your Beauty Our duty

A lot of people get sloppy in the summer—visiting friends, going on vacation," says Mario Russo, owner of the Mario Russo Salon in Boston. Secure your spot at the head of the class this fall with these simple tips.

It may be tempting to sit back and relax during summer break, "But once school starts, along with after school activities and study hours, you'll be kicking yourself for not having kept up your energy!" states Melissa DeLancey, trainer at Clay Fitness in Manhattan. Enlist your friends to go running, biking, or walking two to four times a week. "It's a great opportunity to socialize and get fit," notes DeLancey. If you're one with the water, then pump up your pool routine with leg kicks and crunches (lifting your knees to your chest while holding the wall), in sets of twenty. To keep up a routine during school, "try starting each day with light stretching and yoga. All you need is ten minutes to relieve muscle tension, and it'll wake you and your muscles up!"

Just as important as maintaining your fitness is taking care of your skin, which can easily be damaged in summer. "When skin is exposed to sunlight over time, the top layer thickens and darkens as a defense," says Clinique dermatologist David Orentreich M.D. "This means you're more likely to have deeper, clogged pores." Stave off these blemishes by regularly cleansing, exfoliating, and wearing sunscreen. "No matter your skin tone, you should be using an oil–free, high SPF lotion," advises Orenetreich. If you do get a bad burn, however, prevent patchwork skin color by calming skin with a soothing lotion, exfoliating to even out color, and keeping the compromised area out of the sun. "Once you've been burnt, that area is gong to absorb UV light more so than the lighter surrounding areas," adds Orentreich.

As if you need another reason to stay out of the sun: "Your hair will probably need a detoxification or deep conditioning treatment by the end of summer," notes Russo, owner. "Especially if you've been out in the sun a lot, or have a lot of chlorine build–up." Women who color their hair should be extra attentive: "They tend to get bleached out, so it might be a good idea to bring their color down a tone or two." Try trading your beach waves for a nice structured cut, which Russo says is a big trend for fall. "We're doing very strong cuts and shapes right now—bold bangs, center parts, even the pixie cut," he adds. "It's a great way to get rid of damaged hair." If you're not down for such a drastic chop, at least plan to trim off a few inches. After all, split ends are hardly the best accessory for a knock–out, first day of school outfit!


Teen Vogue's Top Back to School Beauty Picks


Clinique UV-Response Body SPF 50 $18.50

Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection. Provides antioxidant protection that increases with the intensity of the sun. Triggers a repair that helps prevent long-term signs of aging. Oil-free. For all skin types. Water-resistant.



Mario Russo Intensive Hair Care $32.50

Resuscitate dehydrated, lifeless hair with a dose of Intensive Hair Care. Twice a month deep conditioning treatments will restore health and shine to over-processed. Viva la hair!




Clinique Acne Solutions Daytime Shield $16

This lightweight, oil-free lotion uses patent-pending technology to create an invisible barrier. Helps protect blemish-prone skin from dirt, sweat and other troublemakers. Curbs oiliness.



Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Control Kit $19.99

The Clean & Clear Acne Control Kit contains:

* Benzoyl peroxide acne cleanser 4 fl oz (118 ml)
* Salicylic acid acne medication moisturizer 2 fl oz (59 ml)
* Salicylic acid acne medicine treatment 0.5 fl oz (15 ml)

Clean & Clear®, experts in skin care, has developed a unique combination of three different acne-fighting technologies that fight the multiple causes of acne to keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful.

Acne Control Cleanser
The 1st step to your acne-fighting regimen is the powerful daily cleanser to combat multiple causes of acne. This gentle facial cleanser goes beyond just cleansing skin to penetrate to the pores with Benzoyl Peroxide to fight bacteria. It keeps fighting breakouts long after washing your face. In a clinical study, break outs were reduced by 53%.*

Acne Control Moisturizer
The 2nd step to your acne-fighting regiment is the powerful daily moisturizer to combat multiple causes of acne. This oil-free moisturizer delivers a hint of moisture to nourish skin and make it soft, while containing a breakthrough technology proven to dissolve oil fast, so serious acne medication can penetrate deep down to the pores.

Spot Treatment
See results in hours! In face, it is so effective, in a clinical study 100% of people showed an improvement in size, redness or number of pimples in just one day. This targeted spot treatment is designed for problem areas as needed. It contains Acelera™ complex with a powerful acne-fighting ingredient that helps clear up pimples fast and prevent new ones from forming without over-drying skin. Results may vary.