trust the expert

No matter how much you know, it never hurts to listen to an expert. You just might learn a thing or two. Or in my case, learn and purchase a thing or two.

My recent haircut meant I needed new hair styling products.

But how does a diva decide what products are right for her new haircut?

By trusting the expert.

That's how I ended up with two great new products. My new favorite product is Goldwell's Crystal Turn. It's in a category I had never heard before, gel wax. The consistency is denser than your usual styling gel and slightly tacky to the touch.

I like it because it works magic on my new haircut. It provides volume and brings out my hairs new "piecey" effect without weighing it down. This is a product I never would have guessed would work on my hair if someone didn't show me how it works.

I also purchased Goldwell's Big Finish hairspray. This was big for me, I haven't used hairspray in 15+ years. I took the plunge on this hairspray because when my hairdresser used it on my hair I got hold without stiffness or stickiness.

diva lesson: Listen to your hairdresser when you are at the salon. If he or she uses a product and you like the results, buy it then and there. Don't try to make do with what you have at home or tell yourself you'll buy something similar in the drugstore.

Just trust the expert!

the right one

Choosing your hairdresser should be like choosing the person you want to spend the rest of your life with; when you have the right one, you just know.

I have been in the "growing out my hair" phase for the past 18 months. I have had a few maintenance cuts in the last year and a half, but my hair was lacking style.

My biggest challenge was finding someone I could trust. I was happy enough with the previous person who had cut my hair, but I really wanted some texture. I heard too many horror stories in previous months of haircuts gone bad to just "roll the dice".

I started by asking friends where they got their hair cut. Unfortunately, I didn't get many glowing recommendations. Just when I was going to give up my search and stick to a boring haircut (better safe than sorry), I meet a friend of a friend who was a hairdresser. As Holly and I chatted throughout the evening she mentioned that she thought my hair needed "a little something" and would love to cut my hair.

I liked her and thought if she was bold enough to say that to me, I was brave enough to take a chance. I got my new haircut a few weeks ago. Thanks to Holly, my long, straight Asian hair has pizazz. It's still plenty long, but now it's got style and texture.

up next: new haircut = new styling products

going to Brazil

That's the phrase a friend of mine uses when she's going to get a Brazilian Wax.

Another friend and I were discussing what happens when you "go to Brazil". Actually, she asked questions and I was able to answer them. My girlfriends questions were similar to my own many years ago. Pain level? Irritation? Back there too, how?

I will spare you most of the details of my personal grooming habits. I will tell you that I once had a bikini wax in Chicago and hated it. A few years later, while living in NYC, some friends gave me a gift certificate to get a Brazilian Wax at the place to get one, J Sisters. Since I was technically their boss I wasn't sure if this was a gift or retribution.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. So I took my gift at face value and booked an appointment for a Brazilian Wax. I was in and out of the salon in 20 minutes and had no pain or irritation. And I've never been the same since then. I was so thrilled by how "clean" I felt that I wanted to show the world. Seriously.

I told my girlfriend there's nothing like that feeling. I even "demonstrated" the pose for "getting back there". She has been waxing at home for 20+ years and is looking forward to finding a reputable person near her so she too can "go to Brazil".

I did warn her that once you start, you never want to go back.

diva tip: If you think you might be sensitive take an over the counter pain medicine before your appointment. And even seasoned waxees don't get waxed near that "time of the month".

Think happy thoughts.

the gift that keeps giving

My birthday is around the corner, May 11th, and I thought I'd show and tell you about the best gift I've ever received. It's a Bucket. Not just any bucket, a used bucket.

Actually, her name was Sunshine when my then boyfriend (now husband) was her foster parent. He was a foster parent for the Midwest Lab Rescue in Chicago and she was his 11th foster dog. When she arrived at his door he had no idea it would lead to adoption. But something in those beautiful brown eyes told us she had a zest for life that would blend in well with our other animals, two dogs and two cats.

She had been with us for the two weeks before my birthday and when I found out someone might adopt her, I got very possessive. I had never felt that way about the five foster dogs I met before her. That's when Simon (my husband) knew I might want to keep her.

I cried when he presented her to me with a bow around her neck on my 32nd birthday.

My friends at work thought we were crazy. They kept saying, "Another dog? She's five?"

All I could think was, "Why not? You have to see her."

Sunshine - April 2000

We had to re-name her because my dog's name was (and still is) Sunny. Pez was in the potential name pile for a little while. Simon came up with "Bucket" during dinner that night and when we went home and tried it out, she responded immediately with a tail wag.

And we've never looked back. She has brought more happiness into our lives than you would think 80 pounds of fur could. Okay, so she hates thunderstorms and we've had some sleepness stormy nights. And we had a mammory cancer scare last year (we caught a lump with pre-cancerous cells). Small prices to pay for having her fun-loving presence in our household.

