How To Get The Perfect Runway Buns & Knots For Fall/Winter 2014-2015

Let's be honest. Buns and knots are hairstyles that ALWAYS look elegant + chic. Even timeless, if you will.

But maybe like us, you are ALL thumbs. And what might look like a simple do to do, is actually a bit harder than it appears to recreate.

Until now.......

Welcome NYC celebrity stylist and smart gal, Sarah Potempa. And we say smart, because this gorgeous gal has invented a number of styling tools that make the hair fashion trends very doable. You, yourself, CAN create the perfect, runway buns and knots that are so IN for Fall/Winter 2014-2015.

All you need is this inexpensive, bendable + comfy  hair gadget-thing. We found one for $12 at Beauty.com.

Think Dolce & Gabbana. The models all walked the in bold red with hair fastened into sophisticated low buns, center part with a red rose in back.

Model Kendall Jenner wore it well.

There were buns + knots sprinkled all over the runways at Fashion Week around the globe.

At Christian Siriano....

And at Diane von Furstenberg...

Check out stylist Sarah Potempa demonstrating how to make chic, buns & knots with her genius Wrap Up tool on YouTube!

Earlobe Rejuvenation: Newest Cosmetic Filler Trend For Perkier, Younger-Looking Lobes

Good Morning America aired a segment today about the newest, cosmetic beauty trend---earlobe rejuvenation.

Now we have to worry about pretty earlobes. Is that how far we've gone? Or sunk?

Apparently so....and yes, there is such a procedure, and we were writing about this so-called beauty trend way-yyyy back in 2008. There was a suburban Philadelphia plastic surgeon named Dr. Allan E. Wulc who was the pioneer of this quick, filler procedure designed to give a plumpness, perkiness and younger look to sagging lobes or damaged pierced earring holes.

As we get older, unfortunately, even our ear lobes can thin out, sag, and look elongated. And wearing heavy, BIG earrings further exaggerates the sagging lobe. Our earlobes don’t have the firm tissue found on other parts of the body. So, even creases can form on the earlobes with time.

The hyaluronic cosmetic fillers used for adding volume to the face, are now being used  to rejuvenate the often-ignored, humble earlobe. Injections are generally done at the base of the lobe.

So, after a few quick shots of Restylane into the earlobes, voila! Lobes look more youthful.

You can even go back to wearing those heavy chandelier earrings with ease + comfort, because you now have a plumper ear cushion.

Think of the procedure as a lunchtime earlobe lift. Plus the results should last about one year.

We found a great YouTube demo on the earlobe rejuvenation procedure. Click here.

Would you get an earlobe rejuvenation?

Health insurance usually does NOT cover this cosmetic procedure, and it can cost about $500 or more for this repair/rejuvenation.

Hair Alert!! Garnier Fructis Debuts Textured + Teased In A Can--New Spray

LOVE when beauty companies debut brand new styling products. This time it's from Garnier Fructis, whose hair formulas always smell amazing, by the way.

Say HELLO to De-Constructed Texture Tease Dry Touch Finish Spray ($3.49, at Target. Small can, though, at 3.8 oz.).

This stuff sounds intriguing on paper, at least. And yes, we will certainly try a can of it.

Texture Tease gives your hair an "airy, textured lift," that STAYS in place. A windblown look, if you will. Or a back-comb in a can.

Why waste your time on the big, manual tease, as pictured below, when you can just spray it on.

And if you need to make a quick ponytail with a little ooomph + height, this spray mimics that teased, fullness. So if you want to go all Ariana Grande wild with a high, big, bad pony, then  this dry touch finish spray gives your locks that extra, essential grip.

Garnier Fructis claims that De-Constructed Texture Spray performs magic with transparent gripping micro-mineral powders.

We just hope the formula isn't sticky or oily. But maybe just a few spritzes does the trick.

We all hate when our hair is TOO soft and can't hold on to style and just falls limp.

Allure magazine has given this hair styling product their "Best of Beauty 2014 Award."

Now, that's a good sign.

Lash Primer: Excellent At Exaggerating The Volume!

Want luxurious lashes, ladies?

Who doesn't
.

Then follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Curl lashes
2. Prime lashes
3. Appy mascara.

Prime? What's that all about?

Lash primer is not mandatory, BUT....If you desire longer, thicker lashes without wasting time putting on the faux ones, then this step is essential.

Curling lashes is ALWAYS key. It opens up the eyes and adds lift to the eye area, sending the lashes uniformly upward.

Lash Primer like Tarte MultiplEYE™ Lash Enhancing Primer is applied next in line. We found a tube at Sephora ($22).

Don't worry. Although lash primer is generally white, it dries clear + does NOT flake. Plus.....Tarte's Multip1EYE Primer can do this--- Clinically proven to immediately increase the appearance of lash volume by 739 percent, while also increasing the appearance of lash length with regular use. 

Apply lash primer like you would mascara, but DON't use a heavy hand. Just swipe on a coat, take a lash comb to pull through, so toevenly disperse the lash primer.

Allow to dry---a few seconds.

Then, for the final step, apply your fave mascara---2 coats and you're good to go!

If you are hesitant to spend the pricey $22 on Tarte's lash primer, you could also try this for a lot less:

Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara ($3.97, at Walmart).

Yes...You can use this as your lash primer. The clear formula will coat lashes with added volume without the white coating. Let it dry.

Then just add black mascara and you get nice volume for doll lashes!

Plastic Or Not? Isn't It Time We All Left Renee Zellweger Alone?

Poor Renee Zellweger.

Apparently, a lot of folks are NOT happy that SHE is happy in her life at the moment.

There's been tons of buzz about the Academy Award winning actress, namely in the NEW face she's walking around with. People are demanding to know what Renee Zellweger has done to her face. In other words---plastic surgery.

Rene is 45-years-old. Of course she won't look exactly as she did in her 20s or 30s.

If she now appears to be almost unrecognizable to most people, well, then it's got to be more than Botox. Botox can halt and smooth away wrinkles for 3-4 months at a time, but that's about it.

Botox alone, CANNOT make you look like a different person.

So----what did Renee do, because the actress is NOT talking about it, except to say she is happy in her life right now.

Renee Zellweger 2014 (left) and 2013 (right)

Like MOST working actresses + entertainers today, Renee has probably had some work done. Yes...plastic surgery. And trust us...she isn't the only star to yield to the knife.

Sure, we can all guess, but to have the paps following the poor girl everywhere just to snap new photos of her, and to get right up into her face is just wrong. Period.

So we say it's time to LEAVE Renee Zellweger
ALONE.
We think she looks great.

Is there some Botox? It appears so. Has surgery been done to Renee's eyes?

Maybe.

And has she possibly had a chin implant put in?

Again, maybe.

We say to let her be. Stop the insanity.

As Renee recently told People magazine:

"I'm glad folks think I look different! I'm living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I'm thrilled that perhaps it shows."

Want Smooth. Clear, Healthy Skin? Buy A Buf-Puf For Cheap!

If you desire smooth skin, then you MUST exfoliate. You NEED to remove dead, dull skin cells and grime and oil that lurk below the surface and clog pores.

And revving up the circulation is an added bonus for radiant, healthy complexions.

The quick + simple way to do all that, is by cleansing with a facial sponge, namely the Buf-Puf.

We have been using a Buf-Puf for years now. No, it's NOT a face lift in a sponge,  but it DOES leave your complexion clean, glowing + smooth.

And daily exfoliation is key when it comes to healthy skin.

So...how do you use a Buf-Puf facial sponge?

These are the easy steps---
Lather sponge with warm water and your favorite skin cleanser
•Gently cleanse face with slow, circular motions
•Rinse face thoroughly with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel
•Apply moisturizer, if desired
•Rinse sponge thoroughly and air-dry. Use daily for best results, replacing sponge every 4-6 weeks

Hey, for $6, this is a great beauty budget buy. We found some at Walgreens.

We promise you will see and feel a difference in your skin after using a Buf-Puf.

Want Buff Arms Like Kaley Cuoco? Then Rake Some Leaves!

Getting buff in the 'burbs. LOL. We'll get to that in a moment.

First though, we had never noticed Kaley Cuoco's buff arms, until today, when we caught a great photo of the star posing at a charity event in California recently.

LOVE the menswear look that Kaley has feminized so nicely here. But the heck with her fashion ensemble--- take a close look at Kaley Cuoco's buff arms!

When you can see the definition in the arms, you know she's been doing some serious working out.

And here she was last December photographed exiting the gym. The next day, it was reported that Kaley was being married that evening on New Year's Eve. Talk about dedication.

Our point is this:

If you desire fit arms like Kaley's, then you MUST get moving. And one of the BEST + cheapest arm toning work-outs comes from RAKING LEAVES.

