What Frames Best Flatter Your Face?

I just completed 3 photo galleries of my favorite eyeglasses. They were such fun to put together and really highlighted some truths about choosing the perfect frames for you, which are:

• It's very important to choose a frame that matches your personality. Let's say you have a twin. If you are understated, classy and sophisticated, you really wouldn't pick the same pair as your fun-loving, loud and eccentric sister. And you shouldn't.
• Your face shape is key. Rounded frames don't look great on round face shapes. There are other rules you'll find in Gallery 1: Most Flattering Glasses for You.
• Your frames must go with your outfit. Because of this, you might want to invest in a few pairs of glasses so you can mix and match frames to outfits.
• Don't overdo the accessories. If you have a pair of signature glasses that stand out, you don't want to overwhelm your look with a lot of jewelry and heavy scarves. Less is always more.

To check out the photos, which I think are stellar, start with Gallery 1.

Image: Getty

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Help! I Had a Baby & Developed Dark Spots on My Face

I received an email from a friend who just gave birth this winter and is suffering from melasma, or dark spots on her face. They will recede in time, but she was wondering if there was anything she could do to help that process along.

My friend fits into the category of someone who's susceptible to melasma (find out which people are), which means she's had a baby and she lives in Texas, where she's out in the sun a lot. To get rid of these spots, she has several options. Find out which ones are best in "What Causes Brown Spots & How to Fix It."

Image: Digital Vision for Getty

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Best Glasses

When choosing the perfect glasses for you, I recommend always bringing a friend along and trying on as many styles of frames as possible with the help of a salesperson. A friend will offer an unbiased view, whereas a salesperson knows what frames looks great on different face shapes.

Why I love this style:

Daveigh, the woman pictured here, has a square face shape, so the round frames work to soften her hard jaw lines. I also love the color of the frames here because they compliment her auburn, reddish hair color.

This is Gallery 1, see more eyeglass galleries:

• Gallery 2: Best Glasses for Your Face Shape
• Gallery 3: Best Glasses for Your Personality & Face Shape

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Halloween Makeup

To look like Cleopatra for Halloween, you'll need a few items you can pick up at any vintage store or Goodwill. Get a Native American belt, a few gold bracelets worn as armbands and a white dress or sheet fashioned as a toga. You can wear gorgeous gold necklaces, but be sure and invest in a cool headpiece, like the one worn here by Anne Hathaway.

For hair, either get a long, Cher-like wig with blunt bangs or flat iron your own long, dark hair.

For makeup, go heavy on the eyes, light everywhere else. Apply a cat-eye with black liquid liner on bottom and top lids. Apply heavy eyeshadow and top it all off with dramatic feathery false eyelashes.

For shoes, you'll want gold sandals. Good luck finding some in October. You can also spray paint sandals with gold spray paint.

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Farrah Fawcett Photos

Photos of Farrah Fawcett Over the Years

Circa 1980's Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O''Neil

Getty Images

Farrah Fawcett was married to actor Lee Majors from 1973 to 1982. Since 1982, Fawcett was romantically involved with actor Ryan O'Neal and they had a son, Redmond O'Neal. Redmond has struggled for years with drug problems, which has led to several arrests.

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Natural Skincare: 10 Best Organic Products for Your Skin

Many of friends are hugely concerned about what they put in their bodies and on their bodies, so naturally when we talk about beauty the main questions I get from friends revolve around natural products. They don't want anything with parabens, they REALLY don't want anything that's been tested on animals and they're willing to spend a bit more money to get the real thing.

The good news is there are plenty of wonderful organic skincare products on the market today. I pulled together a list of the best cleansers, moisturizers, eye creams, body lotions and eye makeup removers just for them -- and for you. Most of the products in Natural Skincare: 10 Best Organic Products for Your Skin can be purchased at health food stores and organic grocery stores or online.

Image:

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Tip Hairstylist

Question: How Much Should I Tip When I Get My Haircut?

Answer: First off, remember that you tip a hairstylist & colorist just as you would a server in a restaurant: If the service is excellent, then you tip 20%, if the service is good 15% and so on.

But what if there are several different people involved from assistants to the shampooer? It's standard to pay $3 to $5 to each individual who shampoos and/or blows out your hair.

As for other beauty professions -- the same rule applies to your manicurist, your aesthetician & anyone who spends time making you look beautiful (at a cost). They get 15-20 percent as well.

