It helps if you know Italian. But their goal was to have an opaque substance on the outer layer and liquid in the core. This brings on the luminosity. Though it started with the thought for just rose, nudes and pinks, it evolved into deep browns, purples mixed with reds, and golds.

And it glides on like a dream. Let your lip-wear meet halfway. Try it.

Blush up your lips and cheeks - If you need to throw a little color back in your face after a draining day of shows, there are a few products that do double duty for lips and cheeks. We love Shiseido Shimmering Rouge in Iced Rose. Although it’s a sheer red lip color, we love the way a tiny amount perfectly blushes our cheeks.

Dolce & Gabbana Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss $29 – Pat McGrath, Creative Advisor for Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up, offers her wise words about this ultra-luxurious gloss:  “The golden pearl and iridescent shades can be used to highlight the centre of lips for a fuller looking pout.”

Why it is important to you that your products are produced in New York City?
There are so many reasons! First, it was about quality control and having the ability to be hands-on in the creation of my line during each stage of development. From the beginning, I imagined the line having a level of exclusivity to it, and manufacturing in New York City allows me to keep the production limited. Then it comes down to humanity. After learning about some of the unfortunate factory conditions globally, I wanted to know the people working on my collection were treated properly and paid well.

How involved are you in the creation of each bag? What goes into each product from design to production?
I am involved in every aspect of the collection. I design each bag myself and oversee it from idea to production. I start each season by choosing colors and the concept for every style, and the ideas begin to develop from there.

Each bag starts with a drawing, and from there, into a sample. Once a sample is finalized, all of the materials are handpicked and selected. After that, it is all sales, marketing and production. There is a great deal of work that goes on from conception to execution. Designing and picking colors is definitely the best part!

What are the must-have items in your bag?
Gloss, eyelash curler, Nars bronzer & brush, my iPhone and a digital camera.

What type of woman loves to carry your bags?
The ideal woman is stylish but has a relaxed, chic approach to her wardrobe. She appreciates a high-quality, well-made accessory. And while she loves fashion, she is probably not overtly trendy or overdone.

Your company is very dedicated to helping charity. What are your future philanthropic plans?
My goal is to produce a product line where profits would focus on benefiting charities and foundations that serve under-privileged children by giving them the resources and opportunities needed to succeed. My belief is every child should have the support, necessities and guidance to flourish.

Beyond monetary contributions, I am currently researching ways to provide opportunity and empower individuals and small business owners internationally by giving them the chance to produce this product line to benefit and strengthen their communities and lives.

How different is your life now from your life as an art director? What prompted you to make the switch?
Working in fashion is a huge change but a welcomed one! I was starting to feel stifled creatively working in advertising. When I started Amanda Joy, I had one design, a clutch I needed in my personal accessory rotation. As soon as I saw it come together, I knew I was in love with designing bags and wanted to keep going with it. Very much like in advertising and branding, it takes a couple rounds to get it right. Thankfully I was already prepared for the time and effort it takes.

What inspired you for the Fall 2011 collection? When you’re designing, where do you turn for creative vision?
For Fall, I was inspired by the classic and tailored looks you are seeing everywhere. Amanda Joy emanates unfussy design, so this season I mixed simple, clean lines with luxurious, sophisticated leathers and rich exotic skins to bring that lady-like stylishness together.

For day-to-day inspiration, you can pretty much always find me buried in a glossy or reading my daily dose of fashion blogs. Living in Florida, I spend a lot of time outside. There is ease about fashion here – maxi dresses and sandals are a girl’s best friend. And I think accessories are definitely the best way to add glamour to a simplistic look.

You can learn more about Amanda Joy and see all her fabulous bags at shopamandajoy.com.

1. Wear a jazzy surgical mask. Remember when swine flu was all the rage? Everywhere you looked, someone(s) was wearing a surgical mask. These are ugly and sterile, no pun intended. Spice up your look while protecting your immune system with gemstones, colorful patterns or even a different mouth. Samira Boon created her masks because she was tired of seeing the the dreary white variety everywhere. You can be a tiger, gorilla or zipped-lip by snagging one at the Hara Museum Online Shop. The Etsy shop Cheap Champagne offers ruffles and plaids if you want a girlie feel.

2. Lady gloves keep germs at bay. A lady should never leave her house without gloves, how rude! These dandy little dress gloves keep scum from penetrating your precious dermis. Remove them and voila!, it’s like public transportation never happened. Forzieri White Flowered Lace Gloves, Burberry Studded Leather Gloves and Prada Vernice Gloves are all fabulous options.

3. Keep hand sanitizer with you at ALL TIMES. Don’t even think about re-applying lip gloss without getting subway grime off your fingers first. Have one in your bag for easy grabbing and another on your desk so you can sanitize before touching your keyboard. Hugo Naturals Travel Size French Lavender Organic Hand Sanitizer fits inside any bag and Jurlique Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer cleanses hands while keeping them moisturized.

How do you keep germs at bay on public transportation?

You said the idea for SKIN by Monica Olsen was born when you were pregnant with your first child. What inspired you to start the line? Were you unhappy with what was on the market at the time?
My children were my inspiration to start this line because I could not find skincare products for them that were organically and environmentally pure. I also wanted to educate people about the negative impact of harmful chemicals on your skin and the positive effects of natural ingredients for your skin.

Was it difficult to find the perfect formulas for SKIN by Monica Olsen products?
I went through about 50 chemists before I found one who got it. Most of the others were putting harmful chemicals in the products, and I just said ‘no.’ That’s why there aren’t a lot of brands doing this because they don’t know how to do it right, it costs a lot more and takes a lot more time to develop a natural brand.

It’s difficult when shopping for skincare for products to decide which brand to choose. What makes your line stand out from other natural brands on the market today?
We use cosmeceuticals, the marriage of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and that’s what makes our product different. Think about a moisturizer just hydrating the skin, that’s one thing. Think about it getting rid of acne, getting rid of wrinkles – doing things that are within a much broader scope and dealing with problems dermatologists would deal with.

So you’re actually going to see results when you use SKIN by Monica Olsen products rather than just doing the bare minimum for your skin?
I don’t sell hope in a jar, I believe in selling real results. I want it to be healthy for consumers’ skin, but women of a certain age want results. And I don’t fault them for that, I’m in the same category. Being natural is not good enough. That’s great, but what can it do?

What can it do? I’ve used four SKIN by Monica Olsen products for a month and see a huge improvement in the condition of my skin – it’s softer, clearer and doesn’t feel irritated. Which products have I been using?

The Restore MSM Facial Cleanser in orange blossom uses emollient oils and antioxidants to cleanse and moisturize your skin. It washes clean and leaves my face feeling fresh from morning until night. My breakouts have decreased and are less severe if they do happen.

I use the Refine Deep Penetrating Clay Cleanse twice a week in place of the Restore facial cleaner. I’ve never used a clay cleanser quite like this, it’s amazing! It cools your skin and makes it feel unbelievably soft once it’s rinsed off.

This mask is intense! The Dead Sea Clay Masque cleanses and detoxifies the skin, removing old skin cells and leaving the skin fresh and light. It hardens over your skin like a true mask, but after rinsing, your skin feels cleansed and renewed. I’ve only used this once, as it keeps on working for weeks.

There are so many lip plumping products out there promising a more voluptuous pout, but none of them work like Plump For Sexy Lips. Peppermint and natural oils make the lips tingle, and the difference is noticeable. If you want to go without lipstick but still turn heads, this is the product for you.

You can learn more about SKIN by Monica Olsen and purchase the line on her website or at Duane Reade stores across New York City.

The colors of the Secret Garden Collection won’t be kept secret for long.

I lathered on the rouge after my at-work facial mask around midday. It was a darker, more luscious color than I’ve worn before. Then hours and hours and an interview and glasses of water and cups of tea later, Illamasqua clung to my lips, deep as before. Ol’ Rev would have been reduced to a faded lipliner by this point.

I love it for the matte quality, but I tried it with the Illamasqua clear gloss. Sam and I tested its sheen. It’s a little bit sticky, but that must attribute to its lasting quality. Luminous and lovely. Now, someone get me a good spray tan, it’s clear I haven’t seen the sun in months.

LINK LOVE: Lipglossing.com

Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness, Estée Lauder has released two double-sided Elizabeth Hurley glosses for the Pink Ribbon Collection. The pink glosses are being sold alongside a cute bag and a portion of the proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

LINK LOVE: Stylelist

NARS has released limited edition glosses named after their sister blushes. Albatross, Angelika, Oasis, Super Orgasm, and Luster  are five glosses that are sure to enhance any look alongside other NARS products or even on their own! The glosses are sold exclusively at Sephora for $24 each.

Beauty inventor Poppy King has partnered with Count Me In For Women’s Economic Independence to launch a sheer fire engine red gloss – called FIRED UP- to help celebrate our country’s largest-ever movement of women in the workforce.

100% of the profits from the sale of FIRED UP will go to Count Me In, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education, and community for women entrepreneurs.

“The power of red and its mystique is already embedded in our culture” says King. “From Rosie the Riveter’s trademark red lips during World War II, no cosmetic item has more power to get a woman FIRED UP about the task ahead.”

Available exclusively at www.lipstickqueen.com for $14.

We have quite the new tradition on our hands; selling movie-inspired beauty products. Sephora has let loose a series of five lip gloss hues just in time for the remake of Fame, the 1980 hit movie. Get your hands on the gloss today at Sephora.com!

LINKAGE: Sephora

1. Sunscreen

FashionIndie’s Pick: Almay Smart Shade Makeup

The new Almay Smart Shade Makeup is a foundation, moisturizer, and sunscreen all in one. With a variety of shades to fit your skin tone, the product comes with SPF 15 and goes for $14.

2. Chapstick & Lipgloss

FashionIndie’s Pick: Palmer’s CoaCoa Butter Chapstick

Cocoa Butter may look like a gluestick but I can never leave the house without it. Trust me, get the chapstick and it will be an instant addiction. The Palmer’s product goes for about $4.

3. On-The-Go Razor

FashionIndie’s Pick: Diva by Shavemate

The second I saw this I was instantly fascinated. The 6-blade, $10 pack of 3 razors comes with shaving cream inside of the handle. Put one of these in your makeup case, press and shave and your good to go!

4. Anti-Friz Hair Product

FashionIndie’s Pick: Belegenza SpotLite Shine

Belegenza’s SpotLite Shine eliminates fly aways and softens your hair’s ends almost instantly. The $18 product works fast to eliminate frizz on those hot summer days.

5. Water Proof Mascara

FashionIndie’s Pick: BADGal Lash

Before you run to the beach or hop in the pool, be sure to grab BADGal Waterproof Mascara. BADGal will transform your lashes and keep them that way for just $19.

6. Pedicure Kit

FashionIndie’s Pick: Pedispa

Sometimes your just too busy to sit down for a full pedicure at the nail salon, but you need to keep up that foot care. Pedispa is an at-home pedicure kit that keeps your feet in top-knotch condition for $24.99.

7. Nail Strengthener

FashionIndie’s Pick: Sally Hansen’s Diamond Strength

If you ever get tips, sometimes your nails get in poor condition. Apply Sally Hansen’s Diamond Strength instant nail hardener for $5 to strengthen nails and keep them in healthy condition.

8. Hair Repair

FashionIndie’s Pick: Belegenza RoMANce Deep Conditioning

Often from all those trips to the beach and pool during the summer, people get dried out hair. To reverse the poor effects on your hair from your fun in the sun get RoMANce from Belegenza for a deep conditioning experience at $28.

9. Absorbing Sheets

FashionIndie’s Pick: Boscia Vanilla Blotting Linens

Boscia Vanilla Blotting Linens are perfect for those hot summer days. Unfortunately in all the heat your face gets some unwanted shine; slip the $10 sheets in your bag and you’ll be good to go!

10. Cuticle Oil

FashionIndie’s Pick: O.P.I. Avoplex

O.P.I. Avoplex nail and cuticle oil for $10 keeps your nails and cuticles from getting dried out throughout your busy week. Just apply a bit of the oil to dry cuticles or rough skin and you’ll have instant moisture.

Something about this is just plain odd. Actually, scratch that, everything about this is just plain odd. Fuze has created a lip gloss that is supposed to work as an energy booster and appetite surpressant. Do they know you’re not supposed to eat your makeup? I highly doubt there’s anything that could boost ur energy and surpress your apetitie from a scent, unless it’s horribly gross; and according to fuze, the smacker is supposed to smell like heaven on earth. Hmm, something about this makes me think its a scam. Does anyone actually think their going to dab their lips, pucker up, and loose ten pounds? I don’t think so! Come on guys, you’re smarter than this.

So the surfer girl who got her arm bit off by a shark has turned shredded flesh into lemonade (what too soon).

Aside from the movie being made about her heroism, she started surfing again even without an arm, which is a pretty big deal to most, she is launching a new lip product called Stoked that you can use with only one arm.

While most of us have both appendages, this lip chap is perfect for anyone who runs a busy life style. Driving around, talking on your cell phone, flipping off tourist. You really never know when you need to have a hand free.

Hopefully, this trend expands to other beauty products like lipstick, concealers, and deodorant.  If you think about it, so much requires two hands.

Congrats, miss Bethany Hamilton on being beauty’s first one-handed spokesperson. You rocketh.

Stoked sells on Amazon for $4.50.