I was a summer baby, born in July.  It must have been the alignment in the stars because I have an innate pull toward the summer months.  As the weather begins to warm and vacations are in the last stages of planning, I am beginning to feel my favorite time of year creeping up.  Here are my Top 5 Summer Staples:

1. I always wear SPF 30 on my face.  Mineral versions like this Peter Thomas Roth powder with SPF 30 are a great alternative to heavy sunblock creams that can cause breakouts.  I used to use these sunblock creams, but after applying makeup it proved too many layers for the summer heat.  Now, I just brush this on in the morning and throw it in my purse for touch-ups as necessary!

Peter Thomas Roth Mineral Powder SPF 30

2. Chlorine can damage your hair, skin, and bathing suit.  Kiehl’s makes the best product — Swimmer’s Cleansing Rinse for your hair and body.  It’s gentle enough to use on your swimsuit, too!  It neutralizes the chemical and keeps your hair from turning green, skin from drying out, and your favorite suit from deteriorating!  If you spend your summers in the swimming pool, this is a must have. 

All-Sport Swimmer's Cleansing Rinse for Hair and Body

3. Everyone is in search for the easiest way to get that tousled, beachy wave look without looking like a sloppy mess.  I use a 1 ½” barrel curling iron and wrap 2” sections (or larger if I am in a rush) to create big, loose waves. Then I flip my head over, shake it out, finger comb, and finish off with this a few sprays Frederic Fekkai’s amazing Beach Waves Spray. It has an amazing smell, seals/protects hair from the sun, and gives you that California surfer girl look all day.

Frederic Fekkai Beach Waves

4. I am dying to get a hot new bathing suit this summer.  I’m really want to get a plunging v-neck like this halter one-piece by Carmen Marc Valvo. While it’s still very sexy and on trend, no need to worry about getting a bunch of funky tan lines across my midsection.  This suit exudes confidence and personal style — I can already envision myself cocktailing by the pool!

Carmen Marc Valvo Halter One-Piece

5. Lastly, I love this silk coverup from Diane von Furstenberg. Maxi-coverups were hot this season on the runways, and make it easy to go straight from lounging to lunch or dinner. This resort piece is hot, and the lioness in me can’t resist the leopard-print and embellishments!  If you’re not as bold, try something more subdued (but still sultry) like this tunic from Calvin Klein.

Diane von Furstenberg Leopard-Print Silk Coverup

The New Blues

Brighten up your vanity with beauty products in shades of blue.  From sultry shadows to gentle exfoliators, check out some of my favorites among the new blues.

1. MAC Deep Truth is a classic very deep blue shimmer eyeshadow that can update the classic smoky eye by standing in for stark black shadows.

2. If lighter shades are more your style, try Urban Decay Speed.  This pale blue shadow is a great way to welcome the spring.

3. Get a mix of blue shades in Maybelline’s Eye Studio Sapphire Siren Quad, the drugstore giant’s latest shadow offering.  A light and dark blue are paired with a frosty white and black shadow to give you a range of eye looks, all for less than $9!  Even if you usually avoid Maybelline’s shadows, try the new Eye Studio quads, they are way more pigmented than their regular line.  Applied wet, they rival department store brands with their rich color payoff.

4. NARS Bains Douches is a bright sky blue glitter pencil that will take your eye look from day to evening.  Wear a pale blue shadow to work and then spice it up in the evening with a darker blue shadow (like MAC’s Deep Truth) and Bains Douches in the inner and outer corners of the eye to add some sparkle.

5. Stila Black Diamond Mascara in Blue Shimmer will add just a hint of sparkle to your eyes.  The soft blue shimmer in this basic black mascara is perfect for daytime (no disco ball eyelashes here).

6. Brighten up your shower and your skin with Peter Thomas Roth’s Botanical Buffing Beads!  This scrub has tiny round beads to gently exfoliate your body and even delicate facial skin.  The bright blue color will help you to imagine a lovely tropical ocean while you uncover the bright new skin you’d show off on that beach.

7. Marc Jacobs Daisy in The Air is a limited edition reisssue of the popular Daisy fragrance in a bottle adorned with bright blue flowers.  The perfect gift for the girl who loves floral fragrances,  Daisy has notes of violet, strawberry and gardenia.  This limited edition set includes a daisy chain of blue flowers that she can spritz and hang in her room so she’ll be surrounded by her favorite scent.  It’ll also freshen and brighten up your car -  those little green trees are no competition!

The 2009 holiday season is now a distant memory, but is your wallet still recovering from a full season of holiday shopping? Here are some of my favorite finds for $10 or less.

beso frugal without skimping on small treats to pamper yourself from head to toe.

