winter skin relief: mayday, mayday!

The weather outside is frightful. Well, here in NYC, anyway. Whipping winds and frigid temps have left my face feeling dry and chapped. Even my usual soothing moisturizers don't seem to take effect. Thank goodness for Ren's Mayday Mayday Rescue Balm, designed to soothe dry, chapped irritated skin. It feels like a shield against the cold--as is definitely the must-have accessory I can't leave home without this month. After just one application, my skin felt softer, smoother, more moisturized and ready to brave the elements. There are all kind of great ingredients inside: Ceramide, phospholipids and essential fatty acids to help repair skin and restore softness, elasticity and comfort, lactic acid to reduce peeling and chapped skin, and chamomile and pink violet help to calm redness and soothe minor irritation (and give it a pretty scent!). It's especially great for dry skin on lips, hands, knees, elbows and any spot that needs a little extra attention. My only regret is that it comes in a small tube (1.7 fl. oz.)--I will need more in no time! Go to www.renskincare.com to order.

expert advice: hair colorist/stylist barry reitman

New year? New look. If you've been sticking to the same hairstyle for 2009, here's your chance to create a fresh new look for 2010. Colorist/stylist Barry Reitman, who is currently making his mark at the Kevin Josephson Salon in Beverly Hills, is known for his ability to "create a look for each client based on their lifestyle, combined with an artistic eye for proportion and sensitivity to the nature of their hair.” Here, he shares his passion for creating "stunning but easy-to-manage" styles.

For a fresh new look that you can do yourself, Reitman likes to keep things loose. "I like loose curls and waves for spring 2010. They're easy to maintain and, with the right haircut, look smoking hot." For a no-fail, girl-about-town look, he recommends the reliable ponytail. "Ponytails are such a classic style. Whether you throw your hair in one just to get it off your face or carefully put each hair in place for a special event, a ponytail is almost always appropriate and surprisingly very versatile."

Reitman, who went to beauty school after college because he "wanted to meet girls (lots of them)," describes himself as creative and enjoys the arts so, he says, "this field enabled me to have both things. Most hair stylists just cut hair, but I wanted to create looks. I most enjoy transforming my client's appearance by enhancing and bringing out her inner beauty."

For a fab winter hair moisturizing tip, Reitman recommends Difiaba Hydressence which, he says, hydrates and reconstructs the hair shaft. "After shampooing your hair, comb Difiaba through the hair from roots to ends, leave on for five minutes and rinse clean."

Reitman’s work has been featured in national magazines and on TLC’s Ballroom Bootcamp, MTV’s Becoming, E! Entertainment’s Girls Next Door, FOX LA’s Style File and, most recently, the Style Network’s Split Ends. He has designed hair for major fashion shows as well as industry photo shoots.