Note: This is NOT me and my friend. We're girls.

Last year for Halloween my best friend and I dressed up as Ernie and Bert, complete with yellow and orange face-paint.  Can you say ‘hottest costumes ever’?  The guy I was hooking up with didn’t seem to think so.  I had seen him out earlier in the night and when we texted later to meet-up (read: hook-up) he said, “I’m on my way over. Wash that sh*t off your face before I get there.”

Ouch.

You mean you don’t think I’m hot when I’m wearing bright orange face-paint? Harsh. But I wasn’t ready to end my Halloween night hookup-less, so I proceeded to the bathroom to scrub “that sh*t off my face.”  But it turns out that washing off layers of face-paint that took a half hour to apply was tricky. And when he finally did show up I just looked like Bert…with a melting face.  If only I had been prepared with the right equipment to return to my natural skin color ahead of time.

Whether you are putting on face-paint, false eyelashes, or just regular makeup that is heavier than usual, it’s all gonna need to come off at the end of the night (especially if you want some Hallow-sexin).  So arm yourself ahead of time with these helpful heavy-duty makeup removal products and you’ll have your real face back in no time.

To Remove Face Paint/ Heavy Makeup
Cold cream is your best option. Yes, it’s gonna feel gross, but so does a face full of giant zits in the morning from improper makeup removal or, worse, a face that has been scrubbed raw trying to get that ish off. If you want your skin to be truly clean, cold cream is the way to go.  Just use a cotton ball and apply the cold cream to your entire face (or other painted areas).  Let it sit for a few minutes and soak up that nasty makeup.  Then use a facecloth and warm water to rub off it all off. Follow up with a little rinse with water and you’re face is fresh and ready for bed (or booty).

Another option is to use baby oil applied and removed in the same way.  Even baby wipes are a decent option for face-paint removal.  (All of these products can be found at your local drugstore). Read More »

While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.

I’ve known Meagan since elementary school, and she’s always been one of the happiest people I know (she’s a cheerleader so she has to be, I guess). Her clothing choices are always full of color and spunk, and she is the definition of cute: a tiny body with a big personality that shines through her outfits. She doesn’t sacrifice comfort for fashion, however, because she believes that fashion is not necessarily about looking good, but feeling good. And that is the most inspiring thing I’ve heard about fashion in a long, long time.

Name: Meagan
Year: 2012
Major: mechanical engineering
Meagan in 3 words: levelheaded, nerdy, friendly

1) Describe your personal style.
Casual and comfortable, but definitely cute. Most days you’ll see me in a nice top with jeans and flats. I’m very down to earth, not overly girly with lots of make-up or anything dramatic. Just comfy and cute.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.
Cell phone.

3) What is your favorite store to shop at?
Nordstrom – they have everything you need from outerwear to underwear. Read More »

So, Express isn’t cheap. That is pretty obvious when you walk in and the hot shirt your eying for your birthday party is marked at $49. But every few months, they have a major sale. And I mean major. The kind that makes you giddy and happy and willing to sift through giant over-stuffed racks because the deals are just. that. good.

You see, Express marks their stuff down to really low prices and then gives you an additional 20% off of that! That is some serious saving on a lot of really cute stuff. It’s a frugal fashionista’s dream. And that dream is coming true right now.

I sifted through the (digital) racks for you and pulled 8 of my favorite pieces. They’re all under $20, so you can stock your closet without that annoying guilt getting in the way. Read More »

I own a lot of jeans. A lot. I have my comfy jeans for class, I have my sexy jeans for going out, I have my fat jeans for the end of the school year when nothing else fits, and I have my weekend jeans with the giant holes in the knees/between my legs where my thighs rub together.

What I don’t have is a pair that glows in the dark.

I know! What’s wrong with me? How have I survived college this long without Diesel’s latest design that glows bright white under the dim lighting so common in sweaty frat basements? It’s amazing I’m even here to tell the tale.

OK, so at first glance glow-in-the-dark pants might seem appropriate for raves and raves only, but upon further inspection these things could really be a great investment. Just think about all the times a pair of glowing legs might come in handy:

1) When you’re scrambling around a stranger’s dorm room at 3 am after a particularly lackluster bedroom performance. You gotta find those clothes quickly and get out of there without him waking up. But how does one find her jeans on a floor littered with dirty clothes and – ew – week-old Chinese food? I bet you’re praying for some glow-in-the-dark pants now, aren’t ya? Read More »

This past weekend, I went on a bit of a shopping spree with my friend (yes, I realize that I should be saving my money for more important things like, I don’t know, college and my future, but the mall was calling me!). We get there and what do I see?

