Sunday, April 6, 2014

SPF Oil For Better Skin Protection: Fight Free Radicals The New Way!

Tanning oils have been around for a long time. Most have smelled like a pleasant, sweet coconut for those endless summer days of sand + surf, when rubbing on some oil got you a quicker, deeper tan.

Unfortunately, the SPF in these tanning oils were always designed for the single digits, which meant you were merely basting yourself with an exotic cooking oil and  encouraging wrinkles.



But today, the beauty science has evolved in a major way.

SPF sunscreen oils are back in vogue! And this ain't your mama's tanning oil.


L'Oreal has a wonderful, new SPF oil called, Invisible Protect Dry Oil Spray SPF 50. It comes in a bright, orange spray bottle We found it online at Target for $9.99.

This dry oil SPF spray is NOT greasy. Instead, it goes on quickly + smoothly with a very light feel.

The magic is in the formula---It's infused with nourishing goodness--like an unique blend of vitamin E, argan oil, shea butter oil, grape seed oil and sunflower oil.

 L'Oreal's Invisible Protect Dry Oil Spray has a patent-pending polymer technology that  acts as an invisible shield for the skin for improved water resistance, protection and effectiveness.

Will you try the new, SPF sunscreen oils when you hit the beach?

Best to play safe in the sand + surf. And this one's got our number at SPF 50.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Jennifer Aniston Really Means It When She Stresses: "No Botox For Me."

There are celebrities that do, and celebrities that don't.

And when it comes to Botox, the cosmetic wrinkle smoother, Jennifer Aniston is being totally honest about the most popular facial injection around.

The star says thumbs down to Botox, and the proof is right here:
If Jennifer received Botox injections, the prominent forehead lines in the recent photo would certainly NOT be so apparent. Her forehead tells the story---There is NO Botox there.

The 45-year-old actress talked to People mag once about getting wrinkles:

"Wrinkles," Jennifer claimed. "Nobody wants wrinkles, but Botox looks terrible."

Jennifer is busy at the moment filming a new movie called "Cake.".

It's not a glamorous role for the glam actress.  Here we see another pic of Jennifer in one of her movie scenes. You can clearly note the middle, between the eyes, 'eleven' wrinkles.

That's another very common Botox injection site. Further proof that the star truly shuns the cosmetic wrinkle smoother.
Jennifer Aniston is tired of ageism between men + women, as she revealed recently to Women's Wear Daily.

"Your age always has to be mentioned and men don’t really get that for some reason. It’s not like you see Joe Schmo, 37," she told WWD.

The actress prefers using skin care products like Aveeno, for which she is a brand spokesperson.
More about Aveeno here.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Brooklyn Decker: Another Fan Of Not Shampooing Hair Too Often

We've been reading a lot about "no poo shampoo."

Our mother used to always caution us about OVER-shampooing. She told us we didn't need to. But our oily scalp had taught us otherwise.

Well, these days, we, too, have cut back from everyday shampooing. Now, we shampoo about 3- 4 times a week. So, we are NOT poo-free, but we are learning it's alright NOT to shampoo daily.

Then there's poo. The good kind.

And model Brooklyn Decker is into NOT shampooing too often. The beautiful blonde says she relies on dry shampoo to keep her long locks smelling clean + healthy.

Her beauty weapon?

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo ($20, at Drybar.com)

Here's how Drybar explains their popular  detox poo:

Prolong your blowout with Detox dry shampoo spray!
  • Absorbs oils and adds body and lift.
  • Leaves hair feeling fresh and clean.
  • Micro powder blends in with hair color leaving no white residue
.
Brooklyn is a BIG fan:

"I only wash my hair twice a week, and this makes my hair smell delicious!" the star admits.

By the way, Drybar sells a detox poo for brunettes in the pink can ($20).

Will you try and get rid of your hair hangover with a dry shampoo at least 2 X a week?

Or are you already totally poo-free?

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Marilyn Monroe Actually Did Bench Presses. Does Lifting Weights Really Firm?

We would NEVER have believed this one, until we saw major proof. And here it is:

Movie screen goddess Marilyn Monroe was ahead of her time, working out with weights....and actually, really doing bench presses + squats!
\
Life magazine had sent a photographer, Philippe Halsman, to her home for a photo shoot with the iconic publication. That was back in 1952, right when she was to hit it BIG time with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.".

Life magazine put the sexy bombshell on its unforgettable cover, but these weight-lifting pics were left on the cutting room floor, as it goes.

Marilyn believed that modest bench-pressing, squats, etc. would help maintain that famous figure as she told once told another publication:

"My biggest single concern used to be getting enough to eat. Now I have to worry about eating too much. I never used to bother with exercises."

She went on to explain that she spent about 10 minutes every morning practicing "bust-firming" exercises with small weights - but she maintains she's not a fitness-freak. 

"I don’t count rhythmically like the exercise people on the radio; I couldn’t stand exercise if I had to feel regimented about it," she said.


So, can lifting weights give women bigger, firmer breasts?

Well, it can't make your breasts grow, BUT it can FIRM the pectoral muscles directly underneath your bosom.

Breasts are composed of fat, ligaments, milk ducts, connective tissue and so forth. So, you won't develop a breast lift doing bench presses a la Monroe, but you will see a better body and sleeker silhouette with a firmer chest area.


Working out with weights does a body good. Marilyn Monroe was no fool. Want to work out like Marilyn Monroe? Then check out these tips at ShapeFit.com.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Hey, It's Alexa Ray! Daughter Of Christie + Billy Grows Into Her Own

We can only imagine how difficult it would be to have gorgeous, legendary model Christie Brinkley as your mom, and then be compared to Christie's supermodel looks, over + over again.
Well, from what we've read, it's been darn nasty. Comments like these have always surfaced:

"Poor kid. She inherited her father's looks and funny eyes."

 Or... "Alexa only got her dad's musical talent and that's it."

Oh, really, dear critics? Take a peek at Alexa Ray now!

Sure, there have been snide remarks about the talented singer getting a recent boatload of plastic surgery. The only surgery that Alexa Ray has admitted to was a nose job a few years ago to remove a bump.

We're not certain the 28-year-old sultry beauty has done anything more cosmetically. Isn't it possible that Alexa Ray Joel has merely grown into her own?

And we think she looks fantastic! Shouldn't we all be celebrating individual beauty?!

The famous daughter of Billy Joel + Christie Brinkley performed last evening at NYC's Cafe Carlyle. Her mom was there cheering her on (see photo).

The exotic-looking, young star has gotten a stylist + makeup artist to enhance her appearance as a performer. And that's an excellent move.

Alexa Ray has gorgeous, doe-eyes. To copy her glam, sexy cat-eye makeup, try black liquid liner. We found this one at Amazon.com. It's Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner for $4.15.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Jennifer Connolly "Noah" Style: Effortless + Elegant Beauty

Not only is Jennifer Connolly a superb actress, but an unassuming, quiet star. And big star she is, with an Academy award and the new, much-talked about "Noah" movie.

Thank goodness there are a few, gorgeous celebrities who leave their egos at home.

Jennifer Connolly has been wowing us all with her beautiful gown choices at each "Noah" film premiere. From a black, sleek Lanvin to a floral, regal Givenchy, she looks incredible.....So effortless + elegant.

She seems to fly under the radar, but she should be noticed and applauded. We think the actress has been hitting all the right, beauty/fashion notes.

Look at the classic makeup---a cool, lined eye, natural, full brows, and a pretty pink-fuchsia lip. Nothing over-the-top. That's Jennifer's signature look---polished. By the way, we think Jennifer Connolly resembles a young Connie Sellecca.
So, what are Jennifer's beauty tips?

 She gave out a few, 5 months ago to Redbook magazine:

Skin care.  "I have one for day and one for night, and both are thorough. I use the Shiseido Future Solution LX line [Connelly is a face of the brand], the cleansing foam and the Concentrated Balancing Softener. I feel like it primes my skin to absorb the other products—a serum and the Total Protective Cream SPF 18. At night, I do the same steps but with a richer serum and cream."

Makeup night.
$22, Sephora
"If I have a few minutes, I put on Clé de Peau concealer stick, mascara, and, I know this is kind of '90s of me, but I use a lip pencil. Nars Marnie pencil is the shade I usually wear; it works with my coloring. I wear it all over my lips with Rosebud Salve on top. It doesn't feel like I have on lipstick, and I think it lasts longer."

Perfect Brows. "They're pretty much as they come, but I wrangle them slightly with tweezers."

Hair styling.  "I never really used styling products when my hair was long. Now, I really like Bumble and Bumble Bb. Texture Hair Undressing Creme. My hair is naturally wavy, and the cream gives it a nice texture."


$29, Sephora


Great tips, Jennifer!

Monday, March 31, 2014

Your Complexion Does Better With Vitamin C---And We're Not Talking Orange Juice!

Vitamin C.

If you do your beauty homework, then you will find that a topical Vitamin C serum is excellent for a beautiful complexion.

Orange juice is also good for your general health, but when it comes to skin care, you need something more powerful than a juice.

Although we have Retin-A + Alpha Hydroxy Acids in our own anti-aging arsenal, we have learned that adding Vitamin C completes the skin care circle.

So, we have been using a topical Vitamin C serum for about a month now. And we have concluded that Vitamin C makes for healthy, more radiant skin. Our choice:

Dr. Bailey's Professional Cell Repair Serum ($111, at Dr.BaileySkinCare.com).
We LOVE this stuff.

We have noticed in the past 30 days:

softer, smoother skin
a brighter complexion
and in our case, tiny broken capillaries under our right cheek appear to have faded a bit.

So, that's pretty encouraging to us.

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. 

Unfortunately, NOT all topical Vitamin C serums are alike. So, you must be keen on the C you are buying.

The serum can break down. So not only is the right formula needed, but the proper packaging, too.

Dr. Bailey's good name is on her skin care line, including her Vitamin C Anti-Aging Professional Treatment Serum. So she is very careful about the process of bottling:

Packaged into a sealed, opaque, airless pump so you use "active" vitamin C every time you apply my serum - I think this is the best vitamin C skin care product made!

There you have it. Learn more about this smart dermatologist, her Vitamin C serum and the skin care education she offers here at her website.