How To Get Soft, Sexy, Kissable Lips

We all want soft, sexy, kissable lips, but most of us just slap on a lip balm and think that's enough. We're done. Hold on a moment----you have to apply a few more steps to achieve the ultimate in lip care.

First, don't smoke. (We're not here to preach, but we all know that smoking can cause those bothersome vertical lines around your mouth.)

You will need a toothbrush as one of your key instruments for lip maintenance. No. We're not kidding. You must exfoliate as part of your daily and nightly routine. For instance, after brushing your teeth, take your wet toothbrush and gently brush your lips in a circular motion for several seconds. This brushing will loosen dead, chapped skin and give you smoother, softer lips.

Or you can go one step further. Buy an extra toothbrush. Take a dry toothbrush and dip the bristles into a little Vaseline. And brush your lips. This really works, and it's a beauty tip that's been around for a long time.

Okay, now you can take out the balm and condition lips. Some gals don't even wear lip balm. But you need to condition this area of your face, too. Look for a balm that contains lip- smoothing and moisturizing ingredients like beeswax, glycerin, jojoba, aloe vera, or shea butter. Wear the balm at night while sleeping, and during the day, with or without lipstick.

And be careful in the sun. Lips don't have enough melanin to protect us from the searing heat. Melanin is the natural skin pigment that filters out the strong and damaging UV rays. Lips are also thinner in skin structure, very sensitive, and lack protective oil glands. That is why you need to have a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15. An SPF of 30 would be best.

And we've talked about this before. Dermatologists are now warning women about the dangers of wearing lip gloss in the sun. Sounds crazy, but this can maybe cause skin cancer. According to NYC dermatologist, Dr. Bruce Robinson, 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."

Just don't go out under the sun with bare, naked lips. Always wear a conditioning balm. And save the gloss for after sunning.

Limit your use of dry, matte lipsticks. Sure, many of these kinds of lipwear last longer. Your lipstick doesn't rub off as easily, but matte lipsticks can equal dry, chapped lips over time. Matte lipsticks contain more pigment, but less moisturizing properties. Don't become a slave to all-day lipsticks.

Hey Sephora! Make Room For CVS Beauty 360

Many of you buy your makeup at Macys, Sephora, or ULTA. How about buying your high-end cosmetics at CVS from now on??!! Make way for Beauty 360.

CVS Caremark sees the huge appeal for skin care and cosmetics, and now they want to jump into the mix and sell prestige beauty products. CVS wants to test this concept on the east coast and west coast.

Women's Wear Daily, which first reported the news, said the first Beauty 360 would be opened in Washington, D.C., and the second in Sacramento by the end of the year.

CVS' Beauty 360 stores will be built right next door to existing CVS drugstores, if these two trial stores take off with success.

"Beauty has always been a core part of our front-of-store offering, so this is the next evolution," CVS spokeswoman, Eileen Howard Dunn, told USA Today recently.

CVS will have more than 6,800 stores if it finishes its planned purchase of Longs Drug Stores. That geographic reach is one way to challenge the prestige beauty war with Sephora, Dunn said.

32 lines of skin care and cosmetics and a number of fragrances will be offered at CVS' Beauty 360 stores.

We say thumbs up, to CVS!! The more beauty stores on a block, the better. Now, if we could only use our CVS Care Card for some decent discounts on this high-end makeup, that would be the icing on the cake.

Two Faced Flawless Face Fall Collection

Now that's a mouthful:
Two Faced Flawless Face Fall Collection.

The makeup is gorgeous. And today, we're presenting another 2008 fall look!

The stunning model in the photograph, evokes haunting images of late starlets, Anna Nicole Smith and Marilyn Monroe.

Two Faced Cosmetics have just come out with their fall makeup line, and we have to say, the look is clean, polished, and classic. And we're going to show you how to get there. Especially for you blonde, fair-skinned beauties, this is a look you can copy.

We love Two Faced Cosmetics because they create the classic Hollywood look, when movie stars were, well, movie stars. The shades and textures of the makeup are carefully selected to give you a glamorous, but never overdone appearance.

Two Faced Magic Wand Illuminating Foundation
in Paris Light Medium ($32.50). Create a 'cashmere-soft' face with this healthy makeup. Packed full of skin-soothing properties, like cactus flower, calendula, and vitamin E. With the flick of this 'magic wand,' you put on a radiant, glowing face with a semi-matte finish.

