The hairstyle that looks good on everyone? (Virtually try it out yourself!)

It is extremely interesting to me (and perhaps me alone?) that despite our focus on skin care-- it is the blog posts about hair (namely how to grow hair faster, and glitter extensions) that seem to be the most popular.  Although people are definitely interested in celebrity skin and anti-aging tips and secrets, it seems that skin interest doesn't hold a candle to the over-whelming display of celebrity hair interest. 

While it is hard to rationalize why this might be (perhaps "tinsel hair" is just having a moment...) but far be it from me to not give the people what they want. 

InStyle Magazine, the utmost experts at informing people about what they want before they even know they want it, has an awesome tool on their website that allows you to upload a picture of yourself in order to test-drive the hairstyle of your favorite celebrities. 
Want to see what you would look like with Katie Holme's Suri-esque bob, or Ashley Olsen's bleach-blonde fringe? Or, perhaps you want to see what Jennifer Aniston's perfectly-perfect hair would look like on you? With the click of a button, your curiosity can be sated.

Recently declared THE haircut that flatters everyone, Jessica Alba's collar length bob is supposed to cover all of the major hair concerns. Long enough to pull back, but short enough to get rid of any damaged ends, this length elongates the neck while slimming the face. The creator of this haircut, hair sensei Fredeic Fekkai, explains another major selling factor to this hair-style: the ease with which it can be styled! He claims it takes about 5 minutes, however for those with thick, curly hair, this would be a very time consuming (possibly impossible) look to replicate. 

Curious about what you might look like with this haircut? Just go here and upload a picture of yourself. If Jessica Alba's particular haircut doesn't do it for you-- there are ample other choices to try out. When you find the one you love, print it out and bring it with you to your next hairdresser appointment. Having a concrete image of what you are looking for will make both your stylist's job easier, and improve the chances of you ending up in love with your final result. 

After playing around on the site, which haircut do you think looks best on you? (Glitter extensions, perhaps?)

Reese's secret to eternally healthy hair

Would a Reese with any other hair color, be as sweet?

Probably-- but there is no denying Reese Witherspoon, that cutie-pie All-American girl-next-door movie-star (in addition to any other charming cliches you want to attribute to her) is known for her trade-mark blonde hair.

However, in the entertainment industry, hair is put through a litany of abuses-- constant heat-styling, coloring, pulling/tugging/brushing and product over-load can leave hair dry, broken and damaged. 

Luckily, Reese recently shared with InStyle magazine the trick she has discovered to help prevent the consequences that her job-induced hair apocalypses can induce. 

"When I'm working on a movie, they blow-dry and curl my hair quite a bit. I take these Viviscal supplements to keep it healthy." 

A long-time secret of models and actresses, Viviscal tablets are made of 100% natural ingredients that increase the body's production of keratin, and has been shown to decrease natural hair-loss, while encouraging new hair-growth.  The nourishing effect has a similar effect on skin, nails, and eye-lashes. 

"It's really great, I swear by it," admits celebrity hair-stylist Orlando Pita. Pita, who has been recommending Viviscal for years, reveals that "never once has someone come back and told me, 'You know what, I've been using [Viviscal], but it doesn't seem to be working for me.'"

(Although Viviscal is available in drug-stores, the medical grade that is only available through doctors' offices, has 2X the strength of the over-the-counter variety. Please call 215-925-6085 for more details.)

The most unique place Kim Kardashian has gotten laser hair removal...

Coming from Armenian descent, all of the Kardashian offspring have beautiful and thick, glossy dark hair. While the hair growing from the top of their heads is definitely envy worthy, the hair they have growing else-where is apparently less desirable... 

As featured on their reality show, and often discussed, all Kardashian sisters adamantly favor permanent laser hair removal. Utilizing laser hair removal for treatments "head-to-toe," Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney have had the usual spots taken care of: legs, armpits, bikini, face. 

Kimberly, however, took laser hair removal a step further. "I used to have the hairiest forehead," she recently revealed to InStyle magazine. "All of my baby bangs would get Photoshopped out of magazine pictures, and I liked the way that looked, so I lasered them off. It really opened up my face so much." 

While obviously beautiful, her baby bangs almost make her seem more real? In order for to have felt compelled to have something like baby bangs permanently removed, the pressure she must constantly feel to look beyond perfect, 24/7, has to be incredible.What do you think?

Is tanning the real culprit behind Britney's beauty fade?

