National Lipstick Day: Perk Up Your Pout with Hollywood's Hottest Shades & Looks

Photo by Georges Biard

Red alert: Katy Perry beams in a beautiful, bold shade.

Time to out your pout. National Lipstick Day has arrived!

Back in the day, we're talkin' more than 4,000 years ago, women ground precious gems into fine dust to decorate their lips. Fast forward to 1923, the first swivel up lipstick tube appeared on the market. Today, ingredients such as fruit extracts, vitamin E, mica, and jojoba, castor and safflower oils produce luxurious matte and glossy varieties. 

To pick out the perfect shade, consider your skin tone. For the most part, light pink and peach palettes suit pale complexions, and orange and coral colors complement fair skin with warm undertones. Red and orange tones tend to work well with olive complexions, while the sky's the limit for medium- and dark-skinned women. 

If you're looking for the latest pout-popping looks, see which shades Demi Lovato, Lea Michele, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Zoe Saldana and Nina Dobrev rock on the red carpet. Plus, check out our luscious lipstick picks that no makeup bag should be without.

Enjoy our tribute to the tube!

BRIGHT RED

Photo by Neon Tommy

Demi Lovato

Photo courtesy gdcgraphics

Jenna Dewan-Tatum

PINK

Photo by Eva Rinaldi

Miranda Kerr

Photo by Georges Biard

Kendall Jenner

NUDE

Photo by David Shankbone

Lea Michele

Photo by Eva Rinaldi

Kim Kardashian

DEEP RED

Photo courtesy Mingle Media TV

Zoe Saldana

PERSIMMON

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Nina Dobrev

SHINE: Hemp Organics by Colorganics Lipsticks. BEAUTY: Sheer Pink, Rose Quartz and Rose Petal. BEACON: No animal testing and USDA Organic certified. Contains no gluten, artificial fragrances and flavors, parabens, phthalates or FD&C colors. Supports The Library Project. 

SHINE: Kevyn Aucoin The Expert Lip Color Lipsticks. BEAUTY: Micavel, Faith and Thelmadora. BEACON: Free of parabens.

SHINE: Mirabella Beauty Colour Vinyl Lipsticks. BEAUTY: Glossy Ginger and Metallic Blush. BEACON: Contains no lead or parabens.

SHINE: Ramy Beauty Therapy Lipsticks. BEAUTY: Red My Lips, Perfect Lip Tint and Thrive. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Ronald McDonald House and Project Ladybug.

May Day Mayday! How to Fight the Frizzies & Create 5 Stunning Spring Hair Looks

Poodles look adorable with powder puff hair. However, if you're not a canine, frizzy strands can fizzle your plans.

Troubled tresses happen for a number of reasons. Dry hair, which occurs from sun exposure, humidity, excessive shampooing or improper maintenance, sucks up moisture in the air and causes strands to expand. Breakages and split ends from damaged locks also create unflattering frizzies. Plus, if you use a hair spray with a high alcohol content, it can swell the cuticle (the outermost layer of the shaft) and cause puffiness.

No need to fret over fly-aways. Aim to tame them by keeping dry hair brushing and processing procedures to a minimum. Frizzies and frays also respond well to the right leave-in treatments, smoothing serums, thermal/sun protectors and styling tools. 

Today marks May Day. So, in honor of the annual celebration of spring, we present the latest hair trends and products that will help you avoid an emergency mayday moment with your hair.

Photo by Tom Sorensen

Emma Stone: Shoulder swept locks with bangs.

Photo by JJ Duncan

Nina Dobrev: Long, straight strands parted in the middle.

Photo by Georges Biard

Karolina Kurkova: Tight curls with side part. 

Photo by Tom Sorensen

Amanda Seyfried: Messy side braid.

Photo by Neon Tommy

Cher Lloyd: Long, soft waves.

SHINE: Affinage Indigo Smoothie. BEAUTY: This thermal protector minimizes heat damage from styling tools and sun exposure, and helps repair split ends. BEACON: Supports The Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation.

SHINE: Belson Products Brazilian Heat After Dark Ionic 1900 Watt Professional Dryer. BEAUTY: Titanium-infused outlet grille eliminates static while the diffuser attachment helps curly hair achieve more smoothness and control. BEACON: The parent company, Helen of Troy, supports the American Cancer Society, Cookies for Kids' Cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

SHINE: Conair Bamboo Carbon Ceramic Heat Flat Iron. BEAUTY: Nano bamboo carbon ceramic-coated plates promote shine and ant-frizz protection. BEACON: Supports American Red Cross, American Ballet Theatre and National Dance Institute.

SHINE: Davines OI/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion. BEAUTY: This leave-in treatment/styling oil prompts restructuring and an anti-frizz effect for softer and stronger strands. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Hamadi Organics Shea Spray De-Frizzing Sun Protector. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf powder, avocado oil and shea butter extract shield and strengthen strands to encourage smoothness. BEACON: Ecocert certified and no animal testing. Biodegradable, and contains no fragrances or colorants.

SHINE: Jane Carter Solution Incredible Curls. BEAUTY: This leave-in conditioning/styling product keeps fly-aways at bay for wavy and textured hair with shea butter, vitamin E, and jojoba seed and avocado oils. BEACON: Supports Women For Women.

SHINE: Redken Smooth Lock Butter Silk. BEAUTY: This rinse-out treatment utilizes sweet almond oil to nourish and help minimize unruly hair. BEACON: Parent company L’Oréal partners with UNESCO to support For Women In Science.

SHINE: Unilever TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Keratin Infusing Smoothing Serum and Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Shine Spray. BEAUTY: The serum seals in smoothness while the spray shields strands from heat styling. BEACON: The Unilever Foundation supports Oxfam, Population Services International, Save the Children, UNICEF and the World Food Programme. 

5 Fun Ways to Create Beautiful Braids

Photo by Adam Blelawski

Jennifer Hudson strikes a pose in a sexy side braid.

Move over ponytail, there's a new sheriff in town--the big, bold, beautiful braid. The look works well no matter what the occasion or your hair texture type. Plus, it's an easy, effortless style that goes from classic to casual, red carpet to recreational and simple to sophisticated in the snap of an elastic hair band. Here's how to get started.

CLASSIC BRAID

Divide your hair into three sections. Take the outer right strands and cross them over the center section. Then take the outer left strands and cross them over the center piece. Alternate between left and right sections until the process is complete. 

In one of her red-carpet-best moments, Charlize Theron sports a braided sideswept updo.

FRENCH BRAID

Separate your hair into three sections. Using the same method above, braid them together. Weave small portions of hair from the sides into each section as you cross them over the center piece. Incorporate all loose strands as you finish the braid. 

French braids steal the show at Paris Fashion Week Fall 2011.

MESSY SIDE BRAID

French braid your hair from the back to the side, and fasten the remaining ponytail with an elastic hair band. Tease the ponytail and then create a classic braid. Randomly loosen pieces of hair for a messy look. Cut the elastic hair band off, but be careful not to remove any hair.

Lea Michele and Lucy Hale parade messy side braids down the red carpet.

FISHTAIL BRAID

Divide your hair into two sections. Take a small piece from the outer part of the right section and cross it over the top. Then add it to the left section. Do the same thing with the left section, crossing over to the right. Repeat until complete. Lightly pull the edges of the braid if you'd like to create a fuller look.

Aubrey O'Day flaunts a flirty fishtail braid.

WATERFALL BRAID

Separate your hair into three sections to begin a classic braid. After three weaves or so, drop a section. Gather a new strand that pulls the braid in the direction you'd like to go. Repeat until your desired look takes shape.

Nina Dobrev's recent red carpet look included a double waterfall braid.

Ashley Tisdale celebrated her 27th birthday with a summer waterfall braid and purple hair tips.

Thankfully you don't need a red carpet to rock beautiful braids. So we've compiled the latest shampoos, conditioners, tools and styling products to help create smooth, sleek and shiny strands.  

SHINE: Burt's Bees gud Orange Petalooza Nourishing Shampoo and Softening Conditioner. BEAUTY: Hydrates hair with sunflower seed oil and peppermint leaf extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no sulfates, parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals. Supports Habitat for Humanity.

SHINE: Infiniti PRO by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic 1" Straightener (fuchsia). BEAUTY: Ceramic-coated plates and far-infrared heat maximize manageability with 70% less frizz, according the manufacturer. BEACON: Supports the American Red Cross and National Dance Institute.

SHINE: Hamadi Organics Shea Spray De-Frizzing Sun Protector. BEAUTY: Shea butter, avocado oil and aloe vera leaf powder help protect, fortify and smooth strands. BEACON: Ecocert certified and no animal testing. Free of artificial fragrances and colorants.

SHINE: Kitoko Hydro-Revive Cleanser and Balm. BEAUTY: Remove impurities and maximize manageability with baobab, green tea extract, and vitamins A & E. BEACON: Contains no sodium laureth sulphate or sodium lauryl sulphate. 

SHINE: Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo. BEAUTY: Sunflower seed oil, and black currant leaf and yogurt extracts nourish hair and scalp. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Sulfate, gluten and paraben free.

SHINE: Peter Lamas Chinese Herbs Revitalizing Styling Cream. BEAUTY: Control frizz and fly-aways, add moisture and reduce breakage with jojoba seed, olive leaf and licorice root extracts. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Contains no parabens. 

SHINE: Pureology Precious Oil Shamp'Oil and Precious Oil Softening Condition. BEAUTY: Sunflower seed and coconut oils maximize elasticity, shine and softness. BEACON: No animal testing. Vegan and free of sulfates. Supports Global Green USA.

SHINE: Redken Smooth Lock Stay Sleek Leave-In Cream (for dry/unruly hair). BEAUTY: Protect and smooth strands with coconut, sweet almond and olive fruit oils. BEACON: Parent company L’Oréal partners with UNESCO to support For Women In Science.  

SHINE: Urban Therapy Twisted Sista Leave-In Conditioner. BEAUTY: Argan oil, lychee and vitamin E condition, calm and control for static-free hair. BEACON: Contains no sulfates, parabens, mineral oils or phthalates.