Expert Skin Care

1. Anastasia says "Cleaning your skin daily is the absolute basic rule of great skin." Make sure to remove your makeup no matter how tired you are before going to sleep.

2. Do home treatments to keep your complexion looking at it's best. Anastasia recommends filling a sink with warm water and adding a few drops of lavender oil. Soak a face cloth in the water and then squeeze it out before laying it over your entire face. Take deep breaths and place the cloth onto your skin. This will initiate the flow of blood to the surface of the face.

3. Laurey suggests using a light tinted moisturiser as oppose to a heavy base if you want to look young and fresh. Try Olay Complete Touch of Foundation (£9.99) dotted onto the nose, cheeks and forehead. These are the areas that usually need more coverage so Laurey recommends blending lightly outwards for a natural effect. The fine pigments in the foundation help to even out the skin tone.

4. Try a cream blush for an effortlessly beautiful look. "Smile in the mirror" says Laurey "and apply a dab of blusher to the apples of the cheeks. Blend outwards towards the corners of your eyes using your fingertips." For a co-ordinated look Laurey suggests applying just a touch of cream blush to the lips for a bee-stung style.

1. STOP THE CAFFEINE
   
   This is a tough one. But according to Dr. Rey, caffeine gives us cellulite and prevents our bodies from absorbing vitamins. "Fifty-two percent of all Americans are addicted to caffeine. Caffeine is like cocaine in the 1920s. Reverse the trend. We don't need crutches." But he offers a suggestion (and it's a fun one): Eat dark chocolate, as close to 100 percent cacao as you can, to help control the urges.
   
   
2. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE, DON'T EAT IT
   
   This could be Dr. Rey's favorite motto. Forget ice cream, bread and pasta and concentrate on food that once moved on land and water or swayed from a tree: turkey, chicken, fish, apples, corn and other fruits and vegetables. "That's why I can't write a book, it would be one page long: Do not eat s--- that doesn't move!"
   
   
3. EXFOLIATE WITH HONEY
   
   Put honey (a natural humidifier) and brown sugar into a bowl, microwave it for five seconds and leave it on your face for 10 minutes. It's a clay mask that tightens your face.
   
   
4. SLEEP ON TWO OR THREE PILLOWS
   
   Dr. Rey says believe it or not, this will make dark circles go away: "If you sleep flat, the vessels in your face will pop." Rest your shoulders on the pillow as well, so you won't strain the neck.
   
   
5. SLICE SOME CUCUMBERS AND PLACE THEM ON YOUR EYES AND CHEEKS
   
   This is an oldie, but these bad boys work as a natural astringent and will penetrate the tissue and break up the pigment to prevent puffiness and get rid of darkness.
   
   

6. KEEP TWO SPOONS IN THE FRIDGE
   
   This is a quick fix if you have an important meeting and need to get rid of the giant bags under your eyes: Put the refrigerated spoons on your eyes for 10 minutes. Wet tea bags, although slightly more gross, will do the same trick.
   
   
7. SLEEP ON YOUR BACK, NOT ON YOUR FACE
   The pressure will wrinkle your face and your breasts.

When it comes to the latest hair trends, our politicians do not lag behind. Gov. Sarah Palin is now in the news, not for her wardrobe but for her exclusive hair style.

It's the hair that makes all the difference to her face, drawing the attention of millions towards her pretty face. Guess who is responsible for her amazing hair style?

It's Angela, a twenty-something stylist who works at the Hair Grove in Westlake Village, is the woman behind the scenes who gets the credit. Angela has been living a dream life ever since Palin got the Republican vice presidential nomination, flying around in private jets, surrounded by Secret Service, an intimate in the glamour and excitement of Palin's leap to national celebrity status.

Rumor has it she got drafted for the job thanks to Cindy McCain who somehow found her way to the area's hottest salon, probably through a friend who lives in wealth and splendor at nearby Lake Sherwood.

Amazingly, the local media haven't picked up on it. the Ventura County Star took a swing at tracking down the gossip about Angela and W magazine online had a small item weeks ago that apparently has gone unnoticed. So much for Google search.

Still, the talk around the hair salon community in the area has been all about Angela but it was hard to pry confirmation of the Hair Grove out of them.

The lines will be long for Angela when she returns to her normal world after the election. Who wouldn't want to know what Sarah Palin is really like?

1. Fix an eye makeup mishap.

Be extra careful -- once you've already smudged, you don't want to make it worse or you'll have to start all over again from scratch. Scott Miselnicky, executive director of global product development at Clinique, suggests wetting a Q-tip with makeup remover and gently dabbing at the mistake until it's completely gone. Go slowly so you don't take off too much!

2. Avoid Shirley Temple curls.

Pageant-perfect curls are a bride's worst nightmare. For a natural look, wrap a section of hair around the outside of the barrel and hold for three seconds. Release and let cool, then lightly run your fingers through your hair. And don't forget -- vary the size of your curls, and switch up the direction in which you wrap them.

3. Fake a great pair of cheekbones.

"If you're face is roundish, shading lightly can work wonders!" says Lucy Baldock-Sacchi, international makeup artist and founder of Lucy B. Cosmetics. She suggests using a matte bronzer just below your cheekbones, then following up with a pink or peach blush on the apples of your cheeks. To tone it down, skip the bronzer and use a hint of shimmer on the highest point of your cheekbones.

4. Flatter your face.

When it comes to choosing a hairstyle, all of our experts emphasize that your look needs to harmonize with your gown. Also, make sure to choose a style that will bring out your best feature, explains Jamal Hammadi, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Hamadi Beauty. "For an updo, placing the style between the top of your ear and the top of your eye (like a high ponytail) will enhance the shape of your eyes, while placing it lower (like a chignon) will put the focus more on your lips and neck," he says.

5. Stave off a breakout.

Right before the wedding is not the time to try out a new skincare regimen. No matter how tired you are, make sure you stick to your cleansing schedule and remove your makeup before you go to bed! If you really need more ammo, try a mask with salicylic acid.

6. Apply perfect foundation.

It only takes two tools to do this right: a quality brush and a makeup sponge. The brush will give you coverage, while the sponge will blend away any streaks or remove excess buildup.

7. Pull off a bold lip color.

Lots of brides like to amp up their look for the reception, and a deeper lip hue is a great way to do it. "Using a brighter lip color will always make your teeth look whiter; a big plus on your wedding day!" says Stila makeup artist Sarah Lucero. Keep all the rest of your face relatively neutral, and your eye makeup soft -- not severe. "Also, make sure your cheek and lip colors are in the same color family," she says.

8. Get voluminous locks.

Even if you're not going with a curly style, a curling iron or rollers should be in your repertoire. "Blow out your hair with a round brush for body, then follow up with a curling iron all over," explains Edward Tricomi, co-owner of Warren-Tricomi Salons.

9. Apply alluring eye shadow.

Eye shadow color trios and quads can be difficult to decode: How do you know where to use each shade? According to Baldock-Sacchi, it's perfectly fine to break the rules and experiment. If you want your eyes to look wider, she recommends using the lightest shade on the inner corner to give your peepers a more open look. Shimmering shades can be used all over and look amazing layered over color. The darker shades should be used for contouring in the crease or the center of the lid.

10. Keep your lipstick on your lips.

Miselnicky suggests applying a small amount of vaseline on to your teeth to keep lipstick from winding up on your teeth. "Also, gently blot your lipstick with a tissue after you have applied it to remove any excess," he says. "Believe me, the groom will be happy!"

11. Fight the frizzies.

"Always try to wash and rinse your hair with cool water, which will help maintain its natural moisture and prevent your hair from drying out," Hammadi says. Follow it up with a frizz-fighting product that will boost your protection level.

12. Make mascara run-proof.

Waterproof mascara is a wedding day must-have. "I use waterproof on everyone involved in the wedding party because you never know who will tear up!" Lucero says. For lower lashes, she recommends applying mascara with a flat eyeliner brush rather than the mascara wand. "This trick prevents smearing under your eyes, which can make you look tired," she explains.

13. Boast a beautiful decolletage.

You want your chest and shoulders to have clear, glowing skin -- especially if you're wearing a strapless gown. Debbie D'Aquino, vice president of global product development at Clinique, recommends wearing clothing that breathes and keeps perspiration from building up on your skin (this goes double for workout wear). Cleanse with a treatment that includes salicylic acid. We love ones that come in spray bottles because it's so much easier to apply to the back.

14. Prevent dark under-eye circles.

It might be tough, but Diane Berson, M.D., says it's key that you get plenty of sleep (and not just the night before the wedding). "Sleep with your head elevated on a pillow to reduce puffiness, and try not to rub your eyes," she says. It's also a good idea to use an eye cream that brightens as well as hydrates.

15. Touch up your makeup.

You may not have time to redo your makeup before the reception starts, but you should give yourself a quick once-over in order to make sure you stay looking great (after all, nearly every second of the reception will be photographed!). Makeup expert Francis Roman of Butterfly Studio says to skip blush (which should last just fine) and your eyelids (too risky). Instead, apply another layer of lip color, and blot your T-zone with an oil-removing paper. Then run a makeup sponge or a Q-tip beneath your lower lashes to remove any mascara or eye shadow that may have smudged or fallen beneath them, and you're good to go.

VaVaVoom, a luxury beauty store which houses more than 80 globally renowned product brands, has opened at the Bahrain City Centre.

The upscale mega store stocks the most exclusive international brands in fragrance, colour cosmetics and skincare. There are also beauty care experts who counsel customers on their unique beauty needs.

'There are so many choices today in beauty care products that it is important to have the right information when choosing the treatment that is best for you,' stated Gavin Walker, vice president Health and Beauty Middle East, VaVaVoom.

'We provide personal attention to our customers, helping them to choose products that suit their unique beauty requirements. Our purpose is to help our customers look good and create an impression.'

'VaVaVoom is designed to appeal to style conscious customers looking for the best products combined with outstanding customer service. Our services like personal beauty rooms for makeovers, specialist spa treatments and nail stations help customers to achieve the right look for every occasion.'

'Whilst our customers are predominantly women, both men and women want to look good today, so we also offer men's grooming and beauty care products.'

The store from Dior Chanel, Lancome, YSL, CK cosmetics and fragrances and Elemis skincare.

The Bahrain store is VaVaVoom's 24th in the region. It also operates stores in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

VaVaVoom was first created and launched in Kuwait in 2003 by M H Alshaya Co.-TradeArabia News Service

Lancôme Rénergie Microlift Night cream: “Beyond lifting and repositioning ... Bio-Stimulating technology.”.

Very rarely is the New York Times straight-up comedy, but (Thursday's) story, Let's Play Buzzword: Defining Phrases Used in Skin Care Advertising is so funny.

Cosmetics companies sell creams with words like "advanced," "micro-lift," "nourishing," "bio-stimulating" and "revitalizing," but what do they mean? Does anyone know?

Times writer Natasha Singer visited a Manhattan salon and asked some women for their definitions, then compared their translations of the mumbo-jumbo with official explanations from the cosmetics companies.

For instance, Olay Regenerist claims it is "a deep-penetrating moisturizer with Aquacurrent Science."
Dyan Diaz, 30, says this means, "They are taking stuff out of the ocean like jellyfish and dissecting it and telling us it is good for your skin."

Actually, Olay claims, "Aquacurrent Science, the study of water movement in the skin and hair, helps create products with greater moisturization."