sheer back.

Kali Hawk in Nicole Miller At The Maxim Hot 100 Party

Kali Hawk Interviews With Marta Walsh

I’m super excited that my interview with Michael Cohen was published in his popular fashion, beauty, and celebrity website www.askmichaelcohen.com. You might know Mr Cohen from staring in Bravo’s Miami Social and his stints on TV for CNN’s Showbiz Tonight, or his editorial work for People and In Touch Weekly. Today, you’re more likely to hear from Michael as a member of Us Weekly’s Fashion Police, or via his Huffington Post column Ask Michael Cohen, which is syndicated on UK-based website www.beautyandthedirt.com. So yes I’m honored. Or as the English say: I’m pretty chuffed. Thank you Michael Cohen & your fabulous team:)

Here’s an exert from my interview with www.askemichaelcohen.com.

“Beauty Expert Marta Walsh Talks Kardashians, Spring Trends and Wrinkle-Free Skin.

There is something to be said about a woman who conquered New York University’s STERN School of Business, worked on Wall Street and left it all behind to start a beauty blog.

Meet Marta Walsh.

Growing up in Israel, and later moving to New York City, Walsh has taken her love for everything beauty and turned it into a website that Glam.com named “One of the best blogs in the United States.”

Marta Walsh for NOH8 photographed by Adam Bouska.

TalkingMakeUp.com isn’t just a one-stop shop for everything pretty, but a haven for no-fluff celebrity interviews with everyone from Khloe Kardashian to Heidi Klum.

Recently, we sat down with Mrs. Walsh to talk about makeup, of course, but more importantly, we asked her the age-old question: How can we keep our skin wrinkle-free?

You have interviewed a lot of great celebs. Who was your favorite interview of all time?

This is quite a difficult question. The whole experience of connecting over the phone with the celebrity and learning about them is very fascinating to me. So, I enjoyed them all: Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Audrina Patridge, Jay Manuel, Giuliana Rancic, Vanessa Williams, Kendra Wilkinson, Bethenny Frankel, Natasha Bedingfield and Heidi Klum, just to name a few. But I will always remember the first ones, like Dean and Davis Factor, great-grandsons of makeup icon Max Factor and founders of Smashbox cosmetics. Read full interview in www.askmichaelcohen.com

Marta Walsh With Natasha Bedingfield

Marta Walsh

Blast from the past. I stumbled upon a vintage interview I did with the fabulous Jay Manuel from back in early 2008. I actually had the honor to speak to Mr Manuel over the phone and he’s incredibly fascinating person with an uplifting energy. So here it is. In this interview Jay talks about how his passion for style began, his first break working for a famous opera singer, his own cosmetics line: Manual Override, and what a day is really like for him at a major award show.

Jay Manuel

Marta Walsh: When did your fascination with style and beauty begin?
Jay Manuel: When I was quite young, Prince Charles and Lady Diana got married and I was obsessed with the train. Also, in high school when I was on a science track and studying pre-med, I was always fascinated with style. My sister and I laugh about it now, if you look at pictures of me and my room growing up, all my walls had magazine ads. I even had double-page ads from Saks Fifth Avenue. I didn’t even know what Saks meant.

MW: What was the first big break in your career?
JM: I have to go all the way back to when I moved to New York and I was going to New York University. My first voice teacher was in a Martin Scorsese’s film The Age of Innocence with Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis. She opens up the movie and she came to New York and they needed an imagery of her. They send her to a very well known photographer who shoots classical artists for The Metropolitan Opera and the Gramophone. She asked me to do her makeup and hair even though I wasn’t a hair dresser. She wanted to look like a star, she was a beautiful woman. And I just did it, and after he (the photographer) approached me and said: “You are very talented at what you do. It is not overdone but it is definitely that Hollywood star look. Would you be interested in working for me?” I was going to school at the time and very naïve but I actually called him back 2 months later, and I told him my schedule and that I would love to work for him. And he called me, and I worked for major famous Opera Singer as my first job. Then my second job with him, which was only a week later, was for Luciano Pavarotti for the cover of Metropolitan Opera Il Trovatore album. From there I just start working with lots of classical celebrities, pop culture celebrities and supermodels. I moved up very quickly at a very young age.

MW: How was the concept for Manual Override Cosmetics born?
JM: It is very simple but as a makeup artist I have so many brands sending me products for years. And just going to the stores you see all these products everywhere. The same message is out there. They usually have an inspirational image of a woman, sending the message: buy all these products and you will look like this. No one was really addressing the individual. From being on America’s Next Top Model, I’ve received so many letters from fans and women talking to me about makeup and the problems they were having, things they liked and didn’t like. And I just felt women they like to keep their makeup bags and their makeup drawers and they don’t want to really want to throw away products when they get new ones. They always add to it. So what I wanted to do is to help create the first real complimentary line of cosmetics that is designed to elevate your style. As a makeup artist I was brought to work with many celebrities and models and there is a certain look, especially when you are a celebrity, that you have to maintain. And people know you for that look. And what I want to do is to elevate their look not change it. So this is how I came up with Manual Override which includes problem fixing products.

We just launched a new product that is completely sold out on e-commerce and QVC. It is revolutionary. It is the first complete silicon based concealer without oil. It covers hyper pigmentation and age spots without rolling into fine lines or looking dry. It is doing very very well.

MW: Which product from your line are you most proud of?
JM: I am proud of all the products because they are all innovative and that was the important thing for me. I love the new concealer because even of you don’t wear makeup everybody needs a really good concealer. Especially women who don’t wear makeup, they don’t want to wear powder they want to matte it down. Most concealers are very chalky and roll into fine lines. Creating and developing this formula took almost a year and maybe even longer and it’s been very successful. The other product that I love is called: Radiant Dimension which is based on a very simple concept drawn from my own technique of doing makeup. Lots of people use face powder or foundation powder or liquid and they create a musk effect on their face. And if you don’t wear a lot of eye makeup or blush you can look like you are wearing a mask. And as a makeup artist what I would do is what I call: burning. Shade around the hair line and cheekbones always with a bronzer. But bronzers tend to go very gold or orangey. So I created a product that is silicon based pressed powder, and a complimentary modified bronzer to eliminate the mask effect. It is called Radiant Dimension because it puts radiance and puts dimension to your face where your skin naturally has.

MW: What is a day like for Jay at a major award show such as the Emmy’s?
JM: It’s not very exciting. You wake up to a very boring morning. I usually get up and run. I love live events because it is unedited and you never know what’s going to happen. I really do enjoy doing that. I like to get up and run and eat breakfast. For some reason running really clears my mind. And we get ready and we usually do our rehearsals for the show the day before, so we know kind of what’s going on. We usually show up and depending on what venues we’re at we have trailer that is set up for Ryan Seacrest, Giulianna Depandi Rancic and I. We just walk out, we cheat chat, we have coffee, we get ready, and we get dressed. It is very low key because once you are on there is so much anticipation. Beforehand is pretty boring. The real excitement is when you are choosing what to wear which I usually do couple weeks ahead of time. I choose my own outfit without any assistance.

MW: Which of your many projects have you enjoyed working on the most?
JM: Sometimes it depends on the day because I like the variety of the work that I do. Once you are doing something for a while it’s nice to change it up. But, I have to say, hosting events and hosting live shows, that is exciting for me. I would like to think to continue more of that for sure.

MW: What was your favorite aspect of working on America’s Top Model and Canada’s Next Top Model?
JM: These shows are different. On the American show I produced and was the creative director. On the Canadian show I co-host and executive produced, and I have to say I enjoyed that. Because I really get to on the Canadian show, which was very successful even on an international level, to design every aspect of the judging room completely myself. On America’s Next Top Model I run the finales, the photo shoots, it is still a lot, but it is nice to create an overall look of a show. Certainly for me it’s really being able to, and this goes back for both shows, to really give back. I think I have been so fortunate to work with amazing visionaries like Richard Avedon and Herb Ritts, people who are no longer with us, that taught me a lot. I think it is really important for young upcoming models to learn the same tricks of the trade, that the all business is about smoke and mirrors, and understand it. People have a certain flair for this business especially young models, but there a lot of things that can be taught. That’s the thing that drives me to do these shows season after season: it is giving back. I know the show edits down things and all you can see is me saying things like:” That’s great” or sometimes I’m saying something funny, but really I spend the most time with the girls, 14 hour day is not unheard of. And I really get to teach them, and that’s the part I like.

