Poolside style at Ku De Ta over the weekend. (photography by William Neal)

I usually go to the pool looking like a bag lady with the flu (but not this bag lady): pale, oily-haired, and with duffel bags packed with enough activities to keep me busy for days.  Dallas girls go to the pool with hair coiffed and curled, spritzed into place with mega-hold hairspray, topped with designer sunglasses, and complimented with sparkly chandelier earrings. (Like this.) This year I’m going to take my poolside look back up a notch (or two). So, now, I’d like to now, what are your favorite poolside must-haves? Be it a product, garment, accessory, or floating device. Leave ‘em in the comments section.

Chandra North, Dallas model and event co-chair, wears the Cover Clothing American Cancer Society tee.

Here are two super fun, incredibly chic events to add to your calendar. First, on Tuesday, May 15, Five and Ten is place to be to celebrate Dallas-based Cover Clothing’s partnership with The American Cancer Society. Each purchase of the long-sleeve white tee, right, sends $10 to the cancer awareness group. Check out all of the “sun conscious” clothing and grab hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in Highland Park Village from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Then, the same week, on Thursday, May 15, at 5 pm, you can treat yourself to a glam night at Sol Ben Hair Studio. Talk to the pros about how to look your best from head to toe and check out Kendra Scott bling paired with neighboring Flirt Boutique fashions during a runway show. Plus, if you are one of the first 50 guest to the party at 2404 McKinney Ave., you will take home a swag bag. You can RSVP by calling 214-871-7700 or emailing solbenhairstudio@gmail.com.

ShopTalk: How can I prepare to make it hurt less?

Lisa Lazarra: First, stop worrying. The number one thing we hear from customers at The Pretty Kitty is, “Wow, that’s it?” Second, avoid caffeine before your waxing appointment. I love those vanilla iced lattes like the next girl, but caffeine increases sensitivity at the follicle level.

Should I apologize that I haven’t shaved my legs?

We are in the hair removal business, so I assure you, your legs will not frighten us! If at the appropriate hair length, it may be a great opportunity for a leg wax.

How many days in an advance of an event (wedding, vacation, etc.) should I wax?

We recommend getting waxed three days before leaving for vacation. Waxed skin is more photosensitive and much more susceptible to burning. For a special event or wedding, coming in 2 -3 days prior is best to allow for any possible inflammation to subside.

How do I prevent any little red bumps post wax?

Our estheticians apply a series of soothing products, including a post-waxing serum, to calm the skin and reduce the likelihood of any skin irritation. Hydrocortisone cream may also be used at the end of the service or at home.

It’s difficult laying butterfly style on the waxing table. You sure you’re not judging me?

(Laughter.) No – no judgements! As estheticians, skincare is our life. We are here for you. And while I will not go into the exact procedure, clients are made comfortable from beginning to end.

Can I drink a bottle of wine before?

If your girls’ lunch gets a little loose, we understand. But honestly, it’s not necessary. At The Pretty Kitty, our Brazilians are done in 10-15 minutes, with the least amount of discomfort. You’ll be fine!

What if you lay some wax down and I decide I can’t go through with it?

May I remind you, the Brazilian is our specialty.

photography: Pure Skin Therapy and Hard Night Good Morning by Matthew Shelley; all others courtesy of retailers

You know the Mary Kay brand is Dallas born and bred. You may also be aware that beloved guy line Jack Black, celeb-fav color collection Susan Posnick, and gift-worthy Niven Morgan were founded here, too. But there are dozens of local skincare collections still flying under the radar. Here are seven of my favorite locally created products to add to your beauty routine.

1. Pure Skin Therapy No. 2 Foaming Wash
Robyn Straza, owner of appointment-based Pure Skin Therapy spa, created a trio of facial cleansers that, when used in different combinations, can cater to a variety of skin types. My favorite is the Foaming Wash. The thick, herbal scent and natural, silky formula is both cleansing and refreshing.
Where to buy: By appointment only at Pure Skin Therapy.

2. Eraclea Purifying Gel Cleanser
The cosmeceutical line is based on products that aim to hydrate the skin using a patented “HylaSponge System,” which utilizes hyaluronic acids. I love the gel cleanser, created with oily skin in mind, for preventing breakouts in the summer but never drying out my skin.
Where to buy: EpiCentre at the Shops at Park Lane, $35

3. Hard Night Good Morning Facial Cocktail
The purpose of this serum, invented by Dallas’ D’Andra Simmons, is to revive tired, damaged skin, and perk it up. I like it to use it in the morning for the subtle tightening, plumping effects, and clean smell.
Where to buy: Nuvo, Stanley Korshak, Whole Foods, $69.99

