Last Minute Party Prep

Between work, holiday parties and all the other end-of-the-year obligations, it's nearly impossible to squeeze any pampering into your jampacked schedule. Luckily, these great at-home treatments get you looking glam & gorgeous...all without leaving your house (or apartment)!

Touch up on-the-go with this amazing Trish McEvoy Mobile Beauty Emergency kit. The all-in-one compact is portable, classic quilted pouch that doubles as an ingenious phone case with a sleek, hidden compartment containing Trish’s Mobile Beauty Emergency Card, a makeup palette of touch-up necessities and two tote-able applicator brushes. $68 at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and select Nordstrom stores.

Score bright, pearly whites in under an hour with Luster’s 1 Hour White kit! 1 Hour White is the only over-the-counter whitening product proven not to cause tooth sensitivity… go ahead and take an hour to whiten teeth 6 shades before heading out to the hottest soirees. $39.99 at CVS, Duane Reade Rite Aid, Walgreens nationwide.


Treat Stressed tresses to Keratin Complex’s Infusion Replenisher: Your hair will be manageable, smooth, sexy and easier to style…so you can give yourself the perfect blow out without the time and expense of heading to a salon! $40, keratincomplex.com

Awaiting Autumn

I don’t know about you, but after the insane heat wave in NYC this summer, I’m definitely ready for fall. And I’m also ready for some new autumn-themed products!

My first must-have find of the season—Warm Pumpkin Bread Body Scrub by Crater Lake Company. The scent is jaw-droppingly delicious; it’s exactly like its namesake! And when you use it, it gets even better—pure white cane sugar and pumpkin flakes combine to get rid of dead skin, leaving your body smooth, hydrated and smelling great. You’ll be counting the days until Thanksgiving!



To snag a jar of your own, visit available for $19.95 at craterlakecompany.com this fall.

-- Mackenzie Walton

Beautify Your Brows...for FREE!

If you're in the New York City area, you won't want to miss this special event: Eyebrow Intervention Day!

On Thursday June 17th, score a FREE shaping at the RAMY Makeup & Eyebrow Bar at select Duane Reade boutiques from 11AM - 7 PM. You can call ahead to set up your appointment or just walk in, but no matter what, you'll score the $30 appointment for FREE!

Ramy is a makeup and beauty pro to the stars--his clients have trend-setting Rihanna herself! Learn more about his amazing products via Ramy.com.

*Crystal Fenton

Braids and Carrie & Co. are Back!

Are you as excited as I am for the Sex and the City 2 movie ? I'm lucky enough to be sneaking a peek at a screening tonight, and even luckier, because last night I got the chance to attend the amazing Patricia Field's House of Field Eyewear, Swimwear and Beach Towels collection on the beautiful rooftop at 230 Fifth Avenue. The weather and tree-adorned setting were perfect for the funky bash, which was also Sex and the City themed! Naturally, I had to head backstage to check out the futuristic fishtail braids super stylist Rodney Cutler for Cutler/Redken was cooking up.

“The high fishtail braid is a fun evening looking and very wearable," says the pro. "We've seen so many buns up top and this is just taking it one step further."

Here's how you can rock the look:
*Prep hair with Redken align 12 protective straightening lotion and blow-dry with a medium brush.
*Next, gather into a high ponytail on the very top of the head, about three inches from the hair line and secure with an elastic.
*Wrap a small piece of hair around the elastic; secure with a bobby pin.
*Weave a fish-tail braid***down to the end of the hair; pin in upon itself right at the hairline.
*The look was finished with Redken vinyl glam 02 mega shine spray and Redken forceful 23 super strength finishing spray for extra strong hold.

***Create the perfect fishtail:

1) Split the hair to be braided into two equal sections

2) Pull a small strand of hair from the left section and add it to the right section

3) Then, pull a small strand of hair from the right section and add it to the left

4) That will create a small X

5) Repeat until all the hair is used

6) Secure with a clear plastic band

Photos: Charles Sykes for Redken
**Crystal Fenton

Best in Brows

I recently had the pleasure of meeting eyebrow and makeup expert Ramy, who I've been curious about for ages. Not only did the brow guru do an amazing job on my over-threaded arches, he was kind enough to share some of his must-have picks from his Ramy Beauty Therapy collection (see my blackberry-snapped pic above).

*Elixir Skin Conditioning Primer: It reduces redness, dryness and puffiness for smooth, super-soft skin.
*Perfect Brow Wand: The double-duty gel pen perfects your brows by pairing a brow filler on one end, with a highlighter on the opposite.
*Alive! Blush: This long-wearing blush brings your skin to life and can even be worn as a shadow.


Best of all, you can score FREE eyebrow shaping ($30 value) during the Ramy Eyebrow Bar Eyebrow Intervention Day on June 17th!!! If you're in the New York City area or plan to be that day, head to one of three Duane Reade LOOK boutiques to get your brows sculpted by a pro! Available locations include: Eighth Avenue, Between 16th & 17th Streets, 212-929-0650; 1350 Broadway at 35th Street, 212-695-6346; 51 West 51st Street at 6th Avenue, 212-582-8525.

**Crystal Fenton

Ali's Bachelorette Makeover!

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I am a Reality TV addict...and I'm super excited for the new season of The Bachelorette with Ali Fedotowsky airing tonight on ABC. While perusing the internet this morning, I noticed Ali's hair looking incredible, so I headed straight to the source--the Gavert Atelier Salon--to get the scoop.

According the lovely folks over at the salon, Ali visited them not once, but twice (!), this past week! First, she headed over on Wednesday to receive a color treatment by Stuart Gavert along with a dry cut and style by Mika Fowler. Turns out, she was so pleased with her treatments, she opted to come back on Saturday to have Great Lengths extensions put in...she looks fabulous!

You can find the Gavert Atelier Salon in Beverly Hills, CA. Check out their website at gavertatelier.com or follow them on twitter @gavertatelier

**Crystal Fenton

Photos by Paul Andrew Dunker

Sweet Cream

Like a lot of people, I’m a sucker for good packaging, so it’s no surprise that Urban Rituelle’s Ginger Apple Butter Cream caught my eye; it comes in a pretty, ultra-girlie flowered box, complete with a ribbon handle. And in this case, you can totally judge a book by its cover—the butter cream inside is amazing too!

A mix of shea butter, jojoba and macadamia and avocado oils, it’s incredibly rich and moisturizing. But the best part is the scent—delicious green apple mixed with spicy ginger and sweet lily blossoms. It’s light, fresh and perfect for warm, sunny days!

Urban Rituelle Butter Cream retails for $20. To find out more, visit urbanrituelle.com.

-- Mackenzie Walton