Raise your hand if you love paying to get your hands and feet some lovin’! As common, middle class folk, we like to keep the manicures and pedicures comfortably inside a price range that we can really fit our fingers and toes around. That’s why we never dare to pay for the really fancy manicures that come with seaweed wraps and Dead Sea salt scrubs. With that said, even if we did have the money, we would never pay for these crazy manicures. They’re a little too crazy…even for us.

Check ‘em out below!

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Last week I let my roommate borrow my coveted dupe for Chanel’s Black Pearl nail polish, which she was very excited about. But she wasn’t as excited when, much to her dismay, she started noticing chipping in just a few days.

This got me thinking about how many girls are faced with this problem. I mean, how frustrating is it to spend money on an awesome manicure with a great color, only to have the polish chip off in two days? Not cool. So, to help you avoid this, I’m going to offer you a few of my personal tips for maintaining your manicures (and pedicures), and keeping them chip-free for longer!

Click here to get CollegeFashion’s 3 secrets to a lasting manicure!

I have a firm belief that it’s impossible to look polished without nail polish. It’s the final accessory to an outfit that not only completes a look, but makes you look utterly put together. It’s so important that it of course slips my mind until the last minute all the time.

Nail polish and I have never been friends. I’m the girl who doesn’t realize she’s wearing dark blue nails until five minutes before she has to leave for an interview. I didn’t paint my nails for years because I knew, despite strict instructions on how to do a perfect at-home mani, that I did not have the patience to wait for them to dry, or the ability to stop checking if they are dry every five seconds only to smudge them with my grubby paws. I’ve left streaks of polish all over my apartment and have only had a wonderful set of nails when I’ve shelled out the cash at a salon because I’m inept at painting my own. And there is nothing less satisfying than paying for a great look, only to find it chipped the next morning.

Sally Hansen heard my plight, and finally came out with a product I’ve been holding my breath over for years (which was dangerous, to say the least). They’re called Salon Effects Polish Strips, which are so much better than the nail stickers I had prayed (with my chipping nails pointing towards the heavens) for all these years.

Simply put, they’re amazing. For less than 10 dollars, you can pick up this nail kit with a variety of shapes to fit your nails that last up to 10 days. They come in 24 different shades and they. are. awesome. There are muted, plain shades if you need professional digits, plus glitters, animal prints, and some fantastic fashion prints like my favorite, lace. Read More »

Happy 2011, ladies!

It’s a new year, and you know what that means; it’s time to start working on those New Year’s resolutions. But before you start jotting down those promises take a minute and really think about this. New Year’s resolutions almost always involve giving something up, and making sacrifices. And that negative approach makes you all the less likely to keep them. Not fun  and definitely not productive. So instead, I’m offering you something a little bit different. Ten New Year’s resolutions that are actually attainable.

And even better, ten New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually want to keep.

10. Be more organized. In order to make any of your other way more interesting New Year’s resolutions happen you should probably commit to this one. Get a planner, or if you prefer, use a Google calendar, or your BlackBerry. (Or I’m sure there’s and iPhone app for that.) Keep track of dates. Make lists. Write down your goals. If you know what you want it’s so much easier to make it happen.

9. Do something you’ve always wanted to do. Everyone has a bucket list, something they’ve always wanted to do but have never had the time, the nerve or the money. This year, make it your resolution to make it happen. Get a tattoo. Learn to speak French. Have sex in the stacks. Whatever it is you’ve always wanted to do, make it happen.

8. Enjoy your family and your friends. We college girls live pretty busy lives, and that makes it difficult to stay in touch with people, even some of the people that matter most. This year, try not to let that happen. Make an effort to do more than just Facebook comment. If being in the same pace at the same time isn’t an option, try a Skype session. Or something they use to do way back when – a phone call. Read More »

As college students on a budget, we sometimes have to sacrifice our favorite beauty regimens in favor of our weekly trips to Dollar Beer night (or maybe we are actually being responsible and shelling out a few hundred dollars on a semester’s worth of textbooks). But just because we want to save some money doesn’t mean we have to look like dingy hags with 12 cats and a knitting room.

How?
With a little DIY, of course.

When it comes to treating yourself, you don’t need to shell out the big bucks for a professional; you can get the same results right there in the privacy of your bedroom. And we’ve got all the secrets. From great first date make-up and hair ideas, to cheap ways to bring your closet from drab to fab, here is your do-it-yourself guide to looking and feeling great.

The DIY Manicure. Even those cheap-o $12 manicures add up, so save that dough and manicure your own fine hands. You’ll have to head to your local drug store to stock up on all the essentials, like this season’s most fun and funky colors, but you’ll end up spending way less in the long run. And it’s worth it for Zebra-print nails.

The DIY Wax. If you’re especially daring, check out these seven tips for a successful at-home wax. And if you want to try the latest vajazzling craze without the awkwardness of having a strange woman in your area, there are now peel-and-stick rhinestone designs you can apply (and take off….) yourself.

The DIY Facial. We all want that perfect, glowing complexion but it’s not always (or ever??) practical to drop $90 on a salon facial. e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Creative Director explains step-by-step how to get that dewey but not greasy look yourself. And if you want to be really resourceful, you can even make face masks and body butter from leftover items in your pantry. Yum. Read More »

Make those thrift clothes look couture.

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Justin Bieber is officially a superhero.

9 sneaky ways to tell him you like him.

Did you smudge your mani? Fix it in seconds!

Even though summer should be all about relaxing and enjoying the sun, many of us are so busy with our own internships and work that we often forget to take care of ourselves. And even when we do, pampering on a budget seems almost impossible. (Um, hello $65, one-time facial). Pretty soon we’re pasty, tired and moody to boot.

But what’s an over-worked, underpaid and grumpy girl to do (besides wallow in self-pity and take out her frustration on her poor parents)?

Have no fear. The ladies here at CollegeCandy know how you feel (because we’re feeling it right now) and we want to share our tried and true pick-me-up tricks that won’t burn a hole in that pretty wallet of yours. It’s summer time and you deserve a little love.

Dive in, pamper yourself and thank us later:

Jump into a hot bubble bath.
Since it’s nearly impossible to get a good bubble bath in in college (like you’re gonna lay down in that nasty tub), we often forget what a good bubble bath can do for a girl. It’s luxurious and relaxing, and it won’t cost you a dime. Toss a little Epsom salt in there, light up some candles, turn off the cell phone and turn up the Guster, and you’ve got the whole afternoon to unwind.

Turn off the cell phone and prop open a book.
Yes, the mere thought of going off the cellphone grid for an hour may leave you shaking, but sometimes you just gotta disconnect. And there’s no better way to do that than with a book.  Reading a book will give your mind a rest, free from all that mundane work and life stuff that bogs you down daily. Need a book suggestion? We’ve got plenty. Read More »

I remember the days when I would go to the nail salon with my mom and she’d pay for our mani-pedis. Yeah, now that I’m in college, those days are long (and I mean LONG) gone. For the first few months of my freshman year I would save my money to splurge on my poor hands and feet. However I quickly learned that I’d rather spend money on important things, like food. And happy hour.

Lucky for me, I moved in with a girl (Hey Kelly!) who has a habit of painting her nails multiple times a day if she’s bored. So I developed a new appreciation for nail polish and nail care, leading to a perfected at-home manicure. In this video, I’m taking you step by step and giving you some of my tips to make your nail polish last!

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? A really great local band? An awesome website? A product that truly changed your life? CHOCOLATE? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Make your kindergarten teacher proud and share!

Spring. It’s so close I can taste it.
Flower printed mini dresses in store windows
Iced coffee’s out and about even though it’s still a little bit too cold.
Girls running to the bars in short dresses and no jacket.

Oh wait – those idiots do that all year long.

Another favorite of mine for Spring? Ditching my dark nail polish for fun springy colors. Usually by mid Feb I’m so sick of wearing Wicked or Lincoln Park After Dark, but with 6 feet of snow on the ground and frost bite on my toes I can’t justify wearing those pastels. But now (well on Saturday) it’s officially spring and even if there is a snowstorm next week (I wouldn’t put it past you, Midwest) I don’t care because these spring colors are so – well – SPRINGY! Read More »

For a few weeks, I was in a rut – a big, blah rut that I couldn’t seem to find my way out of. I was grouchy, apathetic, and basically bored with everything. My self-esteem was not at its usual high-point, and I had no idea what the heck was wrong with me.

I know I lead a charmed life by any standards. I’m single during my senior year, I love my family, I have the most amazing friends, I go to a great school, and I live within five blocks of the most scrumptious fro-yo in the world. Life is great. So why the heck didn’t I feel as great as I should?

Well, even now, a few weeks later and finally back in Happyville, I don’t have an answer to that question. Something was just off, and I can’t really explain what it was. All I know is it’s over now thanks to a few things I did for myself. If you’re feeling funkadelic (and not the good kind) – whether caused by boys, school, or an unsolved perpetrator – maybe a few of these activities will help you claw your way out.

Outdoor Activities: Exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy (and happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, as Elle Woods would say). So get out and go for a hike, or play tennis, or take a dance class! Go solo or with friends, either way, take some time for yourself!
Set a short-term goal for yourself; reaching goals will give you a sense of accomplishment, which generally makes people feel happy and productive. Setting an attainable, short term goal will force you to be proactive and get you motivated. Read More »