For some, Latisse has proven to be a miracle beauty product as the formula promises to grow full, long, thick eyelashes. Though Latisse was FDA approved, take heed: Cityfile is reporting that the FDA has now released an advisory letter regarding Latisse, the details of which are downright scary ...

Today the HuffPo ran a story about “beauty indulgences” in which a writer extolled the virtues of 10 outrageously splurgy beauty products, the total cost of which clocked in just under a grand ($986 to be exact, I counted). Her point, that some products are totally worth the money, is fair enough, but having spent some time in the trenches of the beauty industry, I have to take issue with some of writer Felicia Sullivan’s recommendations.

To be fair, if you have the money to blow, I guess go for it. But if you’re feeling bad that you don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend each month on certain essentials, don’t. Seriously. Do not. After the jump, five products which it’s kind of foolish to waste your hard-earned cash on.

Say it ain’t so, but a major UK consumer organization claims that spending money on fancy eye creams is like investing in horses and buggies, or erm, something like that. The group Which? tested 12 anti-wrinkle products on volunteers between 35 and 65 years old, and “found none of them came close to eliminating or reducing the appearance of lines.” Not. Even. One. As a result, they concluded that a $5 eye cream is not too different from a $50-plus one. [Belfast Telegraph]

Really? Do you agree?

Bargain shopping for makeup is easy, but it can be a challenge to spend under $20 on traditionally spendy hair products. We tried and tress-ted (ha, sorry) a few little numbers and found a few that make the grade—whether you’re going for high volume or stick straight—but won’t make your wallet cry.

Have you ever dated someone who smelled really hot? Not good, mind you—but hot, like sex in a sniffable form. There’s a scientific explanation for this phenomenon—it’s caused by pheromones, hormones we all secrete that shout to the opposite sex, “Hey you! I want to get naked now!”

Last week, the New York Times ran a story about how synthetic pheromones are making their way into beauty products. Evidently, products with pheromones have been on shelves for forevs (you’re late to the party once again, Times), but the article claims that more are coming down the pipeline containing the stuff. Paris Hilton’s perfume has ‘em, as does Urban Decay’s Pocket Rocket lip glosses. Dial is even coming out with Men Magnetic Attraction Enhancing Body Wash for dudes, though please lord, don’t let their commercials veer the way of Axe. [New York Times]

Companies want people to believe these products are akin to love potions. (“We don’t claim using our product you’re going to hit a home run,” said Ryan Gaspar, Men Magnetic Attraction’s brand manager. “We say, ‘We’ll get you to first base.’”) Meanwhile, scientists are hugely skeptical because no one’s sure how, exactly, pheromones play into this whole attraction game.

So there was only one thing left to do: try them for myself.

Who doesn’t remember “The Nanny”? Since it ended, the star of the show Fran Drescher has commendably branched out to working tirelessly on behalf of women’s health issues, and now she’s extending her efforts to a new organic skincare line called FranBrand. Drescher personally worked with a chemist in California as well as organic manufacturers in Oregon to develop the products, which are free of parabens and carcinogens (aka bad chemicals you don’t want on your skin). Her line will be available November 10th exclusively via, what else? The Home Shopping Network. [StyleCaster]

As rational, educated women, we know in our heads that when it comes to the often outlandish promises skincare companies make, applying a so-called wrinkle cure will not actually erase lines from our face. As people bombarded with airbrushed images of perfect, supernaturally youthful skin and famous idols who fight each skin fold with a double dose of Botox, it’s safe to say that we’re warily interested in aging and the lack thereof. And when it comes to beauty products in general, is it really so crazy to ask for something that does what it promises? According to a Daily Mail report, we may be getting closer to true product efficacy and real, not just promised, miracles in a jar.

What’s missing from this picture? The few, the proud, the members of our fleet of the ready, willing and able, you get it… We need ladies like you to step up to the plate and do us a huge favor: Test out new beauty products and give us your no holds barred opinions. Think you can handle it? (We know, we know, it’s a stretch.) If you think you’re qualified, tell us why in 150 words or less and send your name and snail-mail address to style@thefrisky.com. We’ll choose a few testers and if you’re chosen we’ll send you the product and ask you to try it for a week or so, then report back. (And don’t worry, if you’re not picked immediately, we’ll try to get to you soon, obvs.) Thank you for your service. At ease.

