The Top 5 Beauty Products of 2010

1. Crème de la Mer

Celebrities swear by this moisturizing cream to keep their skin soft and glowing.

2. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Serum

This serum not only keeps hair from being destroyed on humid days, but also leaves your hair feeling soft and shiny without weighing it down. Apply the serum to towel dried hair.











3. Nude Lip gloss


It's a popular look that will never go out of style, because it is nothing too outrageous. The dark eye and nude lip are great for evening and a favorite of celebs such as Angelina Jolie.

4. Dark Eye Shadow Kit



This is to be used with the nude lip for a dark and sultry look. The above kit is from Bobbi Brown, but almost all make-up brands offer kits like this. The lighter colors are used below the brow and on the inside corner of the eye. The darker shades are used in the crease of the eye and on the outer corners.

5. Gel Nail Polish


For anyone who gets frustrated with chipped nail polish only one day after a manicure, this is the solution. You choose from a selection of different colors that will appear darker on the nail once dried. The only problem with the gel nail polish is that like acrylic applied to the nail, it may destroy or shred parts of your natural nail.

The Top 3 Beauty Reality Shows of the Year

1. Bridalplasty (on E! network)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKFTd6ZEV1w

Viewers watch as young, competitive brides fight to win a whole new body and face for the day of their weddings. Everyone has to wonder if each of their grooms will say yes to a woman with a completely different face than the one he fell in love with!

2. True Beauty (on ABC)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWgeN5YN6Dw

Although not a new show this year, the contestants' outrageous behavior and sexual appeal keep viewers coming back for more. This show proves that sometimes beauty really is only skin deep with some people.

3. The Price of Beauty (on VH1 with Jessica Simpson)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfHlgGftVGY

Jessica Simpson finds a way to fight back at the media frenzy over her weight, while also exapnding her billion-dollar brand. Jessica and two friends travel around the world meeting women who go to extremes to be more beautiful and fit the ideal type of each of their countries.

The Top 5 Classic Hollywood Beauties Who Died in 2010

1.
 
Lena Horne -American singer, dancer, actress, and civil rights activist (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)

2.

Patricia Neal- American actress best known for her role as World War II widow Helen in The Day the Earth Stood Still (January 20, 1926 – August 8, 2010)

3.

Jean Simmons- English actress who appeared mostly in motion pictures (January 31, 1929 – January 22, 2010)

4.

Jill Clayburgh - American actress who received Academy Award nominations for her roles in An Unmarried Woman and Starting Over ; She most recently starred in the movie Love and Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway  (April 30, 1944 – November 5, 2010)

5.
 
Rue McClanahan- American actress best known for her role on The Golden Girls as 'Blanche Devereaux' for which she won an Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress  (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010)

Beat the Bulge and Bags After the Booze and Baked Goods

Whether it is from all the holiday parties throughout the month or from your one big cheat day on Christmas, the wine, the cookies, the candy all leave you looking as puffy as Santa and as sluggish and grumpy as the Grinch. Dr. Perricone, a favorite on this site, has provided a diet for those who want a quick fix to all the harm they have done to their bodies. The diet specifically focuses on reducing inflammation in the body which will make you look and feel better. During the holiday festivities, you are doing two of the worst things you can possibly do to your skin. You are eating a pro-inflammatory diet which includes a lot of sugar and starches and consuming excess amounts of alcohol. These things lead to a rise in blood sugar which results in inflammation. When our blood sugar rapidly spikes, it destroys the collagen in our skin leaving it stiff and dry. Dr. Perricone's three day diet uses foods with high levels of natural anti-inflammatories and antioxidants to reverse the damage that was done. You must eat the two meals Dr. Perricone recommends for three days in a row, and the third meal must be a meal that does not include pro-inflammatory foods (sugars and starches). One meal must contain the miracle food, salmon. Salmon has a high level of omega-3 fatty acids that are very powerful anti-inflammatories. One of the other meals must contain dark, leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, and also contain a dressing of oil and lemon.  The dark greens have a very high level of antioxidants that are natural anti-inflammatories. Lemon juice and oil are also great antioxidants. And this diet also includes dessert! Dessert should be a serving of berries such as raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries and a slice of cantaloupe melon. These fruits are high in antioxidants and don't cause a rapid rise in your blood sugar like some other fruits do (such as bananas). Along with these foods, Dr. Perricone says it's vital to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to have the best results.

Fountain of Youth: How to Fit in 8 Glasses of Water a Day

Drinking a lot of water is one of the biggest beauty secrets of many celebrities. Jennifer Aniston, Cindy Crawford, and Gwyneth Paltrow all claim that water is the reason for their beautiful, glowing complexion. But with busy schedules, how do you fit a full eight glasses of water into your diet each day? Many people believe they must replace other beverages with water to be able to fit in the daily 8 glasses a day, but a study conducted by Univeristy of Pennsylvania proves them wrong. You can get the 8 glasses of water intake you need through other liquids and also from food and the metabolic processes within your body that break down that food. Both juice and milk hydrate your body. Foods high in water content include all melons, apples, lettuce, tomatoes, and citrus fruits. The study did conclude that although these other drinks and food can help you to get in your eight glasses, nothing beats drinking good old plain water. One of the best options to jazz up tasteless water is to use the different products out there to flavor your water such as Crystal Light. One of the best things to add to your water is lemon. The juice of the lemon has amazing antioxidant properties, cleanses the liver of toxins, and increases your metabolic rate. Buy a reusable water container so that you can sip water throughout your day at work or school. Although you may be in the bathroom a lot, you will look great!

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Secret: Hiding the Truth Under Botox

We used to live in a society were plastic surgery was taboo. Plastic surgeons even developed special recovery centers for celebrities or wealthy patients who paid not to be seen after their surgery. The doctors provided drivers, nurses, and other staff that had signed a strict contract promising they would not reveal any celebrity or other patient they had assisted. However, recently interviews with some celebrities (mostly D list) and their new look have dominated tabloid covers and entertainment news shows. Celebrities seem to be boasting that they have the money and best resources to look like a barbie. It's a bragging right. Plastic surgery is the new status symbol that 'you've made it.' Forget a BMW, get some botox. In entertainment news, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have taken over. Their faces and bodies (and
not the ones they were born with) have become a big topic of interest. The women jokingly and proudly admit all the work they had done. Taylor Armstrong whose lips look like she is suffering from a severe allergic reaction was asked about the work she had done and replied, " Just start from the top, right?" She's had a combination of filler, Botox, and breast sugery. Lisa Vanderpump, another housewife, revealed "I have a bucket of Botox in my face." Adrienne Maloof is married to a plastic surgeon, which is like Tiger Woods being married to a porn star. Adrienne said, "I think at some point now, they're bragging about it, because it's like if you haven't had it done, you're not cool." Camille, who recently has been going through a divorce with star Kelsey Grammer, stated that what she was going through was a very private matter. If she keeps up with the Botox she doesn't have to worry, the world will never really know how she feels about her divorce.
 (Adrienne Maloof)
(Taylor Armstrong)

Oprah's Beauty Secrets Around the Globe

When reading the latest issue of Vogue, the young women in the U.S. know that beauty is very narrowly defined in our society. And although Americans, with our self-centered yet self-loathing mentalities, may not realize other standards and ideals exist around the world, they do. Leave it to Oprah to find a place (Mauritania- a desert on the northwest coast of Africa) where the fatter the women are the more beautiful they are. However, the sad reality in all countries, including our own, is the reason all women around the globe are pushing themselves to great extremes. They all want to feel whole, and they believe they will only feel this way when they finally look like the beautiful ideal and attract a husband. Yet as many of us have already discovered, it's the inner work on ourselves that must be done to feel whole. The beauty and the beast are just icing on the cake (that American girls would never eat). But even though we may know this, we as women will always push ourselves to be better. I've mentioned many different celebrities' unique, sometimes bizarre, beauty secrets, but now here on the secrets of the 'average' woman in the different countries around the world.

Japan: Women will eat collagen infused foods and drinks so that their skin looks clearer, younger, and smoother. Some facial treatments also use nightingale droppings to improve the skin. The ideal in Japan is very, very light skin and perfectly straight hair. The women will use face whitening cream to lighten their skin. This is in sharp contrast to the tanorexic outbreak happening in the U.S. As the craze over tanned italian new jerseyans keeps growing and growing, our people are getting darker and darker. To straighten their hair, Japanese women use a special chemical cream and flat iron. Japanese hair straightening has actually been adopted in the U.S. and used by many women.





Kayan tribe (on the border of Burma and Thailand): The beauty rituals in this tribe start at a very young age. At only five years old, girls start wearing rings around their necks. More and more rings are added with each year the girl grows, and eventually the result is a more elongated neck surrounded by the rings. Some of the neck rings weigh in total 22 pounds! I guess pain is beauty. When one woman of the tribe was interviewed about her rings she said, "If I take the rings off now, I won't look nice anymore. They are really a part of my life." We cannot judge this woman, because American women believe the same exact thing about the paint they smear all over their face.



Karo tribe (Southern Ethiopia): These women also start their beauty rituals at a very young age.Young girls allow adults to cut their stomachs so that scars will form on them. Once again this is in sharp contrast to the ideals of the American woman. American women will go to great lengths to avoid getting stretch marks whether from puberty, pregnancy, etc. Instead, these women purposely form scars and embrace them. One young girl was interviewed, and she said, "The main reason for my scars is to attract a male that will give me joy, because I will be beautiful and hopefully get a husband." I think every female of any age can identify strongly with that statement. Wanting to be loved and accepted is a very large part of the reason we push ourselves to such extremes.


And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

A Young Beauty's Secrets and Dreams

Katie juggles college, a job, and her dreams. She attends both college and makeup school, sells cosmetics for a local makeup artist (Avon-style), and works whenever she can with established makeup artists in her area. Like most of us, Katie is trying to juggle her real world responsiblities while pursuing her dreams. Her best advice is to try to make money doing small side jobs within the industry you want to be in. She believes that if you are trying to make money on the side in a totally different industry than the one you desire to be in, you will be too disconnected and distracted from your dream job. As she pulled out all her makeup, a quantity and varitey that could rival any small makeup store, she revealed to me her secrets and tips.

What's your beauty secret?

I'm a firm believer in 'you are what you eat'. You can use the best and most expensive products and learn every trick of the trade, but it's most important to have a great basis to put the makeup on. I eat healthy and drink tons of water. It's the most simple but most effective.

What's your best makeup trick or technique?

Definitely contouring. Every girl I know wants high checkbones and eyes that pop. By using concealor and bronzer, you can create different shadows on the face to make it look like you have higher checkbones and a smaller nose. If anyone is interested in contouring, I suggest you get a makeup book or take a class, because the technique is somewhat complicated.

If you could only choose one makeup product to use on your face, what would it be?

A cream blush. You can use it on your lips for color and your cheeks. It gives a very fresh-faced look.

Who is your favorite makeup artist and why?
Alexis Vogul. I used to stay up late at night wh
en I was younger just to watch her informercials. I love the bombshell look, and she could turn even the plainest jane into a sexpot.

If we peeked into your makeup kit, what would we find?

For eyes and lips, I use only MAC makeup. It was originally designed to be used as theatrical makeup, so it's very long-lasting and gives an intense look. For foundations and concealors, I use Clinque and Lancome. Both lines have foundations and concealors that are very light weight and don't make the skin look cakey. I also have a great moistuizer and foundation primer. I carry mulitple mascaras. That's another great trick- to use two different mascaras when doing your makeup, because it will make the lashes look longer and thicker.

What's the last beauty item you purchased?

Nars body bronzer. It was a little too shimmery, but it didn't make me look orange like Snooki.

In your opinion, what's the biggest makeup mistake women make?

There's two. You have to choose between either dark eyes or dark lips. If a woman does both her eyes and lips dark, it's either too intense, or she just looks like a clown. The other big mistake is using a foundation that doesn't match your skin color. Some women go too light and some go too dark. Also, even when you find the perfect shade for you, remember to blend from the jaw to neck.

And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

Eat This, Not That ; Drink This, Not That : Beauty Edition

Eat this : Alaskan wild salmon


Not that: Atlantic farm-raised salmon


Atlantic farm-raised salmon lacks almost all the benefits that someone should expect to get from eating salmon. The farmers raise the fish in very poor enivornmental conditions. Farmed- raised fish are also fed growth hormones and antibiotics dangerous to our health. Wild salmon is a much better choice, although it is more expensive. Supermarkets label the fish 'wild' or 'farm-raised', but you can also tell by the color. Wild will be a much darker pink, and the farm-raised will be a much lighter pink.

Celebs who love wild salmon: Cheryl Crow, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Aniston ( I guess the two like a lot of the same things)









Drink this: Green or White Tea

 

Not that: Coffee
 

Everyone needs a daily boost in the morning, but tea provides you with many health and beauty benefits that coffee doesn't. Green and white teas contain a large amount of antioxidants that will improve skin, hair, teeth, and nails. Coffee doesn't have these same health benefits, and if consumed excessively, it can actually harm you. Coffee messes with your digestive system and irritates your stomach. It also doesn't allow your body to absorb all the nutrients from the food you are taking in.


Celebs who love green tea: Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson







Eat this: Guacamole made with spirulina algae or with avocado
 

Not that: Frito Lay dip and chips
 

Skip all the fat in normal chips and dips, and instead choose a dip that will leave you healthier and more glowing. Guacomole, made me avocados, contains the same health and beauty benefits as salmon. The Omega 3's in avocados will lower cholesterol, improve brain function, and help to detox the body of toxins. Guacomole does have a high fat content, but it is the healthy fat that your body needs. For a less fattening guacomole, use spirulina algae instead. It has the same benefits, with less fat.

Celebs who love guacomole : Jessica Simpson and supermodel Rebecca Romijin











Drink this: Red Wine
 
Not that: Cosmopolitan
 


When out on the town, get a beauty boost instead of a sugar rush. Red wine has numerous health benefits and contains a large amount of antioxidants. A sugary drink like a cosmopolitan will leave you feeling and looking like hell the next morning. The alcohol will leave you puffy, and all the sugar may make your skin break out. Not to mention the possible weight gain from making this one of your regular drinks.

Celebs who love red wine : Terri Hatcher






Eat this: Grapes
 
Not that: Melons
 

Grapes offer the same antioxidants found in red wine, and melons are very high in sugar and offer very little nutritional value. Grab grapes on the go, instead of laboring over cutting a melon and removing seeds.

Celebs who love fruit (as a main part of their diet) : Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Love Hewitt

How To Get An Instant Face Lift in 3 Days! (No Surgery Needed)

By eating certain foods rich in antioxidants and Omega 3's, you can avoid the painful cuts to your face and wallet needed for a surgicial face lift. This three-day diet will improve skin's firmness, reduce puffiness, and increase definition on your face. It will also improve acne and give skin an effortless glow. This diet is for women and men, both young and old. Many have called this diet "a face lift on a plate." Because this diet consists of all healthy foods, you may lose some weight as an added bonus. You really can't go wrong with these food combinations, and it is only for a short period of time ensuring you don't get bored or overwhelmed by the food choices and length of time. It is important to note that this diet should only be followed for the perscribed three days, and that it should be followed as closely to the list below for the best results. And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
PERRICONE 3-DAY DIET   
Upon waking
8 to 12 ounces spring water
Breakfast
3 egg whites and 1 whole egg and/or a 4- to 6-ounce piece of broiled salmon
1/2 cup cooked oatmeal (not instant)
4 oz cantaloupe + 1/4 cup fresh berries
8 to 12 ounces spring water minimum, (more if desired)
Lunch
4 to 6 ounces grilled salmon or tuna packed in spring water
2 cups romaine lettuce
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste
4 oz cantaloupe + 1/4 cup fresh berries
8 to 12 ounces spring water minimum, (more if desired)
Snack
2 ounces low-salt, sliced chicken breast
4 raw, unsalted hazelnuts
1 green apple
8 to 12 ounces spring water minimum, (more if desired)
Dinner
4 to 6 ounces grilled salmon
2 cups romaine (not iceberg) lettuce
1 tablespoon olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice as a salad dressing
1 cup steamed asparagus, broccoli, or spinach dressed with a little olive oil
4 oz cantaloupe + 1/4 cup fresh berries
8 to 12 ounces spring water minimum, (more if desired) 

Before Going to Bed
2 ounces low-fat low-salt turkey or chicken breast
1/2 pear or green apple
3 or 4 almonds or olives
8 to 12 ounces of spring water    

For further information on Dr.Perricone's theories or for an extended 28-day version of this diet, see his book "The Perricone Perscription" (http://www.amazon.com/Perricone-Prescription-Nicholas/dp/0060188790)

Elizabeth's Secret: Vaseline

I remember always seeing a jar of vaseline in my grandmother's medicine cabinet, so for that reason, I've always associated this sticky substance with the elderly. Little did I know, one of the world's most beautiful women, Elizabeth Taylor, was using it to keep her lips and skin plump. With the craze over full pillow -like lips in Hollywood, many starlets have used injections only to leave them looking like a fish. Applying vaseline to your lips throughout the day is like filling your dehydrated body with water. Your lips absorb the moisture and become more hydrated and plump. Elizabeth also applied the vaseline to her face and body each night for the same hydrating effects. Skin will appear more plump and glowing in the morning. However, it will plump whatever areas you apply it to, so avoid putting vaseline under eyes. If you do, the skin under your eyes will look swollen and puffy in the morning. And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

Rain, Rain Go Away....Because Now I'll Have a Bad Hair Day (Hair Solutions in this Crazy City Weather)

As NYC crews worry about cleaning up New York boroughs from the recent violent storms that wreaked havoc on NYC, the superficial part of us can't help but wonder how we could clean up our own appearance on days like this. Our biggest concern: our hair. So just in case you find yourself stuck in one of these hair-raising storms without an umbrella in hand, be prepared. The best waterproof hairstyles are of course a bun, ponytail, or braid. If you braid your hair tight enough, no water will be able to penetrate it. On humid days, avoid using any mousse or wax products, because these products react strongly to the humidity. By using a deep and proper conditioner the night before, it will place a protective layer on your hair for the next rainy day. So watch the forecast for tomorrow! If you see it is going to rain, avoid doing your hair in a style that is unnatural to its shape. Curling straight hair or straightening curly hair will never hold. Anti-frizz and anti-static products are always good to use on your hair even when it's not humid, because rain deprives our hair of the moisture it needs. These products will help to restore the moisture. These tips were provided by a number of different celebrity hair stylists. And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

Angelina's Secret: Sex

Lust makes you lean, according to this full lipped stunning star. Angelina Jolie once said the secret to her lean physique was a lot of sex with then husband Billy Bob Thorton. Sex not only makes you leaner and more glowing it also has many health benefits. These include a stronger heart, improved immune system, and a decrease in depression. The only disadvantage to this "secret" is taking the time out of our busy schedules, and o yea finding a man. And now you know and knowing is half the battle. ( For more information on this secret- pick up the book "The Ultimate Sex Diet") http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sex-Diet-Super-Works/dp/193311150X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288017995&sr=1-1

Sophia's Secret: Olive Oil

Sophia Loren, a classic volumptuous Italian beauty said, " I owe everything I have to spaghetti." This was true to some extent, Sophia ate mostly foods within the Mediterrean diet. Her biggest beauty secret: olive oil. Sophia made sure to get two tablespoons of olive oil within her diet each day. Olive oil is an essential fat to keep in your diet. When she would eat her pasta almost daily, she wouldn't use cream or meat sauces, but rather fresh vegetables and olive oil. She also would use olive oil as a moisturizer for her skin and add it to her bathes to bathe in. One of the world's greatest beauties' secrets is right down one of the aisles in your supermarket. And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

The Basics of This Beauty Blog

We all know they are hiding something! Hollywood's great beauties always look perfect from head to toe: hair, skin, nails, teeth... This blog will bring you the unique, somtimes, bizarre, secrets of Hollywood beauties, both of the Golden Age and of today. This blog only explores the natural tricks, so forget the surgeon's knife and use your kitchen knife to cut one of these stars' secret beauty foods. You will need to be in the foodstore more often than expensive beauty havens (i.e. Sephora) to use these tips. Putting all this aside, it's most important to remember what you put into your body and soul comes out. If you glow on the inside, you will glow on the outside. So maintain good health, avoiding dangerous Hollywood extremes, and a good perspective on what's important in life.