Dec 30, 2006

Metallic, coffeeberry new beauty buzzwords

Associated Press

If 2007 is shaping up to be a year of neutral colors and looser silhouettes in your wardrobe, you might want to consider counterbalancing that with a little sparkle on your face.

A touch of metallic is a good look, says Linda Wells, editor-in-chief of Allure magazine.

"Metallic eye shadow - we saw it on the runways, it brings a brightness to the skin, and it can be mild and sheer, or it can be robotic. It has a huge range of effects - and it definitely makes you look more awake," Wells observed.

But, she cautions, don't overdo it. Choose metallic for eyes or cheek, not both, and pair with a soft pastel lipstick, perhaps the one already in your makeup bag.

Your might want to remove the bronzer, though.

"We are done with bronzer as a way to look tan. It can be a substitute for blusher in warm weather months - that's OK - but we won't be seeing the all-over bronze look. It looks fake, and it can even look dusty or dirty," Wells said.

What Wells really is looking forward to is a new face cream from Revale Skin that uses coffeeberry extract from the fruit that grows alongside the coffee bean. The product, which will be sold by dermatologists and plastic surgeons but does not require a prescription, will be unveiled in February at a meeting of the American Academy of Dermatologists.

The coffeeberry has been tested to show higher levels of antioxidants than pomegranate or white tea and it has high levels of polyphenols, which are touted as a defense to cellular damage of the skin, according to Wells.

Better yet, adds Wells, it protects from UVA and UVB rays - fitting in with that "don't-be-too-tanned" look - and it also provides significant hydration.