Tom Ford Cherry Lush Lip Color

The last, perhaps, in my random series on colors you might have missed features Tom Ford's Cherry Lush Lip Color ($48). For me, Cherry Lush came in a deluxe mini size as a gift with purchase. I'm so pale and feel so uncomfortable in dark lipstick colors, I could not have invested $48 in it - no matter how trendy red is.

To Tom Ford, who himself is a fashion icon, there is no more dramatic accessory than a perfect lip. It is the focus of the face, and it has the power to define a woman's whole look. Each Lip Color is Tom Ford's modern ideal of an essential makeup shade. Rare and exotic ingredients, including soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter, and chamomile flower oil, create an ultra-creamy texture with an incredibly smooth application. Specially treated color pigments are blended to deliver pure color with just the right balance of luminosity. The result is a creamy, luxurious lipstick with dramatic color.

I took swatch photos of this red shade in full, late-afternoon sunshine. The lush, opaque color displays the sexy glamour of red - cherry red, but red nonetheless.

This is a color one must apply precisely, and I'd advise a lip pencil to keep it in bounds, preventing bleeding. Make sure to put a clean finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it, and pull it out to remove excess color and avoid ending up with red teeth - a look that's far from sexy.

I can bring the color of Cherry Lush down by blotting it, treating it like a stain, and applying a light lip gloss over it. I'm not sure, given the number of lipstick I own, that I need to go to that much trouble to wear it, even if the color is gorgeous. It's long-lasting - the best reason I might find for bothering. If you can wear red, though, this is one of the prettiest I've seen in the last year.

Cherry Lush reminds me of an old friend who religiously followed her mother's advice. "No matter where you're going, never leave the house without lipstick." Marianne would have worn Cherry Lush.

You can find Tom Ford's Lip Color at Tom Ford counters, including the one at the John Barrett Salon in New York City, and online at stores where Tom Ford Beauty is sold.

Photo at top courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Chantecaille Retinol Hand Cream

Not long ago, and for reasons I don't understand, Chantecaille promoted its Retinol Hand Cream ($75) to the New Products section of its Web site. I mentioned here that it was new, but learned that it wasn't. I asked my contact there why it had been listed as "new," but never received an answer.

I ordered it anyhow and have been very happy with it. Retinol Hand Cream is a healing treatment - specially developed for the hands - that clarifies, softens, and restructures the skin. Marine collagen-wrapped nanospheres of retinol are delivered to the deepest layers of the epidermis, re-texturizing skin from within and reducing hyper-pigmentation. The result is renewed, refreshed, and rejuvenated extremities.

As with many Chantecaille products, Retinol Hand Cream is filled with botanicals. Retinol Hand Cream is 92% natural and includes a healing base of pure rosewater; it's paraben-free and vegan-friendly.

Lemon extract, white lily bulb, bearberry leaf extract, and mulberry root all help to clarify skin and lighten hyper-pigmentation. Vitamin C (from fresh oranges) and ascorbic acid protect the skin from free-radical damage and aid in cellular repair. Magnesium, shea butter and carob fruit extract work together to regenerate the skin's cells. Grape seed oil, olive leaf extract, and vitamin E are an effective combination of natural antioxidants for healing damage created by exposure to the sun. Edelweiss extract, derived from a wild mountain flower, provides a natural UVA/UVB sunscreen with SPF 6-8. Since I've been using it at night, the sunscreen is largely irrelevant to me. I can't use treatment products on my hands during the day because I wash them to often.

It offers beautiful aromatherapy benefits, with a rose scent that "soothes and centers, opening the heart and imparting a sense of well-being."  That's a nice way to go to sleep at night.

As a rule, I cannot use products containing retinol. You've read that here before. I have been successful with a small number of products in which the retinol is encapsulated, which Chantecaille does. Relatively recent industry claims have been made that the encapsulation delivers the retinol to deeper layers of the skin to prevent the surface irritation and burning I experience from the chemical. Based on this product and Le Métier de Beauté's skin care, I have to conclude there's something to that claim.

After 10 continuous days of use, Retinol Hand Cream has started to improve the look of my hands. For years I've used a glycolic-acid-based product at night, especially in the winter, but now I have a new option. I like the idea of lighter sun spots and fewer wrinkles around my knuckles. While I'm not ready for cosmetic surgery (see The Future of Anti-Aging for Hands), I would like to intervene before it's too late.

Chantecaille's Retinol Hand Cream can be found at Chantecaille counters and the company's Web site.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

Sunday This and That - New Fragrances Abound

It many be slow on the makeup front, but new fragrances are popping up every day. Even though I have enough perfume to take me to the grave, I want so many new (and old) fragrances, I think I qualify for the word "addiction."

ME is a new fragrance from Lanvin. A completely original creation designed by Alber Elbaz, ME is a Lanvin accessory - refined and sophisticated in every detail. Created for the self-confident and empowered woman (no meek gals need apply, I guess), the sheer gourmand eau de parfum opens with notes of sparkling blueberry "for a bright and addictive sensuality. The voluptuous white floral heart is hyper-feminine and elegant, while magnetic liquorice black wood leaves a sensual and addictive trail." That description attracts me, so I'll have to dash into Nordstrom this week to catch a whiff.

Diptyque's latest is Eau Moheli is a unisex floral woody musk fragrance I'd like to try, although the presence of patchouli scares me. The nose behind this fragrance is Olivier Pescheux. The fragrance features floral notes, ylang-ylang, patchouli, pink pepper, ginger, vetiver, benzoin, and incense. I'd like a sample, which I might be able to get from SPACE NK or Beautyhabit.

Tom Ford's anticipated Sahara Noir has arrived at counters. As I expected, it's not a fragrance for me (I have a very nice sample, courtesy of Dustin Lujan), but I'll bet it's amazing on men. Inspired by the mystery and luxury of the Middle East,Sahara Noir evokes the untamed beauty of the Arabian Peninsula - Tom Ford’s ode to the enchanting power of one of the land’s most ancient and treasured ingredients: frankincense, a precious desert resin. If you want to think about fragrance for Father's Day, your dad might like this. The guys who are into fragrance sure do.

I need to get my hands on Tommi Sooni's new Passerelle, sold at Luckyscent. "There are perfumes that smell like flowers, and then there is Passerelle, a gorgeous, plush fragrance that captures the incandescent bouquet of an entire summer garden. With the exotic aromas of Australian blossoms artfully interwoven with the more familiar scents of jasmine, rose, mimosa, and honeysuckle, this perfume weaves an entrancing spell from the moment it is applied. The delicate flowers bloom in the heat of the Australian sun, their aromas visibly shimmering, perfuming the air we breathe. The flowers are there, yes; but also the underlying scents of stems and leaves to remind us of how those blooms are born."

Passerelle has its roots firmly planted in French perfumery, and we're told it shows in the richness of its composition. It is elegant, feminine, exceptionally beautiful, and provides the full sensory experience that only truly masterful perfumes can accomplish. Wit h notes of jasmine, tea tree, myrtle, boronia, silver wattle (mimosa), yellow rose, honeysuckle, wintersweet, golden trumpet, Australian sandalwood, and petigrain, I'm so there. I love Tommi Sooni's fragrances, and Passarelle has gone on my buy list.

I'd also like to get a whiff of Mona di Orio's new Eau Absolue. As you know, she tragically died, but her house lives on, and this new fragrance has attracted lots of attention.

Eau Absolue is a memoir steeped in her love for the Mediterranean. Composed in her signature olfactory chiaroscuro construction, the scent envelopes with warmth, bringing a summer breeze with a zesty bouquet of bergamot, mandarin, clementine, and petitgrain. The cirtruses splash against the epicurean spice of pink peppercorn.

The scent dries down with earth, but softly floral, with whispers of geranium, dry vetiver, and balsamic St. Thomas bay leaf. "The nocturnal shade intensifies, arching ever deeper, until plunging directly into a caress of cistus labdanum, the ambry smell of the Mediterranean, and sensual musk, an elegant and intoxicating denouement. Eau Absolue - Les Nombres d’Or Notes." Mona's fragrances have always been complex, and I'm sure Eau Absolue is too. Still, I want to try it.

I'm making my way through the Luckyscent sample pack of an exciting new niche house is based in Argentina. Fueguia 1833 Patagonia Laboratorio de Perfumes was founded in 2010 by Julian Bedel and Amalia Amoedo. Bedel, the in-house perfumer, comes from a line of naturalists and has continued the tradition by identifying new native species to use in his art. One of the aspects that makes Fueguia 1833 so special is its use of ingredients native to South America. While Bedel does use classic components from the European tradition, he combines them with native species sourced in South America, harvested by local communities under sustainable projects and distilled under his supervision. In addition to unusual ingredients, Fueguia 1833 has a unique sensibility, drawing inspiration from the culture and history of Patagonia (as the territory including Argentina and Chile was dubbed by early explorers). Bedel has developed scents inspired by the music, literature, and history of the region, and is especially fascinated by the voyage of Charles Darwin and the time he spent in Patagonia.

Bedel describes his scents using the concept of the atom, as opposed to the model of a pyramid. Instead of referring to top, middle, and bottom notes, Bedel envisions the primary note as the nucleus and other prominent notes as electrons, orbiting around the nucleus. Although there may be as many as a hundred components in a particular formula, Bedel limits his descriptions to three major notes. The first note listed will be the central “nucleus” of the fragrance. Each fragrance comes in a recyclable glass bottle in a hand-made wooden box, crafted from wood from fallen trees. So far, I've put several on my buy list.

What's enticing you these days? Do you wear and enjoy fragrances? If you do, you  might want to join one of the Facebook groups dedicated to our love of fragrance. The largest one to which I belong is Facebook Fragrance Friends. You can go there and request membership.

Photos and some descriptions courtesy of the makers or Luckyscent

YSL Effect Faux Cils Crème d'Eyeliner Giveaway Contest (Jade Black)

This little pot of heaven found an instant fan base when it was introduced. YSL's Effect Faux Cils Crème d'Eyeliner ($28) intensifies the eye with a spectacular, long-lasting line. The soft and silky texture applies smoothly without skipping and lasts on the lid all day without flaking or creasing. It's smudgeproof, waterproof, and provides 24-hour wear.

There were two colors in this collection that made everyone's must-have list: Jade Black (No. 6) and Cherry Black (No. 5). I have one Jade Black to give away - one of the prettiest green eyeliners I've ever seen. I purchased it for a giveaway and then forgot about it. Maybe I subconsciously wanted to keep it, but I've still got plenty left in my own jar. I featured it at this link, with photos taken at Neiman Marcus. You might also want to check out The Non-Blonde's love note to her favorite green eyeliner.

How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

You can earn a fourth entry if you have posted a comment here in the last two weeks. Don't worry about telling me. I'll know.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, May 25, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them. I've had some trouble with both U.S. and international addresses.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of YSL Beauté - I had to enlarge it, which accounts for the fuzzy appearance

AVEENO Protect + Hydrate Sun Flash Giveaway Contest (U.S. ONLY)

Great timing! AVEENO is kicking off the unofficial start of summer with the debut of a new Jennifer Aniston “I Love Summer” Ad in Times Square next week. To celebrate, AVEENO will be offering free samples of the new AVEENO Protect + Hydrate SPF 30 outside of the Walgreens in Time Square on Thursday, May 23.

Walgreens and AVEENO will be offering consumers samples of AVEENO Protect + Hydrate SPF 30 and launching the new Jennifer Aniston “I Love Summer” advertisement, which will be featured on the Walgreen’s Billboard next week. 10 am to 4:00 pm.

If you are in New York, just head for Walgreens Time Square - NW corner of Broadway and 42nd Street between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. If you aren't in New York, you can enter a giveaway contest here. It's even better than the samples you can acquire in New York.

Two Best Things in Beauty U.S. winners will receive all three full-sized sunscreens shown here, AVEENO PROTECT + HYDRATE with SPF 30, 50, and 70!

