2. Revlon Fabulash Mascara ($9.00)
3. New by Revlon Creme Gloss in 'Wine Anytime' ($9.99)
4. Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner ($16.99, great for curly hair)
5. Kinara Lactic Acid Hydrating Serum ($70.00).
Yes, another makeover show for women. Well, we say, why not?! Too bad we can't see it here in the states.
At age 76, we think Joan Collins looks pretty darn good. And she wishes women in the United Kingdom would take more care about their appearance. Dynasty Joan hates muffin tops and, "I don't admire the jelly belly oozing over the top of trousers. It should be covered up."
Look at the photos below. Joan believes that the mid-section should not be naked. And we happen to agree there. By the way, skinny chicks can also have muffin tops.
Joan Does Glamour takes an 'ordinary' group of women and makes them over into stylish ladies.
"For too long it has been acceptable to wander around in T-shirts, trainers and low slung sweat pants," says Joan. She believes that she can make the world a better place by boosting one's self-esteem.
What's wrong with that?
As long as Dynasty Joan isn't being snarky and rude, then we think she is on a good mission. If you look at makeover shows like, What Not to Wear here in the U.S. with Stacey London, you see an excellent attempt at re-making a person's image and yes, self-worth. A new wardobe, jewelry, and shoes, plus a new hairstyle and proper makeup, can give any woman a huge boost in life. So we do see the beauty value in respected makeover shows.
And Joan Collins' Joan Does Glamour show is crafting new images for women on sensible budgets. No over-the-top spending.
"I want to show British women that you don't need a designer budget to achieve a glamorous and timeless style," the Dynasty star explains. "If people took a bit more care of their appearance, they might feel a little bit better about themselves."
And if anyone knows glitz and glamour, well it's the former Dynasty celebrity. "Once you get glamour it’s like a drug. Once you get glamorous you never want to stop,” she says.
To see a clip from an episode of Joan Does Glamour from ITV, check it out here, courtesy of New York magazine:
http://videos.nymag.com/video/Highlights-from-Joan-Collins-Do.
Seems like we just can't get enough! And where we're getting 'it,' is from across the ocean, and then some.
Our favorite: Bravura London Glycolic Acid 15% Night Treatment ($19.11, small jar).
Yes, we have to send for this little 'hope in a jar' through London's Royal Mail service. But after a couple of weeks and then a quick signature with the postman, everything arrives safely and securely.
Who exactly is behind the Bravura London skin care company?
Bravura is one of the UK’s leading online suppliers of Cosmeceutical skincare products. "At realistic prices," as the Bravura folks like to say.
According to Bravura London, it all began with glycolic acid.
"The company started back in 2003 by supplying glycolic acid peels only, we were the FIRST company in the UK to supply professional chemical peels to the general public, our vision was to allow this amazing treatment to be accessible to everyone rather than just people who could afford to pay £40+ at a beauty salon.
Then after great demand we created our wonderful skin care range which is loved by thousands of people worldwide. We saw the distinct lack of not only AHA and BHA products, but products that actually do what they claim!"
The night cream we like is the Bravura company's best seller----
"Glycolic Acid 15% Night Treatment is the strongest and most popular AHA product in our skin care range, making it an excellent treatment for wrinkled, sagging and lifeless skin. PH 3.5."
It is strong stuff, and as they always say, 'a little goes a long way.' Get too greedy for perfect skin and put on too much, and you will burn your face and neck. A small jar lasts several months.
We find that the Bravura London Glycolic Acid 15% Night Treatment brings a healthy glow to the complexion. It improves skin tone. Clears up acne and break-outs. Exfoliates away the dead skin cells. And adds a smoothness to the skin. It also works well with a Retin-A or Renova skin care routine---applying Bravura Night Treament for a couple of nights. Then applying Retin-A on the next two nights, and so on. Never apply both treatments together.
Why do we like Glycolic Acid better than other skin improvement treatments? The Bravura company can better explain it:
"While there were many skin care breakthroughs at the end of the last century, certainly one of the greatest was the discovery and application of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). Alpha-hydroxy acids are naturally occurring acids, derived from the sugars of selected plants and fruits such as Sugar Cane, Grapes, Citrus Fruits, Apples and Bitter Almonds. These acids perform at the base of the stratum corneum, dissolving the cement that holds dead skin cells together. Because this increases cell turnover, this results in skin that is more flexible, smoother, and more even in tone."
Bravura London also sells at-home peels, salicylic and lactic acid products, cleansers, body care products, and more. Visit: www.bravuralondon.co.uk for more information.You receive 3 eyeshadows in the kit, either light or dark. You get the stencils to create the cat eye with the recognizable 'wing tip', and a brush to perfect the shading. And simple step-by-step instructions. A really effective kit at $36.
For more details, visit: Bettes Boutique.
And we have more doe eye-cat eye advice.
Allure magazine had a great article in their September 2007 issue, on How To Pull Off Dark Eyeliner by Susan Giordano.
"Go beyond basic black. For most women, a rich, chocolate brown eyeliner is a better choice than black; dark plums are also pretty. They both have the depth without the potential harshness. Contrary to what most people think, Marilyn Monroe wore brown.
Keep it solid. Make no mistake—liquid liner is very difficult to apply. It dries as soon as you put it on. Most people should just skip liquid and try a more forgiving gel formula that will give you the bold look. If you want the appearance of liquid, Laura Mercier makes a great cake liner with a rich, velvety texture. You moisten it and then apply with a small, teardrop-shaped paintbrush. (I find those stiff, angled brushes hard to use.) This look is great for evening, when you can really pull off an exaggerated, winged-out line.
Don't overdo it. The biggest mistake women make when putting on liner is to rim their eyes with it completely. Eyeliner is meant to add definition and make your eyes look larger, but circling them completely will make them look small and beady. Lining the inner rims of your eye can also have that effect. Just try to get the liner as close to your lashes as possible. You don't want to have any skin showing between the liner and your eyelashes.