Balenciaga Runway Shows Bold Black-Cherry Lips In Spring 2012

Many wonderful trends come off the runways each season, and although we shouldn't copy EVERTHING we see on the catwalk, this is one little beauty tip we think you will like:

Black cherry lips. All glossed up.

Fashion and beauty editors were going ga-gag over the dark, sexy mouths that ruled the Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton 2012 spring runways. You couldn't help but notice the striking lip color sitting pretty beneath the low-sloping hats of the Balenciaga show and boldly standing out on the Louis Vuitton models.

Celebrated makeup artist Pat McGrath tells Vogue magazine about the strong black-cherry lips trend she started, "It was about about power."

And you can get the runway look here, too. Pat gives out the details:

1. Layer CoverGirl Queen Collection Lipstick in Fine Wine($6.99) OVER CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipstick in Euphoria($6.99).

Okay, so black-cherry lips aren't for the shy gals, but think of the shade as a great Spring 2012 accessory. Like a gorgeous pair of shoes, you don't need much else.

New Clearasil Pimple-Fighting Dispenser Doles Out Right Amount Of Cleanser

Clearasil has been around for a long time. Back in the day, it was the ONLY acne-clearing cream available in some drugstores. We liked putting on the invisible lotion. And then there was the tinted formula, too.

The Clearasil company is still on a roll all these years. And their newest pimple-fighting idea comes in the way of a battery-operated automatic face-wash dispenser (with refills). It's pretty clever, considering the space-saving bathroom contraption knows exactly how much Clearasil face wash to hand over to you---and that is, in nickel-sized spurts.

So, you might ask----Who needs a $20 gizmo to squirt out their own face wash? Duh....Can't you do it yourself?

Yes, you can. However, the Clearasil PerfectWash Automatic Face Wash Dispenser doles out the 'perfect' amount, because the company knows that most of us use TOO much cleanser in an effort to really mop up the pimples, and when we do that, well, you get red, irritated, too-dry skin.

Clearasil explains it like this:

Touch-free automatic dispenser delivers the perfect dose for visibly clearer skin without overdrying
Visibly clearer skin in as little as 12 hours
Ultra Rapid Action face wash acne medication gives you visibly clearer skin in as little as 12 hours
Pack includes 2 clearasil ultra rapid action refills; Soothing plant extracts and superfruit splash
Pack includes 3 Alkaline AA batteries.

We took a look at Amazon.com and most of the 39 reviews we read, seem to favor the PerfectaWash Automatic Face Wash Dispenser. Click here.

Customers gave the new Clearasil acne-fighting gadget 4 out of 5 stars. Not bad.

Suzanne Somers: Plastic Surgery Pioneer Or Just Fearful Of Aging?

Suzanne Somers.

You're either gonna love this woman or hate her. But first, let's remind everyone she IS 65-years-young.

And we have to admit, she looks pretty darn good. And yes, we know she's had a lot of work done, but she's also trying to carve a path for other women when it comes to cutting edge beauty/health science.

Still, there are critics....plenty of them, quick to label Suzanne Somers a kooky senior citizen who won't accept that her celebrated body and face can NOT stop the aging process.

Well, maybe she has stopped something, and opened a door to more options for women, when it has to do with breasts and body image.

Last year, there were rumors going around that the star had undergone a stem-cell facelift because she had talked about wanting to have one in the future, plus her face had suddenly taken on a very full, puffy appearance. She has not admitted to the procedure that we know of, but has just admitted to stem-cell surgery on her breasts.

According to People magazine, Suzanne Somers recently underwent an experimental procedure to reconstruct her breasts using her OWN stem-cells. She says her breasts were uneven in size, following breast cancer 12 years ago, where she had a lumpectomy and radiation.

"I thought they'd take a quarter's worth," she says. "But the whole bottom half of my breast was gone."

Six weeks of radiation "left what breast I had flatter and flatter. I had a Double D on one side and on the other side I could hardly fill a B."

Suzanne turned to this man, Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura, a Japanese surgeon who developed stem-cell breast reconstruction in 2004. He agreed to do the expensive surgery here in the U.S..

A mixture of her fat and stem-cells was injected back into her right breast until it filled a C cup. Suzanne then had her left breast reduced from a DD to match.

People noted, "The 2½-hour process costs between $14,500 and $19,500 and insurance chips in if the surgery is a reconstruction".

Suzanne Somers has gone one step further, and we think it is a major stride:

Last August, she helped introduce a clinical trial, which has been approved by an independent medical board. And Suzanne was the first patient to participate.

So far, 10 more patients have been accepted to the trial, which is taking place at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center.

What do you think? Is Suzanne Somers a plastic surgery pioneer? Or just a woman fearful of aging?

New Master Precise Ink Pen Draws On Best Cat Eye

Meow if you like cat-eyes!

EyeStudio by Maybelline is calling their brand new Master Precise Ink Pen the 'Next Generation of Liquid Liner.' And we believe them.

Once again, the makeup experts have designed an eyeliner in the easy-to-handle shape of a felt tip pen. But the beauty of the Master Precise Ink Pen is in its uber skinny point. We're talking about an 'ultra-tin 0.4mm brush.'

The felt-tip reminds us of pen & ink used for artwork. So fine-pointed for accuracy.

With a point so thin, you need not worry about messing up too much. You won't get an excess of liquid liner leaking out and fudging up your smooth even lines around the delicate eye area.

Look, we can't live without eyeliner. And trust us, over the years, we have tried most of them, except for cake liner. And applying liquid liner is one of the darn trickiest makeup routines to do, day in and day out. Plus, if you want to wing the liner upward and outward into a sexy, glam cat eye, you've got to have precision and a steady hand. And this new EyeStudio liquid liner felt tip pen makes the application process much easier.

And Maybelline is also raving about the 'super-saturated ink pigments' in their new Master Precise pens. In other words, the fine, felt tip doesn't dry out or skip a beat.

We found the liner at ULTA for $7.99, and so far, the product has received a 4 out of 5 star rating.

Bothered By Tiny Broken Blood Vessels? There's A Laser For That

Laser.

It's a cosmetic treatment that can do tons of beautiful things for your face and body. A laser can boost one's self-esteem with a zap here and a zap there. And after 3 sessions, POOF! They're gone!

Today, we are looking at the vascular laser and how it can zap away bothersome broken capillaries, red spots, and even port wine stains.

Maybe you have a few tiny, broken blood vessels. In all honesty, we have enough to spare. Most upsetting to us, are a few around our cheeks/nose area. By faithfully applying Retin-A to our skin, we have noticed a 'calming down' and softening of these reddish lines on the left side of our face. But on the right side, the broken vessels are more prominent.

We have not submitted our complexion up to a vascular laser yet, but we are considering the procedure, and here, we can learn together.

A vascular laser is a pulse-dye laser that zeroes in on the redness of the skin, vaporizing the tiny broken blood vessels and the red pigmentation.

Vascular laser treatment is a little investment, but a sound one, we think. The cost will vary with the degree of redness, and the location, and depth of the vessels being treated.

The average price of treatment however, could be summed up as follows:

1. One red spot---$150.
2. Nostrils area---$300.
3. Full face---$600.

So, more importantly, does a vascular laser treatment hurt?

Dermatologists will tell you that most patients feel a stinging sensation, like a rubber band snap,while the pulse of energy is being delivered through the handpiece. But the discomfort isn't anything you couldn't stand. A little Tylenol following the laser treatment, and you're good to go.

How quickly to see results?

About 2-3 weeks AFTER your last treatment.

Lasers are everywhere, when it comes to rejuvenating the skin. The procedures are less invasive than undergoing surgery, and the results can be quite amazing. And even though a few red spots don't sound like the end-of-the-world to most people, it's nice to know that the beauty technology has come a long way.

Lasers are here to stay, and offer a kinder, gentler approach to slow down the aging process.

Women Of Color Take It To Facebook: Where Are All The Brown Bras?

We always think, 'What would we do WITHOUT a nude-colored bra?'

Probably not the most important thought-of-the-day, but when you prefer your intimates not to be showing through a sheer white top, for example, well, you can get the picture.

Now, what if you are a woman of color and want to wear a sheer, white top. You CAN'T put on a nude, buff or flesh-colored bra. That would stick out against your skin tone.

And this brings us to today's interesting subject:

"Where are all the BROWN bras"?!

Hmmm. Where are they? Sure, brown-colored bras certainly DO exist, but perhaps, not in large enough quantities.

31-year-old Tara Raines, a Los Angeles psychologist, points out that there are millions of brown-skinned women who obviously CANNOT match their skin tones to the bras that are offered to all women across the country, bras in nude, buff, beige, blush, etc.

In celebration of Black History month, Tara Raines is asking that today, on February 1st, women click the "like" tab at Facebook.com/morebrownbras, and contact their favorite bra manufacturer or retailer by mail, phone, email or social media (Twitter hashtag #whatsyournude).

We think this is a brilliant idea by Tara. There is certainly strength in number. And frankly, yeah, there should be MORE brown and nude bras for everyone.

"I don't think it's too much to ask that bra makers include darker hues when manufacturing their collections," Tara stated. "Women of color deserve to look and feel sexy, and a big part of that is looking like ourselves."

Amen.

We searched around and found a wonderful online site called, MySkins.com.

The good news----MySkins™ seamless bras and panties come in 20 skin matching "nude" colors. Check out the photo of the model in Walnut plunge bra.

According to the website,..."Each color has been tested extensively on a focus group of nearly 700 women. As a result of this research, our products match 95 percent of the population. Each color, from Honey to Espresso, can transform your body, match your skin and allow you to finally stop worrying about what is being seen and be seen yourself.".

Now, that's what we're talking about, ladies!

Jessica Who? Little Sis Ashlee Simpson Emerges With New Chic Style

These days, it seems like all eyes are on very pregnant Jessica Simpson.

But that might have changed in an instant, following Sunday evening's 2012 SAG Awards Show. Jessica's little sister, Ashlee, walked the red carpet with a new man on her arm, Vincent Piazza, but more importantly, with a brand new, chic style.

We have to say, wow! She's the buzz around Hollywood.

For the Simpson sister who always seems to be in Jessica's shadow, this is a great comeback for Ashlee. The newly divorced singer and mom to toddler, Bronx, has emerged from the ashes and nailed one of the Best Dressed + Best Hair awards in our humble opinion.

Ashlee Simpson has always been labeled the edgy Simpson sister with her rock-n-roll fashion vibe, wilder hairstyles and chameleon color dye-jobs. She's been Goth-haired, golden blonde, bright auburn, medium brown, and just about every shade in between.

But on Sunday's SAG red carpet, Ashlee was the epitome of class with a gorgeous, sleek, almost platinum short do. Gone are the over-the-top hair extensions.

Ashlee Simpson told E's Giuliana Rancic that she loves her current hairstyle because it's easy to maintain and it matches little Bronx's hair.

Her makeup was also flawless, both delicate and classic. And look at Ashlee's black, flowing Jenny Packham gown. It had both an old Hollywood, new modern glamour.

Nice job, Ashlee Simpson! Sophistication looks great on you.