N.Y.C. Color's lipsticks for Fall, from their Metro Metals collection, give you glam lips for less than the cost of a sandwich.  the Lip Lustre Lipstick $2.99 is surprisingly hydrating, silky and nice to wear. "Garnet" gives your lips a moist, metallic, berried finish that surprisingly, flattered everyone who tried it. 'Amber" is a very soft, golden color, that I liked with a slick of vanilla-scented  Lip Lustre Lip Gloss $2.99. Worn by itself, gives lips a sheer,  golden touch with tons of shine but punches up the color of your other, favorite lip products, too. The packaging is no frills, but the products mirror the designers, for a lot less.

I first fell in love with Korres products when I was in Japan, staying at a posh hotel. But Korres is actually a Greek company that creates lovely hair, body and face care products with highly concentrated natural active ingredients. Keep your lips looking and feeling healthy, with Cherry Oil Lip Gloss $16.00, a wanded tube that dispenses a naturally-looking, pink-ish gloss that has cherry and jojoba oils to hydrate and soften your lips, plus antioxidant Vitamins E and C. The color is noticeable, but "nude," so you can slick on a coat, and feel "polished" without too much fuss. For a great, moist,  lip balm, we like Korres Lip Butter $9.00 in "Guava."  All the Lip Butters have shea butter to moisturize. Guava is clear, but there are three others with a hint of sheer tint.  The highly effective balm is a treat for girls and boys.

The newest look on the runways (other than deep lips) was a nearly nude lip. IsaDora Moisturizing Lip Gloss $12.00 gives you this great look, for much less. Their launched "Bare Beauty," collection for Fall is full or wearable colors in neutral shades that work with all skin tones such as "Mocca Pink"–this lovely, wanded lip gloss in a slim, squared-off tube colors with a semi-sheer wash of nude gloss that is neither too "egg-y" or too brown. Worn alone, it wont sabotage your chic-ness factor. It simply tones down pink-ish lips to a chic flesh color that looks modern. The shine factor is modest, but moist and the feel is as silky and luxe as higher prices glosses. I like the way this makes my lips feel pampered and conditioned. If you want to go "bare" this season, this is the way to do it without breaking the bank.

Rimmel London Shock Gloss $5.50 has everything you want in a super-shiny gloss:  a silky, "no goop" formula,  sheer color, wet-look shine, and an easy way to apply it perfectly with a flexible "spatula" instead of a sponge or brush tip.  One swipe of this applicator will coat lips, effortlessly. The gloss is also good for your lips, with antioxidants Vitamins A, C and E,  and Green Tea Extract.  The shocking pink cap adds an eye-catching note and helps you locate it in the recesses of your handbag. We tried "Intense," slightly lilac in the tube but nearly clear on lips--what these glosses do best is help create a sexy, pouty look.  Wear them over a deeper lip product if you want sexy shine, but more color.   There's also A cherry and a pink. A good value for a good gloss.

Purple and plum were are "must-have" colors again this year.  Bobbi Brown has made mauve, modern, to give us all a taste of color that's actually flattering and wearable. I love her new, limited edition Mauve Face Palette $55.00. The face-in-a-case kit has everything you need to meet the season in style, with new, exclusive,  cool, mauve-colored products for lips, eyes and cheeks.  Inside Bobbi Brown's signature, square, shiny, black mirrored compact are three  powder eye shadows in light mauve (Navajo), medium mauve (vintage) and deep, browned-mauve (chocolate mauve), plus three lipsticks-- a creamy lip color of soft, light mauve (dusty mauve), a medium-tinted, slighted rosed Lip sheer in "Mauve," and a lovely, berried, Lip color called "Vintage Mauve."  There's also a generously-sized powder blush  in "Mauve" with enough pink in color to keep you from looking like "70's Angels." This palette makes wearing mauve, marvelous! It's a must-have for Fall.

We became instant fans of celebrity makeup artist Julie Hewitt and love her multi-tasking  luxe, mirrored makeup palettes. They are striking squares of black cardboard with magnetic closures. Pull off the Japanese-inspired ivory and black "kimono" print wrappers,  held fast with a single red dot and find makeup color inside that are modern and trendy, but not so outrageous that you’d have trouble figuring out how to wear them. The colors are not only beautiful, they are of the highest quality --long lasting , true to color, and easily blendable. Earth toned neutrals are a staple of Fall. The pressed powder Soiree Palette $40.00 does neutrals without being bland. Four large squares of silky pressed powder come in warm and cool shades of beige, a soft goldenrod which can be used to define, or line as well as a lid color, and an inky brown/grey that will make the perfect dramatic eye, or an effortless powder liner. The multi-tasking, creamy and shimmery  Boudoir Palette $48.00 is also earth-inspired, but this palette has two colors that are "cheekies" (cheek and lip shine) and the other two are "shimmies" (face, eyes, lips and body).  All can be layered for more color, mixed, matched, and used wherever you want them.  Inside you'll find "Vampire," and of-the-moment, sheer merlot stain for lips that you might wear on lids, too, and as a trendy blush. "Natural"  is a pure medium flesh, shiny and warm, and universally flattering wherever you choose to smooth it. "Cleo," is stunning for a touch of glam. It's a super-shimmery copper that add a bit of the Midas touch to anything and everyone. Ditto, "Goldie," a pearly, glimmery,  silvery bit of glamour to wear alone, or over something else to make it more lovely. This palette is a perfect travel companion, to take you from day to evening, New York to L.A.

Eye Couture $44.00 by Tarte is a limited-edition day-to-night eye palette. It's the type of product that is already fantastic because the products themselves are so good, but it's made even better by absolutely gorgeous packaging.  This luxe palette of 10 pressed-powder shadows will give you everything you need for day and night looks this season, but the "compact" is a stunner! See the Product of the Week Review on the Advice Sisters Blog.  TV's aren't the only thing "High Def" these days. EmphasEYES High Definition Eye Pencil $18.00 helps you have that "smoldering" eye look more easily, with a super-slim "swivel-up" pencil that self-sharpens. It's formulated with a patented silicone system that creates a creamy, long-wearing pencil gentle (and slim) enough to line even the sensitive inner rims of your eyes without fear. The dermatologist-tested pencil won’t irritate eyes, either. Skinvigorating™ Ingredients (good for your skin) include: palm oil,  antioxidant Vitamins A & E, aloe leaf extract, and mineral pigments. The pencils are free of parabens, preservatives, mineral oil and phthalates.  The colors are rich, intense and beautiful: black, brown, plum, and a very gorgeous emerald green. For those who love liquid, the Indelible Wink Liquid Liner & Shadow $22.00 gives you an intense, edgy eye in an all-in-one compact. The top holds a sponge-tipped deep shadow, the bottom, a fine-line brush/liquid liner. The combos include: black, brown, plum and charcoal. TIP: 1. Starting at the inner corner of the eye, line your upper lid with the liquid liner—keeping the liner tip as close to the lash line as possible. 2. Using the powder liner tip, gently retrace over the liquid liner—this will smooth, set and blend the line. Top off any eye look with Tarte's Lash Hugger Mascara $18.00. A truly eco-friendly, natural mascara that's housed in a metalized tube composed of post-consumer recycled aluminum.  The mascara has a natural formula but it still has Tarte's skinvigorating™ ingredients. Another bonus is that the eco-friendly tube is super light--wonderful for travel and purse. The mascara itself performs beautifully, as you'd expect from high quality Tarte Products, making lashes long, thick, and sexy without clumping or flaking. This is a must-have for Fall and all year round.

IT Cosmetics, new to our reviews this column, was co-founded by Jamie Kern Lima. She used her television industry experience (from applying body make-up while appearing on the television show Baywatch, to using make-up to accentuate her legs, breasts and stomach muscles while competing for Miss USA, to applying anti-aging and energizing make-up tricks to appear more youthful and energetic while working as a television news anchor for several years) to produce makeup "kits" that give consumers all-inclusive information and products to re-create a specific look. We tried the Eyes of Seduction Eye Sculpting Kit $69.00 *plus shipping.  Along with a full color pamphlet/guide and a slim, mirrored compact with a dozen small rounds of water/sweat resistant pressed powder eye shadows in neutral shades are seven more products that help you pull eye looks together:  a wrinkle filling primer with antioxidants, black liquid eye liner, black/white dual-sided eye pencil, lash primer, black mascara, a small jar of eye base, criss-cross false eyelashes with tube of glue. I really like the "all inclusive" idea, not just for economy's sake, but also because all the shopping and coordinating is done for you in advance so you have everything you need to re-create the looks. This is particularly important for fashion-oriented women who want to look great, but don't really know the techniques. The diagrams for various types of eye looks in the pamphlet are easily understood, although I would have liked actual photos for placement of the products.  And, although the sheer amount of products suggested for each look might not make it easy to get out of the house on time each morning, practice and mastery of these different techniques could yield great results. The eye shadow palette alone is advertised for $32.00 on the web site.  All of the items included in the kit are of decent quality, and the cost actually works out to a reasonable, average per-item price --especially if you want to build an instant eye-arsenal/toolkit.

Supermodel and spokesperson, Kate Moss can be all business, but her lovely, new scent, Kate by Kate Moss Eau de Toilette $68.00 3.4 oz., $52.00 1.7 fl. oz., Shower Gel $32.00 6.6 oz., and Body Lotion $28.00 6.7 oz. by Coty Prestige surprised me. It's really super-girly, and yet quite modern. It has something for everyone and will appeal to everyone from younger Kate Moss fans, to any woman who is feminine, but also modern and possibly (like Ms. Moss) with a potentially "edgy" side.  Designed by perfumer Nathalie Lorson of Firmenich, a top note of forget-me-not, is blended with pink peppercorns and orange blossom absolute.  A heart of romantic flowers includes lily of the valley, heliotrope, magnolia, peony and rose petals.  You'd think this would make a super-flowery, sweet scent, but somehow,  it manages to stay spicy, light and sexy--a true "scent of a woman,"  with the warmth of spicy and sensual notes such as patchouli, sandalwood, musk, vetiver and ambrette seed.  I try not to read all of the press materials before I sniff a scent for myself and make my own judgment (it's a bit like not seeing the movie before you read the book). I immediately thought of Ms. Moss:  a bit woman, a bit wild, a  bit businesswoman, a lot beautiful, and sensational.  I guessed correctly, as the  press literature says the scent: "it echoes Kate’s charismatic, seductive and sensual beauty while hinting at her edgy, sometimes wild approach to life. The ‘duality’ of her character, the silent beauty, the independent self-confident, the avant-garde fashion leader."  I really like the bottle too, designed by Lutz Herrmann.  it's a substantial, rounded, tapered chunk of clear glass with a tapered, fluted black top that looks like it could be from "grannies" dressing table, but made sleek and modern with angular sides, with unusual, rounded black letters spelling out "Kate Moss" without any fanfare on the middle of the bottle. This is a universally flattering scent that will make Kate Moss fans run to the store, but every woman will feel comfortable wearing this lovely scent.