I love Britney Spears, and despite her tabloid drama, there is no questioning that she is undeniably talented. (Whether you like her genre of music or not, her albums are consistently financially successful.) 

Breaking onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager with the release of "Baby, One More Time," Britney immediately established herself as a sex-symbol. With a pretty face, perfect body, scant clothing, and enticing dance moves, she had both the boys and girls crushing on her. (Her charm knew no sexual boundaries, a hetero girl-friend from college was almost as obsessed with the boys of AEPi as she was with Ms. Spears, and a homo-sexual male has been one of her biggest supporters.) 

When she combined her genetically blessed appearance with a clever costume designer; Britney ingrained herself into pop-culture with numerous unforgettable looks:

And then, after a couple years worth of wear and tear, this happened to our Britney (isn't it crazy to think that such drastic changes occurred in a little over 5 years?!): 

Yes, drinking, drugging, smoking, and taking horrible care of herself certainly all contributed to her beauty demise, but I think the biggest factor in Britney's sudden, rapid-fire aging, has been her devotion to tanning. 

Never one to hide this obsession, from the very beginning Britney admitted to having a tanning bed on her "Baby One More Time" tour bus, and during all of the shaving head/Kevin Federline/mental break-down drama, the first thing Britney allegedly did after having her children taken away from her-- was go tanning.

Proven over and over again to be the #1 controllable factor when it comes to aging, the popularity of tanning has been extremely detrimental to the health of our society. A "tan" indicates that sun damage was occurring to your skin, and your skin changed color as a result of trying to protect itself. Years of this practice leads to thick, wrinkled, leathery looking skin, and significantly increases the odds of contracting potentially fatal skin cancer. 

Decades of fake and bake has certainly taken it's toll on Britney Spear's once enviable countenance. As she finds herself approaching her 30's at the same time she is poised for another smash album release, she looks far older than her physical age. Repeated hit songs do not occur by accident, and I wish that the people managing her could look at her as more than just a cash cow, and recommend good practices for her personal life too. Namely; stop tanning, put on a hat, always wear sunscreen, and for gods sake-- hire Nannies that will do the same for your children!

The first [official] unretouched makeup ad!

In a world dominated by completely random acts attracting unprecedented amounts of free publicity via the inter-webs (for example, please consider that phenom Justin Beiber was discovered on YouTube), every company is vying for the popularity (and financial gain) that comes with a marketing campaign going "viral". 

Despite the many failed attempts, it is nice to see established companies attempting to actually produce "viral" material that is beneficial and relevant to their brand, and the masses.

As our lives become more and more computerized, there are pros-- increased ease for keeping in touch with people, getting news, making on the spot restaurant decisions, etc., ... and there are cons. 

With the proliferation of HD televisions, and rampantly air-brushed magazine and beauty ads, the expectation for a perfect appearance has increased to unattainable proportions. An increase in self-consciousness about one's appearance, combined with standards that can never be met (no normal person walks out of their house looking as perfectly air-brushed, styled, and coiffed as the Kardashian clan would make it appear), means a verified financial boon for the beauty industry: demand keeps increasing and can never fully be sated. 

It is in this vein that Makeup Forever's new campaign is so refreshing; even though the model is undoubtedly a natural beauty, a notary has certified that the ad below has NOT been retouched at all.

Despite the beauty/perfection of the model's face, look at the arm holding the camera-- that skin actually looks real?! And under her eyes? Faint traces of dark-circles can still be detected... It is so nice though, to look at a make-up ad, and see results that you could actually be able to recreate on your own face. (A stark contrast to the "Evolution of Beauty" video that Dove soap created a few years ago, which documented the photo-shopping that takes place to turn an ordinary girl into a billboard model-- before and after images shown at the top left of this article.)

It's a brilliant concept, and one that Makeup For Ever is surely hoping will go "viral". Promoting the results a real person can achieve is an ideal way of introducing Makeup For Ever's new line of HD Invisible Cover Foundation, which is meant to emphasize that women can look flawless without digital enhancements... they just need to use this foundation.

Another plus of a world filled with Social Media is that companies are being forced to be more transparent and honest with consumers. As this goes on, hopefully beauty expectations can come back down to a level that is realistic. Makeup For Ever received wonderful praise for this campaign, and hopefully other makeup companies will follow suit to prove what their products can actually do.

Have you noticed any other campaigns that celebrate real, natural appearances? If so, which ones? (I'm also partial to Levi's "All asses were not created equal" campaign...)

