[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like tie dye! ) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

Hello, my name is Lauren, and I have a problem. I’d like to lay the blame on my mother (it’s just so convenient!) or maybe her mother before her, but the truth is it’s probably a lot of factors going back who knows how far that have led me to this moment: I’m obsessed with looking young.

While most of my friends still need reminders to wear SPF everyday, I’ve been using anti-aging products since I graduated high school. When I turned 20 I discovered my first fine line across my forehead and have religiously applied product to it almost every day since. This obsession, irrational and vain though it may be, has led me to consider some extreme measures – and it turns out I’m not the only one. Botox injections for women under 30 have skyrocketed in the last few years, and I’m torn.

The whole idea behind getting Botox at our age is to basically prevent the wrinkles from ever forming so you don’t have to fight an uphill battle when you get older. Sounds good! Perfectly rational. And while I’ve had some mixed feelings about plastic surgery in the past, these injections are relatively mild and non-invasive so it’s not quite so extreme. If it makes you feel a little bit better about yourself, more confident in the way you look, why shouldn’t you do it?

And sure, alright, I admit that it seems narcissistic to spend all that time and money worrying about the way that you look, but seriously, don’t most of us? If we didn’t care how we looked, would we buy the makeup, the crazy acne regimens, all the stupid little products that seem to multiply overnight in your bathroom like bunnies on Viagra until there’s no room to move? No, of course not, because we do care – so why should it be any more embarrassing to want to do whatever it takes to keep your skin looking young?

But there are a few things that stop me (aside from a certain fear of having paralyzing chemicals shoved into my skin). For one, once you start, stopping isn’t really an option. You have to keep up the regimen or else what’s the point – which pretty much means that you’ll be getting these injections every few months for decades… decades. And since Botox hasn’t been around for that long, we really don’t know what effects long term use like that might have.

Aside from the safety issues, there’s also that nagging little voice in the back of my mind that says “you’re being shallow.” So, you end up with a couple of wrinkles – big deal, everybody does eventually. Embrace the fact that you’re human, you’re natural. Enjoy being young while you can and stop worrying about it, right? Right?

OK, help me out girls. Do you fret about this stuff as much as I do, or am I out here on a limb by myself? Would you consider getting Botox now? Have you? Or do you think all of us 20-something youth junkies are just being ridiculous? Duke. It. Out.

Joke or not, the video is WTF-ridonkulous. And the girl is just presh (even if she’s lookin’ a little old).

I was born with a skin-tone that falls somewhere between “fresh milk” and “blank paper.” I’ve heard every “where are the Seven Dwarves?” and “Ah! You’re blinding me!” joke in existence, replacing my joyful anticipation of summer with an ominous dread. As girls with non-glow-in-the-dark skin flounce down the street in their shorts and minis, my legs have been relegated to hot, dark jeans.

In years past, in order to reach the deep, savage “normal-people” color I have so longed for, I have resorted to the religious application of self-tanners, which, while making me darker, have also made me smellier. And we all know nothing is more appealing to a man than a girl who smells like chemicals and has weird, orange-streaked sheets. And to top it all off, after my daily self-tanning regimen, there would almost inevitably come the cruel mockery of the phrase “you’re so light!”

Sigh.

And so, after too many self-conscious summers, with my shorts (and skin) hidden away, I have decided to forget my regimens, leave the jeans at home and embrace the light. That’s right, I’m pale, so suck it! White is in this season!

Sisters of the Pale Force, let us unite! Forget about smelly self-tanners and tedious bronzers; slap on some sun screen and go. Go out in your shorts, your skirts, your tank tops and bikinis! Stop risking your health, your money and your time trying to be something that you’re not. Fair skin is beautiful and we should embrace it, not hide it! After all, in 20 years all those perfectly bronzed girls will be getting Botox and we’ll be getting the younger men!

I don’t know who decided that tan is beautiful; clearly they had never seen Dita Von Teese’s porcelain skin. Or Nicole Kidman’s. Summer ’09 is the season of pale, so bring. it. on.

And to anyone who has a problem seeing past our legs: put on your sunglasses, that’s what they’re for.

Mmmm sperm!

So apparently all those frat guys during my last four years of university had it right all along – sperm really does have many health benefits.  A Norwegian company called Bioforskning (which sounds like the owner may have had a mouthful of something when she was asked to name the company) has developed a facial treatment to minimize wrinkles and smooth skin utilizing spermine, an element in human sperm.

Human. Sperm. WTF??

First of all, let’s just sit back and appreciate the thought process that had to have gone into this product.  Who came up with it?  Who was sitting around and thinking, “Oh you know what, I bet jizz is really good for your skin, let me test this out and then sell it for hundreds of dollars”??  I tell you what, when sperm is that close to my face, my skin care routine is usually the last thing on my mind.  The first thing?  “Argh, point that thing somewhere else!”

Secondly, this “treatment” can cost up to $250 per session.  Seriously? What happened to the days when jizz on your face was an unhappy accident after a night of too many free (and probably warm) beers in the basement of a fraternity house on the side of campus you usually avoid? And instead of thinking, “Oh hey, I should probably let this sink into my skin and give it a second to see if it does anything beneficial,” weren’t we all (those of us who were “blessed” enough to be in the beta stages of this beauty regimen) thinking, “Where’s my face wash??”

Although Botox and  plastic surgery get a lot of flack, I feel a bit more warm to the idea of someone injecting pig fat or whatever it is into my face now that I know a sperm facial (didn’t that use to be a euphemism for something?) is the alternative treatment.  At any rate, I hope this development doesn’t leak to those frat guys (or really, any sexually active male), otherwise this fall’s crop of freshman girls have a whole new thing coming to them (all puns intended).

There are, in fact, a lot of effed up things about the place that isn’t quite as laid back as I once presumed:

1. You can never escape those dangerous earthquakes that occur a little too often. I don’t know about you, but I like my ground to remain stable, thankyouverymuch. Another thing I like: living without the fear of wildfires burning me to a crisp as I sleep.

2. I can barely watch The Real Housewives of the OC without cringing, and cant imagine having to see these women (and the millions of others just like them in Cali) in real life.  I might freak out, melt down, and have to get Botox to regain any sense of normalcy.

3. Seeing famous people every day might be cool, but knowing that some of the world’s most obnoxious and utterly ridiculous celebrities call that state home kind of turns me off.  I might just gag if I have to see Heidi or Spencer one more time on TV or in a magazine. Seeing them in person? Well, I think I’ll stay on the opposite side of the country.

4. California traffic is known to be ridiculous, and coming from the fast paced New York City lifestyle, I’m not sure that would quite work for me.

5. Most importantly, I’d probably miss my Ugg boots, my mittens, my scarf and ear muffs (oh, and states where gay couples can be married).  And who can turn down a good snowball fight?  Looks like I’ll be spraying on the tan and staying on the East Coast for a while.

Well, now you can get them WITHOUT MASCARA. Yeah, you heard right.

The FDA has recently approved a new drug called Latisse, brought to you by the same pharmeceutical company that gave us Botox: Allergen Inc. They promise “longer, fuller, and darker lashes” with daily use on the upper eyelids for 16 weeks.

Who wouldn’t want that?

But beware of the caveat manufacturers don’t want you to know about. Possible side effects include a gradual darkening of the iris and a darkening of any portion of the surrounding area where the drug touches your skin. Not to mention the possiblility of looking like Chewbacca if it gets anywhere else on your body, since Latisse is merely a hair-follicle stimulant.

Oh, and if you still want to try it? It’ll make a dent of $120 for a 30-day supply. The effects aren’t permanent either, so your lashes will return back to their genetically-determined length after a few months of discontinued usage.

So, let’s get this straight: black irises and the potential for black and hairy eyelids?

I think I’ll just stick with my $20 mascara for now. I want long lashes just as much as the next girl (or as much as those beauty companies tell me I need them), but I just need to know there’s absolutely no chance of me looking like the girl in the picture before I take my chances with Latisse.

But for the more daring (and possibly wealthier), I want to know: will you try it?

We knew it was dirty, but can it be blamed for the rise in oral herpes?!

Get sexy cleavage. Rar.

Get Michelle Obama’s style.

The Bachelor defends his douchey decision.

And the new Bachelorette is revealed. Ooooo!

Usher is not a Chris Brown fan.

Got a lot of friends? You’re gonna be rich!

At Purdue, cheaters never prosper.

Denim jackets are baaaaack.

Hollywood’s most unpleasant celebrities.

Jennifer Aniston is over the Botox.

Cutest wellies ever.

Botox is the second most popular prescription drug, after Viagara, and women have become addicted to the procedure. Lisa Rinna, former Melrose Place star, told In Touch that after seeing pictures of herself she realized she has gone “too far” with her surgical procedures. Ya think? She looks like a mannequin who can’t smile or blink. Freak! We all know the other celebs who are rumored to have the procedure done frequently, like Cher, Sly Stallone, Courtney Cox, Joan Rivers, Nicole Kidman, and the list goes on and on and on.

Caution: There are dangers out there! Botox isn’t something that should be debated over mildly. Here a few facts to help you in your debate to be stuck with the needle or not.

• In a recent study, an active Botox toxin was injected into rats and after 72 hours the toxin was found in the rats’ brain. This is scary, especially since the toxin broke down proteins and caused damage in the brain!
• The same toxin injected in the rats, botulinum toxin, has been found in humans who receive Botox injections and it spread to other parts of the body which has resulted in paralysis of respiratory muscles and difficulty swallowing.
• Please know that the side effects have been reported as early as one day and as late as several weeks after treatment.
• There were 16 deaths prior to January 2008. Enough said.
• There are also minor side effects, like dizziness, rashes, bruising, tiredness, headache, stiffness, etc.
• Do not rush into any decisions. Have a consultation with the dermatologist and then go home and think about the procedure. Do your research!

Hef’s new twins sure love their self-tanner

…And his third girlfriend is still in college!

Britney can’t drive

“Kids”, listen to Diddy!

Courtney Cox loves her forehead too much

Hermione checks out Hahhhvahhrd

Sting loves this chick — I am jealous

Angie got a “Mommy Tuck“?

LaBeouf and ‘douche’ don’t exactly rhyme, but…

Who cares about this chick?

Alien baby or not, she sure is cute.

Movies so bad they’re…real?

Admit it, you want a Theremin!

And don’t forget about your face.

Those dark circles under your eyes. The wrinkles from all that smoking (first or secondhand!).

Ugh. Partying is not a pretty thing. But what are you supposed to do….stop? Ha! You are no quitter, sister. What is the point of having a pretty face if you can’t take it out on the town? On the other hand, though, if your face is heading downhill now imagine what it is gonna look like in 20 years!

What to do, what to do….

How about Botox? This needle full of poison isn’t just for old ladies from Orange County anymore! Now you can have it too! It is all the rage in Ibiza (where partying/sun bathing is the key to life) where women are pumping their faces full of the stuff to ward off the evils from partying.

“When I tell people I’m 25, they never believe me. It’s amazing considering the kind of lifestyle I lead. It’s non-stop partying from the moment I get off the plane, and I usually come to Ibiza at least twice a year. This means a fortnight of drinking a lot and getting hardly any sleep.”

Now that is some serious dedication. I applaud you, women. Don’t let anything get in the way of your dreams!