It’s mid February and your skin hasn’t seen the sun in months.  In fact, your skin probably hasn’t seen the light of day since August  if you live in an area that experiences seasonal changes.  Pretty skin is still under all those layers of clothing and dry skin, you just need to know how to perfect gorgeous skin year-round.  The major culprit of ugly winter skin is lack of moisture.  One of the easiest ways to add moisture to your skin in seconds is by applying a great body oil to your skin directly after your shower.  If you are a bath-person, simply add the oil to your bath water.  It’s quicker than applying lotion to every square inch of your skin, and it instantly gives your skin a moisturized, sexy look.   It also makes your shower smell like a spa!  The benefits of aromatherapy are monumental.  How do you keep your skin looking sensational in the winter months?  It’s a question I get all the time.  This is it…this is the secret.  Simply smooth your favorite body oil (mine’s Beach and Grapefruit) all over your skin directly out of the shower or bath, then pat dry with a towel.  Of note, use a product that doesn’t leave your skin dripping in oil; rather, use a great skin-absorbing oil.  Higher quality oils will be absorbed by the skin better and more quickly than a mineral oil, for instance, will.  And it’s nice to know that you are sporting sexy skin under those layers!

So I was hanging out with Tim Gunn the other night…yes, that Tim Gunn, and yes, I was really hanging out with him!  Tim Gunn was in Cincinnati to kick off the SmartTalk Connected Conversation Series at the Aronoff.  Tim packed the house with the VIP reception party prior to the event.  Gracious as ever, he really took the time to meet people, ask them questions, sign portfolios, and even encourage some design students that were hanging on his every word (understandably).  I envision those young fashion design students to be dedicating their early influencers to Mr. Gunn.  Tim was everything a star should be…kind, gracious to his fans, and engaging.

Tim’s speech was equally engaging, as he shared his experiences at Parsons, Fashion Runway, Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style, and Hollywood.  Tim’s style is to “make it work” for your particular body style.  He isn’t trying to push a near-skeletal frame to women, insisting that it’s the only way fashion will work on a woman’s body.  Instead, he personalizes style more to the individual.  And he delivers it all with his unmistakable “Tim Gunn” charm.   He has a confidence that just oozes from him.  Classy, yet not stuffy.  Kind to the core.  Kudos to SmartTalk on thinking out of the box with January’s speaker (first male celebrity ever!)  Join us in February as SmartTalk welcomes Arianna Huffington to the Aronoff in Cincinnati.  Click here for tickets and information.

Great skincare products can be found right in the pantry of your kitchen.  Not only are they healthier for you, they are also on the cheap.  Baking soda is a great way to exfoliate your skin.  Because baking soda contains tiny granules of sodium bicarbonate, it makes for the perfect substance to lightly exfoliate your skin.  It also has antiseptic properties that will ward off breakouts.  Simply make a paste with a palm-full of baking soda combined with a small amount of water.  Apply to face, working in a circular motion, and allow to dry for three minutes.  Rinse away with warm water, followed with a splash of cold to close pores.  Keeps your skin looking refreshed and blemish-free.

If you paint your nails often, you know that one of the big draw backs is the slight discoloring it gives to your natural nail.  Not to worry, there’s a cure for that.  You probably have some left over Ginger Ale from your holiday parties.  Put it to good use by creating a nail soak.  Ginger Ale contains soluble salts that act as preservatives or emulsifiers.  These naturally bleach your nails.  Simply pour some Ginger Ale in a small bowl, and submerge your nails for 10 minutes twice a week.  Watch your nails naturally bleach right before your eyes.

Tim Gunn will be at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Theater on January 14th for a night of fun and insight with SmartTalk Connected Conversations.   SmartTalk has been bringing women together to experience the power of the spoken word since 1991. In the past several years, SmartTalk has grown into one of the most powerful and entertaining live events in the nation. The core mission of SmartTalk stems from the idea that women are inspired by the heart and voice of other remarkable women. In fact, we became more than just a lecture series but a series of connected conversations. These thoughts, stories and pieces of advice shared face to face create invaluable connected conversations that truly renew, enrich and uplift the spirit.

You have a chance to win tickets to see Tim Gunn!  Simply leave a comment and let us know you want to see Tim!  A name will be drawn at random, and the winner will receive two tickets to attend the show.  Good luck!

Via Pinterest

Try this trick the next time you give yourself a French manicure.  To get the curved white tip, simply wrap a rubberband around your finger, which pulls the skin taut, and allows for the perfect curve to paint your white strip.  Simple, easy, pretty.

Just when you think Chaz Dean can’t do it any better, he does.  We loved WEN’s Fall Ginger Pumpkin, and equally love WEN’s Winter Vanilla Mint.  Chaz is very intuitive in that his products align with the seasons, and provide as much aromatherapy as they do hair nourishment.  This product slightly tingles on the scalp and awakens the senses.  It provides exactly what you expect out of a WEN product…mega-moisturizing to the hair.  If your hair lacks body and is dry, this product will truly give you bounce and moisture in one use.  Phenomenal product…can’t wait to see what he has coming in the Spring!  Check out Chaz’s entire line here.