Conditioners Keep Hair Soft And Sleek In Cold Winter Air

Hair can be high maintenance in the cold winter air. Dry air and heated air indoors can cause frizzy, dull, flat, static electricity fly away locks.

No. You don't have to surrender your flat iron or blow dryer in the winter days approaching our doorsteps. But you do need to give hair some TLC. And we're talking about conditoners.

Your hair is crying out for moisture this time of year. And if you consider all the crazy things we do to our hair, like perming, straightening, blow drying, flat ironing, coloring, highlighting, bleaching, curling ironing, styling products applied, etc., then you can see how quickly and continuously we rob our hair of its shiny, natural oils.

Here are some excellent conditioners to keep your hair soft and shiny all season long:

1. Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask ($50, 16.9 oz., free shipping). Salma Hayek and Cindy Crawford are just two beautiful-haired celebrities who swear by this brand. There are so many fans of Moroccanoil hair products. You'll love this hair mask. It's rich and creamy and works within 5 minutes for all hair types, restoring elasticity and shine to locks. You can buy Moroccanoil products at many online beauty stores like Skin-One.

2. Pantene Beautiful Lengths Conditioner ($7, 12.6 oz., at drugstores). In Style magazine named this one its best inexpensive conditioner for normal hair in 2009. A conditioner that hydrates without heaviness —at a serious bargain price. Makes hair "strong, shiny and bouncy," says N.Y.C. stylist David Cruz, who works with Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively.

3. David Babaii for Wildaid Conditioner ($10, 13.5 oz., http://www.db4wildaid.com/). This green-conscious hair care line was developed by stylist David Babaii with his client and friend Kate Hudson. It's free of harsh detergents, artificial fragrances and parabens. Instead, you're getting natural ingredients from the South Pacific----hydrating kiwifruit and mineral-rich volcanic ash. Your hair gets back lots of bounce and healthy texture.

Hollywood Women Still Using Frownies To Smooth Out Wrinkles

Maybe your mother or grandmother, or even great-grandmother had a box of Frownies at their vanity table.

Frownies have been around for a very long time. In fact, according to their website, these all natural wrinkle smoothers worn while you sleep, were created in 1889. And what a wonderful story:

"Frownies were created in 1889 after Margaret Kroesen discovered that her daughter Alice, a concert pianist, had developed unsightly wrinkles and frown lines. With a desire to maintain her youthful beauty and stage presence, Mrs. Kroesen created Wrinkle Eradicators (as they were first called) by employing the basic principle of fitness to the muscles of the face. At the time, there was no thought of producing them for anyone else but herself and her daughter. But Alice, after using her mother's amazing invention, was a living testimony, and it became clear that women and men everywhere could benefit from these Wrinkle Eradicators."

And as the saying goes....the rest is history.

Today's Hollywood beauties still love using Frownies in a natural way to smooth out wrinkles. Rene Russo and Rashida Jones are big fans of Frownies. And before these two modern actresses raved about the product, there were legendary screen actresses like Olivia de Havilland and Gloria Swanson ordering Frownies.

So we thought we would take a look at the company and what these curious-looking, beige little facial pads are all about.

First of all, Frownies are made of all natural ingredients: vegetable-based adhesive on unbleached paper . The pads target the areas of the face where expression lines and wrinkles like to set up house--on the forehead and between the eyes. And at the corners of the eyes and mouth.

What Frownies ($19.99, box of 144, FREE shipping) do is train the underlying facial muscles to relax, while you are asleep. And what the product eventually delivers is smooth skin and softened deep lines.

But you must wear Frownies in your nighttime routine. According to Frownies.com, Frownies should be worn every day for 30 days to effectively retrain the facial muscles. After the 30 day period, continue to use Frownies four or more times per week to maintain your more youthful appearance. Frownies are applied by wetting them first:

Moisten the shiny side of Frownies with Frownies Hydrator Spray or water to activate the vegetable-based adhesive.
Using two fingers of one hand, smooth your skin while pressing Frownies with the fingers of your other hand. Hold in place until pad adheres. Leave on for a minimum of three hours, but preferably overnight.
To remove, thoroughly soak pads to release adhesive.

And the company has really branched out through the decades. In addition to Frownies Facial Pads, there is also Frownies Hydrator Spray (as mentioned above), Immune Perfect Wrinkle Cream, Under Eye Treatment Patch (New!), Immune Shield Serum, and ph Balancing Complexion Wash.

We like that there is a money back gurantee and a Frownies Video Tutorial on how to use the Hollywood wrinkle smoother at their website.

Black Friday Beauty Shopping: Deals At Your Fingertips!

We understand.....you can't get out and brave the crowds on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. Too many things going on inside the house...the in-laws are still here...traffic is jammed for miles.....the baby's collicky.....little gas in the car, no time....,etc.

Now you can pick up beauty deals right at your fingertips. Here are some super online beauty things that would make great stocking stuffers.

And don't forget: Cyber Monday, the biggest shopping day of the year online, gets underway next Monday, November 30th.

Until then, let's get down to some beauty business on this Black Friday 2009:

Philosophy Cosmetics Black Friday Deals. Up to 40% off selected products + Free Shipping at Philosophy. You know the brand and the wonderful skin care and body products. Always a crowd pleaser.

Victoria's Secret Black Friday Deals. Receive a FREE runway tote packed with goodies with any purchase over $60. Enter VSFRIDAY at Victoria's Secret checkout. Big VS red tote with parfum, splash, and cherry bomb lip gloss! The undies and clothes are sexy, and so is this tote.

ShoeSteal Black Friday Deals. You can't beat this---25% off any purchase. Just type in code Turkey25 at ShoeSteal website. Brands like Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, BrunoMagli, and more.

Platinum Skin Care Black Friday Deals. We adore this site for all its effective chemical peels, emu oil, glycolic cleansers, and many other face-saving products. Save $5 off any order of $50 or more with code: SAVE5. Or save $10 of any order of $100 or more by using code: SAVE10 at Platinum Skin Care.

e.l.f. Cosmetics. Let's be honest here. You already save by shopping at e.l.f. But the makeup elves there are being super generous. Here's just one of their Deals: Receive 25% off e.l.f. mineral makeup by entering the code NATURE at e.l.f. checkout.

Body Shop. Who can resist the aroma of this place? The products are so luscious. And so is the shipping-- $2 flat rate shipping on all orders placed today through Sunday, Nov. 29th. There are many Buy 1, Get 1 Free deals going on there, too. And don't forget Cyber Monday with 20% off all orders and a choice of a free product at Body Shop.

Happy shopping....right at your nimble fingertips!!

Roast Turkey Still Great Holiday Diet Choice

Turkey is actually an excellent dietary choice----good protein with very little fat. And if roasted, low in sodium.

And by the way, turkey contains more protein than the same size serving of chicken or beefsteak.

So, you want the breakdown, here we go. We got this information from dietbites.com:

Roasted Turkey - 6 Ounces Dark + White Meat, Untrimmed450 Calories
Roasted Turkey - 3 Ounces White Meat - Trimmed (no skin, no fat). White meat contains a little less calories than dark. Add 30 more calories if you prefer dark meat.130 Calories

1 Cup of homemade stuffing400 Calories
1/2 Cup of boxed stuffing prepared with no calorie refrigerated butter spray.
110 Calories
1 Cup of Giblet Gravy300 Calories
1/3 Cup of Giblet Gravy100 Calories

1 Cup of Mashed Potatoes350 Calories
1/2 Cup of Mashed Potatoes prepared with skimmed milk, no calorie refrigerated butter spray100

CaloriesStuffed Celery - 1 stick100 Calories
1 Stick of stuffed celery prepared with reduced fat cream cheese.40 Calories
2 Sweet Pickles, 10 Black/Green Olives125 Calories
2 Black Olives, 2 Green Olives25 Calories

1 Cup of Candied Sweet Potatoes400 Calories
1/2 Baked Sweet Potato w/ small pat of butter, dash of cinnamon, a couple of packs of no calorie sweetener.

100 Calories1/2 Cup of Cranberry Sauce200 Calories
1/6 Can of Cranberry Sauce - Jelled or Whole Cranberries100 Calories
2 Rolls With Butter300 Calories
1 Roll With 1/2 Pat of Butter125 Calories

1 Cup of English Peas with Butter150 Calories

2 Glasses Sweetened Tea, Wine, Punch or Cider300 Calories

1 Slice of Pumpkin Pie With Topping450 Calories
1 Slice of Pecan Pie650 Calories
1 Cup of Fruit Salad100 Calories
1 Cup of Egg Nog400 Calories

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

How To Keep Beautiful Eyebrows In Place With Just One Product

We all know that beautiful eyebrows create a perfect frame for the eyes. But not all of us were born with thick, wonderfully arched or shaped brows.

