What They Say: (about the Parfum) "Throw a wink, blow a kiss, be the coquette you are. A flirtatious blend of mandarin, cherry blossom, and vanilla reveals a vivacious scent that leaves admirers saying, "ooh la la!"

(about the Powder) "Throw a wink, blow a kiss, dust on this seductively shimmering powder. Infused with flirtatious Ooh La La scent, a blend of mandarin, cherry blossom and vanilla. Show off as much or as little as you like."

Jamie's Thoughts:
(about the Parfum) This fragrance is all it's claimed to be - sweet, and full of strong, true cherry blossom notes. I thought the vanilla would come through and stick around for the long haul, but it never made an appearance. I couldn't prevent the smell from fading after about 2-3 hours, so perhaps it is best that I didn't find the cloyingly sweet smell all that appealing anyhow. The bottle comes with a glamorous puffer top which looks adorable on my vanity, but is really difficult to use precisely - I spent several mornings cursing the design as I accidentally sprayed perfume into my ear, my mouth, etc. Because of the puffer spray nozzle, you'll need to use both hands and take your time with this one.

(about the Powder) The body powder is lovely - the scent is lighter, and the shimmer is silver in tone. It makes a nice partner for the fragrance, but is strong enough to stand on its own. I'll definitely be using this to highlight my collarbone in a pewter-colored bridesmaid dress this weekend. It's shimmery without being tacky, and the lighter smell is just an added bonus. The only downside, which is to be expected, is that the powder ends up just about everywhere. So be sure to wash your hands after application, and watch where you store your puff applicator.

Retail Prices:
(Eau de parfum) $39.00
(Sparkling Body Powder) $29.50
(both online at Victoria's Secret Beauty or in store locations)

Delush Rating:
(Eau de parfum)
(Sparkling Body Powder)

What They Say: "This daily moisturizing treatment helps grant the beauty of brightness with alpha-arbutin, one of the most stable and effective brightening ingredients available. Its blend of botanical ingredients also increases resistance to other age signs. A light, easily absorbable formula, this milky moisturizer is ideal for daytime wear or complexions that show afternoon shine. Alpha-arbutin helps brighten skin, while olive oil, squalane, and rice germ oil condition."

Jen's Experience: I've tried a lot of products that claim to increase radiance or brighten the skin, and it's such a subjective term that I've almost taken it to be a synonym for "doesn't do a whole lot". That is, until I tried this one. I've been using this at night for about a month now, and I have to say, the change in my skin is dramatic. My skin is not just much clearer, but my skin tone is much more even, no redness, and my usual spattering of white and blackheads is virtually gone. Here's the catch: with all the great effects, it's making my skin a little on the dry side, enough that for my daytime wear, I have to give my skin a lot of TLC to keep it looking good. For me, the extra moisturizing and care is worth it, and if your skin is normal to oily, you probably wouldn't even have an issue. If you're in the market for a skin brightener, I can't recommend this one enough.

Retail Price: $45.00 (DHCCare.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Gives your complexion a sun-lit glow

• Can be used on all skin types
  
• Lightweight formula won't clog pores or smother skin
  
• Contains nine essential oils plus botanical extracts of rosemary, white tea, raspberry and peppermint to help invigorate and revitalize skin
  
• No synthetic fragrances

Not tested on animals.

How to Use: Using fingertips, apply to forehead, cheeks and chin for a warm glow with a hint of bronze. May be worn alone or under foundation."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I have to admit some reservation when trying this product, at least at first. I haven't met many face tints that don't either look incredibly unnatural or prove hard to blend in (or both!). And honestly, I have never felt the real need to use one except possibly in summer months as a light substitute for foundation.

The color that came out of the tube? It scared me. It seemed awfully dark and bronze...I was nervous. But it actually did apply much more sheer than one would think. It also didn't look NEARLY as shimmery on my skin as I had anticipated, but was instead extremely subtle. Under a little bit of foundation, this actually did give my skin an extra "something"...a little more of a glow - not a shine, but a glow. I just looked like maybe I wasn't quite as pale as I actually am. Also, it doesn't look unnatural and glides onto skin smoothly.

I will say that you need to be sure to check very carefully after you apply this, looking at your hairline and edges of where you used it to make sure it is completely blended in. Otherwise you will likely have some obvious excess in certain spots.

This would probably not work well for those of you with a lot of acne, as the slight sheen may emphasize blemishes. It also only comes in one shade, which although incredibly sheer, may not be flattering on very fair skin tones (you may want to try their Healthy Glow Face Tint instead).

While I like this as an extra touch occasionally, I still don't think I'm the type that would use something like this every single day. It is nice under foundation, or if you want just a touch of color and don't like to wear a lot of makeup, this could be something for you.

Retail Price: $26.00 (at top spas across the U.S. - visit bioelements.com for locations or call 800.433.6650.

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A synergistic mixture of botanical extracts, amino acids, and vitamins which help to normalize and inhibit the production of excess melanin gently and safely without the use of harsh chemicals. All skin types can use this as a spot treatment for hyper pigmentation. Active ingredients include embilica fruit extract (lightening and melanin inhibiting) and date fruit extract (also lightening and melanin inhibiting)."

Jen's Experience: I have been excited to try a brightening product on my skin because I have some spots near my hair line and on my upper lip that are darker than the rest of the skin on my facem probably from sun overexposure. Although I have a ton of skin care products already in my regime, I added this one over a month ago to both my morning and evening routine in the hopes of making a dent in these areas. Did it work? Well, not completely, but enough that I will continue to use this product in my daily routine. The areas definitely lighter and less noticable, but I am not sure if it's just that or that since I never see daylight at this time of year that my skin is just naturally that much lighter. I wish the texture of this product was a little thicker. It's quite fluid and I have trouble targeting specific areas on my face. I also think the smell of the product is a little obnoxious, but at least it's not long-lasting. Overall? I was just hoping for a bit more out of this product.

Retail Price: $48.00 (AviaSpa.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "DuWop introduces a limited-edition holiday palette that gives you an instant hit of a winter wonderland glow. ICE is a pressed shimmer powder that instantly brightens and highlights the forehead, cheeks, eyes, and décolletage, in a beautiful icy pink shimmer. ICE is extremely versatile and can be dusted over bare skin for just a hint of shimmer that catches the light and brightens the complexion. The silvery pink hues in ICE can help even out the skin tone, hide imperfections, and illuminate the skin. Layer ICE over blush for a beautiful glow or use it as the final dusting to makeup for a radiant holiday look."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Do you find yourself looking at all of the highlighting powders and lotions and feeling like some of them aren't really wearable past age 21? Well, thankfully there are several on the market right now that are less SPARKLESHIMMERLOOKATME! and more understatedly radiant. This is one to add to the category. In fact, don't think of it as "shimmer" at all...that might give you the wrong impression. It simply provides a subtle sheen that looks glowy. True, for some it may actually be too subtle, but I like the fact that you can apply it over your blush and other makeup without affecting its color. It instead just adds a thin veil of brightness, not a layer of uber-reflectiveness that won't blend no matter WHAT you do. It's easy to add on cheekbones, eyelids and forehead for a little extra "something" for those special occasions or nights out.

User Tip: Apply a bit of this on the area between your inner eyes and bridge of your nose, where we tend to have extra shadows.

Retail Price: $18.00 (at DuWop.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: “Take yourself on a beautiful journey. This limited edition highlighting powder leaves skin luminous, vibrant, shimmering with the cool patina of platinum. Sweep it on forehead, above cheekbones, on chin. From the Mythical Beauty Fall Color 2006 Collection. Expressions of art and fantasy. Let your imagination run wild.”

Toya’s Take: I like this product, but don’t love it. It’s a really nice illuminating or highlighting powder. The packaging and look of the Illuminator are very similar to the Bobbi Brown Shimmerbricks and it has almost the same effect, though it only comes in one color. It gave my skin a nice, candlelit glow when I applied it as suggested. The effect lasted and I think it’s a good option if you’re looking to give your skin some soft shimmer.

Retail Price: $30.00 (Neiman Marcus or your local Estee Lauder counter)

Rating: (There’s only one available shade and I think the Bobbi Brown Shimmerbricks work better.)

What They Say: “This light-diffusing crème can be used all over for a lustrous finish. Use over or under foundation or on bare skin. With added moisturizing jojoba and sun filters [to] help protect skin.”

Toya’s Take: I like the packaging of this product – it’s a cute little black compact with a good-sized mirror. Still, the product is pretty regular, as my friends and I would say, meaning, there’s nothing special about it. It’s a highlighting cream. It gives a pretty glow when used high up on your cheekbones, under your brows, and a tiny dab down the bridge of your nose. It’s subtle enough to use for day, but if you layer a bit more, it would be lustrous enough for a night look. However, this highlighter won’t do that any better than a similar product offered by Wet ‘n’ Wild, so why pay $30 for the same effect you could get for $2.99?

Retail Price: $30 ((available at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, select Neiman Marcus stores, Holt Renfrew in Canada, Selfridges and Boots in the UK - go to jemmakidd.com for more information)

DeLush Rating: – It lives up to its advertising, but it’s nothing special.

What They Say: "Unless “work” means “sunbathing,” we don’t want to have any part of it in the summer. Unfortunately, we’re not that lucky. Not to worry: a few spritzes of this non-greasy, dry oil shimmer spray will give even the most office-dulled skin a glistening champagne-colored sheen. The avocado & apricot oils moisturize, while the Vitamin E works as an antioxidant to prevent premature signs of aging. Even better? The light coconut scent is convincing enough to have anyone believe you’ve just spent a day lounging in the summer sun…you’re just that fabulous."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I'm going to start right off by telling you that unless you are a huge fan of shimmer, as in you just love to use shimmer as a skin accessory when you go out, then you probably won't find much use for this. Perhaps if you're a teen through college-aged this will appeal to you.

Yes, it smells nice and summery. The dry oil absorbs completely and is not greasy in the least. But the moisturizing effects are very minimal...it's all about the shimmer. While it is tasteful and not at all large glittery bits, this product basically smells like coconut suntan oil and just adds lots of very fine shimmer to your skin. And your hands from applying it. ...And anything your hands touch (like your face).

I will say this: if you do want the shimmer and day-at-the-beach scent, this stuff doesn't just wash off right away. You could use it at the beach or pool over your sunscreen and take a dip and I HIGHLY doubt that this stuff will come off. I washed my hands with plain water AND soap & water and scrubbed them dry with a towel ...and YEP, still shimmery.

Retail Price: $28.00 (tartecosmetics.com or click here to locate a retail location in the U.S. and Canada as well as other online vendors)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say:"Want eyes that appear 10 years younger? Give yourself a ‘lift’ with high brow… a brow lifting and defining pencil. Tried and tested, this matte linen-pink cream works on all complexions beautifully… it lifts, separates, and makes eyes and brows look younger & sexier… and isn’t that what we’re all after?

How to use high brow:
1. Draw a light, thin line, in one sweep directly under your brow.
2. Lightly blend with ring finger… don’t over blend, we want the linen-pink to linger."

Jen's Experience: Since my eyebrows don't really have a natural arch, I picked up this product to see if I could create the illusion of a slightly more shapely brow. I was afraid that I would buy it and never use it, but as it turns out, it's a part of my beauty routine that I never leave out now.

My brows definitely look more defined. I think part of it is that the little hairs that grow in between plucking or waxing are completely masked by the pencil. The light color brightens up my whole eye area.

Granted, I think it looks a little weird when I first put it on (before I do eyeshadow). I probably blend it a little more than I should. After a few moments, even with minimal blending, it seems to mellow a bit. You can create a very similar effect with ordinary eyeshadow in a color that is slightly lighter but in the same range as your skin tone for a similar effect, but this product is super handy and makes it easy to line and define.

