Monday, March 16, 2009

Score lovely lashes in the blink of an eye.



Lashes can alter your look, whether you opt for a spiky, mod fringe like sixties model Penelope Tree, or a coy curl like actress Kirsten Dunst. Beginners should start simple:"For a natural lash, use a tint [try the water-based Clean Lash Tint by Neutrogena]," says California makeup artist Joni Powell, who perfects celebrity eyes on The O.C. "For extra oomph, coat lashes with a primer and a thicker mascara." Before applying product, gently close a curler at the base of the lashes and pulse up toward the ends. Wipe excess mascara off the tip of the wand and wiggle horizontally upward to the lash tips. Curious about falsies? For easy experimentation, cut up to two months. If you go with a pro, prevent infection by making sure to see someone certified by a company like Xtreme Lashes. Batter up!

TIP#1:Eye-makeup remover before bedtime is a must, especially if you use waterproof mascara.
TIP#2:Don't pump the wand in and out of the tube: It encourages bacteria growth and dries mascara up.
TIP#3:For a daytime alternative, try navy mascara, which brightens eyes.
TIP#4:Dramatic lashes highlight unkempt brows. Groom accordingly!
TIP#5:For a night out, intensify your look with colored mascara.

The Italian Job:Margherita Missoni



Style runs in the family for aspiring actress and beauty connoisseur Margherita Missoni.

At just 23, Margherita Missoni has a lot on her plate. She juggles acting lessons, being relentlessly photographed by paparazzi who adore her personal style, and serving as a muse to her family's fashion house. How does she do it? "I listen to my mother," admits Margherita, who now lives in New York City. "She gives great advise." It makes sense then that her mom(Angela Missoni, the creative director of the brand's women's line) handed Margherita her latest assignment: her role as the face of the Missoni signature fragrance. "I was nervous," she says. "But when I realized what an opportunity this was. It's a dream come true!" And with her obvious comfort in front of the camera, there's little doubt that the would-be actress will make the leap easily from It girl to headliner. "I love acting--I'm young," she says. "I have the rest of my life to be a grown up. Right now, I enjoy being carefree."

HER TOP ADVISE

TIP#1:Think prevention.It's never too early to start using rich eye cream.
TIP#2:To look naturally happy, recall a favorite place when being photographed.
TIP#3:Deep-condition hair and avoid blow-drying more than twice a week.
TIP#4:Tinted moisturizer gives skin a finished look without being too heavy.

What happens when even "safe" sex isn't good enough?

What happens when even "safe" sex isn't good enough? Leigh Belz reports on HPV, the most common-and very easily spread--STD.

The statistics are shocking: According to the American Social Health Association (ASHA), 75 percent of Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 have been infected by the genital strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the proven precursor to cervical cancer. But before you run to your gynecologists, it's important to get the basics on the virus, so you can put the numbers in perspective. Here, the facts on HPV.

What is it?
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease(STD) that is spread through direct contact. The virus is often asymptomatic (meaning there won't be any signs you have it)but can sometimes show in the form of genital warts. the ASHA's National HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Center estimates that more than 5.5 million new cases of HPV occur each year--that's one-third of all new STD infections. Don't let the numbers freak you out, though. There are more than 100 different strains of the virus, many of which are harmless and will naturally filter out of your body within one to two years. "For about 85 percent of the young girls who contact HPV, their immune system can fight it," says Christine Waldron, an ob-gyn at Women's Health Care of New England. And even those who contract a high-risk type of HPV may not develop cervical cancer.
How can you get it?
Genital HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, not an exchange of bodily fluids, which explains why condom use doesn't completely prevent the spread of the disease--they don't cover the entire genital area where the virus lives. Although a condom can't completely protect you from HPV, it does help minimize the risk of contracting it.

Does it affect males?
According to Waldron, the high-risk starins of HPV that get into females' cervical cells rarely affect males' systems because the skin around their genitals is tougher and less penetrable. Like females, males are carriers of HPV and can show symptoms, such as genital warts, but most often HPV isn't problematic for their bodies.

Should you be worried if you have HPV?
Though it's true that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 4,000 women in the U.S, die of cervical cancer each year, most strains of HPV are trancient and go away on their own. HPV affects your body much like a cold--because it doesn't enter the bloodstream, it doesn't lead to a strong physical immunological response. Having HPV becomes a bigger issue if you contract a train that leads to cervical dysplasia--the production of abnormal or precancerous cells in the cervix.

How do you prevent it?
As reported in The New York Times, two major drug companies are currently working on vaccines to prevent HPV. One, called Gardasil, could have FDA approval by the end of this year and has been shown to be effective in preventing the HPV types most commonly found in cervical cancer. But while getting a preventive vaccine seems simple, shots like Gardasil are quite controversial. the vaccine would be administered to eleven- and twelve-year-olds, causing some conservative doctors and lawmakers to argue that giving a preteen a vaccine against an STD clashes with calls for abstinence. So though a vaccine is on the horizon, it might not be immediately available. In the meantime, Waldron and the CDC agree that the best method for reducing the risk of HPV is abstinence from below-the-belt contact.

Should teens get the HPV test?
The HPV test screens for the thirteen most common strains associated with cervical cancer. According to Waldron, ASHA, and a report in the New England Journal of Medicine, it's not necessary for teens to get the test if they haven't had an abnormal Pap smear; the type of genital HPV that causes your body to produces precancerous cells and could lead to cervical cancer will show up in a regular Pap test. Mild versions of HPV are common among sexually active young women under 30 and, again, often resolve themselves without medical intervention. The commercials you may have caught on TV are aimed at women over 30, who are statistically more at risk than teens for developing cervical cancer from HPV.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Pink Slip:Indulge in summer's sweetest treat for lips

Indulge in summer's sweetest treat for lips: delectable shades of rose.


Tip#1: The first step to a gorgeous pout? Soft, smooth lips. Moisturize with the ultra-emollient Kiehl's Lip Balm SPF 15. "Medicated" balms often contain menthol, which can be drying.


Tip#2: Keep gloss in place (and give it unbeatable staying power) with Sally Hansen Invisible Lip Liner, a translucent product that also softens with vitamin E and shea butter.



Tip#3: Pick the pink that's right for your coloring. Fair-skinned girls look best in cool, bubble-gum hues, while those with darker complexions should go for warmer mauve tones.