Clarins

Clarins HydraQuench Cooling Cream-Gel ($48) is on my list for gym essentials. I like it because it's a great way to prepare your skin for post-workout beauty. You know how after you've just exercised your face is flushed, sweaty and tends to stay that way for a while even after you've showered? This product helps to cool your skin and tighten up your dilated pores. This controls shine and allows you to apply your makeup without feeling wet and messy.

Aside from cooling and drying your face, it's also good for your skin. It contains hyaluronic acid (for suppleness), katafray extract (prevents moisture loss) and inca peanut oil (firms and minimizes wrinkles).

It is recommended for those with normal and combination skin, and makes for a terrific tropical vacation moisturizer. Also, it has an interesting cool gel-like texture, but it looks like a cream. Apply a small amount to the center of your face and work your way outwards (in small circles). If anyone else has tried this, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Yesterday I told you a little bit about some firming bust creams, and today we're moving up on the body by focusing on creams to firm your face. Firming facial creams can help to minimize the appearance of your pores, and some can topically and temporarily suspend muscle contractions in your face — similar to what Botox does, but without the side effects.

Tracie Martyn Firming Serum ($185) is a favorite among celebrities, so I was really excited when I received a sample to test. I used it only a few times, but I found it to be calming, moisturizing, and brightening.

Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream ($77) is more for women in their 40s and up. The medium-weight cream has a very clean smell, and it claims to firm, tone and reduce those stubborn fine lines on your face. I found it to be soothing and it left my skin looking plump and smooth, but I didn't feel any particular sensation when I applied it, so it's hard for me to judge if it really worked.

For one more drugstore brand, read more

A few months ago Clarins came out with a limited-edition version bottle of its Eau Dynamisante fragrance. I haven't smelled this particular fragrance before, but considering the limited edition bottle is bright red with a giant white heart in the center (made from children holding hands), it was too hard to resist this close to Valentine's Day.

The bottle was designed by artist Lorenz Baumer in honor of the Most Dynamic Woman Award and symbolizes sharing and generosity. Funny enough, I'd describe the scent as classic, invigorating and dynamic too. It's made from plant extracts, patchouli, ginseng, honey, rosemary, thyme and citrus notes. In addition, the plant extracts are supposedly moisturizing and toning for your skin — pretty cool, eh?

But I think the best part of all is that 100% of the profits go to the Andrea Jaeger's Little Star Foundation which helps children in need. The Clarins Eau Dynamisante fragrance range includes a 3.4 oz eau de toilette ($45-$60 depending on the bottle), a deodorant ($21), and a body lotion ($38).

Yesterday I brought you the first installment of my series on face oils. These gentle and fast-absorbing products are a relatively new way to increase hydration as well as re-balance and rejuvenate dry winter skin. Here are three more products to check out.

Neal's Yard Organic Orange Flower Facial Oil ($60) helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, eliminate toxins as well as balance the moisture levels in the skin. It is made from mandarin, pomegranate, primrose, ylang ylang, neroli and macadamia seed oil. After continued use, the result is soft, supple and balanced skin. Use morning and/or evening and massage into the face and neck.

For two more re-balancing and rejuvenating facial oils, read more

Clarins is usually known as a skin care brand, but that could change with the introduction of this Spring 2008 Colour Fizz collection. Full of pastels with punch and just an overall feeling of energy, this collection is a breath of bright and fresh air. To create this look that you see in the picture, four new shades of eyeshadow as well as the new eyeliner and Double Fix Mascara were used.

Other pre-existing items such as Wonder Length Mascara, Gloss Appeal in Lilac, EyeLiner Pencil in Copper and Brown, 'Instant Light' Complexion Perfector and Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Eye Cream were also used. That's why you'll see them paired with this collection on the website and at makeup counters, but these aren't brand new products.

For more details about the new products in the collection, read more

The latest launch from Clarins is a new lip gloss called Gloss Appeal. I seriously need to get a handle on my lip-gloss fetish. With well over 75 glosses in my bathroom, why do I still get excited about the prospect of owning more? I think that lip gloss reminds me a lot of what Frances McDormand once said about shampoo in the movie Friends With Money.

She said something to the effect of every time she washed her hair in her youth, she looked at it as another chance to make herself more beautiful. That statement resonates with me, because I somehow think that if I find the most flattering lip-gloss shade in existence, I will become a lot prettier. I feel a little bit silly admitting this, but then again, I'm not sure that I'm alone.

Okay, so, back to the gloss. It contains hints of gold and silver shimmer as well as a plumping agent to create a super-shiny, light-catching effect. It is formulated with vitamin E to soften the lips and olive oil to help hydrate and protect them. The result is a sparkly, smooth, and more defined smile. In addition, the gloss is said to have a sweet flavor — bonus! Gloss Appeal is currently available in eight shades and sells for $19 each.