Notes from Paris is a series of posts from Valerie Nahmias, Beauty Editor of Femina Magazine in Paris as well as running Beauty Kid (love it). Brought together by our mutual friend and fashion photographer, Franco Lacosta, her posts are featured on beauty as it relates to a discerning demographic, kiddies! Last time, Valerie talked about L'Occitane and how this scent was perfect for kids and their parents! Today she continues with her Beauty Kid focus and shares some fab cosmetics and I'm loving the Wonder Woman collection from MAC.

Two skin care products and a small red jar provides their talent in the service of our beauty. This is not only reserved for wonder women and great moms, but also for all those who want to irradiate in a quick gesture.

I speak about two exceptional formulas, one, from Avène, full of fresh thermal water, is formulated for sensitive skin. It manually exfoliates dead cells without assaulting the skin. A bit of product, drop of water, a mini hand massage and it is done, the skin is purified! The next product, Carrefour, is the Beauty Kid favorite within skin care! A very interresting innovative concept. Its high tolerance formula contains organic honey, hydrolat of organic camomile and calms the skin but especially, it is sterilized UHT, (Ultra High Temperature)... same as milk!!! This is how it includes no preservatives. As a result, all the family can use it. This is the most natural proposition of Summer 2011. Say "ciao" to paraben and natural replacement preservatives and welcome UHT!!!

What about the lip colored Balm form MAC Cosmetics? This is the ally of mat complexions! I also apply it to the top of my cheekbones, at the level of the bone, by tapping the skin with the fingertip. Contrary to what you may think, its texture is more glowy than glossy. Although it may seem thick, it illuminates the skin like a baby's face.

My final word - forget about mascara! Let's take control over our beauty and be real, simple or nothing at all!

Valerie is the Beauty Editor of Paris' Femina Magazine and it's blog Redaction Beaute and has spent her years in the fashion/beauty industry. She was an assistant at French Elle Magazine for Carine Roitfeld (who recently left French Vogue as Editor in Chief) and wrote the book, Pour Etre Belle.

Fresh Brown Sugar Scrub $38 - Neiman Marcus

Dr Deborah Longwill Skin Care Expert - Miami Center for Dermatology

Dickinson's Cleansing Astringent Towelettes $4 - drugstore.com

Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel $23 - Sephora

We all try to think of ways to stay as young looking as possible and with the technology and amazing products that's out there, we sometimes forget about the simple things like protecting our skin from the harmful rays when we're out there getting our daily dose of Vitamin D! This Fourth of July and anytime that you're outside, you can help yourself with some easy preventative care that not only keeps you fresh but makes sure that you continue to have that dewy look that people dream about! Keeping our skin safe ensures that it will maintain a nice youthful look and will be at its best!

Regardless of what you end up doing outside we should definitely follow the advice of Dr Deborah Longwill of the Miami Center for Dermatology. As a Skin Expert in South Florida she knows that it's essential that during the peak times of 10am - 2pm, we need to stay out of the sun. In addition, always apply generous amounts of sun protection on in order to keep you skin safe. Finally, make sure that when you're taking your shower, once a week you need to exfoliate. She says that this will remove the dead skin that's laying on top and will allow you to have the fresh skin that you're interested in showing off! In addition, our spread shows KORRES' Yoghurt which cools off your skin and acts as an anti-inflamatory after being in the sun, Dickinson's which has Witch Hazel and makes your skin smell great and to give you a pick you up and of course my favorite scrub is the Brown Sugar Body Polish!