brush with nature

The perfect makeup brush is hard to find. It has to handle well, apply smoothly, distribute evenly, feel soft on your skin...and it wouldn't hurt if it was eco-friendly. Priori's eco-friendly, cruelty-free brushes rank high on my list. Their handles are made from bamboo with a stem made from recycled aluminum. The soft bristles offer anti-bacterial protection and flawless application. You won't find these essential tools in just any professional makeup brush set. But you can check them out at www.priori.com. There's the Kabuki Brush ($20), made with densely packed bristles--ideal for buffing, blending and getting into hard-to-reach areas like dark under eye circles or the bridge of the nose. There's a Concealer Brush ($25) with taklon bristles to tackle the heavy duty job of offering heavy coverage. And, my favorite, the Powder Brush ($25), designed for applying PRIORI® Finishing Touch and Sun Kissed products. It boasts shed-resistant taklon bristles for a soft, beautiful finish. I seriously have never felt a softer makeup brush on my skin. It's even said to gently massage and increase circulation to the face. TIP: Use Priori's CoffeeBerry Revitalizing Cleanser to clean them regularly so that they will stay fresh and last longer. Go to www.priori.com for more info.

moisturize your hands

When I hear Skin So Soft, I think bug spray. I know, I know...Avon makes lots of great skin care products under the Skin So Soft brand but bug spray has always been what I know best. I finally expanded my SSS knowledge and tried the Wintersoft Hand Cream with Hydroseal Complex--the perfect antidote to this dry, winter month. It went on smoothly, absorbed quickly and smelled pretty. But the real plus is that it left my hands feeling like velvet afterward. Seriously, I can't stop rubbing my fingers over the back of my opposite hand. The intensive formula locks moisturizing ingredients and skin softening oils into dry, flaky skin to give you 24-hour hydration. The true proof is that my 2-year-old daughter noticed the difference. And you know kids: they tell it like it is! Pick up a tube at www.avon.com. Try the Winter Soft oil-enriched Hand Wash and the Intense Concentrate for rough dry elbows and knees too.

butter up!

Keep your gorgeous glow and your carefree mood even after summer days fade away--with LaLicious Body Butter ($24 for 8 ounces). It's a non-greasy, paraben-free body butter that nourishes and softens with Vitamin E, Almond Oil and a hint of aloe vera. It comes in yummy, fruitilicious scents like Island Guava, Coconut Cream, Tahitian Flower and Lily Mango. I tried the sweet-smelling Lily Mango after a shower and was instantly transported to my favorite Caribbean island for a few blissful minutes. The whipped texture left my skin feeling silky smooth, ultimately hydrated and luxuriously soft. Go to www.lalicious.com to see the entire product line.

happy mother's day: give her some space

We all know Space.NK is the place to get high-quality beauty products from innovators and specialists around the world. So it's a natural choice for the place to shop for your mother's day gifts. For beauty finds from the pros, choose from Nars Lip Lacquer ($24) in adorable pots of spring's newest shades, the Jemma Kidd English Rose Palette ($68), handbag-friendly tubes of eye, lips and cheek color, and the Eve Lom Travel Gift Set ($95) featuring her favorite skin care products. Or try Space.NK's own innovative products: Champaca Bath Tablets ($30) for a sensual bath experience, Laughter Solid Perfume ($45) in a sleek silver compact, the Tuberoli Ultimate Experience bath and body set ($75), or--my pick--the Hands Lavender Set ($50--shown here). The mild sugar and coconut-derived hand wash is gentle on your hands and kind to the planet. The hand lotion, enriched with candelilla, rice and jojoba protects hands and leaves them silky smooth. And you can't beat the luxurious lavender scent (also available in bergamot and rose)! Buy any of these Space NK Hands products for your mom at Space NK stores, Space NK at select Bloomingdale's locations and at www.spacenk.com.

VDay: give beauty (her)

Let's face it--the best gift a girl can receive is one that makes her feel pampered, especially since life can be so stressful these days. Help your favorite female de-stress with these luxurious products from Pevonia Botanica. Start with the Anti-Stress Bath & Shower Gel, made up of hazel nut oil, chamomile and lavender to cleanse and hydrate. Apply all over your body during a bath or shower and feel the stress melt away. The Anti-Stress Bath Salts with Essential Oils also work wonders; just pour one or two scoops of salt into a warm bath and experience its calming properties. Need more relief? Try the Anti-Stress Aromatic Seaweed Bath, designed to mineralize and nourish. With seaweed and pine needle essential oils, it detoxifies and renews. Finish with the Dry Oil Body Moisturizer with squalane, chamomile and lavender to leave skin silky soft with a radiant glow. Once she's hooked, treat her to Pevonia's De-Aging collection including mists, saltmousse and body balms in papaya-pineapple and passion fruit. She can try them at home or at a Pevonia spa--go to www.pevonia.com to find the one nearest you.