5 Best Over-The-Counter Skin Care Ingredients For A Smoother, Younger Complexion

Here at BeautyTipToday, we often rave about the skin care merits of prescription Retin-A.

But is there a way to achieve a smoother, younger complexion with drugstore products?

YES.

And here are the 5 best over-the-counter ingredients to look for on the back of the bottle when skin care shopping.

We clipped this recent article out of a Sunday newspaper magazine. Not sure which publication, but the interviewer asked some dermatologists to name the top, age-fighting ingredients that can help fade wrinkles, minor imperfections and improve tone, texture, and so forth:

RETINOL
The well-known Vitamin A derivative or little cousin to Retin-A. Retinol goes after sun damage spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and even sagging.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream - Night ($12.99).

PEPTIDES
These are synthesized proteins known to boost your collagen production. Increased collagen = skin strength + elasticity.
Olay Regenrist Micro-Sculpting Serum ($24.64).

DMAE
This scientific abbreviation stands for the building block of B Vitamin choline. This one targets sagging and can improve skin's muscle tone. DMAE encourages firmness.
Derma E Firming Serum ($16.99).

HYALURONIC  ACID
We all have this naturally, but as we age, this acid declines rapidly. Skin loses firmness + hydration. Hyaluronic acid restores the suppleness and hydration and gives skin a healthy glow.White Egret Hyaluronic Acid Day Serum ($12.99).

Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Known as AHAs---glycolic acid, lactaid acid. You've heard about these--the great exfoliators. AHAs dissolve all those dead skin cells, making skin brighter, smoother + softer and better toned.
Alpha Hydrox Souffle 12% Glycolic AHA ($14.99).

Achieving a smoother, younger complexion isn't a given. It takes homework, a skin care routine and a healthy lifestyle.

The good news----It's NEVER too late to improve your skin.

Start NOW!

Lupita's Expensive Oscar-Worthy Clarins Lip Balm VS Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips

Lip balm. We all seem to use some. A few of us might even be obsessed with lip balm.

So when Academy award winner Lupita Nyong' cutely tossed her tube of Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Balm into Ellen's "tip hat" as a donation during the funny, pizza delivery gag at Sunday evening's Oscars ceremony, women around the globe took notice.

Lupita is so pretty and polished for every recent awards event, that we all want what she's having.

It's just a lip balm, right?

Well, NOT a cheap one.

 How about $24 at Macy's!

Clarins is soothing + moisturizing.....

BUT so is this cheap version of a lip balm---Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips for only $2.27 at CVS! 

Plus, Vaseline Lip Therapy comes in a cute, little tub AND offers a subtle pink tint to your lips.

Hey, we're sure that if lovely Lupita tossed a little tub of Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips into Ellen's "tip hat,", well, we would all be rushing out to buy the cheap balm, too.

Margot Robbie Goes Raven-Haired But Not Every Woman Can Be Brunette

Stunning blonde, no doubt!!

We've heard the beauty saying quite often---NOT every woman can be blonde. So true.

But, what we might add: Not every woman can be brunette.

And the proof is right here. Gorgeous actress Margot Robbie, fresh from her sexy role in the Wolf of Wall Street has switched it up in the hair color department for a new movie role.

We didn't know who the heck that was on the Oscars 2014 red carpet Sunday evening.

But there is 23-year-old Margot, the Aussie star with deep brunette, almost black locks.

Wow! Margot is a beauty chameleon.

As great-looking as she is, we much prefer the actress as a blonde.

We do not think the brunette hair color is doing her any favors. A bit too goth?

We believe the dark, bold brows might be the beauty no-no in this case. Too harsh, even though Margot has strong bone structure.

Now, here's a better pic of the star, post-Academy Awards in the airport, freshly scrubbed with a more natural look.

The magic of Hollywood!

We would NEVER guess that all 3 photos were of the same woman. Incredible!

Looking for the ultimate in brow pencils?

Then try one from the brow shaper guru, Anastasia. We found her Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Pencil at ULTA for $23.

Beautiful Dos And Glam Gowns Make Oscars 2014 A Big Wow!

In our humble opinion, we chose these 3 gorgeous, glam gowns as the winners for Best Dressed Oscars 2014:

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace

Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen

Lupita Nyong'o  in Prada

Kate, Sandra + Lupita all looked drop-dead gorgeous. 3 very different gowns with similar elegance + old Hollywood glamour at its BEST!

As far as beautiful hair, we saw plenty of stunning updos. One of our faves of the Academy Awards evening was Maria Menounos. No, she's NOT an actress, but so what.

Maria showed off this creative updo with lots of intricate plaiting. Like a maze of goddess braids!

We thought the television personality looked modern + chic!

There is NO way that Maria Menounos or any sheer mortal could plait all that on her own. \

But we thought it looked amazing!There were so many HITS this Oscar season.

To take a more detailed look, click here!

Karlie Kloss "Kute" As Ever Thanks In Part To Mostly Vegetarian Lifestyle

Model Karlie Kloss seems to break the mold wherever she goes.

The wholesome, girl-next-door was one of the first Victoria's Secret angels with short hair.

Karlie wasn't first thought of as sexy, but the super tall model has changed all that.

She's one of the BEST VS models at the moment. And she does it all with style, elegance + grace.

Here's Karlie on the red carpet last evening in lovely red lace at the Weinstein Company's pre-Oscar party in Beverly Hills. And there's her much admired signature bob-like hairstyle, the one that Taylor Swiftseems to have copied strand for strand.

 

According to the March 2014 issue of Vogue, the 6 ft. stunner eats mostly vegetarian and stocks her kitchen with quinoa flour. 

 This model knows her way around the oven, and she LOVES to bake. 

We all know about her own line of yummies---Karlie's Kookies. 

 Here's a recipe for KARLIE'S VEGAN CHOCOLATE MOUSSE(Vogue 3/2014). And it looks delish + healthy:

Serves 1-2.  

1 large ripe avocado
1/4 cup raw cocoa powder
1/4 cup almond milk 

2 tsp. agave

 1 tsp. natural vanilla extract

Puree the avocado until smooth.

Mix the cocoa powder + almond milk together until combined and then add to the avocado.
Stir in the agave, vanilla extract and any of your fave toppings. (Karlie likes sliced + toasted almonds; chia seeds, frozen raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries; and cocoa nibs.)
Mix well, transfer the mousse to individual bowls and store in the fridge until ready to eat.

By the way....for anything + everything stylish and NOW, take a look at VOGUE.com.

Nicole Richie Wows In Old Hollywood Glamour: Best Eyes By Far!

We know......Nicole Richie is a tiny woman----ultra/slim.

Having said that, we still believe she is a Style icon!

And she proved it once again, as she turned out for the QVC Red Carpet Style Event Arrivals last evening.

Nicole put on the old Hollywood glam with an elegant, cross-neck, black gown. She wore her hair side-parted in a chic, low ballerina bun.

 The best part of it all?

  Nicole's BIG lined doe eyes! She showed off her beautiful makeup on Instagram.

We always say that Nicole Richie has some of the best pairs of eyes in Hollywood.

Nicole has said before that she's not too handy with makeup, but can use mascara + liner. Her go-to-brands?

Maybelline + MAC.

Here is what she told a Japanese beauty publication:

Nicole: For eyeliner, M.A.C’s liquid type, and Maybelline for mascara! The truth is, I’m not very good at make-up and have no idea what I should do with it! All I’m decent at is eyeliner. Whenever I use a professional make-up artist, I always have them stick false lashes on me, but I could never do it myself [laughs]! So I love mascara! Maybelline is great because it’s inexpensive and easy to use!.

We agree! For less than $5, Maybelline is great stuff!

Perfect Brows In 2014: Somewhere In Between Thin And Thick?

Perfect brows.

Do they even exist?

Let's look at 2 very different-looking celebrities. One has thinner brows--the other much thicker brows.

Sophia Loren VS. Lily Collins:

We think both stars are gorgeous. And yes, both women look perfect with their individual brows
.
We are well aware that full brows are STILL big beauty news in 2014.

You CAN'T force yourself to grow Lily Collins eyebrows. Maybe your DNA will never allow that much brow growth.

You CAN stop plucking, waxing and trimming brows. That's what we have been doing for quite a while now. Our little brow hairs are finally sprouting, but unfortunately, we could never get brows like Lily's. We wish!

These are our brows. Yeah....and that's even with a little pencil. Have to cheat the best way we can.

Some might argue that Sophia's brows were too thin in this photo. We have seen the movie legend with much thicker brows in other photos. For some reason, maybe it is Sophia's stunning bone structure, but she looks splendid with thinner brows.

Here's a beauty pic of where brows should begin + end.

To grow thicker brows in a natural way, check out this YouTube video!

Our beauty message here: Be yourself. Aim for a more natural-looking brow, but don't despair, just because you don't have super thick eyebrows. It's not the end of the world.