She's slowed down a bit now that she's almost 12. She's still a little goofy and she wags her tail endlessly when you say her name.

She's just Bucket.

And we wouldn't want her any other way.

Bucket being Bucket - February 2007

The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar

The Laundress is introducing a Wash & Stain Bar.

The Laundress developed the Wash & Stain Bars as an alternative for removing tough stains on sweaters, delicates and everything else clothing. This product can handle both stains and general washing.

The solid formula also makes this a must-have travel product. You won't have to worry about losing space in your TSA approved one-quart zip top bag for the best laundry care. You can also pop the unused wrapped bars in your drawers or closets to keep your clothes smelling laundry fresh.

The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar is $14.oo for a set of four 2oz. bars. The sets are available in the different Laundress scents; classic, lady, delicate and baby. (please note: each set contains four bars of the same scent) This product will be available in May. If you want to make sure you don't miss out on this sure to be best-seller, pre-order now at thelaundress.com.

BeneFit Cosmetics: Love Your Look

BeneFit Cosmetics is bringing its quick-fix, problem-solving style to their new color cosmetics line, Love Your Look. The Love Your Look collection will contain an assortment of 39 units: 24 lipsticks 12 creaseless cream shadow-liners and three sheer cream blushes. A set of powder shadows is planned for a fall launch.

Love Your Look is broken down into three looks to match consumers' lifestyles and personalities. Lana is aimed at consumers who prefer a "no-makeup" look, with a colletion of softer and warmer neutral shades. Gabbi feautres a slightly more sophisticated, mauve color palette in medium neutral shades. Betty offers stronger colors like amber, mauve and berry in deeper neutral shades. The collection's colors are designed to be layered and work together.

To keep with the company's lighthearted spirit, the collection's models are mannequins; each capturing a specific lifestyle with their appearance. The mannequins are featured on the products' black and white packaging; which looks pretty darn adorable.

Love Your Look will be available in May at all 930 doors that currently carry the BeneFit line. It's already available online at sephora.com. Sephora's website also has BeneFit's Love Your Look quiz that will help you determine if you're Lana, Gabbi or Betty by answering seven quick questions (I'm Gabbi).

up next: The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar

How does a diva sit in the sun?

I told you I was going to the Caribbean. I didn't tell you that I haven't really sat in the sun much in the last 20 years. I like sunshine, I just don't stay in one spot for hours on end with the sole purpose of getting a good tan. Skin cancer is super scary and would really effect my vanity (if it didn't kill me).

My plan when I'm in sun the next few days is to heavily arm myself with sunscreen. For my face I just purchased MD Skincare's Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion. I decided to try this for my face because it's formulated with iron-encapsulating technology that binds to iron left on the skin by tap water and perspiration and prevents the iron from doing damage to collagen. It's also loaded with antioxidants.

I can be sensitive to sunscreens so tried it at home for a couple of days. No use in bringing it if it's going to wreck havoc on my skin (and I'd rather find that out before a trip instead of during). I didn't have any problems with this sunscreen so it makes the cut. I liked the lightweight texture and didn't notice any type of scent.

My body will be slathered with Neutrogena's Ultra Soft Hydrating Sunblock with SPF 30. It lives up to it's label of "feels like a body lotion". It's a non-greasy, lightweight lotion that's hydrating and offers UVA/UVB broad spectrum sunscreens. It's also waterproof and sweat-proof; great for an occasional cooling off pool dip.

Neutrogena is available at most grocery and drug stores and online at drugstore.com. MD Skincare is available at select Sephora and Nordstrom stores, and online at beauty.com, sephora.com and nordstrom.com.

If you're looking for me, I'll be by the pool. Reapplying my sunscreens every 90 minutes.

warm weather preparation

I have the good fortune of going on a warm weather vacation this weekend. Since I live in Southern Maine (that is not a complaint) and we have been experiencing an unusually chilly and snowy April (that is), I am really looking forward to my Carribean getaway.

I did experience a bit of a panic a few weeks ago because I realized I had a lot to do if I wanted to step right into my weekend of sunshine. While I'm bundling up in turtlenecks and sweaters I'll have to pack summer clothes and shoes and not look like I'm from the Great White North. Talk about having to flip a switch.

I tackled the clothes first. I started a list of the items I wanted to bring. Then in typical girl-fashion I changed it once I started getting into my summer "wardrobe". I'll spare you the list of everything I tried on. The items that did make the cut were a khaki short, charcoal bermudas, nice white capris, three dressy tank tops, four basic tank tops, two short sleeve shirts that can be casual or dressy, one knit dress, one beach coverup and three swimsuits.

The shoe selection was relatively easy. A nice summer heel for dinners, my flat patent white K. Jacques thong sandal that is super comfortable and goes with everything and a Reef flip flop for the pool. I just had to make sure my feet were sandal ready.

I paint my toenails year-round so my feet usually look nice. They just needed a little TLC. A few sessions with a pumice stone removed the tough skin, and using the cuticle clippers and a nail file brought my feet to sunshine worthy status.

Once my clothing and shoe wardrobes were established I faced another issue. Capri's, bathing suits and sandals mean you have to expose your legs. I'm olive tone, but fair, therefore risk blinding people with my pasty winter legs.

My rescue came in a tube of Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. It's a daily body moisturizer that delivers small doses of self tanner. The maximum depth and intensity of color is reached after about one week of daily use. It's better than a regular self tanner; no uneven application mistakes and no heavy scent.

My warm weather vacation preparation in a nutshell: figure out your wardrobe a few days before you depart, make sure your feet look nice and use some self tanner. Trust me, it only sounds that simple. At least for this diva.

Okay, gotta run and get some beauty sleep.

cK Calvin Klein Beauty

Calvin Klein Inc. is getting back in the cosmetics game.

You may remember that Calvin Klein had a color cosmetics line, under license with Unilever Cosmetics, from 2000-03. That collection was designed by Diane Kendal and was sold in about 120 doors worldwide. It was phased out of the marketplace in 2003.

As reported in WWD, Calvin Klein Inc. unveiled the first pieces of cK Calvin Klein Beauty, its new color cosmetics collection with licensee Markwins International a couple of weeks ago at the international trade fair Cosmoprof.

The new cosmetics line, with almost 200 units, will offer foundation, concealer, eye shadows, lip colors, mascara, lip and eye pencils, nail polish and makeup brushes. Price points, which average under $20 per item in the U.S., are intended to be consistent with other entry-level prestige brands.

According to Tom Murry, CKI's president and COO, the new beauty brand, is designed to appeal to a multicultural, fashion-forward consumer. Just like their CK clothing brand. Think a little trendier and youthful.

cK Calvin Klein Beauty will launch in Italy in late May, followed by France in June and the U.S., The U.K., Canada and Mexico in September. In the U.S., the line will initially be sold in select Macy's doors. Approximately 1,000 doors are planned for Europe. In October, Hong Kong will get the color line, followed by Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Shanghai and Beijing.

When it hits the stores, I'll give my two cents worth.

The Laundress Denim Wash & Whites Detergent

I don't "do" laundry every day, nor do I work for The Laundress, yet here I am writing about their products again. (They are mentioned in all my Clothing Care posts)

The first product I'd like to rave about in this post is The Laundress Denim Wash. When you spend $200 on a pair of jeans you expect them to last awhile and look good wash after wash. All divas know that they are supposed to let their denim air dry to prevent stretching and fading. Yet plenty of divas, you know who you are, still throw their jeans in the dryer to "soften them".

The ladies at The Laundress have made it so you can have your cake and eat it too. In this case, air dry your jeans and have them feeling soft when you put them on. Their Denim Wash blends detergent and fabric softener to clean and soften all you designer jeans.

I just washed six pairs of jeans in the Denim Wash the other night and when I was folding them they felt softer than they normally do after air drying. And I am happy to report that I wore a pair of the newly washed jeans yesterday and they were definitely softer against my body.

I've also got to mention The Laundress' Whites Detergent. I am not a big fan of bleach. I do however like my whites white, so I use bleach sparingly and only when needed.

The Laundress' Whites Detergent is formulated with a bleach alternative, optical brightener and stain fighting enzymes so you can take proper care of your daily whites without using bleach. It won't ruin colors and is effective in all water temperatures. Like all of The Laundress products, the Whites Detergent is plant based (most mass market brands are petroleum based) and 100% Biodegradeable.

I noticed a difference in my white shirts the first time I used the Whites Detergent. They were brighter and smelled great. One of my friends just hand washed a white Gucci Skirt with the Whites Detergent and said it looks as good as new.

The Laundress Denim Wash is $18 for 16 fl. oz.; which will get you up to 16 washes. The Laundress Whites Detergent is avaiable in three different sizes: $5 for 2 fl. oz., $16 for 16 fl. oz. and $19.50 for 32 fl. oz. If the price tag seems a bit high, remember that these detergents are specialty fabric care. Think of all the trips to the dry cleaner you'll save yourself. And more importantly, how taking proper care of your clothes will extend their life.

The Laundress products are sold at beautyhabit.com, beauty.com (they don't have the Denim Wash yet) and thelaundress.com (you can see a full list of store and online retailers here too).

Happy Laundering!