For most of us, we want to stick our eyebrows in place. In other words, we want to keep the arch and keep the little brow hairs brushed up. But we don't want to accomplish that with a sticky, goey, visible mess.

Sure, we've heard that regular hairspray will keep our brows in place. Hmmm. Tried that, it doesn't really work. Then we learned that the legend herself, Sophia Loren, BeautyTipToday's cover girl, supposedly used some kind of special, secret adhesive to keep her brows perfectly arched and in place. Just look at our cover shot of the movie star. She has incredible eyebrows, with of course, incredible bone structure. But Sophia has never revealed her eyebrow tips, unfortunately.

Then there is moustache wax. Try it in clear. It's an old Hollywood beauty tip and it does keep eyebrows in place for most of the day. But it feels kind of sticky and stiff and can leave a glue-like look to the brows, if you go overboard in applying it.

Your best bet are clear eyebrow gels. You will get the most natural look from a gel. It's quick and simple to apply, because it comes in a mascara tube with a spiral mascara wand. And the gel also gives the illusion of thicker, more polished brows.

You want a brow gel that delivers. And we've found two that really keep eyebrows in place all day long:

1. Dior Brow Gel ($17.50, at sephora.com and fine dept. stores). This product delivers! It's water-proof, clear, and can be used right after brow pencil. Brows look perfectly groomed. No flaky, stiff appearance. And it lasts and lasts.

2. M.A.C. Brow Set ($28, at maccosmetics.com). Another clear eyebrow gel that really works, and keeps brows in place all day. For a nice, natural look, you can stroke over brow pencil. This MAC gives brows shine and slicks them into place.

By the way, you don't have to use a brow pencil. We find the clear brow gel gives a healthy, thicker, more groomed look to the eyebrows, all on its own.

Laser Resurfacing Best Way To Go For Aging Skin Around Eyes

We were intrigued by a recent article in the NY Times Fashion & Style section that says, when it comes to treating aging skin around the eyes, your best bet is laser resurfacing. It's even better than surgery.

Dr. Michael McGuire, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon and president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons told the NY Times this: “If the skin is mildly wrinkled and/or pigmented, the laser can be a good option,” he said, adding that he frequently gives laser treatments to patients in their 40s to defer face-lifts.

Laser resurfacing sounds simple enough. An intense beam of light treats the damaged surface of the skin. And then younger skin grows in its place.

But what we have heard, is that laser resurfacing is no 'walk in the park.' It's painful and you certainly need some down time, at least a week or two. We have had acquaintances tell us that this procedure felt like big, thick elastics being snapped across their face. Another told us, her face felt like raw meat directly afterwards. And these women both say they couldn't be seen out in public for about a week following the treatment.

Despite some of the nightmares about laser resurfacing, most patients feel the pain is very much worth it in the long run. Laser resurfacing can zap wrinkles, acne scars, facial lines, age spots, sun damage, and more.

The question looms. Do you treat the entire facial surface or just zero in on selected areas?

The NY Times article had some answers:

"The debate surrounding laser treatments is whether to go fractional or cover the entire surface of the treated area. Fractional lasers, like the Fraxel, burn tiny holes into the skin to stimulate collagen production. Because much of the skin remains untouched, recuperation time is minimal, but multiple treatments are necessary.

Regular laser resurfacing, on the other hand, destroys entire outer skin layers in the targeted area and requires at least a week of recovery. But it is a single treatment and produces arguably more dramatic results."

Dr. McGuire suggests treating the entire skin surface for the most benefits. "Any laser treatment that leaves some skin ‘islands’ will be less effective at achieving skin tightening and pigmentation removal simply because the entire surface is not treated.".

The average cost of laser resurfacing is about $2,500. And many patients report seeing immediate results after the uncomfortable downtime of red, puffy, and sometimes crusty skin.
And although laser resurfacing can last for years, wrinkles and expression lines eventually pop up again as skin ages. Repeat procedures may be necessary. Ouch.

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.