More Products No One Needs

Why oh why can't we learn to accept ourselves flaws and all? Could it be because companies like FlabuLess create products to make us even more insecure than we thought possible?

If neo-girdle manufacturers s like Spanx haven't properly constricted your right to let it all hang out and made you thoroughly insecure about every bump and jiggle, and if celebrities with shell-shocked Botox frozen faces haven't made you despise each and every laugh line, FlabuLess will cause you to lose your last shred of peace of mind. We can't believe it's true, but someone has invented an upper arm girdle. We suggest you shake what your momma gave you and avoid future products that scrape, nip or tuck away your right to flab- because we love you either way.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

VOTE

Because you can.
Because you should.
Because whether or not you're passionate one way or another it's the right thing to do.
(unless it's the left thing to do).
Vote for freedom.
Vote for choice - (whatever choice you make that is!)
Vote and be counted.
Vote because if you don't, you'll have no one to blame to for the next four years but yourself.
Then scoot on over to Ben and Jerry's or Starbucks for free yumminess as a reward for doing your civic duty.

Scoot.
Go.
Get off the computer now and
VOTE!

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Norma + Jeans (make a Marilyn out of me)

Hell froze over. Or close enough: I am actually going to step into a WalMart this week. Who knew that the place to stock up on TP, garden gloves and sensible briefs would attract a fashion following with a nothing-over-$20 line from Norma Kamali? It's like Joe the Plumber showing up in a Vanity Fair Young Hollywood issue.

Here's what's on offer: sassy, stretchy jersey separates in red, black, and leopard print. Cute patent satchels, clutches, and belts.  Iffy-looking "crop-length jog pants" and tunic sweatshirts. Organic cotton graphic tees (yay for the OC, boo for the uninspired graphics). In other words, it's a mixed bag, but one that also contains a pantsuit with jacket for under $40. 

With just a few days to go before election day, I'm voting for the jersey wrap dress and shirtdress -- easy on, easy off, and (next to diamonds, natch) a bouncy wrap dress is a girl's best friend. Just keep away from the subway grates....

To Zirh With Love

Oh there's nothing sexier than a guy fresh from the shower. Zirh's new Warrior collection of shower gels was inspired by strong sexy rulers from centuries past like Alexander the Great one of our favorite ancient Greek kings. (okay, the only ancient Greek king we actually know anything about.) Your guy can learn some world history by reading the bottle. As far as the fragrances go, we've been swooning for Charlemagne - the scent not the ruler of the Franks. This fresh, icy scent conjures up memories of our own ancient past. $22.50 at Zirh.com

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Flutter, flutter...

Hi, I'm Melissa, and I'm a mascara junkie. ("Hi, Melissa!")

Seriously. I've worked my way through department store beauty counters -- I stock up during the free gift with purchase weeks, because I'm also a sucker for makeup freebies. And since mascara is my product without which I refuse to step outside, it makes sense to keep a stash in my bathroom cabinet. And purse. And travel bag. You get the idea. (Hey -- I can stop any time I want, you know.)

So you can imagine the be-still-my-beating-heart moment that happened when I saw this fine, fine promotion. Ten mascaras for $35! It's the best of Sephora, too -- minis of Smashbox, Tarte, Two-Faced, Urban Decay, Cargo, and more. A great way to sample stuff you've never tried. 

And don't blame me if you get hooked.

Glad Hands

A lot of people are going to be shaking a lot of hands over the next few months.

Between job interviews or holiday parties, your mitts are going to go through quite a workout. Prescriptives Intensive Rebuilding Hand Treatment lasts through multiple hand washings and works to combat crepiness, age spots and discolorations. $38.00 at Macys.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

New York [Car Crash] Couture

While we may have perfected the art of snark amongst our nearest and dearest, we generally try to remain kind in all things editorial.

If something makes us break out or barf, we'll generally avoid mentioning it. That said, so mesmerized were we by the cringe-osity of New York Couture, that we couldn't help but comment.

