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.

spa at home

I love getting spa treatments...but I also love feeling like I've just been to a spa. Aside from walking out the door feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, I love the way I smell! All those intoxicating scents mingle in the air and on my skin, keeping me calm as I head home. The Vanda Orchid Body Balm ($60) from June Jacobs Spa Collection is one of my favorite spa scents--thanks to the delicate bouquet of orchid extract it embodies in its luxurious formula. And while it smells heavenly, it also really works to moisturize my skin. Shea butter with nourishing oils of squalane, jojoba and sunflower seed soften, protect and replenish lost moisture, a blend of white, red and green tea extracts combined with goji berry, pomegranate and grapeseed extracts help to neutralize free radicals, protect the skin from environmental toxins and combat the visible signs of premature aging. Truthfully, though, I don't have to know how the formula is concocted. All I know is that it leaves my skin soft and smooth, adding hydration where I need it most. A must-have for summer, get this and other amazing June Jacobs products at www.junejacobs.com.

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.

here comes the sun

We've all heard the warnings about protecting your skin from the sun. And women who protect their skin daily with SPF reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. According to Dr. Zein Obagi, it's never too late to incorporate SPF in your daily routine. To protect your hands from wrinkles, dry skin and sun spots: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 20 or higher. Keep one in your bag and one in your car since UVA rays are transmitted through glass. Try ZO Skin Health Oraser Daily Hand Repair SPF 20 ($65) to protect from UV damage, lock in moisture, even skin tone. To protect your face without clogging your pores or leaving a greasy residue: Choose ZO Skin Health’s Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 ($65). It's also a great makeup primer. ZO Skin Health products are available at select Nordstrom retailers and STUDIO at Fred Segal as well as online. To help encourage women to protect their skin this summer, Dr. Obagi is offering a special online deal until May 31st. Go to www.zoskinhealth.com, buy a full size of either product and get a travel size gift with purchase.