Honey removes dirt from pores and dead skin cells from the surface of your body, while yogurt is an incredible moisturizer.  Strawberries have lots of folic acid and vitamin C, which help clean your skin and close pores.  Milk is great for softening the skin, vinegar will make your hair shiny, and using honey as a conditioner will increase your hair’s moisture.

So why should I go out and spend $10 on face lotion, $17 on under eye cream, and $10 more on body lotion when I already have all of those things in my kitchen?

Duh, I shouldn’t, and either should you. Instead, let’s all use everyday food and other products we’ve already got lying around the house to do the same things as all those expensive beauty products. Here are 5 at-home remedies to start with that are fun to make, all-natural and easy on the wallet. I think this is what Charlie Sheen would call ‘Winning.’ Read More »

So if you haven’t heard by now, I am in the latest issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine on page 36!  I did an advertorial for Olay on three of their skincare products, and I’m going to be doing a more in depth review right here on CC Beauty Live!  I don’t usually have a ton of success with drug store brand skin care lines, but Olay has definitely made me a believer.  I loved the products they sent me, and I hope you do too!

Olay sent me their Pore Minimizing Cleanser & Scrub’s 2-in-1 Foaming Formula, the Daily Facials Deep Cleansing Dual-Textured Cloths, and the Shine Control Lathering Cleanser.  All of the products are gentle enough to use every day, although you can use their Lathering Cleanser as more of a mask every few days.  I even ran out of the cleansing cloths because I used them so often!

I really enjoyed this stuff (almost as I enjoyed seeing my face in my favorite magazine!), so watch this vid to find out why! Read More »

We go through a lot of make up and hair videos over here, but I don’t always go over skin care tips. How are you supposed to properly use makeup if you don’t know how to care for your skin?

A lot of people have issues with their skin, which is totally normal. I have problems all the time! The key is finding what works for you and you alone! While I make recommendations to you all the time, it’s always based on my personal experience. Just because a product works for me doesn’t mean it will work the same way for you, which is why I encourage trial and error. It’s important to create a skin care regiment that works with your skin and not against it. Don’t force some fancy kit on your face just because it worked for someone else!

That being said, in this video I’m going through some very basic tips and suggestions for caring for your skin. I’m talking everything from cleansers to sunscreen, why you need ‘em and how to use ‘em. (And I shouldn’t have to tell you how important sunscreen is, ladies!) If you have any questions, leave ‘em in the comments!

Got something you want me to cover? Post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow us on YouTube and check out my other videos right here!

It’s been a while since I did a Quick & Dirty Review, but don’t worry – it’s back.  I know you were freaking out, getting hives, breathing deeply into brown paper bags. It’s all better now. Let’s get to it, shall we?

I wanted to share this golden nugget of awesome with you: Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector.  Yes, it’s quite the title, but it’s not overcompensating for anything.  I figured what better way to start off the New Year than to erase the dark spots of your past.

Great metaphor, I know!

This product is absolutely amazing! I’ve been using it for two weeks and my spots are already fading.  You all know I’ve been dealing with acne and scarring for a long time, and if you’re facing the same problems, this product is for you.  While it’s above my normal budget ($49.50 for 1 oz), it’s completely worth it.  If you can look past the price, you should check it out.  Watch the vid for all the dirty details and then snag some online at Sephora or Clinique. Read More »

Stylish ways to wear polka dots

How to create a flexible style

Why you need to buy fancy jeans

An awesome make-up line for an awesome cause

Your clothes should match your face shape

Bandaids get real fashionable

Look prep school fabulous

Forever 21 is getting designer jeans

Natural beauty products from Italy

The next functional (and cute!) it bag

In CC Beauty Live’s new segment, Quick & Dirty, I’ll be doing short reviews of good, cheap products. So if you have anything you want me to review, let me know!

As a college student, I’m always on the lookout for bargains. And as a beauty addict, it can be difficult coughing up $30 for products. So that’s why I get really excited when I find amazing products for even more amazing prices. I often scour drugstores for a hopeful product, and every once in a while I find a great one, like Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque ($3.95, Ulta).

This product is fantastic and you can’t beat the price! You get an 8 oz tube for under $5! Check out my Quick & Dirty review for the DL.

They say a leopard can’t change its spots, but you, my friend, can change your makeup shade. Now that summer is coming and we will all be getting a little sun kissed, it’s imperative that we make a few makeup tweaks to reflect our new skin tone! I cringe when I see a girl walking around with a face that doesn’t match the color of her body, and whether her makeup is too light or too dark, that obvious makeup line on her jaw is not cute.

If you don’t have the money or time to buy a new shade of powder every time you tan, what should you do? Blend, blend, blend! In this video I’ll share some secrets to keep you looking fresh this season instead of like you belong on the Jersey Shore. Read More »

I have been waiting to do this review for a very long time, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about my new obsession: My Clarisonic! I’ve been wanting this beauty tool for over a year, and I finally got it for my birthday this month. I have to tell you, I will never wash my face with my hands again. This is the best thing I own. Yes, I love it even more than my T3 Evolution (and maybe as much as my boyfriend).

It’s pricey, but it’s so worth it. If you’re on the fence about this product or just looking for more information, this video is for you. I will try to be as unbiased as possible, but it might be hard considering this is the best thing that’s happened to me since I  got into college. Read More »

Believe it or not, what you eat actually influences how you feel on the inside and look on the outside.  I’m not just talking about your weight here – I’m talking about your skin.  Feeding your body tons of nutritious foods leads to happy skin and in turn, a happier you.  So what should you eat?  Check out the list below for some of the top recommended “skin foods” from the specialists at WebMD.

Water – Water is probably the most important thing you ever put in your body throughout a given day.  Having enough water in your system helps everything run smoothly, including your digestion, thought processes, and alertness.  Plus, it helps flush (read: pee pee) out all of the toxic byproducts of your normal body processes.  This is the part that makes your skin glow, look fresh, and appear more rested.  While how much water you drink is constantly in dispute, my general rule of thumb is to drink enough water to keep your pee light yellow.

Omega-3 Rich Foods – This includes foods like salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, and certain types of beans.  Eating these foods on a normal basis increases your intake of essential fatty acids, which help your skin remain plump and fresh by holding water into your skin cells.  Omega-3s also act was an anti-inflammatory agent, which can improve the blood flow to your face, making you glow.

Selenium-Rich Foods – Studies have shown the power of this mineral in preventing damage to the skin cells.  Foods high in selenium include whole grains, turkey, and tuna.  Selenium can help prevent oxidative damage, which can age and roughen skin cells.  Pour yourself a bowl of whole wheat cereal in the morning to get closer to your daily selenium needs. Read More »

"I feel like death warmed over but - DAMN - I look good."

Thanksgiving break seems like a long and luxurious break from the crazy college world, but with all the people you have to see, shopping you have to do and family you have to spend time with, Thanksgiving turns into one exhausting escape. And, considering it has been months (or maybe even years) since you have last seen home people, looking your best is of utmost importance.

Which becomes especially hard after spending Wednesday evening sipping some cocktails. And by “sipping” I mean “chugging by the bar so you didn’t have to deal with running into your ex with his new GF…who was in eighth grade when you guys were seniors…”

We all know what looks back at us in the mirror after a night of drinking: black under eyes, blotchy skin, unsightly blemishes, hand stamps rubbed off on a cheek. Needless to say, it ain’t pretty, nor is it appropriate for the grand Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends.

I have a weak spot for binge drinking on Wednesday nights, so I have become quite talented at the morning-after-face-picker-upper. (Because no one – especially my English prof – needs to know that I spent the previous evening enjoying dollar beers and a battle to the top of the leader board of Erotic Photo Hunt.) If you’re looking a little down in the dumps but can’t let grandma see you like that, pair these must-have beauty items with a couple Advil and a giant Dunkin Donuts coffee. Your family will never know just how much you enjoyed the biggest bar night of the year:

Read More »