Alpha Hydrox Retinol ResQ : Cheap & Effective

We cannot remember how we stumbled onto the Alpha Hydrox skin care brand, but we do know it's a very good one for 2 simple reasons:

It's cheap.
And it's effective.

And although we have had a tough time finding the full line of Alpha Hydrox products in the local drugstore, we CAN find them readily at beauty/skin care online stores. The Alpha Hydrox brand uses a bright red box for packaging. You can't miss it, when it's available on a store shelf.

One of our faves is the Alpha Hydrox 10% AHA Enhanced Lotion. Generally we see it for $12.99, but have found it on sale for $10.99. And although it is geared more for dry skin (our face=oily), we do apply it to our neck and decollete daily, and carefully under our eyes. We love it, and learned from skin expert Jan Marini, to use the 10% lotion as a super hand cream, also.

Today, we are looking at Alpha Hydrox's Retinol ResQ ($14.99, at neotericcosmetics.

We also believe this is an excellent skin care product for these reasons:

Anti-wrinkle, firming cream
* Oil-free
* Delivers pure-active Vitamin A
* Contains Vitamins C&E anti-oxidants
* Helps remove fine lines & wrinkles
* Tightens & firms skin.

If your skin is very sensitive, then you might have to go very slowly while trying the Retinol ResQ. But trust us, Retin-A, the big sister to retinol, is even more potent and difficult to adjust to at first. So, this Alpha Hydrox product shouldn't be that hard to tolerate.

Retinol is an over-the-counter retinoid, a form of Vitamin A. And Vitamin A derivatives are key to maintaining beautiful skin, because they speed up cell turnover, brighten the complexion and even up skin tone, boost collagen production, and repair damaged skin.

So, in a sense, retinol really comes to the rescue. If you hate the idea of an expensive prescription Retin-A which is sometimes irritating to skin, then try gentler retinol for very good results.

At-Home $40 Zeno Laser Device Aims To Zap Wrinkles

An at-home laser device for just $40?!

Could this really be effective?

According to the folks at Zeno, yes and yes.

It's called the Zeno Line Rewind Wrinkle Reduction Kit and you can find it at Walmart and Target and plenty of skin care boutiques, and the Zeno website.

The handheld beauty device runs on 2 AA batteries. And the kit also includes the Line Rewind serum, enriched with anti-oxidant Resveratrol, which is designed to work with the laser wrinkle zapper.

All it takes is just a few minutes a day on clean skin. You run the Zeno Line Rewind over your face and the vibrating device emits a warm beam of light. The red LED stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. In turn, your face feels firmer and smoother. Fine lines and wrinkles appear softer.

The Zeno Line Rewind is derm-approved and safe and effective for all skin types.

No, it isn't as great as a trip to the dermatologist's office for a genuine laser session. However, we will say, that the red LED technology in an at-home device is a good beauty breakthrough that can help prevent further new wrinkles from forming. And any product that encourages more collagen/elastin growth is fine by us.

If you can commit to a strict skin care routine with the Zeno Line Rewind, your complexion will thank you. If you're hoping to erase those deeper lines and sun damage, well, then a real laser procedure is your best bet.

But for just $40, this is a nice beauty device to have around.

Need A Nice New Neck Now? Botox Can Do It

A long, smooth, perfect neck.

Not easy to come by, unless you're the gorgeous woman in the photos, iconic model Iman. And at age 55, her neck still looks firm and smooth and youthful. Just lucky genes, diet, or other supermodel secrets?

If you're feeling lousy about your neck, and want to do something fast without all the downtime, you CAN avoid cosmetic surgery and smooth away those platysmal neck lines with a few injections of Botox cosmetic.

More and more dermatologists and plastic surgeons are offering their patients the quick fix. Results might not be as dramatic as a neck lift, but the bands in the neck can be relaxed effectively via the sting of the needle.

Experts say that a Botox neck procedure lasts about 4 months , and can cost anywhere from $300-$900, depending on how many injections are placed.

Remember to do your homework, and find a very good doctor. You need an experienced pro who knows exactly where to properly and carefully inject the Botox into the delicate neck region.

Green Eyeshadow Hot For Fall 2011: How To Wear It Like Jaime King

Green eyeshadow.

Many of you stay away from it, and stick to neutrals like brown or gray. It's not easy wearing a jewel-tone shadow like green. Let's be honest, green is BOLD. But sometimes, when it comes to beauty and fashion, it's okay to go strong.

Green is THE shadow for Fall 2011. So, maybe it's time you considered taking the leap. Check out model/actress Jaime King. She was already rockin' the trend at an InStyle dinner earlier this summer. Jaime is showing off an emerald eyeshadow she even matched to the bright green in her sexy Versace dress. Who says you should never match your eye makeup to your outfit?!

And even beautiful Jaime admits, it's not easy being green, so to speak. She said to InStyle magazine:

"The whole thing is just eye liner, which is a bold move. People are afraid to do it, but you've just got to go for it. I wanted to hit the trend of jewel tones."

You can wear the green eyeshadow trend just like Jaime. All you need is a great chubby crayon pencil to do the trick. We found one by NYX, the Jumbo Eye Pencil in Rocky Mountain Green ($4.50, at NYXcosmetics). This s a lovely emerald shade with a pearly finish. And the NYX Jumbo Pencil glides on nicely---no tugging. Its acts as an eyeliner or an eyeshadow. The blendability is fab. Resists creasing.

We think it's good to go green, in more ways than one!

How To Get Ashley Olsen-Inspired Nude Lips

Today we are looking at fashion mogul Ashley Olsen and her signature makeup style of soft, nude lips.

You often will see the petite, blonde beauty with strong smoky eyes and a natural, neutral lip color. It's a makeup balance that works out perfectly. And you, too, can achieve a similar sexy glamour.

Many women stay away from nude lipsticks because they don't want to appear washed out or cosmetically un-finished. Finding the correct nude shade is an art in itself, and takes practice hunting down a good match for one's skin tone.

Although we cannot tell you which neutral lipstick or gloss goes with your individual complexion, we can tell you one that looks Ashley Olsen-inspired. And that lipstick is from Boots No7:

1. Boots No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in Nude 15 ($9.99, at shopbootsusa.com. This is a nice, creamy neutral shade, and great for sensitive lips.

This is called cool glam and Ashley Olsen looks put-together. The makeup does not overwhelm her delicate features. We think she looks polished and pretty.

Don't BYOB Your Botox: Beware Of DIY Botox Kits!

Botox cosmetic. It still remains the number 1 injectable in the country. More than 11 million injections, and counting!

And we can understand why.....A few stings of the needle around your forehead and your crow's feet, and POOF! Wrinkles disappear for about 4 months. The cost varies, but generally, each wrinkle site you want treated, will run you anywhere from $300-$600.

Celebrity super dermatologist Frederick Brandt, says it's great stuff:
“Botox cosmetic has revolutionized our field,” Dr. Brandt says. “Botox is easy to administer, safe and effective, and not only reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, but also has the effect of preventing the future formation of wrinkles and fine lines if used appropriately.”

And that's the key word, 'appropriately.'. If you're not a licensed doctor, then please DO NOT do your own Botox!

Unfortunately, we heard on the news today, about the rise in DIY Botox Kits. The government was shutting down websites caught in the illegal sale of such kits a few years ago, but apparently, the need for a cheaper way to get rid of wrinkles is attracting a lot of
people, once again. And maybe the weakened economy has something to do with the desperate and ludicrous idea of self-injecting the beauty posion.

Maybe we didn't dig deep enough, but we couldn't find any DIY Botox kits out there on Ebay and beyond. We know these kits exist, and for a few hundred dollars, the customer gets a pack containing needles, saline to mix with the Botox powder and a face map showing where on the face to inject the drug.

We would hope, that no one reading this article, would be foolish enough to buy Botox without a prescription, because you don't know if you're getting the real stuff. And most importantly, we would hope no one would be crazy enough to try and inject some Botox into their own face.

We spoke to a dermatologist friend a few months ago, and she had indicated to us, that she had tried Botox for the first time. "Did you inject yourself?" we asked.

"No way," she laughed. "I had another derm do it for me."

There you have it. There's a lesson there for all of us.

Still Mad for Missoni Out Of Stock At Target? Try Ebay

Missoni.

The iconic label must speak volumes, because the luxurious Italian designs immediately SOLD OUT and crashed the website when Target stores debuted the famous zig-zag brand at budget-friendly prices.

If you wanted a Missoni for Target dress, pair of shoes, makeup brush set, or the stylish floppy brown hat, pictured above, well, you were out-of-luck!

But not to worry. Our old friends at Ebay have listed lots of Missoni for Target pieces from the new collection. You might have to pay $20 more on Ebay for a Missoni item, but if you REALLY want a well-made and affordable famous label, then, this is a good place to get your pickings.

We had no idea the Missoni for Target collection would sell out so fast on Tuesday, September 13th. But when you think about it, Target was offering most of the pieces for under $50 each.

Take a look at the Missoni for Target Floppy 100% Wool Hat. It was selling for $24.99 at Target. A super find for a HOT fall trend. But good luck hunting one down, until we tried Ebay. And we found this one, even cheaper than the Target store price!

We discovered the same Target for Missoni hat at a starting bid of $20 and FREE SHIPPING. Click here.

Now look at Kim Kardashian's brown floppy wool hat. Not a bad match, right?

We're not sure when Target stores will re-stock their new, wallet-friendly Missoni collection, but until that time, Ebay.com might be your best bet.

Good luck, and may the vibrant Missoni zig-zag pattern find it's way into your closet this fall.