Saturday, August 21, 2010

Bethenny Frankel Has Favorite Leg Cream By Sponge SkinCare


New mom Bethenny Frankel is giving out more beauty tips, following her rapid return to skinny girl status.

As we all know, the 39-year-old mom to baby Bryn took a lot of heat for dropping an amazing 30 lbs. in just 3 weeks following her C-section on May 8th. And then to really top it all off, Bethenny showed off her great body at age 39, in photos for Us Weekly, wearing a size 4 bathing suit. It seemed like an impossible feat, at least for most new moms in Bethenny's position. Some women got jealous and others wanted to know the reality television star's post baby diet and exercise tips.

And now the new mom tells People magazine that there is one must-have beauty product she can't be without----Jambes Lourdes Anti-Fatigue Leg Cream by Sponge Skincare ($95, at Sponge Skincare.

Bethenny Frankel likes this cream a lot because, "It's made for people like me, who are always on their feet." And we believe her. She is constantly running around with her businesses, like the Skinny Girl line of drinks, her reality TV show, taking care of Bryn, and exercising her fanny off.

So, what's in the Sponge Skincare cream?

The formula is full of calming herbs to revitalize tired, restless legs. And the company, based in Greece, says, "The nourishing cream was designed to diminish discomfort in the legs caused by travel, poor circulation or prolonged periods of standing. It features mastic, a rare herb that heals and rejuvenates, as well as calming calendula and sage. Originally developed by an OB/GYN, it offers complete safety and gentleness, making it suitable for use by all skin types. Tired muscles are relieved and vascular circulation is improved, leaving the legs comfortable and calm."

A bit pricey at $95 for 3.4 oz., but if this cream can really soothe aching, tired legs, well, we think it's a good investment....that, or a really long nap.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Classic Pointy Toe Kitten Heels Cat's Meow For Fall 2010


Pointy toe kitten heels. Okay, some of you absolutely adore these classic, ladylike shoes. But there are others who find the kitten heel to be a bit dowdy or too low to the ground.

Well, you better start seeing things from a different angle, ladies, because the pointy toe kitten heel was the cat's meow all over the runways for fall 2010. Yes, the lower, more sensible heel is in! Think Audrey Hepburn...she pulled the look off so beautifully.
Don't worry. You can still wear your favorite sky-high heels. Those Manolo Blahniks and Louboutins aren't fading away into fashion obscurity just yet. But it is a nice change, to see the 1950's pointy toe kitten heel re-emerge as one of the top fashion trends for fall 2010.

Designer Marc Jacobs paraded the delicate low heels throughout his runway shows. Check out these cuties above, by Marc Jacobs.
And Banana Republic, as well as Cole Haan are featuring pointy toe kitten heels in an elegant slingback style.

Stella McCartney also introduced the pointy toe kitten heel as a sexy slingback in her fall 2010 collection. And designer Rachel Roy told Harper's Bazaar magazine, that she's crazy about the kitten heel:

"I think they are the chicest way to go," Rachel Roy explains. "But they must be worn the right way or they skew old. I can't say enough great things about them. I could go on for days." She pairs them with a wrinkled khaki trench and a cuffed short or tight, sexy cocktail dresses. "I like the awkwardness the pointy kitten heel brings to sexy looks," she adds. By the way, Rachel Roy stands 5 foot 11 in her bare feet. So, yeah, the kitten heel is kinder to tall women.

And that brings us to this observation........Pointy toe kitten heels cannot lift your butt or enhance some killer calves, or instantly grow and slenderize you some 5 inches taller like stilettos can.
Meow!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Project Runway's Nina Garcia Launches Another Book On Style




Nina Garcia is pretty vocal about what she likes and doesn't like when it comes to style. Her words can cut like a knife, and that is why she is such a formidable judge on Bravo's hit show 'Project Runway.' And now the un-shy Nina has spelled it all out in a new book called, 'Nina Garcia's Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion.'

You either love Nina Garcia or you can't stand her. We happen to adore her and her often snobby view of fashion. She's a firecracker and fun to watch, as she gives smart advice and tough love to budding fashion designers on 'Project Runway.'

The Colombian-born beauty has been on the New York Times bestseller list before, so it wouldn't surprise us if she climbs the well-respected chart, once again.

In her new book, 45-year-old Nina Garcia teaches women how to tackle that universal question----What Should I Wear??!!.

For instance, let's say you must appear for jury duty. What exactly is appropriate for the courtroom? Nina lays it all out for the reader. From jacket to blouse to shoes, and jewelry. And the focus is always on timeless classics.

"Believe me--there's pressure when you're deciding what to wear to a meeting with an iconic fashion designer or a member of the press. It can be terrifying. But instead of panicking, I stop, take a deep breath, and remember that I speak "fashion." And by the time you have read this book, you'll be able to speak the language of fashion too, at all the key moments of your life."
--from Nina Garcia's Look Book


What does Miss Nina Garcia know? Plenty, when it comes to style. From what we uncovered, she has the proper fashion background----"she has worked in fashion houses and in fashion media, with everyone from Marc Jacobs to Elle magazine and Marie Claire."

By the way, 'Nina Garcia's Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion' is published by Voice, and is available right now at bookstores everywhere for $23.99. The book makes a great gift, ladies.

And Nina Garcia is also working on another wonderful 'project' in her life. She is pregnant with her second child, due in December. Congratulations to Nina and her husband, David Conrod!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Estee Lauder Launches New Super Advanced Eye Cream This Fall

Eye cream. If you think you don't need one.....boy, are you wrong! Everybody could benefit by using an effective eye cream, and Estee Lauder is launching a brand new, more powerful cream this fall 2010.

It's called Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex . And Estee Lauder is selling this new, super advanced eye cream for $59 in a small brown .5 oz. bottle.

We've talked about the eye area many times here before, at BeautyTipToday.com. And the facts spell out the reasons:

1. Skin is much thinner.
2. Skin is much drier.
3. Skin is more delicate.
4. Age quickly shows around the eyes.

Don't expect an eye cream, even as powerful as the Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Complex to erase your fine lines and wrinkles, but what an eye cream can do is soften the lines and protect the skin from further damage in the future.

Estee Lauder's new eye cream is more like a serum-gel than a typical eye cream. It feels so silky to the touch. And the cosmetics giant claims their new product is able to give you back more youthful-looking eyes.

And here is how the eye complex works:
"Because skin around your eyes is about 4X thinner than anywhere else on your face, it's more vulnerable to environmental damage.It is also where you'll see the signs of aging to be the most exaggerated.Our exclusive Chronolux™ Technology helps skin optimize its natural repair processes to reduce the look of the fine lines and wrinkles that can appear first around your eyes."

Ingredients include these:
"Hyaluronic acid helps skin lock in moisture and strengthen its protective moisture barrier.
Powerful anti-oxidants help neutralize environmentally generated free radicals before they can cause future damage.
Plus, high levels of soothing anti-irritants and targeted technologies help reduce the look of dark circles, puffiness and crepiness for brighter, smoother skin around the eyes."

The new Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex is already available at the Estee Lauder website.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

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.

Monday, August 16, 2010

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.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

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.