Two Faced Eyeshadow Duo in Lovey Dovey ($17.00). A long-wearing eyeshadow that comes compact in the Hollywood tradition. You get a shimmering highlighter, and a darker shade to conture and line. Glamorous and vintage Monroe.

Two faced Lash-Injection Mascara ($19.50). What can we say....this big volume booster makes sexy eyes with long lashes. It's weather-proof and sweat-proof. Just 3-4 coats of this mascara, and you can build a false eyelash-in-a-tube effect.

Two Faced Lip of Luxury in Totally Nude ($18.00). Eight luscious colors to choose from. Soft as satin lipstick, with real staying power. Made with shea butter, too.

You can find Two Face Cosmetics at fine beauty stores like, ULTA, Nordstroms, and Sephora.

The Brand New $1,000 Skin Cream!!!

W Magazine was the first source to talk about this 'magic' skin cream in their September 2008 issue. Plus, Nordstorm's is already selling the item, and placed this expensive beauty treatment under their What's New category at their website.

Having trouble filling up your gas tank or paying the rent during these hard economic, recession-like times?!

If you have plenty left in your wallet, then consider this uber skin-saving treatment:

La Prairie Cellular Cream Platinum Rare ($1,000, 1.7 oz.)

The skin cream contains a formulation with pure platinum in it. Once again, we often tell you how amazing the science is becoming for beauty treatments. This is what the La Prairie people are saying about their ground-breaking anti-aging skin cream:

"This is pure science at its best, offering unparalleled benefits; quite simply, the skin looks, feels and moves like younger skin.
Benefits:- Pure platinum inspires perfect balance to improve hydration, protection, and receptivity to nutrients

- Exclusive Smart Crystals™ help guard skin's youthful appearance, actively reducing the effects of time resulting in noticeable lift, firmness, and the reduction of lines and wrinkles

- Climate-activated hydration adjusts to changing humidity levels and temperatures, continuously providing the perfect level of moisture."

Platinum is said to be a most rare element here on earth. And it has some mind-blowing properties. Platinum cannot be oxidized by air. Platinum is invincible against time. And according to La Prairie's scientific research, platinum is so precious, that "all of it that has ever been mined could fit in a single room."

It sounds almost too grande to be true. And so exciting to apply to the skin. You can use it in the AM and/or the PM. After washing and toning, smooth La Prairie Cellular Cream Platinum Rare over your face and neck. Avoid the delicate eye area.

No, we haven't gotten our hands yet on this ground-breaking anti-aging skin cream. But in the name of beauty science, we are willing to lend our faces and necks for the cause. La Prairie, we hope you let us sample this amazing new treatment!

Magazines Photoshopping Beyonce and Kate Hudson?

Can you say 'photoshopped?'

The two photos, side-by-side above, are both of singer Beyonce. Cosmetics giant, L'Oreal, is using the photo of Beyonce (right) for their Feria haircolor magazine ads. The ads are featured in the September issues of Allure, Elle, and Esssence magazines. The series of ads depict the beautiful pop star with a noticably lighter skin tone.

Beyonce has had 'No comment,' as far as we know. And in a statement released to the Associated Press, L'Oreal denied altering the photos.

"We highly value our relationship with Ms Knowles," the Paris-based company said.
"It is categorically untrue that L'Oreal Paris altered Ms Knowles' features or skin tone in the campaign for Feria hair color."


Can you say 'photoshopped' again?

That young woman is actually actress Kate Hudson on the September cover of W magazine. And no one is saying that looks exactly like her, but come on......it seems like everything and everybody is being photoshopped to ridiculous proportions these days.

What is the definition of photoshop? This is what we found:

An image manipulation program by {Adobe Systems, Inc.}. {Home (http://www.adobe.com/Apps/Photoshop.html)}. [Summary?] (1995-07-05)

According to Wikipedia: photoshop is commonly used as a verb.[14] Also commonly shortened to simply "shopped", this has become the modern replacement of "airbrushed"

Hmmm. Image manipulation. Airbrushed.

Ask any professional photographer, and they will tell you, that photoshopping is an incredible tool. You can 'lift away' undereye circles, scars, moles, wrinkles. You can make faces thinner or fatter, and the same with bodies, too. You can give a woman bigger breasts, at least, for the moment. In other words, you can be photoshopped until you are flawless.

