We haven’t gotten around yet to discussing Britney Spears’s recent emergence at a charity event, looking healthy, happy and glowing.  The perfect-yet-not-too-orange tan, the flattering-yet-subtle makeup, the tasteful (well, tasteful enough) dress…it’s all wonderful.  Plus–look, ma!–presentable hair!  It’s not perfection…but it’s ten times better than what we’ve seen in the past year.  Oh, Britney, I’ve missed you.

Photo from Yahoo.com

My darlings!  You know how I feel about cellulite creams: mucho suspicious, of course.  (Yes, they can make a difference in the appearance of skin temporarily, but we’re not talking liposuction results.  When dealing with anything that promises to banish wrinkles or fat for-evah!, realistic expectations are key.)  So, how about the chance to test one of your own, for free?  That’s right, no blowing your hard earned money…and, just maybe, slightly sleeker thighs, too.  Not that anything is wrong with your gorgeous thighs just the way they are.  I know that.  You know that.  (Right?) But, hey, we’re human and we all want to look our best, so no judging!

Nivea has partnered with me to give away 25 tubes of their Good-bye Cellulite Gel Cream, which retails for $12.99 and includes L-Carnitine, which helps convert fat into energy.  The first 25 gals who reply in the comments below with their email address and all-time favorite body product (moisturizing cream!  bath gel!  No!No! hair remover!  Whatever!) will win.  Good luck…

Check out Allure.com Daily Beauty Reporter Jessica Matlin’s take on her five current favorite volumizing mascaras.  Her picks include Avon Supershock Mascara, which she compares to DiorShow in terms of brush chubbiness. 

Ahh, DiorShow. 

Can I confess something here?  I might be the only beauty editor and makeup aficionado on the planet who doesn’t have spontaneous orgasms because of DiorShow’s so-called fabulosity.  Now, I like DiorShow.  I name check it in Beauty Confidential (page 110), and it is, indeed, very, very good.  But I always feel like I’m missing something when I read flowery, gushing, OTT reviews proclaiming it as The Best Ever!  Really?  Ever?  For me, the brush is just a bit too fat, and I can’t reach those tiny hidden corner lashes that you don’t notice until they’re defined (and then it’s, like, Wow!), and I find it awfully prone to clumping, and I simply can’t stand that rose scent.  I feel like I’m using my great-grandmother’s mascara from 1893.  Don’t get me wrong: I don’t stabby-hate it.  There will just be no babies made with it.  Et tu, beautés?

Et voila!  You asked for my Vi Peel photos, and here they are.  On the left is the “before” photo, taken six weeks ago.  On the right is the “after” photo, taken this afternoon.  I’m wearing mascara and a little eye shadow in today’s picture, but am not wearing any other makeup; both photos are WYSIWYG.  For a larger, in-your-face (or, rather, in-my-face) version, check out this link. 

Now that I’ve had a chance to compare the side-by-side shots, the difference is actually pretty remarkable and leads me to say that I would enthusiastically recommend the Vi Peel to those with pigmentation problems.  (My doctors at Profiles Beverly Hills performed mine.)  And, by the way, if the scary “Nadine without her makeup!” photo on the left isn’t the world’s greatest advertisement for Bare Minerals foundation (I told you all I had ruddy, messy skin!), I don’t know what the hell is.

Finally, visit my new Jolie page on You Tube for two laughable videos I took of myself the day and night following my Vi Peel with my new Flip camera.  Seriously.  No making fun.  (Um, and maybe you shouldn’t look at the videos while you’re eating.  Day two of the peel is absolutely disgusting.)  Loving my Flip, however!  I’ll start uploading some fun how-to videos for your enjoyment.

xo, J!

So, remember how I said I went to Miami this weekend for a day?  It all happened so quickly that I barely remember the actual trip!  Note to self…flying across the country for less than 24 hours is not reeeally worth it, unless Eddie Vedder will be waiting for you when you disembark.  I was invited by Nivea to attend the Shay Todd fashion show, and stayed at the Hotel de Soleil on Ocean Drive.  After the show, I went to the after party at Mokai, and then (randomly!) encountered a dear old friend at Set.  I’m working with Nivea to have a giveaway for you, so I should have those details Friday…stay tuned!

The Shay Todd fashion show at the Setai Hotel, sponsored by Nivea and (my favorite antioxidant cocktail!) VeeV

My room at the Hotel de Soleil

Another view of my sadly underenjoyed room at the Hotel de Soleil

Hotel balcony - with private jacuzzi!  No time to enjoy it, alas

Me, at the Shay Todd show.  I started off the evening with sleek, straight hair.  Five minutes later, I kid you not, I ran back to my hotel room to find a rubber band and put it in a ponytail.  How I ever survived south Florida summers, I shall never know.  (Oh, right, because I fled!)

Friends at Set

I apologize for taking so long to upload the photos from last month’s charity beauty sale - we raised $651 for City of Hope’s Beauty Can Cure fundraiser, and I hope it was the first of many charity events to come!

One of the skincare tables

Makeup, perfume, nail polish and “swag bags”

Nice, neat and organized…before the beauty vultures happily descended!

Literally five minutes after the sale began, it was packed

And, sadly, we sold out almost instantly.  Onto the next charity sale!  Thank you to everybody who came!

Sure, Hayden Panettiere is the, oh, seventeenth Hollywood starlet to chop all her hair off–but I think it’s adorable and very fresh.  I’m contemplating a crop of my own…what do you think? 

Photo from People.com

It’s almost yawn-inducing: yet another appearance of Kate Middleton at an upper-crust event (in this case, the wedding of Lady Rose, daughter of the Duke of Gloucester), flawless hair gleaming, killer legs leading the way.   But that “almost” contains the space between promise and fulfillment; between dreams and reality.  This girl’s entire existence currently hinges on the concept of ”almost”…and every little glimpse of the march toward history is just too fascinating–and c’mon, kind of perilous–to be boring. 

So, lovelies…when’s the date? 

Siblings Gabriella and Freddie Windsor (I find Gabriella really adorable and don’t understand why she doesn’t receive more coverage)

Peter and Autumn Phillips

All photos from Dailymail.co.uk

What were you doing this weekend?  If you’re any kind of fabulous, you were either in Bridgehampton at the Mercedes Benz Polo Challenge 2008 (like Chace Crawford, Nicky Hilton and Argentine pretty boy Polo spokesman Nacho Figueras), or in Midhurst, England (my old stomping grounds!) at the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at Cowdray.  (I did not polo, so therefore, I am not fabulous.  Simple math.) 

Model Jodie Kidd (sister of makeup artist Jemma Kidd) sporting baby blue nail polish on her toes and multi-colored pink, orange and yellow on her nails.  Unexpected!

Photo from Dailymail.co.uk

Chace Crawford, not trying to be gorgeous, but unable to help it

Photo from People.com