Vanessa Williams Believes In Microcurrent Facials For Ageless Beauty

Vanessa Williams, a guest on E'!s 'Fashion Police last evening, dished to host Joan Rivers about the cosmetic enhancements she enjoys using to stay ageless.

One of these beauty weapons is Botox, which we've heard Vanessa mention several times before. The other is microcurrent facials.

Now, we were intrigued.

At age 49, we think the talented singer/actress looks fab! So, let's examine the microcurrent facial, a non-invasive procedure that Vanessa swears by to tighten up facial skin, rather than heading in for a surgical facelift.

Firming the facial contour. That's what microcurrent technology aims for as the wand hooked up to this beauty machine glides over the face to strengthen tired, aging facial muscles. A painless, safe impulse or zap is sent through the wand, revving up circulation and stimulating collagen/elastin production.

Results are instant at about $120 per treatment. And the more sessions you attend, the better results you can achieve.

Many celebrities opt for the microcurrent facial BEFORE a red carpet event, because they look refreshed, skin is plumped up and pores look invisible.

So, is this trendy facial as good as a real facelift?

Most plastic surgeons would say, of course NOT. And here's why, according to the experts who weighed in on microcurrent technology at RealSelf.com:

"Unfortunately, as in most advertising, the hype does not live up to the reality. Microcurrent has been tested and shown to help with wound healing but there is nothing in the medical literature about microcurrent reversing the signs of aging."--D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

"Microcurrent treatments will not yield results simular to that of a facelift because the energy applied will not result in elevation of the structural components of the face - namely fascia, muscles and fat. Only the very superficial layer of skin and dermis would have any response to microcurrent and I suspect that would be modest at best."--
Douglas Stevens, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

"A facelift is the procedure of choice to make permanent and extensive changes in the face for rejuvenation. Microcurrent therapy has some benefits, however modest. It can improve skin tone and slightly change the shape of the structures. It can easily be oversold. Buyer beware. All the best, Tal Raine MD FACS."--
Chicago Plastic Surgeon.

We can say that Vanessa Williams looks naturally beautiful. In other words, her face does NOT look tightly pulled back and artifical, so it's possible that she is happy with what plastic surgeons would call 'modest' results.

What do you think?

Kelly Osbourne: The Color Purple. Great Movie Not The Hair?

Let us first state that we are a Kelly Osbourne fan!

From the soft, playful British accent to the extreme love of all things fashion and beauty to the amazing collection of shoes, she is a breath of fresh air.

And now, er, Kelly's hair. Back in January, we noticed the dyed grey locks the daughter of rock legend Ozzie was sporting. Then slowly, those tresses turned lilac/lavender/purple!

The Fashion Police star showed up Monday evening rockin' the striking hair color at E'!s Upfront Party in New York City. That, along with purple lip color, a pretty tartan plaid frock, and a pair of sky-high pink open-toe pumps.

It isn't easy getting away with purple hair color or lips in the same shade.

So, we have to ask....Can Kelly Osbourne Rock the Color Purple?!

Well, yes. She looks quite lovely here in the photos. And because she is UNDER age 30, we give her a free pass. When you're in your 20s, it's okay to play around with the wilder shades of makeup and hair color.

Kelly said this about her grey-to-purple locks back in February:

"To me, I'm 27, I've got three years left, the way I look at it, to have fun with it, because once you're 30, you look like a right idiot walking around with like rainbow, bright color hair and all different things like that.

"I don't exactly come from the most normal family. I don't get why anyone expects anything different from me.

"So I think, for me, I'm just having fun with it as much as I can until it's not appropriate anymore."

We also read recently somewhere, that Kelly said she wanted to give her over-processed blonde hair a rest, and that is why she had turned to a softer, less damaging hair dye process, a la purple.

Want to copy Kelly's purple look?

Try Mac's Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Asian Lavender ($14.50, at Macy's). As for the hair, please visit a professional. And get ready to be noticed!

Jersey Mom Takes Extreme Tanning To Scary Limit: We Can All Learn Something

We certainly don't wish to make Jersey mom Patricia Krentcil the poster child for extreme tanning. But maybe, we can all learn something from this.

The 44-year-old New Jersey woman was hauled into court yesterday for allegedly sneaking her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning salon. Her attorney denies the charges.

As you can tell by the photo, Patricia Krentcil likes to tan-- a lot! In fact, she hits the indoor tanning booth 5 days a week at the maximum and spends $100 a month there.

This poor woman has now become the butt of many late night TV jokes, and yeah, we DO feel sorry for her and her family.

We don't wish her any ill will. We only wish she would take better care of her skin, because at age 44, time is running out.

We all know about the dangers of too much sun and the indoor tanning booths that help you achieve that golden glow no matter what the weather is doing all-year-long.

And BeautyTipToday is certainly not here to judge. We did our own sun damage years ago, when we spent our childhood/adolescence EVERY summer at our grandparents' house-by-the-beach We are paying for it now.

We have friends and relatives who worship the tanning rays of the sun, both indoors and outdoors. And they look healthy and golden brown.

We can't help but shudder though, when we read this in the NY Daily News:

...."Going to a tanning salon even just one time is dangerous. Tanning booths are considered a Class 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. This is the same category that plutonium is put in!"

