Love Sunglasses? Wrap Is Where It's At Say Dermatologists

We all LOVE playing in the summer sun. And yeah...We've all been warned about the dangers of spending too much time enjoying those HOT July days.

UVA, UVB----Who cares, right?

Well. We SHOULD care enough to put on a killer pair of sunglasses, right?

Too much exposure from the sun has been proven to cause skin cancer, wrinkles + sagging and also this:

CATARACTS.

According to the EPA website, it's from the UV radiation:

...."Cataracts are a form of eye damage in which a loss of transparency in the lens of the eye clouds vision. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. Research has shown that UV radiation increases the likelihood of certain cataracts. "


So what should we do?

Dermatologists suggest wearing sunglasses, of course, but your best bet is to invest in wrap around sunglasses.

Yuck...You might say?

Today, there are lots of wrap around sunglasses styles to choose from that aren't old-lady-looking.

These Ralph Lauren wrap arounds are tres chic + tres expensive.

But there are cheaper shades that accomplish the same thing, and that is to shield the entire eye from the UV rays as best as can be done.

Kohl's offers a bunch of pretty, wrap arounds. Even the Jennifer Lopez brand offers some:

These are the Jennifer Lopez Blondie Wrap Sunglasses on SALE now for $16.99.

When BIG Bad Lips Happen To Beautiful Women

Dermatologists + plastic surgeons would both agree that a little lip filler never hurt anyone. But they emphasize the words "a little."

That's when celebrities, models and "regular women" get into cosmetic trouble--when they don't adhere to those words.

Getting dermal filler can be quite addicting. Whether you're using filler to boost V-O-L-U-M-E into your cheeks, jawline, under eye sockets or lips, a little goes a long way.

A good dermatologist or good plastic surgeon knows when to say, "when." But sadly, many surgical pros yield to the patient's wishes, and instantly we've got this:

When BIG Bad Lips Happen to Beautiful Women.

And this time we won't even mention actress Lisa Rinna.

Here are just a handful of stars with beyond normal-looking lips---Nicole Kidman, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Janice Dickinson.

No---We cannot prove these lovely women have done anything to their lips cosmetically-speaking, but it would appear that they have possibly gone over-board with the injections. Allegedly, we might add.

Experts will advise using Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Perlane, Juvederum, etc. These substances are the preferred choice for lip enhancement because when done properly, look + feel soft + natural.

And if lips become TOO big, these volumizing fillers can be reversed.

Here's what derm expert Dr. Teh Siew Yen says about lip injection over-board:

 "The key to natural looking lips is to start with a small amount of filler and touch up with more later, if needed. Too much lip filler can result in blunting of the lip edges and cause a sausage-like appearance. Less is often more and it is best to make the most of our natural lips rather than attempting to over-stuff it."

To read more about Dr. Teh Siew Yen's take on lip enhancement with fillers, click here.

Comfy Clothing For J Lo: Her Fave Are Wedge Sneakers....

When she's NOT on the red carpet doing her sexy thing, Jennifer Lopez likes to kick back in something easy-breezy. J Lo LOVES her loose gym looks + special shoes, according to the July issue of InStyle magazine:

When asked about her FAVORITE article of fashion, this is how the glam superstar responded

"Something comfy, like my sweatsuits and wedge sneakers."

 And big wedge it is. We're not talking Kohl's, either.

J Lo adores her Giuseppe Zanotti wedge sneakers in both white and black shades. These zip-up, metal-plate sneaks give her a nice boost in the height department.

These are $1,000 a pair sneakers. We found some at Saks.

You can copy J Lo's wedge sneaker look with a much cheaper pair. We hunted down these at ami clubwear for $23.99. Lace-up 3-inch wedges with a single metal plate.

Summer's Best Budget Buy: Classic, Bucket Bag From Old Navy!

Okay....So you can't afford the red, studded Prada bucket bag for $2,400.

That's alright....We feel your pain.

But, we've found a CHEAP, sporty, cute, roomy BUCKET BAG from Old Navy.

Hey---for LESS than $33, this is one best budget buy. Plus, the bucket bag comes in 3 shades......White. Navy. Mocha brown.
And it has pretty tassels.

Yes, it's FAUX leather, but who cares. It looks good and can carry you conveniently through summer.

Take a peek at all 3:

Here are the details:
Supple, textured faux leather, with piped trim. 
Adjustable buckled shoulder straps. 
Grommeted openings threaded with faux-leather tassel ties. 
Bucket shape, with molded base Smooth twill lining, with interior compartment for cell phones or wallets. 
Approximately 14"L x 6 1/2"W x 10 1/2"H, with 20" strap drop..

 If you check out the customer reviews, you will see that this bucket bag from Old Navy gets HIGH marks.

Big Beauty Bulk-Up: Jessica Simpson's Legs Are The New Madonna Arms!

A recent beauty publication has linked the defined musculature of Jessica Simpson's legs to Madonna's super-ripped arms.

And you know what?

We see the connection!

For a few years now, it's been ALL about the arms---shredded biceps + triceps.

And Madonna became the poster girl for extreme arm fitness in both a good + bad way.
Either the star was considered perfectly fit with bulked-up arms or way too buff for a woman to appear.

And now usher in Jessica Simpson, a new mom once again to baby boy Ace Knute with fiance Eric Johnson. And look at those killer legs! The calves alone, are something you can't take your eyes off.

Already---the critics have responded:

"Those legs are too muscular and belong on a man."
Or...
"Way to go, Jess! You look incredible!"

Jessica admits dropping some 50 lbs. through Weight Watchers since having baby Ace. Plus she works out. Trainer Harley Pasternak demonstrates her leg-sculpting routine:

Check out this excellent demo here on People.com.

Ladies, Do you prefer the beauty bulk-up or just fit but not defined?

Nautical Summer Scarf: Get On Board With Style!

Yes. It's REALLY alright to wear a summer scarf. No----NOT the heavy woolen kind, but something in a cool, cotton blend is nice.

Fashionable celebrities like Jessica Alba wear summer scarves A LOT! And she's protecting her beautiful skin in the process. .

Okay....so maybe you aren't spending summer in St. Barts, but you CAN wear a summer scarf hanging out anytime, anywhere. It's a classic fashion staple.

Since it is summer, we think the nautical summer scarf is a must-have!

And these scarves are just about everywhere. We found some at Etsy.com.

 

These are both from AnytimeScarf. The nautical anchor scarf is $30. The nautical stripe scarf is $24. 

A summer scarf is styish + handy for a few good reasons:

1. It can serve as a head scarf. 
2. It can be tied around the hips as a sarong. 
3. It can shield the neck + decolette from the sun. 

Plus, a  summer nautical scarf looks so darn chic!

Finding The Perfect Foundation Match For Today's All-American Woman

The perfect match.

When it comes to makeup foundation, well for us, it's been almost impossible to blend in the perfect match. We have light olive skin, being of Mediterranean background.

Today, we wear ColorStay foundation in NUDE by Revlon. And we've been applying this foundation shade for years now. Maybe 15 years and counting.....This is the CLOSEST shade we could get to match our skin tone. Not flawless, but, not bad, either.

We have been to the department store makeup counters and have had pros trying to exactly match our complexion, but still, they haven't done any better than our self, so we stick to the Revlon, because it works and we're afraid we can't do any better.

We remember the March issue of Glamour magazine that recently tackled this same topic. The publication noted that we are indeed a melting pot nation, and that "the number of mixed-race people grew 32% from 2000-2010," adding that by the year 2050, "people of color are predicted to represent 54% of the American population."

So, that poses a lot of challenges for makeup companies to re-think foundation choices for the abundance of skin tones that ALL deserve the perfect foundation match.

We believe that the giant makeup players are trying to expand the foundation market. Bobbi Brown + MAC are just 2 of the major companies that offer a nice, full range of foundations that are really wearable + flattering to most skin tones.

And then there is IMAN Cosmetics started by the iconic model herself, who has been at the forefront for years now, when it comes to creating the closest to an exact foundation match.

Iman's brand looks at the issue this way:

 ...."That women with skin of color represent many races, cultures and ethnicities. IMAN Cosmetics, Skincare and Fragrances are designed for African American, Asian, Latina and multi-cultural women with skin tones in a myriad of shades."

Beautiful Iman divides her foundations choices into 3 color categories--Sand, Clay, Earth, with 16 shades to choose from (photo only shows 12 shades here).

To learn more about IMAN Cosmetics, click here.