The Beauty Files

Tattoos Lose Their Cool

2007-12-11T16:44:00.000+07:00

Want A Blasting Berry Tattoo With That Fruit Roll-Up?

(CBS/AP) What does Angelina Jolie have in common with Joseph Stalin and Thomas Edison, as well as with two out of every five Americans between the ages of 26 and 40?

They all have tattoos.

Once seen as a silent cry of rebellion, tattoos now possess a status so firmly mainstream that advertisers are using them to market everything from tires and shoes to wine and energy drinks.

That has its downside, though. The more acceptable tattoos become, the more they lose their edginess, and their value as advertising.

"There is always an element of rebellion or rite of passage with these things," said David Crockett, assistant professor of marketing at the University of South Carolina. "What makes them interesting is how the marketplace appropriates that rebelliousness and serves that back to you in the form of an energy drink."

The 7-Eleven convenience store chain recently started selling an energy drink called Inked, aimed at people who either have tattoos or who want to think of themselves as the tattoo type. The company plans to market the drink at motorcycle rallies and tattoo conventions.

"We wanted to create a drink that appealed to men and women, and the tattoo culture has really become popular with both genders," said 7-Eleven's manager of non-carbonated beverages, Michele Little. "The rite of tattoo passage isn't only limited to the young, but also to those who think and act young," she said.

As the attention of young consumers gets spread between TV, blogs, online video and other distractions, marketers have resorted to alternative methods to get their interest.

Marketers use tattoos both as a cultural icon and as the method to deliver the message, said Kevin Lane Keller, a marketing professor at the Tuck business school at Dartmouth College. "It's an attempt to do something different in a fresh way," he said.

On a never-ending quest to appeal to the young and young-minded, companies from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to Volvo are using tattoos in advertising and promotion. Even wine sellers have adopted the tattoo, with managers of the popular Yellow Tail brand sending out 600,000 temporary tattoos with an October issue of the New Yorker magazine, and wine importer Billington Wines taking the name Big Tattoo Wines for its $10 a bottle brand.

For three years, Goodyear's Dunlop tire unit has offered a set of free tires to anyone who will get the company's flying-D logo tattooed somewhere on their body, and 98 people have taken up the offer. Some of them are brand loyalists who already own Dunlop tires, while others were tattoo fans who wanted to add to their body art, said Dunlop brand marketing manager Janice Consolacion.
One returned for his third Dunlop tattoo this year.

For those friendly to the idea of being a walking billboard, the Web site Leaseyourbody.com connects advertisers with people who want to be paid for sporting tattoo advertisements.

Volvo recently utilized tattoos in another way, by creating a fictional character whose tattoos spelled out the coordinates of an undersea location of $50,000 in gold coins and the keys to a new car. Linda Gangeri, national advertising manager of Volvo Cars of North America, said the tattoo man was a way to get people to think differently about the Volvo brand.

Tattoos are becoming so pervasive that some see them as less effective in marketing to trendsetters.

Nathan Lin, a tattoo artist and organizer of the annual Boston Tattoo Convention, said the event's sponsors reflect the shifting demographics of tattoo culture in the U.S. This year, it was Toyota Motor Corp.'s Scion brand and Anheuser Busch Cos.' Budweiser. Next year's convention has gotten sponsorship interest from Internet service provider NetZero among other corporate names, he said. "It puts it far outside the stereotypes of bikers and rough types," Lin said. "People think of urban moms having tattoos."

A study done last year by the Pew Research Center shows that 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have at least one tattoo, while 40 percent of 26- to 40-year-olds have at least one.

Once corporations started using tattoos, it was clear they have lost some of their edginess, Crockett said. "You've got this constant game of cat and mouse, of youth culture and these companies. That lifecycle just gets shorter and shorter and shorter," he said.

General Mills has been selling Fruit Roll-Ups with tattoo-shaped cutouts that let children make temporary tongue tattoos. Shoe maker Nike Inc. has employed celebrity tattoo artist Mister Cartoon to design six lines of limited-edition shoes. And just this month, the glass and crystal seller Steuben Glass announced it would sell tattoo-inspired vase and crystal sculpture designs by artist Kiki
Smith.

"I would certainly say it has lost most of its social stigma," said Vince Hemingson, a writer and documentary filmmaker who runs the Vanishing Tattoo Web site. The American stereotype of tattoos being for sailors is passe, he said.

American consumers watched as rock stars of the 1980s got tattoos. Their supermodel girlfriends followed, and that, Hemingson said, made tattoos visible on the women who are seen by many as icons of beauty.

That led to the proliferation of tattoos, as seen in Pew's survey results.

Underscoring the trend, corporate lawyer David Kimelberg in April published a book, "INKED Inc., Tattooed Professionals," that features photos of doctors, lawyers and other executives, first in their normal work clothes then dressed so their large-scale tattoos can be seen. Kimelberg, who lives and works in Boston, said the book shows how tattoos are gaining popularity in corporate America.

Noting the shifting trends, he writes: "The rest of the world is finally catching up to us."

Guinness Awards Record for Most Expensive Perfume

2007-12-11T16:10:00.000+07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/

New York - A rose is a rose, and a perfume is a perfume, right? Well, not if it's the "World's Most Expensive Perfume." Clive Christian No. 1 was awarded the Guinness World Record for being the most expensive perfume on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York.

Composed of the rarest ingredients in the world with no regard to their cost, No. 1, which has been produced by Clive Christian for the past six years, retails for $2,350 for 30ml of the pure perfume. Only 1000 bottles each of the men's and women's perfumes are released each year.

The single most expensive bottle of the Clive Christian perfume, the No. 1 Imperial Majesty bottle made of Baccarat Crystal and inset with a white diamond on the neck, was on display Saturday as well at Saks. Valued at over $200,000, only 10 bottles were ever produced.

Fans of No. 1 include Sir Elton John, who used the scent to perfume the gardens at his White Tie and Tiara Ball and Katie Holmes, who wore it on her wedding day for her marriage to Tom Cruise.

Clive Christian flew in from London to receive the official award from Guinness World Records. When his company acquired the Crown Perfumery in 1999, the British perfume company originally established in 1872 granted the crown of excellence by Queen Victoria, he set out to revive the company's history of luxury by creating the most exquisite perfumes, though he said they never set out to break the world record.

"The brief that was given to them for No. 1 was that they had to produce the best possible perfume that was known to mankind, and they were to ignore all costs and buy whatever they considered would produce the best results, even taking into account that it might not be sustainable," said Christian. "In other words, next year, we may not be able to do it. Nobody has ever done that. No. 1 does change, year by year."

"The by-product of that is that it became ridiculously expensive to actually produce that," continued Christian. "We didn't expect it to be as well-received as it has been, which goes to show that if you produce something so well, the world will respond well to it."

Christian said the two ingredients in particular make this perfume so expensive. Natural aged sandalwood from India, for example, which is so prized it is regulated by the Indian government, is an ingredient in No. 1.

Tahitian vanilla is another, which Christian explained goes through a labor-intensive process to procure.

"The vanilla pods ferment, and then tiny crystals form on the outside of the pod, and we actually reap the perfume of the vanilla, from those crystals - not actually from the pods," said Christian.

Though Christian may be the man behind the world's most lavish scent, one of his favorite scents doesn't hail from an exotic locale or rare flower, though you might be hard-pressed to find such a smell today.

"A great smell and sensation was when I was a child," said Christian. "They used to have over a railway line, those metal bridges that you don't have any more. And when they had a steam train, if you stood, directly above it, as the steam train went through it, you were covered in steam, so it was quite an experience. You had the smell of the steam, and of the carbon, and the different goings on, and that was a powerful, energetic smell."

"So get a steam train, stand underneath it, and it will curl your hair!"

Promising Approach To A More Effective Sunscreen

2007-12-11T15:26:00.000+07:00

ScienceDaily (Dec. 5, 2007) — Chronic exposure to the sun increases the risk of an individual developing skin cancer because UV light from the sun can cause genetic mutations that enable cells in the skin to grow in an uncontrolled manner.

Hope for a new sunscreen that can prevent and treat UV light--induced skin cancers has been provided by a new study in a mouse model of the disease by Mohammad Athar and colleagues at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.

Mutations in the p53 gene that result in the production of mutant forms of p53 protein unable to do their job are associated with cancer in various tissues in mice and humans. An agent known as CP-31398 has previously been shown to bind mutant forms of p53 and restore their function.

In the study, applying CP-31398 to the skin of mice reduced skin cancer (in terms of the size and number of tumors) induced by exposure to UVB light. In addition, treating mice already carrying UVB light--induced skin cancers with CP-31398 reduced tumor growth and volume.

These effects were associated with increased p53 function. The clinical relevance of these observations was highlighted by the demonstration that CP-31398 increased p53 function in a human skin cancer cell line expressing a mutant form of p53.

However, as Wafik S. El-Deiry from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, notes in his accompanying commentary, this study raises a number of questions that need to be addressed before these promising findings lead to new sunscreens for the prevention and treatment of UV light--induced skin cancer.

The article "CP-31398 restores mutant p53 tumor suppressor function and inhibits UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis in mice" is published in the December 3 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Adapted from materials provided by Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Gift Idea: The Gentlemens Refinery Standard Shave System Gift Box

2007-12-11T15:16:00.000+07:00

Cool Gift Idea for your Man!

Begin and end with The Gentlemens Refinery, "The Standard" shave system.

Our Gift Box includes:
Pre Shave Oil, Shave Cream, After Shave Balm, Moisturizer and Eye Gel. Presented in a sleek black faux leather gifit box.

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GoSMILE Go All Out Starter Kit with Advanced Formula B1

2007-12-11T15:05:00.000+07:00

Professionally formulated by Jonathan B. Levine, D.M.D., New York City, this complete set includes the proprietary teeth whitening ampoule technology: a highly effective, simple, hygienic, truly on-the-go, convenient way to whiten your teeth - no fuss, no mess. Dr. Levine's complete 3-step program was created to provide optimal long lasting results for a whiter, younger looking sexy smile.

What it is formulated to do:
-Whiten your smile with GoSMILE Advanced Formula B1 (contains 14 B1 ampoules and a chic refillable silver compact).
-Brush and make your smile sparkle with GoSMILE AM/PM Whitening Protection Fluoride Toothpastes in a travel duo set.
-Touch up to keep your smile white and erase any new stains before they set. It's a stain-erasing mini brush and breath freshener in one. Try it after drinking coffee, tea, red wine or smoking. You'll love the taste and see the difference right away.

