NewBeauty.com (by Marci Robin Zitner)
LipFusion was the first lip-plumping gloss I ever tried, so no matter how many others I test out, there’s always a special place in my heart (and on my face) for it. And I recently returned to Fusion Beauty’s famous formula when they introduced a new version of the gloss: Smile Whitening Color Shine.

Now, of course, you don’t actually put this on your teeth (unless you’re that woman who always manages to get lipstick on her teeth when she dares to converse right after application… which is me, unfortunately). Just like the other LipFusion glosses, you apply it generously to your lips, where you’ll feel that subtle sensation that indicates it’s working towards making your lips fuller. But it’s also creating an ideally flattering color contrast between your lips and teeth, minimizing the look of yellowness and maximizing brightness.

Both my fuller-than-before lips and my teeth have just the right amount of pretty shine when I where this updated classic, and I leave the house feeling confident that my mouth is my best feature. (Until I open it, that is.)

TreeHugger.com (by Jasmin Malik Chua)                                                                                     

1. Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Pucker up for your daily java fix with this extra-creamy balm made from organic cocoa butter, organic extra-virgin olive oil, and golden yellow beeswax, as well as extracts of organic dark roasted Arabica coffee beans, rose hip, and seabuckthorn berry. Organic aloe vera melts away cold-weather dryness with lipsmacking aplomb. ($5, Badger Balm)

2. Perfect Organics Hazelnut Coffee Ultimate Body Scrub
For an invigorating, skin-toning buzz, slough away with this heady brew of finely ground coffee beans, moisturizing organic plant oils, and gentle botanical extracts. Allow to percolate on skin before rinsing for best results. ($24.99, Perfect Organics)

3. BodyCoffee Energizing Body Bar
Supercharged, silky smooth skin is just a lather away with this sense-stimulating body bar that exfoliates while it cleanses. Ground Coffea Arabica—with a touch of peppermint extract—gets circulation pumping for that natural glow, while moisture-locking hemp and olive oils relieve parched winter skin. ($8, BodyCoffee)

4. Three Ravens Atomic Cafe Amaretto Bath Salts
Scoop a few spoonfuls of these Cafe Amaretto-inspired salts into your bathtub for a pampering, espresso-infused pick-me-up. With a cuppa that is both organic and fair trade, social responsibility has never felt this indulgent. (From $3, Etsy)

FDANews.com

"At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals seized today 12,682 applicator tubes of Age Intervention Eyelash, a product that may, in some users, lead to decreased vision. Authorities said the sales value of the seized tubes is approximately $2 million.  "Age Intervention Eyelash is sold and distributed by Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., of San Jose, Calif.

The FDA considers Age Intervention Eyelash to be an unapproved and misbranded drug because Jan Marini Skin Research has promoted the product to increase eyelash growth. Before a new drug product may be legally marketed, it must be shown to be safe and effective, and approved by FDA.  The agency takes seriously its responsibility to protect Americans from unapproved drugs.

FDA also considers the seized Age Intervention Eyelash to be an adulterated cosmetic.  The product contains bimatoprost, an active ingredient in an FDA-approved drug to treat elevated intraocular pressure (elevated pressure inside the eye).  For patients using the prescription drug, using the Age Intervention Eyelash in addition to the drug may increase the risk of optic nerve damage because the extra dose of bimatoprost may decrease the prescription drug’s effectiveness.  Damage to the optic nerve may lead to decreased vision and possibly blindness."

Continue Reading…

NewBeauty.com

This is quite interesting…From Daily Beauty:

"You may have heard that some cosmetic surgery patients are being prescribed sessions in a hyperbaric chamber after their operation, as it can increase oxygen flow, possibly helping to reduce swelling and speed up recovery time. However, this is not a post-op norm.

A hyperbaric chamber is a treatment where compressed oxygen helps to speed healing of specific diseases and disorders. While this treatment is purported to speed healing, there is no medical evidence to support its use following cosmetic surgery. This is a costly treatment that is unnecessary and not a standard of care."

ARS.com

You’ve heard of Soy Dream, but have you heard of SoyScreen?  For you "greenies" out there this new soy-based sunscreen technology, is a natural alternative to petroleum-based sunscreens.  The company responsible for the new soy bean screen is iSoy.  No, it’s not sold at your local Apple store; however, the company’s ferulic soy glycerides (FSG33) a new soy-based anti-aging ingredient recently made its debut in New York City marketed by a major cosmetics company.

"When Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemists Joe Laszlo and Dave Compton originally developed SoyScreen, they envisioned outdoor enthusiasts and other consumers using their invention as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based sunscreens.

Instead, SoyScreen—and the patented ARS method of producing it—became the technological platform from which iSoy Technologies Corporation of Cary, Ill., began launching a novel class of cosmetic ingredients called "skincare bio-lipid actives."

