happy father's day: ManUp!

If your husband is a minimalist when it comes to grooming--clips his nails regularly, uses thickening shampoo, shaves with Baribisol and lathers up with his trusty Irish Spring--this just may be the perfect Father's Day gift for you to give. Truman's Men's Groomers, a NYC-men's salon featuring hot shaves, massage, shoes shines, cigars and whisky, is offering a fun Father's Day MANUP contest.

New Yorkers are invited to nominate a dad most deserving of a grooming overhaul for a chance to win a Truman’s membership (value: $600). Just submit a photo and explain in 50 words or less why your dad, husband, brother, uncle or best friend needs to MAN UP! On June 8, Truman’s will select four runners-up to receive a Total Package – which includes a haircut, shave, 60-minute massage, Handshake Maintenance and a professional shoe shine. After-photos will be posted on Facebook, and fans will be asked to vote. The dad with the most votes will win the grand prize - a membership to Truman’s!

Check out the details of the contest on Truman's home page, I’ve attached a link to Truman’s home page http://trumans-nyc.com/fathersday_gifts.htm

expert advice: bath basics, from Patricia Pol of Weleda

Too warm? Too sudsy? Too slippery? Giving infants a bath may sounds easy but it can get pretty tricky at times. Weleda holistic skin care expert Patricia Pol, a certified doula and an infant massage practitioner, offers her tips for a safe, peaceful bath for your baby.

Once your baby’s umbilical cord falls away, he or she is ready for a bath in your brand new baby bath tub. You can have all the baby bath toys and baby bath accessories you like, but if the temperature's not right, it won't be fun for your little one. The right water temperature is key. Use only a little water at about 98 degrees, the temperature that closely matches that of a baby’s body and the secure environment of the womb. Since baby’s skin is sensitive, use a soft, organic cotton or flannel cloth in lieu of a rough washcloth. Add a few drops of Weleda Calendula Cream Bath ($17) to gently sponge bathe your little one and add a layer of protection to the skin.After bathing your baby, dry the skin well and use Weleda Calendula Baby Cream to prevent irritation in the skin’s sensitive folds. Both the Weleda Baby Cream and Weleda Calendula Oil (often easier to rub in than lotion), provide an extra layer of warmth and protection while keeping your baby’s skin moisturized and protected from environmental factors. Although keeping an infant’s skin clean is important, bathing a baby every two or three days issufficient, since daily bathing can destroy the skin’s natural pH level. Just wash your infant’s hands and face daily with plain, clean water. Stick to products made with 100% natural, plant-based ingredients and avoid mineral oils, which disturb your baby’s natural skin function. For more great info on making your kid's bath a great experience and to view other great Weleda products (like my favorite Calendula Diaper Care cream), visit www.weleda.com.

interview: Marissa Shipman, the brains behind theBalm

Hopefully, many of you tuned in tonight to watch theBalm Cosmetics CEO/Founder Marissa Shipman on MTV’s latest docu-series, “MTV Hired”. The episode followed the cult-favorite beauty brand as they searched for a new office assistant. In the callback interviews, the three final applicants were asked to pitch a new product idea to the staff of theBalm.

What's so great about theBalm that makes it MTV-worthy? It's a cool concept created by a really smart, makeup-loving gal--CEO/Founder Marissa Shipman. I love the chic, 1950-esque packaging (Bahama Mama), the cute comments in the compacts (Cabana Boy), the easily blendable tinted moisturizer (Balm Shelter) and the creamy feel of Read My Lips lipstick (especially in Classified, a very nude, natural-looking shade). I asked Marissa a few questions about her famous line...

Prettyisprettydoes: How did you come up with the concept and names for the line/products?
Marissa Shipman: "I bought 11 books on Amazon about how to make makeup. I could not read any of the recipes because they were all hard core chemistry – except one, lip balm – shea butter, beeswax and castor oil—hence, theBalm was born."

PIPD: Which is your favorite product and why?
MS: "This is like asking which child you like better. I love them all for different reasons. I can’t leave the house without timeBalm, though."

PIPD: Which one of your products is the most technically advanced or has the most unique formula and why?
MS: "What’s great about our For Keeps Watercolor Lip Stains is that you just wet your lip brush with a little water, dip it into the pressed-powder, and presto! You have a long-lasting stain that you paint onto your lips. Like watercolor paints, you can mix and match to create your perfect shade, and depending on how much water you use, you control how bold or subtle your look."

PIPD: What's the biggest bty blunder you've ever made personally?

MS: "Before we invented Stainiac, I used a cheek stain that didn’t give me enough time to blend before the stain set, and was left walking around with big dots on my cheeks. I don’t mind clowning around, but I do mind looking like one."

PIPD: What’s next for theBalm?
MS: "Lots of new products – but can’t get specific or everyone will do them." :)

expert advice: tips for choosing a sunscreen, from Rhea Grous, La Suite Skin Care

When it comes to the sun, protection is key. Rhea Grous, beauty guru and owner of La Suite Skin Care, offers this advice for choosing the right sunscreen and using it correctly.

1. USE A BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN WITH A MINIMUM SPF of 15. It covers all the spectrum of sun rays. Look for a product that has ingredients such as transparent zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are best for sensitive skin. (This is a physical sunscreen that reflects the sun). Some key chemical ingredients found in broad spectrum sunscreens are oxybenzone, avobenzone, and mexoryl (ecamsule). People with sensitive skin should avoid too many chemicals as they may cause irritation.

2. APPLY SUNSCREEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE AND REAPPLY EVERY TWO HOURS TO GET THE PROPER COVERAGE. In order to maintain the proper strength and coverage, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. Also, heat will deteriorate the efficacy of sunscreen, therefore reapplying is a MUST. To avoid compromising the potency of protection, don’t leave your sunscreen in hot places!

3. LOOK FOR ANTI-OXIDANTS (Vitamin C and E) - they increase protection! Many sunscreens today contain anti-oxidants to strengthen their effectiveness and to offer added protection against free radicals preserving the anti-aging process. When it comes to the face and neck areas, I recommend applying vitamin C serum separately (Skinceuticals is our favorite at La Suite), then apply sunscreen. It strengthens the immune system of the skin while making it twinkle. This layering process maximizes protection against aging, burning, and skin cancer.

4. LOOK OUT FOR ADDED INGREDIENTS THAT MAY IRRITATE SKIN - Some sunscreens may include too many chemicals (to achieve broad spectrum), fragrances, preservatives and other ingredients that may cause skin reactions, particularly for sensitive skin types.

5. WATCH FOR LABELS – Read carefully and be aware, all labels are NOT always factual! Look for water resistant products; if it says waterproof, it's not accurate as it can it can be washed off. Look for sunscreen, not sunblock – no product blocks uv sun rays, it screens harmful rays. (There is no bullet proof vest!) Watch out for all day protection. No sunscreen lasts all day – see #2 and reapply every 2 hours! (*Note - Physical sunscreen works by reflecting the sun and has less chemicals that may irritate sensitive skin; chemical sunscreen works by absorbing the sun and transferring it into heat.)

No matter which sunscreen you choose, follow these tips to sun safely for a healthy, happy summer. For more info on Rhea Grous or La Suite, go to www.lasuiteskincare.com.

national sun protection day: protect your skin from the sun with Anthelios

Today, Thursday, May 27th is National Sunscreen Protection Day. Why all the hype about lotioning up? Here are the facts:

~1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer.

~Skin cancer is the #1 cancer, topping breast, prostate and lung. 90% of early Melanoma can be cured, if caught early.

~Over 2 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year, worldwide. This figure is set to double between 2000-2015.

Feel like you're just sitting idly by doing nothing for the cause? To show your support, purchase the Limited Edition SOS SaveOurSkin Orange Ribbon Pin ($5) from La Roche-Posay and proceeds from each sale will help support the Women’s Dermatologic Society and SOS mission. Check out http://www.sossaveourskin.com/ and Share Your Story. You’ll help spread awareness and La Roche-Posay will help you protect your skin with an SOS gift certificate redeemable toward the purchase of any Anthelios product. My favorite: Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream, complete with Parsol 1789, Mexoryl SX and both UVA and UVB protection. The best part: It doesn't contain Vitamin A, often used as an antioxidant in sunscreens, which has recently been reported to increase the spread of melanoma. Other great Anthelios products to try: Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer ($29.95), Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for Body ($34.00) and Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for Face ($27.90). Go to http://www.laroche-posay.us/ to purchase your orange ribbon now.

expert advice: protect your skin from the sun, from dermatologist Dr. Neil Sadick

So you probably can't wait to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, right? Not so fast. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and there are some things you should know before exposing yourself to those harmful rays. Here, Dr. Neil Sadick, MD, FAACS, of Sadick Dermatology and Sadick Skincare, professor of dermatology at Cornell University Medical Center and the author of the new book Cosmeceutical Science in Clinical Practice, offers the five most important tips:

1. Abide by a new sunscreen law Sunscreen is the most important anti-aging product, says Sadick. And now, the way we buy it is about to change. The FDA is set to roll out a new star grading system stamped on the front of the bottle. Each product will be awarded 1 to 4 stars (4 being best), which rates how effective the product blocks or absorbs UVA rays—those stealth aging rays that cause damage below the skin’s surface. Additionally, the SPF rating, which measures UVB rays and how fast skin will burn, will remain on the bottles—that means you have 2 bits of important info to look for.However, no date has been determined for when the star rating system will start, though it’s likely to launch in 2011. That means, for now, your best bet is abide by the SPF rating and choose one labeled “broad spectrum,” which will battle both UVA and UVB rays, says Sadick.

2. Date your sunscreen. If not used within a year, the active ingredients (such as certain sunblockers and antioxidants) in many sunscreens can oxidize, rendering the product less effective. Make sure you label products with the date as soon as you buy. If, after a year, it’s still hanging out on your shelf, replace it.

3. Purchase a sunscreen containing antioxidants. Applying an antioxidant-packed sunscreen takes sun protection to the next level. When combined with sunscreen, antioxidants quench skin-damaging free radicals generated by UV rays and ease post-sun redness. Look for products containing powerhouse ingredients like vitamins C, E, coffee berry or pomegranate extract.

4. Use half the products in the AM. It’s easy to maximize potential protection before you step out the door—and, bonus, you can slash the number of products in your AM routine in half. UV rays, stress, pollution and other environmental aggressors team up to damage skin and cause wrinkles, which is why it’s important to apply protective products in the AM. In the morning, slather on a broad-spectrum sunscreen/antioxidant combo, and a moisturizer containing a detoxifying agent (look for ingredients like alpha longoza complex in the Dior Capture Totale product line).

5. Self-check your skin. Anyone can get skin cancer anywhere. That’s why we all need to routinely complete a full-body self-check, says Dr. Sadick. The ABCDE of Melanoma is a good guide to learn how to spot suspicious and potentially dangerous moles. When inspecting each mole, take into consideration these five points: A: Asymmetry B: Border C: Color D: Diameter E: Evolution. If any of these seem “off” (such as a mole is abnormally shaped), then it’s important to make an appointment with your dermatologist right away.

every day is mother's day: give her roses

Mother's Day may be behind us but moms still appreciate a little extra pampering every now and then. Lavera comes through with its Wild Rose Cleansing Milk ($18), a soothing cleanser that gently removes makeup, leaving skin feeling refreshed and youthful. Use it morning and night to cleanse and refresh. Another great indulgence: Wild Rose Moisturizing Day Creme ($25), a light, nourishing creme that gives dry, mature skin a radiant, healthy glow to dry plus lasting hydration. Once her skin is in great shape, she'll want to show it off. Treat her to Lavera's great makeup products. Try the super smooth (and fruity!) lipgloss, the long-lasting, columizing mascara and transparent Loose Powder in a convenient shaker tub. All available at select Target stores nationwide and www.lavera.com.