the right to bare all

Word on the street: completely bare spa is stirring up quite a scene at its Bowery location (25 Bond Street, NYC) with a new interactive Christmas display! Fans are heading downtown to take their picture with the completely bare bond girl! And when you take your picture and tag completely bare in it, you get a percentage off of a treatment! Who wouldn't want that? The spa is known for its expertise in hair removal and has been a landmark beauty spot in New York City for years. (Since its debut in NYC in 1998, completely bare spas have opened in Scarsdale, NY and Palm Beach, Florida, in addition to other neighborhoods in Manhattan). From the ouchless wax treatment to laser hair removal to razor bump solutions and at-home waxing kits, owner Cindy Barshop knows how to smooth out any hair removal concerns. While I've heard about all of the shop's amazing hair removal treatments, I never knew completely bare had its own skincare line including completely clean antioxidant facial cleanser ($24), completely buff exfoliating crystals ($32) and completely blocked SPF 30 antioxidant sunscreen ($26--there's an SPF 45 too). I love the feel of the cleanser on my skin almost as much as I love the way it makes my skin feel afterward--smooth and clean. I mixed it with some exfoliating crystals to remove dry, dead skin and the result was an even softer, smoother effect. The crystals fine enough to avoid irritating my skin yet strong enough to make me feel the granules working. Though I love the smell of the antioxidant sunscreen, I haven't tried it yet. I'll get back to you after winter break! Try them for yourself at www.completelybare.com.

save your skin

The must-have accessory this season: astaxanthin. Don't let the name fool you--it's not a new program to help you file your taxes, nor is it a diet supplement. It's a super-antioxidant that protects body tissue from oxidative damage. One thousand times more potent than Vitamin E, it's found in salmon and gives the fish their pinkish hue. Leading dermatologist and skincare surgeon Dr. Kenneth Mark incorporated astaxanthin--along with seven other dominant antioxidants--in his Antioxidant Hydrating Cream (1.7 fl. oz.; $95). It promises to reduce melanin production, prevent collagen breakdown, eliminate free radicals, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, decrease blotchiness, hyperpigmentation and brown spots, soothe irritated skin and add moisture. It's been a week since I've been using it and the first thing I noticed is that my skin feels really soft! Next, the fine lines are finer and my skin's lost that dry, wintery feeling. As an added bonus: The cream works both preventatively AND correctively so you can erase the past and prep your skin for the future at the same time! The only down side--especially in this economy--is really the price. But you know what they say: Dr. Kenneth Mark's Antioxidating Hydrating Cream with Astaxanthin--$95 (available at www.KennethMarkMD.com). Beautiful, youthful-looking skin--priceless!