With such a dedicated Panel of reviewers, I like to highlight their research and reviews whenever I can. This week I'm pleased to share R's review of Maybelline's new fall color collection, All Laced Up. Enjoy!

R is a 39 year old sports marketing and publicity agent from Staten Island, New York. She's a brunette with wavy, shoulder-length hair that she lightens from medium to a lighter shade of brown, and straightens. R has blue eyes and fair-medium skin that is normal to dry and sensitive skin. Her skin concerns include dark undereye circles that she inherited from her father (she's the concealer queen), slight broken capillaries on her cheeks (result of using a buff puff in her teens and going a little crazy trying to get rid of a pimple). R loves tennis, cosmetics, visiting Sephora, shopping ebay, reading, shopping, wheeling & dealing, writing, and trying to stay youthful looking!

Take it away, R!

Maybelline, the top selling drugstore cosmetic brand, has outdone itself with its new Fall 2002 "All Laced Up" collection of contrasting colors. If you're cosmetic crazed like me, you've noticed that drugstores are now carrying sensational shades from many lines, and shopping at a CVS, Duane Reade, Target, or Rite Aid can sometimes be as fun as a trip to the cosmetics department in Nordstrom.

I usually purchase my cosmetics and skin care products in department stores because I find testers difficult to locate in drugstores and the colors in compacts never look the same on my skin. And well, yes, I admit I am a bit of a makeup snob as some high end items are holy grails, but if testers were always available, I might find some staples to add to my collection from drugstores.

The products in this marvelous Maybelline collection were inspired by the romantic neo-Victorian style that dominated Fall runways, making it so all women would have access to the runway beauty looks at affordable prices. If you look at the women on the covers of top beauty magazines of late, you will notice that they are wearing all drugstore brand cosmetics, and Maybelline has made it easier for everyone to purchase perfect products to look their best.

"All Laced Up" combines drama and innocence with sensuality. Super shades of burgundy, plum, and black contrast with feminine soft shades of white, pink, and mauve. Textures are matte and opalescent so you can opt for beauty that is sexy, sultry, and innocent all at the same time, and easily go from day to night looks by the way you apply the shades.

Eye Shadows ($4.35 for duos, $5.25 for trios)
There are two Expert Eye Shadow Duos: Midnight Lace (a deep grayish black with shimmer, and a white lace shade) and Ruffles & Truffles (a deep matte mauve and light lavender). You can use the lighter of the shades in either duo as a lid wash with the deeper shade in the crease, or mix and match the four to obtain a shimmer and matte look.

There are two Expert Eye Shadow Trios: Antique Lace (matte light lavender, matte mauve and matte light shade of gray) and Catty Eyes (white lace, plum, and deep grayish black, all with shimmer). All of the shades are long lasting, easy to blend, and are crease free. I think purchasing the trios is a better buy because you get all six shades with which to create varied looks. If you are looking for easy, go for the duos and use one shade on the lid and the other to highlight.

Blush ($5.50)
The blushes are both beautiful and will suit women with all skin tones. Go with Wind-Blown, a matted brown with hint of dark plum for a neutral look, or select Bohemian, a deeper brown with subtle shimmer. Both blushes provide a "your cheeks but better look", and the way you apply them determines their depth. I alternate using both depending on what other colors I'm wearing, and apply them in the morning without ever need to reapply them during the day which makes toting them in my cosmetic case unnecessary. I won't be giving up some of my designer blushes, but I will definitely be using these frequently.

Moisture Whip Lipstick ($6.75)
If you love pinks and roses, this line is definitely for you because it offers Pink Pouf (a pale pink), Sugar Plum (a light plum), Pink Lace (a pinky plum), and Rosey Romance (a true rose), and all have shimmer. Although the hues are great, I'm not a pink or plum person so while I won't be wearing any of these, I can guarantee pink lovers will find their perfect shade.

Express Finish Fast-Dry Nail Enamel ($4.10)
There are five very different nail enamel shades and I sampled three: Taupe Tulle (a white beige frost), Purplink (a sheer pale pretty pink), and Vintage Burgundy (a very dark and deep brownish burgundy). In all fairness, these were my least favorite products in the line as none of the colors appealed to me, and in my opinion, they don't wear as well as other brands. I have always believed that these fast-dry polishes chip more easily, and these proved my theory to be true.

This Maybelline collection is marvelous, inexpensive, and now you can have the look even if you weren't born with it.

Thanks, R, for a look at some great new colors for fall. I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!