I can't decide whether to give Sensai Kanebo Cellular Performance Total Lip Treatment a huge thumbs-up, a qualified "may not know for sure yet," or a disappointed thumbs down.

I suspect if it didn't cost so much, the decision would be an easier one. It definitely makes my lips fuller, smoother and even a little darker, which is kind of nice. But for this much money -- $60 -- I thought it would also quickly eliminate the crusty dry skin ridge that I'm constantly battling on my lower lip.

I like and look good in darker lipsticks, but you can't wear them if your lips are cracked. I'd heard raves from trusted sources about this stuff, so I cracked out the big bucks and bought it.

Combined with my new favorite lipstick, my lips are clearly softer and, had I never heard a word of hype about this product and not known how expensive it was, I might be raving about it here. Nothing has ever made my lips look and feel better than this combination.

It's just that I expected more.

I don't know why I haven't tried this ever in my life because it seems somewhat obvious, but I recently read a tip on how to get your lips soft and smooth, particularly if you wear dark colors of lipstick. And I tried it and it worked!

First, gently wet your lips. The tip didn't recommend this, but I also softly dabbed them with Aveda Calming Composition.

Then take a very, very gentle scrub -- I'm using one that isn't made anymore, but it's literally made from ground rosebuds -- and use it on your lower lip only. BE GENTLE, but lightly rub until the chapped, dry, scaly skin is gone and your lips feel soft. Then rinse them with lukewarm water until the scrub is gone. Then while they're still damp, take a q-tip and put a single drop of eye serum -- I'm using Aveda Night Nutrients -- on the middle of your lower lip. Blot your lips to spread it around.

Your lips will instantly be smooth and you can wear dark lipstick right away.

This works MUCH better than all the lip balms I've ever used in my life! And you can do it every night if need be.

My lips have never felt nicer than this in the winter.

The weather outside is frightful, but the spring makeup ads are delightful. Or so Nordstrom tells me.

I got a little email today from my BFFs at Nordstom's Chanel counter, letting me know the spring 2008 colour cosmetic collection was in. (Why is it that throwing that extra "u" in the word makes it just so much more chic?)

Unfortunately me and spring colours not so much, including these, but for those less wintry than I.... it's all here.

The other good news is that with each purchase (limitations apply blah blah blah) you'll get a free sample of their new and not yet available in stores anywhere for any price although when it is, I guarantee it will be a big one, Sublimage Serum. The Sublimage line is very costly and much beloved by those who use it, so it might really be worth it if you already want to try some of these pretty things.

On second glance, perhaps I will try this new lipstick in "Frivole," after all.

I have mild rosacea. When I was in my 20s, I had what I thought was "acne," which I'd had continuously since my teens. But at some point, it stopped being adolescent acne and became rosacea, or what we called then "adult acne."

Since there was no web and very little public awareness of even the existence of rosacea, I had no idea that I had it. I had, I thought, "adult acne." And "sensitive skin," which to me meant that I burned easily and everything made me break out.

I thought that acne was caused by too much oil on your skin, so I used things that de-oiled me. Which of course made it all worse.

One day I was talking to a skincare educator from Aveda, who handed me a small bag of Aveda's "sensitive skin" line, and asked me to just try it. I did. And within days, my acne cleared up, never to return.

My pores got smaller, my skintone evened out, and I actually used to have total strangers compliment me on my skin.

I have really really dry skin on my forehead and on my cheecks right under my eye area. Can anyone recommend a good, but inexpensive moisturizer? Please and thank you.

Also, I bought Bare Minerals yesterday from Sephoria, and I used it today. I can't tell a difference from my skin from before I put it on to after. No, really. I can't.

I've been experimenting with every kind of foundation you can think of: powder, liquid, etc. My problem is my skin is oily, I have acne (ugh, I thought I was over the acne thing when I was a teenager. How wrong I was!), and I am starting to see deep pores, and of course, I have the whole eye bag thing going on. I like the powder foundation, such as Bare Escentuals, but it doesn't cover enough of my problem areas. As far as liquid foundation, ugh, what can I say? It covers MOST of my flaws, but not all. I have to buy oil-free makeup, but alas, as soon as I do the whole moisturizer - foundation - concealer - powder thing, my face starts looking very distorted in color. Plus, with the oily skin thing, it makes my foundation start to break down immediately.


Any recommendations as to foundations I should try? I'm at my wits end trying to keep everything covered.

As a woman of color, it's sometimes hard to find what you want as far as makeup is concerned.

We tend to have dry skin, or, Ebonically speaking, we be ashy a lot.

I have yet to find a soap or body wash that doesn't dry my skin to crocodile texture, a lotion that helps with the dryness that isn't thick as cream. I despair.

However...I have made a discovery about my other problem.

Makeup.

Way back in olden times, when I was single and could spend all my hard-earned on me, I found a Fashion Fair counter. Fashion Fair is for women of color, and they used to have the most amazing products. My favorite was a shade of lipstick called Chacolate Raspberry. It even smelled divine. I cherished it, and believe it or not, I still have it. The original tube that I bought way back in 1985.

Let it not be said that I am not a pack rat.

Thing is, once I moved to Oregon, it was hard enough finding other black people, let alone products for them. Unless one wanted to brave the ridiculous maze otherwise known as Portland, one was left wanting. And I was, forever.

Until now.

Now I'm in the Bay Area, and I have just discovered a Fashion Fair counter...in the mall 5 minutes away from my house.

Red is a happy camper.

And come January, you know, when I have money again, I am taking my fabulous ass to Macy's, hitting up the Fashion Fair counter, and spending a ridiculous amount of money to make myself fabulous again.

Think of it as my New Year's resolution. Start with the face, end with the feet.



Sigh.