It’s cheap, it’s easy, result appear immediately and are cumulative, little irritation and/or peeling occurs (when done correctly), and it’s readily available. I buy mine online and work with either a mixable formula where I can dilute or strengthen the formula based of the activator used or a straight 40% or 50% glycolic. Don’t use anything stronger on your facial skin. You just don’t need it and it can cause burns and scarring. The ebay glycolics of 70% or more are for your body skin (heels and other tough skin areas) and should NOT be used on your face.

I’m not going to go into the exact specifics of the usage of this product, as the type of product usage may vary. Suffice it to say, start with a low percentage (10% or 20%) and build. Trust me on this. It will be gentler on your skin and your results will be more satisfactory. Work up to a 40-50% strength. Do it once a week for about 6 weeks then take a break for at least 2 weeks. If you do this correctly, take your time to build up strength and time you leave it on your skin (start at one minute or LESS!), and do it consistently, you will have absolutely GLOWING skin! Believe it.

All the scrubs, mits, etc., do not measure up to the good old glycolic peel. It can alleviate acne (I’ve seen it with my own eyes–a severe case turned into a sparse couple of pimples within about 4 weeks), elderly skin is less wrinkled, middle-aged skin looks like it is 20 again. Truly the best canvas for anything else you’re going to put on your skin!

One things about this career: It’s what you know that can get you in the door. You can train at home, practice (a lot), gain understanding of the business aspects of it (your kit, how to get clients, what to charge, form you might need, etc.). If you have always wanted to be a makeup artist, visit www.beautyproage.com to learn more.

Are you 40-something? Nearing it? Almost 50?  Wherever you are in age, I need you if you’re 39 to 50. Just complete a short questionnaire about aging (the good, bad and ugly truth).  It can be emailed (MS Word format), completed online or mailed to you.

Participants will receive a free copy of the finished book and the satisfaction of helping those embarking on their wondrous (???) 40s. Just email me to participate: makeupartpro@aol.com

I was particularly smitten with the Luce, a in-shower hair glossing treatment. I sounded easy to use and quick, plus the host raved about how great it was (naturally) and how glossy it made your hair. Being a naturally curly-haired girl who pretty much does every mean trick to her hair (process, color, highlight, straighten, hot curl, etc.), I have dry hair. I needed this product.

I got the products from HSN pretty quickly and set about to using it. Big disappointment. I washed my hair (non Blandi products), put on conditioner (non Blandi) and then used Luce leaving it on for about 3-5 minutes. By the time I dried my hair I knew: Nothing had happened. I HATE buying new “dream” products that don’t work! Money down the drain I thought.

About a week went by and I decided to try it again. This time I washed as before, then I applied Luce, left on for about 10 minutes (I shaved, scrubbed, etc. with it on), rinsed it out partially, then conditioned for another two minutes, then a final rinse. The difference this time was outstanding. This stuff made my hair silky, glossy and super easy to style. I was hooked.

I’ve used it once again since the last time and followed the same program: wash, Luce, partical rinse, condition, final rinse. This worked again. I say this product’s a winner. I would absolutely re-purchase.

Note: I also bought the Curl serum and Olio de Jasmine hair serum. Quick reviews on each:

Curl serum: Not bad. It does give me nicely defined, non-crunchy curls and they hold shape for a long time. It does make my hair feel a little dry, though. I’d say it’s OK, but not outstanding. I’ve used it twice and I’ll use it a few more time before making a final decision.

Olio de Jasmine: I use this everyday. The smell alone would make me want to buy this again. It is fantastic! Mild jasmine; not too flowery, very alluring. Also, this product does work. It’s a nice, LIGHT serum that makes your hair shiny, smooth and glossy. A great finishing shine serum. I’d probably buy this again, and that is something I rarely do because I’m usually disappointed with product results, so it’s a winner for me!

Check out www.beautyproage.com for more reviews plus great items for beauty at any age!

I FINALLY got the thing (I waited a few weeks and was almost going to cancel my order when it magically showed up on my doorstep). After getting my guy to assemble it and hoist it up the stairs to my mini-gym, I was anxious to give it a try.

Here’s the deal…

This thing will rock your thighs into submission. I am pretty fit, but I could barely knock out 13 minutes on this thing the first time around. I was holding the hand-rail for dear life while my thighs quivered and begged for mercy. In a word, it was tough. But tough is good, right? It means it’s working.

It’s been about a month of using this about 2-3 times per week and I do feel some firmness and tone in my inner/outer thighs. Is this due to the Legmaster or the Accent treatments or just my increased treadmill runs? I don’t know, but I do feel a real firmness in my inner thighs that I haven’t had in awhile (those of you who live the jiggly-thigh-life know how hard it is to get those inner thighs toned!)

The caveat (there is always a caveat, isn’t there?) The exercises themselves are pretty dull. After a few minutes on this (even with variations) you’ll be bored. They include a workout, which is pretty decent (only 13 minutes) and challenging. It does, however, require you to get off the Legmaster a few times to do lunges, squats, even ab work and push ups. Of course, if you were doing these all along, would you really need the Legmaster?

At first I was a little disappointed to get a workout with a leg machine that required the old-fashioned lunges and squats in addition to using the machine, but I persisted and I’m happy I did. I really do feel the Legmaster helps, but you could probably get just as good results if you’re very commited to lunges and squats on your own. I’m not.

A last note, the workout dvd mistress is very toned and has a body to aspire to, but the “Fabulous!” that she calls out nearly every other second is a bit much. It’s a bit fake and when you’re legs are shaking and sweat is pouring, you feel anything but.

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First, revive your skin: Take a warm (near hot) washcloth and press it into your face for about 10 seconds. Then, use it to exfoliate/slough off any dry skin by buffing it around your face for a few seconds. Be gentle, but really give yourself a good buffing. This will immediately give you a rosy glow and give your skin a nice, smooth finish.

Second, get your best moisturizer (the stuff you only use on special occassions) and rub it in your palms (add a drop of self-tanner/bronzer if you have it). Spread this on your face with patting motions (use your palm and fingers to pat it into your face vs. just slathering it on). This will give you a plump-skin look.

Third, let the moisturizer dry for a few seconds (brush your teeth, gargle, brush hair, etc.). Then, when it’s dry, take a bit of powder bronzer and sweep it all over your face. Use a LIGHT touch! You just need a hint of color–plus you don’t want a lot of powder when your skin isn’t at its best. Just use a bit for color.  Then take a tiny bit of bright (pink, coral) blush onto your brush and swirl it into the apple of your cheek. This will immediatley make you look alive.

If you’ve got the time, you can add lipstick, use Visine (great for brightening your eyes), curl your lashes and add mascara plus a drop of off-white eyeshadow on your lids (no shimmer) for extra verve.

 These few things always work for me and are quick and easy. They will definitely make you look like you’re rested and ready-to-go (even if you don’t feel it).

Alright, is there anything (short of curing major diseases) that would earn someone billions if it could really work to rid us of this stuff? I’ve tried it all, and I do mean it ALL, when it comes to ridding my poor thighs of this scourge. Honestly, all the workouts, weights, creams, pills, massage, Endermologie (works a little–very temporary), mesotherapy (ouch! I hate needles, so this wasn’t a big seller for me) in the world hasn’t worked. Believe me, I’ve tried.

When I saw an ad in my local paper for a new treatment, Accent, accompanied with some pretty awesome before and afters pics, I tore it out and made the call. If it worked as well as what the pictures showed, count me in. I made an appointment with the Skinovative clinic that ran the ad. It’s in the mall, so I had some trepidation…after all, skin treatments in the mall? At least it didn’t involve needles or invasive treatments, so what could be the harm. I bravely waited for my appointment.

In the meantime, I did some internet research. There was some info, not a lot,  as this treatment is new and has just recently received the coveted FDA approval. Generally all the women who reported had had a couple of treatments and started seeing results. Regardless of the limited information I could find on actual customers who had success with it,  I’m still going to try it and see for myself. Accent is billed as “volumetric RF thermotherapy.” Whatever that is. To learn more about how it works, Google “Accent cellulite.”

After a bit of a rough start with Skinovative (they screwed up my appt. and lost it plus when I finally did get in they made me pay upfront–UPFRONT??– for the treatment. Seems some mallrats get treatments and then quickly scoot or conveniently “forget their wallets” aka the Botox Bandit, so I frowned but ponied up. However, on my second visit, things were running more smoothly and I was allowed to pay after the treatment.) This was my first visit with them and they work on a “membership” basis. You pay $150 to join and then receive 15% off all treatments. Whatever. If this stuff works, it’s a small price to pay.

So here is the lowdown on my (albeit limited) experience with Accent:

It’s performed by a doctor (at least at the Skinovative I visited it is). It’s a relatively quick procedure. I’m in and out in under 45 minutes. A body oil is applied to the area treated, in my case the front of my thighs, and then the radiofrequency probes are rubbed quickly across the area. When I say quickly, I mean very quickly. It doesn’t rest in any one place because the probe heats up to almost intolerable levels of heat. To begin, it feels like a warm, pleasant massage. Then it starts to feel like a bit of a hot stone massage–points of heat but not intolerable. As the probe heats up, which it needs to do to actually work, there are moments of discomfort. You can stop the procedure for a momentary break and then begin again. As I said, the probe is moved very quickly so the heat does not rest in one spot (unlike Thermage, in which the probe rests in one spot, heats up and then cools quickly). (For more info on how Accent works, just Google “Accent cellulite.”)

If you have a very low tolerance for pain, think about this procedure before commiting. It can be painful. If you have a medium or high tolerance, you should do well. I took 2 Advil before my second procedure and it seemed to help. I had a couple moments of pain, but they subsided quickly.  If you’ve had Thermage, it is similar. This treatment can be done on various parts of the body and some will inevitably be more sensitive than others.

The bottom line: After my first treatment, my legs felt like I had a bit of a bad sunburn in some spots and they were a bit red, but it faded after a couple hours. By the next morning, they were fine, like nothing happened. However, I did not notice much of a change. I’d been told that usually good results were seen after 3 or 4 treatments, so I decided to go again. After my second treatment, I saw measureable results. My thighs are not completely smoothed, but the cellulite has diminished considerably. Super cool. This is enough to show me it’s worth it. I’m going again in three weeks.

Price? After the $150 membership fee, the treatments are $595 each (here in Tucson, AZ; your area may be more or less). You can also buy packages at Skinovative for 6 and save the cost of one whole treatment. I probably should have gone this route, but I wanted to see how it worked and how I tolerated it before paying for a whole package. If it continues to show good results, I’m gonna do my butt, back of thighs, stomach…budget willing. They are pricey treatments, but after years of dealing with the stuff that DOESN’T work, I’m not complaining (too much, anyway) if I find something that does.

In all, it wasn’t bad and I’m going back for a third treatment in three weeks. Supposedly results are permanent as long as you don’t gain tons of weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Stay tuned…

Can you see a difference?
OK, here’s the deal…Natural Facelift in a Bottle

Perusing the internet one day several months ago I ran across a product that purported to give a non-surgical facelift (yeah, right, I thought).  The thing is, this product came with pictures that looked pretty good. They seemed realistic and they definitely showed an improvement in the faces. The skin was toned, the muscles firmer and lifted. They looked great. So I read some more. And some more. I tend to really READ into the websites I visit trying to get glimpses into the “catch” or the real deal behind the claims.After reading and studying the pictures and viewing the video clips, I decided to order the product. This is a HUGE leap for me, because unless it’s a well-known product or someone I know and trust (aka Oprah) touts it, I generally don’t buy it from an anonymous website. I guess I’m a skeptic after getting burned time and again (I’m also hopeful and feel people are basically good–thus the getting the burned before).

I got the product, Younique (aka L’egance) Natural Facelift. It’s basically a thick, sticky liquid mask. It’s applied in a certain way to your face. It needs to stay on and dry for about 30 minutes (a bit inconvenient, I admit, but I do love a mask, so it’s OK for me). I used it in accordance with the directions and remained skeptical.  However, after I removed it, wow! I really saw a difference. Not only was my skin noticeably smoother, glowing and brighter, but it was really firm. My eyes seemed lifted and my cheeks and jaw were definitely plumper and lifted.

You’re supposed to use this mask every other day for 90 days for maximum results. It dries very tight and is touted to “exercise” the muscles under the skin. It does pulsate a bit after it is dried, so you do feel something. Whether it’s enough to actually provide a long-term solution remains to be seen, but I’ve used it for months (admittedly on and off–every other day wasn’t practical for me), and I’m sold…so much so that I became a professional distributor (you can get this on my site at www.sellmoretoday.com/beautypro). View the “20- Minute Facelifter” page.

If I get my act together, I’ll even post photos for you to see for yourself.

DESCRIPTION:
Physician recommended duo-action sun damage prevention and 100% mineral sunscreen in a weightless, oil-free lotion that absorbs instantly for complete protection. Suitable for sensitive skin.

Review: This product was a sample included in my Test Tube from New Beauty (great magazine and website). I likely would have never tried it due to the fact I’d never heard of it and the product packaging is a little dull. (I like a pretty package, I guess.)

I received this with its companion product, NIA Strenthening Complex Repair Cream. I took them on a trip up to Scottsdale (major sunshine) since they were trial-sized and easy to pack. After a late night of the Phoenix Art Walk, drining and cocktails, I used the Repair Cream before bed. The next morning, I showered and used the sunscreen then makeup. Wow! My tired skin looked great. This stuff made my skin look luminous (and believe me, I was not feeling luminous). My guy even commented on how good I looked. This was BEFORE my coffee.

Needless to say, upon returning home I immediately went online and purchased the set. I use them faithfully. I do criss-cross with other products (I am a product junkie, after all), but almost none of them give me the even-toned luminosity of these products. Plus the major sunscreen quality which I need living in the sunny desert. I’m sold. Good stuff!

OK, here’s the deal:

Calling all 39+ year old women to tell your story (the good, bad and the ugly) for a new book on turning the BIG 40! I’m particularly interested in those of you who take on aging gracefully with courage and humor.

Please be from 39 to 50, female only, any race, religion or lifestyle. Be geared toward aging well with the tools you have (whatever they may be for you) and sharing that information in an interview format.

The interview will be emailed or faxed to you (I’m working on completing one on-line). Your answers must be complete, hopefully candid and able to be published (your identity will be given with or without photo unless you request an anonymous post). Confidentiality will be strictly maintained. I am a published author and marketing consultant. This is my second book (see Top Sellers Tell at www.amazon.com)

Interested?
I’m looking for stories that relate to:

aging — Of course! Facing the 40s can elicit the craziest thoughts. Being well into your 40s brings such immense sense of self. Where are you (facing it or just leaving)? What are your thoughts about aging?

beauty & tips — What helps you when you look in the mirror? How do you keep any remnant of a girlish glow? Any special tips for staying looking your best? Products, treatments, doctors, holistic gurus, etc. Whatever works for you, we wanna know.

career — Are you well into your dream career or do you dream daily of running screaming into you boss’s office to yell “I Quit!” and start your own jewelry business? Where are we now and what sustains us professionally that didn’t work in our 30s?

sex — Are we getting it? Is it getting better than ever or are those days long gone? Be as intimate as you like–prudes and vixens both have tales to tell.

health & fitness — What do you do to stay healthy and fit? Vitamins, hormones, Pilates? What really works for you (truthfully, no one who has a life eats healthy daily and works out faithfully). Give us the skinny on how you keep your butt lifted, your arms from sagging, your sleep from nightsweats/insomnia, your sanity! Couch potatoes who couldn’t give a damn also sought…

family & children — Are you just starting your family after years of career focus or did you have kids in your 20s and are looking forward to some well-deserved “you” time? Either way, family is likely taking on a new meaning for you now. Share with us…

new life — Did you actually quit your job and start that dream business? Are you re-embarking on a passion you gave up years ago? Are you making BIG changes now that will affect your life for the next 20 years? Whether we’re doing it or just daydreaming about it, you’re not alone. We really do want to know!

40 & fabulous — What really surprised you about turning 40? Of course we knew our skin would sag a bit, we’d gain a wiser edge and have a deeper appreciation for life (no, we finally realized, we are not invincible). What makes you smile about being “a little older now”?

Please join us and get your story published. Be an inspiration to other women out there!

For an interview questionnaire, or to pick my brain with more questions, just email me at: kmseller@aol.com

I truly look forward to hearing from you!

*Book title subject to change (but I’m liking it right now).

Questionnaire can be emailed, completed online or mailed to you. Just 8 questions, but a wealth of information for those embarking on this wondrous (???) era of their lives. Participants will receive a free copy of the completed book.

Email: karen / makeupartpro@aol.com