[There are over 100 million sites on the Internet. 100 million! You might think you know about all the important ones (CollegeCandy, Gmail, Google, TFLN…), but there are thousands of other sweet sites out there (like Dear Blank, Please Blank; Specials Agent; and Shop It To Me) and more showing up every day! We get it – it’s not easy or fun sifting through the crap and porn to find those gems, so we’re gonna bring the gems to you. Just sit back, kick up those feet and allow us to introduce you to the diamonds in the internet rough.]

Confession time!

I am completely obsessed with shopping for beauty products. Lipsticks and eyeshadows and mascaras (oh my!) are my guilty pleasures (OK, just some of my MANY guilty pleasures, right up there with brownie sundaes and True Blood).  I literally have entire shelves and drawers dedicated to my vast collection of body lotions, perfumes, hair products, and makeup, and I’m always buying more.  It’s sort of a problem, but at least most of what I buy isn’t too expensive or it’s from the drugstore, since I can’t really afford the fancy department store and designer brands.

Until I found out about Beauty Story, a site designed just for beauty-obsessed people like me. Beauty Story is a members-only sale site (similar to Gilt, HauteLook, RueLaLa, etc….) that’s dedicated entirely to the beauty industry.  It offers amazing discounts–up to 80% off!–on all things beauty-related, including skincare, makeup, and salon and spa services for its members.

I know – I can barely contain myself either. But it gets BETTER!

Beauty Story is totally free to join!  All you gotta do is sign up and you’ll have access to all the insanely good sales.  There’s usually a few sales going on at once, as well as previews of upcoming sales so you can prepare yourself (and your wallet) for all the goodies.  And you’ll definitely need to prepare and hit up the sales soon after they start, so you can pick up all the good stuff before it’s sold out!

Trust me, you’re going to love this site.  It’s awesome to be able to get designer brands on sale, and the deals are so good, it’s hard to pass them up.  Sure, I probably don’t need another tube of lip gloss, but at these prices I don’t know if I’ll be able to resist!

There are very few girls out there who don’t like to feel pampered occasionally. Whether it’s getting highlights at a fancy salon or doing an at-home pedicure, we all deserve a chance to feel beautiful. What I’m unsure about is whether to choose the DIY route for my facial/hair treatment/manicure or leave it to the professionals.

Help, I’m torn!

Love it: It’s rainy days like today that all I want is a good DIY pedicure. Why would I venture out of the apartment into inclement weather just to pay someone $20 to paint my toes? I have all of the tools (nail polish, lotion, exfoliant and a nail file), so why not do it myself? Plus, while I’m at it, I could scour the Internet for some other great DIY treatments, like this brown sugar scrub to soothe my skin. Between my fridge and pantry, I probably have all of the necessary ingredients. Plus, with the money I save, I can buy a new pair of shoes!

Loathe it: I’ve had my share of DIY beauty flops, mostly involving hair dye. (Including splashes, splatters and squirts of the stuff that are still stained on my walls and ceiling.) And you know what, after I screw up at home, I wind up having to go to the salon anyway just to fix the damage. If you’re going to have to pay for professional beauty treatments anyway, why not start out in the salon and not risk permanent damage to hair/skin/nails?

And when it comes to creating your own face masks/shampoos/etc, why the heck would you EVER want to rub a raw egg anywhere on your body? Or mayo. Just the thought of squeezing that burger topping in my hair makes me want to vomit. As does the thought of having to clean everything up when I’m done. That’s not relaxing. That’s not being pampered. And now that most salons are offering natural-based treatments, I don’t have to scramble an omelet on my face to avoid all those harsh chemicals.

But I do have to pay….

So, I’m really not sure.
What do you think?
Are you a fan of at-home treatments, or do you think your beauty needs are best left to a professional?

Does he want forgiveness…or a comeback?

Salon facial while you sleep!

A dog. With eyebrows.

America is starting to turn on Jon Gosselin.

Why are people booing Sexy David Beckham?

The chicest shorts in town.

I'm not trying to be your mother - oh goodness, no - I'm just here to help you out of those little etiquette dilemmas. So here goes: a quick lesson in etiquette. The sh*t you might actually need to know.]

I always leave salons with bad hair cuts. (Although I must admit the last one was my fault- it should have tipped me off right away when I realized the hair stylist did not speak a word of English.) Anyway, last week reader Josie asked us to feature an article on hair-salon etiquette: “manners pertaining communication with your hair dresser from conversation to tips, how to react if you don’t get the expected results, etc.” So here’s to you Josie..

