A moisturizer and a sunscreen all in one.  Skin MD is a non-greasy moisturizer that works to guard you from sun damage while hydrating you skin.

It uses a blend of moisturizer and silicone technology to create a shield from the sun.

To learn more about this wonderful product click here.

A Brazilian Blow Out is a hair straightening/calming/defrizzing treatment that is an improvement on the Japanese straightening.  It uses keratin as the filler to give your hair that straighter look and then the bonding happens with a non toxic chemical that replaces the first version which actually used formaldehyde.  Ew.  Once your hair is flat ironed the heat acts as the final step to beautifully smooth hair for 3-4 months.

I just came back from having this treatment done and I am so happy with the results.  My hair is was curly.  No question.  I could straighten it, but once the humidity hit or if I started to sweat, the curls would come a knockin.  If you don’t have curly hair, you won’t understand why we love straight hair so much.

The whole procedure takes about 3 hours and costs between $300-$400 dollars.  Make sure you find a REPUTABLE salon there are LOTS of fakes and you want to avoid using the older product with formaldehyde because it can be toxic and has the potential to cause cancer.  I know we all want to look good, but nobody wants cancer.

Here are the before and afters

and after

This is the BEST curl relaxing potion I have tried in all my 40 years of curliness.  I discovered this product that was recommended to me by my hair dresser (Thanks Karmella).  She used it on my hair one day when I didn’t have time for a blow dry and I just love it.  It stops frizziness, it does not dry hard or flake.  I can add a little each day on to wet hair.  I just can’t say enough about how much I adore this product!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You do not need to use a ton of this.  Just about a quarter size or less is perfect.  I bought a BIG bottle at the salon and it has lasted me about 4 months.  It is slightly on the expensive side so I would recommend asking for a sample before you invest in it, or buy a small bottle.

Check your local salon or go to their website and see how you can get it too. :)

Forget injecting collagen, just drink it!  That’s what women of Tokyo consider as the secret to their beautiful skin.  Collagen drinks are so common there that they are sold in convenience stores and even with your meals in restaurants.

American women are curious about this beauty tip and collagen powders and drinks can now be found at Amazon.com as well as some other sources on the web.

I have personally not tried this and doubt I would, but if you have, please leave us a comment with your experience.

If you suffer from varicose veins, this may be the procedure you have been waiting for.  The VNUS Closure Procedure was recently featured on GMA.  This is an outpatient procedure that takes about 15 minutes and patients usually walk out of the office.  It is almost painless and in many cases you will only need one treatment.

If you suffer from the pain and pressure of varicose veins I encourage you to visit the link above and I hope you find relief as well as the freedom to wear shorts and mini skirts.

Sisters Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen have hit the weight loss trail and they have lost a combined 58 pounds using the Jenny Craig diet.

Phylicia lost 5 lbs during the first week she began the diet (Thanksgiving week none the less) and has lost a total of 38 pounds in 8 months.  Phylicia claims that a big boost in her weight loss was eating 4-5 small meals a day and exercising.

Debbie was the sister that prompted Phylicia to begin a weight loss regime, but now that Debbie has seen her slimmer sister, she is determined to cath up with her.  Debbie has lost 20 pounds and said that she would do the famous bikini picture if she got down enough, where as Phylicia would not strike that pose.

The sisters will be teaming up together working on The Cat on a Hot Tin Roof where Debbie Allen will direct her sister while she plays (ironically) Big Mama.

I am such a fan of both of these ladies.  I wish them all the best!!

If you go to the nail salon to get a mani or pedi, sometimes looking at the wall of colors can be overwhelming.  You will notice there are usually a select 10 or so that are almost empty and some that appear to have never been open.  How do you choose?

Here’s a few things to consider:

If you have a special event you are preping for, go with lighter if it’s during the day and darker if it is at night.  Consider what you are wearing to this event.  If you are wearing a red dress, don’t get pink polish.

If you do not have acrylics, consider getting a lighter color.  You can usually get away with a lighter color longer since the chips don’t show up as much.

French tip manicures are always classy and elegant, although most salons charge and extra $5 or so to do one.

Still not sure what color is good for you? Try just getting your nails “buffed” shiny.  It’s incredible how they come out looking like a clear coat, but there is really nothing on there at all.

A recent post from the Global Healing Center lists nuts that would be considered the healthiest or best for you.

Here is the list in a nutshell (no pun intended)

• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Brazil Nuts
• Cedar Nuts

One thing to note about almonds is that it is recommended to soak them in purified water over night before you eat them.  Dr OZ recently mentioned this on the Oprah show as well.  He says he always has some soaked almonds on his desk.  Why? It is said that it removes enzyme inhibitors, makes them more easily digestible and the nutrition value of the almond is more easily assimilated and absorbed in to your body.

Should you soak all nuts? In general, just the ones with brown skin.

Always remember to chew your nuts thoroughly to avoid damage to your digestive tract.

I just got an email from Coach® with their new Poppy bags and jewels.  The colors are so fun and bright, I just love them all.  They are also giving away a free Poppy journal and pencil set with in-store orders of over $200 for a limited time.  I best be getting down to the Coach store. :)

Stress is in the air these days.  I know my mind, body and spirit are filled with it.  I saw an ad on a blog for 3LAB “M” Cream for stressed out skin.  It said it had stress relieving nutrients.  Not sure what that means, but I may have to give it a try.  The only problem is that it costs approximatley $250 for 2 ounces.  Yikes, that alone stresses me out more. I know most of the time when potions are high priced you are told to just use a pinch and it will last for months.  Still, $250 is a big investment to make before I even know if it really works.  Anyone know if I can get some samples?