OK, so let's be honest, the last few weeks have been so crazy with holiday prep and craziness that I haven't posted as often as I would have liked...the same holds true for this week, so I am going to give you my year in review...in the mother-of-all posts today...and then bid you farewell until we head full force into 2011 with all new stories, products, and kicking off Stetson Creative TV, which will include video blogs, creative tutorials, and guest entries from some of my favorite beauty mavens!  We will also be unveiling an all-new interactive site sometime in Spring 2011, so stay tuned for that as well.  In the meantime....

BEST BEAUTY BREAKTHROUGH
ADVANCED HOME ACTIVES Brazilian Peel
Glycolic peels are one of the safest, most effective peels to reduce the appearance of fine lines, smooth and even skin tone and surface, and brighten complexion..but when improperly used or timed, can result in severe irritation that can take weeks to heal.  The Brazilian Peel is the first 30% Glycolic Acid treatment peel safe for use at home with the powerful antioxidant properties of the acai berry.  Let me tell you...in one treatment, you notice instant results, and after two, your face appears rejuvenated.  Use weekly for maximum results.  If you invest in one product for 2010, this is the one to go for!!!

$78 - Advanced Home Actives www.advancedhomeactives.com

BEST FACE WASH
FREEZE 24/7 Skin Glace Daily Detoxifying Cleanser and Mask
While this is not a new product for 2010, I first experienced it this year and when a skincare line gets a beauty junkie such as myself to change the products that I personally use on a daily basis, it's a big deal.  The Skin Glace has made a believer out of  me in not only this but other Freeze 24/7 products (Try the Double Scoop moisturizer too!).  It can be used as a cleanser and foaming mask at once! Massage into face for a super-squeaky clean, and leave on for 60 seconds as it foams to clean out pores and wipe away impuries, while leaving the skin moist ans supple!

$65 - Freeze 24/7 www.freeze247.com


BEST MOISTURIZER
IMMUPURE Daily Face and Neck Firming Moisturizer
Infused with Immupure's patented Bovine Colostrum and growth factor proteins, this moisturizer is unlike anything you have ever tried.  Worth the heavy price tag, this product will provide you with near-instant results, and in under a week, you will look 10 years younger!

$185 - Immupure www.immupure.com


BEST EYE CREAM
LA MER The Eye Concentrate
With its cult-like following, it has become common knowledge that La Mer is the Cadillac of skincare, with the Eye Concentrate as the latest addition to the family.  Infused with the La Mer signature Miracle Broth, the Eye Concentrate also contains hematite, a magnetically charged mineral which works WONDERS on dark circles.  The fabulous metal roller is cooling on delicate under-eye skin for a truly luxurious experience.

$165 - La Mer www.cremedelamer.com

BEST ANTI-AGING TREATMENT
STRIVECTIN Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum
Contains the patented StriVectin Tri-Active Concentrate which gently exfoliates while you sleep to smooth out fine lines, even texture and tone, and increase luminosity.  Use with your favorite night cream for maximum results.

$59 - StriVectin www.strivectin.com

BEST COMPLETE SYSTEM
SOMME INSTITUTE 5-Step Regimen
With their patented MDT5 Molecular Dispersion Technology, this system transforms the skin with vitamins A, B3, B5, C, and E.  This is one of those things that you have to really make sure you follow the directions and complete all of the steps, and when you do, you will REALLY see results.  I personally have a problem with skin clarity and evenness, and after two weeks using this system, my skin showed MAJOR improvements.  Best of all, it works for all skin types!  (1: Nourishing Cleanser, 2: Transport (exfoliant), 3: Serum (vitamin C), 4: A-Bomb (moisturizer with vitamins A and E), 5: Double Defense (SPF 30 moisturizer).

BEST HAIR PRODUCT
KMS CALIFORNIA Hair Play Makeover Spray
Whether prepping the hair for a style, or "making over" your existing style, this innovative hair product is one of my all-time favorites.  It absorbs oil, keeps pins and curls firmly in place, and can be used to "rejuvenate" existing products to restyle hair! Perfect for the girl on the go, or when working with multiple looks at a single photo shoot!

$23 - KMS California at Fine Salons Nationwide

BEST NAIL CARE
KARMA ORGANIC SPA Nail Polish and Remover
Non-toxic, chemical-free, and cruelty-free, these products are my #1 in nail care.  Long lasting lacquers and flawless remover are the only nail color you will ever need, and they are available in a selection of colors from mild to wild!

$10 - $12 Karma Organic Spa www.karmaorganicspa.com

BEST BODY
COMODYNES Hydra Tanning Moisturizing Summer Effect
A perfect way to stay moisturized while keeping that sun-kissed glow all winter long!  With vitamins E and F to protect again free radicals, this lotion provides gradual color which increases with daily use.  A word of warning: wash your hands immediately after applying or you will find yourself looking "dirty".  Apply in a circular motion for full, even coverage and the most fabulous legs you have ever seen!

$10 - Comodynes www.comodynes.net

BEST MAKEUP(tie)
MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick
By now you are tired of hearing about it, but for a lip color that goes on creamy, with intense pigment, that lasts FOREVER, this is your only choice.  Whether you prefer perfectly nude, the reddest red, or the blackest black, there is something here for you!

$19 - Make Up For Ever www.sephora.com

MEHRON Celebre Pro HD Foundation
You don't have to spend $30, $40, or even $60 for flawless buildable coverage.  This cream foundation allows you to create a smooth, light coverage for daily wear, or build full coverage for a photo shoot or editorial look.  Wet your makeup sponge and set with a translucent powder for the best lightweight foundation you have ever used...feels like nothing is there at all!  Available in 20 shades!

