Q-Tip Creates The Perfect New Precision Tips: Must-Have Makeup Tool

Q-Tips.

We can't live without them. We've written about them before, and yes, we are a Q-Tip freak!

Imagine our surprise, when we found out that the cotton swab geniuses are at it again. Get ready for Q-Tips Precision Tips! Debuting this August, the Precision Tips ($2.49, 170 swabs) will be designed with pointy tips at both ends. Gotta love it. And these should become a makeup must-have tool.

What's the big deal, you ask?

Well, a regular Q-Tip is great for mopping up beauty mistakes, like a goof with the eyeliner, or a manicure that's gone over the nail edge, and so on. But think about it----a pointed Q-Tip could take the job even further. You will be able to get into tinier areas to apply makeup, or take off makeup. A tapered end can give you that much-needed precision for eyeliner and eye shadow applications.

This is a no-brainer. Professional makeup artists always have a box of Q-Tips at their ready. And now the new Precision Tips can give everyone that professional edge. And if you don't even have a box of cotton swabs in your makeup tool arsenal, then how is that possible?!

For instance......a moistened Q-Tip can help extend your eyeliner pencil stroke into a sexy, cat eye wing. You can also remove eye makeup with a few cotton swabs dipped in baby oil or makeup remover lotion. And you can remove the gunk that sometimes builds up in the inner corners of your eyes with a Q-tip stick. You can sweep your eye shadow beautifully with a swab, and remove smudges that come from mascara mishaps.

We have used them to remove hair color during the dye process when a little runs on to our skin. We've also taken a few swabs dipped in acne cream to dab on our break-outs. Q-Tips also take off excess eyebrow powder without messing up the arch you've created. We've often dunked a swab in lemon juice and applied to our decollete freckles. And the list goes on and on.

A box of pointy Q-Tips? We can't wait.

Blotting Paper : Another Great Beauty Item For Summer Greasies

Blotting Paper. It's not just for oily skin. Summer-time and high humidity equal shiny complexions. And even dry skin can look dull after those steamy July days.

There are tons of blotting papers out there. We've learned that the best blotting papers to buy, are the ones with flaxseed oil in them. Linen and rice paper are also wonderful oil absorbers. These three are able to mop up the shine and grease, and leave your face looking matte and pretty again. It would be wise to stay away from blotting papers made of mineral oil or powder, because those can clog your pores.

Blotting papers usually come in a little compact. You take one out at a time, and simply press these small sheets against your face, and watch the oiliness lift away. They're convenient, too, easy to tuck away in a purse or pocket to be used throughout the day.

Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, who seems to have her pulse on great trends and super beauty finds, has given the thumbs up to Tatcha Aburatorigami Blotting Papers in the Zoe Report. Talk about tres elegant! These delicate papers($12, 30 sheets) come from Japan and are made from 100% Abaca leaf and gold-flakes---all natural. Now that's something different.

And the Tatcha Aburatorigami Blotting Papers won't remove makeup, and are highly absorbant. By the way, you can purchase a packet at beauty stores like, b-glowing.com.

Love The Pool But Get The Chemical Green Gunk Out Of Hair

Green pool hair. Not pretty. And frustrating, because it's hard to remove, and makes blonde heads, especially, look bad.

We have 2 solutions that work. And no, we don't want you to give up swimming.

First, let's look at why that nasty green tint develops from swimmingin a chlorinated pool:

According to Anne Marie Helmenstine, a chemistry expert, the culprit is actually the copper, not the chlorine.
"It isn't the chlorine that turns blonde hair green. Oxidized metals in the water bind to the protein in the hair shaft and deposit their color. The metal that produces the green tint is copper, which is most commonly found in algicides, though it naturally occurs in some water. The bleach that is added to a pool may be responsible for oxidizing the metal, but it's not the cause of the color.
If your hair turns green, you can remove the discoloration by using a shampoo that chelates the metal. To some extent, you can prevent copper from binding to the hair by sealing the hair cuticle with a conditioner before swimming. Rinsing your hair immediately after leaving the pool will help protect it, too."

There is a shampoo that does just that. TriSwim Chlorine Out Shampoo ($13.20, at sbrsports. And it's safe for color-treated and permed hair.

TriSwim: Completely eliminates chlorine and chlorine odor by containing the chemical, washing it out of the hair and down the drain• Contains Aloe Vera, Vitamins E & A, and Pro-Vitamin B5 - Helps to remove copper deposits that can cause some hair to take on a greenish tint - Increases volume potential - Nourishes hair follicles - Hydrates the scalp.

You can also try hair solution #2, a natural way to get the chemical green gunk out of your hair.

Try ketchup. We're not kidding. This little beauty gem comes from master colorist Kim Vo. And he's a celebrity stylist, one of the best hair pros in the biz.

So if your bottle-blonde hair turns a nasty green, don't fret. Kim has a simple solution. Just apply ketchup to your locks, massage in, and let it sit there for a few minutes. Then jump in the shower and rinse thoroughly. Shampoo, and rinse again. It really works. The green is gone!

Cellulite Serums A Gal's best Friend: But Cellulite Is Permanent

DO buy the cellulite serums and cellulite creams you hear about!

BUT---be realistic, ladies.

You CANNOT get rid of cellulite permanently. But you CAN STOP its further advancement, and CAN make your dimpled skin look better.

Not exactly what we all want to hear, but, trust us, most women have cellulite, that dimpled fat that rests on our thighs, rear, even belly and arms.

And we love that skinny chicks can develop cellulite, too.

Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Cindy Crawford, and Kim and Khloe Kardashian all admit to the lumpy fat. So, you are not alone.

Of course, summer means shorts and bathing suit apparel. And having cellulite can spoil your fun in the sun. But now, the cellulite serums and creams have come far...the ingredients can really smooth and firm skin, so that your dimpled thighs don't look so dimpled after all.

One of these excellent cellulite busters is by the folks at Nivea, called, Good-bye Cellulite Fast Acting Serum ($12, at drugstores). Both Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian swear by it.

Here's how Nivea's formula works:

"Nivea research has developed a new ultra-concentrated formula which combines the natural ingredients Lotus Extract and L-Carnitine.
When used regularly, Nivea Good-bye Cellulite Fast Acting Serum leads to visible reduction in the appearance of cellulite in as little as 10 days."

A lot of women love this . Something good to tote in your beach bag.

Crop Tops And Cutouts Equal Toned Tummy: How To Get Great Abs

A toned tummy seems to be a gal's best fashion accessory these days. Midriff-baring outfits are hot!

That means that the bulls-eye is on your belly, So, if you want to rock some sexy, cutouts and crop tops, then you need to get some great abs.

For a few months now, we've been seeing the toned tummies of some A-list celebrities peek-abooing on the red carpet in crop tops and cutout dresses.....Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nicole Richie, to name a few. And they all look ab-tastic!

So, how do we get there? Are there any short-cuts to a serious set of abs?!

Maybe you don't have time or even the desire to work-out 5 days a week or to eliminate sodas and alcohol.

Well, maybe there IS a way to tone your tummy without a lot of hassle. BeautyTipToday wrote an article about cholorophyll and how it can flatten your belly.

We learned that chlorophyll acts like a mild laxative and encourages the liver into becoming a better fat-burning machine. The green pigment is also full of magnesium which helps to balance blood sugar and melt away stubborn belly fat. Chlorophyll is also high in vitamin and mineral content.

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, and an award-winning author of 30 books, tells First for Women magazine that, "the best absorbed form (of chlorophyll) is a liquid extract mixed with water." She suggests a twice daily drink of 1 tsp. of chlorophyll in 8 oz. of water.

Dr. Gittleman likes Sunny Green Liquid Chlorophyll ($13, 16 oz., at health-food stores).

There you have it. Chlorophyll is definitely worth a try, especially when you want to squeeze into a sexy, crop top or cutout dress.

Get On The Nautical Trend This 4th Of July: Stripes And More Stripes

Anchors aweigh, ladies!

It's time to set sail in style with summer's hot beach nautical trend---STRIPES.....and more STRIPES!

Kim Kardashian and other stars are already riding the nautical wave in chic, horizontal lines. Check out the future bride strolling along in a curvy Need Supply Co. black & white stripe maxi dress. Love it!

We adore the nautical trend, because actually, it's a classic, one that is timeless and appropriate for many summer events. All you need is a a little bit of striping to get into the beach look.

We found a cute, Striped Dropped Waist Tunic Top at Forever21 for $11.80. You can't go wrong with the Henley button placket. Spaghetti straps. Lightweight. Knit.

And if you aren't crazy about stripes on your body, how about a cool, Nautical Stripe Mini Shoulder Bag by Nila Anthony. What a great nautical accessory!The striking envelope-style bag has 2-tone colors on the front flap and sides, while the front and back are mini black and white stripes. And we like the interwoven leatherette and chain shoulder strap.

This summer, you CAN find tons of stripes to ride the nautical trend, without breaking the bank. Even Kim K was wearing a $58 maxi dress. So, being chic, doesn't have to cost a bundle.

OMG! JLo Debuts A New Fragrance: 17...Count Them!

It's called, Love and Light, and it represents #17 in the large collection of fragrances by Jennifer Lopez.

And you can catch the gorgeous celebrity introducing Love and Light on HSN.....Check her out Saturday at midnight, noon and 9 p.m.

Very sexy ads for her new fragrance, we might add.

The last time JLo debuted a new fragrance, was last fall 2010, called, Love and Glamour.

And if you're wondering who is wearing Ms. Lopez' fragrances, apparently, quite a lot of women. JLo's brand of scents just happen to rank as one of the highest selling celebrity fragrance lines.

After debuting on HSN, Love & Light will be available at Kohl’s and in department stores in September. The eau de parfum comes packaged in a bottle inspired by a woman's curves. It will retail for $58.

What is Love and Light to the nose? According to fragrance experts, "glittering and floral-woody."

Ah, the sweet smell of success!