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Did You Know?  The Advice Sisters are credited with bringing the advice/information genre, online,  in Marriage and Family Experience: Relationships Changing Society 8th Edition by Bryan Strong, Christine DeVault, Theodore F. Cohen (Thompson-Wadsworth,2004).

Make Up & Go is a concept that works for Summer, and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has makeup collection of the same name that takes "quick & easy" to a new level.  We received a few of Bobbi Brown's Tinted Lip Balm $17.00 that goes on silky-smooth, leaves a dreamy, sheer tint, and moist shine. It's a bit more color and a little less gloss than the same-old-same-old, but the moist look is perfect for Summer, and we love that it  also protects your lips from the sun's damaging rays with SPF 15.  Of course, Bobbi Brown doesn't call it a "balm" for nothing! The deep moisturizing balm makes even sun-parched lips feel alive again. We like the shiny, black, swivel-up metal case that means your lip balm won't be crushed in that beach bag, and the eight colors that are sheer enough to work for everyone, literally! We tried "Pink Raspberry," a sheer, "bee-stung" pink that adds a bit of life to a no-makeup look. Just as universally pretty is "Brown," a warm brown that looks rosy-brown in the tube, and on your lips. From "Baby Pink" to Deepest "Hazelnut," you'll find one to suit everything in your wardrobe, and all your whims!  The silky, pampering balm is a "must-have" for this season.

Bathe your lips in luxurious, shimmery, high-shine, super- silky, super-sheer gloss with Lip Shimmer $26.00 by Giorgio Armani Beauty. These are not so-so, ho-hum, "everyday" glosses. They're slim, wanded tubes (with slightly fluted, matte, black caps) holding new, limited edition shades of Lip Shimmer gloss from Armani's Bronze Mania Gold Summer 2007 collection. "Lip Shimmer 34" glimmers like the sun on a koi pond--a super-sheer melon infused with tons of gold sparkle that looks sexy on it's own, even more glam over a lipstick to transform it with sun-sparkled appeal. We also love "Lip Shimmer 35," a juicy orange-red that has just a hint of warmth, and the slightest of subtle shimmers. It's also great alone for a wet-shine look without intense color, or to help make your favorite lipstick, more sun-worthy.

Trish McEvoy's SPF 15 Sheer Lip Color $21.00 is a surprise from the moment you open the box, and see the silvery, super-shiny lipstick tube that looks heavy (and luxe) but is actually, very lightweight! The lip color is a happy surprise as well:  The colors look very vibrant in the tube, but slide on like a silky balm, conditioning your lips with moist, sheer color and providing SPF 15 protection. We sampled four of the five , sheer, fabulous colors.  You'll get enough tint to look like you're wearing a lip color, but not the kind of movie-star intensity you don't want in this more casual, Summer season. "Passion Fruit" is a cool, vibrant pink; slightly warmer and slightly lighter is "Baby Pink;" "Sheer Mandarin" is perfect for redheads and anyone who loves a warm, sun-kissed apricot, and "Sheer Naked" is a simply lovely, simply simple, nude. We didn't get the lowdown on "Sheer Sunpetal," but I'm guessing it's a warm, skin-kissed copper. Trish McEvoy definitely knows how to combine function, with beauty. Tuck one of these glam lip colors into your beach tote or evening bag, and morning, noon, and night, you'll be protected from the sun's damaging rays, while looking beautiful and feeling fabulous.

Erno Lazlo is known for high-performance products with cutting edge technology, so we weren't surprised when we read that Erno Lazlo pHORMULA No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15 $32.00 is a tiny, black tube of multi-tasking magic. The lip balm is soothing, hydrating, and healing, but it is also a lip plumper and of course, helps to protect precious lips from the sun's damaging rays with SPF 15.  It has so many different ingredients, each with a specific "job" to do, that we can't list them all, but here are a few: shea butter (soothe, moisturize, protect); Marine Filling Spheres (lip plumping properties); Tamanu Oil (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic and antioxidant); aloe vera extract (heal and soothe); Vitamins A, C & E (antioxidant properties); and more. The product may be a bit pricey, but when you consider all the good that it does for your lips without having to apply multiple products, it's actually a good value and a very effective product!

When choosing a lip product, one that provides nourishment and protection wins hands down over one that just provides color. And, if it's got SPF sun protection in it as well, we call it a winner. Pür Minerals Lip Tint $16.50 comes in a slim, matte silver tube, offering a luxe and effective way to enhance your lips. The silky lip tint is a pampering, mineral-rich formula, it's rich hydration coming from olive oil, mango seed extract, and cocoa seed butter. The product has no chemical dyes, and protects your lips with SPF 15, so you know you look good and are doing your skin a good deed, too. But it also does what you expect a lip color to do: beautify your lips with natural color from natural minerals  offering three soft shades: pink, berry, and bronze. We tried  the pink-ish  "Island Pearl," which added just a hint of pearly pink--intense enough to add color but in a too "done" way. We didn't try the other two colors, but since mineral-based cosmetics tend to be subtle, they're sure to all be flattering on everyone.

Incredible Sheer Lipcolor SPF 15 by Prescriptives is a triple treat that's great for lips, and pampers even the most parched, in 8 sheer,  pink rose, and berried colors. The slim, shiny silver tube and a yummy, citrus scent are definite bonuses. A naturally-derived plant complex helps reflect light, making lips look better even if they're ailing.  Vitamins C and E and SPF 15 protect lips from the sun's damaging rays, and even wind and smoke, while Aloe Vera helps to heal and soothe. We tried "Chambord," a blue/red berry, but since Prescriptives offers products in two intensities of warm and cool colors, you can get the right tone for your skin tone. Wear the Sheer Lipcolor alone, or with a top coat of luxe Moonbeam Reflective Gloss $17.50, to feel instantly, sensationally sexy. The wet look, light-reflecting gloss utilizes a new, light-reflecting pigment technology. The resulting gloss offers wet-look shine and shimmer that looks much nicer than natural, is seemingly effortless, and never feels sticky or goopy. The brush-tipped tube makes application clean and easy.  There are two new very sheer colors for Summer that not only make your lips look great, but help moisturize, soothe, condition and heal even parched-from-the-sun, lips. There's nothing like a beauty product that is a beauty treatment, too. "Summer Constellation" combines shimmery shades of bronze, rose and golden-glitzed champagne, to flatter sun worshippers and palefaces, alike. "Summer Solstice" combines deep, medium and light shimmered roses to add just the merest tint of rose to your lips, along with tons of pouty-perfect shine.

Budget fashionistas, no need to worry, you can get affordable, pampering, sun protection for your lips that in fashionable colors and packaging!  Neutrogena Moistureshine LipSheers $8.99 combine a soothing, cooling, and moisturizing lip balm with just a bit sheer lip color and SPF 20 (thanks to Octinoxate 7.5% and Titanium Dioxide 1.1%).  In the world of multi-taskers, this value-packed product in a slim, shiny, silvery tube, is a perfect summer pick-me-up for dry, ho-hum lips. There is a bit of a zing when you apply the soft, velvety, balm/tint/gloss,  due to some natural, peppermint flavor. Moisturizers and  vitamin E soften and hydrate, and the silky, moist, lightweight formula beautifies in ten, medium-sheer, moistly-shiny, natural-looking shades. I particularly liked the warm and clear, "Peach Sorbet" that warms up a pale face or brightens a tan and the cool, clear "Pink Splash." "Plum Kiss" and "Sunny Berry" will be loved by purple fans, and there are a few nudes and shimmers. Something for everyone, at a universally popular price. It's a great product for Summertime, and any time.

