AMC's Susan Lucci Stretches Pilates Empire With Spandex And Fila

Daytime's Susan Lucci is putting a little more stretch and spandex into her appearance these days. The ever-youthful Erica Kane on All My Children, has been sported around town in some pretty, new fitness clothing.

Susan Lucci has teamed up with the Fila Apparel company and designed a new line of Pilates and fitness clothing to complement the Emmy winner's Malibu Pilates Program. The apparel is called Fila by Lucci and is selling exclusively on HSN, for $33 to $50.

What's so special about Fila by Lucci? There are some pretty feminine touches and some clever details. There's a cute racer-back floral tank, a cut-out back long bra top, and a cami tank which go perfectly with a hooded jacket, and pants with contrast piping. The tops are uniquely made with an "inside self fabric bra" and are designed to flatter the contours of a woman's neck and back. The pants feature a contrast band that can be folded down at the hip, or kept at the waist for added coverage and support. The line is made with Fila's special, peached poly-spandex fabrication. So flexibility and comfort are always maintained.

The attractive Susan Lucci is 60-something and looks amazing. And yes, she really does work out, and Pilates is her fitness strategy:

"Pilates is a huge part of my fitness program and I want to make sure I look great during my workout," Susan Lucci explains. "I fell in love with Fila's beautiful performance apparel; it makes me look and feel great during my workout. The styles in our new collection are so versatile; I could wear the styles from the gym to running errands around town!"

We think this is a super idea for women working out and on the go. These pieces look to be sophisticated and smart. And heck, you don't even have to work out if you don't want to. The line is pretty in spandex. So we say, way to go Susan Lucci!

Roy Orbison's Widow Debuts New Perfume: Pretty Woman

We like to believe that most people remember and adore Roy Orbison's huge hit song Pretty Woman.

And of course, there were Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman on the big screen. How could we forget?

This time, it's all about Barbara. Barbara Orbison, the widow of the legendary Roy Orbison. And she has been working for a number of years now, to create a signature scent, appropriately called, Pretty Woman. And it's debuting now! How lovely....a fragrance inspired by her husband's beautiful song.

Pretty Woman Perfume is an exotic blend with notes of bergamot, stargazer lily, amber and patchouli.. Price is $80 for a 1.7 oz. bottle. At the moment, the fragrance can be purchased at stores such as Stanley Korshak in Dallas and Planet Blue in Malibu, Calif. And you can also buy a bottle at Barbara Orbison's website Pretty Woman Perfume.

Barbara Orbison has always had a thing for fragrance. "After all these years of mixing my own perfume (which I have been dabbling in since finding this scent when I was thirteen years old), perfecting it throughout my life and marriage to Roy - it's finally here and I can't wait for you to try it.

I feel a scent should be mysterious and draw the world into you. I'm always being asked over and over again, “what are you wearing?” Now at last I’m able to share my secret with you!"

Barbara Orbison is also adding some scented candles for the holidays. The candles come in black, white and gold, and are encased in heavy glass. She also is looking into creating a body lotion and shampoo in the future. According to one source we found, first-year sales of the Pretty Women line could be worth an estimated $1.5 million in U.S. and international markets.

Barbara explains it this way:

“Everything I add to the line has to have something special about it,” she says. “The name Pretty Woman is important to me, not just because of the song or the movie, but because I feel every woman is pretty, every woman is beautiful, and it doesn’t make a difference where they live or how old they are.”

Gisele Bundchen Baby Due December And Some Of Her Beauty Tips

Gisele Bundchen is about to give birth very soon! In fact, we believe the due date is next Monday, December 14.

The famous model has been very quiet these past 9 months, as she prepares for the Bundchen baby she is expecting with husband Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback. You see 29-year-old Gisele at the beach here, sporting a smallish baby bump in mid August, which would make her about 5 months pregnant according to our math.

She looks toned and healthy, and has been staying fit throughout her pregnancy. And that incredible mane of hair is still wavy and gorgeous. Women absolutely love Gisele Bundchen's hair. And the televised Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last week, copied Gisele's trademark long, wavy hairstyle on all the models walking the runway. So to get the look, you need long layered hair, either naturally or through the magic and ease of hair extensions. You will also be smart to buy a volumizing spray to spritz on and wind hair aound a large-barreled curling iron to achieve those beautiful, sexy spirals.

Everyone loves the color of Gisele's hair, too. Her colorist, Harry Josh of John Frieda, explained to talkingmakeup.com, how he acieves that beautiful blend:

"Gisele’s hair color can be achieved only if the bulk of your natural hair color or base color is showing. Only idea if you have light brown or dark blonde hair naturally. If your hair is very dark naturally, it will never work on you."

Harry Josh also raves about this product to get a smooth, shiny look:

"I use John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum on EVERY single person’s hair I’ve ever styled in my life. Especially after coloring hair John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum helps in flattening the hair cuticles."

As far as makeup goes, we learned in the October issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine, that the Brazilian native favors makeup from her celebrity makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift. The new organic cosmetics line is called RMS Beauty. And apparently, Gisele can't get enough of the lip2cheek pots ($36) that come in 6 luscious and very wearable shades.

This is good, healthy makeup by RMS Beauty. In other words....no synthetics, no petrochemcials, no parabens or other bad stuff. In fact, there is no artificial anything.
We wish Gisele and Tom all the best on the soon-to-be arrival of baby Bundchen-Brady!

How To Get Eye Candy With All-Around EyeLiner In Two Shades

Who's got eye candy?

Penelope Cruz. Rachel Bilson. Angelina Jolie.

It's not secret. Most women do wear eyeliner on a daily basis. For really big eyes, you need eyeliner. Of course, there are varying degrees of liner. And there are several different ways to wear it----top lid, bottom lid, inside lids, cat eye. You get the picture. Wearing eyeliner frames the eyes beautifully, but there are a few things to consider:

If you line the entire eye all in black, your eyes can actually look smaller.

That little beauty nugget comes from Kela Wong, Rachel Bilson's talented makeup artist.

Here's Kela's advice, and we think it works!

1. Wear black eyeliner pencil along the top lash line only.
2. Then apply a dark brown liner on the bottom.
3. "It keeps the eye open," Kela explains.



Look at the first photo above of actress Penelope Cruz. Her eyes are absolutely gorgeous and you can see the makeup artist lined Penelope's top lids in black liner. And the bottom was enhanced with a dark brown liner and shadow. It's still a strong, sexy eye, but just a bit softer, as the eye rimming is broken up in the two, very subtle colors of black and dark brown.

As you know, there are lots and lots of eyeliners....from pencils to crayons to gels to liquids. Take your pick and the liner you choose doesn't always have to be super expensive to do the job. Kela Wong suggests picking up Wet n Wild Eyeliner Pencil in BlackBlack at your local drugstore. It's only a dollar.

Or how about M.A.C. Fluidline Eyeliner Gel in DipDown(dark brown, $15, at Macy's). Or in BlackTrack(black). Most pros and makeup fanatics love M.A.C. for its superior quality.

Just try the 2-tone eyeliners, and you will see how this simple process makes a big difference in your eyes. It's a clever trick and we've become hooked on it!

Floss Your Teeth For Better Health And Gain 6 Years

We really hope, and like to assume, that you are flossing your teeth, at least once before you go to sleep at night. But the sad facts show that only 5-10% of Americans are regular flossers.

This is our beauty tip today: If your floss your teeth daily, you can add some 6 years to your life. That's what one researcher claims. Michael Roizen, MD, author of RealAge, says you can add 6.4 years, to be exact. In his book, Roizen lists flossing as one of the most important daily activities -- along with exercise and quitting smoking -- that could extend life span.

Don't believe it? Well, even if the stats aren't perfectly etched in stone, flossing teeth does a world of good for your health:

1. Flossing keeps your teeth looking bright and clean. Do you want everyone to see you had spinach lasagna for lunch? It gets rid of plaque buildup.

2. Flossing removes bacteria that can lead to inflamation.

3. Flossing maintains good gum health and avoids gingivitis and periodontis. And we all need great gums because, gum tissues are common sites for inflammation, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

4. Flossing prevents tooth decay.

5. Flossing helps guard against bad breath.

According to Fun Dental Facts, flossing is just not what people want to do.

73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss.

In 1994 a prison inmate in West Virginia braided floss into a rope, scaled the wall and escaped. We love that one!

There are so many dental flosses to choose from. Waxed. Unwaxed. Thick. Thin. Minty flavored. Unflavored. Supermarket brand. Expensive brand. There really is no excuse not to regularly floss.

Of course, there is no attractive way to do it....er, floss. But it can be done in private. The little plastic container dental floss comes in, is so convenient and small. You can tuck it away in your purse, car, pocket.