Getting skin, “clean, clear, and under control” can be more than a little complicated. To simplify the process, one of our fave skin care brands, Dermalogica, has launched a line called Clean Start. The eight product range is appropriate for all skin types, but targeted specifically at teens to rid skin of blackheads, pimples, and other impurities. The line doesn’t rely on peppy commercials or packaging to get it’s point across, just quality ingredients and attention to detail—like a backwards spraying skin toner which can be spritzed on your face or your back. Best of all, the products contain no artificial colors, fragrances, or allergens. You can buy the cleansing gels, toners, and moisturizers separately. [$16 - $36, Clean Start]

From my dad to my boyfriend, I definitely wouldn’t expect them to be able to use most of the beauty products I own, let alone understand my fashion choices. Knowing that the beauty measures women sometimes take often look like medieval torture to men, I decided to ask a few guys on the street to identify some beauty thingamajigs. To be sneaky, I threw in an equally as confusing men’s grooming tool and let the camera roll. Would the men in your life have passed my test?

Everyone wants a tighter something this day. Someone at some point decided that our butts and thighs need to have more elasticity than a gumby doll. While this obsession with tightness has added two, ahem 20, minutes to my daily beauty routine, it’s definitely worth it during bathing season. What’s not worth it: the Slim Mouth Piece designed to create a taut face but more likely to cause your premature death by choking. Maybe I am just too literal and it’s my problem that I can’t get my mom’s voice saying “don’t put that in your mouth, you will choke!” out of my head. If it’s just my own childhood and authority issues rearing their ugly heads, then who am I to stop you from trying the Slim Mouth Piece...Don’t do it!

Drinking too much alcohol will make you have a bad face day, and it might cause premature aging. However, cocktails in the form of beauty products will perk you up as much as a poolside Tecate.

For the last couple months, we’ve been in a hair rut. Our hair wasn’t working no matter what goop we added or how we styled it. In fact, it was being downright uncooperative. Then we started using Aveeno’s new Nourish+ Hair Care Collection. It may sound unbelievable, but now our ‘do does exactly what we want it to do. Seriously, after our first shower with the stuff, we had tamed the beast into bouncy, shiny submission. [$6.99, Drugstore.com]

We’re giving away products from Aveeno’s Nourish+ Hair Care line, but you have to work if you want your hair to look good. The five best commenters for this coming week—from today, Friday, May 15 through Thursday, May 21—will be awarded with a shampoo and conditioner set. So be as clever, smart, and original as you can! Click HERE to read the official rules.

Bird droppings, placenta, snail slime…. It’s not a page from Papa Smurf’s spell-casting playbook, but a list of what could be, should be or is part of your beauty regimen. Plenty of companies synthesize substances—snake venom, human sperm—to put in products, but these six grody ingredients are the real yucky deal.

Singaporeans sure do enjoy their beauty products, even during a recession. According to a survey, seven in 10 people there will continue to indulge their beauty addiction by purchasing products and services, despite the threat of job losses and a severe economic recession. Half of those polled said they spent at least $33 each month on beauty products, and a third said they’d curb their spending on other lifestyle choices, but not beauty. “I don’t think any of us has ever really appreciated how important looking good is to Singaporeans,” said BeautyAsia 2009’s organizer. “For the majority, it is a ‘must-have’ rather than a luxury.” This poll gives weight to the “lipstick factor,” a theory that suggests consumers purchase small luxuries while otherwise tightening their belts in an economic downturn. Like the Singaporeans, I don’t plan to stop spending on beauty products or services, but I’m jealous that they only spend an average of $33 per month on products. I tend to shell out $53 just on getting my nails and toes done each month. What do you think about the “lipstick factor”? Do you plan to spend less, more, or the same on beauty products and services during the recession? [Reuters]

“Who’s She” red, “Hollywood Nights” hot pink,  “Mauve-lous Memories”—clever names for makeup colors are supposed to seduce you into buying cosmetics. Sadly, some manufacturers have completely missed the mark and named their goods badly. While Wendy pointed out some clothing items have become fashion victims because of their uncool names, here’s a round up of the ugliest names for beauty products…