Obviously, summer is the perfect time to go all J. Lo and be a bronzed goddess. It’s easy to look good with dewy, sun kissed skin. But it’s not always so easy to achieve said look. With the wrong bronzer application, you’ll look like Snooki. With too much dew, you’ll look like an oil slick. So where’s the in between? I just happen to know. And I love you all so much that I’m going to share it with you.

One of my tricks to bronzer is to make sure you’re not going matte. I like my skin to be matte most of the time, but if I’m using bronzer I keep it fresh, yo. For a bronzed look, I say go with a tinted moisturizer and a spritz of water. It gives you a very “I just came off the beach” feel. That being said, I’ve been using SUPER’s Sun Kissed tinted moisturizer with SPF 25 (safe and pretty!) which can be found at Sephora ($42). It’s pricey, but so great if you have dry or normal skin. For us oily girls, I wouldn’t go near it without a primer and finishing powder. But I love it anyway. And it has lots of healthy stuff in it that works wonders for your skin. Read More »

Summer season is almost upon us! While everyone else is going crazy at the gym, doing celery diets, and blowing their budget on summer dresses, we’re just chilling out and getting ready to enjoy the sun. Who needs to be hungry and sweaty all the time when you can get ready for the season with our 5 simple summer secrets:

1. Brighten your smile. After countless cups of coffee during the week and maybe, possibly, one too many vodka cranberries last Saturday night, your teeth are in dire need of a boost. Due to the fact that I was cursed with braces in high school, I became increasingly self-aware of how my teeth look at all times. Yes, you can go ahead and laugh at me as I turn to my friend and ask her to do a “teeth check” with me. But here’s the thing, a whiter smile gets you noticed. In the winter, your skin is paler and dry from the cold and lack of sunshine, so not having your whitest smile is not as noticeable. But in the summer, having white teeth against tanned skin can make all the difference.

My whitening mechanism of choice: Crest White Strips. They are cheap in comparison to professional whitening AND they work!

2. Tame your brows. And flashback to when I was 10 and being made fun of because I had a unibrow…awesome. Good thing my mom taught me well at a young age! Having too much eyebrow hair in between and on your brows gives off a messy look, especially for those of us with darker hair (ehhemm, me!). The best part about summer, besides not having class, is being able to hit the pool. I’ll be the first to tell you the boys don’t come running if you get out of the water and your eyebrow hair is slicked down to your face. Trust me. Having sculpted brows can make all the difference in how you look. Whether you’re into thicker, thinner or high-arched eyebrows, it’s time to get you to a waxing salon or save your money and give yourself some bangin’ brows.

Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

Why this should be in your bag
I feel like I should explain the joke right off the hop, so no one is confused. It’s read Mary “Luminizer” – ha ha ha. Okay, now that we’ve all realized what this product is, let’s get to reviewing.

theBalm is a cool, hip makeup company that reminds me of Benefit. They put a lot of effort into their packaging and marketing, but also, their makeup! Trust me, their concealer is holy grail material.

I think a luminizer is the perfect way to spice up any makeup routine. It adds an ethereal glow to your face which makes you look fresher and much more put together. I’ve come across plenty of liquid luminizer (like ones from e.l.f. and Benefit), but I’ve yet to try a powder one like Mary-Lou Manizer! Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: Sigma Complete Brush Kit

Why this should be in your bag: Makeup brushes are essential for any girl who wears eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, etc (read: EVERYONE). Like most, I started out with cheap brushes from the local drugstore, but quickly realized that if I’m buying quality makeup, I should also be investing in quality brushes. A brush of exceptional quality will have soft bristles, little fall-out and pick up lots of product. It’s amazing how much of a difference a brush makes in your application. Good brushes will allow you to look polished and your best, blending when they should and depositing just the right amount of color! However, I have a pretty hard time parting with 50 of my hard earned dollars for one measly MAC brush. I’ve been searching for an affordable alternative to MAC (and other luxury brands) and I think Sigma might fit that bill! Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: Tarte Park Ave Princess Matte Waterproof Bronzer

