Diane Lane, looking more gorgeous than women 20 years her junior (WireImage/Vera Anderson)
Do you remember the first time you saw Unfaithful with Diane Lane? It’s my hope that you were right there along with me going, “Oh, man, that woman is sexy.” If I can be even 1/5th as gorgeous as Diane Lane when I’m 35…45…55…hell, any age…I’ll be a very happy gal.
In this month’s issue of Vanity Fair, there’s a Rob Lowe cover story where he talks about working on The Outsiders with Diane Lane. He mentions that, at the time, Diane was considered by many to be the prettiest girl in the world. She was, by the by, also the inspiration for Bon Jovi’s song “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Not a bad legacy as a heartbreaker, then…
I hope this doesn’t sound offensive, but: what I personally love about Diane now are her wrinkles. She has ‘em. And it doesn’t really seem to be a big deal to her. Love!
Kate Middleton's Andy Warhol-style Tatler magazine cover
Kate Middleton is finally featured on the cover of Tatler magazine! The February cover is Andy Warhol-esque, taken from her engagement photocall shoot at St. James Palace. While sadly, there’s no interview, the magazine is a collector’s issue, with 19 pages devoted to the royal wedding, including a piece by India Hicks (bridesmaid to Princess Diana, and granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten–known as “Uncle Dickie” to Prince Charles, Viceroy of India, and architect of Queen Elizabeth’s marriage to his nephew Phillip.)
You might have heard about the relatively-new Botox-alternative called Dysport and wondered, “Botox versus Dysport: what’s the difference?” I recently visited cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Edgar Fincher in Beverly Hills to check it out and pepper him with questions, which he patiently answered.
Dysport, like Botox, is a botulinum toxin designed to weaken the dynamic muscles that overly pull on thinning skin (and can also be used to reduce sweating). It’s been used in Europe for years under the name Reloxin, and is made by the company Medicis, whereas Allergan makes Botox (as well as Juvederm, Latisse, Clinique Medical, the Lap Band…). There are at least 2 other Botox/Dysport alternatives currently being tested by the FDA, which is a great thing for consumers, because more competition equals lower prices!
Dr. Edgar Fincher
The general consensus, Dr. Fincher informed me, is that there’s not a huge difference between Botox and Dysport. Dysport tends to produce visible results more quickly…but only by a day or two. Meanwhile, Dysport also seems to last longer…but only by a month or so. (Still, every little bit helps!) Some doctors believe that Botox is better for the Elevens, while Dysport is better for crow’s feet. And while Botox and Dysport use different types of unit measurements, even the price basically stacks up as equal. The comparison that comes up repeatedly is Coke versus Pepsi: they’re essentially the same thing, just with a different flavor–it simply depends which you prefer yourself.
I’ve had my Dysport injections for about 3 months now and have seen little-to-no difference from my last Botox injections. Dr. Fincher did a wonderful, subtle job, so my frown lines are mostly gone, but I still have plenty of mobility and look natural. I’d definitely get Dysport again, but will probably toggle back and forth between it and Botox a few more times to see if, eventually, I notice a difference.
Here’s a video of me from last year, meanwhile, getting my Botox injections!
So, Heidi Montag has had a bajillion plastic surgery procedures under the guise of wanting to be “comfortable” in her own skin–call me lazy, but I would probably just buy a push-up bra, or maybe do vodka shots. That usually helps. Anyhoo.
Now, she looks straight up, porn star, Jocelyn Wildensteincrazy.
However! I am going to go out on a limb here, and say that I am a little impressed by Heidi’s naked honesty. (Not to mention marketing savvy and shameless self-promotion. At a certain point you just have to give Heidi and Spencer a round of applause.) She is not an Academy Award winning actress, nor is she a rocket scientist, nor a CEO, nor anybody that a girl with half a brain would be swayed by or look up to. And if some impressionable young thing has 10 plastic surgeries because Heidi Montag made it okay…that poor pumpkin was going to have life challenges regarding her decisions anyway, celebrity influence or no celebrity influence.
What I actually appreciated was this quote from People: “Every starlet is getting surgery every other day to keep their looks up. They just don’t talk about it. I wanted to be honest.”
Well, lookee here! Refreshing honesty! With very, very few exceptions, everybody in Hollywood does indeed have plastic surgery. (Yes, even that 50- or 60-something actress that you think is aging fabulously and who you want to look like when you’re 58.) It’s not right. It’s not wrong. It just is. Nip it up, tuck it down, do your thing, celebs. Keep it quiet and dodge the question, if you want. But don’t straight up lie to us (I’m talking to you Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, Sophia Loren, etc, etc, etc). Don’t condemn or judge others. Have a little more respect for your fans and for the truth about what it really took to get you looking like that. And then perhaps we will reward you by pretending that you aren’t evolving into the Cat Lady. (Okay…probably not.)
“Your inner beauty is always there. I think that’s what Spencer’s most concerned with. My inner beauty. He’s always like–’You could change. You could have brown hair. Blonde hair. Pink hair. You could have 20 different noses. You could have whatever you want. I still love you the same.’”
I’ve had Botox before, of course, to treat the frown lines (aka “elevens”) in between my brows that have been slowly but surely creeping on since my early 20’s. (Thanks, Mama Jolie! She had them at a young age, too.) However, because of my personal decision not to have liposuction and subsequent attempt to enlighten pals about certain emotional and physical minefields occasionally involved in plastic surgery, some of my friends–and, I would then assume, some of my readers–thought I would similarly be anti-Botox.
So not the case.
Please allow me to quote myself, from my book Beauty Confidential! “If you have healthy self-esteem, but simply feel that you’d look better with, say, a nose job, or breast implants, or Botox injections–to each her own. To quote a famous Sheryl Crow song, ‘If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.’ Life is just too short to spend obsessing about various imperfections. I say either learn to love ‘em, or change them and move on. Simple as that.”
I stand by that quote! I don’t like the angry frown line in between my brows, and so I choose to inject it–which, because Botox works, causes most people who know me to be completely, blissfully unaware of said frown line–and I’m quite delighted with the results!
My fabulous doctors, Dr. Jason Litner and Dr. Peyman Solieman, agreed to my request to film my Botox session today. If Botox isn’t for you, more power to you–I wish I had such unlined skin and firm resolve! But for those gals who have been considering it, you might enjoy the video below of my injections.
A few tips and guidelines:
- Request a numbing cream from your doctor before the procedure and it will dramatically cut down on the pain; I have zero pain tolerance, and when numbing cream is used, even I barely feel it.
- Injections will last for about 3 – 6 months.
- Never get Botox from a dentist, a manicurist, a peppy gal at your local mall, etc. While, true, Botox is eons away from the invasive side of the cosmetic spectrum, it’s still a real procedure, with small but real risks.
- Check out websites like RealSelf.com or MakeMeHeal.com for patient reviews and experiences. Ask friends for recommendations of doctors they trust.
- Don’t be swayed by bargain prices. It’s your face: you get what you pay for!
