Check out this great news for yoga afficionados.

A study in the Journal of Sexuality reported that almost 75% of enrolled in a 12 week yoga program reported a more satisfying sex life at the end of the program.

What is it about yoga? Like any regular exercise program, the side effects are more energy and confidence, which certainly enhances romance.

Yoga also improves arterial blood flow, and studies point to this particular benefit for not only reducing the risk of heart disease, but  also enhancing sexuality.

Relaxation is also key. I have forced myself to do yoga once a week for the past 20 weeks and, I will admit that now I can get into the relaxation zone. Yoga reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which is beneficial all around (particular for the skin!). A relaxed body and mind simply improves sexual function.

These eight simple tips will help give you a more confident pluck. Photo by Martin-dm/istockphoto.com

The internet is full of tips on achieving the perfect brow. Rather than regurgitate the usual–measure from the tip of your nose diagonally to find your arch, etc–here are eight OTHER tips to help you achieve beautiful brows.

• Brush and trim your brows.

It’s tempting to just get plucking, but don’t skip this step. Brush the brows up first, and trim whatever is above the natural hairline. But don’t stop there!  Do the same brushing the brows down. Then smooth them out to their natural shape. You can use a small brow comb, but a clean (unused!) toothbrush will also do the trick. Make sure to use a small brow scissor, however. This is not something you can do with kitchen sheers!

• Use a slanted tweezer.

Don’t use a needle nose one. Once you get the hang of it, a slanted tweezer allows you to move quickly across the brow–pluck, pluck, pluck–without having to pick up the tweezer. This is a spectacular time saver.

• Witch hazel is your friend…

A pre-pluck swipe with witch hazel will ensure that you have a clean surface to work on, while not drying out your skin like straight up alcohol. I swipe before and after plucking.

• But DO alcohol swipe your tweezer.

Wipe down your tweezer before and after with 70% Isopropyl alcohol. It will kill any bacteria that’s festering on your implement!

• Use a black or white eye pencil to help guide you.

It’s hard to remember where that “perfect arch” measurement begins and ends. Sometimes I will mark it with a pencil, which helps not only give a visual of where I need to pluck, but also gives me a sense of what the brows will look like when  finished. I prefer using a white pencil (I find that darker pencils tend to mix too easily with my brow color, making it hard to see the lines). When finished, the lines can be wiped away with the witch hazel.

• Gently, gently, gently (and I mean gently!) pull your skin taught.

This will feel awkward at first, but use the thumb and index finger of your free hand to gently pull the skin around where you are plucking taught. Then pluck out the stray hairs in the direction of the hair growth. Hair slides out so much easier and it will minimize the pain. Just release and check after plucking a few hairs to make sure you are removing what you want to remove–tighter skin can shift the brows out of line at bit.

• Resist the temptation to go overboard.

Sometimes, I get into a groove with the plucking and it gets addictive. I could go on forever. And then I end up with brows that are way too thin. Be conservative. Brows that are too thin can make a face severe.  You don’t want to spend the next few weeks being asked why you are so angry.

• Move from brow to brow, but don’t worry about being “uniform.”

Just like one foot can be slightly bigger than the other, brows are not uniform in appearance, so don’t try to force them to look exactly alike. But do pluck a bit from one side, and then move to the other, to ensure that they are somewhat similar in shape and size.

Much to Manly Man Husband’s chagrin, I am putting another Beachbody fitness DVD to the test: Hip Hop Abs.

Since I don’t like the P90X “Ab Ripper” work out, I wanted to try something that would target the midsection. Bonus: Hip Hop Abs is also a cardio workout. As much as I love Tony Horton and Co, the cardio is getting monotonous.

Actually, in true As-Seen-On-TV fashion, Hip Hop Abs is loads of things. You get the Cardio Blast, the Ab Sculpt, and Last Minute Abs (a 5 minute workout) along with a few extra workouts like a Bun and Thigh Sculpt and what I call Last Minute Ass (really a 5 Minute Bun and Thigh workout).

Now I don’t necessarily believe that Hip Hop Abs is able to target the midsection completely. The charismatic Shaun T (who reminds me of a young Will Smith, circa Fresh Price of Bel Air) leads you through a series of choreographed moves that are supposed to incorporate his “tilt, tuck, tighten” method to strengthen the core. And for those kind of uncoordinated (like me!), it’s complicated enough just getting jiggy. Tucking, tilting and tightening may have to wait until my coordination improves.

What I did find, however, was that for a pure cardio workout, Hip Hop Abs was the better performer than P90Xs Kempo X. I really enjoy Kempo X, and it’s a mother of a workout. But, a (unscientific) heart rate monitor test showed that doing two Hip Hop Abs workouts (the 30 minute Cardio Blast and the 25 minute Ab Sculpt) performed better than the 55 minute Kempo routine.

My average heart rate was slightly higher with Kempo, as was the approximate number of calories burned. But the Kempo workout is so intense that it often pushes me above my anaerobic threshold. I am only in my target heart rate zone for 17 minutes on Kempo, whereas I remain in the zone for over 30 minutes on the Hip Hop Abs combo. When I am out of my zone, I am often over, not under, the target heart rate, which means that my training moves from aerobic to anaerobic (so rather than burning fat, I burn glucose stores).

For those in peak physical condition, anaerobic training is actually very good. But for fat loss, pushing past the anaerobic threshold isn’t terribly helpful. In fact, my estimated fat loss on calories burned was 30% with Kempo, but 50% on Hip Hop Abs.

There have been recently studies that debunk this training methodology, along with a new push in the fitness industry on High Intensity Training (essentially short bursts of hard training with short periods of rest).  But I haven’t looked closely enough at that yet to make a determination.

While I haven’t been doing Hip Hop Abs long enough to see if the results differ from what I was seeing on the P90X cardio, my initial test has me curious enough to continue to substitute it on the P90X cardio days.

And the next time you see me at a party, I may just bust a move.

I am in love with two curl-enhancing products from the TIGI Curlesque hair care collection.

My friends with pin-straight or crazy curly hair are always quick to point out how fantastic it is to have wavy hair. Theoretically, the waves enable me to wear hair that’s either curly OR straight, depending on my mood.

Since the grass is always greener, particularly when talking hair, I have coveted both the super straight and super curly variety. While I love the sleek, blown-out look, I don’t have much time to muss and fuss with blowing out my hair. And when I try to get the curl going,  I end up with the wavy-in-all-the-wrong-places look that often includes a bit of frizz.

With a little help from the tremendous Jonathan, co-owner of Blush Salon in the tony neighborhood of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, I now have an easy, no fuss way to give my boring waves a little boost.

In freshly washed, still damp hair, apply about two pumps of Tigi Catwalk Curlesque Leave In Conditioner. Then, work about a half of a palm-full  of their TIGI Catwalk Curlesque Lightweight Mousse into the hair, concentrating on the middle and ends. Scrunch up the hair to get the curls to form and let it air dry.

According to Jonathan, the addition of the leave in conditioner prior to the mousse helps weigh the curls down slightly, giving them a beautiful, slightly elongated shape without frizzing or kinking them out.

The end result is soft, flowing curls.

I love the simplicity. The process adds only a fraction of time to my morning routine.

Dsiclosures: The TIGI links are Amazon Affiliate links. The TIGI products tested were purchased by me.

While the other moms wore Gucci sandals to the music recital, my feet were decked out in my fave skull sneakers. They may be slip-ons but they're not slippers!

Anyone who meets me now basically laughs their ass off that I once had the words “Fashion Editor” in a title (full title was Beauty and Fashion Editor). And while fashion was the least favorite part of my job, I always managed to look the part–slightly trendy and put together.

Then life exploded. Between my job, marriage and a kid, any cool hunting I managed to do in my 20s became simply an expensive pain in the ass in my 30s. Thus much of the decade has been spent in some form of yoga pants.

This really hit home when my kid asked me to attend her day camp music recital. But on one condition. I couldn’t wear my jammies.

Now, in fairness, I don’t wear my “jammies” to drop her off! I am in jeans and a T or tank, and yes some mornings I am in workout gear. But in her head, apparently, I am always in my jammies.

Guess it’s time to ditch the jammies and get a style overhaul.

Luckily, my friend Heather just launched a fantastic new site 365 Days of Style, a really cool online community that’s all style related. Not fashion. Style. Big diff.

Fashion is what designers drape over living clothes hangers. Fashion is what critics dissect, with the good stuff being so “in the moment.” Fashion is an art. And also an industry.

Style, on the other hand, is personal. Simply wearing clothes will definitely keep you from getting arrested for indecency. But style is unique to you and your personality. It allows you to feel comfortable in your own skin.

