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Prom Safety Kit

2013-05-22T19:56:50Z

Its prom season and I have the perfect prom kit to get you through the night feeling great and being safe. I appeared on CBS's The Couch talking about these great tips to get you through prom night.

RELIEVE YOUR FEET High-heels look and feel great when you first put them on getting ready for prom, but after a while, your feet begin to swell not to mention they aren’t ideal for when trouble arises and you need to make a quick getaway. Dr. Scholl’s for Her Fast Flats are a practical solution for times when you can't take another step in your high heels. They come with a stylish wristlet carrying case and fit perfectly in your clutch. Feet torn up from those dancing shoes? Slap on a Band-Aid with designs by Cynthia Rowley.

Dr. Scholl's for Her Fast Flats, Women's

PRICE: $12.99

WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores nationwide

BAND-AID Brand by Cynthia Rowley adhesive bandages

PRICE: $3.75

WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores

WHISTLE BLOWER You never know if you may have to walk through an unsafe ares of town. Make sure you pack a UST JetScream Whistle for a loud emergency call for help when needing to seek the immediate attention of people around you. The whistle is one of the loudest in the world and you can hear the whistle’s amazing 122Db ear-piercing shriek above most natural or man-made noises.

UST JetScream Whistle

PRICE: $6.99

WHERE TO BUY: http://www.ultimatesurvival.com/

KEEP IT CHARGED On prom night the social media world is a buzz with constant updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – to name a few. While you are cyber connecting you are losing precious battery charge which will be unavailable when you need it most. Make sure you pack a Chromo Inc. Pocket Power Charger, this backup battery ensures cell phones, cameras, and Bluetooth devices, are able to charge when you're away from a power source.

Chromo Inc.® 2200mAh Lipstick Power Bank External Battery Charger

PRICE: $14.99

WHERE TO BUY: various online retailers

SPRAY IT, DON’T SAY IT When a situations get sticky and a quick reaction is needed, pepper spray is a must. Try the, Ruger Lipstick Pepper Spray– it’s designed to conveniently fit and blend in with other items in a purse or cosmetics bag. Carrying pepper spray is only legal if you are 18 or older.

Ruger Lipstick Pepper Spray

PRICE: $11.95

WHERE TO BUY: http://shopruger.com

STAY ALERT Prom night is a long party from dusk to dawn. Keep a small packet of Emergen-c in your safety bag, whether you have been up all night and need to drive home and you need to get some nutrients, Emergen-C has 1,000 mg of immune supporting vitamin C, 7 B vitamins to enhance energy naturally (no caffeine, no crash), and electrolytes to refuel and replenish.

Emergen – C

PRICE: $12.99

WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores

PUT IT ALL IN ONE PLACE A clutch is the perfect solution to storing all your emergency prom safety items without having to lug a huge purse around all night. This clutch by at Forever 21 easily converts to a wristlet with a detachable strap, this slim envelope clutch offers lightweight versatility. Tuck it under your arm or strap it on your wrist to free your hands up for moving and grooving on the dance floor.

(**MAYBE) Forever 21 – black clutch

PRICE: $21.80

Summer Hair

2013-05-22T14:52:10Z

I am so excited for summer because I like to give up my blow dryer and wear my hair wavy. I asked Mario Russo, the owner of Salon Mario Russo in Boston, to give me his expert advice to help me shield, saturate and style my hair throughout the summer.

Protect Your Hair from the Summer Sun:

Trying to shield your strands during a visit to the beach?

Mario always suggests utilizing a conditioner that also has a sun protectant, this way you’ll get double the protection. He also suggests trying to use oils that offer UV protection such as Kerastase, who has a great oil with sun screen in it called Soleil Huile Celeste Spray.

If you have color-treated hair, then make sure your deep conditioner has a color protecting component like Mario’s go-to, the Bumble and Bumble’s Color Protect line. These products also have UVA protectants in them.

Trying to Replenish Moisture to Sun-Tainted Strands?

To keep the dry, frizzy locks at bay, there are a few steps you can take during the summer months when both of these beauty concerns are at their worst.
Make sure to frequently trim your ends to prevent split ends from traveling up the hair shaft and damaging hair. I recommend scheduling a trim every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain both your cut and the health of your hair.
Use deep conditioning masks at least 1 time per week leaving the mask in as long as possible or sitting with it in under heat/in a steam room. Also, apply oils as much as possible. For a conditioning mask, try Bumble and Bumble’s Quenching Masque or their Mending Masque. They also have a great oil called Hairdressers Oil, which can be applied to wet or dry hair.
Limit the use of the blow dryer and hot tools (see alternative looks below). When the air is moist, it can take longer to style hair which can result in further drying and damage. If you absolutely must use styling tools, liberally apply a heat protectant beforehand.

Itchy scalp?

An itchy scalp is another common side effect from a summer spent in the sun. Your scalp can easily dry out from the chlorine, frizz products and salt water. My favorite weekly at-home treatment is:

1/2 teaspoon of Olive Oil

3 drops of Vitamin E Oil

2 Tablespoons of Water

Apply on dry hair and let it sit for 20 minutes. Wash and condition hair as normal.

This will soothe a dry scalp and add extra moisture to the skin.

Style - Frizz Free Looks:

Have you spent hours breaking a sweat trying to get your locks to lay straight with no success? When the humidity is making it close to impossible to keep your styled coif in its place, try going with a sleek, slicked back look.

To achieve this frizz-free style…

Use a dime-sized portion of curl cream through damp hair, from the nape of the neck forward, and from the roots to ends. Mario opts for Bumble and Bumble’s Curl Conscious Cream because it helps hold down pesty fly-aways without creating a stiff or greasy look.
Twist damp hair into low messy chignon or top knot bun.
After the hair has sat long enough to dry, simply take down the bun for soft waves
Freshen up the loose, laidback curls by lightly spritzing them with a Bumble and Bumble’s Curl Reactivating Spray. This helps give the look a little volume, while also assisting in calming any additional frizz on the ends of your strands.

Beauty Trends

2013-05-07T13:03:40Z

From BB Creams to CC Creams, to the new eye creams with the massager tools and gel top coats, the latest #beauty #trends are just what you need to update your look for spring.

Trend #1: BB/CC Creams

1) SMASHBOX CAMERA READY CC CREAM SPF 30 – DARK SPOT CORRECTING

A multi-benefit complexion-correcting cream that reduces the appearance of dark spots and enhances the natural radiance of the skin. Discover the ultimate in multi-tasking, complexion-perfecting skincare formulations with Smashbox Cosmetics’ breakthrough Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30 – Dark Spot Correcting. Developed to help you achieve a flawless, luminous and camera-ready complexion, this pioneering fusion of skincare and makeup represents the next level of treatment cosmetics.
WHAT IT COSTS: $42
AVAILABLE AT: Smashbox.com, Sephora, Sephora Inside JC Penney, ULTA, Nordstrom, QVC, Beauty.com and select Macy’s beginning April 1, 2013
AVAILABLE SHADES: Fair, Light, Light/Medium, Medium, Dark

2) RIMMEL LONDON BB CREAM
The ultimate makeup bag hero, this multi-tasking, beautifying balm delivers nine major skincare and makeup benefits while providing SPF 25 protection. More soothing than a moisturizer and more effective than foundation, the new BB Cream bridges the gap between makeup and skincare to help you achieve a flawless face in one simple step. The high-tech, lightweight formula primes, moisturizes, minimizes the appearance of pores and protects against environmental damage while concealing, brightening, smoothing, mattifying, and covering imperfections.
Available shades: Light, Medium, Medium/Dark
PRICE: $6.99
WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores

Trend #2: Eye Creams with Massage Tools
1)LANCÔME GÉNIFIQUE EYE LIGHT-PEARL
The new 360° eye contour transformation. Lancôme introduces its 1st eye-illuminating serum, engineered with a unique rotating and massaging applicator to reach even the most inaccessible eye areas. Experience a 360° eye contour transformation above and below the eyes for visible results. After 4 weeks of use, results show 78% of women thought that the eye contour was visibly improved.
PRICE: $68
WHERE TO BUY: Lancôme-usa.com and Lancôme counters nationwide

