Beautiful Skin Blog by Belisi

It's a New Year and a new you! It's time to take your beauty regimen seriously. If you haven't had time to formulate your beauty resolutions for 2008, we've done it for you:

I resolve to take care of my hair

It’s not pleasant to think about but our hair becomes a dead protein as soon as it emerges from our scalp, which means we need to take extra good care of it to ensure it continues to look shiny and lustrous as long as possible. Styling tools, harsh water, chemicals and products wreak havoc on your hair. Make a resolution to take better care of it and you’ll enjoy a New Year with fewer bad hair days, guaranteed.

Celebrity Hairstyles

Love Cameron Diaz’s whimsical locks? Or Jessica Alba’s gorgeous caramel highlights? Now you can see how you would look with your favorite celebrity’s hairstyle. Just go to http://www.instyle.com/instyle/makeover to instantly transform your “do” into a red carpet worthy coif.

So what’s in for hairstyles right now? “Textured and wavy is definitely making a comeback,” says Ann Marie Walts, Redken Artist at The LOFT in West Springfield, Mass. “So dust off your curling iron! The red carpet is a big influence in special occasion styling with a return to elegant, ‘old’ Hollywood glam.  Styles are more sophisticated and structured but soft, 1940s waves are in too. I’m also seeing a lot of lift and volume.”

Skincare Worthy of a Feast

This holiday season, a moment on the lips doesn't have to mean a lifetime on the hips. With a cornacopia of delicious smelling products, it’s okay to pass the pumpkin pie and pile on the souffle. We even dare you to throw back a few margaritas. Guilt free!

If you’re in a giving mood, all of these skincare and beauty products make great stocking stuffers and gifts.

Beautiful is something different to everyone. But one common theme when it comes to our personal appearance is that most of us need a little assistance. That's not to say that we want to load up on products that could make us look worse by clogging our pores or drying our skin out.

Belisi Beauty Picks are products that I've personally tried that I've found to have some amazing quality. I'd like to hear about products that have helped other women look their best. Maybe it's an out of this world conditioner that prevents split ends or a mascara that turns your eyes into showstoppers. Whatever it is, tell me about it!

Everyone is going "green". From whole foods to natural fiber clothes. The term organic has been around for a while. Well get ready for a new term. The term "Wildcrafted" is popping up on beauty bottles and other natural products, indicating the ingredeints were harvested from their natural habitat. In some cases, only a leaf or a bloom is taken, leaving the plant in-tact. Another term cropping up on “all natural” beauty products is “biodynamic”, which is said to be the new term for organic. As the organic lifestyle gained in popularity, the term has lost some meaning—or at least created confusion among consumers.

You’re not the only who’s noticed that the stars of Desperate Housewives—with the exception of the young and vibrant Eva Longoria, look better now than they did 10—even 15—years ago. Demi Moore and Heather Locklear are as gorgeous as they ever were. And we all know it’s not by sheer luck. While there’s something to say for taking care of your skin, chances are a plastic surgeon (or two) played a part in helping these stars stay looking youthful, even though they’ll deny it.

Some people would rather eat old cheese than forego a daily hair washing. Others swear up and down that washing hair every day is a beauty no-no.

“Washing hair everyday will fade color faster, strip it of its natural oilsand if the shampoo/conditioner is too heavy can be weighed down and static-y—it can be too clean,” says Kristin Steckler, a stylist at Tonic II Salon in Las Vegas.

First it was healthy food; then came a push for sustainable living. Now even clothes are organic. It only makes sense that the products you put on your body are good for you too.

From shampoo to lipstick and perfume to face creams, you can now live an entirely all-natural existence (won’t you sleep better at night?)

Sure it’s winter and you’ve got the doldrums. But now’s the perfect time to sauce up your look. Spring is right around the corner and along with the vibrant looks seen on the runways, hair is getting more interesting too. Turn that Bohemian mop into a showcase of texture and volume with some bangs and layers.

We’ve all experienced a fashion emergency or wished we could improve out beauty regimen with easy, inexpensive adjustements. So here are some quick and easy ways to stave off that unsightly pimple, keep undereye bags at bay and have gorgeous skin all year long.