How To Feel Pampered And Beautiful During Pregnancy

We've all heard about the lovely, natural glow that pregnant women have, and it's certainly true, because you can see the glow on women who are expecting.

And pregnant women around the globe all want to feel pampered and beautiful during this time.

So, we took a look at a few products to help moms-to-be keep their skin soft and pretty.

Pictured above is a very pregnant Angie Everhart. The gorgeous redhead gave birth in late July to a cute baby boy named Kayden Bobby. Angie is a first-time mom at age 39. Congratulations!

The actress/model has been asked to star in a new ad campaign for Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks.

Palmer's is a popular stretch mark cream softener, and at just $6 at drugstores, it's a great deal. And it's formulated with good ingredients like Vitamin E, collagen, and elastin.

Another product you can enjoy is called Glowology Elasticity Oil ($42, http://www.noodleandboo.com/). And you can also find some on Ebay.com. This is a nourishing oil for the body, and nicely improves the skin's resiliency.

And here's a beauty item that all women have come to adore from Avon. Bust Sculpt Contouring Cream ($17.50, http://www.avon.com/). Avon says their Bust Sculpt Contouring Cream is based on a unique formula they call--Virtual Bra Technology. This concept blends special ingredients that form a network of support around the bosom. And the longer you use the cream, the better the results.

Breast-feeding moms say this cream firms and lifts the bust.

Actress Brooke Burke, whom you might recall from her successful Dancing with the Stars title victory in 2008, is a mom of 4. And she wants moms-to-be, to feel good about themselves at this very special time. Brooke has a super website at http://www.babooshbaby.com/.

Brooke Burke says this about babooshbaby.com:

"Babooshbaby is a place to visit and find hip, practical and necessary items. It is a place to learn, laugh, and have a little fun. Check the "What's New" section often as I introduce new items that will make this motherhood journey a bit easier."

Ann Taylor Debuts New Look With Modern Legacy Line

Ann Taylor. The name has come to symbolize classic, impeccable style. There is a rich history woven into their fabrics.

Did you know that Julia Roberts was discovered for the movie Mystic Pizza while working as an associate for Ann Taylor?

And that, Ann Taylor's cashmere was voted best quality by InStyle magazine? Fans include Tina Fey, Ann Curry and Rachael Ray.

We found these interesting Ann Taylor fashion nuggets on the Ann Taylor Facebook page, http://fr-fr.facebook.com/AnnTaylor

And we're also blown away by the beautiful and sophisticated new look to Ann Taylor with their Fall Modern Legacy line, in stores next week. And you can shop for the collection online right now at http://www.anntaylor.com/.

Here is how Kristin, Ann Taylor's new Style Director describes Modern Legacy:

"Our new Director of Design Lisa Axelson has inspired the new collection with a sense of Modern Legacy—a chic, sophisticated take on our heritage with a decidedly feminine twist. Think couture-inspired styles, luxe fabrics, impeccable details and brilliant accessories. (Oh, did we mention the to-die-for shoe collection?)"

These pieces easily go from work to dinner to family and friends. Gorgeous shades in plums and purples, greens, browns, grays, and blacks for Fall.

You can also find Ann Taylor's new Fall 2009 ad campaign featured in the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle and more.

If you've been missing AT's classic, sophisticated style, worry no more, Ann Taylor has returned to it elegant roots, and this time with a feminine, modern twist.

New Hand Perfection Cleanser Restores Moisture And Softness

Let's be honest. With continued talk about the H1N1 virus, there's a lot of attention being paid to our hands.

Even schoolchildren are being re-taught how to correctly wash their hands.

Everyone is washing their hands, over and over again, upwards of 15 times per day, according to a Hand Perfection survey.

Who is Hand perfection, you ask?

Hand Perfection is a new collection of hand creams, developed and designed by Ellen Sirot. Her company knows plenty about good grooming when it comes to our hands. Ellen Sirot has been a hand model for 20 years now, with an impressive portfolio. Advertising shots range from Dawn dishwashing liquid to Elizabeth Arden skin care to jewelry with Ross-Simons, etc.

And we learned recently from Ellen, that plain, old water can do a number on the appearance of our hands. Every time we submerge them into water, we are drying out the delicate skin on our hands.

