Have you ever tried to read the ingredient label on your favorite cleanser or moisturizer, and found it to be next to impossible to understand? Cosmetic Connection's new March Feature, Cosmetic Ingredients - Deciphering Cosmetic Labels, is your personal ingredient decoder. Learn the difference between cocamide DEA and polypropylene glycol, and why finding hyaluronic acid in your moisturizer is actually a good thing!

Spring is definitely in the air, and after my MAC seminar and one-on-one makeover last week, I was ready to add some fun new spring colors to my makeup wardrobe. At the top of the list is MAC's new eye shadow, Vex. It looks light green in the container, but when you put it on, it changes from sea foam green to peach to pink, all depending on the light. It's soft and slightly shimmery, definitely an in-the-moment color. My personal pick for new MAC lipstick to go with Vex is Skew, a soft, slightly shimmery pink with subtle hints of peach, and no brown (yay!).

From my one-on-one makeover, I also got the chance to experience MAC's EP-T tinted moisturizer ($28). The EP-T in my usual foundation color, C2, together with a light dusting of my Studio Fix powder, gave me a flawless finish that was slightly dewy without being cakey or thick. For those of you who already use MAC foundations, EP-T is available in all the same colors, and it's a great choice for lighter coverage, or for warmer weather when you might not want a full foundation. There is a hint of sunscreen in this moisturizer, only about an SPF 5 or 6, so make sure to use your regular sunscreen underneath for better protection.

After my MAC seminar, but before my one-on-one makeover, I had yet another fabulous and pampering experience last week to conclude my "week of beauty" - a free mini-facial at the Clarins' counter. After a thorough consultation with the Clarins skin care specialist, we determined that my skin is normal and just needs to be cared for to prevent periodic breakouts. I was surprised to hear my skin called "normal", but according to Clarins, normal skin feels comfortable in the morning and throughout the day, and can have some oiliness in the T-zone my mid-to-late afternoon, which is what mine does. Hmmm... Sounds reasonable to me!

After my consultation, we were ready for the facial. My skin was thoroughly cleansed with Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs, toned with Toning Lotion for dry or normal skin, purified with Purifying Plant Facial Mask, and moisturized with Multi-Active Day Cream. Even though this wasn't a full facial (no steaming, extractions, or special treatments), I really felt relaxed and refreshed afterwards. This service is totally free from Clarins, so if you see signs for the mini-facial event at your local Clarins' counter, make an appointment and go treat yourself!

At the beginning of my Clarins' mini-facial, the skin care specialist used their Eye Make-up Remover Lotion as an eye refresher treatment, and it felt really cool and soothing. I decided to give it a try at home. It has a nice rosewater fragrance and removes eye makeup very thoroughly and quickly. Since it contains no oil, there's no greasy residue, and it doesn't irritate the eyes even if you wear contact lenses. One word of caution, however - it's easy to use too much and go through the bottle rather quickly. After only four days, almost one third of my bottle is empty.

If you've been following my continuing story of successful Kiehl's testing, you'll be pleased to hear about another nice alcohol-free toner from Kiehl's. Their Herbal Toner with Mixed Berries and Extracts ($10.95 for 4 ounces) has a fruity aroma and a slightly astringent quality that makes it good for someone with normal, normal-to-oily, or combination skin. I've found that all three toners I've tried from Kiehl's (Calendula, Cucumber, and Herbal with berries) are all good choices, so it's really a matter of personal preference. I like the Cucumber the best for its subtle fragrance and cooling feeling on the skin.

After a few months off, it's time again for another Cosmetic Connection Cosmetic Poll, a periodic survey on beauty-related topics. This week's poll question is: