Bad for me (my wallet and my cracking skin), but great for you; I’ve made all the unfortunate purchasing decisions so you don’t have to.

Just in time for the bitter cold, I’m going to share my knowledge with you so you know which creams to slather on and which to leave on the shelves.

Aveeno “Intense Relief” Hand Cream
Let’s start with the worst of the worst, shall we? This cream is basically just a lie in every way. The Aveeno website claims that the cream forms “a protective glove against the elements.” If “protective glove” means “greasy paws,” then I’d say the claim is accurate. Seriously, you’re probably better off lathering up with a can of WD-40; at least that stuff is cheap. I can’t touch anything for at least 15 minutes after I put this lotion on because I’ll leave grease stains all over it. Also, if you care about moisturizing your hands and sealing up cracks, avoid this stuff like the H1N1 virus. It provides temporary relief, but that’s about it.
My advice: NOT recommended.

St. Ives Whipped Silk
The one big pro I can hand out to St. Ives is that their product naming department did a great job with this one. Who wouldn’t want to put that on their mitts?! The lotion also gets points for smelling great, which is more than I can say for Aveeno’s product. However, it’s almost as greasy as the Aveeno, and you’d need to apply it about 20 times a day for it to make any kind of noticeable difference in the hydration of your hands. Cream cheese and butter may be better whipped, but silk is clearly not.
My advice: PASS.

Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
This stuff is not bad, but it’s not great, either. If your hands don’t get terribly chapped and dry, you can probably use this product with good results. It has a pretty neutral scent and isn’t offensively greasy, although you should plan to keep your paws off your keyboard for a few minutes after applying it.
My advice: Slather with caution.

Eucerin’s Intensive Repair Hand Creme
Probably your best affordable option. The lotion doesn’t smell like much of anything, and the greasiness of it goes away quickly. You can also feel it really getting into your skin and doin’ its thang – not just sliding off the surface as soon as you wash your hands. Still, you need to be diligent about applying it and remember to put it on at least a few times a day if your hands are chapped often.
My advice: Good buy for the value-hunter.

Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme
The cream of the crop (tee hee).  I’ve lived in the Midwest all my life, and no hand cream has EVER done the trick of keeping my hands from cracking and bleeding in the subzero winters until I found this little jar. I feel like there are too many pros to name: it smells fantastic, the jar will last a long time, you only have to apply it once a day to get results, it’s not greasy, the consistency is divine… Really, this is the ultimate hand cream. The only drawback is the $9 price tag, but trust me, it’s worth every penny and will last you at least two to three months. If you’re not a fan of almonds, try the beeswax and banana cream, the the honey and grapeseed oil cream, or the waxier hand salve. That Burt guy really knows what he’s doing; I just want to shake his (well moisturized) hand.
My advice: buy, buy, buy!!

Any personal raves or warnings among you guys? Did I miss a favorite? Let me know!

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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:

Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion in SPF 30: One of the worst effects of alcohol (besides liver damage and the propensity to do really stupid things) is the dehydration. And I am not talking about to your body; I mean to your skin. Combating the hangover, then, requires more than just a few glasses of water; you need a really good moisturizer. I have tried ‘em all (even the expensive ones), but this Eucerin product – available in drug stores! – is by far my favorite. It works fast, is not greasy at all and will protect your skin from the sun all day long as you join your little cousins for a hop in the leaves.

smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener: I blame my mother for this lovely trait, but when I wake up after a night of drinking I look like someone punched me in the eyes. Yes, both of them. In fact, before I discovered this life-changing product, people would often ask me if I got into a bar fight the night before. (That only happened once, damn it!) But this stuff has completely eliminated that problem. Just dab a few dots of this stuff under your eyes and your tired eyes are instantly brightened. Using this is like getting an extra 5 hours of sleep!

benefit High Beam: In addition to the lovely hue of black under my eyes, my hungover skin also tends to take on some shades of waxy gray. Not attractive. While walking through a department store after a night o’ partying, I was accosted by the Benefit makeup lady. Noticing that I was clearly in need of some help, she introduced me to High Beam – only the best beauty invention of all time. Just a few dots of this stuff to your cheekbones adds a dewy shimmer to your skin and instant brightness to an unhappy face. Total face refreshment.

Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Eyeshadow: If all else fails, there’s one easy trick that will make all your hangover problems go away. Well, at least the ones with your face; there is no makeup that can stop the dry heaving. Just dab a little shimmer in the corners of each eye. That’s it. This little trick will instantly brighten your eyes, making you look more awake, alert and, erm alive. Midnight Cowboy by Urban Decay is my favorite; it has the perfect amount of shimmer to open up your eye, but it has enough of a gold tint that it can also be run over the rest of the eyelid for a shimmery holiday look perfect for a family dinner.

