So, when we think of our favorite summer shades for our nails, we tend to lean toward bright colors. However, there is one shade that is surprisingly fresh and taking the beauty world by storm. It the unexpected shade of aubergine. Manicurist, April Foreman says, “It’s grounding to florals, it’s a great punch of color against crisp whites, and it somehow doesn’t even clash with brights.” So, what shade is right for you? Here’s a quick and easy guide: If you have skin with pink undertones, go for a bluer purple, like OPI’s ‘Siberian Nights.’ If you have skin with yellow or olive complexions, go for a shade with red in it like Deborah Lippman ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’

If you are a frequent flier, you know that your skin takes a beating. You will notice that your skins starts to show signs of dryness, dehydration as well as looking dull, showing fine lines, redness and irritation. The other problem frequent fliers face is packing their skin care products so that they pass inspection at the air port. Well, I stumbled upon a product called, Air Repair Skin Care, which is the only skin care system that was created not only to combat the effects flying has on your skin but also is packaged specifically for travel; The kit is packaged in a see-through travel bag for carry-on convenience.

The ingredients in the skin care system include Hyaluronic Acid (moisture retention), Cloudberry Seed Oil (a powerful anti-oxidant) and Heat Shock Proteins (climate-adjusting) which are supposed to produce superior results for your travel weary skin. No matter what the climate, this product is supposed to work and produce maximal results. The web-site claims the following:

* Targeted, double-duty products help soothe and heal, restoring skin’s health and radiance.
* Carry-on compliant, with enough product to get you through a month’s worth of travel or more.
* For use on every skin type and in all climates.
* Ideal for daily skin care use.

The Air Repair Kit runs about $65 and includes the following:

1. Air Repair Beauty Balm: Complexion-Boosting Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid (2 oz tube)
2. Air Repair Super-Hydrating Eye Cream: Soothing, Line-Minimizing Formulation (1 oz bottle)
3. Air Repair Soothing Facial Cleansing Milk: with Chamomile and Arnica Extracts (2 oz bottle)
4. Air Repair Complexion Quenching Facial Mist: Refreshing Facial Toner and Hydrator (2 oz spray bottle)
5. Air Repair Rescue Balm: All-Purpose Skin Salve and Lip Balm (.9 oz tube)

This kit has been highlighted in Allure Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Upscale Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Beauty BFF, The Rachel Ray Show and many others and a favorite among celebrities.

How many products do you have in your beauty arsenal? Wouldn’t it be nice to do more with less? Well, I came across this little jar of magic and had to share with all of you. Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream is a multi-use product for the entire body. It is supposedly based on the same ingredients used by Cleopatra. Hmmm, not sure I believe that since I researched this product and it has only been on the market since 1991, but who knows. Anyway, this all natural product can not only be used to soften your skin – place it on your feet before bed, add socks and you will have soft skin in the morning. Some other neat applications include applying it to your splits ends, adding it to your powder eyeshadow to make a creamy, sultry eyeshadow. Use it to highlight your cheekbones as well.

The cream is a unique mixture of all natural ingredients, including olive oil, bees wax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis. A 4 oz jar will cost around $30 and the easiest place to find it is online.

Back in medieval times, it was a sin to wear lipstick. So, women found a way to get a beautiful lip color that also plumped up their lips; The secret was lemons. The lemons would stimulate the lips and stain them a see through blood red color. Well, the folks at Lipstick Queen replicated this art and recreated a sheer flattering look in one simple universal shade. Best part – it suits every skin tone AND it doesn’t look or feel like you are wearing lipstick! The look you get will be plump cherry lips that look natural and sensual. Added bonus: it is enriched with Vitamin E.

It costs about $20 for one tube of lipstick.

With the humidity index on the rise, women are compiling their arsenal of hair products in order to defend against the dreaded frizz that will ravage their hair. Here is some advice to help you build your arsenal.

First, frizzy hair is caused by two things. The first we are all familiar with and that is humidity. Humidity will cause your hair to grow about 20% in mass – just by walking outside to your car! If humidity is between 70% and 100%, your hair mass will even double! That means it will expand up to 40% – just by walking outside. The second thing that causes frizz is friction. Yes folks, friction. Your hair has a lot of texture in it and when it rubs up against other hairs, it will build mass, thus causing frizz. So, now we know the two major contributors to frizz, let’s talk explore the tools and products that combat this problem.

The first and most important thing you can do to fight frizz is take care of your hair. Yes, that seems like an obvious answer but one that we typically don’t follow. The more damage that you have from split ends, coloring, chemicals, etc, the more damage you have to the cuticles in your hair, making them open to moisture (humidity) and friction. So, don’t skip or hold out on hair cuts and make sure you are doing cleansing and conditioning treatments.

