Desert Essence, an established leader in the natural beauty industry for 38 years has just re-launched the cult-favorite brand.The re-launch includes the introduction of eight new skin care products. Desert Essence currently has the top three selling facial skin care items in the natural beauty category.The launch includes the ancillary products to go with their top selling cleansers, making a complete beauty regimen that caters to all skin types - oily-combination skin, normal skin and dry-sensitive skin.

Yves Rocher France, the purveyors of botanical beauty for over fifty years have added a slew of new products just in time for bikini season. Before hitting the beach apply Bust Lift to improve the decollete. The formula, made from Madagascar centella asiatica extract with natural firming power, is applied once in the morning and once at night for a month for optimal results.

Who doesn’t want to shave or wax less often? Try slathering on Rocher’s 2 in 1 Post-Waxing Moisturizer made from botanical-based ingredients which is made from the hair-minimizing scutellaria root from China.

After returning from a long day of fun in the sun exfoliate your skin as you purify it with Rocher’s Botanical Scrub which is infused with apricot kernel shell from the Mediterranean basin.

I made the realization long ago that my pale, almost translucent skin would never be sun kissed. I’ve shied away from self-tanners for fear that the harsh chemicals would cause a nasty allergic reaction on my hypersensitive skin. However, the tides have changed with the introduction of Nature’s Gate Glow Lotion. A combination of moisturizer and self tanner, Glow Lotion uses a natural sugar cane derivative, seven natural moisture boosters and anti-oxidants to give my gams a soft, silky glow all summer long.

The Gossip Girl actress looks stunning on and off screen. Steal her summer makeup style using Glamorous Cosmetics’ Mediterranean sun-kissed skin and eye palette, which for us is just another reason to get excited about summer!

To Prep:
1. Moisturize skin with a daily face cream.
2. Apply foundation and a sheer powder to hold in place.
3. Use a blush with a pop of color, and dab on the apple of your cheeks.

How to Get The Look:
1. Apply a green shadow to the lower part of your eyelid, and bronze shadow in the crease slightly above the eyelid.
2. Use the blue shadow along the water line of your eyes to create a pop.
3. Sweep a hint of beige shadow in the corner of eyes to brighten.
6. Apply dark mascara on lashes.
7. Add any glossy lip gloss to make lips glisten.
8. Finish with a bronzer to complete your summer glow.

What to Use:

Summer Set, $16.80

Dawn Del Russo is a fashion expert and lifestyle stylist, owner of Bella Dawn Boutique (belladawn.com), and the author of 101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle.

Hunting for a bronzer that isn’t too dark, tacky or unnatural looking doesn’t have to be a chore if you know what to look for. These six tips will set you straight as your browse the shelves.

1. For a natural looking tan, pick a bronzer that is one or two shades darker than your skin tone.
2. Avoid overly shimmery bronzers. The added sparkles appear fake looking and can make you seem older if they clump up between creases. Stick to a slight sparkle instead.
3. The safest type of bronzer is a sheer, neutral light brown.
4. A fluffy brush with shorter bristles allows for greater control over the application and helps with blending the bronzer to your skin.
5. The four targeted areas to apply bronzer are your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin.
6. Don’t forget about your eyes! When deciding on the right color, the eyes are just as important as your skin tone. If you have:

Four We Like:

Benefit’s One Hot Minute – a rosy, gold sheer

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder– a smooth, pressed powder

No Worries Cosmetics Barrier Reef Bronzer– an Australian babe look

Nars Multiple Bronzer– a sun-kissed, natural glow

Dr. Nina Naidu, board certified plastic surgeon and founder of Anokha skin care, frequently uses the home remedies that her mother taught her, many of which provided the impetus behind her South-Asian-inspired product line. “I’d raid the dairy aisle for some of the best fresh skincare treats imaginable,” Naidu says and some of those skin treatments happen to come right from the kitchen.

Her Four Favorites: 

1. There is truly nothing more luxurious than cold yogurt for the face. It is an excellent cleanser that will not rob skin of its natural moisture, and it will not irritate sensitive skin. Both milk and heavy cream also make great non-stripping cleansers for the face as well.

2. Good for the skin, milk baths are an indulgence that everyone should be enjoying. Just pour a cup right into your bath water and let the milk proteins work their magic.

3. For a fantastic non-comedogenic moisturizer, try putting one to two drops of pure almond oil in water.

4. My favorite simple, yet incredibly luxurious toner is easy to make by boiling a few rose petals in water. Next time someone sends you flowers, snip a few petals for your at-home spa needs!

What is your most important beauty advice for winter?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Make sure to always drink 8 glasses of water a day. This really does make a difference. Also, keep skin hydrated with a lighter moisturizer during the day and opt for a richer, more emollient moisturizer at night. Another one of my winter “must-haves” is bronzer. It brightens and brings life back to dull skin, but it must look natural!

