Products

Makeup manufacturers and beauty gurus have declared BB creams so last year. But what new product could possible take their place? The CC cream, of course.

While BB stands for “beauty balm,” CC is short for “Color Control” and is considered an improved and refined version of Korea’s innovative, life-changing BB cream that makeup artists raved about.

The primary difference between BB and CC cream is that the latter focuses more on color correction and concealing. It still has the lightness we love about BB creams, but is a bit more dense to help cover fine lines and wrinkles while evening out the skin’s pigmentation. CC creams still moisturize, reduce pore size and protect skin from the elements just as their BB cousin does.

As we go further into the new year, CC creams will become more widely available. At the moment, however, you can find the product at both drug and department stores in various price categories.

For example, Olay’s Total Effects CC Tone Correcting Moisturizer, a forerunner in the CC Cream craze, has been a hit since its fall 2012 debut. Another early, mid-end CC cream comes from Juice, who calls their version the Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream.

Olay Total Effects7-in-1
Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer

Juice Beauty
Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream

Wei to Go
Ideal Skin Perfect Finish

Wei East — affordable sister to Wei Beauty — is one of my personally favorite brands, so I’m delighted to see they’ve also hopped aboard the CC train. Their recently launched CC cream, dubbed the “Ideal Skin Perfect,” promises an effortless, perfectly blended finish with every use.

Brands such as Chanel, Smashbox, Luisdina and Clinique have also launched their own CC creams. And just like all the makeup lovers out there, I can’t wait to see what other brands bring to the makeup table in the coming months.

So — what’s your take on the CC cream? Are you eager to test out this new product, or will you clutch tightly to your BB creams and never let go? We’re eager to hear your thoughts, so share them with us in the comment section below.

By Wendy Rose Gould

We all have our favorite, die-hard staple products. Goods that — heaven forbid we run out of — we rely on day in and day out to make us feel, smell and look nothing short of wonderful. Today we’re dishing on our must have bathroom goodies. Check them out and make sure to tell us what your favorite go-to bathroom products are in the comment section below.

	Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Mirela, founder of The Stylish City, says that a salesperson at RICKYSNYC.COM suggested One N Only Argan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo – 12 oz $11.99 and One N Only Argan Oil Moisture Repair Conditioner – 12 oz $11.99 to her as a substitute for Ojon shampoo. The Ojon shampoo, while nice, cost more than she preferred spending and is now replaced as a shower staple.
	TOCCA Body Wash and Lotion One of my all time favorite brands has to be TOCCA. I swear by their fragrances and cannot tell you how often I get complimented when wearing them. This past year they released a line of body washes and lotions in their signature scents. They’re middle-of-the-line in terms of cost ($18 and $20 respectively) and worth every penny.
	Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara How does $2.99 sound for a quality mascara? Jordana’s Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara formula was recommended to Mirela by one of her makeup guru friends (Micky), is revered by makeup artists across the country and gets rave reviews at MakeupAlley (4.3 stars out of 5 with 300 reviews).
	Darphin VITALSKIN Anti-Fatigue Dynamizing Serum I’m a self-admitted serum junkie. I’ve tried dozens of serums — new and old — over the past year and my absolute favorite new item is Darphin’s VITALSKIN Anti-Fatigue Dynamizing Serum. It’s like a little treat for my skin every time I wash. While a little expensive at $88, the formula is incredibly silky and melts into the skin without leaving a greasy residue. Bonus: Smells amazing.
	Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Heralded by myriad makeup artists, Becca Cosmetics’ Shimmering Skin Perfector ($41) has to be one of the best highlighting products out there. It comes in different shades to match your skin tone for more seamless blending. It’s also really sheer and leaves skin feeling moisturized and looking glowy. I like to apply to my upper cheekbones, above my top lip and across my collar bones.

By Wendy Rose Gould

By this point in the 21st century, it’s safe to assume that most people are already aboard the social media bandwagon. Still, many men and women find themselves unskilled when it comes to dating in this fast paced world of interactive media. From Facebook friendships to Foursquare check-ins to Twitter play-by-plays, it’s time to wise up to what’s acceptable — and what’s not. A recent post by Mashable detailed 10 essential tips for dating in the social media age. We’ve highlighted five of them below.

1. Don’t “Like” or Comment on Everything

Comment on discussions, statuses or links that intrigue you, but avoid commenting or “liking” for the sake of making your presence known. In other words, only contribute if you have something valuable to offer.

2. Facebook Stalking

Just don’t do it. If it’s an ex, you’ll just get sad. If it’s a current interest, you’ll find it’s much nicer to ask about his day instead of reading about it.

3. Friending His Pals

This is also a social media faux pas, as is adding his family.

4. Twittering Etiquette

Do not, I repeat, do not, Twitter about your date while you’re on a date with him. If you must, Twitter about things after you’ve parted. And leave out the steamy details.

5. Breaking Up

It’s no secret that our lives are much more public today than they were in the past. If you’ve called it quits with your ex-beau, try to be the first to change the relationship status and then make it private or delete the activity. If you see a friend’s recently split, be kind and refrain from commenting on the activity.

Discover the remaining five dating tips at Mashable.com.

By Mirela Gluck

Budding fashion designers can now bring their style creations to life — with the possibility of selling said creations — thanks to a new phone application by UnitedStyles. The innovative Facebook Connect-enabled app lets the owner play fashion designer by sketching completely unique designs on their electronic device. The designs can then be previewed and showcased in 3D form.

If that’s not enticing enough already, get this: UnitedStyles, based in Shanghai, also allows app users to buy customized creations for roughly $50 per top and $80 to $100 for a dress. The company also hopes to reach out to the male market in the near future.

Learn more about the UnitedStyles app on TechCrunch.

By Mirela Gluck