Frizz Fighter

Image from Ouidad

As someone with naturally curly hair, I am always looking for the new "it" fix for frizz, summer's biggest beauty bummer. This year, I'm looking for help from Ouidad's Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel, $22, Sephora stores and sephora.com. The unique formula takes moisture from the air and uses it to hydrate your strands and keep hair frizz-free. Talk about taking something bad like humidity and turning it in a good thing.

For even coverage, take a small amount of the product and rub it between your palms. Run your hands from the front of your hair to the back as if you're making a ponytail. Step back and admire your frizz-free curls.

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Words to live by

"Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong."

-Peter T. McIntyre, painter and author from New Zealand

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

How-to: Do a fishtail braid

I am a huge runway hair and beauty fan, even though I know the trends aren't always very practical (Black matte lipstick? Shaved eyebrows? No, thanks). Finally, the latest hair trend is something I can do myself--with a little assistance. Braids were huge for Fall 2010. There were long, side-swept ones at Alexander Wang and Heidi-esque ones at Oscar de la Renta. However, my favorite kind were the fishtail braids at Doo.Ri and Missoni. I've always admired them, but couldn't do them myself...until now.

Here's the very helpful style guide I use from (where else?) style.com. Good luck!

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Ambitious Beauty Cuties: Mia

Mia is part-photographer, part-fashionista and all style. For her blog Marionette, s

he always finds the most fashion-forward people who aren't afraid to take risks (and I always love that).

This 21-year-old Norwegian takes to the streets for her blog to find serious chicness in models, fashion royalty and everyday glamazons.

1. What inspires you?

It's hard to say one thing that inspires me because I get inspired all the time, every day. It can be a person or something I see. It's all about the feeling I get when I spot an item or a person--a feeling that gets my mind running!

2. What is beautiful to you?

I take photos of what I find beautiful. People expressing happiness, shyness or passion is beautiful. Old people and wisdom is beautiful. Life itself is beautiful. The personality people have given themselves in what they have created is beautiful. The power and massiveness of nature is beautiful. I could continue forever. We are surrounded with so much beauty, which is one of the reasons why I love photography.

3. Why did you want to start a blog?

I started a blog when I lived in Paris for a year and a half. In the beginning, I wasn't that into it until I came home to Norway the next summer, and I wasn't surrounded by the beauty of Paris anymore. People aren't as fashionable in Norway as in Paris, so I started writing on my blog again when I was spending my summer experimenting with styling and photography, as well as getting lost in style.com!

4. How do you choose the people you photograph?

If they've got something I find different and unique. If they stand out in the crowd!

5. Do you have a personal motto?

I don't have one in particular, although a good quote can turn around my day in a heartbeat (check out the label wise words on her blog).

6. What are some of your favorite things?

Some of my favorite things: my Dior bags I got from my mom (my mother used them when she was my age), an ancient silver bracelet I bought in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, my vintage YSL glasses I bought in Hong Kong and, maybe most important, my camera :)

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Words to live by

"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical."

-Sophia Loren, Italian bombshell with killer curves, a classy personality and an Academy Award.

123s: Cleansing Cloths

Wish you could refresh your complexion after a workout with something other than a gym towel? Try carrying a packet of cleansing cloths in your bag. These nifty little napkins will cleanse, wipe away sweat and minimize shine. Here are three products that promise to work as hard as you do.

1. Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths, $15 for 30 cloths, Sephora stores

These cleansing cloths are great for sensitive and acne-prone skin. They contain Icelandic kelp and white willow bark, a natural kind of salicylic acid, to revitalize skin and soothe any irritation or inflammation. The extra-gentle foam formula also works without leaving a filmy residue. No water is necessary; simply swipe, toss and go.

Image from Skyn Iceland Web site

2. Soap & Glory Off Your Face Cleansing Cloths, $6.99 for 25 cloths, Target stores

These cloths pack a punch for your pores. The textured cloths contain Soap & Glory's "Poreshrink-RS" formula to reduce the size of pores. In addition, they soften, tone and cleanse. Massage the cloth into the skin for a deeper exfoliation to remove dirt, oil and sweat. My biggest gripe with cleansing cloths is that they can often dry out in the package, but these come wrapped with an airtight flip lid.

Image from target.com

3. Neutrogena Deep Clean Sport On-the-Go Cleansing Wipes,

Neutrogena has once again improved its already impressive line of products. These cloths are specifically designed for post-workout use, and they eliminate 99 percent of surface sweat, oil and dirt. The best part? These indiviually-wrapped wipes contain a skin-cooling ingredient to quickly help you feel refreshed. In one word, genius.

Image from neutrogena.com

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn