While fall may seem agonizingly far away for those of us who have become shut-ins as a result of weeks/months of triple digit heat, Labor Day is only a week away, signaling the unofficial end of summer, and the beginning of my favorite season. Having lived in the South most of my life, I wait impatiently for cooler weather and a chance to break out my jeans, sweaters, and boots, usually donning them as soon as temps drop below 85, only to end up changing into shorts and flip flops by the end of the day. It will probably be November before I get to join the parade of fall fashion, but for those of you already enjoying cooler evenings and preparing for the annual bombardment of leaf-peepers, here are some fall trends that I can’t wait to add to/pull out of my closet:

Over the knee boots have been showing up everywhere and look great with jeans or a mini. You can find them with heels or without, leather, suede, buckles, or ribbons, but generally neutral in color. I’m a fan of the fringe (also big this season) ash color boots from Neiman Marcus.

Bold patterns and jewel tones are joining the neutrals and nudes carrying over from summer, with purples and greens showing up in eye shadows palettes and nail polishes alike. Heavier fabrics complete with chunky knits and velvet are paired with bold, sometimes boxy accessories, welcoming the fall season. I love this dress and sweater vest by Jessica Simpson, especially worn together, and Her Majesty Nail Candy was recently featured in Allure magazine.

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What’s your favorite fall trend??

As summer slowly draws to a close, it’s time we stepped in front of the mirror and survey the damage. Our skin can take a beating during the hot summer months: sun, heat, humidity, dry oven-like temps, climate changes from summer travel, and endless amounts of sunscreen and sweat that goes with it all. I’m no aesthetician, but I do know that we should reevaluate our skin care routine as the seasons change to repair any damage and prepare for the coming climate change. So, how do we go about updating our skin care regimen? Outside of asking your dermatologist (everyone should at least be getting an annual exam, skin cancer is no joke folks!), I recommend taking a skin care analysis. You can take a free online analysis HERE. It evaluates responses about your skin health and concerns and will customize a skin care regimen that matches your specific needs for healthy skin care. It literally takes 5 minutes, and produces product recommendations for you to consider. It beats putting your skin through the trial and error process to find a product that finally works. At the very least, you should be using a cleanser and moisturizer (even if you have oily skin…oil and moisture are NOT the same thing!). I’m a huge fan of Skintelligence Hydra Derm Deep Cleansing Emulsion, pH Skin Normalizer, and Daily Moisture Enhancer. How often do you change your skin care regimen and what skin care products can’t you live without?

The folks at Motives by Loren Ridinger have been busy! Visit www.MotivesCustomLook.com for two irresistible eye makeup tutorials! Step by step instructions and color recommendations make it easy peasy for you to recreate either look! I love them both, they’re so beautiful! Which one would you wear?