According to Marissa Shipman, founder and CEO of TheBalm, "Youth is both a state of mind and a product of your makeup bag".   This fun and nostalgic brand is perfect for women of all ages.  The kitschy packaging holds multi use, mega-fabulous products, offering quick fixes and wondrous solutions for a wide range of beauty wants and needs.

Behold the newest launch, Balms Away, $19.  Tori Spelling and Becki Newton take it all off with this spill-proof makeup remover that comes in a travel-friendly vintage tin.   The moisturizing formula easily removes eye makeup, ensuring that your beauty sleep delivers the restful benefits it should. It's made with vitamins A, C, and E, and a blend of plant-derived sterols and lipids that hydrate and restore skin.

Go Green:  Totalbeauty.com is giving away great gifts every day! Every time you write a review, you'll be entered for a chance to win great instant prizes from Sephora, RAW Natural Beauty, Allure, Brilliant Earth, Spas of America, Suki and Tela Beauty Organics.

Do you ever wonder what other beauty buffs around the world can’t wait to get their hands on? Me too!  Wonder no more, WWD Beauty Biz just reported what cutting edge retailers divuldged as their stand-out product performers for Spring.

• Berlin
  Department Store, Quartier 206
  Organic Pharmacy, Rose Plus Anti-Aging Face Cream
  
• Hong Kong
  Lane Crawford
  Escentric Molecules, Molecule 01
  
• Milan
  Profumo
  Mona di Orio, Amytis
  
• London
  Liberty
  Aesop, Wash & Protect Kit
  
• Tokyo
  Tommorwland
  Apothia, Velvet Rope Eau de Parfum
  
• Sao Paulo
  Amarynthe At Daslu
  Jiki Tourmaline Mineral Soap
  
• Australia
  Kit
  Jemma Kidd, English Rose Palette
  

What do you think the stand-out product for Spring is here in the US? Stay turned, next week I’ll let you in the know.

Vue the world differently:  One lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products. 

The Simpon girls melt away daily stress with Me! Bath Ice Cream.  Jess prefers Gotta Have It Pomegranate, $8, while little sis Ashlee prefers the refreshing summer scent of Cucumber Melon.  

Just one scoop of Bath Ice Cream transforms your tub into a tantalizing treatment bath with the fizzing action of mineral sea salts, aromatic oils and nourishing ingredients like milk, honey and flower petals. With over thirty  'flavors' to choose from, it's easy to treat yourself.

Go Green:  This month, one lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products.  Review products for a chance to win instantly!

My last trip to the drugstore proved fruitful!  I found these products at crazy low prices that don't disappoint;

Fusion Body Wash in Restore, scented with rosemary and jasmine which stinks --literally (and hardly no bubbles), but attached was a tiny bottle of Thermal Pedicure, which I love.  This scrubby foot wash heats up -hot- on contact with water transforms your feet, like a little bit of a professional pedicure every day.  I emerged from the shower and went to bed that night with noticeably smoother feet.      

Hi-Definition Fluid Eyeliner Stylist in Slate by a company called Prestige ... which is sold at Walgreens. It's absolutely the perfect eyeliner as far as I'm concerned: draws on like a marker, makes a nice thin line, is small and chubby-ish so it fits well in your grip, and it's the prettiest, almost-subtle shade of dark gray.  And it lasts all day without sliding down your face.  Forget the advice you may have read in the past never to line the inside rims of eyes because it makes eyes look tiny. Sexy cat eyes are a cool look for night and the key to this look is to apply a thin line to the inside rims of the lids.

One look and your surroundings seem to be whirling around, Spin It Lip Gloss from Rimmel is mesmerizing.  The multi layered glosses contain semi-sheer shades that can be worn individually or mixed.  The thing I like best about it, is it reminds me of fun I used to have creating spin art as a little girl.  It's fun and comes in several rockin' shades: Call Me, Lip Service, Mix It Up, Spin Out, Stir Crazy and Vertigo (shown).

Vue the world differently:  One lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products. 

What has a delectable chocolate fragrance when you smooth it on that morphs into a fresh, powdery scent once it sinks in? Spoiled Pretty tells you what it is and why you need to try it!

Pursebuzz does a step by step tutorial on how to create that extra dramatic smokey eye as seen on Gwen and Fergie and everyone on the red carpet.

Do you love Lip Venom?  Ultra-shiny with an exciting, spicy bite, this tingly gloss works like a bicycle pump for your pout.  Product Whores love Lip Venom and are one of the first to review DuWop's new Cheek Venom.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic show you the easy way to breakfast in bed.  Since I hate to cook, I love this idea.

Beauty Blogging Junkie schools you on how to avoid flakey, dry lips.

Shannon over at A Girl's Gotta Spa posted her final auctions.  The MAC goodies only have a few hours to go- so check it out!  It's for a great cause.

Product Girl is giving away 4 goodie bags from the upcoming Sex and the City movie! Check out Product Girl for more information.

A Winnie the Pooh approved products is all the rage over at Cybelesays.  If you covet honey, you won't want to miss this one.

StyleBell shows you how to make some serious waves with your flat iron.  Along with all the necessary products, and how-to-- you'll find a great You Tube video for all of those of you out there who need a visual.

Face Candy reviews NARS Orgasm Multiple, Lip Gloss and Nail Polish.

The Muse dishes on Benefit's new cheek stain, Posie Tint and has great swatches, too.  It's a beautiful shade of....

For all of you out there that have experienced a waxing trauma, you'll be glad to know that Tria, the first at-home laser hair removal device has been cleared for direct-to-consumer sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The hand held device which retails for $995 is scheduled to roll out to derm offices next month and to select Bliss Spas, Fred Segal and Bergdorf Goodman by the end of summer.  

Its use is limited to those with light to medium skin tones and dark hair, as dark and black skin tends to absorbs too much of the laser activity and can cause damage.  The Tria is easy to use, simply click on the unit and it verifies your skin tone.  If it's within suitable range, a green light will appear and unlock the unit.  Then, point and click your way -pain-free- to smooth skin.  The company notes a full course of treatment requires six or seven sessions at three to four week intervals. 

The company has sold over 15,000 units in the UK, Spain, Italy and Japan.  Overseas, it is sold under the brand name i-Epi and sports a heftier price tag of $1,600--- each.   Although these devices are more than a quick fix, they won't make a trip to the dermatologists office extinct.  Not yet- at least, but companies are getting closer as the efficacy gets higher and prices get lower. 

Other noteworthy high-tech devices:

• Beat Box
  Wellbox, $1595
  When engineer Louis Paul Guitay was given therapeutic massage to treat burns from a car accident, he noticed that morning massages were more effective than PM 'pummelings', due to the therapist's tired hands. This led him to develop endermologie, a mechanical massage technique that uses uniform rolling and suction motions. When it was shown to diminish cellulite, the 'dimple'-minded spa world was all over it. Wellbox is the only personal endermologie system—so if you'd like to attack orange peel in your own home, it's a sure 'thin.'
  
  
• A Buzz
  Clarisonic, $195
  Developed by the primary inventor of the Sonicare toothbrush, the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush is clinically proven to be more than 2x as effective as cleansing by hand. Gentle enough for use twice daily, it leaves your skin feeling and looking smoother and prepares the skin for increased product absorption. Ideal for all skin types, this unit is getting lots of pr after being name one of Oprah's favorite things.
  
  
• Beam Me Up, Baby!
  NuFace, $379
  This cell phone sized gadget is the first and only microcurrent hand-held device FDA cleared for cosmetic over-the-counter use for facial toning. NuFace microcurrent also increases traffic in the blood flow department, leading to loads more collagen, elastin and connective tissue-the elements of skin rejuvenations.  If you want to try before you buy, Bliss Spa incorporates it into a few of its spa services. 
  
  

• Light Bright
  Tanda, $299
  Tanda is safe, natural and utilizes the proven science of light therapy to both clear and regenerate skin in one complete system. Two simple steps, in three minute treatments...it´s that easy!

In light of the positive response I received from my last post on three industry favorites, I'll be posting my top three favorite finds on a monthly basis.   This past month, I found three new products that make the cut.

• Peachy Keen
  RAW Natural Beauty introduced Natural Transformation Brightening Powder, a talc-free concealer that diffuses light and disguises skin imperfections.  In a soft, peachy shade, the powder infuses extracts such as fresh water pearl, bamboo, Japanese honeysuckle and a blend of California poppy, milk thistle and chaparral for glowing skin. 
  
