I was half listening to NPR on my commute home from work yesterday. Then, my interest was piqued when I heard the word "soap" -- as a beauty editor, I'm like Pavlov's dog when I hear anything related to beauty products (a tad pathetic, I know). Anyhoo, here's what caught my attention … Monterey County officials say about 166 inmates are on a hunger strike because of a new policy that limits their toiletries to one bottle of shampoo, one tube of toothpaste and one bar of soap per week (now they really better not drop it … badum-ching).

Why the ration? The decision was made in part because convicts often use soap for things other than washing -- they can hide smuggled goods in bars of soap, barter with it, use it in socks as a weapon and make floors slippery enough to cause jail guards to fall. Apparently one inmate had hoarded over 40 bars in his jail cell. Wow.

I couldn't help but think … how would I feel if someone put a limit on the number of beauty products I could use? I shudder at the thought. Especially since I use about, um, probably 15 different types of toiletries a day (excluding makeup). How would you feel? It kinda reminds me of this challenge one of our editors did called Could You Live Without Beauty Products for 30 Days? Well, could you? Or, just tell me how many products you actually use in a day …

We've been prepping you for the new season with our Fall Beauty Guide for the last couple of weeks, but now that Labor Day has come and gone and all linen clothing at the GAP is officially 70 percent off, there's no more denying that summer is O.V.E.R. Gentle nudging will no longer suffice so I'll be blunt and say, "Ladies, grab that nail polish remover and get those nails in order."

Fall trends always bring out the darker side of nail polish colors and this season is no exception. Trade coral for deep, plum reds, soft gray for black or metallic hues, and neon/robin egg's blue for a navy, midnight blue shade.

Here are some of the colors I'll be trying this fall:

• OPI Nail Lacquer in William Tell Me, $7.99: a dark and mysterious deep wine purple

• China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Midnight Mission, $6.50: a sparkly asphalt blue

• Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Rouge Fatal, $23: a vampy, vixen red

• Milani Nail Lacquer in Black Magic, $4.50: an inky black

And because these deep colors will likely be hard on your nails, ward off yellowing by:

• Always using a base coat

• Soaking nails in lemon juice and water for about five minutes

• Using an old toothbrush and some whitening toothpaste to scrub your nail beds to reduce staining

Summer is coming to a screeching halt (cue sound effect), but that doesn't mean you should necessarily stow your sunscreen in the back of your medicine cabinet. If you think you only need the 'screen when you're beach- or pool- bound -- you might be the victim of one of these sunscreen mistakes. Read the following skin care tips from expert dermatologists Dr. Linda Evans and Dr. Debra Jailman to find out how not to be a repeat offender of sunscreen slip-ups:

Mistake: Not using enough sunscreen

Solution: Don’t scrimp or be stingy with the sunscreen -- be sure to cover your entire body. Evans has a simple pocket change MO for application (note: these are general amounts -- use more if you're Kobe-sized): Put at least a nickel-sized amount in the palm of your hand and apply it to your face -- not pea or pearl size, says Evans.

Mistake: Thinking you're exempt from sunscreen because you have dark or olive skin

Solution: You're not; you still need sunscreen. We live in a different environment now -- the ozone layer is not as strong as it used to be, says Evans. And while your ancestors might have gotten away with not wearing sunscreen, things have changed environmentally, so you need to make sure to wear sunscreen.

Mistake: Not wearing a high enough SPF while outdoors

Solution: The short answer is, if you are going to be beach- or poolside, wear a waterproof/sweatproof SPF 30. "No city sunscreen for sport and sweating," says Jailman. This is especially critical if you burn easily or have skin issues like hyperpigmentation or a history of skin cancer. And if you want to wear a lower SPF, just be sure to apply it more often.

Mistake: Not applying sunblock often enough

Solution: Here are Dr. Evans' rules for how often to apply SPF if you're going to be outside all day (at the beach, hiking or the like): If you're fair, apply sunblock every two hours; if you're more olive, every three or four hours; if you're darker, three times a day. And all skin tones should apply more often if you're in and out of the water.

Mistake: Neglecting to wear sunscreen in the winter while driving or working indoors

Solution: Many of the skin cancer cases that Evans has seen are on the left side of the body (hint: your arm is exposed when you drive). Her solution? "Get chauffeured!" Kidding (though wouldn't that be nice?). To be on the safe side, she suggests wearing SPF every day.

Mistake: Using a sunscreen that blocks only UVB rays

Solution: Use a sunblock that contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which block UVB and UVA rays, says Evans. (Note: UVA rays can yield sun damage and/or lead to skin cancer). Try Kids Sport Sunscreen, $9.59.

Mistake: Using a sunscreen that landed in your medicine cabinet circa '99

Solution: Make sure your sunscreen is not expired, says Evans -- don't use an old or outdated one. Jailman recommends writing a date on the bottle (if it doesn't already note one) when you buy it, and then tossing it after one year has passed. She adds that if it's a chemical-based sunscreen (as opposed to a physical sunblock -- that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) it can decompose, so make sure not to leave it outside in direct sunlight.

See the rest of the sunscreen mistakes you might be making.

Dear Celebrity,

Congratulations. You're rich. You're famous. You probably have a super hot boyfriend/husband/lover. Good for you.

I'm only interested in these parts of your life while sitting in the waiting room at the doc's office or perhaps when you get caught in some kind of huge sex/drug/political scandal. So why write to you? There is something I haven't been able to stop thinking about since I watched you (and these ladies below) parade down the red carpet at the Emmy awards on Sunday …

Have you always had the amazing, flawless, clear skin you currently possess -- even before you became famous? I mean, was it a requirement in some kind of character breakdown or do you only now have glowing skin because you have boatloads of money and time to obsess over making it so? I need to know.

Dr. Jessica Wu, dermatologist to some of the Emmy nominees, told me I can get/fake your glow all by myself, and even on my (non A-lister) paycheck. Check out the skin care recommendations below? Think they'll work to give me fab skin like yours?

• Exfoliate once or twice a week with a gentle scrub (she recommends Philosophy Hope in a Jar, $45)

• Hydrate at night with a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid (like Nude Skincare Moisture Balance, $68)

• Brush a shimmer powder over the apples of cheeks (like Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact, $38)

• Blend body bronzer on shoulders, arms and legs (her fav is Scott Barnes Body Bling, $38)

Please get back to me asap and let me know if this is enough and what else you do that I should add to my regimen. Thanks. Oh and uh, I loved you in what's-it-called part three.

Sincerely,

TotalBeauty

I watched a segment on 20/20 last night (I had TiVo'd it, so I'm not sure when it aired) called "Albinism: Caught Between Dark and Light." It really pulled at my heart strings -- especially the story of 15-year-old Angel Stillman, a girl with albinism who has had to transfer in and out of eight different schools since preschool due to being teased. All she desperately wants is to fit in and have at least one friend. Sniff.

Eventually, she takes classes online to escape the taunting and ridicule, but that only makes her feel more isolated. So she decides to give public school one more try, but first she has (what she considers) an extreme makeover … adding lowlights to her white hair and dying her lashes and eyebrows a darker color. (Check out these shocking celebrity hair makeovers.) This is actually controversial in the albinism community, known as "passing," since they are aiming to hide their condition. However, by undergoing this extreme makeover, Stillman's been able to form friendships. "They get a look on the outside and then they want to talk to me and then want to see what's on the inside and then they want to be closer friends," she says.

Stillman's makeover decision makes me feel conflicted because on one hand, it saddens me that she has to deny who she is in order to fit in. But on the other hand, I wonder why didn't she consider this makeover sooner? And I am in awe of how a few beauty tweaks changed her life for the better. What do you think?

