Introducing The Beauty of Life's New Intern, Jennifer Lee!

Fellow beauty chicks, I'm thrilled to introduce a very special member to The Beauty of Life team. Please welcome the utterly fabulous Jennifer Lee to the forum! Jennifer is the new intern on board -- she'll be writing product reviews, trying out tons of products and generally loving beauty as much as everyone else around here. (And is she not the most adorable person ever?) Discover some of her favorite products, how she came to love beauty so much and more after the jump!



How did you first become interested in beauty?
I grew up in a pretty conservative family and wasn’t really allowed to use makeup until college. Can you imagine the repressed psychosis? As a tween, I would go to bookstores and camp out in the magazine section, memorizing looks. When I got to high school, I would ravenously go through my friend Marian’s makeup. And now, I am a full-fledged [makeup] junkie. You know the heart-quickening anticipation you get right before Space Mountain? That’s literally the feeling I have when I’m in the beauty aisle.

What is your daily beauty and skincare regimen?
My everyday look consists of just mascara and blush. At night, I’m pretty strict with nightly skincare; I always use eye cream and face lotion. Also, I’m in love with L’Occitane Olive Oil Toner -- it naturally moisturizes and exfoliates.

What are your top five favorite products?

1) Shu Uemura eyelash curler. I have stick-straight lashes and this opens up my eyes beautifully.

2) Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. This melts away makeup, including liquid eyeliner and waterproof mascara, without tugging at the sensitive eye area.

3) Kiehl's Hair Conditioner and Grooming Aid Formula 133. I discovered this product in Miami’s humid summer and been in love with it ever since. It’s the perfect non-greasy detangler.

4) M.A.C eye color. The pigments are so rich and gorgeous!

5) NARS blush. Compliments every skin tone and is silky smooth.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what's the one product you couldn't live without?
Can I have two things? I’m addicted to lip balm and I totally need sunscreen. I’m a huge sunscreen advocate. I put on SPF20+ everyday -- even in the winter!

When you're not writing for The Beauty of Life, what do you do for fun?
I’m a gigantic foodie! I LOVE to eat, cook and drink wine. The Food Network is my background channel of choice and I love reading cookbooks (as in, I’ll curl up in bed with a cookbook before I go to sleep). My friend Hubert calls me The Beast because of my copious food consumption, and my boss at my last job actually asked if I was diabetic (apparently they’re always eating to maintain sugar levels).

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Love at First Sight: by Terry Baume de Rose

I fell in love this week. No, not with a man -- though I'm not ruling out that possibility. No, this time I'm talking about my by Terry Baume de Rose.

It's no secret that I love all things floral ... and especially all things rose. "A rose by any other name may smell as sweet." That phrase may work for some people, but for me? I don't think so. There's something so unbelievably, deliciously intoxicating about the scent of a blooming rose -- I've never found anything else quite like it. And by Terry Baume de Rose captures that scent perfectly.

I like my lip balms to be creamy but not waxy -- and, of course, they have to soften my lips, or what's the point? by Terry Baume de Rose does all that and more -- and it lasts for hours, so reapplication is at a minimum. (Which is nice, since at $58 it's definitely on the pricey side for a lip balm.) It even has SPF 15, so my lips are protected against harmful UVA and UVB rays while looking fantastic. And while I know some gals may frown at the idea of a pot balm, how can you go wrong with a chic frosted pot with gleaming silver top? I really think you can't.

While this balm can actually be used for both the lips and cuticles, so far I've just stuck to my lips. It leaves a gorgeous, shimmery sheen upon my pout that on its own is perfect for day, or fabulous for night when layered over a darker lip color. Not to mention its many amazing properties -- it rejuvenates, repairs, strengthens, nourishes and fights aging. This is due to a high concentration of lipid-building substances and essential rose wax. Created by the by Terry Research Laboratories, this balm really does promote an inner and outer glow.

by Terry Baume de Rose retails for $58.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate With Essential Oils

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

So you know how there are some products that just get you from the very moment you open the packaging? That's how it was for me when I took my Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate With Essential Oils out of the box. The design of the bottle is simplistic in nature, but that appeals to the side of me who wants to relax and unwind at the end of a long day. And that's exactly what happens when the product comes pouring out ... because it smells exactly like a spa. You know the aroma: that aromatherapy-like scent of flowers and oriental notes that just can't help but make you be relaxed.

Essential oils of rosewood, geranium, mint and rosemary make up both the fragrance and help to promote a feeling of well-being. The consistency is thick, rich and lush without feeling heavy -- and the fragrance surrounds you without feeling overpowering. Not to mention it foams ever so wonderfully with only a dime-sized amount necessary each time.

