Paper Facial Masks: Asian Beauty Trend To Hit Sephora Stores In 2012

Paper facial masks.

Hmmm. We like to believe that we are up on all the best beauty and skin care science out there, but this one, clearly got away from us.

Paper facial masks are big in Asia, and now that trend is headed our way. Sephora stores will begin launching these single-use facial masks in March.

It reminds us of papier mache, the fun school craft we excelled at, where thin strips of paper are dipped into a flour/water glue paste and applied to a balloon, for example, as the base of the project you are making.

Paper facial masks are much less complicated. These individually-sized facial packets are friendly to the environment---made of bio-degradable ingredients, like cellulose, silk, bamboo fibers, or thin paper.

And just like a clay mask, you put it on and relax for about 20 minutes. After that, just peel the paper mask off. Then toss it away.

Korea is known for its great paper masks. And these instant beauty fixers are cheap over there---some as low as $1.00 each.

We did a little digging online and found a few shopping beauty sites offering paper facial masks, including popular Sasa.com. Some were quite inexpensive---just $2.00!

We also found a popular paper facial mask brand in Vancouver called, MyFaceWorks at Zuneta.com. From rose water to aloe vera, there's a paper facial mask for you, each one infused with effective anti-oxidants to give your complexion a firm lift and healthy glow.

BeautyTipToday will keep a sharp eye out for the Sephora launch this March. We are intrigued by the entire paper mask concept.

Let's Walk In 2012! Add A Vest And Melt Even More Pounds

You don't need special training to walk. As health/wellness expert, Jillian Michaels says:

"Walk! You can do it anyplace, anytime.".

Jillian's right, ladies. Happy New Year! Let's walk in 2012!

Walking is a super easy, inexpensive form of exercise. And it does a body GOOD, says Dr. Craig Williams a sports science lecturer at the University of Exeter in England. He told the British UKDailyMail.com this:

"It can improve muscle endurance as well as muscle strength, especially in the lower body.
"It is good for bones and improves the body's cardiovascular system. It also helps boost circulation.
"Power-walking - keeping a brisk pace at moderate to high intensity - can burn the same amount of calories as jogging or running. So it is useful for helping with weight loss.".

And, he adds: "Because it is low-impact, it does not have the same potential for injury as jogging. Yet it can offer all the benefits.".

You can also add this little article of clothing to your walking work-out----a vest, and watch pounds melt away quickly.

The Walkvest. It's a brilliant idea---weights are placed in the vest to help the wearer drop pounds. TV star Valerie Bertinelli wore a Walkvest while on the Jenny Craig diet plan to melt away even more lbs and to tone up.

The Walkvest costs just under $70, but then again, what a smart investment for the new year.

Walk on!

Root Touch-Up In A Spray Can? Is It A Perfect Match?

Let's be honest.....Millions of women do color at home, at least once in a while. It's expensive to have your hair dyed in a salon. We would agree with the experts however, that a pro handling your locks will always do a better job. But when it comes to those annoying gray roots that pop up over and over again, well, sometimes you have to take charge fast!

Today, we are looking at root touch-up in a spray can.

Don't laugh. There are a few celebrity stylists who have introduced the same concept under their own brand at a much higher pricetag.

We've found a cheaper version called, Gray Away. Nope, haven't tried this one yet, but we would give it a few spritzes.

Gray Away is not a dye. There is NO ammonia, NO peroxide. It is actually a color powder cosmetic made from mineral-derived pigments and emollients. And it lasts until your next shampoo.

Gray Away sells for $19.99 for 2 cans. It sounds like a lot of money, but there are about 40 touch-ups per can.

There are 4 shades to choose from that cover a range of colors:
Blonde.
Auburn.
Light Brown.
Black/Brown.

Gray Away guarantees that their specially developed color-match formula WILL blend in with YOUR unique hair shade perfectly.

Has anyone tried this hair product?

We are ready to spray away the gray in the New Year!

Sofia Bubbly In A Can: Elegance And Beauty With A Sipping Straw

Have you ever thought of ringing in the New Year with bubbly in a can?!

Don't laugh. This is so true. Sparkling wine in just the right size (6.32 oz.).

It's called Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs ($5 per can) by Francis Coppola Winery of California. You know the famous movie stardom last name and you definitely know of the equally stylish Sofia Coppola. And as the story goes....."When his daughter was a little girl, Francis Coppola made her a promise that he would someday make a sparkling wine and name it after her."

We love these super cute single-serving cans of bubbly. You can pick them up in 4-packs. What an adorable hostess gift or New Year's gift for someone special.

We found some at Whole Foods store. And each can of Sofia Mini comes with its own sipping straw. How classy is that?

One Sofia Mini contains 11.5% alcohol.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Sofia Blanc de Blancs is a unique blend of Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Muscat. Think of it as a delicate sparkling wine elegant for any celebration, even with a simple plate of fried chicken. It features seductive sweet flavors packaged with a feminine, pink flair.

TASTING NOTES
Sofia Blanc de Blancs offers up tender aromas of pears, peaches, and tangerines along with a layer of honeysuckle. Light and elegant on the palate with fruity hints of pineapple, quince, and green apples.

To learn more about beautiful Sofia bubbly in a can, click here.

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.