Smart Olive

Skin Care Essencial

2007-09-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

1. Never go to bed with makeup on!
Makeup left on overnight will seep into your pores forming clogs, irritations, and congestions. Always wash your face at least twice daily.

2. Exfoliate!
After washing your face, use a gentle delicate scrub to remove dead skin cells on the surface and help bring forward fresh vibrant cells. Tip - If you don't have a scrub on hand, try using a tablespoon of sugar or oatmeal instead.

3. Make use of a facial mask!
Facial masks a great for promoting moist healthy skin. Excellent mask products are available through your favorite beauty retailers. Looking to save some money? Making your own mask at home is easy and fun! Banana, Avocado, and yogurt work well. Just place your desired ingredients in a blender and gently blend to a smooth consistency.

4. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!
Always make use of a good moisturizing product daily. Always wash your face prior to applying your moisturizer. Tip - You can gently apply a thin layer of vitamin A or C on your face prior to applying your moisturizer to promote a soft and healthy looking tone.

5. Avoid cheap cosmetics!
The pure simple fact of the matter is that often times; inexpensive products are poorly made and poorly tested if at all. This does not mean that you must go out and buy the most expensive products that you can find. Start with moderately priced cosmetics and sample several brands until you find one that works well for you.

6. Be Gentle!
Never push, pull, stretch, or harshly scrub your face. Do not pick at existing acne, scars, or blemishes, EVER! Doing so can damage the skin and increase the chances of developing wrinkles and other unsightly blemishes. Treat yourself as if you were an infant. We all know how soft their skin is!

7. Protect yourself from the sun!
This one seems obvious and yet I can't think of one person that I know that regularly makes use of sunscreen on a daily basis. Use protective sunglasses, hats, or visors for quick trips out and be sure to re-apply sunscreen after swimming or physical exertion.

8. Keep hydrated!
This is one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of skin care. Water not only makes up the largest percentage of our body mass but also acts as the river that carries away toxins and waste and keeps our system running at optimal health. But drinking water will make me look bloated. WRONG! This is a myth. Your body will naturally regulate the amount of water it retains in order to operate efficiently. Water retention is often a symptom of some other condition. Drinking water alone and keeping properly hydrated does not cause bloating and could very well be the missing ingredient in your skin care regiment.

9. Release stress!
Stress can be one of the most detrimental factors to achieving healthy skin. Stress causes the body to release chemicals that can have a negative impact on your skin. Simple remedies such as exercise, relaxation, and simply some alone time can often do the trick. A quick trip to the spa once in a while doesn't hurt either.

10. Get more sleep!
Long term sleep depravation can cause droopy skin around the eyes and in the forehead area. Ideally, you should strive for a minimum of 8 hours of quality sleep each night to look and feel your best.

11. Use a good toner!
As skin ages, it begins to loose its elasticity. Toning can help keep the skin clear and firm. Look for a toner than contains alpha hydroxy acids. These help to reduce pore size and can also be beneficial to preventing ingrown hairs.

12. Winter Skin Care!
Winter skin problems such as dryness, itching, and cracking are commonly associated with the cold, dreary days of winter. Often times, this results more from loss of moisture resulting from spending the majority of our time indoors in low humidity environments than it does from the actual cold. Invest in and use a humidifier. Keeping the relative humidity in your house at or above 60% will allow your skin to replenish itself by absorbing moisture from the air. A nice way to illustrate this is to use the example of a desert and a rainforest. Think about your last trip to the desert for a moment. What do the plants have in common? They are all rough, spiny, and hard. Now think about a trip to a more humid climate. What are the characteristics of the plants? Think big, bright, soft, and colorful leaves. The difference - The amount of moisture in the air. You can choose whether your house will be a desert or a rainforest and your skin will respond appropriately. Also refrain from taking long hot showers. Hot water removes natural oils from the skin and essentially peels back your natural layer of protection. This can open you up to dryness and cracking.

Stretch Mark Therapy

2007-09-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

Remove Stretch Marks. As seen on Tyra Banks Show. Guaranteed Proven Results! View Clinical Photos and Read Testimonials.

Stretch marks affect both men and women, they are caused when the elastic fibers that bind the skin (elastin & collagen) are overstressed, resulting in small tears in the form of stretch marks.

With great products, stretch marks can be prevented and even repaired.

TriLASTIN-SR® offers a Guaranteed Safe & Effective treatment for woman during pregnancy, stretch marks from weight loss or any cause. It's the top choice for preventing and repairing stretch marks!

Benefit's New Fall Colour Palette

2006-07-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Get 1st Dibs! - The Weather Girl

A glamorous, easy to wear look for you... these exclusive new shades of eye shadows and lip creams in shimmering champagnes and mochas are anything BUT neutral.

You will have as much fun showing off this adorable new palette as you will wearing it!

Click here for more info on The Weather Girl!

Technorati Tags : makeup, eye+shadow, color+palette, benefit, cosmetics

Fragrance Tips

2006-07-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

To Intensify The Effect

Apply to the traditional pulse points, i.e. behind the ears, on the throat, wrist and inner elbow.

To Make It Last Longer

Layer two or more fragrance products such as bath gel and body lotion before applying the perfume. Always apply directly on skin, not on clothing or hair.

To Protect Your Investment

Keep fragrances away from extreme heat or cold and store in a cool dry place, preferably not in the bathroom or in direct sunlight.

Technorati Tags : fragrance, perfume

The Secret To Luscious Lips

2006-06-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

Lip Makeup

Lipstick provides the final touch to your makeup, without it, no looks is complete. For a perfect result, you will need a steady hand, some practice, the correct implementations and a knowledge of the correcting techniques.

What You Would Need?

A narrow flat ended brush, a selection of finely sharpened lip pencils, lip gloss and lipstick (either the conventional tube lipstick or the cream type with a sponge-tip applicator).

If your lip color is uneven, then you will need a special lip base or balancer... use a lighter tone on the dark areas and a dark tone on the light areas.

These balancers also form a base for lipstick and help to keep the color of the lipstick pure and clear.

Lip Makeup Application Technique

Outlining With Lip Liner:

Before outlining the lips check that your lips are smooth and grease free. Use a sharp lip liner pencil in a shade close to that of your lipstick color and with a steady hand, lightly outline the lips. For the upper lip, start at the centre and work out, towards the corner of the mouth.

For the lower lip, work from side to side.

Priming The Lips With A Lip Balancer:

Fill in the lips with a special base or balancer to even out the skin tones. If your lips are of an even color, use a face powder as a base.

Filling Up With Lipstick:

Using a lip brush, fill in the color. For the upper lip start at the centre and work outwards. On the lower lip work from side to side. Don't pile up too much color.

It is much easier to add more later than to remove any excess.

Blotting Off:

Fold a clean tissue and place it between your lips. Press the lips lightly together to remove the excess color and to help seal the remainder, so that it stays on the lips rather than moving onto every glass you use.

Final Lip Gloss Application:

Finally finish with a lip gloss to get a gleaming look.

However, women with extra-full lips should use lip gloss
very sparingly.

Shaping Up Your Lips

Through knowledge of what you can do to correct lip shape you can truly achieve a perfect finish to your face.

Study the shape of your lips, identify the defects, if any, and decide on what you want to achieve and then proceed.

Small Mouth With Small Lips

These are easily corrected by taking the lip liner pencil outside the natural lip line. Work slowly and steadily to form a perfect shape. Fill in with primer and finally with the lipstick. A highlight of frosting on the upper lip would also create an impression of fullness.

Large Mouth With Full Lips

Apply liquid foundation makeup to the entire mouth, then outline with a dark shade of lipstick just inside the natural contours of the mouth.

Then apply lipstick of a lighter shade carefully and accurately within this outline. Subdued shades work well for this kind of mouth. Use medium toned lip colors and avoid dark browns, plums, electric bright or pale shimmer shades.

Full Upper Lip

Apply fluid foundation makeup to the upper lip. Outline just inside its natural contour and apply a dark shade of lipstick. Then outline the lower lip just outside its natural contour and emphasize by filling in with a lighter shade of lipstick.

Full Lower Lip

Outline upper lip just outside its natural contour. Apply a light shade of lipstick and in the centre add a touch of lip gloss. Apply fluid foundation makeup to the lower lip. Outline just inside its natural contour. Then fill in with a darker shade of lipstick, using a lip brush.

Wide Mouth

Cover the corners of the mouth with foundation makeup or a cover stick. Apply lipstick with a lip brush, stopping a few millimeters before the corners of the mouth are reached.

So there you have it everything you need to know to create the perfect "Lip Look", which will have you beaming inside and out.

Of course, if you REALLY want to create that irresistible killer lips, see more specific tips, and get access to top secret makeup techniques, they're all included in Allison Saunders' new Video, Hollywood Makeup Secrets.

Technorati Tags : lip, lip+makeup, lip+make+up, lipstick., lip+gloss

How To Apply Foundation Correctly?

2006-06-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

Applying foundation is a simple procedure, but a lot of mistakes can be made. Here is an easy way to look great.

Foundation is not going to help you if it's the wrong color.

Go to a cosmetic counter and request help. They will provide samples that can be matched to your specific colouring. Apply foundation by dotting it on your forehead, cheeks, chin and nose.

If you don't want all over coverage, apply just in the needed areas. Dampen a sponge and gently distribute the foundation across your face.

Check jaw line and hairline to make sure foundation is well blended. Use pads of fingers and press gently all over your face. The heat from your fingers will help in the blending process.

Don't avoid this step

Go to a natural light source and check your application!

Any problem areas will stand out so that they can be attended to.

Additional info

If your freckles are light, don't even try to cover them up.

Show them off by using a sheer foundation. If you happen to have the darker ones that you just can't live with, choose a cream foundation to cover and even out skin tones.

More additional info

Always apply foundation with a wet sea sponge. When wet, the sponge promises a sheer layer of coverage.

Try it both ways to see which you prefer.

Tips

Be sure to blend blend blend! Special areas to watch are the hair and jaw line. And be sure that your face isn't one color and your neck another.

P.S. To get more Hollywood insider beauty tips... and a complete "encyclopedia" of ways to become more beautiful, check out Allison Saunders' brand new video beauty system - Hollywood Makeup Secrets.

Technorati Tags : makeup, make+up, foundation, cosmetic, cosmetics

Important Health News for Women

2006-06-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory is a form of breast cancer that I honestly had never ever heard of!

Ladies, please, you MUST watch this komo tv news clip, it's not a joke!

Click here to watch the video.

Click here to read the story.

And, please be sure to pass it on to all your lady friends!

Technorati Tags : cancer , breast+cancer , inflammatory+breast+cancer

How To Create Flirty Eyes

2006-06-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

The trick is to not over-do the look.

We want to make your eyes look as if you didn't do a thing to them at all. We are simply going to make what you have... look a whole lot better. Only you will know how many steps it took to create incredibly flirty eyes.

Prepare the eyelids with a base to help hold the shadow in place. Allow to set. Apply a layer of flesh colored shadow across lid. Depending on your coloring, the color could almost appear a salmon shade, but it will blend into the lids quite easily.

If your skin has more pink tones, use a soft pink shadow instead. What you don't want is for the shadow to be noticeable. We are simply making the lids a uniform color.

Sweep a line of icy blue cream liner across the base of the lashes.

Apply a brand of mascara that will thicken and lengthen the lashes.

Check below the eyes for any splashes of mascara.

If necessary, use a cotton bud that has been dipped into makeup remover to take care of the area.

Tips:

If you have very sensitive skin, you should be very cautious about waxing any part of your face.

Not sure what your brows should look like? A good technician should be able to help you. Have them waxed and then all you have to do is tidy them up whenever you spot a stray hair.

The more you practice the better you will become.

You can have eyes which flirt. Simple really.

P.S. Of course, if you really want to create that irresistible killer look, see more specific tips, and get access to top secret makeup techniques, they're all included in Allison Saunders' new Video - Hollywood Makeup Secrets.

Technorati Tags : makeup, eye+makeup, eye+shadow, mascara, eye+liner

Do You Make These Concealer Mistakes?

2006-06-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

I don't think that there is a woman alive, who hasn't made at least some of the mistakes listed below.

But, with a little practice and some know-how, you should have the art of concealer use mastered in no time at all.

You should never apply concealer straight from the tube!

The application will be too heavy.

You apply too much!

With proper technique, you shouldn't be able to see the concealer at all.

You choose the wrong colour!

Don't choose something too light. This is one of the most common mistakes. The concealer is not blended. It should be applied with brush and then tapped on, not dragged.

The wrong formulation was chosen!

You have a choice of liquid, stick or pencil. The liquid is the easiest to use, the stick should be used for very dark circles as this gives a heavier coverage, and a pencil should be used for blemishes.

Obviously, using concealing cosmetics can be difficult. It takes lots of practice. It is also important to consider if you are going to be out in full sun or in a dimly lit restaurant.

Skin too pale!

While we are supposed to stay with our own skin tones, sometimes, those tones are too pale and adding more of the same with foundation, simply doesn't look right.

Here is the answer.

Warm up your skin with a tinted moisturizer topped with a hint of coppery gold blush dusted all over your face with a concentration on your cheekbones and chin.
When changing the skin tones, think about where the sun hits the face.

The secret to these tips is to make it look as if you have nothing on your face at all, then when your friends make comments like...

"Something has changed about you, but I just can't put my finger on it"...

You know you've got it right.

by Allison Saunders

P.S. To get more Allison's Hollywood insider beauty tips... and a complete "encyclopedia" of ways to become more beautiful, check out her brand new video beauty system - Hollywood Makeup Secrets.

Technorati Tags : makeup, make+up, concealer, Allison+Saunders, beauty+tips, makeup+tips

I Love Benefit

2006-06-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

Benefit is my favorite cosmetics brand, they have some great promotion now.

Brushes Promotion

FREE U.S. shipping with the purchase of any 2 brushes. Enter the promotion code NEWBRUSHES during checkout process.

Offer valid June 9, 2006 - June 16, 2006, not valid with any other offer.

One gift offer per customer.

Free Dandelion and Georgia Palettes

The newest and most exciting Benefit Cosmetics coupon, free Dandelion and Georgia palettes with $100 purchase.

Expires 6/30/06. Not combinable with other offers.

Use promotional code AFFCU100 at checkout.

Kitten Gift Set

FREE classic kitten gift set which includes a full size sparkling powder & purrr lip cream (a $42 value) with any $65 purchase OR with any $85 purchase get the classic kitten gift set and FREE U.S. shipping on your entire order.

Enter the promotion code FREEKITN during checkout process. Offer valid June 15, 2006 – June 23, 2006, not valid with any other offer.

One gift offer per customer.

Technorati Tags : makeup, make+up, cosmetics, benefit+cosmetics

Skincare From Your Fridge

2006-06-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

Beauty awaits you. Not at the make-up counter. Not at the day spa. Not at the plastic surgeon. It awaits you… in your kitchen.

Your best skin care secrets can come from your diet secrets. After all, you are what you eat. So, in the words of Italian mothers everywhere… Mangia!

When it comes to eating for beauty, the rule is: the fresher, the better. Avoid processed foods whenever possible. The fresher your foods, the more nutrient packed. Keep that in mind when planning and preparing meals. Shop like the Europeans. Buy what you need for a few days, not an entire week. Cook things healthfully, eat from all food groups and vary your diet.

Eat your veggies.

Fresh vegetables, when available, are preferable to canned or frozen. Raw produce has a greater concentration of vitamins and minerals. Less time at the stove, that‘s attractive.

All vegetables are beneficial. So, if canned is all you’ve got it’ll do. But remember to hit the market tomorrow. Green leafy vegetables are high in beta-carotene which is essential for healthy hair, eyes and skin. Sprouts prevent wrinkles and age spots. Include some on your dinner menu tonight.

Fresh fruit are great for you any time of day.

Sweeten up your breakfast, indulge in a fruity mid-day snack, have a healthy dessert. Cantaloupe is high in vitamins A and C, which promotes healing and controls oil on skin and scalp. Tomatoes (yes, they are a fruit) are packed with A (wrinkle and pimple fighter) and beta-carotene. Citrus fruits provide great doses of vitamin C.

Again, fresh is best. What a sweetly indulgent way to take care of yourself!

Proteins are building blocks.

Turkey, chicken, fish, eggs, lean beef and soy all provide protein and B vitamins which support hair and nail health, and youthful skin. Prepared healthfully, they’ll satisfy your appetite and your form. Fish, like salmon and sardines, are full of protein and Omega 3 which promotes glowing skin.

Drink water.

Lots of water. It purifies you all the way down to your cells, and speeds the regeneration of damaged tissue. So, even if you aren’t at your best now, you soon can be.

Health and happiness equal beauty.

When you eat goof foods, you're nurturing your body. When you’re nurtured, you feel good. When you feel good, you smile. When you smile, you look good. So eat and enjoy your way to a healthier, happier, prettier you.

By Allison Saunders

Allison Saunders is a MAC qualified Make-up Artist and the author of an amazing new course, Hollywood Makeup Secrets, a simple step-by-step video system for maximizing your innerand outer beauty potential.

Technorati Tags : makeup, make+up, skincare, skin+care, Allison+Saunders

Tahitian Noni Products a Huge Hit at Tony's

2006-06-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

The 60th Annual Tony Awards were held on Sunday, and Tahitian Noni products made a huge splash with attending celebrities! Already more than a million people have learned about Tahitian Noni products as a result of this event, and that number will climb to 3.5 million in the next couple of weeks.

Tahitian Noni International's backstage booth was flocked with Tony Award nominees, presenters, and media. They loved the Tahitian Noni products that were included in their goodie-bags:

New Moéa shampoos and conditioners
Moéa Body Butter and Sugar Scrub
TePoemä Pore Refining Mud Mask
TePoemä Blemish Recovery Gel.

Celebrities especially loved the feel and smooth texture of the Body Butter and tropical scent of the Sugar Scrub and Strength & Rejuvenate Shampoo. Below you’ll read all about the media coverage and celebrity reactions Tahitian Noni products generated.

Press

US Weekly - June 12, 2006 Circulation: 1,675,000 Highlights the Moéa Fullness & Volume Conditioner as part of a “Reader Giveaway” to win the Tony Awards gift bag.

Toronto Star - June 12, 2006 Circulation: 454,529 Talks about Tahitian Noni products as some of the gifts in the $35K gift bag. "A new line of beauty products made from the juice of the Tahitian noni plant.”

New York Post - June 12, 2006 Circulation: 662,681 Cindy Adams includes Tahitian Noni International in the "Behind the Scenes" column noting, "Joanna Gleason wanted Tahitian Noni's sugar scrub, and Norbert Leo Butz glommed onto their body butter.”

Sunday Today in New York - June 11, 2006 Television program highlighted Tahitian Noni products: "For those of us who can't get out of the city and head to the Hamptons, this is Tahitian Noni's new hair and body line and it smells like the islands.”

New York Post - June 8, 2006 Circulation: 662,681 Highlighted Tahitian Noni products as some of the items celebrities will receive in their Tony Awards gift bags.

Broadwayworld.com - May 31, 2006
Highlighted TNI's participation in the 2006 Tony Awards gift lounge.

Celebrity Quotes

Several A-list celebrities stopped by the Tahitian Noni booth throughout the day. They sampled the Body Butter right on the spot, and once they tried it, they were extremely interested and wanted to hear more about Tahitian Noni products. Check out some of their comments:

Cynthia Nixon (Rabbit Hole): Loves the feel of the Moéa Sugar Scrub.
Mark Ruffalo (Awake and Sing!): “I was recently in Tahiti and am very familiar with the noni fruit. The Moéa line smells much better than the fruit!”
Marcia Gay Harden (Angels in America: Millennium Approaches): “These products are great. I’m planning a mother/daughter spa day at home!”
Hal Holbrook (Mark Twain Tonight!): Plans to give the Moéa products to his wife.
Julianna Margulies (Festen): “I love that the TePoemä Pore Refining Mud Mask comes in individual packets.”
Joe Pesci (Jersey Boys): “Use the Moéa Body Butter for a better body!”
Chita Rivera (Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life): Thinks the Moéa Strength & Rejuvenate Shampoo smells “divine” and can’t wait to test it out.
Stanley Tucci (Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune): “I’m thinking about planning a trip to Tahiti, and the Moéa line is tilting the scales in the right direction!”
Norbert Leo Butz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels): Huge fan of the Moéa Body Butter.

For more information about Tahitian Noni International and their products, click here!

Discover the insider secrets from Hollywood's top beauty professionals, click here!

Technorati Tags : Tony+Awards, Tahitian+Noni, Tahitian+Noni+International, Tahitian+Noni+Products, celebrity

5 Most Common Makeup Mistakes

2006-06-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

Orange face, white neck. Brown neck, pink face. We all know someone with no perception of how her make-up really looks on her own face. She's sweet, really sweet. But she's a joke in your circle of friends. Oh, no. It isn't you, is it?

Well, even if you don't wear "clown makeup," chances are you're making some mistakes with your makeup. Take stock to be sure that you don't fall into any of the makeup traps below.

Mismatched Foundation

Your foundation should not be a different color from the rest of your body. Really, it shouldn't. This is an easy problem to fix. March yourself down to the make-up counter at your favorite department store and let the salesperson do her job. It's her job, after all. Don't be intimidated, you don't need to buy the whole product line.

Blue Eye shadow

Blue eye shadow works for some people. Little girls in dance recitals. Guests at 1970s-themed parties. Ethereal looking supermodels. If you aren't one of the aforementioned people then don't wear it. Enough said.

Dark Circles Under Eyes/Obvious Under Eye Concealer

This is a chicken or egg problem. You're right, the circles aren't great. But neither are orange crescents
under your eyes. Play around with a few shades of concealer to see what really works best for you.

Different products work differently on different people. Just because one brand works for your friend, doesn't mean it'll be flattering on you. Make sure you're getting enough sleep and talk to your doctor. Sometimes those circles are a sign of allergies or a vitamin deficiency.

Obvious Lip liner

This is a look. It's just not a flattering one. Lip liner is intended to add dimension to thin or small lips, to lengthen the wear of your lip color and to prevent your lipstick from "bleeding" onto your face. It is not intended to create a visible outline.

Inferior products in your dressing area

Most of us are not starlets with dressing rooms and make-up artists at our disposal. But that doesn't mean we don't deserve to look like starlets with dressing rooms and make-up artists. Invest in good lighting around your vanity. Stock it with quality make-up brushes and limit your make-up collection to products you'll actually use. That way, your budget can be used to buy better cosmetics.

You're worth it

Add a couple of extra minutes, a wee bit more effort and a little money into your daily makeup routine. It's not vain to spend a few dollars on or a few minutes at your vanity. Put on your prettiest smile, bat your beautiful lashes and show the world that you like who you are.

Put your best face forward... you don't have to hide behind crow's feet and lip lines...

By Allison Saunders

makeup, makeup+mistakes, foundation, eye+shadow, blue+eye+shadow, uder+eyes+dircles, dark+circles, concealer, eye+concealer, lip, lip+liner, make+up, makeup+artist, cosmetics, Allison+Saunders, MAC, makeup+secrets, Hollywood+makeup+secrets

8 Great Tips for Better Colour and Sexy Nails

2006-06-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

In presious post I shared some Sarah Jane's (Author of Get Gorgeius Now) nail care tips with you, now, let's take a look at some tips on applying polish.

Here are the top 8 tips for better color and SEXY nails...

Tip #1: Check your polish. Old polish becomes thick and clumpy over time causing uneven application and unsightly bubbles. If your polish HAS become thick, add a few drops of polish thinner and shake well.

Tip #2: Start with clean nails. If your nails have traces of lotion or cuticle oil on them, polish won't stick evenly and will chip more readily. Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or nail polish remover to clean the surface of the nail before you paint.

Tip #3: Begin with a base coat. A base coat is vital to any nail polish application as it smoothes out nail ridges and allows polish to go on more evenly. A base coat also protects nails from becoming stained when you wear dark polish.

Tip #4: Watch your brush. As you remove the brush from the bottle of polish, carefully wipe one side of the brush along the bottle's neck. This will remove any excess, bubble- producing nail color from the brush.

Tip #5: Apply in minimal sweeps. Always apply color from the cuticle to the tips in three swipes. One up the center of the nail and one on both sides of the nail. You may need to use more strokes, but keep in mind that fewer sweeps of color equals better results.

Tip #6: Clean up as you go. It's inevitable that you will wind up with some polish on the skin around your nails. Use a wooden nail stick to quickly swipe away the excess as you go.

Tip #7: Finish it off with a top coat. Just as important as the base color, the top coat seals the polish onto your nails and gives a high-shine finish.

Tip #8: Allow ample drying time. Set aside at least an hour of "hands-off" for nails to dry. Remember, even if they feel dry to the touch after time, nails can remain tacky and more prone to nicking your beautiful color job.

There you have it- 8 surefire tips to better nail care. Let's look at a few more techniques you can use for great nails...

Never apply more than two coats of polish. What a lot of women don't realize is that the nail bed is robbed of its breathing capacity when there are more than two coats.

Once you have polish on, never peel or scrape the nail polish off of your fingers. Also, stay away from metal instruments- for example, a tool that pushes back your cuticle- as both of these processes can scrape off the protective cells of the nail surface.

Another nail wrecking habit is nail biting. You should always keep your fingers out of your mouth as biting your nails can damage the nail bed which can lead to a deformed nail shape or uneven nail growth. You can also transfer harmful organisms to the nails this way.

After the nails are beautifully filed and protected with a top coat, apply a hand cream or lotion. Cuticles should get extra attention and moisture with a product like Vaseline Moisturizer, Moisturel, or Aquaphor. You can also apply moisturizer right before going to sleep.

The cuticle, protects the nail root from bacteria. Instead of cutting the cuticle, push it back gently with a rosewood stick or rubber-tipped cuticle pusher.

For those cuticles that are hard, dry and sticking up, slight trimming is justifiable but never remove the whole thing. Strong cuticle growth can be controlled with a cuticle softener or a cuticle remover liquid.

For another hand softening move, turn to Vitamin E. Take a Vitamin E capsule, break it open and massage into the hands.

There are plenty of things you can do for better hands and nails. It's really not difficult, it's just something that needs to be added to your weekly beauty routine.

If you want a complete "encyclopedia" of beauty tips and tricks that you can use to look your best, I highly recommend Sarah Jane's book Get Gorgeous Now.

Easy Nail Care Tips

2006-06-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

Well-groomed, beautiful nails are an integral part of a woman's appearance.

Healthy nails, in addition to being an attractive addition to the rest of your body, reflect all sorts of personal habits, both good and bad. Healthy nails are also a reflection of our general state of health.