Clinique's Cream Shaper for Eyes

I have a difficult time finding an eyeliner pencil that works for me. Pencils usually leave a mark in the crease of my right eye within a few hours. Liquid eyeliner and Laura Mercier's powder eye liner are the only liners that have not caused irritation and left a mark in my crease. I mention the irritation factor because I have tried many waterproof formula eye pencils and my lid twitches within an hour of application.

I had pretty much given up on finding a suitable pencil until a friend mentioned Clinique's Cream Shaper for Eyes pencil. She too has the crease mark thing happen and had no such issue after using this pencil. I decided it was worth my $13.50 to see if this pencil would work for me too.

Clinique's Cream Shaper for Eyes pencil is available in eight different shades. I purchased "Egyptian"; a beautiful olive shade with a hint of shimmer. The pencil is creamy but not too soft. I was able to apply this effortlessly and it didn't smudge at all during the day.

I was so happy with my new find that I went and purchased the Starry Plum and Brown Sugar shades. Starry Plum is a pretty violet with a hint of shimmer and Brown Sugar is a matte deep chocolate color. I have worn all three shades numerous times and have never had any irritation or smudging of any sort.

Clinique's Cream Shaper for Eyes pencil is available internationally wherever Clinique is sold and online at gloss.com, sephora.com and saks.com.

up next: The Laundress Denim Wash and Whites Detergent

PINK Magazine

I've written a few posts recently about magazine articles and just wanted to give a "shout out" to a magazine I have really enjoyed since it hit the scene almost two years ago, PINK magazine.

PINK magazine was brought to my attention one Saturday afternoon in Spring 2005. I happen to be watching CNN and the founding editor, Cynthia Good, was discussing the newly launched magazine. I was intrigued and immediately went to their website and got myself a subscription.

PINK magazine salutes and honors working women. Last year they featured top women execs in the advertising world, and this years February/March issue named 15 women PINK believe symbolize the new generation of business influencers. Household names Suze Orman, Kate Spade, Hilary Rodham-Clinton and Iman have graced previous PINK covers.

Past issues have also featured articles on sex slavery, domestic violence in the workplace and women at war. PINK has also addressed politics, cancer research and ethics. They still manage to talk about finance and fashion too. You get the idea; they discuss real life and issues that affect many of us (directly or indirectly).

The magazine is geared towards corporate professional women. Which I'm not, at least not right now. But that's where I see myself headed and this magazine continually provides great articles that make me see I can get there and how to get there.

Go to pinkmagazine.com to find out more.

up next: Clinique's Cream Shaper pencil

Shu Uemura to introduce hair care

L'Oreal's Professional Products Division, L'Oreal USA's professional hair care company, announced last week that Shu Uemura Art of Hair will have a June debut in 500 salons across the USA.

Yes, Shu Uemura. The Japanese makeup artist whose brand makes luxurious makeup brushes, amazing makeup and is probably best known for it's eyelash curler. (FYI: L'Oreal bought a majority stake in Shu Uemura in 2000)

Shu Uemura was instrumental in the development of the line. And L'Oreal worked with several salons and stylists to assess the brand's heritage and to make sure the salon distribution channel would be right for Art of Hair.

The nine item prestige hair care and seven item styling line will differentiate itself by using formulas that contain oils, not silicone to blend nature and science.

Within hair care, there is a shampoo, conditioner and masque available for three different categories: color treated, damaged and dry. Shampoos will retail for $40 each; conditioners for $50 each and masques for $60 each.

Full Shimmer is for color treated hair and uses musk rose oil as a key ingredient to add vibrancy to color. This category uses rose of Japan as its key scent.

Moisture Velvet was formulated with camellia oil to help nourish dry hair and uses camellia petal as its fragrance.

Silk Bloom, for damaged hair, uses argan oil to repair the structure of the hair fiber.

Styling items include Depsea Hair Foundations, which are meant to smooth the hair cuticle to create a proper base for styling. There's also Shape Paste, a strong-hold hair putty made for sculpted styles; Silk Oil, a light serum to help control frizz; Satin Design, a conditioning lotion; Liquid Fabric, used to invigorate curls, IronDesign, a heat protective spray, and Sheer Lacquer, a high-hold finishing spray. Each styling item will retail for $30.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair will first be available to those salons that carry Kerastase, another L'Oreal owned brand, at the back bar and sell only three other brands. Art of Hair will expand to key markets in the first part of 2008, which includes France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Japan.

There will be no specialty store distribution for the line, where the brand currently sells its makeup and skin care lines. Products will be available in the four Shu Uemura stores in the U.S.; Costa Mesa, Boston, New York and San Francisco.

The packing is gorgeous and vibrant and I can't wait to try it. When Shu Uemura's name is on the product you know it's first class.

up next: PINK magazine