Retail Price: $18.00 (BenefitCosmetics.com, Sephora and department stores)

Rating:

What They Say: "Exhausted from last night’s rendition of “margaritaville?” Missed a few hours of zzz’s because of your summer romance? Brighten up late-night-bonfire bleary eyes by applying the nude-pink liner (better than white, which can look harsh & unnatural) in the corners. Then, use the sheer pink highlighter to add a well-rested glow anywhere you need it (lids, crease, brows or cheeks). How’s that for a sweet dream?"


Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This dual-ended tool just might come in handy more than you think I found the pencil end to be really smooth and the pinkish color is just the right shade to brighten but not look unnatual. Just make sure to keep in in the rim and not on your lower lashes. It's easy-to-use and didn't irritate my eyes at all. The liquid highlighter on the other can be a tiny bit gloppy coming out of the tube, but after the wand is pumped that seemes to fix itself. It's actually great on your skin though; it isn't glaringly bright or too shimmery, but just right for adding a touch of sheen to wake up tired skin. Both lasts several hours.

Retail Price: $22.00 (tartecosmetics.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Formulated with strobe pearl, this luxurious lip conditioner combines sheer soft-light-quenched colour with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection and moisture."

Melissa Says: I am once again In Love.

These tubes of sheer, pretty color make lips look lush and moist, with a gorgeous kiss of pigment. Even when the shine goes away a bit, the lightly luminescent pigment still tints the lips. These are my VERY favorite new non-lipstick day go-to shades.

Pretty, lustrous, sheer and comfortable...what's not to love? Get them now while the collection is being sold.

Retail Price: $14.50 (at maccosmetics.com to purchase and/or to view the 5 gorgeous shades, or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "At last, you do have a magic wand, with NAO never accept ordinary® highlighter. Formulated to put a luminous, studio-worthy glow on your face, this clever concoction will quickly become your most guarded beauty secret. Here's your chance to shine with exceptional results that were - until now - the sole domain of the true studio makeup artists. Lighten up gorgeous!

• Looks great and adds highlights to virtually any skin tone.
• Multifunctional highlighter can be used to brighten up your complexion throughout the day.
• Use as a primer for your lip color to prevent feathering.
• Use around the perimeter of your lip line for fuller-looking lips.
• Use to neutralize rose undertones anywhere on the face, neck, or décolletage."

Melissa Says: I wasn't expecting what I found in this product at all. A highlighter? Okay, I've seen those before; they're often hit-or-miss, and rarely become makeup staples for me. However, this isn't what I would typically consider a 'highlighter' like most others. Instead of adding sheen or a silvery luminosity, it actually works more like a concealer.

Let me clarify that last statement: It works like one of the most fabulous concealers I've ever tried.

On the undereye area, this sits beautifully atop skin, brightening and lightening without settling into teeny-tiny lines at all, and it lasts all day. It keeps that delicate area hydrated without looking oily, and works WONDERS on my undereye dark areas (this in itself is somewhat miraculous). It also beautifully brightens the areas between the eyes, on the brow bones...everywhere.

I tried it a little as a lip primer and was pleased with that as well, but I don't believe that will be my primary use of this great little tube. I can't believe it, but I've found a new favorite undereye beautifier!

(p.s. - I tested this in Medium.)

Retail Price: $16.45 (at Quixtar.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "The ultimate duo designed to highlight and luminize the eyes, face and cheeks. Each compact holds two unique formulas in complementary shades: Glimmer – a soft focus luminizing luster for a sun-kissed, elegant sheen. Sheer – a crystal clear luminizer that hydrates and enhances glowing skin."

What Melissa Says: I've had an opportunity to test this product in the ExpressGLIMMER shade, with a subtle gold-hued luminizer side and a clear gloss side. Mostly I am in love this compact, and plan to keep it in my rotation until it runs out. The luster side is absolutely perfect for the upper top eyelid to the browbone, and adds an extra pretty highlight over your favorite eyeshadow. You can completely glam up your shadow with this side alone. It also (when used very lightly) is a lovely illuminator for the face.

