Maksim Still Tangled Up In Dancing Stars Weight Scandal

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!! And since it's a fun day, we thought we'd mess with the scandal everyone's buzzing about:

ABC's Dancing With The Stars 'weight' scandal won't go away. It's a menage a trois of sorts. There are basically three dancers involved, and some alleged hurtful comments being tossed around. And Maksim Chmerkovsky keeps adding more fuel to the fire.

A few weeks ago, TV Guide featured an article about the hit reality dancing show, and Maksim was quoted:

"When I first saw these women this season, I said, 'Guys, you know the camera adds 10 pounds. You have to do something about this."

The two attractive women dancers he was referring to, are Cheryl Burke and Lacey Schwimmer.

That started a nasty battle, and veteran dancer Cheryl Burke defended herself by saying she had only gained a few pounds and is a size 4. "I want kids or women out there to realize, you don't have to be anorexic to be beautiful," Cheryl told People magazine. And other media reports were swirling, saying that Cheryl was out partying too much over the summer and looked bloated.

Today, Maksim has made his first comments since the scandal broke. And he tells People, he was misquoted and that he was talking generally about how "excess weight on the body takes its toll on the joints, the lower back," but insists he "never criticized Cheryl or Lacey."

Hmmm. Oh really? So how are things between him and Cheryl and Lacey?

"We're fine. I'm dancing with Cheryl next week," he says, while reinforcing that this is all a big misunderstanding.

"I do not condemn how people look," he says. "It's sad how all of this got spun."





We don't know the full story here. All we know, is that dancers work incredibly hard and have beautifully toned muscles for all that effort. Dancers have regal postures and healthy physiques. Dancing is probably one of the best forms of exercise and art that one can do to build long, lean muscle.

We are certain that both Cheryl and Lacey are quite slender in person. They are not fat, and yet the camera is unforgiving for people on television. Yes, the camera can add 10 to 15 pounds, unfortunately. Those are the plain facts.

But what has become so sad in our society, is that people on television have become thinner and thinner. Extremely skinny. When we see an average-sized person on TV, he or she can appear to be much heavier in person, almost mammoth-sized, when in reality, they are not.

Moral of the story here.....if you are going to be on television regularly, then the pressure to look skinny, is that much stronger. You have to be ultra-thin in person just to look Hollywood-good on camera. And we're not sure that's a great lesson to be teaching our daughters and sons.

Target Sells Cosmetics From 3 Top Makeup Artists

Okay, for those of you who might chuckle when you hear that some women buy their makeup from a not so high-end department store like Target, well,laugh no more.

Target is aiming their bull's eye on some great beauty products. And the store is bringing mass appeal right into their shopping aisles. Thanks to 3 new collections for Target, you don't have to go running around looking for your favorite specialty products. Yes, the prices on this makeup are higher, but you are still getting excellent quality at a cheaper cost than fancy department stores.

Famous makeup artists: Jemma Kidd, Napoleon Perdis, and Petra Strand, want to bring sophisticated cosmetics to women who might not wander into a Sephora or a Bloomingdale's.

You have a choice from 3 very pretty makeup lines:

JK....Jemma Kidd collection
NP Set....Napoleon Perdis
Pixi....Petra Strand

We took a look at Pixi's Water Blush in Chestnut Stain ($20).

This liquid stain for cheeks and lips gives your face a healthy, warm awakening that lasts all day

Apply directly onto apples of the cheeks and dab onto lips
Liquid Blush from Pixi
Light-Translucent Coverage
Can Be Used Alone or Over Foundation
Ideal for All Skin Types
No Animal Testing

We liked Pixi by Swedish makeup artist Petra Strand best, when we examined all 3 collections. Her makeup ranges in cost from $12 to $49. We also like the ease of her cosmetics. As she put it: "Pretty, simple is my design mantra. Pixi makes it easy to wake up and go."

Armani Wants Women To Wear Luminous Silk Foundation

Giorgio Armani has dressed some of the most legendary women in the world, like Sophia Loren. You could say his clothing is breathtaking and elegant. He is a master at creating a beautiful silhouette for a woman's body.

But his talent goes beyond the designer outfits and accessories. At 74, with his trademark deep tan and silver locks, Giorgio Armani is also creating a big name in the world of cosmetics. Mr. Armani understands makeup and the powerful impact it can have on a woman's appearance. His attention to detail is incredible.

Giorgio Armani has been known to be a perfectionist. He can take over a fashion show before it even gets off the ground. If the makeup isn't right, he'll do it himself, and he's constantly adjusting the angle of hats on his models, or fussing over buttons. He can be tough to work with. But hey, the man understands women and makes them appear gorgeous with his incredible eye for beauty and style.

And now Mr. Armani is making makeup easy for women to put on. The company's best-selling foundation is Luminous Silk ($58). The liquid foundation comes in 15 shades to choose from. And it's one of the most popular makeup items around. Luminous Silk is the winner of the Allure 2008 Best of Beauty Award. InStyle Best Beauty Buy Award. And Cosmo's Beauty 100 Award. And lots of women say his foundation shades work well on hard-to-match skin tones.

So what's so divine about this Armani foundation??

Well, we couldn't get him to sit down with us, but he did one interview with Allure magazine(October 2008 issue). And this is what he said about wearing makeup. There are two beauty items you absolutely need to put on: foundation and eyeliner.

"Makeup that becomes like a mask is good in a (fashion) show, but day to day, it must be there, but it must not be visible," he tells Allure magazine. "The makeup has to help the face show its best aspect and cover the negative."

As for the defined eye, Mr. Armani notes that this beauty product most improve's a woman's appearance, "a small eyeliner line. It is fundamental because it gives depth to the look and a sense of mystery---but it must not be noticeable."

Very fascinating look at such a talented human being. For more information on Armani makeup, visit: http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/.

Heidi Klum Very Sexy Limited Edition Makeup Line

The uber supermodel herself, Heidi Klum, is wearing a really big smile these days, and who could blame her?!

It seems like everything she touches, turns to instant gold, including her new signature makeup line for Victoria's Secret. Even the packaging for the 4-product Very Sexy makeup line is done up in gold.

Heidi Klum was wowing fans when she turned up at the Victoria Secret's store--The Grove, in Los Angeles recently, to debut her cosmetics line. The funny and stunning Heidi brought a little Halloween twist to the event, by dressing as a fairy. How adorable is she?!!

The makeup is quite affordable, and brings fashion-conscious women together with a sophisticated makeup look.

This signature Very Sexy makeup line by Heidi will not last forever, though. It's a limited edition, so best to get your hands on it now. She created the 4 makeup items with VS's own official makeup artist Linda Hay.

Mosaic Eyeshadow ($18). A 4-shade compact with colors of pink, ivory, taupe, and brown.

Glitter Eye Liner ($10). Gives your eyes a gentle, sparkle, that extra 'pop.'

Perfect Lipstick ($12). In a pretty pink nude color. Very subtle, natural.

Lip Gloss in Hot Coco ($12). Has a hint of chocolate taste. Yummy. You can wear it over the lipstick or alone, for a sheer pink effect.

And for all you Heidi Klum fans, the supermodel and mom to three, has even autographed each of the 4 beauty items. Pretty cool!

Dr. Yazdanfar Toronto's Top Surgeon For Beautiful Breasts

If you take a look at the statistics, you would see that many people are getting cosmetic surgery.

In the United States alone, there were more than 403,000 liposuction procedures performed and more than 383,000 breast augmentation surgeries recorded last year.

Cosmetic surgery isn't just for the rich and powerful anymore. It isn't just a Hollywood thing. Cosmetic enhancement is global, and everyday people are doing it.

Just ask Dr. Yaz. That's what Behnaz Yazdanfar is affectionately called by her many patients.

Dr. Yazdanfar has been listed as one of the top physicians in Toronto. She performs liposuction and breast augmentation at the Toronto Cosmetic Clinic in North York.

When some women think of breast implants, they think of a woman going from a 34A to a 36D. And although there are patients who might request that, breast procedures are much more than just wanting a big chest.

Dr. Yazdanfar knows that women who come to her might want to improve their bustline after having children. Or others who have always been embarrassed with uneven breasts. Or women who have lost a breast to cancer.

Look at actress Christina Applegate who recently underwent a double mastectomy at age 36 after learning she had breast cancer. She had tested positive for BRCA, or the breast cancer gene, and decided she would take such a dramatic step.

Another deciding factor was that after much research, Christina found that they can make "some pretty boobies" these days. She has saline expanders in her chest to make space for future breast implants.

As you can see, cosmetic surgery does some wonderful things for women, both inside and out.

Breast augmentation procedures at Dr. Yazdanfar's Cosmetic Clinic in North York start at $6,000.

Another very popular cosmetic procedure is liposuction, where a slimmer silhouette becomes a reality in just a matter of hours. And the Toronto Cosmetic Clinic is the first clinic in Canada to offer 'Smart Lipo.'

Dr. Yazdanfar is helping women and men shed the fat in a unique way. It’s a procedure that actually melts away fat. It’s called laser liposuction, laser lipolysis or better yet, ‘Smart Lipo.’

Smart Lipo is liposuction with hardly any suction. Lasers are used to melt away fat.

What’s remarkable about the Smart Lipo procedure, is the control a surgeon like Dr. Yazdanfar has in creating a more perfect silhouette. First, there is the permanent removal of the targeted fat areas. Then, the laser surgery smooths out the skin and tightens it, too, promoting new collagen growth. A big plus. Lastly, a talented Smart Lipo surgeon can sculpt the body like never before.

How expensive is it? Dr. Yazdanfar's liposuction procedures begin at $2,500.

Dr. Yazdanfar is proud of the fine cosmetic work she has done for her patients. Dr. Yaz is the recent recipient of Excellence in Cosmetic Surgery Education. She was recognized by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

There are always new technological advances in the field of cosmetic surgery, and Dr Yaz never stops learning. She attends international congresses, symposiums, live surgery workshops, and many professional meetings with world leaders in breast augmentation and liposuction, as well as other body contouring and facial techniques.

For more information, visit: http://www.drbehnazyazdanfar.com/.

New Vivite Skin Brightener As Good As Hydroquinone?

Okay, we are intrigued by this expensive, little 1 0z. cream at $119. And now everyone's talking about it.

It's called Vivite Vibrance Therapy by Allergan. Yes, the same folks who brought you that phenomenal stuff called, Botox.

At $119 for a small amount, we know you want to walk away. But just consider this:

Some dermatologists claim that Vivite Vibrance Therapy is just as good as prescription form hydroquinone for skin brightening or pigment lightening. And this one, can be bought over the counter. We love these advances in skin care!


We've talked to women who are afraid to continue wearing hydroquinone for fear that it can be harmful to the body and possibly cause cancer. But we've all been told that the 4% prescription was actually the most effective skin lightener around, until now.

Ladies, if you have dark spots like melasma and sun spots you want to get rid of, you ought to give Vivite Vibrance Therapy a chance. Controlled clinical studies have been done on the new Allergan skin brightener, and the news looks good. The cream delivers, and with a safer, active ingredient called, methyl dihydroxybenzoate. The magical compound fades discoloration by halting the nasty enzyme that produces excess pigment.

Vivite Vibrance Therapy also contains a number of anti-oxidants like grape and soy extracts. And also effective, anti-aging ingredients like green tea, licorice extract, glycolic acid and retinol. It's a bright yellow cream. But don't worry, it's easy to rub onto your skin, and the bright color disappears quickly, along with the somewhat 'sour' odor.

You can purchase Vivite Vibrance Therapy at online stores, www.skinlite.com. And yes, you can even find it on Ebay.

Linda Wells Knows Smart Women Like To Look Good

Allure magazine has been called the 'Beauty Bible' by some. And since the mag was launched some 17 years ago, women have been eagerly consuming its pages for tons of beauty tips and intelligent, bold articles that probe the world of beauty.

Allure gives women much more than the perfect shade of rose lipstick, although they do that very well, thank you. And with Linda Wells as editor-in-chief since the very beginning, Allure has been warmly received as a super Conde Nast publication.

We like Linda Wells because she takes a serious look at beauty, but doesn't take herself too seriously. She loves beauty but always seems to balance the frivolousness of pampering and self-adornment with a practical edge.

Her monthly 'letter from the editor' in the pages of Allure, is always a delight to read. In this month's October 2008 issue, Linda talks about how 'more is less.' She's referring to the multi-layered packaging of expensive beauty treatments, and how wasteful and crazy it's all become. Too much shiny cellophane, thick cardboard, excess plastic containers, and so on.

"Some cosmetics companies seem to believe that all these layers create a sense of luxury, that they make the product look precious, like a Valentine's present from Harry Winston. But that idea is passe," Linda Wells writes.

So true.

You can sense Linda's no nonsense approach to real beauty, in a 2006 Associated Press interview with reporter Samantha Critchell:

She acknowledges even with access to every new product under the sun, her own look changes very slowly. "My range is A to B. I don't change my look much but I can appreciate someone who does. If something is really ugly, we don't write about it, or if we identify a trend we won't say you should wear it," Linda Wells explains.

But she is on a bit of a personal crusade to get women to put on fragrance and a little lipstick before they leave the house. "Beauty is in some ways a courtesy. People have to see you and smell you. 'Casual Friday' isn't 'Don't-take-a-shower Friday,' and getting dressed for someone's dinner party is a way of showing respect," she says.

In the meantime, pick up the Allure October issue. It is jam-packed with Allure's Best Of Beauty--the 182 winning products. From volumizing shampoos to clump-proof mascara, and more. It's their biggest issue ever!!