Here at My Beauty Match we spend endless hours searching the globe for the best beauty and health products on the market. Although we wish we could give all our readers a long healthy beautiful life, we all know that health issues come up from time to time and sometimes there is not much you can do about it. We believe that the best thing to do is to protect yourself ahead of time in case you are unlucky and experience a health scare or issue.

Looking for Affordable Health Insurance?

When you first get sick or suffer an unfortunate health issue or scare, most people do not know what to do.  Therefore, why not have a partner to help guide you through the sometimes very difficult process of seeking help and various treatments.

>>>FREE Health Insurance Price Comparisons for Individuals and Families

With today’s difficult employment market and slow economic times, so many unfortunate people do have the means to get and maintain health insurance. My Beauty Match insider did some in depth research on affordable and easy to get health insurance and discovered that eHealthInsurance.com is one of the best tools on the market for getting affordable insurance fast without a hassle. According to President Obama there are over 46 million people without health insurance – that’s not good!

Compare Affordable Health Insurance for the Self- Employed

eHealthInsurance.com will be your personal advocate and help you choose from a large (the largest) selection of health insurance coverages from some of the world’s leading providers of health insurance policies. According to eHealthInsurance.com, they offer comparisons of over 13,000 plans from over 150 carriers starting as low as $31 per month. Some of the top insurance providers they work with are:

• Humana Insurance
• Aetna Health insurance
• United Health Care Insurance
• CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance

>>>eHealthInsurance.com offers the largest selection of health plans. Compare & Apply Online, Free instant quotes, Best prices, and Live help!

With eHealthInsurance.com you can quickly compare all the different suitable policies based on your specific needs. Not only can you compare coverage, but eHealthInsurance.com will also help you with your insurance claims. But for those who have ever experienced the time consuming application process and researching of various health insurance programs then you will really appreciate how easy eHealthInsurance.com is to use – as it only takes 11 minutes to get a live quote, apply, and get an electronic approval!

Get instant free quotes, apply from leading online source for short-term health insurance.

So while you’re waiting for your next shipment of cutting-edge beauty and anti-aging products to arrive, spend a few minutes (it only takes 11 minutes…) on eHealthInsurance.com so you are protected in case something unfortunate does happen down the road to you or a loved one.

>>>Get Paid Taking Surveys at Home – Click Here!

I don’t care what anyone tries to tell themselves, but the image that is reflected in the mirror has a tremendous impact on the way we feel about ourselves.

If we like what we see, we feel more confident and more self-assured.

If you don’t believe me, just watch makeover shows like “What Not to Wear”, “How to Look Good Naked” and “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style”! The participants give a very different vibe at the end of the show (after their makeover) compared to the way they looked at the beginning of the show.

Some might say that the need to look younger is all about vanity, but truth be told, we do care about our appearances and we do care about how we are perceived by others. This resonates even louder as we age.

>>> Discover the secrets to looking your best with or without cosmetic enhancement

As an aging well expert, I know firsthand that you DO NOT have to spend thousands of dollars each month to keep looking younger as you age.

I’ve had the privilege of working and interviewing countless celebrity makeup artists, medical doctors, personal trainers, stylists and skincare experts and I’ve documented all of this knowledge in one practical and essential beauty guide for women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s!

>>> I know the topic of aging well inside out!

1) Since publishing my online magazine in June 2007, I’ve reviewed literally thousands of products and I have tested several hundreds of them personally.

2) Women from around the world read my advice. In fact, each day thousands of women read my site and each month I get hundreds of thousands of pages of advice viewed by readers in over 160 countries around the world!

3) I’ve also interviewed many of the leading experts in the beauty and skincare industry (including several top cosmetic doctors and plastic surgeons) and I’ve also had some of the top celebrity makeup artists and hairdressers spill on the secret weapons they use to make Hollywood’s leading ladies look red-carpet ready.

4) I test more products in one week than most women will test in a whole year.

5) Each month, I read about 50 online and off-line magazines to keep on top of any news relating to aging well because I focus on teaching women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s how to age without ever looking (or feeling) old.

>>>> Why I wrote “Beauty has NO age limit”

I title my new book: “Beauty has NO age limit” for a reason. I believe that today, we can look and feel as youthful as we chose to because we have the power within our grasp to take advantage of so much great knowledge to help us make better choices as we age.

Look around you and you’ll see that many of your siblings, relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbors and contacts are taking a more assertive approach to the way they age. Countless numbers of everyday women are saying NO to aging like their mothers and grandmothers did because they’ve made the decision to take better care of their skin, hands, body and health.

Are you turning 35, 40, 45, 55, 70 or anything in between?

>>> Are you worried or scarred of the aging process?

Every day I get several emails from women just like you.

