The beauty artists at Christian Cota’s Fall 2010 show let the designer’s elegant cubism guide their choices on Tuesday. Omar Lopez graced each model’s head with a bobbed wig that started off platinum at the roots but faded to grey or brown toward the tips.

Hung Vanngo of MAC thought it important not to compete with the clothes, so he kept models’ faces relatively minimal, starting with Strobe Cream as a primer followed by MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation and the rich Coral Cream Color Base for blush. In keeping with the geometric clothes, Vanngo gave the models a squared off line of creamy Technakohl Liner in Purple Dash and swiped Zoom Mascara on top lashes only. Vanngo completed the look with a coat of lipstick in Peachstock.

Patti Yankee of Dashing Diva created an exclusive ombre nail for Cota, by using a deep, royal purple called Ur Standing on My Dress, from the new Fall 2010 collection. She faded the nails to the silvery blue of Water Taxi at the ends.

This is probably one of the most memorable looks from all the shows I’ve been to.

The futuristic jumpsuits and webbing of Threeasfour’s Fall 2010 show found themselves echoed in the cosmetic art of the models themselves. Andrea Helgadottir for MAC made a point of simply concealing as necessary on the models’ faces with Moisture Cover Concealer and giving them nude lips with Fleshpot and Myth lipstick shades. Helgadottir did a twist on the heavy Egyptian kohl eye by extending small fronds of the black pigment out from the models’ lash line, like a subdued version of her eye decoration for Threeasfour’s Spring 2010 show.

“Gimme some sugar,” has been utter many times, for many purposes, but perhaps most effectively by Mr. Bruce Campbell in Army of Darkness, but that’s best detailed over a cup of coffee on a cold, rainy day. Today, we’re thinking sugary thoughts following Benefit’s urgent demand for sweetness to the next level with its newest face luminzer, Sugarbomb ($28.)

This latest boxed face powder blends triangles of peach, rose, pink and plum together to produce a softly shimmering pink flush. Like most of Benefit’s cheekily-named products, Sugarbomb gives those not in the know the impression that you just rolled out of bed illuminated from within.

Personally, I think that’s a perk money can’t buy. On top of this, every time I use it, I’ll think of Bruce Campbell, and get that smile that only comes when contemplating the cheese-fest known as Army of Darkness. Yet another benefit that you can’t put a price on.

My father always referred to my sister and me as “heartbreakers and soul-takers.” He may have been biased. Still, when I stumbled across Smashbox’s Spring 2010 Heartbreaker Collection, I couldn’t help but smile. Dear old Dad only saw our good points, much in the same way that this collection brims with sugary optimism.

At the center of this collection is the buoyant new fragrance, aptly named Heartbreaker ($22 at sephora.com.) Its notes of Blue Violet, Gardenia, Precious Musk, and first and foremost, Vanilla, blend together in a sweet roller-ball that supposedly “leaves him wanting more.” I can’t speak for “him” but I got a lift after sniffing it. I can understand why Smashbox would create an entire make-up collection in the spirit of this bubbly fragrance.

The Collection:

1. Heartbreaker Baked Fusion Soft Lights ($32) imparts a soft, neutral glow.

2. Heartbreaker Eye Shadow Palette ($34) comes in two color families: Kiss & Tell (pink and purple) and Hot Date (blue and brown.)

3. Hearbreaker Lash DNA Mascara ($19) contains both protein and amino acids to plump eyelashes. I should hope so, since proteins are nothing but chains of amino acids.

4. Heartbreaker Lip Shine ($19) glosses up your mouth in Berry Hot and Melon Drama.

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MAC’s All Ages, All Races, All Sexes Collection ($14 – $21at maccosmetics.com) has you covered – no matter what. The lip colors and eye shadows come in as many shades of ivory, tan, and cocoa, as, well, people. As I took in the array of brow products, it brought to mind Sigourney Weaver’s character in Working Girl. Yes, she has no morals, but she paints her face for success with business-like neutrals and statement eyebrows. No one would defy those eyebrows. Don’t we all want a little of that power? MAC’s collection updates that idea by adding pearly tone and the occasional sparkle to their boardroom hues. This set of colors might suit an office, but the mix of matte and shine make it exciting in a modern way. Channel your inner executive soon – the collection retails from January to March 2010.

Photos:

1. Blot Powder in Deep Dark $21

2. Blot Powder in Medium $21

3. All’s Good Beauty Powder Blush $18.50

4. Personal Style Beauty Powder Blush $18.50

5. Eyeshadow in All Races $14.50

6. Eyeshadow in Banshee $14.50

7. Eyeshadow in Cross-Cultural $14.50

8. Eyeshadow in Showstopper $14.50

9. Pigment in Universal Mix $19.50

10. Pigment Rich Life $19.50

11. Lipsticks in 5N, Empowered, Myself, and Equality $14

12. Lipglass in Glamour for All, Liqueur, Naked Frost, and Spirit & Soul $14

13. Brow Set in Mink, Eye Brow Pencils in Lingering and Spiked $14.50/$15

14. Impeccable Brow Pencils in Black, Blonde, Dirty Blonde, and Taupe $15

15. Penultimate Brow Marker $16.50. This one-color-fits-all marker makes eyebrows the focal point of the face, especially for the fairer complexions.

