miracle oil

Talk about the all-encompassing beauty product: Whether you want to minimize scars and stretch marks, add moisture, even skin tone, or even make your skin look a few years younger, Bio-Oil ($11.99 for 2 ounces, $19.99 for 4.2 ounces) is the answer. The advanced formula is a rapidly absorbing dry oil that targets all of the above without leaving skin feeling greasy. Just smooth some on your skin for a healthy dose of some of my favorite ingredients: vitamins A and E, calendula, lavender, rosemary oil and chamomile extract through PurCellin Oil. How it works: This unique oil creates a thin, non-greasy, protective layer on your skin to prevent dryness and guard against moisture loss while allowing skin to absorb all the vitamins and natural herbal ingredients and allowing skin to breathe. On a serious note, I have friends with stretch marks who have tried everything and swear by Bio-Oil to reduce the appearance of their unsightly lines. If you just want to glisten, add a few drops of Bio-Oil to your favorite body bronzer and smooth it over your skin. You'll get a sexy, summer shimmer. Pick up a bottle of Bio-Oil at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS and other leading drugstores.

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.

beauty score

This past weekend, Serena Williams took the Wimbledon Women's Tennis title in London and announced the launch of her new luxe beauty line with MISSION skincare. On July 23rd and 24th, she'll appear on HSN to give you a preview of her Mission Skincare Active Beauty Line: featuring Serena Williams. The products offer proven solutions for the active lifestyle of today's woman. The Oxygen-Active Daily Facial Cleanser ($39.99), with a unique self-foaming, oxygenating technology, cleans skin, removes makeup, nourishes and renews in only 90 seconds. Also try the gently exfoliating Sugar Body Scrub in Honey Sugar ($29.99), the Restorative Body Butter in Honey Sugar ($24.99) designed to protect and hydrate skin, the Lip Balmer SPF 15 in Pomegranate ($3.99) with broad spectrum sun protection, moisturizing cocoa butter and soybean oil to nourish and hydrate, and the Lip Balmer SPF 15 in Pink Lemonade ($3.99) designed to moisturize lips for up to eight hours. Check out the products on www.missionskincare.com or win a chance to meet Serena herself! From July 8th to July 21st, the tennis star turned beauty guru is hosting a contest to see what you can do in 90 seconds. Enter at SerenaMISSION.com for the chance to meet her and win two VIP tickers to one of her upcoming tournaments among other prizes.

to be tan and taut

There is a God--and he oversaw the creation of celluFIGHT ($40), a natural, anti-cellulite self-tanner with proven results. I mean, what more could you want from a summer beauty product? You get a golden glow and tighter/smoother looking skin. Just smooth it all over your body like a daily body lotion, using circular motions in problem areas (like waist, hips, thighs and buttocks), and you should see results in eight weeks time. (Try it now and you'll see results just in time for Labor Day!) I've only been using it for one week and I can already see some dimpled spots beginning to look, well, less dimpled. The product's skinTIGHT complex firms and tones skin while improving elasticity, plant and bio-nutrient extracts boost cellular metabolism shedding excess fat tissue, and caffeine from green tea extract stimulates blood flow creating a smoother effect. I made sure to wash my hands well after applying and wait 5-10 minutes before getting dressed to make sure the lotion is dry. I can't wait to see what the next seven weeks bring! For more great summer beauty from tarte, try multiplEYE ($65), a natural lash enhancer with HydroPeptide designed to give the appearance of longer, thicker lashes; and eyeQUATIC ($35) featuring three mermaid-inspired lock & roll creaseless cream and powder shadow duos, a deluxe lights, camera, splashes! waterproof mascara and a colorful, chic headscarf. Available at tarte.com, sephora.com, beauty.com, Henri Bendel and boutiques nationwide.

to the rescue

Fresh air, sunshine and cool blue water are some of the signs of summer. Dry, brittle hair is another. Chlorine, salt water and the scorching sun are just a few of the culprits...but thankfully, Cutler has come to the rescue with a complete line of shampoos, conditioners and treatment products to help hair feel a little less ravaged. They're packed with good-for-you ingredients like deep penetrating and conditioning pro-vitamin B and panthenol, jojoba protein to protect against moisture loss, vitamins A, C and E which offer antioxidant properties and UVA and UVB protection from the sun. I tried the Extra Gentle Shampoo ($16) which smelled subtly like fruit and flowers and gently washed away the remnants of a hot and sticky day. It also rehydrates color-treated or damaged hair. Then I treated my hair to the Intensive Conditioner ($17), complete with moisturizing, conditioning and reparative properties that are gentle enough for color-treated hair or hair that's been at the beach too long. Another favorite is the Protectant Treatment Spray ($21). It's designed to add a layer of protection between your hair and the heat of the blow dryer, but also moisturizes, detangles and helps hold your style. They all come in cool blue and green striped bottles that conjure up images of a tranquil Caribbean ocean and look great in your shower. Try any of these, or some of the other Cutler styling products, at ULTA stores, www.zitomer.com, www.beautyintuition.com, and www.cutlersalon.com.

pass the vino

Cheers to Caudalie for creating this refreshing collection of Vinotherpie products designed to cleanse and pamper your skin. I tried the Cleansing Water for Face and Eyes and found it a nice alternative to traditional foaming cleansers and makeup removers. Great for even the most sensitive skin, this micellar water captures dirt and washes it away without rubbing. Plus, it has soothing and hydrating ingredients like grape, chamomile, plant glycerine, mint and caraway to clean and invigorate skin. Just use a cotton pad to apply to face and eyes in the AM and PM. According to the directions, you don't have to rinse it off but it felt a bit sticky at first so I dabbed it with a few drops which helped. I also smoothed some over my eyelids after a late night party and watched the makeup slide off--no need for pulling or rubbing. The next day my face felt smooth and soft, so I was eager to try the Merlot Shower Gel as well. This plant-based, soap-free gel lathers up and feels smooth all over your body. Warm red currant and red vine leaves give it a subtly sweet scent. If you like these products, try the Day Perfecting Cream too. It's ultra-moisturizing and offers antioxidant benefits. For more info on Caudalie, go to www.caudalie-usa.com.

help for dry skin: mayday! mayday!

Got dry, irritated, chapped or peeling skin? I do. I have been known to try every extra-emollient, ultra-rich skin cream out there in the hopes it works its magic on my rough elbows and knees. While some work better than others, I have always liked the texture of thick petroleum-based formulas more than those with a cream base. For some reason, they just feel more healing. That's one of the reasons why I love Ren Skincare's Mayday Mayday Rescue Balm with Bio Actives, which hit stores in April. Designed to deeply moisturize, soothe and strengthen dry skin with Omega 6 essential fatty acids and trigyceride-rich Shea Butter, it's great for really dry hands, elbows, knees and lips. It feels really soft when you smooth it on and absorbs quickly without feeling greasy. After just two uses, my knees felt much smoother. And I LOVE the fresh scent! I'm not sure what the ingredient is that's responsible (maybe the soothing chamomile and pink violet) but it makes you smell like you've just left the spa. It comes in a palm-size tube that fits easily in your hand (although I'm sure I'll need more very soon!) and is packaged in a simple white box with purple accents. And--not that this is a reason to buy a skincare product--I love the pretty graphic design on the inside cover. It's a nice surprise when you open the box! Get your dose of Bio Actives at Space.NK, Sephora, Blue MercuryBarney's, Fred Segal and www.RENSkincare.com.