Perhaps Sitting Bull said it best: “Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.”

For most of us, work is stressful. But for Avani Nayak, her job actually makes her more relaxed. “We have a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere; and it always smells wonderful in here,” she says of her Avani Day Spa in Frontenac. “And I love seeing the looks on people’s faces when they leave: They’re smiling and have more self-confidence, and they feel relaxed and invigorated.” We asked her about the rough and dirty business of getting the best care for your skin.

Foundations are not just makeup anymore. Today’s liquid and powder applications combine the latest research and skin-care technology to ensure that your façade is as flawless as possible.

OSEA founder and ‘chief seaweed officer’ Jenefer Palmer comes from a long line of healers. In fact, her grandmother was one of the first female chiropractors in the world, who always told her granddaughter, Always read the label. She took the advice to heart when working as spa director at Murrieta Hot Springs, which at the time was a premier holistic destination spa. But what she found came as a surprise: Many of the most expensive products used inexpensive and sometimes dangerous synthetic ingredients. Palmer now uses 100 percent natural marine-based organic ingredients in her products, which are carried at luxury spas around the world. We caught up with her on a recent visit to Soft Surroundings, St. Louis’ exclusive provider of OSEA products.

The cold winter winds are coming! And while we always pull out our coats and scarves to protect our bodies, sometimes we forget to protect our skin, as well. We caught up with Kate Somerville, skin care expert to the stars, to talk about caring for your skin during the holidays and beyond.

Friendship Village

Like it or not, your face makes your first impression for you every day. So treat it with the care it deserves. This month, LN spoke with Michaelenne Klier, senior business consultant for Jane Iredale, about why so many dermatologists choose the brand, what exactly a BB cream does, and how to transition to the perfect fall look.

Summer vacation has ended, the kids are back in school and trips to the beach are over. However, those hours spent outdoors under the brutal sun have wreaked havoc on your face, and your upcoming schedule is booked full of events where you want to look your very best. With a variety of skin resurfacing techniques, Dr. Gregory Branham of Washington University Facial Plastic Surgery Center can help you achieve that glow. “We’re ending the season where we’ve done the most damage to our skin, so it’s an ideal time to repair and correct before winter,” Branham says.

As an OB/GYN, Dr. Rebecca Booth’s studies of hormonal changes spawned the book, The Venus Week: Discover the Powerful Secret of Your Cycle…At Any Age in 2008. Inspired by the way women’s hormones affect the luster of their skin throughout their lives, she and her sister, Cecil Booth, a veteran of the beauty industry, got to work. The result was VENeffect, a skin-care line that uses plant-based phytoestrogens to restore collagen and decrease the signs of aging. We caught up with them on a recent visit to Neiman Marcus at Plaza Frontenac.

Now that you’ve seen all the colors that are hitting the stores this fall, it’s time to make them work for you. LN got the scoop from Marc Reagan, master of artistry for Bobbi Brown.

When it comes to wrinkles, it’s easier to prevent than erase these early signs of aging. Procedures ranging from laser resurfacing to Botox to dermal fillers are available weapons in the war on wrinkles, but no one can ignore the importance of a good skin care regimen and top-notch products to help postpone the need for more invasive tactics.

If you’ve never had a facial, you’re missing a relaxing, pampering experience that will leave your skin looking and feeling refreshed. Even people who have sensitive skin or problems like rosacea can benefit from a facial because when it comes to this type of personalized skincare, one size does not fit all.

What do all those technical terms mean when it comes to our bodies and the procedures that can transform them? Although by no means an exhaustive list, the following may help decipher some alien terminology—and help you become more aware of your options.

Tradition isn’t everything when it comes to beauty and skincare, but when that tradition encompasses a commitment to excellence, it gives the customer reassurance that she’ll always be in good hands. Founded in 1828, Guerlain is a company with a rich history. We spoke recently with Marie Line Patry, the company’s national director of beauty and fragrance.

The key to beautiful makeup application starts with foundation that makes your skin glow. We caught up with Sephora PRO artist Sheranda Curtis to get her tips on making your natural beauty shine. A licensed cosmetologist representing Sephora nationally, she has more than 15 years of experience in hair, makeup and wardrobe styling.

Fun in the sun doesn’t have to mean stress on your skin. With protection top-of-mind these days, beauty and skincare products are stepping up to the plate, offering everything from pre-sun primers to after-sun remedies.

Just like you put your winter coats away in favor of flowy summer tops, your makeup wardrobe needs an overhaul for the season, too. We recently caught up with MAC senior artist Cynthia Rivas, and asked what she’s excited about for this summer.

May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. In Missouri, the topic even gained the attention of state legislators who considered a law (HB 1475) that would require in-person parental consent before anyone younger than 17 could use a tanning bed.

You’re probably stocking up on the sunscreen in anticipation of the warmer months ahead. But let’s not forget that hydration is just as important as protection when it comes to your skin.

Looking for an excuse to pamper your skin? Then we have some good news for you! We caught up with Tammy Fender, founder of Tammy Fender Holistic Skincare, who taught us that what’s good for the skin can be good for the mind and soul, as well.

Good for you and good on you--that's the idea behind mineral makeup. All-natural and weightless, the possibilities for defining your look are endless. Blend away!

Soon, we’ll be trading our coats and scarves for short sleeves and skirts, baring a bit more skin than we’re used to. To keep us from running back to the closet for a cover-up, we spoke with Sarah McFarland, senior buyer of beauty and well-being for Soft Surroundings, about how to smooth the transition—and our skin, for that matter!

Behind all of those skincare products that keep us looking young and feeling beautiful, there’s actually a lot of science. In fact, that’s what attracted Lizz Starr to the field. We asked the industry veteran—now executive director of global product development for Origins—why the winter is so hard on the skin.