But the other aspect of this body wash that's so intriguing is its ability to tone and firm skin. I usually think those claims are totally unfounded ... but in the case of this Clarins body wash, it actually happens! Every time I step out of the shower, I find that my skin looks tighter and firmer. This is due to various plant extracts like juniper, balm, pine, St. John's Wort, arnia, gentian and witch hazel. Finally, coconut works to cleanse skin and provide comfort -- and anything formulated with coconut is fine by me!

Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate With Essential Oils retails for $27.50.

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Around the Beauty Blogosphere

Check out my latest fave posts from Around the Beauty Blogosphere!

If you've never heard of Jason Backe, you're missing out. Nancy from Beauty411 has a totally hilarious interview with him in her Beauty Bylines column this week!

Whether you've got a headache or you're suffering from allergies, find out how to stop the pain at Style.com's Beauty Counter. (Hint: it's courtesy of Ricky's.)

NY $pender discovers that there's nothing more refreshing for summer than cucumber.

Find out how to get glowy skin in an instant at Product Whores.

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First Look Fridays: Jeannine Morris of BeautySweetSpot

You know those gals who are so perfect, so perky, so gorgeous, you want to hate them ... but you can't, because they're the sweetest things alive? Such is the case with the adorably fabulous Jeannine Morris of BeautySweetSpot. And whether she's writing about celebrity trends or bringing you the latest in spa treatments, Jeannine does it all, well, beautifully! Read on to discover



Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I'm a Jersey girl, but went to Wagner College in Staten Island, NY and have been living in the city since I graduated, which is four years now. I majored in English and minored in journalism. My goal was to write for a magazine like Kate Hudson in How to Lose A Guy In Ten Days (my favorite movie) and I landed a job at Cosmopolitan as their Beauty Assistant. Currently, I am still in the beauty industry doing PR and just this year launched BeautySweetSpot. Not only is it filled with my guilty pleasures, but it is one of my guilty pleasures.

How did you first become interested in beauty?
I've always been interested in beauty and fashion trends, but it wasn't until I began interning in the Cosmopolitan Beauty Department that I became passionate about beauty. Lucky for me, the beauty team at Cosmo allowed me to attend events, cover fashion week and attend internal meetings with the staff so I was able to learn a lot about the industry while I was an intern. I really looked up to Andrea Lavinthal, who was Cosmopolitan's Associate Beauty Editor at the time, and when I was hired, I worked closely with her. I really feel that having a supervisor you admire, learn from and aspire to be like early on can make a world of a difference on your career.

Why did you decide to start your blog?
I'm currently in working in beauty PR and the more I learn about social media and networking, the more I want to become surrounded by it. I've been admiring beauty bloggers for a few years now and writing has always been a passion of mine, so in the beginning of the year I made it my new years resolution to start my own beauty blog. Now, I'm able to interview experts, provide tips and tricks to my readers, and cover new product launches just like I did at Cosmo, but in my own free time, for fun. I absolutely love it.

I love the name of your blog! How did you come up with it?
BeautySweetSpot speaks to my personality. Beauty is my niche, and "SweetSpot" is sexy. I like to consider my attitude and the name of my site sexy but classy. There are many amazing beauty blogs, and I wanted mine to be different, so I decided to add the sexual twist and really catch the attention of my reader with my tagline, "enticing every girl's guilty pleasures." I also use a cherry at the bottom of all of my postings to tie in the subtle sexual charm.

What have been some of the highlights of having your blog?
I had a BeautySweetSpot launch party in June at the Townhouse Spa in NYC, which was a huge success. Friends, family and media came to support the launch as models wearing branded BeautySweetSpot t-shirts passed around chocolate-covered cherries.

I was also on NBC's The 10! Show in Philly as a beauty expert for a segment on eco-friendly fashion and beauty products. This was the first time I was on national TV as an expert, and when I watched myself and saw "Founder of BeautySweetSpot.com" as my credit info on the bottom of the screen, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real.

It's really been a surreal experience so far. Most of all, I really enjoy networking, keeping up with the industry and immersing myself in social media. The most rewarding thing is getting positive feedback from a publicist or a reader on a post.

What are your top 5 beauty essentials?
Top 5? That's tough ... Okay here are some...

