Seduction- The X Factor

In the world of Hollywood most actresses sparkle, but only a few stand out from the crowd enough to have earned the title of seductress. Among them are Mae West, Sophia Loren, Eartha Kitt, and Dorothy Dandridge.

Mae West:

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West never hid her curves. She was proud of her body and it showed through in her form fitting wardrobe. One of West’s famous quotes serves as great advice to women around the globe, “Cultivate your curves - they may be dangerous but they won't be avoided.” A voluptuous siren and proud of it. Actually she was called a vamp and was considered controversial for her time after she acted in one of her plays, SEX, she did a stint in jail for obscenity. The naughty seductress!!

Sophia Loren:

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International star, Loren, appeared effortlessly seductive with her signature style of neutral colored pouty lips, winged eyeliner and tousled hair. "When Sophia Loren is naked," she once said," there is a lot of nakedness." The Italian Bombshell was born an illegitimate child and raised by a single mother in poverty. Just goes to show you...you can rise from the ashes and learn to be a seductress.

Eartha Kitt:

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The original Catwoman, Kitt, was never caught on camera looking anything but strong and feminine, which was exhibited through her posture and the body skimming dresses she wore. Her purr!!! is unmistakably sexy and delicious. Every time I hear it, it just goes way over my head. It's the cheek bones, the defiant attitude and those cat eyes that make her simply irresistible! Another one born in poverty, never knew her father (are you noticing a trend here?). She had a style, a look which has yet to be duplicated.

Dorothy Dandridge

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Dorothy Dandridge was the consummate seductress with what many referred to as an "Angel Face". Just goes to show that you can have a sweet pretty face and still be seductive. She may have the face of an angel but her spirit certainly was flirtatious and sultry. A natural beauty with a liking for seductive red lips and skin the color of caramel. She has been imitated by such current icons as Halle Berry who produced, the Dorothy Dandridge Story, and by Beyonce who played an Urban version of Ms. Dandridge's famous Carmen Jones.

These women all possess that strong, sensual, feminine quality known as seduction. That ex-factor that's so clear yet so elusive. Who else do you think is seductive?

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Your New “Magic Wand”

After a long day, the last thing you want to think about is what didn’t wash off your face. The truth is that traces and dirt may still be on your face at the end of the day, even after you wash your face. The Clarisonic facial brush promises to clean off makeup six times more effectively than your normal cleansing routine. Photo Credit

Clarisonic raves that the brush is “the best investment you can make for your skin.” Clearly, this company is not the only source that thinks this. The Clarisonic facial brush, which uses sonic technology at a rate of 300 movements per second to cleanse pores, has been featured in magazines such as Glamour, Elle, Allure, Redbook and many more. Reviewers have praised it, calling it a “magic wand.”

Benefits of this “magic wand” include:

• Gentle enough for use twice daily

• Allows for better application of moisturizer after the brush is used

• Reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and visible pores

• Reduces the problems that go along with combination skin: dry patches blemishes, oily areas

• Leaves skin looking and feeling soft

While the Clarisonic brush is pricey at $149, it is more than worth it to add to your daily routine. Each day you will wake up with smooth beautiful looking skin. What woman wouldn’t want to wake up to that?

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Do You Know What You’re Putting on Your Face?

Every day women wake up and start their morning routines of slathering on moisturizer and makeup without giving their routines a second thought. Due to the lack of regulation the Food and Drug Administration has over cosmetics companies, every woman should be thinking about what is in her cosmetics. Photo Credit

Three Toxins to Watch Out For:

• Parabens are synthetic chemicals used as preservatives in a wide variety of personal care products including: makeup, moisturizers, and hair care products. Parabens have been linked to certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. The FDA does require products to include parabens in the list of ingredients. The most common parabens used are methylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, or butylparaben. If you feel uncomfortable using products with these ingredients listed you can seek out cosmetic companies that vow to make paraben free products.

• In a 2007 study the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that 61% of 33 brand name lipsticks contain detectable levels of lead. In the CSC’s study it explains that lead is dangerous because it can build up in the body and can cause learning, language, and behavioral problems.

• Nail polish toxins: Due to public pressure several big names in the nail polish industry have begun to remove toxins from their products. These toxins include dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, and toluene, which have been linked to cancer and birth defects. Make sure the polishes you use are on the safe list.

Take action!

It might be shocking to find out that a product you have become comfortable with is actually unsafe. But you don’t have to sit back and let companies continue to take advantage of you. The CSC provides ideas to stop cosmetics companies from getting away with including harmful chemicals in their products, and have a list of more than 1,000 companies that have declared to make cosmetics safer with the Compact for Safe Cosmetics project. Where do you stand in the debate for safe cosmetics? Add to del.icio.us

Finding the Perfect Foundation

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Have you ever been in the department store scanning each beauty counter without a clue as to which foundation shade will work out for you? Have you thought you found the right shade and then taken it home only to realize it wasn’t right at all? Well you’re not alone and I’m here to help you unmask the mystery of which foundations work best on women of color.

Follow these steps to help you find your perfect shade

• Examine the color of your skin. Is it even all over? When you look at your jaw line, forehead, nose, and cheeks, do you see blue, red, or yellow undertones?

• Before you go to the store consider your foundation needs. Do you need more coverage? Do you prefer an oil free formula?

• Going to a department store will be your best bet since you’ll be able to try on each shade/formula and make sure it is the correct one for you. Try the foundation on different areas of your face to make sure it complements your overall skin tone. Make sure to try a shade above and below the one you think is right and to go out into the natural light (sometimes store lighting can be deceiving).

• You can also have the sales associate assist you in finding the right shade. It’s always good to have a second opinion!

• If you find the shade that melts into your skin and seems to disappear, then you’ve found it! Get ready to take your perfect shade home.

Recommended Brands:

• Bobbi Brown: Brown’s line has a range of shades and offers eight formulas to choose from including oil free and SPF 15 formulas. Bobbi has worked hard to create a timeless line which will allow you to walk away with products that enhance your natural beauty. Product prices range from $22 to $45 and products can be found in department stores. All formulas received more than four star ratings from customers.

• IMAN: Iman is the first to create a makeup line for women of color. She understands that women of color represent many different backgrounds and she has tailored her line based on this. There are 16 shades of foundation, which have been formulated to match a range of undertones! Prices start at $14.99. Products are sold at Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and Ulta.

• MAC: MAC, cosmetics, has over 11 foundation formulas and a variety of colors to choose from. MAC Studio Tech is a favorite. It comes in a compact and is a cream to powder formula. This foundation delivers matte results. You’ll be sure to look calm, cool, and collected at all times with this in your makeup bag. MAC can be found in department stores and the price of Studio Tech foundation is $29.50.

• Makeupforever: This is another brand with a wide range of tints and formulas to choose from. You won’t go wrong if you go for this brand. It has been featured in countless magazines around the world including in Marie Claire of Russia, Intrend Magazine of Malaysia, and W magazine of USA. You can order online at the Sephora website. Prices start at $8 (for the trial size) and range to $40.

• Prescriptives: No need to worry if you're having trouble deciding the color of the undertones in your skin. Prescriptives is available at department stores and can do custom blending for your skin tone. The sales associate will also tell you the undertone of your skin. Prices start at $32.50.

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