I’ve taken off the black and gray nail polish and traded it for this purple amazingness instead. I am foregoing the boring nudes and minty greens that are so popular right now for this gorgeous lavender color that makes me more happy than nail polish should when I look at my bony little fingers.

It’s limited edition so buy quickly (you can also get $1 off at CVS if you buy from their Maybelline Sweet Thing display).

Here’s the thing: I can’t find a link to purchase online, but I bought mine at CVS, so call your local drugstore and see if they have the Maybelline Sweet Thing collection in stock. And, yes, if you’re still stuck on the mint green shade, the Sweet Thing collection has one of those available too.

I’ll keep looking for an online purchase option, so feel free to check in with me if you’re desperate!

I forgot to put makeup on this morning while running out the door, but I happened to have my emergency makeup kit in my handbag. Thank god! Once I got to work, I ran to the bathroom, threw it on and ran back—it took less than 2 minutes.

How do you find a makeup routine that’s fast and looks great every time?

I have a foolproof method. I don’t care what complexion your skin is, how dry or oily it is, what color your hair is, if you have darker skin or if your skin has never seen sunlight: this kit will look good on you, I promise.

Here are the goods, but feel free to substitute with less/more expensive versions, if you want:

• Cargo Bronzer, $28
• Bronzer/Blush Brush (This one is $25 by Clinique)
• CoverGirl Outlast Lip Stain, $7.50
• CoverGirl Lash Blast, $8
• L’Oreal Extra Intense Eyeliner, $8
• Rimmel Eyeshadow Quad in “Smokey Brown”, $12 (Other options by Elizabeth Arden, $30; Lancome, $42)

And here are quick instructions to get it on fast:

1. Apply bronzer on cheekbones and a bit on your forehead, chin and nose. (Just a bit now!)
2. Grab the eyeshadow quad. Put the second darkest shade over your whole lid. Then, use the second lightest shade and put that on above your lid up to your brow bone. Now, put the darkest shade in your crease and along your top lash line.
3. Time for eyeliner. Pull the outside corner of your eye taut. Draw the eyeliner with your free hand on the upper lash line from the inner eye to the outer eye. The line should get slightly wider as you do this. Switch and do the other eye.
4. Apply mascara. The best way to apply mascara quickly is to hold the wand directly beneath your lashes (while your eyes are open) and then blink. This way the mascara is not only applied, but also curls as you go.
5. Apply the lip stain.
6. You’re done!

You should be able to get this routine down in less than 5 minutes pretty quickly. Of course, adding foundation and moisturizer and undereye concealer and all of that takes up much more time, but if you’re looking for a quick way to get some color on your face, this is the best way to do it!

Note: depending on your skin tone, you may want to adjust some of the colors. For instance, very pale, very blond women should probably stick to a brown or soft black eyeliner and mascara. If you have darker skin, use a darker bronzer and vise versa. But, in general, the colors above were chosen because they are more or less universally flattering!

Good luck and, as always, feel free to e-mail me or ask me if you have any questions!

My favorite new nail polish is Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri.

There are a few reasons why I like it so much:

• The color in the bottle translates well to the on-nail color. There’s nothing worse than picking out a great color and testing it on a nail only to discover that it’s much darker or lighter (or so sheer that it’s invisible).
• It dries fast. Lightning fast. As in, less than a minute. I’m notoriously bad about being patient enough to let my polish dry. This is the first time I’ve painted my nails in sometime and didn’t have an instant nick a couple minutes later from trying to type or write or something.
• You’ll probably need two coats for completely even, opaque coverage.
• Sally Hansen’s Perfectionist Brush (which is trademarked, by the way) is completely genius. You can sort of see it in this photo. It’s a wide, flat brush that ensures near-perfect application every time…hence the name, I suppose.

These are my favorite colors in the collection: 07 Quick Sand and 18 Cinna-snap. There are more trendy colors (like dark purple, blue and green), but I’m more of a nail polish purist. I like dark toenails and a nude-y pink on my fingers.

I’m about as impressed with Forever 21’s Love and Beauty makeup line as I thought I would be…that is to say, not much at all.

There is one thing, though, that may be worth the $6 it will set you back: this “Starlet Smoky Eye Kit.”

I can’t speak to the quality (hey, F21, e-mail me!), but if you’re in a pinch and have a party to get to, $6 for mascara, eyeliner and shadow is a pretty good deal. Also, if you’ve never tried a smoky eye before and want to give it a go, this is an inexpensive way to see if you like the look before purchasing higher-quality cosmetics.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey may be the most universally-flattering lip color on the market.

