Splurge Alert!

Ok, I do not leave the house without a rosy, blush-induced glow, but I’m very particular about the amount of shimmer and pigment. The line between glowing goddess and rodeo clown is a thin one as far as I am concerned. At long last, I have found blushes with the perfect balance of pigment, shimmer and texture – Nars! You’ve probably read about the aptly named Nars Orgasm Blush - yes, it's really that good - in In Style or Allure, but don't limit your horizons there. Nars offers a range of shades in powder or cream that mimic skins natural flush resulting in a look that’s you-enhanced. Nars shades are sheer, which gives you absolute control over your look and have great staying power so you won't have to constantly reapply. I love Nars Cream Blush in Cactus Flower – its bright orange hue is intimidating, but its shimmery pigment is actually very delicate, making it friendly to lots of skin tones, and gives a warm glow to summer bronzed skin. If powder blush is your poison, try Dolce Vita for fair skin or Exhibit A for darker tones. If you splurge on nothing else in your makeup bag, splurge here!

Save my Sole

I’m all about home maintenance projects. No, I don’t mean painting walls and trimming the shrubs. In an attempt to manage my budget and still look put together, I’ve been running my own personal spa, giving myself home manicures and pedicures, and even mini-facials in between occasional spa visits. I haven't quite been able to pedicure my feet to the smooth softness that my nail salon can, so I went in search of a tool that could help eliminate my dry skin. Now, I’d seen the commercials for the Ped-Egg and found them rather revolting – I mean who has THAT much dry skin on their feet and why is it necessary to collect it all in a little egg shaped doohickey!? Ew. Nonetheless, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to add the Dr. Scholl’s version, the Smooth my Sole microfile, to my aresenal. Beauty is all about sacrifice after all! Sadly, I was a bit disappointed! The Smooth my Sole microfile didn’t really seem to remove any of the dry skin on my heels and toes and the smoothing file didn’t make much difference either. This isn't to say that other ladies won't have great results, but personally I'd use the money for other products like Swissco’s Natural Pumice Stone and a healthy slather of Boots Botanics Foot Butter (both available at Target for about$7.50 total). Finish off with a fun, neon polish like Sally Hansen's Shrimply Delicious and voila! fabulous feet for about $1 a pedicure.

Cheap Tricks

I'm part Greek, so I think its almost a genetic predisposition that I love olives as part of any meal. We've also heard the medical community speak volumes about the benefits of olive oil's heart healthy fats over processed and hydrogenated oils. But did you ever consider olive oil's beauty benefits? Try using olive oil as a cleanser! "Isn't the point of cleanser to remove oil" you say? I know it sounds scary, but if your skin is irritated from summer sun, damaged by city spawned free radicals and stress related breakouts, olive oil could be just the thing to bring back your glow. First, remove your makeup with a simple remover like cold cream. Then, steam your face slightly by leaning over a running hot sink. Smooth on a tiny bit of oil and massage gently into your skin. Remove using a hot washcloth and follow up with a light moisturizer. The result is supple, clear skin. It has been suggested that the Mediterranean diet could help you live longer, and just maybe this regimen will help you bring out your inner goddess!

Ulta-mate Paradise

Sometimes stocking your vanity table can be a hassle – running to Bloomingdale’s to select a new blush from the Nars counter, then to Walgreen’s to pick up a fun eye shadow pallet to experiment with, and on to The Body Shop for some yummy body lotion. Wouldn’t it just be easier if there was a Bloomie’s-Walgreens-Body Shop hybrid for your makeup shopping convenience? Enter Ulta! If you haven’t already checked out this makeup lover’s paradise, I’m sorry to say you’ve been missing out! This cosmetics superstore carries everything you need to primp and prep for your summer fun. Check out the perfume aisle for anything from Pacifica Body Lotion to Chanel No. 5. The high-end makeup aisle presents brands like Lorac, Shiseido, Stila and Tarte. Save some coin by comparing your high-end color to more pocket-friendly brands like Revlon, L’Oreal and Covergirl or Ulta’s home brand living right across the aisle. Not only does this superstore carry a full arsenal of makeup products, you can find your face wash, ionic hair dryer, professional shampoos and even some personal care products that you’d long forgotten (like Freeman’s Sugar Scrub and Calgon bath products!). And with an in-house salon, you can complete your makeover in one sitting. Sign up for Ulta’s rewards program to receive coupons and special savings. Stop in or visit the website - http://www.ulta.com/ - trust me, you won’t regret it.

Hint of Tint

In the summer months, foundation can make your skin feel like its suffocating. Really, you probably don’t actually need that much coverage in the summer. Instead, try a tinted moisturizer. These products offer light coverage that you can customize by cutting with moisturizers and luminizers. Remember – it’s summer – show some skin!!


Cristal: Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer. Bobbi Brown offers high quality makeups that contain yellow undertones to produce a more natural look than other foundations and tinted moisturizers (which can be too pink-y for summer bronzed skin). Your skin will hardly notice this Tinted Moisturizer, but you’re eyes won’t believe how creamy and dewy your skin looks.

Signature Cocktail: Prescriptives Traceless Skin Responsive Tint with SPF 8. Prescriptives was a pioneer in the concept of light diffusion via a moisture packed base and light reflecting pigments to give the illusion of flawless skin with minimal work. Prescriptives unique formula is designed to blend right in resulting in an almost airbrushed finish.


PBR: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Tinted Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30. If you haven’t guessed, I am a huge fan of Neutrogena’s products, and this product is no exception. This product combines moisturizer with vitamin E to attack free radicals, sun protection to prevent skin damages and wrinkles and just the right amount of coverage to leave your skin glowing.

Cat’s Eye View

Cleopatra was the original beauty queen. Cosmetics have advanced quite a bit since those very early days, but her patented cat’s eye look has been spied for decades on the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Angelina Jolie, among other Hollywood A-Listers. Here's how to bring out your inner queen:

Dust a light shade on your lids like Covergirl Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in French Vanilla or Champagne. Close your eye and gently pull your lid toward the outer corner of your face with your opposite hand. Next, line the top lash line only using a good quality liquid liner beginning on the outside of your eye, starting about 1/8” past the lash line and sweeping inward and upward to meet the lash line (sort of like a sideways parenthesis). Continue the line toward the inner corner of your eye, working slowly to stay close to the lash line. I love Lancome’s version in Ice Black for a shimmery look, or try Noir or Blueberry for more drama. Finish with mascara, peachy blush and a nude lip to let your eyes do all the talking.

Mane Event

Keeping your hair color looking vibrant can be difficult in the summer sun. Harsh shampoos and UV rays can change hair’s natural (and not so natural) pigment leaving your hair dull and brassy. Hats and scarves are always a good option, but sometimes you want to let down your hair. To keep your color locked in, try these lightweight hair products that offer thermal or UV protection. Your hair will thank you!

Unwind: For a light, barely noticeable fix, try Fekkai’s Marine Summer Hair Beach Comber Leave-In Conditioner. This two-in-one lightweight conditioning spray works through tangles with the greatest of ease, offers UV filters to reduce fading and leaves hair feeling soft and manageable.

De-Stress: If weather and humidity stresses your tresses, try John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum. This silicon based smoothing gloss offers superb smoothing and de-frizzing, but offers extra protection against heat and UV damage that you won’t find in the traditional Frizz-Ease serum. A little goes a long way so use sparingly!

Cheap Tricks

To me, a trip to the nail salon is like a 30 minutes break from the daily grind. I just love my weekly trips to see Lily and have my tips shaped and polished. But sadly, manicures are also the first thing to go when I'm trying to cut costs since I'm fairly adept at painting my own nails. Still, its just not the same - I am usually in too much of a hurry to enjoy the same relaxation that the salon offers and I just don't have the same polish selection! As a compromise, I get a manicure every other month and in between full work-ups, I head to the salon for a polish change. This typically takes about 10 minutes and costs half the price of a full manicure, saving money, time and the aggravation of a DIY home manicure! Ah, a 10-minute vacation...

Bling Without the Ring

Sun and fun can take its toll on your manicure in summer months. It is time to put away the vampy polishes in favor of something as easy and breezy as a day at the beach. Here are some of my favorites:

OPI Princess Collection Nail Polish in “Princesses Rule”: This sheer, sparkling pink gives you a touch of sparkle at your finger tips and its clear base means its easy to touch up when you’re on the go.

Covergirl Boundless Color Top Coat in “City Lights”: This silvery-gold top coat adds a hint of sparkle. Wear alone or over your favorite polish to add that touch of glamour to your picnic in the park.

Essie Nail Polish in “Mademoiselle”: All this glitter a bit too daring? Stick with the classics and try his sheer pink formula. It flatters all skin tones and stays clean from the board room to the surf board.

To help that manicure maintain its beauty, use a moisturizing hand cream like Bigelow Dr. Hiosous Quince Hand Lotion. Its creamy texture and light scent are perfect to keep your hands soft and your manicure chip free all year.

The Fountain of Youth

Unless you’re the heir to a Greek shipping fortune, chances are that you can find better uses for your money than a teensy pot of wrinkle cream that costs as much as a month’s rent. The pursuit of eternal youth can get overwhelming with so many products claiming “revolutionary” cures and touting “patented” ingredients sure to keep you looking 22 at any age. The truth is, skin will age and all we can do it take good care of ourselves to look our best at any age. When selecting an anti-wrinkle regimen, repeat this mantra: If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it. Be realistic about what your skin needs – retinols and antioxidant serums can be harsh on healthy skin resulting in over-drying and irritation. Instead, try using a lighter anti-wrinkle cream for “preventative maintenance” or use a night cream with regular moisturizer in the morning to keep that youthful glow. My go to has been Nivea Anti-Wrinkle Q-10 Night cream. Nivea’s Q-10 products help restore youthful radiance by supporting cell growth and collagen production, keeping your skin resilient and soft without the harsh chemicals. After about two weeks I noticed a decrease in my smile lines and my skin felt springy and soft. Since everyone’s skin is different, here are a few other suggestions:

Cristal: Biotherm. Biotherm’s product line consists of a tiered approach recommending certain products based on age and desired result ranging from preventing the first signs of wrinkles at age 30 to lifting and firming to restoring skin density in your 50’s. The Age Fitness Night Power 2 cream gives great results without feeling too heavy or breaking the bank.

Signature Cocktail: Avon Anew. Avon's come a long way from the tiny lipstick samples and Christmas tree-shaped bottles. Avon’s Anew line offers anti-aging products and three-step skin systems targeted towards your skin’s unique concerns. Try the Anew Rejuvenate Day Revitalizing Cream to put some spring in your skin’s step.

PBR: Neutrogena. Neutrogena has claimed an unrivaled position in the beauty products market offering customized skin care without the expensive consultations. For wrinkle fighting, check out Ageless Essentials for wrinkle protection, Ageless Intensives for more concentrated wrinkle fighting, or Ageless Restoratives to support skin density and tone in mature skin.

Workin’ For The Weekend

You’ve made it through a hellish week and its time to blow off some steam. You’ve chosen the perfect outfit for your festivities. Shake it up and add a smoldering eye to that impeccible style. Follow these fool proof steps for a simple yet sultry eye and turn up the thermostat.

1. Apply eye shadow to lids. Be as daring as you like but select a shade that won’t overwhelm your eye color – think chocolate browns for blue eyes, plums for green eyes, and greys and blues for brown eyes. My favorite base for a smokey eye is Tarte's luucy, I'm home.

2. Apply liner in dashes along the top and bottom lash line. This gives you better control and helps avoid goof ups. Blend dashes using a spong tipped applicator. For small eyes, line the outer 2/3 of your eye. MAC and Covergirl produce superb gel based eye liners that glide on easily. For the more steady handed, try Stila Smudge Pots.

3. Dab highlighter or a white shimmery shadow into the inner corners of your eye and on your brow bone to create depth.

4. Finally, apply two coats of mascara and dab away any smudges carefully using a Q-Tip dipped in your moisturizer. Smokin'!

Cheap Tricks

It may seem a ‘twee bit out there, but Vaseline is probably the single most cost effective beauty product you can buy. That’s right, I said beauty product! Use it on your cuticles instead of expensive oils to keep them soft and neat. Rub a dab on your lash line for eye definition without the mascara. Skip the pedi and massage a dollop into your feet before you sleep (just be sure to wear socks so you don’t slip when you get up in the morning!). Smooth on your lips for a kissably soft pout. Pat a tiny bit on your lids instead of eye shadow primer. All this is just the tip of the iceberg! With all the money you could save by using Vaseline instead of 5 or 6 separate products, you can splurge on that new Guerlain bronzer.

Garden Party

There’s nothing more uniquely feminine than a signature scent that draws in the object of your affections like a moth to a flame. Of course, we can be fickle both in love and fragrance. That’s why I love Jo Malone fragrances. Inspired by nature’s unusual constituents like Vetyver, Gardenia or Fig, these lush fragrances evoke the feeling of a stroll through blooming gardens and exotic spice markets. Colognes can be worn alone for clean but unusual fragrance or layered together to create a custom fragrance to suit your mood. Like it spicy? Try Nutmeg & Ginger. For a fruitier burst, try Nectarine Blossom & Honey (mix with Nutmeg & Ginger to add some sass). If you’re more traditional, try the Red Roses or Tuberose versions (mix together for a romantic feel). Layer in White Jasmine & Mint to add a refreshing twist. Feeling overwhelmed? Have no fear. Jo Malone employs fragrance “stylists” to help you customize your signature scent and send you on your way with mix ‘n’ match samples just in case you change your mind. Just follow your heart (or nose) to your signature scent, be it a single note or a harmony.

Saving Face

Over the years, I’ve tried countless cleansers, searching for one that will deliver the suggested result of radiant, clean skin. There have been a few disappointments, but we won’t dwell on the past. IMHO, these cleansers deliver what they promise. I think you’ll find that it’s worth the investment - with skin this beautiful, who needs to waste money on foundation?

Cristal. Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser. The fragrance is a bit sharp and it is on the pricey side at $38/6 fl. oz., but just a tiny pump of this cleanser packed with Alpha-Lipoic Acid and DMAE goes a long way. Perricone delivers a cherry of a cleanser that miraculously reduces the look of pores, fine lines and blemishes like no other that I have tried. Use as part of your normal routine to rehabilitate stressed out skin.

Signature Cocktail. Origins Never A Dull Moment Cleanser. With papaya extract and a light gel-like lather, dead skin and impurities are gently sloughed away, reducing the appearance of pores and leaving your skin glowing. Origins is known for their use of natural ingredients, but did you know they will recycle your empty bottles from any cosmetics co. and treat you to a free sample just for acting with a conscience? Bonus!

PBR. Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Exfoliating Cleanser. Much like Origins, Aveeno makes products with a conscience and uses all natural ingredients to produce astounding results at wallet-friendly prices. This cleanser's gentle exfoliation ensures a deep clean while shitake mushroom extract supports skin regeneration to reduce the laugh lines and crow’s feet. For the money, this product can’t be beat.

Cheap Tricks

Summer heat and humidity can leave your skin looking damp rather than dewy. It can be difficult to avoid, especially if you live in a humid climate like I do. First off, if you can, skip the foundation in the summer. It melts in the heat and leaves you looking slimy. Now, I'm not saying you have to go totally bare - instead, try a light tinted moisturizer or loose powder (more on these coming soon). To get you started, here are a few inexpensive tricks to help combat the climate and keep you looking fresh.

The Multi-Tasker: After washing, use a gentle astringent to help remove excess oil. For summer, I love Dickinson's Witch Hazel. Witch hazel is an all natural astringent that will help cut excess oil but won't sting or irritate your skin. As an added bonus, it helps to soothe sunburns, mosquito bites and mild skin irritations that come along with summer camping and canoeing, and at $4.50 for a 16 ounce bottle, it won't break the bank.

The Grab 'n' Go: Ok, a bottle of astringent, moisturizer and makeup just won't fit in that new jute clutch. Reapplication is not an option when you're on the go. Instead, keep oil absorbing towlettes in your purse. These small packets barely take up any room, are travel friendly, and help keep your skin shine-free. I love Boscia's Blotting Linens. These are preservative free, absorb oil without smudging or removing your makeup, and come in a variety of scents to increase your feeling of freshness. Try the Green Tea for a cooling burst or the California Orange for an energizing touch. Clean & Clear and Sephora both have great versions too!

The Freebie: We love to swim and float in the pool or the ocean, but did you know it can help regulate your skin? Moisture is drawn out of the skin by humid air and exposure to the sun in the summer, which could result in increased oil production as your skin attempts to quench its thirst. I'm no doctor, but I can suggest a "cure" - hydrate! Drink plenty of water and take a few moments here and there to dab a cool compress on your T-Zone or to spritz your face with cool water. It won't be an instant change, but good habits give long term results. Remember, the objective here is look luminious, not lubricated!

Red is Not a Neutral

Nothing clashes with that cute summer dress and espadrilles like sunburned skin. Look, I'm all for a sun-kissed glow, but please PUT DOWN THE BABY OIL. Make sunscreen step one in your summer routine. Here are some of my favorites. Please up the SPF based on your skin tone.


Cristal: Clarins Sunscreen Soothing Cream Progressive Tanning lotion with SPF 20. This light weight, powder scented cream is gentle enough to use on your face and won't rinse off while you ride the waves.


Signature Cocktails: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock with SPF 55 and Coppertone Oil Free Sunblock Lotion with SPF 15. These beauties dry quickly and leave you feeling fresh, not greasy. Be sure to reapply after that cannonball.


PBR: NO-AD Sunblock Lotion in any SPF. You've seen this bottle kicking around your summer rental house or in your grandmother's medicine cabinet. It is inexpensive, absorbs quickly and comes in larger bottles to keep you protected all summer long.