Wouldn’t it be nice if you could wave a magic wand over your unwanted body hair, and it would be banished, forever? You might not believe in magic, but the me smooth at-home professional hair removal system is pretty amazing.

At a recent event hosted for editors by Syneron Beauty Inc., a subsidiary of Syneron Medical Ltd.,I learned about (and then received a reviewer’s sample) of the exciting mē smooth. Powered by patented elōs technology, which combines Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio Frequency (RF) energies, the mē smooth professional hair removal system selectively targets hair follicles and delivers heat deep into the dermis (FYI: the connective tissue layer of the skin located below the epidermis, containing nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands, and blood and lymph vessels) and thereby, inhibits hair growth. Legs can be treated in as little as ten minutes, your bikini zone in two minutes, and your armpits in just 60 seconds! The treatments are fast and easy, and most importantly, effective and safe on all skin tones from fair to dark.  At the editor’s event, a lot of emphasis was put on the fact that people with deep skin tones have had issues with pulsed light in the past, because some devices have caused de-pigmentation of the skin deeper skin.  The mē smooth  could really be a boon for this particular population, because it is the first at-home device to be FDA cleared as safe and effective to treat all skin tones —and in just 7 weeks! , My skin is fair and freckled, and my body hair is light, but when you are treated with high tech devices, even if you are going to a salon, if the person isn’t skilled, anyone can end up with irritation, scarring, burns, infections, or worse.  But the Me Smooth is simple to use, easy and safe and works on all types of skin and all types of hair textures, and you can’t mess it up. All of this information made this device particularly intriguing.  I couldn’t wait to try it.   At the editor’s launch, we received all sorts of technical information about how pulsed light and the elos technology works,  I’ve already had good experiences with some of Syneron Beauty’s other high tech beauty devices, including the  Tanda™ family of home-use light therapy products.  The Advice Sisters have, for example, reviewed the Tanda Zap and the Tanda Clear. But how does the device actually work, and what is it like, to use it?

How elōs hair removal works (the quick version):  Developed by the scientists that invented IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), this unique combination of IPL and RF (Radio Frequency) addresses the limitations of traditional hair removal technologies. The addition of “color-blind” RF technology allows the use of a lower level of IPL energy while delivering a clinically proven removal of unwanted hair, even on darker skin tones, with no adverse effects.   

USING THE ME SMOOTH:    The unit is a small, desktop-size cradle into which the actual hand-held me smooth, is nestled until you want to use it. The instructions were simply and there is literally no set-up other than to put the unit in it’s cradle and watch it power up.  The instruction booklet could have provided a few more details, but you really don’t need much to get started (you can download the “getting started” guide, here). I keep mine plugged in all the time on my dressing table so I remember to use it.

The actual device is about the size of an old fashioned cell phone or an electric shaver.  Choose the intensity you want (low, medium or high) , remove the unit from the holder. Press the elōs activation button on the back of the hand piece to get it to start emitting elōs pulses. Hold the applicator continuously on the area of skin and hair you want to treat, without stopping in one place.  You will know that it’s working when you see the flash of the device.  Do not return to the same spot for at least 10 seconds. One thing we were told is that the hair you want to treat should be close to the skin, so the light and radio waves can penetrate to where the hair grows, beneath the skin, without obstacles. At the editor’s event,  we were told that there would be a shaving attachment so you could multi-task and do hair removal and treatment in one step.  But at the QVC beauty event held in April,  that attachment still wasn’t available.

Another thing to be aware of is that these pulsed light flashes are very bright. At first, when I was staring at my legs while using the device, I got a headache watching those flashes. You can wear sunglasses if the flashes bother you (so you can still see what you’re doing),  or you can simply look away and work your way around by feel (what I did).   As the device flashes, you simply move it methodically across the area you want to remove hair from, until you’ve covered the entire area (the experts at Syneron says about a minute an area, but while moving it around after two to three flashes was painless, more time in one sport became too intense).   While the device is pretty much painless, if your skin is sensitive or you haven’t used the me smooth before, start on low, and move up. On the high setting depending upon how sensitive you are, you may feel some discomfort, although it is very temporary.

There are just a few more things that I think are important for consumers to know about this amazing product, so expectations are met or exceeded.   If you have body hair that is light, it may take longer to remove it permanently, or you may not totally eliminate it. But this is the case for all hair removal systems, not just the me smooth.  My hair is light, and while I used the me Smooth for 7 weeks more than once a week, I am not completely hair-free. But I can say that regrowth is more fine and sparse, and I think, with time and patience, I could end up ditching my razor on my under-arms, and using it less, on my legs.  The Me smooth is not yet cleared for use on the face.

