Blog Posts by BeautyRiot Diva

Even if you haven't actually read the insanely popular "50 Shades of Grey" -- no judgment if you have -- you've probably at least heard about it. After all, it's not everyday that erotica about a woman's sexual awakening (with more than a few S&M sex scenes) tops the bestseller list. And like many other bestsellers, people are dreaming up ways to capitalize on its success. The latest idea? A "Shades of Grey" merchandise line including lingerie and beauty products.

Related: Worst Celebrity Clothing Lines

It seems a little cheesy, and clearly everyone is just out to make as much cash as they can off of the "50 Shades of Grey" phenomenon. But is it really that surprising? It's been reported that ever since the release of the book, there's been a spike in necktie sales.

And it doesn't stop there. According to a press release, there are more "Shades of Grey" product lines coming down the pipeline, including home furnishings and stationary. Lingerie we get, but home

There's a reason I've never had the courage to get a tattoo. In addition to my incredibly low pain tolerance, I'm afraid of developing some major regret post-ink.

Related: 19 Ugly Tattoo Mistakes

My best friend Sarah says you only live once. So it wasn't too shocking when she got her boyfriend's name tattooed on her inner thigh. Long story short, she did end up regretting the decision, but not because they broke up. She regretted it because his name was Terrell and the tattoo read "Darrell." Oops.

Related: Fake Tattoos: Not Just For Kids

We asked our Facebook friends if they also had a tattoo they seriously regretted. And we got an earful: "I have two Japanese symbols -- one on each shoulder. I don't speak Japanese, so I don't even know if they say what they are supposed to and if it's really culturally appropriate. I had them done for my 18th birthday. Oh to be young." -- Rose S.

Related: Before You Tattoo: Must-Know Tips

"My husband's name on

Disclaimer: This post contains graphic special effects images depicting violence against women.

Bulgarian Magazine "12" just released its latest issue with a beauty spread depicting women as the victims of brutal violence. Besides black eyes, the women are also shown with split lips, burned skin, and cut throats. Keep in mind, this is for a beauty spread, one that is supposed to show off the beauty of makeup … right.

Related: Real Women: With/Without Makeup

We wish we could say we are shocked by this imagery, but the truth is we're not. Every few years, an art director decides that extreme violence against women makes for good/provocative/interesting art. (Take a look at the 1979 documentary "Killing Us Softly: Advertising's Image of Women" by Jean Kilbourne to see just how unoriginal this idea really is.)

What's actually shocking is that this type of imagery is still being used, and no one seems to care. Sure, there may be a bit of

Another day, another controversial fashion ad campaign. This time the brand under fire is high-end British department store Harvey Nichols, who mailed out fliers last week with models looking as if they peed their pants alongside the words, "The Harvey Nichols sale: try to contain your excitement."

Related: Readers' Wardrobe Malfunctions

Cue the backlash. Looks like everybody's all riled up, and here are just a few of the angry Tweets:

"Crass. Sorry @Harvey-Nichols but they're absolutely disgusting."

"Take a look at the WORST advertising I've ever seen & it's for @Harvey-Nichols."

"Really, @Harvey-Nichols? REALLY??"

Related: 15 Reasons to Love London

Are we the only ones cracking up over these ads? C'mon, models peeing their pants is funny. Sure, it's a tad bizarre, but it's all in good fun. In the worlds of fashion and advertising it's easy to get sucked up into the serious side of things, but sometimes it's important to just kick back, relax,

Call me weird, but I buy my fake lashes in bulk. It's an obsession that started when I was in college, and it's only gotten worse since moving to Los Angeles. Call it my falsies fixation.

Related: Fake Tattoos: Not Just For Kids

But while I stick to the standard strip of plain black lashes, it's amazing to see how far false eyelashes can go … literally. From diamond-encrusted lash extensions (see them here) to LED "lashlights" (right here), false eyelashes know no bounds. These trends may be too extreme for me, but go ahead and scroll down to see for yourself.

Related: The Real Deal On False Lashes

Falsies Infatuation

Love-struck? Break out the diary, crank up the Biebs ... and indulge in these love-ly lashes.

Coiled Out

Loopy lashes look awesome, but how would you ever find a curling iron that small? (Joking).

Related: Are You Using the Right Mascara?

Happy Holidays

Who knew Christmas tree tinsel could be such a multi-purpose material?

How often do you think about fashion? Try 91 times a day. At least that's what researchers found after conducting a recent poll of 1,000 British women between the ages of 18 and 25. (To put that number in perspective, women think about sex only 10 times a day.)


Related: What Stylish Girls Are Buying

The researchers asked the women to count the number of times they shopped (online or in-person), daydreamed about shopping, checked out the outfits of others, or just thought about clothing and accessories. You may think you don't obsess over fashion nearly as much as these 1,000 women, but if you really think about it, 91 times a day isn't all that crazy in the scheme of things.

After all, fashion is everywhere --from magazines and TV to the Internet and billboards. As a result, we think about it a lot. Says fashion expert Mark Heyes, "When you look at it logically, the figure makes sense. Compared to 15 or 20 years ago, fashion is so engrained in our culture nowadays --

Confession time: Last week, I spent an entire paycheck on a new pair of boots. They're French, black, and make my legs look like Beyonce's. Crazy? Maybe a little, but I think a shoe binge once in a while can be healthy. But, for a little confirmation that I'm not nuts, I asked the other editors about their biggest shoe splurges:

Related: What Guys Think Of Your Shoes

"About four years ago, when the government gave out 'stimulus checks,' I took the $600, went straight to Barney's, and bought a pair of Prada sandals I'd been eyeing. I had other expensive shoes, but always bought them on sale or with the help of a gift card, but these were full price -- and I didn't feel guilty about it. (Except maybe I should've picked an American designer!) They're still one of my favorite pairs of shoes." -- Dawn D.

Related: Best Shoes for Your Body Type

"I'm not a heel girl by any means, but when you live in New York City there are a few things that just about every fashionable

You know how it seems like only celebrities can get that voluminous, gorgeous, glossy hair that looks perfectly polished at all times? Well, good news: Mere mortals, like you and me, can get an amazing blow out at home. How is this possible? Enter Yoshi Hagiwara from Yoshi's Hair Studio in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Related: Dye Time: Hair Color Trends to Try

Together, we broke it down for you, step-by-step, in this foolproof guide to achieving a salon-worthy blow out every single time. This isn't magic … it's just a few key tips and tricks that will make your hair go from "meh" to jaw-dropping. Scroll down to get started, or click here for the full guide.

Related: 12 Ponytail Alternatives

No. 1: Protection Required

Heat tools damage hair. BUT, if you use the right products before you blow dry, you can minimize that damage. Before a blow out, Yoshi uses his specially pH balanced water (called Yoshi's Magic Water, $14), which opens the hair shaft, allowing