Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Milk ($24.00)

Gentle, milky makeup dissolver removes even long-wearing facial makeup and sunscreens, then tissues off or rinses away with water. Residue-free formula leaves all skin types soft, comfortable. Massage over dry face with fingertips, avoiding eye area; rinse or tissue off. Residue-free formula leaves all skin types soft, comfortable. For all skin types; ideal for drier skins.

What makes it worth it: It feels ultra gentle on skin, which makes it a viable option for those with sensitive skin prone to irritation with harsher cleansers and makeup removers. Clinique’s line of skincare is absolutely a great bet for those with sensitive skin as well as those who just want to start treating their skin better It offers a full line of fully tested and effective products at a lower price point than most high-end beauty lines. You get a fairly large bottle for the price you pay, and it would definitely last you over a month, if not over two. It broke down some of my makeup, but I felt like it didn’t really get all of it. (How do I test this? I use the cleanser or makeup remover, and then I take a makeup removing wipe to see what was left behind!)

Why you might pass on it: I don’t feel that this product breaks down my makeup as well as it could; I guess I would prefer something with a richer lather with a thicker, creamy texture.u The texture of the Cleansing Milk is really that of milk. It has a lot of liquidity and it runs thinly across your face. It feels a bit messy because of how thin the product is. To be honest, I’d much rather go with their Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm or one of their Foaming Creams instead.

Find this product at Clinique counters, boutiques, as well as www.clinique.com and www.nordstrom.com.

How truthful do you think magazine reviews are? Are you a cynic who believes they were paid reviews, or do you delight in getting a professional opinion to help you decide what’s worth getting and what’s not?

Escada’s Moon Sparkle Eau de Toilette ($52.00)

A fruity floral fragrance, with sparkling strawberry and red apple notes. Top notes: strawberry, blackcurrant, citrus cocktail, red apple. Middle notes: sweet pea, freesia, jasmine, rose. Base notes: raspberry, musky notes, sandalwood, dry ambery notes.

What makes it worth it: If you love something fun, flirty, and utterly feminine, you’ll adore Escada’s Moon Sparkle eau de toilette with its candy-fruity smell. I could distinctly smell the scent of fresh strawberries with the slight aromatic sweetness of apples as a lingering note. I really enjoy being able to catch the scent of the different notes used in the fragrance, because it means they did an accurate representation of their fragrance.

Why you might pass on it: It may be too sweet-smelling or fruity-smelling for some. Those with a preference for muskier, woodier scents will find this one too overpowering to easily transition to.

Find this fragrance at department store retailers, as well as www.nordstrom.com. This is also available in a body lotion and shower gel. Also available is Moon Sparkle for Men in an eau de toilette spray as well as a shower gel.

PARIS HILTON rocks a shimmery gray smoky eye with peachy-pink lips and coral cheeks. Oh, did you notice the bronze-edged lower lash line she’s sporting? Start off the eyes by applying your base of choice all over your lid (suggestion: Urban Decay’s Primer Potion or MAC’s Prep & Prime), which will make your look last all night long, even when you’re partying in the club at 4am. Apply MAC’s Print eyeshadow all over the lid with the 239 brush. Using the 224, pick up a small amount of MAC’s Black Tied eyeshadow and gently apply over lid. This is to add a great dose of shimmer, but we don’t want to blacken it too much–we want to keep it relatively gray. Apply MAC’s Carbon eyeshadow into the outer crease using the 224 to add dimension (adding a matte crease always helps define the eye). With the 239, apply Shroom eyeshadow above the crease and on the brow bone; be sure to blend out the gray hues a bit over the crease so they follow a natural gradient. With the 219 brush, apply MAC’S Amber Lights eyeshadow along lower lash line. Apply MAC’s Blacktrack fluidline in a thin line along upper lash line using the 266. Follow with three coats of your blackest mascara (we love MAC Plushlash as well as Clinique’s High Impact).

For the face, Hilton’s skin has a bit of a glow, but her skin looks natural–not quite 100% polished like some other celebrities have in our previous installments. As a result, we recommend MAC’s Face & Body liquid foundation, because it has a natural dewiness in its finish, but it is also quite sheer. It allows your real skin to come through; if your skin isn’t as naturally gorgeous as Hilton’s, Face & Body still allows you to build up coverage when, where, and if you need it. We suggest applying liquid foundation by using a concealer brush, like the 194, and dabbing a bit on your cheeks, chin, forehead, and nose first. Follow up by using a fluffy powder or buffer brush (129, 150, or 182 all work well) and use the brush to buff or brush the foundation to cover your face evenly. We love a buffer brush because it really gives a flawless finish–you know, the one we covet so much. Opt not to contour, or if you must, do so with the lightest hand. For cheeks, we love MAC’s Springsheen blush dusted on apples of the cheeks with the 129 (darker skintones may want to try Sunbasque, though).

Keep lips looking ultra luxe by lining with MAC’s Summerfruit cremestick liner first, and then applying MAC’s See Sheer lipstick (use the 316 if you are so inclined). Top with MAC’s Lychee Luxe lipglass for a coral shimmery finish. Flash your pearly whites, and you’re ready to walk the red carpet in style.

What was the best gift you’ve ever received? What made it so outsanding — something sentimental, the item itself, what?

For me, while I have received a great many wonderful gifts, I think one of the most sentimental gifts was a sterling silver heart-shaped locket my boyfriend gave me for my birthday/anniversary in 2006. We were in a long-distance relationship, so I used to wear it everyday so I would have him close to my heart. I wear it still, but less often, as we live together, and I know he’s near.

P.S. — What does everyone have lined up for the weekend? My boyfriend and I are meeting with my parents who are coming into town, and then I’ll be spending the day/afternoon at my parents’ house (um, laundry!).

ESTEE PROJECTIONIST MASCARA ($21.00)

High drama for every single lash. Now you can project thicker, longer, more defined and lustrous lashes that highlight your beautiful eyes. VolumAire formula creates weightless volume and sharp definition that resists clumping. Hollow spherical polymers act like inflated balloons that volumize and lift. ProDefinition Brush draws out even tiny lashes with infinite precision and separation control. Lets you lavish attention on every single lash, every single day. Blends two kinds of fibers: hollow fibers to hold formula, plus solid rigid fibers to comb it through and separate. Pearl pigments mimic the luster and color of natural hair for a lustrous, healthy look. Slowly work through lashes using precise strokes to build up volume, comb and separate lashes.

• Applicator: Small to medium sized brush, with densely packed bristles.
• Clumping: I didn’t find I had many clumping issues while applying my regular three coats.
• Curl: It didn’t naturally curl lashes, so you would need to use a lash curler, but it did hold the curl.
• Ease: Quite easy to apply given the smaller nature of the wand, which allows for more precision to get to harder to reach lashes on the inner area and the lower lashes.
• Length: This is a multitasking mascara, which includes lengthening, and it definitely lengthened, but it didn’t give me sky-high lashes.
• Thickening: I definitely felt that it delivered on thickening power, though; my lashes were clearly more lush after application.
• Volume: I achieved some volume, but not as much as I’d have liked.
• Best: I loved the rich black color and the way the mascara adhered to my lashes for the naturalness. It sort of muddled through length and volume, but it was great at thickening!
• Worst: I would have loved to see more volume in this mascara–the length is probably fine for most, but I personally love ridiculously long lashes that I can get without applying false lashes.