QVC Welcomes Isaac Mizrahi New Lifestyle Line And TV Show Dec. 4

Who doesn't adore designer Isaac Mizrahi?!

He's got great style, high energy, a wicked sense of humor, and now----a whole new line of, well, cheesecakes to sequin tees to studded berets. Simply fabulous!!

The new line is called, Isaac Mizrahi Live, and cable shopping network QVC welcomes the celebrated designer on Friday, December 4th. All of the items will retail from $32 to $300, says QVC.

It's a lifestyle collection of clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, home decor and kitchen accessories. And Isaac likes to think of lifestyle powerhouse Martha Stewart, and the wonderful empire she has carefully constructed:

"As I build my brand, I think about Martha Stewart and her very upward trajectory. She has always been a great inspiration to me,"says the 47-year-old designer.

And in case you are wondering, QVC reaches nearly 166 million homes. Wow, not too shabby.

We have learned in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that this QVC show will also be a sort of talk show, airing 8 hours a month. Isaac Mizrahi will take questions from viewers about his personal life. And the show is actually going to be filmed on a pricey television set built right within Mizrahi's New York studio, and be the first ever shot in high-definition. Pretty high-tech.

Isaac certainly has a gift for gab and a sharp fashion sense, so we believe this could be a huge success for him, in his continuing record of fashionable and fabulous achievements.

And his timing couldn't be more perfect with Hanukkah and Christmas on the way. Believe it or not, the chatty Isaac told WSJ.com, that is favorite part of the new show is his attention to the yummy foods he will be selling.

At 10, he says he was browsing through recipes and became intrigued by the word “sauté.” “I liked the way it sounded—sauté, sauté, sauté!” says Mr. Mizrahi, who says he used to spend weekends cooking peppers and mushrooms in a pan until they were mushy. “Call my mother. This is what I did on Saturday mornings.”

For further details on Isaac Mizrahi Live, visit QVC.com

Conditioners Keep Hair Soft And Sleek In Cold Winter Air

Hair can be high maintenance in the cold winter air. Dry air and heated air indoors can cause frizzy, dull, flat, static electricity fly away locks.

No. You don't have to surrender your flat iron or blow dryer in the winter days approaching our doorsteps. But you do need to give hair some TLC. And we're talking about conditoners.

Your hair is crying out for moisture this time of year. And if you consider all the crazy things we do to our hair, like perming, straightening, blow drying, flat ironing, coloring, highlighting, bleaching, curling ironing, styling products applied, etc., then you can see how quickly and continuously we rob our hair of its shiny, natural oils.

Here are some excellent conditioners to keep your hair soft and shiny all season long:

1. Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask ($50, 16.9 oz., free shipping). Salma Hayek and Cindy Crawford are just two beautiful-haired celebrities who swear by this brand. There are so many fans of Moroccanoil hair products. You'll love this hair mask. It's rich and creamy and works within 5 minutes for all hair types, restoring elasticity and shine to locks. You can buy Moroccanoil products at many online beauty stores like Skin-One.

2. Pantene Beautiful Lengths Conditioner ($7, 12.6 oz., at drugstores). In Style magazine named this one its best inexpensive conditioner for normal hair in 2009. A conditioner that hydrates without heaviness —at a serious bargain price. Makes hair "strong, shiny and bouncy," says N.Y.C. stylist David Cruz, who works with Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively.

3. David Babaii for Wildaid Conditioner ($10, 13.5 oz., http://www.db4wildaid.com/). This green-conscious hair care line was developed by stylist David Babaii with his client and friend Kate Hudson. It's free of harsh detergents, artificial fragrances and parabens. Instead, you're getting natural ingredients from the South Pacific----hydrating kiwifruit and mineral-rich volcanic ash. Your hair gets back lots of bounce and healthy texture.

Hollywood Women Still Using Frownies To Smooth Out Wrinkles

Maybe your mother or grandmother, or even great-grandmother had a box of Frownies at their vanity table.

Frownies have been around for a very long time. In fact, according to their website, these all natural wrinkle smoothers worn while you sleep, were created in 1889. And what a wonderful story:

"Frownies were created in 1889 after Margaret Kroesen discovered that her daughter Alice, a concert pianist, had developed unsightly wrinkles and frown lines. With a desire to maintain her youthful beauty and stage presence, Mrs. Kroesen created Wrinkle Eradicators (as they were first called) by employing the basic principle of fitness to the muscles of the face. At the time, there was no thought of producing them for anyone else but herself and her daughter. But Alice, after using her mother's amazing invention, was a living testimony, and it became clear that women and men everywhere could benefit from these Wrinkle Eradicators."

And as the saying goes....the rest is history.

Today's Hollywood beauties still love using Frownies in a natural way to smooth out wrinkles. Rene Russo and Rashida Jones are big fans of Frownies. And before these two modern actresses raved about the product, there were legendary screen actresses like Olivia de Havilland and Gloria Swanson ordering Frownies.

So we thought we would take a look at the company and what these curious-looking, beige little facial pads are all about.

First of all, Frownies are made of all natural ingredients: vegetable-based adhesive on unbleached paper . The pads target the areas of the face where expression lines and wrinkles like to set up house--on the forehead and between the eyes. And at the corners of the eyes and mouth.

What Frownies ($19.99, box of 144, FREE shipping) do is train the underlying facial muscles to relax, while you are asleep. And what the product eventually delivers is smooth skin and softened deep lines.

But you must wear Frownies in your nighttime routine. According to Frownies.com, Frownies should be worn every day for 30 days to effectively retrain the facial muscles. After the 30 day period, continue to use Frownies four or more times per week to maintain your more youthful appearance. Frownies are applied by wetting them first:

Moisten the shiny side of Frownies with Frownies Hydrator Spray or water to activate the vegetable-based adhesive.
Using two fingers of one hand, smooth your skin while pressing Frownies with the fingers of your other hand. Hold in place until pad adheres. Leave on for a minimum of three hours, but preferably overnight.
To remove, thoroughly soak pads to release adhesive.