Now, onto products. There is an exciting new production on the market called No Frizz by Living Proof. It rejects the ingredients used in other frizz care products, which is Silicone. Rather, they worked with a scientist and found a new ingredient (PolyfluoroEster) that coats each hair fiber in a thin shield that keeps the water out of the cuticles of your hair, thus avoiding frizz. They have a whole line of anti-frizz products, including the “Straight Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair” that won the Cosmetic Executive Women’s Beauty Insider’s Choice Award. A 4 oz bottle will cost $24. A couple other products that work well include the John Freida “Frizz Ease” collection, especially the Overnight Repair Formula. It will help repair breakage and split ends and contains a “blend of conditioning agents and a humectant, plus an infusion of chamomile extract.” It is lightweight and won’t leave any residue on your pillow. A 1.69 fluid oz bottle runs about $9. Another great product line is Aussi 3 minute Miracle deep conditioning treatment. It uses “intense, fortifying conditioners” that deeply condition hair and repair dry, damaged hair. An 8 oz bottle runs about $7. OK, so this next product is a very cool, very stylish shower cap. It is called the Zazz Shower Cap and it is made of waterproof, ultra-thin Italian vinyl fabric. Unlike regular shower caps, the Zazz cap has a a thin stretch elastic and ribbon detailing that protects the hairline from getting wet, thus causing frizz. It’s super cute and comes in all different styles. It costs about $36. I had to include a picture of one of the caps as they are so cute!

Some tips from the experts regarding habits to break in order to achieve healthy, clear skin.

Tanning: Long known to age your skin. But do you know why? Well, dermatologist, Flor Mayoral, explains: “In trying to protect itself from continued exposure to the sun, skin thickens and produces melanin, the pigment that darkens cells. Any pigment change from UVA or UVB light can cause premature aging and increase the likelihood of skin cancer.” Mayoral also says that tanning beds are just as bad, if not worse, since they emit concentrated UVA light, which penetrates deeper than the combination of UVA and UVB rays found in sunlight. Also, DON’T SKIP THE SUNSCREEN! Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays which help avoid wrinkled, saggy skin along with sun spots. Use a SPF 30 at minimum and reapply every 2 hours.

Popping Zits: Squeezing a pimple is a bad choice as it will only push bacteria deeper into the pores. This little act will not only potentially cause inflammation, infection and scarring but will also DOUBLE the time it actually takes to get rid of the pimple. Also, be weary of treating your breakouts with excessive amounts of benzoyl peroxide as it can damage the skin and create more irritation. Rather, try a spot treatment with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (or less) at bed time and again in the morning.

Stop Smoking and Cut Back on Alcohol: Not only will it kill you (enough of a reason for me) but over time you will develop deep wrinkles and blotchy skin. According to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, every decade of smoking results in a perceived extra 2.5 years of age. When it comes to drinking, moderation is key. According to dermatologist, Fredric Brandt, alcohol increases the level inflammatory agents in the bloodstream—”which can hasten skin sagging over time.”

Using Dirty Application Brushes: Dirty makeup brushes can clog pores but also cause serious bacterial infections. To keep em clean, clean them once every 3-4 weeks with a gentle shampoo. There are specialized formulas out there but baby shampoo works just as well!

Overexfoliating: While exfoliating is an important step in healthy skin, doing it too often will have the opposite effect! Excessive exfoliating can increase oil production, spread bacterial and therefore worsen breakouts. Dermatologist, Fredric Brandt explains, “the upper layer of skin forms a protective barrier against the environment. Removing too many cells can increase moisture loss, sensitivity, dryness, and irritation.” So, if your skin is sensitive, it is recommended you use a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acid or Retin-A once a week. If you have oily skin, you can exfoliate up to twice a week with a grainy scrub.

Not Washing Your Face Before Bed: Going to bed with a days worth of makeup and oil build up will lead to clogged pores and of course pimples. Also, a little known fact is that while you are sleeping, your body temperature increases, which can increase the absorption of what ever is on your skin. So, get rid of the makeup and oil!

Eating Junky, Processed Food: According to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, those who age high-protein foods and whole grains had less break outs. According to Dr. Baumann, “High-glycemic foods cause your blood sugar to rise, triggering a surge of insulin. The insulin stimulates oil-producing hormones called androgens, leaving you with pimples.” Some skin healthy food choices include peanut butter, nuts, and avocado.

Product Overload: Dermatologist, Patricia Wexler said, “I ask patients to walk me through their routine, and they bring in shopping bags full of products. They add things without checking to see whether they’re duplicating ingredients or realizing that some aren’t compatible.” This can potentially cause the active ingredients in the products to cancel each other out. Or, if the products have the same ingredients, the skin can become irritated or damaged. Dr. Baumann explains, “Negative interactions are most likely to happen if someone is treating different problems at the same time, such as sun-damaged skin and adult acne, and the ingredients are either too harsh together or incompatible.” Ingredients such as retinol, glycolic acid, vitamin C, and benzoyl peroxide tend to be overused. If you have products with the same ingredients, consult with a dermatologist or try to apply them at different times of day.

CONCEAL WITH POWDER

“Believe it or not, these two powders are a brilliant substitute for concealer: Sweep the white in the inner corners of the eyes and at the browbones with an eyeshadow brush—then mix the gold with the white and dust under eyes and across cheekbones. It sounds crazy, but it’s really pretty.”

—Dick Page, Shiseido Makeup artistic director

MOISTURIZE

“Make sure to use formulas with built-in hydrating ingredients—they keep concealer from looking heavy or cakey. And not only can you blend better and create a smooth, natural finish, but the added moisture is good for your skin.”

—Pat McGrath, Cover Girl creative design director

UNDEREYE CIRCLES

“Do a one-two punch: First, apply a light, pink-based concealer to neutralize green or blue tones; it’ll brighten. Layer a yellow-toned concealer that’s one or two shades lighter than your foundation over the top to cover remaining darkness. Blend, then set with sheer, loose yellow-toned powder.”

—Bobbi Brown, founder, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

BEYOND CONCEALER

“Highlighting your browbones takes the attention away from beneath your eyes; it immediately wakes you up.”

—Joanna Schlip, Physicians Formula celebrity makeup artist

Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme ($9 for a 4.34 oz. tube): This product is 99.4% natural and consists mainly of coconut oil, peppermint and rosemary oils. It promises to prevent and protect dry, cracked or rough skin with deeply penetrating emollient botanical oils. The only down side (if this really is one) is that it feels pretty greasy and takes some time to rub into the foot. But you will see results pretty quickly. If you don’t believe me, check out the customer ratings on the Burt’s Bees website – this miracle product gets a 97% recommendation rate.

PediFix Deep Healing Foot Cream ($10 for a 4 oz. jar): This cream features mineral oil, urea, lanolin and vitamins A,D & E. It is non greasy and is said to moisturize dry skin, soften calluses and revitalizes feet. Also noted to be great for people with diabetes. The website says is softens in just one application, which is true but will require several applications to really cure dry, callused feet.

Barielle Total Foot Care Cream ($20 for a 4 oz. jar): Made of Glycerin, Paraffin Beeswax, Sunflower Oil, Lanolin and Vitamin E and is one of the more popular foot creams on the market. Directions say to rub it into your feet twice a day and cover with warm socks for best results, which doesn’t help if you live a pretty hectic lifestyle. But even without the socks, the cream does a great job of eliminating dry feet and cracked heels. Also, it won Allure’s “Best of Beauty” award.

Dr. Scholl’s For Her Ultra Overnight Foot Cream ($5 for a 3.5 oz. tube): This non-greasy, fragrance free cream is formulated to repair and protect dry, cracked skin. Key ingredients include Aloe and Palm Kernel Oil. You put it on just before bed time and it works to soothe and soften cracked skin as well as to repair moisture in your feet. It is truly amazing and feels great after a long day!

Sephora’s BODY Super Supreme Foot Balm ($20 for a 5 oz. tube): The website promises that this balm will immediately nourishe, relieve, and refresh even the most tired and damaged feet. It is a non greasy formula with ingredients such as soft almond oil; shea butter; and peppermint, cypress, and sage essential oils. Reviewers gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Sephora website.

Yes, it is true….Facials for your back side are popping up in spas all over the country. The trend is becoming quite popular and just in time for swimsuit season. The promise is that you will walk away with a firmer, tighter, toner butt. The treatments involve cleansing, exfoliation, microdermabrasion, steaming, a mask and LED light therapy…as well as a massage. These processes are supposed to help detox, eliminate bacteria and acne, tighten up and reduce the appearance of cellulite. There are even places that include spray tan to help even up your skin tone back there. The sessions last about an hour. Down side? The treatments cost between $650 and $800 per session. Of course, if you can’t afford as spa treatment, why not ask your partner for one? Simply follow the steps for a normal facial, using products that match your skin type. When done, return the favor!

OLAY DAILY FACIALS CLARITY DAILY SCRUB: While this helps reduce pores it also obliterates blackheads. This product is also mild enough for everyday use. It has 2% salicylic acid to help eradicate breakouts. $8 at most drugstores.

BIORÉ SKIN PRESERVATION MICRODERM EXFOLIATOR: This treatment is similar to the one’s you fined in professional treatments but at a steep reduction in cost. Also the white tea and shea butter help reduce redness. $15 at most drugstores.

AVEDA OUTER PEACE ACNE RELIEF PADS: This product has salicylic acid to fight acne but also has skin calming plant extracts like tamanu oil, saw palmetto and Indian gooseberry. $32 at AVEDA.COM

MARK GO WITH THE GRAIN EXFOLIATING BEADS: This cleanser is unique as it allows you to mix the dry grains into the cleanser so you can go as strong or mild as you want. $9 and $7 at MEETMARK.COM