Friday, December 31, 2010

Exfoliators: The Unsung Heroes of Skin Care



Hopefully, by now, Beauty Wonkette has convinced beauty wonkettes everywhere that if you’re not regularly buffing your skin, it’s not living up to its total hot potential. Indeed, almost all dermatologists agree that exfoliators are the unsung heroes of skin care. It’s easy enough to understand.

As teens, our skin cells flake off and reveal a more luminous layer ever 14 days. But for every year past the age of 20, that rate increases by a day. Put your shoes back on! Calculations are NOT necessary. If you’re old enough to be reading Beauty Wonkette, you should be exfoliating ! Now, although there are loads of exfoliators out there – some of ‘em gritty, others packed with acids in the form of fruit enzymes – the fact is that Beauty Wonkette doesn’t want you to slap just any crap on your kisser. Furthermore, please remember that truly seeing results that last more than an hour or so after exfoliating, you need to do it consistently. Hence, you have to find what’s right for you. Anything that’s irritating isn’t something you are likely to use consistently.

For those of you with skin that is normal, or oil (Beauty Wonkette is from the land of olive oil and her skin literally reflects it… ), you can likely withstand all types of exfoliators. But, my lovelies, Beauty Wonkette has discovered what is without a doubt the best of all possible worlds when it comes to exfoliation.

David Colbert, MD – dermatologist to the stars – has come out with a lovely line of skincare products. The Colbert MD line is based on the idea that healthy, beautiful skin can and should be effortlessly realized by every one of us. Since the skin has its own healing mechanism that will prompt it to regenerate, he argues, we can create the environment in which it can repair and restore itself. Sooooo, Colbert MD’s system initiates the skin’s own natural healing and repair processes through the use of 3 key products each day every day. Beauty Wonkette likes the fact that it’s easy peasy AND effective AND, while it ain’t cheap, you won’t have to give up feeding your body to feed your skin.

The ColbertMD Daily System

Stimulate: The Serum
Enhances skin´s quality and structure, and refines texture. Increases collagen production. Restores skin´s natural radiance.

Nutrify and Protect: Day
Delivers key nutrients to the dermis. Defends skin against internal and environmental challenges.

Heal and Sooth: Night
Initiates skin´s natural repair processes. Helps reverse inflammation and environmental damage while providing essential hydration.

Now, all of this brings Beauty Wonkette to what she intended to talk about oh so many words ago. This IS a nice line, but honesty must prevail. Beauty Wonkette isn’t ready to part with her M Lab regimen. However, this line has one absolutely standout rockstar product that will intensify ANY skin care routine: Facial Discs ! For use one to three times per week (Beauty Wonkette has been using them 2-3 times per week), these enzyme-soaked discs exfoliate the skin, prepping it for the other Colbert MD (or any other) products and helping the system achieve full effectiveness.


Consider this Exfoliating 201: By now, most of us know that fruit acid can ramp up skin’s radiance. But, using both a physical slougher and a chemical one offers a facial like luminosity that you will LOVE. The combo breaks the bonds between surface cells and dissolves them evenly.

Now, Beauty Wonkette warns you that this is somewhat aggressive and you should do it only if your skin is normal or oily. Start slow – once a week perhaps – and work your way up. Even if your skin tends to the sensitive, you can still probably use this a few times per month.

A jar of 20 discs will set you back $48. Trust Beauty Wonkette. It’s hard to imagine how the money could be better spent. And, Beauty Wonkette is guessing that by sometime tomorrow, your skin is going to be needing a "pick me up."

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy New Year.

Peace

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

New Year's Guide 2011


New Year's Eve is most definitely NOT Beauty Wonkette's favorite holiday. In fact, it's probably below Flag Day on Beauty Wonkette's list of favorite holidays. But, since it's unavoidable, here are thirteen sparkling-cocktail recipes from some favorite NY drink dens to help you ring in the New Year with a pop.

Aperol Spritz (View Recipe)
From The Mermaid Inn
This simple cocktail has just two ingredients: the tart, rhubarb-infused spirit Aperol, and the wallet-friendly prosecco. Finish with a twist.

Aviators Tipple (View Recipe)
From Martim Ake Smith-Mattsson at Double Crown
This drink gets a pop of color from maraschino syrup and a swirl of creme de violette.

The Bianco Royale (View Recipe)
From BLT Bar & Grill
VeeV acai liqueur, honey syrup, lemon juice, and rose water mingle with chilled prosecco in this floral cocktail.

Black Mission Fig Mimosa (View Recipe)
From Marc Forgione
For a dose of farm-to-table in a glass: This drink marries homemade fig syrup with walnut liqueur in a Champagne flute that's been rimmed in honey and crushed hazelnuts.

Calvados 75 (View Recipe)
From The Lambs Club
This Spanish twist on a classic blends apple brandy with fresh lemon juice and budget-friendly cava.