The clear luminizing side looks amazing on the lower part of the top lid, but unfortunately it does crease a bit as many of these types of products do. I really like the wet look on eyelids, but it's hard to pull off without having to dab in the crease every once in a while. It does create a nice look, but where I really preferred this formula was on my cheekbones. Applied alone or over blush, this provides just enough hydrated radiance to boost your everyday look. I think that this would be something you could do with each of the compact shades except perhaps the purple one. (However, it may be sheer enough to give a try.) Here's another thing to note: this does NOT look oily or greasy, and is subtle enough to be able to really wear it for any occasion. Once I was wearing this on a day I didn't even feel well, and I thought the slight dew this added to my complexion really helped me look better than I felt.

Retail Price: $30.00 (at beautyaddicts.com)

DeLush Rating:

About the Face Color Perfect Pro Case: "Ultimate compact. Use and store your two favorite shades of DHC Face Color Perfect Pro Cheek or Highlighter (sold separately) in this slim, multi-function case. Includes a handy mirror and built-in wide-tip brush for easy applications or touch-ups anytime. Includes 1 case and 1 brush."

About the Face Color Perfect Pro Cheek: "Getting cheeky. These sheer and subtly sparkling blushes create a soft-focus flush of color and leave skin looking enlivened. Pair one with DHC Face Color Perfect Pro Highlighter to add nuance and definition. Place them in our new DHC Face Color Perfect Pro Case and enjoy glamorous colors in the palm of your hand."

About the Face Color Perfect Pro Highlighter: "A kiss of shimmer. Makeup artists in the know have a secret trick up their sleeves—highlighting powders. New DHC Face Color Perfect Pro Highlighter puts a flattering kiss of light and iridescence anywhere you need it—it’s particularly stunning atop your cheekbones and around your eyes."

What Lisa says: As one who usually tosses the small blush brushes that are standard fare with most cheek colors, I was looking forward to trying DHC’s handy compact along with a highlighter in Pale White and cheek colors in Rose, Pink and Spice.

This compact is sturdy. It holds two cheek colors or one cheek color and a highlighter and contains a mirror. The soft wide brush is contained in a slide compartment on the top side of the compact. Once out, by pressing a sliding button on the brush’s handle, the bristles slide out revealing a wide, almost fan shaped brush that fits easily into your hand. One of the nicer things about this brush is that it tends to hold its shape as the bristles retract into the handle and the whole unit slides back into the top of the compact.

Each of the colors that I received had a “subtle sparkle” to them that was easily seen in the case but was barely visible once applied to the skin. As far as color, Spice was my favorite as it had the most color pay-off and was quick and easy to apply. I know these colors are billed as “sheer” but the Pink and Rose colors were too sheer and needed quite a bit of product to show up on the skin. For very light complexions, this might be all you need but I found myself having to reapply cheek color throughout the day and never felt like I achieved the deepness of color that I usually wear. The Pale White Highlighter also had sparkle that failed to transfer to the skin and, once applied looked very white (almost like baby powder) and I found it muddled the cheek color.

Each of these powdered blushes was free of fragrance and traveled nicely in the compact, in my purse without chipping or breaking. While I still prefer a good contoured professional blush brush, the compact and brush were the best part about this whole concept. The colors just didn’t hold up well nor delivered the promise of color or the shimmer.

Note: Face Color Perfect Pro Case is sold separately from the blushes/highlighters so when figuring whether or not this product is worth your beauty dollars, take this into consideration.

Retail Prices: (All are available at http://www.dhccare.com/dhc/)
Compact w/ brush $11.00
Cheek color $7.50
Highlighter $7.50

DeLush Rating:
Compact
Cheek color
Highlighter

What They Say:

• "Natural pigments actually float over skin, brightening the eye area
  
• Exceptionally lightweight formula neutralizes dark circles and blurs fine lines
  
• Contains Bioelements' exclusive MariBright Complex, a blend of Marigold, Golden Seal and Eyebright botanical extracts to heal, calm and soothe the eye area
  
• Fragrance free

Not tested on animals.

How to Use: With fingertips, blend a small amount under eyes and on lids."

Melissa Says: Squeezing this out of the little tube, I didn't have a great feeling about it. This was because I'm used to putting something much lighter in shade under my eyes than this looks. It looks almost like a tinted moisturizer, and has the consistency of light liquid makeup. This first glance made me test it out on the back of my hand first, to see what the result would be. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the color sort of dissolved into my skin and blended in, and the result was a supersmooth finish with a barely perceptible sheen. Okay, sounds good! And so, the next step was applying it to my eyes.

Each time I used this, I felt like it did indeed glide over my undereye area. I wouldn't say that it disguised my dark circles the way I like them to be hidden on the worst days, but when they weren't so bad, this helped diminish the look, and I also thought it helped relieve a bit of eye puffiness as well. It held up fairly well, but at the end of the day (after work), it seemed a bit dry and therefore the smoothing effect on teeny lines was finished. However, I have to give it some credit for making me feel like my eyes looked more refreshed for most of those days.

As a lid smoother, I didn't see much point. I didn't notice an increase in shadow slip while using it, which was my main concern. Yet while I liked the immediate smoothing effect, I thought it was kind of a moot result by the time my shadow went over it.

One More Thing: I tried this both under foundation and over foundation. The effect was similar, but I did prefer to apply it under the eyes after applying my foundation.

I think I'd use this more in summer than winter, because of the extra bit of natural color that will make me feel less like I need the assistance of my regular concealer. While not really necessary, it did have some visible benefits...but it didn't exactly WOW me, either.

Retail Price: $22.50 (at select salons and spas)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Our pearls offer intense, radiant color for a variety of captivating looks. Wear them wet for a more dramatic look, or dry for a soft shimmering glow. They can take your look from subtle and barely there to shimmering knockout glam! TINte's pearls can be used as an eyeshadow, eyeliner, highlighter, blush and bronzer or underneath your favorite TINte lip gloss. There are no limits on the way to use them."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I wasn't surprised that this looked amazing as a shadow, both wet and dry. It's incredibly fine and very smooth. What I didn't expect was how subtly it highlighted my cheekbones when smoothed on lightly with my fingertip or how pretty it looked under clear lipgloss as a sheer wash of color. (Of course, there are a few shades you wouldn't want to use on your lips!) Keep in mind that used this way, you may find it less long-wearing than some lip colors. I'm sure this can vary depending on the type of gloss you use. On eyes it wears fairly well, but isn't completely crease-resistant.

Click picture to enlarge; shade shown is Rose Petals

Retail Price: $14.00 (at tintecosemetics.com)

DeLush Rating:

Vasanti recently sent products labeled for us (Melissa and Toya); they'd even taken time to try to make sure we got the best colors for our skin tone! (Melissa) "This was the first time I'd ever heard of or tried anything from the Vasanti product line, and overall I was quite impressed."
(Toya) "I am really pleased with Vasanti Cosmetics, which I’d never even heard of until I received my package from DeLush. I couldn’t find much information on the company, but it’s clear that they strive to fit the needs of every woman, of every skin tone."

All of the following products can be purchased at vasanticosmetics.com. Read on for our individual product reviews.

Vasanti Liquid Cover-Up:
What They Say: "Liquid concealer and foundation in one. Cover only where you want, it blends into the skin without a trace. Gives the skin incredible radiance and feels like you have nothing on at all.

This multi purpose cover-up is an incredible under eye concealer, colour corrector, eye brightener and all over foundation.. It looks so natural on, no one will know you have it on but you.

The formulations work on all skin types and skin tones. It's oil-free and contains active ingredients to hydrate and brighten the skin. The shade range was developed to compliment any skin tone - from the fairest to the deepest."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: While this may not be powerful enough to cover up really prevalent dark circles (it's medium-coverage at best), it does blend away redness (blotchiness or little blemishes) and some darkness under the eyes. I thought it was really smooth and light with very little line-settling (a big plus).

