Simple Originals Fresh Blossom Body Lotion: Perfectly Pure

16 oz. of body lotion.

You have to admit....That's a generous size. Add to it, the clean scent of a garden, formulate it with 97% naturally-derived ingredients, and you've got Simple Originals Fresh Blossom Body Lotion. Plus, the price is rock-bottom---just $10.99.

Ladies, this is an excellent body lotion full of Shea Butter, Glycerin, Aloe, Green Tea Extract, and Vitamins A, C, and E. We keep it around us at all times, and also use it as a hand lotion. It really softens your skin and smells, simply divine---just like walking through a spring garden.

Morningside LLC is the company that has created the Simple Originals line along with other wonderful natural bath & body care products. Everything is made here in the U.S.A.. And best of all, Morningside LLC is a certified woman-owned business.

Most of us don't really inspect the list of ingredients that are contained in our beauty and body products, but at Morningside, it's all an open book:

1. 97% naturally-derived ingredients
2. Paraben-free
3. PH-balanced
4. Plant-based emollients
5. No artifical color
6. Not tested on animals
7. Recyclable packaging

Morningside products also give back in a big way, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Every Child is an Original Foundation.

To learn more, visit MorningSideProducts.

Try Rubbing On Some Hyaluronic Acid Serum To Copy Celeb Filler Faces

Maybe it's just us, but we barely recognized actress Sandra Bullock on the red carpet at Sunday's Academy Awards.

The Oscar winner always looks lovely, and this time was no exception in her white/black combo Marchesa gown with pretty pony tail. But it was Sandra's face that had us doing a double and triple take.

This was the roundest we had ever seen the actress' usually angular-featured face. Even her lips appeared to have grown.

Has Sandra Bullock given in to the latest celebrity filler face?!

At age 47, she looks incredible. But we have to reason, that the dark-haired beauty has been doing a little something to stay hot in the Hollywood game. And to our humble eye, we suspect it to be injectable volumizer(s).

That takes us to the subject of Hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in your skin, but slowly disappears as we get older.

The beauty of hyaluronic acid is its amazing properties, such as this--It holds more water than any other natural substance (over 1000 times its weight in water).

And cosmetic fillers like Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm are made from Hyaluronic acid. These skin plumpers can add lots of volume to hollow faces---making cheeks and temples and even undereye sockets fuller.

The cost is not cheap. Expect to shell out anywhere from $350-$800 per syringe. And you could need 1-6 syringes. Results last about 6 months or longer.

But you can still copy the celeb filler faces you love, by investing in a little topical Hyaluronic acid serum. You won't get as full-faced as Sandra Bullock, but---you will get smooth, glowing skin that plumps up in a natural, healthy way.

We found a bottle at Platinum Skin Care for $28.95. This is a company with a solid reputation. We have bought their skin care products several times with our own money. We trust Platinum Skin Care.

Oscars Memo 2012: How To Get A Fab Butt Like Lopez And Diaz

OMG!

You either adored the infamous Lopez/Diaz butt shot at last night's 84th Academy Awards Show, or found it distasteful and possibly a tad vulgar or arrogant. But, hey......It was a long-ggggg Oscars 2012 evening, and we thought it was great!

Let's face it.....Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz have 2 of the best butts in Hollywood, so, why not?! And even more amazing, these girls are no longer in their 20s. Jennifer is 42 and Cameron is 39.

We had big butt and little butt on display here. And both are as fine as the other. In other words, both stars are embracing their body shapes, and we admire that. Cameron Diaz is tall and slender, while Jennifer Lopez is short and curvy.

Sure, genetics play a key role in how our rear ends are shaped, but you CAN enhance your butt with some good, old-fashioned exercise. And if you think that both J.Lo and Cameron don't work out, then you are a fool.

We gave out a super butt-toning exercise last month you can do, that promises to work wonders:

Andie Hecker, a former New York City ballerina-turned Hollywood trainer, has this move for a toned booty:

The Butt Blaster
Stand with your torso upright, hands resting on a countertop or chair back. Lift one leg behind you as high as you can, while keeping your hips square to the front, and pulse up 50 times.

Not easy to do, but, er butt, this little exercise will do wonders in no time.

And oh yeah, J.Lo did have a nip-slip last night while she and Cameron were presenting an award on stage in front of millions. So, maybe it was best they finally turned their backs and butts to the masses....LOL

Best Beauty Budget Buy Of The Day!

Who doesn't love a glam animal print? Especially, when it's the classic leopard?

We've found a very nice traveling makeup bag by Forever 21 for the beauty budget buy of just $8.80!

It's a roomy cosmetics bag that measures 7.5" H x 10" W x 3.5" D. And it's fully lined in black with a zipper enclosure and convenient short, black handle.

We think the makeup bag is cute and can tote a lot of your cosmetics necessities and do it very well on the cheap.

Meow!! Look What Hello Kitty Is Up To

Blotting papers.

Some of us use them, and some of us do not.

But if you want to freshen up your complexion ASAP, then blotting papers are great to carry around in your makeup bag. These little oil absorbing sheets zap away excess oil and can re-freshen the cosmetics you had put on several hours ago.

Clean & Clear asked Hello Kitty to step in and scratch out some beauty ideas, and look what that adorable puss came up with:

Hello Kitty Oil Absorbing Sheets (Limited Edition) for just $4.99. You get a super-cute packet containing 50 polka dot sheets. You can find them at your neighborhood Target and Walmart stores.

The cutie-pie Japanese cartoon of Hello Kitty has been around the beauty business since 1976, so she definitely knows what she's doing. And these blotting papers do a decent job of mopping up all the oiliness and gunk without ruining your makeup.

And if you've never tried oil absorbant sheets, you're really missing out, because in a pinch, these little papers do a world of good.

Liz Taylor Eyebrows And Cleopatra Eyes Hot 2012 Beauty Trend

Bold and beautiful.

That's Liz Taylor---full eyebrows and cleopatra eyes---a super glam beauty trend we're seeing leap off the runways(top photo) and filter down into Hollywood and beyond.

Many years ago, the actress played the part of the Egyptian Queen in the historical 1963 epic, Cleopatra. Of course, the incredible makeup was all the buzz. And funny, how beauty and fashion repeat themselves often, in our lifetimes.

Let's be honest, if you don't already have full brows, it's crazy to try and design a Liz Taylor pair, unless of course, you have a great makeup artist at your disposal. You can just do so much with a brow pencil and brow fixative, etc. But the key here, is to lay down the tweezers and stop the waxing appointments to allow your eyebrows to reach their fullest, most natural potential.

Take a look at Liz Taylor as Cleoptra. Her beauty is really breath-taking. It hurts to look at her, she's so beautiful.

And actress Poorna Jagannathan of Delhi Belly showed off her modern-day Cleoptra eyes at the Filmfare Awards. Meow!

Cleopatra eyes involve a very edgy cat-eye. The winged liner keeps going until the end of the brow. Now, that is a bit much for everyday wear, but you can create Cleoptra eyes in a more subtle manner. We like how Kim Kardashian looked on her wedding day.

Her makeup man, Mario Dedivanovic, did an incredible job transforming the dark-haired beauty into a Cleopatra-esque bride. And he used a very inexpensive product:

"I lined her eyes (top lid only) using Cover Girl Line Exact Liquid Liner in Very Black," Mario says. "Start out with a thin line at the inner corner and gradually thicken the line as you go towards the outer corners. Wing the liner up and out."

Amazing! Kim K's cat-eye signature look always comes out perfect and polished, and we can't believe that one could get the same, high glam effect, using a $5.59 drugstore find, but there's the proof.

We like the concept of the CG Line Exact Liquid Liner because it is similar to a sharp-pointed felt pen and glides over the eyelid smoothly.

It will interesting to see which glamorous star is sporting full Liz Taylor brows and Cleopatra eyes at Sunday evening's Academy Awards 2012!

Hurry Up And Grow! Get Fuller Eyebrow Trend With New Boots' RapidBrow!

Fuller brows....(sigh).

We've been down this road before. Last time we mentioned eyebrows, was in a BeautyTipToday article. We have found, unscientifically, by the way, that rubbing in some Retin-A over the brows helps them grow, albeit--- slowly. Patience is a virtue in the eyebrow world.

But maybe you don't have a Retin-A prescription, that's okay, too, because the British Boots skin care experts are at it again. And this time, Boots is raving about their new RapidBrow Enhancement Serum! Just in time to get a jump on the fuller, thicker brow trend showing up for Spring 2012.

It's big news across the pond. And eventually, Boots will bring its RapidBrow to the U.S. for about $50 a tube.

The brow serum is designed around a special combo of fruit extracts, vitamins, proteins and amino acids, which in unison, boost eyebrow thickness, without using any chemicals or drugs.

And here's the kicker, ladies:

RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum is proven* to enhance the appearance of eyebrow density by 108% in 60 days.

Wow to the fuller, thicker brow!

Ladies, stop the plucking and waxing, and give Boots your scraggly, tired, weak brows, and in 2 months, you will see a difference.

That's very encouraging news for the fuller eyebrow-challenged among us. And looking at the clinical study stats, we are hopeful that this brow serum won't be a waste of money:

The RapidBrow product was tested on 61 women, mainly in their 40s, 50s and 60s, over a 5-month period. Nine out of ten reported that the density of their eyebrows increased after use, while 76% stated that their brows were thicker and 63% said their brows were longer as a result.

We haven't been able to track down any Boots RapidBrow around here, not even on Ebay.

If you can't wait for the serum to make its way here to our shores, there is some at the UK Boots website.

Brand New Biore Cleanser Gets Rid Of 'Tight As A Drum' Feeling

There's nothing worse than washing your face and then walking away with a really taut feeling to your skin.

You've heard the expression--'As tight as a drum.' Back in the day, that was all about the skin of a drumhead, which is tightly stretched.

Ouch! And for many of us wanting to deep cleanse on a daily or nightly basis, this is where we run into problems. Some facial washes just dry out and strip the skin's moisture balance. And your face feels so tight, it's uncomfortable, and almost unmovable.

We all know that removing makeup and skin care products are a MUST, especially before going to bed. But sometimes, a simple wash won't get rid of it all, and that's where you need a very good cleanser---one that's tough on dirt, but gentle to your complexion.

Biore has a brand new one---Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser ($7.99, 6.77 fl. oz., at drugstores. It works like a dream:

"This cleanser removes all forms of impurities while leaving 90% of skin's natural moisture, giving your face an even, all-over clean."

When it comes to taking good care of your skin, Biore enjoys a solid reputation. For more details, click here.

Skin Cancer Foundation Says Yes To New Jergens Self-Tanner

No tan is a good tan, as we've all been told, but many of us still soak up the sun's rays. So, to play as safely as we can, we've found a new Jergens product that will give you a healthy glow AND protect you, too.

The best thing of all---this self-tanner has been given the thumbs up! by the Skin Cancer Foundation. So, we know that it is a tested and legitimate product that really does what it says.

It's called, Jergens Natural Glow and Protect Daily Moisturizer ($8.99, at drugstores). And it proudly wears the New Seal of Recommendation for Daily Use by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The Jergens self-tanner comes in 2 shade selections:

Jergens Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 for Fair to Medium Skin Tones
Jergens Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 for Medium to Tan Skin Tones.

We LOVE that this product comes with a solid SPF20. So, not only do you get a fab gradual build-up of color, but you can use this every day and get protection at the same time, just like other anti-aging serums and creams provide.

To see what other beauty products have been given the Skin Cancer Foundation's new seal of approval, check out their website.

Sweet Treat: Girl Scout Cookie Lip Smackers

You've heard us rave a lot about Bonne Belle Lip Smackers before. We LOVE the cult favorite--- Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker, not only for its yummy soda taste, but especially for the sheer red tint it leaves behind.

Today, we are checking out Lip Smackers' newest balms in town:

Girl Scout Cookie Lip Smackers in Thin Mints. Chocolate Peanut Butter. Trefoils. Peanut Butter. And Coconut Caramel Stripes.

How YUMMY do those sweet treats for your lips sound?

We are cuckoo for coconut, so that's the one we would grab.

Of course, the cookie lip smackers are inspired by the famous Girl Scout cookies we all know and crave.

"Girl Scout Cookie-flavored Lip Smackers was a natural fit for us. The flavors are deliciously iconic and the mission of Girl Scouts of the USA is something we have a real interest in supporting," says Leslie Gibbs, brand marketing director at Aspire Brands/Bonne Belle.

You can pick up the lip balms at Walmart stores and online here for $1.75 a tube, or an 8-pack party pack for $9.95.

Lip Smackers make great, little gifts. And these sweet, shiny balms have NO age limit. We carry around a few Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers at all times.

When It Comes To Hollywood Lashes: Go Big Or Go Home!

These days, it seems that beauty is all about the lashes, and the longer and thicker, the better!

Just look at Hollywood and the celebrity circuit---every gal is wearing some fancy eye fringe. From Kim Kardashian to Adele, and even Oprah. Many celebs choose to put on faux lashes, and that's okay, too.

But wouldn't you really prefer to grown your own?

There are many good beauty products out there, designed to stimulate eyelash growth. And today, we are looking at EnvyDerm Eyelash Enhancement & Conditioning Nighttime Growth Serum. At $99.95 for a tube, this is a bit of an investment, but look at what the product promises to do for you:

The EnvyDerm cutting edge Peptides technology is "clinically proven to increase length and density of lashes by 25% and by as much as 72% in 6 weeks of use."

Now, that's what we call some great stats.

The EnvyDerm company also explains each active ingredient's role in the special long lash formula:

- Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 : Adds volume, nourishes and strengthens lashes.
- Hydrolyzed Keratin: Repair damage in lashes.
- Panthenol: Provitamin B5 helps promote lash flexibility and durability.
- Alfalfa Extract: Condition and Increase metabolism to promote lash line healing.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Helps lashes appear healthier, shinier and stronger.
- Allantoin: Helps soothe, calm and protect lash line.

EnvyDerm also offers Enhancement & Conditioning Volume Mascara ($36) and Enhancement & Conditioning Intense Eyeliner ($36).

The formulas are all safe and infused with gentle, nourishing vitamins and minerals. And another plus---You can use the serum on your brows to grow them thicker.

We think that EnvyDerm is one hot beauty product to try in 2012.

Do You Adore Adele? Her Beauty Goes Beyond Just The Voice

Adoring Adele! Especially after the British beauty brought home 6 Grammy Awards on Sunday evening.

We received a personal email from an Adele fan, asking us to write about her lovely makeover. And indeed, we took one look at those stunning cat-eyes as she sang for the first time, following recent delicate, vocal chord surgery.

Adele looked every bit the superstar she has become, in head-to-toe, slimming black, giving her an hourglass silhouette.

We just assumed that 23-year-old Adele had a lot of very expensive hair extensions, like so many celebrities wear today. But boy, were we mistaken. A friend of ours recently told us, "That's all Adele's real hair."

Yeah, right, we chuckled. But look at what we found:

She used to be a hair model: "My cousin used me for a hair-dressing competition," says Adele. "I have so much hair - its so big!"

Adele has gone blonder, as you can see by the 2012 Grammys photo. We like the golden locks and think they suit her beautifully. Her hair has such bounce and fullness and it was bombshell-styled.

Her makeup follows a classic, cool beauty look. Adele has a peaches 'n cream complexion. We don't see much blush from the photo, but that could just be the lighting. If Adele's makeup artist chose to skip the blush, well that's a 'no-no.' Foundation alone, gives off a flat appearance to the face. Blush is needed to add warmth and add more definition to the cheekbones.

Still, we give high marks to Adele's sexy cat-eyes. Wow! Her eyes really pop, thanks to strong dose of black liquid eyeliner applied on top of silver-grey shadow and a double layer of false lashes. (Try a pair of Smoke and Mirrors Beauty faux lashes ($13.50) by Kardashian family makeup artist Stephen Moleski).

She finishes off the look with a bold, matte red lipstick. Nothing 'orange-y' about this mouth. It's a cool red with blue undertones.

More great news for the talented singer. Adele graces the March cover of Vogue. Can't get any better than that! Read on what she has said to CNN's Anderson Cooper and to the magazine:

"I’ve never seen magazine covers or music videos and been like ‘I need to look like that to be a success.’ I don’t want to be some skinny mini with my tits out. I really don’t want to do it and I don’t want people confusing what it is that I’m about. I just stand there and sing. I don’t do stunts or anything. I’m just writing love songs. I’m not trying to be pop. I’m not trying to be jazz. I’m not trying to be anything. I’m just writing love songs and everyone loves a love song."

Adele doesn't like walking the red carpet: "I hate the red carpet. I don’t feel insecure, I just feel like, Oh, I don’t want to do this. I literally get a stomach cramp. At the VMA’s last year I felt really out of my comfort zone because there were so many superstars there. But that’s been the case from day one. I never feel like, Oh, yeah, I should be here."

But, Adele. You SHOULD be here. You belong here.

Kimora Lee Celebrity Skin Care Line Launches: Just Fab!

Kimora Lee Simmons, at age 36, looks 'Just Fabulous'.

Her personalized shopping site is also called, Just Fabulous.

But we're not talking about Kimora's shoes and handbags today.

We want to take a moment and look at Shinto Clinical, Kimora's new skin care line. And it launches on QVC at 8p.m., beginning Friday, February 24.

This appears to be a very good beauty collection of anti-aging products. Kimora has worked very closely with New York dermatologist Eric Schweiger in the line’s two-year development process. According to the grogeous star, Shinto Clinical is targeting these skin issues:

"It's all about firming, tightening, brightening, clearing the discoloration. It looks like, feels like, works like a $300 cream," Kimora explains.

So far, we see 9 items in the Shinto Clinical line:

1. Smooth Answer Anti-Wrinkle & Mositure Boost Cream ($56)
2. Wash Away the Years Anti-Aging Peptide Cleanser ($32)
3. Watch Your Tone Anti-Aging Peptide Toner ($32)
4. All Evens Out Skin Lightening Treatment ($68)

There's also an Antiwrinkle Serum ($65), an Eyelash Enhancer ($68), a Pore Minimizer ($45), a Microdermabrasion Cream ($59) and a Cellulite Cream 'Hold It Tight,', debuting later this year.

Kimora Lee Simmons is a perfectionist. She works very hard to design and develop products that bear her name, so we get the feeling her skin care line has been established from those very same strong work ethics.

Even the packaging of Shinto Clinical, is sleek and just fab!

For An Extreme Color Change--Please Go To A Pro

Like a lot of young women in Hollywood, Demi Lovato is a hair chameleon. And at the moment, she's in a blonde shade of mind.

She was a bold redhead up until last Saturday. And following an 11 hour salon visit, the talented singer emerged with lighter locks.

Demi Lovato is a pretty girl, and she looks cute as a blonde, redhead, and even best, with her natural dark brown color.

Our advice....Whenever making a drastic hair color change like Demi's, please head to a pro, because so many things can go wrong trying to change it up yourself.

And what ate up the clock during Demi's hair dyeing adventure, were her extensions. Those super long locks got a color bath, too.

With human hair extensions, you can curl them with heat, flat-iron them, and even chemically-treat these real, fake tresses with hair color, bleach, and perms.

With synthetic hair extensions, you are more limited in what you can do, however, when it comes to bad weather like rain and high humidity, the synthetic extensions hold up better. These strands have memory. Human hair extensions will droop like real hair in the bad weather.

Meantime, Demi Lovato is having lots of fun being newly blonde:

"Thank you SO much Nine Zero One salon for my new locks," she wrote, after spending all those hours at the salon with colorist Amber Maynard. Fans must’ve liked the red-to-blonde look, because later that day, Demi tweeted back, "Haha Demi Blondevato is a trending topic?!! Y’all are funny!"

