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FOOT CARE:

Are you feet dry, dull, itchy? Get them ready for warm weather walking with the ZenSpa pedicure system by Jessica: Cuticle Remover Gel, Energizing Ginger Bath $11.95, Salt Polish/Scrub $15.95, Enzyme Scrub $13.95, Silkening Lotion $11.95, Foot Masque $13.95, Cooling Foot Spray $7.95, and Intense Heel Repair Cream $19.95). This high quality line of aromatherapy products contains Papain, an enzyme extract from green papayas which is an excellent exfoliating agent. We liked them all, and suggest you treat yourself to the entire system, but you can also just use the pieces you like best.   There's "Calming Green Tea" and (our favorite)  "Energizing Ginger."  These are the same pampering treatments the stars love but they're still affordable.  Regulars pedicures  the salon are expensive and time consuming. Do a few pedicures at home with these pleasurable products and save enough to buy those adorable summer sandals you crave!

Are you feet ready for sandals weather? No? We didn't think so! But now you can enjoy getting them back into shape with Lucky Chick's Perfectly Pedicured Pampering Sampler $20.00. Inside a re-usable clear, zip-lock type pouch with cute,cheerful, lucky-chic graphic insert featuring a woman surrounded by her shoes (natch!) are four serious pedicure products scented with peppy eucalyptus and peppermint to soften, cleanse, moisturize, and revitalize: foot soak, foot scrub, foot & leg lotion, and foot mist, and also included is a foot-shaped file. This would make a cute gift for Mother's day, or to cheer up a new mom, a lovelorn friend, or as a little treat for yourself.

Dr. Scholl's is known by hoards of grateful men and women for their wide array of foot-pampering products. If you want to rid yourself of the rough, dry, callused feet and heels you developed this winter, Three new tools from Dr. Scholl's may help. Dr. Scholl's Pedicure Essentials Professional Pumice Stone & Nail Brush $3.99 is a handy, two in one tool. Use the smooth pumice side and scrub over rough skin to smooth it out. Then, turn it over and scrub feet and nails clean with the stiff, nylon brush. Need even more exfoliating power? The Exfoliating Stone File $3.99 has a large, easy to grip blue handle and a large, rough, very abrasive stone head to slough off dead, dry skin and calluses. A three-in-one tool is the Skin Softening Foot Rasp $3.99.   Soak feet for a few minutes to soften skin, use coarse side to remove rough skin, medium side to exfoliate dry skin, and the smooth side to buff and finish. Finished exfoliating?  Use the Callus Exfoliating Ointment $8.99 1 oz with Salicylic Acid, Urea and Aloe & Vitamin E to immediately soften and soothe feet.   It works -fast--we tried it on heels so rough they ripped our socks. This is not a glamorous product perhaps, but you'll get an immediate improvement.  After several applications, even the worst case feet were actually normal, again

A French manicure pedicure used to be impossible to accomplish at home so Nailene developed Perfect Pedicure Toe Tip Guides $1.99. With 64 guides --more than enough for half a dozen pedicures-- you and your friends can do French manicures at home in less time than it takes to get to the salon!  TIP: For an even line, just peel and press the  enclosed tip guides to the curve of your nails. Apply one coat of white polish to the area above the tip guide and let it dry. Peel off guide. Apply one coat or two coats of sheer, colored polish over entire nail and let dry. Finish with top coat.--easy!

FOCUS ON NAILS - Now that your hands are coming out of gloves, and your feet, out of shoes, it is the perfect time to experiment to new nail color! From nearly-bare to hot pink, we've got your manicure and pedicure options, covered!

Giorgio Armani Fluid Shine Nail Polish $15.00 has got to be the Rolls Royce of polish. The bottle is sophisticated, sleek with black matte top. Inside, the polish is top notch-- everything you'd expect-- smooth, shiny, flawless color that resists chipping and fading.  Classy, modern colors make every woman feel special.  For Spring, try #16, a smooth, shell pink that looks ladylike day or evening. Make any day a special occasion by slicking on a coat of #3, a shimmery but not gaudy, gold. Reach for #26, a sheer wash of super-light peachy-beige if you like a no-color look or are in a hurry and don't want to fuss. Finally, for drama, #24 is a deep, metallic berry that would glam up finger and toes in a flash!

Avon Nailwear Nail Enamel $4.50 goes on smoothly, covers easily, and has real diamond dust to strengthen for an effective anti-chip properties -- just like the higher priced brands. "Rose Quartz" is a perfect Spring color --a feminine, pearly-rose-beige that will flatter everyone's fingers and toes now well into beach season! There are three other new shades too:  "Retro Rose,"" Creamy Apricot" and "Mauvalicious."

