Pittsburgh | Glam and Grafitti

GG Interview {Lani Lazzari, CEO of Simple Sugars}

March 14, 2012 in Glam: Style & Trends, Interviews, Streetlight

Glam and Graffiti’s Who to Watch:

Lani Lazzari, CEO and Founder of Simple Sugar Scrubs

We know you are busy. (Are you skim-reading this right now?) That shouldn’t get in the way of caring for your skin. Do you have a nightly face-care regimen? (Do you even have a regimen?) When women and men seek to remedy a problem with their skin, many are unaware of the reasons behind the problem and the facts backing their decisions of their assumed solution.

How many times have you hiked to your closest pharmacy, grazed the skin-care aisle back and forth, up and down until you picked a brand that you believed could potentially work, only to find it just another dud to add to your medicine cabinet. Does this never-ending cycle ever stop!?

Lani Lazzari of Pittsburgh, PA ran into the same problem. At 11, she found it a challenge to find a product that wouldn’t irritate her very sensitive skin. Instead of the never-ending trial-and-error, she did what you wouldn’t necessarily expect a girl in fifth grade to do: she began her own natural skin care line.

Now 18 years-old and just finishing up high school, entrepreneur Lani Lazzari has not only solved her skin woes, but has also helped women nation-wide keep their faces clean, natural, and smelling delicious with Simple Sugars.

Thrilled to have a chance to interview the ambitious beauty queen, Lani shares the stories of her successful start-up, gives advice for striving entrepreneurs, and we even put her to the test in the GG Hot Seat!

And, she is sharing the goods! Check back tomorrow for a Simple Sugars Giveaway!

GG: You have such a great start-up story! How did Simple Sugars all begin?

Lani Lazzari: When I was young, I had very sensitive skin and was prone to breakouts. I had never been able to use any commercially produced products because my skin would become irritated or breakout in a major rash. I decided to make an all-natural product that would be safe for sensitive skin like mine, but would be fun to use and smell great! Simple Sugars began in December 2005, when my mom wanted to have a homemade Christmas and insisted that my brothers and I make the gifts we wanted to give to our family and friends. I did lots of research, came up with my formulation, gave my scrubs out to family and friends, and Simple Sugars was born!

GG: That’s so exciting! What has been your best Simple Sugars moment thus far?

LL: I would say it was when I took my press tour in New York City in 2008. I had meetings at most of the fashion beauty magazines. At one of them, I met with a Beauty Director at Lucky Magazine. Her office was absolutely insane! There were beauty products from wall-to-wall, almost like a high-end grocery store. When she trialed the product in her office, she looked at me and said, “this is the best scrub I have ever used.” It was a wonderful moment! She had practically 60 similar products surrounding her and she told me that the product I was making at 15 was better than those!

GG: Let’s talk business *switches to serious face* Where do you see yourself and Simple Scrubs in 5 years?

LL: We have so many things in the works right now, so it could change at any moment. My goal is to create the best company in America for women in the workplace. I want to focus on providing a great work environment where they never have to make a choice between having a family and a successful career. So in five years, I would like Simple Sugars to start this and be a visible model to prove that this environment works and be an inspiration for other companies.

GG: That sounds great. I know you can do it too! What advice do you have for a young entrepreneur?

LL: Find what your passionate about and really go for it. I think it would be impossible for you to be a successful entrepreneur if you don’t care about what you’re doing. Don’t just try to start a business because someone tells you to or you need money. It can take over your life and it’s time consuming. You have to work a lot with not a lot of immediate awards. You have to learn to motivate yourself because there is no one pushing you. It’s hard to invest so much of yourself in to it if you are not passionate about your product or service.

GG: Tell us a bit about your new Men’s Line. A smelly man, can sure be a deal breaker! How do men take to the line? Are they willing to embrace the hygiene?

LL: The men’s line has been the most interesting thing we have done responding to public response to the product thus far. It’s interesting to see how they react to them. We had a lot of guys buying the scrubs in secret and hiding in the bathroom because they were afraid of getting caught using a pink scrub! They loved the product but they were adverse to the packaging! We really needed the men’s line to provide for them. Our men’s line was launched in the Summer 2011.

Most guys, it takes a lot of convincing and education to buy their first scrub. Guys don’t really know what a scrub is and are hesitant to mix-up there hygiene regimen. We have been very successful through word-of-mouth…they are hooked!

GG: That’s good to hear. And, I am sure too that if they “simply” use your sugar, they will get a bit more sugar too from their loved ones!

What do you recommend to students interested in breaking into the beauty industry?

LL: Educate yourself as much as possible. The first step in breaking into something is making yourself an expert. I was 11 so I didn’t know about business or the beauty market. I had so many problems with my skin that I was more familiar with skin products than most people would be. I suggest becoming more aware of what is out there… the trends, and the market. I subscribed, read, and paid attention to beauty magazines.

GG: What is your morning and night face regimen?

LL: Personally I am not the person who likes to use tons of stuff and I don’t have a lot of time. I use Simple Sugars Facial Scrub Green Tea every day and sometimes use Avocado or Coffee in the winter. The oils in the scrub are the best to remove dirt. And, I love Emu Oil. It’s an oil that is a bit thicker, like a lotion, and with the same PH as water and non-irritating. It’s wonderful.

GG: You believe in using “all-natural” face care. What ingredients should we watch out for on our face labels?

LL: It’s kind of scary because there are so many chemicals out there. Watch out for parabens (a preservative) and PEG (for instance, PEG-20 and PEG-12) numbers. They are almost in everything and people are getting used to the names so products will use other names to hide the ingredient. Both of these have been linked to breast cancer.

Fragrant skin-care products have parabens. They don’t have to list it on the product because it can be considered a trade secret. Check the ingredients of your favorite skin-care product and how concentrated it is when they list the ingredients. If it is in the first few ingredients mean there is more of that chemical.

Also, watch out for Sodium Sulfate Foaming face wash. It makes your skin mores susceptible to absorbing other chemicals.

GG: Great. *Anxiously looks at hair and touches face.*

LL: Haha. I am not fanatical about it. If you use a product with it in it once and a while, it won’t be that traumatic. If you have a product that has parabens in it…like shampoo, it can be redundant. Picture how many times you wash your hair from when you are born to when you are 40 years old. That is a lot and that long-term exposure can be when it begins to have an effect on you.

For more information and to order your own Simple Sugar Scrub, visit: www.simplesugarsscrub.com!

Lani Lazzari in the GG Hot Seat

Hometown: Pittsburgh

Age: 18

The perfect Friday night would include these three things… shopping, pizza and Nutella. (Mmm!)

My favorite scrub flavor is … maple.

My role model is … my mom.

Favorite place to get lost: Book Store.

When I was growing-up I always wanted to…. own an ice-cream store.

The artist on repeat on my iPod right now is…Jay Z

The go-to item in my closet is… my short, white Frye Cowboy Boots.

XX,

PS. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post! {Simple Sugars Giveaway will begin at 10:00 AM EST!}

Tags: Entrepreneurship, Interview, Lani Lazzari, Pittsburgh, Scrubs, Simple Sugars, Skin Care
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{Glam} Out of the Blue

February 24, 2012 in Glam: Style & Trends

It was gorgeously beautiful yesterday. Sunny rays, unusual February warmth, students frolicking happily on the streets…all signs clearly evidencing to the conclusion that global warming-like winters > than blizzardy snowapocolypses.

Look at it this way…would you rather have salt stains damaging your new Christmas boots or an innocent, (look at me having fun in the sun) grass stain? No answer necessary.

RIP Winter Boots due to sodium damage year 2009, 2010, 2011…

I love street styles on a sunny day. You Ladies and Gents take that extra time to spiff up, put a little flare, that special touch on your outfit to match the joy the great weather brings. For the first time in a while, a Pittsburgh Thursday wasn’t just bombarded with monotonous black peacoats and Antarctica-ready, utility style jackets. And, it’s slightly different than a normal spring day because, no one expects it!

It’s just …out of the blue.

I wore a deep blue Top Shop dress, an older leather jacket, jewelry from H&M, knee-highs from Urban Outfitters, and vintage, designer shades passed on to me by my mother.

Enjoy the day!

XOXO,

Glam and Graffiti

Tags: Beautiful Weather, blue, Dress, GLAM, glam and graffiti, H&M, Out of the Blue, Pittsburgh, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, Winter
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{INTERVIEW} The Inside Look: Pretty Little Things, Navy Eyeliner, Foundation, & More!

February 13, 2012 in Glam: Style & Trends, Graffiti: Arts & Culture, Mens

Pittsburgh, PA – Behind the dramatic actors and actresses is that layer of foundation that keeps it all together. And, I really do mean foundation! With every model’s come hither smize, a Makeup Artist is hard at work behind-the-scenes priming, primping, and creating that perfect look. Christine Wertman, Makeup Artist and Trainer, gives Glam and Graffiti readers an inside look while on the job and secret makeup tips for February.

As the Head Makeup Artist for Pretty Little Things, a film that recently premiered at South Side Theater in early February, Christine had been hard at work creating the perfect look for each character. Makeup Artists play a dynamic role on set. How should the character be conveyed? Will the make-up be enough or too much for the camera? Intrigued and hungry for fresh and inside Makeup tips, I jumped at the opportunity to interview Ms. Wertman putting the behind-the-scenes Beauty Artist into the spotlight.

{Photo Cred: Jack Megaw}

{Director Alex Di Marco and Christine Wertman. Photo Cred: Heidi Schlegel}

GG: The film you last worked on, Pretty Little Things, had a unique setting as it was filmed on the streets of Pittsburgh. What was the inspiration behind creating your characters’ makeup to convey certain moods, the environment, and the time?

Wertman: Typically in film, the producers have a very clear idea of what the characters should look like. I am careful to follow their direction, but never shy away from the opportunity to add my own creativity if the crew is open to it.

For the main character, Tommy Fulmer, there were two main factors in his make-up application. We shot in 85 degree weather which meant a lot of scenes with no makeup. Another factor was his mood and his character’s life struggles. He needed to look weathered and real. To get this “weathered” look, we gave ‘younger’ Tommy make-up such as primer with silicone to fill in fine lines and wrinkles, very light foundation to cancel uneven areas, and high definition power to bend light from flaws. He also wore balm on his lips, I defined eyebrows, and applied matte bronzer to create a healthy youthful look.

{Photo Cred: Jack Megaw}

GG: Men’s Make-Up: A lot of people (mostly men) don’t believe us when we say they wear it. It’s true! They can and DO wear it…but, you can never tell. What is the secret if a guy wants to give it a try? A little foundation? Stay far, far away from the Adam Lambert style (guy)liner?

Wertman: True, men can get away with some secret makeup tips. For every day, they can (and should) use skin care with SPF. Also, I know some guys who have used some concealer and tinted moisturizers which are lighter than foundation and not tell tale. Bronzer is unisex and let’s face it we all like a tan healthy look without the tanning bed! Personally the first thing I will do when applying men’s makeup is fill in the brows and put on clear hydrating lip balm. It is the quickest change and doesn’t feel too emasculating!

“For every day, they can and should use skin care with SPF.”

— Christine Wertman on necessities for men’s skin.

GG: What were your daily activities throughout an average day shooting?

Wertman: There is a time schedule so you know what scenes they will be shooting and who needs done when. When the priority character ready, I stand by with brushes for lighting touch-ups that will have to be reset to fight the elements: heat, lights, tears… it can keep an artist on their toes! While they reset for the next scene, this is when the makeup will be done for the next actor. It is interesting because one moment you’re working with blood and berating a gritty face, and the next you need super model glam, and you are whipping out false eyelashes and beautiful lip colors! On set, in makeup, xpect the unexpected!

{Photo Cred: Jack Megaw}

“I stand by with brushes for lighting touch-ups that will have to be reset to fight the elements: heat, lights, tears… it can keep an artist on their toes!”

GG: What was your favorite part of your position?

Wertman: I love working behind-the-scenes. You see everything. You’re not in charge…you are creating a vision, and then, you see it come to life. Frequently when you are doing makeup on an actor you will get the real person, and you will get their character. They are in and out of character when you’re working with them and it is cool to see both sides.

The cast were all so welcoming and appreciative. It is sad when the film wraps. You get close in a very odd way, I think the stress makes everyone bond. Doing the makeup gives you such a personal connection to the person, and their character!

* * * * * *

@we are looking for the DL on the juicy tips for this year’s make-up!

Here are Christine’s best tips for 2012! Which one will you try?

GLAM TIPS:

Raise a Brow

Structured and bold brows have been working the magazines for too long! Softer and more natural eyebrows are coming back. Wertman advises to, “fill them in and follow your natural brow line, use a soft brow pencil from Anastasia or Laura Mercier. Think of almost as if you’re drawing hairs!” For splotchy eyebrows, she recommends to try using powder filler like Benefit’s Browsing. The powder is pigmented and has a wax alongside the powder to set.

{Edwin Shaw Photography for Front Row Monthly. Makeup by Christine Wertman}

GI Joe, GI Gravy, Gee, I Want to Join the Navy

No time for a full eye? Try lining upper lash line with a Navy Pencil. Wertman says that Navy has the magical power to make the whites of the eyes look whiter allowing your own eye color to shine brighter and take away any fatigue that seems to always show up in eyes first.

Feeling Blue? {Designer Credit: MJ Whalen, Photo Credit: Jordan Beckham Photography for Front Row Monthly, and Makeup by Christine Wertman}

Whiplash

Wertman highly suggests Laura Mercier Full Blown because “it has a beautiful, full, thickening effect and has held up on my busiest days.” She also likes a mascara with a separating comb, such as Buxom Mascara, that defines and stretches the lashes for a dramatic look.

Building a Good Foundation

Oily skin? Pressed and or loose mineral powder is the solution! A blending brush allows you to build it until I feel the coverage is even and enough to disguise an uneven skin tone.

{The ‘Beauty Blender’, Sephora}

“Spend a little more money on your sponge and it will become your best friend…”

If you are a lover of liquid, use a sponge to apply after your moisturizer and primer. The secret? The sponge! Spend a little more money on your sponge and it will become your best friend. You can wash and re-use. Not all sponges are created equal. If you have a sponge that gets plumper when you wet or add foundation, it is not good quality. It will absorb product and give you an uneven application. Try the blender sponge, a Sephora makeup sponge, or my favorite, Laura Mercier’s, as it is antibacterial and comes in packs of 4 for $15!

Your Last Minute Tip On-the-Go…

Don’t forget to swipe on your signature lipstick or favorite gloss and go, go, go girl!

Thanks for the inside scoop Christine. And, readers? Glam on
.

XOXO,

Tags: Alex Di Marco, Behind the Scenes, Brows, Christine Wertman, Edwin Shaw Photography, Foundation, Front Row Monthly, glam and graffiti, Jordan Beckham Photography, Lip Stick, Make Up, Makeup Sponge, Makeup Tips, Mascara, MJ Whalen, Movie, Navy Eyeliner, Pittsburgh, Pretty Little Things
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{Graffiti} PRETTY LITTLE THINGS

February 1, 2012 in Graffiti: Arts & Culture, News

EVENT SPOTLIGHT:

Pretty Little Things Movie Premier

Stepping out of the taxi into what Pittsburgh weathermen call “a wintery mix” (aka “Ice Age 4”), I subconsciously batted at my camera bag as it competed for space with my evening purse on the right side of my black Nicole Miller dress.

What was the occasion? This past Sunday, January 29, I attended the premiere of the feature film of Pretty Little Things at South Side Works Cinema.

The black tie, sold-out event featured stunning attendees in gorgeous dresses and smart suits, a deep thank-you from the modest and incredibly talented crew, and a swinging after-party.

As I sat in the audience, mouth slightly ajar, mesmerized and moved by the film, I suddenly wanted to be a movie critic as well.

So, bam!

All fashion sense aside, I am now writing as Stephanie, “the avid style advice blogger and newly acclaimed amateur movie critic.”

Well…it was fantastic. Main character, Tommy Fulmer, a fallen comedian who was released after a 10 year prison sentence for possession of narcotics, faces a series of heartaches and challenges as he fights to make things right. The storyline moved consistently throughout the film and according to the small gasps in the audience, had the right amount of twists and turns to keep them at the edge of their seats. The actors were superb and the screenplay was dramatic, real and punchy, clearly illustrating talented cinematography was at play in-front-of and behind-the-camera.

Where did it all it begin?

Hats off to an extremely talented and ambitious group of students at Point Park University. The film was cast, produced, written, and created entirely by students from 18-22! Alex Di Marco, 22, studying Cinema and Digital Arts with a concentration in Directing, is the Executive Producer, Writer, and Director for Pretty Little Things. From screenplay to premier night, he set the bar high with a motto that fueled the team to success, “There is NO such words as YOU CAN’T.” He found that this lesson he was taught at a young age combated many of the challenges his team faced over the year of filming: decreased support, lack of funding, creative licenses, and constant remembrance of their young age.

{ Father Tino Di Marco, Producer & Director Alex Di Marco, Actor Gary Farrar}

“We made it because the people who joined the Pretty Little Things team are true filmmakers, and when it’s your true craft, those words, “YOU CAN’T” are as loud as an empty room.” – Alex Di Marco

When you match talent with passion, you can’t go wrong. I had the privilege to interview the producers of Pretty Little Things and take a behind-the-scenes look on their exciting and challenging path of the launch of their film.

Di Marco first started writing the script when he was 18 years old and in his senior year of high school. Once going to college he began meeting people in his major who he felt shared the same level of ambition to create a film and pitched his idea to a friend.

Fast forward to junior year and the movie got kicked into gear.

“I began assembling some interested parties and crew and eventually I met Mike Reeping and offered him the lead. (Which goes without saying, was a match made in heaven.)” - Alex Di Marco

{Producer Cory Stoken and Actor Mike Reeping}

Support came and went, but it was clear that it was there from the beginning. He explains how at first “ it seemed very surreal… almost hush-hush for a while like we were running some underground speakeasy at school during the prohibition period. It was when we held a meeting of about sixty something odd students who pledged their commitment to the summer film.

That’s when we got a taste of reality and a long story told short, we walked away from those sixty some odd “committed” individuals with merely a daily ten who stuck it out that summer. In the end, it went from myself to about one hundred committed individuals, down to a realistic ten people on set each day. Those ten people varied time to time.”

GG: What has been the most rewarding part of the project?

Cory Stoken: “The absolute most rewarding part was this past Sunday at the premiere. As I was watching the film on the huge screen in front of me, I kept looking over at Alex to see him with the biggest smile on his face the whole time. This film was his baby. He’s been trying to get it made for over 4 years, and it has basically consumed his life over the past year and a half, and to see it finally seeing the light of day in front of 250 people, it was amazing.

{Producers Cory Stoken, Heidi Schlegel, & Jordan DiRisio}

GG: What was the biggest challenge that your team faced?

Heidi Schlegel: “In my eyes, I think [it was] balancing our schedules with one another. Many of us had summer jobs and were trying to make money while working on this feature film. It definitely wasn’t easy coordinating availability and making sure we completed the film in a reasonable amount of time.”

GG: What advice do you have for aspiring movie directors?

Cory Stoken: “I would say my biggest advice for aspiring filmmakers is to don’t give up on your dreams. Your dreams are your futures. If you dream to make a feature film someday, go out and do it. Pull together all the resources you can manage, and do it.”

”Nobody can stop you from chasing your dreams, and without dreams you have no future.” – Cory Stoken

…Even if you don’t succeed this time, you at least know you tried, you made it so far, so for the next project you pick yourself back up and try again.”

Alex DiMarco: “Young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white. Purple or Green. The key word is “aspiring.” Just have something to say as an artist. If you can truly look at yourself in the mirror without any influence around you and tell yourself, this is what I want to do.

Then at that level, the only person than can slow down or derail your dreams, is yourself. If all you do is talk about directing stories, then you are an aspiring procrastinator. Just do it and…

…go make a movie!”

And, that they did.

* * * *

A few paparazzi shots from the night featuring members of the cast, crew, family & fans!