When was the last time you woke up with mascara smeared below you eyes and faded berry lipstick on your lips. You touch your eye lashes and your once soft and sleek mascara now feels crunchy like a bag full of Baked Lays.

It's common knowledge that one of the best ways to keep your skin looking young and healthy is to wash your face, removing all makeup before your head hits the pillow. Some makeup removers partially do the job, removing some but not all makeup, dirt and residue. Some leave your face feeling sticky, oily or dirty.

Then I fell for Shisedo's Instant Eye and Lip Makeup Remover. This dual-action, super soft makeup remover helps me remove all of my makeup without stripping my skin of moisture or leaving my face feeling like an oil slick. This moisturizing, multitasking makeup remover is on a my A-list this holiday season. This sensatve makeup remover is a must, especially during the holiday season!

Waking up with racoon eyes...never again!

What's your latest beauty life saver?

When I see old posters of My So-Called Life, I'm reminded of just how frustrating age 16 was for me (pre-driver's licsense). The dry and oily skin, redness, blemishes, lack of good makeup...

Then I glance over at my "too cool for school" younger sister and try not to be offended that she'd rather create the perfect smokey eye, text or listen to her iPad Touch instead of shop with her big sis. I try not to be jealous that somehow she has totally skipped the ackward stage that I was trapped in for years!

This year, I found her a beauty gift full of glitz and glamour to keep her doing her makeup, and everyone elses, and persuade her to finally put down her phone!

The tarte Royal Collection Limited-Edition Holiday Palette is a gift of absolute glamour. This holiday palette is stacked with 16 exclusive eyeshadow shades and deluxe sizes of their best-selling glam goodies, including:

One of my girlfriends, who will remain nameless, desperately needs color in her life! While I can't convince her to infuse her wardrobe with light or bright shades, she's open to experimenting when it comes to her makeup.

For ladies who swear by an exclusively black wardrobe, MAC Cosmetics is here to brighten their look with MAC's new Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara ($18.00). This beyond-bright two-in-one mascara lets ladies customize their lashes. Check out the examples to your left.

This rich formula doesn't flake, break or dry out lashes. It utilizes a hydrating formula for naturally defined or wow-o-wow lashes!

Get a sneak peak online only at www.maccosmetics.com. As of September 2010, Haute & Naughty Mascara will be available at all locations in the permanent collection.

Which of these looks get you haute and bothered???

Please note: I did not receive editorial samples for review.

I’ve always wanted longer, thicker lashes – who hasn’t? Now, there is an FDA-approved Miracle Grow for your lashes called Latisse, produced by Allergan (the makes of Botox and Juvaderm). The drug is traditionally used to treat glaucoma, but now women are demanding its beauty benefits! 

But is it safe? Will I need to trim my lashes?

I decided to go to the expert, Dr. Kenneth Beer, a cosmetic dermatologist, professor at The University of Miami, founder of The Cosmetic Boot Camp and author of Palm Beach Perfect Skin.

So, tell us Dr. Beer…

Q: What is Latisee?

A: Latisse is bimatoprost, a prostaglandin type of molecule. It is the first and only drug approved by the FDA to grow eyelashes.

Q: How does it work?

No one really knows exactly how Latisse works, but when used consistently it increases the length, thickness and darkness of the eyelash hairs.

Q: Is it safe? Why or why not?

It is safe to use, but as with any product, can have some women can experience issues such as irritation.

Q: What results can patients really expect?

A: Thickening and darkening of the lashes begins at 8 weeks and really becomes prominent at 16 weeks.

Q: How long do results typically last? To maintain longer, thicker lashes Latisse should be used continuously. As long as usage is maintained, patients can expect lash enhancement.

Q: How much does the treatment cost?

A: It costs about $120.00 per bottle, which can last 1-2 months.

Q: Do you apply the treatment in your office or do patient apply it at-home?

A: Latisee is applied at-home, but it can only be dispensed in office or at pharmacy.

Q: Have you had patients who need to trim their lashes? 

A: Not yet.

Q: Are there any over-the-counter products that can produce comparable results?

A: The over-the-counter products that produce similar results are knock offs that copied the molecule without conducting the FDA testing or registration, so it is hard to know much about them.

Have you tried Latisee? Tell us about it!!!