We’d love to tell you that the art of going from Plain Jane to Glamazon is easy and effortless. But the truth is, sometimes the smallest things like where to store a heating iron during hair maintenance can be enough to send us over the edge

The world of skin care is filled to the brim with miracle oils, creams, and elixirs that promise to do everything from basic moisturizing to imitating the effects of a facelift. Most of these claims are . . . well . . . bogus.

“Sun exposure can increase the rate of skin wrinkling, dark aging marks, and skin cancer, all of which are negative tendencies and health concerns related to overexposure and premature aging,” says Dr. Pierce. “It’s crucial to protect your skin on a daily basis to maintain healthy, youthful looking skin.”

Choosing the right beauty products can be a daunting task. There are literally thousands of products and formulations . . . all promising to change your skin in some fundamental way and make it the best ever. We turned to aesthetician Anne-Cecile Curot for a little help. She says no matter what brand you choose, there are five items that should be in your beauty cabinet.

The orchid has long been praised for its beauty . . . but an increasing number of beauty companies are harnessing the gorgeous bloom for its cosmetic properties. Orchids are often considered the “perfect plant” for the skin. They are famous for moisturizing, boosting skin’s immunity, soothing irritated skin, and reducing the look of fine lines.

Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner, and we’re at a loss about what to do with our hair. So we sought a little advice from professional hair stylist Bianca McMillan.

You don’t have to look far to come in contact with a stressful scenario. From work to play . . . there are plenty of things to raise your blood pressure and eat away at precious hours meant for sleep. Many of us struggle to find balance, and if we’re lucky, make peace with the everyday stresses of life. We found two people who seem to have found a way.

From runway to reality, make-up trends for spring 2013 are focused on “color.” Bold swatches of color decorated the eyes and lips of models from Dior to Prada. We’re not recommending that you don turquoise eye shadow up to the brows and decorate it with red sequins, but a little pop of color here and there goes a long way to keep with the trend without looking like a make-up victim.

Most skin care experts agree that there’s more to skin care than just cleansing and moisturizing. To truly keep skin in top shape, regular exfoliation is key. And we’re not talking about your grandmother’s scrubs. Put down the crushed walnut shells and apricot kernels, and make way for a new generation of exfoliators.

If you’re like us, you’ve no doubt made a New Year’s resolution (for the millionth time) to get into better shape. It seems like we’re all gung ho in January; then we fall off around February or March with plans to do it all over again next year . . .