Class is Now In Session

Welcome back. As a continuation of the healthy Paleo diet, today we are exploring smoothies and conducting an investigation on The Original Smooth-Talker.

The Best-Laid Plans

Even the best-laid plans will be derailed if your food doesn’t taste good, or if it’s not convenient to execute your goals.

For a quick meal or great snack option you can always reach for a nutritious home-blended shake.

All About Smoothies and The Original Smooth-Talker

Alive with moist mouthfeel, and lots of flavor, the at-home smoothie can make the perfect breakfast or nightcap.

Beware the pitfalls of pit stops like Jamba Juice. Purveyors of seemingly healthy, ‘nutritious’ fast food are often deceptive.

The convenience is tempting but nutritionally nullified by evil sugar-laden juices, among other things, that actually sabotage the healthy lifestyle they impersonate.

You need a shake that is high-fat, with lots of quality protein, and low in carbs and sugar, exactly opposite of what you will find at a place like Jamba Juice.

Believe it or not, you want 50-70% of your shake calories coming from a good fat source. This will make a super-creamy concoction with a desirable texture.

It must be high in fat, with no added sugar. Remember that eating fat will not make you fat. The human body needs healthy fats. They will satisfy and satiate you and provide lasting energy. Your fats can be coconut milk, nut butters, avocado or a combination of these. You should really check out Mark Sisson’s five smoothie recipes on his website devoted to healthy life choices, especially diet and exercise, called Mark’s Daily Apple. Here I will include a few of my favorites.

Tastes Like Nirvana

Coconut milk, almond butter and cocoa powder are an amazing mixture. I had one this morning, and it’s nothing short of decadent.

Coconut milk alone is rich, heavy and velvety. It’s like a glass of heaven. High in heart-healthy fats, it makes a great base for smoothies, and is extremely low in sugar and carbohydrates. Shake the can really well before you open your coconut milk, because it does separate, and make sure to buy the full-fat variety of coconut milk. You want it nice and smooth and creamy for best results.

Add to that some cocoa powder and protein-rich almond butter, ice, and give it a whirl. Almond butter provides both protein and an additional fat source, and in this shake gives the mixture a unique, earthy flavor not unlike a coffee confection.

Cool and rich, this shake comes out with a texture thick and fluffy yet dense, similar to a loose whipped cream.

I sweeten mine with liquid stevia. Stevia, remember, is an all-natural herbal supplement that is incredibly sweet and pure-tasting. It has zero calories, zero carbs, and scores zero on the glycemic index–making it a perfect choice for diabetics.

The result is positively luscious with a complex melange of deep flavors, and it tastes much better than a chocolate-coffee-peanut butter shake from the ice cream shop.

I Think We Have A Big Misunderstanding

You might wonder why peanut butter would not be used in such a shake. Peanut butter, an American staple, contrary to public opinion, is not a patriotic protein. Even organic peanut butter, without added sugars and hydrogenated oils, is a food faux pas.

Peanuts are the least nutritious nut. In fact, did you know that they aren’t really classified as a nut? They’re technically a legume, and carry a lot of issues with regard to food allergies.

Another misunderstood food player in the Paleo way is the avocado. Long-considered a vegetable, the avocado is actually a fruit. Rich in vitamin E, avocado is a nutrient-dense food that’s great for your skin, especially in the winter months, and it acts as a ‘booster’ by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble skin-nurturing nutrients that are available in the other foods you eat. Avocados are great for your heart as well, because they contain both monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Gone Green

Using the avocado in your home-made smoothie is easy as pie, without the awful aftermath to your torso. Coconut-avocado is a divine experience. It may sound odd, but avocado, when mixed with coconut milk, takes on a unique sweet-savory that I can only describe as mmmm.

The Spicy Tomato recipe from Mark’s website, also with an avocado base, is more heaven-in-a-glass. It’s like drinking the richest spiciest guacamole you can imagine.

Food Predators: The Original Smooth-Talker

Repetition is often repetitive, and maybe you’ve forgotten, but we have already touched on the Food Predators–sugar, grains, gluten and processed foods–the counterfeit offerings found in your convenience stores, grocery and many so-called healthy establishments like Jamba Juice.

They’re a real Smooth-Talker. But do not confuse them with a genuine, healthy, real food item.

The Original Smooth-Talker would be your juices–both fruit, and vegetable–energy boosters, soy powder, dairy. An offering from Jamba Juice and its ilk is simply a sugarcoma in styrofoam. ‘Live fruitfully’ is their motto. Pardon me while I laugh. It should really be ‘Diabetes in Disguise.’

These foods deserve an Oscar for Best Actor, because in reality, they’re doing a good job at acting important, yet they’re devoid of redeeming value.

In fact, lectins, little known to the public at large, are the common natural agents found in many foods like grains, beans and legumes–especially soy–that actually rob you of the ability to digest nutrients.

Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint, describes lectins as “the cloaked thugs of the anti-nutrient underworld,” and considers them extremely dangerous.

These healthy-looking foods prey on the public, representing themselves as your friend, when in reality they’re just a cart full of killers who hide behind specious food labels and a do-good image.

Eating Your Own Words: Turning the Table on Your Enemies

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. By that, I mean, understand the Food Predators. They don’t like you at all, but they pretend they do. It’s funny, isn’t it, the irony being that they can never satisfy you. Sugar will release an endorphin response that makes you feel better temporarily, but it is very short-lived. It’s not fulfilling, and half the time it doesn’t even taste good. You just give in to temptation, and before you know it, you’ve made a huge mistake that you’re going to have to live with for a while.

I don’t even crave junk food anymore. Those foods used to be tempting, and I didn’t even care that they were bad for me, I just wanted them. But with the many delectable options available in the Paleo diet, you simply don’t need unhealthy foods.

You must be realistic and realize consequences. After you’re finished with these toxic foods, you’re just going to feel worse. They will make you sick, give you a disease, if you let them, and ultimately, they will kill you. That, my friend, is not an overstatement.

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

Food Predators are a bad enemy to have. But together, we are more powerful. They can’t hurt you now.

You see, the informed public drives commerce, and if you take a vote by refusing to financially support these evil foods, they will shrivel up and die. They’re powerless against you.

Trust me when I tell you that they’re all working together to keep you sick and fat.

Can you imagine what would happen to them if these food criminals were exposed for what they really are?

Walk away from them, and leave them standing where they are. They don’t deserve you; say goodbye. If you ignore them long enough they will cease to be a part of your dietary vocabulary.

Please, Come Again

We still have a lot to learn. Meet me back here next Friday as we advance upon The Vicious Circle–the treacherous clan of fraudulent Food Predators to watch out for and avoid at all costs. I’ll expose the ‘Cart Full of Killers’ for who they really are–I’ll even name names–and discuss the concept of Moderation. Strap up cuz it’s going to be a long ride. We’re not done yet.

Regret, Revenge, And Other Things That Begin With the Letter R

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and although Red would seem to be an appropriate color for the occasion, we’d prefer that it wasn’t a part of our skin.

There’s usually nothing fun about being caught red-handed. Aside from looking bad, redness means inflammation. It’s not a good sign. The tight, chapped, raw feeling that accompanies red hands can render the process of hand-washing unbearable.

And if you struggle with brown spots, thinning skin, wrinkles or loss of elasticity on your hands, there’s a remedy for that too.

It’s all in one package, literally. Dermatologists Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields come to the rescue, and in their routine response to public demand they’ve created yet another outstanding anti-aging solution for savvy women of all ages.

If you regret the abuse and neglect that tip your hand to your real age, or if you simply want to prevent damage that you’ll undoubtedly lament later, I recommend Rodan + Fields. Their Anti-Age Hand Treatment bundles the top in technologies for this oft-overlooked area.

I can only describe their two-part regime as a genigma. It’s a word I made up. Part genius, part enigma.

Genius because the science behind it is simply brilliant, and enigma because I can’t understand how it works so fast.

I could seriously go on for hours regurgitating statistics and spitting up science about how and why the products work. But this is neither a term paper, nor a glorified press release.

We all want results and we want them immediately, if not sooner. The two products double team to really deliver, and fast. I recommend using them together.

To Have and To Hold

For beautiful, youthful hands, I cannot get enough of the Brightening Hand Treatment. It penetrates quickly, hydrating and restoring with all the goodies that your skin will love. It makes a tangible difference right away that, like any good woman, only improves with time.

With a pleasingly mild but luscious scent, it leaves you velvety–an unparalleled silkiness and almost matte, powdered finish–due to a key ingredient: corn starch.

I’ve tried a ton of hand creams, and quite frankly, I’ve really never felt anything quite like this. It firms the delicate skin on the hands and transcends mere moisturization.

