BV on Beauty

Do's and Dont's of Skin Care

Meghan Taylor — 2010-09-01T15:00:00 00:00

As the largest organ in our body, we owe it to ourselves to take great care of our skin. Most people have an arsenal of products in their cabinets that cleanse, exfoliate, treat and moisturize. The products we use to moisturize the rest of our body is important, but what about our faces? Well, that's an entirely different story. The skin on our faces deserves a little more attention so we've highlighted a few important do's and dont's to live by.

DO: Wash your face daily with a gentle cleanser. It's imperative to wash at night to take the day's sweat and grime off. The best time to do this is in the shower when your pores are open and ready to purge.

DON'T: Go to bed with your makeup on! Not only do you look awful in the morning, but it can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. You also want to use a good eye-makeup remover at night to ensure proper removal.

Try Klorane Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes ( $17.99, www.ricksnyc.com)

DO: Use a good exfoliator twice a week. The skin regenerates rather quickly and you want to reveal your best skin by removing dead skin cells. Fresh face beauty is ALWAYS in.

DON'T: Exfoliate during your menstrual cycle. Your hormones are off the hook during this time and exfoliating with granules can irritate the skin (sometimes enough to make you break out).

Splurge on Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion cream ($75, www.sephora.com)

DO: Use eye cream in the morning and at night.

DON'T: Rub it in like the lotion you apply to your body. The skin underneath your eyes is EXTREMELY thin. You want to take your ring fingers and gently pat the cream in a circular motion - moving from the outer eye inwards underneath the eye and in an outwards motion on your upper lid.

Try OLAY Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream ( $12.99, www.drugstore.com)

DO: Use different moisturizers from day to night. During the day you want enough moisture to keep your skin glowing but not greasy. Night cremes are heavier and since your asleep you should use this opportunity to give your skin a great creamy vacation.

DON'T: Forget you neck! Apply your night creme on your neck to keep away the gobble gobbles of turkey-neck. Apply creme in an upward motion daily. Trust me, you'll thank me when you're 50!

Try L'Oreal Revitalift Complete Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Moisturizer Night Cream ( $15.99, www.drugstore.com)

DO: Keep your lips moisturized night AND day. Again, nighttime is a great opportunity to slather on the balm.

DON'T: Wear you day gloss to achieve what a good balm can. (Makeup Artist tip: Lanolin is a great lip moisturizer to use at night)

DO: Start taking special care of your skin in your 20's. It pays to start early!

DON'T: Believe that you don't need expensive products to achieve great skin. Remember there is a product for everyone and for every budget. Just be gentle with your skin and it will love you back for years to come!

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Hot or Not: Ashanti at NAACP Theatre Awards

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-31T16:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, Celebrity Beauty, How-To

Ashanti attended NAACP's 20th annual Theatre Awards in Los Angeles last night. The singer-turned-actress received an award for her portrayal of Dorothy in the 'Wizard of Oz' off-Broadway. Ashanti decided to channel old Hollywood with her makeup to match her elegant floor-length red dress.

She wore a deep shade of red lipstick, red and gold eyeshadow, out-to-there lashes and lightly rouged cheeks, which helped take her Hollywood glam to another level. What do you think? Is she giving good face?

Previously: Garcelle Beauvais

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Beauty & Brains: Celebrities Who Went to College

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-31T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty

Not only are some of our most beloved celebrities beautiful and talented, but many of them have brains to back it up! From Sanaa Lathan to Gabrielle Union to Denzel Washington, a number of black Hollywood stars chose to further their education before furthering their careers.

In honor of back-to-school season, BlackVoices is celebrating some of our favorite celebrities who prove that getting an education is not only cool, but a beautiful and necessary start to a successful career.

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Beauty & Brains

Sanaa Lathan: University of California, Berkley
The starlet received a degree in English considered pursuing a career in law. However, she decided to get her masters at the prestigious Yale School of Drama instead.

Beauty & Brains

Lance Gross: Howard University
The 'House of Payne' hunk ran track and field for HU and turned down an opportunity to become a professional athlete in order to pursue his dream of acting.

Beauty & Brains

Kerry Washington: George Washington University
The New York Beauty began acting in high school yet pursued a degree in Theater before taking on her dream full-time.

Beauty & Brains

Boris Kodjoe: Virgina Central University
The sexy actor was once an aspiring tennis player and attended VCU on scholarship. A back injury ended his dreams of going pro, so the 'Undercover' hunk turned to modeling, which then led to acting.

Beauty & Brains

Regina Hall: New York Universityy
The 'Scary Movie' starlet received a master's degree in Journalism from NYU before switching gears to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Beauty & Brains

Brian White: Dartmouth College
The 'Stomp the Yard' star attended Dartmouth College where he became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. After playing football in college, White was drafted by the New England Patriots. Although his football career came to an end, we're happy to see him on the big screen.

Beauty & Brains

Nicole Ari Parker: NYU's School of Tisch
Parker studied at NYU's acclaimed School of Tisch and went on to receive her acting degree.

Beauty & Brains

Denzel Washington: Fordham University
As a freshman, the 'American Gangster' star played b-ball as a power forward. After being unable to decide on his major, he dropped out for a semester only to return with the acting bug. He graduated in 1977 with a B.A. in Drama and Journalism.

Beauty & Brains

La La Vasquez: Howard University
Vasquez majored in Communications at Howard and served as a disk jockey for her school's station.

Beauty & Brains

Michael Ealy: University of Maryland, College Park
The sexy 'Takers' star attended college in his native state of Maryland.

Beauty & Brains

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Georgia Woman Charged Extra by Nail Salon for Being Overweight

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-23T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Nails, Video

It's normal practice for nail salons to charge for extra designs and services, but what about extra weight? According to WSB TV, that was exactly the case for Michelle Fonville. The Georgia woman received a startling surprise after receiving a manicure, pedicure and eyebrow arch from Natural Nails in Dekalb County, Georgia, when the owner tacked on an extra $5 dollars to her bill for being overweight.

Salon manager Kim Tran explained to Fonville that the extra fee was meant to cover the cost of replacing the $2,500 salon chair, in the chance that it broke.

"I said, Ma'am, you can't charge me $5 more. That's discrimination because of my weight," Fonville told WSB TV.

According to the salon owner, the chairs are only meant to withstand 200 pounds and anything above that weight has the potential to damage the chairs.

"Do you think that's fair when we take $24 [for manicure and pedicure] and we have to pay $2,500? Is that fair? No," said Tran in her defense. Tran has since refunded Fonville her $5 and told her to take her business elsewhere.

Fonville, who was close to tears when given the news, would like more customers to learn about the salon's unfair practices.

"The word has to get out there that these people are discriminating against us because of our weight," she said. "I mean come on, we're in America. You can't do that."

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Hot & Heavy Celebs

Jordin Sparks: This pop star has taught legions of young fans that you don't have to be stick thin to be beautiful. Little known fact: Before she won 'American Idol,' she won a model search contest for plus-size store Torrid.

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Toccara Jones: Not many plus-size models make it into the pages of Vogue Italia. Then again, not many models of any size make it into that magazine. That Toccara got her own spread in 2008's all-black issue should say something.

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Oprah Winfrey: Fans of the wildly successful television personality and businesswoman have seen her weight fluctuate over the years, but most have known for years what Ms. Winfrey seems to have recently figured out -- as long as she's healthy, she looks just right!

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Jill Scott: On her HBO show, 'No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency,' the new mom plays a woman of "traditional build," but there's nothing traditional about this radiant and talented singer and actress.

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Raven-Symone: One of this former child star's missions is to promote self-esteem in young girls. By embracing her curves and resisting the urge to conform to Hollywood's standards, she does this without even trying!

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Mo'Nique: Part of her comedy career has been built on making fun of skinny girls. Since Mo'Nique recently dropped some weight to get healthy, she can rep for both sides!

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Queen Latifah: Not only is Queen Latifah a triple threat actor, singer and rapper, she's also a CoverGirl. How's that for hot?

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Jazmine Sullivan: In a sea of stick-thin R&B girls with weak voices, songstress Sullivan stands out with her major pipes and enviable curves!

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Sherri Shepherd: Although the 'View' co-host and new Lifetime sitcom star is shrinking -- she recently donned a swimsuit on air after a summer-long weight-loss challenge -- the bubbly comedian is still has her trademark curves.

Hot & Heavy Celebs

Jennifer Hudson: With a beautiful voice and a beautiful personality, J-Hud has stolen hearts and inspired legions of fans.

Hot & Heavy Celebs

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Hot or Not: Garcelle Beauvais

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-20T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, Celebrity Beauty, Hot or Not

Actress Garcelle Beauvais recently attended a Dress for Success charity event in West Hollywood looking youthful as ever. Beauvais accented her lovely brown eyes with pink eyeshadow on the top and brim of her lashes, along with long fluttery lashes and rouged cheeks. What do you think of the look? Is she giving good face?

Previously: Leona Lewis

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Glamorous Chicks Cosmetics: 1 Glamorous Product, 6 Different Uses!

Meghan Taylor — 2010-08-19T12:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, Nails, Interviews, Product Reviews

One of the hottest and most revolutionary products on the market is by a new cosmetics company called Glamorous Chicks Cosmetics. I recently went to the company's product launch and, boy, was I impressed!

The one product that really stood out to me was the line of beautiful mineral pigments. Not only can you use them on your eyes, but the pigments can also be used six different ways -- eye shadow, lip gloss, mascara, nail polish, eyeliner, blush or bronzer. What a value!

The pigments come in more than 30 colors, so you'll be sure to find the right shade to create your own glamorous look. I had a chance to chat with Glamorous Chicks' CEO, Shana Joseph, to find out more about the line.

What made you decide to start Glamorous Chicks Cosmetics?

I realized it was time to pursue my true passion. The beauty industry always interested me, so I researched and acquired a makeup business that I operated for awhile. I then realized that I was selling someone else's product, marketing someone else's brand -- and even worse -- putting money in someone else's pockets. So I decided to fully empower myself by creating my own company and investing in my own products. From this inspiration, Glamorous Chicks was born!

($14.95, www.glamorouschickscosmetics.com)

Your pigments can be used in so many different ways. Did you formulate them this way or did you discover the versatility afterward?

We formulated our products to be versatile because this is definitely the age of the smart and conscious consumer. With everyone watching their pockets, it is important to offer consumers more bang for their bucks. That is exactly what our eye shadow offers. Amazingly, our shadows can be used in at least six different ways: wet or dry, as nail polish, blush, bronzer, eyeliner, mascara or lip gloss. The product has great staying power and the pigments are fabulous. We also have an amazing skin care line, which includes moisturizers, toners, makeup remover, cleanser and makeup primer, to name a few. Our products are made of mineral and are 100 percent natural, so they are perfect for all skin types and very gentle on your skin. Our products are great additions to the makeup bags of women who love to look fantastic and take excellent care of their face.

Glamorous Chicks products can be purchased online at www.glamorouschickscosmetics.com. You can check out their blog to find out more about their fall 2010 promotions and view how-to videos for their products.

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Gabourey Sidibe to Collaborate With Bobbi Brown on Cosmetics Line?

Claire Sulmers — 2010-08-17T16:34:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, Celebrity Beauty

According to Women's Wear Daily, Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe may be in talks with cosmetics giant Bobbi Brown to create a line for women of color.

The 'Precious' star, who is currently appearing in Showtime's new show, 'The Big C,' used Bobbi Brown cosmetics to create her flawless Golden Globes look and is rumored to have met with representatives at company headquarters to discuss a possible collaboration. Representatives for Bobbi Brown are staying mum, but this could be an interesting partnership if the rumors turn out to be true.

Do you think Sidibe would make a good spokesperson for a line of cosmetics?

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The Business of Beauty

Rihanna is one of the newest faces of CoverGirl cosmetics. She signed on in December of 2006, stating: "I've loved makeup and dreamed of being a CoverGirl since I was a little girl." She has also recently endorsed Venus razors for women.

VALERY HACHE/AFP, Getty Images
Beyonce represents for L'Oreal. The singer signed a five-year contract for $4.7 million in 2004 that requires her to work 10-12 days a year. I, too would be smiling.

Carlo Allegri, Getty Images
Gabrielle Union signed on to endorse Neutrogena products in 2004. Great skin is the foundation of stunning beauty, and she proves it.

Seth Browarnik, WireImage.com
Halle Berry has been a Revlon spokesperson since 1996. Other women of color featured in Relvon campaigns include Lucy Liu and Eva Mendes, but none other has had Halle's staying power.

Francois Mori, AP
Kerry Washington has appeared in ads for H.I.P. (High Intensity Pigment) cosmetics for L'Oreal, the first campaign in her contract. Kerry says of her endorsement: "It's really exciting for me to be one of the faces of L'Oreal and to be working with a company that has historically represented so many different kinds of women with different kinds of skin color."

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Queen Latifah has her own make-up line called 'CoverGirl Queen Collection.' The Web site for her line features tools to help you match colors perfectly to your skin.

J. Vespa, WireImage.com
Iman, after thirty years in the fashion and beauty biz, now has her own super-successful make-up line: Iman Cosmetics. Launched in 1994, her line features foundation available in 16 shades geared towards women of color.

Iman Cosmetics
Veronica Webb was the first black model to receive an exclusive contract from a major cosmetics company. Her Revlon contract lasted from 1992-95. You can now find her flexing her fashion expertise as a co-host on 'Tim Gunn's Guide To Style.'

Tana Lee Alves, WireImage.com
Iman, Beverly Johnson (right) and Louise Vyent (not pictured), all black models, appeared in a ground-breaking ad for Revlon in 1989. Before the '90s, black models appearing in make-up ads was very rare.

Ron Galella, WireImage.com
Tyra won a CoverGirl make-up contract in 1997. This is also the year that she covered Sports Illustrated by herself, a first for an African-American woman.

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

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Bronner Bros. Hair Show 2010: Extreme Makeup

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-09T09:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends, Makeup, Video

While scouring the Bronner Bros. Hair Show for creative hairstyles, over-the-top weaves and intense hair competitions, Black Voices stumbled upon an interesting trend. Extreme makeup. From out-to-there lashes, glitter lipstick, and intricately painted faces, no elaborate hairstyle was quite complete without some major makeup to match. We rounded up some interesting looks for your viewing pleasure. Check it out!

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Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

Nothing screams "hair show" like this out-of-this-world vision.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

Pretty as a peacock, this hair model's 'do is feathered to perfection.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

It's important to color coordinate when conducting a hair demo, don't you think?

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

This young lady told us her hairdo took her stylist a few hours to create.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

These colorful friends were happy to show off their signature styles for the camera.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

Celebrity hairstylist Derek J (and his major footwear).

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

All smiles at Bronner Bros.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

A hair mannequin sits on top of a pile of products at a booth.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

The models at Bronner Bros. come in all shapes and sizes.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

This model's mile-high style highlights some hair tools.

Bronner Bros Hair Show 2010

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Ginger + Liz = Nail Delight!

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-07T06:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends, Nails, Interviews, Product Reviews

Young, bright, fabulous and ambitious. Those are just a few of the words that should come to mind when thinking of Liz Pickett and Ginger Johnson, the masterminds behind Ginger + Liz Colour Collection. The nontoxic and vegan-friendly nail polish was developed by the female entrepreneurs in the midst of the lagging economy and has evolved into one of the must-have products out on the market.

Just a year after its inception, Ginger + Liz appears to have taken the cosmetics industry by storm. G+L has garnered coverage in multiple fashion and pop culture magazines and has even graced the hands of A-list celebrities such as Mary J Blige.

Black Voices had the pleasure of sitting down with the ladies behind the brand to discuss their one-of-a kind collection, the future of G+L and advice for young women considering creating a business of their own.

How did you two come together to create Ginger + Liz?

Liz: Ginger and I were always acquaintances and knew of each other. Right after we met each other, Ginger created a lip color line which became very popular and garnered a lot of press. Ginger asked me to model for her line, and I absolutely fell in love with it, and I began thinking about starting a business venture of my own. At the time, Ginger was looking to re-launch a cosmetics line and so we decided that the best fit for both of us -- who were complete product junkies -- was nail color. Around that time, nail polish was becoming a necessary accessory for women, so our working relationship soon blossomed into a friendship and that friendship blossomed into our business, Ginger + Liz.

What roles do you each play in the business?

Ginger: It's definitely a collaborative deal. We do everything together. We do recognize however, that each of us has our own strengths. For instance, Liz is really great with graphic arts and the visual aspects of Ginger + Liz, whereas I have knack for coming up with descriptions for the product. Outside those two things, we generally stick to doing things together. From publicity to event planning - we do it all.

Would you still consider your cosmetics line a side hustle?

Ginger: I wouldn't consider it a side hustle. We've both maintained or careers outside of the business. I work in entertainment and advertising sales at a major network, while Liz models and acts full time -- but our business has always been our sole focus.

How do you choose where to sell your nail polish?

Liz: Sometimes salons or boutiques will contact us and tell us they've heard about the line through buzz on the Internet, or buzz at an event. Recently, we were lucky to be invited to have our polish be carried for manicure and pedicure use at Carol's Daughter the Back Room Hand and Foot spa. It's a great location that offers great mani and pedi packages. Then there are certain salons that we personally seek out. When we first launched Ginger + Liz, we loved everything the Polish Bar of Brooklyn was about. We loved the owner's attention to detail, the look of the salon, the lines she carried and her commitment to carrying nontoxic nail polish brands, so we reached out to her.

How is your nail polish different from other products on the market?

Ginger: We're a vegan friendly-line and we're toxin-free. Our product does not contain any nasty carcinogens that can be harmful to people, especially expectant moms. We focus on developing fashion-conscious shades, so when we add new colors, we add them with what is current in mind. We started with fun, bright colors with the addition of a few classics. Ginger + Liz has a little bit of a boutique feel in that we don't have 10 different shades of red or 10 different shades of orange. Instead, we focus on what is relevant with today's trends. So those classic trends and colors are what we hone in on. I think we also differentiate ourselves by really keeping our pulse on what's going on in fashion. We're lucky that we are our target audience so to speak and so we actually make it a point to speak to who are demographic audience is.

What are your future plans for Ginger + Liz?

Liz: I think we're just going to continue to really focus and develop the nail polish and gain a following and a loyal customer fan base. We love cosmetics, so inevitably we have to expand. I think over the next course of the year we're going to see what our G+L girl wants to see next. She may want us to create mascara that's never been seen on the market before or a hot new lip color.

Ginger: We're going to continue along with the nail trend for a little while as our fan base continues to grow. Like Liz said, we take our customers' opinions to heart. We really like to keep a pulse on what women are looking for when it comes to other types of beauty products. One of the things that we are probably going to do first is a manicure in a jar, which is similar to a hand-cuticle scrub. We've been toying with some great formulas, ingredients and different angles. We're just superexcited about possibly introducing it in next year.

What advice would you give to young women starting up their own business?

Ginger: I would say that research is essential. It's really important to spend the time researching the business you're looking to get into before you jump into it. Researching what suppliers you need to see your dream com into fruition and attend industry events. If you're looking to get into beauty, then you should be going to beauty expos. If you want to be a fashion designer, then go to fashion expos. They are great resources for information.

Liz: It's important to really immerse yourself in the beauty culture since it's made up of so many different facets. You've got to really understand all aspects of the beauty industry, whether it's marketing, manufacturing or just knowing what the hottest trends or products are on the market. Having that sort of depth of knowledge makes you a valuable asset to the industry.

To purchase products from the collection, visit the Ginger + Liz Website, or stop by Townhouse Spa, Polish Bar of Brooklyn, Aqua Beauty Bar or Henri Bendel in New York City.

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Get the Look! Gabrielle Union Gives Face

Meghan Taylor — 2010-08-06T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty, Photos, How-To, Product Reviews

Gabrielle Union is known for her stunning looks on the red carpet as well as the big screen. Here, she once again gives us good face! Her eyes, skin, hair and gleaming smile are on point. This particular look dazzles, and here's how to get it for yourself.

Start by prepping your skin with M.A.C. Fix+ ($19, www.maccosmetics.com). This is a great product to apply before or after your makeup application. (Artist tip: Fix+ is refreshing and allows your foundation to go on smoothly and flawlessly).

Now, let's move on to the eyes. Apply a neutral golden shadow like Patina or Wood-Winked by M.A.C. ($14.50, maccosmetics.com) to the inner eyelid and blend it out to the middle point of the lid. Then, take a black shadow and apply it to the outer corners, creating an upwards wing. Be aware of your own eye shape; you want the "wing" of your eyeshadow to be in line with your eyebrow. (Artist tip: Hold your brush handle up to the end of your natural brow and meet it up with the edge of your eye. This will let you know how far to bring out the shadow). After applying the shadow from the inward of your eye to your outer eye, blend the two colors to make the line seamless.

Line your upper lash line and your waterline with a black pencil like Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner in Noir ($24.50,www.sephora.com) and drag a little underneath the eyes -- midway to across.

Add a bronze or gold pencil underneath from the middle to inner corner. (Artist tip: Using lighter colors on the inner corners open up your eyes and give a fresher look). Try Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Baked ($17,www.sephora.com)
Add mascara and fill in your brows with powder that matches your own eyebrow shade. Apply with an angle brush for a more natural effect.

Now, on to the foundation. My latest love is Stila One Step Makeup Foundation ($44, www.sephora.com). It's primer, foundation, concealer and powder all in one!! Apply and blend well on your face and down your neck.

Your blush should have a pink or plum tone to it. Try M.A.C. Mineralize Blush in Love Thing ($21, www.maccosmetics.com) or M.A.C. Powder Blush in Plum Foolery ($18.50, www.maccosmetics.com). Apply this to the apples of your cheeks and blend up towards your ears.

Lips should have a shimmery berry tone like NARS Lip Gloss in Risky business ($24, www.sephora.com). It's gorgeous and has just enough color to pop without overpowering your eyes.

Once completed, you'll be ready to wow the crowd like our girl Gabby!

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Hot or Not: Leona Lewis

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-04T14:46:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, Celebrity Beauty, Hot or Not

British bombshell Leona Lewis hit up a special screening of 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' in London a few nights with her face looking all aglow. The 'Bleeding Love' songstress went for a subtle yet vibrant pink lipstick, rouged cheeks and a full set of false lashes to make those emerald-green eyes pop. Are you feeling Leona's look? Hot or not?

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Jennifer Hudson Covers InStyle Magazine, Alicia Keys Shows Off Pregnant Bikini Body

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-08-04T11:41:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty

Powerhouse singer Jennifer Hudson is gracing the cover of this month's issue of InStyle magazine and looking better than ever in her newly slim body. The Oscar-winning actress admits that fans aren't the only ones having a problem recognizing her new and improved look. "Once in awhile I see a picture of myself and I'm like 'Wow! This is what I look like?"

After the birth of her son, David Otunga Jr., last August, the 'DreamGirls' star found herself 35 pounds heavier. "I was like, 'Who? ... Oh, my God, this is me,' said Hudson after seeing pictures of herself post-pregnancy. Hudson joined Weight Watchers shortly after, and in April, she became the national spokesperson for the weight loss program.

In an interview with People, Hudson revealed that her goal for joining Weight Watchers was not to become skinny but to become healthy. The new mother would like to set a positive example for her son in the future. "This is a good way of how I would want my child to grow up, because so many times in growing up, you gain really bad [eating] habits... so I want to make sure that he's going into this and I'm being a good example for him."

Although Hudson won't divulge the exact number of pounds she's shed in the past year, rumor has it the songstress dropped close to 56 pounds while prepping for her role as Winnie Mandela. Keep up the good work J Hud!

Hudson may have struggled with her baby weight, but it looks like mommy-to-be Alicia Keys is having no issue staying fit! The blogosphere was all a buzz when pictures surfaced of the songstress showing off her bulging belly in a bikini. The photo was taken just hours before the Keys said "I do" to music producer Swizz Beatz. The newlyweds are expecting their first child this fall.

Oh, Alicia, if only everyone could look that good pregnant!

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Michelle Obama Sure Loves a Bright Pedicure!

Channing Hargrove — 2010-08-01T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends, Nails, Celebrity Beauty, Photos

It's not a secret that Michelle Obama has quite fashionable taste. Not only is she up on fabulous fashion designer but she knows about hot nail colors, too. Who knew?

The first lady was spotted during the Fourth of July weekend with bright blue toes peeking out of her flats. A couple of weeks ago, she was shaking hands with military families at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, when she stopped to compliment the hands of a young fan wearing blue polish. "I know the name of that fingernail polish!" Mrs. Obama said to the 8-year-old.

It isn't just blues that the first lady is enamored with. On her vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine, she showed off her bright green pedicure. Obama has shown us that you do not have to sacrifice edgy nails colors because you're a certain age or your husband is, ahem, the president.

Here are a few colors that we think presidential and non-presidential toes alike would look good wearing.

During her most recent foot sighting, Mrs. Obama was sporting a bright green polish. We think it looks like Essie Pretty Edgy ($8, essieshop.com).

Essie Lapis of Luxury ($8, essieshop.com) is a dead ringer for the color she wore Fourth of July.

Oh, and the color that Mrs. Obama recognized on the little girl's fingers? It was What's With the Catitude ($5, amazon.com) from OPI's Shrek Forever After collection.

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Kim Kardashian Advises Fan Not to Get Plastic Surgery

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-07-26T11:46:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty

It's not uncommon for a fan to want to dress like her favorite celebrity or attempt to replicate her 'do, but how far would one go to actually look like their favorite celeb? Enough to go under the knife? If you're a fan of Kim Kardashian, you just might.

This weekend a fan of the reality star took to Twitter to announce she was planning to undergo plastic surgery in order to resemble the socialite. The fan -- who goes by the Twitter name 'iwishiwaskim' -- tweeted "I'm getting head to toe plastic surgery next week to look like @kimkardashian so my husband won't leave me," the woman wrote. "He worships @kimkardashian."

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Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Lil Kim: There's no denying that Lil Kim's look has evolved over the years, and we're not referring to her outrageous fashion sense. The provocative rapper has gotten her boobs and nose done, along with a tummy tuck -- to name just a few procedures -- becoming more and more unrecognizable along the way.

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Looking at the beautiful Tasha Smith, it's hard to imagine what the "Why Did I Get Married, Too' actress would need to fix on her amazing body but Tasha recently admitted on the Wendy William Show that she underwent plastic surgery on her under arms. Looking at the before pictures, we honestly can't tell the difference!

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Heidi Montag Pratt: The 23-year-old reality star has gone under the knife so many times she's starting to make Lil Kim look au natural. In 2007, she had a breast augmentation, rhinoplasty and collagen lip injections. Earlier this year, she underwent a staggering 10 surgeries, including another breast augmentation, a chin reduction and butt implants -- all in one day. Pratt has said she plans to get more work done in the future.

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Janet Jackson: The Jackson family has become notorious for their nose jobs, but unlike her siblings, Jackson knows her limits. Although she's had some work over the years, she's still maintained a good structure to her nose.

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Kelis: It's no secret that Kelis is taking ex-hubby Nas to the cleaners in court, but the 'Milkshake' singer did a good job of concealing the fact that she might have had a subtle nose job a while back.

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Kelly Rowland: In 2008, the singer turned in her itty bitty club pass and got breast implants, going from a modest A-cup to a B-cup. Kelly said she underwent the surgery to feel more beautiful and fit better in designer clothes. We're just glad she didn't overdo it like some people in her industry...

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Kim Kardashian: We're not sure why Kim Kardashian is a star, but there's no question the reality star is stunningly beautiful. That's why talk that she has been dipping in plastic surgery -- starting with a nose job -- is shocking. She's starting to look more and more like her mother -- and that's not a compliment!

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

La Toya Jackson: This Jackson sister has clearly had her share of plastic surgeries over the years -- from nose jobs to breast implants. Many people believe that her surgeries had her resembling her late brother Michael Jackson. Whether or not this was her true mission--we think she succeeded.

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

LL Cool J: We believe LL has been sipping from the fountain of youth, because in our eyes he hasn't aged a lick! Judging by the photos a simple cosmetic procedure could have attributed to it. Photos suggest that he could have had a little work done on his under eyes, a procedure known as blepharoplasty. The ladies aren't mad at you L!

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Mariah Carey: Mimi has become famous over the years for her large- than-life voice, persona--and breasts. In the early 90s it was rumored that the singer agreed to have breast implants to please her then-husband, music exec Tommy Mottola. We don't know about you but we would have preferred diamonds.

Celebrity Plastic Surgery

The 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' star - who has been suspected of going under the knife herself -- was less than thrilled by the idea and replied with a firm 'NO.' Kardashian went on to tweet, "Pls don't, ur husband should love u 4 who u are! Don't try 2 b someone else. Im sure u are beautiful inside &out! Just as u are."

The curvaceous reality star advised the fan to embrace herself for who she is. "Don't change yourself for anybody but yourself...be happy with who u are! Someone will appreciate and adore u just as you are," she concluded. That's some pretty good advice, let's just hope she listens.

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Diddy Doesn't Like 'Ashy Elbows'

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-07-21T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Skin Care, Celebrity Beauty

It's no secret that Sean "Diddy" Combs takes pride in his appearance. The media mogul is known for pampering himself with expensive spa treatments and beauty products. However, there's one basic product the proud metrosexual stresses above all: lotion.

The Bad Boy star recently dished to the Canadian network Fuse about how important it is to stay moisturized. "Lotion, it's important, man. And I've been guilty of some ashy elbows," he said. And we're with him on that.

For more articles on skin care check out:
'Beat Humidity & Breakouts With a Mask'
'Silky Smooth Legs for the Summer'
'Summer Beauty Routine'

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Get the Look! Tamera Mowry's Smoldering Eyes

Meghan Taylor — 2010-07-20T13:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends, Makeup, Celebrity Beauty, How-To, Product Reviews

Can we ever really get enough of a smoldering smoky eye? I think not! It's just the perfect look when you want to add a bit of sexiness to your look. Here's how to do it the Miss Mowry way.
When applying heavy eye makeup, you want to apply foundation after you have finished your eye look to avoid making a mess of your face. You want to be especially careful with this look because it's sparkly, smoky and fabulous! First, apply a creme base. We suggest putting foundation or creme shadow so your powder has something to "stick" to.

You can achieve Tamera's eye look by using either Underworld or Brumes by NARS. ($32, www.sephora.com). Apply the dark blueish-gray shadow to the entire lid by patting on the color with your finger. Then, carefully drag it underneath the eye, very close to the lash line. Next, highlight with the silver color above the dark blue and blend carefully. Take a clean angle brush and drag that same color underneath the darker-blue shadow. Adding a lighter color makes your eyes appear more open.

Line your waterline (upper and lower) with a black or deep-navy liner. Try Clinique's Quick Liner in Navy. ($14.50, www.sephora.com).

Make your lashes insanely lush with Imju Fiberwig Mascara ($24, www.sephora.com). It is absolute magic. Tiny fibers adhere to your lashes while sealing them at the same time, preventing your mascara from smudging. Genius! Once your eyes are done, you can move on to cleaning up any fallout and adding your foundation.

Lightly fill in your brows with a powder that is soft and a shade lighter than your natural shade of brow hair. Powder your face with a sheer powder like Makeup Forever Duo Mat Powder Foundation ($32, www.sephora.com), Next, apply a golden peach blush like Benefit Coralista or Hoola ($28, www.sephora.com)

Lips should be simply nude and understated. Try a nude shimmery shade like NARS Striptease ($24, www.sephora.com) or M.A.C. Enchantress Tinted Lipglass ($14, www.maccosmetics.com). Then, go ahead and paint the town smoky!

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Get the Look! Keri Hilson at Essence Music Festival

Meghan Taylor — 2010-07-16T13:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends, Makeup, Celebrity Beauty, How-To

Miss Keri Hilson looked gorgeous at this summer's Essence Music Festival. Her look was sultry and sexy and here's how to get it for yourself. Keri's smoky eye was multidimensional, which really made her peepers pop. Start with your eyes first before applying your foundation to avoid fallout.

Start by applying a brown creme shadow to the entire lid, working and blending it just above your crease. This not only adds to the gradual effect she has but provides a good base for your powder shadow to stick to. Try Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Busy Signal ($19, www.sephora.com).

Then apply your smoky color on the lid by patting in on gently (to avoid fallout and inevitable raccoon eyes). Try M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Deep Truth ($14.50, www.maccosmetics.com).

Blend the crease so the brown and lid color appear seamless. Bring a bit of the same color under the eyes as well. Line your eyes with a black pencil or gel liner (include your waterline).

Try Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in True Black ($14.50, www.sephora.com). Add your favorite mascara and voila! Now, on to the rest:

Clean up any fallout and apply your foundation and concealer. Fill in your brows and create a nice arch by using a shadow and angled brush that best matches your natural hair color. It's better to go a shade or two lighter if your hair is very dark.

Contour with a powder or foundation that is one or two times darker than your face. Down the sides of the nose and in the hollows of your cheeks. As always, make sure you blend, blend, blend! I have been using Posner Cover Stick Foundation Sticks forever ($7.99, www.ebonyline.com). They blend great and make your contour more natural.

Set your face with powder and dust on a coral-based blush. Try NARS blush in Amour or Orgasm ($26, www.sephora.com) onto the apples of your cheeks (smiling always helps this step).

Line your lips with a nude pencil (matching your natural lip shade) and apply a peach sheer gloss. NARS lip gloss in Supervixen or Luster ($24, www.sephora.com). You are ready for a fabulous night out! Keri made this look gorgeous and so will you!

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Isaiah Mustafa: The Man Behind the Towel

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-07-14T06:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Interviews, Video

Everyone may know him as "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like," but how many people are familiar with Isaiah Mustafa? The former pro-football-player-turned-actor became an overnight success with his role in the infamous Old Spice commercials and even nabbed an Emmy nomination for outstanding commercial category for his hilarious performance.

With a series of Old Spice campaigns in the works -- including his latest commercial -- and two upcoming movie projects, Mustafa shows no signs of slowing down. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the Old Spice hunk to learn that there's much more to him than his chiseled abs -- despite how much the ladies appreciate them. Mustafa dished on how he's handling all the newfound attention, his upcoming projects, why he's totally against getting manicures and the skill he feels every woman should possess. Watch our exclusive videos for the full interview. If you're in need of more of Mustafa, check out our funny outtakes!

Isaiah Mustafa -- Part One:

Isaiah Mustafa -- Part Two:

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Kelly Rowland: I'm Proud I Waited to Get Implants

Hayat Mohamed — 2010-07-13T13:34:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty

Unlike many celebrities who have undergone plastic surgery, singer Kelly Rowland isn't afraid to talk about it. The former Destiny's Child singer went public about her breast augmentation in People Magazine in 2008, a year after she went through the surgery that changed her modest A-cup to a B-cup. When fans began noticing her new voluptuous figure, she realized she couldn't keep quiet about her decision. "When people found out about it, one person asked me and I just couldn't lie. I didn't feel the reason to lie."

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Celebrity Plastic Surgery

In a recent radio interview with BBC, the songstress expressed that she has no regrets about going under the knife and that she's glad she waited until she was older. "I'm really proud of myself that I waited. That's 10 years I waited. That's 10 years I was like, 'I hate this top. It does not fit. I hate this top," said Rowland.

Kelly Rowland has always been a beautiful woman but she admits that she's struggled with body image for years and wanted to wait until she was more mature to make a decision about changing her appearance. "When I initially thought about that, I was 17 years old," she said "That's a ridiculous age to make a decision to do something different to your body."

You Might Also Like: Breast Implants No Longer Fashionable for Stars

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Neon Nails Are in -- Bye-Bye Nude

Channing Hargrove — 2010-07-12T14:50:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends, Nails, Celebrity Beauty, How-To

Last spring it was all about nude or putty-colored nail polishes. Now it is time to up the color wattage on your nails with neon polishes! Ciara has been spotted out and about rocking this trend. Now you can wear it, too!

The best thing about wearing such bright colors on your fingers is that your nails don't have to coordinate with the rest of your outfit. It doesn't have to be so matchy-matchy, as Ciara as illustrated for us. Bright nails are an easy way to add a pop of color to any outfit. Plus, they're a conversation starter!

Before reaching for the brightest color that you can find, though, here are a few tips to keep in mind. When wearing such an attention-getting color, it is best to let the color take all the shine and not the length of your nails. Keep your nails short in a squarish oval or "squoval" shape.

To make the polish as bright as possible and minimize all the coats needed, just swipe one coat of white polish over your base coat before you apply the polish. We like China Glaze White on White ($5.99, sallybeauty.com).

Ready to for some color? Here are a few blindingly bright suggestions.

China Glaze Pool Party ($8, naildepot.com) is a good match for the color that Ciara is wearing above.

Essie Funky Limelight, ($8, thebeautyclutch.com) is yellow-highlighter bright.

China Glaze Towel Boy Toy ($5.99, sallybeauty.com) is the color of blue Caribbean water.

Essie Perky Purple ($8, beautysak.com) is a neon-fuchsia purple.

China Glaze Kiwi Cool-Ada's ($5.99, sallybeauty.com) is anything but cool. In fact, this neon green is hot, hot, hot!

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