So, this Thanksgiving when you’re dining with your family and everyone can’t stop talking about how radiant and beautiful you look (even though you can’t stop those tequila shots from haunting you), you can add me and the geniuses who came up with these facial fresheners to your “thankful for” list.

You’re welcome.

About 60,000 people each year are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer, and we want to help you learn how to treat your red and itchy skin to avoid this! Well, that and show you some really easy ways to look cute despite being a different color than most members of the human race:

Keep skin hydrated: If your first shower after the beach left you with tears in your eyes because the water stung so bad, you need to keep your skin hydrated with lotion. The most soothing gels and lotions have aloe vera in them, and this will help soothe your skin and prevent itchiness (and therefore scratching and scarring). You can also use hydrocortisone if your burns are really bad.

Drink liquids with vitamins: Water helps to keep your skin hydrated, but is also really important to keep you hydrated after a long day in the sun. To get the most bang for your buck, be sure to drink things with vitamins C and E in them, as they are crucial in repairing damaged skin cells and ensuring that your body is healthy once your sunburn clears up.

Exfoliate: GENTLY buff away the dead skin. Don’t do this too roughly, as it will irritate your body, but just enough to make sure that the skin cells underneath are not trapped. And you’re not flaking off on your couch/bed/friends for the next two weeks.

See a doctor: This is only if you experience blisters, fever, faintness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or nausea. This could be indicative of sun poisoning. Also, be sure to see a dermatologist regularly to get scanned for potentially harmful freckles and moles. The more often you do this (yearly?) the better your chances of catching anything serious early on.

Ugly tan lines: The next time you’re out in the sun, wear a wife beater over your top. You will not burn this way, and it still allows your arms to get some color while the lines on your shoulders even out. If you’re going out at night and want to disguise that burn line, think halter tops; they cover the same lines that will have burned in most bikini tops, and, let’s face it, they’re sexy as hell.

Make-up: Rub some foundation into your normal moisturizer (my choice is CoverGirl TruBlend). When you mix the two and apply moisturizer as you normally would, it hides any uneven skin tones and makes you look tan despite your UV mishaps. Spread it down your neck and across the tops of your shoulders so that you won’t look uneven, and carry a compact with you to pat down your skin if your make-up starts to run during the night.

WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY: This is the one that everyone complains about, but it’s the easiest thing to do. Pick up some moisturizer with SPF in it (I love Oil of Olay SPF 15 – It’s about $8.00 at any drugstore and works better than most of the high-end stuff). You can get burned even on a cloudy day, so make sure to apply this every morning so that you don’t have to think about your sun protection for the rest of the day. Furthermore, keep a sunscreen face stick (SPF 30 or 45) in your bag so that if you have to make an impromptu beach or pool run, you have something with you. These things weigh less than a cell phone and you can throw it in a pocket easily.

Remember, ladies: even wearing your sunglasses at night won’t cover up a bright red and peely face. So SPF it up, wear cover-ups, carry around shades, and remember that you can always get sunburned, so always be prepared!

[Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!]

The dog days of summer are quickly approaching and you know what that means; muggy, steamy heat.  Whether you’re on the waterfront or completely landlocked, even those of you in the so-called “dry heat” states can’t avoid the boil of a mid-July day.  Do your best to stay cool, dry and sweat free with these products that bring on the chill.

Earth Therapeutics Clean + Cool Foot Wipes
At the end of the day when our dogs are barking, we kick off our sandals and revive our aching feet with these convenient, portable wipes.  Remove the day’s dirt and grime while tea tree oil and mint provide a pleasant cooling sensation. $7.00, drugstore.com

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Skin Firming/Toning Agent
On those sweltering days when there’s no hope for keeping cool, we pack the travel sized version of Aveda’s popular toner in our bag.  This lightweight spray can be applied at any time of day with no smoothing or patting required.  Just a few spritzes of the rose scented elixir freshens makeup and calms heat induced redness. $9, aveda.com

Jergens Naturals Refresh Daily Moisturizer
Don’t you hate stepping out of the shower on a soggy, humid day only to break out in a sweat that renders the entire process practically useless?  Slather on Refresh Daily Moisturizer and feel the chill from the aloe vera and mint leaf extracts.  It’s light, soothing and quickly sinks in to leave your skin silky not sticky.  $6.99, drugstore.com

Be Kool Soft Gel Sheets for Adults
For immediate relief, when you’re so hot you can stand it, pull out one of these adhesive gel patches and place on the nape of your neck.  The cooling gel wicks away moisture and heat from your body and can instantly drop your body temp up to 4 degrees with no refrigeration needed.  They’re inexpensive, easy to tote and a sure fire way to combat those scorching summer temps.  $4.49, drugstore.com

So yesterday I got my first sunburn of the year. (At least, I think it’s a sunburn – it may also be a result of my drunken face-plant…) Honestly, though, I’m not gonna complain ’cause Syracuse hasn’t seen the sun in months. I am, however, going to dust off the sun products that have been under my bed for the past 8 months.

