Animal instincts never hurt when it comes to makeup. (Plā) Beauty is in touch with theirs – their Cougar bronzer, in a spotty print, is fun and pleasing to the eye before you even apply it. And it has actual benefits once on the face, as well.

For bronzer, using a mix of colors is always a good idea. An ombré composition gives you a richer, enhanced glow with a natural effect, since it blends in with your skin tones. This combo is especially nice. It has the right shades of highlights and lowlights, infused with a pretty blush tone: an easy all-in-one, thanks to the spots, that comes with a slight shimmer. And don’t be put off if your skin is on the pale side; it isn’t as dark as you might think. The result is a very rosy bronze that actually works on most complexions.

I really love the company behind the product. Their environmentally friendly products are hypoallergenic and vitamin-enriched and proceeds go to support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – this is a complexion-helping cougar with a cause. At (Plā) Beauty for $30 (pan) plus $34 (compact).

Sweat, swim, splash, and, yes, take a cannonball-style plunge into the water. And even bawl your eyes out if you want to! Urban Decay’s Ultra-Waterproof mascara can withstand all the elements, whether you’re doing a long-distance butterfly-stroke or taking on white-water rapids. Not that those are my typical weekend activities.

But I did test Cannonball through all-day wear, a four-mile run, a shower, and even a tear or two (okay, I admit it: I watched The Notebook and it made me cry a little! Strictly for snob-test purposes!), and the stuff didn’t budge.

Also, it’s unlike other waterproof mascaras because it’s made to keep your lashes soft and lush. Their exclusively Japanese formula is made with microcrystalline wax to increase volume and length. My favorite part, other than the high endurance factor, is that there’s none of that coarse flaking. Lashes stayed feathery-natural through it all.

At Sephora for $20.

I had a dinner party at my apartment the other night and it’s so funny how heated conversations about nail polishes can get! So many of us have serious loyalties and two of my friends, after eying my polish collection, began a “heated” discussion about the pros and cons of Butter vs. Essie vs. OPI vs. Deborah Lippmann. On a side note, a fun fact I picked up while this was all going down was that Butter London is actually made in Seattle and has no London affiliation whatsoever (I still love them….)! In the end we had to put it to rest because everyone’s nail chemistry is different so a shade that will last a week on your nails may last two days on someone else’s. Plus colors can look completely different depending on your skin tone. Personally I care as much about long-wear as I do color, which explains why essie is one of my fave polish brands. They’re so often ahead of color trends so even though their shades tend to crack quickly on my nails, I’ll often use them for my DIY manicures.

Essie’ Spring 2012 collection includes two shades I’m absolutely obsessed with: Navigate Her (pistachio green is my all-time favorite color) and To Buy or Not to Buy. The new shades, which just launched, also include Tour de France, A Crewed Interest, Orange It’s Obvious, and Ole Caliente, each of which retail for $8

Also new in the world of polish is OPI’s Holland collection, which officially launches tomorrow. The collection includes 12 shades ($8.50 each), inspired by Holland. I’ve never been to Holland so I have no idea how reflective they actually are of the region, but I’m loving that this collection includes equal part shimmer polish and creme polish (it’s a little hard to tell from the image above, but seven of the polishes are shimmery – mostly the ones on the bottom).

For the most part I’m not super into shimmery shades unless there’s very dense glitter involved (these ones in particular have small sparkle flecks), but I LOVE Kiss Me on My Tulips (the hot pink on the top right), Red Lights Ahead…Where? (the orange on the top left), and A Roll in The Hague (coral-red – it’s the second on the top from the left). They’re all high-shine, timeless colors that are super versatile. They’re the perfect kinds of shades for me on weeks where I’m too busy to change my polish color with my outfits because OPI lasts a good week on my nails without chipping. The other shades in the collection are:

Vampsterdam (deep purple)
Thanks a Wind Million (sea green)
Did You ’ear About Van Gogh? (sandy bisque)
Dutch ’Ya Just Love OPI? (shimmery plum)
I Don’t Give a Rotterdam! (steal-blue shimmer)
I Have Herring Problem (shimmery green-blue)
Pedal Faster Suzi! (pink lavender shimmer)
Wooden Shoe Like to Know? (shimmery chocolate-brown)
Gouda Gouda Two Shoes (shimmery rose).

How cool are the names? Gouda Gouda…!

