What: It Cosmetics My Naughty Mouth Kit, $69

Why: I’m no Angelina Jolie. I don’t have six kids, Brad Pitt, or pillowy lips. So I wasn’t optimistic that this step-by-step kit of lip products would change my pout. It comes with a palette of nine lipstick shades, a dual lip pencil for highlighting and shading, two shimmery glosses, a handy dual brush, and two blue-based lip balms that make smiles look whiter.

When I opened the box, my first thought was that it seemed like a lot of effort without much promise of payoff. But thanks to the easy-to-follow diagrams of how to apply every product, my lips do look fuller. I’m still not Angelina, but I’m a little closer… and a little later for work.

Get Yours: beauty.com  

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We had the pleasure of interviewing Emmy-nominated makeup artist Bruce Grayson yesterday – the one who ran the backstage goings-on at the Academy Awards (21 makeup artists! 19 hairdressers!) – and he let us in on how we mere mortals can get looks like the ones we saw on Sunday.

Bruce’s advice for getting red carpet glam at home is the same advice he gives the celebrities: it all starts with great skin. Getting your skin in shape weeks in advance is the key to looking as amazing as possible: facials, microdermabrasion, whatever it takes.

Bruce said he swears by Olay Definity Color Recaputre ($21) and Laura Mercier Secret Concealer ($22) to even skin tones and make skin look just flawless.

Bruce’s picks for best makeup on Oscar night? Jennifer Aniston’s look was one of his favorites, with the star going a little more glam than usual but still showing gorgeous, translucent skin and makeup. Other favorites included Kate Winslet’s pale beigy pink eye with a dramatic lip and Viola Davis’s gorgeous mauve-y purple lips.

“Oscars is about sheer simplicity," Bruce says. "It focuses on the eyes or the lips or the skin.”

As far as other makeup bag staples, he adores Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara ($7.65) and Cargo Blu-Ray Blush/Highlighter ($27). When it comes to lips, Bruce is mad for the new lip gloss/lipstick combination products that go on easy and leave lasting color with shine – one of his favorites right now is MAC Tinted Lipglass ($14).

Whether or not you include the red carpet and HDTV lighting is entirely up to you.

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You already know that cherry red lips are hot for winter; they’ve been all over every red carpet since the Emmys. We found a flatter-everyone shade, and even told you how to keep it on your lips. But if you’re still not sold — or if you just want a scaled back version of the trend — look into lip stains. The results? You get the same sexy lips without looking like you’re trying too hard, and there are tons of wearable options out there.

Clinique Almost Lipstick ($14): I’ve been wearing the Black Honey tint of this fabulous product for as long as I can remember, and it’s never let me down. While the shade in the tube is a little intimidating, this goes on sheer and weightless so you can build color to your liking. As an added bonus, the juicy blackberry hue makes teeth look whiter and brighter.

Benefit BeneTint Pocket Pal ($20): How about a two-for-one? This dreamy duet stars Benefit’s famous, universally flattering Benetint on one end and shiny gloss on the other. Use the rosy-hued Benetint end to make it look like you just indulged in a glass of wine, then top with the gloss to make it look like you did so without messing up your makeup.

L’Oreal Color Juice Stick ($9): Everyone loves L’Oreal’s Color Juice lip glosses, but if you want to forego high shine in favor of subtle, natural tint, choose this sleek sister version. The stain smells sweet, like cotton candy, and goes on light and translucent. There are tons of flattering colors to choose from, and the end result is easy, natural and not too over-the-top.

Have a favorite lip stain that we missed? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Everyone who has already dropped their New Year’s resolution to get to the gym more, raise your hand. Hey, a lot of people have dropped out by now because the hassle of getting re-dressed and re-applying makeup can be a total pain. Well, we want you to reach all your goals this year, so dump out all your toiletries and pack these small, light essentials to get you from the gym to gorgeous in no time flat.

If your gym doesn’t have shower toiletries, take the Bliss Sinkside Six Pack ($22) into the shower with you. It has face wash, soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and body butter in a package that fits into your hand.

A mascara eye and bold lip complements the flush in your skin after a workout. This Urban Decay Trifecta Makeup Kit ($22 ) contains eye primer, mascara, and liner to get a perfect post-workout wink.

Now, if you’re truly in a hurry and don’t have time to even wash your hair (and those of us who have been paged into a meeting during a sweat session know what I mean,) these Ted Gibson Hair Sheets ($17 for 10) are a godsend. Run them over your hair and hit your mane with a cool blast from the dryers provided.

Keep this light and travel-friendly Sedu Revolution Shortie Mini Styler ($50) at the bottom of your bag. It heats up quickly, works like a dream using tourmaline ionic plates, and best of all, comes with its own heat-resistant carrying case which doubles as a protective surface!

Here’s another trick: keep all of your toiletries in a lingerie bag like the ones you use to wash your delicates. You can hang it in the shower and it drains dry. Just place the wet bag on a towel while you’re getting ready and throw it in your gym bag when you're ready to go. You’ll never have moldy gym things again!

Check out our Guide to Cheap Workout Gear for stuff to wear to the gym that won't break your budget. 

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January is the perfect time to ditch the old stuff and revamp with some fresh new goodies. In addition to the thrill that comes with pre-spring cleaning (and the eye infection you'll save yourself from tossing that ancient mascara), it's a great way to glam up your look, no gym membership, diet or new wardrobe necessary.

Get the Smashbox Best of Smashbox Rapture Kit ( $19) and get three must-have basics and a screaming good deal. You'll get a mini Fusion Soft Lights shimmering powder in Dusk (neutrals), a mini Lip Enhancing Gloss in Aura (pink-ish) and a Travel Size Bionic Mascara in Jet Black.

To add some drama, try  MAC's Slimshine Lipstick ($14.50). It's moisturizing and sheer, but with beautiful, lasting color. I'm partial to the shade Urgent!, a pinky-red with excellent day-to-night potential.

Get glowing lids and cheeks with The Balm Hot Mama ($18), a pinky-peach multi-use powder that is paraben, sulfate, and phthalate-free.

Moisture, SPF 20, and skin-evening color in one simple step, Cosmedicine Honest Face Skin Tint and Treatment ($35) is one of the best tinted moisturizers I've tried. Serious bonus points for having a high SPF and still going on smooth and sheer.

For a touch of glam on the go, I stash everything away in a new Tory Burch Medium Cosmetics Case ($57). Looks amazing, and it's cheaper than a new purse!

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Do you secretly wish you were just a smidge edgier? Check out my new favorite finds from Urban Decay for some sinfully hot new beauty products that will bring out the rock rebel in you this holiday season. Or give to someone else who needs a little loosening up. 

Their Limited Edition Lipstick Cap ($15) will really get tongues wagging at the holiday party.  The gorgeous case looks like a Gothic tinted window and can house any of the Urban Decay Lipsticks ($22).

Looking to kiss someone before the night is over?  Don’t worry about heading to the bathroom. This Stoned Poison Ring ($50) opens up to house any one of three universal shades contained in the bottom drawer of its ring box.  Just pop one in and lacquer up before your close-up.

If you or someone you love has a thing for eyeliner (who doesn’t?), the 24/7 Travel Sized Sets of Five ($29) are perfect purse stashers for nights out. 

Long nights used to smudge your eye makeup but no more! Award-winning Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($16) goes on smoothly under eyeshadow and keeps eyes looking smooth and crease-free. Plus, the shadow stays put until you say so.

Don’t let the attitude fool you. Urban Decay doesn’t test on animals so you can use the products without fear.  Take these little gems with you this holiday season and turn up the volume on your makeup routine.

And check out our Invitation Translation Guide for what to wear with your festive new makeup palette. 

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Don't get so jolly this season that you forget to mind your manners. This week we went through a refresher course in decorum, with some products to prevent social gaffes.

When someone goes to the trouble of frosting your name on a Christmas cookie or mixing up 45 gallons of spiked eggnog, a hostess gift is in order. Show the love with a token of appreciation like this Maria Evora carob-mineral cameo soap.

You want your coworkers murmurring about your professional prowess, not the thigh-high boots and belly-baring getup you wore to the office mixer. A satin dress with a reverse v-neck shows that you're elegant, not easy.

Kisses should live on in the memory, not on the face. This kiss-proof lipstick stays on you and off everyone else.

Limping isn't sexy. Slipping your shoes off in the corner isn't appropriate. When you're painting the town red (and green), you need footwear (like these Harriet t-Strap sandals ) that won't mangle your feet.

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Single cheek, double cheek, or a big sloppy wet one under the mistletoe. No matter how much someone enjoys the affection, no one wants to be left with the remnants of your love all over their face. And even if that martini glass is the only thing getting up close and personal with your mouth, those red lipstick marks are totally uncalled for.

Spare everyone the lip print (and spare yourself the frequent trips to the bathroom for reapplication) with L'Oreal Infallible Lip Colour ($12). It stays on for 16 hours–no matter how much eating, drinking and kissing you do–and comes in 24 shades. Plus, the reflective case means you won't have to make room for a mirror in your teeny tiny clutch. 

Get Yours: drugstore.com

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Not every woman will be able to carry off the dark, almost Black lip shades that hit the runways this fall. Women at either end of the skin color spectrum will find the deep red and purple lip colors most wearable. Dark complexioned women can wear them because the sultry colors look more natural on them. Fair skinned women can wear darker colors, too, as the high contrast gives a dramatic, Goth effect (if you’re into that sort of thing).  However, for those of us in the middle, finding a suitable dark color may prove more difficult. Make the most of the trend by first determining the right shade for you. Cool shades for cool skin tones (pink, olive and some ebony skins) and warm shades for warm skin tones (yellow/golden, peach and reddish brown). Cosider using a lip pencil to maintain a tidy lip line, and keep the rest of your makeup subtle. Cross over to the dark side wearing Smashbox’s limited edition Wicked Lovely Lip Gloss and Liner, both perfect for this look. Get them at sephora.com.

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The NYTimes' Sunday Styles highlighted some lipstick picks this weekend for the woman who wants to keep luxury in her life in the form of Chanel Rouge Hydrabase instead of the latest Chanel handbag. Apparently, high-end beauty products make us feel better, since cosmetics sales are up while the economy is down. Although we were told that bolder colors have been replaced by sheerer and more muted tones, I'm sure a new shade of Comfort Red is on its way to a shelf near you.  

The article highlighted Clinique's Long Last Soft Shine, but I'm a huge proponent of their Long Last Matte Lipstick in Double Truffle ($14), as it gives a stained effect that won't dry your lips. And I've been wearing Clinique lipstick ever since my mother passed along her free samples from those Bonus Days bags.

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