And the company has really branched out through the decades. In addition to Frownies Facial Pads, there is also Frownies Hydrator Spray (as mentioned above), Immune Perfect Wrinkle Cream, Under Eye Treatment Patch (New!), Immune Shield Serum, and ph Balancing Complexion Wash.

We like that there is a money back gurantee and a Frownies Video Tutorial on how to use the Hollywood wrinkle smoother at their website.

Black Friday Beauty Shopping: Deals At Your Fingertips!

We understand.....you can't get out and brave the crowds on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. Too many things going on inside the house...the in-laws are still here...traffic is jammed for miles.....the baby's collicky.....little gas in the car, no time....,etc.

Now you can pick up beauty deals right at your fingertips. Here are some super online beauty things that would make great stocking stuffers.

And don't forget: Cyber Monday, the biggest shopping day of the year online, gets underway next Monday, November 30th.

Until then, let's get down to some beauty business on this Black Friday 2009:

Philosophy Cosmetics Black Friday Deals. Up to 40% off selected products + Free Shipping at Philosophy. You know the brand and the wonderful skin care and body products. Always a crowd pleaser.

Victoria's Secret Black Friday Deals. Receive a FREE runway tote packed with goodies with any purchase over $60. Enter VSFRIDAY at Victoria's Secret checkout. Big VS red tote with parfum, splash, and cherry bomb lip gloss! The undies and clothes are sexy, and so is this tote.

ShoeSteal Black Friday Deals. You can't beat this---25% off any purchase. Just type in code Turkey25 at ShoeSteal website. Brands like Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, BrunoMagli, and more.

Platinum Skin Care Black Friday Deals. We adore this site for all its effective chemical peels, emu oil, glycolic cleansers, and many other face-saving products. Save $5 off any order of $50 or more with code: SAVE5. Or save $10 of any order of $100 or more by using code: SAVE10 at Platinum Skin Care.

e.l.f. Cosmetics. Let's be honest here. You already save by shopping at e.l.f. But the makeup elves there are being super generous. Here's just one of their Deals: Receive 25% off e.l.f. mineral makeup by entering the code NATURE at e.l.f. checkout.

Body Shop. Who can resist the aroma of this place? The products are so luscious. And so is the shipping-- $2 flat rate shipping on all orders placed today through Sunday, Nov. 29th. There are many Buy 1, Get 1 Free deals going on there, too. And don't forget Cyber Monday with 20% off all orders and a choice of a free product at Body Shop.

Happy shopping....right at your nimble fingertips!!

Roast Turkey Still Great Holiday Diet Choice

Turkey is actually an excellent dietary choice----good protein with very little fat. And if roasted, low in sodium.

And by the way, turkey contains more protein than the same size serving of chicken or beefsteak.

So, you want the breakdown, here we go. We got this information from dietbites.com:

Roasted Turkey - 6 Ounces Dark + White Meat, Untrimmed450 Calories
Roasted Turkey - 3 Ounces White Meat - Trimmed (no skin, no fat). White meat contains a little less calories than dark. Add 30 more calories if you prefer dark meat.130 Calories

1 Cup of homemade stuffing400 Calories
1/2 Cup of boxed stuffing prepared with no calorie refrigerated butter spray.
110 Calories
1 Cup of Giblet Gravy300 Calories
1/3 Cup of Giblet Gravy100 Calories

1 Cup of Mashed Potatoes350 Calories
1/2 Cup of Mashed Potatoes prepared with skimmed milk, no calorie refrigerated butter spray100

CaloriesStuffed Celery - 1 stick100 Calories
1 Stick of stuffed celery prepared with reduced fat cream cheese.40 Calories
2 Sweet Pickles, 10 Black/Green Olives125 Calories
2 Black Olives, 2 Green Olives25 Calories

1 Cup of Candied Sweet Potatoes400 Calories
1/2 Baked Sweet Potato w/ small pat of butter, dash of cinnamon, a couple of packs of no calorie sweetener.

100 Calories1/2 Cup of Cranberry Sauce200 Calories
1/6 Can of Cranberry Sauce - Jelled or Whole Cranberries100 Calories
2 Rolls With Butter300 Calories
1 Roll With 1/2 Pat of Butter125 Calories

1 Cup of English Peas with Butter150 Calories

2 Glasses Sweetened Tea, Wine, Punch or Cider300 Calories

1 Slice of Pumpkin Pie With Topping450 Calories
1 Slice of Pecan Pie650 Calories
1 Cup of Fruit Salad100 Calories
1 Cup of Egg Nog400 Calories

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

How To Keep Beautiful Eyebrows In Place With Just One Product

We all know that beautiful eyebrows create a perfect frame for the eyes. But not all of us were born with thick, wonderfully arched or shaped brows.

For most of us, we want to stick our eyebrows in place. In other words, we want to keep the arch and keep the little brow hairs brushed up. But we don't want to accomplish that with a sticky, goey, visible mess.

Sure, we've heard that regular hairspray will keep our brows in place. Hmmm. Tried that, it doesn't really work. Then we learned that the legend herself, Sophia Loren, BeautyTipToday's cover girl, supposedly used some kind of special, secret adhesive to keep her brows perfectly arched and in place. Just look at our cover shot of the movie star. She has incredible eyebrows, with of course, incredible bone structure. But Sophia has never revealed her eyebrow tips, unfortunately.

Then there is moustache wax. Try it in clear. It's an old Hollywood beauty tip and it does keep eyebrows in place for most of the day. But it feels kind of sticky and stiff and can leave a glue-like look to the brows, if you go overboard in applying it.

Your best bet are clear eyebrow gels. You will get the most natural look from a gel. It's quick and simple to apply, because it comes in a mascara tube with a spiral mascara wand. And the gel also gives the illusion of thicker, more polished brows.

You want a brow gel that delivers. And we've found two that really keep eyebrows in place all day long:

1. Dior Brow Gel ($17.50, at sephora.com and fine dept. stores). This product delivers! It's water-proof, clear, and can be used right after brow pencil. Brows look perfectly groomed. No flaky, stiff appearance. And it lasts and lasts.

2. M.A.C. Brow Set ($28, at maccosmetics.com). Another clear eyebrow gel that really works, and keeps brows in place all day. For a nice, natural look, you can stroke over brow pencil. This MAC gives brows shine and slicks them into place.

By the way, you don't have to use a brow pencil. We find the clear brow gel gives a healthy, thicker, more groomed look to the eyebrows, all on its own.

Laser Resurfacing Best Way To Go For Aging Skin Around Eyes

We were intrigued by a recent article in the NY Times Fashion & Style section that says, when it comes to treating aging skin around the eyes, your best bet is laser resurfacing. It's even better than surgery.

Dr. Michael McGuire, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon and president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons told the NY Times this: “If the skin is mildly wrinkled and/or pigmented, the laser can be a good option,” he said, adding that he frequently gives laser treatments to patients in their 40s to defer face-lifts.

Laser resurfacing sounds simple enough. An intense beam of light treats the damaged surface of the skin. And then younger skin grows in its place.

But what we have heard, is that laser resurfacing is no 'walk in the park.' It's painful and you certainly need some down time, at least a week or two. We have had acquaintances tell us that this procedure felt like big, thick elastics being snapped across their face. Another told us, her face felt like raw meat directly afterwards. And these women both say they couldn't be seen out in public for about a week following the treatment.

Despite some of the nightmares about laser resurfacing, most patients feel the pain is very much worth it in the long run. Laser resurfacing can zap wrinkles, acne scars, facial lines, age spots, sun damage, and more.

The question looms. Do you treat the entire facial surface or just zero in on selected areas?

The NY Times article had some answers:

"The debate surrounding laser treatments is whether to go fractional or cover the entire surface of the treated area. Fractional lasers, like the Fraxel, burn tiny holes into the skin to stimulate collagen production. Because much of the skin remains untouched, recuperation time is minimal, but multiple treatments are necessary.

Regular laser resurfacing, on the other hand, destroys entire outer skin layers in the targeted area and requires at least a week of recovery. But it is a single treatment and produces arguably more dramatic results."

Dr. McGuire suggests treating the entire skin surface for the most benefits. "Any laser treatment that leaves some skin ‘islands’ will be less effective at achieving skin tightening and pigmentation removal simply because the entire surface is not treated.".

The average cost of laser resurfacing is about $2,500. And many patients report seeing immediate results after the uncomfortable downtime of red, puffy, and sometimes crusty skin.
And although laser resurfacing can last for years, wrinkles and expression lines eventually pop up again as skin ages. Repeat procedures may be necessary. Ouch.

Dr. Murad and Good Housekeeeping Say T-Zone Gel Best Pore Minimizer

Pores. If you've got big ones, or plus-size pores, as Dr. Murad calls them, you are not alone. And generally speaking, big pores equal oily skin.

The celebrity skin doctor is proud of his newest complexion product:
T-Zone Pore Refining Gel ($40).

And the pore shrinker has received the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. The G.H. Research Institute put six pore-minimizing products to the test and Murad’s T–ZonePore Refining Gel came out on top—“the only product that reduced pore size.”

But let's stop right there! You cannot permanently reduce pore size. What you can do, is temporarily minimize the size of your pores, by exfoliation with products that clear away oily debris and older, dead skin cells. And according to the tests that were done, Dr. Murad's T-Zone Pore Refining Gel does just that, and superbly.

And Murad's T-Zone Pore Refining Gel targets exactly where you need help the most--the t-zone. The middle of your face - the t-zone - actually contains more oil glands than other areas of the face, but the pores in this region may be more noticeable than those on your cheeks.

What's special about Murad's gel?

A bright red fruit---the pomegranate. In this case, pomegranate extract, which has been found to perform several unique features:

Stimulating skin’s collagen production.
Rebuilding skin's outer layers.
And inhibiting free radicals.
Pomegranate extract also helps to correct daily effects of oxidation and the long term effect that too much sun exposure can have on the skin.

To learn more about the Murad T-Zone Pore Refining Gel, visit Dr. Murad.

ULTA Eyeshadows: Silky Superfine And Budget-Friendly

If you love beauty and budget-friendly shopping, then you love ULTA beauty stores.

And 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! And you can always visit ULTA online.


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.

Today, we are looking at ULTA's own eyeshadows, in the single pot variety. And talk about choices---95 shades in names like Amethyst. Calla Lily. Mosaic. Ice Queen. And only $7 each. And here's the special going on right now----Buy 2, get 2 FREE! Love it.

What's so great about ULTA's eyeshadows? They are silky, superfine talc eyeshadows. The formula glides on easily and blends well to define and brighten your eyes. The ingredients are also enriched with emollients for long-lasting color that will not crease or fade.

And the little pot of shadow lasts a long time. So you save $$$ in the long run. And the customer reviews are very good for ULTA eyeshadows.

Maybe we're boring. But we love ULTA's shadow in Vogue. It's a very dark brown shadow and makes for a wonderful smoky eye.

If you haven't visited ULTA, you're really missing out. And here's another special budget-friendly incentive going on right now: Get $3.50 off any purchase of $10 or more!

Happy beauty shopping!

Shame On Nancy Pelosi: 5% Botox Tax Kind Of Sexist

Gee, Senator Nancy Pelosi, we expected better from you.

A 5% Botox tax? Or as it's being called, 'The Bo-tax.' This is being included in the Senate Health Care bill?

Yeah, ha ha. LOL.

Are you serious? Do you really think that Botox, liposuction, and other elective cosmetic procedures should be taxed? You call this health care reform?

Senate Democrats are proposing a 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic procedures. And let's not stop at Botox. Other cosmetic taxable things would include teeth whitening, breast implants, facelifts, tummy tucks, etc.

"The tax would bring in an estimated $6 billion over 10 years and wouldn't apply to cosmetic surgery meant to fix a deformity or injury." That's according to a great discussion we found on CNN's Jack Cafferty File.

But as one woman commented, "I would like to see a 5% tax on erectile dysfunction drugs, hair restoration ..." How about a special Viagra tax?

And she's right. Aren't Nancy Pelosi and company acting kind of sexist here? Why aren't men's 'things' being taxed? Most cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures are done for women, more than 80%. So, aren't women being targeted unfairly?

We suppose we should be grateful. Initially, lawmakers were trying to impose a 10% tax to help bring in more money to 'make the bill work.'

So here's the question: Should our government tax cosmetic procedures like Botox and liposuction to help pay for health care reform?

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery has responded:

"Activating a cosmetic surgery tax is not the solution to funding a health care overhaul,” states AACS Immediate Past President Dr. Steven Hopping. “While it appears that this is currently a serious consideration, this idea concerns us.”

So what's the big deal?

The AACS says that legislators should consider some key points:

A tax on elective cosmetic procedures is an unreliable, risky revenue source that has no proven record of raising projected revenues.

--The difficulty of defining elective vs. medically-necessary cosmetic surgery. There is a blurry line between what procedures are considered medically-necessary and those that are elective.

--Retention of highly-skilled physicians is at risk. Physicians face many challenges in operating their practices on a day-to-day basis. Turning them into tax-collectors is an additional burden on these doctors.

--Cosmetic surgery is not a specialty for only the wealthy or the vain. In fact, the median income for those electing to have cosmetic surgery is dropping.

--Despite the fact that more men are seeking cosmetic procedures than ever, the largest portion of patients are still working women, who would be unfairly targeted by such taxes.

We're not sure what wil happen on Capitol Hill, but it looks like this Bo-tax could be come a reality and soon.

Backstage Beauty Tips From 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

One sexy, lingerie show was going on last night at the Lexington Armory in New York City. Need we say more?

You know the models.....Heidi Klum, Selita Ebanks, Miranda Kerr, and several other recognizable tall, slender beauties walked the runway at the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (photos by Bauer Griffin).

And the look was, well, sexy. That's a given. But we also liked the soft look. The models were gliding down the cat walk with lots of wavy, touseled hair. And hair extensions were used to achieve the volume and mass of softness.

You can get this great hair look by using products from the Victoria's Secret So Sexy Hair line. We like the So Sexy Root-Lift Volumizing Spray ($13, 3/$24). This root-lift gives hair body, volume, and strength with silk amino acids. Take a curling iron and create some soft, sexy waves.

We were really attracted to the pretty, natural makeup for last night's 2009 VS Fashion Show. Sure, the smoky eye was still framing the models' mascared eyes, but in a much less dramatic way.

According to an article today by StyleList, VS makeup artist Tom Pecheux, was going for glam makeup with a subtle twist.

"With a lot of new girls on the runway this season, I wanted to make it fresh," Tom Pecheux say. "Nothing dramatic...extremely sexy and beautiful. When a lot of the body is showing, you don't want the face to appear made up."

We appalud Tom Pecheux. We think he hit the right mark with a few faux lashes at the outside corners to create a softer, smoky eye, and a light gray eyeshadow to enhance the overall look.

Tom also dusted pink shimmer all over the face for a healthy glow. And those lips. All the models smiled brighter with delicate shades of pink lipstick. Check out Victoria Secret's new VS Makeup collection, Perfect Lipstick ($12). A rich and creamy, long-lasting formula.

Top it off with VS' Lip Lacquer, also from the new VS Makeup collection ($10). This little gloss delivers high shine and full coverage. Wear alone, or over VS' Perfect Lipstick. We love their Babydoll Pink shade.


You can catch all the sexy, soft glitz and glamour with Heidi Klum and the gals on December 1st at the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show televised on CBS.

What To Do When You Wanted Bangs But Now Hate Them

Bangs. First, you wanted them badly, because bangs are still hot, and all the Hollywood beauties seem to be sporting them these days.

Then you got your own bangs, but now you hate them. Argh-hhhh!

And now it seems that lovely Padma Lakshmi, the popular host of Bravo's Top Chef' reality show, has become a poster child for bangs gone bad! We have read comment after comment about Padma's recent, big mistake of getting bangs cut. Or maybe the wrong style of bangs. We even saw a couple of polls on Padma's bangs for readers to decide: Love it or Hate it.

We happen to think 39-year-old Padma Lakshmi, who is expecting her first baby this spring, would look stunning even if she had burlap for hair.

The scenario seems to equal out to this: If you love them and wear bangs all the time, like we do, then bangs seem to grow out so quickly. And then you have to have them trimmed just about every two or three weeks. Or, you learn to gently clip them yourself. Not easy, no matter how many instructions you are given.

And if you hate the bangs you were given in your last haircut, then it seems like the bangs take forever and ever to grow out. And when hair is taking so long to grow out, it is a frustrating time. There's just so much gel you can put on or bobby pins to hide bad bangs. Yuck! You still hate them so.

1. Bangs too short. Grow them out a bit. Padma's rocking some thick, blunt bangs. We call those Cleopatra bangs. Just a bit longer over the brows, and the fringe will look great. The good news: Bangs frame the eyes nicely. Bangs make you look younger. Bangs cover up imperfections like wrinkles on a forehead, thin eyebrows, and a high forehead.

