One of my all time favorite movies is The Pink Panther starring Peter Sellers. I love the idea of a clueless detective hunting for an elusive pink diamond using less than caveman-like methods and intelligence, and the acting always leaves me in such stitches.

When I heard about the new L’Oreal Ideal Skin Genesis Complexion Equalizer, I was naturally curious to find what the star ingredient was. The answer is pink tourmaline gemstone that is ground to a fine micron powder. The finely ground jewel will help improve skin’s clarity, even skin tone and eliminate blotchiness, promise the R&D department at L’Oreal.

The potion also contains Vitamin C that works with the tourmaline gem to accelerate cell renewal. In addition to this, there is the ER195, a proprietary Salicylic acid ingredient, and glycerin, that deliver uncompromising levels of hydration to the skin.

91% of users saw a more even complexion in four weeks. Now that’s far longer than it took Peter Sellers to recover the Pink Panther, but we say that the treasure of beautiful skin is completely worth it.

The Ideal Skin Genesis Complexion Equalizer hits shelves in February 2010 and will retail for $19.99.

I love a good frothy shampoo and can rival the suds of a beer. And I am always in favor of a sulfate-free shampoo because even though I don’t color treat my hair, I know that sulfates in general any derivative of sulfuric acid should not end up on your scalp and your strands. Period.

The new EverStrong Sulfate-free hydrating shampoo has a fresh Rosemary-mint smell to it that not only refreshes, it really deep cleans. I was a big fan of their original EverPure line that infused hair with moisture (every product in this line from the Deep Restorative Hair Masque to the Leave-In Conditioner impressed with their performance).

Now, the new EverStrong line promises to deliver strength to hair in sulfate-free style. Each product has L’Oreal’s patented Bio-Ceramide complex that promises to strengthen hair after just one wash. Now, the way I measure hair strength is by brushing my strands: if copious amounts fall out, then I know my hair needs more fortification.

My results with EverStrong were surprisingly good, after just one wash. Plus, true to its name, it hydrated my hair as well as shea butter would. The rosemary mint scent was subtle but led me to sing through my entire shower with gusto as I lathered suds into oblivion. Who said sulfate-free had to be suds free?

The EverStrong product lines come in the Hydrate, Bodify, and Reconstruct versions. There is also an Overnight Repair Treatment in this line that I have not tried yet, but you’ll bet I will be (and I’ll keep you posted!).

Have you tried EverStrong yet? Let us know how you liked it by leaving a comment below.

L’OREAL Telescopic Explosion Mascara is the mass market answer to Givenchy’s Phenomenon Mascara. Just like its luxe inspiration, L’oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara has a brush that looks like a miniature medieval torture device. The spherical shaped brush is built so that it reaches each and every lash including those hard-to-reach corner lashes.

Bare Lashes

After

Though it looks like it can do some harm, the brush allowed me to lengthen, separate and coat every lash for a beautiful long fringe. Definitely worth its $8.99 price tag. Find it at drugstores and mass merchants.

-Catia Carvalho Trooskin

FTC Disclosure: We received a L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara unit to test.

L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care System UV Protect Spray ($8.99 at drugstores) promises to keep locks supple and protect color treatments. Sadly, it leaves hair dry and in need of the L’Oreal EverPure Leave-In Conditioner. The bottle promises a rosemary mint scent, but it smells more like a home cleaning product.

Why bother with two products when Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Cream with UV Shield (6.99 at drugstores) shields hair from those same UV rays and softens with olive, meadowfoam seed, and sweet almond extract, all with a pleasant citrus smell?

If you want even more work out of your product, Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Color-Hold Beach Spray ($26 at drugstore.com) conditions strands with caviar extract, fights UV damage, and gives hair a fun beachy texture. With all the beauty technology out there, why not demand everything for your hair? You might just get it.

We’re tired of seeing actresses fronting cosmetics lines. How stupid do beauty companies think we are? Does L’Oreal expect us to believe that Diane Keaton wears its Age Perfect Skin Supporting & Hydrating Makeup off-camera? What’s worse is that some of these lovelies aren’t even wearing the makeup they’re hawking when they’re on-camera. L’Oreal recently landed in hot water when it was discovered that Penelope Cruz, who appeared in an ad for its Telescopic Mascara, was actually wearing fake eyelashes. L’Oreal called it standard industry practice. We call it outrageous.

So it was a breath of fresh air when cult cosmetics company CAMP recently signed New York celebrity transsexual Amanda Lepore to promote a cosmetics line created exclusively for her. (This company doesn’t call itself CAMP for nothing.) A cult hero to people from all walks of life, Lepore is known for working with fashion houses Dior, GUESS, and Heatherette, in addition to acting as a creative muse for famed photographers David LaChapelle and Justin Monroe, and singer-songwriter Boy George. She was also recently seen starring in a Girl In a Coma’s music video for “Road To Home.”

Lepore is the first transsexual to have her own cosmetics collection, which we welcome with open arms. It injects some much-needed fun and humor into makeup, while sending the message that women of all variations and persuasions can be beautiful. Think of it as Dove’s “Real Women” campaign with a tranny twist. We have it on good authority that Lepore adores her namesake line and only wears CAMP products.

“To us here at CAMP, it is not about gender,” company founder Michael Perich explains. “It’s about being true to yourself and having fun in the process… I’m breaking conventional rules and that’s why the world is taking notice of CAMP… We get orders from all over the globe on a daily basis from word of mouth.”

“Collection Lepore” is available now for $80, exclusively through CAMP Cosmetics at www.campcosmetics.com and the official Amanda Lepore website, www.everythingamanda.com. The limited collection includes a signature red lipstick called Lepore Red, Lepore Champagne for the cheeks and an eye palette named Lepore Metamorphosis. The full collection will land on counters from New York to Vegas to London and Hong Kong in early 2009.