New Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas For Him And Her

We know. No one wants to be rushed, but look----it's already November 8th. The holidays are upon us, and yes, times are tough and tight.

But we all, hopefully, embody the spirit of giving and celebration. So here are just a couple of ideas for your favorite hims and hers.

Fragrance. We each have our own distinct favorite cologne or perfume. And when the holidays roll upon us, well, we often think of beautiful, yummy-smelling fragrances.

You can't give a perfume to just anybody. Scent is individual. It's best to know that person when you want to give them the gift of scent. Some women, for example, are adventurous, in the fact that they love trying new fragrances. Others are almost 'married' to the same cologne, year after year. And some, wouldn't want you to even copy their scent within walking distance. In other words, "Girlfriend, don't wear my scent. That's my perfume."

Nordstorm's fine department stores are already showing off what's new in the fragrance aisle.

And here are two we think make some nice holiday gift-giving ideas for him and her:

Ralph Lauren. Timeless and classic. Ralph Lauren Men Holiday Coffret (49.50, 0.05 oz. each). Check out these handsome mini bottles of Double Black, Explorer, Polo, Polo Sport, and Polo Blue.

Valentino. Elegance and style. Valentino 'Rock 'n Rose' Holiday Gift Set ($68, 2 items). Eau de Parfum Spray 1.6 oz. and Body Lotion 3.4 oz. The 'Rock 'n Rose' fragrance is created as 'a perfect balance between edgy modernity and Valentino's elegance and tradition.'

Platinum Skin Care Leading The War On Wrinkles

Platinum. A very precious metal.

Platinum Skin Care. A very precious skin care website.

Maybe that's why the name 'platinum' was chosen. The company delivers high quality cosmeceuticals.

This is not an advertisement for www.platinumskincare.com. The beauty folks there, certainly don't need our good words, but we thought we would spread the name, because we love their skin care products. From Emu oil to copper peptide serums to lactic acid cleansers, this site really understands skin, and how to keep yours looking smooth and youthful.

We stumbled onto the website about a year ago, and we keep coming back. We like the website---full of intelligent science in the war on wrinkles. Each product is listed with much detail. What the treatment does for skin. How to use the treatment. A great 'frequently asked questions' section. A huge list of testimonials---people who have used the products, including photos, and detailed diaries of their individual experiences with Platinum Skin Care products. Thorough, step-by-step instructions on how to use the stronger cosmeceuticals.

For instance, let's say you want to give yourself an at-home chemical peel. You will be directed to a page that explains exactly what a peel is, and the variety of peels available, and how each one is tailored for a specific skin condition.

You receive an excellent skin care and beauty primer with Platinum Skin Care, and by that, we mean education. You will learn plenty at their website. If you have questions, they are wonderful communicators. They will return your emails. And you can also call them toll free: 1-800-917-3155.

Cleansers. Masks & scrubs. Weight loss control. Chemical peels. Anti-aging treatments. Face creams & serums. Acne products. Copper peptides. Platinum Labs collection. Toners. Eye creams. Baby care. Professional products for office and spa.

Platinum Skin Care is proud of the label they wear, because the customer won't get a cheap beauty treatment, one that skimps on all the beauty ingredients needed to fight wrinkles, lines, and other aging concerns.

This is how the website explains their mission:

"You will find our products to be more potent and reliable than most of the products found on the market today. Our product line is not filled with empty promises - just outstanding scientific ingeneuity and common sense! We use only proven ingredients - not fillers.

We take great pride in creating only products that aid in correcting damages, promoting the healthy growth of new tissues, and improving the overall texture of the skin. You will enjoy what our professional products can do for you. Most products are available in sample sizes (found on the corresponding product page) so you can try before investing!"

Dr. 90210's Will Kirby Introduces Retinol NX Serum

My, my, my. Look at Dr. Will Kirby. What a difference a few years make. And look how good reality television has been to the handsome, dark-haired past winner of Big Brother.

In case you aren't up-to-date, Will Kirby has since completed medical school and become a doctor in the world of beautiful people. He has a starring role on another popular reality show, Dr. 90210. And he's busy making women appear even more attractive with some injections here, and a scalpel there.

Dr. Will Kirby is certainly no fool. He's a smart, young man, who has just teamed up with skin care giant Neutrogena. And together, they have developed an anti-aging serum---Retinol NX Serum. The $65 wrinkle reducer debuted on QVC.com just a couple of weeks ago. And that is where you can buy the beauty treatment. At the moment, QVC has dropped the price to an introductory cost of $59.16 and $4.47 shipping. And if you check out the product testimonials, well, they are quite flattering to Dr. Will Kirby and Neutrogena.


We have written a few articles here at BeautyTipToday about the value of using a retinol-based product. So we are quite interested in Dr. Kirby's cutting edge, anti-aging formula.