MW: You have worked with many celebrities throughout your career. Are there celebrities that still make you nervous?
JM: Not really. What allowed me to work in the industry on this level for so long is that I’ve always looked at entertainers as humans who are simply doing their jobs. We all have the same concerns and insecurities. I look at celebrities as just another person. For me the celebrity part wears off very quickly which allows myself to work. You have to let go of thoughts like: “Oh my god, I am working with Jennifer Lopez”, to allow you to work well. Because as a makeup artist and a creative director, celebrities rely on you with their image. Do your job and that’s what they are relying on! Therefore, that moment goes away. So even when I see someone who is on TV but I never worked with and meet for the first time, I don’t get that same crazy energy. This allows me to speak to them a bit more intelligently. Also, celebrities day and day out have people constantly saying to them: “My goodness, I love what you do”, or “I love that movie or show”, and “you look better in person”. And the funny thing is that I get it almost every day. I can’t even go to a grocery store trying to buy vegetables, and everyone has cell phone cameras now. And the most insulting thing people say to me, and they don’t realize it is insulting. They don’t realize they are being insulting because they are kind of shocked to see you in person. So I say to them: Do I look bad when I do my job? And they say: no, no! ? That’s not what we mean. When people say that to you day in and day out, or when they tap you, or pull your jacket to say hi, it does get annoying. When you want to interview somebody, it is the last thing you want to do.

MW: What other passions do you have besides your work?
JM: The thing that I really love to do is to break away. Going to museums and look at art I love, but it is kind of my job. So I like to hike, backpack 7 hour tracks. This is my way of escaping.

MW: What is your favorite place to shop for clothes?
JM: This is hard: Can I say everywhere? What I love about fashion is truly being creative with it. I like to be able to shop low end and high end and mix it up, and putting it together. Sometime people feel that to be a fashionista you must be wearing Prada or Gucci head to toe. I actually wear a lot of Gucci on the red carpet, but at the same time, it is nice to buy things especially on my travels around the world. I bought this jacket recently in Europe, it costed me 140 Euros, not very expensive, but it looks really high end and fashion forward. Everybody comments on it and loves this jacket. I love to just to have fun. Sometimes I like to buy things and change them. I rarely look at a magazine and say I want that look head to toe. I prefer looking at what the designer is doing on the runway, screen graphs, and adapt from that, as oppose to looking at how the ads are put together.

MW: How would you describe your personal style?
JM: Personally I love suits and amazing tailoring. It comes from my grandfather being a tailor. I have many many suits. But I can’t wear that on America’s Next Top Model. I am a jeans and t-shirt guy on my down days. But really I love an amazingly tailored suite, and that’s why I enjoy the red carpet. I will never just wear a black tux because I think it is just boring. Fashion needs to be fun and not taken so seriously. For instance, for this year’s SAG Awards I wore a Gucci tapestry tuxedo, off white metallic tapestry embroidery in it. I ended up in a lot of best-dressed lists and others thought it was too much. But I really think it was amazing. Gucci got a lot of press out of this so they were really happy.

MW: What is your favorite city?
JM: I’m a New Yorker and I love New York. But if I had to travel to a place where I think it’s magical, and because I am a true artist: true old world artisans would be in Venice. I’ve been to Paris and Rome but Venice has this energy that runs through you, and I love it!

MW: What is your philosophy about beauty?
JM: As cliché as it sounds, I really do believe beauty radiates from the inside. Because I know some very beautiful people who aren’t so beautiful because their energy is not. I know there some people who are not traditionally beautiful but their energy blows you over. That’s why I think people are really attracted to energy. Sometimes you meet someone who isn’t really your type physically but there is an attraction there and it’s all energy based. Anybody can be made to look like whatever that star appeal is. If you have the right styling and it’s not overly done. And if you can wear it with true confidence which can elevate how you feel about yourself, you really do start to sparkle. This is one of the reasons I agreed to do the show: “Style Her Famous”. Because everybody has that celebrity they love. You can’t look like someone else but you can certainly borrow their pieces of their style, or how they live their lives, and whatever attracts you to their style, and adopt it as part of your own style. I really love that concept, because I got into this business to empower women. I still feel strongly about this today.

MW: What is next for Jay Manuel?
JM: I actually have some great projects in development, some of it would be in the world of television and some not, but they will make a lot of sense. I can’t talk about it but there would be some exciting things happening this year.