So my personality probably doesn’t scream yoga pants. At my most relaxed, I am pretty easy-going with a splash of whimsy! I’d love my style to reflect this.

Heather and the 365 crew has put together a fantastic, complete free resource to help me on my quest to add a little more style, and a little less jammie, into my appearance. Their 12 Simple Separates guide breaks down 12 closet essentials that, like magic, can transform into upwards of 80 separate outfits.

Mind blowing, isn’t it?

And did I mention, it’s completely free? No opt in, no strings attached.

My favorite part of the guide is that it will help me edit out pieces of my existing wardrobe that just doesn’t “go” with anything. Nothing is more frustrating than a closet full of clothes that can’t be matched.

This will definitely cut down on the colorful language that echos from my closet when I have to pull myself together for a professional function.

This is P90X creator Tony Horton.

It’s been a while since the last P90X update. And I am happy to report, the 12 weeks are done!

It was hard hard hard to maintain the 6 days a week workout schedule, and I will admit there were weeks when I did only 5 days. That said, the program remained challenging and I saw results though the entire process.

In terms of the scale, I lost about 12 pounds. It wasn’t the amazing OMG I lost 50 pounds success story,  but, as most health experts advocate losing 1 pound a week, I think I did OK. My measurements, however, tell a much more exciting story. I lost about 15 inches total. And about 6% body fat.

There were  a few things I skipped during the initial 12 weeks. I did not do any before pics (hence no after) since I did not think it would be a motivator.  I was wrong.

And I did not record my weight/reps for the strength training, relying on sheer memory. At the beginning, the numbers were fairly easy to recall, since I did light weight and high reps. But as I progressed and wanted to add resistance, I could not rely on my memory to accurately set a goal.

Finally, I did Ab Ripper X three times total. Pilates moves done at the speed of light? I’m just not buying it, and I am sure my back thanks me for that. But even without it, my abs, particularly my obliques, are getting toned. (A million push ups and plank positions per week will certainly tone a tummy). I can live without the six-pack.

So, now what?

I am going at it for another 12 weeks! And adding additional cardio workouts a few times a week (the dreaded doubles). And this time I am recording my weights/reps. And I am doing those before/after pics.

One thing that remained a constant struggle was food. While I successfully removed junk food from my diet, I don’t think I was actually consuming enough calories to sustain the workout schedule. It’s damn hard eating several times a day. It’s time consuming, and it annoys me that I have to constantly think about it.  I lack the planning prowess to make it easier. And, frankly, it makes me feel food obsessed.

I think that I would have seen more gains if I had eaten more (defies logic, but my metabolism is storing food rather then expending it). So my next 12 weeks need to see a little more effort.

Anyone out there eating 5-7 small meals a day? How do you do it? I welcome any and all advice you guys want to share!

When I received the email a few days ago from exhale spa, I was kind of excited. They partnered with YogaVibes.com to offer four of their celebrity endorsed Core Fusion classes for purchase online.

Since getting to exhale is not terribly convenient, testing out Core Fusion is at the bottom of my very long to-do list. So I was kind of excited to be able to give it a go from my home.

Then I checked out the previews of the video. They essentially video-taped a class and slapped it online. It’s hard to see the moves clearly, and the audio is pretty low quality (it seems like they used the camera microphone and not a dedicated mic).

From the preview videos, the best of the bunch appears to be the Core Fusion. At least there is a clear view of the instructor, doing the workout with the class, and she’s pretty audible. But there is no way to tell how you can modify the exercises. (Like, full split? Um, no. I need modification.) And the one camera in one position kept me from fully seeing all angles of the different workout moves. My form could be completely off and I have no way of knowing.

The worst? Music Flow Yoga. The instructor is barking yoga poses at the class and the camera is following her moving between the students rather than staying in one spot and focusing on the moves. And there is no way of knowing that you have the form correct, since you are watching students of varying abilities rather than one person doing it correctly.

With different price points starting at $10 for one class, accessible for 14 days, it’s certainly more affordable than in-studio. But I would take a bunch of Core Fusion classes in person before attempting these online videos. Form is definitely going to be compromised if you don’t already have the basic workout down.

Back to the bottom of the to-do list it goes!

Sign up for Product Junkie, our free weekly newsletter to get exclusive product reviews, tips and giveaways. As a bonus for signing up, we’ll also send you our e-series 7 Skin Care Myths (that are keeping you from the skin you want)! Best of all? It’s absolutely free.

Products containing lactic acid are a wonderful addition to your skin care arsenal. Photo by lisegagne/istockphoto.com

I admit it, up until about 45 minutes ago, my skin looked like crap.

An erratic schedule, a pile of commitments (including an overhaul of this blog) and a few new product trials meant that my skin was either getting the barest minimum attention or getting slathered with stuff that wasn’t really agreeing with it.

I was sick of looking at my craptastic skin in the mirror so today I forced myself to schedule my own appointment. I finally broke out a lactic acid peel that I have been meaning to try for a while. And while it’s Day 3 of summer, and I generally have a no-peel policy for the hotter months, I will be extra vigilant over the next few weeks on keeping my skin protected.

So, onto the lactic acid! Lactic acid is found naturally in the body, and it is found in the acid mantle of our skin (acid mantle is easiest thought of as our skin’s oil). Because it is a naturally occurring acid in the body, our skin accepts it much easier than any “foreign” acid (like, for example, salicylic or glycolic). It’s also very mild, and good for sensitive skin.

Lactic acid (derived from the sugars in milk) is a wonderful exfoliator and ultra moisturizing, and combined (as my peel was) with kojic acid, it helps with hyperpigmentation. It’s a tyronese inhibitor, which means it suppresses the tyronese enzyme that causes skin discoloration. In combination with the kojic acid (often sourced from mushrooms, soy or rice bran), which is a natural skin lightener, it helps to lighten hyperpigmentation from sun damage or from skin inflammation (such as acne) that leaves spots behind.

Result: My skin tone has evened out, and it looks and feels smoother and much more hydrated.

While you will get more pronounced results from a lactic peel, home care products with lactic acid can offer wonderful results. However, products containing lactic acid can be a bit hard to find because, for whatever reason, lactic acid just isn’t a terribly sexy AHA for the marketing types. It may not be sexy, but it’s damn effective.

Sign up for Product Junkie, our free weekly newsletter to get exclusive product reviews (including two lactic acid products I use in my treatment room), tips and giveaways. As a bonus for signing up, we’ll also send you our e-series 7 Skin Care Myths (that are keeping you from the skin you want)! Best of all? It’s absolutely free.

Yes, BeautyOlogy has had a total body makeover! Still the same fun content, but in a much prettier package! Hope you enjoy the new site layout.

One new feature I am stoked to point out is the brand new Product Junkie newsletter. Product Junkie is exclusive content, product reviews, special offers, giveaways and more that are available only to BeautyOlogy subscribers. And to kick this off, I am offering the free weekly series “7 Skin Care Myths.” So for the next 7 weeks, expect a new myth in your in box!

Check the sidebar to the right–you can sign up right there! (I will not do anything naughty with your email address. You are my subscribers and I hate to share.)

And this is just the start! I have more fun stuff planned for this blog through the rest of 2010. (And Product Junkie readers will be the first to know when it’s about to launch!)

So, poke around, sign on up and let me know what you think!

And, finally, I guest posted this week on Wedd Lady’s insanely informative wedding planner blog. I share a little advice to brides-to-be about planning spa treatments pre-wedding.  If you are getting married, or know someone who is, please pass the post on to them!

Beautiful Lemongrass and Sage Olive Oil Soap from Batty's Bath

I recently made the mistake of taking a quick saunter down the beauty aisle of the grocery store. I have been pretty tight on time lately, and the soap situation in the shower was becoming situation critical. I was down to my last sliver.

Since both my skin and nose are super sensitive to artificial “natural” fragrance, soap and body wash purchases are a little tricky and I generally use all natural or handcrafted products. So to purchase via Stop & Shop meant that things were getting desperate.

I settled on something that I felt would be the least noxious, Ivory. 99 and 1/100ths or whatever pure! I used it when I was a baby! When Manly Man Husband saw it in the bag, he groaned and refused to use it.

About a week after using it, the skin on my upper arms started getting dry and flaky, and Manly Man Husband taunted me with a chorus of “I told you sos.”

Yup, Ivory was completely drying me out (and itchy too). Commercial soap is not soap. It’s detergent. And detergent and skin just aren’t friends.

Yesterday, I came across this excellent post by Jamie, who runs Batty’s Bath, a lovely handmade soap company that you can find on Etsy. Want to know how commercial soap is different from hand-crafted? Check out her post.

You will never look at Ivory the same again! 99 and whatever percent pure my ass.