Please Make My Beauty Treatments Work!!

Are you in it for the long haul? Did you recently purchase an anti-aging serum, or new moisturizer, or acne lotion? You've used the treatment for a while now, but it isn't working. Or doesn't seem to be working. Help!!! Where do you go from here?

We're all anxious for the quick fix. We want results ASAP, or as soon as possible. That's why beauty treatments like Botox and Juvederm are so crazy popular around the globe. Poof! And wrinkles are flattened and smoothed away.

Make certain that you are applying the product exactly as the directions tell you to use the treatment. If it is used primarily for nighttime, as you sleep, then, that is the time to use the product.

And be certain your beauty treatment has been researched through clinical studies, and has some solid science behind it. In other words, do your homework.

What if we suggested to patiently wait for your beauty treatment to work. At least a few months. That's what the professionals tell us. Beauty treatments take time to work.

Please visit this website, http://www.smartskincare.com/. It is full of excellent research, beauty tips, product reviews, and so much more. Dr. German Todorov, a researcher with a lengthy background in biology and chemistry and keen interest in anti-aging science, has written all the articles at his website.

Here is an excerpt from Dr. Todorov's article What To Do If Nothing Seems To Improve Your Wrinkles:

"Another potential pitfall is a lack of patience. Skin changes do not happen rapidly. Keratinocytes, the cells of the epidermis, the skin's outer layer, are replaced about every four weeks. Changes in the dermis, the deeper layer where wrinkles originate, usually take longer. Even under the best of circumstances (i.e. proven treatment and responsive patient), changes are usually barely noticeable after one month. Most experts feel that 2-3 month is a reasonable trial period for anti-aging/anti-wrinkle products. Keep in mind that slow and gradual changes are hard to notice. Sometimes, a person may think that a product is not working even when it does. Unfortunately, objective measurements of treatment effects are hard to perform without a research lab. Some people resort to split face testing but that may be impractical over a span of 2-3 month. Another alternative is to take before and after photos. However, such photos are useful only if taken in reproducible, well-controlled lighting and camera conditions. This is doable but requires a substantial degree of diligence."

Another point, don't go out and buy a huge arsenal of beauty treatments. Settle on a few and stick to a beauty routine.

Trident White Gum For Stronger Whiter Teeth

Many of us are obsessed with white, clean teeth. Please, no cavities.

Several articles ago, we discovered that cheap brand Ultra Brite Advanced Whitening Toothpaste ($2.09, for a big tube) is the number #1 BEST whitening paste around, according to the latest Consumer Reports' studies.

(Check out the article here: http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008/06/ultra-brite-really-whitens-teeth.html.

Meantime, sugarless gums are getting in on the whitening kick now. Trident and Orbit Gums, both claim they can whiten teeth beautifully with their special whitening agents blended into the gum.

Trident White Sugarless Gum ($1.19, Walgreens) promises it can whiten your teeth in as little as 4 weeks. If you really love to chew and chew gum, this one's for you.

Trident White has an ingredient in it called---recaldent. Recaldent is a tooth strengthener containing molecules that bind to calcium. This sugarless gum has xylitol in it, too. Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetner that helps protect teeth from decay by stabilizing a neutral pH level in the mouth. Huh? Alright, that's getting a bit complicated here, but it all sounds like good science.

So how do we go about brightening our smiles, lifting stains, making stronger teeth, and fighting away tooth decay?

According to the folks at Trident, just chew 2 pieces of Trident White Sugarless Gum after eating and drinking. Chew 2 pieces, 4 times a day, for 4 weeks. That's one busy mouth. Another plus here, chewing gum burns some calories, not a thousand, but a minor few. But also, chewing gum prevents you from eating, so that way, you're burning calories, too.

Maybe, brushing with Ultra Brite Toothpaste, AND chewing Trident White Sugarless Gum equals double the whitening agent strength.

Help Me Find The Best Lip Balm

When it comes to lip balms, it seems like these little beauty treatments in a tube, are very personal. We all have strong opinions about the best ones. And we all become addicted to our little 'chapsticks.'

Probably the 'most popular lip balm in the country' award goes to Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm ($3.00). Everyone LOVES Burt's Bees. And why not? It's formulated with ultra-emollient lanolin, coconut oil, and sunflower oil. And you taste that peppermint tingle. M-mmm good. My friends, Paula and Alyssa, can't get enough of this beeswax lip balm. They can't live without it.