Cargo is known for it's lip glosses in tins (every fashionista has a few), but a large tin of gloss, however helpful at home, isn't that user-friendly in your purse. Cargo Purse Gloss $16.00 is a chubby little teardrop-shaped squeeze tube/brush tip filled with the same shiny, sheer, shiny, silky lip glosses in the Cargo tins! Although they don't have SPF, these are still infused with nourishing ingredients to make dry and cracked lips look and feel better. The attached brush also allows for sanitary application of lip gloss and has a shut-off valve to avoid messy leaks. I believe there are 9 different colors.  We liked "Beijing," a shimmery, wet-shine pink that looked good with pale skin, and still added color to deeper skin, and those with tans. TIP: these glosses are quite liquid. All you need is just one gentle squeeze of the tube to get the color flowing. Squeeze hard, and you may find that the brush tip is over-flowing!

The Balm, new to our reviews this column, offers a wanded tube of Lip Gloss with SPF 17 $18.00 . That's an unusual number of sun protection for lips (most are SPF 15). We were delighted, and surprised, to fine these lovely glosses. They're light and silky, making even parched lips feel soft and pampering. They're enriched with beeswax for long wear and shine, and with jojoba to soothe, moisturize, and protect. With a fairly high amount of SPF sun protection, the real surprise is not only that your lips will look great and feel great, but there's a  yummy, strawberry-banana scent that reminds us of our younger days, and makes us want to re-apply the product, often. There are five colors and a clear ("American Girl). I personally liked "Girly Girl" a sheer, shimmery coral, and "Dream Girl" a soft nude will be appropriate to wear whether you are in a meeting at work, or meeting friends at a favorite campsite. These are definitely a little splurge worth finding, and trying.

I always feel a change in the season is a good time to throw out the old mascara, and bring in a new one. When the weather heats up and you tend to perspire more, a waterproof mascara is a must-have.   Red Earth's newest, is not only waterproof, it has  Pro-Vitamin B5 to condition lashes at it coats them! The Red Earth Waterproof 2V Mascara $13.00 the latest version of Red Earth's already popular 2V Mascara, that dramatically volumizes lashes. I like the feel of the chubby mascara wand, and the fact that the product makes lashes chubby, too (2V stands for “Double Volume”). A blend of waxes and polymers volumize every single lash, adding thickness and length, but without clumping. Right now there is just black or brown, but hopefully Red Earth will add more colors to this good mascara line. I don't really advocate wearing eye makeup to the pool or the beach, but if you must, get a waterproof one--Waterproof 2V Mascara is a great choice.

Cute packaging, good quality products, and trendy colors are some of the reasons The Advice Sisters have always appreciated CARGO Cosmetics. Their Summer collection features shimmery, earthy, bronzed tones that work with a variety of skin tones. The Cargo Eye Shadow Palette $18.00 for Summer 2007 offers four small rectangles and one square of coordinated matte and shimmered easy-to-wear neutral powder shadows.  "Ibiza" features warm earthy tones in beige, browns, and nude, plus a middle square of shimmery copper. The colors look intense and attractive in their clear, square plastic compact, but they're sheer enough to be mixed and matched, layered, and used in a variety of ways. "Paradise Island" features mostly shimmery pinks and browns, a matte rectangle of pink,  and a very shimmery square of rose in the middle. The colors blend beautifully...treat yourself to one of these trendy, limited edition palettes before they're gone.

The Balm's Shady Lady Eye Shadow $15.00 comes packaged in a cute, black and silver mirrored cardboard compacts with magnetic closures that look like pieces of film strip, with a sexy nude silhouette on the front.  This gives you a clue that the fairly intense (but blendable and layerable), shimmery colors were inspired by the Hollywood starlets of the silver screen, pin-up girls and dime-store novel covers. We think these are an easy way to bring out the  "femme fatale" in you. Most of the colors are more appropriate for Summer evenings, than casual days but they'll be great when the weather puts a chill back in the air. We tried "Curvy Cami," a rich, very shimmery purple and "Risqué Renee," a shimmered deep plum. Use them as accents or lid liners now, and for a full, smoky, glam eye, in the Fall. There are also a few light neutrals, but it's obvious that these are meant to be high-powered glam products...so go for it!

For the girly-girl in you, or for a cute weekend hostess or wedding shower gift, The Girl Next Door $30.00 by Sula packages two .5 fl. oz spray bottles of fragrance together  ("Butterfly Kiss" and "Lily Lotus" to wear separately, or layer together. They arrive in a white and light blue presentation package with cute blonde girl graphic, and a clear, cello window to showcase the silvery-topped, clear square glass bottles adorned with delicate light, blue butterflies (for "Butterfly Kiss" of course), and lotus fronds (for "Lily Lotus). "You're the all American Beauty" is flatteringly proclaimed on the back of the box. You might just feel like you truly are that girl next door when layer these two together to produce a light floral scent. Separately, these fragrances have merit, too: "Butterfly Kiss" has a romantic feel with sweet florals such as freesia, heliotrope, and jasmine.  "Lily Lotus," is also light, but it features watery florals of water lily, lotus, freesia and for sass--a faint hint of mint. Together, they make a soft floral that's something like wearing a sheer lip gloss, it gives you some fragrance, but it's still light enough that it's not overpowering. The other fragrances and layering combos in this moderately-priced line from Canadian perfumer, Susanne Lange include: Vanilla Blossom, Stiletto Musk, Sun-Kissed Citrus, and Champagne Sugar.

The ultimate travel fragrance has got to be ones from Comptoir Sud Pacifique, in nifty, crush-proof, shatter-proof, lightweight, aluminum containers!  The mini-sized Comptoir Sud Pacifique Eau de Toilette Spray $27.00 3/4 oz are wonderful for travel. These are small, but mighty--a little spritz goes a long way. There are also larger sizes $53.00 1.6 oz $53 and 3.3 oz. $85.00. "Wow, this really smells like fruit!" exclaimed one reviewer when she sniffed the Vanille Abricot Eau de Toilette Spray.  This is a fresh, citrus with top notes of jackfruit, apricot and papaya, and base notes of vanilla and candy sugar that give it a "caramel-apple" vibe. On a more "oriental" note, Vanille Coco Eau de Toilette has a sexy blend of heliotrope and sexy banana Cream mixed with coco milk and smooth island vanilla. Caramel Sunset "Eau De Voyage"  Natural Spray combines two of my favorite scents: coconut and almond, into a scent so deliciously enticing, you can almost taste it.  The top notes of caramel, island flowers and fresh coconut mix with a heart of almond cream, hot milk and sugar candy, to create a scent that smells like the inside of am Italian bakery, where sweet macaroons and buttery cookies, combine with caramel and sugar to create a smell that's simply deliciously buttery, warm, and sexy. The aluminum container on this scent features a label that has colorful palm trees in orange, red, white and lime green, violet, and blue, to remind you (before you ever spritz it) that this is a fun-loving, "vacation" worthy scent-ual experience.  For those who like, incense-y, exotic-smelling scents,  Aloha Tiare, is a woody oriental that features frangipani, Tiara flower, ylang-ylang, and a deeper and more "incense-oriented" base of monoi, benzoin, coconut, vanilla, and musk. You'll feel like you're in an exotic beachfront paradise like Hawaii, even if the closet you get is your local beach!  TIP:  Whether you're dealing with an "unfriendly" (eg. "smelly") travel environment, or just charming someone with your personal scent, a light mist of fragrance on pulse points or lightly spritzed on your hair, or on hotel sheets, can make life just a bit more "luxe."

