Creed Love in White Eau de Parfum

Ever since I found out that Creed Love in White is a popular pick for brides, I immediately started getting ideas. I pictured myself gliding down the aisle to the wedding march, Love in White gently wafting off my body.

Well, I finally experienced the fragrance, and while I am in love (madly!) and will be wearing white (o.k. ivory), I won't be wearing this floral fragrance on my big day. The fragrance is alright, but it doesn't appeal to me in that intoxicating, must-wear-it-24/7 way. However, I can imagine other women loving this and it smelling beautiful on them.

Notes in this fragrance include: orange zest from Southern Spain, white jasmine from the Italian Coast, daffodil from the French Riviera, sandalwood from Mysore India, young iridescent rice husk from Tonkin, iris from Egypt, magnolia from the Guatemalan Mountains and vanilla from the Island of Java.

NARS Lip Gloss/Lip Stain Duo

I've always had a thing for NARS, but after my latest encounter with their Lip Gloss/Lip Stain Duo, I think we should start going steady.

The duo provides two good-sized amount of a gloss on end and a stain on the other. I have the Turkish Delight/Sayonara combo, and it is to die for. The gloss is a milky pink and the stain is an ultra-flattering rose--two essential shades in my book.

The stain is actually somewhat creamy, but it sets to a beautiful matte the instant it's applied. Instead of coating your entire lips with the wand applicator, this stain looks best when just a small amount is dabbed on the lower lip, then quickly press the lips together and use a pinky finger to blend the stain up into the Cupid's bow. As for the gloss, I love that it doesn't get clumpy at all, as pale-hued cream glosses tend to get. Both the gloss and stain only have about medium staying power, but I'll take it. This also looks disastrous on dry lips, so conditioner your lips and pucker up for your date with NARS!

Tigi Catwalk Curls Curl Booster and Curl Amplifier

John Frieda Frizz Ease and Dream Curls has been my go-to combo for years to style my wavy hair. Recently, Tigi Catwalk Curls Rock Curl Booster and Curl Amplifier caught my eye, and I decided it was time to shake things up.

While these two products have been a smash-hit with tons of curly-haired girls, for me they just bombed. The Curl Booster is supposed to create soft, separated curls and waves, and it can also be used to refresh curls. But the only thing the Curl Booster did was give me crunchy, undefined hair. I really couldn't tell the difference between this and a light-hold hairspray. The Curl Rock Amplifier is designed to define curls and waves while adding texture and volume. It did give me a lot of volume and texture, but it also made my hair sticky and didn't give me any definition.

An added drawback of using these two Tigi products is that you can forget about letting your hair go a day. It needs to be sudsed-up daily or else it looks like a greasy mess. These products might work better for someone who has very curly hair that can handle more product and already has distinct curls, but for wavy hair, it's not cutting it. Both products do have an awesome floral-fruity scent, but it's not enough to keep me from going back to my boy John.

The Aspirin Mask

Gee, these days you can't buy much for a dollar, not even a pack of gum. But here's an awesome beauty treatment that you can do again and again, for just one dollar!

It's the Aspirin Mask and it will make your face look so bright, tight and smooth! To make the mask, simply dissolve 5* uncoated aspirin tablets in a tiny drop of water, and then mix it into a paste. Add a teaspoon of honey, blend and apply the mixture to your face. Leave the mask on for 15-30 minutes, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.

This miracle mask clears pores and dissolves dull skin cells. The secret behind its power is the fact that aspirin is made out of acetylsalicylic acid, a derivative of the popular pimple-fighter salicylic acid. Be sure to use uncoated aspirin, so that the tablets will dissolve easily. CVS sells a bottle of 120 generic tablets for $.99.

*Adjust the strength of the mask based on your skin sensitivity. I only used 4 for my first attempt, but my skin is not sensitive, so I've upped it to 7. Start out conservatively to determine what your skin can tolerate. Also, this is a medicine so use it carefully. If you use a large number of tablets, you may start to feel slightly sick, and please do not use this mask if you are pregnant or nursing!

Love Her Look: Heidi Klum

Here's a gorgeous picture of Heidi Klum flashing her signature big, warm smile. To get a supermodel-worthy look like Heidi's, begin by blending a natural-finish foundation over the face, like Sisley Phyto Teint Eclat, and lightly set it with your favorite finishing powder. Give the eyebrows a soft shape by shading them in with a powder, like MAC Brow Shader.