Toya's Take: The Liquid Cover Up comes in a large tube, which I like. It blends nicely, but although the cover up was the same shade as the foundation I tested, it showed up as a bit dark and muddy, so I wasn’t completely happy.

Retail Price: $22.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

Vasanti Face Base:
What They Say: "Shades created specifically for yellow based skin tones.

• Gives you a natural finish of a pressed powder with coverage of a foundation
• Glides on easily and blends right into your skin
• Colors that match your skin tone and add a radiant glow
• Light weight, oil-free and oil absorbing
• Moisturizing
• Non-comodogenic (won't clog your pores)

Comes in a sleek platinum compact with a full face mirror and a sponge for a smooth application."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I get a little nervous about powder foundations, because they seem to work best for those with nearly perfect skin but look dry and cakey on anyone who wants a little more than a swipe of coverage. This one surprised me a little bit at first. The compact design is truly unique, with a plastic hinged cover inside to protect the powder and a vented bottom underneath the sponge applicator. As far as the formula itself goes, it glides over the skin and gives moderate coverage. However, I did think it looked a little bit dry and I also saw the tendency for it to emphasize fine lines and larger pores, so I think this would work best for those with well-hydrated, smooth skin.

Toya's Take:
The Face Base comes in an ingenious case – very modern looking in plain, brushed silver with the company name on it. When you open it, there’s a large mirror on top and on the bottom half, a large square of foundation powder and a sponge. The foundation powder is covered by plastic, so it doesn’t get on the mirror – it flips down for easy access. The foundation looks very flaky, but it goes on quite smoothly and doesn’t leave your skin overly dry. It dries to a lovely matte finish and it blended in with my skin perfectly.

Retail Price: $24.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

Vasanti Pencils (Toya only):
What They Say: "Our lip and eye pencils contain Orange Wax, Vitamin A and Vitamin E – all of which have antioxidant properties and will fight free radicals while they moisturize. Shea butter and jojoba oil have also been added to ensure a creamy formulation that glides on beautifully and lasts all day."

Toya's Take: This pencil is luscious. Vasanti markets the pencils as both eye and lip appropriate. However, the pencil is so moisturizing that, while it feels wonderfully smooth and creamy when applied to the lips, I think it would lead to quite a bit of creasing if used in the eye area.

Retail Price: $13.00

DeLush Rating: (Toya) (because it would crease as an eye pencil)

Vasanti Tinted Lip Balm:
What They Say: "Hooked on that chapstick? Introducting a lip conditioner that gives just a natural hint of colour. It’s got a silky smooth texture and it protects your lips and gives off an incredible shine!

Our tinted lipbalms are loaded with moisturizers, conditioners and natural sunscreens such as: Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Sunflower oil and Olive oil.

The flavours are exotic and fresh- Leaves your lips velvety smooth."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: By far my favorite product of the entire set, this balm is incredibly comfortable and wears like a beautiful sheer lipstick. I LOVE it. This is the first balm I've tried that is packaged exactly like lipstick, and it's really versatile. Whether alone or over lipliner, this feels super-soft and looks lovely. Unlike Toya, I thought that the scent was another highlight of the product, and I'd describe it as slightly fruity - kind of like watermelon. It could be that different shades use different fragrances (I tested Bahamas, a light brown-pink).

Toya's Take: The Tinted Lipbalm is my favorite product of the bunch, except for the ghastly smell! I have no idea what ingredient leads to the stench, but, if possible, Vasanti should remove it, posthaste. How do they expect you to want to apply the product to your lips, which are so close to your nose? God! But, once I got past it, I was thrilled to find that the balm is ultra-moisturizing and the color, while sheer, is more than I expect to find from a tinted lipbalm. I think it would be better classified as a sheer lipstick. Either way, one coat of the Columbia shade, described as “medium neutral brown” was “my lips but better” and two coats gave my lips a beautiful chocolate-y sheen.

