Sass, Style & Substance

Raging Rouge
Raging Rouge wonders: what are the best bangs for your face shape?

Bags, Bling & Beauty
B,B&B profusely thanks Nine West for solving her shopping conundrum!

Beauty Match
Sexy Celebs over 35 with short hair

New York Spender
NY Spender is giving away a Large Tote and a Cosmetic Bag from Saltbox Accessories! Hurry giveaway ends this Sunday!

Splendicity Accessories
It's cold and snowy out there, but we need to have some fun, so let's go shopping for spring shoes!

STYLEnosh
Re-think your approach to getting dressed this year.

A Touch of Blusher
A Touch of Blusher reviews StellaNude by Stella McCartney.

This Week’s Shopping And Goodies!

Giveaways, fashion and makeup… oh, my!  Check out this week's reads by the Shopping and Goodies group!

A Few Goody Gumdops is giving away a to-die-for croco Zipsavoy Handbag from Stuart Weitzman. Enter to Win!

Kim Carlson shares tips on how to Green Your Routine!

Couture In The City Shares with us stylish eyeglasses from GlassesUSA

Fashion Cents is giving away a couple of great tips on how to wear leggings. Watch the video now and learn about CYA.

Fashion Fille wants to supply you with a case of all-natural (and delicious!) zero calorie soda. You can feel confident still enjoy soda! Enter now, time’s running out!

Fashion Hippo asks To Trend or Not To Trend Fall 09 Trends Contemplated

Handbag du Jour is giving you a chance to win an adorable coin purse from Joanna Maxham!

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion is hoping all you true fashionistas will go to the POParazzi Collection by Amber Kessee. Enter to Win the Snowflake Earrings!

Quinta Trends reads about independent boom in Chile by Schön! Magazine 2

Raging Rouge proudly introduces readers to her latest makeup addiction, Surly Girly!

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is giving away 2 prizes of the Ultimate Fitness Gift!

Style Eyes loves so much about London Fashion Week, she tells all in her post classic leather riding boots from Danish designer DAY Birger et Mikkelsen for under $300!

What’s Haute Magazine is giving away a T3 Featherweight Dryer!

Weekly Shopping And Goodies

weekly shopping and goodies member A Few Goody Gumdrops and Vivre are giving away a To-Die-For Beirn Snakeskin Hobo Tote! Enter to Win.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy featuring guest blogger DJ Deadbird on summer essentials for guys!

Couture In The City Where'd she get that wedding dress? Wedding Dress Rentals Grow In '09

Fashion Fille is flabbergasted at how cool the models look in those fabulous Romina Karameana sunglasses. Check out what she's talking about here.

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion invites you to Win the ECBC Eyes On Me Maxi Dress!.

Quinta Trends loves Lucila Iotti shoes.

Raging Rouge is convinced that the Beauty Guru Palette by Smashbox will turn you into a "palette-person".

Shopping and Info found the pink floral skirt worn by Vanessa Hudgens.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com is loving Zodiac Sign Jewelry!

Style Eyes discusses the difficulties faced by the vertically challenged and how to find stylish clothing for petite women

The Bare Skinny found the sexy fringe tank Kim Kardashian wore recently.

TheFind Blog is inspired by sparkly sequin skirts that are tremendously more fun to than any ol' fireworks display.

Unfunded is spellbound by Shades Salon's witchcraft.

Weekly Beauty Reads

Raging Rouge blows her diet with a 2,000 calorie treat by MAX Factor.

Your chance to win 'The Swerve' , the world’s first “full body groomtool” at Beauty and Personal Grooming. Click here to enter the giveaway!!

Beauty Anonymous loves the fresh floral scents of Bond No.9 Astor Place Eau de Parfum.

The Makeup Divas reviews the new Prescriptives Exhilarating lipgloss in Guava and lipstick in Raspberry.

A Touch of Blusher stops by Dolce & Gabbana's makeup counter in London.

StyleBell reviews the latest Damp to Dry Flat Iron by HAI Elite, the HaiDraStik. Read if StyleBell gives it a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

ThisThatBeauty has found her signature RED lipstick.  Check out Lipstick Queen Red Sinner.

Beauty in Real Life is having a giveaway with Beautyfix, click here to enter to win one of 15 sets up for grabs!!!

Decorative Diva's reviews a new sweet treat, The Body Bakery's Arm Candy Deodorant.

Weekly Shopping And Goodies

weekly shopping and goodies member A Few Goody Gumdrops and Chickdowntown.com are giving away a necklace from the House of Harlow by Nicole Richie.  Enter to Win!

Bags, Bling and Beauty invites you to check out swimwear tips from Shoshanna Gruss.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy is getting summer ready with ChickDowntown and you can too – just read and win!

Couture In The City Shop sandals and savewith Smartbargains.com.

Fashion Fille loves colors- and welovecolors.com! Find out what's her favorite on the awesome tights site!

Raging Rouge blows her diet with a 2,000 calorie treat by MAX Factor.

Shopping and Info found Blake Lively’s brown cross body bag.

Spork Fashion braves the heat to check out the Silver Spoon Dog and Baby Gifting Suite. These are some spoiled babies!

Less sugar, less money, less waste – Spork Living asks, why wouldn't you want a Soda Stream machine? Make Your Own Soda With Soda Stream!

Style Eyes would love to invest in a beautiful, flattering and expertly draped dress

The Bare Skinny knows where Kim Kardashian got her Balmain inspired vest.

Suffering from a breakup? The Well-Heeled Society breaks it down with The Relationship Journalist Lisa Steadman's new workbook (that gives her gift registry kudos on page 77!).

Weekly Shopping And Goodies

weekly shopping and goodies memberThe Fashionable Housewife dishes on Summer 2009 Hair Trends & Hairstyles

A Few Goody Gumdrops has two favorite Alexander Wang dresses!

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy asks: where do you draw the line between inspiration and copying? Join the debate and win!

Couture In The City Enter your chance to win with Veet! Ladies It’s Time To Show Off Your Legs! And You Could Win A Trip To Barbados!

Fashion Fille got a really pretty ring with a really cool message. See it and read about it at her blog!

Handbag du Jour is coveting Mena Suvari's luxe Be&D Belleville Hobo in washed champagne eelskin.

Puppies and Worms found a way to get $25 for $10 at restaurants all over the US.

Quinta Trends introduces CandyStore Collective: Sweet e-shopping.

Raging Rouge posts the ultimate Mother's Day shopping list.

Shopping and Info checks out Megan Fox on the set of Jonah Hex.

Style Eyes announces the launch of Posh Swaps, a new site for swapping buying and selling second hand and vintage clothes for free, in her post Let the clothes swapping commence

The Bare Skinny shows you denim done differently

The Fashionable Gal is giving away MAX Factor Lipstick & Mascara. Submit your outfit idea for a chance to win!

The Well-Heeled Society reviews high heel rain protectors that will have you humming Rihanna's, "ella, ella, aye, aye, aye"!

What's Haute can't wait to shop the Rachel Roy diffusion line at Macy's!

Weekly Shopping and Goodies!

Enjoy these posts from my friends at Weekly Shopping and Goodies!

A Few Goody GumDrops is drooling over the all diamond necklace from Mauboussin!

Be Seen In Hollywood Miley Cyrus and John Travolta Walt Disney Bolt.

Couture in the City is getting the little black dress ready for the Holidays with Degree!

Ma Petite Chou picks out some gorgeous cocktail dresses, shoes and jewelry from RevolveClothing and shares a 30% off coupon.

Puppies and Worms found is bartering for new clothes.

Raging Rouge has started posting holiday product reviews, kicking off the season with MAC Adoring Carmine a limited-edition holiday gift collection.

Shopping and Info found great holiday jewelry on sale.

The Well-Heeled Society shows you the stylish way to give someone the boot.

What's Haute will give you some swag if you guess Alicia Keys' bag!

Weekly Shopping and Goodies

A Few Goody Gumdrops is passionate for her purple Paris/New York Tote.

Be Seen In Hollywood Hollywood Stars shine closing night gala AFI Fest 2008

Clumps of Mascara is in love with nail polishes.  FOTD Friday: Nail Edition

Ma Petite Chou is giving away a Sothys at Home Spa Kit!  Enter today!

Puppies and Worms discovered the Annual Bats Day at Disneyland

From dark chocolate to pale champagne, Raging Rouge writes about the products that help achieve the perfect neutral eye.

Shopping and Info found the edgy motorcycle jacket Taylor Momsen look

The Bare Skinny gives you fashion cues from Audrey Hepburn

The Well-Heeled Societyhighlights a BEE-autiful pair of satin pumps.

What's Haute Blog takes a look at Jimmy Choo's 'Monna' Medium Tote – from the 2009 resort collection!

diva in a carry on finds the perfect load-lightener for your travels.

Stop Aging, Start Living: By Jeanette Graf, MD

Stop Aging, Start Living, Dr. Jeanette GrafThe title of this book by Dr. Jeanette Graf is enough to stop you in your tracks, isn't it?

Well the title Stop Aging, Start Living certainly gave me pause… so I wanted to inform my fearless readers about the book published by Dr. Jeanette Graf this past Fall.  Stop Aging, Start Living examines how the body's pH balance effects the aging process.  Dr. Graf combats aging with a revolutionary plan that includes balancing the alkalinizing foods to acidic foods in your diet. 

The doctor also happens to be a leading skin science expert whose advice has been published by magazines including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Elle (in fact, I stumbled upon beauty advice from Dr. Graf in Allure just last month).  Dr. Graf is a board certified, clinical and research Dermatologist.  She also generously provided Raging Rouge readers with some beauty and wellness tips!  Read on!

Q:  What are the most common myths that people have about acne?

A:  There are a number of misconceptions about acne. One of the misconceptions is that acne is caused by dirt or not washing the face. Although inadequate washing can certainly aggravate acne, more often than not acne sufferers wash their faces thoroughly. In fact, over-washing or over-enthusiastic washing can in fact irritate skin and worsen acne. Many of my colleagues feel that diet does not affect acne; well science says differently. There are studies showing that natives of New Guinea and Paraguay had less acne with a diet rich in fiber and whole grains compared to Americans eating a diet rich in high glycemic index foods. In addition, studies have shown that teenagers eating a diet rich in milk and dairy products (probably due to hormonal byproducts) have a higher incidence of acne than those who don’t

Q:  What accelerates the appearance of wrinkles and what can someone do about it?

A:  There are two things that I would say have the greatest effect on accelerating skin aging. The first age accelerator unquestionably is sun exposure. The sun’s rays have a major effect on the skin’s elastin and collagen causing them to breakdown – creating leathery wrinkled skin and sun spots. The other great age accelerator is cigarette smoking. There is a direct correlation between cigarette smoke and levels of MMP-1, and enzyme that breaks down collagen. Therefore, in addition to lack of oxygen going to the skin, cigarettes have a direct effect on causing wrinkling. The way to deal with these age accelerators is to wear a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sun block all year round. The way to deal with cigarette smoking is to do all that you can to stop. The day that you stop these age accelerators is the day that you will slow the skin aging process.

Q:  What are your best tips for reducing the appearance of age spots?

A:  First and foremost use a broad spectrum UVA/UVB – SPF 30 sunblock daily on your face. I also recommend using a good mineral make-up concealer and foundation to enhance, hide discolorations and add protection to the skin. It is a good idea to use an at-home exfoliation kit. This can be a microdermabrasion, enzyme peel or chemical peel; use only one and no more than twice weekly. It is also advisable to use products which contain ingredients such as retinol, hydroquinone and other lighteners such as vitamin C and kojic acid to lighten and brighten skin. Finally, in addition to using sunblock, topical anti-oxidants can be quite helpful.

Q:  What is the most effective way to prevent sun damage?

A:  The most important tip is to wear a UVA/UVB sunblock with an SPF of 30 every single day. UVB are the sun’s burning rays which are strongest in the summer months. During these months it is advisable to wear the highest possible number SPF since SPF is protection against UVB rays. UVA on the other hand doesn’t change with the seasons and it remains constant year round. That is why daily UVA/UVB protection is essential for preventing sun damage. During the summer months be sure to apply a high SPF UVA/UVB sunblock 20 minutes before going outdoors; it takes that long for the sunblock to truly be protective. It is also essential to reapply sunblock throughout the day every 90 minutes; a spray makes application simple and less cumbersome especially on the beach. I advise my women patients to wear a good mineral make-up. Most mineral make-up is free of preservatives making them potentially less irritating for patients with sensitive skin. In addition, mineral make-up generally has an SPF of 15 or 20 depending on the brand and blocks both UVA and UVB. Mineral make-up is easy to apply and can be touched up throughout the day.

Q:  How can we all avoid falling for marketing gimmicks?

A:  There are many terms used in marketing skin care products. The most commonly used is “oil-free” and “non-comedogenic.” In fact, these terms are not regulatory and no federally regulated test dictates their use. These terms date back to a time when comedogenicity (clogging of pores) was determined by the response to applying product to the ears of rabbits. There was a grading system based on the clogging response to the product. Fortunately, this type of testing is no longer done. “Oil-free” dates back to a time when mineral oil was industrial grade and extremely thick, impure and clogging. This has resulted in the demonization of mineral oil; you hear this repeated again and again even by dermatologists. Today, if mineral oil is used in cosmetic formulations it is of a fine cosmetic grade that is completely different than the mineral oil originally responsible for the term. Organic and natural skin care is a work in progress. Again, there are no federal regulations governing the use of these terms so they are widely variable. Natural ingredients are also not standardized or regulated; they come from different sources with different levels of activity. Also, often products labeled as natural have only several natural ingredients.

Q:  What are the best solutions for treating dry skin?

A:  The first thing that needs to change is the method of cleansing the skin. If we are speaking of facial skin that means that changing to a soap-free cleanser and cutting out drying toners. Using hydrating creams to moisturize dry skin is very important to relieve dry skin. For dry body skin, it is important to take very quick 3 or 4 minute showers using lukewarm or tepid water. Using a moisturizing body wash is essential so that a moisturizing layer is left on the skin. Apply a rich body moisturizer over the entire body twice daily – not just after the shower.

Stop Aging, Start Living: The Revolutionary 2-Week pH Diet that Erases Wrinkles, Beautifies Skin, and Makes You Feel Fantastic can be purchased at Amazon.com.  Do check it out!  Many thanks to Dr. Jeannette Graf for her expert advice!

Like what you just read? Be sure to head to the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog homepage for more makeup reviews, product swatches and beauty news.