Necklace and Earrings You're Sure to Love

The last of this season's NEW items, adorable!

Two Tone Layered Chain Necklace, $17.00

Sunburst Earrings, $10.00

G-Star Launches Motor 5620

G-Star Elwood may have been born 15 years ago, but today G-Star is making room for Motor 5620.  Inspired by the original Elwood, Motor 5620 is a tough yet super feminine collection that traces back to the motorcyclist inspiration of the original G-Star Elwood, creating a female biker look for summer.

HOT leather pieces are included in the collection like the dark navy mini Motor 5620 Short and the milk-coloured, fitted Motor 5620 Vest.  The specialized denim collection features refined details in every inch, including distinctive G-Star Elwood styling cues and recurring visual motifs such as 'v-shaped' details on pockets and cornelli-stitched '96' on arms and legs.  Happy shopping ladies!

Get Bronzed! Makeup Pro Brett Freedman Shows Us How!

I adore the below video from celeb makeup artist Brett Freedman, teaching us how to get properly bronzed skin using starlet Jenny Mollen as our demo.  Gorgeous!



Don't have time to watch the clip? Here is the cliff notes version of what Brett recommends:

The most important step to getting a bronzed makeup look is prepping the skin! Start by applying your favorite tinted moisturizer or foundation and set it with a loose or pressed powder in your skin color. Brett loves MAC's Mineralize for it's sheer coverage. The powder stops the skin from grabbing the too-dark bronzing color.

Next, use a fluffy brush to apply your bronzer (Brett uses Elizabeth Arden Bronze Glow Pure Finish Mineral Bronzing Powder), starting at the jaw line, working your way up. Watch as your whole face warms up and immediately looks more alive!

Bonus tip: make sure you get the neck! Use Vanitymark's SUMMERSKIN on your chest, shoulders, and neck right up to the jaw line for an all over matching, bronzed color.

Getting a gorgeous bronzed glow has never been so simple!

Relief for Post-Sun Skin

Whether you're a sun-bather or not, the liklihood of a sunburn obviously increases during the summer months.  Prepare for the "worst" with Pomega5's Healing Cream, minimizing post-sun damage featuring Pomegranate Seed Oil which reduces redness from burning and promotes cell renewal and regeneration for fried skin cells, to help reverse the damage done.

Created by Pomega 5 founder Tzeira Sofer to comfort her own sensitive skin, Pomega5 Healing Cream is created in small batches, ensuring the highest quality and also contains the following:

- Calendula Oil: an anti-inflammatory agent to heal burns and soothe pain.
- Carrot Seed Oil: maintains skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles and firm skin.
- Grape Seed Oil: boosts collagen
- Shea Butter: nourishes and protects

Pomega5 Healing Cream retails for $70 at Pomega5.com, Blissworld.com and at Bliss Spas in New York and California.

Brett Freedman's Melt-Proof Makeup Tips

I love summer, but I hate when the hot humid temps ruin my freshly applied makeup.  Below, celeb makeup artist Brett Freedman shares his tips and tricks for melt-proof makeup that beats the heat!

SKIN: Use your favorite self tanner at night, and wake up with a little glow that won’t sweat or rub off! Slather it on to hide imperfections. If your worried about too much color payoff, mix your self tanner with a moisturizer for a little bit of color. And don’t forget your neck!
TRY: Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer

FACE:  Add a drop of aloe to your foundation. The new formula you’ve created will thin out and adds just a tint of color and enough coverage, perfect for the summer.
TRY: Lorac Natural Performance Foundation

BROWS: Swap out your brow pencil or powder for a tinted gel. A tint will still darken your brows for a stand-out look with staying power, unlike a pencil.
TRY: Vanitymark Brow Glazes

EYES: Go lighter on your lids by sweeping on your favorite shimmer shadow with a damp brush. Wetting the shadow will change its consistency to a cream for a nice glaze that just stains the eye but will last longer than a powder.
TRY: MAC Honey Lust Eye Shadow

LIPS: A lip stain works best in warmer weather. Start with a lip balm to make your lip color more vivid, and follow up with a bright stain shade. You can still apply your favorite shimmery lip gloss over but once it wears off, you’ll still have a tint of color.
TRY: Vanitymark Dr. KISS; Relvon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm

Must-Have Makeup Kits from Sephora!

Just in time for summer!

Sephora Favorites In The Glow, $35 (retail value $110)


Illuminate your complexion with seven of Sephora’s top-selling radiance boosters! The Sephora Favorites In The Glow kit includes a selection of exfoliators, luminizers and a bronzing cream that will give skin a healthy, glowing finish, including:


* Tarte Smooth Operator™ Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum
* Clarins Delicious Self-Tanning Cream
* Kate Sommerville® ExfoliKate®
* Boscia Luminizing Black Mask
* Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation SPF 30
* Ole Henriksen Truth Serum™
* Josie Maran Argan Oil

Sephora Favorites All Eye Need, $35 (retail value $164)

They say eyes are the windows to the soul so let yours shine with the Sephora Favorites All Eye Need set. This eight-piece kit includes treatment products to cleanse and revitalize delicate skin and liners and mascaras to define the eyes and enhance lashes.


* Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
* Fusion Beauty Lash Fusion XL™ Micro-Technology™ Instant Lash Volumizer
* Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift™ Eye Gel
* Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically-Proven Lash Enhancing Primer
* Sephora Collection Nano Eyeliner in Midnight Black
* Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For™ Platinum
* Murad Eye Lift Illuminator
* Philosophy Eye Hope™ Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Kelly Rutherford in Bruno Cucinelli

Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford attended the VIP launch celebration for ITC’s Shop Italy NYC at Centre 548 in Chelsea on Tuesday night.  Surrounded by all things Italian, the actress, who spoke at the event’s press reception about her love of Italian fashion, wore an olive-colored dress by her favorite designer, announcing, “Thank goodness Gossip Girl got picked up for a fifth season so I can continue buying Bruno Cucinelli clothes!” After her speech, Kelly posed for photos and mingled with guests as they sipped cocktails courtesy of iconic Italian brand MARTINI.

Sneak Peak: Try Shop It To Me's "On the Lookout!"

If you love Shop It To Me as much as we do, you'll also be excited to hear about their newest feature - On The Lookout!  Simply let the fashionistas at Shop It To Me know what it is you're lusting after (wedges, designer jeans, maxi dresses, etc.) and they'll send you personalized matches in your Sailmail alerts!  Change your Lookout request at anytime.

Initially, just a handful of fans are able to try this and if you'd like to be one of them, follow this link: www.shopittome.com/lookout/trendsetter

As Shop It To Me works out the kinks with new feature, they would love your feedback...let them know your thoughts at stylist@shopittome.com!

Happy Shopping!

The Signs of Aging and What to do About It - Tips for All Ages!

Remember when the future was just that, the future.  And although people told us it was inevitable we'd get there, did we really believe them?

Yet here we are, welcome to our future which unfortunately includes all the things we were warned about, like fine lines, sagging and wrinkles!  Leading NYC plastic surgeon Dr. Gerald Imber knows all about aging skin.  In his book, The New Youth Corridor, Dr. Imber tells us all what to expect as you age and essential tips for daily skincare.  While the book breaks it down, here are the highlights:

TWENTY-FIVE

The State of your Skin:  Though there are no outward signs like wrinkles or lines, collagen and elastin are already damaged.  

Antioxidant serum, sunscreen and moisturizers with AHA are your most important tools.  Add a skin brightener to your morning skincare routine.

Begin weight stabilization.   Eat foods with antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids.  Start taking 1,000 milligrams of Vitamin C.  Develop a vigorous, low impact exercise routine that includes weight training.

THIRTY-FIVE  to FORTY-FIVE

The State of your Skin:   Fine lines and nasolabial folds become visible and deeper.    Excess skin of the upper eyelids will appear and the lower lid area will become puffier more often.   Fullness in the lower face and early loss of elasticity is apparent causing loosening of the jaw line and below.

Add an eye cream to your morning routine and an enriched eye cream at night.  Add tretinoin before your eye cream at night at a 3 weeks on, one week off interval.

Periodic AHA peels or microdermabrasion will help restore skin clarity and reduce fine lines; TCA peels or laser resurfacing will help with significant wrinkles and/or dark circles; fillers may be appropriate if smile or frown lines persist; fat transfers will treat the deepening nasolabial folds; softening of the jaw line should be treated with microsuction before the problem escalates and puffiness of lower the eyelid area can be corrected with subjunctival blepharoplasty.

Maintain control of good nutrition - this is not a time to experiment.  Abandon running, other than short-distance warm-ups.

FORTY-FIVE  to FIFTY-FIVE

The State of your Skin:    Loose skin, deeper lines, fat pockets appear outside the corners of the mouth, cheekbones become masked and skin of the neck does not bounce back.  

Schedule regular professional skin care - AHA peels, microdermobrasion and superficial laser resurfacing.  Fillers or fat transfers are necessary.

The need for surgical intervention increases.  Common procedures for this age group include: eyelid surgery; cutting of corrugator muscles to get rid of vertical frown lines; and a limited-incision face-lift to significantly reverses nasolabial folds, lift and tighten cheeks and rejuvenate the jaw line and upper neck.

Weight gain at this juncture would result in irreversible stretching of skin.   Add a calcium supplement and 400 IU of vitamin D.  Force yourself to exercise.  This is a very important period.

SIXTY and BEYOND

The State of your Skin:   More of the same.  It gets worse, but you can intervene and roll back the clock at any stage.   Thinning, wrinkled skin becomes more problematic.  

Wrinkled cheeks and chicken skin on the neck respond well to antioxidants, laser resurfacing and facial surgery.

Traditional face and neck lift are often needed.

New Accessories and Basketball Wives star Jennifer Williams All at 24-7 Style!

Be sure to check out 24-7 Style this week - new accessories are in and great articles are ready to be read!  One of our favorites is this Large Gem Cuff for $49.50.  The dyed jade  is perfect for the season, agree?  You also will not want to miss our Q&A with Jennifer Williams, one of the stars of VH1's Basketball Wives. 

Brett Freedman's Faves for Summer

If you don't have time to watch the video, check the list below:

Josie Maran Argan Oil - It's 100% pure argan oil, with no parabens or fillers and moisturizes like a dry oil. It goes on really sheer and finely diffuses into the skin! Brett uses this around the eyes and mouth to bring hydration back into the skin. Mix it with a drop of foundation or your regular moisturizer to reinvigorate the skin, or use it at night for a moisture boost.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara - This mascara amazes in just one coat! It spreads beautifully, gives lashes great texture, and dries in no time. For a more dramatic, lash-popping look, apply 2-3 coats. Lashes will look thicker and longer, forcing people to ask the question, are those real??

Elizabeth Arden Sheer Lipstick - Bright lips like we've seen on Drew Barrymore and Camilla Belle are hot, hot, hot right now. But gals afraid to go bold with color will love these sheer lipsticks! They're not as waxy or pigmented like regular lipstick formulas but still give a pop of buildable color in a very modern way.

A Better Way to Bake - Edible Haven Organic Coconut Line

With so many food options in the market these days, how do you know you're making  a smart choice when it comes to the products you're putting into your body?  For example, "Fat Free" many times means additional additives or preservatives have been included in the attempt to make it taste up to par.

If you're concerned about the above question, or just wanting to adapt a healthier lifestyle, you'll love Edible Haven, a California based organic company providing high quality Virgin Coconut Oil, Coconut Sugar, and Coconut Flour - healthier alternatives to your typical ingredients.  

If you're like me and have a sweet tooth, this is wonderful news!  I get along incredibly well with dessert, so, when provided with Edible Haven's Organic Coconut Sugar I put it to the test with one of my all time favorites - peanut butter cookies.  They came out fabulous!  I didn't miss my regular cane sugar at all, although, I did sprinkle the tops with the old stuff.  I wanted to sweeten my sun tea with the remainder of the Coconut Sugar which also tasted divine.

Before I share the delish recipe some facts about Organic Coconut Sugar: its Glycemic Index is only 35 (can sugar is around 50), making it a great alternative sweetener for diabetics!  Organic Coconut Sugar is also considered to be the best sweetener substitute and of course, has no preservatives.

Now for the good stuff...a healthier option for the peanut butter cookie junkie!

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

2/3 c butter
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 c Organic Coconut Sugar
1/4 c honey
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 c Organic Coconut Flour (coming soon!  I used regular flour.)
granulated sugar for tops of cookies

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and peanut butter for 30 seconds on high speed.  Add sugar, honey baking soda and baking powder.  Beat till combined scraping sides of bowl occassionally.  Beat in the egg and vanilla.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with mixer and stir in remaining flour.  

Shape dough into equal sized balls (typically 1-3" in diameter) and flatten by making criss-cross marks with the tines of a fork.  Sprinkle with sugar.   

Bake at 375° for 7 to 9 minutes or until bottoms are lightly brown.  Enjoy!

Just in Time for Summer - Stussy for Keds!

If you're a fan of Keds and the amazing collaborations they've done in recent years, you won't want to miss their collaboration with Stussy, available now!  Available in black, natural or red in Stussy stores and online at Keds.com for $65.  The espadrille-like sole is truly a summer staple and adorable on a pair of Keds!

While we're smitten with the Stussy x Keds Champion , admittedly, we're also in love with the Champion Patchwork Slip On's.  When did Keds become so cool?

The Squeeze is On: Daily Squeeze All Day Hand and Body Lotion

If you live in the NYC area, you're no doubt familiar with VERVE Medical Aestthetics®, a premier non-surgical cosmetics and anti-aging treatment center.  And now, regardless of your address, you can get in on the fun!  With their recent line of age-defiant beauty products launching on FuturisticBeauty.com, you're now able to soak up every last benefit of the medical grade skincare line.

First up for review, Verve Daily Squeeze All Day Hand & Body Lotion, which due to a slight obsession with lotion, I was blissfully excited about receiving.  Providing moisture to skin ALL day it also provides relief from itchy or dry skin...especially after being exposed to too much of the three summer "s's" - sun, salt water and sand.  I had been slathering it on for several days when Memorial Day weekend rolled around and I somehow got a burn...I couldn't tell you the last time I had a sunburn and I wisely decided to put the Daily Squeeze to the test. 

Even though I hadn't burned in ages, I do remember trying to soothe my searing skin, or at least keep it mildly hydrated after the fact.  I also remember how the majority of the time, putting lotion on a sunburn is like pouring salt in the proverbial wound.  It's greasy and irritating and you end up peeling anyways.  Not so with Daily Squeeze - it's not the least bit greasy, goes on silky smooth, and now nearly a week after the fact there are no signs of an impending peel!

Daily Squeeze All Day Hand and Body Lotion is just one product in the dry skin line, which also includes Green Tea Anti-Oxidant Moisturizing Lotion and Solar Shield SPF 30 and retails for $15 for an 8 oz. bottle.  The lightly non-annoying scented lotion is best for normal to dry sensitive skin, and, if you're planning on being on the beach or anywhere else in the sun, it gets high recommendations from this girl!

Stay lovely!

DIY Hair from Paul Cucinello

Bring it on summer!  The heat and humidity that tend to rob our locks of their typical luster are no match for Paul Cucinello, Creative Director and Celeb hairstylist at the swanky Chris Chase Salon in Chelsea.  Below, he reveals some easy DIY looks that will have women everywhere sporting their best summer styles ever!

When In Doubt, Bling It Out!

Not having a good hair day? Not to worry! Get a chic, foolproof hairdo in seconds by using a sparkly hair accessory as seen here on Nicole Richie. Vintage brooches, headpieces and barrettes have been seen on celebs everywhere to add a little dazzle to their locks. The simpler the hair style, the more creative and fun your hair jewelry can be.

Dare to Bare It All With A Short, Sexy Cut

Beat the heat this summer and go for a daring, short pixie hair cut like Ginnifer Goodwin and Michelle Williams. Have your stylist leave more length on the top and texture on the ends. Use a blow dry crème such as ECRU New York Marine Styling Balm to reduce volume, then run a mini flat iron throughout the length of the top and finish with a pomade such as New York Streets Paste.

 

 

 

Giddy Up With An Equestrian-Inspired Pony

Add glamour to an everyday low ponytail like Lauren Conrad by parting hair on the far left or far right side of the head. Ponytails paired with a deep side part can be elegant and sleek or causal and flirty, depending on how the ponytail is styled. To create this look, start by running a fine tooth comb in an upward diagonal motion a few inches above the ear. Divide hair based on the part and set it with hairspray such as ECRU New York Sunlight Finishing Spray MAX. Pull hair into a low, equestrian ponytail, being careful to maintain the part.

Where’s the Beach?

To create soft waves with a beachy texture and straight ends like Beyonce’s, first prep damp hair with a foundation mist such as ECRU New York Silk Nourishing Spray. Loosely French braid or twist hair to the side, working around the hair line. Be sure to leave the crown out and loosely braid the length of the hair leaving the ends out. Once hair is dry, undo the braids and shake out hair. Finish with a couple of blasts of dry shampoo such as Oribe Dry Volume Spray to give it that perfectly imperfect look.

 

 

Go Laidback With a Loose Bun

To create a soft, low bun like Amy Smart’s, use invisible elastics or a couple of hair pins that match your hair color. Use a combination of Oribe Dry Volume Hair Spray and ECRU New York Sunlight Holding Spray to complete the look. If you want to dress up this laid back look, you can adorn your bun by adding a vintage brooch or a beautiful comb – something with a little bling, but not too over the top.