1) Striking black eyeliner

2) Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer

3) Sunscreen

4) John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze in Brilliant Brunette

5) Black mascara

What brands can you simply not live without?
Dove
M.A.C
DEX New York
DERMAdoctor
Neutrogena
Dior
Victoria's Secret Beauty
NARS

Are there any other beauty blogs you read regularly? What are some that you like and why?
Absolutely! I love reading beauty blogs and love that it's a community where all bloggers support each other. Some of my favorites are:

Daily Makeover
Rachel Hayes Gayle, the Director of Daily Makeover, established a "Bloggerati," in which a bunch of beauty bloggers are highlighted on the site along with the Daily Makeover blog. It's a great place to go to catch up on all of the blogging news of the day.

Andrea Lavinthal's blog at Cosmopolitan
She always has up to the minute news and info, interviews celebs and has really fun videos. Love it.

GlimmerGlossGlow.com
The site is fantastic, and there's a blog that's fun to read too.

Brown Girl Gumbo
My favorite thing about this blog are the photos of the week.

Beauty and the Feast
This is a fun blog because it rotates from covering the latest in beauty to the best in food!

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Yay or Nay: Megan Fox's Dark Mulberry Lipstick

Megan Fox showed up to the MySpace/IGN/Jennifer's Body party at Comic-Con last weekend sporting a dark mulberry lip. And while I actually really like it, I'm debating solely on the fact that it's summer and the look seems a bit heavy -- especially with her raven locks. I would have loved to see a lighter color.

But I leave it up to you. Is this look a yay or a nay? Let me know in the comments!

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M.A.C Tricolour Lipglass: A Thing of Beauty

Just a quick note about the beautiful thing that is M.A.C Tricolour Lipglass. I mean, have you even? I can't pick a favorite because the three swirled colors that make up each tube are too gorgeous ... I ran out and bought every single one just so I could line them up on my dressing table and stare at them every day. (And yes, I'm completely serious.) But if you must pick a favorite, here are your choices:

Tasty (sheer raspberry pink)
Just Dessert (sheer frosted silver pink)
Simply Delicious (sheer frosted peach)
Triple Yum (sheer golden beige)

Good luck choosing! Each M.A.C Tricolour Lipglass retails for $17.50.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Molton Brown Ultrasmooth Coco de Mer Bath & Shower

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

Is there anything chicer than Molton Brown? I find it hard to believe. There's something so unbelievably luxe about every single Molton Brown product out there. And right now I'm totally loving the Molton Brown Ultrasmooth Coco de Mer Bath & Shower.

You know it must be good when the biggest flaw I can find is the fact that they leave the word "gel" off the end of the name. Because let me tell you, this is one amazingly powerful shower gel. It bubbles, it foams, it forms a lather so rich and lush I feel it cannot just be an earthly delight. And this is just with a dime-sized amount poured onto a pouf!

It's formulated with coco de mer, otherwise known as sea coconut, which is a giant palm found only in the Seychelles. Its seed takes 10 years to mature and produces an oil that's intensely hydrating and skin-softening. Honey extract also works to moisturize and condition skin.

Not to mention the intoxicatingly lovely scent that wafts from the bottle as soon as you pop the cap. It's exotic but understated enough for day -- and it's unisex, so you and your BF can fight over who gets control of it in the morning.

Molton Brown Ultrasmooth Coco de Mer Bath and Shower retails for $28.

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Feel the Vibrations: Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Mascara Primer

Vibrations good like Sunkist
Many wanna know who done this
Marky Mark and I'm here to move you
Rhymes will groove you
And I'm here to prove to you
That we can party on the positive side
And pump positive vibes
So come along for the ride
Making you feel the rhythm is my occupation
So feel the vibration

Come on come on
Feel it feel it
Feel the vibration
--Good Vibrations

When I first started trying vibrating mascaras last year, I didn't know quite what to expect. But after loving them all (check out my review of Lancome Oscillation here), is it any wonder that the new Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Mascara Primer would make me feel the same way?

I've tried this mascara primer under three different mascaras, and every time the results are the same. Mascara that sticks, lasts and looks as good after 12 hours as it did after the first. Not to mention there's no clumping, flaking or unsightly smudging to be seen anywhere. No, this primer really and truly works.

And just how does it work, you might ask? It's very similar to its Oscillation Mascara counterpart. Continuous vibrating motions make the wand rotate a full 360 degrees for maximum impact. I recommend holding it steady instead of zig-zagging and applying with a light hand so the product goes on evenly with no clumping. You'll be left with conditioned, strengthened, fortified, prepped and primed lashes that are separated, coated and ready for a coat or two of mascara.

And if you're too afraid of the vibrations? It has an on-off button, unlike some of its vibrating counterparts, so you have the choice of applying it without them!

Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Mascara Primer retails for $39.

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Yay or Nay: Ashley Tisdale at the Disney Channel's Summer Soiree

I've been staring at this picture for awhile now, and I have to admit I am perplexed by it. I'm not sure what's bothering me the most about Ashley Tisdale at Disney Channel's Summer Soiree on July 24. It could be the hair, which is way too long and straight with tons of unbecoming extensions but just doesn't seem like a flattering color for her. Or it's the eye makeup, which includes such heavy liner that it makes her eyes appear way smaller than they actually are -- but does nothing to reduce the unsightly bags underneath them. Or it's just the fact that she's way too orange. Whichever road I choose, I just find myself not loving this look.

But I leave it up to you. Do you think Ashley's look is a yay or a nay? Let me know in the comments!

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Laura Mercier French Vanilla Creme Body Wash

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

Oh, Laura Mercier. I honestly don't think it's possible for you to bring me a product I won't like. But in the case of your French Vanilla Creme Body Wash, I think I've just fallen head over heels in love. The rich scent of baked goods wafts out of the bottle every time I so much as pop the cap ... enveloping me in a delightful, delicious, utterly delectable world that I just can't bear to leave.

This body wash is an indulgence for the shower if I've ever seen one. The bottle is simplistic in nature, yet its rectangular shape with slight curves feels so elegant. The creamy consistency pours from the bottle effortlessly, and only a dime-sized amount is needed to create a foamy lather so thick, you'll be swimming in heavenly-scented bubbles.

And let's discuss the scent, shall we? A mouthwatering combination of pure Tahitian and bourbon vanillas is surrounded by notes of velvety caramel, Kadota fig, creamy sandalwood and smooth amber for a luscious, rich and totally intoxicating aroma. And since it's formulated with ingredients like shea butter, glycerin and honey extract, it keeps your skin moisturized, hydrated and baby soft.

Laura Mercier French Vanilla Creme Body Wash retails for $36.

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Completely Gratuitous: Robert Pattinson at Comic-Con

Robert Pattinson as seen at the Twilight: New Moon Saga panel discussion at Comic-Con on July 23.



You're welcome.

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Lip Service: Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm

I honestly don't think I could ever be without a lip balm. On the rare occasion that I've walked out of the house without at least three stashed in my purse, I've felt myself going into panic mode. And the times that -- horror of horrors! -- I forget one altogether? You might as well consider the entire day a waste. But now that Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm has come into my life, there's absolutely no way I would ever forget to have a lip balm at the ready.

This balm has been stashed in a place of honor in my purse ever since I first tried it, and here's why. MY. LIPS. FEEL. AMAZING. They're soft, they're smooth, they're totally kissable (I swear!). No flaking, no peeling, no unsightly chapping to be had. Just a hydrated, moisturized, silky soft pout.

This is due to a few unbelievably important ingredients that can be found inside the small but mighty blue tube. First up, essential rose wax. A fine, protective film collected from the surface of rose petals, this works to provide moisture and soothe the lips with a protective barrier. In addition, ceramide 3 (which is identical in structure to skin lipids), repairs chapping and irritation. The Maxi Lip Complex encourages Hyaluronic acid synthesis to make lips appear fuller. And natural rice oil extract boosts skin microcirculation to help them look pinker.

And my attitude? It's so much calmer ever since this balm found its way into my purse.

Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm retails for $24.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Kenzo Flower by Kenzo Milky Shower Cream

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

As anyone who knows me can attest, I'm a sucker for cool packaging. And Kenzo Flower by Kenzo Milky Shower Cream has got that in spades. The super-thin, rectangular-shaped bottle would look utterly minimalist if not for the oversized red poppy blooming across its front.

Poppies have always been significant in my family due to our love of The Wizard of Oz ... something about watching Dorothy and her friends run through the vividly red field of poppies with the Wicked Witch of the West cackling in the background has always really spoken to us. So is it any wonder that I would be totally and competely enamored with a fragrance built around the poppy?

Interestingly enough, the poppy actually has no scent. Kenzo created a fragrance surrounding it -- a powdery floral with notes of Parma violet, vanilla, Bulgarian rose, white musk, wild hawthorne, cassia, hedione, cyclosal and opoponax -- that feels and smells undeniably sensual. It's at once contemporary and vintage, sexy and romantic, wispy and lush. The fragrance lingers without feeling cloying -- the cream leaves behind just enough scent that perfume is unnecessary, but not enough that you'll be hating the way you smell by lunchtime.

And the cream itself? It's thick, rich and lathers beautifully. Only a dime-sized amount and your pouf will be bursting with suds!

Kenzo Flower by Kenzo Milky Shower Cream retails for $28.

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Around the Beauty Blogosphere

Check out my latest fave posts from Around the Beauty Blogosphere!

Pink blushes are a little bit sour, a little bit sweet ... at least according to Supermelon.

Afraid of cutting your own bangs? Never fear ... Glam.com is here to save the day with a few really key pointers.

My quest to discover everything Twilight continues ... Nylon brings us the secrets behind vampire Heidi's makeup in New Moon!

Bless This Mess brings you a look at the latest in a crazy lineup of eyelashes from Shu Uemura.

Makeup artist Troy Jensen teaches you how to perfect both naughty and nice looks from Kim Kardashian. Both include a gorgeous hot pink glossy lip.

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The Orlane Paris Absolute Radiance Lightbox: My Secret to Perfect Skin

I've discovered the secret to radiant skin. It's not facials (though they help), it's not slathering on a bunch of different night creams and day creams (though I still will). No, it's the Orlane Paris Absolute Radiance Lightbox.

This beautifully packaged box is packed with a three-step process that results in skin that glows, gleams and otherwise glistens. Seriously, after only one application I already noticed a vast difference in how youthful my skin appeared -- and, as if that weren't enough, was asked my age (as in, "you look so young! How old are you?") so many times I lost count. If that isn't the highest compliment a woman can receive, what is?

You start with the Dazzling Eyes Ritual. This includes Eye Contour Serum and Under-Eye Patches. Begin by squeezing a dab of the serum onto the skin below your eyes, then add the patches -- saturated gauzy-like white contraptions -- and keep them in place for seven minutes. While they're sinking into your skin, mix up the Shimmering Mask -- the combination of a powder and a creamy emulsion -- that, after removing the patches, you'll rub into your skin and leave for five minutes. After a quick rinse, finish with the Evanescent Cream -- a rich daily moisturizer that sinks into your skin without feeling greasy, thick or heavy.

The result? Unbelievably clear skin that's so glowing, so radiant, you'll be shocked at how quickly it could be achieved. Now, what's in each product that gives you that result? The serum includes vegeceryl (a plasma that nourishes the skin), in addition to sugars and plant extracts to decongest and detoxify the skin. Combined with the patches, your eyes give off the appearance of a full eight hours sleep even if you've only had four -- and trust me, I tried the theory and was shocked at how rested I appeared! No dark circles, no wrinkles, no unsightly lines to be had. It was truly a miracle.

The mask contains cicer arietinum grain extract to stimulate creatine kinerase. This is responsible for producing energy from phosphocreatine to exfoliate the skin and remove it of dead skin cells. The concoction is slightly foamy but sinks into the skin like a moisturizer -- so none of that horrible hardness or tightness you get from some masks. It works to nourish and hydrate the skin so it gives off a lively, revitalized appearance.

Finally, the moisturizer oxygenates the tissues, erases fine lines and plumps up the skin. It contains white lupine grain extract to promote microcirculation, cicer arietinum grain extract to revitalize the skin, and 3D Flash, Orlane's innovative complex that transports oxygen within the cells and recovers C02. You'll be left with illuminated, shimmering, silky smooth skin in just seconds!

Each Lightbox comes with six full sets of applications. And while this may not seem like a lot, you can actually stretch it out over quite an extended period of time. Rather than using them six days in a row, you can use one a week -- that's a month and a half of glow time!

The Orlane Paris Absolute Radiance Lightbox retails for $200.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Bulgari Eau Parfumee Au The Vert Bath and Shower Gel

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

I absolutely love Bulgari. And while I can't necessarily treat myself to the gorgeous jewels the house has to offer, I certainly can splurge on their beauty products from time to time. So it's no wonder that the second I picked up Bulgari Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert Bath and Shower Gel, I was hooked.

The bottle itself is one of absolute luxury. The green silhouette swoops and curves into a softly shaped rectangle, resulting in a white-speckled top that snaps open ever so discreetly. But the fragrance within is anything but discreet -- out wafts a refreshingly zingy scent that makes me feel alive, radiant and ready to take on whatever the day brings.

Many interesting notes make up this finely fragranced shower gel. Italian bergamot, Tunisian bitter orange, Spanish orange blossom, Jamaican pepper, Russian coriander, Egyptian jasmine ... all of these exotic notes mix with ceylon cardamom, Bulgarian rose, smoked wood and, of course, green tea. As green tea leaves are known for their healing and relaxing effects, why not make them the base note in this delightful fragrance?

If there's any way to feel more like a queen during your morning shower, I haven't found it yet. Bulgari Eau Parfumee Au The Vert Bath and Shower Gel retails for $41.

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Around the Beauty Blogosphere

Check out my latest fave posts from Around the Beauty Blogosphere!

Learn how to literally go months in between hair washing with Jack & Hill.

I'm totally in love with Sea Sprite Soaps after reading about them on Splendicity.

Get tons of do-it-yourself hair conditioner ideas from Lemondrop!

Felicia Sullivan is totally in love with Korres Jasmine Body Butter. The name alone makes me want to try it!

Teen Vogue gives you some great ideas for how to combat dark under-eye circles.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: NARS Ginger Grapefruit Bath and Shower Gel

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

Since I'm a major fan of all things NARS, I simply had to try the NARS Ginger Grapefruit Bath and Shower Gel. You may think that the photo above doesn't really look real -- how could these huge bubbles really exist in the bottle all the time? Well, I'm here to tell you that the bottle really and truly looks like that as it sits in your shower! So right off the bat, I fell in love with the packaging. It's totally one of those bottles that get comments when I have guests (which, admittedly, is something I really enjoy about my bath products).

But it's even better that the scent is unbelievably captivating. Notes of grapefruit and cassis meld seamlessly with sweet peony and violet flower. The end result is a blissfully delightful aroma that wafts out of the bottle and onto the skin so beautifully. It's light, fresh, juicy and crisp -- totally perfect for summer.

And since it's enriched with natural botanicals like aloe extract and macadamia nut oil, it really moisturizes and nourishes the skin, too. It even has menthol, ginseng and caffeine to energize you and the exclusive TMG Compound to exfoliate your dead skin cells. Every time I lather up with the stuff (and it produces a fabulous lather), my skin is so hydrated and silky smooth!

NARS Ginger Grapefruit Bath and Shower Gel retails for $38.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Clinique Happy Heart Body Wash

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

Some products are just named so aptly, I want to shake the hand of the person who did it. Such is the case with Clinique Happy Heart Body Wash -- and the entire Clinique Happy Heart collection, come to think of it. Because every time I lather up with this aromatic fantasy of a body wash, a huge smile appears on my face and I just feel utterly blissful.

This is a case of another unassuming-looking tube that ends up delivering an unbelievably amazing product. Notes of water hyacinth, mandarin and blond woods are the most present here, with subtle hints of cucumber and yellow primrose peeking through. The result is a fresh, youthful and vibrant fragrance that just delights and captivates the senses beautifully.

It can even be used as a bubble bath -- which, trust me, if I had a bathtub (I'm cursed with only a stall shower), I'd be taking bubble baths nightly with the stuff.

Clinique Happy Heart Body Wash retails for $23.50.

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The Amazingness Continues with Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Sleep Mist

I told you once how much I love Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Sleep Mist. Well, I just feel that this little bottle needs a bit more love ... because OH. MY. GOD. I've been having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep for over a month now. Last night I decided to spritz it over my pillow, and guess what? I fell asleep within FIVE MINUTES. Even better, I stayed asleep till my alarm rang this morning. I can't believe it.

Okay, gushing done now. Just thought I'd let you know that this baby continues to work time and again.

Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Sleep Mist retails for $38.

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My New Hair Miracle-Workers: Kiehl's Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo and Conditioner

It's very clear
Our love is here to stay
Not for a year
But ever and a day
--George and Ira Gershwin

Every time I try out a new shampoo, I feel wary. No matter how great they sound, the run the risk of giving me a truly terrible hair day. Not so with the new Kiehl's Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo and Color Preserving Conditioner. No, these two miracle-workers have done everything right since they came into my life.

Now, this shampoo and conditioner are formulated to protect color-treated hair, which mine is not. But I figured it couldn't hurt to act like it's been colored, so that it still reaps all the benefits. They're sulfate-free, silicone-free and paraben-free, so they really work to make your hair look unbelievable with as few bad ingredients as you could imagine. Plus, they're rich in antioxidants to repair damage caused by chemical processing (for those gals out there who need it!). They even use gentle surfectants to cleanse without stripping the color away.

Both are created with sunflower oil, which includes high levels of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids. They also contain apricot oil, which has a Vitamin-rich blend of B3, B5 and B6; and a UV-protective filter so harmful rays don't weaken and destroy your strands.

And OH MY GOODNESS, they smell unbelievable. Seriously, I don't think I've ever used a shampoo and conditioner that smell this good. They're sweet, rich and completely delicious. If I could, I'd drink them. Every time I put them in my hair, I find my showers taking longer and longer so I can inhale the scent for as long as humanly possible!

The first time they made my hair look amazing, I thought it must be a fluke. A one-time event that couldn't possibly be repeated. But then I washed and conditioned my hair with them again ... and again ... and again. And each time, my hair was shiny, bouncy, vibrant and full of life. So now these are my two miracle workers ... AKA the two products I hide when guests come to stay, of course!

Kiehl's Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo retails for $18.50. Kiehl's Sunflower Preserving Conditioner retails for $19.

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: M.A.C Naked Honey Body Wash

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

I love all things honey. One of my favorite things about the Jewish holidays is that it's totally acceptable to eat buckets of honey (dipping apples in honey signifies that you wish people a sweet new year). And one of my favorite books, The Secret Life of Bees, centers around the sweet stuff. So is it any wonder that I'm totally dying over the new M.A.C Naked Honey Body Wash?

I was enamored from the very beginning ... because while the tube may seem ordinary at first glance, it so isn't. Look closer and you'll notice that it's designed to look like a honeycomb -- and, of course, it's the color of deep amber honey. But it's what's inside the tube that really gets me going ... because this body wash is actually formulated from real bio-converted honey!

And the scent, ohhhh, the scent. Extracts of lavender, narcissus, jasmine flower waxes and blue agave not only help to cleanse, moisturize and nourish the skin. No, they actually make this body wash smell unbelievably amazing. It's sweet but not cloying, lush but not too rich. Every time I lather up, it somehow overpowers and envelops me without seeming too heavy. Now that's something worth smiling about.

Formulated from bio-converted honey, this body wash cleanses the skin while providing the soothing and moisturizing benefits of lavender, narcissus, jasmine flower waxes and blue agave extracts. Provides a sensual, calming, cleansing experience. Limited edition.

M.A.C Naked Honey Body Wash is limited-edition and retails for $19.50. For more information on the Naked Honey collection, click here.

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Kimberly Wyatt of The Pussycat Dolls Can KICK Her FACE.

Say what you want about The Pussycat Dolls, but can you kick your leg up as high as Kimberly Wyatt can? (Shown here at the Bring Your Heels Event with Ben Bunce and Nick Cunningham, two stars of La Cage Aux Folles at Finsbury Town Hall.) As most of my friends from college would say, "Girl better WORK!"

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: DKNY Be Delicious Shower Gel

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

I'm all about scents with a little bit of intrigue. That's why I'm totally enthralled with DKNY Be Delicious Shower Gel. Its unique blend of fruity, floral and woodsy notes really resonates with me and just makes me feel amazing all day long.

Described as "a modern feast for the senses," Be Delicious is inspired by the apple. But not just any apple -- The Big Apple, AKA New York City! I'm sure you've all seen the apple-shaped perfume bottle. And while the shower gel comes in a fairly standard tube, let me assure you there is nothing standard about the product inside. It lathers, it soaps, it suds ... a dime-sized amount of product on your pouf or washcloth lends itself to mountains of bubbly goodness.

And let's discuss the scent at length, shall we? It's quite delightfully juicy but not cloying or sickly sweet, which is important in a fruity bath product. Notes of American apple, cucumber, grapefruit, candid magnolia, tuberose, white muguet, rose and violet give way to sandalwood, tender skin accord, blonde woods and white amber. The result is a fresh, youthful fragrance that leaves skin slightly perfumed without feeling overbearing. And yes, you can layer perfume or scented body cream on top of it without conflicting aromas fighting each other!

DKNY Be Delicious Shower Gel retails for $32.

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Quote of the Day: Elizabeth Elliot in Jane Austen's Persuasion

Totally my favorite quote thus far!

"It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at 29 than she was 10 years before." -- Elizabeth Elliot in Jane Austen's Persuasion

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Best Summer Body Wash Series: Aromatherapy Associates Renew Rose Body Wash

The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.

I've long been a fan of Aromatherapy Associates. I haven't found another brand so adept at creating products that make me feel like I've been transported to the most luxurious spa on the planet. So of course I need to include a body wash from the line in this series ... and there isn't one finer than Renew Rose Body Wash.

This delightfully fragrant body wash is formulated with chamomile to soften the skin, while rose and sandalwood oils keep it hydrated. Damask rose water nourishes the skin and leaves it soft and glowing. It even has aloe vera juice to keep skin feeling soothed!

But it's the scent that really keeps me coming back for more. It's unbelievably fragrant and heady but not at all cloying. The scent fills up the bathroom each time I use it, but never gives me a headache or sinks into the skin so heavily that I feel claustrophobic throughout the day. It has such an accurate rose aroma that you'd swear you had just planted a rosebush in your vanity!

And even better, it can double as a bubble bath! Just a few capfuls and your bathtub will be overflowing with beautifully scented bubbles.

Aromatherapy Associates Renew Rose Body Wash retails for $42.

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Beauty Launch: M.A.C Nail Trend FW 09 by Jin Soon

Exciting news, fellow beauty chicks! Manicurist extraordinaire Jin Soon is launching an exclusive collection with M.A.C this August. Titled Nail Trend FW 09, the collection includes six nail polishes that are inspired by the Fall 2009 collections and upcoming fashion trends. I had the fortune to sit down with Jin backstage at the Doo.Ri Fall 2009 show, where she divulged her inspiration for the collection and showed me one of the colors used on the models at the show, Beyond Jealous.

"This one looks good on every skin tone," Jin told me. "Lots of people go for very daring edge ... that will be more trendy. People didn’t want to get this kind of color before, but now more and more people are into that editorial look."

Jin added, "The designer chose the green. Her line is very strong and tough statement, yet very chic. So she wants to show that. And this color is perfect for her line."

When I asked Jin how she came up with the colors for the collection, she told me, "We checked all the trend forecasts, all the books and everything. Also my favorites that I was into. So we combined ideas. I had been doing all the editorial work, I know what’s gonna be popular, what’s gonna be out there. Also a lot of fashion shoots. So I get all the ideas from shows."

Each of the six polishes is a creme -- no shimmer at all. The colors include:

Cool Reserve (dirty grey lavender)
For Fun (rich clean purple)
Dance All Night (brick red)
Dry Martini (khaki olive green)
Rich, Dark, Delicious (rich blackened brown)
Beyond Jealous (blackened blue green)

The nail polishes in the M.A.C Nail Trend FW 09 by Jin Soon Collection retail for $12 each. They will be available on August 27 at M.A.C counters nationwide.

Model photo courtesy of All Lacquered Up.

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Yay or Nay: Rihanna's Half-Buzzed 'Do

Rihanna recently stepped out sporting a half-buzzed 'do. Sky-high mohawk on one side, shorn on the other. Do you think it's a yay or nay? Let me know in the comments!

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Beautiful Belles: Penelope Tree

A series focusing on beautiful women throughout history with important contributions to the arts and entertainment industry and charity -- and a fabulous sense of beauty, inside and out!

If anyone could be responsible for inspiring the Swinging 60s movement, it would be model Penelope Tree. The wide-eyed gorgeous beauty, along with fellow model Twiggy, epitomizes what the era was all about. I'm totally in love with the mod era, and after seeing The Model As Muse exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art recently, felt it only fitting to bring you an edition of Beautiful Belles with the lovely Penelope Tree. Discover more -- and see scads of photos -- after the jump.







While Penelope's family initially objected to her being a model -- threatening to sue if the pictures Diane Arbus took of her when she was just 13 were ever published -- they relented when she was sent to Richard Avedon at 17. "She's perfect -- don't touch her," it's claimed he said at the time. Multiple memorable photographs followed until scars from late-onset acne effectively ended Penelope's modeling career in the early 1970s. "I went from being sought after to being shunned because nobody could bear to talk about the way I looked," she once said.





But Penelope's huge doe eyes -- often accented by tons of mascara on both the top and bottom lashes -- and unbelievably fantastic cheekbones catapulted her to the top of the modeling charts for quite some time. Not to mention she had a unique sense of style that both captured the times and really made her stand out from the crowd all at once. She even shaved off her eyebrows at one time. And the Flower Power movement? It's attributed to her. But Penelope remembers the 60s quite differently, as she told to The Observer in August 2008:

"I think of the Sixties as being every man for himself," she said. "There wasn't the therapy culture that there is now and there was a huge amount of abuse of alcohol and drugs. But nobody thought it was terribly odd. It was perfectly fine to be tripping down the King's Road. It was acceptable to behave quite strangely and talk as if you came out of a Beckett play."





Penelope dated photographer David Bailey for some time during the 60s, even living in his London flat for awhile. At one point he described her as an Egyptian Jiminy Cricket. But after years of tumult they eventually split. She was married twice and has two children.





In recent years, Penelope has lent her time to Lotus Outreach, a charity which works to partner with local grassroots women's organizations in Cambodia to provide schooling for girls from poor families. She has also worked for the Khyentse Foundation, which promotes Buddhist scholarship.

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