In case you haven't noticed, battery-powered lash enhancers are ALL the rage in beauty this season. While we've chatted previously about Lancome's Oscillation, Estee Lauder was actually ahead of the curve in this arena with the launch of TurboLash Mascara.

TurboLash uses a gently vibrating, patent-pending LashSonic Brush™ that deposits Lauder's gel formula mascara on lashes from root to tip. I know that a lot of readers have questions on the vibrating brushes, but trust me on this, you barely feel the brush's vibrations and they work to separate lashes, leaving them relatively clump-free. TurboLash is a splurge at $30 but I'm impressed with the results - my lashes look long, lush and clearly defined.

TurboLash is sold out for the time being at Estee Lauder's website, however they offer a handy-dandy feature where you can leave your email address and be updated when it's back in stock. Check out the link here.

A dark, vampy (nearly unwearable, if we're being honest) lip is hot, hot, hot for Fall 2008. Just check out the pages of September's magazines and you'll see dark colors like MAC's Cult of Cherry Bing & Kirsch Mattene Lipsticks.





Our friends at Lancôme will also be debuting a really interesting new vampy lip product this November-Color Fever Gloss in Piha Black. The gloss will debut as part of a luxe lip set created by Aaron de Mey(above), the brand's new artistic director for makeup. Priced at $48, the set pairs the black gloss with Color Fever Lipstick in Piha Red, inspired by the red of a Christian Louboutin sole. Aaron is a big advocate of having fun with makeup, so the idea is to wear the colors alone or to customize your own shade by mixing them together. Piha Black can also double as an eye gloss.





Only 500 of the sets will be available in the United States, exclusively at the Bloomingdale's 59th Street location in Manhattan, via lancome-usa.com and at the five Lancôme boutiques nationwide. The waiting list at Bloomingdale's 59th Street has just opened so if Piha Black is up your alley, call 212-705-2886 to add your name.

We're big lovers of Canadian bath & body faves LUSH here at Are You a Beauty? There are so many fab, fresh and 'green' products in the line including yummy massage bars, bath bombs, bubble bars and hand cut soaps.

The brand was kind enough to send me a few of the highly coveted Retro LUSH rereleases this summer, like the lime & orange scented Bon Bomb Bath Bomb. Pop one in your bath for a relaxing yet invigorating experience.

And now, the Summer Retro LUSH Set is up for grabs for one lucky reader! Enter your name and email address below to win. All info submitted remains confidential. Contest ends September 1!

Shu Uemura's Art of Hair is such a gorgeously chic line of hair care and stylers. Currently boasting collections designed specifically for Dry Hair, Damaged Hair and Color Treated Hair, this November, Shu will release Muroto Volume, an amplifying shampoo, conditioner and a unique lightweight gel mask formulated for fine hair types.

The Muroto Volume collection is scented with a light floral marine fragrance. A key ingredient in the line is Depsea Water, which is extracted from over 320 meters below sea level off the coast of Cape Muroto in Japan. The Magnesium rich water is said to amplify the hair fiber and after trying the shampoo and conditioner this week, I'm a believer. My fine strands were left clean and soft but will a natural feeling bounce and lightness.

I followed Muroto Volume's Amplifying Shampoo & Conditioner with the DepSea Moisture Foundation (pictured above, with the Smoothing Foundation and Repair Foundation), a lightweight spray that delivers moisture and smooths the cuticle before heat styling.

Muroto Volume will retail for $40-60 and hits select salons in November 2008. For more info or to find a Shu Uemura Art of Hair salon near you, visit this link .

Skincare products are by far my least favorite to test. I have tempermental skin...sensitive (no, really) and prone to breakouts. So, when I received some samples of Vichy's new Aqualia line, I buried them in the bottom of a bag and sort of forgot about them. Oopsie.

Well, I just ran out of moisturizer this week, so out came the Vichy. Boy, have I been pleasantly surprised! The Aqualia Thermal Lotion SPF 30 24 Hr Fortifying Moisturizer is perfectly formulated for sensitive skin. It's light in texure, absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling moisturized but not greasy. Best of all, it incorporates SPF 30. Honestly, I have zero idea why companies are still manufacturing day moisturizers without SPF, it makes no sense. But I digress (as I am prone to do.)

Snatch up a bottle of Aqualia Thermal Lotion SPF 30 at CVS stores nationwide or via www.vichyusa.com. 1.7 ounces will run you $26, which is a bit pricy for a drugstore brand but when compared to high end moisturizers like Creme de la Mer, it's an absolute bargain.

It's a quiet, rainy Friday night and I'm cruising over on Etsy. Soap seller LilyBaySoap caught my eye with their handcrafted bars of soap AND these super cute Chocolate and Vanilla Cream Scented Cupcake Soaps ($4.25).

I'm a bar soap devotee but these might be too much for me...they're too cute to use! I DO think they would make an amazing favor for a birthday gift or even a wedding though...what do you think? Would you lather up with a soap shaped like a cupcake?