Years ago at a Bobbi Brown press event, Bobbi told us she considered a colorful scarf akin to makeup—that loosely wrapping pink or coral cloth around your neck was as face-brightening as blush. I agree and have relied on vibrant scarves on a number of occasions to make me look well-rested and pulled together when I felt neither. This week, I discovered another easy, instant, and uber-chic way to polish up my act stat: a vivid Evie Marques “The Jane” necklace. (Even better, unlike a scarf, it won’t exacerbate a heat flash. Hah.)

I’ve written before about my approach to greener, cleaner beauty: I aim to lessen my so-called chemical burden by slotting in formulas free of questionable ingredients when I can without compromising on performance. For me, this means natural deodorant (Schmidts), physical sunblock (Drunk Elephant), lipsticks (Kosas) and simple cleansing balms (Naturapathica, Emma Hardie, GOOP). What I won’t give up: self-tanner, Retin-A, most hair products, and traditional Eau de Parfum.

As part of a regular series, I’ll be asking inspiring, in-the-know women to share their best tips and favorite products. The point? As always, to find out what works. Today's beauty insider: Barbara Close, Founder and CEO of Naturopathica

Last June I went on a press trip to Calistoga, California hosted by Perricone M.D., the wellness brand launched twenty years ago by Nicholas Perricone, M.D.. You know him: He’s the dermatologist whose bestselling book The Wrinkle Cure first introduced us to the skin-aging impact of inflammation—and he’s the guy who got us all eating salmon.

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know I’ve been a Lash Boost user for nearly two years. And while I’m pleased with the lash length I’ve achieved, my eye fringe has never gotten super full.

Today in Ann Arbor, it’s sunny, 93 degrees and feels like mid-July. To me, this signals it’s time to start spritzing Bobbi Brown Beach again—and indulging in these warm-weather finds:

Regular readers will know I rarely wear foundation anymore, having downshifted to tinted moisturizer (a.k.a. BB Creams or CC Creams—similar products, different marketing.) I find lighter, sheerer formulas to be more flattering on my aging skin, as they don’t sink into pores or lines—or cling to dry patches.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on my favorite tinted moisturizers, but couldn’t include the one I’m currently obsessed with (and am wearing as I write this) because it wasn’t yet available in stores. (I got an early preview from a beauty editor friend.) But it went on sale yesterday so now I can finally sing its praises.

As part of a regular series, I’ll be asking inspiring, in-the-know women to share their best tips and favorite products. The point? As always, to find out what works. Today's beauty insider: Amanda McIntosh, founder of Take My Face Off reusable cleansing cloths

I was talking to a beauty industry executive the other day about clean/green/natural (insert your own earth-centric buzz word) beauty. She confessed that, while there is no single traditional skin, hair or makeup product that she views as particularly harmful, the quantity of beauty products laced with chemicals we use over a lifetime does give her pause. Like one pack of Twizzlers at the movies=not so bad. But eating sugary twists daily for the rest of your life=not so good.