Seashell Massage With LavaGel Hottest New Craze And We Mean Hot!

Seashells. LavaGel. Hot massage.

We're not sure how many lavish spas here in the U.S. have caught on to the hottest, new craze, but our friends in the U.K. are already leading the way.

And it all involves a beautiful shell readily found in the Philippines called the tiger striped clam shell.

We love the idea, because this is actually an eco-friendly massage. No electricity needed to warm up these pretty, pink-hued shells. According to what we read here," a teabag-like sachet is placed inside each shell. This is the “LavaGel” (a mix including algae and sea kelp) which, when combined with salt water, generates enough heat for an hour-long massage." Yes, heat is actually produced when a chemical reaction occurs after mixing the algae and other ingredients.

It sounds delightful and soothing, and nice and warm. And the tiger striped clam shell, itself, becomes a massage tool. The different parts of the shell are used for different massage strokes. And while being used across the body, the heat from the shells naturally produces calcium. This calcium is then transferred to the skin which is known to help firm and rebuild or rejuvenate.

And these shells are easy to handle, because, they are light to hold and fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, allowing therapists to, " apply deep pressure with the shell doing all the work. The heat can also be used on problems areas to release muscle tension and soreness and to promote relaxation of the fascia layers that connect muscles to the rest of the body."

Wow! How awesome is that?! For more details, check out this website.

Korres Beauty Product From Greece Uses Yogurt To Soothe Burned Skin

Yogurt. It really is good for your skin. Yogurt is a true beauty food.

And the Korres company has a wonderful product for your sunburned face and body. You can pick up a jar of it in Greece. Or you can head to your nearest Sephora beauty store, and stock up on Korres' Yoghurt After-Sun Cooling Gel ($23.50).

Even reality star Kim Kardashian adores this soothing, cooling skin lotion. She mentioned it June's issue of OK magazine. Take a look at Kim. Even olive-skinned beauties can absorb a load of damage from the sun.

If you've ever used a natural yogurt mask, then you already know how very cool and soothing it feels against your skin. And yogurt is big in the Greek tradition. We should know, by the way. Our grandfather enjoyed a cup of plain yogurt daily, and almost reached 90 years old. And our Papou had very nice smooth skin.

Korres' Yoghurt After-Sun Cooling Gel goes a few steps further. Ideal for after sun exposure, yogurt hydrates the skin, instantly relieving excessive heat and stinging. And it's really effective on oily, acne prone complexions, too. No greasies. We know some women who love to use this cooling gel for their faces and bodies daily, even when they have NOT been out in the sun.

Why is this Yoghurt Cooling Gel so special?

Read how the Korres company describes their product:

Yoghurt, a natural source of Lactose, Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals, increases the water content of the top layers of the skin instantly relieving UV-induced redness (erythema) and reducing the sensation of burning. Epilobium Angustifolium and Fennel Extracts demonstrate exceptional anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties, promoting the recovery of sun-harassed skin.Directions: Apply to the face and body after exposure to the sun. Repeat 2-3 times on irritated skin. For maximum cooling effect keep refrigerated.

To learn more about Korres' Yoghurt After-Sun Cooling Gel, click here.

Hollywood Celebrities Like Katherine Heigl Change Up Hair Color And Style Often

Katherine Heigl. She loves to change up the hair and the style quite often. The woman is lovely, no argument there....BUT....are you really digging the pageant bouffant hairdo and too dark color??!!

What's going on here? Ever since she became a mommy, well, er.....something seems a miss with her hair. We caught a glimpse of Katherine Heigl last evening in London, where she is promoting the debut of her new film, Killers.

Even People magazine diplomatically took issue with Katherine's new do:

"When she headed to London for today’s U.K. debut, the 31-year-old actress amped up the look — and quite possibly her age, with a structured bouffant that reminded us of the sprayed-in-place coifs from the Reagan-era ’80s. Paging Designing Women! Though the chic mom can pull off just about any look, it’s a distinct departure from the soft-and-pretty Hollywood hair standard we’re used to seeing on the red carpet."

Ouch!

Many Hollywood beauties change up the hair and style quite often, and not always because of a new movie role. Julia Roberts easily transforms from auburn to brunette to blonde, and back again and again. A few weeks ago, we saw Julia on Oprah's show as a blonde. And just last night at a red carpet event, Julia was photographed hanging with Oprah, and this time, Julia was back to being a medium brunette. We don't like Julia Roberts as a blonde, but many fans do.

If you want to switch hair colors, of course you can.....but tread so carefully. Here are a couple of super hair color tips from the Hollywood color genius himself, Kim Vo:

1. Which head of hair poses the biggest challenges for coloring---blonde, brunette, black, or red? And why.

Kim Vo: Although blondes are very tricky, not all blondes are created equal. Matching skin tones is crucial to create the perfect blonde. The biggest challenge are reds. The red color molecule is the smallest of all colors. It's like a tropical rainstorm. It's tempest and dramatic at first and then quickly fades.

2. So then, is skin tone the most important factor when considering hair color? And can u give us tips?

Kim Vo: Skin tone is the most important factor in deciding your perfect color. It takes a professional eye to determine, but for a simple read, use the veins on your wrist. If your veins are blue, warm tones like chestnut and auburn tones are for you. If your veins are more green, caramel and golden hues will compliment you. If your veins are blue/green, then warm and cool tones can be added seamlessly.

Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme Simply Delicious Treat For Dry Feet

Coconut. Yum!!! Give us an Almond Joy or a Mounds, and everything is alright with the world.

We also love the scent of coconut. And boy, have we found a fan favorite for dry, ravaged feet.

It's Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme ($9, drugstores). This is an amazing beauty product that has stood the test of time. And people can't get enough.

If you have what we lovingly call, Hobbit feet, oh yeah, you know what we're talking about. And if you recall the great writing of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, then you remember the feet of these kind-hearted creatures:

"(Hobbits)wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leather soles and grow thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads” (The Hobbit pg. 12).

Don't despair.....Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme comes to the rescue. And the magic, is in the formula, because coconut oil is full of wonderful properties:

"The flesh of the coconut is rich in emollient fat and, when pressed, yields a white, sweetly-scented, super-moisturizing oil, which is a solid at room temperature but easily melts on the skin.".

Burt's Bees also says this about their popular foot softener. "This pampering natural foot cream combines coconut oil, lanolin and vegetable glycerin to revive and rejuvenate even the driest, most neglected feet. There's also a hint of natural rosemary and peppermint oils to refresh tired feet."

This cream is so rich, you should put on a pair of socks at bedttime to let it all absorb. That is the method most users prefer, and we think it makes a big difference. You wake up to soft, smooth feet, and those nasty cracked heels improve nicely with time.

And check out the customer reviews...97% would recommend Burt's Coconut Foot Creme. Those are pretty good numbers.

Celebrities Go GAP: Wearing Stylish Pieces Each Under $100

Will you, Fall into the GAP this summer?

Why not?! Gorgeous celebrities like Jessica Alba and Halle Berry have been photographed recently, wearing great GAP pieces, each under $100! Let's be honest....both Hollywood A-listers wear expensive fashions on the red carpet, and yet, when it comes to every day living, even Jessica and Halle like to wear GAP because it is stylish, comfortable, and won't break anyone's wallet.

Let's take a closer look:

Jessica Alba strolling along with adorable daughter Honor Marie. She's wearing a GAP Denim Vest for $50.

Halle Berry out shopping, looking extra comfy in a GAP black Maxi Dress for $80.

It pays to hunt around for great pieces, and the GAP has lots of super styles for under $100 a piece. To get an idea, check this out here: The GAP Belted Utility Jacket. It retails for $79.50, but now on sale for just $24.99 for Petite Smalls and XtraSmalls. This is a great deal.

Our Beauty Tip Today: It's simple....You can be a trendy recessionista with a little thought and imagination. And if the GAP is good enough for Jessica Alba and Halle Berry, then it's good enough for the rest of us.

Happy shopping!

Aussie Pop Star Kylie Minogue Bans Botox For Pond's Cold Cream To Stay Youthful

Pond's Cold Cream instead of Botox to stay youthful over 40?!

Have you lost your mind, Miss Kylie Minogue?????

We are not here to judge. We think the 42-year-old Aussie pop star is looking glam and gorgeous, but we are certainly not going to give the credit to a simple jar of cold cream. We become so disappointed when pretty celebrities claim their unwrinkled faces and necks, are the result from an over-the-counter beauty product, one that every woman has access to.

Granted, some women and men age better than others, but seriously now, is that the only stuff the youthful singer is putting on her face?? Apparently, so.

According to a recent interview Kylie gave to the UK News of the World, she did use Botox before, but not anymore:

"I've been honest about the fact that I did use Botox. But I don't any more, I won't go near it. I have lines. You can see the lines on my face," Kylie Minoque says.

Instead, the pint-sized beauty says her 'mum' told her to use Pond's Cold Cream instead. "It’s such an old classic [Pond’s]. My mum uses it. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and it really does work. It’s made such a difference."

"It's really changed my skin," she says. "I use it every day. It's all I really use to look after my skin."

The singer is excited about releasing her new single this month, "All The Lovers."

By the way, could Kylie Minogue be talking about another Pond's Cold Cream, a newer anti-aging version in the company's beauty arsenal?

Just last year, we wrote an article about Pond's Age Miracle Cream. which is huge in the Philippines. That little jar, pictured above, sells for about $30, if you purchase it from the Philippines.

Deirdre Gonzales, a business entreprenuer from Cebu City Philippines, now based in Florida, wrote an article about the Pond's Day Cream:
".......considered today as one of the most popular beauty products in the Philippines as well as in other countries. The brand is the Ponds Age Miracle Cream. The Ponds Age Miracle Cream uses some of the most technologically advanced formulations that specifically target the 7 signs of skin aging, which are fine lines and wrinkles which are usually seen on the eyes and on the forehead, rough skin texture, uneven skin tone which is usually the result of sun or UV rays, skin dullness, visible pores, blotches or age spots, and dryness of the skin. Through targeting these signs, the Ponds Age Miracle Cream is known to stop the aging process."

Well, we're not sure if Kylie Minogue is talking about this advanced Pond's Miracle Cream or the regular jar of Pond's Cream that only costs about $5 here, and is great at removing makeup and keeping skin soft. Whatever the case, she looks amazing, and if it's only Pond's keeping her looking so darn good, then what are we all waiting for!!

Beauty Shopping For Summer 2010: Fighting Frizzies To Fab Fragrance

Beauty shopping. Let's have some fun, and take a closer look at 5 super beauty products to buy in summer 2010!!

We're just scratching the surface here.....but these 5 beauty products will keep you looking polished and pretty all summer long:

1. Fab Fragrance. Why not try Ralph Lauren's newest summer scent, Ralph Lauren Summer Romance ($78, at fine dept. stores like Macy's). It's a gorgeous, fruity fragrance that hits all the right 'notes.' And we mean "notes of playful passion fruit, hibiscus and tiare flowers dance with sensual apricot musk and take you away."

2. Fighting Frizzies. Hot and humid days mean ugly, out of control frizzy hair. What a way to ruin any gal's day. We found a new one to give a go. It's called, No Frizz Straight Making Styling Cream by Living Proof ($35) for medium to thick hair. This velvety cream deposits a lovely layer of frizz-fighting ingredients that battle the nasties and take away the greasies.

Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair "offers the first new anti-frizz technology in over 30 years. No Frizz addresses the two causes of frizz—humidity and friction. It provides a superior, extremely thin humidity barrier on hair, while reducing surface friction. The result is the most effective, lightweight frizz fighter on the market today."

3. Sheer Golden Coverage. Try this--Stila Bronzing Tinted SPF15 Moisturizing Cream ($32). You get a very natural and sheer golden glow. Don't ever go out with a naked face and neck. If you hate faux tanners and despise foundation, put this on. Stila's tinted moisturizer has a decent SPF of 15. for sun protection. And it's "infused with genuine 24kt gold, creating the perfect pigment-to-pearl ratio and providing a beaming, flawless face in an instant."

4. Lovable Lips. Don't like the feel of heavy lipstick or gloss in the searing days of summer? Want a more natural look of kissable lips? Then pick up Tarte's Natural Lip Stain ($24). This little number contains 'LipSurgence Technology.' A natural lip stain that is clinically proven to increase lips' moisture content by 6000%. Wow! Now we're talking.

Like the popular Tarte cheek stains, each shade of these natural lip stains "will leave a natural hint of tint that will last throughout the day." Comes in 6 long-lasting shades.

5. Blushable Beauty. You need blush. So let's remember that, and we are loving Smashbox's Naked Beauty Summer 2010 collection. If your cheeks could use a summery boost of warmth, treat them to Smashbox's Naked Beauty High Lights/Creamy Cheek Color ($26). Sheer pink pearl and a sheer rosy pink.

"Give your cheeks a naturally flushed look with this blush duo that delivers the perfect pop of pink." So lovely and long-lasting, too. The duo cream blush includes a nice highlighter that really enhances your bone structure.

All this makeup is available from Sephora.