Remove Your Makeup With These

Okay, don't laugh. I once read in Allure magazine, that some makeup artists use Pampers Baby Wipes to quickly remove makeup, especially eye makeup. In unscented with natural aloe, preferably. I figured, if Pampers are good for a baby's behind, then they must be gentle enough to use elsewhere. Hmmm.

I usually have a stash of Pampers on hand. I don't always use them to remove makeup, because I find the baby wipes sting my eyes, upon occasion. I also use plain old soap and water. Or even good old vaseline. But when you're wearing eye shadow, eye liner, and a few coats of mascara, you need a product that will remove all traces of cosmetics. And I'm stressing 'completely' remove.

Kathy Hilton told me she loves this budget beauty buy. Andrea Eye Q's Oil Free Makeup Remover Pads ($4.49, drugstores). I interviewed her recently and she said this:

"I can't live without them."

Maybe Kathy Hilton is on to something. Andrea Eye Q's Oil Free Pads come in three formulas: Ultra Quick Dry Skin, Oil Free, and Moisturizing. The pads are wonderful for removing waterproof mascara. That's what a swimmer told me, and she's in the pool 24/7. The pads are also great for contact wearers. So the formula is gentle. No stinging there.

There's another well-received beauty product that makes makeup disappear quickly. Extra gentle cleansing towlettes. Rodial Glam Balm Wipes ($19). These towlettes are enriched with good ingredients like Vitamin E, pro Vitamin B5, chamomile extracts, and more. Each disposable wipe is super for removing all traces of cosmetics---from the face, lips, and the oh-so-sensitive eye area. And Rodial wipes are opthamalogically tested, too.

Hey, at least I'm not sleeping in my makeup like some of you out there. It's so very important to remove makeup every night before retiring. A clean face is vital for a healthy complexion.

Makeup That Covers Skin Discolorations Perfectly

We all strive for smooth, flawless skin. Some women are lucky, and enjoy a healthy, clear complexion. But many of us have uneven pigmentation, a scar, an old tattoo that shouldn't see the light of day, port wine stains, Vitaligo, etc. And what's so frustrating, is that traditional concealers and foundations usually do not cover or hide our imperfections so perfectly. Until now.

Remember this name: Judith August. She was a former model, and understands the need to appear flawless, even when we're not. Judith August Cosmetics has been featured in top magazines like, Elle, Allure, and Women's Health & Fitness. She has received several awards for the goodness her makeup brings to women who deserve to get their beauty back; women who might have suffered, and only want a smooth skin to show the world.

www.Judithaugustcosmetics.com features a wide variety of concealers and foundations. Judith even has The Everything Pencil. It's an amazing and unique set of corrective colors that hide age spots, broken capillaries, birth marks, fine lines, and more. And it's doctor-approved.

You can also find Judith August's corrective cosmetics at salons, spas, and specialty stores.

There's one brilliant concealer, that really does it all, when all else fails. It's the ultimate concealer, called----Killer Cover ($32).

Read below, how Judith describes her 'ultimate concealer:"

I'm Judith August. My revolutionary new waterproof and smudge-proof formula is designed to cover the most difficult skin discolorations and problem areas that traditional concealers cannot touch such as vitaligo, blazing birthmarks, bruises, scars, tattoos, loss of pigmentation, port wine stains.
You have five colors to choose from on the color wheel. Color blending is often necessary because every part of the body is a different color. For instance, brown spots on your hands and face will take a different coloration than a blue and red birth mark or veins on your legs. Pigmentation loss would be a different coloration from the rest. So, start with the color closest to your skin tone, apply with the enclosed sponge or nature's very best cosmetic tool, your fingers. Use the "Dab and Pat" technique when applying and blending, not a stroking motion.
If needed, "stipple" several shades together and pat over the area until you achieve your perfect match.
Killer Cover™ will stay on longer than normal make-up since it is based on a formula used in the theatrical industry- therefore it is head and perspiration resistant and highly pigmented. It will stay put until you remove it.
Enjoy my newest cosmetic solution - after all...
Everybody's got something to hide!

Celebrity Skin Care Secrets

Women in Hollywood always look polished and glamorous with flawless skin. We all want to know their beauty secrets. Is it something expensive? Is it a beauty treatment only found in Europe? Can I buy this same product in my local drug store? And so forth.....

Get ready. We found some super celebrity skin care secrets in OK! magazine. And we're ready to name names.

According to the June 2nd issue of OK!, some of the skin care treatments are expensive, some middle of the road, and a few, low end.

Jennifer Lopez loves Elizabeth Grant Caviar Rejuvenating Eye Pads($50/6-pack; http://www.elizabethgrant.com/).

