Blog Posts by RealBeauty.com

Whether you're heading out this Halloween weekend, or you're preparing for the holiday season (hello, mistletoe!) your outfit isn't quite complete without a set of truly kissable lips. So prep your puckers with our list of pouty favorites:

1. Exfoliate your lips in the shower to rid them of dry skin.You can do this gently with a washcloth, or your toothbrush. Don't scrub too hard, or you'll aggravate your already chapped lips. We recommend Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant ($18, sephora.com).

• Get younger-looking lips

2. Post-shower, prep your lips with a moisturizing lip balm to prevent drying them out. We love Philosophy's Kiss Me Tonight lip therapy ($20, nordstrom.com). Also, don't forget to pick up Jack Black's Intense Therapy Lip Balm for your guy - he'll love the manliness of the packaging, but you'll love his very kissable lips even after the first use.

• Get irresistibly sexy lips

3. No guy can resist a set of plumped lips. Use DuWop's Lip Venom ($16, Read More »from Get the Most Kissable Lips Ever

Need a hairstyle update, but you're afraid of going down the road of "mom hair?" Don't look like you've just walked off the set of a teen drama. These styles will flatter your face and age.


Ultra-tight curls need extra love and attention. Be sure not to wash your hair every day and when you do, pile on the deep conditioner. A curl-reviving mist is a great way to give your hair bounce and shape without having to restyle it. A few drops of hair oil, rubbed between your hands and applied to your ends, will help prevent breakage while making your hair glisten - plus, it smells amazing.

• Styling tips for curly hair

A flippy bob is simultaneously fun and work-appropriate.
Start by misting a heat-protection spray all over. Then, wrap sections under a round brush and blow-dry, pulling away from your head at a 90-degree angle. To lock in the style, finish if off with hairspray, and for even more texture rub a dab of pomade on the ends.

• More short hairstyles

This Bridget Read More »from Great Hairstyles for Women Over 40

Thought you were doing your body a favor by eating these "healthy" items? Our tips will help you steer clear of the snack traps that just add calories and instead give you healthy substitutes.

1. Breakfast bars are good for you, right? Be sure to read the label before you buy. Most cereal bars have way too much sugar and not enough whole grains or fiber. Our favorites are All-Bran bars (130 calories, 5 grams fiber) and Kashi Go Lean Roll! bars (190 calories, 6 grams fiber).
2. Cheese is a great source of calcium, right? Not always. Calcium levels vary greatly. Hard cheeses have about 200 milligrams per ounce (20% of the Daily Value). But calcium can range from 40 milligrams (in soft goat cheese) to 270 milligrams (in low-fat Swiss). Your best bet is to grab some cottage cheese. Eaten by the cup, not the ounce, is a fair source (140 milligrams per cup) of calcium.
   
   Get more facts on cheese, like sodium and cholesterol facts.
   
   
3. The Acai berry is a magic cure-all,

Read More »from These healthy foods are making you gain weight (and some that won't)

We at Real Beauty love Halloween because it means we can try out different makeup and hair looks without being judged. But if you're not into being a bunny or a bumblebee this year, why not go as your favorite TV character? They harness some of the best makeup looks and hairstyles out there. You can even channel your inner actress and really play the role. We wanted to go as Blair Waldorf, but we had a hard time finding a friend willing to go as Dorota and tend to our every beckon call. We can't imagine why.


Jenny Humphrey, Gossip Girl
Even though we don't approve of her recent behavior on Gossip Girl, Little J's look is easy to create and a great opportunity to try an edgy makeup look. Start with a smoky eye and a deep red lip. You can create a quick smoky eye with a smudgeable eyeliner like MAC Greasepaint stick and lots of mascara. Then, head to the top of the Met steps where we'll be waiting with your yogurt.








Lacey Schwimmer, Dancing with the Stars
All you need is dance-tastic

Read More »from Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Whether you're trying to lure a vampire or simply create a timeless look, these 9 Twilight-inspired products will keep you looking and feeling like you haven't aged in years (or perhaps centuries):

1. Twilight Woods Perfume and Body Gel (Eau de Toilette $29.50, Shower Gel $10.50; bathandbodyworks.com)

2. Luna Twilight Makeup for Eyes, Lips, Face, and Body (From $16, twilightbeauty.com)

(Don't forget you need makeup for Halloween and this stuff you can use all year long.)

3. Volturi Twilight Makeup for Eyes, Lips, Face, and Body (From $9, twilightbeauty.com)

4. Chantecaille Biodynamic Lifting Oil Free Fluide ($250, neimanmarcus.com)

(Keep the Halloween festivities alive year round with this candy-like shampoo from Philosophy.)

5. DuWop Lip Venom ($16, shop.duwop.com)

6. Edward Body Shimmer $9.99, hottopic.com)

(Create an inviting home with this fragrant fall candle. It makes us hungry for pumpkin pie.)

7. Sarah Jessica Parker Twilight

Read More »from Vampires' Favorite Beauty Products

Whether it's the finishing touch on your Halloween costume or the desire to vamp up your makeup look, red lips are one of the hottest trends right now. But with any bold makeup statement, you want to make sure the execution is clean and flawless. Follow these tips for a pretty pucker:

1. Smooth, soft lips are the best canvas for a matte red lipstick. Gently rub lips with a warm, wet washcloth before you apply any color.

• Best Red Lipsticks for Your 20s

2. Next, prep your lips with a nongreasy balm before you apply a red lipstick. It'll temporarily plump up your mouth and fill in any cracks.

• Best Red Lipsticks for Your 30s

3. For the most even application, let your lips go a bit slack when you slick on your lipstick. Puckering too much makes it hard to get a perfect finish.

• Best Red Lipsticks for Your 40s

4. Use a neutral lip liner to prevent your lipstick from bleeding and add definition to the shape of your mouth. Another trick is dotting the area around Read More »from 5 Tips for the Perfect Red Lips

1. The first week of your hormone cycle is a good week to start dieting. According to a Tufts University study, you're already eating 12% less this week and have fewer hormone-related food cravings.

2. Try quitting your smoking habit during the second half of your cycle. A 2008 University of Minnesota study shows that estrogen may be responsible for giving you a greater "buzz" from addictive substances like nicotine. When this hormone level decreases in weeks three and four, you enjoy cigarettes less, making it easier to quit.

After quitting - treat yourself to a new haircut! The Best Haircut for Every Age

3. Your period can leave you tongue-tied. According to the same University of Minnesota study, progesterone interferes with your verbal ability, making you stumble over words and lose your train of thought. This hormone can also cause constipation and bloating, so load up on fiber and water to stay regular.

Look Good in 60 Seconds!

4. Your PMS may be contagious. If you find your

Read More »from 6 Weird and Wacky Facts About Your Period

Let's be honest: there is nothing nice to say about PMS. And, for those of us who get every single little symptom associated with that time of the month (cramps, bloating, skin issues, headaches, etc.) there's a few choice words we'd love to use. But, we have yet to hear if using profanity actually helps alleviate pain (please let us know if you hear otherwise), so until that's true we've found 11 tips on how to deal with PMS that actually work:

1. If your periods make you nauseous, try eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, or try an OTC anti-inflammatory medicine paired with a heating pad right below where you feel your cramps.

2. Watch what you eat a few days before you get your period. Eating salty foods or consuming drinks high in caffeine during these days can make you feel worse during your monthly cycle.

3. Take a chill pill! Your cramps may be directly related to how stressed out you are.

4. Complex carbs are good for you during your period.

5. Giving up

Read More »from Want To Get Rid of Cramps, Bloating, Aches and Pains Related to PMS?