When the seasons change, new beauty products are one of those pleasurable rituals that every fashionista looks forward to. But what if you’re on a seriously tight budget?  No need to worry because there are high performance, pampering, beautifying products for you at every price point. Today, The Advice Sisters are suggesting a whopping dozen  new and nifty products that you can get in mass market retailers and drug stores at insanely affordable prices.  These product will help you get ready for summer literally from top to bottom!  These new, nifty, affordable beauty products are all available now, and can make a big difference in how you look. Get them now, before Summer, starts!

FOR ENVIABLE  SUMMER EYES:

When the seasons change is always a good time to toss your old mascara and get a new one.  Rimmel’s Volume Flash ScandalEyes Mascara (avg. price under $7.00) arrives in a tube that’s season’s hottest color: orange.  But the oversized mascara tube isn’t the only stunning thing about this new product.  The mascara wand is longer, wide and 50% bigger than Rimmel’s largest brush, and it’s larger than most of the mascara wands on the market.  It reminds me a bit of DiorShow, but without the high price.  A big brush means you’ll get every last bit of your lash without having to wiggle the wand back and forth and apply as many coats.  It also means you’ll have less clumping.  It’s impressive, and inexpensive making it a real drugstore “find.” And, the product also has triple the collagen and keratin of other mascaras on the market, making it an even bigger “big deal” for the benefit of your eyes.  The mascara comes in Black and (if you dare), extreme black.  You can also add some new, trendy eye shadows for just a few dollars more.

Rimmel Glam’Eyes HD Eyeshadow (avg. price under $6.00) are squares of intense color that give you the bold eye looks that  were seen all over the runways, for less! The simple, square black compacts with clear covers let you see the big cross of the primary color, embossed with the Rimmel heart logo, and the highlight and defining colors surrounding it. Each makes a statement, with colors that are full of reflective pigments. The dual-use shadows work wet or dry, allowing you to customize your color from diffused and medium-deep,  to seriously bold.  Two that are super-trendy for this season are:  “Black Cab” a  glittery combo of a large gold shimmered cross, along with tones of bronze, black and charcoal.  “Royal Blue” is another favorite, with a deep blue so dark it’s almost black,  plus highlights of ivory shimmer, and a big cross in the middle embossed with the Rimmel crown, in a subdued teal. If you’ve previously shunned blue as being too “girly” you’ll find this combo gives you just the right amoung of glamour, with a bit of “tough.”  These are really fun to experiment with, and, at less than the cost of a sandwich, you’ll get some real mileage out of them. The hardest thing will be to pick just a few!

FOR A FABULOUS FACE:

Biore has always been a beloved drugstore brand. Who hasn’t tried those stick on strips that pull an amazing amount of “gunk” from pores you never even knew you had!  But Biore also knows that some women have combination skin. If you’re one of them, you already know that it’s hard to decide whether to treat the oily part while risking either breakouts, or not enough moisture, on the dry parts.  “Bioré^® Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser deep cleans oily T-Zones while thoroughly yet gently cleansing drier areas, leaving skin clean and balanced. The oil-free cleanser has a light, fresh scent, and arrives in a pristine, white bottle with bright blue pump top and attractive graphics.  FYI, this nice cleanser  is now part of the new look of the Bioré^® Skincare collection, now color-coded to help you find the right regimen for your complexion: Orange is ideal for complexion clearing, Blue is for thorough cleansing and Pink is for make-up removing.  Of course Biore has those iconic Pore Strips, along with a lot of other cleansers, astringents, cloths and makeup-removing towelettes.  You can find BIORE products at select food, drug and mass merchant stores. For more information, visit www.biore.com

Garnier is already popular for budget-minded beauty products but now they’ve got a brand new product that’s really special. The Garnier SPF 15 BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector is essentially a tinted moisturizer with SPF 15. But this lightweight cream in a flip-top tube doesn’t just protect and moisturize (for up to 24 hours), it also addresses other concerns such as discoloration, dullness, and blotchiness. Apparently, this “can-do” cream has some pretty impressive attributes: After just one use Garnier’s consumer evaluation study claims that 90% of users had a more even complexion, 93% saw a more healthy glow, and 96% saw smoother skin. The fresh-smelling, rich lotion has Vitamin C, hylauronic acid, lipidure microspheres, glycerin, Vitamin C and tinted mineral pigments.  It  is available in two different, sheer tints: Light to Medium and Medium to Deep, and the tint is “forgiving.” That means no matter what your complexion tone, one of these two will work for just about everyone.  I love the idea that this has UVA/UVB protection, but it only has a minimal SPF 15,  so if you’re really going to be out in the sun, use another sun block as well (for daily exposure such as walking to the store or driving to work, it’s perfect). This is a pampering, tinted moisturizing product. On normal skin, this product nicely evens out skin tone and adds a subtle (not shiny) glow to skin. And it does cover some blotches and imperfections. However, if your skin is seriously damaged and blotchy, you may need another lotion or powder over it for more coverage. But if that’s the case, it still makes a great base. Get this nice newbie at mass market retailers for just $12.99

FOR LIKE-ABLE LIPS:

LypSyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer in HoneyBerry is an ultra-light formula made from pure Swedish beeswax that penetrates deeply into skin, leaving lips soft and smooth, while protecting them with SPF 15. $2.99 brings you this silky, nuturing, non shiny gloss from LypSul, a lip care line created over 100 years ago in Sweden.  The combination of  natural and therapeutic ingredients like organic Shea Butter, coconut oil, Vitamin E and Vitamin A make this multi-tasker a must-have for the entire family.  This one has a slightly fruity and honey-sweet scent that makes it more fun to use.  The packaging is also unique, a slim compact with a yellow, slide-up bar (in the shape of a sweet little bee) instead of the usual, twist-around the bottom, brings the lip balm to the top of the case. If you like LypSyl Honeyberry I have good news — there are other formulas including: LypSyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer which gives a fresh minty flavor to lips, LypSyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer Honeyberry creating the taste of fresh honeyberry, with SPF 15 protection, and LypSyl Extreme Cold Sore Relief.

FOR A PAMPERED, SUMMER-READY BODY:

Winter-weary skin needs extra moisturization and pampering before baring body parts on the beach, and beyond.  And once the Summer hits, you’ll want to keep your skin feeling soft and hydrated as well.  Caress has two new body washes that not only keep your skin moisturized, but leave just a soft and sexy veil of scent, behind. Caress Endless Kiss Silkening Body Wash (it also comes in a a solid beauty bar) is enriched with “Moisture Beads” that you can actually see in the oatmeal-tinted product that leave your skin feeling soft, even before you add a moisturizer.  It’s scented with sandalwood and vanilla, but guess what? The fragrance was developed by experts at Givaudan, one of the most celebrated fragrance houses in the world!  The gourmand fragrance is rich with creamy vanilla and spicy sandalwood, but it’s not overdone. It’s so delectable, you might find people gravitating just a wee bit closer to you.  Body wash fragrances don’t last forever (they’re not perfumes) but for a short while, you’ll feel special and pampered. Caress also has a new body wash called “Passionate Spell” created by the experts at another illustrious fragrance house: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (IFF). This one features a lingering scent of passionfruit and orange rose.  The “fruit” is a bit tart, not overly sweet or cloying, and the floral elements shine through on your skin.  You’d expect to pay a lot more than a couple of dollars for these skillfully fragranced products, but they’re just $3.99 for the 18 oz. and $3.50 for the 12 oz. flip top bottles!  The Beauty bars range from a 2-bar set at $2.99 to 8 bars at $7.99.  These are all available in your local drugstores and mass market retailers right now!  For more information you can also visit: www.caresskin.com

I know a lot of readers are reaching for “fake bakes” now that they’re baring more skin.  But self-tanners do not protect your from the sun’s damaging rays, even though you may look tan. That is, until now. There’s a new version of Jergens Natural Glow, called Natural Glow & Protect with SPF 20. This product not only helps create a gradual “tan” color for fair to medium, or medium to tan, complexions, it has broad spectrum SPF 20 UVA/UVB protection. The moisturizing product (with Vitamin E) can be used daily to give you a neck to toe, tan.  The product starts to develop nearly instantly, and keeps layering on more color every time you use it until you get as dark as you want (up to a week).  Then, use it as maintenance. I like the fact that you can add just a little color if you’re risk averse, or get realistically bronze while doing the type of moisturizing you’d normally do at least once a day, anyway.  If you like the product, you’ll not only use it, but help protect your precious skin.  You don’t need a tanning bad (very, very bad!) or soaking up the sun’s damaging rays, to look bronze. For “glow” and moisturization and decent spf protection, you will satisfy all your desires, and for an amazingly low price of just $8.99.  Jergens new Natural Glow & Protect is available in mass market retailers and drug stores nationwide.

FOR HEALTHY SUMMERTIME HAIR:

Everyone knows that proper cleansing and moisturizing helps keep skin healthy, but did you ever stop to think that your scalp is also part of your skin system?  While many of my readers know to moisturize their hair and treat the ends, they never focus at all on the health of their scalp. Your hair grows from the roots, sprouting up form the scalp, after all!  Now there are brand new CLEAR Scalp & Hair Therapy shampoos and conditioners that focus on the cleansing and moisturization not just of your hair strands, but also your scalp. The collection includes a whopping six shampoos and five conditioners in interestingly-shaped bottles with flip-tops, and more importantly,  infused with “Nutrium 10,” a blend of great for your hair and scalp, nurturing ingredients. The slightly fruity-smelling products cleanse nicely, but you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing a good thing for your entire head, not just your hair (and this goes for the guys, too). The shampoos and conditioners include Total Care duo for all hair types with Vitamins B5, C, E, sunflower, almond, soybean and coconut oils, plus aloe vera. Can’t you just sense the pampering?  Other duos include Damage Therapy; Volumizing Root Boost, Strong Lengths, Moisturizing Dry Scalp, Complete Care for Dandruff.  But the big surprise is the price:  just $4.99-$5.99 for a 12.9 oz. shampoo or a 12.7 oz. conditioner, available in mass market retailers and drug stores right now!

Whether you’re traveling, or find yourself with a last-minute date (and no time to shampoo), Clean Freak Refreshing Dy Shampoo by Not Your Mother’s will instantly refresh your hair so you’re not forced to wear a hat! The dry shampoo with a non-abusive-to-your-nostrils, light and clean scent, absorbs excess oil and leaves a matte finish to give your “I really meant to shampoo but didn’t have time” hair, a fighting chance! The lightweight, take-me-with-you,  1.6 oz. spray can,  is perfect for purse, tote or suitcase and apparently has plenty of television and movie actors and actresses happy it’s there to help them!  You can get this little life-saver too, for just $2.99, at mass market retailers nationwide. No that you know, why would you ever leave home without a can, on hand?!

FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE:

Finally, when the weather heats up, perspiration increases (at least in most of us).  Body odor is not a friendly thing! Two respected companies in the odor protection business have created new deodorant/anti-perspirants that will make you feel fresher for longer, and believe me, everyone will be thankful! From the Degree Women product line comes two new types of deodorant/anti-perspirant protection. Degree Expert Protection $3.97 – $6.25 (2.6 oz)*suggested retail price has Degree’s motionSENSE technology. Exclusive to Degree, motionSENSE™ Technology has a micro-encapsulated fragrance that gives you an instant release of fragrance as you move.  It’s activated by movement, not moisture first, so the more you move, the more it works! Believe it or not you will be “covered” all day long!  The active ingredient is 20% Aluminum Zirconium Tretrachlorohydrex GLY.  A new, light floral fragrance called: “Linen Dry” is just the kind that’s perfect for warmer weather. There’s also a light and user-friendly Cotton Fresh, Fresh Energy, and Active Clean.  Degree Clinical Protection (srp. $7.47 – $10.99 (1.7 oz) also features Degree’s motionSENSE™ technology and what is billed as “prescription strength” wetness protection.  The lotion-style product is dispensed through a swivel up stick that leaves a dry (not wet or sticky) coating.  A new scent called “Cotton Fresh” leaves a light, creamy musk and smooth amber fragrance. Other fragrances you can choose are: Fresh Energy, Active Clean, Sexy Intrigue and Sheer Powder.

Also new and nifty, from DOVE, is their Clear Tone Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant products. Shaving can have harsh effects on delicate underarms causing skin to lose up to 50 percent more moisture, leading to dryness and inflammation. This, in turn, can lead to red and dark marks that 32 million U.S. women experience.  The new Clear Tone products are the only ones in the US specifically designed to reduce red and dark marks and even skin tone. The new formula has calendula, sunflower seed extracts and unique Dove® moisturizers, help accelerate the natural skin renewal process. But to me, the main point is that the product helps control wetness for 23 hours without any white marks. It’s available in two very light and fleeting fragrances: Skin Renew (notes of violet, lilac and rose with vanilla musk); and Sheer Touch (notes of  Citrus with hint of almond and coconut milk).  Dove Clear Tone^® Anti-Perspirant/Deodorants are available in food, drug, mass and online retailers

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Tired of the fruity florals?  You might want to consider splurging (just a bit) on one of three unique and elegant fragrances by Kim Spadaro.  Spadaro Fragrances is a luxe collection of uniquely blended perfumes developed by Founder & Creative Director at Spadaro Luxury Fragrance, Kim Spadaro to celebrate the spirit of adventure and inspire journeys of self-discovery.

All three fragrances are royally, luxuriously and expensively packaged in heavy cardboard presentation boxes,  fastened with gold-trimmed, intricately detailed, white and gold paper “ribbons.”  The fragrances inside are housed in classic, rectangular, clear glass,  lab-style, apothecary bottles. These however, have elegant, gold detailed labels, and plastic toppers over the gold spray diffusers that are dead ringers for the classic glass ones that keep chemical potions from evaporating in labs.

I wear-tested one of the three fragrances:  Sole Nero $135.00 3.3 fl. oz. Sole Nero means “black sun.”  The fragrance is spicy, with an earthy quality, but there’s a sensual sensibility about it that makes it good for a date fragrance or a sexy night in, for two. Sole Nero was inspired by a family trip to Sicily, evoking fond memories of loved ones near and far.  When the alcohol evaporates, what you initially smell is uplifting grapefruit, but then the other notes add spice, including a blend of white pepper and cumin which gives it an incense-y personality, and as it dries down more, you can smell sensual tender Musk, and comforting notes of Almond, Honey and Sandalwood. It is spicy and intense, but it isn’t a cloying or heavy oriental scent, so you can enjoy the spice in a soft way.  In Summer, that’s a must.

The inspiration, according to the press literature is this story:   while on a Sicilian adventure with family exploring the land, they sipped wines from the region, ate succulent sweet summer fruit and watched the glow of Mt. Etna in the distance…inspiring this luxurious fresh scent.  You get the spices and the musk up front, and while not literally evocative of the ash that might have once spewed from the volcano of Mt. Etna, but there’s a soft, dare I say it, “dirt like” earthiness about it too. It’s an unusual, exotic scent that may not be for very young girls, but will definitely appeal to fragrance collectors and chic women who crave something distinctive and luxurious.

The two other scents also sound exotic and lovely:  Noche del Fuego embodies the spirit of Majorca, Spain. It mixes Bergamot, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla and Honey spiked with Paprika, Saffron and warm/cool notes of Black Pepper.  Doux Amour, meaning “Sweet Love” infuses a rare blend of floral essences – Ylang Ylang, Casablanca Lily and Moroccan Jasmine wrapped in a sultry sueded accord of Patchouli, Rare Sandalwood and laced with a sheer veil of Vanilla.

Whether it’s spices, florals, or musks/woods that you love, you can’t go wrong selecting any of these treats from the trio of Spadaro fragrances, available at Nordstrom. Spadaro Sole Nero and Doux Amour are $135 each for 100 ml Eau de Parfum; Noche del Fuego is $155 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum. Matching body lotions and candles are also available. You can also learn more at: http://www.spadaro.co/

After wear-testing a limited edition celebrity  collection by Nicole Scherzinger press-on nails (imPRESS press-on Manicure by Broadway Nails) I wondered why a similar product wasn’t available for toenails. After all, if you can use this new, novel, temporary, press-on nails to enhance your fingernails with colors and designs (in seconds), why not for your toes?

I’m happy to share the news that these no-glue, no fuss, easy to use, temporary nails are also available in collections sized for your toes.  Why should your hands have all the fun?!

Tempt your toes with "Popstar" ImPRESS Press-on Pedicure and get an amazing design you could never do yourself, let alone instantly!

The imPRESS press-on-pedicure it similar to the imPRESS press-on Manicure I reviewed.  One of the main benefits is that you don’t need to glue these to your nails because they have a special, sticky backing that lets you apply them firmly, but then gently lift them off (from the side) when you’re ready to change your look.  Nail glue is a wonderful thing, but it can be messy, and worse,  too much of it can damage your nails. When you wanted to remove the faux nails, you used to have to soak them in acetone (even worse for nails).   For these imPress nails, you simply pick the ten faux nails that fit your own the best (you get a variety of sizes and spares) and then just peel off the cello backing and press them on clean, bare nails.  That’s it!

I don’t know about you, but most people either aren’t limber enough to actually do a good job polishing their toenails (let alone paint a design on them), and others (like me) just don’t see well enough to do it.  But these imPRESS pedicure temporary nails are so easy to do,  most everyone can make their toenails look like they’ve spent hours in the salon, in a few minutes. With sandals season almost here, well groomed toenails are a must!

As with the imPRESS Press-on-Manicure by Broadway Nails, these pedicure-sized faux nails have a few issues.  While you get a lot of different sizes of toenail to try, if your toenails are very large or very slim, getting a perfect fit for your “perfect 10″ might be a bit of a challenge. And, if the nails don’t fit right, they won’t adhere as long.  While most people won’t find this to be much of an issue, finding the right fit is important.  However, you could use some of the larger sizes of the imPRESS Press-on-Manicure nails to get the right fit for your toes.  You might have to cut down the length a bit, and then you’re doing the trendy “mix + match” look, but it’s a possible solution if you love these press-ons but you have tiny toenails..  Additionally (and again, it won’t affect everyone) I personally hate the feeling of a false nail over my own.  Also, depending upon how active you are and what footwear you choose, these nails will last a few hours, a few days, or up to a week. Obviously if you’re doing something where your toes will take a pounding, press-on nails will not survive for long. But, if you’re wearing sandals and flip flops all week, your toes will continue to look mPgood.

That being said, removal is that it is easy and safe.  If the nail hasn’t fallen off (in which case you’re not removing it, anyway) simply gently lift the nail up from the side, and it comes off cleanly leaving nothing behind and taking nothing (eg. the top layer of nail) with it.  This is a real plus. It’s one of the reasons I’m writing this review and recommending the imPRESS nails.  There’s no mess, no commitment, and no danger to your nails.  You can wear them for a few hours or days, and change your style with your mood, or the occasion.

There are 5 patterns + 4 colors:  iCandy, Last Dance, Mystery Girl, Screen Queen, Popstar, Up All Night, Party Girl, Spotlight, and Media Darlin.  The cost is $5.99 for Color and $7.99 for patterns.   iCandy is a nude nail with a white tip that gives toenails a true, French manicure very few of us except circus contortionists could accomplish on their own. “Party Girls” satisfies the bright, neon orange trend with a shiny, bright finish.  And I’m guessing the hit for younger girls will be “Mystery Girl,” a melange of neon yellow and turquoise stripes, plus red and black hearts.  All the designs and colors are fun, nw, nifty and available now at CVS and Walmart stores.  You can also check out the colors and designs  of the imPRESS manicure (and get a discount coupon) at www.impressmanicure.com

Who doesn’t love new makeup for Summer?  Ask any makeup lover, and they will tell you any season is good when there’s a new NARS collection to covet.   The  NARS Summer collection for 2012 is here and it’s lovely! The sun-kissed look is elegant, seemingly effortless, and very exciting.  Somehow NARS always manages to make limited editions and all the permanent colors trendy, but easy to wear.  There’s a real art to making makeup look modern but not crazy, and NARS knows how!  This collection has some bold looks and some subdued as well.  As NARS puts it:  ”Summer brings with it a cocktail of warm earth tones and brazen shimmers. Eyes glisten in icy peach and matte apricot, or shine in iridescent orchid and blue.Lips are subtle in a glossy nude beige pink, or bold in matte strawberry red. A delicate seashell pink lends nails a flattering hue for an overall look that’s sizzling,sophisticated and—like so many summery moments—simply unforgettable.”

The Advice Sisters got a chance to review two lip-worthy items from the collection, so let me first focus on those:  A Velvet Gloss lip pencil called: “Never Say Never”  (deemed a “must-have” by Francois Nars –see the bottom of this article), and a Matte Lip called “Moscow.”

The Never Say Never Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil is a perfect, medium rose (NARS called it a “lilac rose”) that is creamy and moist, but not gloppy. It gives you the moist look of a gloss, but the manageability and wear-ability of a lip pencil.  It’s long lasting so you can use it as a lip liner, filled in entirely as a lip stain, or topped with gloss.  The other color called “Buenos Aires” is a “wear-with-anything nude beige pink Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil is named after the capital of Argentina.

Another long lasting, easy to wear (and great for travel) lip lover’s goodie from NARS is the Pure Matte Lipstick  in “Moscow.” This Pure Matte Lipstick is named after the Russian Capital, of course, but there’s nothing austere about it. The red is called “strawberry” but to me it has just a bit more warmth, so it looks dramatic, but not too pink, and not too “tomato.”  It’s the kind of color that looks significant on lips, but still managed to be natural. If you love the idea of bold lips but don’t want to be too “out there” in tone, Moscow is a Summer must-have!

Here’s how the rest of the collection stacks up!

Another new lip look:  a sheer lipstick called “”Vendages”  (the French word for “harvest” or “vintage”) perfectly describes a new, grape lipstick,  that conjures images of juicy, just-picked fruit off the vine.

For Eyes:  a stunning eye shadow trio called “Ramatuelle,” named for a village in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southeasternFrance. It features two shimmers—silver and icy peach—with a matte apricot that looks more like a soft peachy apricot than overtly orange, and therefore goes so beautifully with the other two colors.  These silky shadows can be worn dry and more sheer, or applied with a dampened brush for more intensity.  The look isn’t pastel, but it is soft, and the look is surprisingly wearable and modern, but not at all “boring.”  The  softness of the trio is a bit of a surprise as the eye shadow duo in this collection is much bolder and more iridescent. That  stunning, eye shadow duo  ”Marie-Galanten” is named for the Caribbean island in the Guadeloupean archipelago. The due features an iridescent combination of orchid paired with regal blue. You can also wear the two, layered, if you like a more bold look.

Add a shimmery plum Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in “Calabria,” named for the region south of Naples, at the“toe” of the Italian Peninsula—it can be worn solo, as a base for powdershadows, or as a liner.

For cheeks:  ”Liberte” is French for” freedom,”  and although I am not sure why this burnished apricot blush is called that, it appears to be very warm.  I didn’t try it personally, but I’m willing to guess that it is also sheer and layerable, as most NARS blushes are, so you can add a “kiss” of color, or layer it on with a deeper complexion or a tan, for more intensity and drama.

For nails: the most subdued color in the collection is “Trouville,” a lovely, demure, seashell pink nail hue that NARS suggests: “would look right at home on the beaches of the fishing village in the Basse-Normandie region of northwestern France, for whichit is named.”  It has a slightly more orange-y hue to flatter a tan, later this Summer.

Francois Nars says the inspirationfor the NARS 2012 Summer Collection was an interst in exploring the interplay of earth tones and shimmers. ”  Nars also suggests that some of the colors, such as the combination of orchid, blue, strawberry red and seashel lpink might sound and appear quite delicate and innocent, but ourhis version of these colors and the way they are combined, results in a look that’s more fun and edgy.  For Nars, the “must-haves” are the Never Say Never Velvet MatteLip Pencil and the Trouville Nail Polish (“because a seashell pink nail is a really fun summer accessory.”).  I couldn’t agree more!

This Summer 2012 Collection from NARS is available now at NARS makeup counters and www.narscosmetics.com

amatuelle Trio Eyeshadow (Limited Edition) $45

Marie-Galante Duo Eyeshadow $34

Calabria Soft Touch Shadow Pencil $24

Liberté Blush $28Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick $25

Vendanges Lipstick $24

Buenos Aires Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil $24

Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil $24

Trouville Nail Polish $18

GET THIS SUMMER LOOK FROM NARS! The Summer 2012 campaign was designed and photographed by NARS Founder and Creative Director François Nars.  Model Ginta Lapina personifies the look. To begin, St. Moritz Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30/PA+++ was applied to the center of the face with the fingertips and blended outward, then set withEden Loose Powder to create an immaculate complexion. To lend the skin alight bronzed look, Laguna Bronzer was dusted onto the face in the shape of a‘3’, starting at the forehead, swept on to the cheek, and then along the jawline.The apples of the cheeks were warmed with Liberté Blush and the face further defined by softly dusting Taos Blush along the hairline.A mixture of the silver and icy peach shades of Ramatuelle Trio Eyeshadow werebrushed onto the lid and blended up into the crease. The apricot shade of the Trio was added in to the crease, with the silver shade swept along the lower lashline. The upper and lower lids were lined with Via Veneto Larger Than Life® Long-Wear Eyeliner. After curling the lashes with an eyelash curler, two coats of Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara were brushed on to the lashes.Finally, the lips were lined and filled with Borneo Lip Liner Pencil—blending with a finger to soften the color. Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick was applied, then topped with Risky Business Lip Gloss for shine.

I have long been a big fan of  Creative Nail Design products, from their amazing nail polish collections, and “Effects” overlays, to their fantastic Solar Oil, and also their hand care products.

Scentsations is the name of the Creative Nail Design hand creams. There have been many collections of these hand enhancers (the Advice Sisters most recently mentioned a lovely, Vanilla-centric collection for the holidays).  And if one Scentsations lotion is good, a collection in a pretty boxed set, is even better!

For Summer,  there’s a floral-centric trio called: Blooming Meadows, featuring hand lotions scented in dark bergamot, magnolia & mandarin, and fresh day lily. You can get them in 8.3 oz. lotion sizes for $9.90, in 2 oz travel bottles for $4.00 each or as a collection of the three in 2 iz. bottles for $12.00.

Hand cream is one of those items that everyone has, but how often do you really enjoy using it?  CND’s Scentsations smell so good, you’ll want to use whatever scent you love, more often. I personally love the trio of mini-sized hand lotions, beautifully boxed in a colorful cardboard of lime green, pink, red, white, yellow and lime, with a cut-out window to showcase the pink, yellow and green-striped bottles with floral graphics, inside.  This makes a super-fantastic weekend hostess gift that impresses without costing too much.  And the 2 fl iz. bottles are the perfect size to tuck into a weekend bag for yourself, too.

The moisturizing lotions are very, very effective. All contain Vitamins A and E plus aloe vera to soothe, smooth, and hydrate, The lotion is emollient but absorbs quickly, leaving nothing but one of the pleasing scents, behind.  Scent however, is a matter of personal taste. The Fresh Day Lily is the lightest both scent-wise, and for the amount of time it stays on your skin. The magnolia and mandarin is more floral and less fruity, but also still light. Bergamot usually has a lemony scent, but CND’s Dark Bergamot is a bit spicy and floral. It’s very lovely and stays on your skin the longest. But all three scents are very pleasing, and you’ll love the way your hands feel (soft, supple and hydrated) with every squeeze of the bottle. These lotions are just exceptional for bringing dry, over-worked skin on your hands, back to life!

Get yours at salons and professional beauty supply stores, and for more information visit www.cnd.com

Julie Tussey

Some women are truly skilled beauty do-it-yourself-ers, but hair color, and eyebrow shaping are for me, two things that are splurge-worthy. I leave these activities, to the pros.

Not long ago I was having my hair expertly colored (with Redken’s new Chromatics, no-amonia hair color) by David Stanko at the Angelo David Salon in mid-town Manhattan. While sitting there, he introduced to makeup artist and brow expert, Julie Tussey.

Brow and makeup services are a new addition to the salon, and that makes perfect sense.  After all, if you’re going to invest money in great hair, your brows should not only match in color (one service Julie offers is brow tinting), and they should be as well groomed as the rest of you.  Furthermore, if your hair is looking great, you want your makeup to look equally as good.  This is especially true if you’re at the salon for a blow-out for a special event, and you’re leaving from there, salon-fresh!

While David worked on my hair, I had a chance to chat with Julie.  It might have been the longest conversation about eyebrows I’ve ever had.  Sitting there being the main focus,  was certainly the strangest interview I have ever conducted, for the Advice Sisters.

Julie, whose mother (also a makeup artist and brow specialist in Indiana), personally trained her.  Former salon jobs for Julie were at  two other great salons:  John Barrett Salon and Warren Tricomi.  Julie doesn’t believe in trendy brows, but believes each person has brows much like fingerprints, that are unique and should remain natural (within limits). Her views have gained her lots of fans, from fashion designers like Catherine Malandrino and Tory Burch, to socialites Katie Lee Joel, Beth Ostrosky, Ivanka Trump, Tinsley Mortimer and Whitney Fairchild.  “I believe brows should be like wings,” she said.

That is a fanciful description, but what does a winged brow look like?  There is a gold standard for brows and there are 6 basic brow styles to get it right.   But brows are like a fingerprint, unique to the individual. Julie believes that a nicely shaped brow isn’t an “arch” but more an “angle” (a rounded angle is 3/4 to 1.4″).   By that she doesn’t mean that your brows should be peaked like Mr. Spock in Star Trek, but that the angle at which the brow starts and stops, and how thick or thin it should be, is determined by your face. Moreover, she says most people have a strong and a weak eye, and you can adjust brows to balance this.  She even mentioned that some of her clients get corrective lift from a bit of Botox, when absolutely needed (she refers people but doesn’t inject fillers herself).

As David continued to work on my hair, Julie and I continued to talk  about symmetry (the “good and bad” side of the face or the lazy eye on one side).  She mentioned two celebrities as examples. Drew Barrymore is a good example of a star with a good and bad side, and she uses her brows to fix that.  Jennifer Anniston used to have rounded brows when she first started out, but now hers are more angled which opens up her face. Here is are two photos of Jennifer Anniston. You can really tell the difference!

my brows a few months ago

brows after Julie Tussey shaped them

One of the most damaging things a woman can do to her brows is over pluck them, especially when she is young.  While teenagers love to experiment with new looks, once a brow is plucked out from the root, it may never come back.  But Julie helps women of all ages who have over-plucked their brows to bring them back to life. You can do that with good shaping, with brow revitalizing products and with good products that add the appropriate color in the right places.   She told me that pencils need to take the place of a strand of hair, and you need to place the pencil strategically.  Powder products are softer, but also shouldn’t be used to totally color in a brow.

Thin brows are not my personal issue. In fact, they’re naturally thick and wire-y, so when Julie plucked a few strategic hairs here and there, but mostly she cut the length down with scissors.  Then she asked David Stanko to tint them a Cinnamon color.  While I would never consider tinting my own brows, the brighter color added a definite lift to my face–no additional brow color would be needed for a while, but a bit of blond brow gel from MAC tamed the brow, a bit more.

Although I didn’t get my makeup done, apparently Julie has plenty of  celebrity clients.  She mentioned a few favorite lines such as MAC Cosmetics and NARS, but she is a big fan of Laura Mercier’s products (she used to be a Laura Mercier makeup artist), and I noticed that she had some Laura Mercier powders displayed on the counter in her brow/makeup room.  ”I love handing someone a mirror when I’m done and seeing her begin to sparkle from within,” she adds. “I help women find that inner light, that moment of love. There’s always an instance when it happens. And that’s what keeps me going.”

If you’d like to get the celebrity treatment for brow shaping, tinting, or makeup application from Julie, she’s available at the Angelo David Salon (48 East 43rd Street 2nd floor, 646-666-7300 | 212-883-6620) and you can also check out her web site.

When I first started reporting on beauty backstage at New York’s fashion week runway shows, nails were somewhat forgotten.  Sure there were nail techs putting polish on the models’ fingers and toes, but usually it was just a standard color that looked nice and blended in.

Over the years, designers have increasingly realized that nails, matter. Nails, and fashion, go hand in hand (pun intended).  These days, you’re likely to see a nail color mixed just for a designer’s runway show.

NARS founder and creative director, Francois Nars, has already worked with fashion designers such as Thakoon Panichgul. And now the two have created a  limited edition, six-shade nail collection for NARS ($18.00 each).  Available now,  the literal bouquet of bright colors created by Thakoon were inspired by the colors in Indian spice markets.

These colors are not just bright and beautiful, they are of the highest quality:  highly saturated, high-shine, opaque and easy to apply, and long wearing and chip-resistant.  The formula is also toluene-, formaldehyde- and DBP-free.

‘Since his first collection in 2004, the Thailand-born, Nebraska-raised designer’s clothes have graced chic, modern women around the globe, including Jessica Alba, Marion Cotillard, Rachel Bilson, and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Even if  it’s not in your budget to buy Thakoon clothing, these exceptional nail polishes are designer originals that will cost you just $18.00 each.  And trust me, no matter which of these shades you pick, you will get noticed.

Shades include:Anardana – Azalea pink

Ratin Jot – Orchid purple

Amchoor – Bright yellow

Kutki – Powder blue

Koliary – Cyan blue

Lal Mirchi – Mandarin red (only available at NARS 413 Bleecker Street Boutique)

It might be difficult to pick a favorite, even from the photo above.  But I recommend to in particular:  ”Kutki” is a powder blue that is almost the color of an Easter egg. It’s Springtime, personified. I also like it with a glittery overlay for a party or evening.

For the more daring, “Amchoor” is a clear, bright yellow almost the color of a fresh daffodill. Maybe you wouldn’t wear it with Winter tweeds, but for Spring and Summer, especially on toes, it’s fresh, modern, and exciting.  It makes you feel happy, just to see bright yellow nails that scream “I love warm weather!”  They’re a way to show a “wild side” without going all the way over to crazy clown.

Visit your favorite NARS boutique or makeup counter, or www.narscosmetics.com

When I was much younger, I was a proud, Avon representative.  I chose Avon because I knew, even back then, that AVON is a leader in the skin, cosmetics and fragrance arenas. But now, today, as a beauty reviewer, I’m literally wowed  with the array, quality and trend-worthy accessories Avon offers.

What I didn’t really know much about was Avon’s impressive line of hair products, called Advance Techniques. From shampoos and conditioners, to stylers, soothers and finishing products, these are not just affordable, but offer high tech, high quality, high performance.  Now, Avon offers DIY hair color, too.

Avon’s Advanced Techniques Professional Color is Avon’s first hair color line in the United States.  It launched this Spring.  To learn more, editors were invited to meet Lori Goddard, a celebrity colorist  and Avon Advance Techniques Professional Hair Color Global Expert.  The first thing I noticed about Lori was that she had beautiful hair. When I complimented her,  she immediately told me that her color was created with Avon’s Hair color.

Avon’s hair color is a three-step process.  There is a pre-treatment that helps mend damaged hair so color absorbs evenly and is protected while coloring. This is important because you hair may havedamaged patches that may be more porous (and therefore absorb more color and create an uneven color).   Step two is where the magic happens, you  apply the color.  It’s at this point I caution you to really read the instructions carefully.  If you apply the color all over at the same time, some parts of your hair may absorb more than others.  This is true for any do it yourself hair color.  Knowing how and when to apply the color, and how long to keep it on your hair, is essential.  But Avon makes it as easy as possible, with a a non-drip formula that keeps you, your clothes, and your bathroom, cleaner and easy to manage. Finally, the last step is a Lock-In TechnologyPost-treatment with shea butter that helps keep hair healthy, helps to reduce fading, and creates more lasting color and shine.

All of this sounds wonderful, but at-home hair color is not for everybody.  I selected two colors (one is the color Lori uses on Fergie) but then chickened out on actually using it.  But for just $7.99, if you are someone who colors her hair at home, this new coloring system seems to offers a lot, for very, very little.  Editors saw the results you can achieve on a real model. A young woman who volunteered to have her hair colored by Lori, prior to the editor’s event.  Her hair looked healthy and shiny, and richly-colored.

If you are ready to try a new product and get gorgeous color, there are ten red to blonde, four deep brown to red, nine brown, and two black shades that give you a lot of colors to work with (and you can mix them together, if you feel like it).  In general, you should select a shade no more than 3 levels darker or 2-3 levels lighter than your natural or colored shade.  For a touch up or to add some life to your existing hair color, these new shades will wow you. But for dramatic changes or for complicated highlights. It’s still best to seek the assistance of a professional.

No matter who colors your hair or what hair color you’ve applied, Avon has a bunch of hair care products that will help you keep that color looking great.  For starters, I really like the Avon Advance Techniques Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner ($6.00 each for 11.8 fl. oz.) And if you color your hair, you can use the Advanced Techniques Color Protection Lock-in Treatment every time you shampoo. For $8.00 you get 3 tubes of Avon’s excellent, Heat Infusion Treatment.  This not only helps strengthen color treated hair, it makes it shiny and more manageable. The product warms on contact with wet hair and scalp to infuse both, with moisture. Although I can’t corroborate this, Avon claims when you use this product (in conjunction with the other Avon Advance Techniques Color protection products), your color could last up to 6X longer.

Another favorite Avon Advance Techniques product on my “love” list is the award-winning, $12.00 Lotus Shield Frizz Control.  This product is also a leave-in treatment that was inspired by the natural protective shield of the lotus leaf.  Applied to clean, damp hair, it adds a lightweight moisture barrier that might not completely eliminate frizz in a rain forest, but really makes hair look sleeker, smoother and shinier under normal conditions. You’ll see instant results that can last up to three days. Now, that’s amazing!

These and lots of other great Avon Advance Techniques hair products are available through your favorite Avon representative or at www.avon.com

How many heat styling tools do you own? If you’re like most people, you’ve got at least a hair dryer and perhaps a flat or curling iron.   However, old tools wear out and don’t do your hair justice.  Old, low-tech heat tools are foolish! There are so many new tools that come with all sorts of innovations, bells & whistles.  They’re an open and shut case for purchasing something new.  And you don’t have to go broke to get “good heat.”  Here are some of the latest and greatest you can try that are good investments that will make you look good!

Conair YOU Wrap & Wave is versatile & fun touse!

There is never any need for lackluster hair or boring heat styling tools. Conair has an entire line of heat stylers and hair dryers that are not just colorful and fun to use, they can literally and dramatically transform the way your hair looks. You create your own, unique look, so the Conair collection that lets you show your individual style is fittingly, also called YOU.

You Wave Ultra makes crimps and beachy waves

There’s more than one way to make curls, for example.  Conair’s YOU collection has ten curling irons and crimpers to make just about any kind of curl or wave design your heart desires and a bunch of really nice hair dyers, too.  There are even a couple of cordless models great for travel.  Conair’s YOU tools feature Tourmaline Ceramic with nice digital displays, and heat up to 400 degrees ( in about 30 seconds), to give you natural waves, oval waves, tight spirals, or crimps.  Each has a bright, distinctive color which makes them more fun to use. If you are really looking for something unique, try the YOU Wrap & Wave Ultra. All are $29.99-$39.99.  It looks something like a flat iron, but two metal rods “crimp” hair so you quickly transform your style from straight,  to beach waves, to finely-crimped hair that even Cleopatra would covet!  The YOU collection features more traditional flat irons and curling irons, and a bunch of clamp-free models. The tourmaline technology helps hair stay shiny and less frizzy and the effective heating system means you don’t have to keep the heat on your hair as long as with some other irons. This minimizes damage.  There is also an auto shut-off in case you get distracted, so you won’t burn your furniture or worse, start a fire. The Advice Sisters tried a few of these, and had fun using them.  All are super-easy. However, the one thing I’d caution is that you really need to use the weird looking (but helpful) three-fingered heat glove when working with the clamp-free models. If you don’t protect your hands and your skin touches a 400 degree styler, you’re going to get a painful burn Whatever style you want, from big waves to super-straight, it’s all about what YOU want. All of the YOU stylers are available at drugstores and mass market retailers and visit www.conair.com to learn more about all the amazing things Conair has to offer.

One look that is a favorite of stars walking the red carpet, is a halo of long, loose, bouncy, spiral curls. John Frieda also has an impressive and large,  Spiral Curls clamp-free curling iron with a 3/4″ to 1 1/4″ barrel (srp. $48.00). While it isn’t as colorful as Conair’s YOU collection stylers, it is a very classy, high tech looking tool. It has advanced ionic conditioning, heats to 400 degrees (in 30 seconds),  offers a true ceramic heater, titanium ceramic coated barrel, auto-shutoff, and advanced ionic conditioning (to help hair look smooth, shiny and less frizzy). The digital display lights up a cool blue, so it is easy to see the settings that are nicely display on the front of the handle. You can get this spiral curl wizard at mass market retailers and drug store, and visit www.johnfrieda.com for more information

Keratin helps to strengthen hair and make it smooth and shiny.  So does the Keratin Therapy Iron ($50.00) by Remington. You can see it in the montage photo — it’s on the top left.  This is just one of Remington’s new collection of heat stylers that feature a Keratin-conditioner right in the stylers.  Keratin is an essential ingredient in healthy hair that occurs naturally, but these clever tools infuse it into your hair as they style.  The keratin also lasts for the lifetime of the styler.