*******Thank you Jay Manuel we love you*****

I’m super excited to share with you my interview with Dr Bracci of VERVE Medical Cosmetics in Midtown Manhattan, 50th street between 3rd and 2nd avenue. I visite Dr Bracci office on my trip to NYC last week and had the pleasure to meet with him. He was the nicest in person. I even got to try out some fillers (I can’t help it I’m a beauty blogger after all I need to know). This time I had Radiesse. I am very happy with the service and the results. So here is my Q&A with Manhattan’s darling Dr Bracci.

Dr Bracci of VERVE Medical Cosmetics

Marta Walsh: Where do you call home?
Dr Bracci: New York city.

MW: When & why did you first become interested in medicine particularly the skin?
Dr B: I first became interested in the non surgical cosmetics about 12 years ago when laser skin care treatments started to become popular – and I had a sense that people really wanted a non-surgical alternative. It is so exciting to see that we now have all of these new non- surgical tools to make people look better. I have always been interested in esthetics’s and it just made sense for me to follow my passions.

Dr Bracci’s spa VERVE in NYC MIDTOWN 216 East 50th Street New York, NY 10022 Telephone: 212.888.3003

MW: What non surgical skin procedures do you specialize in?
Dr B: The art and science of esthetic injectables. I specialize in cosmetic injectables – to replace the lost foundation under the skin seen with aging “cosmetic fillers” , and botox type medicines that block the muscles that cause wrinkling of the skin ( look great not fake approach) .People think that aging is all about loose and excess skin – but much of the changes that go on with aging are really the loss of foundation that supports the skin . By artfully replacing the losses seen with aging with cosmetic fillers , and relaxing the muscles that wrinkle the skin (botox medicines) – we can not only restore a rested and younger appearance but provide prevention.

MW: What is your practice philosophy? What sets the VERVE Medical Cosmetics experience apart from the rest?
Dr B: Our goal is to make people look better in a natural way ( with out looking fake!)

This practice has always exclusively provided non-surgical esthetics – where by the vast majority of practitioners provide either surgical or medical based services in addition. The future of this industry is people seeking out dedicated centers to satisfy their esthetic needs , and other centers to satisfy their medical needs .

MW: What are some of your must-have skincare products from your own skincare line?
Dr B: The Eye bright ( super eye area treatment ), and the Pepstep x2 for firming and repairing skin

MW: Please demystify: What is the difference between Juverderm and Radiesse?
Dr B: Juvederm is somewhat thinner and is really good for finer lines , where by Radiesse is great for the typical person who need volume and some lifting.

MW: Why Botox?
Dr B: Botox is great for relaxing the muscles that wrinkle the skin – particularly around the eyes

MW: Do these treatments hurt?
Dr B: very little – as I always combine my fillers with numbing medicine and botox is small little pinches with baby needles.

MW: How long is the procedure?
Dr B: I provide these procedures all day long so I provide fillers in as quick as 5 minutes , and botox takes less than a minute to provide in most cases.

MW: Recovery time?
Dr B: recovery is usually very minimal – in most cases limited to temporary swelling and occasionally bruising that goes away.

MW: How long it last?
Dr B: depending on the area of fillers Manny patients have results that last a year and in some areas results have been seen to last up to 3 years. Fillers are generally indicated for the line between the nose and the mouth (nasal labial fold) , and other areas are considered off label at this time .

MW: Laser Hair Removal: how many treatments do we really need to get rid of hair for good? What advice can you give anyone considering these treatments for the first time?
Dr B: Laser hair removal is a process where by the goal is to permanently reduce the number of hair follicles with each treatment , so a series of 6 or more sessions are generally need to significantly reduce or fully eliminate the hair . Again my advice is to seek out the advice of a practitioner or center who provides these services on a full time basis.

MW: What non surgical skincare procedure do you recommend to women post pregnancy treating saggy tummies for example an other skincare changes?
Dr B: Pregnancy may bring excess skin in the abdomen which may respond to a non-surgical device that heats and shrinks the skin (for example thermage) – however these patients need to be well selected as patients with big needs (allot of excess skin) may be better doing nothing or consider surgery . My opinion is that non surgical tightening devices need to be matched wisely to the needs and goals of the patients, as some patients have needs that are bigger than non surgical devices can deliver .

MW: What does beauty mean to you?
DR B: Looking your best at any age – where by you don’t cross the line of looking fake.

MW: What and who inspires you?
Dr B: People like Jack Lalanne – who inspired others to be their best and live an active healthy life style.

MW: What is your favorite place to dine in New York City?
Dr B: My favorite places are Italian restaurant that have great plant based foods – A Voce and Il Buco restaurants are two of my favorites because they prepare vegetables as if it is their focus.

MW: Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor?
Dr B: Both are special and have really been known for their natural everyday good looks.

MW: When you are not busy helping women/men look their best where can we find you?
Dr B: I really enjoy fitness – I swim a mile several days a week , strength training with weights , and run.

MW: What’s next for Dr Bracci?
Dr B: So Manny exciting things going on – with ever new cosmetic fillers coming out and non -surgical modalities to heat and shrink the skin – the future for this industry is very bright!

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I would like to thank Dr Bracci at VERVE Medical Cosmetics in New York City for his time and interview.

Disclosure: My visit to Dr. Bracci’s office was complimentary.

I’m super excited to share with you my interview with Mathilde Thomas Founder of Caudalie. To be honest I’ve been trying to interview her for a long time now. I am always inspired and intrigued by people such as Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas who together created a brilliant brand and the creation happened organically like it was always meant to be. Real people creating real genuine products. Not a hype, just good products.

Mathilde Thomas Founder of Caudalie

It all started during the 1993 wine harvest at the Château Smith Haut Lafitte Estate, when college sweethearts Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas (who were hosting the grape harvest at Mathilde’s family vineyard) had a chance encounter with a prominent scientist from the Bordeaux University of Pharmacy. When the professor noticed the young couple throwing out vats of grape seeds, he reacted as if they where throwing away pots of gold. Since its birth in 1995 Caudalie has revolutionizing the world of natural skincare. The Caudalie spas, such as: CAUDALIE VINOTHÉRAPIE SPA AT THE PLAZA, then followed. Here’s a sneak peek to the real story in my interview with the genius mind behind the brand, Mathilde.

Marta Walsh: Where do you call home?
Mathilde Thomas: My heart is in Paris and that’s where I will retire, but right now I’m a New Yorker! I love it here and am so happy to have the chance to be able to explore this amazing city as a local.

MW:  ”When Bertrand met Mathilde”. When and how did you meet? How do you make the partnership work?

MT: We met in 1990 when we were in school together. I would arrive on my bicycle and he would roar past me on his motorbike. Then one day he pulled up next to me and we started talking. He offered to tutor me in math…and the rest is history.

MW: How was the concept for creating your own skincare brand and spas come about?
MT: It’s true that it can be complicated to work together, to have three kids together, to live together – but it’s also a huge strength for us. In my opinion, the secret is that we handle separate parts of the business. I’m in charge of the product development, the research and the marketing and communications, while Bertrand is in charge of making it all happen – the finance, the operations. In our case one plus one does not equal two, it equals much, much more.

MW: How do you go about starting your own beauty brand. What were some fun moments and challenges?
MT: It’s challenging to start your own business, no matter what field you’re in. That said, we’ve had – and continue to have – countless memorable, fun moments. For example, when we had first launched the brand in 1995, I received a called from Carla Bruni, wife of the President of France, to tell me personally that she loved my products – that was a pretty great moment! We also had the President of Spain attend the opening of our Marqués de Riscal Spa and the entire country was watching the event on TV – that was incredible another incredible experience. As for challenges, I think we wanted to grow too big too fast. We’ve now found our stride, but it was a good lesson.

MW: What advice can you give to anyone interested in starting their own cosmetics company?
MT: Make sure you have innovation and a stand out product. There are so many products on the market these days and consumers have become experts at identifying which ones are unique and special. It’s important to make sure you have something great before you put it on the market. After that, it’s about being driven and making sure you’re ready to put in the work.

Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas

MW: Which products from Caudalie you just can’t live without?
MT: I always have a bottle of Premier Cru – the Cream with me wherever I go because it has everything you need in it: Polyphenols to fight signs of aging, Viniferine to brighten the complexion and Resveratrol to firm. It does it all!

Bottle of Caudalie Premier Cru

MW: What’s new with Caudalie these days?
MT: I’ve been working very closely with Dr. Vercauteren and we’re incorporating some of his latest research into one of our lines, as well as developing a new star product for the summer. We’ll be previewing it on our Facebook page (Caudalie USA) so stay tuned!

MW: What does beauty mean to you?
MT: For me, it’s about living a well-balanced and healthy life. Those are the key ingredients to beauty.

MW: First movie you ever watched on a date together?
MT: Cyrano de Bergerac and Nikita were two of the first films we saw together – though honestly I don’t remember which one was first!

MW: What and who inspires you?
MT: My environment inspires me – my family’s vineyard in Bordeaux, nature, the beautiful scent of the cypress inside the vine, the tea that we drink at the end of the day at the vineyard, Dr. Vercauteren and his research. Having recently moved to the NY, the city is a huge source of inspiration for me right now. I love speaking with clients at our Vinotherapie Spa at the Plaza and meeting with many of the doctors here that are using incredible technology to reduce wrinkles. I take inspiration and learnings from my various surroundings and incorporate them in to the Caudalie brand.

MW: One or two things some people may not know about Bertrand and same question to Mathilde?
MT: Most people don’t know that both Bertrand and I are crazy about windsurfing. All the vacations we take are planned around skiing in the winter and windsurfing in the summer.

MW: What’s next for Bertrand and Mathilde?
MT: Making it happen in the US!

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I would like to thank Mathilde Thomas Founder of Caudalie for this very inspirational interview.

When I began blogging about 5 years ago now I wanted to interview Ted Gibson of the Ted Gibson Salon. For some reason it never happened. However, to my luck, years later I managed to meet Mr Ted Gibson at his hair care product launch & Vanity Fair party in New York City. Sweet destiny. Moreover, over these years during my visits to New York Fashion Week I got to know his partner, Celebrity Colorist, and co-owner of Ted Gibson Salon Jason Backe. This duo is the Rock Stars of hair styling, coloring, and hair salon business. Few weeks ago Jason and I met in Phoenix at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa one of my favorite places in the world where we got to catch up on life and business. I would like to share with you my Q&A slash interview with the fabulous Mr Backe.

L to R: Celebrity Colorist and Ted Gibson Salon New York City Co-Owner Jason Backe with TalkingMakeup’s founder & North Scottsdale REALTOR Marta Walsh at the Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa Paradise Valley Arizona

Marta Walsh: Where do you call home?
Jason Backe: I am a native Minnesotan – a good Midwestern boy – but now I call New York City home. When did your fascination with hair and hair styling begin? I have loved it my whole life, my mom recently gave me a picture of me giving my younger sister a perm when I was about 7 years old. I didn’t make it a career until about 15 years ago.

L to R: Jason Backe and Marta Walsh

MW: At one point did you realize that you are no longer just any hair colorist but a top colorist?
JB: Hmmm, that’s a good question. I think I started realizing it when I started getting recognized by the top magazines.

MW: What do you attribute to your success?
JB: I love what I do, I say yes to just about everything and Im not afraid of hard work.

MW: How did your partnership with Ted Gibson come about and what makes it work?
JB: Ted was my teacher in beauty school – trust me I have now heard every “hot for teacher” joke in the world. We work well together because he is a visionary and great at coming up with concepts and ideas and I learn from him every day. I balance that out by loving the routine of day to day business. He comes up with the ideas and I come up with systems to help implement them.

MW: What was your experience like having a part in the hit Bravo realty series Real Housewives of DC?
JB: It was a lot of fun. I made some wonderful friends and got the opportunity to see first hand how those things are made. It was a pretty outrageous experience.

MW: Who would be your dream housewife to style hair?
JB: My mom and sister – although they are both career women too

MW: What makes Ted Gibson Salon in New York City stand out from the rest?

JB: We have a few things that are our business code –

1. we only work with nice people we like

2. we know that beauty is individual – that there isn’t one standard of beauty. We know if you feel pretty, you are pretty and our job is to make the girls feel pretty

3. It’s not about the hair, it’s about the experience. People come into our salon EXPECTING beautiful hair, they aren’t necessarily expecting to be treated nicely – high end salons have a reputation for being snobby. In order to be successful in NYC the women have to love being at our salon and want to come back.

Jason Backe at his element backsatge with model

MW: What are your 3 most important hair coloring tips?
JB: Find a hair dresser you love and be loyal, through that relationship you can have someone who encourages you to try new things and see your beauty in a way you didn’t think was possible. Visit the salon regularly so your hair always looks amazing (letting it go too long can make you look cheap – hehe). Change it up – try new colors and new styles, your hair is your biggest accessory not a tattoo – its fun to try new thing.

