New Lancome Genifique Skin Care C'est Magnifique

Discover the skin you were born to have.

We like the sound of that. And beauty giant Lancome is saying just that, about it's newest anti-aging skin care product:

Genifique ($78, 1 oz, at fine department stores).

We like to tell you about the newest beauty treatments that promise to make you look younger. Often these new products have clinical trials to back them up. And although all these topical treatments can diminish some of the damage we have received to our faces and bodies over time, anti-aging skin care products cannot take the place of a facelift. But then again, many women wouldn't want to go that cosmetic route to begin with.

So here we are again----Lancome is more than happy to crow about a wonderful new serum that hopes to 'erase' some of those crow's, and we're talking crow's feet. And other fine lines and wrinkles.

Is Genifique er, magnifique?

Some people seem to think so. Lancome says they, too, have the beauty science to back the results up:

The Genifique treatment boasts 10 years of research and 7 patents behind it. And delivers impressive results. Within a couple of weeks, testers showed nearly a 100 percent improvement in all categories. We're told that results will be published in scientific literature later in 2009.

The Lancome website describes Genifique like this:

"Today, for every woman, Lancôme creates our 1st Youth Activator - GÉNIFIQUE. Now, boost genes' activity2 and stimulate the production of youth proteins.3
See visibly younger skin in just 7 days.
1 Activate skin's youthful look."

For more information, visit: http://www.lancome-usa.com/skincare/activate/genifique.aspx

StriVectin Introduces 3 More Anti-Aging Beauty Items

Here we go again.....The anti-aging specialists at Klein-Becker USA never seem to sleep. The smart people who brought us StriVectin-SD for stretch marks and smooth facial skin, have recently added 3 more beauty treatments to their anti-aging arsenal.

Do any of these StriVectin beauty items actually work?

Good question. These Klein-Becker USA beauty treatments are sold in all the right places. In other words, excellent marketing! Fine places like Sephora and Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Dillard's, and expensive spas, all successfully push the StriVectin items at their counters, and sales always seem to be brisk.

We have read review after review about StriVectin's anti-aging treatments. Some folks love the products and others claim the benefits are little, if any.

Meantime, StriVectin is sold around the globe, and there are many fans. So it wouldn't hurt to at least try a tube of their anti-aging cream.

StriVectin's 3 new anti-aging kids on the block:

1. StriVectin Instant Facial Sculpting Cream ($79). The treatment is advertised to not only "reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and crow's feet, but also accentuate your cheekbones and jaw line, as it lifts, tightens, and tones your skin."

2. StriVectin Facial Anti-Oxidant ($109). This beauty product targets aging skin by "preventing and repairing thinning skin, loss of elasticity, age spots and wrinkles such as smile lines and crow's feet. Idebenone-free."

3. StriVectin-SD for Oily Skin ($135). Just like the original StriVectin-SD, this treatment is designed for oily skin. It contains "the same benefits of the original, but now specially formulated to balance skin oil levels. The new formulation firms, hydrates, and elasticizes without leaving skin oily."

Island Michael Kors Bermuda: Take Us Into Spring

Hey...we've had it with the snow. And yes, we still have some on the ground, slow-wwwwwly melting away. We're upper east coast.

We cannot wait for spring! And that's why we are pointing our heads and nostrils in a new direction.

Classic designer Michael Kors is transporting us to an exotic locale. And if anyone can take us there, it's Michael Kors.

We are head-over-heels-in-love with his newest fragrance:

Island Michael Kors Bermuda ($62, at fine stores everywhere).

The fragrance is inspired by the lovely pink beaches of beautiful and balmy Bermuda.

Talk about tropical glamour, this scent has it----
Fragrance type: breezy floral
Top notes: freesia, hibiscus, watery green notes, cassis
Middle notes: tiare blossoms, pink peony, passion flower
Low notes: driftwood, soft skin accord, cedarwood

Island Michael Kors Bermuda also includes in the collection, a warm tropical-scented Moisturizing Body Lotion ($28). And a nice light shade of pink Lip Gloss ($12).

We dream of breezy spring and hot summer days. And any scent with exotic freesia and hibiscus are just the ticket to a lush paradise.

Good-bye winter.

ProNamel Keeps Teeth Youthful And Re-Hardens Enamel

If you like to eat and drink, well, let's face it, your teeth are constantly under attack.

It's all those delicious acidic foods and drinks that we enjoy every day:

Sodas. Fruit. Orange juice. Wine. Etc.

Food/Drink
pH Range
Apples
3.5 - 3.9
Oranges
2.8 - 4.0
Tomatoes
3.7 - 4.7
Coffee
2.4 - 3.3
Tea (black)
4.2
Wine
2.3 - 3.8
Soda
2.7 - 3.5

And then, of course, brushing your teeth wears away the softened enamel. Abrasive brushing is the worst thing you can do. And soon, the very bottom of your teeth take on an almost clear appearance. You can just about 'see through' them.

We are very interested in trying Sensodyne ProNamel. The paste is specially designed to re-harden your teeth's enamel. Keeps teeth youthful. Has fluoride for cavity protection. Guards against further acid erosion. Minimizes tooth sensitivity.

"Sensodyne® ProNamel™ can't reverse any dental problems already caused by acid wear. But it can harden your enamel and help to protect it from further damage," according to the website, http://www.pronamel.com/.

By the way, you can always resort to sipping your acidic drinks through a straw. That helps, too.

PronNamel costs about $5.49 at drugstores.

Super Beauty Tips We Didn't Know About Gray Hair

The stunning gray-haired woman in the photo is none other than famous model Carmen del Orifice.

Carmen del Orifice is in her 70s and still rockin' the big hair! An ageless beauty, and with gray, silver hair.

We have learned plenty about gray hair, from a recent article in the February 2009 issue, www.goodhousekeeping.com.

Yes, we will admit to some gray hair. In fact, we have super stubborn gray hair. The unfair kind that sometimes doesn't pick up the hair color on all the strands, making life for us quite challenging in the hair department.

But we learned some super beauty tips, valuable ones for all our gray-haired gals.

We found this little nugget most interesting:

"Childhood photos will help predict your future shade of gray: Black hair turns steel-gray. Redheads and brunettes have more gold undertones mixed with their silver, and childhood blondes tend to go white."

When shampooing gray hair, remember, this type of hair is like a sponge. Very porous and soaks up everything you put in it. So use shampoos with white or clear formulas, says hair expert Barbara Lhotan. Or try a purple-tinted shampoo to tone down brassiness, like Pantene Pro-V Silver Expressions Shampoo ($6.49, drugstores).

As many of you know, gray hair can be stubborn because of its coarseness and wiry texture. Best to arm yourself with a good conditioner to keep your silver locks under control. Barbara Lhotan suggests a conditioner meant for curly or coarse hair. We suggest TRESemme European Conditioner Vitamin E Moisture Rich (32 fl.oz., $5.89, drugstores).

Meantime, if you've let your silver strands grow and grow and tossed out the hair color bottles, good for you. The upkeep is easier, we're sure.

Enjoy your gray hair, because so many women, both young and older, wear it so well.

Is Mederma A Waste Of Time For Treating Scars

Most of us have some kind of scar. It could be from acne, an accident, a surgery, an illness, etc.

And although the beauty science and technology is pretty impressive these days, erasing a scar completely, might not be possible. But---we can get pretty close. We can make scars almost invisible.

Many people wear their scars like a badge of honor. We once knew a frat boy in college named Chip with a sexy scar across his cheek. The girls were attracted to him because of his scar.

And look at one of our favorite beauties, Padma Lakshmi. The former model and current host of Bravo's 'Top Chef' reality show, has a 7-inch reminder of the serious car accident she was in at age 14.

Padma grew to accept her 'imperfection,' and the scar that runs along her right arm is one she wears proudly. "I love my scar," she often says.

But there are also many times, one does not love their scar, and hoping for a miracle cream to rub it out permanently. That's where popular, topical treatments like Mederma ($29.99, drugstores), are often used.

But is Mederma a waste of time for treating scars? And is surgery the only best way to greatly minimize a scar's appearance?

Some specialists recommend applying Mederma to fresh scars. And yet there are other doctors who claim the topical treatment does little to wipe out scars.

What we can tell you, is that Mederma is actually made with 'onion extract,' believe it or not. That allium cepa, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and to improve collagen organization in a rabbit ear model.

However, there are no human studies that show onion extract improves the appearance of scars more than petroleum jelly, according to an article here: http://tiny.cc/mqNjP.

In defense of Mederma, however, the product claims to soften and smooth scars, and that we believe is true.

Meantime, your best bet is heading into a plastic surgeon's office. There are several exciting, but costly treatments that can greatly minimize the appearance and depth of scars:

Laser skin re-surfacing
Laser scar removal
Microdermabrasion
Fat transfer
Collagen injections
Chemical peels
Steroid injections

Not All Hollywood A-Listers Run For Botox To Zap Wrinkles

Actress Jennifer Aniston is back in the news again.

And yeah, once more, it has to do with John Mayer. According to http://www.people.com/, the couple has split again. And John Mayer supposedly broke up with Jen, as he did the first time around.

But we are not here to hold anyone's hands. We're simply here to prove to all the doubters out there, that not all of the Hollywood A-listers run for Botox to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles.

Closely examine 40-year-old Jennifer Aniston in a candid shot at the Academy Awards Show back in February of this year.

Please look at Jen's forehead. Hmmm. We see some almost pronounced wrinkles dancing across her lovely forehead.

Some of you might say, sure, she doesn't Botox her forehead, but Botoxes her crow's feet and the two lines between her eyes, or the glabellas.

Who's to say. We believe Jennifer Aniston when she has repeated over and over again, that she is not a Botox user.

In fact, we just picked up this little nugget from http://www.imnotobsessed.com/:

"I tried Botox once and it was really not good for me. I felt like I had a weight on my head," Jennifer Aniston remarked. "I think it makes women look older. Harder. The warmth in their faces goes away. You see women and you know they’re not young, but you can’t tell how old they are. That’s what stopped me."

We've written about Botox before (April 15, 2008 BeautyTipToday article):

It’s been noted that Botox procedures have jumped some 400% in the last several years. Botox cosmetic is really from the botulinum toxin type and continues to hold the distinction of number one injectable in the United States. Dr. Frederic Brandt isn’t surprised at its popularity.

“Botox cosmetic has revolutionized our field,” Dr. Brandt says. “Botox is easy to administer, safe and effective, and not only reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, but also has the effect of preventing the future formation of wrinkles and fine lines if used appropriately.”

We know that Hollywood beauties all flock together to their derms for Botox. But it is refreshing, that not all the A-listers go for the sting of the needle to stay perpetually youthful.

Jennifer Aniston can really make an honest expression.