Livin' On A Budget With Style And NY&C Straw Clutch

How cute is this clutch?!

We fell in love with it after it appeared in the April 2009 issue of InStyle magazine.

New York & Company puts out this adorable City Style Straw Stone Detail Clutch (http://www.nyandcompany.com/).

And talk about 'livin' on a budget!' Back in April, the straw clutch was selling at the very inexpensive price of $19.95. It was a super bargain then.

And now, this bag is on sale for only $15.96! You can't beat it.

NY&C City Style Straw Stone Detail Clutch is roomy, too, with dimensions of 12-1/2 x 7 x 1-1/4 inches.

And the pretty, multi-colored stones, like turquoise and amber, add a rich touch to this straw clutch. The bag features a flap snap closure and side wrist strap. And an inside zip pocket with polyester lining throughout.

Straw bags are hot for summer 2009. And this one really keeps you 'livin' on a budget.'

Take a closer look at this straw clutch here-- http://tiny.cc/iKjJx

Growing Perfect Eyebrows And The Facts About Plucking

What do perfect eyebrows and the 4th of July have in common?

Nothing really. We were at a beachside gathering when a good friend of ours with excellent brows, asked us this, about her girlfriend's teenage daughter. At least, that is whom we can bet she was inquiring for:

"Is it true, that over-plucking can lead to really thin eyebrows?"

Yes, indeed, we told her. Her friend looked at us suspiciously.

Apparently, they haven't remembered the several articles we have written for BeautyTipToday.com about growing perfect eyebrows and the pitfalls of over-plucking.

The facts are there:
Overplucking or waxing the eyebrows can damage the follicles causing brow hair to thin."

Trust us...we have been there. We began plucking like a mad woman in college, because thinner brows were a big deal. Then we lightened them up a bit, because some makeup artists were saying that too dark a brow does not frame the eye well. It is too heavy. And so on and so on.

After 30, our own eyebrows were beginning to get thinner and sparser. We were frustrated and resorted to wearing bangs, which is a great way to hide less-than-perfect brows. And today, after months of practice, we have learned to fill in our brows with an eyebrow pencil, to achieve a thicker and more natural shape.

First, let's say, it's okay to pluck. But pluck very, very carefully. If your teenage daughter has very thick brows, or a uni-brow that is bothering her, by all means, remove a few stray hairs. Absolutely.

Our makeup legend friend, Sandy Linter, explains that thin brows are more aging on a women. She advises to use brow pencils.

"Kevin Aucoin has one that is perfect for any medium to dark brow and Lancome has perfect colors for the lighter blonde brows. Make sure your brow technician does not use any wax. If you think your brows are getting too thick, just use the tweezers. And don’t make the ends too short. It’s tricky, you don’t want the eyebrow to go down at the ends. This is where mistakes happen. Take off as little as possible. I try to get as much mileage from their natural shape that I can."

And if you have an eyebrow disaster, Linter advises to leave them alone. Be patient and allow them to grow back in. She believes it is best to learn to groom your eyebrows yourself, rather than go to an eyebrow technician, where many of them take off too much of the brow to try and make them perfect. Over-tweezing and snipping will leave you very little brows by the time you reach your 40s.

We would also like to suggest a wonderful beauty product for brows and lashes called FNS Nutrilash by Osmotics.

Last year, Marie Claire magazine called Osmotics' FNS Nutrilash, one of its top 12 beauty breakthroughs. The all-natural formula is scientifically proven to stimulate the growth of healthy, strong eyebrows and eyelashes.

Simply wonderful.A totally safe and effective product, FNS, stands for 'follicle nutrient system.' It's easy to use, too. Just brush or 'paint' on brows and lashes before retiring at night.

FNS Nutrilash is a good investment at $48 for a full month's supply.For more info, visit: http://www.osmotics.com/.

SunMaita Do-It-Yourself Threader For Baby Smooth Skin

Okay, we are definitely intrigued by this beauty DIY, or do-it-yourself threader.

Some of you are scratching your heads and asking, "What does a threader have to do with baby smooth skin?"

