Dark Skin Equals Slower Aging But Pigmentation Biggest Concern

Lucky you! Dark skin has many beauty advantages. And when it comes to wrinkles and sagging, you needn't worry for a number of years.

Why? Because women with dark skin have the most melanin and a relatively thick epidermis. So that means, pesky lines like crow's feet and laugh lines won't appear on your face that quickly, whereas a woman with fair or light skin, will notice premature wrinkling pop up in her younger years. Being blessed with extra melanin, is like having your own personal built-in sunblock.

"In general, the darker you are, the slower you age," New York City dermatologist Francesca Fuco tells InStyle magazine.

The beauty problems many dark-skinned women develop, have to do with pigmentation, dark undereye circles, and rough patches of skin.

So, how do you fight back? With early treatment---serums, creams, and yes, even daily sunscreen. But just because you have more melanin, doesn't mean the sun's rays won't affect you over time. We are all vulnerable.

"We dark-skinned women tend to lose elasticity as we age, because we often don't wear sunblock," says Jeanine Downie, a New Jersey dermatologist says to InStyle magazine.

The magazine article suggested the following beauty regimen to keep dark skin looking youthful and flawless:

1. Cleanser: Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser ($7, drugstores). This product is gentle on skin and contains soy, which evens out skin tone gently.

2. Eye Cream: Skin Medica TNS Illuminating Eye Cream ($80, at skinmedica.com). A bit pricey, but this eye cream is great at treating dark undereye circles with a high-tech formula that encourages collagen and cell repair. Jeanine Downie recommends this eye cream to many of her African-American patients.

3. Daily Sunscreen: Alyria Corrective Protection Sunscreen SPF30 ($40, at alyria-med.com). Another favorite of Jeanine Downie's. This sunscreen is full of anti-oxidants and completely disappears on dark-skin, after applying.

4. Treatment Lotion: Rx for Brown Skin Bright & Clear Lotion ($34, Sephora stores). A lightweight formula that is excellent at moisturizing skin and fighting acne, and at the same time, not inflaming skin. Made with salicylic acid.

New Avon Anew Reversalist Eye Cream Tackles Dark Circles And Wrinkles

Avon has a new eye cream that's creating some beauty buzz. Say goodbye to dark circles and eye wrinkles. And say hello to ANEW REVERSALIST Illuminating Eye System.

It's a 2-in-1 beauty product that does a decent job of brightening the undereye area. Dark circles are a very common problem many women of all ages wake up to every morning they stare into the mirror. And Mediterranean women especially, are haunted by this not-so-pretty condition.

The Anew Reversalist Illuminating Eye System, now on sale for $25, claims to do this:
Visibly repair dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles over time.
When you first start use it, the eye area appears more luminous.
IN 4 WEEKS, it dramatically reduces the look of fine wrinkles.

The 2-in-1 eye system includes:

1. Sheer veil with potent skin brighteners. Illuminates undereye area instantly. Use after eye cream and reapply as needed. .09 oz. net wt.

2. Eye cream: visibly repairs dark, circles, fine lines and wrinkles over time. Use twice a day all over eye area. .5 fl. oz.

The magic beauty ingredient in the Anew Reversalist Illuminating Eye System includes,
Activinol Eye Technology, which was developed to repair wrinkles. Avon’s patent-pending Activinol Technology has been shown to increase the production of Activin, the skin’s key repair molecule, to help increase the skin’s ability to repair itself and encourage the formation of fresh skin. Avon’s Reversalist products use two biologically derived Phytochemicals in it’s Activinol Technology:
Amorphophallus-- which stimulates Activin production to help trigger the skin’s repair process. And Sesbania, which boos the skin’s support structure to help deliver less wrinkles.

You can learn more about the new Avon Anew Reversalist Illuminating System on YouTube. Or right here at Avon.com.

And if you don't love it, return it, for a full money back guarantee. We like that beauty promise.