Why this should be in your bag: Like I’ve said before, bronzer is a total pale-face lifesaver. A swipe of bronzer can literally make you go from dull to glowing. I myself use bronzer in my makeup routine every day of the year and enjoy testing out different formulas. Tarte (along with a few others) have developed waterproof bronzers, designed for use on the beach and at the pool, but also for those humid summer days. I’ve definitely experienced makeup meltdown, despite the use of heavy-duty primer, so I would find a waterproof bronzer insanely useful. Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Glow & Rose Petal

Why this should be in your bag: Since my eyes have been opened to the wonders of a great blusher, I’ve become something of a hoarder. I’ve got blushes in every shade, for every occasion. Coral, pink, red, tan – you name it, I’ve got it. I find blush really finishes off your look and can make you look so alive and fresh! If subtly done, you have a great, natural flush to your face and no one will even be able to tell it’s from a product. Cream blushes are best for this natural glow, as they blend seamlessly into your skin and just brighten up your cheeks instead of caking on powder. The dewy finish they leave seems real, and I think this is key in pulling off that “Oh I just woke up and left the house”look. NYX Rouge Cream Blushes deliver everything I’m looking for in a cream blush: pigmentation, creamy texture and variety. Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: Korres Bronze & Protect Set featuring Watermelon Tinted Moisturizer in 1 Light Sand, Silicone-Free Primer & Monoi Oil Bronzer in 01 Sunglow Light.

Why this should be in your bag: Summer for me is all about bronzed beauties with flawless skin. As I’ve said before, I’m pale myself, but I love basking in the sun and getting a bit of a glow (no sunburns though!). This set provides you with three essentials for gorgeous summer skin: a primer, a tinted moisturizer and a bronzer! Together, these three are a skin army, tackling all of the elements so your skin remains smooth and shine-free throughout the day. Read More »

The following post is courtesy of our uber fashionable friends at CollegeFashion.net. Check ‘em out – they rock our socks off.

As college girls, we’re always looking for tips and tricks that are affordable and time-saving. Between classes, extra curricular activities and our social lives, it’s hard to find the time to always primp and prep ourselves to look fabulous, and things can fall out of place from time to time, especially during a day that seems to last forever.

But with these quick and easy beauty secrets, you’re guaranteed to look beautiful and flawless all the time! Read on for all the info.

1) Bronzer and baby powder are a great way to disguise oily hair.
This trick is one of my favorites, since I am unfortunately one of those girls who loves to play with her hair, and therefore, add more oil to it than it would have on its own. If you’re a brunette, carry around a bronzer compact. If you’re a blonde, carry around a mini baby powder. They’ll temporarily hide your not-so-freshly-washed locks! (You might also want to try one of our favorite dry shampoos.) Read More »

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money?

Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me for review purposes. Because I can never have too much makeup!)

What it is: Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Why this should be in your bag: Because everyone looks better with bronzer, unless you’re rocking the Dita-Von-Teese “I’m so pale it hurts my eyes” thing. Not that I’m knocking the pale faces – I’m a fair-skinned lady myself. I just think I look dead without bronzer. As for why this specific bronzer, Benefit Hoola is SUPER-pigmented (check out the swatch comparison to Rimmel Natural Bronzer). This means that a little is going to go a long, long way. Plus, it’s matte, which is shockingly rare amongst bronzers, but means that you can wear it daytime or nighttime and not look too done up or like a twelve-year old glitter addict. Read More »

Oy.

We ladies spend a lot of our time making ourselves beautiful. Between the haircuts, the tweezing, the manicures, the bronzers… it’s exhausting. And it could all be a waste of time, according to a poll over at Glamour Magazine. They asked some guys what they thought of our beauty tricks and the boys let it all out.

Turns out they’re not fans of super thin eyebrows, over-tanning, claw fingernails, and caked on makeup.  To most women, this seems fairly obvious, but since there were pictures accompanying this article (i.e. photo evidence that these beauty blunders actually happen), it might not be as obvious as I thought.

Being a lady who writes for ladies, I thought I’d do everyone a service and break down beauty’s seven deadliest sins and share why you might wanna put the breaks on that daily GTL. Read More »