2) Mally Beauty Eye Gel
Perfectly prepares eyes for makeup. Apply this cooling pink gel with a stainless steel metal bead applicator to further soothe eyes. The soothing gel cools eyes, delivers skin-friendly ingredients, and improves the look and feel of the eye area.
Where to buy: QVC.com
Price: $45

Trend #3: Volumizing Hair Powders
1) UNITE Expanda Dust
Forget fairy dust – the unique Expanda Dust formula delivers a magical touch of totally dramatic texture with just a puff. Developed with potato and tapioca starch for thickening and volumizing hair, and kaolin and corn starch for optimum texture, body and hold, Expanda Dust guarantees you’ll never go flat again. Beyond just boosting hair’s volume, it also uses Aloe Barbadensis Leaf juice to provide intense moisture for the hair and scalp. For best results, lightly sprinkle on roots for volume, and throughout hair for added texture.
PRICE: $26.25
WHERE TO BUY: unitehair.com

2) Oscar Blandi Dry Teasing Dust
True grit—Dry Teasing Dust is an entirely new way to boost roots and add a terrifically tousled look to hair. Simply twist the top and spinkle. Hair instantly takes on a teased, second-day effect with added styling grip and a nice touch of volume. Aloe leaf juice nourishes the hair and scalp while silica controls oil, leaving hair feeling soft and smooth and looking lively and fabulous.
PRICE: $23.00
WHERE TO BUY: Sephora

3) Schwarzkopf Volumising powder comes to the rescue when hair is not full enough or not manageable enough. It solves several styling problems at once. The fine, light powder adds fullness to fine hair, makes limb hair more manageable, and refreshes hair between shampoos. We describe how to take full advantage of volumising powder to create fuller, more manageable, and more appealing hairstyles.

Price: $3.50

Where to Buy : Amazon

Trend #4: Paper Facial Masks
1) Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Second Skin Mask
Supercharge your skincare routine with this exceptional mask that delivers the long-term brightening and anti-aging perks of the classic serum in a single concentrated treatment. In just one 20-minute at-home treatment, the mask helps combat dull, uneven skin tone, promoting exfoliation and unveiling an exceptionally smooth and luminous complexion. Over time, the innovative mask continues to refine and rejuvenate the skin.

2) When
Keep skin ultranourished during times of travel. This high-quality Essence Gel Mask uses a bio-cellulose sheet created by fermenting coconut juice, each containing a high volume of fluid that is very effective in transferring the liquid nutrients to skin due to its ultrafine, three-dimensional structure. Its comfortable and soft texture is designed to perfectly fit all face shapes. When Travelmate contains sacccharide isomerate and Swiss Alpine herb extracts to gently hydrate your skin, and help you restore damaged and fatigued skin from your trip. Common ingredients such as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate moisturize, while extracts from grapefruit seed, bamboo stem, pine leaf, and ginseng help to keep skin healthy and stunning.
PRICE: $28.00
WHERE TO BUY: Sephora

Trend #5: Gel Top Coat
1) Mally Beauty 24/7 Gel Polish Top Coat
This top coast is used as a protective shield over the Gel Polish Nail Color and keeps nails looking shiny and well-polished for up to two weeks, without chipping and peeling. This gel overlay is used to strengthen nails after Gel Polish Nail Color is applied. It goes on smooth and light but packs a big punch for protection of Gel Polish Nail Color.

PRICE: $15
WHERE TO BUY: qvc.com

2) Sephora by OPI – Gel Shine Top Coat
This sleek gel top coat provides ultra-shine and protection for long-lasting Sephora by OPI gelshine™ applications. Transforming matte nail color to super glossy, this top coat is the perfect addition to an at-home manicure or pedicure.
PRICE: $17.50
WHERE TO BUY: Sephora.

Spring Cleansing

2013-04-07T18:35:03Z

Spring is here and that means change of seasons and change of beauty routine. While skin tends to be drier in the winter, spring and summer warmth leads to sweating, skin becoming greasy more easily, and then unwanted blemishes. So, its important to rethink your cleansing routine.

Exfoliation

To bring blood flow and oxygen to the skin while exfoliating, I like the Spasonic available at Target.com, Walmart.com and Costco.com. Add a little cleanser to the Spasonic brush, or to your entire face before use. Gently move the brush across your face in a circular motion. Rinse with warm water. It gives your face a reallly nice, soft feeling because the brush gently exfoliates dead skin. The Spasonic also comes with different brushes you can use on your body and even a pumice for your feet.

