From left to right…

1) Lancome’s Ô My Rose Collection – A collection marked by coral-peach and teal hues, the Pop’n Cheeks Gentle and Lasting Blush promises to be the star product and the centerpiece of the collection.

2) Chanel’s Les Impressions Collection – This spring season Chanel goes neutral and classic  with a stunning collection filled with pinks, beiges, warm browns and khakis designed to enhance a woman’s natural beauty. Choice products include the  Radiant Glow Highlighting Powder pictured above, Rouge Allure Lipstick in Insouciante and Le Vernis Nail Colour in Particulière.

3) NARS – When asked to describe the collection, François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics said, “It’s very sophisticated and bourgeois in a Parisian ‘16th Arrondissement’ way.”  It features soft, sexy shades and pops of colors. Try Ophelia Gloss (strawberry nectar) for that perfect spring pout, and Cruising Lipstick (a nude pink)

4) Stila Dust to Diamonds Collection – Add sparkle to lids, lashes and lips with Stila’s latest. Eyes glisten and reflect with jewel shadows, lips twinkle being slicked with Stila’s Exclusive Gem Complex (which contains diamond, emerald, jade, ruby, moonstone, rose quartz, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, amber, garnet, mother of pearl, and opal) and lashes gleam with mascara swirled with genuine diamond powder.

5) Bobbi Brown’s Cabana Corals Collection – This Spring collection comes with a hint of summer, inspired by cabanas and beachy corals.  Sport fresh new pinks on lips and cheeks with bright, cheerful glosses and a new Shimmer Brick in Nectar Shimmer.

6) shu uemura’s egerie’s collection -  shu goes beyond the borders of seasonal makeup with their 130th collection where audacious meets elegant. Kakuyasu Uchiide, shu’s artistic director, says “I want every woman to created their own spin on my glam-rock image; they can play with this collection like enjoying their favorite music,  like they are about to jump on stage and shine in the spotlight. ” With the collection comes several new products including the limited edition Eye Shimmer Duos and Satin Radiant Sticks.

7) Smashbox Heartbreaker Collection Pop-art inspired boxes and flirty colors make up this collection which features Smashbox’s first ever fragrance.  The Beauty Bug’s picks include the pinwheel-inspired Heartbreaker Fusion Soft Lights and the Heartbreaker Lip Shine.

8) Dior’s Boudoir Collection – Lace up in Dior’s newest collection, inspired by fancy femme’s from the 1920′s. Dainty and subtle, yet sensual and alluring, the intricate, detailed compacts that house the illuminating lace-effect powder will be hard for any beauty junkie to resist. The Beauty Bug loves the Dior Addict Gloss Reflect in Beige Veil, and of course, the sleek, ultra-feminine lace finishing powder.

Once at home, The Beauty Bug reached for it. She peeled off the seal sticker and waited for the powder to seep through the holes. No powder. She closed the compact, turned it over, and tapped the bottom. No powder. She shook it. No powder.  She shook it harder. Frustrated and on the verge of being late for work, She reached for another foundation. Day two – more of the same. Day three She headed to straight to Sephora, foundation in hand.

She brought it up to the register and explained her conundrum. Within 30 seconds, and one simple twist of the compact (built in shaver, as Smashbox calls it), the powder magically appeared. Embarrassed, ashamed and still a bit puzzled, She left the store. If only She had watched this video…

Forget everything you know or have heard about powders. This little wonder sets a new standard for all powders – it’s a powder with anti-aging power.  The formula is comprised of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and Smashbox’s unique Goji berry-C Complex,  a strong anti-oxidant. What most impressed The Beauty Bug was the fact that once on the skin, it looks as though it’s a liquid foundation. Skin is left looking fresh, hydrated and luminescent – NOT chalky or matte in the slightest. Coverage is sheer and smooth, yet buildable. The spill-proof twist/shaver mechanism allows the minerals to stay fresh and makes the product easy to travel with. The Beauty Bug prefers Her own, softer kabuki brush to the one that comes with the foundation, but the accompanying brush will do in a pinch.

Bare Escentuals users, The Beauty Bug is talking to you.  Smashbox provides better coverage, and delivers anti-aging benefits.  While at first glance the prices are dramatically different, Bare Escentuals ($25) offers .3 ounces of powder, while Smashbox ($59) gives you .75 ounces.

Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder & Brush Set is available on Sephora.com and Smashbox.com for $59.

Disclosure: The Beauty Bug  purchased this herself at Her local Sephora while on Her lunch break.

Back at Her vanity, The Beauty Bug began to apply the mascara, attempting to familiarize Herself with the ‘ revolutionary double helix’ brush. After one stroke, She knew this mascara wasn’t for Her. What was supposed to be the selling point, (the applicator), was the downfall. The odd, bulky, block-ish, blunt-ended brush made for a very awkward and uneasy application. Almost immediately, a considerable amount of product landed on The Beauty Bug’s eyelid and on the bridge of Her nose. Finally, after multiple coats (each more uncomfortable and difficult than the next), the mascara delivered average/decent length, and no volume or thickness.

For the second trial the next day, The Beauty Bug had done a bit of research and discovered that there were a set of instructions hidden under a flap on the box that had gone unnoticed. She reached into Her trash to retrieve the box and lifted the flap. The first step advises to title your chin up and apply the mascara in a single stroke as you normally would, step two instructs to hold the brush vertically and comb through lashes, and step three completes the look by using the tip of the brush to fan out lashes at the corners of the eyes.

Even with the directions in hand, and step by step photos to go with them, this mascara doesn’t make the cut. While the formula is decent (no clumping or flaking), the brush is nearly impossible to use.

Bottom line -  if long lashes aren’t in your genes, unfortunately, Smashbox DNA mascara is not the answer.

Smashbox DNA mascara is available at Sephora for $9.

Disclosure: A press sample was provided to The Beauty Bug.

• The Director in Charge drooling over the Illamasqua blushes commenting that they were best, prettiest blushes in the store. The brand is the store’s newest edition and its bold colors and chic packaging was drawing quite a crowd.  What could be the love child of MAC and Shu Uemura,  Illamasqua is only available in about 20 Sephora locations on each of the coasts. Boston  – we have the Red Sox, some of the best clam chowder, Harvard, and a Sephora store that carries Illamasqua.
• Two other Sephora employees hovering over the new Illamasqua display talking (while swatching the glosses on their hands) about a customer from Dubai purchased over $800 worth of Illamasqua products for her sister who is a makeup artist in Dubai .
• A 30-something male professional with semi-severe acne and itchy, dry, flaky skin quietly seeking advice from a Sephora skin care professional for his conditions. With one problem solved, and the Peter Thomas Roth Acne Kit in hand, the rep next recommended DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub for his itching and flaking.  He held the product in his hand, looking both confused and clueless. “Can I use that on my face?”, he asked. The Beauty Bug stopped dead in Her tracks. A body scrub on your face? Oh you silly man!
• A Sephora artist gushing over a certain Smashbox foundation, touting that it was the only foundation she could wear because it left her skin soft and glowing. Still continuing to eavesdrop, The Beauty Bug shot a glance her way and confirmed the claims. Her skin looked amazing! The Beauty Bug went over to check it out and to Her surprise, it was a powder – Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder. No chalkiness, no drastic matte finish. Sold.

Check out past Sephora rumblings here.

1) Sonia Kashuk Hidden Treasure Brush Set – If you’re in the market for a set of makeup brushes, typically The Beauty Bug advises waiting until the holidays when brands such as MAC release limited edition brush sets, but not this year. Known for quality, yet affordable, cosmetics and beauty tools, Sonia Kashuk is celebrating her 10th  anniversary with Target. To mark the ccassion, Sonia has releasd her Spring Treasures Collection; limited edition pieces all inspired by the treasures of the ocean. The highlight of the collection is the six-piece travel-sized brush set. Each brush has a unique faux-siler coral-shaped handle and all are housed in a bright, fun coral-print case with a silver lining.  A steal for $19.99. Only at Target.

2) Shu Uemura’s pk310n Gloss – A high-shine gloss brightens any face. From the new gloss unlimited pink collection, this gloss is sheer with the slightest pop of color and shimmer for maximum shine. For the most wearable, pure pinks this spring, check out the entire collection made from an innovative pink hybrid pigment.

3. Smashbox’s Hybrid 2 in 1 Luminizing Primer – Get this product while you still can, but don’t use it as a primer. A combination of their can’t-live-without Photo Finish Foundation Primer and Artifical Light Luminizing Lotion, it’s versatile, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and provides a natural (not too bronze-y) glow and radiance. Squeeze the tube and each product is dispensed separately. The Beauty Bug mixes the two together on Her hand and applies it (lightly) all over Her face with a sponge, focusing on her cheeks and cheek bones. The result is a a beaming complexion, and makeup that lasts throughout the day. Keep this product in your makeup bag throughout the summer, and wear it alone (on top of sunscreen) for a hint of shimmer that will catch the sum beautifully.  Available at smashbox.com for $34.

4. Laura Mercier Gilded Garden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc – One look at this compact and any beauty junkie is sucked in, immediately. This limited edition bloc provides wearable shimmer and adds a fresh, spring-y glow to cheeks. The light-reflecting particles brighten and highlight – use it on eyes or brush it on your collar bone for a healthy luster. Available at www.lauramercier.com for $38.

This Spring season, Smashbox is eco-chic. They’ve introduced their first totally “green “, earth-conscious collection, Green Room, proving that beauty doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Smashbox called on Mother Nature for this collection. These environmentally-friendly formulas contain powerful antioxidants and vitamins from the miracle Moringa Tree, a tree that works nutritional wonders, cures the ill, purifies water, and nourishes the hungry. The only thing that the tree doesn’t do is recycle the the biodegradable packaging for you!

The Beauty Bug’s picks from Smashbox’s Green Room Collection include:

• Blossom Eye Shadow Quad with Moringa Seed Extract – a beautiful compact with shadows pressed in the shape of a striped leaf. Packed with 4 earth tones (shimmery peal, pale pink, soft bronze and earthy brown), these shadows create a gorgeous soft smoky eye.
• Azalea Hybrid 2 in 1 Color & Shine Lip Gloss with Moringa Seed Extract – The Beauty Bug loves this shade because it brings out the green in Her hazel eyes. She just adds a bit of a natural/nude liner and the color is a perfect luminous shade of glossy rose with a gold shimmer.
• Golden Glow Bronzer with Moringa Seed Extract - creates the perfect subtle glow for the winter.

For each Green Room product purchased, Smashbox will plant a Moringa tree in a developing country with the help of Trees for the Future.

Don’t forget to recycle!

So, you’re reading this, looking at the title and thinking, it’s not still the weekend. And you’re right, but I’m still getting caught up from the weekend, and posting things that I meant to post then. I usually like to post 2-3 times a day, and I wasn’t able to these past few days, and for that, I’m sorry. So, here’s what I got:

On a recent flight to Denver, The Beauty Bug’s boyfriend got her The Bliss Shut Eye Service pack. I posted about it once before, so I was excited to see actually get one.

When he came back with it for me I was really surprised considering we’re talking about someone who won’t hold the Sephora bag after he buys Dirt (Johnathan Product) for himself. But, all kidding aside, it’s a genious idea, and makes flying that much more tolerbable. I’m excited for the breath-freshening lip balm.

Also over the weekend, as you may have heard, Tori Spelling had an estate/yard sale. Let me tell you, and I know my boyfriend is sick of hearing me say this, but if I lived in LA, I would have been there, first one in line, with bells on to buy some 90210 memorbilia. I LOVE Tori. I digress.

I am interested in this story because she sold a used Sephora lip gloss for $1. Gross. Foul. Does she need the $1 that bad? Read the recap here at Best Week Ever. No one tells it better than Best Week Ever.

And finally, famous artist/designer Tokidoki has teamed up with Smashbox for a new, limited edition Spring makeup line. According to the Moodie report, “The tokidoki for Smashbox collection features an Eye Shadow Quad (US$30), a Lip Gloss (US$18), a Skin Tint (US$28), Artificial Light (US$22), a Stellina Makeup Mirror (US$32) and a Soft Lights and Brush Set (US$48) – the latter available exclusively at Sephora.” I’ve never heard of TokiDoki before this, but I’m intrigued by the designs. They are so up beat, and sort of have a Hello Kitty feel.

I’m very intrigued by this product – I want to try it, however, something about a lip exfoliant it weird to me. It’s like a mask for your lips – it just seems odd and like it would be uncomfortable and you would end up eating it or something. But, I love anything peppermint, and if it does what it promises, I’ll be hooked. Here’s what they say:

“Got cracked, dry lips? Or maybe your lipstick and glosses clump as a result of dead skin? LIP EMULSION is the perfect solution for you! This sugar-based, peppermint exfoliator not only smells and tastes delicious, it also conditions as it exfoliates. after only a few seconds, you’ll feel the cooling scrub sink into your lips, allowing the shea butter, jojoba, and antioxidants to condition and revitalize—lips instantly look and feel soft and kissable.”

Oooh, a cooling sensation! The Beauty Bug loves that.

Obviously this is a must-have for all those single Beauty Junkies who will be positioning themselves accordingly under the mistletoe.

I think I may let my guard down and try this – it’s $18 and will last a long time. If you want to try it too, you can buy it here.

MAC has just also debuted their holiday collection on their site – check it out here . They are also offering free shipping until 10/28 – just enter FORMAL06 at checkout.