On the Glow

Kim Alexis, the 25-year-old spokesmodel for Ultima II cosmetics, has more on her mind than surface beauty.

Since returning last spring from Morocco, where she posed for the new Maroc fragrance ads, Alexis has been in training for next Sunday’s New York City Marathon. That means squeezing in runs of up to 13 miles, sometimes twice a day, before and after interviews and air travel. While visiting Chicago, she scaled the 19-floor staircase of her hotel--six times up and down. In New York, her hometown, she works out on a stationary bicycle, pedaling 20 to 40 miles a day.

“Taking care of yourself brings a healthy glow,” she says. “Your stance and presence change, and I think that’s a part of beauty. Running helps me stand in a beautiful gown with makeup on . . . I like to be both fit and sweaty, and calm and pretty and smelling nice.”

On the Nose Eye shadow is moving closer to the nose, if not right across it. That’s one of the new fall beauty directions from Tyen, creative director of Maquillage Christian Dior in Paris. But Tyen cautions that this look isn’t for every woman or for every time of day. Especially in Southern California, he says, women should stick to a natural look for day--mascara, healthy-looking cheek color, clear lips for women under 40, red lips for those over 40, and no eye shadow at all. But at night, women should definitely think about more extravagant makeup. The face pictured here is achieved by blending Prussian Blue on the lids and Plum and Rose across the brow. “When you have strong color on the eyes,” Tyen adds, “forget about the cheeks--unless you want to look like you’re on stage.” On the “Rock” It looks like crystal, but run it under water and it becomes . . . deodorant. Le Crystal Naturel is made from mineral salts, which help prevent formation of odorous bacteria. And because it’s free of chemicals and perfumes, the “rock” won’t stain clothes or fight with your own fragrance. At Bullocks Wilshire, $15.