ALLURE
FEBRUARY 2007

Better hair: for the curls

Tending to curly hair is like gardening: Provide proper caire, and riglets will bloom beautifullly. Neglect them, and you'll need a Weedwacker. New shampoos and conditioneers nip the problem in the bud with ingredients that "smoothe the cuticle to diminish frizz and give strands more spring and shine," says cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer. "The Paul Labrecque Curly Hair Collection contains defining vitamin B, jojoba and silk protiens."

Paul Labrecque Curly Hair Care - Buy now.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Get great skin:Top Facialists' Best-Kept Secrets

Regina Viotto
Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa, New York City

Celebrity Clients: Naomi Watts, Kyra Sedgwick, Diane Lane

Skin Type:  My skin is normal to oily. I had little bouts with acne as an adolescent, though never to the point of it being a problem. And now at 39, I have occasional hormonal breakouts and a little dehydration.

The Best Thing I Ever Did for My Own Skin: Drink lots of water. I consume three liters of bottled water a day, every day, and I have for decades. The single most important thing the epidermis needs is to be hydrated, and I tell my clients that if they do the same, they'll start to see a difference in the way they look and feel within a week.

What I'd Never Do:  Leave the house without eye cream.  Everyone over 21 needs it - in the morning and the evening.

My Best Tip:  I'm not a big believer in squeaky-clean skin. In this country, we're all taught that constant cleansing is part of good hygiene. So women think they're removing grime, but all too often they're stripping their skin of essential oils and drying it out. i suggest that in the evening, women remove their makeup and then wash their face with a milk cleanser as opposed to a foaming one (it's less harsh). Then, in the morning, just splash a little water on your skin and moisturize.

Favorite Product: Cle de Peau Beaute La Creme, at $475 a jar. It's ridiculously expensive, but my skin thinks it's delicious. I can use it year-round, and if I'm multitasking, it works as an eye cream.

Cle de Peau Beaute La Creme - Buy now.