The Best of Beauty: November and December 2008

Over the past year, The Beauty of Life has seen and done it all. From manicures to facials, testing scrubs to going behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week, it's been quite a ride! Check back every day for the next 12 days to revisit the hits of the year.

Get the best of November and December after the jump!



NOVEMBER 2008:

One of my all-time fave interviews this year? Definitely the day I got the chance to meet and speak with Joanna Schlip. This makeup artist has worked with everyone and I mean everyone ... not to mention she's got a contract with Physicians Formula and she's the sweetest, most fun gal around. What a gem!

It's seriously impossible for me to find a better mascara than Diorshow. I just don't think it exists. But a close second? It may come as no surprise that it's from the same brand ... but Diorshow Iconic is definitely one I'll turn to in a pinch. It lengthens, separates and plumps up my lashes almost as well as its counterpart!

I'd been wanting to try it out for years. Seriously, years. What am I talking about? The custom blend bar at Prescriptives, of course! So I finally bit the bullet and got a custom lipgloss made -- and wow, is it ever the perfect shade of peachy pink shimmery goodness!

The fabulous Guido Palau has been in the business for about 20 years. So when Redken gave me the chance to meet him, I said HECK YES! He gave me the inside scoop on this season's hottest trends, what he thinks is sexy on a woman and so much more.

And the obsession with Twilight begins! One fateful Thursday in November, I brought you a ton of beauty products that may as well have been inspired by the cult favorite. Come on ... Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow? Sarah Jessica Parker The Lovely Collection? DuWop Ultimate Gift of Venom? There's no way these products didn't take just a teensy bite out of the hit movie.

DECEMBER:

If you're always looking for a way to keep your hair off your face -- but can't seem to keep enough ponytail holders lying around -- then this is definitely the product for you. The Bumble and bumble Bb. Bandball draws inspiration from the rubber band balls of our youth, and is equipped with a whopping 100 holders in vibrant shades guaranteed to perk up your ponytail!

Chances are you've noticed my obsession with the utterly gorgeous Robert Pattinson. Well, just in case you missed my Completely Gratuitous posts ... here's the first one for you again in all its glory!


Dry skin, beware. Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Body Lotion is in the house, and it's ready to turn even the scaliest patches into lovely smooth expanses of soft suppleness. Trust this beauty chick -- IT WORKS.


December saw the launch of a new daily column here at The Beauty of Life. Beauty Watch features one celebrity each day, with pictures and step by step instructions on how to get the look. The first column featured the lovely Emma Watson at the premiere of her new movie, The Tale of Despereaux.