Drink Me And You Will Stay Pretty

How about a fountain of youth beauty potion? Sounds too bizarre to be real? Well, maybe not. Let's face it. The science is getting better and better each year. Look at makeup, skin care products, hair serums, and the like. Beauty items are more able to zero in on pimples, wrinkles, sun damage, dark circles, thinning hair, and so on. Beauty products have become more effective because the science has advanced.

'Drink me and you will stay pretty.' Hmmm. It's a wonderful thought. Prominent Manhattan plastic surgeon Michelle Yagoda and globally recognized chemist Eugene Gans have developed a new powder supplement called Beauty Scoop. It promises a better you from the inside out. In just 3 weeks, you will see smoother skin, shinier hair, and stronger nails($95, 21 packets).

So what's in this vanilla-flavored beauty potion? Beauty Scoop is a pure powder that has great absorption qualities to it. It is safe and effective, and its ingredients contain bioavailable lipids and peptides, essential building blocks for beautiful skin, hair, and nails. According to the website, "Beauty Scoop is natural and vegetable-based, reinforced with key vitamins and minerals that act as catalysts to correct and enhance beauty naturally from within."

What's really amazing about this beauty powder is its simplicity. All you need to do, is mix Beauty Scoop with water or milk, and drink once a day. You can even mix the powder into your favorite cocktail! Dr. Yagoda and Mr. Gans don't advocate drinking alcohol daily, but on a special night out, enjoy a Beauty Scoop cocktail. Beauty Scoop's absorption is enhanced by alcohol.

Celebrities are becoming addicted to Beauty Scoop. Just ask Ricki Lake, actress and talk show host.

"It was fantastic! It was delicious and I don't usually like shakes and powdered drinks. I prefer this to a pill as it is all natural and in a drink. It is the 'scoop' in attaining beauty. Even my facialist noticed the changes in my skin."

Alysia Reiner, a film and television actress also praises this beauty potion and was ecstatic over the results---more beautiful, stronger hair. Alysia's celebrity hair stylist, Valentina V., couldn't get over the difference.

"I saw more hair in Alysia's scalp--new growth and enlarged pores. The texture was improved and there was stimulation of new growth. I can't wait to recommend this to my clients.".

For more information, visit: http://www.beautyscoop.com/.

'Bottoms up, baby!'

Ten New Beauty Basics To Buy Right Now

Skin care. Makeup. Hair styling. Diet foods. Exercise.

Beauty junkies like beauty knowledge. If there's a new beauty product out there, or a new beauty secret, or some professional beauty advice, count us in. We want to learn more. And we women should share our beauty knowledge.

We went shopping and found 10 new beauty basics to add to your limitless collection.

Hey, it's summer. Why not try something new.

1. Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller ($12.99). This is a cool little product featuring a rollerball tip, just like you see in some deodorant bottles. The cool, soothing formula instantly zaps away your puffy, tired eyes.

2. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Rejuvenator Starter Kit ($39.99). An at-home dermabrasion kit that has a wonderful vibrating exfoliating tool that gently smoothes skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines. You see results even after one use. Ask my best pal Patty and her husband, Andy. They swear this at-home dermabrasion kit REALLY works!

3. Dr. Scholl's For Her Foot Butter ($6.99). Now this is what we call foot heaven! If you are suffering from summer's dry, blazing heat, and your feet are taking the brunt of it, just smooth on some of this 'butter' and really bring back the moisture. Deeply hydrating. Your feet will thank you.

4. John Freida Luxurious Volume Lavish Lift Root Booster ($6.49). We LOVE the John Freida hair line. He's always creating new ways to make our hair, shinier, healthier, bigger, and non-frizzy. This volumizer is part of his newest line. Lots of lift and lots of height. Awesome.

5. Prescriptives Lip Strips in Tropical Warm ($29.50) This is a small compact full of pretty lip glosses, 5 of them, in fact. Gorgeous for summer, and you can pick a shimmer, cream, or sparkle finish.

6. Bed Head 'Light Me Up!' Tourmaline Nano Ceramic Styling Iron ($40). Tired of stick straight hair? Maybe your curls need a little oomph! This beauty tool is perfect with its one-inch barrel. You'll be able to curl and wave your way to a lovely head of hair.

7. Bliss Herban Jungle Exfoliating Soap ($16). This bar of aqua green soap lasts a very long time. It has all these chubby bumps on it. Great for cleansing, exfoliating, and massaging your way to a smoother body.

8. Essie Nail Polish in Bermuda Shorts ($8). Yes. That is the name of the nail shade. And it's so pretty in purple-pink. If you are too timid for violet fingernails, try this color on your toes. What a sexy surprise.

9. Tarte a Day Stay Lash Stain ($18). This formula sounds intriguing. It's full of mineral pigments that stick to your lashes for 4 days. No worry about clumping or streaking mascara.

10. Cargo Multi-mix Bronzer ($28). A great idea. Just mix this liquid bronzer with your moisturizer or foundation, and watch the lovely glow you get. You look sun-kissed in a natural way.

How To Use A Lash Comb For Perfect Luscious Lashes

Trying to make big, wide, sexy eyes?

Remember these 3 tools: a decent eyelash curler, some nice black mascara, and an eyelash comb. Don't try to skip the comb.

I admit, I have usually used a straight pin to carefully comb through my lashes. My friend, Patty, once told me that all fashionable Parisian women used straight pins to separate their lashes. She gave me that beauty tip back in college, and I never questioned her. Is it true? Who knows. But I have met a number of makeup junkies who also use straight pins to separate their lashes. They have become frustrated with lash combs that have broken teeth or clumpy old mascara residue caked on them.

Let's be honest here, using a straight pin to comb through your eyelashes works well. However, it can become a dangerous tool in an unsteady or clumsy hand. A few years ago, I was getting ready to head out to a Super Bowl party with my friends at a bar. I was hurrying, trying to separate my lashes, when I missed with the pin and scraped across my cornea and iris. The pain was immense. I panicked. I had trouble seeing. I rushed to an eye doctor who examined me, and told me I would be just fine in a couple of days. He chuckled when I told him how the accident occurred. My friends didn't believe my eyelash mishap. They couldn't stop laughing.

There is an easier and safer way to separate your lashes. You should use a lash comb. The key point to remember here, are the type of teeth featured on your comb. The plastic comb with the plastic teeth break easier and are tougher to clean.

Instead, look for eyelash combs that have gold-plated or silver plated metal teeth. For some strange reason, the metal teeth give superior separation. Separated lashes look longer, fuller, more natural, and widen the eye. Just clean the lash comb with alcohol on a cotton ball or tissue after each use.

And a lash comb is quite simple to use, except, you can jab yourself in the eye, so only use with complete attention. First, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler. Second, begin applying thin coats of mascara at a time. Then, take your eyelash comb and start separating, or combing through your wet lashes. Comb from the roots upward, immediately after applying each coat. You will like the results---long, thick, more uniform lashes. No clumps or 'spider-looking' lashes.

Here are 2 excellent eyelash combs we adore:

1. Perfect Lashcomb ($17.95, http://www.perfectlash.comb/. will be selling retail soon.) The beauty of this lash comb is its curved design with rounded sides (see photo of purple Perfect Lashcomb). This comb has gold-plated or silver-plated teeth. The layered teeth glide easily through your lashes, separating them perfectly.

2. Tweezerman Folding Eyelash Comb ($6.99, drug stores and http://www.sephora.com/). This beauty gadget also separates lashes with great success. It, too, features gold-plated metal teeth for quick and easy lash combing. You end up with long, natural lashes. Very convenient too, as it folds up neatly (see bottom photo).

Drink Your Vitamins And Stay Healthy

You've seen all the colorful bottles and waters. Designer water drinks are very popular these days. But is it possible to drink your vitamins, and actually get something nutritious out of it? Can you stay healthy by blending a powder with water or buying a vitamin-infused bottle of water?

According to many nutritionists, yes, you can pick up valuable vitamins and minerals, depending on what kind of drink you ingest.

Doctors will tell you, that nothing compares with eating loads of fruits and vegetables. But you can try drinking your vitamins, and actually benefit. And for those women out there who are vegetarians, women who are sucking soda all day, dieting women, teenagers, and older women, it couldn't hurt to drink your vitamins.

Vitamin waters are marketed attractively. The bottles and the water beverages in them, all look colorful and make you want to grab them off the grocery shelves. But these waters are not perfect. Some contain sugar, fats, or sodium. And some even have high calories.

Body bulders will tell you that whey protein powder supplements are more effective for the body than a vitamin water. And they might have something there, because women, especially, do not get enough protein in their diets.

William Evans, director of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Exercise Laboratory at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas explains why:

"Roughly 25 percent of adults over age 20, and 40 percent of those age 70 and up, fall below it, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics, let alone eat enough to protect bones or muscle. And thin women, dieting women and elderly women--who are especially vulnerable to the ravages of bone and muscle loss--are notoriously low on protein. "Losing muscle causes older people to become weak and frail," says Evans..

Why do bodybuilders swear by whey protein?

1. Whey protein supplies the body with many amino acids. And these are essential for good health.

2. Whey protein has in it, a number of similar ingredients found in mother's milk. Whey is an important ingredient in baby formulas.

3. Whey protein is used by athletes to repair and build muscles after a strenuous workout.

Here are 4 Vitamin Drinks to try:

Optimum Nutrition Instantized 100% Whey Dietary Supplement. ($30, 80 servings, at health & nutrition stores). Just mix with water. 24 grams Protein per serving, 2 grams Carbohydrates, 160 mg. Calcium, 160 mg. Potassium. Only 110 Calories and only 1 gram total Fat.

N.V. Perricone, M.D. Super Berry Powder with Acai. ($60 for 30 servings). One scoop mixed with water delivers super anti-oxidant protection and essential amino and fatty acids. Full of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries and acai (the high energy berry from the Amazon).

Dr. Brandt Anti-Oxidant Water Booster in Blueberry. ($35 for 60 servings). Just mix one-dropper full into a cup of water. Contains 90% Polyphenols, the anti-oxidant found in green tea.

Special K Protein Water (K20). ($1.50 a bottle). Dieters have fallen in love with K20. It tastes good and is filling, and many prefer it to a soda. You get 5 grams Protein and 8 grams Sugar in a 16 0z. serving.

Dress Up Your Hair With Beautiful Accessories

How stunning are these hair accessories by Alex and Ani?!

Hair accessories are back in style for 2008. From colorful, jeweled barrettes to pretty combs and headbands, why not dress up your hair and have some fun!

You don't have to have long hair to show off a lovely hair comb. Any style will do. And if you hate your haircut, your bangs are too short, for instance, just clip a cute barrette to pin them back, or smooth them away with a leather headband.

Actress Charlize Theron wore a beautiful hair comb with her dazzling yellow Christian Dior gown at the Golden Globes Awards. If the hair accessory is very fancy, then save it for a red carpet-like evening event. Or if you want to make your hair THE fashion statement to your wardrobe ensemble, then go for it.

And Charlize is not alone. Other glamorous celebrities like Kristen Bell, Amanda Peet, Milla Jovovich, and Eva Longoria Parker, all love to wear hair accessories.

Alex and Ani designs gorgeous hair accessories, as you can see from the photos.

Bottom photo: Alex and Ani Vintage Cameo Mini Comb with Crystal Accents ($18.00)

Top photo: Alex and Ani Rhinestone Hair Clip ($38.00)

For more information, call 800-725-7822.

ULTA Beauty Stores Equal Makeup Heaven

If you're one of the lucky ones to have an ULTA beauty store in your state, then you know how spectacular this place is. A salon, department store, and drug store all under one roof. And if you don't reside in one of the 26 states where more than 250 ULTA stores are located nationwide, then you can visit http://www.ulta.com/. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.

Yes, you are in makeup heaven inside ULTA. You name it, you can hunt it down---makeup, skin care, fragrance, bath & body, hair care, tools, accessories, and a men's section. Big brand names like Clinique, Caswell-Massey, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Carolina Herrera, Cover Girl, Biore. The list never seems to end.

ULTA beauty also has its own line of beauty treats with very reasonable prices, too. And the quality of their makeup alone, is top notch.

What we really love about the Ulta beauty buying experience, are the discounts and special purchasing incentives. For example, check out this month's In Style Makeover Special Issue Fall 2008. Inside, you will find a purple coupon for Ulta beauty stores featuring a $5.00 discount with a minimum purchase of $10.00. Just apply the code when you shop online.

And at their website, there is currently a promotion going on for FREE shipping on purchases of $25.00 or more. And that's not all. There are a number of great specials--Buy 1 and Get 1 FREE L'Oreal Revitalift Daily Moisturizing Cream with SPF15. Or how about this---Buy 1 , Get 1 50% off on LaCoupe Hair care. Be sure to check back often, there is always a freebie at ULTA.

An ULTA beauty store offers you something, you can't always find at your local drugstore. Variety and volume. How frustrating is it, to head to your store and not be able to find any more Maybelline Mascara in Very Black, for instance. At ULTA, the choices are many, and the brands are by the hundreds.

If you adore makeup, skin care, hair care, and more, this is THE place to discover the latest trends and biggest sellers. From head to toe, and in between, ULTA is a beauty nation of its own.

How To Fake A French Manicure

You've got to admit, there's nothing prettier than a French manicure. And we're going to show you how to quickly and beautifully fake the perfect French manicure.

French manicures are designed to resemble a natural nail, and are recognized by natural pink base nails with white tips. The tips of the nail are painted white while the rest of the nail is polished in a pink or nude shade.

According to research, French manicures may have come about in 18th-century Paris and were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. And French manicures are timeless---they always look right in any fashion decade.

We love the French manicure because it sports a clean and natural look. It's simple and classic. And even though your nails might not be in perfect condition, we have a few tips on how to improve the health of your nails BEFORE you fake a French manicure.

Whiter Nails. Yellow nails develop when dark polishes are put on, over and over again. Smokers tend to have yellow nails. Certain nail polish removers can cause discoloration, too. For whiter nails, try rubbing a lemon wedge across your nails and underneath the nails. Or you can try this tip: Soak hands in warm water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Toss in a couple of Alka-Seltzer tablets. Soak until the fizzing stops.

Stronger Nails. Hate nails that dry out and split or break off easily? Trying soaking hands in warm olive oil for a few minutes a couple of times a week. This really helps the entire nail bed. In a few weeks, you will notice a difference in the health of your nails.

To Fake a French Manicure. You will need just 2 beauty items:

Malava Cuticle Oil. ($9.99, www.folica.com). Massage a little cuticle oil onto the nail beds. It softens up the skin, and will give you a prettier nail contour in time.

Sally Hansen 2 in 1 Nail White Pencil ($3, drugstores). Moisten the white pencil tip and run it or apply it under the rims of the nails.

There. You have just faked a French manicure. Works every time.

How To Use Foundation Primer For A Flawless Finish

You've heard of Spackle. That stuff you use to fill in holes and cracks BEFORE you paint or paper a wall. It smoothes the surface. Period. That's exactly what a makeup primer does. And more.

Primers or foundation primers, as they are called in the beauty biz, are gaining greater popularity these days. And there are a large number of primers on store shelves to choose from. Most are colorless. But there are some that come in bronze shades for a tanned appearance. Some in green to cancel out or minimize redness. And some in lavender to balance out yellow skintones. There are other primers with moisturizers blended in them. Or some with salicylic acid to battle pimples all day long. And even a bunch with soothing anti-oxidants like grapeseed extract and peptide complexes. And so on.

The beauty of a primer is its perfection at filling in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish BEFORE foundation application. Some women like to wear primer alone, and skip the foundation. But most primer fans love to create as smooth a complexion as they can, so that the next layer, that of foundation, glides over easily.

In other words, think of these steps, as building a house. Layer upon layer. Only in this case, you end up with an almost 'air-brushed' face. The primer allows your makeup staying power. Oily faces are supposed to stay fresher longer. And if your primer doesn't contain 'built-in' dewy softeners for dry skin, then apply moisturizer before you prime.

Here are 3 foundation primers well-respected in the world of makeup:

Laura Geller Spackle Primer ($21.50, http://www.sephora.com/ and fine dept. stores) 100% oil-free. Comes in an 'airless' pump, so you get every last drop. Perfects your skin's texture. Contains soothing botanicals.

Smashbox PhotoFinish Foundation Primer-colorless ($36, http://www.sephora.com/ and fine dept. stores). Contains Vitamin C and peptides to help even skintone and encourage collagen production.

Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer ($28, http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/). Helps skin retain its natural moisture with sweet almond, algae extract, and soothing raspberry and chamomile.

Foundation primers seem to cost more than regular foundation makeup. At least starting in the $20 range. Think of a primer as a good beauty investment. And in case you're wondering about a separate primer for eyes, yeah, they've got that, too. It really makes eyeshadows and liners 'stay put,' and helps minimize crepey skin, which is common in wrinkles around the eyes.

Beauty Insiders Give Their Best Makeup And Hair Tips

We all love beauty tips. And when a bunch of celebrity hair and makeup insiders give us mere mortals some of their best secrets, then we want to share them with all our friends.

Our source is the new fall 2008 issue of In Style/ Makeover. This super guide gives every gal the beauty tools to transform herself into a stunning new woman. From layered celebrity hairstyles to making over your makeup bag to an interview with healthy beauty Brooke Shields, there are amazing tips that you can call your own.

And the hair and makeup pros each give some unique and useful advice:

Concealer. Makeup artist Carmindy tells women to put on the foundation BEFORE putting on the concealer. " If you put it on first and then you blend on the foundation, you're essentially erasing all your handiwork. If you layer concealer on top, it's staying where it needs to stay, and doing its job."

Flyaway Hair. Hair stylist Clyde Haygood goes to the laundry room for this trade secret. Dryer sheets. Carry them in your purse. "If frizzies threaten to ruin your look, run a sheet over your hair to subdue flyaway strands. When you need to take a model's photo fast, this trick really does work."

Pimples. We all get blemishes and we all hate how these skin eruptions ruin our lives, but esthetician to the stars, Sonya Dakar, has a natural remedy. "Mix together one packet of dry yeast with the juice of half a lemon and spread over a blemish for 5 minutes. This works wonderfully to dry it out."

Liquid Liner. Applying liquid eyeliner perfectly is extremely difficult to do. Makeup artist and Avon Global Creative Color Director, Jillian Dempsey, has a neat trick that allows you to cheat.

"To make liquid liner less intimidating to use, create a liner 'stencil' by going over the lash line with taupe pencil first. Then apply liquid liner over that."

Good Skin. Facialist Nerida Joy knows how to achieve glowing, healthy skin. Exfoliation is the key, she says. "By cleansing your face every night with a fresh washcloth---which is more sanitary than re-using a sponge--and using enzyme-based masks on a regular basis, the outer layer of dead cells is eliminated, leaving the newest, softest skin."

Better Brows. Neat and polished eyebrows bring attention to your eyes, so don't neglect your brows. Makeup artist Mally Roncal has this beauty tip using tinted gloss. "To give brows color, shine, and great hold, take a little bit of MAC Oh Baby lipgloss and comb it through the eyebrows. A word of warning: Make sure you're wearing your hair pulled back!"

In Style's special makeover issue for fall 2008, is on newsstands now. For more information, visit: http://www.instyle.com/.

Does Beauty Really Follow The Math Ratio of Phi?

What do mathematics have to do with a beautiful face? Isn't a face either instantly very attractive or it isn't?

Apparently, some experts believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that beauty is based on key factors like the Phi ratio, or the golden ratio of 1.618:1, which ultimately equals balance and harmony. This golden ratio is found everywhere on the planet----in flowers, music, architecture, birds, etc.

And although, we as individuals, all have different races, nationalities, ages, sexes, and features, according to the MBA or Marquardt Beauty Analysis, a beautiful face will still conform to this one Phi ratio.

Huh?

Dr. Stephen R. Marquardt, a maxillo-facial surgeon from California, has been studying human attractiveness for years. And he developed a beauty mask overlay. The mask, seen above in the photo, uses the pentagon and decagon as its foundation, which embody the Phi ratio in all its dimensions. In other words, beautiful faces will conform most to the measurements in the Marquardt mask.

For all you math genuises out there, there are golden sections that lead to the golden ratio in the composition of our facial features. The golden ratio is thought by many to represent a ratio of natural beauty.

Then what is a golden section? Christian at http://www.thetanooki.com/, had a better explanation than we can give you:

"Well, it’s the point determined by the Golden Ratio, approximately 0.618. When you mark a line at this point, the shorter segment has the same relationship to the larger segment that the larger segment has to the whole line.
Another way to look at it is through the Fibonacci series of numbers. It’s the series of numbers where you add the two previous numbers to get the next one. The ratio between one number to the next just happens to be the so-called Golden Ratio. "

Some plastic surgeons and orthodontists use this mask's dimensions, to help their patients through surgery, become more attractive people. The closer your facial features fit the mask, the more attractive you are, according to the MBA. And yes, your smile and mouth are part of this theory.

On the other hand, there are plastic surgeons and orthodontists who are against using the Phi ratio when performing surgery on patients. Many believe surgery is designed to make an individual look better, but not fit an universal mold, or one mathematical proportion.

Still, it is fascinating to think, that beauty, no matter how individual, still conforms to a universal theory of proportion.

Check out Dr. Marquardt's educational and wonderful website: http://www.beautyanalysis.com/. You can even download a copy of the mask, and slip your own photo underneath it, to see how your own facial measurements conform.

6 Junk Foods That Help Your Diet Weight Loss

What if we told you, there were six deliciously, bad junk foods that are actually good for you. Six snacks that you CAN add to your diet to help you lose weight. Not buying it? Well, sit back, because you can eat a few snacks and not ruin your diet. Don't worry, these foods won't add more 'junk to the trunk.'

We adore beauty tips that involve a healthy diet. We're all fighting the battle of the bulge, at least once in a while. So we were excited to learn about these tips today on Fox TV's The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet.

Their food expert was Keri Gans and she gave out the list of 6 junk foods that are good for your body. And Keri has the background to make these claims. According to her own website, Keri Gans is a Registered Dietitian in private practice in Manhattan. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Ohio University, and is an ACE certified personal trainer. http://www.kerigansnutrition.com/.

The wonderful, bad thing about junk foods, are their naughty and great taste, texture, crunch, saltiness, or sweetness, and chewiness. Usually junk food is so high in fat and sodium, with too many carbohydrates. But Keri says these 6 junk foods offer you more than some good cheating during the day:

Chocolate Milk. You loved it as a kid, and here's another reason to pick up a glass again. Chocolate milk only has about 160 Calories per serving. And 30% of your calcium daily requirement can be found in a glass of chocolate milk. A nice, filling drink.

Some Cookies. Fig Newtons, Bicotti, and Animal Crackers. These three are low in sugar, and excellent to snack on. Lots of texture and lots of crunch. Just don't go overboard and eat tons of them.

Pizza. A slice of regular tomato and cheese pizza is only about 300 Calories. Nutritious, as long as you don't start adding extras like sausage, etc. Keri suggests you also blot your pizza with a napkin, to absorb the overload of sauce and oil.

Pork Rinds. Very crunchy junk food. People love 'em. And guess what? They are full of protein. The fat that's in pork rinds, is the same fat found in healthy olive oil. So crunch on!

Potatoes. Yes, potatoes are good for you. No, not french fries. Try a baked potato. You can even add a Tablespoon or two of sour cream on it. Potatoes are full of Potassium and Vitamin C. Great things for your diet.

Beef Jerky. A super low calorie snack. Nice and chewy and keeps your mouth busy, too. One stick contains about 6 grams of protein. And many of these jerkys are now made organically.

Let's face it. These are 6 super junk foods that not only taste yummy, but also provide a bit of nutrition during the day. Remember---everything in moderation. Now pass us the biscotti and chocolate milk.

You Can Fake Sun-Kissed Skin

Wanna get your glow on? You can shimmer and bronze this summer without lying in the scorching sun. You can fake sun-kissed skin. All you need are a few beauty items from the local drugstore.

1. Clarins Tinted Self-Tanning Face Cream ($29, strawberrynet.com) With an SPF15, this tinted tanning cream works beautifully in creating a smooth, even base of color. No streaks! Good for your skin, and protects complexion from the aging rays of the sun. Was named in 2005, as one of In Style magazine's best beauty buys. Still a popular item among women who want a great self-tanning face cream.

2. Pop Beauty Lid Bronzer Eye Shadow Palette ($22, beauty.com). Six shimmery summer shadows. So pretty for highlighting your eyes. Wear just one, or mix several together. With delicious shade like these, you can't go wrong---Toffee bronze. Metallic peach. Milky beige glow. Rose Nude glimmer. True bronze. Nude gimmer.
3. Wet 'n' Wild MegaSlicks Lip Gloss in Cherry Glaze ($1.99, CVS + Walgreens). This gloss makes your lips so shiny. A soft cherry wash to brighten your smile and show off your sun-kissed skin. Never sticky. And check out how cheap this gloss is!!

Neutrogena Sheer BodyTint Instant Temporary Tan, Med./Dark ($10.69, 4 oz. can, CVS + Walgreens). This self-tanner features a light mousse. So simple to spread from head to toes. For all skin tones. Delivers a nice caramel shade of tan. And easy to remove---just plain old soap and water. Get a healthy glow without the worry of being burned and prematurely aged.

There. Only four beauty items. Now your dull complexion and pale body can become brighter during these balmy summer days. You can shimmer, bronze, and self-tan. You can fake sun-kissed skin.

Anti-Cellulite Hosiery And Anushka's Secret Tea

Summertime. Your bare legs see a lot of action. And maybe you look down at your legs and search for cellulite, the dreaded 'c' word.

If you have cellulite, you are not alone. Most women have some. And yes, skinny women get it, and even supermodels. And you know when you have it, too. It's been called cottage cheese fat or lumpy orange peel skin or dimpled skin, etc.

So, what can we do about this skin condition?

Here's the bad news---there is absolutely NO way to get rid of cellulite permanently. The good news---we CAN reduce its appearance and STOP further advancement of this dimpled fat.

And one way to fight this dimpled skin is with caffeine. Too bad, we couldn't just drink 7 cups of coffee, or down 7 cans of Coke and have this dreaded dimpleness disappear. But it doesn't work that way. Many cellulite creams now come with caffeine blended in as an active ingredient.

Dr. Ava Shamban, called 'dermatologist to the stars,' explained it this way to CBS' The Early Show.

"The theory behind caffeine is that it actually can reduce fat. It can enhance fat metabolism and also reduce some of the edema, or swelling that we get around the fat, so the skin appears smoother."

In other words, the caffeine goes to work by plumping up the skin, creating a smoother texture when massaged on cellulite prone areas. It produces a slimming effect, by tightening blood vessels.

And now, how about this? Anti-Cellulite Hosiery by Newport News ($15, pr. http://www.newport-news.com/). The popular women's clothing catalogue has just put out its fall fashions, along with nylon stockings/pantyhose that promise to tone and firm thighs.

The hosiery is caffeine-infused. That means the stimulating power of caffeine massages your legs all day and helps provide a slimming support. The stockings are made of nylon with a high-count spandex to shape your rear. And caffeine micro-capsules help firm your legs.

Hey, it's worth a shot. And the Newport News hosiery offers your 5 pairs to choose from:

Opaque Tights ( black or grey}
Sheer Pantyhose (nude or black)

Sheer Footless Pantyhose (sheer or black)

Ribbed Opaque Tights (dark grey or black)

Floral Pattern Tights (dark grey, black, or royal purple)

Anushka, a world-renown cellulite pioneer for some 30 years now, has a secret tea that promotes beautiful skin and helps lessen the appearance of cellulite. (Dimpled fat can appear on thighs, buttocks, tummy, even arms).

"Raspberry tea. It's wonderful for women in general," Anushka says. "In addition to acting as a diuretic which helps reduce bloating (leading to a slimmer silhouette), it also helps alleviate menstrual discomfort and cramps, reduces heavy bleeding, promotes healthy skin, bones, and teeth. And when combined with peppermint tea, can help with morning sickness."

How To Get Big Eyes Using An Eyelash Curler

If you're going to wear mascara, then you need to have an eyelash curler in your daily beauty routine. The two go hand in hand. Unless, of course, you were born with curly lashes, then forget our advice.

What does an eyelash curler do? Any professional makeup artist will tell you, that curling your lashes opens up the eyes. Your eyes will look bigger. Stubborn lashes will look more even. And short, wimpy lashes will take on thickness and appear longer.

There are many eyelash curlers out there. Plastic, metal, mini curlers, heated curlers, etc. You might have to buy several before you hit the perfect eyelash curler. Plastic ones break much quicker and easier than the metal pairs, with their scissor-like motion. Heated curlers cost more.

And if you've never used an eyelash curler, don't be afraid. It's not hard. This beauty tool is an odd-looking item, but it does great things for your lashes and really widens your eyes. In fact, if you hate wearing mascara, and absolutely refuse to, at least curl your lashes. You will see the difference. You will even look more awake.

What you want to do, is position the eyelash curler around your eyelashes. The upper lashes must be between the edges of the curler.

Then, carefully squeeze the edges of the eyelash curler together and hold for about 10 seconds.

Now gently release the curler from the lashes. Repeat again if you want extra curly lashes, or if you have stubborn straight lashes. Always make sure that the curler is fully open before removing it.

Then apply a few coats of mascara.

Here are 3 Eyelash Curlers highly respected in the beauty world:

Shu Uemura ($19.00, Sephora stores). A big favorite among pros and women everywhere. Delivers the perfect curl. Metal curler.

Kevin Aucoin ($20.00, online stores). The late and great makeup artist designed this curler that gets the eyelid at all the right angles. Metal curler with red rounded pad.

Lashpro ($19.00, online stores). Curls lashes in a natural way. Very gentle curler. Designed for smaller eyes, too. Easy to manuever. (see above photo of models with Lashpro curlers).

Kevin Aucoin's experts gave this special beauty secret for curling bottom eyelashes:
"Turn (curler) upside down and curl bottom lashes downward. Trick of old movie stars from the 30's and 40's."

Hmmm. Looks like that requires very nimble fingers and accuracy. Please do not try at home, unless you are really familiar with an eyelash curler. We wouldn't want you injuring yourself for the sake of beauty...ha ha.

Bobbi Brown Says Mauve Is The Color For Fall

It's only mid July, and already, the makeup colors for fall are in the beauty headlines. We know that mauve is the 'it' color for the autumn season, because Bobbi Brown says so, and we trust her sharp eye.

We, here at http://www.beautytip.com/, love the Bobbi Brown makeup philosophy. And we are not alone. Women adore Bobbi Brown's no nonsense makeup routine, and her healthy, natural approach to looking good.

And as Bobbi would remind us all, try to be the best you can be. Don't try to look like someone else. When she was growing up, all-American model, Cheryl Tiegs, was Bobbi's beauty icon. Cheryl was tall, slender with blonde hair and blue eyes. Bobbi Brown looked nothing like her and was disappointed in not resembling Cheryl Tiegs, until she saw actress Ali MacGraw with her long dark hair and eyes. Bobbi then finally "saw the possibilty of my own beauty."

What's so special about mauve? Bobbi Brown says that mauve flatters all complexions. According to her website, the mauve look is designed around vintage-inspired hues with a modern twist."Influenced with hints of purple, gray, and brown, mauve makeup is a cool neutral that's very wearable," Bobbi explains.

The mauve look is soft and pretty. Nothing bright or harsh here. You won't look over-done.

You can buy the Bobbi Brown Mauve Look at Neiman Marcus stores ($173.00). Or you can check out the mauve collection makeup at http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/.

In the kit, you receive:

Mauve Face Palette- 3 eye shadows, 1 blush, 3 lipsticks

Mini Brush Set- 3 small brushes to apply the mauve face palette

Black Mauve Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Short Handle Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush

Black Everything Mascara

You can also purchase these makeup items separately.

Tone Triceps And Biceps With This Exercise

Jessica Biel. Madonna. Michelle Obama. Katie Couric. Jennifer Aniston. Iman.

Hmmm. What do all these fabulous ladies have in common?

Toned arms. These famous women enjoy showing off their perfectly toned triceps and biceps. And they enjoy wearing anything sleeveless. And why not? It's a challenge to have beautifully toned arms. And after age 30, it gets even tougher to maintain such a tautness . But it can be done. All you need are a couple of small free weights. And we'll show you one easy exercise you can even do in the office to get you started.

Developing the triceps muscle. That is the key to a nicely toned arm. Where are the triceps located? We like to call that area the 'dingle-dangle.' Yep. That's the flabby part you can feel under the arm. One of the toughest places to firm up. When you go to raise your hand and wave good-bye, you can feel that muscle flapping in the breeze. Well, hopefully, not too much.

The triceps muscle can best be described this way, according to http://www.realwomensfitness.com/:

"The triceps are probably the most important muscle to develop when you want to achieve firm toned arms. The reason for this is that the tricep muscle takes up 2/3 of the arm. If it is underdeveloped it looks wobbly and soft but when it is firm and lean it makes the whole arm look that way."

You can't just exercise your arms for two weeks and expect big changes. The triceps and biceps muscles need to engage in resistance exercises continuously. If you want toned arms with a little 'cut' in them, you're going to have to adopt this regimen as part of your life. It should become a familiar target area when you are at the gym or exercising at home.

If you enjoy doing push-ups or jogging, those are also excellent for maintaining toned arms.

All you need is a pair of 3-lb dumbbells or small handweights. If you want to go higher, 5-lbs or 7-lbs. You can get a decent arm workout with 3-lb. weights in each hand. In fact, your arms will get quite sore, if you do enough repetitions. You can buy small handweights from Reebok(see photo), Nike, or any sporting goods store.

Jade Alexis, who has trained Alicia Keys, came up with this boxing-inspired exercise that you can do at the office when you have a few spare moments. Jade gave this toned arms exercise to In Style magazine readers.

"Sit upright in a chair with feet flat on the floor," Jade explains. "Hold dumbbells with your hands under your chin and slowly punch out at an angle across the body." Do at least 100 punches. You will develop 'knockout triceps, biceps, and shoulders.'

Look at the photo above, the woman there is punching out across the body, as Jade Alexis describes in her boxing-inspired triceps toning moves.

Bringing New Skin To The Surface With Chemical Peels

You've heard about them. You've had a couple yourself. Maybe. Or you know someone who has gone through many.

Chemical peels. Even those two words together sound complicated and frightening. And they can be. But chemical peels can also 'peel' away the many layers of tough, weathered, pimpled and sun-damaged skin. And what comes to surface, is a glowing complexion. Lines and wrinkles are less visible.

You can do a chemical peel yourself. Most dermatologists would call you crazy and foolish to mess around with ingredients that can burn your face. So most women and men head to a professional. At least there, you are carefully monitored for any adverse reaction that could pop up during the peel procedure. You are also having an expert apply the peel, one who would know exactly what peel strength to suit your individual needs. And you are given advice following your peel, and a professional to contact immediately, should you have problems later on.

Oh, by the way, peels can cost lots of money when done by a dermatologist. And that's what irks most people. A light peel could cost you $300-$600. A medium peel, $500-$1,000. And a deep peel, $2,000.

According to Dr. Eric F. Bernstein, at http://www.chemicalpeel.org/, a chemical peel is a beauty treatment that is designed to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. The results include a tightening of the skin and also an improvement with brown and pre-cancerous spots. Your facial surface is softer and smoother.

"Typically during a chemical peel nothing actually "peels" off. A chemical solution is applied to the skin, and works by dissolving the upper layers of the skin. As the tissue is dissolved, a wound is created on the skin which stimulates the body's healing response, causing new tissue to emerge. The depth and strength of the 'peel' varies based upon the strength of the chemicals used and the length of time the solution is applied."

But at-home peels are gaining in popularity. These treatments are usually lower in peel strength and are safe for your skin, if directions are followed precisely. And at-home peels are much cheaper. A 6-day treatment, for example, costs about $60. And yes, you can get great results with an at-home peel.

There are several kinds of chemical peels. AHAs or alpha hydroxy acid peels(most popular), TCA peels, and Phenol peels. Some peels are aggressive. Others are much milder and help clear up acne.

Just do your homework, should you decide on an at-home chemical peel. There are a number of things to consider. For example, if you are on Retin-A medication, you might have to stop using it a couple of weeks before a peel.

We like these 3 websites for an education on peels:

http://www.chemicalpeel.org/

http://www.platinumskincare.com/

http://www.skinculture.com/

5 Beach Bag Beauty Items You Must Have

There have been plenty of recent news items about the dangers of the sun. We, here at http://www.beautytip.com/, have had our say, too, warning younger women to cut down their hours of lying on the beach, so they can avoid developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. We have also given you the best and most effective sunscreens to wear. We have even warned you about the newest skin cancer threat---wearing lip gloss, which, believe it or not, attracts the sun's damaging rays. And so forth.

It's impossible to avoid the sun completely. And most folks are going to continue sitting in the sun and enjoying life. And yes, wearing lip gloss on a 95 degree day. So here are some fun items to bring along to the beach inside your beach bag:

Waterproof mascara. Cover Girl LashBlast. ($7.50, drustores). Love to swim or wipe away a few tears after reading a great summer novel, then this new mascara in the bright orange tube by Cover Girl will keep your lashes long, dry, and pretty. No raccoon eyes here. Won't irritate, either.

Hair Color Protection. Sunsilk Summer Spritz. ($4.00, drugstores). Full of coconut and UV filters. Think of this as a sunblock for your hair. Just spritz on before going out in the sun. Smells fresh and sweet. Keeps hair from burning and drying. Results: softer, healthier hair all summer long.

