Recently in Skin Category

I'm a big fan of mystic tans (if you have the time to dry that is! Getting spray tanned and then walking straight out into the sweltering heat is a bad, bad idea as I've learned from experience), and Guerlain Terracotta Spray ($59) has long been a favorite when it comes to at-home sprays. I've just recently tried a new type of tanning mechanism however. I was sent a sample of Solerra's Instant Bronzing Mitt ($24.95 for four) which delivers a sunless tan in four to six hours using Invisicare technology (a sunless polymer designed to bond its active ingredients to the skin over a four to six hour period while the tan develops). The mitt is for one-time use and it has a plastic liner on the inside that is meant to keep the tanner off your hands. Unfortunately it did end up on my hands and I recommend thoroughly washing them after you apply the tanner to avoid orange hands. For the low-down on the mitt jump for more!

 I just got the Rock and Republic lip gloss and holy crap it is SHINY! Talk about disco worthy for the weekend. I love their jeans but had no idea they had cosmetics let alone such a kick ass lip gloss. It's kind of thick but not sticky at all and very heavily pigmented so it stays on well. I got two colors, Mistress and Runway and layer them on top of each other for a perfect nude pinky beige. I then tried their Tinted Illuminizer that gives the skin just a hint of glow and luminosity. Love! I got a darker color so I can fake a tan-- it's subtle and gorgeous, perfect for my upcoming LA trip. A quick application of this across my face with a swipe of lip gloss and I'm good to go on the beach!  I love make up but I wear WAY less when I'm back in LA-- it's just so much more casual there. Girls in Dallas love make up and I indulge accordingly. I guess I was really born to be a cowgirl!  Rock and Republic Lip Gloss is $26  and the "Trickery" Tinted Illuminizer is $46.

Vichy has just come-out with three new products: Aqualia Thermal Light Fortifying & Soothing 24Hr Hydrating Care ($27), Aqualia Thermal Mat Fortifying & Soothing 24Hr Hydrating Gel with Anti-Shine Effect ($25), and Normaderm Pro Mat Hydrating Care. I love Vichy because they're affordable, effective and trust-worthy (they're tied with La Roche-Posay when it comes to my fave drugstore finds). I've never had a bad reaction to anything from Vichy (I have very sensitive, pale skin and am prone to redness), and all of their products are backed by a ton of research (they're actually the #1 selling skincare brand in European pharmacies). Their Normaderm line is great for summer when skin is especially sensitive and prone to breakouts and for those with very oily skin. Vichy researchers actually found a link between UV rays and oil production in skin, so they managed to find a formula with SPF coverage that inhibits oil production without leaving a white film or clogging pores. Called Ultra Mattifying Oil-Free Lotion ($21), it will be launching in August. It's basically the day-time version of Vichy Normaderm Night ($24), which I've been using on and off for months. The formulation is lightweight, there is an instant matte and tightening effect, and it helps minimize the size of pores. Jump for more!

When I was in High School and my skin was going nuts from hormones, stress, and all those other aggressors that add to skin sensitivity, above all others I trusted Prescriptives for makeup and Clarins for skincare. Both worked in times where even Clinique -- which seems to be the most popular choice for problem-prone skin -- irritated and made my skin red. They still, today, remain two of my favorites so I'm always curious about their new offerings. Among the just-launched Clarins finds are their first Foot Beauty Treatment Cream ($25), which targets concerns of stress, excessive perspiration and early aging, and a new Super Restorative Wake-Up Lotion($40), which is intended to revitalize skin and smooth away sleep marks, fine lines and puffiness (this is intended for women over the age of 50). They've also got a 'Bust Beauty' Firming Lotion ($54) and 'Bust Beauty' Extra-Lift Gel ($58) now out which I'm considering investing in after Liz Earle pointed-out how important a bust cream is.  

Not since their vibrating mascara has a Lancome product gotten as much hype as their Lancome 'Genifique' Youth Activating Concentrate ($78). The elixir has ten years of research behind it so there's good reason for the commotion. It's the first product inspired by genes (hence the name 'genifique'), and it has seven international patents. That said Genifique looks, in consistency, like most other anti-aging serums. I've been using it for the last four weeks - applying 3 drops on my face and neck after cleansing with my Clarisonic and before moisturizing. There is no burning or tingling sensation, but you will feel instant tightening which to me translates into a dry feeling hence my moisturizing afterward. This isn't a magic serum that will totally rid you of your lines, but it will definitely make them less noticeable and it won't take long to notice the effect. The product is said to stimulate the production of the proteins associated with young skin and while I'll never understand the mechanics of that, given that I don't have too many lines on my face it's easy to see when a product is helping lighten them and this definitely did (again I have only been using this for four weeks, but already after the second week I noticed that my skin was smoother and brighter). Plus the application process is quick and easy -- no muss, no fuss!