What is the best way to apply bronzer so it looks natural?
Picking the perfect shade is crucial! Make sure to find a bronzer that is only 2 or 3 shades darker than your skin tone, and be careful that it does not look too orange or your skin will scream “fake tan!” You want to give your skin just enough color for a healthy glow.

How do you know if it’s the right shade for you?
A great way to test the color of a bronzer is by looking at it in natural sunlight. If it appears orange, toss it. Also, only apply bronzer to the areas of the face that the sun hits, so dust a little along the forehead, down the hair line, lightly on the cheeks and even lighter on the nose.  Finally, blend from the jaw line into the neck. This ensures a blended and believably sun-kissed look!

Any tips for minimizing wrinkles?
Nothing is worse than cracked, caked makeup because it enhances wrinkles, and this will happen very easily during the winter months if skin and makeup is not prepared and applied properly. Skip the powder foundation and opt for a liquid or cream foundation or a tinted moisturizer for sheerer coverage and dust a light translucent powder to set. If you need to “spot pat” throughout the day to minimize shine, use oil blotting sheets instead!

How can we keep lips healthy this winter?
Again, drinking water will help keep lips hydrated, but protecting lips with a repairing lip balm is the key to preventing extremely chapped, irritated and painful lips. Also, when applying color, whether it is lipstick or a stained gloss, I recommend using professional colors. They maintain color longer and do not break down as easily as generic brands, which have a tendency to bleed.

What’s your favorite beauty trick?
Can’t find the right gloss to match your lipstick? For a natural lip-gloss look that adds shine and color, draw a circle the size of a nickel on the back of your hand with your favorite lipstick color. Next, add a drop of your favorite clear gloss (or your winter lip balm!), mix together with your finger or lip brush and apply. This eliminates the dry lip look, protects lips and adds more color than just a clear gloss or balm would provide.

Gina Pieper is the Artistic Director at Empire Beauty Schools, the nation’s largest provider of cosmetology education in North America.

- Jessica Krznaric, Online Beauty Editor

Revolting against aging and dryness is possible with a push from Dr. Vermen Verallo-Rowell. World-renowned dermatologist and founder of VMV Hypoallergenics, Rowell’s skin sensitive brand catalogs the number of allergens omitted from each product with an easy to follow rating system that diminishes the likeihood of having an allergic reaction. Educating us on the line and tackling our skin concerns (the chapped lips, old age, lifeless hair, etc, etc, etc!), Rowell’s skin smarts will shed enlightenment on your next walk down the beauty aisle.

What defines a product as hypoallergenic?
“Hypo” means less than, and “allergen” is a chemical that goes through the epidermis, or top layer of the skin, and becomes recognized as foreign. Therefore, hypoallergenic is a product that is less capable of inducing an allergic reaction than other products of the same kind.

How do you find the right product for each individual?
I pair products according to skin type and the expected problems for that skin type. Skin types include: dry and prone to wrinkles; dry/oily and prone to pigmentations; dry/oily and prone to allergies; oily and prone to adult onset acne, etc.

What would you recommend for someone who is prone to wrinkles?
Bland cleansers, light moisturizers that contain a lot of coconut oil, and a tinted SPF 60 sunscreen daily in the morning. Overnight, I’d suggest therapeutic products that contain acids like kojic, retinoic, glycolic and antioxidants with growth factors such as kinetin.

Products that fall under Dr. Rowell’s ingredient recommendations include:

Armada Face and Body Shield SPF 60

Glykeros Lift Primer with Glycolic Acid and Kinetin Growth Factor

Illuminants Comfort Cleansing Créme with Kojic Acid

How do alpha and beta hydroxyl acids prevent aging?
Oil based acids (retinoic acid/retinol and beta hydroxy/salicylic acid) are able to penetrate deeper into the dermis than water based acids and produce a thickness of collagen to prevent the clinical evidence of aging. Used over a long period of time, they can improve already photoaged skin.

What are a few guidelines to follow when selecting a facial product?
Start with the number of ingredients. Fewer ingredients are always better. Know your skin type and what it is prone to develop. Select a product that in general is hypoallergenic so that your chance of developing a reaction is minimal, and read the labels for your specific needs.

Is it true facial scrubs with micro beads are bad for your pores?
No. “Micro” beads are not small enough to get through the skin’s barrier layer. The natural exfoliation process of skin ejects any that may lodge on the surface of really wide pores.

What should you avoid to protect the skin from aging?
1. Smoking – causes oxidative damage
2. Sun exposure – onsets aging
3. SIMPLE sweets – affects the skin’s cellular level and makes the skin look old
4. Stress – degrades collagen in the skin

Can certain makeups harm the skin?
Definitely! Ingredients that are allergenic include the preservatives in plasticizers, which allow makeup to go on smoothly, the dyes themselves, and of course the scent. Our powders, eye shadows and blushes have sun protection benefits and are made with iron oxide pigments. Instead of mineral oil, we use pore-friendly, soothing coconut oil whose fatty acids are a natural component of the skin’s barrier to moisturize more effectively.

Shown Above:  Eye Oh My! Eye Colour Trio, Glow Lip and Cheek Tint, Lip Bliss Lipstick, Lipped Crème Lipstick, The Big O, Glow Spectacularly Glossy Lip and Cheek Lustre, Skin Savvy 60, Antioxidant 2-Way Foundation, and So Fine Pressed Powder.

Is there a huge difference between a SPF 10 and SPF 50 when it comes to sunblock protection and cancer prevention?
Absolutely! SPF 10 only partially protects your skin against UVB light, sunburn and direct damage leading to skin cancer. If the sunscreen indicates SPF only, this means it does not have a UVA protective effect, which is just as important in preventing skin damage and cancer.

What is the best way to quickly get rid of a blemish?
A product containing retinoic acid or retinol, and monolaurin is great also.

And for a rash?
The best thing is to stop everything you would normally use on that area from cleansers to makeup. Use coconut oil and water only to clean the face and give your skin a rest. Once the rash clears, restart your products one at a time giving a three day interval of no reaction before moving on to the next one.

Besides frizz control and smoother feet, what other at home beauty dilemmas does coconut oil solve?
For starters, it’s great for repairing dry skin. Just apply coconut oil from your face to your toes in the morning and again at night. On blisters or scrapes, use coconut oil to prevent infection and increase healing. If you want to improve dry, colored or frequently styled hair, wash hair in the evening with shampoo and massage coconut oil into your scalp. Then wrap hair with a flexible plastic like saran wrap. Keep on overnight and rinse out in the morning with a mild shampoo. It’s also makes an excellent makeup remover!

How can lifeless hair be revamped during the winter months?
Dry temperatures indoor and out are usually the cause for lifeless hair in the winter months. Try the coconut oil method above to give it some oomph!

What’s the secret to stopping dry skin and chapped lips?
To counteract wintertime conditions that predispose dry skin, just remember two things – adequate oil and water in the barrier layer of your skin. Drink lots of water, apply creams with water, and use a heavier ointment base overnight. Exfoliate on a weekly or semi-weekly basis so your moisturizer is effective. It’s also import to avoid stress, cold showers, low humidity and sun exposure. AND SLEEP 7 TO 9 HOURS DAILY!


To learn more about VMV Hypoallergenics and other skin sensitive products, visit http://www.vmvhypoallergenics.com/.

- Jessica Krznaric, Online Beauty Editor

Yikes!  A guilty pleasure?  You bet!  The reality show “Tori and Dean,” featuring Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, might very well be the most romantic comedy show on television since the Dick Van Dyke Show or I Dream of Jeanie—only Tori and Dean is real life stuff. If you’re looking for a reality show that features one train wreck after another, forget it.  This show is about normal people who just happen to be stars, but go through all the normal crap normal people go through—only they are so dang cute together.  And they’re such a likable gang.  Tori is a real sweetheart.  Which helps answer the question: how can a woman be so completely and utterly gorgeous, when she’s spent her entire career being dissed by critics and non-fans alike as being not very attractive (to put what has been said mildly)?  The answer: she’s just one of those rare people who is so beautiful from the inside, that we’re left mesmerized. This girl GLOWS!  We’ve seen photos of her without her makeup—and she’s actually just as pretty without as with.  However, the makeup adds a touch of glamor.  And as we all want a little glamor in our lives, we, at Style magazine, have compiled a list of some of Tori’s favorite cosmetics and treatments.

Five of Tori Spelling’s Favorite Products

Dior DiorSkin AirFlash Spray Foundation - So sheer (and, if applied twice, can be heavier, for those with blemishes/scars, etc.) with a perfectly flawless result.

TheBalm Two-Timer & Balms Away Duo ($38 Value) Two-Timer & Balms Away Duo - just one swipe and makeup is gone—and better yet, your skin is left hydrated but not greasy!

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Damned

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Powder 0.35 oz

IOIB Institute of Instant Beauty KIWI Body Scrub Wash Souffle Tori Spelling Treatment

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? More than yes. Lancome ‘Absolue Progressive Cure’ Absolute Intensive Replenishing Program will most likely do for your skin what 225 visits to your dermatologist will—make the skin on your face as smooth and beautiful as it was, say, fifteen or twenty years ago. Once used, you’ll keep coming back.

Everything is in this kit, including the colors: a Le Rouge Absolu Replenishing & Reshaping LipColour, a Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Quartet, a Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush Duo, a Definicils High Definition Mascara and more.  And that’s just in the makeup department.

What makes this product sing exquisite is the skincare line within: a Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base, a Primordiale Skin Recharge Visibly Smoothing & Renewing Moisturizer SPF 15 Sunscreen Cream, and four weeks of the Absolue Treatment—a unique series of formulas containing wild yam, soy and sea algae that progressively rejuvenates and revitalizes the skin. Radiance, luminosity, uniformity, elasticity, resilience, tone all seem to be reborn—your skin, once again, comes alive.


Lancome ‘Absolue Progressive Cure’ Absolute Intensive Replenishing Program - $225 at Nordstrom

I don’t need a meteorologist to tell me there’s a cold snap or a heat wave coming. My skin works much better at weather prediction, thank you very much. If it’s going to be cold, my face gets so dry it can begin to look like it’s snowing, so vast are the flakes (sadly, this is not much of an exaggeration). But when the warm weather hits, I’m always the first one on the block to take on a pimple as red and glorious as the summer sun (make sure you have on UVA +50 when you’re in my near).

For cold weather, I continue to be hooked on Skyn Icelandic anything.

But I can’t make it into the hot, greasy days without my trusty Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. It’s a little bottle of humiliation-prevention. A dab of this Calamine-looking lotion on a zit will make that nasty go poof overnight!  The medicinal smell is reassuring, but the end result is what matters most—skin that’s smooth and gorgeous again.

Tip One: make sure to dip a fresh Q-Tip in the bottle each time to extract the liquid, as this will keep bacteria from growing inside (that’s a good thing), and it will allow you perfect placement on any bumps.

Tip Two: if you need a complete DIY facial overhaul, here’s a get-lovely-skin-quick routine that costs nothing but a little time: 12 Steps To Really Lovely Skin.

Tip Three: for great skin, make sure to laugh a lot.  Laughing takes the stress out of facial muscles.  Want to read something funny? Try our article on curly hair.

Sugar in a face wash?  You bet.  That’s what Lauryl Glucoside is (you’ll find this in most cleansers, because it helps to retain moisture) and Face Boutique’s Peachy Clean Foaming Facial Wash is, indeed, candy for your face—without being sticky, of course.  In fact, Face Boutique products were founded in London, where air pollution is at a premium, so when Peachy Clean was invented to clean, it was invented to really clean.
This is clean to the nth power.  And it’s a gentle clean for any skin type—because it’s free from potentially harmful chemicals—but the cleanser is particularly good for those with oily skin, as it helps even out the skin’s PH so glands don’t go into oil over-drive. Other ingredients are must-have, too: ylang ylang, clove, mandarin, basil and cinnamon oils, with a dash of mountain ash and almond oils.

If you’re on the run or traveling via airplane, the resealable pack,  Sweep Clean Cleanser on a Cloth is a great alternative (no trouble, yet, going through airline inspection).

The Fresh Faced Moisturizer has antimicrobial (ylang ylang is good for more than just smelling lovely) and antiseptic properties (pink grapefruit is just as delicious on your skin as in your tummy). Plus, it also contains seaweed, which is an anti-inflammatory, and, of all things, strawberries, because those yummy berries help reduce the size of pores.

And for those who need a quick fix to help banish spots (zits and other catastrophes), the Spotless Blemish Gel is good, big stuff in a small package, loaded with anti-bacterial, antimicrobial willow and rye; plus, the comfrey root and witch hazel help support the skin barrier from environmental factors and to calm sensitive skin.

Purchase Face Boutique products at spacenk.com and futurenatural.com.

We want to spend wisely. And who doesn’t?!  Tip: start shopping unisex everything.  A good beginning: the Dr. VMV Hypoallergenics Id Skin buffing Pumice and Salicylic Facial Cleanser—not a name that particularly rolls off the tongue, but it most certainly rolls the dead cells of skin off her face and his face, so who cares what this cleanser-exfoliate is called.

We like it because of the pure whiteness and soft foaminess it offers—and within that is a grit that dislodges grime from clogged pores.  Salicylic Acid is an oil-soluble micro-exfoliant and anti-bacterial agent—so buh-bye pimples and bacteria.  But back to that name—who would name a product something something Salicylic Facial Cleanser?  Why, a doctor, of course.  Dr. Verallo-Rowell specializes in acne, psoriasis, diseases of the skin, and cosmetic dermatology and she’s now segued into products we can utilize in our own home.  P.S. If she or he has acne, the VMV Id Anti-Acne, Anti-Aging Face, Chest, Back and Body Exfoliating Lotion is an anti-acne, anti-wrinkle with, you guessed it, a healthy does of Salicylic Acid .

Dr. VMV Hypoallergenics Id Skin buffing Pumice and Salicylic Facial Cleanser, available at blissworld.com, $22.00