Photo: © Jason Merritt/Getty Images

I've told you guys before about how awkwardly star struck I get around celebrities. It's not often that I get to meet stars in the flesh, but when I do I'm usually a train wreck of stuttering, blank smiles and awkward pauses. So needless to say when I learned I would be attending an event sponsored by Crest and hosted by the gorgeous Malin Akerman (of 27 Dresses, Watchmen and Couples Retreat fame), I was equal parts excited and nervous.

Fortunately my nervousness was unfounded as Malin was an absolute sweetheart. She made all of the editors and bloggers feel totally at ease. I had the good fortune of sitting across from her at our dinner table and she regaled us with tales of her Swedish background (that explains her gorgeous look!), growing up in Canada and her brush with sports glory (she's a trained figure skater who almost made it to the Olympics).

Malin hosted the event to help spread the word about a fabulous contest that Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal is running on their Facebook page. From now until Dec. 1, head to Crest Whitestrip's fan page and share your story for what loved one you most want to connect with this holiday season and why. The winning entry will be given travel fare to make that connection come true! Head to the Crest Whitestrips Facebook page to enter the Holiday Connections Contest.

Malin was also there to share some of her holiday beauty and travel tips. Check out the video below to find out her holiday survival essentials as well as her fondest holiday memory. Isn't she adorable (and isn't that Yigal Azrouël dress to die for)? What's your fondest holiday memory?

Related Holiday Articles:
100 Oooh! Inspiring Holiday Gifts
Metallic Makeup 101
Planning Black Friday 2009
Sexy Side Buns
Winter Skin Care S.O.S.

Photo: © Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Celebrity beauty is a pretty touchy subject over here at Daily Makeover HQ. We can get into long and impassioned arguments about just why we love (or hate) a celeb's hair/makeup/shoes/etc. Fortunately there is one celeb we can all agree on, and that's the always lovely Reese Witherspoon.

I've got the biggest girl crush on the talented actress -- I love her style choices and went ballistic when she debuted those killer bangs on the red carpet at the 2007 Golden Globes (Ryan who?). She's just one of those celebs you feel like would be an awesome shopping buddy, someone you'd want giving you style and beauty advice.

Naturally, when I heard the Academy-Award winning actress was launching a new perfume with Avon I got all kinds of excited. I'm not usually one for celeb fragrances, but I had a feeling an eau de Reese was something I could get behind. The fragrance, called In Bloom, is exactly what you'd expect from a good Southern gal -- it features notes of magnolia, Georgia peach tea leaves, gardenia, jasmine and amber. It's a totally floral and feminine fragrance that also has an edge of strength and sensuality to it that's just gorgeous. It's definitely a scent to try.

Now here's the best part: We've partnered up with Avon to offer four lucky Daily Makeover readers an autographed bottle of In Bloom. That's right, we've got four bottles signed by Reese herself to give away. Just tell us in the comments section below which of her beauty looks you like best (check out her style gallery for a Reese refresher) and you'll be automatically entered to win! How cool is that?

Contest ends on November 17, 2009 at 1 P.M. EST. Full rules and regulations here.

One of my biggest beauty fears is bad breath. I get super paranoid when I'm talking to people, especially after a flavorful (read: garlicky) meal, that my breath is causing them to take a step back. I do the usual brushing two times a day, but there are just some times where you feel you need a little something extra.

Up until now I haven't been a big proponent of mouthwash, mostly because I didn't feel like it lasted long enough to justify all that stinging. But when the new Scope Outlast Mouthwash landed on my desk, I decided to give it a shot, mostly because I had just inhaled a big bowl of pasta and was convinced I was wafting stinky garlic fumes throughout the office.

Now when it comes to pain tolerance, I'm the world's biggest baby. Listerine and I are not friends; I can't make it more than five seconds without spewing that stuff all over my bathroom sink and whining for 10 minutes about the "pain." So a mouthwash's sting factor is a big decider for me on if I'm going to use it or not. I tentatively swished around the Scope and found that it was less a stinging feel and more of a tingling sensation, which was totally manageable.

What really surprised me though was that well after I was done using the mouthwash my mouth continued to feel tingly. That was equal parts awesome and odd. It took some time to get used to the sensation, but it also helped me feel like my breath was indeed fresh because I could actually FEEL it. I used it at lunch time and went through a bunch of meetings without a passing thought on how my breath smelled.

The secret behind the long-lasting freshness is the brand's Outlast technology: it binds tightly to your mouth's receptors so that that initial fresh feeling stays in your mouth, lasting up to five times longer than regular mouthwash. I've been using the Mint flavor every day now and I'm minty fresh all day long!

How do you keep your breath feeling fresh?

