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

My love affair with lace started early in life. Growing up, my mom who is a talented seamstress, custom made all of my special occasion dresses to my specifications – and each dress had a bit of lace at my request. There was the communion dress with a lace skirt and matching bag. The green satin dress with white polka dots and lace bib (please forgive me for this creation – Laura Ingalls wore a version on Little House on the Prairie except she passed on the polka dots and green satin). And of course, I can’t forget the pink satin dress with the asymmetrical skirt and lace top overlay. Lace played a small part in many of my childhood memories.

I’m not alone in my love of lace – designers throughout time have been fascinated with the intricate fabric and countless beauties have worn lace for their most special occasions. As much as I love lace I don’t get to wear the lovely fabric very often – seeing as I’m not exactly a red carpet regular and all. Now I can be a little closer to lace with the new LOVE LACE collection from MAC. MAC has channeled the universal love of lace into a new collection that celebrates its mysterious and alluring qualities. Here are our favorites from this collection:

Lipstick in Intricate – a frosted cool icy taupe $14.00

Lipglass in Utterly Discrete – sheer frosted cool icy mauve $14.00

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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

We had previously written about the colorful MAC in Lillyland collection inspired by the fuschia lore and legend of Lilly Pulitzer. Tongue in cheek chic beach resort friendly makeup complements short tropical-inspired frocks and palm tree icons.

Here are three makeup items from the collection that are designed to add more than a pinch of color to your look:

From left to right: the Pearlmatte Eye Shadow ($19.50), Florida Creme Blend Blush (Bright Fuschia, $18.50); and Lip Gelee in Lush & Bright ($14).

Below are the colors on me. The way I wear the Pearlmatte shadow is to sweep the lighter, chalkier color all over the brow bone and lids and eyelash, and the pink on the lids and green on the crease.

The collection will be available online and on counters in February 2009.

Many diehard Hard Candy fans were disappointed when the beloved cosmetic company announced that they were discontinuing their distribution in department and beauty specialty stores. Now this high-end brand known for its unusual and outstanding color collection can be found at your local Walmart. This newly affordable collection ranges in price from $5.99 to $12. The line encompasses everything from concealer to eye and lip products and nail polish. After the strenuous task of trying all of the products in the newly launched Hard Candy line some items emerged as the clear winners:

Blush Crush Baked Blush is a bright pink baked blush that goes on sheer for just a hint of color. Similar to MAC’s Mineralize Blush you can build color layer by layer for a beautiful and natural looking glow.

Foiled Again Metallic Shadow Stick in “Celestine” is a great shimmery eyeshadow in a retractable container. Perfect for highlighting and bringing a little sparkle to your eye.

Fortune Gloss Sweet & Shiny Lipgloss lives up to its name by giving you incredible shine and the sweet taste of candy.

Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss stings a little after application (a sign that the volumizing ingredients are at work) and then gives you lovely plump lips.

Plexi Gloss Glossy Lip Shine leaves just a hint of color and sweet flavor.

Lip Tattoo Lip Stain and Breath Freshening Gloss is a two in one solution. The Lip Stain gives you beautiful cherry lips while the Breath Freshening Gloss gives you shine and the taste of mint.

Just Nails Nail Color in “Sweet P” is a vibrant glittery green. A great way to dress up your nails in one of the hot nail colors of the season.

Just like the original - Hard Candy for Walmart is sure to develop a loyal following.

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

FROM TOWERING INK-JET BEEHIVE AND EYELINER TO STEVEN “80S” SPROUSE-IN-THE-HOUSE KOHL AND FRINGE, TO STREET-SMART LONDON NEW GOTH, BLACK IS SIMPLY BEYOND…

MAC’s newest  Style Black (which hits counters later this month) is all about drama and all about the film noir effect. Definitely not a look to be worn to the office – this “in your face” collection truly makes a statement. Forget looking pretty – this collection is all about personality and a focus on dramatic eyes, lips and nails. As Amy Winehouse so aptly put it – it’s always “Back to Black.”

Cremesheen Lipstick in Black Knight is a creamy true black

$14.00

Glimmerglass: Bling Black is a sheer black with gold pearl

Blackfire is a sheer black with pinkish purple pearl

$18.00

Greasepaint Stick in Intense Black needs no explanation

$17.50

Mineralize Eyeshadow

Cinderella is a mineralize black with silver pearl.

Young Punk is a mineralize black with pinkish purple pearl

$19.50

Nail Lacquer in Baby Goth Girl is a black with pinkish purple pearl

$12.00

Find the full collection at MACCOSMETICS.COM

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin