Summertime Dos and Don'ts

This is some great information with fun solutions to summer wardrobe conundrums. My friends at Fresh Produce and I have some super savvy advice when it comes to beating the heat, in style. You can thank us now...

1.    Don’t commit accessory blunders

Put those suede boots back in the closet! Make sure accessories are appropriate by paying attention to color, weight and style. Remember to keep it light, airy and fun. (Take the time to get a proper pedicure to start the season off right - take your manicurist your own polish and then touch ups at home will be easy!)

Do match your accessories to the season

Summer scarves like the Island Floral Scarf ($29) by Echo make great headbands to keep flyaway hairs at bay. They even dress up casual skirts or shorts when worn as a belt or sash.  Summer is also a great time for fun and whimsical accessories like the Silver Starfish Necklace ($24), Crystal Starfish Bracelet ($19), and the Blue fish Pendant Necklace ($24).

2.    Don’t let the heat determine your hemline

Hotter temperatures shouldn’t automatically mean less clothing. Let your summer outfit choices reflect your personality with color and patterns. If "daisy dukes" aren't for you, don't wear them! Try a pretty printed maxi dress or versatile and lightweight roll-up pants. (And this is where a nice faux glow will come in handy)

Do wear clothes that make you look and feel fabulous

If short shorts aren’t for you, try something that’s back in style this summer: the Bermuda short! The Gigi Pedal Pusher ($69) comes in an exclusive palette of bright colors and is a great active short for summer fun. Skorts are back on the “what to wear” list, too. The City Skort ($54) feels like casual wear, but looks like a great all-occasion summer skirt, making it our go-to choice this summer.  

3.    Don’t let wardrobe malfunctions cramp your summer style

The biggest summer-fashion mishap on our list: the peak-a-boo bra strap. Too many summer tanks and dresses leave room for unwelcome strap appearances. (And while it may look good on models or actresses, trust me; no one at your kids camp or the grocery store is interested in what kind of bra you're wearing today.)

Do choose summer items with considerate details

Tanks like the Horizon Cowlneck Tank ($39) and Layering Tank ($34) are cute to prevent the dreaded “strap slide.” Even the flattering Dragonfly Impromptu Dress ($89) with its open back is cut to be “no fuss, all style.”

4.    Don’t get a sunburn

Not only is sunburn the leading cause of skin cancer, but it also ages your skin. Never leave the house without your SPF and lightweight clothes that shield your skin. (See, it's not just me saying this! There are so many gels, lotions and sprays out there - no excuses!)

Do use clothing and accessories to protect your skin

A hat like the Ginger Poly Braid ($38) from Wallaroo has a wide brim to give you added protection from the sun. Plus, a loose-fitting top in a breathable, 100% cotton fabric blend is a great way to cover and protect shoulders. Both the Twin Peaks Top ($55) and Fringe Poncho ($59) have open sleeves and hang loosely, making each top the perfect, light layer to shield you from the sun’s rays.

  

Get a Faux Glow

I dabble in self-tanning. I used to go to the tanning bed regularly, but it's awful for your skin. It ages you way too fast (hello wrinkles!), increases your chance for skin cancer and it's expensive to keep up with the lotions, creams, eye-wear and what-not. So I quit. And I got pale.

Let's face it. Everyone looks better with a little color. Your skin looks more toned, you can camouflage annoying things like spider and varicose veins and for me, at least, it improves my mood to have a little color when I look in the mirror, see pictures of myself or wear shorts or a skirt. You, too?

I was lucky enough to be able to try Tarte's Brazilliance self tanner and I have to admit, I really like it. It comes with its own mitt for application (I think that's becoming a new trend), but I tend to be really clumsy and messy with my legs, so I don't always use it.

Tarte's formula is nice for a few reasons. First and foremost, it's a dark gel formula, so you can see it on your skin and I find that's helpful in letting you know where you might have missed a spot. It's not fool-proof, but it does help. Second, while it doesn't claim to be, I think it falls somewhere between one of those gradual self tanners and a regular self tanner. You'll definitely see color with just one application - but I usually apply one, wait a couple of hours, and apply the second. Start with one, but don't be afraid to slather on a second coat if after a few hours you discover you'd like more color. Last, but not least, the formula is actually good for your skin. Infused with maracuja oil, vitamin C and doesn't smell awful. I can't lie, I still think it smells, but it's not the awful self tanner smell from the 90's. Maybe I just have a sensitive nose?

Here are some steps to make the process painless and easy.

1. Exfoliate/Shave. It will help your tan fade evenly and remove dead skin cells which may hold onto pigment more than they should.

2. Moisturize - if you have dry skin, and really don't most people have dry knees and elbows? (Don't forget your feet here - they get dry, too!) Choose something light - a daily moisturizer. You don't want to be greasy, just lightly hydrated.

3. Invest in a pair of latex gloves. (Or a box.) I like the mitt for smaller areas, but prefer to use my hands and fingers on my legs and I don't trust that all of it will wash off, so gloves are my best friend.

4. I apply a line of Brazilliance from my ankle to my knee and start by rubbing left to right, followed by up and down. This seems to be the best way to ensure there are no weird patchy places. Go easy on the places you know are dry - knees, elbows, etc. Same process for arms. It's intimidating at first, but just jump in there and go for it!