Lady GaGa's out there style makes for a
great (cheap) costume
Photo: © Florian Seefried/Getty Images

Over the weekend a few of my girlfriends and I were hanging out and discussing Halloween costume ideas. We love to go all out, but with our budgets a little tighter this year than normal, we didn't have the cash to spend on elaborate costumes. One friend mentioned that she had her eye on a cute bumblebee costume from a Halloween store so we took a look at it online and the first thing I saw was the $70 price tag.

I'm sorry but $70 for an outfit you'll only wear once? No way! There are tons of great costumes you can create on your own without spending a fortune on a store-bought outfit. Here are some ideas we brainstormed:

Lady GaGa
This one's easy, just find yourself a leotard and throw something shiny (may I suggest an aluminum foil corset?) on top and you've got the outfit down pat. Get the pants-less one's beauty look by keeping your skin matte and using a mauve blush to contour your cheeks. Eyes should be shimmery and heavily lined with a row of faux lashes on top and bottom and some retro sunglasses on top. Throw some matte, bubblegum pink lipstick on, then tease and crimp a platinum blonde, bobbed wig into a huge hair helmet and that's all there is to it!

The Four Seasons
Get together 3 of your girlfriends and you can be the four seasons: summer, winter, fall and spring. Pick seasonally appropriate gear from your closet (winter white cozy clothes, autumnal red and gold layers, an umbrella and flowery dress for spring and boldly colored shorts and tanks for summer) and then create a makeup look to correspond with it.

Use icy shades of shadow on your lids and frosted highlighter on your lips and cheeks to recreate winter's chill. Apply warm, metallic bronzes and red-browns on your eyes, lips and cheeks and place a few carefully selected leaves in your hair for a crisp fall look. Spring is all about soft and pretty pastels so use shades of lilac, pink, sky blue and leaf green, then pull your hair into a curly updo and place a fake flower in the back. Go bronze for summer with lots of powder bronzer and warm shades of brown and gold. Or fake a sunburn by layering on a deep pink blush over your cheeks and nose.

True Blood's Sookie Stackhouse
My friends and I are OBSESSED with True Blood so we were all about the Sookie look. The easiest look of her's to pull off is the Merlotte's waitress uniform. Grab a pair of short shorts some sneakers and some knee high soccer socks, then take a plain white tee and use a green Sharpie (I'm all about the Sharpies) to recreate the Merlotte's logo on the front. Layer on the bronzer and blush so your skin looks flushed and natural, a stark contrast to all that undead paleness. Put on some shimmery shadow, lots of mascara and a pink gloss, then pull your hair into a tight, high ponytail and you're set! Now go find yourself a Bill. For more vampire beauty, check out our interview with True Blood makeup artist Brigette Ellis for tips on how to get the look.

Rock of Love Girls
There's nothing better than trashy reality TV and the Rock of Love series takes the cake on trash. Get together a few of your girls and find yourself a token male. Dress him up in tight jeans, a long blonde wig and a bandanna to approximate the Bret Michaels mystique. Then find your trampiest clothes and go wild. Short skirts, corset tops, bikini tops, you name it. Layer on the blue eyeshadow, the fake lashes and the hot pink lips, then tease your hair as high as it will go. Throughout the night, find an excuse to start a fake brawl with the other girls (extra points for hair pulling) while your "Bret" stands smugly by watching the drama unfold.

Those are just a few of the ones we came up with. What are your best budget Halloween costume ideas?

Need more Halloween costume ideas? Check out:

How To Create Halloween Hair from In His Beauty Universe

Vampire Chic from Positively Beautiful

Get A Virtual Vampire Makeover!

Before my treatment...

I've told you guys about my recent obsession with hair color -- after 6 years of sporting virgin, color-free hair, I took the plunge and went bright red for the summer. Last month I traded in my strawberry blonde locks for a deep auburn hue, which I am totally loving.

Recently I learned about a great new color treatment from one of my fave brands, Davines. Called Finest Pigments, it's a 98% natural hair color that uses naturally-derived ingredients like ginger, saffron and walnut to temporarily color your strands. Each of the professional treatments lasts for up to 10 washes, fading gradually over time.

I was intrigued by the natural aspect so I headed on down to the gorgeous Ion Studio to experience it for myself. Located in SoHo, Ion is an eco-friendly salon founded by three top editorial stylists. Materials for the salon are all reclaimed or recycled and they try to keep everything as green as possible. The space was gorgeous and I was totally at ease when I stepped through the doors.

My colorist Naomi took me through the different color options and we both decided to upgrade my fading auburn and really make it pop with some bright copper color. My hair was pretty clean, so Naomi applied the color to my dry hair to help it adhere to my strands better. She used a sponge instead of a brush to apply the color, which I thought was pretty neat. Naomi basically "pushed" the color into my hair using the sponge, instead of brushing it on and just coating the strand. It was definitely a weird sensation!

