refreshing beauty products for summer...

as if you hadn't noticed, summer is in full swing. if you enjoy the high temps, i'm sure you've been in heaven, but if you're like me, the heat isn't your favorite. there are ways to make the best of it, of course. 

those things include {but are not limited to} cool drinks, staying indoors as often as possible, and taking advantage of extra pampering {because the heat really does take a lot out of me}. 

speaking of cool drinks and pampering, here's a fun list some fab parings featuring the most refreshing drinks of the summer. as a compliment, check out products from Laura Mercier, ReVive and nyakio ~ you'll be more than happy to treat yourself with one of these luxurious products while you sip your favorite drink.

take a look...

if you like iced coffee:

you should try nyakio Kenyan Coffee Face Polish ~ it blends naturally energizing and exfoliating kenyan coffee extract with jojoba to gently remove dull skin while providing antioxidant benefits. lemongrass and neroli oils also play a role, making this a unique fusion that leaves skin toned, moisturized, soft and immediately radiant.



if you prefer banana mango smoothies:

ReVive Moisturizing Renewal Serum, made with key ingredients coffee, mango pulp and banana pulp extracts to hydrate, gently exfoliate, and kick start the anti-aging benefits of skin-repair, is a luxurious formula that also boasts RES Technology that aids in smoothing and re-texturizing skin.



if strawberry lemonade is your drink of choice:

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Strawberry Sorbet will give lips the ultimate in color, texture, and finish. this gorgeous, creme formula lippie envelops lips in rich color with a semi-lustrous finish in one smoothing swipe.


if green juice with ginger is your summer fave:

nyakio Hydrating Face Oil with Kola Nut  is a blend of light, non-greasy african kola nut and 8 essential oils, including ginger, ximenia, chamomile, and trichina oils. these promise to invigorate and hydrates for over 12 hours while aiding in softening, toning, creating more even look and reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, leaving all skin types more youthful-looking.


tell me: what skincare products help your skin look its best during these hot summer days?

info and images courtesy of brand PR

6 tips for keeping nails healthy this summer {and beyond}

Cutex, known for their fabulous nail care products, has shared with me some nail tips {pun intended} that i think you'll love! since saturday marks the first official day of summer, i can't think of a better reason than now to prep those nails for the season...

"there are so many opportunities to be outdoors during the summer and, while we know to protect our skin, protecting our nails is just as important," says Barbara Hershfelt, director of sales and marketing for Cutex. "nails may look beautiful on the surface but to keep them healthy, it’s vital to care for what’s under the color."

i couldn't agree more ~ so, as promised, here are 6 fabulous tips on how we can properly care for nails {and cuticles} this summer…

1. sunscreen isn’t just for the skin. nails are made of protein and need as much protection as our skin does. when lathering on the sunscreen, remember those hands and feet ~ ­especially the cuticles. cuticles serve a purpose; they seal in moisture and protect new nail growth as it emerges from the base of the nail. sun, wind and sand can dry cuticles and nail folds {the areas of skin that frame your nails}, which is bad for nail growth.

2. cover your head and nails. dermatologists recommend donning a baseball cap or cute floppy hat to shade the head and face from the sun’s harsh rays. Cutex recommends coating nails with a polish, base coat or ridge-filler to protect nails against the elements. the Cutex clear basecoat, Baseworx, contains biotin, the only supplement scientifically proven to improve nail health. Baseworx not only lengthens the life of manicures, it is also the perfect protection for those heading sea-side, where high salt and moisture can soften and split nails.

3. keep infection at bay. according to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 50% of all nail disorders are caused by fungal infections. people tend to go swimming, exercise, and visit spas more often in summer. while those places are great for relaxing or keeping fit, any damp place ~ like a locker room ~ can breed fungus, so be sure to wear some type of footwear at all times when in public. feet can also become hot and sweaty in the summer. open-toed shoes or light sandals can help keep feet dry and healthy.