While there is a clip-less curling iron and other items to like, I tested the flat iron because if a flat iron is well designed, you will not only get straight her, you’ll keep it from too much harm.  When hair is being straightened, lots of damage can occur, and every split end and dull strand, shows. This Remington beauty is an iron that’s heavy and substantial, with a unique, streamlined design, easy to access side control buttons, and with a space age-y on/off power indicator and digital heat control read-out lit up right on the top of the iron.  The iron heats up fast–within half a minute, all the way up to 450 degrees. You can even “turbo boost” to the highest setting with a button on the side. But if you forget to turn off the iron and unplug it, the device turns itself automatically within 60 minutes.   You might wonder how heat infusing keratin into your hair would work. The Keratin micro conditioners are released as you style. You won’t smell or feel them, but they offer shinier, smoother and less damaged hair, up to 5-% less breakage and aplitting, and 2x stronger hair, is the claim.  I can’t corroborate that with tests, but I can tell you that this iron steamrolled through frizz and left my hair smooth in just one pass, allowing the highlights I’d just gotten to finally, stand out.  Ceramic floating plates keep your hair in contact with the iron for a smoother glide, while an optional heat sensor that detects the moisture to heat ratio of hair, and adjusts the temperature down to safe levels as it’s working.  This prevents damage caused by a temperature that is too high for your hair. That’s one smart iron!  You get an infusion of keratin therapy plus heat protection without having to think about it. Available at Walmart, Ulta, and www.remingtonproducts.com

BEAUTY TIP:  no matter how advanced heat stylers including hair dryers, hot rollers, curling irons, and flat irons,  have become, constant application of high heat to your hair can really damage it. If you’re using your heat styling tools often (and even if it’s just on occasion), please be sure to apply a heat protectant cream or spray before styling. Your hair will look and feel better, and it will thank you!

One of the joys of embracing a new season of the year, is enjoying a limited edition scent.  Those for the warmer weather ahead tend to be lighter than their Winter sisters, but still seductive enough for a date night or special occasion.

A brand new fragrance that manages to be fun, flirty and generation-spanning, is the new limited edition scent called Guess Seductive Sunkissed, by Guess, the iconic fashion brand.  There’s the characteristic, summery fruity first sniff, but the fragrance quickly becomes more substantial, redolent with spice, wood and vanilla.  It’s sensual, but “kisses” your skin with the scent, instead of knocking you over with it. That’s why it’s amazing, for warmer weather.

Guess Seductive Sunkissed Eau de Toilette is classified as a Floriental Fruity Musk.  “This light-weight addition to the GUESS Seductive fragrance offerings is the perfect compliment to the existing scents in the GUESS Seductive family,” says Paul Marciano, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director at Guess? Inc. Steve Mormoris, SVP Global Marketing for Coty Beauty says: “Coty Beauty is thrilled to unveil GUESS Seductive Sunkissed, a playful and youthful reimagining of the classic Guess Seductive fragrance — “Sunkissed perfectly captures the carefree spirit of summer, wrapped up in the retro glamour synonymous with the iconic fashion brand. ”

Guess Seductive Sunkissed was created by Bernard Ellena of Symrise.  Bernard is the brother of perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena (one of the main characters in the book: The Perfect Scent) and the son of perfumer Celine Ellena.   Guess Seductive Sunkissed starts with sparkling,  top notes of pear, raspberry, black currant blossom and pink grapefruit dawn, but it’s the mid notes of jasmine, Brazilian orchid and vanilla mixed with warm, sensual base notes of musk, teide violet and macassar that you really smell. The vanilla mixed with a nice dose of macassar (ebony wood) plus musk, manages to make this a sexy scent that stick around on your skin, without being heavy handed. Depending upon your body chemistry, the scent will seem more woodsy, more vanilla-y or more a musky fruity floral. But no matter which of the notes appear prominent, the light and feminine fragrance will delight.

The presentation is flirtatious, too. The outer carton is white framed with black and peach, festooned in the middle with black polka dots and a red kiss, plus the Guess triangle logo.  Inside, the clear glass flacon is a glamorous, retro, flat bottom triangle with a clear “crystal” topper over a hot coral spray diffuser. This bottle would be at home on a 1950′s or 60′s dressing table, but it’s modernized and gussied (or should I say “GUESSied” up with a red lipstick charm from the GUESS accessory collection, dangling from the neck of the bottle. A deep coral tinted juice makes the flacon, sparkle with color. The effect is elegant and yet girly and flirty.  Guess Seductive Sunkissed is just what you need to add a sexy “sizzle” in Summer!

GUESS Seductive Sunkissed Eau de Toilette 50ml / 1.7oz  is $52.00. It’s available worldwide at GUESS retail stores, perfumery chains, department stores and www.guess.com. Visit www.guessparfums.com for additional information on the GUESS fragrance collection

About Coty Inc.Coty was created in Paris in 1904 by François Coty who is credited with founding the modern fragrance industry. Today, Coty Inc. is a recognized leader in global beauty with annual net sales of nearly $4 billion. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, passion, innovation and creativity, Coty Inc. has developed an unrivaled portfolio of notable brands and delivers its innovative products to consumers in 90 markets worldwide.The Coty brand portfolio includes adidas, Astor, Baby Phat, Balenciaga, Beyoncé, Calvin Klein, Celine Dion, Cerruti, Chloé, Chopard, Chupa Chups, David and Victoria Beckham, Davidoff, Esprit, Exclamation!, Faith Hill, GUESS?, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Jette Joop, Jil Sander, JOOP!, Jovan, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, Kenneth Cole, Kylie Minogue, La Cross, L.A.M.B. fragrance by Gwen Stefani, La Voce by Renée Fleming, Lancaster, Marc Jacobs, Miss Sixty, Miss Sporty, Nautica, Nikos, N.Y.C. New York Color, Phat Farm, Pierre Cardin, Playboy, Rimmel, Sally Hansen, Sarah Jessica Parker, Shania Twain, Stetson, Tim McGraw, Tonino Lamborghini, Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Wolfgang Joop.In addition, Coty distributes the perfume lines of Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera, Prada, Paco Rabanne and Antonio Banderas in the United States and Canada for Puig Fashion and Beauty S.A..For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

About GUESS?, Inc.Established in 1981, GUESS began as a jeans company and has since successfully grown into a global lifestyle brand. Today GUESS designs, markets and distributes full collections of women’s, men’s and children’s apparel as well as accessories. Throughout the years, the GUESS image has been portrayed in unforgettable, innovative campaigns that have made the brand a household name. GUESS is distributed throughout the United States and Canada in fine department and specialty stores, its retail and factory stores, and on its online store GUESS.com. GUESS has licensees and distributors in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East.  In addition to shopping online, you can find more information about GUESS at www.guess.com