Go EAST my lovelies....

There are many reasons why Beauty Wonkette loves her "real" job, but one biggie is that it affords the opportunity for lots of travel. And, in Beauty Wonkette's world, travel translates into SHOPPING. Yayyyyy shopping!!!

Any make-up artist will tell you that European pharmacies are a well-known treasure trove of otherwise elusive cosmetics. However, these days, take a close look at any face-painter’s kit and you’re bound to find something from Japan: teensy-weensy Q-tips, perfectly packaged blotting papers, or, complexion-perfecting products by Koh Gen Do.

Fashion week meant visits with a few old friends, including one well known New York-based stylist who is a recent convert to the line. Said she, “I was looking for an all-natural foundation and concealer in light of my pregnancy (HER pregnancy - Beauty Wonkette is MANY things, but PREGGO is NOT one of them, thanks be to god) —the things one reads on the internet can be so alarming! I discovered the foundation and concealer and couldn’t be more thrilled that something so good can be so good for you." She went on to explain that she dabs it on with a Trish McEvoy foundation brush and, Beauty Wonkette can bear witness to the fact that while it looks fresh and dewy, it provides great coverage.

That “dewy, fresh” coverage is made possible by Aqua Foundation’s “golden ratio” of 45% water, 35% emollients, and 20% powder. The mineral formula is based on deep-sea water from Rausu, Japan, and infused with White Birch Sap extracts to keep skin hydrated. I’ve always avoided foundation because, for lack of better words, it’s just too much. Too cake-y, too drying, too shimmery (“glow” can go very wrong)…even an overpowering eau de SPF is a deal-breaker. This foundation is just right. Beauty Wonkette doesn't generally do the foundation thing, but tried smoothing a tiny amount over her skin. Oh yessss, it gives the perfect—barely perceptible—amount of enhancement.

And, you certainly don’t need a beauty school degree to reap the benefits of “Moisture Concealer for Professional”. The compact includes two creamy, Jojoba and Shea Butter enhanced shades, plus a miniature, retractable brush for finger-free application. There’s even a built-in trough for blending the colors together. Perhaps the best news is that you don’t need to hop on a plane (although a trip to Tokyo would be nice…), Koh Gen Do is sold stateside at Barney’s and via their website. Even better is the fact that the concealer is 30% at the Koh Gen Do website, and they give lots of freebies when you order.

Beauty Wonkette is tapping her foot and wondering WHAT you are waiting for !!!

Beauty Wonkettes spies the Split Nail Polish Trend, The "V Gap"

Okay, okay... Beauty Wonkette loves to look at this stuff, but her fingernails are usually bare. MMMMmmmm hmmmmm - Beauty Wonkette is a follower of the buff, buff, buff cult. Although BW DOES go all wild and funky with her toes :). ANYWAYYYY... this looks kinda cool, no?

London-based nail guru Sophy Robson is taking the lead on a new nail trend, a style she's christened the "V-Gap." An angular riff on the half-moon, the beauty of the look is its versatility: Keep it subtle with dark or neutral shades, like Robson's petrol blue-black V-Gap nails at Antonio Beradi's fall '11 show, or take it to the next level and channel Robson's own pink, studded V-Gapped talons.

Kate Somerville's Spring Skincare Secrets

Beauty Wonkette brings you legendary skin guru Kate Somerville's top three tips to update your spring skin and get a fresh face now.

Kate’s ultimate expert tips for getting beautiful spring skin now:

1. Sunscreen: "I recommend looking for sunscreens with ingredients that contain either physical or chemical blocks, and broad-spectrum protection, which means protection from all UV rays. One of my favorite forms of sun protection is mineral makeup. The minerals that comprise these powders protect against UV rays—they create a physical barrier between your skin and the sun and usually have an SPF of 15 to 22.”

2. Safe Tanning: "Use Somerville 360º Tanning Towelettes. These are simple-to-use, streak-free tanning towels that give your body a golden (not orange) glow. They deliver that beautiful color without the damage associated with tanning. This product is revolutionary because it’s a tanning towelette that’s clear. Just put it on and in two minutes you can put a white dress on. It’s not a cream, lotion or bronzer, so it won’t streak or rub off. It works with the proteins in your skin and gives the color you’d get in the sun. A fair-skinned person gets a different color than a darker-skinned person. You'll have a gorgeous glow in 4 hours. We also took out the parabens and added antioxidants so that it’s actually good for your skin. The tan lasts 7-10 days and you can layer it—do it two or three times and then maintain once a week.”

3. Commitment: "The most important steps to remember are exfoliate, hydrate, and moisturize. You should exfoliate one to three times a week. Look for a product that contains both physical and chemical exfoliators, but avoid natural physical exfoliants like pits or seeds—they are rough and can damage the skin; instead, look for a smooth bead. To hydrate the skin externally, look for products that contain hyaluronic acid—this ingredient can carry 1000 times its weight in water and bind it to the skin. To hydrate internally, drink plenty of water and eat foods rich in fatty acids. Avoid diuretics, like simple sugars and caffeine. Finally, moisturizing is vital to protecting and sealing in the hydration, and serves as a barrier for your skin. Look for a product that contains peptides or new stem cell technology that can really aid in healthy cell turn over and anti-aging.”

Beauty Wonkette believes that one good turn deserves another, and so, BW would be remiss if she failed to mention that Kate has added three new skin-savers to her immaculate line of products, and there’s something for everyone. ExfoliKate Acne is a revamped formulation of her best-selling exfoliator with tea tree oil and salicylic acid to help you fight breakouts, Clinic-To-Go is a fantastically packaged treatment that will rejuvenate your face and slough away any dull winter skin, and Cyto-Cell Eye Cream uses stem cell technology to help get rid of any wrinkles around the eye area.

Beauty Wonkette is really rocking the Clinic-To-Go pads! YOU should check out all Kate's new stuff. It's widely available at places like Sephora, but her site has more info. Go there first: http://www.katesomerville.com/