East Side Spirit (View Recipe)
From The National
The National's take on the Champagne cocktail features a Grand Marnier–rimmed flute filled with sherry and sparkling rosé, finished with a candied orange twist.

Hearts of Oak (View Recipe)
From Damon Boelte at Prime Meats
The Hearts of Oak cocktail packs a punch, with bourbon, sparkling rosé, and the on-trend cynar making time with cozy winter flavors like cinnamon and orange bitters.

Pomegranate Peach Bellini (View Recipe)
From Stanton Social
Peach purée and pomegranate liqueur amp up the traditional Bellini, making it the perfect beverage for a New Year's celebration or a recovery breakfast the next morning.

Red Velvet Champagne Cocktail (View Recipe)
From Plein Sud
This cocktail combines strawberry purée, vanilla, and sugar in an ode to the universally adored cupcake.

Russian Court (View Recipe)
From Dushan Zaric at Employees Only
This prosecco-based cocktail marries orange bitters with a helping of acacia honey and gets an extra kick from a serving of vodka. Garnish with an orange twist for a festive touch.

Spiced Pear Sgroppino (View Recipe)
From Ai Fiori
A drink made of pear sorbet and sparkling wine—chilly, easy to make, and lightly indulgent. Make as a punch to share with friends.

French 75 (View Recipe)
From Summit Bar
Start the New Year off with a twist on the traditional Soixante Quinze.

Vuelve a la Vida (View Recipe)
From Toloache
Show off your exotic side with a drink containing dragon fruit purée, lime, and mezcal ... just don't forget about the Champagne.

Monday, December 27, 2010

5 quick fixes using stuff you probably DO have

Holy Guacamole!!! Beauty Wonkette was NOT ready for yesterday's storm. Fortunately, the holidays left BW well-stocked with food and spirits. But, it always seems to be the case that even a hoarder like Beauty Wonkette finds herself without certain essentials - and there needn't be a snowstorm to cause it. Anyway, anyway, here are a few gems we've collected for what happens when you just are OUT of something...

Shampoo as makeup remover: It's not ideal, but this will do until you can make it to your beauty supply store to pick up makeup remover. Baby shampoo with water will help remove thick layers of makeup from your face, and it won't irritate your eyes.

Conditioner as shaving cream:
You may have forgotten to put shaving cream on your shopping list, but no worries. You probably have conditioner, which will do the job for now. Its moisturizing ingredients should help the razor glide over your skin smoothly and help avoid razor burn. In fact, Beauty Wonkette uses up all of her "less than fav conditioners" this way. Body wash is also a common emergency remedy.

Clear nail polish to ward off eczema: Ever have eczema outbreaks on your stomach when you wear your favorite jeans? (Yes, yes, Beauty Wonkette spyed you scratching your belly like a cute little chimp) Dr. Jeanine Downie, a dermatologist in Montclair, NJ, says that painting clear nail polish onto the back of the buttons on your denim gear can keep your skin from being irritated. "People have an allergy to nickel," she says.

Petroleum jelly as a soothing agent:
Washing your hands with rings on your fingers can cause soap to build up under the jewelry, which leads to skin irritation. A quick fix for this is applying petroleum jelly at night to the affected area. To get to the root of the problem, Dr. Downie says, "Take off your rings when you wash your hands!"

Toothpaste as acne medication: It's the night before a momentous occasion, you've noticed an evil mountain of oil forming on your face, and you don't have time to run to the drugstore to pick up a zit-zapping cream. Fear not: A home remedy is right at your fingertips. First, wash your face with a mild soap and pat it dry with a towel. Then, dab a bit of toothpaste on the pimple and wait for it to dry. By morning the toothpaste will have dried the sucker out. Only plain toothpaste that is low in fluoride should be used for these emergency situations, because whitening toothpastes contain hydrogen peroxide, which will irritate the skin, and gels aren't as effective. But this home remedy is not for everyone, says Downie. People with dry or sensitive skin should stay away from this quick fix because it could dry them out too much.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Claire's lashes ?!?!?!


Are Claire Danes' luscious lashes giving her hell? The Emmy Award-winning actress joined Brooke Shields this summer as a celebrity spokesperson for Latisse, the eyelash growth treatment from the makers of Botox -- but she seems to have suffered one of the product's side effects.

Danes, in a flouncy dress, touts, "When Your Lashes Grow, Your Lashes Show," while showing off longer, darker lashes in a TV and online commercial with the list of possible adverse reactions.

In a video diary on the Latisse Web site documenting her 16-week journey, Danes admitted, "When I first started using Latisse, I did actually have a side effect, the skin around my eyes was a little bit red that lasted for about a week. But since then, no, I haven't had any side effects."

However, a highly reliable source claims that Danes' makeup artist has to plaster on concealer to cover the purplish and yellowish shade. "It is hard to cover it up," the source said.

