WOMEN IN FILM

Check out this link looking back on 80 years of memorable women in film. It's incredible to see how the style of beauty has evolved through the years...

CLICK HERE

Can you name all of the actresses portrayed in this slideshow? Who do you think has been the biggest beauty icon of each generation?

Let's have a dialogue here, beauty whores!

How Much Is Too Much?

Actresses love to show some skin. Hey, we, at Beauty Banter love it too! You got it, flaunt it!

But there is such a thing as TOO MUCH.

Case in Point: Claire Danes

She's come a long way from the gangly, awkward teen in My So Called Life but that doesn't mean she's gotta show us just how much her body has matured!

Let's first reflect on her nipple slip (oops!) at a taping for MTV Canada:



So, fine, you don't wanna wear a bra... I get it! But use some sticky tape, or a nipple sticker! Come on, you're on live TV and you're famous! The world is watching!

(Note to Brittney Spears: Underwear are mandatory. No one, and I mean NO ONE, wants to see your pussy cat!)

I have a fix, dear Claire! Next time, try using Bristol6, a fabulously fun line of nipple stickers and fashion tape! They come in amazing shapes like hearts, stars and butterflies and crazy colors like silver, gold and magenta! They're sexy and they do the deed. I tried the metallic stars and, if I had a boyfriend, he'd have been in heaven!

CLICK HERE to check out all of the Bristol6 styles.

And another pic, most recently from the Stardust premiere, Claire in a plunging, ass revealing black get up:



Girl looks great - beautiful highlights, flowing hair, soft, summer make-up, great, toned bod... but the butt is practically in our face!

As of now, I don't quite know any companies that make butt-covering stickers, but if anyone out there does, please inform!!!

FREE BRONZER!!!

The folks over at Physician's Formula are offering a free bronzer to ANYONE and EVERYONE who signs up via internet TODAY!!!

No strings attached!!!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR ABSOLUTELY FREE BRONZER!

Physician's Formula Rocksssssss!

CALLING ALL FELLOW BEAUTY WHORES!!! WE NEED YOU...

It's just about that time. We, at Beauty Banter, want YOUR help in deciding the BEST OF SUMMER 2007!!!

Here are the categories:

BEST OF LIPS - GLOSS, STICK AND STAIN
BEST OF BRONZERS
BEST OF EYE SHADOWS
BEST OF MOISTURIZER WITH SPF
BEST OF TINTED MOISTURIZER
BEST OF AFTER-SUN BODY LOTION
BEST OF BODY EXFOLIATOR
BEST OF SHAMPOO
BEST OF DEEP CONDITIONER
BEST OF SPRAYS FOR HAIR (SPF'S, WAVE SPRAYS, DETANGLERS)
BEST OF SCENTS


So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, tell us your favorites!!!

Stay BEAUTY-FULL!!!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

There are some products that you use - for a couple of weeks or months at a time - and then you throw them into a drawer and never think of them again. Soon, said product is replaced by the newer, perkier, more colorful version.

Okay, okay. Yes, I too, am responsible for fleeting product love... Love today, not tomorrow.

But then there are those very few, special products that become cult staples in your beauty routine.

May I introduce Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream, the creme de la creme of creams! I've been a fan of this product for years now... ever since traveling to Europe and discovering the balm in a duty free shop.

It is the end all to all things chapped - lips, knuckles, cuticles, feet, you name it! It's been a beauty insider's secret for years - models use it on their legs and tummies during swim suit shoots to add a very believable and gorgeous slimming sheen to their hot bods! Also great on cheekbones to add a little glimmer of shine - accentuating the bone, making cheeks look chiseled.

And the cream really does stay on for hours - make that, 8 hours. I use it when I fly prior to boarding the plane - and by the time I land in NYC, my lips are still soft and kissable!

AND, thanks to the genius minds over at Elizabeth Arden, we can now get the Eight Hour Cream in a hand treatment AND a body treatment... both equally as divine as the original!

This is one product you will ALWAYS want on you!

As if we hadn't heard enough...

Here it is! The beauty breakdown of Lindsay Lohan's MUGSHOT!!!

