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. Read More »

Every few months when I start to run out of my high-end make up, I tend to re-evaluate why I’m spending so much money on products.  I save up a lot in order to purchase the likes of Make Up For Ever, NARS, MAC, and Urban Decay.  But I also think about what I could be spending that money on, and I look into more affordable options.  While I absolutely love my high-end brands, I also love drug store brands. Like, the kind of love I usually reserve for peanut butter and chocolate. I have a huge variety of the stuff and I’m a strong advocate for affordable make up.

That’s why I get really excited when brands like Maybelline try to imitate those big makeup brands.  You’ve probably seen those TV ads for their new FIT ME collection of foundations and powders.  They’re a little annoying, but the product is good.  Really good!  I was very impressed with how similar the quality was to my high-end products. Plus, it has SPF 18 in the foundation!

My only real qualm was that I couldn’t test the shade in the store.  They have a wide spectrum of 18 shades said to fit all skintones, but it’s still a necessity for me to test a shade in the store before I buy it.  Also, I recommend using a primer (here’s how it’s done!) with the foundation to help it last.  If you’re looking for something that feels like a high-end brand but is extremely affordable, then check this collection out! But first, get my full rundown here: Read More »

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Even though I am a beauty guru of sorts (dishing out sage makeup wisdom) and own lots of high end beauty products, I still like to budget shop for drug store options. I am a cost conscious college girl, after all.

I’m not gonna lie – it’s easy to get swept away by brand names and pretty packaging (and pushy sales people) in department stores, but you don’t need to burn a hole in that wallet to get some good makeup. There are a lot of products in drug stores that do nearly the exact same thing as high end products, especially when it comes to mascara. In case no one told you before, you don’t have to use products from MAC or Sephora to look beautiful!

You lookin’ to enhance those lashes without spending all that hard earned (or begged-your-parents-for) money? Just watch:

Got a beauty question? Want to know about a product? A hairstyle? Leave your questions and suggestions below and I’ll try to help you out in future videos!

There are some people who always come to school looking like they just picked up whatever piece of clothing was in their line of sight, that may or may not be clean (determined by the ever scientific “Sniff Test”). Then there are others who are always dressed so fashionably that you wonder if they live in a clothing store. Or how freaking early they wake up to pull an entire outfit together before making the trek to class.

While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style. And maybe a restraining order or two. But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.

Enter Sarah.

Even though she isn’t in college anymore, Sarah still exudes the typical college girl enthusiasm for new clothes and the word “sale.” When I approached her and begged to take a picture of her look, she agreed… but only if I took a picture of the back of her skirt. She wanted to show off the best parts of her look: the pretty metallic details and ruffles next to the rich color of her scarf.  She’s also got this very Nicole Richie, I-didn’t-try-too-hard twisted pin-up braid going on that’s super cute and complements the entire look perfectly.

As a recent college grad, Sarah is always busy running to and from interviews and meetings. She doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on makeup and hair, which she doesn’t mind. Her style philosophy: a cute outfit to match her bag and long, flirty eyelashes. Sweet and simple. I love it. Read More »

Let me start off by saying that I am a firm believer in spending money on quality makeup.  Oftentimes well-trusted and expensive brands of makeup are more effective, longer lasting and – shocking – a much better product all around.  However, there are times when buying the expensive stuff is just stupid.

Case in point: when new makeup trends come along. It is silly to spend a ton of money on something without knowing if you’re really interested in the product or if it’s just all the hype. This is the perfect time to invest in the cheaper version to see if it’s something you want to incorporate into your makeup routine long-term. If it is, you can fork over the cash for the better stuff later.

Below are some of the major makeup trends happening right now that (if you get inundated with the ads as much as I do) you’re probably dying to test out. I included the expensive version and the cheap(er) version so you can try them on for size without going for broke. Read More »

[Make-up is wonderful, but it can also be confusing. There are so many shades and colors and sheens and reasons to wear it that a girl can get completely lost attempting to find what fits her face best. What’s the best blush color for a redhead? How do you really put on lip-liner? Is there such a thing as too much eyeshadow?

In this weekly series, actress / model and fabulous CC blogger, Jen, will be using her make-up know how to teach us all how to look flawless in class, out at a party, or grabbing coffee with that cutie from Psych 101.]

Everyone is always talking about long, luxurious lashes, but how do we get em without getting clumps? And do we really have to spend $40 on a tube of mascara to get that sexy lash we covet? This week Jen gives her expert advice on the best mascaras on the market (in all price ranges) that are sure to get you lookin’ like a Cover Girl.

The Walk of Shame is awkward. End of story.

Even if you are trolling through a college town filled with kids who fully support and expect it, walking home with last night’s hair, makeup and footwear is never your proudest moment (though mastering the Wheelbarrow drunk the night before came pretty close).

Unfortunately, for many college coeds, the Walk of Shame is inevitable, especially when you combine Dollar Pitcher night at the local bar and a whole lot of good looking boys. But just because you are walking home from some dude’s house early in the morning doesn’t mean you have to look that way.

I am a strong believer in preparing for everything, and the Walk of Shame is no exception. Pack a few things before you go and no one will have any idea where you were last night.

First things first, avoid that “going out bag” and opt for something bigger. You probably already have one, but in case you want an excuse to buy something new, I love this new Tycoon Dome Satchel from Juicy. Cute enough for a night on the town, but big enough to pack all of the essentials.

Read More »

My name is Diana, and I’m a mascara junkie. In addition to touching up my Almay retractable eyeliner numerous times a day, my purse always holds an eyelash curler and a tube of my mascara-of-the-month.

I am not one of those classic Maybelline Great Lash girls. When I shop for a new mascara, I pick up whichever package has the most exciting adjectives (Volum’ Express Turbo Boost!) and lofty promises (“Visibly lengthens by 40% Volumizes up to 4X!).

And yet, despite all my efforts and the naturally thick, dark lashes I start with, I can never quite achieve that flirty, heavy eyelash fringe I was seeking. I don’t envy celebrity bodies—I envy their lashes. Read More »