Summer Glow

Summer makes you want to be outside and feel the sun on your skin. A lot of times we wear as little clothing as possible and tiny bathing suits to enjoy the warm weather. And sometimes we are blinded by glaringly pale skin. Sorry, everyone, usually that's me.

Jergens has been my go-to for self tanner for years now. When KAO Brands released Jergens Natural Glow in March of 2005, they quickly sold out. You couldn't find it anywhere. This product worked! Its claims to darken you a full shade in a week were true. So I happily stocked up once it hit the shelves again.

So when they came out with the Natural Glow foam, I had to try it. I'm so glad I did. I will never go back to anything else. This product is genius. It has the same gradual darkening as the original (honestly, I think the foam works even better) but it's much easier to apply and dries so quickly. I opt for the "Medium to Tan" formula to get a darker color, but they also have one for "Fair to Medium" skin tones for a subtle color. The best way to apply is to shower, exfoliate, and apply after you've toweled any excess water off your skin. It's easy to spread on and is never streaky. Once it's dry (which is lightning-quick) you can dress immediately and not worry about transferring color to your clothes. Plus there is no funky smell, which is usually the giveaway of a fake tan.

If you're looking for a fake bake that looks like you just spent a week on a tropical vacation, this is what you're looking for. Jergens also has an express formula and another for your face. And of course, always apply sunscreen! Get glowing.

Everyone's Talking About Marie Robinson

Everyone is talking about colorist Marie Robinson. The Sally Hershberger alum has just opened her own salon in downtown NYC.

With a loyal roster of clients that reads like a who's who of Hollywood (including Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman and Uma Thurman) it's no wonder that a number of her old co-workers have happily followed to her eponymous salon.

Marie is the amazing talent behind Michelle Williams's new platinum blonde, which she debuted at Cannes.

(photo via style.com)

You literally can't pick up a fashion or beauty magazine that does not feature Marie. Her amazing color genius is even available to us mere mortals. You can find her and her talented clan at:

The Marie Robinson Salon 155 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor (212) 358-7780

And you can read more about Marie here, here and here.

Wave of the Fuchsia

A bright pop of color is just the thing to infuse some fun into your summer makeup routine. Fuchsia is cropping up everywhere from the runways (Marc by Marc Jacobs and Dior) to your next door neighbor's nail polish.

It may seem like this color is overwhelming. It doesn't have to be. With all the sheer options, it's very wearable. The warm weather is right around the corner and hot pink is a perfect complement to (fake) tanned skin. Try it for an easy day at the beach or punch it up for an evening out.

From lip stains to polishes, the possibilities are endless. Some great options for a bright pink cheek are Lorac's blush in Desire, a shimmery pink that provides a natural coloring or can look more doll-like when applied with a heavier hand. NARS the Multiple Tint in Cadaques (a bright fuchsia tint). This new product from NARS is vibrant yet wearable. It goes on sheer and can be layered to give a more vivid shade.

If you prefer a bright lip you can try NARS Funny Face (semi matte fuchsia). Make Up Forever's Flourescent Orange Pink is a more creamy option for a glossier look. And finally for those who prefer the natural look or a beach ready option, you can throw in a tote, try Josie Maran's Lip Stain in Jitterbug.

Embrace your inner siren with this pretty in pink trend.

Seeing Red

The perfect red pout is an elusive creature. Red lips are classic, glamorous and never go out of style. And there are numerous styles to choose from. You can go shiny, glossy, sheer, try a stain, and, of course, the latest craze (and my personal favorite): matte red.

Everyone talks about the "right" way to choose a red lipstick. There are no hard and fast rules; it's more about trial and error. Yes, if you're fair, a more blue-based red tends to work better, however, that shouldn't stop you from trying one of the season's hottest coral-reds. A red lip is all about fearlessness. Don't let the rules hold you back from finding your perfect color.

Hair color, eye color, and skin tone certainly always play a part in shade selection, but don't feel like you have to count something out because you saw somewhere that tomato reds are not for redheads. Try it, you may just find it's your new favorite.

A few great ones to try are:

Russian Red, Lady Danger and Lady Bug by MAC
Jungle Red and Shanghai Express by NARS
Poppy Lipstick Queen has a red that comes in sheer, opaque and gloss form.
Star Red by YSL
Rouge Allure in Dragon by Chanel
True Red by Revlon
Moisture Renew Red Alert by Rimmel

MET Ball Beauties

Monday's MET Ball in New York City was attended by some seriously gorgeous ladies. Here are a few of the winning looks of the evening. (all photos from style.com)

Anne Hathaway

The naturally gorgeous Anne went with a natural theme on Monday evening. To complement her gorgeous nude gown, her makeup palette consisted of natural-looking pinks and nudes. Her beautiful, barely there pink lip color only ehanced her natural coloring. The soft, pinky nude blush gave the appearance of a pretty flush. All set off with lush inky lashes and a bit of liner. She was fresh-faced and stunning.

Zoe Saldana

The always stunning Zoe Saldana was nothing short of that yet again. She postively glowed. Her cheeks were a pretty, luminescent pink. She had a perfectly shaped, smoky cat eye. Topping off the look with a stunning pastel pink lip. Sheer perfection.

Kate Bosworth

Kate always looks efforlessly cool. She rocks her natural beauty and usually keeps things on the simple side. Stepping outside the norm this time, she went vintage glam. She went with chic retro waves evoking old hollywood glamour. Obviously the theme of the night was a universally flattering pinky nude lip. For her eyes, she did a brown, smoky, almost antiqued look.

M.I.A

This lady is just too amazing. Never afraid to take a risk with fashion or makeup, she rocks the trends like no one else. She paired her mettallic crocheted and leather dress (which only she could pull off) with a bright orange lip and a beautiful dark smoky eye. Done. And, may I say, I think she owned the cool factor for the night.

Essie News

I know this isn't exactly breaking news, but it's just so great I needed to talk about it. Essie has been purchased by beauty giant L'Oreal. I hope this means that the wonderful world of Essie will be brought to the masses. Perhaps soon we will see one of our favorite brands- that has brought us a wide range of colors like Ballet Slippers to Mint Candy Apple- on drugstore shelves. The brand also has plans to expand into cosmetics and haircare. Exciting news for Essie fans!

Hail to the Chic

I love nail polish. In the summertime, I can't live without it on my toes. Once the warm weather hits and the sandals come out, it's necessary. At least for me.

I love to keep up with the new "it" colors of the season. There are some general color families I will always shy away from, such as anything yellow. Just can't do it. And while I veer towards the brights and pastels for spring and summer, I am currently in love with Sally Hansen's "Commander in Chic". It's a dead ringer for Chanel's Particuliere. So for those of you looking for the lovely mix of grey, purple and brown combined into a single gorgeous shade- at a mere $7.59 compared to Chanel's heftier price tag, it's a bargain.

While I was already sold with the color alone, the whole design of this bottle is pretty great. The cap has a little black rubber ring, making it easier to hold and control. This is great, if, like me, painting your nails is more like painting your entire finger; the brush is much easier to control. And, speaking of the brush, it's genius. The design is a little shorter and wider, which translates into more coverage with each stroke. Yay for that! Happy painting.