Here are my top picks for products I can’t live without these days:

Mara's Top Picks: 1. MARC by Marc Jacobs, 2. Hanky Panky, 3. Lola, 4. Revlon Sheer Pink, 5. Kiehl's Conditioner, 6. Ray-Ban Aviators, 7. Votivo Candles, 8. M.A.C. Lipglass

When thinking about this week’s post, I turned to my own current must-haves for inspiration.  Here’s what I’m loving right now:

1. MARC by Marc Jacobs Petal to the Metal Benny Satchel
$398
“The grape color is fresh and flirty for spring, and I can’t get enough of the dove motif on his latest collection!  Plus, it has plenty of pockets that keep me organized when I’m on the go.”

2. Hanky Panky Low Rise Thong
$18
“The only underwear I buy these days — I must own a pair in every color.  They’re so soft and comfortable, and they never show through my clothing.”

3. Marc Jacobs Lola Eau de Parfum, 3.4 oz.
$85
“One of the best-selling perfumes in the country right now, Lola has hints of fuscia peony, geranium, and ruby red grapefruit.” 

4. Revlon Sheer Pink Enamel
$4.79
“When I don’t have time for a manicure, Revlon’s Sheer Pink polish saves the day.  The smooth formula glides on evenly, and it’s sheer enough so that mistakes don’t show.  Just one coat makes my nails look pretty and even.”

5. Kiehl’s Extra Strength Conditioning Rinse
$21-$33
“I use this conditioning rinse in lieu of my daily conditioner once a week to soften and add shine to my long (somewhat damaged and dry) hair.  Added bonus: the delicious coconut smell!”

6. Ray-Ban Aviators
from $72
“Even on my worst days, the aviator style makes me feel tough and sexy.  I love how Ray-Ban is now offering different lens and frame shades.  My favorite, the classic large style with gold frame and black lenses.”

7. Votivo Candle — Red Current
$25
“Perhaps my favorite candle, it’s clean-burning with a delicious scent that appropriate year-round and not too girly.  Makes an excellent hostess gift!”

8. M.A.C. Cosmetics Clear Lipglass
$14
“The shiniest gloss I’ve ever tried.  This unique formula really does leave a glass-like finish that lasts for hours.  I love it alone or over my favorite lipstick.”

Philosophy The MicroDelivery Multi-Use Peel Pads

Is your skin feeling dull and dry?  Join the club.  This cold winter weather wreaks havoc on our skin.

Here are 5 of our favorite ways to get back the glow:

Peter Thomas Roth Botanical Buffing Beads

Peter Thomas Roth’s Buffing Beads are gentle and effective.  Try the Blemish Buffing Beads formula to combat bacne and other body blemishes.  The salicylic acid-infused formula will keep your skin clear and soft.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub is a bargain beauty must-have.  If you have Keratosis Pilaris (“chicken-skin”) or dry, ashy knees or elbows, this scrub can be a key part of a skin saving regimen.  Since it costs less than $4 a tube, you can afford to use it on large areas (arms/legs) every few days to keep skin supple.  They also offer a salicylic acid version for extra exfoliation and blemish-fighting.

Cosmedicine’s Medi-Morphosis Scrub is the perfect facial scrub.  It is gentle, the scrubbing beads are super fine and they dissolve as you scrub so you can’t overdo it.  The liquid in this formula is mostly witch hazel which means your skin is being pampered and calmed as you exfoliate.  A must-have for sensitive skin that you can even use on your lips!

Chemical exfoliators may not be what we expect when we think of scrubbing away old skin, but they can work even better than mechanical scrubs to maintain hydration and clear skin.

Try Philosophy’s Microdelivery Peel Pads on face and body.  The multi-use pads (100 pads, 8.5 oz. $55) are perfect for legs, arms and face or can be cut in half to get more uses at an affordable price.  The mini peel pads are smaller (60 pads, 2 oz. for $35) but easier to deal with if you only want to exfoliate your face.  Use in the evening and apply moisturizer immediately after.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads

Peter Thomas Roth’s Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads are heavy-duty clinical skin-care.  The solution contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy (salicylic) acid as well as Gamma (Linolenic) Hydroxy Acid (GLA) and amino acids. You apply the solution, let it sit for a few minutes (no more than three minutes), and then rinse it off.  You’ll feel tingling and you should start off slowly, once every few days to make sure your skin can tolerate it.  This peel will help to decrease the appearance of fine lines and dark spots on skin (such as acne discolation) while clearing and refining pores, making it the perfect choice for fighting both signs of aging and blemishes.

Use a good sunscreen when using any of these exfoliators (especially the chemical ones) to protect that bright, fresh new skin you’ve uncovered!