Do You Like Jennifer Love Hewitt's New Breakup Bob?!

Breakup Bob. That's what People magazine is calling Jennifer Love Hewitt's new haircut. Do you like it? We do.

The 31-year-old Ghost Whisperer actress recently broke up with longtime love Jamie Kennedy, and if you believe therapy theories about chopping off hair after a love split, well, maybe there's some truth to it.

Remember this:...I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair...." This time, Jennifer Love Hewitt is actually cutting that man loose from her hair. And let's be frank here. Most of the hair Jennifer had cut were really long hair extensions. And we're pleased that she's gone back to her natural, darker hair color, too.

We are tired of seeing all these Hollywood beauties with the same cookie cutter, super long and wavy hair extensions. Enough! We wish the Kardashian sisters would all chop off a few inches from their really long hairstyles and try something new. Same with Gisele Bundchen. Denise Richards. Jessica Simpson.

Jennifer Love Hewitt's bob is actually a LOB, or a grown out bob with long layers. And that is a hot look right now. She was photographed outside her Brentwood, California home over the weekend.

Does a short haircut cure a heartbreak? Who knows. Jennifer seems to have taken the high road, when talking about her ex:

"It was a mutual decision and we've parted as friends. There's no anger, there's no upset, there's no enemies."

"It's been totally fine. It's really a testament to who he is and to who I am. We're both grown-ups."

Face-Lift In A Jar Works Says Jennifer Flavin-Stallone

Face-lift in a jar? Is it really possible??!!

To be honest, you can come close....at least temporarily, but only a skilled plastic surgeon cutting away excess sagging skin, can really achieve a much younger look.

However, who wants to spend the thousands of $$$ for surgery and weeks of downtime, and the real possibility you might end up not liking the results of the surgery.

Well, we've got a high tech beauty mask for you. All we need is just 3 minutes of your time. Yes, 3 minutes, says the wife of hunky Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Flavin-Stallone. And $49.95.

Firma-Face XR by Serious Skin Care is a 3-step application to "younger, smoother-looking skin."

The firming mask works by penetrating deeply into the skin and firming from the inside out. In other words, the formula does not just sit on top of the skin. It works below, according to the website at Serious Skin Care.

We like that the entire process is very simple and only requires 3 minutes of your time. Just apply a smooth, even coat of Firma-Face XR after cleansing and drying face. Wait for the 3 minutes. Then splash face with cool water. Dry. And apply mositurizer and makeup, and go on with your day.

Firma-Face XR has been clinically proven to work and deliver these results:

Skin looked firmer, tighter, smoother and younger.

Lines and wrinkles appeared dramatically reduced.

Eyes looked more open and awake

.

What's in this face-lift in a jar? A bit of caffeine, and two high tech beauty ingredients: GABA and aminopropane sulfonic acid. The two act to lift and firm, and smooth over wrinkles. Well, maybe for a few hours, at least.

No, we haven't tried it. But just remember...a face-lift in a jar might exist, but it's only temporary. Having said that, if a beauty product can actually lift and firm for several hours, then we think it could prove to be an important weapon in the war on aging skin.

Black Eyed Peas Fergie's Three Beauty Essentials For Star Style

Fergie is still wearing her hair dark brown and still looking glam when she's out in public. Ever wonder what 'The Duchess' has in her makeup bag?

Fergie has told the beauty magazines there are 3 beauty essentials that she is currently obsessed with. And we love it when celebrities like to share their best beauty products. Sometimes the items are cheap and drugstore, and other times, their faves are high end.

For the very talented singer of the Black Eyed Peas, she's in the middle....not too cheap and not too expensive. So, let's take a look:

1. MAC Green Gel Cleanser ($20, at fine dept. stores like Macys.) Just add water and you get a great and refreshing foaming cleanser with extracts of cucumber and algae. And this won't dry out your skin. Very gentle and nourishing.

2. Sonya Dakar Omega-3 Repair Complex ($42, at SonyaDakar.com). Fergie has dry skin, and she adores this serum for its botanical properties with healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that successfully moisturize skin and balance the natural oils. There is also lavender and geranium extracts to help problem skin like redness, acneetc.

3. Le Metier de Beaute Brown Eye Pencil in Tamarck ($36, at Neiman Marcus). A velvety smooth eye pencil in a pretty softer chocolate brown. Fergie likes this pencil because it stays put---no smudging.

We hope Fergie goes back to her lovely blonde roots this spring. We think she looks best with much lighter hair. Then again, when you've got a really gorgeous accessory on your arm like husband Josh Duhamel, who needs to worry about hair color!!

Liz Taylor Debuts New Fragrance 'Violet Eyes' And Twitter Fans Agree

Violet Eyes.

Most people on the planet know who those stunning eyes belong to. Especially those who 'follow' Elizabeth Taylor on Twitter.

We say, never underestimate the power of social networking. Back in May of 2009, the grand dame herself, asked her many, many Twitter followers, millions, that is, to help the legendary actress decide on the name of her new fragrance to be launched in 2010.

Elizabeth Arden, the famous beauty company debuting the new fragrance for Miss Taylor, was sold on the name, Violet Eyes, as were we. But the humble Hollywood legend felt that was a bit show-off-y, and told her Twitter fans, that Follow Me, was a more appropriate name for her new perfume. Apparently, Twitter knows best, and the fragrance has recently been launched as Violet Eyes.

As you can see by her Twitter response and those of her faithful followers, 'Violet Eyes,' belongs to only one great woman. And those eyes are so beautiful. Heck, it's been 20 years, since the Academy Award winner gave the world her White Diamonds fragrance. It's about time, she adorned us all with a new signature scent.

Violet Eyes is a fruity floral, and it sounds yummy on paper. Here's the rundown from Elizabeth Arden:

Top Note: The Ingénue. This fresh scent of Lush White Peach bursts onto the scene, causes a stir and leaves you wanting more.

Mid Notes: The Star. Voluptuous Jasmine Flower and Rich Purple Rose create an unforgettable aura.

Dry Down: The Icon. Delicate Violet Peony, Cedar Wood and Warm Amber are long lasting and memorable.

For more information on Violet Eyes, visit Elizabeth Arden.

How New Baby Momma Padma Lakshmi Uses Simple Indian Beauty Treatment For Perfect Hair

Congratulations to new baby momma Padma Lakshmi! The host of Bravo TV's Top Chef has perfect hair---shiny, strong, thick, and long. And as you can also see from the photo, Padma has a gorgeous baby named Krishna.

Today, we thought we'd take a look at the India-born beauty and an old beauty tip she's passing along from her family.

Jojoba Oil (Desert Essence JoJoba Oil, $14.99, at Desert Essence). This is the organic brand Padma uses.

"To fight flakes, I microwave a cup of this and massage it into my scalp. My grandmother used to do it on the stove," Padma explains.

Excellent advice from Padma Lakshmi. Jojoba oil is a wonderful and natural beauty treatment.

The Jojoba (pronounced ho-HO-ba) plant has large, brown seeds that resemble coffee beans. Jojoba oil is the liquid wax produced from the seeds. And this oil is able to moisturize without leaving a greasy residue.

Here are some other amazing things jojoba oil can do for your hair, according to the Desert Essence company:

1. Hair and Scalp Massage--Add a few drops to hands. Massage into scalp to relieve dryness.

2. Split End Mender--Add a few drops to your hands. Rub hands together and then apply to ends of your hair. You can also run hands lightly over damp hair to smooth frizzies. Remember to use only a drop or two.

3. Deep Conditioning Treatment for Hair--Pour a quarter-sized amount of oil into hands. Smooth over damp hair, applying most of oil to ends. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Shampoo out and style as usual.