Saturday, May 29, 2010

New Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shield With Easy Peel Off Strip

Perfect nails.

No, we certainly don't have them. In fact, we were just in the dirt on a farm, picking ripe, luscious strawberries for about an hour.

Don't even ask us about our nails. We abuse them constantly.

And hopefully, Sally Hansen's new 14 Day Nail Shield ($6.99, at drugstores) can offer the nail-challenged some relief.

So, what's in the box? We asked 'Sally':
Pre-treated, sheer color strips instantly bond to nails for maximum protection and strength, with a hint of color.
These sheer color nail strips give an instant manicure.
The color infused strips go on dry so there is no drying time or smudging.
Strips won't chip up to 14 days.

Choose among 3 sheer color shades---Sheer Nude, Sheer Buff and Shell.

Hmmm. A one-size fits all nail strip??!!

It sounds good on paper. All you have to do, is select a strip size. Remove the clear protective cover. Peel off the strip; and apply to a clean, bare nail. Then file off the excess..

True, it ain't rocket science, but the size of the 16 strips in each box is somewhat on the large scale. So, it would appear, that you are going to have to use a little muscle, to get these to properly fit each nail. Reminds us of the Sally Hansen French Nail strips. We had a heckuva time trying to manuever those into perfectly mooned arches. And yet, the idea was a clever one.

The great thing about Sally Hansen's new 14 Day Nail Shield, is its concept. No drying time and an instant manicure with a pretty and very shiny coat.

We'd like to hear what you think about these easy, peel off nail strips.

Is it a 'do' or a 'don't'?

Friday, May 28, 2010

Kardashian Sisters Kash In On Beauty Biz With Own Self-Tanning Gel


Beauty. It's certainly a huge, money-making business. And if there are 3 savvy young businesswomen who get it, it's Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe. The K sisters are always making beauty news. We just mentioned Kim K in yesterday's Beauty Tip Today article.

The dark-haired, reality TV stars have created their own self-tanning gel, Glamour Tan by Kardashian Beauty And it has just launched at Sephora stores! Oh, yeah—they’ve also started their own beauty company.

"Kardashian™ Glamour Tan is a superior quality tanning product and one that we’re excited to bring to our clients at Sephora," the 3 sisters say in a press release.

Glamour Tan comes in a 6 oz. tube for $34, right here. We adore that is has been formulated for use on both the face and body. We also like to read that the ingredients are good ones, including this----Imudulin, a key ingredient responsible for stimulating vitamin D synthesis which can aid in lessening the look of lines and wrinkles.

“My sisters and I are all about getting the perfect tan without harming our skin,” Kim Kardashian says. “We’re always on the lookout for the best self-tanner so we thought we’d create the perfect formula and share it with everyone.”

We agree. Lying in the sun for hours and hours on end throughout the entire summer, is extremely damaging. And yet, we have lots of friends who insist on doing it. They just amp up the sunscreen and think the damage has been avoided. But boy, are they wrong.

Better to be safe than sorry, and this Kardashian Glamour Tan seems to hit all the right notes: It's colorless, odorless, and packed with tons of moisturizers and anti-oxidants.

The good news, this self-tanning gel, thankfully, does NOT contain these:
Parabens- Sulfates- Synthetic Dyes- Petrochemicals- Phthalates- GMOs- Triclosan.

We could all use a natural, sun-kissed glow, and the Kardashian sisters have introduced this just in time for summer.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Nicole Scherzinger/Kim Kardashian Signature Smokey Eye Look

Nicole Scherzinger. Kim Kardashian. Both women are beautiful, and many people think they look alike. And yes, both were on Dancing with the Stars

What these two exotic celebrities share is a signature smokey eye look. And it's all about their eyes! It is indeed the focus of Nicole and Kim's daily makeup palette.

Throughout the entire Dancing with the Stars series, Nicole always wore her smokey eye look. And it served her well, along with her incredible dancing talent in the Argentine tango, as she and Derek Hough brought home the much-sought-after mirrorball trophy in Monday night's television finale.

So, let's take a look at Nicole and Kim's smokey eye makeup tips:

It's not too hard to copy. Just arm yourself with tons of black mascara, black eyeliner, and dark eyeshadow, and you, too, can achieve this sexy, signature look.

We found this beauty how-to from Kim K's own website quite a while ago:

"If it's black smokey (eyes), I use Carbon by M.A.C.(shadow); if its grey smokey, I use Knight Divine or Print; if it's brown smokey, I use Embark by M.A.C.

I always use black pencil eyeliner. My favorite is Stilla black pencil.

Now its mascara time! Putting on mascara completes the look. I recently started to use M.A.C. Zoom mascara -- which is amazing! I take my time and put coat after coat. I love to layer mascaras so I will probably start with the M.A.C. Zoom and then put Lancome Hypnose on top.

I always use a separater brush to separate my lashes. I am completely clueless on how to put false lashes on, so I only wear them for photo shoots sometimes."


Finish off with a nude lip color like Nars Belle de Jour, and you're good to go!

By the way, Nicole Scherzinger's brand new single, "Nobody Can Change Me," drops next Tuesday. We're excited for her, and if you cannot wait, it's already available for download on iTunes.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Zeltiq: New Amazing Method Zaps Away Fat Using Frozen Lipo


Fat. Would you believe there's a brand new non-surgical way to 'give the cold shoulder' to fat.

It's called Zeltiq and it actually involves frozen lipo-(suction). How super cool is that!! And it's safe, quick, and it really, really zaps away problem fat, from areas like belly, lower back, and those hated love handles. And the best part-----no anesthesia and no incisions. The treatment device itself, uses a suction applicator with "cooling" plates on areas where fat reduction is desired. To us, so far, this is the biggest cosmetic beauty advancement in 2010!

So, how did the Zeltiq beauty gadget come about?

Well, we first learned about Zeltiq on GMA this morning. And our jaw was hanging out in disbelief. The before & after photos had us sold!

Zeltiq is not FDA-approved here in the United States for frozen lipo just yet, although doctors are allowed to put it to that use. However, it is actually an approved procedure, that gets the target area ready for skin-cooling applications.

The scientific word for frozen lipo is called, cryolipolysis , which sounds kind of creepy. We found some folks who can explain it a lot better than we can. This from cosmeticsurgerytoday:

"Cryolipolysis means the destruction of fat cells by freezing or cooling. While the exact mechanism of action is still unclear, the current understanding is that when fat cells are exposed to cold, they undergo necrosis (cell death) and/or apoptosis (genetically programmed cell death; like a self-destruct program for the cell). In any case, the fat cells break apart and die within days to weeks after cryolipolysis."

And this is how it works:

The Zeltiq suction applicator is placed on a targeted area like the belly or love handles. The skin, along with fatty tissue, is sucked into the device and held between two chilling plates for about an hour. Most patients will feel the suction sensation, but it isn't a painful experience. At the 30-minute mark, the device may be removed and the treated tissue briefly massaged before the procedure is continued. Following a Zeltiq procedure, patients reported that treated skin areas were temporarily cold to the touch and sometimes a bit red. But normal activity could be resumed that day.

How much does it cost? One Zeltiq procedure can begin at $400, and up.

We think Zeltiq sounds like a really cool investment in 2010!!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Sex And The City 2 Girls Glam It Up For NYC Movie Premiere


Sarah Jessica Parker in sunny yellow. Cynthia Nixon in sexy black. Kristin Davis in bubblegum pink. And Kim Cattrall in classic Hollywood gold lame.

The Fab Four did not disappoint this second time around. The four lovelies were met with crowds and crowds of adoring fans at Radio City Music Hall for last evening's 'Sex and the City 2' premiere!

The sequel looks juicy and adventurous, and yeah, the camel rides in the desert look like a blast!

Of course, all 4 actresses are over 40, and look darn good, with sexy Kim Cattrall just in her 50s! But were the gals looking a bit too youthful and too amazing for their own good in the movie poster?!

Well, according to some haters, apparently, and allegedly, the movie poster for 'Sex and the City 2 is extremely airbrushed. "Someone went a little crazy with the Photoshop and the golden-hued skin colour corrections, and everyone in this poster, doesn't just look a little crazy, but not remotely like themselves," Cinema Blend blogger Katey Rich writes.

We say, 'Grow up!' and, 'So what?!'

You mean to tell us, that this is the first movie poster to ever airbrush its actors and actresses? Give us a break. Movie posters always make those in Hollywood look younger, sexier, curvier, and more attractive. A movie delivers fantasy. Duh!

And yes, we assume, that Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Kim Cattrall all might have had some kind of cosmetic enhancement. But they certainly are not alone.

