when i first saw coral cosmetics hit the runways for the spring 2010 fashion shows, i cringed.  coral has always conjured images of old lady lipstick…something you’d only wear if you were over 80 and color-blind.  frightening, i know.  and when you add the fact that my complexion is impossibly pink, thereby automatically clashing with any and all members of the coral family, you’ll understand my skepticism.

but then a pot of the newest velvet eyeshadow shade from benefit magically appeared in my mailbox – in a shade called “nice melons”. (sometimes, i swear, i buy benefit products just for the names…)  i was still scared, but since it was already here, i swapped it out one morning for my usual bland pale pink.  turns out, this extremely light shade is actually pretty gorgeous on – it gives a touch of color, but is still light, sweet and perfect for spring.  and it happens to do lovely things for green eyes (i’m guessing brown would look pretty amazing too).

now that i’d seen the light, i ventured a bit further – bobbi brown released a whole new collection of “cabana corals” for spring, and i couldn’t resist checking them out.  most of the lip shades were still a little too, well, coral, for my pale skin.  but if you happen to have anything resembling a tan, or are just blessed with lovely dark skin, these corals were definitely not of the old-lady variety.  my favorite is the nectar shimmer brick (i’m an utterly devoted fan of bobbi’s shimmer bricks) – it’s going to look seriously amazing topping a little bronzer action this summer.  i can hardly wait!

what do you think?  will you be venturing into the coral trend when the weather warms up?

i fell hard for these beautiful necklaces when they first appeared in my inbox a few months back.  sadly, i wasn’t quick enough the first time around, and they sold out at anthropologie in mere moments.  a collaboration between joya (one of my absolute favorite perfumers) and a hip design shop called vane, they can be worn several ways (thanks to the long, multi-chain detail), but – even better – each is actually a locket that contains a decadent solid perfume fragrance.

fortunately, my tardiness is being excused: my dear friends over at joya have let me know that they’re now available at joya’s website, which excites me to no end.  at $80 each, these are definitely an affordable splurge…the only problem now is choosing which version i love best.  i’m not a spider girl, but it’s a very, very tough call between the cameo and that big gold orb.  with victorian jewelry so in this year, i’m sorely tempted by both.

i’ve only been able to check out the scent for the cameo (okay, so i tackled a salesgirl at anthro last week when i spied her wearing one. “can i smell your necklace”…definitely not a phrase i use often), but it’s divine.  it’s called ambrosia and, true to its name, it’s packed with orange, coconut, vanilla and cinnamon – perfect for a light spring day!  if you’re more of a complex floral girl, i suspect you’ll fall for the orb’s “potion” scent, with notes of lotus, lavender, and amber.

sigh…could i possibly just have one of each?

go ahead and forward this post to the man in your life.  i promise he’s not done shopping for you yet.

guys: while i know the prospect of approaching the cosmetics counter a week before christmas is frightening, bobbi brown is as foolproof as it gets.  they do the most amazing job of packaging wearable, neutral shades that really will work on most every person i know.  (translation: i’m eliminating the part of the shopping process in which you stand around trying to figure out whether that particular shade of pink will make your significant other look like a supermodel or a hospital patient in liver failure.)

yes, it’s hard to go wrong with these little sets from bobbi brown.  i’m a sucker for packaging, and these chrome compacts are as chic as can be.  while i’m not a lip gloss person, i know i’m in the minority on that count…many a lid flipped when i showed this glitter lip balm set around among my friends.  personally, i’ve been wedded to the velvet plum eye palette since it arrived.  i’m pretty low-maintenance on the cosmetic front (the facial care is another matter), and this set just sort of handles all of my eye needs. base color, highlighter, accent shadow and even a liner shade – done!  i don’t even have to think about the eye stuff any more, which is sort of a relief.

either of these sets will make the girl in your life exceedingly happy on christmas morning.  you should be able to track these down at just about any bobbi brown counter, which you’ll find  at most department stores (ie, nordstrom, barneys, bloomingdales…you get the idea). at $40 each, they’re great stocking stuffer material…and i know you haven’t even started buying her stocking stuffers yet.

