Recently in Beauty Secrets of the Fabulous Category

I am in awe of Posh's lashes. They look crazy long in the photo so I can only imagine how long they look in person! I ran into her 3 years ago in NYC, I said hello and reminded her that I interviewed her in Taiwan when she was a Spice Girl. I expected her to snub me but she smiled, nodded her head and said "oh yes yes, hello how are you. Nice to see you again". Gotta love the Brits, so well mannered and courteous even if they really just want you to bugger off! But back to the lashes, they did not look this long that day and trust me, I always notice lashes (and noses) on everyone I meet.  These look too natural to be fake lashes so I think she got lash extensions. What do you think, did she or didn't she?  And have you tried the lash extension craze?  I tried it for a year about 3 years ago and they pulled out up my lashes so I've sworn off them for good but they were so fabulous on I am tempted to try again.

By the way, I just got my prescription for Latisse and I can't wait to try it out!  Stay tuned for my results in a few weeks (would it be too much to hope for lashes like this???).

I was in a pissy mood yesterday and anyone who got in my way felt the brunt of my pain. It's nothing in particular, just that time of the month. Not that it's an excuse to act bitchy but don't ask me questions unless you want your head bitten off, chewed up and spat out. To make matters worse, I received a book in the mail called "How Not To Look Old". Yes, great -- thanks for reminding me that 40 is just lurking around the corner. I stuck it on the bottom of my pile of "work" and decided to get to it another time. But after everyone had gone to bed and there was no one for me to pick on, I found myself with spare time on my hands. So I pulled the book out and decided to see what wisdom it had to impart.

The title page read "Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better". Yeah, uh huh, it's called "Face lift, liposuction, and a bottle of wine". (I did not have high hopes for this book but felt it my duty to read and report to you.) I continue on and found my self laughing out loud at the "shout outs" author Charla Krupp (long time Beauty Editor of Glamour magazine) gives at the beginning of each chapter. "Nothing Ages You Like.... Too Long hair that's parted down the middle, a solid block of hair color, gray or white brow hairs, obvious lip liner, yellow teeth etc etc". To make a long story short, I ended up staying up half the night giggling over the photos and fast tips Krupp gives throughout the book. There were more than a few instances when I gasped and thought "I MUST STOP DOING THAT!" I went to bed with a smile on my face and excited about waking up to utilize some of the tips. (jump for more tips!)

Buy How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better for $16.97 on Amazon.com

Like everyone else these days, I'm trying to pare down on my monthly incidentals: taking the subway in lieu of a taxi; stretching my pedicures an extra week; waiting for sales instead of buying full price. Of course there are certain things I wouldn't dare scrimp on, and up until last week I thought bikini waxing was one of them.

Years ago I accompanied a girlfriend to a health food store (I need to stock up on my favorite granola) and noticed a pot of something that looked a lot like honey in her basket. In response to my quizzical expression, she told me that she "sugared" (a hair removal technique that's like waxing except a sugar-based substance is used instead of wax) and that once you got that hang of grooming your own bikini area, you wouldn't dream of spending money to have someone else do it.

Flash forward a decade. Shobha, my favorite place for eyebrow threading (again, one of the many things I refuse to go without) just introduced a sugaring kit and, recalling my college friend's advice, I had to give it a try. AT $30 a pop, it wasn't too much to spend on an experiment in economizing. At home I heated up the sugaring gel in the microwave, put my husband in charge of the kids, locked my bedroom door, laid my biggest bath sheet on the bed, and followed the instructions. After dusting my nether-regions with the enclosed talc-free powder, I tried to mimic an aesthetician's deliberate, quick movements, but it took a few tries to figure out the right technique. (Hint: you really do have to pull the fabric strip in the opposite direction that the hair grows.) Once I did, however, it was smooth sailing, and I liked the fact that I was in complete control of the perimeters of my bikini line. No more, "Can you just take a little more from here?" or post-wax "oh-my-goodness-she-left-nothing" shock. The best part? I'm going to save so much on bikini waxes that I can keep splurging on another indulgence--sports massage anyone?--I figured I'd have to write off for the time being.

Shobha Sugaring kit-- $30 at Shobha boutique online.

My new BFF, aka Bobbi Brown, sent me an email today with a coupon code for our Beauty Snob readers. Bobbi Brown cosmetics has never offered a discount before so this is really exciting! To get 20% off Bobbi goodies, enter code BFF08B at check out. (free shipping for every order!)

The offer is only good from December 2nd - 4th so whip out your credit cards and start shopping!  Go to Bobbibrowncosmetics.com now.

And if you didn't win a copy of Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro -- grab your copy here on Amazon.com

Lastly, Bobbi would like me to share this segment from the Today show this morning. Enjoy!

Hello beauty snobs! If you are in the Dallas area this week, please stop by our Beauty and Bubbly event at Neiman Marcus! I will be making a personal appearance and discuss one of my favorite topics... The Art of Aging Gracefully and my favorite skin care line- Natura Bisse! Please come hang out and have a glass of bubbly! Email us if you'll be able to attend so we can let Neiman Marcus know. Space is limited so please RSVP!

When: Friday May 30th at 11am or 2pm
Where: Neiman Marcus North Park Level One

Gina Brooke (left) and Soul Lee (right)

shu uemura is known throughout the beauty world for its luxurious quality, amazing skincare and hand-crafted brushes. Sadly, the man behind the brand, Shu Uemura, died last year, but he left behind a legacy of wonderfully trained artists. We would like to share a little about two of shu uemura’s premier makeup artists: Gina Brooke and Soul Lee. (Read about these artists after the jump.)

Come to C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries and meet Jennifer Yen, founder of Pur~Lisse, to learn about the secret ingredients behind Pur-Ly Luminous skin. Pur~Lisse is a line of skincare that blends centuries-old Chinese beauty secrets with modern French skin science to create a collection that PRESERVES youth, PROTECTS beauty and PREVENTS skin aging!

Saturday, April 19th 1:00pm-6:00pm
Sunday, April 20th 12:00m-5:00pm
At C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries 414 6th Avenue, New York, (212) 533-2700

Jump to read more about Jennifer's beauty secrets and tips!

My favorite cover girl of the month is Drew Barrymore for Vogue. I actually did not recognize her at first glance but her high cheekbones and bedroom eyes gave her away even though the impossibly toned arms and long tresses are not her usual. She looked like she stepped out of a Bottecelli painting! The barely there wash of gold/bronze eyeshadow paired with shimmering rouge lip gloss is pure glamour. Try the look at home with the Cover Girl products Pat McGrath used on her- TruCheeks blush in No. 5, Eye Enhancers in Cafe au Lait, Outlast All-day Lipcolor in Ever Red-dy.

We have another pop quiz coming up today at Noon EST- check back!

How gorgeous did Marion Cotillard, Best Actress Winner, look on Sunday night? Robert Vetica of Frederick Fekkai tended to her cascading wave of tresses.

THE LOOK: To get Marion ’s modern day Veronica Lake look, Robert first blew out her hair smooth in the desired direction to create the deep left part. The left side was blown away from her face, while the right side was blown out from side to front so hair falls naturally on her shoulder. Robert then curled large sections starting from left, behind the ear to the around the back, using a 3/4 inch barrel curling iron. The hair was kept in place around the perimeter of her head. For the front, Robert curled the hair sideways towards the back to give the hair a not so uniform look. The trick to achieve this loose wave look is to curl big sections.

All PRODUCTS BY FEKKAI: Coiff Shape and Set Mist, Coiff Magnifique Finishing Cream, Coiff Fini Sheer Hold Hairspray.

Arguably the past decade's most accomplished hair stylist, Orlando Pita is a driving force within fashion and beauty, having just been named one of the most influential people in the world of fashion by W Magazine, October 2007. His innovation and influence can be felt in experimental editorial fashion and beauty features, and in prominent campaigns, and runway spectacles worldwide. Season after season, his looks define contemporary style.

Pita has created looks for Kors, Versace, YSL, Prada, Valentino, Dior, Gucci, Galliano, and Zac Posen and has carried his expertise through many of their campaigns. Pita's trend establishing style is featured regularly in Italian, French, and American Vogue, Allure, and W. Through the strength of his collaborations with leading photographers including Irving Penn, the late Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, Craig McDean, and Mario Testino, Pita contributes to the most dominant and respected image-making today. His views, tips and expertise are quoted regularly in publications worldwide.

It is no surprise that his unrivaled body of work has caught the eye of Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Julianne Moore, and Jennifer Connelly as well as Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce who are all clients of Pita. In 2004 Pita opened his salon, Orlo, in New York. Understated, yet elegant, his salon atmosphere is quite relaxing and free of clutter, enabling only truly beautiful work to be created and admired.

So when his PR rep contacted me and said he'd be in town for ONE day and that she could set up an appointment for me with him to style my hair, I jumped at the chance!

You have to go check out the musings of the Spa Girl Shannon at "A Girl's Gotta Spa!". A mother of 4 young sons with no daughter to pamper, she started this blog to share her love of beauty products with the internet! We love her enthusiasm and think you will enjoy reading of her adventures in beauty, style and fashion!

To kick off the launch of our newest website, Tot Snob, we asked one of the most fabulous mommies in New York to be our Snob File profile this week. Cristina Greeven Cuomo, wife of Good Morning America's Chris Cuomo, Vice President & Publishing Director of Niche Media and most importantly, mother of two bouncing toddlers, has graciously agreed to share her tips on staying a yummy mummy with our readers! A native New Yorker, Cristina is of Brazilian and German descent (her great-grandfather was the German Minister of State who founded the Orient Express in the early 1900s!). She is a graduate of Cornell University and she founded and ran the lifestyle magazine, Manhattan File, as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief for seven years before launching Niche Media with Jason Binn.

In addition to her role at Niche Media, Cristina has recently been tapped by internationally renowned skin care line, Natura Bisse, to be its US Ambassador. As the new face of Natura Bisse, Cristina will make personal appearances at US events and visit NB's labs and spas in Spain in order to fully embrace its vision. I can not think of anyone more perfectly suited for this role than Cristina, a woman who relies on healthy skin instead of cosmetics to stay gorgeous. Her natural beauty is as inspiring as her dedication to family and community. As if her schedule is not full enough with two small children and a demanding career, Cristina is an avid supporter of the New York Public Library, The New York Botanical Gardens, HELP and Mentoring USA, among other charities.

We know you will enjoy getting a peek into her busy life as Cristina is the ultimate embodiment of the modern woman, one who knows how to have her Loubies and walk in them too!

What a treat I have for everyone this week. My sweet friend, the beautiful Teresa Hill has agreed to share her beauty secrets with all of you! Some of you may remember her as one of the stars of the show "Models. Inc.", an Aaron Spelling production in the '90s. And you soap opera fans will definitely remember her as Eden of Days of Our Lives. If you've been wondering what this beauty has been up to since leaving the show, you'll get the scoop right here!

My grandmother, very Chinese and very superstitious, always told me if I wasted food I was destined to be hungry for a lifetime. To this day I clean my plate because visions of becoming homeless and hungry loom in the back of my mind at all times (thank god for the fast metabolism I was blessed with because I've miraculously managed to stay a size double 0 despite eating like a linebacker) So when I discovered that Alpha Hydroxy acids are made from citrus acids, I realized I could eat grapefruits, oranges, or lemons and use them as beauty products! I should get double karma points right? I remember the first time I did this, I ate an entire grapefruit standing at the sink while massaging it into my face at the same time. I must have looked like a total psycho with grapefruit pulp dripping down my face, neck and arms but I didn't care, I was racking up lots of good karma for being so thrifty! My husband walked in on me and doubled over with laughter and when I explained my theory of being frugal he suggested I stop buying Hermes birkins instead of slathering citrus all over my face. (He obviously does not understand the laws of karma, buying Hermes birkins IS being frugal because I'll use them for a lifetime. How long did that paddington last in my closet?) Anyway, it didn't hurt much and I didn't scar myself although it did sting a bit when the pulp got stuck in my eyes but after I rinsed it off, my skin felt really smooth! You can do this with oranges but it's not as acidic so it doesn't work as well and lemons are kind of scary cuz it burns and may blind you so grapefruit is the ideal. Try it the next time you crave vitamin C!

Another home remedy I love is using egg white to massage my face. I used to keep beaten egg whites in a bowl (1 egg white will last a few days) in the fridge at all times because my son was only allowed egg yolks until 12 months old and I couldn't eat all of the egg whites left over. Every night after I cleansed my skin, I'd walk in the kitchen and start my routine. I'd massage for at least 5 minutes and then let the egg white dry and harden before washing it off. I swear it makes skin softer than a baby's bum, it's also a great tightening mask before going out at night. I don't have much time to experiment with home remedies with my new found career as an online publisher and a mother of a two year old so let me know your favorite at home beauty remedies! Email me or leave in comments :) We will pick our top five favorites and share them with our readers in next Friday's edition of Beauty Secrets of the Fabulous.

This week's Beauty Profile is our favorite soy latte guzzling, stiletto heel wearing, girl about town, Kristopher Dukes! We absolutely adore Kristopher's sultry writing style and see her as our little sister Snob (she's only 22 and has been published since she was 16!) So kick back, grab a soy latte and oh la love your way to fabulousness!

What I'm about to share is kind of gross so skip to the next entry if you'd like. Ready? Still here? I only wash my hair twice a week. Yup, rain or shine, twice a week. But I swear it does not look dirty, just ask my friends! I brush it from roots to ends daily with the Mason Pearson brush my sweet friend Terry sent me and it distributes the oils in my hair and makes it look glossy. Is that gross? But I promise I am not one of those crazy smelly people who don't bathe, I just don't believe in washing my hair too often. It keeps my hair free of split ends and you should see how long and healthy it is! Some days I need a little boost and I use P2 refres H air Dry Clean Shine from Philip Pelusi. It's described as "Dry clean in an instant for time crunched people. Removes up to 50% of hair debris sans shower." and I can tell you it does exactly that. Everyone I told about it have bought it and all love it! Look for a distributor near you or call (412) 488-8951 Actually, my hair is a bit too long and I can't wait to see Philip tomorrow in New York for a haircut!! He takes appointments only on Thursdays and Fridays in New York, 212 463 8213, you will seriously get the best haircut of your life!

Here's how it goes down:
Day 1- Straight and shiny hair blown dry
Day 2- Hot rollers (did you know hair curls better when it's a bit dirty?) BabyLiss is my favorite- all giant rollers and none of the tiny annoying rollers that are useless.
Day 3- Ponytail or the Stepford wife "half up" if curls from day before have not completely fizzled.
Day 4- Shampoo!

I've received many emails from fellow Beauty Snobs inquiring about my beauty routine so lest you think I was kidding about my 10 (sometimes 12) steps each night, here it is. (But I don't pile them on top of each other, I use different products for different parts of my face! My forehead has different needs than my chin as do my nose, cheek and under eye area, etc.) It takes me almost 30 minutes to go through my ritual of potions, lotions and facial massage but my husband keeps me company by telling me about his day at work (well, he lies on the bed and watches tv but still, he's keeping me company). Do you see why I am the high maintenance snob and Kelly is the practical snob?

1. The Diamond Ice Lift mask from Natura Bisse is gentle enough to use every other night and it's very hydrating so it's two masks in one. I like using it often because it exfoliates gently and allows my products to absorb into my skin.

2. Glycol Peel 50% from Natura Bisse - I use this 2-3 times a week, apply 3-4 drops and rinse off in 15 minutes for at home glycolic peel.

3. I use Skinceutical's Phyto + gel religiously 2 times a day to keep my pigmentation at bay.

4. Diamond Drops from Natura Bisse is a regenerative serum to counteract aging cells. It's also great to do my facial massages with, next time you get a facial, ask your esthetician to teach you a few massage moves to keep your facial muscles toned.

We are so excited to feature our French speaking, beauty lovin' friend, Julia, this week. She's been a loyal supporter of Bag Snob and now Beauty Snob cuz she's All About the Pretty! You are in for a real treat as Julia shares beauty secrets with us that her bestfriends may not even know about. Thanks, Julia, for participating and for being so pretty!

My grandmother (now 93 and still rockin' good skin without any plastic surgery) taught me at an early age to drink 16 ounces of room temp water first thing in the morning and I can not thank her enough for this habit! Do it before you eat breakfast for it to be most effective. Repeat at least 3 more times throughout the day. I bought 16oz tumblers from Pottery Barn so I don't have to worry about measuring the ounces.

Why room temp or warm water? The Chinese believe that ice is to blame for many of the malaise that effect the female body (especially during our monthly cycle). I don't know if it's superstition or if this theory has medical validity but ask any Chinese woman who is not completely westernized and she'll tell you the same :) Go ahead, try it, all you risk is having great skin and good health.

I do not have time to read other blogs these days, with two websites to manage and a very active two year old, I am lucky if I return my emails. But when I do have free time, I check out my Web Snob partners' sites. One of them is Blogdorf Goodman, written by Annie Gugliotti. Initially, I was drawn to Annie's blog by it's very clever name but kept going back for her funny and often insightful posts. I am so thrilled she agreed to participate in our weekly profile and share her beauty secrets with everyone.

Our Beauty Diva of the week is Christina Jones from eBeautydaily, check out her tips on staying beautiful!!!

Photo courtesy of Philip Pelusi

Hollywood turns to Philip Pelusi for glossy gorgeous hair on film sets and in print (He is Oprah's hair guru and contribues to O magazine regularly) and so do I! I met Philip last year and he treated me to the best haircut of my life. I have thick straight and very stubborn hair but he somehow managed to make it featherlight with subtle face framing layers without looking choppy as Asian hair can be with too many layers. My friends all have serious hair envy and they've decided I can only allow him to cut my hair from now on as I have never looked better(I'll be seeing him in New York in March!) . Philip was named top 10 stylists in inStyle magazine amongst many other accolades bestowed upon him in his 42 year career. With dozens of salons across the country and many more planned in the near future, he's also introduced a line of ozone friendly, biodegradable Phyto products that you must check out! My favorite is the Refresh H-air dry, I only wash my hair twice a week but with this spray, my hair always looks fresh and clean! Haircuts at Philip's new Tela Salon at Arium(a super cool art gallery, restaruant, club, hairsalon combo in the meat packin district), are from $100-$300 but a haircut with Philip, the Guru himself, is much more, call the salon 212-463-8213 to schedule an appointment and for pricing. Call Vincent, Philip's fabulous executive assistant if you have any other questions about Phillip! 888-263-4720 ext. 218

Those of you who don't live in New York, you can get Philip's secrets and tips on gorgeous hair right here on Beauty Snob! We recently sat with Philip for a quick Q & A:

Lianne, aka The Make Up Girl, shares her fab beauty tips with us as we kick off Fashion Week!

What Hollywood actress was overheard saying that after applying expensive creams to her face, she uses the leftover cream on her bum? According to our Beauty Spy, it was Allison Janney of West Wing fame! Apparently it really works and she has a bum soft as a baby :) Our Beauty Spy is a high profile celeb herself and will be sharing lots of beauty secrets of Hollywood stars with our readers so stay tuned!

I usually put left over face cream on the back of my hands but putting it on the derriere is an ingenius idea! What didn't I think of it? Try it out and let us know how it works for you!

Everyone wants to know beauty secrets of the Fabulous so we've decided to interview a Beauty Diva each week to get all of their beauty tips! Our first profile, Makeup Bag's Erika, shares her secrets:

When did you start the beauty blog and why? Makeup Bag is not quite six months old. I started it last August after nearly two years of wanting to do it, but just not making the time. It's a lot of work to research and test beauty products, but I'm loving it.

We know you all have your own beauty secrets to looking gorgeous. Why not share your tips with your fellow Beauty Snobs? Leave a comment or email us at thesnob@beautysnob.com

We'll be choosing our favorite tips and featuring them in our "Beauty Secrets of the Fabulous" section every week! (And of course we'll give you full credit as a fabulous Beauty Snob :)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What do you keep in your make up bag to stay fresh and beautiful throughout the day?