And now Ellen Sirot has created a wonderful HandPerfection Moisturizing Cleanser for Hands ($30, use code CLEAN25 for special offer)

Ellen swears by this excellent hand cleanser:

"Though necessary, repeated hand washing with conventional soaps contributes to skin aging. Our creamy formula gently cleanses your skin while moisturizing, leaving hands looking and feeling their best. Mild, coconut-derived cleanser combined with super conditioners helps preserve skin’s delicate balance of water and natural oils. Hands are protected, refreshingly hydrated and soft. Especially suited to sensitive skin. Use in place of soap."

And if you would like to see photos of Ellen Sirot's beautiful model hands, click on her website. She has a lovely collection of products to keep hands looking ageless:
http://www.handperfection.com/.

One 'N Only Colorfix To The Rescue For Hair Color Mistakes

If you color your hair at home, mistakes can happen. And yes, even hair color mishaps can occur at the salon, once in a while. OMG! My light brown hair is now black!!! Or, help! My golden blonde hair is now mahogany!!

That's why you need the One 'n Only Colorfix by Jherri Redding ($13.39, www.sallybeauty.com).

Colorfix is a gentle dye reducer. In other words, it is not a hair stripper. It removes unwanted permanent hair color. Controlled usage allows color correction to specific areas. Designed for full or slight color corrections.

If your hair has been dyed and it's now jet black, and you hate it, well, Colorfix might not be able to 'lift' away the ultra darkness completely, but, it will probably bring you to a dark brown level that is warmer.

Robert Craig, a famous hair stylist, raves about Colorfix at his wonderful and educational hair website, www.robertcraig.com. He advises using the dye reducer only in the slight correction method. That way, a non-professional can get good results and not mess up the condition of their locks.

In this method, the gentlest application process, you mix up 1/4 oz. each from bottle 1 and bottle 2 with 1 oz. of shampoo. Create a lather and leave it on damp hair for 10-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo.

The product does not contain ammonia, or formaldehyde.
It gently reduces the size of color molecules, allows for easy color removal.
No unpleasant odor.

Well, there is a smell of sorts. Not pleasant, but not horrendous. Just an odor like you pick up when you are getting a perm. And it disappears after you wash it out, so don't worry.

You can also head to the folica.com website and read some 329 reviews for this 4-star rated dye reducer, http://www.folica.com/one__n_only_Col_r312_1.html. You will get many tips from women around the globe who have suffered hair color traumas, but have successfully 'lightened up' their hair mistakes.

Some salons use One 'n Only Colorfix on their clients. And yet, some hair professionals would also tell you, that stripping the hair correctly, is the true but expensive method to use.

We can say, that if you choose Colorfix in the slight correction method, it is a very gentle way to proceed, and your hair will look healthy after you perform this correction. And you can re-Colorfix 2-3 times in one day to get at stubborn sections of hair that didn't lighten the first time around.

If you're really upset with your current hair color, at least read all about Colofix first, and then go ahead, but hold your nose and open the windows!

New 4-In-1 Joey New York CTSM2 Anti-Aging Beauty Product

This new 3 oz. bottle of skin care does it all:

Cleanse. Tone. Scrub. Masque. Yes, 4-in-1. Joey New York CTSM2 in Anti-Aging or Hydrating formulas ($30, each). Oily skin (green bottle). Dry skin (blue bottle).

Both CTSM2 skin care products come in a cooling gel-form. And both contain some very special, advanced beauty technology properties:

Marine Collagen for plumping and Prozymex HBT for anti-aging benefits, as well as Papain enzyme that works quickly to scrub, exfoliate, and smooth your face.

Nothing complicated with this Joey New York beauty item. Simply wet face and apply the gel formula. It will thoroughly cleanse your skin by removing dirt & debris. You will feel this product working because a mild cooling effect will begin to happen which will tone and clarify your skin. Massage or scrub this highly effective formulation in with water for about 1 minute, leave on for another minute, and watch it foam up into a masque! And then rinse off and dry.

Your skin will feel so smooth and clean. Trust us. This is a very unique experience in washing your face.

You can find Joey New York skin care products online at many beauty sites, including: http://www.discount.makeup.com/ and http://www.folica.com/.

Is Drew Barrymore's Black-Tipped Blonde Bob A Hair Do Or Hair Don't?

Drew Barrymore sure likes to take beauty chances these days.