2. Part the hair. That's another way to change the look of the bangs you no longer desire. A part right down the middle, changes your total look. Or a side-part can camoflauge bangs.

3. Pin bangs straight back. That's a trendy look, especially with longer bangs. Jennifer Lopez had bangs a few months ago for a movie role. And we saw her constantly pinning them straight back and looking glam.

4. Next time, invest in some faux bangs. When you tire of the look, just un-clip them. Celebrity stylist Ken Paves sells some for $28.95. A great investment because they're quick to put in any time you feel like wearing bangs. And you don't have to worry about bangs maintenance.

Nicole Kidman Goes Back To Red Hair But People Notice Lips Instead

We still think 42-year-old Nicole Kidman is a fine actress and very pretty woman. But there are people talking about her bigger lips and bigger breasts, most recently photographed here at the CMAs or Country Music Awards show.

Look, we are not here to judge. but apparently many celebrity publications are criticizing the Aussie beauty for her allegedly fake lips and breasts. In the past, the Academy Award winner had been teased continuously for her 'frozen look' from too much Botox. Allegedly, we say, again.

For several years now, Nicole Kidman has denied the plastic surgery rumors. "I am completely natural," Nicole has said. "I have nothing in my face or anything."

But the publications keep hitting away. Even The Huffington Post has been taking nasty jabs at the actress, and has a poll up at the site, asking readers to decide if her 'freakish' lips were done. And if that weren't vicious enough, The Huffington Post also includes a series of photos that show how 'plumper' her lips become each passing year.

So what. Big deal. We think she's quite stunning. Nicole Kidman would not be the first actress to undergo cosmetic enhancement or cosmetic surgery, if that were the case.

As for the curvier bosom, Nicole attributes that to the pregnancy of her first child. She has said, "Motherhood has mad my boobs a normal size."

How does someone plump up their lips?

Mostly through fillers, or injectables that plump up the tissue. In the lips, the filler is used to enhance the lip's natural outline. It also enhances the lip's definition, which is lost with general aging. It is also used to give volume to the lips to actually make them bigger and to show more of the lip itself.

How much filler does one need? According to the experts, for most patients, one syringe may be enough to plump both lips. Fillers are injected through small needles. And yes, it stings
like crazy.

1. Collagen. This filler has been around for a long time, and is one of the most popular lip plumping injectables. The substance lasts about 3-4 months in the lips. According to Kimberly J. Butterwick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a dermatologist in La Jolla, Calif., "Collagen products are very forgiving and work well for replacing volume." The only problem...some people are allergic to bovine collagen. A test is given in advance to see how skin reacts.

2. Hyaluronic Acid Gel. Also FDA-approved, this filler lasts longer, 3-6 months, and even more. How does it work? Hyaluronic acid gel binds to water and provides volume to plump up lips. But this gel can be painful, according to Dr. Butterwick, because it does not contain an anesthetic. But, no allergy risk here.

3. Combination Fillers. How about collagen and hyaluronic acid gel together? Yes, says Dr. Butterwick. "A good lip enhancement can be achieved utilizing both collagen and hyaluronic acid gel." Both fillers provide a different structure, so the overall look is natural.

The bottom line here, lip plumpers or lip injections are temporary and cost a few hundred dollars every time you go back for more. So visits become multiple affairs.

Here's some sensible advice:

"Despite their ease of use, filler injections are a medical procedure and should be handled by a board-certified physician in order to achieve aesthetically natural lips and to reduce the risk of side effects," Dr. Butterwick says.

To read more about this subject, take a look at Plump up the Volume of Lips by Armen Hareyan.

Pitt Jolie Jewelry Launch By Asprey To Aid Children's Charity

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been super busy these days. Between running after lots of kids (we can't remember how many they have, but who's counting), making movies, and performing countless humanitarian acts, here's one more big gesture of kindness and thing of beauty.

The gorgeous Hollywood Angie and Brad have become elegant, high-end jewelry designers for Asprey. And their collection of serpent pieces, The Protector, goes on sale today at Asprey stores in London, New York, Beverly Hills, Tokyo and Dubai.

All the net proceeds will go to Angie's charity---Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. The charity she co-founded in 2006, raises awareness and funds to educate child victims of war, conflict, and natural disasters.

Why the snake or serpent theme? Well, there's a great story to it. When Angie was pregnant with baby Shiloh in 2006, someone had given Angie a special serpent ring. It was taken as a symbol of protection for mother and unborn child. “Since then, she has seen the snake symbol as a protective talisman for her family,” a source at Asprey tells People magazine.


Prices start at $525 for a silver baby spoon with a serpent-shaped handle. The jewelry is gold and the accessories are silver. Pieces range from earrings, bangles, rings, men's cuff links and pendants to an egg cup, a tooth box, and a picture frame. And the Hollywood power couple has been busy designing The Protector collection for the past year for the British Asprey jewelers.

Angie spoke about the children's charity and its mission in an email:

“These are the children who most need a safe place to learn, a place to heal, a place to learn reconciliation, a place to build a better future and a place — to just be children. Yet the education for these children is often forgotten. Tens of millions of children and adolescents in conflict are not in school.”

We appalud Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for their huge generosity and humanitarian endeavors.

You can learn more about the limited edition collection at Asprey Jewlery stores.

Skin Care By Osmotics: 4 Steps And Smart Science

Here at Beauty Tip Today, we know that beautiful skin is much admired, but not easy to come by. The sun and general aging alone, can do a number on our complexions.

And yet, skin care products have come a long way. Beauty science is advancing rapidly. The big business of cosmeceuticals is impressive. There are skin care treatments that really do repair and correct damaged skin. And Osmotics Cosmeceuticals is one of the major players offering women effective and pure products.

