Like many other kids of my generation, I grew up with Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Oil and Powder. In fact, this smell was so familiar to me as a child that I still feel such a sense of comfort in slathering on my Baby Oil every chance I get, especially to heal redness and to calm skin. But as a kid born in the late 1970′s, I had absolutely no idea that babies could get the Organic treatment, as they can now.

Let’s put it this way: what would you do to make sure your baby gets the purest and safest ingredients you can slather on his or her skin? Would you go ECOCERT? Would you invest in a lifetime’s supply of organic cotton onesies and bedding and make sure that there no toxins dare enter the baby’s vocabulary, let alone the closet?

I’ve always been the hugest fan of Lavanila candles at Sephora. Each time I’ve walked into the store, I’ve gazed at the aisles of cosmetics, each one richly studded with every beauty gem imaginable from perfume to eye lash curler, and felt close to something called JOY at the sight and smell of Lavanila’s gorgeous three wicked candles. Yes, a flame is burning as I type this, and my office smells something close to Grenada or St. Vincent.

Now, Sephora is unveiling its only baby line from Lavanila Laboratories. You can imagine there would have been stiff competition from several baby beauty lines to get their baby feet into Sephora’s door, and there’s a reason that they picked Lavanila.

This line is full of products that have gone through rigorous Baby Safe Test standards, and each product is paraben-free and completely natural and organic ingredients. Sulfates? BYE BYE birdie. Synthetic Dyes? Ix-Nay. You can really trust these ingredients like you trust your mom (and not your politician).

So, what else do they contain? Well over 30 vitamins and minerals, for one, including precious ones from A,C,E (which sound like the New York City subway lines), and Iron, Magnesium and Potassium. They are hypoallergenic and also tested for sensitivity (parents, toss that notion of baby diaper rash out the window).

They also contain Noni Juice (a Polynesian botanical); Organic Calendula Flower and Organic Aloe.

The collection contains a Healthy Baby Wash ($16), Lotion ($15), Baby Bottom lotion to calm redness ($15), Baby Butter ($14), and sunblock ($20).

I don’t have children (yet), but trust me that when I do, I’m going to buy barrels of these products. They soothed my skin from redness when I had a particularly harsh day in the sun, and the creams glide on like velvet on the skin (plus they are nice, thick and gooey as cupcake frosting but don’t leave any greasy residue).

- Charu Suri

Editorial Disclosure: samples were provided for consideration

Let’s be perfectly honest. The cute girl who’s sitting at the bus stop grabs your attention not only because she has a killer outfit (thanks, Loubs and clutch); not only because of her lipstick and her smile (although these attributes help); but because of her creamy, flawless skin.

I may be speaking for myself alone, but it’s that girl with the flawless skin, that Lolita-esque innocence, that I really look at when I see someone — with or without makeup. So the fact that GoClear launched in Sephora is great, great news for women all over the country who would basically mug the tooth fairy to get clear skin.

Have you ever suffered from acne? I’m sure you have, at some point. I’ve been a sufferer pretty much most of my life but have been so grateful at all the options available to me in my drugstore and luxe store aisles. The GoClear regimen is a 3 step regimen that’s perfect for all skin types and tones.

Let’s get down to the brass tacks of why I am recommending this treatment. GoClear is a three step process, and combines both medicinal and high-grade active botanical ingredients that are oil free. There’s no alcohol or funky stuff going on, and they shy away from ingredients that can irritate dark skin and leave dark spots or scars afterward.

No doubt, there was a clinical study of this treatment and after six weeks, 97% of patients reported a decrease in blemishes. All of this is as impressive as Watson Crick’s DNA findings and the cloning of Dolly the Sheep, but I don’t really care about results unless they work on me.

And the truth is GoClear really did make a huge difference to my skin, just in the two days I’ve been using it (full disclosure: I’m coming off another acne treatment that I started first, and then put on “pause” to try GoClear). What I’m loving about GoClear: the lotion, cleanser and treatment are all NOT DRYING. Alleluia, Praise the Lord! Finally, a non-drying acne line.

