Top NEVER FAIL Valentine's Day Gifts Us Ladies Will Love

Yes, something in a little teal box from Tiffany & Co.!

If you are at a loss for what to get your girl for Valentine's Day, here's my short list of the TOP NEVER FAIL gifts us ladies love. Pay attention! These are the top winners in both the romance and thoughtfulness categories. If your guy drops the ball, go and get a few from this list YOURSELF. So here we go:

Valentine's Day Gifts that are both thoughtful and romantic

Trendy Fragrances
Usually perfume is a bit of roll of the dice. Still us girls appreciate that you think we are sensuous enough to pull off wearing something a bit daring. Trending now are creations from pop artists like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga as well as fashion houses like Tom Ford and Juicy Couture. This is not your Mom's Chanel No. 5! Keep it new, keep it fresh.

Malibu by Juicy Couture says "Beach me".

MAC-BollyDoll Makeup Brushes and Bag Collection
Here's a new collaborative release between MAC Cosmetics and BollyDoll featuring Moghul era inspired designs by artist-singer Amrita Sen. Choose between Pink or Blue Indian motifs. Set of 5 limited edition MAC Makeup Brushes is sold separately but fits neatly inside the bags. Get both! See them at MACCosmetics.com

MAC-BollyDoll Makeup Bags and 5 Piece Brush Set

Chocolates
This may seem trite but NO. Get these especially if you KNOW the girl likes chocolate. My favorites are Godiva, Russel Stover and Whitman for their All Milk Chocolate Sampler. Reusable heart shaped boxes and tins gain you extra points! 

Godiva Chocolates...the bigger the box, the better!

Fine Wine
Now you should pretty much know what we like by what we order at dinner such as a Riesling, Chardonnay or Zinfandel white or red, etc. Get something you will also enjoy as we don't like to drink alone!

South African wines from Kaia Wine Bar

Wine Charms
Cate & Chloe's delightful Wine Charms are perfect for a date night or toasting with others for Valentine's Day. Delicate heart shaped wine charms let you know which wine glass is yours when placed around the stem! The February Perk of the Month from Cate & Chloe.

Lovely Heart Shaped Wine Charms from Cate & Chloe

Jewelry
This is another area where your powers of observation are going to help. Does she like big bold statement pieces or small demure chains and stones? One caveat. If she has been hinting about setting a wedding date, skip this one all together unless you are ready to present the serious ROCK. That is what she will be expecting so don't go there. 


TrueFacet
You can find a lot of new, never worn & vintage pieces at TrueFacet. This is especially wonderful if a certain piece is no longer being made or you simply want something a bit "off menu". Here is a lovely Tiffany and Co. "Return to Tiffany" round charm bracelet in sterling silver. Simple yet exquisite. Visit TrueFacet.com for more fine designer jewelry selections.

Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet

Cate & Chloe have a great Monthly Jewelry Subscription that will deliver new pieces to her every 30 days. Chances are she will find something she loves in the subscription. You can also purchase pieces "a la carte" such as this set I made with these stunning Danielle "God Like" Earrings and Layla"Beauty" Bracelet. White gold plated with cupid cut CZ stones and Austrian Crystal embellishments. Shown here with my designer Isaac Mizrahi cocktail watch, get ready to wow her. Visit Cate and Chloe online.

Danielle "God Like" Earrings and Layla "Beauty" Bracelet by Cate and Chloe.

Lingerie
This can be a bit tricky but when you get it right, SO worth the effort. Check out GaveThat.com's Lingerie Buying Guide: On Giving Lingerie first. Otherwise, just keep the receipt and include it with your gift. That way she can swap out for something else. Most of the time we will feel flattered that you took the time to purchase something sensuous for us and will wear it for you. Ta dah! That's a Valentine's Day gift for you!

Lingerie from Victoria's Secret and Donna Karen, NYC

Young&ng Lingerie Gift Sets: Two Sheer Boxed Panties,  Dinha Marie Bra & Brief

Loungewear-Zooops Designer Adult Onesies
Perfect for snuggling up by the fire are these super comfy Zooops are made of 80% cotton/ 20% Polyester with a super soft fleecy lining. Shown here in the Classic American Flag, they come in lots of designs with sizes from XXSmall-XXXXLarge. Two hand pockets up front with two zippered pockets on the side. They are unisex adult onesies so get a set for yourself too! Visit Zooops Online 

Zooops Designer Adult Onesies-Classic American Flag Design.

Manicure Travel Kit
While you may not know what color nail polish to get, you can't go wrong with a really well made manicure travel kit. This one is from Crabtree and Evelyn, London and has everything she'll need to keep up her mani on the go.

Manicure Travel Set from Crabtree and Evelyn

A Mason Pearson Hairbrush & Rake Comb
An iconic, luxury hairbrush that Lady Diana was said to have kept in her handbag. Mason Pearson has been making these beautiful brushes in London, England since the 1800's. The natural boar hair bristles likewise clean the scalp and distribute sebum from the oil glands. The Mason Pearson Handy 100% Boar Bristle Brush below has 6 rings of stiff bristle tuffs and should last for many years. Likewise the Rake Comb is made of one piece and highly polished. Available at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom as well as online. 

Mason Pearson Pure Bristle Brush, Rake Comb and Brush Cleaner

Salon Gift Certificates
Salons such as Christo Fifth Avenue offer many beauty services as well as hair care products to take home. If you know where we go, why not give a gift certificate for our favorite place?

A day at the salon! Christo himself of Christo Fifth Avenue

Our Favorite Store Gift Certificates
You most likely already know our favorite stores because we've probably dragged you to quite a few! Gift cards or certificates are a great way to let us pick something out that we'd like, be it shoes, jackets, dresses or tops which might otherwise be hard to size for us.

Store Gift Certificates make a great gift. Pineda Covalin - Soho, NYC

A Night In
Valentine's Day evening is often the busiest restaurant night of the year. Added to that, Valentine's Night falls on a SATURDAY this year. With crowds like that you can expect long waits and rushed service. Why not cook something yourself or grab some exotic take-away and bring it over? This way you both can enjoy the wine, chocolates and presents with a cozy dinner. Now THAT is a romantic Valentine's Day!

A night in. Asian Take-away!

A Sensual Massage
One of the best oils to use for massage is Sweet Almond Oil. It is light, nourishing and easily absorbed. This delicious blend by Sublime Beauty contains this plus: aloe oil, sesame oil, argan oil jojoba oil and vitamin E. Give the Mini Face Brush Set and Daily Body Oil together for the ultimate skin pampering treat. The perfect way to end (or start) the evening! Find both at SublimeBeautyShop.com

Going away for Valentine's Day Weekend? Pack this Natural Body Oil for the: bath and massage.

Godiva & Whitman Chocolates - Mine
South African Wines - Mine
Mason Pearson Cleaner Brush - Mine
Victoria's Secret & Donna Karen Lingerie Sets - Mine
Clothing, jewelry,fragrances and accessories c/o the designers so mentioned herewith.

NYFW Runway 500 Eye Makeup Designs Esum Brushes, Pur Minerals and Sephora's Makeup Forever

500 Eye Makeup Designs and some of my favorite tools to do it.

Kicking off Fashion Week, you can't help but envy some of the exotic eye makeup designs we see on the runway. Well, I've walked the runway and know how much a beautiful eye makeup application can do to compliment an outfit. So here are some tips and tools to add some pop to your eyes and wow to those brows:

NEW! 500 Eye Makeup Designs by Kendra Stanton
Kendra is a nationally renowned makeup artist with her work being seen on the covers of Fast Company, Los Angeles Magazine and the pages of Muse Magazine, Runners World and the New York Times. Just published in August 2014, Stanton's book offers everything from the more subdued everyday work looks to more artistic high fashion eye makeup seen on the pages of Vogue and Harper's. I really like the variety of designs and the choice to go a bit crazy for Holidays or even cos-play. 320 pages with a brief tutorial in the back of the which acts as the basis for all eye makeup applications. Book is available at FairwindsPress.com or Amazon.com and retails for $24.99

New fall eye makeup colors from Pur Perfect Fit Eyeshadow Trio

Pur Perfect Fit Eyeshadow Trios
New for fall, these Pur Perfect Fit Trios shown here are: Jet Setter, Bohemian Bombshell and Lady Luck. This Belgium formula describes itself as, "Luminous, long-wear colours that correct the look of lines and creases. Beauty - pur and simple."
I don't have serious lines but it's good to know that this formula will not make matters worse! Feels almost creamy when blended but it is truly a powder formula. Reminds me of my Bare Minerals Eye Duos, (my favorite is The Top Shelf). If you want perfect eye shadow application that doesn't crease, first prime your lids with something like L'Oreal's Miracle Blur and set with a silicon powder like Elf's High Definition Powder. Check the new Perfect Fit Trios out at PurMinerals.com

My Favorite Eye Makeup Tools - Esum Pro Essential 14 pc Set
If you are looking to move up to makeup artist quality brushes, you'll want to check out Muse Beauty Pro. You will need serious brushes like these to pull off the looks in the book. Some of my favorites from this pro set include:

S33 Medium Round Eye Contour Brush
B15 Angle Brow Brush
W21 Small Filbert Shader Brush
T05 Square Liner Brush
G09 Extra Small Scallop Liner Brush

Esum brushes are available at MuseBeauty.Pro

Make Up Forever Smokey Extravagant Mascara & Sephora Colorproof Liquid Eyeliner in Navy Blue
This season, navy blue is the new black so you might want to check out how to wear this with a subdued smokey eye. I like Sephora's Makeup Forever Mascara as well as their namesake Colorproof Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. Always use an eyelash curler before applying mascara. What's hot now also are eyelash extensions. Add them in one by one for the most natural look with less mascara clumps and cleanup. Many spas like J n K at Commisso and Co. Hair Salon in Port Washington, Long Island offer this service so check around.

Sephora Colorproof Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Navy

Boots Botanics Eyeliner Pencil
I received this is my BoxyCharm subscription box this spring. It is made with skin conditioning jojoba oil but the label says made in China! Boots is a UK drugstore brand and I have used this eye pencil quite a bit. I like that it comes with its own sharpener, similar to the Elf Eyeliner Pencils. The color does seem to stay put and if you pop any pencil in the fridge before sharpening, you can get a clean, tight line. Clean up of all this eye makeup needn't be a horror either. Very heavy eye makeup comes off easily with Lumene Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. It comes from Finland and is made with 100% Organic Arctic Linen Seed oil and can be used on eyes and lips. Use this or gently massage some organic coconut oil over your lids and wipe gently with a flannel or face cloth.

Makeup Forever Mascara and Boots Botanics Eyeliner

Book and Eye Shadows c/o Fairwinds Press and Pur Minerals respectively

Trio of Body Firming - Toning - Tanning Creams from Karin Herzog

As you've most likely guessed, I am a big fan of going to the spa for facials and body treatments of all types. I also like to make my appearances toned and tanned but my work and travel schedule often means having to be on location on a moment's notice. I often don't have time to book such appointments as a result. So I've made it my business to find the BEST products to use at home. I've been disappointed by many but impressed by only a few. Here are my favorites from Karin Herzog:

Silhouette Body Cream

Silhouette Body Cream is step one in the set of two products used for firming, smoothing and lessening the appearance of that dreaded cellulite. The brush is included with the Silhouette & Tonus B12 body set and reminds me of what is used in the day spa. The Oxygen factor in this product is also something that you will find at the top spas and retreats. Silhouette Body Cream has salicylic acid which is recommended for keratosis pilaris and acne as it gently dissolves excess keratin and sebum in the skin. It also has vitamin E and Cinnamon oil so it is the perfect first step. Cream is very light in texture and easily absorbed.

Tonus B12 Draining Body Cream

Tonus B12 Body Cream is step two in this body beautiful routine. It is recommended for use after the Silhouette but has a similar profile of ingredients including the Oxygen benefit. Use it alone or with the Silhouette Body Cream. Very creamy and light without being greasy.

Tone & Tan

Tone & Tan is the icing on the cake as it is one of the best self-tanners I've tried this summer. Add in the "firm benefits" and you have a really exceptional product that instantly makes you look sleeker and leaner. Hey the Victoria's Secret runway models use this technique all the time and then run a highlighting strip down the front of their legs for even greater effect. It works!

This trio is packed and ready to go!

