The creamy formulation is both hypoallergenic and waterproof with 12+hour long lasting protection.  It absorbs easily into skin without leaving behind any white marks or stains and contains skin-soothing conditioners such as dimethicane and petrolatum for an extra level of comfort and smoothness that helps prevent irritation.

For more information visit www.secret.com

Affiliation: This set was given to Pretty Connected by a company representative.  Pretty Connected was under no obligation to write this review.

Done and done.  Since I don’t like to check baggage, for sunscreen I went with Dermalogica’s Limited Edition Daylight Defense Kit.  It’s very compact and consist of four sun-protecting products all of which are under 3oz, making it the perfect set to bring on my travels.

The Set includes:

• Solar Defense Booster SPF30 (.34 oz.) – a lightweight face lotion that can be added to your moisturizer, foundation or worn alone for SPF 30 protection.
• MultiVitamin Body Block SPF20 (1.7 oz) – nourishing body sunscreen that blends effortlessly onto skin with Shea Butter and Evening Primrose that helps hydrate skin and protect against dryness.  It also contains Panthenol which helps skin recover from previous sun damage.
• After Sun Repair (1.3 oz) – after sun balm that helps repair recent UV damage, and soothe skin from overexposure from the sun.  Formulated with a blend of homeopathic herbs to reduce redness and soothe painful sunburn.
• Solar Shield SPF15 (.28 oz)- Water resistant, sun protecting moisture stick for lips, ears and nose.

All items in the kit are made with UV Smart Booster Technology, a customized microcapsule that safeguard active vitamins, which burst open upon contact with UV rays to protect against free radicals (what causes wrinkles, loss of elasticity, age spots, discoloration… and all that bad stuff) and is recommended for all skin types/conditions.

For me, the all-stars in the group we’re the Solar Defense Booster and MultiVitamin Body Block.  I’m an olive complexion so I don’t tend to burn, especially if I reapply every few hours and SPF20 and above is generally enough protection for me (red heads/sensitive skin types you may need something slightly higher or to reapply often).  I should add I have no plans to burn (then again, who does?) so I haven’t had much use for the After Sun Repair, although it feels nice to apply it after a day in the sun, and good to have around, just in case.  As for the Solar Shield, while it’s convenient I could do without it.  I’m not a huge chapstick person nor do I tend to burn on my nose or ears; however if you do, this could come in handy.

What really attracts me to this collection (besides it’s protection) is how quickly and effortlessly it blends into skin, leaving none of that messy white coloring or oily residue behind.  It also doesn’t smell like conventional sun block (which is a good thing); it has a very light almost rose smell to it.

Price: $35, available for a limited time only at Dermalogica.com

Affiliation: This set was given to Pretty Connected by a company representative.  Pretty Connected was under no obligation to write this review.

Every year, the weeks leading up to Father’s Day are the same. You struggle with what to buy him, and eventually just break down and ask. But if your father is anything like mine, he’ll probably tell you he doesn’t need anything that badly, and that anything you can come up with will be fine. One suggestion to save yourself that headache is to get him something that he wouldn’t normally choose for himself – especially something that will be an upgrade to some of the things he already uses everyday. That’s just what Votre Vu had in mind with their ‘Tie One Off‘ Father’s Day Set.

The set features four different products, all designed to indulge your dad and help him look his best. Let’s start with the Ten Gauge energy shot – a fresh and flavorful juice drink for the morning, after work or the gym. Amazingly, in only 30 calories they packed in many all natural healthy supplements including B Vitamins, Selenium, Yerba Mate extract and Sea Buckthorn. This blend will both energize dad and help maintain his virility, something he wouldn’t be celebrating Father’s Day without! *cringe*

Most Dads love simplicity, and a product like Votre Vu’s ‘Formula 1 Hair, Face, and Body Wash’ (3.0 fl. oz) will definitely please even the pickiest, high class fathers out there. This 3-in-1 cleanser is gentle enough for everyday use, and features ingredients like panthenol, glycerin, cinnamal, and citral to give you a thorough clean while keeping your body’s pH balance in tact. I really enjoyed the light, fresh, and masculine smell of this product, and appreciated the generous lather they achieved without using sulfates. The cleaning power might not be enough to tackle hair that’s been styled with a product like or wax or mousse, but it would be the perfect thing to clean and treat hair after a sweaty workout. My favorite use for this product was for my face.  It left my skin clear of dirt and oil, but still feeling soft and healthy.

Also in the collection is their ‘Habitude Daily Face Creme’ (1.69 fl. oz), which mixes a daily moisturizer with SPF 15 sunscreen — the combination makes for a great morning treatment. The first thing I noticed about this cream was the refreshing smell of the citrus and other natural ingredients. The next was how thick and deeply moisturizing it is; a good sign of the promised sun protection. With a morning application, my skin stayed moisturized and comfortable all day. Dad will definitely appreciate the ease of using just one product to get all the treatment his face needs for the day, and you can feel good about helping him protect his skin from the sun. You might even want to borrow some when you go out to mow the lawn as part of his gift!

The final item in the set is the ‘Beau Baume Organic Shave Balm’ (3.0 fl. oz). This soothing shave cream goes on easily with or without water and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated. My razor glided smoothly over my skin with this cream in place, and I was pleased with the level of protection it offered. This might be the best-smelling item in the whole kit; featuring a cool bite of menthol in addition to the citrus and almond oil essences that make for a pleasant, smooth, and masculine aroma. My one disappointment with this product was how it stuck under the blade of my razor. I use an old school double-edge safety razor, and it just took a little longer than usual between strokes to wash the cream out of it. Perhaps the results would be better with a more contemporary design, though.

In total, I was very happy with the experience I had with this kit. and can safely say it would be a huge improvement over what my dad uses now and an (affordable) way to treat himself to luxury products everyday.

Just remember when Dad commends you for your good taste, make sure you give him credit for passing it down!

The Tie One Off set is $63 ($93 value).  For more information visit votrevu.com

Affiliation: This set was given to Pretty Connected by a company representative.  Pretty Connected was under no obligation to write this review.

Kiehl’s Since 1851 will be hosting a Double Dutch Event and Fundraiser to benefit The Lower Eastside Girls Club.  For every correct jump you do, Kiehl’s is donating 25¢ the help send members of The Lower Eastside Girls Club to a seven-week summer camp program in the Adirondacks.

Don’t remember how to do the double dutch? No worries, Renée Laster of The Lower Eastside Girls Club is teaching everyone the basics.

WHEN: Saturday, June 5, 2010, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

WHERE: Kiehl’s Since 1851 New York Flagship store, 109 Third Avenue (at 13th St), NYC

Did I mention all jumpers will receive Kiehl’s samples? See you there!

About The Lower Eastside Girls Club: The Lower Eastside Girls Club provides a place where girls and young women 8-23 can grow, learn, have fun, and develop confidence in themselves and their ability to make a difference in the world. By delivering strong arts, literacy, science, health and leadership programs we provide girls with the vision to plan – and the tools to build – their future. All Girls Club programs develop environmental, entrepreneurial and ethical leadership in the girls we serve. For more information visit www.girlsclub.org

Just in time for spring, the June 2010 issue of Women’s Health Magazine will report the winners of their 4th annual Beauty Awards. Featuring both reader’s and editor’s picks by category (hair, face, body, and makeup), I had the privilege of joining the publication for the announcement of their winners and received an advanced copy of the magazine.

So who won? Here’s a sneak peek at some of my favorite editor’s picks:

• Best Budge-proof Eye Shadow – Tarte Lock & Roll Eyeshadow in Burnt Bronze
• Best Sheer Cheek Color – NARS Cadacques Multiple Tint
• Best Foundation – Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
• Best Self-Tanner – Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel
• Best Mascara – CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume
• Best Dry Shampoo – Umberto Beverly Hills Dry Clean Dry Shampoo
• Best OTC Treatment for Uneven Skin Pigmentation – Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

I have to say this event was a lot of fun. Women’s Health Magazine featured all the winners by category and I greatly enjoyed reading about each product and having the opportunity to talk makeup with Women’s Health Beauty Director Molly Nover-Baker and Associate Beauty Editor Alexis Farah and answering the infamous question of ‘what do you think?’ Honestly, I was impressed for a number of reasons, mainly because I thought it was very original.

I was happy to see of the products I had tried, all of them were in my top five for that category (if not my favorite), and pleasantly surprised that I hadn’t tried the majority of the winners. There was great mix of mass and prestige brands across all categories and price points. They didn’t choose a lot of the ‘classic winners’, which while deserving, it’s always nice to learn about some unsung heroes who are just as worthy. In fact, I noticed a healthy assortment of new products that launched within the past year that have been on my radar won. Of course we all have our favorite products and brands we’d love to see make the charts, but it’s difficult to be so opinionated when there really are so many spectacular products on the market right now. So while I can’t judge what I haven’t tried based on the assortment of winners, I’m very intrigued and excited to try their recommendations. This is especially true for the Best Product for Curly Hair winner of whom Alexis raved about –however you’ll have to pick up the issue for that winner (I’ve spoiled enough of the surprise).

The complete list of winners is available in the June 2010 issue Women’s Health Magazine hitting newsstands on May 25th. For more information visit WomensHealthMag.com

Please note: I haven’t tried any of the products listed below, so I can’t speak for them, however I am intrigued.

1. Protect from the Inside Out

Sun damage causes free radicals, which all edible antioxidants fight. Some work better at protecting against the sun’s rays. Your best bites are reddish-orange foods that are high in lycopene, such as tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, apricots, and papayas, and foods and beverages that are rich in flavonoids, such as green tea and dark chocolate. You’ll need at least 10 weeks of daily ingestion to optimize the benefits.

2. Seek Shades

Ultra stylish oversize sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement. They also shield the paper-thin skin around your eyes from dangerous UV damage (5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers appear on the eyelids) as well as the formation of fine lines and crow’s-feet. More important, sun exposure can affect the eye itself (specifically the cornea, lens, and retina), causing cataracts and macular degeneration over time.

3. Sport SPF-WEAR

Bikinis are de rigueur pool- and beachside, but they provide little sun protection. If you’re going to be in the water, take a cue from the world’s sexiest surfer girls and rock a rash guard. The fabric in Letarte rash guards has a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50-plus, which blocks 98 percent of harmful UV rays.

The truth is, all clothing has a sun protection factor, but it’s not enough to combat summer sun. The lighter the clothing color, the less it shields. A white T-shirt has an SPF of 4 to 6, while a black one has 9 or 10. However all washables can have a UPF of 30: Just add a packet of SunGuard ($2; sunguardsunprotection.com) to your laundry during the wash cycle. Pretty cool, huh?

For these and other SPF tips, check out:  www.womenshealthmag.com

For the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, I decided to spend the evening at the Kiehl’s Flagship store to partake in the celebration of their ‘Give Kiehls, Give Back’ campaign.

Photographed by David LaChapelle, the campaign features actress Julianne Moore, musician Pharrell Williams, pro-surfer Malia Jone and artist Jeff Koons; all of whom designed a limit edition label for Kiehl’s Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist.  For every one sold, Kiehl’s will donate 100% of the proceeds (up to $200,000) to the RainForest Alliance.

With actress Taryn Manning on the turn table, we celebrated Earth Day and Kiehl’s philanthropic efforts in style; great music, fun drinks and snacks (all acai berry based), with an influential crowd of actors, artists, TV personalities, photographers and press.  Guests included Malia Jones, Tinsly Mortimer, Robert Verdi, Parker Posey, Adrienne Bailon, Shiri Appleby, Richie Rich, Heather Matarazzo, Kelly Benisom, Ally Sheedy, Norman Reedus and KAWS.

The collection is available at Kiehls.com

Recognizing that ‘product packaging accounts for 1/3 of all landfill waste,’ Origins is encouraging consumers to recycle.  They are even willing to do it for you.  Bring in your empty cosmetic and toiletry products to any origins store or counter nationwide (any brand) and they will recycle it.  Origins will even treat you to a free sample for your environmental efforts.

As if that’s not nice enough, as part of their Origins Rocks Earth Month initiative they offering some additional really amazing incentives to recycle:

On Earth Day, April 22^nd bring in an empty bottle (any brand) to your local Origins store and they will give you a new full-size Origins Cleanser (A Perfect World or Checks and Balances).  Get there early, it’s only while supplies last!

Live (or frequent) NYC? Origins is offering 2 FREE tickets to see Grammy-Award Winner Macy Gray at Webster Hall in NYC on April 19^th when you bring in at least one empty cosmetic product (any brand) to any NYC Origins retail store from now until the day of the concert (while supplies last).  For every concert attendee, Origins will plant a tree through Global ReLeaf.

No purchase necessary, for more information visit Origins.com

Kiehl’s Since 1851 is at it again! Last year in honor of Earth Day the skincare brand teamed up with Adrian Grenier, Kelly Slater, Erykah Badu and Parsons The New School for Design to help raise $100,000 for Waterkeeper.

This year Kiehl’s is partnering with actress Julianne Moore, musician Pharrell Williams, artist Jeff Koons and pro-surfer Malia Jones.  Each collaborator designed a Limited Edition label for their Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist and for every one sold, Kiehl’s is donating a 100% of the net proceeds (amounting to $200,000) to the Rainforest Alliance.

Jeff Koons is my favorite! Which is yours?

For more information visit Kiehls.com

Right about now a 7 day/6 night vacation for two sounds pretty perfect!  Thanks to AHAVA skin care you may have that chance. No purchase necessary, to enter and for the official rules visit ahavaus.com/sweepstakes/