Fakin' It.....A Flawless Complexion, That Is....

We all desire perfect skin.

And although most of us suffer from at least one, minor imperfection, we can still achieve the look of a flawless complexion.

Here's our list of irregularities

1. Large pores.
2. A few broken capillaries by the cheeks.
3. Dark, undereye circles.

We think we will stop there..ha ha.

So, how do we fix the bad skin stuff?

By FAKIN' It!

That's where primers and the trendy new BB creams come in. Think of both as a sort of beauty spackle---each designed to smooth away imperfections and give the skin an even glow and balance.

The beauty of a primer is its perfection at filling in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish BEFORE foundation application. Some women like to wear primer alone, and skip the foundation. But most primer fans love to create as smooth a complexion as they can, so that the next layer, that of foundation, glides over easily.

Try NYC Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer ($3.99, 1 oz., at drugstores).

BB cream stands for beauty balm or blemish balm. And it's big across Asia, and has been for a number of years now. Korean women, especially, will not leave home without their BB cream.

BB cream has now made its way into our American beauty market. Think of it as a tinted moisturizer with better coverage, an spf, a skin tone balancer, and a dewy glow.

Even drugstore brand Garnier quickly developed a BB cream called, Miracle Skin Perfector.

If your looking for a flawless complexion, try either a primer or BB cream, and you will be amazed at the radiance your face takes on.

Why Didn't This Beauty Product Work For Me??!!

We've tackled this topic before, and once again, the question has re-surfaced:

Why didn't this beauty product work for me?!

Take a look at the bottle of Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub That's a mouthful. We found some at Walmart for $4.47. An inexpensive price for a sizable 5 oz.. And as you know with a facial scrub, you don't need a huge amount to cleanse, so it's very economical.

On the surface, this scrub looks great, advertised to wash away, grease, grime, makeup, etc. It's made with caffeine, papaya, and lemon in a microbead formula, designed with strong scrubbing and exfoliating power. And it won't clog pores. Plus---tons of customer reviews rate the facial scrubber pretty highly.

Oh, really?

Then why do we have 3 nasty pimples forming along our chin this morning, after using the Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub for just 2 days??

Just a coincidence?

We think not. We rarely get break-outs these days. Rarely, let us repeat. We are fuming.

We found the product be glue-y in texture. The microbeads don't seem to have any scrubbing strength, and the formula does NOT wash away easily. Nor does the facial scrub keep our complexion grease-free.

So, how did we go wrong?

Sometimes, beauty products don't do what they are supposed to do for 100% of the users who use them. Period.

We have found that beauty science has come a long way, but not every formula will work for you, me, or them.

Simply, cut your losses. Toss the product out, or try to get your money refunded. And move on----There are tons of beauty products that WILL work and make you look amazing.

We have super oily skin, and maybe that's the reason the scrub didn't appear to live up to the hype. We need something a bit stronger.

As for the 3 nasty pimples, we'll survive. We're still looking for a superior facial scrub.

Ponytails High And Mighty With One Little Extra Wrap

It's not a look everyone can pull off, but if you're used to wearing a high, stick-straight ponytail, then keep it going through Fall and Winter 2012. That's the HOT trend that Jason Wu was showing off at his stunning collection.

But there's one more step to this high and mighty do---a little extra wrap for your elastic.

Stylist Odile Gilbert was busy backstage amping up the swinging ponytail. It gives more power to the classic, cheerleader do with a bit of a bad-girl edge. Her ponytails were mounted high on the models' heads with strips of latex that looked like black masking tape.

In fact, Odile tells InStyle magazine(Sept. issue) that you can use this:

"Electric tape from the hardware store works too," she says. It gives structure and sex appeal."

We prefer some 3MM leather cord ($3 per yard), instead. We found this at mjtrim.com.

"She is very strong, and she’s ready to fight," Odile Gilbert said of the Wu woman next fall.

We are all for that.

Looking For A Really Good Lipstick? Think Kat Von D

Good pigment. Long-lasting formula.

That's what a really good lipstick should be about. Hmmmm. Now, where could we possibly find all that?

Kat Von D.

Yes, Kat Von D.

The tattooed-beauty and artist has a great lipstick collection that some of you might have missed. It's called Painted Love Lipstick ($19, at fine beauty stores like Sephora).

Painted Love is a rich, full-color lipstick. It doesn't rub off easily. And it comes in 16 luscious shades. The one in the photo here is Lovecraft, a gorgeous berry beige.

In fact, Lovecraft is favored by lots of makeup artists. It's a great neutral hue that is great to wear when you don't want a bold sassy lip. It doesn't dry out your lips, either.

Read the comments at the Sephora website. Painted Love Lipstick gets 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars.

Olympic Gold Medalist Turns To Gibson Hair Guru: Good For You, Gabby!

Gabby Douglas has never looked better! The adorable 16-year-old Olympic gymnast did the smart thing and turned to celebrity stylist Ted Gibson for a new look.

The pint-sized medalist took a lot of ugly criticism for her slicked-back bun-style hair while she performed at the London Olympic games. There she was winning GOLD, and immediately, nasty remarks popped up on social media pages scolding her for her 'unkempt hairstyle.'

Could you imagine?

Well, the pretty celebrity is getting the last laugh. And famous, A-lister stylist Ted Gibson has taken her under his wing. He is now tending to young Gabby's hair. In an interview with the Daily Beast, the NYC-based hair pro said this:

"I couldn’t believe it and still can’t. You have this young girl doing amazing things, and the conversation becomes about her hair? It was ridiculous and shameful. I believe all that talk had to take a toll on her...you’ve worked so hard for something and then people tear you apart for little or nothing."

He went on to say, "It's tricky because Gabby is 16 and I don't want to do anything to make her look 25-years-old."

So far, so good.

We believe Gabby Douglas has a big career ahead of her, and since she is making the TV-circuit rounds these days, it's wonderful to have one of the best hair stylists nearby taking care of your locks.

Would You 'Buzz Your Sides' For the Edgy New Hair Trend?

Whether you're a fan or not of Miley Cyrus' new pixie cut with tough girl, shaved sides, the superstar is just riding the HOT hair trend.

We have to admit, we are very afraid of razors, clippers, or any other slicing gadget that come near to our mane. BUT...we have to say, this edgy undercut is growing on us, especially after seeing the do appear now on 47-year-old Yasmin LeBon.

Yeah, she's the sexy mom-of-three, former model of Duran Duran fame.

She just got the cropped, buzzed sides do, and we are liking it a lot! Not easy to pull off at almost 50, but boy, she wears it well.

So, ladies...Would You 'Buzz Your Sides' for the Edgy new Hair Trend?!

It's a very gutsy haircut, and we can imagine the slow growing out process, but then again, as they say..."It's just hair. It grows back.

Fall 2012 Makeup/Fashion Feature Rich, Bold Colors

Okay, ladies. If you're looking for a few clues on what's color trendy for Fall 2012, you're in the right place.

The well-respected Pantone Color Institute has launched the
Top Colors for Women's Fashion for Fall 2012:

PANTONE 19-1012 French Roast
PANTONE 15-1142 Honey Gold
PANTONE 18-2133 Pink Flambé
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango
PANTONE 18-5338 Ultramarine Green
PANTONE 14-0445 Bright Chartreuse
PANTONE 19-4056 Olympian Blue
PANTONE 17-4014 Titanium
PANTONE 16-3817 Rhapsody
PANTONE 14-1506 Rose Smoke.

If you prefer sensual jewel tones, well, then this autumn is for you!

"By playing to consumers' practical side with versatile neutrals, and boosting their confidence with bold, spirited hues, this skillfully balanced palette has something for everyone." — Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute®.

We would have to agree. We are picky when it comes to color, and just because it is a trend, doesn't mean we would follow suit. But with 10 hot shades being launched, there is indeed, something for everyone.

As far as makeup goes for Fall 2012, it's okay to go big and bold, too.

"Makeup takes center stage with jewel eye shadow tones of Purple and Deep Greens, long lashes, Ruby lips and shimmer nails." — Nicole Fischelis, Group Vice President/Fashion Director, Macy's.

What do you think? Do you like the power in color for autumn?

For more details, visit the Pantone Institute.