To pick... or not to pick

Pimples are brutal. Period.
I've been known to be a picker... but at some point, you've got to grow out of bad habits. In my quest to change, I found some really amazing at-home zit-zapping recipes!

See if any of these tricks help your delicate skin battle the bitter break-out!!!

An oldy but goody: Toothpaste. Yes, I've tried and tested and toothpaste really does decrease the swelling and the redness. I prefer Crest, the white kind... it seems to smell the best.

Our friends over at Daily Candy interviewed a fab facialist at Spa to the Stars, Sally Hershberger and discovered a great at home recipe to zap the zit:
The next time you’re tempted to squeeze, prod, and pick your face into an irritated mound, stop. Instead, use this gentler, smarter, at-home zit cream from Karen Axmaker, our favorite facialist at Sally Hershberger Face Place.

Ingredients:
cotton swab
hydrogen peroxide
½ oz. powered oatmeal
½ T. fresh lemon juice
¼ c. egg whites
3 drops honey

Directions:
1. Dab cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide and cleanse the infected area. (This will keep the infection from spreading.)

2. Mix everything else in a small bowl.

3. Cover blemish with mixture and leave on for twenty minutes.

4. Rinse with warm water.

5. Store leftovers in fridge for up to one week. (Do not eat.) Apply twice daily until pimple disappears.

SOURCE

Mike Herman, over at ezinearticles.com, has a few tricks up his sleeves too:
How About This Home Remedy Zit Treatment?

When beginning to make your home remedy for zit and pimples, look at items in your kitchen, pantry, or refrigerator.

When a pimple pops up, rub crushed garlic cloves on the skin.

The garlic will reduce swelling as well as cure the pimple.

Another great homemade recipe is to mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with one teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
SOURCE

So next time you have the urge to purge on your innocent skin, remember that there is always an alternative.

Tell us what zit-zapping tricks you use!!!

Bright Eyes

I love love love discovering new eye creams. It's like finding a new crush: Exciting, euphoric and completely and utterly radiant!
Obagi ELASTIderm Night Eye Cream is my January crush. The unique cream decreases wrinkles while increasing skin firmness. It's moisturizing properties replenish the sensitive skin around the eye area and stimulate production of healthy new skin cells. Basically, when your eyes flutter open in the wee hours of the morning, they're no longer puffy, dark or dry. Instead, your eyes will feel hydrated and appear taughter(like you just took a trip to the Arctic Circle).
I've been using the eye cream for the past week and I already see a difference (maybe it's a combination of the cream and my two week "sober" detox!!!). Never-the-less, I'm a huge fan because it moisturizes without leaving an oily residue.
It's a new you... bright eyed and ready to take the day!
Available from dermotologists or by CLICKING HERE!!!

Raquel Welch.... Beauty Icon?

(Raquel circa... a long time ago)
MAC Cosmetics seems to think so... and they're betting a limited edition color line that you will agree! The Raquel Welch Limited Edition Colour Collection is among the latest of a myriad of new Spring products from the make-up empire.
Although I'm not sure that I'd call present day Raquel a "beauty icon," the cases' tiger print motif is definitely "of the now," style wise. And the eye and lip colors are perfect for creating the sultry dark eye and the virgin pink lip. I'm really feeling the Raquel Welch lipglass (left) in Raquel - a slight peachy hue in the classic lipglass formula (shiny, shiny, shiny!) And the Sultress Eye Compact is an eyeshadow quad that boasts the requisite hunter green (Spring's hottest go-to color).

Raquel Now:

Come on baby light my FIRE....

Who doesn't love a nice smelling candle? Archipelago Home Lemmongrass Soy Candle is above and beyond a great smelling lump of wax. It's actually soy wax... so it burns evenly too!!! AND, the delicious sugar and lemon aroma will remind you of your teen years selling 25 cent lemonaide at your corner lemonaide stand!!! I've had my candle for almost six months (the company estimates it at 90 hours of pure burning bliss) and I light it every night before bed (when writing in my diary... so cliche, I know). I swear it keeps the nightmares away...

BUY IT TODAY BY CLICKING HERE!

British Vogue Reviewed

Fellow beauty whore, Alexandra, has once again offered her keen beauty insight to review January's British Vogue's spring/ summer make-up must-haves from the mouths of the beauty trend-setters themselves!!!