Picture the tackiest of American Apparel crossed with the parts of the '80s that we'd most like to forget. Sprinkle in a liberal dose of tranny hooker chic, with a whiff of Carrie Bradshaw at her Patricia Fields worst and you're scratching the surface of this genuinely awful 'fashion' line.

We weren't exactly surprised to find out that Designer Cassie K. was a self-proclaimed "freak in high-school," or that she has no formal fashion training. It isn't that we don't get her scary need to seem shocking or even interesting, we just can't help but wonder how much money was invested in bringing this line to life (to laugh?). Styling, makeup and hair don't help much either.

Call us old fashioned, but we prefer fashion that flatters or at the very least makes a statement in a good or shocking way, not one that looks most appropriate on Halloween.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Rise and shine (or at least pretend)

Confession: I just joined a fitness bootcamp. With 20 lbs to lose after having my second baby, and the holidays looming ahead, it seemed necessary. The exercise is hard enough, but since my darling, sweet baby still is not sleeping through the night after 8 months, getting up at 5 is torture. Frankly, my beauty routine is less about looking fabulous and more about not looking like an extra in Dawn of the Dead.

I rely on Face Stockholm's Magic Wand to banish my under-eye circles. But check out what could be my new secret weapon: Laura Mercier's Eye Basics. They're sheer primers with a little color to brighten up your eyes. You can use as is or intensify the color with shadow. I'm all excited about Eyebright (shown), a pale blue shade that melts into your skin and makes your eyes brighter by comparison. 

I may be doing pushups, but I'll be pretty doin' it!

Scarier than the economy

Pulling your hair out wondering what's next for your 401k?
Stop and step away from the stock ticker now. Your stocks may be going down faster than your high school best friend, but given enough time it'll all bounce back up again.

To distract ourselves during all of the madness we choose not to focus on the frighteningly awful guitar playing of our inconsiderate new neighbor, but instead to jump in fright at 31 of Moviefone's Scariest Movie Moments ever (and no, the collective facial surgery of the cast of The Women does not count in this fright fest). We're also incredibly relieved not to be the only people who've seen Jacob's Ladder starring a young and dishy Tim Robbins.

So scream a little and laugh a lot, because for now- that's all we've got!

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Give Us Strength

We're resisting another post about the state of our stocks (and stockings) and will instead focus on the bold, the beautiful, the muy coolio new product from B Kamins. The new Bio Maple Eyelash Fortifier is best used overnight and made for fragile thinning lashes, but can be used on overplucked brows as well.

This powerful (and pricy at $90 bucks a pop) eyelash conditioner makes it easy to flatter your flutter and contains a revitalizing complex said to combat lash loss caused by follicle aging. Loaded with peptide (the hot new buzzword in beauty) growth substances, natural plant extracts and multi-vitamins to help boost micro-circulation at the hair follicles, it's said to increase lash growth in 5-8 weeks. So much better than an eyelash perm.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Beauty and the economic beast

Scared of losing your job? Evidently not enough to back away from that department-store makeup and pricey skin treatments. According to this article in Brandweek, women are economizing elsewhere:

Sales of prestige skincare brands at high-end department stores rose 2% to $1 billion in the first half, according to NPD Group. Products costing more than $70 were up 8%; those above $150 gained 21%. Similar increases were seen in fragrances and makeup.

The article goes on to mention that the product development lifecycle of most makeup and skincare lines is about 2 years, so there's always a disconnect between the manufacturer's launch calendar and current economic conditions. (In other words, don't kill the messenger.)

The Lipstick Effect has been around since there was lipstick to buy -- something pretty for your mouth is relatively cheap compared to, say, a massage or spa treatment. But what I found interesting in this article was that people are still buying stuff that I'd put in the very expensive category (over $200), with an almost 20% increase in spending over just last year. And that a $600 Botox injection is seen as an economizing move compared to getting plastic surgery!

I'm sure there's a moral here somewhere -- but I'm guilty as charged (at least on lipstick purchases), so I'll just sit quiet here in my glass house....

Wear and Wash

Now, you know that somewhere Martha Stewart has a little black notebook (bound in the finest leather, with hand-stitched pages tinted a lovely pale eggshell using onion skins harvested from her garden) titled "Signs of the Coming Apocalypse."

