Simple skincare regimen

Natasha Singer of the Times did a terrific article "Fountain of Youth?" And the tag line says, "Go Wash Your Face." Yes, she was serious.

So what is her advice to be young forever without spending incredible amounts of money on cosmetic surgery or personal care products. Here is a summary of her recommendations:

1. Throw away old personal care products
Unless the package tells you an expiration date, simply throw away after one year especially if you touch the product by hand.

2. Do not smoke
If you do, even rarely, please try to quit. Apart from what it does to your lungs, smoking is hard on the skin too.

3. Leave the pimples alone
The more you touch them the worse they become.

4. Sleep more
There is no better time for the skin to repair itself than when you are sleeping. 6 to 8 hours of good sleep is awesome.

5. Reduce stress
There are many other benefits of living stress free but you will notice an immediate change in your skin when your stress levels are low.

6. Always wear sunscreen
The rule of thumb is that during the time there is sun, you should wear sunscreen. No exceptions.

7. Simplify your skincare regimen
Use no more than four products (a mild cleanser; a sunscreen or moisturizer containing sunscreen; a product that contains antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, pomegranate, soy and green tea; and an antiwrinkle product containing ingredients like retinoids, a form of vitamin A, or protein fragments called peptides) daily.

8. Wash your face before going to bed
Believe it or not but there is dust all around you, even inside an airconditioned building. So wash off that dirt each night.

9. Buy good quality products but do not spend more than $30 on each item
If something costs more than that you are paying not for ingredients but for advertising, marketing, and the big bucks paid to a Hollywood star to endorse that product.

Nail diseases

We love our nails and one of the most frequently places by women is a nail salon. Since we keep putting all kinds of beautiful nail polishes, we often mask any problems that the nails might have. Believe it or not but the nails can tell a lot more about your health than you think. This video is definitely worth watching in which Dr. Emily Senay highlights several health problems that can be diagnosed simply by looking at your fingernails.

Microdermabrasion demo videos

Microdermabrasion may sound like a very technical word and it used to be when it was performed in the office of a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. Since the procedure is so effective in improving your skin texture, it is now possible to have a microdermabrasion at home.

You can actually visit a spa or a cosmetic surgeon's clinic if you have never had it before or if you have extensive skin damage. After your skin has become more normal, you can buy any of the home dermabrasion kits and do it yourself. These three sets of videos explain what microdermabrasion (use of tiny crystals to exfoliate the skin) and then tips on how to apply makeup after the procedure.

How to improve cellulite appearance?

If you are a woman of almost any age, chances are that I don't have to tell you what cellulite is. You already are probably terrified of having it in the future in case you don't already have it yet.

What I like about this video is that it gives a more technical explanation of what causes cellulite and then goes on to discuss and demonstrate some of the treatments for cellulite.

As you might have read previously, some the tricks that seem to alleviate cellulite are dry brushing, mesotherapy, liposuction, self tanner, and use of lemon.

Kinerase cream review

I had wanted to try Kinerase for a while so finally I got a couple of samples at Nordstrom. I was excited to try the cream (1 % concentration). I used the cream for a couple of weeks only so I cannot say about making expression lines and wrinkles look better. I do not have wrinkles, but I have dry skin in the cold season and I try to keep it well moisturized. My skin is also slightly sensitive and tends to get red easily and occasionally breaks out.

The cream is absorbed fast, it is not oily, it does not leave residues and it almost does not have any smell (which I like). The problem for my skin was that it made it feel drier, it did not provide any moisture, after a few days feeling like this I applied another cream on top.

I do not like to write negative reviews so I read a lot of reviews on the Internet (in Makeup Alley and in Dermadoctor) and I found that my case was not unique. Many people feel that the cream makes the skin drier. It is an immediate sensation and I did not see any positive results, but I have to recognize that 2 weeks is not enough time to see any solid results, but due to the effect on my skin I could not use it any longer.

I am not saying that this is not a good cream, but if you want to try it, get a sample first. Less than half of the reviews are positive. I read that the company that makes this product (Valeant Pharmaceuticals) experiments on animals. This is not something I approve of and one more reason I would not buy it.

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Michael Kors designer

Most designers rarely say much in public. If you have seen a fashion show, the designer will merely appear towards the end and rarely say anything more than thanks. Occasionally, you will hear bits and pieces of what they say in a fashion magazine like Vogue. There is an exception, however. Michael Kors, who is one of the judges on Project Runway with Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia, has been on the program for so long that I have come to know him rather well. And my conclusion is that he is indeed a great designer and that is reflected not just in his work (particularly his handbags that I have seen at his boutique in the Natick Collection) but also in how he looks at things. Here is a great video that will tell you a little more about Kors' collection and what items of his you can buy.

Kinokuniya bookstore in Manhattan

Recently I went to the new Kinokuniya bookstore in Manhattan (in the Bryant park area). As I have told you in previously, this is a primarily Japanese bookstore that carries books in Japanese and English titles about Japan and other Asian countries. I love this place because I lived in Japan for a while and it brings memories of that time. It is like a little Tokyo in Manhattan.

I did not find my favorite Japanese magazines (they where all sold out), due to perhaps poor idea about the demand by the management, but I was surprised that the magazines were cheaper (despite the falling dollar) here than their Rockefeller Center location. Besides that, the café is fabulous. It serves great desserts and high quality coffee. It is not crowded as so many other cafes are in Manhattan. Take a look at the dessert my husband and I shared.

WWD one-of-a-kind stockings on Ebay

WWD, the well known magazine and website for fashion news, is having an auction to benefit Citymeals-on-Wheels. "WWD recruited Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney, Badgley Mischka, Josie Natori and Anthropologie to design one-of-a-kind stockings, and they came through in spectacular fashion. The amazing numbers — stuffings included — go up for bid on eBay tonight, filled to the brim with fabulous goodies," according to their website.

The stockings are not conventional; they have estimated that the values range from $1800 to more than $12,000. As you can see in the picture, they are indeed very pretty. Here is the link to bid.

Shu Eumura collection

Shu Eumura collection Muse has great holiday and party colors. The
goldish palette can look good on almost all skin types if used in the right
tones.

Nude Eva Mendes

The gorgeous Eva Mendes posed nude (technically) for PETA's campaign against fur in
fashion. We at Lindisima.com totally support this effort. There is no need to kill exotic animals to look beautiful much less to keep warm. Shame on Jennifer Lopez and all the other celebrities that continue to use fur and shame on all the designers too for this complete lack of humanity.

As anyone knows, there are much better and cheaper ways to stay warm during winter. And in case you like the look and feel of fur, there are excellent choices these days with faux fur.

Martha Stewart eggnog recipe

You can eat or drink almost anything as long as you do it in moderation. Yes, that means that you can eat your cheesecake or pecan pie without any guilt as long as you understand that it is a treat and you only do it once in a while. That is why my principle is that if you are going to eat a calorie-rich food, you better have the genuine version. For instance, I love yogurt, but when I do have it (rarely), I choose the Stonyfield full cream version, because that is delicious. The low- and no-fat versions taste awful. So if you want to enjoy eggnog during the holiday season (Related: How to avoid weight gain during holidays), my recommendation is not to buy the crap from the supermarket but make your own authentic version and stick to a small glass. Of course, Martha Stewart has the best recipe for egg nog.

Best lip balm

One must-have accessory during winter is lip balm. Especially for those living in colder climates. Lips can suffer all kinds of damage from low temperature and dry air. Therefore, we all tend to carry a lip balm in our purses or pockets. But could the lip balm actually be drying your lips? Yes, if you are addicted to lip balm, you might be putting too much chemical on your lips. And in that process the balm eventually dries your lips. Also remember that since you are likely to lick your lips and the balm, you should not use so much of it, especially if it not 100% natural. Here is some great advice from Dr. Holly Phillips on which balms to buy.

Sex & The City movie trailer

Sex and the City is not just a movie that we all want to watch. Those of us who were addicted to the show actually enjoyed it for the insights we got into romantic relationships, friendships, the things that go through a man's head when he is avoiding commitment, and of course, the style ideas that we got from Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall in particular -- Sex & The City fashion is one of its kinds. That is why watching the movie is not just for entertainment but also for educating ourselves about fashion and relationships.

American Music Awards red carpet photos

I enjoyed watching the American Music Awards (AMA) held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angles and like all other red carpet events the fashion was fun to watch. What struck me most was the fact that most celebs chose safe dresses and no one took a risk. I wonder if the criticism by the bloggers has anything to do with this conservative approach. In this slide show you will see photos of Alicia Keyes, Fergie, Snoop Dogg, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Usher, Beyonce, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Queen Latifah, Ashanti, and Mary J. Blige.

Is Jennifer Love Hewitt fat?

The magazines, particularly tabloids, have always had a business based on making fun of Hollywood celebrities. One of the biggest things that they do is to take unflattering photos of the celebs and then make fun of them.

With the proliferation of bloggers who say whatever they have on their mind without ever being sensitive to others, the gossip has gone out of control. Since every blogger is desperate to draw visitors to the blogs and get more advertising revenue, they often say outrageous things not because they mean it, but that is the only way to create controversy and hope that people will visit their blogs. My personal recommendation is that you should ignore these bloggers and boycott them by not falling into their trap.

While celebs take better care of their bodies and often succeed in Hollywood because they were beautiful in the first place, they are still human. They age like the rest of us and have the same health issues as us. Jenifer Love Hewitt is a gorgeous woman (I think even these photos in Hawaii, she looks great; for Goodness' sake, she is just size 2 and still in her 20s) but if she has cellulite or her butt looks too big - well, ask any woman and she will have the same challenges.

Manolo Blahnik men shoes

Women have always lusted for Manolo Blahnik shoes and have often starved themselves so that they could afford to buy a pair. Ladies, if you want to spread the joy of owning and wearing Manolo Blahnik shoes to your man, this is your chance. Yes, this is a relatively limited collection from the designer but it is bound to raise eyebrows not among just women but men too.

According to the designer (quoted in Vogue magazine), "There are some simple sandals in beautiful materials, and a few classics - with a twist. I thought it was time to bring back some color into the male wardrobe." If you are not used to hearing terms like "metrosexual" or "sexy" to describe the love of your life, prepare yourself to hear that more often from jealous girlfriends.

Hair for holiday party

When you are getting ready for the holidays, there are essentially three important parts to looking good: the clothes (I am including the dress, shoes, and accessories here), makeup, and hair. Obviously, if you are going for a very special event, you can always go to a hair salon and have it done professionally, but if you either don't have the time or are just going to a less formal event, you can even do your hair yourself or ask a family member to help you. Here is an excellent video by celebrity hairstylist Johnny Lavoy who shows how to create a great holiday hairstyle that is inspired by Katherine Heigl.