shimmer into the new year

Big night out on New Year's Eve? This is your big chance to ring in the new year in style and find a glamorous new look for 2010. I recently came across an amazing makeup line that I have to share: Luscious Cosmetics, created by Charity Vance of San Clemente, California. She set out to create multi-use products that with imaginative packaging that bring color, pleasure and pizzaz to a woman's life. Says Vance, "Makeup is the quickest way to transform your look. It isn't permanent—if you don't like it, try something else! It’s that simple. Life is a journey! Prepare to discover something you love. Women experience such confidence and inner peace when they feel beautiful." Feeling beautiful is a no-brainer with Luscious. The Crystal Nail Lacquers ($20), in gorgeous shades, come in bottles with custom caps that holds color coordinated Swarovski® Austrian crystals to apply to your nails for a glamourous custom look. They're surprisingly easy to apply and give you a one-of-a-kind manicure you can design yourself. The Lip Delites Lip Plumpers ($17) give lips a wash of color and a glimmer of shine, and plump lips to as much as 40% more volume after only 30 days of use. The Lip Polish ($18), in a compact package for fabulous females on the go, is a beautiful, gloss and lip treatment in one. The color looks subtle and shiny when applied and, thanks to super-emollient ingredients, lips feel ultra-soft and hydrated. The perfect antidote to a long, dry winter! Stash them all in the limited-edition Posh Goes on Holiday makeup bag ($28), featuring Posh, the company's cat muse who loves to travel. (The bag comes with some mini makeup too). Pick up all of these great products and more at www.lusciouscosmetics.com to ensure a very happy new year! See you again in 2010~

holiday looks: sleek locks

During this hectic holiday season, the best holiday hairstyles are effortless and beautiful. "Whether you are hosting an intimate gathering at home or going out for a night on the town, tousled loose waves do the trick every time," says celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims, who addresses the tresses of Wanda Sykes and Queen Latifah. "Start with your hair down and change your look in 10 seconds by pulling it up in an undone updo. If your hair is short, add texture to make it a short, sassy style. Whether your hair is short or long, make sure you protect your hair from thermal heating damage with Smooth 'N Shine's Silk Style Iron Styler. It protects and prevents hair from dehydration during thermal styling." Check out the complete collection of Smooth 'N Shine products at your local Walmart or www.walmart.com.

holiday looks: ready to party

The best makeup looks are the ones you get tons of compliments on. People say things like, "Wow, you look amazing! I don't know what's different but you look great!" That's what happened to me when I tried these alluring N.Y.C. New York Color products in preparation for my New Year's Eve look. First, I tried the Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil ($3.99) in black--when they promise long-lasting color, they aren't kidding! I did a low-key smoky eye for day and it lasted way into the night. I mean, while many eyeliners will wear off by noon, I seriously had to scrub it off around midnight! Not only did the pencil have staying power, but it glided on smoothly and was easy to smudge slightly into a dramatic smoky eye effect. As if that wasn't sultry enough, I followed up with a couple of swipes of the Sparkle Eye Dust ($3.99) in Smokey Topaz. There's a built-in brush right inside the package--it's the perfect size for applying shadow--and the shimmery color illuminated my lids in a subtle glow. N.Y.C. make-up artist Mathew Nigera, who has worked on various a-list celebs such as Jessica Simpson, Kate Winslet and Marisa Tomei, suggests swooping the eye dust from the inner corner of the eye all the way to the outer corner. He says, "The texture and touch of sparkle will add a festive feeling and instant attention to the face. I would also encourage women to use baby blue on the lid and smokey topaz in the contour and underneath for a pop of color that will look very modern when paired with a flushy cheek and glossy pale mouth. Think 'Chic Ice Princess from the Alps.'” I am saving the self-adhesive faux eyelashes for the big night. At $1.99, how can you possibly go wrong? Go to www.newyorkcolor.com for store locations or visit your local drugstore to purchase.

holiday looks: the bold and the beautiful

Going to a New Year's party? Be fashionably late and make a bold entrance. Marie Gaglioti, Expert Makeup artist and creator of Dieci Colori cosmetic line, says the hottest looks this year will be bold and defined. Think red lips, smoky eyes and shimmery skin. Here's how to get them...

“Red lips are hot for the holiday season along with dark eye liner,” says Gaglioti. “Line your lips with a deep red liner and then smear the pencil color across your lips. Next apply a smooth red lipstick over your lips and pat a drop of clear gloss in the center to add volume and shine.” Try Dieci Colori Lip Shaper Pencil in Red ($14), Dieci Colori Lip Satin VII ($20) and Lip Polisher VIII ($18).

“Create luminous skin first by starting with a vitamin enriched moisturizer," says Gaglioti, "then apply a creamy shimmer stick to highlight your bone structure. Apply across your cheek bones and above your brows and a touch on your nose and chin. Add shimmering mineral eye shadow in silver, gold or bronze and polish your lips with the glossiest lip gloss in metallic shades or nudes and tans.” Try Dieci Colori Cheek Polish I ($25).

To create an alluring smoky eye, Gaglioti explains, “Apply a dark shadow to your lids and soften the edges with a neutral shade, then fade to a hint of ivory as a highlighter under the brow. Use a dark cake-eyeliner or gel liner to enhance the eye shape, add a lot of black mascara, then line under and in the eyes with black pencil.” Try Dieci Colori Eye Smudge III ($16) and Dieci Colori Eye Definer in Black ($18).

Go to www.diecicolori.com to see the complete color collection.

holiday gift guide: give soap & paper factory

If you're staying with friends or relatives for the holiday and need to bring holiday gifts and a hostess gift as well, you're in luck. The Soap & Paper Factory comes to the rescue with three new fragrant collections for your family and their homes. Choose sensual jasmine, calming geranium and exotic gardenia as the base scent for any of these great gifts: Solid Perfume ($18)--conveniently packaged in these travel-size containers; Luxurious Body Scrub ($36)--leave skin soft and glistening; Shea Butter Soap ($9)--nourishing and natural; Aromatic Room Diffuser ($32)--beautiful scents in beautiful diffusers; Pure Soy Candle ($28)--a clean burning candle warms up any room. All available at www.soapandpaperfactory.com.

holiday gift guide: give goldfaden

This time of the year can take its toll. One morning I woke up at the crack of dawn (thanks to my two-year-old daughter) and was out late for a holiday party that night. By the time I got home, my skin felt the effects. I broke open my Goldfaden Red Tea Anti-Aging Starter Kit in search of healthier, younger looking skin. First, I exfoliated with a dab of the daily scrub. The pure ruby crystals felt a bit rough on my skin, but they were working to get rid of dead cells and renew my outer layer so the rest of the products could work more effectively. The daily cleanser, designed to clean skin thoroughly, felt a little soapy and I didn't love the scent. My favorite part of the routine was the Pure Power antioxidant complex, a gentle serum that creates a protective antioxidant barrier on the skin. It made my skin feel super soft. Ideal for layering under moisturizer, I followed up with the 3-in-1 Daily Moisturizer designed to hydrate, prevent and repair skin. The perfect finale as it left my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. I definitely recommend these products (if you have sensitive skin, you may want to use the scrub every few days to be safe). It's not too late to buy some last-minute holiday gifts so pick up a couple of kits at www.goldfaden.com.

holiday gift guide: give girlie

I love getting fragrance as a gift. I always remember the person who gifted it, the circumstances and the way I felt when I first worw it. New to market--and just in time for the 2009 holiday season--is girlie by Debra Rodman. The fashion designer and founder of the yoga-inspired label Yogini, created this tough and tender, sweet and sexy, carefree and coquettish scent to celebrate the eternal feminine state of being girlie. The details... Top notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Clove Buds. Heart Notes: Turkish Rose, Egyptian Jasmine and Chinese Magnolia. Base Notes: Oud, Benjoin, Labdanum, Myrrh, Amber Musk, Vanilla. Blended together, they make up a zesty blend of rare floral and woody tones. The best part: Half of all sales from this perfume will be donated to benefit the children who are atetnding the Man-Rod Academy in Lamu, Kenya which Debra founded. girlie is available exclusively at www.girliebydebrarodman.com.