Tuesday, August 12, 2008

High-Definition Makeup Really Makes You Look Flawless


This little beauty tidbit caught our eye. There really is such a thing as high-definition makeup. At least, the cosmetics industry never misses a beat. With such major improvements in TV technology, like HDTV, faces on television need state-of-the-art makeup coverage. Let's face it, as beautiful and sexy as many celebrities are, even their tiny flaws can look, well, quite noticeable.

Nightly news anchor, Katie Couric, once remarked that she was not looking forward to high-def, because that meant her own facial flaws would be examined in more detail. And when you're a woman in your 40s, 50s, and beyond, it's more challenging to look youthful and wrinkle-free with such modern TV technology and the ever-sharp camera lens looking into every pore on your face. (We happen to think that Katie looks polished and very glam in high-def).

What's so harmful about HDTV? Nothing, except that it has five times more detail than standard television, because it contains more information in digital form. So it produces an exceptionally clear and crisp picture. Colors are more vivid. And, yeah, wrinkles, lines, scars, undereye circles, etc., are more highlighted, too.

But now there's high-definition makeup to the rescue! And you don't have to be a celebrity like Kelly Ripa, Anne Curry, or Soledad O'Brien, to appear flawless and pretty. This new and special makeup can improve your skin's texture and even out your complexion.

Here are some excellent high-definition makeup products to try:

1. Borba HD-Illuminating Plasma Crystals Diamond Dermabrasion Peel Treatment ($59, http://www.borba.com/). Use this before you apply makeup, and you will see a flawless glow. An ultra-smooth canvas to build on.

2. Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation SPF15 ($38, http://www.smashbox.com/). You need a foundation to even out your complexion, and this one does the trick. It's a weightless foundation that has the ability to build great coverage. Plus it's packed with vitamins, and a good SPF for sun protection.

3. Make Up For Ever HD, High Definition Powder ($30, http://www.sephora.com/). Yes, an HD powder to set your makeup. It contains micro-particles made of 100% mineral silica powder. These teeny particles do great big things like, reflect natural and artifical light. And soften lines and imperfections on the screen and in person.

4. Cargo Blu-Ray Lip Gloss ($29) and Mascara ($20, http://www.sephora.com/). For a beautiful smile, hyaluronic acid spheres and a peptide chain plump lips and smooth out fine lines, while transparent pearl pigments provide an even color payoff.

And the mascara is HD-fabulous, too. It's formulated with Panthenol and Keratin, which strengthen and improve the structure of lashes. Lashes look full and voluminous yet perfectly natural.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Apply These Nightly Beauty Treatments And Wake Up To A New You














We know you've heard the phrase, "I need my beauty sleep."

Maybe there's ample truth to that. Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, can make a difference to your whole being. When you're fast asleep, your body is busy doing things at the cellular level. That's the time that skin repair and rejuvenation begin to kick in gear.

The National Institutes of Health say that our hormones play an active and key role during deep sleep.

"In children, human growth hormone (HGH) is released during deep sleep. Insufficient sleep can affect hormonal balance in adults as well. Tissue repair also occurs during sleep, including repair to the daily skin damage done by UV light. Getting enough deep sleep will help your skin repair itself."

And we have a 'beauty sleep' list of treatments that are designed to work when you're catching your zzzz's. These products will help you get ready for the next 24 hours.

Get ready to get glamorous overnight!!

1. Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Bath & Shower ($28, http://www.moltonbrown.com/). This rich, moisturizing bath formula fights stress and promotes a peaceful sleep.

2. John Freida Frizz-Ease New Creme Serum Overnight Repair Formula ($9, http://www.drugstore.com/, and local drugstores). John Freida makes super salon quality hair care products. Fix damaged hair while you sleep. Envelops each strand. Contains calming chamomile extract.

3. 5th Avenue Bath Co. Pillow and Linen Spray ($8, http://www.5thavenuebathco.com/). A revitalizing, luxurious spray that calms you before you drift off to sleep. You will awaken refreshed and energized. Comes in several delightful scents, like Asian Lemongrass, and Pomegranate Fig. Simply spray onto pillowcases and sheets.

