Gillette Venus, a global leader in female shaving, and Olay, a global leader in skincare, are coming together to deliver a NEW Gillette Venus & Olay razor. Cuts time in the shower no shaving cream required. Works great on getting you smooth. Features Venus’ five-blade technology.

Introducing the NEW Venus & Olay razor

Shaving Razor

In the Venus Global Goddess Skin survey among more than 6.8M women in 13 countries, 84% of them told us that forgetting to shave would make them lose confidence fastest at the beach – even over having a few extra pounds (62%). That’s why they decided to put their Venus & Olay razor to the ultimate test as the Official Razor of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2012.

Venus & Olay is available starting March 15, 2012, at food, drug, convenience and mass merchandise stores throughout the United States. A refillable Venus & Olay razor with one replacement cartridge is approximately  $8.99-$10.99. Packages of three replacement cartridges are about $14.99-$19.49.

I’m very loyal to the Gillette brand. In fact when I took my Business Management class as a Business student in NYU STERN School of Business years ago I was fascinated with the Gillette story. Secretly, I wish I could invented anything as brilliant as a simple shaving razor (for real, wish I was Gillette). I’ve been giving the Gillette Venus ProSkin a go on and off for some quite some time now. I try it, I switch to others brands (and I’m not naming any names), then comeback, then switch again. Here’s some focus group material my dear Gillette. This is what’s going on…

Gillette Venus ProSkin

The Gillette Venus ProSkin starts off great. The extra moisturizing cushions do moist while you shave without adding a shaving cream. It doesn’t, however, last long and that’s one of the issues I have. It’s works well say tops 1 week then the cushions wear off and it begins to scratch and irritate my skin. So I always compelled to throw it away and open a new one. Well, for around $15/$16 for just 4 blades now this is a costly and not so economic project. You know, it always too good to be true when it’s “All-In-One” product, I’m always suspicious. I still love you Gillette and am a huge fan, but please hear me out and maybe make some improvements. Thank you so very much, Marta Walsh:)

Gillette Fusion ProGlide ($10.99 – $12.99) is Gillette’s most advanced razor ever featuring thinner, finer blades and other unique technologies that reduce tug and pull to help men get a more comfortable shave. Getting Dad a great Father’s Day gift can be tricky, but this year Gillette is making it easy with a brand new shaving innovation that will make your dads look great.

I’m all about smooth skin. This is why finding the right razor for shaving and getting that silky soft skin without any pain is so important to me. I’ve recently discovered Gillette Venus Breeze and I became a fan. One major plus about this razor is that it doesn’t pull on my skin and it glides smoothly and effortlessly on my skin. It feels cushioned, if that makes sense. The Gillette Venus Breeze has a built in softening gel bars so it suggesting to skip the shaving cream, but because I’m so used to shaving cream I still use it with this razor. I know, it’s tough to fight habits sometimes, LOL.

Gillette Venus Breeze the official description on www.gillettevenus.com : 2-in-1 Shave Gel Bars—Makes Shaving So Easy. Secret to a time-saving shave? Venus Breeze. Simply wet the razor for an amazingly smooth shave. Flexible Shave Gel Bars are built in, and contain rich body butters for a light lather, a smooth glide and no need for separate shave gel or soap.

Watch my interview with Fashion Expert Hitha Prabhakar about the latest trends in winter beauty.

Get inexpensive tips to help update your appearance. Take Good Care of You: The latest face, body and hair care tips and trends. Winter Make-up: Quick and easy ways to make you look beautiful. Winter shaving. Acne and under eye dark circles during winter time, and dull dry hair. Winter Fashion Trends: What’s hot and what’s not hot this season—from clothes to accessories

Hitha Prabhakar is national celebrity beauty/fashion expert, a contributing fashion editor and retail industry expert. As the former style writer for Forbes magazine and Forbes.com, Hitha covered the luxury industry as well as men’s fashion.

She has written for People magazine, People.com, ELLE India, Metro Newspapers, Nirvana Women, Inked magazine and Zink magazine. She has had numerous television appearances as a style expert for Fox Business News, Fox News, CBS, Univision, E! Entertainment television and as the host of the Emmy winning New York based show, Cool in Your Code, which airs on WNBC and WNYC TV. Hitha has been featured in Glamour magazine, Marie Claire, Oprah magazine, Lucky magazine, Gotham, Albuquerque Living, The Daily Mail, Style.com and has been a guest on NPR lending her style knowledge on everything from where to shop to which diamonds will be on the red carpet during the Oscars.

Produced for: Crest White Strips, Veet, and Head & Shoulders

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the bikini in America. When the first bikini was launched it caused an explosion on the fashion scene, and through the years that little piece of fabric has gone through quite an evolution in length, fabrics, colors and cuts. Today, the bikini is a defining force in summer style.

To help celebrate the bikini’s debut in America, Venus has prepared a timeline of 20th century swimsuit fashions and has worked with country star and dancer Julianne Hough to develop a “how to look your bikini best” tip sheet.

When it comes to donning a bikini, confidence is key. And, smooth skin can help! According to a recent survey, almost 75% of women said that they felt more confident after shaving. Research also shows that shaving makes women feel more feminine, polished and beautiful.

So, before slipping on that swimsuit, be sure to shave with Venus Embrace. The first five blade razor for women, Venus Embrace has a Protective Ribbon of Moisture and hugs every curve for a close shave and dramatically smooth skin.

And, when it comes to looking bikini best, Venus Embrace is bikini approved. According to fashion designer Mara Hoffman, she would never let one of her models walk down the runway without using Venus Embrace.

Happy birthday, bikini! And, may all bikini goddesses out there Embrace the rest of summer with silky smooth skin.

Here is a look back in time at the bikini’s evolution:

Victorian Age

Circa 1920

Circa 1950

Circa 1960

Sports Illustrated 1964

2009

A Brief History of the Bikini

Early 20th Century – Women wore floor-length dresses at the beach to uphold their modesty – talk about not having to worry about a tan line!
1930s – Women could be seen wearing athletic-style suits or knee-length dresses that hid their figures
1940s – Corset-style swim suits began to appear on the beaches. The style simultaneously gave women a more formed figure and also hid their flaws
1946- Bikini was unveiled by designer Louis Reard in Paris. The designer’s plan was to create something exotic and bold that women could feel feminine and beautiful wearing
1949 – The suit made its American debut during the spring of 1949
1960 – Brian Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” became the anthem of the summer and inspired teen girls to purchase bikinis of their own
1964 – The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition featured Babette March on its first-ever bikini cover

Today – The bikini has taken on many different forms including the thong, bandeau, halter and string looks. Designers ranging from fashion forward like Mara Hoffman to traditionalist Lily Pulitzer continue to create bikinis that are both fun and functional.