I was not expecting a lot from L’Oreal’s HIP Color Presso, for the simple reason that I’ve tried so many lipglosses and been unimpressed with “gimmicks.” Marketing glosses must be real hard work, because you have to sell an age-old makeup essential to finicky women who have likely seen it all.

L’Oreal HIP Presso does excel in some aspects, and falls short in others. What I LOVE about the Presso are:

1. A rich, luminous sheen. There are touches of sparkle and faint glitter and the pout you get is a “let’s go out clubbing and become Avril Lavigne,” kind of vibe.

2. A great innovative product with TWO distinct colors. You can mix and match and increase impact and intensity of one color over the other.

3. The gloss is not tacky or sticky at all, which is great. It also has a nice smell to it. It’s very emollient, in fact.

Shown: HIP Color Presso in “Trendy”

But my pet peeve with this product is that it’s not nearly high intensity enough for me. HIP stands for “High Intensity Pigment.”  The colors have that sparkly sheen, but not enough IMPACT. I was hoping they would last a tad bit longer too.

If you want a lovely emollient gloss with a good finish, I would invest in this. If you’re looking for color that stands out, I’d skip this one.

L’Oreal’s HIP Presso retails in all drugstores nationwide and comes in ten shades.

I firmly believe that every girl never stops the search for the perfect foundation. Light, flawless, long-lasting are qualities we’d gladly apply to our makeup, lest our significant others fall short in any attribute.

I went to a Temptu Seminar where I saw the latest Airpod Airbrush System being demoed. In a matter of seconds, skin looked ready for HD; the foundation was streak free, and blush and highligher were applied using the same device (but different airpod).

After using the airbrush, I am now a complete convert. One you pick the airpod color in your perfect shade, you simply attach it to the airbrush and spray your face lightly in concentric swirls until your skin is coated with sheer layers of foundation. All you have to do is hold the airbrush 4-6″ away from your skin.

You can then use the blush airpod and highlighter airpod to add accents of color and luminosity.

These are the four blush airpods. Pick the color that you love.

The other neat thing about this system is there are absolutely no tools to clean. If you look at the Temptu Airbrush Pro — there are so many moving parts to it, and it’s a bit of a pain to clean it after each use. But let the pros deal with it! The new consumer system is just a snap — no mess, no fuss.

Temptu also recognizes the need for touch ups (amen). Because the airbrush system is so big to carry, they’ve made easy, purse-size touch up sticks with built in brush that match the foundation, blush and highlighter colors of your airpod.

The airbrush retails for $225 (you have to purchase the foundation, blush and highlighter airpods separately). Each airpod contains foundation that’s water and silicone enriched. There’s also a mineral component that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and blemishes.

Of course, there’s no doubt that you’ll run out of Airpods as you continue to play with your foundation gadget. Refills are available for $55 for two airpods (each airpod gives about a month’s worth of coverage).

Blush airpods are $30 for one; highlighter Airpods are $35 for one.

Retouch Foundation Stick: $47
Retouch Blush Stick: $35
Retouch Highlighter STick: $40
Retouch Powder Stick: $43

This new system will debut at Sephora in the Fall. Temptu is also the official airbrush partner of Sephora.

All I can say is you’ll need to get in line because I’m expecting a wait-list.

I recently attended a LOFT blogger event where they showcased some really stunning pieces for women with style and a budget.

I think every American woman has been “LOFT-ized” at some point.  They have everything from the cutest sandals, tees to gala-ready dresses… (from Amelie- style cute to Grace Kelley-style frocks, this design team knows how to create trendy essentials).

Here are some of our top picks for a budget summer:

Sateen Two Button Short, $39.50

Ruffle Blouse, $39.50

Paisley Tiered Dress, $69

Studded Flip Flop, $29.50

Do you ever wish you were 18 again? While we may not have fond memories of standardized tests or tacky prom dresses, we will spend countless dollars trying to regain our youthful looks. Embryolisse, started by a doctor in the 1950s, may not be new to the anti-aging game, but with their line of effective and reasonably priced products, they do stand out in the industry. The line, which is comprised of 16 toners, moisturizers, firming creams, and makeup removers, uses ingredients including collagen, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and orange extract to leave skin feeling soft and supple and looking refreshed. In addition, the formulas help protect against skin-aging free radicals. These pieces might not have people mistaking you for Miley Cyrus on the street, but they will have them wondering how you got such enviable skin.

