I love the idea of a cheek stain, but it can be tricky to apply (“stain” being the operative word, here). And I like the velvety consistency of a cream blush, but it often lacks staying power.

Which is why when Josie Maran released a new Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée, my eyes lit up.

The gelée combines the long-lasting pigment of a stain (up to 14 hours) with the softness of a cream for a luminous finish. Because it’s infused with coconut water and argan oil, it’s also incredibly hydrating. A splash of coconut water is just what these cheeks ordered.

$22 at sephora.com

George Gonzalez, owner of George the Salon in River North (23 W. Hubbard St.) has had his hands in the hair of plenty of celebrities—most recently, Cindy Crawford’s brunette mane. I asked him to share how to duplicate the look at home, which deftly falls somewhere between iconic supermodel and girl next door:

To avoid frizz, Gonzalez says to dry hair from the top down, getting roots 70 percent dry before directing the dryer towards ends. Create a product cocktail combining a leave-in conditioner and a volumizing mousse and dry hair in two-inch sections using a medium round brush to smooth follicles while curling the ends. As each section is complete, roll the piece into a loose curl and secure with a clip. Once cooled, take down and use your fingers to gently shake out the style while misting with hairspray.

Or, let the pros handle the job. Book a styling session with Gonzalez ($75) by calling the salon at 312-923-9444.

Drew Barrymore has a new beauty line you’ve probably never heard of. No longer the face of Cover Girl, Barrymore created Flower, a modestly priced makeup line sold exclusively at Walmart. She’s forgoing in-your-face advertising campaigns and marketing tactics in favor of putting that cash straight into the product.

Take the Zoom-In Ultimate Mascara, for example. The adjustable brush allows you to twist the wand into a spiral shape to create volume, and then untwist to create length. That’s a neat trick packed into a $7.98 product.

In fact, every product in the Flower line is priced under $15, made in the USA, and never tested on animals. That, um, actually sounds pretty great.

$4.98-$13.98, Walmart.com

Though most hair accessories bring me straight back to the bedazzled clips and oversized bows of my childhood, the right accent can add a modern touch of style to an otherwise simple ‘do.

Take, for example, those chic Balenciaga tiaras that walked down the spring runway. While a $335 hair halo isn’t in the cards right now, these $18 bumble bee hairpins by Etsy seller Elizabeth Perry Collections certainly are.

The sweet little stingers are the perfect way to add a touch of whimsy and style to an otherwise boring, messy updo.

$18 at etsy.com

Sine Qua Non has started a new craze: the Gemstone Blowout, a frizz-reducing, shine-enhancing blowdry using a blend of Bumble and Bumble products infused with crushed pearl, tourmaline, Brazilian green malachite and sapphire.

Tourmaline hairstyling tools have become the new gold standard of styling technology, so the idea of adding these ingredients to product makes sense. I left with a shiny, bouncy blowout that still looked great the morning after.

With a dash of hair powder, I’m told I can milk this style for three days. The service (normally $55) is discounted on Blowout Thursdays at all four Sine Qua Non locations.

$35, sinequanonsalons.com for locations

PS: Here's how it looked on me:

If it seemed as if every brand hopped aboard the beauty balm (BB) bandwagon last year, it’s because they pretty much all did. From Bobbi Brown to Olay, Clinique to Garnier, 2012 was the year of the balm: an all-in-one multitasker that primes, hydrates, protects, and perfects skin in a single swoop. It seemed like this product had it all. Until now.

The next generation of skin-perfecting cosmetics, these “color correcting” creams incorporate all the benefits of their popular predecessor, then up the ante with the addition of skin-brightening, dark-spot-correcting ingredients.

Whether you stick by your BB or go for one of the new CCs, like this one by Smashbox, the real secret to a flawless finish is to test out shades until you find one that blends perfectly into your skin.

$42 at Sephora

You can rent a Herve Leger dress, an Alexander McQueen box clutch, or swag for your ever-growing children.  All of that makes perfect sense—especially to Parks and Recreation fans—but can the rental business cross into beauty?

It’s happening, my friends: Lacquerous.com, a website that allows you to rent three bottles of designer polish for $18 per month.

That may sound steep, but a bottle of luxury lacquer by brands like Tom Ford, Butter London and Chanel can run $15-$30. If you’re a little skeeved by the idea of communal polish, Laquerous would like to point out that your local nail salon has been sharing their goods for years.

I’m not yet sold, but I am intrigued. Would you try it?

When it comes to cosmetics, everyone’s a critic. Only a handful of products are universally loved: NARS blush in Orgasm, Smith's Rosebud Salve, Crème de la Mer moisturizer—your typical cult classics.

If there were an official list, I’d add the Naked Palette by Urban Decay. I finally caved and bought one, and I have no regrets. Every shade is completely wearable, with shades ranging from soft bisque to golden bronze to smoky grey.

The popularity of this palette prompted Nars to release a sequel last year, but the Naked2 is not a direct improvement on the original: Those with warm skin tones will probably prefer the original, while cool skin tones generally gravitate towards the latter.

If you’re not willing to commit to a $50 palette, start with the shade Half Baked, $18. The shimmery, golden shadow is the only color to make it into both palettes.

$50 at urbandecay.com

Ever since Oscar de la Renta sent his Spring 2013 models down the runway, with streaks of pink and blue pieces tucked up into classic French twists, I’ve been dying to have a little spring fling with my strands.

Hair chalking sounds like the perfect, noncommittal foray into electric hued hair. Free People sells these cute little tins of Ombre Hair Chalk in five different shades—just dampen hair, rub in, and wash out when you’re done. Chalk it up to spring fever, but I can’t wait to try them out.

$14, freepeople.com