Also note  that the elos head will give you up to 6,000 pulses, which seems like a lot, until you realize how much area you have to cover on body parts like legs, to get results. Replacements are $50.00.  Depending upon your desire to remove unwanted hair and your disposable income, this could be a total steal, or a splurge. It’s not inexpensive at $395.00.  On the other hand, in-salon hair removal is a lot more, and you don’t get to do it in the privacy, convenience and comfort of your own home. Also, you can share the unit (just get different elos heads for your friends/family) so that brings the cost down. And, of course, you get to keep it.

The bottom line: As with all devices, inexpensive or not, how satisfied you are with the results is not just highly subjective, but based on your expectations. The device did work for me, although I still have to spend time with my more traditional hair removal tools, and I’m still using the Me Smooth. If I had paid for the product, I would still be satisfied with it. But the results you get will vary depending upon the factors I’ve mentioned, and how patient you are with the process.

To learn more about the  me™ brand of home-use hair removal systems you should visit  (www.mePower.com),   mē smooth retails for $395 and is (or soon will be) available at your favorite prestige beauty retailers including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Ulta, Sephora.com and Space NK as well as on QVC and mePower.com.   *at QVC the unit is $327.80 plus an additional Shipping & Handling of  $11.72

Stella McCartney and Aveda’s Creative Direction, Antoinette Beenders, styled a ponytail for McCartney’s Fall/Winter Collection, but ponytails are perfect for now, to.  Here is how to do a perfectly sleek ponytail ala Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2013. 

Cheesy as it may sound, it’s the “little things;”  the colorful headband, the inspiring coffee mug, the decorated picture frame, the carefree “boho” clothing, that can instantly add cheer to an otherwise dull day.  And, if there’s one company that knows how to make stuff that “free spirited” girls and women love, it’s the company called “Natural Life.”   The advice sisters first discovered this unique collection of gifts, clothing, housewares and more, at an Editor’s Preview. We were literally entranced by some of the accessories and fashion items. In fact, there’s something “cheery & inspirational” for every personality type.  While I’m personally not a fan of “cute-y” items and sayings, this company has adorable and unique “finds” to satisfy young girls to older sophisticates.  Creator Patti Hughes started Natural Life in 1996, out of her own passion for creating photo keepsakes. Indeed, many of the items both in the catalogue and online reflect a “scrap-booking” sentimentality, with sayings, embellishments, talismans, and gifts that look hand-crafted, with love.

One of my personal favorite pieces from the Spring and Summer collection is the 100% TIe Die Pom Pom scarf in 100% Cotton. 82″ L x 26″ W ($23.00 Style #SCV038).  It is available in a number of combos with colorful pom poms surrounding a long scarf in a  watery tie-dye print. This scarf is long enough to be worn as a belt, or wrapped several times around the neck.  The one I received is a little more subdued in turquoise and lime with turquoise pom poms, but no matter which one you choose, it will add something special to your outfit.

Editors went a bit batty for this Bohemian Scarf/Belt/Headwrap as well.  ($18.50 Style #SCV056). This scarf comes in a rainbow of bright color choices, and is also 100% Cotton. It is 70″ L x 6″ W. Wouldn’t this look amazing on a white blouse or tunic?

Summer is all about carefree days and lounging with friends on the weekend.  We like these 100% cotton Tie Dye Lounge Pants ($30.00 Style #PPL009C ) that comes in bright colors and don’t take life too seriously. Whether you’re wearing them at the beach or pool, or just hanging with friends, the fringe makes these a lot more interesting that the same old yoga pans. 39″ L fits most. Four different tie die combos with the main color yellow, pink, purple or orange. There is another version of these pants, trimmed with pom poms, too!

Pair these colorful pants with an equally colorful tunic, or just wear the tunic as a cover-up, or with jeans – they will be available in July 2013

this is just one of a wide range of picture frames, magnets, clips, keychains and more, to put a smile on someone’s face

you can find a lot of inexpensive but adorable gift ideas at Natural Life!

Natural Life can customize a banner with your initials, name or an inspirational saying

Natural Life has a wide variety of headbands and jewelry for gifts and for making each day, a little more cheerful!

for the hard-to-please: a mug with a saying is sure to bring a smile

You can buy your favorite natural life items on the Natural Life Website: http://www.naturallife.com or check out where you can find Natural Life Items “In person.”