Alex and her Vogue

"I am without shame something of a magazine whore subscribing to almost two dozen publications. As a writer I explain this away as "research" but only a small portion are literary or political. Sadly they don't smell good and rarely look pretty. Hence the pile of fashion and style tomes spilling across my floor. The grande dame is British Vogue which arrives each month wrapped in black wrap like some secret dossier. The layouts are fantastic, the writing the best I have come across and the beauty always less unexpected than what you find in US mags. The January issue includes top makeup artists sharing products needed to create the spring/summer catwalk looks which were all about a nude face, which as anyone knows is always a tricky one to pull off. Take note....

GUCCI WESTMAN, Creative Director for Lancome (Catwalk shows: Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Peter Som, Rag & Bone)
BareMinerals SPF15 Foundation (left). "My Must have. I use it as a base and apply foundation on top."
Clinique Pore Minimizer "Kate Winslet got me hooked...put a bit on under make-up for a noticeably smoother surface. After foundation, skin really glows."

VAL GARLAND (Catwalk shows: Giorgio Armani, Nicole Farhi)
Shu Umera Flare Eyelashes "The eyelashes of the moment...add fierceness to the season's natural look."
MAC Fan Brush in 184 (right) "It's for applying powder but I use it for cream or powder blush --- this season a pale or barely-there nude is essential."

CHARLOTTE TILBURY, Creative Director Helena Rubenstein (Catwalk shows: DKNY, Zac Posen, Bottega Veneta, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Biba)
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder (left). "Can't live with it - it brightens under eye bags and wakes up dull skin."
MAC Paint in Architecture "This dries matte, giving a lovely fresh contour to the eyes without looking obvious."

Let us know if you agree or disagree with these celebrity make-up artists!!!

Jack and Jill went up the hill...

...And found the most fabulous make-up made easy!

Meet Jill Ventimiglia, founder of Jack & Jill Cosmetics (the products used by Tym Buacherern, Head Makeup Artist on the hit musical, Dream Girls).
At a recent Golden Globe gifting event, Kari Feinstein's Style Lounge, I had the pleasure of meeting this magical make-up artist. Her line is simple, a must-have for the modern day, multi-tasking woman. It's about feeling pretty without the fuss. As she says, "the solution to the commonly asked question of, 'what colors should I wear," are in the Face in Case palettes, which are designed with certain colorings in mind and filled with the essentials for the woman on the go." The palette's come in 8 color schemes, all named after iconic beauties like, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.
I had the privilege of snagging the Lucy-Light palette inspired by none other then Ms. Lucille Ball. The company says that, "this palette of neutral shadows and warm blushes complement a fair, freckled complexion." Although I'm not freckled or fair skined, I still gave the colors a try and I must say, not only did it totally cut down on my face time by having everything in one simple compact, but I really loved the blush combo's of vibrant peach and deep plum. I mixed them together and it made a phenominal color!
All of the make-up is mineral based, thus it does not cause break outs and is suitable for sensitive skin.
Also try the Eye Palettes (they come in 5 color combo's, 5 shades to a case) and the Lip Palettes (that come in 3 rocking color combinations with 3 shades in a case!)
Here's to the inner beauty icon in each of us!!!

Golden Globe Winners...

Sure, Hollywood cares about best performances, movie, screenplay, director, etc. The fashion world cares about what they're wearing. Here at beauty banter, all we care about is what's on their face and in their hair...
The 64th Annual Golden Globes crowned many winners... and quite a few losers, as well...
Here's a few words on the beauty... and the not so beauty...

And the nominees are (in alphabetical order):

America Ferrara (our ugly Betty ain't so ugly!)


Angelina Jolie (not gonna lie, the eyes scare me just a tad)


Beyonce Knowles (is it just me, or does she ALWAYS look the same?!)


Cameron Diaz (in all her black-haired glory!!! P.S. the red lipstick is sooo wrong on Cameron - she's managed to look like she's channeling her inner clown.)


Cate Blanchett (girl's got a great colorist... she definately wins best blonde of the night!)


Hilary Swank (apparently Ms. Swank thought the invite read, "15th birthday party." No excuse for that retchid hair flower!)


Jennifer Hudson (a whole lotta eye for whole lotta girl!)


Kate Winslet (as Nate so adequetly puts it, "the girl knows her body type! I'm liking it...)


