Best Fall Beauty Buys

Best-selling Beauty Buys for Fall

By Qianna Smith

Unlike trendy seasonal fashions, good skin is always "in." Your skin deserves the best treatment, so start by protecting one of the most exposed features on your body during the colder months—your face. I've rounded up a few of the latest and greatest buzzworthy skin care products to hit the shelves this fall with expert tips from Ling Chan, creator of LING Skin Care products and Ling Spas in New York City, who's known for helping Hollywood's top leading ladies put their best face forward both on and off the screen. Get the skin you deserve with these tried and tested potions that are sure to help you achieve and maintain a healthy refreshing glow.

Make a Commitment

"Maintaining your skin is a lifelong commitment," says Chan. "Taking care of the skin is just like taking care of the body—it becomes part of a lifestyle. It is important to dedicate time to your customized plan to help achieve great skin."

Right to Left: AVEDA Enbrightenment^TM Brightening Cleanser, $25, aveda.com. Potion Power: A gentle facial cleanser that helps lift away impurities and dull surface cells to improve overall skin clarity; Carol's Daughter Bring in the Moisture Gentle Face Wash, $20, sephora.com. Potion Power: Dissolves dirt and grime without stripping away vital moisture.

Left to Right: Fresh Soy Face Cream, $38, sephora.com. Potion Power: It hydrates and renews the skin, creating supple, healthy, firm, radiant results; Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45, Untinted, $12.99, drugstore.com. Potion Power: Lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and keeps skin hydrated all day.

Know What You're Using

"Overuse of cleansers that contain glycolic acids, alpha hydroxy acids and irritating ingredients, along with exfoliating too frequently with very abrasive scrubs can eventually damage the skin and contribute to redness, sensitivity and inflammation," says Chan, who pampers the faces of celebrities like Naomi Campbell. "The long-term effects of these sometimes harsh ingredients may lead to the premature development of fine lines and surface dehydration. When the surface of the skin becomes dehydrated, the oil glands will overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of moisture which in turn can lead to large pores, blackheads and breakouts."

Right to Left: Givenchy Peel Me Perfectly, $45, sephora.com. Potion Power: A triple action scrub that smoothes, enhances radiance and purifies the skin; Simple Kind To Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub, $7.99, simpleskincare.com and Duane Reade drugstores. Potion Power: Vitamin E moisturizes and improves skin condition.

Best-selling Beauty Buys for Fall

Qianna Smith

H20 Forever

"Hydration is the root of anti-aging. When your skin is properly hydrated it is better able to function, heal, prevent, and renew," says Chan.

Left to Right: AVON ANEW REVERSALIST Night Renewal Cream, $27 (Originally $32), avon.com. Potion Power: Reactivate skin's repair process to help reverse the look of wrinkles; AHAVA TimeLine All Day Moisturizer, $52, ahavaus.com. Potion Power: It reduces wrinkle depth significantly, hydrates the skin for 12 hours and protects the skin from sun-related damage with SPF 15.

Left to Right: Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Renovage Cellular Eye Repair, $78, osmotic.com. Potion Power: Helps correct and prevent aging around the eyes; Talika Eye Detox Contour Gel, $45, talika.com. Potion Power: Minimizes the appearance of bags and dark rings around the eyes.

Qianna Smith

Facial Facts

"Get an expert monthly facial to clean the pores of impurities. Heavy makeup and our bodies natural 28-day cycle leads to clogged pores," shares Chan. "In order to maintain a healthy complexion and get the most benefits from your products, it is important to go in for a pore-cleaning every month to six weeks."

Left to Right: Ling Skincare Moisturizing Facial Masque, $12 (.5 oz), lingskincare.com. Potion Power: This masque nourishes and moisturizes the skin as it deep cleans the pores; Michael Marcus Purify Pumpkin & Papaya Mask, $58, michaelmarcus.com. Potion Power: crème base masque to retexture and smooth the surface of the skin.

You can find this article in the Essence Magazine.

See photos from Sam Fine’s star-studded DVD launch party event »

Sam Fine, legendary makeup artist to Vanessa Williams, Queen Latifah, Tyra Banks and Iman, launched his debut instructional DVD with the help of close friends and longtime clients at the Warren-Tricomi Salon at the Plaza. ESSENCE.com attended this star-studded event. Get the scoop on how one man is empowering women of color through makeup artistry.

ESSENCE.COM: Your DVD is called "Basics of Beauty." How would you define your ABC's of beauty?

SAM FINE: The ABC's of beauty are simple: groomed eyebrows/removing any unwanted facial hair, foundation or powder to perfect the canvas, bronzer to add luminosity, mascara to bring definition to the eyes and lip liner and
lipstick or gloss to add a supple texture and color to the lips. These products are the basics in which to build a simple, glamorous look.

Look More Than Just 'Fine'

Qianna Smith

ESSENCE.COM: What three things should every woman strive to achieve when it comes to enhancing one's own natural beauty?

FINE: The three most important things every woman should strive to achieve are...

1) A Groomed Brow—Most women are concerned with elaborate eye shadow application, but a simple, groomed brow not only opens and lifts the eye, but clears the way for any eye shadow application to follow.
2) A Flawless Canvas—Choosing a foundation to suit your specific needs helps to unite varied tones. If you don't use foundation, then powder is a must! Using a pressed or loose powder helps to alleviate shine and makes the complexion appear more consistent in color and texture!
3) A Glowing Complexion—This is very different than creating a "flawless canvas." Using a dusting of bronzer on the outer perimeter of the face - forehead, nearest the hairline—and onto cheeks, adds warmth and richness to the complexion. After applying bronzer, simply use a peach shade of blush on cheeks for a subtle "pop" of color.

ESSENCE.COM: What do you hope women will gain from watching your DVD?

FINE: I hope women gain a greater understanding of cosmetic product, formula and application...and the endless possibilities that makeup can provide! I also hope that it will change the perception that makeup will make you look fake! There are various techniques that I demonstrate in the DVD that help to create a beautiful, natural look.

ESSENCE.COM: The DVD provides step by step tips on makeup application techniques. What makeup tools should be in every woman's beauty bag to help them with the application process?

FINE: The products you use will dictate what tools you need, however...
1) Tweezers are important to own (slanted tips are my favorite), whether you're grooming your own brows or removing a few stray hairs between visits to your beauty professional.
2) Latex sponges or a synthetic hair foundation brush help foundation glide across the skin... but don't be afraid to use your fingers, especially in those hard-to-reach areas such as underneath eyes and around the nose.
3) When applying loose or pressed powder, use a large powder brush for a soft, diffused application.
4) A large powder brush is also perfect to apply bronzer (but you'll need a separate brush from you're loose powder brush, because you don't want to mix the two).
5) Instead of using those tiny blush brushes that come with the product, invest in a blush brush! A blush brush is simply a smaller version of the large powder brush. This small fluffy brush ensures that you won't have a streaky application of color on cheeks.
6) I know it's easier to apply lipstick from the tube, but a lip brush is key to achieving flawless coverage and layering gloss beautifully.

ESSENCE.COM: How does your DVD encourage women who feel they don't have the time or know-how to properly apply makeup to want to experiment with their own beauty?

FINE: Writing about makeup, products and proper application is one thing, but watching it being applied step-by-step is another! Watching "The Basics of Beauty" DVD encourages women to realize how a simple a dab of concealer can change the shape of the eye... to understand how a well-defined brow opens and lifts the eye... to grasp why lip liner and lipstick blend to make an effortless-looking, sexy lip statement. The DVD makes you want to pick up a product (or two, or three) and learn, play and enjoy makeup!

To purchase the "FINE: The Basics of Beauty DVD," $24, visit Samfine.com and Amazon.com.

Keep Black froom Cracking .....

Keep Black from Cracking

We asked Rolanda Johnson, Ph.D, senior scientist at Proctor & Gamble (home of brands such as Olay and Pantene) to tell us what three things Black women need to know about keeping our skin hydrating.

1. You need to moisturize even if you have oily skin.
"When we moisturize our skin, we are typically adding humectants like glycerin to help draw water in and hold it in the outer most cellular layers of our skin. In oily skin, the glands are producing excess sebum or oil. [So] in this case, we would recommend a moisturizer that also has oil-controlling benefits to help maintain the balance of hydration and perceived oiliness. Mattifying moisturizers are ideal."

2. Your skin loses water at night.
"At night, the skin is in its restorative mode working to replenish all the essential things that were damaged or lost during the day. Water is essential to those biological functions, so the skin is drawing on its own resources of water more than in the daytime." Nighttime is an ideal time to treat skin with a hydrating moisturizer. Try Olay Definity Night Restorative Sleep Cream ($30, CVS.com)

3. Hydration actually can get better as we age.
"It is generally assumed that skin dryness increases with age. However, data shows that as we age, hydration can increase on the face in areas such as the cheeks and forehead. On the other hand, sebum secretion goes down in your 30s or 40s."

Skin Care By the Book ..

When it comes to darker skin tones, there has been a shortage of reliable information to tell us which products and procedures are best suited to our needs. Until now. Dermatologists Jeanine Downie, M.D., and Fran Cook-Bolden, M.D., with Emmy Award–winning reporter Barbara Nevins Taylor, have filled the void with their new book, Beautiful Skin of Color: A Comprehensive Guide to Asian, Olive, and Dark Skin (Regan Books). Written as an A-to-Z manual, it covers topics from acne and eczema to sun protection and vitiligo. The book also features letters from everyday women with their questions about skin care, as well as straightforward explanations, advice and product recommendations to help you attain healthy, beautiful skin. Here we take a sneak peek at what the good doctors have to say about skin discoloration.


Joint Darkness “I have a light-brown complexion, but my knees and elbows are black,” Tanika writes. “It’s been like this since I was little. I never wear skirts and always wear long sleeves. Is there anything I can do?”

It’s not unusual for people to have severe discoloration that they want to cover up. Skin of color, ranging from the palest Asian tone to olive and the darkest of dark skin, is prone to darkening in certain areas. But people are often too embarrassed to talk about it. Over-the-counter creams and lotions aren’t likely to work if the problem is severe or genetic. But in many cases there are remedies.


Why It Happens Some people are born with darker skin on their joints. If this is a genetic problem, it may be impossible to make a significant difference. But the darkness may be caused by friction and the way your skin has responded to it. You started banging your elbows and knees when you were very young. We’re all born with extra skin at the joints so that we can bend and stretch. If you have skin of color, that extra skin darkens easily.

Melanocytes, the cells that give our skin color, are very active in Asian, olive and dark skin. The slightest bump, bruise, scrape or trauma of any kind activates the melanocytes. In the joint areas the extra color cells get trapped in the extra skin. So if you’re doing housework or anything that involves repeated pressure on your knees and elbows for long periods of time, it’s likely that the skin over those joints will darken. Similarly if you’re doing work or playing a game or sport that’s rough on the hands, your knuckles will likely be darker than the rest of your skin. The same is true for your toes. If you squeeze your feet into great-looking shoes that hurt and scrunch the toes, your toe joints are likely to darken.

Doctor’s Guidance A dermatologist will use a combination of therapies to even the skin tone. Hydroquinone, which blocks the enzyme that produces color in the melanocytes, is most effective when combined with retinoids like Retin-A Micro. This full-strength retinoid evens skin tone as it speeds the shedding of dead-skin cells. It also stimulates natural collagen production and gives the skin good texture.

Some prescription medications, such as EpiQuin Micro, Glyquin XM and Alustra, contain all these ingredients and others, including vitamins C and E—antioxidants that fight the oxygen compounds known as free radicals, which cause aging.

If the skin is very thick and very dark, the doctor may prescribe Tri-Luma Cream, a medication combining a hydroquinone, a retinoid and a steroid. Use the cream for a limited time only, and be sure its use is monitored carefully by a doctor.

Makeover Magic: The African-American Woman's Ultimate Virtual Beauty Tool

Let's get pretty! ESSENCE.com introduces an exciting new virtual online makeover tool, Makeover Magic. Try on celebrity hairstyles, hair color, bright eye colors and bold accessories. Putting your best face forward is only a click away.
Launch Makeover Magic »

Say Goodbye To Estee Lauder's Prescriptives

So many people are going to be upset when they can't pick up any more custom color matches over at Prescriptives after January 2010. The makeup parent company Estee Lauder told WWD that the economy is the reason that they have reevaluated the line. . . bye-bye, Custom Blend!

"After a thorough analysis of the Prescriptives brand, management concluded that the brand's long-term business model is no longer viable, given the current market environment," Estee Lauder released.

While the makeup will continue to be sold online while supplies last, there's no news whether or not a comparable line will be released to at least absorb some of the customers (like us!) who adore putting on a "colorprinted" foundation. For now, we're considering picking up a farewell bottle or two of our favorites, because this is one beauty brand that will be sorely missed.

What specific brand of makeup would you miss terribly if it disappeared?

Are you a Shoe Freak ? or Purse Freak?

This is one of my favorite places this place is out of this world wall to wall shoes hand bags. check them out. promotional code : shareluv

Gotta have it ?well here"s where you can find the those shoes,jackets ect that the singers are wearing . www.vfoam.com

Party In The U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus Blue S Free People Siwy Gold Splatter Short Distressed stretch denim cut off shorts with frayed hem. All Over metallic glitter splatter and stitched back pockets. Similar Products H81 Scratch Crinkled Denim Shorts Casu...	Throw It In The Bag - Fabolous Cavi Blac Cavi Hoodie White This new white Cavi Hoodie features striped design on the front pockets, blue stripes and Cavi eagle logo on the sleeves, and stripe design on the hood. It also has pocket on the upper left chest. Similar Products ...	New Divide - Rob Bourdon Destroy All Mon D.A.M. MILITARY SHORT SLEEVE This military style shirt has "DESTROY All Monsters" graphic back print with three patches on the chest and left arm. Similar Products
Knock You Down - Keri Hilson Leather Ank Velvet Angels Peepshow II Leather and croco leather peeptoe ankle boot and ankle strap Similar Products Velvet Angels Women's Peepshow Peep Toe Bootie Velvet Angels is a new line of footwear aimed at edgy females...	Drop It Low - Ester Dean Graffiti White Nike Blazer Mid GS Nike was founded by University of Oregon track athlete Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman in Beaverton, Oregon. The company's first shoe was based on Bowerman's waffle outsole that was made with a waffle iron. The first...	If U Seek Amy - Christian Louboutin Pump CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN DILLIAN FLOWER PUMPS Rich strappy leather flourishes into an elegant cocktail style. Self-covered heel, 4½" Strap buckle closure Leather lining Signature red leather sole Made in Italy Similar Products ...
Waking Up In Vegas - Katy Perry Bob Mack Clarisse Prom Dress 919 This sexy halter top is truly one of a kind, low cut bust is lined with sparking crystals, and bottom sequined band hides the removable skirt. Similar Products Bob Mackie Red Dress The dress...	Waking Up In Vegas - Cell Phone Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Unlocked Cell Phone With International 3G One touch takes you to music and up to 35 hours of crystal clear hi-fi on an advanced multi-format player. One touch takes you to the Video Centre, a great way to watch in high-re...	New Divide - Chester Bennington Military Loomstate Black Cotton Zip Military Jacket Go ahead 'act natural' in this organic cotton jacket from enviromentally minded designers, Loomstate. Treading lightly on the planet has never looked so good! Similar Products ...
Party In The U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus Blue Shorts Throw It In The Bag - Fabolous Cavi Black/White Lumberjack Sweater New Divide - Rob Bourdon Destroy All Monster Shirt Knock You Down - Keri Hilson Leather Ankle Boots Drop It Low - Ester Dean Graffiti White With Pink Swoosh Nikes If U Seek Amy - Christian Louboutin Pump Waking Up In Vegas - Katy Perry Bob Mackie Red Dress Waking Up In Vegas - Cell Phone New Divide - Chester Bennington Military Jacket

Dry Skin Versus Dehydrated Skin

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are not the same, but most people misdiagnose their skin this way because both feel tight, rough, and uncomfortable. Dry skin is cause by not having enough oils in the skin, and dehydrated skin is from not having enough water in the skin. Both are necessary for a healthy, radiant glow. This same combination is necessary to give your hair body, strength, and shine .

Dry skin can be genetic, but it's more likely to be brought on by harsh Chemicals that are used in commercial soaps and body cleansers. They strip the natural oils that are there to help the skin absorb moisture. If the skin is without enough of these oils for too long, The problem will become more serious and harder to treat. When the skin gets to this state, it becomes weak, and then it will lose water as well, making it feel rough to the touch, and making it harder to absorb oils. So, the two work together to balance it all out. When one is missing, eventually so will the other.

Dehydration of the skin is a loss of water through the elements like wind and sun. Moisture evaporates rapidly through the skin. Some signs of this are tightness, those dreaded fine lines, a lack of radiance, and loss of elasticity. Once this damage occurs, the skin will no longer be a good barrier against the environment. When I use my moisturizer and then lick my lips, I can feel the moisturizer instantly drawn to the moisture, which is exactly what it should do. The natural oils are attracting moisture, and the natural moisture is attracting the oils. Good creams should enhance what your skin does naturally, doubling your results very quickly. However, if you are stripping the natural oils and moisture to begin with, you have just made it a lot harder for the skin to do what it should be doing, absorbing nutrients to the epidermal layer. This is the layer that will eventually be the outer layer of your skin.

I always stress that good skin care and hair care starts with proper cleansing. We sometimes ask , if you could only buy one product, which one should you get. Get a product that cleanses the skin properly, because if it is properly cleansed, you don't need to spend all that money on moisturizers to replace the moisture that is being lost through improper cleansing techniques.

How to wash your hair properly

Even thought it might seem very simple to wash your hair, if you don't do it correctly there is a chance you can damage your hair. Find out how to wash your tresses right.

Washing your hair seems to be a very easy task, but it actually isn't. Improper hair washing can lead to damaged hair, an effect everyone wishes to avoid. In order to make sure you are washing your hair properly you need to:

soak your hair in warm water. Make sure you get all your hair wet to allow the hair to be shampooed thoroughly. Use the shower or sink your hair into the bath tub, it doesn't really matter what you prefer

rub a quarter size drop of shampoo between your hands and start working your hands around the scalp area to distribute the shampoo evenly. Use a mild shampoo on your hair to avoid removing the hairs natural oil and cause hair damage

gently massage the shampoo onto your scalp using the tip of your fingers. Rub in circular motions but make sure not to tangle your hair

rinse all the foam formed by rubbing the shampoo off your tresses to remove the dirt

apply a little bit of shampoo again if you consider your tresses need more cleansing. Over cleaning your hair will only damage your hair because all the sebum, which is the hairs natural barrier against damaging factors, will be removed

rinse the shampoo out of your hair completely. Not rinsing enough will leave the hair looking greasy

apply plenty of conditioner between the palms of your hands and smooth onto the hair, from the middle of the hair towards the ends

take a wide tooth comb and smooth through the hair to make sure the conditioner is spread evenly throughout the hair

rinse the conditioner out of the hair using plenty of water until the hair is completely clean. Give a final rinse with cold water to close the hairs cuticles and make it appear more shiny

grab a clean towel and wrap it around your hair. The towel will absorb the excess water out and allow the hair to dry without damaging it. Do not rub the hair, just leave the towel to absorb the water for about 5 to 10 minutes, than let the hair air dry if possible to avoid hair damage

Washing your hair properly will prevent your hair from damage. Care for your tresses if you wish to have beautiful, healthy hair.

African American Hair Styles Trends 2009-2010

Nice African American Hair Styles Trends 2009 2010

African American Hair fashion and hairstyles are inspired from their culture and traditions. Celebrities of African American include some of the best cultural traditions while styling their African American Hair. African American Haircuts and Hairstyles in 2009 2010 offer large variety of choices for men and women alike. African American hair is naturally curly, shiny and beautiful and thus it provides great opportunities to style your hair in different variations. African American hairstyles are medium to long length hairstyles but nowadays, you can see many African American women wearing short and super short haircuts and hairstyles.


African American hairstyles have become extremely popular even among the American and European women in the year 2009. African American hairstyles are emerging as the leading fashion in the year 2009. If you are looking out for the latest images showing African American Haircuts and Hairstyles, you can browse through our photo gallery that has many pictures of African American Fall and Winter Hairstyles for 2009 and 2010:

Nice African American Hair Styles Trends 2009 2010

Nice African American Hair Styles Trends 2009 2010

Nice African American Hair Styles Trends 2009 2010

Nice African American Hair Styles Trends 2009 2010