Expert Skin Care

It's hard to believe that Lulu is about to turn 60, but on November 3 the singer will celebrate her landmark birthday — and she’s never looked better. Today, exclusively with Beauty Confidential’s Elsa McAlonan, she reveals her best all-time beauty tips and the secret of how she stays so young-looking.

What’s the most ageing thing a woman can do when she’s applying make-up?

For young people it doesn’t matter so much,
but when you’re older, less is definitely more - too much make-up can give you the eccentric Aunt Sally look!

If you had only five minutes to spend on your beauty routine, what would you do?

I cleanse, exfoliate (I use Blast To The Past Dermabrasion, £30) then moisturise. It may sound involved but believe me, I’ve got this down to four minutes.

Now you have your own skincare range, Time Bomb, has it made you less or more keen to try other products? What do you spend the most on and what would you recommend other people to do?

I have been a product junkie all my life - I have bought and tried everything on the market and
visited some of the best people in beauty over the years. Time Bomb encapsulates everything I have learned over the years and wished I could find in a capsule collection. It’s the absolute best skincare and body products I could envisage - and I am fussy. I am now able to indulge my love of beauty products and call it research. I am always keen to discover something new, but my advice is always to exfoliate. Get rid of those dead, dry cells then the new skin is ready for moisturising and you find your inner dewy, youthful glow. It’s in there somewhere.

What’s your daily cleansing routine?

It's important to have a regime, and over time it becomes effortless, like brushing your teeth. Always take off your make-up before bed - I am religious about this and always have been - and apply night cream. I am fanatical about cleansing - it’s every bit as important as moisturising and you have got to get rid of those dead skin cells. In the day, wear day cream and eye cream - I carry my eye cream (Smart Eye Balm, £20) about with me and pat it around my eyes all day long. I also exfoliate once a week.

What make-up tips have you picked up over the years?

Because of the shape of my eyes I can wear a lot of make-up. I can do a smoky look in the
evening, but in the day I wear a lot less. Most women don’t deal with lip pencils — they have
been given a bad name, but are essential, especially as we get older. I have perfected, almost to an art form, using lip liner with lipstick and sometimes gloss in order to make lips appear fuller and plumper and more defined, but never with an obvious dark outline. I love Myface cosmetics — lip pencils with coordinating lipsticks and glosses designed for fair skin like mine. It’s impossible to make a mistake. With blusher, mix colour and always apply delicately with a feathering brush. And apply upwards — that’s important as you get older.

What about foundation?

When you are young, it can be thicker, but as you get older it has to be much finer and lighter, as thick foundation can gather in lines and look ageing and dull — and never go too far from your own skin tone. That orange look is so last season, darling!

You spend a lot of time on planes. Do you have a special beauty routine to make sure you look fresh on arrival?

I always slather my Youth Juice Secret Oil (£30) all over, even on my hands, and, of course, I apply my eye cream. Always drink plenty of water — I know many people like to have a drink or two as they are most probably going on holiday, but it does nothing for your complexion.

Your hair looks better than ever. How do you keep it looking so good?

Having a great hairdresser is the answer to that question, and a great colourist. I go to Kevin Moss or Kiki at John Frieda, and they never let me down. As all women know, a bad hair day can mean a bad day in general — so a great cut which is relatively easy to maintain is also important.

Would you consider cosmetic surgery?

I'm not against surgery, just against talking about it — to quote Madonna!

Finally, how do you feel about Botox?

Enough is enough, less is more. Been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Amen!

Model Cindy Crawford, 42, advises a blend of natural skin care and Botox injections as a way of fighting the signs of aging.

The Mirror of London quoted her as saying that skin creams can improve skin texture, but have their limits. She explained:

Past a certain age, … I count on Botox, collagen and vitamin injections.

I have a very simple, healthy life that works miracles. I drink a lot of water, watch what I eat, and exercise.

But I owe the quality of my skin to my cosmetic surgeon.

The Body Shop introduces a new men's skin care line with the key ingredient Maca Root. Touted as the “super food of the Andes,” the maca root, dense with essential vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, was first used by the Inca more than 2,000 years ago for energy and endurance. During the height of the Incan empire, legend has it that Incan warriors would consume maca before entering battle to make them fiercely strong.

Other key ingredients to this line include Brazil nut oil, Aloe vera gel, Sesame Oil, and Vitamin E to sooth, nourish, and protect the skin from shaving.

Additionally, The Body Shop gets its Community Trade brazil nut oil from Peru, sourced through a unique fair trade program which ensures all producers and workers are paid a fair and living wage. The nuts are harvested from small farms and grown using traditional techniques, allowing the farmers to earn a fair income from an activity that fits their traditional way of life. The sesame oil found in this line is also sourced from a co-operative of small-scale in a remote area of Nicaragua.

Jerry Hall has apparently revealed her beauty secrets in a new show about staying young.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Texan blonde, who famously snagged Mick Jagger and Bryan Ferry, says that using cheap face cream and being in love is a winning combination.

The 51-year-old reportedly refuses to use branded cosmetics and anti-ageing potions to maintain her looks.

She apparently said: "I buy simple facewash and simple face cream and that is all I do. I use natural products and I don't buy anything that says anti-aging because I think that is insulting.

"And I think being in love makes a woman look really beautiful. Nothing beats that."

Jerry, who has appeared in shows as diverse as Batman, The Graduate, Picasso's Women and Hotel Babylon, added that she would never go under the knife to hold back the years.

She apparently said: "I think it is not natural and quite frightening."

The model and actress reportedly spilt the beans to Martine McCutcheon for UKTV's Style's new show The Truth About Beauty.

Hair Treatments

Conditioners, special shampoos and other hair treatments can increase the shine of your hair, help protect it and even repair some damage. But if you're afraid of the high price tag that often accompanies salon quality products, here are some simple at-home hair remedies that do the trick.

Dull Hair Remedies

Four household products ensure lustrous hair:

1. Lemon juice - mix it with water and rinse for added shine and bounce
2. Baking soda - mix it into your shampoo to eliminate dirt and grease.
3. Beer - after shampooing, rinse hair with flat beer to add body and shine
4. Tea - boil tea leaves and let cool; apply liquid to dry hair and let sit for 20 minutes; rinse with warm water.
   

Oily Hair Remedies

Two solutions to fight greasy hair:

1. Carrots - boil and mash them and apply to hair; let sit for 15 minutes; wash and rinse
2. Aloe and Lemon - mix ½ teaspoon of aloe and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with regular shampoo; wash and rinse.
   

Dry Hair Remedies

Apply a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Work any of the following ingredients through hair; put on a shower cap or wrap with saran wrap; let sit for 20 minutes; wash and rinse.

1. Mayonnaise
2. Olive oil/ baby oil/coconut oil
3. Egg yolk
4. Mashed avocado
5. Mashed banana
   

Skin Treatments

Forget expensive designer products. Glowing skin is as easy as opening the fridge:

Oily Skin /Acne Remedies

Create a mask or spot treat with any of the following ingredients:

1. Garlic - natural antibacterial properties make garlic a great acne treatment. Press into a paste and apply on acne
2. Honey and apple - mash together, and apply to individual pimples
3. Tomato paste - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse
4. Cooked oatmeal - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse
5. Egg yolk - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse
   

Dry Skin Remedies

Soft, supple skin is a cinch with any of the following:

1. Almond oil - use as a primer before foundation or as a night moisturizer.
2. Banana - mash and apply to face; let sit for 20 minutes
3. Mayonnaise - apply to face; let sit for 20 minutes
   

Exfoliating Remedies

Slough off dead skin cells with these simple solutions:

1. Coffee - mix a quarter cup of ground coffee with a tablespoon of salt; rub on face then rinse off.
2. Pineapple - a natural acid exfoliant; puree pineapple and apply to skin; let sit for 20 minutes.
   

Nail Treatments

Most nail damage is the result of environmental influences (washing dishes, housework, yardwork, etc.), so try to protect your nails from these culprits. But when all else fails, one at-home remedy can rescue dry, brittle nails:

1. Olive oil - olive oil moisturizes nails and softens cuticles without weakening them, preventing hang nails caused by dry skin. Soak nails in olive oil for a few minutes every week.
   

Tips for Teeth

Teeth discoloration can point the finger at many offenders - ageing, smoking, consuming staining foods and beverages like coffee, red wine, cola, and blueberries. So it's inevitable that many turn to teeth whitening to restore those that were once pearly.

You have your pick of expensive teeth whitening procedures and over-the-counter chemical treatments, but for a more natural solution, try making a paste of the following ingredients:

1. Strawberries - they contain malic acid, which acts as a mild astringent when mixed with baking soda or powder
2. Lemon juice and salt - lemon juice also contains acid
3. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda
4. Orange peel and bay leaves

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."