There's been talk about SJP's several subtle nose jobs. But she has only admitted to a mole removed from her face. There have been rumors about Kristin's alleged nose job, and gossip about Cynthia Nixon's supposed facelift. And we have also read of Kim Cattrall's admitting to Botox but not to plastic surgery, from a British publication.

Who's to say? We think the Fab Four look fab-u-lous and youthful with, or without the movie poster.

Now, pass the popcorn, and let's enjoy the show!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Expert Hair Tips From The Uber Hair Experts Themselves




Hair. Between all the blow-drying, the chemicals, the sunning, the pinning, curling, and the tugging we do to our strands each day, it's a wonder we have any hair left.

So, today we take a look at some expert hair tips from the uber celebrity hair experts themselves: Kim Vo. Ken Paves. And Frederic Fekkai.

Let's be honest, ladies. We're going to keep coloring, perming, straightening, blow-drying, flat-ironing, adding extensions and so forth. So, let us at least, look at some basics.

Oh, yeah...we know some double-process ladies. They love to get a big, wild perm, especially in summer, and then color and highlight on top of those strong and damaging chemical hair procedures.

Is it ever okay to get a perm and get permanent color? Or, are both processes too harsh?

Master colorist Kim Vo: A perm and a permanent color in a same day process is like killing a fly with a shotgun. A perfect alternative is a semi/demi- permanent color. This will provide rich, shiny, longlasting color.

Ha ha. Love Kim Vo's delicious sense of humor.

We also had some curiosity about all the expensive styling tools that pros like Ken Paves use when tending to their clients' beautiful heads of hair. Ken's pick for a cheap, great hairbrush might surprise you:
DCNL Porcupine Cushion Hairbrush ($24.99, ULTA stores and at Ulta.com). He loves this good-looking brush with the bright red cushion and nylon bristles with boar bristles.

Ken Paves: Works just as well as other mixed-bristle brushes that are far more expensive.

How about coloring hair at home? Well, of course the experts would prefer you visit them for top-notch, healthy hair color, but even Manhattan-based Frederic Fekkai knows that a lot of women still want to tackle their own roots every once in a while. So he created his own brush-on permanent hair color

Frederic Fekkai: Fekkai Salon Color is the only at-home color kit that comes with a brush and bowl technique, just like one sees in a professional salon. Fekkai Salon Color comes in 20 delicious shades, and promises long-lasting color with gray coverage and a 40% increase in softness and shine.

And he's certainly not alone. Ken Paves has a big hit with his own line of clip-in hair extensions made famous with Jessica Simpson.

And Kim Vo raves about his own line of styling products:
Kim Vo: The Kim Vo product line is created from a colorist's point of view. It is for natural or chemically treated hair. If I were on an island with only two products, they would be my Moisturizing Masque and my Radiance Creme. Both are moisture packed and would make any stranded person style-savvy.

Whatever you do to your hair this summer, just remember, that a good trim in between all the hair madness, will always leave you with healthier-looking locks. Sometimes, a couple of inches lopped off, can save you from the harsh realities of peroxide, flat-irons, and sun-soaked days on end.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Nivea Best Beauty Budget Buy For Lip Balm Addicts

Lip balm addicts. We know several. For some, it's Burt's Bees all the way. For others, it's an old favorite, Carmex. And for some, it's the original Chapstick in the plain, black tube and white cap.

We tend to think that lip balm with a hint of color is even more brilliant an idea. And today, our Best Beauty Budget Buy comes from the good folks at Nivea. And it's just $2 a tube at your neighborhood Walmart store.

And best of all, your lips enjoy a fruity, tasty flavor. It's called, Nivea A Kiss of Flavor Tinted Lip Care. And it comes in Passion Fruit or Cherry. Yummy!

We are happy that Nivea has enriched these lip balms with almond oil and Vitamin E to help provide long-lasting moisturization.

Ladies, if you hate wearing and re-touching lip gloss or lipstick, but still need a spot of pretty color on your lips so you, at least, look alive, then give this Nivea lip balm a twist of the tube. Plus the formula gives you soft and supple lips. We think it's a great lip balm to take to the gym. That way, you don't look too made-up but can work out with a lovely hint of color.

Professional makeup artist Jeannia Robinette
is a big fan and tells InStyle magazine that it's a great little
lip balm. "Gives lips a non-shiny, natural berry tint. And it goes on super-smooth without caking in the corners."

Jeannia suggests wearing Nivea A Kiss of Flavor Tinted Lip Care in Passion Fruit, which gives off a soft rose tint to lips.
You can learn more here at Nivea.