SUMMER FAVE

Ever wonder how celebrities always look like they have had enough sleep when you know they haven't? Other than expensive doctor visits or $300 facials, which are out of the question for most of us, I have the answer! MAC's Strobe Cream.

If you wake up in the morning after one or five too many margaritas, this handy little gem will bring your skin back to its former, pre-binge drinking, luminosity. Use this cream afterexfoliating and your jaw might actually drop in amazement. As you can tell, I am borderline obsessed with this product. I mean, I have heard about it for years, but embarrassingly, until recently had never actually used it on myself. A steal at $29.50, it's my new can'tlivewithoutproduct.

With green tea, vitamins, and most importantly, just a hint of iridescence, it moisturizes and makes your skin look like it's glowing from the inside. And bonus, it gives your foundation a great slip making it just glide on. Don't worry oily-skinned gals, they make a liquid version as well which is much lighter in consistancy. Either way, be careful. If you try it, you might get hooked!

PALE IS THE NEW TAN

Sunless tanning is a tricky business. It can be a total disaster, leaving those who dare to dabble looking like a streaky oompa loompa and smelling like…well, sunless tanner. Never fear my pale ones, just because you dream of Edward Cullen, does not mean your skin has to look like a vampire!

The most important step is choosing the right sunless tanner. My recommendation is St. Tropez lotion (once you are skilled in the art, you may switch to the foam version. Until then, tread lightly, as it dries at turbo speeds.) It has a very natural golden color, even if your natural complexion is a lovely glow in the dark blue white (like myself). Although there is a faint sunless tanner smell, the people in the next aisle of the grocery store will not be peering around the corner to see where it’s coming from. You can buy this brand at Sephora, although it’s almost always sold out. They also have it at, you guessed it, sttropez.com.

The next necessity in your sunless adventure should be some disposable plastic gloves. This is how you avoid the tell-tale orange palms you (deservedly) fear. Next you will need some body lotion, any kind will do. Some type of exfoliant is also highly recommended, whether it’s a body scrub or some on the cheap exfoliating gloves from wal-mart.)

Take a shower, shave, and use your preferred exfoliant, paying special attention to knees and elbows as these are the areas most prone to streaks and patchy color deposits

Allow skin to dry completely

Apply body lotion to any areas that you would like to avoid as much color depositing (knees, behind knees, elbows, ankles, wrists and hands. Also include eyebrows and hairline if you are tanning the face.)

Put on your disposable gloves and you are ready to begin!

Apply sunless tanner in circular motions working in sections. Be sure to go over the areas you applied lotion, so you don’t end up with white patches where your knees are, just don’t use as much sunless lotion in those areas.

Take off the disposable gloves and apply a very small amount of sunless tanner to outside of hands and fingers, avoiding palms altogether.

Turn on some Gaga and dance around in your bathroom while you wait for the lotion to dry before you get dressed!

Do NOT shower, go swimming, scuba diving with sharks or any other activity that will involve water or sweat for 4 hours following your tanning extravaganza as this will remove the color you just applied. Good luck and let me know how it goes!!

HOW TO: LASHES

So, me being the beauty junkie in the family, my sister called me in a panic “How do I put on these fake eyelashes?! I bought them at the drugstore for this party I have to go to tonight, and I have no idea how to put them on!!!!”

“Wait, when is the party?”

“I have to leave in 20 minutes!!!!”

“Ok. Don't panic. You’re probably gonna need to write this down....”

I figured if my sister grew up with me and she still has no idea how to apply false eyelashes, she is not the only one in the world daunted by the task. Here is my process, it's probably a lot easier than you think!

Here is what you need:

• one q-tip
• eyelash adhesive*
• scissors
• tweezers
• false eyelashes

*The lashes will say they already have adhesive on them. This adhesive will last you approximately 3 minutes, and that's if you are lucky. Trust me, spend the extra three dollars and buy a tube of adhesive. (My favorite adhesive is DUO, which you can buy at any MAC store.)

1. Pick up one of the eyelashes using your tweezers, (it doesn't matter if its the left or right lash), and gently place it on the lash line of the corresponding eye. You will almost always have to cut off a small amount of the lash in order for it to fit on your eye. It's more cohesive looking if you can do the snipping from the inside corner of the lash rather than the outside.
2. After you have removed the lash strip from your lash line, gently snip off a couple lashes at a time from the inside corner until the strip fits comfortably on your eye without poking.
3. Repeat this process for both eyes.
4. Break your q-tip in half and pick up one of lashes with your tweezers. squeeze a small amount of the adhesive onto the broken edge of the q-tip (not the cotton end) and apply the glue sparingly from the q-tip onto the false eyelash at the base.
5. Wait about 15-30 seconds for the glue to become slightly tacky.
6. Line up the false lash with your natural lash line and place the center of the false lash as close as possible to your natural lash line. Then, using your tweezers, begin tacking down the rest of the false lash on both inside and outside corners of the eye until comfortable.
7. Wait 2-3 minutes for the glue to dry and you can touch up your makeup as usual!*

*In order to make the falsies blend with the natural lashes, I like to use a liquid eyeliner after step 5 and a tad of mascara to tie it all together.

EXFOLIATION NATION

Ok, to some people exfoliation sounds scary, like something painful or difficult, when in reality its one of the easiest things you can do to make a huge difference in your appearance! Exfoliation really is the key to the glowing skin you want (think Jennifer Lopez circa Bennifer.)

There are different levels of exfoliation ranging from mild (only affecting the upper layer of your skin) to intense (reaching into the lower layers of the skin completely changing the appearance and texture of the skin.) The more intense the exfoliation the more uncomfortable the experience will be. The good news is, this means you have options! Remember: Do not try any of these tips any closer than a month before any special events, just to make sure your skin has time to recover from any adverse reactions. Now for the options!

For a low-cost home exfoliation especially beneficial for those with sensitive skin, nature is your answer! Just mix equal parts of plain yogurt with honey and apply to clean skin for 15 minutes before rinsing, for a gentle and moisturizing exfoliating mask.

For a deeper exfoliation at home, use a daily exfoliating product combining Alpha and Beta Hydroxy acids. My ab favorite product is MD Skincare Daily Peel Pads, which you can find at mdskincare.com or sephora.com.

Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleaner, follow the instructions on the pads and follow up with a lightweight moisturizer for a visible difference in the texture of your skin.

If you really want to splurge you can leave the house and go to spa that specializes in microdermabrasion or topical peels where an aesthetician trained in skin care (like me!) will provide an exfoliation deeper than anything you can get at home.

Remember, no matter which method you choose, make sure you wear a sunscreen (at the very least an SPF 15, like Aveda tourmaline moisturizer with sunscreen) so you don't damage the beautiful layer of skin you have just unearthed!

Peace, love, and sunscreen!

Sarah