For years I have stayed away from those cute shoes in the store window, or the newest fashion trends in sandals, because I was always afraid of “breaking them in.” I hated getting those blisters on the backs of my heels. The foot pain associated with wearing a new pair of cute shoes was just not worth it!

Well, enter Band-Aid ® Active Flex Blister Block  Stick!!! I was so excited when I saw the television commercial the other day, that I ran right out to purchase it.  It claimed to stop the friction of your skin rubbing against the back of your shoe.  WOW! I thought if this works, it will change the way I look at shoes!  No more buying just for comfort in hopes of preventing blisters on my feet.

This was opening up a whole new window for me, especially after being envious of all the cute and stylish shoes my coworker wears (ahem…Elana!). Now I can wear them too!

So, when Monday morning came, I couldn’t wait to try it. I applied the Blister Block to the back of my heels (like applying chapstick) and slipped on my new, black, peep toe pumps!  After about two hours of wearing them, I noticed that my heels were…FINE!!!  Because I was a little unsure about the product, I brought it with me to work, and reapplied another coat around 11 a.m. After the eight hour day, I was fine! I am proud to say that I had no blisters either.

To be sure that it was not a fluke, I tried the Blister Block again the next day with a pair of strappy sandals. This time, I applied it to my heel and on the side of feet near my toes – where the sandal straps touched. Again, after the eight hour day, NO FOOT BLISTERS! 

So, I can say with confidence: I love Blister Block by Band-Aid ®.  Every girl should carry one in her purse!

~ Denice

Product Photo Credit: www.walgreens.com

This week’s episode of The Hills on MTV offered us a refreshing change of pace. Lauren Conrad and company took a break from clubbing at Les Deux and eating at outdoor cafés, opting for a good-clean-fun day at the beach (sans Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag). Where was the couple everyone loves to hate? Where else but enchanting Crested Butte, Colorado. The time had finally come for Spencer to meet the parents. 

(On this episode of MTV’s The Hills, Heidi and Spencer take in words of wisdom from her parents regarding their relationship)

While he attempted to put on a nice show for his presumed future in-laws, kissing up by calling their daughter an “angel” didn’t appear to win them over. Mom and Dad said they were concerned Heidi had lost too many girlfriends because of guys in her past, and this situation seemed to fit the same pattern. As they tried to reinforce their concern to Heidi and Spencer over dinner, Spencer responded by performing an over-the-top, unflattering impersonation of Lauren. Asking her parents their impression of her fiancé several times, Heidi seemed disappointed that they never answered, “Wow, Honey, he’s a keeper!”

Back in Malibu, the good times were rollin’ at Brody Jenner’s beach BBQ. In keeping with the theme of changing pace on this episode of The Hills, Brody showed his vulnerable side by 1.) Expressing hurt feelings over Spencer’s frequent absences, 2.) Breaking his arm during a game of tag football, and 3.) Expressing hurt feelings again when Lauren laughed at the sight of his cast upon his return from the ER.

(A memorable moment on The Hills – Audrina pouring her hurt out to Lauren at Brody’s beach BBQ) 

 Also letting down her guard was Audrina Patridge (realizing she had again been ditched by Justin Bobby, who left her cute helmet behind and took off with another girl), as well as Lauren (who finally shed some tears over Heidi). What a way to round out the night!

 ~ Brook

Missed Episode 3 of this season’s the Hills? Check out my recent recap on Beauty Chat!

Photo Credits: www.MTV.com

Last night on LA Ink, tattoo shop owner Kat Von D checks in with Dr. Garth Fisher to find out more about breast augmentation. Why???

Well, when trying on bikinis with Pixie, her close friend and shop manager, at the boutique of Ashley Paige, Kat comments about being smaller on top. Her recent weight loss not only seems to have reduced her waist size, but her chest size as well (according to swimsuit designer, Ashley Paige). Standing next to well-endowed Pixie in the mirror, her pierced buddy with breast implants, Kat Von D sorta shows feelings of insecurity. Acknowledging the potential risks and complications associated with getting breast implants, Ms. LA Ink still decides to learn about this popular procedure.

Dr. Fisher not only admits that Kat Von D is a great candidate for plastic surgery; he also sets out to prove the durability of silicone gel breast implants to Kat by throwing one against the wall during the initial consultation!

My favorite part of the episode is before Kat meets with Dr. Fisher, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. She fools her tattooed employees and pretends that she already underwent breast augmentation by giving her breasts a push here and a pull there (I believe she used a gel bra insert too!). With looks of shock and confusion, they aren’t too savvy on the idea of her getting plastic surgery to look better.

Turns out – Kat isn’t either! She says that considering how much she has already “modified” her body with tons of tattoos, starting with her face to her legs, breast enlargement just isn’t for her.

I was happy, to be honest. In the end, Kat Von D scored the cover of Chord Magazine, a Southern California music publication, proving the appeal of her unique look without a “boob job.” Pretty awesome.

~ Elana

Image Credit: www.chordmagazine.com

This week on Dr. 90210:

From “muffin tops” to sweaty pits, a new set of enhancements are featured on this installment of Dr. 90210. The patients may poke fun at their imperfections, but these are serious conditions that require the help of specialized doctors.

Dr. Robert Rey helps a patient enlarge her breasts to a more desirable size with one of his most requested procedures, breast augmentation, Dr. Linda Li (who we see for the first time this season) removes excess fat and tightens the abdominal muscles of her client with tummy tuck surgery, and Dr. Will Kirby stops his friend’s excessive sweating with Botox ® injections.

Although this week may feature more common procedures than last, they are anything but mundane!

What about Dr. Rey and his father? Did Hayley stick to her promise?

Read my full recap of Dr. 90210’s fifth episode on iEnhance.com!

~ Leeann

Dr. 90210 season archive

Image Credit: iEnhance.com

Pregnancy is an interesting time for most women – myself included.  Coworkers have been watching me go through all kinds of changes, from hormone surges to walking around scratching my ever-expanding belly (with a mini tummy tuck or full tummy tuck surgery being an option after I’ve finished giving birth). There is not much I can do to help with the hormones and the random tears that often sneak out.  I have, however, been trying every product I can find to reduce the itching, and with any luck, keep the stretch marks at bay.

I am eight months pregnant, and I have a cupboard full of different lotions containing vitamin E oil and cocoa butter.  Most have done nothing for me.  It seems that either I had to keep applying the product in only a short amount of time, or it looked like I had butter on my skin. Instead of being absorbed by my skin, sometimes they would just stain my shirt!  Belly Balm by Belly Basics is different.

Receiving Belly Balm from a friend, I excitedly applied it to my tummy, breasts, and bum the first chance I got. I was pleasantly surprised by the non-greasy, moisturizing feel.  The smell of Belly Balm was pleasing as well; soft and calming, and not way overpowering. It contains cocoa, shea and mango butter. These ingredients are supposed to help relieve the itches and help prevent stretch marks.

I have been using the Belly Balm pregnancy cream for a few months now, and I am very pleased with the results.  I apply it in the morning and in the evening, and honestly, it seems to be really helping. I haven’t strolled around the office scratching in awhile!

As for my first signs of stretch marks, well these horrible red lines seem to just run in the family.  I don’t think the fair skin helps either. Even with the use of Belly Balm, I truly feel nothing can stop them from showing up.

I have nine weeks left, and I am sadly running out of the wonderful pregnancy cream that has truly saved me from insane scratches day in and day out. Nooooo! (I’ll have to order more from www.bellybasics.com) I suggest that every mom-to-be with the itches try Belly Balm to get rid of some discomfort.  

~ Jacquie

Product Image Credit: www.bellybasics.com

In a beauty and fashion industry, where the concept of beauty seems to be transfixed by a certain ideal standard, the presence of ethnic faces has not exactly graced the so-called “cover” of the industry in the most sweeping style.

So, I beg the question, what constitutes beauty? True, such household names as Tyra Banks,  Adriana Lima, and Iman have altered the “All-American” image by creating a new spin on idealized beauty that encompasses darker features and natural curves. However, merely thumbing through a mainstream fashion magazine will bring you to the realization that although ethnic faces have definitely weaved their way into the industry, ethnic beauty and fashion issues and topics in the media still remain largely untapped.

Such magazines as Essence and Latina offer African-American and Latina women a rare, yet accessible opportunity to visually immerse and inform themselves of the various ethnic beauty issues specified just for them. Nonetheless, these publications still remain few in number. Not to mention, when googling such keywords as “Latina beauty” for instance, legitimate and useful search results are even fewer. In addition, beauty resources for women of other ethnic backgrounds, such as Middle Eastern or Asian-American, present an even more intricate task.

Fortunately, Coexistence, a unique up-and-coming magazine, endeavors to open one’s eyes to the widely unrecognized realm of Middle Eastern beauty. Founders, Shahdad Kelishadi and Varuzhan Shahidzadeh, comment, “There are no venues for any type of media that mainstreams Middle Easterners.” With their magazine, they hope to break ground by departing from “the typical Kate Moss-esque beauty and showcasing fuller figures and darker features as beautiful.”

Although ethnic beauty resources remain mostly untouched; existing and on-the-rise media publications are trying to tighten this gap in the industry. Beauty Chat is no exception! We acknowledge the catch-22 of ethnic beauty. One of our goals is to offer an online fashion and beauty resource for women of many diverse backgrounds and interests. With this proclamation, we hope to address a variety of ethnic beauty issues, from skincare and cosmetic surgery procedures to fashion and hair treatments.

Beauty Chat is proud to enlighten women everywhere on ethnic beauty through online interaction!

~ Mellori V.

Image Credits: Courtesy of Coexistence Magazine

I’m all about soy protein, whether I prefer it in my veggie patty or as an added supplement in my power drink after a good workout. But I was completely unaware of how nicely it would affect my skin when used in the form of an anti wrinkle eye cream. When I commit to regularly applying the Avia Eternal Eye Complex to the darkened (sleepless) area under my eyes at night, my overall complexion in the morning appears to refreshed and smooth.

Why does Avia Eternal Eye Complex make me look recharged? This is largely due to the soy ingredient, which boosts the moisture in my skin, improving collagen levels, and leaving a fresh glow. This “light weight soufflé emollient” also contains an apple fruit extract to help protect my skin from free radical damage while it firms and moisturizes. According to Santa Barbara’s Avia Spa owner Suzanne Gore, “If the eyes are the windows to the soul, why not look as young as you feel.” I hear ya!

The Avia Eternal Eye Complex can also be applied to the throat, décolletage, and around the mouth – perfect for all skin types. These days, I am becoming more aware of how important it is to prevent lines and wrinkles at a younger age with anti aging cream before the unwanted lines and creases arrive.

Although it is intended for use morning and night, I prefer to dab it under my eyes just in the evening before bed. I like the idea of going to sleep with only my eye cream on, versus having to wake up and deal with applying makeup on top of it.

It fits nicely into my cleaning regimen too, following my Clean & Clear foaming facial cleanser to take off my makeup and get rid of the dirt, and my lovely Facelogic microdermabrasion exfoliant to smooth away impurities and blackheads.

The 1 oz bottle runs for $40, and is just one of the 23 products in the Avia Skin Care line. I would recommend the Avia Eternal Eye Complex, especially to my mother who has always spent her early morning laying back with cucumbers on her eyes, I would also advise making good use out of the product and your money by using it on a consistent basis!

~ Elana

Photo and Product Credit: Dennery Marks PR

We’re only two weeks into the The Hills Season 3. So, it’s a little early for Lauren Conrad to start disapproving of her roommate’s boyfriend, right? Wrong! We can thank Audrina Patridge’s new/old guy, “Justin Bobby,” for the early arrival of boy drama that never gets old for fans of The Hills.

Meeting up for a third-wheel date, Lauren and JB offer up half-hearted opinions of one another over drinks as Audrina looks on awkwardly. Lauren, like a good mother hen, tells JB that Audrina is the “precious cargo” that rides on his bike that night (how cute was Audrina’s helmet!), and he had better be careful with her kid – I mean, friend. Like any boy your mother would disapprove of, JB answers by opening his mouth to allow the escape of a horrific belch. And the stage is set!

(The infamous belch pouring out of “Justin Bobby.” Trying to impress Lauren, are we JB?)

Meanwhile, Heidi Montag threw us a major curveball this week. As the last roommate to serve up unforgivable chaos into Lauren’s life, Heidi decided to stand up for her right to have white walls in her apartment – much to Spencer Pratt’s chagrin. I almost got goosebumps watching Heidi calmly explain to her fiancé (!) that painting over his tacky pawn shop graffiti wall was, “A surprise – just like you surprised me.”

During MTV’s after show for The Hills, Lauren almost looked proud of her ex-friend when she commented that it was her “favorite scene in the whole episode.” I couldn’t agree more!

~ Brook

Recap of The Hills Season Premiere on Beauty Chat

Image Credits: www.MTV.com

This week on Dr. 90210:

The oh-so-private areas are the focus of episode 4. Over the course of an hour, we get to take a glimpse into the lives of a few patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their most intimate regions.

Dr. Robert Rey enables a young woman to feel more comfortable in her own skin with labiaplasty, Dr. Gary Alter performs plastic surgery on a cross-gender patient, and Dr. Will Kirby helps to educate his friend (and patient) on safe sex practice.

The procedures that our Beverly Hills plastic surgeons address this episode are a bit personal, but very informative!

And at long last, Dr. Rey gets even closer to making a decision regarding the relationship between him and his father.  Find out what happened this week by checking out my Dr. 90210 detailed rundown on iEnhance.com!

~ Leeann

Dr. 90210 season archive

Image Credit: iEnhance.com

“Women with breast implants are more likely to commit suicide!” 

Chances are you’ve heard some variation of this announcement by now, and depending on your source for news, you may have heard a cynical take on the story (morning shock jocks, anyone?) or a more cautious angle, with a medical opinion or two thrown in. The findings have been reported and analyzed in every conceivable media outlet as of recently – but is anyone really listening to the underlying message? 

At Beauty Chat, we were forced to take a deep breath and consider this story regarding breast enlargement surgery (After all, this is what we do!). In pondering the various opinions out there, I came to a sobering conclusion: Suicide is a tragic result of escalating dissatisfaction in regards to one’s own life. Often, we think that people only seek out negative escapes to mask their pain, such as substance abuse or bad relationships. 

However, many people escape their problems through what is deemed as positive outlets: a new job, going back to school, or even a shopping spree. The bottom line is that none of these “escapes” will instantly wipe away someone’s deep-rooted issues. The same is true for cosmetic surgery.   

If you are considering breast augmentation with the use of saline or silicone gel breast implants, remember this: A good doctor will assess your medical profile (including any history of psychological treatment), and will ask you important questions regarding your expectations following surgery. When listening to your answers, if a plastic surgeon notices that there is any indication that your expectations are unreasonable (“My partner will love me more” – “I’ll get a promotion” – “I’ll have more friends”), he or she may advise you to wait until you are better prepared. 

What are your thoughts on this issue? 

~ Brook

Photo Credit: PlasticSurgery.com