I navigated the mayhem backstage at the Victoria's Secret show in L.A. a few weeks ago—stepping through piles of tangled hair extensions and dodging oversized camera lenses.

The models of course looked flawless—from their gleaming toned bodies, to their cascading waves, to their perfect manicures. I was particularly fascinated with the "bronzing booth"—a separate room where makeup artists doused the girls in shimmery oils and glittery sprays—but, unfortunately, I couldn't get in (a naked Karolina was apparently busy inside.) The hair stylists were preoccupied fluffing and spritzing Heidi, Alessandra, and Marissa...but I did, however, manage to swipe a bottle of polish from a distracted nail technician: Nibble—a sheer baby-pink that really gives the allusion of supermodel hands: thinner, tanner, prettier.

Check out the show (and especially the perfect manicures) on CBS, Tuesday,December 4th, at 10pm EST.

—Dawn Spinner, associate beauty editor

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As stocking stuffers, I'm planning on getting these stationery sets fromSugar Paper in L.A. (one of the best places on the planet to buy paper goods) for everyone on my list. They come as a package of 10 letterpressed cards that have been stamped with a single black letter in a cool, subtly old-time-y font. They're classic, perfectly unisex, and at $20, amazingly well-priced.

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Though there are many great vintage boutiques on eBay, I've found it can be a challenge to find one that consistently stocks cool accessories. This is why I have become obsessed with the truly awesome Sunflower Chicks Vintage. They're based out of Niagara Falls and carry a vast selection of everything I want: bright, festive jewelry, classic 30s-ish bags, and majorly sexy heels (they also sell beautiful clothes). Other selling points include the fact that most of the items are for sale with a Best Offer option and everything you win is sent out wrapped like a present, replete with bow, card, and even little pieces of delicious candy.

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At first glance Vena Cava's silk Birkin tank looks deceptively simple, but upon closer inspection there's actually a lot going on, and all of it's really good. The subtle, hand-drawn print includes several bands of barely-there tonal colors separated by delicate zigzags (do these remind anyone else of the readings off an EKG machine, or is that just me?), and the lemony trim at the neckline gives it an unexpected pop of brightness. The banded waist is classically feminine—not to mention always flattering—and the teeny buttons and two front pockets are fairly discreet while adding just the right amount of embellishment. Must, must, must have.

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I was spying at the impossibly glamorous Sally Hershberger Downtown salon and couldn't help but notice that every last stylist in the place was using a Spornette brush to blow out clients' hair. Confirmed my stylist Tommy Buckett: "Everyone uses Spornettes! People think we have a contract with them, but we don't—they're the best." And unlike services at the Sally Hershberger Downtown salon, Spornettes are inexpensive—$20 and under—so they must be extra-good for all those high-priced stylists to deem them worthy.

—Cat Marnell, beauty assistant

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I hate our coffee table. It's glass, shaped like a sharp boomerang (not like a designer-ish kidney), and it lures and holds both dust and fingerprints to the degree that I've considered chaining a bottle of Windex to it. In addition, I bump into it nearly every time I leave the couch. No matter who else is my house claims this piece is "perfectly fine," I know it has to go. Because they are relatively lightweight and not as expensive as say, an armoire, coffee tables are actually a smart thing to purchase on eBay. You have a great selection at good prices and, in most cases, you won't take a beating on the shipping. I've had my eye on these mid-century slat bench-tables for a while now—I like how they're sleek, but still sort of earthy and Zen-inspired. Their other selling point is neat, ever-so-slightly rounded corners, which, even if they don't entirely eliminate them, will at least alleviate some of my attack-of-the-coffee-table calf bruises.

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I've done ankle boots, and I'll break out the stilettos when I have to, but when it comes right down to it, my very favorite shoes are ballet slippers. In many ways they're the perfect shoe: chic, comfortable (no matter how much the ladies in the accessories department here try to convince me otherwise, heels are just never as wearable as flats), and truly easy to dress up or down. And lately I'm finding so many different variations on the style that I have no reason to wear anything else. Right now I'm especially charmed by these suede ones by Repetto: They've got pretty details like ankle ties and a bit of gathering on the toes, and they're especially great in this silver and mushroomy-gray color combination.Read More

I was out sick last week. As is my habit, I took hot baths and blasted the air conditioner, ordered tacos and orange juice from delivery services, called friends and family to proclaim my illness in a nasal, Bob Dylan-esque whine ("I just don't feeeel well!"), intermittently admired automaton parrots in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalogue, and passed out. The usual.

But the only thing that actually made me feel better was a beauty product: Kiss My Face Obsessively Natural Cold & Flu Room Spray. It's full of essential oils like menthol and eucalyptus that just smell curative—really clean and herbal-clinical, how you'd expect a holistic dentist's office to smell, if holistic dentists even exist (and perhaps they do). Call it psychosomatic: You spray it everywhere and breathe deep and immediately feel better. I even brought it back to work to spritz around my cubicle—the alcohol in the spray is a natural germ killer, so I'm doing everyone a favor.

—Cat Marnell, beauty assistant

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Though I spend a lot (a lot) of time logged on, nevertheless, every once and awhile, eBay surprises me. The most recent example of this happened yesterday when I was surfing its home page and came across the Giving Works section. Turns out, eBay has an entirely separate cataloging system where you can search for the things you want—clothes, books, electronics, anything—solely from sellers who donate part of their proceeds to charity. You can also buy from specific nonprofit organization's auctions (such as the American Red Cross, UNICEF, Make a Wish Foundation). Each of these for-a-cause sales is easy-to-find: They're demarcated with a blue-and-yellow Giving Works tag, and in this season of gratitude and giving back and generosity, it just feels like a good thing to check out.

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Of the many good points the Zen Therapist (my shrink) has made, one of the best is the Bring-a-Non-Family-Member-to-Thanksgiving (and/or any other family-holiday-type event) rule. With a stranger sitting at the table, everyone is suddenly, miraculously on their best behavior. I have two more to add to the canon:

#1. He Who Has Opinions on How the Item Should Taste Prepares the ItemHimself.

#2. If ever there were a moment for a self-administered foot massage, it would be the second one finally falls into bed after said family-oriented extravaganza. You're exhausted, and you just don't want to do another thing—but do it! Here's why:

• If you've eaten too much, you can hope to touch off secret anti-toxin/calorie-flushing accupressure points that you suspect exist but have never really confirmed.

• My favorite cream, Soul Owner by Philosophy, smells like spa, which helps, and leaves your feet unbelievably soft by morning, so you're sort of multitasking.

• A homeopath once told me that rubbing your feet gets you out of your head, and I believe her.

• The gesture says, in a way that sounds corny but isn't, "I'm going to take care of me!" Which is a comforting way to remind yourself that you are, thankfully and at last, an adult.

—Jean Godfrey-June, beauty director

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