Katy Perry Loves Looking Pretty With These Favorite Beauty Products

California Gurl Katy Perry couldn't be having a better year. She just got married in India to Russell Brand, she's on the November cover of Harper's Bazaar, and her music keeps climbing the charts.

We all adore Katy Perry because she likes to have fun, dress girlie-girlie, and not take herself too seriously.

Plus, more importantly, she likes to fool around with makeup. And the raven-haired singer recently told People magazine about a few favorite beauty products she always keeps stashed in her makeup bag:

1. DiorShow Waterproof Mascara in Azure Blue ($24, at beauty stores like Sephora). "I carry blue mascara around with me, and I'll sort of Tammy Faye up my eyes," she tells People. And the singer has piercing blue eyes.

2. African Red Tea Exfoliating Lip Salvation ($15, at olehenriksen.com). "I use lip scrub every night, so when I wake up, my lips don't feel like they've been on a desert island." Smart girl, because our lips need extra TLC. Lips are thinner in skin structure, very sensitive, and lack protective oil glands.

3. Design Nails on the Go...in Metallic Nails: Maneater ($5, at dashingdiva.com). "I keep a pack in my purse at all times. They take less than 5 minutes to put on." And we thought it was a pro mani all the time. You just stick these on and go!

At 26, Katy Perry looks sophisticated and girl-next-door on the November Harper's Bazaar cover. Inside the pages, she's modeling some black leather pieces.

And right now, Katy Perry is proud she has curves, but didn't always feel that way:

"I'll tell you about my boobs and fashion," she says. "It can be hard to wear those looks"—like the ones shown here—"because they're best on people who have no curves or thighs. I don't have a Kate Moss body, but I'm very proud and happy with mine." And yet, at 13, she longed for a breast reduction. "I had really bad back problems and was a little bit thicker. Then I grew up and lost the baby fat and said, 'Hey, this isn't all that bad.'"

Way to go, Katy.

Celebrities Wearing Sophisticated Buns, Updos, Top Knots

Buns are so in! And we're not talking about your behind, at the moment.

Updos, top knots, ballerina buns, you name it.....If you have it styled sleek away from you face and piled high, all the more better for Fall 2010

Okay, so we aren't crazy about buns, but who are we?! Apparently, lots of glam celebrities are really defying gravity these days. And trust us--these lovely ladies aren't making their own updos. They are so lucky they have personal hairstylists at their beckon call.

The super 'kute' Kardashian sisters are rocking the bun trend all over the red carpet these days. Kim and Kourtney love the sophisticated elegance of the grown-up do.

And check out blonde beauty Sienna Miller with her extravagant pouffy updo top knot.

Maybe you can make your own beautiful bun. We're all thumbs. But we do know, there's at least one beauty product essential for rockin' a good bun, updo, top knot. And that is a super can of firm hold hairspray. It keeps every hair in place and helps your hair defy gravity. You can also spritz some on your dry mane before making your updo style. That way you add a bit more volume and texture.

Try Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray ($26 a can, Aveda.com. We like this stuff because it really holds, even against humidity, and smells pretty, too.

Retinoids And AHAs/BHAs Make Nice Skin.... But Not At Same Time

Retinoids and AHA/BHAs equal nice skin.

But how you use beauty products that feature strong ingredients like Retin-A or retinol in conjunction with AHAs like glycolic acid or BHAs like salicylic acid, makes a huge difference.

For instance, most dermatologists would agree that regular use of Retin-A at night and AHA/glycolic during the day is perfect for skin rejuvenation.

However, combining a retinoid with an AHA or BHA at the same time, is a no-no, because the effectiveness for both ingredients gets greatly diminished.

And always remember this:

AHAs/BHAs in the A.M., and Retinoids in the P.M. Plus, plenty of sunscreen as you head out the door, every day.

By the way, always apply retinoids at night because the sun can also make the retinoid less effective.

We have learned that using Retin-A at night, which is a Vitamin A-derivative, and a glycolic acid cream in the morning, can still be quite irritating to skin. So, at least one day a week, we let our skin rest, and apply nothing at night or morning.

We all seem to be so impatient for healthy, clear, youthful skin. Most of us are anxious to rub in this or that on our faces and necks, and sometimes, these beauty products are strong and harsh. Break-outs can occur. Redness, rashes, swelling. We have experienced it all.

And be especially sensitive to the eye area. Both retinoids and AHAs/BHAs can be brutal to the delicate skin surrounding the eyes and under the eyes. Do not apply too much product. Less is better, trust us.

Need Some Beauty Attention: Try 'Girl Meets Pearl' Illuminator

The girls at Benefit Cosmetics always have their fingers on the beauty pulse, and one of their newest hot products is 'Girl Meets Pearl' Illuminator ($30, at beauty stores like Sephora). A lot of women love it. Girl Meets Pearl received 4 1/2 stars out of 5 at Sephora

Let's put it this way......Do you need some beauty attention? Do you wish you could brighten your complexion? Highlight all your sexy parts? Light up a room?

Well, try this little number by Benefit. And get your glow on!!

Girl Meets Pearl is basically a warm, subtle liquid highlighter of golden pink luminosity. Just dab a little where you want to light up---face, brow bone, cheek bones, along the nape of the neck.

Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Gisele Bundchen,Shakira, and Kim Kardashian are just four beauties who love to put on highlighter, and wear it so well.

An added 'benefit' to Benefit's 'Girl Meets Pearl' Illuminator is the luscious scent it leaves behind. So yummy in raspberry and chamomille. And ingredients like sweet almond seed firms up and smooths skin, while sesame seed oil moisturizes nicely. It feesl so silky going on.

An illuminator like this one, provides just the right amount of light-reflecting pigments. Yeah, it's radiance in a tube.

You can watch a YouTube demo of Girl Meets Pearl by theskinnyxo here

Smoky Eyes Of Martina McBride Take Beauty Edge At 2010 CMA's

Spectacular blue eyes! You would think that maybe blue-colored contact lenses are key to singer Martina McBride's unforgettable eyes, but according to her fan website, not so:

"Those are Martina's very own blue eyes. She does wear contacts, but they're clear."

Last night at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards show in Nashville, Martina McBride's eyes were more memorable than the sparkling cocktail dress she wore. Here are a few reasons why her eyes give her the beauty edge:

1. Wide-set eyes. Martina's eyes are large and far apart, and yet, nicely give balance to her facial features.

2. Incredible smoky eye makeup with lots of mascara, and a soft, nude lip bring attention to them. We've read that Mary Beth Felts of Nashville does Martina's makeup. Well, Mary Beth gets an A+ in our humble opinion.

3. Blue eyes and brunette hair make a wonderful complimentary combination.

4. Good brows with a high arch also frame the eyes.

If you're blessed with such striking blue eyes, we suggest doing a Martina smoky eye using colors in the charcoal or silver shades.

How To Look Glam And Polished With High Ponytail Trend

Louis Vuitton has unveiled a new ad campaign featuring the gorgeous trio of Christy Turlington, Natalia Vordinova and Karen Elson, for Fall/Winter 2010-11.

The glam models were photographed by Steven Meisel in a New York studio, which was made to look like a Hollywood star’s old-fashioned dressing room.

The pics are so beautiful, we almost........We said 'almost,' don't even care about the luxurious Louis Vuitton new handbags! Okay, we're just kidding.

What we adore is the entire elegance and sophistication of the vintage look. The models are dressed in Marc Jacobs with feminine, corseted waists and full skirts. And those high ponytails rock! That's the hot button hairstyle we're talking about. It's the ’50s-style high ponytails right from the Louis Vuitton runway.

So, how do you look glam and polished with the high ponytail trend?!

It's easy. First, you need to pick up some Bumble & Bumble Tonic Lotion leave-in conditioner ($18, at Bumbleandbumble.com). This stuff is a celebrity favorite and it's easy to use.

Just spritz some B&B on damp hair. Then blow-dry with a flat brush. Gather hair at the nape of your neck or the crown, and secure with an elastic band.

It's a very classic and elegant look!

How To Banish Blemishes Overnight With Effective Zit Zappers

A clear complexion. Who doesn't desire smooth, beautiful skin

Nothing ruins your day like a pimple. Blemish. Zit.

Let's face it-----beauty products improve every year. Twenty years ago, you didn't have too many options when it came to blemish creams. Now you take a stroll down the drugstore aisle, and you see product after product on how to zap zits overnight.

We did some hunting and came up with 4 effective zit zappers:

1. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17). This stuff has been around for a long time because it works! Celebrities love it and we can see why. The lotion is formulated with calamine and salicylic acid to dry up blemishes, especially pesky whiteheads. You can pick some up at mariobadescu.com.

2. Clearasil Ultra Overnight Face Lotion ($8.50, drugstores). This product does exactly that---it works while you sleep. This is a fast-absorbing blemish buster. It, too, includes the effective salicylic acid ingredients to reduce redness and pimple size by the time you awaken. Goes on smoothly, but doesn't dry

3. Renee Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment ($38.50, at reneerouleau.com). When you have those hard, sore, boulder blemishes, then you need to take out the big guns. And here is one of them. The Renee Rouleau gel serum is formulated with lactic acid and ethyl lactate to attack where pimples grow deeply. It dissolves and gets rid of the bacteria and infection ASAP. Safe for sensitive skin.

4. Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment ($10, drugstores). This also contains salicylic acid and willow bark extract — This extract contains natural beta hydroxy acids, which work as "natural skin exfoliants to help unplug follicles and pores".. Erases the redness and helps prevent future break-outs.