Exfoliating Creme

While all of the lotions and potions in the line are swoon-worthy, the following pieces are the stars of the show:

-Crème De Soin Exfoliante (Exfoliating Cream): This exfoliating cream really gets the job done. Its micro-beads are tiny but tough and left my skin feeling soft and clean.

Flower Essence Toner

-Rosamélis Lotion Démaquillante Sans Alcool (Flower Essence Toner): With all of the greasy makeup removers out there, I was skeptical that this alcohol-free liquid toner would be strong enough to remove my heavy-duty makeup, but this wonder potion did the job like a champ. Another perk? The light, floral scent of this toner is so delicious, I was tempted to trade in my perfume and dab this behind my ears instead.

Moisturizing Cream with Orange Extract

-Crème Hydratante A L’Extrait D’Orange (Moisturizing Cream With Orange Extract): This cream doesn’t just moisturize, it changes the feeling of skin entirely. My skin, which was feeling rather rough and flaky from one too many late nights, felt as smooth as a baby’s bottom once this cream had sunk in. The results are so dramatic, I’m still touching my face in disbelief.

The products range from about $15 – $65, and you can find a retailer by visiting the company’s site at www.embryolisseusa.com  

If it ain’t broke, why fix it? Chapstick has been one of my favorite lip balms for decades (yes, I AM that old) but the new True Shimmer Summer Flavors are leaving my pout with shine and taste.

The new True Shimmer flavors are:

Botanical Berry - a berrylicious feast for your lips plus the usual emollience we’ve come to know and love about Chapstick.

Tropical - think of it as fruit punch for your pout.

Peppermint Rush – The name says it all. This will hit stores August 2009.

Blended Fruit Sherbert - One of my favorite flavors, this one feels like you’re about to eat sorbet.

The True Shimmer balms really do provide a hint of shine. But the best part, for me, is the long lasting moisturization. Nothing beats Chapstick —well, Smith’s Rosebud Salve comes darn close — and I have always carried a stick in my purse ever since I was 12.

So these sticks, which retail for only $2.79, are going to help me combat summer dryness all season long.

I often use lip balm as a base layer before applying lipstick and even lip gloss, and the shimmer helps make my lippies stand out (neat trick).

Get yours at drugstores everywhere PRONTO. Seriously, they are THAT good.

www.chapstick.com

Bless Dr. Obagi. At least he understands that one needs to be a good samaritan during these times.

With his new virtual office, celeb dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi will now be making virtual (or “mouse”) calls to those who turn to him for advice.

All you have to do is to log on to www.zoskinhealth.com/mousecall and give some basic information about your background and skin before you submit a question. Pretty pronto, you will get an answer from one of the professionals at Obagi Center.

For a limited time, the $75 service will be provided completely gratis — until August, 2009.

I am completely wowed by this free service (even my co-pay is $35) and I’ve already lined up a slew of questions to ask. At least now, you can’t say the cat’s got your tongue.

I’ve always known there was something magical about the avocado. Ripe, statu-esque and brimming with  oils, the fruit has always done well for my taste buds.

Morris Organics has now bottled the power of the avocado in its new Avocate Skincare line, whose star ingredient is –naturally – the avocado.

Scientifically speaking, there are several benefits to the avocado: it helps builds lost collagen, and increases hydration and luminosity to the skin. When I was given the four products to try (Body Polish, Body Lotion, Skin Glow and Eye Repair), I was a hopeless skeptic. I thought, “Fine, let me give them a shot, but I’m not expecting Lazarus-style miracles here.”

Avocate Body Polish ($17.50)

First up: the body polish, which contains nothing but avocado oil, Dead Sea salt, and honey. You could make it in your kitchen!

The polish is highly emollient, and it’s great for people with extremely Atacama-Desert-dry skin. You only need a little bit to exfoliate and leave skin soft, but I found it a tad too greasy. But that’s just me. My mother in law, who has extremely dry skin, loved it as much as she loves getting a chance to win the Publisher’s Clearing House Lottery. Go figure!

Avocate Skin Perfecting Body Lotion ($15.95)

This is a body lotion to love. Really, truly. It’s got everything going for it, like that superstar Valedictorian we all love to hate. With essential oils of Ylang Ylang, Avocado butter, Egyptian jasmine, Frankincense, & Aloe Vera, this body lotion hydrates beautifully but also smells like some French orchard.

It’s also suitable for the face.

Collagen Intensive Eye Repair ($18)

This eye cream is Wonder Woman (or Superman, depending on your comic hero gender preferences). Can you believe this organic little tub reduces crepiness under the eyes, and fine lines? Avocate Eye Repair stimulates collagen production.

Avocate Skin Glow ($45)

This has to be one of my all time favorite products. At first, I was lukewarm about it. Skin Glow? Get real, I thought. It has silky avocado oil and is 100% natural with no artificial ingredients. I was expecting it to be greasy and to wake up with my face covered with zits.

None of the above: it was emollient, yes, but a dime size of Skin Glow was all I need to plump up my skin with moisture. I woke the next morning to find my face as shiny and radiant as the Evening Star, and my lines visibly reduced. Seriously wowed!

I’ve been using it for the past week now and my skin has received so many compliments. It’s amazing how precious oils are all the skin really needs. If you were to buy only one product from the line, this would be my pick.

Get more kits, steals and deals at www.morrisorganics.com

“We can’t turn the clock back but I believe our potent naturally active ingredients can help to ‘slow the ticking’ and will over time, make a genuine difference to skin that is beginning to show signs of the natural aging process,” – Liz Earle

There’s always a great feeling I receive when I open a Liz Earle product. Perhaps it’s the waft of neroli and French lavender; or maybe it’s the fact that many of her products really work without being as toxic as the town of Elizabeth, N.J.

Her latest offerings include the Superskin Body Cream, Bust Treatment and Eye & Lip treatments.

The Superskin Body Cream captures that lovely signature Liz Earle scent (Coco Chanel would be proud): it is specially formulated with naturally active ingredients rich in GLA,  omega 3 and and antioxidants. It’s crammed with East African Shea Butter, organic rosehip oil and cranberry seed oil. The East African Shea Butter is more emollient and less greasy than its West African counterpart.

The Body Cream also contains neroli, lavender, and chamomile pure essential oils.

The Superskin Bust Treatment is a treat more common in Europe, and relatively exotic in America. But who wouldn’t want their decollete to be as firm as an Abercrombie & Fitch set of abs? This treatment plumps, smooths and firms skin around the bust and decolletage area. This cream has extracts from the Kigelia africana (known as the “Sausage Tree”), mangosteen, quince extract, green algae extract and white lupin protein to firm and tone the bust area.

The Superskin Eye & Lip Treatment is designed to target fine lines around the mouth. It uses West African Shea butter and organic pear seed extract.

These three Superskin products will launch in September, 2009. We’re placing re-orders already. Et tu, Brute?

www.lizearle.com

On Thursday evening, I attended the launch party of celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine and his latest DVD, “The Basics of Beauty,” at the Plaza Hotel’s Warren Tricomi Salon. There were more celebrities gathered there than at the Chateau Marmont: guests included Taraji Henson, Vanessa Williams and the beautiful Iman.

Sam Fine & Taraji Henson

Sam Fine, Vanessa Williams, Dr. Lisa Iran

Iman on the extreme left, was the host of the party

The party was sponsored in part by NUVO Sparkling Liqueur (Vanessa Williams and Taraji loved it) and had vibrant, punchy cocktails like the “NUVO Sunset” and a “Basics of Beauty” cocktail special. Iman had her own signature spritzer.

We’ve written about Sam Fine’s DVD before. It is a must own because it teaches you makeup application like never before. Let’s face it, it’s always great to read about makeup application, but there is nothing like seeing it on TV.

In just a few hours, you’ll be a pro. Splurge on it from SamFine.com

Lierac has recently blessed us stateside with its presence in our drugstores, but the French aren’t through impressing us yet. The line of anti-aging skin care products that developed a cult following across the pond has brought forth a new series of eye products. The Diopti line has gels and crèmes for every malady of the delicate skin around our peepers, but their Diopti Lisse Lifting Gel ($34 at Duane Reade and CVS in September) left me particularly impressed and wanting to share the good news. This gel contains linden extract and aqua-lifting moisturizing agents to plump up those teeny, tiny fine lines around my eyes (you know, the ones I pretend don’t exist.) The complex itself boasts not only plumping ability, but light-refracting pigments that diminish dark under-eye circles. After smoothing the gel on, my wide-eyed and perky reflection cheerfully greeted me in the mirror. It made my daily concealer habit seem unnecessary. When I did choose to go for a little more coverage, the gel acted as a make-up fixing base to hold my cover-up down tight. I feel like I’m carrying around a little tube of liquid gold. Multi-tasking, eye-brightening gold: It’s a beautiful thing.

The Diopti eye line has four other creams: DioptiGel (anti-puffiness), DioptiCreme (anti-wrinkle), DioptiCerne (Concealer for Dark Circles), DioptiLisse (Lifting), DioptiCalm (anti-fatigue).