Plenty. Threading is actually an ancient practice that women from India, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and other Eastern cultures do to gently remove unwanted facial hair. It might look strange, but it is a smart technique using " a tightly looped piece of thread that gently glides on the surface of the skin while pulling hair of all lengths from the roots."

And now you don't need to visit a salon pro. SunMaita, Inc. has developed the only one-of-its-kind at-home threader kit ($150, http://www.threaderonline.com/).

Anita Sun and Sara Maita, both expert threaders, created this unique beauty product. Because as anyone familiar with threading knows, you cannot thread your own face. Someone has to do it for you. Until now. So, how wonderful is this SunMaita beauty product?!

Anita and Sara explain at their website, just how the SunMaita Threader works:

The Threader was carefully engineered to create the exact angles that master threadists use to ensure the most dramatic results by polishing off surface dead skin cells and removing facial hairs.
Threader is easy to use and gently and effectively rolls out all hairs, including the coarse, deep-rooted ones, as well as all the tiny “peach fuzz” from the follicle.

And here are the benefits for your skin:

Significantly minimizes hair follicle
Safe to use with skin treatments such as peels and retinol
Leaves skin silky smooth and radiant
Avoids harmful tugging of the skin
Helps prevent ingrown hairs
Lasts up to 4 weeks before hair re-growth
Ideal alternative for sensitive and problematic skin

The website also provides a detailed demonstration of the SunMaita Threader. It is a user-friendly beauty device, and not complicated to get the hang of it. You can also use the at-home threader for underarms and bikini area.

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

Woman Sues Avon Stretch Cream For Alleged Burns On Belly

Ladies, we can't prove that giant beauty company Avon was responsible for the burning and scarring alleged by a 30-year-old New York City woman, after rubbing Anew Clinical Professional Stretch Mark Smoother on her belly.

The fairly new Avon skin product, is one that has received rave reviews by many women for its excellent fading properties. It costs $25 for 5 fl.oz.

The ingredients boast about a 'patented technology.'

"Patented Trilaser technology formulated to help: Stimulate collagen to correct the look of stretch marks. Boost elastin to help prevent new stretch marks from forming. Plus, powered with Butea, a natural plant extract to help lighten & fade stretch marks. Apply AM and PM to stretch mark areas. For use on thighs, hips, arms and buttocks."

But Milka Betances claims she was burned by the cream, which she purchased from an Avon dealer on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.

Betances filed a lawsuit against Avon Products Inc. in Bronx Supreme Court on Monday, charging that the product caused "severe damage" to her otherwise toned stomach. When she rubbed it on her belly, she felt immediate pain, and the burns were so strong that she sought hospital treatment, according to her lawsuit.

Some people are wondering if the Avon stretch cream the woman purchased, were a bootleg copy. In other words, not an authentic Avon item.

Meantime, we have done a few past articles about stretch marks, and how you can never erase them completely.

Dr. Amy Derick, a dermatologist in Barrington, Illinois, says you should try and diminish their appearance. And act sooner, than later.“There’s really not any data regarding creams,” she told the NY Times. “But you can do laser treatments or Retin-A after the fact, especially early on when the lines are red and purple.” Studies have found that topical tretinoin can lighten stretch marks as well as reduce their size. And she is certainly not opposed to pregnant women massaging their bellies with moisturizing oils and creams. “It makes them feel like they’re being pro-active, and if it feels good, why not?” she said. “It can’t hurt.”

Check out the reviews at Avon's website, and then decide if you want to try Anew Clinical Professional Stretch Mark Smoother.

http://www.avon.com/1/1/3949-anew-clinical-professional-stretch-mark-smoother.html

Cherry Culture Fun Online Site To Shop For Makeup

It's raining. It's poring. This weather's really boring. We thought it would be a nice time to go shopping for makeup indoors.

We're all trying to save a few bucks here and there these days, especially when it comes to looking pretty.

Remember this name: Cherry Culture.

This is a super site for online makeup at a discount.... http://www.cherryculture.com/.

The site is barely three years old, and what we adore about it, is makeup galore!!. About 40 brands to choose from. Princessa. NYX. Milani. Lucky Chick. Lulu Beauty. Sugar. LA Girl. etc.


Cherry Culture explains it like this:

"Cherry Culture is a "must shop" place for makeup lovers in the world. Cherry Culture is a place where makeup lovers can unleash their inner beauty without sacrificing their budget.
With hundreds of colors to choose from, you are never going to run out of options to create your next look. Our Featured, Top Sellers, New Items and Sale tabs direct you to where you can see the latest products at a glance."

We heart discount cosmetics! Really, who doesn't? And okay, the makeup at CherryCulture.com might not be the snob quality of a Nars or Mac, but who cares? You can find some lovely cosmetics here, and the stuff is quite good.

Have a young daughter ready to explore the fun times of putting on makeup? Don't worry. Cherry Culture has plenty of tween and teen-friendly brands to choose from, like Blah Blah and Wild and Crazy.

There are tons of makeups on sale, too. Many items as low as $1.00. Can't beat it.

Why not head over to CherryCulture.com? The cosmetic pickin' is great.

Neck Slimmer Looks Like Pogo Stick And Probably Won't Make You Look Younger

In the two photos above, please meet Anna. The top photo shows a firmer and tauter neck and jawline. The second, or before photo, shows a sagging, looser neck and jawline.

According to the website, http://www.skinnyneck.com/, Anna is 42-years-old, and the happy customer of the Neckline Slimmer beauty gadget ($19.99, plus $7.95 s&h).

The last photo shows you just what you get for your money---an odd-looking contraption with 3 resistance springs, and a CD to instuct you along the way with this small pogo stick for the neck.

We are certainly not here to judge, but seriously, folks, do you really believe that the Neckline Slimmer can actually "firm your chin and neck to look younger, and reduce facial sagging and re-define your profile, as the website's inventor claims?

The genius behind the new Neck Slimmer is a gentleman by the name of Paul Younane.

No, Paul Younane is not a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or doctor of any kind. He is a former Rugby player and physiotherapist, a fitness trainer.

So how does his beauty gadget work?

"The Neckline Slimmer targets and tones the underlying muscles of your neck, chin and cheek area by applying gentle resistance. Just like every other muscle in your body – whether it be your abs, butt or thighs – your facial muscles need exercise. We all know the benefits of resistance exercises like crunches and curls. Think of the Neckline Slimmer in exactly the same way, only easier."

Any fine plastic surgeon would tell you, that the only way to firm up older, sagging, and loose skin in the face and neck, is through surgery. In other words, cutting. We found this little nugget here-- http://www.docshop.com/.

"Most face lifts can dramatically refresh and invigorate the lower two-thirds of the face. By removing excess fat and reshaping loose muscles and facial tissue, cosmetic surgeons reduce sagging in the cheeks and around the jaw. While this usually makes patients look younger and less tired than before surgery, a face lift will not eliminate all common signs of aging. For patients with wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes, BOTOX® injections, chemical peels, or laser resurfacing may be able to help. Blepharoplasty, on the other hand, can resolve drooping eyelids, and brow lifts often minimize a sagging forehead area."

If you have had great success using the Neck Slimmer, please leave us your comments below.

To learn more about this beauty gadget, visit: http://www.necklineslimmer.com/.

New Kiehl's Sunflower Recovery Pak For Keeping Highlights Bright

We could probably all use a jar of Kiehl's newest product for color-treated hair, especially those with sunny, blonde highlights, who want to keep them bright all summer long.

This generous jar of hair nourishment is called Kiehl's Sunflower Color Preserving Deep Recovery Pak ($25, 8 fl.oz.).

Apricot kernel oil and sunflower oil. These two ingredients make all the difference, and help keep color-treated and highlighted hair from fading in the hot, summer sun. And these anti-oxidant rich oils also help hydrate locks.

Easy to use, too:

Shampoo hair with Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo ($18, 8.4 fl.oz). Then rinse and towel-dry.

Apply a liberal amount of the pak to damp hair evenly, concentrating on hair ends.

Let the formula remain on hair for at least three minutes. (Allowing hair pak to remain on hair for longer periods of time will increase its efficacy).

Rinse well with lukewarm water until formula is thoroughly removed from hair.

Style as usual.

If you can't find a Kiehl's store near you, visit them online: http://www.kiehls.com/.