Her hair do or hair don't has been getting lots of buzz. Well, look at it. Seriously.

It's a black-tipped blonde bob.

Okay, we don't care what the classic fashion snobs might think, but.........we actually like this look on 34-year-old Drew. Maybe it's because she's just a cool chick.

Sure, it appears that someone dipped the ends of her bob in the ink wells. But, so be it. The cheery actress can carry this edgy look.

And she did so last week in conservative fashion hub Boston, while promoting her new movie Whip It with Ellen Page. And folks got a glimpse of the new do again at the Toronto Film Festival where she wore this knock-out Alexander McQueen dress.

We're not sure if this is an attention-getting method to promote the new Whip It movie. Or just Drew being Drew.

We've been trying to hunt down which stylist colored the actress' black-tipped blonde bob?

We wonder if celebrity stylist Kim Vo knows who dip-dyed Drew's locks. And we wonder what Kim Vo thinks about this edgy look, because he is a master at beautiful hair color.

Is it a hair do or a hair don't?!

Ladies: You Can Squeeze In A Workout Just About Anywhere

We hope you find time to squeeze this in:

We stumbled on to this website while sitting lazily on the couch-- http://www.squeezeitin.com/.

Let's be honest. It's easy to come up with a million excuses for not wanting to exercise, or even move off the couch. But according to Brigette Polmar and Jenny Hein, there is a way to make fitness a part of your life. Even if it involves fitting quick exercises in and around your daily chores.

Brigette and Jenny call themselves 'crazy moms from the 'burbs.' Actually, the duo has created their popular website for busy women and moms out there, who want to make every minute count. Brigette has a TV background and Jenny is a certified fitness instructor, so the lessons they give you are well-packaged and smart.

Squeezeitin.com is a free site that keeps you moving, in every room of the house, or at the office, in the grocery store, and even waiting with your child at the bus stop.

For instance, these two clever ladies have lots of exercises that you can do just about anywhere, because you are never too busy to squeeze in a workout. Have a minute to kill, while you're waiting for the microwave to buzz?

Jenny Hein suggests gripping the edge of the kitchen countertop and performing 2 sets of 12 elevated push-ups.

Or how about some dish-lifts for your calves, as you put dishes away in the cabinet?

"While putting dishes away rise up onto toes. Hold for a count of 3 while chanting SQUEEZE-IT-IN. Come down slowly onto heels. Repeat until all dishes are back in cupboards or for at least 2 sets of 12."

Squeezeitin.com has videos to show you these mini fitness routines, step-by-step.

Whether it's laundry legs or the park bench dips or hairstyling hot squats, there are excellent movements for women at all levels of fitness.

You should really check it out: http://www.squeezeitin.com/.

Solange Knowles' Best Beauty Buy For Glossy Lips

Beyonce's younger sister, Solange Knowles, is not afraid to take chances when it comes to beauty.

And we applaud Solange for the new ultra pixie do she got this summer. You can really see the attractiveness of her features with this bold hair style.

And Solange Knowles has another beauty tip. And this one's a Best Beauty Buy for Cheap!!

When it comes to lip gloss, Solange looks for a bargain and a product that delivers a pretty pucker.

"Wet 'n Wild...the cheap 99 cent stuff. The lip gloss is amazing," she says.

Well, we couldn't find a Wet 'n Wild lip gloss for 99 cents. There are lip liners for that low price. But the company's large variety of glosses start at $1.99 for their MegaSlicks lips. And the prices go up to about $3.59 for Wet 'n Wild's more costly glosses.

Still, excellent cost-savings for women looking for a bargain and good makeup products.

So, thank you, Solange Knowles for your great Best Beauty Buy.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

Giorgio Armani.

One of the great fashion designers of all time.

And beauty makeup designer, too.

Yes, Armani is even brilliant at making women's faces more beautiful.

We're taking a look at Giorgio Armani's Beauty Fall 2009 Makeup collection. And we fell in love with this Fall Manta Ray line.

Armani once said this, about wearing makeup:

"Makeup that becomes like a mask is good in a (fashion) show, but day to day, it must be there, but it must not be visible," he tells Allure magazine. "The makeup has to help the face show its best aspect and cover the negative."

And we believe the designer has once again, followed this approach with his Fall Manta Ray collection. Strong, and yet, quite subtle.

