Elisabeth Moss Goes 'Mad' For New Cropped Blonde Do

We do love her black, sexy Dolce & Gabbana dress.

The hair....well, give us a little more time.

'Mad Men' actress Elisabeth Moss has undergone a major beauty makeover. The cute star has traded in her dark auburn brown locks for a sassy, very blonde cropped cut. She showed off the new look last evening at the New York City premiere of 'For A Good Time, Call…'.

Professional stylists say that as long as light hair matches skin tone beautifully, then it's all good. But we're not sure this flaxen do is doing just that. Maybe it's the lighting, but the petite star appears somewhat washed-out by the bold, ultra-blonde shade.

The maintenance won't be that bad, because Elisabeth chose a very short haircut, so peroxide damage and dried-out tresses won't be a big problem for 'Peg Olson' of the popular television drama.

So, is this unflattering on Elisabeth, or quite chic?

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.

Candy-Colored Hair Hot For Fall 2012: Will You Dare To Go Bold?

Model Charlotte Free, who is also the new Maybelline NY face, is a big star with hers. And other huge celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and of course, Lady Gaga, are all known for mixing it up, too.

We're talking about candy-colored hair. And if it's something you've been 'dyeing' to do, now is the time. Candy-colored hair is HOT for Fall 2012!

It's FUN and FREE, and not too hard to get yours on, if you follow a few beauty dyeing rules.

Aura Friedman, colorist-to-the-stars, tells Teen Vogue magazine(Sept. issue) that shades-- cool violet and burgundy will be BIG this autumn. She has these tips for you when you're ready to go for the bold:

1. It's all about the placement and intensity of the color.

2. Be subtle and shift the tone throughout the length of the hair.

3. If you're using a superbold navy, for ex., keep it dark navy at roots, and bring it down to light turquoise on ends.

4. Variation looks more natural instead of wiggy, Aura says.

Pick up some Manic Panic Semi Permanent Hair Color Cream ($7.83, at Amazon. This is how model Charlotte has been staying pretty in pink:

Manic Panic mixture of Hot Hot Pink and Cotton Candy. Her hairdresser keeps her locks looking like that, but with a lighter, more professional touch.

If you're too chicken for the color to sit on your hair, you could always try clip-in pieces, and change shades like you would a pair of shoes.

Over age 35, well, we're not sure you should go there. But, we did see Joan Rivers of E!'s Fashion Police sporting some bright pink clip-ins about a month ago. er...we were slightly mortified...LOL.

Dark Spots Got You Freakin' Out? Do Fade Creams Really Work?

Summertime seems to bring out those annoying dark spots and patches in all of us.

Some women find that their armpit skin is darker than the rest of their body. Or how about the knees (our newly discovered dark spot), chest, hands, face, and so on.

Can we actually fix this common beauty problem?

Yes, says Jeanine Downie, a New Jersey dermatologist. She tells Cosmopolitan magazine that it's the friction that eventually leads to inflammation, which in turn, causes brown or grayish patches under the pits or on the knees, or elbows.

Just simple, daily things like "shaving and rubbing against rough fabrics (like winter wools) create friction," suggests Dr. Downie.

Your best beauty solution?

Oh, yes. The fade creams. That's where the much-talked-about hydroquinone ingredient always comes up in conversation.

Cosmo mag lists Ambi Fade Cream as a good one. Plus, it's easily found at your neighborhood drugstore at a very cheap price ($5.59, at drugstore.com).

The 'magic' ingredient in Ambi Skincare Fade Cream is the 2% hydroquinone. This chemical helps to speed up skin lightening. But the stuff can also be highly irritating to skin, so you must always proceed cautiously when using hydroquinone. And there are some fears about the possible development of cancer after very prolonged usage.

However, hydroquinone is also found in prescription-based fade creams which are given the thumbs up by most derms. So, most professional skin care experts would argue that the chemical is SAFE and effective in lifting dark skin.