Retail Price: $15.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

Vasanti Shimmer Powder:
What They Say: "Loose Powder...apply anywhere you desire. For subtle shimmery highlights. Use as an Eyeshadow, highlighter on your brow bone, cheeks, decolleté or anywhere on your body...use your imagination."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I'm not really one to use shimmer in lots of places - typically it stays around the eyes for me. But even just in that aspect, this worked pretty well. The color is completely buildable and can be as bold or sheer as you like, and the glow is nice and subtle, not glaring. Used as a full shadow, it does crease a little after a while but holds on about as well as many shadows I use.

Toya's Take: The Shimmer Powder is a bit messy, like any loose powder, but it gives awesome color, sparkle and glow. Thumbs up!

Retail Price: $14.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

What They Say: "Gives your complexion a sun-lit glow

• Can be used on all skin types
  
• Lightweight formula won't clog pores or smother skin
  
• Contains nine essential oils plus botanical extracts of rosemary, white tea, raspberry and peppermint to help invigorate and revitalize skin
  
• No synthetic fragrances

Not tested on animals.

How to Use: Using fingertips, apply to forehead, cheeks and chin for a warm glow with a hint of bronze. May be worn alone or under foundation."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I have to admit some reservation when trying this product, at least at first. I haven't met many face tints that don't either look incredibly unnatural or prove hard to blend in (or both!). And honestly, I have never felt the real need to use one except possibly in summer months as a light substitute for foundation.

The color that came out of the tube? It scared me. It seemed awfully dark and bronze...I was nervous. But it actually did apply much more sheer than one would think. It also didn't look NEARLY as shimmery on my skin as I had anticipated, but was instead extremely subtle. Under a little bit of foundation, this actually did give my skin an extra "something"...a little more of a glow - not a shine, but a glow. I just looked like maybe I wasn't quite as pale as I actually am. Also, it doesn't look unnatural and glides onto skin smoothly.

I will say that you need to be sure to check very carefully after you apply this, looking at your hairline and edges of where you used it to make sure it is completely blended in. Otherwise you will likely have some obvious excess in certain spots.

This would probably not work well for those of you with a lot of acne, as the slight sheen may emphasize blemishes. It also only comes in one shade, which although incredibly sheer, may not be flattering on very fair skin tones (you may want to try their Healthy Glow Face Tint instead).

While I like this as an extra touch occasionally, I still don't think I'm the type that would use something like this every single day. It is nice under foundation, or if you want just a touch of color and don't like to wear a lot of makeup, this could be something for you.

Retail Price: $26.00 (at top spas across the U.S. - visit bioelements.com for locations or call 800.433.6650.

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "DuWop introduces a limited-edition holiday palette that gives you an instant hit of a winter wonderland glow. ICE is a pressed shimmer powder that instantly brightens and highlights the forehead, cheeks, eyes, and décolletage, in a beautiful icy pink shimmer. ICE is extremely versatile and can be dusted over bare skin for just a hint of shimmer that catches the light and brightens the complexion. The silvery pink hues in ICE can help even out the skin tone, hide imperfections, and illuminate the skin. Layer ICE over blush for a beautiful glow or use it as the final dusting to makeup for a radiant holiday look."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Do you find yourself looking at all of the highlighting powders and lotions and feeling like some of them aren't really wearable past age 21? Well, thankfully there are several on the market right now that are less SPARKLESHIMMERLOOKATME! and more understatedly radiant. This is one to add to the category. In fact, don't think of it as "shimmer" at all...that might give you the wrong impression. It simply provides a subtle sheen that looks glowy. True, for some it may actually be too subtle, but I like the fact that you can apply it over your blush and other makeup without affecting its color. It instead just adds a thin veil of brightness, not a layer of uber-reflectiveness that won't blend no matter WHAT you do. It's easy to add on cheekbones, eyelids and forehead for a little extra "something" for those special occasions or nights out.

User Tip: Apply a bit of this on the area between your inner eyes and bridge of your nose, where we tend to have extra shadows.

Retail Price: $18.00 (at DuWop.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating: