Gossip Girls Dish About Their Favorite Makeup

Everyone loves television's Gossip Girls.

Their style. Their hair. Their makeup......

The girls always look so pretty and polished, especially blonde-haired beauty Taylor Momsen and raven-haired lovely Jessica Szohr.

Ever wish you could learn at least one makeup brand the Gossip Girls love to wear?

We did a little digging and came across 2 makeup items Taylor and Jessica can't live without. Thanks to In Touch magazine, we can now share them with you.

Any time you see Taylor Momsen, whether she's on the set, or rocking the red carpet, you will notice that she loves dark eyeliner, and isn't afraid to use it.

For that 70's rocker-chick look, Gossip Girl Taylor plays with smoky eye shadows. "I love MAC makeup for the eyes," she told In Touch.

We suggest trying: MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow in Word-of-Mouth ($18, maccosmetics.com).

For Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr, it's all about smooth, even skin. Her complexion looks flawless, and she relies on this famous line of makeup. "I use Laura Mercier," Jessica explained to In Touch. "I have her foundation, and it's like OMG!!"

We suggest checking out: Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic ($38, sephora.com).

You Must Firm Up Your Bust With Avon Solutions

What can we say?!

We get several emails from time to time asking for a good cream to firm up the bust.

We are certainly no expert in this area, but we recently saw an ad for Avon, bragging about their wonderful contouring cream to lift a sagging bosom. We thought we'd take a closer look.

It's called, Bust Sculpt Contouring Cream by Avon Solutions ($17, 5 fl. oz.) And right now, buy one, and get the other for only $1.99. Now that's a great deal.

Does it really work, you ask, with a snarl in your tone?

According to the testimonials at the Avon website- http://shop.avon.com/shop/search.asp?find_spec=bust+sculpt+contouring+cream&department=search,

the bust-firming cream gets a 4.4 star rating out of a possible 5 stars. Or 91% of those who commented, would recommend this product to a friend.

Avon says their Bust Sculpt Contouring Cream is based on a unique formula they call--Virtual Bra Technology. This concept blends special ingredients that form a network of support around the bosom. And the longer you use the cream, the better the results.

Here's how Avon broke it down:

After one application, skin looks and feels softer, smoother and more supple.

• After one week, skin in the bust area feels tighter.

• After two weeks, breasts feel firmer.

• After four weeks, breasts look firmer

83% of women who tried it saw an overall improvement of the appearance in the bust area.

75% saw and felt their breasts were more toned.

77% felt tighter skin in the breast area75% saw a visible reduction in stretch marksHOW TO

USE: Use daily, applying to bust area in an upward motion.

This is the newest comment we saw at the Avon website about their Bust Sculpt Contouring Cream:

I've been made a believer!
Date: October 4, 2008
"This is a great product! My mom told me about this product, and after reading the reviews I had to try it. After losing a lot of weight plus breastfeeding my skin felt very loose and saggy. I've been using this for 2 months and I've gotten so firm it's unreal! I try to stock up when I see it on sale. Thank God for AVON!"

There you have it. For less than $20, you can try this bust-firming cream. And you can get 2 for under $20, one to give a friend. Okay, a close friend.

Jumping Rope A Super Fat Burner For Diet Plan

Maybe you jumped rope as a child. Our mother loved double dutch. And yes, we have fond memories of double dutch jump roping in the playground.

Jumping rope isn't just for kids. It's actually an excellent cardio movement for adults, for 3 reasons:

1. A super fat burner
2. Firms your legs nicely
3. An overall body exercise

We also love jumping rope because it's not that hard to do. You don't need much equipment. You can also do the exercise privately. Or you can jump rope with the family. Everyone can have fun and participate. You can jump rope indoors and outdoors.

Sure. You can spend lots of money for a fancy jump rope. Some have beautiful colors. Others have small weights in the handles. A few are Olympic style. And some moms use their daughters' simple jumping ropes. A rope doesn't have to break your budget.

According to the stats, "jumping rope at a moderate speed (between 70-85 turns a minute) for 15 minutes, burns almost 200 calories. That is about the same amount as running a 10-minute mile."

No. You will probably not be able to jump rope for a 15-minute period, at the beginning. Trust us, we could barely do a minute of straight jumping, before almost collapsing when we first started. But the more you jump rope, the easier it gets, and the quicker you will improve. And the exercise is great for your heart and lungs, the entire body.

Here are 4 important tips we found from Keith Byard in an old magazine. Keith taught 'sport-roping' at his gym in New York City:

1. Use proper form. In other words, jump low---just high enough to clear the rope--and move your wrists, not your arms or shoulders, as you jump. (Not as easy as it sounds)

2. Interval jump. Alternate 50 jumps with a 30-second rest period. Build up to 10 jump-rest intervals. (Yikes. You might want to try a few less as a beginner)

3. Side jacks. By changing jumps, you target different muscle groups. Assume a jumping jack position. Jump with your feet together, and then with them shoulder-length apart, as if you were indeed, doing a jumping jack. (Great for outer thighs.)

4. Crisscross. Jump and land with your feet apart. Then jump again, bringing your legs together and crisscrossing your ankles. Repeat the jump sequence by alternating your feet.

Whew. Out of breath yet? You don't have to jump like boxer Mike Tyson used to. Any little amount of jump roping is excellent for your health. As we said, it is a super fat burner for your diet plan. And you will get better as your jumping routine continues.

Are You A Winter, Summer, Spring, Or Autumn When It Comes To Makeup?

Have you ever heard someone tell you, "You're definitely a winter." Or, "That makeup shade is good for autumns."

That is a beauty science, if you will, called seasonal color analysis. It was a very popular makeup theory that was developed in the early 1980's. That's where hair color, skin tone, and eye color all play a big role in determining what colors go perfectly for you.

As archaic as seasonal color analysis might appear to many these days, we believe the color profiles for each and every woman, do hold merit. And at this moment, there are still many seasonal color analysts out there who can help you find the best colors for you. There are also several how-to books on the subject. The book we are looking at today, is by Carol Thompson. "Secrets to a Beautiful You."

If you think about it, don't certain shades look better on you? For instance, maybe you like how you appear better in white, rather than a creamy, yellow ivory? Or maybe fuchsia lipstick looks almost garish on you. Or pastels just 'don't do' anything for you, and so on.

According to the color experts, we are all born with either a yellow undertone (warm) or a blue undertone (cool).

And the color wheel is divided into the 4 seasons:

Either you are a spring - winter - summer - autumn

Here, Carol Thompson explains the 4 palettes:

The SPRING palette consists of clear, warm colors all with yellow undertones.
The palette includes: Neutrals: ivory, light to medium beiges, light to medium browns, warm gray and navy
Violet, periwinkle, true blue, aqua and turquoise
Apricot,peach, salmon, corals warm pink, clear bright red, light orange and orange-red
Pastel to bright yellow green, golden yellow and clear gold

The Winter palette contains the following colors:
Neutrals: White, light grays to charcoal gray, black, taupe, navy
True blue, royal blue, turquoise, royal purple
True green, emerald green, pine green
Hot pink, magenta, fuchsia, burgundy, blue-red & true-red
Icy green, icy yellow, icy aqua, icy violet, icy pink, icy blue
Jewelry: Silver

The Summer palette contains the following colors:
Neutrals: soft white, rose-beiges, rose-browns, blue-gray, navy
Powder blue from light to medium, periwinkle, aqua, blue-greens from light to deep
Blue pinks from light to medium, watermelon red, blue-red, burgundy
Lavender, raspberry, soft fuchsia, plum and lemon yellow
Jewelry: silver

The Autumn Palette contains the following colors;
Neutrals: Off whites, warm beiges from light to dark, warm browns from light to dark, camel, gold
Mustard, pumpkin, terra cotta, rust, peach & Salmon
Orange, orange-red, tomato red
Lime green, yellow-green, moss green, grayed green, olive green, jade green, forest green
Turquoise, teal blue, dark periwinkle blue
Jewelry: Gold

Chocolate Beauty Products Too Good To Eat

Yummy. Just the aroma, alone, of a fine piece of chocolate is so attractive to the senses.

Chocolate is so sinfully delicious. But did you know it also has strong anti-oxidant properties, and can actually be good for you, including your face and body?!

There are real beauty treatments that include chocolate---either in scent, cocoa powder, or cocoa butter, etc. Chocolate beauty products make elegant Christmas gifts, and the best part, each one is calorie-free!!

We have found 3 chocolate beauty products we would like to share with you:

First we have Fresh Orange Chocolate Petite Soap ($12, 5 oz. box). Just the scent alone, is enough to want you begging for more. Smells like an orange chocolate truffle. This soap is actually a nice lathering cleanser. Rich in shea butter and vegetable glycerin. Find it at http://www.fresh.com/.


And for your face, you must try Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask (under $10 at a Macy's counter near you). How about this one---a delightful minty chocolate face mask. This will brighten up and soften winter-dry skin. Formulated with wonderful and creamy cocoa butter and peppermint and spearmint oils. It even looks like a cupcake. A nice, refreshing consistency. Must be kept in the fridge--really fresh ingredients. Good for sensitive skin. Too bad we can't eat it.

And lastly, Garden Botanika ChocoLatte Body Souffle (now on sale $6.00, 4.4 fl. oz.- http://www.gardenbotanika.com/.) What a decadent way to go----one of the nicest chocolate aromas in a jar. Simply nourishing for your entire body. Takes away the winter-whipped dry skin. In a light and fluffy base--really does the job, with cocoa extract and arabica coffee bean extract.

3 More Super Holiday Gift Ideas Each Under $35

Let's go shopping!!!

20 more days 'til Christmas. And only 17 until the start of Hanukkah. And if you got a late start this season to begin all your holiday shopping, don't despair---we've got a few ideas up our sleeve.

We know....many of you are on a budget. Seriously. But we do share this in common---we all want to buy our favorite people some really unique and lovely presents.

We took a look at Nordstrom's, the fine department store. And we came up with 3 super holiday gift ideas. And all 3 are under $35 each.


For the sweet gal in your life, why not pick up the Philosophy Gingerbread House Set ($30, 4 oz. each). How cute is this? Philosophy packed this adorable, little gingerbread house with 4 of their high-foaming bath products---shampoo, bubble baths, and shower gel. And take a beautiful sniff of these scents---cinnamon hot dots, sweet creamy frosting, spicy gumdrop, and gingerbread, of course!

Next we have a gorgeous way to hold back someone's long and luxurious hair. This is a stunning piece---the France Luxe Cut-out Jaw Clip ($34). Tortoise shell tone with rectangular cut-outs. About 2 1/4" wide. And made of strong resin. We like this clip because it can handle thick tresses and makes a pretty hair statement.


And lastly, for the woman expecting in your life, why not treat her to a wonderfully nourishing belly cream. It's called---Honeydew Skin Care Maternity 'Bun in the Oven' Super Rich Belly Butter ($32, 4 oz.) This stuff is amazing and protects against stretch marks. Made with 4 nourishing butters in a balm scented with citrus oils. A truly moisturizing and soothing experience.

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

Conair Has Beauty Tips For Your Best Garments

We stumbled across the Conair website recently, and were amazed at the 'tips & techniques' the giant company has assembled for its readers. Not the beauty tips for face, hair, or body, because Conair has those, too. This time, we turned an eye toward fabrics. What you wear on your body, be it silk, wool, cotton, and so on.

Conair doesn't just make lots of hair dryers. They also market irons, fabric steamers, and many more useful things.

We were trying to find out how to care for a black cashmere sweater that was gifted to us last year. Conair had the answer and so many more ways to keep your best garments looking beautiful.

So here are some really unique tips & techniques by the Conair Company on how to keep your fine washables looking like you just bought them:

1. Did you know your shampoo and conditioner could multitask? Use them dissolved in lukewarm water to wash your cashmere sweaters. (Note: Tried it. This does work! Cashmere is goat hair.)

2. Remove oil-soluble grease and grass marks, and spots and stains from fabric with a cloth moistened with eucalyptus oil. It's a natural wonder!

3. To eliminate static, just crumple up a sheet of aluminum foil and throw it in the dryer! Save money on dryer sheets and be kind to the earth as well!

4. Make your own laundry detergent by mixing 1 cup Ivory soap, 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use only 1 tablespoon for light loads or 2 tablespoons for heavy loads.

5. To store woolen items, make a cedar sachet by cutting a foot off of a pair of pantyhose and filling it with cedar chips. Toss it into an airtight plastic container with your woolen items!

6. Sensitive skin? Substitute a half-cup of baking powder for laundry detergent or bleach. Clothes come out cleaner and the baking powder neutralizes harsh chemicals that may irritate delicate skin.

7. Never place an iron directly on delicate fabrics like silk or chiffon – protect them with a t-shirt or towel. Or play it even safer, and use a Conair® fabric steamer!

8. When using your iron, always use tap or bottled water. Distilled water can strip away the silicone coating inside the water chamber.

9. Remove grass stains from washable fabric by sponging with water, then with rubbing alcohol. Let dry, then sponge with cool water and work liquid detergent into the stain. Rinse with water and let dry. (Do not use alcohol on silk or wool.)

10. Clothes last longer if you occasionally skip a trip to the dry cleaners and refresh them with a garment steamer!

For more super beauty tips & technqiues, visit: http://www.conair.com/.