What else you need to know:
Fortified with fluoride to prevent decay and strengthen tooth enamel, AM/PM Toothpastes and their aromatherapy benefits make brushing such a blissful sensory experience that you'll want to brush longer; which is just what the doctor ordered! Lively essential oils of lemon, lime, orange, and mandarin make AM a natural morning rush and soothing essential oils of chamomile and lavender, valerian root, and delicious vanilla make PM the ideal relaxing night time therapy.

Clinical Testing/Results:
GoSMILE Aadvanced Formula B1 is clinically proven to whiten your smile 4-10 shades in seven days, depending on your starting shade.*Due to the size of this product, we are unable to offer holiday packaging, however a gift message can be included with your delivery.

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nono no!no!

2007-12-11T14:55:00.000+07:00

A revolutionary new concept in hair removal, suitable for all hair types and skin colors.

What it does:Achieve hair density reduction at home, with no mess, no cuts, no burns, and no noise. No!no! is based on an exciting new technology called Thermicon™, which uses the scientific principles of thermal transference to conduct a gentle pulse of heat to the hair. It features a unique innovation: a thermodynamic wire to transmit the heat to the hair. This patented wire and built-in safety mechanisms has allowed for the adaptation of professional hair removal technology into a home use product.

What else you need to know:With a no!no! treatment there's no pain, you don't have to wait for hair to grow long in order to remove it, and there is no skin irritation like in-grown hairs, red pimples, or rashes to cover up. Remember no!no! is a treatment process for hair reduction and not a miracle cure for unwanted hair. Like any professional hair treatment, it takes time and dedication to achieve your desired results. The same holds true for the revolutionary no!no! hair removal system; with all the right moves, stubble-free, super smooth skin will be yours. Be sure to follow the directions closely for the safest, most effective results. No!no! is not recommended for use on the face. Additionally, the thermal heat signal destroys the hair, which is characterized by odor. Use the buffer to remove residue and maximize smoothness, then shower or bathe and follow with body moisturizer.Everything you need to get started with no!no! is here: 3 short blades, 2 long blades, a storage bag, small brush to clean the no!no! device, a charger, and one buffer.

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Beauty Gift Idea: Too Faced The Jewelry Box

2007-12-11T14:48:00.000+07:00

A jewelry box-inspired collection of shades for face, eye, cheeks, and lips.

What else you need to know:The Jewelry Box holds a glamour girls most treasured possessions. It's filled to the brim with eight sophisticated eyeshadows, six lip glosses, and a blush. It's busting at the seams with a duo bronzer, foundation powder, brow powder, and eyeliner cake. Top it off with Too Faced's best-selling shimmering face illuminator "lust after glow" that illuminates the skin like a ten-carat solitaire!

Box includes 0.21 oz Eye Shadows in Dirt Bag (chocolate with golden sparkle), Oscar (golden frost), Temper Temper (deep merlot), Steel Magnolia (pink shommer) Vixen (midnight navy metallic), Pearl Necklace (white pearl), 0.19 oz Diamond Edition Exclusive Lip Gloss (rose petal pink), 0.19 oz Glamour Gloss in Love Bites (plum shimmer), 0.19 oz Juicy Jewels- Love Lisa (bright coral-pink shimmer), 0.19 oz Juicy Jewels- Diamond Drenched (champagne shimmer), 0.19 oz Diamond Edition Exclusive (pink shimmer), 0.19 oz Diamond Edition Exclusive (magenta pink), 0.19 oz Blush in Whose Your Daddy (rich rose and pink shimmer) and Lust To Love (rich bronze and golden bronze), 0.11 oz Absolutley Flawless Powder- 1 Karat and 3 Karat (two shades of warm beige), and a 0.11 oz Sunny Bunny Bronzer, plus a double-ended brush.

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Essential Beauty-to-Go

2007-12-11T12:26:00.000+07:00

Get ready for the holiday! Don't forget to gear up your beauty bag with these essential items to-go!

GoSMILE Touch Up Mini On-The-Go Smile Refresher

Five multipurpose smile solution ampoules that let you touch up and refresh your smile, on the go. What it is formulated to do:
-Keeps your smile white.
-Instantly erases food and drink stains before they set.
-Polishes teeth, leaving them shiny and white.
-Promotes good oral hygiene.

What else you need to know:
-Enlivens your senses and is especially beneficial if you drink coffee, tea, red wine, dark sodas, or if you smoke.

Sephora Brand Pop-Up Travel Brush - Signature Black & Red

The perfect travel companion, this chic, mirrored compact opens to reveal a pop-up brush inside. Simply flip open the mirror and press your thumb against the bottom of the compact to pop out the brush. To close, gently press on the bristle tips with the center of your palm to retract the brush.

Sephora Brand Face & Eye Travel Tool Kit

Sized to slip easily into your purse or briefcase, this soft microfiber brush portfolio has a magnetic flap closure and houses five professional quality brushes for the face and eyes.

Set includes a powder/blush brush, eyeshadow blending brush, eyeshadow smudge brush, eyeshadow crease brush, and an angled brow/liner brush.

Bliss Tried + Blue Travel Kit

An on-the-go toiletry kit.

What it does:The Bliss Tried + Blue travel kit is chock full of ocean-inspired products: An exfoliating gel facial cleanser, a body wash with hydrating vitamins and marine extracts, an ocean-scented body lotion, a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner that cleanses, detangles, and de-stresses tresses and scalp with marine extracts, antioxidants, vitamins, aloe, and mini verveine-scented bar soap.

What else you need to know:The travel kit includes a 1 oz each size of our Fabulous Foaming Face Wash, Tried + Blue Body Wash, Tried + Blue Body Lotion, Tried + Blue All-in-one Shampoo + Conditioner, and a miniature size Big Blue Bar bundled in an airport-friendly travel pouch. Inspired by our first-ever products-Super Slough Scrub and Big Blue Bar-these sea-sourced essentials are the official in-room amenities of the new Aloft Hotels.

Too Faced Glamour to Go

A pocket-sized palette for eyes and lips.

What else you need to know:This total beauty binge is packed solid with six glimmering, glassy glosses and four shimmering, silky shadows in shades of pearly pinks to sugary caramels to ensure you're threateningly perfect ... even on the go!

Every jet-setting glamorina's best friend!

Shades include four 0.13 oz eyeshadows in rose sheen, golden bronze shimmer, champagne shimmer, and gold shimmer and six 0.11 oz lip glosses in champagne shimmer, gold shimmer, chocolate-rose shimmer, pink shimmer, golden pink shimmer, and rose-plum shimmer, plus a lip brush and eye applicator.

Beauty to Go: Philosophy Amazing Grace To Go

2007-12-11T12:18:00.001+07:00

Amazing Grace fragrance for women is an uniquely feminine blend of soft, floral blossoms accented by a hint of light musk.Indulge yourself - and those you are most thankful for - with good-for-your-body-and-soul treats from Philosophy's Amazing Grace Collection.Experience the Philosophy Amazing Grace Bath and Body Collection

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Bare Escentuals Get Started Eyes

2007-12-11T12:05:00.000+07:00

A seven-piece eye defining and lining collection takes the guesswork out of getting started with 100% pure bareMinerals eye colors and explains to you in simple steps how to achieve effortless eye looks in seconds.

What else you need to know: With Get Started Eyes, you'll discover how bareMinerals shades apply and blend so seamlessly. Experience all of the same healthy benefits of our award-winning foundation with revolutionary eye beauty that gives you rich and radiant eye color with no preservatives and zero irritants. Plus, we'll lead you each step of the way with our how-to guide.

Collection includes:
3 x .02 oz bareMinerals Eyeshadows Vanilla Sugar (creamy beige), Peach Puff (lush peach), Soft Focus Explore (soft brown), and a .01 oz bareMinerals Liner Shadow in Fashionista (chocolate raisin), plus a Contour Shadow Brush, Eye Defining Brush and an Eyeliner Brush.

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Pop Beauty Eye Class

2007-12-04T15:44:00.000+07:00

Yet another glimmering master class in eye makeup from Pop! These twelve super silky, long-lasting glowing lid finishers have been carefully combined to make your brown eyes pop and sparkle in no time!

Twelve tasty shades in an irresistible shimmering gold wallet - it's the perfect accessory for those glam parties. Shades include: vibrant yellow, gold with gold glitter, neutral apricot, peach shimmer, medium brown, rose brown, peachy-rose with gold glitter, russet rose sheen, chocolate, cranberry, plum shimmer, and matte black.

Wait! It has other color sets too!

Drug-Like Beauty Products Draw Concern

2007-12-03T16:23:00.000+07:00

Surgeon: Caution Needed When Using OTC "Cosmeceuticals"

(CBS) Baby boomers are driving the market for so-called "cosmeceuticals" -- beauty aids that promise to work like prescription drugs to make you look younger and better. Many are advertised like drugs, too. And the field is taking off.

But, on The Early Show, a New York cosmetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgeon raised warning flags about cosmeceuticals.

Dr. Michelle Copeland pointed out that they're not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so consumers need to be extra-vigilant about what's in them before buying or using them.

She said many over-the-counter anti-aging products, anti-wrinkle creams and sun spot reducers are examples of cosmeceuticals.

There are a number of excellent products out there, Copeland said, but there are a few that might not do any good, and it's possible some might do some harm.

She added that some companies are even using prescription medications in cosmeceuticals.

Copeland offered a for-instance to co-anchor Hannah Storm, saying, "Lots of cosmeceuticals have forms of Retin-A in them, but not at the same concentration."

So, what's a consumer to do when considering cosmeceuticals, which tend to be pricey?

"Become an educated consumer," Copeland said. "We know with our foods we have to look and see if there are preservatives. It's the same thing with the skin care. Look and see if there are dyes in it, fragrances.

"Look at the ingredients. If a product says it's allergy-tested, that means it's held to a higher standard, that it's been tested and most people will not have a reaction to it. You want to make sure whatever you're putting on your skin isn't filled with lots of dyes that could be irritating. There are a lot of products out there and some of them are very good that can really do what they say they're doing.

"Make sure you're buying a product that has been tested in some form, that comes from a reliable company. There are certainly doctor brands (that) have been tested on a clinical basis.

"I think we are entering a tremendous revolution in skin care, and today we know so much more than we ever did. People are living longer. And they want to look better. And if there's an opportunity to look better without having surgery, wouldn't that be wonderful? And I think that that is really within our grasp right now."

In general, Copeland observed, soft, smooth skin "is healthier skin. Skin that gets cracked and dry is more prone to infection. So the wonderful thing about skin care is that we now can make our skin smoother and make it look better at the same time."

Of course, you could and should always consult your doctor if you have any questions not answered on labels, on the Web, etc., Copeland concluded.

(Dr. Copeland's website can be seen at www.mcskin.com)

Bare Escentuals Smoky "V" Eye Tutorials

2007-12-03T15:38:00.000+07:00

Learn the Lessons they do not teach in school!

Tutorials provides instruction in simple steps how to achieve the makeup styles you've always admired, but were never taught.

What else you need to know:The subject today is the Smoky Eye "V" Technique - another easy lesson with a new twist on this forever-in-demand eye style. Just practice the easy instructions on the detachable tip card and in no time at all you'll graduate with flying colors and noticeably intense, beautifully advanced smoky eyes.

Set includes a .02 oz Eyeshadow in Pacific Heights (gray lavender), a .02 oz Glimmer in 1990s (bronzed brown), plus a Double-Ended Smoky V Brush

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Braun 5270 Silk-épil X'elle Body System Epilator

2007-12-02T15:33:00.000+07:00

Smartlight - A spotlight which helps you capture even single stray hairs resulting in ultimate smoothness
SmartStart Head - This head helps make your start in epilation easy
SoftLift system, part of the epilation system, lifts and guides the shortest and flat lying hairs to tweezers. It helps remove the shortest hairs that wax cannot capture
Active Massaging Rollers - 4-way moving massaging rollers stimulate skin with micro-pulses before and after hair is removed to minimize pulling sensation

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Body Wraps: Way To Look, Feel Slimmer?

2007-12-01T16:18:00.000+07:00

Allure Magazine's Amy Keller Gives Lowdown, And Volunteers Put Wraps To Test

(CBS) Body wraps, a staple at spas, are considered an effective, all-natural way to enhance and moisten your skin, making it look softer.

Now, they're being touted by many beauty experts as a way to help women look and feel slimmer.

Amy Keller, beauty editor of Allure magazine (http://www.allure.com), had the scoop on the beauty treatment Thursday, as The Early Show continued its series, "Weapons of Mass Reduction."

Wraps are designed to improve the texture and appearance of the skin by helping to rid the body of excess fluids and toxins. Benefits of body wraps may include detoxification, boosting of the lymphatic system and metabolism, body contouring, temporary inch-loss, skin tightening, and skin softening.

The Early Show had four different wraps done on four women during the program. They were measured before and after, off-camera, to see if the wraps made a difference. All four volunteers lost from two-to-four INCHES within an HOUR.

Three spas did the wraps: Cornelia Day Spa, Great Jones Spa, and Paul LaBrecque. So did a medi-spa, the Natural Alternative Center, which promises you can lose six-to-twelve inches in one two- hour procedure.

How Are Body Wraps Performed?

People undergoing body wrap treatments typically have their torso, legs, arms, and neck wrapped with elastic cloths (either dry when wrapped or pre-soaked with a body wrap mixture). The elastic cloths absorb and help remove excess body fluids and toxins. The cloths are wrapped snugly (though not too tightly), creating a thermal blanket that promotes sweating and aids in the shedding of unnecessary interstitial fluid (fluid located between the small spaces of body tissues).

Possible Benefits of Body Wraps

Body wraps are all-natural, most often containing a mixture of herbs and minerals designed to beautify the skin. Essential oils and sea salts may also be used in daily spa body wrap treatments, seeking to help tone and soften the skin, and help rid you of those unwanted inches. Results may be realized immediately. But toxins and interstitial fluids eventually re-accumulate, so regular body wraps may provide better long-term benefits.

More on Body Wraps:

Body scrubs may use salts and other natural ingredients to exfoliate and detoxify the skin.

Body wraps use detoxifying organic materials, such as mud or aloe vera, to draw toxins from the body and soften skin. Most body scrubs use a blend of oils with fine and coarse grains, and are followed with the application of emollient lotions to further soften skin. Skin will feel soft, and fine lines will lessen after just one treatment. Such deeply relaxing treatments are shown to decrease stress, thereby lowering blood pressure. Since the skin is our largest organ, detoxification can have profound effects on our health and sense of well-being.

Body Wrap Costs

Body wraps typically cost between $100 and $300, depending on your location, at most day spas. Body wraps are often performed as part of a larger body treatment that may include aromatherapy, mud baths, hot tubs, and saunas. Day spa body wraps can be less expensive when performed in conjunction with other body treatments or day spa therapies that may include facials, massages, or waxing.

How does Alure rate body wraps?

Keller says editors first look for those that promise "detoxifying," "firming," "tightening," or "slimming" effects. Then, they check for ingredients dermatologists and aestheticians have said have some kind of tightening effect, however temporary. That includes things such as seaweed, caffeine, and muds. To pick the best, it comes down to trial and error: Editors try them, to see if they feel as if they've lost any water weight, and if they're actually tighter and firmer -- and how long the effects last.

The following information was provided by the spas represented on the show:

DR. ROSSI'S NATURAL ALTERNATIVE CENTER
As founder, and director of The Natural Alternative Center on West 72nd Street in Manhattan for more than 20 years, Dr. Trisha Rossi is a well-known lecturer and talk show personality. She has treated the likes of Britney Spears, Hillary Swank, Jennifer Gardner, Missy Elliot and an endless list of others who have, along with "The Discovery Health Channel," dubbed her "the naturopathic doctor to the stars." She compliments her practice with various licenses and certifications from nutrition, and food allergy-related alternative therapies to colon/digestive disorders and organ drainage detoxifications. She enhances her treatment programs with proven herbology and DNA/TMA detoxification protocols. Her specialty is in weight- and inch-loss, pain management, and problem skin issues. On the show Thursday, a demonstration was done of how one can lose inches on a natural, non-surgical, non-chemical level.

GREAT JONES SPA, of New York City
Green and White Algae Body Wrap
60 minutes, $160
90 minutes, $230
Includes massage
Marine algae are the base of the food chain and contain all the minerals, trace elements, and vitamins essential to life. Providing re-mineralization, restoring balance and inducing relaxation, this treatment nourishes and hydrates skin while stimulating natural detoxification. Performed as a wrap in a Vichy shower, marine algae grown in the pristine waters off the Brittany coast of France are applied to the skin to provide nutrients on a cellular level and draw out toxins. This treatment reduces the effects of bloating, fatigue, stress, and water retention while replenishing skin to its optimum level of nutritional balance. The 90-minute treatment includes a relaxing massage with a hydrating moisturizer. This wrap will leave you soft and rejuvenated. Those with iodine allergies should instead choose the Sedona Mud and Red Algae Body Wrap & Hydrotherapy Treatment.

PAUL LABRECQUE
Detoxifying Seaweed Body Wrap
60 minutes $125
Series of six, including tax $715 ($780 value)
This treatment starts with a wonderful body polish using 100 percent natural energizing herbal powder, followed by a detoxifying and re-mineralizing slimming and firming action of a algae wrap. Natural plant essences of lemongrass, geranium and tonka bean help to reduce water retention, and flush out excess fluids and toxins. Localized drainage massage is added to specifically target stubborn areas of cellulite. Also includes a luxurious scalp massage. Start your contouring cure!

CORNELIA
Algae Slimming Body Treatment
Bathe in mineral rich soaking teas, slimming algae and essential oils to alleviate water retention. The slimming body wrap promotes circulation, pulls out impurities and restores balance to the body.
90 Minutes $260

Stressed-out Skin Loses Its Antimicrobial Defense Mechanism

2007-11-29T16:14:00.000+07:00

ScienceDaily (Nov. 19, 2007) — It is well known that being stressed increases our susceptibility to infections by impairing the function of our immune system, but the molecular links between stress and diminished immune function have not been determined.

However, Peter Elias and colleagues at UCSF, have now characterized a mechanistic link in mice between psychological stress and increased susceptibility to skin infections.

Mice subjected to conditions of psychological stress were found to be more susceptible to group A Streptococcus pyogenes skin infections than mice housed under normal conditions.

This was associated with decreased expression of antimicrobial peptides by the epidermis of the skin. Further analysis revealed that psychological stress induced the increased production of glucocorticoids and that this inhibited the synthesis of fats in the epidermis of the skin and decreased the secretion of vesicles that contain antimicrobial peptides.

As indicated by the authors and Andrzej Slominski from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, in an accompanying commentary, these data lead to the suggestion that the immune function of the skin might be improved in individuals who are stressed by inhibiting the action of glucocorticoids.

Psychological stress downregulates epidermal antimicrobial peptide expression and increases severity of cutaneous infections in mice, Journal of Clinical Investigation, November 1, 2007

Adapted from materials provided by Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The Curl Care

2007-11-29T10:59:00.000+07:00

It's time to take care of your curls! Give your curls the perfect shine and healthy look with the right treatment. Kerastase, the hair and scalp treatment expert, now has the right solution for your curl. The Oleo Curl from Kerastase not only will enhance your curly tecture but also will supply the right nutrition for your healthy, shining curly hair.

The Bain Oleo Curl Nutritive Shampoo is good for everyday use, and combined with the right conditioner for your hair.

For extra treatment, the Oleo Curl Jelly Mask is suitable to give your hair a natural freshness and soften its textures.

For Curly hair with fine texture, use Oleo Curl Lotion. It can prevent tangled hair.

And for Rebellious curly hair, CRÈME OLÉO-CURL Definition Forming Cream Leave In Treatment can detangled the curls, control the volume and give the healthy look.

So let's tame the curls!

The Anti Perfume

2007-11-29T10:30:00.000+07:00

Introduced in the 1998, Odeur 53 got its name as "the anti-perfume", because of its uniqueness of achieving the modern smell of parfume. Its smell is different, combining the smells of metal, mineral carbon, sand dunes, nail polish, flaming rock, burnt rubber, oxygen, and burned with inorganic materials. Available in 15ml and 200 ml.