When the seasons change, when you’re stressed out, when you don’t have enough sleep or you’re not feeling well, or even when you’ve over-indulged in face creams and makeup and even SPF products, your face can sometimes pay the price.  Dull, dry skin, or worse, skin that is sensitive and prone to  break outs can be kept under control, at least somewhat, simply with good cleansing and exfoliation.  The old fashioned facial scrubs did deep cleanse and exfoliate, but if you didn’t know how much to use, how long to use it, and how strenuously to massage it in, you could end up with skin that didn’t fare any better than using nothing at all.   It was a real beauty breakthrough when electronic and battery operated facial cleansing/treatment tools entered the market in a variety of price points.  The older units were recommended by dermatologists, but they were often expensive and bulky and not user-friendly to operate.  Today, you can have your pick of devices that are not just affordable, but deliver lots of skincare benefits through interchangeable heads, varying speeds, and slightly different technologies.

One really easy to use, affordable facial cleansing/treatment tools that has several attachments including a pumice stone attachment, is the Spa Sonic Skin Care System.   EpiCare Ltd, the manufacturers , claim right on the box, the Spa Sonic is comparable to the leading sonic skin care system (we all know it as the Clarisonic) and that this unit was previously only available in spas.  What I can tell you is that you can purchase this in mass market outlets in person and online (e.g. Target, Costco, Ulta) and also on the EpiCare Spa Sonic website, where the 7-piece Face and Body Polisher professional kit includes: 1 Polishing unit, 2 Facial Brushes, 1 Body Brushes, 1 Facial Buffer, 1 Pumice Stone, and a Battery Four Pack for $69.99 plus  shipping and handling.  This is certainly a lot less expensive than the Clarisonic full sized unit at $199.99+.

From this reviewer’s perspective, the Spa Sonic does offer beauty benefits. It will cleanse gently, and it has another benefit: the white version is waterproof, so you can use it in the sink, shower or bath. The use of the facial brush will cleanse and even help tighten over-extended pores. Good and gentle cleansing with this brush should, with use, improve skin texture and the look of your skin, and hopefully reduce or eliminate breakouts. The brush heads are soft and even on sensitive skin, these should be appropriate.  On the plus side though, since there are no cords it’s travel friendly, and you can pop it into a beach bag to clean up all the lotion and dry bits from your skin after the beach or pool. And, although I didn’t get one of the new, fun tints like lavender or pink, but the Spa Sonic Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher White that I received is good for the guys, too and it’s waterproof.  The units are no-brainers to operate and frankly,  kind of fun to use.

But that being said, the Spa Sonic is good in it’s class but I wouldn’t compare it to some of the much more expensive models.  There is a downside to a unit that uses batteries and that isn’t re-chargeable. In my opinion after using the Spa Sonic for a while, I have to admit, as much as I like the idea, that the Spa Sonic appears to be under-powered.  There is one speed, and on the unit I was sent for review at least, it was lackadaisical,  at best. I tried new batteries, thinking that perhaps the off-brand sent to me in the box, might be old or defective, but the unit still just rotated in a dreamy fashion, without much “oomph.” That was fine when using the facial brush, since I didn’t want anything vigorous on my sensitive skin.  Ditto for the facial buffing sponge that is supposed to help your moisturizer absorb more deeply into the skin (but it also left some of the moisturizer on the sponge instead of on my face).  Alas, when I tried the body brush,  this hand-held unit just wasn’t energetic enough to surpass a hand-held loofah or a body scrub. The pumice attachment didn’t provide enough friction to remove dry skin, let alone the kind one gets on heels and calluses, even though I soaked my skin first, as directed.

Like anything else, you will likely choose the Spa Sonic based on your needs and your budget. If you keep your expectations reasonable, you’ll be happy with it.   TheSpa Sonic website has plenty of information and E-commerce for the unit and replacement heads, plus and an  informative video.

