I’ll admit in all shallowness, one thing excites me more than anything about the summer time: busting out short skirts! But there’s one problem.

While slipping on a slinky mini dress the other night, I looked down at my legs in horror. Walking around in bermudas all day had given me a beautiful golden tan…from the knee down. Nothing is more annoying than those pesky little tan lines that seem to cue strangers onto the shape of the shirt you wore the day before. Luckily they can be done away with (tanning bed free…because damaged skin is never, ever sexy).

Your first option is to pick up some sunless tanner and fill in the blanks. Pick a shade that matches the depth of your tan, not what your normal skin tone would be. Exfoliate that skin well to avoid streaking, and apply! If you want to get perfect color, and if you have a little more patience, a gradual tanning lotion might be a better bet. It’ll take several days to build the color, but you’ll be better able to get the exact shade of tan you want. Read More »

How many times do you apply bronzer and end up looking like Lindsay Lohan? If this has happened even once, it’s one time too many. The trick to bronzer is simple: less is more. In this quick video, I’ll show you how to get a faux tan on your face that looks natural.

It’s better to use bronzer than get melanoma, ladies! Protect your pretty mug and still look summery fresh.

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. Read More »

So if you live in a normal part of the country, it’s probably starting to get nice and sunny outside (note to Syracuse: please stop snowing). You’ve brightened up your wardrobe and bought some peep toe pumps, so now it’s time to brighten up your face.

In honor of what April is supposed to bring, and as a reminder to Syracuse to get with the program, I decided to research some bright makeup products to create rosy cheeks, stunning eyes and chase out winter gloom. These goodies are sure add a little spring to your step, so pick em up and dare to be bold!

Bare Escentuals: Destination Ensenada: This kit includes four powdered shadows and comes in a lime green case. The colors can come out muted or super bright if you’re feeling extra springy. The kit includes a rose pink, baby blue, bright green, and a gold/tan hue. It’s like spring in a compact.

Dior 5 Color Spring Bouquet: This palette of spring colors is a little more muted, and includes floral pinks, whites and browns. This is perfect for a daytime spring look that is still bright and fresh.

Benefit Poisetint: This little bottle looks like a nail polish but it is for lips and cheeks. It is a liquid see-through tint that stays on all day. It’s easy to apply and create a warm sun-kissed glow. Read More »

Sam Ronson wants a restraining order from crazy Lindsay.

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Victoria Beckham is too busy for Ugly Betty.

Get that perfect sunkissed look for Spring.

If it’s there is one thing I love more about spring than trading in my hot drink for it’s iced sibling, it’s trading in my winter makeup for springy hues. Namely bright pink lips, bright fresh faced blush and shimmery gold shadows that give even the palest of pale (ahem, me) that sunkissed glow.

So here are my 5 spring makeup l-o-v-e-s.

1) Every season Bobbi Brown comes out with amazing limited edition lines and this Blushed Pink collection takes the cake. The shimmery shadows are a must-have. Seem pricey? Well, Bobbi’s shadows last so long that its totally worth the splurge. Hell, sometimes (when I pass out before I can wash that stuff off!) it even lasts through brunch…the next day. (What? I also love sleep!)

2) I l.o.v.e. Loreal’s HiP line. And color is not just a trend in clothes this season; it’s also a trend for your cute little punim (that’s Yiddish for face). The good news is you can add a pop of color without looking like you are wearing your old school Wet and Wild shadows circa 1998. I love the Kohl liners, especially in gold, for that spring time look. Read More »

So you are not going on spring break… I share your pain. I will be returning home, where it is also cold, to substitute teach bratty kids instead of drinking pina coladas in the sun. FML.

It sucks listening to everyone talk about their plans, but it will suck more when they all come back with sweet beach tans, and I, well, still glow in the dark. Seriously, the other day my best friend called me pasty (harsh, but true).

And this, my friends, is why I am looking for a bottled glow.

Tanning beds scare me with their cancerous connotations. Spray tans scare me too; I don’t want to look like I have a bad case of Lindsey Lohan. So I am going to suggest to you some of the best self tanners out there. I know – self-tanners sound pretty intimidating as well. I will admit I had a horror story experience with one in the 8th grade. Here’s me, so excited to wear my new green halter top, turned totally orange, passed my crush walking down the street. Ultimate humiliation. But, don’t let that turn you off of self tanners! That situation was caused by a serious lack of knowledge about what I was doing or what kind of product to use.

The great thing about the products below is that while they are not an instant bronze color, they will gradually give you a natural looking, healthy tanned glow. Hopefully this will help you keep up with your Spring Breakin’ roommates without coming back to campus looking like the orange eighth grade version of me. Read More »

It’s gray and gloomy out there, and your skin is starting to show it. Unless you’ve spent your winter in a tanning bed, you are probably feeling pale enough to audition for the next Twilight movie. You need some color.

If you want to wake up your skin without the use of streaky self tanners or harmful UV rays, bronzer is the best way to get a healthy sunshiny glow. But tread lightly (literally); overdoing it or choosing the wrong color can you take you from Twilight auditions to Willy Wonka really quick.

Here are some tips to make sure you look like the a glamorous, sun kissed movie star, and not a scary oompa-loompa.

Stay away from Coppers and Oranges

Why so many bronzers have copper and orange undertones is a mystery. It almost never looks natural. You’ve surely seen the girl with a mask of orange dust on her face. Don’t be that girl. Choose a bronzer with chocolate brown or beige undertones. Test the shade on the inside of your forearm. If it looks flat and orangey, stay away. Nars Bronzer in Laguna (or Casino for darker skin tones) has the perfect shade to give you some radiant color without looking orange or fake. Or like this. Read More »

[Celebrities get paid to look good and serve as a style guide to all us common folk, and part of looking good is flaunting their totally awesome fashion sense. Each week, I will be highlighting my Style Idol of the week: a celebrity who consistently shows keen fashion sense and whose closet I would raid in a heartbeat.

Of course, no celebs are immune to the occasional “what the hell were they thinking?” moment, but for the most part, these celebs look foxy and fabulous and inspire us all to do the same.]

Charlize Theron is a not only a gifted actress and a natural stunner, she’s a fashion icon who is consistently placed on best-dressed lists for her ability to put together jaw-dropping ensembles that highlight her gorgeous face and body. She does a great job of wearing everything from vintage/classic to avante garde styles, and even when donning a casual look, she looks chic, put together and beautiful.

Dior is one of her favorite designers and I can’t imagine him having anyone better to show off his duds. Charlize accessorizes with very natural make-up and a shimmery bronzer to add a light glow to her lovely complexion. She’s worn her hair long, short, brown and blonde, and looked gorgeous with every different look.

Charlize has an essence about her that makes her look seem effortless and her statuesque presence is only highlighted by her beautiful fashion choices. The girl’s got a style that many women try to emulate, but few can pull off and that in itself makes her my Style Idol of the week. Read More »

What you use to put your makeup on is just as important as what kind of makeup you are using. When you apply makeup with the wrong brush, or one of poor quality, it can ruin your entire beauty queen look. Whether you’re preparing a rockstar look for a night out, a daytime look for class, or just trying to cover up your hangover, your brush’s shape, texture and quality is vital. Here are a few types of brushes that should be on every girl’s vanity (or wish list, hint-hint).

Kabuki Face Brush: Kabuki brushes are huge and perfect for all over face coverage, whether you are applying foundation or bronzer. This kabuki brush is from Too Faced and is made with “teddy bear hair bristles” so it’s soft on sensitive faces. Yes, it’s a little pricey but the texture and longevity make it worth the splurge. If your’re looking for something a little cheaper but still quality you can check out The Balm’s mini version of the kabuki brush.

Concealer Brush: When applying concealer to cover up your blemishes or under eye marks, it can be tempting to skip the brush. But by getting a concealer brush like this one from Bare Escentuals you are keeping your skin clean and getting a fully blended look.

Angled Blush Brush: Using round brushes for blush can create a Bozo-like look, but angled brushes make the cheek color look more natural. A soft angled blush brush like this one from Benefit works best when applied on the apples of the cheeks in an upward sweeping motion. Read More »