Eye Shadow

"Pssst!"Looking around the parking lot, I saw nothing yet detected the unmistakable scent of AquaNet Superhold."Over here!" It was my friend, crouched down beside her car. Except her hair. Towering above her, it was a melange of Farrah Fawcett and early Priscilla Presley with just a hint of Little Miss Toni Perm."I had a coupon for Sparkin' Sassy Beauty Photos. $19.95." She was not happy. "I thought I'd get the make-over, have my photo taken and surprise my husband for Valentine's Day. Now look at me!"

Even though Halloween has become synonymous with "sexy" and "trashy" - heck, there's even a naughty ladies' "Bert & Ernie" ensemble - you have a choice. And you can choose fashion and sophistication. There are plenty of options that will have you looking runway-ready, while remaining true to the holiday. We combed the racks at some of the region's top clothing boutiques, consignment shops, vintage troves and even a furrier for our "no costumes allowed" photo shoot. We were able to capture period charm from "Downton Abbey," "Boardwalk Empire" and "Mad Men," the futuristic feel of "Hunger Games" and the boho chic of "Girls.

Following Cher's lead, Dolly Parton is selling makeup via infomercial.The superstar -- having conquered Hollywood and Dollywood, not to mention music -- is moving on to the 30-minute commercial, where she introduces her "goof-proof" 12-product Beauty Confidence Collection."

LIMITLESS CHARMS What's so charming about charm bracelets? A new book on the popular, jangling, memento-laden accessory tells all. Charmed Bracelets by Tracey Zabar (Stuart Tabori & Chang, $19.95) provides some insight into the history of these timeless accessories and a look at some of the stories behind some famous bracelets such as Lucille Ball's gold charm bracelet that celebrated the musical career of her husband, Desi Arnaz. And since Zabar is a charm bracelet designer with a client list of stars, she also includes advice on purchasing or creating your own charm bracelet.

LIMITLESS CHARMS What's so charming about charm bracelets? A new book on the popular, jangling, memento-laden accessory tells all. Charmed Bracelets by Tracey Zabar (Stuart Tabori & Chang, $19.95) provides some insight into the history of these timeless accessories and a look at some of the stories behind some famous bracelets such as Lucille Ball's gold charm bracelet that celebrated the musical career of her husband, Desi Arnaz. And since Zabar is a charm bracelet designer with a client list of stars, she also includes advice on purchasing or creating your own charm bracelet.

Q: You say women should not wear blue eye shadow, but recommend that a brunette like myself should wear blue cool tones. Common sense would tell me to wear a mauve or purplish color to make my hazel eyes more definite, but this looks just horrible.I must own a thousand tubes of lipstick. What I am looking for is a neutral color that flatters me, a nice plum color.I would also like one eye shadow color that would open my very small eyes. At one time I had myself draped and was labeled a Winter.

Even though Halloween has become synonymous with "sexy" and "trashy" - heck, there's even a naughty ladies' "Bert & Ernie" ensemble - you have a choice. And you can choose fashion and sophistication. There are plenty of options that will have you looking runway-ready, while remaining true to the holiday. We combed the racks at some of the region's top clothing boutiques, consignment shops, vintage troves and even a furrier for our "no costumes allowed" photo shoot. We were able to capture period charm from "Downton Abbey," "Boardwalk Empire" and "Mad Men," the futuristic feel of "Hunger Games" and the boho chic of "Girls.

Spring has arrived. OK, we're lying. But the spring makeup lines of several leading cosmetics companies have arrived, so we thought we'd share. Here's the word on what's hot for this coming season: The company: Elizabeth Arden The line: Watercolors The look: Classic chic. Take your pick between the pale shimmery shades of the Caribbean or the vibrant, energetic palette of the Mediterranean. The colors: Caribbean colors include eye shadows in smooth teals and corals, peach bisque rouge and coral lipstick.

Flip through any magazine for mature women, and you're likely to see ads for creams, lotions and treatments promising to erase lines and eliminate wrinkles. But if you're still sporting the same sprayed-in-place hairdo, blue eye shadow and bright pink blush you wore 40 years ago, Leon Hall, co-host of E! Entertainment's Fashion Emergency, has some advice: "Run, don't walk, to the nearest cosmetics counter and get some help updating your look." "You're throwing your money away if your skin looks great, but your cosmetics make you look like someone from The Night of the Living Dead," says Hall, who does makeovers of men and women of all ages on his show.

Some women search for cosmetics that will instantly transform them into a replica of a Cosmo model, but deep down they know the bottom line: We're stuck with what we've got.But what's so bad about that?Nothing, says makeup artist Bobbi Brown.Although she's worked with some of the world's most glamorous models -- Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Iman, to name a few-- Ms. Brown says that every woman holds the key to beauty."I believe that beauty is based on personal style. And the cosmetics that enhance a woman's natural features are what will complement her best," she says.