*Photo courtesy of ABC News

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Whether you're new to the "mommy" club or hoping to get cast in the next TLC reality show documenting the birth of your 27th child, you're well aware that having a baby is a seriously exhausting business. You might get a few moments here or there to, oh, I don't know, do something totally self-indulgent like shower … but that's about it. Your daily M.O. is bottles, binkies and bassinets, not beauty.

Despite having a baby permanently clutched to your breast, you still want to look pretty, or at least presentable, in the rare moments you get to come up for air. For those "special" occasions here are some easy makeup tips and quick hairstyling tricks for moms-on-the-go straight from real-mom makeup and hair experts. Here Taylor Chang-Babaian, celebrity makeup artist and mother of two teens, and Regina Tuzzo, hairstylist at the French Twist Salon in New York and mother of a 14-month-old and twin pre-teens, share their get-pretty-quick how-tos for new moms.

Hairstyle tip: Get a quick-to-style cut

Sometimes you will just want to chop it all off and a cute textured pixie cut (like celeb mom Halle Berry's) or short shag is not only cute and on trend, but will allow you to use a small amount of product, in a small amount of time, in order to look stylish fast.

Not ready to abandon all your hair? Cut bangs. A blunt fringe, seen here on a then-pregnant Jenna Elfman, is easy to style (only have to blow dry the bangs) and instantly looks like a "style" or "look" without you actually having to do much.

Quick makeup look: Bold lips

Wearing a bold, berry lip color, like the one seen here on new mom Bethenny Frankel, can instantly make you look polished, says Chang-Babaian. Colors rich in pigment will also last longer, so you'll spend less time re-applying.

Here's how to get a drab-to-fab bold lipstick makeup look:

Step 1: Apply a tinted moisturizer with SPF for light coverage and protection.

Step 2: Use a liquid concealer to cover any dark circles or hyperpigmentation -- a liquid product will keep your skin more moisturized and less cakey when you're experiencing post-baby dry skin blues. Try Smashbox High Definition Liquid Concealer, $18.

Step 3: Line your lips and fill them in with a lip liner that matches the lipstick you plan to wear, then apply lipstick (try Avon My Lip Miracle Lipcolor in Berry Delight, $8). Blot and dust lips lightly with powder for extra-staying power, then apply a second coat of lipstick.

Step 4: Apply a couple of coats of black mascara.

Quick hairstyle: Loose waves

Go for a hairstyle you can do the night before and quickly refresh in the morning since the a.m. is typically the most hectic time of day, says Tuzzo. She recommends washing your hair in the evening before bed, applying a thickening spray to damp strands. Then part hair down the middle into two sections and braid each all the way down. Get your much-needed rest and wake up in the morning to reveal soft waves -- like the ones seen here on new mom Amy Adams. Liven strands up a bit with a spritz of texturizing hairspray like KMS California Hair Play Sea Salt Spray, $13.99 and you're good to go.

Makeup look: Bold eyes

When it comes to pulling off a quick makeup look, you have to make choices, says Chang-Babaian, "It's either the eyes or the lips, and you usually have to choose." She chooses a quick smoky eye (similar to the one seen here on new mom Amanda Peet) when she wants to play up her eyes.

Here's how to get a four-minute smoky eye look:

Step 1: Moisturize and apply concealer to even out your skin tone.

Step 2: Dust loose powder all over your face to keep your makeup in place all day and add a touch of blush if you think you need it.

Step 3: Choose one color of eyeshadow (brown, grey, bronze, whatever shade you prefer), and sweep across your lids (just to the creases) and lower lashlines.

Step 4: Use a black eyeliner with a smudger attachment to line your top lids. Blend the liner into the shadow using the smudger. Repeat on the outer corners of the lower lashlines blending in toward the inner corners of your eyes a bit.

Step 5: Finish with multiple coats of mascara and some lip balm or sheer gloss.

Quick Hairstyle: Low, layered bun

If you do have time to shower in the morning, Tuzzo's no-fuss go-to hairstyle (seen here on new mom Amy Poehler) is one that doesn't need a lot of blow drying time.

After hopping out of the shower, simply blot hair dry (don't rub or you'll create frizz). Apply a lightweight smoothing serum and let hair air dry (and avoid touching it) as you go about your morning duties. Then less than 10 minutes before you need to walk out the door (your hair should be mostly dry by then), use a hair dryer and large round brush to quickly smooth out the layers of hair around your face. Leave the blown out sections loose and pull the rest of your hair back into a low, simple bun. Finish by misting with a flexible-hold hairspray for a simple, elegant look.

Did our Emmy makeup and hairstyle predictions come true? Are you over hearing about who was a fashion hit or total miss? While this post is somewhat Emmy-related -- don't worry -- it's very tangential.

On Friday, I hit the Bella Style Garden Beauty Suite in Beverly Hills, Calif. for a little pre-Emmy celebration. Amid C- and D-list celebrities, wannabe starlets and overly-enhanced women who looked 25 but were actually 60, were booths filled with a vast array of products and services. Here are the three hairstyling and hair removal tools that piqued my interest:

Rolling Razor, $9.95

I haven't tested this out yet, but I'm willing to try anything that might make shaving somewhat easier. This double-headed razor thingy certainly caught my eye since it boasts the following:

*A faster shave

*Design that hugs the contours of your body (especially underarms and behind knees)

*Stylish look with a bonus "designer" base

The InStyler, $99.99

If you're an insomniac or an infomercial fanatic, you've likely seen this hot hairstyling gadget (see the best hot styling tools according to our readers) working its magic, but it's new to me. One of its creators, celebrity hairstylist Dean Banowetz, styled my hair with this brush/flat iron/curling iron hybrid. My hair went from slightly wavy and unstyled to sleek and curled in about 20 minutes. I doubt I can use it as skillfully as Banowetz did -- nonetheless; I'm excited to give it a whirl on my own and try out some different styling options.

The BareEase & Cream Prep Kit, $24.99

While I love the results of a bikni wax, I loathe the pain. So I'm stoked to try this kit out, since it claims to "alleviate the pain and anxiety associated with your 'down there' hair removal treatment." (Sweet!) It comes with a latex panty and a tube of pain-relieving cream, which delivers a numbing effect.

As you might have guessed, this isn’t your typical office here at TotalBeauty.com. When award shows come up, there is no office poll concerning who will take home Best Actor in a Comedy for 50 bucks or a Subway sandwich gift card. The banter around our Sparkletts cooler is all about beauty -- who will take home the golden gal for the best celebrity hairstyle and makeup look and who's most likely to show up looking like a hot mess (check out the best and worst Emmy makeup looks of all time). Not to brag, but we usually nail it.

So for the 2010 Emmy awards, we thought we'd share first, the overall hairstyle and makeup trends likely to be seen and second, which starlets we think will really knock it out of the beauty ballpark.

Trends:

"Natural, loose, work-with-your-texture waves with a center part will be HUGE. Nothing too stiff or tousled, just soft and poufy (in a good way)." -- Jane Kim, Assistant Editor

"Red lipstick. It's going to be a huge trend for fall, so I think some of the celebrities might jump on board a little early with it for the Emmys. It would be a nice change from the usual smoky eyes!" -- Sarah Carrillo, Senior Associate Editor

"Regardless of the color trends these starlets choose to wear, their skin will be aglow. Flawlessly applied foundation, self-tanner galore and bronzer and highlighter applied to all the right places will make these women look like goddesses. Perfect-looking skin is a trend that never goes out of style." -- Kristen Oldham Giordani, Senior Editor

"I think it's too summer-like still for a dark, smoky eye, so maybe we'll see a less dramatic eye with a poppin' bright lip." -- Saba Youssefzadeh, Editorial Intern

"I think we'll see glam waves paired with a red lip to match the red carpet. This is an ideal it's-still-summer-but-I-want-to-rock-fall-beauty-trends type of look." -- Molly Roemer, Associate Editor

"Retro cat eyes with inky-black liner, show-stopping fake lashes, contoured cheeks and natural-looking lips." Anna Jimenez, Assistant Editor

And without further ado, the nominees for "Best Beauty Look at the Emmys" are:

Heidi Klum

"She always looks stunning and has a workshop full of "Project Runway" contestants ready to make any dress she can dream up. She's also not afraid to try something daring (like that giant bun she wore to the Oscars)" -- Sarah Carrillo, Senior Associate Editor

"When does this woman NOT look absolutely stunning on the red carpet? Her skin will probably look flawless, she always has a glowing makeup look, and her hair is a bit shorter now, so hopefully she'll do something fun with it." – Jane Kim, Assistant Editor

Christina Hendricks

"She oozes sensuality and no one can compete with her curves and flaming red hair -- especially when she wears red lipstick on those luscious lips." -- Molly Roemer, Associate Editor

"Love her red hair and she usually goes for classic Hollywood glam, which I love. I'd bet she shows up in a gorgeous gown that shows off her curves (cough, cleavage) and goes for an old-school Hollywood wave to her hair." -- Senior Associate Editor, Sarah Carrillo

Olivia Wilde

"I think she'll have an understated-but-pretty makeup look and a soft, sweeping updo. Her bone structure speaks for itself." -- Jane Kim, Assistant Editor

January Jones

"She is going to rock the red carpet this year (she better if she wants to get noticed while standing next to Jon Hamm). She is so versatile and one of the lucky few who can pull off almost any makeup look thanks to her flawless features." -- Saba Youssefzadeh, Editorial Intern

Claire Danes

"She's a beauty and a class act with great style, a beaming smile and a perfectly-coiffed hairstyle." -- Molly Roemer, Associate Editor

Lea Michele

"She is an interesting one and a bit of a beauty gamble at times (I have "yikes"ed at some of her hairstyle choices in the past), but as a favorite-to-win nominee, she will try to make a statement. She always looks great in ruby red lipstick shades thanks to her olive skin tone, so hopefully she will go with a dramatic lip." -- Anna Jimenez, Assistant Editor.

Who isn't looking for a bargain? No, really. Whether it's clothes, food, home stuff, beauty, etc. -- we're all hoping to somehow score a deal (Bed Bath & Beyond 20 percent off coupons, anyone?). So if you can get luxe hair and makeup looks for less, then why on earth would you pay more?

While drugstore products can sometimes outperform prestige brands, see what happens when bad makeup products happen to good people in this list of the 16 worst drugstore makeup products.

No. 16: Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara, $6.94

"I know hate is a strong word but ... I hate this mascara! The brush was too thin, the mascara smelled bad and it didn't do anything for my lashes except give it clumps." Find out how you can get perfect lashes.

No. 15: Milani Loose Makeup, $7.99

"The coverage is horrible: it looks patchy and uneven. The brush is rough and irritating. During the summer it caused my face to be itchy."

No. 14: CoverGirl Trublend Microminerals Foundation, $10.99

"I was satisfied by its coverage, but it had sparkles in it that I didn't like. It also clogged my pores, which I realized after switching foundations." Take this quiz to find out which foundation formula you should be using.

No. 13: Revlon Sugar Sugar Lip Topping, $10.46

"The topping feels like sugar on your lips, all gritty like. It's definitely not a sexy feeling. And the grittiness didn't go away. I definitely would not buy this again." Watch this video to score a miracle skin care trick for dry lips.

No. 12: Sally Hansen Line Smoothing Airbrush Primer, $7.99

"I applied it on my face and found it difficult to blend. Once I completed the application I was not left with a velvety skin surface like primers are supposed to do, and also my skin still looked visibly oily in certain places. I applied my makeup as usual, and found that it wore off through the day as if I had not applied any type of primer whatsoever. In addition, for those with sensitive skin, you may find that this product may also sting." Find out what makeup looks great in every picture, so you can look great in every photo.

Check out the remainder of the worst drugstore makeup products.

I wasn't a cheerleader. I was the chub-ette on the sideline with oily hair (see how to fight all sorts of embarrassing hair issues here) and a good sense of humor, but I do remember the cheer that got everyone in the bleachers all riled up:

Don't mess, don't mess,

Don't mess with the best

Cuz the best don't mess …

Remember that one? Well, it came to mind while I was chatting with celebrity hairstylist Dickey, who's worked with stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Rihanna (see her best hairstyles here). He was telling me that there are certain tricks and techniques that every professional hairstylist uses to create beautiful hair for their clients every time. Basically, what he was saying is that the best in the hair biz don't "mess" around -- they have no-fail hairstyling methods that work so they use them over and over again. So, as you can imagine, I immediately had to know what these methods were.

Thankfully he spilled and here are 7 of the best hairstyling tricks the pros in the hair business think we should all know.

Trick 1: Know your hair type

Before being able to style your hair to its best, there is one thing you need to know going in: what you're working with. Being able to properly assess hair type and texture will help you weed through hair products and allow you to make the best choices for the health of your hair when styling. While this may seem like basic knowledge, discerning hair type is a bit more complicated than you might imagine.

Find out how to diagnose your unique type and texture here.

Trick 2: Know how to give yourself a lasting blowout

This is an invaluable styling skill. Dickey says that it's one of the most important and useful beauty abilities a woman can have. While your blowout may never look quite as good as it does after walking out of the salon (remember, they are professionals that do multiple blow outs a day), it can look pretty darn close if you do a couple of things:

• Pick a high-wattage (anything above 1800) ceramic/tourmaline blow dryer in order to prevent frizz and create a shiny, smooth finish. A dryer like the Vidal Sassoon VS547 1875 Watt Professional Full-Size Ionic Dryer, $17.99 or the T3 Featherweight Professional Hair Dryer, $200 will have a high, steady flow of heat which will seal the hair's cuticle and get your hair dryer, faster.

• Blow dry your hair according to your hair type. See how to do that here.

Trick 3: Learn how to curl your hair the right way

If you have naturally straight or slightly wavy hair, you've most likely lusted after someone's luxurious curls at some point. (Sarah Jessica Parker, anyone?) Knowing how to properly curl your hair will help you during those envious moments. Follow these expert tips to get a professional looking curl:

• Choose a curling iron that is ceramic, says our expert, as it "heats hair from the inside out." Make sure it has adjustable heat settings too -- so you can find the right temperature for your hair type (try Conair 1-1/4" Hydro Silk Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron, $20).

• If you are starting with wet hair, Dickey suggests applying a lightweight mousse like Hair Rules Wavy Mousse, $20 to clean, wet hair and drying hair with your head upside down for added texture.

• Know how to hold an iron properly and how to make the style last. Find out how here.

Trick 4: Know how to flat iron, but not fry, your hair

Being weary of straightening iron damage is normal, but with the right product prep and responsible use, a flat iron can be your secret weapon for beautiful, shiny hair. Follow these tips to get your best straight hair:

• Choose a flat iron with ceramic plates as they produce gentle and infrared ionic heat that won't destroy your hair. Try CHI Turbo Ceramic Hairstyling Iron 1, $97.50.

• Before adding serious heat to your strands from a flat iron, prep hair with products that will start the straightening process and protect your hair from thermal damage. Wash hair with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner like Sunsilk Straight to Perfection Shampoo, $4.99 and Conditioner, $4.99.

Then spray hair with a thermal heat protectant like Shu Uemura Iron Design, $28.

• Know how to section off the hair and where to start the iron on the hair shaft. Find out here.

Check out the final three tips here.

By the way, the last trick has really helped me personally -- it's totally changed the way I use products.

• Now that you know the basic tricks, see three ways to update your hairstyle come this fall

• Haven't had your fill? See more secrets to salon perfect hair

• Get more hair care and hairstyling advice here

• Want in on a little beauty discount secret? See how to get great deals and offers on beauty products here.

• Keep up with the latest in beauty -- follow us on Twitter, add us on YouTube and friend us on Facebook.