• Formulated with skin-soothing ACTIVE NATURALS Colloidal Oatmeal, which hydrates skin to keep it soft, smooth, and feeling healthier than before sun exposure
• Provides 24-hour skin hydration against chlorine, salt water, and perspiration.
• Long-lasting, broad spectrum and photostable protection against sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays with ENVIROGUARD Technology
• Water- and sweat-resistant (for 80 minutes), oil-free, non-comedogenic, and fast-absorbing
• For use on face and body
• Dermatologist recommended
• Suggested retail price: SPF 30 and 50 = $9.99 per three-oz. tube; SPF 70 = $10.99 per three-oz. tube

I have two prize sets to give away. How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many readers, such as GFC - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" and "AVEENO" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Monday, May 20, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open only to residents of the United States. AVEENO will send out the winner's prize. The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photos courtesy AVEENO

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée in Poppy Paradise

I was hesitant, while shopping online at Sephora, when I saw the color of Josie Maran's Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée ($22) in Poppy Paradise. It looked orange, but was described as a cool-toned pink. When It arrived, I opened a pot of bright orange and went to check my order. I had ordered Poppy Paradise, and that's what arrived. So, I hesitantly swatched, and found a beautiful, light pink. Pfew!

This innovative coconut water-infused cheek gelée offers 14 hours of wear and hydration. This cheek color is a buildable, blendable blush hybrid that provides the natural look of a cream blush with the long-lasting hydrating color of a gel stain. Underline stain.

Infused with 50 percent-pure coconut water, it instantly hydrates while nourishing with the powerful benefits of vitamin E-rich argan oil. Like a refreshing sip of coconut water for your skin, this moisture-packed blush instantly drenches the cheeks in a cool veil of color.

It's definitely a stain. After swatching it with my fingers, I had a pink fingertip and had difficulty removing the color from my arm. Those who find that cream blush melts on their faces will love this product.

I took swatch photos in full, mid-day sun, using my finger to apply the blush. It applied easily, and the color was easy to build. It doesn't dry terribly quickly, so I had plenty of time to apply it - to my arm and my face - before it set into color that won't budge.

The pink is a beautiful color for my complexion. Just as advertised, it's cool in color - but it's not blue-cool. I think it's very flattering. You can also see that it's semi-sheer, so when you wear it, it won't look like makeup, just a more blushing you. Don't want pink? There are six shades available.

Josie Maran said, “Living on the beach in Oahu, I became a devotée of coconut water - and noticed that drinking lots of it seemed to make my skin and hair glow. I created Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée to bring that hydrating color to my face, and yours. Have a sip of coconut water for your face with this blush that's cool to the touch.”

Josie Maran, a former model, has designed a line that features pure, natural cosmetics in a luxurious array of colors and textures. Packing formulas with botanical ingredients, and housing products in recyclable and biodegradable packaging, Josie Maran Cosmetics embraces eco-friendly practices with products made with love - for people, animals, and the planet. She also donates to shelters for abused animals.

You can feel good about buying Josie Maran products. Sephora and Josiemarancosmetics.com are the exclusive retailers for Maran's products.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

The Friday Forum - May 17

I have a flourishing stand of Siberian iris around my mailbox. I need to divide them because they don't bloom as profusely as they should. Still, they are very pretty at this time of year. I have a miniature white rose behind them, and they bloom at the same time. That was unplanned, but still delights me.

There wasn't much beauty news this week - plus I've spent days on a conservation easement violation. Long story short, new homeowners who bought their home with the easement and terms clearly noted have proposed to violate it with a fence they wish to erect and this week, without notice, they did violate it by cutting down a dead tree that was woodpecker habitat. It was too far away to endanger their home, although they are claiming it was an imminent hazard. That is against the conditions of their deed. They also left all the logs and debris where they fell, harming the understory growth.

They seem rather arrogant about the easement, and so we will probably have to take them to court, incurring costs, but we will sue for damages plus costs. I left the woman a very not-nice phone message, which she has not returned. Our attorneys are preparing a demand letter. Who has to write and document all this? Me, of course, the downside to trying to save forests from development. I probably lost a year of emotional life this week because I've been really angry. When I inspected their property, I found a poor, harmless little snake who was dead, clearly from an injury caused by humans. After spending two days last year trying to save reptiles from the bulldozers (and hurting my body in the process), I was furious to see the fate of the little green snake.

