The summer is here, the beach is calling!! Or the lake, or the park, or wherever you need to have a beach bag handy to get you through the day, but are you ready? Do you have all the essentials to keep you looking fabulous, but not overdone? Here are my favorites to keep your skin and hair protected while still looking flawless.

Have these in your beach bag?

1. First, start with a sunscreen that will protect without clogging the pores, my favorite is AmorePacific Spf 30+++. This sunscreen is completely oil free and filled with antioxidants. The +++ is the international label for the highest sun protection you can get from both UVA and UVB rays. AmorePacific’s Spf 30+++ also contains oil absorbing properties so you can apply all over you face in the morning as your moisturizer without feeling like you just put on a thick Spf. AmorePacific uses bamboo sap in lieu of water, Korean red ginseng, and green tea as their main ingredients so even the most sensitive skins will love this line.
2. For some color, try Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel, $30. It is in a handy little tube and a little goes a long way! Just put some on your fingertips and dab on your cheeks and forehead to give your skin a sunkissed glow without the harm of the sun.
3. For lips, gloss is a must! For the beach, a little shine never hurt so I never leave the house without my sephora lip gloss palette in shades of bright pink, only $4!  I think I have these everywhere, my bag, my car, my desk, just in case I need a little pink pick me up! And because they are only $4, you wont care if you lose it on the beach.
4. Waterproof mascara always looks fabulous on the beach, your lashes just need a quick coat of L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in black.
5. A quick fix for your hair is to extend your sunscreen you use for your body into your hair, it will keep your hair protected and hydrated at the same time. A hydrating spray to apply when you get out of the water is a definite! I love Phyto’s entire line of summer hair care products.  The Protective Beach Spray is the best! It has Spf and olive oil extract to keep your hair silky smooth even out in the sun!

Don’t forget a towel that screams your personality and your favorite summer read to keep you busy on the down times. But if you go with your friends, I doubt there is any down time, too many cute boys and girls to check out! Have fun but stay protected, the sun is hotter than ever so keep applying the sunscreen every four hours. Keep at least two bottled waters with you in your bag, getting dehydrated just isn’t cute! Keep drinking lots of water all day, the sun is harsh and you need to replenish what it tries to take away.

The warm weather has finally arrived in New York! After weeks of being rained out, I finally got a chance to leave my umbrella home, drop the top on my convertible, and show off my pedicure!

The sunlight gave me an extra little boost, but I got to thinking: “How can I update my summer look?” Everywhere I turn I see my fellow brunette’s lightening their locks ever so naturally. I just loved the highlight’s on Victoria’s Secret’s Angel Alessandra Ambrosio, E!’s Guiliana Rancic, and of course, the Queen of Sun-Kissed Locks, Jennifer Aniston!

Armed with copies of the latest fashion and gossip magazines (you caught me!), I went to see my stylist to update my looks. We looked through some pictures together, and before I knew it, she had bleach and toner mixed and the perfect plan to update my look.

A few hours later, I emerged from the salon a new woman, ready for the summer sunshine! So, what do you think of my new look? What do you ladies (and gents) out there do to freshen YOUR summer style?

Photos: Bauer-Griffin

The many wins of Billy Elliot weren’t the only trend of the 63rd Tony Awards. Casual and natural elegance was the theme of last night’s event at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, and the hair was no exception. Pureology PureArtist Sherglilynn Smart identifies the top three hair trends of last night’s 63rd Tony Awards along with step-by-steps to achieve these looks at home with Pureology products.

Top Hair Trends from the 2009 Tony Awards:

• Sleek Glamorous Pleat as seen on Anne Hathaway and Nicole Kidman
• Enhanced Curls as seen on Marcia Gay Harden
• Large barrel curls as seen on Kristen Chenoweth

Glamorous Pleat

Anne Hathaway and Nicole Kidman wore a sleek glamorous pleat, close to the head, keeping the hair simple and classically beautiful.  To do this is very simple:

1. Create a side part.
2. Apply DryShine HairStyler to smooth the hair.
3. Leave out a 1.5 inch section of hair around the face.
4. Pull the rest of the hair towards the center back and roll it tight to one side, this creates a pleat. Use bobby pins to secure the rolled pleat.
5. Brush the fringe section to the side and secure with bobby pins, use InChargePlus Firm Finishing Spray in the direction towards the back for a firm hold.
6. Mist GlossingMist Shine Sprayall over, and then follow up with InChargePlus Firm Finishing Spray.

Please visit Pureology.com for salons in your area.

Summer can be a stressful time of your life– for your hair! Heat and humidity are notoriously not hair-friendly, but there are a ton of other environmental factors that can wreak havoc on your hair in the summer. Wind, sun, saltwater and chlorine can leave your hair dull, dry, and damaged. Add styling to that: blow-drying, curling and straight ironing and you have a recipe for hair disaster. I also start every summer off with lightened locks so I have to be really careful to prevent damage.

For starters, I like to spray on a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen. I like Nexxus Phyto Organics Luxxtress - Leave In Hair Moisturizer. To tame frizz, I like the entire line of John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Collection. It’s good for straight styles too, so not to worry if you have naturally straight hair.

Air-drying can take a long time, but you can still get sleek volume by letting your hair dry naturally. I have medium-length straight hair, and I get great summer volume with finger-twirling damp hair or pinning it up still damp before I go to bed. A styling cream will do the job to hold the curl.

Of course there are lots of options for medium length to long hair. I like the updated ponytail with a poof or a twist in the front. The added volume around your face is softer than a regular ponytail. You can just pin it back, or you can give some extra interest with a twist. Headbands and combs also add instant interest. One of my favorite styles is to braid or twist back a section in the front (think Jennifer Aniston’s Oscar night hair).

I also love Frederick Fekkai’s Beach Waves. It adds texture (think of that great volume you get after you’ve been in the saltwater) while locking in moisture. It also offers UV protection which is great to keep in mind.

For curly gals, I suggest working with your natural curl using a curl cream or serum to cut down on the frizz. Trust me, us straight-haired ladies are super jealous of your hair! You’ll find that pin curls and finger-twirling will also work well for your natural waves. Try to keep blow drying to a minimum and remember that you can also work great accessories like headbands to make your summer look low maintenance.

Lastly, remember moisture is key. Make sure to condition your hair often.