Part of my preparation for fall’s (highly-anticipated) arrival is switching fragrances. In the Autumn season, I store the fruity, sweet, tropical scents for more musk and oriental note-based fragrances. The newest scent, in the form of a light, dry oil, is the Mandarin Cedarwood Multi-Vitamin Dry Oil from Ahava. This oil sprays on the body and has a soft musky scent, but not overwhelming to others around you. I love products that can multi-task so the moisturizing skin softener and the sexy, musky scent is yummy. This is one of those scents you may want to wear for an audience of one.

Available at Amazon.com for $34.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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Extensions: Do you color your hair while they are in? Or should you take them out, then color? These are questions I am constantly asked…

There are many different types of extensions out there, but the same rules apply to most. If you are keeping your color the same, it doesn’t really matter if you color your hair with them in or out. If you’re changing your color, I would suggest taking them out, getting the color done right and then matching the extensions to your new color. Even though the hair is human and can be colored, extensions take differently to color than the hair growing out of your head.

Differences can be:
* Texture
* They most likely have been treated and colored already (and you don’t know how many times)
* They will react differently to color

I also would suggest giving your hair a break from extensions every few months and getting a conditioning treatment, as you don’t want your natural hair to get weak from having these in all the time. As an alternative, you can always switch to clip-on for in-between, so you don’t have to go sans extensions. I find that most people tend to get used to having extensions and all this thick hair, but it is not natural to have all that hair! Don’t get caught up in the thought that your hair is not good enough. With a great haircut and color, you can have beautiful looking hair that is your own!

xx, Rita Hazen

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When it comes to lip gloss, there’s no denying it, I have an addiction. I try the latest one on in the store, use it a few times, and then move on to the next one. You name it, I’ve tried it. Glosses with a wand, in a tube, or a pot, I don’t have a preference, just as long as the color looks good on me, and it stays put. Purminerals Pout Plumping Lip Gloss is a smooth, non-sticky gloss that comes with a wand and in one clean swipe gives a shimmery pout. It doesn’t have the annoying numbing feeling that other plumping lip glosses have, which I personally can’t stand. The Result: It went on and stayed on through my morning iced vanilla latte. You can’t get much better than that.

Available at Purminerals.com for $15.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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While getting ready to go out, enjoying the last few fabulous nights of summer, rocking bare legs and high heels, I tried the new Olay Body Quench Mousse with green tea & vitamin complex on my legs. I must admit, at first it was weird applying mousse to my legs instead of my hair, but after getting over the unfamiliar, it absorbed right into the skin. You don’t really need to apply a lot as this is for the body and NOT the hair. It smells fresh and light, but not too strong to interfere with any other fragrance you may want to apply. You better believe I flaunted my newly sheen legs all night long!

Available at Walgreens.com for $7.49.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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In the midst of this dreaded, muggy August weather, I have come across a true savior product. Being a curly girl, the summer humidity is my hair’s arch enemy and I am constantly in search of a worthy product that will fight the frizzies and keep my hair soft. And I believe I have found it in Frederic Fekkai Coiff Perfecteur Anti-Frizz Silkening Crème. The texture is more like a silky lotion than a heavy crème. One to two pumps of this product was a sufficient amount to coat my curls, and leave them soft and subtly scented. Another plus - it didn’t leave my hands sticky at all! This one is definitely a keeper ladies.

Available at Sephora.com for $25.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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Now that summer is almost over, I have to reorganize my makeup bag, which means removing my summer essential items and replacing them with the basics. The key is not to overload my makeup bag, but find good products that won’t spill, crack and make a mess (Don’t you hate when that happens?) Enter Almay Smart Shade Blush in pink rose; an awesome gel blush that comes in a squeeze tube. Smart indeed, because it eliminates the need for a powder blush and a blush brush, leaving you with ample room to spare in your makeup bag. All you need is a pea size amount to give your cheeks a charming little flush. If you prefer a deeper look, dab a little more onto the apples of your cheeks. Once you achieve your desired effect you’re all set. Oh and did I mention it doesn’t stain your fingers?

Available at Drugstore.com for $9.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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If you are a busy woman like me, always on the go, then you will definitely appreciate this product, SkinCeuticals Foaming Cleanser. It’s gentle for all skin types, and I love how my face feels clean and refreshed, not tight and uncomfortable. It contains soothing botanicals like cucumber, lime tree, elder tree, and mallow. Not to mention it lifts dirt and oil from the surface of your pretty face, to avoid pimples and other unwanted visitors. It comes in a pump, so one pump about the size of a marble will do you good (a little goes a long way). BONUS: If you go to the gym, this is excellent to toss in your gym bag!

Available at SkinCeuticals.com for $28.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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After a long, hard day, I just want to come home and channel my inner goddess, by drawing up a nice warm bath and adding L’Occitane Honey & Lemon Delicious Bath. The bottle itself is adorable with the honeycomb imprint, but when you open and inhale, the intoxicating aroma coming from the bottle is truly heavenly! I only used two capfuls, because I want to save this product for highly stressful days, and special occasions. The pure honey extract softens the skin, and the lemon oil rejuvenates, so you feel bright and cheery. If you are having a bad day, this will definitely make a great pick me up; just escape into the bathroom for an hour or so without any interruptions (Translation: no electronic devices!). Cleopatra knew exactly what she was doing when she started the honey bath rituals; this product is definitely fit for a Queen!

Available at Loccitane.com for $24.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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Goth-like lips are definitely all the rage in fashion right now, but the million dollar question is, “Will it work off the catwalk, and on the sidewalk?”

Some may think blackberry lips are way too harsh for real-life, but I think they’re très glam. This look is very avant garde in an attainable way; not every girl will be able to pull ‘Lady-is-a-Vamp’ off, but hey - if every beauty trend worked for everyone, the trend would get a bit lame and fall flat, now wouldn’t it?

Get the vampy lippy look with Lancôme’s newest set, Color Fever Lipstick in Piha Red + Color Fever Lip Gloss in Piha Black ($48); it was created by Aaron de Mey, who recently stepped in as International Artistic Director, the post that was previously held by Gucci Westman.

Here’s how to kick up the drama during the day; Just apply a coat or two of the red lipstick, and slick the black gloss over it. Blend until you come up with a hue that gives you a sexy, mysterious look.

Good news: this Lancôme set will be available to purchase in November.

Bad news: There are only 500 sets available, and they’ll only be sold at Bloomingdale’s in New York City, and in one of Lancome’s five boutiques.

More good news: You can add yourself to the waiting list STARTING NOW: 212.705.2886.

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Beyoncé reveals in the September issue of InStyle that Carol’s Daughter is one of her skin-care obsessions and says, “Carol’s Daughter moisturizers-I like to try them all!”