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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