We don't care what she did (well, we do care that she drives drunk cause that's just not safe for other driver's on the road...), we just care how she looked!



We're not mad at the no-make-up/ make-up look (although we're not sure this is what was intended at the evening's start) although we do have a couple of minor suggestions...

Eyebrows look good and groomed. Maybe a little "painted." Clearly, the blonde hair (dyed and all) doesn't warrant SUCH dark lashes.

Hair looks a little thin in the front. That's why dye jobs should be few and far between (As we all know, LL is actually a red head, not a blonde). Plus, the color is a bit oxidized (probably all that time spent frolicking in the Malibu sun... Sun is bad for colored hair!)

We wouldn't mind a bit of blush on her cheeks. Her skin seems orange - dare we say, too many spray tans?!?! Some plain powder could help neutralize the orange hue and the blush could liven her face.

Lips look very chapped. Even if she chose not to use color (although we are quite certain that the lip gloss is stuck somewhere on bottles and glasses of alcoholic beverages soon to be seen on an eBay auction!), some clear gloss - possibly a lip plumper - would do wonders.

Well, the eyes are an issue. Lets just say that Visine would make a major difference! And the black mascara is a tad smudged causing her to look tired and plagued with dark circles (or could that be the all-night partying???). Our advice: Waterproof mascara - stays on all day long... doesn't smudge or smear! And SLEEP! Sleep is good. All-night parties are bad. For the eyes and skin, at least!

Thoughts??? Come on, we know you have an opinion!

Fellow Beauty Whore Banter...

Thanks to Michelle for emailing in this great TIP:

"Here’s a little tip I thought might be useful to your blog (which, I read almost as religiously as I buy make up- A LOT)……but anyhoo…

PLUCKING YOUR EYEBROWS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, at least for me anyway.

I get my eyebrows waxed every three weeks and in between I pluck (which is the norm, I guess).

I kept getting dry skin on my browline and it is awfully hard to pluck when there is this flaky mess coming off.

I use a dab of vitamin E serum before I pluck and say bye bye to dry flaky eyebrows!!!!!!!!

-michele"

We love a great beauty secret! Tell us yours by leaving a comment in the comment box below!

BEAUTY BANTER ON TMZ!!!

In The Zone, Late Night Adventures with Kimberly Stewart....

KIM: LONDON CALLING

CLICK HERE to check it out!

Kim says, "P.S. Check out my B.F. Sarah Howard's beauty blog, www.beautybanter.blogspot.com for the most amazing beauty tips and trends and, of course, a little write-up on my favorite products too!"


Thanks to Kim and TMZ!!!

MAC ATTACK... AGAIN!

Here it is: MAC's 2 new, limited edition Summer Color lines --- Flashtronic & Rushmetal!

Here are the Stats:

Flashtronic:

"Colour and light fused to perfection with the pearlized shimmer of Mineralize Skinfinish, complemented by 6 new marbled shades of Mineralize Eye Shadow and our 4 new Tinted Lipglass."

Lipglass (all creams)
"A unique lip gloss available in a wide variety of colours that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil or Lipstick."
Perfectly Pink: Creamy mid-tone pink
Flashtronic: Caramel bronze with subtle gold pearl
Young Spark: Neutral pink with subtle gold pearl
Electro-Lush: Creamy blue pink

Mineralize Eye Shadow (all frosts)
"A sheer, pearled, mineralized powder Eye Shadow with up to four shades baked together in one pan. Superfine, lightweight: provides a softly tinted, reflective shimmer on the skin with a delicate sense of dimension. Subtly builds colour and shine. Can be worn on face, eyes or body."


By Jupiter: Light taupe with beige and deep brown veining
Tectonic: Yellow gold with lime green, warm brown and black veining
Ether: Deep aqua with silver, black and gold veining
Mercurial: Yellow gold with lilac and chestnut veining
Lovestone: Raspberry with wine and copper veining
Quarry: Sky blue with olive, coral and beige veining

Mineralize Skinfinish
"A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks and brows, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face."
Norhtern Light: Mid-tone pink with rust and grey brown veining
Gold Spill: Pink Peach with warm brown and cream pearl
Global Glow: Mid-tone brown with gold pearl

Rushmetal:

"The alchemy of gold transformed as 8 new Pigments radiate the power of this key element. With 4 Lipsticks toned and finished to complement each gold-tinged Pigment, this is metal as it should be worn."