Then there is Mary. Mary Kay, that is. Satin Lips Lip Balm by Mary Kay Cosmetics ($9.50). I have acquaintenances who swear up and down, that this is THE best lip balm going. Mary Kay brags that their lip balm lasts for 6 long hours, giving your lips a non-stop moisturizing treatment.

And then, the old stand-by. Chapstick, by Chapstick. Classic Original Chapstick ($1.89). This lip balm has been around for decades, and yet, it keeps on working. With an SPF of 4, Chapstick is great under the sun and for those cold winter days. Actually, this one's my fav. The one in the black tube with the white cap. Very effective, and I love the no-taste. Whatever it is, it tastes good.

Then there are more. Like Aquaphor. Aveeno. Avon. And good old vaseline. Your lips need some kind of protective balm. Don't go outside without it.

This Lip Gloss Helps You Lose Weight?!

There's a lot of buzz about lip gloss these days. Some of it good. And some of it bad, like gloss and its connection or invitation to skin cancer.

It sounds so crazy, but not according to this well-respected New York City dermatologist, Dr. Bruce Robinson. Apparently, it's the moisture in the gloss that attracts the sun's harmful rays. "Take a magifying glass and put it over your lips." When you apply shiny lip gloss and go out into the sun, "that's essentially what you're doing."

http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008_04_01_archive.html. (My April 30th article).

But today, here's some encouraging news about wearing lip gloss. It can help you lose weight. Or so they say. Too Faced FUZE Slenderize Guilt-Free Lip Gloss($18.50 http://www.sephora.com/)

The lip gloss is formulated with the "appetite-curbing, energy-boosting ingredients" of FUZE, a weight loss drink. Too Faced FUZE Lip Gloss comes in three mouth-watering flavors and high gloss shades:

Blueberry Raspberry (sheer purple)

Dragon Fruit Lime (sheer pink)

Strawberry Melon (sheer peach)

Is this credible? Can lip gloss help you NOT want to eat or over-eat? Who knows. The lip glosses are very sheer and silky and taste delish, though.

What makes these lip glosses such magical diet aides? According to the makers of Too Faced, there are three key ingredients:

Chromium--improves the amount of energy you obtain from food.
L-Carnitine--an amino acid that increases your energy.

Super Citrimax--helps you maintain a normal appetite and support a healthy metabolism.

Meet West Coast Makeup Artist Stephen Moleski

He's only 28, and already he's carving a legendary status as a super makeup artist on the west coast. Stephen Moleski (The Makeup Man INC.) makes women look more beautiful, and Hollywood celebrities all want him for that reason. He was kind enough to give us some wonderful makeup tips and to let us take a peek at the exciting world of beauty.

Some of Stephen's famous clients are the Kardashian sisters-- Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney. You may have seen him on E! Channel's Keeping Up With The Kardashians. He applies makeup to Kim Kardashian and she always looks so sexy, glamorous, and red carpet-ready.

"She is a dream client," Stephen says. "Kim is not afraid of any look, and she wears every look with confidence (and such a sweetheart)."

Other celebrity Stephen Moleski clients include: The Pussycat Dolls, Adrienne Bailon of the 'Cheetah Girls', Hugh Hefner's 'Girls Next Door' playmates, and many others.

Okay, Stephen, so what beauty items should we carry in our makeup bags?

"To get the most out of your makeup, you need to first go into the bathroom and look at your skin care routine. Bad skin leads to bad makeup and vice versa. I recommend using an organic product. I LOVE Sodashi.(http://www.sodashi.com/). It's a high quality product that really hydrates even the most dry skin. I use it on all my clients and they not only love it, but are using it now themselves at home. You also need a great concealer, like Makeupforever, and a great bronzer with a mineral finish. I also suggest ZOOM by MAC. It's a great mascara."

What about eyebrows? The L.A. brow is a thinner, sleeker brow. That's the brow some actresses like to wear. But according to Stephen, put down the tweezers. Don't take away too much hair.

"Brows should look like they have not been over-tweezed or over-groomed. A more natural shape always looks best."

And don't remain forever in a cosmetic rut. In other words, you don't have to put on the same blusher, in the same shade, for 7 years in a row. Be adventurous, Stephen says.

"I see women getting stuck in one look, and never trying anything new. People shouldn't be afraid to change up their look a little or a lot. Makeup goes through trends just like clothing."

And if you absolutley hate wearing makeup or don't have time to put it on, or just don't know what to apply, Stephen has this suggestion. "I would warm up with a neutral bronzer."

A very talented makeup artist knows more than just applying makeup. What sets Stephen Moleski apart from others, is his huge talent as an artist in understanding that each individual set of features presents a unique challenge.

"I have had a keen interest in art since I was a child, " he explains. "That I think, not only led me to this career, but has also secured my success in it. As a makeup artist, it is very important to know balance and proportion. This is why I consider my job similar to that of an actual artist, rather than just someone who knows how to buy and apply makeup. A makeup artist has to know the importance of healthy, glowing skin. A basic knowledge of how to achieve this is very important. Makeup is meant to enhance a person's features, not hide them. I learned the important tools very quickly in the beginning. Makeup is second nature to me. Faces are my muse. I am very proud of my accomplishments and very excited to continue my work."

Two famous faces Stephen would love to make up, but hasn't yet, are Drew Barrymore and Christina Aguilera. At the rate Stephen's rising star is soaring, we believe that dream isn't too far away.

For more information, visit: www.myspace.com/stephenmoleski.

Kim Vo's Beauty Tip For Green Pool Hair

Okay, this sounds crazy, but if celebrity hairstylist and master colorist Kim Vo, tells you to try this, I would. The Vietnam native has one of the most beautiful heads of blonde hair around. He knows color, believe me.

Today, he mentioned ketchup. It's summer now, and that means lots of pool parties, and lots of laps. So if your bottle-blonde hair turns a nasty green, don't fret. Kim has a simple solution. Just apply ketchup to your locks, massage in, and let it sit there for a few minutes. Then jump in the shower and rinse thoroughly. Shampoo, and rinse again. It really works. The green is gone!

According to Anne Marie Helmenstine, a chemistry expert, the culprit is the copper, not the chlorine.

"It isn't the chlorine that turns blonde hair green. Oxidized metals in the water bind to the protein in the hair shaft and deposit their color. The metal that produces the green tint is copper, which is most commonly found in algicides, though it naturally occurs in some water. The bleach that is added to a pool may be responsible for oxidizing the metal, but it's not the cause of the color.

If your hair turns green, you can remove the discoloration by using a shampoo that chelates the metal. To some extent, you can prevent copper from binding to the hair by sealing the hair cuticle with a conditioner before swimming. Rinsing your hair immediately after leaving the pool will help protect it, too."

Hmmm. We kind of like the simple ketchup idea better.

By the way, Kim Vo is one of the hottest hairstylists around. He has tended to the long, lovely tresses of Teri Hatcher, Kate Hudson, and Pamela Anderson. And this evening, Kim will be presented as one of the lead judges in Bravo TV's Shear Genius reality series. The second season is premiering at 10 PM/ET/PT with hostess Jacyln Smith. Twelve contestants head to Los Angeles to compete for $100,000. Get ready to lather. Rinse. Compete.

How Safe Are The Vitamins You're Popping?

Apparently, half of us pop vitamins and supplements on a daily basis. That's what the American Dietetic Association has surveyed. That all sounds fine because beauty really begins from the inside. But do you exceed the dosages? Do you need all these pills? Is there a vitamin overload?

Some medical experts seem to think so, and that's been the buzz in the headlines today. Watch what you are popping for vitamins, because you could mess up the inside of your body.

Vitamin A (retinol) Great for skin, bones, teeth, and vision. Too much Vitamin A, however, can cause birth defects in pregnant women. Too much can also make your hair fall out and skin turn yellow. On the other hand, too little Vitamin A can also cause birth defects. Limit dosage to 5000 IU.

Vitamin B6. Builds a strong nervous system. But high doses can damage arms and legs. Limit dosage to 100 mg.

Vitamin B9. Folic acid is necessary for healthy blood. Too much folic acid, however, can bring about nausea and insomnia. Limit dosage to 1000 mcg.

Vitamin C. Folks around the globe all applaud the good stuff in Vitamin C, especially for keeping colds at bay. But overdosing on it can cause indigestion, diarrhea, and gastro-intestinal problems. Limit dosage to 2000 mg.

Vitamin D. We've all heard about the welcome benefits of Vitamin D, to prevent cancer and other ailments. Dr. Weil raves about it. But too much of a good thing can go badly, like kidney stones and kidney damage. Do not exceed 2000 IU.

Vitamin E. Faithful Vitamin E takers swear buy this golden supplement, calling it one of the great anti-oxidants of all time, a pill that maintains good cardiovascular health. But overdosing on E can cause serious bleeding and even congestive heart failure. Plus, latest medical studies now show that E has 'no proven clinical benefits.' Do not exceed 400 IU.

There you have it. Please keep a record of all the vitamins and supplements you take, so that your primary care physician has a good idea of how you're treating your body.