Who's Down for a Leopard Print Bikini Wax?

A London salon is offering up some outrageous options in the "down there" department From Alex Brownsell, the proprietor of London's trendy "Bleach" salon -- and the stylist who brought us candy-colored dipped ends -- comes the latest craze in hair care … the "downstairs dye."

According to New York magazine, the inspiration for the avant-garde service was Betty Beauty, "an at-home coloring treatment for your bikini area (to cover grays)," which she and her team decided to take one-step further.

"It's a bit like Marmite," Brownsell told the magazine about the dye job's love it or leave it appeal. "We put it on the menu for a bit of fun but it's getting to be quite popular, especially because of the summer. I've had it done, a few of our stylists have had it done, loads of my friends have been in and had it done. We've got people coming in just for a wax that are seeing it, thinking about it, and then coming in the next time asking for it. Every one of my friends who has had it done has come in for a second go."

The heart-shape is very popular, as are the leopard print landing strip and tie-dye pattern. All this, thanks to the salon's "over-qualified waxer," Chelsea.

Brownsell explains; "First you pick the shape you want — a triangle, strip, heart — anything like that. Then Chelsea will paint the area in the shape, you don’t actually dye all of it. It is then bleached, left on for ten to fifteen minutes, then wiped off and a secondary color is applied. This is a stain and only takes two minutes. Then Chelsea takes that off and does the waxing procedure as normal. It's really quick."

And, soon, you may not have to wing on over to London to have the procedure done. Brownsell is planning to open a salon in New York by year's end. Although, she's not sure she'll have this specific service on the menu. "I think we’ll just do hair, unless there's a demand for the downstairs dye. I don't think I could do it though. I'd have to take Chelsea."

Would you be up for a "downstairs dye" or do you prefer to keep your bikini area more mainstream?

Do NOT Follow These Celebrity Beauty Tips

Surprise! Being an actress doesn't make you a beauty expert in the slightest

In our celebrity-obsessed culture, we put stars on pedestals and think they can do no wrong. GOOP-y Gwynneth becomes a self-professed expert on everything from diet and health to outrageously expensive tee-shirts, Snooki offers up weight loss tips and we're always reading about what makeup products celebs (no matter how D-list) keep in their handbags.

Guess what? Being famous for acting, singing or being drunk doesn't make you an expert on anything but acting, singing or, well, you get the drift.

That's what makes this compendium of actress-proffered beauty tips so amusing. Styleist compiled a bunch of celebrity beauty blunders that make for a good chuckle.

For instance, both the aforementioned GOOP and model Giselle Bundchen don't think there's anything wrong with spending unprotected time in the sun. About SPF, the model famously said, "I cannot put this poison on my skin. I do not use anything synthetic."

Snooki's little gem is a doozy. In her best-selling (how is that possible) book, "Confessions of a Guidette," the diminutive new mom revealed that she's used kitty litter as an exfoliant. Why she'd choose that over, say, salt or baking soda if she didn't have an actual exfoliant handy is mind-boggling.

Sandra Bullock, like many of us, buys into the "Preparation H" for reducing undereye swelling, but there's been zero scientific proof that this hemorrhoid cream really works for anything other than what it's intended for.

And, perhaps the biggest gaffe of them all comes to us courtesy of Taylor Swift who admits to the following; “I once used a Sharpie as eyeliner in an airplane bathroom because I didn’t have any with me.” Not too swift of an idea.

So, remember, celebrities might be pretty to look at on screen or stage or magazine cover but that does not make them bastions of what's good and true in the beauty (or any other) realm.

Are Vitamins and Supplements Bad For You?

A noted physician has waged war on the vitamin industry

"If you take large quantities of vitamin A, vitamin E, beta carotene [or] selenium, you increase your risk of cancer, risk of heart disease, and you could shorten your life," Dr. Paul Offit, a researcher at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says. And, he means business.

Offit, who's best known to us non-scientist types as the doctor who's been defending vaccines from naysayer activists like Jenny McCarthy (who believes there's a link between them and autism), has written a new book called, "Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine" and he's determined to make people stand up and take notice of his findings.

At issue is how much we all seek a magic bullet to keep us healthy. This excerpt from an interview he gave The Guardian offers insight into his rationale as to why we don't need to take vitamins.

"You need vitamins to convert food into energy. The question is how best to get them. Most people who eat a reasonable diet will get everything they need in the food that they eat. But there are some people who have special diets – for example vegans or those who live in climates where it's never sunny – who would benefit from supplemental vitamins. But, for the most part, we get what we need in foods.

