If it's good enough for Cate...

Cate Blanchett kicked the Spanish Armada's stern in Elizabeth. Cate Blanchett managed to make elf ears look cool. Cate Blanchett sometimes looks like Bob Dylan. Cate Blanchett has 3 kids and is thirty-nine years old and looks absolutely gorgeous. 

Let me state that this is not Hollywood gorgeous. (Compare CB to Nicole Kidman, her fellow Aussie, who IMO has sold her redheaded beauty birthright for a mess of blonde-botox-pottage.) Part of Cate's beauty is that she's not pathetically trying to stave off time or look like she's 25; much of her sheer gorgeousness is that her inner qualities -- talent, passion, intellect -- shine brighter than her physical charms. That said, her stint as the face of SK-II makes me want to buy up their entire line. I'm most charmed by this statement: 

...there is an intrinsic beauty in every living thing and ... we are at our most beautiful when we are true to this essence, true to our uniquely individual beauty - making our skincare ritual unlike any other.

And on to the products: what Cate espouses on the site are the Skin Refining products -- lotions, a mask, a cream, and a brightener that even out skin tone (in Cate's case, the melasma she had during pregnancy). If you're prone to sun damage or your skin needs a boost following a baby, you can find SK-II products at Saks Fifth Avenue stores or shop online here. The products aren't cheap, but one look at Cate's skin and my wallet is on the counter. 

What I'm waiting for: a TV show called "Cate Blanchett is my BFF." Sadly, anyone who repels the Spanish Armada would never star in that show.

Look like an angel

So the other day I happened to catch an interview with Lil of Seraphim Skincare on our local news morning variety show. What I saw -- a simple routine for better skin, focusing on retin-A products applied with an easy-peasy 2-step technique. Lil's no-BS manner and warm personality (and great skin!) drew me to check out the website, where I took a look at the amazing before and after pics. Her skin really does look younger, with nary a freckle in sight. When I punched up the product listing, I saw the terms "peel and bleach" -- which would normally have me running away like a bandit. But based on what I saw on the TV how-to, the peeling is nothing more than a good exfoliation. And let's face it: like most women, I use SPF but not consistently, and could use a little turn-back-the-clockage on a few sunspots. If you're scared of retin-A, you may want to take a second look and see what the technique can do for you.

La Creme de la Creme

I recently had lunch with a friend of mine who always looks good, but on this particular afternoon, looked amazing. Her skin was absolutely glowing, and she looked easily five years younger than the last time I saw her. I raved about her appearance (secretly wondering to myself, did she have work done?) and she confessed that she'd recently started using La Mer foundation. "You must try it," she told me. And I want to ... but it's a whopping $85 for 1 ounce. I'd like to try it at a makeup counter to see if it's worth the hype. The thing is, given how great my friend's skin looks, I'm truly worried I'm going to get hooked, and that's one expensive addiction. How much are you willing to spend to look good?

Beauty Deal of the Day

Glycolic peels do wonders for your complexion; the glycolic acid sloughs off old skin and encourages the growth of new cells. Trouble is, go to a medi-spa or dermatologist and you'll pay $100, minimum, for a glycolic peel ... not exactly cheap. Which is why I was thrilled to recently get the chance to try out Boots' new DIY glycolic peel kit, which costs just $25 (and is good for several uses). It contains about a third of the acid that you'd receive from a medical peel in a doctor's office, but certainly enough to be effective--my skin certainly looked glowier after using it. Bonus: the lower acid content means it stings less (read: barely at all) than an Rx peel.

Luscious Lips

Confession: I'd love for my lips to look fuller and younger. I'm not talking Angelina Jolie-inspired pillows--just less deflated (and flaky!) than they are now. Which is why I was so excited to try Olay's Regenerist Anti-Aging Lip Treatment. I've only been using it for 3 days, but I'm already impressed--maybe it's all in my head, but I swear my lips are smoother already, and maybe a bit more plump, too. I'll check back in a week or two from now to let you know if I've seen more improvement.

Don't Forget Your Hands!

When it comes to fighting aging, I usually concentrate on my face: does my forehead look sun-damaged? Do I have new crow's feet around my eyes? Do my lips still look plump? What I rarely think about are my hands, which is a big mistake: dermatologists say that the skin on the backs of the hands often ages as fast, if not faster, than the skin on the face, because it's thin and contains less fat and collagen. There are a slew of anti-aging hand creams on the market--for example, Lancome's Absolue Hand--but I'm taking baby steps and starting by applying my SPF/anti-aging face products to my hands in the morning. What do you use to keep your hands looking youthful?

How Young Is Too Young?

According to AdWeek, GenY women are deeply afraid of wrinkles, and as a result, are buying anti-aging products, like Olay's Definity Line, by the boatload. On the one hand, the majority of these women have a good decade before they begin to show signs of aging--making me wonder if they're wasting their money. On the other, I'm tempted to think this is a case of "better safe than sorry". And I can't help but wonder what I'd look like if I'd started slathering on anti-wrinkle creams 10 years ago. What do you think--will an ounce of prevention in your 20s pay off in your 30s and beyond?