Rich with emollient butters and the best oils, it also contains urea and hyaluronic acid to bind water to the skin providing sustained results.

To Protect and Defend

The Shield Hand Balm with SPF 30 ensures smart sun protection in a convenient, portable stick form. It’s like a giant Chapstick for your hands. How great is that? You can throw it in your purse or travel bag and reapply any time to only the backsides, without worrying about sticky fingers. It frees your hands up for other, more important things.

The sunscreen stick is anhydrous, meaning, it contains no water, which is critical in its stability and delivery of 4% ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C, a potent skin firmer that also powerfully lightens pigment, if you struggle with brown spots.

In addition, you’ll find the best in peptides courtesy of world-renowned peptide expert Timothy Falla, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at Rodan + Fields.

You may have heard the buzz about peptides. They are short-chain amino acids that signal natural responses in the skin to decrease inflammation and build collagen, among other admirable epidermal things. Considered anti-aging powerhouses, peptides can be found in many Rodan + Fields products, and they use them generously.

Getting the Red Out

Both the hand treatment and the SPF contain optical brighteners to instantly reduce redness and minimize the appearance of veins, making immediate gratification, in this case, a good thing.

The new Rodan + Fields Anti-Age Hand Treatment Regime is a rarity, applying elegant yet serious skincare science, once reserved for face, to other extremely important extremities.

To Honor and Obey

Back to Square One: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It could take 20 years for you to acquire those unsightly brown spots, but they might hang around ’til death do you part. So, don’t forget your gloves. That way, if you choose to leave a mark, at least it will be discreet.

There will always be a soft spot in every girl’s heart for flowers and candy, but flowers die and chocolates don’t last long. While nothing is eternal, for a distinctive and lingering gift for Valentine’s Day or any day, I highly recommend Diptyque (pronounced dip-TEEK).

Famous for their unmistakable luxury candles, Diptyque also has a new line of unisex body products that are bomb–perfect for mom or dad, your girl, your guy, your child, grandparents or a cherished friend. Diptyque has something for everyone, even elegant corporate gifts for the discerning employer.

If you’re into aromatherapy and the powerful transformative possibilities of scent, you simply must spoil your Valentine with something from Diptyque. Trust me, they will love it.

Pure, Paraffin, Pleasure…

The diminutive Diptyque candle smells like nothing you’ve ever experienced, and believe me, you can really smell it. The standard votive boasts a tireless 60 hours of burn time and will undoubtedly outshine its cheaper competitors. It’s a smart choice.

With a Diptyque candle, you get what you pay for. Created using powerful concentrations of only the finest essential oils steeped in pure paraffin, they’re sure to set the mood for a romantic evening. Plus, a Diptyque candle will actually stick around long after Valentine’s Day has ended. Even unlit you can still smell the candle in the room.

You can choose from an endless exquisite bouquet of more than 50, yes fifty scents–that’s an amazing variety–in five categories of flowers, herbs, fruity, woods and spicy, so there’s something for everyone, no matter your preference. It’s a complete collection.

One of my favorite memories is the night I dined at the opening of a Francis Ford Coppola restaurant in California, where a flurry of Baies Diptyque candles and their intoxicating aroma seduced me.

Every celebrity is said to have their favorite Diptyque scent, and Coppola’s is Baies. It soon became mine too, and of the many scents to choose from, I still prefer Baies to this day.

Baies, pronounced, simply, ‘Bay,’ is a French term of endearment, meaning sweetie, or some such.

It’s composed of Bulgarian rose with notes of blackcurrant leaves–an irresistible melange of fruit and floral.

Reminiscent of a walk through blooming gardens in Europe, it smells absolutely delicious, and every time I encounter it, after all these years, I’m immediately drawn back to the first time I experienced it–that beautiful balmy night at the restaurant. It’s a powerful testament to the virtues of aromatherapy and memory recall.

The Art of Body Care

Once mistaken as primarily high-end home fragrance, Diptyque recently launched an ambrosial offering of luxury body care products for men and women, known as The Art of Body Care, to complement their lesser-known collection of eaux de toilette which has in fact existed since 1968.

Pick a simple spray or dip into the many tempting products from the line. The Art of Body Care is based on the history of beauty from around the world and includes so many gorgeous things–such as a hand balm from Spain, below, using organic ingredients from that region.

Or their luscious body oil with iris flower from Italy, which can be used wet or dry.

You can put a capful in the tub, or apply it directly on the skin. It’s a very luxurious olive oil and soaks right in so it won’t get on your clothes.

Common Scents That Aren’t So Common

Unlike ordinary synthetic fragrances, the Diptyque scents are inspired by essences commonly found in nature, and all the body products are unisex, so if you buy them for your sweetheart, there’s always the chance you can share.

A beautiful body cream from Istanbul, not Constantinople–lush with myrrh and roses–is a personal favorite of my friend Gregory Costanza, former regional sales manager of the intimate but elegant San Francisco Diptyque boutique.

It may surprise you that a man might enjoy wearing a floral such as rose, but that convention is worn-out. In Europe people are much more liberal with what constitutes a ‘feminine’ fragrance and gender specificity has been replaced by good taste.

The notes of myrrh and roses found in the body cream can be tied over to home fragrance too, making a great candle combination if you care to experiment. Remember, you can customize the Diptyque scents for your home and yourself by choosing any of the fragrance families and combining until you discover what suits you. This is the modern approach to aromatherapy.

A lot of couples come in to share fragrance, which is a great idea if you live near a boutique. The Diptyque staff is very hands-on with their clients. They really aim to please.

Because fragrance is highly personal, you can go to a boutique with your Valentine and identify the scents that you’re attracted to, and then you can coordinate them, together.

But there are only 14 Diptyque boutiques in the world, so if you can’t make it to Paris, London, Doha, Qatar or Dubai, you can call one of the three shops in the United States and let their accommodating, knowledgeable staff guide you on your purchase and educate you on how to burn a candle properly. Believe it or not, there’s an art to that too.

For ultimate convenience, most Diptyque products can come elegantly pre-wrapped, or you can opt to do it yourself.

Fragrance may be simple and straightforward for some people, or infinitely complex and indulgent. Whatever your approach, Diptyque definitely delivers.

Although spotting a lady can be rare nowadays, finding a good mate can be even harder.

Some things never change, and the animal world is no exception. “Animals practice the same sexual rituals we do,” said San Francisco zookeeper Jane Tollini. “We even have homosexual wallabies and lesbian penguins.”

Valentine’s Day, the universal day of love, is two weeks away. As a unique gift for animal-lovers, many zoos are celebrating the sentiment with a voyeuristic glimpse into the mating rituals of our feral friends.

The San Francisco Zoo presents Woo at the Zoo–where erotica meets exotica.

You get to watch a real-live sexual encounter, and Tollini will describe the copulation methods of both predators and prey, at a brunch or dinner event–your choice.

Penguins, she said, like to take their time, engaging in a month of foreplay; lions have sex up to 50 times a day and, while koala bears may seem soft and cuddly, they actually can do some serious damage in a quickie that lasts only 40 seconds.

“Koalas are nasty little creatures that don’t like each other very much,” Tollini said. “It’s a rolling, tumbling thing for them and you have to almost kick them apart or they will kill each other.”

Not surprisingly, rhinoceros foreplay, she said, is the most violent. It can leave the female with deep gashes before the animals lock together for an hour or more.

What a fun and creative way to spend the day with your love, watching and learning about basic animal behavior. It sure breaks up the monotony of ordinary mundane activities; although, I’m sure no one would turn down a thoughtful floral presentation or a box of chocolates.

“I’m Just Visiting The Zoo”
by Dramarama

And I haven’t got a dime
And I haven’t got the time
All the same I’m glad I came
I’m just visiting the zoo
Cuz it makes me think of you
Here’s hoping you can do the same…

Contact your local zoo for the ‘bill affair.’

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Want beauty? It’s free, and worth it. Just enter your email below, and Igotchu.

Nature gives you the face you have at 20.
Life shapes the face you have at 30.
But at 50 you get the face you deserve.

– Coco Chanel

That was then, this is now. Today we have a rich source of potent anti-agers at our fingertips that keep women looking amazing from head to toe during the prime of their lives–and beyond.

Join me as I unroot the best-kept secrets of anti-aging, including products in a wide range of prices, like serums, masks, lip balms and hand creams, in addition to non-invasive procedures and lifestyle choices that may seem insignificant, but make a most profound difference.

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and the advice, of course, is on me.

Read my story this week on a great new anti-aging hand regime and sun protection for hands.

I’ll give you the information and resources you need to get you the face you deserve…and, the body you’ve always desired. Please come along.