Naomi sponging the pigment into my hair.

One of the coolest things about Finest Pigments is that because it doesn't use harsh chemical activators or ammonia, it's super gentle on your hair -- it's even safe for chemically straghtened or relaxed hair. And, since the color is temporary, it's a great way to test out a color to see if you like it before you take the plunge and plunk down the cash for a more permanent hair color.

Once the pigments had had a chance to sit in my hair, I was led over to the shampoo station, which featured awesome wooden rockers to sit in, and had my hair sudsed up. After I was squeaky clean I was led upstairs to have my hair styled by one of the founders of Ion, Pasquale Ferrante. He took one look at my hair and immediately set about styling it in a casually wavy, totally sexy style that I've tried in vain for the past week to recreate at home. The man knew my hair and what I liked without even having to ask me. Just goes to show you why he's such an in-demand stylist!

My vibrant new color!

The color was amazing -- vibrant and bright without looking too fake or out of place. I also loved how natural and pleasant my hair smelled. Usually when I get my hair colored my nose starts to burn from all the chemicals odors that waft around. I kept getting whiffs of my hair when I moved my head and it smelled so fresh and clean.

I'd definitely go back and do another Finest Pigments treatment. It's a great, healthy way to update your color without spending a fortune or subjecting your scalp to a bazillion different chemicals. What do you think, do you like my new look?

October is , a time to band together to fight for a cure and to support and celebrate survivors. It's also the month in which the beauty industry unveils a massive effort to give back.

Saving money is important, but if you're looking to stock up on new beauty necessities, now's a great time to do it. You can get some really fabulous limited edition items and the money you spend will go to a worthwhile cause. If that's not a good reason to spend I don't know what is! Below are a few of my favorites, but check out sephora.com, beauty.com,amazon.com, ulta.com and other online retailers for more great products that support the cause.

Sonia Kashuk BCRF Brush Up On Pink Purse Set
When it comes to cute and functional, Sonia Kashuk's line of brushes, bags and cosmetics is the best. This holds especially true for her collection of products made in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I love the vivid pink pattern used on the collection. My favorite right now is this four piece-brush set-- it features all the essential makeup brushes you need, housed in a gorge little bag. Best of all, 15% of the purchase price goes to the BCRF to help prevent and find a cure for breast cancer.

Essie Yes We Can, Pink Nail Color
A neutral pink polish is a must-have for your manicure kit and I absolutely love this pretty pastel shade. It's a limited edition hue that was created specifically for Breast Cancer Awareness. Proceeds from the formaldehyde-, DBP- and toulene-free shade will be donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women affected by the disease.

Avon Crusade Tote
This cute cotton canvas tote was designed for the brand by the revered Marimekko design company. It features the company's famous floral graphic -- a stylish and arresting statement. One hundred percent of the net profits from this $10 bag will be donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

These are just a few of my favorite BCA products, but there are literally tons of products out there this month. From tweezers to body wash, it doesn't matter what you buy, just get out there and start shopping!

It's been a hectic few weeks around here for me -- first Fashion Week, then the Emmy's right after and now we're starting to dive into our holiday coverage! Needless to say, I'm zonked. Worst of all, I can't stop stressing about all the things I need to do. It's all a bit too much for my poor over-taxed noggin and the stress is starting to bring me down.

Fortunately I've got a tried and true fix for relaxing after a taxing day or week (or month!). If you can't afford a pricey spa trip -- and really, how many of us can in this economy -- you can create your own spa experience at home. The key is to create a routine: A series of steps that, when combined, create a signature treatment.

Mine starts out with a nice hot bath. I run the bath water, then shake in a bubble bath or bath product. I'm recently obsessed with the new Thymes Moonflower Bath Salts -- the scent is made up of a blend of cinnamon, quince, myrtle, amber and cognac that creates a warm, but still very feminine, scent.

As I steam and soak, I apply a face mask to detox and refresh my skin. I'm totally into sheet masks at the moment (a pre-soaked, face-shaped cloth mask that you apply to your face -- they are HUGE in Asia), specifically The Face Shop's Pomegranate Fresh Fruit Sheet Mask. It's made with all natural pomegranate extract to help hydrate and revitalize my tired complexion. Usually you just remove the sheet and you're good to go, but I like to rinse my face off afterwards because I'm prone to breakouts and don't want to aggravate my pores. If your skin is super-dry then I'd leave it on so the ingredients have a chance to sink in.

Sometimes if I've had a really tough day, I'll also grab some tea bags, steep them in hot water, let them cool down and then place them on my eyes for about 10 minutes. They really help to decrease puffiness (great after a long crying jag or a sleepless night) but definitely be sure they are completely cool -- your eyelids are very fragile and you don't want to burn that skin! You can also use cucumber slices, which have the added bonus of smelling great.