(Viviscal's?) Golden rule: be gentle with your long hair!

Especially aware of preserving as much of my hair as possible since beginning my Viviscal hair-growing supplements, I loved this hair quote from NYC celebrity hair specialist Beth Minardi: 

"Hair that falls below your clavicle has to be taken care of differently; it's been growing for more than three years. Get a trim every six weeks so it doesn't break. Treat it like a cashmere sweater even though the rest of your hair is stronger than a pair of jeans. "

It is easy to forget that different parts of your hair are more vulnerable and fragile than others, but it's a nice reminder of the (hair-centric) golden rule; if you want your hair to look good, in return you've got to be good to it.

Secrets to looking younger with makeup

It's a double edged sword in every aspect of your appearance-- any change can improve your appearance, but there is also the risk that the change might end up detracting from your looks. 

While makeup can be your biggest ally when it comes to changing or improving your appearance, there are some common mistakes you should avoid so as to prevent yourself from inadvertently making yourself look older.

Consider the model pictured to the left. Obviously she is a beautiful girl-- and yet her makeup application significantly ages her. 

To avoid some common aging makeup pitfalls, follow the tips below to enhance, and preserve your natural beauty.

Makeup techniques to avoid:

Harsh, dark eye makeup: As witnessed on Sharon Stone at the 2011 Oscars, there comes a time in every woman's life where thick, black eyeliner ages you, and makes eyes seem tiny-- the exact opposite effect desired. (In fact, looking at this picture more closely, Sharon Stone might be a poster child woman for all of the antigaging makeup "Don'ts".)

Thick foundation: When the foundation is visibly caked into your pores, it gives an overall impression of unhealthiness. It's ok to utilize makeup in an attempt to make the skin look uniform, but a lighter touch, and lighter formula of makeup, will make skin look more natural and healthy. (Extra bad if you can see the makeup sitting on top of fine facial hairs.) 

Thick lipliner: Similar to the heavily applied dark eyeliner, defining your lips is supposed to make them look larger, even though the opposite is what occurs. In addition, this is an outdated look, and any fine wrinkles around the mouth, or thinning of the lips, will be more apparent.

Blue eyeshadow: Unless you are very careful, blue eyeshadow can quickly send a message of "bad makeup." Neutral colors, such as copper, champagne, and peach, are much more flattering for maturing skin. 

Glitter: Makeups with subtle shimmer are fine for daily use, however try to avoid makeups (usually eyeshadows) that have a more distinct glitter component. The heavier glitter particles are prone to settling into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more obvious. 

Anti-aging Makeup tips to try: 

Let Mascara define your eyes: Properly defined eye-lashes are a more natural looking way of making your eyes pop. (Eyeliner is fine, as long as the color and usage are appropriate.)  Makeup artist Cindy Joseph offers the following application advice; "With mascara, you don't want to apply in a rush. Do one good coat, keeping the lashes perfectly combed so they are separated. A second coat will make them look longer and thicker." 

Go for dewy skin, as opposed to matte: Multitasking makeup that lends color and moisture can help make the skin look younger. Fresh, dewy looking skin is much more natural looking than matte, cakey looking foundation. 

Shimmery makeup can be used for multiple purposes: Shimmery creams and powders can be used for eye-shadows, liners, lip color, and high-lighters. A soft champagne color can be applied right underneath the brow-bone, in the inner corners of your eyes, and along your clavicle. The light will reflect off all of these areas, for a subtly eye-catching effect.

The media seems to love hair-growing phemon Viviscal...

Sorry for the recent plethora of Viviscal information, BUT... after having placed our initial order last Thursday, a big packet of information about the hair-growing product was waiting on my desk for me this morning. 

Flipping through all of the information, these glamorous tidbits are making me that much more excited to start this process, that I was already super-excited about in the first place! 

Hair-beautifying Viviscal high-lights include:

• Super-model Jessica Stam recommending Viviscal to another fellow model, with "temperamental," over-processed hair. After buying a 3-month supply, Model #2 said that the difference Viviscal made on her hair was like night and day, and was simply "amazing". (Not to be catty, but aside from the damaging processes that models' hair is subject to... anorexics physically cannot have thick hair. Therefore, it makes even more sense why those in the modeling profession would flock to a product that allowed their real hair to look healthy.)
  