For the eyes, it's all about the shimmer. Line the upper lashes with a brown eyeliner before applying the shadow. This way, the liner will still help the lash line stand out, but it will appear more integrated into the shadow. Sweep a golden shadow over the eyelids, and then work a bronze shade into the crease for definition. Then pop a shimmery ivory color on the inner corner of the eyes. Next, line the lower lashes using the bronze and gold shadows. Layering the colors will create a deeper gold that will really stand out. Pick up a trio like Stila Eye Shadow Trio in Gold Glow if you don't already have similar shades. Finish the eyes with a couple coats of mascara that thickens and defines, like Cover Girl Fantastic Lash.

Swirl a pinky-peach blush like Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Mosaic Blush in Love Life onto the apples of the cheeks. Dab on a sparkley gloss, like Lola Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Lust, and you're done!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream

Pausing throughout the day to smooth on a nice hand cream is a simple way to pamper yourself and regroup. I keep Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream stashed in my desk at work.

This cream seals dry cuticles, makes skin feel elastic and leaves a subtle luster on the nails. Not watery but not too heavy, it strikes the
perfect balance to provide lasting hydration.

Even though I would repurchase this cream at the retail price of $29, I'm happy to say I found mine at Marshall's for $4.99!

MAC Studio Moisture Cream

Every year, at the first threat of frost, my skin rebels against Summer's end with a bout of dry patches. This time around, I was armed with MAC Studio Moisture Cream, and now there's no going back!

I'll admit I was a little leery at first. I mean, a moisturizer that bypasses the word "lotion" and goes straight to declaring itself a "cream?" But although this moisturizer is very hydrating, it doesn't make me greasy! It really nourishes my skin and makes my skin look replenished and supple. A pea-sized amount is all it takes to hydrate the entire face. In fact, it makes my skin so silky that I've been skipping primer and going straight to the foundation. My foundation goes on so smoothly and evenly and doesn't slide off during the day.

This moisturizer is like the ultimate skincare smoothie, blended with passion fruit, spinach leaf, green tea, algae, wheat germ and coconut.

Matrix Sleek Look Conditioner

Every time I see a girl with perfectly sleek, glossy hair, I want to run up to her and drill her on her haircare routine. Well, I think I just discovered one of her secrets: Matrix Sleek Look Conditioner.

Designed to keep out humidity but lock in moisture, this conditioner coaxes coarse, dry hair into silky shiny strands. After a rinse and towel dry, my hair is so slippery that my comb runs through it like a hot knife through butter. And forget the hair straightener-- just blow drying my hair transforms my waves into a stick straight 'do.

The scent of this conditioner is a little strange--it sort of smells like a bad air freshener, but luckily the scent doesn't stick around. Also, because this conditioner does smooth the hair so well, it's best used on days when you want a pin-straight style, not just frizz-free waves.

GNC Ultra Nourishair Update

A little over two months ago, I told you how excited I was to purchase my GNC Ultra Nourishair dietary supplement. After reading all of the positive reviews of this product, I thought this was my guaranteed ticket to Rapunzel-length hair. Well, after taking 2 vitamins a day for the past two months, I did not notice any increase in my normal hair growth rate.

I know these things take time, but after two months of unremarkable results, I'm ready to throw in the towel. I've heard from many women that prenatal vitamin are the way to go--expecting or not. That was going to be my next step, but the Nourishair supplements contain essentially the same vitamins and minerals as any standard prenatal supplement.

I could see these vitamins helping out someone who doesn't eat a balanced diet and skips a daily multi-vitamin. But if you're already popping a Centrum a day and eating your Wheaties, this might not be the miracle supplement you've been hoping for.

Revlon ColorStay Makeup with Soft-Flex

When it comes to drugstore brands, Revlon is definitely at the top of the game (I'm writing off 3-D Extreme Mascara as fluke).

Their ColorStay Makeup with Soft-Flex can hang with the best of 'em--from drugstore to designer foundations, this is a great foundation. I have the formula for Combination/Oily Skin (it also comes in a Normal/Dry Skin formula), and it really does control oil! True to its name, it does stay on all day looking freshly applied. Even with medium, buildable coverage, the texture doesn't feel heavy or look like a mask. I've used this foundation on-and-off for a few years now, and it's never made me break out or clogged my pores.

This stand-out budget beauty item comes in 20 shades and has an SPF of 6.

Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick

In the formative stages of my life, when I was busy learning the alphabet and how to tie my shoes, I discovered lipstick. It soon became the gateway into my unwaivering love for all things cosmetic. To this day, there is still nothing like cracking open a fresh tube of lipstick, inhaling deeply and pressing that perfect, unadulterated bullet to my lips for the first sweep.

Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Sugar Cookie is the latest addition to my hundred-strong lipstick collection, and boy, is it a beauty. The golden-peachy shimmer shade shows up as a glowing nude. There's a healthy dose of shimmer, which manages not to look juvenile, but it is ever so slightly grainy-feeling. Otherwise, the texture is light, sheer and slippery. Although sheer lipsticks don't stay put as well as thicker formulas, there is something so casually sexy about sheer lipstick that makes it worth while. It somehow makes the mystique of that girl who just gives off a natural aura of sex appeal attainable--you know, the kind who isn't trying to be sexy, but she just is.

Benefit says this lipstick is buildable, but beyond a couple coats it starts to look unflattering (in this shade). Keep it sheer and try pairing this up with your favorite nude lip liner for a fuller pout.

Kanebo Liquid Eyeliner 38 Degrees C Silk Performance

Are you a sophisticated lady or a sultry siren? Can't decide, or maybe you embody both? Well either way, liquid eyeliner's dual personality--elegant yet sexy--will give you what you need.

From the Japanese line Kanebo, comes my latest pick for drawing on doe eyes: their Liquid Eyeliner 38 Degrees C Silk Performance. It comes with an ultra fine brush--my favorite kind of applicator for liquid liner (versus the felt tips). It's easy to control and creates smooth lines. It stays on all day without transferring or smudging. In fact, it is waterproof up to 38 degrees Celsius (that's 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). With warm water, it starts to flake off in pieces, which I wipe away with an eyemakeup removing pad.

If you're just getting started with liquid eyeliner, try this tip: draw your line on first with a regular pencil, and then trace over the line with the liquid liner. This will give you a template to work off of, yet you'll still end up with the finished look of inky liquid liner. When you feel your hand is steady enough, you can lose these training wheels and just go for it!

Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser

What do I look for in a cleanser? Something that will lift away every last trace of foundation but won't strip the skin. Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser does just that.

A tiny amount of this fragrance-free cleanser froths up into an ample amount to cover your face in whipped goodness. The creamy, silky texture feels terrific and dissolves my Double Wear in no time flat. Even though this product is not recommended for use around the eyes, I have gently massaged it over my eye area (keeping them shut of course!), with not the slightest bit of irritation. While it doesn't completely get rid of my eye makeup, it does a decent job, and I dare say if you wore light eye makeup, this cleanser could handle it.

Clinique recommends this cleanser for those with combination or oily skin. My skin is pretty much combination, and this leaves my skin feeling neither greasy nor dry--just healthy and clean.

While this cleanser isn't revolutionary, it is a great basic cleanser that does its job and is enjoyable to use. This would be a nice pick for those who like to keep their skincare simple or those with allergies.

Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo

Want to know my newest guilty pleasure? It's just three ordinary little words, but together they make a magnificent trio: lather, rinse, repeat.

And the shampoo responsible for sparking this new vice? Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo. The story of Ojon is extraordinary. The entire line is based on Ojon oil, which is extracted from Ojon trees that grow exclusively in the Mosiquitia rainforests. The Miskito Indians, who are indigenous to that area, have been using the oil for centuries. In their language, they are called Tawira, which means "the people of beautiful hair." The Ojon company has partnered with a non-profit group that helps protect the rainforests from over-exploitation and also works to educate the Tawira people and preserve their culture. The oil is still harvested by the Tawira people, in its traditional way. Every purchase results in a contribution to the Tawira people.

Now back to the shampoo---it has a heavenly rich scent and an incredibly decadent lather that keeps me coming back for seconds! Even though it's a hydrating shampoo, it doesn't weigh hair down! It leaves my hair bouncy, satiny and moisturized.

It only takes one encounter with Ojon before you'll be saying "Oh, yes!" to more.

Love Her Look: Rachel Bilson

Here's a snapshot of the ever-so-sweet Rachel Bilson wearing a look I shied away from for a long time: the lined waterline, or inner rim of the lower lashline. For years, I never attempted to line my waterline out of fear of making my eyes look smaller. While in theory this would be the case, I find it doesn't actually make eyes appear smaller in any appreciable amount. In fact, it ends up giving the eyes an extra stand-out quality, making them look like shining gems.

To get Rachel's look, begin by applying an illuminating foundation, like Lancome Photogenic. Make cheeks rosy with a creamy peachy-pink blush like Stila Convertable Color in Gerbera. Lightly dust on a translucent powder, like Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil. Try using a fan brush for extra-sheer application, so as not to mute the illuminating effect of the foundation or the glow of blush.

A quad like Revlon Colorstay 12 Hour Eveshadow Quad in Berry Bloom will be handy for creating Rachel's eye look. Sweep a purple shadow from the lashline to the crease of the lids, then blend a pink shadow into the crease and upward, but stopping short of reaching the browbone. Be sure to buff the purple shade upward, so that it smoothly transitions into the pink shade. Lightly trace a soft line of purple shadow underneath the lower lashes, and add a subtle browbone highlight with a whitish-pink or neutral highlighting shade. Then, line the upper lashes and waterline with a rich black eyeliner, like Benefit BAD Gal. Coat lashes with your favorite extra black mascara, paying extra attention to really defining the lower lashes.

