Looking For Satin-y Smooth Skin: Work It With Microdermabrasion Cream!

Maybe you can't get to the spa, or maybe you're on a tight beauty budget... BUT still desire satin-y smooth skin.

It isn't hopeless. You can improve things with a little muscle and some microdermabrasion cream.

And it doesn't take too much time out of your busy schedule to perform this simple + effective exfoliating routine:

Apply to damp/wet skin.
Slowly and gently massage cream into skin for 30-60 seconds.
Rinse well.
Best results are achieved when used 2-3 times per week, with 2 days between application.

Microdermabrasion can be done at-home safely with a cream. Those with very sensitive skin might have to proceed cautiously, but otherwise,  every complexion could benefit from a microdermabrasion cream.

We have found an excellent cream in Clinicians Complex ($65, at dermstore).

A bit of a beauty investment, but the jar goes a long way, and you WILL love the smooth results.

Here's what Clinicians Complex says about their microdermabrasion cream:

Formulated with the same diamond-shaped magnesium oxide crystals used in many professional machines, this resurfacing cream immediately improves the texture and appearance of aging skin. Ideal for use against fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and even adult acne, this rich cream clears away the dull skin cells the accentuate lines and clog pores, leading to a more youthful and radiant complexion. Ideal for use on the face, neck, hands and body, it thoroughly revives the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and comfortable. Great for use between in-office procedures.

These micro creams DO work. Don't be afraid to try one.

Need Perfect Brows ASAP? Try Brenda Christian's Universal Pencil

We have mentioned here several times before that we are, er.....eyebrow-challenged. However, in the last couple of years or so, we have gotten our brows to grow in modestly. So, our brows are slow-wwwwwly improving. Still, we have to use a brow pencil to fill in a few spaces.

That's why we are interested in trying a universal brow pencil that a lot of women adore, including professional makeup artists.

Yeah, we know that the beauty word UNIVERSAL doesn't always live up to its claims of 'suitable for all skin tones, hair colors,' etc.

But---we wanted to explore the Universal Brow Definer by Brenda Christian Cosmetics ($18, at BrendaChristian Cosmetics).

We can't wait to try this pencil because of all these unique features:

Uses the pH of your hair follicle to determine ideal eyebrow color match

One color works for everyone

Provides natural three dimensional eye brow hair appearance

Corrects mistakes from waxing or over tweezing

Recommended by American Journal of Esthetic Medicine as the ideal visual replacement for natural eye brows

Fragrance Free

Perfect for Sensitive Eyes and Skin

Brenda Christian, a former makeup artist also gives step-by-step instructions how to use the Universal Brow Definer and a Perfect Brow Gel that you can add to complete the natural look.

We think this is a good product to try!

Stupid Ways To Ruin Your Skin---And We've Done Them

For those of you young enough to care about maintaining healthy, great skin, here are some
Stupid Ways to Ruin Your Skin:

TOO MUCH TIME IN THE SUN. Most of the sun damage done to our skin happens in childhood. However, the damage is cumulative and keeps on delivering year-after-year. We spent many a summer lying on the beach, ignoring the sunscreen and laughing at the world.

Remember this: Dermatologists say it takes 15 years for sun damage to show up as skin pigmentation + wrinkles.

SKIPPING THE EYE CREAM. Sure, we use an eye cream now. But we should have been applying one in our 20s. The eye area  is the first place to show aging. The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate  and thirsts for hydration. Plumpness + elasticity in the eye area tends to disappear quickly  as we age.

An eye cream is protective and nourishing.

IGNORING THE NECK SKIN + DECOLLETE. Necks DO age, along with the decollete, or the skin between the breasts + the neck. When we're young, we tend to concentrate on the face, the complexion. But there's a whole lot going on BELOW the chin. Just take your night cream and apply some also to the neck+decollete, because those 2 parts of the body also get older and sag + crease, etc.

STARTING AN ANTI-AGING ROUTINE LATE. It's wise to begin an anti-aging routine while you are young. Learn all you can about your skin type, its problems and how you can prevent damage down the road. Just because you can't find any major lines + wrinkles yet, trust us, these ugly signs will get to you at some point down the road. Your goal is to MINIMIZE the damage.

GETTING A DERMATOLOGIST AFTER 40.  Another dodo move. Don't see the expert after 40. That's late. Finding a good dermatologist is key. Don't wait until you see the skin problems developing, like we did. Go now! Ask for a prescription for Retin-A. It's the best thing out there for keeping good skin or repairing the damage.

It's never too late to develop healthy, glowing skin. But it is best to invest in your complexion at an early age.

We've had to learn the hard way.

Stacy Keibler Wows In Great Gatbsy Gown + George 'Accessory'

Stacy Keibler in a beaded Naeem Khan dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

Wow! And her handsome accessory, George in Armani completes the picture quite nicely!

We know that Stacy isn't a movie star, but she looks amazing, and therefore, wins our humble choice for Best Dressed for the 2013 Academy Awards.

Why, you ask?

We don't even like 'prints.'. We always choose solid colors maybe 90% of the time. But, she blew us away. Maybe it's the super long body and her broad shoulders, but she just wears that Naeem Khan dresslike nobody's business. Of course, having George Clooney as attractive arm candy can't hurt, but we swear, that Clooney had nothing to do with our choice.

Look at the back of the gown, courtesy of JustJared.com.

We LOVE the whole Great Gatsby glam look. Sophisticated + classic! A modern take on old Hollywood style.

What do you think?

Are you lovin' this Naeem Khan dress on Stacy Keibler, too?

Want A Cool Smoky Eye: Think Winter Navy

Winter's smoky eye is quite the cool number!

Think navy instead of black, dark brown or steel gray. Wearing navy eyeliner can be a sophisticated show-stopper.

Makeup artists claim that navy liner is attractive on EVERY skin tone. Check out Emma Stone's peaches n' cream complexion. She looks dynamite with some sexy navy liner!

We found a great tube by Urban Decay--24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Radium ($19, at UrbanDecay.com).
As long as the rest of your makeup is subtle or low-key, you CAN pull of a little chic, navy eyeliner!!

Wonder if this will be a look at tonight's Academy Awards Show!

Gotta Love Casual Hip Hop JLo Tracksuit Style!

Oh, yeah. Even Jenny from the block likes looking casual + comfy when she's not doing the red carpet.

There was Jennifer Lopez out in L.A. yesterday with adorable Max + Emme and boy-toy Casper in tow, as they celebrated the twins' 5th birthday.

We like seeing the superstar out and about like this---having fun with family and friends, and not having to worry about getting glammed to the 9s like JLo often does for her many public events.

Let's face it...Jennifer LOVES her big, baggy tracksuits! And there's nothing wrong with that.

She's advertising LOVE, LIGHT and ANGEL on her casual duds. Plus we always like JLo's HUGE hoops! And she's got her signature, severe, pulled-back bun look to boot.

Jennifer loves her hoodie, velour and tracksuit chic. Check out this classic with JLo and Ja Rule in I'm Real. She's got on the mini version of the tracksuit in the video--YouTube.

LOVE  'I'm Real.' We believe you, Jennifer!

New Mama Amber Rose's Makeup + Skin Care Secrets

Okay, we know that some people don't like Amber Rose. There are some who figure she is only famous for doing nothing, or got her recognition only as  a piece of arm candy for Kanye West a few years ago.

Well, we like her. Congratulations to her and Wiz Khalifa on the birth of their baby boy, Sebastian!

Amber, at age 30, looks very happy with Wiz, and actually 'wore' her pregnancy well. She looks at peace to us.

Many blessings their way.

Meantime.....Amber is gorgeous with that platinum buzz cut---before, during + after baby.  Her skin is flawless and makeup always appears to be beautifully applied.

So, what are Amber Rose's beauty + skin care secrets?

 

Not easy to track down. But we did find some great beauty nuggets from the archives of Elle magazine, and here Amber does a little dishing in a 2009 interview:

 

You must be doing something, though. When I saw you at the Women in Hollywood Awards last month, your skin glowed like nothing else. What products do you use?

 

Thank you so much! I've always been good about moisturizing. Every morning and every night, everyday. What I do, and this sounds kind of weird, but I buy these pint-size containers of raw African shea butter from street vendors, I microwave it, and after I shower, I rub it everywhere. Even on my scalp and face. Nothing works better. And it's cheap!

 

What about your skincare regimen? What cleanser do you use?

 

Just Dove soap. I've never really tried anything else. I've always felt that when you use too many products or try too many new things, you're just piling a lot of unnatural, unnecessary stress on your face. I try to keep it simple.

 

As far as her makeup goes, Amber appears to prefer a light, penciled in brow, spikey faux lashes and  high-end foundation.' Read on:

 

My one regular splurge is YSL [Teint Resist] foundation. I love it, because it goes on so smooth and light, but still covers up everything I need it to cover up. I also love M.A.C Lip Glass in `Pink Lemonade', but my favorite lipstick is from Mona Lisa [shade `Hot Pink #14']. It's only $1.99!

 

Not even any retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids to re-build skin?

 

We are envious!

.

 Amber's complexion rocks!!

Could This Styling Product Change Your Life? Marie Claire Says Yes!

PANTENE AgeDefy Advanced Thickening Treatment $19. A blend of vitamins + caffeine that battles the 7 signs of hair aging, from  breakage to lackluster color.


Marie Claire featured this one in their Best New Beauty Products 2013 (Hottest Products for Hair and Body list).

We LOVE any styling product that FATTENS each strand of hair. A lot of times hair thickeners or volumizers plump up your mane, but can also leave your hair greasy if you apply too much. Pantene's Age Defy feels lightweight, which is a good thing.

The Pantene website says this about their new thickening treatment:

Thickens existing hair so it's like you have up to 6,500 more hair strands*. Works on the surface of each hair strand for natural-looking hair with fullness that lasts, adding thickness to existing hair fibers.

Plus---- the product claims that you will gain healthier hair with less breakage.

You can buy it at your neighborhood drugstore for $19.99 or online. We found a bottle at Amazon for only $12.99 at Shes Chic.

Amazon buyers gave the Pantene thickener 4 stars out of 5 stars. At least take a look at the customer reviews. That can give you more info before purchasing.

We like Pantene products, but is this treatment worth the $20 splurge? Sometimes, in the name of beauty, it is.

This Ain't Your Grammy's Pond's: New Luminous Line

We like experimenting with cleansers because these facial washes go deep and contain something that soaps often do not, and that is stronger ingredients.

That means you get better exfoliating action, and anti-aging formulations that fight----wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, sun damage, dryness, and so on.

Pond's has been around for a LONG time. Just ask your grandmother or great-grandmother about the name Pond's. They know all about it as a cold cream.

Pond's has recently launched their Luminous line. And we found a decent cleanser:

Luminous Clean™ Daily Exfoliating Cleanser ($4.69, at Target). This one sounds interesting and effective because it is made with 2 wonderful things

Soft white Kaolin clay - a natural mineral known to act like a magnet to gently draw out deep-dwelling impurities.

Gentle Microbeads - help removing dull, lifeless skin.

 

Winter is really the time to battle away aging, thristy skin. Do yourself a favor and try a facial cleanser that brings back your radiant complexion.

 

The Pond's Luminous line also features a Daily Lotion with SPF 15, Clean Cream Cleanser( with nourishing glycerin), and Clean Wet Cleansing Towelettes.

There is also another Pond's line that you can buy on Ebay, but it is only found in Asia, and this one is a really great skin care cream, if you believe all the hype:

Pond's Age Miracle Cream. Read about it here in an old BeautyTipToday post.

Hot Pink Lips Really Hot For 2013: Here's Pretty Pink Lite

Hot pink lipstick is really, well, HOT for 2013. But maybe you don't want to be too HOT. Maybe you want to tone it down for the office. Maybe you wish to go pink but in a subtle, soft way.

We have the classic pink look for you to copy---step-by-step. And you will need just  3 Revlon items to achieve this gorgeous pout.

We learned this today on People StyleWatch. Celebrity makeup artist Cyndle Komarovski shows you how to get the look and have it last ALL day. Really? Well, we will take her professional word for it.

1. Revlon ColorStay Lipliner in Natural. Put this on lips first to accentuate their shape.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Stormy Pink. Apply one coat of Stormy Pink and then BLOT. Apply a 2nd coat of Stormy Pink. This will give you 'all day staying power.'

3. Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Pink Ice. For added dimension, put on the Pink Ice over the lipstick.

There---you're done. Beautiful soft pink lips!

To see the demo, click here. The Pink Lips demo comes in at the 1:02 mark.

Would You Try This Cheap Full Coverage Foundation--Getting High Marks

Foundation.

Don't get us started. We believe EVERYONE should wear at least a bit of it, even if you happen to have perfect skin. Foundation is a pain because you need it to match really well, to blend easily, to look natural, and hopefully to last several hours. And not every foundation can perform all those steps.

We have tried a bunch of foundations and admit that our light olive skin is NOT easy to match. Finally, we settled on Revlon's ColorStay Foundation in nude.

Is the ColorStay a perfect match? Heck no....But it's the closest we've been able to come to a very decent blend.

Today, we are looking at Wet n' Wild's new foundation--Wet n' Wild Coverall Cream Foundation. Try your local drugstore. You can pick up a tube for $5-$6. We haven't tried it yet, but for that price we probably will, just to see if we can find a better match than our ColorStay Nude.

New Coverall Cream Foundation has been receiving high marks from a lot of customer reviews. Check out popular Makeup Alley. So far, buyers have given it 4.8 out of a 5.0 rating.

It's being praised for its buildable coverage and matt finish.

If you're always on the hunt for a flawless foundation finish, it's best to try a lot of them---from high end to drugstore. If the product works for you and it's a cheap one....Who cares? You've just saved a little cash for yourself.

Amen.

Go Blow Pro For Big Full-Blown Hair

Go BIG or go HOME!!

And we're talking about hair in this case. As you know, we are always on the hunt for styling products that do the job.

Here's one by Blow Pro. It's called Ready Set Blow Express Blow Dry Lotion (reg. $21, we found for $13.99, at PandoraBeauty).

Just add to towel-dried locks  and blow-dry section by section. And then get ready!! BIG HAIR ALERT!

Ready Set Blow contains wheat protein for lots of healthy moisture + shine.
and Panthenol for awesome texture + strength.

Shoppers at ULTA adore this Blow Pro product. You can read 50 reviews here. Ulta consumers gave it a 4.1 rating out of 5.

Copy Katie Holmes' Casual Chic With The Cropped Jacket Trend

Cropped jackets/blazers are a HOT trend at the moment, and actress Katie Holmes is showing us all how to get the look!

 

We love how Katie paired a cute blue cropped jacket with a long, ivory silk top and black pants. She recently wore this casual chic style to a Broadway show.

 

And we are giving Katie a standing ovation for this one!

 

You can copy Katie's effortless sophistication with a cropped blazer in blue. This pretty blue blazer comes from DorothyPerkins. It features 3/4 sleeves with cute pockets and great shoulder detailing ($55).

 

 

We also  found this lovely blue one online at Charlotte Russe.

It is a Zippered Pocket Crop Blazer on SALE right now for $25, originally retailing for $39.99. It's a lightweight jacket made of poly/rayon/spandex with 3//4 ruched sleeves.

A great deal!

Beauty Tip By Jennifer Lawrence: Epsom Salts Before Red Carpet

Gotta love actress Jennifer Lawrence. She's certainly not shy about speaking her mind. And this time, the pretty star is sharing her beauty tip for looking super slender on the red carpet. It's a cheap, quick fix that can help anyone squeeeze into a tight-fitting dress before an important event:

Epsom salts.

It gets rid of the bloat in an instant. Okay, so it's only temporary, but still a good beauty tip. Plus, it's so inexpensive. We found a 4 lb. carton at CVS for just $4.59!

No, Jennifer Lawrence doesn't look like she needs to drop any lbs., but she swears by a hot bath in Epsom salts.

 

Her personal trainer,  Dalton Wong,  actually gave her the beauty tip:

 

"Epsom Salts help to get rid of any bloating in the body before slipping into a red carpet dress," he says. "It’s a great trick that anyone can use if they’re working up to wearing a particularly clingy dress."

 

Hmmm. We never knew that, but the bath salts DO make sense. Epsom salts contain magnesium sulfate which helps detox and release trapped fats. But it's basically water weight that you're losing. Still, a lot of athletes who are in competition trying to get down a few pounds before the weigh-in , often take Epsom salt baths.

The other big plus we found in researching this instant weight loss technique is the effect it has on dimpled fat.

Bathing in Epsom salts reduces the appearance of cellulite by possibly stimulating the lymphatic system to  encourage toxin release.

Next time you're trying to squeeze into a curve-fitting ensemble, try a 10 minute Epsom salts bath. You have nothing to lose but a few unwanted pounds for the night.

Perfect Red Pucker Steal For Valentine's Day--99 Cents!

Happy Valentine's Day, ladies!!

If you're  ready to pucker up, and hopefully do it on the cheap, we've got the beauty steal for you!!

Best thing......It will only cost you 99 cents! That's right. Just UNDER a buck!

We're going drugstore for the prettiest red pout in town !

New York Color N.Y.C. Ultra Moist Lip wear Lipstick in Sheer Red (.99, at drugstores everywhere).

(Wish these were our lips). This photo comes as a courtesy from lipsticksblushesandmascaraohmy.

Your neighborhhood RiteAid for instance, has it. And RiteAidonline sells it, but it's currently OUT of STOCK online, because it's so darn popular.

N.Y.C. Ultra Moist Lip Wear in Sheer Red is a softer, not as bold a red. It's quite wearable for all skin tones. It's sheer, but also 'buildable.'. So if you want to make it a bit stronger, keep layering it on.

Check out Makeup Alley's 136 reviews of  NYC's Sheer Red and see for yourself. It's rated 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Daily Exfoliation: Key During Long, Cold, Dry Winter Days

We know women who don't bother exfoliating. They simply wash their face with a mild cleanser, and that's that. But getting rid of dead skin cells is essential if you want smooth, healthy, young-looking skin.

It shouldn't hurt to be pretty, but sometimes it does. In other words, you have to get in there and use a little elbow grease,  as the saying goes.

That's why buying a facial cleansing sponge can make a difference in your complexion, especially during those cold, dry winter days.

We've all heard of the Buf Puf. We've been using one for years, and we LOVE it. The first time you use one, you would know. It leaves the face and neck feeling smooth, clean and tingly. If you overdo the mild scrubbing, well, you will feel that, too. Your skin can become irritated and raw. So, slow + steady wins the race.

By the way, you don't have to use only the classic BufPuf. We found some cheap + effective substitutes from Walgreens. 2 for $4.49.

Daily exfoliation will deliver excellent results. No, it won't result in a facelift, but a little scrubbing will take away the dull, pale complexion and give you back healthy, glowing skin with a softer, smoother texture.

When you scrub away the dead skin layers, your dermis can breathe better, sebum + grime get released from clogged pores, and your skin receives improved hydration.

Winter does a number on our complexions both inside + outside. Dry, stuffy, cold air, and hot air with radiators and the like, leave the skin thirsting for moisture.

A bit of buffing + puffing can only serve you well.

Julianne Hough's Too Dark brows With Light Hair: A Do Or Don't

The perfect brows.

Do they exist?

Well, on some women, yes. We think Elizabeth Taylor probably had one of the best sets of brows, and of course, Hollywood makeup artists probably tweaked them even a tiny bit more.

When it comes to blonde hair and eyebrow color, well, that's a tough one.

Marilyn Monroe wore dark brows  with platinum hair and ALWAYS looked glam + sexy. And Gwen Stefani has also pulled off this strong look with modern elegance.

Then why do Julianne Hough's brows bother us?

Here's a stunning young woman who has resorted to painting on really bold brows as of late, and we don't understand why her makeup artist is doing that.

Maybe her brows are so light that she needs beauty definition? It just seems that Julianne's brows enter a room before she actually does.

So, when you have light hair, do the brows have to match your light hair?

Not always, as some makeup artists would advise. Beauty rules CAN be broken:

Brows can be left alone for their natural shade.
Brows can go darker than the blonde hair color.
Brows can match the blonde hair color.

Gwyneth Paltrow's signature look features matching brows + hair:

One of the hottest 'it' models on the runway at the moment is Cara Delvigne. The British beauty is known for her super bold brows and blonde locks.



And then there's singer Rita Ora who loves playing around with made-up dark brows against her glam fab platinum do.

Some women bleach their too dark brows lighter to complement their new lighter locks And then a lot of gals pencil, powder, tint or paint on their brows to add definition  to their blonde hair.

Too Faced sells a great brow kit that includes both blonde + brunette pencils and a shaping kit to design the perfect pair for you.

Meantime, we are always trying to grow thicker brows. It's one of the big beauty challenges for us.

If you've got thick, full brows, good for you! That's half the battle.

Not Exactly Princess Leia But NY Fashion Week Launches New Hairstyle!

Okay, this ain't your Nana's 1920's finger wave hairdo!

Look at what just floated down the runway at the Kimberly Ovitz Fall 2013 Collection!

Whoa! a corseted ponytail! A very edgy, modern take on the 1920s wave.

Ladies....Would you do this 'do?'

 

 

 

The look was created by Aveda global director Antoinette Benders, who had a definite idea in mind:

"I wanted to create a look that complemented the clothes -- like a shield of armor or an armadillo’s shell. The texture is smooth and finish is shiny, but there is a veil of protection. Think of a 1920s wave in a futuristic interpretation, just touched with danger," Antoinette told HuffPost.

Do you like the Corseted ponytail with its snakelike pattern and bondage effect?

Let's not take away from Kimberly Ovitz' designs.  Her collection was both elegant and sharp around-the-edges.

Take a look at the collection here.

Beyonce On A Roll Despite Nose Job Rumors + Inauguration Lip-Syncing

Take a look at glamorous Beyonce, the Vogue March cover girl. Bravo! Well done.

The superstar has taken a lot of nasty hits lately, but she always gets up and comes out swinging. The Vogue cover was leaked, but boy, it's a great one. Beyonce looks beautiful. We LOVE the cat eye and pretty up-do.  

We hope that cover takes away all the other junk plaguing the talented singer.  There have been a lot of rumors circulating that Beyonce went and had a nose job AFTER the January Inauguration and BEFORE her February Super Bowl half-time show. Now, really, folks.....How could that be achieved, without the bruising and swelling that results with a rhinoplasty?!

Then there was the entire lip-syncing fiasco at President Obama's Inauguation in January. She admitted to a pre-recording of the Star-Spangled Banner. But she also later proved she CAN sing, during a pre-Super Bowl press conference.

Take a look at Beyonce out and about in L.A. before Sunday's Grammy Awards. There's her nose in profile, and there's her face sans makeup. Does it look like a nose job?

Who knows. Of course, the photo at the Super Bowl half-time show showed a sharper, slimmer nose and some unflattering pics that the singer wanted removed. Unfortunately, those photos remain alive and well all over the internet.

Beyonce has taken the pot shots all in stride. And she's too busy to bother about crazy rumors. The talented diva is getting ready to launch her major world tour, The Mrs. Carter Show, kicking off in Serbia on April 15, and ending in Brooklyn on August 3.

 

 

Any questions?!

E!'s Catt Sadler Defies Earlobe Gravity This Way

E!'s elegant Catt Sadler is sharing one of her red carpet beauty tips, and we love when celebs dish. It's all about the bling, and in this case, 'BlingDots.'

If you've ever worn a great pair of chandeliers, then you know it can be quite the challenge. You want your earlobes to remain perky and pain-free. But usually, these oversized and often heavy earrings cause big lobe droop, and that's not a pretty look on the red carpet or any carpet for that matter.

E!'s gorgeous host swears by BlingDots' foam discs that you simply adhere to the back of your ears. These discreet little helpers give you support against sagging chandeliers and sagging lobes.

"Awards season is always exciting, and BlingDots for earrings are my red carpet trick for wearing amazing chandeliers all day and night."

BlingDots ($$14.99 for 45 disposable pairs, 90 individual dots).
Looking for inexpensive, cute chandeliers?

Check out these adorable turquoise earrings from Aldo! Just $9.99.

We think Catt's BlingDots beauty tip is a smart one. Take it from us, we have had two surgeries on each lobe from wearing heavy chandeliers in the past. You don't want to go there. A little discreet support in the form of two small discs can make a major difference. Wish we knew about this a few years ago.

She Ain't Kidding! Catherine Zeta-Jones Hula Hoops Daily!

 

There are times we all hear celebrities dishing about how they stay slim, sleek, and fit. There are also times we don't believe the daily regimens they claim to keep. BUT---this time we have proof.

 

Gorgeous 43-year-old Catherine Zeta-Jones says she hula hoops EVERY day. And there she is showing Ellen how to get it done!

 

"I'm obsessed with hula hooping," Catherine explains to InStyle magazine. "I do it for 20 minutes a day. I don't use the old-fashioned hollow plastic kind we had when we were kids, but I discovered a new one at Danskin that's smaller and weighted."

 

 

Hula hooping is a blast, and not as easy as it looks when you're an adult. But it is an excellent form of exercise. In about 20 minutes, you can burn 200 calories. And most importantly, blast belly fat and big thighs. And develop a sexy butt. Oh, my!!

Catherine told Ellen that hooping is "really good for your core muscles." And that she, "used to be able to spin it around her neck."

If you want a fun form of working out and zeroing on those fat spots, you can buy a weighted Danskin hoop at Walmart for $25.94. Not a bad investment on your way to staying slim + fit.

Super healthy beauty tip, Ms. Zeta-Jones!

Fave Drugstore Mascaras Of GMA Girls Lara And Amy!

We caught a brief but interesting beauty discussion this morning between GMA anchors Lara Spencer and Amy Robach. The topic was high-end mascara VS. drugstore mascara. Is there REALLY a difference?  

GMA's Beck Worley purchased 4 mascaras and had a pro makeup artist apply each one to see if buying expensive allowed lashes to appear even more lush:

•Chanel Inimitable Mascara, $30
•Lancome Oscillation Mascara, $36 (the applicator vibrates as you apply the Mascara)
•Benefit “They’re real” Mascara, $23
•Maybelline Great Lash, $5

Becky concluded that the cheap mascaras let lashes look just as long and full. The makeup artist chose the Chanel as the winner.

And then Lara and Amy piped in. Both girls go drugstore for their mascara:

Lara uses Maybelline's Great Lash.. While Amy prefers L'Oreal Voluminous.

Honestly, we thought these GMA stars would have purchased high-end mascara. It's great to know that TV people who are used to getting dabbed with tons of makeup on air, 5 days a week, sometimes go cheap.

 Kind of refreshing. Lara and Amy are pretty down-to-earth. No makeup snobs here.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($4.21, at Target).

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara ($5.84, at Target).

Hello Aloe Vera Gel: Beautiful Skin Booster

We all know that pure aloe vera gel is great stuff for soothing a bad sunburn. But did you know that aloe vera gel is also excellent for everyday use when it come to a pretty complexion?

Rubbing in a little aloe after washing and drying your face and neck can feel wonderful. There's something cool, clean and calming about it.

Aloe vera gel is a super moisturizer, and especially beneficial to those with oily skin.
It is not a greasy serum, but a very good humectant that effectively seals moisture into the skin.

This exotic, dessert plant also has natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

We like aloe vera gel UNDER makeup. It acts as an inexpensive primer. No kidding! Smooth some on, and then put on your foundation, and you will get a more flawless finish.

You don't have to shop around for the priciest aloe vera gel. As long as it is PURE aloe vera gel, then you're good to go.

We found a tube here at Puritan's Pride--2 for $7.99. We've used this one before. Good stuff!

Christie Brinkley Just Shy of 60! How Does She Do It?!!

"My age has so little to do with my image of myself. I don't feel that number is representative of my spirit, my energy or my anything."

Great quote coming from one of the most famous models ever, Christie Brinkley.

What gets our goat, is that she is now 59! Yes, the gorgeous, ageless Christie just turned the BIG 5-9 on February 2nd. OMG!

She looks pretty freakin' amazing. Check out this photo taken one year ago
:

The snap does NOT appear photoshopped. In fact, we think the photography shows the REAL Christie Brinkley
.
You can see her natural skin tone + texture. We see eye makeup and lipstick, and yeah...a few lines, but barely a crease.

Let the haters hate, but, for a women that lied in the sun during most years of her young life, this mom-of-3 defies the normal signs of aging.

So......how does this supermodel maintain her spectacular beauty?

Well, let's first give it up to great DNA. Next, we recall her saying on Oprah a few years ago, that every woman should have a good dermatologist.

We cannot prove that Christie's ageless image comes directly from the hands of a fine plastic surgeon or talented derm, so we won't go there.

BUT----as a woman matures, there are a lot of treatments one can have that don't involve surgery----chemical peels, microdermabrasion, facials, fillers, Botox, laser resurfacing, and so on.

Meantime....Christie does have a skin care line. It's aptly called, Christie Brinkley Skin Care Line with a DNA Renewal System. It sounds beauty smart.

Check it out here.