It's Prime Time!

You prime a house before you paint it—after all, you don't want those rough spots peekin' through—so why not prime your skin before you coat it in makeup? Pretty soon, you can: bareVitamins Prime Time—a new lightweight, waterless foundation primer from Bare Escentuals that smooths on invisibly before foundation—is gracing Sephora's beauty-full shelves very soon. (Don't fret; you can buy it online for now.) Prime Time transforms your skin into a smooth, silky canvas, so those flaky patches, wrinkles and fine lines à Granny can't play peek-a-boo through your makeup. And for those of us who are nervous about irritating our sensitive skin? No fears: This wonder primer is allergy-tested and fragrance, oil and preservative-free.

Brows on Ice

A little wow for your brow: Apparently the secret to perfectly-penciled eyebrows lies in your frosty refrigerator. According to ALLURE, chilling soupy-soft eye pencils in the fridge for a half-hour or so will revive them, making them easier to sharpen. (So, move over, butter stick.) But the next order of brow business? Using a quality sharpener. "Sue Devitt has the finest blade I've found," ALLURE's editor says. After all, how many sharpeners can boast a double-edged blade and a hinged lid, right?

Balmshell Lip Glosses

Imagine those pens you can buy at souvenir stands—you know, with the little floating cartoons that move as you tilt it—but prettier. A brand called Balmshell makes possibly the cutest accessory on the planet: lip gloss wands with images that slide back and forth, and creative, catchy names to match. "Today's The Day" slides a little cartoon from her engagement toast to her wedding day ... "Weekend In The Hamptons" slides two gals from the city to the beach ... "Sleep-In Beauty" slides the scenery from night to day as the little snoozin' diva snores on ... and there are 12 others to choose from. Adorable!

Blister Free the Way to Be

You paint your toes the perfect pink and strap them into overpriced-but-gorgeous stilletos—only to find yourself hobbling home with horrendous blisters later. (Sure, the cabbie winces about driving "only two blocks," but he doesn't know what it's like to wear heels.) But, finally, an end to our pedicured peril: BAND-AID just unveiled a new blister remedy, Activ-Flex Blister Block Stick, which you roll onto your feet before you get any blisters. Just roll on some blister block, forgive the skyscraper heels you once shunned, and hit the ground strutting.

The J. Sisters' Mother's Day Spa Event

Pamper mom and fund a good cause: The J. Sisters—the 7 Brazilian-born sisters who brought the Brazilian wax to the US in the late 80's—are hosting a Mother's Day event at their W. 57th St. salon on May 7, all to raise money for children suffering from bone and joint diseases. As you and Mom revel in luxurious manicures, pedicures, wax services, oxygen facial treatments and the like, the proceeds of your fabulous day will fund a new inpatient pediatric unit at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, a non-profit hospital with an international reputation for world-class patient care, research and educational programs. This isn't one of those "a few dollars" goes to the cause things, either; 100% of the proceeds and tips from the day go directly to the hospital. So call Mommy Dearest up to pick a good time for your spa treatments—the fundraiser runs 9-5:30 PM on May 7—and book your appointments this week to reserve a spot.

Beauty Bling

We've all shed tears over destroyed jewelry—that strand of pearls that unraveled, the diamond ring that crunched away in the sink disposal—but, in the beauty world, mutilated jewels are trendy as of late. Beauty companies are pulverizing, distilling and blending pricey gems, using them as ingredients in ritzy beauty products, says The New York Times. Lately, products like gold-flecked Perfect Cream for Body from Carita and La Mer's Diamond Powder Refining Facial are sparkling up beauty counters, as is Juicy Couture Dusting Powder, a shimmering powder made with crushed pearls and diamonds. "For most people, bathing in diamonds and gold is as likely an occurrence as washing the car with truffles," The NYT said. "And yet it now appears that the endless search for smoother and younger-looking skin and the tireless acquisition of conspicuous signs of wealth have collided at the cosmetics counter. The result is an array of topical products almost too precious to be anywhere near a sink drain." Revised motto: Diamond creams and powders are a girl's best friend.

ReMOMder: Mother's Day Is May 13

And speaking of Mom, what about her gift?! Sure, you have a million perfect ideas from the catalog—fabulous creams, powders and perfumes she'll go bananas for—but the issue now is how to get it. (Work, kids and deadlines don't pause for Mother's Day shopping, after all.) Luckily, the process just got easier: From now through Wednesday, May 2, you get absolutely free shipping on any orders of $50 or more on Sephora.com, plus the usual free gift-wrapping, of course. Just pick your gift, enter MDAY in the promo-code at checkout and rest easy knowing things are taken care of. As usual, Mom will be so proud.

Backstage Beauty: Feather Lashes

Want long, bird-like lashes with dramatic flutter? Meet your new best friend: Make Up For Ever Eyelashes Ref 25116. Our makeup artist, Jorge Serio, used them on our shoot Friday, creating a creative, incredibly eye-popping look. Again, probably not one for the office—the model insisted blinking was an endeavor with these babies—but if you just want to look Moulin Rouge-esque for a night out: 1. Cut the feathery lashes into small pieces, about 1-2 inches wide. 2. Use a tweezer to dip each piece, one by one, into the included eyelash glue. 3. Next, press each lash as close to the baseline of your real lashes as possible, pressing for a few seconds until the glue starts to dry. “Really fill in the top, outer lash area to make eyes pop,” Jorge says. 4. After each lash is in place and the glue has had a minute or two to dry, trace your eyes gently with Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Black Mat 0L—to disguise the glue spots—and follow gently with Make Up For Ever Lengthening Mascara in Black 1 to blend your real and faux lashes. 5. Bat those beauties around!

African Queen

The New York Times Style Magazine just created a fashion slide-show called African Queen, which shows a regal, powerful African influence that commanded the runway this season. (Lower left-hand corner, "Afrocentric.") The tweed coats, vintage beaded belts and silk caftans aren't what caught my eye though—it was the brilliant use of dark eye makeup under the eye. If only our eyes could get this stunning effect when our mascara runs, huh?

amazing stencil courtesy of mangapnk.com.

Happy Sweet 16, Fresh!

They grow up so fast. Sniff. Fresh—the brand behind those adorable wrapped soaps and now a million other products—celebrated its 16th birthday last night, with a big "Sweet 16" party in its Soho store on Prince Street. After a brief film tribute, founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg (pictured left) moved the crowd with a toast, nostalgically expressing the work, patience and love it took to transform their small Boston startup into what's now an international success story. Champagne glasses clinked, lobster rolls and baked figs circled the room and guests ooh-ed and aah-ed over a time-line wall of products—all in honor of Fresh's remarklable growth over the years. So, as Lev put it himself, here's to the next 16!

Fresh-Faced Fearlessness

Call it shallow, high maintenance, whatever—but as a fair-skinned redhead, mascara is my non-negotiable. I once went to the gas station near my cabin without it, and I swear I got disapproving looks from the toothless men by the slushy machine. So the fact that these high-profile women bared entirely makeup-less skin for PEOPLE magazine, and millions of critical readers? I'm floored, and more importantly, impressed. Hey, if you got it, flaunt it ... just cleanse, tone and moisturize it too.

Save the best for Lash

Japanese makeup artist Shu Uemura is to Japan what Coco Chanel is to France. It's no surprise, then, that the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler is all the rage in the Japanese beauty industry, used by fashionistas and everyday women alike. But why exactly? Designed with a special silicone pad that creates a 45-degree curl, this particular curler can curl "even the thick, naturally straight lashes typical among Japanese women," WWD says. It's doing some quality curling this side of the Atlantic, too, of course: Beauty retailers are buzzing about it, Allure's editors named it a beauty best and, funny enough, it even got a name drop in a recent big-time blockbuster movie.

A Pretty Mess

"That color's a little dark on you."

Hold ON, it's a Bikini Bumpy Ride

We'll take our itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow polka-dot bikini without the bumps, please. A reader wrote into Glamour on this recently, echoing a summer dilemma all too many of us relate to: “This weekend, as I headed to the beach with some friends, the same topic came up: the dreaded bikini bumps," she wrote. "What works to get rid of them other than waxing? Help those of us ready for the beach please!” Glamour suggested a bikini-line "facial"—literally the regular cleanse, exfoliate, mask, but for down there—as well as a once-a-week deep cleansing mask. (A below-the-belt mask? Um.) Extraordinarily effective, I'm sure, but a bit labor intensive, too. So for those who have the bikini woes, but don't have the patience—or piggy-bank—to actually make it a habit, try a potent hair remover instead. Tend Skin, a remover made with acne-fighting acetylsaliclyic acid, can be used on your bikini-line, arms, legs, you name it—leaving you no excuse to be Madame Hairy Scary this summer.