Naomi Watts (she always looks so sweet and friendly... botox, yay or nay?!)


Rachel Weisz (hubby + baby = great look!!!)


Reese Witherspoon (the best revenge for a cheating, womanizer of a husband is a youthful glow, straight, sleek hair, and a kick-ass, skinny bod! We are SO team Reese!)


You tell us... who gets your vote for hottest face!!!
Leave a comment!!!

Chrome AND Creme... MAC Spring 2007

MAC Cosmetics new, limited edition CHROME AND CREME , boasts this season's most vibrant lip glosses and lip liners.

I'm really feeling the prize shine lip gloss. Although I'd probably layer it with my other favorite MAC lippies like lilacrush lipgelee and lustreglass love nectar(two equally fabulous sheer pinks).

A word (or several...) from the company:

"Seductive, hyper-reflective...Nine rich shades of Chromeglass - five of them new - cooridnated with nine new shades of Cremestick Pearl Liner. When it comes to sec-sationalizing the lips, this is the chrome-de-la-cr�me! Limited edition."

Hurry and buy these fancy new colors today!!! (via MAC Cosmetics)

Evolution of Colour for Eyes

Laura Mercier is really starting to impress me. First it was the face books, now it's these incredible eye pallettes in Springs most vibrant colors. A must try!!!

I'm thinking I wanna try the pinks and the greys... pink is an interesting hue for the eye. If done correctly, it is tres dramatic! (If not, it looks like a retchid case of pink eye!)

What colors are you choosing for Spring??? (via Laura Mercier)

Edie Sedgwick... American Icon

Factory Girl Stats
Kate Biscoe served as make-up department head (other movies include, Memoirs of a Geisha and The Producers, while Miia Kovera acted as hair department head. Despite the obvious glitches in the actual story, Factory Girl succeeds in being a testiment to the beauty and style of the 1960's.
Edie was a natural beauty with pale skin and almond brown eyes. With a short, boy cut and bleached hair, Edie transformed herself into the icon of beauty for the rock and roll generation. Her eyes boasted bold and thick lashes lined with heavy black liner, her eyebrows were dark and full. More feminine then the heroin chic look of the late 80's and early 90's, Edie combined rocker with classic. Edie was an inspiration to the style of the 1960's and her iconic status continues to inspire women today... Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, to name a few.



Check out this great Edie site with fabulous photo's and interesting reading material...
CLICK HERE!!!

ICON

Sienna Miller as Edie Sedgwick from Factory Girl
Just saw FACTORY GIRL today... I'll discuss Sienna and her look after I digest the movie a little more but I found this amazing video on youtube about Edie Sedgwick. It's awesome. A must see. Please, take the time to view the first celebutante's inspiring style and hypnotic beauty.

Sedgwick spent hours each day on her makeup. "She would drive us insane sitting there with her makeup case, just endlessly, endlessly doing her makeup while everybody was starving and late for the party and wanting to go and becoming so irate," said Bibbe Hansen, another Warhol protégé (and, for the record, Beck's mom). "Yeah, it took a couple of hours, but when she was done, she looked fabulous."Source.
The real Edie Sedgwick
Please comment, do you think that Sienna and Edie look similar???

Skin Secrets From A Fellow Beauty Whore...

Many of my devout blog readers have been asking about that one product that will gaurantee perfect skin. Well, I'm a product whore so I can't narrow it down, thus, I've enlisted fellow beauty whore, Di Gaeta (actress and artist) to unveil her favorite... after all, she's always ready with a glowing complexion and a seductive stare.
"I am an avowed product whore, I am constantly in search of that magical product that makes me look like I have slept forever and am naturally the prettiest person alive. Needless to say, I’ve kissed many a frog on my journey and I believe I have finally found the skin care line that makes my dreams as close to reality as possible…
May I present Amore Pacific, sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus, Barney’s, and in their flagship store in NYC. This line imparts some kind of dewy glow of health that has people asking you why your skin looks so good. They have multiple combinations for any type of skin so I suggest you mix and match but the one, truly universal, must have is the Moisture Bound Vitalizing Mask . (above, left) You slather this clear sweet gel over your face and go to bedy bye, and the next morning is honestly a new world. I have to say, it is constantly sold out because of little beautybrats in the know, so I suggest buying two of these at a time. They’re moderate at $60 a bottle and worth every red cent. Now the secret is yours, do with it what you will….
With all this good skin, foundation is infinitely easier. I’m all about Embryolisse 24 hour Miracle Cream, for the ultimate makeup-stayer slash amazing skin booster. This trick was passed onto me by an amazing guy who did my makeup in NYC. He told me that Christy Turlington never showed up to have her face done without this product in her bag. To use, simply apply a thin layer to clean, hydrated skin and let it sink in for five minutes before your normal face paint routine. With all this stuff in your arsenal behind closed doors the world won’t be able to handle itself when you’re around!!!!!!"

Xoxox Di

(Di and her glowing complexion)

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

Celebrity make-up artist Scott Barnes knows a thing or two about make-up (he's got an amazing color line to boot) and celebrities for that matter (he paints the skin of such A-listers like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and J.Lo). He is an industry favorite and now, he is a personal favorite too. I have just discovered (during New Years in Miami Beach) my most favorite body bronzer in all of the land:
Body Bling in Platinum.

This tinted body moisturizer saved me major skin damage due to sun exposure... I kid you not, it made my skin glow better then the real thing (the harsh Miami sun).
A word (or several...) from the company:
"The lotion feels luxuriously moisturizing and skin softening. This is a fun body makeup for people who want to show off their gorgeous bare skin. The difference is a noticeable radiance."
They call it the Hollywood glow... I call it the ultimate glow.
Tried and tested... I felt sexier, softer and bronzer... like a perfectly highlighted sun goddess!
Thanks Scott!

(above: Annie (left) and Sarah (right) on New Years Eve. The Delano. Miami Beach. Both soaked in Platinum Body Bling)

Viktor & Rolf Debut Fragrance

Designers Viktor & Rolf created a kick ass collection of clothing for H&M and now they've recently launched their first women's perfume.

Flowerbomb is an irresistibley yummy combination of jasmine, rose, freesia and orchids. This floral bouquet smells feminine, sexy and young. I tested it out in dingy New York and I swear I could barely smell the cab exhaust and city odor that continually lingers in the air. This perfume is sensational and the pretty pink bottle adds to the sensual ambience of the fragrance. I highly recommend this product to anyone in the market for a new scent.

Best Cold Creams For 2007

Check out this article (click HERE) on the best cold creams available for all of your moisturizing needs. Winter has a tendency to make us dry, brittle and chapped... see if you agree with the folks over at Women's Health and their top 8 picks!!!

The best defense against Winter is just a click away!!! ()

Stila On the Go Set ($65 Value)

Stila is sensational at color combinations and now you can buy a fabulous quad of eyeshadows with a matching blush and lip glaze. Everything works together making it fool-proof for even the most unsavvy make-up users! (Sephora)

A New Look For A New Year...

Beauty Banter has been upgraded for 2007!!! Please bear with us while we work out the kinks and quirks of the new system...

"I feel that beauty and femininity are ageless."
Marilyn Monroe

A Beauty Whore's New Year's Resolutions

Resolutions for 2007:

1. I will ALWAYS wash my face prior to falling asleep (regardless of how lazy, tired and/or drunk I may be).
2. I will spend more time moisturizing and less time obsessing over minescule skin flaws.
3. I will take more baths and load the bath with my new favorite bubbly, Booty Parlor Naughty Bubbles Bubble Bath because, after all, I deserve to feel sexy even at bath time. (Plus, the tuberose scented, irridescent bubbles leave my skin smelling and feeling like a sex goddess!)
4. I will exfoliate lips at least once a week with Smashbox's Emulsion Lip Exfoliant because I vow to kiss more in 2007!!! (and smooth lips just feel better!)
5. I will deep condition my hair at least once a week for twenty minutes using the old secret recipe of grocery store olive oil (Cindy Crawford swears by this!)
6. I will try new color combinations on eyes and lips (like the new pink lippy that is Spring's must-have... (I'm liking Vincent Longo's Gel-X Lipsticks Enhanced with Lip Plumping Moisturizers in COAST because it's color, plump and shine all in one!)
7. I will finish my hair care line, LUCID, and finally launch the most fabulous organic hair products since Loreal made Kerastase!!!

Happy New Year to all of my fellow beauty whores... may this year be filled with beautiful skin, hair and make-up!!!