  
•  Alison Raffaele Cosmetics, formerly Skin Allison Rafefaele, re-launched its makeup line after adding natural ingredients and packaging.  The reformulated products are free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, talc or fragrance.  Featuring eco-friendly packaging made from recycled, recyclable or biodegradable material, Raffele's True Concealer, $23, Transparent Finish, $26, RealityBase Foundation, $44 and new Face Forward SPF 15 Primers, $38 now contain "Frutta di Vita". The antioxidant complex is made up of three powerful ingredients; pomegranate, goji berry and resverstrol, made from grape skin. Research indicates that resverstrol has the ability to slow the aging process. Celebrities near and far are flocking to get their hand on her new line.   The former head assistant to internationally celebrated makeup-artist Bobbi Brown, has worked with such famous faces as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Phoebe Cates and Kirsten Dunst over the years.
  
  
• Glide-On
  Pencil Me In Cosmetics, available exclusively online, launched a line of natural eye pencils.  Blended with botanicals, antioxidants and vitamins, these cushiony, creamy eye pencils deliver powerful, vibrant color.  All 30-shades go on smooth and stay soft for blending -about 30 seconds-, then dry to a long-lasting finish that won't smudge or budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect. The images on the website promise to inspire new looks for day and all night.

P.S.:  This month, one lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products.  It should be you.   What's the best product you've discovered recently?

Green is no longer an eye shadow hue in your favorite compact, or a candle on your countertop-- it's become a lifestyle choice.  Now, consumers may finally get clued in to what organic and natural means in respect to personal care now that members of the beauty industry have set about defining these terms.   Industry insiders have joined forces and launched at least three separate groups, aiming to regulate the nine billion dollar market.  

Whole Foods
The company now lists about 250 ingredients banned from products that look to advertise its Premium Beauty Care label, the symbol that represents the retailer's version of premium, vs the over-used, passe term "natural".    About 1,200 beauty items the store carries meet the standard, and the list is growing daily as manufacturers move toward using ingredients of a higher quality and leave out things when a organic or natural alternative is available.

Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards (OASIS)
The OASIS seal provides assurance to the consumer of credible value for organic and sustainable claims.  The group certifies at two levels, "made with organic" and "organic".  The former will require a minimum of 70% organic ingredients and the later will require products to be made with a minimum of 85% organic ingredients.  New Leaf Organics by Smith & Vandiver, are the first products to bear the OASIS seal.

The Natural Standard looks to define natural by requiring 95 percent of all ingredients to be natural.  Led by Burt's Bees executive, Mike Indursky and the Natural Products Association,the The Natural Standard will use the NPA, as its  third-party certifier.  The group has been working on aspects of the program for the past year and is looking to begin hitting stores in the next twelve months.  

Green Scene:  One lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products.   From April 17th through June 5th, TotalBeauty.com will be giving away hundreds of Earth-Day inspired daily prizes, including conflict-free diamond from Brilliant Earth, eco-spa trips from Spas of America, and more.

Strikingly beautiful, feminie-chic packaging, is a Thymes signature. Which is why it didn’t surprise me when I found out girlie Mandy Moore is a fan. Apparently she basks in the blush of red fruits and flowers, sweet sparkling pomegranate, ripe red cherries, passion flower and jasmine Red Cherie. Spiked with a twist of Asian lychee and a tease of fruity musk, this fruity cocktail leaves you with a healthy glow that’s nothing less than non-stop gorgeous. The paraben-free formulas contain no artifical color and key botanical ingredients:

• Organic Passion Flower Extract
  Growing on long vines in shaded, woody areas, the passion flower is prized for its soothing and calming properities.
  
• Organic Wild Cherry Extract
  This mineral-rich extract has antioxidant properities, nourishing skin with calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C.
  
• Vitamin E
  A protective vitamin, its antioxidant and moisturizing properities help skin maintain a youthful appearance.

The variatel is sure to spruce up any abode. It’s available in a myrid of formularions fromAHA Body Lotion, $12 to a signature luxury gift box that contains best-sellers for $110.

Clean Green:  This month, one lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products.  It should be you.