Swatches:

Lipglass in Liqueur

The lingerie label Natori ($80 for 1.7 ml at Saks.com) has released its first fragrance this year, and it’s just what you might expect: classy and mysterious. The top notes of rose petals and plum lead into the middle of ylang-ylang, purple peony, and night blooming jasmine. As if that isn’t dark and enigmatic enough, the blend finishes off with black patchouli, amber, and satin musk.

This spicy combination reminds me of an exotic silk dress, and it delivers the same shot of confidence a daring garment would. Spray on liberally, and enjoy your night. The fragrance retails for $110. The line also has a silk shower body creme ($75), Silk Shower Creme ($50) and a brand new addition to the family – the Perfumed Candle ($75) which is ornamented with a river stone.

The votes are in and here are our picks for the best body products of 2009. Agree or disagree? Tell us why. Here’s what we love:

Best Body Cream

Kiehl’s Imperial Body Balm

Leave dry, flaky skin far away in the past with Kiehl’s Imperial Body Balm ($42 at kiehls.com) The mix of shea and cocoa butter seals in moisture like no other.

Best Hair Removal

Nair Hair Exfoliator

Nair Exfoliator with Skin Renewal Microbeads ($9.99 at drugstores) uses lanolin and mineral oil while the microbeads of the title buff dead skin away. Oh, and yes, the cream removes hair as well.

Best Fragranced Cream

Laura Mercier’s Creme de Pistache Body Souffle is our hands down favorite scented body cream of the year. One whiff, you’re in the Greek isles. One slather on your skin, you’re a lifetime subscriber.

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Summer humidity seems a distant dream, but winter brings a whole new set of hair woes: Indoor air sapped of moisture and painfully low temps outside. Fear not – with some bright new products and some good old standbys, beautiful holiday hair can still be ours.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum Extra Strength Formula ($9 at drugstores) uses silicone, aloe, and vitamin E to make breakage and frizz things of the past.

For the Earth mothers among us, Head Organics Hair Serum ($14.40 at headorganics.com) delivers the similar benefits without parabens, sulfates, glycol, gluten, and animal testing.

Put Argan oil, the latest wunderkind of the beauty world, to work on your hair with Moroccan Oil’s Oil Treatment for All Hair Types ($13.99 at sleekhair.com) The light oil absorbs quickly into strands and imparts a brilliant shine on top of all that moisture.

Amikole’s Hair Butter ($11 at sheabutter.net) taps shea butter and rosemary to treat hair to a hydrating escape. Unlike the leave-in treatments above, this sweet-smelling paste can work as a conditioner, mask, or a styling aid. A little goes a very long way.

I’ve sat down to write a review of Jemma Kidd’s Make-up Masterclass: Beauty Bible of Professional Techniques and Wearable Looks ($24.99 at Amazon.com) at least six or seven times over the past week. I confess that I don’t know wear to start.

Kidd, however, starts at the beginning with skin care and prep and then goes on to cover ever topic pertaining to make-up I can imagine, and several I couldn’t. After addressing skin type, age, tone, and season, Kidd provides step-by-step instructions to recreate twenty-odd looks.

This usually comes standard with a make-up instruction book, but the real sell of Kidd’s opus comes from the photos and diagrams. Precise illustrations take the mystery out of highlighter, contour, and blush applications, while photo spreads make it easy to compare all the different types of make-up available for any given facial feature. If Jemma Kidd arrived at my door and held my hand throughout my morning routine, I might get a better make-up application. Barring that, this book has made-over my make-up routine.

Monica Rich Kosann, of fineartofamily.com, hosted an heirloom postcard party on Dec. 1st at the Town and Country Suite in the Soho Mews – and I was lucky enough to be on the guest list.

When styling the town home, Richard Mishaan took his decorating cues from the film Dinner at Eight with Jean Harlow, and it made the perfect setting for an evening of swapping stories. Monica and her crew had us record our heirloom memories on vintage postcards. Designer Josie Natori and actor Tony Goldwyn were on hand to assist with the mingling. Like me, most of the people present brought stories of jewelry passed down for generations. To view our postcards and heirloom details, go to http://www.fineartoffamily.com/show-us-your-story. And while you’re at it, think about recording some of your family history, too.

A small slice of my favorite part of the town home: A 3-D mural of birds and flora

Me and my historical postcard.