10 beauty must haves

Cargo Timestrip Lip Gloss

Cargo’s Timestrip technology means you don’t have to keep track of your gloss expiry date. Slot the strip into the cap when you open the tube; when the window shows all red in nine months, it’s time for a new lippie.

$22 to $24 at Sephora and sephora.com.

Benefit Smokin’ Eyes Kit

Palettes and kits are smart spending choices: you get a coordinated collection of makeup for less than the cost of buying each item separately. With this one you also get easy how-tos on the always-sexy smouldering look.

$42 at Holt Renfrew Bloor St., Toronto; Sephora, sephora.com; Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques; and Murale.

Consonant Organic Body Care

Consonant is a new Canadian line of natural soaps, body washes and body lotions made with fair-trade, organic ingredients. Formulated without dyes, synthetic fragrance, parabens or harsh chemicals, the washes and soaps cleanse without drying and lotions deliver excellent hydration with a satisfyingly elegant texture.

$12 to $22 at The Bay, Sears and select boutiques.

DuWop Icedteas Lip Treatments

Fruity and beautifully translucent, DuWop Icedteas moisturize lips with jojoba oil and aloe and green tea extract. Available in Passionfruit, Strawberry Kiwi, White Peach and Black Currant, they impart a slight tint and refreshing cool sensation on application.

$21 each at Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques.

Gosh Velvet Touch Waterproof Eye Liner

Liner is still a big eye-enhancing trend this season. These super-stay-put pencils can sub in if you’re still not comfy with liquid.

$13 at Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques.

Home-Colour Crew

Your at-home salon is open for business: L’Oréal Paris Excellence-to-Go ($13.99) colours gently in just 10 minutes; Marc Anthony Pro Roots Touch Up ($13) banishes roots between pro appointments; John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Shampoo and Conditioner ($12.99 each) tones brassy blond with lavender optical brighteners to temper yellowing; Pantene Pro-V Colour Expressions ($9.99 each) revive faded colour and shine without streaking your tub.

At drugstores.

M.A.C Studio Sculpt Foundation SPF 15

The hottest pro-artist beauty obsession at the Spring/Summer 2009 Ready-to-Wear shows last September, M.A.C’s new Studio Sculpt gel-based liquid long-wear foundation smooths and hydrates with a natural satiny finish.

$33.50 at M.A.C boutiques and maccosmetics.com.

Moroccan Oil

Dry hair (damaged hair, too) has a new BFF in Moroccan Oil, a suddenly wildly popular hair care line rich in omega-6 fats, vitamin A and vitamin E. The oil penetrates the cuticle quickly, reduces styling and drying time of wet hair, and leaves it supple, shiny and UV protected without weighing it down. And, according to colour experts at Langton and Exit salons in Toronto, a few drops in the hair dye mix protects from chemical damage and improves colour aborption.

$39 at salons; moroccanoil.com for locations.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 2-in-1 Bronzer & Blush

Rosy cheeks on golden skin is the prettiest youthful sunny glow. Sweep this chemical-free Organic Wear powder bronzer across forehead, over cheekbones and the bridge of your nose, then pop the pink blush on the apples of your cheeks.

$21.99 at drugstores and mass retailers.

Roots Source Eco-Fragrances

Roots introduces eco-scents with Source Bamboo, a fruity floral with bamboo extract and natural oils of lemon, rose petal and ylang-ylang, and Source Red Tea, also a fruity floral, with goji berry extract, mango, rooibos tea, strawberry flower, warm musk and natural mandarin and patchouli oils. The recyclable boxes are enviro-friendly, and the price is wallet-friendly, too.

30 mL, $35 at drugstores and select Roots stores.

Janine Falcon is the founder and editor of BeautyGeeks, a site about stuff that delivers best-you beauty and style.