What’s up, Jade-a-kisses?

Ever since I saw pictures of the Chanel runway models rocking jade green nails earlier this year, I’ve been dying, DYING to get my hands on the Chanel Jade Collection polishes.

This month the two limited edition shades, Jade and Jade Rose ($25 each), finally hit Chanel Makeup Studio and boutiques shelves. I ordered mine online last week from Chanel.com, and both pastel cuties finally arrived on my doorstep last Friday.

Chanel Jade background

Beauty junkies first got a glimpse of the colors in Paris last March during the Chanel Ready-to-Wear Fall 2009-2010 show, when Monsieur Karl sent a collection of black clothes punctuated with pale pink and jade green accents down the runway.

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Smokey eyes? Check. Vampy lips? Check. Along with the return of boots, sweaters and new episodes of some of my favorite TV shows (counting down the days ’til The Mentalist premiere, holla!), fall also heralds the return of bold makeup colors for lips and eyes.

I’ll gladly climb aboard the drama-for-yo’-mama makeup train, but it’s not hard to overdose on bold color statements that take a look from chic to cheap.

So when I’m wearing a smokey eye or a dark lip, I’ll tend to go with sheer colors on my cheeks (for balance), colors like Philosophy’s new You Make Me Blush Duos ($25) powder blushes.

There are four available — Hugs/Kisses, Happy/Healthy, Honest/True and Happy/Healthy. I have the Happy/Healthy duo, which comes with two matte blushes, one a warm orangey brown and the other a blue-based pink.

I know, I know! The colors look *crazy* bright in the pan, but both apply surprisingly sheer on my skin. Worn separately or together they add just a whisper of sun-kissed color.

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The holidays coming! The holidays are coming!

I can hardly believe it’s mid-September already, and that means the holiday travel season isn’t far away.

One of my biggest travel challenges is packing light. I think I’m naturally predisposed to overpack, as if I biologically need 10 different shades of pink lipgloss; maybe it’s a primitive urge to gather?

But after a traumatic airport incident a few years back (a TSA agent almost confiscated a baggie filled with Chanel and MAC, NOOOO!), I’ve gotten better at streamlining what goes into my makeup bag.

Nowadays, I’m all about bringing products that multitask. When space is limited, the more steps and products I can eliminate, the better.

NARS Powder Foundation ($45), my latest foundation love, totally fits the multitasking bill.

Portable and flexible, with a natural finish

Forget hauling a separate liquid foundation, tinted moisturizer and powder. Housed in a sleek, portable case, this flexible pressed powder foundation does it all, evening out tone and wicking away shine from morning ’till night. It does it, too, without looking too thick or too much like a mask. Added bonus: It contains SPF 12.

I apply it in layers until I reach a level of opacity I’m happy with. If I know I’ll just be chillin’ with the fam, I’ll go with one to two layers applied with a kabuki brush, one like the MAC 182 Buffer ($45). It delivers natural, light-to-medium coverage. For a more opaque look, I’ll smooth it on with the included sponge.

Wearing two layers of NARS Powder Foundation applied with a Kabuki brush

Whatever the coverage, NARS Foundation Powder always feels lightweight on my skin. It’s so comfy that I sometimes forget I’m wearing it at all!

Tips on choosing a foundation color

With 18 shades to choose from, there should be something for almost everyone. I use Sahara, which the NARS website lists for “medium red-based complexions.”

When choosing a foundation color, I usually enlist the help of a sales associate or makeup artist — someone to serve as a second opinion. If you’re on your own, though, here are two tips to try:

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CHEAP THRILL ALERT!

Hey, now, dirty birdies. Get that mind out of the gutter. I’m not talking ’bout that kind of nasty…

Or this kind for that matter…

I’m talking about the affordably awesome Yes to Carrots C Me Shine Lip Glosses ($6.50 each and available in six shades).

If it weren’t for their faint mint flavor and fragrance (which dissipates quickly), they’d almost be knockoffs of the MAC Lipgelles, which cost twice as much ($14). They have a similar smooth and shiny, non-stick texture and also broadcast seriously intense color.

And with six shades to choose from — Playful Nude, Rose Bliss, Flirty Pink, Carrot Kiss, Red Hot and Cocoa Loco — there’s a decent degree of variety within the line.

I’ve tried three of the colors:

Red Hot

Cocoa Loco

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A mini pony = awesomeness.

A mini pony brush = even more awesomeness!

Say howdy to Shu Uemura’s Portable Natural Brush 14 ($30) — a friend to dark circles everywhere.

I spend a lot of time not sleeping. It’s one of my hobbies… not sleeping. Consequently, I rely on under-eye concealer to hide my dark circles, and to set it I’ll use a little bit of powder and Shu’s Natural Brush 14.

The smallish, fluffy brush head (made with pony hair) fits perfectly into the nook under my eyes. It’s one of the softest brushes in my arsenal and feels like a kiss from Tabs on my delicate skin. Just one swipe applies a sheer veil of powder — natural, not heavy or cakey at all.

At $30 it’s not a cheap tool, but ladies who take makeup seriously could consider it an investment.

Why? Because this pony multitasks!

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