• Celebrity hair-dresser Guido Palau often tells his model clients with overworked hair, to try a six-month course of Viviscal. The hair-growth product that contains vitamins and marine protein has helped "loads of people" he's known regenerate their hair.
  
• James Murphy, CEO of Lifes2good-- Viviscal's distributor-- has encouraged clients like Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, and Hilary Swank to take these supplements. "You take one in the morning and evening, and in two months your hair growth will kick in at an accelerated rate."
  
• And, you can even catch Viviscal spokes-person Finola Hughes doing the publicity rounds for the product, as seen here on the Wendy Williams show: 

Ok UPS... I'm even more convinced, and even more pysched. Now, where's my package already?? 

Viviscal Part I: Was this Rapunzel's secret?

Ever wonder why Disney princesses always have super long, thick, lustrous hair? (Ok, even though it's just a cartoon-- somehow you just know that the princess's hair is super silky, soft, and shiny.) Did you ever wonder if there is any correlation between having that gorgeous hair, and the most handsomest prince in the world, falling in love with them?

Granted however, that Disney princesses are just drawings for children. 

So, consider their real-life counter-parts: the models of Victoria's Secret. Giselle, Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Marissa Miller, Mirande Kerr, and Selita Ebanks, are all real-life women, whom are considered the echelon of female desirability. Lo and behold, they too ALL have thick, long, shiny hair. 

Would Victoria's Secret models be as sexy, with short/thin hair? Me thinks not. 

With my thin mop of shoulder-length hair, certainly no offense is meant to anyone with short, or thin hair. 

However, without a doubt-- long, healthy hair is sexy hair, and it sends a loud but subconscious message to the world: I am very healthy, you should mate with me. 

Despite the gloom surrounding the current economy, the hair care industry is still receiving it's share of dollars. Most models and celebrities with really long hair are sporting extensions-- which require frequent and expensive maintenance.(Good hair extensions need to be redone every 3-6 months, and start at around $1,000+.)  

And length isn't the only reason why people get extensions though, some get hair extensions at natural looking lengths, simply to thicken the appearance of their hair. 

The extension craze has gotten so big that it has slowly but surely made its way into the tresses of the every-day girls all around you. Those that have extensions readily admit the addictiveness of it, and cannot imagine a day when they would not want to keep up with the mandatory maintenance, despite the financial strain.

However, what if there was a way to allow your own hair to grow longer and thicker, for a fraction of the price of extensions? Vogue magazine recently ran an article where they revealed a secret trick that models employ to always look picture perfect: Viviscal tablets. 

Made of fish cartilage, pop two of these pills a day for up to 6 months and Viviscal promises that your will grow longer, faster.

The ingredients are all natural, and encourage faster growth of new hairs, in addition to prolonging the growth stage of your pre-existing hairs (so that the hairs you already have, don't fall out as quickly.) The final effect is thicker, longer hair, that is all yours. 

A little skeptical, I actually spoke with the customer service people. When probed about any possible side-effects (such as a fishy after-taste-- I was assured there was NO after-taste) I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the only other reported effects were the faster, thicker growth of nails and eye-lashes, too. 

Since the Viviscal supplement cannot change the appearance of the hair already on your head, you are advised to take this for at least six months before you start to see the real results. At about $70 for a month's supply, (an absolute steal compared to the cost of hair extensions) I placed my first 3 month order yesterday, and CANNOT wait for it to arrive so I can start this experiment on myself. 

The question remains: Is it really physically possible for a dietary supplement to allow me to grow the hair of my dreams?! 

Stay tuned to find out... and depending on how this goes down, boxes of Viviscal might soon be for sale next to our boxes of Latisse. 

• Nourishes thinning hair and promotes existing hair growth
• Clinically proven and scientifically tested
• Drug-free and safe from harmful side effects
• Strengthens and nourishes weak hair from within
• One formulation for men and women
• Proven to work for all ages and ethnicities
• 100% natural ingredients

Patti Stanger's million dollar skin advice

With a mixture of sass and crass bluntness, third generation matchmaker Patti Stanger has a knack for finding love for other people. As owner of The Millionaire's Club, one of the most elite dating services in the world, Patti has seen thousands of relationship succeed and fail. Through both the successes and the failures, she learned-- and began taking note of the recurring trends that lead to higher love-match success rates. For single people looking to meet their perfect match, Patti delivers some harsh, but honest advice: appearance counts! 