Lipstick
Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street.
Thrills: Rosy copper with gold pearl (frost)
Frenzy: Soft muted pinky-peach beige with golden shimmer (frost)
Soft Lust: Tan with white pearl (lustre)
Fast Lane: Mauve with silver pearl (lustre)

Pigment
Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Use to create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Pigment does not streak or cake, is easy to blend and long-lasting.


Rushmetal: Rich copper sparkle
Revved-up: Icy rose with reflects
Gold Mode: Tan gold
Mauvement: Cool taupe with gold pearl
Off The Radar: Warm orange with gold sparkle
Copperized: Olive green with gold pearl
Quick frost: Creamy white with soft green pearl
Cocomotion: Dirty gold with olive undertone and gold sparkle

***I am obsessed with golds... obsessed! So, these latest color lines are truly incredible for me. I've spent the past couple of days playing with all of the make-up and I've gotta say, MAC scored yet again! Everything works well together, layered, the colors are rich and intense, the lines carry a common theme so the lipstick and lipglass fit perfectly with the eye shadow and pigment. The mineralize skinfinish leaves the skin sparkling and bronzed like I've never seen. (My friend Kim Stewart and I were playing with the make-up before she left for London to shoot her new show, and she tried taking the entire line from me! She did, however, get away with taking the GLOBAL GLOW MINERALIZE SKINFINISH!)

The lipsticks seem very bold to the eye, but they look so amazing on the lips - I layered all four of them together and the outcome was purely kissable-licious!

P.S. Check back later for pictures of different colors that I played around with...***

FACE TALK

I just got back from a very brief trip to NYC.... while there, I attended the New York premiere of Hairspray (and actually enjoyed it!), dined with friends, and hit up a couple of New York's fabulous new hotspots (Beatrice and Rose Bar are my faves).

For the premiere, I opted for the sultry summer red look - red dress, red lips. On my lips I used Cover Girl's Mocha Mist, 235 and topped it off with Kiehl's Golden Berry Light Lip Gloss. Summer hair calls for no fuss... thus, I ran a comb through it, applied some of the Kerastase oil and let it air dry.

Here's a pic of me and my date for the evening, the ultra talented Duncan Sheik (his Broadway play, Spring Awakenings won an amazing 8 Tony Awards... if you're in New York, you MUST see it! It's genius!):

(Sarah Howard and Duncan Sheik - just friends!)

For a night out with the girls, I wanted to look a little edgier - classy with a rock and roll edge. I chose summer dark eyes (not black, but a greyish, olive color) and light lips. Again, no fuss, au natural hair. On my eyes, I started with Nars' All About Eve, a fabulous, opalescent base, then painted the crease with MAC's Saturnal Frost (from their limited edition Summer collection - I adore this color! It makes my golden eye color really pop!) I used Express GLIMMERsheer from Beauty Addicts on my brow bone and my cheek bone. It's an awesome pearlized highlighter that I adore. I chose Nars' Outlaw for my cheeks (a little dark for summer but I figured hey, I'm single... I wanna attract some attention). And I ended with my new favorite mascara... Cover Girl's Volume Exact in Black. The wand is rubber allowing you to really get close to the lashes edges. Plus it makes my lashes super long without that hideous clumping!

Here's a couple of computer pics:

(Sarah's face)

(Sarah's face - CU)

***Arrived home to a massive package of MAC's two new lines... FLASHTRONIC and RUSH METAL... will post my favorite products with pics tomorrow (hopefully!) WE LOVE MAC!***

Summer Tips

I just love a good beauty tip...

Like rubbing crushed garlic cloves on a popped pimple.

And now, thanks to Physician's Formula, celebrity make-up artist, Joanna Schlip (who paints the famous faces of stars like Eva Longoria, Scarlett Johansson, Ellen Pompeo and Hilary Duff), we have some fabulous Summer beauty tips!

