Summer is on its way!

As the countdown to the season gets closer, it’s hard not to imagine yourself having lunch on a patio or laying on the beach all day getting that “summer glow”. But before you start planning your dream vacation with family and friends, you need to make sure you’ve got the right facts about staying safe in the sun.

Here’s how to look great this summer and avoid the risks of skin cancer, sunburns, and wrinkled skin.

Wear sunscreen.

Although many of us are ready to trade our sweaters and jeans for a summer dress and flip-flops, we have to remember to keep protected from the sun.
For best results, always apply sunscreen half an hour before you go outside. Since the sun affects everyone in different ways, it’s important to know your skin type so you can find the sunscreen that suits you.

If you have fair and sensitive skin, it’s best to go with a sunscreen with SPF 50 for your face and at least SPF 30 for your body.

When you’re putting on sunscreen, don’t forget to protect your lips and eyelids from the sun and always make sure to check the expiry date!

Drink water.

Beat the heat! It’s important to drink plenty of water every day in order to keep your skin hydrated and to get toxins out of your body. Dehydration can lead to dry skin, headaches, and dark circles under your eyes. Try to have at least eight glasses of water each day to keep your healthy glow!

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Since staying out in the sun for a long period of time will make you tired, it’s important to get an energy boost so you can enjoy those summer nights out with your best friends! Fresh fruits and vegetables will brighten your eyes and give your skin a natural glow. Recent studies have shown that eating vegetables can give you a better complexion than sun tanning; so make sure to dig into as many veggies as you can!

Tips on safely boosting your complexion:

-          Always choose self-tanning products instead of tanning beds or sun tanning

-          Get your dose of vitamins: Evening Primrose Oil is meant to establish healthy looking skin, and can help defend you from the sun!

-           Apply bronzer to your face to add a touch of colour and enhance your glow

-          Exfoliate skin once a week to keep it looking fresh and healthy

-          Apply a light moisturizer after your shower for protection and to give your skin some extra shine

Now that you know how to keep your skin safe and still get that beach-babe complexion the summer while enjoying the sun. What are you waiting for? Grab your girlfriends and head to the beach, or take someone special for a picnic in the park. Just remember to fill up your water bottle and slather on some sunscreen before you go!

What was once dehydrated, uneven and damaged skin, thanks to the bitter cold temperatures, now appears smooth, delicate and scar-free!  This Vitamin-E enriched, must-have dry oil is fortified with a host of skin-friendly ingredients designed to revamp and refine the appearance of uneven skin tone, fine lines and stretch marks. The advanced, multi-purpose and dermatologist-tested oil can be used on face and body, and even features a chocolate-like aroma – how decadent!

With the absorption of a body lotion, minus the gooey greasiness of a common oil-based lather, Palmer’s freshest creation yet is the ideal addition to your beauty routine this bikini season.

This preservation-free, lightweight formula contains Cetesomate-E Complex, which boosts the skins ability to swiftly soak up Palmer’s exclusive blend of ingredients, including sesame oil, canola oil and rosehip oil, which consists of 80 per cent fatty acid and a high Vitamin C content recommended for scars and aging skin.

Thanks to Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil my skin has a new BFF.  Whether you are suffering from dry, damaged or aging skin, this miracle worker will fit flawlessly in your beauty regimen and warrants a permanent spot in every woman’s bathroom cabinet.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil is sold at most major retail and drug stores, and is available at Walmart (150 ml bottle) for $9.99.

Hair Stylist Nick Arrojo

You probably know Nick Arrojo from his multi-year stint as hairstylist extraordinaire on TLC’s What Not To Wear. But pretty soon he’ll be best known as the man who keeps your hair looking just-stepped-out-of-the-salon gorgeous. And he’ll do it from the comfort of your own home.

ARROJO Hair Products

Arrojo is bringing his own line of hair care products, which have already launched in the US, to salons in Canada (currently only available in Ontario, but branching out to other provinces in the future). He says expanding to Canada was a natural step in the evolution of the ARROJO brand and due in part to the demands of his loyal clients north of the border.

“Clients come in [to my salon] from Canada and take the product home with them. They pass it along to their friends and I get calls asking me to send them more,” Arrojo says.

