(Angelina Jolie ~ before and after)

I think it’s pretty much safe to say yes, celebrities still heavily influence the growth and popularity of plastic surgery trends. In addition, Reality TV such as Dr. 90210 has played a major role in the public seeing firsthand the “reality” behind plastic surgery; and for many people, this has inspired them to go forward and undergo some sort of improvement. More »

No, the woman in the picture with me is not my sister, she’s my mother. And no, she hasn’t had any work done, she just ages really well. It’s because of her nearly flawless skin that I’ve never been afraid of growing older or getting wrinkles. Until a few months ago, I didn’t even know about all the various procedures that are available to those that do fear fine lines and wrinkles.

(Myself with my mom, the reason I don’t fear aging.)

With the media focusing on maintaining a youthful appearance, it’s no wonder that non-invasive procedures for the face are becoming more and more readily available. It’s also not shocking to see many women in their late 20s and early 30s lining up for Botox or lip-plumping injections. The younger you start, the longer you’ll be able to say “I’m really only 31,” when in fact you are 40. Every woman is looking for her fountain of youth. More »

I have been active in sports my entire life, so when I heard about MISSION Product ™, I was excited to try out their skincare products. Just released in May of this year, the line boasts a lineup of hard-hitting athletes involved with the innovation and development.

With supporters such as Steve Nash (two-time NBA MVP), Mia Hamm (Olympic gold medal soccer player), and Gretchen Bleiler (pro snowboarder, three-time X Games gold medalist), it’s hard to not to take notice.

According to Nash: “I’m really proud to be a founding athlete with MISSION Product. I use all of our first five products and they are outstanding.”

More »

June 1st marked the day that Beauty Chat turned a year old [proud teardrop].

You see, this blog originally developed as a social networking project between me and Randy. Our goal at that time was to reach out to the beauty and plastic surgery communities, with our original “Look good, feel good, and speak on it!” philosophy. Turns out this idea not only paved the personality of Beauty Chat; we learned that there are a lot of others out there who feel the same way. You know, the non-judgmental chatterboxes (like us) who love talking about the latest this and that.

Turns out, there are TONS of you – our local, national, and international friends – who have subscribed to Beauty Chat and even have a favorite “Beauty Chatter.” I mean, with 10 writers on staff, including myself, a very productive project editor (Denice) and an eye-for-detail managing editor (Leeann), a fabulous in-house designer (Khevna), and a righteous programmer ( Randy), it only makes sense that you would connect with someone who is just as opinionated as you are!

Really, when it comes down to it, the team that makes up Beauty Chat is, like, the coolest group you could ever meet. (Sorta kidding, but not really.) More »

Since Beauty Chat is turning one, we are hosting a fabulous giveaway valued at approximately $350. Thank you iQ Derma and Redpoint Beauty! Check out the amazing products you can receive:

iQ Derma (Gorgeous Skin) + Redpoint (Flawless Makeup)
*iQ Derma Daily Renew Refreshing Cleanser
*iQ Derma Flawless Face System – SkinTensive xCel High Potency Anti-Wrinkle Serum + iQ Derma RestorEyes
*iQ Derma Lip Quench
*Redpoint Blush Whip in “Glow”
*Redpoint Eye liner in “Conga”
*Redpoint NOC-Out Cover Up Compact
*Redpoint MegaLash Mascara

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post referencing your favorite Beauty Chat article of the past. That’s it…it’s that easy. Hurry and enter! Contest ends Friday, July 11.

Visit our Anniversary post for more information.

As a 20-something, it’s crucial to keep in style with the rest of those in our age group. We want to dress fashionably, classy, attractive, and age appropriate. With the media putting so much focus on this age bracket, it’s relatively easy to find something suitable for almost any occasion. Yet I still see a few ladies out there that seem to think that more skin equals better fashion. But I personally think that leaving a bit to the imagination is a lot more attractive than a super low-cut shirt and tight mini-skirt.

More »

During the Total Beauty blog summit in May, Leeann and I were introduced to this fabulous cosmetic line: Redpoint. Redpoint comes in sassy red packaging and looks super chic, and since I am a huge fan of packaging, it was love at first sight. But, Redpoint goes way beyond its packaging. In fact, the brand is taking cosmetics in a whole new direction.

Because of Redpoint’s Chromactive Technology, it is able to push the makeup’s performance to a completely new level. Each product contains specialized ingredients that work behind the scenes to help improve the look and feel of your skin. Are you looking for that natural, youthful glow? Well, look no further!

More »

After scouring the internet, magazines, and shops for the latest and greatest “Handbag of the Month” to bring you, I stumbled upon a wonderful, innovative company called Solas at the recent Shecky’s Girls Night Out event that my fellow Beauty Chatters Leeann, Jacquie, Stephanie, and I attended.

Catching my attention for not just its stunning style, the Lush Tote by Solas, as I came to find out, had much more to offer. First created in 2004, by Kara Kurcz and her then boyfriend (now husband) Brian Lee, the idea behind Solas was developed when Brian, seeing Kara stumble through her purse for her keys in the dark, suggested she use his cell phone light to help her see better.

And thus, Solas was born.

More »

                                                  (Kat Von D — up close and personal)

Ever since her days on Bravo’s “Miami Ink,” I have found it hard to not be a fan of Kat Von D. Why? Because she is passionate about what she creates and breaks all stereotypes of what most of society may regard a tattoo artist to be like. She’s female, girly, gorgeous, and now – a Reality TV star turned a sought-after Hollywood celebrity.So of course when I heard about the creative merge of Sephora and the famous LA Ink tattoo artist and owner of High Voltage Tattoo – I wanted to scream (in excitement, of course!). I always thought that Kat’s makeup was fabulous and her fashion sense was shockingly cool. And now, I’m proud to say that I have three of pieces of her new collection that add a classic, yet edgy, style to what I already have in my makeup bag.

More »

Wendy Lewis, who is also frequently referred to as “The Knife Coach,” is a leading independent cosmetic beauty consultant who has helped many people throughout the world contemplate the (new) age-old debate: To get plastic surgery, or to not get plastic surgery.

In her latest book, Plastic Makes Perfect: The Complete Cosmetic Beauty Guide, Lewis approaches everything from porcelain veneers to thigh lift surgery. And while her titles may be playful (including “Tick Tock Goes Your Body Clock” and “Making the Cut: Lifts and Lipo”), the content found inside this hardcover addresses all that is important when it comes to cosmetic enhancements.

(Sarah, Jennifer, Denise, Leeann, Khevna, and Elana)

More »