Nivea Visage Products Now Discontinued Here In U.S.

Just an update to yesterday's article on the Nivea Visage Q10 beauty products. Boy, this one took us by surprise!

We were eager to tell you about the Nivea Visage beauty item that has been rocking the U.K.--Nivea Visage Anti-wrinkle Q10 Plus Day Care Cream. All our British beauties were saying such kind words about the dynamo cream. It sells for about $23 U.S. dollars there.

And we were looking all over to find it here in the U.S., but were only being offered a Nivea Visage beauty line excluding the British Q10 Plus product. So we were wondering if the U.S. and U.K. Nivea Visages were the same items with different labeling.

Hmmm. We couldn't get a straight answer. But here's the zinger:

If you were having trouble finding the Nivea Visage Q10 Advanced Wrinkle Reducer Cremes in our country, there is a good reason for it. Nivea is discontinuing their Visage line because of poor sales. Here is the email they sent us:

"Thank you for contacting us about Nivea Visage Q10 Advanced Wrinkle Reducer Day Creme. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this product, and all NIVEA Visage products, are being discontinued in the U.S. It is a difficult decision to discontinue the production of any product, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We currently do not sell our products directly, but the health & beauty aid website www.drugstore.com may still have inventory. You may also be able to place an order with them by phone, 1-800-378-4786.Please call us at 1-800-227-4703 if you have any other questions or comments. Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm EST.We appreciate your interest in Nivea Visage.

Cordially, Sam

Consumer RelationsBeiersdorf Inc."

Sam did not tell us in the body of the email, why the Nivea Visage line was being discontinued here in our states, but we made the 1-800 phone call, and spoke to a woman there, who quite tersely, told us poor sales were the reason for the discontinuation. The Nivea Visage line continues to thrive in Great Britain.

So, how do you get your hands on a jar of Nivea Visage Anti-wrinkle Q10 Plus Day Care Cream??? Good question.

Try http://www.britsuperstore.com/. We saw a bunch of Nivea Visage beauty products being offered. But we didn't see the Q10 Plus Day Care Cream. Instead, we saw the Q10 Plus Night Cream. Still, we are sure they could get it for you. And that one was being offered for only about $17.00, if my math is correct.

Hopefully, one of our beautiful British readers will chime in here for their opinions.

Never a dull moment in the high stakes of the beauty business. As model Heidi Klum likes to say:

"One day you are in, and one day, you are out!" Or something like that.

Bye-Bye To Wrinkles In 4 Weeks Says Nivea Q10 Plus

I must say, I have always used Nivea Creme on my body. I absolutely LOVE the orange-y scent it delivers. And I just like its smooth, creamy moisturizing formula. You know, the famous creme in the blue tin?

I have never tried Nivea beauty products on my face, however, but the Nivea people have me intrigued by their newest treatment:

Nivea Visage Anti-wrinkle Q10 Plus Day Cream with SPF 15 (about $23)

The only problem is, this wonderful beauty cream Q10 Plus, is not available here in the U.S. We heard about it being a big seller in Great Britain.

A similar cream sold here in our country is Nivea Visage Advanced Wrinkle Reducer Day Creme with SPF 8 and Q10 energy complex ($11.49, Walgreens). By the way, my mom has used this product and loves it. And she looks darn good. But it's becoming increasingly difficult to find in stores. It's easier to buy online. The reason? We have no clue.

Both Nivea beauty items claim to soften deeper wrinkles within 4 weeks time.

Is it the same product? We're not sure. We're going to have to do some further research.

Meantime, British women are raving about this Nivea product from their Visage Anti-wrinkle line. And this is what the beauty treatment claims it can do:

NIVEA VISAGE ANTI-WRINKLE Q10PLUS DAY CARE has now 100% more of Q10 than ever before as part of a high performing Anti-Wrinkle System. It activates skin’s energy metabolism from within thereby continuously fighting wrinkles in the deeper layers of the skin. The formula is now further enriched with SPF 15 to actively protect the skin against UVA/UVB damage and thereby help prevent further wrinkle formation.

Result:
Fine lines are reduced within hours
Mimic wrinkles are minimized within 3 weeks
Deeper wrinkles are reduced in only 4 weeks

We will dig deeper in the name of beauty. We're counting on the Nivea crew to get back to us, and explain the British beauty advantage, if there is one.

All Eyes Need Tender Loving Care To Stay Young

You have heard this from us before: The skin around your eyes is very delicate and thin. Eye wrinkles and crow's feet are usually the first signs of facial aging to appear, especially in fair-skinned people.

