This is a must have for the hot sweaty summer that is upon us. I plan on keeping these on hand to refresh my face and keep the pores clear. These Triad Pads are infused with a Cranberry toner to clean, hydrate and give you a healthy glow. It has a grainy texture to remove the grimy surface on your skin when you are hot. You know that yucky sticky feeling you have after the beach? If you cannot go right home and hit the shower, this will do the trick for sure. It will take off the old caked in sunscreen so it won't continue to work into those open pores created by the hot environment you're in. $30 at Arcona.com

Now that the warm weather is upon us, it’s time to put the cool, winter colors away and break out your warm, summery colors--beautiful bronzes, golds and corals. Just in time for summer, Dior is releasing its Goldrush collection. The collection features four new shades of Addict High Shine lipstick and 18-Karat versions of the 5-color eyeshadow palette and Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in tan, shimmery gold and coral hues.

The collection also includes a limited-edition medallion that contains an all-over golden glow highlighter for the eyes, cheeks and lips. The compact is adorned with champagne crystals and a satin ribbon, what a fabulous little trinket to wear around the neck or tie on your bag! I love multi-purpose products like this. Beauty Snob tip- apply a dab of this on your bottom lip over your favorite lipstick or gloss. $55 at Dior counters nationwide, Christian Dior also at Sephora.com. (View the entire collection after the jump.)

A few times in your life you have a life altering experience and yesterday I was lucky enough to have one over a makeover. I have had many many makeovers in my life and each time I imagine I will finally have all the beauty secrets to make me as beautiful as I can possibly be. But they always fall short and I always end up with the same conclusion, "I can do my own makeup better than this". But that was before Edgar at the Jose Eber Atelier on Two Rodeo. A total master make up artist to the stars (in fact, a celebrity client showed up after my appointment but I was sworn to not divulge), he transformed my face like I could never imagine. He did things I wouldn't dare risk on my face, mostly my eyes. Well, it is all about the eyes right? Here are some of his tricks and tips as well as his favorite products:

Post by Beauty Snob Sharon:
With summer just around the corner, I am on the lookout for makeup to give my face that effortless sun-kissed glow, like I just got back from a relaxing week of sipping champagne on a yacht in St. Tropez (wouldn’t that be nice!). I am loving Chanel’s new summer colors. Chanel just got a new creative director for makeup, Peter Philips, and he is whipping up some wonderful bronzes, golds and shimmery tons all set to hit stores in July.

I have a feeling that Chanel’s $30 gold nail polish, a limited edition shade called Gold Fiction, will be this summer’s equivalent to Vamp and Black Satin. It comes in an opaque gold case and Christine Dagousset, who is the executive vice president of Fragrance and Beauté for Chanel, said that high-end pigments were used to get the color and finish just right, hence the shade retailing for $10 over the regular $20 price tag. Not that the price tag will stop Chanel devotees from buying the new shade, but for $20 I thought I was already getting high-end pigments!?
In any case, there are plenty of other stand-outs in this new collection including Facettes D’Or, a finely milled gold loose powder that is said to read as a subtle glow on the skin ($56), Gold Light Glossimer lip gloss ($26), Rouge Hydrabase lipstick shades in copper, plum and coral (each $27), and a quad eye shadow palette with gold, coffee, ivory and dark green eye colors ($56).

I have always had a weakness for Chanel. Everything from their soft brushes to their sleek, black packaging brings a smile to my face so, I can’t wait to hit the beach (Chanel sunglasses in tow!), decked out in these fabulous new shades.

Get Chanel at Saks Fifth Avenue!

I went to Saks this weekend to use my Friends and Family discount (15% off cosmetics- make up never goes on sale so you can only imagine how excited I was!) and stocked up on the newest Bobbi invention (the woman is brilliant!), custom palettes for mixing and matching my favorite shades! I like the convenience of eyeshadow quads but I usually only use one or two colors which means the other shades are a total waste! With this custom compact, I was able to choose three fab shadows that I love and will use often (the shimmers: Beige, Ash and Snow) and a blush (Pale pink)-- all in one easy to use compact! You can switch out the colors depending on the season or your whim, the pieces literally pop out like a lego. I am totally obsessed, this will make traveling with make up SO easy! But the real reason I love it is because it is just so incredibly fun. The mirror on the compact is also nice and big, again, am mad for the custom palettes! I am going back tomorrow to get a few matte shadows to balance the shimmer washes, this is completely addicting! At Bobbi Brown counters worldwide. Shadows: $20 Compact: $10

It has been over a month since my first Arcona facial, and I desperately need to go back. Not only for the facial itself, but to supply myself with the entire line of their products! They gave me samples, and I ran out weeks ago. Of course, I have a ton of other products, so my face was well taken care of, but Arcona's products have completely changed my skin, and I want to continue on that path. They have a basic 5 regimen that includes a cleanser, moisturizer, exfoliating scrub, a "solution" that regenerates new cells and a toner. There is a myriad of choices to suit your skin type, but the ones I got were the Kiwi Cleansing Bar, Magic White Ice Moisturizer, Golden Grain Gomage scrub, Gentle Solution (cell regenerator) and Desert Mist (a toner that protects against the environment), all of which you get for $198 (all full sizes). Their products are all plant based and are made with a cold process, which is essential to retain the goodness of the ingredients. It makes sense. Just like the vegetables you eat, if you cook them to death they loose all of their nutritional properties. The cold process requires that they produce in very small batches, and that is why the big manufacturers don't do it. All of Arcona's products are made in the United States in labs that are under their control. The first change that I have seen, is the brightness of my face. My main problem is proper hydration, and my constant slathering of products has made it dull. After only my second facial, I am a changed woman. I finally have the peachy cream skin I've always wanted! Now I just have to get rid of all my freckles, which is in the works, as well. They have a product called Lightening Drops ($35) that pulls pigmentation to the surface and then sluffs off. I will review that after I've used it to see if it works.

From the Beauty Snob: Anne is our young Beauty Snob in training, representing the 20-something Beauty Snob readers :) Our family is growing as you may have noticed, and we'll get a full bio of everyone together for you soon!

To share a little about myself… I am a 21-year-old college student, and my BIGGEST morning beauty issue is what makeup I can throw on in the 3 minutes I have before I need to leave for class, but still look slightly polished. I have learned from my experience, and I have *6* quick, daytime beauty items you should be able to find time for before jetting out the door to face the day! (Jump to see my photo and steps!)

Leave it to Shu Uemura to have a gift with purchase that I actually wanted! I went to replenish my basic needs, the Fresh balancing cleansing oil for the summer and more brushes (never can have enough), and I was given a nice package of their Beta Glucan products--and big samples in real jars and bottles, not those tiny foil packages. I love the gel cream. It is made of depsea water for ultimate hydration and gives the skin a supple elasticity. The beta-glucan prevents aging, and you know what we always say: prevent to avoid plastic surgery 'cuz there is no "reversing." I am so into lightweight gels right now, and not only because it is summer, and I'm starting to sweat, but gels are much, much better for your skin. It absorbs better, so it penetrates your skin. The heavy creams sometimes just sit on top of your skin and clog everything up. Unfortunately, that means I have to give up La Mer, but my new aesthetician, who I listen to religiously, told me it was actually making my skin dehydrated. What? That thing is like a jar of heaven, I thought! Oh well, it's not for me. This Shu Uemura gel cream has a creamy consistency, even though it is called a gel -- I don't want you to think that it's clear and watery. It is still luxuriously creamy and smooths on the skin easily. I can feel my skin slurp it up, and I am left with skin that feels like a pool of water! At Shu Uemura for $70.

Spend $300 on La Mer at Saks.com and receive a special gift with purchase! If you need to replenish your La Mer supply, now is the time to do it. Saks is giving away a silver make up bag filled with travel size products- The Moisturizing Cream, The Moisturizing Lotion, The Lifting Serum Concentrate and The Eye Concentrate-(a $300 value). The offer is good only for online purchases. Use Code: LAMER6 at Check out! La Mer at Saks Fifth Avenue

Now is the time to stock up on all your favorite beauty products because Nordstrom is offering a cute pink tote full of beauty and fragrance samples with any $100 online purchase! I received mine last week, and it contains some really great and generously-sized samples, including some of my favorites: Clarins, Bare Escentuals, Bliss, L’Occitane, Philosophy, Origins and many more!

If you don’t know what to buy, I suggest my own purchase: a limited-edition Pink Clarisonic Skincare System! If you haven’t tried Clarisonic, you must! I lost mine during a beach vacation last summer, and just now finally reordered one. Now, I’m kicking myself that I waited so long! The Clarisonic is nothing short of fabulous. It provides a deep pore cleanse, as well as exfoliating, and over time, it really improves the quality of your skin. I find myself using less and less facial products because they are absorbed so much better! It also helps to prevent the occasional breakouts and flaky skin, I deal with. The Clarisonic also comes in white, but I prefer the pink version. Clarisonic donates a portion of profits from every purchase of the pink Clarisonic to the fight against breast cancer.

Don’t wait too long to order because this offer will only be available while supplies last!

The first time I tried Crystalift, I wasn't blown away -- I felt like my skin was being sandblasted!!! I saw the demonstration video of the lovely models enjoying the "gentle and painless" Crystalift process ... lies!! But, results don't lie, and after using it just twice, my skin looked great! The biggest difference was my boyfriend's skin. He has large pores and very uneven coloration. After two treatments, his skin looked noticeably better! The best part was how easy the whole system was to set up and use; there is no assembly, and it stores easily. If you have ever paid for a microdermabrasion treatment at your dermatologist's office, you know how pricey a single session can be. Crystalift's whole system including your first four treatments is just $199, plus shipping and handling and takes only a few minutes. I really do think this is a great option for someone who doesn't want to spend a small fortune and their free time at the dermatologist's office for something you can do at home.

Let me tell you ladies, after the Hair Gloss, I was wondering what could possibly impress me next. Little did I know that my next 'can't live without' product would come from the same line only a week later! After using this on my face, post wash, for the past week I can already see a difference. Even my boyfriend told me how pretty my skin skin looked while we were strolling around San Francisco this weekend... I was blown away! ...(The last time my boyfriend noticed that I was using a new product, It was when I switched from decaf to regular.)

Isomers products are really quite remarkable. Carnosine antioxidant complex is actually working to stop the oxidation of the skin cells, and thus, slow down the aging process of the skin. If your just starting to incorporate anti aging products into your beauty routine, or your a seasoned pro looking for a new solution, this stuff is fantastic! And at just a penny under $40 a bottle, anyone can afford great skin :)

Isomers Carnosine Antioxidant Complex- $39.99

1. Prep and protect your skin
Even if you’re in a hurry, it’s still important to apply a facial cream with SPF and an undereye cream. This will help to protect your skin as well as providing a great base for makeup. Daily Moisturizer with SPF from the L’Oreal Skin Genesis line is a good lotion with SPF and anti-aging properties.
Oil of Olay Definity Eye Illuminator is an amazing undereye cream that helps to diminish dark circles and illuminate the eye area.

Another great time-saver is tinted moisturizers. Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 , will give you a beautiful, luminous finish.

There is nothing worse than a face of heavy mask like make up in the dead heat of summer. Which is why I headed to the Prescriptives counter when I found out they have a new product for the season, a Tinted moisturizer custom blended to your skin tone! I am such a Prescriptive freak because of the custom blend, once you have your lip glosses and bronzer custom blended, it's really hard to go back to ready to wear gloss you know what I mean? The Tinted moisturizer can be as light or heavy on coverage as you desire, with fun options like the "glow" lotion they add in to give your skin that youthful shimmer. I took my friend Gigi with me to the Prescriptives counter and she shouted "My face matches my neck perfectly!" She is not a fan of make up and hardly ever wears it because of its mask like tendencies, but she is now also a Prescriptives convert and bought everything they tried on her. The foundation brush, a lip liner, lip gloss, eyeshadow quad, and of course the Tinted moisturizer. I even swiped a couple of drops on this morning before I went to the gym and it looked amazing, like I had perfect skin without a drop of make up on. $45 At Prescriptives counters nationwide.

LiftActiv PRO is the new line to fight against aging, loss of firmness and elasticity from Vichy Cosmetics. After using the Serum [C+] for about 2ish weeks, I started seeing the benefits of these amazing products, and for $38 its a total steal!! I felt like the skin under my eyes was doing pushups, it looked so fresh and awake! The hole the product comes out of is nice and tiny so you don’t over apply, and the texture is soft and water based so it absorbs quickly. For those of you that need ‘preservation products’ (as my mother calls them) that are gentle and wont irritate sensitive skin, LiftActiv PRO is waiting for you! Serum [C+] -$39.00

I was given samples of a Swiss oxygenating skincare line called Karin Herzog recently and am amazed at the results I see in mere days. It's been a cult classic in Europe for years and available in the US for the first time. I was told Karin Herzog skincare was the first of its kind and holds the international patent for stabilizing pure oxygen in a cream or emulsion. Its products normalize the skin, promote healing and accelerate cell regeneration, balance combination skins, minimize pores, detoxify and kill bacteria, hydrate and diminish lines and wrinkles, and desensitize even the most delicate of skins. The line was developed by Karin's husband, Dr. Paul Herzog, Doctor Honoris Causa of the Nobel Institute. To be honest I thought all of this sounded too good to be true but I was in the mood to change up my nightly routine so I decided to try it for a few days.

"When only perfection will do"

This line of cosmetics, designed by Nicole Paxson, was invented for problem skin that can't be concealed by ordinary foundation and concealer. If you suffer from a facial birthmark, dark circles, rash, Rosacea, acne or any other skin pigmentation issue, Nicole Paxson is your solution. These products contain the highest level of SPF UVA/UVB protection available on the market and are also completely waterproof (I tested this myself out by the pool, no burn and no smudge!).The morning that I tested this product I woke up with a mountain of a pimple right by the center of my left eyebrow. I applied the foundation and smoothed it out with powder and then asked my boyfriend to 'point to the pimple' from a distance of about 3 feet away in normal lighting. After a few random guesses It was clear that my pimple was completely camouflaged! YAY! The “pudding” foundation has a wonderfully light consistency that reminds me of, well, pudding! And I really loved the powder which is genius for having two similar shades side by side so don't need to worry about getting a new compact if you lose your tan or get one over the summer. I must put out this disclaimer; this makeup is heavy duty, if you have perfect skin you should stick to your tinted moisturizer. The reason this product hides every flaw the way it does is because it’s thick. Although it doesn't feel heavy on your face, you need to be sure you have the RIGHT shade and that you BLEND! Please go to Nicole Paxson Cosmetics.com to place your order!

I must say that I am not moved to recommend new face wash to others very often, because what works for me may not work for you, and so on… However, this Lavender Cleansing Gel really had its way with me. The first night I tried this cleanser, I was so distracted that I had completely forgotten to remove my make up before I began to wash my face. While scrubbing my (I could only imagine) smudgy eyes I thought about how I would now have to rinse and then remove my eye makeup and then wash again to remove the makeup remover, -sigh-. As I rinsed my face, much to my delight, I saw that this fabulous product had gently and effortlessly removed every hint of mascara and eyeliner! YAY!! Not to mention the lavender scent is a great way to end the day and de-stress as you prep for bed, and equally as nice to use in your morning shower. Also noteworthy, this product is completely organic, so all of you green girls, enjoy! Follow with the Lavender Renewal Facial Serum; it will make your face feel bright and radiant all day long!
Lavender Cleansing Gel- $11.95 Lavender Renewal Facial Serum- $20.95

In my 20's I relied on many products to see me through different continents, climate changes and countless hours I spent on airplanes each week. One of them, my absolute favorite, is the Ecological Compound from Sisley. It is an amazing lightweight compound that literally provides a shield between your skin and the environment. Between the LA smog and polluted air in Asia, I needed something to keep my skin fresh and dewy. This is not to replace your moisturizer, it is an addition. It should be the first thing your skin touches before your serums, lotion and sunscreen. It actually prepares your skin to derive maximum benefit from all other beauty care products! Instantly absorbed, it's made of plant complex that gives your skin radiance while combating the damaging effects of pollution and climatic changes. I use it as a massage lotion as well (Carine Roitfeld told me her secret to eternal youth is daily facial massage!)- ask your facialist to teach you a few easy at home massage moves! You must try this, It's expensive but your face is worth it. There are two sizes but I like the larger size because you get more for your money. Let me know how you like your new glowing skin after using this for a few days :) I have not used this product in years, but now, in my 30's I find I am needing it more than ever (what with the insane weather changes of recent weeks and my hectic travel schedule.). I just clicked and ordered mine (free shipping from saks!) and can't wait to get my faithful friend back! Sisley Emulsion Ecologique 4.2 oz $220 at Saks.com.

Everyone has the one amazing place they go to for facials and I had mine. But I was introduced to Arcona and had a chance to get the treatment at the Santa Monica studio and everything I've ever known has changed! Whatever "bestest" foundation I have is of no use to me now as my skin is radiant, smooth and ridiculously perfect. I actually look like how I used to look with foundation on but so much brighter and with a glow from within. The secret is in their enzyme based products. The facial started out with a cleanser and a scrub, same ole same ole, then came the enzyme mask. I was skeptical and thought it was kind of gimmicky to make me sign a release prior to my treatment declaring that I understood the power of this mask and that I shouldn't go in the sun and need special treatment and protection afterwards. I'm like, it's pineapple and papaya juice, whatever! But boy was I wrong.

I know I sound like a broken record but this crazy weather is wreaking havoc on my skin! It was a sunny 80 degrees this Saturday but it is snowing outside as I write this on Monday evening (and woke up to three inches of snow on Tuesday morning!) Two weeks ago, we had hail the size of golf balls pummeling our roof and windows (the scariest natural disaster I have ever experienced, it sounded like World War III) so my skin has been enduring the hot outside-air conditioning inside/ cold outside-heater inside thing for months. I decided to try Peter Thomas Roth's Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Cellular Moisture Masque from the "sample" box (where I pull all the goodies for your pop quiz giveaways) because my face feels like it's about to crack(sorry, will make it up to you). I first put the mask on my hands and it was like drenching a dry sponge with water. The skin on the back of my hands bounced back to life and looked supple immediately. I smeared another big dollop on my face and felt the same relief. Made of all kinds of peptides with scientific names that I do not understand (I won't bore you with all them either) the mask rinsed off easily without any residue and my skin felt soft. It's not the best moisture mask I've ever tried (the best was one by La Prarie which they have discontinued) but it certainly put the bounce back to my dry and confused skin. $60 at Sephora- Get FREE SHIPPING over $50 at Sephora.com. Just enter SHIPPING50 at checkout. Valid through 17-Mar-08.

From the manufacturer: Azur Skin introduces its first anti-aging cream with gentle yet powerful solar protection that won't sting or burn eyes. Comining powerful anti-aging technology, with its proprietary natural tearless solar protection formulation, Azur Moisturizer & Anti-Aging Creme for Face & Eyes protects the delicate skin around the eyes, where you really need it, helping to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and discolorations. $30-$34 at Azur Website

Beauty Snob review: I was really excited to try this because my sunscreen creams burn when I apply near my eyes, usually when I am not wearing eye make up. My mascara and eyeliner is actually a buffer for me but there are days when I just swipe on sunscreen and lipgloss and go (not often but it does happen). I received samples of this cream and noticed that it was really watery. In fact, I had my cup of tea close by when I opened it and it spurted straight in to my cup so be careful when you open it! I squeezed some more to test on the back of my hand as I do all new lotions and it was still a bit watery but very lightweight. I liked the lightness of the lotion and it would probably be great for the pool or water sports because it is water resistant. With summer around the corner the SPF 40 will be ideal for my daily trips to the park with my three year old son!

Now that you have seen the new MAC Fafi line, you may be interested in a little background information on the Artist who created the cute cartoons. "Fafi" was born and raised in Toulouse, France. She has a strong street/graffiti style that is unique for its cute and feminine characters. If you are a New York native you may have even seen a design or two around town, you may also have seen her work on LeSportSac bags and Adidas shoes. When she teamed up with MAC for the new line she created three new "Fafinettes" Eriko, Monoka and Ermine who will be gracing the containers of everyones favorite makeup brand =)

For more information about the Artist, check out her web site at Fafi.net!

At first glance I was completely frightened by MAC's Fafi collection (from the photos of the models with brightly painted faces). I was just discussing my junior high school horror stories in the 80's with you guys and then this showed up at my door. Visions of my Souxie and the Banshees eyeliner with blue eyeshadow and sometimes red lipstick fla