D.I.Y. 5 Minute Gel-Color Manicure From Drugstore

Who doesn't like the patent leather shine that comes from a gel manicure?!

But the brilliant nail dazzle also comes with a warning label--- that some gel manicures done in a salon can pose the risk of nerve damage.

The culprit is the chemical compounds some salons have used. These toxic, harmful mixtures in gel manicures include ethyl methacrylate or methyl methacrylate. Such chemicals can seep through the skin of the scuffed fingertips(after filing) and can cause irritation, swelling, and yes, nerve damage.

Scary enough.

But if you still desire the gorgeous mega-watt shine of a gel manicure without the possiblity of injury to your fingers, we've got a great new Do It Yourself product for you to try. And it's SAFE!

It's called, Gel Perfect, UV-Free Gel-Color by Nutra Nail, and you can pick it up at your local drugstore for $11.49 a bottle. We like it, because it only takes 5 minutes to dry, and you still get that beautiful patent leather shine. Plus, Gel Perfect comes in 12 fab shades.

The application process is different from a regular nail polish. And the Nutra Nail company has provided a good step-by-step guide on how to do a gel manicure with a YouTube demo, too.

Is Kim K's 'Kopy-Kat' Wedding Gown Bad Luck For Brides-To-Be?!

Come February, David's Bridal stores will be launching the Kim Kardashian wedding gown replicas by Vera Wang.

Now, every gal can look just like a Kim K fairytale princess on her big day.

Or.....considering her nuptials lasted merely 72 days, would a 'kopy-kat' Kardashian wedding gown spell bad luck for brides-to-be all around?

Hmmm. Even designer Vera Wang didn't see this one coming, and word has it, that she can't stop the sewing machines, because the Kim K replica gowns for David's Bridal are already deep into production.

Kim filed for divorce from her NBA groom Kris Humphries on Monday, following a multi-million $$$ over-the-top wedding/celebration on August 20th.

Would you wear a Kim K wedding gown? Or is the dress cursed?

Does the divorce affect the Vera Wang brand?

We don't think so.

Let's be honest.....Vera Wang designed 3 gorgeous couture gowns for the reality TV star's big day...From the tulle ball gown to the curvy mermaid gown, to the Old Hollywood v-neck satin gown, all of Kim Kardashian's dresses were stunning. And the Kim K-inspired collection for David's Bridal stores will be just as lovely, because Vera Wang is involved. And by the way, each Kim K replica gown will sell for under $1,600.

We believe that Kim K's fan base is still strong and growing, and we are guessing that her 'kopy-kat wedding dresses will be flying off the shelves at David's Bridal come February.

Hollywood fairytale weddings don't usually last forever, and when a bride-to-be has her eye on a certain gown, watch out! A bride wants what a bride wants. And so many young women want what Kim K has, from her black eyeliner down to her stiletto heels.

The reality TV star is a superb marketing machine, and trust us, all will be forgiven in a few more weeks.

Top News Anchors Go Sleeveless Year Round: How To Get Those Arms!

Is it just us, or have all the top news anchors gone sleeveless-crazy lately?

It doesn't matter if the snow is falling or the tornado-is-a-coming, news anchors and entertainment anchors are delivering the facts with bare, toned arms all-year-round.

We've come to the conclusion, that bare arms on a woman, can make some people uncomfortable. Why, we can't figure out. Remember when First lady Michelle Obama had her official White House photographs taken in a sleeveless dress? Some observers went ballistic----'How inappropriate!" some sneered.

We've noticed that more and more top anchors in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond, are baring their arms, and not only during the hot summer months. Check out Good Morning America with Robin Roberts and Lara Spencer showing off toned triceps and biceps a few times a week in raw autumn weather. And Fox News' anchors also going sleeveless whenever the camera is turned on them, including Megyn Fox, Jeanine Pirro, and a parade of others.

Do you like the bare arm look all-year-round?

You, too, CAN show off your feminine guns with a weekly exercise routine. You have to keep up with a regular work-out schedule to get away with the bare arm look, but it can be done, and you don't need to lift any heavy artillery.

It's all in the trcieps, ladies, according to womensrealfitness.com:

"The triceps are probably the most important muscle to develop when you want to achieve firm toned arms. The reason for this is that the tricep muscle takes up 2/3 of the arm. If it is underdeveloped it looks wobbly and soft but when it is firm and lean it makes the whole arm look that way."

Jade Alexis, who has trained Alicia Keys, came up with this boxing-inspired exercise that you can do at the office when you have a few spare moments.

"Sit upright in a chair with feet flat on the floor," Jade explains. "Hold dumbbells with your hands under your chin and slowly punch out at an angle across the body." Do at least 100 punches. You will develop 'knockout triceps, biceps, and shoulders.'

Permanent Color Damages Hair And Yet 75% Of Us Keep Dyeing

Maybe you don't care about the science behind coloring your hair. But when you take a look at the damage that permanent dye can leave behind, well, it's smart to examine the chemistry that's involved.

If 75% of women color their locks, that's a huge number. And most of us, come away with some kind of damage, be it dry, dull tresses, split ends, brassy strands, hair loss, and so on.

We dye our hair with permanent color, because we are a victim of early graying, so we've been touching up our roots forever. And although we have what we call almost Kardashian-colored hair, we can STILL see damage on very dark hair.

Whether you color at-home or visit a professional salon, your mane will suffer the consequences, and yet, we all keep dyeing.

Let's look at permanent color:

1. Peroxide and ammonia are present in permanent color. Ammonia goes first, by allowing the cuticle of the hair shaft to open, to accept the dye. Peroxide acts as the oxidizing agent, removing the pre-existing color, and allowing the new color to bond to the hair cortex.

2. Conditioner is applied after rinsing out the dye, to close the cuticle, and seal in the new color.

3. Lightening. That's another chapter in the hair coloring process, and even more complicated. When you want to really lighten up several levels, you turn to bleaching. Hydrogen peroxide is usually involved as one of the most common lightening agents. Peroxide blended in an alkaline solution allows the hair shaft to open and then react with the melanin in the hair for the blonde shade one is trying to achieve.

Simply put, permanent coloring and bleaching do a number on the hair. The cuticle is roughed up. Strands are weaker. And locks are drier.

Your hair needs more TLC. That means frequent trimmings. Lots of conditioner. And less reliance on damaging hair tools like blow-dryers, flat-irons, hot rollers, etc.

If you can't afford a trip to the salon for frequent coloring or lightening, you can try a special at-home hair color kit by Robert Craig. Allure Magazine has named him, "one of the country’s top hair color artists."

It's called, Color by Robert Craig ($12, a box). And his PERMANENT dyes DO NOT change the internal structure of the hair like peroxide dyes do.

And it’s simple. Mix Color by Robert Craig with tap water. Shake. And you get a no-mess mousse, that is easy to apply. Zap your grays-- choose from 21 luscious shades---Golden Blonde, Medium Mahogany, Chocolate Brown, or Jet Black. These are just a few radiant shades offered by Color by Robert Craig. There are 21 inter-mixable shades available. His color will not lighten your hair, but he also sells an ‘Ultra Blonde Highlight Kit.’ It contains a very gentle approach to highlighting with ‘off-the-scalp’ blonding. It’s great for bleaching, highlighting, frosting, and streaking. What’s even more comforting, you can color, even if your hair is permed or chemically treated.

It's worth checking out. Details here.

Don't Fear The Foundation Brush: It's A Good Thing

Are you afraid of the foundation brush?!

You are not alone. We would like to estimate, that most women are probably fearful of using a makeup tool they've never tried, or a makeup product or makeup technique they've never approached.

And this time, we're looking at the foundation brush.

Oh yeah, there is such a thing. For us, we've been a liquid foundation wearer all these years, and routinely, we have put on our base each morning with our fingers and then smoothed over with a makeup sponge.

But when it comes to flawless application, makeup brushes can really do the trick, especially for foundation. The bristles are short and dense for easy buffing.

You can use the foundation brush in a couple of ways. You can either dot your forehead, chin, cheeks and nose with foundation using your fingers first, and THEN, using the brush.

OR....You can dip the brush into the bottle of liquid makeup and THEN apply right to the face.

Either way is fine. Start at the center of your face and move outward. Use the foundation brush with short, circular strokes, around your face, as you blend and buff the foundation into your skin for a smooth, even finish.

Here are 3 Great Foundation Brushes we like:

1. Mac 187 Duo Fibre Brush ($42, at macys).

2. Black Up Foundation Brush ($32, at blackupcosmetics).

3. Sephora Collection Pro Foundation Airbrush #55 ($34, at Sephora).

Just a little reminder: When you use any kind of makeup brush, you must be mindful to wash it 1X a week. Use baby shampoo to gently get rid of grime and bacteria. Dry the brush flat on a paper towel and store the brush upright in an open container.

Dry Spray Shampoo Comes In Handy During Real Crisis

We briefly mentioned yesterday, about New England getting socked hard in the weather department, following a rare and historic October Nor'easter.

About 70% of our city, alone, remains without power.

When a weather-related crisis hits, and you're left with no electricity and in some cases, no water, well, you've got to be extra clever in your beauty routine.

Today, we are looking at one rescue me hair product by John Frieda, one of our all-time favorite hair geniuses.

This blue spray can should be in every gal's beauty cabinet:

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher ($5.59, at drugstore.com ). It's a super dry spray shampoo. You don't need to wash your hair. You don't need a blow dryer, either. Simply spray onto roots, let dry, and fluff up with fingers. You get instant volume for your flat, oily, lackluster locks. And your hair smells delightful.

There are tons of dry shampoos out there. And most come with a white powdery base that seems to never fully disappear, even when you try brushing it out. With the Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher, all you need are about 4 quick blasts at the roots, and you're good to go.

You will get back the volume and your mane will look fresh and full, plus, you didn't have to go through the lengthy process of shampooing and blow-drying.

Dry shampoos are no secret to the professional stylists out there. Many use these spray shampoos to give their model/actress clients a lot of body and grip. You get instant, buildable texture with a great dry shampoo.

There are days, you just can't get the time to shampoo and blow-dry. And whether it's because of a weather-related crisis and your power has been lost, or you're just to busy to do your hair, give this latest John Frieda product a try.

You can even carry a can of it in your handbag. And you can apply it on the go, in a rush, anywhere.

Big Bad Storm: No Beauty Tip Today

We hope everyone is safe, following one of the nastiest, and for New England, an historic Nor'easter in the month of October.

Too much snow, too many broken tree limbs, and too many downed wires ate up most of our time today.

We hope to bring you more Beauty Tip Today tomorrow.

Thank you.