win free products: from Pureology

If you haven't tried Pureology yet, here's your chance. Just visit the company's website,

http://pureology.com/discover/shampoo, by August 31st, and win one of the following shampoo samples of your choice:

· Pure Volume Shampoo - This extra gentle cleanser offers extraordinary volume with brilliant colour vibrancy and serious colour protection. This ZeroSulfate®, non-colour stripping formula volumizes while adding moisture.

· Hydrate Shampoo - Pamper your hair with this award-winning, moisturizing, super-concentrated shampoo. The extra gentle, non-colour stripping, ZeroSulfate®, salt-free formula enhances colour brilliance and maximizes colour retention.

· SuperSmooth Shampoo (my favorite!) - Gently cleanse and smooth unruly hair without stripping away moisture, and intensify natural shine while protecting colour vibrancy with this concentrated ZeroSulfate® shampoo.

· Essential Repair Shampoo - Renew strength and help repair and fortify against damage while protecting colour vibrancy with this concentrated and gently cleansing ZeroSulfate® shampoo.

Go to http://pureology.com/discover/shampoo and claim your free gift now.

shiny happy people

There's so much hype about this product--backordered for months--thar I just had to try it! A miracle serum, they say? Hmmm... Let's see. I smooth it on pre-shampoo to intensely hydrate and condition my hair and I also try it after blow drying as a shine serum with UV protection (just a drop will do to avoid the greasy look). When I style my hair, it looks chic, straight, and--yes!--it really shines. But I'm not the only one who thinks so. Chris McMillian uses it on Jennifer Aniston's famous locks. Sheryl Crowe, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Kate Bosworth and Emily Blunt are also fans. It smells sweet (think camillia) too which makes you want to rub some on. The best part is that you get such a gorgeous shine, you instantly think you should save it for a special occasion but, the truth is, you can use it any day! To try it yourself, go to www.shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com/styling/design-and-perfect/essence-absolue.htm and order your very own bottle.

moisture where you need it

When it comes to moisturizers, it's hard to choose the one that's right for you especially when you skin craves hydration one minute but not so much so the next. Extreme Regenovive Hydro-Zone ($47.50) by Italian Beauty’s Perlier, which launched exclusively at HSN and hsn.com this past Sunday, uses ‘smart hydration’ technology, targeting the parts of your skin that need moisture the most. Thanks to Trehalose-2 alpha, a natural sugar found in the desert rose that absorbs moisture and gradually releases it, Hydro-Zone absorbs and distributes moisture according to the needs of the skin--even in extreme climate conditions. The first thing I noticed when applying Hydro-Zone is its smooth, moisturizing texture. Just apply twice daily after your cleansing routine and you'll be giving your skin the hydration it craves. It's also designed to fight the signs of stress, time and age...what more could you want in a moisturizer? No matter what your skin type, it's worth trying. Go to www.HSN.com to purchase.

expert advice: revive winter skin with Votre Vu

While dreams of warmer weather grow more frequent, winter is still here. And what better place to put the ravages of the season to the test than at last month's Sundance Film Festival. Makeup artist Olaf Derlig made Marisa Tomei paparazzi-ready within minutes using Votre Vu products from Paris. He started by applying Wrinkle Eraser all over her face to give her glowing skin. This magic potion actually erases crows feet and fine lines around lips. (How can a product with such a tough job actually smell so good? Is it the Manoi Tiare Oil?) Then he smoothed lips with Luxe Lips to add moisture and shine. Makeup artist Jessica Liparoto relied on the Attentive line to whip Adrien Brody into star-shape. "He's very particular about what he puts on his face and tends to stick to what he knows," says Liparoto. "I was very impressed with Tragic Magic Rescue Creme. It completely balanced him out. I also used Champagne Kisses Enhancing Lip Balm on him." Makeup artist Jordan Long used Votre Vu Habitude Men's Daily Face Crème SPF15 on Joseph Gordon Levitt (Hesher). She said, "It hydrated without looking greasy." She also applied Tout Le Monde antioxidant eye gelee to combat slight puffiness and fatigue. Makeup artist Jordan Long also worked on up-and-comer Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone). "I used the Tragic Magic Rescue Creme to calm her skin as she had slight redness," says Long. "I also used Champagne Kisses Enhancing Lip Balm for a nice nourishing base before I applied lipstick." I followed this tip and I haven't left my apartment for a week without it. Talk about velvety smooth--it glides on and blocks winds that whip up unexpectedly. It's supposed to minimize fine lines too--any help is appreciated! To shop for these and other Votre Vu products, go to www.votrevu.com.