4. Billy Jealousy Golden Gloves Therapeutic Hand Cream
Manly enough for him, but delightful soothing for me, this hand cream includes Monoi de Tahiti, a scented combo from soaking Tahitian gardenias in coconut oil. The formula is hydrating, but quick drying, so no oily residue.
Where to buy: Hair by Charlie, ZaSpa, Neiman Marcus NorthPark, Pockets Menswear, $28

5. Kale Naturals Bamboo Face Scrub
This mens grooming line, started by two Dallas women, Tia Pettijohn and Dana Kale, contains a variety of products, like face wash, shave gel, and a 3-in-1 wash, but I love the scrub. Bamboo, jojoba, aloe, and mint, exfoliate and soothe, preventing ingrown hairs for my boyfriend and refreshing skin post-workout for me.
Where to buy: Pockets Menswear, St. Bernard Sports, Indigo 1745, Culwell & Son, Ken’s Man’s Shop, $21

6. Colaneri Lipstick
Beauty lines by makeup artists are often my favorites. Who better to create a good lipstick then an expert at using and applying lipstick? Kristen Colaneri’s eponymous collection is simple and usable. I love the lipstick, which is smooth and creamy and comes in a variety of neutrals.
Where to buy: Order or make an appointment by phone (469-569-0132) or email, $15

7. Clovertree Aromatherapy Rollerballs
Spa Habitat owners Greg and Amy Bohn created Clovertree as a line that was both pure and honest about its ingredients. Herbal remedies were the foundation, but the brand expanded to delicious bath and body products. I love the aromatherapy rollerballs as both a natural antidote (like the Comfort Me Calming Oil with lavender and vanilla) and a healthy perfume (like the Inspire Me Meditation Oil with ylang ylang, patchouli, and sweet orange).
Where to buy: Spa Habitat, $15

Kieh's Rare Earth Rosario Dawson Pore Cleansing Masque for Earth Day

Earth Day month may be over, but you can still get your hands on the limited edition, celeb-designed jars of Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque. The beauty brand has put out Earth Day editions of a favorite product every year for the last four years, and this year’s partners included Florence Welch, Mark Ruffalo, Rosario Dawson, and Spike Lee. For each jar in the label series, Kiehl’s sends 100 percent of its proceeds to Recycle Across America. The Rare Earth masque aims to purify, detoxify, and minimize the appearance of enlarged pores. Amazonian White Clay is said to draw out oil, dirt, and toxins, and oatmeal and aloe vera are soothing, hydrating, and protective of sensitive skin. We’ve got a jar with Rosario Dawson’s label to give away.  Enter here to win. Even more exciting, Kiehl’s is opening up shop in NorthPark this month.

A South Seas tan. (photo courtesy of South Seas)

I’m not going to pretend life is hard as an editor  forced to review to facials and airbrush tans for the job, but I’ve been through my fair share of mediocre treatments and tan jobs ala Oompa-Loompa. But I love risking my body for the price of potential orange streaks so that I can tell you, dear readers, which treatments to try and which treatments aren’t worth the dough. Three services you must enjoy: Natura Bissé Aroma Awakening facial at The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton and the airbrush tan and Da Vinci one-hour teeth whitening at Facelogic.

Jump for details.

Natura Bissé Aroma Awakening Facial at The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton
Three new facials have been added to the Ritz-Carlton’s lineup thanks to the launch of Natura Bissé in the spa: the Aroma Awakening for 50 minutes, La Alternativa wrinkle-relaxer for 80 minutes, and the Diamond Multisensorial Lifting for 90 minutes. I can vouch for the power of the Aroma Awakening facial. It’s not so much a skin treatment as a 50-minute slice of peace. Combining facial reflexology and Ayurvedic aromatherapy, it’s truly blissful, which is really what I want most out of a spa trip. The facial massage dulled my stress (and left me nicer, quite frankly), and the floral facial bath and cleansing left me with a beautiful glow I didn’t even cover up with makeup. Book by calling the Ritz-Carlton.

60 minute Da Vinci teeth whitening session and airbrush tan at Facelogic
Sure Facelogic staffers are experts on all things face, but they’re quite good at sunless tanning and teeth whitening, too, as it turns out. The two services are perfect for vacation preparation in a snap. (Forget the detox dieting–a tan and a teeth bleach is easier.) The airbrushing, performed expertly by spa coordinator Nicole Barton is a paraben-free formula from South Seas Skincare. Although the typical aftermath includes that sunless tan smell and temporary sticky skin, I was pleasantly surprised by the near-perfect even application and natural looking color. Although there’s nothing natural about getting a Caribbean tan overnight, the ladies at D headquarters swear they’d never know I’m a fraud. (Even they hadn’t seen me glowing in the dark the day before.)