With Ambi's fade cream, you get a choice. The company offers 2 types of fade cream: One for normal skin, and the other, for oily skin. Gotta love that!

To learn more about Ambi Fade Cream, click here.

Neutral Lover Bobbi Brown Presents: Turquoise

Okay, even we were fooled!

When one thinks of highly-regarded makeup artist Bobbi Brown, one sees beautiful neutral palettes in a sea of cosmetics harmony. Nothing too loud or wild.

Until now!

The no-nonsense celebrity makeup artist has recently launched a bright, bold nail polish in turquoise. We had to look twice, to make sure the name on the bottle did indeed say, Bobbi Brown.

And since we adore the sultry shade of turquoise, especially during those very hot, steamy summer days, we think this is a great choice for a very noticable mani/pedi.

It's all part of Bobbi Brown's Desert Twilight Collection ($18, a bottle, now at Sephora).

Would you wear this lovely flat, vibrant turquoise?

We would!

Bobbi's beauty tip: "Keep nails short and square with saturated colors like these."

She's also offering a rich, black chocolate plum shimmer, called 'Twilight Night.'.

Splurge-Worthy Facial Scrub For Perfectly Smooth Skin

$27 for an effective, facial scrub?!

Are you crazy!?

Well, we're just sayin'.....If you have a few extra bucks you're willing to spend for the sake of beauty, then why not try a really excellent face polisher.

This one is from the folks at Origins--Origins Never a Dull Moment Skin-Brightening Face Polisher at Macy's.

It's packed with good exfoliants including fruit extracts-like Papaya with ground apricot and mango seeds. The thick orange paste turns creamy and white when rubbed onto wet skin.

When you rinse the polisher/scrub away, you're left with radiant, smooth, baby-soft skin. And during these gritty, steamy summer days, we could all use a little extra strong exfoliation.

Avoid Makeup Melt: Finishing Spray To Keep Face In Place

We don't care how NON-Oily your complexion is, makeup can still melt on hot summer days. That means, you need to add one more step to your daily cosmetics routine.

It's known as a makeup finishing spray or makeup sealer, and the Skindinavia beauty company makes a great one. Maybe that's why Britney Spears, Madonna and Lady Gaga are all fans and use it BEFORE they go on stage:

Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray ($29, at Skindinavia.com).

Spritz on some of this AFTER you've applied your makeup---foundation, blush, bronzer or eyeshadow, and watch your makeup sit still! Especially on hot, humid, brutal days like we've all been experiencing across the U.S. and beyond.

And it's easy to use...For best results: Apply just before mascara. Spray 2-4 times in an “X” and “T” formation.

And this formula is supposed to allow makeup to sit pretty for up to 16 hours!

Take a look at Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray on YouTube. They do a steam stress test to prove it works well.

Even Hair Extensions Problems Can Happen To Stunning Supermodels

We LOVE Naomi Campbell! A super model with a stunning face and figure! And still, keeping it together at age 42.

The model was snapped enjoying her vacation-at-sea in Ibiza a few days ago. The British papers are having a field day showing off Naomi's balding tresses.

We are showing the photos to detail what can happen when one wears hair extensions and weaves for years. What appears to be occurring here, is called traction alopecia.

Naomi Campbell is still quite beautiful, but the damage done to her hair follicles is incredible.

How does traction alopecia occur?

When hair extensions pull on natural hair strands they can break, and usually the problem happens right above the forehead or at the sides, where hair is much weaker.

Thinning hair and bald spots can happen even from wearing a tight pony tail, high heat styling tools, and so on. We lost some hair last winter when we were using a small round brush on the left side of our hair in front.

What a nightmare!! We got the strands tangled severely, and couldn't remove the brush very easily. When we finally removed the round brush, we had ripped out about a quarter inch of hair strands. It wasn't noticable to everyone, but a new hairdresser caught it. We were embarrassed.

The moral of the hair story here:

Be very careful with extensions, weaves, styling tools, pony tails, etc. Everything in moderation! We're still waiting for the hair to fully grow back in (sigh).