Of course, this is the era of ubiquitous celebrity products, where anyone from Grammy-winners to reality starlets can align themselves with a product and watch the cash roll in.

“I had people approach me – because I had been on TV – with money,” Arrojo admits. “They wanted to put my name on a product, but that wasn’t for me. I wanted to make something I really believe in.”

He continues, “I wanted a product that would be simple to understand, creative and easy and playful to apply, and provide the versatility to make any kind of look straightforward to achieve.”

Although he is busy growing his hair care empire, Arrojo, who has been cutting hair for three decades, still sees about 30 clients a week at his New York salon. With so many fashionable people passing through his studio on a daily basis, Nick Arrojo knows a thing or two about what’s hot for hair. If you want to be on-trend this spring, go for a layered style of any length (“People are always going to want long hair, but shorter styles are big for summer as well.”) cut with a razor.

“We’re seeing a lot of razoring and we’re seeing a lot of layers but done in a different way,” he explains. “We used to do layers from the top down, but now we’re doing them from the inside out.”

Rachel Bilson's two-toned hairstyle.

As for colour, take a cue from fashionistas like Sarah Jessica Parker, Drew Barrymore and Rachel Bilson and go for a bold, two-toned look.

“We’re seeing a lot of ombre colours. We’re doing colour from the inside out, instead of from the top down,” Arrojo says.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is getting preoccupied with length. How many times have we seen someone on a makeover show panic at the thought of losing more than a centimeter or two?

“Length is not as important as the shape of the cut,” he says. “I don’t negotiate a haircut in inches; I do it in shape.”

Another mistake women make is not protecting their hair from the sun. Arrojo advocates using his Thermal Protector before you go out in the morning and reapplying throughout the day. “Think of it as sunscreen for your hair; it’s going to wear off.” He also suggests covering up with a hat because that’s the surest way to keep your hair out of harm’s way.

Nick Arrojo wants to start a hair revolution and encourages women to embrace a more simplified approach to their hair care routine. He believes we should spend time on our hair when we have the time to spare and stop wasting our energy when we don’t.

“People…spend so much time styling their hair, fighting their natural texture, during the week. Women can wear their hair curly and it can still be professional,” he says. “I say why not put more effort into your hair on the weekend when you have more time. No one has time to waste in the morning before work. But you can put in a little more effort before a date or before going out at night.”

For more information about ARROJO products check out ArrojoStudio.com.

Blake Lively at the 2011 BAM Theater Gala on March 10th in New York City.

As the temperature starts to rise, it marks the time for the always-anticipated spring cleaning.  Just as our wardrobes transition from winter to spring, so should our beauty routine. This means packing up your beloved straightener, blow-dryer and much-loved curling iron, and letting your tousles go au natural!   Every day women spend hours tugging, pulling and frying their strands. But why do we put our hair through so much damage simply for a “good hair day”? Thanks to Hollywood trendsetters like Diane Kruger, Rachel Bilson and Blake Lively, natural locks has become the most wanted hair trend this season.  With the 70s inspired looks hitting the runway, women are taking a stroll down memory lane with their bright ensembles, chunky platforms and untouched manes!

We tend to turn a blind eye to the sizzling truth about heat styling, however using hot surfaces do in fact lead to breakage, split ends, dull hair, and early hair loss. So kick up your feet, embrace your inner beauty and give your styling products the season off!

If your hair is:

Naturally Straight

To control fizz, add a nickel size dollop of hair serum into your hands, rub it between your fingers and run your hands through your hair. The hair serum will not only reduce frizz but add shine to your hair. To add more shape, twist the hair by your face pin it back, add some hairspray and let it loose.

Grape Seed Glossing Serum from the Body Shop, $14; www.thebodyshop.ca

Naturally Wavy

To enhance your wavy hair, twist your curls into tight rounds, bobby pin it to your head and spray with hairspray. Remove the bobby pins, and to have tight curls. To create soft waves, run your fingers through your hair very thoroughly. Add some hair serum to add shine and reduce fizz.

Joimist Firm by Joico, $ 24; www.joica.com

Naturally Curly

Try to avoid washing your hair everyday, this kind of hair needs the natural oils from your scalp. Also avoid using towels to dry your hair. Pick a good leave in conditioner and add some curl-defining mousse or gel. To add more shape to your hair try scrunching it and twirling pieces around with your fingers.

Dry Shampoo by Tresemme, $6; drugstores

Spray Conditioner by BC Bonacure, $18; www.schwarzkopf-professional.com

Curly Boosting Mousse by Herbal Essences, $7; drugstores

Still not convinced? More reasons why to go natural

1. Exposing your scalp to chemicals on a regular basis is not only damaging for your hair but it can damage for your health.
2. Natural hairs styles are coming back in a big way.
3. Less damage to your hair can save the cost of the many salon visits per year. Instead of going to get your hair cut once a month for $100, with healthy hair means less hair appointments. You could save approx $900 per year.
4. You have more time to enjoy your day. If you usually put 30 minutes a day towards your hair, you could use your time more productively.
5. You will learn to appreciate yourself and your natural beauty.
6. It takes less energy to embrace what you have than to fight against it.

Kate Bosworth

Getting tired of your red lips?  As the weather brightens, let your pink pout make its debut this spring!  It’s just as glamorous as red – but much more youthful!  This feminine and in style lipstick shade is bound turn heads this season.

Step 1: Pick the perfect shade for you!

For fair skin: For lighter skin tones, stick with paler hues, without any blue casts, for a bright look. These colors include mauve or pale rose, which complement your skin without looking too dramatic.

Try These:

Chanel Rouge Allure Lip Colour in Insolent, $30; chanel.com

MAC Lipstick in Pink Nouveau, $17.50; maccosmetics.com

Covergirl Lip Perfection in Enchantress, $6.50; drugstores

For Olive Skin: For medium skin tones, anything from a dark rose to a fuchsia shade will create a stunning pop of colour.

Try These:

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in #36, $19; sephora.com

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Fuchsia, $8.99; drugstores

Covergirl Lip Perfection in Divine, $6.50; drugstores

For Dark Skin: Skip the light pinks in favor of a deep beery for an irresistible look.

Try These:

Dior Rouge Dior in 76 Star Fuchsia, $30 dior.com

Nars Lipstick in Scarlet Empress, $24; sephora.com

Covergirl Lip Perfection in Eternal, $6.50; drugstores

Step 2: Apply like a pro:

For a flawless application, use a lip brush.  Blot with a tissue to avoid a cakey appearance.

Step 3: What to wear it with:

Let your bold pink pout take centre stage by avoiding a heavy color palette on your eyes. Add a soft brown liner and a single coat of black mascara for natural daytime. Look glamorous for an evening out with shimmery nude shadow, black liner and a double coat of mascara.

XOXO,

AdornedMag

1. Lip Tint Trio by J.R. Watkins – 19.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharma Plus
2. Peace Candle in Pomegranate by Kiss My Face – $20.00 at Whole Foods and Loblaw
3. Union Square sunnies by Jérémy Tarian – $375 at Josephson Opticians (josephson.ca for locations)
4. Cherry red leather clutch by DANIER – $39
5. Lavender Body Oil by J.R. Watkins – $8.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharma Plus
6. Leopard print scarf by DANIER – $39
7. Prelude to a Kiss nail lacquer by Deborah Lippmann – $20 at DONATO salon + spa (donato.ca for locations)
8. My Old Flame nail lacquer by Deborah Lippmann – $20 at DONATO salon + spa (donato.ca for locations)
9. Ruby Red Slippers nail lacquer by Deborah Lippmann – $20 at DONATO salon + spa (donato.ca for locations)

Donato Salon + Spa is thrilled to introduce the deborah lippmann Celebrity Manicure, created by Deborah Lippmann, world-renowned celebrity manicurist. Deborah Lippmann’s work has appeared in Vogue, W, GQ and Vanity Fair, and now you can take home her line of high quality nail lacquers that have graced the hands of Lady Gaga, Scarlet Johanson, Kate Winslet and Mariah Carey.

Introductory Offer: To celebrate this polished collection of products and services, at Donato Salon + Spa, you will receive a FREE full-size deborah lippmann lacquer with your Celebrity Manicure for only $40.00 (a $20 value).

