Thanks, Mom! -- Great Mother's Day Gifts, Volume 5

Feeling a little bit stressed about what to get Mom this year? So many options, you just don't know where to turn? Well, don't get yourself all in a tizzy! Head to an amazing site like Fresh and check out their Absolute Wish List -- they've gone ahead and done the guesswork for you, so all you have to do is decide which of the beautiful choices set before you will suit Mom best!

Of note: the Fragrance Quartet ($75) contains four Eau de Parfums guaranteed to make Mom smell great, like Lemon, Sugar, Sake and Sugar Blossom. Or maybe Mom's looking for a new lip palette? Well, Fresh has got you covered there, too -- with its Cameo Lip Shine Palette ($36), she'll get six gorgeous lip shines, including Ruby Slipper, Garnet Pendant and the baby pink Tulle. And who could say no to the Pink Jasmine Set? At $95, this floral-bedecked box set is a bit pricey, but this beauty chick is sure Mom will love it -- who wouldn't, with an Eau de Parfum, Body Cream and Soap in the pretty jasmine-drenched scent?

Whatever Mom loves, you're sure to find something at Fresh. So head there now before all the good gifts are gone!

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Thanks, Mom! -- Great Mother's Day Gifts, Volume 4

Succulent grapefruit. Cooling cucumber. Combined in Tocca's Cleopatra scent, they become so incredibly intoxicating, this beauty chick can't get enough. Seriously -- if I'm not burning the Candela, I'm using the Crema de Sogno! This Mother's Day, you should definitely give your mom a taste of what this scent has to offer with Tocca's Bagno da Viaggio Cleopatra.

For only $40, you'll be able to get her three of the line's best products in what I find to be their absolute best scent. (No offense to Tara, Stella and all the rest!) Within the robin's egg blue and mustard yellow striped gift box you'll find a 4 oz. shower gel, 4 oz. body lotion and -- the best part -- a candelina. So not only will your mom smell fabulous all day, her house will hold the beautiful aroma as well!

And if for some reason you're just not feeling Cleopatra's scent the way I am, the sets are available in Florence (rose) and Stella (blood orange) as well. So no matter what, Mom will benefit this year!

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Holding Court

You've always known you were a princess. And now it's time for everyone else to realize what you've been trying to tell them for years! What better way to do that than by spritzing on Vera Wang's delectable Princess fragrance? The queen of fashion has made a foray into the beauty world with a bang, delighting the senses with a mix of fruity and floral elements just waiting to make you into the princess you've always believed yourself to be.

Mandarin meringue! Golden apricot skin! Pink guava! Lady apple! Dark chocolate! Those are just some of the notes you'll find inside ... as well as vanilla, amber, water lily, Tahitian flower and wild tuberose.

But what this beauty chick really digs is the bottle -- a vision of beauty in a prismatic jewel-cut crystal heart, containing a sparkling lavender-hued fragrance and topped off with an amethyst-encrusted gold crown. And best of all? The crown doubles as a cocktail ring. Now that's royalty.

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Better Off Alone

Bad breakup? Boys getting you down in the dumps? Never fear ... Bath and Body Works' Temptations line is here to save the day. Forget digging into a pint of Ben & Jerry's -- who needs the calories? Get your sweet fix with the Who Needs Him? Kit, BBW's self-proclaimed break-up survival kit that this beauty chick guarantees will put a smile on your face and put that stupid guy in his place.

With two 3-in-1's (Body Wash, Bubble Bath and Shampoo) in delectable flavors like Chocolate Escape and Salty Caramel Ice Cream, you'll feel better in no time. Add a Cookie Dough lip gloss to the mix and you'll start to forget what's-his-name altogether!

But if this kit doesn't apply, there are a host of others to choose from that might just fit the bill. There's Not Again (for the birthday girl), Success Story (congratulatory wishes for the friend who's gotten a new job), Lucky in Love (perfect for the bride-to-be), and Runaway Bridesmaids (what every bridezilla needs to get her well-deserving gals!). Stupid boys aren't worth crying over, right? Maybe we'd all better stock up on a few of these kits just in case ... check out Bath and Body Works' website to grab your own!

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Thanks, Mom! -- Great Mother's Day Gifts, Volume 3

I've said it once and I'll say it again -- you can't go wrong with candles. Not only will they make your mom's house smell pretty, but they'll look good doing it! And gift sets always beat out just one, don't you agree? Of course you do ... and that's why you should check out Lumiere Candle Co.'s Spring Gift Set for one of those "I just know my mom will love this" gifts this year.

Packaged within the prettiest lilac carrying box are three delectably-scented candles guaranteed to make your mom smile. What's cool about the packaging is that there are holes cut out of the top so you can see the top of each candle jar -- and they are color-coordinated to match the box and look quite springy at the same time! Open it up and you'll find Lilacs in Rain (a heady floral I just can't get enough of), Chamomile & Lavender (so soothing, it's perfect at the end of a crazy day), and the bergamot-and-apricot-infused Fresh Air (which really does smell so much like fresh air I'm wondering how they managed to package the scent inside a candle!).

Each hand-poured candle has "Uses" printed on the jar, like Lilacs in Rain's "Fulfills the longing for spring" -- which I think is a nice touch. And at only $30 for three candles that each have amazingly long burning times (try at least 20 hours!), these babies basically sell themselves. Except, of course, that you have to buy them -- which you can do through Lumiere's website. Hurry before spring is over!

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The Eyes Have It!

I am seriously in love with makeup palettes. I just can't get enough of them. I don't know whether it's the abundance of shades to choose from ... the fact that they're all laid out so nicely for you in such pretty packaging ... or the utter ease it takes to just pop one open and see so much beauty staring back at you ... but whatever it is, I love them dearly. And one of my favorites is most definitely DuWop's Rose Eyes Palette, which contains six shades that will intensify, beautify and just generally chicify your entire look.

Inside this wondrous invention are a base color in shimmery golden rose, a sparkly pale pink for lightening purposes, a deep brownish-mauve to deepen your look, a dark brown cream liner, and -- my personal fave -- a glittering gold shadow for that finishing metallic touch. And each hue is complementary to so many skin tones, it's a wonder DuWop's website isn't consistently sold out!

But you'd better snatch one up for yourself before they're all gone -- at $32, it's a total steal!

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Sweet Cravings with Jaqua Shower Gel

My shower holds a venerable plethora of beauty products. Seriously, I have at least four or five shampoos and conditioners ... three different products that promise smooth hair with no split ends ... and so many shower gels and body washes it's insane. Jaqua's collection of shower gels -- aptly named shower syrups for their smooth textures and succulent aromas -- have seemed to take up permanent residence in my shower caddy.

And with six absolutely intoxicating scents to choose from, each weighing in at a substantial 8 ounces, it's pretty much a guarantee that I'll continue to have them rotating through my bathroom for quite awhile. My favorite has got to be Buttercream Frosting, which lathers up quite nicely and smells so much like cake, it takes a lot of self-restraint not to drink it right out of the bottle! (Which is a good thing, since that might not make me feel too good.) Interested parties can also try Pina Colada, Pink Champagne, Peach Parfait, Passion Fruit and Mint Chocolate.

At $18 a pop, they don't run cheap -- but each lasts for a really long time and will make you happy every time you open the bottle. Don't believe me? Check out Jaqua's website and see for yourself!

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Creatively Speaking: Creative Scentsations

Few things in life are more important to this beauty chick than clean hands. With all the running around on New York City streets, touching subway poles that god knows who else has touched, and typing away all day on a somewhat greasy and disgusting keyboard, I'm a bit of a fanatic at making sure my digits stay as clean as possible. With all the soaps out there to choose from, there's never a shortage of options -- but recently I'm totally in love with the Creative Scentsations line, put out by Creative Nail Design.

Made with light moisturizers that leave your skin feeling soft and silky smooth, this hand washes are as luxe as they come, and at a fraction of what they could actually cost! Choose from 15 amazing scents, including Pear & Dandelion, Melon & Jasmine, Apple & Cinnamon and Honeysuckle & Pink Grapefruit -- each one more wonderful and intoxicating than the next! A couple of pumps and your hands will be feeling good as new.