4. oil-up to protect and moisturize. dermatologists suggest coating hands and nails in natural oils to moisturize. when you're looking to change polishes, reach for Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover. named 2014’s Best Nail Polish Remover by NewBeauty Magazine, Advanced Revival combines the power of acetone with the nourishing and natural botanical oils of apricot seed, flax seed and perilla, for stronger, healthier nails. plus, Advanced Revival removes polish twice as fast as other brands. that means more time to spend enjoying summer!

5. dramatic nails? ditch the harsh salon acetone for diy removal. do you take your nails to the extreme with gel or glitter polish? extreme nails don’t have to mean extremely harsh nail polish remover. try at-home removal with the new Cutex Gel Polish Removal Kits or SPA Formula Nail Polish Remover {read my review here!}. these products work as well as 100% acetone, yet moisturize and condition nails even after the first use.

6. go naked! even with the best products, nails still need a rest. if your nails are brittle, break easily or just look unhealthy, dermatologists recommend ditching the polish for three months. still need a little shine? try Cutex Baseworx, which uses bio-ceramic technology to bind to the protein in nails, strengthening them in the process.

fabulous tips, right? many thanks to Cutex for the advice on keeping our nails in gorgeous, heathy shape! for additional nail care advice, how-tos and product info, visit cutexnails.com 

info and images courtesy of Cutex

currently loving...

happy saturday, beauties! hope you're enjoying your summer. it's been a fabulous mix of busyness and relaxing in my life these days...

because my kids home for summer break, there's obviously more to do {more meals to cook, laundry and dishes to wash, messes to clean up}. so i'm never without something to do in that respect. thankfully, they help out with those chores and the like, but can keep themselves occupied doing the things they enjoy when we hang at home for the day and it's just too hot to play outside.

with regard to relaxing, i'm still an early riser {i prefer to do my daily workouts before the fam wakes up and there's nothing more fabulous than watching the sky wake up while out on a run}, but i've grown to appreciate the slower-paced mornings {no school!}. i've been watching lots of movies and tv shows {many thanks to Netflix streaming service, the library and my cable's VOD}, reading, and of course, cooling off in the pool.

this past week i've relished cooler temps {though still hot, don't get me wrong!}, discovering new music via NPR's podcast and website, All Songs Considered, and using some fabulous beauty products...

Nexxus ProMend Split End Binding Overnight Treatment Crème* makes split ends virtually disappear, allowing me to extend time between salon trims. this has definitely saved me some moolah! in addition to giving beautiful overnight results {no residue or stickiness} over the past few months of using it {about twice a week}, my hair has benefited from its rich, conditioning formula.

since i can't always avoid spending time outside mark No Place to Run Longwear Eyeliner* is perfect. during hot summer days when makeup can literally melt off {not pretty!}, this eye-defining gem lines smoothly and blends well, but when it sets, it stays there all day.

in the fragrance department i've been wearing an old favorite: Mark Jacobs Daisy. i wore it a lot last summer, too. it's bright, cheery and feminine; just the sort of scent to put a smile on any face. i prefer it in rollerball form-- easy to apply where i want it and travels well.

do tell! what beauty goodies are you currently loving?

*products sent to me for review consideration; pics taken my me :)

summer beauty: natural-looking skin with Mary Kay

summer is all about scaling back, taking it easy, and, with regard to makeup, the opportunity for me go with a more natural look, putting less is more into practice. to do this, i enlist the help of a trio of Mary Kay products that you yourself might like to try...

to start, i use Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 20. one thing i wear daily {and year-round} is sunscreen, but i love this skincare beauty because it eliminates a step in my routine. the coverage is quite sheer {i use bronze 1}, but the subtle dewy finish makes my skin look really pretty.

to cover up flaws the moisturizer doesn't hide, MK's Concealer is amazing. a heavyweight in the coverage department, its creamy texture feels incredibly lightweight once applied, creating a smooth and flawless finish.

finally, i use MK's Facial Highlighting Pen {shade 3}. this formula can be used to brighten up dark areas of the face {under the eyes, around the mouth, corners of the nose}, but i like to use a bit blended in the corners of my eyes and over my cheekbones, so the sunlight will catch the reflective pigments, creating a lit from within appearance.

with my skin finished, i typically complete my natural, less is more look with a little blush, a light dusting of powder or finishing spray to set everything in place, and i'm good to go!

well, i also have to apply mascara...lipgloss...fill in my brows...

hey, i said i'm practicing... ;)

tell me: do you wear less makeup in the summer? what are your go-to products?

get more info about these products by visiting marykay.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pic taken by me :)

mark Take Me To Rio Bag

looking for a fun carry-all tote for the summer season? this Take Me To Rio Bag from mark., designed by the fabulous, award-winning handbag designer Carlos Falchi, is fun and will definitely add that something extra to your warm-weather ensembles.

made with faux leather, and in Mr. Falchi's signature metallic texture, this Rio bag is big enough to store all your must-have items. i love the baby blue hue-- so refreshing!

"the lining of the bag is the pattern of the copacabana boardwalk in rio. all of my bags have colorful linings, because i think the inside of the bag is just as important as the outside." – Carlos Falchi

find the Take Me to Rio Bag at meetmark.com or contact your local mark. representative.

xo
pics taken by me :)

Summer Scents: Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties

the Harajuku Lovers line of fragrances already feature great scents, but just for summer the little ladies have been decked out in their swimsuits and have fresh new scents (aren't they adorable?).



Love is the romantic scent; for summer her scent has a fruity-floral twist featuring notes of nectarine, passion fruit, lemon blossom, plumeria, osmanthus, rose petals, vanilla orchid, coconut water, sensual musk and sandalwood. Love is one of my faves in this collection.

Lil' Angel is the sassy rebel with a sweet side. for summer she's boasting a citrus-gourmand twist on her original scent. the combination of citrus and vanilla notes makes me thing of creamsicles-- meyer lemon, mandarin, touch of blackberry, pink rose, vanilla orchid, tropical sampaquita blossom, sugared patchouli, vanilla bean, skin musk and golden amber.




Music is typically a charismatic fruity-floral, so for summer she gets to show off a more sensuous side without being overpowering. notes include juicy pear, granny smith apple, dewy freesia, tiger Orchid, jasmine petals, honeysuckle, cashmere woods, creamy musk, and precious woods.

Baby maintains being her sweet, soft self but without the powdery notes for summer. a dewy-floral twist makes her another one of my faves from the collection-- crisp mandarin, wet neroli, bright sunflower, white poppy, living valencia, orange flower, jasmine absolute, soft musk, rich vetiver, and creamy birch woods.




G is as fab as ever and has a fun, creamy-musk twist for summer. coconut water, mandarin, bergamot, white peach, heliotrope, exotic tiare flower, orange flower, vanilla bean, tonka, skin musk, and creamy sandalwood maintains G's tropical vibe, but i prefer wearing this one in the evening.

Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties are limited edition, so when summer is gone, so are they. find the collection at Macy's, Sephora and HLFragrance.com for more info.

xo
products featured were sent to me for review consideration; all pics taken by me :)

Video: Rebecca Minkoff Summer 2010

though i don't own a single Rebecca Minkoff bag, i have been a huge fan of them for years. for summer 2010, Rebecca's designs have wowed me again. check out this video showcasing the new details and colors of her classic bags, as well as the introduction of a fabulous crop of new creations.



visit rebeccaminkoff.com and minkette.com for more info and news regarding all things Rebecca Minkoff.

xo

Style Find: Mar y Sol 'Guadalupe' Straw Shopper

this straw bag, as you can see, isn't the average straw bag. it's not only adorably fun and bold, but it would function perfectly with casual and more dressy summer ensembles.

i admit, i'm not typically drawn to straw bags, but after seeing this one's unique flower design, i can definitely see myself carrying this in the sweltering heat-- i would be miserable (heat, yuck), but at least i'd have a cute bag, right?

available in an assortment of colors, find the Mar y Sol 'Guadalupe' Straw Shopper at nordstrom.com

xo

Bath & Body Works Summer Vanillas

as the weather heats up, it's time to start thinking about how you want to smell. i like to go the citrus or floral route, but Bath & Body Works caught my attention with their new Summer Vanillas collection.

i'm not usually a vanilla girl, but the idea of creamier versions of smells i already like was very appealing. Coconut, Berry, Lemon and Apricot (which is only online, otherwise i would have bought it in store, too) compliment vanilla to create fabulously cool and refreshing summer scents.



while the collection features, body sprays, candles, etc., i couldn't resist getting a lotion-- the amazing new formula makes my skin so soft-- and Liplicious gloss-- they smell delicious, are glossy without being sticky and have a hint of shimmer-- in each scent (it was buy 2 get 1 and i had a $10 off coupon, too-- yay me!). my daughter went absolutely gaga for the all of them, too, so i will share. :)



for more info, visit bathandbodyworks.com or head to your local Bath & Body Works to smell these new goodies for yourself!

xo
all pics taken by me :)

What I'm Loving For Summer 2009

once again the editors at StyleBakery.com have created their top 10 lists of what they're loving for the season (remember my picks for spring '09 and fall '08?).

this time we are loving a lot! from tv shows to concert tours as well as items to keep you ready for the beach, we're loving some great stuff this summer!

one thing i love about summer is the show, So you think You Can Dance. seriously, who doesn't like this show? the dancing is exciting, heartbreaking and everything in between. it's so fun to watch. i'm also loving a pair of gladiator-style sandals by Carlos Santana (pictured above)-- they're metallic, fabulous and will work well beyond summer.

check out my picks for summer

xo

Body Beautiful: Summer Fitness Tips

it's summer time-- so you know what that means-- sundresses, tanks and swimsuits! if you're like most people, you want to look your best in everything you wear. whether you've been working out regularly or need to get yourself moving more often, celebrity trainer Brett Hoebel (best known for transforming the bodies of Victoria's Secret models Doutzen Kroes and Karolina Kurkova, along with celebs like America Ferrara, Emmy Rossum and Veronica Webb) has some great tips to get and keep you in shape this season.



Brett Hoebel

Brett's tips for diet:

*if you don't want to cut out the alcohol completely, try switching to less caloric drink options: light beer, drinks on the rocks, and club soda instead of tonic or sugary mixers.

*try to stay away from, what Brett calls the "white devils" during your summer parties: sugar, flour, rice, milk, and salt. instead use agave, a natural low-glycemic sweetener (it tastes so yummy and even blends well in cold beverages, unlike honey), whole grain rolls, brown rice salads, and celtic sea salt as a seasoning.

*for long, hot days eat fresh whole fruit for energy instead of drinking fruit juice. even make smoothies using almond milk and fresh fruit!



image: allure.com

Brett's tips for exercise:

when all you want to do is hit the beach, it's still important to get your workouts in. shorter workouts that combine strength training with anaerobic-interval training (my favorite kind!) work fabulously for burning calories and increasing muscle. Brett's Tri-Set will ensure you'll be ready for a day in the sun!

1. compound lower body

* start holding a dumbbell or just hands placed together (like a clap) up near right shoulder.
* lunge with left foot forward while "chopping" dumbbell (or hands) down and across body to outside of left hip.
* arms should remain straight during downward chop and upward return of arms to starting position.
*repeat this move for 10-12 reps, then repeat on the right side.
* without any rest period, move on to next exercise.

2. compound upper body

* single leg push ups- 10-12 reps per side with moderate to challenging weight
* without any rest period, move on to next exercise

3. anaerobic interval cardio

* run in place with high knees, 30-60 seconds
* say the alphabet: if you don't have to pause for a breath every five letters, you didn't work hard enough.
* REST for 1-2 minutes

4. repeat routine (steps 1-3) 3-4 times total



thanks Brett!

this workout, when done correctly, is tough and really gets the heart-rate up-- you will sweat! i love doing circuits like this a few times a week. be sure to also look out for Brett’s REV ABS program, a series of workout DVDS launching this fall!



here's to a happy, healthy summer!

xo