I tried this in Bronze, solely on my cheekbones as a blush, and it looked fantastic. I’m surprised that such a deep, brownish shade worked on my skin tone, but it did.

I’m also surprised that a product with the word ’shimmer’ in it was as subdued as it was. But then again, this is Bobbi Brown we’re talking about.

It’s back to business as usual at Bon Bons now that we are a day removed from the New York Times flutter.  Thanks to everyone for their comments and support!

So let’s talk about Origins’ powder blush. Long time readers know that I am a absolute devotee of Tarte Cheek Stain. It’s been over a year and a half since I’ve even looked at another blush. But lately I’ve developed a wandering eye, and well, I think it’s time for powder to have its comeback.

For a while now, I’ve been harboring a fear of powder blush. Mainly because it can look garrish and aging when overapplied, or applied incorrectly. But — and this is where the healing starts, folks — powder can work when it’s done right.

I start out by ditching the little brush that comes with the compact. I hope most of you know this already, but never use the little brush that is provided. They’re usually cheap and do a horrible job in regards to application. Invest in a true blush brush. You won’t regret it.

Next, I dab my trusty Sonia Kashuk blush brush into the pan. I recommend dabbing over rubbing as the latter can pick up too much pigment. A few flicks of the wrist to loosen excess color, and then I rub in big circles directly onto the apples of the cheek. I do this lightly as it’s always easier to build color rather than try to strip it down. And there you have it. Pretty easy, right?

Origins Brush-On Color is available in a dozen shades, with their newest, Coral Reef, debuting this month. I had a chance to sample Coral Reef and really liked it. It worked on my skin tone, and gave me a natural, healthy flush. And at a suggested retail price of $17.50, this is a very nice option.

Watch out Tarte — you’ve got some competition!

Always one to keep my eye out on what’s going on at Tarte HQ, I’m really excited about the new Ready, Set, Glow Kit. It’s an exclusive to Sephora.com and features the following items that will get your lids, lips, cheekbones and collarbones ready for any big night out:

The items are currently sold individually, and some of them I’ve already tried in the past so I can vouch that they are good ones to include in your collection (links to past reviews are noted).

This is the first time all of the items will be sold together. What is a $94 retail value is now available as one set at Sephora.com for just $45. A definite steal in my book.

Do I really need to write a review on these?

These gorgeous new Fall Fantasy eye and cheek palettes from Stila could make me look like Krusty the Clown, and I’d still go buy them for the beautiful packaging.

I know you’re all foaming at the mouth to know what Tarte has got up its sleeve for Fall 2007. So here it is. Drumroll please:

Health Couture

That’s right, these products aren’t just going to make you look pretty, but they’ll be beneficial for you too. I’ve got to admire Tarte’s business savvy here. Not only do they manage to capitalize on a big beauty trend (all-natural, etc.), but in doing so, they also manage to reinforce their distinct brand positioning, which is to create products that are multi-taskers, and suited for the woman-on-the-go. It’s no wonder Tarte is as successful as it is, and why Maureen Kelly has been spotlighted by Entrepreneur magazine as Woman of the Year in 2006.

The Health Couture collection includes Inside-Out Vitamin-Infused Lipstick (another collaboration with Borba), Ready-to-Wear Limited Edition Dual Look Palette, and Rejuvelash Lash Exhilarating 3-Piece Set.

But what I really want to talk about is the All-Natural Cheekstain in Natural Beauty. The beloved favorite gets updated to be preservative-free, alcohol-free, and with no artificial coloring. The product is composed of natural waxes and oils to hydrate skin, and the scent is derived from Cassis leaves.

I had the chance to try this, and liked it, though I have to admit that I still like my regular cheekstains better. As opposed to the original cheekstains, this one is more of a cream than a gel, so the color is stronger and more opaque. The look is more intense, and I think will be better suited for the colder months when wind-bitten cheeks will be natural.

I’ve just about spent up my vacation time this summer having already traveled to Montreal in May and then to the Poconos over July 4th. But for those of you who have a vacation coming up, I thought I’d help you put together your beauty kit. Seeing as airlines have not let up on the liquid restrictions, here are some great options for all you ladies on the go this season.

Philip B. Nordic Wood Travel Size One Step Hair and Body Shampoo is great if you don’t want to mess with multiple products. The scent is clean and invigorating and unisex so that you can share with your mate as well. Retails for $8.

Can a product work harder than DuWop’s Revolotion Face which is a tinted moisturizer and sunscreen in one? I think not. Retails for $29.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks is a great two-in-one to give you a healthy glow without trying hard. Retails for $22.

You couldn’t ask for a lovelier fragrance than this Marc Jacobs scent which features gardenia, wild muguet, cedar and ginger. Plus, it comes as a solid compact to prevent against spills and mess. Retails for $55.

This Go Smile Jet Set Kit contains an AM Toothpaste, PM Toothpaste and a travel toothbrush. It all comes packed in a TSA-approved clear travel case. This is nice because you can keep it in your purse to freshen up mid-flight if need be. Retails for $12.

Keep yourself neat and groomed with this handy little Pop-Up Travel Brush by Sephora. One click of a button and the bristles pop out so you can brush away! Retails for $8.

Korres Guava Body Butter To Go is a rich, tropical-scented cream that will take you away to paradise whether you’re actually in paradise or wishing you were (I’m talking to all you business travelers). Try dabbing a bit on the ends of your hair if you’re experiencing flyaways and forgot the hair products at home. Retails for $8.50.

Check out this bad boy - the Japonesque ‘Go Curl Pocket Eyelash Curler. It curls your lashes and comes in such a cute, compact size. Retails for $10.50.

Leave a comment and tell me what you have in your travel beauty kit!

Happy Thursday! I’m sure you’ve been working your little tail off this week. I don’t advocate slacking off on the job, but everyone deserves a little breather now and then. So I decided to take mine and check out what’s going on at Benefit Cosmetics.

They have a new line out called Love Your Look, and I personally love this line. The concept is a makeup line that matches your lifestyle. So you can choose from three different color families depending on your preference: light neutral, medium neutral or dark neutral.

You know me, I’m all about looking like you didn’t try. This line gives you the tools to look positively effortless. And as with the rest of Benefit’s offerings, expect fun packaging, quirky names and amazing performance.

The Love Your Look line includes Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner that is blendable, crease-proof and smudge-proof:

Silky Finish Lipstick provides sheer coverage that is buildable:

Sheer Cream Blusher is a blendable blush that dries to a powder finish for a totally natural look:

I’m impressed, and am definitely planning to check the products out further. Has anyone else tried them, and have anything to say?

So if you’ve been following so far, I recounted Friday’s adventures in my previous post. Now it’s on to Saturday’s.

I met up with my friend, Kelly, at Sephora to do a little shopping and browsing. I showed her the Benefit Boi-ing concealer which I had purchased for my mother-in-law for Christmas after reading many a-glowing review on various beauty blogs. Kelly and I both sampled the product on ourselves (under the eyes) and declared it a winner. The texture was light and highly blendable, and the coverage unbeatable. So we each popped one into our shopping bag.

Since I was at the Benefit stall anyway, I asked a sales rep to help me with the Benefit Benetint. I’d been reading about this product for ages and finally got up the nerve to try it. If you don’t know what it is, it’s a liquid blush. The product is watery and rose colored. The applicator is like a nail polish brush. You dab the product onto your cheeks and blend with your fingers. I thought the color was pretty good, but it just took too much effort to apply, so henceforth I am sticking to my Tarte Cheekstain. Much easier to use.

Then, Kelly asked the sales rep if she could get some help with the smoky eye look. The end result was fantastic and Kelly took home the Stila Smoky Eye Palette. THE MOST AMAZING PRODUCT EVA.

Not only does the palette have everything you need to create the smoky eye look, IT TALKS TO YOU. Yes, there’s a button that you push and the freakin’ thing starts giving you a tutorial on how to do the look! Plus, the cover of the palette is one of those hologram thingies where you tilt it and the image changes. Really, really neat and an exclusive to Sephora.

Since Kelly tried the smoky eye look, I thought I’d do the contrary and ask for an au naturale look for the eyes. I was directed to TheBalm ShadyLady Cream Eyeshadows. Apparently TheBalm is a trade industry secret and every makeup artist keeps the brand’s products in their kits.

I had my eyes dusted all over with Mysterious, a pale, pink shimmery cream shadow. Then Jinx was applied over the crease area - this was a dark brown shimmery color in the pan which was applied with a light touch for a soft look. The key here is to use a broad concealer brush with synthetic bristles. Natural hair brushes are porous and will sop up powders that are liquidy or creamy - then when you go to apply the color, it comes out blotchy and uneven. So the end result of my naked eye? A subtle, pretty look with a bit of pop thanks to the shimmer in the shadows.

Before we went to check out with our purchases, I picked up one more item. For now, I’ll have to leave you in suspense over what it was as I am still playing with it. A full report to follow!

Ok fine. Sister-in-law was very good to me. Santa, sister-in-law. Same thing. (And brother-in-law, too, if you want to get all technical on me.)

My newest baby stands on the right: Blushing Bride. It’s a beautiful sheer peachy shade that’s great for a more toned down look. When I want to look frost-bitten and wide-eyed, I go to my old stand-by, Flush (on the left). I’m having fun adding on to my Tarte cheekstain collection.

Loverly.

The Stila Winter Collection is so pretty, and it’s adorably titled, Silver Belles.

The colors are soft and muted, which is a refreshing departure from the bold reds and bright metallics we’ve been seeing this Fall.

I, for one, am ready to pull out my warmest sweater and watch the snow falling. (That is, until my dinky little Civic gets stuck in a snowbank. Then I might be singing a different tune. But until then, I shall enjoy all the niceties of the season!)

The Silver Belles collection was inspired by the warmth of sun on snow, and the twinkling of melting icicles. It includes: