Gladiator Sandals Hot for 2014: Kourtney Kardashian First To Step Out In Style!

Gladiator sandals. These are Louboutins -- Spring 2014.

NOT an easy look to wear unless you're 6 foot tall on the fashion runway, but 5 foot tall Kourtney Kardashian pulls it off!

Kourtney is the trendsetter of the Kardashian sisters. She is fearless when it comes to fashion. She takes risks, big ones, and she usually nails them most of the time. Certainly, middle sister Kim is all about the clothes, but we think Kourtney goes farther out on the fashion limb.

So, how does a very petite woman copy the runway look?

With confidence and a good eye.

The eldest Kardashian sister is aware of what is going to be HOT.

Take a look at Kourtney's fab gladiator sandals as she's out + about with cutie-pie Penelope in warm, sunny California.

Dare to copy Kourtney Kardashian's look? We found cheaper versions of the glam gladiator sandals!

Steve Madden Sparta Black Leather Sandal ($99.95)

Check them out here.

Or how about these:
Click here for details. Will you dare to join the 2014 gladiator fashion trend this spring?

Go Jane Fully Strapped Gladiator Sandals ($35.10)

The Stilettos Solution: Spray This On Feet + Go!

Stilettos.

You've got to admit----these shoes make EVERY women's legs look long, lean, sculpted + spectacular.

But we all know the damage that comes with wearing sky-high, needle-thin heels, right ladies!

There's a cool product that will TAKE AWAY the PAIN. The stilettos solution. It's formulated with an inflammation-fighting arnica extract. Just SPRITZ and say Ah-hhhhh, and then slip into your favorite stilettos and go!

It's called Still Standing ($19.99, at stillstandingspray.com). You get a box of 4 mini spray bottles of Still Standing. Great, because these little ones tuck away neatly into your purse or pocket. Perfect for on-the-go!

Celebs aren't the only folks who love wearing stilettos. But they seem to know all about this soothing spray.

By the way, the spray is CLEAR and won't stain. The spray also contains aloe, and menthol which "provides a cooling sensation while the certified organic ilex (which has been used by Indians in the South American Rainforest for centuries) works to intensify the effect."

Smart beauty product. Plus---you can even spritz it on through stockings.

Genius!

Bev Hills Housewife Joyce Giraud Uses This Fruit Mask For Healthy Hair

Joyce Giraud. She's the gorgeous, raven-haired beauty new to the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reality TV show this season.

The former beauty queen from Puerto Rico seems to be blessed with the longest, most healthy locks we've seen in a long time. Joyce's hair is even longer than Kyle Richards' mane.

There's Joyce fresh from shopping for baubles at Tiffany's in New York City yesterday.

So, is the pageant winner wearing hair extensions or is this stunning 38-year-old just lucky to have healthy roots + all?

Not many women like admitting to using hair extensions, so we will leave it there, but the newest Bev Hills housewife DID spill her beauty tips for having long, lustrous locks.

Here's what she told toofab.com a few months ago:

"My one main secret I did right after my pageants days, is I only wash my hair once a week," she dished. "I tell everyone you have to stop washing your hair so much!"

Joyce also swears by putting on an avocado mask to keep her hair looking camera ready. 

The avocado is REALLY considered a fruit. And when we're not all enjoying guacamole, the soft, green fruit is a very nourishing beauty product for hair + skin.

Here is a classic avocado hair mask that a lot of women put on in the shower:

DEEP CONDITIONING AVOCADO HAIR MASK

This deep conditioning hair mask uses the nourishing goodness from the avocado to repair the damage that chemicals and styling aids do to hair. Combine egg yolk , olive oil and honey to tame your dry, split ends. Bouncy, soft hair returns.

Whisk one egg yolk, 1 tsp. of honey and 1 tsp. of extra-virgin olive oil together in a small bowl. Mash in ½ of an avocado with a fork.

This can get messy, so apply this to dry hair on ends first and then all over hair. Roll into a bun. After 15 minutes, rinse out in shower. Shampoo and then rinse again.

StriVectin's Claim That Day + Night Treatments Better Than Rx Retinol: Not True....

We dislike it when big beauty companies take major liberty with their clever commercial advertisements---claiming this + claiming that. When in reality, that boasting is never really covered by scientific fact.

Let's pick on StriVectin AR:  Advanced Retinol Day Treatment SPF30($99) + Advanced Retinol Night Treatment($109).

These products are formulated with NIA-114 technology, which as we have learned, has to do with niacin.

A paid consultant to StriVectin had told the NY Times this:

"NIA-114 provides many of the benefits of retinoic acid without those tolerability issues," Myron Jacobson said. "You get the gain without the pain."

The NY Times goes on to say that Dr. Jacobson, a biochemist,  "likes to say that NIA-114 is a great alternative to tretinoin(Retin-A), the gold standard routinely prescribed by dermatologists to keep aging skin looking (and acting) younger."

If you look at the current ads, Strivectin claims these 2 AR creams are "Better than Rx strength Retinol."

And that is  simply NOT true.

Chicago dermatologist Carolyn Jacob, MD recommends using a prescription-strength retinoid if you want REAL results. She told webmd this:

For aging skin, dermatologists like to prescribe tretinoin and retinoic acid (Retin-A, Renova, Refissa) that is "100 times" as potent as the retinol-containing products sold without prescription, Dr. Jacob says. "Tretinoin works better because it has a stronger capability of preventing the breakdown of collagen," she says. "I prescribe it to my patients because, if they're here, they've already tried the over-the-counter varieties."

If your skin is very sensitive, then over-the-counter retinol might be better for you.

Retinol helps repair damaged, aging skin, but just not at the speed or depth of an Rx retinoid like Retin-A.

Okay....hope that helps. In other words, an over-the-counter product containing retinol is excellent for your skin BUT cannot equal the strength  + superiority of an Rx retinoid.

Yum-Yum! Cake Beauty Delectable Hair & Body Mist From Kohl's

We've all been there.....You're at a party. There's a lot of smoke in the air, or maybe you can smell the odor of fried foods all over you. Still, maybe you just put in a full work-out at the gym. And a bad odor is following you. Yuck...Get us out of there!

It would be smart to have a bottle of this around, where you could discreetly spritz on a little sweet mist!

We found these at your neighborhood Kohl's. That's right--Kohl's. And these weren't in the Jennifer Lopez department.

We love hair scenters. Okay, maybe that isn't a word. But we LOVE a quick spritz for the hair to keep it soft + smelling fresh!

This set is by Cake Beauty. It's called Delectable Hair & Body Mist ($14, a set of 4, at Kohl's). In the set, you get 4 yummy scents---Strawberry + Cream. Lemon + Cream. Vanilla + Cream. Coconut + Cream.

These hair + body mists are fun to spritz on. They're formulated with aloe vera and are supposed to last all day.

Taylor Swift + Karlie Kloss: The Beautiful Bob Twins!

Hasn't anyone caught the resemblance?!

Was Victoria's Secret model Karlie Kloss the beauty inspiration behind superstar Taylor Swift's new drastic haircut?

Taylor is REALLY enjoying her brand new bob....and she had a lot of inches lopped off!

Usually when a woman has had 1/2 of her locks chopped off, it's a somewhat frightening experience. But the multi-award-winning singer NEVER missed a beat.

Taylor is LOVIN' her grown-up, sophisticated bob.

 To us, Taylor Swift is a dead ringer for famous model Karlie Kloss.

Karlie was one of the few models to undergo a major hair transformation back in the fall of 2012. She lost 7 inches, but Karlie NEVER looked back:

  "I love it," Karlie told the Web site Fashionologie backstage at a fashion show soon after the new cut was revealed.

"I can’t stop touching it." She added that having short hair "actually takes the focus off your hair and puts the focus on you. I’m starting to realize that it’s all about confidence."

The genius stylist behind Karlie's chop was Garren Defazio.

We don't know who cut Taylor's new modern bob, but she had it done in London while on tour.

"London, I could never thank you enough. See you next time! P.S. short hair, don't care. (!!!)," Taylor wrote on Facebook alongside the reveal pic, a photo of a Polaroid posing with singer Ellie Goulding.

We like the look on Taylor. She wears it well, right down to her polished, signature red lips. But we do think the bob cut makes Taylor look older than her 24 years.
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What do you think, Beauty TipToday readers?

Madonna Launches Skin Care Line Today In Japan: MDNA SKIN

At age 55, Madonna must be doing something right in the world of a healthy complexion.

Someone wants to know her beauty secrets, because today the star has launched a new skin care line in Japan. It's called MDNA SKIN.

We're not sure if and when this skin care line will make it to the U.S. + beyond.

Madonna developed the so-called revolutionary line in collaboration with MTG, Japan's leading beauty company.

So, what's in the material girl's skin care products?

There are 3 components. We found this beauty nugget from the madonnalicious website:

 The clay oil therapy inspired CHROME CLAY MASK, made with a base of clay from Montecatini Terme in Italy, which performs multiple functions that enrich the skin.

The SKIN REJUVENATOR - the specialized Magnetic Force and Deep Derma induction system devised to remove impurities and revitalizes the skin. 

 THE SERUM - based on an original formula that was created exclusively for Madonna, it creates a glowing effect when used alone and is further enhanced when used with the CHROME CLAY MASK and SKIN REJUVENATOR.

Check out the official video for MDNA SKIN here.
By the way, MDNA SKIN has its ownTwitter page.

A Bigger, Better, More Beautiful Butt In 2014 Via Injections?

Big, round butts aren't going away anytime soon.

If you're lucky to already naturally have this attention-getting asset, then good for you, because bigger, better butts appear to be another HOT cosmetic surgery trend that continues in popularity for 2014.

Has television's reality star, Kim Kardashian, influenced pop culture here?

She claims her ample behind is the result of great DNA, and we will take her at her word. Here's a photo snapped yesterday of the celeb in tan, suede skinnies:

And some are whispering that youngest K-sister, Khloe, has also been getting butt injections to have a curvier silhouette like famous Kim.

Check out Khloe leaving an L.A. nightclub last evening!
Khloe will be quick to say she's just been working out very hard and has shed a number of pounds.

Well, whatever these K-sisters are doing, they both are able to melt away fat and still maintain a rounder, fuller, bigger butt than most of us on the planet.

So, what are butt injections all about?

We headed to RealSelf.com for an honest break-down of facts.

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon William Bruno, MD, explains how to get a bigger behind:

"Buttock injections using your body's own fat, also known as a Brazilian buttock lift, is a great way to add volume to your buttock. This varies in cost depending on your size and the number of areas treated with liposuction. Most experienced surgeons will charge somewhere in the area of $8,000-$11,000 for this procedure as the outcome has a lot to do with your surgeons' aesthetic judgment. Try not to make your decision based on cost."

Palo Alto plastic surgeon George Commons, MD, also reveals his opinion on butt injections:

"Liposuction harvest and then fat transfer to the buttocks works very nicely and you might consider this. It sounds like you have some donor areas.  Also liposuction of the flank zone results in a nicer appearing buttocks indirectly that at times is amazing.   Flank Liposuction with the Vaser may even result in a tiny buttocks lift effect.  Do not let anyone do injection of anything but your fat into your buttocks. I have seen disasters where foreign substance has been injected into the buttocks....silicone etc. etc. Do not do that. Fat is usually a nice answer. Go to an ABPS surgeon and get an answer."

Good advice!

Designer Dimples: Would You Go Under The Knife For A Pair?

We have mentioned designer dimples before here at BeautyTipToday.

That's right! It's called dimple-plasty and it's apparently a HOT cosmetic surgery trend. That means you can now design your own dimples. It's only about a 10-minute procedure and then, poof! Instant sex appeal!

There are a few famous celebrities with knock-out, natural dimples:

Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr and Eddie Cibrian(sexy), to name two.

Across the pond in Great Britain, one woman recently underwent dimple-plasty so she could look more like the UK's star Cheryl Cole (pictured below).

Cherelle Campbell, a trainee lawyer said this to the British publication, the Daily Mail: 

"I've always loved dimples [but] I wasn't blessed to be given big ones," she says, adding that she liked Cheryl Cole's. "When God was giving out dimples I was at the back of the queue. I find myself on the street or watching TV and anyone with dimples stands out to me." (Read more: here).

This is Cherelle with her new dimples. Doctors say it takes a few weeks for the dimples to heal. So, this isn't the best pic to show, because results will appear natural later on.

In the UK, the DailyMail says that dimple-plasty involves "having holes punched into the cheeks using a scalpel.

Here in the US, dimple surgery is done a bit differently----The incision is made INSIDE the mouth. There will be dissolvable sutures on the inside of the cheek after the dimple procedure. Those sutures do not require removal.

The cost for designer dimples in the US---between $3,000 + $5,000.

Would you go under the knife for a pair?!

The Side Part Trend Remains Hot During Winter + Spring 2014

Look, ladies, if you have hair, you CAN rock a side part.

It's been a HOT trend since last summer, and it remains a beauty go if you're wondering. The Spring 2014 runways showed lots of models without a middle part.

Celebrities like Jessica Alba, Sandra Bullock and Emmy Rossum have all been popping up on the red carpet with some serious side parting.

We'll see how many ladies go for the side part during the Academy Awards show on March 2, 2014.

Whether your locks are long, medium or super short, you CAN be on the trend.

Stylists say that the side part evens up the playing field. In other words, if your features are NOT perfectly symmetrical (and whose are?), then a strong side part brings it all into balance.

Just a quick beauty tip to remember when you don't know what to do with your hair, or when you feel that bad hair day coming on.

The Long And Lean VS Cardi: Versatile Classic Sweater

The long + lean cardi.

All women look great in this sweater style. And yeah....this cardi will let you REALLY look long + lean.

It's a classic, and Victoria's Secret features their long + lean cardi in a colorful variety.

You can pick one up at VS, for $39.50.

The cardi will be perfect now for some of you, and a bit later for the rest of us still covered in snow.

Fashionable celebs like Alexa Chung and Vanessa Hudgens wore theirs in camel tones.

Estee Lauder Taps 45-Year-Old Stunning Stephanie Seymour As New Face Of Company

"I am honored to be part of the Estee Lauder family," Stephanie said in a press release. "As a young girl my mother had a dream for me and that was to be an Estee Lauder model! So this is truly a dream fulfilled."

Like we've been saying for a long time now.....the supermodels from the 90s are STILL stunning and STILL working!

Ladies like Stephanie, Naomi, Christy, Cindy, Claudia and others....have maintained their healthy beauty and skinny-curvy bodies. These models were NEVER emaciated-looking.

We believe these girls served as better role models than the current crop we see trying to get famous.

Happy to see a mature model once again, gracing the fashion pages and selling products for a major beauty company. It helps break down the stigma of women growing older.

Can't wait to see Stephanie's advertisements for Estee Lauder.

Meantime, the iconic beauty brand has debuted a new mascara made with amazing, 'ultra-light lash-thickening fibers.' Lashes look fat + curled.Get it here.

Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara ($24).

Cindy Crawford's Simple Beauty Advice: Don't Neglect Your Neck!

The neck + decollete.

These are 2 very important areas of the body that can easily give away one's age. That's why, when you're treating your face with special skin care treatments, DON'T forget your neck.....and a bit further down---the decollete---that's the area ABOVE your breasts.

That's key beauty advice coming from one of the world's best supermodels----Cindy Crawford. And at almost age 48....her birthday is in Feb.), she's doing something right.

Cindy's skin care company, Meaningful Beauty, has introduced a brand new product:

Skin Brightening Décolleté and Neck Treatment Broad Spectrum SPF 15.

We think this is a smart purchase. The serum has been designed specifically for 2 often neglected areas. We found it for cheap at  amazon.com for only $5.99 + shipping!

And this is what the product can do for you:

• Formulated to help to firm and smooth chest and neck skin.
• Designed to diminish the appearance of age spots.
• Provides broad spectrum SPF 15 protection.

Sally To The Rescue: Rehab For Stressed Out Look!!

Living here out on the upper east coast, the winter months can REALLY ruin your hair. All that indoor heating = dry, lifeless locks. And then there are the frigid, cruel elements outdoors, and you've got a hot mess of hair.

Well, Sally Hershberger is listening, ladies. She's a celebrity stylist who has a pretty genius hair care line, and here's another favorite product that's been growing in popularity.