See more at Amazon.com

Stop Age Defying

2007-11-29T09:55:00.000+07:00

It's not just the air pollution give the negative impact to your skin. But also your lifestyle. Stress, pollution, sun light, and many other things may caused your skin look tired. Give your skin an additional energy and to prevent negative impacts like wrinkles and age defying process. It's Clarins Total Double Serum Age Control Double Firming.

Formulated with 42 natural ingredients, it helps to restore skin's radiance & vitality. Promote firmer & even toned complexion. Diminish visible fine lines, wrinkles & signs of fatigue. Create a youthful-looking & moist appearance. From the first application, skin's radiance and youthful vitality are renewed.

Get more info on Amazon.com

Estee Lauder Travel Set Taupe Faux Suede Bag 7 Piece Kit

2007-11-22T00:26:00.000+07:00

No more big beauty bag, no more hassle on finding your beauty needs to be carried with your simple biz trip bag. This Estee Lauder Travel set has everything you need on your trip. In small sizes, of course!

Travel essential kit includes:
Estee Lauder Intuition Eau de Parfum Spray 0.14 oz
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex - 0.25 oz
Estee Lauder DayWear Plus Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Crème - 0.24 oz
Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow - 50 Sandbox / 55 Chocolate Chip
Estee Lauder MagnaScopic Maximum Volume Mascara - 01 Black
Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick - 3 Black Wine
Taupe Faux Suede Cosmetic Bag

L'occitane - Travel Essentials Set

2007-11-21T19:33:00.000+07:00

Got someone whose life is always on the move? These beauty sets might be the right gift for them. Compact, all-in-one solution in a nice package. Just right.

The Package contains:

L'LOCCITANE Travel Essentials Set includes:

L'LOCCITANE Verbena Shower Gel (40 ml / 1.3 oz.)

L'LOCCITANE Verbena Body Lotion (40 ml / 1.3 oz.)

L'LOCCITANE Shea Butter Lip Balm (2 g/0.07 oz.)

L'LOCCITANE Shea Butter Milk Soap (50 g / 1.7 oz.)

L'LOCCITANE Shea Butter Hand Cream (10 ml / 0.3 oz.)

L'LOCCITANE Shea Butter Ultra Moisturizer Day Care SPF 15 (10 ml / 0.3 oz.)

L'LOCCITANE Cream Gel for Tired Legs (10 ml / 0.3 oz.)

L'LOCCITANE Blue Travel Bag

Caffeine Is Latest Anti-Cellulite Weapon

2007-11-16T01:14:00.000+07:00

(CBS) Creams containing caffeine are the newest weapon in women's arsenal of cellulite-fighters.

They were the topic as The Early Show began a weekly series Thursday, "Weapons of Mass Reduction," in which weight-loss and firm-up products and techniques are explored.

"Dermatologist to the stars" Dr. Ava Shamban, an assistant professor of dermatology at UCLA, explained to co-anchor Julie Chen that cellulite "is a term used to describe the lumpy, bumpy appearance of the skin, almost like a mattress. You can almost see where those little buttons would go right in. It can appear on even the thinnest women."

Cellulite, she says, appears on all women at some point, regardless of age or size.

Shamban, who owns the Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care in Santa Monica, Calif., adds that cellulite "is a structural problem. It's not only the fat, but it has to do with the connective tissue. The connective tissue acts as a mesh to keep the fat close to the legs, which happens for men, but not so well for women. So, in women, sometimes this connective mesh opens up and the fat bulges out. That gives you the cellulite."

There's no proven, effective method that gets rid of cellulite, Shamban observes, but there are products and treatments that can visibly reduce its look and feel.

"Part of is genetic," Shamban responded, "and exercising may or may not help. Being slender does help because, if you can imagine, if the fat cells themselves are expanding, you're going to get more bulging through that mesh work."

Another possible avenue: caffeine-based creams.

Shamban says she sees them as "one of the three great promises made to women, (namely), 'There's no MSG in your food. I'm gonna to call you in the morning. And this cream will get rid of your cellulite.' So, I'm a little bit from Missouri -- show me! I want to make sure they work.

"The theory behind caffeine is that it actually can reduce fat. It can enhance fat metabolism and also reduce some of the edema, or swelling that we get around the fat, so the skin appears smoother."

Three volunteers are going to try out various caffeine-based creams for four-to-six weeks, and report back on The Early Show on how well they did the job -- Sabina, in her 50s, Jackie, in her 40s, and Danielle, in her 30s. The areas where they have cellulite vary.

According to Shamban:

Anti-cellulite cream doesn't remove the "orange-peel" cellulite appearance completely. But it's a temporary technique for cellulite reduction. It works by plumping up the skin, creating a smoother texture when massaged on cellulite prone areas. For better results, choose anti-cellulite creams that contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and other ingredients that help to stimulate blood flow.

If you do purchase anti-cellulite creams, make sure to check for the availability of some key ingredients listed below:

Caffeine
Some cellulite cream used caffeine to fight cellulite. Caffeine, the active ingredient in many cellulite creams, works to tighten blood vessels. There have not been any reports showing that caffeine is successful in cellulite reduction. But we are seeing this is a very big trend in creams. So some products may list "caffeine" or "coffee" but remember that "caffeine" can be derived from black and green teas as well -- so make sure to read the label carefully.

