Summer calls for gentler exfoliation. I am loving these peel pads for their ease-of-use and radiant results.

A trifecta of alpha, beta and gamma hydroxy combine with antioxidants, amino acids and soothing green tea to moisturize, minimize pores, soften fine lines and even skin tone.

I’ve been using them twice a week in the evening, after cleansing with this or this.

Love, love!

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I’ve been having the best summer romance of my life.

I, of the shiny t-zone and oversized pores, have fallen in love with this translucent powder. It’s been all soft focus, blurred lines and true radiance.

If you need any help at all with shine or sweat— or if your makeup isn’t faring well in the heat, this sturdy little compact might help. I’ve been lightly applying it on top of my BB cream or foundation every day. It doesn’t change the look or finish of either, and it seriously controls oil and shine.

I like the translucent, but it also comes in a tint.

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I can’t get my girls out of the pool this summer. I would never spoil their fun, but I’ve been cringing inside at the thought of all the chlorine saturating their beautiful, silky kid hair.

Then I discovered this amazing shampoo. Unlike most swimmers’ shampoos that use icky sodium thiosulfate to remove chlorine, Malibu C contains only natural ingredients. It’s gentle on hair but feels totally luxurious. Great for both kids and adults, it made my hair soft and shiny, too. What’s more is that it protects hair between shampoos by infusing it with powerful antioxidants.

Derived from coconut, loaded with rice and flax proteins, plus vitamin B5, Malibu C Swimmers Wellness shampoo is also free of sulfates, parabens, gluten and sodium chloride. It’s the only shampoo I’m using on my kids all sumer.

And for $15 it’s a no brainer.

P.S. I still hate getting my hair wet so I’ve been logging my time in the pool wearing this miracle swim cap— under my SPF 50 sun hat.

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I’ve been road-testing this top coat for the past few weeks and really love it. It provides incredible shine and much better durability than any other brand I’ve tried. I wouldn’t compare it’s wear to a gel manicure, exactly, though. It does chip, depending on how hard you are on your hands. That said, I baked a batch of brownies this weekend, went swimming, washed my girls’  hair multiple times and built sandcastles at the beach this weekend—in addition to my usual wear and tear—and my nails still look so shiny.

As with all of Essie’s polishes, this top coat is DBP, toluene and formaldehyde free.

Win-win.

P.S I’m also completely in love with Essie’s new  E-nuf is E-nuf for summer toes.

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I’ve discussed in the past how my sparse eyebrows are basically the bane of my existence. And I, admittedly, tend toward high end products from Tom Ford and Anastasia Beverly Hills.

But then my toddler got into my makeup bag and used my sacred Tom Ford to draw all over herself—and proceeded to chew on the spooly brush at the opposite end. So, it was an in immediate R.I.P. for my beloved Brow Sculptor in Chesnut, and there was no way I was making it to Bergdorf Goodman any time soon to buy another.

Sheer panic.

So I put on my largest pair of sunglasses and went to the drugstore in search of a substitute pencil. A pencil that could be both precise and blendable. A pencil with good pigment that was natural looking. A pencil that would wear well in heat and humidity. A pencil with staying power.

I found THIS pencil and it is my everything. For about $3, you get TWO and a sharpener! Please don’t judge them by their size or cost—their diminutive stature is actually pretty brilliant because you get more control. I apply the pencil in quick, short, light strokes in the direction the hair grows. Once I’ve built up the desired intensity of color, I go over the strokes with a small stiff brow brush to blend.

I’ve bought a bunch and given a few away to friends and family who all agree with me that these little babies are the bomb.

P.S. This eyebrow growth serum is working!

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I think I’m really beginning to age.

Technically, I mean. On the surface. Because lord knows deep down, despite my love for kale, I’m still a kid who sits criss-cross-applesauce and likes bubble gum flavored lip gloss.

This summer my normally oily skin is dry. Flakey, even. I’m completely flummoxed. I’ve battled a shiny t-zone ever since my hormones kicked in in 1987. 

Thankfully, Ole Henriksen’s Vitamin C Collagen Booster, my standby skin brightener, is really saving my face from looking utterly parched. This is one of those products I recommend to everyone. It benefits every skin type and contains important antioxidants (free radical fighters!) that should be a standard part of any skin care regime. The nourishing serum contains rose hip, green tea and fruit extracts, along with hyularonic acid, to diminish fine lines and protect skin. And, nothing brightens the skin like a powerful punch of vitamin C—and Henrksen’s vitamin C is a proprietary blend like no other.

I apply it under moisturizer and sunscreen. It dries in instantly.

As always, Ole Henriksen products are formulated without parabens, sulfates or phthalates.

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