Nicole Richie is a loyal Dove user. Dove Go Fresh Beauty Cool Moisture Body Lotion in Cucumber ($5; drugstores). According to OK!, Nicole said this: "I don't use many skin products. I just wash my skin with Dove soap and use their moisturizers."

Uma Thurman reaches for wrinkle filler. N.V. Perricone M.D. Ceramic Skin Smooth Finishing Serum ($75; http://www.perriconemd.com/).

Jennifer Aniston use TNS to smooth her eye area. TNS Night Eye Repair ($90; http://www.skinmedica.com/).

Kerry Washington likes glowing skin. ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment ($85; http://www.katesomerville.com/).

Kate Bosworth keeps her flawless skin pimple-free with Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17; http://www.mariobadescu.com/).

Nicole Scherzinger maintains her soft Pussy Cat Doll shape with Caress Brazilian Exotic Oil Infusion Body Wash ($4; drugstores).

Do you use any of these skin care treatments? Maybe they all know something we don't. It's nice when gorgeous celebrity women share their beauty knowledge. Everyone gets pimples, rough skin, undereye circles, lines and wrinkles, even our Hollywood favorites.

Dr. Michelle Copeland's Simple Beauty Philosophy

Dr. Michelle Copeland's practice is located right across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Quite fitting for a specialist whose career involves bringing out the beauty in both women and men. As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Copeland knows skin inside and out. And she realizes the impact that young-looking, healthy skin can have on a person's self-confidence.

No. You don't always have to go under the knife to achieve your personal best. Dr. Copeland's simple philosophy is this: "Everyone can have beautiful, healthy, and lustrous skin."

We interviewed Dr. Copeland recently, and learned what a super woman she is. Not only does she have a wonderful skin care line, but she is the first female plastic surgeon in the United States to have earned combined doctoral degrees in both medicine and dentistry from Harvard University. She is also a popular author, wife and mother, and a woman with a big heart. Dr. Copeland believes in giving back to her community. She's involved in a number of charities.

Dr. Copeland's skin care line bears her name, so she is very serious about promoting treatments that truly work. She says that cleansing, exfoliation, moisturization, and sun protection, are the four keys to healthy skin.

"As a plastic surgeon, I know the skin from the inside and out and I see what happens when skin is left uncared for. My knowledge of biochemistry allows me to formulate effective, yet gentle products that work together to give you the youngest looking, healthiest skin possible. I personally select each ingredient and test each formula, including our revolutionary Rewind Age-Defying Cream for the face and body, that reverses the aging process of skin cells. Our skin care products are allergy-tested, fragrance-free, and not tested on animals. My name isn't just on the package, it's in and behind, every product offered."

Dr. Copeland's skin care line offers:

Basics in cleansing--(http://mcskin.com//product_list.php?cPath=1_17).

Anti-Aging treatments--( http://mcskin.com//product_list.php?cPath=1_8).

Body line of products--(http://mcskin.com//product_list.php?cPath=1_9)

Sun/Lip items--SPF-( http://mcskin.com/product_list_detailed.php?cPath=2_37).

Acne/Deep Cleaning treatments--(http://mcskin.com/product_list_detailed.php?cPath=2_33)

Her skin care line is designed for men and women. And she especially understands that women are affected by the pre-menopause and menopause stages of life.

"Changes in hormone levels, such as estrogen, can definitely affect the health and appearance of the skin. After menopause, women experience a drop in estrogen, which can lead to thinning and sagging skin. Women may also notice increased fat deposits around the waist. That's why, as we age, it becomes even more important to take care of our skin. My Rewind products are loaded with effective anti-oxidants that can help firm sagging skin on the face, neck, and body, by stimulating collagen production. The Rewind Age-Defying Cream has Reservetrol, which Harvard has shown, is the most powerful anti-aging anti-oxidant."

To learn more about the distinguished background of Dr. Michelle Copeland, and to purchase her skin care line, visit: http://www.drcopelandskincare.com/.

We'll be featuring another article about Dr. Copeland during the week of June 9th. She will share her skin care tips, information about the sun's damaging rays, and how smoking and alcohol affect a woman's skin.

At Home Spa Treatments By Kathy Hilton

I interviewed American socialite and businesswoman Kathy Hilton back in May, and we discussed her PureBotanical skin care line. Yes, she is mom to Paris and Nicky. http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008/05/kathy-hilton-talks-beauty-and-skin-care.html.

But what we didn't talk about, was her Kathy Hilton Personal Beauty Spa Collection. Spa treatments in the privacy of your home. I had no idea how popular her at-home spa beauty treatments were, until I headed to http://www.hsn.com/. The Home Shopping Network is currently the only place you can order these treatments. And guess what? Kathy Hilton's collection is SOLD OUT, once again.

