It Isn't Easy Keeping Up With The Platinum: Just Ask Gwen

Platinum hair and scarlet lips.

That certainly reminds us of the late and great movie star Marilyn Monroe. It also brings to mind another great beauty---Gwen Stefani. And at age 42, and a mom to 2 active little boys, Gwen looks gorg.

But it isn't easy,  'Keeping up with the platinum!'.

The September 2012 Harper's Bazaar cover girl doesn't let her roots show through that mass of blondeness, ever!

We LOVE that look on Gwen Stefani, but the platnium blonde upkeep is crazy-loco.  That's why celebrities invest in super stylists to maintain the image, right down to those dark roots that pop up like tell-tale signs.

If you're blonde and have to work at it,  then it becomes a key part of your beauty routine.

Gwen is blonde-inspired by the original 50's bombshell Marilyn, and tells Harper's Bazaar that she keeps those pesky roots away, by using a beauty trick the movie goddess lived by:

 "Do you think Marilyn Monroe had to talk about this?" she asks, smiling. "Well, I heard she did hers with a Q-tip every 10 days, so I try to follow Marilyn's rule." I mention that she's never been photographed with dark roots, and she points to the houndstooth fedora she is wearing. "And you'll never see me with roots either."

We love what this girly-girl says about discovering the beauty of bleach and those sexy red lips:

Gwen recalls how she felt when, at the age of 25, she spent eight hours in a hair salon in Long Beach getting her coveted white-blonde locks. "It was like I'd unlocked the key. I remember feeling like, 'I have arrived. This is me. Finally.'" The red lip came when her grandmother gave her a crimson lipstick when she was in high school. "I remember sitting in my ghetto, beat-up Honda Prelude and putting on that lipstick in the rearview mirror and being like, 'Uh-huh, I like that. That's the shit right there.' I never stopped after that."

Gotta love Gwen Stefani! Her fave L'Oreal lipstick is Infallible  Le Rouge, Ravishing Red ($9.99, at drugstores).

RHONJ Jacqueline Laurita Uses the Big 'U' For Younger Skin

The New Jersey Housewives were in rare form at the final reunion show last night on the Bravo network. And Jacqueline Laurita sparkled in her shiny, red dress.

This morning, the 42-year-old youthful mom appeared on Good Morning America to reveal her beauty secret for looking gorgeous and wrinkle-free. Was it a facelift, lots of filler, laser re-surfacing, etc.??

We tackled this topic in a BeautyTipToday article back in July. And again, Jacqueline says she owed her younger-looking skin to the big U----Ultherapy.

"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.

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, tells RealSelf.com.

To learn more about this non-surgical procedure, visit RealSelf, and Jacqueline's website here.

Sexy Sofia Deal Of The Day:

Everyone adores Sofia Vergara.

And if you're looking to create a little Vergara Va-Va-Va-Voom in your style for Fall, then we can help you.

Okay, so we won't instantly turn into television's favorite bombshell, but we can all find a piece or two from Sofia's new clothing collection at KMart.

We found the super cute and classic Sofia by Sofia Vergara Women's Ponte Blazer Jacket on SALE now for $27.99.

This feminine blazer with a slim fit and sateen trim around the collar and faux hip pockets was featured in both the September 2012 issue of Woman’s Day and September 2012 issue of Cosmopolitan.

Sofia's blazer comes in easy care Poly/Rayon Spandex in Jet Black or Camel, both with black sateen trim, in  Sizes XS - XL.

MAC And Marilyn: Match Made In Beauty Heaven

MAC Cosmetics has recently debuted a beautiful Marilyn Monroe-inspired makeup collection! It's a stunning 30-piece limited edition line about the late, sexy movie goddess.

The beauty icon's image is featured on most of the MAC Marilyn beauty collection products.

The makeup ranges in price from $15-27 with lipsticks, shadows, liners, faux lashes, polishes, and the like.

"Marilyn Monroe is an icon, plain and simple. Her look not only defined a generation but also is relevant today," says MAC senior vice president James Gager.
How very true!

The makeup is pure Hollywood glamour with a bit of a retro twist to the palette.

We found 2 interesting MAC Marilyn Monroe pieces:

The Marilyn Monroe Penultimate Brow at $18.50. SOLD OUT online.
"A liquid, pen-style marker for colouring and styling the brows to a well-defined, natural look. Easy to control. Tapered tip provides precision and helps to fill in and perfect the brows. Flow-through, quick-drying formula means no smudges. Long-wearing."

And the Marilyn Monroe Brow Finisher at $15. Also SOLD OUT online.
"A slim-line, wax-style grooming tool specially formulated to shape and hold the brows, providing them with a sheer, slick, polished and conditioned-looking finish. Smooth, non-sticky, easy to use."

Marilyn had nice full brows, and were probably made that way through the magic of a good makeup artist. But wax is an interesting addition here, and something movie screen goddess Sophia Loren also supposedly used to use to keep her amazing brows lifted, and in place.

Sounds like a gorgeous, classic makeup collection!

It's An Oz Thing: Emerald Green Goes Glam For Fall 2012!

Emerald green.

It's so rich and regal. And it happens to be another HOT color-- fashion-beauty- trend for Fall 2012!

Our skin has an olive tone to it, so we get a bit leery around this green shade near our complexion. It's hard for us to pull off, unless we get the right color proportion around us. But there are so many other ways to show off the emerald green trend. From fashion to beauty, it's all good!

We have latched on to this stunning emerald green Legacy Leather Duffle Bag by Coach ($348, at coach). Simply elegant. Need we say more?!
•Inside zip, cell phone and multifunction pockets
•Outside zip pocket
•Zip-top closure, fabric lining
•Strap with 18 3/4" drop for crossbody wear converts to double strap for shoulder wear
•9 3/4" (L) x 13" (H) x 5 1/2" (W)

And nothing beats the refined look of an emerald green manicure. We fell for Vapour. It's such a smooth, sophisticated green shade and it's FREE of harsh nail chemicals. NO formaldehyde. NO toluene.

Looker 527 Vernissage 3-Free Nail Lacquer ($14, at VapourBeauty). This brand delivers a super glossy shine that lasts for days.

Will you be visiting the emerald land of Oz this Fall?

The Chic Flushed Cheek For Fall Says Michael Kors

 

 

Okay, Michael Kors. We get it. The pretty, elegant look at your Fall 2012 shows featured the spotlight on the cheeks. Then, the lips and the bolder brow.

It's a true blush + flush! Gorgeous! Healthy! And as you want to imply:

A "classic, sportif" look with flushed cheeks and bright lips created by Dick Page, Shiseido Artistic Director, for Michael Kors A/W 2012 collection.

"The connotation of sportif in Europe is energetic and the look is all about the woman who’s living this life, who’s very chic and made of money," he says.

Over the years, we have come to understand how essential blush is to the building blocks of makeup.

The only challenge for us and a lot of women is this----Exactly where do you apply blush?

On the apples of the cheeks, as the beauty professional would tell you.

Hmmm. No that easy to always do, and looking at the photos here from the Michael Kors' models---there's a lot of blush going on.

According to Dick Page, he actually used lipstick to achieve this naturally rosy glow:

Dick blended Lacquer Rouge in Drama (RD501), a lipstick with concentrated color, onto the apple of the cheek, along with a dab of foundation using a damp Foundation Sponge Puff.

Absolutely stunning. Not sure we could create quite the same effect, but we can  learn a lot through pictures and practice. By the way, we often use lipstick as blush, because it's creamy, looks natural and can be very buildable. With our oily complexion, however, the lipstick blush melts away faster than a powder blush. But, still, a softer flush.

We love this look for Fall. How about you?
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Gotta Love Deborah Lippman's Chic New Lip + Nail Combos!

We like simple, especially when it comes to getting complicated beauty products right.
 
And that's exactly what Deborah Lippman has achieved with her brand new lip + nail combos!

We have been trying to get into the neutral lips thing, again. We try for a few days,and then jump ship, and go back to our signature, cool pink lip. It is so hard to find the perfect nude for our light olive skin. But, now there's a quick, effortless solution:

Deborah Lippman My KIss Gift Set ($38, at BarneysNewYork). This is so-oooo lovely! You will NOT appear washed-out, ladies. These nudes, for both lips + nails, give off a healthy, pinky-beige-y flush.

We like the match-y-match idea of a lip + nail combo---very feminine, very classic!

This is how the Deborah Lippman company describes the new lip + nail combos:

"The perfect every day duet is My Touch My Kiss, which contains a sheer, nude-mauve lip color called I'm Every Woman and Naked, a sheer, bare-beige lacquer. This set is perfect for everyone, everyday.

"You can't go wrong with these modern nude tones that flatter all skin types and complement any outfit. Naked is the go-to nail shade, and I'm Every Woman is a must-have color for your everyday wardrobe. Once you try it, you'll always have to have it with you."