The Da Vinci teeth whitening is even more impressive. Just 60 minutes took my teeth up a few bright notches. (My teeth are fairly white to begin with, but the technician told me moving five shades brighter is a fairly common result for stained teeth.) The hook for me is Da Vinci’s claim not to break down enamel (instead, helping to rebuild it) and organic ingredients. I won’t lie to you, 60 minutes of having teeth under a laser light show (and the preparation between each 20-minute round) can be boring, but I snoozed (okay, snored) through each session. My teeth are noticeably whiter, and even though I felt a little sensitivity for a day, I’m thrilled. Book by calling Facelogic.

My can't-live-withouts: Quench Hydrating Face Serum, Deep Tissue Repair Cream with Peptide K8, and ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment.

I have picked my can’t-live-without skincare products from brands all over the board. I’ve got my earth-friendly Hugo Naturals soap stock, luxurious Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Creme, beloved Revision Skincare Intellishade tinted moisturizer, etc. But if you asked me my two favorite skincare lines ever, it would come down to Renee Rouleau (whose purse we spilled yesterday) and Kate Somerville. These are lines that I love from wash to moisturizer and everything in between. My love affair with the Kate Somerville line began when I had the opportunity to sit down with Kate and talk product. Her understanding of skin from the inside out and passion for results is what drives this collection of lotions and magic potions. (Read up on her philosophy here.) The deal was sealed when I played with several products from the line. Each one had a glorious texture and an immediate effect on my face. You have an opportunity to meet Kate, too, in a Master Class at the Kate Somerville counter at Neiman Marcus Willowbend on Friday, and I highly recommend it if you’re in the market to see difference in your skin. Friday, April 27 at 11 am or 2 pm. Reservations can be made by calling Gina at 972-629-1700 ext. 1333.

If you can’t make this work, consider picking up the Glow Kit. You’ll be as head over heels as I am. I know it.

photography courtesy of Blaine's Color

Blaine Schlaudt, owner of Blaine’s Color salon, is offering up a basket of the salon’s brand hair care goodies to one lucky reader. Included: one bottle of sulfate free shampoo, a bottle of daily rinse conditioner, one bottle of argan oil, one bottle of argan styling cream, one bottle of aerosol shine spray, and a can of hairspray, all part of Blaine’s color protection system. Enter here to win.

The lucky lady whose name is drawn will pick up the products from Blaine’s Color in Park Cities and also receive a free consultation from the master himself.

These can be yours. (photography courtesy of my iPhone)

René Furterer has kindly bestowed upon the earth a new line of hair care products for “enhancing luminosity” and repairing highlighted, bleached hair. Welcome, Oakara Active Light. You’ll find open arms and polished fingernails awaiting you in Dallas. The collection contains a “light activating” shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in fluid, all aimed at preventing the fading of light tresses. Ingredients including Okara extract (from a soybean), Acacia Honey extract, vitamin E, claim to do a multitude of goodness like restoring protein to the hair, “halting oxidation” from sun, and providing a UV filter for protection. One lucky fair-headed gal will get these goods. Enter here to win. Winners are drawn at random.

Signorina perfume and Dallas' Nile Nussbaumer

In an effort to promote their new perfume, Signorina, Salvatore Ferragamo rounded up a handful of international “it” girls to be part of their “The Girls About Town” campaign. The bevy of ladies include Bianca Balti, Rachel Chandler Guinness, and other “influencers with a polished finger on the pulse of what is cool in her city.” The four newest ladies from LA, New York, and Paris, include Dallas’ own Nile Nussbaumer, publicist for Ceylon et Cie (and daughter of the owner). Check out her online inspiration diary on The Girls About Town Tumblr page. You can also apply to be part of the pack.

The Cleanse collection.

Lure Salon is throwing a little fete with Good Morning Texas‘ Amy Vanderoef in celebration of the a new haircare collection the ec0-friendly beauty parlor will carry. Meet Intelligent Nutrients, a natural beauty line that aims to take some chemical exposure out of your daily routine by using food-grade ingredients, plant stem cells, aromatherapy, and no pesticides, pthalates, or other toxic additions. Bottles of goodness are packed with ingredients with purpose: seeds for nutrients, a patented oil blend for its antioxidant properties, flower extracts for their hydrating properties, and more. Head in this Wednesday, April 11, from 6 pm to 8 pm for wine, light bites, music, and giveaways. Anyone can attend, but it’ll help if you give them a heads up and email info@luresalondallas.com as a quick RSVP. A part of the evening’s proceeds (perhaps you’ll stock up on shampoo or schedule a cut and color?) will go to Earth Day Dallas.

photography courtesy of Estee Lauder

Yes. It is good because we’ve got the delicious, limited edition Bronze Goddess Capri perfume from Estee Lauder available for one lucky winner. Inspired by the Isle of Capri, you’ll catch a whiff of cassis, mandarin, and lemon on top; jasmine, lily of the valley, and peony in the middle; and vanilla, wood, patchouli, and musk at the base. It truly smells like sweet vacation in a bottle. (Or perhaps I’m just so desperate for a vacay that I can smell it in my Waldorf salad.) Enter here to win.

photography by me

I told you last week about Southlake’s new blowout-only Hair Bar. But I haven’t yet told you about The Do in Preston Center. It’s in the old Salon Madrid space, but it’s a completely new interior. Industrial chic with vintage Chicago brick walls, repurposed concrete countertops, and bright pops of color: pink, orange, and purple bottles of Wella haircare and cherry red blowdryers. My color faded since my last dye job over Christmastime, and although I wasn’t satisfied with its lackluster hue, I couldn’t define the color I was looking for. Owner Betty Payne seemed to know exactly how to freshen things up, and her colorist gave me a fresh, espresso tint. Doors were wide open, ladies were gossiping, and coffee, lemonade, and fresh oranges were on tap. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a salon where the vibe was so friendly and unintimidating. “We’re doing something different over here,” Betty says, and you can feel it when you walk in. (She even says dogs are invited to come hang out on the benches in front.) The space is only 1,000 square feet or so, so you get to know your neighbors. Mine included local celebrities Jenna Owens from Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, getting a 70s-inspired ‘do for a party, and legendary Ron Chapman receiving a quick trim. No one flinches when you walk in with waist-length hair, either. Even Betty has Barbie long, blonde locks. (“Teenager hair,” she calls it.) Melissa, one of the salon’s crowning jewels, took my limp hair and gave it some life with easy-to-manage layers and on-trend waves that actually lasted through the following afternoon. Moral of this story: I highly recommend this new spot. Give them a call and experience it for yourself. Grab an orange; you won’t be sorry.

photography courtesy of Arquiste

One of the highlights of my life is the day I got to eat lunch with Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl, The Virgin’s Lover, and dozens of other historical fiction books I’ve devoured. I love history. I’ll take down a lengthy Antonia Fraser or Alison Weir biography, but I relish the drama that extra storytelling adds. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in royal ladies (my favorites include Anne Boleyn and Marie Antoinette) I’m actually disappointed when I pull my head out of my book and find myself in the 2000s. It’s occasionally unbearable to think that the closest I’ll get to knowing the characters that haunt me is by imagining them or watching a movie of someone else’s imagining.

Carlos Huber, perfumer behind Arquiste, understands this longing. His career in restoration architecture and love for art and travel led him to create six fragrances that aim to capture six evocative moments in history through scent. (He’s also very good looking, which is neither here nor there.) Included: a 1600 Spanish-French royal wedding, a 1775 Mediterranean harvest, and a 1400 Aztec festival in Tenochtitlan, Mexico, and more.

Jump for more details of this enchanting unisex fragrance line.

Laumosnier "Meeting between Louis XIV (1638-1715) and Philippe IV (1605-65) at Isle des Faisans"

Authentic local ingredients in “Anima Dulcis” recreate 1695′s Royal Convent of Jesus Maria in Mexico using notes of jasmine, vanilla, and chilies used in the nuns’ favorite hot chocolate recipe.

There are two bottles for the 1660 wedding of Spain’s Maria Therea and France’s Louis XIV on the Isle of Peasants. On the French side, there’s “Fleur de Louis” with pine and cedar for the freshly built pavilion; iris, fashionable with the French ladies of court; nutmeg, cloves, and rose water worn by the “sweetest smelling monarch” Louis XIV; jasmine, orange blossom, and musk, which starched his shirts. To capture the blushing Spanish princess bride in “Infanta en Flor,” you’ll find orange flower water, rose and powder from the ladies’ rouge and face powder, and hints of suede for the ladies’ leather gloves.

Alexander Pushkin by Vasily Tropinin

My favorite is “Aleksandr” a recreation of the last moments of Russian author, Alexander Pushkin, in January of 1837 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The fragrance tells the story that leads the poet to his death in a battle with one of his wife’s admirer. Pushkin’s personal cologne of neroli and violet are noted along with the leather of his boots and then the woody fir trees along the journey.

There’s also the Italian “L’Etrog” to mark 1175′s successful Mediterranean harvest with citrus and sweet date and “Flor y Canto,” from a 1400 summer in Tenochtitlan, Mexico, during a “fragrant” Aztec  festival full of florals, like marigold, tuberose, and plumeria.

The line launched at Barneys New York this past fall. Head in to smell them all.