Other people think: “Because I'm not sure I'm getting all my vitamins, let me just take a multivitamin every day” – which is OK. Multivitamins contain at or about the recommended dose of vitamins for that day. But then there are some people who believe that more is better – that by taking large quantities of daily vitamins they will do even better, live even longer and decrease the risk of cancer or heart disease. But in fact, many studies have shown that the exact opposite is true – that if you choose to take these large quantities of excess vitamins, then you increase risk of cancer and heart disease and shorten your life."

Offit maintains that we all think that vitamins can't possibly be bad for us when they're supposed to be fundamentally healthy. We, according to the doctor, are wrong.

"Look at the root of the word: 'Vita' means life. I think people can't imagine you could ever get too much of a good thing. But the second thing is that this industry is very good at projecting the idea that this product lives under an untouchable halo. It’s a matter of perception. If you go into a General Nutrition Center, you can get a preparation, which contains 3,333% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin E. In fact, that's a typical Vitamin E preparation that's available. If you open up the bottle and take out one capsule, you'll find that it's smaller than an almond. And, in fact, almonds are a good source of Vitamin E. One almond has about 2% of the recommended daily allowance. But to get to 33 times the daily-recommended allowance, you would need to eat about 1,700 almonds – or about 17 pounds of almonds.

And when you do things like this, when you take 33 times the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin E, you are messing around with Mother Nature. I think if people saw that one capsule as 1,700 almonds, they would be hesitant to take it. But they don't see it that way."

Of course, as with any such hot button issue, this book -- and the press he's been doing to support it -- has many supporters and detractors. We are programmed to believe what we hear on the news, read in magazines and to follow our physicians' recommendations, so many of us simply do as we're told without questioning it. Then, we hear something utterly contrary to what we've bought as gospel and it sends us for a loop.

What do you think of Dr. Offit's premise? Do you take vitamins and supplements? Will you continue to do so without giving it any further thought or has this argument created some doubt?

Men vs. Women: Who Takes Longer to Get Ready in The Morning?

The results of a new poll may surprise you -- and provide you with some much-needed ammo It's a stereotype as old as "Father Knows Best;" Women take forever to get ready. Right? You've seen the scenario countless times …

[Interior hallway; early evening]

Jim: "Hi Mr. Smith, is Jill ready for the dance?"

Mr. Smith: "Why, no son, (chuckle, wink) she's still upstairs putting on her face, why don't we go into the den and stare awkwardly at each other until she manages to extricate herself from her vanity table."

[Cue: laugh track]

Yuk, yuk, YUCK.

The good thing about stereotypes -- the great thing actually -- is when they're proven to be nothing but, well, stereotypes, myopic, one-sided, errant views of something. And, for today's purposes, we'd like nothing more than to shatter the one that we tender-sweet young things take an inordinate amount of time getting "ready."

According to a joint study conducted by The Huffington Post and YouGov, designed to find out once and for all which sex takes longer prepping to leave the house, it turns out that both men and women primp for exactly the same amount of time. (That sound you hear is me gloating in my curlers.)

READ: New Study Says You'd Rather Look Cute for Your Girlfriends Than Your Guy

1,000 American adults were polled to see how long they preen before leaving for the day and "both 52 percent of men and 52 percent of women said it took them 10-30 minutes." The disparity only widened when it came to grooming for a night out which saw the numbers shift slightly. (58 percent of men and 42 percent of women take 10-30 minutes to prep, while 42 percent of women took more than half an hour -- but, hey, you try doing a decent smoky eye and flat ironing your hair in the time in takes to apply some nasty-smelling Axe.)

So, next time some (your?) dude gives you grief about having to wait for you to alight from your boudoir at long last, I'd like you to shoot him this link or, at the very least, point out that his nose hairs could use some trimming.

READ: 12 Hair and Makeup Looks Men Hate

Feeling Lonely? Step Away From The Mall

New research reveals that shopping is an isolating experience When you're sad and blue nothing makes you feel better than a little retail therapy, right? Not so fast. According to a new study called "Bidirectional Dynamics of Materialism and Loneliness: Not Just a Vicious Cycle" published in the Journal of Consumer Research, the opposite is true.

Despite the temporary rush of adrenaline you may experience from buying that new handbag, pair of spiky heels or little black dress, purchasing them (or whatever else floats your boat) essentially enhances the feelings you're trying to avoid.

