Ask any fan of injectables which one is their favorite, and you will surely get an enthusiastic answer. Botox ®, Restylane ®, Radiesse ®, Juvederm ™ …each one boasts a legion of devoted followers.

Considering Beauty Chat was born from iEnhance.com, a leading plastic surgery resource, I thought I’d offer you some tips for safe injectable treatment!

1) Ask about the doctor: The dermatologist or cosmetic surgery professional you are visiting should be qualified to administer the injections. Therefore, asking if he or she will be the one to inject you with your preferred treatment is a good question to ask. If the answer is a “no,” your next step is asking, “Who will be injecting me, and what are their qualifications?”

2) Ask about the brand: According to the Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, if your provider offers you a “generic” or cheaper version of the injectable you have selected, “You should refuse.” “There are no less costly alternatives proven safe or effective.” Another excellent way to assert your right to safety is asking to see the packaging, so that you can verify the brand name yourself. After all, this is your face!

3) Ask about safety: Because all facial injectables are not created equal, asking about potential risks and side effects should be a top priority. If you decide that the risks with any one product outweigh its benefits, don’t despair – you can always continue researching your options until you find the injectable that is right for you!

~ Brook

Image Credit: www.injectablesafety.org

Are you a fashion risk-taker? I’d like to think I am (when away from work however – Amen Mellori!).

But there is something holding me back from purchasing a pair of neon-colored, denim pants. First of all, if you are a lady with curves, such as myself, this style pant is very hard to wear in a flattering way. Even though a pair pink Freedom of Choice jeans would totally offset the black blouses in my closet with a retro-punk rock feel for my fall fashion wardrobe, I typically try to steer away from pants that accentuate my bottom half. And with a solid, bright shade creeping up from my feet to my waist – I shouldn’t expect anyone to even look elsewhere.

Forget about looking at me in my eyes or checkin’ out my new necklace from the Francesca’s Collections boutique!  

Then again, I dig the look Jessica Alba pulled off with her purple skinny jeans. She – or her stylist – knew how to personalize this trend and make it appear less shocking and more chic. I like how she layered her neutral colored blouses and wore a loose, third piece.

Who knows? I may have the guts to try a pair on the next time I’m feeling crazy in the fitting room. But the keyword is may. 

Am I alone on this???

~ Elana

Product Images: Courtesy of Dennery Marks PR (thanks Elizabeth!)

Jessica Alba photo credit: www.imnotobsessed.com

This week on Dr. 90210:

Facial rejuvenation seems to be the hot topic among the patients featured on episode 12 of Dr. 90210. Both are attractive, blonde women who want to enhance their appearances with the help of cosmetic procedures.

As for the plastic surgeons, each are taking time to indulge in their interests outside of work. We see Dr. Jason Diamond do some more investing, hoping that his gamble will pay off. And Dr. Will Kirby is enjoying time with his live-in girlfriend, but he’s not liking the marriage discussions prompted by family and friends.

The most entertaining segment may be Dr. Robert Rey and his family’s camping trip. “Roughin’ it” Rey style, the foursome travel to a remote location to experience the sights and sounds of nature. To learn how that went, along with an explanation of everything else featured on Dr. 90210 this week, take a look at my iEnhance recap!

~ Leeann

Dr. 90210 Season Archive

Image Credit: iEnhance.com

 Remember those sassy words spoken by Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich when Albert Finney (as Ed Masry) addresses her seemingly “suggestive” attire in the workplace:

“[As] long as I have one ass instead of two I’ll wear what I like if that that’s all right with you.”

Indeed, this line may make the career-driven fashionista working in corporate America proud. It, however, is not exactly the attitude that will prove to your business superior a character of confidence and strength, but rather naivety at best. Considering that my inner “fashion-wearing vixen” often gets her way, I have struggled with the notion of sartorial conservatism in the work environment. Point being: there is a difference between business professional and personal professional.

Granted, every business setting has its individual dress code for employees to emulate, but what qualifies your appearance as outright too much, wherein your clothes are doing more of the talking than you are? Obviously ladies, the days of cumbersome shoulder pads and 80s-pegged, pinstriped suits have officially come and gone. Praise the ever-changing style gurus! At Beauty Chat, we definitely do not intend to reunite you with those days of the androgynous corporate female (Mental visual anyone? – Think Miranda in the first season of Sex and the City). While we do recommend you to opt for discretion, we do also encourage you to own your stylish self. 

When Googling “women’s business attire,” you will find that numerous search results offer you consulting resources on “what not to wear” versus “what to wear” in a business setting, especially when interviewing for a potential job opportunity. The following chart is a sample of the dos and don’ts of formal dress code from communications consulting company ECG’s “Dress Speak for Women:”

Dressing Right  

“DO” 

• Dress for the audience, circumstance, corporate culture, and yourself
• Hose should be skin color or darker 
• Conservative business make-up  
• Simple manicure  

“DON’T”  

• Wear clothes that talk louder than you do
• Wear clothing that no longer fits
• Fragrance that smells from a distance
• Heels so high you’re unsteady
•  Too much make-up

Brace yourself women, these are only a chosen few from a more elongated list. Before you   get your Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy ® panties in a twist, highlight the key phrase “corporate culture.” These two words should be regarded with the utmost awareness – simply, be aware of the nature of your work, the place of work and your position at work. You’re choice of clothing is likely to be considerably more fashionable for an interview with Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada as opposed to a straight-laced environment – like a law firm. When deciding on an outfit for a professional setting, choose your “personal v. business” battles wisely, never avoiding the balance between taste and tact. Remember, you want to be taken seriously for your assets up top (i.e. your brain) rather than your assets on bottom. To preach the words of ECG, “Regardless of what you’re wearing, make sure it works.”

~ Mellori
 

The ambiance at the W Hotel in Westwood (Los Angeles) was classy and cool amidst the green and blue, glowing outdoor lights, and a sparkling pool surrounded by fire pits.

The press party for the “Project: Sweat Free” health education campaign was spectacular — picturesque to say the least.  

Stepping into a scene that looked like something straight out of The Hills, my editor Elana (who is also a columnist for Agenda Magazine) and I showed up to learn why Kara Saun (Hello? Finalist from Season 1 of Project Runway!) is helping to raise awareness about excessive underarm sweating and its new age solution: Botox ® injections.

Taking a seat in a private cabana adorned with a stunning mirror, as well as a flat-screen TV, we were able to speak with Kara and Dr. Mavis Billips about the effectiveness Botox ® has on underarm sweating. The two seem like such an unlikely business couple – a fashion designer and a dermatologist? Well sure! Many of Kara’s models have dealt with excessive sweating during the hustle and bustle of a runway show. Her observance of the models’ embarrassment and frustration, as well as their fear for such fabrics as — eek, silk! — prompted Kara to get on board with “Project: Sweat Free.”

  “Sweat stains are not a fashion accessory,” Kara said empathetically.

As Dr. Billips explained, many people suffer from profuse sweating, or what is technically known as hyperhydrosis, and don’t know that they can obtain temporary relief. By receiving Botox injections in their effected areas, such as the underarms, their dreaded perspiration can be halted for approximately 6 months! While this procedure is catching on (it was recently featured on Dr. 90210), it is still not as publicized as most medical professionals would like. So the goal of Kara, Dr. Billips, and “Project: Sweat Free” is to educate everyone on the wonderful results that can be provided by Botox treatments.

After the doctor/designer interview, we sat sipping Cointreau martinis and taking in our surroundings. A great mix of physicians and trendy attendees mingled around the open bars and large, lounge couches for a worthy cause. Of course, with LA fashion week coming up, the attire was fabulous! And might I say? Knee-high boots are in once again this season and were definitely a staple of the night. Let’s thank the fashion gods for that!

~ Leeann
 
Photo Credits: Elana’s camera and my extraordinary photography skills