[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.

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.

General Mills’ “Save Lids to Save Lives” Yoplait Yogurt

This program has raised more than $19 million over the past 10 years. The program donates 10 cents to Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation for every lid mailed back by the end of the year, with a guaranteed donation of $500,000 and a cap of $1.5 million.

e.l.f.’s Super Glossy Lip Shine in Pink Kiss

Only $1 most drug stores, 100% of all sales during October benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon CollectionEstee

Lauder will donate $500,000 in connection with the sales of its Pink Ribbon Collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Tomboy Traveler Tool Kits & Hammers

In partnership with the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation, Tomboy is working to make a $1 million donation to research. The company will donate $7 of each Tomboy Traveler tool kit sold before Dec. 31 and 50% of the purchase price of their Help Hammer Out Breast Cancer tools.

In The Pink Chocolate Collection

Put your diet on hold. 20% of the retail price of these divine chocolates are donated to fund various breast cancer research projects. Voted one of the best holiday gifts on the Today Show, the nine piece box includes flavors like Bravery Baseball Caps, Pink Paisley, Swirls, Pink Ribbon, You Go Girl!, Raspberry, and Heart of Life.

Aveda Breast Cancer Awareness Hand Relief

$4 from each sale will fund environmental research at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder and dedicated to funding clinical and genetic research on breast cancer at medical institutions across the globe, Aveda will donate a maximum of $300,000.

Hanky Panky Breast Cancer Signature Thong

Lacy, low-rise and adorned with a rhinestone breast cancer awareness ribbon on the hip. You can’t pass up these sexy one-size-fits-all panties. $2 of every purchase will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Skyn ICELAND Detox Kit

In October the $45 kit gives you a month’s supply of face wash, face mist, lotion and oxygen-infusing night cream and provides $5 donation to The American Cancer Society. The collection is free of parabens, petroleum and sulfates, as well as being 100 percent vegetarian.

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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?

“Product wise I love Bed Head’s Split End Mender ($14.99) because it really helps prevent split ends, smoothes over the flyaways I already have, and conditions my hair without making it heavy or greasy. And since I’m not a huge fan of sun-bathing I’m a total self-tanner. Neutrogena Build-a-Tan ($9.09) is my go-to because I never have to worry about getting that gross orangey/streaky Jessica Simpson look.” Jen, NYU.

“I’m in love with Sephora’s Summer Blockbuster Palette. It’s only $36 and has 24 shadows, 24 lip colors, 5 blushes and a power, fits perfectly into a little clutch and it’s all I need to change my makeup from a work day to a night out. Bath&Body Works’ White Cherry Blossom body splash is also freakin’ delish. B&B Works is no longer the default birthday gift for a preteen, this actually smells clean & summer fresh and it’s on sale for only $4 until Sunday.” Solmaaz, UMASS.

“Aveda Tinted Moisturizer ($25) is hands down the best product I’ve discovered so far this summer. It’s the perfect alternative to the dry, cakey feeling of foundation. Since it’s essentially a moisturizer, your face feels refreshed after use. But best of all, all Aveda products are made with all natural ingredients, so it has a light clean scent. Plus, the SPF 15 will shield your face from the inevitable rays of the summer. I would recommend this stuff to any girl who wants to have a natural just-got-back-from-the-beach summer look.” Gabrielle, Fordham University.

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.

Try Aveda’s Sun Source. This lightweight, moisturizing, self-tanner creates a natural-looking tan in two to three hours without harmful exposure to the sun. The vitamin-enriched, botanical formula spreads on smoothly to create even color and provides a safe alternative to sunbathing.

I’ve had good experiences mixing this self-tanner with my regular moisturizer and it’s ideal for face and body and perfect for all skin types. For best results, cleanse and exfoliate in the shower before you apply the self-tanner with a product like Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Body Wash.

Apply a thin layer of Sun Source evenly over face and body, using sparingly around heels, knees and elbows. Once base coat has dried, add a second coat, smoothing and blending evenly to ensure an even distribution. To achieve the desired shade, use morning and evening; to maintain shade, apply one to three times weekly. Also be sure to avoid direct contact with clothing immediately after application (self-tanners DO stain) and wash your hands thoroughly after use or you WILL have extra-dark hands.

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!

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. Then the other cleansers I love are Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser, Aveeno Clear Complexion Cleansing Bar, Clearasil Daily Acne Control Pore Cleansing Pads, all under $5. I can’t beat that price. For a spot treatment, nothing beats Burt’’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick. It’s all natural and seriously zaps zits right off my face.

The real key to keeping my complexion looking good is washing my makeup off at night, or drinking water, trying to get enough sleep (this one is the hardest), and keeping my stress level down (keyword here is try). I can’t hide my face behind oversized sunglasses forever.