Badgley Mischka makes amazing evening fashions. I had a backstage and front-row seat for their runway show  several years ago, when the duo had just made a comeback collection for Fashion Week. Elegant designs made for movie stars seem to be their focus, even though they do have some fashions for the rest of us. Not surprisingly, Badgley Mischka Parfum $225.00 1 fl.oz; $90.00 3.4 fl. oz. Eau de Parfum spray, $65.00 1.7 fl. oz, $45.00 1 fl. oz (also a body lotion and body cream), was inspired by the look and feel of 40's glam in Hollywood “vintage with a modern twist” according to the press literature. The scent is a classic fruity floral, starting with top notes of red wild berries, fresh peach, and creme de cassis. The heart is floral: jasmine, white peony, and osmanthus flowers. These could make a fragrance feel very sweet or overly romantic, but the drydown adds a modern, designer touch: sandalwood, suede musks, caramel amber and patchouli fur mystique give it a glamorous, interesting character. The fragrance is not too heavy. it's the type of scent that will change on your skin over time, making it yours, alone. The bottle is a modern take on a classic, rectangular glass, highlighting the amber juice.  Nice touches are an elongated, angular glass cap accented with a silver bezel,  and an elegant, engraved nameplate.

Actress and singer Jessica Simpson has grown up quite a bit in the past few years, and her newest scent, called Fancy $59.00 3.4 oz. Eau de Parfum spray, $49.00 1.7 oz. (also a body lotion) reflects her wisdom about what girly-girls, want. The new, feminine scent was created by perfumer Alexis Dadier of Mane Paris and developed with Parlux Fragrances and the Camuto Group.  Her latest, feminine scent was created by perfumer Alexis Dadier of Mane Paris and developed with Parlux Fragrances and the Camuto Group. I would be that Ms. Simpson had a real hand in creating this since the scent is classified in the press information as a “floriental,” but my personal opinion it's a true gourmand scent that is reminiscent of  her “Desert” line of “edible” scented products. The fragrance is sensual, playful and feminine, but with enough seriousness to make it appropriate for adults and not just Jessica Simpson's younger fans (target audience being 15-35 year-olds).  The overall feeling is delicious--good enough to eat. What hooked me on first sniff was the smell of almonds and caramel, nestled in the heart of this blushing pink fragrance. The scents starts with notes of sparkling pear and juicy apricot nectar, plus red fruits, but you don’t really notice them. It’s the romantic heart that wins mine:  dewy gardenia mixed with night blooming jasmine, toasted almonds and caramel.  At the base is creamy sandalwood infused with amber crystals and warm vanilla.  No matter how long this fragrance stays on your skin, it smells good, even as it softens.  If the scent is a sensual delight, so is the bottle. The outside packaging has a muted soft pink cardboard sleeve festooned with a vintage floral design worthy of Maxims in Paris, in gold. One side features a photo of a smiling Ms. Simpson in soft-focus . The sleeve reveals a pink, gold and white box with a similar design (minus Jessica Simpson’s photo).  The chunky, round bottle features accents of pink gold (unusual!) And the vintage-y floral design delicately reproduced in pink gold foil.  There is an embossed, tiny floral collar in pink gold around the neck of the bottle, topped by a voluptuous, smooth, shiny, round pink gold cap.  Even if someone doesn’t like the scent, the bottle is just stunning for a dressing table!  TIP:  tie-ins with Sony re:  Jessica’s new album (out September 9^th) along with her best-selling styles of her shoes at Macy's.

Love them or loathe them, David and Victoria Beckham are superstar celebrities and they have made it their business to always be the epitome of fashion.  Signature, their new "His & Hers" fragrances, express the “passions that exist within every successful couple's relationship,” say the Beckhams: “ The duo fragrances celebrate our individuality but also conveys the strength of our partnership."  Signature For Her Eau de Toilette Spray $52.00 1.7 fl. Oz; $62.00 2.5 fl. (also a Shower Cream, Body Lotion and a Deodorant Spray), is classified as a “fruity floriental.”  Designed by perfumer Sylvie Fischer from Takasago, the classification is correct: it’s a nicely balanced blend that a playfulness, along with a more sophisticated, chic side.   The top notes are pure fun: spicy Anise mixed with a very bright, candy apple. A romantic but chic, floral heart bouquet of Orchid & Heliotrop add a womanly vibe. The drydown of vanilla, patchouli, amber and musk, evokes Victoria’s sexier but still “Posh” Spice Girls days.  I didn’t see the actual bottle or packaging of this one, although I would have liked to. So I’ll have to rely on the press literature (sorry): “ a beautifully finished glass flacon encasing a delicate pink liquid and topped by a striking metal cap is the perfect blend of timeless elegance and contemporary chic, echoing Victoria's own celebrated style.  The hint of a precious orchid on the reverse of the glass bottle adds a special signature finishing touch.  Both Beckham bottles have a distinctive, silver plaque with the DVB crest.” *see the review of Signature for HIM in the “Just for the Guys” section of this column. 

Ed Hardy has turned tattoo art into high fashion not just with clothing, but with “his and her” fragrances: Ed Hardy for Men and Ed Hardy for Women $55 1.7 oz , $75 3.4 oz. The men’s package has a close-up of the face of a snarling tiger on a field of black. The women's fragrance features a hot pink background, a skull, heart and roses, and a banner with:  "love kills slowly.” Even if you still think “tats” are still just for sailors on a drunk, these tattoo-inspired scents will please you.  The fragrances were designed by two different “noses” at Givaudan. Perfumer Caroline Sabas created a fruity floral for  Ed Hardy for Women At the top, there is the fresh and fruity , young-at-heart scent of apple, grapefruit, strawberry and mango. The heart is a romantic, feminine freesia. the base includes a significant vanilla and a bit of amber. While the overall scent is fruity, the base notes and freesia make it unusual and modern. My general sense is that while it really is meant for a younger crowd of hipsters, this is an easy fragrance to wear with work duds, as well as  leather, studs and (of course),  tattoos. **to see the review of Ed Hardy’s Men’s scent, scroll to the Just For the Guys Section of this "What Works" column. 

Airline restrictions, small purses, and the desire to carry scent with me wherever I go has made me a huge fan of the rollerball fragrance. The La Vanilla Eau de Parfum Rollerball $18.00 .32 fl. oz for example, is an inexpensive but lovely option that features LaVanilla’s lovely vanilla-centric fragrances in an elegant, slim, squared-off column of clear glass with shiny silver top. The rollerball applicator delivers just as much or as little scent as I want, in a clean and easy application that won’t leak or break in my bag. There are five different vanilla-with scents, but each is created 100% active botanicals, with essential oils, 30 essential vitamins and minerals, 19 amino acids, and antioxidants, plus soothing willowherb, and hydrating olive leaf . These are not only good to smell, they’re good for your skin. I tried the "Vanilla Grapefruit" blend, at once invigorating and sexy-smooth, with notes of Grapefruit, Bergamot, Lime, Orange, Cedarwood, Heliotrope, Madagascar Vanilla. There is also a Pure Vanilla, and Vanilla Blossom (florals mixed with Vanilla). All smell decadently delicious!

I have smelled literally hundreds of new fragrances this year. I can discern specific "notes" in most fragrances, and often I think: "if only it had a little more of...and a little less of..."  Now I can be my own perfumer, and create not just one unique scent, but up to a dozen, thanks to a Bramble Berry Do It Yourself Perfume Kit $24.95.  Read the review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

 

 

Advice Sisters Fall Giveaway!  ENTER TO WIN THESE SILVER EARRINGS BY TWISTED SILVER: CLICK HERE!  

 

 

There's a bit of a chill in the air. You want to cover up with something more fashionable than a simple sweater, but Pashminas seem so "last year."  The Shoul $39.00  by Causal Essentials is the perfect answer, combining the grace and easy of a shawl, with the comfort and coverage of a sweater.  The soft, lightweight wrap has a ribbed panel with vertical lines around the lower edge for eye appeal, and it feels like a kitten soft cashmere (it s actually a lightweight washable, acrylic knit).  What I like so much about this is that the clean lines and simple design will work with just about everything you own, and comes in basic colors: Black, Tan, Off-White, Red, & Dark Brown. What makes the Shoul so great is that it is designed to stay on your shoulders, almost as if you wrapped the arms of a sweater around them. You can also wear it around your waist when you don't need the extra warmth, or tie the sides together in front as you would with a sweater, or wrap them around like a scarf, if you wish. This one-size-fits-all cover-up is great for pregnant women whose regular sweaters are no longer a good fit, and for women of all ages and sizes who want an easy, simple, inexpensive, stylish, no-fuss way to ward off the cold.  It also packs flat for travel and stays neat and folded with it's own handy metal clip. In these days of no-frills travel, you can use your folded Shoul as a makeshift pillow, too! I'm taking mine everywhere, now.

Are you a bag fan (who isn't)? Your purse collection might be taking up all the space in your closet, but when you see the super-versatile, Lexi Black Scroll top Zip $54.00 by Tamara Handbags, you might be tempted to throw out some of your old bags and just use this one.  Whether you love shoulder bags, clutches, or wristlets, you won't have to choose, because the Lexi Black Scroll Top Zip is mighty!  It has a pretty black and white scroll-work design on canvas with leatherette trim. The slender shoulder strap detaches to make a clutch or a wristlet. At just  12.5"L x 1.5"W x 5.75"H  it is the perfect bag for daytime if you don’t need to carry a lot of stuff around.  You can even pop the entire thing into larger tote or briefcase. Although the bag is small, it has big-time features, including a top zipper closure (to easily reach your money at the club);  an inside zippered pocket (for credit cards and ID); a modest inner space for makeup and cell phone, and a hot pink lining, for fun, girly, appeal. Empty, it’s flat enough to put into your suitcase without crushing or creating bulk. Tamara Freedman worked for Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren before she began creating her own company. Her bags are all named in tribute to special women in her life. They've been seen in Lucky, Teen People, US Weekly, and E! Entertainment Television. Soon, they'll also be seen--on you!

Exotic-looking Raquel Roysdon is a beauty in her own right, but her House of Raquel jewelry items, crafted of semi-precious, beads and crystals, are beauties, too.  Designer costumer jewelry is the hot item for fall. Raquel's well crafted pieces are unique and reasonably priced, yet they still feel like one-of-a-kind and not department store clones. Read the Advice Sisters Blog Review

The Pink Bag Wedding Day Survival Gear Bag by Minimus may not help you find your handsome prince or ensure living happily ever-after, but it will guarantee a more stress-free wedding day. This all-in-one wedding kit features a re-useable, washable, bright pink polyester tote bag that you can use for the honeymoon later on. Inside are a whopping 39 total products that will cover just about any emergency a bride and her attendants (not to mention moms and dads) might need on wedding day. These are not romantic or glamorous. They're little things that you may take for granted--until you need them. Alas, without this kit you might already be at the ceremony or reception site. We think this is a must-have, and made it a product of the week on the Advice Sisters Blog.  Read the Advice Sisters Blog review.

Twisted Sister is a rock band, but Twisted Silver is something completely different.  It's a line of jewelry (it even has it's own blog) featuring chic, fun, and amazingly affordable, cutting edge designs by Debra Mitchell, a wife and mother who has fashion experience and a love of unique things. "Twisted" items have appeared in Grammy and other gift bags, and on the Style Network's  "How Do I Look?" with Finola Hughes. Fans include Oprah Winfrey, Maria Shriver, Melanie Griffith, and Tyra Banks (to name a few), The designer keeps things affordable by working in a variety of mixed basic metals such as  brass, copper and aluminum. Some designs are even convertible (e.g. a necklace becomes bracelet).  The web site features one product each week that is 50% off (launches of new designs are also discounted). The Advice Sisters were lucky enough to receive some Twisted Silver to review. My favorite piece is a "7"  7-piece bangle bracelet $50.00 in brass metal . it was As seen in the June issue of Lucky Magazine.  There are thin, decorative rope bangles, and bolder, slightly textured, flat bangles, two of which feature a round "pet ID"- type tag that proclaims: "Twisted."  The fun thing about this one is that the bangles are chained together with large links, so they're really one piece!   It reminds me of a magic trick (linking rings) that my dad used to perform for us, but this bracelet "performs" a fashion function: Gypsy Woman-meets- City Girl.  The look is "boho" and the tinkling sound will make you the hit of the club!  I also love the Diva Necklace $50.00. Three delicate, filigree brass "flowers" let the beauty of your own skin tone shine through, giving this ladylike necklace  the look and feel of a temporary tattoo. One of the three filigree disks is captured in the bar and link chain to hang at the side of your neck, the other two, dangle, along with around "pet ID" - type tag that proclaims: "Twisted." There are lots of silver earrings in the world, but I've never seen any quite like Twisted Silver's Lithe Long Silver $40.00 earrings. These are truly an example of: "less is more."  Two very thin oblongs of silver-plated brass are held together with a slightly larger, matte, silver-plated brass links. These look like feathers, dangling softly from  super-slim ear wires. If your hair is short they won't overpower, but they also won't get lost in long hair. These are so simple, and yet,  amazingly eye-catching.

One day, while waiting for her a NYC subway train, actress Lynne Lambert was admiring the subway signs with their big colored circles, numbers and letters realized that these would make unique, fashion statements. So, under exclusive license from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority,  a line of  T-Shirts, accessories and other apparel were created that bring the fabulous subway symbols into the realm of men and women around the world. Fans include  everyone from President Bill Clinton to the rapper “Fabolous.”  NYCSL products have  been featured in: “WWD,” “In Style,” “YM,” “Cosmo Girl,” “New York Magazine”  (to name a few), plus music videos , MTV, VH1, MUN2 and BET.  Even better, when you purchase NYC Subway Line products, royalties from the sale of the NYC Subway Line products go to support the NY Transit Museum.  There are so many cute things on the web site it's hard to choose just one.  There are accessories and items to suit everyone's taste.  One item I think it universally wonderful whether you're going back to school, or just want a durable, eye-catching, fashionable bag to take you from work to weekend, is the NYC Subway Line Metro Bag $21.50. The unisex design features a classic, messenger bag made of rugged,  water-resistant, woven  black, white, brown,  pink or orange polyester.  The large front flat with a velcro closure that runs the entire length of the flap (so nothing falls between the cracks) features an embroidered NYCSL Subway Line Logo with "subway" symbols in yellow, blue and grey, on black and white. There's a little, velcro  pocket on the side of the bag that will hold a slim cell phone (the Blackberry Pearl will fit, for example).  Inside the bag, lined with -black nylon (featuring a subtle design of the NYC subway system) there are several additional pockets:  a large pocket with velcro closure, a roomy interior pouch, and a zippered section large enough to hold notebooks or file folders. There's also a wide, adjustable shoulder strap to carry everything, easily. 

The Hindu word: “Mandala is used as a generic term for any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically. The designs are a microcosm of the Universe, as we see it. Mandalas are also used to focus one's attention in meditation, and as a spiritual teaching tool.  These beautiful designs are the feature of items from Mandinez.com, new to our reviews this column. The company has 14 beautiful, original, mandala designs that they use to decorate very luxuriously soft,  100% certified organic cotton items. Read the Advice Sisters Blog review!

  Wearing one of jewelry designer Staci Caporuscio’s Famous Faces beaded bracelets from Pink Pooch Designs is really having a piece of wearable art. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but Ms. Caporuscio has managed to turn thousands of beads into a "photo" image of the likes of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elvis Presley and Audrey Hepburn, as well as more modern day celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Miley Cyrus. The hand-crafted bracelets are so astounding in person, I was nearly speechless when I saw the Marilyn Monroe Bracelet $127.00 Read the Advice Sisters Blog review.

The "Jigsaw" design Artisan Slant Tip Tweezer $20.00 by Japonesque may seem at first to be a bit of a splurge.  You can get drugstore tweezers for just a few dollars, after all. But these aren't  just functional tweezers, they're a work of art. The design is a riot of hot pink, green, yellow, and blue "jigsaw" puzzle pieces that smoothly coats substantial, stainless steel with a deep, rich enamel finish. Smooth to the touch and easy to grip, the hand-filed precision tip is slanted for ease of use, so you will more easily pick up whatever it is you are aiming for without a struggle. The tweezer comes with it's own, black fabric travel pouch, too.  Using a tweezer isn't usually all the enjoyable. It might not be any less painful to tweeze, but at least with the Artisan Slant Tip Tweezer it's a little more fun. This small investment will pay dividends for a long time!

I have always loved reading about romantic heroines who keep their skin lovely, youthful and soft by wearing cotton socks and gloves to bed. It may sound frivolous, but it works. The thing is...who wants to wear icky socks and old gloves when they’re cuddling up with their cutie? Spa Sister’s Moisture Enhancing Gloves & Socks $7.70/pair make moisturizing in the midnight hour, acceptable. The 93% cotton and 7% spandex coverings for hands and feet are thin softly stretchy, and comfy but they are so adorable you won’t feel silly wearing them to bed. Who could resist a woman wearing sweet little gloves and socks in white, pink, lavender, celery or a variety of prints? The one with hearts, kisses, and expressions of love in different languages will make you into a genuine, romantic --one with soft, smooth skin!  Simply slather on your favorite moisturizing cream and slip on the gloves and socks before you retire for the night. The moisturizing creams will penetrate into your skin while you sleep, giving new meaning to the term beauty sleep. You’ll awake with softer skin an clean sheets! Hand wash the gloves and socks in cold water with a mild soap, lay them flat to dry, and they’ll be ready for continued use. These would make a lovely gift for a new mom, for your mom, for a friend, or for yourself, just because. TIP: if you have a sleeping partner that objects to your beauty treatments---say you're "cold." 

Super-white teeth are all the rage these days, but personally, I’ve never been able to tolerate wearing a gooey mouthpiece or whitening strips for long.  But toothpaste is something I use every day anyway, so a whitening toothpaste is less intimidating even if the results aren't quite as dramatic.  So  I was excited to try iwhite Toothpaste $6.99 by Sylphar. The multi-whitening action of this toothpaste helps remove surface stain and maintain teeth that have been professionally whitened, but it’s gentle, and won’t destroy your tooth enamel in the ultimate quest for pearly whites. I noticed that my teeth looked brighter after just one brushing--surface stains were lifted quite a bit. The toothpaste even helps to protect your teeth from cavities and keeps your breath,  fresh. The white paste is peppermint-y, but not overpowering.  What you can’t taste or see is the active ingredients in a special matrix, that help the paste penetrate for effective cleaning (the best reason to use a toothpaste in the first place) while it protects and gives you everyday whitening bennies. If you love coffee or red wine, or you haven’t given up those cigarettes yet, iwhite Toothpaste can keep your natural teeth looking their best, and help protect your investment if you’ve already whitened your teeth. The toothpaste is the last step in creating a brighter, whiter smile. TIP:  iwhite has a unique light-activated whitening tray system for at home use, and a maintenance stick, should you wish to investigate them.

Elgydium®  (the leading toothpaste in France for the last three decades), used to be available only in Europe and in boutique pharmacies. You'd also get a sample if you traveled first class on British Airways.  But now, the company (as SANTÉ active Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Laboratoires Piere Fabre, France) is available in the United States and online.  We tried two of their toothpastes:  Elgydium® Anti-Cavity Tootpaste $6.00 3.5 oz. and Elgydium® Whitening  Toothpaste $6.99 3.5 oz. Both come in clean-looking, white tubes with dark blue and grey accents. The pastes are silky and pleasant on the tongue and teeth, each feels tingly, fresh and minty in your mouth.  The Whitening Toothpaste contains micro-pulverized sodium-bicarbonate--Baking Soda is it's more plebian name.  But this type is five times smaller than typical sodium bicarbonate.  This allows it to penetrate into even the tiniest fissures in the enamel of your teeth, to really ensure thorough a cleaning and whitening. Some whitening toothpastes can be pretty harsh on teeth and gums, but this one is gentle enough for everyday use. The Anti Cavity Toothpaste features a high-grade fluoride to help prevent cavities. What do you need to go along with your luxe toothpaste? A toothbrush, of course!   Elgydium®  has four ergonomically designed Toothbrushes $3.99/each:   Creation Toothbrush; Whitening Toothbrush; Supreme Toothbrush and Luminous Toothbrush. Each comes with a plastic bristle cover to keep it clean --and it's great for travel. All are available in soft and medium bristles. The Creation Toothbrush stands out for it's very wide, flat handle with a plastic "diamond" poking out mid-handle.  It looks beautiful and its great to hold, but might not fit into a standard toothbrush holder unless it has very wide holes. The feature on this brush is diamond-rounded bristles that give a gentle but thorough cleaning. The  Whitening Toothbrush has a nice, rubberized grip, and double rows of diamond-rounded bristles that use a "Microball" technology that helps to remove plaque and increase the efficiency of gentle cleaning and whitening. If you have had work done on your teeth, or are trying easy ways to maintain that white smile, this is the brush for you. The Luminous Toothbrush was created for the United States market with non-slip rubber grips on all sides, a small head and long, slender neck that makes it more comfortable to get into those "hard-to-reach" places.  Deep, tufted bristles help you efficiently cleanse teeth and gums.  If you like a toothbrush with a compact head (especially good for a small mouth) this is a particularly good choice.  I don't know how you can call a toothbrush "supreme" if you have a quartet of  great brushes, but Elgydium's Supreme Toothbrush was also created especially for the U.S. consumer. It has a non-slip rubber grip on all sides of a gracefully curved handle. The multi-level bristles help to reach all those areas in your teeth and gums you might otherwise miss. Four raised, rubber polishing ridges even get to the gum line while triangular, textured bristles help ensure a clean mouth. Come to think of it, maybe all of this does make it the supreme brush!  The cost of these items isn't much more than the bargain basement drugstore brands, but you'll feel so "cosmopolitan" using these products. Both the toothpastes and the tooth brushes are genuinely nice to use.  More importantly, if you like them, you'll not only use them instead of "forgetting" to brush, and you'll brush longer and better...in the end, that's a true beauty bonus!

Wouldn’t your love to have your facial flaws simply disappear into a permanent abyss, like the Bermuda Triangle? Sue Devitt is guessing you would! This high performance line of great makeup and skincare has created a trio of products in a collection called: "The Bermuda Triangle" help to banish fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, , smooth and enhance your skin, and help make your lips look youthful and plump. See the Advice Sisters Product of the Week review on the AdviceSisters Blog

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if that’s true (and it is), a video is priceless1 The BeautyCast Bridal Collection Volume 1 and 2 will give you all the tools you need to do your makeup like a professional makeup artist.  Created by talented makeup artist Barbara Siragusa, Beauty Cast DVDs offer lots different makeup looks especially for brides and others significant to her wedding party such as her attendants, and mothers of the couple.  *as of press time, The Advice Sisters were informed that TBeautyCase had received an FMPTA ( Florida Motion Picture and Television Association) Award for The Bridal Collection, and also a The Dove Seal of Approval for The Bridal Collection and The Halloween Collection Vol. 1 Read the review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

Maybe you're not dancing in front of millions of television viewers like Mario Lopez and Crystal Hunt (who have both received Apara and Airplus products), but you can wear the same foot-saving items that they have.  These decidedly unglamorous but absolutely necessary items keep me from being in pain, especially when I am standing in lines or during Fashion Week, when my "invisible friends" make it easier for me to keep my feet from being "fried," --tired, sore, and blistered.  Now that Summer's over and you're slipping into stiletto shoes instead of open-backed sandals, Airplus for Her Hug My Heels $5.99 are the new generation of heel liners that prevent heels from slipping. If you can't make it without your mules, however, Apara's Slingies $7.99 are gel insole pads that help cushion the ball of your foot and keep it from sliding on open-toe shoes. Apara's Grippy Steps $7.99/pair help stop slips and falls. They're discrete black pads that attach firmly to the soles of your (dancing) shoes to keep you  sure-footed whether you are on the dance floor or just on a slick surface. For the full sole-saving treatment, try Airplus for Her Save My Soles $9.99 clear, invisible gel innersole liners that fit into everything from sneakers to dress pumps.

 Approximately 80% of your skin is made from collagen. It makes our skin stronger, thicker and more supple, which also makes it look "young."   Alas, as we age, collagen degradation occurs, leading to wrinkles.  There are creams and other potions that help to stimulate the production of collagen in skins cells from the outside.  Now, TOKI $175.00 30-day supply by Lane Labs, is the first natural collagen drink clinically shown to reduce fine lines and age spots from the inside.  See the complete review on the Advice Sisters Blog. 

Hair-reducing products, treatments and tools can make a difference in your "fuzz factor."  One that's easy to use, effective, and inexpensive (relatively speaking compared to other treatments) is Get Out of Hair $35.00 6.5 oz. by Bliss.  This unusual, flip-top tube of hair-minimizing cream moisturizes with willow bark extract to limit ingrown hairs.  But it's the new Bliss "fuzzkill" complex that actually helps reduced the appearance of hair growth between shaves. While you aren't going to want to throw out the razors and stop going for waxes, the nicely moisturizing cream also has Vitamins C, E and A plus shea butter, that will make your newly-de-fuzzed body parts look and feel better.  Reviewers said that their hair was also softer when it grew back, making the entire process, more pleasant. For all these reasons, it's a good, multi-tasking product we think you'll like.

The Advice Sisters have reviewed (and loved ) the Scentport and Scentport Nightlight in previous What Works beauty review columns. Now, there’s Scentportable $5.00 by Slatkin & Co, an easy, affordable way to take a home scent with you wherever you go. The small, white plastic "button" is a one-piece, one-time use scent diffuser with a built-in clip, letting you add a light touch of room-pleasing scent in a closet, on your car’s visor, a gym locker, or any small space (I am thinking about clipping this to my jeans on my next airplane flight). You can just set it up on the clip like a stand, and leave it on a dresser or any flat surface, too. The .2 fl. oz pouch of scent is small enough to pass airline restrictions, but once you activate the Scentportable, you’ll still get 4-6 weeks of fragrance out of this little unit.  When the fragrance is depleted, simply toss the entire unit as you would a wand-type room scent decanter.  We tried Pineapple Mango, a fresh, fruity infusion of pineapple, mango, lotus, and a hint of vanilla, that would make any musty cubicle feel more like a fiesta. There's also  Cinnamon & Clove Buds, Fresh Linen, and Vanilla Coconut.

Unless you live on another planet, you've probably seen ads for OxiCleanVersatile Stain Remover  on television.The tub of stain-fighting "crystals" is oxygen based and water activated, so when the cleaner hits (preferably hot) water it releases tiny air bubbles that help to release stains and make your laundry brighter while it works on stains. The product works best on organic stains like wine, coffee, food, and pet messes, as well as on mold and mildew, but it will help with other stains, too. OxiClean is a bleach-like product not suitable for all fabrics and all stains...read the label.  TIP: You won't want to try this on dark clothing,  but for grease stains and yellowing on white items, we made a "paste" with water of the product and gently rubbed it on the fabric,  then laundered it. I learned this tip from a vintage clothing dealer who told me it's how she cleans all the antique linens "like new."   It is worth putting one scoop in every load of laundry--even a mixed color load, to work it's magic, overall.  But that's not all Oxi Clean does:  you can clean mold and mildew stains, clean grout, and use it on rugs and upholstery.  OxiClean Fee Versatile Stain Remover $7.99 3.5 oz  is my favorite -- it has the same stain fighting ingredients as the original OxiClean but it is free of dyes and fragrances that can irritate sensitive skin. You can also take the power of OxiClean with you on the road, with  OxiClean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover $2.99 .47 fl. oz $4.99/2 . Simply spray the stain with the Oxi in the little spray bottle, blot the stain with a paper towel or some tissues, and watch the stain fade from view. It's really that simple and that good. This particular spray product is best on stains like coffee, grape juice, ketchup, tea, chocolate, etc. and it's meant for fresh stains.  I'd suggest the regular formula for true cleansing power, but you can still significantly fade an older strain with a few applications. The small, plastic pump bottle makes it a must-have lifesaver for your tote, or travel bag.

My husband and I seem to have a knack for dropping foods and liquids on our best clothes...usually the first time we wear them. Apart from covering ourselves in plastic (and then I guess we’d be weird and crazy) I have always wondered how to protect our precious fabrics from our to "spill. Blox In-Wash Clothing Protector for $9.99 per 8 0z. is the first in-wash stain blocker that can help block stains before they start (on any washable fabric). Blox can guard against organic stains and water and oil-based stains as well as red wine, coffee, mustard, red sauce, blood, grass and ink. Important to know (especially if you’re going to treat the "rug rats" clothes with it) is that Blox doesn’t contain any solvents, silicone, PFOA or PFOA, it’s eco friendly and dermatologist tested. The thing that’s so great about this is that you don’t have to paint or spray on a coating as you would with furniture fabric guards. You just add 4 ounces with your fabric softener and wash and dry your clothes as usual. I’m not saying that you should use Blox and then dump food on yourself, but four ounces of "protection" for your pricey white pants, or cotton designer blouse, is really four ounces of prevention against the proverbial pound of cure.

