It had been raining steadily for days. When I walked into the pharmacy in St. Barth's, the man behind the counter knew exactly what I wanted. Silently, he  pointed to a tube of Phytodéfrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm $35.00 (5.9 Fl. oz size) by Phyto. I bought it. For the first time ever, my frizzies had met their match!  My hair looked shiny, sleek, smooth without sticky or greasy coatings, I was in love! Since then I've become very attached to Phytodéfrisant. For summer, 2005, the  folks at Phyto have created a limited edition Phytodéfrisant that's 75% larger than the regular, 3.3 oz tube. Sure it works, but it's also a chemical-free, botanical balm, which provides natural relaxing benefits. Even better, frequent use actually helps ease the straightening process and improves the texture and shine of your hair. Get several of these big tubes while they last, because if your hair tends to be naturally curly, wavy, frizzy, or out of control, once you try it you won't ever want to be without it again.

I consider San Francisco designer Renee Rivera to be a purveyor of hair beauty products, even though her items don't come in jars or bottles. Each of her beautiful pieces of hair jewelry are handmade by a small team of artists using luxurious materials such as semi-precious stones and crystals. Even if your hair is less than perfect one of these fabulous hair accessories makes an outfit, fabulous and less-than-perfect hair, at least one step better. These are luxe pieces that you'll wear for years. Indulge your taste for jewels with a small, oval, Semi-Precious Stone Barrette $68.00 wrapped with tiny bits of bright turquoise or ladylike rose quartz. These work well to clip back outgrown bangs, or as an accent on long or short hair. If your taste runs to more glitz, or for a special occasion, get the similarly-sized, small, Crystal  Flower Barrette $54.00 featuring an oval cluster of pink crystal flowers with aurora borealis centers!  These bits of "hair bling" would be fabulous gifts (perhaps for bridesmaids).  For a more casual look, tuck a cute Bow Comb $30.00 in white ribbed satiny ribbon over a silver, metal"teeth" into your hair, or use it to grace the back of a ponytail or French twist. You just can't have to many of these lovely pieces!

Ho-hum hair and only a measly beauty budget? Try Vitapointe Daily Hairdress $5.00 3.25 oz. with a light, moisture-lock formula that offers long-lasting shine and hydration to sun-scorched hair, while keeping the frizz factor in check. Use sparingly to spot treat damaged, dry areas and split ends. Tip: massage throughout your entire head and tie hair back in a braid or ponytail before going to the beach--instant all-day treatment!    Condition 3-in-1 moisturizing Mousse $2.49 6 oz by Clairol is enriched with pro-vitamin B5 for volume, and a paba-free sunscreen to protect your hair from the sun while you keep it smooth, shiny and healthy. Simply turn can upside down, disperse a egg-sized (or larger) amount and work into towel dried hair. Style as usual--that's it!  If you want to keep your hair in place, even when the humidity is really high, try the classic rediscovered --  Final Net All Day Hold (unscented) $2.49 8 fl. oz has a cutting edge formula that provides a super-strong hold and resists humidity up to 90%.   The light, super-fine mist pump rivals some of the pricier brands! The hairspray dries fast, holds tight, and we do appreciate the non-scented formula!  TIP: hold spray 6-8 inches from hair and mist lightly. If the pump clogs, rinse it with warm water.

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SU WASH Sun Moisturizing Protective Hair & Body Shampoo $15.00 8.45 fl. oz by Davines is a shampoo and a body wash, ideal for all hair and skin types. Apricot Oil and rice proteins, and other good-for-your skin/hair/scalp ingredients work as a multi-tasker to cleanse, hydrate, and protect. SU derives it's name from ancient Sanskrit meaning "the one with the shining hair."  A plastic bottle makes it portable. If you're seeking one product to gentle cleanse, hydrate and protect your skin and hair, this one is the perfect choice! There are several other good products in the SU Suncare System line including a SU Gel Sun Protective Moisturizing Gel $19.00 5.07 fl. oz that we like to use for a "wet-at-the-beach" hair look as it protects against damage from sun, sea and chlorine.

If you've ever admired the perfect ponytail or pouf, Put On Pieces from Hair U Wear comes affordable "faux" hair pieces that let you match your own hair (or contrast it) in shades of blonde, brown, black and red man-made hair. There are 14 pieces in a variety of styles and more than 30 colors,  from a small pouf to a long fall or a faux ponytails. We tried the Straightn' More Wrap $15.00 (photo), wrapping the elasticized ring around a high bun. It took literally just a few seconds to turn a ho-hum style into an eye-catching, high-fashion one. These are inexpensive and lots of fun!

For those with frizzy, dry and unmanageably curly/wavy hair, the summer is not their most beautiful time. We reviewed the Pantene Pro-V Treatment Smoothing Comb-In Treatment called $3.99  10.2 fl. oz that helps calm hair cuticles and tame frizz before you style, and the revitalizing, Strength & Shine Intensive Hot Créme Treatment $3.99 1 oz (heat activated, 1-3-minute treatment for weak hair) in our SPRING 2005 column.  There's  another new product, by Pantene that curly, dry and frizzy-heads love:  Smooth & Shine Styling Milk $4.99 5.1 fl. oz. is a lightweight, leave-in product that actually helps straight styles stay straight, shiny and healthy, even when the humidity is frightful.  While we haven't found anything that will completely protect against "rain-forest" type humidity, this product works well to preserve the sleek, straight look you worked so hard to create! It's light enough to be used every day, and safe for chemically or color treated hair.

During the summer months your hair color is exposed to even more damaging elements than usual, including water, oils, chlorine, and UV rays. To help you protect your investment, every product in the Redken Color Extend Line is designed to provide maximum protection for your colored hair and extend the life of your hair color.   The Shampoo $8.95 10.1 oz is a gentle, low-lathering product that cleanses thoroughly, but without stripping the color. We liked the pleasant scent, and our soft and shiny hair. The Color Extend Conditioner $10.95 8.5 oz makes hair easy to comb and helps it dry glossy and soft. There is also a great, leave-in conditioner called Total Recharge $14.95. 5 oz to use once a week as an intensive conditioning treatment. In just 1-2 minutes your hair will be detangles and protected with sun filters, so you can turn your attention to more entertaining things!   Rich Defender 13.95 8.5 oz is a rinse-out treatment that takes just 5 minutes and provides deep-conditioning.  Color Veil $14.95 3.4 oz is a spray shine/protector/ styling product that shields hair from damaging UV rays that can alter the color, while providing a minimal hold and high shine.

There's nothing worse than coming home from a long day at the beach, bathing, and then trying to yank a comb or brush through that wind-blown, water-tossed mass you used to call hair!  Budget-minded fashionistas know that Thermasilk Detangler Leave-In Conditioner $3.99 13 oz, by Helene Curtis can tame and smooth even the most curly, stubborn hair.  Simply spray a few pumps of this lightweight conditioner into your hair and simply blow-dry as the good-for-your-hair ingredients are heat activated! Better yet, UV protectants and anti-oxidants protect color treated hair when you're outside, too. The cost is so slight it wont' dent your budget, and it won't weigh your hair down, either!

If C.P.R.  $14.00 2/ .84 fl. oz tubes by Senscience sounds like a life-saver, you're right--only this C.P.R. relates to Cuticle and Porosity Reconstructive Treatment for severely damaged hair!  The two-step process moisturizes and then penetrates damaged cuticle layers to repair and reconstruct, sealing split and damaged ends to prevent further breakage while coating it with healthy shine.  This in-salon (or at home) process takes 15 minutes - 5 for step 1 and 10 for step 2 (heating cap and/or a dryer is required).  If your hair gets really "fried" this summer, get this special treatment and see happy results.

A new product that I've fallen in love with is Straight & Style $12.00 6.8 fl. oz. by Keune, This nearly-clear, nearly weightless gel is a real multi-tasker!  First, it's a heat-activated, non-chemical hair straightener that could make your hot iron, obsolete. Just a small amount tames and straightens even frizzy and curly hair. It is also a hair protector, with a UV filter to help keep your hair shiny and safe from the sun's damaging rays.  Finally, it's a conditioner and a styling product -- a provitamin B5 protects and conditions, while a multi-fruit   complex actually helps to hold your style.  This wonderful product does a lot, for not a lot of cash!

A little goes a long way when using Stephen Knoll New York Super Smoothing Lotion $23.50 5.1 fl. oz.  This unique gel moisturizes, conditions and helps blow dry recalcitrant hair, straight.  An innovative hair repair coating ingredient: Virtual Tech Polymer, makes hair less prone to the effects of humidity by keeping moisture locked in,  creating shine, and providing a transparent, protective, smoothing coating on the hair shaft. A benefit is that this also cuts down on blow drying time!   We like the fresh, floral scent that was selected by the master, Mr. Knoll. A little goes a long way and you'll love the results and you'll have an easier, more hassle-free summer with your hair. new to our review, the Stephen Knoll salon in New York draws a crowd of glamorous fashionistas and dozens of famous clients from Raquel Welsh to Celine Dion. We hope to review more of this line in future column

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System Professional Sun Collection by a recognized leader in haircare --Wella, are found in select salons, but you can try some of these high-quality products at home, too. Before you take that beach vacation, pack two high-performance products designed to combat the effects of sun, chlorine, sea and wind:   SP Sunset Shampoo $21.00 8.5 fl. oz can be used for both hair and body. The light golden gel  with a fresh/green scent is pH-balanced to gently remove sun protection products, sea, and chlorinated water from skin and hair. Follow with Sunset Express Cream $28.00 5.3 fl. oz, an intense, restructuring cream that conditions while providing moisture and shine. Our hair felt soft and smooth and glowed like..the sun!

BODY BLING & BRONZERS!  Spring is a time to start shedding your outerwear and start showing your skin. Why not flaunt it with a touch of glamour?

Add pearly shimmer to cheeks, eyes or lips (mix with clear or sheer gloss) with a dusting of Eye Dust $18.00 in "Elegant" by FACE Stockholm. What's great about this loose shimmer powder is that the color is a berried-bronze that goes on sheer enough to light up a tan now, warm up skin later on when your complexion begins to fade. It's also a perfect partner over a blush for a sexy, evening look.

Pigment $18.50 by M·A·C Cosmetics is loose, highly concentrated powder in a little jar that comes in both matte and frosty finishes.  It is sheer, so you can use just a little for a subtle wash of color, or go intense and dramatic by layering on more. A new addition to the nearly two dozen colors is "Coco," a pearly, shimmery bronze that looks great on eyes, cheeks, lips and body. We don't know how M·A·C does it, but the colors really stay put and last on your skin so you gleam where you want, not where you don't. 

If you love Bobbi Brown "Beach" Fragrance, and you love the look of sexy, shimmery, skin, you'll adore the limited edition, Bobbi Brown Beach Shimmer Powder $25.00 that leaves your skin fragranced and shimmery with an awesome, super-sheer, shimmery, copper shade called "Bikini."  This new body powder in a compact can be applied with a brush, or with the accompanying puff. Dust it on your shoulders, arms, or décolletage, or legs for subtle sunkissed highlights (add more for more "bling"). This will be on the counters in June. Ask your favorite Bobbi Brown retailer when it will be in, and then hurry to the store --it won't last for long!

When I first saw the ivory and gold "deodorant stick" packaging of the limited edition, Amariage Illuminating Body Balm $35.00 by Givenchy, I wasn't sure what to think. Then I opened the top and spied the gold, sparkling solid stick of "body bling" and I fell in love! The balm is totally sheer and non-sticky. It secures little bits of golden glitter to your skin, while scenting it with the famous floriental scent o Amariage.  The scent is strong, spicy, sexy. The top notes are neroli, mandarin and violet, middle notes are gardenia, mimosa and ylang-ylang and the bottom notes are ambergris, musk and vanilla. This is neither sweet nor cloying, but it's an adult scent to wear when you're dressed-to-kill!  A body bling in a more fluid form is Organza Golden Body Shine $45.00 5 fl. oz. Also a limited edition from Givenchy for Summer, this one gives your skin a soft, golden glow without glitter while it smoothes and scents with the fragrance of Organza (one of my personal favorites).  The scent is spicy -- a woody oriental with notes of amber, nutmeg, vanilla, gardenia and honeysuckle.  It's sexy and sophisticated, not "teen" or "girly."  Apply either of these scented body shimmer and your romantic "prey" will be happily, caught!"

Summer-to-Wear is a good name for the Sun Shimmer for Legs  $40.00 3.3 oz by Givenchy. This limited edition bronzing oil is just for legs. It's super-sheer and smells slightly but beautifully of roses. It gives legs just a hint of golden glow with glints of gold. Don't wait for a special occasion to try it - treat yourself now and enjoy a "golden" summer!

I am personally not usually a fan of bronzers or self-tanners. On the other hand, there are many people who love them.  One I could love is the type that lets you build color, slowly, so you don't' end up too bright on your first try. Liquid Bronze Self-Tanning for Face and Décolleté $28.00 4.2 fl. oz by Clarins is the type of next generation self-tanner I like. It's subtle and buildable for a just a hint of color, or an all-out San Tropez tan! Aloe vera softens your skin while it colors. The jasmine and violet fragrance is mentioned as a nice bonus and reviewers reported they loved how fast drying it is. Soft skin and a golden glow --  that's good news! TIP: Your skin might look beautifully tan with a self-tanner, but  it's not protected from the sun's damaging rays. You still must apply a sun screen every day when you apply a self-tanner,   if you want to keep safe and healthy.

We are fans of OLAY products to keep your skin and body in great shape, inexpensively. We reviewed Olay Quench Body Lotion $5.99 in our Winter 2005 column. A new take is Olay Body Quench Radiance Reviver Body Lotion $6.99 6.7 fl. oz. This clever multi-tasker not only moisturizes dry skin up to 24 hours, but subtly enhances your skin tone with a small amount of self-tanner. So is it a moisturizer or a self tanner? It's both, actually.  Use it regularly and your skin will not only be soft and smooth, but will take on a subtle tan color that will continue to deepen if you continue to use the lotion. TIP: To moisturize without tint, use the regular Body Quench or switch to a regular body moisturizer several times a week. Also be sure to let it dry before putting your clothes on as anything will self-tanner it it may stain. 

Sue Devitt Studio Bronzing Pressed Powder $30.00 called "Gold Coast" looks dark in it's chic, silvery compact. However, this intense color is actually a muted shade of terracotta with a hint of gold glint. If you are pale, a very light dusting is all you need to create a believable tan without the fake "orange" tinge. Apply it lightly with a soft, fluffy brush and you'll find a little goes a long way. There is just a hint of sparkle to brighten even the dullest complexion on the darkest day, but it's not too much. Oh yes-- it has SPF10, too. Reviewers raved about this bronzer so if you haven't ever tried one before, this would be a safe and satisfying choice! 

Guerlain is the master of the sun-kissed look.  Their Terracotta bronzing powder is much beloved around the world. Now they've created a tote-able bronzer in a tube that you'll want to try. the Terracotta Gel Frais Bronzant SPF 8 $38.00 covers your face with the lightest veil of oil-free, water based, sheer bronze color in three shades.  "Naturel 01" for light skin tones, "Dore 02" for those with medium complexions or a light tan, and "Hale 03" for deeper skin or deeper tans. The color is exciting, luminous, sexy, but as if that's not enough, this gel is also rich in moisturizing ingredients.  If you want a bronzer that is easy to use and has moisturizers and sun screen, you've just found a great one!

Instant Vacation Bronzing Powder $7.50 by MARK comes in a limited edition compact embossed in the shape of a shell. What it really does is give you build-able, sun-kissed color for your face and body, all year long. .It's inexpensive, but that doesn't mean it isn't any good.  We tried brushing this on everything from our face to our tan line, and we liked the golden brown, not orange color. It also absorbs shine and is oil free. It's cheap and chic. TIP for an even, believable "tan," use a large, soft, fluffy brush or a bronzer brush designed specifically for this purpose. You'll like the results.

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Becca Pressed Bronzing Powder $33.00 comes in several color choices,. This luxurious, pressed powder bronzer in it's modern, luxe, matte gray and pewter compact goes on smoothly and and color-fast.  We tried the lightest color "Flamenco" which is actually an intense, toasted, matte brown. Applied with a light touch and a Becca Shimmer/Bronzer Fan Brush $35.00, it might just become a paleface's best friend this summer.

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NICE SUMMER NAILS:   It's sandals season -- feet are taking center stage. A fun way to dress them up is with nail color that is sheer, pale, ladylike (and low-maintenance) manicures and pedicures, or flaunt your feet and fingernails in high-energy, bright-as-the-tropics colors. Anything goes!

Bourjois knows nail products and they certainly know what makes a great, French manicure. Their new  Elegant White French Manicure $10.00 lets you create a classic French manicure at home.   The stark, opaque white polish for the French manicure tip features a brush that is curved--adapted to the shape of a nail. It is also slightly angled with tapered side so you can apply a smooth coat of opaque white polish across your nail in just two strokes!  Follow the white tip with a Very Vernis Nail Enamel $9.00 in the lightest blush of pink such as such as "Rose Lounge," The products are clever, the result, easy elegance!

If you want a light, feminine, pearly-pink polish that will last through your wildest weekends, try Rimmel Lasting Finish Lycra Wear Polish $2.65 .41 fl. oz. in "Oyster Pink." This lovely little shade reflects the light, as luminous as pearls.  For a bright, bold salmon that looks fab on tanned toes, get "Tequila Sunrise."" The  Lycra in the polish means that you'll get longer lasting color (up to five days) that resists scratching and scuffing for a brighter shine.

Shu Uemura's newest Nail Polish $16.00 from their "Hikari" summer collection may have finally ended my quest for a quintessentially feminine (but not too girly) nail polish. It has an unglam name: "P927- Rose Quartz" but gives your nails a gorgeous, medium pale pink, pearly glow which we think is similar to the inside of a conch shell.  This new classic color would look beautiful on finger and toes no matter what your complexion.  Dressy enough to wear to a wedding but subtle enough to be appropriate for work. It's just the perfect summer color. Of course the color goes on smoothly and is chip-resistant so you don't have to re-apply so often.

Essie's Summer in the City 2005 Summer Collection focuses on sheer, icy pales in pink, beige and peach, to give your fingers and toes a hassle-free, elegant, ladylike sheen all summer long. Our pick for the fab four best nail polish colors $8.00 each from this collection are: ""Iced Chai Latte" (photo) a pretty, sheer peach-beige that that reminds us of the inside of shells, Cafe Forgot," a pale nude with just the slightest hint of pearl and shimmer,  "Cabana Boy" a light, silky, pearl, grey, and, for those who want a bright color, "Hot Spot," is a bright, high-shine, coral. To keep pale colors from yellowing and bright ones from fading, be sure to use a non-yellowing Top Coat $8.00. It's a virtual sunblock for your manicure! Keep your nails in good shape with a beautiful Crystal File $14.00 reminds us of Lalique crystal. It shapes your nails gently, to keep them from splitting and peeling, gliding over rough edges, shaping and sealing. Unlike cardboard files, this one can be washed, and it will give you a long, lifetime of use. It is an essential for every purse, tote and travel bag. Essie also has some inexpensive, beautifully packaged gift sets:  The Icing on the Cake set $12.00 2/pack, $18.00 features two super-sheer, shiny polishes for brides, bridesmaids, mothers, and friends, packaged in a "wedding cake" shaped cardboard display. Our featured "Fed Up" and "Waltz," a pale pink and a creamy off-white. What a cute idea for a bridal shower or bridesmaids party (put one set at each place setting) or as part of a "thank-you" basket to out-of-town guests. There is a 3-pack $18.00 as well.  The Jelly Tote is a bright orange mini "jelly" tote filled with summer essentials: a mini-sized pomegranate & mango 2 oz smoothie (see our rave review in the Holiday 2004 column), a "Figi" (light, opaque baby pink) nail polish and a Super Duper Top Coat that gives a high shine to any manicure. This would make a super gift for a teen or a young-at-heart hostess.