A Must-Have In Every Makeup Bag: Undereye Concealer

Being of Mediterranean heritage, we understand the whole dark circle thing. It's just part of our genetics. We have light olive skin, and still, wake up with dark undereyes. Frustrated, but we accept the problem.

According to Susan Van Dyke, a dermatologist from Paradise Valley, Arizona, there is a reason.

People with darker complexions, like those of Mediterranean background, tend to have more prominent dark circles underneath their eyes because they have more pigment, or melanin, in their skin. "Darker people tend to have darker circles," Dr.Van Dyke says.

But let us expand this whole beauty science one step further:

Most women have dark undereye circles. Period. And other culprits that trigger the circles are certain medications, skin under the eyes is thinner causing blood vessels to appear more noticeable, allergies such as pollen,and aging skin with loss of fat pads casts shadows, etc.

So, in other words, undereye concealer is a MUST-HAVE in every gal's makeup bag. And sure, it is difficult to get a perfect match for your unique dark circles BUT---trust us, NOT applying anything UNDER the eyes looks much worse. At least covering up those circles with a little foundation makes a world of difference.

30 Rock star Jane Krakowski can't live without this undereye helper:

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($22, at Sephora. The product is special, because it sets your undereye concealer and adds a luminous boost to the . And the Secret Brightening powder comes in 2 shades:

Color #1: for fair to medium skin tones.
Color #2: for medium to tan and darker skin tones.

Cheap Cover Girl Cheekers In Classic Pink A Great Go-To Blush

For 5 bucks or less, depending on where you live, you CAN pick up a cheap, but great blush at the drugstore.

Okay, so the small rectangle container isn't so amazing, nor is the miniscule brush included, BUT----the powder blush in Classic Pink is very nice! Look for # 110.

This shade looks almost bubblegum pink, but don't worry, there is nothing tacky or juvenile about this hue. It is a soft pink color that is buildable and looks pretty up and down the skintone range. We have a light olive complexion, and CG's Classic Pink warms up the cheeks with a healthy glow.

It's a matte pink blush. It isn't buttery soft, but it is a hard-pressed powder and sheer enough, when applied. And it lasts for several hours when you put it on.

We like to say, 'Even though it's drugstore makeup, that doesn't mean it isn't high quality. Sometimes, cheaper is just as good.' And in the case of CoverGirl Cheekers Classic Pink blush, you won't be disappointed.

Marriage May be Over But Katy Perry Launches False Lashes Line With Eyelure

It hasn't been easy for singing superstar Katy Perry to escape prying eyes on the heels of divorce from funnyman Russell Brand.

And if she's been crying, well, her tears will look even prettier, now that she's launching a false lashes line with Eyelure this February.

In just a few weeks, you will be able to walk into an Ulta beauty store nationwide and choose from 4 types of long, sexy Katy Perry faux lashes.

Hey---the Kardashian sisters aren't the only celebrities walking around with fab eye fringe.

The 27-year-old 'Teenage Dream'singer is collaborating with the Eyelure brand.

An Eyelure company press release says: "As a false lash lover herself, Katy (Perry) had a very clear idea of what she wanted to achieve and was involved in every step of the design process. We were keen to create a range of lashes that were a direct extension of her own personal style."

We think this is a great beauty project for Katy Perry to immerse her vivacious self into, as she tries to mend following the sudden breakup of her marriage. She already has created 2 successful fragrances and become a global ambassador for the ghd hair products brand.

No word yet, on how much the Katy Perry eye fringe will cost.

Critics Pan Halle Berry's Bucking The Trend Emerald Engagement Ring

Fact #1. Halle Berry has recently gotten engaged to Olivier Martinez.

Fact #2. The ring is NOT your typical diamond stunner. Instead, it's an emerald AND diamond stunner nestled in a wide gold band.

So, we ask....What's wrong with Halle Berry's engagement ring??

We think it is gorgeous AND different. And yet the critics from far and wide, continue to knock the green gemstone as if it weren't a worthy choice.

Consider this---a high grade emerald in all its vivid green beauty can rival that of a sparkling diamond.

Jewelers say that if you find an emerald that is of top color and top clarity, don't be surprised to learn, that an emerald of that caliber is more expensive per carat than a diamond of the same carat weight.

We've since found out, that in many cultures it is the emerald hue that represents love, spring, rebirth and new beginnings. And don't forget that for 4,000 years and counting, the emerald was first adored by sultans, pharaohs, kings, queens and many rulers of the world.

Look what else we found about emeralds from GreenInGold.com:

"Larger emeralds are rarer than smaller ones and very difficult to find in mines. On average, they have to remove 5 tons of dirt to find an emerald over 1 carat in gem quality. That is why a 3 carat emerald will cost more than three emeralds of 1 carat each of the same quality.

"When you work with colored stones the really important part is the COLOR more than the size. Put two emeralds together, one in 1 carat and other in 2 carats. If the smaller one has better tone and saturation than the larger one, I can guarantee, your eyes will go directly to that one. Your attention and your admiration will be focused on the smaller one."

Congratulations, Halle Berry. We'd take an emerald engagement ring in a heartbeat!

Bethenny Frankel Skinnygirl New Face/Body Line: Good Or Go Away?

You've heard the saying, 'Strike while the iron is hot.'

Well, reality star Bethenny Frankel sure knows how to do that, and then some!

The TV star has expanded her Skinnygirl brand even more, by debuting a collection of natural, raw ingredients for the face and body. Oh yeah....Skinnygirl skin care.

But, we are starting to wonder.....Is the Bethenny Frankel image and skinnygirl trademark a bit too much? Has the savvy businesswoman and mom of one, gone into the over-exposure range?

Is one more Skinnygirl product good? Or is it time to 'go away?'

Some folks are sick and tired of seeing the Kardashian family peddling their clothing, jewelry, fragrances, books, skin care products, and so on, ad nauseum. The photogenic sisters appear on magazine cover after magazine cover. And yes, you could say that Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and mom Kris have 'jumped the shark,' so to speak. But the K-sisters aren't backing down now, and they keeping going to the bank.

Let's be honest, the Skinnygirl name and concept is a brilliant one, conceived by the self-made Bethenny millionairess. And she has tons of adoring fans. So, if it's Skinnygirl faux ponytails or Skinnygirl shapewear they want, Bethenny Frankel will design and hawk it.

Her latest venture includes, the Skinnygirl Margarita Bath Kit, just $15 at your neighborhood Walmart. And it is a generous kit, including Skinnygirl shower gel, bath scrub, and body lotion, all in a wonderful sweet-smelling scent.

Now, we can all exfoliate together Skinnygirl-style, and later, put on our Skinnygirl intimates, read our Skinnygirl cookbook, and share a Skinnygirl cocktail or two.

Excuse our sarcasm. We're just having a little fun. Bethenny Frankel is a one-woman dynamo marketing machine. And she isn't about to retire the Skinnygirl brand anytime soon. We have to respect what Bethenny told Women's Wear Daily last summer:

"A $150 eye cream is ridiculous and absurd," she said. "[Promises like] 'you're going to look like Heidi Klum in two days' or 'like you had a face-lift' have always bothered me.

"I don't want people to think in three days they'll have no cellulite. That's not going to happen," she added.

The Skinnygirl Face & Body Solutions line is organized into 4 groups: lip treatments, face products, body potions and gift sets.

New Shampoo Uses Oil To Remove Oily Build-Up: Crazy?

There's a new shampoo in town that actually uses oil to remove oil.

We know, it sounds very 'loco' to us, but the folks at She Uemura surely know what they're doing in the beauty department. So, lets' take a closer look.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo ($55, at SheUemuraArtofHair-Usa.com

The aim is to cleanse and purify the scalp. This high-tech shampoo is formulated with musk rose oil, camellia oil, argan oil, jasmine oil, and black cumin oil.

So, this begs the question:

Does oil remove oil???

Apparently so. We've written previously about facial oil cleansers. And those work effectively. And Shu Uemura has also had a facial oil wash for years now, a cult fave.

Thus, as bizarre as it may appear, Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil Shampoo will get rid of the hair gunk---the nasty build-up of hair product on top of hair product. And it performs in an oil-to-foam manner.

Plus, it's gentle for all hair types.

Rachel Zoe raves about this oil shampoo in her Zoe Report. Read what she says about it here.

We know.....55 bucks for a bottle of shampoo?!

Think of it as a very smart beauty investment.

When Celebs Want Affordable Jewelry, They Shop Here

Even rich and famous celebrities like a good deal. And when it comes to great-looking, affordable jewelry, celebs won't pass it up.


We're talking about RichRocksNYC.com. Model Gisele Bundchen is rockin' a cool, gold bracelet. You can buy the same one for $40 here.

And look at the popular 'Boehmian Style Double Disc Earrings in gold-plated metal ($70). We want a pair of these. Maria Menounos and Lindsay Lohan are just 2 of the celebs who have been spied wearing these pretty 2" x 1" earrings around town.

What's the deal with RichRocks?

We love it because all the jewelry offered by the company is priced at $100 or less.

As Robin Rothfeld, founder of RichRocks believes, women don't have to spend huge amounts of money to look amazing. In the company's 'About Us page', Robin talks about blending RichRocks with fine jewelry:

"In this economy, jewelry doesn’t have to cost a lot to look great. Style is about mixing and matching, taking a risk and feeling confident, which is the vision behind RichRocks."