When top model Jessica Stam — whom I saw up close when I was in Paris for Fashion Week a few seasons back — recommends a product, it’s most certainly worth listening. As a top model, Stam is not only constantly surrounded by the best makeup artists and hair stylists, but she also has access to some of the world’s best products, so when she revealed that she uses Raw Botanicals Banana Glistening Hair Balm ($21.80), I immediately looked into it to try a bottle!

The product is the perfect addition to your weekly hair regimen when your hair is particularly dry. It adds loads of moisture while shielding your mane from the sun with its build-in UV protection (i.e. lather this on anytime you head out for an outdoor workout or a beach day). It also helps protect against the damaging effects of chlorine and salt water. However, the coolest part is that it’s made with real bananas (banana leaf extract to be exact!), along with plenty of other organic goodies.

Needless to say the product smells great, imparts a slight shimmer for a healthy shine, and moisturizes in addition to fighting frizz . Again, this is a perfect product for when your hair is dry, but I wouldn’t recommend it otherwise as you might risk weighing your hair down and end up with a flat look. The balm can be applied to dry or damp hair, but I got the best results when I used it on towel dried hair before blow drying.

Image: Raw Botanicals

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When I first met beauty/health expert, Kimberly Snyder, about three years ago, I was left with a memorable impression. She was one of the first women I spoke to regarding the incredibly positive effects eating specific foods and maintaining a mostly raw-vegan diet can have on skin. I often write about how the food we put in our bodies is just as, if not more important than, any one beauty product, and this is a topic Snyder — who works with countless celebrities including Fergie and Drew Barrymore — addresses often in her new book, The Beauty Detox Solution.

In fact, it was through Snyder that I first got wind of the Vitamix. The Vitamix is a truly unparalleled blender that allows you to get the most nutrients out of your fruit and veggies when you’re making smoothies. Given Snyder’s affinity for the Vitamix, I thought she’d be the perfect person to interview on how to use it and how food can impact the look of our skin. Read on to see what Snyder had to say and to get the recipe for her Glowing Green Smoothie (a favorite of her celebrity clients!).

What makes you opt for the Vitamix over any other blender?

The one single tool for your Beauty Detox lifestyle is the Vitamix. It’s an incredible investment in your health. I’ve never seen another blender that can do what the Vitamix does, which is turn dense fruits and vegetables into an incredibly silky smoothie that tastes great. You can also make salad dressing, dips, or blended soups super quickly with minimal cleanup. No other blender allows you to just add a little water to the bowl, turn it on for a few seconds, and voila – a clean blender. You don’t have to unscrew the bottom or blade. That will save you time making and cleaning up after your GGS as you rush through your morning routine.

The container is also BPA-free, which is extremely important because you don’t want any toxic chemicals leaching from your blender into your organic fruits and veggies. BPA (Bisphenol-A) exposure may create a host of health problems because it has estrogen-mimicking effects that can be very unhealthy in the long-term.

The tamper is also a great tool not available on other brands of blenders. I love the tamper so much! It’s the black bar-like object you poke through the cover that allows you to move your ingredients around for better mixing. It even saves you time by allowing you to scrape down the sides with it while the Vitamix is still blending, which beats having to stop the motor and scrape down your bowl with a spatula or wooden spoon. The Vitamix comes in several colors that you can choose. After all, if it’s sitting out on your counter for regular use, you’d probably like it to add something to your kitchen décor, as well. My favorite is the red one, but I really like the brushed steel and black versions too.

For someone who isn’t prone to eating healthy, how have you found that the Vitamix can help change that?

Pretty much no one chews well enough to get all the nutrition out of their greens. The strength of the Vitamix does all the work for you, by powerfully blending down the greens and making their nutrition easily available for your body to assimilate. Other blenders simply aren’t strong enough to get as much nutrition out of your produce. If you’re going to spend money daily on produce, you should be using the right tool to get your money’s worth out of it.

Tasty smoothies made in the Vitamix are easy for anyone to make and provide abundant amounts of nutrients in their diet, exponentially improving their overall health.

What are some of your favorite things to make with the Vitamix? Can you share some of your recipes?

My favorite Vitamix recipe and number one thing I recommend having is the Glowing Green Smoothie. It is the fuel that will detox and cleanse your body on an ongoing basis and rejuvenate your skin. Delicious and easy to make, it packs more greens and fruits than most people would get in an entire day — or week.  Plus, it will give you a huge boost of energy that you wouldn’t get from a standard breakfast.

The Glowing Green Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1 head organic romaine lettuce, chopped
3-4 stalks organic celery
1/2 head of a large bunch or 3/4 of a small bunch of spinach
1 organic apple, cored and chopped
1 organic pear, cored and chopped
1 organic banana
Juice of 1/2 fresh organic lemon

Optional:
1/3 bunch organic cilantro (stems okay)
1/3 bunch organic parsley (stems okay)

Directions: Add water and chopped head of romaine to blender. Blend at a low speed until smooth. Add celery, apple and pear and blend at high speed. Add cilantro and parsley. Finish with banana and lemon juice.

Can you explain some of the ways diet can impact skin health?

The food you eat not only affects your weight, but also your skin and your appearance, since the foods you consume become the foundation of all the cells of your body. Eating for health and beauty are a continuum, not an all or nothing endeavor. In general, if you want to have better skin, you should increase your diet to become more plant-based, which will bring more oxygen into your system and make your body more alkaline. Acid-forming foods should be reduced or cut out of the diet, which include dairy, excess animal protein, sodas, processed foods, including frozen, microwavable meals, refined starches and all refined sugars. When your body is acidic, you tend to age faster, including in your skin.

What key things should we make sure we have in our diet every single day?

I would have to say fresh, organic green veggies.  The benefits from just adding vegetables to your diet are so unbelievable.  If nothing else, they’re something everyone should be eating every day.

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Gwyneth Paltrow always looks gorgeous on the red carpet. While Gwyneth Paltrow’s midriff baring two-piece Emilio Pucci outfit may be an acquired taste, there’s no arguing with the fact that the actress always looks fantastic, beauty-wise, on the red carpet. For the 2011 Emmys, her makeup was done by celebrity artisit, Kate Lee, who says that what the star opted to wear inspired the look. “It was very fashion forward, with a nod to the 30s,” she says adding, “I wanted to keep her looking youthful and radiant, with an edge.” To get Paltrow’s look, follow the steps below outlined by Lee:

1. Kate prepped Gwyneth’s skin with CHANEL Beauté Initiale Eye Gel and Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base, followed by CHANEL Perfection Lumière Long-Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup SPF 10 (launches in October), and Kanebo Sensai Brush Concealer.

2. Focusing on the eyes, she lined the eyes with CHANEL Le Crayon Kohl Intense Eye Pencil in Noir. She curled the lashes and covered the entire lid with CHANEL Illusion d’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Emerveille, letting a little go into the inner corners of the lower lid.

3. Then, she used CHANEL Illusion d’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fantasme to add a bright shimmering highlight to the center of the lid. She added a soft line of black Shiseido Liquid Eyeliner at the base of the lashes to make them appear fuller, and finished the eyes with a generous amount of CHANEL Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir on the top and bottom lashes.

4. The brows were perfected with CHANEL Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Blond Clair and Anastasia Brow Gel.

5. Kate highlighted the cheekbones with By Terry Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Coral Rose and accented the apples with Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Moist Glow Blush in Euphoria.

6. To finish the look, lips were defined with Kevyn Aucoin The Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Medium and Kiehl’s Lip Balm.

Image: Courtesy of Chanel

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Sofia Vergara is always a red-carpet stand-out. She looked stellar in a curve-hugging coral Vera Wang gown at this year’s Emmys and her hair look was created by celebrity stylist Jen Atkin. Atkin gave the Modern Family star a simple and clean, yet classic look – Atkin says she “wanted the hair to reflect the elegance of her dress.” To get the look, follow these steps that Atkin has outlined for us!

1. Apply a light volume mousse to wet hair, starting two inches from the roots,to give the hair volume and body.
2. Apply KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum two inches from the bottom of the hair and down, to keep hair shiny and healthy on the ends. Blow the hair dry using a medium sized round brush.
3. Apply 1 ½ inch rollers to the top portion of the hair, using 1 inch rollers from the crown of the head to the nape of the neck.
4. Using low heat, lightly blow dry the hair while the rollers are in to set the curls. Leave the rollers in for 10-to 15 minutes.
5. To create the final shape of the look, spray hairspray onto a Pure Bristle Mason Pearson Brush and brush through the hair, creating a slight side part.
6. Finish the look by applying a dime size drop of KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum to the palms of hands and run through the hair, adding a final shine.

Kate Winslet also opted for a brightly colored gown, in her case, red, the color of the night (more celebrities than I could count opted for smoking hot red at this year’s Emmys!). To complement her dress, Fekkai celebrity stylist Renato Campora created what he describes as a “modern, elegant and sophisticated take on a French twist.” To get the looks follow his step-by-steps below!

1. Apply Fekkai Advanced Full Blown Mousse throughout the hair to build a firm base.
2. Blow dry the hair using a round brush, allowing for a natural wave. After the hair is completely dry, use a ½ inch curling iron throughout the hair and apply Fekkai Coiff Nonchalant Piecing & Forming Wax to hold the hair in place.
3. Then, apply Fekkai Au Naturel Dry Shampoo to the hair to build up texture and volume. To construct the up do, pull the hair back with fingers and created a French twist, pinning it up with bobby pins.
4. To secure the look, apply Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray.

Images: courtesy of KeSARI and Fekkai

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Robert Verdi may be a celebrity stylist famed for dressing the likes of Eva Longoria but, just like Rachel Zoe, he’s certainly a celebrity in his own right. The star of “The Robert Verdi Show,”an  interior designer, and a television host  among many other things, Robert Verdi frequently hosts Twitter parties where he dishes his tips and must-haves. The day before New York Fashion Week, on September 7th, the multi-talented personality hosted bloggers at his Luxe Lab to dish on his Spring 2012 Fashion Week must-haves. A slew of notables — including New York Knicks player Amare Stoudemire — stopped by along the way! Learn more about what Verdi has going on this Fashion Week here and see below for his picks!

• Top beauty trends to wear right now: Bold lips of the berry and plum variety, a smokey dusty eye look with metallics, and beautiful, porcelain skin (of course!). To get the look, Verdi suggests opting for affordable finds from Maybelline, the official makeup sponsor of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

• For hair, whether you’re looking for sleek and straight, waves, or curls, Verdi is loving Remington’s new Ultimate Stylist because it puts multiple style choices at your fingertips.

• While I can’t imagine ever forgoing coffee, if you’re looking for an alternative and are in need of an energy boost, Verdi recommends Sheets Brand Energy Strips (this is when dapper Amare came out as he’s a big fan of the product!).

• One of my favorite picks of the night were the Band-Aids Verdi featured. Not your run-of-the-mill boring kind, these Band-Aids were especially designed by Cynthia Rowley and are super chic! Superstar stylist Deborah Watson was also on hand to dish on her must-have essentials when she’s styling a show or shoot, and they include Band-Aids, of course.

• In keeping with the hosiery trend that has gotten much attention since Kate Middleton was photographed on a number of occasions wearing them, Hanes was on hand to show all of the style bloggers in attendance their assortment of affordable finds.

• Looking for original jewelry? Verdi recommends checking out the recently launched Jewelista.

• During Fashion Week many people find themselves incredibly busy, so it’s easy to sacrifice healthful eating for quick-on-the-go fixes, but you don’t have to! Verdi introduced all of us to the most incredible site, Fresh Diet. For just $35 a day, they’ll deliver three meals and two snacks to your doorstep and they will customize it to your palette! Vegan? Vegetarian? On a diet? Meat lover? No problem! You can specify likes and dislikes and dishes rarely repeat themselves (we’re talking once every four months).

• In between shows when you need a protein fix, reach for Muscle Milk, says Verdi.

• As for jeans, I don’t wear them often, but Robin’s Jean was on hand and I was able to get a pair of their skinny ones in red and, for once, I don’t feel like a sausage in a pair of tight jeans!

• For comfy shows when you’re on-the-go, Verdi pointed us to Sebago, which I’m looking forward to trying out as a replacement for my espadrilles.

• For contact lens wears, Verdi suggests using Acuvue’s 1-Day Moist for a convenient way to wear contact lenses and, speaking of the eye region, when you’re heading out to an event, reach for Kerstin Florian Correcting Eye Rescue, which Verdi promised would leave you with hydrated, refreshed eyes.

Image: Robert Verdi

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I regularly try new fitness classes, so I often get asked about which ones are my favorite and why. I recently interviewed fitness expert Todd Mendiola after taking a few of his classes at Barry’s Bootcamp, and thought it was worth looking back and going a bit more in depth into what Barry’s Bootcamp is because it truly is one of the best fat-burning, body-sculpting, time-efficient workouts. Seriously, if you’re having a war with a zipper, Todd and the studio’s other trainers will help you win it!

Barry’s has a few studios spread across California and they opened their first New York City location this summer. They also have a variety of DVDs so that you can get the experience no matter where you live or when you’re vacationing. Their website can be a bit intimidating, especially when coupled wit the word “bootcamp,” but don’t fret because there’s no yelling or humiliation at this studio; it’s all about positive reinforcement to get you to push beyond where you thought was possible.

A favorite of countless celebrities including Katie Holmes, Britney Spears, and Kim Kardashian, the studio’s classes include 25 to 30 minutes of interval cardiovascular routines on treadmills and 25-30 minutes of strength training using free weights, bands and bars. The endless variety of exercises and instructor styles ensure that no two classes are the same, and that every class feels new and, trust, the 60 minutes — despite being grueling — fly by!

Aside from being a constantly changing, invigorating workout (with great music!), the entire program is based around interval training, which raises your metabolic rate significantly longer than steady aerobic exercise allowing you to burn more calories (even once the class is done and when you’re doing absolutely nothing…like when you’re sleeping!), at a faster pace. It also increases your overall aerobic capacity. This kind of workout is also the best way to burn fat. It will only take a few classes, coupled with a healthy diet of course, for most people to see results.

Again, even if you don’t try a class or get one of Barry’s Bootcamps DVDs it’s very important to remember that interval training is key to getting and staying in shape! One of the biggest fitness myths is that steady, long workouts are the way to go. It’s also important to remember that lifting weights is crucial as it’s what will help increase your metabolism. A cool factoid that I learned from one of the studio’s founders is that for each pound of muscle gained, the body burns an additional 35- 50 calories per day!

Do you interval train? What’s your favorite studio workout/workout DVD?

Image: Barry’s Bootcamp

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A few weeks ago I stopped by the Fresh office to check out the brand’s 2011 holiday buys and chat with the brand’s two founders, Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg (sweetest beauty gurus you could ever hope to meet!). Start saving your money now because come October/November Fresh will be launching some killer, cost-saving gift sets that you’ll definitely want to stock up on. But if you can’t wait, I not only got to try some awesome products that you can already buy now, but one of Fresh’s PR gals told me a little secret: P. Diddy is obsessed with Fresh’s SugarBath Lemon Bath Cubes! Also available in Lychee, just pop one of the cubes in your tub and not only will they leave your skin extra silky smooth (or oily like so many other bath products), they’ll also impart a light citrus smell that leaves you feeling refreshed and works to ease tension (they infuse the entire bathroom with a light, but invigorating scent). Plus the cubes dissovle quickly and come in a re-useable jar, which is nice because, odds are, after you try these cubes once, you’ll keep going back for more. One thing’s for sure, P.Diddy definitely has great taste.

Image: Fresh

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I have been tryin’ sooooo hard not to chop off my super-long locks. It’s like this urge I get when my hair decides to actually grow and get past shoulder-length: Snip-snip... But I have refused to get a haircut for a solid year and a half now (except some healthy trims here and there, lovelies, as is necessary!), because last time I broke out a new ‘do I had major hair regret for the first time in my life. So I’ve been resisting. But I am struggling to keep the scissors in the drawer after checking out the new hair trend in Hollywood.

I was just glancing through my July issue of Glamour (…if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you are well aware of my obsession with this mag…), and I was dying over the mod new bob look all the lovely ladies are wearing now. Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Vera Farmiga, Jessica Alba, January Jones… the list goes on and on! And I’m a little in love with this look. Here’s why:

1. It’s so simple. Imagine all the time you take to straighten, blow-dry, style and maintain  long locks. Then, chop that in half. For summer, less hair is sort of a relief. It won’t stick to your neck and dries in an instant… um, hello: LOVE.

2. It’s way easy to volumize. I have this really hard time getting lift at the roots with my thick hair. With a bob, the weight is gone, so the lift actually holds. I would not have to go to such extreme lengths for volume if I chopped my hair (rollers, blow-dryer, root-lifter and hairspray be gone!).

3. Natural waves look great. If there was ever a style for embracing natural texture, a bob is it. Waves look really pretty and are far more defined in a short cut. Therefore, you can just basically scrunch with mousse and go. So tempting, right?

4. Finally… it’s trendy. Duh. And I like being on trend! OK, but seriously. Cute headbands, colorful bobby pins and you’ve got an insta-fresh style? I mean, you’ve got so many options with this particular anti-ponytail cut. I’m sort of sold, and my will to keep long hair is seriously wavering. (Note to friends and family: Hide the scissors. I beg you.)

What do y’all think of this cut? Should I take the plunge and rock a bob? Will you work this trendy ‘do? I’ve got to know.

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Did y’all notice the new beauty movement amongst the young celeb A-list? It’s like all the kiddos got together and said: “Let’s copy Christina Hendricks and go get us some red locks!” Not even kidding. It’s crazy how many lovely ladies have opted to dye their hair in shades of strawberry.

I think I first took real notice of this beauty trend when my fellow Smarter partner-in-style-crime, Belinda, emailed me this pic of Blake Lively from the TIME gala. (Yes. We email about extremely vital news like this. Obviously.) It was sort of jarring to see Blake’s signature golden blonde locks… just, strawberry. Pretty, but I wasn’t sure about the whole red thing yet. I mean, if it’s natural, fabulous. But if it’s bottle red? Eh… I don’t know. I need convincing.

And then Rihanna’s dramatic hair makeover came up. I’d almost forgotten the girl’s strands have recently transitioned to a flame-colored, standout red. I don’t think it’s a look I’d ever even consider rocking, but you know, it’s Rihanna. Girl can get away with bold moves like that.

But it doesn’t even stop at Rihanna, friends. Scarlett Johansson also recently dyed her hair a light red hue, and I’ve been taking note of the look as she heads out in public with her rumored boy-toy Sean Penn – which has been an awful lot lately.

Everyone seems to be embracing red hair, which is interesting because redheads are often overlooked. I do believe red-headed people make up the smallest percentage of the hair population, and we all know we’re posed a question on preferences, it’s “Blonde or Brunette?” Where’s red? Nowhere to be found. Kind of lame.

But I’m not so sure about dying your hair faux red. I think it’s really striking when it’s natural, but the jury’s still out for me on bottle red. Emma Stone claimed she never got a role in a movie until she took the strawberry plunge, but now she’s transitioned back to sunny blonde locks again.

I’m dying to know what y’all think. Do you like this Hollywood hair craze? Who works the best red look; Blake, Rihanna? Would you ever hop on board and go crimson? What do you naturally redheaded ladies think? Do you love your hair, or have you ever changed it up? I’m in need of some beauty insight here, all. Sound off!

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I do heart me a good makeup trend and, today, I have one that’s perfect for summer with three ways to wear it. Gorgeous and versatile? What’s not to love?!

Two lovely ladies have stepped out recently sporting a hot new beauty trend: shimmery white eye shadow. I know that can sound like a slightly scary concept (overdone, bright, ah!), but stay with me. How can we not trust the style genius of Princess Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and superstar-singer Shania Twain? Let’s talk about how to wear this look the right way.

Kate’s way. Kate wore shimmery white shadow on her wedding day–which she applied herself! (I give her many kudos for that…) For a more dramatic look like Kate’s, you have to apply a coat of black-brown eyeliner first at the lash line, and then apply the shadow just above on the lid. Keep the brow bone clean, and opt for a bold eyebrow. Her look is definitely best worn at night, or on a special occasion (like, um, the royal wedding).

Shania’s way. Shania’s white-shadow look was much more subtle, but still pretty, and perfect for a daytime event. Dip your ring finger into a white powder, and dab across your lid, toward the brow, so it lightly covers the whole eye with shimmer. Apply mascara, and voila! That’s all folks. You just want the light to catch the glitter in the shadow, for a bright but low-key effect.

My way. Okay, okay. The reason I’m so excited about this trend? Because I’ve been obsessing over it for years! My favorite way to wear white shadow is my dabbing it in the corners. Use your pinky finger, dipping the pad into powdery shimmer. Dot gently in the inner and outer corners of your eyes, which will cause your eyes to pop, or awaken. Then, apply two coats of mascara to further assist in the standing-out process–the double layer will lift and separate. Then, go look awesome. It’s just that simple. One of my favorite beauty trends ever!

Who’s idea do you like the best? Kate’s? Shania’s? Mine? Will you work white eye shadow this summer? Spill in the comments.

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