happy vday: three must-haves for a night of romance

Got a romantic evening in store? Fit these three beauty/fashion essentials into your vday routine and you'll be ready for romance.

#1 Show your hair some love.. with the LOVE Collection from Davines. Whether your hair demands deep conditioning or hydrating definition, the LOVE formulas nurture and care for hair in need of some TLC. Try LOVE Smoothing Shampoo ($22) for dry, frizzy hair. The prickly pear extract provides intense moisture to hair and scalp while Indian Fig Extract heals hair cuticles, leaving hair manageable. LOVE Smoothing Conditioner ($25) works to replenish both hair and scalp, restoring heat-damaged hair with Vitamin E so hair looks soft, silky and manageable. More info at www.davines.com.

#2 Get your senses in the mood with the ultra- creamy Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sensual Black Currant Vanilla Body Lotion ($13) before you get dressed. Black Currant Absolute inspires heightened sensuality while Vanilla Absolute soothes and calms. Go to www.bathandbodyworks.com to purchase.

#3 Stilettos equal sexy...foot pain doesn't. But with the help of Foot Petal’s Rose and Rosebud Tip Toes, your night will be pain-free guaranteed. "Instantly look 10 lbs thinner and 10 yrs younger by slipping on high heels,” says certified pedorthist and creator of Foot Petals, Tina Aldatz. “ I love the look of opaque tights with patent pumps, but tights can cause toes to slide forward--Foot Petals will prevent this." Virtually invisible in all of your shoes, Tip Toes help prevent calluses from forming, protect bones and tissue, and cushion the sensitive ball-of-foot area. $6.95 at www.footpetals.com.

get your spa fix

You know the feeling when you walk out of a spa after a luxurious treatment? You're refreshed, revived, walking on air? That's what you get after using Aubrey's new Organics GPB (Glycologen Protein Balancing) Lavender Ylang Ylang Shampoo and Conditioner. Sure, the hair-nourishing proteins, emollients and shine boosters make your hair look clean, healthy and shiny... herbal oils, aloe and shea butter smooth and moisturize, soy and milk protein and strengthen and mend hair fibers and split ends (a great remedy in the dry winter air), and horsetail extract balances and fortifies your scalp. But it's the relaxing Lavender and Ylang Ylang scent that gives you that ethereal feeling. Just close the bathroom door, lather up and create your own personal spa ambiance. Check out www.aubrey-organics.com for more info.

win free products: from Pureology

If you haven't tried Pureology yet, here's your chance. Just visit the company's website,

http://pureology.com/discover/shampoo, by August 31st, and win one of the following shampoo samples of your choice:

· Pure Volume Shampoo - This extra gentle cleanser offers extraordinary volume with brilliant colour vibrancy and serious colour protection. This ZeroSulfate®, non-colour stripping formula volumizes while adding moisture.

· Hydrate Shampoo - Pamper your hair with this award-winning, moisturizing, super-concentrated shampoo. The extra gentle, non-colour stripping, ZeroSulfate®, salt-free formula enhances colour brilliance and maximizes colour retention.

· SuperSmooth Shampoo (my favorite!) - Gently cleanse and smooth unruly hair without stripping away moisture, and intensify natural shine while protecting colour vibrancy with this concentrated ZeroSulfate® shampoo.

· Essential Repair Shampoo - Renew strength and help repair and fortify against damage while protecting colour vibrancy with this concentrated and gently cleansing ZeroSulfate® shampoo.

Go to http://pureology.com/discover/shampoo and claim your free gift now.

fur real: beauty products for your fluffy friends

Why should humans have all the fun? These luxurious doggie grooming products--designed for the discerning dog--will have Fido glowing in no time. FUR products by J Mikel are ph-balanced, clean rinsing and safe to use on dogs, cats and humans too. Actually, in an ironic twist, they're made for animals and tested on humans.

What's in the formula? Powerful free-radical fighting anti-oxidants, beneficial essential fattyacids, natural sunscreens, and therapeutic essential oils. Sounds like a perfect skin care concoction if you ask me--which is not a surprise, since J Mikel spent years in the beauty industry, working with well-respected brands such as Estee Lauder’s Aveda, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Her extensive experience with aromatherapy and perfumery has played a big role in developing her dog collection.

The line highlights two puppy-pleasing essentials: Morning Seed and Calendula Cleanser and Detangler. The cleanser is soap-free, moisturizing, has a fresh citrus floral scent and is designed to nourish your dog's coat. The detangler is a silky, leave-in conditioner that moisturizes, repels dust, detangles knots and adds shine. Plus, it works on all coat types: silky, ruff or curly.

Fans of the line include groomers, dog-loving celebrities and dog care experts--not to mention celebs like Miley Cyrus and Mariah Carey. But true dog lovers will also adore FUR's accessory collection featuring dog silhouette note cards and the FUR dog ID key ring. Along with the company logo and products, they were inspired by Zachary, J Mikel’s West Highland Terrier. So chic!

This adorable pet line can be found at top apothecaries, department stores, beauty websites and upscale dog emporiums. To view the collection, go to www.furdogsnyc.com or buy via the online shopping cart, www.shop.furdogsnyc.com. After all, nothing's too good for your pooch!

treat your haircut right

No one ever looks as good when they style their own hair as they did when they walked out of the salon. HerCut is the first hair care line designed to cater to the needs of your individual hair cut.

Created to address the five major hair styles—the bob, the pixie, the shag, the blunt cut and long layers—HerCut employs “catalysts” that work on a molecular level to ensure that hair conforms to your cut, picking up where your stylist leaves off. The catalysts are customized to meet the specific needs of every cut (i.e., weighted, forward motion for bobs and controlled separation for shags) to maximize every style regardless of hair type.

Honestly, when I first heard about HerCut, it sounded like a bit of a marketing ploy. But I tried it anyway. First, I shampooed with the Dry Hair Shampoo ($22), designed for straight to wavy, normal to dry hair--which is me to a T! It smelled a bit soapy but left my hair squeaky clean. Next, I conditioned with the Medium Conditioner ($22), for medium-textured, single processed hair (again, my description exactly!). It improves elasticity and adds moisture (not to mention a silky feel!) while protecting your color.

But the real unique element to the HerCut formula is the catalyst. I tried the catalyst for Long Layers ($28), designed to keep my long layers full and give them a cascading feel from roots to ends. It has a Spring Polymer Technology that creates flexible connections between layers to give hair body and bounce.

I wouldn't have believed this for a minute if I hadn't seen it for myself. I dabbed a drop into my towel-dried hair and let it dry naturally, only to watch healthy, waves and lustrous layers magically appear. The style even held up nicely after I blew my hair dry, but I could have walked out without a stitch of styling and my hair would have looked great.

Don't take my word--see for yourself! Choose the HerCut products that are right for you at www.sephora.com.

hair that gets noticed

True story: I was waiting on line at the bank and a woman walked up behind me and said: "Wow! You have beautiful hair!" The day before, I had washed my hair with two new hair products, Redken Body Full Shampoo and Light Conditioner, proving that they do offer volume that lasts for 24 hours. The clear hair shampoo provides cotton (softens and detangles), wheat extract (adds texture, volume and body) and soy protein (reinforces hair to prevent breakage) for a fuller, voluminous look. It gives you a rich lather and leaves your hair smelling clean and fresh. The creamy conditioner is an ultra-lightweight detangler which contains soy protein to give hair bodifying strength. Plus, it's safe for your hair color and leaves hair with a natural-looking shine. See for yourself at www.redken.com or a local beauty supply store.

pure genius

I gave up my highlights years ago in favor of a more natural hue--my own! It wasn't until this past year that I started using single process color. So I was eager to try Pureology's new SuperSmoothcollection from Pureology Serious Colour Care, the first 100% Vegan formula andZeroSulfate^® shampoos for colour-treated hair. The products' heat protective ThermalAntiFadeComplex create a protective barrier against heat styling damage and maximize color retention. The packaging won me over immediately: the SuperSmooth Shampoo and SuperSmoothHairCondition come in lightweight bottles with long, bumpy necks so you don't have to worry about slippage. (The SuperSmooth SmoothingElixir comes in a mini-version). And the SuperSmoothRelaxingHairMasque, designed to nourish and smooth, comes in a round tub and is packaged with a mini wide-tooth comb so you can evenly distribute the product throughout your hair (it's a little small but so cute and does the trick!). They're all scented with a hint of geranium, which smells so pretty! My favorite product was probably the hair mask--it was rich and luxurious and you only have to leave it on for two to five minutes, as opposed to 10 or 15 as with other masks. After styling, I realized I forgot to use the SmoothingElixir oin my damp hair--and there were some visible frizzies!--but I smoothed some onto my my just-blow-dried locks and my hair looked smooth and neat. Get more info or find out where to buy at www.pureology.com. Or, if you're on the East or West Coast, stop by one of the company's two flagship salons: Rare by Ruth Roche/Pureology Salon in New York, NY, and Byu-ti Hair Therapy salon in Santa Monica, CA.

recessionista beauty: make waves

Attention curly-heads: Wouldn't it be great if you could roll out of bed with perfectly-defined waves on any given day? Think about how much time you could save styling and restyling your waves in an attempt to get them under control. The creators of Garnier Fructis feel your pain. So they're introducing Wonder Waves shampoo, conditioner and stylers designed to give you the waves you want--plus the body and bounce to show them off. Wonder Waves Fortifying Shampoo ($3.99) comes in a lightweight formula that cleanses and gently nourishes waves. Wonder Waves Fortifying Cream Conditioner ($3.99) provides all-day conditioning, wave retention, manageability and definition. Both the shampoo and conditioner are formulated with lightweight, pre-styling ingredients. But great waves don't stop there. Continue making waves with Wonder Waves stylers, lightweight formulas that boast trademark fruit micro-waxes. (I'm not really sure what they are but, hey, if they're going to whip my waves into shape, I'm all for them). The Wave Defining Mousse ($3.99) promises definition and bounce and the Wave Enhancing Spray ($3.99) refreshes waves, controls frizz and leaves hair naturally tousled. Use on wet or dry hair, then style as usual. Get the waves you crave at mass market retailers nationwide or go to www.garnierusa.com for more info.

luscious locks

Throughout my years in the beauty biz, I've been introduced to lots of products--some basic, some innovative, some invigorating, some calming, some essential and some luxurious. And while I've rushed to try most of them, there were a handful I saved for "special occasions." Terax is one of those brands. I remember getting my first tube of Terax Crema and wanting to make it last for way more than it was intended to. And now--years later--when I try it again, I have the same reaction. I started with the Miele hydrating shampoo for normal to dry hair (6.7 oz; $20). It has honey and elder for moisture and shine as well as wheat protein and vitamins for strength and vitality. It also lathers up rich and creamy and rinses out thoroughly. I followed up with the one-and-only Terax Crema. The luxurious conditioner is scented with rice flower, shea, bergamot and juniper--definitely soothing to the senses. Designed to moisturize hair and restore split ends, breakage and dryness, it leaves my hair silky, shiny and super-soft (I can't stop running my hands through it!) Thankfully, it comes in a 2 oz. tube ($9), a 6.7 oz. tube ($22) and a very rewarding 16.9 oz. ($48) pump bottle--definitely worth the investment! For more great Terax Hair Care products, check out ULTA, Sephora.com or Beauty.com.