Crayola-Colored Lips & Other Beauty Trends For 2008

They say that art imitates life, and if you look at the beauty trends in makeup for 2008, you know what I mean.

With hot colors like coral and pink in style, and electric blue eyeshadow on the runway, and bright floral material flowing on the catwalk, makeup is definitely an art school delight these days. And even the cosmetics items you are buying, resemble art supply store paints and pencils. Fashion, makeup, and the art world have become one.

The March issue of Vogue, really brought it to my attention:

...."Makeup was similarly inspired: 'Surrealist eyes' elaborately lined in chalk blue and black at Rodarte, paint-by-number lids at Michael Kors, Crayola-colored lips at Vuitton. And spring's new cosmetics? They look as though they came straight from the art-supply store, with products resembling tubes of oil paint (Clarins) and calligraphy pens (Styli-Style's precision felt-tip eyeliners). Rimmel's color-block shadows recall a Rothko canvas; Sally Hansen's nail polish pen looks more like the kind of graffiti marker Keith Haring would have loved...."

Spring/summer 2008 has a color for everyone. From red lips to navy blue nail polish, the makeup palette is endless. Experiment. Have fun. Let the Picasso in you run wild. And if you're a bit timid on the makeup scene, that's fine, too. Nude lips are back in vogue.

How To Get Thicker And Bigger Hair

Whoever created the first hair volumizer, you are a genius! Volumizer isn't even a real word in the dictionary that I know of, but salon companies sell tons of hair volumizers. And beauty writers constantly mention 'volumizers' for the hair.

Simply speaking, a hair volumizer is a serum or lotion that gives great body and thickness to hair. It plumps up each hair strand. A volumizer is usually applied to damp hair that has been shampooed. Massage in, and then blow-dry for amazing big hair.

Volumizers are wonderful for fine, limp locks, or even for those of you who have lots of hair, but hair that isn't thick. Volumizers get rid of fly-away strands and also lend you a bit more control over your crowning glory.

Here are some tried and true hair volumizers:

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray ($26.99, 8 fl. oz.)

Frederic Fekkai All Day Hair Plump ($95.00, 3.5 fl. oz.)

Kiehl's Super Thick Volumizer ($18.50, 8.4 fl. oz.)

Paul Mitchell Volumizing Spray ($11.50, 8.5 fl. oz.)

KMS AMP Volume Reconstructor ($15.95, 25.4 fl. oz.)

There are many, many hair volumizers out there, and all with unique body-building properties. From sunflower seeds to soy beans to peptides of sorts, all designed to pump or plump up the volume. Some work better than others. Try a few. And watch your hair get bigger and bigger!

7 Reasons To Take Care Of Your Skin

It's never too late to begin taking care of your skin. If you're in your teens or early 20s at the moment, then this advice might seem a bit extreme or silly. But get over the 30 mark and beyond, and you will see how your skin changes in texture and appearance.

Let's face some facts. We all age. There is no way around it. Some of us look better than others, and some of us do not. But it isn't merely good DNA. If you recognize what is happening and where it's happening on the face, then you can react, and make it better.

Here are 7 reasons to take care of your skin and develop a smart routine in battling the signs of aging:

Skin
Jaw/Neck
Upper Lids
Under Eyes
Lashes
Brows
Lips

Skin. Wrinkles. These are permanent residents. They set up house on your face, and like to dwell especially near the eyes, around the mouth, and on the forehead. Your skin is thinner and probably drier. Years of sun exposure has broken down your melanocyctes. These are the skin cells that produce melanin. Without strong melanocytes, you develop uneven pigmentation and dark spots. Cell turnover is much slower, and that creates a rougher complexion. Brightness disappears.

Jaw/Neck. Blame it on gravity. Elastin and collagen are also produced at a more reduced rate. The contours of your face become softer, more square-like.

Upper Lids. Puffy eyes. You've been awake for 15 minutes now. And the puffiness is still there. As we age, this is normal. Loss of elasticity and circulation are also factors to blame.

Under Eyes. Notice your dark circles getting even darker? The skin is thinning. Loss of fat under the eyes. Both cause veins to locate to the surface. Shadows reflect off the hollows, causing the dark areas.

Lashes. Your lashes used to be so long and thick, right? General aging causes lashes to get skimpier.

Brows. Yes. Brows, like lashes, are thinner, too. All hair thins with the passing of time. And if you have been a constant brow plucker or brow waxer, those routines can cause brows to thin even more. Your eyebrows might seem like they've lost a little bit of elevation, too. You're not imaging this. Brows lose collagen and elastin, and that equals sagging.

Lips. Maybe that's why so many women over 30 love to get collagen shots. The natural fullness of our lips reduce in time. Also, the lips' definition, or outline of our lips, fades because of sun damage and loss of elasticity. And some women develop vertical lines around the mouth.

All scary thoughts, and some unavoidable as natural aging takes place, but a solid skin care routine can make a difference. Simple procedures, like wearing sunscreen, and limiting hours in the sun, help significantly. Not smoking, helps keep deeper wrinkles at bay. And getting into a nighttime habit of applying skin care serums targeted at your specific facial needs, all help battle the signs of aging.

Best And Worst Sunscreens For Summer 2008

Consumer Reports did all the testing and lab work on a number of sunscreens. And they found, that we sun-worshipping bathing beauties, are making some wrong choices when we grab a bottle of sun protection off store shelves.

Before you buy your next sunscreen for the summer of 2008, read this:
Most people just look for a sunscreen that shows a high SPF, or skin protection factor. Okay, that's good. However, more importantly are the UVA and UVB rays. As one dermatologist explained it, "Remember UVA rays are the aging rays, and UVB rays are the burning rays."

Scientifically speaking, UVA stands for ultraviolet A radiation. And UVB stands for ultraviolet B radiation.

Most people do not apply enough sunscreen to protect themselves, according to the recent Consumer Reports study. You've got to cover your body and really get every inch of exposed skin.

More advice from Consumer Reports: Choose your sunscreen with the highest protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure the sunscreen is very water resistant or waterproof. And select an SPF of at least 30.

Consumer Reports' 3 Best Sunscreens for the Summer of 2008:

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

#2. Hawaiian Tropic Ozone Sport, 30 SPF. Score: 84/100

Very good protection. Cost: $1.50 per fl. oz.

#3. Hawaiian Tropic 15 Plus, 15 SPF, Score: 83/100.
Excellent UVA protection. Average UVB protection. Cost: $1.00 per fl. oz.

Consumer Reports' 3 Worst Sunscreens for the Summer of 2008:

#1. Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray. Score: 31/100.
Scored the poorest out of the bunch for UVA and all-around protection.
Cost: $1.67 per fl. oz.

#2. Banana Boat Kids, 30 SPF. Score: 38/100.
Does not provide adequate UVA protection for children. Cost: $1.00 per fl.oz.

#3. Bull Frog Sport Spray, 36 SPF. Score: 45/100.

Excellent UVB protection, but poor UVA protection. Cost: $2.13 per fl. oz.

For more information, visit: http://www.consumerreports.org/.

Ivory Simplement Body Wash Is Baby Soft

Here is one of my new, favorite beauty items. I guess, I just love the clean, fresh scent and the light feel of this body wash. It isn't heavy and greasy like some of the more expensive body washes. And yet it lathers up supremely. One of my friends says it's so gentle, she bathes her 16 month old in it. It is truly baby soft. Nothing harsh in the ingredients, either.

I stumbled upon it in the drug store. And it's a great buy. Under $5.00 for 24 fl.oz. That's huge, as far as body washes go.

Ivory Simplement Moisturizing Body Wash in Fresh Snow.

I know, a long title, but it's worth the money. Like all Ivory products, it's pure and mild with a rich, creamy lather, and yet rinses away completely, and smells like fresh laundry. You will feel as soft as a baby. And if you wish to enjoy a bubble bath, this Ivory wash can create a magical tub full of bubbles. The scent is heavenly....not girlie. Just fresh and clean. Your man will like the Ivory, too.

I have two big bottles of Ivory Simplement. And I haven't grown tired of the product yet. Give it a try.

Sonia Kashuk's Tips For Summer Beauty

We told you yesterday, about Target department stores, and how wonderful they are for stocking up on tons of makeup. Today, we highlight one of their cosmetic favorites: Sonia Kashuk. For those of you in the makeup biz, you know how respected Sonia is and how well her makeup line for Target is received. Sonia makes up the faces of celebrities, too. Sharon Stone and Britney Spears are just a couple.

What's nice about the Sonia Kashuk line at Target is this---it's beautiful and budget-friendly And she's put out a terrific book all about makeup, called Real Beauty. There are tons of cosmetics tips and how to's.

Here's an excerpt from Sonia's Book on "How To Tone Down Your Makeup For Summer."

Cheeks, Eyes, Lips

Your face has three basic areas to emphasize: eyes, lips, and cheeks. You never want to emphasize all three areas at once. Choose the one feature you want to play up and downplay the other two. Here's how to apply just the right amount of color:

Cheeks: Apply bronzer or blush to the apple of the cheek (the fleshy area that plumps up when you smile). Always start with a conservative amount, as it is easier to add more than take away. For more glow, sweep bronzer over the arc of the forehead and the arc of the chin.

Eyes: Here's a surprising tip: to identify colors that will work best for you, let your hair -- not your eyes -- be your guide. If you're a blonde, sweep lids with creams and taupes. Brunettes look best in mochas and chocolate browns, and if you're auburn or red-headed, choose coppers, peaches, and reddish-browns, or cool tones like pinks and lavenders.

Lips: The natural pigmentation of your lips should always be the underlying tint of every lip color you wear. That's why the same lip tint looks one way on you and another way on a friend. For the perfect summer pout, always use a lighter color or a dab of shine in the center of the mouth. Forgo strong lip liner in the summer to help keep your look soft.

Sonia Kashuk's book, Real Beauty, is available at bookstores nationwide.

Target Is A Bull's Eye For Good Makeup

Yes. Target sells good makeup and beauty products. It isn't a total beauty shop like Sephora and Ulta, but makeup junkies can find their beautiful fix at Target. They feature a wide variety and are well-stocked. You might just be surprised. Here are a few samples with high, mid, and low price tags.

If you're on the hunt for the new, sizzling corals of the season, you will find them at Target:
Revlon Renewist Lipcolor in Coral Fixation ($7.69)
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Blush in Precious Pink ($10.59)
Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer in Orange You Cute ($4.99)

If it's hair that needs care, you're in the right place:
Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 Hair Color ($11.99)
Nexxus Therappe Shampoo ($14.99)
Sunsilk Thermashine Conditioner ($2.99)

If it's skin, you want to look lovely in:
Olay Definity Night Restorative Sleep Cream ($23.89)
L'Oreal Collagen Remodeler ($17.99)
Lumene Time Freeze Targeted Wrinkle Treatment ($19.99)

Target does a body good, also:
Sanctuary Salt Scrub ($17.99)
Burt's Bees Radiance Body Wash ($7.99)
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($9.39)