When it comes to concealer (one of the most essential necessities of life, am I right?), I don’t think there’s any reason to spend more than $11. I tend to go for Covergirl stuff, but I’m also a fan of the surprisingly cheap (and healthy!) Neutrogena cosmetics line. Here’s why:

1. It lasts long, but not TOO long: It’s true, drugstore goodies usually come in small packages, but I tend to get a least a few months use out of a single product. When it runs out, yes, I have to buy a new one, but frequently shopping for new make-up gives me the chance to explore different brands and tones.

2. It does the job: Sure, maybe some Dior concealer or some no-name, all-natural Sephora exclusive might cover up my blemishes with more perfection than I ever thought to be possible, but my Covergirl basics still do the job. It’s almost like your first car- it might be 15 years old and falling apart, but it gets you from Point A to Point B. I don’t need to look like a Photoshopped supermodel- I just need everyone to look past a few red spots.

3. It’s much easier to get: I know some people who order all their cosmetics from online boutiques overseas, but what happens if you have a blemish emergency when you’re at work, school or somewhere else important and suddenly notice you’ve forgot your make-up bag? Sorry to burst your bubble, but your designer favorite probably won’t be available at the Rite-Aid around the corner.

How about you- when it comes to make-up, are you a splurger or a spender?

Luckily, it’s an easy fix.

How, you ask? Just use concealer! But not just any concealer. Picking the right one is important, so I’m sharing what I use. I’ve also got a few tips on how to distract people from looking at your circles (even though they probably don’t notice ‘em anyway). So if you’re embarrassed by your raccoon eyes, this is the video is for you.

And if you are a chronic sufferer of dark circles, please leave your own tips below!

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George Clooney….cocaine….what!?

What to do when you see your parents doin’ it.

Don’t mess with a cheerleader, yo.

Hulk Hogan is a big, fat, blonde liar.

Wash your face. Change the world.

It’s been a long, cold winter, but March and Spring Break are finally here! For those of you spending a week in a warm and sunny environment, here are some Spring-Break-I’m-going-to-paradise-and-I-need-to-look-cute-and-show-off-my-bangin-bod essentials for under $20.

And you know what that means: more margarita money.

Obviously, a bathing suit is the first thing on your list and Forever 21 has a great line of suits that are all $21 or less.  This is just one of my personal faves. The color will look great against your skin and you can pull off those straps easily to avoid an ugly tan line.

Chances are, if you’re anything like me, you’re white as a ghost and ready to look sun-kissed again.  But skip those harmful UV rays at the tanning beds and use this awesome spray tan from Vicky’s Secret.

And speaking of harmful UV rays, you’ll want to be sure to avoid those as much as possible if you don’t want to look like a raisin by the time you’re 25. So make it a point to slather on the sunscreen every morning before you hit the beach! Neutrogena’s sunscreen is consistently ranked at the top and the sheerness of it won’t leave you feeling sticky or icky, which means you can go from day to night easily and comfortably.

Cover-ups are great for those treks to the beach or pool and this one is cute enough that you can still feel sexy when you pop into bar for some beachside cocktails.

Flip flops are another beach necessity, so why not trade in those rubber ones for some that are stylish enough to wear for dinner or a night out on the town.  Once again, these make the transition from beach to party easy, and make the walk home from said party pain free.

You can’t go on vacay without some cute shades, but rather than spending oodles on the hottest designer look, grab some that cost under $10 so you don’t flip when they get scratched by sand, swiped by the pool or taken by the ocean. (And at under $6, you can grab up a couple pairs so you have back-ups.) I love the retro feel of this pair and the fact that the large frames will protect your hungover eyes from that bright sun is just an added bonus.

Keep those premature wrinkles away and look chic doing it with a chic, floppy sun hat.

You’ll want your clothes to do double duty on Spring Break (so you don’t have to pay extra when your suitcase doubles the weight allowance for the flight) so a  tailored pair of denim shorts is key. These are casual enough to wear with your bikini, but the dark wash and added details are nice enough to rock with a pair of wedges and a tight tank for a night on the town.

