How To Get Soft Kissable Lips And Support Breast Cancer

If you tend to ignore your lips in your daily beauty routine, and just slap some lip balm on, well, you're NOT doing enough.

Lips need TLC, and here is why:

Lips are thinner in skin structure, very sensitive, and lack protective oil glands.
Lips also 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.

Yes, lip balm is necessary and a good start. But there is more you can do to keep your lips soft and kissable. And we have found you a super lip scrub treatment with 20% of its proceeds going to the V Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness through the month of October.

But first, let's get to some Soft, Kissable Lips basics:

1. A toothbrush. You need one one of these as your key instrument for lip maintenance. No. We're not kidding. You must exfoliate as part of your daily and nightly routine. For instance, after brushing your teeth, take your wet toothbrush and gently brush your lips in a circular motion for several seconds. This brushing will loosen dead, chapped skin and give you smoother, softer lips..

2. Lip Treatment. And here is where our special lip scrub exfoliator takes the TLC one step further. We adore Sara Happ's Limited Edition Sparkling Pink Grapefruit Lip Scrub ($24, at b.glowing.com). And as we mentioned above, whenever you buy this yummy pink grapefruit lip scrub, you are helping fight the war on breast cancer.

You can find Sara Happ beauty products online and at many beauty stores and boutiques.

And this lip scrub is simple to use. Massage a generous amount over your lips with a firm, circular motion. You can even use the toothbrush to massage rather than your fingers. Then wipe away with a tissue. Say bye-bye dry, flaky skin and hello to the softest, most kissable lips around.

And now, go ahead and put your lip balm on.

How To Deal With Large Pores And Conceal Them

We have oily skin and unfortunately, large pores. And the two, usually go hand-in-hand.

What can you do about large pores?

You can effectively 'shrink' them through several beauty routines, but you CANNOT reduce large pores PERMANENTLY.

Genetics and the aging process have plenty to do with the size of your pores.

It's frustrating, indeed. We have seen some women with great skin who seemingly have NO pores. We want those tiny pores. But since our DNA didn't bless us in that department, we will show you how to fake smaller-looking pores.

1. Cleansing routine. When pores get clogged with oil and debris, pores are more noticable. You need to wash your face with a cleanser that goes deep. Try a glycolic acid or salicylic acid cleanser.

2. Skin care nightly routine. Try a retinol serum or its stronger prescription cousin Retin-A, before going to bed. The Vitamin A derivative tones down the greasiness and lifts the dirt from pores, while boosting collagen and elastin production. You get back healthier skin with less prominent pores.

3. Exfoliation routine. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion facials are excellent at shrinking the appearance of pore size. Your skin takes on a rosy glow as layers and layers of dead skin cells are removed through these treatments.

4. Primer/Corrector routine. Put a primer on BEFORE you apply foundation, and watch pores disappear. A primer evens out your complexion by providing a smooth layer for foundation to sit upon.

We also like Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector ($18, at beauty stores like Nordstrom's. This is a super corrector because it shrinks pores all day long and makes your complexion look flawless. You can wear it alone or even OVER your foundation as a finish.

Don't give up on makeup because you have large pores. Cosmetics like primer, corrector and foundation can conceal them effectively.

Mother And Grandmother Know Best: 3 Celebrity Natural Beauty Treatments That Work

"Mother knows best."

You've heard that one before, and most of the time, Mother IS right. And how about Grandmother?

When it comes to beauty, some of the best anti-aging secrets are passed down from generation to generation.

Today, we are looking at 3 celebrities with favorite natural beauty recipes they swear by. Let's take a look:


1. Padma Lakshmi, the India-born beauty and host of Bravo TV's 'Top Chef,' shares a great hair treatment she's passing along from her family.

To get glossy, healthy hair like Padma, pick up a bottle of this:

Jojoba Oil (Desert Essence JoJoba Oil, $14.99, at Desert Essence). This is the organic brand Padma uses.

"To fight flakes, I microwave a cup of this and massage it into my scalp. My grandmother used to do it on the stove," Padma explains.

2. Queen Latifah, the actress and Cover Girl model, maintains smooth, glowing skin with a familiar yellow box:

Baking Soda. It's a cheap, radiance booster. "Mix baking soda with water and use it on your face as an exfoliater. My grandmother gave me that tip," she says.

Queen Latifah is right. Baking soda is super at sloughing off dead skin cells and taming blackheads. Just make a gooey paste of it and apply to face in circular motion, and rinse off. Protects against pimples.

3. Liv Tyler, actress and new U.K. Pantene model, heads right to an old family favorite to keep her complexion clear and taut. The 34-year-old beauty sets her makeup with a quick spritz of rose water. Smart girl, because the mist has a firming effect on skin.

We spoke with a rose water expert and learned that Liv Tyler knows what she's doing:

"Rose water is very rich in flavonoids and vitamins, including A, C, D, E andB3," Dana Vasileva explains. "Rose water has anti-viral, antiseptic and disinfectant properties. It maintains the pH balance, and stimulates regeneration processes of the skin. It helps reduce wrinkles, fine lines and skin inflammation. It also has a calming effect on acne and sunburns. One bottle, all skin types, all ages."

3 wonderful natural beauty treatments. Thank you, Padma, Queen Latifah, and Liv!

Creamy Shiny New Colour Riche Le Gloss: J.Lo Wears It!

Do you actually care what J.Lo wears on her lips?!

Well, yes. She IS the most beautiful person in the world, according to People Magazine. So, sure, all eyes are on Jennifer Lopez these days. And because the sexy American Idol judge is one of the faces for L'Oreal cosmetics, we like to see the new makeup she puts on.

L'Oreal has recently launched their new Colour Riche Le Gloss. We are a fan of the Colour Riche lipstick, because it's creamy and has staying power and comes in a gazillion lipstick shades.

Le Gloss is available in 16 shades. And Jennifer Lopez wears Le Gloss in Golden Splash #159. We adore this lip color on her.

We like Colour Riche Le Gloss in Baby Blossom and Raspberry Splash. It's a high wattage gloss and sheer without the thick, sticky texture of some lip glosses. Plus, Le Gloss is creamy and rich in Vitamin E, argan oil, and omega 3. And at $7.99, it's a great buy. We found some at Ulta. And you can find L'Oreal beauty products at your favorite drugstore, too.

Apple Cider Or White: Vinegar Rinses Are Good For Healthy Hair

Maybe your grandmother or great-grandmother used to do vinegar rinses after shampooing the hair.

With so many hair conditioning treatments out there today, you probably haven't tried a cold blast of vinegar in the shower. And if you have, then you might know what it's like when the sting of vinegar hits your eyes accidentally.

Oh....the burn!

And yes, vinegar STINKS, but when you rinse the hair, the strong odor leaves the building, and you are left with a super clean scalp, no itchiness, and healthy, shiny strands of hair, free of the gunk and build-up from tons of styling product usage.

Apple cider vinegar appears to be most popular for rinsing hair following a shampoo. Users says it gives locks lots of body and bounce. And some swear, that a vinegar rinse helps hair GROW faster!

We prefer a white vinegar rinse, because we have learned that it also helps keep hair dye in longer. Yes, it DOES work, not perfectly, but better than not doing the rinse.

And it's so easy to do:

1.One-to-one ratio. That's the perfect vinegar cocktail to use after shampooing hair. Blend water and apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle. Apply to wet hair and rinse. The vinegar de-tangles hair nicely, too and closes the hair cuticle for bigger shine.

Do a vinegar rinse about once or twice a week.

Vinegar will balance the pH level in your scalp and effectively unclog the hair follicles.

To lock in hair color a little longer, do this:

1. AFTER coloring---Rinse out your newly-colored hair with lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Then mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water in a cup (about half a cup of each) and pour over your hair. Rinse thoroughly with cool-ish water.

This raises the pH level of the hair color and gives it more staying power.

Either way, give your tired hair a invigorating vinegar rinse. If that doesn't wake you up, we don't know what will.

Liv Tyler Tapped To Be New UK Pro-V Pantene Ambassador

Pantene. It's a brand that's been around for quite a long time, and with good reason---it's a wonderful hair care line. And we are so happy for actress Liv Tyler , who will begin appearing in television and print ads for Pantene in the U.K. come November 1st.

The brand is a launching a brand new ‘Repair and Protect’ collection for normal to thick hair.

Liv Tyler has gorgeous brunette locks, just like her daddy, rock icon and American Idol judge, Steven Tyler.

"I'm really excited about working with Pantene on this new project, especially as I did a Pantene ad back in 1996 when I was 19. I've tried lots of different hair care brands over the years, but Pantene is my favorite as it always leaves my hair looking and feeling really healthy."- Liv

Our Pantene favorites on this side of the pond include:

1. Pro-V-Fine Hair Solutions Shampoo, Flat to Volume ($6.99, at drugstores). Amazing body-building shampoo. Beefs up skinny strands. Smells so good!

2. Pro-V Fine Hair Style Root Lifter Spray Gel ($3.99, at drugstores). We preferred the original formula last year. Pantene changed it, but we still adore this volumizing spray gel. A lightweight spray made with special polymers that create big hair and shine.

Target Budget Buy: Open Cardigan Hot Sweater For Fall 2011

Take a look at your clothing catalogues....Boston Proper, Victoria's Secret, Banana Republic, etc. Inside those pages you will find lots of open cardigan sweaters.

And the prices can vary---from a $50 to several $$hundred more. But we found a super cute Open Cable Cardigan by Merona at your local Target store. And just $25on SALE. Your choice of color in Grey. Black. Tan. Or Cream. All classic neutrals that never go out of style, and match up beautifully with any color in the spectrum.

The Merona Open Cable Cardigan is nice and cozy for those brisk Autumn days and nights.

Sizing: Women Sizing with a Classic Fit
Knit Type: 2 x 2 Rib, Cable
Material: 53 % Cotton, 40 % Rayon, 7 % Nylon
Neckline Style: Open Neckline , Shawl Collar
Sleeve Style: Long Sleeves , Finished Cuffs
Garment Length: Below Waist
Hem Style: Finished Hems
Care and Cleaning: Machine Wash

We think this is a great fashion budget buy from Target, and looks just as stylish as the more expensive open cardigans you see in your favorite catalogues.