So when I ran across this article on a suit you can wear in the shower, I knew I needed to write about it, just so the facts of the matter can be enumerated (suggested heading: "These Degenerate Times"). Here are the down-and-dirty deets: The suit is made to be hosed down in your shower and allowed to drip dry. This takes a few hours, but presto! No ironing needed if you hang it properly. (This will cut severely into the profits of Martha's mangle business, I'm thinking.)

A spokesman called the suit "the ideal solution for busy career men and women who want the convenience of easy-care clothes without the cost and hassle of regular dry cleaning." Evidently the suit is a salaryman's dream: there are almost a quarter-million of the suits in Japan!

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Someday, Subway

The New York City Subway system is famous for getting you where you need to go, but as far as looking great while doing it, not so much. The stations are looking a bit peaked these days with scary moldy looking things and scary rusty looking things and multitudes of scary advertising looking things, but wait- what about the gorgeous subway art? No silly, not the illegal and awful looking graftiti tags of years gone by, but the spectacular posters and public art in the subway cars and stations.

We're jonesing for one of Tim Zeltner's Coney Island prints.

Fancy yourself one of the artsy underground? Then heed this call and apply to become one of the artists displaying their work for the bridging the tunnels crowd. View a current list of subway art here.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Sui Degeneres -- Ellen's the newest Cover Girl

Read all about it! Ellen Degeneres is the new face of Cover Girl. Three reasons why this rocks:

1. Ellen is beautiful. She's also gay, really funny, and a newlywed, but check out that pic. She's gorgeous.
2. Ellen is... FIFTY years old. (That's L in Roman numerals. She actually embodies the L-word! Awesome.)
3. Her contract (a million or more, we hope) means that we'll be buying makeup from a woman we will always be laughing with, not at. (Paris, Linds and company? Take the hint.)

Here's hoping more cosmetics companies line up behind real women with real faces -- and let's toast to more campaigns celebrating an "ordinary" beauty that's so much more captivating than the manufactured, preternaturally-smooth headshots of spreads past.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Seeing red at the polls?

With 2 months to go before the polls open in November, you've got plenty of time to consider the issues, debate with your family, and cast your vote (historic no matter who wins). But there's one issue the pols keep dancing around -- Liptroversy '08.

Yes, it's all fine and dandy to debate the merits of lipstick on a pig or a pitbull. The real question is: what lipstick goes best with red? or blue? And do green-party voters wear lipstick? (Oh, I kid.) It's a cruel world in which our political leanings are defined so sharply, so imagine our relief to find Stila's Rock the Vote Red lipstick, a gorgeous clear red sure to glam up the most strident of party t-shirts, buttons, or flag-waving gear. (An added bonus: a portion of proceeds goes to Rock the Vote.)

Making the world a better place

There isn't much we can write today that won't seem trite, but we're sure going to try. Much like the last post discussed tattoos which leave indelible marks on our skin, 9/11/01 left indelible marks on our souls and psyches. While we can't change the past - we can change the future.

If the memory of what happened 7 years ago hasn't quite inspired you to want to make the world a better place, perhaps the story about Lori Hall Steele will move you in different ways. Lori is a prolific freelance writer and single mom who is battling ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). While her spirit is vibrant, the disease has eroded her ability to move or work to support her young son. Lori is unable to work and crushing medical debts have left her unable to meet the mortgage payments on her home. Several writers groups nationally have taken up a call to arms to help Lori out. We're asking you to help too.

Give $1.00 or give $1,000.00 but give to help a stranger and know that you're increasing the good in the world on a day that is a sad reminder of just how much evil still exists.

Read more about Lori here: www.savelorishouse.com

Kiss someone you love today.

Tattoo You

I'm not a fan of body art. I'm no prude, it's just that I can barely decide on which socks to wear each day and can't imagine wearing the same socks every day for the rest of my life. When my boyfriend recently came home with a giant outline of something very blue on a part of his body that few people see, I turned green. When his blue outline started turning red and angry looking - I got very, very white, and very very nervous. An inky friend suggested trying Tatoo Goo which is a really clever product that keeps your tat from going flat. I'm still not loving my man's homage to his hometown, but at least I'm not worried that it will get infected.

And if you want street cred even if your skin is as pristine as the day you were born, try carrying a tin around in your purse and looking extremely mysterious when anyone asks what it's for. Tattoo Goo is $5.69 at Drugstore.com


Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Meg Ryan's new old look

Is it just me, or does Meg Ryan look ....fabulous?

I've always loved Meg's looks -- eternally perky, yes, but wonderfully real, from "Top Gun" to a slew of late-nineties flicks like "You've Got Mail." And then she had a period of bad "enhancements," including maximal trout pout, that kept her out of films for the last few years. But check out the AP photo at right -- I do believe she's herself again.

Full confession: I have to say that in my heart of hearts I the original 1939 film, with Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine, and Norma Shearer -- whose "Mary Haines" role is taken this go-round by Meg Ryan. But the new Meg -- back to her better self -- just may pull me into the theater to see the remake.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Maybe Baby

So we've been on summer hiatus working on all manner of exciting things. We didn't mean to neglect you and we really missed you too.

So here's something we could happily have done without this past month - the endless brouhaha over the presidential candidates. Though it's just about six weeks away, we don't know how we're going to deal with another month and a half of pleas for donations, mass speculation, overblown adulation, promises of ultimate salvation, campaign promise mutation and overnight sensation - we really need another vacation.

So Sarah Palin's daughter is pregnant. Unlike Jamie Lynne, at least she's free of Britney as an older sister and role model and Lynne Spears as a mom.

Some distractions while you debate the debates and calculate the running mates:

Juno: While the dialogue is a bit too precious, it's infinitely better than the Daily Kos.
Gossip Girl: The new season is on, and at least these rumors don't actually hurt anyone.
Choose your favorite Palin child name: Join this Facebook group and cast your vote (we pick Piper Indy and we're not embarrassed to admit a wholly unsuitable crush on the First Dude, and of giggling uncontrollably when we first read the expression VPILF describing S.P.)
Accessorize the Obamas: Because Michelle's pins are making us a wee bit frightful of her fashion sense.
Election Ties: Hillary's out of the running but you can still invest in a Hillaryscope tie to show the world how much you still care.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Scrubs

Speaking of scrubs, we're a bit frightened of Freeze 24.7 Anti-Aging Prep and Polish for our faces, but have found that it works wonders on our decolletage (yes we slathered on the sunscreen- it just didn't seem to help!) and upper arms.

That said there are times when we prefer something more gentle. Beauty vixen Oona B. suggests refreshing summer skin by blending the juice of one lemon along with some lemon rind,
a tablespoon of brown sugar,
a pinch of salt
and one vitamin E capsule (pierce the capsule and squeeze out the contents).

Mix together in the palm of your hand and slather on damp skin. Rinse with lukewarm water for an instantly refreshed, flake and blackhead free face!

Freeze 24.7 scrub is $65.00 at Nordstrom. Oona's scrub can be found in your kitchen.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Scrub-A-Dub Dub

We know, we know. Your grandma gave you her famous recipe for homemade Latvian facial scrub made of crushed walnut shells and pine nuts and you've tried to use it faithfully. Only while her skin always glowed, yours looks as dewy as Keith Richards. So what do you do with the leftover batch?

Seriously, we constantly get e-mail from people wondering what to do with pricey cosmetics that don't suit their skin. First off contrary to popular online wisdom - don't swap!!! (did we include enough exclamation points there?). It's unhygienic, you have no idea who or what has used these products first and it's really, really grody.

Try to figure out a different use for what you already have. For instance when we buy a facial scrub that's too intense for our delicate complexions we use it on our bodies, or love this new trick we've picked up. Rub some scrub on the top of dry, unwashed hands. Massage in and then wash hands to reveal softer, smoother younger looking hands...

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Gonna Make You Sweat

Some women glow during sultry summer months. We, on the other hand sweat so much that we've been mistaken for contestants in a wet t-shirt contest and wildlife frequently cozy up to us for a salt lick.

To keep us from looking entirely washed up this season, we've become slaves to Welcome Matte Skin Enhancer from Laura Geller. We're not sure about the claims to minimize pores, but man does this gel soak up shiny spots leaving our faces looking as poised and polished as Donald Trump's personal dating pool- uh, the Miss Universe pageant of course. $22.50 at Sephora.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Hello Gorgeous! It's Mad Men

Some of us have always been fiends for Mid-Century style and design, while others have recently discovered that particular brand of ooh la la courtesy of Mad Men.

For those of you who are still wondering what the hype is all about, you can watch the first episode of AMC's cult series here . If you're looking for a primer on the ads created by the real Mad Men during that era, you might want to track down a copy of Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America '40s-'60s by our own style siren Rachel Weingarten.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Ice, Ice Baby

Skyn Iceland is such a cool brand. We're not entirely sure if it's because they've figured out an interesting spelling for skin/skyn that doesn't reek of 'kewl,' whether it's because they have Iceland in the brand name so it conjures up all kinds of frozen goodness, or because the packaging is so incredibly clever-- probably though it's because their tagline is "Solutions for Stressed Skin."

New in the line up is the Arctic Brightening Serum which is described as "a time machine for your skin." It's got all kinds of funky ingredients that will make us look younger though not necessarily hotter and all this without a flux capacitor. Yes, we did in fact just date ourselves with that 'Back to the Future' reference.

$65.00 at Sephora

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

A Rave For Cerave

Yeah, we know. That *was* an extremely lame header, but we're so happy we could cry - in a good way of course.

Summer can be tough on skin, between the strong rays of the sun, the intense heat that has us sweating like a socialite queuing up for a limited edition Birkin and the drying air of the a/c, our skin can sometimes act erratic. Cerave hydrating cleanser does all kinds of scientific things like protecting our skin's barrier, and not interacting badly with acne or other skin treatments to leave us looking un-oily, un-dry and just right.

Cerave hydrating cleanser costs about $11.99 here.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

You're Going To Make It After All...

Summer Fridays can be tough. While all of the cool kids are off to their summer rentals, the rest of us plebes are stuck in front of our computers. Though we're not necessarily working through the day.

Our new old addiction is watching episodes of the Mary Tyler Moore show on Hulu.com. While everyone else is still enamored with Carrie and company, we're retro-crushing Mary and Rhoda (though more of Rhoda). It's hard to believe that nearly four decades before Bridget, MTM was living life as a single, successful thirty-something. Sure the dialogue is sometimes cliched or politically incorrect at times, but the friendships ring true, the work situations are sometimes excruciating and being unattached doesn't seem quite as tragic.

When watching these old episodes we couldn't help but wonder: When did strong, fun, funny, female characters disappear and become replaced by airbrushed, air-brained clones?

(Check out Phyllis's outfit in this episode- we would kill for it!)

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Summer Scents

Living in NYC during the summer months can be tough. Our friend Kyle from Cali describes the scent of our city summer as being akin to 'garbage soup.' Well, we may not have ocean breezes and the scent of celebrities in our midst, but we do have the perfect way to add a bit of spice to our skyscraper surrounded lives.

Nuvara Exotique creates hand poured, soy blend candles with natural and essential oils and an all cotton wick. Our favorite is the light as a Mediterranean breeze Italian Bergamot and Mimosa which brings to mind dangerously attractive men in slightly too tight fitting pants zipping around Capri on their Vespas. Did we mentioned just how evocative the scent is?

Italian Bergamot & Mimosa candle is available for $36.00 at Zensual.com

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Chocolate for Change

Some people get very, very, super, uber nasty when they're in full throes of PMS. No one that we work with of course-but we've heard rumors. Oh such rumors we've heard of name calling/ product throwing/chocolate munching hissy fits.

In the spirit of improving our local and global environment (while also pursuing outreach to those afflicted by insatiable monthly cravings for cocoa based products) we've stocked up on Climate Change Chocolate which comes wrapped with 15 tips for "lightening your environmental impact." Can any one snack product improve our external and immediate universe? Who knows, but we're happy putting in as much time as necessary researching the chocolaty goodness.