Here some nail care tips that I have learned from Sarah Jane (Author of Get Gorgeous Now). Keeping your nails healthy and beautiful can actually be easy...

Never cut or clip your nails to shorten them. You should always file them down with an emery board to the size that you desire.

In addition to filing them, be sure you are doing so on a 45 degree angle. This is the best positioning for filing your nails. Also, never file feed into the corners of your fingers. You should always file from corner to center.

The best time of the day to file your nails, or give yourself a manicure, is after doing the dishes or after getting out of a bath or shower. Nails are much softer then and these activities will remove dirt from underneath the nail.

You should apply a top coat to your nails, almost daily, to help protect and strengthen the tips. Try to avoid using nail polish remover- especially those containing the harsh ingredient acetone. Most nail polish removers dry the nails and nail bed out.

The 3 Stages of Men's Married Life

2006-06-07T23:34:00.000-07:00

I know this is totally off topic, but it's so funny, I just like to share it with you all!

The 3 Stages of Men's Married Life

Stage 1 - Before Marriage

Stage 2 - After Marriage

Stage 3 - After The Divorce

Smart Olive Update

2006-06-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to Smart Olive!

As you can see the layout has been changed. Well, I really love the original look but somehow it just didn't function right. I don't know whether it's Blogger's problem or the template bug, I decided to change the layout, hope everything will be alright.

On the top of the blog, I added a "Today's Headlines" area, it's automatic RSS feed. There will be 3 new headlines provided by FreshContent.Net every day.

Smart Olive doesn't really have a niche, but from now on, I'll just blog subjects on Beauty and Fashion.

I have two other blogs - Affiliate Smarts & The Dog Talk. The Dog Talk is a brand new project, it will be launched officially on Saturday 10 June.

Ok, enough for now! I'd really like to hear back from you, so don't be shy, leave me your comments! And, don't forget I'm open to exchanging links as well!

Free Breast Self-Exam Cards

2006-06-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. The key? Early detection.

There is no need for me to emphasize how important it is to exam your breast regularly. If you don't know how to do the self-exam, get a Free Breast Self-Exam Card from The Komen Foundation (they will mail one to you totally free). It is a plastic card with a hole for you to hang up in the shower, so you can follow the instruction to exam your breast while you're in the shower.

And of course, their online Self-Exam tool is wonderful, don't skip it!

Please pass this info to all the women you care about!

P.S.

** About The Komen Foundation **

For more than 20 years, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been a global leader in the fight against breast cancer through its support of innovative research and community-based outreach programs. Working through a network of U.S. and international Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cur, the Komen Foundation is fighting to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by funding research grants and supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities around the world.

Free eBooks for Blogging Newbies

2006-06-03T00:32:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed Blogs are everywhere now? They are the craze today! So, do you blog?

Blogging is so hot and so in on the internet! If you are marketing online, blog is a great way to get your website indexed by the major search engines fast. Why do you care if your website gets indexed fast? Well, if your website gets indexed fast, people will be able to find it in the major search engines fast and subsequently you will receive traffic and leads to your site fast as well.

Blogging is easy, is free, and full of fun, here are some FREE ebooks you can download, follow the instruction, you will be able to set things up in no time. Check it out yourself!

Becoming A Super Blogger!

A short, no fluff, no filler, no explanations guide intended for experienced Internet Marketers and webmasters who don't need any hand-holding, just step-by-step instructions on how to benefit from it all right away!

Simple Guide To Setting Up Your Own Blog!

A basic start-up guide, topic includes Creating Your Blog, Making Changes to your Blog, Posting to your Blog, Changing Your Template, Moving Your Blog...

Marketing with Blogs & RSS

Learn how to use blogs and RSS to boost Your Online Business, Rankings, Traffic and Sales. Learn how to reach wider, targeted audiences, get higher search engine rankings and communicate effectively with prospects!

The Bloggers Edge

How to use Weblogs as Marketing Tools! A short, concise guide by Paul Short, a major player in the up and coming blog publishing industry and owner of BlogLogic.net

EZ RSS and Blogging

Easy Blogging and RSS Tutorial for the average Webmaster!

RSS Content Delivery Power

This Marketers' Introduction to RSS explains and compares the e-mail and RSS content delivery systems.

Forum SuperTips

How to post at Forums for Profit. Not about blogging, but appropriate - forums are one of the best places to tell the world about your blog - if you do it right!

All these 7 ebooks are FREE, hope you find them useful and helpful!

Healthy Eating On A Budget

2006-06-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

For many people, a limited food budget can be a real roadblock to healthy eating. It is an unfortunate fact of life that some of the lowest priced foods, from fast food value menus to cheap potato chips, are also some of the least healthy. It is possible, however, to create excellent tasting, nutritious meals, even on a tight budget.

The key to planning and creating healthy meals on a limited budget is good forward planning and solid nutritional knowledge.

Step 1 - The shopping list

Anyone who has visited a supermarket lately knows how dangerous it is to enter the store without a shopping list in hand. Shopping without a sense of what you need and don't need opens you up to all manner of temptation, and most of those tempting foods are not nutritious.

In addition, picking up all those extra items can easily blow your food budget and leave you without the funds to plan those healthy, nutritious meals. A good trick is to keep a note pad near the table or refrigerator. Having the notepad within easy reach makes it easy to keep track of the foods you need to stock up on.

Step 2 - Watch those flyers

Most major food store chains publish weekly sales ads, usually as inserts in the local newspaper. Keeping track of these sales, and taking advantage of the low prices to stock up, is a great way to gather a cupboard full of healthy food. Once the pantry is full of fruits, vegetables and other healthy fare, it will be much easier to create healthy recipes the entire family will love. In addition, locally grown, in season fruits and vegetables are usually more of a bargain than out of season or shipped fruits and vegetables.

Step 3 - Stock up on staples

Essential staple foods, such as flour, rice, and pasta are frequently put on sale as loss leaders at major groceries. Stocking up on these essentials when prices are low is a great way to stretch any food budget.

Step 4 - Never shop when you are hungry

The old advice to never shop when you are hungry is definitely true. Shopping when you are hungry is a sure way to give into temptation, bust the food budget, and stock up on all the wrong foods.

Step 5 - Become a label guru

Nutritional labels contain a wealth of information, but it is up to each shopper to read those labels and understand what they mean. Nutritional labels contain complete information on not just calories and fats, but the amounts of various essential vitamins and minerals as well. It is important to know how to read labels in order to get the best nutritional bang for your food bucks.

Step 6 - Pay close attention to package sizes

Just because two cans look alike it does not mean they are. Packaging can be deceptive, so get in the habit of comparing weights when shopping for canned fruits, vegetables and other items. Also take advantage of the lower prices available on store brand and generic products.

