Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque

Mud masks are one tried and true, old school beauty treatment. This Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame of mud masks.

After spending 15 minutes with this English Clay-based mask slathered all over my face (hey, it's super cheap!), my pores are visibly clearer and significantly shrunken; my face feels ultra smooth, and it glows! Despite the deep cleansing, my face doesn't feel dried-out afterwards. The strong rose scent isn't my favorite, but it's not totally offensive either.

All-in-all, this is a great mask that does what it promises. All hail Queen Helene!

Love Her Look: Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes is looking delightful in this snapshot and is wearing another one of my favorite looks: pink cheeks!

Pink blush gives a flirty, girly glow and always looks sweet.

To get Eva's look, keep the cheeks the focus of the look by keeping the rest of the makeup light. Sweep a neutral matte brown shadow across the lids, then define the crease with a slightly darker neutral brown shadow. Apply a shimmery silvery white shadow along the lower lashline. Finish the eyes with a couple coats of defining mascara. Swirl blush on the apples of cheeks, diffusing it upward along the cheekbones. Then, slick on some sheer pink lipgloss, and you're done!

Some of my favorite pink blushes include Cover Girl Cheekers Classic Pink, MAC Pinch O'Peach, Nars Mata Hari and Bare Escentuals Beauty.

Conair Massaging Spa Foot Bath

Makeup and high heels are two of my daily essentials. Whether at work or play, you'll find me in my 4-inch heels, lipgloss shining. So, when my feet need some TLC, I break out my Conair Massaging Spa Foot Bath.

This deluxe model comes with all the bells and whistles you could ever want. Removable rolling foot massagers rest underneath the feet. The three settings, vibration and heat, bubbles and heat and water jets can turned on simultaneously. Five pedicure attachments can be snapped onto a center unit that rotates when the pressure of the foot is detected. The pumice stone attachment and the massaging ball attachment are particular favorites of mine.

Adding a generous pour of Epsom salt and moisturizing shower gel makes the experience relaxing and conditioning.

After a soak in my foot spa, my feet forgive me of all the sins I've committed against them, and I'm ready to slip right back into some sky-scraping heels.

Sephora Indulgences Body Scrub

At the beginning of Summer, a monokini seemed like a good idea. But now? Let's just say, unlike the sun rays, my funky tan lines are still hanging around. What does that call for? Total body exfoliation--on a regular basis.

Sephora's Indulgences Body Scrub in Creamy Coconut is definitely helping me make progress towards my goal. Volcanic pumice is blended with nutrients, fruit, botanical extracts, oat amino acids and jojoba powder to make this scrubbing concoction.

While I love the idea of sweet smelling lotions and scrubs, they always smell a bit off to me. But not this one. The coconut smell is just right, and I'm crazy about the way this scrub lathers up. The scrub doesn't feel too rough, but still manages to get the job done.

Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol Deep Conditioning Creme

Why do I love Hollywood Beauty's Olive Cholesterol Deep Conditioning Creme so? Because it is dirt cheap ($2.99 for 20 oz), leaves my locks lustrous and smells GLORIOUS.

This deep conditioner makes strands glossy with a blend of oils including Olive, Jojoba, Coconut and Avocado. It's also bursting with botanical extracts like Rose Mary, Chamomile, Calendula, Sage, White Nettle, and Great Burdock and Aloe Vera.

After using this product, my hair feels soft and looks as if I've had a glaze. It leaves behind a fabulous, indescribable scent, sans any residue.

This product is too good and too much of a bargain to pass up. So gather up the loose change at the bottom of your purse, and hie thee to the nearest drugstore!

Bliss Steep Clean

Bliss Steep Clean supposedly has a cult following among Bliss fans. Well, here is one Bliss fan who isn't jumping on the bandwagon.

This non-hardening mask is purported to dissolve blackheads and remove dead cells and dark spots. It works by digesting dead skin cells with microencapsulated enzymatic exfoliators. In addition, sebum secretion is supposed to be slowed, and botanicals are supposed to brighten the skin.

Unfortunately, no such wonders were experienced by me. Also, the goopy formula must be mixed prior to its application, which I'm not too keen on. Once applied, the mask does feel nice and it smells great, but when it comes to blackheads, I need a mask that means business, not just pleasure!

Tom Ford Black Orchid Perfume

Is it possible to have two true loves? When it comes to perfumes, yes! I've already declared my undying love for Allure Sensuelle, but now I've fallen for another: Tom Ford's Black Orchid.

Black Orchid initially captivated me with the ad pictured to the left, and I've finally gotten my hands on some. The scent is provocative and overtly sexy, but then again, would you expect any thing less from the naughty Tom Ford?

This spicy oriental fragrance casts its spell with notes of
Patchouli, Sandalwood, Truffle, Dark Chocolate, Ylang-Ylang, Black Currant, Bergamot, Orchid, Fruity Notes, Incense, Vetiver and Vanilla.

Love Her Look: Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson is mesmerizing in this Louis Vuitton ad campaign. Although the "it" bag changes with the seasons, a glamorous look is always in style.

Here, her flawless skin steals the spotlight. To create a look like Scarlett's, focus on perfecting your skin, and keep the rest of the makeup light and simple. Begin by buffing on a matte foundation and setting it with a sheer finishing powder. Line the upper lashes with rich black liquid liner, winging the outer edge upward. Coat the top lashes with a curling mascara. The, sweep a metallic taupe shadow under the lower lashes, creating soft definition. Lightly contour the cheeks by dusting a rose colored blush on the outer portion of the cheekbones. A sheer berry lipstick finishes the look.

When you step out on the town wearing this look, you might notice the paparazzi are tailing you--because you'll be looking like a star!

Jonathan Product Silky Dirt Shine & Define Creme

Jonathan Antin entertained me with his antics on Blowout, and now he's giving me great hair with his Silky Dirt Shine & Define Creme. My waves were in need of something more than just a glossing creme (ahem Frederic Fekkai), but I wouldn't dream of scrunching my hair with gel to get the definition and hold I was craving.

Silky Dirt has ended my hair rut. Now my waves are more defined, and they remain that way all day, looking soft and voluminous. That's right; this product has some serious hold and adds body, yet it's a flexible creme. Not to mention it infuses hair with a scrumptious candied vanilla almond scent. The scent of this product is so strong, you can literally smell it through the tube!

Be sure to use this product sparingly--for long hair, a nickel-sized amount is ample! If you wash your hair every other day, be forewarned that on Day 2 you might be sporting bedhead at a level that's inappropriate for work. Keep it in check by spritzing hair with water to refresh your piecey 'do.

MAC FIX+

For me, MAC Fix+ is like the Holy Water of the cosmetics world. Formulated with vitamins, minerals and skin-soothing green tea, chamomile and cucumber, this spray is magic.

With a few light mists, it melds foundation, powder and blush together. The result is a finished look, where makeup looks almost airbrushed on, and even if you're wearing a foundation with more coverage, it will just look like great skin, not like a caked-on catastrophe. Fix+ also sets makeup, acting like an invisible, weightless shield that protects makeup throughout the day. The setting power of Fix+ is truly remarkable.

This is one product you really must experience to believe. So go ahead, girl; spray on that gorgeousness!

Laura Geller Blush-N-Brighten

Last week I was browsing the aisles of Sephora when, twinkling under the spotlights, these Laura Geller Blush-N-Brighten blushes stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to have them! I snapped up two shades: Golden Apricot and Pink Grapefruit.

These shimmery blushes have a few different tones swirled together and are baked, creating a marbleized effect.

Sadly, these blushes looked better in the pan than on my face, and I decided to return them. The Golden Apricot looked completely orange on my face! I'm a huge fan of peach and even coral blush, but this took on a tawny hue on my face---far too bronzy on my already paling Fall complexion. The Pink Grapefruit shade sort of made my face look icy due to the all of the shimmer. It wasn't terrible, but Bourjois blush is definitely superior to this product--it gives a more flattering glow and it's half the cost.

Also, I noticed that mineral oil is the third ingredient in these Blush-N-Brightens. Even though mineral oil may not necessarily cause breakouts, it still doesn't thrill me. I'm always trying to keep my t-zone in check, and wearing an oily blush seems counter productive.

Amore Pacific Time Response Intensive Hand Renewal Creme

Recently, my lack of TLC for my hands downgraded them from attractive to straight-up distractive! Then, like a beacon of hope, Amore Pacific Time Response Intensive Hand Renewal Creme came to my rescue.

This anti-aging creme boasts a laundry list of exciting compounds, including Bio-GF1K, ECCG, Aqua-Sponge Complex and Bio-Isogen, to ward off environmental damage from the hands, while at the same time repairing and replenishing them with time-released moisturizers.

A drop of this lotion makes my hand feel super silky and the scent is so pleasant; it's very mild and doesn't clash with perfume.

All I can say is, it's amore!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

A good foundation provides a flawless canvas and anchors your makeup in place. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation does just that--and stays looking great from morning until night.

I've tested this foundation everywhere--pounding the pavement in DC humidity, at work all day, the gym, and even power boating and clubbing. Yes, it really does stay put! My skin tends to get oily and normally requires a touch up every few hours. But with this foundation, I can go a solid 8 hours without blotting. After blotting, it's back to looking perfect, and after weeks of use, it hasn't caused any breakouts.

This foundation has medium, buildable coverage, a natural semi-matte finish and has an SPF of 10. It comes in cool, warm and neutral tones, with a nice range of shades.

Just one word of caution: although it feels comfortable on and doesn't feel thick, if you prefer sheer foundation, this might be a bit much for you because of the amount of coverage it provides.

Neutrogena Body Oil--Light Sesame Formula

Seriously readers, Neutrogena should rename this product "Sexiness in a Bottle." The alluring scent combined with the sensation of smoothing oil over the skin makes this unassuming product a seducer in disguise.

Sesame oil is loaded with vitamin E, anti-oxidant rich and noted for its ability to permeate the skin. It is also purported to have calming properties; I definitely do feel relaxed after using this oil. Not to mention sesame oil smells fantastic!

This oil works best when applied to damp skin. A few drops is all it takes to lock in the moisture. The oil absorbs into the skin, providing long-lasting softness and a subtle scent that lingers through the day (or night)!

Too Faced Kabuki Brush

Too Faced Kabuki/
You will use it all the time/
It's soft and divine

Hehe, I couldn't resist penning a Haiku for this gem I picked up over the weekend: the Too Faced Kabuki Brush. It was love at first sight!

This brush rocks my world for three reasons: the shiny pink packaging, the amazingly soft "teddy bear" bristles (they're synthetic, and you must feel them to experience how unbelievably soft they are!) and the fact that it is a kabuki brush.

A kabuki brush is a terrific tool to have on hand to swirl on powder to set foundation. The short handle makes it easy to work the brush in circular motions to create a beautiful, even finish with your powder.

As an added bonus, this kabuki is retractable and comes with a cap, so you can toss it into your purse and bust it out anytime for a quick touch-up.

Hey, it might even inspire you to dedicate a poem to it! ;)

Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara

Bobbi, you know I love you girl, but you let me down with your Everything mascara! You said it lengthens, thickens and defines; I did not see one iota of thickening. That tiny bit of lengthening I saw? I'm attributing that to the fact that the tips of my lashes are light and had been darkened by the mascara. Definition? I guess so, but short skinny defined lashes isn't what I'm after.

The brush is jumbo-sized, a la Dior Show, but I find oversized brushes too difficult to wield on the lower lashes.

I will admit that I sport 3 coats, at a minimum, of mascara at any given time, and I love dramatic lashes. With this mascara, my lashes looked virtually the same except tinted. If you're looking for a very subdued, clean-looking mascara, this might work for you, but if you're all about in-your-face lashes, this mascara doesn't deliver.

Sisley Paris Radiant Glow Express Mask with Clay

For beauty devotees in a time crunch, Sisley Paris Radiant Glow Express Mask with Clay delivers a sumptuous experience in a jiffy. Just 3 to 5 minutes is all this mask requires.

Although this mask contains clay, the texture is quite the opposite of traditional clay masks. It comes out of the tube looking frothy and feeling silky. Instead of tightening and cracking as it dries, it just hardens ever so slightly. This made the mask comfortable to wear and the overall experience felt very pampering.

Sisley Paris claims this mask will leave skin looking matte, however my skin looked and felt hydrated afterwards. My face did have a glow, but nothing beyond what I could have achieved with an exfoliant and moisturizer.

Even though this is an express mask, I think next time I'll put it on and relax in the tub. At $95 a pop, this is a luxury I don't want to rush.

Matrix Amplify Color XL Shampoo

I already told you how much I love big hair, and Matrix Amplify Color XL Shampoo gets me one step closer. This shampoo delivers a one-two punch: it volumizes and protects color. A patented volumizing formula works to increase the thickness and diameter of the hair, and a UV filter helps block the sun's rays that can zap hair color.

It smells good, doesn't make hair feel sticky and most importantly, it does add volume!

I like to pair this shampoo up with Matrix Biolage Color Care Conditioner, because the texture isn't very heavy, and it still gives me soft hair.

Also, to achieve maximum volume, don't apply conditioner all the way up to your scalp--start at the ends and work the conditioner up until you're about 3 to 4 inches down from the scalp. Your natural oils will reach this part of the hair anyway, so it shouldn't dry out. Conditioning the roots will just thwart your attempts at adding volume.

Love Her Look: Katherine McPhee

Smoky eyes are guaranteed to heat up any girl's look. Here's a picture of Katherine McPhee looking sultry with her smoky eyes.

To create a smoky eye, I like to start off by prepping my eyelids with foundation and powder. I find that just trying to apply eyeshadow, in general, on a bare lid makes blending difficult due to oils on the eyelid. The powder makes blending a breeze, which is especially helpful to novices working with dark colors. If you're comfortable working with eyeshadow primer, then go for it! (Regular readers know I don't go a day without using either a MAC shadestick or paint!)

Using a stiff brush (which deposits more color than a fluffy brush), "press" on the dark shadow. This also deposits more color as opposed to using a sweeping motion. Apply the color all over the lower lid up to the crease. Then, using a neutral brown matte shadow, about one shade darker than your skin, work it into your crease, buffing it into the top edge of the darker shade. The end result should be that the darker shade will gradually diffuse upward, so that there won't be a sharp contrast on the lid where the dark color stops and the rest of your lid begins. Blending the same dark shade under the lower lashes ties the look together.

Remember, smoky eyes don't have to be just black or gray--they can be created with any dark color! Try using forest green, plum or midnight blue for a twist.

Bliss Daily Detoxifying Toner

I was always a toner non-believer, but Bliss Daily Detoxifying Toner has shown me the light!

It moisturizes with Sodium Hyaluronate, detoxifies with Swiss Glacial Water, cleans and softens with Rose and fights-off free radicals and environmental toxins with Malachite.

This toner gently lifts off any lingering dirt or makeup residue, while simultaneously hydrating the skin, making it a terrific way to cleanse and condition the skin without stripping it.

I apply the toner with a damp cotton round, just like the directions suggest. It relieves any post-cleansing tightness and gives skin a dewy glow. I especially like how the moisture lasts---so you won't have the feeling that your toner and your money are evaporating into thin air!

MAC So Chaude Matte Lipstick

While the thought of orangey-red lipstick sends most women running for the hills, there are a select few who embrace it. I fall in the latter camp. And for my orangey-red lovin’ sisters, I present to you Mac’s So Chaud matte lipstick.

The color is opaque and vibrant, and the matte finish means it stays in place for hours. I usually pair this lipstick up with MAC lip pencil in Redd.

A quick swipe and I feel transformed into a silver screen siren of yore, the type who wouldn’t leave home without her face on. So Chaud is so glamorous!