Exuviance Launches No Injections Filler Cream To Zap Wrinkles

We all know that a topical treatment cannot replace injections to blast away wrinkles and fine lines...BUT, a few of these formulas CAN do a great temporary job.

One of these is a brand new beauty product--Exuviance Targeted Filler T5 ($75, at beauty stores like ULTA, and at NeoStrata).

We adore the folks at NeoStrata, who developed the popular Exuviance skin care line. And this cream filler is a quick, effective way to 'fill in' the look of deep lines/wrinkles.

A topical treatment is probably no match against Botox or fillers like Juvederm and Restylane, but it's a lot less cheaper, doesn't hurt, and can deliver results instantly!

Exuviance Targeted Filler T5 comes packed with a triple boost comboof CitraFill, NeoGlucosamine, and Matrixyl Peptides to encourage collagen production.

The creamy formula comes in a cool, syringe-type applicator with a high-precision soft tip pen. It's simple to use. Just zero in on the areas you want to plump up---forehead creases, crow's feet, naso-labial folds, etc. Apply the Exuviance rich cream directly to these lines, and massage in.

You WILL like what you see. We've been sampling the Targeted Filler T5 for more than a week now, and it's a wonderful beauty product. The filler action keeps your wrinkles plumped up for a few hours. This is a great instant fix for your own 'red carpet nights,' when you need more than a good moisturizer sitting on your skin.

In clinical trials, users reported significant, visible results in just 8 weeks.

Check out this FREE sample of Exuviance Targeted Filler T5 at ULTA.

Design Glassware by Mont Bleu: Crystal Nail Files For Best Manicure

If you file your nails with a simple emery board, you're really doing a disservice to your manicure. Believe it or not, the thin strip of cardboard sprinkled with powdered emery can snag, peel, or even break your nails.

We have found that glass nail files are the BEST quality accessory for shaping and smoothing a perfect, healthy set of nails. Plus, these files are elegant to carry around and last just about forever.

Our favorites are the crystal nail files from design-glassware.com.

Not only are these glass nail files pretty to look at with Swarovski crystals adorning them or brightly colored hues of orange, blue, red, etc., the quality of the glass is superior. That's the difference.

Design Glassware by Mont Bleu is a global leader in the crystal nail files business. It's all about the glass, and each one is made with superb-quality Czech glass. When you start your manicure, you will see the beauty in the smooth straight line you can achieve. An emery board can shred your nails by filing back and forth. Who desires a jagged edge of nails?

Another interesting fact to think about is the value of owning crystal nail files. These beauty accessories are friendly to the environment. In other words, these files are a worthy investment, because they do not wear out or have to be thrown away. Glass nail files are hygenic, washable, re-usable, and never become dull. Mont Bleu is proud of their life-long guarantee attached to each file.

Glass nail files by design-glassware.com come in a variety of stylish designs, including hand-painted files, a zodiac collection, an awesome 3-D stickers line, even some with silver figurines. We adore the Nefertity Glass Nail File--fit for the beautiful goddess in you. This figurine is made of bronze and covered with gold. There are also mini crystal nail files great for traveling or keeping in your makeup bag at all times.

Every woman needs a reliable nail file in their beauty accessories collection, and crystal glass is the only way to live on the 'smooth edge.'

Looking For All Natural Skin Care? Pick Up Some Sprout

If you've been hunting for some serious skin care products that can get the job done without irritating your complexion, and don't contain ingredients you can't even pronounce, then consider the Sprout line. Sprout is a small Brooklyn-based company.

This skin care company makes up its collection of cleansers, scrubs, exfoliants, lip balms, etc., in small, fresh batches. And it's all-natural, packaged in simple, clean glass containers.

For instance, let's take a closer look at Sprout's Cleanser ($24, at Sprout.com). The formula is very kind to your pores:

..."It’s gentle, non-drying, and contains no alcohol. Plus it smells awesome. We start with a traditional organic rosewater-and-glycerin base and add a tiny bit of organic tea tree oil. No soap, no alcohol, no para-sulfate-whatchamacallits."

