from hair to bare

OK, this is awkward. I'm standing naked in the bathroom with my legs covered in new Veet In-Shower Hair Removal Cream ($7.99). I have to wait one minute before entering the shower but no more than two minutes once I'm in there before washing it off. The bad news is, it smells like you'd think hair remover would smell (but it won't be as noticeable once you break open the aromatherapy shampoo). The good news is, I can condition my hair while I'm waiting. Of course, this requires a slightly difficult stance--trying to get my head under the water but keep my legs out of it so as not to wash the cream off too soon. Finally, it's time to come clean. I use the white textured side of the application sponge to wipe away the cream, which hopefully takes the hair along with it, then I rinse off any excess under the shower head. As I finish my cleansing routine, I have my doubts. I think about all the precautions listed on the outer package: Only use on legs, arms, underarms and bikini lines, don't use on irritated, sunburned or recently shaved skin, test for an allergic reaction beforehand, wipe cream off immediately if you feel any tingling, don't exceed six minutes of application time, among others. That's a lot to think about when all you want to do is take a nice, relaxing shower! But you can't be too cautious with these things. I towel dry and run my hands over my legs to experience the results. Smooth sailing! Overall, it was a pretty simple process and--luckily for those of us who just aren't always safe with a razor in hand--a fairly painless one. I can't wait to see how long it lasts. Get your own smooth at www.veet.us.

C for yourself

You can drink it if you want to (in orange juice or grapefruit juice)...or eat it in your fruits and vegetables (try potatoes and strawberries). But to ensure you're getting your standard daily recommended intake of 200 to 300 milligrams, why not smooth it on your skin too? Vitamin C has long been touted for its benefits--providing energy, strengthening the performance of the heart and reducing the risk of some forms of cancer. But it also protects skin from free radicals, helps collagen production and helps repair the visual effects of sun damage. And the newly launched Vitamin C Serum from Mario Badescu Skin Care ($45)--composed of ascorbic acid (which reduces discoloration and brightens skin), hyaluronic acid (which retains skin's natural moisture) and collagen (which improves skin's firmness and elasticity)--delivers. Since we can all probably use a little toning up, I decided to give it a try. As instructed, I applied three to four drops on my face every other night after my cleansing routine. It was lightweight and absorbed easily. The immediate result: softer, smoother skin. But firming and toning are a bit harder to detect. I mean, if I ask my friends if they notice anything different about me, they surely won't say my skin looks tighter! Still, I continued to follow my regimen and noticed my skin definitely looked better--more even-toned and definitely healthier overall. I have to admit: I was a bit hesitant to try it at first, as my sometimes sensitive skin doesn't always react well to acidic products. But this formula feels soothing and calming--maybe because of the aloe vera, cucumber and lavender thrown into the mix. Use it alone or follow with moisturizer and things will start looking up--even when the economy is down. Buy yours at www.mariobadescu.com.

get ekoh-friendly

Some beauty products are all hype...Ekoh Cosmetics' Skin Retreat is the real thing. It just feels good when you smooth it on and even better when it sinks into your skin. Set to hit stores next month, this all-in-one 24-hour moisturizer is designed to calm, soothe and hydrate your skin. And it smells yummy--thanks to all the fruity ingredients (wild blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, cherry, strawberry, among others). What's not in the formula: sulphates, parabens, petrochemicals, polymers, synthetic fragrance and colorants--and there's no animal testing used to get the end result. The lightweight cream is the perfect way to end a day. Just apply to your face, neck and chest areas, then drift off to a peaceful sleep as it does its duty. Before smoothing on Skin Retreat: Try Ekoh's Pre-Party Prep Exfoliating Facial Scrub. Apply to skin, let sit for three minutes, scrub lightly, then splash off to give skin a healthy glow. For more info or to find out where to make your purchase, go to www.ekohcosmetics.com.

mission possible

Skin care products often promise you the world--with claims that they're sweat-resistant, vitamin infused, skin healing... But do they deliver? Some of the world's top athletes have said no--until now. Introducing Mission Skincare, a collection of skin care remedies designed and tested by professional athletes. Since they're always looking for gear that might improve their performance and are big fans of sunscreen, moisturizers and balms, cosmetic industry veteran Josh Shaw asked athletes for their feedback when developing a line of skin care products just for them. There are five products in Mission's Get-Fit Skincare Kit (all under $20): Revive Gel High Performance Moisturizer for face and body designed to soothe, heal and condition; Anti-Friction Cream to defend skin and relieve chafing, Foot Synergy Gel to energize and condition before an activity and soothe and relieve inflammation afterward; Daily Offense SPF 30 stick with UVA/UVB protection; and Lip Protector SPF 20 All-Star Lip Protection in a tiny tube with a pointed applicator. All products are totally totable and easy to apply during a workout. In further pursuit of their Mission, the company has developed a line of athlete engineered lip balms: Try Tennis star Serena William's Pomegranate Lip Balmer SPF 15; pro snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler's Sweet Vanilla Lip Balmer SPF 15; pro skateboarder Ryan Scheckler's Orange Lip Balmer SPF 15 for long lasting protection and great orange flavor; gold medal swimmer Amanda Beard's Organic Strawberry Lip Balmer SPF 15 in a delicious strawberry flavor and a classic Mission Mint Lip Balmer SPF 15 which offers unbeatable protection. Check them all out at www.missionskincare.com. Mission accomplished!

expert advice: salon owner Rodney Cutler

So times are tough and we're not supposed to be spending frivolously... But when it comes to beauty, who's to decide what's frivolous? I asked Rodney Cutler, owner of Cutler/Redken salons, how to maintain a hair cut and color without breaking the bank. "At CUTLER salons (in midtown Manhattan and SoHo), an average cut costs $100 – much more affordable than $200 at most other high-end salons," says Cutler, whose sleek salons offer exceptional service without the pretentious vibe. Cutler adds that in these tough times, it's important to look and feel your best in order to keep your spirits up. "Find a way to treat yourself without spending a lot," he recommends. "It will help you get through the tough times." According to Cutler, you don’t have to give up on your color either. "Talk to your colorist about ways to lengthen the time between color touch-ups," he says. "There are creative ways for colorists to do color placement so that you don’t have to get your hair colored as often.” For some budget-friendly treatments, try Cutler's Recover at Cutler (let's hair recover after brushing, blow-drying and styling), Strengthen Up (brings back strength and vitality to color-treated hair), No More Fading (prevents fading of your natural color due to stress and the environment), Soft and Silky (moisturizes brittle dry hair) and Get It Straight (gives you a silky, smooth, frizz-free finish). Each only $35, or $25 when combined with another salon treatment. Go to http://www.redken.com/ for more info or www.cutlersalon.com to see a treatment menu and find out how to schedule an appointment.

do the wave

Leave it to Sally Hershberger, queen of runway-ready hair and stylist to some of the most notable manes in Hollywood (think Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan, among others), to come up with an innovative product line designed to let your hair do what it does best--shine! I grew up having my sisters lust over my naturally straight hair while they continuously tried to will away their waves. Later in life, when I developed waves of my own, I found myself with less time to style. I definitely needed a boost. To enhance my often wimpy waves, I tried the Wavy Hair Shampoo ($9.50; designed to moisturize, texturize and create voluptuous curves), the Wavy Hair Conditioner ($9.50; with African Baobab Tree extract to detangle and moisturize hair, plus quaternized honey to hydrate, enhance waves and control frizz), and the Wave Spray ($12.50; to boost body and dimension of waves). When my hair dried, my waves were definitely defined and cascaded past my shoulders in a casual, frizz-free style. Also worth a shot: Sally's secret weapon--otherwise known as Shagg Spray ($12.50)--apply it to dry hair to create a soft, sexy, super-tousled look. But while my newly rippled look definitely turned a few heads, I have to admit what first attracted me to the bottles was the simple Sally Hershberger handwritten font. It made the package look fresh and clean--just like my hairstyle! Get info or purchase products at any of the three Sally Hershberger salons (in downtown NYC, uptown NYC and LA), at Walgreen's nationwide or at www.sallyhershberger.com.

glimmer with shimmer

What girl doesn't want to get flowers? Excluding one unfortunate friend who's allergic to "the great outdoors," no one I know. That's why you'll flip for Laura Mercier's new Shimmer Bloc Gilded Garden ($38), a limited edition baked illuminating powder. The concept? Baked technology--makeup that's baked under high temperatures to create luxurious pigments with subtle shimmer and long-term staying power. The pigments combine to give the face and body a youthful glow without leaving it looking frosty or metallic. This ethereal effect is caused by light-reflecting properties that give skin a healthy glow and brighten eyes, cheeks and body with natural color and light. Plus, it's oil-free and ideal for all skin types. The best part? Four shades of shimmer powder in a floral motif are set in a sleek, black compact that looks great on any vanity or when pulled out of a makeup bag for a quick touchup. Some women are just in the know when it comes to makeup and Mercier is one of them. She founded Laura Mercier Cosmetics in 1996 with a classic, current palette and has evolved the brand to include skin care, bath and body, and fragrance lines. This is one item to spring for this season; it'll brighten up your daily makeup routine and ensure things are coming up roses, even in these doomed economic times. Pick yours at www.lauramercier.com.