You really have no excuse. It's time to floss. Everyone notices a beautiful, clean smile.

Julia Roberts Becomes Beauty Lancome Cover Girl Early Next Year

America's cinematic sweetheart still has that dazzling mega-watt smile.

And why not? Actress Julia Roberts has just been tapped to become the newest cover girl for French makeup giant Lancome!

We love it, because the mom of three is now in her 40s, and continues to exude a wholesome and healthy appeal.

Let's face it....Julia Roberts has one of the most incredible, big, natural smiles around. Those white teeth and full lips!

And Julia Roberts has always been a big fan of Lancome lipsticks. Here's her beauty tip today:

According to StyleList.com, Julia already adores Lancome's L'Absolu Rouge in Rich Cashmere ($29). This is a creamy and moisturizing lipstick in a nude shade, the subtle kind of makeup Julia is often photographed wearing.

Lancome has often been recognized by A-list beauty editors for its amazing lipsticks. And if you're looking for a lip color that is worth the price, L'Absolu Rouge will not disappoint.

"Lancôme brings Pro-Xylane™; its complete and powerful replenishing molecule, to a lip color for visibly fuller and smoother lips."

We're not sure exactly what kind of role Julia Roberts will assume as Lancome's newest spokesperson. But the actress will promote their beauty products, and follow in the same footsteps as another Lancome cover girl, Kate Winslet.

Lancome Cosmetics told WWD.com yesterday, "By her remarkable personality and career, Julia Roberts is an emblematic woman of her time,” said Youcef Nabi, president of Lancôme International. “Her exceptional talent, her radiance and her strong commitments perfectly echo Lancôme’s values. We are convinced she will embody the brand in the most sublime way possible.”

Julia Roberts has been very busy these days filming Eat, Pray, Love with Javier Bardem. The movie has taken the popular actress all over the world to exotic locales like Bali, Rome, and Delhi. In addition, she has also made time for another movie, currently in post production, Valentine's Day.

Lancome isn't saying how long the 'Pretty Woman's' contract with them will last. But we are excited for Julia Roberts and her new role as cover girl. You can bet she will bring many new Lancome customers with her. If she didn't have staying power and huge appeal, she wouldn't be taking home $20 million per movie. Julia Roberts sells cinema and she can also sell beauty.

How To Clean Makeup Brushes The Right Way

Makeup brushes. From the blush brush to the eyeshadow brush to the mineral powder brushes, we all use some kind of makeup brush every day. It's an important, daily step in building your canvas or beauty portrait.

But if you pause for a moment, take a closer look at your collection of makeup brushes.

Are your brushes clean? We'll be honest, we have often neglected cleaning our makeup brushes on a proper schedule. And if you think about it, makeup brushes can do great things for your complexion and give your face a polished finish. But these brushes can also absorb lots of grease and grime. Yuck. And you wonder sometimes, where these breakouts come from?! And the dirt that builds up also flattens the hairs on these brushes, limiting their ability to give the coverage they were designed for.

We will show you how to clean makeup brushes the right way. You have a few options to choose from:

1. Professional Brush Cleanser. Good ones to try are MAC ($11) and Japonesque. These cleansers clean, disinfect, and condition the brush hairs or fibers, and that means a longer lasting makeup brush. The solution also cuts down drying time.

Fill a small bowl with an inch of Mac Brush Cleanser and submerge brush hairs into the solution. Let brushes soak for 15 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water. And dry brushes on paper towels.

2. Shampoo. Baby shampoo is even better, because it's very gentle. This is how we clean our makeup brushes. Fill up your sink with water and enough shampoo to build a nice lather and submerge your brushes. Massage brush fibers and watch the grimey buildup wash away. Rinse throughly and dry on paper towels.

3. Liquid dishwashing soap. Some makeup artists swear by this stuff. You can try Dawn. This one is really tough on grease, and it can also get busy lifting away impurities off your makeup brushes. Just fill a small bowl of dishwashing soap. Submerge the brush hairs in and swish around. Rinse with warm water, and again, dry on paper towels.

4. Gentle Facial Cleanser. We have a friend who uses Philosophy's Purity Face Wash. Contains no dyes or perfumes. It's gentle on skin, and therefore, kind to makeup brushes. And just a little dab massaged into brushes and then rinsed, will do the job.

By the way, if you can't find the time to clean makeup brushes once a week, then every other week is fine. Just remember to clean brushes. It's the only way to extend the life of your makeup accessories and important to keep the face bacteria-free.