As someone who enjoys running, when Brooks contacted me to test out their new Summer line of running gear, I happily obliged.  Known for their running shoes, I was surprised to find that they’re now doing some stylish running gear.  And since I recently got hit by a car out on my morning run (more like tapped), I was very happy to discover that they sent a beautiful, saturated aqua hoodie.  If you love to run in the summer early mornings or evenings, here is a great running outfit to consider:

• Brooks Viva Capri ($58) – OMG, this is the perfect running pant. The fabric has a nice hand to it – thick but not too thick – and it’s super comfortable to run in. The length hits right below your knees and it has a slight flare to balance out your hips.  It’s extremely stylish. I’m hooked. The only downside is there is no little inside pocket for your key.
• PR Support Tank ($44) – if you are a rectangle, you may like this tank with side mesh panels.  Although Brooks’ states that it has a ‘feminine’ shape, it doesn’t.  As an hourglass, it was too tight at my bust and super baggy at the waist.  I couldn’t wait to take it off — it was extremely uncomfortable for me because of the extra fabric lolling about at my waist.  But for rectangles and more muscular builds, this would be a good tank to consider.  The long length is a plus.
• Viva Jacket ($74) – I admit I was worried about running in a jacket that seemed to have a tight ribbed waist since they tend to ride up.  Out on the streets, it stayed put.  The color is flattering yet bright enough to stop those cars in their tracks! The detailing is stylish and there’s even an inside pocket for your ipod.  I have never worn a short-sleeve jacket out running and I have to admit it was perfect for keeping the morning chill at bay yet I stayed cool throughout the run.  I think they’re giving Lulu Lemon a run for their money with this one.
• Stability Running Shoes – depending on your pronation, you want a shoe that can support you and make your feet feel like they’re running on air. Every foot is different and you must try various shoes to find your perfect fit.  I’m a New Balance gal and their shoes fit me perfectly. My husband has been an Asics guy since he was 16.  My friend is a Brooks fan.
• Polar Watch – for monitoring your heart rate and calories burned.

Do you run?  What do you love to run in?  And, if you’re interested in getting a free, gently used (and hand-washed) Pacer Support Tank in a size L, leave a comment.  I’ll randomly pick someone on Friday to win.

Perhaps you’ve seen the ads with Ellen DeGeneres touting the latest product from the CoverGirl and Olay teams: Simply Ageless foundation. Since drying skin is pretty common for women over 40, I decided to forgo my professionally blended makeup for the drugstore variety to see if it really did go on smooth and not hang out in the creased sections of my skin.  Here’s my review:

Color Matching: 1 out of 5 stars

First off, finding the right color is an issue.  I’m used to having mine blended for me to match or at least test a product. Luckily most drugstores allow you to return and switch out with another shade but what a waste of product and time for us busy gals.  If you are fair-skinned like me, any color under #225 is chalky and white.  You don’t want to look like Casper — the best way to test is run a strip of makeup from your jawline down your neck.  So after a few tries, I found the right color.  CoverGirl apparently has a makeup quiz you can take to determine which shade to pick.  It is so off-base.  Don’t trust it. If you select any light shade from the far left to #4, it tells you that those ghost-white foundations are right for you.  It’s best to just grab a few and test them out.

Packaging: 1 out of 5 stars

Ugh! You know it’s bad when the site has to post videos and FAQs to tell you how to OPEN the compact.  Did a man design this?? I mean seriously.  When you finally figure out to flip the top open, you discover that this is the section for the sponge.  Where is the makeup? Start twisting and you’ll realize that the top of the compact is actually the bottom of the makeup bowl.  It’s extremely counter-intuitive.

Coverage: 5 out of 5 stars

All I can say is WOW. Once you get over the issues with color matching and get the compact actually opened, the product itself is amazing.  Even my professional makeup doesn’t hold a candle to it.  It has a cool, refreshing feel when you put it on.  It’s not thick but it covers nicely — from light age spots to some redness and discoloration.  And their claims about it never settling into fine lines or wrinkles?  Woo-hoo!  It doesn’t….ever. And I also love the fact that it has SPF 22 in it to keep those wrinkles at bay.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

If they fix the pigments and packaging, they’ll get 5 stars from me.  Until then, this is a wonderful product and worth a test drive.  I have never used ‘drugstore’ foundation and I have to tell you I was pleasantly surprised.  I actually wear this now — sorry Paige and Bobbi Brown!  It’s lightweight, refreshing and makes my skin look so much better.

If you’ve ever tried to recreate the blow-out your hairstylist did for you at the salon without much success, you are not alone.  I have met countless women who don’t know which tools to use, let alone how to use them.  The first thing I do with my clients who need help in this area?  Take a trip to the salon for an exclusive lesson on how to blow-dry their hair from a professional hairstylist.  Then we hit the beauty supply store for the recommended products.

However, if you want to save a bit of money and time going to the salon for a lesson, there is another option.   There’s this brilliant DVD, “Now You Know How…To Blow-Dry Your Hair” done by Kimberly Clo, hair designer extraordinaire.  Kimberly is warm, personable and so much fun to talk to.  We recently met and she sent me her DVD in December and I finally got around to watching it last night.  Wow. Super professional, high quality and I even picked up some great tips.

Kimberly provides you step-by-step guidance on the right techniques for blow drying your hair for a smooth + straight look, for creating movement, and she even blow-drys her own hair so you can see exactly how to do it.  I ended up learning quite a bit but the biggest realization was that I was doing my back the wrong way — and I thought I knew how.  Now I know.

In 2003, DKNY launched the mother of all sweater wraps: the Cozy.   I’ve had tons of fun introducing my clients to this piece because there were 20 ways to wear it that made it super multi-functional.  Plus, it came with a little instruction booklet and the colors were yummy.

Apparently women across the country fell in love with it too and DKNY has re-cut it into more colors perfect for winter.  This is such a fun piece and it transforms into so many great variations that you can be guaranteed there is a look for every body type and event. You can wear it as a top, a sweater or a shawl.

I did a bit of sleuthing and below are the colors available online. The photo on the left is from Bloomingdale’s catalog which shows 4 of 20 ways to wear it — the online sites show a couple more obvious ways.

• In green at at ShopBop.com.
• In ivory, black, green and red at Bloomingdale’s.com (Red, Black, Yellow, Blue and Fuschia are in-stores)
• In black, red and purple at Nordstrom.com

Wardrobe Tools to Keep You Looking Great

Avoid future wardrobe emergencies — create a “Closet Care Kit” with the following items.

		Hollywood Fashion Tape Double-Stick Strips with Take Away Tin 1 set The tin is the perfect size for keeping in your purse when wardrobe emergencies transpire. Use the fashion tape to secure falling hems, keep bra straps covered and wrap dresses secure.
		Hollywood Fashion Tape Behind the Seams Pretty Underarm Protection 12 ea From our friends at Hollywood Fashion Tape, these underarm shields protect your clothing from perspiration. Great if you speak in public or interview with the media a lot – never let them see you sweat!
		Gal Pal Garment Deodorant Remover 2 ea Garment Deodorant Remover for gals AND guys! It really does work. Keep one in your bathroom and one in your travel kit.
		Evercare Lint Pic-Up 60 Layers Adhesive Roller Tie a pretty ribbon through the handle and keep it hanging on the door which is closest to where you dress.
		Evercare Fabric Shaver This gently trims off the fuzz from the top of your sweaters versus the comb which tends to pull the threads and break them.
		Calming Lavender Cedar Blocks Place these natural moth-repellent blocks strategically in your drawers and closet to keep your woolens moth-free. Pkg/4.
		Foot Petals Tip Toes 1 pr Perfect for the balls of your feet! Comes in three colors: black, rose and butter.

A while back I was asked to write about the best women’s shoes and it was such a struggle to limit it to ten because there are so many great shoe designers out there.  They had asked me to write about the five best and then about the five “best value” shoes. Alas, they changed the title from “best value” to the “best of the rest”…and I would have to state that I would NOT pick those brands as the best of the rest – I think it’s important to invest in your shoes because you will ultimately end up getting style AND comfort.

So here…in no particular order are the five Best of the Rest which are based on what I see sells and makes my clients smile time and time again:

1) Manolo Blahnik: “These are the most comfortable shoes — only get me these from now on!” is what I hear from my clients.  Over-publicized, yes.  Pricey, yes.  Stylish and comfortable, double yes; and that’s really why we buy them!

2) Tory Burch: I’m not a fan of the big gold logo on her shoes but they are colorful and comfortable and really look great on the feet.

3) Cole Haan: I did pick them as my top best value just because they use Nike Air technology and are high quality.  Their boots are fab so make sure to check them out this coming Fall.

4) Gentle Souls: Like Arturo Chiang, the soles in these shoes are extra puffy and comfy.  The styles are mostly flat and perfect for the mom on the go or the gal who hates uncomfortable high heels.

5) Donald Pliner: I throw Donald into the same pot with Stuart Weitzman.  He creates various styles from high heels to canvas slip ons and sandals.  I love the metallic leather that he uses on his more fancier styles — yummy.

My favs?

I love Chloe, Costume National and Converse.  All a little irreverent, like yours truly.

What are your favs??

Over the last decade, scientists and dermatologists have discovered some amazing formulas and solutions in their quest for the fountain of youth. You’ve heard it all — and probably tried a few miracle cremes and skin processes along the way — but has it worked?  Will it last?

Let’s put two of the most popular skincare doctors (who have different philosophies) to the test.  In one corner we have Dr. Frederic Brandt, godfather of Botox. In the other corner we have Dr. Nicholas Perricone, curator of DMAE and proponent of eating lots of Omega 3 and drinking green tea.  They both walk the talk and the pictures (from their websites) speak for themselves.

Who’s older?  Who looks ageless?

I understand the temptation of Botox and I do have quite a few clients and friends who use it and swear by it.  But what I recall from my college biology class is that when muscles are impaired and not required to work, atrophy happens. They waste away.  So if you stop, you start to sag.  This goes for Botox and I think the picture of Dr. Brandt pretty much illustrates that — he looks like the Joker to me.

Dr. Perricone prescribes three steps in taking care of your skin:  an anti-inflammatory diet, nutritional supplements, and topical inflammatories.  One of them, the Neuropeptide Firming Moisturizer is amazing.  It’s pricey but OMG — if it can make my old, tired skin look good, imagine what it can do if you didn’t lay in the sun with baby oil when you were 13?

There are better things on the horizon I’ve been told — a Botox 2.0 if you will — but until then, I prefer to follow Dr. Perricone.  What skin-care regimens do you prefer and have had success with?