All of Karin Herzog's Swiss formulas are made in the laboratory of Dr. Paul and Karin Herzog. Check them out online at KarinHerzog.com

Body creams c/o Karin Herzog, SA
Gold Leather Travel Vanity by Crabtree and Evelyn, London

Red Light Therapy and MORE Hollywood Beauty Secrets from Actor and Model Louisa Graves

Author, Actor and Model Louisa Graves, is Hollywood's Beauty Guru.

In Hollywood, an actor's stock in trade includes great acting skills and a film-worthy physical appearance. Louisa Graves is a gorgeous stand in for silver screen A-listers like Penelope Cruz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner and Andie MacDowell. She is also a body parts model having appeared in many commercials. You know the finger that pokes the Pillsbury Dough Boy or the hand that "ding, ding, dings" the crystal glass in the Fancy Feast commercials? That's Louisa Graves at work!

LED Red Light Therapy
As I was searching for a new LED Treatment light to replace my antiquated yet still functioning one, I came across Louisa's website. What impressed me is that she has a LOT of information such as books, a newsletter and skincare products to augment use of her LED Lights. Her unit offers both Red and invisible Infrared LED lights that tests have shown affect at least 24 positive skin changes at the cellular level. This includes: boosting collagen and elastin production, fading fine lines wrinkles and crows feet.

LED panels produce both Red and Infrared light waves.

Multiple Health Benefits
What sets this unit apart from others I've seen is the fact that the two panels are very lightweight and removable. You can sit in front of the panels mounted on the stand and do your face in 17 minutes as the unit has a beeping timer and automatically shuts off when your treatment is done. Take the panels off the stand and you can use the straps that accompany them to position them over sore muscles or joints. This is one of the BEST treatments you can have as pain relief is nearly immediate.

LED panels can be positioned over sore muscles and joints.

Perhaps this is why LED Light Therapy treatments are offered at some of the country's top rated spas and resorts. Very effective, such light therapy has been in use for nearly 40 years. Recommended use is one 17 minute treatment per day which is easy enough to do with this self-timing unit.

Louisa's Skincare Line-Hollywood Beauty Secrets
While it is not required to use anything besides the LED Lights for skin rejuvenation, it's great to see that Louisa has thought enough to make a line of skincare products to amplify the treatment benefits. I've been trying her Skin Uplift Serum, Night Perfect Serum and Ultimate Age Proofing Complex over the last two weeks. The Night Perfect Serum is very concentrated as it contains a very high concentration of Matrixyl peptides and blows the doors off any other similar product I've tried. Really, you need only the smallest amount but the next morning you will notice your skin looking very supple and deeply moisturized.

Night Perfect Serum, Skin Uplift Serum and Ultimate Age-Proofing Complex

Serums & Creams
Personally, I prefer to layer my products so having a compatible line is very important. The Skin Uplift Serum is water based and very fluid so put that on first after cleansing. It is rich in DMAE, Matrixyl and Argireline peptides with Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen. Keep in mind that collagen molecules are actually too large to be absorbed and used by the skin's matrix however the peptides help stimulate your own production. Lastly the Ultimate Age Proofing Complex has a maximum percent of epidermal growth factor, peptides and antioxidants. Very rich and creamy but sinks in quickly without leaving an oily feel. One of the things that I like about Louisa's line is that she is scrupulously against using chemical fragrances or parabens of any kind. I have not had any breakouts or reactions to these products as a result. Just beautiful glowing skin that looked amazing at a pool party I attended over the weekend.

Age-Proof...The Book
I would highly recommend that you also pick up Louisa's book, Age-Proof Beauty Alternatives You Need to Know which is chock full of natural health and beauty tips and at home spa recipes you can make yourself for pennies. I really like her nutrition based tips, (as a Certified Nutritional Consultant I suppose I would!) and Louisa's Healthy Meal and Snack Recipes in the back of the book. If you want an inside look at how Hollywood stars keep their edge then you need to read Age-Proof. Do visit HollywoodBeautySecrets.com for more information or to order the LED Therapy Light and beauty products.

Visit HollywoodBeautySecrets.com

LED Light, skincare products and book c/o Hollywood Beauty Secrets

Hair, Skin and Nail Vitamins That Actually Work - HAIRFINITY & Sublime Beauty & Probelle Reviews

Which hair, skin and nail vitamins actually DO something for you? I've got the scoop!

As a Certified Nutritional Consultant and author of 4 books on the subject of nutrition, suffice it to say that I have tried several types of skin and nail vitamins over the years only to see little if any noticeable results. So I'm a hard sell when it comes to supplements in this category. All the same, I have recently found two supplements that have worked for me in ways I could definitely see. I'm sharing them with you here plus a few other facts to help you obtain healthier skin, hair and nails.

HAIRFINITY by Brock Beauty

HAIRFINITY is perhaps the first and only supplement I've found to live up to the hype promises of healthier, fuller and longer hair. The workup is x2 per day but I've often only taken x1 and still saw results...within the first month. The gelatin capsules are easy to swallow and easy to digest and I would recommend this delivery system over say, hard pressed tablets.  I've also taken this supplement on an empty stomach with no issues.

The main active ingredients in HAIRFINITY would be their MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), hydrolyzed collagen and high amounts of both biotin and panthothenic acid. These work synergistically and you will notice results very quickly in not just your hair but your nails as well. 

Phytoceramides by Sublime Beauty

Phytoceramides Anti Aging Skincare by Sublime Beauty has a lot of buzz going for it ever since Dr. Oz described this substance as being able to accomplish a mini-facelift. Now, I don't think I need all THAT but this is another product that has given me noteworthy results not only for my facial skin but ALL over my body. Sublime Beauty offers a whole support system for top level, spa quality skincare at home starting with their Dry Brushing. I've written and recommended Dry Body Brushing for years now but this combined with taking the Phytoceramides has shown marked benefits to my skin.

Book on Phytoceramides by Kathy Heshelow, founder of Sublime Beauty

What are Phytoceramides? The prefix "phyto" means plant but the original oral ceramide supplements were of bovine origin. Ceramides are lipids or fats that make up about 40% of young, healthy skin. Plant based ceramides can be found in wheat, corn and sweet potatoes but Sublime Beauty uses rice derived phytoceramides. The rice actually is more effective at lower dosages and perfect for people with wheat allergies or who wish to remain gluten free. I take one per day first thing in the morning before breakfast and began noticing my skin AND nails looking better after about 3 weeks. The Phytoceramide crosses over to help with nail health as well. See more online from SublimeBeautyShop.com

Probelle Touch n' Grow Plus Nail Hardener

Probelle Touch n' Grow Nail Hardner is made with Garlic and Lime. It is recommended that you apply it daily for several days but I simply use it as a base coat for my weekly manicure and have noticed my nails are thicker and don't peel as much as they used to. You can't smell the garlic or lime and the product dries clear, not green as the bottle appears. It is really very simple to add to your routine. The only thing that I don't like is that it contains Formaldehyde. Most of the other nail polish makers are moving away from that with their "3-Free" formulas. All the same the product works as advertised and is much better than the Sally Hansen nail hardener products I've tried over the years. Check them out at Pro-Belle.com

I use Probelle Touch n' Grow Plus as a base coat for my manicures.

Getting Proper Nutrition - The Supporting Cast Members
If you have recently cut down or cut out red meat, dairy, fish, etc. please understand that this can leave serious holes in your diet. Your body will respond by slowing the rate of hair and nail growth as it desperately seeks to conserve protein that you are not getting in your food.
Dropping red meat which is rich in protein, B vitamins and what's called heme iron, can cause you to become anemic. Your nails will show this by becoming very flat so you will need to get your hemoglobin checked and supplement with iron to stay healthy. If you are on the vegetarian or vegan path, you'll need to combine your amino-acids so that you are getting enough protein. Making a shake with something like Garden of Life's Raw Fit High Protein for Weight Loss would be a great idea. Each serving gives you a whopping 28 gms of raw protein from sprouted nuts, seeds and grains. Delicious too.

Take a Good Multiple Vitamin
A natural multiple vitamin should be the cherry on top of a healthy diet. I take Rainbow Light's Certified Organics Women's Multivatimin. Made with whole organic foods and herbs, I can take it on an empty stomach without worrying. In fact I take two each morning with my HAIRFINITY and Phytoceramides. It helps boost the effectiveness of everything else I take.
Get plenty of protein and essential fatty acids in: nuts, seeds, whey, salmon and sardines. Choose fresh garden vegetables first and then dark berries as they are lower in sugar (fructose) than most fruits yet more nutritious.  

Rainbow Light's Certified Organics Women's Multivitamin

Supplements and nail products c/o Brock Beauty Inc., Sublime Beauty and Probelle respectively.

Elizabeth Arden's NEW Rx Line: Triple Protection Factor SPF 50

NEW! Elizabeth Arden Rx Line

NYC, NY  As you may already know, I'm a great fan of EA's 8 Hour Cream which I've reviewed HERE partly due to its huge cult following among cosmetologists and makeup artists. Elizabeth Arden is evidently keeping up with the times as I was really excited to see her new Rx skincare line includes a substantial sunscreen and antioxidants in the formula.

NEW Triple Protection Factor SPF 50 (TPF 50)
One of the things I've stressed in my health and fitness books is to protect your skin when engaging in outdoor activities. It really shocks me to see women go in for all sorts of cosmetic procedures and anti-aging creams but completely forget to wear sunscreen daily. Don't let this be you! EA's NEW TPF 50 solves a lot of beauty issues in one shot as it is also the perfect BB cream to wear under your makeup.

TPF 50 Price: $56 for a 50ml airless cylinder.

Antioxidants & Enzymes
TPF 50 is a rich formula containing a DNA Complex, a highly potent protein based Antioxidant Complex PLUS a physical sunscreen with 50+ broad spectrum UV protection. I use Retin-A for acne and must wear sunblock year round. My skin is on the oily side so most sunscreens (even those for the face) are far too greasy to the point of causing my makeup to slide off. Ugh! I've been wearing the TPF 50 every day this week under all types of foundations and cosmetics. I really like how it balances my skin's moisture as it absorbs very quickly. Its sheer color works with any skin tone and is quite a bit lighter than Dr. Patricia Wexler's Tinted Moisturizer which only has a SPF of 30.  Here is the EA TPF 50 swatched on the underside of my wrist.

EA's TPF 50 swatched on the underside of my wrist.

Long Term Benefits
If your skin has been sun damaged in the past, the sunscreen in the TPF 50 alone could go a long way to restoring some of your skin's elasticity and smoothness. I've never been one for going to the beach and laying out in the sun every summer (although I still like to catch a few rays in our backyard pool), I saw a major improvement in my skin just by giving my "deep tan" a rest. With the added antioxidants and DNA Enzyme Complex contained in the TPF 50, I believe that sun damage reversal and healing will be greatly accelerated. I like the way the formula melts into my skin with NO greasy residue or shine. It does not settle into small facial lines and works very well with a variety of serums and primers.

Wearing IT! TPF SPF 50 is the perfect makeup base.

Wearing IT!
I really like how this formula feels on. The photo above was taken in the afternoon with no touch-ups or blotting. My skin feels perfectly balanced with no oily sheen or breakthrough. Better still is the confidence I feel knowing my skin is properly protected from the sun and free radicals in the environment. The link between sun damage, premature skin aging and non melanoma skin cancer are clear. Now you can take steps to avoid all that with one easy to wear product.

Eyewear: Rudy Project Sunflower Demi Turtle Sunglasses - Made in Italy
Skincare products c/o Elizabeth Arden, NYC
 

BOXYCHARM - Mail Order Beauty

BOXYCHARM beauty subscription service.

BOXYCHARM is a chic beauty subscription service that offers classic, emerging and established products shipped to your door for only $21 a month. As a card carrying Sephora Beauty Insider, I know that $21 doesn't get you too far in a store. So subscription services like these can be an easy way to try new cosmetics and products you might not have access to or even think of trying on your own.

Presentation: BOXYCHARM comes elegantly wrapped in tissue paper.

The standard for BOXYCHARM is to give the subscriber about $100 + worth of cosmetics in each installment. These are full sized products, not skimpy samples. You will usually get 5 products in all to try. Here's what was in the box I received for the month of April:

Coolway Glow Finishing Oil - Full Size
This is a generous 3.3 oz pump bottle. I would have loved to have seen this same product in an ultra-fine mist. I was actually looking for something like this to help deal with the tangles I often get in my hair at the nape of the neck. The second ingredient is Dimethecone with the seaweed a bit far down on the list. Still, it has a wonderful smell without leaving your hair oily, especially if you work it in from the ends to the roots. Retails for $29.95 which is about average to high for hair serums with similar ingredients.

Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick - Full Size
I wore this very bright Ofra lipstick to an art gallery exhibit Saturday night and was pretty impressed at how it didn't darken or fade. Brilliant! Has a yummy vanilla scent similar to HourGlass Lip Sheens but with much more staying power. Light, not gummy. Price $19.90

Bellapierre Nail Color - Full Size
This line follows butterLONDON's toluene, DBP and formadehyde-free formula which is definitely a move in the right direction. Claims flawless coverage which is always a challenge for me. I like the instructions to start with a base coat, then apply the nail lacquer and follow up with a top coat. Made in the USA. Price $15.00 which is about average/comparable to butterLONDON and China Glaze.

ModelCo's Blush Cheeck Powder - Full Size
I received the Peach Bellini 02 shade which has a lovely amount of shimmer. This is a generous compact of 8 gms and claims all days lasting power with sheer coverage. I really under-use blush but this shade is very natural in it's sheer pressed powder form. Price $18.00

ModelCo's Lip Liner - Full Size
Really needed one of these! Enriched with emollients, natural waxes and butters. It has a built in sharpener right in the cap which is also one of the things I really like about my ELF liners. I used it with the Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick and it was great! Price $20 which is comparable to Bobbi Brown's lip pencils which run about $26.00

  
The Wrap
Basically for the price of a lip pencil, you would get all these other cosmetic & haircare products for free. I've never heard of any of these products so if you are into prestige brands, April's box may not be your month. That being said, I also might have never tried any of these products had it not been for BOXYCHARM so I'm going to call that a win. Visit BOXYCHARM.com online to see their current array of beauty boxes and subscriptions.

April Cosmetics c/o BOXYCHARM

Get Your Glow On: Faux Riviera Tan

Voda Swim String Bikini & Freewaters Sandals

Somewhere Warm & Sunny: Warm weather is on the way! I know I keep telling myself that because really one day it will be true. When that hot weather shows up, I don't want to show my pasty winter-white legs and arms! Here are some runway tips and tricks to go from blah to bronzed instantly. My simple steps to a Faux Riviera Tan:

First Get A Close Shave
If you like the Venus razor you will LOVE these Women's Five Blades by 800 Razors. These are amazing with no nicks or burns under the arms or the bikini area. The multi bladed head tilts to caress every crevice and the 360 lubricating soapy bars keep it smooth. These even come with a burn free guarantee.

800 Razor trumps Venus!

Next Exfoliate
I like to use my Clarisonic Plus daily in the shower for extra clean & gently exfoliated skin. Before I hop in the shower I do a quick dry brushing with a soft Boar Bristle body brush. To do a deep exfoliation try using Tree Nut's Olive & Shea Butter Sugar Body Scrub. Another good scrub is by Mio - Double Buff Dual Action Enzyme Exfoliator. Pay special attention to elbows and knees as they tend to be rougher and will absorb color more quickly than other body parts.  

Mio Double Buff and Tree Nut Sugar Body Scrubs

Moisturize & Firm
Right out of the shower, first apply a good cellulite cream like this Cellulite Firming Complex by TriLASTIN or Embryolisse 365 Cream Body Firming Treatment. The warm water and exfoliation will ensure maximum absorption of these products.

Time to Glow:  I've looked at quite a few self tanners and by far the best color you can get is with an airbrush. Once only available in a salon, now if you have even a basic airbrush compressor, you can do it at home. Otherwise get a pair of rubber gloves and a can of Quick Tan by Body Drench. This gives you a rich, instant tan that darkens over 3 days and lasts for almost a week. Spray it on and rub it in. Let it dry thoroughly before getting dressed. If you want a bit of EXTRA glow, add a layer of Hard Candy's Glow All the Way self tanner. It's infused with 24K gold and looks incredible in sunlight.

Firm and Glow essentials!

Full Body Glow
Just remember to really glow all the way! Do your arms and legs and all other areas of exposed skin. Don't forget to use a bit of bronzer on your face and neck to match up your look.

Glow from head to toe this spring!

Products featured in this article c/o these respective companies:

VodaSwim.com
Freewaters.com
800razors.com
EmbryolisseUSA.com
HardCandy.com
TreeNut.com
BodyDrench.com
Mioskincare.com
TriLASTIN.com