Here's the deal from the study's author, Rik Pieters; "Valuing material possessions as a measure of success and as a medicine for happiness were associated with increases in loneliness over time, and loneliness in its turn was associated with increases in these subtypes of materialism. Jointly, this forms the vicious side of the materialism-loneliness cycle, which perpetuates once it is formed."

And, as New York Magazine explains, "In addition to taking time and money away from more fulfilling social activities, certain types of materialism can lead to a dangerous kind of self-judgment wherein we value ourselves based on our possessions rather than our relationships (and compare ourselves to others accordingly). That means you'll never truly be able to enjoy that pair of shoes you bought, because someone else will inevitably have nicer ones and make you feel just as pathetic as you did before you bought them (or maybe even worse, because now you're poorer)."

READ: 10 Grocery Shopping Secrets of Slim Women

Does all this mean that you shouldn't hit the shops when you're down in the dumps? Not necessarily -- as long as you realize that the only thing you get from shelling out big bucks for a Chanel bag or a few dollars for a pair PayLess pumps is a new bag and some shoes -- that surely won't serve as some magic tonic to cure all (or anything) that ails you.

So, the next time you're lost and alone and sinking like a stone (thanks Fun.), rather than reaching for your credit card, seek out a friend and take a walk, have a Frappucino or see a movie instead. Your feelings of loneliness -- as well as your bottom line -- will vastly improve.

READ: Quiz: Are You Depressed?

Are Vitamins and Supplements Bad For You?

A noted physician has waged war on the vitamin industry

"If you take large quantities of vitamin A, vitamin E, beta carotene [or] selenium, you increase your risk of cancer, risk of heart disease, and you could shorten your life," Dr. Paul Offit, a researcher at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says. And, he means business.

Offit, who's best known to us non-scientist types as the doctor who's been defending vaccines from naysayer activists like Jenny McCarthy (who believes there's a link between them and autism), has written a new book called, "Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine" and he's determined to make people stand up and take notice of his findings.

At issue is how much we all seek a magic bullet to keep us healthy. This excerpt from an interview he gave The Guardian offers insight into his rationale as to why we don't need to take vitamins.

"You need vitamins to convert food into energy. The question is how best to get them. Most people who eat a reasonable diet will get everything they need in the food that they eat. But there are some people who have special diets – for example vegans or those who live in climates where it's never sunny – who would benefit from supplemental vitamins. But, for the most part, we get what we need in foods.

Other people think: “Because I'm not sure I'm getting all my vitamins, let me just take a multivitamin every day” – which is OK. Multivitamins contain at or about the recommended dose of vitamins for that day. But then there are some people who believe that more is better – that by taking large quantities of daily vitamins they will do even better, live even longer and decrease the risk of cancer or heart disease. But in fact, many studies have shown that the exact opposite is true – that if you choose to take these large quantities of excess vitamins, then you increase risk of cancer and heart disease and shorten your life."

Offit maintains that we all think that vitamins can't possibly be bad for us when they're supposed to be fundamentally healthy. We, according to the doctor, are wrong.

"Look at the root of the word: 'Vita' means life. I think people can't imagine you could ever get too much of a good thing. But the second thing is that this industry is very good at projecting the idea that this product lives under an untouchable halo. It’s a matter of perception. If you go into a General Nutrition Center, you can get a preparation, which contains 3,333% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin E. In fact, that's a typical Vitamin E preparation that's available. If you open up the bottle and take out one capsule, you'll find that it's smaller than an almond. And, in fact, almonds are a good source of Vitamin E. One almond has about 2% of the recommended daily allowance. But to get to 33 times the daily-recommended allowance, you would need to eat about 1,700 almonds – or about 17 pounds of almonds.

And when you do things like this, when you take 33 times the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin E, you are messing around with Mother Nature. I think if people saw that one capsule as 1,700 almonds, they would be hesitant to take it. But they don't see it that way."

Of course, as with any such hot button issue, this book -- and the press he's been doing to support it -- has many supporters and detractors. We are programmed to believe what we hear on the news, read in magazines and to follow our physicians' recommendations, so many of us simply do as we're told without questioning it. Then, we hear something utterly contrary to what we've bought as gospel and it sends us for a loop.

What do you think of Dr. Offit's premise? Do you take vitamins and supplements? Will you continue to do so without giving it any further thought or has this argument created some doubt?

