Aging Gracefully

Have you heard the latest anti-aging news? Forty is the new 30.


As more people engage in better health and wellness practices, turning 40 doesn't carry the same stigma as it did in the past. Instead, the milestone birthday represents renewal rather than retrograde. 


The following fit and fabulous celebrities turn the big 4-0 this year, but they look almost a decade younger:

Mary J. Blige (January 11)

Denise Richards (February 17)

Rachel Weisz (March 7)

Mark Wahlberg (June 5)

Winona Ryder (October 29)

Christina Applegate (November 25)

Anti-aging products help enhance that not-a-day-over-30 glow. Take a look-see at the latest innovations. 

BEAUTY: Abrioné Face Lifting Serum contains antioxidants and peptides to combat sagging skin. BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: Atopalm Intensive Mositurizing Cream utilizes grape seed and olive fruit oils to replenish the loss of natural skin lipids. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

BEAUTY: B. Kamins, Chemist Male Bio-Maple Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer SPF 15, Male Bio-Maple Anti-Aging Soothing Eye Gel and Oxi-Defense Hydrating Eye Care help nourish and firm skin. BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion and Line Smoothing Eye Creme utilize pomegranate extract to improve the breakdown of collagen and elastin. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no sulfates, parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals.

BEAUTY: Dermelect Cosmeceuticals Resurface Stem Cell Reconstructing Serum, Makeover Ridge Filler (basecoat for nails) and Smooth Upper Lip & Perioral Anti-Aging Treatment help prevent and diminish signs of premature aging. BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: HydroPeptide Power Lift keeps skin hydrated with shea butter and cucumber extracts. BEACON: No animal testing, and paraben, synthetic fragrance and phthalate free.

BEAUTY: Lavera Naturkosmetik Concentrated Lifting Serum firms skin with hyaluronic acid, organic white tea and karanja oil. BEACON: Contains no synthetic preservatives, perfumes, colorants or mineral oil.

BEAUTY: Luzern Laboratories Serum Absolut Anti-Aging/Antioxidant Complex utilizes vitamins and peptides to stimulate collagen and elasticity. BEACON: Contains no parabens, petrochemicals, formaldehydes, synthetic preservatives, colorants or fragrances. 

BEAUTY: One Love Organics Youth Preservation Serum contains watermelon seed oil and vitamin E to help tone and moisturize skin. BEACON: Cruelty free.

BEAUTY: Systeme 41 Restorative Night Treatment utilizes apple stem cell technology to improve suppleness and firmness. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no parabens, artificial colors, fragrances, surfactants, detergents, mineral oils or glutens.

BEAUTY: Weleda Firming Day Cream, Firming Eye Cream and Firming Serum contain pomegranate seed oil and shea butter to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. BEACON: Supports Conservation International.

Lady Gaga Goes Green Mani

Lady Gaga has finally shown her true colors. At recent appearances in New York and Japan, she made a surprising style statement by rocking various shades of green hair, shoes and attire. "It's for liberation and for the environment," she proudly proclaimed to the press.

Gaga's not the first Fame Monster to go green. The Incredible Hulk, the Green Hornet, the Green Lantern and Wally the Green Monster (the official mascot of the Boston Red Sox) became pop icons by sporting the superhero hue.


Whether you prefer emerald, jade, mint or turquoise, let's give a Paws Up salute to the Lady Gaga Goes Green Mani. 


ESSIE

BEAUTY: Create your own green party with Turquoise & Caicos, Sew Psyched and Mint Candy Apple. BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

BEAUTY: Make everyone green with envy with Jade is the New Black, Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow and Mermaid's Tears. BEACON: Contains no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or toluene.

SPARITUAL

BEAUTY: Green light your next mani and pedi with Eye of the Beholder, Emerald City and Moss. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no synthetic dyes, dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.


ZOYA NAIL POLISH

BEAUTY: Toss together some mixed greens with Apple, Suvi and Midori. BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Marilyn Monroe's Legendary Look

It's difficult to imagine Marilyn Monroe as an octagenarian. However, if she were alive today, the sultry screen siren would've turned 85 this month.


Monroe's rendition of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in the '50s flick Gentlemen Prefer Blondes showcased her superstar style. She dazzled the world as one of the biggest beauty icons of the 20th century with her carat-cut smile, deep-set eyes, platinum blonde hair and heart-shaped lips.