The Advice Sisters hope your weekend was sunny and fun. Looks like it’s going to rain here, all week. But that doesn’t dull our enthusiasm for the Weekly Beauty Round-up! Here are some of the stories my colleagues are covering this week:

• Mama Fashionista: Learn how Quinn plans to maintain her new red hair color with L’Occitane!
• Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle website: Kiehls has developed a unique skincare product that actually can help reduce the signs of stress and perhaps, prevent them
• BeautyTidbits : Find out why Harshleen can’t stop raving about her latest SPF discovery - Neova DNA Damage Control Everyday SPF 44
• My Highest Self: See the before and after photos when Tina reviews the new Revlon Luxurious Colorsilk Buttercream Hair Color!
• Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog: Maybelline Colorsensational Lipcolor in Born With It No. 015 is a stunning must-have for those ever on the lookout for the perfect pinky nude lipstick, and it’s budget friendly!
• Painted Ladies: Sheila is glad you she purchased Physicans Formula Custom Shimmer Strips Kajal … so you don’t have to!
• TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla spills why Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lipstick is worth the bite
• D.G.S.Beauty: Looking for a new BB cream? Try the Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream!
• Beauty Professor: Ever an alluringly elusive line, the Beauty Professor adores Serge Lutens beauty. This week, she shares swatches and a video review of his famed Teint Si Fin foundation powder!
• Beauty by Arielle: Review of Real Purity’s Cream Blush
• Lipgloss Break: Check out Zoya nail polish Stunning Collection – a must for summer!
• Blushing Noir: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour makes a quick eye look golden

As an AVEENO ambassador, I get a chance to try the newest Aveeno products, and it’s always a pleasure to suggest them to my readers. The reason I endorse Aveeno products is simple:  not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on skin and hair care, but that doesn’t mean that modestly-priced brands don’t deliver. AVEENO, definitely does.  They products are high performance, full of “good stuff” for your skin and hair, and of course, reasonably priced.

Aveeno touts Active Naturals ^®Ingredients in their products. That means Aveeno uses high-quality natural ingredients that are grown in ideal environments for plants to thrive and therefore give you the best beauty benefits. And, when it comes to technology, Aveeno scientists take their work very seriously (I’ve met a few of them, so I know this for a fact). They have very high standards of ingredient selection, formulation and manufacturing, and they work hard to process ingredients so they they retain their strength and purity.  For the consumer, that’s great, but, also, even with high quality ingredients and high tech processes, Aveeno products are surprisingly affordable as well as effective.

Recently, The Advice Sisters reviewed the latest from Aveeno Hair Care:  The Nourish + Dandruff Control Shampoos and Conditioner.  I liked it so much I made it the Advice Sisters Weekly Obsession!

But I was also sent some new Aveeno products that I haven’t reviewed yet.  So, here are a few  Aveeno must-haves for Spring into Summer 2013:

First and Foremost: SPF Every Day to Protect Your Skin: 

A moisturizing sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF of at least 30 is really essential to protect your skin every day, not just when you’re baking in the sun (and you know you shouldn’t be doing that, anyway). Aveeno’s Protect + Hydrate Lotion SPF 30 has broad spectrum, sweat and water-resistant (up to 80 minutes) SPF 30 protection (there is an SPF 50 and SPF 70, as well).  but it also has nourishing oatmeal to help reverse the dehydration of your skin The actives are 3% Avobenzone ; 8% Homosolate; 4% Octisalate; 5% Oxybenzone; and 4% Octocrylene. The 3 oz tube with orange flip top cap is just $9.99.

Just so you know, AVEENO Active Naturals  Colloidal Oatmeal is the a popular skin protectant active ingredient. Oatmeal is tasty in a bowl and makes a nice, chewy cookie, but colloidal oatmeal helps to restore skin’s normal pH and aid in the maintenance of skin’s moisture barrier to prevent and protect dry skin. In 1945, the founders of the ACTIVE NATURALS^® Brand developed a special milling process to create colloidal oatmeal. This finely ground oat locks in moisture and retains the soothing effects of the whole oat grain, relieving dry or irritated skin.tract), help soothe your itchy scalp and nourish your hair. The special properties of oat give it an enhanced ability to absorb moisture and relieve dry, itchy, irritated skin–and it’s really good for sensitive skin, too. Even better, you can use this lightweight lotion on both face and body. It’ll absorb quickly, wont’ clog pores, and has a very light, pleasant scent that won’t annoy your nostrils all day long. Use it–no excuses! 

Be In Your Best Skin,With a BB Cream:

There are plenty of BB Creams on the market now,  and CC creams, too. But which one is going to be right for you, at the right price?  I like Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream with Broad Spectrum SPV 30.  In the best of worlds, you’ll use a sunscreen every day, but I already know that a lot of people, despite warnings and pleading, will not use a straight sun block on their face.  But your face is exposed every second of every day!  A  BB Cream is a good choice for sunblock-phoebes, because it multi-tasks. This one from Aveeno is oil-free, comes in Fair to Light only at this point, but it’s sheer, so it will work on a wide variety of complexions (deep skinned folks may have to wait a while longer for a deeper tone).  A BB cream won’t cover your face like an opaque foundation, but it will blur imperfections so your skin looks better..a lot better, actually.  The actives in this beautiful BB cream include 5% Homosalate, 7.5% Octinoxate,, 5% Octisalate, and 2% Oxybenzone.

The beauty benefits in this BB Cream are thanks to Aveeno Active Naturals’ Soy Complex Instantly to help even and brighten and also blend away imperfections should you have breakouts.  It is sheer enough to look natural, but light reflecting pigments blur imperfections while the cream moisturizes and nourishes your skin and helps to prevent future damage, with SPF 30.  It’s also oil free, hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic . At under $17.00 it does a lot, for a modest price. As far as I can tell, there is currently only fair to light. More on that in a minute

Save Your Cracked Skin:

Sandals season is here, and with it, a lot of dry, cracked, ugly looking skin you can’t bear, to bare.  A regular moisturizer won’t be enough to heal and protect, but Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Healing Ointment offers heavy duty care for irritated, cracked, painful, itchy and dry skin.  The clear ointment locks in nmoisture  so your skin look good, while it’s healing. The product is Lanolin free, fragrance-free and dye-free, and good for  sensitive skin. It’s not a sexy product, but it will at least temporarily protects cracked skin and lips, and also deal with minor: cuts; scrapes; burns, and the drying effects of wind andweather. It will make skin look and feel better within 24 hours, and with continued use,help  fix what ails you. The active is 54% petrolatum. Keep this handy in your medicine cabinet for burns and bug bites, too. For just $8.99 you can banish cracked skin and look and feel better head to toe.  Formulated with soothing ACTIVE NATURALS® Triple Oat Complex using colloidal oatmeal for relief, oat essence to soothe, and oat oil to moisturize.

Just so you know: there is also an Aveeno Skin Relief Healing Lotion. So what’s the difference between a lotion and an ointment?   Creams are a semi-solid emulsion, half oil and half water. Creams are always packaged in a tub or a tube; they are too thick to be dispensed in a pump.  Lotions are thinner than creams, and are often packaged in a pump. They absorb very quickly and feel very light on the skin. Most over-the-counter body moisturizers are lotions. When it comes to ointments, they’re e 80% oil and 20% water. These products can admittedly feel greasy and don’t absorb quickly, but they  trap moisture extremely well. When your skin is really damaged, an ointment is the “big guns” to help heal it. If an ingredient is in an ointment, it is more potent than the exact same ingredient packaged in a cream or lotion. That being said, this particular Aveeno clear, gel-like ointment really does absorb fairly well without leaving an oil slick behind. It is emollient, especially if you use a lot of it, so on really cracked hands or feet I’d slather it on and then sleep in gloves or socks, but otherwise, a little bit, rubbed gently into an itchy, cracked or dry area, will reap big benefits.

Yes, you need a night cream!

Your skin needs different attention while you sleep. For starters, you don’t need sun protection, but you have the chance for ingredients to really penetrate your skin and rejuvenate it, while you are resting. Aveeno Active Naturals New Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream comes in a 1.7 oz. jar. I don’t like to stick my hands in jars, but at night, you need a rich cream. This one has Vitamin B and helps to target what Aveeno calls the “5 Factors of Radiance.”

What are the “% Factors of Radiance?”  Simply put, there are five skin saboteurs you need to attack:  Tone, Texture, Dullness, Blotchiness,  and Brown Spots.

The good news is that you can easily find AVEENO products in drugstores and mass market retailers everywhere.   For more information about the AVEENO^® Brand and its product offerings, visit www.aveeno.com or ‘Like’ them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aveeno.I am pleased to say I’m an Aveeno Ambassador, because I truly believe in the products. The AVEENO^® Brand is one of the brands of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. The AVEENO^® Brand, a leader in ACTIVE NATURALS^®technologies, uses the best of nature to deliver scientifically proven results. Most trusted by dermatologists for its natural ingredients and recommended for more than 60 years, the Brand is committed to developing breakthrough product formulations with new and existing natural ingredients that deliver clinically proven, effective beauty care products. The AVEENO^® Line includes products for face, body, baby, hair and sun protection.

two of the teachers who would make anyone want to learn how to write well

I can’t understand why the craft of writing is taken for granted for so many, especially since few people actually write well, but the ability to express yourself in writing is essential to success in life and career.   However, there is a place where writing is taken seriously.

