Must Have Beauty Tool: Darn Good Pencil Sharpener

If you have a stash of eye pencils, both slim and jumbo, then you obviously must also possess a pencil sharpener. And we're not talking about the sharpener that fine-tunes your writing skills.

Every gal NEEDS a darn good pencil sharpener. And you DON'T have to spend $50 for one, even though some brands can cost that much.

We like a dual pencil sharpener----one side for your slim eye pencils, and the other for your jumbo eye pencils.

And our advice: Don't keep the same pencil sharpener around forever. Buy a new sharpener at least once a year. These sharpeners dull over time with daily use.

Not every single eye pencil you buy is going to fit into your sharpener, but you can always buy more than one type of sharpener. And just because you purchase a certain brand of sharpener, doesn't mean you have to stick with that same brand of eye pencil. We have found, that MOST eye pencils fit into MOST pencil sharpeners.

Having said all that, we have 2 excellent, inexpensive pencil sharpeners for you to try. We own both:

1. N.Y.C. Dual Pencil Sharpener($.99, at Walmart stores). A sturdy, little sharpener, this beauty tool does deliver precision. Can't beat the price!

2. Milani Duo Sharpener($3.99). This one promises to give your pencils a very sharp point. It has a plastic cover to catch the falling pencil shavings, and even comes with a little cleaning tool. We found one at Cherry Culture.

We suppose there's just so much one can say about something as simple as an eye pencil sharpener. But many of us tend to ignore the beauty tools required to help our makeup do what it's supposed to do. And we think that a darn good pencil sharpener is a must-have in every cosmetics bag.

An eye pencil sharpener makes for a cute stocking stuffer, too. Hint-Hint.

Short Cropped Hair Is Sexy, Too: See Fall/Winter Trends

Beautiful hair doesn't always mean, how long you can grow it. In fact, some of the sexiest styles for the Fall/Winter 2011-2012 trends are the short, cropped dos a number of models were showing off on the runways.

A playful, pixie cut is not easy to wear, but for the gals who can pull this neck-baring style off, it's an amazing look, one that puts your gorgeous features front and center.

Check out the photos here, courtesy of Elle.com. From the top-- a messy crop at Anna Sui, a sexy slick-back at Oscar de la Renta, and a very feminine pixie at Cacharel.

We adore all 3 short-cropped styles! There are so many ways to wear the short do. And you save on styling time, too.

Okay, not every guy is going to dig the boy cut. Actress Michelle Williams says that, men don't like her short hair. She recently told Elle UK: "I've really grown into it - I feel like myself with short hair. And it's been a really long time since I had long hair, five years.

"Of course, the only people who like it are gay men and my girlfriends.

"Straight men across the board are not into this hair."

The actress says she keeps it cropped in memory of her late husband Heath Ledger who liked her in short hair.

"I cut it for the one straight man who has ever liked short hair and I wear it in memorial of somebody who really loved it."

Good for Michelle, and here's to short cropped hair for Fall/Winter2011-2012!

Lady Gaga's Beautiful Complexion Comes From Spinach And *** !

Lady Gaga has a beautiful complexion. At least that's what many people say when they meet the 25-year-old superstar.

A reporter for Elle magazine dared ask the talented singer how she maintains such flawless skin amidst a very hectic career and lifestyle.

And in the November issue, Gaga lays it all out, crediting 'orgasms and spinach' for her smooth complexion.

Okay, Lady Gaga is either a smart-ass or sweetheart giving out a couple of important beauty tips. We don't know what to believe. This might have been a little tongue-in-cheek, but then again, Gaga seems to hold nothing back and lets the public into her private business So, we will take the award-winning songstress at her word.

So, can eating spinach really give you perfect skin?!

There could be a point to Gaga's beauty vegetable. Spinach does contain lots of 'good anti-oxidant stuff' for skin......like lots of iron for energy, and Vitamins A, B, C, E and K, all known for keeping the skin clear and encouraging collagen/elastin production.

Take a look at the chart we found about this luscious, leafy green. Plus, spinach is LOW in calories---41 in a cup.

Do we eat it raw or cooked?

We were surprised by the answer, but, believe it or not, according to WHFoods.com, "Spinach is only one of three vegetables we recommend boiling to free up acids and allow them to leach into the boiling water; this brings out a sweeter taste from the spinach. Discard the boiling water after cooking; do not drink it or use it for stock because of its acid content.".

Read more about this amazing, beauty veggie at WHFoods.

Okay, Lady Gaga, spinach IS great for a beautiful complexion, after having seen that spinach chart above. And as far as orgasms are concerned, well, there is some truth to that, too. Some experts claim that good sex delivers nice skin, because blood circulation is improved, and that means more oxygen to the complexion, giving off a healthy glow.

Need we say more?

Champagne Diet Gets You Skinny For Holidays: Ho Ho Ho!

The Champagne Diet. You CAN drink AND lose weight!

You can either call this a screwball concept, or just pop open a bottle of bubbly and see if the lbs. disappear.

No, the Champagne Diet is not routed in deep scientific theory but it is a plan that helped one young, NYC woman melt away the fat in a tasty, healthy way.

Let's take a closer look.

December 1st arrives this Thursday, and for many, December is the most sociable month of the year. The drinks will be flowing, and what better time to raise a glass of this low-calorie beverage to celebrate and get skinny.

Cara Alwill Leyba, who works for MTV, created the Champagne Diet after struggling with her own weight for a number of years. The 31-year-old writer had been on several well-know diet plans, but none of them kept the lbs. off.

"You name it, I’d done it," Cara says. "Atkins, Weight Watchers, Dukan. I’d been chubby since I was a child and hated it. I constantly felt down about my weight.".

A friend suggested to Cara to have a flute of champagne and diet sensibly, rather than eating on the run and grabbing a glass of wine.

And when you think about it, champagne is a smart choice. There are about 100 calories or less in a glass. And the alcoholic drink is an elegant selection, one that signifies class, glam, and wealth. In other words, a sip of champagne is a self-esteem booster.

Champagne also tastes great with any kind of food. Cara suggests a diet plan that ranges between 1,200 - 1,400 calories per day.

"I encourage 'glamourizing' your meals," she says. "Don’t order the fatty cheeseburger with fries and cola. Instead, get a smoked salmon bagel with a mixed greens salad and a glass of Champagne. Start putting the best into your body."

Learn more about Cara Alwill Leyba at her Champagne Diet website. She has 4,000-plus followers and a wonderfully written blog that explores dieting, weight-loss, and life in general.

Long Lasting Lip Gloss: Is There Such A Thing?

Lip gloss.

You either love it or you don't. Some women are attracted to the glassy sheen of a gloss. But others are turned off by its sticky, drying texture. And most importantly, a lip gloss' staying power is what most ladies are looking for.

So, is there really a long-lasting lip gloss??

Most beauty labels brag about theirs lasting for 6 hours or more.

Not sure about the truth in advertising, but Rimmel London claims that their Glossy 6-Hour Lip Gloss does deliver. And for $5 a tube, this gloss is worth a shot.

And now at Walgreens.com, you can try Rimmel London's Stay Glossy at this deal: Buy One and Get One 50% Off. Check it out here.

Okay, so maybe the gloss doesn't last for 6 hours, but Rimmel's Stay Glossy is light and hydrating. It's NOT drying, and it can survive a cup of coffee. You might have to re-apply again after a kiss or two, but it's a nice, glossy gloss for the price.

We found more shades available at Ulta.com, 14, including Black.

New Nutrisse Ultra Color Lightens Dark Hair To Lighter Brown In One Step

Sometimes we think that it's harder to maintain dark hair color, than to go through the lengthy peroxide process of our flaxen hair-dyeing sisters.

So, what's the big deal, you ask?

When it comes to hair coloring 101, it is very easy to darken up, rather to lighten up. But the key here, is to know how dark is dark.

If you play around with hair dyes, you will find that the coloring routine will gradually make those dark locks DARKER and DARKER, until the strands are black or almost black. Suddenly, you can not see the depth of the hair. It's all one extremely dark mass.

And that is why so many television news and entertainment anchors start out as dark brunettes and lighten up to light browns or blondes to soften the harshness that the TV lighting gives off from a head of very dark hair.

We have been told many times before, that only a professional salon can take the Goth out of your mane without damaging it in the process.

But the makers of Garnier Nutrisse would beg to differ. Their new, at-home Nutrisse Ultra Color ($7.99, at drugstores) can do the job in JUST ONE STEP!

According to Garnier Nutrisse:
Ultra Color CAN take hair up to 3 shades lighter. And do it brass-free!

There are 9 shades to choose from. We have researched around the internet and have found that a lot of dark-haired women have had very good results with Nutrisse Ultra Color in B3, Golden Brown.

Nutrisse does advise on the box, that those with very black, dyed hair should not be using Ultra Color.

We find that a bit curious. Isn't this why the ultra lightening hair color was designed?

We would assume, that if you have virgin hair that is black or darkest brown, in other words, strands that have NEVER been touched with dye, that this would work very nicely, in achieving a lighter brown head of hair for you.

However, there are lots of hair coloring women we have read about, who DID achieve the lighter brunette shade they were aiming for, right in this box of Nutrisse Ultra Color.

We have not tried this new hair color for dark hair yet, but we are on the verge of buying a box. And we are hoping one of our readers has already used Nutrisse Ultra Color and can give us an honest opinion.

To learn more about Ultra Color, click here.

Ricki, Kim K, Ciara, Nicole-- All Rockin' High PonyTail

It looks like 'Dancing with the Stars' Ricki Lake got the beauty memo: She knows that the high ponytail is still a HOT LOOK for Fall 2011. And you don't have to be one of the sexy 'It' girls to rock this sleek hairstyle. Go Ricki! Go Ricki!

Beauties like Ciara, Nicole Scherzinger, and Kim Kardashian, have been pulling their hair tightly back and hiting the red carpet with this minimalistic do, while adding hoop earrings and a smoky eye.

The striking look was popping up during the Fall runway shows at the collections of Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, and Alexander Wang, to name a few.

Let's face it. The high ponytail is a sexy, glamorous look and it's all in the simplicity. It's sleek and adds height. Plus, you don't need to invest in a lot of styling products or tools to achieve the high ponytail.


It certainly helps to have long, straight locks. The longer, the better. And if you need some, you can always go the faux hair route. Try the Pony Wrap by Ken Paves.

Here's some high ponytail advice from one of the best in the biz:
Stylist Guido Paulo created the glam high ponytail for the Marc Jacobs show. He told the U.K. Telegraph online this:

Paulo swept the hair back so tightly it looked like a laminated sheet (do this by tipping your head back so hair falls more naturally into a smooth line), secured it into a ponytail, then wrapped strands of hair around the band. Don't apply too much styling product, this look requires the barest minimum of aids.