Daily Cleansing

If you wear makeup, you need to remove it every night before bed to avoid waking up with a big blemish the next morning. Makeup remover wipes are fast and easy and will do the trick. Almost every company is making them now, so choose your favorite. I would stay away from a wipe containing alchohol because those will dry out your skin. You can even buy a box of babywipes and they will work just as well. If you want to cleanse more thoroughly, I suggest a makeup remover cream cleanser followed by a toner. Mario Badescu Cucumber Makeup Remover Cream for normal to dry skin and Mario Badescu Acne Cleanser are still my favorites to get a deep clean that is gentle and won't cause irritation.

Toner

To tone, you can mix equal parts witch hazel, green tea, and grapefruit juice or buy an alcohol-free toner. I love Good For You Girls because it smells amazing and uses all safe ingredients. If you apply toner to a clean cotton pad day and night, it will removes the excess dirt and oil and get your skin perfectly clean.

Blemishes

If you have a blemish, do not pick it. Instead, dry it up with Clean and Clear pimple cream. If you squeeze it, you will only make it worse. Once the pimple comes to a white head, you can apply a very hot wet washcloth to the pimple to try to burst it. But, do not squeeze because it will leave a scar. If the pimple bursts, let it drain onto clean cotton by dabbing it with the cotton. Then, clean the area with witch hazel.

For normal to dry skin, you only need to cleanse skin in the evening. For oily and acne skin, I would cleanse skin twice daily. For those with acne, be careful not to overdry your skin because it will cause the oil glands to work harder and produce more oil.

Perfect Prom Hair

2013-04-01T19:55:47Z

How are you wearing your hair for prom? This year its all about soft and sexy. Hair can be effortless or elaborate but not stiff. It should also be touchable so your date doesn't get his fingers caught in a rat's nest when he touches your hair.

Whether you are sporting the topknot, beach waves, or something a little more funky, I love Paul Mitchell's prom kits with great styling products that will help you get your fabulous do.

The best part is that Paul Mitchell is holding a sweepstakes in conjunction with A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz and Stila! Just vote for your favorite Prom hairstyle https://www.facebook.com/PaulMitchellHairCare and you could win one of a number of weekly prizes or the grand prize package including Paul Mitchell Products, makeup from Stila cosmetics and clothes from A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz. Pretty cool, huh?

Mario Russo, owner of Salon Mario Russo in Boston, gave me these fabulous easy-to-follow tips to get your perfect prom do at home. I suggest you practice over the next few weeks so you can get perfect prom hair without having to spend a fortune at a salon.

Top Knot

The Tools:

§ Paddle brush

§ Hair tie (Mario suggests Bungees to prevent breakage)

§ 5-6 Bobby pins

§ Soft bristle brush

§ Strong hold hair spray

§ Fine tooth comb

How-to:

1.       With preferably unwashed hair, use a paddle brush to comb out your hair removing any knots

2.       Put your hair in a high ponytail at the top of your head

3.       Twist, braid, or simply wrap your ponytail hair around the hair tie to create a smooth “knot”

4.       Place Bobby pins at the base of the knot at a good angle to get as many hairs as possible, and spin the hair into a knot fastening hairs with the bobby pins.

5.       Use additional Bobby pins to secure any loose pieces

6.       To finish the look, spray a soft bristle brush with a little hairspray and use to smooth out any frizz

** For a fuller bun, tease the tresses of your pony tail before wrapping into a bun. To do this take 3” sections of the pony tail and hold them vertically upright running a small tooth comb rapidly up and down the strand. Repeat until the entire pony tail is teased and then gather and wrap into a looser bun before securing in place with the pins.

The Rock Star Pump Up' Do

The Tools:

§ Hair dryer

§ Round brush

§ Hair clip

§ Hair tie

§ A container of Bobby pins

§ Fine tooth comb

§ 2 “ curling iron

§ Hair gel

§ Hair spray

How to:

1.       Make sure your hair is blown out straight using a round brush

2.       Divide your hair into two sections separating the hair. The first section should be from the front of your crown to the middle of your head and the remaining hair is the second section.