Backstage Beauty: A "Heavy Natural" Look

Sephora makeup artist Tyron Machhausen talks contouring and highlighting at our skincare catalog shoot, where he mastered that just-out-of-bed look.

Chicken Poop and Stink Spray

Sealed with a chicken poop kiss? Just when we thought we'd heard it all: Simone Chickenbone Natural Put-Ons, a company based out of Kansas, makes an all-natural lip moisturizer that's literally called Free Range Chicken Poop. And, believe me, everyone around here has a 3rd-grade punchline on this. ("On a runny day, is it a gloss?") The pucker poop—which the company, hysterically, swears "contains no poop" —dispenses in little tubes out of the backside of a cardboard chicken. Oh, it gets wackier: Chickenbone also sells Kill It Dead, a deodorant you spray as "a natural de-funkifier so people think you take baths." So not sure whether to laugh or cringe, but we must say, gals in the office are practically lining up for it—the formula smells like lavender essential oil and keeps lips soft and supple. Dab on some dung, skip that shower and hit the town.

Backstage Beauty: Red Lips, Copper Eyes

Blogging live from our beauty-full photo shoot today. The look that has everyone wowed over here? Stunningly red, China doll lips paired with soft, copper-hued eyes. (Added bonus with the matching red sweater, right?) Makeup artist Jorge Serio filled lips in with the Sephora Jumbo Lip Pencil in Cherry 410—no lipstick involved—and dusted eyes with Make Up For Ever Star Powder in Copper 922. Nothing better than a classic look that can work in the office and out on the town.

Backstage Beauty: 60's, Mod Eyes

Goin' for that really hip, old school Edie Sedgewick look? Jorge created a 60's-inspired cat-eye look today, using nothing more than some concealer, black liner, white shadow and a whole lot of lashes. "I wanted to make the eye very mod, but to give it a little bit of rock and roll mixed in it, too," he said. "It's a really fierce look." How to get this knock-out look yourself: 1. Dab concealer around your entire eye, making a "canvas" for your work. Just make sure it's 2-3 shades lighter than your normal concealer, Jorge says, because you want to start with a really pale eye. 2. Dust a white shadow (like Make Up For Ever Star Powder in Pearl Gold 902) over your eyelids. 3. Apply long, fluttery false lashes to your lash line. 4. Outline your eyes all the way around with liquid black liner (Make Up For Ever Black 25), making it especially dark below your lower lash line. Then, outline above the white shadow, above the crease of your eye. Verdict: This labor-intensive look definitely isn't one for everyday wear—the very patient model winced that her eyes felt "heavy"—but it's fabulous nonetheless.

Turn Back The Beauty-full Clock

Trying to look older is a cinch when you’re little: Doll up in Mom’s pearls, slip on some of her waaaay-too-big-for-you heels and carry a doll around like it’s the apple of your eye. But now that we’re older and (ironically) trying to look younger? Not such an easy task. Thankfully, here are a few tips from ELLE to take years off that pretty mug:

1: Curl your lashes. Curling lashes opens up your eyes, says makeup artist Lisa Garner, who works with big-time celebs. Follow with mascara. For thicker lashes that don't clump, apply a primer first.

2: Use an illuminizer. Give your eyes an instant lift by dabbing illuminizer on the center of the brow bone under the arch of the eyebrow, says Turnbow.

3: Brighten your smile. Take years off by whitening your teeth. You can do it yourself at home, says New York-based cosmetic dentist Marc Lowenberg. Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into the consistency of toothpaste. Brush your teeth in circular motions and the paste will remove surface stains.

4: Dab on blush. A moist, creamy blush will light up your face, says Turnbow. Use a neutral pink on cheeks and lips for no-fuss natural beauty.

5: Take care of your skin. Good skincare is more important than makeup, insists Garner. A few musts for beautiful skin: "Drinking lots of water, eating a healthy diet, not smoking and not drinking alcohol excessively."

6: Get your beauty zzz's. In addition to many other benefits, 8 hours of sleep a night reduces tired, puffy eyes, says Dr. Kathryn Frew, a dermatologist at New York's JUVA Skin and Laser Center.

7: Shampoo less, condition more. Use as little shampoo as possible, says star stylist Abell at John Frieda in New York. When you do shampoo, use a mild formula. Also, moisturize with a deep-conditioning treatment once a week.

"Swirl, Tap, Bus" on the Bare Escentuals Fan Tour USA

Forget what you thought you knew about road-trips. (No offense to the obligatory sing-alongs in the hatchback, Dad, but this is just so much better.) The Bare Escentuals Fan Tour USA has been making its beauty-full way across the country in a fan bus—adorably named “Swirl, Tap, Bus” after BE’s “Swirl, Tap, Buff” method of applying makeup—and its making its fifth and final stop at Sephora Oak Park in Kansas this Saturday. The Bare Escentuals Artistry Team will be there giving fabulous “make-unders” with 100% pure bareMinerals, as CEO and queen of mineral makeup Leslie Blodgett (left) mixes and mingles with the crowd too. “This trip has been unbelievable and beyond my wildest dreams,” Leslie says. “I can’t wait to glam it up in Overland Park, Kansas. Get ready to have some fun!” So in the spirit of natural beauty tips—and one oh-so-beautiful bus—get in on the gorgeous action this weekend. Call 913-859-9750 to book your appointment and check out Sephora.com's new and improved Bare Escentuals section. With features like a hand shade finder, user testimonials and Leslie's favorite tips and tricks, it's our go-to place for Bare Escentuals and bareMinerals fans.

Read more of Leslie's dispatches from the "Swirl, Tap, Bus."

GoSMILE Supports Autism Research

A great cause to smile about, lemony-fresh, white teeth included: April is Autism Awareness Month—an endeavor that raises awareness about autism, a disease affecting a baby every 20 minutes in the U.S.—and, in its honor, G0SMILE is donating a portion of proceeds from their Lemonade Smile toothpaste to Autism Speaks. "Every day thousands of familiar affected by autism choose to make lemonade from their lemons with their advocacy, commitment and action," said Alison Singer, Senior V.P. of Autism Speaks. "[We are] very fortunate to have advocates like Josh and the team at GoSMILE. This opportunity will not only raise vital funds to support autism research, but will also help shine a bright light on autism, which now affects 1 in 166 people." Even sweeter: To go along with the zesty paste, GoSMILE COO Josh Shaw wrote Who Invented Lemonade? The Power of Positive Perspective—a story about overcoming obstacles and turning lemons into lemonade—the proceeds of which will also benefit Autism Speaks.

FACEBALL! Have you played yet?

Read about the office game that's sweeping the nation. Or at least the Flickr offices, anyway.

A Spa Kind of Week

Nothing like starting your week with some torrential rain and flooding, eh? (See: Ordering lunch online.) But if you dare to venture out—by cab or canoe, your choice—make your way to the nearest spa in honor of Spa Week, which starts today. The week-long event offers $100-200 spa treatments to anyone at $50, as long as you pre-book your appointment online. In the two years since it started, it's grown from 25 participating Manhattan spas to over 230 spas in 10 cities; so you can now primp and polish for less in New York, Jersey, Philly, Boston, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, L.A. and San Francisco. So, if that same old "staying in, watching movies" plan just isn't cutting it, now you have some prettier options. After all, when your hair's playing dead and and your skin's gone soggy, what's better than a deep conditioning treatment or, say, a hot stone massage?

Summer Lovin'

It's raining cats and dogs outside, so (of course) all I can think about is the gorgeous, soon-to-be-here summer. So while the wind tries to swipe your umbrella in that rain, and your hair's tangling like an unruly tumbleweed, just daydream about Glamour's list of "ways to feel summer-sultry":

1. A super-bright pedicure. Give the dark polish a rest—show off a flash of color for a change! (Try Sephora Nail Polish in 60.)
2. Shiny, perfectly-buffed nails. It'll look very I've-got-a-private-island chic. (Try Sephora Professional Buffer Blocks.)
3. Non-black lashes. The new deep blues wakeup any eye color amazingly. (Try Benefit BADgal Blue.)
4. A splash of high-impact red gloss—a pretty update from summer's usual sheers. (Try Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in Red Stockings 757.)
5. A summer-weight lotion. Pick one that's cooling, with a you're-so-at-the-beach scent. (Try Fresh's Hesperides Body Lotion.)
6. Beachy, fuzz-free waves. Scrunch like heck as you dry, then mist on a humidity-zapping spray. (Try Fekkai Zero-Humidity Frizz Control.)

