Vanessa Hudgens

Jen Lowery/Startraks

Doing good sure did look appealing this weekend at the Neutrogena Fresh Faces of Music event to benefit VH1’s Save the Music Foundation. Two of Neutrogena’s superstar spokespeople, Hayden Panettiere and Vanessa Hudgens, turned out to show their support for keeping music in schools. And the duo did a lot more than just show off their flawless skin — they lent a hand by presenting a $30,000 check to a South Los Angeles middle school to jump-start their music program. “It’s such an important thing, music and creativity,” Hayden tells PEOPLE. “I’ve heard vineyards will play Mozart while the grapes are growing and it really does make a massive, massive difference.” But no beauty-supported event is complete without a little shop talk, and Hudgens was quick to share her favorite beauty must-have. “Things are always on the go for me so I love The Wave,” Vanessa tells PEOPLE of Neutrogena’s deep-cleansing power gadget. “I just throw it in my purse and go on my merry way.” Tell us: What’s your go-to budget beauty tool? — reporting by Nina Tyler

Limelight, Landov, Startraks (2), Fame

With their head-turning signature looks, these five women have captured the fashion spotlight — and the attention of the StyleWatch editors — this year. Diane Kruger is able to pull off edgy leather jackets and showstopping dresses with equal finesse. With colorful cardigans and bold jewelry, Michelle Obama has brought a sense of fun to First Lady refinement. Reese Witherspoon adds polish to simple, flattering staples — versatile dresses, easy tops, boyfriend jeans — with chic accessories. Rihanna always keeps us guessing: a bold-shouldered suit one day, a sexy mini the next, while Vanessa Hudgens has her boho look nailed, giving sweet tops, basic jeans and cute dresses a cool new spin. Tell us: Who’s your favorite? Who else would be on your best dressed list?

Courtesy In Style

As one of Hollywood’s most beautiful — and most fashionable — young stars, Vanessa Hudgens is the last person we can think of in need of a style transformation — but that’s precisely what she gets as the cover star of InStyle’s special Makeover issue. In addition to stepping in front of the lens to try out new beauty looks that range from casually undone to all done up — the High School Musical 3 star does a little style time-traveling, sharing twelve photos that reveal her own beauty transformation from freshly-scrubbed teen to sophisticated Hollywood starlet. Despite still being just 20 years old, she tells the magazine that beauty change-ups are nothing new to her. “I went through my red lipstick stage at 10,” she says. “My mom really let me play, which in the long run has given me the confidence to experiment. Now I wear everything — reds, corals, nudes.” But as any beauty maven knows, getting experimental doesn’t come without a few beauty disasters, particularly when it comes to hair. “I had short hair only once in my life,” she reveals. “When I was 7, I cut it myself, which I think every girl does — once. I gave myself a bob and bangs. It was really sad. I looked like I had worms on my head.” Learn what else Vanessa has to say about her own style icons, style horror stories and celebrity fascinations in the new issue, on stands now. Or learn how to recreate one of the Vanessa’s dazzling photo-shoot looks at InStyle.com.

H&M

On the heels of Matthew Williamson’s boldly printed summer line, H&M has announced its next high-end collaboration with star-favorite accessories brand Jimmy Choo. The luxury shoe line, which is a red carpet favorite of stars like Kate Hudson, Vanessa Hudgens, Jessica Alba, Beyonce and more, will not only be creating a women’s and men’s collection of shoes, bags and accessories, but will be extending its range to a women’s clothing line. This marks the first designer accessory collaboration for H&M. Jimmy Choo for H&M will hit stores November 14, 2009 with shoe styles ranging from $60-$200– a steal compared to Jimmy Choo’s $500+ prices. So far, we love what we see. Tell us: Are you excited to see more of the Jimmy Choo for H&M line?

Photos by Roderick Angle

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen bring the journey of Peter Pan’s Lost Boys to life in their Fall ‘09 collection for Elizabeth and James. Starting with the “proper” London life and then giving way to the savage gardens of Neverland, expect to see schoolboy and Victorian detailing followed by raw-edged foliage pieces, prints and silhouettes. This collection marks the addition of a men’s collection and footwear to the already popular line. Stars like Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad, Heidi Klum, Vanessa Hudgens and more already love the line, and with the addition of menswear, we think it is only a matter time before stylish guys like Zac Efron start wearing Elizabeth and James too. Tell us: What do you think of Elizabeth and James’s fall collection?

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Courtesy of SELF

We already know a few things about Vanessa Hudgens — how much we love her in the High School Musical movies, how well-dressed she always is and how adorable she is with boyfriend Zac Efron. But the star revealed 25 things about herself to SELF this month that you might not know, including tidbits on her fashion, beauty and workout habits. As far as shopping, she says her “biggest splurge was a purse from Louis Vuitton. Ashley Tisdale and I each got one in different colors when we were on tour in Mexico. We call it our friendship purse. I don’t want to say how much it cost. I don’t like revisiting that place.” But she will admit to loving shopping online (just like us!). “I’m an online shopaholic: ShopPlanetBlue.com, Shopbop.com, IntermixOnline.com. I love that you can see everything, rather than fishing through the racks. And the surprise of getting it in the mail is like a present to yourself.” And how does she keep herself looking so good in all her designer duds? “My secret to flat abs is pilates.” But she also loves the challenge of being in a class at the gym, saying “I like sitting in the front row of cycling class. I feel like everybody behind me is looking forward, and that pushes me to do my best. I look at myself in the mirror and get this really ferocious, angry look on my face like I’m about to kill someone. It’s crazy.” As for her beauty routine, she says less is more most of the time, “Sometimes I feel prettier without makeup. You take it off and you’re like, ‘Oh, there I am!’” But there are exceptions to every rule. “Red lips make me feel sexy. Put on red lipstick and it brings out the vixen in you.” Read more about Vanessa at SELF.com.

Donato Sardella/WireImage

Gucci’s newest fragrance, Flora by Gucci, got the star treatment with an A-list party at L.A.’s Chateau Marmont. Fashion insiders joined Vanessa Hudgens, Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Rumer Willis and more for a dinner in honor of the newest addition to the Italian fashion house. And while Jason Segel may have donned his own suit, all the lovely ladies in attendance represented the best of Gucci from their vertiginous heels to their sexy little dresses. As for the scent itself, Flora has notes of citrus and peony and is meant to embody youthful optimism, modernity and depth — so what better way to show it off than with Hollywood’s hottest up-and-comers? Pick up Flora by Gucci at nordstrom.com.