Stealing Red Carpet Secrets of the Stars

With their teams of hairdressers, makeup artists, stylists, eyebrow gurus etc, who has more access to beauty secrets than the stars. As they get ready to walk the red carpet at the Oscars their secrets are coming out so we mere mortals can benefit! These are the things that work in the short term to amp up your glam potient. Peels, lasers and things that need some downtime will need to be done weeks or a month in advance. But there are the quick tricks you can "borrow" the next time you have a black tie or major event that requires you to look your best:

Custom Spray Tan
Nothing takes off the pounds and gives you a special glow quicker than a spray tan. If your dress or outfit will be exposing a lot of skin you can take it a step further by having a custom sculpting session. It will add the definition to your stomach, arms and legs that would have taken months at the gym to accomplish. Area tanning salons that offer spray tanning include Fit To Be Tan in Arlington, Glow Tanning Salon in Georgetown and Solar Planet with a number of area locations.


Body Wraps and Saunas

If you need to be particularly svelte for a clingy or form fitting dress you can lose up to 20 inches from body wrap or far infrared sauna treatment. In Hollywood the stars indulge in a $135 Slimwrap which consists of being wrapped "mummy" style in bandages soaked in minerals to detoxify and contour the body. They then bounce on a trampoline for almost an hour in a blue poncho with feet wrapped in baggies--sweating out the toxins and water weight. You can probably get a similar result with one of the wraps offered by Body Shape 7 in Sterling, VA or the Washington Institute of Natural Medicine in DC.

At Pureskin, LLC in Bethesda their Slimdone Far Infrared Sauna promotes an oil-based sweat that releases impurities and burns up to 600 calories on one 40 minute session--which will have you not only looking good but feeling relaxed and glowing.




Spanx
Octavia Spencer who is nominated for an Oscar for her role as Minnie in The Help admitted she wears not one but 3 pairs of Spanx under her gowns. I think they've found their new spokesmodel! If you watch a lot of the red carpet countdown shows you will hear many actresses admitting to getting a little extra help from the body shaping undergarments. Even someone in the best shape may want to make sure no bumps or lumps are showing under a slim fitting dress. And although I don't think you'll hear a lot of them admit to wearing them there is now a line for men so they can minimize their belly and boost muscles. Spanx are available at most department stores like Macys, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.


Unexpected Beauty Products
As mentioned earlier there are tons of pros working overtime to make sure the stars don't commit any beauty faux pas on the red carpet. Slack skin, a sweaty brow or faded lipstick won't do so they employ some unexpected products to avoid any problems. Cellulite cream along the jaw line is one way to tighten up your profile. Using an anti-perspirant under makeup on the brow line and upper lip will prevent those areas from getting moist under the hot lights and cherry jello rubbed on the lips will give them a nice red stain that will last a lot longer than most lipsticks.

http://www.beautyindc.com/is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

VENeffect Challenges Hormonal Skin Changes

A collaboration between sisters has resulted in the newest anti-aging line of products to debut at Neiman Marcus. Combining their knowledge of hormonal effects on the skin and body with an expertise in the beauty industry, the Booth sisters created VENeffect www.veneffect.com.

Rebecca Booth, M.D, is a well respected gynecologist and hormonal wellness expert. Cecil Booth has twenty years of beauty and skin care experience. They felt the effect of hormonal changes on a woman's skin hadn't really been addressed and decided to create a line of moisturizers as a solution.

VENeffect is unique in it's focus on the relationship between estrogen and collagen. The moisturizers are formulated with a unique, advanced phytoestrogen technology in combination with peptides, proteins and other nourishing ingredients to actually reverse some of the signs of hormonal aging. These include diminished elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, collagen depletion and uneven skin tone. As Dr. Booth explains, "“The small molecular size of phytoestrogens allows them to easily penetrate facial skin and bind with estrogen receptors in the dermis and epidermis.” As a result, VENeffect restores the vital effect of collagen to dramatically improve the glow of healthy skin.

There are four products in the line including an Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer, Anti-Aging Moisturzier with SPF 15, Anti-Aging Eye Treatment and Anti-Aging Lip Treatment. The products range in price from $85 to $185.

Neiman Marcus' annual beauty event is going on now through March 4th in stores and online http://www.neimanmarcus.com/ With your cosmetics or fragrance purchase of $100 or more you'll receive your choice of one of 3 NM totes filled with beauty samples.


http://www.beautyindc.com/is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.

Cupid's Best Picks For Valentine's Day!

In case you hadn't noticed, Valentine's Day has become quite the event. It's gone way beyond just sending a romantic card to someone or ordering a dozen roses. It's become a day where we make an effort to look our best for our Valentine and/or find a unique and perfect gift to give them.


With that in mind, BeautyInDC.com http://www.beautyindc.com/ has gone on a mission to round up some of the best the DC area has to offer. There are beauty treatments to make you feel red hot for that special someone, spa treatments you can enjoy as a couple or ideas for gifts that will make you unforgettable!


Events:

2/12 It's A Lovely Party at Body Elements http://www.body-elements.com/
This Valentine's Day celebration has something for everyone-from Flamenco dance to fashion, from jewelry shopping to wine tasting...No fees, just fun! All are invited (first-come, first-served), so grab your best girlfriends (or come meet new ones!) and share your love for all things lovely.


2/13 Fire and Ice Event at Rockledge Medspa in Bethesda
The Dermatology Center http://www.dermskin.com/ is helping you get ready for Valentine's Day like celebrities get ready for the red carpet--with an iS Clinical Fire and Ice Facial. This day only you'll get a special price of $99 (regularly $125) and 20% off the iS Clinical products you purchase.



Treatment:


Bikini Wax/Airbrush Tan
If you're being whisked away for a romantic getaway this is a great way to prepare, especially if it's somewhere tropical! Skin Beauty Lounge http://www.skinbeautylounge.com/ is offering a special on this combination package for just $90.



Product:

Neocutis Bio-restorative Serum
Let him think it's the glow of love when you're secret is really this new product from Neocutis http://www.neocutis.com/ that employs Processed Skin Cell Proteins or PSP's. In as little as 7 days you can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines as well as tighten the skin's firmness and facial contours.



Couples Spa Specials:

Qi Spa Couples Massage
This spa in Georgetown www.qispadc.com probably has one of the largest menus of massages for couples to enjoy together on or near Valentine's Day. They're performed by two massage therapists in the same room on side by side tables. The most popular is the Karma Sutra Couples Massage which involves candlelight, melted candle massage oil, beautiful sensual music and lover's tea.




Parma's Complete Body Renewal Package for Two
This is a combination of treatments to enjoy with someone special in your life which can even be a mother, sister or friend. Included are a Rose Petal Foot Bath, Full Body Massage, Body Polish, and Rose & Champagne Treat for Two!! And best of all the package at Parma www.parmaspa.com normally costs $590 but for the month of February in honor of Valentine's day it's being offered for both people for a total of $199.



Unique Gifts:

UniqueValentineGift.com
A website www.uniquevalentinegift.com that absolutely lives up to it's name and has been endorsed by Cupid himself! It's a boutique dedicated to providing the finest gifts to men and women for all occasions of the heart. They've built relationships directly with the world's finest manufacturers so the gifts you receive and send to your friends, family, and loved ones are the highest quality products available. One that stands out is the Sweetest Day Message In A Bottle. It's a gift bottle filled with rose petals, Swarovski crystals and your very own message. Enter the site's Annual Valentine Love Letter contest and you might even win this gift or your choice among four options.

http://www.beautyindc.com/ is your local resource for information and deals on beauty services in the Washington Metro area.