Whether you’ll just admire them, or use them everyday, make room for these powders in your makeup bag.

1) Shu Uemura’s Tsumori Chisato Limited Edition Duo Color Highlighter Golden Snow – From the Shu holiday collection, a partnership with Japanese artist Tsumori Chisato, this celestial “lucky cat” compact is The Beauty Bug’s favorite product from the collection.  Sweep this sheer warm silver powder over blush, or use it as a highlighter on the brow bone and reveal an ethereal glow. Dazzle like an ice queen, or delicately twinkle like a fairy with this powder.  $40*

2) Lancome’s Sparkling Cherub Sheer Warm Illuminating Powder – The Beauty Bug wore this powder today, and as soon as She got to work one of Her co-workers immediately said, “There’s something different with your makeup today, you’re glowing!” Coated with a thin layer of adult glitter (not too flashy, juvenile or over done, and very flattering) that will dissipate after the first few applications, the powder is a gorgeous, radiant shade that adds life to your face.  She uses this Coastal Scents Italian Badger Buffer Brush to apply and buffs, buffs and then buffs some more.  Definitely the stand out in Lancome’s Holiday Collection. Besides, who can resist a chubby cherub holding a heart? $40*

3) Prescriptives Limited Edition Lustre Cheek Color – Housed in a festive Holiday compact adorned with snowflakes, this powder is probably one of the most subtle and understated of the bunch, but shouldn’t be overlooked. Apply to the apples of cheeks for that fresh-out-of-the-cold look. $24*

4) Estée Lauder 5-Tone Shimmer Powder – This versatile, multi-tone powder is a winner because of it’s silky-fine finish and the natural, radiant flush it creates on the skin.  The colors are beautifully sheer, and iridescent.  Available in two shades, pink shimmer and bronze shimmer, it can be used all over the face, and on eyes.  Fair skinned ladies, opt for the pink shimmer; ladies with deeper, olive skin opt for the bronze shimmer.  Add a layer over your blush to brighten, and finish. Insta-glow.  Plus – it’s one of two products  mentioned that’s not limited edition. Score. $36*

5) Trish McEvoy Instant Pick-Me-Up All Over Face Color Quad – The Beauty Bug hearts this quad that allows you to bronze, blush, luminize and highlight. It’s a do-it-all-and-then-some product; one stop shopping! The only let down? It doesn’t come with the compact.  The Color Quad only will set you back $42, while the compact is an additional $17.50.**

6) Benefit’s One Hot Minute – This loose rose-gold powder perks up any skin tone without any glitter, or too much shimmer. It gives skin a beautiful, subtle, sun-kissed sheen that’s nearly colorless on cheeks. Fair complected girls may be able to get away with using this in place of a bronzer, where darker complected girls use this as an enhancer.  Toss the brush that it comes with, and use one in your stash.  Dash a bit on your shoulders and collar bone for some more flare. $30*

*Disclosure: A press sample was provided to The Beauty Bug.

**Disclosure: The Beauty Bug tested this product during Her lunch break at Neiman’s.

The Beauty Bug received a sample of this, but knew She needed a hands-on lesson. She headed to the Shu Uemura boutique on Newbury Street to visit Boston’s Best, and Shu Atelier Artist, Dani Wagener.

The math is really quite simple – one foundation stick = 2 ways to apply, 2 coverage options.

For sheer-medium buildable coverage with a hint of dewy-ness that’s great for everyday, Dani instructs:

• Using a sponge, prep skin with a moisturizer and primer.
• Apply the Nobara stick directly to the same sponge, and then repeatedly pat on face and blend, adding more foundation as needed.

Prepping the skin properly and using the slightly moist sponge to apply the foundation allows it to slip on to skin. The damp sponge also better holds on to the pigment in the foundation.

For full coverage, Dani instructs:

• Prep skin with moisturizer and primer.
• Using Shu brush #18, apply the Nobara stick to the brush and then tap/slightly swirl on skin.
• Set with Depsea Water Facial Mist

The brush application method reveals a smooth, matte finish that’s not cakey. Opt for this method if you’re going to an event, or will be taking photos.

The Shu Uemura Nobara Cream Foundation Stick is available at ShuUemura.com, and at Shu Uemura boutiques for $42.

Disclosure: A press sample was provided to The Beauty Bug.

New this month, The La Mer Hydrating Facial is a two-zoned cotton mask saturated with hydrators, anti-agers, and energizers. This trio packs a mean, ultra-moisturizing punch to awaken skin. Without getting too scientific, ingredients include a special blend of  exotic green algae from far away lands that soak skin with a surge of moisture, marine plant algae which helps to diminish discoloration and the visible signs of aging, melon and avocado plant extracts that work to improve skin texture, and tourmaline (yes, the same precious stone that’s ground into a fine powder and infused into the ceramic plates of irons) embedded into the cotton to crank the molecules into high gear.

