Hollywood’s classic glamour-era look is making a comeback. Throughout their careers Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich can be remembered for their deep ruby red “Hollywood” lips.

For those ruby red lips that command respect anywhere you go try using Fusion Beauty LipFusion Micro Injected Lip Plumping Pencil in Glam. Apply a thin layer of lip balm to condition your lips. Next pencil in just below your lower lip line and continue to the outer corner of each side of your lower lip to give the illusion of a fuller lower lip. When you pencil in your upper lip start in the center just above where you would normally pencil. Work your way up and outward with the highest part of your rounded arch about  one third of the way to the corner. Once you have the liner finished you can complete the look with DuWop Private Red.  It’s an excellent red lipstick that adjusts to each woman’s skin tone creating your own “Private Red!”

Blotting off excess lipstick by placing a tissue between your lips and pressing your lips together followed by an application of a translucent powder can help set your lip color, making it last longer! If you want to boost the “glam” you can apply a thin layer of Nuxe Lip Gloss Prodigieux Nutri-Protector Lip Gloss- Charismatic Red.

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A look from the eyes and the raise of the brow can send a powerful message without a word! Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh and Bette Davis were all famous for their beautiful eyes and elegantly commanding eyebrows!

Colorscience Voluptuous Stencil will help you perfectly shape and arch your brows without any guess work or errors! Use the stencils to draw in your brows and judge how they look before your tweeze or wax them.

The Tweezerman Mirror and Tweezer Kit or the MOOM Organic Hair Removal Kit are both excellent options that allow you to complete your brow design in the privacy of your own home!

Which do you prefer waxing or tweezing? Leave us your feedback!

Your thighs may not be the sole benefactor from some one on one time with the treadmill. A recent study by Harvard Medical School found “Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning,” says Harvard Medical School psychiatrist John Ratey, author of the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. “Even 10 minutes of activity changes your brain.” If that is not enough incentive to hit the gym, I don’t know what is!

If the weight of the world is feeling heavy, instead of grabbing the Ben & Jerry’s Triple Caramel Chunk from the freezer, head outside for a jog. Thirty minutes of cardiovascular activity boosts brain soothing chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, melting tension away.

Exercise not only alleviates daily stressors, but may actually help at a cellular level as well. In a June study by the University of California at San Francisco researchers found that stressed-out women who exercised vigorously for an average of 45 minutes over a three day period had fewer cells that showed signs of aging compared to women who were stressed and inactive.

Similarly, mild symptoms of depression can be warded off by burning 350 calories three times a week through physical activity. Exercise stimulates the growth of neurons in the brain that are damaged by depression. Incorporating regular exercise into your routine may allow one to no longer need the use of anti-depressants.

We’ve all heard of a runner’s high, but is it a myth? Studies say no. Interval training yields the best results. Try sprinting in bursts of 30-40 seconds, then slow down your pace for five minutes, repeat for a total of five intervals. You’ll be feeling extra peppy the rest of the day!

Source: U.S. News & World Report

Whether you’re looking to improve your physique, complexion, or overall health these wonder foods gotcha covered.

Broccoli: Your mother always told you to eat your vegetables. It’s time to start listening! Loaded with vitamin C, broccoli aides with iron absorption, prevents the formation of cataracts and may help defend against the common cold. This versatile veggie is also high in folic acid, which is often taken as a supplement during pregnancy.

Spinach: PopEye the sailor man shouldn’t be the only one eating spinach. Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence. It’s extremely low in calories (40 calories per cup) yet high in vitamins. Just one cup of this leafy green surpasses your daily requirement of vitamin A and K. It contains more than 20 valuable nutrients including fiber, calcium and protein.

Cinnamon: Sprinkle away! Cinnamon has so many wonderful benefits. Not only does cinnamon naturally suppress your appetite, it’s antibacterial, helps regulate blood sugar, lowers LDL cholesterol and it’s a great source of fiber, iron and calcium. Plus, a simple whiff of cinnamon boosts memory and cognitive function according to a study conducted by Dr. P. Zoladz at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences.

