Linda Wells Knows Smart Women Like To Look Good

Allure magazine has been called the 'Beauty Bible' by some. And since the mag was launched some 17 years ago, women have been eagerly consuming its pages for tons of beauty tips and intelligent, bold articles that probe the world of beauty.

Allure gives women much more than the perfect shade of rose lipstick, although they do that very well, thank you. And with Linda Wells as editor-in-chief since the very beginning, Allure has been warmly received as a super Conde Nast publication.

We like Linda Wells because she takes a serious look at beauty, but doesn't take herself too seriously. She loves beauty but always seems to balance the frivolousness of pampering and self-adornment with a practical edge.

Her monthly 'letter from the editor' in the pages of Allure, is always a delight to read. In this month's October 2008 issue, Linda talks about how 'more is less.' She's referring to the multi-layered packaging of expensive beauty treatments, and how wasteful and crazy it's all become. Too much shiny cellophane, thick cardboard, excess plastic containers, and so on.

"Some cosmetics companies seem to believe that all these layers create a sense of luxury, that they make the product look precious, like a Valentine's present from Harry Winston. But that idea is passe," Linda Wells writes.

So true.

You can sense Linda's no nonsense approach to real beauty, in a 2006 Associated Press interview with reporter Samantha Critchell:

She acknowledges even with access to every new product under the sun, her own look changes very slowly. "My range is A to B. I don't change my look much but I can appreciate someone who does. If something is really ugly, we don't write about it, or if we identify a trend we won't say you should wear it," Linda Wells explains.

But she is on a bit of a personal crusade to get women to put on fragrance and a little lipstick before they leave the house. "Beauty is in some ways a courtesy. People have to see you and smell you. 'Casual Friday' isn't 'Don't-take-a-shower Friday,' and getting dressed for someone's dinner party is a way of showing respect," she says.

In the meantime, pick up the Allure October issue. It is jam-packed with Allure's Best Of Beauty--the 182 winning products. From volumizing shampoos to clump-proof mascara, and more. It's their biggest issue ever!!

Ivanka Trump Launches Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers

The Trump name seems to be everywhere these days. And with good reason.

We like to call it, 'smart business.' And Ivanka Trump is following in daddy's mogul footsteps. She knows a super deal when she sees one.

Ivanka has partnered up with ConAgra's Healthy Choice, and just launched their Fresh Mixers food line.

ConAgra says it's getting into business with Ivanka Trump to "change the way people think about eating lunch at work." And at $3.49 a piece, it's not a bad way to re-think the art of brown-bagging a lunch.

"I'm excited to be partnering with Healthy Choice on the launch of Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers, because I know how difficult it can be to try to find a healthy luch during a hectic day," says Ivanka Trump. "Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers are convenient, fresh-tasting, and easy to store in my desk drawer, so I never have to skip lunch."

At the moment, ConAgra is offering a choice of 6 prepared microwave meals in the new Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers line. And they all look delish to us:

Rotini & Zesty Marinara Sauce
Szechwan Beef with Asian Style Noodle
Sweet & Sour Chicken
Southwestern Style Chicken
Ziti & Meat Sauce
Sesame Teriyaki Chicken

Meantime, we included a close-up of Ivanka's healthy and pretty face. Look at girlfriend's makeup.....gorgeous. Look at Ivanka's hair......shiny and in fine shape. She presents a very polished and attractive appearance. Wish we could take a peek inside Ivanka's makeup bag.

The New Botox Drug That Grows Longer Eyelashes

Allergan, the fine people who brought you Botox to smooth away frowns and wrinkles, are now hoping the FDA will finally let them market Lumigan. The new Botox---a drug that grows you long-gggger eyelashes.

Allergan has been conducting clinical trials, investigating the use of Lumigan as a cosmetic drug.

Lumigan (trade name) or bimatoprost has been around for many years. It's actually a glaucoma drug. And one of the delightful side effects: growing long lashes. And some glaucoma patients says the lashes get so long, many trim them with a scissors!

But there are other not so pleasant side effects from using bimatoprost. Some people get blurry vision. And others get very dark, undereye circles. And probably most alarming, there are those who say their eyes have darkened permanently with long term use. Blue eyes that have dark brown spots, and so on.

Still, Allergan has filed a new drug application with the FDA for Lumigan, and hopes to market it for cosmetic use in the near future. We're not sure how the Botox kings will address those ugly possible side effects.

It's one thing to desire long, thick eyelashes. But is it worth the possible chance of darkening your irises, or getting blurry vision?

We'll have to wait and see how the Allergan Botox people make a better Lumigan for cosmetic enhancement.

Meantime....ladies, there is super mascara, like Maybelline's Great Lash. Still the best eyelash lengthener by our standards.

And false eyelashes. Look at Kim Kardashian. She has amazing peepers. Okay, she has a professional makeup genius in our friend, Stephen Moleski. And Kim isn't ashamed to admit, that she sometimes uses false eyelashes to bring her dark eyes to the next hottest level. It's really okay to wear fake lashes.

No one's perfect. And not everyone has been born blessed with super long, luscious lashes. But it doesn't mean we can't create them through makeup and a skilled hand.

Ulta 65-Piece Makeup Chest For Less Than $20! Wow!

Your Beauty Tip Today is simple:

For less than $20, you can receive 65 beauty tips!! That's quite a makeup chest. And it comes to you, courtesy of ULTA.com. Only $19.99 after the $5 off coupon at http://www.ulta.com/. A $195. value.

If you love playing around with makeup and like to choose from dozens of different colors and makeup items, this ULTA 65-piece blockbuster makeup chest is definitely for you!!

29 eye shadows
12 lip colors
6 cheek colors
4 full size lipsticks
2 mini lip glosses
2 pot lip glosses
2 shimmer powders
2 undereye concealers
2 eye pencils
2 eye quads
1 lip quad applicator
and more beauty stuff all neatly tucked away in a 3-tier patent leatherette makeup chest. (choose from colors black, pink or white).

ULTA beauty stores are located in most states across the country. But if you're not close to one, their website is packed with tons of delicious beauty products. And ULTA puts out their own quality makeup, too.

Unfortunately, we don't have access to an ULTA beauty store where we live---we have to drive one state over to find it, at least an hour and a half away. Same with Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Alaska isn't home to an ULTA store, either. Maybe that's why the RNC or Republican National Committee has just released figures on what it has spent so far, to keep 44-year-old Gov. Palin looking glamorous on the campaign trail.

According to the latest numbers, the RNC has dished out more than $150,000 on clothes and accessories for Gov. Palin and her family. Apparently, sources say she was a drab dresser prior to being surprise selected by Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain in late August. Who cares, she looks polished and stylish wherever she travels now.

The RNC spent $4,716.49 on Gov. Palin's hair and makeup through September.

No wonder we noticed shiny, caramel hairlights through Sarah Palin's hair. And her makeup is really quite pretty and very well done for a professional woman on the go. Nothing is overdone, but you do notice she wears makeup, which is really okay and actually, quite refreshing. You can be both smart and attractive.

Our point being----it's okay to be high-maintenance, especially if you're running for the 2nd highest position in the country. Maybe a little Botox and/or Restylane injected here and there?! Gov. Palin appears to have firm, clear skin.

We aren't trying to be political in the least here, and we aren't suggesting any skin treatments, either. Presidential candidates' wives Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain also set the right tone in the numerous campaign appearances they attend. They, too, always look neat and pretty with makeup nicely done. We're not sure if these 3 women all have makeup artists, but whatever they are doing, they all look glam but approachable.

Dare To Wear Black Lipstick Trend For Fall 2008

Nope. We certainly haven't tried rocking the new fall trend of 2008---black lipstick. And we probably won't try, either. Sure, it's goth and kind of sexy, but we'll let the fashion runways wear the edgier looks.

Not so fast.......There are plenty of women out there who really desire this sexy lip shade. And if you don't believe us, just head over to:
LimitedEdition/product_info.html">http://www.yslbeautyus.com/WHAT'S-NEW-MAKE-UP/c70_95/p372*NEW-YSL-GLOSS-PUR-BLACK*
Limited-Edition/product_info.html.

YSL(Yves St. Laurent) Gloss PurBlack ($28) is SOLD OUT!!! And has been for some time. So there!

Vogue's Sept.'08 issue had an interesting article on the 'lip look of the season: pitch-black gloss.'

Stefano Pilati created the dramatic, yet elegant black gloss shade for YSL's Fall runway shows, according to makeup artist Tom Pecheux.

"If pure black is too intimidating, add a few drops to your lipstick to deepen the color," Pecheux told Vogue magazine.

YSL Gloss Pur Black is being described in this manner by the fine folks at Yves St. Laurent:

"Mysterious, sensual, luminous... For fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, black is THE color. And as a make-up artist, lips are THE focus. YSL GLOSS PUR Black unites these two facets of his art in a superb Limited Edition.From plum to ebony, it dresses lips in an infinite range of shades, depending on how it is applied – feather light or rich and bold. Transparent yet intense, it plays on the depths of black and the pure shine of a sparkle-free formula.Besides being the must-have make up item for Fall 2008, Gloss Pur Black is a preview of a new formula which will launch in Spring 2009, in 6 radiant shades, full of pure color and high shine. "

Meantime, if you're having a tough time trying to get your lips on the YSL, why not try Lancome Piha Black Color Fever Lip Gloss. Well, hate to spoil your party, but the Lancome has been sold out, too. Best to try Ebay.com.

And then there is Estee Lauder's Black Truffle Lipstick. Also sold out at the moment.

Our point being, someone is buying and rocking the black lipstick trend for fall 2008. That's what we find so wonderful about beauty and fashion. The rules can be broken and one size does not fit all.

Wexler Improves Women's Skin With MMPi20 Serum

Patricia Wexler is a board-certified dermatologist with more than 20 years of experience. She has seen it
all, because she is in high demand as a skin expert to the stars.

Manhattan and Hollywood A-listers flock to Patricia because her primary goal is to improve their skin. And she's on the cutting edge when it comes to women's skin care. Patricia Wexler has appeared on countless television shows and inside magazines and newspapers as a skin expert. She has an anti-aging line at Bath & Body Works stores.

Check out one of her most popular beauty treatments (top photo). It's called:
MMPi20 Skin Regenerating Serum ($55, 1 oz.). It works to lift sagging skin, diminish age spots, and the general signs of aging. And look at the pretty pink color. We've never seen a cooler looking serum than that one.

MMPi.20™ anti-aging technology blocks the damaging effect of all 20 knowm MMPs (skin destroying enzymes that break down production of collagen and cause skin to sink, sag, and wrinkle) and prevents the production of new MMPs, correcting the signs of aging you see today and preventing future damage

Boosts skin's own regenerative powers to diminish the visible signs of aging

Visibly reverses the lines, sink and sag

To use: After cleansing, gently massage serum evenly over face, neck, and decollete 2 times daily

We counted more than 30 different anti-aging products in Patricia Wexler's skin care line for Bath & Body Works. Quite a vast collection of good stuff for your skin. Moisturizers. Lip treatment. Undereye circle brightener. Resurfacing Microdermabrasion System. Wrinkle Smoother. Acne Solution, and so on.

Her credo is “Dermocracy. All skin recreated equal.” We like how this woman thinks.

Japan Going Bananas Over Popular Banana Diet Craze

Diet plans to lose weight are always popular. And if the diet contains a food or food group that tastes good, then folks become hooked. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon, hoping for major weight loss. If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is. The cookie diet, the pineapple diet, the same colored food diet, etc.

But in Japan, bananas are becoming hard to find in supermarkets. Even Time Magazine is seriously reporting about the new Morning Banana Diet.

What is it?

Very simple. If you love bananas, then this is the diet weight loss plan for you. Maybe.

A pharmacist in Osaka, Japan says she created the diet for her overweight husband. Sumiko Watanabe wanted to speed up her hubby's metabolism to burn fat, and she did it by feeding him bananas. Mr. Watanabe says he lost 37 lbs!

According to Time, the Morning Banana Diet follows just a few rules:

"The Morning Banana Diet consists of one or more bananas with room-temperature water for breakfast; an optional snack at 3 p.m.; and anything you want for lunch and dinner. The catch: You can't eat desserts after meals, dinner has to be consumed by 8 p.m. , and you have to go to bed by midnight."

We all know that bananas are rich in potassium. But the yellow, creamy 100 Calorie treat is much more than that. Bananas are pretty close to being a perfect food. They are packed with fiber, iron, and protein, Vitamins B6 and C. And Bananas also stop your craving for sugar. And the fruit is high in minerals that reduce cholesterol. And they are great for pregnant women, because they contain good things that help keep blood sugars up.

Even model Cindy Crawford has talked about eating bananas as a healthy, filling snack.

Whether this is just another fad diet remains to be seen. We're not sure what kind of impact the Morning Banana Diet will have on diet-crazed people here in the U.S. At least, we have plenty of bananas to go around. In Japan, good luck trying to score some:

"Large stores don't have any bananas from noon, and even Ito Yokado (a major supermarket chain) runs out of them after 3 p.m.," said Tomoyuki Horiuchi, sales representative of Tokyo Seika Boeki Co., Ltd., fruit and vegetables wholesale company.

Over the past four months, Dole Japan has boosted its banana imports by more than 25 percent, but stores are still running out, Time said.

Hey, it beats eating a Pop Tart for breakfast.