Before You Turn The Lights Out---Please Remove All Makeup

We've nagged and nagged everyone here about removing makeup, and all traces of it, before going to sleep. And sure, there are some of you who don't take us seriously about adopting this key nighttime routine. But really, you should.

If you want a skin care product to do its beauty magic at night, then you MUST do it with a clean face. That means---NO stale liner hovering below your eyes or remnants of blush still sitting on your cheeks from 7:00 this morning.

Take it off. Take it ALL off!

Most times, we take Pampers Baby Wipes and get rid of the greasy cosmetics with a couple of sheets. That's an old trick we learned from a couple of professional makeup artists. It's quick, non-irritating, and as we like to say, "If it's good enough for a baby's cute little butt, well it's good for us, too."

We also like to mop up any left over makeup with a couple of cotton ball swipes of rubbing alcohol. It sounds harsh, but our dermatologist uses this method all the time before he begins a skin care procedure on our complexion.

Then---we begin our cleansing routine.

If you would like something a bit more gentle, trust us, there are tons of makeup removers---high-end, low-end, famous brand, generic, so many, that there is no excuse not to get in the good habit now.

Today, we are looking at NARS Makeup Removing Water ($28, at beauty stores like Sephora). Okay, not cheap at this price, but still an excellent product from a fab cosmetics company.

NARS Makeup Removing Water is quite unique in that it is a soap-free, oil-free, and alcohol-free water that removes face makeup and tones the skin:

"This formula gently yet thoroughly sweeps makeup away without rubbing while soothing botanical ingredients, including cucumber and chamomile, hydrate, comfort, and add radiance. The result: purified and toned skin."

We don't care HOW you get the makeup off, just PLEASE remove it BEFORE you hit the sheets. Good skin isn't a given for most of us. You have to put in a little effort to make major beauty progress.

You can look at it this way: The cleaner the face, the easier it is for skin care products to penetrate and do their work.

Celebrate The Southwest Spirit With A Beautiful Beaded Belt

Some might think that seed beads are too simple, or too arts and crafts-like to be considered serious fashion. But oh, how wrong they are!

Look at the beautiful detail and striking colors we found in a beautiful beaded belt from Boston Proper. And this is another hot Spring trend for 2012!

It's all about capturing the spirit of the Southwest and Native American charm. Beaded accessories are everywhere these days, and the best item to add to your Spring wardrobe is the sexy, beaded belt. It can transform your entire outfit.

Boston Proper is featuring colorful beaded medallion cuff bracelets and totes, along with beaded Native stretch belts with big interlocking-buckles ($79, in Tan, Spice, Coral, and Black). The beaded belts are nice and wide at 2 5/8".

We also found another cool beaded belt. This one by Cocobelle Designs. It boasts lovely antique glass beads on elastic--Aztec Turquoise ($28).

We love this look and can't wait to jump on the beaded accessories bandwagon!

Dare To Tangerine Tango: It Color For Spring/Summer 2012

Let's be frank....Any shade of orange or red screams, "Look at me!"

And if you're a bit shy, well, you're going to have to get over it, because Tangerine Tango is the new 'IT' color for Spring/Summer 2012. The shade is described as radiant red-orange, and it has burst onto the scene in the worlds of beauty, fashion, and home design.

Says who?

The well-respected Pantone Color Institute.

"Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy."

The color of Tangerine Tango has been seen everywhere....on the runways, on the models, on handbags, shoes, tops, dresses, and as bold shades for lipstick, cheeks, and nails, etc.

Will you dare to Tangerine Tango?

Maybe you could try just one accessory in the fiery red-orange color, or in a pair of earrings, or just go for it, and settle on a Tangerine Tango-colored dress. You WILL get noticed.

We found a couple of beauty products featuring the 'It' shade for the year. Check these out next time you're shopping:

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Kook-a-Mango ($6, at drugstores).
Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti ($7, at drugstores).

Maybelline Showing Us Love With New Lots Of Lashes Mascara

We've said this before:

We are a mascara freak.

If there's one beauty product that does such incredible things to your eyes, it's the mascara. Period.

Please don't tell us that you DON'T wear mascara, because we will cry. You NEED mascara as part of your daily makeup routine.

Having said all that, it's time to talk lashes. Our favorite is always Blackest Black with any brand we try.

And today, we are re-visiting an old, loyal 'friend'----Great Lash by Maybelline. But this newer Great Lash is called, Lots Of Lashes ($5.19, at ULTA---
Buy 1, get 1 at 50% off!) And the beauty is in the heart-shaped pink grabber brush. This brush has so many little teeth to help reach every lash you've got, to help plump up the volume.

The Great Lash by Maybelline formula is still the same super product, just with a more intricate wand/brush. We've tried Lots Of Lashes and like it.

Bronzer Made Easy With Tarte's Blush & Glow

Who doesn't want to apppear sun-kissed without the added sun damage that goes along with tanning.

If you want a little resort chic, you can get it now, and you don't have to head to a sandy beach paradise. You CAN fake it, and still show off a warm, healthy glow.

Our beauty weapon of the day?

Tarte Maracuja Blush & Glow Brightening Luminizer and Cheek Tint in Sunlight ($32, at Sephora). That sure is a long title for a pretty peach bronzer substitute. But you are getting a 2-in-1 beauty product---a blush tint and the higlighter or luminizer.

Just a few dabs on your cheeks, forehead, browbone, even on your lips for a soft, shimmery peach gleam that looks like you've spent some time on an exotic beach.

We like the Tarte tint/luminizer because it also contains maracuja oil from the rare Brazilian fruit. The oil is very nourishing with Vitamin C and essential fatty acids.

If you want to bathe your complexion in a shimmering, bronzy glow, this is the way to go. No tanning booth required.

Celebs Are Getting A Jump On The Jumpsuit Trend: Are You In?

*****Sorry we hadn't posted articles for the past few days. We suffered major computer snafus. But, so far, so good today!

The jumpsuit.

Oh, yeah...The trend is back, ladies! And you either love jumpsuits or despise them.

Apparently, Hollywood adores them, because we've seen a parade of style-savvy celebrities showing up in sexy onesies lately.

Here's the deal:
The jumpsuit is flattering on every gal's figure. As long as you get into the right style and cut of the jumpsuit, then you will look amazing.

We can prove this fact. Look at the celebrity jumpsuit photos. From curvy Kim Kardashian to very petite Kristen Chenoweth to tall Gwyneth Paltrow to super slim Rose Byrne, there really IS a jumpsuit for every woman.

Jumpsuits can hide a few imperfections like a bigger belly or heavier hips/thighs. And the jumpsuit allows everyone to look tall and lean with LONG legs. And who doesn't wish for that?!

We found a sexy jumpsuit at Forever21 that won't break your budget. This one isn't for the faint-of-heart, but it is following the black and sheer trend of the moment. And inexpensive at $24.80.

So, girls, are you ready to take the leap into the jumpsuit trend?

It's a sleek and slimming look. The only bad thing-----when you gotta go, well, you gotta practically remove the entire onesie just to do your business, if you get what we mean.

Milani Illuminating Face Powder: Super Drugstore Buy

Looking for some pretty and inexpensive gifts to toss into your beauty Easter basket?

Then, look no further than Milani cosmetics. The popular drugstore brand has introduced some glam, new products for Spring 2012. And our fave is the Milani Illuminating Face Powder ($9.49). Oh, so colorful and spring-like! Plus, it comes in 3 shades:

We like 1. Beauty's Touch. But there is also 2. Amber Nectar and 3. Hermosa Rose.

Each compact comes with a rose bouquet-embossed powder, ready to serve as a blush, bronzer, and/or highlighter. The colors give back a soft healthy glow, and are suitable for all skin types and skin tones. The face powder compact is so adorable, you might have second thoughts before swiping your blush brush across the lovely rose embossed powder.

If you can't find the Milani Illuminating Face Powder at your neighborhood drugstore, you can always shop at Milani.com.