According to the Neutrogena press release:

"Neutrogena Dermatologics Retinol NX Concentrated Retinol Serumcontains a patented Stabilized Retinol technology, which helps keep Retinol in its purest and most effective form. Neutrogena's Stabilized Retinol works to continuously renew skin's appearance while visibly reducing the signs of wrinkles and fine lines. Clinical tests demonstrated that 94.5% of subjects showed improvement in overall skin appearance and radiance, in just 8 weeks. In addition, significant improvement in appearance was seen in specific areas including crow's feet and fine lines, forehead wrinkles and stubborn under-eye wrinkles."

Retinol is wonderful stuff. Why? It's a form of Vitamin A, also known as retinoic acid, Retin-A. With retinol, you don't need a prescription. Retinol's cousin is Retin-A. It works faster than retinol, but you can't get it over the counter. What both products do beautifully, is help with cell turnover and encouragement of collagen synthesis. Your skin regains it buoyancy, and fine lines and wrinkles soften over time.

Retinol is kinder and gentler to your skin, unlike Retin-A, which can cause skin redness and swelling. But both can cause sun sensitivity, so a good sunscreen is advised in conjunction with these beauty treatments.

Courtney Cox Swears By This Eye Cream To Soften Wrinkles

We've talked about this time and time again. Our eyes show age very quickly, because the skin surrounding them is thin, delicate, and drier.

Yes, we can repair the damage done, but the process is slow, and some beauty products irritate the sensitive eye area.

Botox can work miracles, in that the cosmetic injectable is quick with fast results. Crow's feet are softened and eyes look more refreshed.

Today, we are looking at lovely actress Courtney Cox Arquette. No, she doesn't look like she needs much help in the beauty department, but the 44-year-old mother of one, is a loyal spokesperson for Kinerase skin care products. And she really trusts the brand.

And the Kinerase skin care item she adores, is their Intensive Eye Cream ($55, .7 oz, http://www.sephora.com/, and other fine beauty stores).

As Courtney says: "The results are undeniable. Kinerase works."

And this popular eye cream has been voted "Best of Sephora (2008) winner" for a second year now. Not bad.

Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream is fine for all skin types. It's a rich cream designed to soften aging in the eye area. The product contains, "the highest concentration of Kinetin to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

Visit the Sephora website, and read the positive testimonials for this anti-aging eye cream. Women love it, and swear that it really works and nourishes the skin.

By the way, to be fair in the world of beauty and Hollywood, Courtney Cox Arquette has admitted to using Botox before. She loved and hated the instant wrinkle eraser because although it smooths away lines for a few months, Botox also makes for strange expressions in the eyebrow area, and as an actress, she wants to be able to show a range of emotions.

Pink Grapefruit And Neutrogena To Zap Zits

Do you really care if your facial cleanser smells nice? Maybe it doesn't matter to you, as long as the formula works and thoroughly cleans your pores and stops breakouts.

But what if we were to tell you, that Neutrogena has introduced a 3-product line to powerfully zap zits, and has done so with an amazing pink grapefruit scent?!

Hey, we're hooked! The pink grapefruit smells yummy!!!

Neutrogena is always at the forefront, developing new methods to wipe out acne, fade fine lines and wrinkles, and keep you safe from the sun. We just had to try this new pink grapefruit trio:

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser ($5.99, 6 0z., drugstores). If you love their oil-free acne wash, try this one. With microclear technology. Clears breakouts. 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract. Eliminates oil and dirt, and rinses clean without drying out your skin.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub ($5.99, 4.2 oz., drugstores). Another wonderful acne fighting wash in a heavier concentration. Loaded with salicylic acid microclear technology. A very effective acne cleanser with the punch of pink grapefruit.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit($6.99. 8.5 oz., drugstores). Refreshing, deep lathering scrub with salicylic acid. Gets rid of back, shoulder, and chest acne. And you smell really clean and pretty with all these foaming bubbles.

Three Red Carpet Looks You Can Steal Step By Step

Angelina Jolie. Nicole Richie. Selena Gomez.

Three gorgeous women. Three unique faces. Three different ages.

Want the Hollywood glamour you can style at home? Okay, we all won't end up looking exactly like Angelina. Nicole. Or Selena. But that's alright, too. You can steal their glamour and make it your own. Whether it's pale lips and a smokey eye. Or a glamorous teased ponytail. We have the step-by-step how-to's. And we can thank People.com for their wonderful section called----Get the Look: Star Beauty.

It seems like Angelina Jolie gets the right look every time she steps onto the red carpet. Check out this sexy, wavy hairstyle on Ms. Jolie. Hairstylist David Babaii created these luscious Veronica Lake locks with his signature WildAid hair products:

1. Wash with Amplifying Shampoo and Conditioner. 2. Dry with round brush and divide into top, sides, and crown, leaving nape free. 3. Curl 1-in. sections using a 1.5-in. FHI Heat iron then clip into pincurls to cool. 4. Brush with Mason Pearson paddle and finish with Mise en Plis Extra Hold Hairspray.

And now on to petite and delicate Nicole Richie and her big doe-eyes and Brigitt Bardot glamour. Celeb hairstylist Ken Paves took just 20 minutes using his own line of hair products to achieve Miss Richie's 'effortlessly chic glamour.'

1. Use a 1-in. Curling iron to wave the mid-shaft of hair, keeping the roots and the ends smooth. 2. Spray Healthy Hair Volumizing spray on roots and tousle. 3. Brush, then tease at crown and pull into a pony, affixing with hooked elastic band. 4. Finish with Healthy Hair Strong Hold Shaping Hairspray.


And lastly, fresh-faced and pretty teen Selena Gomez. She's wearing makeup, but not too much. Nothing over-powering here. Celeb makeup artist Nick Barose shows you just what products to use.

1. Prep skin with Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. 2. Dust on Lancome Color Design Blush in Chic Cassis. 3. Dot black Shiseido Eyeliner Pencil Duo in D1 along upper lash line. 4. Curl lashes. Then brush on one coat Phenomen'Eyes in Black.

Fun Size Chocolates Have More Calories Than You Think

It's post Halloween. And you've somehow managed to inherit, hide, rip off, find, buy, or be given lots of candy. Oh, come on.....They're just small fun size chocolates. Really now....how bad could these little delights be?!

After you read this, you might want to limit your chocolate desires to 2 fun size pieces a day.

Laura Dolson at About.com gave out a huge list of popular Halloween candy and chocolates. She went the extra mile by researching the calories and carbhohydrates. She did all the work for us, as we sat back and ate 2 Twix Fun Size chocolate treats. (Oops! That's a total of 100 calories and 14 g. carbs)

Let's put it this way. We were mortified to find that a simple, small Snickers Fun Size chocolate had 80 calories and 10 g. of carbs.

Here's the list, ladies. Well, someone had to spread the news:

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars - Fun size (14 g) - 67 calories and 8 g carb
M&Ms, plain, Fun size (18 g) - 88 calories and 12 g carb
M&Ms, peanut, Fun size (18 g) - 93 calories and 11 g carb
Mr. Goodbar Snack size (17 g) - 90 calories and 9 grams carb
Nestle's Crunch Bars Fun size (10 g) 50 calories and 7 grams carb
Nestle's Crunch Caramel Bars - Fun size - 70 calories and 9 g carb
Three Muskateers bar, Fun size (15 g) - 64 calories and 11 g carb
Tootsie Rolls - Small bar - 50 calories and 10 g carb
Pay Day - Snack size (19 g) - 90 calories and 10 g carb
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Snack size (17 g) - 88 calories and 10 g carb
Almond Joy Snack size (15 g) - 80 calories and 10g carb
Baby Ruth Bar, Fun size (18 g each) - 85 calories and 13 g carb
Butterfinger Bar, Fun size (18 g each) - 85 calories 14 g carb
Heath Bar, Snack size (13 g) - 74 calories and 9 g carb
Kit Kat, Fun size (14 g) - 73 calories and 9 g carb
Milky Way bar, Fun size (17 g) - 75 calories and 12 g carb
Mounds bars, Snack size (17 g) - 83 calories and 9 g carb
Snickers Bars, Fun size (17 g) - 80 calories and 10 g carb
Take Five bar, Fun size (15 g) - 10 g carb
Twix, Snack size (10 g) - 50 calories and 7 g carb
Charleston Chew bar, Fun size (10 g) - 45 calories and 8 g carb
Milk Duds Snack size (12 g) - 54 calories and 9 g carb
Jujyfruits - 9 pieces - 60 calories and 16 g carb
Lifesavers Gummies (2 rolls per ounce) - 52 calories and 13 g carb per roll
Starburst, Fun size (2 pieces per stick) - 40 calories and 10 g carb
Blow Pop, Junior - 50 calories and 14 g carb
Tootsie Pops - 60 calories and 15 g carb
Hot Tamales - small pkg (14 g) - 50 calories and 12 g carb
Jr. Mints, Fun size (10 g) - 50 calories and 12 g carb
Raisinettes, Fun size (16 g - about 16 pieces) - 56 calories and 11 g carb

Latest research does indicate that chocolate can be good for you, namely your heart, skin, and brain. According to a CNN.com article in 2006, a little chocolate never hurt anyone.

"Studies have shown heart benefits from increased blood flow, less platelet stickiness and clotting, and improved bad cholesterol," says Mary B. Engler, Ph.D., a chocolate researcher and director of the Cardiovascular and Genomics Graduate Program at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing.

If your blood pressure is high, chocolate may help. Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University, recently found that hypertensive people who ate 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day for two weeks saw their blood pressure drop significantly, according to an article in the journal Hypertension. Their bad cholesterol dropped, too.

And we love this little research item: German researchers gave 24 women a half-cup of special extra-flavonoid-enriched cocoa every day. After three months, the women's skin was moister, smoother, and less scaly and red when exposed to ultraviolet light. The researchers think the flavonoids, which absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance.

And lastly, preliminary research at West Virginia's Wheeling Jesuit University suggests chocolate may boost your memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain. Chocolate companies found comparable gains in similar research on healthy young women and on elderly people.

There, now that should make us all feel a little better.