$10 - Mehron www.mehron.com

BEST MEN'S PRODUCT
BRAVE SOLDIER Antiseptic Healing Ointment
By no means a new product, this is the product that kicked off the entire Brave Soldier line, and one of the best products I have tested this year!  Formulated with lavender, tea-tree, macadamia, and hemp seed oils, this antibacterial remedy will soothe and kick-start healing of any nick or scrape you may encounter.  The best part is the addition of lidocaine for instant pain relief!  If you cut yourself shaving, stub your toe, or are simply clumsy like me, this is one product you NEED in your medicine cabinet.  LADIES, this is a great product for you too! Apply before waxing to numb the skin and prevent infection and bumps!

$12 - Brave Soldier www.bravesoldier.com

So there you have it! My favorites of the year for 2010.  Get ready for a whole batch of new products in 2011, because I know you cant resist the latest and greatest..until then....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

So you are 40 years old and all of a sudden you are looking in the mirror wondering where that youthful glow went and what you can do to fix it.  Expensive surgery? Not necessarily... There are some easy skincare, makeup, and hair tricks that an restore that glow and leave you feeling great about that reflection. Just don't forget your age, and trying too hard to look young will actually leave you looking older.

1. HYDRATE AND TREAT THOSE FINE LINES! As skin ages, it often gets dry and thick, so using a good quality moistrizer will help skin stay fresh and elastic.  I really like IMMUPURE's Daily Face Moisturizer, which contains bovine colostrum, which is a protein proven to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, replenishing lost collagen along with essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

$185 - Henri Bendel 5th Ave www.henribendel.com

2. EXFOLIATE! The skin on your face and body can actually thicken and look dull and flaky if not properly exfoliated.  Exfoliating will keep cell regenergation levels at their maximun so that you retain that natural glow.  DR. BRANDT's Microdermabrasion contains Lactic Acid, Aloe Vera, and Chamomile to gently exfoliate while calming and reducing redness.  A great opportunity for those wanting a dermatologist treatment at home!

$75 - Dr. Brandt www.drbrandt.com

3. TREAT SKIN SPOTS! You no longer need to see a dermatologist to treat age spots effectively.  A brand new product from CLINIQUE offers a dramatic reduction in the appearance of dark spots on the face.

$50 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

4. UPDATE YOUR HAIR!  If you have had the same hair style for ten years or more, it's time to rethink your look.  Go to a good colorist and try highlights, or a new cut! A new hair style can freshen up your look and take years off!

5. FOUNDATION! If you have fairly even skin, you don't need a heavy foundation, or alot of powder, which can make it look like you are trying to cover up too much.  The best thing that I have found is to mix 1 part medium cover foundation such as YSL Teint Eclat De Soi with a light reflection serum from NARS (Brightening Serum) and apply to the face with a GOOD QUALITY brush, for a barely there, flawless finish.

$54 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

$61 - Henri Bendel 5th Ave www.henribendel.com

6. HIGHLIGHER! I have recommended this on AT LEAST two other occasions, but Touche Eclat Highlighter from YSL is THE ONLY highlighter you will ever need!  Apply and blend on the bridge of the nose, right above brow line, and right below lower lids.

$40 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

7. EYES!  Stay with neutral, warm colors on the eyes, and don't get too bright.  Using bright eyeshadow at this age will leave you looking like a watching punch line, and that is a look that nobody wants. SEPHORA COLLECTION offers a great artist palette at a great price for any look!

$32 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

8. LIPS! Prime the lips with a lip balm before using any lipstick or color.  Now is the age when it is appropriate to wear a darker shade of red for a more dramatic, mature look.  Try CHANEL Rouge Allure in any of 25 fabulous colors.  This lipstick has just the right balance of moisturizing and styaing power.

$30 - Saks 5th Avenue www.saks.com

So now that I have discussed how to feed your skin with food, vitamins, and minerals, let's talk about my favorite thing: PRODUCTS! Many women (and men) have the illusion that the more expensive a product is, the better it works. Celebrities swear by cremes, peels, etc....so whats the truth about it? Skincare is about ingredients, not whether or not its associated with luxury, etc.
Example:
CREME DE LA MER - Has a cult following and is used by almost everyone who can afford its exorbitant price tag, and has been christened as a "miracle creme." Let's look at the ingredients: Sea kelp, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, lecithin, vitamins c, e, and b12, citrus oil, eucalyptus, wheat germ alfalfa and sunflower. At first glance, nothing remarkable, and all ingredients we have discussed this week, though experts still have not figured why it works so well, it just does. My thoughts: If you can splurge go for it, otherwise there is another product out there for you!

$130 - Neiman Marcus www.neimanmarcus.com

YES, you can get a good skin creme at a drugstore!
OLAY REGENERIST has received stellar reviews, and even often gets ranked higher than many department store brands. (Yes, the commercial is actually true!) Regenerist contains amino-peptiedes, green tea, B complex, vitamin e, and citric acid (vitamin c), which are proven beneficial to the skin. How does it compare to La Mer? Only you can decide what works for you!

$20 - Major Drugstores Nationwide

ONE more thing....
I can't talk about skin nutrition without talking about one of my absolute favorite skincare products. I discovered IMMUPURE while working at one of the cosmetics counters at Henri Bendel, a high end department store on 5th avenue in NYC, and it is brilliant. This is one of the few products I have ever seen that gives you nearly INSTANT results. The key to its success is a product called colostrum, which is a protein produced during pregnancy, which is said to restore cell DNA and protect from free radicals. Also containing polypeptides, B complex, shea butter, and vitamins A, C, and E, this is a line that I can fully endorse even with the high price tag.

$50-$200 Immupure http://pharmacollc.com/immupure.html and at Henri Bendel NYC