Beauty Tip From Korea: Found In Viscose 'Italy' Towel

In yesterday's beauty article, we talked about getting rid of back acne. And now, we're taking this a step further.....

We just learned about an amazing beauty tip from Korea, that involves super exfoliation with just one, inexpensive, little wash cloth, called the Italy towel, or the Ddhe Meeruh cloth, as it's called in Korean. And the fabric is made of viscose.

You can pick up these Korean bath cloths in Asian markets for less than $2. And we found some on Ebay at a great 7-piece deal here.

These rough, 'Italy towels,' as they are called, are not for the faint of heart. You will see dead skin cells roll off your body as you apply the wet cloth in circular motions across your skin.

Perform this bathtime beauty routine after you shower or bathe, when your skin has been exposed to water for several minutes, and you will see some big changes in the texture of your skin. Little by little, you will note smoother, softer skin with a healthy glow.

We're not promising your cellulite will disappear (not that you have any), but remember: Circulation is important when it comes to healthy skin. And a good, strong bath massagepushes the body into action.

We conclude that this is a wonderful beauty tip from Korea!

How To Get Rid Of 'Bacne' And Enjoy Sexy Backless Tops

Backless tops and backless dresses are sizzling hot for summer 2011. A lot of famous faces are wearing them----like VS model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. But before you dare to go bare back there, make sure you've got nice, clear, smooth back skin.

Nothing worse than a few unsightly break-outs or back acne! You've heard of the term, 'bacne', as we know it. And yes, you actually have pores back there that can become clogged.

Your back rarely gets bared on a day-to-day basis. But when summer rolls around, it's time for bikinis and tops that show off that beautiful back. And since you're not always examining this part of your body, well, bumps and break-outs can pop up there.

So, first thing....You should invest in a body brush, a bath brush with a long handle. Slough off those rough areas. Routine exfoliation can make a big difference.

And the best thing we've found is a great bacne fighter by Dr. Murad, called Murad Clarifying Body Spray ($37, at murad.com. This is a super formula in a salicylic acid and retinol-based spray.

It's gentle enough for daily use. After you shower or bathe, just spritz on a thin layer, let dry, and go. Murad Clarifying Body Spray kills bacteria on contact. And yes, you CAN reach those hard-to-get places with its revolutionary 360° spray. It works upside down to zap those break-outs that might be forming on impossible-to-reach body parts. You can spritz on Clarifying Body Spray from head-to toe.

Here's to clear, smooth skin, way back there.

How 'Bout A Brazilian Peel: Not What You Think--This One For The Face

No, this isn't like a Brazilian wax Ouch!

The Brazilian peel is actually for the face and neck, thank goodness. It's a new, at-home prescription strength glycolic acid peel by Advanced Home Actives ($78, 4-monthly treatments, at sephora + ships for FREE). The company claims that the Brazilian peel is 5 X stronger than the leading over-the-counter product. Plus, this chemical peel is a 30% glycolic grade combined with the anti-aging beauty berry acai from the Brazilian rain forest

Now, you know, we, here at BeautyTipToday, love our glycolic acid peels. So, anytime a new self-neutralizing peel that you can apply at home is introduced, we take notice.

What's so great about chemical peels like glycolic acid?

It's simple. Your healthy skin returns. Texture improves, along with better tone, smoothness, and firmness. And those pesky fine lines and wrinkles appear less nasty.

Jan Marini, skin care expert explains the beauty of the amazing glycolic acid:

"Its molecules are so small that they penetrate more deeply, dislodging dead cells and lifting the skin, giving it a smoother appearance. And glycolic acid also helps get rid of age spots!"

We can all have nice nice skin. It takes time and a few trusted products. And trust us.....glycolic acid should be in your beauty arsenal.

Celebrities Love The Little White Dress In Summer: So Can You

Ladies....Say hello to the LWD! That stands for 'little white dress", of course. And that's what you should be slipping into, when you get the chance this summer.

Celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, Eva Longoria, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Carrie Underwood, are all workin' the LWD. And so can you! Check out these lovelies.

And yes, it's okay if the little white dress is ivory, off-white, cream, and so forth. You get the general concept here. As long as the dress is in the white-ish category, that spells summer, light and breezy, along with showing off that sun-kissed glow!

We found some super cute, little white dresses at venus.com. And they're having a sale, so the prices are great for the budget fashionista.

We adore this V-neck Ruched Dress ($34, at Venus. This is a sleek, curve-hugging LWD. In easy care poly-spandex. Available in X-Small, Small, Medium, and Large.

The LWD is a simple and striking look every woman can pull off. And you can have fun with your accessories. Check out Eva Longoria's tangerine-colored shoes!

Ooo LaLa! Votre Vu Lip Balm And Hand Cream In One

We like this beauty concept a lot. Votre Vu has a wonderful 2-in-1 lip balm and hand cream. It's called Bebe Duette Luxe Lips Framboise & Hand Creme ($27.65 --2-pack, at votrevu.com. Perfect for the purse, ladies.

So, the price is higher, but, the Votre Vu brand is quite luxurious. And in case you're wondering, Votre Vu is a 2-year-old Paris-based skin care line, developed by a family in France with more than 80 years experience in custom blending formulations.

The vitamin-infused lip balm is heavenly. And we give thumbs up to the framboise, sheer raspberry balm. This color looks gorgeous on everyone. And the balm is made with UV filters for added protection under the sun.

The hand creme is a rich, moisturizing base in an almond/coconut scent. Yummy! And your hands will be well-protected because Votre Vu has enriched the product with sun filters for UVA/UVB protection to maintain skin tone and to help keep hands looking youthful and soft.

AnnaLynne McCord is hooked on Vu's Duette Lux Hand Creme. "I love this lotion. It smells so good!".

And Patti LaBelle agrees with Vu's Lip Balm/Hand Creme product duo. "This is fabulous!"

Votre Vu's Bebe Duette Luxe Lips Framboise & Hand Creme is another great beauty item to toss in your summer beach bag.

Vogue Cover Gal Emma Watson Carries This In Makeup Bag At All Times

R-E-L-A-X......Don't freak out!

Our Beauty Tip Today comes from July 2011 Vogue Cover Gal and Harry Potter star, Emma Watson.

And no, it's not Emma's favorite lipstick, although she LOVES Burt's Bees tinted lip balms. Instead, today's beauty tip has to do with beauty of the mind....the senses.

Emma Watson's must-have-in-makeup-bag-at-all-times item is a little bottle of this: Bach Rescue Remedy Natural Stress Relief ($20, at health stores, and rescueremedy.com).

The petite 21-year-old swears by Bach's. In fact, Rescue Remedy does exactly what the name says it does:

"A few drops under my tongue before I go out, calms me down," Emma tells InStyle magazine. "It's in my makeup bag at all times."

So, you ask, what does a young, talented, wealthy and pretty movie star get so freaked out about?

Plenty, as any other person, celebrity or non-celebrity, goes through on a daily basis. We all have anxiety, stress, worry. And Emma Watson is no exception. She's been in the spotlight at a very tender age, attended ivy league Brown University, and has been juggling a busy lifestyle for quite some time now.

Bach Rescue Remedy Natural Stress Relief is safe for the whole family, including the family pets. According to the Bach makers, it's a homeopathic solution that does this:

Relieve feelings of anxiety, nervous tension, stress, agitation or despair and provide a sense of focus and calm.
Rescue Remedy is a unique combination of five Bach Original Flower Remedies; Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum.
No artificial colors, flavorings or preservatives.

Seed Beads: So Right For Summer Jewelry

Some people might think that seed beads are too simple, or too arts and crafts-like to be considered serious jewelry. But oh, how wrong they are!

Look at the beautiful detail and striking colors we found in a sample of seed bead jewelry. And this is another hot summer trend for 2011!

