Pore minimizers – whether in moisturizer, serum or scrub form – are huge right now and Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner is leading the pack with an “I can’t believe it isn’t foundation” version of the super mattifying lotion.

Although nothing can actually minimize pores – they have a mind of their own – Dr. Brandt’s version contains an optical diffuser that gives your skin a polished, powder-fresh look and flaxseed, designed to absorb oil.
True, this is a slightly expensive ($45 for one ounce) Band-aid for shiny skin, but wow, what a bandage. It works and, if your skin is free of blemishes, is all the skin make-up you’ll need.

Since this product contains zero sunscreen (which is, in general, my one major gripe about pore refiners), I apply a pea-size amount over my usual daytime moisturizer. The lotion is often too drying for my nose — an unfortunate result of having combination skin, I guess.

But until someone (Dr. Brandt, I hope, since I am a huge fan of his products) comes out with a more moisturizing pore refiner, this is one of the best on the market.

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Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner

Thankfully, designers have evolved since the 80s, but Lindsay Phillips has found a way to marry our universal craving for individual expression with bonafide beautiful shoes.

Lindsay Phillips

Her latest collection of Napa leather ballet flats comes in three hot fall colors — black, silver and bronze — and features more than 12 interchangeable snapable adornments, including jeweled blossoms and sweet little bows.

If Phillips’ name sounds familiar, she is the design darling behind SwitchFlops®, a concept that lets you buy one pair of flipflops and switch out the straps to fit any occasion.

Options, baby.

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Lindsay Phillips Ballet Flats

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream

Its magical ingredients are pharmaceutical-grade crystals (no harsh walnut shells here), lactic acids and therapeutic botanicals, including grape seed and flower extracts. It also contains moisturizing Vitamin E, chamomile and retinyl palmitate, which promotes cellular growth. But the main reason this baby is such a gem is the size of its finely-milled crystals. You just need a wee bit, and no more than three times a week, and the result is post-facial-like skin – polished, glowing and rid of any and all dry flakes.

Unfortunately, the price ($75) is also has more in common with a spa facial than a drugstore treatment. But, if you can swing it, it’s worth every penny. It’s good for all skin types, leaves a darling glow and lasts a lot longer than the small jar would have you believe.

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Dr. Brandt Exfoliating Cream

Perhaps because of this, the darkest of dark hues stood out far more, in my opinion.

Taking a page out of fall’s goth-glam looks, these women were stunning in deep, dark and glam shades:

“Mad Men’s” Christina Hendricks looked every inch the 1950s starlet in a blue-black L’wren Scott:

Zuma Press

Heidi Klum, seven months pregnant and gorgeous, in a strapless Marchesa:

Zuma Press

The front of Tina Fey’s Gucci dress didn’t do it for me, but I loved the length and back:

Zuma Press

Nevermind the fact that “Buffy” and “How I Met Your Mother” star Alyson Hannigan just had a baby SIX months ago, her Vera Wang dress (and shiny locks) were a hit:

Zuma Press

Could the Office’s Jenna Fischer chosen more wisely than this Reem Acra gown, with its chunky hemline? Probably..but the color — and that bracelet and nail polish color– are just breathtaking.

Zuma Press

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Emmy Awards: Best Dark Gowns

Although he has carved quite a name for himself with sexy over-the-knee boots and killer studded flat boots and chunky heels, I am beyond impressed that his more subdued collection – which include flats and ballet slippers – is just as quietly note-worthy, if not more. And I was thrilled to see that he did wonders with my latest fall obsession — the classic oxford shoe.

Jeffrey Campbell 'Class' Oxford

A lowstacked heel and geometric cut-out detailing — imagine how adorable these would be paired with brown tights and a teeny, flowy, feminine dress:

Jeffrey Campbell Cutout Oxford

Flirty 3-inch heel in a hue that goes with everything:

Jeffrey Campbell Jane in Natural

Simple, direct and classic:

Jeffrey Campbell 'Uniform' Oxford

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Jeffrey Campbell’s Outstanding Oxfords

The formula for smooth skin, however, isn’t always a matter of frequency – ingredients are key, as well. All scrubs are not created equal. According to Vanya Skin Care, the worst exfoliating ingredients are irregularly shaped articles with sharp edges, such as apricot kernels, walnut shells and pumice.

