fashion tip: go blue!

Beyonce stepped out last night for the first time since giving birth and was sporting bright blue nails – in honor of her daughter, Blue Ivy. This week, many of us in New York were feeling blue too, as we celebrated the Giant's Superbowl victory (go big blue!) No matter what your reason for liking this playful hue, there are plenty of blue nail polish options out there to choose from.

Baker Street, a bright cobalt blue from Nail's Inc, was all over the London catwalks during the spring/summer shows ($9.50 each. Available March 1^st at Sephora and on Sephora.com).

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Nail in Jet Set to Paris ($5.99, Available at www.lorealparis.com and chain drug, food and mass market retailers) delivers rich color, high-intensity and pure shine.

Deborah Lippmann in I know What Boys Like ($16, Available at www.deborahlippmann.com) is flirty and fun. This playful periwinkle crème lacquer is formaldehyde, toluene and DBP-free.

Topshop Make Up Nails in Missile ($10, Available at Topshop Stores) is fast drying and extra long wear with a lasting glossy wet look finish and perfect coverage.

Only a brave few will choose blue this season. Will one of them be you?

happy vday: kiss bliss

A kiss is just a kiss...or is it? Hopefully, you'll be doing some serious smooching this Valentine's Day so it's best to be prepared. Try these soft and sheer Tinted Lip Balms from Burt’s Bees for a hint of sheer color and a cutting edge formula that leaves your lips feeling smooth. Available in six modern, wearable shades and a sweet natural flavor, these 100% natural balms care for your lips with soft flower waxes, moisture‐rich Shea Butter and Vitamin E, leaving lips feeling smooth, healthy and totally kissable. Visit www.burtsbees.com and go ahead, pucker up.

Fashion's Night Out: Josie Maran at Sephora

While Fashion's Night Out was such a huge success last year, this year promises to be even better. Now beauty companies are joining in the celebrations. This year, Josie Maran is flying to the East Coast to participate in the festivities at the Sephora 5th Avenue boutique. From 7-9 PM Josie Maran, former supermodel and founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics, will be hosting her own in-store photo shoot, giving consumers mini-makeovers and pointers on how to pose like a pro before they step in front of the camera. You'll get the chance to experience her wonderful line of pure, natural cosmetics and enter the mini photo studio, where you can take a picture and walk away with a signed copy of your best shot with Josie. The first 100 consumers who make a purchase that evening will receive a limited edition, created specifically for FNO, Argan Oil Color Stick in Cherry Popsicle. Be one of the first to try this amazing new item as the Argan Oil Color Stick doesn’t officially launch until 2011. If that's not a beauty coup, I don't know what is. For more info on Fashion's night out, go to www.fashionsnightout.com.

look like the balm

Need a touch of color but can't get to the beach? Smooth on Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 18 ($25). It improves tone and texture so your skin looks smooth. Plus, it's tinted for an added dose of color and has spf 18 to protect you from the sun's harmful rays. I wore it yesterday and it really helped minimize fine lines--you know, the ones you really want to hide! As far as the tint goes, the challenge is in finding a shade to match your skin tone. It comes in light, lightweight and medium. I tried light/medium which seemed at little too light at first but blended in perfectly. A definite must-have for your summer makeup bag. See more at www.thebalm.com.

feels like buttah

I hate the heavy feel and unnatural look of some lipsticks so I tend to opt for lightweight glosses or stains. Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl seem to agree with me. The Grey's Anatomy stars all have a "thing" for Korres Lip Butter ($9). Ellen prefers Quince, Katherine loves Jasmine, and Sandra opts for the darker shade of Plum--which happens to be my favorite. It goes on smooth and makes my lips feel buttery soft (thanks to a combination of shea butter and rice wax). And while it feels like the product is barely there (think of a moisturizing lip balm), you get a subtle dose of color that looks like a light lip stain. So basically it's a super-hydrating formula with a juicy pop of color. For an extra treat, dab a drop on your cheeks and blend for a natural tint. Get a taste of the above mentioned shades or try pomegranate, wild rose, guava, or mango at www.korres.com.

smooth operator

I'm always looking for a new lipstick formula. Something that feels good on my lips and looks natural too. Shu Uemura's rouge unlimited supreme shine lipsticks ($23) do both. I tried 943, a natural looking beigy shade. The color is subtle so I don't feel too made up. There is a hint of shimmer so it looks a little glam. And a sheerness to it so my natural lips show through. The formula is ultra-moisturizing, thanks to ceramide, which protects and cares for the lips. It feels comfortable which makes me want to swipe some on whether I'm going to the grocery store or out at night. And I love the comprehensive color range--from fiery reds, berry reds and icy pinks to flat oranges, warm browns and necessary neutrals. The best part: They last for eight hours so you rarely have to reapply. Choose your hue at www.shuuemura-usa.com.

