What It Is: PIXI BEAUTY Sheer Cheek Gel ($18 @ target.com, dermstore.com) - a sheer, translucent gel creates a super natural flush of colour. Applies easily with fingers for a fresh & healthy burst of colour on cheeks and lips. Oil-free, fragrance free and hypoallergenic.

My take: I love a great stain and there are very few of them out there that are a) actually a true stain and b) last on the skin. Well I’m excited to report that this one does both!

It comes in 5 shades (Rosy shown here) and they say you can use it with your fingers but I find I get a better application, not to mention no stained fingers, by using a sponge as I feel I get better control when I can buff it on for that realistic flush. Big recommendation. 

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

It seems like I will go to the ends of the earth to keep my burgundy hair color bold and bright, so anytime I hear about a collection made just for color-treated hair, I have to investigate. SHU UEMURA ART OF HAIR just came out with the Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Collection and was inspired by painters and how old works of art are often restored and protected by the use of oils on the canvas.

SUAOH interprets the canvas as the hair and how water and elements can break down its natural protective element, so this collection uses refining lipids to restore the hair’s natural varnish and protect the hair color from fading and getting damaged.

Included in the collection are your basics, the shampoo, called Color Lustre Sulfate-Free Brilliant Glaze Shampoo ($48/10oz), the conditioner, Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Conditioner ($58/8oz), a hair mask (my favorite product in the collection), called Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Treatment Masque and a leave-in called Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Thermo-Milk ($38/5oz).

Besides protecting your hair color and nourishing the strands, these products also give your nose a thrill with the rich Musk Rose Oil. They call the scent Rose of Japan and it includes notes of mandarin, black-currant, Cardamon, freesia, violet and sandalwood, musk and vanilla.

If you color your hair, you probably spend a pretty penny on it so don’t you want to keep it looking as vibrant as long as you can?

Get them @ barneys.com, shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com. 

I’ve decided that going into 2015, I’ve done with less-than-desirable dry shampoos. So what constitutes a less-than-desirable one? Mainly a dry shampoo that makes strands look ashy, or ones that leaves residue or white flakes behind. No one has time for that!

Yes, I’ve had some luck here and there with them, but overall, most seem to be a big fail. One tip I read in Allure recently was if you were giving a new one a shot, put it back on the shelf it one of the ingredients is talc. Ewww…

So in reading all the products that one a Best of Beauty award from Allure, I decided to give a shot – DOVE Refresh + Care Volume Dry Shampoo. So does this one win my vote? Yup! Everything about this one just works – invisible-in-the-hair formula, helps my blowout last a little longer, and the price is super reasonable. Is this one you think you’ll be trying out? $5.99/5oz @ walgreens.com.

One of my favorite categories to give/receive in has to be fragrance! So many options – get her a new bottle of her signature fragrance or take a chance on a new one altogether. Here are some I’m loving right now.

L’OCCITANE Arlésienne Eau de Toilette - $50/2.5oz @ loccitane.com.

DOLCE & GABBANA ‘The One’ Collector’s Edition - $113/2.5oz @ luxury retailers nationwide.

VIKTOR & ROLF Petite Flowerbomb – $50/20ml @ bloomingdales, nordstrom.com.

STELLA McCARTNEY STELLA Eau de Parfum $92/3.3oz, $72/2oz, $50/1oz @ stellamccartney.com.

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ 'For Her' Eau de Toilette Atomizer - $96/2.5oz @ nordstrom.com.

Ok, ramp up the parties and get gorgeous with any of these that were put out just for the holiday! Well, almost all of them (one I couldn't resist putting it in here). Which would you choose?

TARTE ‘Brushed with Destiny’ Set of 5 Bamboo Brushes & Makeup Bag - $44 @ tartecosmetics.com

PIXI BEAUTY Nail Colour in God Jul! $8 @ dermstore.com

CHANEL Reve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow - $70 @ chanel.com

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights - $25/3-5g tubes @ ulta.com, amazon.com 

FERRO COSMETICS Mojo Glow Mineral Bronzer - $25 @ ferrocosmetics.com

DOLCE & GABBANA The Bronzer Collector’s Edition in Desert $51 only @ Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Macy's locations. 

ARDENCY INN MODSTER Smooth Ride Supercharged Eyeliner Trio - $29 @ ardencyinn.com and birchbox.com

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

Recently I was cleaning out my shopping bag section in the kitchen and while I only keep the really nice thick-papered shopping bags I get, it was time to purge. But purging is really hard when you really like the bag. Take this Lime Crime bag I actually tweeted about here a few months back. I love it but what do I do with it? It’s paper so it’s not really practical for grocery shopping but I didn’t want to get rid of it either. So I stuff it back where it was with some others I couldn’t seem to purge, between the wall and stove.

Enter Pinterest… 

Ms. Darla loves the new Christmas Tree Cone!

Click here to read more

What It Is: LATHER 'Glow on the Go' Body Scrubs Travel Set - $35/4-2oz @ lather.com.

Why I Like It: Lather makes one of my favorite scrubs of all time and this sampler is a nice way to try a few of their others out. This one includes: Almond Crème Body Buff, Bamboo Lemongrass Foaming Body Scrub, Cranberry Sugar Rub and Yuzu Sugar Cane Body Buff.

If your body needs a light buff or a super scrub down, one of these will take care of it all.

You’ll be attending a lot of holiday parties to hit this month and you want your hair looking its best, right? You got it cut and colored before the start of the month and now, you just want to maintain it through the month. Here are a few products that will help.

I’d heard about this product before and bookmarked it as a reminder and I’m glad I wasn’t disappointed when I finally tried it out. L’OREAL PROFESSIONNEL Mythic Oil Nourishing Masque ($36/6.7oz @ ulta.com) is a deep conditioning treatment that nourishes strands using Argan Oil, vitamin E and Omega 3 oils. A three minute treatment with this one will help keep strands looking their best.  

And they just put out two new products in the collection: Mythic Oil Souffle d’Or Sparkling Shampoo and Mythic Oil Souffle d'Or Sparkling Conditioner.

Since your evening bag will probably be pretty small, tuck a few of KÉRASTASE Carré Lissant Smoothing Touch-Up Sheets ($28.50/50 sheets @ kerastase.com) into the inside pocket for when you’re doing your touch ups in the ladies room at the party. Each sheet is lines with a light wax complex that will eliminate frizzy hair  and control static cling and they are lightly scented with rose and grapefruit.

So the product is very sexy, but the packaging? Not so much. I mean, come VV, you could have let the inside and outside have a conversation and come up with a better container than a plain ol’ plastic bottle.

A sexy scent is a must-have to wrap up any look.

And since it’s the holidays, adding a special touch like a flower in your hair, a fascinator (one of my favorite things) or some shimmer in your hair like IT HAIRCARE Glitter Spray for Hair and Body ($13.97/4.25oz @ amazon.com). I love that this can be used on both the hair and skin and it adds just a touch of shimmery glitter that successfully catches the light with their patented Optical Brighteners inside the liquid.  

What It Is: LIPSTICK QUEEN Red Carpet Edit - $55 @ nordstrom.com.

Why I Like It: A classic red shade is always in fashion. Pick this set up for someone on your list and they’ll think you really know your makeup! The set includes three shades of red with a different texture to complement a mood.

• Saint Red – sheer red
• Red Metal – metallic red
• Red Sinner – the classic true red

I don’t think there’s a female out there that doesn’t love trying out new gadgets, at least the ones I know! And for me, I especially like ones for the hair. The latest to cross my desk is the KISS InstaWave and anything that’s going to make curling my hair easier, I’m in.

What It Is: The revolutionary KISS InstaWave is a fully automatic tangle-free curler that instantly creates beautiful, long-lasting curls with ease.

Sounds pretty easy! But is it? Click after the pic to find out!

Click here to read more