Top off the look with a slick of shimmery light pink gloss like Lorac Moctail in Maui Mai Tai, and then go show-off your gorgeous, R-Bils inspired look!

Ponds Clean Sweep Cleansing and Makeup Removing Towlettes

Everywhere you turn these days, it seems like it's "wipes, wipes, wipes!" I resisted at first, but now I've taken to the idea--for preliminary cleansing purposes only.* I like to use the wipes as a preamble to my beloved M.D. Forte Cleanser (I've upgraded to III now and it's heaven!) so that it can really reach my skin without having to dissolve a barrier of makeup.

My initial foray into the world of wipes began with Pond's Clean Sweep Cleansing and Makeup Removing Towelettes. But, although I'm going to stick with using wipes for my preliminary cleansing, it won't be Ponds. My only gripe is that these towelettes aren't moist enough, so you can forget about trying to dissolve mascara and eyeliner. The wipes did do a sufficient job of cleansing off the rest of my makeup, and afterwards my face didn't feel filmy or irritated.

These towelettes are pretreated with Chamomile, Green Tea, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and Ginseng Extract.

*Maybe I'm old school, but for a truly thorough cleansing, I don't think there's any substitute for cleanser rinsed with several splashes of water!

MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural

Long-wearing foundation will give you a leg-up in creating lasting look, but if you want to go all the way, you better break out some powder to set that foundation! My favorite setting powder of the moment is MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural.

Baked to perfection, this super silky fine powder leaves my skin looking velvety and smooth. Unlike other mineral powders, this doesn't leave a sheen on the skin--instead it imparts a creamy matte finish. It never looks cakey and doesn't ever change colors or end up streaky after hours of wear. This powder isn't heavy, but I do find I can wear less foundation, and a dusting of this powder will disguise any lingering imperfections. For areas where I want extra coverage, like under the eyes or a blemish, I employ my trusty MAC 227 brush for concentrated application.

If you decide to give this powder a try, be sure to get your shade matched first! These powders seem to run on the lighter side (for reference, I'm an NC20 and I use Medium).

Pantene Classic Touchable Hairspray Flexible Hold Aerosol

At the tender age of 12 I discovered Pantene Classic Touchable Hairspray Flexible Hold Aerosol. It was my wing-man for quickly resolving those 7am cowlicks and racing to the bus stop on time, and it's one of the few products I've consistently repurchased.

It's the perfect every-day hairspray. The flexible hold means you can still run your fingers through your hair and do the shoulder-toss move if that's your thing. The scent is distinctive and delicious; it's different than the Pro-V shampoos and conditioners. It sprays on in a weightless mist--so essential for keeping that body! This is a terrific finishing spray, or for styles where you just want light to medium hold.

I may be a working woman now, but this is one product I haven't outgrown!

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Lipstick Precious Colours Silky and Delicious

The mere sight of Guerlain Kiss Kiss Lipstick makes me weak in the knees. The shiny gold metal case practically screams "Glamour!" and the lipstick feels and looks like a dream on the lips.

Infused with pigments that mimic the look of precious stones, the Precious Colours Silky and Delicious formula creates the illusion of fuller lips. The texture feels moist and light on the lips, thanks to a blend of their Cream-Soft complex, oils and Vitamin E. This make this lipstick highly emollient, yet it doesn't slide off the lips. Even though the fragrance of this lipstick isn't my favorite (it smells just like Loreal lipstick), the good far outweighs this minor offense.

I have the shade Rose Entetant, a romantic plum hue with golden shimmer. It's flattering and versatile--appropriate for grocery shopping or a candlelit dinner. And now, I have my heart set on this to kick off the holiday season!

Estee Lauder Projectionist Mascara

I guess I'm picky about my mascara (what woman isn't?), but I've struck out again with Estee Lauder Projectionist Mascara.

This mascara is intended to lengthen, thicken, define and create lustrous lashes. I tried this mascara so many times, hoping it would magically start yielding good results, but to no avail. There was no volume, no length, and there was also mild clumping. My lashes did look somewhat glossy, thanks to the pearl-enhanced formula, but really the effect was nothing special. The formula is very dry, and each coat barely deposited any mascara onto my lashes. The brush is a nice size and shape, but that is only half the battle!

So readers, now that I'm 0 for 2 in my quest for a new favorite mascara, I would love to hear from you! Give your favorite mascara a shout-out in the comments section!