Young Punk – this baked mineral eye shadow has a black base and tons of purple shimmer and glitter. The black goes on very sheer, and the shimmer is quite pigmented. It offers an instant smoky eye without being too goth or Halloweeny. Unlike NARS’s similar Night eye shadows, the black never overpowers the shimmer.

Volcanic Ash Exfoliator – this gentle foaming exfoliator is certainly black. It doesn’t stain the skin though. It has a strange smell that I can’t quite place. The sugar crystals dissolve as you massage it in, and it rinses clean without drying. I like it enough to finish off the bottle, but it is not my favorite cleanser. I just don’t feel as clean as I could be.

Glimmerglass in Blackfire- This sheer black gloss with tons of purple micro glitter. It is surprisingly flattering, a sheer plum shade, but watch out, as the gloss can gather around the edges of your lips, which darken and make it look like you are wearing liner 3 shades darker than you should.

I was less impressed with the Dsquared collection. The blue sparkly Greasepaint Stick is too thick to easily use as a liner; too hard to use as a shadow. The Fuchsia Fix lip conditioner – while a little bright for my pale complexion, was a lot nicer than I remember the lip conditioners being. Not my favorite balm, but it doesn’t dry out my lips like the old formula did. And the “Blood Red” lipstick from the collection was far more fuchsia than red.

I have tried a lot of anti-frizz serums, but so far, Philip B.’s Formula 57 is my favorite. This ultra-light serum goes on weightlessly to prevent frizzing and fly-aways, even in 100% humidity. One pump is enough for a whole head of hair. The website also promises Formula 57 will protect hair from heat styling, and help repair damage. With vitamin E, jojoba, soybean oil, and lavender, and and paraben free, this is one styling product that delivers.

I do not know why it is called Formula 57… 57 levels of awesomeness?

Philip B. Formula 57? Spork Approved!

My favorite is the Hand and Body lotion. I have dozens of lotions that seem to work well for hands OR bodies, but not both. I have lotions that I apply to my legs, then have to wash it off my hands because it just doesn’t do the trick. The Hand Therapy Cream does a good job, but it doesn’t feel any different than the hand & body lotion. I was highly unimpressed with the Sugar Scrub. It wasn’t bad, it just seemed to be an average cleanser, average exfoliator, average moisturize. The scents are wonderful – light, fresh, and flowery.

For under $10 per item, Inspire by Dionis is an inexpensive luxury.

Inspire by Dionis is currently on sale for 50%. To purchase, visit DionisSoap.com

I’ve never had threading done, but I’m game to give it a go. Normally, threading is the domain of estheticians and only available at salons. But now, SunMaita has developed a system for home use. The apparatus is specially angled to make threading easy, even for a newbie, the company promises. Replaceable threads are pre-cut and attached to tiny plastic nubs. The nubs allow the organic cotton-blend threads to snap into place. Two threads of different length essentially twist around each other. Squeezing the trigger on the threader causes the threads to twist back and forth, catching the hair and rolling it from the skin. This method is supposed to have the same benefits of waxing – slower regrowth, less chance of ingrown hairs – without the pain of waxing.

The SunMaita threader is not meant for eyebrows. I gave it a shot on my ankle, mainly because that was the easiest place for me to test it out. It does take multiple uses to get the hang of – finding the right angle, tension, speed, and pressure. Once I got it down, it was reasonably easy to remove hair. It is less painful than waxing, slower than shaving, and less precise than tweezing. Ultimately, I could see myself most often using the threader on ankles, knees, and underarms: small-ish areas that are too large to pluck and tough to shave.

SunMaita Threader Kit includes the threader, 40 organic cotton-blend replacement threads, pre- and post-threading lotions, and chalk to make the hairs more visible. Each kit costs $150 and can be purchased at SunMaita.com

Organic, high-quality, eco-aware products that cost less than typical drugstore products – yup, it’s a reality, and it is called EOS. Evolution of Smooth.

Currently the EOS line consists of only two products, but they have obviously put a lot of attention into each. The Ultra-Rich Shave Cream is loaded with aloe, shea butter, and vitamins to offer a moisturizing shave. The product applies more like a lotion than a typical shave cream, so don’t expect a thick coat of suds. But you get a close, easy shave. The company also promises that the shave cream can be used on dry skin as well as wet. Best of all, the shave cream comes in a recyclable, soft-touch plastic bottle with a one-touch pump top. It is easy to use and won’t rust out in the shower – the most important feature for me.

The 95% organic, 100% natural lip balm is loaded with vitamin E and shea butter, and gives long-lasting moisture and feels light on the lips. Don’t let the boy in your life use it: it’s non-colored, non-glossy coverage means you may never get it back. EOS comes in a half-dozen flavors, and two shapes: a traditional stick, and a bulbous sphere. I love the sphere because it is so different and applies easily. I also love that EOS balms don’t come in pots, so you don’t have to stick your grubby little fingers in. Both balm styles come in the same soft-touch packaging.

Shave cream retails for $4.99. Lip balms retail for $3.99. To purchase, visit the EOS store at Drugstore.com or Amazon.com

We Tried: Egyptian Jasmine, a heady, pure, exotic jasmine scent that never overwhelms.

Pros: Made with beeswax, jojoba oil, and vitamin E, the perfume is creamy but doesn’t let the scent overwhelm. Solid means it won’t spill or leak (but you do have to watch out for meltage).

Cons: The scent doesn’t last long – maybe a half-hour. The small perfume pot means that, halfway in, it is hard to get any perfume out without getting it under your nail. Also, you will want to make sure you have clean fingers before applying.

Verdict? Intoxicating scents in a natural base make up for the short lifespan. Far more appealing to travel with than a delicate glass bottle. It’s a winner.

The Deets: Solid perfumes will set you back $23. Other products run $12-$65. Purchase at Amazon.com or khalldesigns.com

Buy Now!

This is a cool concept. Lip ID Color Adapt Gloss from Jemma Kidd’s cosmetic line for Target is a gloss that goes on clear, then adjusts to your lips’ pH to get the perfect shade for your personal chemistry. I do not understand the science behind this; nor do I pretend to. I do wonder if pH levels affect skin tones – any chemists/biologists out there?

Anyway, the gloss does as promised: in less than a minute, I had a flattering pink gloss on my lips. It had a hint of a “fruit punch smile” feel to it – in that it created the look of a stain without the lasting power. That was the biggest downside – the gloss lasts about a half-hour. It is surprisingly hydrating, non-sticky, and generally a very comfortable gloss.

Lip ID is available at Target for $20. $20 is a bit steep for a lip gloss, even at Sephora, but it is gimmicky enough to be worth it. But I do have problems paying $20 for a Target lipgloss. Does that make me a snob? Is it a psychological thing? Would YOU pay $20 for a Target lipgloss?

RSF Pharmaceuticals creates “age management” skincare utilizing high concentrations of peptides in order to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, restore skin elasticity, nourish and hydrate, and stimulate collagen and elastin production. Bucking the trend towards natural and organic, RSF’s products are chock full of medical and scientific research and made-in-a-lab ingredients that you can’t pronounce without an advanced degree.

We tried four of these products. The samples sent were only enough for a few days use, so I can’t speak on long-term results. The pepperminty stretch mark cream was a little sticky but decently moisturizing. Also sticky-but-moisturizing was the anti-wrinkle serum. I did not need an additional moisturizer. However, the next morning I woke up with a nasty zit on my chin, and one creeping in over my eyebrow. There was certainly no hint of a zit before! The eye serum was light and comfortable to wear. I did like the caviar day cream. It was very moisturizing while still being light on the skin. I didn’t feel like I had cream caked on.

At nearly $200 per product, I wasn’t impressed enough with any one product to shell out for it. In general, I was aware that I had creams on. I might consider the caviar day cream if 1.) all of my other favorite moisturizers were discontinued and 2.) I received a big windfall of cash.

Does it work? Well, yes and no. I used it under my arms, and did okay for the first day, though by the end it had a faint, strange, slightly spicy scent, like your car the day after bringing home Indian food. I started to feel a bit ripe when I woke up the next day, but I pushed on. At the end of day two, I had pilates class, and the deodorant crapped out entirely. I was heinously embarrassed when, halfway through class, my stench began to offend me. I did try a touch of Lavilin in my cleavage, where I am prone to sweating, and it works like a charm. One application, once a week prevents boob stank entirely.

Pros: Hypo-allergenic for those prone to allergies. Once-a-week application will save money. Once-a-week application will also be a life saver for those rushed mornings where, in the past, you forgot to put on deodorant (don’t lie; we’ve all done it once).

Cons: Success rate is suspect. Instructions suggest disuse of other deodorants 48 hours prior to using Lavilin (sorry, I just can’t bring myself to go 48 hours with nothing). The product comes in pots that require you to apply with a bare finger. This just grosses me on levels (that can’t be sanitary, and if it is water-proof, how do you wash it off your finger?)

Verdict: Worth every cent just for its success in the cleavage area. Lavilin is a new staple on the vanity.