Once I've fully soaked and decompressed, I hop out of the tub, towel off and slather on a rich body lotion like Depth Hand & Body Lotion in Bay Coconut. Something about that tropical fruit scent makes me feel at ease and the certified organic essential oils and botanicals make my skin feel fab.

Finally I throw on a fluffy robe, curl up on the couch with my puppy and immerse myself in a good book. Who needs deep tissue massages and uncomfortable spa wraps when you can have this kind of lazy afternoon? I truly think this is one of the best cures for a bad day, whether you just had a stressful time at work or hit a speed bump in your personal life.

How do you unwind after a rough day?

Actress Angela Kinsey of The Office has taken on a new role as straight-talking "Guardian Girlfriend" Gigi in Clairol's new Nice 'n Easy advertising campaign. Head to Clairol's website and check out an interview with Gigi, the commercial, and Angela Kinsey on playing the role.

I was surprised to find that Angela's effervescent, chatty demeanor is nothing like that of her eponymous famously disapproving-of-everything character on The Office. In fact, Angela breezed onto the phone, and laughingly confessed that she'd just knocked over a vase of flowers. Read on to find out about everything from Angela's favorite products to her trick to getting into character on-set at The Office.

Daily Makeover: Did you draw on experiences with anyone you know to get into character to play Gigi?
Angela Kinsey: Absolutely. My longtime friend Sue Ann McLaren would tell it like it is, just like Gigi. She'd be like [in a southern accent] "We have to do something about your eyebrows." Similarly, Gigi's the kind of girl who won't let you leave the house looking awful. She'll be like, "Hey. That's not working for you."

DM: I'd posit that everyone needs a friend like Gigi! What do you like most about playing her?
AK: I like her upbeat wardrobe. The Office's Angela Martin dons so much beige and grey! Gigi is also an endearing klutz, which makes her fun to play.

DM: She certainly sounds like a change of pace from your gig playing Angela Martin! I love that Angela (Martin) declared colors like orange and green "whorish." How do you get into character to play Angela? She's so serious with her sensible shoes and accounting degree!
AK: I rely on being tired! Having a baby helped me to be more cranky. It's easier to be confrontational like Angela is when you're sleep deprived!

DM: What do you think Angela Martin thinks about all the men fighting over her on the show?
AK: I think she loves it, secretly. She has an old-fashioned view of courtship, so her behavior requires men to play a suitor role. But, she's not easily won over, so she plays into men's primal need to pursue.

DM: What are some of your favorite products?
AK: I love Lancôme Juicy Tubes. I also wear Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up myself. I once wrecked my color at a salon I'd never been to before while I was traveling and had to quickly get myself back to Angela's blonde hue. I was impressed by how easy it was to use. I used the Natural Medium Neutral Blonde shade. I also alternate between Olay Daily Moisturizer and Cetaphil. I tend to beauty shop during trips to grocery store, Target and Walgreens.

DM: What are your top three beauty tips?
AK: Get lots of sleep, go a day or two without washing your hair, especially if you color it. Lastly, smile! It sounds cheesy but I get the most compliments when I'm in a good mood.

DM: How would you describe Angela Martin's beauty routine?
AK: It's a very simple one! I'm pretty sure her makeup remover of choice is letting her cat lick her face. She also is a vegetarian who goes to bed very early, so that helps. She's in great shape. [ed. note: That she is! She has mentioned on the show that she weighs 90 pounds and wears a children's size 10!] She doesn't enjoy sunshine, so I could see her cruising around the mall!

Thanks to Angela for dishing with Daily Makeover!

Contributed by Senior Beauty Editor Amber Katz

I've been in the beauty biz for quite some time and I've seen all kinds of beauty products in all shapes and makes. It's a rare occurrence when I see something that's truly innovative but that's exactly what happened when the JK Jemma Kidd Silver Screen Mascara Liner Duo came across my desk. Check out my video review to find out why this new product is so interesting and all around nifty in my book.

You guys know how much I love a great deal, but what I love even more is passing on the savings to you. So I'm psyched to tell you that healthy beauty brand BeingTRUE is offering special savings to DailyMakeover.com readers. Starting tomorrow, September 15, and lasting until September 30, when you purchase anything on the BeingTRUE website you can get an automatic 25% off! All you have to do is type the special discount code, BeingTRUE, in the promo box when you check out and you automatically get 25% off your entire order. There are no limits or exclusions to the offer so you can get whatever your heart desires!

I've been dying to try the Balancing Antioxidant Mask and the Essential Gentle Eye Makeup Remover and now I really don't have any excuse not to! What are you going to buy with your discount? Tell me what looks interesting to you!