[Make-up is wonderful, but it can also be confusing. There are so many shades and colors and sheens and reasons to wear it, that a girl can get completely lost attempting to find what fits her face best. What’s the best blush color for a redhead? How do you really put on lip-liner? Is there such a thing as too much eyeshadow?In this weekly series, actress / model and fabulous CC blogger, Jen, will be using her makeup know-how to teach us all how to look flawless in class, out at a party, or grabbing coffee with that cutie from Psych 101.]Makeup usually tends to focus on the exterior, but there are some products out there that can enhance your beauty from the inside out. A body spray that can help you live your best life? It exists, and Jen found it.

As we’ve been talking about, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, a national campaign to promote early detection, education and understanding. Every year companies launch a bevy of products that promise to donate a portion of the proceeds to the cause. Most women love to shop, but shopping for a cause? Even better.

Before you head for the nearest mall, get smart. Hundreds of companies use October to boost their image (not to mention their profits) by connecting themselves to a good cause. Just because an item is anointed with the sacred pink ribbon doesn’t make it clear where the money from this product is going.

If you really want to make a real difference in the fight against breast cancer, volunteering your time or contributing to a great, reputable charity is the way to go. But if you’re in the mood to splurge (or stock up on office supplies, paper towels, lip gloss and home furnishings) read the fine print on those pink product labels.

In the meantime, here’s a peak at nine awesome items from brands that donate a significant amount to breast cancer charities

Celebrity Tees by Bop Basics

Shopbob has partnered with Denise Richards, Hilary Duff, Sophia Bush, Nicky Hilton, Cindy Crawford and Jamie King to launch Breast Cancer Awareness Month Tees. Each shirt has a unique design, with 50% of each sale going to Breast Cancer Network of Strength, an organization that provides emotional support to anyone affected by breast cancer. Its mission is to ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone. Read More »

So it’s summer and we all know what that means: time to really get into some new pretty makeup, sweet scented lotions and anything that involves becoming a bronzed goddess.

So obviously during our precious staff meetings, us ladies like to share our current obsessions and essentials. And this time, we really wanted to share our get-gorgeous secrets with you. I mean, who are we to keep such loveliness to ourselves? Read More »

Remember back in the day when you looked like THIS and didn’t look like an overly-browned asshole?

According to AskMen.com, you’ve dropped from the 12th most desirable woman to 21 – so basically it’s statistically proven that you’re looking not-so-hot with your faux-glow skin and mousy locks.

I get it…you’re with John Mayer now and Nick is with Vanessa but come on…you’ve looked like an asshole BEFORE so what happened to your sense of style and taste? Your boobs are popping out of your dress and the color of your skin is so fake that I’m sure if you sat down on a white chair, you would leave a mark.

For future reference, when applying self-tanner (especially if you’re quite pale) it’s best to mix in a moisturizing lotion to dilute the color until you know how dark it will turn on your skin. Read More »

The idea of putting powder in my hair made me think of our founding fathers who wore those crazy white wigs…and I was immediately turned off.

But, now I’m thinking those old dudes may have had the right idea…Aveda’s Pure Abundance Hair Potion is a truly amazing product that turned my unruly mess into a voluminous, textured, full-blown head of hair. This innovative new formula brews plant-derived ingredients into a high-performance styling tool that instantly transformed from a powder to a light, absorbent lotion.

In fact, it also increases the hair shaft’s diameter by up to 17%, which is awesome for girls like myself who have really fine hair. The potion is perfect for those mornings you’re running late for class since it contains silica, which helps absorb excess oil from scalp and hair and the potion can also be used on dry or wet locks to achieve multiple looks and styles. Not the cheapest product, but I definitely think an extra half hour in the morning is totally worth $22.00!

When I graduated from high school, I was looking forward to a life free of bitchy gossip, immature boys and acne. Talk about a letdown. Turns out college life is cursed with all the same problems. Okay, so I can deal with the catty chitchat and unreciprocated crushes but the breakouts? Absolutely not. Aside from my horrible yearbook photo, this is one reminder of my adolescence I can do without. I have discovered a few products that help keep my face clear of those cute looking red bumps. I was joking about the cute part. Pimples are so not cute.

I use yoga to gain inner peace, but it was time for some outer peace. So I tried Aveda’’s Outer Peace Acne Relief Foaming Cleanser. I achieved calmness with the smell alone, so spa-like. But, smell aside, these plant products work and are not to harsh for my sensitive skin. Most product lines have 3-4 parts but I found I can mix and match products from different lines. Read More »