Step 7 - Use coupons, but do it wisely

Manufacturers coupons can be a great deal when used on products you already buy. Buying something simply because you have a coupon, however, is typically not a good idea.

Step 8 - Replace meat with beans and other less costly substitutes

Eating less meat and more beans and lentils is a good way to save money on your food budget while still getting the protein you and your family need. Try experimenting with some vegetarian recipes for interesting ways to use these non meat alternatives.

In addition to the tips listed above, there are several ways that smart shoppers keep their food budgets at a minimum while preparing delicious, nutritious meals for their family every day.

One trick is to keep the refrigerator and the pantry well stocked with staple foods. Keeping a good supply of staples on hand will avoid unnecessary trips to the store and also avoid the need to buy such products when they are not on sale. When staples such as bread, flour, peanut butter, canned vegetables, etc. are on sale, be sure to stock up.

My Little Weather Lady

2006-06-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

Check this out everyone! I just add a WeatherPixie to my blog under the "cool stuff" section. Is my little weather lady cute?!

The WeatherPixie is a little graphic that shows a representation of the weather using data reported (mostly) by airports and aerodromes around the world. As the weather in a particular location changes, the graphic will also change. Daylight and current moon phase are also displayed.

Wanna get one for your blog or website? Go to WeatherPixie to set up your own pixie! It's easy as 1-2-3!

click on "my pixie" on the top of the page.
select your location, weather girl (or boy), language...etc, then click on "set my pixie"
on the right hand side, under "things to do" click on "View the HTML code for this location", you will have the code for your weatherpixie.

This is fun, isn't it?!

Blogger Is Acting Funny

2006-05-31T00:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't know if this only happend to me, but Blogger has been being very strange, actually it's starting to annoy me.

When I made a new post, after pushing the "publish post" button, I went to check my blog, half my content disappeared! I had to re-type everything, that's very strange and very annoying. This didn't just happen once, several times within one week already.

Although Blogger is run by Google, somehow I just don't feel Blogger is that great. I'm going to check out some other blogging platforms soon!

Father's Day Gift Idea

2006-05-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is coming soon! Well, still has 20 days, but we can start to think about what to get for your Dad and/or your hubby.

Idea No.1 - Mr. Clean AutoDry

Mr. Clean AutoDry can make the perfect Father's Day gift. It's easy-to-use and can make cleaning go fast for the family who promised dad a clean car for Father's Day. But it also makes cleaning the car a joy for the dad who loves to take care of his car.

Mr. Clean AutoDry is a sleek, all-in-one device that attaches to the end of a regular hose. It actually lets you get rid of the bucket and towel, and still get an amazing clean. It holds the soap you need to get your car completely clean. And it features a filter that removes spot-causing minerals and impurities from your water, which gives you a spot free shine with no need to hand dry.

Mr. Clean AutoDry can get dad's car sparkling for summer with less time and effort. To learn more about this great Father's Day gift, please visit www.autodry.ca

Affiliate Smarts

2006-05-29T01:50:00.000-07:00

My new blog Affiliate Smarts is up and running now! It is an online journal for me to record my affiliate marketing progress.

The next couple months I will focus on building my affiliate business. I'm afriad I won't be able to post very often here on Smart Olive.

If you are in affiliate marketing, or you are interested in it, please come to visit my Affiliate Smarts, thank you!

Trick Out Your Pedicure

2006-05-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

No woman would dream of stepping foot on the beach without a perfect pedicure. So this summer, why not take your piggies to a new level?

Toe-rrific is fabulous pedicure guide book. Each page of this guide is packed with fun for your feet, from step-by-step pedicure to easy painting tips that anyone can master. The book includes over 150 totally cool toe designs you can create without any special tools or appliques. The best part is that you can work Toe-rrfic magic with just a few different shades of nail polish and a steady hand.

For more infomation about this book, please visit www.toerrific.com!

Beauty Gadgets

2006-05-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

Can you tell what the following items are just from their pictures? Those are beauty gadgets that you don't want to miss!

1. Palm Grip Tweezer

The most comfortable tweezer ever! It's curved, full palm design fits in hand naturally. This ‘ouchless’ tweezer is great for the bikini line or body tweezing. www.sekiedge.com

2. Mini Heated Lash Curler

This can't-live-without lash innovation is perfect for curling stubborn straight lashes anytime, anywhere. Simply turn on, wait 15 seconds, place comb directly onto lash line above lashes, gently lift and comb lashes into the desired shape (as you would with a mascara brush), hold for one or two seconds, then release. Repeat across lashline until the desired effect is achieved. www.sephora.com

3. Roll-Up Blotting Papers

Instantly tame shine and toss away the evidence, with these customizable blotting sheets. Gently pull to dispense to the desired length, tear, and blot. The handy dispenser fits perfectly into even the smallest makeup bag or pocket. www.sephora.com

4. Corner Lash Curler

This accurate Curler is specially designed to add curl and definition to outer corner of lash. Also great for deep set and hard to reach lashes. Stainless steel Curler lets you control precisely where you want your lashes to curl resulting in a beautiful long lasting curl. www.tweezerman.com

5. DuWop I Gels

For Fine Lines, Tired Eyes, and Dark Circles.I Gels are discs of chilled gel that conform to the shape or your eye, distributing coolness where you need it to reduce puffiness.Simply press on an i gel and relax. Your entire eye area will be bathed in soothing extracts as you indulge in the aromatherapy of custom blended essential oils. www.duwop.com

Technorati Tags : beauty, fashion, beauty+tools, beauty+accessary, beauty+gadgets

eBay Bidding Tips

2006-05-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Both Robert (my loving husband) and I like to shop at eBay for great bargains. Robert have got a lot of brand new Victory Motorcycle accessories from eBay at dirt cheap prices.

However, it's not always that easy to get the items we want. A lot of time there were whole bunch buyers wanted the same products we were interested in, they started placing their bid too early, and created bidding war. That's a huge mistake!

Every auction on eBay is set to end at a certain date and time. If you look at any given auction you will notice a "Time Left" and it will say how many days or hours or even minutes are left before that auction ends.

And, we all know that the highest bid at the time that an auction ends wins the auction, so there is absolutely no benefit and no point to place your bid early! Placing your bid early actually just hurts yourself!

When you place a bid at the beginning or middle of an auction you only raise the current bid price. Raising the current bid price only encourages other interested bidders to place their bids against you. This creates a bidding war that only jacks up the price for the auction. So never place a bid on an auction you are interested in until the very end of the auction!

Here are the keys to buying things cheap at eBay:

Be patient. If there is an item you want to buy, don't get too caught up in the excitement of the auction.
Don't get upset if you lose the auction.
While millions of items being sold on eBay, there are tons of new items being listed everyday. The chances are very good that a similar item to what you were interested in will be listed for sale very soon, just keep checking.
With so many items being listed on eBay, you need to be patient and wait for a good buying opportunity when a bunch of people haven't created a bidding war over an item you want. Then you will just bid at the last second for the amount you are willing to pay.