Why Carol Alt Looks Better Now Than She Did 10 Years Ago

52 year-old former Sports Illustrated swimsuit babe, Carol Alt, doesn’t do cosmetic injectables like Restylane. She doesn’t do scalpels or lasers either. What she does do is not cook her food.

"18 years ago, when I was 34, I felt like my body was falling apart” recalls the 5’9” beauty who has graced more than 700 magazine covers and more than 65 movies.

“I had terrible sinus problems, bad acid indigestion, my skin was starting to wrinkle, I was gaining weight that was getting harder and harder to lose and, for the first time, PMS was becoming a problem."

"I was taking NyQuil to fall asleep, drinking coffee laced with scotch to wake up, popping Sudafed and inhaling Afrin to help with my allergies. I was a walking mini drugstore. And I kept thinking I'm only 34! What will I be like at 60?'"

Out of the blue, a longtime pal, whose girlfriend had made a remarkable recovery from pernicious cervical cancer by incorporating a raw food diet in to her treatment, recommended she get in touch with Dr. Timothy Brantley in Los Angeles. "I picked up the phone and Dr. Brantley started talking to me about how I ate and how the body works and introduced me to the concept of eating raw…it was the absolute biggest miracle I've had in my life."

Since having adopted the raw food philosophy ten years ago, she maintains that she has not taken one over-the-counter pill, not had any major colds or flus. Gone are her persistent stomachaches and nasal problems.

"I didn't take any drugs, I didn't get my stomach stapled…the only thing I changed was my food. And, even my mother, my most honest critic, now says to me 'You used to have all these fine lines and wrinkles. What happened?' And I laugh because, sure, you can go andinject Botox but six months later you have to do it again. This isn't going away."

What exactly is a raw diet? Can anyone besides bunny rabbits really subsist on it? The concept behind eating raw is that once foods are heated above 106-107 degrees Fahrenheit they begin to lose their nutritional value and that cooking above 116 degrees kills all enzymes (widely considered to be the "life force" of any food ) and so changes its molecular structures that it becomes toxic to the body.

As a frame of reference, most traditional cookbooks suggest heating, say, your roast beef until it reaches an internal temperature of 135-140 and that's just for a medium-rare roast.The majority of soups, sauces, stews, etc. are prepared at boiling point – clearly well past the 106 degree cut off point for raw foodists.

"When I was a model I starved myself. Now I have trouble keeping weight on because sometimes I forget to eat! You should eat such a big raw breakfast that your lunch is chosen with your head, not with your stomach – that way, you chose the proper things for your body in terms of nutrition.

One doctor explained to me "that it's basically a preferential exchange between your body and fat. The human body cannot use cooked fats. But, if you consume raw ones, your system will exchange the bad cooked fats for good raw fats which become stored and, ultimately as you call upon this energy you get thinner and thinner because you're drawing fats out of your system and using them – cooked fats always stay there."

Carol maintains that being a raw foodist does NOT mean that you have to become a vegetarian or a vegan, though many who chose to adopt this lifestyle are. "For me that is way too strict," says Alt. "I love raw (unpasteurized) cheeses and I love honeys and I love seared fishes and tuna carpaccios and tartars."

If you absolutely can't give up red meat, get it seared or "black and blue" because, explains Carol, "that is much better for you than having your meat cooked all the way through. This way, at least it's a percentage raw and a percentage cooked and if you get the percentage raw it's got enzymes in it and raw fats and minerals and vitamins in it and that's what I’m after -- the part that's going to help you digest what you've just eaten AND feed your body."

Interest piqued? Pick up a copy of Carol’s book, “Eating in the Raw” – wherein she extols the virtues – from optimum health to weight loss and fewer wrinkles – of eating a raw food diet, and introduces the concept in a beginner-friendly, 'I'll walk you through it', kind of way.

Summer Style and Beauty Bible

Let our experts help you navigate the mystifying seas of summer's prettiest looks

From strategic pops of color to the clever application of go-to products, this summer's beauty and fashion essentials work wonders at keeping you looking cool and crisp when you're feeling everything but.

To give you a leg up in making sense of all the options, we've consulted with several experts who've honed in on their absolute must-wear products and trends and the resulting picks are sure to add just the right amount of sizzle to your summer style.

Ready to ride the wave of the season's hottest looks? Let's dive in to this pool of cool knowledge with our first awesome option …

1. WHITE JEANS

Summer may conjure visions of crisp white linen pants and skirts but since it's so unforgiving and wrinkle prone, denim is a much more practical option. "White jeans are a must this summer," says life and style expert Alejandro Peraza. "Whether they're a tight, skinny jean, a high-rise waist or a straight leg, white jeans are a snap to pair with any combination of pieces from your wardrobe. Choose a bright top, a man's Oxford or a casual tee and you're ready to go." Plus, you can easily transform the look from day to night just by switching from a flip-flop or ballet flat to a heel or wedge.

Tip: Disregard that old "no white after Labor Day" adage and incorporate white jeans into your yearlong wardrobe to brighten any ensemble and highlight your basics.

2. STATEMENT LIPS

Burgundy and black cherry lips may scream <i>winter</i> to the uninitiated but this summer they're all the rage. "These shades are beyond in," says makeup artist Sabrina Mae, "They're very dark but if you leave the rest of the face clean, they look stunning for summer." Dubious? Scarlett Johansson's beautiful burgundy lip look at the Tony awards should help assuage any fears you may have.

Tip: To avoid smudging or bleeding, Mae recommends using a matching lip pencil.

3. SHEER BLOUSES

"The sheer blouse has made a strong comeback," says Peraza. And, why not? They're lightweight and perfect for staying cool during the dog days of summer. "These blouses are also super-versatile and can be worn over anything from a tank to a tee to a bikini top," Peraza adds. Because they're diaphanous, sheer tops are a great way to inject some fun color, bold patterns or even tie-dye into your wardrobe.

4. ORANGE NAILS

Tangerine Tango was Pantone's color of the season for 2012 and, in summer 2013, the shade is still going gangbusters -- especially when it comes to finger and toenails. "Offbeat orange and retro mod brights straight out of the swinging '60s will be big," Jan Arnold, the founder of CND has predicted. And, why not? Orange is the perfect pop of color against white, black, and turquoise -- three of the season's hottest clothing shades, plus, it looks great with a tan. (Fake, of course.) 

Tip: The new de rigueur nail shape is long and filed to be super-thin but with a soft, curving tip, not pointy or sharp as we've seen over the last few seasons.

5. YELLOW HANDBAGS

As with orange nail polish, carrying a yellow handbag is a simple, yet impactful, way of infusing some summer fun into your look. "From canary to sunflower to a vivid neon, this illuminating color is the perfect summer accent," says Peraza, who adds that yellow bags are available in every material from wicker and straw to leather, satin and even faux jewels. Carry a clutch, or load up a tote for a day at the beach, this bright beacon will brighten up every outfit.

6. Beach-y Hair 

and Kate Hudson <i>is</i> attainable -- even if you live in a landlocked state. And, if you're partial to whipping up products in the comfort of your own kitchen (and saving some hard-earned green while you're at it,) try your hand at this super-easy sea spray.

You'll need:  

-       10 oz. of water (heat it so it helps to melt the other ingredients)

-       8 drops of essential oil (choose whatever you like. I love rose. But coconut sure smells beach-y and Tahitian flower or gardenia work wonderfully, too.)

-       2 squirts (or, if it's in a tub, teaspoons) of hair gel

-       3 teaspoons of rock salt (or, if you prefer, Epsom salts)

Pour the water into a spray bottle, then add the ingredients, shaking as you go.  Spritz onto damp hair (this is key! If you apply to wet or dry hair, the result will be too crunchy), gently tousle with your fingers and you'll have that "I just got off my sail boat, dahling" look anytime you want it.

7. HOOP EARRINGS

Along with any and everything neon, another 1980's trend is alive and kicking this summer season -- hoop earrings.  As demonstrated by several top designers at Fashion Week, including Balmain and Chanel,  with these modern hoops, you can go as big and as bold as you dare.  "Hoop earrings never really go completely off the fashion radar, but this season they're back in a big, big way," says jewelry designer Colleen Berg.

"In the 80's they were about new wave glitz and now the hoop stands for all out glamour. Plus, there's something about wearing an oversized hoop earring that puts a little extra strut in your step."  Bonus: because stores like Forever 21 offer up many options at utterly affordable price points, you can experiment with different sizes, colors and embellishments without breaking the bank.

Tip:  Don't have pierced ears? Lots of stores, including Claire's, offer up a variety of pierce less hoop options.

8.  PRIMER

How's a girl supposed to look cute and have everything stay in place when the mercury's on the rise with no sign of tapering off? The key, according to Mae, and practically every other expert out there, lies in applying primer to your face. "The perfect primer is your best bet for beating a shiny face and having your makeup stay put", Mae says. "Just smooth a small dollop onto your clean, lightly moisturized skin and it will form a barrier that absorbs oil and perspiration." From there, you can apply foundation, a BB cream or a tinted moisturizer without having to worry that it will melt off by mid-day.

9. MAXI DRESSES

Whether they're sinuous and drape-y or tight and curve-hugging, maxi dresses are as hot as it gets for summer 2013. (So hot that there's no shortage of D.I.Y. video tutorials to chose from.)

From graphic prints and florals to cutouts and stripes, these comfortable, flaw-concealing garments are available in an assortment of fabrics (cotton, chiffon, silk and even leather!), a variety of styles (strapless, tank, halter) and at all sorts of prices.  

10. BLUE EYESHADOW

When you think "blue eye shadow" do visions of Honey Boo-Boo Child  come to mind? If so, it's time to change your perception of the much-maligned shade and begin to embrace it as the totally modern and amazingly flattering color it is.

"Describing the gorgeous and colossal range of blues simply as "blue" is like calling the ocean big," says Jodi Bryson, makeup specialist for Trish McEvoy Cosmetics. "This season, several makeup lines are showing blues as 'aquatic' color profiles with shades ranging from electric to deep water to green-hinted turquoise, all in amazing shimmers and mattes."

As with any "look-at-me "shade, applying blue to your eyes takes some finesse. "When it comes to shadow," Bryson says, "you do not want to sweep the blue over your entire lid, that's a recipe for disaster. Rather, use the shadow to highlight a bronze, peach or gold crease color by creating a V shape in the outer corner of the eye with your brush."

You can also use your shadow as a liner. "Wet your brush with water and practice painting the pigment on the back of your other hand to gain control and confidence, then line from the outer to inner corner of your top lid."  Tip: If you have small eyes, only line about three quarters of the way towards the inner corner.

Tip: Because this look will be all about the eyes, keep the rest of your makeup palette neutral. "Add some bronzer to pop cheekbones," advises Bryson, "And, go with a clear gloss or barely-there pigmented gloss."

My Unsolicited Two Cents on The "Vampire Face Lift"

Having your own blood injected into lines and wrinkles. All the cool kids are doing it.

A friend recently confided that she'd had a "vampire face lift." Me? I had a "what the!?" moment and ran to Google it.

Turns out that this isn't some "True Blood" marketing ploy, it's a bona fide cosmetic process. One that's raising a lot of eyebrows -- and getting a surprising amount of praise.

Here's the deal. First off, it's not truly a "face lift." It's a line filler/plumper like Restylane or Juvederm only, here's the wrinkle, it's made from your own blood.

Still there?

Step 1: A doctor extracts blood from his patient.

Step 2: He puts in into a centrifuge that works to separate the platelets from the red blood cells.

Step 3: He injects the resulting "platelet-rich fibrin matrix" into your face.

Ta-da.

The process, called Selphyl (cell-fill), is being used by more than 300 docs in the U.S. and some say that their patients prefer the concept of injecting their face with a "natural" substance (like their own blood) over something synthetic like the mainstream hyaluronic fillers that dominate the market. Plus, it's purported to last up to 24 months, much longer than the traditional fillers do.

The price tag? Expect to cough up $1,200, which is on par for what to expect after a wrinkle-filling appointment with the derm.

Feeling up for a date with Dracula? Click here to get his digits.

WHITEN MY TEETH AT THE MALL? NO THANKS.

When I was 9, I auditioned for a role in my summer camp's production of "Winnie the Pooh." I couldn't wait for the Head Counselor to post the casting results on the mess hall wall. Would I be playing Christopher Robbin? (It was an all-girl camp.) Or maybe even, dare I hope, Pooh himself? 

What seemed like days later, the list was finally tacked up and while my name did appear, turned out I wasn't to play either of those lead characters. Instead I was cast as the sun. The freakingSUN. What? 

When I mustered the guts to ask why they'd thought I was suited to the part, they told me it was because my smile could light up a room -- just like the sun lights up the world. Gimme a break. 

I mean, sure it's true, I was blessed with nice teeth. They've always been super-white and I never needed braces (though I thought retainers were so cool that I wore a bent paper clip in my mouth throughout most of the fourth grade). But, because of them I was relegated to playing the sun? Clearly I've never gotten over it. 