The Manta Ray Eye Duo in Greige and Charcoal ($32) is Armani-inspired "by the precious and luxurious materials used in Giorgio Armani fashion accessories, the palettes offer a beautiful selection of color harmonies inspired by nature. The collection features subtle hues that offer a new take on the timeless color “Greige,” create by Giorgio Armani. The rich filtered eye tones, presented in a matte Greige compact, give depth and mystery to the eyes with subtle contours and highlights."

And the Armanisilk Lipstick ($25) comes in 19 gorgeous shades to complement the smoky eye.

You can take a look at the full Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 Makeup collection at

http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/. And you can buy everything Armani at fine dept. stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's.

Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Line Gives You Wavy Sexy Jen Aniston Hair

Let's face facts here. Actress Jennifer Aniston is a master at the wavy, sexy, tousled bed-head hair we all love.

And now we can all try to achieve this trendy look for Fall 2009 with Herbal Essences new Tousle Me Softly Hair Care collection. It's a 6-piece styling line:

Shampoo
Conditioner
Mousse
Tousling Spray Gel
Flexible Hold Hairspray
Finishing Touch Cream
The New York Fashion Week runways, once again, featured models with sexy, tousled waves. Hair that freely bounced down the catwalk.

The hair look: loose and natural waves.

Charles Baker Strahan, Herbal Essences Celebrity Stylist, explains. “I consider tousles to be the update to beachy waves– touchable and fully of body, without being crunchy or stiff. “I love to create tousled styles, as the look is meant to be customized to each woman’s hair type and mood.”

Charles loves this new line. “The collection has definitely become a must-have in my kit to help create my signature style of loose, perfectly imperfect moments and tousles you can run your fingers through.”

For Tousle Me Softly Styling Tips, visit http://www.herbalessences.com/.

There you will find lots of beautiful hair how-to's, and step-by-step videos with Charles Baker Strahan. He shows you just how to create the Tousle Me Softly Jen Aniston look.

And of course, all Herbal Essences hairstyling lines can be found right at your local drugstore.

By the way, the Tousle Me Softly line smells wonderful with its fresh clean violet splash scent!

Estee Lauder Makes Makeup Fun With New Beauty Widget

Estee Lauder has really perfected the virtual makeover with a cool new widget. And now you can have fun at home, trying on all the pretty new shades for lips, eyes, and face.

And it's so simple. All you do is add the widget. Download to your social network page(like Facebook or MySpace) or desktop.

Let's Play Makeover.

Visit these sites to dowload:

http://www.esteelauder.com/LetsPlayMakeover

http://www.facebook.com/esteelauder

The beauty of this Lets Play Makeover virtual makeup counter, is it addictive nature. You could spend tons of time trying on this eyeshadow or that lip gloss. This virtual makeover is state-of-the-art. You're sampling the real pigments....the real makeup shades from the Estee Lauder company.

You can use your own photo for this makeover, or you can use the model. You get to play around with wonderful makeup and experiment with new styles in a flash! And you can also save and share your new looks. And Estee Lauder will introduce your first, when their newest products hit beauty counters.

Such wonderful beauty technology, and all from a cool, little widget called Let's Play Makeover.

J.Lo Ready To Debut New My Glow Perfume In October

Jennifer Lopez is a busy woman these days, trying to make movies, raise her cute twins, and keep her J.Lo empire growing.

And now Jennifer hopes to shine again with the debut of her newest perfume addition, My Glow, to her popular Glow collection. The fragrance comes out in October.And the talented songstress hopes to hit all the right notes with My Glow:

Top notes: Lavender flower, water lily, freesia

Mid notes: White rose, wet leaves, peony, casablanca lily

Base notes: Skin musk, milky sandalwood, precious woods and heliotrope

The perfume will be available in these sizes:

Eau de Toilette Spray (50 ml) $49.50

Eau de Toilette Spray (100 ml) $59.50

Tender Body Lotion (200 ml) $29.50

We love the design of the My Glow bottle. Jennifer Lopez wanted an angel at the top of the fragrance bottle, and we think it looks quite attractive.

Some critics are saying that Jennifer Lopez has 'borrowed' the L'Air du Temps bottle design. We say, not really.

