Even Toenails Need TLC With Buff And Shine Block

You've been rockin' that red hot nail polish on your beautiful, little toes all summer long. And that's a good thing, except when you go to remove your last pedi and find some, well, dull, yellow-tinged toenails left behind.

Nasty! Someone had to say it. So let's take a look at what's doing with your toenails.

First of all, whether it's fingernails or toenails, we all need to sand or buff away the top nail layers, to reveal a healthy, shiny surface. Too many colored nail polishes and lacquers can do quite a number to the nail plate.

As you can all tell when you got to clip them, toenails are thicker than fingernails. And they are also more porous than fingernails. So that means, that when you get a pedicure your toenails will more readily absorb the pigment in nail polish. And that can leave behind an unattractive yellow stain. So, toenails need a little TLC between the polishes and the lack of attention our 'little piggies' get on a daily basis.

We have a found a super, inexpensive, little beauty product that anyone can use to buff up their toenails and fingernails during these brutal summer days. It's called ASP Miracle Buff & Shine Block by All Season ($2.29, at Sally Beauty Supply stores.

The ASP Miracle Buff & Shine Block is simple to use. It's a 2-sided block. Use the grey side first to buff the nail plate, using a back and forth motion. Remove any oil. Next, use the white side until the nail comes up to a high gloss shine. And the high gloss, long-lasting shine doesn't need oils or a topcoat.

This buff and shine product also helps smooth away ridges and bumpy nails.

Blondes Say Bye-Bye To Brassiness With Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo

Perfect blonde highlights. Just like model Gisele Bundchen.

Well, maybe you used to have soft, buttery highlights. But then summer came along, and the very hot sun changed all that.

Now you're dealing with unattractive brassiness. Yuck....that orange-y tone that spoils all those subtley-placed strands that were once shiny and blonde. You can blame it on the damaging sun's rays. That is what ruins pigments in the hair.

What you really need is Clairol's Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo for blonde & silver hair ($7.99, at beauty stores like Sally's).

By the way, Clairol's Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo is purple-tinted. And this is what the product can do for you:

A protein-enriched color enhancing shampoo.
Tones down brassiness on blonde / gray hair.
Shampoos away yellow. Refreshes faded highlighted hair.
Maintains and refreshes cool, ash-toned haircolor.
Leaves hair shiny without residue.

Why not say bye-bye to brassiness in a very gentle way.

Boots Botanics Clay Mask Sucks Out Summertime Skin Problems

Clay mask. Every woman should have a tube or jar in her beautiful skin repertoire, especially during the hot, searing days of summer. And today, we are looking at Boots Botanics Conditioning Clay Mask. And you can pick up it up at Target for $8.99.

Why a clay mask? Very simple.....A clay mask can suck out the skin's impurities, like, oiliness, blackheads, blemishes, and other toxins that are stored in the epidermis.

And because Boots Botanics mask is a green clay, it's even more amazing at attacking the poisons in our skin.

According to what we 'un-masked,' so to speak, green clay or bentonite clay is one of the best types for a radiant complexion. We found this interesting nugget from wellsphere.com.

"Green Clay. The most absorbing of the Clays. Green Clay is generally used as a Face Mask for tissue repair, drawing toxins from the skin and to normalise excessive secretions of oil or sweat. Applied as a Face or Body Mask, facial clay masks cleanse, exfoliate, smoothe and soften the skin. Green clay is especially good at drawing toxins out.".

As you can see from the photo above (we found several pics on Google), when the Boots Botanics clay mask is done sucking out impurities, it will turn light green, after about 10 minutes. Merely rinse off with warm water, and enjoy softer, healthier-looking skin.

We heard about Boots Botanics Conditioning Clay Mask from a dermatologist on television last night, who recommended the Boots beauty product to suck out summertime skin problems.

We believe it, because green clay masks have always served us well. We can't wait to try this one.

Back To School Scramble For Denim: How About Just $15 A Pair

Denim is hot. Hotter than ever! And now, there's of course, the back to school scramble for denim.

We told you about Jessica Simpson's new line of jeans. And those are super sexy, too.

But what if you're on a tight budget and still need a few pairs heading back to college? How about just $15 a pair?!

No...this denim is not damaged or used in any way. The junior brands are well-known and loved: Paris Blues. Tyte. Revolt. YMI. Dollhouse. XOXO. Bisou d'Eve. Hot Kiss. Mudd. And many more.

It's all available at the 15dollarstore. Oh yeah.....every item is priced at just $15.

We found this pair--PARIS BLUES Zip Detail Skinny Jeans
Style No. LEY28960
Paris Blues skinny jeans feature decorative zip details on the front and back pockets. These five-pocket jeans have a whisker-wash across the lap and fit snug though the hips and down the skinny-fit legs. Inseam measures approximately 32.5”. *78% Cotton, 21% Polyester, 1% Spandex*Machine wash cold, tumble dry low
Price: $15.00. Retails for $72.00.

But you better hurry! The sizes left here for the Paris Blues are only available in 1, 3, 5, and 7.

Don't worry. There are tons of denim to choose from. And hopefully, the folks at 15dollarstore.com will re-fill the merchandise.

The only downside.....and it's a major one......Be sure you know your exact size in denim jeans, because there is no return policy. Ouch.

Sexy Sofia Vergara Plastic Surgery-Free? Makes Fun At Madonna's Face

Botox. Fillers. And plastic surgery. These cosmetic enhancements have been bouncing around the Hollywood headlines this week. Actresses accusing other actresses and celebrities of succumbing to the knife and/or too much Botox. And some, like Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher, posting Face Book photos without makeup, just to prove that she hasn't had any of that cosmetic stuff done recently.

What's going on??!!

The latest cat fight that has emerged, is the dopey one between sexy and younger Sofia Vergara of ABC's hit show Modern Family and Madonna. Actually, the iconic singer has not responded yet.

In case you might have missed this one.......the Colombian bombshell, at 38, gave an interview to Esquire Magazine, one in which the cat claws came out, and quite razor-sharp, we might add:

"L.A. is crazy. The women all look the same now," the Emmy nominee, 38, tells Esquiremagazine. "That thing with the cheeks. Like Madonna. Who do they think they're fooling? It doesn't make them look young. You end up looking like a freak." Sofia Vergara admits she may one day tweak her eyes. She also once considered a breast reduction, but her mom talked her out of it by telling her, "God is going to punish you if you cut them."

Sofia Vergara better pray the gossip rags don't find some before plastic surgery photos of her. There are rumors that Sofia's ample breasts were not the ones she was born with. And her upper lip looks thinner in some old commercial shots of her.

Meantime.....Madonna turns 52 next Monday. And yes, the singer has been talked about quite a lot these days, for the cosmetic surgery and fillers she supposedly has had.

The British call the look of too much fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Collagen, Sculptra, and so on, pillow face, because of the over-inflated look these injections can create.

"A little filler goes a long way, according to injectables specialist Dr. Michael Prager:"The main problem arises," says Dr. Prager, "when celebrities don't just try to restore lost volume, but create a wholly new and artificial face. When I use filler, I'm not aiming to create something that wasn't there before. This is one of the biggest mistakes that can be made. Nor am I trying to create carbon copy or cookie cutter faces that all look the same."

Some people think Madonna has gone too far trying to re-capture the fountain of youth. But we think Sofia Vergara should be careful not to drop big names, because in Hollywood where just about every celebrity has gone under the knife or felt the sting of needles every few months, it could come back to bite Sofia in a major way.

Teri Hatcher Bare Face On Face Book To Show No Botox No Surgery

Teri Hatcher.

Hmmm. Would you say that she really is desperate, so to speak?!

Two days ago, the star of television's Desperate Housewives sat in her bathroom, makeup-free and turned the camera on herself, posting a bare-faced Teri Hatcher to the world, on her Face Book page. And two days later, we are still confused. But to Teri, what she did was a no-brainer.

Why? It was simple. The 45-year-old actress says she's tired of being accused of succumbing to Botox, plastic surgery, and/or implants. So, Teri Hatcher posted an album of self-portraits on Face Book to show women, especially, that she does have a few wrinkles, fine lines, and dark circles.

And this is a bit of what she wrote in FB:

...."Out of the bath getting ready for bed. Thought about all those damn critics of my face. Love it or hate it, my face that is, no surgery, no implants, no matter what "they" say. Decided I'd shoot myself in to reveal some truths about "beauty" and hope it makes you all easier on yourself.

Did I every toy with fillers or Botox over the years? yes. Tell me does this look Botoxed to you?

Yes I am alone in my bathroom naked in a towel on behalf of women everywhere trying to make a point. Women YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL
I can be mad, or confused or sad and tired. Julia Roberts had that same vein in her forehead in Eat Pray Love. Proud of Julia for being a real woman on a real journey.

45 year old me. Just me wanting to teach that all those glam versus trash pictures of celebs are about LIGHTING. It's not makeup it's not suregery [sic] or botox its LIGHT.".

We want to applaud Teri Hatcher for going makeup-free. Truly, wearing even a little bit of makeup makes a big difference in a woman's looks. And this shows it in an honest breath.

Yes, she looks lovely at 45. Do these photos from her bathroom prove that she has never, ever had any plastic surgery? No. Period.

We cannot prove that Teri Hatcher has done anything to her striking face. But we do know, after writing beauty articles, day after day, and interviewing the pros from the beauty and cosmetic worlds, that some beauty procedures are just that.....very subtle and not easily detected, when done right.

Teri Hatcher talks about that vertical forehead vein the she says she has and actress Julia Roberts also has showing on her forehead. Hate to break it to you ladies, but sometimes, the prominence of that vein, is a result of a Botox cosmetic injection. In other words, the vein can look more noticable after Botox treatments, as one plastic surgeon explains:

"A vein appearing after Botox may just be unmasked now that the muscle has been relaxed. When a muscle has more tone, it may press on a vein keeping it from being prominent. Once the muscle is more relaxed, that vein may be able to fill up more with fluid and become more visible. As the Botox wears off, the vein will go back down. "

We will take Teri Hatcher at her word, that she has no Botox, cosmetic surgery or implants at the moment. Why she felt the need to post an album of makeup-free self-portraits to her Face Book page is puzzling. She doesn't have to explain her attractive, youthful looks to anyone. She is an actress, and we understand the brutal culture we live in, where women are made to seem disposable after age 35 and where normal aging for a woman is unheard of, especially in Hollywood.

Maybe Teri Hatcher is just trying to survive on television. And so far, we think she is doing it well, with or without the help from a needle or scalpel.

Skechers Toning Shoes Don't Shape Beautiful Legs And Butt According To New Study

Sorry, Skechers.

The American Council on Exercise did a study, and found that toning shoes like Skechers Shape-Ups, "do not deliver the fitness or muscle toning benefits they claim."

Ouch! That means, ladies, that these odd, little shoes that make us walk harder do not 'build' us a better pair of legs or butt?! And these toning shoes do not help us lose weight?!

Well, Skechers isn't taking this one lying down. The popular shoe maker is fighting back, by claiming the study by the American Council on Exercise did not have any scientific basis. Skechers also says it would contest two new civil complaints against its Shape-Ups product line, saying the lawsuits were frivolous and targeted at extorting money from the company.

We've written before about toning shoes, like the FitFlop. And to us, the science seems pretty convincing. These shoes are purposely made to produce instability. That, in turn, signals your muscles to hold your posture. So as you take more and more steps, the body is being stimulated more and more and working more.

But maybe, Skechers has overly inflated the benefits of buying their Shape-Ups, by telling customers to, "get in shape without setting foot in a gym,". Still, there are many happy customers. We have read plenty of reviews, and a lot of women say these toning shoes give the entire leg and butt a strong work-out. And yes, women have lost weight wearing these shoes. By the way, the pair pictured above, are the Skechers Shape-Ups Xf-Accelerators ($100).

Remember the wooden-soled Dr. Scholls sandals from the 1970's? Those really gave your legs and butt a great work-out.And the Dr. Scholls company claims they are truly the original exercise or toning sandal.

We don't really care what this recent study shows. If women claim they are getting a good burn walking around in these toning shoes like Skechers Shape-Ups, then, let them keep walking. We don't see the harm in wearing these exercise shoes.