I can’t wait to see the end of this acne story (fast forwarding to the part in my movie where I finally get clear skin). And will the world see this movie? You betcha.

The Clarifying Cleanser (AM/PM) retails for $25; the Intensive Acne Treatment is $25; the Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 15 is $33.

- Charu Suri

Editorial Disclosure: a sample of GoClear was given to me to test

Everything is in bloom now (despite the weather advisory). We all need a touch of color just when the snow and ice warnings are in full effect, and that’s why I plucked these beautiful bottles off the shelves of Sephora today.

The Modern Flowers Collection is far from ancient, but it’s sweet enough to be girly yet flirty in time for Valentine’s Day:

The bottles shown below come in the following colors:

Iris I was thinner: a lovely mauve-like purple that’s deep and dark.

Go With the Flower: It’s a raspberry smoothie in a bottle.

It’s Bouquet With Me: not swatched. This reminded me of the exact same shade as Too Good For Him (which we reviewed earlier as part of our holiday swatches).

Cover Me in Petals: Just like American Beauty. This coral-red shade screams summer rose.

Handpicked for Me: My least favorite shade because it’s too watery and pale pink.

Leaf Him at the Altar: This one’s a real beauty of a leaf green shade.

Each of these retails for $9 at Sephora.com

This vibrant nail shade caught my eye because of the eye-popping bottle:

This is definitely holiday, empowerment and good New Year’s resolutions and is a clear polish with red, blue and purple glitter. It reminds me of Deborah Lippman’s Happy Birthday collection as well. Take a look:

You can get this shade for $9 at Sephora.

The OPI Holiday Collection has my nails all a-glitter, as though I were a Sugar Plum fairy from The Nutcracker.

The colors from the new OPI Sleigh of Hand collection include:

The juicy colors remind me of the Zoya Glitter collection and they evoke the spirit of the season in so many ways that Red or Green outfits cannot. Obviously you’ll find the proverbial shades of holiday red and green, but note some of the shades are variations on the same color (darker and paler greens and golds, and plump and juicy red shades). Here are the colors:

Meet for Drinks – shimmering magenta plum
Sample Sale – warm candy apple
High Maintenance - bright orange red
Absinthe Makes Heart – smoky dark gray with green and iridescent glitter
Untarnished Image - clear with large and small silver glitter
Worth My Weight – gold with iridescent and silver glitter

The colors Worth my Weight, Untarnished Image and Absinthe Makes the Heart are brand new.

Available for $9 each at Sephora.com.

If you — as many last minute New York shoppers do — are looking for a costume right NOW, this usually translates into fairy, Barbie or some variation thereof.

Sephora’s Halloween Kit makes your face perfect for that angelic or doll-like look, no matter how old you may be (bring on that Tinkerbell costume…go as Gabriel…who says a 30 year old can’t be a Cougar Barbie?).

This kit contains false lashes, Round a Pot in Beach Ball, Glitter Spray in Silver, Slim Eyeliner in Black, Slim Eyeliner in White and Luminous Glow.

It’s a $65 value that retails for only $19 at Sephora.

It’s getting hot in here! Finally, summer seems to have come to its senses and started acting like the season. And Sephora is coming to your skin’s rescue by providing FREE mini facials on Thursday, August 20th, at its Soho Store.

An Amorepacfic celeb aesthetician will be on hand giving mini facials throughout the day.

WHERE: Sephora SoHo
555 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
Between Prince & Spring Streets

WHEN: Thursday, August 20th, 2009
1:00pm – 7:00pm
Please call 212-625-1309 for more information

When I was invited to take in the preview of the new Sephora store in Times Square and meet the famous Lauren Luke, I was a bit puzzled. Who indeed was Lauren? A quick Google and You Tube search revealed her “social media” fame.

Lauren Luke at the newly opened Sephora Store in Times Square (42nd and Broadway)

Beauty maven Lauren Luke became UK’s darling and You Tube sensation virtually overnight, with over 50 million views and 240,000 subscribers across 70 countries. She’s a 27 year old single mom from England who tapped into the power of new media by creating makeup tutorials using her web cam in her bedroom.

Lauren has a great sense of humor and her accent trips me up. Check out her new “Vintage Glams” palette makeup tutorial HERE.

Her new collection is at www.bylaurenluke.com and Sephora exclusively, and features a number of gorgeous, everyday and glam palettes (they’re available only at Sephora.com and at the new Times Square Location at 42 and Broadway on July 31st…in Sept. the palettes will roll out to 135 Sephora locations nationwide, at which time Lauren will unveil new versions of each kit and introduce a new lighter lip gloss in pink called My Glossy Lips).

The kits are really phenomenal. Here are the different versions ($32 each):

• My Smokey Classics (I’ve reviewed the smokey eye below). The emphasis is on the smokey eye, of course, flushed cheeks and luscious lips.
  

• My Vintage Glams: the spotlight is on glam eyes, pinched cheeks and gorge lips.

• My Fierce Violets: you guessed it — purple is the color of the palette. I love the dark lip colors in this ensemble.

• My Sultry Blues: blue eyeshadow brightens the eye and the maroon lippies lend pout infrastructure to this luminous look.

• My Luscious Greens: you don’t have to be Kermit to sport green; it’s very in for the summer and fall. Create an aura of mystery when you sweep some green powder over your paupieres.

Here is my version of the smokey eye using My Smokey Classics:

Start with the Nude Slip Light or Nude Slip Dark eyeshadow PRIMER. Use it all over the eyes as needed because you need something to make the pigment stick.

Then, using a full eyeshadow brush, sweep the eyeshadow in Antique Pewter (a lovely light purple/ silver color) all over the eyes, including a bit on the inner corner to create a lovely glint).

Then use a DAB (we mean a dab) of the eyeshadow in Twilight Ash and brush it on the outer corner of the eye and gradually coat the eyelid with it.

The use the Cream Eye Liner in Raven Black to create a thin, defined line along your eyelid, and add a coat of mascara to your lashes. You’re all set!

Sephora is giving fans a real treat in the New Year. Make an appointment at any of Sephora’s stores and stop by on January 10th to sit down with Sephora’s skin pros and pledge your allegiance to beautiful skin (rough, right?). And leave with an exclusive bag FILLED with samples of your favorite brands, absolutely free.

Get a load of Sephora’s locations here to find the store nearest you.

Check out some neat new arrivals while you’re at it:

NEW! Philosophy Completely Clear ($35 a $53 value) – Declare your independence from acne with this trial-sized collection, containing super star ingredient retinol.

NEW! Best of Clinique Set ($46 a $73 value) – This twice a day regimen of bestsellers will have you claiming clearer skin.

NEW! Kinerase C8 Peptide ($98) – Revolutionary neuropeptide SNAP-8 springs skin back to where it’s supposed to be, smoothing wrinkles and brightening skin’s texture.

NEW! Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer ($32) – Get natural with this super-light, paraben free hydrator.

NEW! Murad Sleep Reform ($97) – Rest easy with this collagen boosting PM formula and wake up to refreshed, younger-looking skin.

NEW! Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder with Kabuki Brush ($49 a $72 value) – Brush away the years with this anti-aging, mineral packed powder.

Too Faced The Smurfette Collection Eye Shadow Collection ($32.50 a $58 value)– Four totally wearable shadows you’ll be smurfing over!

Following the heels of Smashbox-O Gloss’s phenomenal success comes a tool that no lady should be without, especially during pucker-up season. Tricia Sawyer’s Clearly Pretty Color Revealing Lip Gloss made us kiss every strange boy, dog and girl in sight, and people were pushing us away crying out complaints of harassment.

The gloss is as clear as cellophane, but the tip of the wand is an eye catching prettier-than-a-lollipop pink. Sweep the wand once on your lips and the self-tailoring smart gloss will reveal the natural tint of your lips (if it’s brown, you may want to check your blood sugar levels at the nearest ER).

So all those years you’ve been stocking up on lip gloss with rose or raspberry tints are now a lesson that you should have been looking for your inner beauty. Get yours for $18 at www.sephora.com or www.triciasawyer.com so you can kiss clearly now.