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Author Archives: Beautasia
Miracle in a Tube!
In today’s world, we are faced with many challenges. For one, we just don’t seem to have enough time. As a Superhero, I too find myself a little scattered and wishing for more hours in the day. Beauty emergencies are universal and I can only do one at a time. 
But – I found hope in a tube! Miracle Skin Transformer is just that.
I’m constantly looking for “double-duty” products that will help save us time and, more importantly – money! Why spend wasted minutes on multiple serums that only confuse us in the end? Why not find a few products that can give us multiple results in the least amount of time?
My motto is “prevention is half the fight” so I like to teach our young ones early on how to protect and take care of their skin. But, for those of you that curse their mothers for not teaching us about prevention at an early age, I’m here to tell you that it won’t take a lot of steps to cover up and help reverse some of those dreaded signs of aging.
When I first tried the product, I had to get used to the texture. It has a silicone-based product that is used in many makeup primers on the market today. I usually don’t wear primers because of my dry skin. Primers are made to create a smooth surface to the skin and fill in pores. Each day I used this product, the more I fell in love with it! The more I fell in love with it, the more people complimented me on my skin. Super!
I’ve been fortunate enough to not have too many skin issues. But more recently, I’ve had some breakouts that left some scars on my face. 
5 years ago, I started noticing enlarged pores and the appearance of sun damage. So when I started using the treat and conceal, I was in heaven. Not only did it instantly cover my scars and sun damage, I felt protected with the plant extracts and antioxidants.
I, personally, use the Miracle Skin Body Transformer in all of my videos. Check them out!
(Had some curling iron scars)
Miracle Skin Transformer was developed by Sarah McNamara – a beautiful power-player that has worked for many of the major leading brands. She, like many people, is a busy mom. Her creed is to instill simplicity in your daily skin routine (like me!) During her years at these companies, she discovered that people wanted to get rid of additional steps in their skincare routine. So, she developed Miracle Skin Transformer. Thank you, Sarah!
I love this product and I wanted to investigate it further, so I had a few questions:
Q: Why only a 20spf? Miracle Skin Transformer has an SPF20 due to the fact of our unique naturally-derived silicone formulation.
A: It actually registers at an SPF28, which is great for daily use. With the addition of Ecophysalis, an eco-certified plant extract from the Brazilian rainforest, you get double the protection.
Q: Why is the concealer darker than the base product?
A: It depends on the shade of “treat and conceal” you are using, Medium is great for the Tan or Medium Tan shades.
Please follow the link to get more information – Miracle Skin Transformer. If you’re looking for a great time-saver that will hydrate, conceal, and protect you – you need to buy this product. The folks there are really helpful and nice – and will love to answer your questions. Follow them on twitter and facebook. :B-Savvy
As always, let me know what you think!
I give this product a 4 compact rating
Celebrity Beauty Secrets Part 2!
The first segment of celebrity beauty secrets was just the beginning! I’ve got some more juicy secrets that keep your favorite and maybe no-so-favorite celeb looking so fresh and so clean. Hey, even if we don’t love a certain celeb doesn’t mean we can’t steal some of their beauty secrets, right?!
I know everyone loves to watch the royal family of reality TV-the Kardashians. Even if you love to hate them, you have to admit that they are all unjustly gorgeous! Kim Kardashian says that one of her beauty secrets which she learned from her makeup artist is to set concealer with translucent powder for more staying power. Her little sis Kendall Jenner likes to use Swab Plus Eye Makeup Remover Corrector to correct mistakes and help shape her liquid eyeliner. Swab Plus is like a Q-tip filled with gentle eye makeup remover/corrector in it. You just snap the end of the swap and use the other end to swipe away mistakes or eye makeup, easy peasy!
Country cutie Carrie Underwood likes to layer different mascara formulas to really make her beautiful peepers stand out. To make her eyes pop, she has several different mascaras on hand and will layer volumizing mascara with a lengthening formula to get long and lush lashes. One of the hottest women alive, Jennifer Aniston likes to keep her beauty routine simple by using Neutrogena facial soap to wash her face and keeps her lips sexy and kissable for Justin Theroux by scrubbing her lips with sugar on her toothbrush. Another cheap and easy beauty secret courtesy of Catherine Zeta-Jones is to rub strawberry flesh on your teeth for a quickie whitening treatment sans the sensitive teeth.