Raw Honey: Instead of a spoonful of sugar in your tea, swap it out with honey. Honey is Mother Nature’s own sweetener. Among the many accolades of honey are its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Some countries even use it to aide in wound healing. It’s also believed to be helpful for allergy sufferers. Eating the honey of local bees in your area may prevent seasonal allergies. Bees pollinate neighboring plants, and the pollen eventually ends up in the honey. Ingesting the honey builds your body’s natural tolerance to seasonal allergies.

Coconut Milk: For those of you that are lactose intolerant, coconut milk is a great dairy free alternative. You’re still getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals of milk without the upset tummy. Coconut milk is rich in calcium, potassium, chloride, and vitamin A and E. It’s also proven to improve bone and dental health. In fact, you may even find yourself with fewer cases of the cold; coconut boosts the immune system, fighting off germs and bacteria. Coconut milk is also widely used in beauty products to hydrate, repair and heal the skin and hair.

Garlic: The medicinal properties of garlic have been used for centuries. Folklore attributes garlic to preventing everything from mosquito bites, the plague, and yes, even vampires. Although these claims are unfounded, it’s nice to imagine that they are true. Modern science has deemed garlic as a powerful antioxidant containing Vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, which stop the damaging effects of free radicals. It has also been found to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, according to researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

A few simple tweaks in your diet can pay off with a multitude of health benefits! So, eat up!

Bushy, hairy, untamed brows.

You know what I’m talking about… those few heart wrenching weeks where you’re trying to grow out your brows between waxing appointments or when re-shaping your arch. It so frustrating! I just don’t feel the same with out my perfect, groomed arches.

This is hands down a struggle for me and I’m sure for many other ladies out there.

So, during my desperate attempt to cover my “hairy mess” I took out my super duper Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer and applied under my brow bone. To my surprise it covered every single dark hair and looked flawless! By using a shade lighter than my skin tone and applying a little champagne shadow on top of the concealer my brows were pure perfection!

I hope this quick tip works as well for you as it does for me!

Is your face round like Kirsten Dunst’s? Or is it heart shaped like Reese Witherspoon’s? Perhaps it’s square like Jennifer Garner’s. Or maybe it’s oval like Jessica Alba’s. Whatever your face shape may be, there’s a way of balancing to bring out your best, and diffuse your worst. Here are some great make-up tips to suit your shape:

Round shaped: If your face is literally round- with a balance of width between the jawbone and brow bone, and a little roundness to the cheeks, give your face depth, definition and contour by way of bronzer. Swirl a bushy brush in some bronzer (we like NUXE Poudre Eclat Prodigieux Multi-Usage Compact Bronzing Powder) and draw a ‘3’ on both sides of your face; starting the top of the 3 at the corner of your forehead, pulling the 3 through to the cheekbone and ending the 3 at the jaw. A smoky eye in shimmery brown or grey will bring out your most sparkly feature and give your face even more depth and definition.

Heart shaped: If you have a razor sharp chin and prominent cheekbones draw attention away with a soft pink cheek (bareMinerals Blush – Giddy Pink is lovely), and a pop of color on the lips (red is exquisite, plum is sultry, pink is cheerful- what’s your favorite?). Also, draw attention to the eyes with bronze and gray shades- but don’t give the eye too much structure with liner, instead use soft shadows and a smidgen of mascara to make the eyes really pop.

Square shaped: You’ve got structure all over- it seems that square shaped faces usually come paired with a strong nose too. Use sheer washes of color to soften the linear look- shimmery shades make the skin look flawless, luminous and ethereal. Build buxom lashes and draw the attention to your gorgeous eyes. We love Too Faced Lash Injection in Pitch Black for crazy lengths and volume.

Oval shaped: Oval beauties have soft angles, and are elongated at the sides. To help cut down the length of your face use bronzer and brush to paint a bit of a horizon across your cheeks; this will bring out the width of the face. We love new Philosophy The Supernatural You Make Me Blush Hugs Kisses Powder Duo. Oval shapes also do really well with the cat-eye look because it virtually extends the width of the face. Use black eyeliner or a stiff shadow brush to fan out smoky shadow at the corner of the eye. Meow!

What’s your face shape and have these tips helped you? Leave us a comment below.

Now that you’ve read about inflammation you’re probably thinking that you have to quit eating carbohydrates and sugary foods altogether. I didn’t mean to scare you away from food! But I do want you to stay away from refined, packaged, sugary foods that are bringing you down (and making your belly bulge). So the next time you find yourself reaching for a bag of chips, French fries, or something sugary, resist the urge and try one of these delicious and nutritious alternatives instead:

Eat this not that:

Eat asparagus instead of white potatoes. White potatoes are starchy and easily converted into sugar. Fried potatoes (like French fries) are a double-whammy against your immune system, so instead try grilled or steamed asparagus. It’s delicious and loaded with antioxidants.

Eat slow-cooked oatmeal instead of sugary cereals. Are you really still eating colorful cereal? Isn’t it time to grow up? Try slow-cooked oatmeal, it may take a tiny bit longer to make but its benefits are commendable. Steel-cut oatmeal is best; cook it with milk, water, or soymilk and enjoy! It has fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is a great jump-start to your busy day.

Eat olive oil instead of ranch dressing. Skip the ranch, thousand island, Caesar, or even Italian dressing, it’s not doing any good. Instead try extra virgin olive oil mixed with lemon juice and a little salt and pepper for a delicious and healthful alternative to conventional salad dressing.

Eat fruit instead of chips. When you experience a craving for something sweet or salty, reach for a kiwi, a peach, or a plum instead. These fruits satisfy like sweets do, and provide long-term benefits too; antioxidants, fiber, vitamins…. basically everything that refined food doesn’t have.

These foods provide carbohydrates without spiking your insulin levels, they also break down much more slowly than simple carbs, therefore you stay full for a longer period of time… no cravings, no excess weight gain!

What’s your favorite healthy snack? We would love to know. Leave us a comment below!

More often than not, something startling must happen in order to change less than stellar healthy lifestyle choices. For many, this may be a routine trip to the doctor’s office that yields unfavorable test results or witnessing a relative’s health quickly deteriorating. These “wake up calls” force us to reflect on our own lifestyle choices and how we can better our health.

By far, the number one cause of death for women in the United States is heart disease. Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, claims the lives of nearly 500,000 women a year, nearly twice as many as all forms of cancer. One in 2.5 women will die of heart disease or stroke, compared with one in 30 from breast cancer. Luckily, you can substantially reduce many of your risk factors for heart disease and stroke with simple lifestyle changes.

Commit to small changes for a healthier heart:

• Take the stairs, those few extra steps can really make a difference in the long run!
• Vacate the break room and take a breather outside on your lunch for a change.
• Opt for healthy desert like baked cinnamon apples instead of cake or pie.
• Explore your community and plan family outings.
• Lift weights while watching your favorite TV program. Or get off the couch and do sit ups on commercial breaks.
• Take your four legged friend on a leisurely afternoon stroll. More likely than not, Fido could benefit from shedding a few pounds too!

Eat Heart Friendly Foods:

• Oats
• Flaxseed
• Walnuts
• Fish Oil (Omega 3 Fatty Acid)
• Psyllium Husk
• Legumes and Beans
• Apples
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

In addition to being more active, eating heart healthy foods and maintaining a healthy body weight are crucial. One may also supplement their diet is with Omega 3 vitamins. Studies have shown Omega 3 fatty acid helps to lower cholesterol, boost metabolism, and aides in overall cardiovascular health. We suggest Perricone MD Omega 3 Dietary Supplements to boost not only your heart health, but also improve your skin and hair as well.

Source: American Heart Association

More guacamole? Yes, please! The next time you’re at a restaurant don’t pass up on the chips and guacamole, dig in! The astonishing power of avocados is too good to refuse. Avocados are not only tasty, they protect your vision, help prevent cancer and maintain a healthy body weight.

Guard your lookers with a few slices of avocado at meal time. This super food is rich in antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. Both are naturally found in the retina and help to keep your vision as sharp as a hawk’s. They may also help deter cataracts and macular degeneration later in life.

Battling cancer is yet another attribute of the avocado. Recent studies show that the fruit’s unique combination of folate and vitamin C and E kill or inhibit the growth of precancerous cells.

Don’t forget to spice up your salsa with a healthy portion of avocado. Avocado ramps up our body’s ability to absorb fellow cancer fighter, lycopene (found in tomatoes). The healthy fat from the avocado helps absorption of more nutrients into the body.

Not all fat is bad fat! Throw out the mayonnaise and grab a healthier alternative, like creamy avocado spread. One ounce of avocado is loaded with 4 grams of monounsaturated fat (the good kind, which lowers cholesterol), 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, avocados should be at the top of your list!

• Fun fact: Avocados were once regarded as a luxury food reserved for royalty.

Sources: California Avocado Commission and Health Magazine

How do we know when our “look” is outdated? If you’ve had the same look for the last 10 or 20 years, it’s definitely time to move on! Holding on to those styles from your teens and twenties doesn’t keep you suspended in your youth. In fact it can make you look VERY outdated! It’s time to take some risks! Go down to the bookstore and take a glance at some fashion magazines (for both men and women.) Get a feel for which looks are in style that best reflect who you are and your personality.

Ladies start with a new hair cut, color and or style. If you’re not sure what to do, tell your hairstylist you’re updating your look and need some suggestions. Consider something short and sassy like a bob or pixie cut! Losing the high school hair can make you look much more sexy, sophisticated and empowered!

Gentlemen lose the bleach blond (Guy Fieri) or overly dark, dyed hair. Go for something more trimmed and clean around the sides and back and a hint of spikes on top. If you’re balding or thinning on top, the best way to go about updating your look is to go short! Shorter hair creates less contrast between the fuller and thinner areas on your scalp. Also, consider updating your sideburns, goatee and/or beard. Sometimes facial hair may be very sexy on the right guy; sometimes it can make a man look downright ridiculous. If you’re graying, a little bit of gray can be sexy but, do-it-yourself dye kits for hair and beards can end up WAY too dark and look obvious.

Buying the same old style turtle neck sweater in a different color doesn’t qualify as updating your look. You need to take some risks and try something new that you wouldn’t normally buy. Take a younger niece or nephew out with you when you go shopping. Ask them to give you their honest opinion on whether the clothes you’ve picked out are the same old same old, way too trendy, or just hip and trendy enough.

Finally is the all important skin care and make-up. Ladies (and gentlemen) if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to start considering a regular regimen of skincare products to undo any damage and aging to your skin and help prevent future damage and aging. Find a good cleanser, toner, moisturizer and SPF and use them on a regular basis! Taking better care of your skin will result in healthier more vibrant skin with less fine lines, wrinkles, sunspots, and dark circles; and less need for heavy makeup and concealers.

When choosing makeup, remember to go classic with a little bit of flair. Avoid the use of metallic’s, heavy bronzers, and glitter. These accentuate lines and wrinkles. Consult with a make-up artist and/or esthetician on designing your eyebrows and eye shadow. Eye shadow contouring and highlighting and color choice can make all the difference in whether your eyes look bright and inviting or dull and sagging.

Correctly designed eyebrows can accentuate your eyes best features and minimize flaws. The wrong eyebrow design can also send the wrong message. And gentlemen, remember the object is to “groom” your brows so you don’t have a unibrow or a couple of caterpillars on your forehead. Don’t go overboard and lose your handsome masculinity.

Keep all of these things in mind while you have fun designing the new you! Now go forward and conquer that mid life crisis!