From fresh makeup palettes to game-changing miracle serums, literally hundreds of brand-new beauty products cross my desk each month. It's my job to round up the best of those coming soon to a cosmetic shelf near you. I'm giddy -- practically bouncing off my desk chair -- about my November picks. I had the opportunity to learn about many of these new beauty products months ago, and, sworn to secrecy, have been on the verge of bursting to share them with you. Each one has found a place in my personal beauty routine -- and I'm not just saying that for the sake of this story. They're that good.
Here's a sneak peek: Sonia Kashuk is finally branching into bath and body (get thee to Target!); Madonna's dermatologist came out with a super-charged skin care serum, and the Material Girl can't get enough. There's nail polish that stays shiny for days and days, and a deep conditioner that will help you put off your next haircut until 2014. I even included my favorite new holiday(ish) scented candle to get you in the spirit.
I adore Sonia Kashuk's line of incredible (and affordable) makeup, brushes and wildly chic, travel-inspired accessories. So when I heard she was coming out with bath and body products, I knew they would be good. And it turns out they're even more fabulous than I imagined. The scents are sophisticated and expensive-smelling (yes, expensive has a scent: just think of Chanel), and the packaging is beyond gorgeous. (Kashuk used the same design firm as Oribe.)
I had a really hard time deciding on a favorite fragrance, but I finally chose Red Promisia -- a combination of jasmine, sandalwood, and vanilla. Picking a single product proved too difficult, and since the price is right, I'm getting one of each.
If you're not familiar with Dr. Brandt -- the superstar dermatologist responsible for Madonna's eternal youth -- then you're missing out. The man knows his stuff. His latest collection is DNA (Do Not Age), and the science will blow you away.
After five years of research and six patents, Brandt developed DuoPearl technology. The serum is made of little "pearls" of ingredients that burst when you apply it. (Keeping the ingredients separate means maximum results.) The best part? You really, truly can feel it working -- tingling and tightening.
And in case my endorsement isn't enough, Madonna's also a fan. "I love how tight my face feels after applying more than I probably should," she said in an interview with Harper's Bazaar.
You know how when you go swimming or take a bath (or -- the worst offender -- do dishes without gloves) with a fresh manicure, and you inevitably emerge from the water with lackluster nails? Well, Sally Hansen is going to change all that. They developed this polish specifically for shine retention. It starts out super shiny, and it stays super shiny. It comes in 29 colors, and even has nail-moisturizing ingredients. I'm ready to paint my toes and go on a beach vacation. Who's with me?
After 15 years of a Katie Holmes obsession (to call me a "Dawson's Creek" fan would be an understatement), I finally got to meet her (eek!). I hung on every word she said -- the most important of which was her endorsement for this dry shampoo. To paraphrase: she loves dessert, and this smells like dessert. She's obsessed -- and I'm as starry-eyed as ever.
As soon as I got my hands on the dry shampoo, I went to town. While it didn't give me Holmes's hair (she's got at least six inches on me), it gave me volume, texture, and made my hair smell deliciously like mango and coconut -- just like Katie's.