It's true. Forget the leaf blower. Pick up the leaves the old-fashioned way.

Oh yeah....getting buff in the 'burbs.

RAKING LEAVES gives your biceps + triceps a good, exercise challenge. Raking also works the core + back muscles. And the movement also BURNS calories.


So if you're not into the gym routine, pick up a rake and get going. Autumn is such a beautiful time of year to have fun, fresh air and earn your way to buff arms.

Kirsten Dunst's Fave, Never Go Wrong Red Lipstick

Red lipstick is NOT always easy to pull off. But when it's right, it looks so-ooo good.

Check out actress Kirsten Dunst.

She's one of those pretty women who ONLY needs a slick of red lipstick and she gets instant glamour.

She's smart NOT to over-do the makeup when a bold lip like red takes center stage.

She tells Glamour magazine in their November issue that she has a fave lipstick that has become her "proven beauty look."

"Red lipstick---I've always used this balmy one from Chantecaille.".

The lipstick happens to be Chantecaille lipstick in Poppy ($35, at net-a-porter.com. And it is a cross between a colored lip balm + lipstick. Quite hydrating + comfy to wear.

Like Taylor Swift who's made red lips her signature beauty look, we also think that Kirsten Dunst wears it well!

It's not a timid lip color, but the right red can make you the most unforgettable woman in the room.

Wavy Bob Keeps Popping Up On Blonde Celebrities: Lauren Conrad Took The Plunge

We have to say.....We LOVE the wavy bob haircut these celebrities have been getting.

And we are going to admit that the wavy bob looks BEST on blonde hair.

Why?

We aren't sure. All we know is that this is a killer look. Gorgeous on light-haired girls. Lauren Conrad is the latest star to submit to the scissors.

Here she is sharing her new wavy bob for the world to see on her Instagram.

"Got my first hair cut in years," Lauren wrote.

We also adore DWTS judge Julianne Hough's wavy bob. Sexy + glam!

And then there is daytime star Kelly Ripa's shorter wavy bob. Super cute for her tiny frame.

And the other former Hills star Kristin Cavallari yielded to the pros for her recent long, wavy bob haircut. Very lovely.

We think these blonde celebrities look amazing in these modern bobs. So refreshing from the heavy, too much hair extensions many celebs go out in.

Plus...mermaid waves are so IN ! Whether your hair is chin length, super long and/or with bangs, mermaid waves are THE hot trend for Fall/Winter 2014-2015.

That's coming straight from the runways.

To get the waves, you will need to spritz your locks with a texturized styling spray, like this one from ALTERNA BAMBOO BEACH Summer Ocean Waves Tousled Texture Spray ($20, at Sephora).

Fall/Winter Means Dry, Static-Clingy Hair: Solution Here!

We love fall. It's beautiful, crisp + clean.

But what we don't need is static, frizzy, fly-away hair. And this happens to us ALL the time, especially once our radiator steam heat kicks on.

If you hate hat hair, too, there is a simple solution. And Sally Hershberger developed this formula a couple of years ago. It even won Allure magazine's best of awards.

Hyper Hydration Super Keratin Spray ($6.49).

We found a bottle at ULTA.

And it's so easy to use. Just dab a little serum onto your palms and run your hands through your hair.
Bye-bye static cling!

It can be spritzed onto wet or dry hair. It tames the fly-aways, adds moisture and delivers softness.

NOT sticky or greasy. A nice, leave-in-conditioner/blow-dry protector, too.

We think this is a good, beauty buy for fall/winter.

New Maybelline Sculpting Eyebrow Mascara Is Simply 'Brow-Tastic!'

Brows. Eyebrows. Whatever you call them, a pair of great ones can REALLY give power to your looks.
Good brows add a lovely frame to your eyes + help balance your unique, facial features.

If you are brow-challenged or yours are thin + scraggly, there is HOPE on the way, because once again, the beauty experts are always developing new strategies for CREATING the perfect brows.

Today, it's Maybelline to the rescue! And we are going to pick up a tube of this very soon:

Maybelline new Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara, ($7.99, at ULTA).

This is a special, gel mascara made just for your brows. It's a tinted formula  that includes a cool, sculpting ball brush.
.
And Brow Drama comes in 3 shades---Blonde. Soft Brown. Deep Brown.

It does look scarier to use than a brow pencil, for example. But this clever, tinted gel promises to deliver an even, natural, sculpted-looking pair.

Maybelline's Global Brow expert, Maribeth Madron, shows us how to properly put on Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara. And she begins the application at the END of the brows. I begin mistakenly at the opposite or beginning of the brows....but I learned plenty here with this YouTube demo.

So, ladies.....Were you born with a perfect, full pair?

Or do you touch up your brows?

We admit, we fake them a bit. But we would prefer to try the new, Maybelline tinted gel. This is Prestige brow pencil in dark brown, although it photographs lighter here.

Whether You Like Them Or Not: Ponchos and Blanket Coats Cozy For Fall 2014

That's so-ooooo 70s.

We're referring to ponchos + blanket coats. Yeah...A little hippie chic is okay for Fall fashion 2014. These cozy, boho covers were one of the HOT runway trends for autumn.

Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is already hitting the town in her warm + fuzzy, red striped
poncho. And singing sensation Rita Ora cuddling up in a toasty striped poncho.
.


 We like the look---carefree, easy, laid-back. A GREAT look with jeans. And NO---You DON'T have to invest in a super expensive Burberry Prorsum blanket coat, either, as you can see Cara 
modeling.

 

We found inexpensive , cute ponchos here, that WON'T break your fashion budget:

Forever 21 Poncho, $32.90.

Urban Outfitters Blanket Poncho, $44.

Will you COZY up to Fall 2014 in a pretty poncho?

How Amal Clooney Gets Those Big, Doe Eyes....

Talk about a happy bride. Mrs. George Clooney is loving married life if the big smile on her face is any indication.

Attorney Amal, formerly Alamuddin,  has become the world's darling, fashion plate. Gorgeous ensemble after gorgeous ensemble.

And we already know that Amal has beautiful, big hair. But have you wondered how she gets those pretty, big doe eyes?

Now we know her secret. It's a but pricey, but when you are Mrs. George Clooney + an in-demand lawyer around the globe, you can afford the expensive makeup.

This tube costs $29 and it's from British pro makeup artist Charlotte Tilsbury, who happens to have her own cosmetics line.

Full Fat Lashes in Glossy Black.

Charlotte Tilsbury has a great, YouTube video demo that shows you how to apply her Full Fat Lashes.

Check it out here.

Selena Gomez Latest Celeb To Copy Playful Brigitte Bardot High Ponytail

Selena Gomez has excellent beauty/fashion style. And to prove it, take a look at her latest red carpet transformation.

The hair is so-oooo Brigitte Bardot-inspired. It's a playful, high ponytail. The sides are pulled tightly and the crown is left loose + teased for volume + height. And pieces in front are pulled out in a casual, bed-head style.

Actress Brigitte Bardot loved showing off the half-up, half-down hairstyle. We LOVE her timeless hair look!

Other gorgeous celebs have copied the Brigitte Bardot high ponytail before. There's Keira Knightley and Julianne Hough:

So, you wonder.....How do we assemble our hair to achieve the Brigitte Bardot high ponytail?

Well, we are ALL thumbs. We wish we had a celeb stylist to do our hair like this.

Check out this How-To video by Howcast on YouTube. It's well-done.

Will you attempt this playful, high ponytail?

Mindy Kaling Gets Some Balayage! Cheap + Low Maintenance Highlights For All

Balayage.

It's been around since the 1970s. It's a French coloring technique that is done with a free-hand style. NO foils. NO cap on the head highlighting, either. And Gisele Bundchen was one of the most recognizable models to popularize that natural, sun-kissed look.

But Balayage is NOT just for flaxen-haired beauties. It looks wonderful on brunettes and raven-haired ladies, too. Balayage adds DIMENSION to dark locks so hair doesn't look so FLAT.

Just look at TV star Mindy Kaling. She's been showing off her balayage results on Instagram.

Celeb colorist Cherry Petenbrink did Mindy's balayage. And we LOVE it!

Balayage is cheap, too, because it lasts for months, looks naturally placed and doesn't bear the high costs of most color techniques. And there is no line of re-growth, so you can hide the or touch-up phase for longer periods of time.

A professional salon is the BEST way to get a little balayage going on. You don't want to OVER-LAP highlighted strands by doing this solo.

Balayage can be done on ANY hair length and type of hair---wavy, curly, straight.

We like Mindy's caramel highlights against her raven locks.

Would you hand-paint your OWN hair highlights?

Or BEST to leave to the pros?

At 7 Years Older--American Idol Judge Paula Abdul Looks Even Younger Than Judge JLo!

