Look like a superhero in the water

Most kids don’t like to wear flotation vests, but with "The Avengers" superhero vests at Toys R Us, kids will beg to put on their mighty outfits. They are available in Iron Man and Captain America styles (both $14.99) with matching shorts to complete the look. The outfits are so cute, they might even double as a Halloween costume when summer is over.

— Donica Kaneshiro

Organic soaps offer tropical scents

Puakenikeni is my favorite island fragrance, with plumeria a close second. Kai Ku Hale in Haleiwa sells organic and handmade soaps in both scents, along with tuberose, ginger, coconut-mango and lilikoi-guava. The soaps are made by Kopa Haiku of Maui. Each 4.5-ounce soap is $8.50, and the company also offers body lotions, butter creams and aroma mists. The green-leaning store is at 66-145 Kamehameha Highway; call 636-2244.

— Nancy Arcayna

Mineral foundation works wonders

One challenge of wearing foundation is finding the perfect color match. Who wants to look like you’re wearing a mask? And for Asian skin tones, finding the ideal shade is a matter of luck. Those days are gone, thanks to the advent of mineral makeup that not only looks natural, but feels natural, too — like wearing nothing at all. That’s why I don’t just love bareMinerals foundation, I absolutely adore it. With 20 shades, a choice of original and matte formulas, and SPF 15 protection, this foundation has something for everyone. A huge bonus: The minerals actually improve my skin. At $27, an 8-gram container of loose powder lasts about four months, making it a bargain. Visit the Bare Escentuals store at Ala Moana Center or www.bareescentuals.com

— Joleen Oshiro

Give beach sand the brushoff

Some folks use the towel-whip method to get the sand off their feet, while others bring a jug of water for rinsing off before getting in the car. Neither technique is particularly effective, which makes you wonder why it took so long for someone to come up with the Lanikai Beach Brush. The long handle makes it easy to attack those hard-to-reach spots, and the detachable head comes with a strap for more intense use and easy storage. Sure, a cheapo back scrubber might do the trick, but you’d be denying yourself the whimsy of Lanikai Beach Brush’s one-of-a-kind, hand-painted artwork, which also makes it a fun gift. Available for $30 at Lanikai Bath and Body in the Kailua Shopping Center, 600 Kailua Road, 262-3260; or online at www.lanikaibathandbody.com.

— Christie Wilson

See recycled building material online

Half the fun of visiting Re-use Hawaii is the surprises you find while wandering its aisles looking at the salvaged construction materials the nonprofit organization has gathered by dismantling structures. Wood. Doors. Lighting fixtures. Roofing material. Ceramic tile. A smorgasbord for the do-it-yourselfer and everything at a fraction of the cost. But you don’t have to actually be there. Re-use has a Picasa Web album of inventory, updated weekly, that you can peruse with your mouse. True, it isn’t quite the same as touching the materials, but it’s perfect when you’re daydreaming at work about building the perfect set of shelves. Start browsing at www.reusehawaii.org.

— Mike Gordon