Exploring : tools

Before shelling out $5k on a new schnoz, consider spending $1.99 on the iSurgeon—an iPhone app that lets you take the nose, lips, or entirely new face you’ve always wanted on a test run. Simply upload a photo of yourself and—with your trusty touch screen—push, pull, smooth, and flatten your features ‘til you achieve the desired effect. Then send your new face to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites to garner feedback.

What do you think of an app that does that? Share your thoughts with us.

I recently bought a pair of Skechers for my trip to Australia. I’ve worn Skechers on other walk-heavy trips, so I figured they’re a safe bet. I figured wrong. These darling but distressing shoes cut the back of my feet every time I try to break them in! Thank goodness, though, I found Band Aid Blister Block (also referred to as Friction Block, $8) a few years back. This lubricated stick saves me from enduring more pain from shoes like my Skechers. But I’m not the only one whose discovered the magic stick—Kaboodlers toomuch27, nefarious_cupcake, kandy220, and dozens of other Kaboodlers have all added this to their lists.

How do you remedy cut-up and blistered feet? Share with us!

Here’s one product that has me scratching my head saying, “What’ll they think of next?” The Makeup Player ($69.90) is essentially a train case with two built-in speakers and a portal to which you can connect most media players and smart phones. The idea is for you to download instructional makeup tutorials on Stila’s site and play them on your iPhone so you can watch and do at the same time. The cool thing about the case is that it comes with a handful of fab Stila products like Lip Glaze, Convertible Color for Cheeks and Lips, Eye Shadow Trio and #7 Eye Shadow Brush, and the new One Step Makeup Foundation. I could do without this gadgety beauty box, but I like that Stila’s not stingy on the contents thrown in.
 
What do you think—too gimmicky or great idea? Tell us your thoughts!

Matryoska dolls make me melt. And makeup makes me giddy. So you can imagine the sheer joy I felt when I stumbled upon the Puposka—a set of nesting dolls that contain sweet cosmetic surprises!

Move the face to reveal a mirror; rotate the heart to find up to eleven compact eye shadows; and pull out the drawers to display blush, bronzer, and face powder. Open it up completely to uncover a smaller Puposka with mascara, more eye shadows, and four cream lipstick colors. Finally, crack open the two mini Puposkas to expose lip gloss with applicators.

Note: The Puposka is sold at Pupa Milano retailers worldwide. Go to the site to find a retailer who will ship the Puposka kit to you.