Seed bead chandeliers and bracelets are everywhere. And although a lot of seed bead jewelry can run you into hundreds of dollars, we found a great Ebay store, where you can pick up a boatload of beaded beauties at really cheap prices!
The seed bead items we have pictured here, are gorgeous, and all from BeadsCorner. And we love their FREE shipping. We have bought several beaded chandeliers from BeadsCorner, and the quality is good. Plus, they have earned a Top Rated Seller status from Ebay, so they are legit.

Check out these prices:
1. WHITE BRONZE BLUE SEED BEADS BEADED EARRINGS ($5.99).
2. SILVER BUGLE BEADED VICTORIAN CROWN NECKLACE JEWELRY ($11.95).
3. ZIG ZAG BEADWORK MULTICOLOR SEED BEADED CUFF BRACELET ($6.95).

You cannot beat these prices for really nice seed bead jewelry. Once again, beautyTipToday proves that you CAN get in on all the hot summer trends without breaking your wallet.

Q-Tip Creates The Perfect New Precision Tips: Must-Have Makeup Tool

Q-Tips.

We can't live without them. We've written about them before, and yes, we are a Q-Tip freak!

Imagine our surprise, when we found out that the cotton swab geniuses are at it again. Get ready for Q-Tips Precision Tips! Debuting this August, the Precision Tips ($2.49, 170 swabs) will be designed with pointy tips at both ends. Gotta love it. And these should become a makeup must-have tool.

What's the big deal, you ask?

Well, a regular Q-Tip is great for mopping up beauty mistakes, like a goof with the eyeliner, or a manicure that's gone over the nail edge, and so on. But think about it----a pointed Q-Tip could take the job even further. You will be able to get into tinier areas to apply makeup, or take off makeup. A tapered end can give you that much-needed precision for eyeliner and eye shadow applications.

This is a no-brainer. Professional makeup artists always have a box of Q-Tips at their ready. And now the new Precision Tips can give everyone that professional edge. And if you don't even have a box of cotton swabs in your makeup tool arsenal, then how is that possible?!

For instance......a moistened Q-Tip can help extend your eyeliner pencil stroke into a sexy, cat eye wing. You can also remove eye makeup with a few cotton swabs dipped in baby oil or makeup remover lotion. And you can remove the gunk that sometimes builds up in the inner corners of your eyes with a Q-tip stick. You can sweep your eye shadow beautifully with a swab, and remove smudges that come from mascara mishaps.

We have used them to remove hair color during the dye process when a little runs on to our skin. We've also taken a few swabs dipped in acne cream to dab on our break-outs. Q-Tips also take off excess eyebrow powder without messing up the arch you've created. We've often dunked a swab in lemon juice and applied to our decollete freckles. And the list goes on and on.

A box of pointy Q-Tips? We can't wait.

Blotting Paper : Another Great Beauty Item For Summer Greasies

Blotting Paper. It's not just for oily skin. Summer-time and high humidity equal shiny complexions. And even dry skin can look dull after those steamy July days.

There are tons of blotting papers out there. We've learned that the best blotting papers to buy, are the ones with flaxseed oil in them. Linen and rice paper are also wonderful oil absorbers. These three are able to mop up the shine and grease, and leave your face looking matte and pretty again. It would be wise to stay away from blotting papers made of mineral oil or powder, because those can clog your pores.

Blotting papers usually come in a little compact. You take one out at a time, and simply press these small sheets against your face, and watch the oiliness lift away. They're convenient, too, easy to tuck away in a purse or pocket to be used throughout the day.

Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, who seems to have her pulse on great trends and super beauty finds, has given the thumbs up to Tatcha Aburatorigami Blotting Papers in the Zoe Report. Talk about tres elegant! These delicate papers($12, 30 sheets) come from Japan and are made from 100% Abaca leaf and gold-flakes---all natural. Now that's something different.