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Cleanse Your Face With Oils? Yes!

In my daily jaunt around the Web today, I found an interesting skincare tidbit I had to share from Dr. Ava Shamban, author of Heal Your Skin: The Breakthrough Plan for Renewal. Apparently, cleansers with natural oils such as olive, jojoba, maracuja or babassu work great as face washes -- even on oily skin -- because oils dissolve oils. This means an oil wash will cleanse your skin of sebum, dirt and bacteria. This is better than creamy washes that sit on skin and can clog pores.

Pretty interesting stuff. You can read more on MSN's Glo Website: Top Experts Share Their Skincare Secrets.

Image: Maracuja oil in a bottle from Tarte

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Mother's Day Gifts

I am of the firm belief that you can never go wrong by giving beauty products as a gift. After all, have you ever gotten a bar of luxurious soap that you didn't use? While there are many amazing Mother's Day gifts mentioned on this page, there are also a few I suggest you avoid.

Beauty: What Types of Mother's Day Gifts to Avoid

Think twice before gifting foundation, concealer, lipstick or face powder, unless you know exactly what your mother wants/uses. These products require a good skin tone match. Perfumes are usally poor Mother's Day gifts unless she's picked out a favorite -- like jewelry, perfumes can be too personal. A fragrance you love in the store may not work well with her body chemistry.

Also, avoid pre-packaged gifts bought at department store beauty counters. Not only is it boring, but it screams, "I only had 10 minutes so I opted for what was easiest."

Consider a Bunch of Little Gifts Placed in a Basket

Instead of pre-packaged gifts, why not pull together a bunch of fun gifts individually wrapped and placed in a basket? You can also put these gifts in a makeup bag. I love lip glosses or scrubs like Sara Happ's The Lip Scrub, pictured here. Mix in a new flat iron, a hand cream and exfoliating gloves and you're good to go. Some ideas:

• Best body scrubs
• Best facial scrubs
• Best eye creams
• Best flat irons

Is a Spa Gift Worth the Splurge?

I love getting gifts I feel guilty about buying for myself, but spa gifts can be tricky, because the present unwrapping part can be underwhelming ("Thank you for this sheet of paper!") and the chances are great that the certificate will be put away and never found again.

For a spa gift, opt for a shiatsu massage, a wild wrap with fun stuff like seaweed or a deep facial. Better yet, set up the appointment for both of you and make it your responsibility to set the date and make the appointment.

Think Twice Before Giving a Gift Card

Gift cards, like pre-packaged gifts, scream, "I was lazy so I got you a gift card." That said, some people would rather pick out their own gifts (perhaps this is where the term, "picky" comes from). In this case, do give them a gift card to Sephora or their favorite department store beauty counter.

Help! She Has Everything!

In my experience, people who already have everything really appreciate it when you go all Martha Stewart on them and do something creative and unique. After all, taking time out to do something just for them is something all the money in the world can't buy.

Create a custom bath basket for their bathroom. I love this idea because you can spend as little as $25 on this gift or hundreds of dollars. Fill a basket with everything mom would need for a relaxing bath: Bubble bath or bath salts, 4 or 5 tealight candles with glass holders and a big, fluffy bath towel. Throw in a fun paperback or magazine just for kicks and don't forget the matches. We list our favorite bath salts and more in "8 Musts for Every Bath."

Another option is to print out homemade face mask recipes for her skin type and include the ingredients in the basket. Add a fragrant candle, a fluffy hand towel (for steaming), a box of relaxing tea and a pretty jar of local honey. A great tea to gift is Tazo's 'calm' -- that will inspire her to relax.

You could also make your own body scrub by mixing one cup of an oil of choice (almond, rose, olive or coconut) with a cup of either sugar or Epsom salts. Add a few drops of an essential oil, mix it all together and put it in a cute jar with a homemade tag and you're good to go. Avoid: Cast-offs you didn't like yourself. A good rule of thumb is to never give anything you wouldn't love to receive yourself. If you want to get rid of something, give it away, don't re-gift it. Simply say, "I bought this really nice soap, but it doesn't suit me. Would you want try it for yourself?"

Best Mother's Day Gift for the Beach Loving Mama

So your mom USED to love the sun but now drudgingly sticks to life under a hat. Get her a great sunscreen (La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Lait SPF 60 is one of the best) and pair it with a fabulous self-tanner (we love Clarins).

Avoid: A gift card to her local tanning salon, unless it's for the spray tan.

Best Mother's Day Gifts for the Mother Freaked Out About Aging

These tried-and-true products can erase five years off even the most pampered face.

1. Dr. Dennis Gross M.D. Skincare MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel - 30 applications
2. Olay anti-aging, anti-blemish moisturizer
3. Lancome Resurface-C Microdermabrasion Radiance Renewing System Skincare
4. Dr. Brandt's v-zone neck cream

Avoid: These gifts if she's not obsessed with aging. She might think they're rude.

Best Mother's Day Gift for Grandma

I love Crabtree & Evelyn products. The soaps, lotions and body sprays are perfect for discriminating moms and grandmas. But don't settle for the store packaging, buy your own individual products, wrap each one up and put them in a gorgeous bowl she'll use again (we are suckers for Asian bowls from Japan or China). Nestle between the gifts fun extras like bath gloves for exfoliating in the shower, a mini mirror for the purse and perhaps an overnight makeup bag (to encourage visits).

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Best Cleansers for Combination Skin

I got an email recently from a woman named Kimberley asking me for recommendations for cleansers specially formulated for combination skin. I immediately got to work researching and pulling together this list, "Best Cleansers for Combination Skin."

Most people actually have combination skin, which means an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and dry cheeks. The key to cleansing combination skin is to use the correct products for the areas of your face. The right cleanser will be gentle and water-soluble.

More on cleansers:

• Best Facial Cleansers for Acne-Prone Skin
• Best Cleansers for Every Skin Type
• Splurge or Save: Cleansers & Moisturizers

Image: Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel

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Awesome Body Oil (Great for Massage)

Some people prefer oils to lotions when it comes to moisturizer and while extra virgin coconut oil remains a favorite, Almond Glow from Home Health, is my new obsession. I slather it on after a shower and towel off the excess (if you skip this step, your legs will remain oily for hours). It smells wonderful and feels silky and smooth. My legs -- newly tanned from a recent trip to Turks and Caicos -- haven't looked so good in ages.

This oil is paraben-free and a perfect addition to any health-conscious woman's beauty closet. Made from natural oils including Peanut, Olive, Sweet Almond Oil, Lanolin Oil and Vitamin E, it's packed with antioxidants.

Try it out at a health food store before you buy, the smell may be too sweet for some. You can also buy it online for less than $10.

Image: Almond Glow, courtesy of Pricegrabber

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Fall's Hottest Nail Trends

Maybe this is more of a red carpet trend for the "I'm famous for being outrageous" celebrity (hello Lady Gaga) more than it is an everyday trend for the everyday girl, but pointy nails are definitely of the moment.

Fergie, Rihanna and Lady Gaga have all rocked this look recently. To get it yourself, you'll definitely have to head to the salon. These babies are not made in nature.

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Should You Use a Cream Blush or a Powder Blush?

A basic rule of thumb when it comes to choosing the perfect blush for you is to consider your skin type. Dry skin works better with a creamy blush, whereas oily and combination skin types can use both. If your cheeks appear matte and you'd like them more dewy, consider a cream blush or a pot rouge. Even a dab of lipstick can add the perfect color in a pinch.

Read more about the different types of blushes in "Before You Buy Blush."

More on blush:

• How to Apply Blush Properly
• Best Blushes for Every Price Range
• Splurge or Save: Blush, Bronzers & Powders

Photo: Iconica by Getty Images

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Why Haircuts Are So Expensive

Kendra Aarhus is About.com's Guide to Women's Hairstyles. She's an actual hairstylist which puts her in an elite league all of her own, because while I write about hair and hairstyling, I don't actually do it, except my own of course. Kendra does, so she can weigh in on all the nitty-gritty questions you might have about your own hair. Check out her Website here.

This week, Kendra writes about a fascinating topic: "Why are Haircuts so Expensive." I just had to share her article with you guys because there seems to be a bit of backlash out there towards tipping salon owners. One of the most commented upon blog posts on my site is "Weigh In: I'm a Salon Owner & My Clients Don't Tip." Many of the commenters are actually furious times have changed and they are expected to tip a shop owner and stylists in general. I figure, if you know how much it costs to run a salon, maybe you'd change your mind.

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How to Fill in Sparse Eyebrows

One of my pet peeves is bad eyebrows. I mean unruly brows, brows that need to be tweezed (stray hairs growing all over the place) and too-thin brows. As we age, our brow growth slows down so you may find you need to pencil in sparse spots. For details on how to properly do this, see "How to Fill in Sparse Eyebrows."

More on brows:

• I Overplucked My Eyebrows. What Can I Do?
• How To Shape Your Eyebrows
• Should You Splurge or Save on Tweezers?

Image: Stone for Getty Images

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Holiday Hair: Pinned Back

Actress Debbie Matenopoulos

Actress Debbie Matenopoulos

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

I love this look for a holiday party and it's super easy to do.

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Michelle Obama Hair

The primaries were an exhausting time for the Obamas. This part of the presidential election took a whopping 18 months and kept the family apart for long stretches of time as the candidate campaigned throughout the country.

Although this has nothing to do with hair or makeup, I love this part of Obama's "Open Letter" to his daughters written after the election:

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey. (Read the full letter).

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Yes, Please: Stash Studio's Black Bison Clutch

I fell in love with Stash Studio's bags at first glance. I went to college with Cheryl Schulke (also known as "Stash"), who handcrafts bags and clutches out of her family's century-old mattress factory in the Texas countryside. When Cheryl posted images on Facebook, I thought, "These babies belong in posh boutiques here in Manhattan." Which is why I'm telling you about Cheryl now, before Barneys or Saks finds her.

I'm a sucker for stories and Stash has a good one. Texas girl uses vintage hand tools and boot-making equipment to turn gorgeous hides into even more gorgeous bags. According to Cheryl's Website, she's constructed more than 250 bags with her own hands. And that was just in 2010. She does this in her grandparents' factory, which she, her husband, her dad, her daughter and a host of other friends and family recently and painstakingly refurbished into the amazing space it is today. They even host "killer acoustic concerts" and art shows within the factory walls. I love it so much this gives me another reason to hightail it out of New York and back to my Texas roots.

This black bison bag pictured here is one of my favorites. It's $249 on the Stash Studios Website. Read more about Cheryl and her work on her personal Website. If you contact her, tell her you heard about her on About.com.

Image: Black Bison clutch by Stash Studios

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Golden Globes Hair

Golden Globes 'Worst': Beyonce

Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce

Credit: Photo by Paul Fenton/ZUMA Press

Beyonce makes a fatal beauty flaw here: She's gone overboard with the extensions. As we've said time and time again, very few women can get away with hair down past their boobs. As we see here, even very expensive fake hair can look unhealthy. Now Jennifer Hudson, while not a 'best' certainly looks fine. No complaints here.

Hair Styles -- Photos of Most Popular Hair Styles

• 2012 Hair: 20 Hot Hairstyles for 2012
• The 10 Hottest Hairstyles of 2011
• Celebrity Hairstyles
• Angela Bassett: Short-short, very boyish
• Angelina Jolie: Long, brown with just a bit of wave in it

Julyne Derrick
Beauty Guide

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Photo Galleries of Gorgeous Long Hairstyles

Long hair will always be popular and while long hair is flattering on most face shapes, if you have a long or thin face consider a cut with bangs, which can mask a large forehead while visually "widening" your face.

Long hair can be tricky depending on your hair texture. It works wonderfully on curly hair, because the length weighs down the curl. Just make sure to get layers cut in so your hair has definition and doesn't look like an upside down Christmas tree. If you have fine hair, don't grow hair too long or your hair could appear lifeless. Ask your stylist to cut in long layers to give hair body. Wavy hair is a wonderful texture for long hair. You can get choppy layers or wear your hair all one length and curl the ends as Kate Middleton does.

Check out these photo galleries for inspiration:

• Photos of long, beachy waves
• Photos of long, straight hairstyles
• Long hairstyles with bangs
• Long, curly hairstyles

Image: Sofia Vergara by Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

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William & Kate US Visit

Catherine's Red Scarf and Blue Trench Coat

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Getty Images

Catherine wears a bright red scarf and a blue trench coat as she waves to Prince William. William was taking part in helicopter maneuvers called 'water birding' across Dalvay lake on July 4, 2011, in Charlottetown, Canada.

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Stop Excessive Sweating With Botox Injections? Yep!

The other day I was in my dermatologist's office and the assistant mentioned how well Botox injections worked under the arms to stop excessive sweating. He admitted he himself was a walking testament to this. Before he got the injections he used to get soaked with sweat under his arms as the day wore on. Turns out this is not a good thing when a big part of your job is adjusting lights over patient's heads.

He got Botox injections under his arms and for a good 8 or 9 months after, he doesn't sweat there.

Botox is the most popular cosmetic treatment today. It can erase crow's feet and frown lines, stop sweating and even tame chronic migraines. I've done a ton of research on Botox and put everything I know in "5 Amazing Uses for Botox." Find out how it worked for me, how much it costs and how long the results last.

Image: The Image Bank // Getty Images

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Too Much Skincare?

Every night I use Pond's cold cream to cleanse my skin. I follow the cleansing with moisturizer before applying eye cream and Retin-A. As you may know by now, I use Retin-A every night and swear by it. I'm convinced it will be my secret to looking 60 when I'm really 70. I follow all of this with 2 fish-oil pills, a Vitamin D3 pill and a baby aspirin. Sometimes I may use a microdermabrasion scrub or a hydrating mask.

In the morning, I use a washcloth dipped in organic coconut oil to wash off the dry skin flakes that sometimes come from Retin-A when you take a break from it and start up again. I follow that (sometimes) with Vitamin C cream (people are obsessed with antioxidants, so I had to jump on the bandwagon). My last skincare step is to slather on La-Roche Posay's SPF 60 tinted sunscreen.

After all of this, it's amazing I find the time to floss.

Dermatologists are always touting retinoids, antioxidants AND microdermabrasion, but if one is on a prescription-strength retinoid (like my Retin-A or Renova or Retin-A Micro), should she also be subjecting her skin daily to a Vitamin C cream and twice a month to a scrub? I was wondering how much is too much, so I turned to Maryann Mikhail, a dermatologist at Manhattan's Spring Street Dermatology with that exact question.

"I completely agree that dermatologists recommend too much," Mikhail said.

According to Mikhail, prescription strength retinoids are the only creams and gels proven in medical literature to reduce the appearance of fine lines over time. They are are great for decreasing pore size, preventing blackheads and whiteheads and stimulating cell turnover.

Since I'm on Retin-A, I'm may be susceptible and sensitive to other products which may cause redness, irritation and even burns, Mikhail said. She recommends gentle cleansers and moisturizers to her patients on retinoids and suggests Cetaphil, Purpose and Aveeno products.

So if I'm using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, which I am, do I need an at-home microdermabrasion kit too? in fact, who needs microdermabrasion?

"I never recommend microdermabrasion unless a patient has superficial scarring or discoloration," says Mikhail.

So what about antioxidants? Mikhail says she occasionally recommends antioxidant sunscreens for her sun-worshipping patients. She says she does this, "based on the theory that the antioxidant might offset some of the free radical damage caused by the ultraviolet light."

So there you have it. Few people really need microdermabrasion or antioxidants. If you stick to a basic cleanser, moisturizer and anti-aging cream (love you, Retin-A), you're good to go. Now I wonder what Mikhail thinks about eye cream?

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The Best and Worst Britney Spears Perfumes

Britney Spears - the 29-year-old singer as well known for her various controversies, as for her music - is hot on the comeback trail, with a chart-topping album - Femme Fatale - and a slew of infectious hit singles. But while the world may love Britney for "Hold It Against Me" and countless other hits, to us the Louisiana native is most notable for her fragrance output. Here, in order of their release, is a compendium of Britney Spears' perfumes to date - the good, the bad, and the ugly - including tidbits of gossip from the time of their production.

Curious Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2004)

Google Images

Created by Coty Inc. for Britney - in the same year that saw her marrying gold-digger Kevin Federline - Britney Spears' first-ever perfume release was a fruity-floral composition inspired by the gardens of the singer's home state of Louisiana. Vanilla-infused musk gives the scent a warm and voluptuous glamour, with magnolia, pear and lotus flower adding sweetness and youth. Curious successfully appealed to both Britney's teenage fans and their moms, and racked up $100 million in sales in its five weeks on the market. In 2005, the scent earned "Best Women's Fragrance" honors from the Fragrance Foundation, and it has continued to perform like a champion, becoming one of the best-selling women's fragrances of all time.

Fantasy Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2005)

Google Images

A year after she smashed sales records with Curious - and at the time of her pregnancy with her first child, Sean Preston Federline - Britney Spears partnered with the design house of Giorgio Armani to release Fantasy. Britney's second fragrance is a spirited love potion combining notes of red lychee, kiwi, cupcake, jasmine, white chocolate and musk. Fruity and sweet as a grocery-store birthday cake in the opening notes, the scent is rounded out nicely by chypre base notes, adding a grounded sensuality that somehow makes the whole concoction work. Scrumptious and unique, Fantasy is a flirty fragrance that works well for day or night. The round bottle, adorned with Swarovski crystals, is a stunner too.

In Control Curious Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2006)

Google Images

Britney took control of her life after a fashion, in 2006, when she filed for divorce for K-Fed. Suitably, In Control was the name she gave the limited-edition flanker released that year for her Curious Perfume. In Control is a darkly sexy scent, possibly symbolizing the I've-still-got-it power of a singer scorned. Juicy loquat fruit blends with a heart of midnight orchid, creme brulee, black vanilla bean and tonka crystals, over a sultry base of sandalwood and musk. Tom Ford did it better the same year with his Black Orchid, but we'll give Britney a B-minus for effort.

Midnight Fantasy Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2006)

Google Images

This limited-edition scent offered a sugary version of sex appeal to Britney's young fans. Exotic framboise, black cherry, and plum minge with night orchid, freesia and iris, over base notes of amber, musk and vanilla. Creamy and mysterious, this is a scent that tries hard, but ultimately sends mixed messages.

Believe Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2007)

Google Images

In 2007 - a grueling year for Britney during which she shaved her head, checked in and out of rehab, and entered a custody battle over the fate of her two children with Kevin Federline - B-Spears partnered with Elizabeth Arden to release Believe. Promoted under the slogan "The greatest freedom is to believe in yourself", the refreshing, feminine scent was aimed at Britney's youngest fans. Literally green in color, alluding to freshness and innocence, Believe is a delicate blend of guava, tangerine, honeysuckle and linden blossom, over a patchouli-amber-praline base reminiscent of Thierry Mugler's Angel Perfume. The bracing opening is well-balanced by the sugary bottom notes, making Believe a wearable, even office-appropriate scent for daytime. The multi-faceted bottle design is supposed to "represent Britney's many beliefs".

Curious Heart Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2007)

Google Images

The limited-edition Curious Heart is a sweeter version of the successful Curious Perfume. Designed for young teens - and probably not appealing to anyone older than that - the scent relies on red florals for its girlish appeal (the original Curious is a white floral blend). A pink bottle, decorated with an Ed Hardy-style tattoo heart, offers further tween appeal.

Hidden Fantasy Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2008)

Google Images

While we were waiting for a brand-new Britney Spears fragrance, we got a pair of brand extensions to her Fantasy Perfume. Hidden Fantasy was the first of these, an oriental blend of spices, fruits and florals developed by perfumer Rodrigo-Flores Roux. Sweet orange, tangerine, grapefruit blossom and verbena combine with clove, Napolitano cake, Stargazer lily, Sambac jasmine, vanilla bean, Jacaranda wood, sandalwood and amber. While the notes are fairly well-combined, the overall aroma of spiced fruitcake is probably not what Britney was going for.

Circus Fantasy Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2009)

Google Images

Circus Fantasy - created to capitalize on the strong sales of Britney Spears's Circus album - is a more successful Fantasy flanker. Created in cooperation with Elizabeth Arden, it's an upbeat fruity floral with an overall soapy scent. Top notes of juicy raspberry zest and apricot blossom mix with blue peony, lotus and orchid in the heart, with base notes of vanilla, musk and violet candy.

Radiance Perfume for Women by Britney Spears (2010)

Google Images

A decade after Britney donned a schoolgirl uniform and asked us to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" - and through the bad years of divorce, family feuds, and public breakdowns - Britney Spears had us cheering her on once again. The always-in-trouble pop star had somehow survived it all and started a comeback, buoyed by the success of her Circus album (2008) and a few, tentative public appearances. Radiance Perfume by Britney Spears, created in partnership (again) with Elizabeth Arden, promised to "make any woman feel beautiful." A bright fruity-floral, the scent combines red berries, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, iris and musk. The rectangular bottle, bejewelled with baby blue and pink stones, is to-die-for girly.

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