If you want to prevent painful burns, wrinkles, sunspots and , most importantly, cancer, you really need to remember to preserve your skin. And preserving your skin means more than slopping on some SPF 4 when you lay at the beach. The sun can harm your skin at any time, so learn from my burned mistake (I was drinkin’ a beer outside) and protect yourself.

Below are some makeup products that include SPF built right in! I’m not suggesting this is a substitute for using sunscreen, but if you’re just going outside quickly, or want to add some extra protection you gotta try these great finds. Unless, of course, you want to look like this when you’re 30.

LORAC tinted moisturizer: This moisturizer is oil free and has SPF 30 built right in. 30! Most moisturizers only tout SPF 15, so this is great for you fair-skinned ladies. It comes in 5 colors and provides a sheer natural glow. Love it!

Cover FX cream foundation: This foundation is also SPF 30 and replenishes your skin. It comes in over 20 color choices so you’ll be able to find a perfect match.

Bare Escentuals Sun Proof Fun: Yes, your eyelids can get burned too. In fact, they are extremely sensitive and, take it from me, hurt like a mo-fo when burned. This little kit includes 4 colors in tan, brown, and pink shades, and is SPF 20 to protect those lids.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment: We often forget about our lips when it comes to protection from the sun; it’s not like we’re going to rub some Hawaiin Tropic on them. But lips can get burned – really burned – and need protection all the time. This balm will protect you with SPF 15 and is made with real sugar. It’s smooth, tasty, and moisturizing.

The Balm Balmshelter: This shiny gloss is SPF 17 (random?). It goes on smooth and comes in 12 colors with a delicious strawberry-banana taste. Perfect for summer (lovin’).

Last but not least, Sephora Sun Safety Kit: This 13 piece kit includes sample sized versions of all kinds of great sun products at only $22.50! Ah-mazing deal. It includes moisturizer, eye cream, lotion, and photo-finish. Best part? 100% of the profits go to The Skin Cancer Foundation. So test out some products, save your skin, and help others out at the same time!

I actually feel quite sorry for you; sunburns are the worst! They hurt, they peel, and as if the pain isn?t enough, well you also look like someone put you in a frying pan for 5 hours.  (I bet you wish you had listened to your mother and put on some SPF!)

But since that sunscreen will not help you now, here are some tips to take care of your toasted skin and cover it up (as much as possible, anyway!).

Basic Care Tips:

-Take cool showers and apply cool face cloths to your burned areas. This won’t help the healing much, but it will make you feel so. much. better.

-Don’t wear perfumes, or oily makeup/products. These will only irritate your skin more, making you even more uncomfortable.

-Keep yourself covered – loose clothing is best.

-If your burn is more serious or your skin is bubbling, you need to see a doctor to treat the burn!

The best thing for your skin now is aloe vera, a plant with sunburn healing powers.  You can find aloe in gels, toners and lotion.  Here are some aloe products that can help soothe, repair and reduce the redness of your burn.

Shower Gels

Korres Shower Gel, $13

Olehenrisken Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser, $30

Laura Mercier Gel Mask, $32

Toner

DDF  Aloe Toning Complex, $32

Lotion

Clinique After Sun Lotion, $20

You can also find a bunch of great aloe products at The Magic of  Aloe, a website with gels, lotions and spritzers.

Now that you are on your way to healing, here’s some advice for covering up the burn!

-Use natural powder products that won’t irritate the burn and make it worse.

-Use products that contain yellow and green undertones which will help

reduce redness. Try: Tarte’s Mellow Yellow Powder & Cream. This product soothes, heels, and eliminates redness from your face. (No more Rudolph nose/raccoon eyes!)

-Use moisturizing balm on your lips to reduce redness and keep them from cracking. Try Avon’s Basics lip balm with  aloe.

-Keep the rest of your makeup simple; bold and bright blue eye shadow will only attract attention to your burned face!

Now in a perfect world an elaborate skin care regimen can be very good for your skin, but let’s get real. When you’re coming back to the dorm at 4am and crashing, your makeup smearing off on the pillow is the closet thing you get to skin care.

