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.'.