Part of the fun of cosmetics for me is the shopping - tracking down new products, discovering great new colors, and comparing the same product in different brands. This week, after discovering Stila's new Lip Rouge lipstain a few weeks ago, I was wandering through my local Body Shop store and found their version, Lipstain, in a great selection of colors (like amethyst, topaz, ruby, rose) for only $7.50! Compared to Stila's mere two colors and whopping $26 price tag, I was excited and intrigued. How would the Body Shop Lipstain measure up?

I found the Body Shop's pointy marker tip easier to use than Stila's, and it didn't run dry at all even after applying several coats. These new lipstains aren't for people with very dry or flaky lips, but for the rest of us, I really recommend the Body Shop's version. The colors are rich and pretty by themselves (my choice: amethyst), and they make a fun "base coat" to change the look of your other lipsticks or glosses. Compared to the Body Shop's Lipstain, which truly deserves 5 out of 5 stars, I have to downgrade my rating of Stila Lip Rouge a bit to 4.5 stars.

Several months ago, I reviewed a few skin care products from the vegan cosmetic line Beauty Without Cruelty. Their Herbal Cream Facial Cleanser is one of my all-time favorites, and I like that they use absolutely no animal testing or animal-based ingredients. I recently tried their Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer (for over-active skin) and All Day Moisturizer (for normal to dry skin) with terrific results.

For oily skin, moisturizers are a bit tricky. Of the ones I've tried, those that look and feel the best are lightweight, absorb quickly, and leave a soft, matte finish that helps control shine throughout the day. BWC's Oil-Free does all this, and it soothes and protects with lemon balm, lavender, witch hazel, aloe vera gel, and vitamins A, C, and E. If you are normal to oily, slightly oily all over, or oily in your T-zone, this is a great daytime moisturizer that earns 4 out of 5 stars; the lack of sun protection makes it slightly less than perfect.

For drier skin, getting enough moisture without feeling like an oil slick is a common problem, especially in the summer or if you live in a warm climate. BWC has succeeded in making an emollient cream with a lightweight feel with All Day Moisturizer. All Day is chock full of dry skin smoothers like sweet almond oil, shea butter, macadamia nut oil, locust bean gum, panthenol, sodium pca, and allantoin, as well as soothing camomile, calendula, st. johns wort, aloe vera gel, green tea, and anti-oxidant vitamins A, C, and E. All Day has become my new favorite cream for keeping my skin supple and hydrated, but it should have been named "All Night"; without sun protection, it earns just 4 out of 5 stars.

For information about Beauty Without Cruelty, check your local health or natural food store, or call BWC at (707) 769-5120.

What spring collection report could be complete with a look at the new products and colors from Bobbi Brown Essentials? The spring collection includes some great (but slightly overpriced) new products. Here's the rundown:

SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer ($35) in sand, natural, and golden
If you aren't a foundation wearer, or if you like something very sheer, Bobbi's new tinted moisturizer is a nice, but I think fairly overpriced, choice. Granted, you do get natural looking, warm color (each shade has a slight touch of red added for warmth) with SPF 15 sun protection in a lightweight base that provides enough moisture alone for normal, combination, or normal to oily skin. If you have dry skin, you will need to use your regular moisturizer first. The color selection is small, however, and I don't think you have to spend $35 for a nice tinted moisturizer, so I give this one 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Cream Blush Stick ($25) in sand pink, tawny, warm peach, and soft plum
For natural, fresh looking blush, Bobbi's new cream stick is a great addition to her collection. The stick is portable, easy to apply, and comes in pretty, wearable colors. Simply dab it on from the stick or onto your finger, applying to the apples of your cheeks, then blend out toward your hairline. Since you use very little, the large lipstick-style stick (packaged just like Bobbi's foundation stick) should last a very long time. For wearability and a pretty selection of colors, I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Bobbi has also added some new shades to her existing products. The new Foundation Stick ($35) shade in Porcelain is wonderfully neutral, not too pink and not too yellow, perfect for those of us with very light complexions. For normal to dry or dry skin, this foundation stick is fantastic (one of my makeup bag basics) and deserving of a perfect 5 stars.

Among the other new shades are: Lip Shimmer ($17.50) in champagne (my personal choice for a nice soft beige pink), malt, raspberry, plum and garnet, Nail Wash ($12.50) sheers and shimmers in beige, champagne and brown, and Eye Shadows ($17) in mocha (soft brown with a touch of pink) and cedar (medium terracotta brown). Check out all the new shades on the Bobbi Brown website.

What do the latest crop of vitamin-packed creams mean for your skin? Find out in our new Feature for March, Vitamin Therapy. Spring is a perfect time to give your skin a boost!

The Makeup Diva is In! Considering all the products I've reviewed, it's hard to remember which ones were good, bad, or just plain ordinary. This week our Makeup Diva puts together a list of our favorite moisturizers that we've reviewed, listed by skin type to make your shopping a little easier. Don't go to the mall without it!