Olay

• From from baring all in Allure magazine, Heidi Klum has got naked again, this time for Astor Cosmetics — NYDN
• A woman was tortured in a London store of Lush to show how inhumane animal testing is — Daily Telegraph
• Karlie Kloss at Chanel's Tribeca dinner party is making us fall in love with lower lash liner — FabSugar
• Have your say on the recent round of celebrity dye jobs — Fashionista
• Deborah Mitchell, Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham's facialist, is launching a new skincare product — The Stir
• Shining the spotlight on fragrance: perfume is said to be getting its own reality show — Fashion Etc
• Olay has been named the best-loved brand in the world — Daily Mail
• Stars are loving gold eyeshadow — InStyle US

Just last week, we were telling you that turmeric was the next big buzz ingredient creating waves in the beauty biz, and now it's getting the A-list seal of approval. Thandie Newton says that she adds the spice to her foundation or moisturiser to help match it to her skin tone: "Olay does a great tinted moisturiser that I add a little turmeric to — making it more yellow depending on my skin tone and the season. That's a great trick for all women who find that foundations are too ashy or too pink for their skin. And it's anti-inflammatory. It's my secret weapon," she says.

Uneven skin tone plays a huge part in prematurely ageing us, adding years to our appearance. Until recently pigmentation was thought to be the key factor in uneven skin tone, but recent research suggests that melanogenesis, the process of cells producing melanin, actually only accounts for seven percent of uneven skin tone. Meanwhile poor hydration levels and exfoliation can combine to be a bigger trigger.

As Olay's skincare scientist, Dr. David Khoo, explains: "We took a skin biopsy and we compared 'spot' versus 'non-spot' skin using genomic profiling to better understand the biology. We found that only seven percent of the over 2,000 genes that were changed directly related to pigmentation. The remaining 93 percent is related to four factors, decreased exfoliation, decreased hydration, increased inflammation and decreased ability to respond to oxidated stress.

Decreased exfoliation: "At the surface you have all of these cells that have accumulated a lot of melanin so when [dark] spots are visible it's because dead skin has not been removed," says Khoo.

Decreased hydration: "The process of exfoliation depends a lot on enzymes that help to weaken the connective bonds between the dead skin cells and help with the exfoliation rate. These enzymes rely on hydration. Without enough water they actually become very sluggish."

Increased inflammation: "UV rays trigger a lot of free radicals which can cause a lot of damage to the cells. This damage is a form of stress that triggers an inflammatory response. The inflammation response involves sending blood flow, enzymes and white blood cells to help to repair and protect the skin. And that's why in 'spot' areas you'll see increased inflammation. It's not necessarily just redness "

Decreased ability to respond to oxidated stress: UV rays can trigger a lot of free radicals. You have enzymes that are responsible for soaking up all these free radicals but over time they get worn out.

Summer = beach time, and keeping your bikini area maintained is one of those things you might consider before getting into a swimming costume — fortunately, we’ve found a beauty buy we think might solve your unwanted hair woes. Venus' Bikini Trimmer ($6.99) features a swivelling head and single blade encased with a special comb acting as protective layer, ensuring hair is trimmed without touching the skin to make it a quick and fuss-free process.

To get you beach ready, we’ve joined forces with the team over at Venus and are giving two lucky BellaSugar readers the chance to win an ultimate Summer Gift Set, which includes a Venus Bikini Trimmer, Venus Alluring Avocado Satin Care Shave Gel, beach umbrella, beach towel, beach tote, Olay Complete Defence SPF and Wella SP Sun UV Spray, valued at $720. To enter, all you have to do is Like both the Gillette Venus and BellaSugar Australia pages on Facebook and tell us in the comments section who is your Summer celebrity beauty inspiration and why?

Terms and Conditions apply.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

• It's time to stop using the ol' phrase, "I need my beauty sleep" as it turns out women get a better night's sleep then men — Daily Mail
• Kelly Rowland uses Clinique All About Eyes Serum and Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne — Us Magazine
• Cameron Diaz's hairstylist shares how to get the best blonde — Sydney Morning Herald
• Beautiful people find it harder to co-operate with people — Guardian
• Elizabeth Taylor has been voted the most photogenic celebrity of all time — Telegraph UK
• Chloé's Shirley Solid Perfume Necklace is a winner — Stylelist
• Anne Hathaway's "life-changing facial" isn't for the faint-hearted, but it sure gets results — Elle UK
• Freja gets red hair and Sasha dons blue eyes in W magazine — Fashion Gone Rogue
• Lauren Conrad swears by Kate Somerville skincare, but she doesn't mind a bit of Olay, too — Lauren Conrad blog
• Amanda Seyfried feels sexy with a red lip — Just Jared

Who knew that Hugh Laurie signing on as L'Oréal Paris' latest ambassador — he'll join Gerard Butler in promoting the Men Expert range — could cause our readers to go into such a tizz! Some of you were thrilled to learn of the House star's appointment because of his "real man" looks, but others thought it was "ridiculous." Either way, it's got people talking and we can't wait to see his first ad — we wonder if he'll speak in an American accent or return to his English tones for the commercial? If you can't possibly wait, we've got a little something to whet your appetite, his official L'Oréal Paris promo shot! What do you think of it, huh?

Keep reading to find out more about Olay's latest ambassador . . .

As home to big-name brands such as Shiseido and SK-II, Japan has emerged as a pillar of the beauty community in recent years, but in the aftermath of recent devastating natural disasters, it is struggling to rebuild itself, leading beauty organisations around the world to dig deep and offer their support. While personal donations are still being encouraged by the Red Cross, you can also aid Japan by supporting the beauty companies that have aligned with the relief efforts. Here's a list of who's done what and how you get involved . . .

Procter & Gamble — the producers of Olay, Herbal Essences, SK-II and more — has announced it is donating $US1.2 billion in cash and products.

Amway — who is behind the Artistry brand — donated an inital100 million yen (approx AUD$1.2 million) and is also planning to match employee donatations up to a value of US$250,000.

Forever 21 donated 100 percent of ALL online profits from March 18 to the cause.

Keep reading . . .

Bruce Grayson is the head of the makeup department for the Academy Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards telecasts, which basically means he's responsible for touching up every single celeb that takes the stage during the Oscars telecast. So in other words, he knows his stuff. We had the pleasure of having a bright and early Skype chat with him this morning as he was down at the Kodak Theatre in LA prepping for the big day. This is what he said:

Bella: Bruce, how does a celeb even begin to get ready for something as big as the Oscars?

Bruce: Well, first of all I suggest to my clients that they have a game plan — it’s like running a race, it’s like running a marathon. Your game plan starts several weeks out. I like to encourage clients to get into a skincare regime, not only during the day but in the evening 10 weeks out. That means using a moisturiser (Bruce suggests Olay Definity Tone Correcting Anti-Ageing Foaming Moisturiser SPF15, $39.99) to protect yourself from the sun during the day. And then at night using something to correct your skin, a night cream like Olay Definity Tone Correcting Anti-Ageing Night Cream ($39.99). That'll treat tone which is one of the indicators of age that works against looking younger as much as fine lines.

Keep reading . . .

Following the INSANELY successful launch of Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, the $50 anti-ageing cream that took on the $300 wrinkle busters and won, Olay launched Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum late last year. Infused with the highest concentration of Regenerist’s signature amino-peptide complex, it's Olay Regenerist's most powerful anti-ageing product to date, leaving skin as firm as a $500 serum. Never has the quest for younger-looking skin been so effective and so purse-friendly.

And it gets even better, because this week we've teamed up with the Olay Regenerist peeps to offer five lucky BellaSugar readers the chance to win both the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (valued at $49.99) and the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting 3D Serum (valued at $49.99)! Ca-ching!

Firmer, nourished and younger-looking skin could be yours, so what are you waiting for? To be in with the chance of winning one, just tell us how old you were when you started to notice the first signs of ageing. Did you spot some crow's feet when you hit 30? Were you sobbing over your first fine lines at your 21st? Don't be shy . . .

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

Terms and conditions apply.