(girls, if these don’t show up under your tree, go out the day after and buy them anyway. they’re that good.)

men are such tricky people to shop for, aren’t they?  we want to get them clothes, and they want video games.  it’s a dilemma for the ages.  but there is one thing i think most men enjoy receiving more than they’ll readily admit, and it’s high quality shaving products.  it’s something they’ll never, ever buy for themselves, but honestly, a great shave can be life-altering (or so i’m told).

i know it feels a little metro to get a guy face products.  but i’ve gotten calls months after the holidays from the (extremely un-metro) men in my life, asking me where i bought “that shaving stuff you got me for christmas”, so they could restock.  i’ve visited their homes and found the bottles, all but empty, strewn around their bathrooms.  they might not squeal with delight on christmas morning, but they’ll use it, and they’ll love it.  really.

my pick this year is the “man’s best friends” set from origins ($37.50).  it’s not complicated, which is key – i don’t think most men are up for a five-step facial program.  just two products (you get a full-size and trial size of each): a shave cream and an after-shave skin soother.  the scent is utterly inoffensive (mostly peppermint and eucalyptus).  and it seems to make my hubs’ skin quite happy.  that’s really about it for the list of “musts” when it comes to men’s products.

oh yeah, this one’s also very last-minute-gift friendly – pick it up at any origins counter, but you can also score free shipping online (through today only) on origins.com.

when this darling little “peace out” keychain arrived in the mail, my mental dialogue went something like this:  ”*squeal* how cute is this?!  i love it!  this would be perfect for my friend A, who’s working a million hours a day lately.  oh wait, but what about for my mom? she’s so stressed out these days.  then again, it seems like something my hubs would love too, maybe i’ll give it to him.”  then i tested it.  ”hmm. i probably have enough gifts for those other people.”  at which point, the “peace out” set wound up stashed in my handbag.

the moral of that long, winding tale?  this gift is so perfectly universal – it works for men (well, some men), women, parents, siblings, friends, coworkers – i’d suggest stocking up on several so you end up with a few leftovers for yourself.  it’s the ultimate “oh yeah…uh, i totally got you a gift too” to keep in your desk drawer/glove compartment.  especially for only $12.50 per set.

the whole concept of this set is stress relief.  the tube contains an herb-infused serum (mostly peppermint) that you rub onto your temples or the back of your neck when feeling stressed.  the little box of mints contains the same herbal blend.  the results are sort of this crazy tingly, refreshed feeling – while i wouldn’t commit to, say, xanax levels of stress relief, it definitely does a good job of taking your mind off your troubles.  weird, i know…but it works!

grab a handful of these at any origins counter (i’m sure you’ve seen their mega-displays at macy’s, for example) – or they’re offering free shipping and gift wrap at origins.com through friday, 12/18.

one of my first rules of beauty gifting is to hand out products that i’ve come to love during the year, or that are perennial favorites of mine.  after all, if i love it, my friends should too…right?

i’m a long-devoted fan of caudalie, particularly their vinoperfect radiance serum, which i’m pretty sure contains actual magical properties.  i’m constantly raving about it to friends, family, strangers on the street…you get the idea.  so, for the women i know that get as excited as i do about really amazing skin products, the caudalie vinoperfect radiance set is a no-brainer.  the set includes a full-size bottle of the serum plus mini bottles of their day cream with spf, night cream and a great mask, all for $79 at sephora (which is what you’d ordinarily pay for the serum alone, incidentally).

which brings me to a nonsequitor about the beauty gift set:  keep in mind that nearly every holiday set out there involves some serious savings over the products sold separately during the rest of the year. so, while you’re out shopping for your near and dear, remember to check out the sets that include your daily regimen – you’re bound to find a steal or two.  ’tis the season to stock up!

editor’s note: excellent news!  the celebutante set is back in stock at benefit’s website…turns out they located a few extras.  grab yours while you can!

to be honest, it’s only been in the last year or so that i’ve really seen the wisdom of the beauty gift set for holiday giving.  i was never a huge fan of it, but lo and behold, when i actually started *giving* beauty sets to my near and dear – each and every gift, to my complete shock, was a huge hit!  my theory is that, since many of us don’t indulge in the really splurge-worthy beauty goodies during the year, a little dose of luxury is incredibly welcome at the holidays.

that said, i have a couple of useful beauty giving guidelines:  i still stay far away from perfume gift sets.  fragrance is a tricky thing to gift, and just because your near and dear loves a perfume doesn’t mean she wants a lotion, body wash and candle to match.  second, look for variety in the contents – no sets of 10 lipsticks or 40 colors of eyeshadow in one palette.  mix it up, give them lots of new things to try…they’ll love you for it.

i’ll be showing off a few of my favorite beauty gifts this week, but can’t resist starting with the cutest ones i’ve seen all year.  i’m inclined to send these sweet little sets from benefit to each and every one of my girlfriends – they’re perfect for friends, for a holiday stocking, and perfect for a teenage girl (no eyeliner or heavy lip shades to abuse):

the celebutante set is my absolute favorite, but sadly sold out literally everywhere online – you’re going to have to venture mall-side to find them (sorry about that).  i did spot a few at my local sephora recently, and it’s also worth checking macy’s.  for $34, you get sample sizes of just about all of my fave benefit products: high beam, benetint, lip gloss, two lipsticks, two eyeshadows (all in beautiful, useful neutrals), dallas face bronzer, annd brushes to match. plus, it all comes in that darling (and highly travel-friendly) box.

i’m always dying to test out benefit’s latest magical face powder, but it’s so hard to choose which one to try!  if you have friends that are the same way, snap up a box of powderazzi this holiday, and their dilemma is solved.  you get coralista (a gorgeous, warming sheer blush), hoola (a fabulous matte bronzer) and dallas (a perfect blush/bronzer hybrid), plus their fab powder brush, all for $30!  you do have to buy it from hsn.com, but it’s a small price to pay (ha!…sorry, couldn’t resist).

oh, and yep, i got samples of these…so i can tell you exactly how cute these little sets really are.  trust me, you can’t go wrong.

well, dear readers, i’m leaving on a jet plane…off to quarrel with family, eat too much stuffing, and most likely have a nervous breakdown when i see the crowds at whole foods. ah, the holidays…

i’ll be taking the rest of this week off, and that means you’re on your own for black friday. something tells me the 600 emails you’ll get from your favorite retailers will tide you over, but just in case, this is a pretty excellent roundup of what’s planned for the big day. also, shopbop is having a spend/save event running friday through monday – the deal starts at $50 off $300, and goes up from there. use code GIFT4U to score the deal.

i’ll be back for “cyber monday,” which should be awesome this year, if my sources are correct. naturally, i’ll keep you posted.

for now, i’ll leave you with a few things i’ve been meaning to share, in the form of my mandatory packing list for this week:

i am oh-so-excited to brave the frozen tundra of my homeland this week, knowing i get to cozy up in the inhabit cardigan of my dreams. my love for the brand is well-documented, but this piece might get the coveted ‘favorite of all time’ title. you knew i was after a camel cardigan this fall, and this one is the winner. the color is really more caramel than camel, and has some amazing details – including two-tone detailing at the hem, rolled pockets, oversize cuffs, and just a generally toasty warm coziness i can’t get enough of. most definitely a worthy splurge in my book ($495 – yes, i know…), though i’d keep an eye on their site for cyber monday (hint, hint!).

i’ve been sorely in need of new basic tanks for the longest time, and haven’t been able to find something that was exactly what i wanted: a scoop neck that’s more alluring than athletic, high arm holes to ensure no unnecessary exposure, and a length long enough to work for layering under sweaters. tall order, i know. so, when i found the pure body tank at the gap the other day, i bought every color in the store. the fabric is fabulous – close-fitting and soft, without being overly clingy. and the price is definitely right: $10 each if you buy two or more. which, trust me, you should.

my skin always misbehaves when i head home. it’s so cold and dry there, i end up with scaly patches that are, well, unsightly at best. but my secret weapon this time around is foolproof. i’ve been besting clarins’ new multi-active day moisturizers, and i am so very pleased! the day cream is actually thicker than my night cream, which does an amazing job of guarding against winter winds. plus, it’s built for skin about my age (ahem), when wrinkle-reducing needs are just starting, but radiance is key. once i get home, i’ll switch to the lighter version that contains spf, but while i’m gone, i’ll rely on the heavy-duty version (adding my spf a la carte, of course – that’s a must!) to get me through the week unscathed.