Just the name: "Sweet Grass Farm" makes me think of wholesome, yummy-smelling products. In fact, Sweet Grass Farm is a New Hampshire company with a line of natural soap and herbal products, plus a new, natural line of body and homecare products. We were fortunate to be able to try a few of the home products, and we really loved them! If doing the dishes is a daily chore for you, as it is for most of us, the Farmhouse Liquid Dish Soap $6.95 17.6 oz will make it a pleasure. The natural, plant-based dish soap comes in a clear, flip top bottle. It is gentle on your hands, but it effectively gets rid of grease and dirt on your dishes. It is softly lathering, and fills the air with the natural fragrance of essential oils. We tried "Lavender," a soft but pleasing lavender scent. There’s also Lemon Verbena , and Fresh White Lilac. It costs a few dollars more than the unnaturally-scented and colored dish detergents you find in the supermarket, but this one makes dish washing, wonderful! Keep the same, good scents around you all the time, with the Farmhouse Linen & Room Spray $6.95 17.6 oz. The essential oils leave fabrics lightly scented, and you can use it to de-wrinkle fabrics while ironing, too/ Take a bit in a travel-sized spray bottle and get rid of yucky smells on the road, in hotel rooms, the gym.....! If you love the look of candlelight, and want to scent your world with beautiful scents, there’s also a Farmhouse 100% Soy Candle $15.95 16 oz. This large, soy-based candle-in-a-jar with a 100% cotton wick is hand poured and scented with essential oils. We tried "Coastal Bayberry," a light and soft green soy candle with a spicy scent that reminded me instantly of Colonial Williamsburg and the holidays. Soy candles are great because they burn more slowly and cleanly than traditional paraffin. The soy for these candles come from soybeans grown in the USA and they’re made from a renewable resource. These will make an attractive gift when the holidays roll around. There are more than a dozen scents to choose from. They'll suit every personality and preference. Open the lid, light the wick, and relax!

Asian pears look like a cross between an apple and a pear, with more than 100 varieties, mostly grown in Japan.  The taste runs the  gamut from slightly sweet, to tart. The scent is a sweet fruity with a floral hint of apple blossom, and I think it's a perfect home fragrance.  Melange makes a perfectly lovely Bougie (candle) $20.00 in "Asian Pear" scent that burns up to 60 hours, releasing this cheerful fragrance into the room.  The pure white candle in a large, clear, round votive, goes with any decor. It has a soy-blend wax for a slow, clean burn and cotton wicks that apparently help provide maximum fragrance output. The candles contain no artificial color pigments or dye. The simple, square label  rimmed in plum, and the white cardboard packaging with the same label, makes this a classic gift for a woman or a man.  The scents are beautiful, the price, fantastic! Stop up now for the holidays and for your enhancing the atmosphere in your home.

The Glamour Gals is a unique, organization dedicated to fostering inter generational relationships between teens and seniors. Teen volunteers regularly visit local senior homes to give complimentary facials and makeovers, and to make compassionate connections with elderly women (and some men). These amazing, beautiful, enthusiastic, energetic, young women could be sitting at their computers on MySpace or shopping or doing something for themselves,. Instead, they are making a commitment to reach out to others and to give of themselves. Back in May, I attended "The Glammies" the group's annual award and fun-raising event. I was so impressed with Glamour Gals that I reached out to the founder, Rachel Doyle, and asked what I could do to help. I am pleased to be associated with this group and to help spread the word about the good things they do.  You can do a good thing that makes you look good, too, by purchasing the Glamour Gals Lace Bracelet $20.00 + shipping/handling. This limited edition, one-size-fits all, clear cuff bracelet captures a circle of black lace inside the bangle. This bracelet goes perfectly with the year's hottest fashion items and was featured in CosmoGIRL Magazine. The substantial, clear cuff with the surprise of black lace makes it a true conversation starter, and each bracelet is packaged in a high gloss white box with hot pink tissue and a "You Inspire Me" blank card. These make great holiday and thank-you gifts year-round.  Organizations like Glamour Gals help seniors feel wanted and appreciated...and that's so incredibly important (we will all be elderly some day if we live long enough...) I hope you will check out their web site and support this worthy organization by purchasing their beautiful bangle bracelet. If you are an adult, help your teens start a local chapter to reach out to the elderly in your neighborhoods. If you are a teen reading this, why not volunteer?! 

I have loved LATHER products ever since I discovered them in an ultra-chic hotel a few years ago. Luckily, you don't have to be a jet-setter to enjoy them at home. Founded in 1999, the company has a healthy and holistic approach to skin care, focusing on sourcing natural ingredients and essential oils, as well as drawing upon the benefits of aromatherapy. The company doesn't test their products on animals, nor will we work with labs that conduct animal testing. All of this may be enough to make you want to try LATHER products, but now there's another:  Soap opera actress Andrea Evans ("One Life to Live") has teamed with the company to create a Sandalwood Rose Soap $8.00 and a Soap for Hope Gift Set $20.00. The gift set includes two bars of sandalwood rose soap and a natural wood soap dish.  $5.00 from the sale of each soap, and $12.00 from the Soap for Hope Gift Set will benefit the breast cancer programs at City Of Hope, a biomedical research and treatment facility for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.  LATHER soaps are always a treat. This one is infused with rose petals and sandalwood, producing a sensual, soft spiced scent in a lovely, solid, swirled marbled, soap bar. The soap itself is crafted of emollient olive oil, essential oils, botanicals, and plant extracts. Rose oil, in particular, is good for dry, mature and/or sensitive skin, while sandalwood oil helps soothe and soften. A host of other lovely ingredients add to the sensual pleasure:  Cedarwood, clove, geranium, lavender, lemon, nutmeg, orange, vetiver and patchouli.  Rosemary extract serves as a natural preservative, and there are actual rose petals and pink mineral pigment infused into the soap to make it really pretty for gift-giving.  The results?  A soap that smoothes your body, pampers your senses, and helps combat deadly diseases--a must-have for Fall, and get a bunch for stocking stuffers (the holidays will be here before you know it).

If the Da Vinci we know as a Renaissance innovator had designed a line of hairbrushes, it might very well look as beautiful as the Da Vinci Brush Collection by Rusk. The company collaborated with celebrity hairstylist Sam Leonardi in the design of these styling brushes. Leonardo's clients include Lindsay Lohan, Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. The graceful heads of bristles look remind me of a dewdrop, but the point at the top can help make a sharp part.  The dark, plastic handles with elegant script "R" in hot pink on the back, gracefully curves to fit snugly in your hand. These brushes are not just beautiful to look at, they're amazingly affordable and a joy to use. Let them help you become more efficient with your styling chores. All have ionic infused bristles to help cut down on static in your hair and help boost shine, and the nylon pin or boars bristle/nylon bristles won't overheat and dehydrate your hair when you're heat styling.  The Large Pin Brush $24.99 (photo) for example, has long, generously sized rounded tips on each bristle, so that they won't scrape your scalp, and the pins are firmly rooted into a flexible membrane so they grip hair without ripping it out.  There's also a medium Nylon Pin Brush $24.99 and a cute, Purse-sized Pin Brush $19.99 that is big enough to work as a travel brush if you are trying to keep the weight down in your luggage. My favorite in this collection, however, is the Porcupine Brush $39.99 (large) $3.99 (medium). Boars bristle brushes are the top choice of stylists, for softness, shine, and smoothness. This brush combines boars bristle with nylon bristles, gripping your hair and giving you the best of both during blowouts!

Olivia Garden was founded in Belgium by Jean and Cathy Rennette, and has a history of designing and promoting innovative products to meet hairdressers' professional needs. The Olivia Garden Healthy Hair Ionic Vent Paddle Brush $12.50 is a pro-style brush made with an eco-friendly bamboo handle that's actually lighter and stronger than wood (and isn't it nice to know that bamboo is a renewable resource?). The handle looks lovely in stripes of light and medium blonde wood, with a delicate floral design etched onto the back, but the beauty of this brush isn't just the good looks, the lightweight handle and nicely shaped head reduces fatigue when you're blow-drying. Boars bristle helps add shine, while nylon ball-tipped bristles grip hair for easier styling. Both are ion-charged, for an anti-static, anti-bacterial bonus that help you maximize heat and dry hair quickly. Less time with the blow dryer is good news for the health of your hair. The bristles also help keep it shiny and non-frizzy. The large, oval shape is especially good for long and curly or thick hair, and lets you dry it straight. This type of pro-style brush is my favorite. This brush is a real pleasure to use,  and the price is nice, too.

This Fall, a perfectly polished face is going to be a must-have, and to create the look, you need great makeup brushes. Shana King is a professional makeup artist who created a user-friendly, luxe, pro-style line of makeup brushes called Adesign. We have selected some Adesign brushes we think are good investments and must-haves. To get a full, flawless foundation or power coverage, a Kabuki Brush $45.00 is a must. ADesign’s Large Kabuki Brush $30.00 arrives in it’s own, black zippered travel pouch. The shiny black handle is big and squat and easy to hold and sits upright on your dressing table.  Even better, the ADesign brushes are named in white letters so you can’t ever make a mistake. The black head of bristles is super- soft and luxe, to deliver whatever product you’re using in a flawless manner. Use it to apply all kinds of powder, from loose, to pressed, wet and dry, and even cream. You can use it for all-over color such as shimmer powders or bronzers, and to soften and even-out all color cosmetics. There’s a Small Kabuki Brush $20.00 for touch-ups on the go, for a sheer wash of blush, and for evenly distributing makeup to cover smaller areas.  If you want to get an entire set of basic brushes, the Eye Set $45.00 is a great value, with 4 absolute must-have, full-sized brushes for coloring, defining and detailing, plus a purse-ready, zippered, "moc croc" brush and pencil case in eye-pleasing, shiny black. You get: an all Over Eye (designed to cover the entire surface of the eye with an effortless sweep of shadow) plus an Eye #2 (soft yet firm for powders, wet to dry shadows and concealers.);  and  Eye #4 (a small brush that can define, line, and smudge) and Eye #5 (angled flat liner brush for liquid and wet to dry shadows and to blend and smudge pencil liners). The kit is all you need for any kind of eye look, no matter what the trends are this season, next season, and beyond.

Mineral powders are all the rage right now, but in order to make the most of them, it’s a good idea to apply them with brushes that are specially designed to handle mineral makeup. Japonesque make all sorts of professional tools and cases for makeup, and they have a line of anti bacterial, Mineral Makeup Brushes that are non-toxic, non-allergenic, and great for those with sensitive skin. The anti-bacterial treatment of the bristles also helps reduce millions of bacteria that can cause skin irritations and infections, so that's good news for everybody. These small, travel-sized brushes are petit enough to put in a small makeup bag, but they work "big/" with sturdy, beige and black handles. My favorite is the Mineral Face Brush $26.00 with a large head of well-shaped natural hair bristles that make it easy to apply bronzers, powder, powder foundation, and shimmers.  You can also use it to soften too much blush, and smooth out any imperfections in your foundation. Another "must-have" in your mineral powder brush collection is a Mineral Blush Brush $28.00. This one has a head of natural bristles that are gently curved to hold the mineral powder and let you either apply it in a more concentrated way, or softly diffuse it. I also liked the Mineral Concealer Brush $19.50 with flat, sharply angled, synthetic bristles in a medium sized head, that lets you apply makeup into hard to reach corners like the crevices around your nose, and the flat side lets you blend liquid or cream color, smoothly. For eyes, a 'must-have" is the All Over Shadow Brush $18.00 with natural hair is a multi-purpose, makeup bag pal for applying a sheer wash of color to your lids, crease, and brow bone, for shading and blending with loose or pressed mineral powder, or for packing on a bit more color for more drama.  he Mineral Smudger & Detailer Brush $15.00 has a compact, low, flat, domed head of natural hair bristles that make it easy to add color in the eye crease, the outer corner of the eye, along the lash line, and as a smudger to soften lines and blend out color. Even if you're not into mineral makeup, these brushes are economical as they help the color cling to the brush, so you use less product, saving you money and making your face look, fabulous!

Inspired by her love of French black & white films from the 1940's Julie Hewett has made her mark in Hollywood with glamorous lipsticks and makeup formulas that goes from stage, to street. Her Chubby Cheekie Brush $28.00 might have you twisting again like you did last Summer. Just 4" from it's dense, flat top of soft bristles to the end of the stubby, chubby, shiny black handle, this can be popped easily into a makeup bag. The bristles deliver a concentrated hit of color, but they are so very soft, you can then diffuse the color any way you want, making it a very clever, very versatile blush brush.

King of Shaves is a British shaving and skin care and grooming bran, founded by Will in 1993 to sell the company’s first product: AlphaOil Original Shaving Oil $5.99.5 fl.oz.  He hand-filled the first 9,600 bottles in his kitchen!  The helps ease the irritation and rash you can get when shaving.  He discovered that his formula oil gave him a close shave, but without the negative side effects.  The Shaving Oil is good for sensitive skin and especially if you use an electric razor.   It has soothing aloe, tea tree oil and Vitamin E, among other good-for-your skin ingredients.  This little bottle is economical (you get up to 100 shaves from one bottle) and our male reviewers, despite their initial trepidation about using an “oil,” loved the cooling formula. This oil works best with electric razors, and I noticed on another site that guys were saying how great it is for shaving their heads (a trend I wish would go away, but I think it's here to stay).  We also gave it five stars as a must-have for travel, since it’s smaller than a pack of gum!  For guys who prefer a gel shave, the AlphaGel Shaving Gel Cooling $5.99 5.9 fl. oz is a cooling, invigorating shave gel with the same soothing oils and ingredients as the shaving oil.  However, this gel formula has microcapsules that are suspended in the gel, so when the product is massaged into the skin, the microcapsules break open to deliver more lubrication and protect skin from the irritations of wet shaving.  Even our “soap” loving guys loved this one--and fought for the "leftovers."

Where do you go and what do you get, when you want to buy an affordable, pampering, spa-type gift that's as great for the guys as for the girls?  The Advice Sisters go to LUSH and get the Olive Grove Gift Set $26.45, Inside a cammo-colored wrapping of olive leaf gift wrap lies a simple, cardboard box into which are nestled lovely olive-themed products for shower and bath:  Avobath 6.3 oz, Extra Virgin Olive 3.5 oz, and The Olive Branch 3.3 fl oz. All three will nourish your skin with citrus, olive oil, and avocado, leaving skin soft and pampered. Avobath is a huge, soft green bath bomb loaded with avocado oil to soften skin, along with a peppy, lemongrass scent. TIP:  pop this one into a clothes drawer until you're ready to bathe with it. You will enjoy the same, wonderful scent as it will eventually have in your both. Extra Virgin Olive is a translucent body soap that reminds me of green marble, and it's got a clean, refreshing, peppery smell that men will love. Along with  moisturizing olive oil are detoxifying oils like black pepper, grapefruit, fennel, coriander and bay. The Olive Branch is a fresh smelling liquid body soap that looks peachy when you shake it up in the bottle, but that's the end of the "girly" references. It also has organic olive oil to soften your skin plus an infusion of vine leaves, sea salt and the fresh juice of mandarin oranges to leave you feeling fresh and clean, even when there's a challenging day ahead.  Give this for a couples wedding shower, the holidays...any time, actually.

Mélange (from the French) means: "to blend or mix." Mélange Apothecary's boutique in Woodland Hills, California, allows patrons to custom-fragrance their own products, such as: Eau de Parfum, Home Ambiance Diffuser, Body Creme, Body Lotion (2 formulas), Bath and Shower (4 formulas), Bath Salts, Body Oil or Sugar Scrub with Honey and Shea Butter. If you're not in the neighborhood, however, you can still purchase their wonderful, custom blended products online.  I love to take scent with me but I'm always worried about spillage. The Mélange Concrete Perfume $10.00 7 ml. is an easy and inexpensive way to wear and tote your signature scent. The little, lipgloss-y screw-top jar pops into the smallest pocketbook.  There are several fruit and floral scents,  blended in small batches using pure Beeswax, Jojoba oil and fragrance oils. I liked Mandarine & Orchid, a fruity Tea-centric fragrance that is light and green, featuring mandarin and orchid, of course, plus jasmine and rose de mai.  There's also Mandarin & Green Tea, and five other fruity and floral scents to choose from.  Also portable although not in solid form is Mélange Eau de Parfum Concetrate $18.00 .35 fl. oz.  I love the rollerball format that is still small enough to bring on an airplane and tote in your makeup bag. There are literally dozens of fruit and florals scents (or custom blending) to choose from.  We tried "Bois de Tek," ("Teakwood") in English. It's an assertive, unisex-but- slightly-masculine, invigorating scent. I couldn't find out exactly what's in it, but I'd guess the spicy feel is sandalwood, patchouli, and other "out" and incense-y notes. There's a smoky drydown that's downright sexy on both men and women. Other will ask what you're wearing!

I am fairly clueless about country music, so when I received a bottle of the new McGraw by Tim McGraw Eau de Toilette $23.00 1 oz., $30.00 1.7 oz. by Coty, I thought the muse for this manly fragrance was a baseball player!  Tim actually is the son of former baseball player, Tug McGraw, so I wasn't completely off the mark.  Tim McGraw is a top-of-the-charts country singer who has sold more than 40 million album units. He is married to country singer Faith Hill. His rugged body, crowned with a cowboy hat embodies the modern American ideal of masculinity--a man whose more than just a powerhouse, but also a loving husband and father. The bottle is interesting and eye-catching. It's a low, slim rectangle of clear glass that really showcases the warm, amber-colored juice inside.  The top of the rectangle is covered with a grained black plastic and the top features a shiny silver with a "rope" design, both of which are supposed to resemble the brim of Mr. McGraw's signature cowboy hat. The outside packaging is also a grained black with a silver tope and a silver guitar pick on the  top with Tim's signature on it.  The fragrance itself, created by Symrise, doesn't just look good, it smells good, too.  It's  a spicy woody fragrance with top notes of bergamot and nutmeg (for a warm, spicy feel), a heart of lavender and moss, and base notes of amber, patchouli, sandalwood and aged whiskey to give it an undeniably sexy and masculine vibe. I was surprised that McGraw by Tim Mcgraw isn't a heavy scent. It's significant enough to stand up to daytime stress and evening romance, but it's not one of those knock-your-socks-off heavy men's colognes. I think guys of all ages will like this modestly-priced scent as a new, year-round favorite, and women will like it "just because."

U by Ungaro for Him $28.00 2.5 fl. oz.,by Avon has a completely different feel from the "Hers" companion scent.  *to read about Ungaro for Her, scroll to the "Fabulous Fragrances" Section of this What Works Column.  His scent is pure "designer" magic:  Clean and fresh, with just a hint of woods and spice, thanks to bottom notes of natural vetiver, patchouli, sandalwood, tonka bean, and Peru balsam. The fragrance’s top notes are uplifting; green mandarin leaf, ruby red grapefruit, and pomegranate, with a heart of natural immortale, cardamom and cedar Leaf. The effect is exciting and modern, sophisticated, with just a hint of sexy-yet- familiar. It’s a perfect scent for a man of any generation who wants to smell good, but doesn’t want to appear “fussy.

adidas DARE Eau de Toilette $19.001fl. oz., $26.00 1.7 fl. oz., $35.00 2.5 fl. oz  is a new fragrance from Coty Prestige that men will find comforting and pleasing to wear. There's something familiar about the light, marine/citrus scent, but yet, there are surprises that make it new and fresh.  The scent was designed by  Pierre Bourdon of  Fragrance Resources,  and   Lutz Hermann designed the substantial-in-your-manly-hand, rounded column of smoked glass, with elegant , silvery trims and the name "DARE" engraved into the metal. The outside carton is also masculine and stylish: a simple, roughly-textured deep grey cardboard with silver-y touches and "DARE" stamped in bold, red letters, on a silver background line.  The fragrance, as I already mentioned, will not intimidate men who aren't true fragrance aficionados, but will offer a hint of something new to those who are.  I see this as appropriate for guys of just about any age, as it works with your body chemistry to make it your own. The  fragrance opens light and fresh, with citrus and marine notes of  Mexican Lime, Sea Breeze and Bergamot.  Wait and moment, and you smell something else...something you know, but maybe you can't quite put your finger on.  It's the middle notes of  Rhum and Leather, delightfully blended with Vetyver and Lavender. Base notes of Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla and Musk make the scent masculine, sensual, and yummy.  This is light enough to compliment a man in the warmer months, and  will make a good casual scent all year round.

Several years ago the Advice Sisters reviewed some products from Comfort Zone, an upscale, Italian line of skincare products with a collection just for men: Man Space. You can get these in select spas, and they’re also featured in places where guys really demand luxury, such posh hotels and spas around the world. Our male reviewers liked the unfussy, masculine, olive-green packaging, the matte, pewter plastic bottles with man-sized pump tops, and the refreshing, lemony scented products.  Read the Entire Review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

If you’ve ever wondered what a super-sexy superstar like David Beckham would smell like, maybe it's like his latest fragrance: Signature for HIM Eau de Toilette Spray: $50.00 1.7 fl. 0z; $60.00 2.5 fl. oz (also after shave lotion, hair and body wash, deodorant spray, and deodorant stick). It’s fresh, light, somewhat invigorating and of course, manly, but the scent is unique. It's nicely balanced (as is his wife Victoria’s scent *see Fantastic Fragrances section above for a review of Signature for Her). It isn't an "elderly" scent, but it's not for teens, either. Signature For Him is classified is a  woody oriental fragrance with seductive undertones. Designed by Beatrice Piquet from IFF, the top notes are fresh: Marine, Mandarin, Watermelon, with a heart of spice thanks to Living Lantana, Cypress, Juniper Berry. The sensual drydown is created with luxury moss. The bottle is simple, masculine, and chic-- a glass flacon and metal cap looks rugged but fashionable, and the transparent glass allows the lilac liquid inside to shine through. A distinctive weave pattern embossed on the bottle's reverse is a nice touch--to be touched!  The silver plaque bearing the Beckham crest id both elegant, and a bit pretentious.  Beckham fans, collectors, and scent lovers will want to have this one ASAP.  *see the review of Signature for HER in the “Fabulous Fragrances” section of this column. 

Avon has done a wonderful job of attracting hot, fashion designers to create sensational scents, exclusive and exciting, but still within the budgets of the average man or woman. The latest of Avon's  “his and hers” scents are from Emanuel Ungaro, a man whose name is synonymous with high fashion. Ungaro for Her $32.00 1.7 fl. Oz and U by Ungaro for Him $28.00 2.5 fl. oz.,  beautifully reflect the differences between the sexes, while complimenting each other. Ungaro for Her arrives in a hot pink metallic box subtly embossed with the Ungaro logo of conjoined “U’s”. The clear, glass bottle inside is a graceful nod to the contours of a woman’s body, topped with a simple, clear cap. Ungaro for Him arrives in a slate gray box with embossed Ungaro logo. Inside is an assertive, rounded rectangle of smoked glass, topped with a simple, smoked plastic top. Both bottles bear a single “U” (hers in silver, his in gray)-- a simple, designer touch. *for the men’s fragrance, please scroll down to the “For the Guys” section of this column. Ungaro for Her has a light pink tint merely hints at it’s femininity created with florals and woods. The top notes are bergamot blossom, wet freesia, and pepper blossom, with a heart of acacia aura, living lotus flower, and osmanthus. The finish has one of my favorite notes: orris, plus creamy sandalwood and clean musk. The fragrance feels spicy, but with the surprise of the florals shining through on drydown.. It’s neither too heavy, nor too insignificant–and quite feminine without being old fashioned. This will be a new favorite for 20 to 40-something woman who wants to show a feminine side, but not be distracting at work. *to read about U by Ungaro for Him scroll to the "Just For the Guys" Section of this What Works Column. 

Ed Hardy has turned tattoo art into high fashion not just with clothing, but with “his and her” fragrances. *to see the review of Ed Hardy For Women scroll to the Fabulous Fragrances Section of this column.  The Ed Hardy For Men 55 1.7 oz , $75 3.4 oz. fragrance was designed by  Olivier Gillotin of Givaudan. It's a masculine, woody floral that that reminds me of worn leather with a bit of spice (clary sage is what's really in it, I believe). The fragrance starts with top notes of citrus and bergamot, so it could be fruity and bright, but the middle note is very unusual--a true "star" in any scent. It's 'Thuja," that is actually one of the ingredients in the once-banned liquor, Absinthe –how appropriate and a bit daring, even for a tattoo inspired scent!  There is also amber, redwood and musk. Our male reviewers liked the overall vibe, but agreed that anyone over a certain age probably won't pick it as a first choice--and isn’t that the point?

Most everyone perspires, but some guys really sweat. One way to combat odor and wetness is to wear clothing with Coolmax®. This is a high-tech, patented fabric (originally created by Dupont) that is embedded with microscopic pores to wick moisture away from your skin. This not only helps you stay dry and combat odor, it actually helps you to stay cooler in hot weather, and warmer in the cold!  We asked one of our male Advice Sisters reviewers to try out that 100% Coolmax Ultimate Undershirt $13.95 *plus shipping by Cool Clothing USA  In sizes S-3XL in crew of v-neck style. A simple, white undershirt might not seem like a "fashion" item, but sweaty clothing isn't either! This Ultimate Undershirt costs a lot more than a regular one.  Is it worth it?  "Absolutely worth every penny" said our reviewer (somewhat sheepishly. He reported that the shirt looked just like any other  T and that it felt soft, with no rough edges. But the thing that impressed him was that he really  did feel cool and dry all day. He reported that later on he switched to a regular cotton T-shirt and was soaked within a short period of time. You can wear this under a dress shirt, to exercise, and to sleep in.  Cool Clothing USA has regular T-shirts for women and men, along with other shirts and shorts, so you can stay dry and comfortable no matter where, no matter what the weather.

I didn’t think there could be anything really new when it comes to hair bands, and then I discovered the Scünci FlexiWrap Hair band $3.99. This bendable, flexible, stretchy and completely comfortable hair band has the sleek good looks of traditional plastic and fabric hair bands, but without the hard, rigid frame that sometimes pinches and cracks. The new Flexi-Wrap features a braided, patent-look, or cutwork hair band that looks like the solid, rigid ones, but is actually a foldable, bendable plastic held tightly in place at the back of your head with a stretchy, ponytail-type band. The result is a hair band that hugs your head in a customized way, and stays tight, without pinching, binding, or pulling. The band is so secure you could jog or run with it and it wont slip off. You won’t even know you have it on! There’s a tortoise-shell look wide, braided band, a solid, black patent leather look band, and a wide, clear, cutwork band to go with just about everything you own. Even better, you can fold these almost completely flat for travel, and they won’t break in your bag. This is the cleverest idea I’ve seen in hair ornaments in a long, long time, and they cost less than s sandwich! These are must-haves to update your Fall wardrobe, and for all year long. Sure to be classics you’ll reach for on all those bad hair days, too.

  The other day I was watching early morning weekend television and saw an info-mercial for the Infiniti Nano Silver Ionic Steam Straightener by Conair $129.99 (photo left)I had just received one to try from Conair, and was impressed with the power and versatility this flat iron showed. See the entire, product of the week review on the Advice Sisters Blog. A product that's perfect for Fall's straight and curly styles is the Infiniti Hair Designer $69.99 by Conair trade (photo right). It looks like it could be a weapon designed by Klingons, but it's a hair dryer/styling tool all in one. It impressively and easily dries, straightens, shines, and controls frizz, thanks to nano silver tourmaline technology that generates irons to dry hair gently but lightening fast, from the inside, out.  This smoothes out the cuticle layer and helps combat frizz, while making hair silky and shiny. When it comes to the straightening attachment, at first I wasn't sure how much I'd like using it since you have to flip the dryer around with the teeth on the top, and then hold your hair with the other hand to guide it through the "teeth." These are two, angled rows of nano silver tourmaline ceramic-coated straightening plates that let you get closer to the root, plus a flocked, detangling comb that adds shine.  This straightening attachment also features a 360 rotating head with release buttons and 4 tension settings to handle hair types from mild to seriously curly and wild.  What's even better is that you don't have to go back after you've dried your hair and tussle with the additional step of using a flat iron--this dryer does it all.  And if you want to go curly, the same dryer comes with a diffuser attachment so that your waves and curls look controlled, and never flat or frizzy.  Once I got the hang of it, the result with the straightening attachment were nearly professional--no additional brushes or tools, needed.   Even without the attachment, this dryer made my thick, wavy hair soft, straight and frizz free, faster, with less heat.  At 2.7 lbs it's not the lightest dryer I've ever used, but you don't have to hold it as long thanks to it's high tech design and powerful 1875 watt motor that's very efficient.  The dryer has two speeds, and a 9’ Professional length cord, and a tie-hinged filter for easy cleaning.  A "cool shot" button locks in your style.  If you tend to be rough on appliances, you will be happy to know this one has a 5 Year Warranty.  Tip:  Be sure you comb your hair first and if you are prone to fly-aways it doesn't hurt to apply a little smoothing cream.  Use a wide tooth comb and make sure to detangle first--you'll love the results.

Do you have trouble growing long, healthy hair? Do you sometimes get so frustrated you think about cutting it all off or wearing a wig?  I was pleasantly surprised by some amazingly affordable products to help hair grow:  Beautiful Lengths by Pantene  (they also sponsor a charitable program of the same name you may want to consider, that helps provide wigs for women who had suffered hair loss due to chemotherapy).  The Beautiful Lengths Shampoo $3.99 12.6 fl. oz and Beautiful Lengths Conditioner $3.99 12.6 fl. oz  (there's a combo version shampoo and condition too) come in pearly white plastic bottles with lilac flip tops. The pearly products within have a light, fresh scent, and contain "Aquacurrent Science" that helps make hair ten times stronger against damage so hair can grow longer and stronger.  These products also help prevent breakage from styling, by regulating the flow of water (e.g. humidity) in and out of the hair. The shampoo's key helpers include surfactants that gently clean hair to help remove residue and build-up, while polymer and silicone block humidity to reduce frizz, and silicone also helps create smooth, healthy hair with fewer tangles, split ends and less breakage. The conditioner has ingredients that form a gel network throughout  your hair to help strengthen it against damage and effectively condition it. The end results of these two products, much to my surprise, was simple:  clean, shiny, bouncy, healthy-looking hair without any bells and whistles.  With regular use of these products you might make your flowing tresses dreams come true!  Even better, a portion of the proceeds of the sale of these products goes to support the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program charitable program.  Pantene has partnered with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) on Pantene Beautiful Lengths, a  campaign that encourages people to grow, cut and donate their hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program that creates free, real-hair wigs for women who've lost their hair due to cancer. In addition, Pantene has donated more than one million dollars to the EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund, a program committed to saving lives by raising funds and awareness for millions of women and their families affected by cancer. So when you've grown your hair and you are ready for a new style, like Actress Hilary Swank did on Oprah, consider donating your ponytail to this worthy cause. It takes at least six ponytails to make a Pantene Beautiful Lengths wig!  A bad hair day is an inconvenience, but a no-hair day is another story. A recent study revealed that nearly 60% of women consider hair loss the most dreaded side effect of chemotherapy, and 8% of these women are at risk of avoiding potentially life-saving treatment because they do not want to look bald. Real hair wigs can cost upwards of $1200 and are often only partially covered by health insurance. Go to Make the Cut to find out how you can donate your hair.

