“Microdermabrasion in a jar” sounds about as promising as “Lasik in an aerosol can”. I think of both as expensive procedures best confined to doctors’ offices.

Microdermabrasion always seemed too costly for me to contemplate seriously, and even if I did decide to pursue it, how would I find a reputable dermatologist? Since I have no plans to appear on “Extreme Makeover,” where they take care of the details for you, I’d sort of nixed the idea.

Despite my reservations, a procedure that promises to denude my face of dead skin cells, diminish discoloration and my incipient wrinkles, and even eliminate acne scars retains a certain appeal. The nitty-gritty of microdermabrasion is still a little scary, though: imagine a tiny sandblaster at work on your face, buffing away layers of dead skin. It’s the kind of tool I’d rather see used by a road crew than attacking my delicate epidermis.

Now, Dr. Frederic Brandt has set out to obliterate every one of my objections by bringing microdermabrasion from the exam room to the bathroom, in (what else?) a jar. This fall, dermatologist-to-the-stars Dr. Brandt introduced a product (descriptively dubbed “Microdermabrasion In A Jar”) designed to confer the benefits of the original procedure more gently, more conveniently, and at a fraction of the cost.

And Dr. Brandt isn’t the only game in town. Both Prescriptives and Estée Lauder are now offering microdermabrasion kits for home use (and you can bet these three companies will soon be joined by more). Prescriptives Dermapolish, the first of these to hit the market, is a multi-stage process designed for weekly use. Three different products work in concert to change the texture of your skin: Dermapolish Treatment Cream (the workhorse), a post-treatment soothing mist, and a lipid barrier cream (moisturizer, essentially). The kit even includes a timer, making it as scientific as DIY “soft surgery” gets. Idealist Micro-D, Estée Lauder’s entry, consists of a single product that uses thermal action to open the pores and manual stimulation with microbeads to exfoliate. The experts at Estée Lauder recommend Idealist Micro-D for use once or twice a week. All three of these different lines stress the importance of repeated application to achieve visible results.

Part of what always appealed to me about traditional microdermabrasion was the instant-gratification aspect: make an appointment with the dermatologist, leave looking like a slab of raw meat, and after a few days of healing (and just one treatment), voila! no more acne scars! Having learned a little more about the procedure, I now admit that this was an idealistic view. Even in-office treatments require several repetitions before you can actually see a change in your skin. Despite my unhappy revelation, I approached this whole venture as though Dr. Brandt were selling hope, and not microdermabrasion, in a jar. Besides, I can’t help but have some confidence in a dermatologist whose client list includes Madonna and Jennifer Lopez (and no matter how tired you are of seeing J. Lo on the cover of US Weekly, you have to admire the woman’s skin – she positively glows).

In preparation for testing Dr. Brandt’s product, I banned any substance containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide from my skin a couple of days in advance. I figured that I was about to use a strong treatment, and I didn’t want to end up with first-degree chemical burns. Though in the end I didn’t find Dr. Brandt’s product to be harsh, I would still recommend this preparation to anyone planning to use one of these microdermabrasion systems, especially for the first time.

Microdermabrasion In A Jar purportedly derives its fragrance from grapefruit extract, “an all natural energizing refreshing scent.” In reality, it smells more like “essence of Lemon Pledge.” Following the blessedly simple instructions printed on the jar, I dampened my face and started to massage a big glob of the white, granular cream into my face. They recommend doing this for one to three minutes, so I kept at for the full one hundred eighty seconds; by the end, I was starting to feel it working (“burning” would be too strong a word for the mild sensation I felt, but this comes from someone who waxes her own eyebrows, so I have a pretty high tolerance for beauty-related pain). I finished by rinsing the substance off my face, being careful not to splash any in my eyes.

So here I was, prepared for the possibility of mere exfoliation but really hoping for “immediate radiance” and “instant visible effects” (don’t you love product-marketing parlance?). The result was somewhere in between. My skin didn’t look noticeably different after the initial treatment with Dr. Brandt’s product, but I do admit that it felt incredibly soft. And, contrary to my expectations, Microdermabrasion In A Jar didn’t dry out my skin at all; it effectively smoothed my face, which exfoliation can sometimes leave a little flaky, without any irritation.

I’m going to keep using Microdermabrasion In A Jar, in the hope that its cumulative effect will be a visible change in the texture and tone of my skin. If not, I can always try traditional microdermabrasion – though now that I’ve been introduced to at-home dermatological treatments, I’ll be looking for someplace that rents out sandblasters by the hour.

Prescriptives Dermapolish costs $125 for a kit containing three products and a timer; Estée Lauder Idealist Micro-D is $45 for 2.5 oz. Both are available at department stores, Sephora, and www.gloss.com. Dr. Brandt’s Microdermabrasion In A Jar costs $75 for 2 oz. and can be found at Sephora and Nordstrom.

When my six month old son’s tiny fingers grabbed the spoon filled with oatmeal out of my hand and pitched it between my eyes ­ I laughed and thought “Well that’s the closest thing to a beauty treatment I’m going to get for awhile. Six month’s later I was determined to change that. The following Sunday was Jax’s one year birthday party and I would hear either a surprised, “You look great, I can’t believe you’re a Mommy,” or a sympathetic, “I know, I know, your life is changed forever.” The latter, the kiss of death. So, Jax and I set out to Macy’s to talk beauty.

Household economies now being about expensive formulas and diapers, I had to be smart and choosy. I was going to see what my three favorites had to say and then make some important decisions.

First stop Lancome
I had been using Lancome skincare for years. An expert consultant named Dina worked hard to give me the quickest advice an 11 month old could tolerate. I told Dina that simplicity was the key. We started with my skin type ‘ normal/combination. First off cleansers. For my skin type the best two products were the Mousse Clarte and Tonique Clarte (foaming cleanser and clarifying toner). Step 1 and Step 2. Then onto a SPF 15 moisturizer that would hold up against sticky fingers and a day at the park ­ Bienfait Total – Step 3. Jax was starting to squirm and whine. I started with my Mommy faces ­ monkey, rabbit. Step 4 the repair creme at night ­ Primordiale Intense Eye. Mommy faces not working -full crying, back arching, and body twisting. Huge apologies, the stroller tipping backward, and we race to the door. Luckily, Lancome has a terrific website www.lancome.com with personal consultations and I was able to do more research on the suggested products once Jax was in bed that evening.

Lizzie to the rescue
The next day I decided not to put myself or my son through that again so I bartered some babysitting with a fellow Mommy. With no screaming baby in tow, I arrived at the Elizabeth Arden counter holding a fresh, hot cup of coffee in hand (that a feat in itself) and asked about a skincare routine for busy Moms. To be honest, I hadn’t used Elizabeth Arden in years but my sister was loyal to the brand and she looked great so I was curious. My curiosity paid off. A very pleasant, engaging woman named Nora told me all about my face being like a brick wall whose mortar starts to crumble as I age. How depressing. The mortar is called “ceramide” a natural nutrient that holds and flexes my face. So I was introduced to EA’s new skincare line “Ceramide.” Appropriate to my combination skin type, I was shown the Ceramide purifying cream cleanser and toner. Next came the moisturizer, Ceramide Time Complex Moisture Cream SPF 15 which is oil free for all day wear, and comes in a great purse-friendly container. Nora mentioned that a new product containing SPF 30 had just come out, Ceramide Plump Perfect Moisture Cream SPF 30 in case I desired that level of protection. Because those moisturizers were not tested for the eyes, Nora also showed me the Ceramide Eyewish Eye Cream SPF 10. And for nighttime repair, Nora showed me these wonderful little eggs filled with ceramide called Ceramide Eyes Time Complex Capsules that I could break and dab along the bone of my eye. I asked her what she used as her skin looked “young, beautiful and childless.” Nora laughed and said she swore by the daytime Time Complex Cream and the nighttime capsules. Remembering the babysitter, I had to finish up. So I thanked Nora and was on my way. I later checked out their website and unfortunately for colicky baby mommies, they do not do online consultations. For product information, their website is www.dillards.com.

Crossing the Finish Line with Estee Lauder
Two hours left before I needed to pick up Jax. My last stop was at the Estee Lauder counter. My only current beauty routine besides washing my hair every other day was my daily wear of Estee Lauder ‘Pleasures’ and I just loved their products. I asked a pretty looking woman named Monica about “busy-Moms-on-the-go” products. She sweetly told me “she wasn’t a Mom,” and sat me down on a stool. Just to sit was glorious. Like Lancome, we talked steps. Here, the line specific for my delicate, combination skin was Re-Nutriv. Step 1 ‘the Take it Away Total Makeup Remover ­ wow ­ amazing ­ one one wipe! Step 2 ­ the Foaming Gel Cleanser and Step 3 – the Clean Finish Toner. I was so relaxed; I started to get nervous. I jerked forward to check around for strewn toys and a baby climbing dangerously up my chair and sat back again. Step 4 – Perfectionist skin refinisher. Step 5 ­ a new daywear product called Daywear Plus that not only is a SPF 15 moisturizer but also activates to your skin to give it an illuminating tint. Amazing! And it solved my issue around never having time as a new mommy to go tanning. And finally, Step 6 ­ Advanced Night Repair for eye recovery. We finished up and Monica was so sweet she even took my number to call me personally for product launches! Wow now that’s customer service – if only brands realized how loyal Moms can be due to time restrictions’ give us quality and some TLC and we’ll hand out flyers at Parent Teacher Meetings for goodness sake! Ohh by the way mama girlfriends, Estee Lauder does have personal consultations online, their website is www.esteelauder.com.

You’re a beauty now, Mama
OK Mamas ­ here’s what’s going in my purse: First, Estee Lauder’s Take It Away Total Makeup Remover for any weary end of day oversights from the night before – gets off waterproof mascara fantastic! Next, Lancome’s Clarifying Foaming Gel and Clarifying Toner ­ light, refreshing. All three of these products are easy to do while you and your baby are still in the tub. Then, the super duper a la Mama Daywear Plus Tinted by Estee Lauder ­ the all–in-one SPF 15 protective, self tanning tint, moisturizer ­ now that’s efficiency! Let’s face it, the reason Moms give up is because of time. There is none. And so a beauty program for Moms has to be quick, thoughtless, easy and on-the-go. Finally, the evening skin treatment with those darn cute little eggs you break open and dab on the bone of your eye ­ Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Eyess Time Complex Capsules and the Ceramide Night Intensive Repair Cream ­ whoo wants their face to look like a cracked, dry brick wall? Yikes ­ I better not take any chances losing my natural ceramide. So that’s it girlfriends ‘ oooohhh la la ­ I am a Mommy beauty goddess! Now I can get to the important stuff like buying safety locks for my cabinets, a load of newly “puked on” laundry, and shopping for sippy cups that actually don’t leak. Take a little time each day for beauty and Arrgghhhhh can become Ahhhhhh in seconds.

Gotta run Mamas, its time to pickup Jax, can’t be late for that beautiful angel face. Tune in next time for my results on what items go in my purse from these 3 favs for great makeup ­ inquiring minds might just want to know!

Women, in general, look and feel better than men. With their glossy hair and skin softer than a baby’s bottom, they more often than not stroll about with a mystical effervescent glow that most men lack, minus the Brad Pitts and Orlando Jones’s of the world. However, this seemingly unattainable beauty is not encoded in their X-X chromosomal DNA.Indeed, on my daily travels, I frequently encounter men in various states of shabbiness that want to look good they just don’t know how. Enter Anthony – Logistics For Men. A young genius by the name of Anthony Sosnick realized that there was a sincere lack of men’s grooming products in today’s market.In a few years, he brilliantly created a multi-functional, multi-benefit, nature-based personal care system of skincare and bath and body products designed for men. Whew, that was a mouthful. Now here’s the simple part: all of the products are easy to understand with specific ingredients that are geared to a man’s skin.

Each product caters to a male’s incessant need for information to be listed in a simple, logical, and scientific way. Best of all, the directions are short and to the point for those of you who hate reading instruction manuals. For example, take Anthony’s Razor Burn Repair. It’s for all skin types and is fragrance free, for those of us who don’t want to smell like begonias all day long.

Objective: Don’t look so irritated. Neat, huh? Next is Strategy. This gives us the few one-liners that we love to use to make us sound smarter about the products contents and what it does to help us look better. Lastly,

Method of use: Apply immediately after shaving to all shaved areas. It’s not complicated, right? Anthony’s complete product line is broken down into four core areas: face, shave, body, and hair. Most grooming products today only focus on men’s shaving and cologne. The horror, the horror!

Now most men who may neglect other aspects of their appearance at least pay some attention to their full (or not so full) head of hair. However, the limited focus they give to their hair is wrongly directed toward a very small selection of hair-styling products. Many wash their hair with a generic shampoo and conditioner or (again, the horror, the horror!) some gelatinous goop that combines shampoo and conditioner into one. Anthony’s Everyday Shampoo successfully rectifies this situation. The thick, lightly foaming, conditioning shampoo adds body (ie. strengthens hair) without leaving residue (ie. what most men have). The shampoo makes hair more manageable and creates a luster and shine that sends a message of I care about healthy hair to onlookers. The procedure is simple: Wet hair, pour out about a teaspoon’s worth, lather and massage in hair, rinse, and REPEAT. The repeat part is important. The shampoo, which works best on shorter, finer hair, should be followed by a conditioner, of which Anthony has two kinds for normal or dry/damaged hair.

Anthony’s Shave Cream works brilliantly to moisturize and soothe skin, which is a nice contrast to the roughness of a razor. Best of all, I got a very clean shave that still looked tidy at the end of the day. Unlike many shaving creams that feel either too viscous or sparse on the neck and face, the consistency of Anthony’s Shave Cream is well-balanced, causing the cream to glide on and off the face with ease. Most importantly, I noticed that I had less razor burn after using the cream. Many men confuse razor burn with acne when in reality they’re looking at ingrown hairs (nasty little hair curls under the skin). For those of us with less sensitive skin who have razor burn, Anthony’s Razor Burn Repair works well. Those of us with more sensitive skin might react poorly with this product. Instead, I would recommend using the all-natural Glycolic Facial Cleanser that gently exfoliates surface cells that cloud skin texture and cause ingrown hairs.

Also remember that no matter what kind of dream you use, if you’re using a cheap disposable razor, you’re probably going to end up with some sort of razor burn. So a word of advice gentlemen: cough up the extra cash and buy a nice Mach3Turbo razor from Gilette the results are worth it. Lastly, a good shave and a clean face doesn’t look nearly as impressive on dry, flaky skin than on moisturized skin. Anthony’s All Purpose Facial Moisturizer or Oil Free Facial Lotion (for more sensitive skin) help to rectify this situation.

I’d like to conclude with my favorite products: Facial Scrub and Sea Salt Body Scrub. Do they sound a little too feminine for your ears? Try the products and then hear what your significant other thinks first before jumping to conclusions. Personally, using these products more than once or twice a week is overkill.Regardless, both products are non-abrasive as they help remove dead skin cells leaving skin smooth and polished. The rugged, wrangler look could be nice to look at from afar, but close and prolonged personal contact with sandpaper can make anyone’s libido deflate faster than a punctured balloon.

Remember the goal, gentlemen. We’re not feminizing or artificializing, but naturalizing. Though all of these processes might seem daunting at first, with time and practice, a shower and post-shower routine could be reduced to a mere 15-20 minutes.

Anthony – Logistics For Men has dozens of products to choose from. Though I don’t recommend going on a shopping spree and buying them all, taking the time and patience to select the right grooming products will take any man a few steps closer to that unattainable glow.

Anthony – Logistics For Men
560 Broadway, Suite 503
New York, NY10012
Tel: 646-613-1600
http://www.anthony.com

The BUTT is big this year and a favorite question I hear a lot is “Is there an EASY way to get rid of my cellulite?” The answer is no, there is not an easy way to get rid of cellulite, and even if you do absolutely everything you should be doing, the best you can do is fight it. Even buff, skinny women have some after a certain age and it’s a normal part of life and shouldn’t be the cause of any great distress.

There are, however, definitely ways you can trim and tone your butt area to make it look firm, shapely and fairly ripple-free. Diet and exercise of course are key. And there are creams, gels and lotions that definitely help with skin’s elasticity. Additionally, there are medical interventions that people turn to when they aren’t feeling the results of fitness programs.

As a person who has crossed over from the low-fat camp to the low-carb one, I am an advocate of a high protein diet which should include yogurt, lean meats and fish as well as plenty of vegetables and not a whole lot of starchy refined carbohydrates. Being a leaner, healthier person is going to make it easier for you to exercise and you will burn calories more readily if you build up your muscle mass with a protein based diet. Urban legends such as the one claiming that carbonated beverages cause cellulite are not even something I want to think about or that would mean me having to give up seltzer and beer and I just don’t want to.

Hiking, kick-boxing, rock-climbing and step classes are all great ways to lift and firm up your gluteus maximus. A simpler, at-home routine you can do with great success is a squat with weights. Try starting with five or eight pound weights and try to build up to ten. Stand upright with your feet around twenty inches apart, toes pointing outward. Hold your weight in both hands at your pelvis level. Keeping your butt tucked in and your back very straight, slowly bend your knees until your butt is almost at their level. Slowly return to standing position. Do a set of twenty of these. At first you will think you are working your thigh muscles only. I thought the same but it is not the case. Do a second set. I promise you will begin to feel the effects of this on your butt after a few days. Gradually increase this to four sets per session. I LOVE this exercise. I felt a huge difference when I started doing it.

Your skin tone can be improved with products and this will reduce the appearance of puckering. Keep in mind that any product that promised to “zap away fat” is overstating its capabilities but do expect to enjoy nice soft skin if you find the product that suites you best. Hydrating properties are less highly-touted in thigh firming and cellulite products than they are in the bust creams I reviewed last month.

And speaking of “zapping away fat”, the first cellulite product I sampled was called “Zap Away Reducing Gel” from Life Works. This gel and its sister product, “Cell Erase,” are billed as ‘excellent metabolic skin stimulants, which aid in circulation and have characteristics of anti-inflammatory, vascular and slimming properties.’ And you know what? They ARE excellent skin stimulants. The first is a wonderfully peppermint-scented rapidly absorbed blue gel which truly made my skin tingle. The second, Cell Erase did not share the same olfactory benefits but did leave my skin feeling tight and firm. As a temporary means of smoothing and firming, products with ‘anti-inflammatory properties’ do have some benefit. Long-term, however, these are not going to ‘zap away’ years of sedentary behavior or a nacho-chip-based diet. Available through www.healthwagon.com.

When I first sampled Caudalie’s Huile Minceur Slimming treatment, I was intrigued by the aroma, a mixture of lemony and rosemary scents. I applied it after a shower and immediately began to feel a tingle which quickly progressed to a burn. I left it on for ten or so minutes then became very alarmed at the red, raised condition of my skin and the burning feeling that accompanied it. Finally I jumped back in the shower and carefully washed it off. The red raised burn remained. I put this product away and figured that was the last I would touch it. But I decided to give it another chance and the second time was less alarmed by the effects which did gradually subside. Through the use of plant based ingredients, this products really stimulates circulation. It just takes some getting used to. The key ingredient in this and all Caudalie products is an extract from grape seeds called OPC (procyanidolic oligomers) which the company claims fight free radicals and “refine the silhouette” as well as reducing the lumpy appearance of skin. For me personally, the burning is too intense to keep me using the product on an ongoing basis and therefore I can neither challenge nor support their claims. Huile Minceur is 72 dollars in fine department stores.

Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Firm Lift Body Lotion is a light silky lotion that is quickly absorbed and has a very faint scent. It is not a particularly hydrating product but operates on the principal of firming rather than just moisturizing. I have found it to be very effective at leaving the thigh area feeling firm but nor necessarily smooth. It is 36 dollars at the Elizabeth Arden counter at department stores and at their Red Door Spa.

Davines of Parma Italy makes a ‘double action cellulite cream’ called Thermofreeze. Thermofreeze has no scent whatsoever and leaves a residual sticky feeling that I did not love. It claims to contain “microspheres which gradually release functional components stimulating the skin in depth, which then re-activate blood microcirculation”. Huh? It does promise to heat up then cool down on your skin and this claim is true. Thermofreeze is $48 and can be purchased by calling 800-257-7104.

Sisley makes two products that are very thoughtfully meant to help your cellulite issues while being kind to your pocketbook. The hard-hitter, “Phyto-Sculptural anti-cellulite” cream is pricey clean-smelling, greaseless and pleasant to use. It contains green tea, herbs like butcher broom (that’ll knock the cellulite off you!) and caffeine and is meant to be applied twice a day for maximum effectiveness. There is a contingent product, Botanical Special Body Contour Cream which has a lower price-point. The idea is to switch off between ten days of the Phyto Cream then use the less expensive Bontanical Cream during an interim period. These are very pleasant products with nice, silky consistencies, good hydrating qualities and definitely leave surfaces feeling tight and smooth.

You don’t need to break the bank to keep your thighs smooth, however. Both Nivea and Vaseline make very nice firming lotions with rich consistencies, pleasant scents and highly moisturizing results. Both can purchased at your local health and beauty aids store for under ten dollars.

OK. Let’s address the more drastic approaches to dimpling and cellulite. You might have heard about the injection for cellulite. It’s called Mesotherapy and it involves injecting tiny quantities of natural plant extracts, homeopathic agents, pharmaceutical agents and vitamins into middle layer of the skin, thus stimulating the lymph – the body’s drainage system – and breaking down the fatty tissues, so that the fatty deposits can be picked up by the lymph system and eventually wash away. The injections are administered over around eight sessions with multiple shots being administered at each visit. Painful? Yes. Effective? Many say yes. However, according to Dr. Andrew Kleinman, a board certified cosmetic surgeon with offices in Manhattan and Westchester County, the results are fleeting. “I have never seen anything to indicate that the results of these treatments are anything but temporary”, says Dr. Kleinman. Kleinman also expresses skepticism about the efficacy of the “wonder drug” theophylline, while admitting that one study showed that the topical application of this asthma medication had been shown to have long-lasting results. “I just don’t think it’s very safe to use on a long-term basis”, says the doctor.

Dr. Kleinman performs liposuction on patients who wish to reduce fat deposits on their hips, thighs and other areas that are difficult to tone. My personal opinion is that liposuction will not make you happy in the long-term. Why? Because should you lose weight after your procedure and find yourself toning and firming, you have disrupted the natural contours of your body and there will be areas that are not even or consistent.

So, eat right, exercise, stay moisturized. You are a woman. You are allowed to have curve, shape and texture in some places. Besos a Jennifer Lopez!

I’ve said this before. And I’ll say it again. As an ‘all natural’ beauty writer, there are very few skin care lines that can be classified as ‘all-natural’ with organic ingredients. One reason being, if they were they would go rotten not long after you open them. But what I notice is that it’s quite trendy today for cosmetic companies to claim that they’re ‘organic’. Mind, body and soul…oh I’m so bored with this rubbish.

Personally, I just look at the ingredients. Bet you’ve never heard of the herb Retinyl Palmitate, or Padimate 0, or ethylhexyl? Well that’s because they are in fact, chemicals.

So, when I came across the Boscia line, I had to give them credit. Like Nati Beltran Organics, these products are preservative-free with long-lasting anti-bacterial properties and come in sealed-in, bacteria-free, environmentally-friendly packaging. (Mind you, thank God I’ve got talons, getting that plastic wrap off was a bit of an ordeal.) Maybe that’s why Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel just won the ‘Healthiest Cleanser for 2003′ by Health Magazine. This is a skin care line that’s getting a lot of notice, and rightly so. Even more refreshing, wait till you see the prices…it’s the best value I’ve come across in years. Finally, a healthy, preservative-free skin care range that doesn’t just cater to the Hollywood stars who probably get it all for free anyway.

Just say ‘no’
Here’s a list of all the crap that’s not in Boscia products:
preservatives
alcohol
fragrance
color
animal testing
animal ingredients

The products are pH balanced and dermatologist tested.

Bocsia Boscia, define themselves as ‘beauty and well being through botanical science’. (Hmm, maybe that’s it-the fusion of bo from ‘botanical’ and ‘sc’ from science (I’m a genius!) These Japanese guys are honest. (Anyone see ‘Lost in Translation’? Fabulous). It’s not just all-natural ingredients. They combine the best of nature’s botanicals with the best of science to address all skin issues, protection, moisturization, regeneration and to fight the signs of aging. Even more comforting, as Marketing Manager Caren Conrad told me, Boscia’s founders are fanatical about their product and unwilling to ‘cut corners’. They have to be 100% sure ingredients are safe and effective before they will incorporate them into their all-natural formulas.

They believe that using harsh products (chemicals, etc), may work against your skin in time. They’re right. Your skin is an organ-the biggest one you’ve got. So think of your cream as food. Slather on creams with synthesized, toxic ingredients, your skin will suffer. It’s basic common sense, isn’t it?

That being said, I was very interested to see if Boscia lived up to its promise and to see if it was anything to write home about. I’ve been using the products, and I must say, I definitely notice that my skin is looking less tired, more radiant and lines are beginning to seem less visible. Maybe it’s because every boscia product contains 2 ingredients: 1. Organically grown jojoba leaf, an antioxidant that helps fight free radical damage caused by pollution and cigarette smoke. 2. Willowherb, an anti-inflammatory that soothes and calms troubled skin.

The Boscia Regimen
OK. down to the brass tacks.
Here’s the steps and choices you have.

Cleanse
Soothing Cleansing Cream
Purifying Cleansing Gel (the award-winning cleanser that’s best for oilier complexions)

Special
Moisture Replenishing mask
Clarifying Detox Mask
Smoothing Facial Polish
You don’t need to do this every day, just twice a week or less. I recommend the replenishing mask, but haven’t tried the others.

Tone
Balancing Facial Tonic
I love this. It’s so light and refreshing with essential lavender water and serine, an amino acid. Feels very light and doesn’t dry out your skin.

Treat
Restorative Amino 3-P Firming treatment I think this is one of the best age-defying treatments out there. It sinks into your skin immediately and it’s so gentle yet rich with nutrients.

Other alternatives include:
Willow Bark Breakout treatment (great for unclogging pores and controlling oil)
Enlivening Amino-AG Eye treatment
Antioxidant Recovery Treatment C

Moisturize
Vital Daily Moisture SPF 15
Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15
Recharging Night Moisture

Preserve yourself without preservatives
Here’s something that I found very interesting. We all want to preserve ourselves, especially our skin, for as long as we can. But surely there’s a better way to achieve that without resorting to injecting botulism from cows into our foreheads? Boscia offers us a safer yet effective solution. Looking for an alternative to retinol’s age-defying qualities, Boscia wanted something that achieved the same results without any irritation which retinol can cause. So they discovered that Palmitoyl Pentapeptide is just as effective. In fact, users experienced thickened skin at a rate of about 1.5 times faster. And no surprise, as the boss of breakthroughs, Boscia is the first company in the US to incorporate it into their formulas.

You can find this ppp dream-ingredient in a lot of their products, like the Restorative Amino 3-P Firming Treatment. I like this one a lot. It defends skin against damage and accelerates collage production for firmer, resilient skin. And you will see a difference. At $38.00, I think you can safely say this one is real deal.

Pop a beauty pill, it’s only natural

Beauty comes from the inside out right? OK, well then how about this. For only $14.99 you can take Boscia supplements that start working on your skin the minute you use them. For dry skin, like mine, try the Moisture Replenishing Therapy is the best. For oilier complexions prone to breakouts, take Clear Complexion Therapy and we can all take the Antioxidant Vegetable Therapy to get rid of toxins and pollutants our skin fights everyday.

Where can you pick ‘em up? All Boscia products are available at Nordstrom stores, Henri Bendel in NYC, select Nordstrom stores and online at www.boscia.net or simply call 1-888-635-8884. For those lucky east villagers like myself, you can go to Miss Lou’s Herbs And Things on 436 East 9th Street, ph: 212-260-4085 Just be sure to give Jacqueline a call before you go. Opening hours can vary in this part of town!

And remember, since there’s even an expiration date on all Boscia products, keep them fresh by putting them in the fridge. Wouldn’t it be great if you could pick up a pint of Boscia in the morning with your newspaper!

One day…

I am a slave to my hairdryer and color treatments. It started when I was in the third grade with permanent waves (it was the 80′s and Ohio) and has evolved, thankfully, out of the perm stage and into the color-me-beautiful lifetime commitment. The caveat: dry, damaged hair. But it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to leave-in conditioners.

My quest: take control of my over-processed hair in exchange for healthy, shiny locks. So I went on a hunt to mend my ends. I called some of New York’s distinguished salons, studied the aisles of Sephora and talked to stylists, application specialists and women who want results.

The timing couldn’t be better. “I think it’s a great product for this time of year. The season’s have changed, hair gets dryer and more difficult to control”, said Jennifer Lusardi, a stylist at Arrojo Studio in the West Village. Add the chemical-ridden city H20, and “in the cold, dry winter, the water is really drying on the hair”.

Some basics: Whether your hair is curly, coarse, ethnic, fine or grey, there is a product that can help. It’s advised to talk to your stylist about which product works best for your type because you “can’t generalize hair”, said Stephen Knoll, the creative genius behind Stephen Knoll Salon. Don’t forget to ask how frequently you should use it, how you should apply it, and if there are other ways to use the product. Some leave-in conditioners can be used as a monthly treatment or for daily use. The wrong product for your hair type can leave your hair feeling greasy and weighed down.

In the end, I put about a dozen products to the test. Here are some of my favorites:

Frédéric Fekkai Protein Rx Mask, 5.5 oz. Jar, $28.50 (also available in a spray for $18.50) Available at the salon, and at select stores. www.fredericfekkai.com

I knew my hair was going to be silky as soon as I applied the white mask to my hair. Made with soy and milk proteins, the mask left my hair smooth, shiny and manageable.

I applied an amount about the size of a quarter entirely though my hair, which hits just below my shoulders. After 15 minutes, I rinsed with cool water. The end result: my hair was light and bouncy just like after I leave the salon. My ends no longer looked brittle or dry. My hair is fine, but there’s lots of it, and it did not weigh down my hair.

Stephen Knoll’s Healthy Intensive Rehydrating Treatment, 6 oz.$38.50Available at the salon, select stores or through the website: www.stephenknoll.com

Like many leave-in conditioners, Healthy Intensive Rehydrating Treatment has more than one use. Stephen Knoll said that his product can be used as a treatment or “as a blow-dry tool for everyday use”.

Make use of your normal activities. “If you are exercising or traveling”, Knoll said, shampoo, put a little of the conditioner in your hair, pull it back and go. If you are traveling to Europe or on an overnight flight, use this”, he said. “When you arrive at your destination, rinse it out and style”.

As a tool, he recommends targeting the frizzy or troubled areas of your hair. Use about a dime-sized portion and massage in into the trouble spots. But be sure to apply before frizziness occurs, he said. If your hair is curly, it can be used to eliminate frizziness and define the curl or near the scalp to add body. The nettle extract in his rehydrator helps “smooth the cuticle”.

I used this as an overnight treatment. It gave my hair lift and did not make my hair dull. But this intensive treatment is not for everyday use. “Strictly for a treatment only”, Knoll said, “probably use once a month”.

Terax Hydrate, 6.7 oz. $24.00
Available at select salons. To find availability, call 1-800-213-5531, www.teraxhaircare.com

If Terax is good enough for Madonna, Gywneth and Demi, then Terax is good enough for me. According to Terax corporate literature, these ladies are only a handful of celebs who use their products. Not on the celebrity list is the Original Hydrate Lotion. Although they offer a few different choices for dry and brittle hair, Hydrate seemed appropriate for the dry blustery fall air.

Hydrate, a leave-in moisturizer, is designed for dry and damaged hair. I applied this smooth, light lotion to the last five inches of my hair and let it do its work overnight. I rinsed in the morning and styled as usual. Even though Terax didn’t transform me into Gywenth, it did leave my hair bouncy, smooth, and soft.

KMS Silker, available in a lotion and spray, $15.00 In New York City, KMS products are available only at Arrojo Studio, 180 Varick St. www.kmshaircare.com

KMS offers their Silker in both a lotion, recommended for thicker and curly hair, and a spray, for thinner or fine hair. They also have a Daily Repair for a more intensive treatment. “More intensive products are more for fixing hair that is broken”, Jennifer Lusardi said.

I tested the spray in Silker, as Lusardi recommended for my hair type. I already tried the lotions, which seemed to work fine on my hair. I sprayed on the last four inches of my hair and styled as usual. There was not a noticeable difference in the result between the lotions and spray that I tested on my hair. The Silker spray detangled my ends, and left my hair light, smooth and static-free.

“A lot of women ask about it now because they are hair colored”, Lusardi said. “Even if it’s a spray on, it protects it from heat the blow dryer, flat iron”.

Aveda Daily Elixir Leave-On Conditioner, $ 8.50 Available at Aveda concept salons, www.aveda.com

One of Aveda’s original products, the Daily Elixir remains on the market for a reason: it isn’t heavy and leaves hair smooth, soft and adds body. It’s recommended for textured and curly hair, but it worked great on mine.

I massaged the Elixir through about the last five inches of my hair, using about the size of a nickel. I did not rinse and styled my hair as usual.

Now, I am one of those girls who must wash her hair every day. On a recent Saturday morning after I used the Elixir the day before, I woke up to what could be a life-altering discovery my hair didn’t feel dirty or greasy. In fact, it was as smooth, static-free and somehow tame as the previous night. In a fleeting moment of morning bliss, I decided to do what stylists (and my friends) have been telling me for years: I didn’t shampoo my hair that day. It’s healthy for your hair, they said. After 24 hours, my hair still looked great.

My new theory is that if you treat your hair well, then, like on that Saturday morning, your hair smiles back at you.

Rescue me! Oh take me in your arms. Rescue me! I want your tender charms. Having that Aretha Franklin mantra stuck in my head for 3 days straight was a small price to pay for such an experience! The Rescue Beauty Lounge, located on the second floor of 34 Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan, made good on their name’s promise. After living out the phrase always a bridesmaid, never a bride at my best friend’s wedding last week, I was passed due for some pampering. The timing couldn’t have been better! Upon my arrival, George, the manager, led me through this beautiful spa to a private pedicure station and into the hands of Neri and Yolanda, my respective pedicurist and manicurist for the evening. Usually, if I have the time, I like to have these treatments done separately, since I haven’t quite yet gotten down the multi-task of enjoying a hand massage while simultaneously having my feet scraped away by razors. But, I didn’t have the time, and it didn’t really matter, for Neri and Yolanda are gifted at what they do.

What sets Rescue’s manicure and pedicure apart from the $18 deals you can get on any New York City street corner are the products used. I was immediately struck by the lovely, refreshing yet relaxing aromas emanating from each opened bottle. Aromatherapy via Weleda Arnica oil for the cuticles was a phenomenon I was more than happy to experience. And the tangible, tingly effect I felt from soaking in Dr. Hauschka’s healing bath was amazing to say the least! Rescue Beauty Lounge is particularly known for their 3-step Nail Treatment System: The Base Coat Prep bonds to the nail to ensure a long lasting manicure; the Base Coat acts as a primer to neutralize the color of the nail bed so yellow nails do not change the color of the chosen polish color; and the Top Coat dries through all layers and dries them fast, leaving a high gloss finish. I am known for chipping my nail polish a mere day after getting a manicure, so you can imagine my surprise at having my nail color fully intact for over a week now! Perhaps I should have taken a break from the safe, however pretty, light shade of pink and gone for that deep red hue after all! The Nail Treatment System, along with a wide variety of other products, can be purchased at any of the Lounge locations (see details below) or at their website, www.rescuebeauty.com.

Let it be known that I am training for my first New York City marathon, so my feet have certainly been privy to their fair share of abuse the last few months. Neri took this in stride and after pumicing my feet with fervor, she massaged my feet and lower legs with Ole Henriksen’s Loofah Body Scrub and then Dr. Hauschka’s Birch and Arnica Oil (this dual action was done for my hands as well). I was sad, but fully satisfied when, after a considerable amount of time, she finally started pounding the sides of my calves with her fists – the tell-tale sign that the massage (a.k.a. the best part of the treatment), is coming to an end.

While the polish was drying, I paraded around the spa like a child having too much fun with her new paper shoes. I browsed through the store, making note of all the cute clothing accessories, pretty lingerie, funky make-up and must-have candles available for purchase. I also asked George about the Jang Jing Crème, an all purpose ointment that so many women in New York swear by. I tried it for myself and can agree that this herbal remedy is a must-have for anyone with severe dry patches around the eyes and on the lips, not to mention for anyone wanting to achieve that dewey glow.

Who is responsible for all of this, you ask? Her name is Ji, and she is one hip lady, up on all the latest fashion trends and working tirelessly to give us a wide selection of vibrant colors to use on our nails. Ji is the genius behind the private individual pedicure station or the pedicure station fit for four so next time, I’ll be sure to bring the rest of the bridal party along with me for some pampering! Ji also makes a point of keeping her spas immaculately clean. The chic modern décor suggests this fact, but George, who actually showed me the machine that sterilizes each tool under 360-degree heat, confirmed it. That being said, there really was no need for the extra proof – this spa already gained my trust. I experienced this spa first hand (and feet) and with no hesitation, I will go to the Rescue Beauty Lounge whenever my body sings, Come on baby, and rescue me!

Rescue Beauty Lounge on Gansevoort St.
34 Gansevoort Street 2nd floor
(between Hudson and Greenwich streets)
New York, NY 10014
Phone : 212.206.6409
Fax : 212.206.3525
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Friday 11:00am-8pm
Saturday – Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm

Rescue Beauty Lounge
8 Centre Market Pl.
(between Broome and Grand)
New York, NY 10013
Phone : 212.431.0449
Fax : 212.431.2620
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Friday 11:00am-8pm
Saturday – Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm

Rescue Nail Spa
21 Cleveland Pl.
(between Spring and Kenmare)
New York, NY 10012
Phone : 212.431.3805
Fax : 212.431.3901
Monday – Friday 11:00am-8pm
Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday – Closed

There is no greater skeptic than me when it comes to a spa treatment; I’m a really tough sell. While I find it all very indulgent and luxurious, I generally tend to be a soap-and-water kind of girl. And my routine has always worked: When I was about 10, my grandmother, my mother, and I, three generations of skin – went to Georgette Klinger on Madison Avenue for a consultation. After microscopically inspecting each of our faces, the beautician declared, Beautiful! What’s your beauty routine? to which each of us replied, Ivory soap, water, and Vaseline Intensive Care lotion. Since the Klinger beautician declared my skin perfect, I’ve gone through puberty, aged 14 years, and spent 6 years living in New York City, so I’m not exactly as confident that she would deliver the same verdict today. Yet I decided there was no harm in trying it again, and headed off to the Janet Sartin Institute.

When I first arrived there, I met with manager Becky Tsui. She told me Janet Sartin founded the Institute in 1945 and retired one year ago, handing the business over to her son Cary. In addition to the Park Avenue location, there is also an Institute in Chicago. Becky called the Institute, a very serious, skin care salon customers say they’ve gone to many salons and that nobody cleans skin like Janet Sartin. A successful line of skin care products that range from their 50-year-old product staples to more recent innovations has also been developed. These items are sold at the Institute store or by calling their 800 number. They are also available at department stores like Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. I believe that healthy skin is the most important ingredient to beauty, so I was already beginning to like the philosophy of Janet Sartin.

Becky proceeded to tell me about the service I would be receiving: The New York Facial with Oxygen Treatment. The New York Facial aims to clean the New York Face. I know all about the phenomenon of the New York Face having just survived another summer as a New York Resident. Bus fumes, foul subway stations, and construction dust would all accompany me and my face home, where at day’s end I wash it all off on one filth-covered cotton pad of astringent. Every Big City girl knows exactly what I’m talking about.

I was introduced to my beautician, a lovely and seemingly no-nonsense Ukrainian woman named Ida. She was a woman of few words, but many effective and professional touches. I definitely left her treatment with a certain glow, but wait! maybe that was just the Vitamin A and E oils that had been slathered on my face. Oh, I’m getting ahead of myself here. Let’s get back to the story at hand for now.

After I lay down, Ida made me place my cards right on the table. She asked me when my last facial was. I nervously confessed that it had been a year. After a disapproving silence, I asked her how often I should get one. She said once every four months. Ida then studied my skin and announced: Good skin to start with. She removed my make-up and rained a miniature shower on me, which sprayed me with sage-scented steam. It was a powerful steam, and I felt my pores virtually blossom within one minute.

While the steam poured over me, Ida massaged my hands with vanilla-scented lotion and placed them in warm mitts, where they would remain for the duration of my treatment. This was a nice detail as my hands have started to become awfully dry with the sudden onset of frigid weather. As a writer, it was difficult to not have my hands available, but luckily most customers won’t need to worry about taking notes during their facials.

After my pores had sufficiently opened under the steam, Ida went to work on my blackheads. This, my friends, is the best thing about any facial – and I’m not happy unless it’s done well. After my last facial, I found myself in a friend’s bathroom mirror feeling cheated as I angrily extracted the many blackheads that the beautician didn’t. Though you can administer many beauty treatments by yourself at home, the blackhead removal process is better left to a bright light and a woman named Ida who shows them no mercy. She asked if she was hurting me, and I said no, because that was my favorite part of a facial. Because this process is sort of embarrassing, I consider a facialist almost as intimate to me as a therapist. She uncovers all my secrets, and I can’t hide anything from her.

Ida then gave me the high frequency treatment, which involved a lighted purple, cane-shaped stick that emitted electro-vibes. She ran the stick over my face to kill bacteria and penetrate my skin to even out the texture and color. Dead bacteria smells just as bad as it sounds, and the treatment was stinging and uncomfortable. But I see the pain as a small (and brief) price to pay for years of slack beauty care. After the high frequency, Ida swathed my skin in the Janet Sartin Clarifying Lotion, which contains salicylic and tannic acid. The smell was unbelievably pungent, like rubbing alcohol, and in using it each night since my treatment, I’ve realized it’s incredibly potent. I caution users to apply the lotion only to their problem areas as it will quickly dry out any area that doesn’t produce a lot of oil. This lotion is recommended for acne.

Next came the relaxing part of the treatment as Ida rewarded my suffering face by applying the Janet Sartin White Astringent. This liquid is also called Pore Refining Lotion, and it was used to diminish the redness that had resulted from the harsher treatments. This product is much gentler than the Clarifying Lotion, but when using it yourself it’s crucial that you wipe your face with a tissue afterwards because it can leave your face with an unbecoming chalky white pallor. If you apply it before bedtime, it will prevent you from waking up with a face that gives The Shining a new meaning.

Ida then smoothed a green tea mask on my face to close my pores and to work as an antioxidant to protect my skin cells from free radical damage (i.e. New York). While we waited for the mask to dry and do its job, Ida gave me such a wonderful shoulder and head massage that I forgave her all the pain. She then had to forgive me for interrupting everything to run to the bathroom. (I’d had a little too much fun the night prior and drank about a gallon of water on my way to the appointment!) In the bathroom, I studied my face in the mirror and was very pleased with the results so far, most noticeably the absence of blackheads.

After removing the mask, Ida massaged a collagen cream to my face, neck, chest and shoulders to give nutrients to the wrinkled areas and to replenish my skin’s own supply of collagen. With the cream absorbing, Ida laid a cloth over the areas and ran a small warm iron over it. Getting ironed concluded the New York Facial segment of the treatment. Next up was the oxygen! Now, I loved the facial and saw very definite results from it, but the Oxygen Treatment brings out that old skeptic in me that I referred to earlier. The idea of it makes me smirk a little. Remember Evian Spray, ladies? Amazingly, it’s still around, but back in the early ’90s when I first used it, I looked at the bottle, sprayed it on my face, and kicked myself. Those people at Evian were brilliant! They packaged some mineral water in a spray bottle just as the designer water craze was really catching on, and marketed it as hydrating for the face. It’s water, and I can’t imagine it’s any better for your face than a shower. This is the attitude I brought with me to the Oxygen Treatment, but it didn’t last long.

To prepare my face to receive the oxygen, Ida first exfoliated it with creams then rubbed in Vitamin E, (carrot-smelling) Vitamin A, and Jojoba oils. She proceeded to take a small instrument – which resembled the machine your dentist uses to vacuum saliva from your mouth – and sprayed condensed oxygen with vitamins on my face for several minutes. The air, or condensed oxygen, felt a little cold and more akin to country air than New York’s. For this reason, I recommend the Oxygen Treatment: it may not be a visibly effective new treatment in skin care, but it’s literally a breath of fresh air!!!

Ida topped off the treatment by applying the famous Lip Sartinizer lip balm to my lips, freeing my well-moisturized hands, and advising me to leave the oils on for as long as I was comfortable for maximum absorption.

The first half of the facial reminded me of a Turkish bath I once went to in Istanbul. The bather slapped me around a little bit, made strong commands in Turkish, and gave me a brutal massage, but I left as one clean woman. Ida was much gentler than this woman, but she was just as direct in getting to the root causes of my skin’s ailments and used excellent products in treating them. What makes Janet Sartin different to the skeptic in me is the focus on skin care, not on what treatments are hot now. So I think that’s why The Institute stands among the few time-tested New York beauty institutions – and for good reason.

“Microdermabrasion in a jar” sounds about as promising as “Lasik in an aerosol can”. I think of both as expensive procedures best confined to doctors’ offices. Microdermabrasion always seemed too costly for me to contemplate seriously, and even if I did decide to pursue it, how would I find a reputable dermatologist? Since I have no plans to appear on “Extreme Makeover,” where they take care of the details for you, I’d sort of nixed the idea.

Despite my reservations, a procedure that promises to denude my face of dead skin cells, diminish discoloration and my incipient wrinkles, and even eliminate acne scars retains a certain appeal. The nitty-gritty of microdermabrasion is still a little scary, though: imagine a tiny sandblaster at work on your face, buffing away layers of dead skin. It’s the kind of tool I’d rather see used by a road crew than attacking my delicate epidermis.

Now, Dr. Frederic Brandt has set out to obliterate every one of my objections by bringing microdermabrasion from the exam room to the bathroom, in (what else?) a jar. This fall, dermatologist-to-the-stars Dr. Brandt introduced a product (descriptively dubbed “Microdermabrasion In A Jar”) designed to confer the benefits of the original procedure more gently, more conveniently, and at a fraction of the cost.

And Dr. Brandt isn’t the only game in town. Both Prescriptives and Estée Lauder are now offering microdermabrasion kits for home use (and you can bet these three companies will soon be joined by more). Prescriptives Dermapolish, the first of these to hit the market, is a multi-stage process designed for weekly use. Three different products work in concert to change the texture of your skin: Dermapolish Treatment Cream (the workhorse), a post-treatment soothing mist, and a lipid barrier cream (moisturizer, essentially). The kit even includes a timer, making it as scientific as DIY “soft surgery” gets. Idealist Micro-D, Estée Lauder’s entry, consists of a single product that uses thermal action to open the pores and manual stimulation with microbeads to exfoliate. The experts at Estée Lauder recommend Idealist Micro-D for use once or twice a week. All three of these different lines stress the importance of repeated application to achieve visible results.

Part of what always appealed to me about traditional microdermabrasion was the instant-gratification aspect: make an appointment with the dermatologist, leave looking like a slab of raw meat, and after a few days of healing (and just one treatment), voila! no more acne scars! Having learned a little more about the procedure, I now admit that this was an idealistic view. Even in-office treatments require several repetitions before you can actually see a change in your skin. Despite my unhappy revelation, I approached this whole venture as though Dr. Brandt were selling hope, and not microdermabrasion, in a jar. Besides, I can’t help but have some confidence in a dermatologist whose client list includes Madonna and Jennifer Lopez (and no matter how tired you are of seeing J. Lo on the cover of US Weekly, you have to admire the woman’s skin – she positively glows).

In preparation for testing Dr. Brandt’s product, I banned any substance containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide from my skin a couple of days in advance. I figured that I was about to use a strong treatment, and I didn’t want to end up with first-degree chemical burns. Though in the end I didn’t find Dr. Brandt’s product to be harsh, I would still recommend this preparation to anyone planning to use one of these microdermabrasion systems, especially for the first time.

Microdermabrasion In A Jar purportedly derives its fragrance from grapefruit extract, “an all natural energizing refreshing scent.” In reality, it smells more like “essence of Lemon Pledge.” Following the blessedly simple instructions printed on the jar, I dampened my face and started to massage a big glob of the white, granular cream into my face. They recommend doing this for one to three minutes, so I kept at for the full one hundred eighty seconds; by the end, I was starting to feel it working (“burning” would be too strong a word for the mild sensation I felt, but this comes from someone who waxes her own eyebrows, so I have a pretty high tolerance for beauty-related pain). I finished by rinsing the substance off my face, being careful not to splash any in my eyes.

So here I was, prepared for the possibility of mere exfoliation but really hoping for “immediate radiance” and “instant visible effects” (don’t you love product-marketing parlance?). The result was somewhere in between. My skin didn’t look noticeably different after the initial treatment with Dr. Brandt’s product, but I do admit that it felt incredibly soft. And, contrary to my expectations, Microdermabrasion In A Jar didn’t dry out my skin at all; it effectively smoothed my face, which exfoliation can sometimes leave a little flaky, without any irritation.

I’m going to keep using Microdermabrasion In A Jar, in the hope that its cumulative effect will be a visible change in the texture and tone of my skin. If not, I can always try traditional microdermabrasion – though now that I’ve been introduced to at-home dermatological treatments, I’ll be looking for someplace that rents out sandblasters by the hour.

Prescriptives Dermapolish costs $125 for a kit containing three products and a timer; Estée Lauder Idealist Micro-D is $45 for 2.5 oz. Both are available at department stores, Sephora, and gloss.com. Dr. Brandt’s Microdermabrasion In A Jar costs $75 for 2 oz. and can be found at Sephora and Nordstrom.

Do you ever dream of creating fabulous new products? Do you imagine what it would be like to have your own beauty line/store/company? Well, why not take some advice from someone who has already done it?

Margot Wells is the creator and owner of Archive, a company known for its luxurious bath products and candles, all with beautiful packaging. Beneath the Archive umbrella are the lines Bloom Simply Good, Bloom2, and Just Add Water. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, a new collection, Lollia, will launch in January. Whew! So, how does she do it?

Wells always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In third grade she was selling rings on the playground at a 50% markup, and through high school she designed and sold everything from greeting cards to jewelry. But it wasn’t until she found herself out of college and totally broke that she truly put her talents to work. Seeing an opportunity in the new body and bath trend emerging in the early 90s, she and her partner (now fiancée!), Paul, opened up the first Bloom store in Lawrence, Kansas. Wells remembers how different the beauty world was back then. “I remember having to explain to people what shower gel was”, she says. “It was the right time to reach people”.

And the people are what kept it all going. Wells has always been design-driven, but she says, “Design is just a tool. What I really love is the reaction from people. Success to me is customer response”.

One of the reasons Archive has become such a success is because Wells makes sure that she never loses sight of the bottom line: the customers. Starting out in a retail setting kept her on her toes. Since she and Paul were running the store, they had to have all of the answers. She made sure she was involved in every step as to become an expert on her products. Since the beginning, Archive has been personally driven, and Wells makes sure that her collections are always approachable. Even now, with national distribution in over 2,500 specialty stores, the company maintains an intimate feel. The customers have to relate, says Wells. Always.

Wells is often asked why she creates many lines that are so different from one another. She explains that she sees customers from a retail standpoint. “People like different looks, stories, and moods. Archive has strength in one-stop-shopping”, says Wells. A few standouts? Try a French Country Candle in French Linen, an Archive Essentials Foaming Body Wash in Soothing Watercress and Cucumber, Bloom2 Moisturizing Milk in No. 3 Simplicity, and finally (my all-time favorite), the very large Quiet Morning Shea Butter Luxury Soap by Just Add Water.

This January will see the launch of Lollia, a lifestyle brand that will be a new direction for Wells. The products are feminine, flirty, and a bit cheeky. Wells wanted to do a line that was more design driven than previous collections, and wanted to create products that are more on the higher end (but still approachable) than the Archive collections. Wells drew upon her love for vintage textiles to design the gorgeous packaging. She used a different approach for the fragrances, too. Lollia will be more perfumed and romantic, with more of a fine fragrance approach than the Archive brands.

Lollia will have a new story every season. This January, look out for luxuries for the boudoir in soft floral patterns, all hinting back to a more romantic time. The bubble bath comes in a wine bottle, complete with cork. The Breathe fragrance is a delicate blend of peony and white lily, and the candles are embellished with a crystal chandelier drop. Lovely.

For anyone who wants to start his or her own company, Wells gives a good heads up. “Be willing to live it 24 hours a day”, she says.” You have to be willing to make it your life”. As for the beauty market today, it is much different than when Wells was starting out. Customers don’t need to be told how to use a loofah anymore. As for staying ahead in today’s world, Wells says, “With success comes a sense of responsibility to stay fresh. Don’t get bogged down with strategy. Stay gutsy and follow your instincts”. Hey, it worked for her!

For Archive products call 1.800.208.1922 or visit www.ArchiveBath.com. For Lollia products call 1.888.8 Lollia.