Small talk. For most women (and some men), their hairstylist is their therapist, best friend, psychic, and lover (you know, hypothetically speaking) all rolled into one. What you tell them is completely up to you, but remember that while there is practically an unwritten rule about the stylist-stylee confidentiality, your stylist isn’t legally obligated to keep quiet. Just because you trust her to give you a killer hair-do, doesn’t mean you can trust her to not tell everyone about your cheating on your taxes, boyfriend, calculus exam, whatever. In fact, salons are havens for gossip, so just be careful.

On another note, if you don’t want to talk to the person cutting your hair, you really don’t have to. I’ve been there; once you run out of small talk (“Yes, it is hot outside, isn’t it?”) and have nothing more to add to the conversation, the silence gets pretty awkward. If you ever find yourself in this predicament, politely escape via magazine. Relax. It’s okay; just make sure to glance up now and then to make sure your hair is coming along the way you’d like.

Bad haircuts. What should you do if you end up with a bad cut? Ask them to fix it. And by “ask” I mean “tell.” Yes, it might be a pain in the butt for them to redo your hair, but remember that you’re paying them for the service. If your hair doesn’t come out exactly the way you want it to, it’s not rude to expect someone at the salon to fix it. It’s better for them if you speak up and get a haircut you love than to walk out unhappy and tell everyone where that mullet came from.

Note: This isn’t a free pass to be bitchy or to start crying and threaten her with the scissors. If you’re unhappy with the results, calmly explain to the stylist what’s wrong with the look, why it isn’t what you asked for, and offer up a suggestion on how to fix it.  This can usually be avoided by bringing a photograph/sketch of the exact style you want from different angles or explaining beforehand your definition of “just two inches.”

Tipping.

I hope that helped clarify some things. I’ve had my fair share of salon disasters (going in for red hair…coming out with purple?), so I’m pretty confident in these tips.

And once again, if you’ve got any etiquette conundrums, questions or gray areas you need help sorting out, let me know in the comments. I’ll be sure to help you out in next week’s column!

I know what you’re thinking: Waxing my own bikini line? ARE YOU INSANE!?Well the answer is no, I’m not insane. Just very frugal and, to be honest, curious. I’ve been shaving my bikini line for years and recently tired of that. The hair would grow back so quickly, coarser than before and I was ready for a change. So I decided on waxing. And instead of paying at least $30 at a salon (the cheapest I was able to find in my town), I decided that I had enough knowledge and a high enough pain tolerance that I was willing to give the DIY bikini wax a shot.

From my experiences, it is not that bad. Sure, I would prefer many things to waxing my bikini line (like medieval torture), but it wasn’t the horrific experience some report it to be, even doing it myself. In some ways it’s even better – no strange woman lookin’ at your hooha.

So, I’ve compiled a little guide of tips and tricks for you adventurous girls who want to try an at home bikini wax! Take a deep breath and read on.

1. Choose your weapon wisely.

Not all wax kits are created equal, girls! Make sure you find one that is specifically for the bikini line or for several areas including bikini line. Some waxes are very harsh and inappropriate for your sensitive areas. Also, make sure that you use hard wax! In my experience and those of the many others I know who also torture wax themselves, the soft wax is not a good idea for your bikini line (the skin is too sensitive and not taught enough).

My favorite kit is the Alexandria No-Heat Hair Removal Kit. It’s reasonably priced (only about $10!) and contains a large container of wax, which will last you for at least 6 or 7 waxes, I’ve found. And the fact that it’s no-heat is great because it involves no prep work and there is no risk of burning your sensitive skin. One last thing: try to find a water-soluble wax. This means that if you realize it hurts too much you can just clean the wax off with warm water. It makes for a super easy clean up and no scary commitment issues.

2. Pain Control

I don’t have any issues with pain when I wax, but many people do. Popping a pain killer (Tylenol or Advil…not Vicodin) an hour before you wax will be sure to make it more pleasant. Also, don’t wax while you’re on your period. You’re more sensitive to pain, so you’re basically setting yourself up for failure!

3. Perfect Your Technique

Just like anything else, waxing takes skill, so I suggest waxing something much easier first, like your legs. You’ll develop the technique and learn what works and what doesn’t. For instance, you have to apply the wax in the direction of your hair growth, which can pretty tricky with the bikini area (those hairs grow in every damn direction!). You also have to make sure you apply the wax strip in the correct direction and, although most kits don’t explicitly say this, rub the strip REALLY well on your skin to grasp the hairs well.

You also want to pull the skin around the area taught to decrease the number of times you have to go over the area (by pulling the maximum number of hairs), but also, to reduce your pain. Lastly, you MUST pull down, not up. This requires a bit of an explanation: when you pull the strip off (in the direction opposite to hair growth!), leave the strip as close as you can to the skin, instead of pulling the strip up and away. This is proper waxing technique and pulling up and away doesn’t work. Plus it hurts like a biatch.

There you have it! Your own little care package for those about to venture into the world of DIY Bikini Waxes. I wish you luck!

Here are the hairstyles you can expect to see all over the place this season. There’s something for everyone, with classic styles all the way up to uber-short or super funky cuts.

Pick what you think will best suit your face and personal style, and show off those gorgeous tresses.

The Bob

The Bob is keeping its steam and can be found on celebrities and fashionistas all over the place; Katie Holmes has defined this cut. There are several different versions of the bob, and it’s popular with or without bangs, so go with what makes you the most comfortable and rock out the hottest hairstyle of 2008.

The Crop/Pixie Cut

Short, short hair is back thanks to celebs like Rihanna and Victoria Beckham. If you’ve got the guts to go with this style, you gotta go all the way with a crop that stands out. Whether it’s spikes or sleek bangs, give it something that really pops and tells the world you’re not afraid to take risks.

Bangs/Fringe

Seen on the likes of Heidi Klum, bangs/fringe remains popular and are a great way to add some spunk to a long ‘do. But don’t shy away from em if you have short hair, ladies; and they’re darling on shorter styles as well.

Long Hair: All One Length

Hate trying to grow out layers? Have no fear, the hippie look of flowing tresses all cut to the same length is making a return this season.

Long Hair: Face Framing Layers

But if you’re still into those face-framing layers, you don’t have to grow em out; they’re still as popular as ever.

Messy, High Up-Dos

A fan of the classic look of buns or chignons, but wanna give it a little twist? Wearing them at the crown or even the very top of your head gives it a more fun, fresh and carefree look that was seen all over the runways this season. If you want a more romantic, soft look, let a few strands fall loosely around your face.

Putting a Twist on the Old French Twist

This classic updo is back in a major way, but with a few changes. Putting a modern edge on this feminine look, the new takes on it include disheveled twists, side twists and pseudo-beehive twists worn either sleek or with loose, flirty tendrils. The key to keeping it together is a whole lotta strong-hold hairspray, bobby pins… and patience.

Sleek Hair

Taking a cue from ballerinas: the loose ponies and buns of late are being replaced by sleek, slicked back looks.

Braids

Another throw-back to the 70’s, braids (of all types) are back. One of the most popular is the braid that goes from the front of the head around the side. Celebs from Mary Kate Olsen to Anne Hathaway have been seen in this look. (Note: this is a great way to hide that greasy hair you didn’t have time to wash before class…)

My roomie once said, in a conversation that I very much regret missing, “You know, I could see why you would trim your bush if it got a little out of hand…but I don’t know why the hell you would cut the whole thing down. It just makes your lawn look funny!” And, no, we were not talking about horticulture.

Au naturale doesn’t really seem to be the method of style in female nether regions. It supposedly looks neater when it’s taken care of. I know a lot of girls who keep themselves trimmed, and quite a few who wax. It’s easier than shaving, I’ve heard said. You don’t get the obnoxious bumps that you normally get when you shave that inevitably leads to impromptu itchy dances. Not to mention it’s a lot neater and it takes longer to grow back. I never really supported it; it didn’t even seem like it was worth the effort to me, not to mention I’m not sure how I feel about men who want their women’s parts to look prepubescent. Still, I’d heard so much…

And so, in another one of my infamously stupid ideas, I decided to get a full Brazilian wax last summer. For those who don’t know, there’s a difference between Brazilian waxes and bikini waxes. Bikini waxes are really more like a neat little trimming so that, as the name suggests, you can wear a bikini confidently. Brazilian waxes are when you get everything – EVERYTHING – waxed off. Mind you, no one was going to be seeing the result of this wax except for me. It was nothing but curiosity.

And yes, curiosity really does kill the cat. Warning: this gets a little graphic from here on.

It took me a little while to just work up the nerve to go to an actual clinic. The middle aged Chinese woman looked like she really could’ve care less that a very hesitant young female had just stumbled into her salon and stammered out a request for a Brazilian wax. She smiled and wordlessly led me to a back room, far removed from everyone else getting pain-free beauty procedures. She told me to remove everything from the waist down, then said she would be right back and left my to my privacy.

For a second, I stood in front of the mirror and stared. My bush was, well, bushy. Like it’s supposed to be. Why was I doing this? What was wrong with me? I had a moment where I realized that this was a very very bad idea, but the woman had already come back in.

I never really thought a woman rubbing talcum powder over my privates was something that’d ever happen to me in my lifetime, but there I was, lying on my back and hearing the woman patiently explain, “This is so the wax doesn’t stick to your skin.”

The actual applying of wax was definitely the calm before the storm. It was VERY warm, bordering on but not quite hot. I must’ve been wincing in anticipation, because the woman comfortingly offered, “It doesn’t hurt as much as everyone says it does.” And at first, she was actually right! It hurt, there’s no lie in that, but only a little more than leg waxing. I was actually rather surprised – especially because I have such a low pain tolerance. Before I knew it, my mons – the little mound of flesh right above your goodies – suddenly felt pretty naked. “I can actually do this,” I thought to myself, rather pleased. I was getting a wax and it wasn’t bad at al-

“This might hurt a bit.”

That was the only warning I got before she yanked back on the strip on the left side of my labia. I’m pretty sure everyone in the salon heard my animalistic yelp of pain. I almost kicked the poor woman, I think. I distinctly remember crying. I had barely recovered when she ripped off the other side.

It was around that time that I decided Brazilian waxing must’ve been some form of torture invented by the Brazilians to punish women who had done something horrible. I must’ve looked ridiculous on that table, shaking and twitching, clutching and ripping at the paper sheet beneath me and trying very, very hard to retain my dignity by not crying. There was one final yank, but it didn’t hurt anywhere near as badly as the two before it had.

“There. All done,” she said in a practiced voice as she wiped off the remnants of talcum powder and wax with a warm cloth. “You can stay in here until you’re ready to leave, if you’d like.”

I remained on the couch/table device that seemed like something I would’ve found in the doctor’s office for a good few minutes. Then, slowly and awkwardly, I eased myself off of the table. I started to put my undies on, but it hurt far too much to actually let them stay on, so I just slid on my skirt and awkwardly waddled out.

Once I got home after a bus ride that tested my ability to stand on constantly lurching public transportation with my legs slightly apart, I stretched out on my bed with a mirror to check myself. I was still a little red and tender to the touch, but the soreness had gone down significantly – and by the end of the day, when I was getting ready for bed, it was mostly gone.

Now, I won’t lie. I did feel pretty clean for a good month and a half or so, until the hair finally started growing back. But that, really, is the only plus. Some people say that sex is better after a Brazilian wax, and while I didn’t have the opportunity to test that out, old Ramses and I didn’t notice much of a difference. Now that my bush has grown back most of it’s foliage (a surprisingly itchless process), admittedly, I do sort of miss that clean feeling. But I will not, not, NOT go through that again ever in my life.

Okay, maybe for my wedding night, but that’s it.

I may be living on a McDonalds budget these days, but growing up with some of the finer things in life have left me with some Caviar taste.

I am not talking about yachts or private jets; more like pretty handbags and a little bit of pampering. And while I can’t always afford the things I adore, I have become quite deft at finding deals on some of life’s little luxuries. Like the manicure. Nothing makes me feel good at the end of a rough week like a good finger soak and coat of Wicked.

But, even with the low prices at many nail shops these days, throwing away $12 on something that is going to chip, crack and have to be re-done in a week is hard for a lady on a budget.

Doing it yourself, though, is easier than you think and will save you tons of money without having to sacrifice a sexy set of hands.

In order to do your nails like a pro, you need to get the right tools: nail polish remover (duh), cotton pads, emery board, Vitamin E oil, orangewood stick, buffer, base coat polish, color polish, top coat. This may seem like a big investment now, but it will save you big time down the road.

Now for the steps:

1. Whether you think you have polish on your nails or not, take a cotton ball dipped in remover and run it over your nails. Once the polish is gone, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to get rid of excess remover from your hands and nails. The cleaner your nails the better the manicure. Tip: If your nails are yellowed from the polish, soak your hands in lemon juice for 10 minutes. Voila! Clear nails again!

2. Shaping your nails comes next. When filing your nails make sure to file in only one direction; the back and forth motion will ruin them. You can make them any shape that suits you (oval, square, round), but keep in mind that the longer they are, the weaker they are. Once you finish filing, soak your nails in warm water to rinse off the nail-dust and soften those cuticles.

3. After soaking, rub Vitamin E oil (or Olive Oil!) into your cuticles and use the Orangewood stick to gently push the cuticles back. Your cuticles keep bacteria from entering your body so be nice to them and never cut them. Tip: If you keep them moisturized between mani’s there will not be a need for much cuticle maintenance, anyway.

4. Wash your hands thoroughly again. Left-over oil will keep your polish from adhering to your nails.

5. Buffing the nails separates the crappy mani from the professional. Run the buffer back and forth over your nails to smooth out any ridges and provide a better surface for the polish to stick to.

6. Now that your nails are finally prepped, it is time to add some color to those digits. Start with a clear base to protect your nails from staining and provide a foundation for your color. Let the basecoat dry completely before moving onto your color. Brush two (dark colors) to three (light colors) coats onto your nails letting each coat dry in full before adding the next. Finally, brush on a light coat of top coat. And let it all dry.

The hardest part of the at-home manicure for me is the waiting, but moving on too soon and smudging those nails is a waste of all that time and hard work. Just sit still, let it all dry, and enjoy your beautiful (and budget) manicure.

But isn’t there a point when all this narcissistic pampering goes a little too far? By all accounts, the answer is a resounding no. Want proof? Apparently, the hip new trend to hit spas across the country is the butt facial. Yes, you read that correctly. The Butt Facial.

Now, I’ve never gotten, or even born witness to, an actual facial, so I’m not exactly the resident expert here. From what I can gather, the method for facializing (is that a word, and if not, can we make it one?) the butt is almost identical to that of getting an actual facial.

There’s quite a bit of cleaning (ultra-important where the butt is concerned) with a dash of detoxifying (not sure at all what that does, but it sounds healthy enough).

But I guess the real catalyst behind the butt facial craze is the second half of the process, which involves a type of electro-shock therapy designed to reduce cellulite and increase butt firmness.

The deafening silence you’re hearing now is the sound of every one of my readers jetting off to the nearest spa.

Unfortunately for the “regular” people among us, the procedure is running customers upwards of $800 a pop. Heyyy…welcome back everyone!

Now, I’m left with any number of questions upon reading this article, as clearly I’m in the wrong profession. For instance, how does someone go about becoming a butt facialist? Do the qualifications extend beyond having strong hands and a major affinity for the female ass? Methinks I need to conduct some in depth research on this one… maybe even try to score an internship.

But more to the point, isn’t this idea just a tad ridiculous? To me, this is just another example of our society desiring the quick fix as opposed to putting in hard work in the form of exercise; while not at all comparable in size or scope, this sounds to me like a very innocent form of liposuction. As a close friend pointed out to me, training for a half marathon and then showering has produced exactly the same result as would a butt facial.

Hey… if you’ve got an extra $800 laying around and feel like pampering your ass, who am I to stop you? But college gyms are free, and my bet is, there’s no shortage of guys on any college campus (other than maybe Bryn Mawr) who’d be more than willing to give your ass a nice rubdown if you simply asked them to. I’m sure every one of you could find a better way to spend the cash.

Me and manicures, we have a love / hate relationship.

In my mind, the French Manicure represents a woman who has it all together; she’s smart, has things organized in cute little boxes on her desk, doesn’t have clothes strewn around her room, owns outfits that match, and is successful enough to spend $10 a week on nail upkeep. Perfectly painted fingers are the hallmark of chic and classy.

So, why oh why am I hopeless when it comes to keeping them that way?

Not being able to preserve a French mani makes me feel like a loser. A childish idiot who can’t maintain even the simplest womanly fashion. How hard is it to keep one’s nails at a nicely filed length? How difficult is it to keep that pretty white line from chipping off?

If you’re me, very hard. Incredibly hard. Impossible.

Ever since I’ve become interested in manicures (if you live in New York City, eventually you will start to notice the nail salons that are every 5 feet, and eventually, you will walk inside one), I’ve attempted time and time again to turn myself in a lady by retaining perfectly buffed nails, but it never works.

I get nervous, I bite them. I get stressed, I scratch the cuticles. I open up can after can of Red Bull, one breaks. I accidentally slam my hand in a door, the polish chips. I wait by the phone for a boy to call, the polish is scraped completely off.

A week or so after I’ve spent hard earned money on appearing sophisticated, my hands look like they’ve been through the garbage disposal.

But I can’t stop. I can’t stop pushing open the door to that tiny salon and I can’t stop being a clumsy idiot. Something has gotten inside my brain and convinced me that French Manicures are the way to finding my inner sophisticate.

It’s like a horrible addiction…and those Korean women down the street have my number.