***To keep her A-List clients sweat-free, Joanna came up with a clever trick that is ideal for all women in the thick of summer: Schlip applies a clear, solid antiperspirant before applying makeup. Focus on applying it to areas like the upper lip, forehead and hairline to fend of sweat and maintain a matte appearance throughout the day so makeup doesn’t slip off.

***Aside from imparting a natural look and offering an ultra-gentle formula for breakout-prone or sensitive skin, Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Foundation is sweat-resistant making it the ideal choice for your summer foundation. Silicones help to form a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, so it becomes resistant to sweat allowing makeup to stay put all day long.

***Blotting papers are a must for dabbing away sweat and oil over the course of the day, but what’s a girl to do when there is no blotting paper in sight? Use one of those handy paper toilet seat covers of course. Schlip tears a piece of a toilet seat cover off and blots her way to a perfect matte finish.

***Rather than apply lip gloss/stick in the extreme heat that will just melt off, use a stain or even better, lick your lips and then apply cherry Jello – simply dip fingers into the powder packet of cherry jell-o and apply to moist lips for long lasting, sweat proof stain.

What are your beauty tips? Tell us by leaving a comment in the comment box!

Maybelline Girl Makes It Big...

Josie Maran, the gorgeous Maybelline Model, is set to launch her own cosmetic line in September, 2007. Josie Maran Cosmetics (creative name), the eco-friendly color line, will boast the beautiful mug of none other then... you guessed it... Ms. Josie, herself!!!


***Also, wanna win GoSmile products?! 300 DOLLARS WORTH! CLICK HERE.***

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

For anyone who has ever suffered from acne, consistent break-outs, uneven skintone, age spots, freckles or any other skin condition, THIS POST IS FOR YOU!!!

For those who know me well, they'll attest to the fact that I'm a bit of a skin freak. My dermatologist actually told me to find a new one. I've had three facials within three weeks. I spend countless hours searching the internet for that "perfect product" that will give me equally "perfect skin." As a pre-teen, I stole my mother's magnifying mirror (you know, the one that lights up and magnifies your pores times 100...) and didn't leave my room for a week. Suffice it to say, mom confiscated that thing real quick...

It's taken many years to understand (and be okay with the fact) that there really isn't a miracle skin product that will make my face look like that of a porcelain doll. But I have found a product that comes pretty close!

Let me introduce to you an incredible product - MAMA LOTION! It's a combination of Mandelic and Malic acid and it literally changes the texture and composition of your skin within weeks! I've been using the gel for 2 months and I can attest to this, first-hand.


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

This remarkable gel-lotion is the ultimate agent for those wanting to get more out of their anti-aging routines. This 20% AHA formulation contains 10% mandelic acid and 10% malic acid with a 2.5 ph. Because of the protective and moisturizing qualities of malic acid, this lotion takes about 10-15 minutes to fully sink into the skin. A bit sticky at first, the MaMa lotion will dry to an ultra smooth, glowing finish that will draw compliments throughout the day. Excellent for evening out pigmentation or softening feet and elbows as well.

During our extensive testing, we have seen the following improvements in patient's skin:

- Evened Skin Tone, Including removing age spots & freckles
- Faded Acne Scars
- Significantly Reduced Acne Breakouts
- Tightened the Skin & Pores
- Shrunk or Eliminated Blackheads
- Reduced or Erased fine lines and wrinkles
- Significantly reduced the symptoms of Rosacea
- Faded Melasma."

Click HERE to view the astounding before and after pictures....

This product will change your life!

AND THE GLAM AWARD GOES TO...

READER'S CHOICE AWARDS (voted by YOU):

Lip Gloss/Plumper — Lancôme Juicy Tubes



Concealer — MAC Studio Stick Concealer

Eye Shadow — Nars Single Eyeshadow Compact

Mascara — Clinique High Definition Lashes Mascara

Blush — Mark Just Pinched

Bronzer — Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer

Lipstick — Nars Lipstick in Afghan Red



Nail Polish — O.P.I.

