NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit

Fans of the NARS blushes and bronzers can now get ahold of the NARSissist Cheek Kit ($49). Featuring cult favorite shades of Orgasm and Laguna, it also comes with a limited edition Devotee highlighting shade. The small palette size is excellent for travel and work, as well as being a great introduction to those new to the brand. With the accompanying travel brush, you now have everything to create effortless, beautifully glowing cheeks. Needless to say, this blush kit will become a popular part of my travel makeup bag. 

Available exclusively at Sephora.com.

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Dolce & Gabbana The Brow Liner

If New York Fashion Week was any indication, strong brows are gonna be the look du jour this fall. Even if you're opting for a minimalist look, defining those brows is the most important step in any beauty regimen. 

If you need to invest in a new brow pencil, Dolce & Gabbana just launched their new The Brow Liner Shaping Eyebrow Pencil. Available in four shades, the water and smudge resistant formula has an impressive 12-hour wear time.

Buttery smooth and loaded with pigment, you only need several gentle swipes to get enough coverage. The mechanical pencil has a triangular shape so you can shade the middle section quickly as well as achieve precise shaping with the tip. The texture is powdery soft so you can hardly feel any tugging. At $45, it is one of the most expensive brow groomers, but it's well worth it if you want clean, bold brows. 

Available exclusively at www.saksfifthavenue.com.

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

la prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Cystal Collection

Renowned skincare company la prairie just introduced the highly anticipated Cellular Swiss Ice Cystal Collection, their latest anti-aging line. Based on the remarkably resilient qualities of purple saxifrage, soldanella alpina, and Swiss snow algae, the new skincare features a powerful Swiss Ice Crystal Complex and plant stem cell technology to help skin adjust to aging stressors and encourage cell renewal.

The Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Cream is quite rich and emollient, but absorbs easily into the skin. You can use it day and night and a pea-sized amount is enough for proper coverage. Like the cream, the decadent Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil is non-greasy and lightweight in texture — you can use it alone or mix a few drops with the cream. I prefer the dry oil as it feels much more moisturizing for the winter climate; otherwise the cream is great for year-round use. 

I have to admit, my face felt unusually soft and smooth after a few hours of application. The dry oil is working wonders on my parched skin. I'm definitely hooked on this new collection and if you're looking for a luxury skincare line to try out, make it this one. 

Miles high in the Swiss Alps, in a world of sheer ice crystals, beauty transcends time. Here, two seemingly fragile plants and one tiny algae survive and thrive in the harshest setting on earth, developing strategies to outwit the environment. It’s only fitting then that la prairie, with a heritage deeply rooted in Switzerland, harnessed these extreme-survivalist secrets into the Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Collection. The discovery combines some of the most sophisticated survivalist secrets.

 

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by laboratories la prairie via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of laboratories la prairie.

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand.

Beauty Gifts for Valentine's Day

Whether it's for your best friend or yourself, the following beauty gifts will help you look your very best for Valentine's Day:

To achieve that perfect glow, the silky Dolce & Gabbana The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour in Delight 35 is the key. The flattering cool pink shade gives a gentle layer of that just-been-kissed effect. $45; www.sephora.com.

Packed with the prized Korean ginseng extract and medicinal herbs, the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream will nourish and protect your complexion through the last part of winter. Astragalus and mulberry help with cell regeneration while avocado, mango seed and jojoba add deep moisture to dehydrated skin. $220 (60 ml); us.sulwhasoo.com.

For a decadent head-to toe skin care treatment, the tantalizing Eminence Chocolate Mousse Hydration Masque ($52) provides a rich layer of antioxidants for the face while the Mimosa Champagne Massage Oil ($29) drenches the body with mimosa, grape seed, apricot and jojoba oils. us.eminenceorganics.com.

Nothing suggests romance more than the Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick in Rose 40. The golden deep rose lipstick has an ultra creamy texture that's infused with a glossy moisture core. Absolutely perfect for a hot dinner date! $35; www.sephora.com.

We could never live without the Marie Veronique Organics skincare line, and neither will your Valentine. Spend $125 on MVO products or gift cards and you'll get a free 2 oz. bottle of MVO Body Oil, Rose + Neroli ($44 value). Use code VDAY2014 at checkout. www.mvorganics.com.

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

For Valentine's Day, we curated a few lovely ideas for you to gift your loved ones. Show them how much you adore them with the following options and they'll shower you with tons of kisses:

Created for the dark chocolate lover, Vosges Haut Chocolat is offering a new Noir Collection. Nestled in a flocked velvet heart-shaped box, the 16 piece truffle collection features exotic flowers, roots, herbs and spices within the following parfums: Absinthe, Polline di Finocchio, Balsamico, Jazz, Black Pearl, Chef Pascal, Budapest, Red Fire, Tlan Nacu, and Rap. $48; www.vosgeschocolate.com.

Twig & Thorn has a delicate quartet of handmade garnet bracelets. Choose from the smile (tube), 3 wishes (3 gold beads), 5 kisses (5 gold beads) or the sixpence (charm) options. $125 each; twigthorn.com.

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle designed an array of sumptuous treatments to celebrate the special day. Indulge in the new Chocolate Espresso Body Glow, Decadent Chocolate Bliss Massage, Invigorating Espresso Mud Pedicure, or the Couple's Romantic Escape Package. $80-$275; www.fourseasons.com/seattle/spa.

To set a festive mood, Linnea's Lights is offering Persian Lime, a beautiful new candle. Handmade with soy wax, it contains notes of effervescent lime, bright grapefruit and lush vetiver. $32; www.shopterrain.com.

To make her feel extra special, La Perla has a stunning gold silk Maison Camisole with fret-work lace overlay. $420; www.laperla.com.

Aftelier has the most amazing perfumes and Mandy Aftelier's body care collection is just as delightful. Get her sensual Chocolate Saffron Body Oil & Hair Elixir to get into a romantic mood. $50 (3.5 oz.); www.aftelier.com.

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

NARS Final Cut Collection

A Nordstrom beauty exclusive, the NARS Final Cut Collection is all about pink, pink...and more pink! Perfect for Valentine's Day, treat yourself to something fun and flirty, or get something edgy for your BFF.

The New Attitude Blush, a matte cherry blossom pink, looks quite bright in the pan but the brightness dials back once it's on your cheeks. I have light-medium skin with yellow undertones so this pink looks warm on me. It also lasts the entire day, which pleased me no end. If you want something to brighten up the dreary winter doldrums, this blush is the key.

The Descanso Satin Lip Pencil is described as a tea rose but it looks more like a pink nude on me. A pretty everyday shade for spring, it's a versatile lip color for most skin tones. I'm gonna keep this on regular rotation for the next several months.

Available now at nordstrom.com. 

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Clarins Face Treatment Oils

I'm a huge fan of face oils and have been relying on them heavily to survive the cold weather. Clarins has a few soothing options that will work wonderfully if you're suffering from tightness and dry flaky patches. 

The non-greasy Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil contains blue orchid extract, hazelnut oil and patchouli to restore suppleness and vitality to severely dehydrated skin. You only need several drops to cover the entire face so the bottle will last for quite a long time. You can use it day and night, and it provides a prepped, smooth canvas for ideal makeup application.

I also adore the Santal Face Treatment Oil. Packed with sandal wood and lavender, the nourishing elixir calms and moisturizes irritated skin within minutes. The cardamom scent is so intoxicating that I can't wait to use it each evening! Definitely a winter skincare essential that you'll reach to again and again.

Available for $50 each (1 fl. oz.) at www.clarinsusa.com. 

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

NARS Kauai Duo Eyeshadow

Uber metallic and luxuriously silky in texture, the new NARS Kauai Duo Eyeshadow promises plenty of bling but is still very elegant and tasteful. In fact, the stunning gold lame and iridescent smoky orchid combo sheers out a tiny bit if you apply it lightly on the eyelids. The dark violet isn't so frosty unless you really pack it on. 

The Kauai duo is currently sold out on www.narscosmetics.com, another testament to its growing popularity as a spring must-have. Fret not, as it will become available on NARS counters on February 1.

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

NARS Na Pali Coast Multiple

Described as a shimmering rose peach, the NARS Na Pali Coast Multiple is more like a warm bronzed peach with just a touch of shimmer. As a part of their High Seize 2014 spring makeup collection, I think this color will be one of the most popular items of the season. 

This buildable shade is perfect with a sheer application. At first I was worried that it would be too dark on my light-medium skin tone but it's very flattering. The shimmer mostly blends out so it won't get all over your face. Holding on for at least six hours, you don't need much product for fierce, contoured cheeks. 

Available now at www.narscosmetics.com. 

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.

Clayspray Toning White Clay with Aloe Vera Masque

I haven't used clay-based masks in a very long time but when Clayspray came to market, I was somewhat curious. For one thing, it's packaged in a convenient spray pump can so it reduces messy application. The clay is sourced from Spain’s Iberian Peninsula and their formula boasts a 60-65% ingredient concentration, which is about three times the amount of most clay masks. 

I tried the Toning White Clay with Aloe Vera Masque. Made for sensitive skin, it contains aloe vera extract to calm finicky skin flare ups. I first prepped with a light misting of their Comfort H2O with Green Tea mineral water spray, then squeezed out a dollop of the masque. One pump is enough to cover the entire face and it didn't take long to dry completely. The results? I was left with a radiant glow and blackheads were buffed out. It didn't dry out my skin, so I'm especially pleased with that. 

Available at beautyhabit.com for $59.95.

For editorial consideration, review samples were provided by the brand's PR representative.