Climate Change Chocolate costs about $5.50

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Get Rid of the Itchy, Itchy Scrapes

We recently discovered that the endless boob affliction we've been sporting is actually a spot of eczema brought on by hives or an allergy. We were as shocked as you were to learn of this condition (and also relieved not to be sporting a third nipple).

Too much information aside, after weeks of antihistamines, oatmeal baths, home made concoctions and scent free everything we discovered Psorzema Creme. Granted the name isn't glamorous. The packaging isn't much to write home about either- but oh the results. In all of our hyper-sensitive porcelain skinned lives we have never, ever encountered a product that worked so well and so fast.

Psorzema contains masses of all natural ingredients like Neem and something called Bearberry and is part of Derma E Bodycare Products. Based on the results of this baby though, we're ready to buy the entire line.

Psorzema Natural Relief Creme is $19.95 and worth every penny and then some.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

No More Racoon Eyes!

We're pretty vigilant about taking off our makeup before bed (because we're scared of Rachel W.) but notice that even when we're religious about our de-maquillage, we usually wake up with that tell tale smudge of shadow and the ghost of mascara. We've recently discovered Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover which gets to even the peskiest liner and makes the smudgies disappear- without leaving eyes greasy or gooey. For even more gentle makeup removal try Almay oil-free eye makeup remover with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea.

Clarins is $25.00 on Sephora.com Almay is $5.99 at Walgreens.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Natural First Aid Tips from Whole Foods

We're not too proud to admit being a bit clumsy, and now that it's summer and we're spending more and more time outdoors and suddenly everything is itchy and overheated and well, we're starting to panic. With trips to water parks and long summer drives, we're noticing nosebleeds and sunburns and bug bites- oh my! To the rescue is Whole Foods (go figure) with their suggestions for an all natural first aid kit to pack before even the shortest trip.

• Did you know that peppermint oil helps to reduce body heat and promotes a healthy inflammatory response to sunburn? Add a few drops to unscented lotion or a cool bath to combat sunburn.
• Taking B-complex vitamins and eating garlic and onions might make your skin less tasty to mosquitoes (and maybe your significant other- you'll have to make a choice here!)
  
• Essential oils like citronella, evergreen or eucalyptus can disguise your body scent and make you less appealing to mosquitoes. Biting flies aren't fans of lavender, basil or geranium.
  

You can find a complete tip sheet with really great advice and product recommendations on the Whole Foods website.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Fizzy Daddy

Confession. We tried to be really creative this year and didn't want to get dear old dad just another tie for father's day. We got him a Soda Club Fountain Jet home soda maker, because he's trying to go green but can't seem to stay away from his seltzer.

Our intentions were pure. Buy it for dad, show him how to work it and be on our merry way.
Only it wasn't that easy.
For every bottle we made, we wanted to make another one. And then we got creative and started adding in fruit and flavors and faster than you could say 'Fizzy Bubbeleh' we were hooked.

The kit comes complete with two bottles, a container of carbonation, and a device to mix it all up in. Sure it can make an obscene sound when you add in the fizz, but then so does dear old dad.

$79.95 at SodaClub.com

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Lashing Out

Unlike our older sister, we haven't been blessed with long, fluttery, spidery lashes to die for. In fact, you might say that our own peepers are crowned by stubby, nubby baby fine wisps. Sigh. At least we're the pretty one in the family.

That said, we no longer have to settle for second lash best since the geniuii (plural for genius, darlings) at Peter Thomas Roth have launched their new Lashes To Die For nighttime treatment. At $125.00 a pop, it's pretty pricey, but it's less dicey than eyelash extensions or perms. In case you've over-plucked, you can also use on your brows, but we'd suggest applying carefully to avoid self inflicted unibrow.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Que Sera, Sera

Sometimes a product line comes along that is so easy to use, so perfect for our busy lifestyle and so overwhelmingly affordable, that we feel like sending up an actual prayer of thanks.