All of them are available at bebeautiful.com for only $11.50 each. Snap 'em up immediately!

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Mais Oui! Sabon Body Gel

I don't know about all of you, but my hands have been completely ravaged by winter's harsh temperatures, freezing winds and just general unpleasantness. Not to mention the recent flip-flopping of the weather -- 86 and sunny one day, 45 and raining the next! One look at my fingers and you'd think I was part-crocodile. Well, at least that was the case before Sabon's Lavender Apple Sorbet Body Gel landed on my desk.

Not only does it smell amazing -- the sweet combination of succulent apple and summery lavender will have your mouth watering -- but since it's made with avocado and palm oils, it really and truly leaves your hands feeling silky smooth! I totally dig the large glass tub, which looks like it belongs in an old apothecary. And you know it's got to be good when my coworkers keep sneaking into my office to steal handfuls of it for themselves throughout the day.

So you don't have to just take my word for it! Check it out for yourself on Sabon's website -- you'll be a convert in no time.

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Hard as Rocks: The Fabulousness of Hard Candy

Once in awhile, I happen upon a beauty line so filled with fun and amazing products it's all I can do not to squeal with joy when I play with them. Other times, I rediscover a brand I loved during my teenage years and instantly remember all the reasons why I couldn't get enough of it.

Hard Candy takes the place of the latter. Filled with fun and fancy packaging, sparkle and shimmer galore and both old and new favorites alike, this beauty chick just adores everything the line has to offer! My fave has got to be Hard Candy's Nail Polish ($5 each) -- ever since my days as a junior high mallrat, I've loved the glittering shades like Stop! (gold glitter-infused red), Vinyl (iridescent pink) and the ever-popular Trailer Trash (metallic silver).

But always a sucker for inventive packaging and products, I totally dig the new stuff too, like the utterly cute Mix Tape Makeup Palette in Break Up Mix ($15) -- 3 shadows and 3 lipglosses encased in a tiny lacquered black box that looks exactly like a cassette tape from the 80s! And last but not least, whose life would be complete without Key to My Heart ($6) -- an ice cube-shaped pot that opens to reveal two of Hard Candy's most awesome cake batter-scented Super Shine Lip Glosses, each encased in a super-girly heart. Choose from Fresh (two nude shades), Pixie (pretty pinks) or Pop (berry hues).

Whatever your pleasure, you're sure to find it on Hard Candy's website. What are you waiting for?

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Thanks, Mom! -- Great Mother's Day Gifts, Volume 2

Don't have much money this year to spend on Mom? Never fear -- there are tons of great things you can get her that won't cost an arm and a leg, but will still show her how much you care. Candles are usually a fail-safe bet when it comes to good gifts -- and even the best ones rarely break the bank!

Red Flower's Set of 6 Candles is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of the most important lady in your life. Six heady scents lie within this perfectly packaged set, including Chinese Marigold, Moroccan Rose, Indian Jasmine, Egyptian Chamomile, North American Lilac, and -- this beauty chick's personal favorite -- Thai Honeysuckle.

With a burn time of 12-15 hours each, Mom will have hours and hours on end of absolutely gorgeously-smelling fragrances permeating her house. And best of all? Each comes wrapped in an individual film-size box with its own matchbook. Does it get any more convenient than that? This amazing set is only $60 and available on Red Flower's website. Snatch it up now while you have the chance!

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Thanks, Mom! -- Great Mother's Day Gifts, Volume 1

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and if you're like this beauty chick, you're hard at work trying to find the perfect gift. And if you're my mom, you've had your fill of coffee mugs (my elementary school self loved giving her those), flowers (high school and college), and Tiffany's jewelry (okay, that never gets old, but still -- how many little blue boxes does one person need?). This year, it's all about beauty gift sets. Everywhere you look, you can find tons of choices -- and, as always, I'm here to steer you in the right direction!

One of the best: Philosophy's Mom Kit ($120 on Philosophy's website). This fabulous kit includes seven products -- including a bath and shower gel, perfumed hair conditioner, hot salt scrub, spray fragrance, perfumed firming body emulsion and a fragrance compact -- all infused with Philosophy's supremely indulgent Amazing Grace scent and packaged in a totally cute suitcase. Mom will be so thrilled, this might even count as a good enough present to last through next year! Okay, probably not, but hey -- it was worth a try.

Stay tuned for more great Mom-appropriate gift ideas!

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Just "Brows"-ing: Eliza's Eyes

If you're like me, you know that groomed brows are a must. This beauty chick believes that gorgeous arches not only make your whole face look better instantly, they draw the attention away from other flaws (inflamed pimples, dark undereye circles, whatever the case may be!). Trust me -- beautiful brows guarantee loads of admiring stares. Famed brow afficianado Eliza Petrescu -- coined the "Queen of the Arch" -- believes in brow beauty as well. And she's taken it to the next level with Eliza's Eyes, a group of skilled eyebrow technicians in place at New York's two exhale spa locations.

During a recent appointment with Julia, my arches were reshaped to perfection. Using a variety of techniques -- including trimming, plucking and waxing -- Julia took my brows from merely average to oh-so-wondrous within minutes! Now ladies, treatment like this doesn't come cheap. With a guru such as Eliza, you'll be paying $120 for an initial visit and $88 for maintenance visits. And for her essociates, like Julia, you'll shell out $85 for an initial visit and $65 for every visit thereafter. But don't fret -- this not only includes the end result of beautiful brows, but a consultation during the initial visit where your essociate really tells it like it is, making sure you'll walk out with the absolute best shape for your face. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

So call 212-564-1722 or check out exhale's website for more information -- and before you know it, all eyes will most definitely be on your every move!

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Great Site Alert: Kitson

Agent Provocateur! Frederic Fekkai! Molton Brown! Those are just a few of the brands available on Kitson's website, shopkitson.com. Not familiar with Kitson yet? This Robertson Blvd. boutique is only one of the hottest stores in L.A., playing host to all the young, hot celebrities (think Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton and all the rest).

True story: this beauty chick made it her own personal mission to stop in there on her last L.A. visit, grabbing everything she could lay her little hands on!

But back to the topic at hand. Known for stocking edgy, hip, uber-cool labels like Antik Denim, Junk Food and Ole Henriksen, Kitson also brings tons of great beauty brands to the masses -- and now you can get it all on their amazing website! Stock up on cult faves like Kai Twilight Candles ($38 for four votives and its very own matchbook), Malin + Goetz Daily Shampoo ($20), and Fresh Sugarbath Sugar Cubes in either lemon or lychee ($32). They've even got GoSmile and Supersmile toothpastes available.

Look at it this way -- if you can't make it to L.A. to see the real thing, Kitson's website is definitely worth a look-see!

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Great Site Alert: Gloss.com

Chanel and Bobbi Brown and La Mer, oh my! One of the best sites out there for top-of-the-line beauty brands has got to be Gloss.com.

Take your pick of the afore-mentioned fabulous lines ... or maybe you're more of a Clarins, Clinique, Darphin, Estee Lauder, Jo Malone, Lab Series, M.A.C, Origins, Prescriptives, Rodan + Fields or Thierry Mugler girl. Whatever your poison, Gloss.com surely has something for you.

And the site looks absolutely fantastic -- so high-end, and it seems like the products are about to jump right off the page and into your beauty case! (Wouldn't that be nice?) Some of this beauty chick's faves: Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm ($22), Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Gloss in Platinum Rose ($20), Origins Calm to Your Senses Lavender and Vanilla Body Cleanser ($21), and the always classic Clinique Happy Fragrance ($37.50). Even better, the site has tons and tons of gift sets ... which, trust me, go over quite well for birthdays and holidays! (My BFF received an Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise gift set from me one Christmas, and she still talks about how amazing it was!)

How can you go wrong with a Chanel No5 Luxurious Getaways set ($65 for a trio of Eau de Toilette Spray, Velvet Body Cream and Bath Gel in Chanel's signature scent)? The answer: you can't. So hurry to Gloss.com and start buying things before your favorites are gone!

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Smoke-Out: M.A.C Eyeliner

I'm quite sure all beauty chicks can relate to the saga I'm about to tell. It seems I've been on a neverending quest for the perfect eyeliner for as long as I can remember. I've searched high and low for that one perfect pencil to complete me ... adding just the right amount of oomph to a smoky eye, but stopping just short of that crazy Cleopatra look so many seem destined to appropriate. I don't even approach the scariness of liquid eyeliner for fear of long, streaky lines finding their way off my eyes and down my cheeks. And lining the inner rims? Forget it ... too many have made me look like a drunken raccoon -- or worse, the liner has somehow lodged itself in my eyes, making them red, puffy and watery to no end!

So imagine my wonderment and awe when I stumbled upon the most seemingly sublime eyeliner. No big surprise here, it's made by M.A.C -- a line that seems to turn out more amazingly perfect products than I could even count! What is this wondrous tool, you ask? None other than the Powerpoint Eye Pencil -- which comes in 17 great shades that range from your typical matte finishes to the more daring metallic and shimmery. Check out gorgeous hues like Navy Stain, So There Jade and Out to Sea, or stick with the basics like Stubborn Brown and Grey Utility.

But my absolute favorite has to be Engraved -- a deeper-than-deep black which goes on smooth, doesn't smudge and stays on for hours. Best of all, the liner is waterproof, so no messy eyes here! Snatch up your favorite shades for only $13.50 on M.A.C's website. Trust me, your eyes will never be the same!

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Parlez-Vous Francais?

I'm always on the lookout for new eyeshadows. No matter how many clutter up my vanity, it seems I can never have enough! But one I keep going back to again and again is Bourjois Paris Suivez Mon Regard. Mais oui, c'est francais! (Yes, I took French back in the day. If only I remembered as much of that as I do about beauty products!) But anyway, I digress. This fabulous eyeshadow comes in 13 gorgeous shades, including:

Rose Or (shimmering golden pink)
Regard Etoile D'Argent (sparkling silver)
Bleu Pool (intensely glittering turquoise)
Parme Etincelant (glistening violet).

But my favorite part is the packaging. Each shade comes in a miniature pot complete with its very own tiny brush -- perfect for sweeping on just the right amount of shimmer before heading out for an evening on the town. And at only $16 each, they're a total steal! Check them out for yourself at Sephora stores nationwide or on Sephora's website. C'est magnifique!

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Move Over, Pantene: Garnier Fructis to the Rescue!

You know what I am seriously in love with right now? Shiny, silky, HEALTHY hair. And while I've tried virtually every product on the market to make my locks glisten with the best of 'em, my tresses always seem to come up short. Pomades are too waxy, serums are too greasy, and most shine-enducing shampoos and conditioners leave my locks looking and feeling pretty darn lackluster. And forget straightening irons -- no added shine seems to radiate from them, no matter how heated they become! But then I happened upon Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Fortifying Cream Conditioner.

The bottle claims it's perfect for frizzy, dry or unmanageable hair. Um ... were they reading my mind? This amazingly tangy, gloriously delectable fruit-scented stuff really does the trick! After adding just a quarter-sized amount to soaking wet hair, leaving in for around 3 minutes, and washing out ... my hair has never looked smoother, shinier or just all-around prettier! Add to that the intensely wonderful softness and sleekness, and Garnier has just found themselves a lifelong customer.

And as an added bonus, it's only $3.99 at drugstores nationwide and at drugstore.com. What could be better than that?

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Direct from the Runway: Chanel

Look, it's Debbie Gibson! Or at least that's what the models at Chanel seemed to be channeling with their big, 80s-inspired crimped locks. Not sure why Karl Lagerfeld thought this was a good idea -- yes, the 80s are back, we get it, thank you very much! But the crimping is just a bit too much for this beauty chick. Add to that the Brooke Shields-esque thick brows and we might as well just throw right back to off-the-shoulder sweatshirts and pegged jeans! Sorry, Chanel -- you usually hit the nail right on the head, but this is just too "Flashdance" for my taste!

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