"Au Courant" means "up to date" and "informed on current issues."  But it is also the name of a company that produces an instant spray tan and a number of fake bake tanning options for at home use. One that I like is the Au Courant Instant Sunless Tanning Lotion  $29.99 8 fl. oz. in a plastic, pump bottle.  This particular tanning product looks as dark as melted chocolate, but it disappears into your skin with a fruity smell and just a slight tan-until a few hours pass (the color develops within 3-5 hours). Use a sponge applicator, of use your hands (I did, but I washed them quickly with an exfoliating scrub). On my pale skin, once a week was enough to make me look like I had a believable bronze. Once you get the color you want, apply every 4-5 days to maintain it. The product has a nice smell, dries quickly, and "tans" you with a brown-ish, not orange, color. FYI, the ingredients are: Water (Deionized), Aloe Vera, Safflower, DHA, PEG-100 Sterate, Glycerine, Polysorbate 80 and Cetyle Acetate, Dimethicone, PVP, Methylparaben, Proplyparaben, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl UREA, Citric Acid, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5) Chamomile Extract, Rosemary Extract, FD & C's, and Fragrance.

If you're on the go, and feel the need to "glow" without the sun, Comodynes has a Self-Tanning Towelette $12.99/8 that comes in handy, foil seal packettes. The product has Dehydroxiacetone (DHA) that does what other self-tanners do--give you a faux glow. They have a bit of a chemical smell, but it's not too bad. Each towelette is made of natural fibers, and is 8" x 8", large enough to swipe the self tanning evenly (in a circular motion) over your skin, both face and body. You might have to use more than one, depending upon how much you dispense. One is a good dose for face, neck and neckline.  But the color lasts for days, and if you manage to apply it evenly, you'll enjoy a "fake bake" that won't come off on your clothes.  The wipes are made in Spain and are hypoallergenic.  They are quick, convenient, and easy to use. Pop one into your weekend tote or luggage, and even if the sun doesn't shine, you'll come home looking like you lazed in the rays!

I’ve always been a fan of Pevonia Botanica products, but one that apparently I’ve overlooked until now is their Ligne Power Repair Youthful Lip Cream $48.00 1 fl. oz. The first thing that is different about this product is the packaging: it doesn’t come in a typical squeeze tube or solid stick. It’s a cream in a chunky, plastic squeeze jar with pointed tip. The second thing that is different is the cream, itself. It is rich and thick and when you apply it, it absorbs quickly, leaving a slight smell of roses behind! The Youthful Lip Cream combines the repairing effects of Retinol with regenerating Collagen and Elastin, to smooth lines, hydrate, prevent wrinkles, and even coloring. It isn’t an instant treatment, but over time, your lips will look and feel rejuvenated. On contact, however, it makes lips feel smooth, and I found that my lipcolor looked smoother and felt hydrating, too. The key ingredients include: Retinol, Bois Oil (fragrance), Shea Butter, Collagen, and Elastin. The downside, is the price. However, it’s a wonderful, effective and pampering product. If your lips are looking less youthful, and you don’t want to resort to more invasive means to deal with fine lines, you might consider the price a bargain compared to other treatment costs.

One of the things women worry about as they age is.....no it’s not what you think! It is the sudden and alarming realization that hair is growing where you don’t want it–like on your face! Sally Hansen, known for it’s wonderful nail hardening products and nurturing nail treatments, plus the most amazing array of nail color formulas, also has hair removal products for face and body. One of the new products I tried at the Spring/Summer Sally Hansen launch a few months ago, was Insta-Pods Creme Hair Remover for the Face $9.95/6 pods. What I like so much about these is that you simply snap the pod open, and it makes it’s own application to apply it to your face (you don’t have to touch it). The pods are sealed and lightweight and perfect for travel, too. In about three minutes (depending upon how much hair and how stubborn yours is), the hair is removed, without irritation, razor bumps, or other skin issues Another plus is that while this product a bit of a scent, it’s so minimal that most people won’t even find it annoying. Vitamin E, aloe, and chamomile moisturize and soothe. Another Sally Hansen product that deserves a shout-out is the Pure Scent-Sation Hair Remover for (Face) and Body $9.99 5.3 fl. Oz.  Ask anyone who has used a cream depilatory, and they’ll tell you that the worst part is having to sit with the stuff on your skin, and breathing in the awful, chemical smell. This body product comes in a pump bottle, and is good for bikini area, legs and underarms. I tried this one (on my hand) at the Sally Hansen preview launch, and had to agree that the scent really was barely there. The product also has moisturizing and soothing Vitamin E, chamomile and aloe. This product takes just a few minutes, and leaves your skin smooth, without any cuts, nicks or irritation. Unlike shaving, both products are not just convenient, they may actually reduce the risk of ingrown. hairs, and even minimize hair growth, over time. It's a great value, too.

To  keep your lips in top shape, you need to regularly do two things: exfoliate them, and hydrate them. You can smooth away dry flakes with a chemical exfoliant or one with rough pieces of seeds or nut hulls, but sugar is sweeter and gentler. Therefore, LUSH Lip Scrub $8.95 is my newest obsession. They use castor sugar to gently eliminate those nasty flakes and dry patches. They're  packaged in 0.8 oz. glass jars with screw cap Their main ingredients are castor sugar, flavor, and vanilla extract. Swipe your finger lightly over the surface pick up a tiny bit of the product, and rub it over your lips for a few seconds. Then, lick off the residue. Chocolate and peppermint combine in the Sweet Lips Lip Scrub, while vanilla extract helps you moisturize. The Mint Juleps Lip Scrub, smells like mint-chocolate chip ice cream, and features tingly peppermint oil. It also has vanilla extract to lock in moisture.  BubbleGum Lip Scrub, an homage to Lush’s Snow Fairy Fragrance. smells like the treat it is named for.  One of these sweet, exfoliating, lip scrubs in the mid-afternoon might just help you avoid cravings and slough off any dry skin.   The only downside if you can call it that, is that only danger is that These are addictive!!!!! You could overdo the exfoliation

Tired eyes aren’t a good fashion look, However, you can fudge a bright eyed look with Eye Slices $ 19.99, refill $14.99. They are innovative, disposable, gel based pads in an egg-shaped, plastic case with two storage pouches–one on each side. The slices use a cryogel technology, featuring several active ingredients that deliver their benefits to your eye area, reducing puffiness, redness, wrinkles and dark circles (within 5-20 minutes). Not that you would be tempted to eat these, but they are non-toxic. A key is Aloe Ferox, South African grown. It has the soothing, calming and restorative properties that even those with sensitive skin, will find appropriate. There are a couple of different types of Eye Slices too, addressing different skin conditions (Check out The Advice Sisters Blog feature to figure out which is best for you). 

Do you have toothbrush confusion at your house?  In mine, we seem to have the same color, or a variation of it, and often I forget which is mine.  That will never happen if you get the new Toothbrushes from REACH® by Design™ . As you can see from the photo, their colorful toothbrushes offer a unique design that lets your family members express themselves with a little, affordable, indulgence. A fun toothbrush is one way to get everyone to brush more often, and longer, too.  The REACH® by Design™ Toothbrush $2.35 has been shown to remove up to 95% of plaque between teeth. The ones I received have soft bristles that won't rip gums or gouge teeth.  Nifty!  And, a good toothpaste helps keep your teeth looking good, too. Most people associate the name "Rembrandt" with the  Dutch painter. For me, the name reminds me of a Mynah Bird that used to live in an art gallery my sister and I used to visit (actually, forced to visit by my art-collecting parents) Apparently, the gallery owners were a bit forgetful, so Rembrandt was trained to screech just one phrase (at about 30-second intervals): ""Hello! RemBrandt! Don't forget to turn out the lights!" Rembrandt  has a line of upscale, effective, tooth-care and whitening products. There are  eight in the Rembrandt Whitening Collection. All of these products are designed to help you get whiter teeth and then maintain them. They contain the same enamel-safe ingredients that dentists use, but in strengths for at-home use, and amazingly affordable.  Read our former review from the Advice Sisters Blog

I love Duette $38.00 by Votre Vu! It's a two-in-one multi-tasker with two flip tops on one tube.  It is the ultimate hydration "Swiss Army Knife" for Summer. The top part has a luxe hand cream that smells so wonderful, you might just swoon!  It's an almond and coconut scent so rich you  might just be tempted to eat it.  But of course, it's meant to silken and hydrate your hands, and that it does, beautifully.  The hand creme also features UVA and UVB sun protection. The product is very emollient, but quickly sinks into your skin, leaving nothing behind but that lovely scent, and pampered hands. The clear lip balm is hidden in the top of the tube, in a flip top cap. Not to be outdone by it's sexy sister, this product is super-emollient and comes with a little mirror in the flip top cap, so you can see what you're doing. Key ingredients in this balm are coconut oil and shea butter. Votre Vu products are primarily sold through a sales force of  consultants, but you can order online if you wish.

I don’t like having to wait for my manicure to dry, but when I do it myself, I almost always end up smuushing a nail or two.  Barielle’s Ultra Speed Dry Manicure Extender $26.00 has won my heart mot just because it provides a high shine top coat, but because it multi-tasks to speed dry. Even better, the sun won't sabotage your nails, because this product also has UVA/UVB protectors to keep dark colors from fading, and light colors from turning yellow in the sun.  It also extends the durability of your manicure. For those who care about chemicals (or lack thereof), this one is dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde free. It's pricey, but it does so much, I consider the cost is worth the  "Swiss Army Knife" use-ability. TIP: let your polish  dry for  two minutes before applying  Ultra Speed Dry Manicure Extender. In two more minutes, you can do whatever you wish without fear of ruining your nails. Use this product a few times a week over your finished manicure and you'll find that it stays chip-free, longer. If you have smuushed a nail, applying this top coat will also gloss over those mistakes, so you don't have to start all over again. It’s a clever, wonderful product!

Not to be indelicate, but sweat and odor aren't good fashion looks any time of year.  Alas, when you wear Summer whites, and sweat, yellow underarm stains can ruin your look as yellow teeth do, your smile. Colgate-Palmolive has just introduced a new antiperspirant/deodorant called Lady Speed Stick Stainguard $2.49.  Of course it's designed to stop odor and wetness (that's what you'd expect from this type of product) but it has a patent-pending formula that helps fight stains and white residue on clothes.  I have to honestly say that I'm one of the lucky ones that doesn't sweat very much, so I can't say that I have yellow stains I can track.  But I can say that the product works well (they say up to 24-hours, but honestly, who doesn't bathe for an entire day)?  What I can tell you is that there are two scents: Powder Fresh, and Daringly Fresh. The former smells clean and just like baby powder (love it).  The latter is also like, but more powdery-fruity. You're going to use a deodorant/antiperspirant anyway (or at least I hope you do) so why not take advantage of the anti-yellowing benefits, too? Check out the men's Stainguard Speed Stick, in the "For the Guys" section.

Everyone wants long, lush eyelashes, but short of applying several coats of lash-building mascara (not such a great idea in the heat of the Summer), how can you get the look you love, without resorting to faux eyelashes?  Talika Lipocils $55.00 is an eyelash conditioner in a wanded tube with both a brush and sponge applicator (use the foam part to apply product to the base of the lashes, and the brush part to spread it upwards),  that claims to help you grow longer, stronger lashes in just 28 days.  The unique, transparent gel is enriched with a complex of lecithin, castor oil, and 100% natural plant extracts, that are supposed to stimulate the growth of lashes. Other key ingredients include.  deionized water, Carbomer, Lecithin, Hypericum Extract, Apple Extract, Witch Hazel Extract, Horse Chestnut Extract. The Advice Sisters have reviewed other products that help nourish lashes. Most do work at least a little, depending upon the quality and quantity and health of your lashes at the get go. As I consider the ingredients, it should do a good job of nourishing your lashes, to make them longer and stronger, and maybe even a bit shinier, just as hair products, do. The product will not change your pupil color, it doesn't smell, and doesn't seem to irritate sensitive eyes.  Lash conditioners do produce benefits, but you have to be patient, using the product twice a day for the first two weeks, and at least once a day after that.  If you remember to do it, and are willing to invest the money and time, benefits can be yours.

Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel srp. under $8.00 is a soft, colorless, non-scented gel that adds "slip" to your skin. What that means is that it reduces the friction (and therefore, chafing) of skin against skin, and/or clothes/shoes against skin. It may not be a glamorous beauty product, but chafing is a serious condition,  and this product really does relieve some of the misery. If you have ever experienced a bra that suddenly feels like a saw against your armpits and chest, shoes that are too tight and producing blisters with every step, or other parts of your body that rub (e.g. your thighs), anything that can provide silkiness where repeated motion rubs skin raw, is a blessing. For those who are overweight, movement in hot weather and during exercise, is an especially painful issue that is hard to ignore. I felt immediate relief from this non- greasy, non-staining, moisture-proof gel. It even dries on contact. The only downside was that it didn’t last as long as I’d wanted. To be truly comfortable, I re-applied it a few times during the day. Still, it helps, and that’s a step (literally) in the right direction.

Okabashi Maui sounds like the name of a tanker, or maybe, a Japanese delicacy, but it’s actually a limited edition, earth day oriented flip flop that is made in Buford, Georgia! These are 100% recyclable and made of 30% recyclable material. Okabashi's Maui sandals are guaranteed for two years, but when you’ve worn them out, you can send them back to Okabashi to re-use in new footwear. But what makes these flip flops unique, is that they can be washed in the dishwasher (on the high temperature, sanitize cycle).  But when flip flops get really dirty, you have to either throw them out, or soak them in a bucket and hope the plastic doesn’t deteriorate.  Not these!They are genuinely comfortable, and durable. with a contoured foot bed and massage beads and an arch support to make them good for pavement and not just grass or the beach.  The Thong, the part that nearly always rubs and rips the skin between my toes to shreds was so smooth, I had no problem walking in them. I think guys will love this idea, so I've put the product in the "For the Guys" section, but Okabashi Sandals are available in a wide variety of styles --for women and children, too!  See my larger review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

If you've been reading this entire column (you have been, haven't you?), you already know that Colgate-Palmolive has just introduced a new antiperspirant/deodorant called Lady Speed Stick Stainguard $2.49.  You have learned that this product is designed to stop odor and wetness, plus it has a patent-pending formula that helps fight stains and white residue on clothes.  That's great for women, but what about the guys?  Luckily, there is Speed Stick Stainguard 2.7 fl. oz $2.49 .  I have to honestly say that I'm one of the lucky one just for guys.  Like the ladies product, this one has 24-hour protection, and will help stop the unsightly stains on this tee shirts.  There's nothing more gross than a guy wearing a white undershirt with yellowed armpits. For a few dollars, you can give him the antiperspirant/deodorant protection he needs, and avoid dealing with unsightly, yellow residue, too.  Her will like the fresh, citrus-y scent,  and the wide, bold, blue swivel-up solid stick.