Sometimes I get questions that throw me for a loop. One gal wrote in to ask me for hydroquinone directions proactive; since I’ve started researching the proactive acne system for you, I figure this was something I’d better look into.

I already know what hydroquinone is. It’s a bleaching solution used in some acne products to even out skin tone. Basically age spots, blemishes and any darker pigmented areas that need to be removed to make you skin tone more even. According to the chat boards I checked out, this is a concern for women of color for obvious reasons. So my next job was to see if proactive acne treatment contains hydroquinone. This was interesting.

I read the ingredients list in the proactive renewing cleanser, revitalizing toner, and the repairing lotion. None of them contain the ingredient hydroquinone. Much less anything referring to hydroquinone directions proactive.

From my research I think that the focus of the Proactiv Solution 5-piece kit is more preventative than anything. But I can also tell you that after a couple of weeks it did even out my skin tone. I’m not sure yet if it’s because of the tiny exfoliating benzoyl peroxide granules that prevent future breakouts and slough away older skin, or if something about the calming botanicals in the toner adds to that. So I’m off to do a bit more research for you. Happy Skin Health!!

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Did you know that 90% of teenagers get acne, and a full 50% of adult women get it? And if you go through hormone changes (like pregnancy) chances are even high that you’ll get it. I know. The myth of “you’ll grow out of it” is not lost on me. Besides, if there is a single skin issue that I get the most questions about- it’s acne.

That’s what prompted me to try some of the dermatologist created products that I see advertised on the market. And the Unilever Proactiv Solution 5-piece kit program is getting a lot of attention now that it has Jessica Simpson added to its list of celebrity spokespersons. (But for the life of me, I just don’t recall seeing Jessica all pimply faced and broken out- do you?)

So I decided to try it for myself. I mean for you. I definitely did this for you, my loyal readers. (OK, maybe for me too.)

Here’s what I found out. The Unilever Proactiv Acne Treatment program is basically a 3-step cleansing process. Like any decent skin program it’s got a cleanser, toner and moisturizer. I guess the difference is what’s in then. Both the unilever proactive acne treatment cleanser and repairing lotion contain miniscule grains of prescription grade benzoyl peroxide. You already know benzoyl peroxide as the acne-fighting ingredient. But it-

Wait! Let me tell you first that it really does help my skin. I saw results.

OK- what I was going to say is that it works so much better than typical over the counter products for two reasons. One is simply that it’s prescription grade. But also, I think that the botanicals in the toner calm down all the irritated and inflamed pimples and pores.

I’ll do some more research because I’m really intrigued by this product, and I want to be able to explain it to you in-depth. In the meantime you can go online and look for the unilever proactive acne treatment program. Can’t wait to find out if you like it as much as I do.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Most of us would like to feel more self-confident but aren’t sure how to go about acquiring this feeling. It may even seem like some people are born with it. Perhaps that is true for a small percentage of the population but the majority of confident people have developed this skill.

Confidence is simply a matter of practice based on a firm decision.

Let me give you an example. Say that you have always wanted to be an actor but have been too shy to go on auditions. You decide whether being an actor is important enough to overcome this aversion. If the answer is yes, then you make your next decision to go on an audition. If the answer is still yes, you agree to go on another and another until you are confident enough to go on auditions without even thinking about it anymore.

The act of making a decision, acting on it and following through repeatedly will enable you to be confident in this arena. And this can be applied to any goal that you have whether it is career oriented or relationship oriented.

Another tool that can help build confidence is what I call the small successes route. Taking the example above, if you came to m

e with the need to build confidence on an audition, I would have you pick out an audition that you don’t want or could care less about. I would then have you go on that audition just to practice. Maybe you get the part. Maybe you don’t. Who cares?

Once you get through that audition, you go on one that is slightly more important, and then another and another. By the time you get to the “big one” you would be strolling in like a pro.

And the final ingredient to confidence is preparation. Let’s say that you have never been on an audition before. Perhaps there is some knowledge that you will need to give you an edge over the competition. Well a few things that any professional actor would need is a good headshot, a resume ( this does not have to be a stellar list of tv and movie performances at this point), and two prepared monologues or the sides from the audition. You would also need to get there about a half an hour early to prepare and check in.Would knowing these things before you went to that audition make you feel more confident? Of course it would.

When deciding on a goal, research it first. Being prepared builds confidence and makes your seem like more of a professional.

If you can get just these three self confidence boosting ingredients mastered you will never have the need to feel nervous or uncertain again.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

P.S. I have just extended my business coaching program to include life coaching. If you need to build confidence, analyze your goals and create a step by step plan of how to reach them check out my self confidence coaching program

How often does a girl get the chance to shine like a star in her dream dress and (hopefully) with a dreamy date? Frankly, I think the date matters less than the dress! You can go to your prom with a friend and have a blast just getting dressed to the nines and letting yourself shine.

So when you decide how to do your eye makeup for prom, this is a great chance to go over the top. Maybe you’re an athlete, a bookworm or a pretty laid back gal on a normal day. To heck with that! At your prom- you are whoever you want to be- a Goth girl, a princess or a sultry minx.

Here are some really easy ways to make your eyes pop with your starting new look. One of my favorite techniques is to use a shimmery cream shadow after you apply your basic eye makeup. Some thing like the Nars Duo Cream Eyeshadow Summer Time that comes in Champagne Shimmer and Sunset Gold is really dramatic. Take some of the gold and gently smear it on the outer corners of your lids. The creamy shimmer creates an amazing effect that will make your eyes pop! Glitters also work well

Another “here I am” idea for prom is to use some funky fake eyelashes. Really- how often do you get to wear these? Try the Hard Candy Lash Freak Lashes Fantasy. These come in choices like silver, purple and blue. What a fun way to do your eyes! There are a ton of ideas on how to do your eye makeup for prom- enjoy!

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

It’s funny- as little girls we did those “we must increase our bust” exercises, and stuffed our bras with tissue. Now, as grown women, some of us are still trying to figure out how to get bigger breasts. Maybe you never quite grew into that “A” cup. Or maybe a child or two later has taken a toll on your youthful firmness and size.

Here’s that great thing. We have options. Twenty years ago- well, our moms had to deal with what nature had given them. Or had taken away. But we have choices.

Due to the enormous requests for information on the subject of breast augmentation, I’ve spent the past week looking up information on how to get bigger breast. You have two choices. Surgery or natural methods.

Surgery has its costs. Financially, you should plan to spend between $6-8 thousand on breast augmentation. There is also the cost of recovery time, possible bloating and scarring, and the health risks that any surgery involves.

Your other option is to find a natural route. You’ll find plenty of people hawking supplements that claim to get good results. Look for a program that’s been around for years, combines supplements with massage or exercise, and has a faithful following. The one I’ve come across with most the consistent results if the Flat2Fab program. It’s been around since 1998, comes with a book that explains how to do the massage methods, and uses a combination of herbal supplements to encourage growth of breast tissue. The supplement is Breast Success, and it has a slew of enthusiastic followers.

So if you are still wondering how to get bigger breasts- don’t give up! The answers are out there. And they can be easier, and less expensive than you might think.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

When you are shopping around for anti aging cosmetics, what are some things that you look for? Do you want a foundation that does double duty by tightening your skin or reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while it provides coverage? Or perhaps you want something that will give your skin a youthful glow. Whatever the case, there are a lot of products out there and many claim to make you look younger in one way or another.

Some are true in their claims while others are just full of hype. So how do you choose and know that you are getting the real deal and not a bunch of hype? Because I’m going to tell you about some of the best anti aging cosmetics out there.

Benefit has several really cool products out there. The first one that I want to introduce you to is Benefit Cosmetics Firmology Toning & Smoothing Serum 1.7 oz. It is formulated for the face and neck areas and it firms, tones, smoothes and revitalizes your complexion. It leaves your skin with a radiant, youthful glow that is silky to the touch. This serum is oil free and very lightweight, but the really cool thing about it is the luminous light reflecting pigment. It literally makes you have a healthy, dewy glow! Now you can have radiant skin without having to put on a bunch of makeup! This could very well become your “makeupless makeup.”

This might not fall under the anti aging category, but it is a must have all the same. And if you are starting to show some signs of age, you really can not do without this little gem. I am talking about the Benefit Cosmetics Eye Bright. This is a little pink pencil and it will brighten your eyes, making you look younger and more rested in no time. All you have to do is dab a little at the inner corner of your eyes and blend. If you have dark circles, you can blend a little under your eyes as well. For a little more pick me up, smudge a little just under the brow for a quickie eye lift. Carry it with you for touch ups. In fact, you will probably want to get one for your makeup bag and one for your desk at work. This is one quick, great way to look fresh and young and you don’t want to do without it.

If you are looking to get a pretty pout, well, then pucker up for Benefit Cosmetics Lipscription. You get two barrel action with this system. One tube buffs away the dry skin from your lips by using AHA and jojoba enriched scrubbing beads. The other tube provides a layer of moisture that is rich and hydrating. This system will leave your lips smooth, plump and oh, so kissable!

As skin ages it becomes drier. When your skin is dry, most makeup looks caked on and you can see every single line and wrinkle. Well, Benefit Cosmetics You Rebel 1.7 oz, a tinted moisturizer that will give you a moisturized complexion coverage that is smooth and has an SPF of 15. If you have dry skin, this is really the way to go. This stuff will give you coverage with the moisture that your skin so desperately needs.

Now, I would not necessarily put this little product in the anti aging category, but it is so darn cool I just had to mention it here! BeneFit Benetint, is a cheek and lip stain. It gives you a healthy flush of color that is sheer and radiant. They claim that when you use it as a lip tint that it is kiss proof. Hmmm, it sure would be fun to test that claim! All you have to do is dab a little on your skin or lips (make sure that they are well moisturized) and blend it with your fingertips. Then you have a healthy, youthful glow!

Now, to finish your face, I want to tell you about this wonderful eye shadow by Benefit. Their Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner is blendable and comes in beautiful shades. But they don’t crease. This is good news for those looking for anti aging products for two reasons. One, the cream shadow gives a softer, more natural look and is kinder to the eye that may be starting to get a few lines or wrinkles. Two, the shadow is creaseless so it won’t pack into fine lines, making them look more like crevices.

So, now you have the youthful, age defying face, brought to you by Benefit!

I just love it when a company provides products that are so good that you can almost do all of your shopping with them. Don’t you?

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Wow- I’m amazed at all the issues the topic of breast augmentation brings up. The latest are on breast augmentation and bloating. Well, yes, from the research I’ve done this is an issue. And not just in your breasts! Some women report that their stomachs swell up to look like they are pregnant for a couple of weeks after the surgery. Apparently that’s due to the IV fluids and anesthesia.

The only thing to do is wait it out. But if you are considering breast enlargement- know your options. Surgical procedures are definitely available- but there are a lot of risks and side effects: bloating, itching, scarring, infection, ect…That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it. But weigh your risks accordingly.

The other alternatives are the natural breastlift options that usually include herbal supplements and targeted exercises. I’m always a bit skeptical about any product I share with you. So I really scoured the chatrooms and message boards to find something that women have had a lot of success with. If you really want a non-surgical option where you won’t have to worry about side effects like infection from breast augmentation and bloating, I found a book based program that seems to have a lot of devotees.

It’s called the Flat to Fab Breast Enhancement Program by Lucille Marie. It combines natural herbal supplements that strengthen breast tissue with targeted massage techniques. It’s available at www.Flat2Fab.com and is educational rather than just trying to sell you something. And I’m a firm believer in gathering the facts! Whatever route you choose, I’d love to hear your results.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

When you peer into the mirror, searching breathlessly for the first inklings of (gasp!) wrinkles, where do you look first? Yep, the eye area.

When the first signs of aging come creeping in, the eye area is usually the first place that you will notice it. You see those fine lines under your eyes, the crow’s feet and the dark under eye circles. It is just so not cool and can make you look old way before you are ready to look old(er).

Of course, the best time to start with anti-aging skin treatments is before the signs of aging start setting in, but when you are young and free you don’t usually think of such things. And you certainly never think that it will happen to you.

Who, me? Get old? Never!

Wake up, sweetheart, the aging process does not discriminate!

Sephora.com has some of the best antiaging skin treatments, specifically for the eye area, available on their web site. Cosmedicine Opti-mologist Eye Cream with Light Diffusers 0.5 oz, sold exclusively at Sephora, is a lightweight eye treatment. It has light diffusing crystals to camouflage dark under eye circles. It also softens lines and wrinkles, making them less noticeable. Puffiness and dark circles are reduced and your eyes look more youthful.

And, girls, we all know that when your eyes look old and tired, you will look older. So, the more that you can do to perk up that area, the younger you will look. Sure, it is important for you to get enough sleep and eat healthy, but a little help from your friends at Sephora sure can’t hurt anything!

Speaking of our friends at Sephora, they also offer, check out this name, Philosophy Hope In A Tube Eye & Lip Cream .5 oz. This is a great little product, not quite as pricey as Cosmedicine Opti-mologist Eye Cream, but still a great anti-aging skin treatment. Hope in a Tube is deeply hydrating for aging skin that lacks moisture and is beginning to show the signs of age and environmental stress. It makes skin resilient and younger looking.

If you want something a little more “serious” for attacking the signs of aging, the anti-aging eye treatment Klein-Becker StriVectin-SD® Eye Cream 1.3 oz USA really rocks. It contains Striadril which has pent peptides, a unique patented formula that will smooth away the fine lines caused by aging. It aids in the buildup of collagen in the skin, which, as you know, we begin to lose as we age. It also is less irritating to the skin than other anti-aging skin treatments.

While all those neat creams and gels are great and everything, there is more to younger looking eyes than meets the eye (pun intended).

You have to take extra care of the skin around your eyes when you remove your eye makeup. Eye makeup remover can take even the toughest mascara and eye makeup right off and, wouldn’t you know it, Sephora answers the call. Sephora FACE Eye Makeup Remover 4.22 oz are just what you need. One formulation is for waterproof eye makeup, such as waterproof mascara, and the other formulation is for makeup that is not waterproof. Both products are gentle and effective. Put a little remover on a cotton pad or cotton swab and gently remove your eye makeup.

Now, I probably don’t need to tell you this, but I will anyway. When you wash your face and remove your eye makeup, be gentle. You don’t want to scrub, especially in the eye area and you sure don’t want to go pulling on the skin around your eyes. That area is very fragile and you can do damage that won’t be very pretty.

When you apply your eye cream or gel, use your ring finger to gently dot it on. You don’t want to rub it into your skin because that is just too harsh. Be gentle.

So, getting older doesn’t have to be traumatic. You can get older and look great. Just because you have more candles on your birthday cake doesn’t mean that you have to give in to it. If you take care of your skin, start early and remember to be gentle, you don’t have to deal with having so many of those fine lines and dark circles. So, girls, take care of that eye area with eye makeup remover and an anti-aging cream or gel. When you flash those peepers, you want them to see your youthful, lovely eyes, and nary a wrinkle in sight.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Listen, if you’ve thought about some sort of breast enhancement, you’re not alone. This is a question I’ve been getting more and more of lately. And the most questions are about the safety and cost of breast augmentation. A lot of you really want to do something about your too small or sagging breasts, but are worried about the costs and risks associated with surgery.

Well, I found a 2006 list form the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that gives guidelines for the different procedures. But two things to keep in mind. The info says that you need to adjust by the area you live in – so ask locally for specifics. But you also need to tack on about $2,000 more because the quotes don’t include anesthesia, hospital costs, and follow-up consultations.

Here’s the low down. The ASAPS says you should expect to pay between $6,000- $8,000 in total costs, depending on where you live. Let me break that down for you: silicones gel implants go for $3,813, saline implants, $3,544, and a breast lift for $4,258. Phew! (By the way, a reduction costs even more which seems wrong since they’re actually taking something away!)

Anyway ladies, my advice is to be careful and ask around before undertaking any sort of surgery. A lot of you have asked about natural breastlift options, because the cost of breast augmentation is so high. It’s certainly cheaper to try a product like Breast Success, and it’s a more natural way to go. You may even want to combine it with a physical program to build up your pectoral muscles with a program like FlattoFab. If you are wary of surgery risks or costs, these are a pretty safe option. I’ll keep scouring my sources for info, because this is clearly an area where you want to know more.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Breasts matter. There I’ve said it. And I know it’s true because so many of you have written to me about feeling embarrassed and depressed that your small or sagging breasts cause you this embarrassment. But you know what- as a woman, feeling confident about your body, and proud of it, is important!

Still, a lot of you have told me that you are really hesitant about any type of surgery. Despite the industry’s claim of better and non-invasive procedures.

You want to know if there is really a way to get a natural breastlift. Or if all the advertised products are just a lot of hype. Here’s what I’ve discovered: Products that claim to offer a natural breastlift either rely on herbal supplements, or a combination of those and exercise. Well, I do know that certain pectoral exercises can build up the muscles behind your breast tissue and give a more uplifted appearance. As for herbal supplements, it’s the added estrogen that affects breast tissue. In fact, I just read something about young boys who were using products with tea tree oil (like soap or toothpaste) who experienced breast development. Bet their Dads throw those products right out the window!

But if you want to try a product that combines the use of natural herbal supplements and exercise, I did find a product at www.flattofab.com that seems promising. They’ve been around since 1998 and offer a 6-month money back guarantee. The herbal product they offer is called Breast Success and uses 13 herbal supplements to create plant estrogens that grow breast tissue. Their success stories and years in business are definitely worth the small investment compared to surgical options that can cost almost $5,000. And I like the fact that they combine the supplements with specific exercises. So it’s not exactly a “get breasts quick scheme”, rather a realistic commitment you make to the program.

Check it out for yourself

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls