STILL PRETTY GREAT: Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer

Some beauty and skincare brands have been around for a while...and whether they launch new products or continue to offer the same formulas they are known for, they're still pretty great. I was recently sent a complimentary bottle of Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer ($3.99 for 10 fl. oz.) from the Kao Brands company and am happy to learn that after years of using Jergens' products, I am still a huge fan. This is one product I can't live without...

Starting winter without Jergens is like heading into sub-zero temps without a scarf and gloves. You want to protect yourself from the elements and Jergens is your best shield. Formulated with a blend of vitamins C, E and B5 to deeply nourish and replenish skin, the fast-absorbing body lotion goes beneath skin's surface to lock in moisture and heal dryness at the source, preventing its return. Offering 24-hour relief, the formula helps heal extra dry skin including heels, elbows and knees--which are often some of the toughest nuts to crack.

Slather it all over to instantly double hydration, and infuse skin with a powerful blend of intensely-moisturizing vitamins. The replenishing formula not only helps heal extra dry skin, but it also softens and smooths, leaving you with winter skin you can be proud of.

The best part: When it's time to shed your clothes to escape winter and jet off to someplace warm, you'll be more than prepared to bare. Throw it in your suitcase to combat dry heat, the sun, and chlorine which can also dry out your skin, leaving it yearning for some serious hydration. Go to www.jergens.com for more info or drugstores nationwide to purchase.

happy vday: give lip

The holiday of love is fast approaching--can your lips take the heat? Don't get caught off guard; keep them well protected with Aubrey Organics Treat 'Em Right Lip Balm ($2.95 each). The pure organic oils in the formula makes it super-moisturizing and long-lasting, and helps prevent chapping. The best part: There are five fun flavors to choose from so you can savor the flavor long after the actual makeout session. Go to www.aubrey-organics.com for more info.

moisturize your hair

I love the look and feel of sleek, smooth hair so I'm always searching for a good hair moisturizer. Of all the hair products out there, I think hair masks make the best hair treatments, especially in winter with frigid temps outside and dry, steamy air inside. Profound Beauty's Anatomy Anti-Oxidant Mask ($32) gives you deep conditioning, leaving your hair soft, smooth and sleek. The flat tub is easy to stash on your shower shelf and the creamy mask feels nourishing (that's the vitamin E) and revitalizing while it sets. I love the thickness of the formula! Plus, it's great for maintaining your salon color and keeping it looking fresh. The directions say use it once a week but I actually use it twice a week because I love how soft my hair feels afterward as well as the compliments I get after I use it. Find your personalized Profound Beauty Routine and shop for the Anatomy Anti-Oxidant Mask at www.ProfoundBeauty.com.

thyme out

Long day? Need to unwind? Trade your traditional moisturizer for a palm full of Thymes Essentials Dry Body Oil ($18). The lightweight formula absorbs quickly into skin and the fresh scent actually reminds you to take a deep breath and relax for a few minutes. But the best thing about this oil is that it is super-hydrating, thanks to a blend of Abyssinian, jojoba, apricot kernel and evening primrose oils, plus skin-smoothing triglycerides. I used it from neck to toe and was thrilled with the results. If you're lucky enough to have someone else smooth it on you, even better. For feet that need a little extra help, try another Thymes favorite: The AHA Foot Cream gently exfoliates with an alpha hydroxy acid fruit complex while shea butter and safflower oil moisturize your skin. Get both at www.thymes.com and you'll see smooth results.

total revival

It seems like such a basic concept: skin care products that speed up the natural action of your skin. In your twenties, skin regenerates itself every two or three weeks but, as we age, skin regeneration slows down to every eight or nine weeks which means dead skin cells gather on the surface leaving skin looking dry and dull. Dr. Greg Brown, a plastic surgeon who was growing frustrated with the limits of his trade, created the ReVive Skincare System to bring the enviable glow of youth back to his patients. I've been using two of the products for the past couple of weeks and I LOVE the results! Great for normal to dry and sensitive skin, the Sensitif Cellular Repair Cream, a reparative day cream with SPF 15 for designed for sensitive skin, boosts cellular turnover and reduces signs of premature aging and overexposure to the sun. The Revive Moisturizing Renewal Cream, a perfecting night cream with Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), the Nobel Prize winning ingredient exclusive to ReVive, gently exfoliates, retexturizes and renews facial skin. Perfect for all skin types, it's goal is to diminish imperfections and the appearance of fine lines for fresher, glowing skin. Both products feel silky smooth when you apply them, absorb quickly and smell nice. After trying so many products that promise to do so much for your skin, I was relieved to feel that ReVive products felt so natural. They didn't feel annoyingly tingly or tightening the way some of the other products do so you feel better about using them. In addition, the company created a beautiful brochure that not only explains each of the products and how to use them but explains the technology behind them and provides a glossary of skincare definitions. To learn more about ReVive products or to order, visit www.baysbeautyboutique.com.

start multitasking

Sometimes I look in the mirror and can't decide which skincare issues to focus on. Try to find a skincare regimen that targets them all and you'll drive yourself nuts! That's why I was excited to try the M2 Skin Technologies system which features Mandelic and Malic Acid. Madelic is antibacterial and lipid-soluble, which means it can cut through oil and really clean and balance skin deep down. Malic Acid is a natural humectant and antioxidant to keep skin hydrated throughout the day while protecting it from free radical damage. The collection consists of an exfoliating cleanser, treatment serum and skin recovery moisturizer that promise to do everything from even skin tone and reduce acne breakouts to tighten pores and erase fine lines and wrinkles. First, I try the Exfoliating Cleanser ($19.50): The gel-based formula has subtle exfoliating properties so it's definitely not harsh on your skin but still feels like it's working. Though it smells slightly like anti-bacterial soap, it feels good when you add water and work it into your skin. Next, I apply Skin Refinish ($44.50), a pearly-looking multi-purpose serum with a high concentration of Mandelic and Malic Acid. As I leave it on for the required 10-15 minutes, I actually feel it tightening my skin and pores--almost like a lightweight, transparent mask. I don't want to wash it off, thinking I can use all the tightening I can get! I finish up with the Skin Recovery Moisturizer ($30.50), with potent anti-inflammatory ingredients. Designed to reduce redness and irritation while keeping skin hydrated, it also contains vitamins A, C, E and D to protect from free radicals. It's a bit strong for my sometimes sensitive skin. Nevertheless, I use it for a few days and find my skin adapts. In the end, Skin Refinish is my favorite and I can't wait to see the results after long-term use. Thanks to renowned laser surgeon Dr. Mark Taylor for figuring it all out for us! To order, go to www.skincarerx.com or visit www.m2skintech.com for more info.

do the wave

Leave it to Sally Hershberger, queen of runway-ready hair and stylist to some of the most notable manes in Hollywood (think Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan, among others), to come up with an innovative product line designed to let your hair do what it does best--shine! I grew up having my sisters lust over my naturally straight hair while they continuously tried to will away their waves. Later in life, when I developed waves of my own, I found myself with less time to style. I definitely needed a boost. To enhance my often wimpy waves, I tried the Wavy Hair Shampoo ($9.50; designed to moisturize, texturize and create voluptuous curves), the Wavy Hair Conditioner ($9.50; with African Baobab Tree extract to detangle and moisturize hair, plus quaternized honey to hydrate, enhance waves and control frizz), and the Wave Spray ($12.50; to boost body and dimension of waves). When my hair dried, my waves were definitely defined and cascaded past my shoulders in a casual, frizz-free style. Also worth a shot: Sally's secret weapon--otherwise known as Shagg Spray ($12.50)--apply it to dry hair to create a soft, sexy, super-tousled look. But while my newly rippled look definitely turned a few heads, I have to admit what first attracted me to the bottles was the simple Sally Hershberger handwritten font. It made the package look fresh and clean--just like my hairstyle! Get info or purchase products at any of the three Sally Hershberger salons (in downtown NYC, uptown NYC and LA), at Walgreen's nationwide or at www.sallyhershberger.com.

eye do

Eye scream, you scream, we all scream for eye cream! But not just any eye cream--you have to check out the latest greatest option from skyn ICELAND. It comes in the company's new Fundamentals Kit, which is designed to soothe irritation, restore moisture and re-balance stressed out skin. Icelandic Relief Eye Cream with Biospheric Complex ($45) is a lightweight cream that's supposed to reduce puffiness, wrinkles and dark circles thanks to soothing nutrients. And it really works! You can feel an instant cooling effect as you dab it on. Almost miraculously, all evidence of my two kids under three starts to vanish! My skin feels softer and smoother--and the next morning, I even notice a little less stress (think fewer fine--and not so fine--lines!) Also in the kit: A Glacial Facial Wash ($30)--a creamy, foaming cleanser that purifies and smooths without stripping away skin's natural moisture, and the Antidote Quenching Daily Lotion ($45), a lightweight, hydrating tonic that soothes and adds moisture. But the eye cream is still my favorite--my own personal time machine! You can buy any product on its own, or the whole kit for $70 at Sephora stores or www.sephora.com.