Gladiator Sandals Hot for 2014: Kourtney Kardashian First To Step Out In Style!

Gladiator sandals. These are Louboutins -- Spring 2014.

NOT an easy look to wear unless you're 6 foot tall on the fashion runway, but 5 foot tall Kourtney Kardashian pulls it off!

Kourtney is the trendsetter of the Kardashian sisters. She is fearless when it comes to fashion. She takes risks, big ones, and she usually nails them most of the time. Certainly, middle sister Kim is all about the clothes, but we think Kourtney goes farther out on the fashion limb.

So, how does a very petite woman copy the runway look?

With confidence and a good eye.

The eldest Kardashian sister is aware of what is going to be HOT.

Take a look at Kourtney's fab gladiator sandals as she's out + about with cutie-pie Penelope in warm, sunny California.

Dare to copy Kourtney Kardashian's look? We found cheaper versions of the glam gladiator sandals!

Steve Madden Sparta Black Leather Sandal ($99.95)

Check them out here.

Or how about these:
Click here for details. Will you dare to join the 2014 gladiator fashion trend this spring?

Go Jane Fully Strapped Gladiator Sandals ($35.10)

The Stilettos Solution: Spray This On Feet + Go!

Stilettos.

You've got to admit----these shoes make EVERY women's legs look long, lean, sculpted + spectacular.

But we all know the damage that comes with wearing sky-high, needle-thin heels, right ladies!

There's a cool product that will TAKE AWAY the PAIN. The stilettos solution. It's formulated with an inflammation-fighting arnica extract. Just SPRITZ and say Ah-hhhhh, and then slip into your favorite stilettos and go!

It's called Still Standing ($19.99, at stillstandingspray.com). You get a box of 4 mini spray bottles of Still Standing. Great, because these little ones tuck away neatly into your purse or pocket. Perfect for on-the-go!

Celebs aren't the only folks who love wearing stilettos. But they seem to know all about this soothing spray.

By the way, the spray is CLEAR and won't stain. The spray also contains aloe, and menthol which "provides a cooling sensation while the certified organic ilex (which has been used by Indians in the South American Rainforest for centuries) works to intensify the effect."

Smart beauty product. Plus---you can even spritz it on through stockings.

Genius!

Bev Hills Housewife Joyce Giraud Uses This Fruit Mask For Healthy Hair

Joyce Giraud. She's the gorgeous, raven-haired beauty new to the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reality TV show this season.

The former beauty queen from Puerto Rico seems to be blessed with the longest, most healthy locks we've seen in a long time. Joyce's hair is even longer than Kyle Richards' mane.

There's Joyce fresh from shopping for baubles at Tiffany's in New York City yesterday.

So, is the pageant winner wearing hair extensions or is this stunning 38-year-old just lucky to have healthy roots + all?

Not many women like admitting to using hair extensions, so we will leave it there, but the newest Bev Hills housewife DID spill her beauty tips for having long, lustrous locks.

Here's what she told toofab.com a few months ago:

"My one main secret I did right after my pageants days, is I only wash my hair once a week," she dished. "I tell everyone you have to stop washing your hair so much!"

Joyce also swears by putting on an avocado mask to keep her hair looking camera ready. 

The avocado is REALLY considered a fruit. And when we're not all enjoying guacamole, the soft, green fruit is a very nourishing beauty product for hair + skin.

Here is a classic avocado hair mask that a lot of women put on in the shower:

DEEP CONDITIONING AVOCADO HAIR MASK

This deep conditioning hair mask uses the nourishing goodness from the avocado to repair the damage that chemicals and styling aids do to hair. Combine egg yolk , olive oil and honey to tame your dry, split ends. Bouncy, soft hair returns.

Whisk one egg yolk, 1 tsp. of honey and 1 tsp. of extra-virgin olive oil together in a small bowl. Mash in ½ of an avocado with a fork.

This can get messy, so apply this to dry hair on ends first and then all over hair. Roll into a bun. After 15 minutes, rinse out in shower. Shampoo and then rinse again.

StriVectin's Claim That Day + Night Treatments Better Than Rx Retinol: Not True....

We dislike it when big beauty companies take major liberty with their clever commercial advertisements---claiming this + claiming that. When in reality, that boasting is never really covered by scientific fact.

Let's pick on StriVectin AR:  Advanced Retinol Day Treatment SPF30($99) + Advanced Retinol Night Treatment($109).

These products are formulated with NIA-114 technology, which as we have learned, has to do with niacin.

A paid consultant to StriVectin had told the NY Times this:

"NIA-114 provides many of the benefits of retinoic acid without those tolerability issues," Myron Jacobson said. "You get the gain without the pain."

The NY Times goes on to say that Dr. Jacobson, a biochemist,  "likes to say that NIA-114 is a great alternative to tretinoin(Retin-A), the gold standard routinely prescribed by dermatologists to keep aging skin looking (and acting) younger."

If you look at the current ads, Strivectin claims these 2 AR creams are "Better than Rx strength Retinol."

And that is  simply NOT true.

Chicago dermatologist Carolyn Jacob, MD recommends using a prescription-strength retinoid if you want REAL results. She told webmd this:

For aging skin, dermatologists like to prescribe tretinoin and retinoic acid (Retin-A, Renova, Refissa) that is "100 times" as potent as the retinol-containing products sold without prescription, Dr. Jacob says. "Tretinoin works better because it has a stronger capability of preventing the breakdown of collagen," she says. "I prescribe it to my patients because, if they're here, they've already tried the over-the-counter varieties."

If your skin is very sensitive, then over-the-counter retinol might be better for you.

Retinol helps repair damaged, aging skin, but just not at the speed or depth of an Rx retinoid like Retin-A.

Okay....hope that helps. In other words, an over-the-counter product containing retinol is excellent for your skin BUT cannot equal the strength  + superiority of an Rx retinoid.

Yum-Yum! Cake Beauty Delectable Hair & Body Mist From Kohl's

We've all been there.....You're at a party. There's a lot of smoke in the air, or maybe you can smell the odor of fried foods all over you. Still, maybe you just put in a full work-out at the gym. And a bad odor is following you. Yuck...Get us out of there!

It would be smart to have a bottle of this around, where you could discreetly spritz on a little sweet mist!

We found these at your neighborhood Kohl's. That's right--Kohl's. And these weren't in the Jennifer Lopez department.

We love hair scenters. Okay, maybe that isn't a word. But we LOVE a quick spritz for the hair to keep it soft + smelling fresh!

This set is by Cake Beauty. It's called Delectable Hair & Body Mist ($14, a set of 4, at Kohl's). In the set, you get 4 yummy scents---Strawberry + Cream. Lemon + Cream. Vanilla + Cream. Coconut + Cream.

These hair + body mists are fun to spritz on. They're formulated with aloe vera and are supposed to last all day.

Taylor Swift + Karlie Kloss: The Beautiful Bob Twins!

Hasn't anyone caught the resemblance?!

Was Victoria's Secret model Karlie Kloss the beauty inspiration behind superstar Taylor Swift's new drastic haircut?

Taylor is REALLY enjoying her brand new bob....and she had a lot of inches lopped off!

Usually when a woman has had 1/2 of her locks chopped off, it's a somewhat frightening experience. But the multi-award-winning singer NEVER missed a beat.

Taylor is LOVIN' her grown-up, sophisticated bob.

 To us, Taylor Swift is a dead ringer for famous model Karlie Kloss.

Karlie was one of the few models to undergo a major hair transformation back in the fall of 2012. She lost 7 inches, but Karlie NEVER looked back:

  "I love it," Karlie told the Web site Fashionologie backstage at a fashion show soon after the new cut was revealed.

"I can’t stop touching it." She added that having short hair "actually takes the focus off your hair and puts the focus on you. I’m starting to realize that it’s all about confidence."

The genius stylist behind Karlie's chop was Garren Defazio.

We don't know who cut Taylor's new modern bob, but she had it done in London while on tour.

"London, I could never thank you enough. See you next time! P.S. short hair, don't care. (!!!)," Taylor wrote on Facebook alongside the reveal pic, a photo of a Polaroid posing with singer Ellie Goulding.

We like the look on Taylor. She wears it well, right down to her polished, signature red lips. But we do think the bob cut makes Taylor look older than her 24 years.
.
What do you think, Beauty TipToday readers?

Madonna Launches Skin Care Line Today In Japan: MDNA SKIN

At age 55, Madonna must be doing something right in the world of a healthy complexion.

Someone wants to know her beauty secrets, because today the star has launched a new skin care line in Japan. It's called MDNA SKIN.

We're not sure if and when this skin care line will make it to the U.S. + beyond.

Madonna developed the so-called revolutionary line in collaboration with MTG, Japan's leading beauty company.

So, what's in the material girl's skin care products?

There are 3 components. We found this beauty nugget from the madonnalicious website:

 The clay oil therapy inspired CHROME CLAY MASK, made with a base of clay from Montecatini Terme in Italy, which performs multiple functions that enrich the skin.

The SKIN REJUVENATOR - the specialized Magnetic Force and Deep Derma induction system devised to remove impurities and revitalizes the skin. 

 THE SERUM - based on an original formula that was created exclusively for Madonna, it creates a glowing effect when used alone and is further enhanced when used with the CHROME CLAY MASK and SKIN REJUVENATOR.

Check out the official video for MDNA SKIN here.
By the way, MDNA SKIN has its ownTwitter page.