In conjunction with Better.tv, we’re giving away a TRIA laser hair removal system ($795) this week! TRIA is the only FDA-cleared laser hair removal device you can use at home – with results similar to those you’d get at a professional’s office.

To enter, just leave a comment below about your favorite beauty secret. Though we’re betting that if you win, it’ll soon be your fabulous new TRIA.

Interested in more high-tech beauty? There are a bunch of products out now that go way beyond collagen and peptides.

On the anti-aging front, both Omnilux New-U ($299) and Tanda ($275 – and there’s also one to fight acne) use LED light technology to improve the tone and texture of skin, and they’re safe and completely simple to use on your own. A vote of legitimacy: The company that makes the Omnilux New-U also makes several more-intense versions of the product for use in doctors’ offices.

Luster 1-Hour White ($40) also uses light, but to whiten teeth – in one hour (!). The kit comes with the light device, plus a whitening gel and a rinse to help the process along. NuFace Anti-Aging ($325) uses an entirely different technology – gentle “micro-current impulses” – to diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and the like.

Contest Rules:

1. Post a comment about your favorite beauty secret.

2. You must supply us with a valid email address and sign up for the SheFinds newsletter.

3. The contest starts now and entries must be date stamped by our server no later than Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 AM Eastern Time to be eligible.

4. One winner will be selected during a random drawing. The winners will be contacted and must reply via email as instructed in the newsletter to claim the prize.

5. No prize substitutions.

6. You must be 18 years old or older to enter and a resident of the USA.

7. No purchase necessary.

8. Void where prohibited.

9. Click here for the full rules.

10. Specific prize subject to availability.

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Today The New York Times attempts to make an interesting case on the topic of men’s beauty.  The paper claims that an era of hairlessness (on more than just the face) is being ushered in among guys in college through their mid-thirties thanks to causes ranging from Gilette ads to Nivea to Brüno.

In case your guy wants to make like that slick-haired dude at your gym, we suggest keeping hair removal products around that he’ll think are meant for you, but in truth, both of you can (and will) definitely use.

These Schick disposables are not particularly feminine-looking, they last longer than most throwaway razors, and are only $8 for a pack of four.  Keep a package around for you, but don’t get mad when your man raids the stash.

Also important to this newly-shaven boyfriend movement is a shaving cream that doesn’t scream “groooooming!”  Get something that works for you but comes off being gender-neutral, like Philosophy’s shaving cream ($18).

We may have already noted the no!no! in our post on DIY lasers, but seriously, this FDA-approved device is so painless and easy to use, it deserves a second mention.  Get one in black ($250) that you’ll love and your guy will feel totally comfortable using, too.

Peruse our Hair Removal Guide for even more options.

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What: Completely Bare with a Flair ($115) bikini wax

According to the website, the salon service will “Embellish your just waxed bikini with the Swarovski crystal design of your choice.” The crystals supposedly stay on for up to 10 days.

Why: Wait wait don’t tell me… because girls love sparkles? Bzzzz! I’m sorry, the correct answer (according to the spa) is because, “Accessorizing your privates is the hottest rage.” Huh? I get the appeal of wanting to be all waxed and smooth down there, so why would you add back crystals that are just going to make things bumpier?

If you’re like me and usually take care of your hair removal needs at home, check out these two DIY bikini products instead. And if you’re even more like me, you’re going to need a product to help with the common DIY problem of razor burn. Try Bikini Zone Medicated Creme ($6.50). Trust me, it works.

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A few years back, leaving our delicate bikini lines to anyone but the most highly skilled professionals was out of the question. Now, in these anything-to-save-a-dollar days, it's razors up. We're even going DIY down there. Luckily, there are some handy tools to help us through our at-home endeavors. We took two for a test drive.

Contender 1: Bliss Spa's Bikini Perfect Deluxe Spa Edition Razor Set ($50)

Bliss' Philips-branded set sure does have all the bells and whistles—which is a pro and a con. There are six interchangeable razor heads, so every shaping and shaving need, from bikini line to brows, is taken care of. But we can't help but feel that the kit could be a few dollars cheaper if it didn't include unnecessary extras like trial-sized tubes of body butter and scrub.

Contender 2: Schick Quattro Trim Style Razor ($13)

Once the razor industry realized that adding a sixth, seventh, or eighth blade would be ludicrous, brands like Schick started throwing in other enticing extras, like a battery-powered bikini line trimmer. The trimmer end isn't going to help anyone get the Brazilian look, but it does its job in the shaping department, with the help of three different guard settings.

The Verdict: If we're only considering bikini line benefits, it's Bliss by a hair. There's just nothing that little rechargeable gizmo can't do. But if we throw value and overall performance into the mix, it's hard to beat a tool like Schick that can take care of your legs and your bikini line for a quarter of the price.

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Do you box-dye your hair or even brave your own at-home-highlights? What about do-it-yourself mani/pedis? I sure do. It’s cheaper, most times faster, and you can do it in your pj’s while watching Gossip Girl.

What about laser hair removal though? Would you trust yourself to use a handheld laser or other medical device to remove unwanted hair at home?

In all honesty, the most cost effective device available is the No!No! that you can buy at several department stores and Sephora for around $250. It’s safe, reliable, and pretty darn cute.

But what about the Silk’n pictured below? It’s not FDA-approved, but Silk’ns are now available for purchase through your dermatologist’s office – at $800 a pop.

Another handheld device now available through your doc is called the Tria which retails at $995. It’s considerably cheaper than a $2,000 salon laser hair removal package – but these products are obviously lacking in ‘oomph’ if they’re being sold to Sally Sue off the street.

Neither of these two have been FDA approved for the face nor for African American or darker skin tones due to the fact that lasers and light-based technologies work by targeting pigment in the hair and can mistake dark or tanned skin for the enemy. Yikes!

If you have darker skin it is best to see a pro for laser hair removal. Though the best candidates for laser hair removal are light skinned folks with dark coarse hair (like me), the pros can safely and effectively treat clients with all skin tones. If you’re in NYC, there’s no better place to go than Beam Laser Spa. I went for my first treatment, a Brazillan, and the results were phenomenal. Andrea took her time and walked me through the entire process. I was ready for each blast – which felt almost like a rush of cold water against the skin – most of the time. I had zero irriation afterwards, and follow-up calls and emails from the ladies at Beam. Wow.

I trust a pro using an FDA approved machine using the latest technology over a non-FDA approved handheld device any day. I’m partial to that area of my body – I’m not looking to burn it off anytime soon.

For more ways to get rid of unwanted hair, check out our Guide to the Best Hair Removal Products.

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