Spring is here and as the weather warms it’s time for feet to come out and be seen in flip-flops, sandals and sexy slings. If you haven’t been kind to your feet all winter, now’s the time to get them in super shape with an invigorating scrub.

You’d be surprised at the number of scrubs on the market that are specifically for feet. A good number of them contain menthol or peppermint, which leave the feet feeling fresh and renewed. But there are other options available as well.

A scrub will exfoliate dead and dry skin, leaving the feet smooth. Nothing looks worse than flaky, dry heels and in sandals your feet are on display. Soak feet in warm water, then massage the scrub all over feet. Rinse with warm water. Follow up with a lightly scented moisturizing lotion and your feet will feel brand-new.

All around me are the sounds of a spring storm. The wind elicits groans out of winter-weary tree limbs and throws raindrops against the glass like a desperate lover tossing pebbles at the window to signal his arrival. This is no gentle spring shower, this is a storm.

With all this grey surrounding me, I had to write of something sunnier and I found something gold and gorgeous to light up this dreary day.

L’Oreal’s Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Quartets contain the perfect bronze, gold, amber, copper and cocoa shades to make eyes shimmer and highlight them against the bronze glow we all plan to have this summer. I like the Golden Sunshine quad. For deeper tones there is the Bronze Sunset shade collection.

Rage as it will, the storm will soon give over to warmer, sunnier summer and I may just hurry it along by giving my eyes that summer shimmer today.

Busy schedules often mean a hurried application of standard makeup before we rush out of the house or maybe applying our makeup after we get to the office. This usually means we have stand-by makeup that we always apply regardless of whether it is appropriate or creates the best look. This lipstick, that blush, the usual mascara, even eyeshadow may look great some days and be all wrong for others depending on our clothing choices, the lighting we will be in or even the amount of natural light.

No-one can carry a full case of all possible colors of lipstick, blush and eyeshadow, nor do we have time always to choose carefully. So to avoid the no makeup day, we throw on anything in our path so we can make our daily deadlines.

The solution is to have a few carefully selected makeup products in neutral shades that work well in any situation and lighting. Neutral colors will go with any outfit or color scheme.

The essentials should include eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and blush. Eyeshadow is optional as the right blush can be used as shadow in a pinch. Choose a neutral shade of blush with only a hint of color - my current favorite is Avon’s Earthen Rose. A light bronzer powder can substitute for blush and shadow as well. Eyeliner in a neutral, brown or brown-black - not a colored liner. Mascara in brown or brown-black. Choose a lipcolor that is a complimentary shade, not too far from your natural skin tones but with a little warmth. If you include an eyeshadow in a pinky beige with a hint of shimmer, your eyes will stand out without being noticeably made-up.

Have these items in a separate small cosmetic bag that fits in any purse and you will be ready to face any day.

In the news today is another story of storefront cosmetic procedures gone horribly wrong, and again, performed by an unlicensed practitioner.

Patricia Villegas, a beautician in Flushing, NY, is accused of administering cosmetic injections without a license. Several clients suffered disfiguring infections and scarring. In this case, the injections turned out to be fake. The substances she was injecting into women’s skin were not collagen and cortisone as she claimed.

In the quest for perfection women will go to great lengths and sometimes undergo cosmetic procedures that may not be necessary, safe or approved by the FDA. There have been increasing reports of unlicensed doctors performing cosmetic surgeries and medical procedures being illegally offered in beauty salons. A young woman in Massachusetts died while undergoing an illegal liposuction in a basement.

It’s another reminder to seek medical cosmetic procedures from only licensed professionals. Check credentials and licenses and if your state gives you access to such information, find out if they have ever been disciplined by the state board that regulates practicioners holding that license.

We talk about a lot of cosmetics and tips for achieving beauty here, but remember, the point of cosmetics is to make the most of what nature gave you, to bring out the natural beauty that you already are. The beauty on the outside is just packaging for the beauty inside, and nothing is worth the pain and suffering that can be caused by unscrupulous people who peddle unsafe cosmetic procedures to women whose self-image has been damaged by the computer-altered images of unattainable beauty that are constantly before them.