Friday, February 24, 2012

Liz Taylor Eyebrows And Cleopatra Eyes Hot 2012 Beauty Trend






Bold and beautiful.

That's Liz Taylor---full eyebrows and cleopatra eyes---a super glam beauty trend we're seeing leap off the runways(top photo) and filter down into Hollywood and beyond.

Many years ago, the actress played the part of the Egyptian Queen in the historical 1963 epic, Cleopatra. Of course, the incredible makeup was all the buzz. And funny, how beauty and fashion repeat themselves often, in our lifetimes.

Let's be honest, if you don't already have full brows, it's crazy to try and design a Liz Taylor pair, unless of course, you have a great makeup artist at your disposal. You can just do so much with a brow pencil and brow fixative, etc. But the key here, is to lay down the tweezers and stop the waxing appointments to allow your eyebrows to reach their fullest, most natural potential.

Take a look at Liz Taylor as Cleoptra. Her beauty is really breath-taking. It hurts to look at her, she's so beautiful.

And actress Poorna Jagannathan of Delhi Belly showed off her modern-day Cleoptra eyes at the Filmfare Awards. Meow!

Cleopatra eyes involve a very edgy cat-eye. The winged liner keeps going until the end of the brow. Now, that is a bit much for everyday wear, but you can create Cleoptra eyes in a more subtle manner. We like how Kim Kardashian looked on her wedding day.

Her makeup man, Mario Dedivanovic, did an incredible job transforming the dark-haired beauty into a Cleopatra-esque bride. And he used a very inexpensive product:

"I lined her eyes (top lid only) using Cover Girl Line Exact Liquid Liner in Very Black," Mario says. "Start out with a thin line at the inner corner and gradually thicken the line as you go towards the outer corners. Wing the liner up and out."

Amazing! Kim K's cat-eye signature look always comes out perfect and polished, and we can't believe that one could get the same, high glam effect, using a $5.59 drugstore find, but there's the proof.

We like the concept of the CG Line Exact Liquid Liner because it is similar to a sharp-pointed felt pen and glides over the eyelid smoothly.

It will interesting to see which glamorous star is sporting full Liz Taylor brows and Cleopatra eyes at Sunday evening's Academy Awards 2012!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Hurry Up And Grow! Get Fuller Eyebrow Trend With New Boots' RapidBrow!


Fuller brows....(sigh).

We've been down this road before. Last time we mentioned eyebrows, was in a BeautyTipToday article. We have found, unscientifically, by the way, that rubbing in some Retin-A over the brows helps them grow, albeit--- slowly. Patience is a virtue in the eyebrow world.

But maybe you don't have a Retin-A prescription, that's okay, too, because the British Boots skin care experts are at it again. And this time, Boots is raving about their new RapidBrow Enhancement Serum! Just in time to get a jump on the fuller, thicker brow trend showing up for Spring 2012.

It's big news across the pond. And eventually, Boots will bring its RapidBrow to the U.S. for about $50 a tube.

The brow serum is designed around a special combo of fruit extracts, vitamins, proteins and amino acids, which in unison, boost eyebrow thickness, without using any chemicals or drugs.

And here's the kicker, ladies:

RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum is proven* to enhance the appearance of eyebrow density by 108% in 60 days.

Wow to the fuller, thicker brow!

Ladies, stop the plucking and waxing, and give Boots your scraggly, tired, weak brows, and in 2 months, you will see a difference.

That's very encouraging news for the fuller eyebrow-challenged among us. And looking at the clinical study stats, we are hopeful that this brow serum won't be a waste of money:

The RapidBrow product was tested on 61 women, mainly in their 40s, 50s and 60s, over a 5-month period. Nine out of ten reported that the density of their eyebrows increased after use, while 76% stated that their brows were thicker and 63% said their brows were longer as a result.

We haven't been able to track down any Boots RapidBrow around here, not even on Ebay.

If you can't wait for the serum to make its way here to our shores, there is some at the UK Boots website.

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
.

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.