One of her top physical priorities for attracting a mate is, unsurprisingly, good skin. In an instant, the appearance of a person's skin tells the story of that person's health and age, prime qualities that are subconsciously taken into account when choosing a prospective date. In order to get your skin in shape, and keep it looking it's best, here is a quick run-down of Patti's check-list to perfect skin:

• Do your homework!
  After testing out various micro-dermabrasions, facials, and laser treatments, Patti admits that she doesn't like to waste money-- and neither should you! Always extensively research any new skin fad you think might be beneficial before plunking down any of your hard-earned cash.
  Equally important, do your due research on the person whom might be administering these treatments to you. Check their credentials, get references, look at before and after pictures, and feel comfortable taking your time when it comes to decision making. "Keep in mind that just as the cheapest [treatment/specialist] might not be the best, the most expensive might not be either."

• If you find a skin care plan that works, stick with it!
  After experiencing break-outs whenever she strayed from her tried and true La Prairie skin care routine, Patti ultimately figured, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Staying faithful to a skin care plan that works, and taking good care of her skin, for over 20 years, has definitely paid off. At age 47, Patti looks at least a decade younger than her chronological age.
  Once you have found a skin care plan that works for you, resist temptation to switch every time a new "miracle"product or fad emerges. If you want consistently good skin, be consistent with what works.

• There is nothing wrong with Botox, but be wary of "Botox Parties"
  Although certainly not against the use of Botox, the concept of a "Botox Party" kind of skeeves Patti out. The idea of mixing alcohol (which usually is present at social gatherings) with a medical procedure seems like a recipe for disaster.
  Muses Patti, "Do you really want to be making decisions about your face when you're tipsy? Are you going to give credence to the opinions of your drunken friends?"
  When it comes to any sort of skin care treatment, Patti's discomfort is well founded: alcohol should certainly NEVER be present, for neither the patient nor the skin care administrator.
  

• Don't forget the skin on your hands and neck
  Often overlooked in favor of just focusing on the face, the neck skin, and skin on the back of the hands, receive just as much abuse and sun damage as your face does-- but with a fraction of the TLC. Make sure to apply sunscreen everyday, all year long, to both areas. Subconsciously, these areas can easily make you appear older than you are, despite the condition of your facial skin.
  When it comes to attracting a mate, Patti recommends extra care be spent on the tips of your fingers. "Manicures and good nail care are essential. Professional nail care is so inexpensive these days, and men think beautifully manicured hands are sexy."

• No matter what, take care of your skin before bed!
  Take off your makeup, cleanse your skin, and use night cream every night, no exceptions.
  Patti's tough love: "I don't care if you're tired, do you want a [mate] or not?"
  Since your skin uses this downtime to repair itself from the offenses incurred during the day, it is important to provide your skin with the best ingredients to work with; i.e. clean, hydrated skin. 

By following Patti's sound skin advice, you will find it easier to love the reflection in the mirror, which in turn will make it even easier to find love out in the world.

For more insight into how to attract your perfect mate, check out Patti on Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker show, or read her book, "8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate".

Beauty and brains: a surprisingly common combination

New Beauty magazine reviews a pervasive social stigma: Have you ever automatically assumed that someone drop-dead gorgeous, is dumb? Perhaps you've thought that someone has advanced quickly at work or school because of their looks? As it turns out, the most attractive among us are probably the most intelligent, too. 

Although our society has long associated impressive intellect with an awkward, nerdy appearance and bimbo brainpower with model-like looks, British and American studies show that beautiful people have higher IQs.

This should come as no surprise to someone like Sharon Stone, whose celebrated beauty never stood in the way of her qualifying for Mensa membership.

"Physical attractiveness is significantly positively associated with general intelligence, both with and without controls for social class, body size and health," researcher Satoshi Kanazawa told the UK's Sunday Times.

The explanation for the link lies in our evolutionary mating tendencies. Good-looking people attract partners who are not just good-looking themselves, but also smarter than average. The resulting offspring inherit both genetic qualities.

And although the higher-IQ occurrence applies to both genders, "The association between attractiveness and general intelligence is ... stronger among men than among women," with physically attractive women scoring 11.4 points above average and physically attractive men scoring 13.6 points above average.