4. Zo Skin Health Ossential Radical Night Repair ($325, http://www.zoskinhealth.com/, and nordstrom stores). Developed by the famous Dr. Obagi, of the well-known skin care system. Full of highly concentrated retinol to repair skin, boost radiance and firmness. The price is high, but Dr. Obagi insists you will see ,"amazing results."

5. Bourjois Night Repair Balm, ($10.50, ULTA stores.) A tinted lip balm that treats dry and weathered lips as you sleep. Smells floral sweet. Very creamy texture nourishes your lips. Lips feel like velvet when you arise in the morning.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Diet And Fitness Tips of Olympic Medal Beauty Dara Torres

Wow!!
Need we say more? We couldn't ignore the inspiring story of Dara Torres. She's 41-years-old, and the mother of 2-year-old Tessa Grace.

And Dara Torres just picked up a silver medal in the swimming relay last night. She's got 10 Olympic medals. That's right. Nine medals from 1984, and now this one! And she competes in the 50M freestyle soon. My money's on Dara. In addition, Dara Torres broke a century-old Olympic record last evening, by becoming the oldest swimmer in the Olympic games.

How are Dara's Olympic accomplishments an important beauty tip?

Just take a look at the photo. The body is rock-solid. She's 41, and had a baby. That just goes to show us all, that a super body can be developed at any age, with the perfect amount of dedication, nutrition, and fitness.

Dara is close to 6 ft. tall and weighing in at 149 lbs. And we have Dara Torres' diet and fitness tips.

Dara doesn't count calories, because she says she had an eating disorder in college (bulimia). She told MSN.com, that for breakfast power, she drinks a Living Fuel Shake (berry-flavored) with milk and fruit.

As we get older, our bodies change, when it comes to diet and fitness.

"The biggest change is recovery. I don’t recover as quickly as I used to, so now I try to eat more foods—lean protein in particular—that help me recover quicker."

Dara's favorite meal?

"A mixed green salad, turkey-spinach lasagna, garlic bread and green beans. My favorite cookbook is one I got in college—Where’s Mom Now That I Need Her?"

Dara also cheats, probably not too often, considering the superior shape she is in.

" It’s OK to have bites of food that probably aren’t the best for you because that way you won’t deprive yourself and then want more of that food. I eat what I want, when I want, but I exercise so I can do that."

This Olympic medal winner trains very hard. Gearing up for the summer games, Dara had a head coach, sprint coach, strength coach, two stretchers, two masseuses, a chiropracter, and a nanny for her daughter, all at a cost of $100,000 a year. And we can see by the results and her big silver victory, that the grueling and challenging work has paid off.

"I spend two hours in the pool, five days a week, and I weight train four days a week—two days of lower-body and core and the other two days upper-body and core. I also do resistive stretching three days a week."

Here are Dara Torres' favorite cheat snacks:

1. Root beer float "It has to be made with IBC root beer and Breyers vanilla ice cream."2. Vanilla cream cookies "They're so good I don't even bother taking bites. I just put the whole cookie in my mouth."3. Blocks of milk chocolate from Fresh Market "This is real, no-BS chocolate." 4. Lime Tostitos "They have a kick to them. I love to munch on them before dinner." 5. Fresh-squeezed lemonade "I keep it in my water bottle."

Saturday, August 9, 2008

New Beauty Collagen-Enhancing Gadget By Dr. Perricone

We love beauty products. Who doesn't? And we, here at BeautyTipToday.com, also get excited over new beauty gadgets. And boy, do we have a cool, little hand-held beautifier right here.

Skin guru and cosmeceutical giant, Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone, has just introduced a new collagen-enhancing gadget with red and infra-red light. It isn't the cheapest item on the block. But at $335, you could consider this a key beauty investment for your skin.

It's called the PerriconeMD LIGHT Renewal. And Nordstrom stores are offering this little beauty gadget exclusively (also online at http://www.nordstroms.com/).

So, what does the PerriconeMD LIGHT Renewal do?

According to Dr. Perricone, this beauty gadget is really good at rejuvenating your skin and boosting cell regeneration:
Key benefits: Stimulates collagen and elastin. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Imparts radiance.

It's Dr. Perricone's first hand-held at-home light-therapy treatment. And he claims it comes pretty close to in-office procedures. It's convenient in size. It's totally portable. And you can repair your skin in the privacy of your home, office, vacation spot, and so on.

The PerriconeMD LIGHT Renewal is easy to use. Just aim and zap! For best results, use 2 hours a day, spread over4 consecutive days a week. Within 3-7 weeks, you will notice healthier facial skin.

"By using measured doses of red and infra-red light at specified time frames on targeted areas of the face, a renewed appearance of contour, tone, and texture presents itself on the surface, particularly around the eye area where significant studies were established."

The good thing to know, clinical trials have been done on this little Perricone beauty gadget, and at the moment, the statistics look pretty solid. Trials focused on the eye area and the wrinkles present there:

Clinicals:- 84% reported improvement in the appearance of skin tone¹- 83% reported a softening in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles²- 75% reported improvement in the appearance of skin smoothness²- 74% reported visible changes in fine appearance of lines and wrinkles¹- 68% reported improvement in the appearance of skin firmness¹- 84% rated the product very easy to use¹¹Based on 12 week clinical study of periorbital wrinkles²Based on 9 week clinical trials of periorbital wrinkles.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Our List Of The Best Undereye Concealers





Do you have them, and hate them?

According to dermatologist to the stars, Dr. Frederic Brandt, 9 out of 10 us have dark, undereye circles to some degree. But don't blame yourself. Sometimes, your DNA plays a key role in giving you those dark, unattractive shadows. Have any relatives that have the same problem? We bet you do.

Then there's the capillary science. We all have capillaries, or tiny blood vessels. And many of us have leaky capillaries under the eye, which in turn, leave behind those dark blue-black shadows. And because the eye area is made of delicate skin, you see the dark circles more easily.

Even the famous Mayo Clinic has been researching dark, undereye circles. Their advice: Buy over-the-counter beauty products to help diminish the darkness. The clinic suggests applying eye creams that contain vitamin C or K, or alpha hydroxy acid, or kinetin. All these can be beneficial to the thin skin that is found along the eye area.

Meantime, let's get down to business. We all could use some undereye concealer. Don't fool yourself. Even if your skin is near perfect, this is an essential beauty item to use daily.

Important Beauty Tip Today: Always apply concealer AFTER putting foundation on.

And we compiled a list of our Best Undereye Concealers:

1. Stila Illuminating Concealer ($22, http://www.stilacosmetics.com/). This little number comes in a liquid formula, filled in a tube with an applicator brush. It gives sheer coverage but is able to neatly cover up dark circles and discoloration, even blemishes. We love it because it contains mica particles which refelct light to fool the eye.

2. Nars Concealer ($21, http://www.narscosmetics.com/). Nars pakages their concealer in a lipstick-like tube for easy, quick application. The product is nice and creamy, but still lightweight, offering good coverage. Made with nourishing stuff like vitamin E. Long-lasting, and resists creases.

3. Benefit Erase Paste ($26, http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/). Brand new this year, an instantly blendable camoflager. Very creamy consistency. Comes in a little pot with a spatula and step-by-step directions. Great at brightening skin and hiding imperfections, all at once.

4. Prescriptives Camoflage Cream ($17.50, at Macy's, http://www.prescriptives.com/). A weightless, creamy undereye concealer that covers all your little imperfections quite perfectly. Never creases. Comes in 9 shades. Can also be used as an eyeshadow primer.

5. L'Oreal's True Match Super Blendable Concealer ($8.99, at drugstores, http://www.ulta.com/ ). An oil-free concealer with vitamins E and B5 to revitalize delicate undereye skin. The brand new formula also comes in 9 shades. Easy to find the right shade. Great coverage for dark shadows and acne blemishes.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Muscle Milk The Newest Health Craze In A Bar














Okay, this health/beauty tip comes from a very good source. Check this out: Muscle Milk.

Haven't heard of it yet?

If you're into bodybuilding or hitting the gym frequently, then you might have caught the buzz on it. Seems like everyone is chomping on these nutrition bars.

My very good friend, Philip, a serious weightlifter with a handsome physique, brought me one to sample.

And I have to say, it's delicious, well, for a protein bar. Muscle Milk contains 25 grams of Protein in its 2.57 oz. bar (or 73 g). You can pick up these healthy bars at fitness/nutrition stores, and now at Rite-Aid. I ate Vanilla Toffee Crunch. Mine cost $2.79. The bars also come in-- Banana Creme Yogurt and Chocolate Peanut Caramel.

According to CytoSport, which puts out these delicious lactose-free energy bars, there is proven science behind them:

"Muscle Milk Bars are an evolutionary muscle formula for promoting a lean body, lean muscle growth and fast recovery from exercise. Metabolically favorable ingredients stimulate growth and recovery in a similar manner to mother's milk nourishing a baby."

We all know how important protein is to the body, and women especially, do not get enough protein. This bar provides lots of energy, nutrition, and a full, satisfied feeling in the belly. And it's covered in a natural, chocolate coating. Plenty of good crunch, too.

CytoSport says that Muscle Milk Bars make a healthy, nutritious snack any time.
"They are the perfect solution for people who want to feel better and improve their performance while on the go."

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

How To Get Rid Of Your Funky Ink Tattoos

















This stunning tattoo of a tiger belongs to stunning actress and new mother of twins, Angelina Jolie. Rumors say that Angelina has about a dozen tattoos. And she's not alone.

Tattoos can be beautiful works of art. And sometimes, the allure has worn off. In other words, you want to get rid of your funky ink.

But you're afraid of the pain, the time, and the big amount of money you need to rub away or zap away your tattoo.

Many women and men love their tattoos. And getting ink, is still hugely popular in this country. In the 1990s, tattoos were big business, and it appears that our love of ink, isn't fading away anytime soon. These Hollywood celebrities also love their tattoos: Kelly Ripa, Pamela Anderson Lee, Jessica Alba, Gisele Bundchen. Look at former Posh Spice cutie, Victoria Beckham. She sports 5 stars on her lower back. One for each family member. And she has her husband's initials 'DB' onthe underside of her left wrist.

But there might be a time you regret getting that big, ugly tattoo on your right thigh, for instance. Look at Angelina Jolie. Remember that unattractive 'Billy Bob" tattoo she was showing off on her left arm? That has since been lasered off, according to several reports. We're sure that her significant hunk other, Brad Pitt, wouldn't want to be staring at the Billy Bob tat each and every day.

To be honest, most plastic surgeons and dermatologists would advise you to undergo tattoo laser removal. That's the best method in ink removal. Yes, it can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars up into the thousands of dollars, depending on the size and location of the tattoo, the number of visits involved, and so on. The lousy thing, medical insurance will not pay for tattoo removal since it is considered cosmetic in nature. Plus the procedure is a bit uncomfortable. Well, then again, they say that getting a tattoo is uncomfortable, too. (P.S. I don't have any ink).

During laser tattoo removal, the procedure causes the pigment in the ink to fragment, or break into smaller particles that are then removed by the body's immune system.

If you want to avoid a costly surgical procedure, you could try a chemical peel. Such peels are generally used on the face to rejuvenate the skin, and peel away dead, thick layers. The American Academy of Dermatologists suggests that chemical peels can also succesfully remove tats.

And then there is a fading cream for at-home tattoo removal. One of the popular brands is Wrecking Balm (1-800-671-3936). For about $200, you can get a 2-month supply that will slowly fade away your unwanted ink. No burning, and you can sign up for their 'risk-free trial.'
Some folks swear this balm works, but there are others who claim it doesn't live up to the hype.

Do your homework. Ask some friends with ink how they have removed unwanted tatoos. Visit a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, and show them your funky ink. Get their advice. And good luck.