Beautiful gadgets: Mimoco

We all know about the USB flash memory cards. They are certainly very useful and much nicer than the old fashioned CD-ROMs, but they are not pretty; you cannot call them an "accessory."

That has changed, thanks to Mimoco. Mimoco has a variety of attractive Mimobots, which are USB flash cards with a personality. There are many designs including a Star Wars collection with Dark Vader and all the other guys. Most of the designs are inspired in Japanese characters. Why to go around with your pictures in a simple flash memory stick when you can make a statement with your own mimobot. Mimoco.com

Sabai Spa Thai herbal balls

With this product you can bring some of the exotic Spas of Thailand to your home. Cloth balls filled with herbs are used to massage the body. The herbs smell really wonderful and help to relax the muscles and eliminate impurities.

The balls must be submerged in hot water before using them and it is a kind of hot massage, thus, better suited for colder weather. It is a great experience at low cost. If you prefer to have a more luxurious version many spas offer the same service.

If you like you can also make the balls at home using our recipe Thai herbal massage . Read herbal massage recipe here Thai herbal massage .

Lucia Corvelli lingerie review

Lingerie serves many purposes. While there are occasions when sexy is a must, there is one requirement that should never be compromised: comfort. Like shoes, uncomfortable underwear can ruin the moment. A lingerie line that balances sexiness with comfort is called Lucia Corvelli, designed by a model under her own name. She has a complete range of innerwear, all the way from boy shorts to leather selections for those special times. I liked her pajamas and other comfortable wear. Watch this video to see some of her selections.

Teri Hatcher recommends Badgley Mischka

Teri Hatcher is working in ads for Badgley Mischka. Teri looks gorgeous in the ads. Badgley Mischka design some of the most beautiful gowns seen on the red carpet. They are some of top designers in America at this time.

They make some of the finest clothes that I know and every clothing item from them is bound to draw attention to you. They said that they selected Teri, because she is a real person with a daughter, a career, and of course, lots of glamor. See a short interview with Teri and the designers during the photo shoot.

How to wear a strapless dress?

I have always been somewhat skeptical of strapless dresses; my baseless fear of their not staying in place, particularly because I often see celebrities on the red carpet tugging them (it just looks awful). The good news is that I just bought a short, strapless dress for a wedding. The key to making it stay in place no matter what? It should fit you well. My dress fits me so well that the when I tried it on at BCBG Max Azria, my husband had to literally zip it for me in the back (now I can manage to zip it myself).

But what if you don't have the greatest legs in the world (I am talking about cellulite, varicose veins, fat, etc.)? An option is to wear a long strapless dress. How do you wear it? Watch the video by Matthew Hunt of Ford Models to learn how the stars wear it.

Acne complete information

There are a lot of myths about acne and skincare companies have done their part in spreading wrong information about acne so that they can sell products that often do nothing more than give you comfort that you are doing something. In order to deal with acne effectively, first you have to understand how acne is caused, you can learn to live with it. Here are a complete set of excellent videos by dermatologist Dr Hadley King on acne. The first one shows you how pimples/zits are formed and what you can do take care of them.

This video explains the different types of acne that we can have.

How to treat mild acne?

How to treat severe acne?

How to treat acne scars?

Beautiful shampoo

There is no scarcity of beautiful packaging in the beauty industry. In one of the trade shows I attended, I got to see a really cute one from the line Belletresse. Their shampoo and conditioner comes for delicate hair, full-bodied hair and color treated hair. Besides their cute packaging, their products are parabens free and vegan.

Drinking chocolate in SOHO at Vosges

During the weekend I indulged myself with a cold chocolate drink at Vosges, the popular chain of chocolate stores. I tried the chilled Aztec Elixir Couture Cocoa. It was delicious.

If you are in SOHO and love people watching, this store has some (not a lot) seating options in very pretty surroundings. I was lucky enough to sit next to the window and had a great view of the street. It is a great place to take a short break, whatever time of the year.

Although I liked the cold cocoa at Vosges, I prefer the decadent rich flavor of pure chocolate at Mariebelle, a chocolate store a few blocks away (and I am clearly not going back to Max Brenner Chocolate). Mariebelle does not have the excellent views and the atmosphere is more stuffy, but the decoration is very nice in both shops. Vosges' personnel is also very friendly.

Both Mariebelle and Vosges sell their products on their websites. In winter my favorite drinking chocolate (not cocoa) at home is from Trader Joe's, their own brand (plus I enjoy chocolate fondue). For about $4 a box, you get a lot of servings of pure indulgence and its quality is comparable to much more expensive brands. When I am in NYC, I often choose between Vosges and Maribelle, depending on how close I am to one of these shops.

Helen Wang boutique in New York City

One of my favorite boutiques in SOHO (New York) is called Helen Wang. Helen Wang's clothes have been featured in national magazines, Vanessa Minnillo loves them, they were used on "Sex and the City." When I first went to the boutique, I did not know anything about the clothing line, but I loved the clothes that I saw in the window that were on sale. This line has beautiful clothes, mainly dresses, for both day and evening wear.

The clothes are moderately priced and very high quality (big contrast from Dear by Amanda Bynes and Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker and typical street fashion in New York). They are also made from the finest materials (the dresses that I looked at were all made from 100% silk) and were very nicely cut and sewn. Some of the dresses reminded me of BCBG, but at similar prices, Helen Wang’s dresses look more expensive and exclusive.

The boutique also is very nice and the salespeople are attentive, polite, and courteous, but not intrusive or pushy. They also sell children's clothes, that are really cute. The prices for a dress are about $300 (though they were much cheaper when on sale); children's clothes are cheaper, of course. There is a very small collection of men's shirts but I doubt if you should shop for them there.

Unfortunately, their website is not regularly updated and it does not have the current collections, so you cannot really buy the latest designs online. But if you go to NYC, take a look at their boutique located on 69 Mercer Street (in SOHO). The website indicates that her clothes are also sold in some other stores such as Barney’s New York, Neiman Marcus, and others.

How to eat right during pregnancy?

When we get pregnant, our appetite goes through the roof. It is important to eat the right way during this critical period. After all you are eating for the little one too who is growing fast and needs a lot of nutrients.

Eating more does not mean that you eat unhealthy. Yes, you feel the cravings, your family members might pamper you, and you may be tempted to eat calorie-rich food (all those fat and sugar rich junk food taste even better when you are pregnant), but British doctors have found that you may end up giving birth to a child who is already "addicted" to junk food even before birth. That means a life full of illnesses and health problems. It seems that the baby gets "programmed" to like junk food.

That is why it is important that you develop a diet plan in consultation with your doctor. Also discuss how you can exercise during pregnancy so that you gain weight the right way.

Summer street fashion in New York City

There are few cities as fashionable as New York in the USA. Right now New Yorkers are enjoying summer and fashion reflects the ease of the season. But that does not mean shorts and T-shirts; there are a lot of retro 60s inspired clothing, large geometrical designs, baby doll dresses, capris, tights, and loose tops.

It is not intimidating or complicated fashion; it is easy to wear and comfortable. Manhattan is not a place to wear a lot of makeup and in summer it is even less. The look of the season is feminine, colorful and playful. Let's see how the fall fashions play out on the streets. I will keep you posted.

Pregnant Isla Fisher shows how to dress right

While pregnancy is one of the most beautiful stages in a woman's life, it is also a very challenging time when it comes to dressing. Not only do you have to build a completely new wardrobe, you also have to change it frequently. Plus, depending on how your body is, how much weight you gain, and how you like to dress, you can find it difficult to maintain your original style.

That is why it is important to be creative and keep an open mind about dressing. Take a look at this photo of Isla Fisher at the premiere of "Hot Rod," where she is wearing a form-fitting, feminine, flirtatious dress. In other words, you don't have to wear baggy clothes to hide your tummy. It is beautiful and it is OK to flaunt it.

What causes acne and how to stop it?

We all love stories and companies will feed them to us to sell their products. That is what results in myths. For this reason there are dozens of myths about our bodies, particularly skin. Joshua Fox, MD, founder of Advanced Dermatology and a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology exposes some common skin myths so that we can separate fact from fiction and take care of our skin:

Myth #1: Acne is for teenagers.

Unfortunately, plenty of people in their 20s and 30s (and beyond) experience breakouts, whether they were pimply teenagers or not. And more women -- more than 50 percent - will develop acne long after graduation from high school.

Myth #2: If your face breaks out, it's because you're not washing it as often - or as aggressively -- as you should.

Wrong, says Dr. Fox. "Sure, if you wear oil-based makeup or heavy creams and don't wash your face properly, you'll wind up with blocked pores, which can turn into blemishes. But acne isn't caused by dirty skin."

The bottom line: Keep your skin clean, but don't overdo it. Washing once or twice a day with a mild cleanser should be enough. Studies show washing more often doesn't lessen outbreaks. Scrubbing and/or using harsh products will only damage your skin and might even make your acne worse.

Myths #3 and #4: Eating too much chocolate, pizza or potato chips will make you break out. Or, conversely, diet has nothing to do with acne.

Both of these are untrue, says Dr. Fox. "Years ago," he explains, "teenagers were told that acne was caused by eating certain foods. But there was little evidence implicating these things in acne, and in recent years many doctors have taken the opposite position, telling patients that diet has nothing to do with acne."

He continues, "Today, we're seeing research showing a definite link between eating a healthy diet and having healthy skin. And there's even been a study showing that teenage girls who drink lots of milk have a higher incidence of acne than those who drink very little milk."

So what's the bottom line?

"Be sure you're eating plenty of nutritious foods," says Dr. Fox. "And pay attention to your own triggers. If you notice that you break out after eating a certain food, avoid it. Also, keep any grease from touching your skin as we know it is a precipitant. So if you eat pizza or potato chips -- eat them sitting down and wash your hands after eating them."

Not Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker

I finally got a chance to see with my own eyes the new apparel line "Bitten" designed by Sarah Jessica Parker. SJP, as we know, became a fashion icon with her role in "Sex and the City," where she wore incredible and daring fashions.

On all red carpet events Sarah Jessica almost always looks good. She is a self-confessed fashionista who made sure in her contract for the popular television series that the clothes worn by her character would be hers after the shooting.

So what about Bitten?

Bitten was created for the Steve and Barry’s shops. This store specializes in low priced trendy clothes. Actually, clothes sold at this store make Old Navy stores look luxurious. In other words, these are not the best quality clothes. Sarah’s labels fulfills this; all items are low priced, jeans are about $14.00, tops for about $7.00, and so on. Here is a picture of her at an event for the launch of her line. My analysis continues after the photo.

What do you get with this ultra low prices?

You get trendy clothes with good cuts, attention to detail and well sewn; that is a lot for items costing less than $20. On the other hand, they do not have much life, the materials look cheap. They are good pieces for teenagers (like the Dear line by Amanda Bynes) or college students who will change their looks regularly and can mix them with other better quality pieces to make them look higher quality.

I did not buy anything from the Bitten line -- I was simply not bitten. There were a couple of pieces I liked (not loved), but I did not buy them, because the lines were too long to wait for a $7 long-sleeve t-shirt.

By the way, when the line was announced, Sarah Jessica Parker showed up wearing the line’s clothes (as you see in the photo above), but as noted by Gretta Cole, a Boston Stylist (and spa owner) Sarah Jessica also wore a thousand dollar pair of shoes. That is the key to wear low priced clothes. Mix it up with expensive ones and the look will be expensive.

Do over the counter beauty products work?

Aging is a terrifying emotion. Wrinkles, fine lines, flaccid skin, gray hair, whatever sign of aging we see, panic sets in. That weakness has, naturally, been exploited by marketers for centuries. That is why almost every single project on the market tries to make a connection that it will help us look and feel younger.

While plastic surgery can reverse some of the signs of aging, nothing can stop aging. Healthy eating habits, regular exercise, inner peace, and a good sense of style can definitely slow down aging and make us look and feel younger, but that cream/lotion/spray/pill that somebody is hawking on television or a magazine is not going to work.

Do over-the-counter beauty products work?

A new study by Timothy A. Miller, MD, Chief of Plastic Surgery at University of California and Los Angeles says that there is no data that proves that these products actually work in the amount that they are sold. "Although there are a number of beneficial OTC remedies in existence, for many patients, prescription-strength or surgical procedures may be necessary to achieve desired results," according to him.

The study consisted of a review of existing research on ingredients commonly found in OTC anti-aging creams. Key compounds under review included vitamins, antioxidants, alpha-hydroxyl acids, moisturizers, pentapeptides and botanicals. Of these, Vitamin C, alpha-hydroxyl acids and pentapeptides were shown to be the most extensively researched with proven anti-aging benefits.

Vitamin A, or retinols have shown great promise, however their effects have only been proven in prescription-strength formulations; OTC benefits have not been determined. Minimal studies have been performed on Vitamin B, though what evidence does exist is promising. Moisturizers have not been extensively researched, but have been shown to improve the hydration and appearance of skin.

Botanicals such as grape seed extract, soy compounds, green tea and Gingko biloba are relatively new in the market and have gained great popularity in recent years, but their healing qualities have yet to be proven through randomized, placebo-controlled human trials.

So should you give up using over the counter beauty products?

It is important to take care of your skin and using high quality products is important, but just don't believe in the misleading messages on the label. These products will definitely not turn back time, but as I said above, if they are part of a overall healthy lifestyle, you can stay young and beautiful for a long time.

DEAR clothing line by Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes, following in the steps of Sex & The City star Sarah Jessica Parker, has launched her clothing collection at Steve and Barry's stores. Her clothes, sold under the name "Dear," like Amanda, is youthful and fresh, and directed to girls of her age.

The event to launch the line attracted Hollywood stars, including of course, Amanda Bynes. In the photo at the event, you can see Amanda in a short black dress.

And another celebrity attending the event was Maria Menounos.

Spray for the legs

I am referring to the spray to make the legs look as if you are wearing stockings. They are not the same but come very close to it.

The absolutely gorgeous model Daniela Pestova told Shape magazine that she uses one of these products for bikini photo shots. Daniela uses Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs. There are many other brands and it is worth considering them. If the product can help Daniela look better, it can do more for all legs.

A trip to the makeup counter

If you like to learn more about makeup, your best bet is to go to a makeup counter such as Sephora or Mac. The makeup applications are free, but you need to buy something My advice is do not buy everything; buy foundation if you like it and maybe concealers. Think about the rest. Sometimes the makeup artists on these counters do not listen to you and you can end up not looking as want.

If you go to a counter such as Mac, go to a fine department store, such as Saks Fifth Avenue or Nordstrom, the products cost the same, but I know the service is much better. Also, go to a quiet store in quiet times so you get more time and attention.

Be specific on what type of makeup you like: natural, modern, etc. Or tell them you like how a celebrity looks (bring the picture in case they do not remember that celebrity). Ask questions and take notes on how they apply your makeup, I do not know about you, but I forget things.

I tell my friends not to be afraid of makeup. I suggest that they read magazines, pay attention to pictures and experiment. Just a little bit of makeup does not cover who you are; it only highlights your strong points. Beauty does not come from makeup, it comes from you.

Cleansers for dry skin

A large percentage of people think that they have sensitive skin and want to hear this when they go for a facial. Some times the esthetician tells them what they want to hear even though it is not the true.

Sensitive skin is nothing desirable. It is a kind of temperamental skin that reacts strongly to many things including temperature changes and cosmetic ingredients. However, most skin (99.999%) types do not require strong cleansers.

My skin hates strong cleansers, especially if they have too many detergents leaving it with the tight skin sensation. I have found that my favorite cleansers (I have tried a lot of them) are the products for sensitive skin with one exception that is a cleanser I got in TJ Max a while ago. I have never seen it in stores. It is the cleanser for all skin types from the Australian beauty line Bloom. It smells great, something like geranium and it does not irritate my skin.

Other brands that I think are great include: Avalon organics for sensitive and for normal skin, Clarins for dry and for sensitive skin. The cleanser does not need to be strong to clean your skin; if you feel your skin tight you may be overdoing it.

Makeup transformations

In my years in the beauty industry, I have seen in front of my eyes how women react when they see themselves all made up. I saw them coming in the morning for a day of beauty looking, well, ordinary, and others just jumped out of bed. Then at the end of the day, the transformation happened after the makeup session.

After a makeup application, the reaction was as if someone inside them has been allowed to come out, someone beautiful has finally emerged. Someone they knew or suspected they had inside, but it was hiding. The self-confidence level goes up making these women even more beautiful.

I always ask myself if this feeling was going to last. Is it going to change something permanently in this woman or is it temporary? I do not know the answer. But, as for myself, I know that even though I am a makeup artist (at least I have a diploma, though, I do not do that to make a living) I do not always apply makeup, not even as recommended by minimalist makeup artist Bobby Brown.

I find makeup exciting, it can change how you look. Just a bit of lipstick adds color without changing who you are. I love to browse makeup books. I love the books of late makeup artist Kevin Aucoin. One of my favorite new makeup books is “5 Minutes face, the quick and easy makeup guide for every women” by Carmindy (“What not the wear” makeup artist). This book is very instructive and it has a lot of good tips for the novice and even for the more serious makeup user.

Welcome to Lindisima Beauty Bag

We are glad that you visited this blog. Thank you. We plan to talk about mainly beauty, but also anything else that relates to beauty; so stay tuned and please visit often. Brought to you by Lindisima.