Thank you, Queen Latifah

A SUMMARY HAIKU:
Enhancing your good
points never killed anyone.
Plus, eyeshadow rules.



So, as I mentioned below, I've spend about a decade trying to find my perfect, inexpensive mascara. Mascara and lip gloss -- don't leave home without 'em.

For the record, Lancome Defincils is, in my opinion, the best mascara. It's also $23. In an effort to be more fiscally responsible, I've been trying to hoard my beauty slush fund dollars for hair cuts and coloring, and cut back in other places.

Beauty mags always rave about Maybelline Great Lash, which was, until last week, what I used. But I was always looking to break up with it, because it gets clumpy sometimes, it dries out quickly and I always want a new tube every 3 weeks.

Then I see the lovely Queen Latifah on that Cover Girl commercial and her eyelashes look awesome! And for some reason, I trust the Queen, even though I know she's a paid spokesperson. Anyway, long story short: The LashExact she's hawking? It's really good.

It really does separate and thicken. And it's not all gloppy and gross. The applicator brush really is magical, like Hermione Granger conjured it up at Hogwarts. Plus, it comes in a really pretty purple tube. I think I may have found my soulmate!

I've spent a whole lot of money finding the best products over the years. Here are some other things I highly recommend.

BRONZER: Hoola by Benefit ($28). Use a light dusting or a lot. In certain spots or all over. It looks like you spent an afternoon in the sun, and it doesn't have all those annoying sparkly things that make you look like a disco ball in the sunlight. Lightweight, too, so no pore clogging. Bonus: Benefit is totally generous with samples, so whenever you buy something, you walk away with a whole bunch of free shit.

(Problem is, the samples are all so good that you always want to go back and buy them, too.)

EYESHADOW: Expensive: Lancome or MAC. Cheap: Loreal HIP. All have millions lovely hues that stay put all day long. Get some real brushes, because sponge applicators don't really work for shit.

LIP GLOSS: For color, Lipglass by MAC. For clear shine, C.O. Bigelow Ultra Mentha Lip Shine, which you can get at Bath and Body Works. I recently discovered it, and I'll never use another clear gloss again.

HAIR PRODUCTS: Oh God, there are so many great ones. Rusk Blofoam mousse. Aveda volumizing tonic and control granules. Pantene spray wax (for texturzing your ends) works awesome and is 1/4 of the price of the stuff I used to buy. Matrix sleek.look protectant spray, which will keep your hair from turning into a hay bale if you regularly use a flat iron. I go back and forth on hair spray because I don't really use it much. Pantene works fine for me.

HERE'S WHAT I'M STILL LOOKING FOR: The best face moisturizer, and the best body lotion. Any suggestions?