Almay

Often, women look to their mothers to see how they will age, and if Goldie Hawn is any indication, Kate Hudson has nothing to worry about. Both stars work hard for their glowing complexions, but they each have differing approaches when it comes to skin care. Kate, a global brand ambassador for Almay, keeps it simple, while her mother loves to experiment. Discover Goldie's nighttime beauty routine, stories of Kate's early years as an aspiring makeup artist, and their plans for Mother's Day when you keep reading

Kate Hudson is the ultimate California girl with a beauty routine to match: simple and easy. "That's why Almay and I are a good fit," says Kate, who is a spokeswoman for the beauty brand. "I don't like fussy makeup on a day-to-day basis. The reality is I've got five to 10 minutes to get myself ready for the day, to take Ryder [her son] to school, or to start my workday. So for me it's a quick base, a cheek, mascara, and a lip gloss."

Her new favorite product is the line's Intense I-Color Liquid Shadow + Color Primer ($8, available next month at drugstores nationwide). "I wear these all the time," Kate says. "I like easy makeup — anything that goes on easy that you can continue to apply throughout the day and anything you can put it your purse and it's not too fussy."

For Kate, the most beautiful women she's known are the ones "who are focused on their mental and physical health, their joy center, and understanding and balancing their lives." She explains, "I think that's when you see most women at their most beautiful, especially when women are emanating happiness."

And happiness will be all about the family's holiday traditions this month. "Ryder loves the Advent calendars," she says. "And I have this little log cabin Advent calendar that opens and there are all these little animals." With that anticipation and all the cookie-baking and hot chocolate she has planned, it sounds like there's lots of joy ahead for the Hudson-Bellamy household this season.

Silver or gold? In the world of holiday metallics, which one do you choose? Thanks to Almay's holiday-edition Intense i-Color Smoky-i Kit ($6 each), you can do both. Go for warm with Party Shimmer, a gradiated selection of champagne, gold, and brown hues, or for a cool option, try Party Sparkle, which features silver, pink, and taupe colors. Both would look gorgeous on regardless of eye color, and can be easily layered and mixed to create multiple effects. And because the pigments are neither too intense nor too glittery, you'll be able to wear these shimmery shades all year long — while rocking out all night long, of course.

It's the time of year when brands reveal their new celebrity spokespeople, and Revlon just announced that it's signed Kate Hudson to be the face of Almay. It's a pairing that makes a lot of sense to me, especially since Almay has had a more eco-friendly line of products out for a couple of years now, and Kate's known for her natural, sunny California girl looks.

What do you think? Is this a good match, or do celebrity spokespeople even matter when you're buying makeup?

Almay Touchpad Blush promises natural-looking color, but reader emalove says it's a little bit too natural:

I had such high hopes for this blush when I tried it a couple of years ago . . . the packaging was innovative at the time and I thought it would give pretty, sheer color to my cheeks. Plus, I love cream, gel, and liquid blushes. I tried this blush in a soft peach shade and was SO disappointed. It was super-watery and you could hardly see the color on my face. And I'm very pale-skinned; even light colors are usually very noticeable. But this blush was beyond sheer. Even after I reapplied a couple of times, it didn't really do anything for me. It was so watery that it almost seemed to disappear or rub off as I tried to blend it in.

Found a better blush? Or do you disagree? Let everyone know on our Product Reviews pages, where you can write up a review of more than 50,000 products (it might even get featured here!) and find a ton of info on all the newest beauty goodies.

Almay Pure Blends Makeup ($12) is part of Almay's recently launched eco-friendly line. I'm usually a little bit cautious about drugstore stuff that says it's "natural," especially when it comes to skin care, because it sometimes means essential oils that irritate my skin, but reader longhornlass04 has had a great experience with this one. She says:

"I actually bought this on clearance, because I think they just updated the packaging. I'm big on spending very little on foundation if I've never tried it before. I got nervous when I first put it on, because I sometimes have a reaction to lavender, and the smell is lavender-heavy. However, my skin didn't flare up and it left it even-toned. After a week or so of using it, I noticed my pores began to look smaller. Wasn't expecting that. It's also very dewy, which I love on my combination skin. I just brush a little mineral powder on my t-zone and it's pitch perfect."

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Reader Hottpink received the highest of compliments after wearing Almay Intense i-Color Eyeliner in Raisin Quartz ($7.50). Green eyes paired with a purple-toned eyeliner, shadow, or mascara are an eye-popping combo. Here's what she had to say:

I have been using this eyeliner since it first came out. The color is perfect because I have very green eyes and it makes them even more green. The last time I visited my parents my mom actually asked if I was wearing green contacts! It glides on very smoothly, smudges easily, lasts all day, and washes off well at night. All in all, this is a keeper.

If there's a product that gives your baby blues (or browns, or hazels, or greens) that extra something, we want to know. Go straight to our Product Reviews section to submit your opinion, and if you're feeling extra adventurous, check out more of the daily Reader Reviews when you're through.