The staff and students at  the Bronx Academy of Letters,, do understand the power of words.  A decade ago, this unique public school situated in one of the poorest areas of the Bronx, opened its doors to young people fortunate enough to be selected to attend the  Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters. Ten years later, it’s a true success story.  The school has a singular focus: to show young people that if they can express themselves well in writing, they will do better in any path they choose.

Anthony Bourdain addresses the crowd at the fundraising event

On April 30th, this amazing educational institution held an annual fund-raiser featuring celebrity chefs. The host was none other than uber-celebrity foodie and chef Anthony Bourdain, alongw ith  representatives of the food writing journal Lucky Peach. Anthony Bourdain is not just a chef, he is a television star who completely understands the power of both verbal and written communication. He could not have succeeded without these skills.

The event was held at the Metropolitan Pavilion (110 West 19th Street). Bourdain might have been the draw, but the real stars of the evening were the students and teachers in attendance. The students my colleague and I chatted with were not just articulate, but self-assured.  You could see the excitement and hope in their eyes as they discussed their future plans. One young woman I talked to said she had plans to go to law school. A young man wanted to be an engineer.  Nothing is beyond their reach!

The teachers were equally impressive. Lively, engaging, fun to talk to!  One was a poet, the other woman I met was so enthusiastic, she would even make me want to master the intricacies of grammar and punctuation.  Their energy was infectious.  While I am sure there are dedicated teachers at other schools, these ladies really were exceptional.  Unusual for a NYC public high school, the Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters features small class sizes and of course, teachers and students who are motivated and really want to be there.  In two words, I was inspired and impressed.

The fundraising for The Bronx Academy of Letters is used to fill in the gaps that are left from The Department of Education’s funding for basic school needs. Funds help to support programs and activities such as college visits, their newspaper and literary magazine, teaching and student-support staff and much more.

VIP level tickets included four additional dishes, including this aleppo cured salmon, rosewater panna cotta; whipped sheep milk ricotta and green olive tapenade. I admit it: I had two!

In addition to supporting the school, this was a foodie’s paradise. guests had a unique opportunity to sample dishes from  Prune, Roberta’s, Momofuku, Boulud Sud,Briskettown, Ludobites, Toloache, Mission Chinese Food and Chez Sardine with desserts by Del Posto, Babycakes, and Momofuku Milk Bar, and cocktails by Jim Meehan.  While this years’ event is over, you can show your support for the Bronx Academy of Letters and other Urban Assembly programs here.  Of course, you can always purchase tickets for next year’s event when that time comes around again. To learn more about the Urban Assembly and the Bronx Academy of Letters, visit the website: http://www.bronxletters.com/

You can wear a watch to make sure you’re not late, or you can wear a watch that makes a statement.  Some that will help you always be on time, but that will turn heads, are the watches from Nooka.  For example, check out the photo above of some of the delightful colros of the Zub-Zen-V watch by Nooka.  This is a design-oriented company,  first and foremost and their interations of timepieces offer a literaslly dizzying display of different watch faces, styles, and interchangeable bands on some styles,. You can even get some Nooka watches that glow, and an iPod version, too! How would you like your time to be represented? By circles? dots? dashes? a combo? or a watch that it angled in a unique way  Perhaps you’re a traditionalist at heart, and want a metal watch, not one on a silicone band? Nooka has those,, but when you see the dots, circles and dashes of the Nooka collections, it’s hard to refuse them.

That’s why this week, nifty NOOKA is our advice sisters weekly obsession!

As a recent editor’s preview, I had a chance to talk to a representative from Nook. I was simply enchanted by the bouquet of colors and shapes  of the different watches being displayed. But when I said I loved the color green, I scored a Nooka Zub-Zen-V watch in the color of the year, emerald green. My Nooka watch is slightly deeper than the one shown the photos, which I think is more grass green, but it’s close enough.

The Zub Zen-V, like many Nooka faces, reads time through the use of bars. The left and center bars collectively displays the hours, while the right most bar displays the minutes. The seconds are read on the small window display, along with the day of the week right underneath. The Zen-V also features a chronograph and an alarm mode.

As eye-catching as the Sub Zen-V is, it takes some getting used to. Nooka’s distinctive style tells the time a little differently. There are no traditional numbers, but, instead, Nooka’s patented timekeeping display shows the times in dots and dashes.  On the Zub-Zen the time is shown by the two left columns representing the hours and third column representing minutes. My myopic eyes had a little trouble dealing with this, but once I got the hang of it, I loved it! The watch also has time, date, and a stopwatch and alarm. If it’s dark, you can access the time with an EL back-light. While I would suggest immersing your wrist in water while wearing this watch, it is water resistant to 99 Feet (30 M).

The actual watch movement has a stainless steel screw-in back, and even the clasp is unique. You press in on the sides to release the strap. A little hook on the underside of the metal part of the clasp literally slides and hooks into one of the holes on the side of the watchband, to make a perfect fit. But until I figure out that you had to press the sides of the plastic part of the clasp to get it to spring open, I was a bit confounded by the process. I am showing the back in another great color, orange!

You aren’t going to be able to resist getting at least one, and since most of the watches, including the Nooka Zub-Zen V, is  sold at an average $99-$130 depending upon where you buy it, your Nooka will make a great gift for father’s day or graduation, too. Learn more at: http://www.nooka.com/

Nooka also has great looking accessories from belts to tees, shades, and even a unisex Eau de Toilette fragrance that smells fresh and inviting. At the editor’s event, I also got a look at the Nooka Pothra ($36.00) an all purpose pot, which, if you can believe it, is comprised entirely of resin and recycled coffee grounds. If you ever wondered why someone didn’t do something with all of those grounds we throw away each morning, noon, and evening, now there’s an answer. The creative minds at Nooka mixed a biodegradable resin with what would normally be dumped into your trash, and moulded it into a pretty and classic shape. It isn’t just a ” green” (meaning earth-friendly)  pot, it’s good for growing green things (or just use it for storing pens, or makeup brushes or….). Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/nooka

One major issue that women and definitely men have with moisturizers, is that they have to either stick their fingers into a jar of cream, and slather a cream or lotion on their bodies, with their hands. It’s messy, plain and simple. So lots of people skip giving their skin the moisturize it needs and deserves, because it takes too long to apply and absorb, and some people just don’t like the feeling of body moisturizer on their hands, so now they’ve got to stop, and wash of the residue.  Now Vaseline has come up with a solution that might make you and your family members moisturize more often. My sample of Total Moisture, one of the three new Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizers, really eliminated my last excuse for not using a body lotion every day.  The products are a spray lotion that absorbs in seconds, so you can put on your clothes and get on with whatever it is that you need to do.  The can is just like the ones now commonly used for spray sun protection products. It is a lightweight aluminum can ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip in your hand, and it has a plastic, all-in-one, twist-lock spray top. Twist the cap to reveal the spray nozzle and twist it back again to close it. The spray has what Vaseline describes as a “bag-on-valve technology” that uses only compressed air, so it is earth and user-friendly, but the formula is thin enough to deliver a targeted spray to wherever you want the moisturizer to go (about the width of a woman’s wrist). You still have to spread it, but it isn’t messy, and you won’t have to wash your hands to get rid of goo or stickiness.

The Total Moisture variation I tried is unscented and has pure oat extract (known to be soothing) + “Stratys 3″.  Without the fancy name, Stratys-3™ is Vaseline’s patented moisturizing complex that combines three ingredients to ensure that moisture is infused throughout the surface skin’s top, core and deep-down layers. Each ingredient is selected for its unique ability to work optimally at a specific layer of skin so when combined into a lotion, can effectively care for all 3 layers of the surface skin. The way to use this product most effectively is to spray up one side of your body holding the can about 4 inches from your skin, and then spray down . Then quickly rub it in. Your skin will absorb this product quickly, and the little bit left on your hands will just make them better, too.

When I tested this product, my skin was so dry you could see the flakes. After a day or two, all that was “history.” This might be the first moisturizer for the body I’ve ever tried that I actually liked enough to keep by my dressing table and use, regularly.   The other two products in this new line are an Aloe Fresh type with pure aloe, and Cocoa Radiant with pure cocoa butter.  At just $7.99 for a 6.5 oz can, you’ll find Winter’s dry skin quickly slipping away, replaced by better looking, smoother skin you really want to show off!  You can get the Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizers in drugstore and mass market retailers right now.

