fashion week: look younger with anagenese 25+ from orlane paris

It's hard enough fighting the natural effects of aging...but when you have kids, they seem to age you even more. I was just introduced to Anagenese 25+ from Orlane Paris, a collection of products being touted during NY Fashion Week that's designed to keep you looking younger than your birth certificate may reveal. Apparently, aging begins to settle in from age 25 and becomes visible toward age 35-40. These products fight the invisible signs of aging to delay the transformation to mature skin. Based on the science of Growth Factors, which trigger the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid and improve radiance and oxygenation, they are must-haves in your beauty regimen. Apply First Time-Fighting Care cream in the AM and PM to smoothe, renew, hydrate and protect skin. Use First Time-Fighting Care Eye Contour twice a day as well to reduce fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. Opt for the Morning Recovery Concentrate First Time-Fighting Serum when you start your day under your regular skincare or any time you want to even your complexion and add a luminous effect. Go to www.orlane.fr to try these products yourself or pick up a 25th birthday gift for a friend.

holiday gift guide: give Zia

Ease the stress of travel and ensure they have extra room in their luggage. The perfect gift for those on the go: Zia Natural Skincare’s Holiday Travel sets ($19.95 each). What's inside: Five skin care treatments that work specifically for dry, normal and oily skin. Each collection contains a daily cleanser, toner, exfoliant, moisturizer, and facial mask to target all facial needs. The best part: The kits are TSA-compatible so they won't cause hassles at the gate. Shop for these handy little totes at www.ZiaNatural.com and Whole Food Markets nationwide. And while you're at it: Pick up a couple for yourself so you can breathe easier when traveling home to family to drop off the rest of them.

save your skin

You've got kids and they wear you out. But they wear out your skin too. Suddenly, you have dry skin from running around outside, dry knees from constantly kneeling down to their level and dry hands from washing dishes and giving baths. Thankfully, Jergens has an answer to these skin care problems. New Jergens Sensitive Skin Relief Daily Moisturizer ($5.99) is fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic, and dermatologist tested, plus it's designed to instantly soothe and protect dry, sensitive skin for 36 hours. It's fast-absorbing and super-hydrating so you can apply it and get on with your day (they know we've got lots of other things to do!). Since it's made for sensitive skin, it's even gentle enough to use on the kids--so it's definitely a staple to have in the house. Learn more about this moisturizer or some of the other great Jergens products at www.jergens.com. Or try it yourself at a food, drug or mass retailer in your neighborhood.

father's day: travel light

For guys who are always on the go, this compact travel kit will save time otherwise spent on refilling travel bottles or searching for products in their miniature form. The rich shave cream features a blend of absinthe extract, jojoba oil, vitamin E, active aloe, and pro-vitamin B5 to help the razor glide over skin and ensure a close shave. It also soothes skin and protects it from irritation. The light-textured aftershave balm features marigold and ginseng to soothe and comfort skin after shaving. The toning and hair strengthening shampoo, with magnesium and wheat protein, the juniper and rum shower gel, and the ruscus and chestnut eye cream make up all the necessities of a daily skin care routine. Metrosexual or not, it's a gift he won't be able to do without. Available at www.sephora.com and Korres Natural Products stores in New York City.

father's day: ready for your close up?

Need a great Father's Day gift? Take a cue from Hollywood's leading men and give your guy some of these cutting-edge products from Dermalogica's Shave line. Professional makeup artists like three-time Academy Award-winning Ve Neill recently used Shave on Academy Award-winners Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx, leading men in the new Universal Pictures release, “The Soloist,” to get their skin camera ready. The products include Close Shave Oil, Daily Defense Block SPF 15, Invigorating Shave Gel, Post-Shave Balm, Pre-Shave Guard and Soothing Shave Cream. A key ingredient for any successful film or TV production, Dermalogica's Industry Insider program gives instructors an opportunity to consult on-set with studio makeup departments to discuss the specific demands and needs of a particular project, then partner with the makeup artists to create a personalized treatment plan for principal cast members. But Dermalogica is also available for the non-thespians among us in select skin care centers on the recommendation of a qualified professional skin therapist in addition to the brand’s concept spaces in Santa Monica, CA; New York, NY; London, England; Berlin, Germany; Auckland, New Zealand; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Mumbai, India. To learn more about Dermalogica® and the brand’s concept spaces, please visit www.dermalogica.com.

share the gift of caring with Curél

I know about dry skin. In fact, I douse myself in ultra-thick moisturizing creams religiously as part of my nighttime beauty regimen. I am constantly trying to soothe and smooth rough elbows, knees, hands and feet. So when Curél came out with limited-edition Continuous Comfort Moisture Lotion for Dry Skin with time-released moisturizers ($8 at drugstores nationwide--it features the iconic Red Cross symbol), I just had to have some. Designed to hydrate and relieve skin for 24 hours, the non-greasy formula absorbs quickly, doesn't clog pores and is dermatologist recommended. Plus, it smells great!

Through its ongoing support of the American Red Cross, Curél goes beyond skin’s surface to nurture the people who need care the most, donating funds to the organization that helps heal communities in times of crisis. Collaborating for the second time, Cynthia Nixon and Curél are proud to launch the “Share the Gift of Caring” campaign in support of the American Red Cross. Log on to www.curel.com to dedicate a portion of Curél’s donation to someone you love, then encourage them to share the gift of caring by doing the same!

The American Red Cross has donated $250,000 and plans to donate $10,000 more. And you can click on the website to donate $1 of that $10,000 in a friend’s name. Your friend will receive a message from Curél letting her know that you care, and she will be invited to share the gift of sharing with someone else—creating a chain of donations from the Curél brand on behalf of real people across the United States.

A great gift and an amazing product for a superb cause--plus you get silky, smooth skin in the process!

come clean

Most of us remember our teenage years as being a really fun time in our lives. Parties, proms, getting our driver's licenses... But some teens are faced with one of the biggest obstacles during this time--breakouts. There are plenty of treatment options on the market but many contain harsh ingredients that can strip skin of its natural oils, which can cause breakouts and increase oil production. Definitely a vicious cycle! Dermalogica comes to the rescue with Clean Start, a complete line of skincare products designed to address the needs of teenage skin (even the package design is pretty clean!) Wash Off (a foaming cleanser; $20), All Over Clear (a refreshing toner; $18), Ready, Set, Scrub (a mask/scrub in one; $21) , Welcome Matte SPF 15 (a lightweight lotion that eliminates shine without drying skin or clogging pores; $24), Brighten Up SPF 15 (a lotion/UV shield that gives you a natural tint and subtle shimmer for an all-day glow; $24), Bedtime for Breakouts (an overnight treatment that purifies, exfoliates and clears skin; $22), Hit the Spot (a concentrated blemish treatment; $22), Smart Mouth Lip Shine (shine without stickiness; $16) and the Clean Start Kit (five mini-sized products; $35). In addition to clearing up your skin, Dermalogica has helped clear the way for some pretty dedicated teen artists. The brand has partnered with Inner City Filmmakers (ICF), a Los Angeles-based mentoring program that offers urban teens creative, educational and professional opportunities through all aspects of filmmaking. ICF produced the video that launched these new products, showcasing the talents of this creative group. Go to www.cleanstart.dermalogica.com to learn more or click on www.ulta.com to stock up now.

the whole package

My kids always try to steal my makeup. They love opening the packaging, playing with the tubs and tubes, and trying to squeeze or scoop out the product. I try to keep my favorite finds out of sight but Paul & Joe Beaute isn't making it easy. The company just introduced a limited edition Disney collection featuring pampering products in packages that feature your favorite Disney characters--sure to attract both the young and the young at heart.

Dust on Face Color B. ($36), a soft, shimmer highlighter, on cheeks with the accompanying powder puff. It comes in classical pink (featuring Flower) and fantasy orange (featuring Bambi). Slick your lips with the Milky Lip Treatment ($18; featuring Marie the Cat from the Aristocats) in a flirty pink shade for a dose of moisture and a hint of color. And smooth your hands with Protective Hand Cream (featuring Lady and the Tramp), an orange-flower scented cream that locks in moisture and protects your skin ($24).

Designed by Parisian Sophie Albou, Paul & Joe was originally started as a men's fashion line named after her two sons. She added a women's fashion line, then a beauty collection to make up the creative assortment it is today. The product lineup consists of foundations, powders, concealers, lipsticks, glosses and liners, blush, eye color, mascara, eye liner, brow liner, pencil and powder, nail color and treatment products, skin care, fragrance, brushes, and other makeup tools. All of the products are innovative, inspiring, complimentary and fun, and come in feel-good illustrative packaging.

Says Albou: "It's about having fun. I don't ask for advice; I just have things I love!" Go to www.primpingparleur.com to make your purchase.