Summer is here and along with it, the hot, humid weather. You don’t have to overhaul your skincare regimen to accommodate more moisture in the air. Rather, you can make adjustments for battling conditions, adapting to more moisture in the outside air while your office and home air conditioners are keeping you cool all the while drying you out! We hereby present our Commandments of summer skin care!

Rule #1: Exchange creams for lotions.

Store those thick, rich creams formulated for dry, arid winter air in favor of lighter, yet just as moisturizing lotions. Thinner consistencies will prevent you from feeling coated in a second skin, yet will keep you super smooth. Squirt a generous puff of Olay Quench Active Hydration Mousse in your hands and spread it over your skin and viola! Watch that fluff melt like butter. You’ll be soft well into the evening hours.

Available: Major drugstores and www.drugstore.com

Luxe T’Fivve has a heavenly lotion, Moisturizing Body Smoother, which’ll keep you silky from your shoulders to your stems and it has an invigorating citrusy scent, to boot!

Rule #2: The same goes for face wash.

If your lovely face tends to break out a little more in the summer, because of sweat, excess oil production and other assorted skin bad guys, T’Fivve’s Facial Cleansing Foam won’t compound the problem. The cloud-like formula won’t clog pores and will provide a healthy cleanse.

Available at www.tfivve.com

Rule #3: Don’t neglect your toes.

It’s flip flop and strappy sandal season. Celebrate your foot fetish by taking extra special care of your toes. Walking in the city is hazardous to feet, so treat yourself an instant pedi with the help of a pedi brush and Avon Foot Works Watermelon Exfoliating Scrub. With its crisp scent and grainy texture, you can slough off the remains of the day. Follow with the accompanying Cooling Lotion.

Available: www.Avon.com

When it comes to your big day, it can seem like you’re bouncing from appointment to appointment just to prepare for the event. Why not take out some of the extra steps with a few at-home treatments that provide professional results without the trip?

L.A. facialist Kate Somerville is known across the country for her ability to illuminate even the most lackluster skin. A trip west may not be an option, but her ExfoliKate should become a necessary addition to your skincare routine. The thirty second treatment delivers similar results to a full-out facial, but in a fraction of the time. Fruit enzymes whisk away dead skin cells, leaving your face stunningly radiant. Because the treatment takes just a few seconds, your husband-to-be might even be convinced to try it himself!

Available at www.katesomeriville.com

For years, brides-to-be have turned to their dermatologists for a quick fix when pimples arise, which can often be expensive. Forgo the cortizone injection in favor of Dermadoctor’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ Medicated Emergency Acne Spot Treatment. The blend of benzol peroxide and natural antioxidants soothe irritated, stressed skin in just one or two treatments. Much cheaper than an expensive injection, the cream will deliver results overnight.

Available at Sephora and www.dermadoctor.com

For every bride, a pedicure isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity for anyone hoping to have smooth, attractive feet for dancing with her new hubby.To maintain spa results, smooth on a rich foot lotion each night, leading up to the wedding day. Mastiha and Beeswax Foot Cream from Korres soothes irritated, cracked skin and hydrates depleted tootsies. Use for a week, and you’ll notice softer, smoother skin that will last throughout the honeymoon.

Available at Sephora and www.beauty.com

To keep lips soft and supple leading up to the first kiss with your new husband, stash Borba’s Neutraceutical Lip Kix in your purse to smooth and hydrate your pucker throughout the day. The creamy balm works well under lipstick and won’t leave a greasy smear on your groom when you have that first kiss as Mr. and Mrs.

Available at Sephora and www.borba.com

While you’re on your honeymoon, your skincare routine shouldn’t take a vacation. The Somme Institute’s Mobile Kit is airline-friendly and will last about a week, keeping your skin supple and pimple-free. The complete product line scientifically developed and tested over six years, will help promote your newlywed glow for years and anniversaries to come.
Available at www.sommeinstitute.com.

Every so often I come across a new skin care line that’s worthy of a lot of attention. MLAB from Milbar Laboratories fits that category.

Though Milbar is a US company, the Brits scooped up MLAB faster than you can say scone and it was exclusive to the prestigious White Hall section of Harrods where it was a best seller and coveted by skin care aficionado’s and celebs. It’s finally available to us here, in US dollars, not British pounds thankyouverymuch.

Can’t decide which sunblock you like best? Try ‘em all! Well…a nice assortment of them anyway. Sephora has created a Sun Safety Kit which gives you more choices than there are grains of sand on the beach. I exaggerate… mea culpa. The kit, chock full of travel sized essentials from some of our favorite companies is packaged in a waterproof travel pouch. And, while you’re protecting yourself from skin cancer sunshine, you’re helping others. 100% of the net proceeds of the $25.00 kit go to benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Available: Sephora and www.sephora.com

From Rodial comes Boob Job which promises an 8.4% fuller bust in approximately two months. The company says that Boob Job works with your natural fat cells, and with regular application users will see a gradual increase in cup size as well as experiencing a lifting and firming effect. This is accomplished by the use of asian root extracts, myrrh extract and wheat proteins, but no hormones. Additionally, it contains peptides and antioxidants from pomegranates to protect the décolleté skin and keeps it young looking.

Personally, I’ve not been using Boob Job long enough to say yay or nay for increased size, however, I definitely do feel a skin firming effect and it does make the skin in my décolleté area feel very soft and hydrated, and the girls are certainly worthy at that!

Available: Henry Bendel, NYC, Fred Segal, LA and www.beautyhabit.com

A good nights sleep does wonders for our minds, and a good overnight cream does wonders for our skin. New from Orlane, is Crème de Nuit Reparative, a repair treatment that works while we dream and activates our DNA self-repair mechanisms to help erase signs of aging and keep our faces looking fresh. The list of ingredients is too long to name, but Orlane has put a lot of research into this product and so to name just a few.…. soy and rice extracts to strengthen structure and improve elasticity, sea plankton extract for DNA repair and B21 plant based complex. The luscious white cream instantly emulsified and easily smoothed over my face and neck and made my skin feel velvety smooth. Additionally, essential oils such as neroli, lemon sage, ylang ylang and jasmine create a phytotherapeutic scent which soothes and calms.

Available: Neiman Marcus and www.neimanmarcus.com