Having a hard time thinking of smart stunners? Here are some hotties you might have not realized are intellectually impressive:

• Kate Beckinsale
• Joy Bryant
• Jennifer Connelly
• Cindy Crawford
• Matt Damon
• Claire Danes
• Geena Davis
• David Duchovny
• Jodi Foster
• James Franco
• Hugh Grant
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• Famke Janssen
• Alicia Keys
• John Krasinski
• Famke Janssen
• Rashida Jones
• Lucy Liu
• Wentworth Miller
• Amanda Peet
• Natalie Portman
• Shakira
• Brooke Shields
• Emma Watson
• Sigourney Weaver
• Reese Witherspoon

Have you ever made assumptions about someone's intelligence based on their looks? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Tips for making the most of your Latisse

Once you know how to apply LATISSE^®, it's important to understand a few simple tips to help you make your treatment as effective as possible.

Follow these guidelines for best results:

 

1. Make it part of your routine Try to incorporate LATISSE^® into your nightly routine — for example, after you've washed your face and brushed your teeth.
 

2. Keep it handy Store the LATISSE^® bottle near your other skin care products or toothbrush, so you won't forget to apply it each night.

3. Be patient LATISSE^® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% takes time to work. Only use it once a night, and don't overuse it, as this may increase the chance of experiencing eye redness or itchiness.
 

4. Start on a clean surface If your eye makeup remover leaves an oily residue on your eyelids, wash off any excess oils with soap and water to ensure a clean surface before you apply LATISSE^®.

5. Don't play catch up If you miss a dose one night, don't apply more just to catch up. Simply apply LATISSE^® the next evening and stay on schedule.
 

6. Beware of germs

 Try to not let the tip of the bottle or applicator crush contact your fingers or any other unintended surface, in order to avoid contamination by common bacteria known to cause infections.

7. Keep track of your progress

When you start using LATISSE^® solution, be sure to mark your calendar and take pictures throughout weeks (0, 4, 8, 12, 16), so you can have your own "Before & After Gallery."

8. Stay the course As we mentioned earlier, you do need to exercise patience with LATISSE^®. If you're happy with your results by week 8, stick with the treatment. You'll see the full effect of LATISSE^® come into view at week 16. After that, you should talk to your doctor about ongoing use.

How to get the most out of your Latisse

Considering this is advice I share on an almost daily basis, it was a head-smacking moment when I realized I had yet to post a blog article about the ways to get the most of your teeny, tiny little Latisse bottle. 

It is no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Latisse, as are all of my patients. (The rumors about Latisse changing the color of your eyes or darkening your eye-lids, is sensationalized for the media's sake, as it has no bearing on reality. My light blue eyes haven't changed color one bit, nor have the light eyes of Latisse's new spokesmodel, Claire Danes.) 

Everyone who has tried it, gets results. Granted, the results range from just super long and thick, to almost mutant status (in the best way possible), where the lashes get so long that they look fake-- even without mascara. But like any addiction, Latisse users really like the results they get, and want to keep using-- which leads to Latisse's biggest downfall: it's price-point. 

At $126 per kit, Latisse is definitely a significant eye-lash investment. Allergan (the company that makes it) recommends using a kit per month, which roughly adds up to over $1,000 a year on eye-lashes! That is a lot of money, especially considering today's shaky economical environment. 

After years of use, I have developed a fool-proof way to fully maximize the contents of that tiny Latisse bottle, so that instead of a month, one bottle can last me over 4+ months. It all depends on the application method...

Your Latisse kit comes in a substantially sized box, but once you open it up, it is often shocking to see how little the Latisse bottle actually is.

The majority of the kit is made up of plastic applicator brushes, which Allergan recommends using two of for each application. (One brush per eye, and then in the trash they go.) The brushes are chunky and clumsy, and the cheap plastic bristles don't absorb the liquid, so you go through way more drops than necessary just trying to get it on your eye-- and this is why it is the recommended application. By following Allergan's directions, you go through Latisse extremely quickly, and would definitely another kit after 30 days. 

 

The application technique is the key to my entire Latisse trick. In order to get the most from your bottle, you have to use it as sparingly as possible, which means using a brush that actually holds the liquid, and absorbs only as much as you need. 

Instead of the wasteful brushes Allergan supplies, my best success has come from a lipstick brush. Retractable, with a lid, and nice, soft bristles, these brushes can usually be found inexpensively at any drugstore, and absolutely anywhere online. 

By using a brush like this, you can control more precisely the liquid you are using. 

Make sure your lipstick brush has a lid-- this way your brush never fully dries out, and never has to be fully re-saturated. The bristles on a brush like this are absorbent, and hold just enough liquid to adequately apply across your lash-line. (In addition, these brushes can be periodically washed if needed.)

These days, when I need a new kit I just take the little bottle out and put it in my make-up case. Instead of just throwing them out, I take the included applicator brushes and store them with my arts & crafts supplies. You never know when disposable paint brushes might come in handy... and that's about the only thing they're good for. 

This application method will definitely allow you more mileage from the 3mL bottle.  

Do you have any Latisse tricks and/or tips?

Top 10 beauty posts of 2010

Being a nerd can be so fun sometimes. :)

In addition to being practically invincible at Scrabble and a main-stay of prominent Quizzo teams, there are also all sorts of fun ways to geek out online. For example, with this blog, Cosmo Skin Care's official website, my Examiner articles, and even my Facebook posts-- I can track which topics garner the most interest, and react accordingly. 

It's always interesting to note that the things I deem the most important in the skin care world are not necessarily the same topics that my audience finds the most interesting. With 2011 right around the corner, it seemed timely to review the top 10 most popular blog posts featured here. 

You might be surprised to see the most popular topics, but then again-- since you are my audience, maybe not? (I know I was.)

Top 10 Cosmopolitan Skin Care Posts of 2010

1. When your face is your fortune... Celebrity skin care emergency fixes

2. Best and worst skin tightening procedures

3. Claire Danes "Before and After" pics disprove Latisse rumors

4. New glitter hair trend?

5. SkinCeuticals get even MORE celebrity love...

6. BBL Before and After Pictures: Sun-damaged Decolletage

7. Supermodels secrets to eternal youth

8. "Fraxel is like pressing the 'restart' button on your age"

9. Connect the dots: the REAL attribute that makes you look old...

10. Mineral makeup is like Prozac for unhappy skin...  As the stats clearly show, the skin care audience is heavily influenced by images portrayed by the media. They want to know the beauty secrets of celebrities, and what to do to maintain the youthful appearance that is exalted and desired in our society. (So in a nut-shell, the hot topics are anti-aging, celebrity skin care, "before & after" pictures. Got it!) I hear you, skin care devotees. Thank you for a fabulous 2010, and now that I have been able to track a year's worth of trends to divine your real interests, I plan to make 2011 even better for you.  Here's to a beautiful New Year...

Funny or Die: Latisse video spoof

Is this video funny... or is my bias towards Latisse blinding me (no pun intended!) from some great eye-lash humor? 

In the past, "Funny or Die" has featured some hilarious video clips. ("Landlord" will always hold a special place in my heart.) While the premise for a Latisse video spoof really had humorous potential, the laughs are not there. There are so many ways they could have made fun of it-- a spin of the hair club for men, or Latisse being used to grow hair in non-recommended places, or even trendy werewolves using the product-- they instead went in the immature, gross-out direction. 

Despite the numerous funny ways they could have gone with this product, and regardless of the considerable star power backing these "Funny or Die" spots, as it stands now this video is only barely watchable-- at best.

Lashisse from Molly Sims

Genie in a bottle? Nope, Christina Aguilera prefers Latisse.

Although perhaps not the best spokes-person for natural looking, understated beauty, in the November 2010 issue of Marie Claire magazine, Christina Aguilera does list Latisse eye-lash enhancing serum as one of her can't-live-without beauty products. 

While I strongly suspect that she also is a fan of massive fake eye-lashes (as any self-respecting heterosexual woman with proclivities towards drag-queen style would be!), but no doubt if she is a true Latisse devotee, her real lashes are probably pretty fake looking now, even when she's not wearing a lick of make-up. (Hey, a make-up free Christina Aguilera could happen-- she has to shower at some point, right?)

New poll shows women are most beatiful at age 31

This is great news for the large population of women that are dreading turning 30... and pretty depressing news for the even larger group of women that have already passed this age... 

In a survey of more than 2000 British men and women, pictures of younger looking women were rejected in favor of women pictured in their late 20s and early 30s.

The peak age of beauty was pin-pointed at 31 - the current age of Mrs. Tom Cruise (Katie Holmes), Nicole Scherzinger, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. 

Almost two-thirds of women questioned agreed that "with age, comes beauty", and more than half said they became more confident in their looks as they grew older.

(Confidence was also found to be important in defining beauty, versus just good looks.)

The study, conducted by TV shopping channel QVC, found London women were most confident about their looks, with 37% describing themselves as beautiful compared to 28% of women from Wales. (I would love to know the percentage of American women that are confident about their looks?)