summer makeup: fresh color from Rimmel

Think summer and you think fresh colors and natural-looking skin. Thanks to Rimmel London, it's all achievable.

I've been looking for a new mascara for a long time. I love Rimmel's The Max VolumeFlash Mascara ($7.19) in black; it promises up to 14x your natural volume. I haven't checked their measurements but I can tell you this. The bright pink, easy-to-hold tube makes me almost as happy as the thick lashes it leaves me with.

I also love the Lasting Finish Blendable Blush & Highlighter ($4.99) with three natural-looking shades that are easy to blend and offer a hint of shimmer (blending brush included). And the bronzer fan in me flipped for the Sun Shimmer Shimmering Maxi Bronzer for Face and Body ($7.99). For starters, it's oversized--so you don't have to worry about running out halfway through the season. Plus it works for face and body so you don't need two compacts taking up room on your makeup shelf. I tried Sun Queen, whcih made me look--and feel--like one.

Also available in the collection are illuminating eye shadows, reflective lip glosses and hydrating lipsticks and, of course, nail enamel in cool shades like Bare Naked, Posh Pink and Stiletto Red.

Check out your local chain drug stores and mass retailers nationwide or visit http://www.rimmellondon.com/ for store locations and to try the newest products with Rimmel’s exclusive Virtual Makeover Tool.

every day is mother's day: give her roses

Mother's Day may be behind us but moms still appreciate a little extra pampering every now and then. Lavera comes through with its Wild Rose Cleansing Milk ($18), a soothing cleanser that gently removes makeup, leaving skin feeling refreshed and youthful. Use it morning and night to cleanse and refresh. Another great indulgence: Wild Rose Moisturizing Day Creme ($25), a light, nourishing creme that gives dry, mature skin a radiant, healthy glow to dry plus lasting hydration. Once her skin is in great shape, she'll want to show it off. Treat her to Lavera's great makeup products. Try the super smooth (and fruity!) lipgloss, the long-lasting, columizing mascara and transparent Loose Powder in a convenient shaker tub. All available at select Target stores nationwide and www.lavera.com.

expert advice: get a gorgeous spring makeup look from Sarah Lucero of Stila

The Fall 2010 NY Fashion Week shows may have just wrapped up but new spring beauty products and makeup tips are on everyone's lips...literally! The brains behind the beauty at shows like Betsey Johnson and Lela Rose, among others, Stila makeup will definitely make an impact this season. Sarah Lucero, Stila’s Pro Artist, shares her spring 2010 beauty tips.

“The spring beauty looks have color and vivid shades on the eyes and lips. Lipstick is making a huge comeback; we are using bold bright shades that leave a matte finish. Reds, Hot Pinks, and Bold Orange are seen at many shows and have created a beautiful trend. Keep the skin smooth and dewy, as this will allow bold eyes and lips to stand out and look modern. If you over-apply foundation, it will take away the youthful glow and you will look like you have on too much makeup. Try using a tinted moisturizer with illumination in it – Stila has Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer and almost all skin tones and types can wear either shade 1 or shade 2. it just brightens up your skin and adds hydration to dull skin. Cheeks have a pink flush and you can achieve this by using a gel cheek and lip stain such as Stila Yumberry Crush Lip & Cheek Stain. It will last all day and give you that youthful flush we all want that! Think fun color, vivid hues, and a beautiful glow and sheen on the skin.”

Test drive these beautiful Stila products yourself to get a fresh new look for spring. Stila One Step Makeup ($44) is my favorite. The four-in-one primer, foundation, concealer and powder blend flawlessly into your skin and feels luxurious on. This, from someone who is not a foundation fan. But any product that can conceal my lack of sleep is more than OK in my book! The Stila Jewel Luxe Lip Glaze Trio ($34) is another winner--three glosses that glide on gorgeously and leave a trial of sequin-y reflections on lips. They all contain Stila's Exclusive Gem Complex, which contains diamond, emerald, jade, ruby, moonstone, rose quartz, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, amber, garnet, mother of pearl, and opal. The amethyst shade looks dark in the tube but brushes on with just the right dose of color and moisturizes while it softens. The Stila Jewel Eye Shadow Palette ($32) offers four glittery shades that leave you sparkling. They feel creamy on so they're easily blendable and will last all day. Personally, I'd rather sparkle at night but they do that too. Stila's Black Diamond Mascara ($24) is very cool. I tried the black with silver shimmer--it lengthens lashes and leaves them looking like you've just come in out of a gentle snow flurry. All are available at www.stilacosmetics.com.

vday beauty: make eyes

Whether you share a sly glance, a quick peek, or seriously lock eyes across the room, you'll want to make a statement. For a last minute makeup boost this Valentine's Day, try Mineral Fusion Lengthening Mascara ($16). I have used cute, compact barrels which are easy to stash in a purse for a while now so I was surprised at how much easier it was to control this full-size version. No vibrations, no slick combs, no gimmicks. Just brush it on and watch your lashes lengthen. The first application lifts and slightly curls. Add a second coat and lashes appear thicker and longer, without clumping. Plus, it contains antioxidant protection, thanks to white tea, red tea, pomegranate and vitamins. Choose from Rock (a natural looking dark brown) and Graphite (black) at www.mineralfusioncosmetics.com, then go ahead--bat away.

beauty for a cure: The Plaza Beauty by Warren Tricomi

I was a Warren-Tricomi fan for years--stopping by the 57th Street salon for regular cuts and blow-outs whenever needed. I have interviewed Ed Tricomi backstage at New York Fashion Week many times and it was his staff that I commissioned to do my hair and makeup for my wedding day. That's why I love the concept of The Plaza Beauty by Warren Tricomi at the Plaza Retail Collection.

This one-stop shopping spot offers a carefully curated selection of must-haves for the season. Expect products like Smashbox makeup, Aquiesse fragrances, The Different Company skin care, Tocca fragrance and candles, and more. I still rely on some of my staples from the summer to get me through Fall in style. The hydrating Kai Body Glow dry oil mist refreshes and replenishes skin. It really leaves you with a subtle glow and is scented with exotic white flowers so you can skip your usual dose of fragrance. Smashbox Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss adds a hint of color and shine (up to six hours worth!) plus SPF 15 for extra protection. Try Forever (Whispering pink), Nonstop (cool raspberry) or Endless (sheer plum--my fave!).

This month, shopping at The Plaza Beauty will not only highlight your best features on the outside, it will also showcase your inner beauty in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Buy Revitalash lash strengthening formula (shown here) and get a complimentary mascara and Pink Ribbon Cosmetic Bag (20% of proceeds will go to the cause). In addition, accessory designer Lucia Tristao, who lost her father and two aunts to the disease, designed a pink ribbon rhinestone headband to raise money for the cure which is exclusively sold at The Plaza Beauty (20% will go to Breast cancer Awareness Programs). Make your contribution at www.theplazabeauty.com.

beauty on a budget: good vibrations

Ever wonder how makeup artists apply that perfectly even coat of mascara to every single one of your lashes? Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara ($14.95) delivers 7,000 vibrations per minute in seven synchronized actions so you get perfect lashes every time. The battery-powered mascara features a vibrating elastomer brush which gently pulsates against lashes, mimicking pro makeup artists' zig zag technique. How it works: Apply one, two or several coats of the exclusive formula, featuring thickening agents, emollient waxes and film formers. The Pulse Perfection vibrating brush uncrosses individual lashes for perfect separation and definition. Just push the button, and hold the wand steady as you slowly coat eye lashes, root to tip. What you get: Luscious thickness, luxurious length, smooth separation, intense color, shapely curve, healthy luster and clump-free lashes. Look for the sleek black and gold packaging at mass market retailers nationwide. Choose from Very Black and Blackest Black, or Very Black in a waterproof formula. The catch: Batteries are required. The battery lasts a minimum of 130 applications so if you apply mascara once a day, it will last more than four months--longer than your average mascara which should be replaced every three months. For more information, log onto www.maybelline.com. Visit the My Color Advisor section to help choose and use the right shades for you.