5. The formula dries pretty quickly - just give it a few minutes to complete drying and then go about your business. When you check on it in a few hours you can decide if you desire more color and can apply a second coat.

6. Enjoy your faux glow!


Want to get your own? You can pick up a tube of Brazilliance at www.tartecosmetics.com
for $37. Or you can snag one at Sephora or Ulta stores.

Reviewing Starlooks Beauty Subscription Box

Sample Box from March

What can I say? I'm a lucky gal. I get to test and try lots of products that are new, or you may not have heard of yet and then report back and let you know what I think. You can think of me as giving you the inside scoop on beauty products far and wide!

So, naturally, I was excited when this package from Starlooks (the Starbox) showed up on my desk - I love new things and this was something I had never heard of before.

Lash Boost Mascara Primer

Now the concept is the same as some other monthly beauty subscription services - once a month you'll receive a box full of new products to try out, but unlike other services, these are all products from the Starlooks brand. You may be saying to yourself, "But, I've never HEARD of this brand...why should I try this out instead of something else?" Trust me, I said it too!

There are lots of other subscription services out there sending out brand name products - but don't forget, they're samples. With the Starbox, you get full-sized PRO quality makeup at a fraction of the cost. And the products chosen for each box are picked carefully so that you might use them together to create a specific "look".

Infinity Lipstick in Ageless

While not every product is perfect for every body - the products you DO fall in love with (like for me, the mascara primer- it has become a stable in my beauty routine) are available for purchase by themselves when you run out (or if you want to share with a friend!)

You can try one box at a time, or pick up boxes from months past (if they've not sold out) and try it yourself. Once you get it home, if there's a product you're unsure of how to use, check out http://looksbook.starlooks.com for tips and tricks and recommendations that can help. Starbox prices start at $15 per month, and individual items begin around $14.

It's a fun, inexpensive way to get top-quality products shipped right to you door, and an easy way to try something new.

Clean up for Summer with these marine-inspired products

How do I love H20+'s newest line of body care products in Sea Moss and Sea Salt? Let me count the ways...

1. The first thing you notice is the SMELL. It's amazingly light and fresh with the scent of water lily and marine accords. Heavenly!

2. All of the H20+ line is great for your skin - whether you're using the body wash to cleanse, the body scrub or skin smoother to exfoliate, soften or smooth, or the delicious body butter to moisturize and hydrate. They use ingredients like sea fennel, sea lettuce, black sand and mineral rich algae to pamper skin with things found in the sea.

3.The products work great together - wash, exfoliate and moisturize and all still light enough for you to include your favorite fragrance on top.


Definitely give these products a try - you won't regret it! They're available online at www.h20plus.com

Hair Protection Is A Must

Summer heat can wreak hell on your tresses. Protect them this summer with Philip Kingsley's Body and Shine Kit. Elasticizer, shampoo and conditioner work together to help hair stay healthy, moisturized, and healthy. Perfect for use at the beach or just during the summer months. 

Pack these little items in your bag and have great hair and a great trip! www.philipkingsley.com

Fake that beachy glow

It's that time of year again, We're not quite Pale, nor quite tan. Luckily I found a fake it that will make it seems as though you spent the week in the tropics.

Vani-T Bronzing gel for the new millennium will give your skin a nice subtle glow and a hint of color without looking fake or orangey. Because let's face it no one wants to look fake or orangey

Vani-T bronzing gel is amazing. Once your skin is prepped having been exfoliated and moisturized, you're ready to apply the vanity system.

The system includes a bronzing mitt which I highly suggest you use. This will keep application streak free and looking the best it can be. It will also keep your hands from turning crazy shades of orange.

I started on clean-shaven moisturized legs once I was ready to apply Varity I use the enclosed mitten at squirted a little Vani-T on the mitten and applied to my legs in circular motions. The lotion sinks into the skin quickly and does not leave a greasy film. Within hours my color had begun to develop. I was on my way to Being Tan!

One word of advice. You do have to be careful around the palms of your hands elbows and knees, as they tend to absorb color in the fastest amount of time. Moisturizing these troublespots ahead of time will greatly improve your results.

Get a Glowing Complexion

It's getting close to that time of year again, ladies. Time to begin exfoliating and getting some much-needed color on those pretty faces of yours. How should you do it? Never fear, I've got a step-by-step explaining how to take your face from drab to fab.

For a gorgeously glowing complexion:
Step 1: EXFOLIATE
There are several ways to do this effectively, depending on your budget and your preference.

Revision Brightening Facial Wash and a Mia Clarisonic device.


Step 2: MOISTURIZE
Ensure that your skin is as healthy as your glow shows - here are several products that will help:

• Skinfo Vita Lite Moisturizer, packing a rich blend of antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, green tea extract and coenzyme Q-10 to quash aging free radicals before they reach your skin.
  
• Intraceuticals Rejuvenate Daily Serum plus Antioxidant Booster to revitalize dull skin and improve elasticity.

Step 3: SMOOTH ON SELF-TANNER
Skip the embarrassing streaks with Dermaquest DermaGlow Self Tanner- Face—the self-tanning ingredient Erythrulose promises a gradual and even tan. Plus, advanced liposome technology repairs and prevents UV-induced DNA damage.

Vani-T Bronzing Silk ( more on this next!)