I have spent most of the morning perusing Instyle's Best Beauty Buys 2008.  They have a lot of good stuff in there - products I've been using, products I want to start using and a few that made my list, but not theirs.  Check it out:  

Products I Use:

MAC's Pro Longwear Lipcolour is a product that I bought last year (I think in this same color) for my wedding.  I stocked up on all MAC products for the big day because I wanted to do my own makeup but I wanted professional products for my amateur styling.  I went to a MAC store for a consultation and this was the product they recommended for an all day color that would last through many kisses, photo ops and glasses of champagne.

I was glad to see that Neutrogena's Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 made the list because this is a product I use daily and I agree with their write-up:  It's non-greasy, great under makeup and offers great protection from sun damage.

I just wrote about Olay's Body Wash with Seaweed Ribbons and they have listed this version with Radiance Ribbons. Olay's body washes are really moisturizing and effective and I highly recommend finding the one that is right for you.

Products I Want to Start Using: 

This Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer is supposed to smooth out any bumps and fine lines you have to create a smooth surface for foundation to glide onto.  I rarely wear all-over foundation but I'm curious as to how this product goes on.  Because I do wear cover-up where needed and under my eyes the make up always gathers in the creases.  This might be a good solution....

Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme sounds like a great solution for coaxing out my curls.  I like to add definition, especially when air-drying but gels are too...crunchy looking.  Instyle says this creme gives the "same support and hold as gel" but without the crunchy effect.  I'm willing to give it a try.

Phytovolume Actif Volumizer Spray caught my eye because I am always on the hunt for a good volume-boosting product.  They say this one provides great volume and nourishes your hair and scalp.  Holla.

I'm hesitant about at-home face peels (they make me nervous).....but this Neutrogena Advanced Solutions sounds promising.  It's supposed to make skin brighter and pores less visible.  And it's only $25, so it's not too much of an investment.

Here it is again:  Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Foundation. They say it's the best mineral foundation out there and I am getting more impatient to try it.  If I use it as an all-over foundation, will it even out my skin tone flawlessly?  That is what I imagine...and hope for!

Products Not on Instyle's List, but on Mine: 

Back to MAC:  I love their Paints.  They are eyeshadows that go on creamy and dry powdery.  I use mine in a color that matches my skin color so that it can be used more as a primer than a shadow.  It's great because it doesn't fall into the crease-trap and therefore when layering other colors over it, it provides a crease-free base.  I like to use it alone too on my "no make-up" days.  It camoflauges the veins and other color inconsistencies on the lid.  They come in great skin-tone colors or if you want to use it more as a shadow there are some crazy bold colors to choose from too.

Pond's Dry Skin Cream is a classic, it's inexpensive and it is great for dry and/or sensitive skin.  I like to pile it on before bed and let it soak in overnight. My husband swears my skin glows when I wake up.  (I think maybe he's a little blind without his glasses, but it's still nice to hear!)   I really feel like this nourishes my skin without clogging my pores, which is hard to find in a deep moisture product.

So that's my two-cents.  Instyle has compiled a very extensive list of great products and it's definitely worth checking out if you are on the hunt for new products.  They have them broken up into categories (like Hair, Makeup, Face, Body) so you are sure to find something that you'll want to try.  And a few things you might find funny - the $170 brush cracked me up.  I'm not in the market for that type of thing....maybe you are?  Have fun!

I must have this trench coat.  I have fallen in love with it. 

It's beautifully designed, it's a staple for any wardrobe and it's from...Target.  Isaac Mizhari, of course!  I am very sad that he won't be designing for Target much longer. In the meantime though, I must snatch this up. The scalloped edges are what sold me.  It makes it feminine and unique yet it remains classic - which means I'll be able to wear it for many years to come.

Top o' the mornin' to ya! It's St. Patricks Day and on my walk to work this morning I was thinking about how it's tradition to wear green today, which is fine and dandy and cute and all... But then I was thinking about the ways we can "go green" today, which seemed like a better tradition to me. So I thought of a few fun, fashionable, easy ways to make a difference - every little bit helps!

Tumblers: I know a lot of us have an addiction to coffee and/or tea. A lot of people have an addiction, in particular, to Starbucks. You know there is a certain drink that you have to have every morning. An easy way to make a difference is to invest in one of their cute tumblers and bring it in on your morning coffee run for the barista to use, instead of the paper cup. Imagine how much waste you'll be reducing if your 5 (or 10) cups a week are replaced by your own personal, reusable mug. Plus, they make a great accessory and I think Starbucks might actually give some sort of discount for using a tumbler - check with your local spot for details on that.

Cup Couture: Along the same vein, say you forgot your tumbler or didn't have time to wash it, you can invest in some Cup Couture, keep it in your purse and use a reusable sleeve to keep your coffee warm and hands protected. It's an instant way to say "this one's mine" and a great way to reduce more waste. Those little cardboard sleeves add up! There are a bunch of great designs to choose from, so you can find your own signature sleeve - they also make great gifts for the other caffeine junkies in your life.

Forget paper or plastic: I've said it before but Envirosax are a great way to go green. It seems like I have to run to the grocery store nearly everyday for something and we all know that plastic is not the way to go anymore. I've been reusing my paper bags at Ralph's out here and they actually give you a 10 cent credit for each bag you reuse. But I've used and reused mine so much, my paper bags are about to bite the dust. These shopping bags I found at Wishing Fish are so cute, they might actually make grocery shopping fun (instead of the dreaded experience it usually is for me!). They even come with a great little carrying case...yep, I'll need to get these...

Organic Clothes: This organic cotton robe, found on Red Envelope, looks so soft and comfy. I adore a robe and it's almost time for an upgrade for me. I love the kimono style - especially the wide sleeves. There is something so decadent to me about lounging around in a robe - whether it's a lazy evening at home or a lazy Sunday morning, drinking my coffee. What can I say? I'm simple. Organic fashions are an eco-friendly way to pamper yourself. And make sure you donate your old robe to a charity so it can be enjoyed by someone else!

So those are just a few, small ways to go green today. Find little ways you can help, from turning off the light when you leave the room to turning down the heat to carpooling to your local pub. Make sure you have a DD and have fun and be safe today!

• Lindsay Lohan is designing her own line of leggings.

• Rachel Bilson is designing jeans for DKNY.

• Chloe Sevigny has a line for Open Ceremony.

I have very mixed feelings about Lindsay. I think she's actually a talented actress (I know this is not a popular view - leave me alone).  I wish she would focus her energies on getting her career back on track...I guess people don't want to work with her as of late (she's gotten quite the reputation). So instead...leggings...she must be bored.

I'm quasi-interested in Rachel Bilson's jeans because I generally like the things she wears, but she approached them about this - case of boredom number 2.

And Chloe...well, Chloe's clothes seem like a form of punishment. Maybe she's making a statement: give me something to do while I'm not working on Big Love, otherwise you'll get more of this!

Goes to show, there are just not enough good roles for women in film. Come on Hollywood! Start writing some quality work so that these women can stop dabbling in the fashion world! You know what they say about idle hands....this is proof.

I have to be honest: I don't like the new Dove Cream Oil body wash. I am a big fan of Dove products and I was really looking forward to this one. I have incredibly dry skin so I thought this would be a real skin quencher. And they were promoting it as a "moment of luxury." I'm all about luxury, even if I'm only getting a moment of it. So I got the Ultra Rich Velvet one and prepared myself for the luxurious experience...BUT...

1. I'm not particularly fond of the smell. It doesn't smell "clean" to me. More like bathing in perfume - which perfume, as rule, should not be bathed in.

2. I didn't feel particularly clean after using it - I felt a little greasy. I know, I know, it has oil in it but once again, this is a body wash and instead of feeling fresh after my shower, I felt like I needed another one.

3. It turned my shower into a slip and slide! No joke - oil and water don't mix. So even though I tried to rinse out the tub three times after I was done showering, it was still slippery and I had to warn my husband about the perilous shower experience he was going to endure later that day. (I know - I should have scrubbed the tub instead of just offering a fair warning but I didn't because I had just showered and plus, I hate cleaning the tub).