Celebrities who love wavy styles such as Alicia Keyes, Eva Mendes, Jessica Simpson, and Lauren Conrad (just to name a few) rely on hair care products that enhance their curls and help banish frizz, flyways and flatness that can totally ruin their styles. Big Waves Shampoo and Conditioner $5.99/each by Charles Worthington helps hair with natural texture and curl to look it’s best. The cheerful, red bottles with unique, square, flip-tops, made us feel like stars even before we poured out the fresh smelling products. The shampoo offered luxe lather (lots of it) and washed out cleanly, leaving even our wet hair with a soft and silky finish. The conditioner was equally pampering and silky. But the real test was after we blow-dried our hair. While I’m generally dubious that something you wash out will really help enhance curls, my honest report is that the shampoo and conditioners absolutely did help tame frizz and flyaways, even in humid weather, and made our usual tug-of-war with the blow dryer and brush, much easier. The result was bouncy, healthy, wavy hair that looked nice, not out of control. Even if your hair isn’t all that wavy, the products are nice to use!

Pureology makes effective and luxurious hair care products, but if your scalp is itchy and you suffer from dandruff, you need a product that will treat the problem.  And if you color your hair as well, finding an anti-fade dandruff shampoo could be as difficult as finding the perfect little black dress. Fortunately, Pureology makes DandruffScalpCure Shampoo $35.00 10.1 fl. oz and Conditioner $35.00 8.5 fl. oz. These tough on dandruff but gentle on your hair color products together deliver a dose of 2% Pyrithione Zinc, which helps to fight the symptoms of dandruff, and prevent it's recurrence (if you use it regularly). Rich lather that won't strip your color washes out quickly and cleanly, while antioxidant bennies from certified organic botanicals such as green tea, burdock root and a blend of mushrooms, meld with a soft, vanilla-y scent of rose, plumeria, amber and vanilla to pamper as well as protect. The product's AntiFadeComplex has UVA/UVB filters to help protect your color against fading. The products are so pleasant to use, you'll forget that they're for dandruff control! Reviewers loved these products, and reported soft, shiny, healthy-looking hair (and fewer flakes) after just a wash or two.  If you want to use products that don't allow animal testing, the 100% vegan formula will seal the deal!

Ouidad Botanical Boost Spray-in Conditioner $16.00 8 fl. oz. is a clear, lightly scented liquid leave-in conditioner that won Allure Magazine's  "Best Conditioner, Editor's Choice Award" in 2001. While it' s not a brand-new product, we are impressed with the results curlyheads (and non) get with this easy to use product that seals in moisture nourishes hair.  Curly hair is especially prone to frizziness and dryness. This lightweight conditioner features aloe barbadensis leaf juice, which has been used medicinally for over 3,000 years. It's chock full of nourishing vitamins, minerals, enzymes and essential amino acids, bringing manageability and super-hydration to your hair.  Ouidad products are not tested on animals, by the way. Another reason to love them. Give your wet or dry hair an instant treatment any time of day or evening, especially great after the gym, or at the beach.  There are no oils or waxes to weigh down your hair, and broad-spectrum sunscreens defend and protect hair from the sun's damaging rays.  You'll also treat your strands to increased  flexibility and elasticity , and that helps reduce breakage. Although Ouidad products are beloved by people with real curls, this product works well for any kind of hair. It is easy to use, and shows immediate results.

Chi Organics Olive Nutrient Therapy by Farouk Systems Group (the nifty company that makes those high-quality heat styling tools) comes in attractive, green plastic bottles with bright orange flip top caps that will appeal to men as well as women. But the line isn't all about the outside packaging. The products are designed to promote wellness through the proper balance of necessary nutrients,  using olive ingredients, vitamins, herbs and essential oils.  The ancient melds with American high tech to bring your hair good looks and "hair wellness."  If you read this column (or any beauty column) regularly, you already know that environmental saboteurs beyond your control, like sun, wind, chemical and heat tools, can damage your hair. This product line helps protect against, and mitigate, damage, using Olive ingredients, vitamins, herbs and essential oils. I really liked the Chi Olive Nutrient Therapy Shampoo 12 fl. oz $24.99 and Conditioner 12 fl. oz. $24.99 *other sizes and prices are available. Normally I think of olive oil as being super-hydrating, but oily (is is oil, after all).  The shampoo was actually light, and while there was plenty of lather, it  washed out completely, leaving softness with no greasy residue. I also like that it's sulfate and paraben-free and contains certified organic essential oils. The Conditioner was also great. I left it on for 60 seconds as suggested, and didn't use any other conditioning agents, and my hair was surprisingly super-soft.  I did use a bit of Olive Nutrient Therapy Glaze to give my hair a bit of light/medium control while styling.  It also has essential, natural oils and a special blend of extracts that adds shine.  The results were lovely: soft, healthy looking hair with lots of movement and shine...what more could you ask for?  Also in the line is are a Treatment Paste $28.00 6 fl. oz to give you hair some extra TLC (leave on 1-3 minutes and rinse or for more intense treatment, apply heat or a hot towel and leave on for 15 minutes) plus a Silk Oil 20.00 2 fl. oz  *(a little goes a long way).  This leave-in treatment helps to help nourish and repair --especially split ends *(great for the beach) and to add shine. There's also a Spritz for control--a product I didn't try (but I'd be willing to guess it's as good as the rest of the line).

As a beauty reviewer with an up-close-and-personal format, I try everything I write about. I have tons of thick, wavy hair that hardly ever goes limp. So when I received Lamas Beauty International Rice Protein Volumizing Shampoo$16.00 12 oz. and Rice Protein Volumizing Conditioner $16.00 12 oz I wasn’t anxious to volumize my hair.  But there wasn’t anyone immediately available to test the product, so I tried this duo wondering what it would be like.  I’ll start at the finish line: This product will do wonders for fine, limp hair, but it will make any hair look shiny, smooth, bouncy, and healthy. I really loved it! Rice protein is the star in these hair products. Apparently is a natural thickening and volumizing extract that infuses thin, weak, lifeless hair with new body and volume. The rice protein is also fortified  with Golden Seal, Carrot Seed, Chamomile and Yucca botanicals (for their protective properties) and makes hair soft, shiny and touch-able with a nice dose of aloe and avocado. Other botanicals detangle, prevent split ends and flyaways, The shampoo and conditioner did an amazing job of making hair look and feel great, and if I can make a judgment from my own hair, it did increase volume–but not in a wild or crazy way. My hair looked more bouncy and lively, but pretty and controllable, making it just look much better. The conditioner features all of the above. All Lamas products are vegan, and paraben free . I was captivated by the bright, fresh scent and the luxe, pearly products that felt luxuriously pampering, but washed out cleanly. These are a real treat.

Does the world need another shine product?  Sure, if it's one that is easy to use, effective, and affordable. Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Glistening Drops $3.99 2 fl. oz.  fits all three requirements. Just a couple of drops or just one, of this slightly fruity-scented serum, dispensed from the pump/dropper, pre-measured top, adds instant, glistening shine (yes, really the right word) and some added control against frizz. I like the fact that it is a lightweight product and you can use it either on damp hair to help with detangling, or on dry hair. There's not much more to say about the fine product.  It isn't glamorous and it isn't a new concept, but it works well, it's inexpensive, and it's easy This makes it a "must-have" no-brainer! Get at least one for home and one for your tote bag -you can use it for more shine and control, any time!

Nail polish makes your entire look, more posh, but your nails have to be in good condition to wear the deeper colors Fall always favors.  5 Second Nail Products, the same that are faves of many professional manicurists, has at-home solutions. The Condition Nail Pen $7.49 1 oz. (peach colored pen) instantly revitalizes and moisturizes dry cuticle in the easiest applicator anywhere. The pen with angled tip delivers a formula enriched with coconut and avocado oils, Vitamins A, E and F to help fragile nails, and a nice coconut scent that might make you yearn for Summer (or at least a pina colada). Simply pull off the top of the pen, and apply one coat of the conditioning product over your nails. You can re-apply as much as you wish (but be sure to wash hands and rinse off any residue before you polish your nails). There’s also a Protect Pen $7.49 I fl. oz. (light blue pen) that helps harden and protect nails and gives bare nails a natural shine. Just swipe two coats over your nails and let the fast-drying formula with "Shine Shield" lock in moisture, help strengthen, d also add a natural but lustrous finish. You can use this one as a base coat for polish so it multi-tasks. There are other "pens" to help groom nails and make them look better, longer, and stronger. These are so clean and easy and portable, you’ll wish all your treatment products could be this easy and fast.

We love Essie Nail Polish $8.00.  Their collections are trendy but wearable, always with a "theme" featuring cute Nail Polish names you will remember when you go to your favorite nail salon. For Fall, Essie brings us a half-dozen bold brights in a jewel-toned collection of blue-based "cool" reds, berries, plumps and purples. All of these are deep, but not gaudy or "goth."  Choose a classic, clear, bold, sexy red such as "Forever Young," or indulge your desire for glam nails with a deeper but hardly shy, red currant with a hint of hot pink,  called "Tomboy No More."  For those who are not fans of red, but like pink, there's a pretty, dusky rose called "Swept Off My Feet." It's deeper and more intense than the light and girly roses of Summer, but hardly a faded rose, either. If you can't bear to give up the bright and hot colors of Summer, "Big Spender" is a bold,  seriously blue based, clear red/violet. It's Fall's substitute for hot pink and fuchsia. Party Girls will love "No Boundaries," a bold stain of plum that is clear, bright, blue-based, and really festive, but easy to wear since it's not blackened. Whether you're coloring fingers, or toes, any or all of these will look right with runway-ready fashion--it's the easiest way to update your look and not spend a fortune.