Dear Tuffy Luv,

Do guys like makeup? My friend says yes, I don’t think so. Is there a happy medium when it comes to applying makeup, or do you guys think it’s hot when we go all out Kardashian style? Let me know what’ll help me attract guys, not repel them!

College Freshman Wanting To Date More

Dear College Freshman Wanting To Date More,

This is timely! I just read a really interesting article about something similar in the New York Times. Apparently, wearing makeup in the workplace makes women seem more competent. I am semi-disgusted by this (how chauvinistic can our flooping society be!!!), but facts iz facts.

But do guys actually PREFER makeup?! Well, honestly, CFWTDM, it really and truly depends on the guy.

Yeah, Cosmo and whatnot will spend endless decades trying to convince you one way or the other, depending on what’s in and what they’re trying to sell. But, truthfully, it all comes down to personal preference.

I mean, if you really want to break it down, think about what kind of guy YOU want to attract. Do you want someone who only wants to hike and live off the land? Perhaps you’re best off with the no-makeup look. If you want, like, a sugar daddy, my understanding is a full face of makeup is de rigeur.

But for anything in between–and most of us DO opt for something in between–it should be all about how you feel most beautiful. Think about your lifestyle and how you want to appear, and make that look yours. If you want to be totally barefaced, the right guy will think that’s your best look. If you feel best with makeup, either natural or full-out, the right guy will think THAT’S your best look. Match your look to how you feel best, and your confidence will shine.

Or whatever.

Okay, stop making Aunt Tuffy sound like a Hallmark card for Revlon. Enough is enough.

Hearts & Skulls,

Tuffy Luv

Question?! Answer: Ask Tuffy Luv. tuffyluvcc@gmail.com

[Lead image via Inga Ivanova/Shutterstock]

I’ve never been a make up girl. I’ve gone through my phases, of course. My high school emo phase that led to me perfecting my eyeliner-with-smoky-purple-eyeshadow look (oh. my. god. why.). My increasingly desperate attempts to find a foundation that doesn’t end up looking, and feeling, like mud.

Some girls just aren’t meant for make up. I might be one of them. From my acne prone & lighter-than-ivory-pale skin to my baby face, make up is either too dark, too adult, or “too much.” As Tyra Banks occasionally mentioned on America’s Next Top Model, some people’s faces just don’t hold make up. The experience, I can tell you, is maddening. And it made me hate make up.

But, my fellow make up haters, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can find ways around it. Tips and tricks. We can “settle” or spend way too much money on everything. We can look in the mirror and whine about how we have to spend so much time putting on the make up that we hate. Make up is expensive, time consuming, and ultimately, not great for our skin. But it can also be a fun hobby, a learning experience, a chance to look a little more mature.

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Conclusion

Ladies, we don’t have to hate make up. Well, we still can. Despite my newfound appreciation for make up – from lipstick to eyeshadow – I still hate it. I hate the process. I hate that it takes time out of my schedule, that I could be using to eat Halloween candy or bake scones. I hate how expensive it can get and how tempting UrbanDecay eyeshadow palettes are. But ultimately, you can choose to wear it… or you can choose not to. If you want to give make up a shot, figure out what’s best for you. These are some tips to get you there – but, ultimately, the decision to accept or reject make up completely is up to you. You shouldn’t feel pressured to wear make up if you don’t want to.

Need more advice? Check out our tutorial…

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Let’s make some non-New Years Resolutions.

During winter break, I had the chance to talk to my best friend, who is more like my long-lost twin. In high school we used to spend hours in the morning with hair, makeup, and putting together outfits. While this made me late 60% of the time (and her 100% of the time), we loved it. Now that we are at different colleges and not making each other late in the morning, she asked me, “Do you still get dressed up for class now?”

Uhhh, duh? I mean if I could do it at 6 am, why can’t I do it now when I wake up at 8 am or later? She confessed to me that she has given up on looking stylish for class. How dare she?!?!

Okay, I get it. I have had a few ‘bum’ days too. And she is in a sorority, so at night she has to be dressed to the nines to attend a social or a party, so she gets some slack during the day. However, don’t for a second think she looks like a homeless person going to class.  Smart girls can use ten minutes to look great before they have to be anywhere.

