10 Beauty Items to Get You Through the Winter!

It is cold out there and the cold temperatures along with the wind coupled with the dry heat indoors takes a toll on the skin and hair. During the winter months, we need don't need to spend a lot of extra time pampering ourselves if we use the right products to get us through the season. Think of this as your beauty guide to get you through the rest of winter.

I have been using a lot of products this winter that have been a great help. These are 10 beauty items that are helping me get through the winter.

1. bliss Fabulous Drench 'n' Quench - This is a really unique cream-to-water moisturizer that uses what is called transformative hydrozome technology that instantly drenches the skin in hydration. It does so with over 10,000 marine micro-droplets to give skin the immediate hydration which leaves skin plumped up and looking and feeling super healthy. Buy it for $38 at blissworld.com.

2. Caudalie Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil - This extra gentle oil cleanses the skin without stripping away natural moisture. The hydrating formula combines natural ingredients to soothe and hydrate the skin while it removes makeup, dirt and oil. I love how soft and hydrated my skin feels right after washing. Buy it for $28 at caudalie.com and Sephora.

3. Dove Advanced Hair Series Serum-In-Oil - This unique serum-in-oil instantly rescues dry, damaged winter hair. Just three or four pumps into freshly washed hair provides a ton of smoothness with it's potent formula. My hair is left super soft and shiny while still staying manageable. I also like using one pump into my dry hair to manage flyaway's and static which seem to be out of control this time of year too. Buy it for $5.99 at your favorite drugstore or mass retailer like Target, Walgreens or drugstore.com.

4. CHANEL La Solution 10 de Chanel - Skin is super sensitive during the winter, so a cream like this one with only 10 ingredients is perfect. Created in collaboration with Dermatologist Dr. Amy Wechsler, this cream was created with just the ingredients that would comfort the skin but are known to have a specific purpose and skin benefit too. At the heart of the formula is Silver Needle Tea which is super soothing on the skin. It is also a powerful anti-oxidant so it helps to regulate skin's response to irritants and protect it against free radicals. I loving smoothing this on anytime my skin feels raw (which is often in the winter) and it is instantly calmed. Buy it for $80 at Nordstrom.

5. Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture - This rich, yet non-greasy, moisturizer is the ultimate for dry, dehydrated skin. It is clinically proven to lock in optimal moisture levels as it instantly soothes the skin. With a blend of collagen, shea butter, fruit and olive oils, skin is soft, smooth and instantly hydrated and plump. Buy it for $72 at murad.com, Nordstrom and Sephora.

6. MAKE UP FOR EVER Nourishing Primer - This primer adds a boost of hydration for extra dry skin. It does so while making skin more smooth and even while helping foundation hold better and longer. Buy it for $37 at Sephora.

7. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 - This new intensive moisturizer is specifically formulated for really dry skin. It is made with the only proven ratio of natural lipids to help restore the external skin barrier and support skin's natural repair functions. Made with the 2:4:2 that means it has 2% Ceramides, 4% Cholesterol, and 2% Fatty Acids, which are precisely formulated to refill the skin's natural surface lipids to instantly and long-term improve the skins condition. Buy it for $125 at SkinCeuticals.com.

8. SK-II Mid-Day Essence - If you find your skin needing a a boost of hydration throughout the day, this spray is for you. This hydrating spray is designed to be used throughout the day or on-the-go to give skin a boost, anytime -- even over makeup. I love the way it perks up the skin and really makes skin feels more comfortable when feeling tight and dry. Buy it for $80 at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdales.

9. L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Facial Oil - This oil has been saving my skin these last few weeks. It is super hydrating as the brands first facial oil with an SPF to boot. It's super lightweight as it absorbs into my skin almost immediately without leaving any greasy after-feel. Buy it for $19.99 at your favorite drugstore like CVS or Walgreens or mass retailer like Target.

10. Dr. Brandt Oxygen Facial Flash Recovery Mask - In just three minutes, this in-home luminizing mask helps lessen the look of dull, dry, fatigued skin that tend to plague us in the winter months. With a blend of ingredients that revitalize and freshen up, it also lessens the look of fine lines which is a great bonus. Buy it for $70 at Sephora.

Fake a Good Night of Sleep with Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't get enough sleep. While experts say that the average adult should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night, I average about six to seven hours of sleep each night; there are plenty of times that I look exhausted. I am known to use a few makeup tricks and rely on skincare to to help me look more awake then I am and fake a good night of sleep. Clinique is out with a brand new product called Pep-Start and this is an eye cream that does just that -- fake a good night of sleep.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream is a really lightweight cream that instantly (and over time, the more you use it) brightens, refreshes and wakes up the entire eye area. Between the blend of seven peptides, special extracts, caffeine to reduce puffiness along with a really unique spherical massaging applicator, Clinique has a winner on their hands.

The peptides in Pep-Start help maintain and stimulate collagen which helps to plump the skin so fine lines are diminished. At the same time, caffeine helps to de-puff and energize the skin. The blend of extracts help to diminish the appearance of dark circles and brighten and smooth the skin.

I was immediately drawn to the bright orange tube and unique shape of this eye cream. The end of the tube has a ball on it. I couldn't figure out exactly how to open and use it, but once I read the directions, it all made perfect sense.

You simply snap pen Pep-Start Eye Cream's spherical applicator to dispense a very small amount of eye cream until it comes out of the tip. I only need the size of about a baby pea to cover both eyes. Then dot the cream under each eye, pop the applicator to the closed position and swipe the product around in small, circular motions all around the eye area, massaging the eye cream into the skin. Whatever product is left, just gently pat in with your ring finger.

Eyes are instantly de-puffed and tightened. I notice that they take on a brighter appearance. It looks like the cream might have a little bit of optical diffusers in it, which always helps too.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream is available exclusively at Sephora for $26.50.

UD | Gwen Stefani Spring Collection.

The UD | Gwen Stefani Collection is now complete with the release of the rest of the products that make up the spring collection. The second phase of this exciting collaboration with the singer and fashion entrepreneur has had us makeup girls chomping at the bit! Now that these items are here, which include a Blush Palette, eight must-have Lipstick shades and six coordinating shades of 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil along with a Brow Box, they are flying off the shelves. Get these limited edition makeup items while you can.

When I first saw that Gwen was teaming up with Urban Decay late last year, I knew there would have to be lipsticks. Gwen is known for her iconic lip looks. I fell hard for the 15-pan eyeshadow palette and I knew that the rest of the collection would be just as luxe and beautiful -- it is!

The UD | Gwen Stefani Collection was a true partnership with Stefani who worked closely with the brand as she went over every detail of the collection. Gwen was involved in creating all of the shades and the packaging and I think it totally comes through. Urban Decay Chief Creative Officer and Founding Partner Wende Zomnir carefully crafted each product with Stefani so that the exact shades Gwen always wished she had in her personal makeup collection came to fruition.

The entire UD | Gwen Stefani Collection:

UD | Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette - $58

Filled with 15 must-have shades, this is a neutral girls dream. Add a pop of color with one of the three bold shades or line with Blackout. My complete review is here: UD | Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

UD | Gwen Stefani Blush Palette - $45

Filled with six shades to highlight and define, this blush palette is amazing. Made with Urban Decay's 8-hour Afterglow finely milled formula, these blush, bronzer and highlighting shades go the distance. I like that there are a mix of easy to wear shades here. The palette includes two blush shades, a true bronzer that I think will work well for light to medium toned gals and three shades that are great for highlighting and layering over the blush or bronzer.

UD | Gwen Stefani Blush shades:

• Cherry - Light Pink Satin
• Easy - Deep Rose with Gold Shimmer
• Angel - Champagne-Nude Shimmer
• Lo-Fi - Soft-Bronze Matte
• Hush - Medium Pink with Gold Shimmer
• OC - Soft Pink with Peach Shift

The Palette is itself incredibly packaged similar to the eyeshadow palette, but this one is all sleek white and gold. It opens to reveal the six larger shades of blush, bronzer and highlighter shades. I like Cherry and Easy pretty equally, but tend to use a little shimmer so I've been layering Angel over Cherry. Of course, I use both of these over Lo-Fi which I use first in the hollows of my cheekbones and where I would contour.

UD | Gwen Stefani Lipstick - $18

After trying over fifty shades, Gwen settled on eight must-have lipstick shades for her collection and I think they are very well suited to her and the collection. From the packaging to the shades themselves, everything about them are exquisite. Featuring Urban Decay's proprietary Pigment Infusion System(TM), the lipsticks are super creamy in texture with rich color payout.

UD | Gwen Stefani Lipstick shades:

• Ex-Girlfriend - Sheer Nude-Rose with Pink Shimmer
• Firebird - Deep Fuchsia Cream
• 714 - Bright Red Mega Matte
• Rock Steady - Deep Wine Red Cream
• Spiderweb - Satin Red Cream
• Wonderland - Dark Pink-Red Cream
• Phone Call - Sheer Bright Pink (UD exclusive)
• Plaid - Sheer Deep Berry (UD exclusive)

Of course, my favorite is Ex-Girlfriend, but I have been rocking Phone Call just as often (I'm really trying to break out of my nude lip shell!). All of the colors are fabulous and you really can't go wrong with any of them. I have all but the Urban Decay exclusive Plaid which is currently sold out.

UD | Gwen Stefani 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil - $20

To go along with the lipstick shades, Gwen helped to come up with six 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils. These lip pencils are dreamy as they are creamy and waterproof and seriously last. They line and prime to help lipstick stay in place while helping to maked lipstick go on more smoothluy and prevent feathering.

UD | Gwen Stefani 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil shades:

• Ex-Girlfriend - Nude-Rose
• Firebird - Deep Fuchsia Pink
• 714 - Classic Red
• Rock Steady - Blood Red
• Wonderland - Dark Pink-Red
• Phone Call - Bright Pink (UD exclusive)

UD | Gwen Stefani Brow Box - $30

This is a limited edition Brow Box packaged to match the rest of the UD | Gwen Stefani collection. Made like the rest of the brands Brow Box, this contains two brow powder shades, but these were made just for Gwen so they are called Bathwater Blonde and are a dark and light blonde. The box also includes a wax, mini tweezers and two mini angled brushes to apply the brow powders. What I really like about the brow box, that you might have not known, is that there are two mirrors inside and one is quite magnified. These blonde shades are actually like taupe and pretty universal for medium brown hairs as well.

The entire UD | Gwen Stefani is available now. Buy it at urbandecay.com, Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom, beauty.com and Ulta.

Get a Powerful Cleanse with the Compact Clarisonic Mia FIT.

I recommend the Clarisonic skin cleansing device probably more than any other beauty tool to everyone I know. This sonic cleansing tool cleans the skin better than anything I've ever used. IN fact, by using it, I swear that my skin is more soft and smooth and looks more radiant and even in tone. I had the original Clarisonic skin cleansing device when it first came out over a decade ago, a Clarisonic Mia (the first version along with the most recent Mia 3); I have the Clarisonic Plus for face and body, Clarisonic Radiance and a Clarisonic Pedi for my feet. Now Clarisonic has launched a compact Clarisonic called Mia FIT. This sleek compact version, which may be small, delivers a thorough and very powerful cleanse.

Sporting a super sleek, new modern shape that fits easily into the palm of your hand, the Mia FIT removes everything from everyday impurities like dirt and oil to sunscreen and makeup. It removes these things and cleanses the skin 6X better than washing the skin with just the hands alone. It works so well becasue of the patented sonic technology that oscillates the brush head back and forth at over 300 movements per second -- that's powerful!

It truly is a cleanse that is more effective than anything I have ever tried and that is why I recommend it to everyone that I know. The Clarisonic skin cleansing devices make skin more receptive to creams, serum and moisturizers so that pores are smaller, fine lines and wrinkles are improved and as I said above, skin tone is greatly improved.

The Mia FIT features two preprogrammed speed settings. These settings are different than on other Clarisonic devices and are perfect for on-the-go use.

Setting 1 is programmed for 60-seconds and a delicate cleanse to remove your everyday and average impurities. Setting 2 is programmed for an 80-second power cleanse which is great for after workouts or hard to remove long-wearing makeup.

Mia FIT comes with the Radiance Brush Head which has really smooth and luxe filaments on the brush head so it's perfect for even sensitive skin. My skin is somewhat sensitive and peels and exfoliants sometimes make my skin red, but I have never experienced any redness from using a Clarisonic skin cleansing device. If you are very sensitive and do develop any type of sensitivity, cut back on your use and only use the device two to three times per week until you find what works best for your skin.

The Mia FIT comes in three shades; the Blue like I have along with a White and Pink shade. Buy the Clarisonic Mia FIT for $189 at Clarisonic.com, Sephora, Nordstrom, Macy's, Ulta or other luxury retailers now.

Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment for INSTANT Results.

I'm all about younger looking eyes and it seems that I am constantly searching for the best treatment to help in that area. My latest search has led me to the recent launch from Murad and it's a good one! I just used it last night and I had to write about it right away -- I like it that much! Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment delivers instant results.

Eye Lift Firming Treatment is filled with so many hydrating and firming ingredients that my entire under eye area was instantly plump and smooth. ALL of the fine lines under my eyes were filled in. Although the filling in was temporary, the tightness and firmness I felt was still there in the morning. It's one of these things that you need to use over and over to reap accumulative benefits.

Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment is made with Hyaluronic Acid Spheres that attract moisture deep into the skin's surface and that is what give that instantly plump and smooth "filled" appearance. The formula also contains firming polymers that you can feel work -- it's definitely cooling and tightening.

It's a unique process. I simply pump out three drops of the serum-like treatment and apply it to the under eye area and then press one of the contoured eye pads that come with the treatment (don't worry, they give you a lot of them) on top of it. After 10-15 minutes, the pads almost fall off and I know that the treatment is done. I then rub the rest of the formula in and see an instant result.

The Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment is available for $68 at murad.com and Sephora.

Top 10 New Lippies for Spring 2016.

With all of the new spring collections coming out this time of year, there is one product that I look at more than other and that is the lip products. You know I love a great lippie and I have more lip products than anything else in my vast makeup collection. There are a lot of great new lippies coming out this spring be it in the collections or as sole launches. From lipsticks, balms, glosses -- just about everything you can think of in a range of shades from barely there to the bright and bold. I have cut through the clutter and searched for the bests of the best to bring you the top 10 new lippies for spring this year.

1. Mally Beauty H3 Lip Gloss - With triple the hydration of a normal lipgloss, this gloss seriously quenches the lips as it perfects your pout with gorgeous (or gorgois as Mally says) color. The gloss is super shiny and comes in six beautiful shades: Shimmering Nude and Pink Daisy are my faves. $20 at Ulta and QVC.

2. MAC Huggable Glass - The launched late last year when the Huggable lipsticks (my favorite) became permanent, but these are perfect for spring. These are super shiny glosses that hug lips and feel real creamy on. They are called dual-phase; I'm not sure what that means but it imparts a lot of color that lasts for hours. There are twelve shades in all with most of them lighter and a few brights. The perfect nude glosses are Kind Kiss and Sweet Persuasion. $20 at MAC Cosmetics and Macy's.

3. Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme - This brand new highly pigmented lip cream is a liquid-to-matte formula that dries down to a soft, velvety finish that's really unique. It actually makes look plump and full and the colors are absolutely rich and bold. In fact, there are 10 shades to choose from, ranging in nude, which is still quite bold, to very dark. $8.99 at drugstores and mass retailers like Walgreens and Target.

4. pixi by Petra Lip Contour Liner - With the younger generation wanting to over-line and make their lips fuller and more plump, us ladies over 40 are just wanting our lipstick to look perfect and not feather outside of the lines. This new lipliner is perfect for doing just that. This Invisible-Smudge-Stopper liner is moisturizing, non-feathering, smudgeproof and a line-filling treatment all in one. It is transparent so you can wear it with any shade too. $12 at pixibeauty.com and Target.

5. Avon True Color Perfectly Matte Lipstick - This new lipstick delivers a flawless matte finish without drying lips out so you get full-on color that doesn't cake or crack. I like how weightless the formula is; it glides on easily and leaves a velvety smooth finish. It seals in moisture too so it is really comfortable to wear as it lasts throughout the day. There are 12 shades that range from nude to rich. $9 at avon.com or through representatives.

6. Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor - When looking for rich, true, long-lasting creamy matte lipcolor, take a look at this new one from Revlon. It's velvety smooth on the lips the colors are simply gorgeous. There are 8 shades to choose from with my favorites being HD Addiction, HD Flirtation and HD Seduction. $7.99 at drugstores and mass retailers like CVS, Walgreens, drugstore.com and Target.

7. COVERGIRL Oh Sugar! Vitamin Infused Balm - This is like a really indulgent lip treatment that feels just like a lip balm on the lips with the bonus of added color. Made with ultra-rich ingredients that contains things like grapeseed oil, avocado butter and Vitamins C & E, lips feel completely hydrated and nourished with a hint of tint. There are ten pretty shades available. $7.99 at drugstores and mass retailers like drugstore.com, Target and Walgreens.

8. Honest Beauty Truly Kissable Lip Crayon - This lip crayon leaves lips with a wash of shiny color in gorgeous spring hues. Infused with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter, it feels amazing on the lips. It lasts a good part of the day too. There are six easy-to-wear natural shades to choose from. My favorite is Sheer Petal Kiss. $18 at honestbeauty.com.

9. Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipstick - The much anticipated collaboration continues with a collection of eight must-have lipsticks. I think all of them are musts as they range in color, pigment and texture. From a matte red, sheer and shimmery nude (I have to have this one) to a bold fuchsia that is SO Gwen, these are lippies that you know you can't go wrong with. $18 at urbandecay.com, Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta and select Macy's.

10. Clinique Pop(TM) Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer - I love a high-shine liquid lipcolor and that's what this one is with the bonus of it lasting for hours and hours. This is very shiny and very colorful as in full coverage in one coat yet it feels like nothing but hydration on the lips. It comes in six great shades. Check out Happy Pop for a perfect dose of bright coral for spring. $18 at clinique.com, and at Clinique counters in Macy's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

NARS Spring 2016 Color Collection Nouvelle Vogue.

I love seeing all of the new spring makeup collections because it means that the warmer weather can't be far behind. Even though we haven't had a really touch winter hear, I can't wait for spring and the spring collection really get me excited. The NARS spring color collection, named Nouvelle Vogue, is a pretty one that features a mix of roses and neutrals with a kick of brights in rich textures. It's very resort like and perfect to wear right now.

NARS Nouvelle Vogue contains the following products:

Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow - $29

• Tarvos - Icy Mint
• Cressida - Shimmering midnight blue
• Kari - Soft rose pink

Lip Gloss - $26

• Instant Crash - Soft shimmering apricot
• Vida Loca - Guava

Lipstick - $28

• Rosecliff - Soft rose
• Banned Red - Mulled wine

Duo Eyeshadow - $35

• Hammamet - (L): Matte beige (R): Bronzed rose

Blush - $30

• Impassioned - Pink orchid

The products I have are all pretty neutral, of course. I have the Hammamet Duo Eyeshadow, the Lipstick in Rosecliff and Lip Gloss in Instant Crash and all of them are really me.

The Hammamet Duo Eyeshadow features two shades of shadow, one matte and one shimmery bronze. The matte shade is a nice medium beige tone that looks nice all over the lid. I paired it with NARS' Abyssinia on my brow bone then used the beige shade on the lid. I used the rosey bronze shade from the right side of the compact into the outer corner of my lid and then smudged it into my crease and lower lash line for a romantic smokey look.

Rosecliff Lipstick is the perfect soft rose lipstick. It leaves just a hint of rose, but is like a nude rose with a soft satin finish. I like layering the Instant Crash Lip Gloss over it for sure. Instant Crash is a barely there nude shimmer with a hint of peach to it.

The NARS Nouvelle Vogue Spring Color Collection is available now at narscosmetics.com and in Sephora and all NARS counters in department stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.