sephora lipstick test

Photo: Devon Jarvis/Studio D


First-Rate Lip Service
For maximum fun the next time you feel the familiar urge to buy yourself a new lipcolor, drop in to your local Sephora. I recently tried its Color IQ for Lip service, which color-matches your complexion to find a panoply of shades just right for you. Your face and neck are photographed with a special camera that captures your skin tone; the results are uploaded to a computer. Once you're matched, you can filter by brand, color family (berry, coral, nude, red, etc.), finish (high shine, shimmer, matte), ingredient preferences (paraben-free, SPF), and price range. I thought I knew all about which shades are good for me—come on, I've been wearing makeup for 50 years—so when the computer suggested a purplish lip gloss (Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Mystic, $16.50), I said, "You're crazy." (Yes, I said that to the computer.) The color was exactly the kind of thing I would never wear. But with gentle encouragement from the saleswoman, I tried it. And you know what? It wasn't weird at all—in fact, it was subtle and flattering. I even think my own color IQ went up a couple of points.

Photo: Devon Jarvis/Studio D


Garden Party
Join us to celebrate spring's latest affair—with these new silky, deeply pigmented shadows (Clinique Lid Pop, $17 each), available in eight eye-opening shades. Apply them as a sheer wash or build the color as intensely as you like; the long-wearing powder stays fresh as a daisy.

oprah talbots

Photo: Devon Jarvis/Studio D


One-Sentence Review
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Makeup Stick ($42)
Use this silky, long-wear, cream-to-powder formula as a foundation or a concealer; it glides on smoothly, leaving a luxurious matte finish in one of 20 shades.

Photo: Devon Jarvis/Studio D


Spring Awakening
These last chilly weeks when it seems winter will never end—that's the time for a virtual trip to the Amalfi Coast. The quickest route? A few spritzes of Mediterranean Honeysuckle ($110 for 1.7 ounces), the newest scent in the Aerin Fragrance Collection. A surprising sparkling citrus cuts the sweetness of honeysuckle, lily of the valley and gardenia for a fresh, bright floral bouquet.... And suddenly, there you are, basking in a warm, sunny garden near an azure sea.