Experts say you shouldn’t exfoliate more than twice a week as it can irritate your skin, which sounds like sound advice. But if you have an oily complexion, or live in a hot climate, you may benefit from more frequent scrubbings, as warm weather increases perspiration and can lead to dead skin build-up. 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... [Read more]

The most disturbing spring trend to hit New York runways, in my opinion, isn’t acid-wash short-shorts or bodysuits (I’m looking at you, Charlotte Ronson), which can be hideously fun when styled correctly.No, the greatest sin of all is the return of their ridiculous early 90s cousin, the bare midriff. I don’t care if your tummy inspires “oohs” and “aahs” at the beach, poolside or any other place you’re expected to appear half-naked, this look really isn’t going to fly if you’re not older than 14 and auditioning for Jodie Foster’s part in the remake of Taxi Driver. But Suzabelle, Suzanne Jaberg’s Seattle-based line, instantly corrects all that is wrong in a world where far... [Read more]

There’s a good reason why Reebok modeled its new limited edition sneaker collection off the paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the late NYC graffiti genius. Spray-painted works of art never lose their cool. 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... [Read more]

I’ve always been curious and fascinated by the Pantone Color Institute, the global authority on seasonal fashion colors. I picture a Volturi-like panel of whip-stylish judges perched somewhere in a Swiss mountain villa, making bold and calculated calls about “Iron” (this year’s grey) and “warm olive” (an amazingly rich hue that resembles that of the first olive oil press). 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... [Read more]

They’ve been on the market for years now. I tried them as a teenager and tried them just the other day as an adult — and yet I’m still not sure what to make of Biore Pore Strips. Do they really pull out blackheads? Don’t they? Some say they make a world of difference, that they can actually count individual blackheads on that sticky strip, so I wonder why I usually find myself squinting at them, wondering if I’m staring at the horribly gross and fascinating evidence of oily skin or the strip’s natural fibers. 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... [Read more]