Moulay Yacoubi, the owner of New York’s exclusive Pierre Michel Salon is a celebrity hair stylist who has worked with Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Campbell, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Hurley and Kate Moss. Moulay has extensive knowledge of the science behind hair products, hair texture and styling techniques. Some of his favorite, celebrity-inspired looks for holiday festivities include Amy Adams’s sweet side chignon, Blake Lively’s bohemian fishtail braid, Katy Perry’s bombshell waves and Drew Barrymoore’s sleek ‘30s up-do. Check out his following tips:

 Blake Lively’s look

1. After shampoo and conditioner, prep the hair with light mousse. This will help the hair hold the braid shape.
2. After combing and drying the hair, smooth it with a flat brush.
3. Make a very tight ponytail using a bungee ponytail holder (it should have a hook).
4. Use a shine serum (Phytolisse finishing serum works well) and smooth it over the top portion of the hair to create a sleek look.
5. Braid the ponytail and secure it with a small ponytail holder (matching the hair color)
6. Lightly “open up” the braid by tugging it gently in random portions. Don’t do the whole braid or it will lose its shape.
7. Spray the hair with a very light hairspray (L’Oreal Elnett is a great option)

Amy Adams’ look 

1. Wash hair and prep the hair with medium hold mousse.
2. Dry the hair, parting it to one side with a comb.
3. Comb through the top of the hair so that it is smooth and flat against the head.
4. Gather the hair into a low ponytail on the parted side and secure it with an elastic band.
5. Twist the ponytail into a loose bun and secure it with an elastic hairband the same color as the hair.
6. Using finger tips “fluff up” the top of the hair to add some volume.
7. Finish with a shine serum.

Katy Perry’s look

1. Prep hair with shampoo and conditioner.
2. Separate damp hair into a side par.
3. Set with large hot rollers for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the rollers and let the hair cool for 5 minutes.
5. Brush the hair into large, bouncy waves.
6. Separate bangs or the front of the hair and push it toward the side. If you don’t have bangs, hold the hair in place with a fun barrette, so it sweeps across the face.
7. Use a light shine serum to hold the bangs in place.
8. Set the style with a light hairspray.

Drew Barrymore’s look

1. Prep clean hair with light mousse.
2. Using a 1 inch curling iron, separate hair into small sections.
3. Curl each section until you have curled the entire head of hair.
4. Spray hair with light hairspray.
5. Using a flat brush, gently brush through the hair so the curls become waves.
6. If you have long hair, gather it into a low ponytail and flip it under the hair, securing it with bobby pins.

Whoever has not at least heard of Sex and the City is either living in a cave or is blind to the entertainment world. If you are a fan, you probably adore Carrie, the fun and flirty and oh – so- cosmopolitan character played by Sarah Jessica Parker. Even if you do not watch the show, you have probably seen the lady in various other shows, movies or television and awards events, thanks to her massive fan following and popularity amongst viewers. There are a lot of women out there who would love to look like her, to dress like her and to feel a part of the glamour that she exudes. Sarah Jessica Parker has an individual style and look which sets her apart from the crowd, and her popularity reminds one of the ‘Rachel’ hairdo that was popularized by actress Jennifer Aniston’s character of the same name in the popular sitcom, F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Well, if you are so into Sarah’s style, here are a few pointers to help you get that look. Here goes:

Everyone knows the importance of a good fit, and perhaps Sarah Jessica Parker knows it better than a lot of us! Her clothes, whatever be their style or genre, are well cut, tailored and fit her body like a dream. When you are next out shopping, be sure to pick out the fit that ‘fits’ you, and do not buy trendy looking stuff that will require several gym sessions or soup diets to fit into. Remember – a well fitting piece always looks good.

Funky accessories. Sarah loves wearing these, and you too, should try and adopt these. Be careful though, you have to be able to synchronize your look well in order to balance out the ‘funk’. Minimally embellished clothing with simple styles work well if you plan to make your quirky but awesome necklace the centre of attention.

Sarah never seems to look like somebody else. She has her own personality which she flaunts better than a designer dress. You, too, should try and develop your personality as your main garment. A positive attitude and a confident gait will get you places!

Sarah generally goes for simplicity and style. There are very few occasions when her dress or make up looks over the top, and these are mostly fashion events or characters that she plays. All in all, simple and clean looks better than overdone.

Of course, Sarah Jessica Parker has launched her own line of clothing and accessories, so you cannot get any closer to her personal sense of style that by wearing clothes designed by her. Look for great deals on the official website of her clothing line. Sarah also loves dressing in vintage clothing and is known for her love of classic pieces, with an added touch of her own.

When it comes to make up, Sarah Jessica Parker leans towards the simple and sexy look.

You can add drama with heavily done up eyes and minimal make up on the rest of the face.

Hermes is a legendary fashion house and is well-known in the glamour world. The world famous Birkin bag has an interesting history and is named after Jane Birkin. It has gained popularity over the years and is a favorite amongst the Who’s Who of the fashion and film industry. Nicole Richie, Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Gwenyth Paltrow are some celebrities rarely seen without their Hermes Birkin Bag.

Posh Spice With Her Hermes Birkin

The Birkin bag is favored for its timeless elegance and ineffable style- an almost magical blend of ageless grace and continued modernity that makes it an ideal accessory for any age and season. You can have the bag customized and make it your own by adding a personal touch to it.

The size of the bag ranges from 25 cm to 45 cm. The material used is leather which is scratch-resistant and beautifully textured. The bag is available in a variety of colors, and the most popular choices include- ink, that is the darkest blue and potiron which is orange in color and its shine depends on your choice of leather.

You can also add precious metals to the clasp of your Hermes Birkin bag. Silver palladium, 24 karat gold, guilloche and ruthenium are some examples of the metals used.

These bags are entirely hand-made and are recognized as the ultimate status symbols.

Pictured left : Nicole Richie

Backless dresses can look very elegant but the trick to making a backless outfit work for you lies not in the cut and style of the garment, but the manner in which you take care of your back. Wearing the most exquisitely designed outfit will do no good if your back isn’t smooth, soft and polished to the touch and look.

A daily routine of scrubbing, exfoliating and moisturizing is necessary to keep the skin supple and healthy and young looking.

Firstly, if you have acne on your back, make sure you cover it up with make-up. There isn’t a better way to destroy the chic-factor of an outfit than sporting back acne. So make sure that you use both foundation and concealer. To make sure that it stays on, apply a layer of talcum powder before rubbing in the cover make up.

Even if the skin on your back is clear, it is always recommended to apply foundation so that the tone of your skin is evened out. Usually, the color of the skin on your arms and that on your back is very different. Make sure that you take somebody’s help during this entire process; otherwise you will end up with unsightly streaks on your back.

If you apply talcum powder on your back every hour during the event, it will ensure that your back does not get sweaty and hence, shiny. You can also opt for compact powder as this will give your skin a smoother look.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

As the winter months are upon us, harsh winds and dry air damage your once vibrate and radiant complexion. Everyone strives for healthy and hydrated skin all year round, and Sothys has the solution. Sothys offer the ultimate solution for dried-out skin: Hydroptimale; a third-generation hydration system created to reinforce the skin’s water reservoir.

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WIN THEM : This is what you’ve been waiting for. One lucky reader of this blog will get to win a two of the above Sothys products, a Hydroptimale THI3 Light & Comfort Hydrating creams, AND a Hydroptimale THI3 Hydrating Mask.

Here’s what you need to do to stand a chance to win:

• One mandatory entry – Let me know in the comment section below why you want to win these products
• Two additional entries – Tweet this giveaway and leave your twitter id/thread
• Five additional entries – Link to this blog from your blog’s sidebar. Leave your blog url in the comment section
• Giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only and closes on 10th November 2009.
• A winner will be picked using Random.org. Remember to subscribe so that you will be updated with the contest result.

DISCLOSURE : I WAS NOT COMPENSATED NOR PROVIDED WITH ANY PRODUCTS IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS POST. HOWEVER,  THE GIVEAWAYS FOR MY READERS, FEATURED ABOVE ARE SPONSORED BY SOTHYS.

If you are a big fan of the Ghost Whisperer star Jennifer Love Hewitt or you simply adore her music and want to look like her, here are some tips on how you can look like Jennifer Love Hewitt in four easy steps!

1. Dress like Jennifer Love Hewitt

If you want to look like Jennifer Love Hewitt, you can copy her fashion style. Hewitt loves to highlight her full breast and nice curves. You would often see her in dresses with a heart shape neckline or a v-neck. She is also fond of wearing low necks and deep necks. Empire dresses, halter tops and spaghetti strap blouses should be in your closet too. Hewitt is also fond of Victorian inspired vintage blouses with some lace and ruffles.

2. The Jennifer Love Hewitt Hairstyle

Celebrities can sport any hairstyle imaginable. If you want to look like Hewitt, there are two ways to go- you can wear your hair wavy/ curly or sport a short bob. In many awarding ceremonies, Hewitt would always go for the casual wavy look. She has that flirty and girlish wavy hair that makes her look young even at 30. At one time, she was also seen in short dark bob with straight bangs.

3. Get that Jennifer Love Hewitt Body

This may seem impossible, but if you really want to look like Jennifer Love Hewitt, then you should have those same curves and same body size! But if you can’t go for a size 2, then you should at least give attention to your chest area and do some buttocks to be at par with the great assets of Jennifer Love Hewitt.

4. Think like Jennifer Love Hewitt

If you want to look like Jennifer Love Hewitt- it’s all in the mind! Jennifer is a positive thinker. Before she sleeps, she would tell herself she is beautiful. In the morning when she wakes up, she would remind herself of 5 things that she likes about herself. That should be the same line of thinking that you have if you want to boost some extra confidence and gain that Jennifer Love Hewitt star quality.

Whether they are fiery diamonds, cultured pearls, natural stones or precious metals, drop earrings are in the public eye on the famous as well as on the unknown. The effect of the drop earring, whether short, long or chandelier, is to lengthen the neck and to brighten the eyes.

Many actresses present at the 61st Emmy awards chose diamond drop earrings as part of their jewelry montage. Pieces by designers such as Neil Lane, Fred Leighton, and Chopard were worn by Christina Hendricks, Elizabeth Moss and Glenn Close.  Drop earrings are also very attractive in semi precious stones such as turquoise and tiger’s eye. Sterling silver is very becoming as a drop earring setting.

A drop earring may have a solid base or open work on the ear and just a single stunning drop, like a cultured pearl. It also could be a string of pearls dropping one by one from a golden chain. Larger carved stones suspended from the ear are very catchy drop earrings. An elegant and sparkling drop earring for a formal occasion or a special gala could easily be the chandelier style earrings with many light catching stones in an ever broadening pattern.

Wear drop earrings along with a necklace, bracelets, rings and other jewelry pieces. You will glow and sparkle like the elements of the jewelry you are wearing.

What is acne?

Acne or acne vulgaris is one type of skin disease that often targets the facial area but can also break out on the neck, back and shoulders. Acne develops when sebaceous glands and hair follicle lining are overworked. This causes the follicle to be clogged. If this happens, cells and sebum can accumulate and form a “plug”. When a plug is closed it forms a whitehead. On the other hand, blackhead forms when the plug is open.

Blackheads and white heads can eventually lead to acne.

What causes acne?

Acne can be caused by a lot of things. It often occurs during adolescent stage. It can be hereditary, especially with the case of severe acne. It can also be caused by poor hygiene and imbalanced or improper diet. There are also environmental factors that can cause acne such as dirt and pollution.

Acne treatments

There are many acne treatment products that you can buy over the counter. These include non-prescription treatments like products with sulphur, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and resorcinol.

You can also consult with your dermatologist if you have severe acne. Your doctor can prescribe you topical treatments like retinoid or give your antibiotics. You can also take oral medicine and hormonal medications.

How to prevent acne

A good hygiene can help you prevent acne. Make it a point to wash and clean your face before your sleep and when you wake up in the morning. Wash your face after being exposed to dirt and pollution. You can also use anti-acne products that are readily available in the market.

She is a talented actress, a sex symbol and winner of some of the most prestigious awards for acting. Love her or hate her (really?) but you have to admit that Jessica Alba sure knows how to look amazingly stylish and sophisticated at all times. So much so that she is one of the most idolized female celebrities in the world. So if you want to get her trademark look and get with it, here are a few valuable tips!

• Everyday look: Jessica goes for fresh and natural make up for everyday wear. The feel is light and airy – very attractive.
• Cleanse and moisturize facial skin and add a fine, thin layer of fresh foundation with your fingertips. Rub it outwards, away from the centre of the face and towards the hairline.
• Lightly dab concealer over visible spots, but be very sheer with the application and follow up by rubbing the concealer in with the rest of the face colour. Blend in well. This is the key.
• Use a cream bronzer on a stiff brush to enhance the fresh glow on the face. Blend in for a polished look.
• Apply translucent powder in a sheer puff and blow away any extra bit.
• A sheer pink blush on the cheeks and a neutral cream eye shadow towards the centre of the lids completes the skin routine.
• Nude lip colours add to the natural touch.
• A good coat of mascara completes the look! Do not curl lashes though.

In celebration of its 250th episode, TLC’s WHAT NOT TO WEAR is going on a nationwide search for the Worst Dressed American. For the very first time in the history of the show, viewers will be in charge of nominating the worst fashion victim ever.

Mirroring a typical WHAT NOT TO WEAR episode, Stacy and Clinton will visit the chosen victim’s hometown and interview her loved ones. But with an ambush on a much grander scale and a makeover like no other, the overall transformation for this victim will be the most dramatic one viewers have ever seen on the show. WHAT NOT TO WEAR will mark this very special milestone in January 2010.

TLC is still accepting nominations. If you (or someone close) seriously needs some fashion advice and help, you can get more details about the contest here. Please note that September 25th is the closing date.