You count on Cosmetic Connection to bring you the latest and greatest in cosmetic finds every week, so how does a sneak peek at Stila's new Fall colors sound? I've got 'em right here for your viewing pleasure. There are 5 new shadows (all shimmery, metallic shades), 3 new lipsticks, and 3 new glosses (red is my favorite).

The new shadow colors are a welcome departure from many of Stila's muted neutrals and pastels, especially for a more dramatic or smokey look. My personal picks are "barefoot contessa" and "jezebel" shadows, "lina" lipstick, and "red shine" gloss.

Considering the number of cosmetic lines available these days, I often encounter ones that are only available to me through a catalog. If you live in a small town, or even a smaller-than-NYC city, catalog shopping may be your only option for lines like BeneFit, Kiehl's, and countless others. Since catalog shopping can be intimidating (how do you choose when you can't see the products?), I tried it myself recently with a catalog from the popular Bliss Spa in New York City. For $5, you get the catalog and a $10 credit towards your first purchase. After flipping through the pages about a million times trying to make up my mind, I choose Remede Milky Wash cleanser, Decleor Clay and Herbal mask, and Zoom Dry top coat nail polish.

I must admit, for my first try, I got some excellent products! The Remede Milky Wash ($29) is a great cleanser for any skin type, even takes off eye makeup, and leaves the skin feeling smooth and conditioned. The woman at Bliss who took my order revealed that this is their most popular cleanser. A little spendy, but worth a shot if you just can't find the right cleanser for you.

For the home manicure lover in me, I had to try Zoom Dry top coat ($9), touted to be a "cult" item at Bliss for making polish last longer and keeping nails strong. As both a quick drying top coat over a fresh manicure, and as an upkeep top coat to keep the polish looking fresh, I love this product! It really does dry super fast, and it hardens to a glossy finish that holds up to everyday activities without chipping after a few days.

For those of you who love doing facial masks as much as I do, this clay and herbal one from Decleor (a botanical line like Clarins) is a refreshing weekly treatment for oily, normal-to-oily, or oily T-zone skin types. The liquid-y consistency is thinner and less goopy than many clay-based masks, and it's not as drying. Also a bit spendy ($28), but a little seems to go a long way.

Speaking of masks, since they are so handy in this hot and humid summer weather, Philosophy has just introduced a new "detox" mask called "Forest Gunk" (are their names clever, or what?). This liquid green-brown mask uses silt and a variety of plant oils to supposedly "detoxify" the skin. After trying it twice, I didn't notice much of a difference in my skin, but I sure can't forget the mask's odor - it smells gross! I also found that it can be rather irritating to sensitive skin (mine was definitely red and burning). I can think of quite a few masks that are much better than this one, like Philosophy's own Deeply Superficial. If it's not broken, don't fix it!

As promised, this week we're continuing our series on makeup brushes with a review of the basic set from Philosophy. Once only available in The Coloring Book, Philosophy now sells them individually so you can customize your set to fit your needs.

1. Blush ($25) - nice full, tapered size makes blush application a snap. A little expensive for a fairly standard, but still good quality, blush brush.

2. Shadow ($20) - fluffy, tapered bristles are very soft for a more soft, sheer application of color. A good choice if you are new to eyeshadow, or if you use only one or two colors at a time.

3. Blending ($18) - excellent crease and blending brush that is soft enough to be gentle on the skin but stiff enough to deposit a fair amount of color. I really like this one!

4. Lip ($18) - the small, tapered shape is great for fool-proof application, even if you are rather uncoordinated (like me!).

5. Brow ($10) - a very stiff brush great for general brow grooming as well as adding a little color. One of Philosophy's better priced brushes.

The Makeup Diva is In! Are chapped lips ruining your chance at smooth lipstick? This week Miss Diva reveals her personal picks for the perfect pout. Don't miss it!