It's called---Sally Hershberger Hyper Hydration Super Keratin Spray, Rehab for Stressed Out Look ($12.99, at CVS).

We like it because it's a LEAVE-IN product, a heat protecting spray. This is excellent for putting on BEFORE you perform normal damaging hair routines like blow-drying, flat-ironing, etc.

It's great for smoothing down the frizzies of dry, color-treated hair. We bet Khloe Kardashian is deep-conditioning and heat protecting since she recently went on her own blonde ambition tour.

This Hyper Hydration Super Keratin Spray would be beneficial to all the lovely K-sisters who constantly change up the color of their hair.

This latest winter storm has just dumped another 7 or 8 inches of snow on top of us. Cannot wait for Spring!

Vitamin C Serum: Do You Really Need This Stuff For Great Skin?

Well, probably. We are going to start adding a Vitamin C serum to our beauty regimen in 2014.

We LOVE Retin-A, and believe it has actually saved our complexion. Toss in some alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid, and you have our recipe for hopefully younger-looking skin.

But now, after writing plenty of BeautyTipToday articles about developing healthier, more beautiful skin, we are intrigued by Vitamin C serum.

The reason we have never tried it was because of the product's instability. In other words, there's usually a shelf-date for the effectiveness of this collagen-building serum.

So--not EVERY Vitamin C serum is alike, unfortunately. The serum breaks down after a while. Our humble advice---Do your beauty homework and find a good 'C.'

What's so special  about Vitamin C?

Topical Vitamin C in the form of Ascorbic Acid has been shown in a number of studies, to brighten skin, decrease the depth of wrinkles, and stimulate collagen.

Vitamin C serum is a worthy beauty item to add to your anti-aging product arsenal, because it protects the skin from sun damage. 

Just remember: Do NOT use Vitamin C serum together with Retin-A. Apply the C in the A.M. AFTER you wash your face. Put on the A in the P.M.

And do NOT apply Vitamin C with your AHAs at the same time. Apply C in the morning one day.  The next day put on the AHA in the morning, and so on....

Try Dr. Cynthia Bailey's Professional Cell Repair Serum ($110, an excellent Vitamin C skin serum).

Animal Print Heels Still A Fab Trend For Winter 2014

Okay,  so maybe we both CAN'T afford a swanky pair of BB Patent Leather Leopard-Print Pumps by the shoe god himself, Manolo Blahnik.

At $665 a pair, well, this might NOT be advisable for your current fashion budget.

Look at pop star Selena Gomez in her wild Giuseppe Zanotti Leopard Print Pumps.

And there's Christina Aguilera hitting all the high notes in her animal print pumps.

 But that's alright. You can FAKE the hot trend by buying cheaper. So, let's go SHOPPING!

Here's the J. Crew Collection Everly Calf Hair Pumps ($350).

And here's another nice version, the Nine West StormChasr Pump ($49.99).

You now have the "eye of the tiger." You are hip, trendy and "Queen of the Jungle" in 2014!

Phew! Kim Kardashian Returns To Her Real Dark Roots In February

Kim Kardashian's blonde ambition tour is NOW over!

The most famous TV reality star has returned to her REAL dark roots. No more sexy, bottled blonde. Bye-Bye smelly peroxide. Hello, beautiful brunette!

Although, she can rock any hair color, we think Kim K looks SO MUCH better in her darker, more natural brunette hair. The color is not the signature raven tresses we all remember. But---the brunette color is dark + warm at the moment.

Whether the fiance of Kanye West goes even darker, we're not sure, but she looks very nice.

Most professional hair colorists warn all of us about straying too many shades AWAY from our natural hair color.

Why?

 Because the dyeing process is lengthy + tricky and does NOT easily complement our skin tones.

 We felt that Kim looked older + washed-out with the honey blonde look. She carried it for 8 months.

A lot of women LOVED the celebrity's blonde ambition and might be disappointed that Kim K has just taken a beauty walk on the dark side.

We do admire Kim for taking beauty challenges. She's lucky she has super stylists + makeup artists ready to transform her when she wants a radical change.

What do you think, dear readers.....

Is Kim Better Blonde or Brunette?