Beauty Obsession: Clarisonic

Mai recently started using the Clarisonic skincare brush to wash her face and I’m sort of green with envy. She loves how well it cleanses her skin and especially enjoys the mini-massage it gives her face while she’s doing it. The Clarisonic is a soft, gentle brush created by the same smarties who came up with the Sonicare toothbrush. The skincare brush moves back and forth at more than 300 times per second to help remove makeup, dirt and oil. If you’re skin is sensitive like mine, no worries because the Clarisonic makes specific brush heads for normal, delicate and sensitive skin types. I’m saving up because Mai says it’s worth every penny. And by the look of her gorgeous skin, she knows what she's talking about. www.sephora.com

On our Radar: Gossip Girl

I must admit Gossip Girl is sort of my guiltiest TV pleasure these days. Makeup department head Amy Tagliamonti gave me the lowdown on the products they love to use on set when I interviewed her for On Makeup magazine. In addition to the show’s amazing wardrobe, it’s refreshing to hear that a great new product can serve as makeup inspiration for GG makeup department as well. “We might get a new beautiful lip or eye color we have never used before, and using that product will help dictate which direction we go with the rest of the face,” reveals Amy. Some GG favorites include Make Up For Ever HD Foundations and Lip Pencils, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, Chanel shadows and Glossimers, Stila shadows and liners, Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer, YSL Touch Eclat, Dior eye shadow quads and Dior Show mascara, Givenchy lipstick and shadow, Lipstick Queen lipsticks, Chantecaille liquid liners, bases, and lip glosses, Rose Bud Lip Salve, La Mer Lip Balm and OPI and Essie nail polishes. As Gossip Girl would say, “You know you love it.” Most products available at www.sephora.com

Beauty Obsession: DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub

For as far back as I can remember, I have had little bumps on the back of my arms, a common skin condition called Keratosis Pilaris (also referred to as "chicken skin") that has lead me to annoy my dermatologist with endless questions. I was told there was nothing I could do about it but exfoliate and use stinky lactic acid or AHA moisturizers. I’m lazy and hate stinky things so this "solution" was not going to work for me. And then the genius that is DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub entered my life via Sephora. I was first drawn to this scrub by its silly picture of a chicken on the packaging. (It's true, I am a sucker for packaging.) But low and behold, this medical-quality exfoliater has really made a difference. I use it with KP Duty Moisturizer and my "chicken skin" feels a lot smoother. DERMAdoctor describes the scrub as an at-home version of a chemical peel and microdermabrasion in one. Whatever it is, I'm on my second jar -- and now I'm scrubbing it all over my body. Available at www.sephora.com

Miley Cyrus, Ginnifer Goodwin: Golden Globes

Mai made up Ginnifer Goodwin and Miley Cyrus for the 66th Annual Golden Globes on Sunday night. Mai is mark cosmetics celebrity makeup artist so she created both looks using all mark products.

Mai’s inspiration for Ginnifer's look was an old Prada ad. On her eyelids, she swept on a blend of I-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadows in Wink Wink and Corset from the lash line into the crease. Mai used the same shades to line her lower lash line. She coated Ginnifer's lashes with Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara in Raven. She applied Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Nude on the apple of cheeks and Dew Drenched Moisturlicious Lip Color in Mist to her lips.

Mai kept Miley’s makeup soft and golden with a touch of bronze to compliment her Marchesa gown. She swept mark Shimmer Cubes in Moonlight and Twilight on her inner eyelids and I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Tiki in the creases. She then lined the bottom of Miley's lashe line with the same Tiki shadow and coated her lashes with mark Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara in Raven. She gave her cheeks a hint of color with Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Nude and swept on Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush in Golden Glo. For lips, Mai applied Gleamstick Hook Up Lip Color in Platonic and Glow Baby Glow Hook Up Lip Gloss in Smooches.

Ali Larter: The Art of Elysium Gala

Mai did Ali Larter's makeup for The Art of Elysium 2nd Annual Heaven Gala in Los Angeles last week.

Beauty News: Scott Barnes Beauty is Discontinued

It's always sort of devastating when a brand you love or a product you lust over is discontinued. I'm still reeling from the departure of Stephane Marais' makeup line, and scraping the remains of my concealer from its tube. So use that Body Bling sparingly because Scott Barnes is the latest makeup line to bite the dust. I opened The Beauty Closet the same month Scott Barnes Beauty launched in 2004 and have become very fond of the brand over the years. From the moment I opened my doors, it has been my star performer and I have been fortunate to supply products to fans of the line such as Jessica & Ashlee Simpson, Fergie, Celine Dion, Victoria Beckham and a ton of makeup artists for TV shows and films. I started hearing rumors that the brand was being discontinued months ago but I was clearly in denial. Finally, I spoke with Scott in December and he confirmed the bad news. There is some light at the end of this tunnel, though. Scott has plans to relaunch his eponymous makeup line with new investors. Let's just hope he brings the bling back.

On the Newsstand: Shape

Happy new year! Mai did Ashley Tisdale's makeup for the current issue of Shape magazine.

P.S. More frequent Lipglosschicas updates to come this year!