The morning after The Beauty Bug applied the mask, Her skin was unheard-of-soft.

This mask is nearly perfect – it renews skin and provides a resilient healthy glow, the two pieces make for an easy, quick application (no awkward or clumsy maneuvering to attempt to get it to cover your whole face), it leaves a generous amount of the treatment behind, and it provides the ultimate at home facial experience. The Beauty Bug just wishes that single masks were available for purchase. Six applications will set you back $250.

The Hydrating Facial is currently available at select Saks Fifth Avenue locations, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and www.lamer.com.

Disclosure: A press sample was provided to The Beauty Bug.

Once at home, The Beauty Bug reached for it. She peeled off the seal sticker and waited for the powder to seep through the holes. No powder. She closed the compact, turned it over, and tapped the bottom. No powder. She shook it. No powder.  She shook it harder. Frustrated and on the verge of being late for work, She reached for another foundation. Day two – more of the same. Day three She headed to straight to Sephora, foundation in hand.

She brought it up to the register and explained her conundrum. Within 30 seconds, and one simple twist of the compact (built in shaver, as Smashbox calls it), the powder magically appeared. Embarrassed, ashamed and still a bit puzzled, She left the store. If only She had watched this video…

Forget everything you know or have heard about powders. This little wonder sets a new standard for all powders – it’s a powder with anti-aging power.  The formula is comprised of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and Smashbox’s unique Goji berry-C Complex,  a strong anti-oxidant. What most impressed The Beauty Bug was the fact that once on the skin, it looks as though it’s a liquid foundation. Skin is left looking fresh, hydrated and luminescent – NOT chalky or matte in the slightest. Coverage is sheer and smooth, yet buildable. The spill-proof twist/shaver mechanism allows the minerals to stay fresh and makes the product easy to travel with. The Beauty Bug prefers Her own, softer kabuki brush to the one that comes with the foundation, but the accompanying brush will do in a pinch.

Bare Escentuals users, The Beauty Bug is talking to you.  Smashbox provides better coverage, and delivers anti-aging benefits.  While at first glance the prices are dramatically different, Bare Escentuals ($25) offers .3 ounces of powder, while Smashbox ($59) gives you .75 ounces.

Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder & Brush Set is available on Sephora.com and Smashbox.com for $59.

Disclosure: The Beauty Bug  purchased this herself at Her local Sephora while on Her lunch break.

Back at Her vanity, The Beauty Bug began to apply the mascara, attempting to familiarize Herself with the ‘ revolutionary double helix’ brush. After one stroke, She knew this mascara wasn’t for Her. What was supposed to be the selling point, (the applicator), was the downfall. The odd, bulky, block-ish, blunt-ended brush made for a very awkward and uneasy application. Almost immediately, a considerable amount of product landed on The Beauty Bug’s eyelid and on the bridge of Her nose. Finally, after multiple coats (each more uncomfortable and difficult than the next), the mascara delivered average/decent length, and no volume or thickness.

For the second trial the next day, The Beauty Bug had done a bit of research and discovered that there were a set of instructions hidden under a flap on the box that had gone unnoticed. She reached into Her trash to retrieve the box and lifted the flap. The first step advises to title your chin up and apply the mascara in a single stroke as you normally would, step two instructs to hold the brush vertically and comb through lashes, and step three completes the look by using the tip of the brush to fan out lashes at the corners of the eyes.

Even with the directions in hand, and step by step photos to go with them, this mascara doesn’t make the cut. While the formula is decent (no clumping or flaking), the brush is nearly impossible to use.

Bottom line -  if long lashes aren’t in your genes, unfortunately, Smashbox DNA mascara is not the answer.

Smashbox DNA mascara is available at Sephora for $9.

Disclosure: A press sample was provided to The Beauty Bug.

The Product of the Month is a new feature here on Bit By The Beauty Bug. Look for new knock-out products to be highlighted at the beginning of every month.

First The Beauty Bug tried Physician’s Forumla Eye Definer Felt Tip Marker. It was streaky, had a weak tip and the color got lighter with time. Read Her full review here.  She next tried L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mistake-Proof Marker Eyeliner. Better, but She didn’t love the wider tip. She keeps it around for emergencies.  Next, The Beauty Bug tried MAC’s Penultimate Eyeliner. She thought Her search was over, but the color faded after several uses and what was once a bold black turned into a sheer black.

Then The Beauty Bug tried LORAC’s new Front of the Line Pro. And all She has to say is…Lauren Conrad. Eat.Your.Heart.Out. With this new gem of a product, The Beauty Bug has the best lined eyes on the east coast! This new miracle pen outlasts, out-performs, and is overall outstanding, which is why it earned itself the title of The Beauty Bug’s first ever “Product of the Month.”  The sleek, airtight gun metal pen effortlessly releases a bold, true, rich black to create clean, precise lines.  The Beauty Bug loves the smooth formula; She can line Her lid in one continuous stroke and control the thickness/thinness of the line like She has never been able to before. It’s no-smudge, no-budge, no hassle – just glide it on once for a strong, solid line.

This slick little number is like your favorite little black dress – it must always be within reach.

LORAC’S Front of the Line Pro is available at Sephora.com for $22.

• The Director in Charge drooling over the Illamasqua blushes commenting that they were best, prettiest blushes in the store. The brand is the store’s newest edition and its bold colors and chic packaging was drawing quite a crowd.  What could be the love child of MAC and Shu Uemura,  Illamasqua is only available in about 20 Sephora locations on each of the coasts. Boston  – we have the Red Sox, some of the best clam chowder, Harvard, and a Sephora store that carries Illamasqua.
• Two other Sephora employees hovering over the new Illamasqua display talking (while swatching the glosses on their hands) about a customer from Dubai purchased over $800 worth of Illamasqua products for her sister who is a makeup artist in Dubai .
• A 30-something male professional with semi-severe acne and itchy, dry, flaky skin quietly seeking advice from a Sephora skin care professional for his conditions. With one problem solved, and the Peter Thomas Roth Acne Kit in hand, the rep next recommended DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub for his itching and flaking.  He held the product in his hand, looking both confused and clueless. “Can I use that on my face?”, he asked. The Beauty Bug stopped dead in Her tracks. A body scrub on your face? Oh you silly man!
• A Sephora artist gushing over a certain Smashbox foundation, touting that it was the only foundation she could wear because it left her skin soft and glowing. Still continuing to eavesdrop, The Beauty Bug shot a glance her way and confirmed the claims. Her skin looked amazing! The Beauty Bug went over to check it out and to Her surprise, it was a powder – Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder. No chalkiness, no drastic matte finish. Sold.

Check out past Sephora rumblings here.

BB: Can you speak a bit about the awards as whole this year? How did they evolve from last year? How many products did you receive to test this year?

KP: There weren’t a whole lot changes from last year to this year. Our goal is to always try the full expanse of all the products women use. We were, however, a bit more cognizant of prices this year. This isn’t a time where women are rushing out to buy expensive products. If we were very close on 2 products, we’d most likely choose the less expensive one, and the other more expensive one went in our ‘Best Splurges’ section.

Our panel is comprised of our Allure beauty staff and  experts who tested over 2,500 products. The experts, dermatologists, researchers, and independent cosmetic chemists help to verify that the science behind all of these products is legit.

BB: When does the process start? Are there any qualifications or specifications for brands submitting their products?

KP: We’re never not working on the awards. In fact, we’ve already started to work on the next year’s – the editors have begun building their list of products they want to try and calling them in. The heavy duty testing goes from February through August. There are no specifications or qualifications – a beauty brand can submit whatver they want.

After the heavy duty testing, the battling begins. Of course sometimes there are clear winners, but when there’s not, our editors are passionate and fight for their favorites. I recall arguments by the copy machine and in the hallways. “Why didn’t you like my mascara?” But of course, majority rules.

BB: What’s your own personal testing method?

KP: I split my body into quadrants and test a lot of products at once. I’ve learned to try things in stages. I try a product on a small area of my body, and if I like it and it passes the test, I use it as its meant to be used.  If I’m testing a macara, I’ll put it on one eye, and if it’s not clumping or sweating down my face, I’ll use it on both eyes.

BB: Last year No Frizz by Living Proof was the star product that garnered the most buzz. What is this years star product?

KP: I would have to say St. Tropez self tanners and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color are the products that are getting the most attention. St. Trpoez because everyone woman that self-tans know that they can be the bain of her existence due to the streakiness and smell (and St. Tropez does neither), and the Insta-Dri Nail Color because of its durability and drying properties. Natalie Morales from the TODAY Show loved Uptempto Plum, and I even got a call from my mom asking me to send her some! I sent her to the drugstore.

BB: The Orlando Pita + T3 Renew Dry Conditioner intrigues The Beauty Bug, though She’s not a dry shampoo user. She even read that one of your contributors said that this product changed her life. What is it about this product?

KP: This product took a little while to understand, but it’s amazing. If you have static issues, or you have those little unruly fly-aways that form a halo around your head, get this product. If you have thin hair, but you don’t want to load on the conditioner because you don’t want to weigh your hair down, use this. It really softens hair without weighing it down. Amazing.

BB: What are your thoughts on the latest Latisse news that broke in the recently? (Latisse was included in the issue as one of the big beauty breakthroughs.)

KP: It’s not the first time that a company is challenged by for its ad claims – its happened many times before and it will happen again. All of  the dermatolgists we spoke to said that it wasn’t a concern for women using it soley for lash growth, just for those applying the drops directly into their eyes for Glaucoma treatmemt. Our experts saw no cases of discoloration when the product was used for cosmetic reasons.

Personally, I love Peter Thomas Roth’s Lashes to Die For Night Time Eyelash Conditioning Treatment. It’s fabulous – since I’ve started using it my lashes look like they are fake. yes the tube is $125, but The bottle lasts forever. Just make sure you keep up with it and use it every night. If you don’t, after your lengthened lashes fall out, the new ones that grow in aren’t as long.

BB: Speaking of lashes, each of the mascaras that made the cut this year are all drug store mascaras. Did this have anything to do with the economy?

KP: Nope – nothing to do with the economy because department store mascaras are only in the $20-$30 range, it’s just because we are in love with these mascaras. With all this Latisse talk, everyone is craving big, giant lashes. Drug store mascaras have come a long way and now all the brushes and the formulas are amazing. This is one product women don’t have to splurge on.

BB: Everyone has their favorite/stand-out products. What are yours?

KP: No Frizz. In all the years that I’ve been here at Allure, I’ve been searching for that holy grail product and last year I finally found it. It’s the only product that allows me to ride the subway in the worst summer humidity and still retain my hair style. I wish I could bathe in it!

I also love Cover Girl Lash Blast. The big fat brush with the short, nubby bristles is the best. The formula never flakes or migrates on to my face. Cover Girl Lip Stain is another one of my favorites. A lot of the colors are pretty deep – I go for the lighters ones. I love Sassy Mauve (#420). It’s the shade of my lips, only a little rosier. It’s not drying and it doesn’t cause flaking.

DuWop Circle Block is a two-step concealer that I love. You apply a balm first that moisturizes and tints followed by the concealer. The texture is great and it doesn’t crease.

BB: The Beauty Bug is always plagued by creasing concealer because She applies it to Her lids to rid them of their reddish color.

KP: Quick tip for you because I have the same problem. I use Bobbi Brown’s cream eye shadow in Suede because I have the bruised eyelid look as well. It tints my eyelid color into one that I actually like.

BB: Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion seemed like just another bottle on shelves. But, on the contrary, it’s HUGELY significant. How big is  this for the beauty world? Explain its significance.

KP: It’s hugely significant, and in working with our chemists and scientists, we substantiated the claims. It’s this simple. Use the products once every 3 days for 2 weeks and your hair will be 1o times stronger. It’s all about the science and the discovery of a new polymer found in a plant. None of the experts that we spoke to had every seen anything like it. The polymer forms a cast around wet hair to cushion it and prevent it from breakage. As hair dries, he polymer shrinks and leaves behind conditioning silicone.  It can help aging hair; it can help colored hair. There’s nothing worse than seeing hair break off and this can now prevent that. It can help with length, and potentially thickness as well.

The Allure Best Of Beauty issue is on sale now!

Exploring the vast hall that seemed like it went on forever, The Beauty Bug felt like She was in the shoes of brilliant beauty boss  Nicky Kinnaird of Space NK (check out her new blog here), searching and discovering brands that She’d love to see available for purchase in the US.

Here’s the photos The Beauty Bug snapped while She could (photos aren’t supposed to be taken in the store)…

A nail bar in the middle of  the store.

More photos after the jump…

For those that can read French, check out this brand.  The Beauty Bug was especially intrigued by their masks. Nicky Kinnaird, are you listening? Make some room on your shelves for these produce-packed products.

12.90 Euro for a bottle of OPI. Roughly $19.35. That’s one expensive bottle of Lincoln Park After Dark.

$52.65…for mascara.

Brulez vos soutiens-gorge translates to “burn your bras.”

Herborist. Another brand The Beauty Bug thinks belongs in Space NK. Just take a look at the mask below…

Roger Et Gallet. The Beauty Bug’s favorites were Cirton and Vanilla.

Skinvitals.

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Sabon

Rituals (The Beauty Bug was tempted by their skincare.)

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