STILL PRETTY GREAT: Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer

Some beauty and skincare brands have been around for a while...and whether they launch new products or continue to offer the same formulas they are known for, they're still pretty great. I was recently sent a complimentary bottle of Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer ($3.99 for 10 fl. oz.) from the Kao Brands company and am happy to learn that after years of using Jergens' products, I am still a huge fan. This is one product I can't live without...

Starting winter without Jergens is like heading into sub-zero temps without a scarf and gloves. You want to protect yourself from the elements and Jergens is your best shield. Formulated with a blend of vitamins C, E and B5 to deeply nourish and replenish skin, the fast-absorbing body lotion goes beneath skin's surface to lock in moisture and heal dryness at the source, preventing its return. Offering 24-hour relief, the formula helps heal extra dry skin including heels, elbows and knees--which are often some of the toughest nuts to crack.

Slather it all over to instantly double hydration, and infuse skin with a powerful blend of intensely-moisturizing vitamins. The replenishing formula not only helps heal extra dry skin, but it also softens and smooths, leaving you with winter skin you can be proud of.

The best part: When it's time to shed your clothes to escape winter and jet off to someplace warm, you'll be more than prepared to bare. Throw it in your suitcase to combat dry heat, the sun, and chlorine which can also dry out your skin, leaving it yearning for some serious hydration. Go to www.jergens.com for more info or drugstores nationwide to purchase.

scrub, slough, smooth

A good body scrub is the key to maintaining soft, smooth skin during the winter. Thankfully, LA-based Stark Waxing Studio delivers--with its Stark Body Scrub ($24). Finely ground walnut shells slough off dead skin cells and the gentle lather releases the invigorating scent of fresh chamomile, lemon verbena and peppermint. For extra smoothing, use the Stark Exfoliation Mitt ($9) daily to promote smoother, healthier skin and prevent and release ingrown hairs. Tip: Exfoliate skin dry then repeat once in the shower. The net-like surface is gentle on skin but rough enough to make a difference in your skin's texture. Finish with Stark Soothing Oil ($23) made from apricot seed oil which nourishes and softens skin, organic lavender oil, an anti-inflammatory, and organic peppermint oil which relieves irritation. Massage into dry elbows, knees, heels and anywhere your skin needs a little smoothing. It really heals and it smells great too. This three-step routine is easy to follow and can really save your skin this season. Check out these products and others at www.starkwaxingstudio.com.

expert advice: moisturizing tips from Rhea Grous, La Suite Skin Care

Rhea Grous is a certified esthetician and well-rounded beauty expert. Sure, she has degrees from the prestigious Catherine Hinds Institute in Boston and trained at The Decleor Institute in Paris, but her real skill is evident in the personal experience she offers her customers. Formerly the number one requested and booked esthetician at Manhattan’s Bliss Spa, she now works her magic at the La Suite Skin Care studio in Greenwich, CT. Here, she shares her expertise with us and helps us combat dry, winter skin...

Prettyisprettydoes: Does everyone need moisturizer?

Rhea Grous: Yes! You need moisturizer to hydrate the skin. Lack of hydration can lead to sensitivity, outbreaks, and other skin issues. Any condition from oily to dry skin can be magnified when lacking water, moisture or hydration.

PIPD: What's the most important factor to consider when buying a moisturizer? Are there any key ingredients they should definitely have for them to be effective?

RG: It's important to read the ingredients and avoid color, fragrance and too many preservatives because they increase the chance of irritation and allergic reaction. Moisturizers these days are PRIMARILY focused on anti aging; we each have to choose what's right for our skin. Humectants, which increase water levels in the skin, are a huge benefit for moisturizers. Vitamins fight environmental damage which can be caused by free radicals. Peptides signal your skin to make more collagen, and might act like Botox. AHAs and BHAs offer antiaging and exfoliating properties and help retexturize skin. It's a good idea to look for these in your night moisturizer. Retinols are antiaging, accelerate exfoliation, improve appearance of fine lines and helps reduce sun damage. These are also great in a

night moisturizer that can work while you're sleeping.

PIPD: Does your moisturizing routine need to change based on the season (ie: hot weather vs. cold weather)?

RG: Absolutely, weather changes our skin's needs. In general, warm weather gives the skin more of everything and skin tends to prefer a lighter version of its usual moisturizer. Additionally, this is NOT the season to forget sunscreen -- it should be a must!! Many moisturizers include sunscreen these days (sunscreen in a moisturizer is automatically a day cream). VS night cream which usually has a retinol or alpha hydroxy. In winter, the harsh elements tend to rob the skin of water. Look for a moisturizer to spike the humectants and increase water levels.

PIPD: Any product recommendations?

RG: La Mer products, which are oil-based, are an incredible way to moisturize dry skin. The moisturizer is the best in the business. La Mer also has an incredible oil-absorbing moisturizer for those that are super oily. Both are expensive but worth it. Skinceuticals' Face Cream is water-based, hydrating and has antioxidants to protect and shield the skin of free radicals that promote aging. SkinMedica products range from inexpensive (under $50) to expensive ($112). They are water-based and, therefore, compatible with most people's skin. They have antioxidants and epidermal growth factors which are great for healing and promoting new cells (available from a doctor or the internet). G.M. Collins products are in the same range as above. There are creams with peptides as well as antiaging options. Peptides are very popular these days as they aid in minimizing wrinkles. This is a great option for those who don't want to Botox, and a great choice for those who use Botox since it helps to extend the lifespan of the treatment. One of my favorite lines is a drugstore brand called La Roche Posay. Redermic (about $44) has all the bells and whistles, but no peptides. A water-based cream containing vitamins, humectants (like sodium hyaluronate and glycerin) and a silicone ingredient that makes the product soooo silky and helps fill in wrinkles. It reads beautifully on the skin at a low price point and is easily accessible. Plus, it comes in normal to combination skin as well as normal to dry. The company's Effaclar moisturizer is great for oily skin and runs about $25. It's a great way to mattify the skin in the morning while still treating it.

For more info on Rhea and La Suite Skin Care, go to www.lasuiteskincare.com.

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.

give the gift of caring with Curél

I know about dry skin. In fact, I douse myself in ultra-thick moisturizing creams religiously as part of my nighttime beauty regimen. I am constantly trying to soothe and smooth rough elbows, knees, hands and feet. So when Curél came out with limited-edition Continuous Comfort Moisture Lotion for Dry Skin with time-released moisturizers ($8 at drugstores nationwide--it features the iconic Red Cross symbol), I just had to have some. Designed to hydrate and relieve skin for 24 hours, the non-greasy formula absorbs quickly, doesn't clog pores and is dermatologist recommended. Plus, it smells great!

Through its ongoing support of the American Red Cross, Curél goes beyond skin’s surface to nurture the people who need care the most, donating funds to the organization that helps heal communities in times of crisis. Collaborating for the second time, Cynthia Nixon and Curél are proud to launch the “Share the Gift of Caring” campaign in support of the American Red Cross. Log on to www.curel.com to dedicate a portion of Curél’s donation to someone you love, then encourage them to share the gift of caring by doing the same!

The American Red Cross has donated $250,000 and plans to donate $10,000 more. And you can click on the website to donate $1 of that $10,000 in a friend’s name. Your friend will receive a message from Curél letting her know that you care, and she will be invited to share the gift of sharing with someone else—creating a chain of donations from the Curél brand on behalf of real people across the United States.

A great gift and an amazing product for a superb cause--plus you get silky, smooth skin in the process!

blown away

True story: I was sitting here starting this post about the new Paul Mitchell Express Ion Dry V.2 ($220) when a neighbor from down the hall knocked on my door asking to borrow my blow-dryer since hers had just died on her. I handed it over and she returned a little while later, blow-dryer in hand, with perfect hair and a great dress and shoes, ready for a big night out. "You're a lifesaver," she told me. We've all been subjected to blow-dryers that can't take the heat. Some can be cumbersome, some get too hot and others just don't get the job done. The Express Ion Dry V.2 is a high-speed, lightweight styling tool that minimizes drying time and increases hair health. Far infrared heat protects from damage, super-charged negative ions break up water molecules and infuse them into the hair, restoring moisture and sealing the cuticle for shiny, static-free results. “We took the weight out of the dryer and left a powerful air flow to speed up drying time, add shine and condition just by plugging it in and using it," says Stephanie Kocielski, Artistic Director for Paul Mitchell. "It’s the better air flow that controls those frizzies and stubborn curls. The Express Ion Dry v.2 also gives me the opportunity to send each of my clients home with a salon result that lasts! It’s all about better style in half the time.” Available at professional salons only, call 1.800.321.JPMS or visit www.paulmitchell.com to find one near you.