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.

expert advice: winter skin that glows, from celebrity makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan

Yesterday's Golden Globes proved winter skin can look fresh and radiant when prepped correctly. Leading ladies like Dexter's Julie Benz hit the red carpet with glowing complexions. Celebrity Makeup Artist Kelsey Deenihan, explains how she got gave her this gorgeous look. "We wanted to keep the makeup pretty subtle with some highlights to just bring out a little sparkle,” she says. Deenihan first applied Shu Uemura's Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisturizing Concentrate ($75) on Julie's skin to add hydration before applying her makeup. The added bit of moisture allowed her skin to stay radiant and make the makeup last throughout the night without getting dry or feeling heavy. Next, she brushed on a small dab of Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lip Balm ($20) with beeswax and macademia oil to soften Julie's lips. It's also a great "overnight mask" to visibly repair dry, cracked lips. Learn more about the Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability intense moisturizing collection at www.shuuemura-usa.com.

get this red carpet look: from Jemma Kidd of JK Jemma Kidd

The 2010 Golden Globes are just two days away and once again I find myself watching it from my couch, wondering how I can achieve such flawless makeup looks.

I asked Jemma Kidd, whose JK Jemma Kidd makeup line is available at Target, for some makeup tips. She says, "For an on-trend look, it’s all about defined brows, fresh dewy skin and a natural blush. Think Michelle Williams' recent October Vogue cover (shown here). You can achieve this look using my new I-Conic Eyes Brow Pencil, Mannequin Skin Illuminating Concealer and my cheek ID." Here's how...

Well-shaped eyebrows with I-Conic Eyes Brow Pencil ($16)

Brush eyebrow hair upwards with the built-in comb to highlight stray hairs. Pluck these visible stray hairs using the uniquely angled built-in tweezers. Use the pencil to fill in any gaps in the eyebrow & define the arch.

Create a luminous and natural complexion with Mannequin Skin Illuminating Concealer ($18)

Using the pad of your finger, press the concealer part of the double-ended product on areas that require the most coverage. Highlighter should be applied sparingly to areas on the face that naturally catch the light.

Natural-looking flush with Cheek ID Color Adapt Blush ($18)

Dab a small amount of blush on the apple of your cheeks with your fingertips upwards along the cheekbone.

See the complete JK Jemma Kidd line at Target stores or on www.target.com.

moisturize your hair

I love the look and feel of sleek, smooth hair so I'm always searching for a good hair moisturizer. Of all the hair products out there, I think hair masks make the best hair treatments, especially in winter with frigid temps outside and dry, steamy air inside. Profound Beauty's Anatomy Anti-Oxidant Mask ($32) gives you deep conditioning, leaving your hair soft, smooth and sleek. The flat tub is easy to stash on your shower shelf and the creamy mask feels nourishing (that's the vitamin E) and revitalizing while it sets. I love the thickness of the formula! Plus, it's great for maintaining your salon color and keeping it looking fresh. The directions say use it once a week but I actually use it twice a week because I love how soft my hair feels afterward as well as the compliments I get after I use it. Find your personalized Profound Beauty Routine and shop for the Anatomy Anti-Oxidant Mask at www.ProfoundBeauty.com.

expert advice: moisturizing tips from Rhea Grous, La Suite Skin Care

Rhea Grous is a certified esthetician and well-rounded beauty expert. Sure, she has degrees from the prestigious Catherine Hinds Institute in Boston and trained at The Decleor Institute in Paris, but her real skill is evident in the personal experience she offers her customers. Formerly the number one requested and booked esthetician at Manhattan’s Bliss Spa, she now works her magic at the La Suite Skin Care studio in Greenwich, CT. Here, she shares her expertise with us and helps us combat dry, winter skin...

Prettyisprettydoes: Does everyone need moisturizer?

Rhea Grous: Yes! You need moisturizer to hydrate the skin. Lack of hydration can lead to sensitivity, outbreaks, and other skin issues. Any condition from oily to dry skin can be magnified when lacking water, moisture or hydration.

PIPD: What's the most important factor to consider when buying a moisturizer? Are there any key ingredients they should definitely have for them to be effective?

RG: It's important to read the ingredients and avoid color, fragrance and too many preservatives because they increase the chance of irritation and allergic reaction. Moisturizers these days are PRIMARILY focused on anti aging; we each have to choose what's right for our skin. Humectants, which increase water levels in the skin, are a huge benefit for moisturizers. Vitamins fight environmental damage which can be caused by free radicals. Peptides signal your skin to make more collagen, and might act like Botox. AHAs and BHAs offer antiaging and exfoliating properties and help retexturize skin. It's a good idea to look for these in your night moisturizer. Retinols are antiaging, accelerate exfoliation, improve appearance of fine lines and helps reduce sun damage. These are also great in a

night moisturizer that can work while you're sleeping.

PIPD: Does your moisturizing routine need to change based on the season (ie: hot weather vs. cold weather)?

RG: Absolutely, weather changes our skin's needs. In general, warm weather gives the skin more of everything and skin tends to prefer a lighter version of its usual moisturizer. Additionally, this is NOT the season to forget sunscreen -- it should be a must!! Many moisturizers include sunscreen these days (sunscreen in a moisturizer is automatically a day cream). VS night cream which usually has a retinol or alpha hydroxy. In winter, the harsh elements tend to rob the skin of water. Look for a moisturizer to spike the humectants and increase water levels.

PIPD: Any product recommendations?

RG: La Mer products, which are oil-based, are an incredible way to moisturize dry skin. The moisturizer is the best in the business. La Mer also has an incredible oil-absorbing moisturizer for those that are super oily. Both are expensive but worth it. Skinceuticals' Face Cream is water-based, hydrating and has antioxidants to protect and shield the skin of free radicals that promote aging. SkinMedica products range from inexpensive (under $50) to expensive ($112). They are water-based and, therefore, compatible with most people's skin. They have antioxidants and epidermal growth factors which are great for healing and promoting new cells (available from a doctor or the internet). G.M. Collins products are in the same range as above. There are creams with peptides as well as antiaging options. Peptides are very popular these days as they aid in minimizing wrinkles. This is a great option for those who don't want to Botox, and a great choice for those who use Botox since it helps to extend the lifespan of the treatment. One of my favorite lines is a drugstore brand called La Roche Posay. Redermic (about $44) has all the bells and whistles, but no peptides. A water-based cream containing vitamins, humectants (like sodium hyaluronate and glycerin) and a silicone ingredient that makes the product soooo silky and helps fill in wrinkles. It reads beautifully on the skin at a low price point and is easily accessible. Plus, it comes in normal to combination skin as well as normal to dry. The company's Effaclar moisturizer is great for oily skin and runs about $25. It's a great way to mattify the skin in the morning while still treating it.

For more info on Rhea and La Suite Skin Care, go to www.lasuiteskincare.com.

winter skin relief: mayday, mayday!

The weather outside is frightful. Well, here in NYC, anyway. Whipping winds and frigid temps have left my face feeling dry and chapped. Even my usual soothing moisturizers don't seem to take effect. Thank goodness for Ren's Mayday Mayday Rescue Balm, designed to soothe dry, chapped irritated skin. It feels like a shield against the cold--as is definitely the must-have accessory I can't leave home without this month. After just one application, my skin felt softer, smoother, more moisturized and ready to brave the elements. There are all kind of great ingredients inside: Ceramide, phospholipids and essential fatty acids to help repair skin and restore softness, elasticity and comfort, lactic acid to reduce peeling and chapped skin, and chamomile and pink violet help to calm redness and soothe minor irritation (and give it a pretty scent!). It's especially great for dry skin on lips, hands, knees, elbows and any spot that needs a little extra attention. My only regret is that it comes in a small tube (1.7 fl. oz.)--I will need more in no time! Go to www.renskincare.com to order.

expert advice: hair colorist/stylist barry reitman

New year? New look. If you've been sticking to the same hairstyle for 2009, here's your chance to create a fresh new look for 2010. Colorist/stylist Barry Reitman, who is currently making his mark at the Kevin Josephson Salon in Beverly Hills, is known for his ability to "create a look for each client based on their lifestyle, combined with an artistic eye for proportion and sensitivity to the nature of their hair.” Here, he shares his passion for creating "stunning but easy-to-manage" styles.

For a fresh new look that you can do yourself, Reitman likes to keep things loose. "I like loose curls and waves for spring 2010. They're easy to maintain and, with the right haircut, look smoking hot." For a no-fail, girl-about-town look, he recommends the reliable ponytail. "Ponytails are such a classic style. Whether you throw your hair in one just to get it off your face or carefully put each hair in place for a special event, a ponytail is almost always appropriate and surprisingly very versatile."

Reitman, who went to beauty school after college because he "wanted to meet girls (lots of them)," describes himself as creative and enjoys the arts so, he says, "this field enabled me to have both things. Most hair stylists just cut hair, but I wanted to create looks. I most enjoy transforming my client's appearance by enhancing and bringing out her inner beauty."

For a fab winter hair moisturizing tip, Reitman recommends Difiaba Hydressence which, he says, hydrates and reconstructs the hair shaft. "After shampooing your hair, comb Difiaba through the hair from roots to ends, leave on for five minutes and rinse clean."

Reitman’s work has been featured in national magazines and on TLC’s Ballroom Bootcamp, MTV’s Becoming, E! Entertainment’s Girls Next Door, FOX LA’s Style File and, most recently, the Style Network’s Split Ends. He has designed hair for major fashion shows as well as industry photo shoots.