start multitasking

Sometimes I look in the mirror and can't decide which skincare issues to focus on. Try to find a skincare regimen that targets them all and you'll drive yourself nuts! That's why I was excited to try the M2 Skin Technologies system which features Mandelic and Malic Acid. Madelic is antibacterial and lipid-soluble, which means it can cut through oil and really clean and balance skin deep down. Malic Acid is a natural humectant and antioxidant to keep skin hydrated throughout the day while protecting it from free radical damage. The collection consists of an exfoliating cleanser, treatment serum and skin recovery moisturizer that promise to do everything from even skin tone and reduce acne breakouts to tighten pores and erase fine lines and wrinkles. First, I try the Exfoliating Cleanser ($19.50): The gel-based formula has subtle exfoliating properties so it's definitely not harsh on your skin but still feels like it's working. Though it smells slightly like anti-bacterial soap, it feels good when you add water and work it into your skin. Next, I apply Skin Refinish ($44.50), a pearly-looking multi-purpose serum with a high concentration of Mandelic and Malic Acid. As I leave it on for the required 10-15 minutes, I actually feel it tightening my skin and pores--almost like a lightweight, transparent mask. I don't want to wash it off, thinking I can use all the tightening I can get! I finish up with the Skin Recovery Moisturizer ($30.50), with potent anti-inflammatory ingredients. Designed to reduce redness and irritation while keeping skin hydrated, it also contains vitamins A, C, E and D to protect from free radicals. It's a bit strong for my sometimes sensitive skin. Nevertheless, I use it for a few days and find my skin adapts. In the end, Skin Refinish is my favorite and I can't wait to see the results after long-term use. Thanks to renowned laser surgeon Dr. Mark Taylor for figuring it all out for us! To order, go to www.skincarerx.com or visit www.m2skintech.com for more info.

expert advice: makeup artist sandy linter for lancome, part 2

Lancome's Sandy Linter shares her beauty advice, personal regimen and favorite products of the season.

Her advice for beauty phobics: Look at the magazines. Try to identify with a model or actress, someone whose looks speak to you. Go to a professional makeup artist with a picture and tell them you like the feeling of the makeup that you see in the picture. Even if the photo is very natural, a good professional can look at you and suggest products to achieve this look. A good professional can also tell you to find another person to identify with.

Her personal beauty routine: I put my hair back with a headband and apply the Absolue Premium Bx Cleanser on my entire face, cotton ball it off, go over it with Absolue Toner, then apply Platineum Night on my face and neck and rub some on my hands. In the morning, I go over my face with the Absolue Toner, and use Absolue Premium Bx Lotion as my moisturizer (great for any age). When time permits, I use Hydra Intense Masque, and Resurface Microdermabrasion on my body. I also use Absolue Body which has a wonderfully light texture.

Her favorite products for spring: Lancôme has a complete line of products. Skin care is among the best in the world and the makeup is always client friendly. The colors are not aggressive. The color palette is meant to make a woman look approachable, beautiful and fashionable. Even an "edgy” style is made easy to do. All women can use Lancôme. There is a lipstick shade and consistency for everyone. Same with foundation and powder. One of my favorite products for spring is the High Definicils mascara. I fell in love with the new brush and the formula keeps my lashes separated. Also, get every shade of La Laque Fever gloss! I have not tried a color I don't like.

Check out www.lancome-usa.com to find more great spring/summer products.

expert advice: makeup artist sandy linter for lancome, part 1

When you want good advice, go to a pro. Makeup artist Sandy Linter has been in the biz for more than 30 years (though you'd never guess her age by looking at her beautiful skin!). Here's how she got started...

In 1974 I did my first Vogue cover. There were only five other makeup artists who did editorial makeup. I worked in a salon called Mr. Kenneth. I charged $15.00 for an application and $30.00 for a lesson. Soon I went with one of the very first makeup and hair agencies, Kramer and Kramer. Before that, my mom was answering the phone taking my bookings. And I had an answering service (everyone had the same service - the Belles). I had nothing to compare the industry to so I thought it was huge. I didn't know that by the mid-1980's I would be competing with thousands of new artists. Hundreds of agencies opened up. I stayed with Kramer and Kramer for at least 10 years, then went to Elizabeth Watson, the wife of Albert Watson, photographer, for at least 13 years, and I have been with Bryan Bantry since 1996. This agency, founded by Bryan Bantry, is also one of the original agencies in New York City.

I was one of the first makeup artists in the city so I was able to do many covers of Vogue and Bazaar, Cosmo, in all countries. Now it is way more difficult to make a name for yourself. One day I was selling makeup in Bloomingdales, then working at a salon, and then doing Vogue covers.

The makeup artist gets selected, these days by the photographer. When I started, the editor choose the makeup artist, or the sittings editor of the magazine. I worked with all the best editors and photographers--Polly Mellen, Grace Coddington and even Anna Wintour. They were some of the best editors who I was privileged to work with on shoots.

Bobbi Brown was the first editorial makeup artist to have her own line. Hundreds have followed. Most, successfully. Bobbi had one Vogue cover under her belt but she had a plan and everyone knows the story of her success.

My career went on working with the legendary Albert Watson for Details, Italian Vogue, German Vogue and doing many ad campaigns. Then Harper’s Bazaar, Beauty Director Kerry Diamond took me on a shoot to Washington D.C. After that shoot she said she had a plan for me. Sometime later I had a contract with Lancôme, Beauty at Every Age.

The business has grown and changed but I always had a place in it. Sometimes my profile is higher than at other times. For instance now it's pretty high. My niche is for the older woman (they certainly did not have a niche for older women when I started).

I remember doing a cover of American Vogue in the heat of summer in Paris 1975. I used to look at polaroids on shoots and I loved them. Now it's all digital, and there isn't that fascinating reaction of the model to the photographer. Not the way I experienced it when I started.

Learn more about Linter at www.lancome-usa.com.

feed your skin

You are what you eat--and it shows in your skin. Kimberly Snyder, Beauty and Health expert and founder of Envision Beauty has plenty of tips for changing your diet to achieve healthier looking skin. The best part: She'll share them with you on a newly launched Health Hotline, sponsored by The New York Daily News, a week long resource to some of the city's best diet and nutrition experts, running Monday, May 18th through Friday, May 22nd. Snyder, whose eating for beauty and delicious raw food recipes have been featured on Good Day LA and NBC Philadelphia, shares her insight on Tuesday, May 19th from 9Am to 12 Noon so you can call in and ask for any specific advice you need. Check out tomorrow's NY Daily News or www.NYDailyNews.com for details.

shape up

Everyone has something to hide--a roll here, a bulge there. For those who need a little help--or a little lift--there's Sculptz Shapewear. Designed for ultimate shaping, comfortable fit and sophisticated style, Sculptz Shapewear provides women with smoother lines and a shapely silhouette without ever squeezing, pinching or binding. Sculptz products flatten the tummy, lift the rear, and slim the hips and thighs, while offering the freedom to move and breathe with ease, making them comfortable to wear everyday--not just for special occasions. I tried the Perfection Tights ($25) and couldn't believe how comfortable they were, thanks to the fact that they're made from really soft, durable microfiber. I really felt svelte wearing them. And now that summer's around the corner, Sculptz offers the same smoothing effect in their Shapely Perfection Shorts ($22). Comfortable and thankfully lightweight for warmer weather, they flatten your tummy, firm your rear and slim your thighs. Plus, they have a pretty lace trim, just in case they accidentally peek out from under your short summer dresses. For more info or to pick up a pair for yourself, go to www.sculptzshapewear.com.

get the point

It seems to be a trend--if you're a plastic surgeon, you have to have your own skin care line. Denver-based Plastic Surgeon Christine Rodgers is no exception, thanks to her newly launched skin care collection, En Pointe Skin Solutions--but she brings to the table her first-hand experience as a breast cancer survivor as well as a passionate ballet dancer. In fact, it was the physical and emotional healing benefits she experienced through practicing ballet that inspired the brand name which suggests enduring strength. En Pointe specifically addresses women's skin concerns such as fine lines, skin pigmentation, redness and irritation which Dr. Rodgers believes are the consequences of skin stressors like hormonal, environmental, physical, emotional and medical issues. So I set out to undo some 40+ years of stress I have already endured. After washing my face, I applied the Encore Renewal Serum ($85), designed to brighten, reduce pigmentation and minimize the appearance of age spots. Formulated with Dr. Rodgers' Bio-Energy Complex to smooth, hydrate and promote radiant skin, it smoothed on easily and absorbed quickly. I followed up with the Fouette Firming Moisturizer ($85), designed to deliver intense moisture, stimulate collagen production and protect against free radical damage. It felt thicker than I expected but absorbed just as readily, almost as if it was filling in my not-so-fine lines as I was applying it. I added a couple of dabs of the Pas de Trois Age Delay Eye Solution ($75) in an attempt to reduce puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles around my eyes, offering a more youthful appearance. All of the formulas felt smooth and creamy on my skin and had a subtle clean, natural scent. There's a cleanser, toner, and SPF too, as well as other nourishing treatments. As for the results, only time will tell. I'll have to keep you posted. But in the meantime, check out these innovative and therapeutic products on www.empoweryourskin.com.

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.