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.

beauty on a budget: welcome matte

Leave it to Orly to nail it! The innovative nail care/color company recently launched Orly Matte Couture ($7.50), a collection of matte nail lacquers guaranteed to get you through fall with flying colors. In case you haven't picked up a beauty pub yet this season, the latest nail looks are matte. Try Blue Suede (blue creme), Vinyl (black creme) and Purple Velvet (purple creme)--all are DBP-, tolulene- and formaldehyde-free. Wear them alone or over your favorite Orly base coat. Get yours at www.OrlyBeauty.com, Sally Beauty, or Ulta, among other retailers.

go for the bronze

I've been using my Clinique sunscreen religiously for a month now and I couldn't be happier. Clinique Sun New SPF 50 Face Cream ($17.50) and Spf 50 Body Cream ($20) with SolarSmart UVA/UVB advanced protection have won the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, thanks to their non-greasy formulas that are oil-free, water- and sweat-resistant, non-clogging and great for those with sensitive skin. I've even been carrying the New SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick ($17.50) in my bag for areas I tend to forget like lips and under eyes. But now that the summer is coming to a close, I can't wait to switch to Clinique's Self Sun Face Tinted Lotion ($20) and Body Tinted Lotion ($20). The face lotion acts like a bronzer and makes you look tan as soon as you smooth it on, but will turn into a natural-looking self-tan in two to three hours. Watch your tan appear before your very eyes! The body lotion (I tried light/medium) works the same way--and the fact that you can see the color where you apply it helps you avoid an unnatural, streaky or splotchy look you can get from other self-tanners. Next on my list to try: The Body Airbrush Spray ($20), which offers natural-looking color similar to a professional airbrush tan. It dries in three to five minutes and color starts to emerge in under an hour. With skin color this warm and natural, I'm sure I'll barely notice the change of season... Go to www.clinique.com and choose the formula that's right for you. And don't forget your sunscreen; Self Sun doesn't have SPF which you'll still need this fall.

in living color

Tired of being Ador-a-ball? Weary of looking Wicked? I know I am. That's why I'm so excited to try Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color, a unique, patented formula with real liquid crystals, that translates the clarity of High Definition into an unprecedented nail lacquer. HD Nail Color offers spectacular shades with pure, vivid pigments that provide multi-dimensional color and extraordinary brilliance (think Cyber, a futuristic purple, Pixel Pretty, a deep Caribbean bluish-green hue, and Hi-Res, a burst of berries, to name a few). Nothing compares to this color breakthrough when it comes to long-lasting, vibrant, high-definition color and deep, intense shine. The best part: HD also protects nails and helps prevent chipping, breaking and cracking. In celebration of this exciting launch, Sally Hansen is hosting a sweepstakes on their website from July 8, 2009-September 15, 2009. Win amazing prizes like a 32" HD TV, one of three iPod Nanos or one of ten Sally Hansen gift bags. Just go to www.sallyhansen.com and click on HD Nail Color Sweepstakes to enter.

recessionista beauty: lip shtick

I've tried lip colors that add shine, look matte, even plump things up. But this one takes the cake--or rather makes you skip it! Huge Lips, Skinny Hips ($20) is the first lip gloss made with Hoodia, a natural appetite suppressant, and plump-prompting vitamin B3, so you can color and plump your lips while keeping extra pounds off your hips.It comes in five beautiful hues or a clear gloss, all inspired by the creator's favorite things. "It's the perfect secret weapon for surviving cocktail parties without succumbing to all the hors d'oeuvres," says founder Karen Robinovitz. Some of the product's other lip-conditioning ingredients include natural lipids that bind water to the skin, meadow foam to moisturize and lemon peel oil for instant cooling. Choose from Red Sole (a sultry red inspired by Christian Laboutin's famous red heels), Love Your Thighs (a floral coral), Worship Kate (a pink glitter tribute to Kate Moss), Lychee Martini (a frothy pink--my favorite!), No Panty Lines (shiny clear) and Kitty Poledancer (the perfect nude and a nod to Robinovitz's love of dancing. Do your lips--and your hips--a favor and pick one up later this month at Scoop or Space N.K.

expert advice: salon owner Rodney Cutler

So times are tough and we're not supposed to be spending frivolously... But when it comes to beauty, who's to decide what's frivolous? I asked Rodney Cutler, owner of Cutler/Redken salons, how to maintain a hair cut and color without breaking the bank. "At CUTLER salons (in midtown Manhattan and SoHo), an average cut costs $100 – much more affordable than $200 at most other high-end salons," says Cutler, whose sleek salons offer exceptional service without the pretentious vibe. Cutler adds that in these tough times, it's important to look and feel your best in order to keep your spirits up. "Find a way to treat yourself without spending a lot," he recommends. "It will help you get through the tough times." According to Cutler, you don’t have to give up on your color either. "Talk to your colorist about ways to lengthen the time between color touch-ups," he says. "There are creative ways for colorists to do color placement so that you don’t have to get your hair colored as often.” For some budget-friendly treatments, try Cutler's Recover at Cutler (let's hair recover after brushing, blow-drying and styling), Strengthen Up (brings back strength and vitality to color-treated hair), No More Fading (prevents fading of your natural color due to stress and the environment), Soft and Silky (moisturizes brittle dry hair) and Get It Straight (gives you a silky, smooth, frizz-free finish). Each only $35, or $25 when combined with another salon treatment. Go to http://www.redken.com/ for more info or www.cutlersalon.com to see a treatment menu and find out how to schedule an appointment.