MW: And what 3 hair care products or tools you just can’t leave without?

JB: 1. INOA – the new ammonia free permanent hair color from L’Oreal Professionnel. It is the most revolutionary hair color to come out since hair color was invented 100 years ago.

2. Bleach – it is the most versatile tool as a colorist (if I was trapped on a deserted island with 100 pageant queens and could have one product this would be it!) – Unfortunately it is also the most misused product so it gets a bad reputation.

3. Fibersutics – an incredible new in salon deep conditioning treatment. It only takes a few minutes and literally REBUILDS the hair that has become damaged.

MW: What and who inspires you?
JB: I am inspired by so many different things – I was at a meeting the other day and was thinking about Dr Seuss and Whoville and how that would work in hair color! I also love the city I live in and it feeds me energetically, spiritually and creatively every day. I also have to get away, going to my house in the Catskills of Upstate New York really inspires me. My staff inspires me – their eagerness to be the best in the business inspires me every day to be the best I can be.

MW: Brad Pitt or George Clooney?
JB: Ted Gibson

MW: What beauty means to you?
JB: For me, beauty is all encompassing – a well balanced lifestyle, staying fit, eating good food, playing outside – hiking, camping, travel, etc. All of those things make me feel beautiful. When I feel beautiful I know I am beautiful.

MW: What one or two things some people may not know about Jason Backe?
JB: I love to go to the barber for a shave and my skin always looks its best when I use the shower gel at the gym.

MW: What is your favorite drink?
JB: A Hendricks Gin martini with a slice of cucumber to garnish.

MW: What new and next with Jason Backe?
JB: We are opening a salon at the W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale Florida – that’s new… Next? I’m open….we’ll see.

I would like to thank Jason Backe for a brilliant interview. We love you and it’s major <3

I’m super excited for my interview with Inman.com a top Real Estate online publication where I got to talk all about fashion & beauty blogging and Real Estate. The article in titled “Beauty is in the eye of the blogger” and is written by Mary Umberger. Here’s a sneak peek!

Marta Walsh Interviews With Inman.com

“I have an obsession about beauty products,” said Walsh, who began TalkingMakeup.com after her husband suggested she start a blog because of the way she scoured the Internet for information on cosmetics. ”I said, ‘What’s a blog?’ ” she recalled, laughing. But she figured out what to do pretty quickly, and she stuck with it. Her blog now attracts about 160,000 unique visitors a month, she said.

Here’s a sneak peek to G-Star RAW Magazine featuring Q&A with the lovely Gemma Arterton.

G-Star is fascinated by your authenticity – the fact that beneath the Hollywood glamour and gloss there is a tough, real person with a tough, real upbringing. You embody their values as an authentic denim brand that makes real work-wear and has, by a twist of fate, become a glamorous fashion label. Do you relate to that?

Of course! I think that’s one of the things that I love about G-Star. I feel like a tough girl in a fancy frock sometimes, and I think G-Star is the same. I like the contradiction between glamour and durability. Sometimes people are shocked when they meet me because of this contradiction. I’ve often been told that what I say doesn’t match the way I look… and I think that’s a good thing! Surprise is exciting.

G-Star asked you to be in the spring/summer 2011 campaign as you embody a RAW Elegance, a confidence that G-Star wants to promote in its advertising campaigns. How important was the idea of being a powerful woman to you in your decision to do the campaign?

Well I’m a woman and I like to be in control, especially creatively. I knew that working with G-Star would give me the opportunity to do this- although it has to be said that the campaign was a huge collaboration, which made the experience very fun. You can be in control but also be open to playing with everyone else’s ideas.

What did the photographer (and director) Anton Corbijn tell you to think about when on the set finally shooting the campaign?

Anton allowed me to be myself which I think is the most important thing. I love music and dancing, and he really brought the fun, frivolous, free spirit out of me. It’s amazing to have a photographer who is also an astoundingly brilliant director as the two go hand in hand, especially if you want to get a lost of spontaneity and personality into a shoot.

What was it like being a Bond Girl and what did you want to bring to your character that previous Bond Girls may not have had in the past?

I was just thrilled to get the job, I was walking around the set with stars in my eyes! I always loved the old Bond films from the ‘60s so I wanted to bring a bit of that English cheekiness into my characterization. Even my character’s name was cheeky: Strawberry Fields!