To me, the idea of “bright” skin is what my cheeks look like when after a brisk walk in early November.  The companies trying to define their products are tossing around words like “luminous,” “younger,” “glowing,” “younger,” “radiant,” “younger,” “brighter” … (any English teachers out there who want to remind them you can’t use the word itself as part of the definition?)

Skin brightening, not to be confused with lightening or whiting, is about all those things – and sort of nothing at the same time.  The things that dull the skin – oils, dead skin cells, dryness and so forth – are already being addressed if you have a normal cleansing and moisturizing routine.  If you aren’t currently exfoliating a couple of times a week, try it. The difference will amaze you.

But brighteners?  Many are a type of moisturizer that is chock full of vitamins and antioxidants.  What I’m using now has those things too, even though a derivative of the word “bright” doesn’t appear anywhere on the label.  And since I don’t wear makeup, it’s obvious right away whether or not my skin is bright.  But after you’ve cleansed, toned, moisturized and then “put on your face” with foundation, blush and the works, who’s to know if you did or didn’t brighten?

Brighteners often say they will also help even out skin tones, fading discoloration and reducing blotchiness, so that could make a difference in how your makeup appears on its canvas.  Ingredients to look for include AHAs and Vitamin C.  What those ingredients do, like many skin care products, is help break up dead cells so they’re easier to wash away, as well as promote faster cell turnover.  Newer skin is going to be brighter, of course, but honestly, you may already be using products that do this for you.

All that said, there’s no reason not to add brighteners to your routine, especially if you’re not a regular exfoliator, aren’t loading up on vitamins and antioxidants through your skin care regimen or your diet, or just because you want to, dammit!

There are too many choices out there, and Ulta, Sephora and drugstore.com are where you should start.  If you’re still not sure what to choose, talk to your trusted beauty adviser or Ask LookinGood, and we’ll try to narrow it down for you!

But beauty editors seem to sticking to their guns about L’Oreal’s INOA (short for Innovation No Ammonia) ammonia-free hair color.  It’s been written about in all the beauty magazines and even the New York Times did a story on the new product line a couple years ago.

L’Oreal isn’t the first to try this ammonia-free alternative, so what’s all the hype?

The company claims three reasons:  “smell, hair reaction and range of color.”  Ammonia is used in hair dye to open the hair fiber so that it absorbs the dye better, but the smell is just plain awful.  Get rid of ammonia, get rid of the smell.  Check.

L’Oreal is touting a new technology called ODS – Oil Delivery System – that uses oil molecules to more gently open the hair shaft to absorb the dye.  If oil is used as the delivery mechanism instead of blasting it with ammonia, then hair will not be damaged as much.  Hair reaction, check.

Range of color is a legitimate argument, too, since darker hair dyes contain more chemicals and are harder to sustain.  I am sporting red hair these days and am always flabbergasted at how quickly it fades.  Other companies have ammonia free dyes, but offer them in a limited number of colors because they won’t hold.  The more range, the more natural the colors look.  Check.

With L’Oreal being the lead distributor of hair dye in salons, this can only be good news for consumers.  Nonetheless, ammonia is only one of the many problematic chemicals in hair coloring.  It’s just the one we can smell and feel.  “There is no safe hair color, unfortunately,” says Horst Rechelbacher, inventor of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients in Stacy Malkan’s book Not Just Another Pretty Face. And he is right. One of the scariest ingredients is a family of chemicals called Arylamines, which are a known risk factor for bladder cancer.  A member of that infamous family is p-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can be found on the labels of even non-permanent “natural” products.

So L’Oreal is responded to a market that is demanding “cleaner” hair products, and undoubtedly many haved followed.  But we still have a long way to go before the hype stops the harm.

Mass market products include those that contain aloe vera and vitamin E like Palmer’s Scar Serum with Cocoa Butter or Mederma, both of which can be purchased at your local drugstore.  Also popular among the homeopathic crowd are brands containing Allium CEPA, or onion extract, which is found to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Home remedies we have read about run the kitchen gamut.  Wiki-How says to use plain yogurt or lemon on your face to help fade acne scars.  All of the above are solid, uncomplicated approaches to minor problems, but most people are looking for something faster and stronger.

And so, we turn to modern science.  Our research told us that products containing silicones like Dimethicone are effective in the treatment of scars.  Scars on the skin are basically excessive collagen that has formed around the wound, and silicone sheets, gels and other silicone topicals seem to “soften” the collagen, allowing it to flatten and fade, though the interaction is not completely understood.  Silicone sheets are obtained through your doctor, but other clinical-level silicones may be obtained without a prescription like Kelacote Scar Gel, and Xeragel by BioDermis.