Many a famous and beautiful face has been 'altered' or photoshopped. Recently, one magazine came under fire, for not removing a mole above Angeline Jolie's eyebrow in the final stages of photoshopping for its cover.

How crazy is that? So what if Angelina has a mole. She's lovely with it, and lovely without it.

Have we gone a little too far, in the photoshopping department? Is this quest for perfection a little unreal and bizarre?

Makes you wonder.

A Rose Is A Rose According to Lancome

Roses are probably one of the most beautiful flowers on the planet. And no two roses are alike. The depth of color on each petal is quite unique. And Lancome cosmetics has created a new way to deliver such beauty in a lipstick shade.

Lipstick junkies, gather round:
The Lancome collection is called Color Fever Lipstick Roses ($25, at fine dept. stores, and at http://www.lancome-usa.com/).

It's a really stunning set of lipsticks. And there is scientific technology behind the color creation. According to Lancome, it has to do with the Spectrophotometer.
The Spectrophotometer, creates the "perfect pigment recipe," replicating the exact shade of specific roses.

You've got to see these lipstick shades in person to believe the science. For the first time ever, Lancome has been able to capture the actual color of roses to be made into their collection of 5 lasting radiance sensual rose shades.

And there's a shade for everyone:

Browns-Neutrals: Rose Tempest
Pinks-Berries: Lancome Rosebud, Rose Fete
Reds-Corals: Daring Rose, Enticing Rose

Lancome is always creating new beauty treatments. And for Lancome beauty addicts, there is the all-important Lancome Alert Sign-Up. Here's how it works: Just visit the Lancome website and sign up. You will be emailed when the newest beauty products arrive. And you will be notified ASAP when your favorite makeup is being discontinued, so you can stock up. Just check off the makeup, skin care, sun and body, and fragrance items you are interested in. Lancome takes care of the rest.

Jolen Creme Bleach Stands The Test Of Time

This cute, little jade-colored box has been around for decades. And it's still a very popular beauty item. Simply, because it works effectively. And for about $5.00, you can safely lighten excess dark hair.

If you haven't heard of Jolen Creme Bleach, well then, maybe you're wasting too much time and money on waxing or stinky-smelling depilatories.

Let's be honest here, there are times you need to lighten up a few, stray dark hairs. Whether these little hairs are on your face, arms, body, or eyebrows, Jolen Creme Bleach comes to the rescue. And most women prefer it, hands down, to other bleaching competitors. Jolen has been around for years. It's inexpensive, safe to use, quick and easy, and leaves your hair smoth, pale, and soft.

Each little box of Jolen comes with 4 items inside:
Creme Bleach
Cream Bleach Accelerator
Spatula
Mixing Tray

And the directions are simple: Mix the bleach and accelerator together on the tray with the small spatula. And apply to hairs that need lightening. Leave on for 10 minutes. And 5-10 more minutes for stubborn or darkest hair. Wash off and dry.

Just follow directions closely, and you should have a smooth, lightening process. If you don't mix proportions as directed, the creme could sting and/or irritate your skin.

Some women use Jolen Creme Bleach to lighten up their eyebrows a bit or hair under their top lip. The only caution for brows, don't leave the bleach on for too long, or you will end up with too blonde eyebrows. If you're merely trying to lighten just a little, test the 'color' every minute or so, and make sure your eyebrows are not 'disappearing' in color. Brows can also end up orange in shade if you overdo the process.

If you have dark arm hair like I do (hey, I'm Mediterranean), you might have to leave the bleach on your arms for 20 minutes or so. But I have to report, Jolen is amazing for subtley lightening up this part of your body.

And I have friends who have used Jolen to paint pretty, thin blonde highlights through their hair. No, you're not supposed to use the bleach for that purpose, but it works well. Remember Pam Dawber who played Mindy on 'Mork and Mindy' ? Pam says she used Jolen for blonde hairlights on her medium brown-colored hair. Another note of caution---Do not leave on too long. You can end up with orange highlights.

Wherever you lighten little dark hairs on your body, and you don't have to admit every place you do it, try Jolen Creme Bleach if you're looking for a tried and true beauty product. It gets the job done. You can find it in just about every local drugstore.