vday beauty: break the rule

Red nails for Vday? Sure, if you do the Hallmark holiday the classic way. The Jessica Red Alert Manicure Kit ($24) covers all the bases, from a strengthening basecoat, to a quick drying topcoat and three amazing colors to apply in between. Choose from Royal Red (almost fire engine--will really send his heart a flutter), Shall We Dance (darker red, with a dose of gold) and Grecian Touch (a darker shade of brown, almost purply--my favorite for winter!) Packaged in convenient travel sized bottles, the kit is available at www.jessicacosmetics.com.

have a heart

February is American Heart Month! Forget your affairs of the heart and do something good for the heart this Valentine's Day. Astral Health & Beauty Brands—parent company of Pür Minerals, CosMedix and Aloette—is lending its support to the American Heart Association and its efforts to help women fight heart disease with passion and positive action. In 2010, Astral Health & Beauty Brands will donate $250,000 to support the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women ® movement, furthering the health and wellbeing of women. On February 5th, National Wear Red Day, a part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program, each brand will contribute to the cause in its own unique way. To join forces with the American Heart Association and Astral Beauty Brands, wear red this Friday and help spread the word! Go to www.americanheart.org or www.astralbrands.com for more info.

Go Fig-ure

Who would have thought Fig and Sandalwood would make such an irresistible pair? Bath and Body Works' ultra-creamy Aromatherapy Body Lotion in Sandalwood Fig ($13) keeps skin soft and moisturized, while a blend of essential oil and pheromone help boost your self-confidence and put you at ease. It's a moisturizer and fragrance in one simple product. And thanks to the pheromones, if it makes you feel irresistible. Imagine how you'll come across to your date? Pick up this Vday must-have at www.bathandbodyworks.com.

soothe your skin

In my quest for moisturizing hair and skin products this month, I've come up with quite a few worth the investment. But I couldn't let the month come to an end without sharing one more amazing facial moisturizer. I've been using Korres Materia Herba Night Cream for several weeks now and love the results. The intensely rich, soothing formula is great at treating tired, dull or dry skin and promoting skin firmness and tone. But it also works to replenish, nourish and add moisture to your skin throughout the night. It has organic shea butter (an anti-inflammatory), organic sunflower, sweet almond and jojoba oil (to moisturize and prevent premature aging) and ginseng extract (to tone and brighten skin, and enhance elasticity--we all need that!) Best of all, I love the smell of it and the fact that it makes my skin feel smooth and rejuvenated. Get it now, while there are still a couple of months of winter left. Available at www.korresusa.com.

feeling blu?

Blu Mediterraneo's BERGAMOTTO DI CALABRIA from Aqua di Parma will cure your winter blues with a dose of the dazzling, sun-filled, tranquil Mediterranean. Its uplifting fragrance is designed to stimulate sensations of intense, sparkling vitality.

My first spritz brought me back to more carefree days of travel, lounging on beaches and unwinding before endless ocean views.

Named after Bergamotto di Calabria, a small juicy fragrant gift of nature enclosed in a bright shiny rind which, as it ripens, changes from deep green to golden yellow, the fragrance's fresh, tangy-green sparkling notes blend with sweet, floral nuances. The green, sparkling top notes of bergamot are highlighted by fresh citron, also from Calabria. Bergamot, cedar wood and red ginger make up its heart notes. Warm base notes include the unusual combination of vetiver, Benzoin and musk. The result: An uplifting, luxurious scent.

Try the refreshing Eau de Toilette spray ($70/60 ml and $106/120 ml) or the exhilarating. luminous Body Cream ($67/200 ml) that offers the same crisp scent. The entire Blu Mediterraneo collection is available at fine speciality stores including Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, select Nordstrom stores and Saks Fifth Avenue. Online, Acqua di Parma is sold on Sephora.com, Saks.com and Neimanmarcus.com.

scrub, slough, smooth

A good body scrub is the key to maintaining soft, smooth skin during the winter. Thankfully, LA-based Stark Waxing Studio delivers--with its Stark Body Scrub ($24). Finely ground walnut shells slough off dead skin cells and the gentle lather releases the invigorating scent of fresh chamomile, lemon verbena and peppermint. For extra smoothing, use the Stark Exfoliation Mitt ($9) daily to promote smoother, healthier skin and prevent and release ingrown hairs. Tip: Exfoliate skin dry then repeat once in the shower. The net-like surface is gentle on skin but rough enough to make a difference in your skin's texture. Finish with Stark Soothing Oil ($23) made from apricot seed oil which nourishes and softens skin, organic lavender oil, an anti-inflammatory, and organic peppermint oil which relieves irritation. Massage into dry elbows, knees, heels and anywhere your skin needs a little smoothing. It really heals and it smells great too. This three-step routine is easy to follow and can really save your skin this season. Check out these products and others at www.starkwaxingstudio.com.

hair that gets noticed

True story: I was waiting on line at the bank and a woman walked up behind me and said: "Wow! You have beautiful hair!" The day before, I had washed my hair with two new hair products, Redken Body Full Shampoo and Light Conditioner, proving that they do offer volume that lasts for 24 hours. The clear hair shampoo provides cotton (softens and detangles), wheat extract (adds texture, volume and body) and soy protein (reinforces hair to prevent breakage) for a fuller, voluminous look. It gives you a rich lather and leaves your hair smelling clean and fresh. The creamy conditioner is an ultra-lightweight detangler which contains soy protein to give hair bodifying strength. Plus, it's safe for your hair color and leaves hair with a natural-looking shine. See for yourself at www.redken.com or a local beauty supply store.