Dry shampoos first appeared in the 1970s, when products like Psssssst! instant spray shampoo were advertised as an easy way to keep your hair clean between shampoos. These products typically did not live up to the hype (they were kind of goopy or clumpy), and dry shampoos went out of style. Now they’re back — sometimes known as “hair refreshers” — and are much improved. These products are helpful if you have dry, color-treated or thin hair, when daily shampooing (with water) will cause undue stress on your tresses. According to In Style magazine, Brooke Shields uses dry shampoo in between stylings. Oscar Blandi’s Pronto dry shampoo spray ($21 for 3.2 ounces) absorbs excess oil and increases volume in your hair. Klorane’s gentle dry shampoo with oat milk ($16) is a hypoallergenic aerosol spray with oat extracts. You spray it on, wait a few minutes and then brush your hair out, and it should feel lighter and cleaner. Ojon rub-out dry cleanser to go ($10) is fortified with Ojon oil, which comes from a Central America, and works well when you’re in a hurry or if your hair is damaged from a bad perm or dye job. Biolage by Matrix Scalptherapie oil control treatment ($14) supposedly makes your scalp feel cool and fresh. Bumble and Bumble’s hair powder (pictured) not only is great for dry cleansing but also comes in five tints for black, brown, white, red or blondish for even more of a touch-up ($19 or $34).

We women have a little secret for staying freshed and attractive during a trip: the makeup case/travel bag. British accessories designer Zoe Phayre-Mudge counts actresses Minnie Driver and Dame Helen Mirren among her fans. Her ZPM Zinnia make-up roll has four pockets and is small enough to slip into your purse ($41.50). The ZPM Leopard Day Tripper ($47) is larger, with a clear pouch for lotions, hairbrushes and clips and a smaller clear zippered pocket for items like hairpins and eyeshadows. Makeup artists and celebrities often use train cases for their cosmetics. The Solia train case from Folica is a rich red color and has tiered metal fold-out trays; it comes in three sizes: the Jet-Setter ($60; pictured), Can’t Makeup Your Mind ($70) and Tote-L Diva ($90). For the sleek look of aluminum, try the industrial-size aluminum Metro train case ($90), which has four tiers of trays and an adjustable shoulder strap, or the aluminum train case in either black ($50) or silver ($56) with reinforced steel corners and plastic-lined trays. If you’re on a budget, the simplest approach might be to zip up those crucial toiletries in several clear Sephora makeup bags ($4 each). But if you need a purse-sized cosmetics case for that black-tie event or red-carpet appearance, go for the small Greta Glitter Bag ($28) from Stephanie Johnson’s Sunset Boulevard.

As a teenager, I always looked forward to Clinque’s Bonus Time at Lord & Taylor. I’d stock up on some Dramatically Different Moisturizer or a six-month supply of Black Honey and come home with a neat little bag of extra lip products and face powders. Nordstrom blows Bonus Time out of the water with its limited-edition “beauty exclusives” available only during its Anniversary Sale. I’ve been dying to try out Too Faced’s water-, sweat- and smudge-proof Lash Injection mascara, which is all the excuse I need to pick up the Tricks of the Trade set, which comprises, among other things, a universally flattering duo of eye shadow and a fail-safe face powder ($40; pictured). If I were ever to pull a compact out of my minaudiere after dessert and reapply my lipstick, Chanel’s quadrangle of sumptuous lip colors in matte and glossy finishes in the signature black compact would be it ($60). M-A-C’s Colour Forms (how much fun is that?) are bricks of three shades designated “warm,” “cool,” or “neutral” for lips ($22.50) or eyes ($38), along with the Colour Forms much-touted brush collection ($49.50) in packable, grime-repellent microfiber pouches. Known for cult-favorite nail colors, Essie pulls together a quartet of fall reds that would surely carry me from the end of open-toe season through the holidays and throws in a free bottle of topcoat with every purchase ($15). While I’d like to be the kind of girl who seizes the opportunity to pick up a $900 tub of La Prairie skin cream, I’m more likely to invest in Queen of Pretty Bobbi Brown’s Cocoa Mauve kit ($65), with iced mauve eye shadow, blush, lip color and the long-wearing gel eyeliner that is a staple in my makeup bag. I’ll always follow where Bobbi leads.

Whether McCain’s your man or Obama’s the one, cast your vote for fun this election season with a variety of playful politically themed goodies. Beauty buffs will love Stila cosmetics’ bold new lip color called Rock the Vote Red ($17); 25 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Rock the Vote. Your dog can’t vote, but that doesn’t mean Fido can’t be politically active. If Spot more closely identifies with elephants, you might pick up the Republican dog leash at H. Doodle ($14). If donkeys are more his/her thing, try the Democrat dog collar ($12). Or if your pooch’s political leanings are middle of the road, select from a variety of canine Rock the Vote T-shirts ($14; pictured). Who says there’s no place for politics in the bedroom or bathroom? Pick up a pair of thong panties emblazoned with “Vote” ($8). Guys can join the fun with “Wake Up and Vote” boxer shorts ($21). Your newborn can even get into the swing of things with a W.W.O.D. (What Would Obama Do?) onesie ($30) or the more straightforward McCain blocks onesie at the official McCain store ($15). Democrats will love watching red states turn blue when the fill up the “I Have a Dream 2008” mug ($13). For Republicans, the “Make My Day 2008” mug turns blue states red ($12) . Sure to be a collectible is the Obama “Yes, We Can” opener ($5). Designer Helen Ficalora’s sterling-silver “Vote” charm at Shopbop.com is only half an inch wide, but we think it speaks volumes ($55). Need help sparking a “lively” political discussion at your next dinner party? The Political Topics To-Go card set includes 40 cards with topical questions like “Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote?” ($10).

There’s nothing quite like bath or body oils to soothe summer skin. Start with Bobbi Brown’s Beach fragrance line, which includes body oil ($28), shower gel ($32) and body lotion ($35) — for a limited time, orders of $50 or more will include a free mini Beach tote. Victoria’s Secret’s Bare Bronze shimmering body oil ($24) hydrates your skin and also gives it a golden goddess glow (how do you think those models at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show had that special shimmer?). Molton Brown’s Blissful Templetree bath and shower gel, an infusion of exotic plants and bioactive extracts from the Indian Ocean with sea silk protein for hydration ($28; pictured). Crabtree & Evelyn’s Jojoba Oil Duo ($18) has both bath gel and lotion of first-pressed jojoba oil scented with lavender, herbs and citrus; pour a capful of the gel into your bathwater, and then apply the lotion afterward for double the moisturizing effect. Jo Wood Organics offers an elegant way to revitalize and awaken your skin with the exotic Amka Organic gift set, with Amka (Swahili for “to wake”) organic body dew, body oil, bath oil and body lotion (on sale for $135 at Saffron Rouge). The Body Shop’s Spa Wisdom Monoi Miracle Oil is a traditional Tahitian emollient renowned for its moisturizing effects ($20); it can be used in the bath, smoothed onto the skin or used as a pre-shampoo hair treatment. To wind down after a long day in the sun (or at the office), try Bath & Body Works’ Aromatherapy stress-relief oil, a fragrant blend of eucalyptus and spearmint essential oils ($16). Or just dab a few drops on those key pressure points in lieu of perfume and relax all day long.

Harajuku is Tokyo’s trend-setting style district, where hundreds of teenagers dressed in elaborate anime-inspired and avant-garde fashions congregate. They’re often photographed by tourists and featured in fashion magazines. So it’s no surprise that pop fashion icon Gwen Stefani has launched the Harajuku Lovers line of accessories and stationery (at the World of Harajuku, we’re told, “Let the Cuteness Begin!”). A little background on the name: Stefani’s four Japanese backup dancers are known as the Harajuku Girls, which is also a name of a song on Stefani’s album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (and Love, Angel, Music and Baby just happen to be the nicknames of the four dancers). The Harajuku Lovers Candy tote sets the tone with its cheerful cartoon drawings of the Harajuku Girls ($68). The Gwen striped tee ($42) is a bright look for girls while the Yummy Cones tee is a whimsical look for women, with four ice cream cones on the front and “Don’t Get Twisted” on the back ($44). Teens will be all about the Faders Kanji tube ($48), a red fleece take on the tube top but with side pockets. It’s always Harajuku time with the pink striped Twisted watch ($75). Coming this fall to Macys is the Harajuku Lovers fragrances. Each of the five scents — Love, Lil Angel, Music, Baby and G — comes in a bottle made up of a glass base and a doll stopper (pictured). Four of the dolls are styled to resemble the Harajuku Girls and the fifth one is meant to look like Stefani herself ($45).