Which Demi Lovato hair color do you prefer?

From Kelly To Kelly.....Some Fab Gowns At Grammys 2012!

We love watching the Grammy Awards show every year, but we don't usually find too many outstanding fashion garments there. However, we did see some gorgeous dresses last night in Hollywood. And we chose a pregnant celebrity as our Fab Beauty of the Night.

Some of the gowns were quite scary and just plain strange. And yet, the cream-of-the-crop were easy to spot by our standards.

Here are out 5 Favorite Fashions at the 2012 Grammys:

1. Jennifer Hudson in a black tea-length sleeveless dress. Every note she hit, both in her tearful tribute to Whitney Houston and in her hair/makeup/fashion appearance was right on the money!

2. Carrie Underwood wearing a long-sleeve backless Gomez-Garcia gown. Wow---such a shiny elegance.

3. Kelly Osbourne in a sparkling Tom Ward gown. Figure-flattering and the hair just so. Just not lovin' the lilac locks.

4. Kelly Rowland in a booty-licious beige Alberta Ferretti gown. Great figure and great dress to show it off. Effortless and polished.

5. Victoria's Secret Angel model Lily Aldridge. Yes, she's certainly pregnant, and how chic she looks! Absolutely flawless. Lily shows that you don't always have to expose your growing baby bump to look timeless and classic. She flows in that print, sheer-sleeves gown.

We also chose Lily Aldridge as our Fab Beauty of the Night. She is quite stunning, and with minimal makeup, too. Her hair is in a pretty chignon style. Just perfect all around, in our humble opinion.

Before Making The Big Beauty Decisions: Know Thy Real Self

Greek philosopher Socrates once said, "Know thyself.".

We're taking this one step further...."Know thy 'real' self."

And in beauty talk, we are referring to a super website called, RealSelf.com.

If you have ever had a question about a cosmetic treatment, procedure or surgery regarding the face, body, teeth, or skin, you WILL find an answer at RealSelf.

There are always experts online ready to answer your questions for FREE. Let's say you are interested in getting breast implants or a new nose, doctors in those fields are ready to dispense with advice. You also hear from patients who have undergone such procedures, and you learn a lot of excellent information up-front.

The best part of all, you can ask questions anonymously and get a quick reply from the more than 3,500 doctors on-board.

Here are a just a few of the 250-plus cosmetic treatments discussed at RealSelf:

Eyelid surgery. Tattoo removal. Fat transfer. Lasik. Porcelain veneers. Tummy tuck. Laser hair removal.

RealSelf.com is widely recognized and regarded by medical authorities, so this is a legit online source.

OMG! JLo Gets Naked For Launch of Glow Fragrance #18!!

Time to get your Glow on, again, ladies!

Superstar Jennifer Lopez is launching her 18th Glow fragrance, aptly named, 'Glowing.' Well, at least we believe it is her 18th. Not easy to keep track of Miss JLo's many endorsements these days.

The sexy celebrity has decided to get naked and a bit airbrushed for her newest Glow fragrance. Did you instantly recognize Jennifer Lopez here in this photo release? We sure didn't. Where the heck are her famous curvy hips?!

We know that JLo is in superb physical shape, especially for a woman who had twins and in her early 40s. We say, 'Bravo!' But she looks so not JLo in this new ad.

Having said all that, we are excited for the American Idol judge. This latest Glowing sounds like a great scent to add to your collection. Jennifer says, 'Glowing is such a clean fragrance. That's what I've always been about...At the essence, it's still natural, earthy, clean and real, but a little different side of that. It's the woodsy side of it, which I think is kind of New York-y, darker and sexier.'

Glowing, which also includes top notes of bergamot, cypress and mandarin, among other scents, will make its debut in early May.

And if you're wondering who is wearing Ms. Lopez' fragrances, apparently, quite a lot of women. JLo's brand of scents just happen to rank as one of the highest selling celebrity fragrance lines.

Shine on, JLo, shine on!

Battle Brown Spots With AHAs: This Stuff Really Works!

A lifetime of sun damage.

That's what we earned for spending our summers by-the-sea during our childhood and early teens, up until we left for college. Loads of fun swimming in the ocean, playing in the surf, and lying down on the hot sand, baby-oiling our bodies to look super tanned. Hours upon hours under the sun, especially positioning our decollete front and center to the searing rays.

Hello, brown spots.

Those tiny spots or freckles are the little gifts left to us by the damaging rays, and are the gifts that keep on giving. In other words, if you don't tackle those brown spots ASAP, they will grow and grow, and deepen in color as time marches on.

That brings us to the subject of AHAs, or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. These acids exfoliate both surface skin and dead skin cells beneath the skin’s surface within follicles. AHAs give back healthy, glowing, younger-looking skin.

And we are proof positive, that AHAs REALLY do FADE brown spots and other sun damage. The key here is 'patience.' It took years to develop those spots, and will take at least a year to see gradual fading begin. And yes, we still have brown spots sprinkled across the decollete, the area between the neck and chest, but they have faded, and some appear to have disappeared.

