Want A Flawless Finish? Pick Up A Sea Sponge

We all look for the smoothest, most radiant finish when it comes applying foundation.

Many of us use our fingers to  blend our makeup into the complexion. Others use cosmetic sponges made of latex or other materials. And a number like to apply foundation with cosmetic brushes.

If you're looking for one of the BEST applicators to use, try something from nature: a sea sponge.

Sea sponges are nice and soft when moist with water. And these sponges last quite a while, as long as you rinse them after every application. Using a sea sponge delivers an airbrushed or flawless finish.

Silk sea sponges are wonderful for letting foundation blend seamlessly into the complexion.

Mediterranean Sea Sponge at naturalbathandbodyshop.com. Only $1.97 per sponge!

Heavy Jewelry Adornment Big For Spring 2013

Talk about adornment!

If you like wrapping yourself in big, bold jewelry, then 2013 is your year.

The Gucci, Dries van Noten, and Etro shows were all going huge on the jewels, from metal to Boho costume pieces for next Spring.

A bit over-the-top? A tangled jewelry web we weave?

Maybe, but we think this stunning bib necklace is really amazing by the Tom Binns Spring 2013 collection. Like  pretty, pastel TicTacs!

Check out his intricate pieces at TomBinnsDesign. New bride Jessica Biel wore a gorg necklace of his last August.

We like the bib necklace trend a lot. Do you?

Julia Roberts Gets Amazing Hair From 'Magic Serum'

Have an extra $23 on you? And would you like to have healthy, bouncy Julia Roberts hair?!

Okay, we can't make any guarantees, but the Oscar-winning actress DOES have gorgeous hair, no matter what color she dyes it. And she won't step out in public without spritzing some of this in her mane:

Serge Normant Meta Lush Volumizer ($23, at NeimanMarcus).

This is what Julia tells InStyle:

"This stuff is like a magic serum. I go crazy spraying it on my hair until my fingers get tired. Then I let my hair air-dry."

Sounds simple enough, this 'magic serum.'

Meta Lush Volumizer fights frizz, amps up the shine and creates volume at the roots. We love a multi-tasking beauty product!

We think Julia Roberts has one of the BEST heads of hair in Hollywood, and we're about 99.9% sure that she does NOT have hair extensions, or ever has. Period.

She does have naturally wavy hair, so that gives the actress a lot of options styling those incredible locks.

Banana Republic Going Bananas Over New Launch Of Anna Karenina Style

Stay tuned! Next Tuesday, October 30th, the Anna Karenina-inspired collection by Banana Republic will launch!

It's a very sophisticated, chic line, that is blending 19th Century style with a modern edge. Feeling a little Leo Tolstoy?

If you adore the mystery of  a cape, the ultra-glamour of big fur hats and collars ( don't worry all FAUX fur), and rich-looking black fabrics, then this collection will appeal to you.

The Banana Republic line will start at $29.50 for a piece of jewelry, to $325 for a coat, and higher.

Let's be honest here---this is a very feminine, elegant collection. Some of these pieces could go formal for a number of important events.

And of course, Banana Republic is inspired as well, with the Anna Karenina movie coming out on November 9th, starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law.

Banana Republic's creative director Simon Kneen, told this to  InStyle.com.

"It's really about taking key elements of that time period- sophisticated color, fabrics, and beautiful detailing- and translating that into an updated wardrobe."

Maybe you would like to add just a small piece of 19th Century Russia luxury to your wardobe,  like a pair of earrings or cape. You don't want to deck yourself out in total Anna Karenina. It would look too costume-y.

We really like this look. How about you?

Onsen: Micro Water Complex = Younger-Looking Skin

We love learning and writing about the incredible advances discovered in the science of skin care. And for a few weeks now, we have been very lucky to have experienced the world of Onsen.

Onsen is a skin care company whose effective products center around a simple water molecule. But in this case, not just any water molecule.

The entire Onsen concept sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but it's just a fascinating reality in beauty technology.

The name Onsen takes us on a journey to the Japanese Hot Springs, known as Onsen. Every Onsen skin care product contains the origins of this 'active water'. These molecules are pure, strong, and tiny enough to penetrate through the cell walls, delivering beautiful, plumper, smoother skin.

Onsen anti aging cream rejuvenates the complexion like no other. The secret is in the powder/water technology. Other  skin care products contain mostly water, up to 75% and more. But Onsen  is formulated with 100% active solutions.

Onsen Daily Hydration ($129.95) is an excellent choice for bringing better elasticity to the skin and diminishing the look of fine lines/wrinkles. Feels gorgeous on the face and neck!

The Smoothing Eye Serum ($169.95) is another Onsen winner. Crow's feet melt away and stay hidden for hours. Lovely formula.

Probably the cadillac of the Onsen fleet of skin care is the popular Bio-Cell Lift, Instant Skin Firming Solution ($595.)  Yes, this is indeed a beauty investment, but a superb one.  Who needs La Mer when you've got this stuff?! It's got a wow factor---delivering the effects of a non-surgical facelift for a full 8 hrs! Tight, plump, radiant skin!

To learn more about the Onsen skin care line, visit Onsen. And BeautyTipToday readers get a 20% discount by entering this code, beauty 20, at the website check-out!

Sleek Straight Hair In: That Means Good Blow Dryer

If you're looking for the big blow-out, then you're on the right beauty track, because sleek, straight hair is in, as we talked about back in our Oct. 4th posting.

We're all looking to save a few bucks these days, so let's look at a very good blow dryer for the money.

You don't have to spend hundreds on a super expensive dryer, but if you can, then sure, go with some of the more expensive brands like CHI and Solano. But if you're cash-strapped, then try this inexpensive blower:

Infiniti Pro by Conair 1875 Watt Salon Performance AC Motor Styling Tool ($39.99, but we found it for ONLY $29.99 at Target.com.

And it's a nice one:

Well-balanced and 20% lighter, this Conair Infiniti Pro Hair Dryer delivers comfortably effortless styling and sensational results

Ergonomically designed for ultimate comfort, it also provides high performance for salon-quality results

A quiet but powerful AC motor ensures fast drying time, which means less heat exposure for hair

Celebrity stylist Ted Gibson of NYC told Harper's Bazaar why sleek hair is IN:

"Sleek, long hair is making a comeback because women are not feeling romantic at the moment," says stylist Ted, whose clients include Angelina Jolie. "Designers aren't making frilly clothes, and the hair follows the fashion. There's something about long, straight hair that feels very modern and present."

Long, pin-straight hair means high-wattage shine. That also translates to a good blow-out for your crowning glory.

Do You Bother To Water Line Your Eyes With Makeup?!

The water line.

We'll be honest. We didn't know exactly where that was along the eye until a few years ago, and yet, we were unknowingly water-lining back in our early college years, until a nasty pair of red eyes forced us to discontinue this practice.

Look at the top photo. The way we understand it, the water line is UNDER the -eye, right where the bottom rim of the eye is---where the tears flow from the tear duct.

There is also a water line located at the TOP of the eye, right below the lashes, that top inner rim. Some people call this the tight line or something else I can't remember at the moment.

As you can see by the photo, both water lines have been lined in black.

So, how does that benefit me, you ask?

1.Water-lining beautifully shapes the eye.
2. Adds depth to the eye.
3. Allows lashes to look lush and fuller .

The only 'bad thing' it does, however, is make the eye look smaller.

This morning we water-lined just our top inner rims, and left the bottom water line alone. We water-lined with a Cover Girl black eyeliner pencil. Then we lined our top lashes, and our eyes looked dreamy! It works!

Actress Olivia Wilde is one celebrity who LOVES to waterline her gorgeous eyes. Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian also water-line. And Duchess Kate always water-lines her bottom inner rim.

Be careful what you water-line with. Back in college we were using liquid liner, and we looked high and red-eyed. We finally quit water-lining. All we had to do though, was switch to a eyeliner pencil, but we didn't know too much about makeup back then.

If you haven't tried water-lining, you ought to. Just water-line the bottom or top, and watch your eyes transform! Such a cool makeup trick.