ShopSmart's Top Online Beauty Destinations

You’re willing to scrimp on some things to save money, but not your makeup. So how can you save without giving up your favorite brands? Go online.

ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, checked out more than two dozen beauty sites to find the best ones. The November issue details the results - but here's a sneak peek:

Best Overall Selection: Beauty.com
Shipping Free if you spend $49 or more.
Return policy 30 days on unopened products or, for certain items, if you don’t like the color. Returns cost $4.99 unless a product is damaged or incorrect or the color is wrong.

Great for Hard-to-Find Products: Beautyhabit.com
Shipping Free on orders of $100 or more; otherwise $5.95.
Return policy 14 days on most items. No returns on opened or used products.

Great for Trendy Brands: Beautyofasite.com
Shipping Free on orders over $75; otherwise $5.95 to $8.95.
Return policy 30 days. You pay for return shipping unless the product was damaged. All returns are for exchange or store credit only. There are no refunds or returns on color cosmetics.

Best Prices: Buymebeauty.com
Shipping Free on orders of $35 or more; $4.95 on orders of less than $35.
Return policy 30 days. Products must be unused and unopened, unless they are defective. You have to call or e-mail before returning products; you will also have to pay the costs of return shipping.

Great Return Policy: Cosmeticmall.com
Shipping $5.95 plus 93 cents per pound.
Return policy 30 days. You can return most products for any reason, even after they’re opened.

Great Drugstore Makeup Section: Drugstore.com
Shipping Free on your first nonprescription order of $25 or more; free on orders of $49 or more after that.
Return policy 30 days. Returns are free if a product is damaged, defective, or incorrect. Returns are free on certain products if you don’t like the color. Otherwise, products must be unopened and unused.

Great for Freebies: Sephora.com
Shipping Free on orders over $50; otherwise $5.95.
Return policy 60 days. Free return shipping. Store credit after 60 days.

Great for Organic Products: Skinbotanica.com
Shipping Free on orders over $49; otherwise $5.95.
Return policy 60 days.

Best Shipping Deal: Skin-One.com
Shipping Free.
Return policy 30 days. Product must be at least 75 percent full. You have to pay return shipping fees, and no returns are allowed of an opened product if you received a sample of it with your order.

Best Online Version of a Walk-In Store: Walgreens.com
Shipping Many items qualify for free shipping of purchases of $50 or more; otherwise $5.49 for 10 pounds or less.
Return policy 30 days.

Sad Site: BeautyDepot.com
This site didn’t have a wide selection of products. You have to buy $99 worth of stuff to get free shipping; otherwise you could end up paying $7.95 or more for UPS ground. Cosmetics (and many other products) were not returnable, and there’s no toll-free customer-service number.

Fashtastic Giveaway Winners...

Top o' the workweek to you.

The time has come to announce the winners of Spoiled Pretty's Fashtastic Giveaway, sponsored by Urban Decay and Ananas.

The grand prize winner is none other than Deborah Campbell. Debbie has won samplings from Urban Decay's new fall collection, which includes: 3 Lipsticks, two 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils, one 24/7 Concealer Pencil, one Grind House Pencil Sharpener, and two Matte Eyeshadows - all in her choice of shades. Debbie really lucked out because she will also receive the Coco Clutch, courtesy of Ananas Collection. This gorgeous zip clutch is adorned with a wood ring. It’s perfect as a clutch, makeup case or to organize in a larger bag! All in all, the grand prize is valued at $252!!!



The runners-up are Tammy T and Julie Dacus. They will receive one Lipstick, one 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil and one 24/7 Concealer Pencil. Check your email, ladies. I'll be asking for your color preferences, as well.

Thanks to everyone who entered. And a special thanks to Urban Decay and Ananas, for hooking my readers up!

If you thought this giveaway was amazing, be sure to check back later today. You ain't seen nuthin' yet!

Copy Heidi Klum's Very Sexy Emmy Look

Victoria’s Secret head makeup artist, Linda Hay gave Heidi Klum a 1930’s inspired look for the 2008 Emmy Awards.

Linda was inspired by Heidi’s gunmetal grey Armani Prive gown. To off set the color of the gunmetal and staying on trend with the season, Linda opted for a palette of green, gunmetal and silver. Keeping it soft, but bright, Linda used items from Heidi Klum’s Very Sexy Makeup Fall Collection:

Eyes: Mosaic Eye Shadow in Butterfly
Cheeks: Mosaic Blush in Jewel
Lips: Lipstick in Malibu and Lip gloss in Cupcake

It's A Motherf-ing Walkoff

In the immortal words of Project Runway Season 2 contestant Daniel Vosovic, it was a "motherf-ing walkoff" at the Fashion for Relief Annual Fashion Show last Wednesday.

Naomi and Chanel Iman sashayed and shante'd down the catwalk at the same time, in the same dress (it's an Alaia). In case you hadn't heard...he's, like, a totally important designer.

Steal Ferrera's Style With Fekkai

Hairstylist Daniel Howell used Frederic Fekkai products on Emmy nominee, America Fererra for the 2008 Emmys.

The look: A modern day Veronica Lake with heightened definition and a defined wave pattern. Accented with a strong side part and pulled back to one side.

How to get the look: Start by applying Défense Pre-Style Thermal UV Protectant to wet hair. Brush from roots to ends with the Classic Brush. Spray Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel through out and dry hair. Using a 3/4 inch curling iron start at the nape of the neck and wrap the hair from middle to root. Make sure all the hair is going in the same direction making it a repetitious pattern. Then use the next size curling iron on the ends of the hair. Go through the entire head from right side to left side. Clip the hair into desired waves close to the scalp. Remove clips and brush out curls for a soft finish. Set with Sheer Hold Hairspray.

Pony Up For Charity

For 25 years, Hasbro’s My Little Pony has brought fun, friendship, and joy of play to millions of little girls around the world. To celebrate a quarter century, Hasbro created a special program, "The My Little Pony Project: 25 Ponies for 25 Years" - to benefit Give Kids the World Village, a resort in Orlando that hosts children with life-threatening illnesses and their families for a cost-free stay and visit to the Central Florida theme parks and attractions.

"The My Little Pony Project: 25 Ponies for 25 Years" is an international collection of one-of-a-kind 18-inch figures designed by popular culture influentials, including celebrities, fashion designers, artists and My Little Pony fans, like Kimora Lee Simmons and John Stamos (who would've thunk it?).

The complete collection can be seen here and 100% of the sale of each figure will benefit Give Kids the World.

A Tail Of Two Headbands

Just in case you've been somewhere and just got back, allow me bring you up to speed. Braids are all the rage. Anybody who's anybody has been spied sporting milkmaid plaits, cornrows, and microbraids.

Wanna join the braid brigade, but got two left hands? Or don't have the time to brush your hair, let alone braid it? Don't be discouraged. It's Tonytail to the rescue.

The Tonytail Company has these great braided headbands, made of soft, synthetic hair. For a chunkier look, try Thick Braidies (1/2 inch). Thin Braidies (1/4 inch) are for stylistas going for a more subtle interpretation of the trend.

I wore both Braidies all over NYC for Fashion Week. The dark brown color was such a perfect match to my own hair that I received countless compliments - from friends and strangers.

Check me out (accompanied by the lovely Amber and Marina) rocking the Thick Braidies headband at a Fashion Week dinner, sponsored by MAC. It's all about the braided hair, baby!