Dr. Murad and Good Housekeeeping Say T-Zone Gel Best Pore Minimizer

Pores. If you've got big ones, or plus-size pores, as Dr. Murad calls them, you are not alone. And generally speaking, big pores equal oily skin.

The celebrity skin doctor is proud of his newest complexion product:
T-Zone Pore Refining Gel ($40).

And the pore shrinker has received the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. The G.H. Research Institute put six pore-minimizing products to the test and Murad’s T–ZonePore Refining Gel came out on top—“the only product that reduced pore size.”

But let's stop right there! You cannot permanently reduce pore size. What you can do, is temporarily minimize the size of your pores, by exfoliation with products that clear away oily debris and older, dead skin cells. And according to the tests that were done, Dr. Murad's T-Zone Pore Refining Gel does just that, and superbly.

And Murad's T-Zone Pore Refining Gel targets exactly where you need help the most--the t-zone. The middle of your face - the t-zone - actually contains more oil glands than other areas of the face, but the pores in this region may be more noticeable than those on your cheeks.

What's special about Murad's gel?

A bright red fruit---the pomegranate. In this case, pomegranate extract, which has been found to perform several unique features:

Stimulating skin’s collagen production.
Rebuilding skin's outer layers.
And inhibiting free radicals.
Pomegranate extract also helps to correct daily effects of oxidation and the long term effect that too much sun exposure can have on the skin.

To learn more about the Murad T-Zone Pore Refining Gel, visit Dr. Murad.

ULTA Eyeshadows: Silky Superfine And Budget-Friendly

If you love beauty and budget-friendly shopping, then you love ULTA beauty stores.

And if you're one of the lucky ones to have an ULTA beauty store in your state, then you know how spectacular this place is! And you can always visit ULTA online.


You are in makeup heaven inside ULTA. You name it, you can hunt it down---makeup, skin care, fragrance, bath & body, hair care, tools, accessories, and a men's section. Big brand names like Clinique, Caswell-Massey, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Carolina Herrera, Cover Girl, Biore. The list never seems to end.

ULTA beauty also has its own line of beauty treats with very reasonable prices, too. And the quality of their makeup alone, is top-notch.

What we really love about the Ulta beauty buying experience, are the discounts and special purchasing incentives.

Today, we are looking at ULTA's own eyeshadows, in the single pot variety. And talk about choices---95 shades in names like Amethyst. Calla Lily. Mosaic. Ice Queen. And only $7 each. And here's the special going on right now----Buy 2, get 2 FREE! Love it.

What's so great about ULTA's eyeshadows? They are silky, superfine talc eyeshadows. The formula glides on easily and blends well to define and brighten your eyes. The ingredients are also enriched with emollients for long-lasting color that will not crease or fade.

And the little pot of shadow lasts a long time. So you save $$$ in the long run. And the customer reviews are very good for ULTA eyeshadows.

Maybe we're boring. But we love ULTA's shadow in Vogue. It's a very dark brown shadow and makes for a wonderful smoky eye.

If you haven't visited ULTA, you're really missing out. And here's another special budget-friendly incentive going on right now: Get $3.50 off any purchase of $10 or more!

Happy beauty shopping!

Shame On Nancy Pelosi: 5% Botox Tax Kind Of Sexist

Gee, Senator Nancy Pelosi, we expected better from you.

A 5% Botox tax? Or as it's being called, 'The Bo-tax.' This is being included in the Senate Health Care bill?

Yeah, ha ha. LOL.

Are you serious? Do you really think that Botox, liposuction, and other elective cosmetic procedures should be taxed? You call this health care reform?

Senate Democrats are proposing a 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic procedures. And let's not stop at Botox. Other cosmetic taxable things would include teeth whitening, breast implants, facelifts, tummy tucks, etc.

"The tax would bring in an estimated $6 billion over 10 years and wouldn't apply to cosmetic surgery meant to fix a deformity or injury." That's according to a great discussion we found on CNN's Jack Cafferty File.

But as one woman commented, "I would like to see a 5% tax on erectile dysfunction drugs, hair restoration ..." How about a special Viagra tax?

And she's right. Aren't Nancy Pelosi and company acting kind of sexist here? Why aren't men's 'things' being taxed? Most cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures are done for women, more than 80%. So, aren't women being targeted unfairly?

We suppose we should be grateful. Initially, lawmakers were trying to impose a 10% tax to help bring in more money to 'make the bill work.'

So here's the question: Should our government tax cosmetic procedures like Botox and liposuction to help pay for health care reform?

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery has responded:

"Activating a cosmetic surgery tax is not the solution to funding a health care overhaul,” states AACS Immediate Past President Dr. Steven Hopping. “While it appears that this is currently a serious consideration, this idea concerns us.”

So what's the big deal?

The AACS says that legislators should consider some key points:

A tax on elective cosmetic procedures is an unreliable, risky revenue source that has no proven record of raising projected revenues.

--The difficulty of defining elective vs. medically-necessary cosmetic surgery. There is a blurry line between what procedures are considered medically-necessary and those that are elective.

--Retention of highly-skilled physicians is at risk. Physicians face many challenges in operating their practices on a day-to-day basis. Turning them into tax-collectors is an additional burden on these doctors.

--Cosmetic surgery is not a specialty for only the wealthy or the vain. In fact, the median income for those electing to have cosmetic surgery is dropping.

--Despite the fact that more men are seeking cosmetic procedures than ever, the largest portion of patients are still working women, who would be unfairly targeted by such taxes.

We're not sure what wil happen on Capitol Hill, but it looks like this Bo-tax could be come a reality and soon.

Backstage Beauty Tips From 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

One sexy, lingerie show was going on last night at the Lexington Armory in New York City. Need we say more?

You know the models.....Heidi Klum, Selita Ebanks, Miranda Kerr, and several other recognizable tall, slender beauties walked the runway at the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (photos by Bauer Griffin).

And the look was, well, sexy. That's a given. But we also liked the soft look. The models were gliding down the cat walk with lots of wavy, touseled hair. And hair extensions were used to achieve the volume and mass of softness.

You can get this great hair look by using products from the Victoria's Secret So Sexy Hair line. We like the So Sexy Root-Lift Volumizing Spray ($13, 3/$24). This root-lift gives hair body, volume, and strength with silk amino acids. Take a curling iron and create some soft, sexy waves.

We were really attracted to the pretty, natural makeup for last night's 2009 VS Fashion Show. Sure, the smoky eye was still framing the models' mascared eyes, but in a much less dramatic way.

According to an article today by StyleList, VS makeup artist Tom Pecheux, was going for glam makeup with a subtle twist.

"With a lot of new girls on the runway this season, I wanted to make it fresh," Tom Pecheux say. "Nothing dramatic...extremely sexy and beautiful. When a lot of the body is showing, you don't want the face to appear made up."

We appalud Tom Pecheux. We think he hit the right mark with a few faux lashes at the outside corners to create a softer, smoky eye, and a light gray eyeshadow to enhance the overall look.

Tom also dusted pink shimmer all over the face for a healthy glow. And those lips. All the models smiled brighter with delicate shades of pink lipstick. Check out Victoria Secret's new VS Makeup collection, Perfect Lipstick ($12). A rich and creamy, long-lasting formula.

Top it off with VS' Lip Lacquer, also from the new VS Makeup collection ($10). This little gloss delivers high shine and full coverage. Wear alone, or over VS' Perfect Lipstick. We love their Babydoll Pink shade.


You can catch all the sexy, soft glitz and glamour with Heidi Klum and the gals on December 1st at the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show televised on CBS.

What To Do When You Wanted Bangs But Now Hate Them

Bangs. First, you wanted them badly, because bangs are still hot, and all the Hollywood beauties seem to be sporting them these days.

Then you got your own bangs, but now you hate them. Argh-hhhh!

And now it seems that lovely Padma Lakshmi, the popular host of Bravo's Top Chef' reality show, has become a poster child for bangs gone bad! We have read comment after comment about Padma's recent, big mistake of getting bangs cut. Or maybe the wrong style of bangs. We even saw a couple of polls on Padma's bangs for readers to decide: Love it or Hate it.

We happen to think 39-year-old Padma Lakshmi, who is expecting her first baby this spring, would look stunning even if she had burlap for hair.

The scenario seems to equal out to this: If you love them and wear bangs all the time, like we do, then bangs seem to grow out so quickly. And then you have to have them trimmed just about every two or three weeks. Or, you learn to gently clip them yourself. Not easy, no matter how many instructions you are given.

And if you hate the bangs you were given in your last haircut, then it seems like the bangs take forever and ever to grow out. And when hair is taking so long to grow out, it is a frustrating time. There's just so much gel you can put on or bobby pins to hide bad bangs. Yuck! You still hate them so.

1. Bangs too short. Grow them out a bit. Padma's rocking some thick, blunt bangs. We call those Cleopatra bangs. Just a bit longer over the brows, and the fringe will look great. The good news: Bangs frame the eyes nicely. Bangs make you look younger. Bangs cover up imperfections like wrinkles on a forehead, thin eyebrows, and a high forehead.

2. Part the hair. That's another way to change the look of the bangs you no longer desire. A part right down the middle, changes your total look. Or a side-part can camoflauge bangs.

3. Pin bangs straight back. That's a trendy look, especially with longer bangs. Jennifer Lopez had bangs a few months ago for a movie role. And we saw her constantly pinning them straight back and looking glam.

