Lindsay Lohan Looking Lovely: Alleged Cosmetic Filler Finally Settled

The proof is in the pudding as the old saying goes. So, let's closely examine the photos we have of actress Lindsay Lohan to see if cosmetic filler were actually used to enhance her great bone structure.

Look at the 3rd bottom pic. There's Lindsay back in March of 2011, 1 year ago. Now, fix your eyes on the middle photo #2. There she is this past March 2012.

As we recall, the 25-year-old star was being tormented by the media for suddenly looking like a cabbage patch doll with her very swollen cheeks and rounder, pillow-like face.

Tabloid reports were accusing the embattled actress of overdoing the plastic surgery or becoming bloated from too much partying, etc.

The smart money was on the assumption that Lindsay had merely gotten cosmetic filler like Restylane, Juvederm, or Perlane, all designed to add major volume to the face.

Now, take a look at the top pic of Lindsay Lohan, just 8 days ago at the D.C. Correspondents' Dinner(April 28). She looks stunning! The alleged fillers have finally settled.

We cannot prove the actress did indeed receive cosmetic filler, but it seems the only intelligent reason for the dramatic changes.

Fillers like Restylane or Juvederm can cause swelling, bruising, and redness for a few weeks before 'settling' into the skin layers.

These dermal fillers with their smooth, gel-like consistencies are injected into the deeper layers of the skin beneath the fold/crease. The result---instant volume and smooth lines. There is no "down time" and the filler lasts about 9 months. And results can be quite amazing, depending on the skill of the pro injecting the filler and 'designing' beautiful facial contours.

The only real tell-tale sign of any cosmetic work appears to be with the celebrity's fuller lips as you can see in bold red gloss.

We think that Lindsay Lohan looks great with her back-to-natural auburn hair and her back-to-normal-sized facial proportions.

Would you agree?

Vanessa Williams Believes In Microcurrent Facials For Ageless Beauty

Vanessa Williams, a guest on E'!s 'Fashion Police last evening, dished to host Joan Rivers about the cosmetic enhancements she enjoys using to stay ageless.

One of these beauty weapons is Botox, which we've heard Vanessa mention several times before. The other is microcurrent facials.

Now, we were intrigued.

At age 49, we think the talented singer/actress looks fab! So, let's examine the microcurrent facial, a non-invasive procedure that Vanessa swears by to tighten up facial skin, rather than heading in for a surgical facelift.

Firming the facial contour. That's what microcurrent technology aims for as the wand hooked up to this beauty machine glides over the face to strengthen tired, aging facial muscles. A painless, safe impulse or zap is sent through the wand, revving up circulation and stimulating collagen/elastin production.

Results are instant at about $120 per treatment. And the more sessions you attend, the better results you can achieve.

Many celebrities opt for the microcurrent facial BEFORE a red carpet event, because they look refreshed, skin is plumped up and pores look invisible.

So, is this trendy facial as good as a real facelift?

Most plastic surgeons would say, of course NOT. And here's why, according to the experts who weighed in on microcurrent technology at RealSelf.com:

"Unfortunately, as in most advertising, the hype does not live up to the reality. Microcurrent has been tested and shown to help with wound healing but there is nothing in the medical literature about microcurrent reversing the signs of aging."--D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

"Microcurrent treatments will not yield results simular to that of a facelift because the energy applied will not result in elevation of the structural components of the face - namely fascia, muscles and fat. Only the very superficial layer of skin and dermis would have any response to microcurrent and I suspect that would be modest at best."--
Douglas Stevens, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

"A facelift is the procedure of choice to make permanent and extensive changes in the face for rejuvenation. Microcurrent therapy has some benefits, however modest. It can improve skin tone and slightly change the shape of the structures. It can easily be oversold. Buyer beware. All the best, Tal Raine MD FACS."--
Chicago Plastic Surgeon.

We can say that Vanessa Williams looks naturally beautiful. In other words, her face does NOT look tightly pulled back and artifical, so it's possible that she is happy with what plastic surgeons would call 'modest' results.

