Last month, I was blown away by our First Lady’s glowing skin at an event.  I blogged about a tip I read on how to achieve a similar effect with oil and lotion.  The idea was to apply oil to your skin in the shower, with a washcloth.  You rinse off the excess and then apply lotion on your skin after you’ve toweled off…So how did it go when I tested it out myself?

Ladies, let me tell you:  This has become my new weekly luxury!  My skin has never felt this silky and smooth - at least, not since I was a baby!  I absolutely love how soft my skin stays for several days after I treat myself.  Through trial and error, I found the best way to go about the process:

1. After I’ve finished bathing, I take a dry washcloth and generously put Johnson’s Cocoa Butter Baby Oil Gel on it.  Then I apply the oil all over wet skin, focusing on my legs and arms. Bonus:  the dry washcloth exfoliates skin.

2. Next I carefully rinse off the oil that hasn’t been absorbed.  I emphasize “carefully” because the tub gets really slippery!

3.  After patting dry with a towel, I lock in the moisture with Vaseline’s Cocoa Butter Lotion, all over.

4.  I slip into a robe for about 30 minutes so that all of the yummy moisturizing products soak into my skin and not my clothes.  I liken the robe to how you would put on gloves after moisturizing your hands.

Voila!  Softest.  Skin.  Ever.

Not only does it give me silky skin but it also makes me wash the tub once a week…I admit, sheepishly.  Cleaning the bathtub is my number one dreaded chore - everyone has their thing.  For some its doing laundry, for others its cleaning the toilet.  For me, its cleaning the tub.  I hate it, so I put it off.  But since I could possibly greatly injure myself or my husband with the amount of oil slicking up the tub, I’m forced to clean it.  That should show you just how much I love this soft-skin-technique:  I don’t mind cleaning up after if I can have the soft skin I want!

For those of us who are forced to deal with acne well past our teen years, it can be challenging to determine which approach is best when it comes to vanquishing breakouts. I continue to swear by tea tree oil, but I’m always open to new suggestions, especially since acne often has a tricky way of overcoming whatever product or routine you’ve been using, forcing you to change course in order to keep your skin clear. I’m particularly fond of ideas that cost very little money, since the costs of skincare can quickly add up. That’s why I’m so intrigued by this post from Katrina at Shimmer Kisser, who has been using sea salt on her acne-prone skin for the past 6 months, with fantastic results. How does it work? Here’s her method:

“…at night in the shower after I’ve used my regular face wash to remove my make up I put 1/2 a teaspoon of salt in my wet palms. I then gently scrub my face for 10-15 seconds and wash it off. Sometimes I’ll do this in the morning too. I’m actually saving money because I don’t use face wash in the morning anymore like I use to.

If my skin is acting up I’ll put the salt on and leave it for 5 minutes. You can mix it with honey or your face wash and use it as a mask if you want a more intense treatment.”

You can also dilute some sea salt with water in a spray bottle and spritz it on to fight body breakouts. Love this tip! Has anyone else used salt to keep their skin clear? Did it work out for you?

There is no debate about how gorgeous our First Lady looked in Naeem Khan’s golden dress during Thanksgiving week.  But what I can’t stop coveting is her glowing complexion.  I usually think of glowing skin only during the summer months (or on pregnant women) but Mrs. Obama shows us that a healthy looking shine looks good all year round. Her skin has a soft and subtle sheen that I want to replicate on my own pale and pasty winter skin at all of the holiday parties I plan to attend.  Glowing skin is the latest and greatest way to show off your holiday spirit!

So what is the best way to be the shining star at the parties you attend?  Here is a tip, courtesy of Glamour, from Mara Levarre, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist:

“I layer a light oil like Alba’s Kukui Nut Body Oil under a rich lotion made with shea butter.”  Victoria’s Secret Shea Butter Soft Embrace Deep-Nourishing Body Lotion is nice and rich, if you’re looking for one.  “The combination of oil and lotion gives you amazingly soft skin!”  For mess-free application, Levarre suggests pouring the oil onto a damp washcloth in the shower and gently scrubbing legs with it and rinsing off the excess.  Finish by putting on the lotion when you get out of the shower for a party ready glow…”

Anyone who lives in L.A. will tell you that “mobile cuisine” is all the rage right now. It all started with taco trucks and hot dog carts, and before long you could find basically any type of food under the sun being sold from a vehicle of some sort somewhere in the greater Los Angeles area - everything from sushi and ice cream to Indian dosas and Korean BBQ. (Check out this article on the phenomenon for a detailed rundown on the trend.) Of course, this led me to wonder whether anyone has had the brilliant idea of putting beauty services on wheels, and a quick online search indicated that, indeed, they have! Call a number and you can have a mobile spa roll right up to your house (or office!) to give you a quick massage, facial, or mani/pedi on your lunch break. Pretty awesome, right? It’s not quite the same as a food truck - you make your appointment in advance and tell them where to go, as opposed to finding out their latest location via the Web. Still, it’s the same concept: Can’t make it to the spa or salon? Then make it come to you! You can even hire these mobile beauty gurus for your next party. Here are a few to check out in the L.A. area:

• GreenBliss EcoSpa - combines “green lifestyle and wellness trends with authentic spa rituals”
• Serve the Goddess - “offers pure indulgence and exquisite pampering with massage and a wide selection of spa treatments”
• SQ Nails Mobile Manicures & Pedicures - lets you sit “in the comfort of your own home or office and [have] a professional manicure or pedicure done”
• Spa-Go’s - “a luxury mobile day spa and lifestyle company” founded by a massage expert

Has anyone ever used the services of a mobile beauty expert? I would love to hear how it went!

As I’ve mentioned before - several times, in fact - acne has been a recurring problem in my life. The severity of the problem varies, but having problem skin in some form or another has been a reality for me since high school - and I’m definitely not a teenager anymore. Accutane solved the problem for a while, but now, years after my treatment, I still have to battle occasional breakouts. I figured that I knew pretty much all there was to know about adult acne,  but after reading TotalBeauty.com’s Ultimate Guide to Fighting Adult Acne, I can safely say that I learned a few things after all. I recommend reading the whole thing, but here are a few highlights that took me by surprise:

1. More than half of women over the age of 25 have some acne, and it’s most common in women who are in their 30s.
2. Adult acne is almost always caused by stress.
3. As you age, your ability to heal decreases and your cell turnover rate slows down, which means that adult acne sticks around longer than the breakouts you may have had as a teen.
4. Adults are more likely to suffer from painful, tenacious cystic acne.
5. Whereas teens break out on their noses and foreheads, adults tend to break out on the lower half of their faces (i.e., chin). Definitely true for me!
6. Because adult acne is different, you need different products to treat it - particularly because acne treatments are usually drying, and dry skin can lead to wrinkles in adults.
7. Tea tree oil is fantastic for slowing oil production, fighting inflammation, healing blemishes and decreasing redness. (I LOVE tea tree oil! I highly recommend Trader Joe’s tea tree oil soap - you can buy 2 bars for around $2!)
8. Granular exfoliating scrubs are bad, because they can open up blemishes that are healing and spread bacteria all over your face. Instead, use an exfoliant with enzymes, hydroxy acids or salicyclic acid.
9. You should use one type of moisturizer for the parts of your face that break out and a different type for the rest of your face.
10. Only use mineral makeup or foundations, powders and concealers that contain acne-fighting ingredients to cover blemishes in order to avoid aggravating the problem. Steer clear of anything containing lanolin, isopropyl myristate, mineral oil and fragrance.
11. Whenever you try a new treatment, you can expect your skin to get worse for the first week or so as your skin purges itself of  sebum and bacteria (ew!), but if you don’t see a definite improvement in around four to six weeks, the product isn’t working.
12. Eventually, your routine will need tweaking; as one dermatologist puts it, “skin care is like working out - eventually you reach a plateau and you need to make adjustments to keep improving.” Fascinating! I always wondered why this would happen to me; I had no idea that products just become less effective at fighting acne over time.
13. Clean your phones, your makeup brushes and your pillowcase. Don’t wear makeup at the gym. And - this one is news to me - don’t use fabric softener on your pillowcase, because many of them contain beef lard, which is bad for skin. Beef lard!

Does anyone have any acne-fighting skincare tips to share? Right now, I’m all about tea tree oil, drinking water and keeping my hands away from my face. (Whenever I absent-mindedly rest my chin on my hand, I end up breaking out exactly where I was touching my face. Curse my greasy mitts!) Leave your favorite clear skin trick in a comment!

My love for Fresh is well documented, which puts this new gift bag from Sephora high on my list that I’m giving to Santa this year.  Seriously??? Only $28 for the Sugar Lip Treatment and Brown Sugar Body Cream?  In a cool gold bag?  This is a major steal, ladies and gents!  The Sugar Lip Treatment alone is $22 in stores.  And I’ve paid that price because it is that good.  And have you tried the brown sugar body cream?  You have to remind yourself not to eat it, it smells that good.  And it moisturizes like no other.  I am seriously so excited about this.  This is the perfect gift to get for Fresh lovers and for people you want to introduce to the world of Fresh.  I am going to guess that this will sell out quickly, so I would recommend snatching it up and storing it away to give to all your friends this holiday season.  Christmas will be here before you know it and doesn’t it feel good to get a head start on your shopping list?  You’re welcome.

If you thought vibrating mascara sounded weird, get ready for something even stranger: Next month, Lancome is unveiling its Oscillation Powerfoundation in the United States. (The product is due to hit stores in Canada in November;  no word yet on further international distribution.) This foundation combines a mineral powder foundation with a unique pillowy applicator that vibrates 7,000 times per minute. Why? In order to “break down” the product and give  your skin a smooth, seamless finish. In addition, using the Powerfoundation vibrating applicator may actually improve the look and feel of your skin over time, minimizing the appearance of pores and wrinkles. What say you? Are you into this idea, or do you think the whole “vibrating trend” has run its course?

You know how every time you order online from Sephora, you get to choose 3 free samples to accompany your order? Well, if you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to make a purchase, get ready to seize the day: If you place that order before midnight tonight, you’ll be able to choose not three, not four, but five free samples!

Check out the list of samples you can choose from here. Personally, I would probably go for the Bare Escentuals bareVitamins Prime Time foundation primer, the Benefit “Something About Sofia” perfume, the Bliss Naked Body Butter Lite, the Urban Decay “Sellout” Lipstick…and a fifth choice as yet undetermined! What are you planning to throw in your shopping cart?

Seems like it happens to me every year: As soon as my skin is treated to its first taste of summer sun, it responds by turning lobster red. Yes, folks, I’ve done it again…despite my best sun protection efforts, I have a sunburn! (Perhaps I should stop using store-brand sunblock, hmm?) Fortunately, the burn is not severe, and it’s totally localized in the shoulders/upper back area - but what I really want to talk about (besides the undeniable importance of prevention) is treatment. So far, my burn is actually doing quite well - no peeling, and the pain has passed. To what do I owe this speedy recovery? I’m giving credit to this Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly. It’s free from artificial colors and fragrances, and it goes on smooth, clear and non-sticky. Soothing and moisturizing…just what my poor shoulders need right now. Grab yourself a tube if your sunblock fails you this summer!

Living in NYC, you come to know Ricky’s.  Especially around Halloween.  They always have the best costume collections and costumed characters outside the store luring you in.  And once you venture inside you realize that Ricky’s is more than just costumes - it is a bona fide makeup/accessories/beauty store.  They have great cosmetics, hair products and even sell Havianas.  All of this is important because Ricky’s NYC just stepped off the streets of New York and into your computer with their new online store!  If you are looking for discounted Kiss My Face or a hot pink wig - Ricky’s got it for you.  Click on over and check out the eclectic collection they have to offer!

Smith’s Rosebud Salve is the best! The consistency (a little goopy but not sticky), the scent (slightly rose-tinted), the shine, the versatility (use it on chapped lips, chafed heels, flyaway hairs, unruly brows, etc.)…even the packaging - that retro-looking tin  - is great. So naturally I was very excited to come across this cool trio of balms from the Rosebud Perfume Co. In addition to the original Rosebud Salve, you’ll also get full-sized tins of Strawberry and Minted Rose Lip Balms - all for $16. Considering the individual tins retail for around 6 or 7 bucks, this is basically a Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal. Enjoy, fellow balm addicts!

Smooth, soft, hair-free armpits that smell delish and don’t require a razor to maintain…sounds like a fantasy, right? Well, if the ad campaign for Dove’s new Visibly Smooth anti-perspirant/deodorant is to be trusted, it might just be a reality. Unlike the lazy, single-purpose deodorant you’re currently using, these little babies are multitaskers: They’ll make your underarm hair “softer, finer and easier to remove” while “smoothing and conditioning” your skin. Eventually, you ‘ll even find yourself reaching for your razor less frequently. But the reason I want it has nothing to do with its hair thinning or skin conditioning properties; it’s more about the scent. Wild Rose deodorant?! That sounds awesome! (For some reason, you don’t see a lot of rose-scented deodorants, and I looove the smell of roses.) For those of you less fond of flowers, you can also choose Nature Fresh scent. And, if you hurry, you can score a $2 off coupon from Dove’s website! Very nice.

So I decided to put my money where my mouth is and try out the baking soda as exfoliant trick that I wrote about last week. Speaking of money, I may be stating the obvious here, but wow - this stuff is cheap! I picked up a little box at Target (because, in fact, the only baking soda we have in the house is sitting in our fridge, absorbing odors!) and I think it cost me something like 46 cents. I decided to try it out in the shower today. It was hard to get a good “paste” consistency going, because the baking soda kept dissolving when it came in contact with the water, but I finally scooped up a little and patted it onto my wet face. After massaging it in for about a minute or so, I rinsed, and was surprised by how soft my face felt. Everything looked nice and rosy too. All in all, this worked at least as well as my regular exfoliant, St. Ives Apricot Scrub, and for way, way less money. Did anyone else try this out yet? Do share!

It’s been quite an exciting week on the affordable beauty front! First, we learned that you can use corn starch as a substitute for dry shampoo, and now this: The most gentle and effective exfoliant may already be in your pantry (or absorbing odors in your fridge). According to this post on Makeup Loves Me, baking soda is a fabulous facial scrub that will leave your skin smooth, soft and glowing, with no irritation or breakouts. Just add a few tablespoons of baking soda to water in order to form a paste, work it into your skin, and rinse off. I can’t wait to try this! (Just don’t use the box that’s been sitting in your fridge, okay?!)

Organic, natural makeup and beauty products that are free of harmful chemicals and additives are all the rage nowadays. Think it’s a recent development? Then think again - there’s one lady who was way ahead of the curve, and her name is Shahnaz Hussain. She started her quest to help women find natural, healthy beauty alternatives way back in the early ’70s, after hearing about a model who went blind from using a certain brand of mascara and later killed herself as a result. She now has her own eponymous brand of herbal and ayurvedic cosmetics, and her easy-to-do at-home beauty tips are an international sensation, with women handing down Shahnaz Hussain beauty tips from generation to generation, and now swapping them with one another online. It only makes sense - Indian women are widely regarded as some of the most beautiful in the world! - so if you’re ready to steal some of Shahnaz Hussain’s time-tested beauty tips, here are a few to get you started:

• Apply sandalwood paste to pimples for an all-natural spot treatment.
• For dandruff, use warm coconut oil on the scalp and leave overnight. In the morning, apply the juice of one lemon to your hair and leave for half an hour; wash hair as usual.
• To remedy dull skin, combine honey with egg yolk and a little milk, leave on for 20 minutes, and rinse with water.
• To bust blackheads, make your own facial scrub using rice powder, curd and rose water.
• Lighten dark undereye circles by massaging a small amount of almond oil to the area using your ring finger.

Interested in more Shahnaz Hussain beauty tips? There are many more where these came from! Do a quick search or invest in a copy of her beauty bible - you really can’t go wrong with her ancient, time-tested techniques.

Is there such a thing as "too high" when it comes to SPF?

Considering how scary and widespread skin cancer has become, it’s easy to go overboard when it comes to sunblock. (Unfortunately, it’s even easier to neglect your sun protection routine altogether. Don’t make that mistake!) If you or someone you love has ever had skin cancer, or even undergone the decidedly unpleasant experience of having a suspicious mole removed, you may want to slather yourself in a high SPF sunblock 24/7, especially during the hot summer months which are now upon us. Even if skin cancer isn’t among your concerns (hello, what are you thinking?!), you may have the memory of a painful sunburn in your past to inspire your zeal. I’m definitely a fan of sunblock, both for health reasons and because I dislike

tanning, let alone burning. Still, even I was surprised to see Neutrogena’s newest sun protection offering: This Ultra Sheer

Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ with Helioplex. Yes, you read that right - triple-digit SPF! Do you think this super-high-SPF trend will continue, or is this a simple case of overcompensation? Some dermatologists feel that SPFs that high are basically unnecessary, and provide no substantial additional protection over their lower-SPF counterparts. Could just be a clever marketing ploy to make consumers feel like higher SPF = safer sunblock. I have to admit, however, that it’s working on me - I think I need some 100+ SPF sunblock before I head out into the fray this summer. Are you with me, or do you feel like this is just a little too much of a good thing?

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Need more skincare news? Then check out our Sunblock Stick review!

Happy May Day!  I can’t believe that summer is already sneaking up on us - this year is flying by!  Since it’s May I’m already starting to dream of beach getaways and spending more time outdoors.  But I want to stay beautiful!  So meet my new best friend:

Here’s what’s great about this sunblock stick by Neutrogena:

• It’s SPF 30
• It’s portable
• It doesn’t leave my skin - or hands! - greasy
• It’s less than $8

Seriously, you can’t beat that with a stick.  (Sorry, I couldn’t resist…)  It is perfect for reapplying throughout the day.  I always put on sunscreen before I leave the house but then I never reapply, when the sun is the strongest and I’m running around!  This is a no-brainer.  I am stocking up and putting one in my purse, one in my gym bag, one on my vanity…you get the idea.

When it comes to skin care, preventing wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and dryness - all of the traditional hallmarks of aging skin - are among the top concerns of all women (and a large number of men!). But how can you separate the best anti aging skin care tips from the rest? Helping your skin retain (or, in some cases, regain) its healthy, youthful appearance is an involved process; you’ll need to focus on diet and exercise as well as topical anti-wrinkle treatments and sun protection. Here are some of the best anti aging skin care tips for a smooth, beautiful complexion:

First and foremost, what are you putting on your skin? You should have a clearly outlined skin care regimen that focuses on anti aging strategies. Choose a cleanser, moisturizer, night treatment (such as an intensive moisturizing cream) and sunscreen that are specifically formulated for mature skin. The best anti aging skin care depends on your needs and your budget, and popular options range from expensive, high-end brands like La Prairie and Creme de la Mer to affordable yet effective drugstore brands like Neutrogena and Olay, whose popular Regenerist line is a wallet-friendly favorite among many consumers. If you can’t afford regular trips to the dermatologist, you should also invest in an inexpensive exfoliant, such as an at-home microdermabrasion kit, or a peel.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is one popular anti aging skin cream.

Sun protection is important at any age, but particularly when you’re concerned about aging skin! Prevent further damage by applying a high SPF sunblock to skin every morning, and reapply as needed, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Don’t forget about your hands, neck and ears - sun protection shouldn’t be limited only to your face!

Next consider what goes into your body. A diet rich in antioxidants and complex carbohydrates is another way to ensure that your skin looks beautiful from the inside out. Avoid processed foods and instead eat lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and olive oil in order to encourage cell turnover and promote overall health. You may want to consider supplementing your diet with additional antioxidants: Most dermatologists recommend 200-250 mg of vitamin C, 100-400 IU of vitamin E, and a mixed carotenoid supplement of 6-10 mg. Finally, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water! Hydration is key to plump, dewy - and young-looking - skin.

Get lots of sleep and avoid stress whenever possible. Don’t make the mistake of using alcohol or cigarettes to cope with stress; this will only damage your skin further and make you look older than your years. Alcohol can leave you dehydrated, while smoking constricts blood vessels and limits the flow of oxygen to your skin, leading to dryness and wrinkles. Instead, increase your exercise levels to handle stress in a positive way.

With these tips, you’ll be able to find the best anti aging skin care routine for you. Once you figure out what works, stick to it! Commitment and constant care are the only ways to keep your skin looking gorgeous, no matter what your age.

The other morning I woke up with dark circles under my eyes, even though I had a full night’s sleep.  I love springtime but along with April’s showers comes allergies, hence the dark circles.  If you have been having similar problems, here is a tip I just picked up in this month’s Cosmo:

Slice a Potato Fade your ring temporarily by cutting a potato (which has a skin-lightening enzyme called catecholase) into two then slices.  Leave them on your eyes for 10 minutes so the juice can seep into the skin.  Do this twice a week to even out your tone. (5/09, pg.100)

Has she?  Or hasn’t she?  Angelina Jolie plastic surgery rumors have circulated for years ever since she joined the “A-list” club.  Can a woman with these kinds of features actually be born that way?  Angelina Jolie is known for her luscious lips, cute nose, cat-like eyes, high cheek bones and a body that doesn’t quit.

So what does this mean for us mere mortals?  Has Angelina gone under the knife and dabbled in plastic surgery to make herself the epitome of beauty?  When looking at pictures of her in her younger days, her face isn’t as angular and her nose seems to be a little wider.  Her lips have always been plump, even as a young girl.  However, it is always possible that she has indulged in some “upkeep” to maintain that perfect pout.  The big debate is whether she has had a nose job (rhinoplasty).  It’s rumored also that she has gotten cheek implants too, but the shifting of the angularity of her face could simply have been a natural aging process.  Her nose is debatable though.  It definitely seems to have a more defined, thinner shape than in her youth and usually the nose doesn’t get smaller on its own… in fact, did you your nose and ears are your only two body parts that keep growing your entire life?

So are the Angelina Jolie plastic surgery stories true (like most of Hollywood) or false?  If she has, she isn’t saying.  But it’s hard to imagine that she hasn’t…plus, it just wouldn’t seem fair, would it?  Naturally gorgeous, Brad Pitt on her arm, an Oscar at home, a bevy of adorable children…it just feels better assuming she went under the knife to achieve her look!