First, the deets. It’s $14—highly affordable, given how long a tube lasts and how much you’ll get out of it. It’s also dark in the tube, but a sheer, beautiful wash of color on the lips. It’s lighter than a lipstick, but with the moisture of a chapstick.

Second, the color. It looks a bit different on everyone: on me, it’s almost like a dark pink. On my friend Carolyn it’s a bit more nude/natural. No matter how it looks, though, it always looks good.

Third, it’s endorsed by InStyle magazine as one of their Best Beauty Buys. InStyle does a really great job of thoroughly reviewing beauty products and I’ve never found their recommendations to be off-base.

Have I convinced you yet?

Allure is one of my favorite beauty magazines. The pages are especially glossy and the makeup photos are to die for. I’m a sucker for a giant photo close-up of lip gloss, what can I say? My sister is the more beauty-obsessed of the two of us (I claim the fashion end instead of buying $40 mascaras), but I’ve been known to dabble.

Winter makeup poses a particular challenge for me: I’m pale and pasty and my skin looks like it needs a big dunk in body lotion about 50% of the time. Allure had some great tips for what shades to look for in winter beauty buys—so I borrowed their tips, and found products to match!

CoverGirl’s “Queen Collection” in Black Current

bareMinerals in “Berry Glace”

NARS Lipstick in “Heat Wave”

Boots No7 Cream Blush in “Blossom”

Kevin Aucoin Creamy Moist Blush in “Pravella”

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in “Deep Burgundy”

Sephora Brand Eyeshadow in Chrome No. 2

Essie Nail Polish in “Tomboy No More”

I’m not a big fan of lipstick. It goops, it runs, it looks heavy. I’ve tried high-end brands and low-end brands. Some are okay, but I’ve never fallen in love.

But, it’s a quandary: how do you get great, rich color without lipstick? Gloss doesn’t have near the staying power.

The solution is a really amazing lip stain, and I’ve found it: Cover Girl’s Outlast Lipstain. It’s about $8-9 and comes in a bevy of really gorgeous colors.

I’m partial to Teasing Blush: the perfect shade of red/pink that stays on my lips for hours. I applied the stain yesterday at 4 p.m. and it was still going strong at 11 p.m.

The biggest complaint about lip stains is that they are too drying, but after the stain sets on your lips, simply touch them up with a bit of Carmex for moisture.

P.S. One note about lipstains: they’ll appear much, much darker on your lips than the color you see on the packaging/samples.

Daily Deals : Makeup Sets from Sephora and Beauty.com

Makeup sets are a great way to try out new brands and to get samplers of the best products in a particular line. Also, you can usually get loads of product for a price that can be less than half as much as buying them separately.

Here are my picks:

(From left to right)

• Bare Escentuals Buxom Betty Collection - $35 (a $71 value) - This pin-up girl collection contains Bare Escentual’s Clear Radiance All-Over Face Color, Silk Stockings Eyecolor, Stilettos Liner Shadow, Big Tease Mascara, Big & Healthy Lip Polish and a Contour & Detail Brush
• Bare Escentuals Siren of the Sea Hydrating and Brightening Collection - $39 (a $98 value) - I love the gorgeous, beachy colors in this collection. It contains High Shine Sand Dune, Mermaid Eyecolor, Hydrating Coral Blush, Hydrating Mineral Veil, 100% Natural Lip Gloss in Chiffon and a Duo Brush
• Daisy Marc Jacobs Pour Sephora Brush Set - $35 (a $70 value) - A gorgeous Marc Jacobs-designed brush set for a steal. It contains a powder brush, blush brush, eyeshadow brush, eyebrow brush and a smudge brush.
• Bliss Sink Side Six Pack - $25 (a $30 value) - If you’ve never tried Bliss products before, this pack is a good way to discover your favorites. I personally love the Lemon + Sage Body Butter. This pack contains the Body Butter, Soapy Sap, Supershine Shampoo, Conditioning Rinse, Sage Soap Slab and the Fabulous Foaming Face Wash.
• LORAC Cocktail Affair Collection - $48 (a $120 value) - This is the best deal of all the sets. Tons of products for less than half the original value! It contains their On-Screen Duo Eyeshadow & Highlighter, Cheek Stamp Blush, Eye Shadow, Mini Perfectly Lit powder and Lip Polish in Delicious.