And the Tatcha Aburatorigami Blotting Papers won't remove makeup, and are highly absorbant. By the way, you can purchase a packet at beauty stores like, b-glowing.com.

Love The Pool But Get The Chemical Green Gunk Out Of Hair

Green pool hair. Not pretty. And frustrating, because it's hard to remove, and makes blonde heads, especially, look bad.

We have 2 solutions that work. And no, we don't want you to give up swimming.

First, let's look at why that nasty green tint develops from swimmingin a chlorinated pool:

According to Anne Marie Helmenstine, a chemistry expert, the culprit is actually the copper, not the chlorine.
"It isn't the chlorine that turns blonde hair green. Oxidized metals in the water bind to the protein in the hair shaft and deposit their color. The metal that produces the green tint is copper, which is most commonly found in algicides, though it naturally occurs in some water. The bleach that is added to a pool may be responsible for oxidizing the metal, but it's not the cause of the color.
If your hair turns green, you can remove the discoloration by using a shampoo that chelates the metal. To some extent, you can prevent copper from binding to the hair by sealing the hair cuticle with a conditioner before swimming. Rinsing your hair immediately after leaving the pool will help protect it, too."

There is a shampoo that does just that. TriSwim Chlorine Out Shampoo ($13.20, at sbrsports. And it's safe for color-treated and permed hair.

TriSwim: Completely eliminates chlorine and chlorine odor by containing the chemical, washing it out of the hair and down the drain• Contains Aloe Vera, Vitamins E & A, and Pro-Vitamin B5 - Helps to remove copper deposits that can cause some hair to take on a greenish tint - Increases volume potential - Nourishes hair follicles - Hydrates the scalp.

You can also try hair solution #2, a natural way to get the chemical green gunk out of your hair.

Try ketchup. We're not kidding. This little beauty gem comes from master colorist Kim Vo. And he's a celebrity stylist, one of the best hair pros in the biz.

So if your bottle-blonde hair turns a nasty green, don't fret. Kim has a simple solution. Just apply ketchup to your locks, massage in, and let it sit there for a few minutes. Then jump in the shower and rinse thoroughly. Shampoo, and rinse again. It really works. The green is gone!

Cellulite Serums A Gal's best Friend: But Cellulite Is Permanent

DO buy the cellulite serums and cellulite creams you hear about!

BUT---be realistic, ladies.

You CANNOT get rid of cellulite permanently. But you CAN STOP its further advancement, and CAN make your dimpled skin look better.

Not exactly what we all want to hear, but, trust us, most women have cellulite, that dimpled fat that rests on our thighs, rear, even belly and arms.

And we love that skinny chicks can develop cellulite, too.

Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Cindy Crawford, and Kim and Khloe Kardashian all admit to the lumpy fat. So, you are not alone.

Of course, summer means shorts and bathing suit apparel. And having cellulite can spoil your fun in the sun. But now, the cellulite serums and creams have come far...the ingredients can really smooth and firm skin, so that your dimpled thighs don't look so dimpled after all.

One of these excellent cellulite busters is by the folks at Nivea, called, Good-bye Cellulite Fast Acting Serum ($12, at drugstores). Both Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian swear by it.

Here's how Nivea's formula works:

"Nivea research has developed a new ultra-concentrated formula which combines the natural ingredients Lotus Extract and L-Carnitine.
When used regularly, Nivea Good-bye Cellulite Fast Acting Serum leads to visible reduction in the appearance of cellulite in as little as 10 days."

A lot of women love this . Something good to tote in your beach bag.

Crop Tops And Cutouts Equal Toned Tummy: How To Get Great Abs

A toned tummy seems to be a gal's best fashion accessory these days. Midriff-baring outfits are hot!

That means that the bulls-eye is on your belly, So, if you want to rock some sexy, cutouts and crop tops, then you need to get some great abs.

For a few months now, we've been seeing the toned tummies of some A-list celebrities peek-abooing on the red carpet in crop tops and cutout dresses.....Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nicole Richie, to name a few. And they all look ab-tastic!

So, how do we get there? Are there any short-cuts to a serious set of abs?!

Maybe you don't have time or even the desire to work-out 5 days a week or to eliminate sodas and alcohol.

Well, maybe there IS a way to tone your tummy without a lot of hassle. BeautyTipToday wrote an article about cholorophyll and how it can flatten your belly.

We learned that chlorophyll acts like a mild laxative and encourages the liver into becoming a better fat-burning machine. The green pigment is also full of magnesium which helps to balance blood sugar and melt away stubborn belly fat. Chlorophyll is also high in vitamin and mineral content.

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, and an award-winning author of 30 books, tells First for Women magazine that, "the best absorbed form (of chlorophyll) is a liquid extract mixed with water." She suggests a twice daily drink of 1 tsp. of chlorophyll in 8 oz. of water.

Dr. Gittleman likes Sunny Green Liquid Chlorophyll ($13, 16 oz., at health-food stores).

There you have it. Chlorophyll is definitely worth a try, especially when you want to squeeze into a sexy, crop top or cutout dress.

Get On The Nautical Trend This 4th Of July: Stripes And More Stripes

Anchors aweigh, ladies!

It's time to set sail in style with summer's hot beach nautical trend---STRIPES.....and more STRIPES!

Kim Kardashian and other stars are already riding the nautical wave in chic, horizontal lines. Check out the future bride strolling along in a curvy Need Supply Co. black & white stripe maxi dress. Love it!

We adore the nautical trend, because actually, it's a classic, one that is timeless and appropriate for many summer events. All you need is a a little bit of striping to get into the beach look.

We found a cute, Striped Dropped Waist Tunic Top at Forever21 for $11.80. You can't go wrong with the Henley button placket. Spaghetti straps. Lightweight. Knit.

And if you aren't crazy about stripes on your body, how about a cool, Nautical Stripe Mini Shoulder Bag by Nila Anthony. What a great nautical accessory!The striking envelope-style bag has 2-tone colors on the front flap and sides, while the front and back are mini black and white stripes. And we like the interwoven leatherette and chain shoulder strap.

This summer, you CAN find tons of stripes to ride the nautical trend, without breaking the bank. Even Kim K was wearing a $58 maxi dress. So, being chic, doesn't have to cost a bundle.

OMG! JLo Debuts A New Fragrance: 17...Count Them!

It's called, Love and Light, and it represents #17 in the large collection of fragrances by Jennifer Lopez.

And you can catch the gorgeous celebrity introducing Love and Light on HSN.....Check her out Saturday at midnight, noon and 9 p.m.

Very sexy ads for her new fragrance, we might add.

The last time JLo debuted a new fragrance, was last fall 2010, called, Love and Glamour.

And if you're wondering who is wearing Ms. Lopez' fragrances, apparently, quite a lot of women. JLo's brand of scents just happen to rank as one of the highest selling celebrity fragrance lines.

After debuting on HSN, Love & Light will be available at Kohl’s and in department stores in September. The eau de parfum comes packaged in a bottle inspired by a woman's curves. It will retail for $58.

What is Love and Light to the nose? According to fragrance experts, "glittering and floral-woody."

Ah, the sweet smell of success!

Toned Smooth Arms Without All The Exercise?! Try This Serum

Can you get firm, smooth arms without all the hard work-outs?

Without picking up a barbell or jumping rope, or any other kind of exercise?

Well, yes and no. You CAN fake some decent-looking arms with a beauty product like Rodial Arm Sculpt ($79, at shops like Blissworld. Remember: Serums or creams packed with caffeine DO make a difference, because they can smooth and tone. Bye-bye flabby arms!

Celebrities like Sophia Vergara and Victoria Beckham are both big fans of Rodial's Arm Sculpt. It's a bit pricey, but the ingredients do their work to lift and firm a nicer arm silhouette.

