Holiday Gift Guide: La Mer’s new holiday gifts of beauty for the season!

The Connoisseur Collection SRP $395: The Connoisseur Collection brings together three essential skincare treatments perfect for any time of year: Crème de la Mer (2 oz.), The Lifting Face Serum (9 ml) and The Eye Concentrate (.5 oz.). Presented in a festive keepsake box, this offering is a beautiful way to both gift and experience La Mer.

I’m excited to share with you my interview with actress, singer, musician, and artist Persia White.

A little bit about Persia White (via wikipedia.org): she was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, and Miami. At the age of three, she earned a scholarship to the Nassau Civic Ballet Company. At age eight, she joined the Miami Coconut Grove Children’s Theater. As a teen, White studied dance, acting, singing, and painting. Her films roles include: various independent films, including Red Letters (opposite Peter Coyote) and the cult horror Blood Dolls.

Persia White’s TV movies roles includes: Operation Sandman (opposite Ron Perlman), and Suddenly, opposite Kirstie Alley. Her television work includes guest starring roles on Angel, NYPD Blue, The Steve Harvey Show, Brooklyn South, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as a series regular role on Breaker High with co-star Ryan Gosling. In 2008, White appeared in The Fall of Night, as the character Dawn. She can also be seen in Chrisette Michele’s video, “Be OK”. White recently completed the drama Spoken Word, set for release in 2010. Persia is a vegan and an animal welfare and environmental activist.

I spoke to Persia White on the phone this past summer. I had the most amazing conversation with her about her beginnings as an actress. Her role on the long-running sitcom “Girlfriends”. The award-winning documentary Earthlings which she co-produced and was narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. What does fame really mean to her. What’s in her makeup bag. And future plans. Persia to me came across as absolutely beautiful inside out. I want to thank Persia for taking the time to chat with me!!

Marta Walsh: How did you decide on a career in acting, and what were some of your first breaks as an actress?
Persia White: I loved acting since I was 8 years old. I started to do theatre in Miami on the Coconut Grove Children’s Playhouse. That was my big introduction to acting. Then a talent scout founded me suggested I should find an agent. I was also a dancer and kept dancing but eventually I got into acting, which is a bit easier. Dancing is such a hard career. I still love dancing. I used to be one of these artistic kids and always loved make people laugh. I would do stand-up comedy skits when I was young. I moved to LA when I was a teenager and booked my first TV Series: “Breaker High” with co-star Ryan Gosling. I did several TV guest star appearances like in NYPD Blue and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I then booked a soap opera in New York which so happened to get cancelled. I moved back to LA, which was good because I booked the role of Lynn Ann Searcy in the sitcom “Girlfriends”.

Kay Panabaker, star in the new movie “Fame”, made her mark on the red carpet at the movie’s LA Premiere! mark celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg explains how she created Kay’s gorgeous red carpet look.

Eyes:  “Kay wore a gorgeous red dress, so we wanted to go glam for her look. For her eyes, I started by applying mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Biscotti as a wash all over her eye and then smudged mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Luvstruck in her creases. Next, I added mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Fairy Dust to her inner corners and a little Plum Velvet on the outside crease. I then lined her top lash line with mark Get In Line Hook Up Waterproof Eyeliner in Violet and then lightly lined her lower lash line with mark Eye Glimmer in Glammed. To finish the eyes, I applied two coats of mark Make It Big Mascara in Raven.”

If you loved Christina Hendricks’ look last night at the 2009 Emmy Awards, Talking Makeup is excited to share with you some tips on how to get Christina’s look at home.

Makeup artist Georgie Eisdell shares some of her La Mer must haves for the big night:

Prepping Christina Hendricks for the evening, her makeup artist Georgie Eisdell says, “The look we went for with Christina had a little 20’s influence. I wanted it to keep Christina’s makeup really fresh, clean and elegant. I prepared her skin with La Mer’s The Moisturizing Lotion – it’s perfect to hydrate the skin with being greasy and a perfect base for foundation. Next, I love La Mer’s Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF 15 for Christina. It is light on the skin but gives excellent coverage where needed.

Kiehl’s Since 1851, the venerable New York-based purveyor of fine quality skin and hair care preparations, is pleased to introduce a limited edition Lip Balm #1 Set to celebrate its most iconic product. Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Kiehl’s best-seller, and longstanding favorite of both male and female patrons alike, this gift set consists of six Lip Balm #1 formulas in Coconut, Cranberry, Mango, Mint Vanilla, and Original – all of which treat, soothe and hydrate lips.

A must-have of many celebrities – including John Mayer, Gwyneth Paltrow and Halle Barry – Lip Balm #1 is the most well-known and beloved formula worldwide. Infused with Squalane, Sweet Almond Oil, Allantoin, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, this rich, emollient balm is recommended for all skin types and is particularly beneficial to those with dry, parched lips.