Purell Portable Mini Hand Sanitizers Take Hygiene On The Road

If you've been freaking out about better hygiene because of H1N1, the regular flu, and all those nasty germs in between, then we have a better way to travel in the new year.

A friend just gave us a cute little pink bottle of take-along hand sanitizer.

It's called the Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer Variety Pack,($13.99) in a limited time offer. We found some at Amazon.com. Each Variety Pack contains FOUR .05 oz 4-PURELL Original & 4 Colorful Jelly Wraps.

And we like Purell, because the stuff really works and leaves hands soft and silky. "Kills 99.99% of most common germs in as little as 15 seconds."

We also adore the convenience and smart idea of these Purell Portable Mini Hand Sanitizers. The key feature being the hook-on jelly wrap. Just snap one on to purse, diaper bag, key chain, backpack, suitcase, etc. You can hang these Purell Minis just about anywhere and take your good hygiene on the road. You can even get them through the airports when you fly. These minis Meet TSA airline requirements for carry on, less than 3 oz per bottle.

And the colors come in blue, green, pink, purple, and yellow. The jelly wraps have good stretch to them and are reusable. Kids will love them, too. No soap or water required. And these Purell Portable Mini Hand Sanitizers are dermatologist-tested and dye-free. The jelly wrap fits standard travel size Purell or you can refill the bottle once it empties.

You might be saying, what a crazy way we live these days. And maybe that's so, but we are happy the beauty and skin care industries are coming up with some smart packaging and designs to bring hygiene awareness to a friendly new level.

Nicole Richie Clothing Line Winter Kate Looks Great In Spring 2010

We love Nicole Richie's laid-back Bohemian fashion style. And apparently, we are not alone. The young business woman is now launching a new women's clothing line this spring 2010. It's called 'Winter Kate,' after adorable daughter Harlow's two middle names.

Nicole Richie, a new mama for the second time, is enjoying life with her family and boyfriend, Joel Madden. Even a recent bout with pneumonia hasn't kept the pretty fashionista down. Winter Kate will feature a 40-piece collection of vests, leather jacket, camisoles, blouses, kimono jackets, and slip dresses. Check out photos here from Nicole's Look Book for Winter Kate Spring/Summer 2010. The collection will be available globally in February.

Designing beautiful things, is not new to Nicole Richie. The doe-eyed lovely, who has just dyed her blonde locks to a dark brunette, also has a successful jewelry line, House of Harlow and a maternity collection, Nicole for A Pea in the Pod.

Nicole is excited about her new label Winter Kate. “Fashion should be accessible,” Nicole says. “That was my philosophy when designing House of Harlow 1960 and it remains my philosophy for Winter Kate.”

This clothing line is both vintage and modern. There's quite a romantic, Bohemian feel to the fabrics and cut of the fashions. It's very feminine and very wearable. And from what we've learned, the prices will range from $70 - $250 for tops and dresses, and $1,000 for the leather pieces.

Nicole Richie's Winter Kate collection will be sold at high-end stores like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ron Herman, Intermix and Kitson.

By the way, Nicole is modeling one of the pieces from the collection in the top photo. The cute jade green bed jacket is called 'The Opy Jacket.' It's also shown here in photo 2.

Winter Kate looks great in spring 2010. Can't wait!

Jennifer Lopez Lets It All Hang Out In Unforgiving SkinTight Catsuit! Meow!!

Jennifer Lopez gave an incredible, high energy performance at Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve program on ABC last night.

We must give the sexy singer her props, especially for the great show she put on in lousy, cold, wet weather for the more than 750,000 New Year's revelers in New York City's Times Square.

JLo wowed the massive crowd in a skintight diamante-studded catsuit! Meow!

"Let's Get Loud!" Hear this: a poor choice in fashion for a 40-year-old mom of two, we dare to say! Yes, we are celebrating Jennifer Lopez' fine shape. And yes, she should be proud......however, that was one unforgiving piece of fabric the Bronx diva painted herself into. We thought she looked pregnant. And if she is, congratulations! That's a good thing. More likely, we just thought her belly was hanging out, and not too attractively. And you couldn't tell this was a woman with one of the sexiest rear ends around. The head-to-toe spandex made her butt look flat and sagging, and we know that isn't the case.

If you're gonna don a skintight, see-through catsuit, and perform on live TV under harsh stage lighting, you better pray your body is in the best shape it can be, because people will be watching and talking, and blogging about it the next day.

This was not Jennifer Lopez' best fashion choice. And we are disappointed. There are many ways to look extremely shapely and fit by not exposing certain soft areas like belly and butt.

It was an odd look and a desperate one at that. Even her 'Rapunzel-like' hair extensions seemed too long, as if trying to cover up an already over-exposed figure. And the muddy brown colored catsuit didn't translate well on TV.

Meow!! If we are being too harsh on the 'Louboutins' JLo, we apologize. We were disappointed, because the talented celebrity has usually hit very high marks when it comes to fashion on the red carpet. Maybe men will see the skintight catsuit in another light, as host Ryan Seacrest purred, 'That outfit has made my year!'

The beauty tip today: Even a woman as attractive and shapely as Jennifer Lopez can choose the wrong outfit. Although no skin was showing, this unforgiving, skintight, catsuit did the sexy singer no favors. Fabric and style are something we all should pay more attention to.

And on that note: Happy New Year! May we all wear it well in 2010!

To watch Jennifer Lopez' New Year's Eve performance, click here:

New Casio Camera Automatically Airbrushes Photos And Makes You Picture Perfect

Picture perfect. That's how we all like to look when a photo is snapped.....vibrant, bright-eyed, with smooth young skin and just the right amount of makeup on.

And now there is a new camera, with a built-in automatic 'makeup-mode' feature. It's called the Casio Exilim Ex-S12 ($229). And this slim,lightweight, handbag-friendly digital camera is all the rage with the Brits. There are 12 levels in the makeup-mode, so your appearance can be changed a little, or a lot.

Take a look at the 'before' photo(bottom) and the 'after' photo(top). Can you see a difference? We sure can. The top pic definitely looks better and has an airbrushed quality to it. This is what the subject in these photos says:

Jackie, 47, a radiographer: 'It made my skin smoother and it makes me look as if I’m wearing heavy eye make-up. I look like I’ve got eyeliner on in the second picture. I’m impressed, though I’m not sure I’d invest in something like this.'

Airbrushing or the trendier word of 'photoshopping' is a technique most photographers use when shooting models for ads and so forth. Air brushing is an editing technique in which an image is retouched and then smoothed over to improve picture quality.

How does the Casio Exilim EX-S12 work? The Casio people explain it better than we could:

"In addition to recognizing faces and adjusting focus and exposure accordingly, these cameras can make adjustments to smooth skin in images and soften facial shadows caused by sunlight, creating beautiful photographs of people's faces. The photographer can choose from one of twelve levels of skin beauty using different strengths of image processing, and can shoot after viewing the results in the LCD monitor."

There's even a smile-detection feature on this digitial camera. So you can be sure that everyone in the frame is happy and showing teeth when the picture is taken.

Is there something wrong with society, when we need to buy a camera that makes us, and every picture perfect? Well, maybe so, but we aren't here to judge. We think it's a pretty cool invention.

You could have a lot of fun with this new Casio. No more blurred shots. No more shots of Uncle Joe moving at the wrong time and spoiling the photo. This camera can correct the mistakes before they happen, because it recognizes individual faces and group shots and automatically applies the best of 41 different pre-settings. There is also an auto-shutter function which determines the perfect and precise moment to snap a photo, delaying the shot until the photographer's hand is still, or 'Uncle Joe' being pictured, stops moving, ha ha.

We know that some of you could really use the Casio Exilim Ex-S12 tonight at your New Year's Eve celebrations. Forget the smeared eyeliner and glazed appearance. This little camera won't tell! You will be airbrushed to perfection.

How To Hide Hangover From New Year's Eve With Quick Makeup Fixes

Too much New Year's Eve merry-making? Got to be in the public eye the next day?

Hmmm. We can help you hide a hangover with some quick makeup fixes!

Lesson number one: It's all in the eyes. That's the first place people can detect a party girl's been out all night. And then some, ha! But we've got some sensible tips below, to get you looking half awake even when you feel like death has arrived several hours ago. And the best part, you can find these at your local drugstore. So be smart, ladies, and shop ahead!

1. Eyes get very dry from too much alcohol. That's called dehydration. You need drops. We recommend Visine Tears Lubricant Eye Drops ($9.99, drugstores). Instantly get dry eye relief in a natural tears formula. These drops refresh tired eyes and provide coolness and comfort.

2. Restore dry, lackluster skin. And with a facial mask, you can brighten up your appearance in 10 short minutes. We suggest Freeman Good Stuff Organics Revitalizing Facial Mask, Pumkin Enzymes & Vitamin C 6 fl oz ($8.99, drugstores). You've heard us talk before about the wonderful skin benefits of pumpkin. This is a soothing mask in a blend of organic Pumpkin enzymes that dissolve dead skin cells, Vitamin C to smooth, restore and brighten skin tone, organic Chamomile, organic Apple Extract and Fair Trade Cocoa Butter for the ultimate brightening and restoring experience.

3. Dark circles like to migrate under the eyes frequently, and when you've been partying, the shadows look stronger. So a good underye concealer is essential. Try Almay Line Smoothing Concealer Makeup ($9.99, drugstores). It's a liquid concealer that comes in a tube with a little wand applicator. It glides on easily and will cover up any tired set of eyes. The formula is infused with replenishing hydrators and refreshing cucumber. And it's hypoallergenic. Get concealer in a shade lighter than your complexion.

4. And you know the feeling of dry lips and dry throat after having a few too many drinks. Water is the best beverage to sip after a hangover and to restore hydration. If your tummy's a bit queasy still, try a can of Coke. Some folks say it works wonders.
And to bring back your soft, kissable lips, you should moisturize! Try Burt's Bees Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil($2.99, drugstores). This one's a beauty. A hydrating lip balm infused with the antioxidant goodness of Pomegranate oil. Replenishes moisture and restores texture to reveal smooth, healthy, supple lips! 99.6% Natural. The good news....it gives lips the tiniest bit of sheer red color, too!

In advance, we wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy 2010!!

New Chili Pepper Diet Pill Burns Away Fat Fast For 2010

Burning away fat. Even celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt, and Britney Spears want to drop a few pounds every so often. And if you believe the rumors, these three have been popping a new chili pepper diet pill called Capsiplex.

According to our research, this new fat buster pill Capsiplex guarantees to burn up to as many calories as a 25-minute jog. This little diet pill contains extracts from pepper plants that may help to reduce appetite and increase metabolism. And don't worry about the spicyness---there will be no upset stomach while taking Capsiplex. The pill people have put a protective coating on the ingredients.

Many of you might be sitting there laughing at the idea of a red hot chili pepper pill able to perform such amazing dietary feats. But there is truth to the value of spicy foods boosting your metabolism. And we found this dietary nugget at women.web.md

"Spicy foods contain chemical compounds that kick the metabolism into high gear. Eating a tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper can temporarily boost your metabolic rate by 23 percent. Some studies suggest the effect only lasts about half an hour, but if you eat spicy foods often, the benefits may add up. For a quick boost, spice up pasta dishes, chili, and stews with red-pepper flakes."

And by the way, this new diet pill also contains a dose of hot cayenne pepper.

More research is being done, and the chili pepper diet pill is being put to the test. In fact trials have been done at the University of Oklahoma. And the results are significant. Capsiplex was able to burn as many calories as 80 minutes of walking or a 25-minute jog. But please note that their idea of an 80-minute walk to burn 278 calories was based on a turtle's slow pace of 30 minutes per mile (the average person walks a mile in 15 to 20 minutes).

Capsiplex is not FDA approved, but it just became available to consumers yesterday. And for most folks wanting to keep their 2010 New Year resolution of burning away fat, this little diet pill couldn't have been introduced at a better time. But as we always say, proceed with caution and tell your physician about your idea of weight loss in a pill.

Here's how Capsiplex works, according to their website:

1. You take Capsiplex once a day 30-60 minutes before excercise with a glass of water.

2. If you have more than 14 lbs. to lose, you can expect to lose up to 6 lbs. in the first week, reducing to 2-3 lbs. a week thereafter.

3. There is no need to deprive yourself of anything as long as you are sensible and eat in moderation, the less food you consume the more weight you will lose but there is no need to starve yourself. You will feel satisfied with a small portion of food.

One bottle, a 1-month supply of Capsiplex costs $47.82.

Happy New Year, and let the burn begin!!!

Tanning Salons Turn Pale Over 10% Tax And Bo-Tax Smoothed Away

Tanning tax versus Botox tax.

In the end, it shapes up like this for the Senate's sweeping health care reform bill that was passed on Christmas Eve:

Americans would continue to get cosmetic procedures like Botox and plastic surgery tax-free. Remember there was a proposed 5% Bo-Tax just a few weeks ago? Well, that was axed in the final stretch of the health care debate, but instead, tanning salons were thrown under the bus with a 10% tax on indoor tanning.

Tanning salons, all 20,000 of them located across the United States, are fuming, and rightly so. The tax would be a financial hardship on such a tiny industry. As Dan Humiston of the Indoor Tanning Association remarked, "We don't have the war chest...the medical industry has. We're somebody who won't fight back because we're too small."

And the business owner was correct, because the Allergan makers of Botox and the American Medical Association made a huge and successful $1 million lobbying effort in recent weeks, to have the Bo-Tax smoothed away, like Botox does instantly to wrinkles. And in its place, burned the tanning industry hard in the behind.

The tanning tax would start in July. And estimates show that such a tax would raise some $2.7 billion over 10 years.

Why would Botox, cosmetic and plastic surgery, and tanning salons even be considered taxable? And why include these mainly female procedures in a health care bill? The way we understand it, to help lawmakers look for ways to pay for expanding coverage.

But Allergan spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove says the Bo-Tax was discriminatory against women and that it really had zero to do with health care reform and costs:

"These are elective procedures that middle-class women are paying for out of their own pockets."

And why pick on the tiny tanning salons? Senate Democrats tried to justify the tax by claiming studies link tanning bed use to skin cancer and other health risks.

So, if you want to get your golden glow on, it looks like it will cost you a little more. Meantime, the Senate health care package now moves into the next phase of the complicated process. The legislation must be reconciled with a separate House measure approved last month. And the big difference between the two bills is funding.

Happy New Year, Botox! You just escaped a couple of hard, painful jabs right between the eyes, so to speak.