What do you think?

Kelly Osbourne: The Color Purple. Great Movie Not The Hair?

Let us first state that we are a Kelly Osbourne fan!

From the soft, playful British accent to the extreme love of all things fashion and beauty to the amazing collection of shoes, she is a breath of fresh air.

And now, er, Kelly's hair. Back in January, we noticed the dyed grey locks the daughter of rock legend Ozzie was sporting. Then slowly, those tresses turned lilac/lavender/purple!

The Fashion Police star showed up Monday evening rockin' the striking hair color at E'!s Upfront Party in New York City. That, along with purple lip color, a pretty tartan plaid frock, and a pair of sky-high pink open-toe pumps.

It isn't easy getting away with purple hair color or lips in the same shade.

So, we have to ask....Can Kelly Osbourne Rock the Color Purple?!

Well, yes. She looks quite lovely here in the photos. And because she is UNDER age 30, we give her a free pass. When you're in your 20s, it's okay to play around with the wilder shades of makeup and hair color.

Kelly said this about her grey-to-purple locks back in February:

"To me, I'm 27, I've got three years left, the way I look at it, to have fun with it, because once you're 30, you look like a right idiot walking around with like rainbow, bright color hair and all different things like that.

"I don't exactly come from the most normal family. I don't get why anyone expects anything different from me.

"So I think, for me, I'm just having fun with it as much as I can until it's not appropriate anymore."

We also read recently somewhere, that Kelly said she wanted to give her over-processed blonde hair a rest, and that is why she had turned to a softer, less damaging hair dye process, a la purple.

Want to copy Kelly's purple look?

Try Mac's Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Asian Lavender ($14.50, at Macy's). As for the hair, please visit a professional. And get ready to be noticed!

Jersey Mom Takes Extreme Tanning To Scary Limit: We Can All Learn Something

We certainly don't wish to make Jersey mom Patricia Krentcil the poster child for extreme tanning. But maybe, we can all learn something from this.

The 44-year-old New Jersey woman was hauled into court yesterday for allegedly sneaking her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning salon. Her attorney denies the charges.

As you can tell by the photo, Patricia Krentcil likes to tan-- a lot! In fact, she hits the indoor tanning booth 5 days a week at the maximum and spends $100 a month there.

This poor woman has now become the butt of many late night TV jokes, and yeah, we DO feel sorry for her and her family.

We don't wish her any ill will. We only wish she would take better care of her skin, because at age 44, time is running out.

We all know about the dangers of too much sun and the indoor tanning booths that help you achieve that golden glow no matter what the weather is doing all-year-long.

And BeautyTipToday is certainly not here to judge. We did our own sun damage years ago, when we spent our childhood/adolescence EVERY summer at our grandparents' house-by-the-beach We are paying for it now.

We have friends and relatives who worship the tanning rays of the sun, both indoors and outdoors. And they look healthy and golden brown.

We can't help but shudder though, when we read this in the NY Daily News:

...."Going to a tanning salon even just one time is dangerous. Tanning booths are considered a Class 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. This is the same category that plutonium is put in!"

Those words by Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

And here's a bit more information from another respected NYC plastic surgeon, Robert Tornambe, M.D.:

"The primary culprit causing melanoma(skin cancer) is UV light from the sun or tanning beds," he explains. "Research shows indoor tanning increases a person's melanoma risk by 75 percent! Anyone can get melanoma, but there is a higher incidence in people with fair skin, sun-sensitive skin (tends to burn rather than tan) and a family history of the disease. Five or more sunburns during your lifetime double your risk of developing skin cancer. 80 percent of lifetime sun damage occurs during childhood."

Are You About To Turn 30? Remember This Word: Exfoliation

We all know Angie Harmon, the gorgeous former model and star of the TNT drama 'Rizzoli & Isles.'

She celebrates her 40th birthday in August.

But did you know that Angie was not crazy about the time she left her 20's?

"I'm not gonna lie: I was scared to turn 30," she says.

Angie Harmon is just one of the contributors of a wonderful new book called, 'Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30,' by the editors of Glamour magazine.

We were reading through a few of these nuggets of advice in the May issue of Glamour, when we stumbled on to Angie's thoughts for the gal turning 30.

Here is one of the key pieces of advice the actress mentioned:

"You HAVE to exfoliate for young-looking skin. End of discussion."

Big deal, you say? Yeah, it IS a big deal.

Let's look at what exfoliation really is. According to Wikipedia, it's all about 'shedding.' Out with the old--in with the new:

...."Exfoliation involves the removal of the oldest dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface, and has been used for many years to help maintain skin. Exfoliation is involved in the process of all facials, during microdermabrasion or chemical peels at medical spas. Exfoliation can be achieved through mechanical or chemical means."

In other words, you have to work at maintaining good-looking skin AFTER age 30. It is not a given. And exfoliation delivers a softer, clearer and more glowing complexion. Your anti-aging products can penetrate more effectively because pores become un-clogged when you routinely exfoliate.

Start off with a decent facial cleanser, one that contains exfoliating properties---like Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Salicylic Acid, or Beta Hydroxy Acid. These help loosen up the dead skin cells.

From mechanical exfoliation, you can then proceed to chemical exfoliation, which includes facial peels and the like. You will notice a difference---your skin becomes so soft and your complexion becomes radiant.

If you're new to all things exfoliation, a dermatologist can guide you in the right direction.

Handbag? Why Not Tuck All Your Stuff Into New JoeyBra!

Oh, my!

Has it really come to this? Has mankind's obsession with wireless technology now led us to our bras, where we can stuff more than just padding into them?

Get this.....a couple of clever college students, Mariah Gentry and Kyle Barlow, are the co-founders of the JoeyBra, designed for women to tuck away all their essentials when a handbag won't do.

Nope---you're not putting your cell phone in with the gel pads. You're neatly and discreetly hiding it, along with I.D., credit card, lipstick, iPad, or maybe a key in a little pouch along the side of the bra. Check out the JoeyBra in the photo.

Maybe you've had some friends who have tucked away a few tiny items in their cleavage, but this is totally different--- the modern way, you could say. The smart duo is targeting college students and offers the choice of a strapless version and an 8-way convertible strap version.

Okay, but how do you retrieve your phone without making it look a bit awkward? I mean....that's just one of the kinks that makes it a little weird for us.

By the way, the 'pocketed' JoeyBra will go on sale at the University of Washington Book Store in June at a discounted $19.99 rate for students(usually available at $29.99).

Designers Mariah and Kyle hope to get enough funding to bring the JoeyBra into the mainstream retail market within 2 years.

To learn more about the JoeyBra and see more photos, click here.

Something Sheer Is Surely A Sign Of Spring/Summer 2012

Is it us? Or has fabric for Spring/Summer 2012 taken the peek-a-boo route?

Everywhere you turn, sheer tops are the HOT new trend! And we're not just talking about lace. We know that is BIG, too.

A little touch of sheer-ness never hurt anyone, and when tastefully done, it can only boost your wardrobe.

You don't have to be model-slim to wear sheer tops, either. Nailing the sheer-ness in all the right places can hide little imperfections.

We checked out the ever-popular Forever21 shopping site. And under sheer tops, we found 1,165 to choose from! Wow! Tons of colors, styles, patterns, and degrees of sheer-ness to look at.

Obviously, if a top is sheer, you need a camisole or bra or both, to make it look right.

Here's a little sample of what we hunted down. And the prices won't bust your budget:

1. Vertical Stripe High-Low Top ($17.80).

2. Lace Trim Peasant Top ($19.80).

3. Sheer Polka Dot Shirt ($24.80).

Don't be shy. You can always 'hide' your sheer top inside a blazer or light cardigan if you feel you're showing off too much sheer-ness.

Go To Sleep With This On And Wake Up To Brighter Skin

We've learned that beauty sleep is really something we all need. Our skin needs rest to 'repair' itself at night. And if we apply the right creams and serums to our complexions before we hit the pillow every evening, then the results speak for themselves.

That is why we are looking at Korres' new Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial ($48, at Sephora). The company likes to call this product an overnight facial-in-a-jar. Put some on at night, and wake up to brighter, more even-toned skin.

Wild Rose + Vitamin C is from Korres, Greece's oldest homeopathic pharmacy. That's got to count for something!

So, what's so great about a Vitamin C cream/serum?

Plenty....Vitamin C, referred to by scientists as a powerful anti-aging vitamin, is known for its remarkable ability to help visibly brighten and balance out skin tone, zero in on dark spots, while helping skin defend itself against future damage.

And this little jar of beauty contains 5X more concentrated Vitamin C for extra potent power! It's 95% natural content, feather-light as a souffle, and rapidly melts into your complexion. You awaken with petal-soft skin by morning.

Here's to a better tomorrow for all of us!

Do You Do Distressed Denim? It's Boho-Hot!

Distressed!

That's the word for denim at the moment. You can wear 'em faded, frayed, beaten-up, or just a bit worn-in, when it comes to your jean jacket or denim vest.

A few tears and rips, and you're looking as hot as Rihanna in her Acne distressed jacket.

It's super boho-chic, especially when you pair it with a lovely maxi dress.

The only fashion danger we see is going to the extreme, where Rihanna as sexy as she is, is just a couple of steps from hobo status. You don't want to let your distressed denim get to the point of too falling apart.....Just saying.

We found a cool distressed vest by M2F ($128, at Free People Boutique. We love the raw edges around the armholes (bottom photo).

If this is too high a pricetag for a denim vest, you could 'distress' your own with a razor, knife, scissors, and/or some bleach. Lots of people do their own distressing, and do it very well.

Good luck!

Olivia Wilde Says 'No Tweezing': Eyebrow-Challenged

Actress Olivia Wilde has the kind of beautiful bone structure women want to be blessed with.

But when it comes to her eyebrows, well, she's a lot like the rest of us---Olivia is struggling with thin brows. We never really noticed her beauty problem until she mentioned it recently to the New York Times T magazine.

The 28-year-old star told them she does NOT tweeze:

"I’ve been letting them grow in for years," Olivia says. "I try to fill them in wherever nature has abandoned me. I just fill in under the arch and soften them up a bit."

We get it....We've been there, too.

The former House actress is busy as a Revlon spokesperson these days, and most recently, as one of the executive producers of 'Baseball in the Time of Cholera,' a short film presented at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.

Olivia is so pretty that we suppose she could get away with any hair color, and right now, that shade is blonde.

"I am really enjoying being a blonde," she explains — she now chooses a brighter brow color. "My natural brows are quite pointy," she reveals. "I soften them so I look less like some evil Disney queen!"

Gotta love her. Not lovin' the lighter tresses, though. We think Olivia is stunning as a brunette.

What do you think?

Gwen Stefani Rocks Pink Skinny Jeans---You Can, Too!

Colored jeans have been a HOT trend for some time now. And celebrities have been out and about slipping into pairs of bright-colored denim.

Last month, it was Fergie photographed in red jeans at LAX. And today, we've found the very stylish Gwen Stefani rockin' a pair of bubble gum pink skinny jeans.

Not an easy shade to pull off, but the sexy, svelte singer makes it look simple by keeping the entire thing, well, simple.

Gwen paired her hot pink jeans with a basic black tank, matching booties, and a wide, gold cuff. She looks amazing!

And you can wear this, too. Yes, ladies, you CAN put on a pair of pink skinny jeans and do it on a budget. Why spend hundreds, when you can copy the look for so much less!

The Almost Famous brand has a great pair of Tiffany Pink Skinny Jeans (reg. $29.95, on SALE for $19.99, Buy 1, Get 1 50% off at Zumiez). Just as cute as Gwen's---bright pink, stretch cotton, low rise, and ultra skinny! Plus, we found sizes 1-13 available.

Will you dare to rock this trend?!

Touch Of Turmeric Powder: Thandie Newton's Best Beauty Tip

We've been writing about the benefits of adding a little turmeric powder to your diet for quite some time now.