Other J.Lo Glow fragrances include:

Glow

Miami Glow
Love at First Glow

Glow After Dark
Sunkissed Glow,

and soon-to-be: My Glow

That's a lot of 'glow-ing going on.'

Clear Up Skin Quickly With Once Daily Zinc Supplement

Want clear, smooth skin?

Frustrated because you've tried the prescription acne drugs, the many over-the-counter zit zappers, and you're still bothered by break-outs and pimples?

Don't despair. We have a simple, inexpensive way to clear up your skin quickly with one, small daily zinc supplement .

You have nothing to lose, but about $6.99 for a bottle of supplements.

For those of us who have been there, pimples can seem like the end of the world. Acne has ruined many a date, instantly lowered self-esteem, and for some, lingered on for a number of years, even into adulthood.

So, what's so magical about zinc?

Let us explain. First of all, we know how important Vitamin A is to healthy skin. But so is zinc, because it is required to mobilize Vitamin A from the liver to the skin.

Several decades ago, a Swedish physician treating a patient for another ailment in the Uppsala University Hospital, noticed that the patient's acne improved after treatment with zinc supplements.

A Swedish study was later conducted on patients with pimples in a clinical trial. And after 4 weeks of taking zinc supplements, there were major improvements. After 12 weeks, the patients taking the zinc, showed an 87% improvement in their skin.

Zinc is present in a lot of delicious foods we enjoy, like pumpkin seeds, seafood, nuts, dairy products like yogurt and eggs, wholegrain breads, chickpeas, and so on.

From the research we found, most experts recommend one 15mg. to 25 mg. supplement pill of zinc daily. We don't want to scare you, but zinc can be toxic at high amounts. Trust us, a little goes a long way.

Take the zinc supplement with a meal. On an empty stomach, zinc can make you nauseous.

You can find zinc supplements at your local drugstore and in the grocery aisle.

That's it: 1 zinc supplement daily, with a meal.

Give it about a month, and you should see results. We can honestly say, this worked for us back in our college days. Within a month or so, our skin, and our girlfriend's skin improved greatly. And we were only taking a 15 mg. zinc supplement.

After our skin cleared completely, we later stopped taking zinc, and we never had a major case of acne again.

Just a reminder: If you are on prescription acne drugs or any kind of oral antibiotic therapy, do not take zinc supplements. Zinc could interfere with the absorption of these meds. Best to check with your dermatologist about the zinc method to clear up skin.

Ouidad Brings Out Big Double Detangler To Comb Through Curls

Ouidad is a beauty company that knows all about curly hair. In fact, that is all they sell---- products for curly locks.

And we have to say, we were quite intrigued by one of their newest beauty tools, the Ouidad Double Detangler Comb ($24).

This double-sided comb has been designed to glide through your curls quickly and safely. In other words, no tugging or breakage.

According to their website, the Double Detangler Comb works because of these clever aspects:

Double Rows of teeth eliminate difficult knots and prevent curls from springing back and re-tangling
Longer Teeth reach through the most dense curly hair
Fewer Combing Strokes help curls remain defined and frizz-free
Spaced teeth are just the right width for detangling knots
Rounded Tips on teeth are soft on the scalp

There's just one little problem we see with this big, double comb. And that is its size. It's huge!! We're not kidding. Here are the dimensions:

The comb measures approx. 9-1/2"L x 1"W x 2-1/2"H and is made of sturdy plastic.

The reviews we read at a few online shopping sites that sell the Ouidad Double Detangler Comb, were favorable, but several complained about the big size of the comb and its heavy weight. However, those loving the Detangler, also spoke about its styling efficiency and how easily the comb can get through wild, thick, wet curls.

For more details, visit: www.Ouidad.com/Double-Detangler.

Best Boxes Of At Home Hair Color That Fade Less And Cover Gray

We have written several articles about hair color, salon pros, and at home color kits over the past year.

Coloring hair is a challenge at most levels, and yet, if you aren't attempting a 2-color process, strategically-placed highlights, or changing up your locks to a new, bold shade of red, then you can use at home hair color. And we have found you the brands that work the best.

Famous stylists like Frederic Fekkai, and many others, have recently introduced their signature at-home brands of hair color for women to try.

So, if you are just interested in covering grays and roots, or just enhancing your natural shade, you can stop off at your local drugstore and pick up a box of at home hair color.

And let's take a look at the Best At Home Hair Color Boxes. Thanks to the September issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, the folks there tested a bunch of leading at home hair color brands on swatches. And these are the boxes that faded less and covered gray perfectly:

Permanent Color:

Clairol Nice 'n Easy ($8) in Natural Dark Neutral Blonde tied with Revlon Colorsilk ($3.69) in Ultra Light Natural Blonde.

Both brands were so-so in covering gray. But both boxes were excellent at resisting fading and retaining shine.

Revlon Colorsilk ($3.69) in auburn shade Burgundy, scored high for its gray coverage and shine retention. Fading is common with red dye, and this brand did well after 4 weeks of washing, drying, and sun exposure.

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 ($14) in Light Auburn, was the runner-up. Covered grays perfectly, but shine and color fading were fair.

Semi-Permanent Color

Clairol Natural Instincts ($9) in both Cinnaberry and Brown colors did very well. Great coverage, shine, and fade resistance. The blond shades did not cover grays as well.

Runner-up L'Oreal ColorSpa Moisture Actif ($6.49) in Chestnut Reddish Brown had very nice gray coverage and shine, The blonde and brown hues gave lots of shine, but didn't hide grays as well as the others.

Revlon Colorsilk ($3.69) in Dark brown scored excellently. Super shine, covered grays perfectly, and resisted fading.

Runner-up L'Oreal Excellence creme ($9) in Medium Brown performed almost perfectly with just slight fading after a month of washing, drying, and sun exposure.

Dara Torres' Butt Exercise And Fitness Tips That Work

About a year ago, Beauty Tip Today wrote an article about Olympian swimming champion Dara Torres.

We talked about Dara's rock-solid abs and body at age 42. And one year later, she still maintains that enviable physique by constantly 'moving.'

Here's what we learned in a recent interview with the multiple Olympian medal winner from

That's Fit

"It doesn't have to be a purposeful workout, you just need to get out there and move, even if it's just a brisk daily walk. Exercise not only makes you feel younger, it relieves stress, and you automatically look better. It's a win-win." Dara Torres explains.

And we love that Dara is sharing a super butt exercise with us. We all love a high, round, firm butt. And we all know how hard that is to sculpt after 35. But Dara claims this one will deliver:

"My behind needs a little extra attention, and I swear by this move: Prop a small stability ball up against a wall. Lie on your back facing the ball with your butt against it, arms at sides, feet on ball, knees apart. Lift your butt, hold for a beat as your bring knees together and then lower to start. Do three sets of 15 reps."

We are also including diet tips from Dara Torres from our article last August.

Her favorite meal:

"A mixed green salad, turkey-spinach lasagna, garlic bread and green beans. My favorite cookbook is one I got in college—Where’s Mom Now That I Need Her?"

And yeah, you can cheat, Dara says:

"It’s OK to have bites of food that probably aren’t the best for you because that way you won’t deprive yourself and then want more of that food. I eat what I want, when I want, but I exercise so I can do that."

More Dara diet tips here. Check this out:

http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008/08/diet-and-fitness-tips-of-olympic-medal.html

Jennifer Aniston Recipient Of Boob Jab To Increase Bust?

Here we go again. Actress Jennifer Aniston is rumored to have undergone a new cosmetic procedure called Macrolane injections. Or in layman's terms, a boob jab. A quick 'lunchtime procedure.'

The injections actually consist of fillers, almost similar to what people now have injected into their faces for volume.

And that is what the 40-year-old actress is rumored to have done.......add subtle volume and uplift to her breasts, and therefore, increase her bosom a whole cup size!

The gossip has already been around for years about Jennifer having breast implants. Many Hollywood beauties resort to implants, so that would not seem unusual. But is it possible if one has breast implants, to also safely receive Macrolane injections? Hmmm, good question.

Let's take a closer look at boob jabs or Macrolane injections. The gossip first got started in London at the Daily Mail. Folks in the UK and across Europe have nick-named these non-surgical procedures as boob jabs.

The perkier silhouette, however, is not permanent. The look will last about 18 months, and then you have to, er, fill up again, so to speak. Hey, at least it doesn't involve serious surgery.

Here's how the half hour procedure works:

A local anesthetic is applied. Then a thick needle containing Macrolane filler is injected deep into the breast tissue (ouch!). The filler itself contains hyaluronic acid (similar to that found in dermal facial fillers). It is a thick, dense fluid.

The only drawback we could find, is that some patients develop hard lumps after a few days. In other words, the body is sensing a 'foreign object' inside the breast, and tissue forms around it, fencing it in.

Meantime, we don't know how safe a boob jab procedure is. And we surely don't know if Jennifer Aniston has received one. The actress tends to get headlines for everything she does these days. Folks are watching her every move. Kind of difficult to live in a fish bowl that way.

What we do know, is that at age 40, Jennifer Aniston looks lovely and youthful with a body better than most women half her years. More power to her.

Witch Hazel Stinky But Delivers Naturally Smooth Skin

If you can get past the stinky smell, nature's ancient witch hazel, makes a very nice astringent or toner for the skin.

What exactly is witch hazel? Or its
scientific names: Hamamelis viginiana ?

We were curious about that, too, so we dug a little and found out that witch hazel is a plant. And a very useful one, according to http://www.drugs.com/:

Witch hazel is a deciduous bush or small tree that is found throughout most of North America. It has broad, toothed oval leaves, and golden yellow flowers. Brown fruit capsules appear after the flowers. The dried leaves, bark, and twigs are used medicinally.

Witch hazel water is the most commonly found commercial preparation, usually kept in most homes as a topical cooling agent or astringent.

Most people use witch hazel after facial cleansing. All you need to do is rub a cotton ball of witch hazel over your face, and enjoy a cool breeze. It is soothing and kind to sensitive skin. It relieves redness and swelling. And something in it, delivers back smooth, clear skin.

Many acne sufferers have tried witch hazel after their complexions refused to respond to expensive prescription acne drugs and over-the-counter blemish-free products. And the results have been excellent.

Dickinson's has been selling witch hazel since 1866. And the company boasts that their product offers "exceptional cleansing, soothing, and healing properties" as an herbal extract.

And the stuff is economical. For under $5, you can get a 16 oz. bottle. Just hold your nose. The smell isn't pretty.

Yes, You Can Wear Violet And Plum Lipsticks. Really.

Visions of plum, violet, lilac, purple, and amethyst, are dancing in the heads of designers and makeup artists for fall 2009.

These bold and sometimes subtle shades have been seen on the runways, on the streets, and on young celebrities like Drew Barrymore, and across to the UK on the lips of Peaches Geldof. Mac, Smashbox, and Dior have all stocked their shelves with violet hues.

Lately, it's all about the lips. Violet and plum are very popular at the moment. And yes, you can wear these different shades of lipstick. You just have to experiment and find the color that flatters your skin tone.

And just one, little purple reminder: Violet and Plum lipsticks, unfortunately, can make your teeth look yellow. Yes, it's true, especially with certain lilac shades. So choose your purple lipcolor carefully. Avoid purples with brown in them. Choose purple lipsticks with blue undertones, and then your teeth will pop with whiteness.

As far as makeup goes, choose the softer route. In other words, pair your nice violet lips with black mascara and some rose blush.

Meantime, here are a few purple shades to try this Fall 2009
:

1. Dior Diorific Lipstick No. 018, Violet Twist, $28, http://www.dior.com/.

2. Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipstick , Yummy Plummy $7.50, http://www.cvs.com/.

3. Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick, Plum Amethyst, $20, http://www.esteelauder.com/.

Maybelline Super-Sizes Mascara With New Great Lash BIG

You can have your $25- $50 tubes of expensive black mascara.

Yes, we have tried several, but we still come back to the old classic and favorite of many professional makeup artists:

Maybelline's Great Lash.

It's been noted that one tube of Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara is sold every 1.6 seconds in the United States.

Why? Because the product is that good. You can build beautiful, dark, thick lashes at the very affordable price of barely $5!

And now, Maybelline's is introducing: Great Lash Big.

So what's so super about the newest Great Lash Mascara? It still contains the same superior lash-lengthening ingredients. The newness is in the applicator. It's a big, wide brush. We're not kidding. Be careful how you wield this applicator.

According to the folks at Maybelline's, Great Lash Big, accomplishes these beauty steps:

The Great Big Brush provides a bigger, bolder lash effect
Great buildable formula still conditions as it thickens with even greater intensity
No clumps or globs

Great Lash Big is available at your local drugstore for $6. We think it's worth the price.