Wrinkle-inducing frowns are unfortunate byproducts of these trying economic times. Though a soothing spa visit may be just what we need, beauty treatments often are the first victims of personal budget cuts — especially after the holiday season. But turn that frown upside down because Olga Lorencin-Northrup, lead esthetician at Kinara Skin Care Clinic and Spa in West Hollywood, CA, has some tips for savvy “recessionistas.”

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We’ve been fans of Hourglass Cosmetics since the luxury makeup company launched at Barneys New York in 2004. The packaging is elegant (gleaming metal, faux leather, magnetic clasps), the line well-edited (blush is limited to two gorgeous duos, one for cool skin tones, the other for warm) and the colors so lusciously subtle that application is pretty much mistakeproof.

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If you’re searching for a look inspired by classic glamour — think Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor — that complements the jewel tones in fashion this season, check out Estée Lauder’s new Vintage Jewels cosmetics collection. The limited-edition items sound more inspired by the jewelry box than the makeup drawer, and before applying, we had to resign ourselves to ruining the lovely design of the powder and the faceted edges of the lipstick.

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Certain scents can take us back to various points in our lives — magnolias recall a childhood home or a whiff of sea air returns us to a favorite beach. But can a scent literally take us back in time to when we were, say, 10 years younger? Harvey Prince & Co.’s new perfume, Ageless Fantasy ($120) is labeled an “anti-age fragrance” and purports to make women “smell younger” — as well as feel more youthful and energetic.

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The hottest new bar in Los Angeles doesn’t serve lychee mojitos or pomegranate martinis. Instead it offers up scores of shampoos, conditioners, mists, foams, masques and cremes. We’re talking about the Bumble and bumble retail/styling bar at STUDIO at Fred Segal Santa Monica, the trendsetting beauty emporium.

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Anyone who has ever had extractions done by Hollywood skin guru Sonya Dakar will never forget the experience. If Dakar were performing her signature “facial fitness treatment” at Guantanamo Bay, there would be cause to alert the Human Rights Commission. Still, you leave the Beverly Hills clinic with your pores not merely cleansed but purged, and Dakar’s A-list clientele — including Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore and Debra Messing — adore her for this thoroughness.

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When shopping for skin-care products, we’re typically asked if our T-zone is greasy by midafternoon. But when we recently met with Patty Schmucker, creator of the new DoshaCare line, she had an entirely different line of inquiry: Would we describe our appetite as irregular, intense or slow? Do we respond to stress with anxiety, irritability or withdrawal? Questions like these are designed to determine our predominant dosha - the ayurvedic concept of basic mind-body constitution.

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The famously French Guerlain Spa has recently opened its pearly gates pour les Américaines at the Regent Bal Harbour just north of Miami Beach. Renowned for its customized treatments and immensely indulgent therapies, such as the two-hour Exceptional Orchidée Impériale anti-aging facial ($390) or 45-minute 5-Senses Hydrotherapy bath ($125), the 10,000-square-foot spa exudes glamour and Gallic sophistication.

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Now you can forgo the desire to drop your hard-earned greenbacks on those cashmere pajamas and instead indulge in a much more affordable cashmere treat. True Blue Spa, available at Bath & Body Works, launches its new Shea Cashmere Collection, which includes shower cream ($15), body cream ($17.50), body lotion ($16.50), bubble bath ($18), hand cream ($14.50) and foot cream ($15).

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“Spa” and “Hawaii” are two of our favorite words, so when we were invited to Maui to experience the spanking-new spa at the just-remodeled Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (from $395 per night), we couldn’t resist. The 17,500-square-foot space is called Waihua, a Hawaiian word that refers to the rainwater caught by the large heart-shaped leaves of the taro, an edible plant that has a revered place in Hawaiian life and lore.

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