Help Me!! My Hair Is Fried!!

Summer is winding down. Vacations are over. You're heading back to work or school. And there's just one, major problem-----"Help Me!! My Hair Is Fried!!"

You're not alone. It isn't difficult to mess up your crowning glory. There are so many factors that contribute to dry, brittle, damaged hair. Such things as: Salt Water. Chlorine. Hot sun. Coloring. Perming. Straightening. Blow drying.

A little too much 'Sun In,' perhaps?

Whatever the case, your hair needs help in the keratin department.

Keratin is found in your hair, skin, nails, and teeth. Our hair strands are made of these protein fibers. And when your keratin composition is depleted or weakened, your hair, skin, nails, and teeth, will show the difference.

That is why we have all heard about the importance of getting enough protein in our diets. Without it, there is dullness, split ends, hair breakage, hair loss, and other ugly results.

A diet including foods with Vitamin B5 (yogurt, avocados), is excellent for strong, beautiful keratin-rich hair.

Also check out these keratin-building foods:

Vitamin B (liver, eggs)
Folic Acid (beans, fortified cereals)
Calcium (milk, yogurt)
Zinc (meat, fish)

In the meantime, you can nourish your hair with keratin shampoos. These specially formulated shampoos contain body-building properties that effectively repair damaged hair, protecting against further breakage, and adding shine and elasticity to every strand.

Here are 3 Keratin Shampoos We Like:

1. Keratin Shampoo by Mill Creek Botanicals ($6.99, 16 fl. oz.)

2. Natural Apricot Keratin Shampoo by Jason Natural ($8.95, 16 fl. oz.)

3. Sunsilk Hydra TLC Shampoo with Nutri-Keratin ($27.50, 12 oz. bottles, 6-pk).

Remember: Keratin gives your hair its strength. We could all use a little keratin once in a while, especially after summer.

Sharon Stone's Anything But Basic Beauty Tips

Sharon Stone is still sexy at 50! The movie star was gracious enough to reveal her beauty tips, and we're talking, lots of them!!! From mascara to hair products to special tea, girlfriend is sharing the goods. And we love to hear celebrity beauty tips.

No. We here at http://www.beautytiptoday/, did not score the interview, but our friends at Harper's Bazaar did, and are featuring the gorgeous movie star in their September 2008 issue.

We like Sharon's honesty and how she looks at aging gracefully. "I'm not the 32-year-old pretty girl from Basic Instinct," she told Bazaar. She says she doesn't look the same, and had her extensions chopped off. She takes good care of herself and doesn't smoke or indulge in hard booze. And she's a busy mother of 3, chasing her kids around the house.

Sharon Stone adores makeup and skin care items from Dior, where she also serves as their spokesperson for the Dior Capture Totale line.

"Dior makes the best lip glosses going. I'm nuts about them, especially the clear one with the silver sparkles. I got addicted to DiorShow Mascara, too. It makes you look like you're wearing false eyelashes. It's the only one that rivals Maybelline."

And when it comes to makeup, Sharon admits that she's wearing a little less, as she grows older, but there are basics ---concealer is a must, along with blush, and gloss.

"I use Visiora cream base as concealer under my eyes because regular concealer is too heavy. Most make you look older. I like to use Stila cream blush, which I put on with a flat brush. It makes you look sun kissed. I also groom my eyebrows. Oh, and I carry gloss — Clinique Superbalm or the DiorKiss tubes — all the time."

And like most of us, Sharon Stone wants her hair to look just right. She's been known to cut her hair herself. But this time, she ditched the long extensions, and went to a pro for her trademark short do. She told Bazaar that she only washes her locks a few times a week. But Sharon definitely knows how to mix several hair products.

"I am nuts about the Tancho stick. It's a styling wax. It works better than anything else, but you have to use it sparingly. Just touch your finger on it and then touch your hair. It makes your hair stand up and gives great tousled texture. Then I spray dry shampoo or the Blondish Hair Powder from Bumble and Bumble. The powder sticks to the wax. I think it's important to change your shampoos and conditioners. I keep at least four different brands going in the shower. Right now, I like John Frieda and PureOlogy. But I don't wash my hair every day, only every three to four days."

Sharon Stone is not big on facials. She doesn't like people poking at her skin. But she does faithfully follow a cleansing routine and has luminous skin to prove it.

"I use M.A.C. Wipes or a Shiseido cleansing water to cleanse my face, and then I use all my Dior Capture Totale products. That's it, very quick and simple."

When it comes to diet and fitness, Sharon Stone is busy 24/7 with her active children. She isn't a vegetarian, but watches her intake of red meat. She has been blessed with what some would call, slender genes, but also passes up most dairy and caffeine. However, she's crazy about tea.

"I am a tea fanatic. I like Sunrider Calli tea, an herbal cleansing tea. I don't like the feeling of being drunk, so drinking hard liquor has never been of interest to me. I have wine with dinner, which I enjoy. My weakness is dark chocolate. I carry little tins of it in my purse."

What a wonderful collection of 'anything but basic' beauty tips from Sharon Stone.

Did we also mention that Sharon is dating a younger man, 24-years-old? Maybe that's the real key to to such a youthful spirit. Whatever it is, thanks for sharing, Sharon!

We've Got Hayden's Beauty Secret For A Winning Smile

Most of you know Hayden Panettiere from her indestructable cheerleader role on NBC's hit show Heroes. And many of you are aware of Hayden's good heart as an animal activist, especially kind to whales and dolphins.

The 19-year-old blonde actress is also the new Candies' spokesperson for their 'Inspired Collection.'

Okay, Hayden also lives in a spanking new mansion in West Hollwyood. Pricetag......$4 million.

But when it comes to a winning smile, Hayden Panettiere does what most of us do. She looks for a whitening toothpaste that really adds dazzle and mega-watt shine to an already beautiful smile.

We've already told you about Consumer Reports' number one whitening toothpaste:

Ultra brite Adanced Whitening Toothpaste. And the paste really lives up to the hype.

But Hayden brushes her teeth with another great paste: Elgydium.

Never heard of Elgydium? Neither had we. But we love the price for this tube of toothpaste ($7, http://www.drugstore.com/). And it's imported from Paris, France. The makers of Elgydium also claim that you don't need to spend lots of money on chemical whitening, that their toothpaste, over time, will give you a brighter, more beautiful smile.

Here's how the Elgydium company describes its winning toothpaste:

Elgydium Bicarbonate toothpaste ensures that your smile will be attractive and that your teeth will be shining and white. The results are immediately apparent and are even better over time. What is more, the menthol flavor produces a pleasant fresh feeling
Elgydium Bicarbonate toothpaste contains non-abrasive, micropulverised sodium bicarbonate which works effectively to eliminate dental stains caused by food and tobacco and to polish dental enamel.

We're going to pick up some of this imported toothpaste and give it a whirl. If Elgydium is one of Hayden Panettiere's beauty secrets, then the product is definitely worth trying.

Two Breakthrough Beauty Products That Might Work For You

We have all seen the endless string of infomercials on television, promising us beautiful this and beautiful that. And more ads in magazines and newspapers and beauty catalogues that guarantee bigger breasts, thinner thighs, thick and shiny hair, etc.

Do any of these products ever work? Or is it all a line of bull?

We closely examined two beauty products that just might work for you. Toki Color for getting rid of gray hair naturally. And LushBust for a naturally fuller and firmer set of breasts.

Okay....now we're talking. You can count us in!!

Let's look at Toki Color first. It is distributed by Lane Labs ($70, 60 day supply, http://www.lanelabs.com/). It's a dietary supplement. It comes in pill form. And the company claims to have the science to back up the effectiveness of the product. According to Lane Labs, you can avoid gray hair the natural way. This daily supplement delivers long term melanin to the hair, helping you fight off the gray.

Toki Color has a whole bunch of anti-gray ingredients in its pills---copper, vitamin C, lycopene, B12, and folic acid. What we love about the company, is that it is honest to state that these supplements will not work for every gray-haired person out there:

"Toki Color™ is a dietary supplement that supports natural hair color and is HAI™ potentiated for advanced absorption. It contains copper, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin C, lycopene, carotenoids and vitamin E that may support the healthy production of melanin in the hair.

Take 2 tablets daily. TOKI Color will not work for everyone. If it does it will happen slowly. If you stick with it, in time you, too, may be one of those people others envy for the glossy, healthy, natural color of their hair!"

Find us a gal out there who doesn't want a fuller bust that doesn't sag over time and after having babies. LushBust ($110, 1.5 oz., http://www.lushbust.com/., http://www.amazon.com/) claims it's a breakthrough bust enhancement cream.

The company says that 89% of women "saw a significant inprovement in bust tone, size, and skin texture following one month of daily application."

So what is in LushBust??

"LUSHBUST contains sustained release microspheres, delivering Pueraria Mirifica, a natural Thai herb studied by a Nobel Prize winner at Harvard University, and our exclusively blended vitamin cocktail, to the dermis, to naturally achieve bust enhancement and rejuvenating results!
LUSHBUST is loaded with multi-peptides. Peptides have shown to enhance natural collagen production in the dermis. Proper production of collagen is an important factor in firm and healthy skin."

You simply massage the cream into your breasts 2x daily. And when you obtain results, cut back to once daily. There are several before + after photos at the LushBust website.

These two beauty items, Toki Color and LushBust, might not deliver results for everyone, but at least the products are natural ones and are safe with easy directions to follow. And both products claim to have some good science behind them.

Malibu Is Making Water Well

For those of you who have well water, we've heard the nightmares, and what this hard water can do to your beautiful tresses. You name it---nothing good. Dull hair. Split ends. Frizziness. Too wavy. Dried out. Rust-stained hair. Colored hair gone awry.

For many women, a vinegar rinse after shampooing, is an old method that can help. Also using a clarified shampoo that washes away nasty buildup. However, using these two methods once too often, can also bring about a lot of added dryness to the hair.

So what's a gal to do?

Try the Malibu Making Water Well Kit ($24, many beauty shops, and at www.malibuwellness.com). It's one of the best-known and most-respected well water relief systems around. And it's a simple kit to use. You get 3 products:
Well Water Action Sampoo, 9 oz.
Well Water Action Conditioner, 9 oz.
Hard Water Weekly Demineralizer 4-pack

Here is how the folks at Malibu explain their unique well water relief system:

Minerals that can harm hair are charged positive(+) while oxidized proteins within hair are charged negative(-). Hot or warm water opens the outer layer of the hair shaft allowing minerals to get inside and attach to hair proteins like little magnets creating a wall of dissolved “rocks” on the hair and scalp.

The patented technology in Malibu Wellness Actives effectively reduces the charge of these harsh minerals weakening their hold and gently lifting them away.
When water elements are naturally removed in this way, they no longer contributes to oxidation. Your hair is truly clean (normalized) with color vibrancy, shine and texture beautifully restored.

If you are really frustrated by well water, and the wacky stuff it does to your crowning glory, you have nothing to lose, by trying the Malibu Making Water Well Kit. So many women, and we know a few, have told us this kit works beautifully. Perms and relaxers, and colors can process properly. The shine and health comes back to your locks.

Who needs a bad hair day, 24/7? Get relief!!

How To Get Beautiful Skin + Healthy Breasts With Turmeric Powder

If you love Indian and South Asian food, then you know the distinctive aroma and taste of powerful yellow-orange turmeric powder. In India culture, this colorful spice has been used for many, many generations, as a wonderful food enhancer, but also as a healing agent.

And now researchers are closely studying turmeric powder for its ability to revitalize skin and also protect against breast cancer. Just adding some to your diet, can give you smooth, supple skin in the years to come.