It is a good idea to have a solid skin care system, especially if you have an issue like acne or dry patches that need treatment. But with so many steps, it’s all or nothing and you need a back up plan that you’ll actually use and that actually works!

So when time is tight or you are feeling lazy there are three very important steps to hit.

1. Remove makeup

2. Cleanse

3. Moisturize

Here are some products that can kill two (or three) birds with one stone.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple ($10-32 sephora.com)

This great little product dissolves makeup, dirt and oil, so it removes makeup and cleanses your face at the same time! Its also pH balanced so you don’t need a toner. Just throw a little moisturizer on after washing with this stuff and you’re good to go.

Olay Daily Facials ($7.50 in drugstores)

These little miracle cloths do just about everything. Simply wet the cloth, work up a lather, and scrub all the makeup off your face (even waterproof mascara!). It cleanses your skin while exfoliating, toning and hydrating. It’s so effective you might be able to throw out all of your other products all together. Your skin will feel amazing!

Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser ($10-26 sephora.com)

This fabulous gentle foaming face cleanser is made from all natural ingredients. Its soap, sulfate, paraben and dye free. It foams up to dissolve makeup and absorb dirt and oils and it’s pH balanced to leave skin feeling moisturized. The best part – you don’t even need water! You can keep this little pump by your nightstand to keep your skin looking great even when you are too lazy (or wasted) to go to the bathroom!

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.

Sephora Brand Body Self-Tanning Tinted Bronzing Mist: This gradual bronzer comes in a can, which is great for applying! You don’t end up with gross colored hands, and the spray comes out evenly on your body. It’s light and airy, unlike chunky lotion and also smells great. It may take a little while to achieve the color that you want, but it won’t streak!

Jergens Natural Glow Body Moisturizer: The word natural is even in the title, and that’s exactly what this moisturizer is. It comes in several shades, and you will see a difference in just 3 days. Exfoliate before use so the moisturizer will sit well on your skin. It includes the same moisturizing ingredients as regular Jergens so there are no harsh chemicals, unlike those nasty tanning beds!

Dove Energy Glow Beauty Body Lotion: Like Jergens, this is a moisturizing lotion that comes in two shades. It will even out your skin tone and create a gradual glow so it looks like you have been basking in the sun, without becoming a lobster. And as a bonus, it’s super cheap and can be found at any drugstore, just like Jergens.

Michael Kors Leg Shine: This product comes in a convenient stick for arms and legs and creates a subtly natural glow so you get perfect shimmering tanned legs. And it is scented just like Michael perfume. Pretty impossible to mess this up!

1. Drink enough water.

You’re giving the weather a head start if you don’t properly hydrate yourself. Just because you’re not sweating from the summer heat doesn’t mean you can cut down on your h20 intake. Continue to drink plenty of water, and limit your fizzy soft drinks and alcohol, which will dehydrate you faster than you can say “blizzard.”

2. Invite skin care into the shower.

One thing’s inevitable: you have to shower, right? So purchase soaps and body wash that won’t dry you out. According to About.com, bar soaps are more likely to dry out your skin, whereas emollient-rich cleansers will actually battle the effects of dry skin. Try Dove Delicate Cream Body Wash, or look for the word “butter,” as in “Shea Butter,” “Cocoa Butter,” or just plain “Body Butter” when you’re selecting your next lather. Your hands feel the cleansers you use the most, since they are slathering the stuff all over your bod.

3. Dream away dryness.

If your hands are so dry it’s painful, you may want to pull out the big guns. Put an extra-strength lotion or vaseline on your hands, and then sleep with knit gloves or socks over your hands. This way, you can’t smear the moisturizers all over the place or inadvertently wipe your hands on your sheets while you sleep. The gloves will trap the lotion overnight, meaning your skin cells get the most help.

4. Wear your effing gloves.

Seriously. Invest in a few pairs so that even if you’re running late and forget to grab one pair, you have a backup in your messenger bag, or keep a pair in every room of the house so that they’re always accessible. Get the thickest, warmest gloves you can find – a cheap knit pair won’t do much to keep your hands warm (and moist) this season.

5. Protect your nails.

For nail care, make it a point to keep your routine manicure appointments. If you can’t afford a professional manicure, at least take care of your nails every week by clipping and filing them to keep them in check. When you wash your hands, make sure you clean underneath the nail to prevent germy build-up, and use a nail brush if possible. Don’t be afraid to soak your hands for a bit – a warm handbath can make you feel better after you’ve come in from the biting cold! And, of course, use that lotion you’ve been saving for the back of your hand on the area around your cuticles to prevent irritation and hang nails.