Stila's newest fragrance, Mandarin Mist $35.00 1.7 fl. oz , is perfect for daytime and will quickly gain fans. Light and refreshing, the light pink square chunk of glass decorated with a delicate silk-screen of flowers and the simple, matte, silver spray top makes a pretty presentation, but it's the tangy citrus notes scent created of mimosa and yuzu fruit notes that will perk up even the most sagging energy and spirits. In case you're not sure what yuzu is, it's a Japanese citrus fruit about the size of a tangerine that has a lemony/citrus scent. Mandarin Mist is more citrus-y bright and crisp, due to the inclusion of mandarin, also of Japanese origin, that gives the scent a slightly sweeter, orange-y tone as well as the more snappy, yuzu. The overall effect is bright and sassy, with enough staying power for a hot day, or a steamy evening. But overall, we categorize this one as a happy, casual fragrance that we think you'll want to use liberally, and often. We liked it so much we used it not just on our body, but also to add a nice scent our hair, our sheets and even our towels and outdoor lounge cushions. When Summer's over, you won't want to put this one away (and why should you? It'll be great, all year round).

Bronze Mania--if you don't have it yet, you will, once you check out the super-luxe, super-glam, limited edition Gold Mediterranean Palette $85.00 by Giorgio Armani Beauty. From the Summer 2007 collection called "Bronze Mania Gold" you'll find the super-chic, bi-level, matte, black, mirrored, signature Giorgio Armani compact filled with makeup treasures to give you the golden glow you covet. The top section has four,  sheer, luminous, warm-toned powder eye shadows. There's a nude gold beige (*mono eye shadow shade 63) for lids or highlighter that can also be blended with the other shades to lighten them. This one also opens eyes and gives them a more "alive" look when applied at the inner corner of the eyes. There's a bold, orange gold that flatters blue eyes, but gives style to darker eyes, too. There's a glorious copper brown that can be used as a lid color or an accent, and a shimmery, earthy brown with a bit of glitter that is also multi-purpose. On the bottom level there's "Sheer Bronze 9," a medium-deep, warm-toned bronzer with flecks of golden shimmer that is sheer enough to give all but the very palest, a subtle, all-over glow.  If you're one of the few who is still bronzer-averse, just dust a bit on cheekbones, bridge of nose, and forehead for a bit of sun-kissed flattery. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that Giorgio Armani makeup goes on silky-smooth, is long-lasting, and will stay put even when the mercury, rises. This makes the ultimate "thank you" gift for a makeup fan, and a little splurge for you (you know you want it)!

The Summer Fever Lip Colour Palette $21.50 by Clarins is so fabulously pretty to look at, you might be tempted just to admire it, but once you dip the included, mini lip brush into one or more of the six, high-shine summer shades, you'll realize your lips look fabulous, too! Wear each alone, or layer them to suit your own, unique style. The slim, deep coppery mirrored palette contains two large circles with bi-colored swirls of peach and apricot, plum and pink that leave lips super shiny and beautifully tinted. There are also two medium-sized rounds of shimmery golden peach and shimmery, gold-flecked champagne glosses,  and two small circles of berry and bright pink lip stain. All are silky, luxurious, shiny, hydrating--everything you want a Summer lip color or gloss t

o be. There is more than just one thing for everyone in this palette--the colors are universally flattering to warm tones, cool tones, pale complexions, to deep tans. Alas, the Summer Fever Lip Colour Palette is limited edition for Summer, so rush to your favorite department store and "get the Fever," fast...before they're all gone.

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics, new to our column, are naturally-pigmented products that we are told are water resistant, and non-comedogenic. We love mineral makeup, not just for it's sheer and natural finish, but also because mineral makeup lets you skin breathe and it's suitable for people with virtually every type of skin, even for those who have had skin treatments or surgery. Our first introduction to Youngblood is the Artiste on the Go Lip Trio $21.95--a slim palette with a single, remove-able tray that contains three of Youngblood's most popular lip shines.  When we say "shine," we really mean it too: these are sheer, "wet-look" shimmery and shiny sexy-as-can-be but with a light, non-goopy feel. "Devotion" (shimmery, sheer plum), "Reflection" (silver-shimmered clear); and "Fantasy" (super-shiny sheer pink with a bit of shimmer). The lip glosses are really shiny and fun to wear and full of good-for-your-lips emollients. In short, we really liked these.  The only thing we'd like even better is if the lip palette had a place for a lip brush (or included one) so we didn't have to "dip" into the pots of gloss. Under the same concept, Youngblood also has a larger Artiste on the Go Palette $74.95 that includes two blushes, three eye shadows, and three lip shines. There's a warm palette (Romanticism) and a set of cool tones (Expressionism). The palettes just launched in April, 2007 and there are plans to make the products even more customize-able in the palettes. Keep reading What Works in the coming months.....if we can get newest and greatest, we'll review them for you!

We received Exotic Oil Infusions Body Wash $3.99 15 oz, by Caress last month, but we have saved it for this Summer column because it's the perfect after-sun pick-me-up for mind, body and spirit, and is really the stuff of the fantasies of budget-minded fashionistas (and last month we focused on Father's Day). The spokesperson for the products is none other than sultry Kate Walsh, who plays Dr. Addison Montgomery on ABC's popular show, "Greys Anatomy." A set of classic fairy tales made modern and "womanly," are also hosted by Ms. Walsh on the product's web site. The teardrop-shaped plastic bottles are eye-catching, but they have flat bottoms with flip-top closures, so they stand securely on your bathtub.  This creamy, moisturizing cleanser makes dry or irritated skin super-silky, and we found absolutely no greasy residue after bathing.  That would make us give this a thumbs-up, but it does more-- it has exotic oils that create a sensual aura as the heat of your shower or bath releases them. Neither the "Japanese" blend, with white lotus cream and kukui nut oil, or the "Moroccan" blend, with cassis cream and starflower oil, are super-heavy. The fragrances are a bit spicy and incense-y, but so light you'll hardly notice until you're washing with them. Then, the scent is a bit like a butterfly--alighting for a beautiful moment, and then, it's gone. There is also a solid Body Bar (2-bar $4.99, 6 bar-$4.99 and 8 bar $6.49). They do essentially the same cleansing and silkening bar, while adding sensational scents to your bathing routine. We really liked the way our skin felt after using these and we think you will like them too, a lot!

Short skirts and short shorts are the thing for Summer, providing you have the legs to carry these styles off.  However, "furry" legs do not enhance the look. Shaving Milk 8 fl. oz $4.99 by Skin Milk has real milk proteins (and essential, good-for-your-skin Vitamins A, D & E) in a creamy base that making shaving more comfortable, and more moisturizing. The formula provides a protective moisture barrier that lets your razor glide over even bumpy areas like knees and ankles.  Botanical white lily and comfrey are two other ingredients that help to cushion the skin for a closer, but comfy, shave.  The flip-top tube and the light vanilla scent lets you know this is for us girls (the guys can get their own). Our legs felt silky, sexy, and ready for maximum exposure! It's a little thing you can do for yourself that makes a routine chore, more pleasant, and at this price, it is a bargain, too.

