Beauty Barre
Leading Lights The holidays are the time to glow. Benefit offers some ingenious ways to light up your life—and your look—like you’ve got your very own spotlight. From subtle: D'finer D'liner($18) is an innovative pencil that outlines lips to keep liner, lipstick or lip gloss from straying, but it also imparts an ever-so-subtle highlight. To stellar: The soft white shimmer of Miss Popularity($24) gives a red carpet glow that heightens cheekbones, widens eyes, streamlines nose, perks up your pout, even makes for a dazzling décolleté. Making all your holidays merry and bright! (Great girlfriend gifts, too.) Sephora stores and online or www.benefitcosmetics.com
Crowning Glory Guru Q.: Who coined the phrase "bad hair day"? A.: World-renowned hair guru Philip Kingsley! For decades this leading author-ity on hair and scalp has been ensuring that everyone from René Zellweger to Kate Winslet (even Princess Diana) doesn't have them. So who better to write the definitive tome on problem tresses? The Hair Bible; A Complete Guide to Health and Care is an A-Z answer book for any hair problem you've ever encountered. FYI: A healthy hair will stretch up to 30% of its length and swell up to 20% of its diameter. For Long Lustrous locks, go to the guru. (It is a great gift, but you’ll probably want to keep it for yourself.) $16.95 at bookstores or online. Check out www.philipkingsley.com— he has a great way to determine the products that best care for your hair.
A Kiss that Counts You may not be under the mistletoe, but this kiss really does show your love. Eternal Equity Gloss, an ultra pretty (nonsticky) pale pink lip gloss (with a glint of gold) lights up your lips and others' lives. Because it’s from PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics (founder Jody Weiss reminds us that our buying power gives a unique opportunity to help others who are less fortunate), $1 from the sale of this gloss goes to the Poverty Reduction Initiative, a fund for Thai women who live on less than a dollar a day. For $365 a year, or $1 a day, a woman will be trained in a sustainable trade and funded to build her business. Talk about beautiful! $16.50, at Whole Foods, Marriott Spas, Earth Fare and other specialty stores nationwide. Visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.
Supercharged Snacking How many years running have you received (or given!) one of those oversize tins of flavored popcorn? Sure, it seems like a healthy holiday treat, but come on, cheese and caramel flavoring? Enter Superseedz: 4 fantastic flavors of dry roasted pumpkin seeds, in Original Curry (Yum!), Sea Salt, Cinnamon & Sugar, and Somewhat Spicy. Great as a garnish for salads and soups or as a zippy sprinkle to yogurt, oatmeal, or ice cream. Plus, pumpkin seeds are packed with nutrition as well: loaded with iron, a good source of protein, they can also be counted on for essential fatty acids, magnesium, potassium and zinc. Frankly, we like to carry ’em around in their resealable pack to head off holiday calories at the pass. $5 for a 6 oz. bag; makes a great guilt-free gift. At superseedz.com
Shiny Happy People The absolute best way to glow is to let your inner confidence, poise, and grace shine through. How? One of the best ways is to make sure you're rested, relaxed, and taking care of yourself. Peace & Tranquility candles from Chesapeake Bay create soothing and incandescent surroundings to meditate and recharge body and spirit. In six delicious colors and scents, like the Ginger Saffron of Inspire or the Lavender & Mint of Calm, Eco-friendly, and soy based (so no soot!), they come in ultra pretty packaging and lovely frosted glasses good for a multitude of uses after the last spark has gone out. A great gift (especially for you). $9.99; available at Target.
Feet Treat: Winter Chic Leg warmers are not solely a dancer's domain, but these you'll want to keep all to yourself: Super chic faux fur leg warmers ($45) in Cheetah, Black Fox (shown), or Sable keep calves and ankles toasty. Cushioned velour slippers have white mink trim ($29). Bring a smile to someone's face with the sable-topped stockings ($25) to hang on the mantle, or mini versions to adorn the tree. A great way to celebrate your feet! At Donna Salyers Fabulous~Furs, fabulousfurs.com