Products of the Month - October

Recently, IMPO Pro Melissa Street went to Europe for 14 days to work with a very special client.  During her European tour, which closely resembled the National Lampoon Chevy Chase movie, she experienced several filming challenges, including weather that went from sweltering (in Tunisia) to freezing rain (Marseilles, France) and everything in between.

So, which products did this Pro turn to help conquer travel dehydration, sleeplessness, dry and frizzy hair, perspiration issues, skin irritations, chapped lips and one or two swanky dinners with a cruise ship captain?

Ladies and Gentleman…The Products of the Month for October:

Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 30 – Melissa knows she preaches about this product, but it is only because it really works!  This is a non-greasy sunscreen that is actually good for your face!  Melissa uses this personally, professionally and in place of primer.

Embryolisse Exfoliating Care Cream – this product gently removes impurities and dead cells leaving the complexion fresh and radiant.  Perfect for travel and to revitalize tired, dehydrated skin.

SAMPAR Prodigal Pen – this product will treat and reduce the appearance of skin imperfections such as pimples/blemishes, irritations, bacteria and assists in healing insect bites, razor burn, etc.  A makeup artist must have!

Bed Head Let’s Get Tropical – this body oil treats and rehydrates the skin after long exposure to the sun.  Contains coconut, avocado and sunflower oils, as well as aloe vera.  Gives skin an amazing all-over, healthy glow.

Tara Smith Base Coat Serum – you prep your face with primer before makeup, so prime your hair before styling!  Totally organic and vegan, this product helps protect your hair, hydrates and provides a nutritional supplement for a good hair foundation.

L’Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray – this product is the legendary hairspray of choice for red carpet events, photo shoots, film and television sets because it is so fine that it will disappear at the stroke of a brush.  Won’t way the hair down and has amazing holding power!

Prairie Dawn 100% Natural Lip Balm – this lip balm is more like a lip treatment!  Goes on smoothly and keeps lips moisturized.  Great to use as a lip primer prior to application of lipstick.  Comes in 4 luscious flavors!  Melissa’s favorite is Sweet Orange.  Psst! Check out IMPO's first contest thanks to Prairie Dawn! Details below under Pro Contest (scroll all the way down to the end of the post)!

Hakuhodo Brushes – renowned in the beauty industry as the best in brushes, this line features premium bristles and first-rate craftsmanship.  Melissa refuses to work without this brush line.

CoverFX Big Cover Up Set – traveling with multiple products in individual packaging can be frustrating, but the geniuses at CoverFX have solved that problem!  This 5- piece kit not only achieves total coverage of minor to major complexion issues, it comes with a foundation brush and instructional DVD too!  Melissa used this kit on stage, on camera and for all personal appearances!

CoverFX Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer – this product instantly erases under eye circles and dark spots as well as, redness, sun damage, tattoos, birthmarks, trauma and moles.  A little goes a long way and because it comes in 6 shades you can easily find your exact skin tone match!

Youngblood Cosmetics Artiste 2 Nude Awakening Palette – as a Pro MUA travel is a must, but Melissa hates packing individual colors, it’s just impractical and can be very messy if something breaks.  This palette has all the essential colors for day and night!  It’s a one-stop-shop!

Smashbox Brow Tech To Go – IMPO raved about this product last month, but this product is worth another mention.  Brow Tech is so longwearing and waterproof that it lasted all day through long hours of filming and into the night for a personal appearance and dinner! No need for touch up!

Senna Cosmetics Lip Sync – this is a Pro MUA’s dream!  Lipstick and coordinating lip gloss all in one component!  Gotta love Eugenia Weston for inventing this amazing product!  Incredibly pigmented with tons of staying power, these lip colors are all you need.  Melissa’s favorite colors:  Stunning and A La Mode, but the good thing about owning all 4 sets is that you can mix and match.  Oh and did we mention that this product is formulated with collagen?  Excellent lip plumping power!

MAI Couture Blotting Papier – this product is incredible because it is a bronzer and a blotting paper in one.  Gives a light shimmer while controlling and absorbing oil.  Leaves a warm, sun-kissed glow on the skin.  Melissa also used the Rejuvenate Oil Blotting Papier in Lavender scent for removing excess shine without adding more makeup to her client’s face.  The soothing lavender scent is very calming and refreshing without being overpowering.

Lifewave Y Age Glutathione Patch – Melissa uses this product personally and was introduced to this technology through a client.  Daily, Melissa is asked about her personal skincare regime and because she feels that having good skin is not just about the products she uses on the outside, it’s also about how she treats her body on the inside, she felt it necessary to share this patch technology with our readers.

Here is a little information; Glutathione functions in our body as a master antioxidant that prevents damage to important cellular components caused by free radicals.  Basically, this patch technology slows down and can help improve the signs of aging by neutralizing free radicals that cause skin damage.  It has been clinically proven to help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improve overall health. As we age, Glutathione levels start to decline and many scientists now believe that how long we live is directly proportional to how high our Glutathione levels are.

In all fairness, Melissa is a distributor with Lifewave, but for the sole purpose of purchasing these patches at wholesale cost.  If you would like more information, feel free to click on the link or visit Suzanne Somers' website at www.suzannesomers.com.  You can also read about this incredible, nontechnology in her book Knockout.  This is a personal product of Melissa’s and is not sold to any business clients on set, nor is this mention intended to generate distributors for the Lifewave organization.

Pro Contest:

Thanks to Prairie Dawn Natural Body Products for providing us with our first IMPO/Twitter contest!  Be our 1,500 follower on Twitter and the Pros will send you two of each flavor of Prairie Dawn’s Natural Lip Balm (8 lip balms total)!  Click here and start following – Good Luck!

Photo credit: Makeup by: Ayami - Photography by: Rankin for Sightsavers 

Tested on Film Stars not Animals!

I have been a huge fan of Tara Smith for quite sometime!  She is not only an amazing hairstylist, but also an entrepreneur clawing her way to the top of the hair care industry and she is doing it naturally!  That is no easy feat!

Tara is a pioneer in my industry because film, television and the like are not exactly eco-friendly environments.  The carbon footprint left behind can sometimes make the cast and crew feel less than “green!”

Tara says, “It was important to me to develop a salon-quality product line based on natural plant ingredients and accessible to everyone at a realistic price tag. I have made sure my products are as natural as they can be without having to keep them in the fridge because I believe that what we put on our body is as important as what we put in it!”

I knew I was going to love this product when I read her tag line...“Tested on Film Stars not Animals!” Kudos Tara!  I am sure that all those celebrity clients did not mind being your test subjects!

Here is a little inside information on Tara:


She is one of the most respected celebrity hairstylists in the industry.  Her famous clients include: Demi Moore, Marisa Tomei, Rosario Dawson, Neve Campbell, Lucy Liu, Patricia Arquette, Lindsay Lohan, Sting and Matthew McConaughey, to name just a few.  Her recent film credits include: Happy Tears, Grindhouse and SATC (the movie – L.A. crew).


She received the 2009 Celebrity Hairstylist of the Year award in the UK.  English-born, Tara began working alongside her mother at her salon, which was originally her grandmother’s at a very young age!

More of Tara’s philosophy, “hair, makeup and clothes are our most expressive assets.  A great haircut should enhance your facial features while accenting your personality.  I think many hairdressers try and fit a person into a style.  Personally, I believe it should be the other way round!”  How true that statement is and I believe the same from a makeup artist’s perspective.

Recently, I was sent a few of Tara’s incredible products to try personally and professionally.  Tara’s belief is that “the hair is a plant that needs to be fed,” and so it requires regular hydration and nutrients.


My hair is colored, probably like many of my readers, and can suffer from environmental elements.  Plus, during seasonal changes my hair can become greasy or extremely dry and brittle.  And who doesn't put their hair through major styling distress; blow dryers, hot rollers, curling irons, straighteners, etc., can reek havoc on all hair types!

Tara has a wide range of shampoos and conditioners for all types of hair, but I have been using Tara’s C Curls Shampoo and Conditioner and I love how it combats harsh frizzes! Its key ingredients are Rosemary and hydrolyzed Soybean.

According to Tara’s website, Rosemary is prized for its revitalizing and tonic properties which when combined with the hydrolyzed Soybean, energize the hair and keep the cuticle flexible to improve the hair’s feel and shine.

I have also been using her Base Coat Serum, Rock On Hard Hold Styling Gel and Top Coat Glosser.  All of which have helped me manage some pretty unruly, naturally wavy hair!

In fact, I used to straighten my hair daily using a round brush, blow dryer and straightener because I was unable to find products that would allow me to wear my hair wavy and/or allow my hair to air dry without getting frizzy.


It seemed no matter what serum, styling gel or other accouterments I used in the morning, my hair looked worse and worse as the day progressed causing me to put my hair up into a ponytail or clip!

I hated my natural wave and swore that I would never show my true hair self to the public!  Then along came Tara’s products and I have a new burst of hair confidence!  This product line has given me the ability to have hair that is versatile.  I can choose to wear my hair wavy or straight and have the faith that it will look great either way all day long!

Plus, as a Pro makeup artist in the television and film industry, I have to admit that I do feel guilty when I am constantly throwing away sponges, orange puffs, cotton balls or when I am spraying aerosols into the air.  Tara’s product line helps to minimize the pollutants that cause environmental destruction and can alleviate a client’s allergies to different chemicals and fillers used in hair products.  Totally recyclable packaging!

Below is a great article about Tara:

Tara has also made her hair care products extremely affordable with a prices ranging from $5.95-$9.95.  Remember that when hair care products are naturally based, they do not contain the traditional chemicals that will make massive amounts of lather, so if they feel a little different at first, that doesn't mean the product isn't working or cleaning your hair!  


Tara’s products are currently sold at Duane Reade stores in and around NYC or online at Amazon UK and  www.tarasmith.com.

Pro Tips and Tricks: