I met Erin at the Total Beauty Summit…I know, how many fabulous people did I meet there? A lot. But Erin, and the company she works for, really stood out amongst the crowd. You see, Erin works for this AMAZING company called Belli. Belli is dedicated to specialty skin care focused on making sure that mom, baby, and unborn baby are safe and healthy.

How, you ask? Well, Belli products are specifically designed for expecting and new mothers. It is geared to help aid them in a time of uncertainty, when their bodies are changing and they are experiencing unique skin care issues — a time when their concern for safety is heightened. The brand supports the expectant mother and provides her with choices in skin care, for both herself and baby.

Belli specialty skin care comes in three lines: More »

From The Surreal Life, to Strange Love and Celebrity Rehab, Brigitte Nielsen is certainly a VH1 Reality TV poster child. With almost every aspect of her “life” (who knows what is real?!) documented on the small screen, is it any surprise that she is now allowing cameras to film her while undergoing cosmetic surgery? And what’s more — on live television?

More »

Now that we know how to dress age appropriately, I think it’s time to discuss another fashion blunder: How to dress for your size.

I know that I can’t squeeze into a size 0 dress, so why would I struggle with it? A better question is, why are so many women determined to wear the wrong size? Are they in denial? I have some plus size friends that dress very well for their size and it’s refreshing to see these ladies accept that they can’t wear a size 6, and instead wear the appropriate size while still looking fashionable and chic.

More »

                        (Would you wear these? Found on Secretlifeofshoes.blogspot.com)

Be safe, enjoy your weekend, and catch up with your favorite Beauty Chat team on Monday.  More hot topics, product reviews, and interviews coming your way next week!

Many of us Sex and the City enthusiasts are fond of the clever dialogue said throughout the six seasons of the iconic show – some of which just stuck. You might remember the words “Hello Lover” breathlessly uttered by Ms. Bradshaw. Well, this “lover” was handsome, irresistible and went by the name of Christian Louboutin.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s character is known for her effortless and daring sense of fashion that pushed certain style envelopes yet, more often than not, simply worked. More importantly, her taste for designer shoes was impeccable. Episode after episode, viewers would follow “Carrie” as she strutted down the streets of New York as if it was her own catwalk and without the slightest indication of pain. In the real day of a hardworking, on-the-go woman, this might not be so easy, not to mention every shoe has a time and a place.

(The fierce “Carrie Bradshaw”)

More »

I know it’s been awhile since I vowed to keep our readers abreast of the trends in natural skin and personal care. The unfortunate truth is, there hasn’t been much news for me to share with you – until now. As it turns out, the Natural Products Association revealed a new “seal of approval” program for natural certification on May 1, 2008 – and I missed it! Finally, there’s a standard definition for companies that boast natural and holistic claims to abide by. So, with my sincerest apologies for letting this go unnoticed, I give you a few of the association’s stringent criteria for products that wish to be legitimately placed in the natural category:

• The product must be made up of at least 95 percent truly natural ingredients (or ingredients that are derived from natural sources)
• No ingredients with any potential suspected human health risks
• No processes that significantly or adversely alter the purity/effect of the natural ingredients
• Ingredients must come from a purposeful, renewable/plentiful source found in nature (flora, fauna, mineral)
• Processes must be minimal, and without synthetic/harsh chemicals or other dilution of purity
• Non-natural ingredients are acceptable only when a viable, natural alternative ingredient is unavailable, and only when there are absolutely no suspected potential human health risks

And it doesn’t stop there! The association, which is partially made up of experts from natural product manufacturers (including consumer faves like Burt’s Bees and Farmaesthetics), provides the full criteria at: www.naturalproductsassoc.org/certifiednatural. Because this group is the nation’s largest natural products, non-profit organization, representing more than 10,000 retailers and distributors, I think we can be confident that this program is an effective way of determining who’s natural – and who’s not. Start looking for the Natural Products Association Seal of Approval on the shelves within the coming year (keep in mind that it may take a while for every qualified product to receive its seal).

Who’s excited? I know I am! Let me know if this announcement will make a difference in the way you shop for personal care products.

Photo credits: Natural Products Association and Tractenberg & Co.

Beauty Chat resident foot snob here, with yet another fabulous foot find! I recently tried the best foot scrub ever. You all know I am a huge pedi-snob, and I will do anything to make my feet happier and prettier. So, I found this whipped peppermint foot scrub from Gwendolyn’s Gate.

Whipped peppermint foot scrub, you ask? YES, and it is awesome. With the summer months here, my feet really take a beating between my pedicures. From the beach to the pool, they are subjected to some harsh elements and they show it! My poor feet become so dry and worn out and I needed to find an affordable fix to treat my tootsies. According to her Web site, the foot scrub is: “A delicious delectable blend of cleansers with sea salt and peppermint essential oil. After using this blend, you will want to ‘Dance the Night Away’ as your feet are cooled and refreshed.” More »

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been fascinated with everything Barbie ®. From dolls, to dresses, to tiaras I always loved to be adorned with the latest Barbie apparel.

Yet, as I grew older, Barbie apparel and accessories have seemed to become less available and in style for women my age. Of course, there are still the classic Barbie dolls available, which I love to collect, but there wasn’t anything readily available to brighten up my wardrobe the way that Barbie did.

Almost into my mid twenties, I still longed for the Barbie style to come back into fashion, and thanks to Tarina Tarantino ™, it has!

Founded in 1995 by Tarina Tarantino and Alfonso Campos, the Tarina Tarantino jewelry line has breathed life into traditional jewelry design. Looking to make things sparkle in her own way, Tarina, along with then boyfriend and now husband Alfonso, created jewelry that was fun, beautiful, and expressed their creativity.
Starting off in small boutiques, Tarina Tarantino now has her own boutiques in California, New York, and even Italy where her line has flourished.

More »