Those words by Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

And here's a bit more information from another respected NYC plastic surgeon, Robert Tornambe, M.D.:

"The primary culprit causing melanoma(skin cancer) is UV light from the sun or tanning beds," he explains. "Research shows indoor tanning increases a person's melanoma risk by 75 percent! Anyone can get melanoma, but there is a higher incidence in people with fair skin, sun-sensitive skin (tends to burn rather than tan) and a family history of the disease. Five or more sunburns during your lifetime double your risk of developing skin cancer. 80 percent of lifetime sun damage occurs during childhood."

Are You About To Turn 30? Remember This Word: Exfoliation

We all know Angie Harmon, the gorgeous former model and star of the TNT drama 'Rizzoli & Isles.'

She celebrates her 40th birthday in August.

But did you know that Angie was not crazy about the time she left her 20's?

"I'm not gonna lie: I was scared to turn 30," she says.

Angie Harmon is just one of the contributors of a wonderful new book called, 'Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30,' by the editors of Glamour magazine.

We were reading through a few of these nuggets of advice in the May issue of Glamour, when we stumbled on to Angie's thoughts for the gal turning 30.

Here is one of the key pieces of advice the actress mentioned:

"You HAVE to exfoliate for young-looking skin. End of discussion."

Big deal, you say? Yeah, it IS a big deal.

Let's look at what exfoliation really is. According to Wikipedia, it's all about 'shedding.' Out with the old--in with the new:

...."Exfoliation involves the removal of the oldest dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface, and has been used for many years to help maintain skin. Exfoliation is involved in the process of all facials, during microdermabrasion or chemical peels at medical spas. Exfoliation can be achieved through mechanical or chemical means."

In other words, you have to work at maintaining good-looking skin AFTER age 30. It is not a given. And exfoliation delivers a softer, clearer and more glowing complexion. Your anti-aging products can penetrate more effectively because pores become un-clogged when you routinely exfoliate.

Start off with a decent facial cleanser, one that contains exfoliating properties---like Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Salicylic Acid, or Beta Hydroxy Acid. These help loosen up the dead skin cells.

From mechanical exfoliation, you can then proceed to chemical exfoliation, which includes facial peels and the like. You will notice a difference---your skin becomes so soft and your complexion becomes radiant.

If you're new to all things exfoliation, a dermatologist can guide you in the right direction.

Handbag? Why Not Tuck All Your Stuff Into New JoeyBra!

Oh, my!

Has it really come to this? Has mankind's obsession with wireless technology now led us to our bras, where we can stuff more than just padding into them?

Get this.....a couple of clever college students, Mariah Gentry and Kyle Barlow, are the co-founders of the JoeyBra, designed for women to tuck away all their essentials when a handbag won't do.

Nope---you're not putting your cell phone in with the gel pads. You're neatly and discreetly hiding it, along with I.D., credit card, lipstick, iPad, or maybe a key in a little pouch along the side of the bra. Check out the JoeyBra in the photo.

Maybe you've had some friends who have tucked away a few tiny items in their cleavage, but this is totally different--- the modern way, you could say. The smart duo is targeting college students and offers the choice of a strapless version and an 8-way convertible strap version.

Okay, but how do you retrieve your phone without making it look a bit awkward? I mean....that's just one of the kinks that makes it a little weird for us.

By the way, the 'pocketed' JoeyBra will go on sale at the University of Washington Book Store in June at a discounted $19.99 rate for students(usually available at $29.99).

Designers Mariah and Kyle hope to get enough funding to bring the JoeyBra into the mainstream retail market within 2 years.

To learn more about the JoeyBra and see more photos, click here.

Something Sheer Is Surely A Sign Of Spring/Summer 2012

Is it us? Or has fabric for Spring/Summer 2012 taken the peek-a-boo route?

Everywhere you turn, sheer tops are the HOT new trend! And we're not just talking about lace. We know that is BIG, too.

A little touch of sheer-ness never hurt anyone, and when tastefully done, it can only boost your wardrobe.

You don't have to be model-slim to wear sheer tops, either. Nailing the sheer-ness in all the right places can hide little imperfections.

We checked out the ever-popular Forever21 shopping site. And under sheer tops, we found 1,165 to choose from! Wow! Tons of colors, styles, patterns, and degrees of sheer-ness to look at.

Obviously, if a top is sheer, you need a camisole or bra or both, to make it look right.

Here's a little sample of what we hunted down. And the prices won't bust your budget:

1. Vertical Stripe High-Low Top ($17.80).

2. Lace Trim Peasant Top ($19.80).

3. Sheer Polka Dot Shirt ($24.80).

Don't be shy. You can always 'hide' your sheer top inside a blazer or light cardigan if you feel you're showing off too much sheer-ness.

Go To Sleep With This On And Wake Up To Brighter Skin

We've learned that beauty sleep is really something we all need. Our skin needs rest to 'repair' itself at night. And if we apply the right creams and serums to our complexions before we hit the pillow every evening, then the results speak for themselves.

That is why we are looking at Korres' new Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial ($48, at Sephora). The company likes to call this product an overnight facial-in-a-jar. Put some on at night, and wake up to brighter, more even-toned skin.

Wild Rose + Vitamin C is from Korres, Greece's oldest homeopathic pharmacy. That's got to count for something!

So, what's so great about a Vitamin C cream/serum?

Plenty....Vitamin C, referred to by scientists as a powerful anti-aging vitamin, is known for its remarkable ability to help visibly brighten and balance out skin tone, zero in on dark spots, while helping skin defend itself against future damage.

And this little jar of beauty contains 5X more concentrated Vitamin C for extra potent power! It's 95% natural content, feather-light as a souffle, and rapidly melts into your complexion. You awaken with petal-soft skin by morning.

Here's to a better tomorrow for all of us!