Retin-A And Thicker Eyebrows: Is There A Connection?

If you suffer from skinny eyebrows, you are not alone. It's a problem many women seem to be stuck with for life. Maybe we have a simple solution. But first, let's look at how we all got here.

Over-plucking and too much waxing are usually at the root of too thin brows. But also, reaching menopause or undergoing chemotherapy treatment can leave one with eyebrows that never appear to grow back in.

Let's be honest, fuller brows are more appealing. And professional makeup artists will tell you that skinny eyebrows are more aging on a woman.

And to make matters worse, it takes forever for a single eyebrow hair to grow. You will have to wait for about 2 months for a plucked brow to grow back, or 64 days to be more precise. And one more little tidbit, the length of time can be longer if the brow hair or hairs you want to grow back in, are in their resting phase. At any given moment, 90% of the hair on our bodies is in a resting phase where it stops growing, falls out, and then starts growing again.

So, be very careful not to remove too much hair when grooming eyebrows, because the follicles can be permanently damaged and you're left with skinny brows.

Our simple solution?

Retin-A cream. Yes...the SAME prescription stuff you use on your face and neck to soften fine lines and wrinkles. We have been a Retin-A user for about 4 years now.

We used to avoid rubbing the cream onto our eyebrows, until about 3 months ago. We had read that Retin-A cream encouraged hair growth, so we thought we'd take a chance.

And although we don't have Brooke Shields brows, growth is occuring, and our eyebrows are slowly getting thicker! We don't have to struggle with a brow pencil for so long. We still draw in a few hairs, but our brows are much better than before.

Retin-A is not a miracle, but it has helped our skinny eyebrows start to look like average brows once again. And for that, we are grateful. If you're looking for a solution, give this a try, especially, if you are already a Retin-A user.

All That Glitters Is Gold For Holiday Manicures: Think Metallic

At just $6 a bottle, you can't go wrong. And if you're looking to brighten up your New Year's Eve style, then all you need is a little gold....Gold Flash by American Apparel, that is.

Maybe it was reality star Lauren Conrad who started the mad dash for a set of golden tips, but whoever or whatever amped up this trend, we can tell you, that this inexpensive AA nail polish is now OUT of STOCK at the American Apparel factory. However, the silky Gold Flash is available at all AA retail stores, so get moving ASAP.

This isn't a tacky shade of gold or a chunky, glitter-y juvenile polish. American Apparel has put out a nice line of metallic nail polishes, and Gold Flash is perfect to ring in the new year.

All you need are 2 coats of this elegant lacquer to warm up your style. Plus, AA shades are manufactured right here in the USA, and are cruelty free, DBP, toluene and formaldehyde-free. In other words, kind to the environment.

A little gold goes a long way, and accessorizing your nails is a super way to shine on!

Effective At-Home Hair Removal Laser: Is There Such a Thing?

Maybe you didn't get exactly what you wanted for Christmas, but maybe you did score a fat wad of cash. So, let's go shopping for 2012!

Would you like to be permanently 'hair-free' in about 6 months?!

And would you prefer to stay at home, while you're zapping unwanted hair?

The TRIA Hair Removal Laser is the ONLY FDA-cleared laser that is designed to work in the comfort of your own home. Yes, permanent results in the privacy of your own home. And it's advertised as safe and effective as an in-office treatment.

The TRIA laser is a beauty investment at $395, plus FREE shipping.

But when you think about the time, effort, and money it takes to keep your legs stubble-free over a life-time, well, the TRIA Hair Removal Laser sounds like a smart beauty purchase, because the science behind it, is precise.

Let's see how you use the Tria gadget:

Step 1: Prepare
Thoroughly cleanse, shave, and towel-dry your skin. Then, unlock your laser with the skin sensor to make sure the laser is safe for your skin.
Step 2: Customize
Select the highest setting that suits your comfort level.
Step 3: Apply
Hold the hair removal laser tip on the skin and listen for the beep. With every beep, move the laser over the skin in one continuous "overlapping" motion. Repeat until you've treated the entire surface of the desired area.

Smaller areas, like your bikini line and underarms, take 10 to 15 minutes to treat. Upper and lower leg may each take up to 20 minutes. Continue laser treatments once every 2 weeks for up to 6 months, or until the hair stops growing back.

If you've heard anything about laser treatments, getting zapped by a laser feels like a rubber band snapping against your skin, or a warm, prickling sensation. But it isn't anything you can't handle. And we like the advertised results: NO more hair....permanently.

Double Duty Beauty With Goody Ponytailers

If you ever get your hair out of the way, and put it in a ponytail, then you should buy a package of these.

We love Goody's Doublewear 2in1 Ponytailers, just $5.99 for 3.

The cool thing about the Doublewear concept, is this:

The ponytailers also make for a sleek black bangle bracelet. Let's face it, how many times have you made a ponytail during the day, and then wanted to take your hair down, but didn't know where to put the elastic, since it didn't look so stylish around your wrist?

Well, the Goody Doublewear DOES look like pretty arm candy. These are made with trendy metallic charms that look great with any outfit, and are available in both Silver and Gold.

You can find them at Walgreens, Walmart, and Target.

Scarlett Johansson: A Makeup Girlie-Girl

Scarlett Johansson, the star of the new movie, 'We Bought a Zoo,' has been doing the publicity rounds to bring attention to the flick. So, all eyes have been on the 27-year-old beauty.

If you think that Scar-Jo, as she's called by the media, hits the streets without a stitch of makeup on and dresses down, you would be so wrong. She recently told InStyle magazine this:

"I always like to put a little bit of makeup on," Scarlett says. "I’m not the kind of person that just slops around in sweatpants. I like to feel a little more together — you never know who you’re going to see out there!"

Of course, when you've got such stunning bone structure like Scarlett has, then a little makeup makes her beauty pop in a big way. And her favorite, go-to cosmetic is bold lipstick:

"My absolute must-have is a really rich and vibrant red lipstick", she tells InStyle. "I always keep red lipstick in my bag because I never know when I might show up to an event and be completely underdressed. I feel like red lipstick is the cure-all for everything.".

Another beauty tip from the blonde actress has to do with a jar of honey. It's simple, old-school, and a bit messy, but it works:

A good, old-fashioned honey facial. "I use Manuka honey," Scarlett reveals. "You just warm your face so that your pores are open (you can steam your face right after getting out of the shower), and then you just take a spoon and apply the honey directly to your face and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes."

The result? "It really adds an amazing glow and your skin is so soft afterwards. It pulls out the impurities."

We found a jar of Manuka Honey, on sale at drugstore.com.

Thanks for the great beauty tips, Scarlett Johansson!

Need To Bring An Attractive Holiday Dish To The Party? We've Got One

Since Christmas is just around the corner, we thought we would talk about beauty food today. No moisturizers. No lip gloss. No eyeliner.

Let's talk 'orzo'.

Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that can be found in your neighborhood grocery aisle. It is used in many Mediterranean recipes. It's low in fat with zero cholesterol. It's higher in carbs, but hey, it's not too bad. Plus, it has a wonderful chewy texture and somewhat nutty taste.

And if you're bringing a holiday dish to the party, but don't know what in the world to bring, we are sharing our favorite orzo recipe with you. Bring this dish and you'll be a star!

GREEK ORZO SALAD:

1 cup orzo
6 Tbsp. olive oil
5 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
salt, to taste
ground pepper, to taste
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. dried dill
garlic powder, to taste
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 small red onion, finely diced
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 English cucumber, diced
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
12 Kalamata olives , halved and pitted
6 oz. feta cheese

Cook orzo to box directions. Drain and rinse under cold water, and place in 2-quart serving dish. Toss with 1 Tbsp. of the oil.

Whisk together remaining olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano and parsley, dill and garlic powder. Pour over orzo. Then toss in the onion, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, green pepper and olives with orzo mixture. Stir well. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the top. Cover and chill for at least 2 hrs. Serves 8.

Enjoy! Yumm-o!! Colorful and tasty for a holiday feast.

An Eye Cream That Feels Like Velvet? Exuviance Has One

Eye cream.

Up until several years ago, we rarely used such a product. But, boy oh boy, were we wrong.

Yes, an eye cream should be right front and center in your daily/nightly beauty routine. At least that is what smart dermatologists say. And there are tons of eye creams out there, that claim to do a multitude of wonderful things for your eyes.

As we have stressed here at BeautyTip Today, over and over again, the skin around the eyes is thin and dry, and quite delicate. The eye area shows aging very quickly, unfortunately. But eye creams have come a long way and the beauty science is much stronger. Now there are formulas that lift, tighten, and help to fade or soften existing fine lines and wrinkles, and de-puff tired undereyes.

We have one eye cream that can perform all that and more:

Exuviance Age Reverse Eye Contour ($72, at NeoStrata.com).

Maybe not the cheapest eye cream on the market, but a wise investment, for sure. This ia a superb eye cream. We have enjoyed using this product, thanks to the folks at NeoStrata. And we must say, the Exuviance Age Reverse Eye Contour feels like velvet. Your eye area becomes soft and smooth, and those pesky fine lines and wrinkles become less pronounced. And there is a nice definition to the entire eye area.

Bye-bye bags and sags.

So, what's in the Eye Contour cream:

Peptides help replace collagen and firm skin around the eye area, targeting droopiness and sagging.
Maltobionic Acid/ PHA(Polyhydroxy Acids) alleviates appearance of crow's feet.
Fortifies skin's protective barrier.
Caffeine deflates puffiness around the eyes.
Botanicals refresh and soothe.
Optical diffusers brighten and illuminate.

We have very sensitive eyes, but we are happy to state, that the Exuviance Age Reverse line is very gentle. You will not end up with red, itchy eyes.

The NeoStrata company is widely-respected around the globe, so you know that the beauty products you are buying, have the science to back them up.