If you love Indian and South Asian food, then you know the distinctive aroma and taste of powerful yellow-orange turmeric powder. In India culture, this colorful spice has been used for many, many generations, as a wonderful food enhancer, but also as a healing agent.

And now, too, as a skin rejuvenator. Maybe that's why gorgeous actress Thandie Newton tells People magazine that the bright-colored spice is "My Best Beauty Secret."

"Turmeric! I mix a few grains in my moisturizer," Thandie says. "It gives you such a lovely, sun-kissed glow. It's also anti-inflammatory, so it's a real tonic for the skin."

You're a smart gal, Thandie. Ayurvedic healers consider turmeric to be a varnya herb, which means, enhances your complexion. Its strong anti-bacterial properties fight pimples and breakouts.



Thandie is the new face of Olay Total Effects. And at age 39 and a mom of 2 little girls, we think the award-winning actress is a great representative for the famous Olay company.

Thandie's beauty recipe equals Olay Total Effects Fragrance-Free UV Moisturizer ($22.99, at drugstores) and turmeric:

"It was a complete accident that I spilled some and rubbed it in on my hands. I looked down and thought, how pretty!"

Just be careful when handling turmeric powder around your favorite clothing. It can yellow-stain fabric, and we have found it's tough to remove.

On another note....Dr. Andrew Weil talked about the powerful, anti-cancer benefits of turmeric powder in an article at his website back in 2003:

"Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is the yellow spice most familiar in Indian cooking and American-prepared mustard. Not only do I think that it is safe to take after breast cancer treatment, I think it would be helpful. The reason is that turmeric affects hormones that promote inflammation and cell proliferation, processes that seem to underlie most cancers.

"Turmeric is being studied widely for its powerful anti-cancer effects. However, women being treated for breast cancer may be advised to avoid it during chemotherapy because of evidence from laboratory and animal studies suggesting that it may inhibit the action of certain chemotherapy drugs.

"I often recommend New Chapter's Turmericforce; take one capsule twice a day."

Pretty amazing stuff from this pungent spice!

You'd Be A Fool Not To Try Yu-Be Skin Care Products

We LOVE skin care creams and serums. We also love learning about the science of beauty.

That's why we are happy to write today about the popular Japanese skin care line called Yu-Be. Pronounced as YOO-BEE.

Everyone's been talking about Yu-Be....from Newsweek to InStyle to Elle, and beyond.

But Yu-Be has been around for 55 years now. Just ask most folks in Japan, and you would find that Yu-Be products are a skin care staple in most homes there.

In fact, the #1 Selling Medicated Vitamin-Enriched Cream on the Market is Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream ($25, at Yu_be.com). Japanese pharmacist Yoshikiyo Nowatari developed the glycerin-based moisturizer in 1957. It features a high glycerin content along with vitamins B2, C, E, and camphor. The cream has a super absorbancy level, making it very effective for rough, dry skin.

According to the Yu-Be website history page--- "Generations of familes have used the concentrated formula on all types of dry skin - from split cuticles and cracked heels to diaper rash - even frostbite - and to this day refuse to use anything else."

Here in the U.S., the Yu-Be skin care line is distributed by JMax Intl. of Los Angeles.

The company was kind to send us the famous Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream, Foaming Skin Polish, Moisturizing Body Lotion, and Lip Therapy balm stick. We have been sampling all of them, and we like what we see!

When we noted that camphor was present in the Yu-Be skin care line we were a bit hesitant about the scent. The beauty of the Yu-Be formula is the quick absorption. And yes---the camphor scent disappears very fast.

We have been using the popular Moisturizing Skin Cream under our eyes, and we LOVE it. It serves as an excellent eye cream. It really softens and nourishes the thin skin and actually diminishes the look of fine lines and wrinkles of the eye area. No kidding! We really didn't expect it to work that well.

The Foaming Skin Polish ($18, at Yu-Be.com) is another great product from the Yu-Be line, formulated with rice bran, bamboo, ginger root, ginseng and green tea to exfoliate rough, dry skin cells and give you back smoother, healthier skin. A gentle yet effective scrubber.