and, last but definitely not least, i need a completely engrossing book to let me escape from everyone when i just can’t take another second of family time. i happen to have already finished this one, but philippa gregory’s latest, the white queen, definitely fits the bill. gregory’s books are my harry potter: guilty pleasures i thoroughly enjoy, and can’t wait to buy when a new one hits the stands. the white queen is back up to her earlier standards (after a couple of recent disappointments), and it looks to be the start to a new series about the war of the roses. it’s fantastic, and utterly guaranteed to whisk you away from even the loudest family fights.

and, with all of that, i’m packed and on my way – i’ll see you monday. happy, happy thanksgiving, everyone…and may your pants still fit on friday!

i swear, the color theme this week was totally unintentional.  but i couldn’t let october go by without showing you a few things i’m loving in support of breast cancer awareness (BCA) month.

as you probably know, each october, virtually every designer and beauty line under the sun releases a limited-edition pink item in support of breast cancer.  breast cancer blenders, breast cancer flat irons, even breast cancer soap…the options are endless.  in each case, anywhere from a nickel to 100% of the proceeds go to fund research for a cure.  always one to shop for a cause, i thought i’d show you a few of my favorites.  fair warning: i do tend to lean toward the products that donate most or all proceeds to charity – giving $5 from a $200 item doesn’t do much for me.  after all, if you’re shopping for warm fuzzies, you might as well go all out!

i loved this necklace before i even knew it was for BCA.  gorgeous gunmetal chain, and i am crazy for that rose gold feather – so unique, perfect for everyday wear, and really reasonable at $75.  it was designed by elizabeth and james, and is available exclusively at shopbop.

every year, OPI releases a special shade of pink for BCA, and this year’s “pink of hearts” is a personal favorite of mine.  it works as a one-coat sheer (though it’s a little brighter than my usual ’samoan sand’), but is also great full-strength.  it’s a sweet, preppy pink that goes with anything.  and it’s only $6 at amazon!

these flamingo notecards from linda & harriett are so cute, i had to share.  they just make me think of happier, tropical places – i’d love to send them out to friends right about now, when we’re struggling to remember those warm summer days.  you get 6 cards for $14, and 20% of proceeds go to a cancer center in new york.

this one’s pretty cute:  bambako is a headband designer, and has come up with seven different designs for BCA – each named for a breast cancer survivor the designer knows.  plus, a whopping 100% of proceeds go to the susan g. komen foundation!  personally, i’m partial to the feathered ‘rue’ band, but i could definitely see the ‘gloria’ and ‘rhoda’ being darling for holiday fetes.

and last but not least, i can’t resist a cute pair of PJ’s, especially when i know it’s for a good cause.  i love the bright pink and yellow flowers on this set by sleepyheads (on sale for $36), but they have a whole “shop for the cure” section of their site.  any item you find there will get you a 10% donation to breastcancer.org.  sweet dreams indeed!

if you have the cash, this is a great month – and a great excuse – to spend.  besides, who doesn’t need a little pink in their life? if you’ve come across any great BCA products, drop a comment and let us all know…the more ways to spend, the better for everyone!

makeup brushes are one of those nuisance purchases in my book.  i know i need them, they can be pretty pricey, and they’re not exactly exciting to buy.  really, who gets worked up about a new blush brush?

but when i spotted these bright new color-dipped versions at sephora – well, i actually got pretty excited about makeup brushes!  these work wonderfully well, and the colors (in addition to bringing a little brightness to my bland bathroom counter) help me spot the brush i want in a snap.  hey, it’s the little things. plus, these are silky soft, well-shaped, and so far, the shedding has been minimal.  since that’s about all i’m looking for in a makeup brush, these are perfect!

the only drawback (at least for me) is the double-sided feature.  super handy for application, it’s true…but i typically keep my brushes in a vase on the counter, and i can’t really do that now without risking ruining the bristles.  the way i see it, the only solution is a new brush case.

pricing runs from $18-35 per brush…if you’re due for new brushes (and, let’s be honest…i’m guessing we all are), these are a great choice.