Regarding makeup, I swing from being totally lazy to totally gung-ho (as in, putting on fake lashes everyday!). Right now, I am in my lazy mode. All the traveling I’ve done recently, along with being sick has taken a toll. So I’ve resorted to my five-minute no-fuss makeup routine – and this involves a shadow in stick form. I like to pick a neutral so I don’t need to blend with other colors. The remaining four minutes is devoted to a tinted moisturizing sunscreen, eyeliner, mascara, brow pencil (this step cannot be eliminated because I have no brows!), and I’m off. I don’t even apply a lip gloss – instead, I put on lip balm in the car.

The stick shadow for me these days is By Terry Ombre Blackstar. It’s actually a cream shadow that goes on super smoothly, lasts all day without smearing, and keeps its slight luminous sheen throughout the day.  A cream shadow is especially great after a shower when your lids are still slightly damp. If you use a powder shadow, you need a primer first or the powder will stick to your skin and not go on perfectly smooth. The cream shadow takes this complication out of the equation. Having a hydrated lid also gives you a nice, dewy, youthful look – which is much preferred to a cakey, matte, overly made-up look.

The Ombre Blackstar comes in five fabulous shades: Silver Granite, Blond Opal, Bronze Moon (this is perfect for my complexion as it gives just enough color, but is still quite natural), Misty Rock, and Frozen Quartz (this one is amazing for fair complexions!). The Black Pearl extract in this luscious liner is what makes it so creamy. Even if I’m not feeling so lazy, I love this cream shadow as a base and then add darker shadow to the corners and blend with a highlighting color above.

At Barneys New York for $43.

Talk about a product I wish had existed years ago when I was going through the uber stressful process of applying to college! I went to an event to learn about the Tria Beauty Skin Perfecting Blue Light ($245) two weeks ago and was blown away by what the dermatologists there had to say (the device is sold by beauty retailers as well as by dermatologists), the consumer testimonials, and all of the before and after shots. The handheld gadget is the first FDA-cleared blue light, it has tons of clinical studies to back up its claims, and unlike many of its competitors it does not require wearing goggles to protect your eyes (they don’t recommend shining it in your eye of course, but you can shine the blue light all over your face and not have to worry if your eyes are open).

The Tria is considerably more potent than other blue lights, which is why most users saw results within two weeks (a 70% improvement in the appearance of acne according to their clinical studies). They recommend using it twice a day for 2.5 minutes each time. You can “paint your face” (ie shine the light evenly all over your cleansed face), or focus on particularly troublesome areas. The kit comes with a cartridge that needs to be replaced every two months and the device will alert you when you hit that mark; on a side note if you simply wipe the front of the device after using it you can easily share it with your husband/boyfriend… Though you’ll likely see improvements quickly they recommend keeping up with the twice a day routine so that you can transition your skin from acne treatment to acne prevention mode.

The Tria can be used by all skin types for the treatment of mild to moderate acne (not cystic acne because even though it can go deeper into the skin than other devices it won’t penetrate deep enough to treat really severe acne). Knock on wood I have clear skin so I have no tried this device personally, but again the pictures, data, and testimonials I was shown were pretty mind boggling so if you’re dealing with stubborn acne — and trust me I know what a depressing nightmare that can be — I would definitely recommend looking into Tria’s blue light.

One of the most divisive musicians (although some would be wary to call her that) to appear in years, Lana Del Rey’s album has only been out a day yet the buzz around her recently has been palpable. While most are debating just how bad her Saturday Night Live performance really was, I’m more focused on her look!

She calls herself a “gansta Nancy Sinatra,” and I have a feeling she’s talking more hair and makeup than sound. The deep side part and tumbling curls are retro-forties pinup perfection, and I’m liking her heavy swipe of liquid eyeliner. Her dedication to false lashes: a smart style choice, but not for everyone. Her lips: even more controversial! I appreciate the blush-nude pout against such a heavy lid, but people can’t get over the fact that they seem to have been enhanced (likely with Restalin for a hefty top lip). And then she clashes all the typical prettiness with ghetto-fabulous jewels.

So what do you snobs think: does Lana have her look down pat or (like her performances) should she keep working on it?

CoutureSnob‘s top 5 printed dresses are so gorgeous you can practically hang them on your walls.

Allie is Wired checks out Rihanna’s new blonde hair, courtesy of Elle magazine.

Stiletto Jungle explains how to shop (and score) at off-price retail stores.

Glance to the ranch for inspiration this season! The equestrian look is one that’s close to BagSnob‘s heart. Read more about BagSnob’s Top Equestrian Bags.

From posh blazers to darling cupcake liners, gingham’s checkered pattern makes a colorful splash this spring, according to Coquette.

The Jet Set Girls get the look from the Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012 show.

Glitter is a must for any self-respecting and princess-loving girl – old or young! TotSnob found the perfect glittery shoes for your tot!

Second City Style thinks adding some tropical brights and rich jewel tones can be a good way to wake yourself up and says Good Morning, Winter Sunshine.

Fendi’s Spring shoes are fantastic! It looks like the house has adopted a carefree attitude – not typical for them. At ShoeSnob.

Angelina Jolie’s black halter dress from Jenny Packham is not availablebut, the Halston Heritage version Shopping and Info found IS available for Valentine’s Day..

Ax + Apple is all for “making things like they used to.” And the result is super-cool, antique-y jewelry with an Indian vibe. At JewelSnob.

The Beauty Stop spots some great Valentine’s Day beauty deals.

My mom has the best skin; she’s in her seventies and barely has any wrinkles. I’m hoping I’ve been blessed with her good genes, but am I going to bet the state of my future face on luck? You know the answer: I bet on prevention, always!

Sunday Riley’s Good Genes corrective treatment will give you all the benefits you get from having, yes, good genes. And it isn’t just for prevention purposes. Use this continually and you will reverse damage (from UV exposure, acne scars, daily wear and tear), while increasing the thickness of the epidermis, so your skin won’t crumple with age. It irons out lines, evens complexion, and reduces hyper-pigmentation. The result is a bright, youthful glow with a silky texture.

I have been using it for a week and I already see dramatic improvement; the brightness is the most noticeable. I look in the mirror in the morning and my skin is so good, I don’t even put on makeup. Just sunscreen and I’m ready to go, looking rather fine! Not many products out there produce immediate results that actually appreciate with prolonged use – you usually get one or the other. Use it for five days to give your skin a boost, or if you have real damage and problem areas, use it continuously.

The treatment comes in a glass jar to prevent leaching (which plastic can cause), as well as preserve the freshness of the product. Sunday’s Texas-based company is completely green and the ingredients are all natural…which could account for the scent. It’s not the most pleasant, but it’s because no artificial fragrances are added, it doesn’t smell bad. Just is a bit sour and strange. Small price to pay for good genes! At Barneys New York for $105.

I don’t wear foundation – I hate it, actually. The older I get, the less makeup I wear. (Oh, the irony. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup as a teenager and had to apply each morning at my bestie’s house before school!)

For a light look and feel, I’ve been using La Roche-Posay BB sunscreen under Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge: that’s been the winning combo for me. Add a touch of Tom Ford illuminating primer and Bobbi Brown’s highlighting pen, and I get carded 100% of the time.

So when I received Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! Brightening Makeup (that’s a mouthful!), I thought, “yeah, uh-huh, sure” (and honestly, a cheap plastic container doesn’t help get my attention). Well, prove me wrong time and again, Benefit! This oil-free liquid foundation not only glides on as light as air, it looks like skin! I wear one layer during the day add another at night and look dewy fresh until it’s time for bed! I didn’t see much brightening without adding my highlighters but so what? This stuff is awesome! Available on Benefit.com on February 15th.

I was so in love with the Arcona kiwi mask until they discontinued it (why?!?! That always seems to happen to the best products!). But now I can stop crying about it because I’ve moved on: I discovered a better one from my favorite beauty line, Darphin.

Bursting with kiwi, mango, and pomegranate extracts, this is more of a hydrating mask than a cleansing mask. Along with shea butter and Vitamin E, it helps parched winter skin come back to life (no more tight dryness). Kiwi is so amazing for reviving dull skin – the natural acids melt away impurities to bring a healthy, glowing complexion to the surface. And, as we know, pomegranate is a great anti-oxidant. A mere three to five minutes later, you have a blissfully revived face. It couldn’t be easier on the skin, so you can apply it pretty much as often as you want.

This mask does it all, and now I have another product to give me a luxury bath time experience (which, of course, is one of my favorite activities). At drugstore.com for $50.