Gwyneth Paltrow's a big fan of the all-natural Sprout line.

If you want to balance your complexion with some seriously sincere skin care products, then check out Sprout.

Great Lash Introduces Teal, Purple, Blue, Green Mascaras!

You better hurry up and grab yours now!

Maybelline is running a summer promotion just for the month of August. It's a limited edition of Great Lash, launching 4 new colored mascaras ($6, at drugstores)----Totally Teal. Pop of Purple. Blink of Blue. Go Go Gree.

Will you catch the trend, ladies?

If you're over 40, well, maybe this isn't something for you, but----the amazing colors are quite tempting. And if you're shy about wearing anything but black or brown, maybe for a night out, a glam pop of color might make it a bit sexier.

We once wore navy blue mascara, and against dark brown eyes, wow---it's really gorgeous! As long as you keep a subtle lip along with it, we think you'll be just fine.

Stella McCartney and Dior were showing off the colored mascara trend during February Fashion week. Check out the photo. Stella made a great choice for the models. We think she looks beautiful, and she's got cobalt mascara on. It looks purple, but, stunning, nonetheless.

Would you wear this beauty trend?

Look College Chic With Back-To-Class Blazers

Shrunken, chic, and sleek.

That's the blazer look for Fall 2012. It's so college chic!

And the GAP and J. Crew are pushing the blazer in their fall ad campaigns, emphasizing a great classic and wardrobe staple.

Gotta love the shrunken fit. It's a bit edgy and hugs your curves, and the tailoring is quite flattering on every body type.

Every gal needs a few blazers to dress up or stay casual. And the GAP has been showing off Piped and Military blazers. Check out photos 1 & 2. How cute are these?!!

The GAP Blazers ($88) come in poly spandex in double-knit ponte fabric. Colors include: Fuchsia Shock. Dark Heather Gray. Black. Navy.

Then we've got J. Crew with a cool collection of collegiate blazers. See photos 3 & 4. Love the Schoolboy Blazer at $198 in wool with stretch. These sophisticated blazers come with a shrunken glam, goldcrested buttons and lapel collar.

If you're heading back-to-class, or just heading out somewhere this fall, invest in some college chic, and the blazer is the way to go!

Affordable Easy G: Will You Be Drawn To Giuliana's New Clothing Line?

E! hostess Giuliana Rancic is having an incredible time these days. She and husband Bill are anxiously awaiting the birth of their baby via surrogate. The blue bundle-of-joy is due at the end of August.

Meantime, the Fashion police star is busy at the Olympic games in London. There she is in the bottom photo holding her black leather Chanel bag close to her side. The 37-year-old breast cancer survivor is also excited to launch her signature clothing line with HSN in late September.

She spoke with the joeyparkermovement about her Affordable, Easy Collection:

"The main reason I wanted to create a clothing line is because I wanted women across the country of all shapes and sizes to be able to purchase fun, trendy and wearable clothes every day! By working with HSN on “G by Giuliana Rancic,” I am able to connect with my fans and tell them my story. I love that they can call in and ask me questions!

"It’s an extension of the entertainment industry that I am already in, which I love! I also feel that price is very important. I want to be able to reach as many fans as possible with great, affordable pieces. The price range of my collection is $29-$129, which I am very happy about.As far as fashion icons go, I look to both the past and present for inspiration. I love Sophia Loren’s sexy, bombshell style and I also love Jackie O’s traditional and chic style. My collection has a little bit of both in a modern way."

Giuliana says she doesn't want her fans to 'break the bank,' when it comes to looking stylish. Here's a clip of G talking about her new line G on YouTube.

Check out the cute G by Giuliana faux leather & ponte cascade jacket in Luggage & Black, $129.90, HSN and HSN.com. And how about these--G by Giuliana skinny jean in cobalt, $69.90, HSN and HSN.com.