get your veggies

I've been dying to try the Yes To line of skin care products every since I read about it in WWD. It's such an innovative concept and sounds so good for you. So when Yes to Blueberries launched, I finally got my hands on it. I eagerly tested Age Refresh Overnight Hydrating Cream, Smoothing Daily Cleanser and Daily Repairing Moisturizer but I was somewhat disappointed. I just didn't feel like they did much for my skin and I didn't love the scent so I was reluctant to keep using the products. But before I turned a cold shoulder on the entire line, I decided to try some of the other Yes to products. I loved the rich, moisturizing effects of Yes to Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30, especially on extra dry areas like knees and elbows. I really liked Yes to Tomatoes Deep Cleansing Facial Pads, which left my skin feeling clean and refreshed. And you can't go wrong with Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel (my favorite), designed to smooth and brighten skin around the eyes. It's even more soothing than the actual cucumber slices themselves. And you can feel it tightening and firming as it sets into your skin. Who doesn't want that? To pick your favorite vegetable from the Yes to garden, go to www.yestocarrots.com.

read between the fine lines

Will anything help my fine lines and dark circles? It's hard to say. They are such serious skin problems to tackle. I will basically try anything to make it happen...so I tried Lily.B's Multi-Action Rescue Ultra Eye Cream. First, I love the scent. Not overbearing, just pleasantly pretty. But you don't buy eye cream because it smells good. I also love the rich texture of the cream, featuring jojoba oil, vitamin K and arnica montana (a natural inflammatory which we could all use!). My skin feels super soft around my eye area so it's already beginning to accomplish something. I obviously won't know for some time how well it improves tone and texture, but I can tell you that I like what it feels like so that makes me want to use it more. For more info about Lily B. products, including the nutrient-rich 24/7 Defense Daily Moisturizer, go to www.lilybskincare.com.

throw in the towel

It's November so, chances are, your golden glow has long faded. Yet it's at this time of the year--with the holiday season just around the corner--that you need to look your best. (The last thing you want is Aunt Sadie saying "If you look like that, you'll be single forever!" and Cousin Arthur thinking you're still wearing your ghost costume from Halloween!) The solution: If you can't afford a vacation in the tropics, try self-tanning. Stop grumbling--not all self-tanners involve orange-stained hands, a chemical scent and an artificial-looking end result. TanTowel takes self-tanning to a whole new level. It looks like a hand-wipe packet but it's actually self-tanner in a towelette. Just tear open the packet, remove the towelette and swipe all over your face and body (available in half body or full body size--box of TanTowel Classics, $21 each; box of TanTowel Plus, $25.25 each). My favorite part: There's an X-foliator towelette too ($21 per box) that you can use before you self-tan to keep your skin buffed and smooth. This is the easiest exfoliator I've ever used! One side of the towelette exfoliates while the other side buffs and smooths your skin--use it in or out of the shower and you don't even have to rinse it off! But getting back to the self-tanner. It's easy to use, dries quickly and doesn't leave streaks or spots. I used the Classic version for a subtle dose of color but you can try the Plus towelette for a deeper, darker tan. My friends commented on the fact that I look rested and refreshed but couldn't exactly pinpoint why! TanTowel also has an Express Self-Tan Kit ($30), On the Glow Body daily moisturizer ($17), On the Glow Face Moisturizer ($8.50), On the Glow Face Tinted Moisturizer ($19), Moisture Mist ($21), Tanning Mist ($21), SPF Mist 30+ ($21), Bronzer ($26) and Lip Gloss ($15). For more info, go to www.tantowel.com.

time to detox

Just as the weather starts to change (finally!) and we enter the frenzied schedule of pre-holiday planning, I usually feel the need to refresh, recharge and, well, detox. EmerginC's Scientific Organics line is the perfect antidote. Thanks to an ingredient called Kombucha, a fermented tea known for its medicinal uses, the products are designed to hydrate, balance, minimize fine lines, protect from the sun, balance irregular skin tones, soothe skin ailments and provide antioxidants. The Kombucha Cleanser ($34) feels clean and moisturizing on my skin. The Phytocell Cream ($85) is super-hydrating and leaves my skin with a subtle glow. But the Phytocell Detox Mask ($50) is my favorite. The clay-based formula removes impurities, nourishes, tones and improves the texture of the skin. And it feels great. Lightweight and quick-drying, the mask is easy to apply (just smooth on with fingertips) and simple to remove (let dry for 10-15 minutes and rinse). My face felt smooth and radiant after two uses (one to three times a week is recommended). Learn more about Scientific Organics products at www.emerginc.com.

site focus: beauty connexion

A marketing and advertising veteran of 20 years, Roula Panagiotopoulos is an expert on promoting woman-focussed brands. She spent four years at an international skin care company and left there with a drive to provide woman with real honest information about skincare.

"The fact is, once my girlfriends found out my background they would pester me with all their skincare questions…like, "I have this, what do you think?" So she launched Beauty Connexion one year ago.

"We are a resource for women for all things beautiful from skin care, to style, to home, even down to their finances. For those savvy individuals, we provide expert articles, how to's, and new product launches. It's all about real information." Here, she shares her experiences with PrettyIsPrettyDoes...

Prettyisprettydoes: What is the inspiration behind Beauty Connexion?

Roula Panagiotopoulos: "The inspiration was two-fold. First, there were my girlfriends. Knowing my background in skincare, they would continually ask me about new products and what I would recommend for their skin type. The light bulb went off in my head quite quickly, making me realize the need for real information that was out there. In addition, there was my desire to support budding women entrepreneurs and give them a place where they can introduce their products. One of our recent features highlights woman entrepreneurs (5 Minutes With:) We have received great feedback on it. At the end of the day, it was about connecting the two."

PIPD: How does Beauty Connexion differ from other beauty oriented websites?

RP: "It is our experts that lead the way. These are industry experts that are currently working in the field in which they are writing about. And we feel that this manifests into articles with information that is unbiased and real. What we always strive for in our articles is to provide our audience with a little nugget of information they may not have been found anywhere else. For example we recently covered a launch of a new skin care treatment and, being curiously minded, we wanted to know what ingredient provided the effect so we dug a little deeper and shared that with our audience."

PIPD: Where do you hope to see Beauty Connexion five years from now?

RP: "We turn one in this month. It has been a tremendous year and we have been growing and learning along the way. Our goal for beauty connexion is to become the wikipedia of beauty and, in doing so, continue to help woman launch their beauty brands and bring aspiration to younger women."

For more info, go to www.beautyconnexion.com.

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fabulously flawless

It's hard to believe all the hype about mineral makeup minimizing your fine lines and covering your flaws. No matter which brands I've tried, they've often resulted in the inevitably cakey look.

Not KSS Professional. I was eager to try it since it seemed so simple to use (the company provides videos that demonstrate the product usage so it couldn't be easier): A little goes a long way so just dot disperse a small amount of the loose mineral powder over your face, then buff it out. Repeat using the mineral foundation in a personally selected shade. The results? Flawless!

But don't take my word for it...listen to the comments I got when wearing it:

"What did you do differently? You're glowing!"

"Your skin looks great. You look so rested, like you just got back from vacation."

"What kind of foundation do you use? It looks so natural."

One friend was so enthralled with my new look, she wanted to try the product right away. The next day happened to be her birthday so I wrapped up my precious products and actually gave them to her! She said it was the best birthday present ever!

So how do the products offer such a natural effect? The loose powders are crafted by hand and made from the highest-quality ingredients. Plus, they're easy to apply, last all day and feel as though you are wearing nothing at all.

The line consists of nine shades of foundation ($25), Universal Powder ($16), and a no-shed guarantee, vegan brush ($20--it's SO soft, you have to try it!). With titanium dioxide (SPF ranges from 30 to 70 naturally!) being the main ingredient, the line is ideal for athletic women as well as those on-the-go since it's humidity and sweat resistant/proof.

In addition to making women look good, the KSS Professional team also helps local Kansas City women feel good--by donating 5% of the company's profits to its Foundation Foundation.

KSS Professional products can only be obtained through professionals. So click on www.kssprofessional.com to find a salon in your area where the products can be purchased.

pony up!

Shu Uemura hairstylist Matthew Morris gives the traditional ponytail a new edge for spring.

The clothes that fashion designers Andy and Debb sent down the runway for Spring were based on international design elements; they were simultaneously hard and soft since they have hard lines but soft colors. To complement the look, Matthew Morris, lead stylist for Andy & Debb from Shu Uemura Art of Hair, was commissioned to create a masterful hairstyle that could incorporate both elements. What he came up with: A pulled back ponytail that was slicked on top but full of volume at the tail.

“There’s an explosion of texture in the ponytail after it’s bound,” says Morris, who used Shu Uemura Liquid Fabric Mineral Texture Spray ($33; 8.5 oz.) along with Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer Hair Spray ($33; 8 oz.) to create the look. Liquid Fabric is designed to revitalize your curl/wave pattern with a natural looking finish while offering moisture balance, humidity resistance and frizz-control. Sheer Lacquer is a weightless finishing spray that gives hair hold as well as a soft, natural-looking finish. Layer it on for your desired amount of control. To up the authenticity factor, Morris left some “fuzzies” to frame the face for a just-pulled-on sweater effect. He fastened the ponytail with an elastic instead of wrapping the hair, which he says is “SO pedestrian.”

The best part: This is a look that women of any age can pull off. While more mature women often wear their hair in ponytails to try to preserve their youth, it can often look staid—and outdated. But this sleek/volumized style gives the traditional ponytail a fresh, modern edge.

Too extreme for your measures? Use minimal product to avoid making the slicked or volumized part look too severe. For the show, Morris spent a good deal of time teasing and fluffing the model’s ponytails for volume, body and personality. His advice: Real women should tease lightly for a softer yet equally alluring effect.

For more info on Shu Uemura products, go towww.shuuemura-usa.com.