Beauty & Fashion Tips - Rags & Rouges Style Tips

Linday Lohan to Launch New Leggings Line! ~ Fashion Updates

Check out the Opening of Kim Kardashian’s Store Dash ~ Gina Angelina’s Fashion Fitness and Skin Care Tips For Models

Pedicure Tips from NailTiques ~ 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

Chanel Preview The Robertson Boulevard Collection ~All Lacquerd Up

Zac Posen the L’il Zac Handbag LOVE LOVE~ Bag Bliss

OOOOH, Emilio Pucci’s New Sandal!!! It’s an Ankle Wrap, AND a thong! ~ The Shoe Goddess

A Bird’s Eye View of Australian Fashion Week ~ Trendinista

A New UTT-erly Awesome Online Boutique! ~ Urban Socialite

Well with temps climbing, skin care is at an all time high in terms of importance. You want to eliminate the orange peel look of your pores, remove blackheads, and smooth down the rough texture the winter has given your face. The best thing to do for this is a microdermabrasion, and start NOW. It will take a few weeks, but the end result, smooth, bright, and tight skin. Perfect for getting all your glow on this summer. Contrary to popular opinion, this is NOT something you need to hit the clinic for.

What is Microdermabrasion?

It’s basically the quick fix without spending the big bucks. A microdermabrasion will give you similar effects of a chemical peel without the expensive cosmetic surgery or spa prices. It is also called a mini-peel. For any kind of scarring or discoloration you may have on your face, a series of microdermabrasion treatments will make a huge difference. And you can do this right at home.

The treatment is non-invasive, and it ultimately removes any damaged or dead skin from your face to reveal the new, and much healthier skin cells underneath. What this does is stimulate those deeper skin layers to produce more elastin and collagen, thus revealing the younger looking you. Your skin will look younger, feel more supple, and even feel firmer to the touch after a few treatments.

You will also notice that any acne scars you may be dealing with are smaller, or minimized; your pores will be tighter, and yes, those fine lines will be reduced substantially as well. No matter how busy you are, it’s really worth the 15 minutes or so it will take you. And why not in the comfort of your own home, with the comfort of your own budget. While these kits don’t look all that cheap to start off with, when you consider that an in spa treatment that provides you the same results will run you around $100 per treatment, you will see the affordability I am talking about. The key to the microdermabrasion really is in having repeat and consecutive treatments to ensure all of the dead skin is removed.

And well, who doesn’t want to look younger. Take the time and splurge on you. You totally deserve it!!

You can grab a microdermabrasion kit from the local drug store, or try the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Polish + Moisture Kit, Normal to Dry Skin ($140 Value) . This at home kit is what the celebs are using when they are on the road and away from their fave spa. Dr. Brandt’s skin care line is FAMOUS in Tinseltown. This lovely version offers you not only the scrub, but the softness of chamomile and aloe as well. Chamomile is great for reducing puffiness and water retention in the face, and this combination is a very soothing one that your face will love you for.

Beauty Tip – At first, you will notice some redness on your skin, and I know, you all are picturing Samantha from Sex In the City and that horrid scarring. No. Unlike a chemical peel, microdermabrasion will leave some redness after the treatment, but it won’t last longer than an hour or two, so do this before you go to bed at night.

Going to throw in a little bit of a melting pot today. Yes, Rags and Rouges has been on yet another hiatus due to health, life, work, and all of it. So let’s ease back into the swing of things with some giveaways and FREE samples.

ELLE magazine is highlighting a summer getaway before summer. You know how it is, summer is so close you can almost smell the beach, yet you’re still forced to throw on that boring, but pretty trench coat every day still. How ‘bout a beach visit before the temps start to climb? Nice! Enter here!

MAX Factor Cosmetics is sponsoring a Customize Me Blend in and Stand Out contest. And who couldn’t use a little pick me up makeover right before summer hits? Enter HERE.

Who doesn’t want a free wardrobe from DKNY? Answer this small survey (took me less than 5 mins) about your exercise routine and what fancy threads you wear when working out and you’re entered. Check it out HERE.

Happy Face Sweepstakes sponsored by ELLE and St. Ives. Hey, it’s bridal season and if you are looking to score a free honeymoon, this romantic trip to Hawaii may be just the ticket. Enter HERE.

DOVE is giving away a bunch of FREE loot. I LOVE Dove products and use them everyday. And who doesn’t want FREE stuff? Check it out here.

Whether the stars were going for old Hollywood glamour, or just sleeking things back for some elegance, we saw a lot of the same looks crossing the red carpet. The weather word was that there was some wind accompanying the stars on the red carpet, so celebs and their stylists compensated by pulling things back. You can achieve these looks too, a sexy or sleek ponytail is the simplest beauty secret there is to know.

Cameron Diaz is one that takes uber cas and pulls it together with a Dior gown for some major glam. Her ponytail was pulled back with a super messy look and she pulled some bangs in the front for a very pretty face framing look. For this look, you don’t want to care *too much* when you are pulling it together. The key really is in the mess.

Miley Cyrus was another beauty queen who took the ponytail with a sleek edge. The ponytail was pulled and pin very low and she gave the pony a much more elegant look with wavy side-swept bangs. Curl your bangs first to achieve the wavy look, and then comb them back with a fine tooth comb to get the sleek factor. Pin with a bobby pin sprayed with some hairspray and you got yourself a sleek ponytail. Spritz on some shining mist to give a little extra gloss.

Anne Hathaway was a timeless beauty in her Marchesa goddess gown and she went the other direction with a ponytail that was high and accentuated her intense features. Curl your hair in long loose waves with a wide curling iron. Tease the crown just ever so slightly and then pull hair back into a ponty. Anne has an extra piece pinned at the base here, which you can try too, or just go with the whimsy of the high pony if you like. This is a fun look for a night on the town or an afternoon at the mall.

Sleek is chic right now and if you are looking for a new look, sleek, straight hair may be just what you need to change your look without making any drastic changes. Whether your hair is long or short, straight locks are easy no matter HOW late you are waking up in the morning.

Tools You Will Need: clips or bobby pins, fine tooth comb, flat iron, straightening serum, shine spray or mist

Step 1: Separate hair into sections (with your clips or pins) that are as wide as your flatiron.

Step 2: For each section, start at the root with your comb, and glide it down each section. This will smooth the hair for your flatiron. Follow right behind with your flat iron. Don’t have a flatiron? Try this iTech Wet-&-Dry Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron, 1-1/8 , Model 83824. This tool is nice and wide with a 1 1/8” barrel and works on both dry and wet hair saving you those few extra minutes in the morning. In fact, if using this on wet hair will give you a much longer lasting hold.

Step 3: Smooth some straightening serum like Jonathan Product Create Straight, Straightening Serum over your hair. The best way to do this is put a dab in your palms, rub your palms together, and smooth your hands over your hair.

Step 4: Finish the look and set your sleek with some shining mist like this Frederic Fekkai Glossing Sheer Shine Mist to give your locks some gloss and set it in place for all day sleek.

We all have those days when we need a little touchup throughout the day. Or perhaps you are just one of those minimalist girls who doesn’t like to have a whole bunch of stuff on your face. If so, you don’t need to sacrifice the potential of highlighting your best features. You can have a minimalist look just like Angie Harmon with very little effort and very little maintenance. The key here is simply eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss. If you ONLY have these three things on your face, you are still going to highlight your best features, and offer your fans a fresh, natural look with no effort. I like this too, because if you go cas on the weekend, but hate going bare, there is no easier way to freshen up your face.

Tools You Need – eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss.

Beauty Trick– if you are only wearing eyeliner and mascara, go with a volumizing mascara. Try this Earth & Water Mascara Duo. This is cheap enough to grab a couple, I keep one in my makeup bag at home, and one in my purse. And I love how you get both the waterproof AND the regular version all in one mascara, you can’t get better value than that. Grab the 2 in 1 waterproof and regular mascara from e.l.f. just $1.

Beauty Tip: Touch up your gloss before and after you eat or drink or um….see your man. If you are touching up your eyeliner, keep some q-tips in your purse and run one under your eye ever so gently. Then simply reapply your eyeliner.

What’s better than having a day off work? How ‘bout a day off work with some kick-butt sales on all of your favorite fashion finds? Me? Can’t think of a better gift on MY day off…What do we have in store for all of those budget fashionistas…..

Looking for a new pair of black staple pumps? Or how bout a new handbag to transition you into spring. Online Shoes is offering a Buy One Get One at 25% off. I love these Guess by Marciano Arabella - Women’s. Such a sexy yet sturdy shoe for any occasion. And I just love the spectator type patent detail. Pretty! Buy One, Get One 25% off at Onlineshoes.com.  Free shipping.  
Hurry, offer ends February 19!

e.l.f. cosmetics, as seen in InStyle Magazine is one of my favorite cosmetic shops. Where else can you get high quality makeup so cheap. Most of the products at e.l.f. are only a buck, this Blush Set is only $5!! Also, for every 2 e.l.f. products you purchase, your third will be half off until March 2008. Always a sale at e.l.f.!

Liz Claiborne is another favorite around here. Right now you can take advantage of their President’s Day Sale:
 Save 25%
 off already reduced items at LizClaiborne.com! Offer valid through on 2.19.08.. I love these Modern Fit Jeans.A wardrobe staple, these jeans are perfect for any figure and feature a rich wash and modern fit for versatile style. Crafted in a medium-weight cotton blend, their relaxed shape is cut loosely through the legs. Embellished with contrast topstitching throughout and finished with an embroidered left rear pocket.

Classic Closeouts is another of my favorite basement bargain shops. The basics are always on sale here, and lingerie sets are never more than $9.99!! If you are getting ready for spring, tees, tanks, and other pieces are always going for less than $5 BUCKS! Fragrances also are generally going for less than 20% off the retail price. And those aren’t even the clearance items! FREE SHIPPING! Any order, any size, any amount! Finds like this
Women’s XiXi Scoop Neck Cap Sleeve Tee
are only going for $3.99. AND, from February 15th through February 20th, we’ll ship your entire order absolutely FREE. Simply enter coupon code CJPRES at checking to receive your FREE SHIPPING discount.