But with so many thousands of skin care solutions to choose from, it would be nice to talk to the CEO of a company, to see what their skin care mission is all about. Most CEOs are too busy to sit down and chat. Except for a few of them.

Welcome Francine Porter, the founder and chairwoman of Osmotics Cosmeceuticals. We found Francine to be accessible, friendly, and sincere about the skin care line that remains a small, privately held, family business based in Denver, Colorado.

Like most sophisticated skin care products, the Osmotics treatments come in pretty packaging and jars, and in the company colors of purple and silver. But Francine Porter says it's much more than the marketing and the hype:

"We research and work with biotech companies, medical centers and research departments of universities across the country and across the world to find cosmeceutical technologies that are based on real science supported by independent clinical data," Francine explains. "These technologies are usually patented. We then license the patent rights to these clinically proven technologies and they are the basis or platform for product development.....these proven technologies drive our product development. This is why our products are so effective."

According to the Osmotics philsophy, there are 4 steps to beautiful skin: Cleanse. Correct. Defend. Protect. But Francine believes that women over-stock their beauty shelves.

"Many women tend to over treat and use too many products at one time. We have addressed both of these issues with our 4 Steps," Francine says.

"Proper cleansing is essential as it affects everything that follows. Correct is all about preventing and actively correcting aging issues such as fine lines, hyper pigmentation, sagging skin, skin tone etc. Each product in this category addresses and helps prevent and repair the most common signs of aging skin. Defend is unique to Osmotics in that all products in this category feature our patented BRT technology, clinically proven to reinforce the skin's barrier function; vital to keeping the skin healthy and the first line of defense against aging. Protect refers to daily SPF protection which EVERYONE needs to prevent aging on a daily basis. Consistent use of a comprehensive, synergistic regimen is key to preventing aging and keeping skin healthy. We've tried to keep it simple and easy!"

We asked Francine Porter about the sensitive eye area, and her favorite Osmotics products.

"Gosh this is a tough one because I love them all!!! My favs would include, Blue Copper Firming Elasticity Repair, Renovage, Eye Surgery, and FNS Nutrilash. And YES, you all really need to use an eye cream because the skin around the eyes is quite different from the rest of your face. It is the thinnest skin on your body!!! And because it is so fragile and thin it is the first area to show signs of aging and therefore requires a product specifically formulated for this delicate area."

And we learned that Francine is very careful in the sun, and admires other fair-skinned celebrities.

"There are so many that have great skin. I do love the fact that more and more celebrities are staying out of the sun for obvious reasons and they are proud to show off their creamy, white, beautiful skin. (I, myself am very fair and auburn haired and have never been able to tolerate the sun...I could never tan so this is close to my heart!) I love Deborah Messing, Julianne Moore, Anne Hathaway, ...I think Diane Keaton looks amazing....just to name a few."

As the CEO of Osmotics, Francine Porter is a very busy woman. But the work continues in the world of beautiful skin. New products are never far behind.

"We are launching a new cosmeceutical color line.....treatment with color (as opposed to color with treatment) to NATURALLY ENHANCE NOT COVER a women's features. This has been a labor of love and a response to requests from many of our customers."

To learn more about Osmotics Cosmeceuticals, visit http://www.osmotics.com/.

New Pill On Way To Relieve Bad Period Cramps

It's known as dysmenorrhea. Or severe period pain.

And we all know what that can be like, to varying degrees. From hot water bottles to lying in bed in a fetal position to taking lots of Advil, and stronger medication, the pain of your menstrual cycle can really cripple your lifestyle. Just ask the millions of women around the globe who have experienced severe period pain.

But there is hope on the horizen. Clinical trials have been going on and a new pill has been developed for the treatment and prevention of dysmenorrhea.

At the moment, the pill is known as VA111913. But what sounds promising about VA11913, is its power to zero in on the cause of painful uterine contractions, not just the uncomfortable symptoms.

The experts at Vantia Therapeutics, the British company that is manufacturing the experimental pill, believe that VA111913 is going to speak volumes when the new pill gets the green light. Dr. Jim Phillips of Vantia explains:

"It would be fair to call it a breakthrough--there is certainly no other treatment like it."

When will the VA111913 pill be available?

So far, clinical trials are being conducted on women here in the U.S. and Great Britain. But, it appears that the pill won't be available for another 4 years. Ouch!!

In the meantime, you could try turmeric powder to ease your painful periods. The bright yellow spice, has been used for many, many years in Indian cooking and in Ayurveda, the ancient medical science.

What this bold, little spice can do is amazing. Turmeric powder has a pungent and bitter taste, but it works to ease menstrual cramps, along with many other illnesses and skin conditions.

Drink a glass of warm water with about a half teaspoon of turmeric powder.

Turmeric is anti-spasmodic. The spice relaxes the muscles of the uterus and relieves cramping. And believe it or not, we have learned that turmeric powder also initiates a regular menstrual cycle. In other words, if your period is irregular, drinking turmeric powder in warm water will correct your cycle. Trust us, it works.

Turmeric powder is very safe, but those with gall stones or stomach ulcers should avoid it.

Cindy Crawford's Fave Sonia Kashuk Celebrating 10 Years With Target

10 beautiful years with Target.

That's how long professional makeup artist Sonia Kashuk has been sharing her very good quality and affordable makeup with the giant department store and her large loyal fan base. And even model Cindy Crawford speaks volumes about Sonia Kashuk.

In fact, the two have a working relationship from several years ago. Sonia had co-authored with Cindy Crawford an instructional beauty workbook, called Basic Face, back in 1997.