Beauty Wonkette first read about this whole affair in the NY Post when they ran this story in their uber famous gossip column Page Six. Apparently, a Latisse spokesperson told Page Six, "We can only speak to what Claire has shared with us regarding her experience with Latisse, which is that she has been pleased with her results and continues to use the product. "Claire's team has shared with us that she has not experienced skin hyperpigmentation following use of Latisse," the spokesperson told us.

"Skin-darkening is a less common side effect . . . and typically occurs close to where Latisse is applied on the skin. This has been reported to be reversible in most patients upon discontinuation of Latisse."

A rep for Danes insisted to us, "Your claims are entirely false. We will pursue legal action if you print anything to the contrary. This story should be killed." Well, not only was the story NOT killed, but Page Six has continued to run variations and updates. No legal action in sight.

Who are you gonna believe? Beauty Wonkette is perplexed. It's your call really. Is the promise of long lashes were taking a chance with increased pigmentation around the eye when dark circles is probably the number one complaint Beauty Wonkette sees? Yup. It's your call.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

les perles de chanel.....spring 2011


Although Beauty Wonkette generally doesn't shrink away from the cold, (IN FACT, she likes the winter), for some reason she was longing for a little bit of Spring. Guess what? The ghost of Coco Chanel responded!

TAAAA DAAAAAA! (drum roll....)
Chanel's Spring 2011 nail polish lineup! Les Vernis in Pearl Drop, Black Pearl and Peche Nacree.

Coco Chanel believed the light-reflecting property of pearls enhanced a woman’s natural beauty by bringing a delicate luminosity to her skin. Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, captures this quality in a radiant Spring 2011 Collection, LES PERLES DE CHANEL. Pearlized shades of black and white are accented with pinks and corals, brightening the complexion and creating a natural glow."

Ohhh that Coco! The polish will be available in January on Chanel.com and Chanel counters for $23.

Beauty Wonkette needs a mani/pedi way before then.

A Model of Enduring Beauty....




Beauty Wonkette has always thought Iman was amazingly gorgeous, with her regal body and perfect skin. And — after 35 years as a beauty and fashion icon, she's still recognized as an enduring beauty by both the public and the industry (she received a Fashion Icon Lifetime achievement award this year from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.)

So how has she managed to keep her spectacular body and looks after 35 years in the public eye?

Iman told Allure that she credits her radiance in middle age to things that many of us could do better (like sunscreen everyday), and to things that some of us consider a luxury - like professional facials. And, of course, it doesn't hurt that she has her own makeup artist who uses things like mink false lashes to create her gorgeous looks.

But not all of her beauty secrets are highbrow. For instance, the former supermodel admits that she doesn't know how she ever lived without Moroccan Oil (neither can Beauty Wonkette, actually). More notably, though, Iman's successful, 15-year-old company, Iman Cosmetics, was founded when she saw a need for cosmetics – with an emphasis on foundation – for women with of color. One of the things that BW loves about her line is that it's really affordable AND available (as in every supermarket and drugstore Beauty Wonkette has been in lately).

Part of Iman's lasting appeal is that, while she's exceptionally beautiful, her beauty philosophy is accessible. "Makeup should just enhance who you are," she's often been quoted as saying. And, by her own account, even though she looks much younger than 55 (YES, I SAID 55), Iman still faces some of the same aging problems that the other mortals do, i.e. she had something called "frozen shoulder" which sidelined her from working out for awhile. She may not have been able to work out regularly, but she's known for her striking figure, which stays model-thin even after giving birth in middle age (at 45.)

Beauty Wonkette tried to find out just how Iman manages to stay so slim. According to the Mail Online, Iman is a devotee of "clean eating", but that's contradicted by reports in People magazine, which say Iman eats what her family eats. The magazine then gives an example of her whipping up a shepherd's pie (Beauty Wonkette is no nutritionist, but is pretty sure that doesn't qualify as "clean eating.") Whatever her diet secrets are, they seem to be working...

BW has a ways to go before hitting 55, but if getting there means looking like this gal, BW ain't skeered at all. You shouldn't be either!

Beauty Wonkette wishes you a Merry Merry....


Ahhhh I know. Beauty Wonkette has been a bad girl. She hasn't posted for so long. Indeed, some would argue that all Beauty Wonkette deserves in HER stocking is a big, old, dirty lump of coal (that's right, you say, COAL not KOHL).

But, Beauty Wonkette has an excellent excuse. First, Beauty Wonkette is now MRS. Beauty Wonkette. No, no - I didn't marry somebody named Beauty Wonkette BUT I did marry. Yep. Again. Hehe.

AND, one of the perks of BW's real job is international travel. And travel BW did...

Okay - enough! Bottom line: BEAUTY WONKETTE IS BACK!

And, she's wishing you and yours a very MERRY MERRY...

LEGENDARY! The best dupe for SkinMedica's recently discontinued TNS Advanced+ Serum

  Recently SkinMedica discontinued the TNS Essential Serum and their TNS Advanced+ Serum is seen as the upgraded version.  But Beauty Wonket...