Sometimes, it’s pretty groovy to be me.

Yesterday, my awesome friend Ysolt traveled in from NJ to join me for a spa day at Body by Brooklyn, a chic spa oasis about 10 minutes from where I live.

I was a little unnerved when we first arrived - they made us shut off our phones and put them in our locker! (Telling two beauty editors to do this is pretty much the same as telling a doctor to turn off his beeper.) However, it was the most awesome tool to relax ever - after being ushered into the locker room, we slipped out of our worldly clothes, and put on posh bath robes and pretty slippers (mine, of course, hot pink with a giant flower at the tip - Ysolt opted for the same, in green). We were adorable, and ready to spa.

Sadly, as our cameras were locked in our locker with the rest of our worldy possessions, we have no pictures of our day. But I shall give the run-down.

As Body by Brooklyn is not only a lavish spa, but also a lounge, cafe, and bar, visitors are encouraged to get comfortable and spend the day. And thus, before our therapists even picked us up for our first treatment, we explored the10,000 square feet of exotic space - which included a steamy mix of health and hedonism. Basically, it’s a “massage and martini” sort of joint - with everything from Russian Bath, Turkish Aroma Steam Room, Cedar Sauna, Thermal Hot Tub, to Cold Plunge Pool - and that’s just in the wet lounge area!

I received the signature Chocolate Massage, and the Rose Quartz healing facial. Rose Quartz is known to originate in the mountains of Namibia, and is a stone of love and heart that has the ability to create a positive effect on the body mind and soul. As my body, mind, and soul has received a bit of an upheaval of late (more on that soon!), this was a salve to my senses. The facial combines cleansing and massage performed using the Rose Quartz and a moisturizing mask. 24 hours later, my skin is glowing and smooth!

As for the chocolate massage…it was a chocoholic’s dream come true. Interesting fact: While eating chocolate will make you fat, WEARING it actually has body-contouring results!!!

When absorbed through the skin, the natural antioxidants of pure cocoa help to flush out impurities, reduce cellulite, improve circulation and help stimulate cell regeneration! While it was a little surreal to get naked and have a stranger brush hot fudge across my body (and then wrap plastic around me as if it were phyllo dough), it was unbelievably sublime. They start by doing an all-over (and I mean ALL OVER) body scrub, and then rinse you with hot towels, then apply the hot fudge, and then rinse that, and then massage you head to toe with chocolate body creme. I smelled so awesome, I found myself sniffing myself at the delectable spa champagne lunch they provided after.

(Funny story: During Ysolt’s massage, the technician told her to relax. My poor friend needed to pause for a second and recall how to do that. I feel her pain.)

Sure, my life and my wallet may have some drama…but seriously, why would anyone ever want ANY other career than this???

For the first day of my month of pink, I shall share (but, alas, not giveaway), the best hair dryer I have ever owned!

The FHI Nano Pro 1900 is as elegant as a hot air apparatus can be - it’s positively waiflike (it weighs something like 13 oz), and has powerful air velocity and high heat to dry hair safely and quickly. Its ceramic technology emits gentle infrared heat to prevent hair damage. Plus it includes advanced ceramic ionic technology effectively dries without damaging the hair.

AND has now Turbo Boost ability!

It is SO popular that is currently out of stock on the company web site and at many retailers, but if you are vigilant, it can be yours (for a little under $200).

Feel a little guilty for this (worthwhile!) splurge? FHI Heat plans to donate $1 from each sale of specific pink-hued styling tools to PINK-LINK for one year. Unlike research organizations, the mission of PINK-LINK is to create a virtual forum to provide support for women already diagnosed with breast cancer. The non-sectarian site hosts the only online searchable database of breast cancer survivors. A member can search and connect with other members with privacy and confidentiality through the PINK-LINK email system. The site also provides professional support in the areas of nutrition, fitness, holistic health care and skin care through its “Ask the Expert” forum. Pink-Link has over 2,000 members in all 50 states and internationally.

According to Candace Corey and Dvada ( www.Dvada.com or www.candacecorey.com), Eyeliner is probably the most subtle, yet effective way to enhance your eyes appearance and make them look larger. Done well, no one will even know you are using eyeliner. Eyeliner is one eye make up technique that can be easily overlooked. Many women use mascara and/or eye shadow, but avoid eyeliner. But eyeliner gives depth to the lashes and makes them appear thicker. Eyeliners can be used different ways to create different looks.