In February 2007, a variation of SoyScreen formulated by iSoy—ferulic soy glycerides (FSG33)—made its commercial debut as a key active ingredient in a wrinkle-prevention skincare product marketed by a major cosmetics company in New York City.

FSG33’s burgeoning commercial roots began with bio-lipid reaction experiments that Laszlo and Compton conducted in 1998 at ARS’ National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill.  There, they devised an enzyme-based method to make an all-natural sunscreen from soy oil and ferulic acid, a natural antioxidant that filters out UVA and UVB sunlight."  Read More

Paula’sChoice.com
I have noticed that a lot of you have been searching for information on skin discoloration.  I found this article on Paula’s Choice.  She is very well-informed, and usually unbiased.  In this article she talks about skin discoloration by way of lighter spots (for some) and darker spots (for others).  It is a very detailed article which explains how melanin affects the skin, and she goes into greater depth by explaining different types of treatments that are available like Hydroquinone, topical treatments, and sunscreen.  According to Paula:

"Regardless of your ethnic background or skin color, eventually most of us will struggle with some kind of brown or ashen pigmentation problem. Skin will either appear lighter or darker than normal in concentrated areas, or you may notice blotchy, uneven patches of brown to gray discoloration or freckling. Skin pigmentation disorders occur because the body produces either too much or too little melanin. Melanin is the pigment produced by specific cells (melanocytes). It is triggered by an enzyme called tyrosinase, which creates the color of our skin, eyes, and hair. (Melanin actually has two major forms that combine to create varying skin tones.  Eumelanin produces a range of brown skin and hair color, while pheomelanin imparts a yellow to reddish hue.)

As far as skin is concerned, depending on how much is present, melanin does provide some amount of sun protection by absorbing the sun’s ultraviolet light.  This explains why darker skin colors are less susceptible to sunburn and the overall effects of sun damage. But less susceptible doesn’t mean immune from problems."  Read More

DailyBeauty.com
When I first saw this image, I was like “whao,” but after reading the article I realized it was ingenious.  To me it actually looks pretty comfortable.  If you are recovering from an invasive procedure, or possibly even a minor one, this healing mask may actually help you heal quicker and more comfortably.  According to Daily Beauty:

"The care you take during the post-op healing period is almost as important as the surgery itself.  A recovery device called AqueCool, by Aqueduct Medical is a new approach to that sensitive time.  It delivers continuous cool-water therapy at a safe temperature range directly to the surgical site to minimize swelling, bruising, discomfort and overall downtime after surgery.

AqueCool Masques are procedure-specific—pictured from left to right are the Lower Face & Neck Masque, the Full Face & Neck Masque, and the Periorbital Masque—and they’re custom-formable to each patient.  They can be worn while watching TV, reading, sleeping, or sitting at a computer without getting in the way.  As with any surgical procedure, it’s essential to meticulously follow your surgeon’s post-procedure instructions, so be sure to get the green light from your doctor before trying any recovery aid.

wikiHow.com
Varicose veins are unsightly, and in some cases incredibly painful.  The appearance of these veins may be caused by prolonged standing, poor circulation, crossing your legs, or even high estrogen birth control pills may do it.  There are plenty of companies claiming to have products that will diminish varicose veins, but your best bet is to prevent.  Here is an excellent how-to from wikiHow that explains 10 ways to prevent varicose veins.

"Varicose veins—gnarled, dilated blood vessels that occur most frequently in the legs—affect about half of the adult population of the United States.  They are generally caused by pressure in the veins that, over time, weakens the vessel walls.  For most people, varicose veins and spider veins (their smaller, capillary-based cousins) are merely unsightly nuisances, but they can also make walking and standing extremely painful, and in extreme cases, they can cause skin ulcers.  While there is no sure way to prevent the formation of varicose veins, there are a number of things you can do to decrease your chances of getting them.

Steps:
1. Exercise regularly. Walking and jogging improve circulation in the legs, and proper circulation helps ward off varicose veins.  Exercise also reduces overall high blood pressure and strengthens the entire circulatory system.

2. Avoid prolonged standing.  Standing in one place for a long time increases venous pressure in the legs and feet, and over time this pressure weakens the blood vessel walls.  Since prolonged standing is almost unavoidable in some jobs, mitigate the harm by shifting your position as frequently as possible, and try to walk around at least every 30 minutes.  If your job can be performed while sitting, see if you can arrange that.

3. Maintain a healthy weight.  If you’re overweight, you put excess pressure on your legs. Exercise regularly and develop healthy eating habits, and you’ll reap a whole host of health benefits, including reduction of your varicose vein risk."  Read More