Olay seems to always come up with new and better ways to keep skin soft, safe, and youthful. Although most of us already know it's a good idea to wear SPF protection on our faces, through moisturizers, cosmetics, and sunblocks, we don't always focus on the rest of our bodies with the same consideration. Under the theory that dry, itchy skin is uncomfortable, and therefore will get your attention for a bit of moisturizing, we particularly like the new Olay Body Age Transform Intensive UV Defense Serum $8.99 6 fl. oz to protect décolletage, arms & hands, and other sun-exposed areas of the body with SPF 15.  A regal purple bottle with gold and purple pump cap holds  a lightly floral-scented, super-rich cream that helps protect against age spots, and skin that has become discolored, or crepey from too much sun exposure over time. With regular use, this product is supposed to not only deflect the sun's damaging rays, but provides antioxidants and Vitamin C, green tea and sea buckhorn extracts, to help lock in the skin's moisture. The richness of the product really offers immediate relief to dry and stressed-out skin, and the bennies of improving your skin's look and feel and helping it to stay safe and youthful, are equally great reasons to try this product.

In April, we introduced you to Mangiacotti's product line featuring luxe, liquid and glycerin soaps, air fresheners and luxury home care items, (more than 60 in all) in six fragrances. A beautiful home accent, or a luxury hostess gift that is still affordable, is the Mangiacotti Ocean Sink Set $34.95. A shiny, silver metal rack holds two products scented with the light, uplifting, clean smelling marine-scent called "Ocean."  One side of the holder is for a graceful, fluted bottle of baby blue shea butter lotion (9.04 oz) with a pump top, baby blue gross-grain bow and tiny Mangiacotti Florals signature charm, at the neck. The lotion is light and very, very hydrating, but not greasy--just lovely! The another side holds a bottle (with included pourer top) of fun-to-use, lightly foaming, sea-blue hand soap (12 fl. oz).  This looks Summertime-perfect in your kitchen or bathroom. Love lavender? Treat yourself to the Lavender-scented Surface Cleaner $15.50 16 oz that comes in a glass spray bottle with a grippy bottom, so it wont' slip or tip (nice touch!).  It can be used on any surface from the kitchen, to the bathroom. It not only cleanses thoroughly, but leaves the authentic scent of lavender wafting in the air. It's a treat for your senses. The Lavender Linen Spray $13.50 8 fl. oz is another way to make a boring chore, more fun. Spray it on your garments to release wrinkles while ironing or to remove musty smell.  The matte metal bottle with spray pump looks chic wherever you place it.  Lavender is calming and relaxing--spray it on your linens for a relaxing nights' sleep, or leave a bottle in your guest bedroom to show your guests you really care about their comfort. All of the Mangiacotti products make charming gifts for your weekend hostess. Bring some, and you're sure to be asked back!

When I was very young, my sister and I were given small bottles of essence of orange blossoms. Of course, this flower is the quintessential wedding flower, but to this day, I can't smell orange blossoms without thinking of brides, and love. A modern version that is perfect to add a romantic atmosphere to your room, or just cover up that "cat box" smell, is the Ginseng and Orange Blossom Room Spray $19.95 5.07 fl. oz by Linden Leaves. A non-aerosol, matte, metallic, silver "bottle" with spray top holds an unusual, exotic-smelling, room scent.  It's floral, it's even a hint fruity, but with the chic addition of ginseng, the overall effect is almost intoxicating-- more spicy than girly, with more punch than merely sweet orange blossom.  It's a bit pricey, but the scent is quite significant. A pump, maybe two, will infuse your entire room with this gorgeous, romantic fragrance. It's amazing!  This would be a nice hostess gift, and a little treat for yourself. Linden Leaves has just recently come to America from New Zealand, where the company is already known for it's modern approach to aromatherapy products. This romantic room spray could make your Summer romance, last!

Gotu Kola sounds like it could be a soft drink, but actually, it is a rejuvenating herb used in Ayurvedic medicine (an alternative, East Indian system of health care that goes back 5,000 years). The Gotu Kola plant contains ingredients that help stimulate healthy nail growth, so it's only natural (pun intended) that 2Be Nail Treatments and Be Nail Lacquers, new to our column, contain Gotu Kola. There are several different products that work on various nail issues, such as weak nails, brittle nails, or nails damaged by tips and chemicals. We tried 2Be Repaired! $10.95 0.5 fl. oz, for thin, weak peeling nails. The products come in voluptuously tapered clear glass bottles with matte, black caps that are easy to grip. We found that 2Be Repaired! was easy to apply, and dried quite fast. We then added two coats of one of literally 69 colors of Nail Lacquer $8.00 in Frost,  Crème, Shimmer and Sheer.  We tried "Aces High," a super-intensely pigmented, highly shimmered orange red that gleamed metallic-like in the sun, and made a sexy statement on pale to sun-kissed, skin. The  polish was smooth and easy to apply, thanks to "DuraFlow" formulas that are high-gloss, have a self-leveling finish. The polish dried to a shiny finish in a flash and five days later, it was still brilliant and chip free. That might also be due to the shiny top coat of Be! Express Accelerated Top Coat $10.95 we added because we hate waiting for polish to dry. This quick-dry accelerator leaves a rock-hard, super-slick finish that "set" within just a minute (no exaggeration). There are plenty of other treatments and nail colors to suit every need, but from what we've seen Be Nail Lacquers and 2Be Treatments are impressive in their quality and performance--and still easily affordable. We hope to review more in future columns.

Have you ever looked at a gorgeous woman, or a sexy man, only to look at their hands and discover they're not all that young?  Aged hands are an easy giveaway--even if surgery, diet and exercise have kept the rest of the body, fit. Erno Lazlo Intensive Hand Cream with SPF 25 $44.00 3.75 oz. will not only help you have soft, smooth skin, it may keep your hands from giving away your age. This multi-tasking product not only moisturizes, it lightens age spots (another sign of aging) and provides firming protection against photo-aging (that means, the effects of the sun).  The very lightly-scented, lightweight cream in a white tube with black flip-top, has a high concentration of shea butter  (known for it's moisturizing properties), but it absorbs quickly into your hands, which was our first, happy surprise. We were also happy to learn that this product has a botanical lightening complex (featuring grape, mulberry and saxifraga extracts )that help lighten age spots and smooth out your the "complexion" of your hands' skin. A whopping SPF 25 will help keep the sun's from doing more damage. Finally, something called "forti-pHirm Complex" helps to tone your skin, so it isn't saggy or "creapy."  The soothing cream has only the merest scent and isn't the least bit heavy or greasy. We didn't use it long enough to see serious results, but we are confident that with regular use, your hands will look (as the ever-young, Cher sings) like they've "turned back time."

Creative Nail Design has all sorts of luxury, pampering products for hands, feet and nails, but they also have body products we think you'll like. Creative Scentsations Hand & Body Washes and Lotions $9.95 8.3 oz, $2.00 2 oz  are gentle soaps and soothing lotions packaged in translucent, plastic pump bottles with colorful graphics and they're available in 15 different scents.  These cleansers lather nicely and clean without drying out your skin (and even more important consideration in the Summertime). The pampering lotion have Vitamins A and A, plus aloe vera to help heal and moisturize dried-out skin. We tried the "Birch & Mint" scent, a palest-pale green with a "clean" scent that is less minty, and more reminiscent of mountain air (and birches, I suppose). At this price you can go hog-wild, and purchase a basket with travel-sizes or all the available scents (and maybe a full-sized set as well) for a lucky host or hostess to try, offer them to your own weekend guests as a little luxury, or simply find your favorites, and get the full-sized pumps for your own use.