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!

"I feel like death warmed over but - DAMN - I look good."

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.

In middle school I had horrible skin. Constantly. By the end of high school it had really cleared up, but I feel like my years of pre-teen suffering were sufficient for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, middle school awkwardness does not justify a zit free life, and sometimes pesky pimples still pop up; like before a big party, exciting date or run-in with an ex. Perfect.

This happens to just about everyone, (or at least this is what I tell myself) so here are some good spot treatments to clear up that annoying blackhead (hopefully) before you finish your pre-game.

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel: I use this spot gel whenever I get a little zit and it zaps it away pretty quickly. It is meant to seriously reduce pimple size within 8 hours, so if you put it on right before bed you should notice a difference in the morning. It’s not sticky and goes on smoothly and can be found at a local drug store for cheap!

Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel: I have also used this spot treatment and find it really works. It can be a little stickier than the Neutrogena one, but it dries up zits pretty quickly, and is invisible over and under makeup.

Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy: I’ve never used this product but it looked really cool and got pretty good reviews. And, well, I endorse almost anything Bare Escentuals. This is a powder (that comes with a brush). It contains sulfer like most acne spot treatments, but is in a different format. While it’s fighting off the blackhead it also helps neutralize the color to cover it up! You can put it on before bed or in the morning under your makeup.

Sepohora Double Ended Blemish Extractor: No, this isn’t a torture device, it’s meant to help pop pimples. Yeah, my mom told me not to pop zits, and that is a valid piece of advice, however, one of the reasons you don’t want to pop zits with your fingers is because they are dirty and get bacteria in already clogged pores. Unlike your fingers, this tool can be properly sterilized and then used to extract a zit. First, put warm water over your face to make the extraction easier. Then put the loop around the pimple and slowly pull until the zit is, well, popped. Don’t force it if the zit is too big to be eliminated this way!

Here are a couple of other tips to help with frustrating pimples.

-Washing your makeup brushes and removing makeup after each day is a great way to ensure that your skin stays clean and clear

-It’s okay to cover a zit with concealer, just make sure it’s one that will not further clog pores. Here are a couple of concealers with great coverage.

-If you are on vacation and don’t have any spot treatments with you, you can put some toothpaste on the zit (the pasty kind, not the gel kind). I don’t recommend walking around all day with toothpaste on your face, so try this at night, and make sure you only put it on the zit! It should help reduce the pimple size by the morning.

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Adam Sandler: The Real Big Daddy.

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The best and worst of Neutrogena.

A Member of the Tribe.

A celebrator of Hanukkah.

A person who likes deli.

Which means, that along with the typical rites of passage of teenage-dom (such as PMS, acne and that oh-so-awkward stage of braces and Steve Madden loafers), I also had to learn how to manage that fro of mine that at 12 went from straight to curly and never looked back.

Couple that with two perms due to my pre-mature desire for curly hair (yes, they still had perms in 1998), and you’ve got yourself an expert mane-tamer. So thank me later, and de-frizz now.

Here are my top must-have products for curls, waves and fros:

TIGI- Catwalk Curls Rock Curl Amplifier:

I can get by using just a dime sized amount of this super product (and I have a LOT of hair). Comb it through towel dried hair, scrunch, and out you go. It works as great as it smells, which is heavenly. As my new best friend Rachel Zoe says, “I Die.” *This entire line is fabulous- great conditioners, etc*

Do you ever notice that the best curl/waves of your LIFE come after you get out of the ocean? And you so badly don’t want to shower but you know someone will notice that your hair smells like seaweed and other people’s pee? I can’t tell you how many times that’s happened to me… and that’s because there is something in the sea salt that makes curly hair look red carpet ready. Thanks to this fabulous product, you can have that look without the pee smell. In fact, the product actually smells delightful. Problem solved!

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Crème: $11.99

When trying to straighten your hair, this is a great product to help you along so you don’t end up with the awful feeling of “Did I just workout, or did I just shower” trying to tame those curls of yours. Also great just to smooth down those extra frizzies.

Patene Pro-V Curl Defining Scrunching Gel:

Does the trick for a fraction of the price of other great curl gels out there. CC managing editor, Lauren, swears by this product like she swears by curing her hangovers with more booze. And, damn, does her hair look great.

KMS Curling Balm

Great for the (crazy) girls who want waves but whose hair won’t hold the curl.

Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum:

Curly hair is more prone to damage since the cuticle does not stay closed (because of its shape), which is why our curly hair is usually frizzier than our straighter haired pals. So once your hair is dry, run a drop of this through your hair to help it heal, and create some serious shine.

L’Oreal Kerastase Nutritive Elasto Curl Aqua Mousse:

Pricey, but mousse lovers swear by this product

Conair Curl Fusion Ionic Styler:

Dries hair quickly without bringing the frizz (i.e., a gift from the curly haired god).

A few tips:

Once you scrunch the product in STOP scrunching. I know, I know, you think you are making it curlier, but the more you scrunch, the more frizz you get. It’s a vicious cycle that leaves you looking more like Bozo the Clown and less like bohemeian chic curls.

If you have wavy hair, try taking a straighter to the ends of your hair and to your bags if you have them – it makes it look more tousled.

Also for softer waves, try combing some product through your hair (I love Sebastian Potion 9) and put your hair in one sleek low bun (or a couple mini buns if your hair is thick and you aren’t leaving the house) while it dries. Then pull it out, finger comb it, apply some finishing crème and you’re ready to go!

Last, but not least, please remember that while individually these products are great, together, you will look like a crunchy, oily, nappy, gross, hot mess. So if you must combine, please, use only a couple of products at a time… and sparingly (I learned this at 14 the hard way when my hair never looked dry… I shudder at the thought… and so badly wish I had a picture of it to upload).

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.

Makeup Remover: The biggest giveaway on a Walk-of-Shamer besides traipsing through campus at 8am is the black eyeliner smudged under her bloodshot eyes. Get rid of that shiz. Toss a travel size bottle of makeup remover (or those handy little pads) into your bag before you go.

Pressed Powder: The morning after a heavy night of drinking leaves your face feeling and looking…less than fresh. And let’s be honest: you don’t want anyone (including that boy) seeing those stress related zits that popped up all over your chin.

Mascara: Bring it along to finish off the “I’m up early to go to the library!” look. This combined with the powder and removal of last night’s makeup will leave you lookin’ so fresh and so clean, clean.

Headband: Even if you didn’t get much sleep last night (you dawg), your hair is gonna be lookin’ a little ruffled in the AM. If you have a pony tail holder with you, use that. If your hair is short, though, throwing on a headband will pull it off your face and give off more of a “I am far too busy/lazy to wash it” look than the obvious “I totally just had morning sex and he didn’t drive me home” style.

Breath Strips: Easier to transport than a toothbrush (and don’t require you to get out of bed to freshen that morning breath!) these little guys are a must-have. You never know who you are going to run into on the street and cigarette/stale beer breath is a huge Walk of Shame red flag.

A Fresh Pair of Undies: You may have just spent the evening doin’ the dirty, dirty, but that doesn’t mean you have to be dirty. Bring along a fresh pair. Also good if things get a little wild and your underwear ends up on the top of a dresser, in the woods or…where the hell did those things go!?

If the weather is warm, tossing in a pair of flip flops and a casual t-shirt is a good idea. Seeing a girl walk arond in a tube top and heels is obviously a clear giveaway of what she was doin’ the night before. (If it is cold out, a simple jacket can cover up the evidence.) You can also take advantage of the more casual looks that are big right now and just opt for a deep-V t-shirt (the American Apparel ones are the bomb diggity) and a pair of skinny jeans for your going-out ensemble.

[Walk of Shame photo courtesy of Owen Yeo on Flickr.]

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