Here's what Rodial has to say about their amazing serum:
'Armed’ to the teeth with a powerful combo of skin-smoothing multi-fruit acids (bye-bye, bumpy surface), caffeine and coenzyme A for formidable firming, and Rodial’s signature pomegranate extract, it’s shown to deliver results in a mere month when used twice daily.

Combine the Rodial Arm Sculpt with a tough arm work-out a few times a week, and you'll be in great shape. Just look at Cameron Diaz these days......her arms have great definition. And the way we see it---you need to move your arms to get a good sculpted appearance going. And the Rodial Arm Sculpt can get you started.

Revamp Your Summer Style: Denim Cut-Offs Are Everywhere

Not that denim cut-offs have ever gone out of fashion. But cut-offs are back in a big way this summer.

So, either make your own pair, or simply stock up on a few. And keep the look casual. It's okay to see some fringe or cuffs or patches or studs or rips and tears, and even the pockets showing through.

Celebrities know how to make cut-offs look super chic, and so can you. Check out these stars: Halle Berry, Megan Fox, Nicole Richie, and Kirsten Dunst.

If you want the celebrity favorite cut-offs, then take a note from sexy Halle Berry. She's got on a pair of Black Orchid denim shorts ($101, at boutiques like Boutique To You. Love these super short mini cut-offs in Dust Devil.

And Halle is not the only star walking around in Black Orchid. Gemma Walsh, Kristen Cavallari, Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan, are just a few others in a long list of denim-loving celebs.

Revamp your summer style without going broke, and slipping on a pair of denim cut-offs is the way to go.

Celebrity List: Favorite Lipstick Shades And Brands

Celebrities always have their pulse on the best in beauty/fashion. So when we hear about what's hot in Hollywood, we take notice.

And when it comes to a gorgeous smile and kissable lips, we want details.

Here at BeautyTipToday, we've put together a Celebrity List:

Favorite Lipstick Shades And Brands.

1. Katy Perry. She told Glamour mag she adores Nouba lipstick."It’s a blue-red lipstick with a little gold shimmer in it. I also blot it with a tissue and then I put powder over it—and then it stays. And stains are perfect too. [Especially] The Benefit stain.". We found some Nouba ($20, at BeautyEncounter).

2. Courteney Cox Arquette. The star opts for paler shades. Her faves include: Laura Mercier Baby Lips (sheer warm pink, $20) and Josie Maran Rumi Joon (sheer pinky beige, $20).

3. Julia Roberts. The sexy mom of three, has been a big fan of Lancome cosmetics for years. And she's currently a Lancome beauty ambassador. Julia always reached for Lancome's L'Absolu Rouge in Rich Cashmere ($29). This is a creamy and moisturizing lipstick in a nude shade, the subtle kind of makeup Julia is often photographed wearing.

4. Kim Kardashian. The dark-haired reality star loves playing with makeup and likes to change things up. But two of her sheer , go-to faves include: Nars lipgloss in Turkish Delight and Nars lipstick in Belle du Jour ($24, at Sephora).

5. Sharon Stone. The blonde-haired beauty loves wearing lip color and is attracted to these---"Dior makes the best lip glosses going. I'm nuts about them." And gloss is a staple in her makeup bag. "I carry gloss — Clinique Superbalm or the DiorKiss tubes — all the time." Try the DiorKiss now in the sleek, new tube ($21, at Saks.com).

Too Much Texting Causes Neck Wrinkles? Need The Blackberry Facial?

We keep scratching our heads, and er, necks about this one. BUT----there actually could be some truth to these neck wrinkle rumors, caused by way too much texting and the repeated action of looking down, again, and again, when using your cell phone or texting device.

Still laughing? Don't......we'll explain in a bit.

Believe it or not---in Manhattan, you can receive The Blackberry Facial for $200. As far as we know, the only place you canfind this unique beauty treatment is at the Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa in midtown Manhattan.