Looking for a new, gentle,  facial moisturizer that is free of phthlates, fragrances, PEDG, mineral oil and petrolatum, but still helps to diminish the look of dry skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and helps to smooth your skin and make it look better?  Try a plastic pump bottle of Rice Bran Moisturizer from the new facial moisturizer collection by Nature’s Gate (Srp. $14,99 4 fl. oz,) . This particular moisturizer features some powerful peptides and antioxidants such as Oat Kernel Extract ( to help smooth skin), natural peptides from maca (to help promote a radiant and even looking skin tone), and Rice Bran  ( a rich source of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids), plus there is a blend of  7 botanicals that help improve the look and feel of your skin: White Tea, Olive, Aloe, Argan, Flaxseed, Blackberry and Acerola. Other products in the new Facial Care collection include a Lemon Verbena Cleansing Gel ($9.99 8 oz.) for normal to oily skin, an Oil-Free Lemon Verbena Moisturizer ($14.99 4 oz.) for normal to oily skin, An Avocado Night Cream ($16.99 1 oz..  Grape Seed Eye Cream ($19.99 1 oz.) and a Borage Serum ($18.99 1 oz.).

This unscented lotion is, as I mentioned, is dispensed from a pump bottle, which means that you don’t have to stick your fingers into it. It’s very emollient, so best for dry to normal skin.  For those who care, the products are cruelty free (no animal testing or animal-derived ingredients) and they’re vegan.  Also, the Nature’s Gate company prides itself on combining natural ingredients with science,  to create affordable, safe, sustainable, performance and value driven products.  They use  pure, sustainably harvested herbs, fruits and essential oils. Even better,Nature’s Gate partners with WaterAid to develop sustainable uses for rainwater and help communities in Asia and Africa obtain long term access to safe, clean water. Check out all the affordable products from Nature’s Gate on their web site: http://www.natures-gate.com

Your skin is assaulted by so many things, but especially dirt, sweat, skincare products, air pollution and bacteria. These things can clog your pores (you already know that when you see blackheads and enlarged pores).  Getting the “gunk” off your skin and out of your pores can be a challenge, especially if your skin is sensitive. But La Roche-Posay has come up with a Physiological Cleansing Gel ($20.95 6.67 fl. oz.) that arrives in a plastic pump bottle, and helps to clean your skin without causing even sensitive skin to feel dry or irritated. It also has a unique, cooling effect that makes you feel refreshed (especially welcome when it’s hot and you’ve been perspiring).  The technology that makes this particular product particularly good for sensitive skin is something called ” Poloxamer,”  a cleansing ingredient so mild it is used in contact lens solutions.  But the product will help to remove your skin’s impurities while respecting it’s natural physiological balance.  Of course this gel cleanser is good for all skin types, but as someone with sensitive skin, I particularly liked the sample I was sent.  The gel has a very light, fresh scent. It’s refreshing, and it washes off easily, and you can just pump it out of the bottle. This, The Advice Sisters, love!  This product is also Physiological pH, Soap-free, Alcohol-free, and Paraben-free.

Don’t let the word “Physiological” throw you. Physiology is simply related to the natural biological processes that occur in the body of a living organism or, in other word, the normal functions performed by the body of a living organism.

Another feature is that it includes the antioxidant La Roche-Posay selenium-rich Thermal Spring Water that flows through a small village in central France called La Roche Posay. It is a key ingredient in all of the La Roche-Posay skincare formulas.   Apparently, selenium has all sorts of skin-loving benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-free radical properties,and it also helps to fight skin aging while it boosts the skin’s natural defenses. I cannot quantify this, but you can read more about it on the La Roche-Posay web site.

Those with sensitive skin will be excited to know that the product is also soap-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, and leaves your skin with its’ pH in balance. (so it won’t feel itchy or irritated).  There are two other products to consider that I didn’t try:  a Physiological Micellar Solution (a 3 in one cleanser/toner/makeup remover in a no-need-to-rinse, wipe-off formula for $29.95), and a Physiological Ultra-Fine Scrub ($17.95).

Good color cosmetics can cost a fortune, but they don’t need to!  Consider Boots No7.  For nearly eight decades, Boots No 7 has been in the beauty business. But they only really arrived in the United States a few years ago, selling at Target and target.com.  Boots has just re-launched their No.7 Cosmetics range, along with 10 new additions. The advice Sisters like the new lipsticks for $9.99 each called:  Boots No7 Sheer Temptation Lipstick. These glossy sticks glide on easily, even over Winter-weary, not-so-perfect, lips. The slick of color is glossy, but not “obvious.”  You can apply it from the tube when you’re on the go, or make it look more polished, with a lip brush. These also hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. Yes, $9.99 can buy happiness!