You've seen us brag a few times here before at BeautyTipToday, about the Alpha Hydrox skin care line. It's drugstore. It's cheap. And it's effective.

The Alpha Hydrox brand uses a bright red box for packaging. You can't miss it, when it's available on a store shelf.

One of our faves is the Alpha Hydrox 10% AHA Enhanced Lotion. Generally, we see it for $12.99, but have found it for $10.99 at Walgreens. And although it is geared more for dry skin (our face=oily), we do apply it religiously to our neck and decollete daily, and carefully under our eyes. We love it, and learned from skin care expert Jan Marini, to use the 10% lotion as a super hand cream, also.

"I've tried every hand cream on the market," she says. And she loves this brand because of it's 10% glycolic AHA content.

"Its molecules are so small that they penetrate more deeply, dislodging dead cells and lifting the skin, giving it a smoother appearance. And glycolic acid also helps get rid of age spots!".

Check out the entire Alpha Hydrox skin care line here

Get Real: It's All About Teal Nails For Spring 2012

Okay, let's talk about the color teal.

We love the shade, but for some reason, we don't think teal looks pretty against our light olive skin tone. Check out our BeautyTipToday archives on teal eyeshadow/liner.

But teal, the medium-blue-green hue, is the new hot nail trend for Spring 2012.

Speaking of which, we just saw a gorgeous teal top in a catalogue, and it's so lovely we want it, but we can't seem to get over our fear of wearing teal.

Maybe, if we started out with teal nails, we could slowly advance from there.

Estee Lauder has just launched their own Spring 2012 nail trend:

28 Teal Topaz, Pure Color Nail Lacquer. Very nice. We are liking it, and it looks turquoise-ish, a color we fell in love with years ago.

And we hunted down Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Slapper, Spring/Summer 2012 Collection ($14, at Nordstrom's. Lovely, luxurious shade, also.

Will you 'nail' the teal trend in Spring?

Check These Out To Stop Curling And Other Hot Iron Burns

This is both cute and smart!

But let us first ask:

Have you ever burned yourself with a curling iron or other hot iron styling tool?"

We once practically burned a small hole through our forehead after getting clumsy with a curling iron. And that hurt so much.

Well, we're happy to see that some brilliant beauty creators are busy looking out for each and every one of us. Say hello to Glam Ears ($12 for 2, at clevergirlinnovations.com).

Don't laugh. If you've ever singed your ears from an accidental swipe with a hot iron styling tool, well, you know the sheer pain that quickly results. And when you're playing with hot rollers, flat irons, and curling irons, these styling gadgets can heat up to an excess of 400 degrees.

What we adore about Glam Ears is its simplicity and protection. These adorable silicone ear covers can do all this while you pretty-up your hair:

• Reusable - easy to put on and remove
• Heat resistant to 450 degrees
• Made of silicone; safe, non-toxic to skin
• So comfortable, you will forget you have them on
• Washable with soap and water; air dry
• Safely shields ears from the harsh dyes of hair color. Hair color may stain GlamEars , but does not affect the integrity of the product.
• One size fits most

Beyonce Reveals Post-Baby Body In NYC: But Tongues Keep Wagging

Just one month after welcoming Baby Blue Ivy Carter into the world, Beyonce Knowles made a public appearance in New York City last evening, celebrating husband Jay-Z's double concert dates at Carnegie Hall.

And proud, new mama Beyonce wowed her fans with her rockin' post-baby body in a curve-enhancing orange Alice Temperly dress with sexy Louboutins and blue nail polish.

Amazing! That's just how she looked post-baby, and how she has always looked BEFORE baby.

Maybe that's why the tongues keep wagging.

Just go to any online post today about Beyonce's post-baby body debut, and you will find tons of comments about the multi-Grammy award singer. And some of these remarks are not too kind. About half of the more than 250 comments at People.com suggest that the beautiful star was NEVER pregnant to begin with, that Beyonce definitely had a surrogate deliver Baby Blue, and so on.

We are certainly not here to judge Beyonce and Jay-Z. We are happy the couple has welcomed a healthy baby girl, and that everyone is doing fine.

Did we, too, have doubts about the real or faux pregnancy?

Yes, and that is all we will say.

We will add, that when you are a famous celebrity like Beyonce, everything you do and say is examined and re-examined. And when you are living in the public eye it is so difficult to have a private life. Beyonce has always conducted herself with such grace, kindness and class, and yet, people are so curious about her, even how tall or short she really is. For years now, there have been lots of posts about the singer's height. Beyonce adores sky-high stilettos and some claim she is only 5'3", while others argue that Beyonce is really 5'7". And so on....

During an interview televised on ABC with Katie Couric last month or so, BEFORE Baby Blue's arrival, Beyonce talked about the untrue stories that were circulating about her so-called fake baby bump. At that precise moment, we wished that the talented singer would have merely flashed the world her pregnant belly just to dispel the rumors. That's all---just a little peek at the belly.

No, Beyonce did not do that, nor was she asked to show her growing belly. Period.

So, the tongues keep wagging. Meantime, the singer is in great, curvy shape, and as soon as we hear about her post-baby diet secrets, we will bring them your way.

Balenciaga Runway Shows Bold Black-Cherry Lips In Spring 2012

Many wonderful trends come off the runways each season, and although we shouldn't copy EVERTHING we see on the catwalk, this is one little beauty tip we think you will like:

Black cherry lips. All glossed up.

Fashion and beauty editors were going ga-gag over the dark, sexy mouths that ruled the Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton 2012 spring runways. You couldn't help but notice the striking lip color sitting pretty beneath the low-sloping hats of the Balenciaga show and boldly standing out on the Louis Vuitton models.

Celebrated makeup artist Pat McGrath tells Vogue magazine about the strong black-cherry lips trend she started, "It was about about power."

And you can get the runway look here, too. Pat gives out the details:

1. Layer CoverGirl Queen Collection Lipstick in Fine Wine($6.99) OVER CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipstick in Euphoria($6.99).

Okay, so black-cherry lips aren't for the shy gals, but think of the shade as a great Spring 2012 accessory. Like a gorgeous pair of shoes, you don't need much else.

New Clearasil Pimple-Fighting Dispenser Doles Out Right Amount Of Cleanser

Clearasil has been around for a long time. Back in the day, it was the ONLY acne-clearing cream available in some drugstores. We liked putting on the invisible lotion. And then there was the tinted formula, too.

The Clearasil company is still on a roll all these years. And their newest pimple-fighting idea comes in the way of a battery-operated automatic face-wash dispenser (with refills). It's pretty clever, considering the space-saving bathroom contraption knows exactly how much Clearasil face wash to hand over to you---and that is, in nickel-sized spurts.

So, you might ask----Who needs a $20 gizmo to squirt out their own face wash? Duh....Can't you do it yourself?

Yes, you can. However, the Clearasil PerfectWash Automatic Face Wash Dispenser doles out the 'perfect' amount, because the company knows that most of us use TOO much cleanser in an effort to really mop up the pimples, and when we do that, well, you get red, irritated, too-dry skin.

Clearasil explains it like this:

Touch-free automatic dispenser delivers the perfect dose for visibly clearer skin without overdrying
Visibly clearer skin in as little as 12 hours
Ultra Rapid Action face wash acne medication gives you visibly clearer skin in as little as 12 hours
Pack includes 2 clearasil ultra rapid action refills; Soothing plant extracts and superfruit splash
Pack includes 3 Alkaline AA batteries.

We took a look at Amazon.com and most of the 39 reviews we read, seem to favor the PerfectaWash Automatic Face Wash Dispenser. Click here.

Customers gave the new Clearasil acne-fighting gadget 4 out of 5 stars. Not bad.

Suzanne Somers: Plastic Surgery Pioneer Or Just Fearful Of Aging?

Suzanne Somers.

You're either gonna love this woman or hate her. But first, let's remind everyone she IS 65-years-young.

And we have to admit, she looks pretty darn good. And yes, we know she's had a lot of work done, but she's also trying to carve a path for other women when it comes to cutting edge beauty/health science.

Still, there are critics....plenty of them, quick to label Suzanne Somers a kooky senior citizen who won't accept that her celebrated body and face can NOT stop the aging process.

Well, maybe she has stopped something, and opened a door to more options for women, when it has to do with breasts and body image.

Last year, there were rumors going around that the star had undergone a stem-cell facelift because she had talked about wanting to have one in the future, plus her face had suddenly taken on a very full, puffy appearance. She has not admitted to the procedure that we know of, but has just admitted to stem-cell surgery on her breasts.

According to People magazine, Suzanne Somers recently underwent an experimental procedure to reconstruct her breasts using her OWN stem-cells. She says her breasts were uneven in size, following breast cancer 12 years ago, where she had a lumpectomy and radiation.

"I thought they'd take a quarter's worth," she says. "But the whole bottom half of my breast was gone."

Six weeks of radiation "left what breast I had flatter and flatter. I had a Double D on one side and on the other side I could hardly fill a B."

Suzanne turned to this man, Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura, a Japanese surgeon who developed stem-cell breast reconstruction in 2004. He agreed to do the expensive surgery here in the U.S..

A mixture of her fat and stem-cells was injected back into her right breast until it filled a C cup. Suzanne then had her left breast reduced from a DD to match.

People noted, "The 2½-hour process costs between $14,500 and $19,500 and insurance chips in if the surgery is a reconstruction".

Suzanne Somers has gone one step further, and we think it is a major stride:

Last August, she helped introduce a clinical trial, which has been approved by an independent medical board. And Suzanne was the first patient to participate.

So far, 10 more patients have been accepted to the trial, which is taking place at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center.

What do you think? Is Suzanne Somers a plastic surgery pioneer? Or just a woman fearful of aging?

New Master Precise Ink Pen Draws On Best Cat Eye

Meow if you like cat-eyes!

EyeStudio by Maybelline is calling their brand new Master Precise Ink Pen the 'Next Generation of Liquid Liner.' And we believe them.

Once again, the makeup experts have designed an eyeliner in the easy-to-handle shape of a felt tip pen. But the beauty of the Master Precise Ink Pen is in its uber skinny point. We're talking about an 'ultra-tin 0.4mm brush.'

The felt-tip reminds us of pen & ink used for artwork. So fine-pointed for accuracy.

With a point so thin, you need not worry about messing up too much. You won't get an excess of liquid liner leaking out and fudging up your smooth even lines around the delicate eye area.

Look, we can't live without eyeliner. And trust us, over the years, we have tried most of them, except for cake liner. And applying liquid liner is one of the darn trickiest makeup routines to do, day in and day out. Plus, if you want to wing the liner upward and outward into a sexy, glam cat eye, you've got to have precision and a steady hand. And this new EyeStudio liquid liner felt tip pen makes the application process much easier.

And Maybelline is also raving about the 'super-saturated ink pigments' in their new Master Precise pens. In other words, the fine, felt tip doesn't dry out or skip a beat.

We found the liner at ULTA for $7.99, and so far, the product has received a 4 out of 5 star rating.

Bothered By Tiny Broken Blood Vessels? There's A Laser For That

Laser.

It's a cosmetic treatment that can do tons of beautiful things for your face and body. A laser can boost one's self-esteem with a zap here and a zap there. And after 3 sessions, POOF! They're gone!

Today, we are looking at the vascular laser and how it can zap away bothersome broken capillaries, red spots, and even port wine stains.

Maybe you have a few tiny, broken blood vessels. In all honesty, we have enough to spare. Most upsetting to us, are a few around our cheeks/nose area. By faithfully applying Retin-A to our skin, we have noticed a 'calming down' and softening of these reddish lines on the left side of our face. But on the right side, the broken vessels are more prominent.

We have not submitted our complexion up to a vascular laser yet, but we are considering the procedure, and here, we can learn together.

A vascular laser is a pulse-dye laser that zeroes in on the redness of the skin, vaporizing the tiny broken blood vessels and the red pigmentation.

Vascular laser treatment is a little investment, but a sound one, we think. The cost will vary with the degree of redness, and the location, and depth of the vessels being treated.

The average price of treatment however, could be summed up as follows:

1. One red spot---$150.
2. Nostrils area---$300.
3. Full face---$600.

So, more importantly, does a vascular laser treatment hurt?

Dermatologists will tell you that most patients feel a stinging sensation, like a rubber band snap,while the pulse of energy is being delivered through the handpiece. But the discomfort isn't anything you couldn't stand. A little Tylenol following the laser treatment, and you're good to go.

How quickly to see results?

About 2-3 weeks AFTER your last treatment.

Lasers are everywhere, when it comes to rejuvenating the skin. The procedures are less invasive than undergoing surgery, and the results can be quite amazing. And even though a few red spots don't sound like the end-of-the-world to most people, it's nice to know that the beauty technology has come a long way.

Lasers are here to stay, and offer a kinder, gentler approach to slow down the aging process.

Women Of Color Take It To Facebook: Where Are All The Brown Bras?

We always think, 'What would we do WITHOUT a nude-colored bra?'

Probably not the most important thought-of-the-day, but when you prefer your intimates not to be showing through a sheer white top, for example, well, you can get the picture.

Now, what if you are a woman of color and want to wear a sheer, white top. You CAN'T put on a nude, buff or flesh-colored bra. That would stick out against your skin tone.

And this brings us to today's interesting subject:

"Where are all the BROWN bras"?!

Hmmm. Where are they? Sure, brown-colored bras certainly DO exist, but perhaps, not in large enough quantities.

31-year-old Tara Raines, a Los Angeles psychologist, points out that there are millions of brown-skinned women who obviously CANNOT match their skin tones to the bras that are offered to all women across the country, bras in nude, buff, beige, blush, etc.

In celebration of Black History month, Tara Raines is asking that today, on February 1st, women click the "like" tab at Facebook.com/morebrownbras, and contact their favorite bra manufacturer or retailer by mail, phone, email or social media (Twitter hashtag #whatsyournude).

We think this is a brilliant idea by Tara. There is certainly strength in number. And frankly, yeah, there should be MORE brown and nude bras for everyone.

"I don't think it's too much to ask that bra makers include darker hues when manufacturing their collections," Tara stated. "Women of color deserve to look and feel sexy, and a big part of that is looking like ourselves."

Amen.

We searched around and found a wonderful online site called, MySkins.com.

The good news----MySkins™ seamless bras and panties come in 20 skin matching "nude" colors. Check out the photo of the model in Walnut plunge bra.

According to the website,..."Each color has been tested extensively on a focus group of nearly 700 women. As a result of this research, our products match 95 percent of the population. Each color, from Honey to Espresso, can transform your body, match your skin and allow you to finally stop worrying about what is being seen and be seen yourself.".

Now, that's what we're talking about, ladies!