There’s some sort of bizarre taboo when it comes to chatting about feet.

I honestly don’t get - especially during the summer months, chances are tons of people are going to see some part of your toes. And, at the very least, the dude sharing your bed might. Out of consideration for them, smoothness = very important.

And so, I am squashing the taboo - I am going to share a great find for treating your feet and keeping them soft and - yes - touchable. I’m all about Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream.

This cream is great for dry skin, and is non-greasy. It’s even made from something cool and not common in my beauty drawer — virgin cashew-nut oil! This is great to restoring suppleness to skin; and shea butter smoothes away roughness.

Try it out - you’ll never be rough heeled in bed again!

Image: Nordstrom

I go through more body butter than I go through real butter (thank god), and so I try to avoid using the super luxe stuff by a means of economy.

However, I am smitten with Korres Body Butters!

These were developed exclusively for Sephora, and each formula is enriched with shea butter which is great for softening the skin; it also contains a blend of sunflower, almond, and avocado oils to restore elasticity and smoothness; and quince extract to heal and nourish.

So while it may seem like this body butter is the makings of a good salad, it’s actually the making of good skin. Then again, so is a salad. But anyway, it’s really really awesome - try it!

Image: Sephora

I saw an article in The Sun a few minutes ago that made my eyes nearly bug out of my head.

An excerpt:

With her face caked in make-up, hair perfectly coiffed and acrylic nails brightly painted, Madison Wren-Campbell is not your average nine-year-old.

and this:

The pageant trend comes as new research shows teenage girls are more concerned with being beautiful than being clever.

More than a quarter of those questioned in a recent survey of 3,000 said they would rather spend money on their looks than education.

And one in five of those polled for YoungPoll.com had thought about having plastic surgery.

Seriously???

This is horrifying. And I realize it’s my job to write about beauty every day and to encourage us playing around with it, but did not JonBenet teach us about the horror of going too far? And even further, even aside from the pageant world - the message that young girls are so ruined by the world around them that they are putting stuff like plastic surgery and beauty enhancements before education is just saddening.

And I think it speaks about the status of self-esteem among teenage girls as well. We are “less” if we aren’t the prettiest/thinnest girl around.

I was once a little girl who found myself absorbed in fashion magazines and emulating beautiful starlets way before my time. The result? I never felt pretty enough, and I comforted myself with food…I ended up severely overweight and then spent my teenage years hating myself for a body I was unhappy with. It’s only now - when I wasted so many years feeling sad - that I feel good about who I am, and it was THAT feeling that made me find my natural weight.

I am one of the lucky ones. I wasn’t a pageant girl, or a attention-starved impressionable adolescent. This, though, what these children are putting themselves through all in the name of being the prettiest…who made that OK???

Note, I am not against pageants, at all. Or even kids in pageants. But let them be kids. Who wants an eight year old who looks like a jaded 30-year-old? They have plenty of time for that later.

Image: Sxc.hu

Lately, some readers have been writing to me asking my thoughts on mineral makeup. Is it really worth the hype?

In short: YES. I can honestly say that since switching from heavier liquid foundations to mineral ones, my skin has been reborn, revitalized, and healthier than ever.

This is largely because mineral makeup is made from naturally occurring pigments from the earth. It won’t clog your pores, and thus, you ain’t going to break out from it - making it perfect for light coverage for all types of sensitive skin.

I also love it because it is great for the inner-artist we all have. I love to take different shades of mineral shadow and mix and match it to create new shades! You can totally do this by putting a few drops in the palm of your hand and just mixing it up. Same is true for blushes and bronzers. And, you can use your favorite shadow as a liner too! The possibilities are truly limitless!

And, so, try it now - and if you have any needs for recommendations on brands/products to try, drop me an email any time!

Image: Sxc.hu

This is the season where it’s more important than ever to achieve a sun-kissed look - even if it’s entirely fabricated!

We checked with one of our favorite beauty experts, Mally Roncal of Mally Beauty, who gave us some fabulous pointers on how to achieve that look before we even get to the beach.

You have to have that all-important bronzer!

The most natural looking way to apply is to actually begin on the jaw line, just behind your ear. Gently smooth and swirl the product all the way across your jaw line and all around the perimeter of the face. Don’t forget your hairline, your temples and even the hallow of your cheeks. Then you can do a light dusting across the forehead, nose, and chin. This will give you a natural glow.
To balance out the bronze, apply a pinky-peach blush to the apples of the cheeks.

• The rosiness gives it a more realistic finish.
• Add a little shimmer powder to the tops of cheekbones and inner corners of the eyes.

Don’t forget the lip!

To top it off, swipe a beautiful sheer pink lipgloss all over your pout. It will tie the whole look together.

Image: Sxc.hu

There’s nothing worse than buying cosmetics that don’t match or blend quite the same way they did in the store.

Even if you try on eyeshadows and foundations while shopping, you may secretly wonder about the sanitation of samples or the department store lighting.

IBM and EZFace, Inc. are doing something that may help with beauty buyers’ remorse: Virtual Mirror Kiosk.

This is a new virtual reality tool that will allow you to “try on” cosmetics at the beauty counter without ever having to use a brush or wipe. With the tool, customers will be able to snap a digital self-portrait using the kiosk’s camera, scan the barcode of the product they’ve chosen and virtually apply it to their hair, face, eyes or lips for approval. It even suggests products and specific shades that best fit the customer’s profile.

How cool is this??? Buying cosmetics is wayyyy easier when you know they look good both inside and outside of the store. Sampling makeup on the back of your hand and worrying if you’re making a wise decision at checkout will become a thing of the past!

More info as I get it…

Image: Sxc.hu

Yes, I have many pink lip glosses!

That doesn’t mean it’s not STILL a beauty bag staple!

So, I was very excited to learn about the new Hiss Good Nite lip gloss.
It’s a shimmery pink shade that is delicate but still sexy and has a very kissable peppermint scent: Even the packaging is adorable!

No matter what your hobbies and schedule, a good pink lipgloss is a beauty staple - no matter what brand or style you choose. Just try it, and you’ll see what I mean.

Image: HoneyCatCosmetics.com

This weekend, I was invited out to the new Water Club, a signature hotel by Borgata in Atlantic City, to experience their fabulous hotel (and even more fabulous spa).

As a beauty editor, I get to experience beauty treatments pretty often, so it’s often best for me to judge a spa based on their signature treatments…here, I was in for a treat. There were tons of completely unique and innovative ones to immerse myself in.

Interestingly, this spa at The Water Club is actually CALLED the Immersion Spa! For those not yet familiar, it is a 2-story wonderland of treats for the face, body, and mind, many of which you may think involved a secret jaunt to the Far East.

I must say, the experience was unique and exceptional from beginning to end.

As soon as I checked in, I was shown to a ladies lounge, where I was allowed to sip a tea specifically chosen to complement my spa appointment. Then, I donned a cushy robe and slippers, and lounged about until my tech called me for my appointment.

I was scheduled for Thai Sacred Soak, Bath Ritual, which sounded exotic from the very description, and once in the treatment room, I sort of felt like I had escaped on a trip to Thailand. (Being that I am addicted to Thai food, that wouldn’t have been a bad thing at all.)

I can’t even call it a scrub or a massage - it’s pretty much a complete and total body experience. It started with a coconut full body scrub, and I mean FULL, with a scrub that smelled just like Mounds bars. And then, after the scrub, I was left to soak in a floral bath for a nice long warm stretch, and then, after the bath got an intense acupressure massage with lemongrass essence. The entire treatment was about two hours long, and by the end, I felt simultaneously relaxed and rejuvenated.

This also marked the first time I had received a massage from a male (well, in spa-terms!), and there really is a difference. If you love great amounts of pressure in your massage, it’s definitely something to try…it loosens all those kinks.

Oh, and at the end, before being sent back to the lounge area - I was given chocolate!!! Dark chocolate with ginger - sexy, energizing, and enriching - just like my treatment! I am in love. I have to say - and take this from a girl who gets spa treatments pretty much weekly - Immersion Spa is pretty much as good as it gets.

