Monday, November 14, 2011

Bethenny Frankel Wants You To Pony-Up To Drybar Salon For Another Skinnygirl Product


Bethenny Frankel has taken a lot of heat from the kitchen these days, where she initially concocted her Skinnygirl Margarita idea. But that hasn't stop the Bravo reality TV star...Oh, no....

There's another Skinnygirl product being launched at your favorite Drybar blow-out salon:

The Skinnygirl Ponytail.

The ambitious businesswoman is adding another notch to her blossoming empire. For $40, the salon will fashion you a Skinnygirl ponytail, "a high pony that flips out at the end, just like the Skinnygirl logo — a silhouette of a slender girl with a perky pony."

Well, don't laugh. Creating the perfect pony tail is not always that simple to do. And we love that you can sip a fun beverage while you get your new style, hopefully, you will be enjoying a Skinnygirl Margarita, or Bethenny's newest concoction---the Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo. Yum-Yum!

Many love to hate Bethenny Frankel, but she is really a marketing genius like the Kardashian clan and Jessica Simpson. Say what you will, but they're all laughing their way to the bank.

"Skinnygirl cocktails and Drybar are a match made in heaven," Bethenny Frankel said in a statement. "Drybar is the perfect place for women to pamper themselves with a gorgeous blowout. Pair that with a Skinnygirl cocktail and you have glamour and fun in the same room -- a definite recipe for success."

Smart gal, when you consider that Bethenny has also authored several books, sold work-out CDs, initmate shapewear, and so on.

Bethenny Ever After, is really more than just the title of her popular reality show. The words really say plenty about her very comfy financial state.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

DWTS' Karina Smirnoff Never Leaves Home Without Her Galactik Lip Glosses



Shine on, Karina Smirnoff. Shine on!

The incredible pro from Dancing with the Stars has a little beauty tip, a special product she totes around in her makeup bag:

Girlactik Gloss ($17, a tube). Oprah Magazine gives it a pretty pucker, too.

"I carry my Girlactik lip glosses, always," Karina says. "You know how things like eyelashes fall and stick to the gloss? These are not sticky, I love them."

And one of Karina's favorite Galactik glosses is the shade of Bella, described as a 'mature sheen pink'.

In fact, the gorgeous 33-year-old dancer has teamed up with Galactik Beauty and designed the KS for Galactik Beauty line. Take a look.

We found these details at the Girlactik website:

“I am very excited about the partnership with Karina,” said Galit Strugano, makeup artist and founder of Girlactik Beauty. “What I love most is that we both have a passion for makeup and make a great beauty team!”

“Girlactik Beauty creates innovative products with great colors and textures that are also beneficial to your skin, says Karina Smirnoff. “I am excited to partner with a brand I have been a long time fan of.”


..."Smirnoff first approached Strugano last summer, after Girlactik Beauty products were used on her and other Dancing with the Stars cast members. With high definition television showing every detail and highlighting every flaw, good makeup is important than ever for these celebrities and pro dancers on the show. Smirnoff loves how Girlactik Beauty products produce a flawless look, are easy to use, and are beautifully packaged!!!!"

If the makeup can look good on television and look just as natural on the street, we think this is a good find.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Don't You Hate When Your Favorite Beauty Product Is 'Improved' Or Discontinued?!


We know this has happened to you, to us, and to many celebrities:

You're in the drugstore looking to pick up your favorite hairspray, when suddenly----the product is NO LONGER on the shelf?! It's been DISCONTINUED.

Or---scenario #2. You're in the drugstore looking to pick up your favorite cleanser, when suddenly----the product is now NEW and IMPROVED.

And then you bring it home, and suddenly----that beauty product doesn't work like it used to.

Arghhhh! The frustration!

Why oh why, do beauty brands have to go and MESS with the formula?

This seems to happen a lot with hair styling products, at least in our humble experience. For instance, we were in love with Pantene's Root Volumizer Gel Spray. Amazing stuff. A couple of years ago...Pantene re-packaged the product into a smaller bottle with a similar name, but totally re-vamped the formula.

The result?

Yuck. The NEW Root Volumizer Gel Spray creates average volume and gives little oomph to the hair. We know, because we still had some of the original Pantene and put it up against the newer product. And there was really no comparison.

And don't get us started with John Frieda styling products. We love his hair treatments UNTIL, he, too, starts messin' with a good thing, and our locks go limp once again.

We fell in love with John Frieda's original Sheer Blonde Full Blown Blonde Thickening Lotion, which then became a thickening root lifting spray with some white grape complex ingredient thing added to it. It was still a decent volumizer, but the original was the best. And the product 'Jumped the shark' as the saying goes. The thickening spray was eventually DISCONTINUED, but we were able to buy a few bottles on Amazon and Ebay at higher prices.

In fact, the $5.99 original is now selling on Ebay today, for $34.99 + FREE shipping for a set of 3. Any takers? Here's the link.

We have this advice: Don't fall too deeply for any one beauty product, because brands like to change up the formulas, re-package, and sometimes, discontinue altogether. Maybe the product wasn't selling like before. Maybe there were complaints about the scent of the product or one of its ingredients, etc.

Change comes swiftly in the world of beauty, and sometimes, you just have to keep on the hunt for the next best thing.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Ho Ho Ho For The Holidays! Restylane Rebate Is On!


Dear Santa:
Please 'fill us up' with gifts of beautiful skin!


Here is some wonderful beauty news you can take advantage of, ladies.

The Restylane Rebate is on for the holidays! If you've been meaning to fit in a cosmetic filler session or two, or more, then now's the time to act. It's a Season of Savings! Save up to $390 now through December 31, 2011. Every Restylane session can give back to you--- $50 (and $65--every Perlane session)!

And if you've never been poked before with the amazing filler, it's simple to get in on the savings, too. Just ask your healthcare professional to provide an itemized receipt documenting your procedure, and the box end flap(s) showing the hologram from the Restylane family product(s) used in your treatment.

Mail in the completed redemption form with your receipt and box end flap by January 13, 2012, and get in on the Restylane Rebate.

Restylane and its sister, Perlane, are popular cosmetic injectables that can correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, by adding fullness and volume to the skin.

To learn more about the Restylane family of injectable gels, visit Restylane.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Hot House Of Harlow Makes Nicole Richie Style Icon




Nicole Richie has never looked better, and she's definitely on a roll this season. The petite beauty has picked up 2 major citations:

'Influencer of the Year' at the ACE Awards
Elle Magazine 'Style Icon'


Nicole has become a well-respected jewelry designer of House of Harlow 1960 and fashion and accessories designer of Winter Kate. Both lines continue to surge in popularity, and we can see why.

Nicole Richie has great bohemian chic style and a good eye for what's hot and haute. And she's one celebrity who REALLY wears the stuff she designs out and about....her own sunglasses, bracelets, rings, dresses, shoes, handbags, etc. Plus, Nicole has a wonderful website that keeps her fans up-to-date on her collections, projects and fashion/beauty tips. Check it out here.

This is what she told Elle magazine inspires her sense of fashion:
"I'm really inspired by the '60s and the '70s. I really just love the freedom of that time, the idea that clashing didn't really exist, and the mixture of fabrics, bold colors and prints. That whole ease is something that I'm drawn to."

Take a look at Nicole's House of Harlow 1960 Holiday 2011 Collection and get your list ready for Santa.

Ho Ho Ho! Bring us House of Harlow!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Hot Mama Mariah Drops 30 Lbs With Jenny Diet



Good for Mariah! The proud, sexy mama of twins is showing off her hot new figure, thanks in part to the Jenny Craig diet plan and a sound exercise program.

The superstar singer joins other celebrity moms of twins who have bounced back with amazingly flat bellies and toned bodies, like Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, and Celine Dion.

And now 41-year-old Mariah Carey has become the brand ambassador of Jenny Craig and will soon pop up in television commercials and print ads. Mariah will share her post-baby tips tomorrow morning on GMA.

Mariah had gained about 70 lbs during her pregnancy to adorable babies 'Roc & Roe'. "The first week, I lost 40 lbs... of just water," she said on the new Rosie Show yesterday, admitting she suffered from edema. "It was just water, initially. When I started with the program(Jenny diet), I lost at least 30 lbs. of weight that needed to be lost."

At the moment, the 5'9" singer says she is bewteen a size 4 and size 6, but that she doesn't jump on the scale:

"I never weighed myself," Mariah says. "People will think I'm a liar but it's true. This is another cliché phrase, I'm a big boned girl ... I'm tall and so I always weigh more."

So, is there something else Mariah might have done to gain back that flat belly body? And have other celebrity moms done the same?

We're not here to burst ayone's bubble, certainly not Mariah Carey's. She looks gorgeous. But following her c-section births, did she cheat a little. In other words.....a tummy tuck? That's the cosmetic procedure that many celeb and non-celeb moms have and NEVER admit to it.

So, let's take a closer look at the tummy tuck. We found some educational information at the RealSelf website.

And we have learned that there is a mini tuck and a full tuck. And the average cost of a ummy tuck is about $8,300.

A mini tuck zeroes in on skin removal below the belly with a shorter scar. But the belly button itself, may be lowered during the surgery, whereas, a full tuck tends to keep the belly button sitting in a more normal anatomical location.

Boston plastic surgeon Stephen Delia explains the benefits of a full tuck: "A full tummy tuck involves skin/fat removal and usually muscle tightening as well and will help the abdominal contour above the belly button as well.".

Now, we don't know which mama celebrity might have submitted to a tummy tuck here and there, but we thought we would point out the other popular, but not talked about procedure that makes post-baby weight disappear instantly.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Can You Do The Twisted Bun: Or Are You All Thumbs?


There's something romantic about a messy bun---wavy tendrils peeking out of a loose, undone hairstyle.

And this time, there's a 'twist' to the hot hair trend for Fall/Winter 2011/2012. And it is aptly named, the Twisted Bun.

Don't freak out just yet! Maybe you're all thumbs when it comes to doing any kind of updo....like the ballerina bun or the elegant chignon. The twisted bun is a little more forgiving. And it's sexy and was a major runway look at the Behnaz Sarafpour shows.

The twisted bun looks effortless and not-trying-so hard. And you don't have to create one the same way every time. Use your imagination and add a twist to your bun. And you can side-twist it, too.

Here's what you will need:

1. One-inch curling iron.
2. Styling product with grip and beach-y texture. We suggest Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray ($23).
3. Bobby pins. Try the Goody Spin Pins ($6.99). Great cork-screw design feature to handle wavy pieces
.

Here's advice from professional stylist Laurent Philippon:

"For 'organic waves,' loosely wrap hair around a 1-inch curling iron, remove it, and twist it around your fingers in the opposite direction."

That part looks easy enough, but the twisting and pinning might take a little practice. But trust us, there is not just one Twisted bun look to copy. We've seen some sky-high messy buns twisted in all directions. So be brave and let the twisting begin!