“Hello, Beautiful” is the new tagline for MyChelle Dermaceuticals and it’s exactly what people will say to you, after you do a regimen of MyChelle.  Lucky me, I had the good fortune to try a wealth of these wonderful products for eight weeks, and I’m here to tell you about my experience.

It started at Whole Foods in Dedham, Massachusetts, where you can purchase MyChelle. I had first become familiar with MyChelle thanks to the actress Wendie Malick.  I interviewed Ms. Malick for my Amazon bestselling book, The Globetrotter’s Get-Gorgeous Guide, and she professed her love for them.

As a Boston beauty writer, I thank the stars every day for the experiences I get to have due to my career – and trying superlative skincare is one of them.

So I started at Whole Foods with a FREE visual analysis of the surface and subsurface of my facial skin, thanks to a Visia imaging machine that took photos of my face, indicating where I had damage.  In mere seconds, this is what it told me. Remember, the higher the score, the better.  My spots were 94% compared to other women of the same age.  Texture was 85%. Pores were 97%. The one area where I really needed help was with wrinkles – my rating was 54%.  Yikes, I didn’t like hearing that. The Visia machine session took mere seconds, and I even did it with a full face of makeup (although it is recommended that you go in bare-faced).

My regimen for the next eight weeks – and it was a fun one – included an attractive array of products.  But before I get into that, let me tell you the advantages of MyChelle.  What makes MyChelle special, unique and different that it has taken proven, scientific formulas, and it has perfected them by trading harsh chemicals for equally powerful natural ingredients. MyChelle Dermaceuticals – concentrated vitamins for your face – offer nutrient-dense ingredients that create improvements to the skin on a surface and cellular level. There are no harsh chemicals – and no nonsense. Said Missy Santos, the Dedham ambassador for MyChelle – “MyChelle is a natural brand that doesn’t contain the ‘dirty 30,’” meaning 30 bad ingredients that are typically found in skincare – things like parabens, phthalates, ureas, and petroleum-based chemicals. It also is a vegan and vegetarian product line that is gluten- , paraben-, and cruelty-free, and endorsed by PETA. Who wouldn’t love THAT?

The first product I tried was the Fruit Enzyme Scrub, which is an exfoliating, sulfate-free cleanser with fruit AHAs. I loved its lemony fragrance – the product contains lemongrass oil as well as fruit enzymes that assist in skin repair functions. Put it on, leave it on for one minute, then rinse, and you will be blessed with baby-soft skin that is rid of excess sebum. In the morning, I followed this with NoTox Anti-Wrinkle serum,  which contains the new and improved version of the popular Matrixyl family of ingredients. (If you’re afraid of Botox and needles, this is the product for you.) This enhancement is a non-toxic mix of notable ingredients, which have demonstrated, through evidence based-research, a reduction in the volume and depth of a wrinkle. What’s at work here is Matrixyl synthe’6, which is a peptide – a chain of amino acids whose sequence creates the structural foundation for healthy, functioning skin.

I also used several other serums that seeped right into my skin and gave it a healthy glow. (I’m also about to start using a Clarisonic, which will make all serums seep better into my skin – so stay tuned.)  There’s a Perfect C serum containing 17% ascorbic acid that is a potent antioxidant, for it strengthens collagen and improves skin texture. I also really enjoyed using the G2 Instant Firming Serum containing honeysuckle extract and Argireline, and the Ultra Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum that binds water to the skin, to improve suppleness. It resonated with rose hips!

Other standouts include the Ultimate Lash and Brow Serum whose apple fruit stem cells stimulate and protect hair stem cells. Its peptide complex stimulates production of keratin to increase eyelash length and thickness by as much as 72% in six weeks.

Then there’s the MyChelle Supreme Polypeptide Cream, unscented, that lifts and retexturizes skin for a more youthful appearance. It also contains Matrixyl synthe’6, to reduce wrinkle volume by 21%, and a pea peptide that improves skin’s elasticity.

Once a week I also used the Hydrating Cactus Mask. This little marvel contains prickly pear cactus along with soothing blue agave, and is deeply hydrating while erasing any signs of redness. Then, on occasion, I used the Clear Skin Spot Treatment, when I could sense a pimple coming on. With its mix of 6% sulphur and zinc sulfate that destroys harmful micro-organisms on the skin, the Clear Skin Spot Treatment said “bye-bye” to all my blemishes.

I have to say – I also took it upon myself to use many of these products on my hands.  I broke my right wrist a few years ago, and as a result my right hand has skin that looks older and more loose than my left hand.  In just eight weeks, the skin on my right hand had a vastly improved texture, thanks to MyChelle, and a more youthful glow. And my left hand had the appearance of fine porcelain. Let’s face it, your hands can age you more than anything. (Remember, the late Jackie O hated the look of her hands and that’s why she so frequently wore gloves.) All of the Mychelle products will remain in my anti-aging arsenal to prevent untimely aging of my hands, to produce more delectable digits.

Last but not least, I have got to feature the incredible Del Sol Sunless Tanner.You know how most sunless tanners have a horrifyingly unpleasant odor? MyChelle’s product is a real lemon – and I mean that in a good way.  It contains lemon oil, as well as oils of grapefruit and sweet orange. It’s downright delightful, and produces good results in just hours.  So good, that along with using the other MyChelle products, you can safely go without foundation and confidently show your face to the world.

And my numbers? The most astounding is that my facial wrinkles went from a low of 54% to an astonishing 91% — and remember – the higher the numbers, the better. My “After” on the Visia Imaging System showed just a few lines around my eyes, compared to the overwhelming number that had been there previously. I’m proud to say that I’m a new walking advertisement for complexion perfection, thanks to MyChelle.

Call MyChelle at (800) 447-2076 to arrange your own personalized,  FREE My Chelle consultation. For more information visit www.mychelle.com. To arrange a consultation in Dedham, Mass., call (781) 329-7100.

Maui’s sleepy little town of Paia, on the road to Hana, is a treasure-trove that includes one of the best natural-foods supermarkets on Maui, funky clothing shops, great restaurants, the fantastic Maui Crafts Guild where you can find terrific locally-made products – and the home of Agua de Flora.  Readers of this beauty blog know and understand that I love indigenous beauty products, since I am a Boston-based beauty writer. Agua de Flora is no exception.  Here, I sniffed out something really special. This botanical perfumery hand-distills its essences nearby in Haiku; Agua de Flora is one of those rare shops where you can find beautiful made-in-Maui perfumes that you will never find anywhere else. A stop here is a must on any trip to Paia, or journey on the road to Hana.

Botanical perfumery such as that practiced at Agua de Flora is the art of blending flowers, plants, woods, resins and seed essences into aromatic treasures, avoiding all synthetic laboratory-made imitations. Says Agua de Flora owner Ashana Sophia Morrow: “We adore aromatic flowers and plants – they excite us, nurture us and help us to remember who we are.”

The company uses a process called hydro-distillation, created by Jack Chaitman; founder of Scents of Knowing. Using pure silica glass stills and water as the only solvent, plants are gently asked to release their essence; through this slow process, the oil and hydrosols are like fine wines that mature with age. “Nothing we make is synthetic or cheap,” says Morrow.

Agua de Flora offers exquisite, unique, handmade perfumes and healing herbal products. They are dedicated to the exceptional quality of old-world perfumery, fair trade, and organic agriculture. Who doesn’t love that?

Bestsellers include Gingerlily; Citrus Blossoms; Sacred woods; and Surya Spice.  These are available for $48 and $95 each.  Also available is a Garland Collection featuring scents such as Pikake and Black Rose; a Solid Collection featuring scents named Amber Green and Devotion; and Single Notes of Cedar and Lavender. I’m besotted with Chocolate Rose  — this scent is completely unique and delicious, consisting of cocoa immersed in Frankincense with three different rare roses. Ashana combined this with their Vanilla Mandarin blend to create a decadent combo I won’t forget! Don’t sniff anything that you’re crazy about?  Fret not; Agua de Flora can also custom make your own personal, individual scent.

The lovely $10 artisan soaps available at Agua de Flora are crafted by Daven Lee of “Milk and Honey” who lets Mother Nature guide her way in producing the raw ingredients for the luscious custom made soap collection.  The handcrafted products are made with the help of her Nubian goats, who give their rich frothy milk. The sweet golden honey and beeswax are collected from Lee’s very own bees and those of her beekeeper neighbors in Northern New Mexico.

For more information, visit www.Aguadeflora.com or call (808) 876 1071.

Salon Acote, owned by Alexander Safar, is a sunny, beautifully appointed salon on Boston’s posh Newbury Street where you can get flawless, fashionable haircare, listen to foreign music, enjoy a complimentary cappuccino, admire the beautiful floral arrangements, and in spring and summer, sit on the gorgeous outdoor patio.  The team of international stylists will pamper your hair with products including Rene Furterer and Oribe, the latest techniques (including hair extensions), exquisite updos, state-of-the-art hair straightening and even unusual cult products such as Moroccan Oil, a favorite of Mr. Safar. Complimentary gourmet goodies are always served on weekends too, to make your visit all the more sweet.

Salon Acote is owned by a second-and third-generation of handsome  hairdressers – the Safar family —  who hail from Marseilles. What does that mean?  It means, quite simply, that you’ll receive top-notch treatment from expert professionals who can offer you the latest-and-greatest cuts, colors, treatments, and styles, as they have done on Newbury Street for more than 30 years.

Salon Acote (which literally in French means “the salon next to you,”) caters to international students and famous celebrities such as rocker Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Known as “Boston’s Most French Salon,” Salon Acote is renowned for its chic French haircuts and color. The salon even makes ‘house calls’ to Saudi Arabian princesses, other royalty,  and simply well-heeled clients who are in town, staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, and desiring of hair appointments in privacy. Always ahead of the trends, Salon Acote is the address for clients who want hair that stands head and shoulders apart from the competition. If you are a regular client, and a soon-to-be-bride, the salon will even do your hair, complimentary, on your wedding day.

I’ve been getting my hair done at Salon Acote for years, and people constantly stop me on the street, all over the world, to ask me who does my hair! I’ve got buttery blonde highlights, lowlights, and finally,  thanks to Coppola Keratin, the straight hair I’ve desired since I was a child. With hair like this, I belong in Hollywood! As a professional beauty writer, I know a good thing when I see it.

COPPOLA KERATIN COMPLEX TREATMENTS

In his quest to keep Salon Acote ahead of the fashion-and-beauty curve, Mr. Safar offers the life-changing Keratin Complex Treatments, and has received nothing but rave reviews. This amazing treatment will, like magic, transform your tresses from frizzy and wavy to sleek and stick-straight.  (I’ve had this service myself, and I can vouch for it: you’ll get rock star-hair, which is so beautiful you’ll claim it as an anti-aging treatment.)

“We do between five and seven Coppola Keratin treatments per week, and our clients love this service,” Mr. Safar explains. He adds: “Our clients have been amazed at how soft and sleek their hair is after a treatment, and I like to provide the service myself, each time, to assure that the results are consistent. Clients usually return every six months for another treatment, which is great for our business.  Another terrific advantage is that Keratin Complex is now available in a formula just for blondes – which is a great boost for women with highlighted hair.  I firmly believe that Coppola Keratin treatments are the best in the business and absolutely the best products on the market.”

Salon Acote, a breath of fresh air on Newbury Street, features its own garden atelier (where it offers services and refreshments in summer), and has been featured in prestigious media that include Lucky Magazine, Elle Magazine, Marie-Claire Magazine,  newspapers such as The Boston Globe Style Section (www.boston.com) as well as on the air at FOX-TV in Boston, where Mr. Safar showcased caring for your hair with simple products from your kitchen cupboard.

Mr. Safar and his family recently opened the stunning Safar Miami salon on South Beach (www.Safarmiami.com). “We also provide Coppola Keratin Complex at the new salon, and it’s been wildly popular with locals who don’t want to deal with the effects of frizz and humidity on their hair,” says Mr. Safar. “Scores of satisfied clients have told us that they don’t know how they ever lived without a Coppola Keratin Complex Treatment!”

ADMIRABLE EXTENSIONS

Salon Acote also offers hair extensions to clients, who want the extensions, Mr. Safar says, for two reasons.  First, their hair is too short, their hair just won’t grow, or  they simply want longer hair.  Or, secondly, they have thin hair and desire more density and thickness in their hair.  Salon Acote only uses “Remy” 100% hair, which means that the cuticle lays all the same way;  it is presented in the way hair naturally grows – and it won’t tangle.   “This means that it will look natural, and will be easy to color-match,” says Mr. Safar. The hair is Italian and comes in all colors, and bonded to existing hair on the head with heated Keratin. “It lasts two- to three months, and the removal is included in the price,” adds Mr. Safar. The process takes two to three hours, and the results last up to three months. “If you look at the gorgeous models in cover photographs, with long, flowing tresses – they are undoubtedly extensions, and now everyone can have hair that looks just like that,” says Mr. Safar. “Especially for women with alopecia, or women who have lost some of their hair due to cancer, extensions are a great way to go.”

So no matter where your journey takes you in life, Salon Acote will make sure you – and your hair —  enjoy “joie de vivre.”

Contact the salon, located at 132 Newbury Street, at (617) 262-5111.

Island Soap & Candle Works ‘  handmade products are not only gorgeous, they are environmentally friendly.  The factory uses solar panels.  The packaging is forest-friendly, in that it is made of recycled paper of Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.  And instead of using styrofoam “peanuts” in packing, the company simply uses unwanted surplus newsprint from the local newspaper. (That’s pure genius.) They also do not employ any animal testing.

Bestsellers are the lotions that all list coconut oil as their main ingredient. These succulent scents come in varieties that include Plumeria Blossom, Mango Coconut Guava, Pineapple Passion Fruit and Creamy Coconut.  All also have matching soaps – and they are adorable.  The Creamy Coconut coconut-and-palm-oil soap comes in a green box somewhat resembling a vintage Hawaii poster,  with an image of a palm tree and palm fronds, with orange end caps.  All  you do is push one end to reveal a small oval soap that has the markings of a pineapple.  They’re the perfect gift for you or a friend. A remarkable memento!

Also drool-worthy are the shea butter soaps, that are marbleized squares of just-picked goodness.  The Hawaiian Sunrise scent is awesome – it’s pure orange citrus that you rarely find in skincare products. Other favorites include Island Passion (passion fruit) and Pineapple Paradise, and all come so beautifully packaged you will want to display the boxes in your bathroom.

And like all great companies, this one has a cult item that everyone lusts for.  It’s the Surfer’s Salve, an emollient mix of olive oil, plantain leaf, comfrey leaf, beeswax, aloe, rosemary, tea tree oil and more.  Apparently Jennifer Aniston’s hairdresser, Chris McMillan, uses it on the A-lister’s trendy tresses. Its healing properties work wonders on rashes, sunburn, bug bites and minor rashes. “It has a cult following,” says Jim Psaila, the general manger of Island Soap & Candle Works. This is also now available in a new tube.

And if your hair and skin crave Surfer’s Salve, your lips will lust after the beautiful lip balms, containing macadamia nut oil, palm oil, olive oil, and beeswax.  Unlike some lip balms that only further dry out your lips, these are completely soothing.  The four-pack of Hawaiian Sunrise, Kauai Kiss, Pineapple Paradise and Island Passion even comes in its own little plastic carrying case. They’re all handpoured, handpackaged and handlabeled every step of the way.

All Island Soap & Candle Works products contain that desirable dose of aloha that you won’t find anywhere else.

For more information, call (800) 300-6067.

That it does. The luxury Clarins  Day Spa is a private sanctuary in the store that offers you a unique way to experience and shop for the French company’s high-end, first class skincare products. Bear in mind:  Clarins is said to be the #1 brand of spa and skincare in many European countries.  Dr. Courtin-Clarins started out as an aesthetician in Paris, and the original Clarins spa debuted in 1954. Says Amy Pellicane, director of Clarins public relations: “We are offering a destination where you’ll find quick, efficient service.”

I experienced the Melting Honey Hot Stones Massage ($110 for 60 minutes) and performed by massage therapist Anthony, it was, well, hands down, one of the best massages of my life.  Take it from me: I get many massages in my line of  work as a professional beauty writer, and the last time I got a hot stone massage, the stones were so overheated that I flinched every time one was applied.  Not the case here. Anthony – who used to work on Wall Street, and definitely is one of the most gifted masseuses I’ve ever come in contact with – gave me an extraordinarily relaxing massage using Clarins products.  Three factors set this hot stone massage apart.  The stones are marble and slate, which retain heat better than the traditional basalt stones. Second, the stones come in four different shapes so that they complement various parts of the body – the teardrop, for example is used on the arms and legs, and the diamond, on the back. (Wow, did that diamond ever ease my taught trapezius muscles.) Third, this massage uses a proprietary professional honey gel that changes form three times – from creamy to fluid oil, and then, with the application of water, a milky emulsion.

After this delightful decadence, my facialist, Roxanna, lavished me with a 60-minute TriActive facial treatment that incorporates, according to Ms. Pellicane, “80 proprietary hand motions meant to stimulate lymphatic drainage and microcirculation – it’s a great workout for the face.” And it was. (There are no machines, and no steam or extractions.) This pure pampering ($90 for 60 minutes) included application of Clarins cleansing milk; glycolic exfoliation; massage of the face, scalp and décolletage with a gorgeous Clarins face oil containing cacao (chocolate, yes!) and a peptide-filled finishing mask. When finished, I was served a delicious cup of hot tea. A wealth of other wonderful treatments are available here, including  seven more anti-aging facial treatments, four body treatments, three exfoliating treatments, massages, body wraps, even treatments for men. Vive la difference!

Clarins has a great concept here, and if you want to continue the posh pleasures, there are a wealth of at-home products to select. This spring, Clarins is re-launching is “extra-firming” franchise with its new formulations for its Day and Night creams. The day cream, for example, contains organic banana that Ms. Pellicane says “targets the skin’s protein links.” One standout in the spring collection is the 100%-chemical-free SPF 40 Base UV protection that now comes in different tinted hues and can be used over moisturizer and under your makeup. Other highlights include the new lip Gloss Prodige that is a  hybrid of lipstick and gloss (and available in gorgeous shades), and the terrific new Instant Light Blush in several colors; each delivers a glow plus a fruity fragrance.

Which is all just a long-winded way of saying that Clarins now offers you, in every possible way, complexion perfection.

The most popular treatment is the 50-  or 80-minute iconic Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, which is considered the “hula dance” of massage, as therapists use traditional Hawaiian forearm strokes. This massage is one of the bestsellers at Spa Kea Lani, says spa director Lennette Clark. “It’s a step up from Swedish.” Ms. Clark is also enamored of the hot stone massage and the rituals that surround acquisition of the stones.  “They collect the stones during the full moon, and then they are returned to La Perouse Bay after one year in the same place they were found, to bring new life back into the stones.”

Spa Kea Lani also offers Ala Lani made-in-Maui products and treatments.  For example, there’s the “Heavenly Scent” that includes a body scrub, application of body butter, and a massage with lavender-vanilla or ginger-lime lotions. Another option is the “Hawaiian Bliss” — a treatment that was formulated with locally grown Hawaiian herbs from Ala Lani.  This posh pampering features a salt scrub with noni and Kava Kava; an aloe bath containing pineapple and lemongrass; and finally a lomi lomi massage featuring coconut, macadamia nut and kukui nut oils infused with herbs. That’s the sweet smell of spa success!

On my trip to Spa Kea Lani, I had the “Beyond Botox” facial ($175 for 50 minutes) that treated my skin to a wealth of B. Kamins products.  It started with a Clarisonic cleansing that provides microstimulation to the complexion; a quick-peel; steam and extraction;  facial massage; application of B. Kamins’ famous Bio-Maple and eye gel; and for the finish, application of the Bio-Maple Therapeutic Anti-Aging Wrinkle Lift.  At this point, my facialist also gave me a relaxing head and hand massage. I’ll tell you this – not only was this treatment itself fabulous, so were the surroundings.  I lay on a comfortable spa bed, swathed in a luxurious, warm, plush down comforter – something that you rarely experience at other spas.

Each of the spa’s massage rooms features state-of-the-art hydraulic massage tables, and above, a softly lit domed ceiling, which helps to recreate the feeling of laying on your back on a warm summer day, watching the clouds float by. There’s a hydrotherapy room that bubbles away aches and pains, in an oversized bathtub. A couples room encourages lovers and good friends to receive their massages in tandem.  And couples can sneak away to Hale Ne’ehope, an outdoor spa cabana.

Back inside, the spa’s retail section offers great products from Lucy B., Ola, Skinceuticals and Jane Iredale. What I’m especially crazy about is the Lifestyle Cuisine that all Fairmont properties offer – OMG – be still my beating heart!  You’ll find fare especially for – are you ready? – Healthy Heart; Diabetes; Vegan; Macrobiotic; Gluten-free and Raw diets.  I know of no other hotel brand that caters to its guests the way that Fairmont does here.  The selections are extensive – I’m in love with the soba noodles with Asian vegetables (Heart-Healthy) and the vegan flourless chocolate cake.  You can even get this fare at the Fairmont Kea Lani’s signature restaurant KO.  Here you will find inimitable recipes that have been handed down from generations of plantation workers. I’m still dreaming about the shrimp served with a lavender honey sauce that is sourced locally.

Stay tuned – soon to be arriving at all Fairmont properties, as a guest-room amenity –  is Rose 31 from New York boutique perfumer Le Labo.  Originally developed for men, this fragrance caused a sensation when it debuted in 2006. Now a new scent experience awaits in every Fairmont room. Starting in 2012, guests at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts worldwide will enjoy shampoo, conditioner, body bar soap, shower gel and body lotion scented with the signature Rose 31 fragrance. Rose 31 alternates feminine and masculine with the ambiguity of the Centifolia rose, picked up by a chorus of warm, spicy and woodsy notes such as cumin, olibanum, cedar and a touch of amber. What can I say — the time is always ripe to visit the Fairmont Kea Lani.

The Keratin Complex straightening treatment takes about three hours — but saves hours of time that would be otherwise spent on blow-drying, curling, and flat-ironing my locks. It’s an especially smart treatment to consider before a big trip — you can forget packing  your blow-dryer and flatiron!  I still look in the mirror and marvel at my straight hair that is also highlighted, and healthier than ever.  I just returned from Maui, for example, where my tresses looked perfect on the beach and especially after I got out of the ocean.  Then, before dinner, after a workout, I would wash my hair with the special Keratin Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner.  Instead of blow-drying my hair, I would let my  hair air-dry, and simply put on a full face of makeup to complete my evening look.  Wowza! People commented that I looked “stunning.” With a wet head of hair!  The great benefits of specially formulated Keratin Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner is that is is sulfate- and sodium chloride-free, so there are no harsh chemicals to wash out the keratin.  In addition, this formulation extends the vibrancy of color-treated hair.  Keratin Complex — the treatments and the shampoo and conditioner — are a true beauty breakthrough, and a miracle in a bottle. Thank Heaven!

The fastest fix out there is the amazing new Luster Now! Instant teeth whitening formula, which just received a rave, rave, rave review in Allure Magazine, in a feature story about “Amazing Beauty Breakthroughs.”  It works by using what the Luster Now chemists call “BluVerite technology,” an innovation that was developed by a dentist.

BluVerite acts by depositing onto the tooth surface, thereby changing the optical properties and reducing the yellowness of the tooth.  The proprietary formula creates a blue foam and results in an instant optical effect of whiter teeth that lasts for hours.  As Allure stated, the BluVerite sinks into the pores of your teeth, and forms a temporary bond with the surface.  And the blue cancels out any yellowness, giving the appearance of whiteness.  Voila! You’ve got a dazzling Christie Brinkley smile in seconds.  Stash it in your Samsonite and you’re very, very good to go. It comes in three adorable tubes that you can take in your  purse, and tote bag to the office. Now you can give your teeth the blues – and I mean that in a totally positive way.

If you’ve got an hour (and you’re stuck in your hotel room with nothing to do), I suggest the Luster 1 Hour White, developed by Denovations, the world’s largest supplier of private-label tooth whitening products.  They created this amazing Luster 1 Hour White product, an easy-to-use, three-step process that is like a virtual visit to a cosmetic dentist.  Stay tuned for one of my upcoming blogs, to read about my personal results.

And in the meantime, try Luster’s White 7 toothpaste for sensitive teeth, which contains seven powerful whitening agents and was created by a medical doctor, a dentist, and a research scientist. It contains a proprietary mix of essential oils and peroxide, to lighten and brighten your teeth and offer maximum whitening. It’s also perfect for sensitive teeth. http://www.LusterPremiumWhite.com

As you can see, the days of waiting weeks, days or even hours to get bright white teeth are long gone. Best of all, these Luster products are available at drugstores nationwide. So now this good news has gone from my lips – to yours.

Why gold? Gold is known to have antioxidant properties and is an anti-inflammatory that speeds up the healing process.  It is hypoallergenic.  One of the more important properties of gold is that it penetrates the keratin level of the skin, allowing its active ingredients to seep deeper into the skin level and allowing them to work quicker.

The anti-aging benefits of gold can be traced 5,000 years back to Cleopatra, who was said to sleep with a mask of gold every night to enhance the suppleness of her complexion and preserve its natural luminosity.  In ancient Chinese medicine, gold was a key to youth, as queens used gold massage rollers on their face every day.  Gold facials were also used in ancient Indian culture and in ancient Rome, warriors would use golden compresses on their feet to speed up the healing of battle wounds.

Orogold products are as gorgeous and divine as your skin will be after using them.  All come in luxurious packaging, and swathed in gold satin. All contain 24-karat gold from Italy.  And they are not tested on animals.

I’m especially enamored of the bestselling 24K Vitamin C Booster Facial Serum. It has a fabulous citrus aroma, and it seeps into your skin, making it feel like silk. It contains 24K gold along with wheat germ oil, and Vitamins E and C. If you can only pack one thing into your suitcase for your travels, toss in one ounce of this incredible serum, in a beautiful gold container, to illuminate and brighten your complexion. It will be your visa to a vivacious visage, especially after a long flight. ($298 for 30ml.).

Other products in Orogold’s super skincare arsenal include 24K Vitamin C Facial Cleanser ($198 for 2.7 oz.) and a 24K Deep Day Cream ($148  for 2 oz.) that contains green tea.  Before your travels, prep your skin with the 24K Deep Peeling – a honey-colored gel, in a beautiful round gold container, which gently removes the top layer of dead skin cells from your face. ($128 for 2 oz.)

Want to try it out for yourself?  In Boston, the mall at Copley Place has an Orogold shop where sales staff will let you try a sample and see the results for yourself. The results will be good as you-know-what.