Just like a diamond, her flaws created many facets to her personality. She suffered from depression and an addiction to sleeping pills, but the compassionate side of Monroe used her star power to shed light on worthy endeavors. She entertained American troops stationed in Korea in 1954 and lifted the spirits of injured soldiers by visiting military hospitals (see video above).


To help release your inner Marilyn Monroe, we've assembled several lip and eye products. Enjoy!

BEAUTY: Create your own Monkey Business with DermaQuest Skin Therapy C-Lipoic Lip Enhancer. BEACON: Cruelty free.

BEAUTY: Some Like it Hot with Essence Gel Eyeliner (Midnight in Paris), Colour & Shine Eye Shadow (Trip to Venus) and XXXL Shine Lipgloss (Bubble Babe). BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: If you've got The Seven Year Itch, try Jane Iredale PureGloss Lip Gloss (Hazelnut), PurePressed Eye Shadow (Silver Lining), Liquid Eyeliner (Silver) and Eye Pencil (Midnight Blue). BEACON: Member of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and supporter of the Berkshire Humane Society.

BEAUTY: Make it all about you rather than All About Eve with Palladio Beauty Group Baked Eye Shadow Trios (Blue Lagoon, Lovely Lilac and Pop Idol). BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: Cure The Asphalt Jungle blues with Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Extreme Volumizing Mascara (Black), Lipstick (Glamour Red) and Eyeliner (Jet). BEACON: No animal testing. Also supports the Noreen Fraser Foundation and Look Good...Feel Good.

BEAUTY: There's No Business Like Show Business as long as you're using Peacekeeper Cause-metics Yum Glaze Lip Gloss (Strawberry). BEACON: USDA Organic seal.

M&M's Candy Mani

Need a sweet treat? Whether you're a youngster or a kid at heart, M&M's serve as the sugar rush of choice for many chocoholics. The colorful candy-coated confections, which were introduced in the early '40s, achieved their claim to fame with one of the most memorable marketing slogans in history: "They melt in your mouth--not in your hands."


Mars, Incorporated, the parent company of the brand, undertakes a cruelty-free policy. It conducts human clinical studies to substantiate the health benefits of its snack food, drink and food products, according to the company's website.


June is National Candy Month. Enjoy an M&M's Candy Mani using the bright blues, browns, reds, oranges, yellows and greens of the button-shaped bites. 


DAZZLE DRY

BEAUTY: Design dandy eye candy by using Rapid Red (red), Blueberry Sno Cone (blue) and Tuttie Fruiti Smoothie (orange). 

BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene or camphor. 

ESSIE

BEAUTY: Achieve confection perfection with Lollipop (red), Little Brown Dress (brown), Pretty Edgy (green) and Braziliant (orange). 

BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

BEAUTY: Sugar and spice and everything nice prevails with Y'all Come Back Ya Hear? (orange), Turquoise Shatter (blue top coat over red), Need Sunglasses? (yellow) and Keys to My Karma (red). 

BEACON: Contains no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or toluene. Also donates to the American Heart Association, Gilda’s Club Worldwide and the Leukemia Research Foundation through the Schaeffer Family Foundation. 

ZOYA NAIL POLISH

BEAUTY: Create sweet memories with Creamy (yellow), Tart (blue), Tangy (green) and Jancyn (orange).

BEACON: Contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.

Hollywood's Newest Dads and Moms

Congrats to Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman and her fiancé ballet choreographer Benjamin Millepied. The couple welcomed the arrival of a baby boy this week.


First-time parenthood has recently sparked a celebrity spawn-a-thon in Hollywood. Fellow A-listers, such as Alicia Silverstone, Mariah Carey, Pink and Jane Krakowski, now star in the most important role of their lives.

Comedian/rapper Nick Cannon and singer/actress Mariah Carey became new parents with the arrival of their twins, Moroccan (boy) and Monroe (girl), on April 30.

Freestyle motocross racer Carey Hart and wife Pink welcomed their first child, Willow Sage, on June 2.

As Father's Day approaches this weekend, we celebrate Hollywood's latest generation of dads and moms. The following products are designed to pamper any new parent.


FOR DAD

BEAUTY: Conair For Men i-stubble shaver tracks facial curves with a floating contouring head. BEACON: Supports American Red Cross and breast cancer awareness efforts.

BEAUTY: Elemis Time Defence Wrinkle Delay moisturizes with murumuru, jujube and maracuja oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no animal-derived collagen, synthetic perfumes and coloring, mineral oil, alcohol or silicones.

BEAUTY: L'Oréal Professionnel Homme Densite Densifying Shampoo helps add body and texture to thinning hair. BEACON: L’Oréal and UNESCO created the For Women in Science partnership to promote the pursuit of ladies in scientific research.

BEAUTY: OM4 Soothing Herbal Shaving Emulsion utilizes peppermint and lavender to invigorate the senses, and stoneroot and comfrey to heal skin irritation. BEACON: Cruelty free, and made with greater than 70% organic content. Also contains no parabens or sodium lauryl sulfates.

BEAUTY: Rhonda Allison Raw Environ Protect keeps skin from prematurely aging with zinc oxide and red algae extract. BEACON: No animal testing.

FOR MOM: PRENATAL

BEAUTY: Bio-Oil utilizes botanicals, oils and vitamins to improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks. BEACON: Supports the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and Look Good… Feel Better.


BEAUTY: Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Balm helps skin retain moisture and elasticity during pregnancy with olive oil, beeswax and pumpkin seed extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no fragrance, phthalates, petrochemicals or parabens.

BEAUTY: Noli n Nali Organics Tropical Bliss Belly Butter hydrates skin with cocoa butter and rosehip oil. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no synthetic fragrance or parabens.

BEAUTY: Weleda Pregnancy Body Oil nourishes the skin and minimizes stretch marks with jojoba seed and sweet almond oils. BEACON: Supports Conservation International.

FOR MOM: POSTNATAL

BEAUTY: Koh Gen Do Body Milk moisturizes dry, undernourished skin with lavender oil, shea buter, jojoba seed oil and vitamin A. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no artificial fragrances, petroleum-based mineral oil or synthetic pigments.

BEAUTY: Murad Body Firming Cream enhances skin's elasticity with vitamin C and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Also supports men and women in the armed forces by providing care packages of products that make life more comfortable during deployments.

BEAUTY: Smith & Vandiver Aromatherapaes Revitalizing Shea & Sugar Body Scrub (Honey & Almond) utilizes beeswax, honey extract, sweet almond oil and shea butter to increase cell renewal. BEACON: No animal testing or ingredients. Also contains no fragrance, sulfates or parabens.

Kim Kardashian Engagement Manis

Something's in the water--or perhaps the sports performance drinks. Another NBA player got down on bended knee to propose to a Kardashian sister. 

New Jersey Nets power forward Kris Humphries recently made headlines by popping the question to Kim Kardashian. He presented the Keeping Up with the Kardashians reality TV star with a stunning 20.5-carat sparkler worth $2 million. Score! 

In honor of the couple's impending nuptials this summer, SHINE Beauty Beacon presents three Kim Kardashian Engagement Manis. Humphries' team colors of blue, red, silver and white serve as the inspiration.

ESSIE

SHINE: Create courtside couture using Midnight Cami (blue), Walk Down the Aisle (white), Loophole (silver) and First Dance (red).

BEAUTY: Humphries didn't cut any corners when he purchased the ring, but you can design dramatic diagonals by using a striper brush. Seal the deal with a top coat.

BEACON: Essie contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

OPI PRODUCTS

SHINE: Power forward with this flirty foursome--Suzi Says Feng Shui (blue), She's Golden (white), Your Royal Shine-ness (silver) and Red Hot Gift (red).

BEAUTY: Fashion a free-throw line by applying red, white, silver and blue bands across the top of each nail with a striper brush. Complete the look with a top coat.

BEACON: OPI Products donates to the American Heart Association, Gilda’s Club Worldwide and the Leukemia Research Foundation through the Schaeffer Family Foundation. 

ZOYA NAIL POLISH

SHINE: Rebound and recharge with Tallulah (blue), Christinna (white), Laney (silver) and Carmen (red). 

BEAUTY: Design basketball-like silver buttons with the tip of the nail polish brush. Finish with a top coat. 

BEACON: Zoya Nail Polish contains no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or dibutyl phthalate.