Let's take a closer look. Kathy Hilton has two interesting at-home spa beauty items women are raving about: Sculpting Treatment for Body(hot effect, $21.95) and Firming Pack Face & Neck(cold effect).

So what's so special? Both beauty items have come out of the advanced research labs of the Swiss Wellness Center. And both spa treatments use cutting edge formulations that deliver firmer, smoother skin in minutes. We're talking red carpet ready moments. Or maybe for a wedding or party social event.

Each treatment comes in a single-use metal canister from Italy. You shake each canister for 30 seconds. Then you take the enclosed spatula, and mix the product, and apply. Twenty minutes later, rinse with water, and you've got a toned sculpted face and neckline. And the body is firm, too, with cellulite much reduced in appearance. And we all love that!

You will feel like you're at an expensive, upscale spa. The great news, you're in the privacy of your own home.

Bad News About Stretch Marks

No matter how many creams you rub on your belly, you can never get rid of stretch marks permanently. That's the latest news. And the news is not encouraging.

Today's New York Times featured a story about stretch marks and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (photo by Getty Images)

“There’s not much you can do about these, other than monitor your weight gain,” said Dr. Laura Riley, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of “You and Your Baby” (2006). “Various creams and lotions are sold to prevent stretch marks from developing or getting worse, but the jury is out on whether they work.”

But the American Pregnancy Association is saying something else. The APA suggests that women CAN reduce the probability of stretch marks. Note the key word here, 'probability.'

Stretch marks occur when skin loses its elasticity, usually from rapid weight gain — a common occurrence, when a woman is pregant. It's estimated that 85-90% of pregnant women get them at some point during their pregnancy. 'Striae gravidarum'(medical lingo for stretch marks) are caused by tearing in the skin and connective tissue, due to the stretching of the fat tissue. Over time, stretch marks turn almost a silvery color in comparison to one's normal skintone.

So what's a gal to do?

Dr. Amy Derick, a dermatologist in Barrington, Illinois, says you should try and diminish their appearance. And act sooner, than later.

“There’s really not any data regarding creams,” she told the NY Times. “But you can do laser treatments or Retin-A after the fact, especially early on when the lines are red and purple.” Studies have found that topical tretinoin can lighten stretch marks as well as reduce their size. And she is certainly not opposed to pregnant women massaging their bellies with moisturizing oils and creams. “It makes them feel like they’re being pro-active, and if it feels good, why not?” she said. “It can’t hurt.”

By the way, Retin-A should NEVER be used during one's pregnancy and during breast-feeding. Research is still not clear on how Retin-A medication might affect the fetus or nursing baby. Please check with your doctor.

I still hear from women who have had good success battling their stretch marks, by attacking them early on. Here are two popular creams to rub on your belly, to help lighten, smoothe, and fade stretch marks.

StriVectin-SD Intensive Repair ($135, 6 oz.)
Avon Anew Clinical Professional Stretch Mark Smoother (new product. $25, 5 oz.).

Think Hair Removers For Summer

When I think of having to shave my legs, I often smile. I remember being about 11 years old and babysitting three little girls in my neighborhood. All three sisters noticed the dark little hairs growing on my legs, as I sat with them in my shorts. I was embarrassed, but also, too afraid to ask my mother to buy me a shaver. So one summer afternoon, I, and my hairy long legs, took the girls to the corner store. And with my babysitting money, I bought a little, pink bottle of Nair.

Yes, the hair remover lotion stunk like rotten eggs, but the next day I saw Leigh Anne, Laurie, and Leslie, my legs were soft and smooth and my underarms were hair-free.

Boy, have times changed. Yes, there are tons of hair removers on the market. And some, still stink, but the products work. And with the hot summer temperatures on the way, and you in your short-shorts, you have to think hair removers for summer.

What's the big deal? If you're just plain tired of shaving and nicking your legs and getting razor burn, or going for expensive hair removal laser treatments, or electrolysis, waxing (ouch!), or even endless tweezing, then it's time to try the hair removers again. Believe me, these products have improved. Now you can shower them off quickly. And most come formulated with moisturizing benefits, like aloe vera and chamomille. And bare skin lasts for 2-3 weeks.

Just a few reminders:

Be careful in the genital area. Do not apply hair removers too close to sensitive places.
Keep hair removers away from nose and ears, and breast nipples.
Do not apply hair removers to sunburned skin or irritated skin.

Do not use deodorant/antiperspirant for several hours before and after treatment.

Here are three hair removers to try:

New! Sally Hansen, Extra Strength Spray-On Shower-Off Hair Remover ($7.99).

New! Nair Hair Remover Shower Power ($8.50).

Bodybuilders know hair removers! Hair No More Advanced Vanishing Creme ($15.89)
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hair/creme.html

Best of luck, and get beautifully bare for summer!