Do you obsess over a beauty product for months and months but never end up getting it? That’s what I’ve been doing with Sue Devitt’s Microquatic Hydrating Marine Minerals Eye Palettes.

Every time I stop by Ulta, I walk past these palettes, swatch the eyeshadows on the back of my hand, walk around the store admiring their shades and then leave without them. Why? Because I couldn’t get just one! It would nag at me if I got one without the others. So my plan is to ignore that little voice in my head and slowly start acquiring them. Besides, I’m trying to stick to my budget now!

These palettes are just gorgeous. The eyeshadows are all work together so you can create beautiful smokey eyes in tones of purple (Kilimanjaro), blue (Blue Waters) and green (Green Isles). The pigment is rich and the shades nice and shimmery… love it! My only problem is deciding which Sue Devitt Microquatic Hydrating Marine Minerals Eye Palette to start with… I think I’m leaning towards Green Isles.

I’ve been a loyal Essie user since I first started getting mani/pedis. I can usually count on every salon I step foot in to have my tried-and-true shades (Wicked for date night, Pretty in Pink for job interviews/dinner with the family).

Most salons I venture into carry them – perhaps this is because they have a reputation for consistently providing trendy and classic colors, with great wearability and durability. I recently had the pleasure of trying out some new colors in the Winter ’08 Collection.

Rock Star Skinny – a very much buzzed about color due to its “controversial” name. Despite not being Rock Star Skinny, I lacked offense at the name because I was too busy loving the color. It is a maroon, with a bit of gold frost -a very pretty update to the brownish reds we’ve been wearing every fall.

Sexy Divide - for the bold, risk-taker in you. It is a true metallic violet, perfect for New Year’s Eve, yet subtle enough for every day. If Barbie’s signature Corvette got a paint job, this would be the color!

Damsel in a Dress – my personal fave, is a beautiful dark red, almost like a cooler-toned Wicked. Definitely my staple for the season, as I’ve been wearing it for the last few weeks.

All the colors are fantastically quick drying and for me, wear fairly long (about a week). I know I’ll be rotating these shades for all of my winter needs!

Have you seen Bare Escentuals Hydrating Mineral Veil in stores yet? When it came out, I had a really hard time finding it. Apparently it was selling out like crazy because I had to go to a few stores in my area to find this.

This mineral veil is a little different than the ones we’ve seen in the past. This mineral veil features a water-based formula that cools skin as it’s applied. Ever try Prescriptive’s Liquid Powder? That’s exactly what it feels like and it will definitely feel good on a hot summer day. It also comes with a new antibacterial brush that is so soft you won’t want to put it down.

As for actual usage, I expected a hydrating product to clash with my oily skin but it didn’t at all. It left me wondering what actual hydration this product provides, it just seemed like regular old mineral veil to me. The only thing that wasn’t like regular mineral veil was that the Bare Escentuals Hydrating Mineral Veil left a very soft shimmer on my skin. So much that I’ve started use it instead of the other one.

Have you tried this product? What did you think? How did it react with your skin?

Isn’t this a nice way to start off a new year?

From now until 1/8, enter promotional code “MACFF9” during check out to get 25% your purchase. This does exclude any Viva Glam products though. Get your shopping list going! Check out the Goodbyes for you last chance to pick up some products soon to be gone for good.

I don’t know about you but I get all giddy when I know I’m going to be visting my favorite makeup counters. Now there are a few more things to look forward to from Laura Mercier this month: her new First Blush palette and Satinee Creme Eye Color.

This limited edition First Blush palette comes with two cheek colours, three glosses and three new eyeshadows:

• Eye Colour: Buff, Tawny Apricot, Granite
• Lip Glazes: Naked, Natural, Flushed
• Cheek Colour: Blushing Pink, Blushing Peach

Much like Laura Mercier’s Metallic Creme Eye Colour, the new Satineé Crème Eye Colours feature a new formula, as the name suggests, giving eyes a lovely soft focus finish and the same long wear we’ve come to know and love. Shades include:

• Cocoa Velour
• Ecru Silk
• Peach Organza
• Pink Chiffon
• Rum Satin
• Stone Suede

I can’t wait to get my hands on this, especially the First Blush palette. It looks so soft! If these are the shades that Spring beauty has in store for us… I likey. Keep an eye on Laura Mercier’s website to get yours.

I have been on a huge red lipstick kick lately… not wearing it, not yet anyhow, but just collecting all the gorgeous shades of red I can get my hands on. When I saw Three Custom Color A Century of Red Lip Color Palette, I wanted it immediately.

This palette includes 10 different shades of red all inspired by different decades:

Bell Epoque (1910’s) - a rich bee-stung red stain befitting of the Gibson Girls.
Flapper (1920’s) - a deep burgundy crème, perfect for dancing the Charleston.
Platinum Blonde (1930’s) - a true red-brown that Garbo would favor.
Rosie the Riveter (1940’s) - the color that endured WWII, a rich blue-red.
Gamine (1950’s) - a bright orange-red that Lucy would love.
Mod (1960’s) - a “pop” pinky-red gloss.
Disco (1970’s) - a deep shimmering cranberry to boogie down in.
New Wave (1980’s) - a cool, nude red crème for when you feel like a “material girl.”
Virtual (1990’s) - a brown-red crème, perfect for surfing the net.
Futura (for the millennium) - a scarlet-red gloss with a hit of platinum, to lead the way to the next century.

This palette is definitely wish list material.

You remember that I love lipstains, right? Imagine how happy I was to hear that Cover Girl was releasing a new line of lipstains with 10 lovely shades. These new Cover Girl Outlast Lipstains made me a very happy gal.

My favorite type of lipstain is a felt tip marker and I was so happy to see that this is exactly how legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath designed the new Cover Girl’s Outlast Lipstain. What I like even more is that there are 10 shades available for this product, you don’t see prestige brands with this many lipstain shades. Here are the shades available:

• Everbloom Kiss
• Plum Pout
• Bit of Blossom
• Coy Coral
• Berry Smooch
• Wild Berry Wink
• Teasing Blush
• Flirty Nude
• Sassy Mauve
• Cinnamon Smile

You can find Cover Girl’s Outlast Lipstains in stores retailing around $7.99. Check out Walgreen’s, I just picked up a bunch of these and got one free! Stay tuned for swatches from each shade later this week.

Have you checked out Sephora’s huge sale going on right now? You can find good deals online and in stores.

Check out what’s on sale, there are some good things on sale including products from Vincent Longo, Bliss, NARS, Cargo, Lorac and many more. If there’s a product you’ve been eying, you may want to check it’s price. I was admiring Dior’s Night Diamond for about a month now but didn’t want to shell out the $80 to get it. When I saw it for $59, I told myself I needed it.

The new Bobbi Brown Bobbi Brights Eye Palette had me at hello. It is beyond adorable.