No one wants to head out to the beach with dull skin, which is why I love all sorts of body scrubs. Trust me, my fiance would be the first to tell you that our tiny bathroom closet if overflowing with different lotions and potions to make my skin happy.

But let's not forget about our faces! It's the first thing a person sees! The Microdermabrasion Face Scrub by Emerita will make you want to put your best face forward.

The Microdermabrasion Face Scrub rejuvenates the skin by exfoliating dry and rough dead skin cells that leave your face looking tired and dull. The scrub stimulates surface level cell renewal and provides antioxidants and vitamins that promote long-term skin health.

The scrub is pH-balanced and is safe for all skin types. At $34.99 a jar, you'll be glowing in no time.

Emerita is a woman-owned company based in Portland, Oregon. Read all about their interesting history here.

With summer comes heat and with heat comes sweat. There's no way around it. A traditional woman will pass it off as "glistening" or a "healthy glow". This works fine when it comes to your face, but when it comes to your armpits, there's no mistaking your sweaty shirt.

In the last few years companies like Dove have introduced "clinical strength" deodorants for wetness protection above and beyond your usual stick of powder fresh. I've heard mixed reviews on them and have been wary of the $9 price tag.

However in retrospect, $9 is a steal compared to what New York salon is offering. According to New York Magazine, Shizuka New York salon is offering a "underarm overhaul" that begins with a thorough steam cleaning of your armpits, followed by hair removal and a Botox injection into the sweat glands. All this can be yours for only $1,500.

Sweat free...until the Botox wears off.

What do you think...is it worth it?

There's five and a half months until my wedding and I have a ton to think about. But one thing I'm not going to stress over is my Wedding Day Survival Kit, because I have some fantastic bridesmaids that will make sure that's taken care of. (Hear that, girls?)

Beauty Addict has a great post on everything you need to make sure your special day -- be it a wedding, prom, party or even a weekend getaway.

What's in her arsenal? She's broken it down into sections but here are just a few:

Clothes

• Static Guard
• Febreze (see if you can find the mini bottle)
• Tide Pen
• Double sided tape (I like Hollywood Fashion Tape in various sizes)
• White chalk (to disguise any stains on the gown)
• Packing tape (a friend recommended this and she's right, it does everything from repairing headpieces and hems to removing lint)
• Sewing kit (w/ scissor)
• Safety pins

Face

• Makeup for touchups (major "duh" moment, right?)
• Mirror
• Tissues
• Blotting papers   
• Q-tips

To see the full VERY helpful list, click here!

Ever been curious about a new mascara, eyeshadow or foundation but didn't want to spend the money before learning more about it?

Makeup Alley can help. The site is chock full of message boards on makeup and beauty, including a fantastic Beauty Product Review section by people just like you.

There's also a great Swap section where you can trade beauty products! (You do have to be a member to use this feature, but sign-up is free!)

Now you no longer need to wonder, is this eyeliner really that fantastic? Just head to Makeup Alley!

2008 is here and with it comes the usual resolutions to get healthy and lose weight. Since it's something that's on the mind of many women (myself included!) I thought I would dedicate all of this week's posts on ways to reach the ultimate weight goal. Whether it's 5 pounds or 50, together we can do it!

The Really Useful Fitness Blog has a list of the foods that burn the most fat.

One of my favorites on the list is oatmeal. Here's why it works:

"If you had to eat one and only one type of complex carbohydrate to burn fat than oatmeal should become your #1 choice for losing weight. Oatmeal is practically the only complex carbohydrate source bodybuilders and fitness professionals eat when they are burning fat for their competition.

Even though it is a starchy carbohydrate, oatmeal has an excellent balance of carbs, proteins, and fats in it as a half of cup has 3 grams of fats, 27 grams of carbs, and 5 grams of protein. With the combinations of macro nutrients, oatmeal is a healthy choice for its low glycemic rate for slow digestion."

Check out the post for the rest of the list and here's to a healthy 2008!

Tired of standing at the makeup counter trying to decide which mascara is best?

Then head over to Jack & Hill: A Beauty Blog for reviews of some of the new ones.

Guerlain makes a lengthening and curving mascara that Jack & Hill loves, but it's a little pricey.

Chanel will get me with the name, but is it worth it?

Personally, I'd rather spend my money on designer shoes than on designer mascara. L'Oreal works just fine for me!

I stumbled across this blog today: Temptalia. At first I thought it was just another beauty blog, until I started poking around and discovered her amazing tutorials.