4. Next time, invest in some faux bangs. When you tire of the look, just un-clip them. Celebrity stylist Ken Paves sells some for $28.95. A great investment because they're quick to put in any time you feel like wearing bangs. And you don't have to worry about bangs maintenance.

Nicole Kidman Goes Back To Red Hair But People Notice Lips Instead

We still think 42-year-old Nicole Kidman is a fine actress and very pretty woman. But there are people talking about her bigger lips and bigger breasts, most recently photographed here at the CMAs or Country Music Awards show.

Look, we are not here to judge. but apparently many celebrity publications are criticizing the Aussie beauty for her allegedly fake lips and breasts. In the past, the Academy Award winner had been teased continuously for her 'frozen look' from too much Botox. Allegedly, we say, again.

For several years now, Nicole Kidman has denied the plastic surgery rumors. "I am completely natural," Nicole has said. "I have nothing in my face or anything."

But the publications keep hitting away. Even The Huffington Post has been taking nasty jabs at the actress, and has a poll up at the site, asking readers to decide if her 'freakish' lips were done. And if that weren't vicious enough, The Huffington Post also includes a series of photos that show how 'plumper' her lips become each passing year.

So what. Big deal. We think she's quite stunning. Nicole Kidman would not be the first actress to undergo cosmetic enhancement or cosmetic surgery, if that were the case.

As for the curvier bosom, Nicole attributes that to the pregnancy of her first child. She has said, "Motherhood has mad my boobs a normal size."

How does someone plump up their lips?

Mostly through fillers, or injectables that plump up the tissue. In the lips, the filler is used to enhance the lip's natural outline. It also enhances the lip's definition, which is lost with general aging. It is also used to give volume to the lips to actually make them bigger and to show more of the lip itself.

How much filler does one need? According to the experts, for most patients, one syringe may be enough to plump both lips. Fillers are injected through small needles. And yes, it stings
like crazy.

1. Collagen. This filler has been around for a long time, and is one of the most popular lip plumping injectables. The substance lasts about 3-4 months in the lips. According to Kimberly J. Butterwick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a dermatologist in La Jolla, Calif., "Collagen products are very forgiving and work well for replacing volume." The only problem...some people are allergic to bovine collagen. A test is given in advance to see how skin reacts.

2. Hyaluronic Acid Gel. Also FDA-approved, this filler lasts longer, 3-6 months, and even more. How does it work? Hyaluronic acid gel binds to water and provides volume to plump up lips. But this gel can be painful, according to Dr. Butterwick, because it does not contain an anesthetic. But, no allergy risk here.

3. Combination Fillers. How about collagen and hyaluronic acid gel together? Yes, says Dr. Butterwick. "A good lip enhancement can be achieved utilizing both collagen and hyaluronic acid gel." Both fillers provide a different structure, so the overall look is natural.

The bottom line here, lip plumpers or lip injections are temporary and cost a few hundred dollars every time you go back for more. So visits become multiple affairs.

Here's some sensible advice:

"Despite their ease of use, filler injections are a medical procedure and should be handled by a board-certified physician in order to achieve aesthetically natural lips and to reduce the risk of side effects," Dr. Butterwick says.

To read more about this subject, take a look at Plump up the Volume of Lips by Armen Hareyan.

Pitt Jolie Jewelry Launch By Asprey To Aid Children's Charity

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been super busy these days. Between running after lots of kids (we can't remember how many they have, but who's counting), making movies, and performing countless humanitarian acts, here's one more big gesture of kindness and thing of beauty.

The gorgeous Hollywood Angie and Brad have become elegant, high-end jewelry designers for Asprey. And their collection of serpent pieces, The Protector, goes on sale today at Asprey stores in London, New York, Beverly Hills, Tokyo and Dubai.

All the net proceeds will go to Angie's charity---Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. The charity she co-founded in 2006, raises awareness and funds to educate child victims of war, conflict, and natural disasters.

Why the snake or serpent theme? Well, there's a great story to it. When Angie was pregnant with baby Shiloh in 2006, someone had given Angie a special serpent ring. It was taken as a symbol of protection for mother and unborn child. “Since then, she has seen the snake symbol as a protective talisman for her family,” a source at Asprey tells People magazine.


Prices start at $525 for a silver baby spoon with a serpent-shaped handle. The jewelry is gold and the accessories are silver. Pieces range from earrings, bangles, rings, men's cuff links and pendants to an egg cup, a tooth box, and a picture frame. And the Hollywood power couple has been busy designing The Protector collection for the past year for the British Asprey jewelers.

Angie spoke about the children's charity and its mission in an email:

“These are the children who most need a safe place to learn, a place to heal, a place to learn reconciliation, a place to build a better future and a place — to just be children. Yet the education for these children is often forgotten. Tens of millions of children and adolescents in conflict are not in school.”

We appalud Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for their huge generosity and humanitarian endeavors.

You can learn more about the limited edition collection at Asprey Jewlery stores.