We also learned to be careful NOT to use products with the silicones D4 and D5, as these have been flagged by both the Canadian government and the European Union as potentially toxic.  The lesson here is “read the label.”

Other popular brands that use a variety of Vitamin E, good silicones and retinol ingredients are Kinerase Scar Healing Therapy and AmorePacific Enzyme Peel, which is an exfoliant that reduces scars over time.  We have also seen InviCible Scars Advanced Scar Therapy mentioned as a front-runner that can be used for multiple scarring issues.

Serious scarring, particularly acne scars, call for a trip to a dermatologist who might then recommend dermabrasion, laser treatments and even special grafting procedures for what is called “depressed acne” scars.

The good news is that there are multitudes of professional treatments.  From our standpoint, the difficulty would be choosing which one.

But those gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh – have been used in cosmetics and skin care since long before the Magi followed that star to Bethlehem and they can still be found in products today.  Poking around, it did occur to us that the three men, wise as they were, would have had a much easier time of it if they’d had wi-fi and GPS, but that’s another story.

It’s no surprise that gold was and is used in myriad products today, sometimes for color, but also for its effects on the skin. Rumor has it that Cleopatra slept in a gold mask.  It is said to increase blood flow to the areas where applied, “speeding up the cellular processes and activating regeneration,” according to information on the Oro Gold Cosmetics website. It is also said to work at a “deep cellular level … slowing down collagen depletion and the breakdown of elastin.”

Oro Gold is a luxury line, obviously, given the price of gold on the stock market these days.  But it’s also pretty interesting. All of the products in this pretty extensive line are infused with 24-karat gold. It includes everyday facial care, collagen boost series, masks, a men’s line and a “bionic facial expressions” series, which claims to give results similar to treatments like Botox, without the paralysis.  So much for diamonds being a girl’s best friend.

Frankincense and myrrh are in some appealing products, too.  Both are plant resins, most notable for their fragrances and used heavily in incense and as essential oils. But they have other healing properties as well.

Frankincense is a stress-reducer and has been found to encourage the growth of skin cells. It has long been used to heal everything from vomiting and sores to leprosy and gonorrhea.  The South African company Dermaxime uses it in a rejuvenating face wash that’s filled with stuff that helps the skin, including AHAs, BHAs, horse chestnut extract and a dozen or more ingredients like that.

Ren Skin Care and LUSH also use frankincense in products that we’re putting on our wish list.

Myrrh is primarily an effective skin care agent when the essential oil is mixed with a so-called carrier oil. It’s not the main ingredient, but can improve the look and glow of skin, and has soothing and calming effects to ease dry or severely dry skin.

Today, three guys showing up at your door carrying gold, frankincense and myrrh is probably going to seem a little like Ziggy Stardust at Woodstock, but hey, check out their skin. You might want to let them in.

Ain’t it always the way? You start losing the hair on your head and it starts sprouting out of all kinds of other unwanted places. Like your nose and your ears. Not only does it sprout, but it grows. Fast. Like weeds. Or kudzu. And it’s not just one long stray, but it comes in tufts.

And it’s as hard to tame as jungle undergrowth. You can’t just hack through with tweezers or regular trimmers because those protuberant little follicles are amazingly sensitive. As tempting as it sounds to grab a machete or weed whacker, at some point in our lives we are all going to have to reach for a nose hair trimmer.

It’s personal grooming’s embarrassing little secret; one of those products you never admit to using or owning (although it would be much more disgusting to borrow one). But besides your finger, it’s the only thing actually engineered to fit up your nose. And truthfully, it’s a lot easier just to get one and get it done than try to find an alternative tool or watch your head slowly start to look like a fluffy cauliflower.

There are manual and battery-operated versions of the nose hair clippers and all of them also work on the ears (and eye brows, guys, if you’re tired of the Andy Rooney look). Just about any company that makes an electric shaver also makes nose hair clippers. Remington rates high at shopinprivate.com, but Panasonic and Oster are more highly rated at Amazon.com.

They range in price anywhere from $3.95 to $25.95 and up. The fancy models come with vacuums to suck up the trimmings or lights and mirrors so no strays are missed. The wet/dry versions are marketed as more easily cleanable and good for allergy season or “in case you have a cold.” Um, yuck.

Maybe the only thing worse than that image though is wanton wiry bristles bursting out of the orifices in which they once hid.

I exaggerate of course, but hand rejuvenation is a new specialty among esthetic professionals for good reason.  While the skin of the face and neck may get all the attention in the fight against aging, the condition of our hands are, as my husband pointed out – a dead giveaway.  No matter how fat your butt is, older hands lose their fatty tissue and look bony and wrinkled.   Hands are often the first thing damaged by the sun, which results in freckles and age spots.  Because they are always in water and being wiped off, skin on your hands is often dry and itchy.  Even the veins stick out more as we age.  Remember the hands of the Wicked Witch of the East?

You get my point.  If hands are your issue, you are not alone.

The solutions for regaining youthful hands are many.  Product-wise, Retin-A and glycolic acid can be applied to the hands topically, which cause age spots to fade over time, just like they do on the face.  Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are also prescribed for faster results, but will definitely keep you from doing dishes for a few days while your hands heal.  Retin-A products usually run about $60-$100 a tube; the skin resurfacing procedures cost $200-$500.

Processes like laser skin resurfacing for the hands are very popular in medical spas using Fraxel, Thermage, Refirme or IPL, which can remove spots and broken capillaries.  For larger blood vessels, physicians use the same technique they use for spider veins – sclerotherapy – during which a chemical is injected into the veins that causes them to shrink. Dermatologists are even using injectable fillers to temporarily plump bony hands.  Depending on the services you receive, expect to pay $1,500 to $5,000 for these types of treatments.

If you are VERY serious about your hands, you can also go in for soft tissue augmentation where fat cells are taken from other parts of your body and transplanted to your hands. Hand rejuvenation procedures like those usually take place under outpatient anesthesia and are upwards of $1,500-$5,000 as well.

Doctors can bundle the procedures to save you money, but hands down, cosmetic hand rejuvenation could turn into some serious ‘high fives’.

Good news, my pale friends, I am going give you the low-down on products for your pair of down-lows.

The first question you need to ask yourself is how much coverage you want.  You may giggle at this, but one of the best selling leg cosmetics is made by Joan Rivers, who might have done serious damage to her face, but still sports a nice set of sticks.  The Right to Bare Legs (3 oz. bottle for $29.99), sold heavily on HSN and online, is for serious leg coverage – scars, bruises, veins – even tattoos.  Sally Hansen has a spray-on Airbrush Legs with medium coverage ($14.99 for 4.4 ounces), as does NYCE Spray-on Instant Nylons (5 oz. for $19.99), that honestly looks as though you are wearing nylons (without the snags/runs).  They all come off with soap and water and will definitely cover up any imperfections you might have.

Most of us just want to smooth out our legs and enhance them with a little color for special occasions.  Self-tanning products are great if you planned ahead of time, but if this is a rush job, we have a couple of recommendations.  My new friends at Rouge Cosmetics in Salem, Mass. (where LookinGood recently moved), turned me on to St. Tropez Perfect Legs.  This is a cream self-tanner and bronzer combination.  The bottle has a split applicator that allows you to control the amount of bronzer you want immediately, while smoothing it in with a mild self-tanner.  It doesn’t smell, has a nice brown color and it isn’t terribly expensive at $30.

Here’s another great idea: use mineral makeup.  I grabbed my neighbor Susie the other day and experimented on her legs with several of the above-mentioned products.  She didn’t need a spray-on and wasn’t wild about using more cream, either, but when we lightly brushed on a little Bare Minerals Glow, it smoothed out and lifted just enough color on her legs to give a healthy glow.  She loved it, and walked out the door with my mineral makeup.

So, play that funky music, white girls, we can hike up our skirts, glam up our gams and dance the night away.

At first blush, you might mistake rosacea (roe-ZAY-shuh) for a rosy glow or maybe an odd sunburn.  It’s a red splotch or patch of pimples you think is going to go away, but keeps coming back.

If that’s not vague enough for you, rosacea, which affects an estimated 14 million Americans, can come and go, it’s not clear what causes it and there’s no cure. Oh yeah, skin tone and skin type don’t matter either, although it is most obvious among the fair-skinned.

The National Rosacea Society (NSR) lists the warning signs as: Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead; small visible blood vessels on the face; bumps or pimples on the face; or watery or irritated eyes.  (For good measure, the American Academy of Dermatology says it can also occur on the ears, chest and back).

To us, that sounds like the side effects of a girls’ night out or the start of allergy season.  However, if those symptoms show up regularly or seem to be caused by exercise, stress, too much sun or wind, temperature swings, spicy foods or drinking,  you might consider talking to a dermatologist or your physician to see if it might be rosacea.

