Beauty

Ben Affleck's smooth mug surfaced Thursday ... the first time since shaving his career-defining beard Sunday night at an Oscars after-party.

With some scruff starting to grow back, the 40-year-old rocked a 5 o'clock shadow as he arrived for a TED conference in Long Beach on Thursday.

TMZ broke the story --- one of the first things Ben did after "Argo" won Best Picture was take a razor to his critically-acclaimed beard in the bathroom hallway at Craig's restaurant.

Now he really is as slick as everybody says.

1:58 PM PT -- The woman has been identified!!! She's actress Erin Cahill from the ABC show "Red Widow." We're told Erin and Seal met two days ago at a charity function.

Seal has broken the seal ... or so it appears ... passionately embracing a beautiful mystery woman in L.A. yesterday.

Sources close to the singer tell TMZ, the woman is NOT his publicist, his assistant, his manager, or anyone else professionally related to him ... which TOTALLY MEANS THEY'RE BANGING.

It's the first time he's been seen out with another woman since he and supermodel Heidi Klum split last year after 7 years of marriage.

A week after news surfaced of the demise of her eight-year marriage to Josh Brolin, Diane Lane was spotted out for the first time ... newly single and ready to mingle.

The gorgeous "Unfaithful" star stepped out for a night on the town with her best celebrity girlfriends Laura Dern and Ted Danson's wife Mary Steenburgen.

Diane filed for divorce two weeks ago from Josh, citing irreconcilable differences.

While the real papal conclave -- where Cardinals elect the new Pontiff -- is totally anonymous ... we've chosen a few Pope-fuls for YOUR careful consideration.

There are roughly a dozen more Cardinals who are considered to have a good shot at being elected Pope, but we narrowed it down to the 8 handsomest.

It's just like the real thing ... with less smoke.

Linda Hogan insists ... downing ONE glass of champagne before getting behind the wheel isn't enough to put her in the DUI category -- pleading not guilty today to driving under the influence after her October arrest.

TMZ broke the story ... Linda was popped for DUI in Malibu after cops say she was speeding around town with a blood alcohol level of .084 ... just over the legal limit in CA.

At the time, a rep for Linda said Linda drank one glass of champagne at a jewelry event that night ... on an empty stomach ... but she also had taken antibiotics, which exacerbated the effects of the alcohol.

Nevertheless, Linda was subsequently charged with two counts of DUI. She pled not guilty today.

If convicted, she could face up to 18 months in jail ... though it's unlikely she'll spend any time behind bars since she has no prior DUI convictions.

Marc Anthony and his kids hit up Disneyland with his new girlfriend who is both hot and billionaire-adjacent.

The new GF is Chloe Green, daughter of UK billionaire Sir Philip Green, whose estimated net worth is $5 billion.

It's a good bet Sir Philip provides his daughter with an endless supply of loot. He reportedly dropped $6 million on his son's Bar Mitzvah -- a lot more impressive than a bunch of useless savings bonds.

JWoww recently stepped out in Atlantic City in a very revealing dress, and proved her boob job is just like A.C. -- totally awesome! Or terrible ... depends on your angle.

Ben Affleck shaved his beard hours after winning the Oscar for Best Picture ... TMZ has learned.

The beard must have been Ben's good luck charm, because he jettisoned it at the "Argo" after-party at Craig's restaurant ... in the hallway right outside the bathroom. As for why he shaved in the hallway ... it had a convenient plug.

We're told a bunch of people took a whack at the beard.

As for why Ben felt the beard was good luck ... we're told Ben had facial hair when he re-emerged as a major Hollywood player.

How long till eBay?

With his marriage to Maria Shriver over, Arnold Schwarzenegger was spotted out with a new hot mystery babe this weekend ... and it wasn't Patty Baena, his former maid with whom he had a secret son.

Question is ...

Adding to the "Jersey Shore" star's understated glamour were exposed bad tats, a surgical scar and black fabric loosely strung on to resemble some sort of dress shorts thing.

Just in case you didn't love Jennifer Lawrence enough already, here she is flipping off the media moments after winning her Oscar for Best Actress last night.

Fresh from falling down on the way to the stage at the most important moment of her career -- and then playing it off perfectly in her speech -- the gorgeous 22-year-old "Silver Linings Playbook" star jokingly flipped the bird in the press room at the Academy Awards.

Take that, Argo f**k yourself.

Even with Justin Bieber hair, Oscar winner Charlize Theron is always stunning.

Flawless.

Kristen Stewart carefully made her way down the red carpet at the Oscars with the help of Robert Pattinson Rupert Sanders crutches.

With his gorgeous wife Jennifer Garner at his side, Ben Affleck is ready to not win the award for Best Director at the Oscars on Sunday.

Looking great is the best revenge.