On to beautiful things...Chantecaille introduced a new 24-Hour Waterproof Eye Liner this week - as anticipated with the summer collection. It's available in three colors. If you have a hard time keeping your eyeliner on, check it out on the company's Web site. As soon as it arrives at a local store, I will test it.

In fragrance news, there's big news. Roja Dove, who has created some of the most beautiful fragrances ever, is expanding. His fragrances will be available at Bergodorf Goodman, along with new spaces in elite shops in Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy. I'll warn you; they are pricey. Once you experience his fragrances, though, you will find a way to buy at least one - or perhaps a decant from someone splitting a bottle (Facebook is great for that). Roja Parfums has been the number-one-selling brand at Harrods, a store that sells a lot of perfume.  There's a reason Dove has been so successful there.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett has been confirmed as the new face of Giorgio Armani Parfums, a division of L’Oréal Luxe. To me, that's news! I find her extraordinarily gorgeous and classy. She's perfect for the brand. Blanchett will be the face of an advertising campaign for a new eau de parfum called Sí that will hit shelves at the end of the summer.

Let's talk today about eyebrows. You've all read about the "perfect eyebrows." Few of us have them - plus, the guidelines change every few years. Right now, full eyebrows are in. Just look at the models on runways and in print advertising.

There are some time-worn guidelines. They usually include holding a pencil or makeup brush handle close to your nose to define the starting point near your tear duct. Take the same straight edge and hold it from the bottom of your nose at an 45-degree angle to define the end point of your brows. The arch is supposed to be directly above your pupil. Few of us have brows that are shaped exactly that way. Despite the fact that the arch is supposed to be directly above the pupils, I've noticed that brow gurus often extend the arch further out toward the hairline - when they have enough to work with. Check out photographs of women who have been named "most beautiful" by People and other publications, and you'll see eyebrows that are far from "ideal" shape. Look at Blanchett's brows in her photo above, for example. One can be stunningly gorgeous without perfect brows, so what good are guidelines?

Cosmetic surgeons are starting to promote the idea that the projection of your brows is more important than their shape. A study presented at last year's American Society of Plastic Surgeons conference concluded that the projection of your eyebrows can positively impact how others perceive your facial attractiveness. "The eyes play an essential role in facial attractiveness and beauty and should be surrounded by high walls, similar to the principle of utilizing frames for pictures on a wall,” said Eser Yuksel, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study lead author. “Higher walls allow for greater projection of the eyebrow, which we found, correlates to a greater degree of perceived facial attractiveness." Yikes! What's a gal to do?

We tweeze, wax, and/or use pencils to achieve what nature didn't give us. Some even have surgery to achieve the perfect brows. I think a pair of tweezers to remove strays below my brow line will forever be the extent of any intervention by me. My brows are full and fairly dark. How about you? How do you maintain your brows? Do you tweeze, wax, use pencils to fill in or darken? Would you consider surgery to improve their "projection"?

Don't forget this week's giveaway contest for Chantecaille's luxurious Les Papillons Poudre Délicate in Veil.The deadline for entries is tomorrow, Saturday, May 18, at midnight. Congratulations to Benita! She won the NARS flash giveaway this week.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty, peoplestylewatch, and unknown (brow photo)

Zeno Hot Spot Blemish Clearing Device Revisited

I first featured the ZENO Hot Spot in 2010. I was impressed then, and I'm still impressed. In a recent discussion about skin care here, many of you mentioned the monthly hormonal blemish or troublesome breakouts. I had one last month, albeit small, and the ZENO banished it overnight. I decided it was a good time to publicize this little gizmo again.

When my face was breaking out occasionally, I spent a lot of money to go to the dermatologist and have cortisone injections to get rid of stubborn blemishes. When I needed to look good, the results were instantaneous. The ZENO HOT SPOT Blemish Clearing Device has become the ultimate New York Fashion Week accessory, used by models for blemish emergencies. It costs only $39.99 and is so small and light you can carry it in your handbag. I wish I had had one back then.