You are about to celebrate a birthday, but you’re not feeling too happy about the aging process?

With the right information, you can control how you age.

Click here to keep reading: “Beauty has NO age limit”

You can imagine that I was less than impress with the comment and deleted it.

That said, it’s interesting to see how people are reacting to this middle aged woman who is now (FINALLY) focusing a bit more attention to the way she looks.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to Susan Boyle: 1) those who feel that talent should come in any “packaging” and 2) those who think that her talent would be showcased even better with a bit of a refreshed look.

From the photos that have been surfacing on the internet, it’s clear that Susan Boyle is not going for a dramatic transformation (thank God) and she’s opted for a really inexpensive, but well deserved makeover.

The simple fact that she did something with her hair and got her eyebrows under control have made a world of difference to her face.

She’s sporting a new wardrobe that might not have cost a lot, but it looks light-years ahead of what she wore on the night the whole world discovered her hidden talent.

It’s incredible, but it’s not her talent that is the focus of all the news report I’ve seen, but rather the fact that she doesn’t “look” like a star. Some commentators have even gone as far as saying that since she’s eyeing the career of a professional Opera singer, her looks don’t matter since most Opera singers aren’t very attractive and they aren’t selling “sexy” the same way The Pussy Cat Dolls are.

A recent headline on the Daily Mail’s web site suggest that Susan Boyle is the voice of the invisible woman – unfashionable, middle-aged, not very attractive, out of shape, loveless and lonely.

I found that statement a bit sad really, but then I also remember some of the comments that my readers left on the site when I had my February 2009 contest for the launch of my new book … a few readers did write that they were at an age where they felt invisible. It always saddens me when women view themselves that way.

You can read the comments here: You’re NOT getting any younger! Do you feel old with each passing birthday?

Last night while coming back from the gym, it hit me between the eyes:

Susan Boyle is only 47 and Madonna is 50 (going of 51) and the difference between the two is like night and day because Madonna looks 20 years younger than Susan Boyle. Would you call Madonna, Iman, Renee Russo, Christie Brinkley or Helen Mirren middle age??? I wouldn’t and these ladies on this list are older than Susan Boyle!!!

Regardless if she wins or she doesn’t win this ‘Britain Got Talent’ competition, Susan Boyle is a reminder that we rarely see “ordinary women” of a certain age with talent on the telly. Everyone dismissed her based on the way she looked and maybe to a certain extent … she might have done the same throughout her life and that’s way it took this competition and her reaching almost 48 years on this planet to finally shine!

Will all of this change Susan Boyle? I think it already has because from her recent mini-makeover it’s clear that she no longer wants to remain invisible being an unfashionable and unattractive look. You can also see from the recent photos that the expression on her face is a bit different because she looks more confident.

Stay tuned because there will surely be a lot more of Susan Boyle to cover.

Here are the recent articles about Susan Boyle’s makeover in the news:

1) The invisible women: Unfashionable, middle-aged women are ignored – but Susan Boyle has given them a voice

2) Susan Boyle’s Wearing Burberry Now

3) Yes, Looks Do Matter

4) Hairy angel no more: Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle gets a £100 makeover

Here’s my post which generated some heavy emotions on the part of a few readers:

Susan Boyle (Britain’s Got Talent) Makeover

Photo by deletem3

The 47-year-old unemployed women from West Lothian (Scotland) has become an overnight sensation and her life is soon to be an open book to the world (I hope she’s ready for the bumpy ride).

I think the reason why some many people (100 million downloads on You Tube and counting) are so fascinated by Susan Boyle is because she doesn’t “look” like your typical songstress. She’s like the underdog that everyone dismissed and now she’s come on top in her late 40s!!!

That said, if she is to win the competition on “Britain’s Got Talent” 2009 she’s going to have to step up her fashion and beauty game or else she’ll be fed to the (media and blogging community) wolves.

I have no doubt that Simon Cowell must have a few stylists ready and waiting to transform Miss Boyle into a new woman … a bit like the well-documented transformation of Sharon Osbourne (Ozzie Osbourne’s better half and a judge on the American version of “American’s Got Talent”).

In anticipation of this eventful day, I thought I take a stab at transforming Susan Boyle.

I’ve decided to give her two types of transformations: 1) a simple one that you would expect to see on those before and after shows with gifted stylists 2) one that would not as dramatic as “Extreme Makeover”, but there would be visits to cosmetic doctors.

Some readers might not agree with this post and may feel (like Rosie O’Donnell) that we should all leave her looking the way she looks now, but I disagree … Susan Boyle has a chance to look like a better version of herself … so why shouldn’t she???

Susan Boyle, you NEED to wear a bra!

Before I go into any type of makeup over tips for Susan Boyle, may I boldly say that no woman her age should be prancing around without a bra! That’s a crime against fashion and young children should not be subject by this kind of exposure. Not to mention that her not wearing a bra is not doing anything to fight gravity.

Here’s a photo of her that I found on TMZ showing her bra-less: Susan Boyle with no bra

>>>Simple Makeover<<<

This is more like a makeover you might see on “What Not to Wear” or “Style by Jury”.

1) Wardrobe: We need to burn that entire wardrobe and start fresh. Yes, she’s 47, but she’s dressing like she was 97. She’s still young and if she were to work with one of Britain’s top stylists, I’m 100 per cent certain Susan Boyle would look quite stylish. Someone also needs to introduce this woman to colour. Those beige shades she is wearing are doing NOTHING AT ALL for her.  She’s been seen recently in London wearing more stylish clothes, but there is still A LOT of room for improvement.

Here’s the photo here: And you said you wouldn’t change, Susan Boyle! Britain’s Got Talent star shows off her new look

2) Jewellery: Susan Boyle needs accessories that are more modern and more stylish. Now, I’m not saying that fakes cannot look great … trust me, I’ve got my share of fake jewellery and trust me they look as good as my real jewellery (aka jewellery with precious stones and precious metal). The thing with Susan Boyle is that her fakes look a bit dated … again a bit of colour would go a long way to enhance her complexion.

3) Shoes: When I watched the videos and saw her walk onto the stage, I gasped when I saw her shoes. I can understand if she were a 90-year-old grandmother (and even 90-year-old grandmothers are kicking it up a notch when it comes to fashion these days), I might be more accepting, but Susan Boyle has no reason for wearing such matronly shoes.  She lives in Europe and has access to some of the BEST shoe designers on the planet. She doesn’t have to learn to walk in 6 inch heels (a la Gwyneth Paltrow), but she can wear stylist flats or kitten heels that are still comfortable.

4) Facial/Manicure/Pedicure: YES TO ALL OF THOSE! A day at the spa will do a lot of good for Susan Boyle.

5) Eyebrows: They are so unruly that I needed a separate section for this. At the spa (which I recommend earlier), I’m 100 per cent certain that someone will advise her on proper eyebrow grooming. There is no doubt that Susan will be in a lot of pain because I don’t think she’s ever waxed or tweezed those eyebrows!

6) Hair: She needs an updated cut, she should get her hair coloured (and it doesn’t have to be permanent hair colour) and she needs to learn to use styling products. She might also need to buy a flat iron because I have a feeling she might be using old fashion rollers, but given her short hair and her lack of knowledge her hairstyle looks dated and ages her by 20 years.

7) Makeup: Susan Boyle should wear a foundation that can help even out her skin. She has a lot of redness and it’s dominating her face. She should also use a bit of eye colour and mascara to open her eyes. She seems that have quite thin lips and yes she could get fillers to plump up her lips (but it doesn’t work for everyone), but if she applies a bit of colour on her lips, then they will stand out more and will give her face a bit more definition.

>>>Cosmetic Rejuvenation Makeover<<<

I have watched Extreme Makeover a few times and every time it’s always been a shock to me how people can endure so much pain to look like a complete stranger. I will be far kinder to Susan Boyle and will not transform her in a way her own parents could not recognize, but I will follow the rules of Style by Jury where there is some cosmetic rejuvenation to enhance what she already has instead of transforming her into a person who doesn’t remotely look like her.

1) Cosmetic dentistry: From photos I’ve seen, Susan Boyle seems to have good teeth. I’d say a visit to a cosmetic dentist for some professional whitening should do the trick. Of course, while she’s there the dentist will make sure that her teeth and gums are healthy. Given that she’s approaching her 50s, if Susan Boyle had not taken care of her smile, there might be a lot more work involved. Gum disease is a concern for Baby Boomers and issues with your gum can permeate to other aspects of your health.

2) Cosmetic rejuvenation: From the colour of her skin, I suspect that Susan Boyle suffers from either rosacea or sun exposure or both. A cosmetic doctor would be able to even out her skin with lasers or peels. It is possible that some doctors might want to add volume and contouring to her face with some filler injections, but I think that as a singer no one should approach her face with Botox or else the emotion on her face will be lost and that’s just wrong if you are a singer. Injectable fillers are a better way to go for Susan Boyle. Given the severity of the redness on her face, I suspect that she’ll need a number of corrective treatments before starting a series of maintenance treatments.

3) Nutrition/fitness regime: I don’t think I’d expect Susan Boyle to transform her body à la Madonna, but I do believe that working with a personal trainer will help her body sustain the pressure of being on stage and possibly touring the world. She would also look a lot more toned in her clothes. I’m not talking about her losing 50 lbs, but if she does exercise she’ll replace the fat with muscle and her body will look completely different.

