Le sigh: Lip gloss stays put for about five minutes and lip stain can be drying.#firstworldproblem

Thankfully, YSL has addressed our desire for a shiny, moisturizing formula that stays put with the new Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain ($34, available exclusively at Sephora). This haute hybrid provides the shine of lip gloss and staying power of a stain. Sold!

And speaking of Sephora, did you know that two stores are set to open this spring? One downtown (hallelujah!) and another at Rockland. Stay tuned for sneak peeks. —Christine Laroche

Sephora, Fairview Pointe Claire, 6815 Rte Transcanadienne, Montreal, 514-630-6100, www.sephora.com

In ninth grade, all we wanted was everything vanilla from The Body Shop. Today, we’ve gone to the dark side.

Our current crush is Chocomania, the latest from the beloved beauty brand, which smells sweetly of chocolate (the fairly traded variety, natch). The highly addictive collection includes ultra-rich body butter ($18), lightweight lotion ($12) and decadent shower cream ($8).

And it couldn’t come at a better time: We’re one week away from V-day our skin feels scaly and dried out. Ready, set, slather! —Christine Laroche

The Body Shop, 1008 Ste-Catherine St. W. 514-397-0345, www.thebodyshop.com

We kicked off the year with the very best go-to-bed-early intentions, but it’s easier said than done.

Thanks to Turkish Rose and White Tea Eye Cream ($69.60) by Pangea Organics, you’d be none the wiser that we were up late for a The Bachelor marathon. Its all-natural formula delivers powerful anti-aging and antioxidants to the sensitive skin around the eyes. Plus, it is decadently rich (read: won’t smear all over your pillow) and feels so fabulous that it’s become our favourite step in the nightly routine.

Sorry Ben, we’re getting our daily rose intake from Pangea. —Christine Laroche

At Solospa, 429 Cartier St. W., Laval, 450-505-1500, www.solospamontreal.com and online at www.pangeaorganicscanada.com

Montreal’s gorgeous new beauty destination serves up serious skincare and some oh-so-pretty pick me ups.

Etiket specializes in luxury-meets-science facials, cosmeceuticals and intelligent skincare. After all, Dr. Yves Hébert, whose clinic is located directly above Etiket, is a consultant on the project. Think derm-approved brands like SkinCeuticals, Alyria, Dermalogica, Sara Happs and more, plus a talented team that knows exactly which will work wonders on our skin.

We’re also smitten with the expertly edited selection of hard-to-find yet oh-so-fabulous brands including Penhaligon’s (a Kate Moss fave), Tocca, Lucia and Jane Iredale makeup.

With the winter wreaking havoc on our complexions, we’re booking some time with the Etiket pros, stat!  —Christine Laroche

Etiket, 1832 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, 514-687-3886, www.etiket.ca

Photo credit: Carl Ruscica

Lea Michele’s Golden Globes dress left us lukewarm, but her messy-yet-chic coif more than made up for it. How did it stay put? We’re stealing a smart tip from her stylist.

Bobby pins are the gold standard for keeping updos, well, up, but they also happen to be prone to slippage. To keep Lea Michele’s messy French twist from malfunctioning, A-list hair stylist Mark Townsend sprayed the pins with Dove’s all-new Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo ($7.99) before placing them in Lea’s hair to create friction and keep them in place.

Why didn’t we think of that? —Christine Laroche

At Jean Coutu, www.jeancoutu.com and Pharmaprix, www.pharmaprix.ca

As soon as we saw this clean, sleek, all-white, space, we decided to ditch our slightly dodgy downtown mani/pedi spot.

From every Essie and O.P.I colour under the sun to services like threading and waxing (in addition to the must-have mani/pedi, natch), the très chic Runway Beauty Bar is just what we needed.

Located in the basement of Complexe Les Ailes, it will have Sephora as an upstairs neighbor as of this summer, making this mall the ultimate downtown destination for beauty-obsessed babes.

Guilty as charged. —Christine Laroche

Runway Beauty Bar, Complexe Les Ailes, 677 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-600-0464, www.runwaybeautybar.com

We don’t like to brag, but here goes nothing: We’re a mere three degrees of separation from George Clooney.

1. Actress/former professional wrestler (!) Stacy Keibler is dating George Clooney.

2. Stacy Keibler was recently spotted walking George’s rescue dog Einstein in a cute ensemble by GapFit.

3. We’re buying the same outfit (starting with the jacket, $69.95).

Voila: So close to George we can almost feel him.

—Christine Laroche

Gap, 705 St-Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-281-5033, www.gapcanada.ca

It’s the It product that went from “what the?” to “must have” in about five seconds flat.

Silky smooth Blemish or Beauty Balms (depends on who you ask) are an awesome combination of primer, tinted moisturizer blemish healer and sunscreen. Translation? Your entire skincare regimen, in one tiny tube.

Estée Lauder’s Day Wear Antioxidant Beauty Benefit Crème SPF 35 ($41) was among the first to hit Canadian beauty counters (and has an addictive cucumber scent). Plus, budget-friendly options are on the way: Garnier’s version comes out later this month and Marcelle’s is expected on shelves in early February.

Once you go BB, you never go back. —Christine Laroche

Estée Lauder at the Bay, 585 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-281-4422, www.thebay.com

Confession: We’ve never actually finished a box of tooth whitening strips. Twice a day for a week? Forget it.

While scouring for some on-sale holiday candy, we came across Crest 3D White Whitestrips ($45). Two hours to a new smile? Sounds good. And since we were also picking up some bold new lipstick shades, we figured it couldn’t hurt.

We stuck them onto our top and bottom teeth, watched two and a half episodes of Pretty Little Liars and voilà: Bright new smile to be showcased with our shocking lippie shades.

Consider us addicted. —Christine Laroche

Crest 3D White Whitestrips 2 Hour Express $45.52 at Jean Coutu, www.jeancoutu.com

Following in the footsteps of Lady Gaga and most recently Daphne Guinness, venerable 90-year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel, dubbed the “rare bird of fashion,” has created a collection of makeup with MAC. It is packed with irresistibly beautiful brights named after birds, bien sûr.

We’ll be picking up a few lipsticks ($17.50 each), including Pink Pigeon, a bright pink shade and Morange, a loudmouth orange; eyeshadow ($18) in Early Bird, a bright coral hue and intensely bright nail lacquer ($18) in Toco Toucan, an in-your-face fuchsia.

Flock to your MAC counter today for the best selection: We’re betting that these hues will be to 2012 what NARS Carthage was to 2011. —Christine Laroche

www.maccosmetics.com