trust your intuition

Less time in the shower, less mess and greater rewards. That's what Schick's new Intuition Plus razor offers on-the-go women with no time to spare. Whether you have to get yourself to work or your kid to class, the Intuition Plus makes shaving quicker, smoother and easier. The first and only razor that lathers, shaves and moisturizes in one easy step--now why didn't anyone think of this sooner?! You'll know it's unique from the second you pick it up--it has a slim, easy-to-grab handle that's comfortable to hold and use, and a no-slip rubber grip for precise control (definitely not your boyfriend's shaving tool!) The razor itself features four blades surrounded by a skin moisturizing solid (it looks like a deodorant stick!) enriched with shea butter, aloe and vitamin E. So your skin gets moisturized as you shave! I hop in the shower to give it a try and--voila! The Intuition starts lathering up as it hits my skin and the pivoting head lets me get a close shave, leaving my skin super soft. And talk about customizing your razor--the Intuition Plus is available in three types of handles (Advanced Moisture, Refreshing Moisture and Soothing Moisture) as well as four kinds of refills (Advanced Moisture Shea Butter, Refreshing Moisture with Cucumber Melon Scent, Sensitive Care with Aloe and Vitamin E, and Soothing Moisture with Milk and Honey). Check out www.schickintuition.com for more info or go to www.drugstore.com to make your purchase (it retails for only $9.29).

make a wish and blow!

We've all been there: You get a professional blow dry on a Friday for a big night out, whip your hair into a ponytail for your workout on Saturday, pin it up for your next two showers and finally give in on Monday and reluctantly wash it out. But leave it to the experts at Blow, the New York Blow Dry Bar, to find a way to help women perfect the way they style their hair so we can look like we scored the perfect blow dry every day. Introducing a new line of hair products designed to protect, perfect and prolong your blow out. Never a fan of leave-in conditioners, I was hesitant to try Blow Tress Relief but the promises of a tangle-free, silky smooth style peaked my interest. Made with a pure protein blend, Tress Relief ($5 fl. oz; $22) smooths on and combs through easily so you can blow dry as usual. Great for those of us who want to keep our hair long but don't want to deal with the hassles it involves (ie: messy knots that can develop from pillow friction while you sleep, stickiness from kids' hands running through it, and plenty more). Silky isn't the word for the end result; glossy, satiny, sleek--and definitely healthy--are more like it. And while I cherished my luxe locks, you can't have straight silky hair every day. Some days just call for that sexy, tousled style. Blow comes to the rescue again with Beach Blow Texturizing Mist (8.5 fl. oz.; $xx). I spritzed it on after my next wash, then blow-dried my hair using my fingers to create waves. The process couldn't have been easier and I adore the fresh, clean scent. Finally, my wish for a permanent great hair day had come true! To purchase Blow products, go to www.blowny.com.

Fashion Week: Classic Lips

Tough times call for tough measures--which means scaling down on your favorite makeup picks. If you can only invest in one lipstick this season--and can't see yourself falling for the recently popular pale gray lip look--make it a deep, classic color. An easy choice: Vitamin-Infused Lipstick from Tarte Cosmetics in Vinyasa (siren red) or Zen (berry). Designed to nourish, moisturize and rejuvenate lips while protecting against the environment, these Tarte lipsticks include natural ingredients from BORBA's Age-Defying, Replenishing and Clarifying lines. Good-for-you ingredients include antioxidant-rich Acai berry extract, collagen-producing beeswax, healing chamomile extract, and vitamins A, C and E. I feel its mositurizing properties as I slick it on and notice that these vibrant shades really make a statement. Finish with lipliner to create eveness and definition. It's a great investment at $22 on www.tartecosmetics.com.

Fashion Week: Rock Star Hair

Fresh on the heels of the latest Grammy's show, models at some of New York Fashion Week's hottest shows sported rock-star locks. To get yours, try Philip Kingsley's Maximizer designed to maximize volume, body and bounce. "It creates volume for limp, flyaway hair," says Kingsley. If anyone can design such a formula, Kingsley is the one. This world-renowned trichologist has been seeing clients, writing books and creating hair treatments for years. "It gives fine hair super volume, and adds body, bounce, control and shine." Got color-treated tresses? Don't hesitate to spritz some on. It's protects color too. "Just spray sparingly onto the roosts of towel-dried hair for lift or throughout hair for all-over volume, then style as usual," says Kingsley. After a recent shower, I towel dry and start spritzing. The spray pump offers easy control and the product lands at the roots, just where I want it. I follow with an all-over application to see the full effect. Like a lightweight hairspray, it offers total volume and bounce that are instantly apparent and doesn't leave hair feeling sticky. And it smells good too! Try it at www.philipkingsley.com for $35 (8 oz).

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.

VDay: give beauty (him)

Judging from my own personal experience, most men are hard to shop for. But give them something they could really use but won't go out and buy themselves--and you just may score points this Valentine's Day. Leave it to Lush, the fresh handmade cosmetics company, to come up with a solution. The company's Shave the Planet Gift set ($29.95) features three essentials he can use to look and feel his best. Sold in a special gift box that's wrapped up in a comic strip, it's designed for the superhero you know and love. Inside, he'll find Shave the Planet Shaving Cream (designed for super-smooth shaves), Cosmetic Lad Moisturizer (to soothe sensitive faces), Bamboo Soap (to tone and leave skin smelling like the rainforest) and a Business Time Massage Bar (for all the relaxation he needs). The trick now is getting him to use all of these little luxuries! At least I know the shaving cream won't go to waste! For more info or to make a purchase, click on www.lushusa.com.

just breathe

I've always been up for trying out new eyeliners, lip glosses and skincare products but foundations are another story. I guess there's just something about covering my pores with makeup that always made me a bit uneasy--until I discovered Barry Knapp, developer of the new Oxygenating Breathable Foundation. His passion? Studying the science of oxegeniology and its ability to heal and affect each individual genetically. After working with plastic surgeons on products that would provide coverage and help heal, minimize and eliminate procedural scars, Knapp created the air-permeable foundation. The secret ingredient: Ceravitae Complex, a patent-pending formula proven to increase oxygen uptake, stimulate skin cell production and speed the healing process. And the fact that it's water-resistant for up to 90 minutes, contains SPF 25 and comes in seven blendable, color-corrective shades makes it just as appealing to those of us who haven't undergone procedures as well. Definitely worth a try, right? I smooth some on and watch it effortlessly disappear into my skin. As the official makeup director of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, Knapp recommends three ways to use it. "Apply it with your fingers to get into all the little grooves, use a sponge if you want to detail it out or try a washable, acrylic brush." He suggests applying in downward strokes, keeping in the direction of hair growth, and insists on continuing past the jawline, covering the face and neck. The best part: It won't come off until you take it off! For more info, check out www.oxygenetix.com.