So, what's in this little spice?

Many good things. To begin with, turmeric powder is an anti-oxidant, anti-septic, and anti-inflammatory-acting spice. It also has iron and potassium in it, and belongs to the ginger family.

Ayurvedic healers consider turmeric to be a varnya herb, which means, enhances your complexion. Its strong anti-bacterial properties fight pimples and breakouts. And many women lighten or even out their skintone with a paste containing turmeric powder.

Dr. Andrew Weil talked about the powerful, anti-cancer benefits of turmeric powder in an article at his website back in 2003:

"Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is the yellow spice most familiar in Indian cooking and American-prepared mustard. Not only do I think that it is safe to take after breast cancer treatment, I think it would be helpful. The reason is that turmeric affects hormones that promote inflammation and cell proliferation, processes that seem to underlie most cancers.

Turmeric is being studied widely for its powerful anti-cancer effects. However, women being treated for breast cancer may be advised to avoid it during chemotherapy because of evidence from laboratory and animal studies suggesting that it may inhibit the action of certain chemotherapy drugs.

I often recommend New Chapter's Turmericforce; take one capsule twice a day. You can also safely add ginger, another natural anti-inflammatory, to your diet by eating crystallized ginger or the pickled ginger that comes with sushi."

By the way, turmeric should not be used if you have gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with your doctor before doing so because turmeric can be a uterine stimulant. And if you take coumadin, do not take turmeric, since coumadin is a blood thinner, and does not react well with the spice.

If you dislike the taste of turmeric, it can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

The Vermont Country Store Brings Back Old Hollywood Beauty

I was flipping through the fall 2008 catalogue of The Vermont Country Store, and was quite impressed by the unique and wide variety of beauty products the store features. These folks have been in business for a long time. The Vermont Country Store opened in Weston, Vermont, back in 1946. And the Orton family tradition continues.

"We still go to great lengths to find products that aren't sold anywhere else," said Eliot Orton.
"And each and every item is backed up with our no-hassle, no-fuss 100% guarantee to deliver quality products."

These clever merchants aren't kidding, either. There are tons of wonderful beauty items at The Vermont Country Store (http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/). And these old and new items harken back to old Hollywood. Beautiful products with a vintage touch. All in the classic tradition.

For instance, your moms or grandmoms, or even great-grand-moms, could tell you about these:

Frownies and Wrinkies ($19.95, per box, 144). Actress Rene Russo has always sworn by these wrinkle smoothers. These little, adhesive patches have been around since 1889. Many Hollywood actresses from yesteryear, would leave their frownies or wrinkies on overnight to train the muscles to relax and smooth out crow's feet, and other fine lines within a couple of weeks.

Tabu, the Original Smear-Proof Lipstick ($14.95, per tube). Tabu was introduced to the makeup market in the 1950s. It was a big hit with women because it didn't smear. The secret? A higher wax content. Comes in 4 pretty, kissable colors.

Cake Eyeliner in Black or Brown ($6.95). Hollywood beauties knew that cake eyeliner was the only way to achieve sexy, long-lasting glamorous eyes. This formula really stays put and you can create a very thin line or a thick one. Waterproof, too.

Sweet Almond Oil ($24.95, 6 0z.). Many folks say, that Jackie Kennedy's glowing complexion came from pure, natural almond oil. That was one of Jackie's beauty secrets. And now you can discover the softest, clearest skin by massaging in a little almond oil. No harsh chemicals. Just good for your skin.

And the list goes on at The Vermont Country Store. You might just see some of your favorites that you thought had disappeared off store shelves forever, like Evening in Paris--'The Most Famous Fragrance In the World.' Or Yardley's English Soap and Talc. Remember LemonUp Shampoo or Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific. No rinse shampoo. Fuller brushes. French Tortoise hairpins. Diamond Dust nail files.

It's a beauty junkie's little hidden treasure. And did I mention, the great penny candy, too? Mary Janes. Root beer barrels. Licorice babies. And peanut butter kisses.