Left untreated, it can become increasingly severe, turning into bumps, spreading to larger areas and even causing the skin to thicken, according to WebMD.com.  It can also cause burning and soreness in the eyelids.

As the number of rosacea sufferers grow, more products are being introduced to address the problem.  Every source that has anything to say about rosacea stresses using sunscreen.  Look for products that are specifically made to reduce redness and even skin tone, like Estee Lauder’s Verite Moisture Relief Cream (1.7 fl oz/ $50); Clinique’s Redness Solutions line (&17.50-$39.50); Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Skin Revival Treatment (.15 oz / $60); or MD Skincare’s Hydra-Pure Redness Soothing Serum ($42.50).

Keep in mind that key ingredients to avoid include astringents (i.e. alcohol, witch hazel) and fragrance.

Other treatments for rosacea are antibiotic creams or pills; Accutane or Retin-A, and in the most severe cases, dermabrasion, cryosurgery (freezing bad skin cells with liquid nitrogen) or laser surgery.

Most people affected are between the ages of 30-50, both male and female, but it can also affect children.  Of course, that makes rosacea just one more thing to worry about as we age, especially without well-defined symptoms.  However, if you find yourself a little too red in the face a little too often, maybe it’s time to talk to a dermatologist.

April is National Rosacea Awareness month.

So not only am I battling the genetic curse of being prematurely gray, there is the DNA-based anamoly of a thick, luxurious mane that grows ridiculously fast.

What that means is a regular color job might last a month, amazing if I can go five weeks and a freakin’ miracle (or disgrace) if I try to stretch it to six.

I thought I needed a fairy godmother to help me keep my hair looking youthful, but my friend Lori says all I really need is a magic wand. She swears by Clairol’s Nice ‘N Easy Root Touchup Kit ($6.99) . You mix your color and brush it on from the scalp out, covering the gray and making your dye job last a little bit longer.

Avon offers an interesting alternative with Advance Techniques ($6) – a root touch-up kit with an applicator that looks like a mascara wand in a mascara-like tube. It only comes in two colors, black or brunette, but hey, even a brown that doesn’t match is less noticeable than the silver halo that rings my head on a monthly basis. The color washes out after each shampoo, which could alternately be considered a blessing or a curse.  Seems like this would be a great way to get those tough spots.

New to the market is Oscar Blandi’s Pronto Colore Root Touch-up & Highlightling Pen ($23). Remember how much fun it was to color with markers? Same principle, but on your head instead of paper … or the walls. The pen allows you to brush away those roots, or draw in those highlights you were thinking about trying. It also washes out with each shampoo, but comes in six shades.

And those are just a few. With a multitude of touch-up choices, it should be easy to eliminate the gray area of just how soon I need a full-blown color job.

As Linus sat in that pumpkin patch year after year waiting for The Great Pumpkin to bring toys to all the children, you couldn’t help but notice there was nary a blemish on his perfect little cheek and he never seems to age. The secret, friends, is in the pumpkin.

There is little than makes us happier than a pumpkin pie in a flaky crust (Just pass me the pie plate and a fork). Imagine our delight in finding out that getting that creamy puree all over our faces is a good thing.

Pumpkins and their seeds are among those skin care miracle workers that can soften, smooth, erase and heal. Pumpkin offerings are on as many fall spa menus as restaurant menus, from facials to peels to body wraps. And it’s getting easier to find pumpkin products where you shop for your everyday personal care items.

That bright orange flesh is filled with antioxidants (betacarotene, lutein), vitamins and minerals (the Bs, as well as A, C and E; potassium, niacin, riboflavin). The seeds provide protein, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper. Whether you eat it or wear it, it’s good for your skin. Look for “cucurbita pepo” on product ingredient lists and then just say it out loud because it’s fun.

We expected to find it in products for the face and body, like Desert Essence’s Hand Repair Cream and MyChelle’s line that includes Pumpkin Renew Cream, a toner and the Incredible Pumpkin Peel to slough off dead cells and give you that glowing, Linus-like baby soft skin.

But we also found it in a couple of hair care products, namely Rusk Purify Deep Cleaning Shampoo with Cucurbita (told you it’s fun to say,)  and Tea Tree Oil, and Nexxus Botanoil Nourishing Botanical Shampoo and Conditioner.

Most surprisingly, cucurbita pepo seed extract is a key ingredient in RapidLash.

Great Pumpkin indeed.

• DivaVillage explains the benefits of pumpkin and skin and massage.
• A nutritionist extols the healing properties of pumpkin.
• And check out the ingredients in RapidLash.  There’s that funny word again.