It’s time to put Paleo to practice. Hopefully you’ve had the chance to do some shopping and pick up the basics for your new way of eating in 2012.

Your kitchen should be stocked with all the things we talked about last week–a lot of vegetables and some fruit; seafood, meat and poultry; eggs; healthy oils; herbs and spices and of course a few little indulgences.

What You Might Need

Now it’s time to flesh out your food wardrobe with a few more items that will make healthy eating a delicious and easy way of life. Here are a few of my favorite things. I like to think of them as necessities. They are: Snacks, and Condiments.

Snacks

Nuts. Grab some walnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts for additional protein and omega oils. They provide a portable, convenient snack and will make your skin glow. In addition, the fatty acids found in nuts promote cognitive function and maintain a healthy heart, among other things.

Macadamia nuts, pictured above, are my favorite. Unfortunately, they are also quite expensive. The good thing is, you really should not feast on nuts, which makes it a slightly more affordable habit.

Remember that nuts do not have a perfectly balanced ratio of omega fats for the human animal, and while they may suit the squirrel quite well, you should enjoy them in moderation.

Sauerkraut. Perceived as a Germanic food, sauerkraut is a tangy staple in my refrigerator. Packed with probiotics–the beneficial bacteria that aid immunity–sauerkraut is merely pickled cabbage, but it’s the fermentation process that gives it all those wonderful microorganisms that prevent cancer and keep your digestion on track.

In addition, the cabbage itself is a good source of vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6 and folate. Bubbies is my favorite brand. You can get it at Whole Foods. I snack on it all throughout the day.

Kale chips. Kale chips are so yummy, I’m absolutely addicted to them. I get the Kale Krunch Cheezy Chipotle ones from my local Whole Foods, made by Alive & Radiant Foods. They’re kind of expensive, but Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint, has a reader recipe for making them yourself, if you are so inclined.

Kale provides an impressive 194% of the recommended daily allowance for vitamin A per one cup serving, which is pretty amazing. In addition, it’s packed with vitamin C for immune support and vitamin B6 and manganese, which are important for fat metabolism. It’s a great source of dietary fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamin E, so the chips make a great snack.

Condiments

Stevia. I love my Stevia. I’ve used it for as long as I can remember, and boy has it been a life-saver.

I have an incredible sweet tooth, and Stevia is an extremely sweet, herbaceous plant that originated in Paraguay. The people there chew on the leaves because they are so sweet. The great thing about Stevia is, it has no calories. No carbohydrates. It scores zero on the glycemic index, meaning, it will not raise your blood sugar, making it perfect for diabetics and everyone else. It’s completely natural and you can buy it in liquid or powder form. Get it at the health food store, or order your Stevia online.

You can use it to sweeten tea, smoothies and desserts. I get the liquid version and carry one in my purse all the time for dining out.

Tabasco, Tapatio, and salsa. If you know how to scramble an egg, you’re good to go for your Paleo breakfast. Adding a spicy sauce or fresh salsa makes it taste delish. Just look for all-natural versions, and ones that are free of sugar.

Beware of Strangers With Candy

Of course your mother warned you, but you’d be surprised at just how many innocent-looking foods contain hidden sugars. Commercial mayonnaise, believe it or not, is a known registered offender. Its accomplice, ketchup, is even worse.

Lots of names in the food industry are completely corrupt, and even foods that claim to be good for you are often not your friend. It really saddens me, but sometimes I feel like you can’t trust anyone, so I suggest you read your food labels. I guess, ultimately, you can’t expect anyone to watch out for you. You have to do it yourself.

Maybe you’ve heard this phrase: Today is the first day of the rest of my life…So with that, let’s get started now.

In The Beginning

Often heralded as the most important meal of the day, breakfast is most definitely the first step toward starting your metabolism, and it represents a new beginning.

Robb Wolf, author of The Paleo Solution, recommends a high-protein, high-fat, low-carb meal, with no added sugars or grains.

Make it a solid breakfast that will set your hormones and neurotransmitters for the day.

You could always opt for a healthy smoothie, but when starting out Robb recommends limiting your fruit intake, and instead enjoying the savory side. He said that most people are battling some kind of metabolic derangement–such as obesity, diabetes, fertility issues or depression–and sugar, even if it is only the sugar you find in fruit, just makes it worse.

As you get leaner and healthier, you can introduce more fruit, but Robb explained that there is no nutrient in fruit that is not available in vegetables, so try to keep your sugar levels down initially.

Eggs and meats are a good breakfast choice. Every bodybuilder I’ve met eats a ton of eggs, and there are a multitude of ways to prepare them. Poached, hard-boiled or simply scrambled, let your imagination go wild. But leave the toast and the potatoes behind, and eat a reasonable amount of fruit, or a bit of berries, instead.

There are so many ways to prepare your eggs. Make an omelette or frittata and be creative, using vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, onion…you can’t go wrong with the incredible, edible egg.

I’m a fiend for great Mexican food. Huevos Rancheros fits perfectly within the Paleo plan. Just ditch the beans and the tortilla, sub in a little sliced avocado, and you’ve got an ideal meal.

A side of bacon, ham, chorizo or sausage could complete it, and will provide a lasting sense of fullness because the fat in the meal will satisfy and satiate you, while the protein gives your body all the necessary amino acids to build muscle and remain strong.

Remember: eating fat does not make you fat. Cook your eggs in the fat from the bacon, or use refined coconut oil.

Coconut oil won’t flavor the food–in fact, it is very neutral-tasting–and is the prime choice for cooking due to temperature stability and a host of healthy benefits. Spectrum makes the best brand.

What To Drink, and What Not To Drink

Water works. Teas are a perfectly safe choice, as long as they are devoid of sugar, artificial sweeteners and chemicals. You can sweeten them with Stevia.

Sodas are completely unhealthy for a variety of reasons, especially the diet variety, and as far as juice goes, seriously, you might as well be drinking soda. Bottled juices are heated for safety and stability. Their nutritional value is completely destroyed by the time they get to the grocery store, and all that’s left is sugar.

Milk creates an insulin response–any diabetic knows what that is–and contrary to widespread opinion and oodles of celebrity endorsement, milk doesn’t ‘do a body good.’

If you are going to have a glass of milk, be aware that it may not be as bad for you as soda, but it’s still just comfort food, and we don’t need it.

A Gentle Reminder

Have you thrown out all your junk food yet? All your ‘heart-healthy’ grains? Boxes of cereal, crackers and refined foods? You should.

“You may want to dismiss this,” Robb said, “but think about it like this: Most people feel like they can stay in a monogamous, lifelong relationship. Well, what if we dropped you off at the Playboy mansion–I don’t care what gender or sexual orientation you are–and let’s say we got you falling down drunk and dosed you to the gills on Ecstasy. Would you remain monogamous? Highly unlikely, and this is my point: refined carbs are like an ecstasy-soaked beer binge at the Playboy mansion. This is a battle,” he said, “that you will not win.”

So if you haven’t already gotten rid of all that trash, please do. It’s for your own good.

Join me next Friday for another exciting nutrition installment…The Original Smooth-Talker: All About Smoothies. We’ll explore both sweet, and savory. See you then.

These little thingamajigs are complete genius. Bare Escentuals has created liquid-filled cotton swabs that make cosmetic correction a snap. The formula contains aloe vera and vitamin E, and you can pick up messes with ease.

This is especially important when creating the bright summer lip. Run the swab around the lip contour for a nice, sharp line then touch up with concealer. Or use them to tidy around the eye area. They’re five bucks for a pack of 24, at Sephora. Great for your purse.

At last, an elegant approach to hand sanitizers. Turn dirty digits clean, matte and baby soft, with the fresh antiseptic botanicals in Jao Hand Refresher, a makeup artist must-have. It’s an imperative before you touch a model’s face.

Jao leaves hands soft, not sticky, and smells deliciously of lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus oils. The experience is nothing short of ethereal.

Fortified with aloe, glycerine and chamomile, Jao won’t dehydrate your hands because it disinfects with ethyl alcohol, which is less drying, and it smells divine. Available in portable flip-tops or a convenient pump, your clients, and your hands, will thank you.

Sanitary equipment equals clearer skin. Makeup brushes can be a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to breakouts and other ugly skin conditions like dermatitis.

Cleaning brushes just got easier with Brush Off Brush Cleaner, the makeup artist’s choice. Just spray, wipe with a tissue, and you’re good to glow. Brush Off dries instantly.

Read about my favorite makeup brushes, designed by New York makeup artist Roque Cozzette. They’re cruelty-free, vegan and affordable. You’ll love them. Talk to you soon.

Valentine’s Day is but a heartbeat away, and wedding season is perpetual. Glowing skin is every girl’s dream, and though many skin care products make bold promises, few do what they say, and say what they do.

Soothe Sensitive Skin Treatment moisturizer is a gem. It does what it says it’s going to do–instantly–and the results are glorious. Simply put, it just feels good.

So many people have sensitive skin or rosacea and don’t even know it. For anyone suffering from skin discomfort, Soothe calms the raw chapped feeling and takes away the red, halting stinging and burning, fast.

With all the aggressive products out there–with the multitude of sins we inflict on our skin that make us sensitive, irritated, dry or overworked–this product is heaven-sent. It makes a thoughtful gift for any bride-to-be.

It immediately calms, and by rebuilding the skin’s natural moisture barrier, also known as the acid mantle, skin is protected from future flare-ups. Used consistently, results only get better with time.

This comforting cream is part of the four-product Soothe regime developed by Stanford-trained dermatologist duo Rodan + Fields, but you can always buy just the treatment cream, $80, separately.

Dewy and moist, yet matte, Soothe penetrates fast sans stickiness.

“For sensitive skin, what stays out of a product is as important as what goes in,” Dr. Kathy Fields stated. “The Soothe regime is free of fragrance, alcohol, added colors, parabens and surfactants.”

Rosacea is an extremely common condition in which the blood vessels of the skin dilate and constrict very easily in response to a variety of stimuli including spicy food, alcohol, embarrassment, heat, sunlight and menopause, according to Dr. Katie Rodan.

“It’s characterized,” she explained, “by intense and frequent flushing causing blotchy redness on the cheeks, chin and nose.”

For people with this chronic condition, the first priority is getting their skin under control. Although there are no over-the-counter medicines approved for treating rosacea, Soothe is the perfect regime for rosacea-prone skin.

But if you just need a good, neutral non-irritating moisturizer that will heal your skin and won’t conflict with your treatment products, the Soothe moisturizer is the ideal accompaniment to almost any skin care regime and is one of those products that I try to keep in my medicine cabinet year-round.

The Gentle Cream Wash, below, doubles as a great calming shave lotion to help reduce razor burn for the man in your life, if you can bear to share.

The four-product Soothe regime, $160, includes the Gentle Cream Wash, infused with nurturing ceramides, Aloe and vitamin E; the Sensitive Skin Treatment moisturizer; the Moisture Replenishing Cream, spiked with omegas and chamomile; and the Mineral UVA/UVB SPF 30 Sunscreen, a zinc-based formula providing broad-spectrum protection and packed with anti-oxidants to defend against environmental damage.

If your skin is in need of a little TLC, the Soothe regime will straighten matters out ASAP.

These products earn high marks in the feel-good factor. Say ‘I dew’ to radiant skin. Mazel Tov, and keep reading for exclusive interviews with top makeup artists next month who will share their beauty secrets for the blushing bride, or any smart woman who wants to look her best.

I am loving Essie’s Meet Me At Sunset, and all the other fab fingernail hues in this fearless poppy palette that are sure to set your heart aflutter as we approach spring.

The tangerine tones are coming from the European runways. Irreverent, rebellious and bold by nature, they are sure to attract attention, and with any luck, a bit of controversy.

Bottega Veneta’s silk blend petal hip dress, $2,650, from Barneys New York, can be worn casually for day with bare legs, flat sandals and a pedicure in the aforementioned Essie polish, above, or dressed up at night simply with a cashmere shawl.

Celebrity favorite, designer Rebecca Minkoff is perfectly on-trend as always with her ostrich-embossed small wallet, $125, above, and aptly-named Covet bag, $450, below.

Even in intimate circles, orange is making its presence scandalously known, as in this coral-lined lace bodysuit by luxury lingerie I.D. Sarrieri.

So as you can see, orange can be naughty or nice, depending on just how far you want to take it. Did you see the article on Tory Burch’s fab accessories, crafted in saffron saffiano leather, here on BSSTW? They mean business.

In fragrance also, the sweet, unmistakable orange is leaving its trace.

Playful and flirtatious, and oh-so-innocent, Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom scent is my most guilty pleasure.

Her Orange Blossom body oil, $65, gives your legs an irresistible sheen and delicious fragrance. You can get it at Nordstrom.

Keep your eyes peeled for this juicy citrus. You will see it again and again in fashion and beauty, and of course you will absolutely fall in love, and learn unrivaled respect, for this complicated, intense, rich, ripe hue. Now that’s a rap.