Image: The Water Club

In this recession, it would be remiss of me to encourage shopping. However, I do believe in bucking the budget issue, and supporting the economy, and the most beautiful way to do that is GIFTS WITH PURCHASE.

On that note, right now at Beauty.com, with a $100 purchase, you get a hugely adorable floral spring bag designed by fashion designer Shoshanna Gruss stuffed with awesome products, including:

• LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation
• ARCONA Booster Defense Serum
• Stila High Shine Lip Color in Amber
• tarte Blushing Bride Cheek Stain
• Frederic Fekkai Coiff Lifting and Texturing Spray Gel
• skyn ICELAND Glacial Face Wash
• (MALIN+GOETZ) Assorted Hair Care
• Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
• Jane Iredale Eye Gloss in Champagne Silk
• Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara
• Ken Paves Healthy Hair Shine Serum
• Bliss Lemon + Sage Soapy Sap
• DDF Daily Protective Moisturizer

The coolest part is that the freebies actually are way more than the necessary purchase to get the gift! So, I’m excited…and filling up my shopping cart with things I don’t need as we speak!

Image: Beauty.com

From customizing your style, to customizing your car - we all want services designed to fit our busy lifestyles. This is why, as the voice of the spa industry, the International SPA Association is forecasting customization as one of the hottest trends of 2009.

“In this economy, people are watching their money, plain and simple. Spa professionals are listening to the needs of customers and creating specialized treatments. Whether it’s a 30-minute pick-me-up massage on a lunch hour, or soothing those worked-to-the-bone Wi-Fi fingers, it’s all about meeting the demands of consumers,” says ISPA President Lynne McNees.

Customized Treatments: In addition to 30-minute facials and massages, spas are listening to the demands and desires of their customers. So whether you’re looking to combine a series of treatments or have one tailored to fit your needs (i.e., Wi-Fi massage), talk to your spa about how it can best fit into your lifestyle.

Mind, Body & Spirit: Consumers are looking to spas to recharge not only their body, but their spirit and mind as well. Many spas are increasing self-discovery services like ropes courses, art classes and other learning activities that help consumers to stop, be still and focus on themselves.

Family-friendly Resort Spas: In an era where we’re all moving at warp speed, more and more people are looking for spas that cater to families. These spas are responding to the need for families to communicate and spend time together, whether it’s flying through the air on a trapeze or attending family yoga.

Organic Spas: More spas than ever before are offering environmentally friendly products and services, but that’s not all. Many feature outdoor treatments and eco-friendly facilities, as well as treatments that highlight indigenous plants and the environment in which the spa is located (i.e., seashell body treatment and blueberry body wrap).

Spa Credits: In this economy, the smart traveler is the one who de-stresses at the hotel spa after a long flight. Hotels are looking to entice travelers and increase bookings by offering free treatments or spa credits when booking a room.

Spa Memberships: Similar to a gym membership, it allows spa-goers to experience spas at a lower cost. A 12-month membership could include unlimited use of the facility, a treatment a month and discounts on additional monthly services.

Half-day Spa Vacations: With people watching every penny, many are canceling their expensive vacations and instead turning to spas. Transform your morning or afternoon into a full-blown escape with a massage, facial and pedicure.

Dental Spas: Your annual cleaning just got more relaxing. The American Dental Association says about 50 percent of U.S. dentists are providing spa amenities at no additional charge. With hand massages, paraffin wax dips and reflexology, you’ll never dread the drill again.

Tried & True: Consumers are moving away from the trendy and seeking treatments with proven and tangible results. They’re getting back to basics, focusing on core spa services like deep tissue massage and clarifying facials.

Increased Spa Amenities: Turn a 60-minute service into an entire afternoon of rejuvenation by taking advantage of the spa’s amenities. After your hot stone massage, take a plunge in the pool, sit in the sauna or cool down in an ice room; today’s spas encourage loitering.

Image: International SPA Association