Light Summer Scent. 'Daisy' by Marc Jacobs (solid perfume, comes in a pretty daisy ring, $30, limited edition, dept. stores.) Described as a 'full-of-spirit' floral fragrance. Clean and natural. Top notes include fresh violet leaves and wild strawberries. Not over-powering.

Teeth Whitener. Celebrity Sexy Teeth. ($69.99, Free S&H, 30 day supply, celebritysexyteeth.com). Easy to use. Just paint on, and go 8 shades whiter in 14 days. Acccording to the website: "Simply apply a thin layer one tooth at a time to your teeth using an up and down motion with the included applicator brush. Allow several minutes for the formula to dissolve, and you're done!"

Beach Sand Remover. Surfer's Secrets Sand Eliminator ($7.00, 6 0z bottle, http://www.surferssecrets.com/). You LOVE the beach, but can't stand the wet, itchy sand all over you. This gets rid of it immediately. Just squeeze out a quarter-size amount, apply to sandy skin, and wipe away! Made of natural and soothing stuff like aloe vera and grapeseed oil.

Star Powered Shine By Sally Hershberger

Are your locks dull, dried out, and flat-looking? The hot summer rays, bleaching, coloring, perming, straightening, and all those harsh procedures can cause hair to lose its oopmh.

You can glaze your hair and boost its shine. John Freida has a new glaze line on store shelves. Or you can try a spritz of this.

You've heard of west coast legendary stylist Sally Hershberger. Yeah, and her 'legendary' haircut for $800. If that's hard to swallow, why not try Sally's new hair treatment for high-watt luster?! The beauty of this item, is its accessibility to non-celebs, like you and me. And you can find it, right at your neighborhood Walgreens.

It's called Sally Hershberger Star Shine ($13, 4.2 fl. oz) and it's part of her new signature line for Walgreens, Supreme Head. This little gray pump bottle with bright pink lettering does exactly what it says it will do: Adds star powered luminous shine. And Sally's magic shine treatment is okay for all hair types----fine, thick, curly, color-treated, damaged, delicate, straightened, braided, and so on.

Come on. You know the products have got to be pretty decent. Sally Hershberger wouldn't put her famous name on a bottle of gunk. And product is very important when it comes to beautiful hair. That and a good cut, of course.

Sally Hershberger told New York Sun.com reporter, Johanna Huden, in an interview last February, that 50% of what makes hair beautiful is product.

"With this line, you don't have to pay $800 for a haircut with me, but you get to have me show you how to achieve certain looks," she said, referring to the video demonstrations featured on her Web sites and in Walgreens stores. "Most women don't know how to use product. [They] just gob it on or slap it on top of their heads."

There are 13 hair treatments in the Supreme Head line, ranging from $9.50 to $13. Styling creams and gels, and shampoos and conditioners. The other really hot item that's been selling out in Manhattan Walgreens all year, is the Sally hershberger Shagg Spray. This hair product rocks, because it can be used for all hair types. Shagg Spray is used on dry hair to create the piece-y, windswept layers.

Ladies Watch Out! Skin Cancer Is On The Rise For You

Melanoma. Even the word sounds scary. And it should frighten you. Or at least, make you think twice before lying in the sun, over and over again.

No one needs a long lecture here, but the latest statistics for women aged 15-39 are alarming. Reasearchers have found that deadly skin cancer is on the rise for younger women, but not for younger men. Cases of melanoma among women have jumped some 50%, according to a study just published on July 10, 2008 by the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

It's worrying," said Mark Purdue, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute, who led the analysis published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. "What we are seeing in young adults right now could foretell a much larger number of melanoma cases in older women."

What exactly is melanoma? Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer. Melanoma can develop as a mole that's changed shape, or with the appearance of a new mole.

The research does not show why melanoma among women is fastly increasing. Some theories suggest that younger women are spending more time getting recreational sun exposure or using indoor tanning beds.

In the meantime, if you plan on being in the sun, please arm yourself with the right kind of sunscreen.

The number one best sunscreen for 2008, according to Consumer Reports:

Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch, 45 SPF. Score: 86/100.Excellent protection all the way around. Cost: $4.33 per fl. oz.

When applying sunscreen, the Food and Drug Administration says a sunscreen works most effectively when:

Applied about a half-hour before heading outside and applied liberally on all exposed skin (Many dermatologists suggest at least a teaspoon of sunscreen just for the face.) Reapplied at least every two hours or more often if you're sweating. Reapplied after swimming.

Kiss Me I'm Wearing Coral For 2008

Coral lips are hot for the summer of 2008! You don't have to go wild with bright orange. You can be subtle, and light, and pretty. Just a dab, will do ya.

If you are olive-skinned with dark hair and dark eyes, bingo! Coral can look quite appealing on you. Let's say, you aren't sure coral lips are right for your hair and skintone, then buy a cheaper brand. Forget the Chanels and Diors and Lancomes.

Coral always seems to work in summer. It looks so lovely against tanned skin, and it brightens your smile, and your teeth look whiter. Check out the photo of actress Sarah Michelle Gellar. The coral lipstick/gloss she has on is perfect. And look how beautifully coral complements her turquoise dress. Coral and turquoise look amazing together.

Here are 3 of our favorite and affordable coral shades and brands:

Maybelline Shinylicious Lip Gloss in Coral-Punch (pictured above, $5.99, drugstores).

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Crush ($3.79, drugstores.)

CoverGirl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers Lipgloss in Papaya Splash ($8.00, drugstores).

Lose Weight With Fit Flops And Tone Legs

Oprah's been bragging about these sandals. And these flip flops, called Fit Flops. are all the rage in England. Fit Flops were designed in the United Kingdom. It seems like almost everyone has a pair there. And these 'gym in a sandal' creations are now catching fire here in the U.S.

Since it's summer, and we're all trying to stay healthy and sexy at the same time, why not try a pair of Fit Flops? These sandals ($49.99, amazon.com) are designed to give your leg a true workout or exercise. They're available for women and men. The bottom of your foot does all the work when you walk in these sandals. It's almost like walking barefoot.

The website that sells these 'gym in a sandal' flops (http://www.fitflopsandal.com/), explains the science behind this unique shoe, or performance athletic sandal:

"The main idea of the Fit Flops is to induce a bit of instability so when you are walking, you hit the ground as normally as possible. It then moves you, so you progress through this phase quite quickly and then you move into a softer area and as you move over this softer area, Fit Flop sandals produce instability so it activates your muscles to hold your posture so as you take more and more steps, the body is being stimulated more and more and working more. When it comes off this soft area, it tapers up back again to a firm area. With each step, you feel like it's a reward. It's done its soft work, you've done your hard work. Now you've hit a nice area you can push off and move to your next step."

Amazon.com describes the sandals like this:

"FitFlops™ improves your core muscle strength, absorbs shock on your joints and back and adds strength and tone to muscles in your feet, legs, buttocks, stomach and back. Improve muscle activity, circulation, balance and posture."

That all sounds so healthy. You could actually lose weight wearing these sandals, and at the same time, develop a lengthy walking routine, and really make some killer curves out of your legs and buttocks.

Remember Dr. Scholls wooden sandals, a huge hit in the 1970s, and still around today? Wearing those was like getting a mini workout, since the wooden outsole was inflexible and flat. You had to work hard just to move your feet long distances. Or so it seemed. And the Dr. Scholls company claims they are truly the original exercise sandal.

Anything that promotes long, lean and curvy legs, gets a thumbs up by all women. And the Fit Flop is kind of cute, in a thong way.

How To Stay Blonder With At Home Highlights

Even dark-haired sun worshippers try to go blonde in the summer. At one point, I began fooling around with Sun-In, senior year in high school, spraying it through my short dark hair, and ending up with golden red highlights. Actually, the highlights weren't that bad, considering my hair is very dark brown. And freshly squeezed lemons also played a role in my short-lived blonde fantasy moment.

Sun-In has been around for a number of decades. And at-home highlighting sprays are still very popular hair treatments for the summer sun. If you're trying to become platinum blonde through a spray-in highlight product, well, it's not going to work. But if you have light hair, and you're just trying to brighten your locks, then at-home highlights can make you blonder in a very subtle and pretty way.

Many women, and you know who you are ladies, have squeezed some lemons over their head and gone out into the blazing sun to brighten their hair. However, lemons can wreck up even the healthiest hair. Angelo David of the Angelo David Salon in New York City, told http://www.shape.com/, that you need plenty of conditioner when you play in the summer sun.

"Dried-out strands are a possible side effect any time you color your hair, and these sprays are no exception (which is also why you should never use undiluted lemon juice, straight from the lemon, to highlight your hair; because it's so acidic, the juice can strip moisture from your strands and leave them dry and brittle). In addition to a daily conditioner, use a deep conditioner once or twice weekly."

Angelo also suggests that you carefully map out exactly where you want to shine brighter. Don't just spray blindly all over your head.

"As a general rule, highlights toward the front of your head and around your face should be thinner and closer together than the ones in the back. If you're having trouble managing the spray, pull your hair back into a ponytail, separate the strands you want to highlight from the rest of your hair, and then dip a new toothbrush into the solution, using the brush to "paint" the highlights on."

It's always easy to add more highlights, than to spray on too many, and then try to take them away. So don't be too generous with the pump spray.

"Start small and do just a few highlights the first time (about one-third of the amount you imagine you want). Then, see what you think of the results (you should be able to see them as soon as your hair dries); you can add more if you want. Once you're happy with the look of your new streaks, you can use the spray as often as needed to maintain the highlights--and/or touch up the roots."

Excellent spray-on highlighting advice by expert stylist Angelo David.

Here are two blonde highlighting sprays we like:

Sun-In Super Hair Lightener Lemon (with marigold and flaxseed, $5, drugstores).
Clairol A Touch Of Sun Highlighting Spray with Lemon ($5, drugstores).

Shine on, and stay brighter, you blonde beauties.

McD's Southwest Salad Is A Dieter's Dream

Fast food. We all eat it. Oh, come on. At least once in a while, it tastes so good to bite into a big double burger piled with cheese, sauce, and bacon. You know what I mean.

Now let's talk nutrition and fast food. This time, McDonald's gets it right. We're talking about the delicious and nutritious McDonald's Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken (less than $5.00 in most McD restaurants). Only 320 calories without the dressing. Add dressing, and it comes out to about 450 calories. Still a dieter's dream!!

Ladies, we're all counting calories. It's not always about the prettiest new shade of coral lipstick, or the best alpha hydroxy acid serum. Diet is beauty, too. Here is your beauty tip today------ if you want to grab a filling and generous salad, this one is it! McDonald's had taken the tasty Southwest salad off their menus at some point in 2007. A lot of people complained, and now it's back!

You're biting into plenty of crispy and tangy items here: a grilled chicken breast fillet with cilantro lime glaze, lettuce, roasted corn, tomatoes, black beans, poblano peppers, cheddar/jack cheese, and chili lime torilla strips. Yummy!

You can choose the crispy chicken breast, instead of the grilled chicken breast, but you will be increasing the calories by 80 and adding an extra 7 g of fat. You should also skip the butter garlic crouton packet. That adds another 60 calories.

Ask for Newman's Own LowFat Family Recipe Italian Dressing for only 60 calories a serving.

Here's the nutritional breakdown:
320 calories
9 g fat
30 g carbohydrates
30 g protein
6 g fiber
960 mg sodium

For more information, visit: www.mcdonalds.com.

You can choose any item on the menu, and get a complete nutritional breakdown at their website.

Fast food might not be the healthiest option, but McDonald's Southwest Salad really is a dieter's dream.

How To Remove Moles, Warts, And Skin Tags At Home

No one wants to talk about this subject. In fact, a lot of us are ashamed to say we have 'them.' But 'them' are more common than we think.

If you've ever been bothered by moles, warts, skin tags, and age spots, then you might want to check out this at home-treatment. It's called itworkspaste. Interesting name. And quite a faithful group of users, too. It's even sold on Ebay, and the customers say it really works!

A dermatologist is a skin expert, and he or she knows all about moles, warts, skin tags, and age spots, and the removal of them. So it would be best to at least have your derm look at your moles and determine they are not cancerous to begin with.

Many people live with their skin problems, warts and all. Some have the 'undesirables' removed. And the cost isn't cheap. A few hundred dollars in fact. And good luck trying to get your medical insurance to cover the removal of moles and warts, etc. It's mostly ' a no-go.'

The makers of itworkspaste swear by their natural product ($69.95, 1 kit). It's a 20 minute application process. First you prep the skin. Then apply the paste. A scab forms. And then the scab falls off within 7-21 days. The kit contains these items---an emery board, Q-tips, alcohol pad, removing paste, applicator sticks, and a pin. One kit has enough paste to cover 1-2 large areas or up to 25 very small areas.

Itworkspaste is said to be made from natural ingredients, their website says:

"No oils or acids- unlike other products; No bloodroot; Preparation from Plant Extracts: Cashew Nut (common name); CommonFig/Ficus Carica; Tetterwort/chelidonium Jajus; citrus lemon; de-ionized water, Talc."

Some in the medical industry caution people to stay away from gimmicks, or treatments you can buy over the counter. But the customers of itworkspaste say it really does zap those 'undesirables,' safely and easily. You can take a look at the photo gallery at their website. The before and after photos are quite remarkable.

For more information, visit: http://www.itworkspaste.com/.

Rosie Jane Cosmetics Give You Natural Beauty

Many women don't wear makeup because they are intimidated by it. They don't know exactly how to apply cosmetics, or which beauty items to buy. Some women swear they don't have even 5 minutes to spare, and some don't want to feel like they are wearing a mask. All great points, but there is an easier way to put on makeup that gives you natural beauty.

Legendary makeup artist Sandy Linter, has always given us some wonderful beauty tips. Remember this: blush. According to Sandy, it is the most important makeup to wear, even if it's the only beauty product you apply to your skin. Why blush? It warms up the skin, giving you a healthy glow and enhancing your cheekbones and bone structure. It gives your face a 3-dimensional appearance, in that it isn't flat like just wearing foundation.

Stephen Moleski, west coast makeup artist phenom, also agrees with Sandy Linter, but he would apply a neutral bronzer on the cheek area, for the same reasons.

And Rosie Jane Johnston agrees. Rosie Jane was born in Australia, and she, too, is a well-respected makeup artist. Rosie Jane has traveled the globe and found that women share one thing in common---"a lack of confidence applying makeup."

Rosie Jane began developing her own line of cosmetics that bear her name. She started out with a blush, Rosie Jane Cheek Gloss ($24, http://www.rosiejanecosmetics.com/.) And she, too, suggests that blush is the beginning of a beautiful canvas. "It's all you need to brighten up the face and give a healthy glow."

Here's the simplicity with Rosie Jane Cosmetics. Her blush comes in 3 shades:
Poppy: deep berry that gives cheeks a subtle, sexy glow
Marigold: golden bronzer for a natural glow
Rose: for a youthful, rosy glow

None of her cosmetics are harsh or strong. Rosie Jane says her makeup was developed for all types of skin and ages. There are 3 color palettes to choose from for each beauty product she sells. In addition to the cheek glow, Rosie Jane also sells----eye hints, and lip dew. And her 4th newest product is the eye defines, which is an eyeliner for a P.M. makeup look.

All you need are 3 Rosie Jane beauty items to create a fresh-faced natural beauty: blush, eye shadow, and lip gloss. It's quick, easy, and you look pretty after you're done.

The Best Ways To Keep Your Neck Looking Youthful

You've seen this, even on the red carpet. A lovely woman with luminous, firm facial skin, and then, her neck of sags and wrinkles. What went wrong?

Think about it. We are constantly warned to protect our faces from the sun's strong rays. Emphasis has been placed on the face, but rarely, on the neck. Expensive moisturizers and firming serums are applied to our complexions, and then many of us forget our necks, or barely pay attention to the delicate skin there. Maybe we just think the neck doesn't get old, but according to the dermatologists, it's one of the first places that shows age.

Remember this: Treat your neck as nicely as you treat your face. When you apply sunscreen, please apply it to the neck. When you put on your anti-aging serums or creams at night, don't forget to apply below the chin. It's never to late to improve aging skin.

Allure Magazine's March 2008 issue, had an informative article about neck protection:

Protect your neck. The neck is actually more prone to aging than the face, which is supported by a cushion of tissue. You can make your neck look much younger with the right creams.
The most crucial treatment is prevention with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen. Apply it every day.
You don't need to buy specific creams for the neck: Face creams with the right ingredients work just as well.
An antioxidant cream used daily will protect skin from environmental damage that causes wrinkles. Product: Dermatologists recommend idebenone (Prevage or Priori Smooth Lines), CoffeeBerry (Revale Skin), Green Tea, Pomegranate or a combination of vitamins C and E.

And if you're into strength training or lifting some free weights, your neck will benefit from the rigorous training it receives when working out. Latest studies show that weight-lifting keeps a neck looking youthful. No.You don't have to lift around huge amounts of weight. Just 10 lb. weights or less can do a body good. No.You won't develop a huge neck like the professional bodybuilders. Most exercises involve the neck area during weight training sessions. You can feel the muscles moving. So any exercise involving weights, is great for toning the muscles in your neck.

You can also exercise your neck muscles without weights. We found these excellent exercises at: www.ageless.co.za/facialneck.htm. This website sells pure and natural anti-aging lotions and creams for your complexion, neck, and body. And the ingredients are all natural and pure.

Neck and throat facial exercises
# 1
A great exercise is to sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling while keeping your lips closed and then start a chewing movement. You will feel the muscles working in your neck and throat area - and will be truly amazed at the results. Repeat 20 times.
# 2
Sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling, while keeping your lips closed and relaxed. Start puckering your lips together in a kiss and stretch the kiss, as if you were trying to kiss the ceiling. Keep your lips puckered for 10 counts, then relax, bring your head back to its normal position and repeat 5 times.
# 3
Sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling, while keeping your lips closed and relaxed. Open your lips and stick your tongue out as if you were trying to touch your chin with the tip of your tongue. Keep your tongue out in this position for 10 counts, and then return your tongue and head to its normal position.
# 4
Sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling, while keeping your lips closed and relaxed. Next move your lower lip over your top lip as far as possible and keep it there for a count of 5. Relax and repeat 5 times.
# 5
Lie on your bed, with your head hanging down over the edge. Slowly bring your head up towards your torso and keep it there for 10 counts. Relax and lower your head towards the floor again - repeat 5 times.
# 6
Sit upright and face forward and while keeping your lips together, separate your teeth by dropping your jaw and then push your jaw forward, keep for a count of 10, bring back to starting position and repeat 5 times.

No Gray Is The New Way To Cover Resistant Gray Hair

If you don't have gray hair yet, or never got but a couple of stray strands, lucky you. Many women dye their hair, one in five of us, and most are doing it just to cover up the gray. And yet, there are a number of women who are not satisfied with permanent haircolors in the drugstore and in the salon, because their color washes out, or hardly picks up the dye.

Hold on. Here's another one to try. And this box claims their dye will absolutely cover EVERY gray hair. We're not making any promises, but at only $5.99 a box at RiteAid, why not sample it?

It's called No Gray and it's a fairly new haircolor additive out on the market. In fact, the folks who make the product, call their brand 'revolutionary.' All you do, is mix the No Gray with your favorite at home hair color. And it will tackle even the most resistant gray hair.

Ensures maximum gray coverage
Intensifies and locks in color

Promotes longer color retention

The back of the box says this: "No Gray is an additive that mixes with any permanent or semi-permanent haircolor, using a new revolutionary technology that ensures maximum coverage, on even the most resistant gray hair. Just add to any haircolor mixture and apply as usual."

Not sure it works, but several friends want to take a shot at it.

How To Wear Winged Eyeliner The Right Way

Yes. These smoky, sexy eyes belong to Sophia Loren. The classic 1950's cat eye. Marilyn Monroe. Bridgitte Bardot. These women knew how to rock the cat eye, or dark winged eyeliner.

Today, there is British singer Amy Winehouse. Well, let's just say, that's a severely exaggerated cat eye she's sporting. Not very attractive.

Dark winged eyeliner is very much in vogue this season. You see it everywhere. The red carpet. The runway. However, the cat eye is actually a timeless look. It has never gone out of style. But achieving the perfect, dark winged eyeliner is almost impossible. I said, almost.

If you have a brilliant, professional makeup artist like Sandy Linter or Stephen Moleski, then leave the fine lines to them. If you're left on your own staring into the mirror, well, here are some valuable tips:

First, liquid eyeliner is the bomb! In other words, the liquid liner makes for the best cat eye. But doing the winged eyeliner the right way, takes lots of practice and tons of Q-tips, yes, cotton swabs (I'll get to that in a moment).

I did some research on dark winged eyeliner, because I, too, have been wearing the cat eye for a number of years now. But it is so hard to achieve. I know you laugh, but when it's done right, it is a darn sexy eye.

Allure Magazine had a great article in their September 2007 issue, on How To Pull Off Dark Eyeliner by Susan Giordano.

Giordano has wonderful qualifications as a makeup artist. She has worked on Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoots, as well as those for Allure. Here is her advice:

"Go beyond basic black. For most women, a rich, chocolate brown eyeliner is a better choice than black; dark plums are also pretty. They both have the depth without the potential harshness. Contrary to what most people think, Marilyn Monroe wore brown.
• Keep it solid. Make no mistake—liquid liner is very difficult to apply. It dries as soon as you put it on. Most people should just skip liquid and try a more forgiving gel formula that will give you the bold look. If you want the appearance of liquid, Laura Mercier makes a great cake liner with a rich, velvety texture. You moisten it and then apply with a small, teardrop-shaped paintbrush. (I find those stiff, angled brushes hard to use.) This look is great for evening, when you can really pull off an exaggerated, winged-out line.
• Don't overdo it. The biggest mistake women make when putting on liner is to rim their eyes with it completely. Eyeliner is meant to add definition and make your eyes look larger, but circling them completely will make them look small and beady. Lining the inner rims of your eye can also have that effect. Just try to get the liner as close to your lashes as possible. You don't want to have any skin showing between the liner and your eyelashes."

Most professional makeup artists use Q-tips or cotton swabs for plenty of makeup techniques, as well as makeup mishaps. For the winged eyeliner, take a moistened Q-tip, and flick the end of your eyeliner into a thin wing that extends up and beyond the outer eye. If you make a mistake, simply use another cotton swab to wipe it away.

If you still need more help, here is an excellent tutorial on cat eyes with some wonderful step-by-step photos:

http://www.temptalia.com/tutorial-cat-eye-liner-liquid-liner-tips-neutral-eye.