sun safety: protect yourself with LaRoche-Posay

Summer may seem like all fun and sun but if you don't protect yourself, you could suffer the consequences. According to the American Cancer Society, most of the more than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States are considered to be sun-related. To help increase awareness, purchase the Limited Edition SOS SaveOurSkin Orange Ribbon Pin (only $5!) from http://www.laroche-posay.us and proceeds from each sale will help support the Women’s Dermatologic Society and SOS mission. Then check out www.SOSSaveOurSkin.com and Share Your Story! You’ll words will help spread awareness and La Roche-Posay will thank you with an SOS gift certificate redeemable toward the purchase of any Antheliosproduct. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid ($27) provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with the breakthrough Cell-Ox Shield designed to protect skin at the cellular level. It’s fast absorbing, water-resistant and dries to a matte finish for longer-lasting protection against skin damage. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra-Light Fluid for Body ($45) boasts the same breakthrough Cell-Ox Shield. Anthelios 45 also uses a powerful anti-oxidant complex called Senna Alata, a topical leaf extract known to defend skin cells. See www.laroche-posay.us for more details.

happy father's day: patrick dempsey makes scents

So he's not just a hot doc on TV. Patrick Dempsey knows a thing or two about developing fragrance. He helped fragrance house Firmenich create Patrick Dempsey 2 ($35.00; 2.5 fl. oz), a new scent from Avon. Designed to illustrate the strength of commitment between two people, the actor was inspired by the strong connection he shares with his wife, Avon Global Creative Color Director Jillian Dempsey.

A perfect gift for your dad or your husband, the spicy, oriental fragrance blends enticing spices with hints of wood and musk to convey the feeling of a powerful connection and reveal Dempsey's more intimate side.

Click on www.Avon.com to give this great gift this father's day.

summer makeup: take a dip

I'm a black eyeliner fan--it would be the one makeup item I'd want to have with me when stranded on a deserted island. So to even think about attempting to line my eyes in any form of blue takes courage--lots of it. The truth is, though, these cool, blue, water-inspired shades from Face Stockholm are almost as inviting as a pool itself. So I decided to take a dip. Turns out, Pool (a turquoise-y shade) is soft and pretty but hard to adjust to when you're used to a dark line. And Lagoon (a deep navy shade) offers brilliant shine but looks a bit too metallic and disco-y. Of course, it's closer to tried and true black so it's easier for me to accept. Both quick-drying, smudge-proof shades come in purse-friendly vials and feature tiny eyeliner brushes that make drawing a thin line a snap. Available at all FACE Stockholm shops or from +1-888-334-FACE andwww.facestockholm.com.

summer makeup: fresh color from Rimmel

Think summer and you think fresh colors and natural-looking skin. Thanks to Rimmel London, it's all achievable.

I've been looking for a new mascara for a long time. I love Rimmel's The Max VolumeFlash Mascara ($7.19) in black; it promises up to 14x your natural volume. I haven't checked their measurements but I can tell you this. The bright pink, easy-to-hold tube makes me almost as happy as the thick lashes it leaves me with.

I also love the Lasting Finish Blendable Blush & Highlighter ($4.99) with three natural-looking shades that are easy to blend and offer a hint of shimmer (blending brush included). And the bronzer fan in me flipped for the Sun Shimmer Shimmering Maxi Bronzer for Face and Body ($7.99). For starters, it's oversized--so you don't have to worry about running out halfway through the season. Plus it works for face and body so you don't need two compacts taking up room on your makeup shelf. I tried Sun Queen, whcih made me look--and feel--like one.

Also available in the collection are illuminating eye shadows, reflective lip glosses and hydrating lipsticks and, of course, nail enamel in cool shades like Bare Naked, Posh Pink and Stiletto Red.

Check out your local chain drug stores and mass retailers nationwide or visit http://www.rimmellondon.com/ for store locations and to try the newest products with Rimmel’s exclusive Virtual Makeover Tool.

happy father's day: ManUp!

If your husband is a minimalist when it comes to grooming--clips his nails regularly, uses thickening shampoo, shaves with Baribisol and lathers up with his trusty Irish Spring--this just may be the perfect Father's Day gift for you to give. Truman's Men's Groomers, a NYC-men's salon featuring hot shaves, massage, shoes shines, cigars and whisky, is offering a fun Father's Day MANUP contest.

New Yorkers are invited to nominate a dad most deserving of a grooming overhaul for a chance to win a Truman’s membership (value: $600). Just submit a photo and explain in 50 words or less why your dad, husband, brother, uncle or best friend needs to MAN UP! On June 8, Truman’s will select four runners-up to receive a Total Package – which includes a haircut, shave, 60-minute massage, Handshake Maintenance and a professional shoe shine. After-photos will be posted on Facebook, and fans will be asked to vote. The dad with the most votes will win the grand prize - a membership to Truman’s!

Check out the details of the contest on Truman's home page, I’ve attached a link to Truman’s home page http://trumans-nyc.com/fathersday_gifts.htm

expert advice: bath basics, from Patricia Pol of Weleda

Too warm? Too sudsy? Too slippery? Giving infants a bath may sounds easy but it can get pretty tricky at times. Weleda holistic skin care expert Patricia Pol, a certified doula and an infant massage practitioner, offers her tips for a safe, peaceful bath for your baby.

Once your baby’s umbilical cord falls away, he or she is ready for a bath in your brand new baby bath tub. You can have all the baby bath toys and baby bath accessories you like, but if the temperature's not right, it won't be fun for your little one. The right water temperature is key. Use only a little water at about 98 degrees, the temperature that closely matches that of a baby’s body and the secure environment of the womb. Since baby’s skin is sensitive, use a soft, organic cotton or flannel cloth in lieu of a rough washcloth. Add a few drops of Weleda Calendula Cream Bath ($17) to gently sponge bathe your little one and add a layer of protection to the skin.After bathing your baby, dry the skin well and use Weleda Calendula Baby Cream to prevent irritation in the skin’s sensitive folds. Both the Weleda Baby Cream and Weleda Calendula Oil (often easier to rub in than lotion), provide an extra layer of warmth and protection while keeping your baby’s skin moisturized and protected from environmental factors. Although keeping an infant’s skin clean is important, bathing a baby every two or three days issufficient, since daily bathing can destroy the skin’s natural pH level. Just wash your infant’s hands and face daily with plain, clean water. Stick to products made with 100% natural, plant-based ingredients and avoid mineral oils, which disturb your baby’s natural skin function. For more great info on making your kid's bath a great experience and to view other great Weleda products (like my favorite Calendula Diaper Care cream), visit www.weleda.com.

interview: Marissa Shipman, the brains behind theBalm

Hopefully, many of you tuned in tonight to watch theBalm Cosmetics CEO/Founder Marissa Shipman on MTV’s latest docu-series, “MTV Hired”. The episode followed the cult-favorite beauty brand as they searched for a new office assistant. In the callback interviews, the three final applicants were asked to pitch a new product idea to the staff of theBalm.

What's so great about theBalm that makes it MTV-worthy? It's a cool concept created by a really smart, makeup-loving gal--CEO/Founder Marissa Shipman. I love the chic, 1950-esque packaging (Bahama Mama), the cute comments in the compacts (Cabana Boy), the easily blendable tinted moisturizer (Balm Shelter) and the creamy feel of Read My Lips lipstick (especially in Classified, a very nude, natural-looking shade). I asked Marissa a few questions about her famous line...

Prettyisprettydoes: How did you come up with the concept and names for the line/products?
Marissa Shipman: "I bought 11 books on Amazon about how to make makeup. I could not read any of the recipes because they were all hard core chemistry – except one, lip balm – shea butter, beeswax and castor oil—hence, theBalm was born."

PIPD: Which is your favorite product and why?
MS: "This is like asking which child you like better. I love them all for different reasons. I can’t leave the house without timeBalm, though."

PIPD: Which one of your products is the most technically advanced or has the most unique formula and why?
MS: "What’s great about our For Keeps Watercolor Lip Stains is that you just wet your lip brush with a little water, dip it into the pressed-powder, and presto! You have a long-lasting stain that you paint onto your lips. Like watercolor paints, you can mix and match to create your perfect shade, and depending on how much water you use, you control how bold or subtle your look."

PIPD: What's the biggest bty blunder you've ever made personally?

MS: "Before we invented Stainiac, I used a cheek stain that didn’t give me enough time to blend before the stain set, and was left walking around with big dots on my cheeks. I don’t mind clowning around, but I do mind looking like one."

PIPD: What’s next for theBalm?
MS: "Lots of new products – but can’t get specific or everyone will do them." :)