Elegant Sexy Black And Sheer Trend Back In Big Way

We've been waiting for quite some time now, for the black and sheer trend to make its way back on the runway and on the street. And finally, we're starting to see it everywhere.

We adore this black and sheer style. And every woman can wear it. It spells out elegant and sexy. And it can also look like 'naughty meets nice.' Top designers like Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld, and Stella McCartney were showing these timeless pieces on their models. And young celebrities like Leighton Meester have been seen wearing these sophisticated styles.

You can obviously shop high end for the black and sheer trend. But you can also pick up some pretty pieces at the inexpensive level, too. And when the color is black, the fabric looks rich at any price; at least we like to think so.


The Black and sheer combo isn't just for dresses. We have found them in tops, tunics, and skirts. And often times, lovely lace is incorporated into the look, so you are raising the elegance level even higher.

When you are wearing a black and sheer item, don't forget about the peek-a-boo element to the piece. In other words, be oh so careful, what part of your body is wearing the sheer fabric. For instance, if the belly is in the sheer fabric, that area will get noticed. If your belly is in taut, trim shape, then good for you. But if your belly isn't totally flat, then highlight or 'frame' another area of your figure in the sheer fabric, like your sexy decolletage, or your strong, fit arms.



The black and sheer trend can highlight the sexy body parts, and hide the less-than-perfect parts. The opaque, black fabric takes care of that problem. So it's a win-win style for all of us, and because this look is done in black and sometimes, navy, you will enjoy an overall slimmer silhouette.

Our top photo features the Black Raquel Lace Dress by Ralph Lauren Rugby.

Our 2nd photo comes from Forever21....the Mesh Yoke Rosette Tunic ($19.80).

Our 3rd photo shows a Frederick's of Hollywood Illusion Mesh Panel Dress ($54).

And our last photo features the Taryn Lace Skirt by Ralph Lauren Rugby ($298). It comes in navy(pictured here) or black.

Foot Petals Perfect Polish Pen Gives TLC On The Go To Shoes And Boots

You sure get around in your many pairs of shoes and boots. Look at Nicky Hilton rockin' the glam look in her leopard coat and black Christian Louboutin Babel platform boots in L.A. a few weeks ago. Nicky loves her Louboutins! As does Jennifer Lopez, ha!

And even if you don't own a pair of sexy Louboutins at $1,487. and change, you do own several pairs of shoes and boots. And every woman wants her shoes to be scuff-free. But this isn't a perfect world. Even celebrities get scratches and scuffs.

If you think people never look down at your feet, well, you're dreaming. We just had a friend of ours tell us a story about rushing out the door with little time to clean up. She forgot all about her boots. And there she stood in a group of put-together women at a special event. Our friend looked down at her feet and cringed! Her boots were a mess---noticable scuffs across the toes. No place to hide. She was embarrassed to say the least.

We, er, 'stumbled' on to this great website recently. Foot Petals. And we fell in love, head over heels, so to speak, with Foot Petals Perfect Polish Pen ($13). The dynamo, little pen comes in black and brown.

And the Perfect Polish Pen is worth it for these simple reasons:

Touch up that scuff or that annoying scratch before it drives you crazy.
Great for the office. For the jet-setter. For the gal on-the-go. And small enough to fit in your purse.
No mess.
Convenient hands-free pen applicator.
Provides an instant high gloss shine.
Quick dry formula.
Requires no extra buffing. (Love that....we are too lazy to buff.)
Excellent for gift giving.
Available in a 2-pair combo, too.

That's not all. FootPetals.com is full of wonderful TLC accessories, like several styles of foot cushions to keep your darling feet from working up an odor, to stop feet from sliding forward, arches to give your shoes the perfect fit, and so on.

There are Sole Stopperz, for only $6.95 a pair. Just place these pretty petal-shaped traction adhesives on the backs of your shoes or boots, to prevent slipping on wet or icy surfaces. Brilliant idea!

Foot Petals also sells some cute and comfy socks and slippers. If you can't find a Foot Petals store near you, shop online. Zappos.com and shubilove.com also sell Foot Petals accessories.

C.O. Bigelow Lip Balms Perfect In Winter And Yummy With Zero Calories

The cold, dry winter air is cruel to our lips. And if you spend time outdoors skiing, skating, sledding, or even just taking a leisurely stroll, your lips will pay the price if you leave them naked. All lips need lip balm. You wear gloves to shield your hands from the winter elements, so why would you not cover your lips with protection?

Lips are also thinner in skin structure, very sensitive, and lack protective oil glands.

Today, we are looking at some yummy and worthy lip balms from C.O. Bigelow, a 168-year-old apothecary in New York City. It's an amazing place, and if you're a drugstore junkie, you could spend weeks in there with tons of high quality beauty products at decent prices.


C.O. Bigelow's features some of the yummiest lip balms and lipshines around. Check out this one: Bigelow Mentha Lip Cordial in Triple Hot Chocolate ($7.50). Smells heavenly, of course, and glides on in a smooth, velvet way. You get high shine with breath-freshening benefits. Zero calories, too!

We love spearmint, and yet, it's not always easy to find in gum, let alone, a moisturizing shiny lip balm. But C.O. Bigelow's has got you covered with their Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Spearmint ($7.50). Very exhilirating to the breath and lips.

And C.O. Bigelow's also sells tinted lip balms, so you get a soft, sheer hint of color every time you apply. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint in Magenta Mint ($7.50). This mint-infused balm is so pretty! Lips stay moist and protected while Peppermint Oil gives breath long-lasting freshness.

Exfoliation is key when trying to maintain healthy, soft lips. So before you 'balm,' you can try these easy steps:

You will need a toothbrush as one of your go-to instruments for lip maintenance. No. We're not kidding. You must exfoliate as part of your daily and nightly routine. For instance, after brushing your teeth, take your wet toothbrush and gently brush your lips in a circular motion for several seconds. This brushing will loosen dead, chapped skin and give you smoother, softer lips.

Or you can go one step further. Buy an extra toothbrush. Take a dry toothbrush and dip the bristles into a little Vaseline. And brush your lips. This really works, and it's a beauty tip that's been around for a long time.

By the way, C.O. Bigelow's also sells a lip exfoliator. It's called Bigelow Soothing Lip Buffer ($7.50). It's a mint-infused lip exfoliator formulated with sugar crystals. And Bigelow's says it's the perfect remedy for flaky, peeling, chapped lips.

All these lip balms, lip shines, and lip buffer cost only $7.50 a piece. We love that price. For more information, visit C.O. Bigelow.

How To Get Sexy Joan Jett Eyes Like Kristen Stewart

Twilight's Kristen Stewart and rocker Joan Jett have something in common these days. And it has to do with a movie and a lot of black liquid eyeliner.

Fans of Kristen Stewart and Joan Jett have been anxiously awaiting for the release of The Runaways. The movie is set for release in March of this year, and the Twilight star will play the legendary Jett herself. The Runaways was the all-female band Jett founded when she was just 15.

Of course, Joan Jett has always had a signature look of shag-cut black hair with tons of sexy, black eyeliner. And yeah, Joan is still sporting the style, because she can and it's a timeless look. And young Kristen Stewart likes to play with makeup, too, and loves creating a heavily lined winged eye these days. The photo(top) we have of her, actually is a tamer version of the heavy black liner she's been sporting as of late. But you get the idea.

We talk often, here at Beauty Tip Today, about drawing on the sexy, winged eye, or cat eye, doe eye. Rocker chicks like to take it all a step further and amp up the wattage with a heavier line. It's up to you. To get Joan Jett eyes like Kristen Stewart, you need a couple of beauty essentials:

1. Liquid eyeliner. This is a must! It creates a neater, sharper look than a pencil. But it's not easy lining eyes and then flicking the liner up at the outside edge of your eyes. It takes some practice. Too make the drawing on a little easier, look for a liquid liner that comes in felt tip form, like Wet n Wild's H2O Proof Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Ultra Black ($3.99, at drugstores). This one stays put and glides along your eyelid smoothly.

2. Mascara. In black, of course. Any brand will do.

Quick winged eye tips:

1. Always begin drawing your line at the inner corner of your eye, like makeup artists do. Draw a thin line that gradually gets thicker as you move across your eyelid.

2. Once you reach the outer edge of your eye, flick the liner up and away. But don't go too far beyond....stop before the end of your brow.

3. Another little trick....before you begin to draw your liner on, force the eyelid skin to lie flat, by very gently pulling the outer corner of your eye. Hope that makes sense. A little clumsy at first.

We look forward to The Runaways flick. We think Kristen Stewart makes a super Joan Jett,and will pull off the role quite nicely. That and all the sexy, black eyeliner, too.

Beauty Products Designed By A Redhead Just For Readheads

Redheads. Such red-hot beauty. And yet, the world seems to forget you exist when it comes to the key components of makeup, hair, and skin.

Maybe it's because you sometimes feel outnumbered, dear auburn-haired lovelies. If you believe the statistics, redheads currently make up 2% of the world's population.

But because of your uniqueness, you also stand out. When a woman with beautiful red hair walks into a room, people notice. Look at actress Nicole Kidman. We are so happy she has returned to her real roots. For a few years, Nicole was coloring her hair blonde, but alas, she is now wearing the natural, red tresses she became famous for. And she has never looked better.

We were blown away by a website dedicated to all redheads looking for beauty. It's called Just for Redheads, and trust us, it makes us want to take the auburn plunge.

The JFR website features 'beauty products designed by a redhead, just for redheads.' And the site was founded by Paula Pennypacker, president of the JFR company. We happen to think it's brilliant marketing with a website packed with beauty items and honesty. The cosmetics industry seems to pay little attention to the special beauty needs of our fair-skinned, red-hot sisters. And Paula Pennypacker goes the distance to make redheads look their prettiest.

One of her most popular products is her mascara. She calls it, "the finest mascara available for redheads." JFR Mascara Ultresse ($24.99, special savings). And the mascara comes in soft, sexy shades like--Ginger Cocoa. Ginger Red. Ginger Henna. And Ginger Brown.

The entire website caters to, and only to, women with red hair. Even JFR's Redheads Shampoo Dream Formula ($21,99, special savings) is designed to restore vibrancy and natural red undertones to locks.

And JustforRedheads.com also features beauty tips and color assistance. From concealers to blushes to liquid eyeliners to sun protection products for the fairest of skin, Paula Pennypicker has got the red haired gal ready to go.

Professional makeup artists adore JFR's beauty products. And the company has been recognized by People magazine. If you haven't taken a look at JustforRedheads.com, then you're really missing out.

L'Oreal Introduces New Lash Boosting Serum With Freida Pinto

We talk on and on here at Beauty Tip Today about long, beautiful lashes. And we've presented several ways to achieve the perfect set of lashes. From prescription enhancer Latisse to an inexpensive duo of fake lashes, to a thick coat of velvety black mascara.

And we're happy to report that L'Oreal has just introduced the world to their new Lash Boosting Serum. And there's a matching Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara, too. Check out the lovely ad campaign with actress Freida Pinto, spokesperson for the new L'Oreal lash treatments. We found the 24 Hour Lash Boosting Power System for $24.95 at Sephora.com. You receive both products in one package. You can also find these at your local drugstore.

Say so-long to skimpy, wimpy lashes. The beauty technology here is something else! Reviews that we have found, are for the most part, very complimentary to L'Oreal's new Lash Boosting Serum. According to the company, you will see impressive results in 4 weeks.

You simply apply the serum with its soft-touch applicator to your lash line and lashes, before you go to bed on bare lashes, and in the morning, before, you apply the Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara.

What's in the serum, you ask? "A complex blend of fortifying amino acids, panthenol and ceramide for visibly fuller natural lashes with less fall-out when removing makeup."

Here are some stats:
After 4 weeks, women say:
71% ..."It seems I have more lashes."
75%..."My lashes seem thicker."
78%..."I have less lash loss during makeup removal."
81%..."My lashes seem to be in better condition."

Your lashes will appear multiplied, and we say, that's a good thing. But it appears, that you have to keep up the twice daily application along with the matching mascara for your beauty routine to take hold.

We found this recent customer review at Walmart.com:

"I love this mascara system. The lash nourishing serum is great - it made my lashes longer and fuller. Then the mascara was perfect - no clumping, no flaking, no running. I've been in search of the PERFECT mascara for years and now I've found it. The cost seems high relative to other drug store mascaras but the price is well worth the results. I highly recommend this mascara."
Product Attributes:
Ease of use:
5 out of 5

Value for price paid:
4 out of 5

Color appeal:
5 out of 5

Value:
5 out of 5

Quality:
5 out of 5

Lastly, does the L'Oreal Lash Boosting Serum actually 'grow you lashes?' Probably not like a Latisse prescription product, but, the L'Oreal serum does contain nourishing ingredients that keep the hair safe from damage and encourage thickness. And the customer review above, seems to rate its effectiveness quite highly.

Stylists Say Beautiful Berry Big For Color Everywhere In 2010

Think Berry. If you're spotting trends, then this is one beautiful color to add to your wardrobe in 2010.

Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Garner, and Naomi Watts are all wearing simple, stylish fashions in berry, pictured here at recent events. We love the raspberry shade because it's vibrant and brightens the complexion.

People's StyleWatch just featured the color as one of it's big trends in 2010, and entertainment host Lara Spencer from The Insider, has been featured wearing the beautiful berry shade. Lara's stylist Anya Sarre, mentioned berry and turquoise as being the hot, bold colors of the new year.

Even Clinique is diving into the delicious berry bounty with its Juiced Up Colour Collection for Spring 2010. The whole look is one of vibrancy but with a soft wash of natural color. Nothing too bold here. And the new limited edition collection is already available at beauty counters, like Nordstrom's.

Drawing inspiration from Clinique’s latest lip innovation, Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour, the lineup is fruit-inspired, juicy and packed with vitamins and antioxidants.

The Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour($17.50). There are 8 shades, and most are in the berry family, like Absolute Acai, Goodness Grapecious, Pink Me Up, Fig-A-Licious, and Rhubarbie.

And take a look at the flirty, raspberry top by Victoria's Secret. A silk, twill scoopneck top with pintucked pleating and feminine ruffled hem. Now on sale for $49.

And if you aren't wild about beautiful berry, but still want to be hot for 2010, you could always be in style undercover by wearing berry-colored panties, bras, or cami. Oh yeah! VS sells a pink raspberry Sexy Little Things push-up bra. So, they've got you covered!

We think berry is a nice change and makes your skin glow.