So after consulting some of my ever-gorgeous friends and us some of my ever-gorgeous friends and using my own knowledge, here are my tips for looking great even though you just rolled out of bed.

I’m going to assume you stay up all night like most college students, so take five minutes to put together an outfit for the next day. When you don’t have to dig for clothes things go a lot faster.

This can work for your hair too; straighten it at night so you don’t have to do the staple messy bun on top of head look.

Change your definition of “bumming it”.Most people think this means baggy sweats, hoodie, and Uggs. So basically you look like a snowman with no shape. Ugh.

You can be comfortable without looking like crap! Leggings are just as comfy as sweats, and pair it with a long cardigan/sweater and you instantly look more put together. Yoga pants look tremendously better than big sweats. My favorite look is a long, belted cardigan, a warm scarf, and leggings.

Mix and match pieces: Clothes that can be worn in many different ways are awesome. You don’t even have to think about putting outfits together because they already go together well. A good pair of jeans, leggings, basic tees, neutral sweaters, and a brown/black boot can be incorporated with almost anything you already have in your closet. You can close your eyes, reach into your closet, and come out looking good!

Awesome Accessories: Have some statement jewels to amp up your outfits and instantly add style. Long necklaces, chandelier earrings, bangles, unique scarves, cocktail rings and more can go with basic outfits to make them more trendy and look like you took time to get dressed.

Strategize your Hair and Makeup: If you just roll out of bed, I’m assuming you have some dark circles. Purple is a great color, but not underneath your eyes. Use your time wisely and conceal the trouble spots, add a coat of mascara, and a swipe of bronzer. This makes you look healthy and more wide awake. One tip I love is applying a white, shimmery shade to the inner corner of your eye- this makes you look wide-eyed and bright.  A friend of mine wears very minimal make up, but she always does a thick line of eye liner just to her top lid. I love this look on her, because it makes her eyes the focal point and is super quick. Stock your book bag with a few lip glosses so you can apply that while you are walking to class, and instantly you look refreshed.

Your hair might look like a rat’s nest in the morning, but know your go-to quick styles that can be used to tame the beast. I love spin pins by Goody- they let me create a quick bun. This can hide kinky/frizzy hair. I’m a fan of the sleek Kim Kardashian pony tail when my roots are a little greasy. For bangs that just won’t cooperate, simply grab a couple bobby pins and twist them back.

Those are the tips I live by when I have no inspiration or motivation. They haven’t failed me yet! Good luck girls, and if you were thinking about getting me anything for Christmas, just burn your ratty size XL sweat pants and we’ll call it even.

Maura is a freshman at Rider University and loves chocolate, cheesy wedding T.V. shows, writing, fashion, and playing with her overweight (but adorable) Pomeranian. When she isn’t at class or sleeping, you can catch her on twitter @maurahilgar.

While many of you love wearing makeup and search your couch cushions and the bottom of all your purses for loose money so you can buy new products, there are a lot of you out there who actually hate wearing makeup. Trust me when I say that I get it; I used to be one of those girls!

Makeup can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you don’t know what products to use or how to use them. Plus, sometimes you just don’t want to stand in front of a mirror and put on your face, dammit. But the honest truth: you don’t have to! Having a polished face doesn’t have to mean 35 products and 30 minutes putting them on.

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t step out of my house looking like I’m headed to a photo shoot every day. I often wear just four products or some variation of them (plus Aquaphor!). These products are a simple way to enhance your features and are perfect for people who want to give makeup a chance or who are just starting out. And while I do recommend investing in higher end versions of these products for quality reasons, you certainly don’t have to! There are plenty of budget-friendly alternatives to all products; just make sure you are aware of what you’re getting.

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! And for more beauty related tips, check out my websiteand follow me on Twitter!

What It Is:

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:
I’m a firm believer in the magic of mascara. For the longest time, I never wore it, until a girl at Sephora introduced me to a couple wonderful brands. When she applied it, I was amazed; instantly my eyes were brighter. It made me look really beautiful and now I won’t leave the house without swiping some on.

Make Up For Ever is a well-established brand (full of products that I LOVE), known for making professional quality makeup that the everyday consumer can also use. Their Smoky Lash Mascara has been a cult fave for some time now and I knew I needed to get my hands on it. Now, there is also a waterproof version, which is even better! It’s designed to rock your mascara world, promising “volume, length and intense pigment.”

How To Use It:
I can’t say it enough: ALWAYS, ALWAYS curl your lashes before applying mascara. Most mascaras can’t make your eyelashes curl and trust me, this extra step is totally worth it. After that, it’s pretty much a no-brainer: get some mascara on your wand (but don’t pump it!), and apply in a zig-zagging motion, focusing on the outer lashes. If you’re going for a really dramatic look, go ahead and apply the mascara to your lower lashes too!

CC Rating: A

MUFE Aqua Smoky Lash is definitely worth a look! As you can tell from the photos, not only did it significantly darken my lashes, but also lengthened and volumized. So basically, it delivered absolutely everything as promised. It wore all day, with ZERO smudging, so if you’re a gal who likes to apply makeup and then make a long trek to school/work or even log a few miles on the treadmill during lunch, this mascara would be a great choice for you! I’m not always looking for a waterproof mascara, mostly because they are a B to remove, so I would like to test out the regular version too.

The $22/.023 oz is on par with similar brands like Dior, MAC, etc. Overall, I’m liking Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash. I think I will definitely be picking up another tube of this on my next jaunt to Sephora (it’s a 6 hour drive away). I already have two other holy grail mascaras (one of which is Too Faced Lashgasm) and I think this may be joining to make the mascara holy trinity (is that sacrilegious?). Anyways, this gets my seal of approval, so enjoy!

[Need some new makeup but not sure what to buy? Check out Alex's other beauty reviews here.]

Zits.

Yes, thanks to the mixture of all that costume (or sexy) makeup, smoke, sweat, and no-time-to-wash-your-face-before-you-get-it-on sexy time, your skin takes a serious beating. So just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean you should skip out on your skincare routine. In fact, you should be even more committed to it! Otherwise, you’ll just end up covering those imperfections up with more makeup, which only makes the cycle start over again.

So, ladies, before you head out for your final night of Halloween festivities, I’ve got some tips on how to care for your skin after a big night!

As always, if you’ve got something you want me to cover, post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to check out my other videos right here!

Follow the steps in the video and you’ll have a hot look in no time! All you need is a little eyeliner and you’re good to go.

Back-to-school is right around the corner, and for many of you, the inevitable final year of college is looming.

Breathe in.
Breathe out.
It’s going to be OK.

Heading into your senior year well-prepared (and well-hydrated) makes all the difference, so here’s 9 things to keep in mind before you embark on the beginning of the end:

1. Check on Everything:
First things first, make a meeting with your academic advisor (yes, you have one) and make sure you have all the classes you need to graduate. If not – sign up for them immediately. Don’t wait to take your second required P.E. class until the last semester  — the classes could fill up and leave the only option available something that doesn’t fit with your academic schedule. (Or worse, it could be at 8am on a Friday.) Figure out if you have departmental requirements to fulfill. Find out when deadlines are and what the expectations are. Be aware of every step required towards you wearing your cap and gown and grabbing that diploma at the end of the year.

2. Senior Participation:
If your school has any special senior traditions or rights-of-passages, prepare for them. Do you need to decorate a special gown to wear for on-campus events? If so, get busy and decorate! Plan to participate in everything. Your hard work over the last three years has earned you this upperclassmen status, so bask in its glory!

3. Prep:
If you are planning to attend any kind of graduate school or professional program after college, set up a schedule for what needs to get done. If you are taking an exam such as the LSAT or GRE, and you haven’t started studying – figure out what you’re doing. If you’re ready to start applying to schools, ask for your letters of recommendation (while your professors still remember you/have time to write one!) and set a date to send your personal statement out. Make sure you have a schedule to stick to because once school gets going, things get crazy.

4. Leave the past behind:
If you had a huge fight with your best friend over the summer, either make-up or go your separate ways. Don’t hold onto grudges and drama from previous years – it won’t add anything to your senior year. This is your last hoorah so enjoy yourself, not the drama of college life around you.

5. Figure out what means the most to you:
For a minute, think about what makes you happy when it comes to your social life. What do you want more of during your senior year? More Thirsty Thursday parties? Plan ahead. Want to go climb that local mountain one last time with your boyfriend? Do it. Want to streak across campus? Just strip and do it. Don’t put it off – it’s the last year, so you won’t get another chance use “Whatever, I was in college” as an excuse. Create some kind of College Bucket List and hold yourself to it.

6. Expect a rollercoaster of emotions:
Senior year will be emotional, there’s no doubt about it. You will always have your ups and downs in college, but not having a safety net of returning to school next year really stirs up a lot of uncomfortable nervousness. Know that you will feel anxious and upset sometimes while you’re trying to figure things out, but don’t let it get to you too much. Cry about it if you must, but don’t dwell on it. And don’t hold it in! Be honest with your friends and family, and yourself. Everyone in your graduating class is in the same boat as you, so you won’t be alone.

7. Student Loans:
Get your crap together when it comes to student loans. If you have them, get real and realize you will have to pay them back – so keep that in mind when thinking about post-college plans. Find out how much you owe and what you need to do with your school’s financial aid department before the end of the year (you probably will need to go through an exit counseling session). Although you may want to freak out (and dive head first into a bowl of brownie batter), don’t necessarily let that get to you. Be smart. Understand your options and stay up on current student loan news. This will be something that could impact your entire life, so take it seriously.

8. Get Passionate:
Think about your passions. You may be an economics major, but if painting is what makes you happy – think about how you can carry that into your life beyond college. Explore all your interests. If you always wanted to take a yoga class, do it. Open yourself up because you definitely won’t be the same person at the end of your senior year as you were at the beginning.  This will make looking for jobs, internships, and planning for graduate school all the better. Even though you may be a journalism major, maybe you’re really into marketing – so applying to a marketing company instead of pursing a journalism graduate degree may be better for what you want in the long run. Step outside of every day plans and veer off your original course if necessary.

9. Take Advantage of All Options:
Just because your parents tell you that you must go to graduate school doesn’t mean it’s your only option. Maybe traveling for a year after college is what will suit you best, so consider it before you jump into another few years of school. Think about different places you want to live. Consider programs such as Teach for America or Ameri Corps. If college has taught you anything, it should be that you should try everything – so go into your senior year knowing the world is out there for you to figure it out, but it doesn’t have to all happen in a perfectly planned out way, so take advantage of what you can!

With all this in mind, you will surely start your year off on the right foot — leaving you lots of time to enjoy the remaining months of college to come!

[Last week our Single Girl shared her feelings of jealousy for all her coupled friends. Looks like the grass is always greener....]

I’m getting to that point with my boyfriend that things are getting really comfortable. Since we live together I get to see him 24/7 which unfortunately means he sees me 24/7. AKA he sees me when I have no makeup, am in my sweats, and getting ready for bed. Honestly, there’s really no mystery left.

Flip over to my best friend Erica and her new boyfriend. She’s having all the fun of finding out all about him and she still spends an hour in the bathroom before dates. Then there’s my friend Haley who’s totally taking advantage of being single at college parties and can have a make out sesh whenever she wants with whomever she wants. I love hearing them talk about all the excitement of Erica’s new relationship and Haley’s latest exploits, but it’s starting to hit me that I will most likely never get that kind of excitement again. And I’m jealous!

I do love my boyfriend, and I’m totally OK with giving up stuff like finding out the hot guy at the bar is terrible in bed, or having a blind date with a guy with bad breath, but am I really ready to never have another first kiss? Another first date? Another first sexcapade?

There’s something wonderful about being completely comfortable with someone and knowing that you don’t have to swipe on some eyeliner when you know he’s coming over. And there’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing someone’s behind you, no matter what. But with all that comfort comes laziness; when you don’t need to impress the other person anymore, why put in any effort?

I love Matt and I love being in a relationship with him, but it’s hard not to miss all the fun and excitement that comes with the single life. And when I think about it, it’s scary to realize that I’ll never have it again. Especially when I’m surrounded by people in the midst of it, living it up and sharing their tales with me.

Anybody else getting green with envy of other girls?