H&M, which was still under construction the last time I had been at the mall, had finally opened! We did a little jig. Then we ran in and started loading up on everything we needed to try.

I was rifling through a pile of shirts when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a pair of glimmering black sneakers. I dropped everything in my hand and went to them.

They weren’t really low-tops or high-tops, settling on a height in between. What made them gleam was that they were made of black velvet. They came with black shoelaces, a black rubber sole, and a small loop at the back. Now, usually I would say that this was too much of one color on a sneaker, but the rich, deep velvet stood out from the other components of the shoe for a subtle contrast. I also really dug the zippers on the sides, and at only 15 bucks, I couldn’t resist. Read More »

No, Russell, these aren't even OK on you.

When it comes to fashion, Americans seem to be a little late on the uptake. More often then not, fashion trends start elsewhere before they creep their way over to NYC, L.A., and the rest of this fine place we call home. While this often leaves us waiting in anticipation for the latest craze in handbags or jeans to make their way into our closets, we aren’t always leaping to be the next nation to pick up a trend.

And right now that trend that we’re praying will pass us by is Meggings.

Yes, meggings. Leggings for men. Grown men. They have blown up in Tokyo (and have been spotted in Paris, London, and, gasp, New York), with men sporting them under shorts and with boots. And not just to keep warm during a morning run on a cold winter day.

This is a full-blown fashion statement just screaming “Look At My Junk!”

Being that I live in NYC, the first stop for new trends, I’ve recently had the honor of a run-in with a pair of meggings. And it was brutal. Seriously, I don’t like watching girls walk around flaunting their camel-toes in these things and now I’m forced to deal with full-frontal on a dude? Read More »

When your favorite cream blush or powder foundation is empty, do you just toss it in the trash? By recycling your used beauty products, you can help save the planet and get brand new products for free!

Mac’s Back To Mac Program
Return six Mac primary packaging containers to the Mac counter at your local department store or via mail, and you’ll get a free lipstick of your choice! For more information, click here.

Read More »

So much cuter than a baseball hat.

One really good reason to invest time and energy into your college friendships: those people just may become your business partners later in life. Or so was the case for Hannah Robertson and Kelly Reynolds, founders of Hello Robertson.

I recently discovered their accessory line and am in love, mainly because of the adorable Anthropologie-meets-Blair-Waldorf-esque headbands they sell, but also because their friendship/partnership started in the best place ever: College, obvs. Hannah (the creative brains, hence the name) and Kelly (the business side behind the operation) met and became friends at Florida State University, then both found themselves in NYC post-graduation where this brand was born.

Their headbands, or “hansies,” are handmade with vintage fabric and add a great boho chic touch to any outfit. What’s more, they just rolled out some school specific headbands that are perfect for sporting events. Let’s be honest, most school spirit items are not feminine, not to mention just plain ugly. These girls found a way to fill that void by creating something trendy and unique at the same time! (They’ll even make one for you special if your school isn’t currently offered!) And if school spirit isn’t your thang, check out their full line of just plain adorable hair accessories here.

I got the chance to ask these two a few questions about college, creative inspiration and what it’s really like to go into business with your best friend. Let’s just say, these girls offer a whole lot more than just some really cute head wear.

Read More »

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here: the smokey eye!

You’ve seen it on just about every red carpet from Hollywood to New York. It’s glamorous, it’s sexy, it’s chic… and it’s not that hard to do all by yourself. Nope, you don’t need a professional makeup artist to smoke out your eyes – you just need a few shadows, a few brushes and the know-how. Which is why I’m here.

Watch, learn and rock this look in no time.

Ever since Rachel Zoe became a permanent fixture in our TV lives and our everyday vernacular, faux fur vests and trims has found their way into our closets and our hearts.  Everywhere you look these days there’s someone lookin’ all warm, snuggly and painfully chic underneath a faux fur something. It’s OK if you wanna rock it too; it’s glamorous and fake, so no one will be tossing paint cans at you on your way to class.

And even better:  your faux fur look can be faux expensive. There are tons of options out there right now from Target to Urban that are trendy and cheap. For the total Zoe look, pair the vest with a giant Starbucks tea, huge sunglasses and act as if the smallest hiccups in life are the beginning of the end of the world (oh, and obviously don’t forget to throw in a couple of “I Die’s”  every 3 minutes).

But for those of us who like the look but not the RZ-emo, rock the vest with a toned down ‘fit because the fur is a total statement. And Rachel Zoe fan or not – you will look ba-nanas. Read More »