It seems to me that the majority of makeup wearers opt for the fairly standard hues of brown or black. Pretty, but a bit boring, nonetheless. For New Year's Eve I went bold with a bright blue liner, and this got me to thinking about the rainbow of colors available beyond traditional shades.

While reds, oranges, and yellows are often saved for the runway or high fashion/high drama looks, here are some tips on how to wear shades on the cooler end of the spectrum:

• Bold blue: We know that blue-based red lipsticks can help neutralize the yellow cast in teeth, and did you know that blue eyeliner can help make your eyes pop? Who wouldn't want a little twinkle, eh? Recently, I chose a deeper hue for a sophisticated look with a richer contrast, applying Wet 'n' Wild Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Deep Blue ($1.49) to the waterline of both my upper and lower lash lines. After smudging and setting with a navy shadow, I was off for evening cocktails. My friend said I looked well-rested. Wink wink.

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In the nonstop stream of bad economy news, there's at least one bright sign for retailers: People are still buying beauty items. A study by research group Synovate found 41 percent of people plan to spend the same amount on cosmetics as they did before the recession hit; 27 percent said they would reduce spending. The study, which queried 11,500 people, spanned more than a dozen countries — and that's where it gets interesting.

Respondents in Denmark, Brazil, and Malaysia were most optimistic about their respective economies, while Brits and Americans had the most doom. Eighty-two percent of Americans said that they've stopped making impulsive purchases in general, and I'm one of them. Are you cutting back everywhere, or are you still spending on beauty treats?

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Throughout her 50 years, Barbie has been a gymnast, a doctor, and, um, a Harley Davidson rider. Next up for the fashion doll? A makeup collaboration with Stila.

While the partnership officially kicks off in February to celebrate Barbie's 50th, the Barbie Loves Stila Beauty Cans' ($40) pre-launch is on Sephora.com today. The limited-edition cans (only 10,000 were created) are inspired by Barbie looks from the past five decades. Plans are also in action to launch a Talking Palette that walks you through a makeup look, along with an expanded collection this Fall. Check out some photos of the cans and the Talking Palette below, along with some more specifics, after the jump.

Click as fast as your index finger will allow, and get over to Suavenomics. For today only, Suave is giving away coupons for a free product (choose from shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, styling aid, body wash or body lotion). You'll have to wait for the coupon to arrive in your physical mailbox (so last-century, I know) but once it's there, you can have your pick! I know some of you might scoff at a low-priced line — but remember, when I was in Belize, I thought I was using "fancy spa shampoo," only to find out that it was Suave. So go on and get your freebie already!

It was the fourth episode of The City last night, and I'm still getting used to Whitney's new life in NYC — as I'm sure she is, too. As we all know, The Hills and The City are always good for some trendy hair, nail polish, and makeup shades, and after checking out last night's episode, "Good Things Come in Threes," I liked what I saw.

At Whitney's lavish apartment (seriously, how can she afford that?), she discussed her relationship with Jay, as Erin listened and dispensed advice. Miss Port's low-slung wrap-around ponytail was effortlessly stylish, and I've got some tips on recreating the look after the jump. Oh, and don't forget to check out geek's tech quiz and Fab's fashion quiz, while you're at it. To get the hairstyle how-to, read more