One of the more natural and gentle exfoliating ingredients you can use are rice granules, found in UK brand Simple Cleansing Scrub.

Simple Cleansing Scrub

Without perfumes or artificial colors, Simple combines Vitamin E and the teeniest of rice granules to remove all impurities from your skin, while leaving it moisturized.

This isn’t the flashiest product, but at just $12.00, it’s proves perfectly simply and effective.

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Simple Cleansing Scrub — literally

But Suzabelle, Suzanne Jaberg’s Seattle-based line, instantly corrects all that is wrong in a world where far too many otherwise gifted designers overdose on trends. There’s a very good reason why Jaberg earned the title “the Seattle coat queen” a few years back: her military-style lightweight wool jacket in creme and windsor coat in brown/tan plaid are as timeless as a pea coat, but the interesting details — a fold-over collar here, brass dome buttons there — give them that extra special flair.

Windsor Overcoat

Lark Jacket

Greenstreet Coat

Suzabelle is for women who want to look good in black and white photos; women who appreciate the classic days of cinema, when all an ingenue needed was a fitted houndstooth dress and killer heels.

Hitchcock Dress in grey plaid

Veronica Day Dress

And a preview of its fabulous spring collection proves the ladylike label will NOT be promoting bare tummies.

Cecily Day Dress

Rita Hayworth would certainly approve.

Images: Suzabelle

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Suzabelle’s modern belle

B-Side Jewelry, the offspring of a design duo Ken Leung and Dana Chin, have translated street graffiti into quirky and interesting, but highly wearable necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings — and even tie clips and cufflinks.

While some pieces, such as their handcuff bracelets (which are exactly what they sound like), won’t work in 99 percent of offices across America, just think of what others — including this gorgeous red-brass chain necklace — could do to enliven an all-black outfit or plain jane dress.

B-Side Long Brass Plate and Chain Necklace

Here are a few of my favorite B-side things:

Citrine, Peridot and Graffiti earrings:

B-side

Geometric Enamel Necklace:

B-Side Geometric Enamel Necklace

Enamel Ring:

B-Side Enamel Ring

Enamel Bracelet:

B-Side Enamel Bracelet

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B-Side’s graffiti-inspired jewelry

For fall, the Pantone fashion color report shows an array of diverse colors that look surprisingly brilliant when paired together.

The question, of course, is how have indie designers incorporated these colors into their creations? Quite well, actually:

Mel en Stel wool fitted/loose dress in “rapture rose”

Mel en Stel: "rapture rose"

T. Tandon silk pleats and ruffle scoop neck top in “burnt sienna”

T. Tandon in "burnt sienna"

Yigal Azrouel Techno Crepe in Admiral — not far from Pantone’s “majolica blue”

Yigal Azrouel "majolica blue"

Premiata — “creme brulee”

Premiata

Continuing my celebration of all things Italian,this bag by L’Autre Chose hits the mark in “american beauty”

L'Autre Chose

Albino-Fenizia’s dramatic dress in “nomad”

Albino-Fenizia

Lastly, the minute I saw Pantone’s fall palette, I immediately thought of a Marc Jacobs dress I remember seeing on Liv Tyler a few years back. The colors aren’t perfect, but it provides an example of how well true reds, purples and blues can look together:

Marc Jacobs: courtesy Lovely Liv Tyler

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Fall’s rich color palette

Anyway, the jury’s still out on those.

In the meantime, I’ve been concentrating on trying to prevent blackheads and whiteheads by using just a few drops of Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel on my nose, forehead and chin after my morning and night cleansing and toning rituals.

Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel

This best-selling product, made with peppermint oil and witch hazel and aloe vera extracts, is designed to control oil and sap excessive sebum (that waxy secretion responsible for causing whiteheads and blackheads). I have combination skin and it’s really done the job on my T-zone, helping it stay matte for hours longer than any product I’ve used — though it faces some stiff competition from Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion.

You can find Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel at Cellnique.com, priced at $55.00.

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Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel