having female trouble? try nars...

I had to chuckle when I saw the name of this new lipgloss, from Nars's fall collection. Not only does "Female Trouble" conjure a prim and proper, 50s-esque time when feminine issues were completely unspoken, but it's also the name of a particularly vulgar and disturbing John Waters "comedy" of the same name, starring tranny trainwreck Divine (quotable moments: "Nice girls don't wear cha-cha heels" and "The world of the heterosexual is a sick and boring life."). But, I digress. More importantly, Nars Female Trouble lipgloss is immensely easy to wear, both for nice girls and "cha-cha" girls alike. It's a beigey mauve that I thought would wash me out, but is actually incredibly flattering, and dare I say it – the new "pinky-peach" in terms of being workable with many skin tones. While everyone's talking about the black-red lip for fall, I'm betting this new variation on the nude lip will really fly with us non-runway girls.

stila kitten's feisty summer redux

I'm all about a good champagne eyeshadow – it's the best all-over-your-eye base shade. Funnily enough, I'd never tried the humdinger of champagne shades, Stila's Kitten, which has been consistently favorited by A-listers and makeup artists alike. And now that I've tried it, from the new Kitten-based, bronzy summer palette (shade number four), I know what all the fuss is about. Based on a blend of three different pearls, this pinky-champagne shadow with its illuminating shimmer has the ability to wake up even the most tired eyes even better than my usual trusty champagne shades. And this palette, which includes five other shimmery-neutral colors, along with a bright-pop teal, is absolutely stunning. All the shades work together beautifully and they're perfect for balmy summer days (this is so going to be my official summer palette).
My faves are the Ray shade, a shimmering golden copper that's sort of a deeper take on Kitten, and Prize, a gorgeous shimmery gold. I like to pop it with a subtle line of the aqua-blue Mystic shade - it looks totally bright in the compact, but it's actually really soft. Keep the feline feel going with the new Silk Shimmer Gloss in Kitten, a lovely moisturizing gloss with ultra-fine pearl glitter to give a hint of golden-pink shimmer. It's a neutral that's easily wearable with any of your makeup shades, and not just Kitten, but if you're feeling feisty, it's the perfect antidote.

pink beauty revs up the glamour

Every girl needs a little glamour in her life. And Pink Beauty understands that glamour doesn't have to mean couture gowns and diamonds galore, but rather, those little indulgences like a coveted lipgloss that can make you feel like a 1940s screen siren. Created by Canadian makeup artist April Jacobs, this pleasantly girlie beauty line features cosmetics befitting Old Hollywood glamazons. From pretty pink matte packaging featuring very retro scrolly fonts and tongue-in-cheek product names like "Babycakes" (I can just hear Humphrey Bogart using this moniker to describe his shady ladies) - it's the kind of stuff you'd find in the boudoirs of film noir vixens. I'm loving the Glamour Glaze Lipgloss in Babycakes, that's a flattering mid-tone rosy pink without a ton of shimmer. Plus, it's non-sticky and has the most yummy coconut-vanilla scent. It's all in the name of glamour, dollfaces...

fixation: glossary super gloss

How many lipglosses do I have in heavy rotation at the moment? About seven of them and I just discovered one that jumps to the head of the pack: Glossary Super Gloss by Tallulah Cosmetics. This is one lovely lipgloss, let me tell you lovelies. It uses the power of minerals to subtly plump up your lips. But before you think this automatically means tingly irritation, think again. Glossary's minerals create the illusion of a plumper pout by holding in moisture and smoothing out lines in the lip, thereby delivering a natural plumping effect. Plus, these wonder minerals are super light-reflective, which gives a lovely luminous glow to the lips, without being disco-ball shimmery. Glossary also fits my lipgloss criteria of being super-emollient, but not sticky or goopy. I'm loving the Love Me Ginger shade, a pretty shimmery soft and natural pink.
I'm also in love the subtle fruit-punchy smell - so summery!

a shockingly good idea!

Lovelies, how cool is this: there's a lip gelée from MAC's new C Shock collection called Sugar Shock! So now I have a namesake lipgloss. It's a sheer red-berry cream and the shade is gorgeous – it's totally my kind of color. The rest of the line is a real treat, too: vibrant, technicolor lipsticks and eyeshadows that go on like a dream. And because they're fairly sheer, they're actually very wearable, too, but definitely not for wallflowers! So who better than rapper and MAC spokesperson Eve to show off the line? Her personal makeup artist specifically requested the bold shades for Miss Eve's latest video, "Tambourine."

for every girl, a lipgloss

I may have mentioned that I have a bit of a lipbalm/gloss addiction. I think it has to do with my penchant for multiple personalities when it comes to this stuff: Some days, I want just a straight-forward gloss – a no bells and whistles slick of color. But other days, I want to feel extra-special, so I'll put out my special-occasions-only gloss that's like my crown jewels. These days, just as with fragrances, there's a gloss for every gal and every occasion. So herewith, I present to you my gloss personality guide - from the bombshell to the bond girl. So tell me lovelies, what's your lipgloss personality?
For the Bombshell: Dianne Brill Cosmetics Lip Gloss Lip Lingerie, Lace Teddy. Celebrity counterpart: Burlesque diva Dita Von Teese. Lip Lingerie is a little pot of gloss, lip brush included, wrapped in a bon bon wrapper and tucked inside a little box. It's ever so pretty, you almost don't want to use it! But please do, as you'll love the shimmery color and non-goopy texture that will set your lips aglow! Try: Can-Can Knickers, a pinky red with flecks of gold, befitting your bold, glamorous persona.
For the Classic Girl: MAC Lipglass. Celebrity counterpart: Drew Barrymore. You can never tire of a classic. And this little number has been gracing the makeup bags of savvy makeup afficionadas for years. MAC Lipglass can be at once subtle or dramatic and can impart a high-gloss, glass-like effect or just a bit of sheen, depending on your mood. Try: Lust, a deliciously soft and civilized browny-pink.

For the Health Nut: tarte inside out Lipgloss, Liquid Sunshine. Celebrity counterpart: Cameron Diaz or Jessica Biel. This little wonder is packed with Borba-powered antioxidant vitamins, lychee and grapeseed extract. Why, you ask? Well the health nut would know that the average woman ingests 2 to 4 pounds of lipgloss in her lifetime. So why not take advantage, and beautify from the inside out? The gloss is grand - it moisturizes your lips, has great lasting power and the colors are beautiful, sheer and shimmery. A plus? The gloss comes with a drink mix from Borba, so you can get an added vitamin boost. Try: Liquid Sunshine, a sheer and shimmery pink.
For the Bond Girl: Lancôme Color Fever. Celebrity counterpart: Eva Green. This stuff has an ingenius little gadgety wand with a heart-shaped tip that no self-respecting secret agent should be without. The groovy applicator helps plump and shape your pout with a glossy, pearlescent shimmer. Try: On Fire, a reddish berry shade with a hint of shimmer that's just as mysterious as you.

fixation: Open Sundaes Lip Toppings

Like many of you, I've always had an unending obsession with lip balms, keeping one at the ready in every purse, pocket, desk and nightstand. And since I also have a sweet tooth, the sweeter the balm, the better (Maybelline Kissing Potion and Rootbeer Lip Smackers, anyone?). Luckily, I've now got my hands on a new sweet treat to feed my decadent fixations: Open Sundaes Lip Toppings. The Vanilla Sundae flavor is just that - the delectable smell of swirls of vanilla ice cream glazed in chocolate sauce. It's a milky-white, pearly color in the tube, but when you put it on, it gives a lovely sheen and shimmer that's not too shiny and not at all sticky. You can wear it alone (as I like to do) or over any color and it's totally moisturizing. Also love the Cherry on Top flavor, a sheer cherry red that smells just as delectable. Yum!

Bond girl makeup

Ever fancied yourself a Bond girl? You know, the kind that could drop-kick a thug, all the while batting her winsome eyelashes and looking fetching? Well, every Bond girl needs an arsenal of amped-up makeup, and a new crop of lipglosses pull double and even triple-duty for girls who demand that something extra from their cosmetics. Lancôme's Plump Secret - which, with its silver-bullet-style packaging, could easily pass for a weapon – includes a nude lipliner to enhance your lips's natural shape, as well as a clear, collagen-enriched gloss to plump your pout. Wear it alone or over lipstick for that extra bit of pillow-lipped volume.

Meanwhile, YSL's Lip Twins Duo contains two coordinating shades of lipcolor – one satiny and one shiny – along with a lipbrush and mini mirror, all in one chic, gold-toned case that's about the size of a regular tube of lipstick. Now that's multi-tasking!