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Kennedy: Beauty of spring cleaning

Published April 27, 2006 at midnight

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Spring cleaning is not a chore I relish taking on, but with all the cool new beauty products passing by my desk this season, it's finally time to dig in.

Those 3- year-old Lancome Juicy tubes? Tossed. The 5-year-old Bobbi Brown eyeshadows, barely touched? Ta-ta. The purple and green mascaras I've kept around for years, thinking maybe, just maybe, I'll use them some day? Toodles.

The thing that made my throw-away fairly painless? Laura Mercier's new limited-edition Bronzing Books. There's the Gilded Book ($45), for light to medium skin tones (that would be me) and the Bronzed Book ($45) for medium to tan tones. The sleek, slim sets feature two eye shadows, two lip glosses, three illuminating colors and two bronzers. There's also a mirror for easy application. Seriously, besides my powder foundation and mascara, this is all the color I need through the end of summer. Everything else can go.

And to sweeten the pot, Mercier also has come out with a Micro Mini Brush Set ($45). Contained in a brown faux lizard case, it includes three of the makeup artist's most popular minimized brushes for cheeks, eyes and lips. Love it.

Find the Bronzing Books and brushes at Neiman Marcus and select Saks Fifth Avenues and Nordstroms.

Beauty buys

A little spring beauty cleaning is actually a good idea for everyone. If you want to makeover your makeup bag, but don't want to pay premium prices, here are six great beauty buys (all at drugstores and mass retailers) for less than $6:

1. Biore Shine Control Clay Mask. Its lemon balm and peppermint leaf leaves your skin tingly-cool and helps keep shine under control ($5.99).

2. Jergens Skin Firming Moisturizer. Hey, if there's a chance it might help smooth out icky cellulite, I'm gonna try it ($4.9 9/13.3 ounces).

3. Ban Intensely Fresh Invisible Solid. It's always a good idea to switch things up. Try sassy scents like Paradise Winds and Floral Fusion ($2.99).

4. Mod Quad from N.Y.C. Color. Three coordinated eye shadows and a crème liner, all in one cute, convenient case ($3.99).

5. John Frieda Frizz Ease Straight Answer Straightening Spray. The blow-out spray fights the frizzies ($5.99).

6. Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails Extreme Wear Shade Palette. It's pedicure season! At this price, pick several shades to fit your mood swings ($2.60).