Meow!! Look What Hello Kitty Is Up To

Blotting papers.

Some of us use them, and some of us do not.

But if you want to freshen up your complexion ASAP, then blotting papers are great to carry around in your makeup bag. These little oil absorbing sheets zap away excess oil and can re-freshen the cosmetics you had put on several hours ago.

Clean & Clear asked Hello Kitty to step in and scratch out some beauty ideas, and look what that adorable puss came up with:

Hello Kitty Oil Absorbing Sheets (Limited Edition) for just $4.99. You get a super-cute packet containing 50 polka dot sheets. You can find them at your neighborhood Target and Walmart stores.

The cutie-pie Japanese cartoon of Hello Kitty has been around the beauty business since 1976, so she definitely knows what she's doing. And these blotting papers do a decent job of mopping up all the oiliness and gunk without ruining your makeup.

And if you've never tried oil absorbant sheets, you're really missing out, because in a pinch, these little papers do a world of good.

Liz Taylor Eyebrows And Cleopatra Eyes Hot 2012 Beauty Trend

Bold and beautiful.

That's Liz Taylor---full eyebrows and cleopatra eyes---a super glam beauty trend we're seeing leap off the runways(top photo) and filter down into Hollywood and beyond.

Many years ago, the actress played the part of the Egyptian Queen in the historical 1963 epic, Cleopatra. Of course, the incredible makeup was all the buzz. And funny, how beauty and fashion repeat themselves often, in our lifetimes.

Let's be honest, if you don't already have full brows, it's crazy to try and design a Liz Taylor pair, unless of course, you have a great makeup artist at your disposal. You can just do so much with a brow pencil and brow fixative, etc. But the key here, is to lay down the tweezers and stop the waxing appointments to allow your eyebrows to reach their fullest, most natural potential.

Take a look at Liz Taylor as Cleoptra. Her beauty is really breath-taking. It hurts to look at her, she's so beautiful.

And actress Poorna Jagannathan of Delhi Belly showed off her modern-day Cleoptra eyes at the Filmfare Awards. Meow!

Cleopatra eyes involve a very edgy cat-eye. The winged liner keeps going until the end of the brow. Now, that is a bit much for everyday wear, but you can create Cleoptra eyes in a more subtle manner. We like how Kim Kardashian looked on her wedding day.

Her makeup man, Mario Dedivanovic, did an incredible job transforming the dark-haired beauty into a Cleopatra-esque bride. And he used a very inexpensive product:

"I lined her eyes (top lid only) using Cover Girl Line Exact Liquid Liner in Very Black," Mario says. "Start out with a thin line at the inner corner and gradually thicken the line as you go towards the outer corners. Wing the liner up and out."

Amazing! Kim K's cat-eye signature look always comes out perfect and polished, and we can't believe that one could get the same, high glam effect, using a $5.59 drugstore find, but there's the proof.

We like the concept of the CG Line Exact Liquid Liner because it is similar to a sharp-pointed felt pen and glides over the eyelid smoothly.

It will interesting to see which glamorous star is sporting full Liz Taylor brows and Cleopatra eyes at Sunday evening's Academy Awards 2012!

Hurry Up And Grow! Get Fuller Eyebrow Trend With New Boots' RapidBrow!

Fuller brows....(sigh).

We've been down this road before. Last time we mentioned eyebrows, was in a BeautyTipToday article. We have found, unscientifically, by the way, that rubbing in some Retin-A over the brows helps them grow, albeit--- slowly. Patience is a virtue in the eyebrow world.

But maybe you don't have a Retin-A prescription, that's okay, too, because the British Boots skin care experts are at it again. And this time, Boots is raving about their new RapidBrow Enhancement Serum! Just in time to get a jump on the fuller, thicker brow trend showing up for Spring 2012.

It's big news across the pond. And eventually, Boots will bring its RapidBrow to the U.S. for about $50 a tube.

The brow serum is designed around a special combo of fruit extracts, vitamins, proteins and amino acids, which in unison, boost eyebrow thickness, without using any chemicals or drugs.

And here's the kicker, ladies:

RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum is proven* to enhance the appearance of eyebrow density by 108% in 60 days.

Wow to the fuller, thicker brow!

Ladies, stop the plucking and waxing, and give Boots your scraggly, tired, weak brows, and in 2 months, you will see a difference.

That's very encouraging news for the fuller eyebrow-challenged among us. And looking at the clinical study stats, we are hopeful that this brow serum won't be a waste of money:

The RapidBrow product was tested on 61 women, mainly in their 40s, 50s and 60s, over a 5-month period. Nine out of ten reported that the density of their eyebrows increased after use, while 76% stated that their brows were thicker and 63% said their brows were longer as a result.

We haven't been able to track down any Boots RapidBrow around here, not even on Ebay.

If you can't wait for the serum to make its way here to our shores, there is some at the UK Boots website.

Brand New Biore Cleanser Gets Rid Of 'Tight As A Drum' Feeling

There's nothing worse than washing your face and then walking away with a really taut feeling to your skin.

You've heard the expression--'As tight as a drum.' Back in the day, that was all about the skin of a drumhead, which is tightly stretched.

Ouch! And for many of us wanting to deep cleanse on a daily or nightly basis, this is where we run into problems. Some facial washes just dry out and strip the skin's moisture balance. And your face feels so tight, it's uncomfortable, and almost unmovable.

We all know that removing makeup and skin care products are a MUST, especially before going to bed. But sometimes, a simple wash won't get rid of it all, and that's where you need a very good cleanser---one that's tough on dirt, but gentle to your complexion.

Biore has a brand new one---Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser ($7.99, 6.77 fl. oz., at drugstores. It works like a dream:

"This cleanser removes all forms of impurities while leaving 90% of skin's natural moisture, giving your face an even, all-over clean."

When it comes to taking good care of your skin, Biore enjoys a solid reputation. For more details, click here.

Skin Cancer Foundation Says Yes To New Jergens Self-Tanner

No tan is a good tan, as we've all been told, but many of us still soak up the sun's rays. So, to play as safely as we can, we've found a new Jergens product that will give you a healthy glow AND protect you, too.

The best thing of all---this self-tanner has been given the thumbs up! by the Skin Cancer Foundation. So, we know that it is a tested and legitimate product that really does what it says.

It's called, Jergens Natural Glow and Protect Daily Moisturizer ($8.99, at drugstores). And it proudly wears the New Seal of Recommendation for Daily Use by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The Jergens self-tanner comes in 2 shade selections:

Jergens Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 for Fair to Medium Skin Tones
Jergens Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 for Medium to Tan Skin Tones.

We LOVE that this product comes with a solid SPF20. So, not only do you get a fab gradual build-up of color, but you can use this every day and get protection at the same time, just like other anti-aging serums and creams provide.

To see what other beauty products have been given the Skin Cancer Foundation's new seal of approval, check out their website.

Sweet Treat: Girl Scout Cookie Lip Smackers

You've heard us rave a lot about Bonne Belle Lip Smackers before. We LOVE the cult favorite--- Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker, not only for its yummy soda taste, but especially for the sheer red tint it leaves behind.

Today, we are checking out Lip Smackers' newest balms in town:

Girl Scout Cookie Lip Smackers in Thin Mints. Chocolate Peanut Butter. Trefoils. Peanut Butter. And Coconut Caramel Stripes.

How YUMMY do those sweet treats for your lips sound?

We are cuckoo for coconut, so that's the one we would grab.

Of course, the cookie lip smackers are inspired by the famous Girl Scout cookies we all know and crave.

"Girl Scout Cookie-flavored Lip Smackers was a natural fit for us. The flavors are deliciously iconic and the mission of Girl Scouts of the USA is something we have a real interest in supporting," says Leslie Gibbs, brand marketing director at Aspire Brands/Bonne Belle.

You can pick up the lip balms at Walmart stores and online here for $1.75 a tube, or an 8-pack party pack for $9.95.

Lip Smackers make great, little gifts. And these sweet, shiny balms have NO age limit. We carry around a few Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers at all times.

When It Comes To Hollywood Lashes: Go Big Or Go Home!

These days, it seems that beauty is all about the lashes, and the longer and thicker, the better!

Just look at Hollywood and the celebrity circuit---every gal is wearing some fancy eye fringe. From Kim Kardashian to Adele, and even Oprah. Many celebs choose to put on faux lashes, and that's okay, too.

But wouldn't you really prefer to grown your own?

There are many good beauty products out there, designed to stimulate eyelash growth. And today, we are looking at EnvyDerm Eyelash Enhancement & Conditioning Nighttime Growth Serum. At $99.95 for a tube, this is a bit of an investment, but look at what the product promises to do for you:

The EnvyDerm cutting edge Peptides technology is "clinically proven to increase length and density of lashes by 25% and by as much as 72% in 6 weeks of use."

Now, that's what we call some great stats.

The EnvyDerm company also explains each active ingredient's role in the special long lash formula:

- Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 : Adds volume, nourishes and strengthens lashes.
- Hydrolyzed Keratin: Repair damage in lashes.
- Panthenol: Provitamin B5 helps promote lash flexibility and durability.
- Alfalfa Extract: Condition and Increase metabolism to promote lash line healing.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Helps lashes appear healthier, shinier and stronger.
- Allantoin: Helps soothe, calm and protect lash line.

EnvyDerm also offers Enhancement & Conditioning Volume Mascara ($36) and Enhancement & Conditioning Intense Eyeliner ($36).

The formulas are all safe and infused with gentle, nourishing vitamins and minerals. And another plus---You can use the serum on your brows to grow them thicker.

We think that EnvyDerm is one hot beauty product to try in 2012.