Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...and those of us holding the mascara wand.

After two decades of covering the beauty industry, I've come to learn what makes it so alluring. Finding the perfect shade of makeup to match your skin tone, adding a swipe of eyeliner to give your tired eyes a lift, discovering an innovative new product line, or indulging in a totally luxurious spa treatment. My experiences have been documented in magazines, newspapers and websites worldwide. I've tested newly formulated products in the lab, explored hair removal options, shopped for lipstick, added shine to my hair and succumbed to massage marathons--all in the name of beauty. I've written press releases, hosted makeover events and co-authored a Do-It-Yourself Beauty book (Alloy). On this blog, I write about products and services that I come across every day as well as those that have been provided by publicists or the companies that make them. Either way, I write what I think. I hope to share some of my insights--and bring you the latest, greatest beauty news right here. Join me in the quest to find all things pretty.


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

in condition


"Try it, you'll like it?" It's more like "Try it, you'll love it!" My hair has never looked or felt so good. I can't stop running my hands through it ever since I tried Wen® Cleansing Conditioner. It feels so silky soft that you feel like you should be hired to star in the commercial.

This is truly a revolutionary new concept in hair care. A 5-in-1 formula, this one product takes the place of your shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner. It cleanses hair thoroughly but without lathering and all the harsh ingredients that may be found in ordinary shampoos—it is designed so it won't strip your hair and scalp of their natural oils. Your hair is left with sheen, moisture, manageability and better color retention.

Celebrity stylist Chaz Dean created Wen®, an industry-changing product line that is the first ever to exclude ordinary shampoo. What sets Wen® apart from the rest is its cleansing conditioner, a single-step process that cleanses and conditions the hair simultaneously.

You won't believe it till you try it--so go to www.wenhaircare.com now to place your order.



Sunday, May 8, 2011

happy mother's day: luxe treats

The best mother's day gift also make great gifts all year long. These treats from Sara Happ are a perfect treat for moms who never take time for themselves.

The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ ($24), the original lip exfoliant, comes in great flavors like vanilla bean (shown here), almond creme, peppermint, brown sugar, cinammon sugar, cocoa and creme brulee, is designed to eliminate dry, flaky skin to leave lips ridiculously soft and supple. Just massage onto lips in a circular motion then wipe away with a tissue. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

The Lip Slip By Sara Happ ($24), otherwise known as one luxe balm, offers the richest, glossiest hydration imaginable. Wear it all day. Wear it overnight. Results are immediate. It's infused with Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Macadamia nut oils, with a polymer blend that took two years to perfect. Smooth onto lips after exfoliating. Wear it alone for universally appealing shine that brings out your lips' natural color, wear it over color for unbelievable shine, or put it on before bedtime and wake up to a plump, baby-soft pout.

Vanilla Bean Body Scrub by Sara Happ ($46) is silky, not greasy, hydrating, not oily, gentle enough to do no harm and tough enough to remove even the roughest dead skin. Kukui nut, macadamia and sweet almond oils that leave zero residue behind and sugar crystals get the job done right. Massage a generous amount onto wet skin using a firm, circular motion then scrub away. Rinse thoroughly and reveal smooth skin all over.

Go to www.sarahapp.com for more info.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

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.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

'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

Friday, April 22, 2011

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.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

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.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

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