No blind alleys: Unbiased beauty advice

The Sonia Kashuk charcoal eye shadow looked ominously dark in the package, but I wanted the trendy smoky eye of the season and thought it might be worth a tiny splurge.

Besides, my new friends on MakeupAlley.com said it was worth $8, and they were right.

The cosmetic-crazed members of this consumer-to-consumer Web site have already bought, used and rated more beauty products than I could ever try in a lifetime, warning me off bad products and steering me toward the ones that deliver as promised.

Women from all professions and walks of life contribute to the site, hoping to save another woman a waste of time or money.

"Women want to feel good about themselves," site founder Hara Glick said. "It's a common denominator.