Technorati Tags : ebay, auction, online+auction, bidding, online+bidding

Online Mystery Shopping

2006-05-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

In case you don't know what mystery shopping is, a mystery shopper also known as a secret shopper, you pose as a typical shopper and then you will give companies feedback about their service. Of course, mystery shoppers can earn money and have fun while getting free products.

I believe online mystery shopping is the latest growing trend in the mystery shopping field. It is like a regular mystery shopping, but instead of it being done in a physical store, it is actually done on the World Wide Web.

Online mystery shopping can cover a wide range of things the shopper must check for. Usually you are required to visit a website, as you go through the site, you need to report on each page that you go through and how easy it is to navigate. Some tasks even requrie you to purchase products from their website, then give them feedback about the procedure of ordering and the arrival of the products.

Here is a task I received this morning:

...... you must have Internet access to do this assignment, which consists of filling out a brief form on the website of a Honda dealership for a service appointment and report on the method and timing of the response.
The work will take very little time to complete and you will not have to mail anything. The circuit name is: Honda-Kelowna which consists of 2 websites and your total pay will be $8.00.
The assignment must be completed on Wednesday May 24, between the hours of 8:00 am and 12:00 noon local time only.

$8 is not much, but for less 10 minutes work, it's not bad at all!

Interested in online mystery shopping? Web Mystery Shoppers is one of the best online mystery shopping companies to start you off.

Technorati Tags : mystery+shopping, mystery+shopper, online+mystery+shopping, online+mystery+shopper, mystery+shopping+online, web+mystery+shopping, web+mystery+shopper

Kiss My Gas!

2006-05-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

I know politics are a hotly debated issue, but one issue that most everyone agrees upon: gas prices are too high!

If you don't want to suffer in silence anymore, why not wear your tank angst loud and proud, on your chest or your bumper.

CafePress is a wonderful marketplace where you can find products that speak to you, or you can create your own products to sell for profit or fun.

Right now, there are over 1,330 designs about "gas prices" on over 20,600 products at CafePress. Gas prices are definitely everybody's pain!

Free Blog Template Resources

2006-05-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

My blog is powered by Blogger, therefore, Blogger Templates is the first place I would suggest new Blogger users to check out.

There are some links at Blogger Template, which will lead you to more free template sites. Blogger Template By Caz is a must check in my opinion.

Besides, Protagonist Web Resources is a great template directory you don't want to miss. They list over 100 websites where you can find very unique template. The following are some of my favorites, you might like to take a look first!

Blog Frocks - an online design site offering high quality, fun frocks for your web journal. I love their design very much, so far it's my top pick!

Weblog Design - specializes in website design for blogs, photoblogs and moblogs, also offers linkware templates and free graphics. There aren't many free blog template choices, but great design though.

Layout Studios - a lot of designs there, they also coded the templates for WordPress, Blogger BlogSpot, dotClear, Splinder, IoBloggo... etc.

So, what do you think? Hope you enjoy these resources, if you ever wanna give your blog a makeover, I believe those websites are great places for you to get some free templates.

Oh, by the way, if you are willing to pay a small fee (from $7 to $15) for an unique design, Eye for Beauty is my number one choice, I love their designs a lot, they are so pretty!

I'm Bowled Over!

2006-05-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

I guess we all know that we should measure portions to control our calorie in-take. Look! MESU portion control bowls can help us do that in sytle!

Dieting is hard work and measuring every bite makes it even harder.

Studio Panepinto created MESU, it's a line of 6 bowls that help you put an end to portion distortion, without signaling to the world that you are on a diet.

MESU means measure beautifully. Great design and subtle graphics let you measure perfect portions directly in a bowl that you bring to the table! The bowls are freezer, oven, microwave, dishwasher safe.

I think MESU looks simple, but pretty enought to substitute for serving dishes, they are perfect for snacks, ice cream, cereal, soup and salad.

With MESU, everyone can measure beautifully!

New Sandals Every Day!

2006-05-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

With Summer is coming, I'm looking a new pair of sandals to buy. I have been searching online and checking out a lot of fashion magazines.

Well, after seeing so many sandals from sky high cork wedges to gladiator flats, it seems nothing really that unique anymore. The only one really stands out is Mohop.

Mohop shoes are the creation of Annie Mohaupt. Annie makes each pair of shoes by hand at her studio in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.

Mohop shoes are composed of rubber soling made from recycled tires, a Finnish birch plywood core, and topped with various select veneers. These components are laminated together and pressed on molds that Annie designed and fabricated herself.

The graphics on the footbed of the sandals are Annie's original designs, which she screen-prints by hand at Chicago's legendary Screwball Press. Annie takes care to use the most environmentally-friendly woods, glues, sealers and inks that she can source.

The most unique aspect of Mohop shoes is Annie's patent-pending 'strapping system' (for which she has yet to come up with a proper name). Essentially, the wearer can customize her shoes by changing the ribbons that tie the shoes on. Different lengths and styles of ribbons can be used to achieve a virtually infinite number of looks with just one pair of wooden bottoms. So anybody can play Imelda Marcos without requiring the budget and storage space for 5,000 shoes!

Because these shoes are so stylish and versatile, I can't wait to get my feet into a pair this summer! And of course, I highly recommend you to visit their website, it's super cool, you will love it!

Wanna be a ZUMBA Instructor?

2006-05-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

ZUMBA is a fusion of Latin and International music - dance themes creating a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system! It is the world's largest Latin inspired workout. It's simple, it's fun, and it's just the type of exercise you'll want to do everyday and feel good about doing it!

Now you have a chance to become a ZUMBA Instructor as the Summer Instructor Trainings is coming!

The Zumba Instructor Training will teach you the basic tools to become a well trained ZUMBA Instructor. Zumba instructors teach at gyms, dance clubs, corporations, schools and more! People who attend the training are also the first ones invited to teach at Zumba Special Events.

There are 7 amazing workshops this summer at the following locations:

20 May - Miami, Florida
20 May - Charlotte, North Carolina
10 June - San Diego, California
10 June - Silver Spring, Maryland
1 July - St. Petersburg, Florida
8 July - Tulsa, Oklahoma
19 August - Atlanta, Georgia

Once you have completed the Zumba Instructor Training, you will have access to ZIN - the Zumba Instructors Network, which will harness all the power of the Zumba organization in order to support your career as a Zumba instructor by providing: marketing support, continuing education, business guidance, huge product and workshop discounts and much more!

Please visit their website for details info.

Instant Manicure - Peel. Press. Perfect.

2006-05-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Girls, gotta check out this new product from AVON!

It's called Dry Nail Enamel Strips.

In an instant, you can experience a revolution at your fingertips - nail colour that goes on dry. No streaks! No waiting!

The set includes 16 dry nail strips, good for one manicure.

They can be applied on acrylic nails - and, it is waterproof.

Remove the strips as usual with nail enamel remover.

The Instant Manicure gives you 14 days of shiny colour and a perfect finish every time!

Interested? Call your local AVON lady to find out more!

Words For Your Celebrations

2006-05-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

We all have so many wonderful things in our life need to celebrate, sometime we just don't know what to do, what to say, and how to say it.

Verser It has all the answers for you! They have put together a selection of verse ideas, etiquette guidelines and tips to help you plan your celebration.

Take time to explore their website and enjoy the excitement of planning your special occasion!

And, don't forget to bookmark this fantastic FREE online tool!

Model Search Contest

2006-05-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

Garnier Belle Color is looking for Mothers and Daughters of all ages that embody natural beauty.

Enter for your chance to be this year's Garnier Belle Color Mother & Daughter Models!

There is one Grand Prize available to be won in this contest, having an approximate retail value of $16,000 CAN and consisting of:

Round trip for two to Toronto, Ontario.
$200 taxi fare for transportation from the Toronto Pearson International Airport to hotel in Toronto (on the day or arrival) and for return transportation from the hotel to the Airport (on the day of departure) to be awarded in the form of a cheque payable to the winner.
Three nights/four days accommodation at a hotel in Toronto based on double occupancy (the choice of the hotel will be at the discretion of the Contest Sponsors).
A professional hair colour and manicure for two.
A photo shoot with a leading fashion photographer.
Two tickets to a theatrical production (the choice of the show will be at the discretion of the Contest Sponsors).
Pedicure and massage for two at a spa (the choice of the spa will be at the discretion of the Contest Sponsors).
$700 spending money and food allowance to be awarded in the form of a cheque payable to the winner.
A Garnier Belle Color gift basket (the choice of the products will be at the discretion of the Contest Sponsors).

The Contest is Closing at 11:59 PM EST on 30 June 2006.

No purchase necessary!

Please visit Garnier Belle Color Contest for entry and full detials.

P.S. Sorry, my American friends, this contest is open to residents of Canada only.

Exchanging Links With Me?

2006-05-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

Susan, a Lady at WAHM board invited me to exchange links with her since our topics are closely related, that's a fantastic idea!

As you can see I have added Susan's blog at my side bar, it's called Susan's Spa.

Susan's Spa is a great place where you can find beauty/fashion tips, products review, online resurces.... etc, she also shows you some blogging tips! Very cool, eh?!! Go check it out!

P.S. Interested in exchanging links with me?

Home For Your Bags & Shoes

2006-05-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

If you've been looking for a cool way to store your most prized or less-frequently worn footwear, the clear shoe boxes from Shoe Stor might just be the ideal solution for you!

How about hangbags? Are they in the way? Is your purses collection a mess? Shoe Stor has the answer to your closet woes as well!

Start taking good care of your precious shoes and bags, giving them each their own space and keep them organized.

Need A Brow Wig?

2006-04-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, you heard me right, it is a wig for your brow!

I don't know how long this kind of product has been in the market, but it is the 1st time I have ever seen it, unbelievable!

Eyebrowz is a online cosmetics shopping site which provides women with the tools to help them have beautiful eyebrows.

Check their website out, they have great step by stey photos show you how to do your eyebrow makeovers.As for the wig, well, I know they are human hair, but I am just not crazy about it.

P.S.
There are the Before & After photos. Looks natural, pretty neat, eh?! My question is, howcome someone has no brow at all??

Check This Cool Site Out!

2006-04-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

ELSEWARES is a online catalog of unique products from independent designers and entrepreneurs.

They have lots of cool stuff for you to buy, plus:

They are passionate about design. They go to extraordinary lengths to find unique, high-quality products they feel good about selling.
They care where things come from and how they're made. Many of they products come from individual artisans, but they also endeavor to work with and buy from manufacturers and vendors who respect worker rights and the environment.

They do more than just make money. They make a concerted effort to encourage creative business practices, support cottage industry, keep corporate hegemony at bay, and kick out the jams.

Besides, ELSEWARES is always on the lookout for innovative products and ideas. They work directly with independent designers, artists, and entrepreneurs, in fact, they like to think they work for them.

If you design, make, or sell something that ELSEWARES should know about, or if you know someone who does, get in touch with them.

Pamper Your Pinkies

2006-04-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

Most nail polish contains chemicals, including phthalates (dibutyl phthalate or DBP) used to help reduce brittleness and cracking.

DBP, however, has been linked to birth defects in rodents.

Although we don't yet know much DBP it takes to harm humans, experts recommend avoiding it, especially if you are pregnant.

If you are looking for a chemical-free manicure, check your natural health store for water-based nail polish in a wide variety of shades.

You do not need a chemical remover, either. When it's time to change your colour, simply peel off and reapply.

Pretty cool, eh?!

Healthy Shopper Coupon Book

2006-04-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

You gotta check out this cool website and get your FREE coupon book!

The Healthy Shopper is a coupon book for natural and organic products including Food & Beverages, Vitamins & Supplements and Personal Care products.

The coupon book is available FREE at health food retailers across Canada, and it is valid for one full year!

You can find the 2006/2007 Healthy Shopper coupon book in stores right now, so pick up your copy for over $85.00 in savings and the chance to win a $100 Healthy Shopper Spree!

Be sure to browse their website for new features to help you incorporate healthy products into your diet, home, and lifestyle.

If you like, join their Coupon Club, for access to e-coupons, recipes from natural and organic companies from across North America and their monthly Healthy Shopper Newsletter.

And, don't forget to tell them about your healthy shopping habits and receive samples and/or product information from Aubrey Organics, Easy and Real Green Bars. You will also be entered to win one of ten $100 The Healthy Shopper Sprees at a health food retailer near you!

Ready for Spring-Cleaning?

2006-04-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

I don't mean spring-cleaning your home, but spring-cleaning your body!

It's time for me to do detoxing again!

And I'm starting a 12-day Herbal D-Tox program tomorrow.

Imagine...

a well-toned body,

the loss of several pounds,

healthy skin,

increased energy,

better digestion,

feel fit and healthy,

be able to relax...

Are you ready for your spring-cleaning? I am!

Hello & Welcome

2006-04-25T01:14:00.000-07:00

Hi, thank you for stopping by!

I'm closing my old blogs (Network Marketing & MLM CHIC) and putting this new one up.

Smart Olive will be a place where I record everything that is fun, cool, and really caught my eyes in my daily life. Whether it's beauty, health, fashion, home, food, dog, books, travel... or whatever, as long as they are chic stuff, I will put them on my fatulous new blog.

I hope you will enjoy your visiting at Smart Olive! Please do come back often and let me know what you think! Thank you!