Now umpteen years later I find myself longing to be cast in that part again -- minus the giant yellow orb costume. Why? After seeing pictures of myself over the past several months, I've realized that my once pearly whites are significantly less so. Don't know why. I don't drink red wine or coffee or even soda (I've been Diet Coke free for three years and two days -- but who's counting?). So, what gives? 

I asked my dentist and he said it was just normal "wear and tear" on my teeth, and would I like to have them whitened? Um. Sure. And, I'd also like a Malibu beach house, but as a single mother of two who gets zero child support I'm not about to indulge on such a thing. 

Hmm. Other options? Well, I could head to the mall and lie there with a blue light emanating from my mouth as Cinnabon-clutching teens snicker? I'd rather have dingy teeth, thanks. 

But if the mall's too unappealing and the pro whitening's too expensive, what's left? Do those drugstore whiteners really work? 

Yes. According to Dr. Michael Apa, a partner in the Rosenthal/Apa Group on Manhattan's Upper East Side where he works exclusively on aesthetic and restorative dentistry. He suggests that his patients use a whitening toothpaste daily and also recommends using Crest Weekly Clean Intensive Cleaning Paste, $14.99, saying that "[It] is a good product that has heavy silica ingredients to brush stains away." 

Well, OK then, I'm willing to try anything once. Will let you know how it goes -- and also if I get mistaken for the sun again anytime soon. 

Do you whiten your teeth? What do you use?

WHY I AGREE THAT TEEN MAGAZINES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FEATURE REAL GIRLS

As a tween/teen back in the '80s, I was a semi-regular model for "Seventeen" magazine. I never made the cover or anything highfaluting like that, but they used me a lot for beauty shoots, exercise demos, fashion spreads, and the like. This, of course, was back when actresses acted and models modeled -- none of that crossover craziness had begun as of yet. 

This was also way before PhotoShop existed. (It was probably even before the dude at Adobe who invented PhotoShop existed.) But, for a teen magazine, that was probably a good thing. Girls from all around the country could look at us, the "models," and see that we were pretty much like the rest of them -- just with better lighting, and pro hair and makeup folks gussying us up behind the scenes. 

My how times have changed. These days, if you flip through a copy of "Seventeen" or "Teen Vogue" or any other glossy kids book, you'll be amazed at the photos staring back at you. The models on these pages are perfect with a capital PERFECT. Teeth, skin, boobs, hair -- every last detail of their physicality has been tweaked to the point of impossibility and, guess what? It's not sitting well with some readers. Especially not with 14-year-old Julia Bluhm from Maine who is so annoyed with all the airbrushing and altering in "Seventeen" magazine that she's launched a nationwide petition to put a stop to it. 

Bluhm's petition, titled, "Seventeen Magazine: Give Girls Images Of Real Girls!" is gaining loads of attention, as the eighth grader seeks to get the mag to "commit to printing one unaltered -- real -- photo spread per month." 

The 14-year-old, who is also a blogger for the activist site Sparksummit.com, writes in the petition that "those pretty women that we see in magazines are fake," adding, "They're often Photoshopped, airbrushed, edited to look thinner and to appear like they have perfect skin. A girl you see in a magazine probably looks a lot different in real life." And, she goes on to point out that, "Girls want to be accepted, appreciated, and liked. And when they don't fit the criteria, some girls like to fix themselves. This can lead to eating disorders, dieting, depression, and low self-esteem." 

Do you agree with Julia Bluhm? Should magazines showcase REAL girls or is using altered models and impossibly beautiful starlets all part of the aspirational intent of a magazine?

'Survivor' Exit Interview: Two Newest Jury Members Face the Music

No matter how many episodes of 'Survivor' you watch, the most exciting thing is that you can never predict what's going to happen. 

Last night's 11th episode in Nicaragua was a perfect example -- nothing went down the way it was supposed to. What happened and who went to join the three jury members at Ponderosa? Read on.

While we may have had a week off from the tribal drama to indulge in turkey and family dynamics, the castaways didn't (duh, because it was filmed months earlier) and when we re-joined them last night, things were none-too-cheery around camp. 

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT

Forget that they had hardly eaten in nearly a month, forget that their camp had been decimated by fire and then near floods, it was the incessant rain and cold that were really taking their toll on everyone, and two players in particular had really had enough. Na'Onka Mixon, 27, for all her bravado and smack talk and Kelly "Purple" Shinn, 20, the unassuming youngster of the tribe, threw in the towel. Right then and there. That's right, for the first time in Survivor history, TWO people quit at once.

Do they have any regrets? Are they riddled with shame? Do they feel like they let Jeff Probst down? We talked to Na from her native Los Angeles and Kelly from Hawaii (where she's still trying to get warm) to see what they had to say for themselves. Here's the scoop...

Gotta ask ... any regrets? Viewers were genuinely surprised that despite the urgings from Jeff and Jane and Holly, you decided to quit. How's that sitting with you now that you've had time to digest?

NaOnka: I do not regret my decision whatsoever. I knew that I couldn't second guess myself, that I had to be 100 percent secure in my decision. I played a hell of a game and I'm definitely one of the most memorable survivors for all my crazy antics. I'm nothing like that in real life but when you go and you play for a $1 million dollars, you have no idea what you'll do. It was a game and I was cast for a reason.

Kelly: I do not regret anything . I will stand by every decision that I did make - and I made a lot of them, even though they weren't shown on TV. I played with integrity and am proud of that.

Marty, Alina and Brenda were clearly disgusted that you'd thrown in the towel. What was it like arriving at Ponderosa for the first time? 

NaOnka: I was excited because there's a shower, bed, pillow, couch there -- there was real life there! I wasn't concerned about seeing Alina or Marty, but I was concerned about seeing Brenda because just the night before I'd stabbed my best friend in the back and I was concerned about her asking me "What were you thinking?" Brenda was always asking me "What were you thinking?" But, when we got there, she was standing there with cookies and Marty was there with wine ready to greet us. Seeing them outside of the game was refreshing but we had to be very mindful with the things we said because they still wanted to be in the game and we'd voluntarily [resigned].

Alina, wasn't around us for the first while, she was too sick about us having [quit]. I'd have been the same way.

For the first 5-6 episodes, we hardly heard you make a peep, Kelly. Were you really that quiet around camp or was it just the edit?

Kelly: It was definitely because of the edit. Although, I didn't act as a leader and, just like in my real life, I didn't want drama around me. My process was to not backstab, not be the leader, and not tick any body off and just fly under the radar. I definitely wasn't quiet though, I just didn't talk a lot about strategic stuff so maybe it wasn't interesting for TV.

Na, you certainly ruffled a lot of feathers and raised some ire with fans. What has the reaction on the street been to you? 

NaOnka: It's been funny. I get stared at and sometimes I get approached. The No. 1 question I get asked is 'why were you mean to the girl with the prosthetic leg?' All I can tell them is that it was a game for a million bucks and that it's TV and you don't know how you're going to play unless you do it.

Are you still a P.E. teacher?

NaOnka: Yes! I'm still at my school and you can tell all the haters that are trying to get me fired that it's not working!

In hindsight, how does it make you feel that a little old lady like Jane could muster the strength to stick it out and you couldn't?

Kelly: I think Jane is a great person, but it also takes a lot of willpower and she's been through some crazy things. She has this sappy story and whether it's true or not, who knows, but in the end when your physical health is on the line, you have to do what you have to do. But for her to outlast us in the challenges? She is just amazing.

Na: Yes! You can not judge a book by the cover. I thought that there must be something about her to get cast in the first place. When you first meet, there's -- how do I describe it? -- there's a glow about her. Before she opens her mouth you know that there's something amazing about her. I respect Jane.

Jeff Probst seemed to be genuinely disappointed that you guys threw in the towel. Is that the impression you got from him at Tribal?

NaOnka: He was actually really nice about it. He was nicer than we thought it would be. It seemed like he wanted to understand where we were coming from. And when he told us that we'd still be allowed to be on the jury, we could NOT believe it!

Kelly: Jeff is perfect for TV. He gets the drama stirred up between all of us. He seemed concerned about us. I think that he's a good person.

Kelly, you and Fabio seemed to be bonding more towards the end. Was getting to hang with him ever an incentive to keep you in the game? He's so cute?

Kelly: [Laughs] Did I want to stay because Fabio is such a babe? It was hard for me to look at anyone like that! I don't think he washed his clothes even one single time. He might be a beautiful hunk of burning love, but he went from a hunk, to looking like a homeless man! 

We shared a lot and especially the aspect that we were both young , we were just so close and could relate on a lot of levels. He's a great person. You know how they show me in that yellow jacket? That was his and even though he was freezing, he let me wear it for more than a week. He's really great.