So what do we do?

Try not to squint. Seriously, you need to wear sunglasses whenever you are outdoors.

That's simple enough. But that's not enough. All eyes need tender loving care to stay young.

Christine Chin of New York City, is an expert in the world of beautiful skin. One of her most recognized clients is lovely supermodel Gisele Bundchen (Vogue photo).

Christine Chin Spa offers skin care and also her own brand of makeup and beauty treatments. Today's beauty tip looks at her Hydra-Lift Eye Gel ($49, 1.2 fl.oz., http://www.christinechin.com/).

"Refreshing, oil-free gel instantly firms undereye puffiness, visibly smoothes deepening lines and provides a crease-free shadow base throughout the day. 1.2 FL OZ (Energizing Eye Gel)."

Christine Chin recently told OK magazine, that she is very keen on this eye gel because it is a beauty product that targets the thin skin under our eyes:

"The skin around the eye area does not have oil glands, which means that it tends to dry and dehydrate and age the fastest. Your regular face cream is just not enough for the eye area. Use a heavier cream or serum."

Invest in an effective cream or serum that zeroes in on the eye area, like Christine Chin's Hydra-Lift Eye Gel. The price for an eye treatment always seems to cost a bit more, but you are getting a product that is made specifically to battle the fine lines in the eye area, and as we keep reminding you, it's the toughest area to keep youthful. So let's remember today: All eyes need tender loving care.

Amen to that.

Almay Intense i-Color Mascara Makes Your Eyes Pop

Let's be honest, here. There's always something you wish you had. I have dark brown eyes. And if I add brown or black eyeliner and black mascara, my eyes look almost black. In addition, I have dark brown hair. I have always desired blue eyes. I'll never forget a hunky guy in college who came up to me in a pizza parlor, and told me he was in love with my long, dark hair. Then he had the nerve to say, "I love your eyes, but I wish they were blue."

"Gee, thanks."

The closest I've ever been to blue eyes, was a brief stint with navy blue mascara a number of years ago. Now, before you laugh, the navy mascara was actually quite pretty with my dark brown eyes. And guess what?! Colored mascara is big this season.

Almay cosmetics are excellent beauty products. And everyone is buzzing about Almay's Intense i-Color Mascara ($7.49, your local drugstore). It's a gel-based mascara that glides easily across your lashes. The formula is enriched with Vitamins A & E and silky proteins.

And Almay Intense i-Color Mascara comes in 4 sexy shades to complement the color of your eyes: Blue Sapphire. Emerald Green. Brown Topaz. Black Pearl.

(Black Pearl for Hazel Eyes)

(Brown Topaz for Brown Eyes)


(Emerald Green for Green Eyes)

(Blue Sapphire for Blue Eyes)

I'm not sure, whether Almay got the matching mascaras right for the eye colors. In other words, I happen to believe that the Blue Sapphire would go nicely with my dark brown eyes, since I have tried that combination in the past. And I read a number of store reviews about Almay Intense i-Color Mascara, where several women claim that the Emerald Green goes nicely with their brown eyes. In fact, some women say that the colored mascaras complement every eye shade.

The reviews all seem to agree, that the Almay product is a great one: lashes are lengthened with the gel-based formula and the mascara lasts all day, and is hypoallergenic (good for contact lens wearers).

By the way, I have learned to love my dark brown eyes. Those, and my dark brown hair.

Dyeing To Be A Ravishing Redhead

When a redhead walks into a room, all eyes follow. It's no wonder that many women are dyeing to be a ravishing redhead. And a number of them have become Hollywood icons. Going red is exciting and seductive. But there are a few roadblocks in the upkeep department, and we'll show you how to avoid them, including fast-fading color.

Red hair is alluring and unique, considering that only 2% of the American population has naturally red hair. Scotland, by the way, has the highest percentage of redheads around.

Most women can carry off a shade of red. The key is trying to select the proper shade that complements complexion and eyes.

For example, there are cool tones and warm tones. Copper tones appear to be the most natural looking red shades for hair coloring.

Legendary hair colorist, Louis Licari, of New York City, has written a few wonderful books about dyeing hair. He would immediately suggest you visit a professional salon for drastic changes. But if you're going to home-color your locks, make sure your hair is in its healthiest condition. And you don't have to go Lucille Ball-red to become a redhead. Just a subtle red undertone can make a difference. You look more vibrant and softer.

Louis Licari had this advice for ladies looking for red hair tips, and trust us, Louis is a rockstar when it comes to creating beautiful hair color:

"Think about the difference between an ash blond and golden blond or an ash brown and chocolate brown. The ash colors are drab and drain the color from your complexion. The warm (red) base colors make your skin color come alive. This is what today's hair color is all about. Hair color should brighten your look. When you have the right hair color, it should look like you have on a bit of makeup. Red tones will make every hair color more dynamic.

BEAUTY WARNING! I must address all people with sallow complexions. You must avoid lighter warm shades. They will blend with your skin color and make your skin appear more sallow. This is a major beauty faux pas. You should choose a darker color to provide contrast with your skin color. Dark golden blonds, deep chocolates, and dark auburns work best with sallow complexions."

For more fabulous hair tips from Louis Licari, visit his blog at: http://www.louislicari.i.village.com/

Red color is the fastest fading dye of the entire hair color spectrum. According to what we learned, the red color molecule is the largest of all the color molecules, and for that reason, washes out very easily. That is why, washing red dyed hair too frequently, can speed up fading. That and chlorine pool water.

Invest in shampoos that are for color-treated hair to hold on to your exciting new hair shade. And if you want the least upkeep, put in a few red highlights around your face, instead of going the red route for your entire head.

Whatever redness you opt for, we're sure you'll enjoy the results. Meantime, why not try Clairol's New Herbal Essences Fire Red Collection. Shades range from burgundy to deep red and auburn. And Clairol says this homecolor dye is formulated with special VibeRed Color Boosting Technology that helps to keep your red shade alive for up to 8 weeks.

SpinLash Mascara Spins You Right Round, Baby!

Remember that song from Dead Or Alive: "You spin me right round, baby, right round, like a record, baby, right round, round, round...." Those lyrics will mean something in a moment.

We don't want you singing that song all day, but it will probably stick in your mind. Let's talk about one of our favorite beauty can't-live-without items: mascara.

We have come a long way, baby. Seriously. How about a battery-operated mascara gadget?! Take a look at that little orange-colored beauty gizmo in the right photo. It's called SpinLash mascara. You can pick it up at CVS, Target, Sally Beauty, and online at drustore.com ($14.95). Even Vogue Magazine is advertising this unique revolving mascara that gently rotates 360 degrees in two directions.

SpinLash mascara by Akasha comes with black mascara or brownish-black mascara. It uses a triple A battery. And according to the creators of this sassy, little eye makeup gadget, SpinLash can do several cool things:

Perfect Lashes Every Time
The First Mascara That Lines, Coats & Curls All At The Same Time!
Twice The Volume Half the Time
No More Clumps
Gently Rotates 360°
Big Sexy Eyes

No, we haven't tried SpinLash mascara yet, but it sure looks like fun!

J & J Introduces Evolence The Longest Lasting Filler

For all you beauty junkies who are constantly looking for the best new thing out there to stay young, check this out:

A new filler that erases deep folds and wrinkles, and really lasts and lasts! Better than popular Juvederm and Restylane.

It's called Evolence and the good people at Johnson & Johnson have just introduced this effective dermal filler to the United States. Actually, the filler has been available in Canada and overseas in several countries since 2004. FDA approval for use here in the U.S. came through on June 30, 2008. And it's just being presented now.

"Replace the collagen you've lost, with collagen that lasts." That's how J & J describes Evolence at their website, http://www.evolence.com/.

How long does this new collagen filler last?

At least 6 months. That's wonderful news, so touch-ups don't come as often.

Why collagen? Simply put, collagen breaks down as we all age. When that happens, our skin's support loosens and gives way to lines, wrinkles, and folds.

The cool thing about Evolence, is its ability to use naturally sourced collagen to replace the body's lost collagen. According to Johnson & Johnson, "Evolence adds volume and structural support in depleted areas, for a more naturally, youthful appearance. In addition, no pre-test is needed, and Glymatrix Technology delivers longer-lasting durability than previous collagen dermal fillers."

The other great news about Evolence---it won't leave your face all puffy, red, and stinging after being injected. J & J is boasting that this new filler leaves behind minimal bruisng and swelling. And this breakthrough filler does not use chemicals for cross-linking like competitive products do. Instead, Evolence uses natural sugar to improve durability.

So there you have it. Another breakthrough dermal filler---one that really lasts! The beauty science just keeps getting better and better.