Blog Posts by The chicks at TotalBeauty.com

While doing some fragrance research the other day (a nerdy thing only beauty writers do), I got wind of a fabulous app -- the iPerfumer. It's a perfume concierge by Givaudan (a company that creates fragrances for a ton of popular brands) that's free of charge. Upon this discovery, I did some more digital digging and found what I think are the 5 best beauty apps. They're pretty sweet. Have you tried a beauty life-changing app that's not on this list (like Total Beauty's nifty product-finding app)? Do share.

Age Defying Tricks, $.99

A compendium of advice from top beauty mags like Vogue and cosmetic companies like Aveda, this app boasts more than 100 tips and insider how-tos like: "Heavy powders tend to make the skin look dry and accentuate lines. Opt for a lightweight foundation with light-reflecting ingredients to brighten the skin." Won't solve world hunger, but sometimes the right tip can make a big difference. For more foundation tips, take this quiz to find the best

I have straight, fine, flat (aka boring) hair. My older, way cooler and prettier sister does not. She was blessed with big, voluminous curls that always look effortlessly bouncy. From the day I started watching her get ready in front of the mirror in high school -- for yet another date with some football-playing dream machine -- I envied every coil on her perfect head.

That's when I started experimenting with the curling iron. I call it "experimenting" because after all these years, I still haven't figured out how to perfectly curl my hair. Luckily, I got celebrity hairstylist Amita Moticka, director of cutting education for diPietro Todd salons and academy to finally give me tips on how to use a curling iron like a pro. Here's what she spilled:

Curling tip 1: Choose the right sized iron

All curling irons were not created equal, so if you want to keep your hair healthy and achieve the look you're after, you need to know what to look for in an iron. Here is a basic

From PH-based blush to at-home LED teeth whiteners -- we bring you the most innovative new technologies in luxe beauty products. Have you tried any of these products yet? Which ones do you think are true breakthroughs, and which don't live up to the hype?

A pH-based flush: Stila Custom Color Blush, $20

Introducing … the first pH-based powder blush that reacts with your unique skin tone and pH to create a customized shade. How? Well, your pH is as unique as your fingerprint, and according to Stila, "when combined with the raw ingredient, Red 27, it reacts to the pH (acid/alkaline) level in the skin creating a custom color on each individual." Bonus: This blush smoothes the appearance of fine lines and blemishes, giving your cheeks a flawless pop of color. Check out the best and worst cheek stains.

Eye de-puffing miracle: La Mer The Eye Balm Intense, $145

The eye area is prone to a buildup of fluids that

The gossipy chatter of "The Social Network" star, JT's, infidelity is yawn-y to us -- what we find more exciting is Jessica Biel's new, dark, beautiful hair color. So what do you think? Do you like the a.) vixen-esque deep rich brown, b.) the natural-looking medium brown, or c.) the super-light blonde? Vote by commenting.

• Color your hair recently too? Then invest in one of these 14 best color-protecting shampoos.
• Do you have thin hair like Jessica Biel? Check out these sexy celebrity hairstyles for fine hair.
• See photos of celebrity hairstyles and get ideas for a new haircut.
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It happened one (not so special) Sunday. I was perusing the beauty counter at Bloomingdale's for a beauty product I most likely didn't need, but one that might fill some unknown emotional void … c'mon, you know you do it too. While I typically like to be left alone and avoid eye contact with the often over zealous salespeople, I was feeling particularly chipper and decided to engage with a smiling woman cloaked in black. Besides, I've read the Nice Girls Guide to Pushy Salespeople and have finally learned it's OK to say "no thank you" when offered a spray of something that smells like my great aunt Ingrid.

Anyway, I accepted a spritz of Nanette Lepore Eau de Parfum Spray, $68 from "Debbie" on my wrist. At first whiff, I was slightly intrigued. By the time I had reached the shoe department, I had decided that it was hands down the most beautiful smell I had ever inhaled. Then I decided I could not LIVE another day on this planet NOT smelling like it. A 2.5 ounce bottle of

Katy Perry and Russell Brand have safely arrived in India for their wedding extravaganza. Their ceremony is slated to take place this Saturday -- barring cold feet … We're dying to see if her gown will be elegant or tacky, what hair color she'll sport (that Smurfette style of hers still haunts us, so we're hoping she won't apply "something blue" to her hair), which makeup look she'll go for and if she'll, um, like it when she kisses her groom.

In the meantime, let's talk about Perry's voluptuous lashes and how they are totally copy-worthy (for your wedding makeup look or just in general). Here, thanks to Mary Schook, lash specialist and founder of msapothecary.com, we break down the various lash routes you can take to get seriously lush lashes.

1. Grow your own:

Take things into your own hands and amp up what your mama gave you. "All of my clients love NeuLash, $150," says Schook. OK'd by derms and ophthalmologists, it gives you longer, thicker lashes while

So, I secretly love infomercials. There I said it. And, I don't just watch them to lull me to sleep during bouts of insomnia. I actually seek them out. I "stay up" to be sold on a Ped Egg and tweezers with a light up tip that comes with a free magnifying mirror and a bathrobe -- if I "call within the next ten minutes." I'm the sucker that bought Oxy Clean from Billy Mays (may he rest in peace) at 3am on a not-so-spectacular Friday night. I had a Chia Pet, a Bedazzler and currently still wear my Snuggie on cold afternoons. I'm the girl that uses the best "As seen on TV" hair care products, and I love them.

I actually have no shame admitting my television product buying habits, because despite how weird or wacky the products are or sound, I've never been an unsatisfied customer. Never once have I needed to dial customer service and demand they make good on their excellent return policy. Everything I have ever bought has worked. Which got me to thinking; I wonder which "crazy" looking

OK, so you may not be a big Paris Hilton fan, but what if you love her perfume -- would you boycott it just out of principle? Or let's say you're a die hard Gwen Stefani fan, but think her scent kinda smells like bug spray -- would you still buy it? Well, some of our readers were taken aback by which celebrity-endorsed perfumes they fell in love with and which ones made them gag. Ladies and gentlemen (if we actually have any dudes reading), this is our roundup of the best and worst celebrity perfumes.

The Worst: No. 3: White Diamonds Elizabeth Taylor Parfum, $100

One reader says, "it's like granny perfume that has been sitting on the dresser for 40 years. Very strong. Not for me." Another agrees saying, "classic doesn't always mean great. It's definitely a strong scent that is good for anyone over the age of 50, I wouldn't say 'grandma' because this is an old scent, but it's something that the older ladies probably used when they were teens."