Three Times A Lady $21.00 from the Lippman Collection is a fun gift for a young-at-heart woman. The sea green, terry-rimmed, mini makeup bag contains three mini bottles of polish.  "Prelude to a Kiss" is a ladylike sheer pink, "Makin Whoopee" is an opalescent, flirty, hot pink, and " Lady is A Tramp" is a deep, rich uptown red. All are perfect for fingers and toes now that sandals season is nearly here.  Give these to a "road warrior" who has to travel light, or perhaps, a bride-to-be to (tote them to her manicurist before wedding on on her honeymoon to keep her manicure fresh, and wedding-ring-worthy)! If you want just one color of Nail Polish $15.00.50 fl. oz try three that were created with help from  Deborah's celebrity clients. She worked with CHER on  "Believe," a ladylike, pearly golden champagne that's rather unlike the usually flamboyant, Cher! "No More Drama" created with Mary J. Blige is a rusty rose-beige that is also very classic. It will flatter everyone. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" created with Pat Benatar is a deep, dramatic gunmetal-definitely for the more adventurous.

Nailene Hard & Healthy French Manicure $6.99 may be the easiest and prettiest way to get sexy, strong nails on fingers and toes, this Spring! A set of four slim oblong-shaped bottles holds nail-strengthening pearly and matte sheer beige base coats (sheer nudes that look great solo for a natural sheen), an opaque, matte white, and a clear top coat. You also get 42 tip guides to make application easier.

There are literally hundreds of different colors of Jessica Nail Polish $6.00 (new to our review this column)! Romanian-born Jessica Vartoughian known as the "first lady of nails" not only caters to pop and movie stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker,, Madonna, Jodi Foster, and Demi and Ashton, but also former Presidents and their wives (eg. Reagan and Clinton). Now you can get the same star colors her celeb clients use. Her newest collection, Color Me Happy has six sexy shades of pink polish- semi-opaque, super-glossy to with tones to flatter every skintone.   We particularly liked the blue-toned hot pinks "Be Happy" and "Happy Hour,"  and the warm toned,  "Happy Endings," a bright rose, "Happy-Go-Lucky," a bright coral, and "Happy Days," a soft, muted rose. They're quick drying, long lasting, chip resistant--as you'd expect!

Another fave of celebrities and fashionistas alike is the high-quality and 200+ colors of  Essie Nail Polish $8.00.  We love the long-lasting, glossy, easy to apply shades. For Spring, Essie suggests pale, icy colors that compliment the icy pastel eyes colors so new this season.  Try  "Au Natural," a sheer wash of champagne, "Vanity Fairest," a sheer pink tint, or "Minimalistic," a translucent, pale pinky-lilac. All make a superb base for a French Manicure base or an easy, sheer color for women-on-the-go who don't want to deal with darker colors. "Moon Stuck" is an opaque white for French manicure or as a base for colorful decals. Want more color? A universally-flattering choice perfect for the season is "Wiggle Room" a rich,soft, opaque salmon and "Skin Deep" a   cheerful, clear pink.

NAIL CARE:

The chances are that come Spring, you're spending more time outside. You may be protecting your hair, face and body with products that block UVA/UVB rays, but what about your nails? Barielle Ultra Glaze Manicure Extender $16.00 .50 fl oz not only provides a hard, chip resistant, shiny finish for your new manicure, but it also helps protect nail and color from the sun so that dark colors don't fade, and light colors don't yellow. Protect your manicure along with your time and investment (manicures aren't cheap)!--use this as a top coat or to revive dulling polish between manicures. It's a must if you're going to be out in the sun. While you're at it, get a bottle of Barielle Restorative Nail Serum $16.00 .50 fl. oz if you have weak, soft nails. Used as a base coat, you'll get the benefit of alpha hydroxy acids to cleanse and prime your nail for polish, while a strengthening agent (Noncosine-E) helps improve ailing nails.  Ragged, dry cuticles not only look bad, hang nails snag, split and hurt!   Barielle Cuticle Replenisher with Mango Butter $15.00 .50 oz sounds yummy, but don't try to eat it. Apply it to your cuticles and let the rich oils, beeswax, wheat germ, vitamin E, and mango seed butter work it's magic. Used regularly it will make your cuticles less noticeable, and promote strong, healthy nails.

You might view Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules $105.00 (60 capsules) as a splurge,  or a necessity, depending upon how much you covet smooth, youthful-looking skin. Pink (day) and Green (night) capsules contain pure Moringa Oil which has the highest concentration of anti-oxidant power out there to renew your skin's elasticity, physically repair the visible signs of aging, and counteract the damaging effects of pollution.  Use one pink Rose capsule (with a light rose, absolute) in the morning to stimulate skin, and a green capsule in the evening (lavender helps encourage a peaceful night's sleep, too). The substantial, luxe-looking "frosted" lucite and silver jar looks great on a dressing table, too. TIP: twist of the top of the capsule and warm oil in your hands before massaging it into your skin.

Innovative Skincare, new to our reviews,  has celeb fans such as Faith Hill, Oprah, and Tyra Banks. They've just launched a new line of skincare based on Vitamin C called aka. IS Clinical Renowned pharmacologist, Dr. Mustafa Omar created what is known as "topical, stabilized, L-ascorbic acid (15%) for these products. This is a powerful antioxidant that boosts collagen production and helps protect and renew your skin. I tried the C-15 Serum $68. a lightweight, refreshing, quickly absorbed liquid you apply with a dropper to face and neck. I liked the way it made my skin feel smooth and soft.

OLAY Total Effects Signs7 Serum 1.08 fl. oz  $18.99 fights 7 signs of aging, diminishing fine lines, smoothing skin texture, evens out skin tone, brightening, reducing pore size, blotchiness, age spots and yes, it also soothes dry skin. That may be a lot to from one product, but Olay knows how to deliver.  This lightweight serum can be worn with your moisturizer and/or sun screen--especially important as you are exposed to the sun's rays more often and for longer periods of time.

We love grapes! They're smooth, unblemished, and firm. Caudalie Skincare, new to our review, Vinoperfect Radiance Serum $75.00 1 fl. oz is a complexion-correcting, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, oil-free, hypo-allergenic serum that uses Resveratrol, the grape's natural defenses, to help combat wrinkles, smooth, restore and renew your skin. We didn't' use it regularly for the 60 days shown for significant improvement, but it should brighten skin and reduce dark spots caused by aging, sun, pregnancy and so forth. Use it on scar marks, too.  IN time, skin should be brighter, smoother, and more radiant. Vinothérapie Beauty Elixer $48.00 3.8 fl. oz is fit for royalty (and you, of course). It is based on the beauty elixir of the Queen of Hungary whose youthful skin helped her to attract young suitors, even at the ripe age of 70! This highly concentrated lotion/tonic/serum has botanicals and essential oils that smooth your complexion and close your pores, instantly. You can also spray it on your décolleté for its tonic and firming effect. The slight tingle is also a refresher/energizer for tired legs.TIP: This multi-purpose wonder can even be used to help create a long lasting, matte foundation look. Just spray it lightly on your face after you've applied your foundation, before a finishing touch of powder.

MOISTURIZERS & SUN PROTECTION:

One of the reasons many people say they're reluctant to apply sun screen to their face is the unpleasant, artificial scent in many otherwise effective and beneficial facial products. That's all changed now with Dual Nature Face Protection SPF 15 $15.00 1.7 fl. oz by AVEDA. The lightly fragranced cream has certified organic orange, rose geranium and jasmine that compliments (read; won't compete) with all AVEDA Moisturizers and makeup. Not only is the scent nice, but the cream absorbs lickety-split into your face with no greasy feel so you can apply and rush to wherever you're going, or get your makeup on, fast.  More importantly, the SPF contains titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide, derived from minerals so it's gentle on your skin while it blocks the sun's damaging UVA and UVB rays, and even has antioxidants to help stop the signs of aging. That's a lot from a little cream--but it really delivers.

We are happy to welcome Lancome Cosmetics to our reviews. After trying their products, we now know why women with beautiful skin are loyal devotees of Lancome. SNEAK PEEK! On the market this MAY, and now that the weather is heating up, younger complexions that may be oily have the problem of how to deal with over-active oil glands. A new product, Pure Focus Moisturizing Lotion for Oily Skin $37.00 1.69 fl. oz is tailor-made to help. It moisturizes your skin with an oil-free, lightweight formula that lets you take of your skin without adding more oil. Even better, it minimizes pores and controls shine, with or without makeup.  If you are serious about skincare, but don't want your makeup to slide off due to shine  (or worse) darken or change colors, you've got to try this! Regardless of age, even mature skin can have over-active oil glands. Changes in hormones, stress, age, and pollution can  add to the problem especially in the T-zone (the area between your forehead, nose and chin). 

Good things for your skin come in small packages, especially if they are the little, cardboard "box lunch" style carton from   DDF (Doctors Dermatologic Formula) containing the Moisturizing Sun Protection Kit $39.00. Three products gently protect, exfoliate and hydrate your skin: Moisturizing Photo Age Protection SPF 30 4 oz is a fragrance and oil-free cream, lightweight, moisturizing sun screen to guard against the sun's damaging UVA/UVB rays, with antioxidants to help reduce signs of premature aging. Nourishing Buffing Beads 2 oz is a green, slightly gritty gel with a light, grassy scent that gently exfoliates with a blend of jojoba, flax and primrose oils, fortified with slippery elm bark and aloe. It unclogs pores, sloughs of dry skin and cells, softening and improving the look of your skin. A finishing touch is  Body Renewal  2oz to prevent moisture loss. Olive oil, shea butter, glycerin and sodium PCA combine with seaweed and sunflower petal extract to reduce redness and soothe irritated skin. TIP: apply to damp, not dry skin to lock in maximum moisture!

A new, moderately-priced multi-purpose product I recommend is OLAY Complete Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating UV Lotion 2.4 fl. oz $13.49 which combines mandarin extract and natural light-reflecting particles (among other things) to make your skin instantly lighter, brighter, more radiant looking while it makes it feel better too-with moisturizers that are light and easily absorbed.  I was skeptical at first, but my skin really did look instantly brighter, smoother, lit from within.   More importantly, it has SPF 15 to keep your skin protected from the sun's damaging rays. If you're the type who resists wearing sun screen, the cosmetic appeal may be incentive enough to start wearing this one! 

PONDS is new to our review, and we are impressed with the quality of these innovative and inexpensive products.  Mend & Defend Intensive Protection Moisturizer SPF 15 $8.99 3.3 fl. oz has a nifty pump that keeps fingers (and product) clean. The lightly scented, rich cream (with lipids and collagen) absorbs quickly, leaving your skin soft but not greasy. Your skin will be  protected against the sun's damaging rays while vitamins, minerals and other good-for-your skin ingredients work to combat fine lines and signs of aging. SNEAK PEEK: If large pores and fine lines are your primary concern, Pond's Smooth Perfection Complexion Perfecting Moisturizer with Collagen & Soy $12.99 2.0 fl. oz will help you manage these conditions, while it also smoothes, moisturizes, and firms your skin (with Vitamin E, Soy, and Bamboo Extract). It will be in stores in May/June. You will like the tube/pump combo that makes it easy and clean to apply and of course, the lightly scented, lightweight cream. It wont' clog pores, and works for all skin types!  TIP: this moisturizer works to smooth your skin and help your foundation look even better--but don't forget to apply a product with SPF as well.

SKIN SOLUTIONS:

Lancome's T-Zone Mattifying Powder Gel   $29.00 1 fl oz. soaks up shine (literally) and helps you maintain a matte finish to your foundation or powder, or on bare skin. The unique oil-free formula turns into a powder-gel on contact with sebum (that's what causes the shine). Use it daily, over your moisturizer, for great results all year  -- especially as the weather heats up!

Collective WellBeing Cleansing Clay $10.00 5 oz. is a gentle facial cleanser for oily/combination skin that smells like spicy cinnamon, and uses Kaolin clay to remove excess oil, dead cells, and toxins while botanicals and tea tree oil cleanse without stopping skin. All you need to do is wet your face, massage in a bit of cleansing clay, enjoy the cinnamon scent, and rinse. Voila! Soft, clean, clearer skin.

Eye Be Good $6.00 .5 fl. oz by MARK is a little pot of fragrance-free, ultra-light eye cream packed with good-for-your skin soy, vitamins and antioxidants. This is another good example of how MARK creates good products that even those on the tightest budget can appreciate.  If you're worried about how to protect and prevent the signs of aging (especially if you are on a budget), this  might be your best weapon against the harmful effects of the environment, pollution, and other lifestyle stresses. We didn't test it long enough to see results (other than softer skin) but with continued use, you should see a smoother, firmer and more youthful look for the delicate area around your eyes.

Mandrangore Eau de Toilette Spray 1.7 oz $65.00 3.3. oz $95.00 is a stunning, new fragrance perfect for Spring from beloved Annick Goutal. Note is the regal gold and purple packaging and the signature, fluted glass bottle with rounded gold top. Then, breathe in the fragrance, inspired by the mystical mandrake plan. The scent starts out with an energy-boosting blend of bergamot, black pepper, spearmint and star anise oil along with boxwood leaf and (of course) mandrake root. Middle notes of pink peppercorn give the scent zip, as sage leaf joins the hands of the woody drydown notes of labdanum and orris. The resulting melange is spicy but still retains citrus and woody aspects. It's  so very unique and easy to wear!  We love the way it's neither overtly feminine nor masculine, making it perfectly unisex in a way that Annick Goutal is already famously popular for!  Mandrake is a sure-fire winner and worth every penny!

MV5 .5 oz $20.00 sounds like it should be the name of a spy, but it's nothing of the sort -- it's a leafy-green fragrance by M·A·C Cosmetics. Perhaps you didn't even realize that M·A·C has a line of unique scents, but they do!  This one is a satisfying blend of leafy green herbs, green fig, neon neroli, chartreuse poppies, coco de mer, warmed just a bit with amber and vetiver, and a hint of vanilla gousse. If you can't figure out what that actually smells like, think newly mowed grass--it's that fresh, intoxicating, and invigorating. The simple, square glass cube capped with grassy green and banded at the bottom in black make for a nice presentation on your dressing table or purse. You'll want to share this one, though - it's perfect for men, too. That's a good thing -- once you spray it on yourself, you'll want to smell it more often -- the more, the merrier!

Salvatore Ferragamo's fresh, new scent, Incantodream Eau de Toilette Spray 1.07 fl. oz  $55.00, 3.04 oz $75.00 is a lovely choice for an exciting, feminine, Spring fragrance. We love the eye-catching, hot pink box with yellow flower design that is a mood-lifter in itself. This design is repeated on the stunning, curvy bottle topped with a large, clear, lucite ellipse. Top notes are fruity such as pineapple, black current, mango and pink lady apple. Middle notes are floral and light such as freesia and peony. The base note clicks it up with white musk and sandalwood. The total effect is The fragrance is a fruity-floral with a touch of warmth that feels feminine and light, but more woman than "girl." This would stand up to evening wear but work perfectly well at work or with casual clothes.

Last Fall, 2004 we reviewed designer Emanuel Ungaro's latest fragrance, Apparition. Now pulse points all over the world will jump for joy because there's Apparition Parfum Révélation .5 oz $105.00 It is pricey but trust me - a little goes a long way! This is an ultra-concentrated version with a special polymer serum that prevent the fragrance from drying into the skin-- and then, evaporating! The dispenser is novel, too. Part of the secret is a micro pump dispenser that  releases exactly seventy microliters per drop (equivalent to one spritz of an Eau de Parfum). Top notes of raspberry and cayenne pepper, middle notes of passion flower and rose and base notes of   patchouli, and heliotrope make for a soft but intoxicating fragrance that stands up to evening wear but isn't too intense to wear in the daytime.  Chic, mysterious, seductive, feminine, and brilliant!  Add the tall, slim block of clear glass studded with violet, gold, and green squares to your dressing table, or tote it in your purse.

Bijan is known for ultra-luxe menswear for whom elegance and luxury is a daily necessity. His Beverly Hills store requires an appointment just to enter and shop!   But Bijan Wicked Woman and Bijan Wicked Men $45.00 1.7 fl. oz, $58.00 2.5 fl. oz is a new set of "his & hers" set of fragrances that brings the ultra-luxe to everyone, every day. We reviewed Bijan Wicked Woman which makes a perfect Mother's Day gift, or a new Spring fragrance to try yourself. The spray bottle is stunning. It  features a large red glass "doughnut" with another, smaller, clear plastic one as the top. Inside top notes of red currant, rose and pear are blended with middle notes of jasmine, mimosa, cyclamen and tagette. The drydown is a melange of musk, amberwood and sandalwood. The resulting mix is a very soft "floriental" that stays light enough to wear even when active or under stress. It starts slightly fruity and and remains that way, with a hint of spice. This is not a knock-your-socks-off fragrance you can smell a mile away. It is a light, flirtatious scent that will make people  want to come closer to smell what you're wearing.   If that's not a bit "wicked," we don't know what is! 

CURVE Wave For Her $47.50 4.02 fl. oz Cologne Spray is the ladies part of a new "his & her" fragrance set from popular Liz Claiborne. We love the free-spirited packaging -- a tin in bright peach for Women (photo) and a green tin for men. Inside the bottles are fragrances that are light, modern, fresh and perfect for warmer weather and casual clothes. They embody optimism and sunny days in a bottle. Curve Wave for Her at first seems fruity with top notes of star fruit, ginger orchid, and honeysuckle florals, but it mixes with hibiscus, passion flower, amazon Lilly, and plumeria and a hint of sandalwood and driftwood to mellow the fragrance into a soft, spicy/floral finish. The end result is a carefree, feminine scent that is subtle enough to still surprise when you get close enough. Curve Wave for Him starts out with hyper fuele'd accord of liquid oxygen and iced blue anise. Added to this are notes of aquatic citron splash, mint, blue juniper, and lavender, mellowed with nutmeg and cardamom with bottom notes of beachwood, blue bamboo, sandalwood, and amber, with a drydown of musk. It is a pleasing, complex blend of marine notes with woods and spice -- sexy and all male. The light, sporty feel will appeal to a wide variety of men in all age groups.  SNEAK PEEK: Staring in April LIZ  $55.00 3.4 fl. oz Eau de Parfum Spray will make it's debut in stores. LIZ, named after the designer, Liz Claiborne, is sophisticated but light green floral. It's the essence of modern woman.  It starts out fresh and a bit tart, with top notes of frosted mandarin, crisp pear, refreshing melon, and yellow mimosa. Middle notes are wild purple Hyacinth, East Hampton honeysuckle, Southern magnolia, and  pink peony. This complex fragrance adjusts to the wearer. It dries down to a fresh, slightly spicy mix with bottom notes of pink peppercorns, heliotrope, amber, and vanilla. If you are searching for something new, modern, spontaneous for yourself or perhaps, Mom for Mother's Day, this is the one.

TIP: For a believable glow, apply your bronzer in a "T" formation on you forehead, cheekbones, and chin (where the sun would naturally shine), blending outwards. For powders, application with a brush is best. For liquids and creams, use a sponge.

Did you know that 3.5 million pots of Bourjois Blusher $13.50 are sold every year throughout the world? It's easy to see why. The coveted, petite round compacts in the color of the contents, complete with mirror and sponge applicator are so chic and fun to use! With more than 18 colors to choose from, you'll never be without a perfect compliment to your complexion. For Spring, try one of the four latest colors: " Rose Eclat" - a medium rose and "Rouge Bonne Mine," a deep rose are two perfect colors to warm cheeks. "Brun Poudré a matte warm bronzer and "Brun Illusion" a coppery bronze, add color and contour to faces now, even out a tan, later in the season! These "baked blushes" have a velvety texture and are long lasting. They're affordable chic luxury!

Tony & Tina Kiss of Blush 18.00 wins our love for it's super-sheer, natural, and flattering tones of strawberry, pink, wine and tan. The gels look very dark in the compacts, but melt onto your skin with a believable "just a kiss" of color. Want more? Simply layer one (or more) on together. Go ahead! They're that light, non-greasy and long-lasting

Avon is brightening up your Spring season with True Color Blush $8.00 in pink and peach. These blushes are long-lasting and feature "self liquefying" technology that reacts to your skin for customized, on-contact color!  Try "Peach" or "Peony." a soft rose. TIP:This blush will react to the warmth  and composition of your skin to become more intense and personalized. To get just the intensity you want, start with a thin layer, and add more as you wish.

FACE Stockholm products are always sophisticated and chic, but so wearable. For Spring, the new"Organza"  Powder Blush $16.00 adds just the prettiest hint of soft pink. The color is easily blended, sheer, and long lasting. It's just the thing for Winter weary skin.

BeneFit Lip & Cheek Jewels $18.00 are packaged in "leopard" print and metallic copper boxes-cute!  Inside is a cute, round, nail-polish-style bottle with a leopard printed cap housing a sheer, liquid cream in beigy neutrals (pink, plum or browned-rose tint) These are so flattering-- a whole new way to add glam without glitter or shine!  A small amount on cheeks adds a delicate glow, but you can layer more. Use these on lips, too, to give them a pearly glow.

Do you like the luminous "I'm in love" type of glow? Get it in a flash with Trish McEvoy Highlight Blush $32.00. This blush duo can be worn so many different ways!   Used as separate colors, the pink blush  (looks poppy pink in the pan) is so sheer you can get just a faint hint of natural blush, or keep layering for more drama.   Use the  light, peachy highlighter for shimmer wherever you want it, over layer it over the pink blush for a beautiful "glow."  You can also swipe the brush over both pans together and get a similar, bare-ly there glow. 

There's nothing easier than a small, portable blush stick to quickly enhance and refresh your blush any time, anywhere. Sephora's Cheek Stain $12.00 comes in three colors (pink, berry and nude) to suit your moods and your complexion.  I tried "pink." It looked very intense in the tube, but it wasn't. Magically, one swipe produced a sheer better-than-bare blush that looked so pretty and natural I did a double-take! TIP:   Let this blush do double-duty as a sheer lip stain - add a touch of clear or shimmery gloss for even more fun!

Spring is a time to put color back into your cheeks. One easy way is with FLIRT Cosmetics Peek-a-Blush Sheer Powder Cheek Color $10.00 in new "Pink Tutu," a layerable rose flecked with gold glimmer that adds pretty warmth to every complexion, warm or cool. At this price it's one you will want to add to you Spring wardrobe, right now!

With over 100 colors of loose wet/dry powder to choose from, you know you will have fun with Glamo Glitz by Scarlett Cosmetics $15.00. The newest colors are shockingly bright from the Harajuku Collection. For the young and adventurous, these are inspired by the colors young girls in Japan wear in the Harajuku shopping district of Tokyo. "There are 15 glittery, matte, and semi-matte colors. "Orange" which is my favorite. It's the true color of a ripe orange! Fluffed on with a soft brush on eyes or cheeks, the color is new, bright and modern. For eye-catching color also try "CanCan," a shocking, hot blue-pink. These colors are "avant garde," but you can dab them lightly on cheeks, or use them wet on eyes as a party look. You will be noticed! From the more subtle, Island Fever Collection try "White Orchid" a shimmery lilac good for day or evening or "Calypso," a marine blue that compliments all eye colors and makes a great liner, too. TIP: dampen a brush and dip into the loose powder for more intense color, or blend  (think watercolors) for your own, signature look.

Rose is the color of the moment, and Jilda Beverly Hills takes it from shy to bold with a Blush Duo $27.50 "Burnt Rose/Burgundy Baby." The powders offer you silky, long lasting color in matte and shimmer combos. I love the substantial, chic, clear lucite, square compact with interior mirror that makes you feel like a star when you use it.  TIP: when using a deep and/or intense color blush, add layers slowly by fluffing it on with a large, soft brush to diffuse the color. Keep adding until you get it to the intensity you like.

Shu Uemura is makeup of the highest quality and beloved by fashionistas, celebrities, and makeup artists and fashionable women, everything. For Spring, you'll be fashionable and beautiful if you choose one of three limited edition Glo On Blushes $20.00 from Shu Uemura.   There's something for everyone. For warm-toned skin try  "#40 Peach" which somehow, magically, added perfect warmth without being too bright or orange. There's also sumptuous, clear light pink "Light #33 Pink" that's universally flattering. For those with cool complexions, a deeper pink with just a hint of berry called "Pink #33" is for you. These are so smooth and silky, and meant to be layered so they're natural, beautiful and virtually mistake-proof--worth it right there!

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush in "Blushing Berry" looks like a bright mosaic of colors in the compact, but actually just gives cheeks a natural, rosy-pink flush. "Blushing Nude,"  is a soft, flattering,  browned rose tint. These last, even on oily skin. For a fun, try Genie Blush. It's an intense, loose powder blush that you dust on with the attached "puff/top"    "Nude Brown" gives a  soft "rosed-brown" flush to medium complexions. There's also a rose and a natural.

  Laura Mercier Illuminating Powders $35.00 are four generous, gorgeous squares of color in a theme (rose or coral) that work together to add just a sheer hint of blush. You can layer more for more color. These are so sheer you can wear two of them together (eg. shimmer and matte bronze) over bare skin, over foundation, or to enhance a bronzer. "Matte Bronze Light" also works as a finishing powder over any bronzer and helps you avoid that icky, "powdery" look! We love their soft, easily blended finish and long lasting color, too!

We previewed Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick $35 in "Rose" in our Winter, 2005 column as a sneak peek. Now that it is actually on the market, we want you to remind you to get one if you want to (literally) put the roses back in your cheeks.Four bands of shimmery rose plus a pearl white are ideal for all complexions.  If you have   fair skin, swipe all the colors together onto your cheeks as a soft, shimmery blush or choose just one as a contour, one as a blush, one as a highlight. If you have medium to dark skin, wear it as a highlighter, layered over your favorite shade of Pot Rouge or Blush to boost the volume and add shimmer, of course. New, and great!

Prescriptives makes it's Sunsheen Bronzing Trio $30.00 in light, medium and dark, with light, medium and dark concentric circles containing a shimmery highlighter, a warm bronzer color, and a rich pearl shade within each palette. Blend these sheer powders together, or use them separately to highlight, contour, or provide all-over color. Vitamin E helps provide moisture and protect against damaging free radicals, too. For perfect results, apply powder bronzers with the right tool - a Prescriptives Bronzer Brush $32.00 made specifically with synthetic bristles above natural ones, to diffuse the color and provide a natural, even application. You'll be amazed at what a difference it makes!

Rejoice! there's a new, rosier version of the popular BeneFit Glamazon $26.00. This is a very pretty, sheer liquid, lightly jasmine-scented, rose-y-bronzer.  Palefaces will want to dot and blend just a little on cheeks to get an instant- I've been in the sun, look.  Deeper complexions can layer for more intensity or use it as an all-over bronzer. It lasts, stays true and washes off easily. This is a great pre-summer bronzer. Use it all season to even out a tan or prolong it at summers' end.

Victorias Secret Sunny Cheeks Mosaic Luminous Bronzer $27.50 combines a quintet of earthy colors to give your medium to deep winter weary skin a sunny boost with just a hint of glow.  If your skin is very light, a dusting is all you need, or combine a bit with a shiny, clear lip gloss to add warmth to your face.  Deeper skin?   Dust several layers where the sun normally hits (eg. nose, cheeks, forehead) or for all over color until you get the intensity you want. Use just one color (or swipe across the entire mosaic compact) to contour and color. The staying power and quality is top notch.

Laura Mercier's beautiful new collection "Solar Flair"  (see photo) helps you look like you've gotten a jump on summer, with the swipe of a brush!  Her Pressed Powder Bronzers $32.00 are the best out there in in years.  Soft, slightly rosed-browns look sun-kissed, not orange.  For the deepest complexions "Matte Bronze"  will even out skintone or mimic a San Tropez tan.  For medium skintone there's slightly shimmery "Golden Bronze" and (yes! finally!) there's even a soft, natural  "Matte Bronzer Light" for light complexions. "Shimmer" is a sheer, soft, light pink-brown shimmer that adds a pretty dusting of warmth with just a hint of sun-catching glimmer.

Physicians Formula Magic Mosaic $12.95 is a multi-colored, sheer pressed powder/blusher/ bronzer that you can adjust to suit the intensity to want using light, medium or dark. Swipe your brush over any part of the raised design or use all the colors together to even out your skin tone. Deeper Complexions will get an overall glow with "Bordeaux Bronze" Revined Rejuvenating Face Powder $12.95, actually made with red and white wine extracts. These help soothe skin, prevent breakouts, redness and blotchiness, and even prevent signs of aging. There's "Napa Nude:  and "Burgundy Beige"  for light and medium complexions. 

Trish McEvoy Highlight Bronze $32.00 (photo) gives you sheer and layerable bronzer colors that are believable. Even better, those with pale and medium skin can use them!   Somehow, Trish McEvoy has managed to blend just the right amount of sheer color and shimmer into this one so that you look genuinely sun-kissed and subtly glow-y! Even more amazing is how they seem to adjust to each wearer's needs. This is   a truly exceptional bronzer.

Protect your face and improve the look of your complexion at the same time with Physicians Formula Solar Powder SPF20 $12.95. This pressed powder has SPF 20 UVA/UVB protection built right in!  The rounded compact even houses a brush applicator and mirror in the bottom. "Translucent" is a no-color look. "Light Bronzer" and "Bronzer" offer all-over sun-kissed color  Now there's absolutely no excuse for leaving your face, unprotected! 

Winter-weary skin looks tired, old, sad. Add more exposure to the sun's rays, and you'll add years to your skin.  Maybelline has just introduced an  easy, inexpensive way to improve and protect your face -- Instant Age Rewind Foundation $7.50. I like the way this light, medium-opaque foundation smoothes on, covering imperfections without settling in fine lines and wrinkles. I like the luminous finish and mild, tightening effect that it gave our complexions. I like that fact that it comes in 12 easy to match shades. I love the SPF 18 protection that makes sun protection easy and pleasant. Maybelline also offers an Instant Age Rewind Concealer $5.65, in five shades (fair, light, medium dark and yellow) that is formulated with two fave things:  caffeine and silk!  These give a lift to your under-eye area while hiding dark circles.  Both products are long lasting and true to color. Budget minded or not, these are new, nice, and noteworthy!

  Hydra Glow $55.00 by Giorgio Armani is a luxe, medium-coverage foundation that has moisturizers and SPF 15 to beautify and protect. A boon to dry and mature skin, this one slides on skin like silk, even over imperfections, with"micro-fil™" emollients and luminizers. Your skin will feel soft and comfortable with this lightweight foundation. There are ten shades to suit warm, cool, dark and light complexions. One reviewer who tried " #4"  (the lightest tone--be sure to pick the color best for you) said: "my complexion was beautifully transformed from ruddy and uneven to flawless ivory- I felt as though I had found a totally new skin! " TIP: for the best results, Armani makeup experts suggest warming the foundation in your palm, then applying it on your T-zone, then smoothing it out over your face with a foundation brush.

Rimmel 12-Hour Perfect Match Lasting Finish Makeup Up $8.00 comes in six shades from light ivory to dark tan. The foundation smoothes on quickly and easily. We didn't test ours for 12 hours but we did find that it stood up well even under sweat and stress conditions. The formula features a super-fine, breathable film that guards against moisture loss while protecting the foundation's pigments from contact with the oils in your skin. The result is better hydrated skin and a foundation that doesn't' change color or darken. There is also a Lasting Finish Powder $7.12 in three colors that also helps to keep away shine and keep a matte finish on your foundation. TIP: ditch the puff that comes with the powder and use a brush - the powder will look smoother.

Satin Fresh Look Liquid Foundation $16.00 1 fl oz by FACE Stockholm has a surprise inside-a little plastic "paddle" attached to the cap that allows you to pick up just the right amount of product. Clean, clever, and easy to use!  The semi-opaque finish is matte but moist enough to cover dry skin and fine lines without looking dry or cake-y. The color stays put, stays true, and feel soft on your skin and nearly weightless. There is a range of colors to suit light medium and dark warm and cool skin. We like this one for a polished look day or evening. 

What's better than a sheer, easy to use, sheer gel blush in a rounded shape?  A gel blush attached to a tinted moisturizer with SPF 20!  That's what you get with the new, Hydrotint Duo by Pixi $38.00.  The tote-able tube with blush on the top comes in 4 color combos. These have anti-oxidants ginko biloba and ginseng along with vitamins A, C and E and moisturizers and minerals  I tried "Revive" a medium sheer nude moisturizer paired with a pretty, very sheer rose blush.  There's also "Light Cream/ "Natural Sienna blush;" "Tanned/Natural Brick" and  "Neutral Glow /Peach" which should suit most every type of complexion. The moisturizer is light and long lasting without changing color or feeling heavy or greasy. The blush is clear, sheer and believable so layer a little or a lot. You can even use the blush on your lips as a tint! For more cosmetic "fun," try Velvet Rouge, a chunky click-it-up pen with liquid-to-powder blush that goes on soft and smooth