New Princess Bride Kate Middleton: Lovely In Lace Like Grace Kelly

We LOVE the Sarah Burton by Alexander McQueen royal wedding gown Kate Middleton chose, as she walked down the aisle of Westminster Abbey this morning. And we think she pays homage to the late Grace Kelly in a most beautiful way.

It's lovely in lace all the way. And we can see the copy-cat wedding gowns immediately being fashioned as we write.

Let's face it.....this is one gorgeous bridal gown featuring long, fitted lace sleeves, v-neck style with nipped-in-waist and an elegant lace-trimmed veil. And although Kate's gown has a sleeker silhouette compared to the 1950's Grace Kelly ball gown shape, the similarities are still quite striking.

At age 29, Kate Middleton selected a classic, sophisticated royal wedding gown. This one will be remembered for years and years to come, just like the amazing cream puff, voluminous bridal gown worn by 19-year-old Diana Spencer in her royal wedding to Prince Charles almost 30 years ago.

When a bride marries at Westminster Abbey in a royal ceremony, her arms must be covered, according to what we have learned, because of the requirements of the church C London's Westminster Abbey C and royal protocol.

One other interesting royal bridal tidbit-----we also heard that lovely Kate did her own makeup for the most important day of her life. Now, that's what we call, sheer confidence and a very steady hand.

Congratulations to Kate and William!

Blossoming New Trend For Spring 2011: Rosette Shoes/Sandals

Ladies, everything's coming up roses, or rosettes in this newest hot trend for spring 2011! Floral embellishments are adding a little feminine frou-frou for your princess feet.

And no, you don't have to be going to the Royal Wedding to enjoy slipping into a pair of rosette shoes or rosette sandals. This is a chic trend that will bring a little sophistication to your wardrobe.

We suppose you will either ADORE the rosette shoe trend, or despise it. We happen to LIKE it. There is something very delicate about the fabrication of roses on shoes and sandals. Rosettes appear to give the feet a light, airy look, and signify that spring is indeed here, and warmer, sultrier days are ahead.

From platforms to flip-flops, there's a rosette shoe for everyone and every occasion.

Here are 3 rosettes we found:

1. Guiseppe Zanotti Chiffon Rosette High Heel Sandals ($695, now on sale $486.50, at Bloomingdale's).

2. Nine West 'Qutiepie' Reptile Print Slingback with Rosette ($89, at Nine West.

3. Valentino Rosette T-Strap Sandals ($595, at Nordstrom's, but currently sold out!)

You don't have to spend $hundreds$ and more on a pair of rosette shoes or rosette sandals. Look around----there are some lovely, inexpensive rosettes out there, just waiting to add a little feminine frou-frou to your princess feet.

Hats And More Hats To Invade Royal Wedding: How About A Fedora For You?

With the much-anticipated Royal Wedding just 2 days away now, we thought we'd talk about hats, and the fascination with fascinators, because just about every woman's head will be adorned for the global event.

Here in the states, well, we don't wear hats that often. Sure, some women do LOVE hats. And although we can't force you to don a hat, we can certainly try. Once the Royal Wedding takes place, you can bet that hats and even fascinators, will become the new hot summer trend.

So, here's Hats Off! to Kate and William.

UK women ADORE wearing hats. And the princess-to-be seems to have one for every time she hits the streets. And yes, Kate Middleton never seems to get hat hair. She looks beautiful with something on her brunette head, even wearing a fascinator.

Hmmm. Exactly what is a fascinator?

Well, it's a small, playful headpiece. It is usually fashioned with flowers, tulle, jewels, and most importantly, feathers. Oh yeah....whimsical feathers. And fascinators stay on with combs or clips.

For the Royal Wedding, Kate will probably be donning an heirloom tiara, but her inner circle and invited guests will be hat crazy for the huge event.

Why not get in the mood and put on a hat yourself? Barbara Walters got a red fedora for the huge event, but claims she probably won't be wearing it as she reports outside Westminster Abbey, the site of the royal nuptials.

Speaking of the fedora, it's a beloved hat here in our part of the world, and it's a classic that looks sexy and timeless on every gal. And we've found a great lace fedora that won't cost you more than $11!!

Check this one( photo2) out at BodyCentral. Lace fedora with contrast band. Imported poly/cotton. One size fits most. Cream/black (EC). 4469. $10.80. Very elegant, and super to wear at your Royal Wedding television party!

Even Kate Middleton loves a sexy fedora every once in a while.

We also tossed in a photo of screen legend Sophia Loren in this unforgettable pose. We remember it, because of the enormous, red hat!

Hats certainly bring attention to those who are under them. And we can't wait to see the British hat parade at Friday's Royal Wedding!

How 24CT. Gold Makes Astre A Gem In The Skin Care Business

Is Astre Skin Care worth its weight in gold?

The reason we ask, is because this new line of skin care contains 24ct. gold. You can even see tiny flecks of the gold in its premier product-----the Astre Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum with Pure 24CT. Gold.

Now, at $99 a bottle, you might wonder, too, is this anti-aging serum worth the price?

In our honest opinion......Yes. We have had the pleasure of sampling Astre's Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum for about 3 weeks now. And we like the luminosity, firmness, and healthy appearance our skin has taken on. We also appreciate the formula's organic aloe vera base, and how the product glides upon the skin and absorbs completely.

We recently spoke with Greg Kelly, the CEO of Astre Skin Care. And he is proud to tell us, that Astre is a skin care line that is natural, without harmful toxins, and scientifically advanced to address the signs of aging. One of the key players succeeding in the anti-aging war is a new anti-wrinkle peptide, called Acetyl Hexapeptide-3.

And he claims that his beauty business competitors are filling up their skin care jars and bottles with some other nasty stuff, and then nailing women with some hefty price tags.

"Alot of the high end serums contain acetyl hexapeptide which is a very expensive and effective ingredient. The main difference is that we have taken out all the cheap toxins that permeate the cosmetic industry. The profit margins from the $800 bottles are huge. Our basic premise is to make a quality high end product available to women who want quality without paying crazy prices. Most companies use cheap fillers to add weight to their products...we dont. Our 1 oz. bottles are pure and natural...what you see is what you get."

And the 24ct. gold is definitely in the Astre Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum for a reason, according to Greg.

"Gold really is a miracle element for skin, that is why people pay so much for these high end gold masks. Primarily, gold tricks the skin into producing collagen, which we all know is critical in preventing sagging skin. We only use pure 24ct gold...the highest quality. Recent studies show that gold pulls toxins from the skin which of course leaves skin clean and pure at the basal layer."

Maybe that's why the Skin Matrix Serum is the company's most popular product. Greg says the response has been incredible. And even with their free return policy, not one bottle has been sent back for a refund, thus far.

You get a lot in a 1 oz. bottle of Astre's Anti-Aging Skin Matrix Serum. And a little goes a long way, for the face and neck. The other active ingredient present is Hyaluronic Acid. And this powerful humectant gives back the fullness, suppleness and youthfulness to skin.

Achieving great skin is really an investment. It is something we can all have, if we work hard at it and take the time to try some superb skin care products.

For more details, visit the Astre Skin Care company.

Not Wearing Sunscreen Daily? Then You're A Dodo!

Rain or shine......You should be using sun protection.

Remember: Sunscreen isn't just for the beach.

It isn't even summer yet, so why are we even discussing the benefits of wearing sunscreen?!

We caught an article at today's Huffington Post about malignant melanoma, and it was a scary read. It was written by NYC plastic surgeon Robert Tornambe, M.D..

Skin Cancer. Of all the kinds out there, it is the most common form of cancer. And take a look at these stats from Dr. Tornambe:

.."Melanoma is responsible for nearly all of the deaths from skin cancer. It is the most common form of cancer found in people 25 to 29 years old. According to the American Cancer Society, there were 68,000 new cases of melanoma reported and 8700 deaths in 2009. Experts expect to diagnose more than 100,000 new cases this year.".

How do we develop melanoma?

"The primary culprit causing melanoma is UV light from the sun or tanning beds," he explains. "Research shows indoor tanning increases a person's melanoma risk by 75 percent! Anyone can get melanoma, but there is a higher incidence in people with fair skin, sun-sensitive skin (tends to burn rather than tan) and a family history of the disease. Five or more sunburns during your lifetime double your risk of developing skin cancer. 80 percent of lifetime sun damage occurs during childhood."

The best defense----sunscreen. And we LOVE this scientifically advanced product----Sunforgettable by Colorscience.

Sunforgettable is a really unique beauty product. It's a mineral-based powder sunscreen. The ingredients contain immediate 8 hour, waterproof protection. And it's a powder base. No more greasies.

And it comes in 3 shades: Perfectly Clear. All Clear. Almost Clear. Application is easy, too. You can put it on with a brush applicator, a roll-on, or a shaker.

By the way, If you wear a liquid foundation, then apply Sunforgettable ON TOP of your foundation. If you only use powder for your makeup, then Sunforgettable should go first.

We found some Sunforgettable here at SkinCareRX.com for $49.50. And the product is pretty amazing if fair-skinned actresses Cameron Diaz and Anne Heche swear by Sunforgettable.

NeoStrata Introduces Quartet Of Advanced Anti-Aging Products: Skin Active

If you're looking for effective beauty products that battle aging skin....sagging, uneven tone, fine lines,, and wrinkles, then you need a potent line of skin care weaponry:

Welcome, NeoStrata Skin Active, featuring a powerful quartet of products that zero in to stimulate cell renewal and boost collagen production.

This 4-way advanced, anti-aging sytem ($79) works beautifully together to deliver results that matter.......like softening deeper wrinkles, balancing pigment, and firming up the face.

NeoStrata's Skin Active includes this strong yet gentle quartet of products:

1. Exfoliating Wash: Cleanses without irritation; lightly exfoliates. Doesn't over-dry.

2. Matrix Support SPF 20: Formulated with three clinically proven technologies for greater skin repair and strengthening, along with a powerful antioxidant complex to further protect complexion.

3. Cellular Restoration: Rebuilds the deep skin matrix for skin that is firmer, more lifted with a healthy glow.

4. Intensive Eye Therapy: Plumps up the delicate skin around the eye. The eye area appears more lifted and brighter, and crow’s feet are smoothed from the inside out. Caffeine zaps puffiness, while hyaluronic acid adds suppleness.

NeoStrata Skin Active is a wonderful and smart new advanced line of anti-aging products. It's a simple regimen to follow, and the products feel so good on your skin. All 4 seem to 'melt smoothly into the layers of the skin.'.

We've been on this skin care system for a few weeks now, and we're hooked.

For more details, click here.

Kate Middleton:Weight Loss Becomes Main Media Focus As Royal Wedding Nears

Poor princess-to-be, Kate Middleton, can't catch a bloody break. With the royal wedding just 8 days away, the media pressure is mounting to incredible heights.

Brideorexia. That's the newest label being pinned to the 29-year-old British beauty who has captured the eye and heartof Prince William.

Can you believe some of the nasty things being hurled her way:
1. Kate Middleton is wasting away. Looks skeletal.
2. Gone from a size 6 down to a sickly size 2.
3. Kate has 'brideorexia.'
4. She's so thin, her dresses just hang on her now.
5. Her face has become too gaunt---her chin is jutting out.

Really now. Even the Irish Times newspaper penned a column on Monday, criticizing the princess-to-be as being TOO skinny as size 6:

....."But Kate’s too thin, that’s the problem. I’m worried about the wedding dress. She was thin enough in the engagement dress. Then last week she appeared in a blue suit, gaunt. Her lovely knees knocking. Her beautiful face haggard. Is this the way the fairy tale ends – at a size six? Here is the wedding of the year or perhaps of the decade. Here is the happily ever after. And here is the message going out to young women everywhere: once you’ve found prince charming you can give up food forever.

This is serious stuff. Kate Middleton is a model of modern femininity. She seems like a nice girl – although she’s an adult and 30 next January. She appears conscientious, dutiful and beautiful – and she is shrinking before our very eyes. Just as her late mother-in-law did before her wedding 30 years ago...."

So...exactly how tiny has Kate Middleton become?

We're not sure. The tabloids claim she stands 5' 11" like the late Princess Diana. But those who went to school with Kate, claim she is not as tall, maybe around 5' 8".

Some reports say that the princess-to-be was a size 6 up until a few months ago, and has quickly shrunk down to a size 2, which would be very thin for such a long frame.

Other British news articles, claim that Kate Middleton has been on the Dukan diet, which favors eliminating simple carbs like sugars and starches from your diet. Instead, you indulge in low-fat, protein-rich foods, with the promise that you can jump-start weight loss and maintain it for the rest of your life.

Yesterday, the princess-in-waiting did a little shopping in London to add a few more pieces to her honeymoon wardrobe.

We can't imagine the insane amount of pressure Kate Middleton must feel, as the eyes of the world await the wedding of the century. So, to the prying media, "Leave Kate alone!"