We've got some great new color collections coming in the door here at Cosmetic Connection, with reviews of several fall collections coming up next month. This week I took a look at some new products and shades from some of the top indie names in beauty. Read on!

Lulu Beauty
I love finding out about promising new brands that are just starting out. Lulu Beauty is getting its start in a boutique in Seattle, WA, and thankfully for me the creator found me and got some samples in my hands. The collection is small but the colors and textures are incredible - very wearable but at the same time a little glamorous. After seeing these lip and cheek shades, I am really looking forward to seeing their eye collection this fall.

Lip Lustre ($17)
Lipglosses are so easy - just swipe and go. I really like this one because the texture is very smooth, the colors are nicely pigmented, and the shine gives just enough punch without looking glassy or plastic. Lip Lustre comes in 6 shades; I tried Rhinestone (pale pink with gold shimmer), Cameo (basic brown mauve), Ruby (classic cool red) and Tiara (grape purple), and I like Cameo and Ruby the best. Lip Lustre comes in a spongewand applicator tube with a matte silver handle and clear base so you can see each color through the packaging.

Lipstick ($17)
These lipsticks are creamy enough to go on easily and feel smooth on the lips, but aren't thick or greasy. The colors last fairly well considering they aren't "long wearing"; after eating I still have color left that's sort of a stain. From a selection of 20 shades, I tried Ava (medium lilac-rose with a hint of shimmer), Myrna (basic brown mauve), Tallulah (coppery brown mauve) and Bettie (rich brick red), and liked them all.

Creme Rouge ($24)
I've been a cream/gel blush advocate for months so I'm always excited to find another brand I can recommend. If you've stayed away from the stain type liquids and gels for fear of looking like a clown, this is a the answer for you. Not only are the two colors, starlet (sheer berry) and pinup (sheer brown mauve), wearable on even the lightest skin tone and incredibly easy to blend, the twist-up tube and oval shape make them perfect for drawing right on the skin and blending with your fingers. Incidentally, the packaging is identical to Ramy Beauty Therapy's Studio Stick, which you can see at RamyBeautyTherapy.com. Lulu Beauty's Creme Rouge is a new makeup favorite for me.

Lulu Beauty is currently available at Olivine Atelier in Seattle (phone 206-706-4188). It's coming soon to the web (scheduled for mid-August) at lulubeauty.com.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Pinceau Mat Lipstick & Brush ($19)
Hollywood glamour must be on everyone's mind, because this lipcolor was also inspired by 1940s movie stars. The texture is creamy but the finish is matte and polished. Thankfully, though, matte doesn't mean dry and crumbly here - this formula is comfortable and weightless, and long lasting. I tried the Rosewood 7 shade and found it to be a great everyday brown mauve. The other 7 shades are also tried and true, wearable shades of brownish pinks, beiges and reds.

As if the color itself wasn't enough of a sure-sell, you do not want to miss this packaging - an ingenious round compact with the lipbrush as part of the clasp. You flip open the clasp, pull it out to reveal the lipbrush on the end, and you're ready to apply. Talk about handy!

Vincent Longo Lip/Cheek Gel Stain ($18)
Every cosmetic brand must think that they can improve on everyone else's version of liquid, gel or cream cheek color; there are so many to choose from! This new one from Vincent Longo can be used for both lips and cheeks and comes in a sponge wand tube that looks more like a lipstain. Unlike cream cheek colors, this one is definitely a stain and needs to be blended immediately or it will set where you put it. Also, since this is a stain, it really works best on bare skin or with a foundation that's not too dry; trying to apply it over a matte foundation or powder will guarantee a clown face. For as complicated as it may seem, the advantage of a stain is that it really stays put, so you can go from day to night without reapplying. Gel Stain comes in 5 shades; I tried Baby Boo, a rose-red flush shade that can be blended sheer for light skin tones or layered on for darker complexions.

Delux Beauty Elastic Lip Gloss ($18)
This is a new product from Delux in sparkly colors just for summer, and while the colors are pretty and vibrant, this is a fairly basic gloss with nothing particularly "elastic" about it. The texture is described as a "spring-like gel formula" but it feels like standard gloss to me. I tried the perky pink "Dean" shade and found it to be a bit too hot pink for my fair coloring; it accentuated any redness already in my skin if I didn't have enough foundation or concealer on. As a basic gloss, it's fine - nothing special. I doubt I would get it again.

You can see all these shades for Make Up For Ever, Vincent Longo, and Delux Beauty, and shop online, at Sephora.com.