Eyeliner — MAC Technakohl Liner

Shampoo/Conditioner Brand — Herbal Essences

Hair Repair Product — Avon Advance Techniques Intense Repair

Curl Enhancer — Redken Ringlet

Straight Product — Mark Salon Straight Smoothing Balm

Deep Conditioner — Pantene Pro-V Restoratives

Volumizer — Matrix Hair Care Amplify Foam Volumizer

Frizz-Fighter — Avon Advance Techniques Anti-Frizz Casules

Moisturizer — Avon Anew Retroactive Youth Day Cream

Eye Cream — Clinique All About Eyes



Makeup Remover — Lancôme Bi-Facil

Wash/Exfoliator — St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Blemish Treatment — Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment


And the GLAM EDITORS' PICKS (picked by THEM):

Lip Gloss/Plumper — Lancôme Juicy Tubes

Concealer — Stila Illuminating Concealer

Eye Shadow — Nars Single Eyeshadow Compact

Mascara — Imju Fiberwig Mascara

Blush — Smashbox O-Glow



Bronzer — Cargo Bronzer

Lipstick — Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick

Nail Polish — Creative Nail Design

Eyeliner — Benefit BADgal



Shampoo/Conditioner Brand — Herbal Essences

Hair Repair Product — Phyto Phytojoba Intense Mask

Curl Enhancer — Redken Ringlet

Straight Product — Philip B Drop Down Straight Baume

Deep Conditioner — Philosophy Shear Splendor

Volumizer — Matrix Hair Care Amplify Foam Volumizer

Frizz-Fighter — John Frieda Hair Serum



Moisturizer — Nars Skin Hydrating Lotion

Eye Cream — Erno Laszlo TranspHuse

Makeup Remover — Lancôme Bi-Facil

Wash/Exfoliator — Cetaphil

Blemish Treatment — Clinique Spot Healing Gel


Any thoughts??? Agree? Disagree?

Celebs WITHOUT MAKE-UP!!!

check this out....

Scary!


Celebrity Gossip - Star Muscle

Any thoughts?

Summer Do's and Don'ts... A few of my favorite things....

DO let your face soak in the salt water. Salt water is a natural drying agent - extracting those black heads and healing any sort of acne.

DON'T let your hair soak in the salt water. The ocean strips your hair of it's color and shine AND dries it out. Try spraying some sort of hair defense spray (We're loving Pureology's Antifade Complex UV Hair Colour Defense! Thanks to the Silver Spoon Beach House, I was given a sample of this color protection spray. It's amazing! Helping to reduce breakage and protect your hair from the sun and salt.)


DO layer your face and lips with Sunblock! Try Lancome's SÔLEIL ULTRA EXPERT SUN CARE - SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream for Sensitive Skin! To completely prevent wrinkles and sunspots, you need a high SPF!


DON'T leave a white residue (or any color) of sun protection ANYWHERE on your face (this includes lips!) Colored zinc is soooo 1990's!


DO wear lighter, more sheer colors on the face. Try Mark by Avon's Summer line. The Shimmer and Shine tubes are fab for easy lip shine! Also, so well priced at $5.00 a pop! Try Marshmallow, the perfect pink.

DON'T layer your face with reds and blacks. Bold is great, just not for summer make-up!


DO wear lose, clothing... breazy and beachy. White is a summer staple. Beach attire should be more relaxed and tropical then every day attire. Try a cover-up by Float Designs. We're loving the Sun-Soaked Pullover in white - perfect worn alone for the beach, add some jeans and flats and it's great for a casual dinner as well!

DON'T dress like you're a club rat. Leave the stiletto's and boots at home! The sand is no place for your Jimmy Choo's.


DO wear a bathing suit that suits your specific body type. Try Syla Swimwear - beautiful, fun and flirty swimsuits for every body type! The designer, Sylvie Cachay, worked at Victoria's Secret before launching her own line. And let me tell you, these bikini's are God sent! Pure beach bliss!!! (We're loving the Carolina!)

DON'T wear a string bikini just because it's "in." Too much skin is just as bad as too little.


DO keep your body hydrated! Inside and Out! Drink tons of water and use a refreshing spray to offer refuge from the sun and heat. Try Banana Boat's Aloe After Sun Gel Ultramist Continuous Spray. It smells sweet, replenishes moisture, aloe vera clams the skin AND it actually refreshes! We love this product!

DON'T slather on tons of oil just because you want a fast and easy tan. Burning is sooo not a cute look. Nor is skin cancer!


And lastly, DO have fun! Summer is all about the fun...


***Special Thanks to The Silver Spoon Beach House for giving us the A-list treatment and introducing us to some fabulous Summer lines!***

Make-Up Banter with Sole Alberti...

Make-up artist, Sole Alberti, did a fabulous job creating the flirty and sexy faces of Veronica and the V-Squad for my short film, I HEART VERONCIA MARTIN. She used the same high-school feel (sans the dew) to paint the face of awkward outcast, Darby.

(Sole Alberti (left) with Cameron Richardson/ Veronica Martin (right)

Below, read Sole's step by step make-up application process and discover the products that she used!






"For the girls of I Heart Veronica Martin, I started off by using a light, oil free lotion with spf 30 by Dermalogica. I wanted to keep their lovely faces protected from the intense sun. I then used TruBlend foundation by COVERGIRL.

I wanted to give the girls a natural dewey look so I used COVERGIRL TruBlend Naturally luminous blush powder in pure romance. It creates a beautiful rouge on the apples of the cheeks with just the perfect amount of sparkle and shine. I then used natural tones on the eyes ranging from light browns to neutral pinks and beiges.

On their eyelashes, once they were curled, I applied the COVERGIRL Lash Exact waterproof mascara. They were doing a lot of cheering and dancing in the scorching heat, so I wanted to make sure the mascara did not run. It worked wonders! I was also very pleased with the wand of the mascara. It allowed me to get really close to the lash line and separate the eye lashes in the most fabulous fashion.

On their lips, I used a two step lip gloss by COVERGIRL Outlast Double Lip Shine in pink 205 and Clear 005 to give their lips extra shine.








For the cheering scenes, I used Clarins After Sun Moisturizing Spray all over their bodies for a natural shimmer and glow. In addition, I mixed water and glycerine to manufature that sexy, sweaty effect. After a long day, the girls still looked perfectly dewey and beautiful!

On Carla Gallo (Darby), who was not doing any cheering, I stuck to the same look I gave the other girls but kept the shine down and matted the colors a little bit. I wanted to create the effect that she was low maintenance with her look. Just very simple and casual. I used the same products but with a way lighter touch.


All in all the girls all looked amazing on and off screen. Since they were being shot in HD which picks up every pore, I made sure that the skin was very even. The foundation was great for that. I had to get in real close and make sure they were always perfect. They of course made my job very easy with their beautiful skin and glowing features!

GO V-SQUAD!!!!!"


(Veronica, V-Squad, Darby and the Director... ME!!!)

***Special thanks to Brent Poer who hooked us up with the Cover Girl Cosmetics. Without Brent, this movie would cease to exist! We Heart You, Brent!!!***

Fellow Beauty Whore eFindings...

The very talented and beauty savvy, Alex, has stumbled across a site that every beauty whore should have bookmarked!

Here is the email that I received this morning from Ms. Alex Asher Sears:

"On the beauty front, I found myself on a website that I have to tell you about. Lately I've been trying to weed out some of the worst offenders in my makeup arsenal. The phthalates and parabens that are making us look good outside but not inside. Enter www.cosmeticsdatabase.com, from the environmental working group. They have analyzed over 20,000 products and given them 1 to 10 ratings for toxicity. I am thrilled when I see certain favorites in the mild zone (Smashbox primer is a mild 3 but Laura Mercier primer came up higher) but shocked when others fare far worse (Mustela cream, as in baby skincare, a 7!?!). And as far as mascara goes, I am going to try some of these paraben free ones but as a photographer I had finally found mascara that looked fabulous after three hours of shooting. This won't be pretty. Still, throwing out some of the crap and heading out looking for healthier alternatives is a great excuse to shop. And it makes things more interesting. I'm going to try Stella McCartney's new skincare line. I'll let you know. One last warning about the site, it's like picking at your skin in the mirror. You shouldn't do it because in the end you'll be miserable."

Yeah... already on the site...

Going to be breaking down the summer beauty and style do's and don'ts later on... so come back and check it out!