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

Beyond Beauty Basics goes Down Under! We have teamed up with Apple & Bee to bring you a great giveaway.

As seen in Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Apple & Bee is a 100% Australian-owned company that makes beautiful cosmetic, travel, and even baby bags without harming the environment. Each bag is made of the finest natural materials such as certified organic cotton, silk, hemp, burlap/calico, and leather. Each fabric is designed in-house and exclusive to Apple & Bee.

I personally love the Wooden Handle Clutch and the Silver Clasp Purse. They come in these great prints that I love for days and nights out, especially in the summer. They’d be great for a tropical summer vacation too (this is a hint to my husband).

If you were ever a Girl Scout, you were told to leave nature as you found it. Apple & Bee does just that – they have a neutral carbon footprint. They also donate part of all of their profits to environmental organizations. These are not only beautiful bags, but they are green, and that just feels good.

To be eligible for our giveaway, simply leave a comment and tell us why you think you deserve to win your very own Apple & Bee collection! The winner will receive everything you see here: Large Make-Up Bag, Wooden Handle Clutch, Silver Clasp Purse, Medium Make-Up Bag, and the Small Make-Up Bag – a $300 value. Each bag comes in a signature Apple & Bee dust bag.

You can check out the rest of the collection at AppleandBee.com

**Update** Congrats to our winner Amy Hammond!

Contest ends Saturday, June 27, 2009 11:59pm EST. One (1) lucky winner will be chosen at random on June 28th 2009. This contest is only open to U.S. residents and winners will be notified via email. One comment entry per person, trackable by IP address. Please make sure to provide a valid email address. Winner must confirm within 24 hours, otherwise another entry will be chosen.

This is the time of year where we want new skincare & beauty options and we want those options to be healthy, eco-friendly and good for our skin. Thankfully we have many natural beauty brands and products to choose from, in a wide range of categories and price points, from cleanser to bronzer and everything in-between. Brands are listening closely to what customers are asking for and the brands are creating fantastic products for us to enjoy.

Two of my favorite good-for-you skincare brands are LUSH and Yes To Carrots. These brands offer fantastic price points and such a huge selection of items to choose from.

LUSH actually makes solid shampoo bars with delicious healthy ingredients. I love their Squeaky Green Solid Shampoo. This vegan solid shampoo is fantastic for hair and scalp, even helping to reduce dandruff. Nutritious nettle, restorative rosemary, purifying tea tree and stimulating peppermint pack a punch every time you use it. Also, if you visit your local LUSH store try and bring your own cloth bag as some of their products don’t have extra packaging, leaving less trash for the environment.

Yes To Carrots has a wide selection of great products derived from the Dead Sea. This is a fun paraben-free collection of good-for-you skincare for your face and body targeting dry and oily skin types. This is a great way to keep your skin healthy no matter what skin type you have.

I am thrilled to see so many wonderful beauty brands continue to grow and flourish in the natural arena. Korres is a Natural Product line from a Greek company with its roots coming from Athens’ first ever Homeopathic Pharmacy. This summer,  their collection of make-up has grown by leaps and bounds. Not only are there colors extraordinary but they feel and look fantastic on all skin types. Tarte Cosmetics has always been a glamour gals best friend with innovative products and fantastic packaging. They always wanted to make sure that there customers knew that not only were the buying a great pretty product, you were also buying one that would be good for your skin. It’s what’s inside that counts, and what’s inside these products are wholesome, skinvigorating™ ingredients that treat, nourish and protect skin.

If you’ve ever wanted to try a new skincare or beauty routine in the organic and natural arena now is the time to do it. Enjoy all of the great options and have fun with all of the beautiful green beauty products that are available.

Guest Contributor:

Jennifer Walsh has been a true pioneer in the beauty business. Her role within the industry began more than 14 years ago and has involved everything from becoming a CEO of her own company to being a make-up artist for movies, concerts, and runway, to being an on air TV expert, a freelance beauty writer, a creator of beauty retail stores, a book contributor, producer of shoots for magazines, a guest speaker at functions around the country, and most of all, a beauty and skin care expert. JenniferWalshOnline.com

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.