While watching the 2012 London Olympics, I was consistently struck by the female athletes’ beauty. While swimming, running, cycling, high jumping, boxing, hitting or competing in other ways, the inner glamour of these amazing females shined through their sweat-stained faces.

Pantene noticed it, too. The hair care company recently named 11 female Olympians, including 2012 medalists USA swimmer Natalie Coughlin, Chinese diver Wu Minxia, British cyclist Victoria Pendleton, Mexican diver Paola Espinosa and Russian rhythmic gymnast Evgeniya Kaneava, beauty ambassadors for its “Healthy is the New Beautiful” campaign.

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Celebrities often stand out for their beauty and style. But these eight actors, actresses, athletes, and models boast natural beauty marks that have made them instantly recognizable – and often added to their appeal.

1. Mark Wahlberg: Third Nipple

This “Fighter” hasn’t let his third nipple keep him from being shirtless in movies ranging from his recent Oscar-nominated film to last year’s “Date Night.” The former Calvin Klein underwear model told Rolling Stone magazine about the mark below his left pec: “I’ve come to embrace it. That thing’s my prized possession.”

2. Ashton Kutcher: Webbed Feet

Kutcher’s “slightly webbed toes” doesn’t seem to have creeped out wife Demi Moore. He told a British TV show: “When everything else is this good-looking, something has to give!” We could see him tweeting using #webbedtoesrock.

3. Marilyn Monroe: Beauty Mark

The beauty mark on Monroe’s face only added to her sex appeal. An unforgettable blemish like that can make someone an icon. Other celebrities, like Sarah Jessica Parker, have had their moles removed.

4. Cindy Crawford: Mole Above Upper Lip

Much attention has been paid over the years to this model’s unique beauty mark, a mole above her upper lip. It’s added to her look, but Crawford has been watching the mole as it has grown. She told the Daily Mail in 2009: “It’s not something I really like to talk about. But I do now get this and all my moles checked out every year as a matter of course. Of course, it should be an issue we all have to take seriously.”

5. Lily Allen: Yet Another, 3rd Nipple

There’s even a Facebook page dedicated to Allen’s third nipple, which she has shown off on TV. The singer has embraced the mark, which is just below her left breast.

6. Karolina Kurkova: Missing Belly Button

The supermodel bares her body in photo shoots – no belly button and all. Reports have said she lost the belly button during an operation when she was a baby; there is an indentation but no innie or outie.

7. Drew Brees: Right Cheek Birthmark

This Super Bowl MVP may have his face hidden under a helmet when he’s on the job, but when he’s off the field, people easily recognize the hairy brown birthmark on the quarterback’s right cheek. It has even been copied by guys dressing up like Brees for Halloween while girls have tried to wipe it off, thinking it was dirt.

8. Russell Crowe: Mole Between His Brows

Crowe is amazing at adapting to the look of his many roles, from a “Gladiator” to a boxer to a whistleblower to a journalist. And he is among celebrities with a facial imperfection that adds to his look. The mole that sits between his eyebrows, is similar to the moles that grace the faces of Goldie Hawn, Paula Abdul, Eva Mendes, and other stars.

Some beauty innovations are cutting edge and well worth their money for the convenience or glamorous look they provide. Here are nine beauty inventions that are just plain odd.

Play-Doh perfume:

Yes, in honor of Play-Doh’s 50th anniversary, the nostalgic scent of the modeling clay was bottled and sold as a cologne. It appears to be still available on fragrance company Demeter’s website, and hey, at least it won’t get rock solid if you leave the lid off.

Toast and Jam Bodywash Set:

So hungry that you can barely make it through your morning shower? Yeah, this will make that even worse. It may look tempting, but don’t lick the soap in this very unique and sweet-looking Toast and Jam Bodywash Set. Because really, who wouldn’t love a toast-shaped sponge and a soapy jam to start their day?!

The Kush:

It’s called “sleep support for your breasts.” This device, which is inserted between your breasts as you snooze, is created for a few reasons: to try to decrease the appearance of wrinkles in your cleavage and to help relieve back pain for people who sleep on their side or who have had breast implants. It’s gotten attention on shows ranging from “Ellen” to “The Doctors.”

Ninja Toothbrush Sanitizer:

Who better to trust to sanitize your toothbrush than a ninja? According to company claims, this nifty little ninja-themed gadget will karate-chop bacteria thanks to a VIOlight germicidal UV bulb. A blinking bulb on the ninja’s belly tells you it’s working; when the blinking stops, his work is done. Hay-yah!

Gun Comb:

What can you say about this oddly shaped comb aside from the fact that the user may have a few personal problems. Can’t you just picture it: “C’mon, Junior, let me comb your hair….”

FUZE Slenderize Guilt Free Lip Gloss:

Makers of this cosmetic trend were hoping that fans of FUZE drinks may have a taste for the FUZE Slenderize Guilt Free Lip Gloss. When it was sold by Sephora and other retailers back in 2008 (we couldn’t find it available anymore online) the makers touted that the lip gloss made users’ lips shine and gave them a boost of energy along with curbing their appetite.

Blood Bath Shower Gel:

This one-of-a-kind shower gel will have you seeing red each morning… we kid you not. Perfect for a Halloween gag gift, this one will also be a great choice for all those “Dexter” fans out there. Go ahead… give new meaning to the phrase, “Get bloody clean!”

ColorOn Professional Instant Eye Shadow Applicators:

If you can’t seem to reproduce at home the perfect look a makeup artist created for you, the makers of the stick-on eye shadow think they have the answer. It works like this: Peel back the applicator from the card and center it on a closed eyelid. Hold in place at each corner of the eye and rub the back of the applicator with your index finger. Once you remove, it should be on your eye. The creators – colorOn Professional – say the stick-on eye shadow is waterproof and crease-proof, too.

Flowbee Home Haircutting System

Who can forget the original weird beauty invention, the Flowbee?! Folks who want to avoid the salon just can’t seem to get enough of the Flowbee Haircutting System. The contraption uses the suction power from the Flowbee super mini vac or a vacuum cleaner to cut the hair. If you dare, it can cut hair from a half inch to 6 inches long, and works on pets, too. This one has — and will always — leave us scratching our heads.

~ Lori Johnston

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