I've been so excited about my nails lately, I kind of want to show them off. I have naturally thin, weak, peely nails (I don't bite them, they're just not very strong). But they've been getting better, through a combination of product and self-control, and that makes me want to show off some of my favorite polishes.

It's no secret that Karla and I share the same

In honor of YSL's online Friends and Family sale (which starts today and runs through December 20), I've got a few YSL swatches to show you today and tomorrow — in case you were on the fence about these items.

Back in early fall of last year, YSL released 18 shades of a new formula of lipstick: the

There are certain brands you never expect to see on sale (Chanel, I'm looking at you).

Well in some kind of crazy Hanukkah miracle, YSL is doing an online Friends and Family this year.

December 14 – 20 take 20% off your order with code FF2009. Heck, get free shipping, too! (Why not?)

Secret bonus:

I have a really fabulous surprise for you today, readers. I'm tag-teaming today's post with the amazing Lina, swatch genius, makeup connoisseur, and author of The Beauty Lookbook. Head over to her blog today for some utterly drool-worthy product pictures (and a really excellent review) of Edward Bess's Jet Set Collection.

It fills me with joy when a company makes a foundation that runs from very light to dark. I think I'm almost as happy when foundation shades are numbered in a logical progression.

So let's take a look at Make Up For Ever's Mat Velvet + foundation, a shine controlling, oil-free, water-resistant, full coverage liquid foundation (actually it has a

Laura Mercier's holiday offering this year is... complicated to say the least. The holiday collection (Club Couture) itself is small: it features two "foiled" eyeshadows in gold and silver and three lip products (two lipsticks, one gloss).

Then there are a plethora of palettes and sets (and certain items exclusive to particular retailers). The items you'll find

I've received a number of reader requests to pay more attention to Clarins, and the pictures I've seen online of their holiday collection this year (Palazzo d'Oro) stopped me in my tracks.

Tracking the collection down, however, was actually somewhat challenging. At Nordstrom and Dillards, when I asked, "do you have Clarins' holiday collection?" they responded, "do

Hey readers,

A thought just occurred to me (and I hope it doesn't sound tacky to pass the question on to you). Would you rather see lip swatches of all 15 Minutes, with no giveaway (because I assume nobody wants a prize that's been lip-swatched), or lip swatches of some, and others used for prizes? Leave me a comment

Amazing story, readers: Lipstick Queen heard about my misunderstanding with Barney's, got in touch with me — and sent samples of all fifteen shades of their 15 Minutes of Fame Pop Art Gloss, as a gesture of swatching goodwill. I'm absolutely blown away!

I hope you won't let that keep me from telling you how impressed I am

You guys did an AMAZING job with the Lancome holiday contest. Thank you so much to everyone who entered.

I am indeed giving away all five prizes, and here's who they're going to:

StefieJ (who wished for the NARS bridal palette): all three cream shadows (Pink Lace, Garter Belt, and Haute Smoke)

Connie

If you've ever worn lipstick or gloss (and if you're reading this, I assume you have), you're familiar with "the line." In the first few minutes after application, product collects where your lips touch, and once it's there, it's usually going to end up on your teeth.

You could eliminate the line by putting your finger in your mouth, closing

There was one more item in Cargo's limited edition display (Pau F actually mentioned it in her comment yesterday!). Between the Hands of Hope Palette and the Mediterranean Nights Palette

I thought it made sense — since we looked at the Cargo Hands of Hope Palette yesterday — to take a look at its sister palette, Mediterranean Nights. These two palettes are the same size (large and flat, like a children's book), appeared at the same time, and share space in Sephora's Cargo display.

Mediterranean Nights

Some weeks ago a new, limited edition Cargo palette appeared in Sephora. Called the "Hands of Hope" palette, it features nine shadows, each embossed with a stylized hamsa (a symbol of good luck in the Middle East).

I feel like I'm going to repeat a lot of my Cargo Runway Palette review. The shadows are excellent: