spring fever

It doesn't take much to look good this spring. But you do need a good line of basic makeup products to start with. Lavera delivers with good-for-you ingredients like organic oils and flower extracts for a natural makeup look and feel this season.

The European beauty brand trades in harmful synthetics like parabens, emulsifiers, petroleum, phthalates, lead, synthetic preservatives and fragrances for natural, effective plant-based alternatives that arecertified organic whenever possible. Every cruelty-free, biodegradable product represents a smart, gentle choice for the skin, body and earth.

Luxe Lashes: Whether you're at an indoor business meeting or an outdoor happy hour, you need this mascara. Lavera's Double Black Mascara ($20), made with organic beeswax and oil, includes a precision brush on one end to lengthen, strengthen and separate for ultimate impact, and a volume brush on the other end to create a breathtakingly full fan of lashes and holds lashes in place.

Lip Shtick: Give lips a lift with this formula that's sure to dazzle. Lavera's Glossy Lips ($15), formulated with carefully selected, high-quality olive and jojoba oils as well as a soothing, pampering vitamins and minerals, is a must-have accessory. After just one swipe across each lips, you'll see a soft, healthy pout and a touch of seductive shimmer that really sparkles day or night. Available Shades: Shining Star, Rosy Promise, Magic Red, Almond Kiss.

Skin Is In: Illuminate your skin with this super-smooth, all-natural foundation. Lavera's Natural Liquid Foundation ($20) is a hydrating foundation that blends easily and hides imperfections. Free-radical fighting argan oil, organic blossom butter and vitamins A, C and E protect, rejuvenate and nourish skin. Available Shades: Porcelain, Ivory, Honey, Almond.

For more info or to purchase products, go to www.lavera.com.

'70s style

From the catwalk to the sidewalk, spring 2011 is all about 70’s.

Prints and vibrant fabrics sashayed down the runway at Marc Jacobs and Gucci, Coach is re-launching their iconic 70’s bag exclusively with Net-a-Porter, and Hollywood's leading ladies such as Nicole Richie, AnnaLynne McCord and Kristen Bell are sporting the laid-back style.

For me, the seventies was all about bell-bottoms, Charlie's Angels, winged-hair and roller skating parties. But I also remember the makeup--frosted lips and shimmery eye shadow, to be specific. Urban Decay brings back that '70's glamour with its Urban Decay Rollergirl Eyeshadow Palette ($32) that's sure to bring out your inner disco diva.

The Rollergirl Eyeshadow Palette contains three neutral shadows: verve (beige), suspect (gold) and darkhorse (khaki) and one pop of bright pink, called woodstock, to create shimmering neutral looks with an easy-to-add hit of color for the ultimate disco glow. It comes with one 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey (a medium shade of brown) that really does glide on and a mini tube of Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in a hot pink hue (it's more wearable than it sounds as it goes on less bold and it cools and plumps your lips in the process).

Available at Sephora, ULTA, Macy’s, Sephora.com, Beauty.com, ULTA.com and UrbanDecay.com

blowing green

Leave it to Paul Mitchell to come up with a chic looking hair dryer and smoothing iron that help conserve energy and give a nod to the environment. You've never seen anything like the Limited Edition Nature InspiredExpress Ion Dry TurbolightDryer($190) and Express Ion Smooth ($160) from Paul Mitchell.

The Express Ion Dry Turbolight Dryer dries hair up to 60% faster (so you have more time to figure out how to apply the season's green makeup) and the Express Ion complex offers an extra dose of conditioning to quench hair and add shine. It comes with two styling nozzles, has powerful airflow for thicker hair, and can be set to three temperatures and two different speeds.

The Express Ion Smooth smooths and polishes hair from the inside out for sleek, healthy hair every time. It heats up to 400 degrees F in 60 seconds so you can get the job done and maybe even meet friends for drinks before it even cools off.

The bonus: They're both designed in a chic, nature-inspired "wood" casing just in time for Earth Day to remind us to be good to the environment.

Available in professional salons only, go to www.PaulMitchell.com for more info.

expert advice: don't shun the sunscreen

After this endless winter, spring is finally starting to show its face. Which means summer isn't far behind. As the weather warms up, don't leave home without your SPF.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of adults do not apply sunscreen regularly and more than one-third of the U.S. population reported experiencing sunburn in the previous year. These are alarming statistics, especially since melanoma and sun-induced skin cancers are increasing each year. Here, Dr. Ranella Hirsch, noted Boston dermatologist, explains how to properly apply sunscreen so your skin is protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Q: When should you use sunscreen?

Dr. Hirsch: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF 30 be used year round.

Q: Where should you apply sunscreen?

Dr. Hirsch: Sunscreen should be applied to any exposed skin. This includes, minimally, the face, décolleté, and backs of hands and forearms, but should be adapted for an individual’s weather and clothing.

Q: If you’re using a sunscreen on your face, what should the order be (if you’re also using makeup etc.?)

Dr. Hirsch: Always apply sunscreen first.

Q: When should you apply sunscreen?

Dr. Hirsch: Always apply at least 30 minutes before going outdoors.

Q: How much sunscreen needs to be applied to the face and body and how often should you reapply?

Dr. Hirsch: One ounce, or the amount needed to fill a shot glass, is considered to be an ample amount to protect exposed skin. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and more frequently if you are sweating or swimming.

Protect Your Skin: Vichy Capital Soleil Soft Sheer Sunscreen Lotion provides water-resistant broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection in a lightweight, non-greasy formula. The sunscreen contains a unique combination of effective UV filters with Vitamin E and White Grape Polyphenol, powerful antioxidants to protect skin at the cellular level.

Vichy Capital Soleil Soft Sheer Sunscreen Lotion is available in SPF 30 ($27.50, 5 fl. oz.) and SPF 60($29.50, 5 fl. oz.) and is sold at select CVS/pharmacy, Duane Reade and Walgreens stores, and sold online at www.vichyusa.com.

behind the scenes and backstage...to over-the-counter

by Susan Redstone

as seen on Fox 4 Good Day Dallas

Bombarded with beauty items? Ever wonder which are the best and which are a 'bust' ? As seen on FOX 4 Good Day Dallas Today, we'll show a group used regularly in professional situations like behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week, on celebrities or at awards shows. They're used by professionals in the business of pushing the boundaries of beautiful. Here, how you use them and get them and why you would want to:

1. Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 -- Kelly Osbourne is a fan, used backstage at Erin Featherson's 2010 Fall Fashion Show.

3 in 1 Protects/hydrates/moisturazies -- with Naturally derived silicones made from sand, velvety, smoothes out pores, gives tinted coverage.

$48 at www.beauty.com or www.miracleskintransformer.com

2. "The Falsies" Mascara by Volum' Expresss from Maybelline New York --used at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

Exclusive spoon-shaped brush which supersizes lashes, with a stem wand which cups and fans out lashes. Comes in washable and waterproof shades. The largest mascara launch in the past 5 years!

$7.77 at mass retailers.

3. NEW Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Roller-- used on GARNIER hair shoots to combat the signs of aging!

Garnier’s exclusive Pro-Retinol from Nature formula with a targeted massaging roller to effectively – yet gently – help smooth crow’s feet and wrinkles around the eye area. Skin feels smoother and firmer

instantly. After four weeks, crow’s feet and fine lines are visibly reduced. With continued use: wrinkles and crow’s feet are reduced by an average of 30%; skin around the eye feels firmer.

$14.99, at mass market retailers

4. Kiss 100 Full Cover Nails -- used on Katy Perry and Rhianna at MTV Video Music Awards 2010

Great neutral base, you can add polish, or a custom design. Professionals are using these as a canvas to start unique one-off nail designs $4.79 at Walgreens and Walmart and

Kiss Premium Eyelashes with Application Strings --used on models at ODD MOLLY Fall 2011 Fashion Show NY Fashion Week

Patent pending 'strings' for perfect positioning!

$3.99 Walmart, Walgreens, CVS

5. ESSIE 'French Affair' spring collection -- inspired by Runway shows that took inspiration from 1960's French glamour, chanelling Brigitte Bardot

Clean, bright but Opaque pastels -- with a French flavor! 6 great named shades, like Coat Azure, Sand Tropez, French Affair

$8 at nail salons or retailers

6. PRIMERS -- the best of the backstage helpers!

Emergin C -- Red Carpet Primer $42 at www.emerginc.com (% proceeds go to Global Gifting - to help Tsunami victims)

Napoloen Perdis -- Auto Pilot pre-foundation primer $39 from celeb make up artist at Dillards and Ulta

Laura Mercier --Foundation primer $30 at www.lauramercier.com or www.barneys.com

Stila --One Step brightening serum (pre-primer) $36, Victoria Beckham's makeup artist is a fan

Urban Decay -- Eyeshadow Primer Potion $18 at Sephora, Ulta, Macy's

Skinceuticals -- pre-primer CE Ferulic $135 at www.skinceuticals.com

go for the glo

Making the transition from winter to spring makeup can be daunting. You don't want to lighten up right away--you need to erase the dull, dreary look of the colder season before exposing yourself. GloMinerals has the answers with some pretty cool new products.

For your face: GloFinishing Powder absorbs excess oil in your skin. The coverage is long lasting making it the perfect product to carry around if touch ups are needed. The minerals applied to the powder leave your skin smooth and silky rather than giving you a matted, course texture. I love the texture and the way the product easily absorbs into my skin.

For skin discolorations: The Camouflage Kit allows you to hide the blemishes, scars and redness. The quad is created with four key colors that camouflage unflattering color tones on the face. Yellow conceals mild redness, dark spots and bruises, mint conceals redness and lavender can be used on dark circles around the eyes. Neutral targets minor acne, under-eye circles and general imperfections. The yellow and neutral shades worked wonders on my under-eye circles (a miracle in fact!) and the mint hid a blemish I'd been trying to cover for the past week with no luck.

For your skin: Illuminating Tint a sheer, light-reflecting formula that visually smooths the appearance of fine lines and illuminates skin tones creating a healthy, luminous glow. Who doesn't need this product? It smooths evenly over skin and erases signs of years past. And the glow? I guess that's where the brand gets its name from...

For your lips: GloGloss in Nude is the perfect finishing touch to complete the barely there look that ruled the runways for spring. Less is always more and by using this particular shade your lips will pop without the use of bold tones. The must-have accessory for a day in the urban jungle or an afternoon at the beach.

Go to www.glominerals.com for more info.

skin vs. the sun

If you're like me, you want that golden glow you can get from the sun without the ugly aging effects. So whether you're running around town doing errands, heading to a meeting or hanging with friends, don't leave home without CellCeuticals^® Photo Defense™ ($40). It gives your skin a healthy glow with it’s ultra-light hydrating formula, while protecting it from the sun.

CellCeuticals^® PhotoDefense Extreme UVA & UVB Protection SPF 55+ is a powerful treatment that provides extreme anti-aging protection against daily UVA and UVB sun exposure and oxidative stress. Fortified with vitamin D and powerful anti-oxidants, it helps to strengthen the skin’s natural defenses and is sure to give you a softer, younger looking skin.

Apparently, Kim Kardashian is a fan. But that's not enough reason for me to indulge. I love the way it feels on my skin. It also helps that in the war between my skin and the sun, it's on my skin's side.

For this and other innovative skin care products from Cellceutical, go to www.cellceuticalskincare.com.