We’ve stocked our closets with pieces in the It shade of the season, but when it comes to working it into our beauty routine, we need help.

To our rescue comes the Sephora + Pantone Universe 2012 Colour of the Year Capsule Collection, a limited edition collection of makeup and accessories in the beloved #17-1463 shade.

From the gorgeously creamy (and surprisingly wearable) lipstick ($22) to the nail polish set ($29 for four) and too-cool brush set ($82), every beautista is guaranteed to crush on at least one of the orange offerings. —Christine Laroche

Sephora, Carrefour Laval, 3035 Le Carrefour Blvd., Montreal, 450-688-8886, www.sephora.com

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

The wait to sink our teeth into a new episode of True Blood seemed almost eternal.  Now that we’re back in Bon Temps, Louisiana, we need a look that’s more twilight than creature of the night.

The Tarte for TRUEBLOOD Palette ($68) is chock full of matte, shimmery and smoky eyeshadow shades ranging from gorgeous to gothic as well as black aqua-gel eyeliner and a lights, camera, lashes! mascara to give your eyes an immortal glow. We also picked up the Limited-Edition LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint in a just-bitten shade of crimson to create a supernatural smile.

Now, if someone could just point us in the direction of Alexander Skarsgård, we'd be forever grateful. —Jennifer Nachshen

Fairview Pointe-Claire, 6815 Transcanada Hwy, Montreal, 514-630-6100 and www.sephora.com

We know better than to bake in the sun. But on a scale ranging from Casper to Snooki, we fall somewhere around Cate Blanchett. So when we want a “healthy glow” without the unhealthy UV rays, we turn to sunless tanners.

To take our limbs from bleachy to beachy, we spray on Sephora’s Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist ($10), spritzing closer to the skin as we build up a deeper tan. At Fairview, 6815 Trans-Canadienne Highway, Pointe-Claire, 514 630-6100, www.sephora.com/canada

Stila’s new One Step Bronze ($47) swirls bronzer, primer, illuminator and moisturizer together improve skin tone and even out the complexion with both copper and pink undertones for a natural looking tan. At Pharmaprix, www.pharmaprix.ca

Their Laguna golden-bronze face illuminator has been so popular that NARS finally created a version for the body. This limited-edition, light-reflecting bronzer won’t transfer onto clothes, so you can wear your pretty white lace dresses without worry. At Holt Renfrew, 1300 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, 514-842-5111, www.narscosmetics.com

OK, so it took a couple of practice runs to get it right, but once we mastered the Temptu air brush tan (System $265, bronzer pod, $42) we faced the world with a  beautiful, even glow, and were protected all day with a 15 SPF. At Fairview, 6815 Trans-Canadienne Highway, Pointe-Claire, 514-630-6100, www.sephora.com

—JN

Some say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. We’re partial to gold. Especially when it comes to our skin.

Our glow starts on the inside with a Signature Gold Treatment at the Dr. Hauschka spa ($270). After two hours of toxin-releasing massage therapy and the application of a facial mask made of pure gold leaf, we felt truly relaxed, radiant, and ready-to-glow. Dr. Hauschka Spa, 1444 Sherbrooke St. West, 514-286-1444, www.spadrhauschka.com

Follow up with tools from Smashbox’s The Gold List ($56), including their Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer to ready your skin and the O-Gloss in Gold Shimmer to add shine to any lipstick.

For a subtle sparkle that doesn’t scream drag queen, apply just a touch of Tarina Tarantino’s Sparklicity Pure Gold powder ($25) to your brow and cheekbones. Or brush it all over your face for an over-the-top gleam.

You know what they say. Glow hard, or glow home.

Smashbox and Tarina Tarantino available at Sephora, Fairview Pointe-Claire, 6815 Transcanada Highway, 514-630-6100, www.sephora.com

When it comes to brisk-weather beauty, we like to be prepared. Kind of like boy scouts, but with more hand lotion and lip salve.

The Korres Long-Wear Age-Repair Lip Kit ($51) includes four lustrous Cherry Oil Lip Glosses with vitamins E and C for antioxidant protection and three decadent Lip Butters that offer a sheer tint of colour with shea butter and rice wax to hydrate your parched pout. We’re putting one in every purse and pocket, so we’ll never be left wanting.

Now that’s lip service.

At Sephora, Fairview Pointe-Claire, 6815 Transcanada Hwy, Pointe-Claire, 514-630-6100, ; Promenades St-Bruno, 182 boul des Promenades, St. Bruno-de-Montarville, 450-441-3400, www.sephora.com

Artfully applied black eyeliner is every girl’s best friend, but use the wrong liner and you’ve gone from Cleopatra-chic to Taylor Momsen-shock.

Sephora’s Little Black Eyeliner Kit ($41) is a set of seven of Sephora’s black best, trial-sized so you can find the ones that work for your eyes. We loved the ease of the smooth Smashbox Limitless liner, the precision of the Hourglass Calligraphy liquid liner, and the smoky gunmetal hue of the Sephora Jumbo liner. But our hands-down fave find was the Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Eye Rim pencil, formulated to be safe on and stick to the inner rim of your eyelid, creating an all-out dramatic look.

We’re back in black.

At Sephora, Fairview Pointe-Claire, 6815 Transcanada Highway, 514-630-6100, www.sephora.com/canada

Just because we’re SPF'ing, doesn’t mean we can’t get our glow on.

For a bit of subtle sparkle, we’re spritzing all over with Sparklicity Shimmer Dust ($51). Created by designer and make-up artist Tarina Tarantino, the formula is pure, fine glitter that can be used on body or hair.  We love that it’s paraben-free and how the pale-pink bottle looks like a million bucks on our vanity.

A few sprays to the décolletage and we’re good to glow.

At Sephora, Fairview Pointe Claire, 6815 Transcanada Hwy, Pointe-Claire, 514-630-6100, www.sephora.com

We love this summer’s hottest beauty trend of brightly shaded eyes and lips, but we dare not dive in the pool, lest we end up looking more like a drowned clown than Esther Williams.

Make Up For Ever’s new Aqua Cream line of waterproof hues for eyes, cheeks and lips ($23) makes it safe to swim again. Formulated with evaporating oils to keep colour on, the 21 shades of Aqua Cream can be applied easily with a brush or a finger to last through your entire synchronized swim routine.

Or at least until you’re finished in the Jacuzzi.

Available at Sephora stores in Fairview Pointe-Claire and Carrefour Laval, www.sephora.com

We took an scent census around the office and came up with six lovely pairs of perfumes for him and her. Herewith, our staff picks.

Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor, English edition
Couples who spray together, stay together. When we’re not stealing spritzs of our man’s woody Grey Vetivert by Tom Ford ($100), he’s dipping into our bottle of Private Blend Italian Cypress (from $210). Both at Holt Renfrew.

Tara Parker Tait, Publisher
Opposites attract with Parisian cult favourite Annick Goutal's Petite  Chérie (finally, she divulges her secret scent!) for her ($110 at the Bay) and the luxe Hermès Poivre Samarcande ($250 at Hermès) for him.

Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor
For a date night, spritz  Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb ($120 at Holt Renfrew), a bouquet of sweet, fruity florals. If the boy shows up smelling of John Varvatos’ Artisan ($70 at Sephora), this relationship may have serious potentional.

Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor
French girl meets American boy: YSL’s Parisienne ($65) is a match with the masculine John Varvatos Classic ($78). Both at Sephora.

Tonya Albulet, Western Sales Manager
Lalique's Amethyst ($110), with top notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, comes in a bold purple bottle worthy of your nightstand. If your BF wears Lacoste Pour Homme Grey ($75), it's meant to be. Both at Holt Renfrew.

Elsa Vecchi, Montreal editor, French edition
A spritz for you, a dab for him. A summery scent that is fresh and classic, Vétiver by Guerlain is made for a man, but also smells lovely on a lady. $95 at Holt Renfrew.