For Perfect Skin: Commit To Daily Routine And Take Makeup Off Before Bed

Perfect skin Sigh.....it's not easy to achieve it. We know we work very hard just to keep our own clear, healthy, and hopefully, less wrinkled.

We have very oily skin with large pores. And yeah, there are women who are blessed with almost non-existent pores and smooth, even-toned complexions.

We are envious, but we also have come to learn, that more beautiful skin can be developed or created, so to speak.

And as any skin expert would tell you:

1. You must commit to a daily routine, no matter what your age or skin type. This has to become a key part of your normal day-to-day life. Start in a simple way---a gentle cleanser and a sunscreen for daytime. At night, before retiring for bed, use a repairing moisturizer. There....those are the very basics of 'building' perfect skin.

And if you think you are one of the lucky few who can skip washing your face before bedtime, think again. You must remove all makeup and any traces of old sunscreen, moisturizers or grime before your nighttime routine. If you do not wash away stale makeup, then you clog up pores, and break-outs will occur sooner than later.

Also, if you do not remove daytime makeup, then that repairing moisturizer you apply before bed, will not be able to work as effectively. You need a clean slate, and that applies to all complexions looking for repair.

Perhaps, celebrity dermatologist Frederic Brandt has said it best, about maintaining a sensible attitude regarding lifestyle:

"It is important that patients take care of their skin by avoiding sun exposure (always use an UVB-UBA sun screen). They can be using a very expensive repair cream at night, and then the following day, they play golf or tennis under the sun all day without proper protection. Clean your face extremely well, especially before going to bed, and maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine," Dr. Brandt explains.

Try Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser ($7.10, at drugstores). This is a favorite among many women, and does what it says, in a kind and non-irrtating way.

And Dr. Brandt UV SPF30 Face ($30, drbrandt . A super sunscreen skin protector. Helps decrease pigmentation induced by UV exposure; preventing photo-aging.

A great repairing moisturizer for nighttime is Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream ($7.99, at drugstores). A soothing and refreshing base that works on skin while you sleep.

Let Us Hope Turban Headwrap Trend Tanks ASAP

Turban. Headwrap. It's been a while since we've seen one of these, but now the 1920s inspired flapper turban is turning heads in 2010. But are you actually putting one on?

We noticed the turban popping up on the runways, and being talked about back in July. And how could we forget Miss SJP donning one in 'Sex and the City 2'. Then a few fashionable celebrities like Beyonce and Salma Hayek have been hot on the trend. But seriously, we hope the turban trend tanks ASAP!!

We haven't really seen the turban translate to the street. Maybe that's why, old Hollywood wore it best. Cinematic goddesses like Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren wore turbans like no others can. Maybe it was the time of yesteryear, the mystery of major film stars, or simply, their incredible beauty. And maybe that's why, the turban should be left to admire down in the beauty/fashion archives.

If you dare trying on the turban headwrap trend, you can find this 'head candy' in many fine dept. stores. And you can also find some very inexpensive turbans at Forever21. You can pick up a few there for under $7 each. And if you decide you just can't pull off a trendy turban, well, you haven't broken the bank.

Cheap Cherry Chapstick Beauty Tip From Twilight's Ashley Greene

Twilight's Ashley Greene is a gorgeous, young actress. So, when she recently gave InStyle magazine a simple and cheap beauty tip, we took note.

And this little beauty item will not cost you more than $2, depending on where you live. And many of you, might already have one or several more of 'these' in your purse, nightstand, car, pocket, and so on.

We're talking about chapstick. The authentic brand, the name. And singer Katy Perry knows what we're talking about (wink-wink).

Yes, it's cherry chapstick. And you can find one at your favorite drugstore just about anywhere your travels take you. We just found them at Walgreens for $1.79, each. On sale, 2 for $3.

Ashley Greene says she has learned this clever beauty tip from the makeup pros:

"Line your lips with a pencil that’s the same shade as your natural lip color, then use Cherry Chapstick in the middle. You wind up with a natural reddish lip but it looks like you’re not wearing anything."

We like that cherry chapstick has an SPF of 4. We all need to protect our lips daily, and not just in the summer. Lips don't have enough melanin to protect us from the searing heat. Melanin is the natural skin pigment that filters out the strong and damaging UV rays. Lips are also thinner in skin structure, very sensitive, and lack protective oil glands, so protection is needed all year round.

Cherry chapstick not only provides a nourishing base, but also gives off a very natural, sheer rosy tint to lips, and that's the key to Ashley Greene's cheap cherry chapstick beauty tip.

A great tip! Thanks, Ashley.

Beauty Cha-Ching: New Chanel Sublimage 1 Ounce Skin Serum At $425

An amazing, new 1 ounce skin serum at $425?!

Are you kidding me?!

Well, er, it is Chanel. And it does come from the essence of a Himalayan flower that has incredible anti-aging properties. So, maybe buying a tiny gold bottle of Chanel Sublimage Essential Revitalizing Concentrate is a smart beauty investment.

According to the folks at Chanel, the new skin serum is a concentrate formulated with ground-breaking Golden Champa PFA*. And those initials stand for this:

*PFA: Polyfractioned Active. An ultra-pure, ultra-powerful ingredient created through an exclusive purification technique developed by CHANEL.

All you need to awaken tired, aging skin, is just a few drops of Chanel's potent Sublimage serum. And right away, your skin gets firm and plump, and your complexion begins to look radiant.

In fact, Chanel has 3 other Sublimage products in this powerful skin care line.

For more details, check it out here.

Hemp Seed Oil High-ly Effective For Beautiful Skin And Legal

Hemp seed oil. Could this be nature's way to beautiful skin?

Don't worry.....you will not get high by topically applying hemp seed oil to your skin. But you might absorb some rich ingredients found in this light textured oil. And, hey....it's legal. In fact, research shows, that hemp seed oil can clear up acne, reduce inflammation, and plump up skin in its nourishing base. Although it's an oil, the hemp seed does not give you the greasies.

So, what's in hemp seed oil?

Hemp seed oil is made up of 80% essential fatty acids. And it contains the ideal ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 based on our cell structure needs. Hemp so closely matches our own skins lipids that it is able to penetrate deep inside our cells and lubricate the surface between them, providing a natural moisture balance.

And this is also interesting---Hemp is said to be the only plant oil containing Vitamin D, which is key for calcium absorption. Using hemp seed oil is a smart way to achieve soft, smooth and hydrated skin. And you can also take it in supplement form, if you don't want to apply the oil to your skin.

Hemp seed oil is also on the cheap end. A little goes a long way. And you can wear it under makeup daily to battle an oily face, as well as nourish a dry complexion. The oil dries quickly upon application, and leaves a nice matte finish.

See what other women are saying about the benefits of hemp seed oil at MakeupAlley.

Coquettish Cougar: Courteney Cox Arquette Beauty Secrets

Courteney Cox Arquette is one of Hollywood's most glamorous and ageless women. And although her best gal pal Jennifer Aniston seems to get all the beauty press, we thought we would take a look at the classic, quiet beauty of Courteney Cox Arquette.

The mother to daughter Coco has been going through a difficult time these days. She and husband David Arquette have announced their separation after 11 years of marriage, a union most thought was very solid in an un-Hollywood way. Gossip has been circulating about alleged cheating on both sides. And her 7-years-younger hubby has been yapping away to radio talk show host Howard Stern about not having Courteney in bed with him for some 4 months now. Gee, classy guy.

Aside from all that, Courteney Cox Arquette is a busy actress with her hit show, Cougar Town, and taking care of their active 6-year-old daughter. And yet, the former 'Friends' star has never looked better at age 46! So, let's take a look at Courteney Cox Arquette's beauty secrets:

1. Kinerase skin care. It's a line of anti-aging products that Courteney swears by, and she has also been the face of the Kinerase company. She adores Kinerase's Intensive Eye Cream ($55, .7 oz) and Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment face cream, a vitamin C and E packed serum. Courteney says: "The results are undeniable. Kinerase works."

2. Botox cosmetic. The number #1 injectable helps smooth away wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and those pesky crow's feet. Courteney admits she is a Botox user, but in a natural way. The August 2010 cover girl for InStyle told the magazine this:

"Sometimes I use Botox. Compared to most, I use it very sparingly. One time I did too much, though. I feel weird if I can't move my face, and that one time I overdid it, I felt trapped in my own skin. I don't have a problem with any of that stuff; if it makes you feel better about yourself and it's done properly, then fine."

3. Lipstick in paler shades. Her faves include: Laura Mercier Baby Lips (sheer warm pink, $20) and Josie Maran Rumi Joon (sheer pinky beige, $20).

4. Dark hair lightened just a tad, according to hairstylist Chris McMillan: "Dark hair really makes her blue eyes stand out, but before, her hair was black. Now it's dark brown and less harsh." That's not the only thing that's gone soft. "I used to use a black liquid eyeliner on her," said makeup artist Beth Katz. "Now I use shadows for a smoky, softer look."

5. Working out consistently to maintain a slender, healthy figure. Courteney is 5'5''. She enjoys doing 'Budokon,' the reunion of martial arts, yoga, and meditation.

Ashlee Simpson Bucks Big Messy Hair Trend For Cropped Edgy Blonde Cut

We can't decide who looks cuter....Ashlee Simpson with her new cropped edgy blonde cut or little son Bronx with his angelic flaxen locks?!

The sister starlet of Jessica Simpson has bucked the big, messy hair trend and chopped off her very long, signature hair. We call Ashlee brave, on the cutting edge of beauty, and one confident young woman.

While most of Hollywood's glamour girls keep covering their necks and image in super long hair extensions, some dare to go bare, and that's exactly what the singer has done. And we believe, that Ashlee, too, had hair extensions.

So, is Ashlee Simpson's new cropped edgy blonde cut a DO or a DON'T?

We happen to think it is a major DO! It sets Ashlee apart from her celebrity peers and displays her sense of modern beauty style. And there is something almost fragile about her new very light locks and cropped do. She reminds many of us of a young Mia Farrow back in the days of the boyish pixie cut. No, this isn't a pixie, but it's a modern take on the classic, gamine cut.


Ashlee Simpson is definitely a beauty trendsetter. She has worn her hair in just about every color, as you can see in the photo gallery here. And she is able to rock each hair color quite beautifully. She also has great bone structure, including a strong jaw, and she can pull off edgy looks, both in beauty and fashion.

We hate to compare sisters to each other, but we have always found Ashlee to be far more attractive than older sis, Jessica, yes, even before Ashlee had her nose done.

Ashlee isn't afraid to veer away from her beauty comfort zone. She takes chances, and goes against the grain. Hollywood seems to be obsessed with super long hair and/or hair extensions, and the look is getting old and tiresome....like the Kardashian sisters, Gisele Bundchen, Mariah, Guiliana Rancic, sis Jessica Simpson, Fergie, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Aniston, and the list goes on and on.

It's really refreshing to see Ashlee Simpson Wentz stand out with her new bold cut.