The Best and Worst Beauty Products

If you're like me, you just love trying new cosmetics and beauty products. While some deliver on their promises, many fail to live up to their hype.

Skin care has come a long way in recent decades. Previously, the only effective creams were super-expensive and could only be purchased from elite dermatologists. But with mucho dinero on the line, every major beauty company is vying for a chunk of the $200-billion global cosmetics market. This ferocious competition has resulted in innovative products that are available at affordable prices.

Top Raves

Topping my list is the Oil of Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System, which retails at drugstores for $27. Based on a review of 80 consumers at makeupalley.com, this at-home microdermabrasion kit received an overall rating of 4.5 out of a possible score of 5. And 86% of consumers said they would repurchase the product. This easy-to-use kit left my skin velvety soft and smooth at a fraction of the cost of a professional microdermabrasion. Obviously, a procedure at the dermatologist's office provides more dramatic results, but this kit works wonders for do-it-yourself'ers like me. However, some users have complained of breakouts, so use caution if you have sensitive skin.

Another impressive performer is the Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum. This serum, which retails for $18 for a 1.7-oz. bottle, is a great daily moisturizer. It contains dimethicone, which provides a barrier to protect the skin against moisture loss and dehydration. And it goes on matte, so your face doesn't look shiny after your put it on.

A super-effective and inexpensive astringent is generic witch hazel, which you can buy for under $2 per 16-oz. bottle. Dab it on a cotton ball and glide it across your face to remove makeup or to tone your skin after--or instead of--washing your face with soap and water. And because it contains only 14% alcohol, it's mild and non-drying.

Mineral makeup is quickly replacing liquid foundation in many women's makeup routines. Because these are available as pressed or loose powders, they look more natural than liquid foundation and don't make you look like you're wearing a mask. My favorite is Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Face Powder, which retails for $13. This powder got a rating of 4.1 out of 5 from 56 consumers, with 85% saying they would repurchase. And because this powder is mineral- and not talc-based, it has a superfine texture and won't look chalky.

Top Rants

One thing I've learned over the years is that expensive does not mean better. One of the most overrated skin products is Creme de la Mer Moisturizing Cream. This cream retails for $110 per 1-oz. jar. The irony is that it's 44% Vaseline--one of the cheapest moisturizers around! Having been one of those fools who fell for its hype, I was disappointed that putting this on my face was like spreading on spackle. Plus, this cream is just too rich for most people's complexions, and can cause breakouts because of the high concentration of grease...er, I mean,...petroleum jelly.

Another dismal performer is StriVectin SD Cream. This was originally marketed to diminish stretch marks--but lo and behold!-some obscure scientist somewhere, no doubt in tandem with a clever ad agency, discovered that StriVectin also fights wrinkles "better than Botox," according to its ads. And so a new holy-grail cream was born. The only problem is, the stuff doesn't work. I paid $135 for a 6-oz. tube of the cream, which smelled funny and felt like Ben Gay. And others agree: The cream got a dismal 2.5 rating out of 5 from 33 consumers, and only 44% said they would repurchase it.

Don't Fall for the Hype

So the moral is, while there are some truly effective beauty products out there, a lot of them are merely clever marketing ploys. Remember that cosmetics companies play on our collective insecurities in order to market their overpriced products. Do some research before shelling out big bucks for those "miracle creams." It's important to look good, but no one looks good with egg on their face.

The spice of life,fashion and style

The spices of life are more to some and less to others. Contrary to a captain with no hull beneath his deck, but a good steady wind and a pair of Denim flares more befitting a weatherworn sailor feeling his years, to the Far East in search of spices. Time and tide wont let a sailor sleep.

Now its the spices of fashion for men, the rising tide: And, dandyism still contrasting Beau Brummell rejection of 18^th century frills, his mandate; a dark blue coat, buff-coloured pantaloons and waistcoat, black boots and a clean white neck cloth.

The modern sailors uniform, endures and has remained a popular choice for designers to mimic idiosyncratic characters, a simple uniform to draw inspiration from; each changing style to suit forms and functions.

A little more evidence on how history in fashion repeats itself: Bell bottomed trousers were another 'icon' of the square rig uniform. These were practical garments for men who worked sailing ships since they could be rolled up securely to clear the feet and ankles when working the rigging. In common with all other items of a sailor's kit, trousers were kept folded ready for use in a kit bag. Kept inside out to avoid fluff on the outer surface and to avoid 'shine' by ironing, they were folded horizontally at about a hand's width and taped into a rectangular 'block'. When worn, this produced inverted vertical creases down the side of the leg and five or seven, depending on the height of the wearer, horizontal creases down the leg. In time these were accepted as the thing to have and were pressed firmly into place from the early years of the century. Since the First World War bell bottoms were purchased for tradition rather than any practical use but were replaced by flared trousers in 1977.

The three white tapes were said to commemorate Nelsons three great battles The Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar. However there is no truth in this the Admiralty were at one time considering the merits of two stripes as against three. Sailors were assigned to various jobs according to their skill. ... Before 1857 there was no uniform for Royal Navy seamen, who usually wore baggy trousers ... The modern sailor's uniform is the culmination of centuries of tradition and innovation. From silk stockings, frock coats and night caps.

In 1756 a childrens uniform of 'sailor's dress' with distinctive leather caps was adopted, instead of the uniform based on what the pensioners wore....

The sailor's collar deserves a special mention. Tarred pig tails disappeared rapidly after 1815 and the last is recorded as having been seen at sea in 1827. On the other hand, the first broad collars were worn after 1830. Contrary to popular belief, therefore, the two were never worn together.

Enough sea faring stories; now, the gentleman, endowed with wisdom, true to word and honourable handshake. Bereft of principles; no gentleman.

So, clothes befitting is not distinguishable enough to judge mans true character, he chooses to wear governed by mood, taste, budget, status or advice? A pair of faded jeans and linen shirt and sneakers, or the best cut suit from Savile Row and Floorshiems,

However its what suits the individual taste, this is the spice in fashion. The things that add spice to menswear clothing are the accessories, like silk ties, cravats, or scarves. Men wear label badges as recognition of status or club membership. Then there are endless choices of cufflinks in silver Swarovski crystals and most traditionally enamels.

Even more fortunate of the modern man are the designers who mark a new creative direction for mens clothing and accessories. A few fine examples, Vivienne Westwood, Timothy Everest, Ian Flaherty.