Dr. Brandt's "10 Minutes/10 Year"

We scan those monthly glossies—religiously searching for a trick to looking younger, tanner, thinner, you name it—and all the while, the answer is just 10 minutes of our time. In his new book, 10 Minutes/10 Years: Your Definitive Guide To A Beautiful And Youthful Appearance, Dr. Brandt stresses the importance of having healthy, consistent beauty habits; little things like cutting out sugar and applying sunscreen, he says, can go a long way. (Dropping sprinkled donut here.) “By taking 10 minutes out of your day, you can make big changes in your appearance through consistency,” Dr. Brandt says. “I want the reader to take away the importance of changing your daily habits, and that in order to do this, consistency is key—consistency in adhering to a healthy diet, to a daily skincare regimen, and to sun protection.” Other simple-but-crucial tips from his book? Use an antioxidant cream to prevent looking like Granny and an anti-glycation product to counter sugar's tiring, hardening effect on your skin. So in honor of a younger, better-looking version of your self, get readin'!

A Perfect 10

Want shimmery, gorgeous eyes to go with that supermodel glow? Here's a beautiful tip, courtesy of Mari (our master mixologist!) in our San Fran office: Benefit's newest boxed face color, 10—a duo of pink and bronze powder—can also double as an eyeshadow duo. "The side-by-side shades create a beach bunny look that's perfect for spring and summer," she says. "Simply sweep the frosty pink highlighter from lashline to brow bone and use the bronze shimmer inside the creases."

Tea For Two

OK! Magazine is buzzing over the beauty benefits of green tea this month—after all, it "can help in terms of metabolism and how we process fat"—but, c'mon, who wants to nurse a cup of tea all day? (Besides Granny.) Well, here's your one-stop wonder: Dr. Brandt's new Anti-oxidant Water Boosters are flavored drops for your water, and one dropper full is equal to drinking 15 cups of brewed green tea. The super drops claim to fight free radical damage, manage weight, maintain younger-looking skin, increase energy, and promote a healthy immune system and healthy heart. Even better: They're caffeine free, calorie free, and come in a pomegranate, lemon and original flavor. So, raise that glass (well, mug) to a new, healthy beauty regimen!

Chameleon Nails

A few days ago, we raved about this new electric nail trend—layering fluorescent white polish under a sheer red to get an electric pink result. A bit too labor intensive for you? Okay, okay. You can always pick an already-florescent shade for a quick, just-as-cool version of this high-voltage trend. And here's an added, tell-your-friends bonus: Most florescent shades turn a very different shade in natural sunlight! Our designer, Heather, picked this neon-mango-ish shade in the salon (right), but it morphed into a more muted, almost reddish color (left) as soon as she walked outside.

Love Potion #9

Something was amiss during girl's night out this weekend. My friend Jenna—who's gorgeous, but admittedly shy—had this uncanny ability to turn heads. The waiter beamed at her as he described the soup du jour, those typically nonchalant East Village boys were chatty at the bar, and I swear the bartender winked as he brought over her Bacardi Diet. "Ok, what gives?" the rest of us pried. Funny enough, turns out her secret is a perfumed one: She had sprayed on a scent, Molecule 01, that claims to actually attract people to you by mimicking the effect of human pheromones. It consists of a single ingredient, known as "Iso E Super" in the fragrance world, that has a woody-velvety smell and (allegedly) carries this amazing, super-human, "indefinable radiance to the wearer." Boston magazine's beauty writer isn't convinced—"I watch for signs that I'm lustily intoxicating all who cross my path. A week in: nothing"—but British Vogue is admittedly miffed. As their International Beauty Director put it: "The aroma molecule is so complex the body can only metabolise it very slowly so it appears to vanish, then reappears hours later, hovering like a stealth bomber over your skin." All smoke and mirrors in fragrance form? Maybe. But I'm still aching to try it after witnessing Jenna's celeb status at the bar this weekend. Operation Perfumed Powers—to be continued.

Love Potion #9

Something was amiss during girl's night out this weekend. My friend Jenna—who's beautiful, but admittedly very shy—had this uncanny ability to turn heads. The waiter beamed at her as he described the soup du jour, those typically nonchalant East Village boys were chatty at the bar, and I swear the bartender winked as he brought over her Bacardi Diet. "Ok, what gives?" the rest of us pried. Funny enough, turns out her secret is a perfumed one: She had sprayed on a scent, Molecule 01, that claims to actually attract people to you by mimicking the effect of human pheromones. It consists of a single ingredient, known as "Iso E Super" in the fragrance world, that has a woody-velvety smell and (allegedly) carries this amazing, super-human, "indefinable radiance to the wearer." Boston magazine's beauty writer isn't convinced—"I watch for signs that I'm lustily intoxicating all who cross my path. A week in: nothing"—but British Vogue is admittedly miffed. As their International Beauty Director put it: "The aroma molecule is so complex the body can only metabolise it very slowly so it appears to vanish, then reappears hours later, hovering like a stealth bomber over your skin." All smoke and mirrors in fragrance form? Maybe. But I'm still aching to try it after witnessing Jenna's celeb status at the bar this weekend. Operation Perfumed Powers—to be continued.

Fragrance Folding

Ah, the big perfumed letdown: You spray on some amazing, head-turning scent, only for it to fade in, oh, about an hour. Most perfumes, sadly, don't linger as long as we'd like—no surprise there. So, finally, a brilliant tip for giving that scent some staying power: Spritz some tissues with your favorite perfume and fold them in with clothes in your dresser. Next time you wear those outfits? You'll smell oh-so-amazing, with a scent that actually lasts the day.

Show Me The Honey

Who knew Winnie the Poo was such a skincare guru with his cute, little pot of honey? But honey, a natural hydrating agent, is an often-overlooked source of beautiful skin. Full of antioxidant ingredients, it improves skin elasticity, protects against UV radiation and even speeds up skin cell regeneration. No surprise, then, that Korres is soon launching a Thyme Honey Cream and Thyme Honey Mask—both made with thyme honey, of course, which is considered one of the best honeys in the world. (Korres' first product was actually an aromatic herbal syrup made with honey and aniseed, a recipe borrowed from George Korres' grandfather on the island of Naxos.) The new thyme honey products aren't out until summer, but in the meantime, feel free to impress your friends with this honey fun-fact: The ancient Greeks believed honey dripped from the sky with the morning dew and covered the flowers, from which the bees just collected it later.

Sephora Inside JCPenney

Sephora and JCPenney, sittin’ in a tree ... S-h-o-p-p-i-n-g. Sephora recently set up shop in numerous JCPenney stores around the U.S.—all fittingly named “Sephora Inside JCPenney”—as a joint initiative with the infamous department chain. So, need a quick-stop Sephora fix? Swing by any of the new "Sephora Inside JCPenney" locations: Arden Fair Mall, Santa Ana MainPlace Mall, or Glendale Gallerina in CA; Aventura Mall in FL; Natick Mall in MA; Gratiot Avenue or Greek Oak Village Place in MI; Eden Prairie Center in MN; Shadow Lake Towne Center in NE; Queens Center in NY; South Strabane Center in PA; Alliance Town Center, Flower Mound, or Stonebriar Center in TX. Each store dons Sephora’s signature look, trained product consultants and—of course—the best-of-the-best beauty brands. The roll-out is to continue through '08, so expect more stores popping up in the beauty-full future.

Midnight Beauty Call: Salons Open Late

In my perfect world, things that would be open later: the post office, the bank, that cute bakery down the street and the salon. Well, on that last one, things are lookin' up: Several New York salons and spas are extending their normal hours—giving haircuts, massages, manicures and the like until 9, 10, 11 pm at night—in an effort to cater to a clientele The New York Times is calling "beauty night owls." A few salons jumpin' on this late-night bandwagon: Frederic Fekkai Soho, Okeanos, La Vie Zen Spa, Osaka Health Spa, Red Market Salon and Cleo II Spa. Even better, most have a bit of a "cocktail-hour vibe" too, offering things like free champagne, coffee and music as a bonus. Red Market Salon, for one, serves coffee and wine in its loft-like space, and even throws showcase art parties as it stays open late, primping and polishing until 11 pm. Owner Reynald Richard says there are two types of beauty night owls in this late-night world: the partiers and the professionals. "We do get a young and trendy crowd who are getting their highlights done at 9:30 so they can meet their friends at clubs at 11:30," he said. "But most of the very late clients are lawyers, bankers and traders." And another reason for professionals to visit that salon later? No distractions. "At night, there is never the constant phone ringing, or delivery guys arriving, or daughters chatting with their mothers," said Meghan French, a producer at Viacom and late-nighter at the Paul Labarecque Salon and Spa. "Maybe night treatments are becoming a trend because it's calmer when appointments aren't stacked one on top of another." Beauty, free bubbly and a relaxed atmosphere? Count me in. And one thing's for sure: Those frenzied, time-crunched lunch hour appointments are a thing of the past.

Tales of a Glow-getter

Laura Mercier knows her bronze. The beauty guru, whose line is sold in 628 stores in 25 countries, also helps big-time celebs pick the perfect bronze shade for their skin tone, says The Wall Street Journal. The biggest bronzing blunder, Mercier says? Picking a shade that's too orange, red or shimmery. To avoid a splotchy fate, the best bet is to walk outside and test the shade in the daylight. "Often, with bronzers that are too orangey, you don't really notice it in the store because of all the artificial lights," Mercier said. (I can attest. I once bought a bronzer that cried streaky, glittery cheetah in the sun.) A tinted moisturizer, sheer gel bronzer or a bronzing powder are other good ways to go too, Mercier says, for just a "hint" of color on your face. Or, for the patient bronzing beauty, try combining all three: Dab on a light layer of tinted moisturizer, a dime-sized dollop of bronzing gel to cheeks, and then dust bronzing powder to the face and neck. Voila. Golden perfection.

A Cut Above the Rest

Nothing wows a crowd like a killer haircut. But according to Oprah.com, not just any old cut will do; different face shapes need different cuts to accentuate or hide features. Stylist John Barrett gives some expert tips below—which can "narrow a jawline, plump up cheeks, add 'bones' and subtract years!"—so you can finally find your tressy soulmate.

If you have a defined jawline ...
TRY: Layered hair, gently angled along the cheekbones, from eyes to chin. Blunt edges and severe bangs are a no-no, since they conflict with a strong jaw. AVOID: "Curtain" hair that hangs down the face. This obscures the contours of the cheeks, which makes the face look boxy.

If you have a soft jawline or a square-ish face ...
TRY: Face-framing layers, feathered away from the face with a round-brush. Women tend to style their hair close to their face, Barrett says, "but that actually draws attention to the area." Try a few shorter layers at the crown to create extra height on top. AVOID: Blunt, bottom-heavy cuts (think: triangle) which drag your face down.

If you have a wide face, high forehead ...
TRY: Shorter, layered curls. "These light, springy curls are so flattering," Barrett said. "I cut just enough layers to really bring them out." No matter how short you go, make sure you keep some length in the back and around the ears. AVOID: Straight styles, which draw attention to the face, especially to lines around eyes and mouth.

If you have a long face ...
TRY: Medium-length hair with graduated layers. Barrett says the overall length is crucial—hair that's too far below the collarbone makes your face look even longer. Long layers throughout add fullness, though, so try velcro rollers for extra body. AVOID: All-one-length hair, stick-straight hair, or bangs that hit above the brows. They all make your face look longer and, together, are an "unforgiving" combination.

If you have a round, full face ...
TRY: Strong bangs and graduated layers. Make sure they cover the forehead, falling just beneath the brows and below the temples, to make cheekbones look chiseled. Barrett says graduated layers bring a heart shape to the face, and straight strands counterbalance the curves of a round face. AVOID: Short layers on the top and sides will create too much volume and amplify the fullness of the face.

A Berry Simple Facial

Forget what mom told you—for today only, you can play with your food. Here's an easy, good-for-your-skin facial you can try at home, courtesy of dailycandy.com. All you need is a buff puff, some wild strawberries (or another grainy fruit, like a kiwi), sparkling water, a lemon and plain, natural yogurt.

Grandma Gogg’s Strawberry Lemon Peel

Directions: Stand in a sunny window for 30 seconds to warm skin. Gently crush strawberries onto buff puff and, after testing on a small area of your arm, massage into face for 30 seconds (microdermabrasion). Rinse liberally with sparkling water. Mix yogurt and lemon juice and slap a layer onto face for 5 minutes (fruit acid peel). Rinse with warm tap water and apply moisturizer. Beauty is served!

Sun Season: What's Your Damage?

As a redhead, I've rebelled against sun protection my whole life. (You would too if you were forced to wear a T-shirt at the beach.) I slathered on tanning oils, lounged by the pool 'til I was flamingo-pink and even slid into those cancer booths (shudder) along with the rest of my wannabe-bronze friends. So, nothing like a few scary stats from The Skin Cancer Foundation to make me realize I was being terribly ignorant: 90% of all premature aging and skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, so (not surprisingly) skin cancer is officially the most common form of cancer in the U.S., affecting more than 1 million people a year. 1 in 5 Americans and 1 in 3 Caucasians will develop it in a lifetime and—while it's less common in African Americas, Latinos and Asians—it's deadlier as it more often goes undetected. Still, the scariest news? Your risk for skin cancer doubles if you’ve had five or more sunburns—ever. Don't box up that bikini just yet, though, because there's still hope: Sephora and The Skin Care Foundation have co-designed a nifty, beach bag-size Sun Safety Kit, packed with all sorts of sunscreens and moisturizers to protect you from those big, bad rays. So bask in the summer weather, by all means. Just make it safe fun in the sun.

Rub A Dub Dub, SPF In The Tub

In the spirit of yesterday's unsettling post about skin cancer, here's some sunny news from Allure: A new body wash, By142 Body Wash with SPF 15, is actually a sunscreen in disguise. The body wash is encapsulated with typical sunscreen ingredients—avobenzone, octocrylene and more words we can't pronounce—which chemically stick to the skin so it won't wash off. Leslie Baumann, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine, says she loves the new concept. "The easier we make it for people to apply SPF, the more likely they are to use it," she said. Keep in mind though, if you plan to spend a prolonged amount of time outdoors, you'll need a higher SPF like Clinique's UV-Response SPF 30 For Body or Shiseido's Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream SPF 36.

Beauty's in the Eye of That Paycheck

A few weeks ago, we blogged about the privileges of good-looking bosses: Statistically, they're described as more competent, respected more at work and assumed to have earned their rank over homelier head honchos. Well, just when that spoon couldn't get more silver ... According to a study in British Glamour, good-looking people also earn 12-17% more than their plain Jane peers. But, surprisingly, it isn't directly due to that model physique or mane of blond hair. What is it? Confidence. "Beautiful people receive constant affirmations about how attractive they are," says Dawn Breslin, author of Dawn Breslin's Guide to Superconfidence." As such, they have a strong belief foundation, which helps them excel at work." So, OK, since confidence is something anyone can work on, that's sort of good news. Get in front of that mirror and repeat: I am hot to trot, I am hot to trot ...

Cry Babies Anonymous

Well, this is uplifting: Collective crying is the new beauty routine in Japan, according to British Airways High Life, the airline's in-flight glossy. People gather in huge groups to turn on the waterworks—over sad movies, songs, anything really—as a form of stress relief. Publishers and filmmakers are scrambling to produce tear-jerking bestsellers, since most stores now have a “crying corner, stacked with books and DVDs designed to reduce you to tears, and rated accordingly.” So, uh, want to grab a quick cry after work?

A Fresh Perspective

In the fragrance world, what defines fresh exactly? The New York Times recently grappled with this very question. After all, numerous fragrance companies attempt to make that perfect "fresh" scent—with some coming up with genuine interpretations of tulips and spring showers, and others just producing cookie-cutter versions of that same old, manufactured rain smell, a "Febreze for humans of sorts." Take Calvin Klein's infamous CK One, for example. It actually uses the same raw ingredients as a lot of classic laundry detergents, so sure, it conjures memories of all things clean and fresh. But still, it's somehow lacking; a "film-set version of rain." On the other hand, a perfume like Sugar Blossom (by Fresh, ironically), is a mix of lily of the valley and grapefruit that does smell fresh, and uniquely so. So the moral of this story: When it comes to that ever-illusive "fresh" smell, cookie-cutter doesn't cut it. As The New York Times put it: We want "an HDTV perfume. Not a color photocopy of someone else's idea of freshness."

Pink Polish ... It's Electric!

Spring is here, and with it, those perfectly pink nails. But whipping out a basic pink polish in a basic pink color? Meh. The new, trendy way to get sizzling pink nails is to layer fluorescent white polish under a sheer red, Allure says. The electric pink that results will "give a little attitude to this season's sweet, romantic pieces," says Ji Baek of the Rescue Beauty Lounges in New York City.

Earth Love or Lunacy?

I used to consider myself pretty earth-friendly: I turn off lights. I don't drive a car. I never use aerosol sprays. I lug a canvas bag to the grocery store. But then I read this: A New York couple is trying to go a whole year without making any environmental impact on the planet, Glamour says. No trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no a.c., no packaged products ... nope, not even toilet paper. (Let's not discuss it.) Don't buy it? Just check out the couple's entertaining blog: “A guilty liberal finally snaps, swears off plastic, goes organic, becomes a bicycle nut, turns off his power ... and while living in New York City ... tries to save the polar bears and the rest of the planet from environmental catastrophe while dragging his baby daughter and Prada-wearing, Four Seasons-loving wife along for the ride." Quite the brave endeavor, no question. A small, earthy beauty tip for the road: As she hoofs it to work, the fashionista woman can at least swipe on CARGO's PlantLove Lipstick, made entirely out of corn with a flower paper container that sprouts wildflowers when its planted. Ah, nothing like an earth-loving silver lining.