And Cindy Crawford is also letting her lips do the talking. She says the best lip glosses around are from Sonia Kashuk's Target line. And yes, we find the model to be trustworthy. Cindy's favorites:

"I like Sonia Kashuk's glosses in Whisper and Flawless." And why not? Check out the price----only $9 each, for the Ultra Shine Sheer Lip Glosses."

And Sonia Kashuk has more than just lip gloss. The celebrity makeup artist also features blush, gel eyeliner, foundation, shadows,and some superb makeup brushes in her newest collection. Sonia Kashuk certainly knows her way around a tube of lipstick. And she has the resume to prove it. According to Target, Sonia has worked with some of the best in the business, including designers and celebrities like Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Sharon Stone, and Britney Spears. Kashuk has also appeared as a makeup expert on television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, and The View, and her work is regularly featured in countless fashion and beauty magazines.

To take a look at Sonia Kashuk's makeup line, visit Target.

P.S.....The Sonia Kashuk Ultra Shine Sheer Lip Glosses Cindy Crawford loves, are only available in Target, not at Target's online shopping site. Otherwise, many of Sonia's other makeup is featured online. Why this lip gloss is only available in stores, is unknown.

New Temptu At-Home Airbrushing System: Wave Of The Future?

If you've ever seen makeup up close that has been professionally airbrushed, then you know how flawless and luminous the skin appears. Wrinkles and imperfections are less visible. The foundation 'sitting on' a complexion looks healthy and natural.

And now you can get the same impeccable coverage with a new at-home AIRbrush Makeup System by Temtpu ($225, spehora.com).

Temptu enjoys a great reputation in the beauty business as being a leader in professional airbrushing. And now they are bringing that high-tech glamour to the consumer, so that you can achieve a flawless face on your own. It's a sleek hand-held airbrush system.

And sure, it's a beauty investment at $225, along with their Temptu AIR pod Foundation at $55 for a 2 month supply. But look at it this way, your complexion will benefit from the lightweight makeup technology, pores will be cleaner, and blemishes will disappear. There is no rubbing in of foundation. No brushes. Just a quick, ultra-fine mist with pin-point accuracy, and you're covered beautifully. And the system works on all ages and complexions.

Let's be frank. Finding the right formula in a foundation isn't easy. You don't want something too heavy, that looks like a mask, or anything too powdery that shows up fine lines, shadows, and wrinkles. And you want a foundation that lasts all day, or at least for a good number of hours. And of course, you want the perfect shade.

Temptu's new at-home AIRbrush Makeup System takes out a lot of the guesswork. The AIR pod foundations come in 12 shades. And TEMPTU® AIRbrush and TEMPTU AIR pod™ "provides the equivalent of four brushes in one—foundation, concealer, blush, and highlighter. The adjustable controls also allow you to choose your coverage—light, medium, or full—for impeccable blemish concealing and absolutely no blending".

The beauty gadget does look intimidating, but women who have bought one, say it's easy to use and really delivers a flawless high-definition look. And that the intial investment is worth it, because the results are that good. And the system comes with an instructional DVD.

Take a look at the reviews at Sephora and decide for yourself. Temptu scored 4.3 stars out of 5 stars. Now, that's pretty darn good.

New Clip-In Wrap-Around PonyTail Inspired By Jessica Simpson

Ponytails are hot for fall/winter 2009. And if you have short hair, or limp hair that can't form a long, beautiful ponytail, think again.

Celebrity stylist Ken Paves has created the new Clip-In Wrap-Around Ponytail, as past of his new styleables collection. And his source of inspiration? Jessica Simpson.

Jess looks lovely wearing the wrap-around pony in ginger blonde($49, Ken Paves). The beauty of the new styleables collection are the easy and accommodating features:

Style it straight. Flat-iron it. Wave it. Or curl it. Then, just clip it in and go! You get volume and polish.

The Ken Paves Clip-In Wrap Around Pony, synthetic hair, comes in 9 shades. And the color selections are actually made from a blend of seven to 12 shades to get the most believable, natural-looking results:
Chestnut. Buttered Toast. Ginger Blonde. Ginger Brown. Glazed Strawberry. Golden Wheat. Chocolate Copper. Midnight Brown. Ebony.

And the ponytail is long....18 inches.

Several years ago, when clip-in hair came into vogue, this type of extension could not be styled. But thanks to Ken Paves' new Tru2Life™fiber, this trend-setting pony can be easily transformed with thermal styling tools.

Tru2Life is conditioned to take the heat, so to speak. The fibers can withstand temperatures of up to 350 degrees Farenheit/160 Celsius. And more importantly, straight fibers can be curled, and curled fibers can be straightened. And best of all, the hair is really soft, light, and shiny like real hair.

And if you take the time to read customer reviews at some of the online sites that sell the Clip-In Wrap-Around Ponytail, you will see that most women say it's easy to put it in, feels like real, healthy hair, and stays put. We did see a couple of negative reviews. One woman felt the color range wasn't wide enough. She says her light platinum locks could not find an equal match in Ken Paves' shade selection. Another said her hair was too thick and the velcro fastener for the ponytail extension would not stay attached. And some red-haired women hope Ken Paves can add more auburn shades to the collection, because they, too, couldn't get a natural-looking match.

You can also read a bunch of reviews at QVC.com. The ponytail received a 4.3 out of 5 stars, which is a very good rating of 87%.

You can purchase the Wrap-Around Pony at shopkenpaves.com, drugstore.com, QVC.com, and other online stores.

To get an idea, how this clip-in ponytail works, look at the photos below, provided by Ken Paves.

Shanna Moakler Debuts New Mineral Cosmetics Line SMOAK

Former Miss USA 1995, Shanna Moakler, is proud to introduce SMOAK Cosmetics. The glamorous mom of 3 teamed up with her makeup artist Daniel McFadden, and the two gave birth to a wonderful palette of mineral makeup.

Shanna says she has tried just about every kind of makeup on the planet, and wanted her personal makeup line to be clean and healthy, and that meant, mineral makeup. This is how SMOAK Cosmetics is described at her website 'About Me' page:

"Mineral make-up is truly a revolution in cosmetics, taking the fashion and skin health world by storm. Shanna is not only in entertainment but a mother of 3 who has had a love affair with taking care of her skin and making sure she is doing all she can to prevent, maintain and give only the best to her face! She has publicly spoken in campaigns about the importance of educating yourself on not only what you are putting into your body but as well as ON your body. Organics are a passion of hers and being able to find chic, modern, stylish make-up that not only protects your skin but can also help you look years younger."

Shanna's makeup line features Primers. Foundations. Blushes. Eyeshadows. Eyeliners. Eyeliners. LIpsticks. Makeup Brushes. And Creative Color Kits.

Shanna Moakler fell in love with mineral makeup. It takes some getting used to, but she feels it can only benefit your skin in the long run. This is why she says her SMOAK foundations will always look and last better than the rest:

"Non mineral Liquid foundations and heavy concealers only clog the pores and damage your skin, trying to fight your way thru light coverage, medium coverage, heavy coverage, it gets confusing and no matter how amazing it looked on your face in the store, it just never sits right on the face at home! This is where the benefits of minerals comes into play, not only are they lightweight , soft, and organic, but they are filled with vitamins rich in antioxidants, they combat shine and even provide a natural SUNSCREEN! You are actually helping your face! My foundations contain no fragrances, preservatives or any harsh chemicals and even better, none our products are EVER TESTED ON ANIMALS! I am also very proud to offer a liquid MINERAL foundation that is simply the best of both worlds, I have yet to use a foundation as amazing as this".

Being a former Miss USA, and Hollywood-gal-on-the-go, Shanna Moakler must know a thing or two about cosmetics. As you can see by the photo of Shanna at the recent SMOAK makeup launch, the woman has beautiful skin, and her makeup looks flawless.

Shanna gives some super makeup tips at Smoak Cosmetics. She shows you step-by-step, how to create a beautiful smoky eye, Shanna's trademark feature. And the eyes have it:

"Eye liners can change the shape of your eye, they can set a time or "era" to your look or make up," Shanna explains. "You can use eyeliner to go from day to night in one easy sweep! For me, my eyeliner has been my signature and it is one of the main reasons I celebrate mineral make up. I will not lie ladies, conquering a fantastic eye with liner takes practice. My loose eye shadows can be used WET also! There are so many eye liner looks and I will monthly come here and give tips on different ones."

You can purchase Shanna Moakler's new makeup line at SmoakShop.com.

Multiple Strands Of Pearls Best Accessory For Fall Winter 2009

We like what Kimora was showing on her fall winter 2009 Baby Phat runway:

Multiple strands of pearls and gold chains.

It's the best way to accessorize and hit the right trends of the moment. Ultra-feminine and always classy, but expensive, too. Runway pearls and gold chains will cost you $1,000 or more each, but there are ways to imitate the bling and save some real cash.

Baby Phat showed the pearls long and knotted, too. Some featured were chunky sets of pearls, and others were small, all mixed together.And Kimora paired them with skinny jeans and soft leather jackets, lace leggings, jumpsuits, and lattice work shoes. Really elegant and sexy chic!

Celebrities like Rihanna, are rockin' the piles and piles of pearls. It's a modern take on the Coco Chanel look. And did you know that Coco, designer and founder of Chanel, used to mix genuine pearls with rope after rope of fake pearl necklaces in the 1930's?

We like to take a tip from television's, The Insider. Host Lara Spencer always shows us the cheaper way to look glam. Her stylist often suggests jewelry from Forever21. And why not? The jewelry is pretty, very current, comes in a huge variety of styles, and won't break your wallet.

For instance, look at these gold chains from Forever21. Only $12.80. Delicate, cascading gold chains linked together with a lobster style clasp. Accented chains feature cool metal square beads. - Chain: 23" - 34" approx length, 1/4" x 1/8" approx bead dimensions.

The pearls we found that are faux and budget-friendly, are from Alloy. This set of multiple strands includes white pearls of various sizes and strand lengths. It's called the 'Anna necklace' and is 24" long with an adjustable clasp ($19.90). We are including 2 photos.

At least you don't have to worry about caring for multiple strands of faux pearls and gold chains like these from Forever21 and Alloy. No special treatment or storage. Just put on, and be on your elegant way.

Spin A Web Of Beautiful Hair With New Sebastian Microweb Fiber

We want some of this for our hair!!!

It's a new Sebastian Professional hair product that is inspired by the beauty and silky texture of a spider's web. It's called Sebastian Microweb Fiber ($14.99 online, and at specialty salons).

This is amazing high-tech hair styling .....creating flexible texture and touchable movement. Sebastian Microweb Fiber is an 'elastic' texturizer product. especially designed for longer hair.

And oh yeah, it does look like a spider's web when you spray some into the palm of your hand and emulsify the product. No kidding!!

It's better than wax, mousse, gel, sprays, or pomades. Big, soft, 3-dimensional hair instantly. No stickiness or crunchiness.

You've got to see this video, provided by the folks at Sebastian Professional Salon. You will be convinced at what the product can do for hair of any texture.

As Thomas Dunkin, Sebastian Stylist and Editorial Master explains it, "I love to see hair that marries weightless volume with the bold. edginess of 80's pop-punk culture. The Bohemian chaotic hairstyle is also very relevant at the moment."

And if you closely watched the fall runways, you saw plenty of texture woven into the fabrics and patterns and models' hair. From sequins, to playful ruffles, flirty feathers, ruching, and bold, hot colors, texture is everywhere. And Sebastian Professional Microweb Fiber gives every woman a chance to spin a web of big, beautiful hair.