CoffeeBerry
CoffeeBerry is the fruit of the coffee plant from which the coffee bean is derived. It's another way of stating that caffeine is an active ingredient in the product. CoffeeBerry can have a higher level of antioxidants depending on when the fruit was selected.

Aminophylline
Cellulite cream containing aminophylline is used to reduce the bumpy, dimpling effect of cellulite. Aminophylline is said to break down fat cells into fatty acids. The extent of effectiveness of aminophylline in cellulite reduction is still unknown. However, some patients reported successful reduction of cellulite after using aminophylline treatment cream. Take note that anti-cellulite cream containing aminophylline must be kept away from heat and used quickly.

Retinol
Some anti-cellulite cream use Retinols to improve skin texture and is a common ingredient in wrinkle treatment creams. Though its effectiveness of retinols in fighting cellulite is still in debate, retinol is used to improve the thickness of the epidermis and circulation to the skin. Since retinoid or Vitamin A derivatives can be destroyed when expose to light, it is best to apply retinol based cream at night.

AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)
More and more cellulite cream make used of AHAs such as lactic acid and glycolic acid to fight cellulite. AHA helps accelerate the removal of the superficial layer of dead cells.

Herbal Cellulite Lotion
Citric, Tartaric and Phytic acids derived from fruits and plants are active ingredients used in cellulite treatment lotions. Herbal cellulite lotion helps to improve the tone and texture of skin in cellulite prone areas.

You can try these cellulite creams:

Personalized Skin Care Analysis from Beauty.com

Scented Gifts

2007-10-29T12:20:00.000+07:00

Trying to find a special gift for this holiday season? Indulge your senses by these glamour scents! Perfect for those who love to be the center of attention, because the scents are just....perfect!

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle

Turkish Rose, sambac jasmine, and the fruity freshness of blackberry, instantly spread out the sweet yet glamorous sensation, uniquely Bulgari.

Love in White by Creed
As the symbol of elegance, the perfumery maestro, Olivier Creed, is telling the story by the scents of gentle magnolia flower and the exotic sandalwood scent. You must be mesmerized.

L'Artisan Mure et Musc
The perfect synergy of blackberry and the calming musk. The result is a perfect positive aroma.

Unlock Your Skin's Hidden Power

2007-10-28T14:35:00.000+07:00

You take good care of your skin every day, but somehow it's become dry, rough, and dull. This means your skin has lost the energy to recover with its usual skincare. But here's the solution: now you can recharge skin's power with Bio-Performance Intensive Skin Corrective Program.

THE DISCOVERY: skin's natural law of beauty
When skin gets damaged, it runs out of energy and becomes more vulnerable to external aggressors. This "low battery" condition had once been considered impossible to treat. Shiseido has uncovered the answer; maintaining a specific balance of magnesium ions and calcium ions leads to the ideal energy balance that helps recover skin's vitality

THE SOLUTION: restoring ion balance
Bio Recharger MC, developed by Shiseido to restore optimum ion balance and recharge skin, is a powerful ingredient of intensive Skin Corrective Program. For only two weeks, teo simpe steps replace your regular skincare to restore softness and resilience.

THE PROOF: 82% felt renewed strength in just 2 weeks*
Shiseido's original method to measure skin's ion levels proved it, finding optimum balance nearly fully restored.
*tested by 109 women using Bio-Performance Intensive Skin Corrective Program continuously for 2 weeks

Soft and Gentle

2007-10-27T15:11:00.000+07:00

With lighter particle mass compared to lotion and cream, the body oil formula is easier to be absorbed by our skin. Although the body oil formula is dominated by oil as one of its ingredients, thanks to the modernized process, the oil content doesn't give a greasy sensation on the skin. On the contrary, the results are subtle skin and feels like covered by a satin sheet.

Lots of Cosmetologists suggested that you don't put your clothes on right after you apply the body oil. This is to give time for the Body Oil to be fully absorbed by the skin, and doesn't leave the greasy sensation on your hand.

In line with the skin needs, the body oil formula is not only to moisten your skin, but also to enhance your skin performance. Many producers has combined the natural ingredients to enhance our skin performance, like rosemary, sage, mint, and hazelnut oil which can help to improve skin's elasticity.

Some Body oils available in the market:

Eyeliners

2007-10-27T14:59:00.000+07:00

There are 3 types of Eyeliner:

Powder/pallette is suitable to give a natural effect.
Liquid, can be used to give a glamorous effect, because the finishing result is more solid
Pencil, neatly frame your eyes, but with a softer effect.

For this 2007 autumn/winter make up, the color is dominated with dark colors. Also the cat-eye effect is currently being used by top designer like Anna Molinari, Karl Lagerfeld and Betty Jackson. This is how you can apply the eyeliner based on your eye shapes:

If you have round eyes, apply the eyeliner in thin line and give a "tail" on the upper eye lids.
If you have narrow eyes, apply the eyeliner a little bold on upper eye lids and add a thin line on the lower eyelids starting from your outer eyes.
If your eyelids is big and look "deep", apply the eyeliner on the eye line right above your eyelashes.