I’m not one to brag, BUT, I do happen to have beautiful skin. At 53 years of age not a line in sight.  My texture is not so bad and my skin tone is even.  So if you are want gorgeous skin, check out my regimen for beautiful skin.

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It’s time to shed your winter “coat”! For most of us, shaving and waxing are necessary evils, unless you’re comfortable showing your hair-raising style like Oscar winner Mo’Nique. Spring is the ideal time to prepare for the body-revealing fashions of summer months. So get a leg up and buff and shine your way to sexy skin-baring moments.

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I am a dress and heels girl. I have been for years. I think that women look better showing a little leg.  With that being said, it’s Friday, get fierce.  Show some leg girlfriend.

Check out lovely Alicia Keys — I love how she is so ladylike yet über sexy in her leather dress and Christian Louboutins.

Alicia Keys 2010 Silver Rose gala and auction at the Beverly Hills Hotel on April 18, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images

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I am actually old enough to remember the first Earth Day 40 years ago. I lived in an area sumptuous with trees and vegetation, so I really didn’t understand the import of living an earth-friendly life.  Now, I make efforts to live a greener life.  And that includes using beauty products that are sustainable as well.  Here is some of my favorite green beauty bling!

Elliot’s Ethos Relax the Body & Mind Bubble Bath

(8 oz. $9, 16 oz. $14)

Elliot’s Ethos skin and body care products are cruelty-free and do not contain animal by-products.

The organic and natural ingredients are manufactured with renewable wind power and packaged in recyclable containers.

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I looked at my daughter the other day and had a worried thought because her skin was just glowing. Mind you she is a college student — a senior at Cal Berkeley.  So I banished my premature thoughts of being a grandmother (glowing skin, get it) and asked her what she was using on her skin.  As usual she was using my products.  And for a change I was delighted.

I received a tube of Black Opal Brightening Scrub/Mask a couple weeks ago to try out.  To be honest, I’m a snob.  Particularly when it comes to skin care.  However, I was extremely delighted with this double duty scrub/mask.  I am an exfoliating junkie. I want to feel the burn.  And while this mask isn’t as hardcore as a microdermabrasion, it definitely does the job of exfoliating.  I suspect that continuous use would yield comparable results.

Black Opal Brightening Mask Scrub

Here is the rub on Black Opal Brightening Scrub/Mask:

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I don’t know about you, but in my neck of the woods it has gotten downright COLD. I realize that winder isn’t officially the season, but it’s freezing outside. Winter is the season for cuddling by the fireplace and playing in the snow, but these months can wreak havoc on your skin. Dry air, indoor heating, and harsh wind can suck the moisture out of skin. Skin that is already dry gets drier and irritated. And so-called “normal” skin needs extra protection.

Here are a few tips to “winterproof” your skin:

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I am always trying new cosmetic products.  I get an adrenalin rush when some new makeup or skincare product is perfectly yummy and useful.  Well, I had a couple experiments this week with some “different” products that left me rather lack luster.  As a matter of fact they were downright weird.

First was a cleanser that I thought was so nifty when I saw the label.  St. Ives Elements Protective Cleanser.  So what was all the excitement on my end about?  Well, the product claimed to cleanse and add an SPF of 10 at the same time.  Well, I’m all about double-duty products, so I bought it — it’s budget beauty afterall– and it was just too weird for me.  In theory, it’s a great idea; kill two birds with one stone.  But in real life, it was kind of creepy.  You know when you cleanse your skin you want it to feel clean?  That doesn’t happen with this cleanser, my skin felt like it had some residue on it.   And it makes sense when you consider that it is depositing and SPF on the surface of the skin.   I guess i’m of that “squeaky clean”era.  I want my skin to look and feel like I just did a thorough cleansing.  So I will stick to my SPF in my other products — tinted moisturizer, foundation and moisturizer.

(Ok, I went to find a picture of the St. Ives Elements Protective Cleanser online, and it wasn’t there.  Maybe there was a consensus about this product!) 

 St. Ives Elements Protective Cleanser gets one solitary bling. 

I’m not a big fan of those “As seen on TV” products.  I gave into the hype and bought those green bags, the ones that are supposed to keep your fruit fresher longer?  That was a waste of money.  They didn’t work at all.  I swore that was my last “As seen on TV” purchase and it was.  (Even though one of my BFF’s swears by the Ped Egg)  But I was cleaning up my behind my daughter and saw that she had purchased the Smooth Away.  So, without permission, I started smoothing.  It was weird allright.  But to my surprise  the little smoothing pads actually worked and they didn’t hurt.  I noticed a small pad that was designated for “sensitive areas” or for facial hair.  So I tried that on my peri-menapausal whiskers, and it worked again.  It was all good.  I think Smooth Away even exfoliated  a tad bit.  Love exfoliation!

BUT, the next day when I got up, I had a bug ole pimple on my chin.  Don’t know if it was the Smooth Away, or if it was my hormones.  Also, I think that for longer lasting smoothness (huh?), a razor or waxing is a better option.  I deducted that the product just breaks the hair off at the surface, so you notice re-growth faster than you would with a 3-4 blade razor or with waxing.  I do think that for facial hair, it’s pretty nice.  What self-respecting diva wants to be in the bathroom mirror shaving with her partner?

Smooth Away gets 3 Blings 

Blinging Beauty Blogger!

I commonly get mistaken for being at least a decade younger than I am.  I’m 52, but don’t look it.  I’m sure that I need to thank my parents for the DNA, because they both look(ed) younger than their years.   Those that know I am in the beauty business ask what I use, advice, tips and I’m more than willing to spill the beans.  I can’t shut-up about cosmetics and beauty stuff.  With regard to my skin care routine, it’s pretty simple.  I do the basics — cleanse, moisturize, use SPF,  diligently use eye cream and I diligently EXFOLIATE.  I’m an exfoliating junkie.  A day without scrubbing is like a day without sunshine for me.

So what is exfoliation?  It is the chemical or mechanical removal of dead or non-functioning skin cells. This process also aids in improving circulation through stimulating blood flow. Chemical exfoliants include Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s), Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA’s) and Retinol.  Mechanical exfoliants are ones that have crushed or powdered nuts or seeds, jojoba seeds, or polyethelene (man-made) beads, to name a few.

As we age, our natural desquamation (skin shedding) cycle slows down.  When skin cells shed, it signals lower cell to start making new ones.  That’s why it is so important to exfoliate as we age.  Have you ever seen someone with dry, flaky skin?  Well, all the mosturizer in the world won’t help until they get rid of that dry stuff.  So exfoliation is key.

I use both manual and chemical exfoliants.  Here are my favorites.  My top 5 exfoliators:

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

1.  Exfoliating Cleanser   Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 6.75 oz $35

Exfoliates dull, dry, uneven texture.  Leaves skin smooth and hydrated.  Smoothes texture while cleansing impurities with a trio of gentle exfoliating acids. Salicylic, Lactic and Glycolic Acids provide clarity, brightness and improve cell-turnover by dissolving dead skin cell buildup. Jojoba beads further polish and smooth skin

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Pads

2. Chemical Exfoliant   Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads   60 Pads $45
What it is:
A daily hydroxy acid and peptide facial peel. 

Convenient and easy to use, these peel pads are formulated with alpha, beta, and gamma hydroxy acids (which act as exfoliators) and amino acids (the building blocks of peptides). The result: tighter pores, clear skin and disappearance of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. Leaves skin soft, smooth, firm and revitalized.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub with Salicylic Acid

3.  Budget Exfoliant St. Ives Apricot Scrub for Oily or Acne Prone Skin 6 oz $3.99

Blemish and Blackhead Control

Oily/Acne Prone

Oil Free

2% Salicylic Acid

Gently exfoliates to remove dirt, oil and dead skin cells that can clog pores.

Brown Sugar Fig Salt Scrub

4.  Body Exfoliant  Jones and Rose Brown Sugar Fig Salt Scrub $28

Skin nourishing olive, soy, and almonds oils combine to deliver silky, smooth moisture to soften and nourish rough spots. moisturizes while mineral rich sea salts gently smooths and softens rough spots. No need to use lotion afterwards.

Laura Geller Lip Strip

5.  Lip Exfoliant  Laura Geller Lip Strip Cooling Sugar Scrub 1 oz $16

 Lip Strip gently buffs dry lips to renewed smoothness. Historically, sugar is one of the safest natural exfoliants and humectants, and because the skin of the lips is so delicate, pure organic sugar from Brazil was chosen to use as the base of this scrub. In addition, peppermint and spearmint oils were added for a beautiful, refreshing sensation.

 Try these exfoliators and you too can be a smooth operator!

Dear beauty diary:
I wanted to figure out how many beauty products I use each day, so I started my ticker counting when I turned on the shower. Hmmm, Can I count that cup of coffee? It is a diuretic after all, definitely helps with the belly bloat.

Getting into the shower and starting count.
1. Cleanse face with Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid Cleanser. Let that stay on while I wash my hair. 2. Rene Furterer Okara Protective Radiance Shampoo (for my dyed, highlighted, and bleached hair). Rinse off the cleanser because it’s dripping in my eyes and stinging. 3. Condition with Rene Furterer Okara Protective Radiance Conditioner. Wash up with 4. Tocca Cleopatra Bar soap. 5. Apply Jack Black Beard Conditioning Lube to lower legs. 6. Shave lower legs with Gilette Mach 3 razor. 7. Exfoliate facial skin with Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion. 8. Exfoliate Body Skin with Fresh Brown Sugar Scrub. (not the lower legs though, ouch) All done, rinse everything from head to toe.

Get out and gently pat my freshly scrubbed skin dry. Apply 9. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion with SPF 15 almost everywhere on my body. Especially feet, knees, elbows, backs of thighs and butt. 10. Go over that with my luxury Tocca Body cream on decolette and arms. (Subtle scent for my allegies) 11. Apply Caudalie Eye Contour Cream. Read my profile, no lines for this girl. Not even waiting in lines. 12. Apply Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Gel. Get undies on while that’s drying.

13. Apply Olay Microsculpting cream.  Yes, I said Olay.  It’s one of the best drug store budget beauty finds I have found in years.  14. Apply Bliss Thinny Thin Chin to my neck and wanna be jowels.  I refuse to have the turkey neck!15.  Follow with Laura Geller Spackle.  I love this primer, it seals in moisturizer and treatments.  16. Follow with Stila Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 mixed with Smashbox High Definition Foundation.  17. Hide my dark undereye circles  with LORAC Double Impact concealer. Make note — cut back on my therapeutic red wine before bed.  18.  Light dusting of Stila Illuminting Powder Foundation 60 Watts. 19. Nars Lovejoy blush on the apples of my cheeks. 20. Fill in eyebrows with $.99 pencil from the beauty supply. 21 Quick Sweep from the opposite end of LORAC Double Impact highlighter under my brow bone.  22. Bobbi Brown Liner in Ivy Shimmer Ink. 23. Loreal Voluminous Blackest Black Mascara, two coats 24. Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Lipgloss in Ginger.

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It’s Friday and I don’t know about you, but it sure feels like the end of the week.  I’m thinking,  what can I do for a little lift?  With that is born my new category for posting – ”Friday Fix“.  It’s the official first day of Spring, and it’s gorgeous outside.  But when I looked at myself in the mirror this morning, okay, afternoon, I slept in today — I couldn’t help but think, “Girl you need to do some fixing up!” So I decided on a little spring cleaning for gorgeous skin bling.

My recipe for spring cleaning, my face that is.

1.  Scrub.  I’m sure you all have one, an exfoliator that does the job.  My scrub of choice right now is Rodan + Fields Microdermabrasion Paste.  So out with the old and in with the new.  Skin that is.  I also did my lips because they are just dry, dry, dry.  I have been rather homebound the last few weeks, (knee replacement, that’s a blog unto itself) so I have been neglecting my lips.  I love Laura Geller Lip Strip – sugar and peppermint and spearmint oils.  Leave lips smooth and kissable. 

2.  Mask.  I just want to feel refreshed — clean pores, rejuvenated, the whole 9 yards.  I am a fan of Juice Beauty products.  Ever since I heard how the founder of the company mixed up her original formulas in her kitchen and took them to market, I have been a fan.  So today it’s the Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask from Juice Beauty that’s on my list.  It’s organic and free from all the additives of traditional cosmetics, so that’s a plus.  Snacking on my organic apple slices as it does it’s job…

3.  Moisturize.  I am a moisturizing fiend.  It’s probably the only beauty routine my mom did religiously.  She looked great at 68 and I plan on doing the same.  I have been checking out a new product Relastin, which is super emollient and contains firming zinc.  I’m just waiting on for my supertoned face. 

Finish with eye cream and my Strawberry Rosebud Salve and Friday Fix is done.  I feel much better, almost a 3 bling level.  Not bad for a day at home behind the computer.  Hmm, it is Friday, maybe I need to check and see if there is a celebratory first day of Spring happy hour waiting for me.

Happy Spring Cleaning!