• Forty percent of women aged 18 and older remember their first kiss clearly, as compared to 35 percent of men.
• Almost half of U.S. men (47 percent) aged 18 and older say they like a woman’s lips to be completely natural - nothing on them at all.
• More than a third of men (36 percent) say they do not like to kiss a woman who is wearing a lot of lipstick.
• More than half of men (55 percent) aged 18 and older prefer to kiss a woman with soft, well cared-for lips.
• Half (51 percent) of women think that “soft lips are more kissable.” 
• Women are more apt to take care of their lips with lip balm than men (46 percent vs. 26 percent).
• Approximately 41 percent of women feel that dry, chapped lips “make a woman look older.”

The above stats come from a survey done by Softlips, who is currently running  a pretty cool contest seeking the “best lips in America”. The winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500, a one-year supply of Softlips products and possibly be featured in future Softlips promotional materials.  The search is open to legal female U.S. residents aged 18 or older, and entrants will be judged by a panel of expert judges, including Danielle Korwin, president of the Parts Models modeling agency in New York City, the only modeling firm in the U.S. that specializes in parts models – lips, eyes, hands, feet, etc.  Contest entries will be accepted online (with digital image) at www.softlips.com or via U.S. mail at Softlips® “Picture Perfect Lips” Search, P.O. Box 675, Mount Kisco, NY 10549, through Dec. 31, 2007.  Winners will be announced and prizes awarded in January 2008.

Bikini in hand, sunblock on skin, and still not feeling quite ready to brave the sun and surf? Hair color expert Joey Noufal, owner of Noufal Hair Design Studio (www.noufalhairstudio.com) outside of Washington, DC, has been kind enough to offer us some tips on achieving beach-sexy hair this season.

• Add sun-kissed highlights: Noufal says the goal is to lift up your natural color and does not necessarily have to be created with blond highlights. Depending on how dark or light your color is will determine the best “sun-kissed” colors to add. Adding this type of highlights really brightens you up.
• More body in the hair: Noufal recommends creating a lot of texture throughout your hair, particularly in the ends. Use a big barrel curling iron or hot rollers to add the body and texture.
• Beach-ready hair: Noufal says once the texture is created by an iron or rollers, to not brush it out. Rather, he recommends using your fingers to separate.
• Soften the bangs: Noufal suggests you blow dry your bangs a little to soften the front and to use a diffuser for the back and sides if you have a little wave. Maximize your natural texture if you have it.
• Compliment the hair: Noufal adds that to finish the beach sexy look, to use a tinted moisturizer instead of your normal foundation for a lighter and more natural look. He also recommends using a gloss with a natural color, creating a dew affect. Apply waterproof mascara and use a colored eyeliner to emphasize your eyes. Avoid darker eye colors and stay away from a smoky eye affect for a beach look. Finally, consider using a great bronzing powder to complete your look.

Today, Dr. McDreamy (aka Dr. Jeff) and I played with wax.

It is step one toward him de-funking my smile and make me emanantly hotter. He applied the dental wax to give an idea of what my teeth will look like when they are beautified.

Next step: “Before” photo shoot!

“Keeping skin radiant is top of mind for almost everyone. Collagen breakdown in the skin may contribute to the formation of wrinkles. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the production of collagen. One serving of 100 percent grapefruit juice contains 72 milligrams of vitamin C, more than a full day’s supply. People concerned about weight gain would be happy to know this juice is fat free with less than 100 calories in each eight-ounce serving.”

– Cheryl Forberg RD, consulting nutritionist of NBC’s The Biggest Loser

Perpetual pursuit of perfect pink has reached its penultimate conclusion.

Carolyn New York was created by Carolyn Cianciotto, known to be the east coast’s grand dame of manis and pedis, and is revolutionary in that it is environmentally safe (DBP free!) AND cute. (So you get to feel good about yourself and your health while wearing hot colors.) What makes it cooler is that each polish color is a tribute to the personality of New York (ie: Park Avenue Princess, Bronx Babe, or Tribeca Trendster).

PS: My new favorite color? It’s called The Bronx and is available online at www.carolynnewyork.com

Last week in pre-prom planning mode, a decision of great importance had to be reached:

What would I do with my toes?

A quality salon pedicure is always best (and most fun!), but if you are like me and running around like a chicken without its head at the 11th hour of all your important events, there may be an answer:

Each kit of Kiss Fashion ToeNail Accents Kit contains a variety of toe nails and sizes for you to trim and glue on - and, check it out, it comes in hot pink. Stick them on and you have pretty toes to cover your own semi-fugly ones in time for your important event.

Consider it wigs for your toes.

[And all we have is breath mints and old condoms...]

LONDON, May 11 — The introduction of sex toys into nightclubs across the UK is going down well [those Brits and their puns] according to the UK’s largest nightclub operator, Luminar Leisure.

Luminar, owners of the Oceana and Liquid nightclubs, has agreed to a deal with leading pleasure retailer Ann Summers to introduce a range of products into six late-night venues.

The range has been selected from Ann Summers best selling products and is available from branded vending machines that have been tactically positioned within venues to make them accessible to all clubbers. [I would assume near the alcohol, the bathrooms, and possibly the back alley.]

The trial - which is already proving popular with women and hen and stag parties - is due to be ramped up with the installation of machines into an additional six clubs this month.

Products available to clubbers include naughty sweets, forfeit cards, lube, garters and their best selling Rampant Rabbit.

“The products are being purchased mainly by women but are also proving popular with party groups… The July smoking ban will have an obvious impact on revenue generated from cigarettes but these new machines are not only adding to the fun club experience but sales have also been very encouraging.” said Luminar. [Brilliant. Replace one oral fixation with another.]

Ann Summers Chief Executive Jacqueline Gold said: “Now that you can buy our world famous products in Luminar venues it guarantees clubbers the perfect end to a great night. From a woman’s perspective, unlike anything else you might take home with you, this one is guaranteed to perform, will look as good the morning after, and won’t lie about calling you!”

Many of you have written in about the adorable Oka b. flip flops. Guess what? Oka b. created a promo code so you can get a pair of your own!

When ordering from the website, you will see a space to enter a promo code at checkout.  All you have to do is type in SPRING and continue checking out. On the following page outlining your purchase you will be able to see the discount, which is 20% off the entire purchase!

There’s a restaurant my friends and I are addicted to called Sushi Samba. A fusion of Brazilian and Japanese fare, it is our Restaurant Week spot-of-choice and at the top of our special occasions list.

I realized last night after returning from Shampoo Avenue B, my new village hair haven, that my hair IS Sushi Samba.

I returned there yesterday to see Daniel to get the a little hair therapy. With half-grown out Japanese thermal straightening and months of flat ironing damaging, I was a bit of a mess. Daniel promised to try the new rave of Brazil on me.

The Brazilian Keratin treatment is a revolutionary treatment that is both less expensive and safer than the Japanese straightening treatment. (Which I fear is the root of my breakage dilemma, and protein was but a scape goat.)

Keratin is a type of protein high in sulphur and the amino acid cystine, making it tough, elastic and insoluble, and is the main protective substance in our hair, skin and nails. It’s tough stuff and when infused into the hair will improve and repair the quality of the hair from the inside, and this strength, elasticity and moisture result in the smooth, soft, shiny and straightened effect.

Technically, this is not a relaxer or a straightener, it’s just that keratin makes your hair stronger, which makes it straighter. (TAKE THAT, WEAK CURLY HAIR!) Alas, it is not permanent for that reason, either - and will have to be redone every three months - interestingly, the more damaged your hair is, the longer it generally lasts.

The process is way simpler than the Japanese straightening as well. You begin with a shampoo designed to open the cuticle and then blow dry. Following that, you iron small bunches of hair close to the scalp with a lower heat (warning, this part smells a bit funky, but it’s for a good cause!). Then iron the entire head with a high heat to seal in the keratin.

The results? I went to my Relay for Life benefit last night at Cocoa Bar with smooth, silky, straight hair. Plus, it made the color that Harley gave me last week even shinier and brighter. I need to wait a few days to wash my hair, but then it should stay straight for about 3 months as the keratin washes out, and then need a redo. Oh, and rumor has it I have to stay away from sodium chloride as well, which possibly can cause the the keratin to wash out sooner. (So much for being a salty girl!)

Summary: Yay!

The front page story of the New York Times today is, doctors being paid to drug children.

Here’s an excerpt from that story:

From 2000 to 2005, drug maker payments to Minnesota psychiatrists rose more than sixfold, to $1.6 million. During those same years, prescriptions of antipsychotics for children in Minnesota’s Medicaid program rose more than ninefold.

Click here: Psychiatrists, Children and Drug Industry’s Role - New York Times