Mad Men vixen Christina Hendricks adds a little foundation with her body lotion to make her gorgeous gams look flawless on-screen and off. Next time you want to showcase your legs, try out this trick to make your stems look picture perfect! Just make sure you allow it to dry thoroughly before getting dressed. Another celeb beauty secret that helps you to look and feel good is to do like supermodel and supermom Molly Sims and dry brush your body with a dry body brush before you take your bath or shower to help with circulation and detox. It’s also supposed to help with the appearance of cellulite! If you want to try this out for yourself, you can find dry body brushes at Bed Bath & Beyond or online at Amazon. Teri Hatcher likes her bath with a glass of wine and I don’t mean in the glass, she pours her wine into the bath to moisturize her whole body.
Most of these beauty secrets are pretty safe and sane, but there are some daring celebs who opt for bolder and pricier beauty treatments to keep them looking youthful. Duchess Kate Middleton and hot mom Victoria Beckham both like bee venom facials to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Don’t head for the honeycomb hideout just yet, you can have a serious allergic reaction so make sure you test out bee products before you seek out a place that offers this service. Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez are both fans of anti-aging placenta face masks. The masks use freeze-dried, sterilized powder from placentas taken from live human or mammals births. I’ll pass on the bees and placenta, thank you!
Aside from the crazy anti-aging masks, will you try any of these celebrity beauty secrets? I’d love to hear how they work out for you! If you have any of your own beauty secrets that you’d like to share, please comment below, sharing is caring!
As a denizen of the great city of Los Angeles and an expert on all things Hollywood for 80’s babies and beyond, Lisa is your go-to gal for celebrity news and reports. She obtained degrees in Psychology and Counseling but has always had a passion for writing. She has written hundreds of articles and is passionate about writing, health, beauty, and fashion.
In addition to contributing to Hollywood Beautiful, she also writes for MissMillMag.com, an online magazine geared to young women who want the best out of life and works as a ghostwriter for various companies.
Posted in Beautasia Thoughts, Skincare 101
Tagged aging skin, beauty, beauty advice, Celebrities, Celebrity Beauty, Eva Longoria, exfoliation, facials, how do you take care of your skin, how to get rid of puffy eyes fast, jennifer lopez, Kate Middleton, kim kardashian, los angeles, New York, puffy eyes, quick tips, skincare, skincare beauty, skincare tips, Victoria Beckham, wrinkles
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Celebrity Beauty Secrets Revealed!
So you think you’ve tried every beauty secret in the book? Ever wonder what crazy things celebs do to keep themselves looking so fresh and lovely all the time? Celebs have access to the best in the beauty industry which means that they’ve definitely picked up a few unfamiliar beauty secrets and I’m going to share some of these celebrity beauty secrets so that you too can also reap the benefits!
It’s no secret that many people use hemorrhoid cream to battle puffy eyes, but actress Sandra Bullock takes it a step further and likes to use hers to keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. And you’ve heard of subbing Monistat for an expensive foundation primer, right? Time to run to the drugstore and stock up on personal care creams!
Cindy Crawford has gorgeous skin and if you ask me, she hasn’t changed a bit since her heyday in the 90’s. Want to know how to make her homemade moisturizing mist? She mixes equal parts water and milk into a spray bottle and spritzes it on her skin to moisturize and keep skin dewy. Hey, the forever fab Marilyn Monroe used to take milk baths so Cindy is learning from the best!
You’re not going to believe this one, but the now preggers Jersey Shore star Snooki likes to swap clean kitty litter as an exfoliant! Snooki says her facial scrubs contain little rocks similar to those seen in kitty litter and she’s seen great results. C’mon Snooks, if you can find kitty litter, I’m sure you can find some sugar to use instead! 
Supermodel and fashion icon Kate Moss has her own pre-party ritual of dunking her face in a bowl of ice cubes to boost radiance and “freeze” any lines on her face. Ice can definitely decrease redness and puffiness so Kate’s icy cold treatment isn’t as far out there.
Reality star and best-selling author 
Lauren Conrad likes to press cold cucumber slices on her eyes to reduce dryness and irritation around the eye area. I can’t help but picture her wearing a pink robe, hair up in a towel, bunny slippers, green facial mask and cucumber slices on her eyes.
Revlon spokeswoman and actress Halle Berry likes to recycle her coffee grounds and pair it with her body wash to keep her body smooth and radiant. Talk about eco-friendly beauty! Actress and
Goop guru Gwyneth Paltrow likes to use her body washing tools to style her hair. Gwyneth has been known to wrap her hair in a body loofah and blast her tresses with a hair dryer to increase volume and combat the frizzies.
Actress Nicole Kidman knows how to use the contents of her pantry to double as a hair treatment. She likes to rinse her hair with cranberry juice to keep her gorgeous red hair looking fresh and vibrant. Another way Hollywood’s finest is keeping their hair looking camera ready is to use a combination of makeup and hairspray to temporarily “color” hair in between colorings.
*Beautasia note: LOVE HER!
Actress and entrepreneur Eva Longoria likes to spritz her roots with hairspray then apply an eye shadow that matches her hair to cover up roots.
Don’t you feel more glamorous already?! I love how these celebrity beauty secrets are cheap and easy, so when we’re feeling brave, we can test out some of these bizarre beauty treatments for ourselves. 
Do you have any favorite beauty secrets?
Do tell and comment below!
As a denizen of the great city of Los Angeles and an expert on all things Hollywood for 80’s babies and
beyond, Lisa is your go-to gal for celebrity news and reports. She obtained degrees in Psychology and Counseling but has always had a passion for writing. She has written hundreds of articles and is passionate about writing, health, beauty, and fashion. In addition to contributing to Hollywood Beautiful, she also writes for MissMillMag.com, an online magazine geared to young women who want the best out of life and works as a ghostwriter for various companies.
For more on Lisa, check out her blog, http://mymomentsoflucidity.blogspot.com/, where she likes to share her likes, dislikes, and everything in between.
Hydroxatone: Hydrolyze review
Back when I was in my twenties, I used to laugh when I’d get carded, and blush when people asked what high school I went to. I had fair, clear skin and rosy cheeks and rarely gave a thought as to skin care. Moisturizers? Sun screen? Who needed it? Day cream? Night cream? Not me! After all, we’re talking about someone who was being asked what high school she went to!
Okay, maybe that was only once, but still…
As I approach the forties (I’ll be 38 in a week), all that has changed. The sun, the late nights, the years of wearing contacts, and the stress of a lay-off that lead to two years of unemployment has taken a toll on my skin. Even the addition of SPF-30 moisturizer (appropriately enough, when I hit 30) could do little to stop the wear and tear. And the creases, oh the creases! My “parentheses” (the little lines around the mouth, or the nasolabial folds, that appear in our mid-twenties) were deep and pronounced, and the bags under my eyes aren’t so much bags as luggage.
So when I was offered the chance to try Hydroxatone Hydrolyze Advanced Under Eye Formula- I jumped at it.
The cream itself is creamy-smooth, and dabs on like a dream (dab- you dab products on the skin around the eyes, never rub!). It has no odor and was soothing to apply in the morning (it is recommended that you apply morning and evening). Also, on a personal note- my skin is sensitive to new products. I tend to break out or experience redness; but with Hydrolyze, there was nothing of the sort.
The first week, upon close inspection, I didn’t notice much of a 
difference, only how many tiny little wrinkles appeared around my eyes when I smiled. But by the second week I made a startling discovery: My parentheses had diminished a great deal! In fact, when I wasn’t smiling, you could barely see them! My under-eye circles, too, were less noticeable. The fine lines, however, are still pretty visible.
The third week I made an effort to be in bed at a decent hour, and the bags shrank further, and I looked smoother, over all. Look- products are great, but they aren’t magic. If you aren’t going to make efforts toward working on the inside, then don’t expect things you apply to the outside to work unfailingly at turning back the clock.
Beautasia note: I always preach to “find your balance” We can’t always be “perfect” and do what expected all the time. What we take away we must put back in. French fries one day mean extra cardio the next. One too many glass’s of wine means juicing and lots of water and vitamins the next. Good luck Superheros in training!
All in all, I give Hydrolyze 4 out of 5 compacts. I would have liked to see a little more of the fine lines disappear. I will, however, keep on using it in the meantime and would definitely be interested in experimenting with their other products.
(One month in)
Contributed by Melissa Daniels, who works as a mother, personal assistant and comic book artist & writer in Los Angeles (when she isn’t reviewing beauty products).
Posted in Reviews
Tagged aging, aging skin, beauty, Beauty at any age, personal advice, puffy eyes, Reviews, Skin care, skincare beauty, skincare tips
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The History and Science of Love…
It’s Valentines Day! I feel the love in the air when I see flower shops spilling with red roses, heart-shaped balloons and my favorite, CHOCOLATE!
History of Valentines?
The nay-sayers will tell you that Valentine’s day is a Hallmark-fabricated holiday. Possibly…but, I found a great video that challenges you to believe there was, in fact, a St. Valentine. Click here for this interesting piece.
Whether you’re single, or not – I love this holiday! As a hopeless romantic, (yes, Superheroes are romantic too!) it gives me an opportunity to feel special and make someone else happy in the process. I like to take note of all the wonderful, inspirational people in my life and show them appreciation and gratitude. After all, these feelings are necessary for happiness.
The Science of Love
When the feeling of love triggers your brain, it sets off dopamine. This feeling of euphoria sets our heart racing, romance brewing, and attachment. We’ve been conditioned, since the beginning of time, to find a mating partner. It’s no wonder why we will search for it ’til the end of time. This crazy chemical can cause you to feel great, but also drive you banana berries when we experience heartbreak or rejection (I think this is where the term crazy bitch was invented. )
Love comes in various forms and means different things to different people. Don’t fret if you’re not frolicking on the beach with your soul mate today. Not many people are, unless you are on an episode of The Bachelor. It can be difficult for chemistry and timing to hit. So B-Patient, love yourself and enjoy life.
I hope everyone is feeling loved today in some form! Even if you don’t have a romantic mate, show the friends and family in your life how much you care! Let me know some of the things you’ll be doing on Valentines day below. XOXOXOX
People Who Inspire us-Spotlights Jennifer Hudson
We’ve all seen J-Hud rise from humble beginnings as an American Idol finalist to award-winning movie star and now a national spokesperson for Weight Watchers. She has made dramatic changes in her career going from singing to acting as well as her remarkable body transformation by starting Weight Watchers and losing 80 pounds!
Hudson is the youngest of three children in her family and hails from Chicago, Illinois.
Like many other R&B singers, Hudson got her start singing in church and was first signed to an independent record label in 2002, but it wasn’t until 2004 when she appeared on American Idol when she started garnering more attention for her singing skill. Although she was eliminated from American Idol as a finalist, she was noted to be third greatest Idol contestant in the history of the show by the LA Times. (You guessed it; Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood (Beautasia’s favorite!) are the other two greatest Idol contestants!)
In 2006, Hudson was chosen to play the role of Effie White in the film Dreamgirls which also starred Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Foxx. Hudson won a Golden Globe and SAG award for Best Supporting Actress as well as over 20 other awards from film critics for her Dreamgirls role. Hudson also received many accolades for her rendition of the signature song of the role and Jennifer Holliday classic
“And I Am Telling You, I’m Not Going.”
2007 was a fabulous year for J-Hud as she won an Oscar for Dreamgirls, graced the cover of Vogue magazine as the third African-American celebrity to appear on the cover for the prestigious magazine and appeared as Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant Louise in the first Sex and the City film. 
Hudson’s debut album was released in 2007 around the same time she got engaged to her longtime boyfriend; it was certainly good to be Jennifer Hudson. Shortly after, the unspeakable happened and Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew were all brutally murdered. Hudson took some much-needed time away from the spotlight after the tragic event.
Although she suffered a horrible loss, Hudson came back to sing the National Anthem at the Superbowl in 2009, won a grammy for her debut album, and later had her first child! Nowadays, we can see Hudson flaunting her fabulous new figure on Weight Watchers commercials. This lady has seen it all and has pulled through beautifully, what an inspiration! 
Beautasia note: Jennifer is a true inspiration for women. I salute you for coming back after adversity in your life. You’re SUPER J-hud
Hydroxatone Review
We’ve seen those late night ads promising us more hydration, the appearance of less wrinkles, and improved texture and tone. I’m here to tell you about a product I’ve had my eye on for a while. The super folks at Hydroxatone gave me a free sample of their am/pm hydrating cream.
I’ve been wanting to try this cream for a few years now – ever since I’d first seen the commercial. It has 3 of my favorite ingredients:
Matrixyl 3000
This super-sounding ingredient is called a peptide. Peptides are in many cosmeceutical products on the market today. Our skin is made up of protein (putting on my smart glasses). Peptides are a chain of amino acids that assimilate protein. These dynamic little guys go in and strengthen the matrix level of the skin. If you want more scientific information, I found this great site that can help the brainiac in you. 
Argireline
Now, I’ve been a HUGE fan of Argireline for a few years now. This peptide is also referred to as “topical Botox”. (For those of you that don’t know what Botox is, click here.) Botox is used to deaden the muscle so it can’t move. Argireline slows down the receptors in the muscle to inhibit wrinkle formation. So imagine this: You have your nerves. There’s a pitcher and a catcher (like baseball) that transmit to each other, to form the wrinkle. With repeated use of Argireline, you can prevent the wrinkle from happening, and it has a lot less risk than Botox.
Beautasia Quote: Prevention is half the fight!
Hyaluronic Acid
If you could hear a sound effect right now, imagine the sound of angels flying around and sounds of “Ahhhh, ahhhhh, aHHHHH!” This – hands down – is my FAVORITE ingredient on the planet right now. Hyaluronic acid is present in our skin. It’s what our collagen and elastin swims in. Hyaluronic acid, also known as HA, holds 1000 times it’s weight in water. So this succulent ingredient gives our skin and joints hydration. We lose this precious element in our skin as we age. Good news, we can buy it!!!
I’ve been using it for 3-4 weeks now. I’m here to tell you that I LOVE it! I’ve been wearing it day and night. It gives me the dewy feeling under my mineral makeup and it’s rich and yummy and doesn’t clog my pores.
I give it a 4.5 compact rating.
This is one of the better and more affordable options on the market today. Good job folks at Hydroxatone. You’re SUPER! Let me know if you found this review helpful and if you’ve tried this product yourself in the comments below
Dreams Are Not For The Young, B-inspired At Any Age
Hollywood has it’s fair share of veteran makeup artists, and there are boatloads of ambitious new makeup artists coming out of the woodwork. Makeup artistry might seem like an easy and exciting job to some…one has visions of huge paychecks while playing with makeup all day and getting to work in glamorous settings – like movie sets and at events. Yes, that might be a reality for some seasoned makeup artists, but it’s very demanding and can be challenging while requiring a lot of talent and skill.
Meet Bobbie Weiner, AKA “Bloody Mary”. She’s not the Bloody Mary that haunted your childhood and would appear in your bathroom mirror if you said her name three times. She is a remarkable Hollywood makeup artist who has worked on epic movie sets and has earned the respect of the U.S. Department of Defense with her camouflage face paint. She isn’t your typical makeup artist and her rise to makeup artist stardom isn’t typical either. Read on for Bloody Mary’s inspirational story and how one woman changed the game in special effects movie makeup.
In the late 90’s, Bobbie Weiner could be considered one of your typical, Beverly Hills housewives. She had been married three times and thought she had found true love with her third husband, a doctor. She enjoyed her luxurious lifestyle and all the prestige that came with her marriage. Her dream later turned out to be a nightmare when her then-husband left her for a 19-year-old woman.
Devastated by the divorce, she lost 30 pounds, most of her friends, and the lifestyle that she had become accustomed to. She was adrift and didn’t know what steps to next take with her life. She didn’t feel like she had any marketable skills that would aid in landing her a decent-paying job.
Weiner reluctantly enrolled in makeup school… after talking to her hairstylist. She had no interest in makeup, but realized that learning a new trade would beat folding clothes at a clothing store. She was starting a new life at 46 and admitted that the entire process was a humbling experience. She reported turning the makeup models into Tammy Faye Baker look-alikes, but knew that she needed to change her technique in order to succeed and make a living.
Part of her makeup artist training required learning to create wounds and fake corpses. Weiner visited emergency rooms and funeral homes to observe the real thing in order to recreate the looks. For her final exam before graduating makeup school, Weiner was asked to create a beard, burns, a broken nose, and bullet holes on the model. Her observations at ER’s and funeral homes paid off as her model was so perturbed with the finished look that he vomited.
This was the beginning of beautiful and morbid things to come. Weiner obtained a job on a horror film, Pumpkinhead II where she was given the nickname “Bloody Mary” for her talents in creating gory and realistic bloody details.
Bloody Mary would later land a job with James Cameron on the classic film, Titanic where she was responsible for making extras look dead and frozen.
Weiner’s life went from a riches-to-rags and now back-to-riches story. Her success shows that hard work and perseverance really does pay off and can change lives.
If you find yourself pondering a new career path, or feel like Bobbie Weiner -where you’ve lost everything familiar to you and you’re on your own; it’s not too late to turn things around. When bad things happen to us, look at the opportunity in the situation and not allow yourself to only dwell on the bad. We all have special gifts and talents that we can use to better our lives, we just need to harness our hopes and make the leap!
For more on Bobbie Weiner and her makeup, click here
Is there something you wish you could do but are too scared to do it? Don’t be scared, and comment below.
Contributed by Lisa Pearson, M.S., Resident Celebrity Stalker (or Expert?)
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