So those are my three reasons for being disappointed with this hyped up product. Save yourself the hassle.

My Suggestion: I just got the Olay Body Wash plus Spa Exfoliating Ribbons. It has microbeads for exfoliation and a ribbon of seaweed extracts. Now this product actually feels luxurious - it smells good and clean, leaves me feeling clean and gives me a spa-like moment. Much like I was hoping for with Dove's product. Olay wins this time.

I love this dress that Kristin Davis was wearing yesterday at a fundraiser for PS Arts (go to Instyle to learn more). I love the khaki that is so spring right now and how the dress cinches up high on the waist, creating a beautiful shape and yet leaving room for her to eat as much as she wants at the luncheon later - you know, room for a "food baby" (you know what I'm talking about).

Let's talk minerals. Mineral makeup is huge these days - every drugstore brand is carrying their own version now. Bare Minerals brand became revolutionary when CEO Leslie Blodgett took over and started selling her wares on QVC. A literal cult of Bare Mineral-ites started. Women from all over swore by the products, worshipped Leslie and would sell out auditoriums for the chance to meet her and thank her for revolutionizing the way they wore makeup. I can't remember where I heard that folklore about Leslie - I watched something or read something along the way - but I was quite surprised by the hysteria Leslie has caused. Bare Minerals have been a company since 1976 but when Leslie took over in 1994, that is when their product became a phenomenon, due to her charasmatic presence and true passion for the product that was conveyed through her spots on QVC. The secret of mineral makeup is that because it is natural and free of dyes, oils, fragrance and other skin irritants, the makeup is great for "problem" skin. Women who suffer from allergies or chronic acne or even rosacea would see their skin clear up or would finally be able to confidently cover blemishes. So now, nearly fifteen years later, the rest of the makeup industry is jumping on the mineral bandwagon and offering their own mineral products and lately it's hard to purchase anything but minerals.

I ran out of face powder this week and decided to give a mineral product a try. I usually use Loreal's True Match powder so I switched it up and got their translucent mineral finishing powder. I used it as a finishing powder literally yesterday, after putting on makeup. I didn't notice a huge difference from any other powder I've used in my life. It did the job though, so that was all that mattered at that point. I used it today though as my only touch of makeup over my sunscreen. And now I think I might become a Mineral-ite. I love the clean finish that my skin has today! Sure the red spots I have aren't camoflauged (I have a lovely burst capillary right between my eyes, like a third eye. Nothing can seem to cover it but extra careful application of cover-up that can then not be touched because then the dot will appear again.) but my face just feels...finished. Sigh - that's a lame word for it. But that's what it feels like. Loreal's brand is nice and I'll definitely use it up, but after it's done....I think I need to see what the hype is about the Bare Mineral products. They have a starter kit I think I'll have to test out...

Love love love this On the Go Styling Kit that Manhattan Wardrobe Supply offers on their website. It comes with great essentials that help fix any wardrobe mishaps - from Static Guard to Topstick to a lint roller to stain removers, this kit has it all. I haven't even listed half of it. Everyone should have one in their arsenal. (Wouldn't it be a great gift for a bride? If any wardrobe emergencies arose on the big day, she'd be set!) I needed some Static Guard this morning - I was leaving my house today and noticed that my dress was static-clinging to my underwear. That is never cute. I need a kit for my closet....How bout you?  Do you have any go-to wardrobe fixers?

A fun tip I just read in Cosmo:

"Vodka's good for more than just making Cosmos. Francios Noel, colorist at the John Frieda Salon in L.A., says to comb it through your hair and sit in the sun for 15 minutes. The neutral pH of the alcohol lightens the strands for a sun-kissed streak."

I've always used lemon juice for naturally lightening my hair, so this might be a new twist on an old trick for me. I only worry about the alchohol drying my hair out...I wouldn't leave it on more than 15 minutes. But I might do it while enjoying a cosmo...or a lemondrop...oooh, I wonder if you used a citrus vodka if that would effect the highlighting...