Traveling is such a pain in the neck, who has time to think about cosmetics bags? Upgrade from those Ziploc bags you keep stuffing your beauty stuff into with the pretty perky preppy bags from Buzz by Jane Fox. Pink and green, pineapple-print grosgrain ribbon, little whales -- we're talking old school here. And the shapes -- ranging from shoulder totes (perfect for carry ons) to teeny tiny pouches and fun hatbox sets -- are so varied, there's something for everyone. Our favorites in Fox's spring line include the sophisticated black rose and tan gingham, the pink stripe edged in lime and the pert pink and white gingham.

Flip through any magazine for mature women, and you're likely to see ads for creams, lotions and treatments promising to erase lines and eliminate wrinkles. But if you're still sporting the same sprayed-in-place hairdo, blue eye shadow and bright pink blush you wore 40 years ago, Leon Hall, co-host of E! Entertainment's Fashion Emergency, has some advice: "Run, don't walk, to the nearest cosmetics counter and get some help updating your look." "You're throwing your money away if your skin looks great, but your cosmetics make you look like someone from The Night of the Living Dead," says Hall, who does makeovers of men and women of all ages on his show.

Spring has arrived. OK, we're lying. But the spring makeup lines of several leading cosmetics companies have arrived, so we thought we'd share. Here's the word on what's hot for this coming season: The company: Elizabeth Arden The line: Watercolors The look: Classic chic. Take your pick between the pale shimmery shades of the Caribbean or the vibrant, energetic palette of the Mediterranean. The colors: Caribbean colors include eye shadows in smooth teals and corals, peach bisque rouge and coral lipstick.

When I talk to young people interested in careers in journalism, I am brutally frank. "Newspapers are like land," I tell them, "because God isn't making more of either one." The other thing I tell them is that while you can seek your fortune in journalism, you aren't likely to make one there. Journalists aren't in it for the money, and it is a good thing. What I have not mentioned to these young people is how expensive my work can be. I spend so much of my paycheck on the job that I feel like a teen-ager working at The Gap. Here is a partial accounting: I did a gardening story on daylilies, and it featured Cherokee Gardens, owned by Marie Skelley and Jerry Betzler of Westminster, who often sell plants to daylily fans who tour their sprawling and meticulously groomed yard.

People seek fulfillment through many things: love, religion, art. Then there are those who seek it in shower gel. Aveda has one called "Fulfillment." It's part of the company's "Chakra" line of body cleansers with mood enhancing aromas. You can also choose "Motivation," "Attraction" and more. Lately, it seems, the cosmetic industry is looking for converts instead of customers. The companies and salespeople have turned into makeup missionaries, selling the concept that you can exfoliate your way to enlightenment.

Paul's Day Spa and Salon at the Festival at Woodholme in Pikesville is bringing Darphin, an exclusive line of French makeup, to Baltimore. According to Diane Resnick, senior cosmetics buyer at Paul's, Darphin's skin-care products are top-notch, so when word came that the company was introducing a small collection of makeup products, she was thrilled. We had to see for ourselves, so we headed to Paul's for a makeover from Diane. Expecting only makeup, we were pleasantly surprised by the luxurious skin treatment that accompanied it. First, Diane applied Vitalskin Cleansing Milk ($40)

Something was aflutter under those darkly lashed eyes. A new style in faces was flashing from the pages of major magazines. But it looked familiar, particularly to anyone who remembered the makeup of the '60s.Supermodel Claudia Schiffer, in her ads for Guess? jeans, launched a hair and makeup look that has thrilled eyeliner fans of all ages.It wasn't just her Brigitte Bardot look-alike features that signaled a new era in beauty trends. It was the pout of paler lips and the tousled, teased twist of a hairdo that gave momentum to the retro chic appearing in major fashion magazine editorials and advertisements and on fashion leaders.

When I talk to young people interested in careers in journalism, I am brutally frank. "Newspapers are like land," I tell them, "because God isn't making more of either one." The other thing I tell them is that while you can seek your fortune in journalism, you aren't likely to make one there. Journalists aren't in it for the money, and it is a good thing. What I have not mentioned to these young people is how expensive my work can be. I spend so much of my paycheck on the job that I feel like a teen-ager working at The Gap. Here is a partial accounting: I did a gardening story on daylilies, and it featured Cherokee Gardens, owned by Marie Skelley and Jerry Betzler of Westminster, who often sell plants to daylily fans who tour their sprawling and meticulously groomed yard.

A little nervous before her beauty pageant debut, Patty Gill slicked on a fresh coat of hot pink lipstick and confided the secret she hoped to share with the women of Bawlmer.What men really want, she said, is a woman not afraid to show her true femininity, a woman who will tease her hair into a beehive, wear frosted blue eye shadow and put on her stretch pants, rhinestone jewelry and animal prints.In short, a hon.Fortunately, Gill now has an entire year to spread the word. In her tiger-striped top and high heels, clutching a plastic purse from her mom, the 44-year-old Gill was crowned Baltimore's best hon yesterday afternoon at Hampden's Cafe Hon."

Following Cher's lead, Dolly Parton is selling makeup via infomercial.The superstar -- having conquered Hollywood and Dollywood, not to mention music -- is moving on to the 30-minute commercial, where she introduces her "goof-proof" 12-product Beauty Confidence Collection."