Marc Jacobs' Misplaced Heel

Women's heels seem to be getting higher and thinner and shoes are looking even more precarious than ever, leaving me wondering how a majority of women could fare trying to balance themselves on them. But what of this shoe from Marc Jacobs?


The "misplaced heel" shoe is his new creation, resembling a work of modern art more than a piece of footwear. It's clever and eye-catching, but is it stable? Perhaps the wide base makes up for the lack of support under the heel, but I wonder. I might buy this to set on a coffee table or make a lamp out of it, but would I wear it?

Red Gac for Skin Care

If you're like me, you always feel better knowing that the elements of your beauty regime come from natural sources. We also know that in order to look and feel our best, we need to nourish our bodies. The skin is the largest organ in the body, it needs specific nourishment to regenerate and replace old cells with new and to keep it looking young.

Asian women have long been known to have some of the most beautiful skin in the world. Now one of the secrets of Asian beauty is unveiled. Red Gâc (Momordica cochinchinensis, Spreng>, is a large red, fruit that grows in Vietnam. Red Gâc has been known for its medicinal properties and prepared in Asian households for generations.

What makes Red Gâc so good for skin is its high level of antioxidants that protect cells from the oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Gâc nutrients bind with long-chain fatty acids for better absorption by the body. They boost the immune system and provide nutritional support for cell rejuvenation.

Remember, the best beauty regimen starts from the inside out, Providing your body with the right substances to nourish and protect it will do more for promoting healthy skin than any cream or cosmetic in the world.

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Lip Balm

If you're one of the many who are addicted to lip balms, but want to put a little color into your life, then Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Lip Balm is for you. It's thicker than regular lip gloss, and if you squeeze out a bit too much you will get a gloppy feel but once you master the art of application, no problem. The big difference is that you won't have to worry about constantly re-applying as you do with other lip balms. Superbalm has staying power. It doesn't last all day, but it does last for a decent amount of time and the softness does as well. I love to put it on at bedtime. It's a very nice feeling to wake up to soft lips instead of dry ones (especially a problem this time of year) and when I first glance at the mirror, to see a hint of color which makes me feel very much more awake and definitely improves my morning face.

If there's a downside, it's the same one as you will find with any lip balm and the reason I don't like most of them. It does become addictive, you don't want to stop using it and lips don't feel right unless you are wearing it. However, the effect is not as pronounced as it is with regular lip balms so if you are a lip balm addict, Superbalm can be your first step on the road to recovery.

Celebrity News and Gossip at Yuddy.com

Just about everyone has played the party game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon". If you have, then you know the theory - that everyone is somehow connected to everyone else through a series of acquaintances, friends and family members. It's a fun game and brings us a feeling of connectedness to the rest of humanity and the world.

The celebrity world is no different and now there's a fabulous site that shows you the links that connect them with other celebrities and the real world as well. It's Yuddy.com "Celebrity News and Gossip". Let's face it, whether it's a celebrity you absolutely love or the one you love to hate, you always want to hear the latest news and gossip about them.

At Yuddy.com you can follow your favorite celebrity's latest successes and their latest failures. Yuddy.com also has great celebrity bios. Each contains links in blue to the bio of other celebrities who have figured in their lives, both personal and private. You'll discover lots of interesting facts about your favorite celebrities, and maybe discover some intriguing people you had never heard of before.

Minnesota Bans Mercury in Makeup

The federal government still allows mercury to be used in some eye products as a preservative and germ killer, but the state of Minnesota has decided to ban any skin care or makeup product containing mercury.

Manufacturers of cosmetics have stated that the very small amounts of mercury still used in some products is very low and safe for consumers.

Since the state has no control over the manufacturers, they are going to assess a $700 fine to anyone who knowingly sells a cosmetic product that contains mercury. They are also planning to levy a $10,000 fine on any manufacturer who fails to disclose the mercury contained in a product.

Does this mean that Minnesota residents will have to cross state lines to buy some of their favorite makeup products? Or will other states follow and encourage a national ban?

Mercury affects the central nervous system and can cause neurological damage.

Dry Mouth and Tooth Sensitivity

A smile is the light of a beautiful face. We all aspire to good dental health and an attractive smile. But what if you are one of the many people who suffer from sensitive teeth? Having sensitive teeth can make brushing a torture and ruin your enjoyment of hot or cold foods.

For years I had a tooth that was particularly sensitive to cold. The problem was my undying love for ice cream. Just the effort of trying to eat a bowl of ice cream while keeping it from hitting the tooth was enough to make the whole ice cream experience less enjoyable, but the searing pain that cut right to the jaw bone should any of that cold treat hit my sensitive tooth eventually kept me from indulging in one of my favorite desserts at all. I wish I had known about products like sensitive toothpaste back then.

I also didn't know back then, that dry mouth was a leading cause of sensitive teeth. Dry mouth can have a lot of causes, from illness to medications you may take. When the mouth is dry, bacteria can grow - the kind that can cause bad breath and tooth decay. There goes your beautiful smile.



If you suffer dry mouth and sensitive teeth, there are toothpastes that are effective in relieving dry mouth and the tooth sensitivity that accompanies it. Talk to your dentist about your condition. Eliminate tooth sensitivity, dry mouth and bad breath. You'll feel and look more beautiful!

The $4.5 Million Bra

Victoria's Secret really knows how to indulge in a Holiday Fantasy. If you're wishing big this year and if you've been a very good girl whose Santa is well-heeled, then you might want to add this little outfit to your wish list.



This unique Fantasy Gift Set consists of the bra, thong, garter, cuff bracelet and a hair ornament. All the pieces are encrusted with nearly 9,000 diamonds, rubies, emeralds and yellow saffires. The pointsettia and ribbon design is exclusive to Victoria's Secret from international jeweler, Mouawad.

So how much does your Santa have to shell out for this Holiday Secret fantasy? A mere $4.5 million.

Finding The Right Dating Service

The last time you met a great date, where was it? At a party? a club? don't remember? Where will you meet your next great date? You could hope your friends know someone or you could look for someone with whom you are truly compatible. One great way to meet singles is an online dating service.

Before you choose a dating service, you should check out Internet matchmaking service reviews.

Online dating services are numerous and varied. Each provides different kinds of services geared to different lifestyles and dating goals. Yahoo Personals offers a huge database of singles. You have lots of options, whether you're looking for a casual date or a life partner. You can look for singles who most closely match your dating preferences and even browse by location. For those who are ready for a long-term commitment, there's eHarmony. Their goal is to match people for serious relationships leading to marriage. You don't have to search, they provide matches based on compatibility.

Whether you are looking to just expand your social circle by meeting new singles or are seeking a romantic match, there's a service that will help you meet the people who want to meet you. But before you sign up, do your research, find out what the goals of the service are, ask for references and testimonials and search for independent reviews. Good luck in finding The One!

Free Trial Optix Lenses

If you wear glasses for vision correction and want to try contacts, or if you already wear contacts but want to switch to extended wear, this deal at Wal-Mart will definitely appeal.



Until 1/20/08 Wal-Mart is offering O2 Optix lenses from Ciba Vision for just $19.97. O2 Optix have a higher oxygen content that is healthier for eyes and relieves symptoms like dryness, redness and irritation. The lenses can be used for daily wear or for extended wear. Wal-Mart will even give you a coupon for a free trial pair. Be aware that exam and fitting fees may apply.

Go here for your free trial pair coupon.

Sleep - The #1 Beauty Aid

Every woman has her own beauty regimen. We use scrubs to exfoliate and toners to tighten, creams to moisturize and prevent wrinkles, and makeup to finish. But many women neglect the most important part of any beauty regimen, and the one that can make the most difference in the way you look and feel - a good night's sleep.

We rob ourselves of sleep all the time with busy schedules and late nights. Even when we do go to bed finally, many women don't get restful sleep on their old, spring mattresses. They toss and turn, trying to get comfortable on mattresses that don't conform to their bodies. When sleep is this hard to come by, it isn't restful.

You've probably heard of sleep number beds and how they provide better support and are completely adjustable to your own individual comfort. Sleep Number Beds let you control the amount of firmness or softness of your mattress, allowing you to have the ideal combination of both comfort and support. Digital controls adjust the inflation of the mattress at the push of a button. You find your perfect setting from 0-99.

Not sleeping alone? There are sleep number beds with dual controls so that each of you can adjust your side of the mattress to the right setting for your perfect night's sleep. What's more, because each of you have separate air chambers, you are much less likely to feel each other's movements - you won't be disturbed when he turns over.

If getting a good night's sleep is the part of your beauty regimen that is missing, you should check into sleep number beds and see what a difference it makes to awake feeling rested and refreshed.

Fake Agency Kidnaps Young Women

Young girls often dream of becoming a famous model or winning a beauty contest, but some unscrupulous people turned that dream into a nightmare for some unsuspecting young women. Instead of becoming famous, they were sold into prostitution.

According to Austrian police, an operation that masqueraded as a beauty contest booking agency was actually enticing young women with the promise of modelling contracts. The women were then then taken to yachts, hotels and villas where they had their passports taken, were often beaten and then forced into sex with the real clients of the agency - the men who paid the agency to deliver these women to them.

Young women need to remember that in their quest to realize their goals, they can't take shortcuts and they should be warned to make sure they are dealing only with reputable agents.

Source

Coffee Slims Your Hips

I have always said that coffee was good for you, but I didn't know how good it was. Now, in addition to the other health benefits that doctors have discovered, you can add its slimming properties.

That's right, coffee will make you slim (and not from a diet consisting only of drinking coffee). Brazilian researchers studied 99 women who applied a cream containing a 7 percent caffeine solution twice daily for 30 days. The women used the cream on their hips and thighs.

The results were amazing! More than 80 percent of the women had a reduction in the circumference of their upper and lower thighs. Nearly 68 percent also reduced their hip measurements.

The researchers couldn't say if caffeine was having an effect on cellulite as they detected no cellulite changes in the women. What they did find was that the women had gotten a slimming effect with the caffeine-laced cream.

WebbyPlanet. com

WebbyPlanet is a great place to get it all for less. They search for discounts, coupons and bargains at all the great stores so you don't have to. Browse by product, company name or service and WebbyPlanet will bring you all the deals and sales. Get the discount code for savings online or even coupons you can print for in-store purchases. Find great deals from Dell, Overstock.com, Eddie Bauer, Buy.com, Sephora and many more.

WebbyPlanet is updated daily and deals are listed in chronological order so you get the latest information on the hottest discounts. WebbyPlanet helps you find what you want and then get it for less. What could be easier and more convenient?

Reducing Pores for the Flawless Face

It's harder to achieve the flawless look if you've got large pores. Makeup, dirt and oil can clog and enlarge anyone's pores but if you have naturally large pores as I do, it can cause skin to look splotchy and uneven. The temptation is to put on even more foundation and powder to cover them up, but that only exacerbates the problem.

The key to dealing with enlarged pores is to effectively clean your face and clear out the clogged pores, then use a product that will help tighten the skin and minimize pore size.

Estee Lauder's new Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher does all of this and more. After your cleansing routine, apply Idealist to face and throat. Chestnut Extract helps to loosen and free, dull, dead skin cells while it dissolves the debris clogging your pores and reducing oil buildup. 69% pore reduction in 4 weeks? All of this without the pain and irritation of a chemical peel solution. You get 1/3 reduction in pore size instantly.

Remember, keeping skin clean and using non-comedogenic makeup products will help keep dirt and debris from clogging pores in the first place, regardless of whether you have fine skin with small pores or naturally larger pores.

Job Requirements: Inner Beauty

A new modeling agency is looking for "real" people rather than people who fit the industry's standards of beauty according to this UPI story.

The modeling agency is called Ugly NY and they are looking for people with "inner beauty". Although the article states that models will make much less than fashion supermodels - $200 to $600 per day - I don't think it will be the pay scale that keeps people from lining up to join. After all, that's still pretty good money.

But how will people feel about being an accepted applicant to a company called Ugly NY?