By the way, The Blackberry Facial consists of a 45-minute treatment multi-procedure:
1. A neck cleansing.
2. A peel with sapphire stones.
3. Another peel.
4. A hydrating serum and then lymphatic drainage.
5. Followed by 20 minutes of LED light and microcurrents.
6. And ending with an oxygen mask.

Is this necessary? Can neck wrinkles really occur so quickly, just because you're constantly checking for emails and/or texts, or in the act of sending them?!

Back in 2008, Allure magazine featured in its March issue, an informative article about the neck:

Protect your neck. The neck is actually more prone to aging than the face, which is supported by a cushion of tissue. You can make your neck look much younger with the right creams.
The most crucial treatment is prevention with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen. Apply it every day.
You don't need to buy specific creams for the neck: Face creams with the right ingredients work just as well. An antioxidant cream used daily will protect skin from environmental damage that causes wrinkles.

So, what have we learned today?

The neck ages quicker than the face. As far as way too much texting? Well, we cannot prove that causes neck wrinkles, but if it does....then just about everyone in town is going to be walking around with a sagging neck very soon.

Don't Own A Strapless Bra? What Planet Are You On!

We don't want to preach about intimate apparel, BUT----bra experts say that every gal should own at least one strapless bra.

Don't own a strapless bra?! Don't worry, we have a couple of friends who have NEVER even bought a strapless bra. How bizarre is that? Is it even possible?

Summer has just started, and we've been seeing so many strapless and one-shoulder styles. And when you want to wear these fabulous sleek trends, you need some supportive summer shapewear.

Let's look at television's Blake Lively, the hot girl of the moment, and new friend of Leonardo DiCaprio. Lately, Blake's fave kind of style is the strapless or one-shoulder.

And if you want to wear a strapless top or dress, then you NEED a strapless bra, no if ands or buts.....unless you want to go bra-less.

We like Calvin Klein's new Envy Strapless nylon/lycra bra ($46, now on SALE for $34.50 at Macy's. We like it in Bare. It's a seamless, deep-pluge underwire bra with subtle lift.

You don't want seams or padding showing through, and this Calvin Klein bra keeps you looking polished and perfect in all those shoulder-baring styles.

Revlon PhotoReady Compact Makeup: Not As Easy As It Looks

Foundation. We wear it daily. We don't like applying it, but-----only the most flawless skin doesn't need foundation, just a bit of concealer. At least that is what professional makeup artists have told us.

And we DON'T have perfect skin. But what foundation does, is provide a balance to skin tone, a bit of warmth to complexion, a nice base on which to layer on blush, concealer, shadows, etc. Plus, foundation provides some coverage from the elements.

We wear Revlon's ColorStay Soft-Flex Foundation in Nude. It's a liquid for oily/combination skin. And it's the best for us, so far. We sample a number of foundations along the way, but this particular product has served us well. And it's not a bad match for our skin tone.

We were quite curious then, to try Revlon's PhotoReady Compact Makeup ($13.99, at drugstores). This ain't your mama's foundation, ladies. This is a high-tech compact makeup. It contains a liquifying screen that actually transforms the cream foundation into a iquid foundation for 'superior blendability.

Heck, we're all for that. But wait a minute-----------It's not as easy as it looks. From the photo we're providing of Revlon's PhotoReady, it would appear to be a simple makeup compact. But there's a certain technique you must use:

The cream makeup visibly liquefies as it filters through a screen (when pressed). Then it transforms into a weightless liquid for smooth, even coverage. A sponge applicator is used in the process.

It gets a bit messy trying to get the product out and onto your face. We're not wild about the screen. Revlon says to "Gently press on screen with sponge. Blend with sponge across face, starting in center of face blending outward." ... It's a very lightweight consistency And it takes some practice.

We give Revlon's PhotoReady high marks for its 20 SPF rating. That is great. Plus the finish to this foundation leaves a soft, airbrushed look. But we think we will stay with our Revlon ColorStay, instead.