Are you ready for fall? It's just around the corner and those new makeup colors are calling! The start of a new season is great time to get that makeup bag in order and add some great new shades. This week I bring you Estee Lauder's new Upside Brown lipstick ($15).

This unusual name, "upside brown", is for the lipstick concept as well as the color; each lipstick has two colors in one tube that blend when applied, but there is a trick to it. The lighter color of the pair is supposed to go on the inside of your lips, while the darker shade is more on the outside. The lighter color is supposed to make the lips look fuller and more pouty. To get this effect on your top lip, you apply the lipstick as you normally would, but for the bottom lip, you have to turn the tube upside down so the lighter color is on the inside - hence the name "upside brown". The technique can be a little tricky, but the results are worthwhile if you have the patience. The five new sultry shades are "Chestnutty", "Upside Brown", "Wildberry", "Bonfire", and "Cider".

After finishing my all-time favorite toner, BeneFit's Alpha Smooth, I decided to try their Rosewater Tonic ($14 for 4 ounces) "for combination normal to dry complexions" to see how it would compare. While it doesn't have the benefits of alpha hydroxy acid, the Rosewater Tonic works well as a basic toner for just about any skin type. The second ingredient is witch hazel, which can be irritating to some sensitive skins, but I found it to be surprisingly soothing and refreshing. Otherwise, this is a no-frills toner that is perfect for someone who loves the smell of roses!

I have been so pleased with BeneFit's Alpha Smooth alpha hydroxy toner and Seven % night cream that I took the plunge and ordered their Alpha Clean 5% AHA cleanser ($18 for 5.56 ounces) with "volcanic mud". I was skeptical when I read "for normal-to-dry skin" on the label, but it turned out to be very gentle and non-drying (aloe vera gel is the first ingredient). Although I never thought AHAs in a cleanser would do much good, this one is gentle enough to leave on the face for a minute or two, then rinse away, so you do get some exfoliating benefits. While it does remove foundation and the daily grime, you definitely need a separate eye makeup remover; you would not want to get this stuff in your eyes!

If there is one thing I am constantly fussing with, it's my hair. It truly has a mind of its own and needs to be tamed daily by a whole slew of products to control curl, tame frizzies, and relieve dryness. This high-maintenance hair has me constantly on the lookout for new and better products. On a trip to my local Beauty Warehouse, I discovered they carry Bumble & Bumble, a line I had heard about but never tried. A bottle of Seaweed Conditioner ($15 for 8 ounces) was calling my name, so I decided to give it a try. While I am sure this would be a great everyday conditioner for normal hair, it just doesn't deliver enough moisture to make my dry hair feel soft. No matter how much I put on or how long I left it on my hair, it just isn't designed to meet the needs of dry hair. The search continues!

Wrapping up our series on makeup brushes, this week I bring you my personal favorites in brushes - MAC. Of all the lines I've seen with makeup brushes, MAC has the most extensive collection and the best quality for the money. Every MAC brush is designed to last a lifetime, no matter how hard you use (or abuse) them, or how many times you wash them. For beginners or full-time makeup artists, MAC has a brush for every type of design possible. I decided to keep it to the basics, and here's what I found:

Powder
You can use either #135 ($25) or #101 ($36) for powder. The #135 is smaller and can also be used for soft blush, while the #101 is very full and super soft, great for blending and all-over powder.

Blush
Again, there is more than one choice for blush. If you like a more precise application, the #2 ($25) with its smaller, tapered head (much like Stila's #1) is a great choice. For a softer look, the #135 ($25) is perfect, with soft bristles and a full, tapered shape.

Eyeshadow
The ultimate multi-purpose eyeshadow brush, the #141 ($26) can do everything - lid color, crease color, smudgy liner, even brows. The bristles are soft and tapered at an angle that makes crease work a breeze.

Brow
For precise color application, brow grooming, or even powder eye liner, the stiff #22 ($16) angled brush is a MAC favorite.

Lip
The #117 retractable ($12) is the way to go. My favorite trick with this brush is loading it up with color, putting on the lid, and taking it with me for a night out - no fussing with lipstick tubes!

It's $10 Challenge time again! If you are new to this ultimate drugstore scavenger hunt, here's how The $10 Challenge works: take $10 into a drugstore and buy the coolest products you can find. Simple! For our 4th installment of this Cosmetic Connection favorite, I visited my local Thrifty Payless/Rite Aid drugstore and found:

1. Pond's Prevent and Correct Cream (trial size $1.99)
2. Jane nail polish ("electricity" $2.69)
3. Jane Staying Powder loose powder ("colorless" $2.69)
4. Almay Amazing Lasting Eyecolor ("taupe" trial size $1.99)

The Makeup Diva is In! For anyone just getting started with makeup, the choices can be overwhelming. This week, Miss Diva gives her tips for essential makeup basics. Don't miss it!

It's Beauty Pack time again here at Cosmetic Connection! Congratulations to August's lucky winners... Cindy Bowers of Milford, Connecticut, and Heather Robinson of Economy, Nova Scotia! September could be your lucky month to win a customized Beauty Pack of cosmetic and skin care samples. All you have to do is enter (one entry per person, please)!