Beauty Tips From Royal Cover Girl Queen Latifah

Beauty tips. We get them while we can and from many sources. Today, we are looking at royal CoverGirl Queen Latifah. The bold and beautiful actress/singer has several wonderful beauty tips of her own, and shares them in the May issue of Glamour magazine.

You will need a box of baking soda for one of the Queen's favorite tips:

1. A cheap radiance booster. "Mix baking soda with water and use it on your face as an exfoliater. My grandmother gave me that tip," she says.

Queen Latifah is right. Baking soda is super at sloughing off dead skin cells and taming blackheads. Just make a gooey paste of it and apply to face in circular motion, and rinse off. Protects against pimples. Baking soda can leave your face red and burning, so go easy!

2. No more crease-y eyelids! "I dip my brush in a little water before I apply shadow. It lasts longer," Queen Latifah says.

Another good tip. We also do this little water trick to stop the oiliness from settling into our eye shadow during a long day, when makeup re-touching is not an option.

3. Her go-to hair stuff. "I'm a Pantene girl. I use the products that make hair color last longer."

Who doesn't love Pantene Hair products? There's a Pantene for every woman's head of hair. And the Pantene people are pros when it comes to color-treated locks.

4. For super-soft skin. "Mario Badescu Buttermilk Moisturizer. I don't like heavy stuff on my face; it's nice and light."
This is a great choice for combination skin. Non-clogging with lactic acid as the key ingredient, which is of course, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid.


5. Always in her purse. "Rosebud salve. It's a good lip moisturizer."

Cool beauty tips and inexpensive items you can find at your local drug/and or beauty stores.

New L'Oreal One-Day Instant Tanning Gel For Sun-Kissed Skin

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze One Day.

It's a new one-day instant tanning gel. What a super idea when you think about it. First, it's okay not to self-tan...you know, when you lie there for hours under the hot sun. We all know that too much sun is nasty to the skin. And if you were looking for a decent and quick fake tan without the orange streaks and/or big commitment, then this L'Oreal Sublime Bronze One Day is for you.

Let's take a look:

The tanning gel features an unique wash-off formula, made with natural caramel colorant and golden pearls. It dries instantly and gives that sun-kissed glow we all admire. And it's simple to use: Apply one layer for a sheer look or add more product for deeper color. Simply wash it off with soap and water whenever you are ready.

Before you instant tan, here are some pointers:

Step 1: Cleanse and exfoliate skin to ensure an even application. Try a Buf-Puf sponge to get rid of dead skin cells.

Step 2: Pump out the tinted gel and apply quickly and evenly to face and body.

Step 3: Let skin dry completely before putting on clothes.

Results: Customized 100% natural-looking sunless tan builds over time.Continue to use Sublime Bronze until you have reached your desired level of tan. Results may vary.

Of course, Victoria's Secret model Doutzen Kroes looks stunning 'wearing' L'Oreal's new Sublime Bronze One day. Check out the L'Oreal Paris ad here.

We want to try this new one-day instant tanning gel. It looks natural, can be layered for a very tawny glow, and comes in a smooth gel formula. Only $10.50 at a drugstore near you.

New! First Invisible Dry Shampoo By Salon Grafix: Bye-Bye Powdery Mess!

No time to shampoo? Well, we all have days when it is nearly impossible to wash our hair.

Sure, you can buy the $30 dry powder shampoos. Yuck! Sometimes, even the high-priced ones are a powdery mess!!

But now there's a new dry shampoo on the block. And it's put out by the folks at Salon Grafix. You know the company. Their hair products are sold at just about every drugstore in town......from CVS to SafeWay to Walgreens and beyond. And did you know that, Salon Grafix is now the #1 brand of aerosol hair spray sold at retail stores across the United States!

That's why we are intrigued by Salon Grafix new Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo ($7, 4 oz. can). The company claims that this is the first invisible dry shampoo. Well, it's about time.

When you look at most dry shampoos, you get a product that does absorb the oil and greasies and stale hair smell, but it also leaves behind a messy white powder residue. Salon Grafix' does not. Simply shake, spray in (roots by section), and brush out. No color. No powder. Odors are neutralized. So, does it really work? Yes...we tried it. And our oily hair responded. There's a nice, delicate scent to the spray. As a result, the greasies were gone. Our hair felt clean and 'lifted.' This is a keeper, ladies.

Finally, an invisible dry spray shampoo. You won't be left in the dust, and you know what we mean, Pssst....

New Skin Damage Eraser By Clinique Evens Out All Skin Tones

Skin damage. We all seem to have some form of it....Dark spots. Uneven skin tone. Better known as hyperpigmentation.

And according to the experts at the Clinique company, hyperpigmentation is a global concern:

....."one of the fastest-growing skincare concerns: hyperpigmentation, which affects millions of people around the globe…and is considered to be one of the newest and most significant signs of premature ageing.”

Senior Vice President Basic Science Research Estée Lauder Companies Dr Daniel Yarosh

talks about the causes of hyperpigmentation:

“It is caused by an excess of melanin, the pigment in the skin that’s responsible for colour,” he noted. “Exposure to sunlight, pollution, the response to inflammation such as acne, or simple age – an individual’s genes – can all contribute to the development of dark spots and uneven skin tone. It affects people of all ethnicities and all age groups.”

For years, the best and seemingly only way to get rid of hyperpigmentation, has been through a prescription of 4% hydroquinone. Some people have been afraid of using the prescription for extended periods of time, in fear of developing cancer. But now Clinique has developed an alternative: Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector ($49.50).

Does it really work? Clinique says it does work, and just as good as hydroquinone, and without the irritation, redness, or dryness that can result in using the prescription treatment. In fact, you can expect to see a verified 53% improvement in skin tone. For all ethnicities: See results starting in as little as 4 weeks. At 12 weeks, see a visible reduction in dark spots, age spots, and traces of acne past.

"This is not only a breakthrough for Clinique, it’s a breakthrough for the industry," says Vice President Clinique Product Development Worldwide Debbie D’Aquino.

You can find Clinique's new Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector at Clinique counters, of course, as well as fine beauty and dept. stores like Sephora.

Dry-Brushing Body Helps Battle Cellulite And Smooth Skin

Dry-brushing. Cellulite.

What exactly is it? And what does ' it' have to do with cellulite.....the dimpled fat you find on your butt, thighs, belly, and even on your arms???

Summer isn't far away, and that means bare skin, bikinis, short-shorts, well, you get the picture. So, it's never too early or too late to begin a body beautiful program.

And our beauty tip today is actually a very simple one to add to your daily beauty routine.
We came across dry-brushing years ago, when we first learned about the most intelligent cellulite professor, Anushka. She was the dimpled fat pioneer. She was the first woman to openly discuss the problem of cellulite and how to tone down its appearance and fight back.

Cellulite is a skin condition of swollen fat cells jammed together, that cannot be exercised off or dieted away into nothingness. Of course, a taut and toned body will definitely make a difference in how you look. So it is important to always have some kind of exercise regimen going.
Circulation is key!! And that's where dry-brushing comes in.

Anushka who operates world-renown Cosmedical Centre, Spa, Salon & Cellulite Clinics in New York City, has been an authority on cellulite and its prevention for more than 3 decades. And her wonderful website AnushkaOnline features cellulite treatments, target exercises, nutritional recipes, the ABC's of cellulite, and more.

Circulation, diet, and topical treatments can all help tone down cellulite and bring back smooth, taut skin.

1. Keep moving.....Anushka is a firm believer in taking a large natural bristle brush, and using the brush daily to give those areas special attention. “Dry brushing helps eliminate dead skin cells which make the skin look smoother. And it also improves lymph and blood circulation. I recommend a soft, natural bristle brush. Start at your feet and continue upwards in a circular motion towards the heart. Use once a day.”

Plus, you get the added benefits of exfoliation. Your skin will really look smoother and healthier.

Dry-brush right before your shower. And then apply some wonderful and high-tech Anushka cellulite serums to further tone your body and prevent fluid retention.

You can purchase a Natural Bristle Cellulite Brush by Anuska ($9.00) here.

Back by popular demand, her "natural bristle brush wakes up microcirculation, gets rid of the rough stuff and prepares skin for application of Anushka cellulite products."

Hey, it's a super way to 'wake up' your body. And a simple extra step to add to your beauty routine.

Gisele Bundchen Launches New Ipanema Flip-Flop Line

Gisele Bundchen, the beauty from Brazil, was all smiles yesterday, as she debuted her new collection from her Ipanema Flip-Flop line. The new mom of baby Benjamin Brady, was away in Paris to attend a press conference for the line at the Grand Hotel Intercontinental.

Wearing a purple Herve Leger 'bandaid dress,' sexy Gisele was definitely back in slender supermodel shape.

We like the variety of Gisele's Ipanema Flip-Flops. Some are fancy with Swarovski crystals and some are plain. A custom pair of Ipanemas can sell for as much as $230 a pair.

The Gisele Bundchen Fern Turquoise Flip-Flop happened to catch our eye. How cute are these! Check out the lone crystal, which adds just enough bling to your casual sandal. And these are no ordinary flip-flops. Gisele's mold to your feet and last a long-ggggg time.

This is how the company describes them:

Made from Air Infused PVC all the materials used to create the shoes are 100% synthetic and are machine washable (Colourfast). You can be sure that these flip flops ($27.50) will not fade or change colour at all.

You'll want a pair in every color and style. We think the Ipanema line is reasonably priced and the website features FREE shipping worldwide.....Gotta love that!

Garnier And SJP Claim We Can Look 5 Years Younger With New Cream

Garnier Nutritioniste and SJP. It's a lovely combination.

Sarah Jessica Parker's skin is flawless, or so it would seem.

We have been bombarded on the television lately, by these amazing ads for Garnier Nutritioniste's new Ultra-Lift Pro Gravity Defying Cream.

"Look 5 years younger in 8 weeks!" the ads declare. "Plump skin from within...to push deep wrinkles up and out!"

You can!!! Well, if they photo-shop you, as adorable SJP has obviously been done in the print ads. Let's take a look at the facts. Photo left, shows the attractive star a couple of years ago, prior to having her mole removed. It was a much publicized story. We think Miss SJP, even with a few under-eye wrinkles, looks very good for a woman in her early 40s.

Photo right, depicts the Sex and the City actress, in a photo-shopped ad for the Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Pro Gravity Cream. No. We cannot prove she has had her image altered in any way. Maybe she has had some incredible cosmetic enhancement done in the last two years. Her skin is very taut and smooth. It's flawless!

If the Ultra-Lift cream can deliver almost photo-shopped results, then grab us a lifetime supply!

Let's be honest here. All beauty product ads feature some sort of photo enhancement or altering, so we are not scolding Garnier Nutritioniste. If SJP is using their products, she still looks lovely in her photo from two years ago.

No beauty product can erase our wrinkles completely. The lines can be softened somehwat and firmed somewhat. And that is what the Ultra-Lift Pro Gravity Cream claims it can do with its special high-tech formula:

Pro-Tense Technology – A new, patent-pending skin lifting complex that improves skin’s density & elasticity
Pro-Xylane from Beech Tree Extract – a patented anti-aging, eco-friendly Green Chemistry molecule that rebuilds skin’s structure by plumping from deep within skin’s surface layers
Soy Protein – boosts natural collagen production
Vitamin A – helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

For $16.99 at your favorite drugstore, we still think that the Ultra-Lift Cream is worth the money. As far as looking 5 years younger in 8 weeks, well, we can all dream, can't we.