What with bikini supermodels romping around in their sexy, full "Beach Hair," there seems to be an unwritten rule that summer hair always equals va-va-voom curls. Well, I beg to differ. While the curling iron and texturizing spray has been giving our goold ol' flat iron a run for its money, Millionaire Matchmaker swears by the long, sleek look when it comes to impressing guys, and I'm sure flat-iron devotees like Rachel Bilson and Jen Aniston can vouche for me when I say that sleek, shiny and straight is a look that transcends all seasons--summer not being an exception--and all hair types.

So what's the 411 on the best pin-straight 'do? I asked Los Angeles-based stylist and owner of Badass Hair (www.BadassHair.com) Scott Fontana for the basics:

• Don't use metal

When it comes to hair tools, stay away from the hard stuff and stick with plates made out of natural stones. Ceramic plates are popular, and there are a lot of pretty affordable ones out there. My pick, of course, is the too-famous and too-fab T3 one ($129).

• Don't burn your hair

"I have seen so many people with dry, burnt, brittle weakened hair caused by flat irons," says Scott, and we have to make sure we're not one of those girls. To protect your hair, start in the shower by using thick, creamy moisturizing shampoo and conditioner--if its clear, its not doing the job right. "Don't worry about your hair being weighed down, your flat ironing it." Touche!

• Do dry your hair thoroughly

"I never recommend using a flat iron on wet hair. It sizzles like putting water in a hot frying pan. No thanks." While you want to get it as straight as you can, don't forget that it needs to be completely dry. What I like to do to make sure is use the cold air function on my hair dryer. When its warm, damp hair can seem dry, but it can't hide from cold air!

• Do iron small sections at a time

"This way you won't have to repeatedly go over the sections. If you take to big of a section you will find yourself constantly going over the section to try and flatten the inside of the section," which equals dry and brittle. Yuck. Take about an inch or so for maximum straight-age.

But "just the basics" never makes the cut when it comes to hair styling. So here are some extra tips for your unique hair type:

For the Brittle Bettys: If your hair is dry and you're worried about the added damage, rub in a leave-in-conditioner like Silk Elixir from Nioxin ($12.99) after you get out of the shower. Not only will it help protect your hair, it will also keep the frizzies at bay and help add to the sleek factor.

For the Chronic Flat-Ironer: If you find yourself pulling out that iron every day, its especially important to call in for back-up on heat-protection. Use a heat-protective spray like Badass Hair's Luminosity ($22.50) to minimize damage. Sure, a little sacrifice is always necessary in the name of beauty, but it doesn't mean you can't help your hair out a little!

For the Shine Deprived: If your hair seems dull, a spritz of gloss spray will do the trick. Spray on a little above the ear, where the natural "shine ring" forms. Serums are useful here too, but I personally think that a spray will give it a more natural shine. Try Alterna Hemp Spray Shine ($19)

For the Already-Flat: If your hair is flat and you think the flat-iron will only aggravate the situation, re-think your blow-out. Rather than focusing on straightening the hair, dry it at the roots and use a round brush to give your hair volume. Yes, I said volume. While it may seem like an oxymoron, giving it that volume at the blow-out will ensure that your hair will not just lie flat onto your face.

For the Curly-Qs: If your hair is naturally curly, take that extra step and rub in a straightening balm to your damp hair, and take extra care when you blow dry. Also, its helpful to comb through your hair after you run the iron on it to help smooth it out. I also love the Nexxus Maxxishine Anti-Frizz Spray ($9.99), which is a shine spray and a frizz fighter in one--to finish the look off.

To shine or to color...that seems to be the on-going debate in the beauty world, where lipstick and lipgloss has an in-again, out-again kind of trend pendulum. How are we supposed to know when to go totally juicy and when to go creamy and matte?

Well, Jody Cohen is here to end the debate once and for all. We can just get both. Enter Cosmoholic Cosmetics, a line of paraben free lip color that is just that--a lipstick and lipgloss in one. Enfused with a lip repair army of macademia nut oil, Vitamin C, E and antioxidants, its basically just your all-in-one lip savior. They come in seven shades that are highly pigmented but so surprisingly versatile, sure to be any girl's staple.

Sound too good to be true? If you're having trouble picking the shade from the online store, just send them a picture of yourself and their beauty experts wlll tell you which ones are right for you. It's like having your beauty-guru big sister picking out your perfect color, but better. No wonder Gossip Girl Blake Lively is a fan.

So what color did the beauty vet pick out for me? Prudish Pink (second from left) that was very close to my natural lip color, Rockstar Red (third from right) a super flattering red that was just the right amount of color and shine, and Bossy Berry (second from right) a deep wine red that made me feel super sexy. They glided on super smooth, and as it promises, its not sticky at all. They've landed a permanent place in my makeup pouch.

If you're having trouble picking shades but don't always have the Cosmoholic to turn to, take Jody's advice: look at the inside of your wrist to determine your undertone. If your veins are a bluish tint, stick with cool undertones like pinks, mauves, and berrys. A greenish tint signals warm undertones, like corals, brick reds, and golds. If your veins are a blue-green combo, it means that you are happily neutral, and any color will work!

Happy Earth Day! While saving water and turning off your lights are all very noble ways of celebrating this day, I want to ask: what better way to say thanks to our planet than to scour the internet for some eco-friendly shopping spree? Here are some boutiques that say every day is earth day, and collect the most eco-chic finds. And you'll be glad to know, you never ever have to compromise style for green.

Planet Threads

Mother earth isn't the only one celebrating today: it's the official launch of Planet Threads, an online boutique that features an eclectic but always eco-friendly mix of women and menswear, jewelry, accessories and more. You could basically stock your whole wardrobe with earthy finds, like this deux fm bandeau bikini. It's made out of recycled fabric, and comes in 10 splashy colors.

Spirit Beauty Lounge

What's better than getting beauty products that you know are eco-friendly? Ones that comes with a free sample, of course. Spirit Beauty Lounge is the only carbon-neutral online boutique, marrying luxe with green, and you'll always find what you want and even a hint for what to get next time: every order comes with a free sample. Not only is this a perfect place for organic products, but also hard-to-find, coveted Euro lines. Case in point? They now carry Honoré des Prés, the first line of French organic perfumes that is completely natural, designed by French perfumer darling Olivia Giacobetti.

Green With Glamour

Started by a sister of dynam-eco duos, Green With Glamour not only has fab fashion finds, but also features an amazing collection of home furnishing and decor items to fill your home with sustainable style. Can't you just imagine green-ifying your home with this funky IKAT throw. It's made out of pre-consumer clippings cast off during the cut & sew process--all the cotton that never even got to be a T-shirt!

Remember when I confessed my fear of red-hot lips? Well I've had that revelation every girl has in her lifetime, a rite of passage of sorts I suppose, when you just say hey, I look good in this.

My a-ha! moment came from this little girl, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Cherries in the Glow. Yeah it looks super red in the tube, but it goes on really sheer, and I'd say that it's a universally flattering color. And best of all, it inspired this post so other girls who are scared about red lips can have their own a-ha! moments.

A tip: opt for drugstore brands so you don't have to be scared to experiment. Then, when you find your soulmate, bring her along to your sephora outing. You're sure to find a fit without feeling like you wasted your money.

When I think about my eyeliner, it sometimes helps to think about the look in terms of animals. Now there are a bunch of different options as far as eyeliners go, with a different look for each.

Doe Eyes - Gel Eyeliner

Gel eyeliner, like this one from Stila ($18) will give you the perfect doe eyes. This thick black liner is perfect for opening up your eyes. Apply with a rounded eyeliner brush on top and bottom. It doesn't have to be super thick, but just enough above the lashes. Use a lengthening/curling mascara for that wide-eyed, innocent look.

Cat Eyes - Liquid Eyeliner

If you want to look like a polished sex-kitten, a thin precise liquid eyeliner is the way to go. I personally love the pen-types like this one from M.A.C ($16.50), because I think its easier to handle. A thin line right along the lashline will make your lashes look more full. You can add a little wing at the top lid as an extension of the line. Rather thancurling your lashes up, wing it out the corners of your eyes.

Leopard Eyes - Metallic Eyeliner

For a look from the wild, a soft golden eyeliner like this one from Benefit ($20). I love how this one glides on really smoothly. Be generous with this one, and put on a thick line on your top lid. For a colored eyeliner, I usually just dab a bit on the outer corner of my bottom lid, just until you get to the iris. Pair it with a volumizing mascara, and make sure you get the lashline so you can fake the black eyeliner, all the while looking gilded.

Sense of Beauty is my beauty post, about beauty product reviews, trend colors, tricks and tips and more.

I have such dry skin. Not just cute dry, but ashy-white powder dry. My mom would tease me and tell me I had elephant skin. Thanks Mom!

So to get through the winter cold, this little elephant likes to do mini-facials. While I still have yet to go to the kitchen and mix myself a facial mud of some sort, what I like to do is super easy. Just get your usual toner and cotton face pads. I usually like to us Square ones like these for more surface area, but any pad will do.

Now if you already use pads like these to pat in your toner, great! It's basically the same concept. Soak about 4~5 pads with your toner, and stick them onto your forehead, one on each cheek, one on your nose, and another on your chin. I like to do a whole-facial, but sometimes I do a concetrated sesh on my unibrow area (it always gets so dry there!). Leave it in for about 5 to 10 minutes, pat on the toner all over your face like usual, and voila! A well deserved snappy facial.

I've been using this  Kiehl's Yerbe Matte toner ($24.50) for a while now, and it's been working great. What I love most about this line is their moisturizer--it leaves your skin so revitalized without being gloppy! Totally recommend it.

Tip-Off will be about beauty, fashion, whatever tips I have to offer. But I'd love to hear about anyone else's idea of an easy facial. Who doesn't want one, right?