For those of you who shy away from manicures because you squirm at the thought of having your cuticles cut, the Celebrity Manicure features the deborah lippmann Cuticle Remover that uses Potassium Hydroxide to remove the dry skin and skip the cutting all together. No soaking, no clipping!

What makes deborah lippmann long-wearing lacquers unique? They feature a 3-FREE formulation. Free of Formaldehyde, Toluene and DDP, toxic chemicals that are often used in nail polishes.

Fierce Fact: Deborah Lippmann moved to New York to pursue a jazz singing career, but lucky for us she landed a gig as a manicurist that led her to opportunities creating nail looks for Versace, Valentino and Donna Karan. To pay homage to her first love, music, each of the nail lacquers is named after song titles.

Our fave treatment? “The Ridgefiller”. All deborah lippmann lacquers feature Aucoumea Klaineana extract, a natural resin from West African trees that helps strengthen nails and prevent those pesky ridges for smoother and healthier nails.

The lippmann collection boasts a variety of trend-setting chip-free nail colours and great treatment products, including “On a Clear Day” high gloss top coat with UV colour protection to prevent nail yellowing and “The Wait Is Over” quick drying drops. Not to mention lavender nail lacquer remover, “The Stripper”, Allure Magazine’s Best of Beauty award winner.

Summer Must Haves: “Happy Birthday”, a glittery party in a bottle, deborah lippmann collection’s number one selling product for ten years in a row and “Sarah Smile”, a sheer and sexy pink that Deborah Lippmann created in collaboration with Sex and the City’s Sarah Jessica Parker.

Get red carpet ready and book your deborah lippmann Celebrity Manicure at Donato Salon +Spa today!

To book your manicure appointment, call 905-566-5900.

Yes ladies, let’s not avoid this topic… We all sweat and we all use a certain little thing called a Deodorant on our armpits (men too, I hope). As the weather is getting hotter and we are all getting a little bit sweatier, I thought we’d take a few minutes to talk about the methods we use to prevent a Tom Cruise On The Red Carpet mishap.

First, let’s start with a little fact check.
Deodorants are not the same thing as Antiperspirants. Shocker!
Many people associate deodorants with antiperspirants because they live side by side on the shelves of drug stores. But don’t be fooled! They are different.

Deodorants prevents odor by using antiseptic agents, which help kill odor-causing bacteria. It is usually fragranced (baby powder, fresh cucumber, lavender, etc).

Antiperspirants contain chemical compounds (generally aluminum) that actually block the pores in your pits to stop perspiration. Hence the name, anti-perspirant. No sweat, no smell.

A lot of people think antiperspirants are a better choice because, logically, isn’t it better to stop sweat from leaking out of our pores rather than use nice fragrances to cover it up after the fact? (Yes, I said ‘leaking’! Probably a better choice of word than ‘squirting’)

Theoretically, I would agree. But think deeper about it… Is it safe to swipe a stick of aluminum in your pits that will block your natural born pores?

Healthcare professionals will generally recommend deodorants over antiperspirants, but we’re all left at the mercy of marketing companies since both deodorants and antiperspirants contain harmful chemicals (aluminum for antiperspirants, parabens for deodorants) that can link to serious illnesses.

There are alternatives out there, such as home-made remedies that involve rubbing cornstarch and baking soda together, then applying the mixture with a damp washcloth. Sounds pretty gross to me. Or organic body product lines that offer aluminum and paraben free deodorants. You could bravely wear armpit-shaped towel pieces on the underside of their shirts (like shoulder pads, but on the opposite side of the shoulder), and make it fashionable.

Our fave ALL-NATURAL deodorant. Kiss My Face Active Enzyme™ Lavender Deodorant (aluminum and paraben free).

Kiss My Face, an all-natural body care company, is setting out to make world peace not just a popular answer at a beauty pageant, but a reality. Partnering with Seeds of Peace, a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that is dedicated to empowering young people in regions of conflict, Kiss My Face has created Peace Soap. Ten per cent of all profits from sales of the soap will go to the organization.

When Kiss My Face founders, Bob McLeod and Steve Byckiewicz, decided they wanted to produce a 100 per cent castile soap, the idea of Peace Soap came to mind. They called Seeds of Peace, whose vision of giving youth the opportunity to choose coexistence over conflict and hope over fear was a perfect match for Kiss My Face’s values. After hearing about the idea the organization happily jumped on board and together they hope to make the world a happier and healthier place.

“It is critical to us and to our consumers as we are in the business of changing the way people live and think,” says McLeod. “Whether it is with the products they use on their bodies everyday or with making the world a better place, our consumers have an open mind to building a better world.”

The fantastic thing about Peace Soap is that it has countless uses. The soap can be used for your body, relieving dry skin from head-to-toe, as well as your hair, the olive oil conditions and adds shine, but also for general cleaning including washing clothes or pets.

Kiss My Face founders hope that the benefits of all-natural body care products help people make that shift to organic living.

“Everyday we reinforce that natural and organic body care products are not only better for you, they really work and often much better than conventional products,” says McLeod.

The co-founders have heard countless stories of how natural products have changed people’s lives. “Whether it is the woman who had horrible sores in her mouth until she tried our natural toothpaste or the mother in Texas whose son couldn’t find anything that could help his scalp eczema except a horrible smelling prescription product. But when she tried our natural shampoo on his head, the problem went away.”

This June, make your contribution to world peace and pick up your very own Peace Soap. Peace Soap is available in the following flavors: Grassy Mint, Lavender Mandarin, Lemongrass Clary Sage and Pomegranate Acai for $9.99 (500 ML.) and $14.99 (1L.) beginning June 2010 at Whole Foods Market, KissMyFace.com and other stores where effective, natural products are sold.

Indulge yourself in bodyFood’s soothing, delicate beauty products. The eco-friendly aromatherapy lotions, shampoos, scrubs and clay masks, made with the purest essential oils and all natural ingredients, help to gently nourish the skin and promote well being. Experimentation complete. The Verdict? As good as it sounds!

The Canadian line, owned and operated by Irene Spedaliere, promises a personalized experience for each client by creating lotions through an array of essential oils made specially for your skin care needs.

After only a week of indulgence under bodyFood’s skin care products, not only is my skin radiant, but the authentic aromatherapy treatment with each use lifted my spirits and diminished my stress. The gentle fragrance is also known to combat headaches, colds, insomnia and the flu.  Want to get spoiled? With additional personalized care in mind, bodyFood will suit your needs by tailoring preventative therapy such as aching joints and muscles, eczema or chapped skin.

As the seasons change, so should our beauty routine. Dry air and cool biting winds can deplete the moisture in our skin, while robbing us of essential moisture needed to keep our skin supple. It’s about time we abandon our bar of soap and opt out for something a little more spa-like.  So wave goodbye to dry skin with bodyFood’s Day Cream. Enriched with organic oils to help restore, rejuvenate and repair skin, this treatment softened my skin for a full 24 hours.  To help my skin feel dewy and moist all week, bodyFood’s Day Cream helped do the trick.

We all dream it – flawless glossy cheeks with a blushing hint of youth.  Since we can’t turn back the clock, I turned to a gentle product to help cleanse, exfoliate, moisture and pamper my skin all at once: bodyFood’s Lemongrass Exfoliate Cleansing Butter.  After just once use, I instantaneously discovered more radiant skin.  There’s never been a better time to take up scrubbing or sloughing.

Want to splash some life into your complexion?  After a long dreary winter, my skin appeared dull and lifeless.  With a daily splash of bodyFood’s Firming Botanical Toner, skin appeared plump and luminous.  Containing botanicals, extracts, marine minerals and protein, bodyFood ensures that their exfoliate with promote skin lipid content and firmness.

So pamper your face, body, hair and soul with this eco-friendly line and make it a part of your daily beauty routine.

When measured up to product lines such as L’Occataine, Kiehls or Neils Yard, bodyFood’s prices are up to 70% lower.  Visit bodyFood Aromatherapy Boutique in Mississauga’s downtown Streetsville or the brand new store located downtown Toronto in Liberty Village.  Products can also be purchased at the click of a button at www.bodyfood.ca.