Concessions and compromises are being made to get the health-care-reform bill through the Senate, including replacing the proposed five percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery with a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning. Botulinum toxin for everyone! [NYT]
120 hopefuls competed to become the first transsexual Miss India this weekend. No word as to whether similarly [...]

GOJI BERRY/(Goh-jee be-ree)/n./ 1. A small evergreen shrub found in temperate and subtropical regions in China, Mongolia, and in the Himalayas in Tibet, also called wolfberries; /n./ 2. Dried, shriveled red berries used for 6,000 years by herbalists in China, Tibet, and India to boost immune function, improve circulation, promote longevity, and even increase fertility [...]

This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
I am 29 and starting to notice the early signs of aging. What is the best course of action to either diminish or prevent these [...]

After two and a half years of trying to create a new kind of cream foundation with long-lasting, medium coverage that’s still buildable and hydrating (no more cakey makeup face, thanks), MAC Cosmetics is launching its new Well-Defined line this weekend. We first reported on the brand’s “life-changing” Studio Sculpt foundation last fall, when we [...]

GREEN TEA/(Green Tee)/n./ 1. The unfermented leaves of a magnolia-related evergreen tree with the botanical name Camellia sinensis; /n./ 2. An ancient herbal drink rich in polyphenols, known for its high antioxidant levels and a reported ability to fight free radicals and prevent photo aging caused by the sun, e.g., “So much more than a [...]

After predicting 2008’s gold trend, a luxury lash revolution that saw thickeners and vibrating wands wow consumers worldwide, and a collective embrace of all things Amazonian, we’ve come to respect and actually look forward to Spa Finder magazine’s annual beauty trend report. While the economic downturn looks like it will put the focus in 2009 [...]

TURMERIC/(tur-mer-ik)/n./ 1. The root of the Curcuma longa plant native to Indonesia and southern India, possessing a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh; /n./ 2. Traditionally called Indian saffron, this peppery spice has served as a condiment, textile dye, and revered member of the ayurvedic pharmacopeia for 5,000 years, prized for anti-inflammatory and [...]

In the increasingly oversaturated hair care category, a truly innovative product line rarely emerges. But the Ookisa Hair Thickening Systéme caught our attention for its trifecta of buzz-worthy attributes. Specifically formulated to address the hot topic of aging, the line focuses on the issue of weak, thinning hair and hair loss. That’s selling point number [...]

APPLESEED EXTRACT/ (a-pel-seed ek-strakt)/n./ 1. A substance derived from the fertilized, ripened ovules of a flowering, edible pomme fruit, typically found on a cultivated tree of the rose family; /n./ 2. Possessing powerful antioxidants and rich in polyphenols, essential fatty acids, and AHAs, the seeds from one of fall’s favorite fruits have become popular among [...]

ACEROLA/(as-uh-roh-luh)/ n./ 1. The cherrylike fruit of the small tree Malpighia glabra, common to the West Indies and adjacent areas; / n./ 2. Also known as the Barbados cherry, this emerging superfruit is said to be 20 to 30 times richer in vitamin C than the orange and is becoming prevalent in the beauty industry [...]