3.       Clip the first section hair to the side taking the remainder of your hair, which should be the back and base of your neck, and tie into a low pony tail securing it with a hair tie

4.       Then, take the loose hair at the crown of your head and divide this into two pieces – one, thin piece at the very front of your forehead clipping the remainder to the side

5.       Next, to create the pump, take the section of hair behind the front thin piece that was clipped and tease the strands. To do this you will take 3” sections and hold them away from your head in an upright vertical position, brushing a fine tooth comb rapidly up and down the strand. Repeat this until the whole section has been teased

6.       Setting the teased section aside, take the very front, thin section of the hair closest to the forehead and smooth it out with a large barrel curling iron. To do this, hold the piece directly out, away from your face. Starting as close to the root as possible, clamp the iron down on the section of hair and draw the iron slowly away from you until you reach the tip. This should create a slight upside down curve.

7.       Then, you're going to take the smoothed piece of hair and pull it back over the teased section to cover it up so everything looks nice and smooth.

8.       After you have covered the teased section with the smooth piece, you are going to pin this in place using bobby pins to fasten the ends to the back of your head while making sure not to crush the pump you have created.

9.       After the pump is secured in place, take a dime sized portion of the gel and rub it in your palms. Then lightly smoothing any fly-aways on the pump

10.   Finish with a quick spritz of hair spray and you’ll be ready to go!

** To make this a complete up ‘do, take the pony tail and twist into a bun that sits at the nape of your neck using additional Bobby pins to secure it in place.

Beach Waves

The Tools:

§ Round brush

§ Blow dryer

§ 3” flat iron we use and recommend a 1" flat iron

§ 3 Hair clips for sectioning (Mario suggests duck clips to hold the hair in place)

§ Flat iron protectant spray

§ Medium hold hair spray

§ Finishing spray

The Instructions:

1. Wash and condition your hair with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner.

2. Blow dry your hair straight using a 1 1/2 to 2" barrel ceramic ion round brush

3. Lightly mist your hair with a heat protectant spray

4. Section your hair into three sections holding each in place with a clip

5. Unclip the first section and take one 3” piece of hair, holding it out away from your face

6. Place the flat iron so is it is vertical to your head and position it as close to the scalp as possible, then clamp down on the strand with your iron

7. Quickly wrap the hair once around the iron then spin it 180 degrees away from your head in one smooth movement until the bottom of the strand is falling straight down (it’s important to know the slower the action the tighter the curl and the faster the action the looser the curl).....bigger section, larger curl, smaller section, tighter curls.

8. Then pull your iron down on your hair slowly towards your shoulder, stopping just short of the end of the strand

9. Continue doing this with one piece of hair at a time

10. Finish with a light mist of hair spray

**For a sexier look, run your fingers from roots to ends to increase volume! For an alternative curl, place the iron horizontally turning it 180 degrees toward your head pulling towards you in one continuous movement. This creates a curl with root drag for a more natural look. For a less structured look, try alternating the two methods then combing your locks gently with your fingers to break them up.

Red Carpet Prom Looks

2013-04-01T00:58:57Z

Prom season is here and its time get the dress and all the fab accessories! This year's award shows had so many inspiring looks that are prom-perfect. I found dresses for great prices at place you may not neccessarily think of for prom. Read on and see the gorgeous dresses I found.

Peplums

Nothing says fabulous like a short peplum dress. I found the most amazing polka dot peplum dress from Aeropostale for just $24.99. I am not kidding. You can dress it up with strappy silver or black high heel sandals, big earrings and great makeup and hair.

Pinkalicious

I fell inlove with this pink Oscar dress and thought it would make the most beautiful prom dress. So, I went on Prom Girl and found this gorgeous, vibrant pink dress. It is perfect with lwith silver shoes, clutch, and a fab pair of silver earrings.

Aquamarine

Kelly Osbourne was a stunner in this blue aqua dress. It is such a flattering color on any girl and I found a dress just like it from David's Bridal for just $99. You can't beat that. The best part is you can accessorize it with any silver jewelry you already have and it will look perfect! This is just the beginning of my red carpet prom looks. Stay tuned for more!

Los Juevos De Pascua

2013-03-30T13:18:06Z

Este año, para la Pascua, decidimos decorar los huevos de Pascua de una forma muy especial: tiñéndolos y decorándolos con Kool-Aid. Este producto funciona muy bien para esta actividad porque viene en muchos colores brillantes que quedan preciosos y además es algo que muchas madres ya tenemos en casa.

Juevos De Pascua

Es muy fácil: se mezclan dos sobres de Kool-Aid Unsweetened Drink Mix de cada color con dos cucharadas de agua.

Se pueden hacer huevos de un solo color, sumergiendo el huevo entero en la mezcla.

Se pueden hacer huevos multicolores, aplicando la mezcla libremente, usando diferentes colores para crear un diseño. Ésta es una forma muy fácil de fomentar la creatividad en los niños, ya que pueden crear sus propios diseños.

Y para huevos de Pascua con un toque adicional, antes de sumergir los huevos en la mezcla, ponemos una banda elástica alrededor del huevo, de forma que al retirar la banda queda un bonito diseño de rayas.

Cuando todos los huevos estén listos, se puede decorar la cesta con los diferentes diseños y con lazos de colores y queda espectacular.

Las guirnaldas de Pascua

Usando globos, cuerda de colores y pegamento, podemos crear una bonita decoración que a los niños les divierte muchísimo hacer.

Ponemos el pegamento en un bol, y remojamos bien la cuerda en el pegamento. Hinchamos el globito hasta el tamaño deseado.

Luego atamos un extremo de la cuerda al nudo del globito y comenzamos a enrollar la cuerda alrededor del globo con un bonito diseño. Atamos el otro extremo al nudo, y lo dejamos secar durante varias horas, hasta que se endurezca.

Cuando esté seco, pinchamos el globo y… ¡ya está! ¡Un bonito adorno! Repetimos el proceso con diferentes colores para crear una preciosa guirnalda multicolor.

La selección de hierbas aromáticas

Y por último, podemos usar las cáscaras de huevo para plantar diferentes especias. Con un poco de tierra, unas semillas y un poquito de agua, podemos tener nuestra propia selección de hierbas aromáticas en la cocina.

Este tipo de actividades son una manera estupenda de pasar tiempo con los niños, siendo creativos, y de hacer la festividad de la Pascua aún más especial.

Les deseo una muy feliz Pascua!

Easter Garland

2013-03-26T14:42:43Z

To make an Easter Garland:

You will need: Craft string, glue, balloons

To make: Blow up the balloon to the size you like. Tie one end of the string around the knot of the balloon. Then, dip your two fingers in glue and piull the glue along the string as you warp the string around the balloon. Repeat this with string in other colors and let it dry.

Once it is dry, push the balloon away from the string with your fingers so it unglues from the balloon. Then pop the balloon and you will have a globe of string. Make a few of these and string them together to make a garland.

Click here to watch

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2013-03-11T15:20:26Z

Tie Dye Easter Eggs

KOOL-AID Tie-Dye Easter Eggs

Prep Time: 20 min. | Makes: 18 servings

2		envelopes KOOL-AID Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix, any red color (try Cherry, Black Cherry, Strawberry or Tropical Punch flavor)
2		envelopes KOOL-AID Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix, any orange color (try Orange, Mango or Peach flavor)
2		envelopes KOOL-AID Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix, any yellow or green color (try Lemonade, Piña or Lemon-Lime flavor)
2		envelopes KOOL-AID Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix, any blue color (try Mixed Berry or Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade flavor

Make It

Mix contents of 2 (same-flavored) KOOL-AID envelopes with 2 Tbsp. water in 6- to 8-oz. container; stir to dissolve drink mixes. Repeat in 3 separate containers with remaining KOOL-AID envelopes.

Place 18 eggs on cooling rack in sink; rinse eggs with tap water.

Tip:
Wear disposable gloves.

Spoon KOOL-AID mixtures, 1 at a time, over wet eggs to create tie-dye patterns. Repeat with remaining eggs.

Pour a little tap water over each egg to set colors. Use tongs to transfer eggs to paper towel-covered baking sheet to dry. Rinse sink immediately as needed.

For Solid-Colored Easter Eggs:

Pour contents of 1 envelope of each KOOL-AID color into separate 10- to-12 oz. container. Add 2/3 cup water to each; stir to dissolve drink mix. Use spoon to place 1 hard-cooked egg in each cup, keeping egg submerged until desired color is reached. Continue with remaining eggs. Let dry as directed above.

Special Extra:

Place assorted rubber bands around hard-cooked eggs before dipping in cups of KOOL-AID mixtures; let dry completely before removing rubber bands. For a two-tone effect, dip the dry colored eggs again in a lighter-colored prepared KOOL-AID.

Substitute:

Experiment with other KOOL-AID flavors for different color patterns.

The Perfect Beauty Regimen

2013-02-23T23:50:49Z

In the beauty world, it’s hard to navigate what the must-haves are for your skin and what you can do without. I love prducts with natural ingredients and no synthetic fragrance.

I spoke with Anne-Cecile Curot, Aesthetician and Spa Director at Marc Harris salon and we discussed what skin care products she feels every women should have in their skin care regiman.

Cleanser

Curot says, "Whether you wear make-up or not, it’s crucial to invest in a quality cleanser. Every night, you should wash your face AND neck to create a clean surface for your moisturizer. Cleaning the skin allows it to absorb your moisturizer better. Pick a gentle cleanser (especially in winter so that it doesn’t strip your skin). You can determine whether you’ve chosen the correct cleanser for your skin type by seeing if your skin feels tight or comfortable. If the cleanser is working well on your skin, your face should be comfortable and clean – not tight or dry."

Since I wear a lot of makeup for work, I prefer a makeup removing cream cleanser. I just rub it all over my skin and remove it with moistened cotton. Mario Badescu Cucumber Makeup Remover is still my favorite. For a cleanser you rinse off with water, I like But, if you do not wear makeup, a simple cleanser is fine. For a regular cleanser that you rinse off with water, I like Fresh Soy Cleanser.

Serum and Treatment Oils

I believe if you are over 30 and your skin tends to be dry, you need a serum day and night under your moistrizer. If penetrates deeper into your skin for added hydration. I love Amala Treatment Oil and Amala Serum. It is organic, smells incredible and makes your skin look incredible.

Moisturizer with SPF (day time)

Curot suggests wearing a moisturizer with SPF 15 or 18 daily. During the summer months its best to use a higher spf especially if you will be outside.

Moisturizer (night time)

Curot reccommends you look for an anti-aging cream with specific ingredients like retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid, L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), minerals, stem cells, vitamins and antioxidants. The texture of a night cream is usually thicker, so don’t be intimidated if it feels too heavy for your skin. Apply all over the face and don't forget the neck! I say the heavier the night cream the better. I find heavier night creams sit on top of the skin and help it retain moisture all night.

Eye Cream

Don't be lazy and forget the eye cream. Curot says, "When you start to age, it shows first on three key areas: your hands, neck and eyes. I recommend different eye creams depending on the person’s main issue. If you have puffy eyes, bags or wrinkles, the best way to try to prevent and fix any "problems" is to look for a cream with peptides that strengthens blood vessels’ walls and improves lymphatic drainage. As for dark circles, if you are born with them, it's genetic and probably impossible to get rid of them. If you have dark circles the come and go, try to get more sleep, stay hydrated and use a serum or cream with Arnica in it, day and night, all around your eyes. This will increase the blood flow and diminish the shadow around the eye area."

Scrub/Exfoliator

Curot likes scrubs and exfoliators because it prevents breakouts, clogging, evens out your skintone, smoothes skin texture, diminishes lines, reduces wrinkles and prepares the skin to absorb the ingredients of a future mask application or cream. Which type of exfoliators should you buy? Scrubs using the ingredient Benzoyl Peroxide (provides an anti-bacterial, bleaching effect) offer a quick fix, but do not solve all acne or breakout issues. Your skin is an organ and it needs balance. Exfoliating once a week is important to keep your pores clean, however you don't want to disturb the skin barrier. The skin’s surface is covered with hydrolipidic film, which is formed of water and oils and protects us from germs and free radicals. If you strip it down too much, don't be surprised to have irritated, itchy, swollen skin! Less is more with exfoliation!