by Lexi Novak



Getty Images
It seems another young starlet has fallen victim to the movie industry machine that chews up pigtail-wearing little girls and spits them out as sexpots. Merida, the fiercely independent computer-animated Scottish heroine of Disney's Brave, has become the company's eleventh princess, and, in the process, she's undergone a controversial makeover.

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A few key details to note: Her already bright blue doe eyes now appear even brighter, even bluer, even doe-ier. And is that black eyeliner we detect rimming her upper lash line? Her trim waist is now so narrow that she must have broken a few ribs or be seriously sucking it in, and her kick-ass bow and arrow have been replaced with an innocuous belted sash. To top it off, Merida's awesomely untamed, frizzy mane has suspiciously been transformed into glossy Victoria's Secret hair. As someone with a head of red curls, I take particular offense at that last change.

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I have a terrible time organizing my makeup and beauty products. Here's a peak inside my master bathroom. As you can see, I don't have a medicine cabinet so I'm always on the lookout for cute ways to centralize and display my go-to products. On the flip side, it's hard for me to accumulate too much stuff, which is definitely a positive. The lack of drawers and cabinets helps me stay on top when my makeup is past its expiration date (check out this video How Long Does Makeup Last? for more on that) and what I need to buy. If you too are looking for creative storage solutions, you'll love these 7 clever ways to display your beauty products. - By Jill Seiman

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By Shannon Farrell, Daily Makeover

Diary Of A Chemical Peel The idea of a chemical peel is scary - maybe because it sounds so much like "chemical burn." But after hearing about the benefits a chemical peel can have for skin - unclogged pores, even tone, an acne-free complexion - I knew I had to try one. Whether your goal is a major makeover, like eliminating fine lines and wrinkles, or as simple as preventing breakouts, there are numerous peels to choose from, ranging from deep (many layers of skin) to light (more surface-level). Word of caution: Peels work best on pale complexions. Darker tones should stick to very mild peels so discoloring doesn't occur. Since my main concern is some acne along the chin, I decided to try the Clarify Peel (for clearing oily skin or acne) from the Jan Marini Skin Research Marini Peel System. The peel, which contains salicylic acid and mandelic acid, is one of the less harsh variety and has a recovery time of 3-5 days. Basically my skin was going to peel for five days, but

Beauty boosts for busy moms

We are all busy mamas, whether we have a newborn, toddler, preschooler, one of each - it doesn't matter. The fact is we are always "on the go" and time is certainly of the essence. However, it's important to take a few (or more!) minutes for ourselves. Not only will we look better, but we will feel more confident and happy to take on the day with our little ones. Not always easy, I know, but certainly doable!

I know when I feel blah, the kids feel blah. So I try to incorporate a little beauty boost each morning to inject a some oomph to my day. Here are ten steps and makeup products that are quick and easy to use and leave you looking and feeling good!

Top 10 Beauty Boosts For Busy Moms

1. Body Cream:
No one has much time to moisturize, but having an all over lotion like the TEN Hydration Body Cream makes it easier to get into the habit. The gentle smell is baby friendly and kind on your skin which can still be sensitive after giving birth - or you can make your own

M.A.C. Punk Couture Collection M.A.C welcomes the dark side with a limited-edition Punk Couture collection of eyeliners, lipsticks, and nail lacquer. Just in time for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's ongoing "Punk: Chaos to Couture" exhibit, and after all those headline-making, edgy outfits at the Met Gala, the beauty brand's online-only line features on-trend vampy shades.

The blackish-purple lipstick ($15) shown, in Cyber, is accompanied by another lipstick in Dark Side-a rich, burgundy color that is also featured in the shinier Pro Longwear Lipglass ($20). Both a Liquid Liner ($19.50) and the Fluidline ($16) gel formula will be sold in black. A dark lilac nail lacquer titled Dark Angel ($16) rounds out the of-the-moment collection.
The M.A.C. Punk Couture collection is currently available online in North America, with prices ranging from $15 to $23.

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by Syrett Cleary


Modern Bride/Thomas IannacconeSo let's say you wake up this morning, spontaneously buy a lottery ticket and win several thousand dollars. How ever will you spend it all? On a resort vacation? The perfect spring wardrobe? Or, perhaps, on a giant bottle of Chanel N°5?

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If you think the last option sounds a little crazy, you're not alone: ever since the brand released the 30-ounce "Grand Extrait" size of its iconic fragrance, people have been debating its value. From a logical standpoint, there isn't much. Smell fades from perfume after a few years; that's just long enough for one person to use up a standard one-ounce bottle. So even those with Marilyn Monroe-like devotion to the scent would be hard pressed to use up all that gold-colored liquid in such a short span of time. Forget about just wearing it to bed--one would have to bathe in the stuff to get through it.

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Still, as Market Watch reporter Charles Passy argues in the WSJ, the

By Lauren Caruso, Refinery29

Everything is so much easier in the summer (hello, tousled hair!). But, with warm weather's effortless insouciance comes a trade off: melting. No, we're not talking about that leather pencil skirt that you should have saved for an overcast day, but rather, your eye makeup.

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No matter how precise we are in front of the mirror on a humid morning (they're coming!), we always seem to get to work with some seriously smudged eye makeup - well beyond the point of a casually undone smoky eye and more like "rabid raccoon on a bender." Not a good look.

Let's face it: Not any old waterproof liner will do the trick. That's why we're bringing you eight of our go-to picks - we're talking everything from a lilac-hued cream that's perfect for green-eyed lasses to a cat-eye-ready, black-as-night liquid liner - that won't just make your eyes pop, but will stay in place all day long. Now, all you have left to do is

Now that it's time to trade in your pants and maxis for flirty shorts and minis, we've rounded up expert tips to keep your stems super sexy. So go ahead, show some leg!

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.