The perfect smoky eye is achieved flawlessly here.

Lessons on eyeshadow blending are here.

And on a non-makeup related issue, how to take a good close-up photo is here.

Check her out!

I have small eyes and am on a never-ending quest to make them look bigger. I've perfected the three shadow technique, the lining just on the top lid and the proper use of mascara, but I still want them to look bigger.

I've always wanted to experiment with false eyelashes, but have been too afraid of looking like I have a spider on my face. Fashion magazine make it seem easy, but I'm skeptical.

Product Girl decided to test it out for herself, and her results may have convinced me.

"While it was a bit awkward at first, the longer you wear the lashes the more normal they seem to feel. At first, I was really fighting back at my watering eyes. My eyes seem to water at everything so I’d place myself on the very sensitive end of the spectrum but those of you with more resistance shouldn’t have the same problem. With proper care, your lashes can last 3 to 6 uses. If you’ve never done false lashes before, I’d really suggest going to a makeup artist for your first time. I’m really glad I did, I learned a few tips along the way and with practice, I can achieve the same amazing results on my own."

I love me some free stuff. Especially when it's beauty stuff. Free beauty goodies is like finding that $20 bill you left in your winter jacket. Yay!

Beauty and the Blog, one of my all-time favorite beauty blogs filled me in on a little secret: order anything on Sephora.com and get a free cocktail ring. The best part? There's lip gloss inside!

To get your own, just enter GLOSSRING2 in the promo code box at checkout.

You're welcome!

Now that summer has come and gone and our skin is not as glowy as it once was, many women resort to using foundation to get them through the winter months. Unfortunately, a lot of women are using the wrong foundation, causing that awful line around their chin.

You want to avoid this!

Are You a Beauty offers a list of tips to find the right foundation for you, including:

-Try it on. This will be much easier and probably only possible if you buy foundation from a department store, where salespeople can help you with samples. You can look at the color on your face in the store's light, but it's always a good idea to go outside and see how you look in daylight.

-If you buy foundation from a drugstore, try and select a shade as close as possible to your face's actual shade. This isn't the shade you want to be or the tone you take on in the summer (if it's currently winter). Trying it out on the back of your hand isn't a good gauge of whether it's going to match your face because the color on your hands can vary wildly in tone from the skin on your face.

More more helpful hints, click here.

More than 2 million American women have been treated for breast cancer. Wear Ease® designs and manufactures post-mastectomy lingerie for women to wear after breast or chest surgery.

Products such as The Dawn Camisole by Wear Ease® is a feminine cotton camisole worn home from the hospital after a lumpectomy or mastectomy.  The Dawn camisole undergarment offers unique elastic support for the healthy breast and two drainage pouches (front and back).  Made of high grade cotton, breathable for all types of climates, with spandex, makes it easy to step into and easy to pull down for dressing changes and doctor exams.

Founded by sisters, Phyllis Keith and Sarah Lorenz, Wear Ease® was started to "give women a bra that would enable [post-surgery women] to dress independently, helping them maintain their dignity and femininity."

I love blogs. There's one out there for every topic imaginable. One of my favorites? Beauty. (Bet you would have never guessed, huh?) Today I came across a whole bunch of great ones that you just have to check out.

Jeni at Savvy Skin has a hilarious post on Top 10 Signs You're a Beauty Junkie. I like #8: You have a panic attack when you drop your lip gloss at the movies and it rolls away, even though you have 8 more glosses in your purse.

Juice Fairy--the ultimate guide for girls living on a budget--lists her favorite cheap beauty basics.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic tells us how moisturizer works. A pretty interesting read.

Enjoy!

It may still feel like summer, but fall is right around the corner. And as the seasons change, so must our makeup. The golden bronzers and pale nail polishes slowly make way for warm winter flushes and burgundy finger tips. But instead of paging through magazine after magazine for helpful hints, how about a round up?

We Love Beauty recommends changing the color of your foundation as your skin slowly loses it's summer tan.

My Blog on Beauty has some great tips on how to wake up tired skin with exfoliating masks. There's even a recipe to make your own!

And the Beautiful Makeup Search has tips on "back to school beauty", with recommendations for easy, one-step palettes to quicken your routine.

The lovely people at Real Simple are offering a fun and exciting prize to one lucky woman. How would you like to win a trip to New York City and a personal makeover?

The winner will receive a fashion and beauty consultation, a year's supply of Shiseido products, a trip for two to New York City and $2,000 spending money.

Enter once every day through September 9 for your chance to win one of three weekly prizes and to be entered in the grand-prize drawing.

Weekly Prizes:
• Gift basket of Shiseido products (valued at $300 each)

Grand Prize:
• Beauty makeover by a Shiseido consultant
• Fashion makeover by a Real Simple consultant
• Trip for two to New York City
• $2,000 spending money
• A year's supply of Shiseido products (valued at $500)

To enter, click here!

I was in a play in 8th grade and before we went on, all the girls stood backstage and applied their makeup. Seeing as though we were all 13, blemishes were very common. As one girl carefully applied her cover up in the mirror, one of outgoing male leads declared that he was going to use it too. "Who said a guy can't wear makeup?" he said as he dabbed it on his pimple.

It was the first time I ever heard a man say that and I haven't since.

Whether it's the stigma that wearing makeup will make them less of a man, or just the sheer embarrassment of purchasing it, you don't see many men in makeup. Beauty and the Blog looked into this issue and points out that Sephora has compiled some great products that men might find useful.

But while I might be able to convince my boyfriend to use some fancy face wash, I don't think I'll ever be able to convince him to use some tinted brow and lash groomer!

Since returning from vacation, I can tell you that one of the hardest parts of preparation was finding airplane approved toiletries that weren't shampoo/conditioner combos, over-drying soap or non-quenching lotions. The local drug stores were OK, but not fantastic.

But have no fear! Turns out you can still look smashing while following the rules.

Sephora has a great selection of Airplane Approved Beauty Products that will leave your skin glowing and your eyes sparkling.

Beautiful Makeup Search recommends the Plane Friendly Travel Kit from Cake Beauty. The body wash and lotion will keep you fresh and silky while you take to the skies.

And Ooh! Shiny! loves the Pitotubes Travel Bottle Set. The empty containers come in airline approved sizes. Fill them up with your favorite products and use the personalized labels to tell them apart.

Good things definitely come in small packages!

This is the time of year when I like to be bronzed and beautiful. Since my sunscreen diligence prevents me from turning significantly tan, I like to use a little bronzer to give my face that sun-kissed glow.

However, bronzers have a tendency to make you look less beachy and more...dull.

The Makeup Girl has found a solution: a rosy booster for your bronzer! She says:

[DuWop's Blush Booster] was meant for layering but looks equally fabulous on it's own. It will just brighten up the look of the bronzer instantly. Comes in 4 yummy colors, my favorite is apple. Retails for $22 at Sephora.

Sold!

I practice skin protection religiously, so when it comes time for fun in the sun I slather myself in sunscreen.

And I always miss a spot.

Which is why I was so excited when companies began producing spray sunscreen. They all promise to deliver an even coat of SPF with the push of a button. I was sold. So this weekend I went out and purchased Banana Boat's UltraMist Sunblock SPF 30 for $9.99.

The application was as easy as they claim. I was even able to reach my back without any assistance. But (and this is a BIG but), it was so greasy. The spray left me shiny and oily...the perfect way to attract sand and stray dog hair. Not fun.

So I exchanged it for Coppertone ultraGUARD Continuous Spray SPF 30. (Check out the review on When Good Moms Get Bored for a full list of pros and cons.) While still a little greasy, I liked this one much better. And I'm happy to report that I'm not sun burnt!

Overall, I think these spray sunscreens are a great invention. Now there's no excuse for not practicing save sunning!

NYC has been experiencing some amazing weather. Of course I love going out as much as the next person; however, there are other ways to enjoy the summer. Wed brought the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge to Central Park. I remember signing up for this race with my company, back in April. I exercise but I am not a runner and I thought it would be a lot of fun. I kept telling myself that I would walk the race. The day before this race I was excited and nervous. When was the last time that I had run 3.5 miles??? Memories of running the track with one lap made me realize that I always came in last and feeling a bit displaced! All of us were pumped and we had over 15,000 people racing with us. As seen in this picture (click to enlarge it I am kneeling in the front row on the right with my hair pulled back), our team had 15 people that were going to take this race on. I had no idea how far I was going to get or what I was going to do. Fortunately one of the girls became my running buddy. With our iPods in hand, we agreed that we would at least try jogging (BTW there were 2 girls who ran with us that are known for doing major marathons) the first mile.

Getting to the area to begin the race was scary and inspiring at the same time. To have a large portion of Central Park to yourself is amazing. When we started it was slow going but my teammate and I fell into a pattern and we were able to jog the ENTIRE race without stopping and in 51 mins. Not bad for two people who hadn't trained, rarely ran, etc. My purpose for writing this was that previously, I thought that I hated to run and always avoided it. Knowing that I can do it, I have now decided to join the NY Roadrunners and get myself to a level that I can run these with no problems. I'm not saying that I will be the next great marathoner but I did like and days later (and still a bit sore) I am still in awe of the majoy accomplishment. It brought my teammate and I together (I literaly cried when I crossed the finish line and was never so glad to see water and food in my life).

There are times when we get nervous trying something new or revisiting something that we have always believed to be something that we would rather not do. From time to time, we need to circle back and see if our way of thinking has changed. That one race has changed my ideas on running and has made me want to include it within my lifestyle. For me, this year has brought on a lot of changes that I have quickly included within my new routine - new job within a fashion company, continual progress with my jewelry line, new friends, dating, etc. I have realized that my concepts in a lot of areas have changed. I have had to step out of my comfort zone only to find that it wasn't so bad and my opportunities were endless. If something like the Corporate Challenge can make an impactful change on a new activity and just realizing how fortunate I am to be in such a city where it has so much to offer, what else is there that I may love and not really know it until I try it? At the end of the day, we can all take things in baby steps and see what we learn about ourselves and our limits!

Any product junkie will tell you that there's no better place to get your fix than Sephora.

Ah, Sephora...with your aisles of makeup, lotions, fragrances and applicators, a girl can get lost in your for hours. And let's not even begin to talk about how you can try anything and everything inside to find the perfect product for you. Heaven!

Now, Sephora has taken it one step further. Not only are they fueling my product obsession, but they've latched into my favorite pastime: blogging.

Beauty and the Blog: Adventures of a Beauty Editor is one-stop shopping for beauty news. Whether they're writing about Sephora products, beauty trend-setters, or You Tube videos, you'll always be in the know.

They've even found some weird beauty stuff that will make you scratch your head.

(Itchy scalp? Find a solution at Sephora!)

While I don't usually review products here, I can't keep this one to myself. I have very fair skin and burn and freckle super easily. My dreams of having a natural tan are just that--dreams. And while I'd love to be a bronze goddess all the time, I refuse to go tanning and put myself at risk for skin cancer and premature wrinkles.

So, I'm always on the lookout for a self-tanner that actually works. And you know what? I found it! L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion is fantastic. I used it before going to bed last night and woke up with a natural looking bronze tan. It's also tinted (and has a hint of sparkle in it), so I could put it on before a night out and still look fab. Plus, it doesn't smell like self-tanner!

The Glitterati reviewed it on her site and I agree 100%. She says:

"In a nutshell, this is the BEST self tanner I have tried...It goes on smoothly, and it's tinted this shimmery bronze color, so it's clear where you applied it. Also, it means that you get a nice (if temporary) glow right away, if you're in a hurry. It gives great, even color, and doesn't grab overly on dry skin."

Your skin is sure to be glowing this holiday weekend. Have fun!

There are some beauty tricks that I am always trying to master: the chip-proof manicure, the frizz-free blow dry and the perfect smoky eye. Easier said than done, right? My polish eventually chips, despite a great top coat and the smallest amount of moisture in the air causes my straightened locks to twist and twirl.

But thanks to Bare Escentuals, I can achieve the sexy, smoldering look in the blink of an eye. (Pun absolutely intended.)

I am already a fan of their Bare Minerals facial line, but now I am super excited to try the Smoky Eye Tutorial. The product promises simple instructions to achieve the perfect smoky eye. The kit includes two shadows; one in a dark lilac and the other in a "shimmering pewter", plus a brush designed just for this application.

It looks promising, but does it work? Caterina Christakos of Still a Girl gave it a shot. The results?

"It tells you where to place what color, how to blend it, and things like that. I think I did pretty well. I didn’t look overdone, but good enough for a night out. Admittedly, I’m the type who is somewhat comforted by the “Dummies” set of directions for any thing. I think of it as a launching pad. Once I get the basics down, I can take off in my own direction. But for anyone looking for tips and makeup advice, it seems like a great place to start."

Sounds good to me. I can't wait to give it a try!

Spring is in full swing, and although it seems everyone is in a mad dash to get a pedicure and a tan, don't forget that your face also bears telltale signs of winter. Personally, I'm addicted to my Origins Modern Friction. I use is several times a week on a good week. Nothing is better than that fresh, smooth skin it reveals. And I follow it off by mixing a hint of self tanner with my moisturizer for glowing skin.

But today in my InBox, Daily Candy served up an at-home remedy for dry, winterized skin served up by NYC dermotologist Dr. David Colbert. The Trian Renewal facial works like this:

Ingredients:

• 1 buff puff
• 6 wild strawberries (or other grainy fruit such as kiwi)
• 1 liter sparkling water
• 1 6 oz. serving of plain, natural yogurt
• ¼ of a lemon

Directions:
Stand in a sunny window for 30 seconds to warm the skin. Gently crush strawberries onto buff puff and, after testing on a small area of your arm, massage into the face for 30 seconds (microdermabrasion). Rinse liberally with sparkling water. Mix the yogurt and lemon juice and slap a thick layer onto face for five minutes (fruit acid peel). Rinse with warm tap water and apply a gentle moisturizer.

If a trip to the grocery store isn't for you, Beauty Snob has an all organic  product already prepared for you. If you don't already read The Snob, you should. She doles out beauty wisdom like nobody's business and helps the rest of us know what to splurge on and where to save our precious pennies. Here's what she has to say about her favorite facial exfoliation product:

"I keep the Sugar Face Polish in the shower because it saves time for my gazillions of other beauty routines plus it's not as messy to wash it off in the shower. I apply a thick layer at the beginning of my shower and leave it on until I am done. Before I rinse it off, I massage it in a quick circular motion to really get the max benefits out of it, my skin gets a soft and velvety texture to it from the strawberries and it smells so good!"

Whatever your weapon of choice, start the week of fresh and clean. Kiss winter (and winter skin) goodbye for good.

I love Dove. They celebrate the beauty of women of all shapes and sizes. And now, they are celebrating women of all ages. While every other company seemingly has a line of anti-aging products, Dove does an about face and rolls out pro·age™, a line of products to "encourage and inspire more women to see the potential that lies within their skin and hair."

What a glorious goal. Normally, advertising does its best to scare me into buying the latest serum or cream. (Trust me, I've gone to many a beauty counter convinced I needed to strongest stuff they've got.)  But Dove offers me hope and inspiration. Here's what The Beauty Newsletter has to say about the campaign:

"Dove is dedicated to widening society’s stereotypical view of beauty and making more women feel beautiful every day. The next generation of the Campaign for Real Beauty is called Dove pro•age; not anti-age. With pro•age, our hope is that we can get people to think differently about beauty and aging. pro•age is about looking great for your age."

The campaign highlights 50+ women in glorious photos shot by photographer extraordinaire Annie Leibovitz. The images are as beautiful as they are poignant. It's time we embraced our age and stopped trying to buy youth in a bottle. I'm all for smoother, softer, clear skin. But when we start pretending we're 17 it goes a little too far. ;)

I can't tell you how overwhelming the skin care section of Nordstrom's and Sephora seem. The challenge isn't choices, the challenge is not knowing which brands truly work, and which ones are just products with great marketing campaigns. Most women would pay a pretty penny to buy one bottle of the "it" cream if it guaranteed results. Am I right, ladies?

Fabsugar  just tipped us off to a must-read book. At $10.50 a copy, The Black Book of Hollywood Beauty Secrets, is a steal. It shares surprising beauty secrets of Hollywood's biggest the celebrities. The biggest surprise is that not every beauty solution requires a trip to the cosmetic counter.

Not convinced? Thanks again to FabSugar, we get a sneak peek at some of the tips you'll find in the Black Book:

• Sarah Jessica Parker runs to the bathroom during commercial breaks to powder her nose - or rather, use wax toilet seat covers to blot her face. She claims this technique does not remove makeup!
• Angelina Jolie creates her high-volume hair by applying baby powder to her hair, roots-to-ends, then blow drying it in.
• Our girl Tyra Banks swears by her home remedy for cellulite: a ground up coffee bean scrub.
• Cameron Diaz is just so resourceful - she uses her lipstick of the evening for blush touch ups.
• A root touch up used by glamour girls Jessica Simpson & Eva Longoria: spray hairspray to your roots and apply matching eye shadow to mask the outgrown color.

There's a new blog I've just discovered called Fly. This joy-inducing site is written by a graphic designer/illustrator. In her own words:

"I want to use my eye for design, trends, and fashion to create a destination site for you to come and be inspired."

Fly does just that. Reading the blog makes me feel as though I have access to a personal coolhunter scouring the burroughs of NYC to let me know what's hot and happening, and what's on the rise. Be sure to read her post on 2006 + 2007 and Beyond to discover what music, fashion, books and beauty products will carry you into the new year with ease.