Josie Maran

Ed's Note: Meet our new beauty columnist! (No, that's not her at the left. That's Lindsey Wixson.) Contessa Schexnayder is a makeup artist and has been shackled to the beauty industry for over nine years, working for such lines and retailers as Nars, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Blue Mercury, and Space NK. She is a self-proclaimed ingredient know-it-all, and likes long walks on the beach. When faced with hundreds of bottles of lotions and potions, the drugstore aisle and department store can be overwhelming places. Do you need a seven step facial regimen? How worried should you be in your 20s about an anti-aging treatments? Should you just give up in your 40s? We’ll attempt to answer these questions with a handy guide for every age group, complete with product recommendations. Click through for some advice and pointers.

Ever wonder how beauty marketers make products perfectly appealing? We got to sit in a room full of those guys while they discussed marketing and branding at WWD’s Beauty Forum earlier this week. Sound boring? On the contrary--it was completely fascinating. This is an industry full of really smart people who know how to get you to buy things, and they have very a unique window into women’s psyches. We picked up a lot of insight and wisdom during the full-day forum and naturally we’ll share it.

Even though it’s only April--and currently 60 degrees and rainy here in NYC--it’s never too early to start thinking about beach beauty. One must be optimistic after such a craptastic winter. So whether you’re heading somewhere tropical for spring break or just going to sit outside for brunch, you can start your sunny, warm weather preparation by picking up a tinted moisturizer with an SPF component. They pack a lot of punch for one product: moisture after a cold winter, a bit of color, and sun protection. Click through to see some classics, as well as new options from Bobbi Brown and Philosophy.