To try the Yu-Be skin care collection, check out their FREE samples with just $4.95 shipping here.

Kate Gets Duchess Beauty Glow From Bee Venom Facials?

The royal buzz these days?

That pretty Duchess Kate looks especially beautiful because of bee venom facials.

If this is the case, then watch the sale of bee venom masks skyrocket into the stratosphere. As we have all come to learn, anything the future queen of England touches, turns to gold. Women around the globe want to dress like Kate, smell like Kate, have perfect hair like Kate, and yes, even look like the lovely Kate.

So, why bee venom beauty products?

If you believe the hype...."This cream is said to work by gently stinging the skin, leaving a tingling sensation and causing the body to direct blood flow to the area. It claims to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which reduce wrinkles by relaxing and strengthening the muscles."

Says who?

The makers of Royal Nectar Bee Venom Cream ($69.90), the SAME brand that Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall + Prince William's step-mom) turned Kate on to. Rumors say that Kate began dipping into the bee venom beauty hive several weeks BEFORE the royal wedding. And to note, her complexion looked exquisite on her big day.

Don't laugh....we are intrigued by any skin care treatment that stimulates collagen/elastin production.

"Apply Royal Nectar daily as part of your skin care routine. Leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off.

"Use from twice a week to twice a day (personal preference). Spread sparingly on clean skin, do not rub in and be careful to avoid the eye area."

HealthyOnLine which sells the Royal Nectar Bee Venom Cream explains the fascinating process in how the bee venom is extracted. So bizarre! Read on:

"To extract the venom, a pane of glass is placed alongside the hive and a small electrical current is run through it, which encourages the insects to sting the surface. Tiny quantities of the venom are then collected and sent to Britain. It costs £27,000 ($55,200) an ounce but the venom is diluted, to make it less painful to apply, to just 1 per cent of the mask. A 50ml jar costs £55 ($112). (This is the UK Price. It is only $69.90 from healthyonline, even less than sold by the manufacturer! )

"The cream is also mixed with New Zealand Manuka honey, shea butter and rose and lavender oils. Used twice a day for 20 minutes, the bee treatment can apparently knock up to 10 years off facial appearance."

Hey, bee venom is being called, the new 'alternative to Botox.' We cannot prove that Kate has ever tried the product, but people in-the-know, claim it is TRUE.

Just a little note---if you are allergic to bees, please DON'T use this!

We would like to try this stuff if we could get a freebie.

Will You Lock Lips With This Pop Art Jewelry Trend?

You're either going to love this or hate it, but you have to admit----jewelry in the form of a pair of lips is quite unique.

We're still on the fence about it, but we have been seeing lots of lips cuff bracelets from the Brooklyn-based St. Kilda shop. And the inspiration supposedly comes from the famous surrealistic painting of lips in the sky, Les Amoureux by Man Ray.

These Nora Kogan jewelry pieces include enameled lips in a rainbow of bold colors. Each cuff costs $325. Check them all out here at StKildaJewelry.

The lips jewelry trend is both modern and edgy and makes for quite a striking accessories statement.

What do you think?

Smiling Celebrities Have Worn Them---Would You Invisalign?

Is it just us, or have you, too, noticed a lot of adults suddenly getting 'invisible' braces?!

Most of the time, you can't even see the braces, and that's the beauty of Invisalign. Many smiling celebrities have hit the red carpet wearing these clear plastic aligners to straighten their pearly whites---people like: Katherine Heigl, Justin Beiber, Elin Woods, Zac Efron, and Tom Cruise.

The plastic braces are worn 24/7, except at mealtimes. Full treatment takes about 1 year, with office visits every 6 weeks or so.

The cost of Invisalign kind of blew us away-----From $3,500 - $8,000. Wow! We were not expecting such a steep price. Then again, we've had root canals that resulted in a couple of thousand dollars each, when all was said and done. Yeah, dental work isn't cheap.

So, metal braces versus clear, plastic ones. Look at the photo depicting both. It's a no-brainer, cosmetically-speaking. Who wouldn't want an almost invisible dental makeover?

Would you Invisalign? And is this clear plastic system just as effective as wearing a set of unattractive, old-fashioned metal braces?

From the results we've seen of relatives and friends wearing Invisalign, this is a brilliant concept. Their teeth look amazing. But Invisalign does have its critics. Read on from Boston orthodontist Mouhab Rizkallah, DDS:

1. Invisalign cannot predictably control any changes in back tooth bite relationships. In fact, it can really cause back tooth bite problems if you try to move the back teeth and fall short of your goals. Braces can control back tooth bite relationships readily.

2. Invisalign cannot predictably rotate cylindrical teeth (such as canines and premolars) because it lacks predictable "friction grip", but invisalign can readily rotate angular teeth, such as incisors, because this does not require grip....it only requires point force at a distance away from the center of the tooth. Example: USING 1 finger from EACH hand, try to turn a drinking glass that is cylindrical versus one that has 4 sides. With the cylindrical glass, you will need to try to squeeze your fingers toward each other (producing friction grip) to rotate the cylindrical glass. With the 4 sided glass, you only need to apply forces in opposite directions at the square corners of the glass....no friction grip needed. That is why Invisalign cannot rotate cylindrical objects predictably. Braces, on the other hand, are glued to teeth, and therefore have absolute friction, and can thereby rotate any tooth. Voila!

3. Invisalign cannot predictably accomplish uprighting root movements: I don't know how to effectively communicate that in text. It would require a picture. Braces accomplish this readily.

4. Invisalign cannot predictably accomplish vertical movements, as the aligner is designed to release in the vertical plane of space. Braces accomplish this readily.

Bottom Line: I love invisalign for patients that do not need Bite correction, rotation of cylindrical teeth, root uprighting, or vertical tooth movements.

Well, we would still LOVE to Invisalign for absolutely perfectly straight teeth. We would do it, if our smile doesn't require all that other stuff.
How about you?

All Thumbs Applying Foundation? Try Romi Beauty Gadget For Perfection

In our humble opinion, foundation or base is a daily makeup essential. It evens out skin tone, hides minor imperfections, protects the skin, and lets you look alive.


But applying foundation seamlessly is a challenge for most of us. We use our fingers to first blend our liquid base onto our face. Then we quickly use a makeup sponge to 'pat it in.'

Perfect?

Certainly not, but, we do the best we can.

Now there's Digital Foundation by Roma Beauty ($109.95, at haantherapeutics).

The cute, little battery-operated beauty gadget helps you master the art of the seamless foundation finish by imitating the stippling technique of quick, short pats that makeup artists use to achieve that flawless appearance.

Romi Beauty Digital Foundation features a vibrating sponge pad that dispenses foundation at a stippling rate of 5,000 times per minute. You don't have to use your fingers or a brush or a sponge to blend it in. The beauty machine does all the work, and quite beautifully.

You can select from 1 of 3 foundation shades to get that airbrushed finish.

Spending more than $100 for a beauty gadget might sound a bit silly, but the Romi Beauty device is a well-made makeup aid that saves you time and money in the long run.

Mama Mariah: Marvelous May Cover Of Shape 1 Year After Twins

It's almost ALL about the food you choose, so says Mariah Carey.

Check out the May cover of Shape magazine!

The mom-of-twins just 1-year later, is showing off a FLAT tummy that she credits with a structured eating plan.

"I used to be able to slim down just by exercising more, but that’s changed. Since having the babies, I realize that 90 percent of losing weight is my diet,".

And the 43-year-old singing sensation had shed 30 lbs. on the Jenny Craig plan in 3 months. It appears that Mama Mariah has maintained her svelteness and is still going strong 365 days later.

We would have to agree, that it's mainly about the diet, but let's not dismiss old-fashioned exercise. You NEED to get the body moving to tone up and burn calories.

So, the critics are already screaming, "Photoshop," about the Mariah May Shape cover. Big deal---aren't most, if not ALL people featured on magazine covers airbrushed to some degree?!

We think the superstar looks pretty darn amazing after giving birth to a set of twins.

And if you're looking for a flat tummy like Mariah's, here's a super exercise from Andie Hecker, the New York ballerina turned Hollywood trainer:

"This is the BEST way to work your abs without putting stress on your lower back," says Andie.

Lie down flat on your back with one leg resting on the floor and the other crossed over it. Lift the top leg to 90 degrees and slowly lower it. Repeat 40 times, alternating legs."

Repeat 40 times? Are you crazy?

That's a killer exercise, but like we have learned, nothing good comes easy.

Visit balletbodies for more information.

Hey, Sunscreen Brand Snob: Walgreens Scores High On Safe Tanning

According to one survey we found:

31% of Americans NEVER use sunscreen.

Actually, we don't find those statistics unbelievable. Yesterday, our temps reached an unusual for April high of 91 degrees. That had folks running to the beaches. You couldn't get a parking spot.

And lots of those sun-seekers DON'T slap on the sunscreen.

But for those of you intelligent tanners who DO wear sunscreen, do you really want to spend $30 for an expensive brand that claims to do this and that without getting a sunburn?

How do you know your small, pricey tube of sun protection is really protecting you?

Think Walgreens. That's right. The drugstore chain sells effective sunscreens under the Walgreens label, and are rated highly by ConsumerReports.org and EnvironmentalWorkingGroup.org.

Plus---Walgreens sunscreens WON'T bust your budget!

When Consumer Reports has conducted sunscreen testing, all of them come back effective for UVB protection, but products vary widely in the amount of UVA protection they provide. The following ingredients need to be present in a sunscreen for it to provide adequate UVA protection: avobenzone, mexoryl, zinc oxide, or combo of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Walgreens sunscreen lotions contains avobenzone. Most of the snob brand sunscreens don't contain any of those on the list.

Walgreens Sport Sunscreen Continuous Spray SPF 50 ($7.79). Recommended by Consumer Reports.

What's even nicer----Walgreens is selling their sunscreen brand at a super deal----Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off!

Restylane To The Rescue For Sagging Damaged Earlobe

This morning on GMA there was a segment on earlobe repair and how plastic surgeons can restore a sagging, damaged earlobe.

Maybe some of you have been there. We have. Twice now---we've had our pierced earlobes 'surgically repaired.' On both occasions, the pierced holes had become long and split right down the earlobe. Not attractive.

Before the earlobe splits, however, you CAN do something to fix the cosmetic situation. Look at the photos. You can see the vertical tearing to the lobe in the BEFORE photo. And then the normal-sized pierced hole in the AFTER shot.

Instead of costly and time-consuming surgery, a dermatologist or plastic surgeon can quickly plump up your earlobes with a couple of shots of Restylane---the same popular injectable used to add volume to sagging facial features.

Wearing heavy, long earrings can often lead to sagging, torn earlobes. And when we age, our earlobes do, too, because they do not have the firm tissue found on other parts of the body. So, even creases can form on the earlobes with time. That's why a filler like Restylane can add a fullness to the lobe so that earrings sit high and pretty, instead of drooping downward.

Allan E. Wulc, a suburban Philadelphia plastic surgeon, appears to be the first cosmetic expert to have invented earlobe restoration by Restalyne. He's been injecting lobes with the dermal filler since 2006. And his careful injections do not disrupt the pierced hole. In fact, the vertical elongation of a pierced ear can be improved.

"I do think we will get results up to a year, but would hope that it would be longer," says Dr. Wulc."In general, I add Restylane everywhere I feel it is needed in the face. The earlobes are injected at the end of the procedure, when most of the other areas have been rejuvenated. In general, we send patients home immediately after the injection with their earrings on. We clean them first and place antibiotic ointment on the earlobe.".

Before you submit to earlobe surgery, ask around for a doctor who is familiar with earlobe restoration by Restylane. It's quick and painless. NO downtime. We wish we had known about it BEFORE our lobes had split down the middle.