Time To Add A Piece Of Cool Cowgirl Chic To Fall 2011 Wardrobe

Designer Ralph Lauren is brilliant at cool cowgirl chic. No one does it better, in our opinion. Some suede, a little fringe, an armful of silver bangle bracelets, a blast of turquoise,a few chunky knits and you're riding the trend.

You don't want to over-dose on the classic boho prairie style, but you CAN add one great cowgirl piece to your wardrobe this fall:

A chic fringed bag. We found a budget-friendly one at American Eagle Outfitters (top photo). Just $39.50 in the right earth-tone shade of tan! Gotta love that!

Okay, so it's not real leather like the Ralph Lauren Collection fringe bag Kate Hudson has been toting around all year. But the AEO Fringed Bag is still super stylish and looks great:

Faux pebbled leather
• Hobo silhouette
• Long layer of fringe
• Adjustable shoulder strap
• Top-zip closure
• Interior zip and patch pockets
• Fully lined
• 13"L x 11.5"H x 3.5"D

We adore the color, too. AEO describes their fringed bag as tan. We say it looks more like a saddle shade. Either way, this earth-tone works as a classic. Read on what designer Michael Kors says about these neutral shades:

"Saddle-colored leather, bags, shoes, and belts are great neutrals that get better with age, and will work year-round, with every color and texture in your closet."

Great fashion tip, Michael Kors!

Taste Ain't Great But Colgate's New Optic White Really Brightens Teeth

Let's get to the bad news first:

The taste isn't great. In fact, it's almost like brushing with a mouthwash paste, if you will.

But we will say that Colgate's new Optic White toothpaste is a keeper! Every gal should have a couple of tubes of this in her bathroom.

Why? Because this toothpaste DOES brighten teeth while using a whitening strips formula.

This is how the folks at Colgate explain the benefits of using new Optic White:

"NEW Colgate® Optic White™ uses a unique technology with hydrogen peroxide to make it easier to achieve visible whitening every day. You will start seeing whiter teeth in just one week! And even better results week after week.".

And there's more great news:

"For the first time, our scientists were able to develop a hydrogen peroxide formula that does not require a dual-chamber dispensing method. Not only that, but the formula also helps remove surface stains and offers cavity protection, fresh breath and plaque removal with regular brushing," says Colgate.

This is safe for everyday brushing. In fact, it is suggested to use the Optic White 2X times a day.

By the way, Colgate did not send us a FREE tube. We were curious and bought our own Optic White at Walgreens yesterday. Our teeth are white to begin with, but as we like to say, "Still not WHITE enough!"

We have used the toothpaste on three occasions, so far. And we really like new Optic White. We can get past the not good minty taste. The formula produces a decent foam and cleans our teeth nicely. Plus, the paste is gentle to gums and teeth. We only noticed a mild burning sensation to our lips. Go figure.

We think our teeth DO look brighter and whiter, and we haven't even used the paste for a full week.

You can pick up a tube of Colgate's Optic White at drugstores and Target and Walmart stores. Online, we found a tube at drugstore.com for $4.29. Only problem there, the Optic White is already sold out! A new supply is arriving in 1-2 weeks.

Chilean Rainforest Honey: The New Sticky Smart Way To Rejuvenate Skin

Hey honey, could you please pass us the honey? Er, actually, pass us the Chilean Rainforest Honey.

This one really caught us off guard. We love eating honey. Who doesn't?

But did you know, that honey from the rainforest in Chile is being touted as the next great, sticky, but smart way to rejuvenate skin?!

For the optimal benefits, you apply the honey to your face as a mask. Yes, it's thick and messy, to say the least.

Just smear it on 2x a day for about 20 minutes, then rinse off. It might take you a while to get the delicious Winnie-the-Pooh sweetness off your skin. But the results are wonderful! Fans of Chilean Rainforest Honey swear by this product to get back, firmer, smoother, clearer complexions.

So, is there any truth to this special honey? Could this sticky sweet serum really turn back the clock? It's all the buzz over in the U.K..

For centuries, people around the globe have used honey for its medicinal properties, including its power in healing wounds and its anti-septic strength.

Then, why not apply from a regular jar of honey you find at the supermarket?

The 'regular' honey is pasteurized, while honey from the Chilean rainforest is raw and FREE of pollutants. And the Chilean product contains enzymes, which appear effective at breaking down scar tissue and making wrinkled and sun-damaged skin more elastic.

And let's take this one step further:

Not all Chilean Rainforest Honey is the same, however. The Active Honey Co. will tell you this:

"Not all honeys are active even though they claim to be. Therefore it is essential that you choose a honey that has been tested to show it has bioactivity. Rainforest and Antiseptic Honey have been tested in an independent laboratory and have been found to have antiseptic properties. This activity is due to the peroxide activity of the honey which is totally unique and not seen in any other honey.

The activity factor (ie 10+) is a rating that is given by the laboratory depending on its antiseptic ability. The higher the number, the more active and therapeutic the honey is.".

Active Chilean Rainforest Honey is very yummy, indeed. The company raves about its unique blend of aniseed, jasmine, vanilla and cloves and a subtle taste of caramel and toffee. So, of course, you can enjoy eating it, too.

The Active Honey Company's strongest honey is the RAINFOREST HONEY ACTIVE 40 (49.99 British pounds or $77.50 in US dollars).

For more details, check out their website.

Maybe your grandmother or great grandmother believed in applying a honey mask for nice, taut skin. And maybe she was right all along. The Chilean Rainforest Honey offers the same great beautiful skin benefits at an accelerated speed in the rawest, purest form found in nature.

How sweet is that?!

Exuviance Intensive Eye Treatment Pads: For Perfect Peepers

Your eyes need special care and special skin care products. If you think you can skimp on the eye care beauty routine........think again.

The skin around the eye area is thin, delicate, and drier. And when your eyes aren't getting the TLC they need, like moisture and strong anti-oxidants, you look tired and older.

That's why Exuviance has a super solution that refreshes, firms, and tones down the crow's feet. It's called Intensive Eye Treatment Pads ($22, for 4 applications), and worth every penny.

Remember the old TV commercial for the bubble bath, 'Calgon-----Take me away!'. Well, that's how you will feel, too. These Exiviance eye treatment pads let you relax and enoy a little 'me' time. This is the ultimate in eye care rejuvenation.

And we like the results---firmer, softer skin around the eyes, thanks to the gentle and effective Lactobionic acid formula.

So easy to use, too.

1. Cleanse and dry the area thoroughly.
2. Open the pouch and remove both eye pads.
3. Place one pad under or around the eye area, and smooth it onto the skin. Apply the second pad to the other eye area.
4. Now relax for 10-30 minutes.
5. Remove both eye pads and toss out. Smooth any excess solution into skin.

These Exuviance Intensive Eye Treatment Pads sound great for a big night out, when you have time to give your peepers some much needed TLC. And the pads are also nice to use before bedtime, so you awake to a brighter, more refreshed set of eyes.

The price for an eye treatment always seems to cost a bit more, but you are getting a product that is made specifically to battle the fine lines in the eye area, and as we keep reminding you, it's the toughest area to keep youthful. So let's remember today: All eyes need tender loving care.

For details, click here.

Applying Eye Shadow Under The Lower Lashes Takes Practice And Primer

The runway models always look amazing. And their makeup always appears perfect. Look at her, from an Oscar de la Renta show.

We LOVE her eye makeup, especially the gorgeous eyeshadow UNDER the lower lashes of the eyes. Not an easy makeup application to copy.

Of course, the model has a great professional makeup artist nearby. Not fair.

But there is a way to smudge some shadow UNDER the eyes without looking like a woman who's had a rough night.

We'll never forget when iconic model Cindy Crawford made an appearance years ago on the Late Show with David Letterman, it was actually back in 1996, and he poked fun at her heavy, dark under eye shadow, asking her who gave her the black eyes.

Ouch!

Cindy was said to be totally embarrassed and allegedly went home crying after the show.

Before you put on your eye shadow, you should prime the eye area with a good primer.

The beauty of a primer is its perfection at filling in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish BEFORE putting on foundation. Most primer fans love to create as smooth a complexion as they can, so that the next layer, that of foundation, glides over easily. And then when adding eye shadows and eyeliners, the primer prevents the eye makeup from heading south during the night. Colors adhere better with a primer.

We have found that darker shadows are more difficult to apply UNDER the lower lashes. The runway model in the photo is wearing green shadow. Trying to achieve the same look with a deep brown shadow, for instance, takes a steady and lighter hand.

You can try the new pointed Q-tips and dip one into your shadow and apply a thin line under the lashes.

You can also try a soft, angled eyeliner brush and apply the shadowas close to the lashes as possible, and smudge it.

Model Jaime King likes to use a jumbo eyeliner pencil as an eye shadow for both top and bottom lashes.

Good luck. We said it isn't easy.

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.