feeling misty

Always on the lookout for help for my typically normal-to-dry yet sometimes sensitive skin, I recently discovered Sampar. The high-tech line is formulated with natural fibers to enhance your skin, so it's a great general beauty product or anti-aging treatment. Designed to protect against the environment and help renew and restore skin, it's made with an Urban Active Complex that includes shea butter, mint leaf extract, plant sugar and lactate extract. I tried the Skin Quenching Mist ($42)--a spritz on my face, neck and eyes in the AM and PM--and was pleasantly surprised. While it won't take the place of your trusty face cream, it leaves skin feeling soft and smelling like roses. Since it can also be worn over even the finest mineral makeup, it gives skin a refreshing lift when spritzed on throughout the day. The company also makes a roll-on Prodigal Pen ($21) with essential oils that zaps any zit in minutes, as well as the pretty popular Lift Me Up Bust Cream ($78), which naturally shapes busts while reducing stretch marks and reinforcing elasticity. They're available at Beauty 360 or www.3graces.com with the rest of the Sampar collection of skin care products.

sunscreen you can count on

Just because summer is almost over, doesn't mean you should bag the sunscreen. But who can remember the SPF when you're slipping into sweaters and boots? Cosmedix comes to the rescue with three great products designed to give you all the protection you need whenever you step out into the great outdoors. One of my favorites is Hydrate + Daily Moisturizer SPF 17 ($46). I love the rich, creamy formula that smells a bit like a nourishing clay mask. If you can't get to your local day spa for a treatment, smooth this on and you'll feel hydrated throughout the day. For straight-on sun protection, try Reflect SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen ($44). It's extremely lightweight (you'll barely notice you're wearing it!) and comes in a spray-on bottle that helps you distribute it evenly (the other products come with pump applicators). Plus, it leaves your skin feeling smooth and dewy. For even more protection, try Serious Protection SPF 28 Sunscreen ($42), a thicker formulation that smells slightly citrusy and smooths into skin easily. Try one or rotate them all! If you like the brand, check out the rest of the Cosmedix collection--designed to treat oily skin, hyperpigmentation and photo damage--on www.cosmedix.com.

recessionista beauty: stay hydrated

Talk about a sticky situation: You're fresh out of the shower and you smooth on an all-over body lotion. After rubbing it in, your skin feels a bit sticky. And if it feels that way now, you're probably not looking forward to moisturizing once the weather heats up. Leave it to Vaseline to introduce Aloe Fresh, a breakthrough line of light lotions that leave skin feeling smooth, not sticky. And the incredibly low prices guarantee that once you buy them, you won't find yourself in a financially sticky situation either. My favorite is actually a gel format: Aloe Fresh Moisturizing Gel (6.8 oz.; $5.49). It's made with 100% natural aloe vera--as if you broke open an aloe vera leaf and squeezed some out yourself. It glides on smoothly and instantly hydrates and revives your skin, replenishing its natural balance. For those who prefer a creamier texture, try Aloe Fresh Hydrating Lotion (24.5 oz., $5.49; 10 oz., $2.99), a fast-absorbing formula, or Aloe Fresh Protecting Lotion SPF15 (20.3 oz., $5.49), a lightweight lotion that hydrates skin and protects it from the sun. Who would have thought there was so much more to this highly-acclaimed brand than the traditional goopy stuff. For more info, check out www.vaseline.com.

do the wave

Leave it to Sally Hershberger, queen of runway-ready hair and stylist to some of the most notable manes in Hollywood (think Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan, among others), to come up with an innovative product line designed to let your hair do what it does best--shine! I grew up having my sisters lust over my naturally straight hair while they continuously tried to will away their waves. Later in life, when I developed waves of my own, I found myself with less time to style. I definitely needed a boost. To enhance my often wimpy waves, I tried the Wavy Hair Shampoo ($9.50; designed to moisturize, texturize and create voluptuous curves), the Wavy Hair Conditioner ($9.50; with African Baobab Tree extract to detangle and moisturize hair, plus quaternized honey to hydrate, enhance waves and control frizz), and the Wave Spray ($12.50; to boost body and dimension of waves). When my hair dried, my waves were definitely defined and cascaded past my shoulders in a casual, frizz-free style. Also worth a shot: Sally's secret weapon--otherwise known as Shagg Spray ($12.50)--apply it to dry hair to create a soft, sexy, super-tousled look. But while my newly rippled look definitely turned a few heads, I have to admit what first attracted me to the bottles was the simple Sally Hershberger handwritten font. It made the package look fresh and clean--just like my hairstyle! Get info or purchase products at any of the three Sally Hershberger salons (in downtown NYC, uptown NYC and LA), at Walgreen's nationwide or at www.sallyhershberger.com.