Cosmetic Makeovers - Show and Tell - Skin Beauty Tips

Latin Tattoos are Hot

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:54:56 -0500

Latin tattoos are in high demand these days. But is it a good idea to depend on a Latin/English dictionary online to get the right translation? You might end up walking around with complete junk and nonsense on your arm.

The Latin Translator has been around for nine years and they've noticed the huge spike in demand for Latin tattoos lately, so they've opened a special translation service just for helping you with your Latin tattoo ideas. For a fee of $30.00 and with a 24 hour turnaround they provide accurate translations into Latin of up to 25 words of English, alternatives to assist problems of spacing out words, advice on authentic forms of Roman lettering, advice on pit-falls for tattoo artists unfamiliar with Latin and an mp3 sound file of the translations.

The Two Types of Wrinkles

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:05:31 -0500

Dr. Oputa writes that there are two different kinds of wrinkles and that they respond to different treatments;

There are two categories of wrinkles; fine surface lines and deeply set furrows. They differ in structure and origin and respond to different types of therapy.

Fine surface wrinkles are as a result of the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibres due to aging and sun damage.

Deeply set furrows are caused by the build up of muscles beneath the skins surface over time as a result of repeated facial expressions in pretty much the same way muscle is built through exercise. These deep furrows can show permanently or come about when facial expressions are made like “crows feet” showing up when a person smiles.

These categories of wrinkles respond to different therapies.

Read more of her article about wrinkle treatments.

Tanning Risks are Real

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:58 -0500

The Danish Cancer Society has put out a video ad about the dangers of artificial tanning. They are using sex appeal to help it go viral, not to mention a bit of horror melodrama. But the point does sink in effectively.

Compare this to the much tamer video by the American {a Skin Cancer Foundation http://cosmetic-makeovers.com/2008/04/01/the-history-of-tanning}. They also use ample footage of skimpy bikinis but does their message come across as effectively?

Sunless Tanning

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:31:29 -0500

What the heck are these young, slim and beautiful people doing? They are pretending to be tanning themselves. Underground. Far away from the sun. In a train station in London.

They're being paid to promote a self-tanning product.

Story and photo source.

P.S. And why do all the women choose ponytails?

Megan Fox has Nine Tattoos

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:02:38 -0500

Megan Fox, age 21, has been voted the sexiest woman in the world by the readers of FHM magazine. Almost 9 million votes were cast according to FHM magazine. Other women in the top ten on their list included Jessica Biel, Alba, Elisha Cuthbert, Scarlett Johansson, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hilary Duff, Tricia Helfer, Blake Lively and Kate Beckinsale.

Fox has nine tattoos on her body including a very goofy one of a big picture of Marilyn Monroe's face on her right arm. The tattoo shown in the photo below says "We will all laugh at gilded butterflies," which is a line from Shakespeare's play King Lear. Why did she pick this quote to cover such a large space on her back? Does she want us all to know that she reads Shakespeare? What does this quote mean to her personally? It must have been very significant to her at some point in her teenage life.

Image details: The Visual Effects Awards Honoring Steven Spielberg served by picapp.com

Tanning in the 1970's

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:47:25 -0500

Here's a very retro ad showing how tanning was perceived in the 1970's. "Coppertone helps more people get a magnificently deep fast tan than any other product in the whole world".

The History of Tanning

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:19:30 -0500

The Skin Cancer Foundation has just put out a cute video about the history of tanning. They want to encourage people to avoid lying out in the sun and instead "Go With Your Own Glow". They use lots of frisky bikini shots to get their point across.

The Natural Cure for Cellulite

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:30:23 -0500

There's no quick fix or magic pill you can take to cure cellulite. Cellulite is just fat. It looks different because of a honeycombed tissue pattern. It becomes more noticeable as we age because our skin gets thinner as we get older.

Body wraps are often touted as a cure for cellulite. But their effect is very temporary - not likely to last for more than a day.

Some people are more prone to cellulite because of genetics. But cellulite can be reduced with regular exercise and a good diet. See a discussion of the natural cure for cellulite at the LA Times today. See another point of view here and here.

A Tattoo for Jordin Sparks

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:30:41 -0500

Jordin Sparks has two new tattoos. She's had her brother's initials tattooed behind her left ear and on her wrist is a new tattoo saying "Timothy 4:12". This is her favorite bible verse and it says 'Don't let anyone look down on you because you're young, and instead set an example in life, faith, speech and purity.'

Jordin turned 18 a couple of months ago. Hopefully she realizes removing tattoos in the future will not be an easy process.

Above is a picture of her from last year. She's wearing a beautiful coral lace and silk halter tunic with a shell encrusted bust line by Poppie Couture.

Latin Tattoos: What does 'tutela valui' mean?

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:26:37 -0500

The NY Post is reporting that Ashley Dupre has a tattoo on her belly that says "tutela valui". This is Latin and there's some debate about what it means. NY Post has translated it as 'fair value' but other people are saying this is not an accurate translation. Here's a few comments from the Law Blog at WSJ.com;

Don’t believe anything you read in the Post (nor anything on the WSJ editorial page). My Latin stinks, but even I know that there’s no way that “tutela valui” can mean ”fair value” in Latin. It’s something closer to “I was strong because looked after.” Valui is a past tense of “valeo” “I am strong”; “tutela” is “being protected” and a Roman & Civil Law state of guardianship over young people (ablative absolute, anybody?). Cancel your subscription to the Post. Buy a dictionary.

Miriam Yeung Does Whitening Skincare

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:24:56 -0500

Miriam Yeung, age 34, has signed on with Shiseido, to help sell their whitening skincare products in Hong Kong and China. Yeung used to be a nurse before she became a famous actress in Hong Kong.

Foods Containing Collagen?

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:01:24 -0600

Pig's feet are being touted as the hot new thing to eat if you want to keep your skin looking young. There's a very marketing savvy restaurant owner in Manhattan who has opened a restaurant serving mostly pig's feet. He's gotten a great deal of publicity that this is the natural way to keep your skin looking radiant and young. See today's article at the Telegraph - Pig's Feet: The New SuperFood?

But it's a far stretch to say that eating pig collagen will convert to collagen in your body. (If anyone has any scientific proof this, please send it in!)

There are foods you can eat that will help promote collagen production. These are foods high in lysine and proline and include lean meats (and maybe pig's feet?), egg whites, wheat germ, fish, legumes and peanuts.

Christy Turlington - Yoga for the Best Complexion?

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:41:14 -0600

Christy Turlington, age 39, is one of the top supermodels of past years. She retired from modeling at the age of 25 and went on to develop a serious yoga practice and to start a couple of clothing businesses as well as having returned to modeling contracts recently.

Turlington told Vogue magazine a couple of years ago that she would never use Botox and that "it actually makes me feel happier about my face when I look at people my age...who've had it done."

But despite swearing off any kind of cosmetic surgery enhancements she has amazing skin for her age. Maybe her secret is all the regular yoga she does. Six years ago she wrote a book about how yoga has changed her life - Living Yoga: Creating A Life Practice

Burt's Bees phthalate-free Powders and Lotions

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:47:54 -0600

Burt's Bees is one of the leading skin care companies that will benefit from people's demand for phthalate-free powders, lotions and shampoo.

A few years ago when I had my baby, I received a gigantic gift basket with the most desirable (and pricey) baby products. Included was baby powder and diaper lotion from Burt's Bees. I loved the smell and texture of the products, not to mention the homey and natural-like packaging.

Looking at the company history page of Burt's Bees you'd think they were run by a couple of nature-loving hippies who are doing good for the world. It's not mentioned that the company was partially owned by a private equity firm for some time and that they are now just a division of the huge bleach manufacturer Clorox who bought them out a year ago for $925 million when their annual sales were about $250 million. Hopefully, Clorox, which has no history of selling organic or natural products can keep things true and pure.

Baby Powder Risks

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:57:28 -0600

A recent study warns about exposing your baby to chemicals called phthalates, as they may impair male reproductive function. Phthalates are found in many baby powders, lotions and shampoos.

The study of 163 infants found that all the babies had phthalates in their urine. Those who had used powder, lotion and shampoo in the past 24 hours had significantly higher concentrations.

The study recommends parents buy phthalate-free baby products. See more details at the Washington Post about hazards in baby powder and lotions.