Like people, great makeup brushes come in all shapes and sizes and I’m sure you know that you need to use good ones to get the right application. So throw out those flimsy small eye shadow applicators and step up your game with any of these as we continue our feature on great makeup brushes.

1. BARE ESCENTUALS Double-Ended Liner Shadow Brush ($24 @ macys.com)
2. PHILOSOPHY The Supernatural Multi-Use Brush ($25 @ nordstrom.com)
3. ESSENCE OF BEAUTY Synthetic Foundation and Powder Brush ($7.99 @ cvs.com)
4. TRISH MCEVOY #50 Angled Eye Lining ($25 @ bloomingdales.com)
5. MAKEUP DESIGNORY Shadow Fluff Brush #330 ($19 @ mudshop.com)
6. CLINIQUE Foundation Brush ($28 @ neimanmarcus.com)

It's well over 90 degrees in LA today and I'm glad I have LINDI SKIN's Cooler Pad ($25/4x7piece @ lindiskin.com) on hand. This gel slab was created for those that have had radiation for cancer, hot flashes, sunburns or dry skin. It's reusable so you just wash it off after using, store it back in its container so it doesn't dry out and pop it back in the frig. Stay cool!

I’m a little skeptical when a brand does a huge launch because either I am usually very happy or loathe it and there is usually no middle ground. BUMBLE AND BUMBLE’s new Spray de Mode ($15/4oz, $25/10oz @ ulta.com) for sure goes under the list of greats. Not since this one have I come across a hair spray that is so workable. It holds, keeps the frizz at bay yet still lets a woman change her mind and comb it out easily. And they didn’t even test this spray on models! They used real people found on myspace. Nice marketing concept.

The picture does not do justice for this The Makeup Shimmering Lipstick in SL 16 ($22.50) from SHISEIDO. I tried shooting it myself but it just didn’t look right. It has to be the shiniest lipstick I have ever seen! And if you turn it around in the light, it is almost mirror-like. I really hated to break-the-seal, so to speak! So how does this SL 16 look on the lips? Pretty shiny light pink. It looks glittery in the tube but this color just gave my look a little kick and the glimmering agent just makes lips look glossier and not at all kid-like. Definitely YLBB.

Speaking of shimmery-glimmery, I just got their Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow in Languid Lagoon ($23) from the new Spring 2008 Color Collection. This dewy cream doesn’t crease on the eyes and the pastel greeny light blue color is sooooo now. Both @ sephora.com.

Everything’s coming up green these days. Not just the grass but companies that are giving us alternatives to the norm like hair care line EUFORA. This eco-friendly and organically driven line is based on certified organic Aloe Vera Gel, essential oils, botanical ingredients and environmentally friendly propellants and they’ve been doing it exactly the same way way since 1997. And the products? What I’ve tried so far has been great. What I like most is that instead of using water as a base in their hair products they replace it with the Aloe Vera Gel and then add the essential oils, panthenols and keratin proteins. Here are my picks of the moment from L to R:

• Sculpture Styling Glaze ($22.95/10.1oz) – used before blow-drying for control. Absolutely no flaking!
• Pure Cleanse Shampoo ($20.95/10.1oz) – no sulfates and is good at conquering dandruff.
• Pure Polish Finishing Drops ($28.95/4.2oz) – smoothes strands without leaving any greasy residue behind.

And if you are still wary about using an aerosol hairspray, they claim to have the cleanest aerosol hairspray on the market with .001 environmental impact. All @ amazon.com or 800-638-3672.

We’re pretty fascinated with packaging and always pay special attention to it when trying out a product as presentation is everything. A few years ago, I remember being quite taken with this kind of self-dispensing brush that SUSAN POSNICK’s Colorflo Mineral Foundation ($64 @ dermstore.com) comes in. I can’t recall the first one I used but it is great for on the go. And this one is also refillable, which I never knew they could be. Or maybe just hers is? At first, I couldn’t quite figure out how to refill it but I found it. The bottom unscrews and it’s easy to get powder inside. Halleluiah! It comes in 15 different shades (even those with a really dark skin tones) and even a shimmer and a bronzer. So at least pick one of these up and you can change the powder out as needed. Now if they just sold refills for the brush part, I could use this for the rest of my makeup wearing life.

The weather has been hot here so let's make sure I have everything for my excursion to the beach...

Beach bag – check

Sunscreen – check

Big brimmed hat – check

New Armani sunglasses – check

CHANEL Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick in new Rose Flamingo ($26 @ chanel.com) from the Summer 2008 Colour Collection to go with my killed bottler tan – check

We are quite obsessed with products that work and smell terrific so let’s focus on body parts this time. We clean them and moisturize them and these are some that will make your skin tingle and nose dance.

MISTRAL Organic French Shea Butter Soap in Lilac of May ($7.50/7oz @ amazon.com)

JUNE JACOBS Papaya Body Balm ($46/7oz @ dermstore.com)

MOR new Fruits of Cornucopia Body Bar ($19 @ @ morboutique.com)
PURE HAPA Haupia Orange Soufflé Body Cream ($24/3.2oz @ purehapa.com)

I must say that I had a better experience with this OSCAR BLANDI Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray ($10/1.4oz, $21/3.2oz @ dermstore.com) than I have with other dry shampoos. I tried one from a very popular line a few years ago and it was a disaster. I sprayed a little in and then a little more and a little more until I had it the way I liked it but I didn’t realize how much it would “bleed” because it had color in it. Boy, did I make a mess of my pillow that night. I had no idea that the color would come out but then again I might have put too much in. There should have been a warning on the bottle! Either way, that one went in the trash the next day. This one from Senor Blandi is clear so you don’t have to worry about the above. And it’s great for those days when I need a little volume but don’t have time to shower and or style my hair to the fullest. This one also contains rice, wheat proteins, Panthenol and vitamin E to fortify each strand. I never even thought of this but this product won’t cause any build up. Hot-dang!

6/4/08 - addendum - I keep forgetting to add this! I suggest spraying this on your hair outside and then styling inside. The spray has particles that not only go on your hair but everwhere else and show up on surfaces in the room you are spraying it in. Not fun to clean up after the 2nd or 3rd time you use it.