For Fashion Week in New York, I got my makeup done by Cheri at the Fashion Suite at Waldorf Astoria, she did a great job but that is not what I was most impressed with. We were chatting and she mentioned that she is 50 years old and I almost fell off my chair! She looks 35, at most 38, I am not kidding. She is fair with delicate skin that usually ages prematurely. She then told me her secret and I immediately bought some. It is the Guerlain Super Aqua Serum for day and night moisturizing. It is made with extracts from a dessert rose and if you think about it, it makes total sense, the flower is able to thrive in dryness so there must be something to its DNA that I can definitely use! I mean, I live in LA and it is dry dry dry all year round. It shields the skin from the harmful environment so the hydration is allowed to stay in. She has been using this for 15 years and I am telling you, she has not aged since she first started using it because like I said, she looks 35! This thing is like a vampire's secret. I must and will stay my age forever =) At Sakes Fifth Avenue for $162.

Win a set of WE Help Bring Hope Collection by telling us I would recommend that everyone watch a video posted on the Wei East website in which the founder of the ancient Chinese herbal medicine-inspired beauty line, Wei Yang Brian, discusses what inspired her to create Wei East WE Help Bring Hope Collection. The collection of eight of Wei East skin care's best sellers retails for $70 ($300 value), and 100% of sales go to autism (Autism Speaks and The Autism Treatment Center of America). The box totally puts a smile on my face. It was designed by Wei herself and displays a drawn picture of Wei pushing her son, who is autistic, on his favorite swing and her daughter chasing a butterfly in the yard with a bright sun in a perfect blue sky shining down on them. Wei says that it's the feeling of hope that brings sunshine into her life and that's something that truly shines through in this collection and in the video. More about the collection after the jump!

I know, this sounds like what you had with last night's dinner but this mask is so natural you could probably eat it! I love the Naturopathica line, it is holistic and effective. If you don't have time or on a budget, using the right products could replace your monthly facials. I have been running around, traveling like crazy so my facial schedule is totally off. I have all these events to go to so I have to make sure I look good. This mask works miracles. It is anti aging and renews your skin cells with raw wasabi and green tea extracts. It will make your skin soft and smooth so I have been using it the day before a big event to make sure my makeup goes on evenly. So the big question is, does that wasabi sting? Yes, it does a little, I love the feeling of products working on my skin so I don't mind but this isn't as strong as come acid or enzyme masks I've used. It also is not green, it kind of looks like chocolate chip coffee ice cream, the raw wasabi are little dark specks. I am starting to try more from this line that I have come to love!! At Naturopathica for $56.

Clarins is to skincare what beauty is to Audrey Hepburn -- they just go hand-in-hand for me! Lucky for us Clarins has two very exciting launches coming-up for spring. First they have High Definition Body Lift ($65, officially launching in March). It's their 5th generation cellulite control cream. Like many us know from repeated experience cellulite creams don't really work in getting rid of cellulite -- as I found out when I had my bad experience with Shiseido Body Creator. What a good cellulite cream can do however is tighten and smooth your skin...well at least make it feel like it's tight and smooth for a little while after you apply it! That's exactly what Clarins High Definition Body Lift does. As far as cellulite fighters go this is the best I've tried and it's covered by three patents so there's definitely some new formulations going on (plus it has that wonderful signature Clarins fresh smell!). It's also non-sticky, lightweight, and non-oily so it's not only moisturizing, but quickly absorbs into your skin so there's no need to wait before dressing. Clarins is also coming-out with Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Botanical System ($155, officially launching in April). It's a 21 day system that you use at night. It has two parts, one for age control and one for brightening. It's a great way to kick-off a spring beauty routine and get rid of your winter skin...ahh can't wait for the warm weather to start-up again!

You are in for a real treat, girls! Every week in February you will have the chance to win the Daily Essentials Skincare System (valued at $150). You will love this anti-aging prevention and treatment cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating trio. The detoxifying cleanser removes toxins as well as remove every day make up; the exfoliate, my personal favorite, has tiny crystals that leave your skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated like never before. The hydrating moisturizer completes this mini facial experience leaving your face silky smooth.

Enter to win the Freeze 24/7 Daily Essentials Skincare System by answering the following: Who is this leading lady who already won 2 Golden Globes and is now nominated for an Oscar? Please put your answer in comments by Friday Feb. 6th at 11:59pm EST. One entry per person, please. Please use an active email address to enter so we can contact you when you win.

Thank you Freeze 24/7 for sponsoring this Snob Quiz Giveaway!