This video and message is something I have a passion for because I understand the importance of checking your skin for suspicious moles.  I recently had a suspicious mole removed on my face; I noticed it was changing shape and asked my dermatologist to examine it.  I was one of the luckier ones. 

If you had to pick one Neutrogena skincare product to incorporate into your skin cancer prevention routine, what would it be?

I would have to say Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 85 as it is really the “gold-standard” in sun protection. It contains Helioplex, which offers the highest level UVA sun protection available in the U.S., while shielding skin against sunburn and premature aging. 

What are your top 3 beauty secrets?

Wear a moisturizing face cream with 30 or higher SPF every day. Use a gentle face wash to clean your skin every day (my favorite is Neutrogena foaming face wash) and remember to smile… it automatically makes you 10 times more beautiful! 

What was the best part of collaborating with Neutrogena?

Since Neutrogena is the leader in sun protection technology, I am happy that I was able to partner with such a well-known brand to raise awareness about self-examination and skin cancer prevention. By working with Neutrogena, I am able to encourage as many individuals as possible to check themselves every month, especially since early detection is the key in the prevention of skin cancer.

Can you tell us about your first Neutrogena experience?

I have been working with Neutrogena for about a year now, and it has been great. I was given the opportunity to appear in some viral advertisements for their sunless tanner and was then approached with the chance to participate in this informative viral video and empower people to do self-examinations on themselves and their loved ones.

 What aspects of acting do you love the most?

I love the challenges you face on a daily basis. Trying to make your character real and believable.  Trying to make people laugh or cry.  Trying to top your best performance.  There just isn’t one day that is the same as the next and I love that diversity in my job. 

 What are one or two things some people may not know about you?

Well, if I told you then it wouldn’t be a secret anymore… but I’ll give you one; I have webbed toes on my right foot!

 Who would you invite to your ultimate dinner party?

Bob Dylan, Paolo Coelho, The Rolling Stones, Lasse Hallstrom, Ellen DeGeneres, Simon Cowell, Madonna, and all of my closest friends and family.

 After watching you act in ‘27 Dresses’ and in ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ with Ben Stiller, I’m convinced you are Hollywood’s next superstar. Are you excited what the future holds for you?Thank you.  I am flattered by your conviction!  I am very excited that opportunities are now opening up for me and that the possibility of getting paid for what I love to do most for the next couple of years is becoming a reality. As we all know however, as fast as you can become a hot commodity in Hollywood, is as fast as you can be forgotten, so I just hope for a few great years!

What other movies or projects are you currently working on? 

I have nothing concrete to brag about yet, but am looking through a bunch of scripts to see if something might catch my eye for the near future.  Coming out in 2009 I have two films that I just finished; The Watchmen and The Proposal.

It was a pleasure to interview the beautiful Malin you can find out more about the full Neutrogena line at www.neutrogena.com

How do you feel Botox Cosmetics changed the appearance of your skin?
I still look like me, I still have lots of expression in my face, I am just without that 11 between my eyebrows.

What advice can you give to women who are considering Botox for the first time?
Women and men should feel empowered to do whatever it takes to feel their best and if that means aesthetic treatments like BOTOX Cosmetic, then that’s their choice.  I would advise women to talk to their doctor about BOTOX Cosmetic.  If you are looking for a doctor, one great resource for finding one is www.YPBevents.com

What compelled you to team-up with Mark Spitz to launch the Your Personal Best Campaign?
Mark and I are old friends.  He’s always been motivated to work towards his personal best in all aspects of his life. It was natural for the both of us to want to help motivate others to do the same.

Why is it easy for you to be honest about incorporating Botox into your skincare regimen?
At the age of 46, I feel healthier and more confident than ever.  As a young athlete I learned that you can’t sit back and wait for things to happen – you have to make them happen. To me that also means making the effort to look as good on the outside as I feel inside and I’m very proud of that fact.

How have some of the disciplines you learned as an Olympic champion translated into your day to day life?
Though I’m not competing anymore, I still have the same drive to achieve my personal “10”.  That’s reflected in my attitude towards my work, my family and how I care for my body.  To help me keep up mentally and physically, I eat right, exercise and take care of my appearance. 

What advice can you give us on staying in peak shape both physically and mentally and achieve our personal best?
Take time for yourself and give yourself permission to focus on the things that help you feel your best in all aspects of life.  For some of us, that may mean different things like seeing a doctor about aesthetic treatments, like BOTOX® Cosmetic, if you begin to feel like your best isn’t showing through.

What was your toughest competition of your gymnastic career?
All competitions were very difficult.  Whether they were small or the Olympics, I always had to give my best.  If I had to narrow it down to one, I would say the 1980 Olympics.  It was difficult competing in Russia against gymnasts who were considered the best. 

What are some of the pressures that come with being a champion?
When you’re competing young, like I did, you don’t think of the pressure.  I just did the best I could and gave 100 percent every time.  However, there was quite a lot of pressure in defending my title the second time around.

Who and what do you find inspiring in life?
My family.

It was a pleasure to interview Nadia you can find out more about Botox Cosmetic at the official website: www.botoxcosmetic.com

How did you first get interested in Botox Cosmetic?
As a financial advisor and motivational speaker, my facial expression is a very important part of my message. When I am serious, my ‘11’ – those stubborn frown lines between the brow — makes me look angry and unapproachable rather than congenial. I knew I had to do something about it, but for a long time, I just didn’t know what my options were. Then I heard about BOTOX® Cosmetic and spoke to my wife about it. She encouraged me to see a great doctor who answered all my questions.

What do you like most about Botox Cosmetic?
It’s a simple procedure that is done in a doctor’s office and the results are worth the effort! 

How do you feel Botox Cosmetic changed the appearance of your skin?
BOTOX Cosmetic didn’t change the way I looked, it simply helped to relax the muscle between the brow and diminish the appearance of those vertical frown lines I not affectionately call the 11. In fact, my mother-in-law said the other day, “Mark when I use to see you, you always had a perplexed look on your face, like you were concentrating really hard even when you were relaxing.  You don’t have that same look anymore. You now look vibrant!” What better complement can you get from your mother-in-law?

What advice can you give to men who are considering Botox for the first time?
Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions.  I want other men to feel comfortable and be inspired to strive for their personal best and to be comfortable in choosing BOTOXCosmetic if this helps them meet this goal. Also, I would advise them to log onto www.YPBevents.com to get information on how to find a trained physician in their area because that’s important too.

Why is it easy for you to be honest about using Botox?
I know I’m among a number of men that use BOTOX Cosmetic.  My doctor let me know that more than one million non-surgical procedures, including BOTOX Cosmetic, were performed on men last year.  I not alone in wanting to do this for myself. 

What compelled you to team-up with Nadia Comaneci to launch the Your Personal Best Campaign?
Nadia is great and also a long-time friend.  I think we make a good team.

How have some of the disciplines you learned as an Olympic champion translated into your day to day life?
At the peak of my athletic career I measured my personal best in how far I could push myself physically and mentally. Today, I still push myself but now it’s about striving for my best whole self.

What advice can you give to aspiring athletes in achieving their best?
Dream their dream and take one day at a time.  Destiny is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice.

Which American male swimmers are you looking forward to watch at the 2008 games?
Michael Phelps.  He is an incredible swimmer and has the potential to do wonderful things at the upcoming Olympics.  I look forward to watching him compete.   

What are some of the pressures that come with being a champion?
There is quite a bit of pressure after you break new records.  After the Olympics, I felt as though I was being watched under a microscope.  I felt like I would, from that moment on, always be expected to win.

Who and what do you find inspiring in life?
My wife and two children.

It was a pleasure to interview Mark you can find out more about Botox Cosmetics at the official website: www.botoxcosmetic.com

Can you tell us about the beginnings of the Jan Marini skin care line?
At the age of 19, I developed severe cystic acne. This was the catalyst that launched my serious interest in skin care product research as well as the pursuit of related medical research.

My early expertise focused on skin care product ingredients. Not only did I study and pursue scientific research, but I also evaluated thousands of products and technologies. Over the years, I began lecturing to physicians, medical professionals, skin care professionals and consumers.

In 1989, I financed and co-marketed a product line called M.D. Formulations/M.D. Forte. It was the first truly medically valid glycolic acid based product line. It was also one of the first product lines to ever be dispensed and endorsed by physicians out of their practices.

In 1994, I founded Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., which enabled me to further realize and refine my vision.  Jan Marini Skin Research is really the vehicle that allows me to research, develop and market new and evolving technologies.  I have had the privilege of bringing to market topical agents that are a worldwide first. I hold numerous patents and I am intensely dedicated to uncovering and identifying technologies that can truly impact the medical community and professional skin care market.  I have been honored to speak at medical venues around the world and I continue to be immensely grateful and humbled by the support of the marketplace I serve.

What is Jan Marini’s skin care philosophy?
I am passionate if not compulsive about sharing information that is medically valid in order to empower physicians and skin care professionals with the knowledge to educate patients and consumers who, in turn, can make buying decisions based on realistic expectations rather than seductive ad rhetoric and misinformation.

I also truly believe that anyone can have healthy looking, beautiful skin and today, there are topical agents that can dramatically improve any skin condition.

How do you come up the formulas and ingredients that go into your products?
First, I subscribe to roughly 30 medical journals a month.  I get a considerable amount of inspiration from medical research that spans dermatology to oncology.  Plus, I am fortunate to have access to many fine physicians and researchers.  Last, I develop products as much for my own concerns as I do for everyone in general.  I have the same issues as everyone else.

Which product from the Jan Marini line are you most proud of developing?
That’s tough to answer because I am most proud of the ability of the Jan Marini Skin Care Management System to resolve many common but nevertheless devastating skin concerns.  Clearing severe acne or rosacea, for example, changes lives and gives individuals back their self esteem.

However, I would have to say that the innovation that brought JMSR the greatest attention was the invention and introduction of our Eyelash technology.  Marini Lash gives spectacularly “oh my goodness, they can’t be real” eyelashes.

What’s new with the Jan Marini skin care line this year?
There’s always something on the drawing board for future consideration.  But the last 12 months have been a very creative time for me.  I will say that I have hit an absolute product home run with Age Intervention®Transitions and Enlighten. Transitions targets stubborn adult acne, which is an epidemic today among women in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, and beyond.

Age Intervention Enlighten addresses resistant facial discoloration which is another significant concern.  Facial skin that is not uniform is perceived as being far less youthful looking. Enlighten provides the most incredibly illuminated, even, refined look.  It has been a giant success!

How did you acquire the nickname “The Derma Diva”?
Sometimes the media gives you a nickname and it just sticks.  It started about ten years ago.

What skin care regimen do you recommend for the body and can stretch marks ever be cured?
Body skin looks firmer, smoother and more refined when it is regularly resurfaced.  For example, I recommend a glycolic acid granular body scrub and a glycolic acid based body cream.

Stretch marks are actually tears in the collagen and elastin structure of the skin.  In general, if stretch marks are less than two years old and still reddish or pink, they can be repaired to a great extent with glycolic acid, stabilized topical vitamin C and stabilized retinol, prescription retinoids (like Retin-A™ or Tazorac™) can have a dramatic repair effect if used consistently. Also, there are a number of non-ablative (won’t remove skin) lasers that are showing great promise in repairing stretch marks.  The key is the time frame.  After approximately two years, when they turn white, stretch marks become more like scar tissue and you are far less likely to reduce their appearance.

What would be a great place to start for someone who never used Jan Marini skin care before?
The best place to start is with a thorough consultation.  The average female has over $400 in product in her bathroom that she doesn’t use.  Our approach is based on a simple skin care management system that measurably addresses common skin concerns such as acne, rosacea, fine lines and wrinkles and discoloration.  Our specialists at 1-800-347-2223 are trained to answer questions and then make referrals to a physician or skin care professional.

Which part of creating your skin care line did you enjoy the most?
The feedback.  When physicians and skin care professionals tell me their success stories it is incredibly encouraging. When I get letters and e-mails from end users whose lives have been changed it makes everything worthwhile and meaningful.

What are some of your best kept beauty secrets?
I wish I had some secrets, but I share everything with everyone.  I believe in never holding back knowledge or expertise.  I use the same advice for myself that I give to everyone else.

What passions do you have besides making our skin beautiful?
I like to write.  I love to shop (doesn’t everyone?).  I love movies.  Most of all, I am passionately devoted to my husband.

It was a pleasure to interview Jan you can find out more about Jan Marini Skincare at the official website: www.janmarini.com

When I began working at Vidal Sassoon.  I was always inspired by his philosophy regarding architecture within hairstyling.

How did you get your first big break as a professional hairdresser?

In the 80’s, I began working on really basic magazines, assisting and doing my own thing and really just built on that as time went on.

What is your main philosophy regarding hair?

I think that finding beauty and inspiration from experimentation and imagination is key. Rebelling against the mainstream ideal of what beauty should be – I believe beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.

Your runway, editorial and celebrity portfolio is endless. What were some of your most memorable collaborations?  

My first real break working with Calvin Klein in the 90’s.

What was it like working with fashion photographers like: Steven Meisel and David Sims?

Each photographer that I work with pushes my work into different areas. They all have a very unique style and working with that allows me express exactly what I feel in front of the lens.

Where do you draw the inspiration when creating hairstyles?

I draw inspiration from the people that push ideas to extremes. From sub-genres and sub-cultures. I love what Japanese kids do with their style, I love everything from Punk to Goth to pageant queens. I like the extremes and it’s great to take elements of that and filter it into my work.

How would you describe your role at Redken?

Redken is great, I get excited by their enthusiasm and their drive to push forward with concepts - and the products are actually amazing! My role really consists as their eye on what’s happening right now in fashion, they already have a great view on this but together we work brilliantly.

What are some of your favorite hair styles of all time?

I like most things really, I love looking at a woman or a man and thinking “Wow! That actually looks great on you, big shape, small shape, whatever.” If the person believes in it, then they can carry it off and that’s what stands out to me the most.

How does your London background influence your hair styling today?

London in the 80’s is one of my main inspirations. I arrived in London just as the “New Romantic” scene was exploding. These people took inspirations from different eras and mixed it all together in a way that we really had never seen before and it was amazing. People like Leigh Bowery, Princess Julia, Steve Strange, they were doing things which although were elements of past era’s, also looked really new.

What are some of your must-have products for creating that perfect blow out?

I love Redken thickening lotion 06 body builder, Redken spray starch 15 heat memory styler, and at the moment I can’t be on set without Redken forceful 23 super strength hairspray. I also love using basic baby powder in hair to matte the texture.

What makes a hairstylist stand out and become an influential force in the fashion and beauty industry?

It’s difficult now-a-days. People are so much more educated than they were years ago. I think that a lot of hairstylists know a lot of references and have a good idea of how something should look or feel and that’s mainly down to archives and references being gotten at the touch of a button on the internet. But the real test is in the execution. That’s what makes a good hairdresser stand out.

What projects are you working on these days and what’s next for Guido?

Well, I break after a really busy year doing many many campaigns and editorial and I’ll be resting for a few weeks. Then in September it’s all hands on deck again as the show season kicks off in NY.

It was a pleasure to interview Guido you can find out more about Redken hair products at the official website: www.redken.com

What are some of the ingredients we would find in your products?
Some ingredients we use include beeswax, baking soda, sea salt, turbinado sugar, macadamia nut oil, organic verbena from sally’s farm, pomace olive oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil.

Each Soap & Paper Factory product is hand-made and created from scratch. What is involved in this process?
For the Scented Drawer Papers, the paper is first designed by and then offset printed.  The perfume is hand made in small batches and then applied to the paper by hand and the soap is the most labor intensive but a labor of love we would call it.  We make 280 soaps at a time. It is hand stirred (we use a drill with a paddle) and make sure all of the ingredients put in at just the right time. It is left set to rest over night and we then cut the next day. The soap cutter uses guitar strings to get through the soft soap, then it is spaced and set for a 3-4 week drying time and then comes the wrapping! Each item is hand wrapped and then given a sticker and a ribbon.  The Body Scrubs and Fizzing Bath Powder are also done by hand. All of the candles are hand poured.  The wax is melted on top of the stove in a double boiler and it provides our entire studio with the most luscious smell. All of the glass containers must be “prepped” and “wicked” and then the wax is melted slowly all day, as to not overheat it.  We pour usually in the late afternoon, let them sit overnight and then we provide them with ribbons, stickers and boxes the next day.

What makes the Soap & Paper Factory Pure Beeswax Candles so different?
We think the candles are very different for many reasons. First of all, we just love using beeswax as we feel there is nothing else like it, it is unscented and it smells so sweet and pure. The  color of a beeswax candle is warm, golden and welcoming; nature at its finest. We really try to work with the natural sweet smell of the beeswax and not over fragrance it so that they are elegant and subtle….not boisterous and in your face. When someone walks into your home, (candle) fragrance should not be a wall you hit, yet hidden ambiance that welcomes you into a loving environment.

You started the brand with 2 collections: Fig and Green Tea. How do you go about deciding on which new scents to expand your product line with?
It is a very intuitive process.  Sometimes we are inspired by travel, the season, or a new bloom in the garden.  It is a pretty organic process actually.  With the current patterns, the verbena fragrance was inspired by a drawing we saw on Beth’s desk (the current verbena pattern) . We feel like something new (such as fragrance) will be coming soon. Beth has just finished her winter patterns inspired by her drive to our studio through Harriman State Park.  They are so totally beautiful and seasonal, we may just have to come up with something pine to go with the gorgeous pinecone pattern!

Where do you get the inspiration for your exquisite paper packaging?
The paper works a lot like the fragrances, very intuitively! Beth takes a lot of photographs where ever she is.  She will also take lots of creations that Lisa is working on home with her and draw her inspiration directly from the scents.

Which skills and expertise each of you bring to the brand?
Lisa brings her energy and enthusiasm to try just about anything. She can formulate recipes and create magnificent fragrances. Shannon has the business knowledge and the drive to keep us on track! Beth designs all the patterns and packaging. The three of us work in conjunction with one another.

Which Soap & Paper Factory collection is your own personal favorite?
Beth has two favorites: Fig & Rosewood. To her, fig is more unisex, fresh and modern and rosewood, has a real romantic, more old world feeling.  They are very different from one another and nice to flip flop between. Right now Lisa is into layering scents. She uses the orange blossom first and then green tea so she can get the best of both worlds!

What is new this year at Soap & Paper Factory?
The Harriman Collection is new as far as the stationary goes. We think something wintery will ultimately come out of that such as fragrance, but it will be last minute!

What was your most enjoyable element in the creation of Soap & Paper Factory?
The most enjoyable part is the whole thing!  We love doing interviews like this because it reminds us of why we are here. We are so lucky that we get to be here with one another who we love and have our
kids and watch all of this happen and take place.  We laugh all day long, we work around beautiful products that smell really good that we make and around people we love! It is nice to be at a gift show and listen to people say (as they walk by, or come in to our booth)….”….ooooh, what is that??/ it smells so good?!

In your opinion, what makes one beautiful?
That is an interesting question. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We are beauty. Nature is beauty.  The wind is beauty. We make beautiful beauty and home products and we feel like they will add beauty to one another’s lives. They are designed to guide you to open your senses and slow down when you soak in a tub, or simply apply some cream to your skin…..or write scented letter to a loved one!

It was a pleasure to interview Lisa, Shannon and Elizebeth you can find out more about Soap and Paper Factory at the official website: http://www.soapandpaperfactory.com/