Elemis is a luxury spa and skincare brand from Britain,  providing high quality, cutting-edge skin and bodycare products for spa and home use. The Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing products aren't specifically sun-care products, but we didn't want to wait until our September column share them. With time, your skin's ability to rejuvenate it's own skin cells slows down, but this trio of silvery-boxed products feature three micro-encapsulated enzymes that provides safe and effective resurfacing, stimulate biological cell renewal to help decrease the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone and even, acne. The first product in the trio is the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash $47.00 6.8 fl. oz.  This plastic pump-bottle of cleanser gentle features white truffle, galactoarabinan (a sugar polymer from the Western larch tree that works with alpha hydroxy acids) , babassu oil and moringa (from a tree with healing properties), to exfoliate dead skin cells, stimulate the skin's natural cell renewal cycle, while actively smoothing and refining. The lightly scented, lightly foaming cleanser prepares skin for the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum $176.00 1 fl. oz, an impressively lightweight liquid (in a slim, elegant, white and silver pump bottle) that combines smoothing and exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids, with essential Vitamins A and C, while luxe, white truffle and amino acids offer anti-oxidant protection. At night, use the Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum and the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Night Cream $148.00 1.7 fl. oz to soothe and super-hydrate your skin. The super-light gel in a white and silver-topped jar,  has a lipid complex that combines with anti-oxidants to help to protect against daily environmental damage and pollution. As with many things, you don't always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get. These are pricey, but cutting-edge, pleasant and easy to apply products, used used as directed, could not only make a huge difference in your complexion, they could potentially save you thousands in more invasive (and less pleasant) anti-aging treatments. A bonus is the tiny sample of another skincare product that Elemis includes in each box. TIP: "resurfacing" or exfoliating products can be problematic if your skin is sensitive, or especially if it is sunburned. In addition, when you remove dead skin cells, exposing new and healthy skin, you must take extra care to protect it from the sun's damaging rays/ Use a strong sunblock after exfoliating!

With strict airline restrictions, travel-sized sets are a must-have. They are also a great way to sample new products, and they make great gifts.  One we think is perfect for weekends is the FACE Weekend Set $24.00 by Sephora. A re-useable, clear plastic zippered bag trimmed in trendy, white and sea green patent, holds three 1.69 fl. oz travel-sized essentials for combo to oily skin: a FACE exfoliating cleanser (sea-green gel with little scrubbies left our pores clean and clear, but our skin didn't feel stripped and dry);  a FACE purifying makeup remover (with oil-reducing ingredients and Pro-Vitamin B5  and cornflower water to firm, tone and refresh skin); and a tube of FACE Hydrating Balancing Cream (with zinc and white clay to absorb excess sebum and prevent breakouts, antioxidant Vitamin E, glycerin to prevent dryness and Pro-Vitamin B5 (to nourish, soften and provide anti-inflammatory properties). If you're going to be a guest, bring your weekend hostess one of these. If you're the hostess, leaving a set in the guest bathroom is a nice touch your guests will appreciate, and it is still economical. Of course, it's also a good way to sample Sephora FACE products before you spring full full-sized ones.

It's hot, very hot...so hot you feel your skin in melting off...but your skin will feel better as soon as you pick up the clear, plastic spray bottle and spritz with the limited edition,  Essential Water $30.00 4 fl. oz.  by Laura Mercier. Hydrating sprays have been around for a while, but Laura Mercier, an undisputed queen of cosmetics, used a state-of-the-art technology to create aqueous (water-based) solutions from essential oils that refresh skin, and hydrate, energize and revive it as well while leaving no oily residue. There are four scents that provide different aromatherapy benefits: "Lavender" (calms and relaxes); " Rose" (sensitive/tired skin); "Orange Flower" (toning and uplifting) and the one we tried "Geranium" is a floral scent that reminds us also of roses, and refreshed when the air was really hot and humid. One spritz made us feel like we had entered a cool room (and the cooling sensation lasted for some time),  even though we were actually in a hot, sticky office without air conditioning. It will be fantastic if you're playing tourist this Summer.  It's a lovely product no matter where you are or what you are doing--well worth the price. The lightweight plastic bottle makes this easy to tote, so take one with you and spray it on hands, feet, face--anywhere you need to beat the heat and give a bit of TLC to your skin.

As a beauty and fashion writer, I delighted in Free Gift with Purchase: My Improbable Career in Magazines and Makeup by Jean Godfrey-June, Three Rivers Press (paperback reprint) May 2007.  The former Beauty Editor of Elle Magazine, and currently Beauty Editor of Lucky Magazine, has my dream job. Hers is a world where every day is a "day of beauty" with hundreds of products to try without ever having to buy. But the author doesn't just opine about the glamour of the Paris collections, plastic surgery, models, or the nifty gifts she stockpiles, but also about tense office politics and the sort of tediousness that goes along with the life of a beauty writer/editor. Although she regales readers with glam events, free beauty services, and (at Elle) a closet of designer duds she could borrow at will, as in The Devil Wears Prada, she makes it obvious that being a beauty editor is still a job.  Editors attending daytime events must stay late to make up the work, and a backstabbing boss who doesn't like your style can still fire you "just because."  My own career as a beauty writer isn't quite as sparkling as Ms. Godfrey-June's (I've never been invited to the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi Awards and offered a designer gown by my host for the event), but there are moments of real authenticity about the beauty business that I immediately recognized. My rapt attention wavered only for a moment, during the  chapters droning on about the author's supposedly unglamorous life in the suburbs, which seem somewhat irrelevant to a book on beauty.  Overall, the book offers a balanced, amusing view of the life of an Editor, and the beauty business. This is a fun, Summer read, and a delightful gift for a beauty-obsessed hostess with (packaged with a great lipstick, of course).

Two other beauty-related books arrived just a bit too late to include full reviews in this column:  Damage Control, Edited by Emma Forrest (Avon A June 2997), and the 5 Minute Face by Carmindy with photography by Palma Kolansky (Harper Collins May 2007). The former is a personal look at people who work in the "beauty & wellness" industry from personal trainers and masseurs to hairstylists and manicurists. The stories are personal, some by celebrity contributors such as Minnie Driver, describing her hair epiphany. The latter book is more a how-to  with tips and time-saving makeup techniques from Carmindy, a makeup artist on the Learning Channel's show "What Not To Wear."  * the full reviews of these books, will be in the Summer issue of the Advice Sisters Enews.  It's full of tips, news, articles, and reviews. This bi-monthly newsletter is free, and it goes right to your in-box. SUBSCRIBE NOW

If you wear eyeglasses but don't have lenses that automatically darken, you're constantly switching back and forth between your "indoor" and your "outdoor" lenses. Fussing around in a purse or pocket for that second eyeglass case is a pain! LaLoop has a number of sporty to luxe eyewear accessories to keep your second pair of glasses at-the-ready. One we think is perfect for Summer, is the sporty, inexpensive SportLoop $19.99. This rubberized eyeglass holder features a stretchy, rubberized cord with a circle in the middle where you can loop one earpiece of your glasses.  Pop it over your head, and you'll quickly see that what makes this particularly useful is the patented, rotating swivel in the middle, that help your glasses always stay level and in place.  The SportLoop comes in a variety of colors--even stripes and checks. It is appropriate for men, women and children.  Since it is rubberized, you can take it into the water. This makes it perfect for outdoor sportspeople, and sunbathers, alike. Of course, if you don't wear corrective lenses, lets you keep those classy sunglasses up front and center, where you can pop them on as you wish, while stylishly hanging them around your neck when they're not on your face. SportLoop can also be used to carry virtually anything that has a clip on it, from your MP3 player to our keys. It's so simple...and so cool!

The Smart Jewelry Case by Storus is also sold by Butler Bag as a Butler Bangle $25.00  Whatever you call them, these plastic, clamshell-type jewelry organizers are a safe and easy way to stow your rings and things on the road, or just add a neat bit of order to your home life.  The case comes in six colors (silver, tortoise, blue, teal, purple, and black) and it looks like a chic clutch purse, but it has a double-sided design. One side is an organizer, with compartments a bit like the famous Butler Bag, so you can keep small pieces and earrings together. On the other side, there's a unique, "soft peg" organizer to keep your chains and necklaces from tangling. The outside case is made of a hard plastic, and there is a soft, velvet lining on the inside of the compartment side to prevent your jewelry from tarnishing or scratching. To make the presentation even more luxe, there's a soft, black, velvet carry pouch to keep your case, clean and scratch free as well. The Butler Bangle is durable and sleek, and will fit in most any suitcase or carry-on bag. It would make a nice gift for your weekend hostess, too.

When it's hot outside and you're thirsty for something cool and refreshing, calories count.  Bloom Energy Drink $1.99 10.5 fl. oz by Del Monte is a new type of pick-me-up that has only 100 calories, 0 calories from fat, and a bunch of good-for-your-body vitamins (including 100% daily value of Vitamin C and 5 B Vitamins), plus calcium and Vitamin D (for bone strength). It's got something more, too: it's naturally caffeinated with antioxidant rich white tea extract and guarana, providing 74 mg of caffeine per 10.5 oz can, which the press literature says is similar to the boost you get from an average cup of coffee). I tried this when I had been on my feet at a trade show for hours, and while I definitely wasn't bouncing off the walls or having "caffeine shakes," I did feel more focused, and more energized.  I really liked this product, not just because it was refreshing when I was hot and tired, but because all three of the  lightly carbonated, flavored drinks are really tasty: "Cran- Raspberry, "Mango Passionfruit," and "Wild Berry." The fruit tastes are "authentic," not reminiscent of those overly-sugary "kid stuff" drinks.  That's because the ingredients contain real fruit and real fruit juice. There are "body-bennies" too. With 1/2 cup of fruit in each 8 oz serving of Bloom Energy, even women who don't get enough fruit in their diet, can do something good for their bodies, while they perk up their energy level.

Back in May, I attended (and blogged about) Accessories the Show, Fame and Moda Manhattan at the Javits Center in New York.  That's where I met two enterprising women: Anna Maria Blescia and Gail Mackler-Carlino of Frenz...eee.  Their line of handbags looked luxe and trendy, so I was amazed when Anna Maria told me that all the bags were vegan or "animal friendly/man made."  "Green" and environmentally friendly is a trend--a huge one.  And of course, if the products are stylish, trendy, functional and attractive without harming animals, so much the better.  The price-points are reasonable too, so women who love "designer" details get them, but without the designer prices.  There are plenty of designs to choose from to suit just about every taste. My favorite was the "Classic Satchel" in ivory (the photo here is "Camel"  and there are brown and black versions, too).  The "faux leather" feels like buttery-soft real leather, and this bag (and all the Frenz...eee bags have zippered, interior pockets, substantial hardware, a cute, signature keychain (two swinging purses) and even a dust bag for storage. These female entrepreneurs also have fashion jewelry lines that also focus on quality, trend, comfort and functionality. For example necklaces are made with extenders to accommodate every woman’s neck size and single strand necklaces all incorporate a nearly hidden lobster clasp to convert into a double strand look. With details like these, we predict that  Frenz...eee will be expanding, quickly.

Kim Gellman is a true "mom-preneur." The creator of Artistic Sensations created her family business in 1996, when she realized that the types of products she wanted for her own kid's room, weren't easily accessible.

Wisely, she realized that busy moms and dads don't have a lot of time for shopping, so she set up an easy to access, web site where shoppers can select and order hundreds of unique specialty items from dozens of top designers around the country. All of their products offered are tested for safety and durability. While Artistic Sensations is really a place to find youth-oriented linens and furniture, but the whimsical and cheerful designs will appeal to the kid in you no matter what your age. The 100% cotton, custom made, Taffy Flip Flops bedding collection (photo), for example, would bring a smile to anyone's face. It features a quintessential symbol of summer: flip-flops (with hot pink, yellow, orange and white highlights mixed in).  The Throw Pillow $ $37.00 14" square;  $58.00 , bugger size is 30" square $58.00.  These have a hot pink ruffled border, and would be a unique and lighthearted accent on a guest-room bed, or on outdoor chairs to add color and comfort. Of course, if you have kids, they'll insist on having Taffy Flip Flops bedding for their own room, too.

Summer weather makes hearts melt, but if you're simply hot, chances are you're getting up-close-and-personal with potential body odor, too.  It doesn't matter how great your hair or makeup looks, or how chic the outfit, if you, uh...don't smell so hot! Perspiring is a natural activity, but you can't cover all odor up with fragrance. In order to feel fresh and stay dry, the one fashion accessory that is a "must-have" is an  antiperspirant/ deodorant. Ban Intensely Fresh Invisible Solid $2.69 2.6 oz is an inexpensive, but highly effective choice. The solid stick has a unique, botanical ingredient called: Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, which helps to reduce odor.  In case you're curious how, it inhibits bacteria from releasing components of apocrine sweat from carrier protein. For those who just want to know if it works, yes, it does, and as a bonus, the "invisible" solid won't leave white streaks on your dark clothing. Our reviewers tried these under stress and heat conditions, and stayed dry and fresh no matter what the circumstances--actually, for up to 24 hours.  Reviewers liked the cheerful, lime-green packaging with color-coded labels: Lime Green (unscented);  Hot Pink (Floral Fusion™ fresh scent with hint of pineapple); Orange (Sweet Surrender-young and fruity);  Turquoise (Satin Breeze-fresh citrus with hint of woods *good for men too); and Purple (Shower Fresh™ - light, clean scent *good for men, too).  This is such an inexpensive and ordinary item, you might not think the brand matters, but Ban won't let you down...try one and you're likely to be a convert!

Oily, shiny skin is not a chic look. Cosmedicine, new to our reviews this column, has just-launched two products that can help deal with adult oily skin problems. Healthy Cleanse for Oily Skin $35.00 5 fl. oz is a clarifying cleanser & toner in one--and you can even use it to remove waterproof mascara. The large pump top dispenses a lightly-foaming facial wash with a slight scent, that easily and thoroughly gets rid of excess oil, dirt, dead skin cells, bacteria, makeup, and other things that can clog skin and cause breakouts. We liked the way our skin felt clean and refreshed, but not tight or dry. Since we didn't have to tone after cleansing, we saved time, and space on our bathroom shelf! You'll be happy to know that this contains salicylic acid to exfoliate pores, and tea tree oil to remove bacteria. There are ingredients to help minimize excess sebum, too. In case you don't know what sebum is, it's the oily substance created by the sebaceous glands and it's main role is to waterproof your skin and hair. Alas, excess sebum is associated with oily skin and acne and on your body, with odor.  If you suffer from an excess of sebum, and oily skin, mattifying lotions can help, but they also can sometimes clog pores, or make skin look blotchy. One that we think does a great job is the new,  Medi-Matte Oil Control Spray $35.00 2.0 fl. oz . It's a light, clear liquid that you may forget you used, until you check your face in the mirror during the day and realize your face has little or no oily shine on it!  The purse-sized spray bottle comes with a locking cap, so you can't discharge it on your bag, and just a few pumps over your face, even if you're already wearing foundation, will refresh your face in the heat and humidity. This little helper also helps to minimize the appearance of pores. It's a bit pricey, but you only need 3-4 pumps at a time of this nice, multi-tasker.

Site Unseen Brightening Concealer by Prescriptives is packaged in a chunky, matte silver click-it pen with  a brush tip that is wider than the usual. We appreciate this since the teeny-tiny tips of some concealers force us to swipe the brush over and over and over again to cover big flaws on our face.  But this concealer doesn't just deal with dark circles and complexion flaws-that would be too ordinary. The creamy, water-resistant concealer has SPF 15 to help protect your skin!  It blends easily without fading, shifting or settling into creases but still lets your natural complexion through, so you don't look like you're wearing "putty" instead of looking pretty.  Although we didn't use it for the 8 weeks necessary to verify if this product "visibly firms skin and minimizes the appearance of lines and wrinkles," we are already sold on the fact that this portable, easy-to-use, product will do a great job at fixing flaws, while helping to save our skin.

Short shorts, baby doll dresses...you don't need excess hair where you don't want it. Waxing is effective but it's expensive and can be painful. Shaving is cheap, but  it's a challenge to be smooth and hair-free without nicks or cuts. Chemical hair removers are an option, but they used to be messy and foul-smelling.  The 3-5 minutes the cream had to stay on your legs seemed like an eternity.  I'm happy to report that Hair Remover Totally Smooth Leg Crème $5.60 5.1 oz by Carefree has made me a happy convert. This product comes in a squeeze tube with a wide, sponge top so you never have to touch the product. The thick cream stays where you put it, and smells slightly floral. When it's time to remove hair, you "shave" it off with a pink, plastic, blade-less squeegee. It's so easy!  he product removes hair below the surface, so it is more effective than shaving. I used it for just under three minutes, and had great results (you can leave it on a few minutes longer if your hair is stubborn). My skin felt soft and smooth--and hair-free.  What a treat! To help discourage hair growth, there is also Totally Smooth Daily Moisturizer $5.60 which not only makes your legs look and feel wonderful, it helps your hair to feel finer and be less noticeable (with daily use. The pampering, moisturizing cream has aloe, Vitamin E, and other emollients to help keep your skin moisturized for up to 24 hours. If you're a woman, two other places on your body that may require hair removal are your Face and Bikini Line. Carefree Face & Bikini Total Wax Strip Kit $5.60 is an inexpensive way to wax at home.  You get 16 double-sided wax strips (* for face, 8 for bikini), a pre-wax lotion to help wax adhere to skin and to soothe with any irritation with lidocaine, and 3 moisture towelettes that remove any wax residue. Simply warm a set of strips in your hand for a few seconds, apply to hair, pull strip off. Reviewers reported good results, although a few admitted they felt a bit of a sting when they pulled off the strips. Whether it's a smooth bikini line you're after, or removal of other hair that everyone sees,  waxing helps hair grow in softer and less noticeable over time. A little "sting" is worth all the effort!

Sometimes we come across products where the packaging is just as important as the product. Three from Harry D. Koenig & Company, Inc., offer single-serve packages of beauty helpers that are especially nice for travel and tote bag. You'll wonder how you ever did without Smudgees $5.99/20.  These individually wrapped, single-use, cotton tipped swabs are pre-moistened with oil, alcohol and fragrance-free eye makeup remover that let you literally swab away smudges from mascara and other eye makeup that has gone a bit, awry. The thin, completely sealed package makes it perfect for a makeup bag, and a must-have no that airline regulations are so stringent. These are affordable, easy to use, and brilliantly effective.  If time, tears, or perspiration loosen your eye makeup to the point that you need a touch-up,  now you'll always be prepared. And, speaking of prepared, there's nothing worse than realizing you're covered in Fluffy's hair, or there are specks of something on your little black dress or other classy clothes--and you don't even have sticky tape to remove it!  Fuzz Off $1.50/15 sheets is an affordable, amazingly easy way to save your style!  Inside a slim, 3"  square are 15 sheets of lint remover sheets that work just like the  "sticky rollers"  you probably have at home, but these pull off the cover like "Post-It" notes, one at a time. They are thicker than sticky roller sheets, so you have more control over lint and hair removal, but they are seriously strong.  My two cats can sleep anywhere they want, and they love my duvet.  They are serious shedders, but just a few sheets of Fuzz Off cleaned got rid of the fur, easily and quickly, with minimum effort. If you have pets, and/or just want to make sure you're always lint and pet-fur-free, a packet of Fuzz Off in your pocket or purse is a must-have at all times. The third little helper we think you'll like for now and especially for travel, is Aroma Wipe $2.00/sachet. Individually wrapped towelettes in cheerful packets of green, red, orange, blue, pink, and lavender are infused with essential oil aromatherapy fragrances, made in Ireland. Whether you're simply hot and tired and need a pick-me-up, or you're sitting next to the smelly passenger from your nightmares, or perhaps in an environment where the atmosphere is less than pristine, you will appreciate the ability to open a packet, remove a scented wipe, rub it over hands, feet, neck, or pulse points, and breathe easier. "Sexy" (rose, ylang ylang); "Tranquil" (lavender and lemongrass); "Breath Easy" (Eucalyptus and tea tree-relieves congestion); "Soothe" (lavender and tea tree-great for achy feet) ; "Harmony" (geranium and bergamot);  and "Happy" (mandarin and lime boost your energy level).

Blotting papers have been a useful little helper for many, many, years, but there's always room for a "better mousetrap." Clean & Clear Morning Burst Oil Absorbing Sheets $4.99/50 sheets look like many other blotting papers. They arrive in a little, cardboard envelope. Pull one out and press it to your face to blot oil, without messing up your foundation, or leaving a powdery residue. But what makes these a bit different is that they have a citrus scent that acts as a pick-me-up as well as an oil blotter. As you continue to blot, you will be amazed at how much oil actually comes off on the blotting paper. Your face will be a lot less shiny, and since the scent is pleasing and novel, you'll probably be tempted to use them more often, guaranteeing a more matte finish to your face! Get a grip on shine and oily skin with Clean & Clear Morning Burst Shine Control Facial Cleanser $5.99 8 fl. oz bottle and Facial Scrub $5.99 5 oz tube. These oil-free products are directed towards young adults (18-29) who not only want shine control, but a pick-me-up in the morning, but anyone will find these pleasing. You get a cool gel into which tiny gold and green "bursting beads" are suspended. These burst as you lather or exfoliate, gently removing, to gently remove dirt and impurities, while giving you an invigorating, bright, citrus scent. For shine control, lemongrass and fruit extracts also offer astringent properties. If your skin is prone to oiliness, no matter what your age, you'll want to check these, out!

We love kits, sets and travel-sized collections not just for their portability, but also because sets like you try an item before you commit to a larger and more pricey purchase of the full sized product, and you also get access to products you might not have otherwise considered. For a Summer host or hostess, or for your guest bathroom, we like the curiously-named Seven Wonders of the Hair World $45.50 by celebrity hair stylist, Mario Russo. This set of 7 of Mr. Russo's hair care products, are beautifully packaged in a lime-green cardboard presentation box with frosted cello cover. The products are nicely nestled into a bed of faux, green "grass" and are all based on the healthful benefits of olive oil. These 2-oz. sample sizes are available in full sized products as well (they are 8 oz bottles, $24.50+).  In this sampler set you get: Sky High Shampoo (gives volume without the weight); Gentle Shampoo; Hydrating Conditioner, Once-a-Day Spray (detangler/moisturizer); Miracle Styling Créme  (continuous conditioner); Double Strength Gel (shine and long hold); and Finishing Lotion (sealer/de-frizzer), so you'll want to   it's not only a fantastic gift, but a good way to sample the products (and be hooked) before you buy the entire line. There are spa and body/bath products as well...we hope to bring you some of those in future columns.

In the past, if you changed your mind about your hair color, you had to either wait for it to grow out, or add another color on top of it, possibly making the mistake, even more evident.  Then we heard about Color Oops by DeveloPlus. This product washes bad color out of your hair in just 20 minutes  only if the color you used was darker than your real color (the product cannot restore pigment that has been chemically removed or bleached out). Anyone who reads this column regularly knows that I (or selected reviewers) try every product personally, in these What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review columns. Having just invested in a superb hair color at the Warren Tricomi Salon that is slightly lighter than my own, I wasn't going to remove it, but I wanted to offer some information about Color Oops in case you are dyed your blonde hair dark, perhaps from a drunken and impulsive desire to emulate Angelina Jolie in her "Goth" stage. Now you're wondering whether bald would look better!  I wasn't able to get a lot of information about this new product, but essentially, it chemically lightens your hair again, so after you use Color Oops, if you want to change the shade to your own color,  you will still need to re-color your hair. You can re-color the same day if you wish, but we suggest very aggressive conditioning--these are all chemical processes that can dry out your hair. Howver, since these are ammonia and bleach free,  if you just can't wait to fix a mistake by letting it grow out, this is an inexpensive way to fix the problem.  Color Oops comes in Extra Conditioning (with soy protein and aloe vera) $12.99/1 application and Extra Strength $12.99/1 application.

Shine on your face is a fashion don't, but shiny hair is a definite do.  Coral Therapy by Rusk  is their latest and greatest approach to soft, shiny, tangle-free hair. These products are complimentary to Rusk's Deepshine Line (which we haven't yet reviewed).  I love the color of coral (so Summertime perfect) so I instantly gave the packaging a thumbs-up. Graceful, teardrop-shaped plastic bottles with clear pump tops lend glamour to your bathroom and are pretty to look at, as they beautiful your hair. The generously-sized (and nicely priced) Detangling Marine Shampoo, and Detangling Marine Conditioner $16.95/each 16 oz have a combo of natural proteins to strengthen the cortex of the hair, while marine extracts and silicones smooth the outer cuticle. A unique, triple-action system detangles (great for after sports and the beach) and also helps to condition hair and actually improve it with continued use. We also like the fact that these help penetrate and seal hair with UVA/UVB protectors, to keep hair shiny and healthy looking.  The coral-tinted liquid smells fresh and lightly fruity. You can actually feel the silicones and conditioners if you touch some to your hands. For more TLC and hair that has been exposed to sun and damage, Marine Nutrient Treatment $14.95 6 oz is a lifejacket in a jar for hair. A bio marine nutrient rich active formula penetrates into hair, Restructuring and strengthening it, no matter what shape your hair is in. Apply this product for only 2-3 minutes, and wash your dry, frizzy, over-processed, damaged, over-parched hair return to soft, silky, and smooth--amazing! My favorite product in this quartet, however, is the Marine Nutrient Shine spray $14.95 5.1 oz. Good for all hair types, this spritz pump spray bottle of highly concentrated silicone is the awesome, instant, beautifier. It adds amazing, super-super-high wattage shine to even the driest and dullest hair, in seconds! It also de-frizzes and silkens, but doesn't weigh hair down. It's the equivalent of a super-shimmery lip gloss on dry lips, and the glamorizer of this column. We don't know how we did without it and now that we know about it, we won't be caught without, again!

Dandruff is a year-round challenge, but when the seasons change, it can act up. Head & Shoulders  Shampoo $4.99 14.2 oz has a "Hydrazine" formula with pyrithione zinc that wages war on your dandruff in just one use. It will not only effectively eliminate the flakes everyone sees,  but also helps relieve the itch, redness and dryness that makes you uncomfortable (so scratch, and produce even more flakes)! What I really like about the new formula is not only the generous size at a beer-budget price, but the different formulas (there are 8 different ones from extra conditioning to sensitive care, to smooth & silky). We tried Citrus Breeze, a very lightly scented-with-citrus, creamy lotion shampoo that reviewers said left hair soft pleasant smelling, with absolutely no tell-tale chemical scent usually associated with dandruff shampoos (so no will guess you're using one). It also contains six times the moisturizers of non-conditioning shampoos, so the days of dried-out-from-dandruff treatments, are a thing of the past. It may not be the most glam product on the planet, but when you need it, thank heaven's it's available.

Herbal Essences Break's Over Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner $2.99/each 12 oz are rich, pearly, lavender-colored, vanilla-y scented products that are pretty to look at, and pleasant to use. The Strengthening Shampoo cleanses thoroughly, and helps to protect hair against future breakage. The Strengthening Conditioner moisturizes and conditions for silky shine. The secret, we can share, is a blend of coco, mango and pearls.....and there's a Leave-in Conditioner $2.99 as well. Whether you hair is damaged (from sun, chlorine, and salt water or chemicals) this Summer or not, these products make you feel pampered...so you'll find them fun to use...and doing so may keep your hair from breaking in the future, so that's a good thing, as well.

Laura Mercier: http://www.lauramercier,com and fine department stores. Call 888-MERCIER for store locations

Linden Leaves:  www.lindenleavesusa.com

Mangiacotti:  www.mangiacottiflorals.com

MD Skincare:  http://www,mdskincare.com

Medicalia: http://www.medicalia.com/ US/Canada Toll Free: 866-314-1975

Neutrogena: mass market retailers and drug stores nationwide, and  drugstore.com

Olay: www.olay.com www.olay.com and at mass market retailers and drugstore.com

Pat Wexler M.D.:  www.patwexlermd.com www.bathandbodyworks.com

PCA Men: www.pcaskin.com

Physicians Formula: drugstore.com and drugstores and mass market retailers nationwide

Prescriptives: www.prescriptives.com and major department stores

Prestige: drug stores, mass market retailers, and www.prestigecosmetics.com

Pür Minerals:  www.purminerals.com

Rusk:  www.RUSK1.com or call 800-USE-RUSK to find a salon or professional beauty distributor

Skin Milk:   www.skinmilk.com Wal-mart, and drugstore.com

Secret Deodorant & Antiperspirant: drugstores and mass market retailers nationwide

Sephora Products: Sephora retail stores and www.sephora.com

SkinCeuticals:  www.skinceuticals.com

Suls (fragrance:   Selected Saks Fifth Avenue Stores, Ulta stores

The Balm:  www.sephora.com and www.thebalm.com

Trish McEvoy: www.trishmcevoy.com, eLUXURY.com and upscale department stores

Youngblood: at medi-spas nationwide

 

PURCHASING INFORMATION: The Advice Sisters offer this Buying Guide as a service to readers. For information about purchasing or about specific products, please contact the companies directly through the links in this guide. Buying beauty-related products is a personal decision. The products reviewed here should work well for the majority of people but not every product will perform equally well for everyone. For safety's sake, we urge you to be a wise consumer. Get information and use products only as directed, using common sense and basic safety precautions.

 

 

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