This hand-held blemish clearing device is revolutionary. It starts to work within an hour and makes 90% of blemishes disappear or fade within 24 hours. It uses gentle heat technology to destroy bacteria and has FDA approval - and you know how hard it can be to get that. ZENO is non-drying, 100% natural, and chemical free. These days, it comes with ZENO Heat Treat Blemish Prevention Treatment that contains salicylic acid. As a rule, I can't use SA, but this gel is so gentle, that it doesn't burn my skin. Used at the first sign of a small blemish, it often works without using the Hot Spot.

It's best to start using the HOT SPOT as soon as you feel or see a blemish start to erupt. How do you use it?

Step 1: Press the power button. The power indicator will light up, and you will hear a tone to signal the treatment has started.
Step 2: Place and hold the treatment tip on your blemish for the 2.5-minute treatment cycle. You will hear a single beep every 30 seconds.
Step 3: Remove HOT SPOT from the blemish when you hear a multi-toned sound, indicating the treatment is over.

How fast and easy is that? It's hot enough to get the job done, but not at all uncomfortable to the touch. It adjusts to your skin's temperature to deliver just the right amount of heat. The Zeno Hot Spot works by using the company's proprietary, thermal-based ClearPoint technology to kill the bacteria that causes blemishes to occur. New to the Zeno Hot Spot is a mechanism that enables the device to heat up within seconds to a comfortable temperature of approximately 118 degrees with the simple touch of a button. Unlike any other blemish-clearing device on the market, ZENO Hot Spot offers a high-tech personalization component: when the biocompatible tip is placed on the blemish, it adjusts its thermal energy output to each user's skin temperature, immediately delivering the perfect amount of heat to kill acne-causing bacteria.

You can repeat as necessary. Most blemishes need two to three 2.5-minute treatments to be completely eliminated, but in some cases, just one treatment can be enough to stop a blemish in its tracks. That's all it takes me. I spent more time than that in my dermatologist's waiting room. More money too, given that my health insurance company wouldn't pay for appearance emergencies.

I think the HOT SPOT is a must-have for anyone who suffers from regular or occasional acne and wants quick and painless blemish relief. Where can you buy one? You can purchase the HOT SPOT at SkinStore.com. I found one recently at Ulta. I've also seen them at warehouse stores and Target.

Photo courtesy of Skin Store

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette from the Sea Pearls Collection for Summer 2013

Bobbi Brown's new Sea Pearls Collection is gorgeous. Her inspiration for the collection was the ocean - from the luster of sea pearls to the aqua green translucence of sea glass. The collection is about delicate washes of color that highlight and illuminate.

No piece does that better than the limited-edition Shimmer Brick Eye Palette ($45). Look familiar? It's very much like a palette Bobbi Brown introduced about two years ago. I'm looking now for its name. It also was a stunning collection of pastel shades - all offering pastels that will make your eyes glow.

Taking their cue from under-the-sea hues, these ten shimmering shades are sure to create an array of enchanting eye looks. Simply use your fingertip [any thin brush will do] to swipe each color separately - then apply it to the eyelid - or glide across a group of shades to create your own signature mix. Imparts a soft wash of pearlescent color straight from the sleek, mirrored compact so it's perfect for playing up your eyes in seconds flat.

I'm a Shimmer Brick collector, so I ordered this one online the moment I saw it. I wasn't up for swatching each color, so I selected four that moved me and took photos in full, afternoon sunshine. I used a sponge-tipped applicator to swatch. All of the shades are sheer, so I had to swatch heavily.

I chose to show pinks and greens. The shade at the top of my arm is the second from left in the palette. It's a sandy pink. The second two shades are two of the three greens - always attractive to me. The bottom shade is the pink at the far right in the compact.

All of the shades are shimmering, but they offer a sheen on the eyelids. Because they are sheer, you can choose to apply a subtle wash of color or amp up the brightness by layering.

I'm pleased with the Shimmer Brick Eye Palette from the Sea Pearls Collection. I haven't even begun to discover the shades and all the potential combinations, but I thought you might like to see some early swatch photos.

I have not seen the Sea Pearls Collection at the stores yet, but you can purchase it at Bobbi Brown's Web site. For a limited time, if you spend $65 there, use the code SEAPEARLS for a full-sized lip gloss, your gift with purchase.

Photos at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty