Salma Hayek has it all: beauty, talent, charisma, an adorable toddler and a billionaire husband who owns Gucci Group. (Free Alexander McQueen and Yves Saint Laurent for life!) To the jealousy-inducing list, Salma can now add her own beauty line: Nuance Salma Hayek.

Available exclusively at CVS, Nuance Salma Hayek features pretty much everything: makeup, skincare, haircare and body products. Salma is, clearly, an underachiever.

I had the chance to have lunch with Salma a few weeks ago when CVS graciously flew me to New York for an editor event at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. (Side note: if I’m not mistaken, this was my first event mixing with real, live magazine editors in years. They usually keep the two camps separated, although the rise of online magazines–not to mentions former magazine editors who now blog or work online–has clearly blurred the lines and made we bloggers more acceptable, it seems.)

I was seated just one seat away from Salma, who’s barely five feet tall and yet radiated the energy of three women. You know how some people just have it: that certain radiant magnetism that has nothing to do with their looks or clothes but rather their actual personality? Yeah–she’s one of those.

As Salma talked about her Mexican grandmother’s vanity, indigenous beauty ingredient secrets, and towering influence over her life, I stared at Salma’s animated, mostly wrinkle-free face and thought, “How does she look so young?” Clearly Botox, right? Apparently not. Salma’s thoughts on cosmetic enhancements were so passionate that I furiously scribbled her response verbatim, stopping only when my hand cramped. To wit:

“I can frown!” she said, showing us. “I have no fillers, no Botox, nothing. I think if you do it too young–don’t think I have not been tempted! But once you stop moving it, it’s not getting a work out! I think I don’t need it because I toughed it out. There’s a lot of technology you can use to protect yourself from the sun. I think Botox can look really good, it’s amazing when tastefully done–whoo! But it’s good to hold on as long as you can because I see a lot of people 25, 26, 27 and that’s too young. All I’m saying is wait–hold on.” (And later she clarifies, “I’m not saying I’m never going to do it.”)

I had the chance to try out several Nuance products weeks earlier when the publicists sent me the line. It’s a genuinely impressive lineup of products, but to my mind there are several particular standouts:

• Nuance Salma Hayek Oxygen-Activated Foaming Facial Cleanser (which I’ve used and loved, and which several writers at the event expressed an obsession with)
• Nuance Salma Hayek My Super Secret Moisturizing Body Cream (smells delicious and features cacao and coffee)
• Nuance Salma Hayek Full Effect Ultra Volumizing Mascara (the current mascara taking up residence in my makeup bag and on my lashes daily)
• Nuance Salma Hayek Ultra Shine Lip Gloss (her husband, who hates lipstick and lip gloss, deemed it the best-tasting lip gloss ever)
• Nuance Salma Hayek Perfect Lips Quad (four shades in one, plus a mini-brush…and cool packaging!)

Since the line’s available at CVS, all the products are affordable–ranging from $7.99 – $19.99–which I find awesome. A couple editors quizzed Salma about her desire to work with CVS rather than an upscale retailer, and she explained that her philosophy is “Looking good and luxury should be a right. You shouldn’t have to pay $600 or $700 like a sucker,” she laughs, pointing to herself. She then refers to the grandmother-inspired Mexican ingredients that populate the line: “I didn’t want to do a high-end line because my most precious ingredients are not expensive. It doesn’t have to be super expensive to be super good.” I wholly agree!

So, there you have it. If you’re looking for a good budget beauty line, check out Nuance Salma Hayek next time you’re at CVS and let me know what you think.

Associate Editor Jamie Stone writes:

The Emmys are always a big to-do here in Hollywood, which is exactly why I was excited to attend the 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Women In Film Pre-Emmy party, sponsored by L’Oreal.

The party was hosted at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood and was filled to the brim with celebs from Glee (Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Ashley Fink, etc.), Entourage (Lloyd!), The Office, True Blood and the Emmy-winning Modern Family. Oh, and, of course, I can’t forget Connie Britton, Aimee Teegarden and Michael B. Jordan from my beloved Friday Night Lights, which won two Emmys the following night!

Sofia Vergara at the Entertainment Weekly Women in Film pre-Emmy party sponsored by L'Oreal Paris

Since the evening was sponsored by L’Oreal there was no shortage of lipgloss in the house, specifically at their Colour Riche Le Gloss lipgloss bar, where you could select two of your favorite shades to take home and try out – a fun night, LA style. But in addition to sponsoring the EW party, L’Oreal was also responsible for the Emmy makeup look of The Good Wife star, Julianna Margulies, who took home the Emmy Award for Best Actress in a drama series!

Julianna Margulies in Armani Prive, wearing L'Oreal Paris makeup

Julianna looked gorgeous at the Emmys, wearing L’Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Smooth Souffle on her face with The One Sweep Sculpting Blush in “Poppy” and Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara in “Carbon Black” on her eyes and Infallible Le Rouge in “Opulent Organza” on her lips. Her love-it-or-leave-it dress (what’d you all think?) was by Armani Prive.

All in all, it was an amazing, glam party – thanks to L’Oreal Paris for the invitation!

I’m waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning to travel to Montreal for the next several days. (And while I am SUPER excited to check out Montreal for only the second time in my life, I am way NOT excited to wake up at 4am for my flight.)

I was invited to check out the Daniele Henkel facility–a company that bills itself as “the leader in non-surgical health and beauty”–and experience a treatment. So mysterious! Will I return looking completely different? Sacre-bleu! (I’ll have all the details for you, I promise.) Unfortunately, Computer Jolie is still broken, so I’m going to have to use the business center at the two hotels I’m staying at.

Ah, yes…the hotels. This is what I’m really excited about!

L Hotel in Montreal - owned by Georges Marciano of Guess!

I’ve had some Rue La La credit for months (ever since they very graciously refunded me on my bed – don’t drink and late-night online shop for mattresses!) and so I decided to trade in my credit for 2 nights at a boutique hotel called Le St. Martin. Located in the heart of the city, it’s supposed to have amazing views, modern, decked-out “Euro-chic” rooms, a great restaurant, and access to Montreal’s best shopping. I’m meeting up with an old Palm Beach friend–who happens to be from Montreal originally–and she’s taking me out for drinks and dinner with her friends on my first night. No better way to see a city than with locals! My second 2 nights will be spent at the L Hotel, which is owned by Georges Marciano of Guess and has a ridiculous art collection featuring Warhols and Lichtensteins.

Le St Martin hotel in Montreal

I’m bringing my camera and Flip cam with me, so I’ll definitely have photos and videos for you once I get my new computer next week (whoo-hoo!) but in the meantime, I’ll try to blog from the business center or off my Blackberry. Have a great weekend!

Bouncy Redken blowouts at the Versace show in Milan

Did you know it’s still fashion week in half the world? After New York wraps up, the fashionistas have London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, blah, blah, blah. (But LA Fashion Week is not that exciting, let me tell you.)

You can always count on those Italians for sexy glamour, however, and today’s Versace show in Milan did not disappoint. I just got an e-blast with the above Versace hair, done by Redken Creative Consultant Guido–No last name. Just Guido–and it’s the kind of hair I want to write poems and sing songs about. So bouncy! So shiny! Such volume and life!

Versace spring 2012 fashion show in Milan

Guido apparently used Redken Aerate 08 Bodifiying Creme Mousse. Here’s the breakdown on how to recreate yourself at home:

Create the Look :

Note: All models’ hair length was past the shoulders for this look.
-         Apply aerate 08 all-over bodifying cream mousse to damp hair to create body and a lot of volume.
-         Blow-dry using a large round brush and set hair in pin curls.
-         Release pin curls and shake out hair for a full-bodied look with a slight curl at the ends.

While I was in New Jersey, my cousin Yasmine let me know some sad news: her youngest daughter has a congenital heart defect and will be requiring surgery soon. Yasmine has been involved with the CHDCoalition.org for a couple of years now and she asked me if I’d post a link to their upcoming CHD Coalition Awareness Walk in New Jersey on October 16th. Of course, I said yes and let her know I’d be happy to help however possible!

I wasn’t aware before Yaz told me, but I now know that Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect in America, and 1 out of every 100 babies in the US are born every year with a Congenital Heart Defect.

If you’re interested in donating (every little bit helps, even just a dollar or two!) my cousin’s team name is Infinity. xoxo!