We must admit that these American Idol judges---one former and one present, both look stunning for celebrities over 40.

Paula Abdul is 52, while JLo is 45.

Paula Abdul at 2014 Logie Awards, April 2014

And if we really had to tell the beauty truth, Paula Abdul is even younger looking than Jennifer Lopez. Plus the former A.I. judge is 7 years OLDER than JLo.

Jennifer Lopez at Billboard Music Awards, May 2014

Both are in fantastic, fit shape and share a dancer's profession.

We happened to catch Paula Abdul on the Today show yesterday morning, and we were blown away by how youthful + natural she appeared.

Not sure if it is a combo of light plastic surgery, fillers + Botox, but girlfriend looks amazing---ageless.

Take a peek for yourself here on Hulu.

And here on YouTube 2 years ago. Paula, of course, works out, but she's also into healthy, green shakes.

Watch Paula Abdul's new music video, "Check Yourself" promoting breast self-exams during Breast Cancr Awareness month. Click here at Time.com.

Paula's sister Wendy is a breast cancer survivor.

Gisele Wows In New Chanel No.5 Mini Film Directed By Baz Luhrmann

Gotta love Gisele Bundchen.

The highest paid model in the world shows us she's more than a sexy model with some amazing acting skills in the new, 3:15 minute film for Chanel No.5 fragrance.  It happens to be directed by one of movie's most romantic pros, Baz Luhrmann.

And we think both Gisele + Baz nail it! This is a very watchable, mini film.

Is Gisele Bundchen over-exposed these days?

Heck, yeah....But so was model Cindy Crawford back in the 90's.

Is Gisele perhaps a somewhat, overly confident woman and at times, forgive us...a bit of a show-off? 

Yes, again. But many successful celebrities are.

 Having said all that....and maybe too much, we still admire what makes Gisele, Gisele.

We like that she doesn't look like the typical model with even, all-American features. Gisele has very striking features with a generous nose and lots of hard angles with razor-sharp cheekbones. There's an almost androgynous appeal to her, and that sets Gisele apart from all the rest.

Of course, there is the lithe, super-fit body, too. And Gisele happens to photograph remarkably.

Check out Gisele in CHANEL N°5: The One That I Want - The Film.

We think you will like this piece of exceptionally done film-making.

DWTS Judge Julianne Hough: Smoky Purple Eye + Emilio Pucci Dress

You could call her fearless.

When it comes to fashion/beauty, DWTS judge Julianne Hough is NOT afraid to try on anything. And on last evening's show, the glamorous Julianne squeezed into an unforgiving Emilio Pucci dress in a cobalt-purple-ish hue.

She looked gorgeous. But what we really LOVED was her purple-smoky eye! And it all went nicely with her perfectly cool, blond bob!

People magazine was all over the DWTS judge's fashion/beauty risks. And this time it paid off.

The bold cobalt dress was super sexy but in a tasteful way. Julianne provided photos to People and we are showing them, too, because she stole the show last night.

Julianne has such a fit, stunning dancer's body, so she is NOT timid about featuring her best assets, even as she sits as a non-dancer at the DWTS judges' table.

And Julianne appears to adore purple eye shadow. Here she is showing off her purple smoky eye before the show last evening. Plus--here's another pic of Julianne wearing purple eye shadow again back in 2009.

We think the purple shadow is very pretty with her blue eyes.

Try this one by Clinique, called Purple Pumps
 ($15).

Berry Lips And Elegant Buns Equal Fall Beauty 2014

No...You DON'T have to wear bold, red lips to feel fashion/beauty forward.

This Fall 2104, just add a swipe of berry lipstick and fasten on a sophisticated bun and you'll be killing it!

The popular, berry shade applied at the some of the TOP runway shows at NY Fashion Week, included MAC cosmetic's BOYSENBERRY lip color.

Allure magazine says that the lipstick was put on and dabbed away with a tissue to leave a berry stain, as you can see on the Carolina Herrera model.

It's a violet-pink(y) shade that looks so feminine + pretty.

Here in a photo from MAC's website, Boysenberry looks a bit more purple-like. It's part of MAC's stand out lip shades for Fall 2014.

Selena Gomez is known for her beautiful hair buns, and here she is, right on trend at a recent movie premiere wearing the elegant style of the moment:

A bun like this one, adds instant glamour!

We are ALL thumbs, so you're on your own putting this hair up.

So pretty!