It seems as though "boutique" brands of make-up and skin care are poised to swallow up the main floors of our favorite department stores. Every month, we open up the fashion mags to read about some new "must have" that's only available at one obscure specialty shop deep in the heart of Soho.

Not so with Manifesto. If you live near a Bloomingdales, you're in luck.

Since I grew up looking at Isabella Rosellini in all those Lancome ads, I'm familiar with her unconventional beauty. I'm not surprised she developed a make-up line as unique as she is. The packaging is modern and spare, the products multipurpose. The counter is very approachable and testing the products is not only encouraged, it's enjoyable. Just as I was starting to enjoy surfing (and buying from) all the new cosmetic websites, Manifesto restored my faith in the department store experience. But, that doesn't mean I'm giving up my computer in favor of stalking the main floor of Bloomies.

Manifesto is all about the basics: Nothing you'll feel pressured into buying and never using. The foundation comes in a liquid or compact formula. There's one shade of translucent powder that works for everyone. The powder blushes can be used as eye shadow and the Triple Use Colors can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks. All the colors are numbered, so there are no names to remember. Here's what I tried:

Compact Foundation SPF 14 Shade #6 ($26.50)
The foundation shades are mainly yellow based. This one blended into my skin perfectly. The texture was weightless and dried to a powdery finish. It wore comfortably on my oily skin.

Transparent Powder ($23.50)
This powder really is colorless and transparent on the skin. It fluffed easily over the Compact Foundation for a natural matte look.

Eyeshadow & Blush Shade #7 ($18.50)
A natural peachy-rose shade perfect as a blush. A little too pink to use around the eyes, but great to add healthy color to your cheeks.

Triple Use Eye/Lip/Cheek Color #19 ($15)
A cream color that can be used as eye shadow, blush or lip color. This rosy brown shade makes a great neutral eye shadow or lip color. As an eyeshadow, it stayed on crease free all day.

Lip Gloss #2 ($13.50)
A shiny, shimmering rosy brown shade. Lasted through a large frozen yogurt :)

Lipsticks #1 & #5 ($15 each)
Possibly the two most perfect neutral lipstick shades I've ever seen. Lipstick #1 is similar to Lip Gloss #1, so it's all about your preference. Lipstick #5 is a creamy brownish pink that's outstanding on a fair complexion. The lipsticks have a creamy, long lasting texture.

Some optional products worth checking out:

Lip Pencil #2 ($12.50)
Manifesto's carbon copy of MAC's Spice pencil, but with a great creamy texture.

Lip Gloss #1 ($13.50)
A shimmering lilac shade that's very in right now.

Concealer #1 ($16.50)
Packaged in a tube with a sponge-tip applicator. Erased a minor blemish on my chin. It did not cake or streak. At the make-up artist's suggestion, I also use it as a lipstick base. Great tip!

Manifesto stands apart from the garden variety department store lines. It's easy to spot the quality and the thought that went into creating the products. The foundation, powder and blush compacts are all stackable. The bottoms are mirrored. There are even tiny mirrors on the tops of the lipstick tubes.

If you're looking for wearable make-up with a no nonsense approach, Manifesto is the way to go. Yes, it is safe to walk the main floor again!

Happy Shopping!