Photos by Nadine Kam
Makana Esthetics Director of Education Malia Sanchez, left, with former classmate, the Star-Bulletin’s Rose Bernardo.

With the growing interest in the spa industry and physical well-being, Malia Sanchez and Christine Hall saw a need for advanced esthetician training for those aspiring to work in high-end resort spas or medi spas, and created the Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy, an accredited Esthetics Certified training program that celebrated its grand opening May 29.

Melissa Samiano was one of the beneficiaries of her sister Melanie’s hand and arm massages.

Those who attended were able to walk through the treatment rooms, enjoy hand massages, sample the lines of Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skin Care and June Jacobs Spa Collection carried by the school, as well as enjoy food, including shrimp scampi and spicy ahi on tortilla chips, catered by Pearl Kai’s newest restaurant Off the Wall.

The school’s Core Esthetics Course consists of an intensive 15-week curriculum designed to help students pass the Hawaii State Licensing examination. Summer courses open for registration start up July 14 and Aug. 25. Call 591-6090 or visit www.MakanaAcademy.com for more information.

Model Karen Vance showed up with her fringy dog-shaped purse from Anteprima Plastiq.

Where there are students, there’s a need for guinea pigs, and what that means for you is the availability of facials running $35 to $45, with add-ons such as a single microdermabrasion treatment for $25, or single glycolic treatment for $25.

They’re at 1168 Waimanu St., across from the Ko’olani condominium. Park on the street.

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Among restaurateurs in attendance were Ed Kenney (Town, Downtown), Donato Loperfido (Pasta & Basta, Elua), Philippe Padovani (Elua) and Henry Adaniya (Hank’s Haute Dogs). The room was so packed it was hard to back up far enough to get a photo, and the only reason this one was possible is because these party guys were among the last to leave.

After dropping in on the Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy, it was off to Waikiki for Nobu Waikiki’s one-year anniversary. I couldn’t believe a year has flown by, but so it has.

In a small room in the back of the restaurant, the fashionable — including a bunch of magazine eds., party girls and a contingent from Louis Vuitton — mixed with the foodies. It was near impossible to back up for a photograph, and among the restaurateurs able to take a break from their own kitchens to congratulate Nobu were Henry Adaniya, Kevin Aoki (Doraku Sushi), Ed Kenney, Donato Loperfido, George Mavrothalassitis (Chef Mavro), Philippe Padovani, and Ana and Tushar Dubey of Hokulani Bake Shop.

Wine and lychee martinis flowed, and waiters made the rounds with trays of lamb chops, Nobu’s famous black cod, temaki rolls, seabass and jalapeno-topped hamachi, one of my favorite dishes.

The party didn’t end after it was over, as many just took their celebration to the sushi counter or to the bar.

Congratulations, Nobu!

Diorshow Artist Thuy Pham, who visited Hawaii twice during spring to show Dior’s latest makeup tips, tricks and trends, is featured in the June issue of Elle magazine, demonstrating how to “indulge your inner diva” with Diorshow products.

Of interest to beauty junkies is Dior’s, Elle’s and Macy’s invitation to be an Artist in Action, featured in the January 2009 issue of the magazine.

Give it a try by grabbing a friend and digital camera and heading to a Macy’s Dior counter. Make over your friend using Dior products and snap a photo of your work. Email the photo to ArtistinAction@Elle.com. The deadline to enter is Sept. 15, 2008. You’re limited to one entry per person or email address. Full details are available at Elle.com/Promotions/ArtistinAction

Good luck!

Nadine Kam photos
From left are Chihana Onozeki, Maria Garrido Gabaldon — who some scene observers like to call Hawaii’s Penelope Cruz — and Susanne Sjodin.

mixmix celebrated the opening of store No. 2 at 1440 Kapiolani Boulevard across from the Ala Moana Center branch of Bank of Hawaii Wednesday night with champagne, chocolates and a peek at designs by Diane Von Furstenberg, Dries Van Noten, McQ, and more for women, and Veronique Branquinho, Kris Van Assche and Super Fine for men.The Bethel and Pauahi street original remains open, although there are plans to branch out into other directions, so keep your eyes open.

Unlike the white party that marked last fall’s opening, there was no dress code this time.

Maria and Tomoya Tsuruhara.

From left, stylist Crystal Pancipanci, N. Trisha Lagaso Goldberg and Lesa Griffith. Crystal will be in tonight’s episode of “Lost,” as one of the paparazzi/reporters participating in an international press conference. (Just so’s she doesn’t get into trouble, I found out about it from other sources before I saw her.)

ABC photo
Crystal’s not alone with her TV closeup. Honolulu Nightlife Diarist Christa Wittmier — complete with apparently non-working camera (pictured behind Cheech Marin) — will also be in the episode, as well as Shana Peete. Wish I could watch in real time but I’ll have to catch up later online. I hate that because I find the resolution distracting. I can see the makeup tricks and think, “Hey that’s not dirt; that’s Guerlain Terra Cotta or Stila Sun.”

Sephora is promoting “Five reasons we adore Dior” through its Beauty Insider program

Reason No. 1 is Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick ($25) for long-lasting, smudge-proof wear and intense color. But I was checking out the Midnight Blue Dior Vernis nail lacquer ($19) manicure in the photo.

I was just talking to someone about how fast my fingernails grow, faster than it takes to ruin a manicure, and how great it would be to promote something like a reverse French manicure so I wouldn’t need a do-over so quickly, and here it is in the ad:

M.A.C illustration

Just did a story on M.A.C and they have struck again with a new limited-edition Heatherette collection with pink-cased lipstick and lipglass, plus two eyeshadow trios—one with peach and turquoise colors plus a darker liner color, and one in shades of pink and purple. You can finish with any of M.A.C’s glitter or pigments for a look that says “Superstar” and living up to Richie’s and Traver’s rep as 24-hour party people.

Alliway photo

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something to do this Good Friday, you might head over to Ward Warehouse to check out Alliway’s 3-2-1 Easter sale. That is, 30 percent off Alliway jewelry, 20 percent off handbags, 10 percent off other merchandise. The sale is on through tomorrow.

Alliway, along with Ginger 13, are among the local designers selected to be showcased in the second-floor jewelry section at Nordstrom. Congratulations Alli and Cindy!

Have all five winners for the M.A. C contest. Thanks for entering. I’ll be in touch with you all.

Memorabilia and Frisco.

To go along with today’s color cosmetic story in the paper, I’m giving away some lip and eye color from M.A.C, some from the Originals line.

Five people will get one of the following, with the first to come up with the right answers to get first pick, and so forth:

>> Frisco, soft pastel peachy pink eyeshadow

>> Memorabilia mauve/dusty purple eyeshadow

>> Sinnamon peachy bronze shimmer Lustreglass lipgloss

>> Sandy B, a light peachy shell pink frost lipstick

>> Twig Twig, a neutral brown plum Lustre lipstick

To win one, answer the following questions based on a past blog entry:

1. What is the name of the M.A.C head artist I interviewed about the spring color collection at New York Fashion Week last September?

2. Whose fashion show was she working on at the time?

Thanks for trying. Please note that responses will not appear immediately unless you’ve posted before.

Oh, crazy day this morning since waking up to go to the Nordstrom Cosmetic Tailgate Party. It was early for me so I must have been in a daze. By the end I couldn’t find my car and was certain someone had stolen it. Called security and everything. Of course, they have bicycle guys to search for cars in such cases, and mine was just behind another red convertible BMW where I stopped looking! I didn’t remember parking that far.

Left at 11 for office stuff, but IT department had wisely carted off my computer without warning, so I had no access to saved emails or attachments I needed. So Dilbert. Then had to be back at mall at noon, when the parking lot was so full had to park in “Siberia” past Sears.

Posts will come later, but in celebration of the opening of the free-standing Bare Escentuals boutique in the new expansion, the company is giving away one Blendable Eye Kit, and one new bronzer through this blog.

To win one, just be the first two to answer a couple of questions for me:

1. Who is the Bare Escentuals makeup artist with Hawaii ties I interviewed a few months ago, and who is back in town for the opening?

2. What is the name of the lipgloss inspired by Hawaii?

First winner will get first pick. Good luck.

Nadine Kam photo
The Fafinettes—Eriko (orange hair), Ermine (platinum) and Monoka posed with fans at DFS Sunday night.

The Fafinettes come to life at the M.A.C counters at DFS in Waikiki, giving Japanese fans a thrill, with many a photo and video op.

The event was the introduction of the Fafi line for Spring 2008, with its bright lime, citrusy and neon colors inspired by the characters—Eriko, Ermine and Monoka—created by the French artist Fafi. The boutique was dressed with Fafi flooring as well as M.A.C posters featuring their makeup artists’ interpretations of the Fafi look, as well as hot pink and bright orange bean-bag chairs, all adding to the fun vibe.

Try the colors from 7 to 9 p.m. March 3 and 4 at DFS. It’s kind of a maze on the second floor, so don’t give up looking for the cosmetics section. Just when you think you’ve run into a wall at Coach, turn another corner and you’ll be headed in the right direction.

The original Fafinettes.

If you can’t make it to Waikiki, you can check out the collection at the M.A.C boutique at Ala Moana Center, where there will be an in-store event from noon to 7 p.m. March 8, plus a demonstration at 6 p.m. the same day on CenterStage. The Fafi line is also prominently featured on the second floor of Nordstrom, set to open Friday at 9:30 a.m. The highly inquisitive and/or anxious will be there at 7:30 a.m. for the Cosmetic Tailgate Party preceding the opening.

Neiman Marcus

The Beauty Event is taking place at Neiman Marcus from Feb. 21 through March 2 so if you were planning to restock some of your favorite skincare products or add new spring colors to your makeup wardrobe, now is the time if you can a few days to scoop up some of the gift-with-purchase items.

As usual, there’s a seasonal NM Exclusive Tote that comes with any cosmetics or fragrance purchase of $100 or more. This time around, the bag is your choice of a pink, lime or teal duffel. Goodies in the bag are an Yves Saint Laurent Elle scented card, Lancome mascara, La Mer invitation for a .1-ounce Eye Concentrate, Chantecaille Rice and Geranium foaming cleanser, Fresh Sugar Açai Age Delay body cream, 5 sheets of Clé de Peau Beauté Le Coton, Orlane Repairing Night Cream and Prada towelette.

But that’s just the beginning. Several of the beauty companies are offering their own gifts with purchase as well, so double up where you can. Here’s a list of what is being offered:

Men
>> Boucheron: .5-ounce Miss Boucheron eau de parfum and 25-ml Pour Homme Soothing After Shave balm; $85 minimum purchase.

>> Burberry Men: Black logo travel pouch; $85 minimum purchase.

>> Dolce & Gabbana: 1.7-ounce Refreshing body gel or 1.6-ounce Pour Homme Shower Gel with $85 Light Blue purchase.

>> Gucci Men: 1.6-ounce our Homme II After Shave Balm with $85 Pour Homme II purchase.

>> Issey Miyake: L’eau d’Issey: 10-ml eau de toilette or 6-ml Pour Homme eau de toilette with any purchase of any two Issey Miyake products.

>> Prada Men: .24-ounce Prada Man eau de parfum and .24-ounce Classic eau de parfum; $100 minimum.

>> Tom Ford: 4-ml Black Orchid eau de toilette with $65 minimum purchase.

>> Vera Wang Men: .13-ounce eau de parfum and .75-ounce after-shave balm; $70 minimum.

Women
>> Bobbi Brown: Black cosmetics bag with .12 ounce “Beach Honey” Long-Wear cream shadow, .1-ounce Everything Mascara in black, and miniature cream shadow blush; $150 minimum purchase

>> Chanel: Bag with .1-ounce “Sundress” Glossimer, .21-ounce Sublimage Essential Regenerating Cream, and 1.7-ounce No. 5 Velvet Body Cream; $200 minimum purchase.

>> Fresh: Silver bag with 20-ml Soy Face Cleanser, 5-ml Appleseed Brightening Exfoliant, 2-ml Appleseed Brightening Essence, and 1.6-ml “Sugar Flirt” Sugar lipgloss; $125 minimum purchase. Fresh Sugar Açai Age
Delay body cream will be added with $175 minimum purchase. (more…)