As a beginner, you may want to start with a pencil for easier control and coordination. Pencils can be smudged for a subtle look and are quite popular since they are easy to apply with less mistakes. Pencil eyeliner creates a soft definition to the eyes, while liquid eyeliner is darker and gives a more dramatic effect. When trying to choose which type of eyeliner to use, keep in mind the overall look you hope to accomplish.

Liquid eyeliners can give instant drama but can be hard to apply. Liquid eyeliner however requires more practice and getting used to. For better control, use an angular brush for more control and precision.

Here are some suggestions whether you are using a pencil or liquid liner. Practice is key to creating a subtle or dramatic look.

• To keep liner from smearing, use a powder shadow to line the bottom lid instead of the traditional eyeliner pencil.Everyone loves smoky eyes for a sexy look but black liner can sometimes look too harsh. Try using other shades like brown, charcoal, navy or purple to give the look a softer effect.

• If you want to make small eyes appear larger, skip lining the bottom lid and line the top.

• If your eyeliner melts on the top lid, try lining half way with the eyeliner pencil and then use an angled eyeliner brush to blend it the rest of the way across the eye. Then top the liner with a matching powder eye shadow. It will give you the same effect that you love, but keep your liner from sliding down your face by the end of the day.

• If you like the effect of liner, but don’t want the “LOOK” of liner, try lining BETWEEN your lashes. This will make lashes look extra thick, but won’t give eyes the appearance of liner.

• Last but not least, check your eyeliner throughout the day to make sure that it looks fresh.

• I would also suggest using an eye shadow primer before applying eyeliner. Eye shadow primer will help your eyeliner glide on smoother and last longer without smudging.

Sometimes it really sucks to be a girl.

And while we may invest tons of time and energy into being as pretty as we can be, and as engaging, the best friend/daughter/sister/companion, chances are at some point, we’ll end up sitting alone on a rainy afternoon eating cookies and plotting our escape to parts unknown.

My friends, there is a better way.

Our friends at Venus (makers of my favorite razor - i.e. the one least likely to rip my body to shreds) are offering a great care package to several special winners, destined to make the recipient feel like the goddess they truly are. Three winners will receive:

* Venus Embrace razor
* Satin Care Alluring Avocado Shave Gel
* Turqouise/blue bag
* Foot scrub
* Shower loofah
* Tealight Candles and 2 candles holders (for bath)
* Olay Thermal Foot Treatment Lotion
* 2 Cover Girl nail polishes

To have your chance to win, please share what you do to get out of your own moody blues - and stay away from the carb-laden ones! (My agenda tonight is a girl-date of sangria and fish tacos.)

Deadline to enter October 5.

“Everything needs to be tweaked when the weather changes,” says Ellen Holder, co-founder of CarenOnline.com. “In the fall, the weather becomes cooler, dryer and windier and many people have to transition to not only a new moisturizer, but a new cleanser as well.” Below are suggestions from Caren for making the transition successful:

Come clean first.
Transitioning to natural skincare products is not an overnight process and the best place to start is with the right cleanser. Many men and women have never cleansed their skin properly and even after several cleansings, harsh chemicals and irritants from previously used products may still be left behind. It is important to cleanse the skin with natural or organic products consistently in order to see results. Once the skin is properly cleaned, many find they need less products overall since the skin has not been irritated by the cleansing process or stripped of its own natural oils.

Be mindful of skin allergies.
Trying new products can be an extensive process for many men and women with skin allergies. It’s best to test products on different parts of the body for several weeks before determining which product is most suitable for their skin type and skin condition.

Step at a time.
Trying a new cleanser, toner and moisturizer all at once can be problematic as it makes it difficult to determine which product is negatively or positively affecting the skin. Instead, try changing out only one thing at a time and see how your skin responds to a new cleanser. After settling on a cleanser that works for you, move on to choosing a new toner, serum, etc.—one step at a time.

The difference is in the side-by-side results.
If you purchase a new product then go through a period of stress, affecting your sleep and eating habits, you may assume the product is causing the dull, lack-luster appearance in your skin. In testing new products for the face, we often recommend dividing the face down the middle and using two different products on either side of the face for 1-2 weeks to determine which product work best. Diet, sleep patterns and other factors can affect the look and feel of the skin so this test allows all other factors to be the same. By judging which side of the face looks and feels better after the testing period, customers can make an educated decision on which product regimen is best suited for them.

This is fabulous: As all of you know, I am pretty much LIVING at Fashion Week this week. (Not that that’s a bad thing…) - and it’s a pretty intimidating place to be.

Every season, fashions inspired by the runway trends of New York Fashion Week find their way into every fashionista’s closet. Very few of us, though, are lucky enough to get to experience Fashion Week firsthand. Check out this video, though, that follows Eric Daman, Gossip Girl’s head costume stylist, as he joins Payless in democratizing Fashion Week in a behind the scenes video: “A Day In My Shoes”.

A Day In My Shoes: Gossip Girl Stylist Eric Daman Goes Inside Fashion Week from Payless Fashion Week 09 on Vimeo.

In just about two weeks, I have an appointment with Nick Arrojo! (Note, I did not say at his salon, though that is where I shall be, but with Nick himself!!!) - as I’ve had a hair-crush on him for years, my heart is aflutter and shall be for the weeks to come.

As this will be the most meaningful hair cut of my entire life, I feel that it is almost disrespectful to go there with instructions or photos of what I want. I will leave myself in his famous (and very capable) hands…and return with complete color commentary!

I hope I do not hyperventilate for the next two weeks…I might have a heart attack before our date happens…

As I just got out of the shower (and am currently sitting in a towel as I write this) I shall share a sudsy shower stat!

The average American’s shower lasts 10.4 minutes per day, 72.8 minutes per week, and 63.2 hours or 2.6 days per year!

This factoid is courtesy of Kevin O’Keefe, the author of “The Average American: The Extraordinary Search for the Nation’s Most Ordinary Citizen.”

Considering we spend such a significant amount of time showering, I do not feel guilty for my (ever so slight) current body wash obsession.

I’m currently sampling Softsoap Spa Radiant’s line of body washes and I’m pretty smitten - even more so cause they are totally affordable (under $5, even for the giant size).

Do you recognize this woman???

New York Magazine did an article in the current issue, entitled “How Plastic Surgery Can Give An Older Woman the Face of a Baby”, where they discuss “the new face” - which in this composite above, is actually a mixture of Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Demi Moore!

The article is actually about a “new face lift”, which these women’s looks are emblematic of - it’s all about plumping up the face like a baby’s instead of the tight, drawn face-lifts and the poufy lips. Now are “big, baby cheeks,” a strong, straight nose, dewy skin and lips that are plumped just so.

I guess that’s one way to grow old “gracefully”.

So, about a month ago, I was at an undisclosed location in central NJ, celebrating “the prom”. It’s a grand tradition where we dress up in our 80s-finest, and rock out to tunes akin to Monster Ballads while enjoying spiked punch. There’s even party favors!

Post-party, silliness (to the tune of beer pong and random jam sessions) tend to occur, but at this most recent one, as the hours grew later, a cluster grew in front of a TV in the corner of the house. They were fascinated, and enthralled, by what appeared on the screen.

It went something like this:

Furthermore, let it be noted that most of the people in this tv-viewing cluster were MEN.

I think the truth is, the Ped Egg is just plain fascinating! Even if you have no need to have smoother feet (which I don’t think these men felt they did), we all have an interest in what seems to be an impossible-to-be-true product.

I mean, in theory, it’s a little gross and looks something like a cheese grater: but it works! In like five minutes, you can remove the mother-of-all-ugly callouses, and if your skin is smooth, it won’t leave a scratch. It’s truly magical. And, you know, I wouldn’t sniff once if a man tried it.

And then, days after the prom, I received an interesting email from, well, Ped Egg! Turn out there was a new version WITH A HANDLE in stores - which just made it all the much better. This makes it even easier to use - the grip means you can make areas that may be hard to reach even more accessible.

It’s still not the most attractive concept (basically, like a grater collects cheese, your dead skin shavings will be inside the egg until you clean it out) - but it’s an easy and quick way to skip a trip to the salon. And we are given away TEN here! To have your chance at one, please tell me your scariest pedicure-related memory. (And this can totally include NEEDING a pedicure!

Deadline to enter is August 15. Good luck!