Given her age, I think Susan Boyle would find it beneficial to work with a nutritionist … because as she approaches menopause, her body will require certain essential foods, vitamins and antioxidants.

I would not subject Susan Boyle to liposuction or anything dramatic like that. I have noticed that she has a prominent double chin, but that’s something that can EASILY be fixed if she works with personal trainer and starts shedding a few pounds.

If you missed that post, you can still catch here: Valerie Ramsey started modeling in her sixties

Of course there is the famous Carmen Dell’Orefice who was born in 1931 and has been modelling since 1947 … she’s still modelling today in her 70s and she’s representing luxury brands like Rolex.

That said, I had not heard of Daphne Selfe until recently. This British model (well she’s half Irish) is only 80 years old and she might be considered the oldest supermodel on the planet!

Yup, this story comes straight from one of my favourite British online newspaper Daily Mail. I think it’s quite important to feature these types of story because most of time the media makes us feel as if 30 was ancient and 40 was like being a dinosaur and being over 50 is like being invisible.

The reasons why everyone is going on and on about Madonna is because she’s over 50 and she’s clearly telling the world: “I’m NOT invisible and I’m still pretty sexy at my age”. I’ve never been a huge fan of Madonna’s music, but she tops my list of celebrities over 35 who are aging well because she’s showing women that just because you age doesn’t mean that you lose your beauty, sexuality or strength. Some journalists choose to mock her and say that she’s ancient and irrelevant … but I could not disagree more … there is NOTHING remotely irrelevant about Madonna in her new role as spokesperson for women over 50 who are aging well!

Daphne Selfe is not only modelling, but she’s modelling for la crème de la crème: Dolce & Gabbana, Michiko Koshino and Tata-Naka … and she’s fetching over $1,300 per day for strutting her stuff on international catwalks and posing for magazines!

As if that wasn’t enough, Daphne has been photographed by some of the top artists in the fashion industry including: Mario Testino, Nick Knight and David Bailey.

It seems that Daphne has been modelling for a very long time now … in fact she started modelling at 20 … so that would mean that she’s been in the business for 60 years!

Another thing I love about Daphne is that she kept her hair quite long … although it’s completely silver now and she can still work a pair of high heels.

I say BRAVO Daphne for showing the world that being a model in your 80s is a beautiful thing! I have no doubt that here kids and grandkids are incredibly proud of her incredible trailblazing ways!!!

You can read the original post and take a look at Daphne at work here: Supergran! Aged 80 and earning £1000 a day, could Daphne Selfe be the world’s oldest supermodel?

Photo by Daily Mail

Colleen might still be in her 20s, but she knows a thing or two about beauty and makeup!

Colleen will help me bring some of the latest products on the market to you!

Colleen loves lipgloss so much that she wanted us to feature her fave … MAC Cosmetics Lipglass!

Here are a few things you might want to know about Colleen:

About Colleen

Colleen has also been a curious sort of person always wondering why people use certain products on their face, cheeks, eyes, and lips, especially having a bucket-load of older cousins who introduced her to her first lipsmackers. She’s been hooked on lipglosses since.

Another love of Colleen is eyeliner. Since the beginning of high school, if not earlier, she has been addicted to it and thinks her face looks weird without it. Safe to say, you probably won’t ever catch her without wearing eyeliner. She’s experimented with a lot of different colours and is incredibly fond of purple, which thankfully compliments her brown eyes very nicely.

As Colleen got older, she has realized the importance of keeping her skin healthy and leading a healthier lifestyle.  Luckily, she has found that she loves to cook for herself and is constantly experimenting with different flavours and ingredients.

The other joys in Colleen’s life now are writing, photography and scrapbooking. You’d be surprised how therapeutic and satisfying scrapbooking is.

Ten things you might not know about Colleen

1) I have not bought a greeting card for years now. I prefer to make my own cards.

2) I’m not lactose intolerant but I don’t like to eat cheese if I can help it.

3) I could eat tofu for the rest of my life and I would be very content.

4) I like things displayed symmetrically.

5) I am obsessed with my magic bullet.

6) I drink at least 3 cups of tea and coffee a day.

7) Since living in Toronto I have had to moisturize my skin twice a day.

#8) I just learned how to whistle a year ago.

9) I really started to like MAC lipgloss when I realized one of my favourite soap opera characters wore it.

10) I am also obsessed with the food network. I watch it before I go to bed.

Christy Turlington is now 40 (born January 2, 1969)! The 1980s supermodel looks as flawless today as she did when I first saw her on the cover of my favourite fashion magazines as a teenager.

I’ve featured Christy as a Beauty Match Celebrity Pick a few times because I think she’s aging so well. I also am quite partial to the fact that she’s part Latina (as I never hesitate to highlight other compatriots and her mother was from El Salvador), but I’m really partial to the fact that she re-entered the modelling business in her late 30s and today in her 40s she’s the face of Roberto Coin jewellery, Chanel, Escada and Maybelline Cosmetics.  The mother of two (she has one boy and one girl with actor Ed Burns) is busier now than she ever was and she’s still the picture of perfection.

christy_turlington_w_magazine

If you’re a big Christy Turlington fan, you’ll love this and if you don’t know Christy very well, this will be your chance to discover a beautiful woman who’s aging so well:

Here’s the slideshow W Magazine created: Eternally Gorgeous: Christy Turlington.

Here are some more visual reminders of how beautiful Christy Turlington is and how well she’s aged with the years!

Christy Turlington as the face of Roberto Coin:

christy_turlington

Christy Turlington as the face of Escada:

christy_turlington_escada

christy_turlington_escada_2

christy_turlington_escada_3

Photos from Escada

Christy Turlington as the face of Maybelline:

christy_turlington_maybelline

christy_turlington_maybelline_2

Christy Turlington as the face of Chanel:

christy_turlington_chanel1

Here’s a short advert featuring Christy Turlington for Maybelline:

Here’s another advert featuring Christy for Maybelline:

One more of Christy for Maybelline:

Christy Turlington explains how she got started as a model:

This is a montage of different photos of Christy Turlington’s modelling career (it’s no wonder she’s a supermodel … she’s simply beautiful!):

I’ve reviewed Christy Turlington’s line of Ayurvedic Skincare products Sundãri’s and you can read more about them here:

Christy Turlington’s restorative hair treatment

Sundãri’s ‘Special Skincare Edition Gift Set’ contains healing Neem

Sundãri wants everyday to be ‘Earth Day’ and help create a healthier (and prettier) world!

Sundãri gift set in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Photos from Maybelline

Jerry has been working the catwalk and she’s been featured in numerous magazine layouts for many decades now, but she looks as beautiful as ever in these photos.

I say BRAVO to Karl Lagerfeld (head of la maison Chanel) for embracing the idea that most of his clients aren’t 18-year old girls because they cannot afford these designer prices and it’s impressive that he’s taken that fact all the way to the pages of all the international fashion magazines.

jerry_hall_chanel

I think Lagerfeld summed it all up when he said to Grazia magazine:

“Oscar Wilde said, “I like men who have a future, and women who have a past (The Picture Of Dorian Gray). It is this whole idea of seduction that is summarized here that appeals to me. One of a very young man fascinated and attracted by what a woman does: her wardrobe, her perfume, her movements, her allure, etc.’ And how did Jerry land the leading role? ‘I’ve known Jerry since she was 15 and have always loved her sumptuous and generous side. I love her skin, her complexion, her hair, her overall allure.”

Since I’ve been home-bound all week because I twisted my ankle I won’t be able to get my hand on my copy yet.

That said, I thought it was important to let my readers know that Michelle Obama looks glorious on the cover of Vogue magazine!

Ladies, run don’t walk to get your copy of the Vogue because I would not be surprised if it became as much of a rarity as the ItalianVogue Black edition that sold out in a few days after hitting the newsstands!

For me getting old is not the real problem, but looking older than my biological age would devastate me.

I don’t care what anyone tries to tell themselves, but the image that is reflected in the mirror has a tremendous impact on the way we feel about ourselves.

If we like what we see, we feel more confident and more self-assured.

If you don’t believe me, just watch makeover shows like “What Not to Wear”, “How to Look Good Naked” and “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style”! The participants give a very different vibe at the end of the show (after their makeover) compared to the way they looked at the beginning of the show.

Some might say that the need to look younger is all about vanity, but truth be told, we do care about our appearances and we do care about how we are perceived by others. This resonates even louder as we age.

>>>> Why I wrote “Beauty has NO age limit”

I title my new book: “Beauty has NO age limit” for a reason. I believe that today, we can look and feel as youthful as we chose to because we have the power within our grasp to take advantage of so much great knowledge to help us make better choices as we age.

Look around you and you’ll see that many of your siblings, relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbors and contacts are taking a more assertive approach to the way they age. Countless numbers of everyday women are saying NO to aging like their mothers and grandmothers did because they’ve made the decision to take better care of their skin, hands, body and health.

Discover the secrets to looking your best with or without cosmetic enhancement

As an aging well expert, I know firsthand that you DO NOT have to spend thousands of dollars each month to keep looking younger as you age.

