Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Brand New Biore Cleanser Gets Rid Of 'Tight As A Drum' Feeling


There's nothing worse than washing your face and then walking away with a really taut feeling to your skin.

You've heard the expression--'As tight as a drum.' Back in the day, that was all about the skin of a drumhead, which is tightly stretched.

Ouch! And for many of us wanting to deep cleanse on a daily or nightly basis, this is where we run into problems. Some facial washes just dry out and strip the skin's moisture balance. And your face feels so tight, it's uncomfortable, and almost unmovable.

We all know that removing makeup and skin care products are a MUST, especially before going to bed. But sometimes, a simple wash won't get rid of it all, and that's where you need a very good cleanser---one that's tough on dirt, but gentle to your complexion.

Biore has a brand new one---Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser ($7.99, 6.77 fl. oz., at drugstores. It works like a dream:

"This cleanser removes all forms of impurities while leaving 90% of skin's natural moisture, giving your face an even, all-over clean."

When it comes to taking good care of your skin, Biore enjoys a solid reputation. For more details, click here.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Skin Cancer Foundation Says Yes To New Jergens Self-Tanner



No tan is a good tan, as we've all been told, but many of us still soak up the sun's rays. So, to play as safely as we can, we've found a new Jergens product that will give you a healthy glow AND protect you, too.

The best thing of all---this self-tanner has been given the thumbs up! by the Skin Cancer Foundation. So, we know that it is a tested and legitimate product that really does what it says.

It's called, Jergens Natural Glow and Protect Daily Moisturizer ($8.99, at drugstores). And it proudly wears the New Seal of Recommendation for Daily Use by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The Jergens self-tanner comes in 2 shade selections:

Jergens Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 for Fair to Medium Skin Tones
Jergens Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 for Medium to Tan Skin Tones
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We LOVE that this product comes with a solid SPF20. So, not only do you get a fab gradual build-up of color, but you can use this every day and get protection at the same time, just like other anti-aging serums and creams provide.

To see what other beauty products have been given the Skin Cancer Foundation's new seal of approval, check out their website.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Sweet Treat: Girl Scout Cookie Lip Smackers


You've heard us rave a lot about Bonne Belle Lip Smackers before. We LOVE the cult favorite--- Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker, not only for its yummy soda taste, but especially for the sheer red tint it leaves behind.

Today, we are checking out Lip Smackers' newest balms in town:

Girl Scout Cookie Lip Smackers in Thin Mints. Chocolate Peanut Butter. Trefoils. Peanut Butter. And Coconut Caramel Stripes.

How YUMMY do those sweet treats for your lips sound?

We are cuckoo for coconut, so that's the one we would grab.

Of course, the cookie lip smackers are inspired by the famous Girl Scout cookies we all know and crave.

"Girl Scout Cookie-flavored Lip Smackers was a natural fit for us. The flavors are deliciously iconic and the mission of Girl Scouts of the USA is something we have a real interest in supporting," says Leslie Gibbs, brand marketing director at Aspire Brands/Bonne Belle.

You can pick up the lip balms at Walmart stores and online here for $1.75 a tube, or an 8-pack party pack for $9.95.

Lip Smackers make great, little gifts. And these sweet, shiny balms have NO age limit. We carry around a few Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers at all times.

Friday, February 17, 2012

When It Comes To Hollywood Lashes: Go Big Or Go Home!



These days, it seems that beauty is all about the lashes, and the longer and thicker, the better!

Just look at Hollywood and the celebrity circuit---every gal is wearing some fancy eye fringe. From Kim Kardashian to Adele, and even Oprah. Many celebs choose to put on faux lashes, and that's okay, too.

But wouldn't you really prefer to grown your own?

There are many good beauty products out there, designed to stimulate eyelash growth. And today, we are looking at EnvyDerm Eyelash Enhancement & Conditioning Nighttime Growth Serum. At $99.95 for a tube, this is a bit of an investment, but look at what the product promises to do for you:

The EnvyDerm cutting edge Peptides technology is "clinically proven to increase length and density of lashes by 25% and by as much as 72% in 6 weeks of use."

Now, that's what we call some great stats.

The EnvyDerm company also explains each active ingredient's role in the special long lash formula:

- Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 : Adds volume, nourishes and strengthens lashes.
- Hydrolyzed Keratin: Repair damage in lashes.
- Panthenol: Provitamin B5 helps promote lash flexibility and durability.
- Alfalfa Extract: Condition and Increase metabolism to promote lash line healing.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Helps lashes appear healthier, shinier and stronger.
- Allantoin: Helps soothe, calm and protect lash line.

EnvyDerm also offers Enhancement & Conditioning Volume Mascara ($36) and Enhancement & Conditioning Intense Eyeliner ($36).

The formulas are all safe and infused with gentle, nourishing vitamins and minerals. And another plus---You can use the serum on your brows to grow them thicker.

We think that EnvyDerm is one hot beauty product to try in 2012.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Do You Adore Adele? Her Beauty Goes Beyond Just The Voice



Adoring Adele! Especially after the British beauty brought home 6 Grammy Awards on Sunday evening.

We received a personal email from an Adele fan, asking us to write about her lovely makeover. And indeed, we took one look at those stunning cat-eyes as she sang for the first time, following recent delicate, vocal chord surgery.

Adele looked every bit the superstar she has become, in head-to-toe, slimming black, giving her an hourglass silhouette.

We just assumed that 23-year-old Adele had a lot of very expensive hair extensions, like so many celebrities wear today. But boy, were we mistaken. A friend of ours recently told us, "That's all Adele's real hair."

Yeah, right, we chuckled. But look at what we found:

She used to be a hair model: "My cousin used me for a hair-dressing competition," says Adele. "I have so much hair - its so big!"

Adele has gone blonder, as you can see by the 2012 Grammys photo. We like the golden locks and think they suit her beautifully. Her hair has such bounce and fullness and it was bombshell-styled.

Her makeup follows a classic, cool beauty look. Adele has a peaches 'n cream complexion. We don't see much blush from the photo, but that could just be the lighting. If Adele's makeup artist chose to skip the blush, well that's a 'no-no.' Foundation alone, gives off a flat appearance to the face. Blush is needed to add warmth and add more definition to the cheekbones.

Still, we give high marks to Adele's sexy cat-eyes. Wow! Her eyes really pop, thanks to strong dose of black liquid eyeliner applied on top of silver-grey shadow and a double layer of false lashes. (Try a pair of Smoke and Mirrors Beauty faux lashes ($13.50) by Kardashian family makeup artist Stephen Moleski).

She finishes off the look with a bold, matte red lipstick. Nothing 'orange-y' about this mouth. It's a cool red with blue undertones.

More great news for the talented singer. Adele graces the March cover of Vogue. Can't get any better than that! Read on what she has said to CNN's Anderson Cooper and to the magazine:

"I’ve never seen magazine covers or music videos and been like ‘I need to look like that to be a success.’ I don’t want to be some skinny mini with my tits out. I really don’t want to do it and I don’t want people confusing what it is that I’m about. I just stand there and sing. I don’t do stunts or anything. I’m just writing love songs. I’m not trying to be pop. I’m not trying to be jazz. I’m not trying to be anything. I’m just writing love songs and everyone loves a love song."

Adele doesn't like walking the red carpet: "I hate the red carpet. I don’t feel insecure, I just feel like, Oh, I don’t want to do this. I literally get a stomach cramp. At the VMA’s last year I felt really out of my comfort zone because there were so many superstars there. But that’s been the case from day one. I never feel like, Oh, yeah, I should be here."

But, Adele. You SHOULD be here. You belong here.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Kimora Lee Celebrity Skin Care Line Launches: Just Fab!


Kimora Lee Simmons, at age 36, looks 'Just Fabulous'.

Her personalized shopping site is also called, Just Fabulous.

But we're not talking about Kimora's shoes and handbags today.

We want to take a moment and look at Shinto Clinical, Kimora's new skin care line. And it launches on QVC at 8p.m., beginning Friday, February 24.

This appears to be a very good beauty collection of anti-aging products. Kimora has worked very closely with New York dermatologist Eric Schweiger in the line’s two-year development process. According to the grogeous star, Shinto Clinical is targeting these skin issues:

"It's all about firming, tightening, brightening, clearing the discoloration. It looks like, feels like, works like a $300 cream," Kimora explains.

So far, we see 9 items in the Shinto Clinical line:

1. Smooth Answer Anti-Wrinkle & Mositure Boost Cream ($56)
2. Wash Away the Years Anti-Aging Peptide Cleanser ($32)
3. Watch Your Tone Anti-Aging Peptide Toner ($32)
4. All Evens Out Skin Lightening Treatment ($68)


There's also an Antiwrinkle Serum ($65), an Eyelash Enhancer ($68), a Pore Minimizer ($45), a Microdermabrasion Cream ($59) and a Cellulite Cream 'Hold It Tight,', debuting later this year.

Kimora Lee Simmons is a perfectionist. She works very hard to design and develop products that bear her name, so we get the feeling her skin care line has been established from those very same strong work ethics.

Even the packaging of Shinto Clinical, is sleek and just fab!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

For An Extreme Color Change--Please Go To A Pro




Like a lot of young women in Hollywood, Demi Lovato is a hair chameleon. And at the moment, she's in a blonde shade of mind.

She was a bold redhead up until last Saturday. And following an 11 hour salon visit, the talented singer emerged with lighter locks.

Demi Lovato is a pretty girl, and she looks cute as a blonde, redhead, and even best, with her natural dark brown color.

Our advice....Whenever making a drastic hair color change like Demi's, please head to a pro, because so many things can go wrong trying to change it up yourself.

And what ate up the clock during Demi's hair dyeing adventure, were her extensions. Those super long locks got a color bath, too.

With human hair extensions, you can curl them with heat, flat-iron them, and even chemically-treat these real, fake tresses with hair color, bleach, and perms.

With synthetic hair extensions, you are more limited in what you can do, however, when it comes to bad weather like rain and high humidity, the synthetic extensions hold up better. These strands have memory. Human hair extensions will droop like real hair in the bad weather.

Meantime, Demi Lovato is having lots of fun being newly blonde:

"Thank you SO much Nine Zero One salon for my new locks," she wrote, after spending all those hours at the salon with colorist Amber Maynard. Fans must’ve liked the red-to-blonde look, because later that day, Demi tweeted back, "Haha Demi Blondevato is a trending topic?!! Y’all are funny!"

Which Demi Lovato hair color do you prefer?