For years, I wanted bangs. I longed for them. I coveted them. I desired them. But the answer from my hairstylist was always the same: NO. So in 2008, I cut them myself. Years later, I have a love-hate relationship with them. I keep cutting ‘em, growing ‘em in, and cutting them again. But I want to tell you this: curly-head bangs can be HOT.

This week, I’ve gathered photos from across the web to show you how it can be done. Whether you want curly bangs, bangs you have to straighten (which we’re so not used to, since our curls are so naturally gorge!!), or you’re ready to grow them out, here’s the how-to! Read More »

I used to hate being pale. I desperately envied the girls who came back from spring break with perfect, even tans. My skin burns incredibly easily, so unless I cake on bottles and bottles of sunscreen, I end up the color of a boiled lobster. I mean really, really red. Fire engine, ripe tomato red. Eventually, my sunburns fade into tans, but that takes weeks, and my “tan” is pretty pale by most people’s standards.

After years of lamenting my pasty state, I finally realized: I’m never going to be tan! My skin has always been and will always be pale. Baby, I was born this way.

Here are the reasons why I don’t tan:

Skin cancer. Yes, this one is obvious. Warnings about the dangers of the sun are everywhere. But I have personal experience on this front. My dad has struggled with skin cancer for the past ten years, and helping take care of him after his worst surgery was particularly good motivation for me to protect my skin. He had to have a ping-pong ball-sized piece of skin cut out of his temple and the spot still has to be carefully watched.

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Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: Shobha Sugaring Kit

Why this should be in your bag:
Smooth skin is an essential part of looking your best. Most women that I know shave unwanted hair, but that can be really annoying. Not only do you have to do it every single day, but shaved hair usually grows back thicker and coarser than before. Sugaring is a great option for easy hair removal and is definitely my method of choice. I find it much less painful than waxing (pro!) and this formula by Shobha is all-natural and “free of parabens, dyes, fragrances, petrols, resins & waxes” (major pro!). Read More »

If there is one thing I hate about eye makeup it’s that there seems to be only two options for daytime: swiping on the mascara for a boring, casual look, or doing it up so that you look like you’re about to go clubbing.

Where’s the in-between?

Well, there is one and I found it. This week I’m showing you a natural eye that adds a bit of pop to your everyday makeup routine. It’s super quick and easy and a great way to look good for a day on campus (and not a night out at the bars).

The first time I heard about Lush cosmetics I blew it off as an expensive Bath and Body Works. Little did I know, I would become a fanatical Lush fan. Earlier this summer, for a “just because I love you” present, my boyfriend sent me a huge package of Lush products. (He’s cute, I know.)  And now I’ve found something I love more than him: anything and everything Lush.

Although I have fallen in love with Lush’s unique products and packaging, it is the company’s goals and mission that keeps me coming back (and spending the extra cash).

They make it their business to use fresh ingredients, make the products by hand (how many places actually do this anymore?), not partake in animal testing, and protect the planet by making the products ‘green’ or vegetarian/vegan friendly. With minimal preservatives in their products, I have truly been refreshed by the products I have tried and I believe that using fresh products like seaweed and avocados has made a difference in the way these bath bombs and gels work.

Buying cosmetics is important to every girl, but in the current state of the economy, spending money on lavish products may seem silly. However, with a company promising to help the environment and its customers with the freshest and hand-made products, dishing out the extra few bucks is worth it… especially when it comes to these guys: Read More »

Everyone (namely Britney Spears) loves a good Starbucks Frapp now and then, but what we don’t love is the added poundage that tasty treat leaves on our thighs. Those guys over at the Bux have been catching a lot of flack for their many drinks that have more sugar and calories than a liter of Coke, not to mention those fatty pastries, so they’ve decided to make some “healthy” changes.

This month Starbucks launched a new line of treats that they claim is healthier. They’ve eliminated all artificial flavors, dyes, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial preservatives from the ingredients list wherever possible. Now the bakers use more wholesome ingredients like whole grains, Oregon blueberries and Michigan cherries to revamp the nutritional value for their muffins and baked goods. Some new food items include a blueberry oat bar filled with two types of organic blueberries, a new banana walnut bread made with real bananas (as opposed to that nasty artificial flavor), and a lower-calorie Marshmallow Dream bar. Mmmm. Read More »

I love vitaminwater.  It’s yummy, and the fact that it’s loaded with vitamins makes me feel like I’m doing something good for my body whenever I drink it.  However, what I don’t love so much is that the sugar in it that makes it taste so good also makes it a little high in calories.  This is why I usually try to drink it only when I’m working out, but, to be perfectly honest, that isn’t too often.

That’s why I was super excited when I heard about vitaminwater’s newest creation, vitaminwater10, which has only 10 calories per serving -  that’s only 25 calories per 20-ounce bottle! Being able to enjoy my beloved vitaminwater without having to worry too much about the calories? Sounds perfect.

But could it be too good to be true? Would 10 calories also mean that nasty “diet” after-taste that comes from scary artificial sweeteners? I checked out the VitaminWater10 event in NYC to find out: Read More »

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

As global warming continues to become a bigger and bigger issue for our planet, it becomes increasingly important to do our part to cut down on wasteful resources. And what better place to start than in our very own closets?

These five items are all created with a bevy of natural materials from recycled leather to organic cotton, all which help to reduce our carbon footprint and still give us a fashionable footprint in which to step forward. Read More »

My obsession with bathing suits started a very long time ago. I still remember begging my mom for something new and neon every time we went to Target. Pool parties were better than Christmas, and I used to don a bikini to help Mom and Daddy wash the dishes (true story.) And then I grew boobs. And butt. And self-consciousness. Suddenly, the joy of putting on a bathing suit and eagerly anticipating super soakers, sprinklers, sand castles and snorkeling fins turned into anxiety about love handles, saggy elastic, way too much rear exposure and the horrors of anything that jiggles.

Well that’s bulls**t.

Bathing suits are supposed to be fun, flirty and cute. We wear them when we’re supposed to be having fun, not stressing because we’re not as surgically enhanced as the girl next to us or investing in last minute sarongs. With Spring Break steadfastly approaching, it’s time to check out the best bathing suits out there and re-vamp our ideas about swimsuit shopping.

So grab a trusted and honest friend, remove the necessary body hair and spray tan yourself silly (it seriously helps in dressing room fluorescents) and let’s shop. Read More »

It’s gray and gloomy out there, and your skin is starting to show it. Unless you’ve spent your winter in a tanning bed, you are probably feeling pale enough to audition for the next Twilight movie. You need some color.

If you want to wake up your skin without the use of streaky self tanners or harmful UV rays, bronzer is the best way to get a healthy sunshiny glow. But tread lightly (literally); overdoing it or choosing the wrong color can you take you from Twilight auditions to Willy Wonka really quick.

Here are some tips to make sure you look like the a glamorous, sun kissed movie star, and not a scary oompa-loompa.

Stay away from Coppers and Oranges

Why so many bronzers have copper and orange undertones is a mystery. It almost never looks natural. You’ve surely seen the girl with a mask of orange dust on her face. Don’t be that girl. Choose a bronzer with chocolate brown or beige undertones. Test the shade on the inside of your forearm. If it looks flat and orangey, stay away. Nars Bronzer in Laguna (or Casino for darker skin tones) has the perfect shade to give you some radiant color without looking orange or fake. Or like this. Read More »