Huge Loss For Fashion And Celebrities In Passing Of Alexander McQueen

There are many heavy hearts today, because we have lost an icon, British fashion designer Alexander McQueen. He was found dead in his London home, and authorities believe the 40-year-old designer had hanged himself.

Alexander McQueen's mother, Joyce, had passed away only a few days earlier. According to NewYorkmag.com, a source at McQueen's office confirmed the suicide, saying, "It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family." Details of his death have not been released yet.

Sadly, his death comes just days before the start of London Fashion Week. And the British fashion icon was merely a few weeks away from unveiling his new collection at Paris Fashion Week on March 9.

A number of Hollywood's famous women adored Alexander McQueen's style, including Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Sandra Bullock appeared at the SAG Awards show recently, wearing a beautiful Alexander McQueen black floor length gown with a blue embellished neckline. And of course, models loved the popular designer, and wanted to appear on the runway for him. Models like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss held Alexander McQueen in high regard(see photo).

The British publication, the Daily Mail, gave us a glimpse into the amazing talent and life of the legendary designer :Sue Whiteley, his former CEO at McQueen said: 'This is devastating news. He was an unforgettable part of my life. He was a talent who was beyond others. People who worked with him would give 100 per cent and more because he was totally inspiring. This is an unimaginable loss for the fashion world".

'He was able to bring creativity to whatever he turns his hand to, from perfume bottles to every piece of clothing. It is a dark, dark day to hear this news. he was a British icon in fashion whose loss is unimaginable.'

The world began to see the designer's grief over his mother's passing with several remarks he made on Twitter. He made this entry on Feb.1st: 'From heaven to hell and back again, life is a funny thing. beauty can come from the most strangest of places even the most disgusting places.

Rest in peace, Alexander McQueen.

Beyonce Becomes Face Of Fashion For Haiti Tee Shirt Campaign

It's now official. Beyonce has been named the face of the Fashion for Haiti tee shirt campaign.

It's a limited-edition tee shirt which features black and lime green graphics designed by Peter Arnell. And it goes on sale next Tuesday, Feb. 16th. Proceeds will benefit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

We think it's a fabulous idea, and applaud designer Diane von Furstenberg for her hard work and passion as President of the CFDA, the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

The devastating earthquake occured almost a month ago on January 12th, and the fashion industry is hoping people dig just a little deeper into their pockets and buy the striking tees to help the Haitian people who have suffered immensely.

“The tragedy in Haiti has affected everyone and most of us individually have given money for relief,” said Diane von Furstenberg, President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. “However, I think it is now important to send a message and create a channel for funding from fashion as an industry.”

And Beyonce is proud to become the face of Fashion for Haiti tee shirt campaign. “Join me and the fashion industry by buying and wearing the Fashion for Haiti T-shirt. Together we can send a message of hope by raising much needed funds for the people of Haiti.”

The tees come in women's and men's styles, and should be available in e-boutiques and retailers across the country on the 16th. You can learn more details at the CFDA.

We give a big hug to the CFDA, because the council always supports those in need, and really understands the word 'loyalty.' The initiative gets the blessing and support of the fashion industry, including the entire CFDA membership, and carries the endorsement of fashion leaders Tory Burch, Kevin Carrigan, Francisco Costa, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Andrew Rosen, Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang, Anna Wintour, Italo Zucchelli, among many others.

2010's Wavy Hairstyles Inspired By The 70s And Farrah

Sadly, Farrah Fawcett is no longer with us, but her beautiful mane of big hair is making waves in 2010. In some ways, it's a wonderful tribute to a great actress who changed the way women look at hair with her 70s layered, wavy hairstyle.

Everyone wanted the Farrah do. And many tried to copy it throughout the years. And now in 2010, it has made another fabulous entrance into the world of beauty. Wavy, tousled hair is hot, inspired from below-the-shoulder blunt hairstyles from the 1970s.....the hair with the front and side layers. Volume, volume, volume.
Even Jennifer Lopez was rocking the 70s at the recent Grammy awards show, and she has never looked better!

Stylist Robert Vetica explains to Elle magazine how he got JLo's hair to turn 70's sexy:

First, he trimmed the bottom to one length. "When you blunt the hair it makes curls appear stacked and gives volume at the ends". Next, he blew strands dry with a round brush to maintain hair’s buoyancy and fashioned a middle part. Misting a mild fixing spray, he then created spirals with a one-inch curling iron. Working from the back to the front on each side, he finger-brushed the set with Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream (“It holds the wave and takes out any dryness from the curling iron”). For a va-va-voom finish, Vetica smoothed waves with a bristled brush and backcombed under each section using a wide-tooth comb.

Golden-haired Julianne Hough(below) is another celebrity who was wearing the Farrah hairstyle at a red carpet event.

To get the look, you need lots of hair or hair extensions. You will also have to invest in some volumizers like root lifting gel or mousse. And you definitely need a blow dryer, curling iron, and/or hot rollers. And lastly, a blast of hairspray!

And would you believe this? Because we are having a hard time thinking this is true....But someone is selling a lock of Farrah's hair at an online auction. Is it really Farrah's hair? The seller claims it is. And it's on the block for $1,000, and has been there since July. Take a look here.

That's quite tacky to do. We believe Farrah Fawcett deserves better. Her beautiful big hair lives on, and she remains an icon to millions.

How To Say Bye-Bye To Blackheads With Some Simple Steps

If you've never had an ugly blackhead, congratulations! You are not from this planet. But seriously, blackheads are a form of acne. And these tiny black dots that like to hang out on your nose, and even on the ears, chest, and back, can be stubborn follicle bumps that can ruin a complexion.

No need to worry, you can say bye-bye to blackheads. Whatever you do, please do not attempt to squeeze out a blackhead with your fingers. Forcing out a blackhead in this manner can cause infection, and yes, even scarring. You might make the situation even worse.

Blackheads are actually acne, in the form of comedones, which are a plug of sebaceous and dead skin material stuck in the opening of a hair follicle. The follicle may be open (blackhead) or almost closed (whitehead). Take a look at the diagram below to get a better idea of how the blackhead looks below the complexion surface.

We know, it ain't pretty, and it sure ain't pleasant to talk about, but---there are ways to improve this common acne problem.

A steamy shower or hot facial is great before blackhead extraction. You can also try a number of beauty treatments. Retin-A, which is prescription-based, stimulates fast cell turnover, helping to expel or get rid of plugged pores. There is also benzoyl peroxide lotion, which helps 'unplug' too, when the blackheads aren't too severe a problem.

You could also apply salicylic acid cream, which helps to exfoliate the skin, bringing blackheads closer to the surface to help in easier removal.

And there are also blackhead strips that you place on the black dots to gently 'lift' away these impurities. And many of you are familiar with a little, stainless steel tool or extractor that quickly and painlessly removes blackheads, designed with double cupped ends.

We also believe in trying all natural ingredients to say bye-bye to blackheads. We heard Dr. Oz talk about epsom salts today, as a great beauty tip to loosen the plugged follicles. So we found a few recipes you might want to try:

1. Make a solution of equal parts Epsom salts, iodine and warm water. Soak a cotton ball in the solution and apply to blackheads. Leave on for 5 minutes and rinse with warm water. Exfoliate with a face scrub immediately to remove the blackheads loosened by the Epsom salt solution.

2. Mix equal amounts of baking soda and water to form a thick paste, and apply to affected blackhead areas. Gently rub your skin for several minutes and wash off with warm water. The baking soda is a good exfoliation remedy, removing blackheads.

3. Make a scrub of 4 tbsp. salt, 1 tsp. honey, and the juice from half a lemon. It should be the consistency of a thick paste. Scrub your face with this mixture for 5 minutes, using your fingers, and rinse and pat dry. Exfoliation is a good way to dislodge blackheads from the skin, and the honey is soothing, while the lemon acts as an astringent.

Award-Winning Detox Face Mask A Must For Both Women And Men

Beauty Products for both women and men?

If you think your better half has never opened a few of your anti-aging jars or taken a quick dollop of your expensive deep glycolic acid cleanser, well, we've got news for you. Boyfriends, husbands, lovers, brothers, etc., sometimes dip into women's beauty treatments.

Why do men secretly sample your beauty stuff? Either, a. because they've run out of their own zit cream. b. they're darn curious why your skin looks so good. c. they're too cheap to buy their own beauty products and have no clue what their skin needs. Or, d. all of the above.

Then of course, there are unisex beauty products. And we found a super detox face mask you can both enjoy together. Try this one at malinand goetz And it's simply called, Detox Face Mask ($40, 4 oz.). You can also find these wonderful unisex beauty items at Barneys New York stores, and a number of other beauty stores.

This Malin+Goetz detox face mask is a great product and one of the company's best sellers. It even won Allure magazine's Editor's Choice Best of Beauty Awards (2008)  Best Deep Cleansing Mask.

So, exactly what's in it? According to the bottle: Squalene, glycerin, and sodium pca to moisturize and hydrate; soy protein and panthenol to firm; green tea extract and vitamin e to work as antioxidants; vitamin c to smooth lines.

Don't worry...you and your better half don't have to sit there with some nasty goop on your face for 30 minutes. This is a nice, cool foaming gel mask that takes just 5 minutes to make a big difference in your skin.

Just apply to a clean face, and the detox face mask does all the work. "Oxygenating cleansing agents replace harsh detergents and drying clays to deep-pore-cleanse, lifting dirt, oil and make-up away from the skin without irritation, while creating a physical barrier to seal hydration. Complex amino acids and natural almond extract gently and effectively purify, clarify, balance and soothe. Stable Vitamin C, anti-oxidant Vitamin E and Soy Protein help firm and address concerns for aging".

Malin+Goetz Apothecary and Lab in New York City sells some effective skin care products for the both of you. And these guys love to send you free samples with every order. We love that!

For more details, visit malinandgoetz.

There's Only Botox When It Comes To Eliminating Wrinkles

Okay, we've had enough. Wrinkles.

We all get them and we all hate them, but once wrinkles 'set up house' across your face, it's almost impossible to get rid of them. And that is where Botox comes to the rescue. With the sting of a needle in some key wrinkle zones, and poof! Wrinkles are gone! Eliminated, at least for about 3 months.

That is why we get so upset when we see an ad at People.com, for example, one that is boasting about a very inexpensive no Botox solution.

Are you kidding us? Even prescription strength Retin-A cannot remove all wrinkles. We hope to believe that Retin-A helps soften the wrinkles you've already got, and most importantly, helps to prevent new wrinkles from forming. But trust us, there is no miracle beauty product that can make them disappear forever.

Ladies, don't believe the hype! If you catch an ad that promises a no Botox solution, just quickly turn the page, and have a good laugh. This is one we saw last evening:

Say "No" to Botox!

See how a mom combined 2 products & made her wrinkles vanish for $3!

When you arrive at the website, you are treated to a site that is pretending to be a real journalism site----Consumer Tips Weekly, with a so-called health & fitness reporter. And here's where they get you, with headlines like this:

Beauty & the Recession: A Mom's Secret to Eliminate Wrinkles for under $3*.

Then you are told a lengthy story about a mom named Rachel, who had the beauty science and smarts to discover a winning wrinkle eliminating combo:

"Rachel decided to change her life, and recently discovered a clever way of combining two beauty product trials from trusted companies, Bellanue & Cupuacu, to unlock the secrets of anti-aging. The results are comparable to what you might attain at local beauty salons and clinics for $1000 or more, using nothing but trial offers."

So, what's in these two wrinkle serums:

1. Matrixyl 3000 is a fast acting, skin firming peptide, that is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by up to 68%. It also happens to be one of the main active ingredients in Bellanue.

2. Cupuacu has a unique set of polyphenols that have never been seen before.This new revelation is causing a stir in scientific circles and has prompted many to call it a “Pharmacy In a Fruit”. Now there is NO more need for botox or expensive cosmetic surgery. Erasing Damage comes from the inside out with Cupuacu. Clinically Optimized for Results.

We are not saying that Matrixyl 3000 and Cupuacu don't possess some promising features for healthy, youthful skin, BUT-----to try and rope women into purchasing a duo of products that are better than Botox, well, that's when the beauty police have to step in and make a report.

Botox cosmetic, the number one injectable, is the best so far, ladies. And as celebrity dermatolgist Frederick Brandt has said:

“Botox cosmetic has revolutionized our field,” Dr. Brandt says. “Botox is easy to administer, safe and effective, and not only reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, but also has the effect of preventing the future formation of wrinkles and fine lines if used appropriately.”

Just be cautious when you see an ad that promises so much for beauty, for as little as $3. If it's too good to be true, well, you know the rest of that saying.

Let's Look At Lace Camisoles For Valentine's Day Beauty

Lace is big in 2010!! From little black dresses to blouses and skirts, the delicate and very feminine look of lace is popping up everywhere. And if you would like to show a subtle bit of peek-a-boo lace, try it in a lace camisole for Valentine's Day.

Of course, you can go high end, low end, or anything in between, and still come out with a stylish look for 2010.

We went hunting and found lots of lace camisoles, and in lots of juicy colors. You can even wear sexy lace to the office, hiding under a jacket or inside a blouse. The look of lace is classic. And around the Valentine's Day holiday, wearing some, is a no-brainer.

Let's look at 3 favorites:

1. The Scarlett Cami by Frederick's of Hollywood ($20. Buy 2 or more, $18 each). Photo 1 shows this sexy lace camisole in 'pink passion.' We love this cami and own several. Hugs your curves in a microfiber stretch. Comes in lots of pretty shades. Take a look here.

2. Wacoal Lace Ahead Camisole ($40, BareNecessities.com, Nordstrom's). Who could resist a black lace camisole? We love this one, because the lace trim is wide and elegant and comes with stretch double front straps. Would look perfect in a peek-a-boo way under a blazer. Details here.

3. Josie Natori Obsession Lace Camisole ($118, SaksFifthAvenue.com). This is a stunning lace camisole in 'tiger's eye.' (Photo 3). A beautiful top with scalloped edges in a body-conscious fit with sheer floral lace panels. Need we say more. Take a look at Saks.

Since Valentine's Day isn't too far away, this is a wonderful excuse to go out and buy a lace camisole. There are so many styles and colors in just the right amount of lace for you. It's a classic look for any occasion.