I’ve had the privilege of working and interviewing countless celebrity makeup artists, medical doctors, personal trainers, stylists and skincare experts and I’ve documented all of this knowledge in one practical and essential beauty guide for women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s!

When it comes to understanding what you need to do to maintain youthful looking skin for as long as possible, you can read a dozen beauty magazines, track the latest beauty trends, speak to dozens of beauty experts, read about the latest fitness and health trends for women, test countless products in the hopes of finding the right aging-well products for you and try the latest super foods.

Or…

You can learn from the advice of experts in the field all documented in one practical beauty guide: “Beauty has NO age limit”!

Click here if you think Beauty has NO age limit and get a copy of my new book today!

***** “Beauty has NO age limit” *****

>>>>> Win 1 of 10 copies of my new book!

I’m giving away 10 copies of my new book (which contains over 81 pages of solid tips and advice) to readers who are part of Beauty Match Insider.

If you are not yet part of our free membership, sign-up today: Beauty Match Insider

Once you have signed up, come back to this post and write a comment to tell me “why” you want to win this new book. I will reward randomly 10 lucky readers with a copy of my new book (retailing at $27.97)!

Best of luck to all participants! I’ll announce the readers on this site during the first week of March 2009!

>>>>> Don’t forget, you can buy my new book by clicking on this link:

***** “Beauty has NO age limit” *****

Lauren Hutton is showing us all that aging doesn’t meant “getting old”!

I just got my new JCrew catalog and I was thrilled to see that the US catalog fashion giant favoured by First Lady Michelle Obama has chosen Lauren to grace the cover of their February 2009 edition.

lauren_hutton_jcrew_catalog_inside

May I just say that seeing Laurent Hutton looking so gorgeous in that khaki trench coat made want to whip out my credit card from my wallet to order it!

Bravo JCrew … BRAVO!!!

This is big news for the French cosmetic giant Lancôme because two of their ambassadresses received nominations for the for 81st Oscars ceremony!

Last week, actresses and Lancôme ambassadresses Kate Winslet and Anne Hathaway have been both nominated for the 81st Oscars Ceremony in the Best Actress in a leading role category.

Kate Winslet is nominated for her role as Hanna Schmitz in the film “The Reader” directed by Stephen Daldry and Anne Hathaway for her role in Jonathan Demme’s film “Rachel Getting Married”.

The 81st Oscars ceremony will take place at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles on February 22^nd and we’ll be watching and adding our two cents worth of comments on the Red Carpet couture, bling and beauty.

Photo provided by Lancôme

A Touch of Blusher
A Touch of Blusher loves plum.

Beauty Match
Amino Genesis is the MOST popular free beauty sample selection on our site!

eye4style
eye4style keeps her delicates fresh with Soak Wash. Check out her review!

Her Accessories
In the first 24 hours, this post got almost 100 comments – want to see what all the fuss is about?

Beauty and Fashion Tech
Beauty and Fashion Tech is having a giveaway contest for a Twisted Silver Romance Bracelet, a $40 value!

Girl Gloss
Girl Gloss reviews the Sephora Lip Attitude Lipstick.

Steeping Beauty
Spent the week de-stressing via espresso injections and contemplating a Fake Bake.

Gleaming Things
Hate Valentine’s Day? Check out Gleaming Things’ anti-Valentine’s Day jewelry picks.

shes_got_the_look_kim_alexis

Do you remember the 80s supermodel Kim Alexis? She was the blonde with a mole on her left chin. As a young girl and young teenager, I still remember Kim’s face all over the cover of my Vogue magazines as the pretty blonde American model.

A few weeks ago, I was channel surfing trying to get away from the gloom and doom news of the financial markets free falling when I saw this advert for “She’s Got the Look: The modelling competition for women over 35″. I just about died because I thought that Miss Fierce-Tyra-Banks had the monopoly on modelling competitions in TV-land and I thought that the prerequisite 18-year-old-size-zero-girl-with-no-curves was what TV audiences wanted to watch!

I won’t go so far as to say that I’ve never watched an episode of “America’s Next Top Model” because I have … it’s really entertaining and the producers have done an amazing job at putting these young girls in situations that bring the “real” person inside (many times it’s not a pretty picture or a model perfect photo).

“She’s Got the Look” is the adult version of “America’s Next Top Model”. All the models are (get this) over 35! Yes, ladies, if you missed out on that modelling career in your teens and you are aging well, it’s still time for to turn that dream into reality.

Now, I’ve not yet caught the show live because it’s been particularly busy for me lately and I’ve pretty much cut out all evening TV other than “Lipstick Jungle” (I cannot miss that show) in order to fit all the latest product launch events, Christmas parties, emails, comments from readers and workload, but I thought this was such a phenomenal and monumental event that I just had to highlight it!

I think Kim Alexis is the perfect host for the show because at 48 (born July 15, 1960) she’s gorgeous and considering she’s the mother of five kids, one can clearly see from her physique that moms can be sexy in their late 40s. Beverly Johnson (who is one of my Celebrity Beauty Match Picks: Beverly Johnson is sensational in her fifties! ) is also a judge on the show.

shes_got_the_look_beverly_johnson

Beverly Johnson is a bit like the “Barack Obama of the modelling world” because she’s the first black model to grace the covers of major fashion magazines like Vogue and today at 56 (born October 13, 1952), she’s doesn’t look a day older than 34! Alongside these two models, Sean Patterson (president of Wilhelmina Models, Inc) and Robert Verdi (lifestyle expert) are also judges.

Here are some photos that prove that 18 year olds don’t have the monopoly on being models  (remember all these women are over 35!):

If you want to look at more photos from the modelling competition for women over 35, you can catch all the highlights here:  “She’s Got the Look”

You can catch “She’s Got the Look” in the U.S. on TV Land and on W Network in Canada.

Ladies, this is what being over 35 looks like!

shes_got_the_look

shes_got_the_look_2

shes_got_the_look_3

shes_got_the_look_4

shes_got_the_look_5

shes_got_the_look_6

shes_got_the_look_7

All photos are from TVland.com from the “She’s Got the Look” page

***I’ve included a short clip from Ellen’s show where she talks about the shooting of the CoverGirl advert at the end of this post***

This is really BIG news! Ellen is the new face of Cover Girl’s newest line of anti-aging products.

As a new generation of anti-aging makeup, Simply Ageless stays suspended over fine lines and wrinkles, making them look less noticeable and providing beautifully flawless-looking skin. It’s been formulated with Olay’s Regenerist serum!  And the new age-defying foundation has been clinically shown to positively impact the healthy look of the skin for improved skin appearance over time.

The secret behind CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Foundation is a solid emulsion technology that allows the foundation to stay suspended over skin’s imperfections.  As it is applied, the unique Simply Ageless formula works with the skin’s temperature to transform the foundation from a cream to a liquid on contact.  The liquid then forms an “invisible suspension system” that floats over the surface without gathering in lines, making imperfections seem to virtually disappear.  The CoverGirl and Olay formulas work together to balance skin’s textural and colour variations in order to provide a smooth, even-looking finish.

Now, women no longer have to make sacrifices between look and skin condition to obtain full coverage.

Since its introduction in 1961, the CoverGirl brand has been a pioneer in celebrating women’s inner and outer beauty, and their drive to look and be their best selves.  The long list of famous CoverGirl spokespersons has included Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Rachel Hunter, Tyra Banks, Niki Taylor and Molly Sims, and its current roster of CoverGirls includes the dynamic Queen Latifah, Rihanna, and Drew Barrymore.

Here’s what Esi Eggleston Bracey, vice president and general manager, Global Cosmetics, Procter & Gamble Beauty had to say about Ellen’s new role as model for the company:

“Ellen is a quintessential CoverGirl.  She is smart, confident, and natural, with a beauty and down-to-earth personality that fits perfectly with what CoverGirl represents.  She’s a woman living her fifties with verve and a zest for life that is truly uplifting.  She is also a woman who knows first-hand from her daily sessions in the makeup chair preparing for her national television show that many foundations – even expensive department store brands – can actually make you look older. We developed CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless for all the women just like Ellen who told us they’re looking for quality products that help them look and feel beautiful at any age.”

You can watch as Ellen is changing the face of beauty and the face of the CoverGirl!

I just finished watching the Ellen DeGeneres Show and her segment was so hilarious that I wanted to see if it was on YouTube … and it was!

This is a loaded question, but one that a lot of Caucasian women seem to focus on. I cannot tell you how many times people say to me: “no wonder you don’t have wrinkles … black women never age”. Well, that’s not entirely true. It’s obvious that too many people watch Oprah … since it was on her show that Iman (aka Mrs. Iman Bowie) declared on TV that “black don’t crack”!

I wish it were that simple, but it’s not. Being black is NOT a licence to wrinkle-free skin. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but being black (or Asian or darker skin Hispanics) does give the advantage of naturally having more melanin in your skin.

That said, there are certain ethnic characteristics to aging and you’ll find a list of some of the more obvious ones below. You’ll also find some of the most common cosmetic enhancements certain ethnic groups might undertake to smoothen out the signs of aging.

One thing I should make clear … ethnicity is only part of the equation, when it comes to aging well, nutrition and lifestyle are crucially important!

caucasian_white_woman

* When it comes to aging, Caucasian women will find that they will start showing tell-tale signs far earlier than their counterparts because they have fairly thin skin. Although they won’t have to deal with dark scars left behind by cuts or acne, they will show fine lines in their late 20s and sometimes sooner.

* Unlike Asian, Hispanic, Mediterranean, black and East Indian women who all tend not to feel the need to get a darker, many Caucasian women sun tan or use tanning salons to achieve that golden post-vacation look.

* A lifetime of excessive sun exposure will leave Caucasian skin subject to premature aging, severe discolouration and deep wrinkles.

* Cosmetic treatments such as light therapy and laser resurfacing will considerably help with a lifetime of sun exposure. When it comes to dealing with deep wrinkles, injectable fillers become a (Caucasian) girl’s best friend.

* When injections like gentler forms of cosmetic rejuvenation treatments no longer seem to provide results, Caucasian women tend to get facelifts to turn back the hands of time.

caucasian_white_woman_smiling

* In general, Caucasians tend to get more facelifts than their counterparts. This can be certainly due to the fact that in most cases white women will show wrinkles at an early age because they have thinner skin, but it can also be attributed to the fact that more invasive procedures can sometimes alter ethnic features of non-Caucasian women. Another contributing factor could be that given Caucasian skin is thinner … it will start sagging faster than women with thicker skin.

asian_woman

* I’ve heard a number of Asian women talk about the “Asian Secret”. It seems that Asians will age effortlessly until they hit their early 60s and then visible signs of aging become quite noticeable (this is something I’ve been told by a number of Asian girlfriends and contacts).

* Asians also start showing their age because of the drooping of their eye lids and many opt for eyelid surgery to remove the excess skin and open the eye.

* Although Asians don’t seem to have to worry about wrinkles, skin discolouration, dryness and blotchiness are still skincare concerns as they age.

* When it comes to cosmetic rejuvenation, it seems that Asians favour eyelid surgery, filler injections and facial peels.

Why don’t black women and African-American women seem to have any wrinkles?

* When black women take care of themselves and adopt a good lifestyle, they can easily look 10 or 15 years younger than their counterparts because of their built in anti-ager – melanin.

black_woman_african_american

* Black women also have a tough time with scarring, skin discolouration, skin tone differences on their face and dark circles.

* When it comes to cosmetic rejuvenation, black women tend to gravitate towards injectable fillers and when they go under the knife it’s usually for a nose job. Since they have thicker skin than their counterparts, post-treatment swelling that follows cosmetic procedures tends to be minimal.

* Black women should really proceed with great caution when it comes to certain cosmetic procedures because some of them can cause permanent scarring during the healing process.

* Keloids (a large raised scar that spreads beyond the size of the original wound) are also of great concern to black women when incisions and scarring are involved.

How do East Indian women age?

* East Indian women deal with a lot of the same skincare issues as black women. Their major concerns deal with skin discolouration, patchiness and blotchiness. In some cases, East Indian women deal with severe dark circles around their eyes.

woman_oprah_aishwarya_rai

* Because they are lighter in complexion than black women, East Indian women are able to take advantage of the age-reversing effects of laser resurfacing and just like black women they also find chemical peels to be effective at helping them deal with scars.

italian_woman

* When you think of Mediterranean women you think of women like Sophia Loren (Italian), Laura Morante (also Italian), Natalie Portman (Israeli), Nelly Furtado (Portuguese), Sofia Milos (half Italian and half Greek).

* When you think of Hispanic women, you think of Salma Hayek (half Mexican and half Lebanese), Sophia Vergara (Columbian) and Eva Mendes (Cuban-American).

* These women have one thing in common: olive skin that is not as fragile as their Caucasian counterparts.

* Mediterranean and Hispanic women don’t show the signs of aging as quickly as Caucasians because they have more melanin. Therefore, they don’t have to show their (real) age until later in life.

brazilian_woman

* These women will also have to contend with sagging skin as they age and since they are darker than Caucasians they’ll also have to deal with scars to a certain extent.

* When it comes to getting some help from their cosmetic doctors, many Mediterranean and Hispanic women will opt for filler injections.

First photo by by som sol’n förlät

Photo of Oprah Winfrey and Aishwarya Rai by som sol’n förlät

Photo of blond by som sol’n förlät

Photo of comparison between Aishwarya and Caucasian woman by som sol’n förlät

Photo of Brazilian TV show presenter Claudete Troiano (short haired blond) by by Sérgio Savaman Savarese

Photo of Asian woman by Amy Nguyen

Photo of black woman by by Saquan Stimpson/monstershaq200 0

Photo of Italian woman riding a bicycle by by gapysphoto

Photo of Caucasian woman smiling by by makelessnoise

Reverse Damage, Reveal Radiance,
Fade sun spots and age spots now ONLY $39.95 + S&H