Saturday, July 14, 2012

Lauren Conrad's Best Beauty Beach Tip For Careful Tanning



Okay, we know there is no such thing as a safe tan, but, let's be honest, it is summer, and some of us do head to the beach for a little fun in the sun.

Reality star Lauren Conrad carries a clever beauty item in her beach bag, and now, we want to try it, too.

L.C.'s beauty tip:

Baby sunblock. And for a girl in her mid-20's, she's very smart to be thinking about good skin, and how to keep it that way.

Her fave:

Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Sunblock Stick SPF 50 ($9.99, at drugstores and Ulta). "I cover my whole face with baby sunblock," Lauren says.

So why does this sunblock stick rock?

Well, it's got a 50 SPF, it works beautifully for babies and adults, and it's gentle, too.

It's oil-free, non-irritating, and water-proof. And Aveeno says the "MINERALBLOCK™ Technology provides superior, long-lasting sun protection. It forms a protective barrier on top of baby's skin that scatters both UVA and UVB rays."

Love the sunblock stick form, because the stuff stays where you put it. It's even super for sensitive lips.

Great beauty tip, L.C..

Friday, July 13, 2012

Looking For Bigger Better Lashes: Gotta Love The Falsies



We are a mascara freak, but then again, we've mentioned that a few times before. If it's in a tube, we'll try it.

Our mascara must-haves:
1. The blackest mascara around.
2. Preferably a curved brush.
3. Thickening formula.
4. Mascara that stays on lashes, even through some tears (we like non-waterproof, actually).


This one from Maybelline in the cute purple tube is a winner!

Maybelline Volum' Express the Falsies Mascara ($7.99, at drugstores).

This little beauty product has been around for 2 years now, and we adore it, because it builds instant volume for Va-Va-Va-Voom lashes!

If you like Maybelline's cult fave, Great Lash, then you will like the Falsies lash-enhancing formula. You're getting false lashes without the adhesive and all the effort that goes into putting on a pair of fake lashes bit by bit.

All you need are a couple of coats and you're good to go! The texture is thick but separates well when you lash-comb through. And it lengthens effectively.

So, what's in the Faslies formula?

Lashes get coated with a Pro-Keratin fiber-enriched formula that instantly plumps lashes and fills in gaps for a false lash effect.

The Falsies mascara lets your eyes pop! Maybe that's why it's one of Maybelline's best and fastest selling mascara, other than classic Great Lash.

Our fave----Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Spoon Brush Washable Mascara in Blackest Black. We found some at drugstore.com.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Sexy Black Leather Is Hot For Summer 2012: Celebs Into It





Sexy, black leather in the dog days of summer?!

You betcha!

Oh, yeah! Black leather is one of the hottest trends this summer. And Hollywood is right on the trend.

Take a peek at the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Cruise. Katie Holmes stepped out for dinner with friends last night in sweltering New York City. She wore a sophisticated cream blazer matching sheer cream top with a pair of skinny black leather pants! Katie looks so glam, and er, might we add, happy.

In photo 2, take a look at reality star Kim Kardashian who also knows a sizzling hot trend when she sees one. The California beauty was snapped strolling with beau Kanye in matching white tops and black leather trouser ensembles. Kim K is looking uber polished in a white peplum top and curve-hugging leather bottoms.

And what's up with Jennifer Hudson? The superstar was performing yesterday in a black leather sleeveless, peplum top
complete with leopard hot pants. We're not 100% sure the look really goes together, but Jennifer's body is amazing, so we're not going to be so picky here.

In the bottom photo, Valentino does it flawlessly on the runway in this stunning, sleeveless black leather dress.

Are you into the black leather look for summer 2012?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Celebrity Trainer Keeps A-Listers Fit With Fab Fruit



We happen to adore this celebrity trainer, because he seems to make sense out of diets and exercise. He works you hard, but then again, he seems to keep his patience, and above all, he's fair.

We don't know Harley Pasternak personally, but we WISH he could be our trainer.

And if you think we're just padding his resume with a lot of fluff, just take a look at a few of his famous clients:

Jennifer Hudson. Alicia Keys. Megan Fox. Orlando Bloom. Kanye West. LL Cool J. Rick Fox. Halle Berry. Katy Perry. Miley Cyrus. And the A-list list goes on and on.....

Today, Harley Pasternak has a super diet beauty tip, one that's easy to follow and does a body good. He talked to People.com about some fab fruit. He suggests that not every fruit is the same when it comes to great nutrition:

"That's why my golden rule with fruits is to choose the ones that have either edible skin or edible seeds. Fruits like apples, peaches, plums, apricots, cherries and pears are just a few great examples of fruits with edible skin. Raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and kiwis are example of fruits with edible seeds."

And he goes on to semi-reject these:

"The fruits that I prefer to minimize (not eliminate – there are no "bad fruits"), are primarily tropical fruits like bananas, mango, papaya and pineapple. These fruits, not surprisingly, are higher in calories and sugar, and are lower in fiber than ones with edible skin and/or seeds or citrus fruits.

Oh, Harley....Please don't take our pineapple away!

We think these are wonderful diet tips. People seem to enjoy a lot of fruit in the summer months, and it's interesting to see which fruits are more diet-fab than the others.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Vera Wang Debuts New Tween Line: From $16-$98!



Now, we're talking, Vera Wang!

If you have a child or teen and looking for some nice new clothes, then check out Princess Vera Wang at your neighborhood Kohl's department store.

And if you can fit into junior size fashions, then you could pick up some of these great, affordable Vera Wang pieces.

The style icon is launching her new tween line. And the entire collection sells for less than $100! The line starts at $16. Not bad!

"It was important to me that the Princess Vera Wang collection be versatile and speak to a new generation of young women, giving them the freedom to express their unique sense of personal style," the fashion designer stated in a press release.

Vera Wang's two young daughters, Cecilia and Josephine, reportedly gave their mom some cool tween advice regarding the new Princess Vera Wang boho-chic collection for Kohl's.

Check out the Princess Vera Wang line at Kohls.com.

Monday, July 9, 2012

NJ Housewife Jacqueline Laurita Likes This Cosmetic Treatment To Stay Young


If you're a fan of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, and you know you are....then you've noticed Jacqueline Laurita looking especially lovely this season. Even Bravo's Andy Cohen recently asked the 42-year-old youthful mom about the cosmetic procedures she's had done to keep her looking so wrinkle-free. Fans have been wondering if Jacqueline went under the knife for a facelift.

She told him it was, ultherapy.

Huh?

The next day, she went on her website to explain the treatment:

"I decided to do Ultherapy when I noticed my neck not firming up the way I wanted it to after my weight loss from my 55 lb. weight gain during my pregnancy. I’m 42 years old, so I’m sure my age has something to do with my lack of elasticity … Ultherapy for the face and neck actually improves the skin from the inside out by repairing and strengthening existing collagen while naturally stimulating new collagen development."

In simplest terms, ultherapy lifts, tightens and tones the skin of the face and neck. It's an outpatient treatment.

We did a little more research on the ultherapy procedure, and found on RealSelf.com, that it can be quite painful. However, it can't be that brutal a treatment, because 79% of RealSelf reviewers gave ultherapy a 'worth it rating.'

So, what's it all about?

During ultherapy treatment, ultra-sound energy in the form of gentle heat, is applied to the tissue to lift and tighten loose skin without cutting or injecting, etc. Ultherapy stimulates new collagen production. In a mere 30-60 minutes, your body’s own healing responses will be reminded to gently and gradually restore skin and underlying tissue.

"While it's not a replacement for a surgical face or eye lift, patients appreciate that the process is non-surgical. Once they understand that the results rely on the natural rebuilding of their collagen fiber network within the skin, they also realize that the effects take place naturally and gradually," says Daniel C Mills, MD of the Monarch Bay Laser, Laguna Beach, Calfornia.

According to RealSelf, the average cost of an ultherapy treatment is 2,625.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Wicked Winged Out Liner: How To Get Your Line On!


Let's face it....Cat eyes are once again making their flirty debut on the fall runways.

We like a bold, sexy eye, because it doesn't require such picky touch-ups like those strong red Gwen Stefani lips. How does girlfriend keep her crimson pout so flawless?!

Today, we don't have to worry about the lips. Instead, the cat eyes are all you need to capture that classy, timeless, and yes, modern look.

If you're a bit shy about too wild a look, then you could draw on a more delicate wing. But if you want that edgy line, then you need to go heavy and liquid liner is your best friend. That, and a little primer on the eyelids BEFORE you begin your winged out journey.

We are looking at Estee Lauder's new Violet Underground Makeup collection for Fall 2012. There you will find the Estée Lauder Pure Color Quick-Thick Eyeliner ($22, at fine dept. stores and esteelauder.com.

This is a super precision magic marker-type liquid liner for defining eyes to perfection in shade,Punker Black.

It takes a lot of practice to extend your line and wing it up and out, but the final results are gorgeous! Arm yourself with some Q-Tips for that perfect mop-up until you achieve the ultimate pair of cat eyes. Meow!