Sera Anti-Aging technology is a genius new line of cosmeceuticals that not only targets those tiny but super annoying wrinkles, but is also super easy to apply. The packaging is all roll on, so you don't have to pat and irritate sensitive skin, but rather keep application always clean. Best of all Sera is fragrance and dye free so it doesn't irritate our sensitive skin.

The entire line is $39.95 per product, with our favorite being i-Sera for laugh lines near our eyes. Available at www.rollawaywrinkles.com or by calling 1.877.653.0015

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Balms Away!

For those of you who fear developing a lip balm addiction- fret not. Lips are the least likely spot on your entire body to develop skin cancer, since they're usually covered with balm or gloss.

What better reason then to stock up on Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm which gives you the ease of a gloss with the protective qualities of your favorite balm? Best of all they're now available in a metal case to keep them melt-proof all summer. $18.00 at www.bobbibrown.com

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Out Damned Spot

With a future mother in law heading to town, we're in a panic that not only won't she see us fit to give us a blessing to marry her only son; but that she'll do the white glove test on our less than pristine kitchen.

Shaklee's new line of Healthy Home products ensure that not only won't we be poisoning our prospective guests (tempting as it may seem) with strong chemicals and additives, but that everything will be sparkly clean in no time.

Our favorite miracle product from the line is the Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste which removed all the drippy gunk from our darling MIL's recipe for pot roast. Available for $8.50 at Shaklee.com.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Bugs Be Gone

Picture this: You're sitting outdoors, sharing snacks with friends or snogs with your honey. Suddenly you're assaulted by anything that flies, bites or buzzes and wake up the next morning covered with welts when you were hoping for love bites.

That would never have happened if:

A. -You'd have been sitting next to us. (we're magnets for not only creepy men, but also for all manner of mosquitoes, midges and mites)
B. You'd have spritzed on Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard along with your favorite scent. Available for $14.95 at Avon.com.

Kiss this xxx
(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

RAW Skin

If we were princesses, we'd probably want glamorous names like Kate Middleton or Andiroba.

Yes, we can just see it now- Princess Andiroba of mythical land of AirKisses, where chocolate has no calories, men call when they say they will and makeup remains exactly as applied. Well, one out of three is promising at least with RAW Skincare's Andiroba Botanical Face Primer which smoothes the appearance of fine lines and keeps your face in place even during sweaty summer months. Available for $36.00 at RAW.

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No Bed of Roses

So life can be tough- we're tougher. We just don't want it to show on our faces.

Tammy Fender Bulgarian Rose Water Formula No. 238 not only keeps us looking soft and dewy, but according to the label the power of rose petals (some 7,000 are required to produce just one drop) "strengthens the power of one's emotional being - revealing love and beauty." For $65.00 for a bottle we're sure willing to give it a try.

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Sex and the City Redux

So we saw the movie.
And we didn't hate it.
Though we still can't quite figure out why we had to see Miranda naked, Big's bad dye job, Carrie's wooden assistant and all of that hideous with some very wonderful fashion.
But we liked it, and we're (not entirely) ashamed to admit it.
We most enjoyed watching the 20somethings in the audience who had based their lives on the fantasy, squirm as they realized they're likely in for another decade or so of hard work before they're even close to happily ever after.

But we digress.

So life isn't quite like Sex and the City. And we'll probably never be able to afford the shoes, the homes, the bought by the yard hair or lifestyle- but by God we're going to get great pedicures with Duri Sex and the City nail polish in a deep sexy scarlet. $5.00 at Duri.com or by calling 1.800.724.2216

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Who's Your Caddy?

I'll bet you thought we'd be sneaking out today to see Sex and the City. Not quite, we've got more of a love/hate relationship with that quartet. Forgive us if we're still skeptical about the fact that SATC purports to let you in to the inner workings of the female mind when it was written and directed by a man.

Instead of sitting around though, we've taken up early morning power walks with our new fave accessory - the Fitness Caddy by BVT. This genius case keeps our bottled water cold, our keys handy and even has room for a cell phone or wallet. Patricia Field might not approve, but this baby is our new purse du jour. $19.99 on eBags.

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Don't Be Afraid To Change

My mom is one tough broad, and whenever I try to gently change her mind about something, she responds: 'This is who I am. I can't change.' I'm not sure I believe it though, I mean c'mon, people change all the time - even brands change. Nexcare, the bandage people have an entirely new series of bandages that have features like diamond shapes, or Active bandages with extra cushions for athletes.

The ones I like best are the Heavy Duty Flexible Fabric - the tag line? 'Ultra tough yet conforming.' You hear that mom?

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C Life

We're not ashamed to admit that we're total suckers not only for inappropriate pop culture references, but also for interesting brands with even more interesting stories. Imagine our delight then to discover c'watre (sea water- get it?) oceanic (like on Lost) skin care. We're most impressed with the Kanreki Serum (sounds like something Indiana Jones would try to rescue) a "mineral cocktail" (think Sex and the City for your face) that contains modified seawater infused with 78 nanonutrients and restores your youthful skin and expels toxins.

Sorry, no more clever comments - we're too busy marveling at our gorgeous, glowing faces!

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(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

Apres Sun Hair Care Here

Spend a little too much time in the sun over the holiday weekend? Well next time make sure to pack the Phyto Plage Moisturizing After-Sun Styling Gel. A teeny dab of this wonder goo ensures that your hair stays soft and shiny and doesn't look like straw after a day on the beach.

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Love Is In The Air

In recent years there's been a boom of skin care created from the mud and minerals from the Dead Sea in Israel which is one of the most mineral rich spots on earth. Our long time fave has always been Ahava (Hebrew for love) and apparently, Kristin Davis is a huge fan too. Right now we're digging the Purifying Mud Mask which seems to pull all those grody blackheads to the surface leaving our noses clean and pure. $28.00 on Amazon.

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(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)

You Gotta Have Faith

So maybe George Michael didn't sing our all time fave on the AI finals the other night, but we still have faith - in cute accessories. Our new product crush is the tattoo inspired pillbox from retro inspired artist Karyn Cantor $18.00 at Uncommon Goods.

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Take A Powder

We're not big fans of PETA and their shock tactics, but that doesn't mean that you'll catch us flouncing around in a mink stole. Be that as it may, we love us some luxurious sable makeup brushes, and are dazzled by Sonia Kashuk for Target's newest powder brush. The contoured shape makes it easy to hold, and the rounded shape ensures that your bronzer or translucent powder goes on sheer as can be. $19.99 at Tar-Jay.

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A Rose (And Geranium) By Any Other Name

It's a battle as old as time, no it's not good vs. evil but more like oily T-zone vs. dry patchy areas. Lucky for us HollyBeth's natural handcrafted skin care has not only the most adorable website ever (seriously, check it out) but all natural products that soften the dry spots and don't goo up the greasy ones. Try the Rose and Geranium Face Cream which contains ingredients like, um, Oil of Geranium and Rose Geranium. $45.00 for 4 oz.

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Micro-(Soft)

So maybe we were a bit premature in suggesting that you break out the Manolos just yet. A quick glance at our own feet revealed chipped polish and callouses on every conceivable surface. Lucky for us the XL Pro Foot File from Microplane landed on our desk. This giant foot file sloughs off tough skin and leaves you with smooth, soft, Manolo ready feet.

Who knew that we'd be recommending that you buy your beauty products from a company that also makes cheese graters, $29.95 at Microplane.

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Your Pedicure Pal

Winter has not been kind to our feet. Between Uggs for everything from grocery runs to work to gym, our feet have gotten used to a little added cushion every day. Suddenly it's spring! Cute shoes are cropping up everywhere. Strippy strappy sandals abound and our feet are nowhere near ready, worse- we've all but forgotten how to walk in our highest heels.

Ms. Bradshaw and company may be used to strutting in their stilettos, but we find that our tootsies get temperamental and cry out for relief after even a short walk in our Choos.

To the rescue is ALCiS, a genius new topical pain relief cream that soothes our sore feet, doesn't smell funny (in fact it's packed with botanicals) and doesn't leave our feet feeling funky. $20.00 for a 2 oz. size at Walgreens.

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(visit www.airkisses.com for contests, updates and announcements)